Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
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A55112
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The Plea of the harmless oppressed, against the cruel oppressor
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Halifax, George Savile, Marquis of, 1633-1695. A letter to a dissenter.
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1688
(1688)
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Wing P2525; ESTC R31914
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14,529
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24
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to publish the same the â—ext Sunday after tendred to them I think it too large to expose them all in Print but I think it convenient to Print the last of them and I shall mention Particulars of their Resolves in the former with some Observations thereon and then lâ—ave iâ— to the Moderate to judg But before I go on with this it coming to my mind what the Author of the Letter saith viz. It is not â—o long since as to be forgottâ—n that the Maxim was That it is impossible for a Diâ—senâ—er not to be a Rebâ—l I may give a few Words in Answer hereunto It seems this to be the Maxim of the Church of England I sâ—ppose none questions but that the Bishop Justices and Grand â—ury oâ— the County of Devon were Church of England Men. And in their Preâ—ace to the â—irst Order of the tenth of Ianuary 1681. they thus express themselves viz. Forasmuch as Religion is the Foundation of Civil Government and while Faction and Schism is allowed and permitted in the Church we can never expect Peace and Quiet in the State and observing at this time as we have by sad Experience heretofore that those that dissent from us in our Established Religion of what Perswasion soever tho at seeming Variance and Difference among themselves yet they agree in their wicked attemps upon the Government and their traiterous Plots and Designs against the Kings sacred Person And therefore do unanimously resolve effectually to put the Laws in Execution against all Dissenters whether Papists or Sectaries And so by this its manifest that its their Maxim and â—o you may see what Quarter the Dissenters are like to have from the Church of England And in their Order of the second of October 1683. they thus express themselves We have been so abundantly convinc'd of the Seditious and Rebellious Practises of the Sectaries and Phanaticks who through the course of an Hundred Years since we were first infected with 'em have scarce afforded this unhappy Kingdom any interval of rest from their Horrid Treasons as that we must esteem 'em not only the open Enemies of our established Government but to all the common Principles of Society and Humanity it self wherefore that we may prevent their horrid Conspiracies for time to come we resolve to put the severest of the Laws which we find too Easie and Gentle unless enlivened by a vigorous Execution in force against ' em Now observe O how horrible Zealous and Charitable are these Church Men of England it seems nothing but a vigorous Execution of those Laws will serve their turn and what these Laws are may be seen in a Book lately put forth called Draconica which one whereof at least is Death without Conformity Are these the old Friends that the Author of the Letter talks of We may well say From such Friends Good Lord dâ—liver us far better venture to cast our selves on the new May we not justly reason aâ— the foâ—r Leperous Men did that were without the Gate of Samaria 2. Kings 7.3 4. That if they staid there they must Dye and the like if they went into the City and then resolved to fall into the Hoste of the Assyrians c. And what is our case better in relation to â—ur old Friends for by these Lawes here is nothing but loss of all visible Enjoyments for the Conventicle Act will soon fetch all that away and the Thirty fifth of Elizabeth takes Life and all aâ—d no Ransoâ— to be accepted but the Shipwrack of a good Conscience and so everlasting Life a dear purchase indeed And as for the former Wars in this Land may not the ground of them in a great measure be imputed to the violent Persecution of Church of England Men against People for their Consciences and as for the late Rebellion were none ingaged therein but such as these Men call Sectaries and Phanaticks It s well known to the contrary Was not Monmouth a Church of England Man And the Lord Gray a Church of England Man And other eminent Men who suffered and the most part of those that were coâ—demned on that account were such as did frequent the fervice of the Church of England so that the Church of England Men are â—ot the only Men free of thâ—t which is charged upon Dissenters And in their Order of the Tenth of Ianuary 1681 they say We order and agree that all Church-Wardens and Overseers for the Poor that shall give and allow any Relief to any that are able of Body and do not repair every Sunday to their Parish Church and there abide Soberly and Orderly during the whole time of Divine Service no such contribution in the passing their Act shall be allowed What Law there is for this I know not some wise Church Men of some eminency have declared their opinion otherwise but it seems by this Devenshire Law the Poor must come to Church or Starve and the Bishop highly appâ—oves this Order and saith They that signed it which were Twenty eight Justices of the Peace Have approved themselves good Subjects to his Majesty true Sons of the Church of England and good Patriâ—ts of their Country The Lord will have Mercy and not Sacrifice but these Men will have Sacrifice without Mercy And in their Order of the Twenty fifth of April 1682. they say Tâ—at no Person shall be permitted to keep Ale-Houses but such as repair to Church and produce a Certificate that they have at least twice in the Year last past received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper according to the usage of the Church to England Observe it seems right or wrong they must receiâ—e it or not sell Ale tho they Eat and Drink their own Damnation it s the usage of the Church of England but I find no such usage in the Church of Christ and now consider here is Sacrifice required but no Mercy to Body nor Soul. And in the same Order they say And we would have all those Schismatical Factious People who upbraid us with the countenancing Debauchery Ludeness to look back upon the late times and they will find it was their Schism and Rebellion and which was prologued with such an entry as this too which at first weakened and at last brake down the Banks of Government and let in upon us a deluge of Proâ—ainness and Irreligion These Men would seem greatly to be againsâ— Profainness and Irreligion and Zealous for Worshâ—ps and Services Have they forgot that within the memory of some yet alive how there was a Book for Recreation to be used on the Sunday for Dancing and other Sports was this to suppress or incourage Profainness and Irreligion and by whom was that Book set forth and ordered to be read in all Parish Churches in the Kingdom and several Ministers suspended for refusing to râ—ad it and when the Church of England after a time of interruption came again into her Seat what a Flood of Wickedness followed so that the King