such disappointments are come upon them so that they are ready to fret curse their God and their King Isa. 8.21 And nothing will satisfie such but â—uch Libâ—rty to themselves by which they may keep others in Bondage I say unto such Take heed how you meddle with Gods Prerogative his Rule in the Consciences of People he haâ—h long born with you on that account and your time is now to Râ—pent of what you have done and not strive â—o keep up that Power which God will destroy and be content to enjoy equal Liberty with your fellow Suâ—jeâ—ts and let â—hose Lâ—ws and Teâ—ts by which People hath beâ—n thus long eâ—slaved be taken awaâ— and that such a Magna Charta may be made so that iâ— may never be iâ— the Power of any Person or Persons whatsoever to Tyranize or bear Rule over the Conscience of any or Ruin or Oppress them in their Persons or Estates on that account but let every one walk in the way of his God and Worship him as God shall perswade him in his Conscience and then sit down quietly under his own Vine Micah 4.4 But it s the great Artifice of that Spirit that would usurp Authority over the Conscience to perswade People That if the Test be taken away then Popery will come in The Test is but about fifteen Years old and what hath kept it out before the Test as is said before Our God is a God of Justice and Mercy and he requires it of Men and let it be done to all and trust God with the event do not People thus reasoning manifest their forgetfulness of God as indeed they have in making and severely excecuting those Laws to the Ruin of many Conscientious People And now I cannot well omit to observe the Spirit and Temper of the Author of the Lettâ—r to Dissenters What Insinuations he uses sometimes as if the Church of England were blamed for Compliance and accounted Trimmers for enduring Dissenters and then how safe is it to keep to them and many Insinuations against the King as his dispencing Power tho to save many of his Subjects from Ruin and as if all he did were to advance his own Prerogative with many Insinuations tending to alienate the Hearts of his Subjects from him and then with a Spirit of high Arrogancy speaks proudly saying What-ever may be told you at this very hour and in the heat and glare of your present Sun-shine the Church of England can in a moment bring Clouds again and turn the Royal Thunder upon your Heads blow you off the Stage with a Breath if She would give but a Smile or a kind Word the least glimps of Her Compliance would throw you back into the state of Sufferings c. Now indeed if we measure the Church of England by this Letter and the Devonshire Order and Resolves we were of all People most Miserable however we are not affrighted at high Words Psa. 12.3 The Lord shall cut off all flattering Lips and the Tongue that speaks proud things But he farther saith the Church of England with all her Faults chuses rather to bear the weight of Power thenly under the burthen of hâ—r being Criminal It seems she would be accounted Innocent with all the voiolence and Cruelty Ruin and Spoyl she and her Purjured Informers and envious Priests hath done upon many honest consciencious Men but the just God will reckon with her for all and I cannot yet believe that she is so formidable that the King or we have need of her smiles or fear the want of them what vertue they may be of to us we know not the Informers and such like have had them as yet and indeed there must be a great change in her or us if ever they fall to our lot however we have lived under her cruel frowns and are yet alive tho she fâ—owns at that too when God shall fulfil that which he hath spoken by the Mouth of the Prophet Isâ— 33.1 Then let such beware and therefore its good for them not to be high minded but fear The Author sâith It cannot be said that she is unprovoked Books and Letters comes out every Day It seems it is but by Books and Letters c. It is not by Goals and spoyling of Goods and ruining of Widdows and Fatherless as she hath provoked God and many of his People and will she now be offended that she can do so no longer Why should she not be contented to enjoy equal Liberty with others God forbid that any of us should do to her as she hath done to us and that for our Consciences towards God but if the Lord will do it who or what can hinder it but her timely and unfained Repentance And now my dear Country-Men that are Dissenters by those Papers before mentioned you may see what is the minde of those Church Men and therefore as the Lord puts an oppertunity into your hands for future Liberty be diligent to inprove it and use the best endeavors for the removing those Laws and Tests by which so many have cruelly suffered and trust God who will bring to pass his great Work and if he have raised up and preserved the King for that purpass and endued him with Wisdom and Courage for that end le ts trust him also in his Gracious Declaration and often repeated Resolutions for that purpose and pray unto God for the prosperity of this Work in his Hands and not believe the vain insinuations of such who profess much Loyalty to him while he is serving their ends but in the disappointments thereof becomes his secret Enemies And if any inquire who and whaâ— I am they may assure themselves that I am a Dissenteâ— from the Church of England and have so been mâ—râ— then Forty Years and be assured also that I am not a Roman Cathâ—lick but oâ—e â—hat desires the Good of all Men and that none may â—uffer for Conscience sake and do pray for the King and 〈◊〉 haâ— are in Authority under him that we all may lead ouâ—â—ives in aâ—l Godliness â—nd Honesty and that as the Lord hath begun this greaâ— Work by him so he