The profecution of Diffenters at this time must be for one of these Reasons, as I apprehend: Out of regard to our Oath, or under pretence of ferving the Church to aflift Popery, or elfe, because we are perfuaded that they cut off the late King's head: If it be out of regard to the Oath, then it must be remembred, that there lies the fame obligation upon us to all other Laws that are within our Charge; but we are more efpecially bound to execute those Laws which immediately refpect the glory of God, and the common Good; and there are feveral Laws, which if duly executed, would tend more to the glory of God, than profecuting of Diffenters: As common Prophanenefs and open Debauchery, and the great abufe of Sunday, and prophaning of God's Worship by coming drunk to Church; and when the Service is over, return again to their tippling, and spend the rest of the day at that work, and yet think they do very well; they think they can go to their Houfes juftified, because they can roar and fwear they love the King and the Church, and wish the confufion of all people who do not with them run to the fame excess : Whereas they are not to be trusted by the one, and are a reproach to the other. And the knowledge of these things might easily be come at, if we made it as much our bufinefs to inquire after these things, and incouraged the Informers thereof as much as we do the Informers against the Diffenters.

The

The fecond Reafon of profecuting Diffenters, is, under pretence of ferving the Church, to affift Popery; but this is fo abominable a piece of Hypocrifie, that, I hope, no Man, who profeffes himself a Proteftant, will ever be guilty of it.

The third and last Reason is, Because we are perfuaded that it was the Diffenters who cut off the late King's head: But that can be no inducement, because, firft, there is no fuch publick Judgment paffed, for it is not declared who did it; and there are more who believe it was the Papifts, than that believe it was the Diffenters; and it's most probable the Papists did it, by reafon of the great joy at Rome upon the News; and the Papifts here in England faid publickly, That now their greatest Enemy was dead, when their King was beheaded: And befides there is a very good argument, that the Diffenters hand did not give that stroak, in regard they were chiefly inftrumental in his Majefties Restauration,whileft many who called themselves the Loyal Party fate ftill at home. Or if it were, as fome say, that the Diffenters did that fact, yet we cannot juftifie the profecuting of them for that reafon, because it would be a breach upon the Act of Oblivion, a Law that was and is fo neceffary to fettle the distractions of the Nation; and he who would destroy that which compos'd our differences, does what in him lies to bring in confufion.

There

There are feveral Laws which are not Temporary, nor are they repealed by any other Statutes, and yet are laid afide as ufelefs, because the Reason of them is ceafed; and Laws ceafe when the Reafon of them ceases, as our Lawyers fay: And if fo, I cannot tell, whether it is not a very good argument, why the Diffenters should not be profecuted upon the 22d. of this King, feeing they cannot be charged to have preach'd unfound Doctrine, nor to be guilty of any contrivance against the Go

vernment.

I wish the Church of England ftood upon a broader foundation, and the prosecution of Diffenters would increase the Number of Souls; but truly I have not heard that it has had that bleffed effect; nay, I doubt it has wrought the contrary way: For the reafon of it is plain, because the English people are very inclinable to pity any that are in diftrefs, nay, though they are punished justly, but when they fee any in trouble on the account of fome fmall difference in Religion, they not only pity them, but after a while, do favour their cafe: And if the Laws had been put vigorously in execution against the Papists before the discovery of the Plot, they would have found a great number who would have pitied them though the very name of Popery is deteftful to the generality of the Nation.

As no Man knows his own heart certainly, by reafon of the deceitfulness of it, fo

2

it is impoffible for one Man to know anothers thoughts; and if any Man that profecutes the Diffenters does it for these reafons that I have mentioned, or for any other, I hope he has a good end in it, and afis according to his Confcience, and then I wish him good fuccefs.

If I were a bufie Man, in profecuting of people for Non-conformity, I'll tell you in what method I would proceed; but by this I don't pretend to prefcribe any Man what he fhould do; if I can govern my felf a-right it's as much as I defire, I don't take my felf to be very able to inftruct others.

In the first place I would begin with the Papifts, because they differ with us in Doctrines; and therefore we and they can never agree, unless one fide yield wholly to the other: I would inquire after the times and places of their Meetings, and watch them fo narrowly, that they fhould hardly efcape me; and I would make it my bufinefs to find out their Pricfts, that the Law might pafs upon them; and this I would the rather do, because I am perfuaded that many Papists would live peaceably with us, if there were an effectual Law to keep out the Priests; and thefe Incendiaries, I would leave them no reft for the Souls of their feet, but I would hunt them out of the Country: For by reafon of not putting the Laws in execution against the Priests, that bloody Maflacre happeded in Ireland, in which there perifhed at leaft 200000 Prote

stants.

ftants. Now when I had perfectly fubdued the Papifts, that they might do us no hurt, then I might be at leifure to fall upon others who did not conform to the Church :: And if upon the Informations it did appear, that they preached unfound Doctrine or Sedition, I would not fail to rout their Meetings, but upon every information I would examine whether what was preached was unfound or feditious, because the 22d. of this King was made chiefly to prevent Sedi- ! tion; and as to all other Laws, I would not be wanting in my duty to ferve the Church: Only as to the 35th. of Queen Elizabeth, fome doubt would remain with me: First, Because the Papifts are not within that Law, and it is more fevere than any Law now in force against the Papifts. Secondly, Becaufe I cannot find that any Man has been punish'd by that Law; if any have, the presidents are very few, and that Law was made upon a fuppofition of evil practices at their Meetings, as was that of the 22d. of this King; and I am verily perfuaded that the reafon, why few or none have been punifh'd by that Law is, because they have not been detected of any Sedition or Practice against the Government: But if I did put that Law in execution, I would do it against one as well as another, though they made a great ftir for the Church, it should not excufe, nay, with me that should be an aggravation of their offence; and I doubt, that there are a great many who pretend them