may live to see the same peâ—fected and that he may have his Reward from God accordingly and we all a peaceable Government under him that God may have the Glory of all for ever I am of the pure Religion which is to visit Fatherless and Widdows in their Affliction and keep unspotted of the World. Devon ss Ad General Quarterial Session Pacis Dom. Regis tent apud Castr. Exon. in pro Comitat. praed Secundo die Octobris Anno Regni Dom. nostri Caroli Secundi Dei gratia Angliae Scotiae Franciae Hiberniae Regis Fidei Defensor c. Tricessimo quinto Annoque Dom. 1683. WE have been so abundantly convinced of the Seditious and Rebellious Practices of the Sactaries and Phanaticks who through the Course of above One hundred years since we were first infeâ—ted 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 the time to come and secure as much as in us lies our most Gracious KING and the GOVERNMENT from the Fury and Malice of 'em we resolve to put the Severest of the Lawes which we find too Easie and Gentle unless enlivened by a vigorous Execution inforce against ' em 1. We Agree and Resolve in every Division of this Country to require sufficient Sureties for the good Abearing and Peaceable Behaviour of all such as we may justly suspect or that we can receive any credible Information against that they have been at any Conventicles Unlawful Meetings or at any Factious or Seditious Clubs or that have by any Discourses discovered themselves to be dis-affected to the present Established Government either in Church or State or that have been the Authors or Publishers of any Seditious Libels or that shall not in all things duely conform themselves to the present Established Government 2. Because we have a sort of False Men and more persidious than professed Phanaticks who either wanting Courage to appear in their own shape or the better to bring about their Treasonable Designs privately Associate with and encourage the Seditious Clubs of the Sectaries and with them Plot heartily against the Government and yet that they may pass unsuspected sometime appear in the Church with a false shew of Conformity only to save their Money and the better to serve their Faction That we may if possible distinguish and know all such dangerous Enemies we will strictly require all Church-wardens and Constables at all our Monthly Meetings to give us a full account of all such as do not every Sunday resort to their own Parish Churches and are not at the beginning of Divine Service and do not behave themselves Orderly and Soberly there observing all such desent Ceremonies as the Laws enjoyn And that they likewise Present unto us the Names of all such as have not received the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper in their own Parish Churches Thrice in the Year 3. Being fully satisfied as well by the clear Evidence of the late Horrid PLOT as by our own long and sad Experience That the Non-conformist Preachers are the Authors and Fomenters of this Pestilent Faction and the implacable Enemies of the Established Government and to whom the late Execrable Treasons which have had such dismal effects in this Kingdom are principally to be imputed and who by their present obstinate refusing to Take and Subscribe an Oath and Declaration That they do not hold it Lawful to take up ARMS against the KING and that they will not endeavour any Alteration of Government either in Church or State do necessarily enforce us to conclude that they are still ready to engage themsâ—lves if not actually engaged in some Rebellious Conspiracy against the KING and to invade and Subveâ—t his GOVERNMENT Wherefore â—e resolve in every Parish of this County to leave strict Warrants in the hands of all Constablâ—s for the Seizing of such persons And as an encouragement to all Officers and others that shall be instrumâ—ntal in the apprehending of any of them so as they may be brought to Justice we will give and allow Forty shillings as a Reward foâ— every Non-conformist Preacher that shall be so secured And we Resolve to prosecute them and all other such Dangerous Enemies of the Goverâ—ment and common Aâ—senters from â—hurch and Frequenters of CONVENTICLES according to the Dâ—rections of a Law made in the Five and Tâ—iâ—tieâ—h â—ear of the Râ—ign of Queen ELIZABETH Entituled An Act for the keeping Her Majesties Subjects in due OBEDIENCE Lastly That we may never foâ—get the infinite Mercies of Almighty God in the laâ—e Wâ—nderful Delâ—verance of our Gracious KING and His Dearest BROTHER and all His Loyal Subjects who were designed for a Massacre from the Horrid Conspiracy of the â—hanaticks and their Accomplices and that we may perpetuate as well our own Thankfulness as their Infamy that the Generations to come may know their Treachery and avoid and never trust men of such Principles more and also that we our selves may perform our publick duty to Almighty God before we enter upon the publick Service of our Country We Order Resolve and Agree with Advice anâ— oncurrence of the Right Reverend Father in God our much Honored and Worthy Lord Bishop to give and bestow for the Beautifying of the Chappel in the Castle of Exon and for the erecting of decent Seats there Ten pounds And we will likewise give and continue Six pounds to be paid yearly to any one of the Church of Exon whom the said Lord Bishop shall appoint to read the Divine Service with the Prayers lately appointed for the day of Thanksgiving on the Ninth of September last and to Preach a Sermon exhorting to OBEDIENCE in the said Chappel on the first day of every general Quarter-Sessions of the Peace held in the said â—astle to â—egin precisely at Eight of the Clock in the Morning And may the Mercies of Heaven which are infinite always protect our Religious and Gracious KING his Dearest BROTHER and every Branch of that ROYAL FAMILY and may all the Treasonable Conspiracies of those Rebellious Schismaticks be always thus happily prevented Hugo Vaughan Cler. Pacis Com. proed That the â—â—ntinued Care of His Majesties Iustices of the Peace for the County of DEVON for the Safety of His Majesties Saâ—râ—d Person the preservation of the Publick Peace and advancement of true Religion may be fuller known and have a better Effect I do hereby Order and Require all the CLERGY of my Diocess within the County of Devon deliberately to publish this Order the next Sunday after it shall be tendred to them Tho. Exon. Postscript I Intended brevity in this Paper for should I have set my self to answer all Particulars in the said Letter and Devonshire Orders it might amount even to a Volume to set forth the secret Treachery false Insinuations against the King in the Letter and cruel Intentions and Resolutions in the Devonshire Orders before mentioned However I thought meet that the last of thâ—se Orders may be with what is before expressed exposed to publick view that all may see the nature of that Spirit which hath exercised such Cruelty on Innocent People and what their Resolutions further were if the Lord for his Elect sake had not raised up and put it into the Heart of the King to shorten the days of their Power and against all the Jealousies and Fears suggested that this present Liberty and Freedom is but to make way for further Bondage and Slavery that so they may uphold those cruel Laws and Tests for a future opertunity to exercise their former Tyranny and is it Condemnable in
THE PLEA OF THE Harmless Oppressed Against the Cruel Oppressor With Allowance THis Kingdom having suffered great Miseries and Calamities for several Ages and Generations past and of late have been in a shaking unstable State and Condition by reason of the great Animosities and Divisions amongst the Inhabitants â—hereof and especially touching matters meerly concerning the Worship of God which alone belongs to the Great God to appoint and order whose Prerogative alone it is to rule in the Consciences of Men for whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin and the Scriptures â—aâ—th Let every one be fully perswaded in his own mind And now such is the dark depraved state of Man-kind that tho his understanding be so darkned and his mind thus blinded by the Prince of Darkness who rules in the Hearts of the Children of Men that he is always aspiring and meddling with those matters that God hath reserved alone to himself viz. to prescribe Rules and make Orders for the Worship of God tho the Lord hath threatned that because their fear to him is taught by Mens Precepts he will proceed to do a marvellous work and a wonder for the wisdom of their wise men shall Perish c. Jer. 29.13 14. Notwithstanding tho men generally in this Kingdom profess Scripture to be their Rule yet with what Violence and Cruelty hath the contrary been practised what Laws have been made under severe Penalties to force People to this or that Religion whether they have Faith in it or no or whether it be the true Religion or no for tho some that have been violent in forcing yet concludes there is no infallibility and so as some have been thus wicked in forcing others weak in conforming having been thus put on the Rack either to suffer the loss of all that 's near and dear to them in this World or make Shipwrack of Faith or a good Conscience and of everlasting Life in the World to come but others have been so stedfast and resolved so as not to Wound or Dâ—file their Conscience what Sufferings both in Prisons and spoyling of Goods have such undergone this present Generation may afford pregnant and plentiful Examples And now on serious consideration of those violent Practices in forcing in matters of Religion and generally by Men of no true Religion the forcing of many contrary to their Consciences to preserve their outward Interest and ruining others who chose rather to lose their outward Concerns to preserve their Conscience whether this hath not been one of the greatest causes of those great Revolutions Devastations and Overturnings that have happened in these latter Days let the wise in Heart judg And then what can better tend to the Stability Peace and Union of the Kingdom then the removing the causes aforesaid viz. those Laws by which many conscientious People have been Destroyed and others divided in their Hearts one from another and set one against another and indeed even the worse of Men let loose to serve the Devil conscientious People prohibited to serve God in the way they were fully perswaded God required of them And the Lord having now put it into the Heart of our King to relieve many under those great Oppressions and to propose a way for a future Settlement as by his Princely Dâ—claration is exprest in which he hath exceeded all his Ancestors that went before him of what wâ—ight is it for all his Loyal Subjâ—cts to joyn Heaâ—t and Hand with him in this Blessed Work so much tending to the Glory of Almighty God the Honour of the King and the Peace and Tranquility of this Kingdom And now there being a Generation of Men that appears greatly in opposition to this Work so happily begun contrary to the expectations of many which as the Heart of the King is upright before the Lord the Everlasting God will stand by him therein and frustrate all the Councels of those that oppose him which generally are such whose Interest is greatly concerned therein who may greatly pretend Worship as sometimes Demetrius the Silver-Smith did when his Crast was in danger And now there being several able Pens that have writ on this Subject to assert the Rights of Liberty of Conscience and Answer the great Objection to the contrary viz. Thaâ— if these Laws and Tests be taken away the great danger that may ensue thereby even the flowing in of Popery like a Flood Which Objection tho it have been suâ—â—iciently answered yet it was before me to cast in my Mite and offer a few Lines on this account having taken notice of a certain Pamphlet entitâ—led A Letter to a Diâ—senter and some Passages therein it s not my purpose to answer Particulars it being sufficiently done by other Hands The drift of that Paper seems to shew the daâ—ger of Repealing the Tests as if there weâ—e no other way to keep out Popery whose Principles and Practice have been so Dangerous and Cruel insinuating as if all the promises of free Liberty in the Kings Declaration were but pretences to bring in a greater Bondage and that those Addressâ—s to him were â—irst drawn for that purpose and indeed as if tâ—e King in his Dâ—claration were not Sincere but Falacious also intimating how safe it may be for the Church of England to be continued in Power what Indulgence she may give saying p. 5. If you had to do with thosâ— ridged Prelates who made it a matter of Conâ—ience to give you the least Indulgence c. but kept you at an uncharitable Distance and evâ—n â—o your more reasonable Scruples continued â—â—iff and inexorable For answer What kept out Popery before the Test was made it being but about â—ifteen Years old and whether it may not be kept out for the future without the Test as well as before it seems to me that ways sufficient have been proposed And as for the Kings sincerity in his Declaration for Liberty of Conscience what could he have done more then he hath done to assure his Subjects of his reallity therein and that they may confide in him accordingly but these Fears seems to arise from groundless Jealousies rather the just cause and evil Suspition usually proceeding from an evil Disposition that would uphold its own Interest more then the publick Good and would have a Liberty to keep others in Bondage And as to what the Church of England may do to give Indulgence and that if you had to do with those ridged Prelates c. some of their former Practices and Resolves may sufficiently manifest whereof some Instances may be given I may give two first the Orders of the Quarter Sessions in the County of Devon three of them in Print coming to my Hand the first the tenth of Ianuary 1681. the second the twenty fifth of April 1682. and the third the second of October 1683. to all of them is annexed the great Appâ—obation and Commendation of the Bishop of Exon with his order for all the Clergy in his Diocess
the Church of Rome and Justifiable in the Church of England It s left to the serious consideration of all that loves true Freedom rather then cruel Bondage whether it be not far better to accept and trust the King for the Liberty and Freedom promiseâ— in his Princely Declaration and since often confirmed by expressing the reality and sincerity of his Resolutions therein theâ— labour to uphold those Laws and Tests that may inable those Church of England Men to prosecute their cruel Intentions and Resolutions in those Orders express'd which tho but the Orders aâ—d Resolutions of the Bishop Justices and Grand Jury of one County yet without much straining may be taken for the general Resolutions of the Church of England whose Practice hath spoken forth as much Yet one thing more coming to my view I leave to be considerâ—d the Author of the Letter saith The Church of Rome doth not only dislike the allowing of Liberty but byits Principles it cannot do it I answer Is not the Principles of the Church of England and some others not far different tho Dissenting froâ— them the same their practices have evinâ—ed it However the King hath not only declared it to be his Principle That Conscience ought not to be forc't and that all Men ought to enjey the Liberty of their Conscience but hath performed the same accordingly And when the former King Charles the Second had giveâ— out a Declaration to that purpose what opposition did the Church of England make against it pretending a dislike of the manner of it but never offered to do in a way which they might account legal but rather crush'd it in the Bud plainly manifesting their Principles to be such that none should enjoy that Liberty but themselves and now are greatly offended that the King that now is hath done it so that its evident it should never be done if they could help it And now whether it be not best for the Dissenters to chuse the New Friends before the Old but they say This will not hold its good to hold it while we can and if it be taken away we are but where we were before some in Goals till Death set them at Libeâ—ty and others Goods spoyled by the worst of Men being let loose for that purpose and no guard for them unless purchased with the loss of a good Conscience I further answer suppose the Principles of the Church of Rome be such the Church of England is the same but can neiâ—her of these be Converted from such Principles they are not likely while they account them Just and Good Now that the Church of England do so account them their Sentiments in the Devonshire Orders do manifest and their Resolves to prosecute them accordingly and what else can be expected should hinder â—hâ—m for they will have their Saâ—rifice tho without Mercy to the poor Widdows and Fatherless for if they will not come to Church and stay their all the timâ— of their Divine Service they must have no Relief by theiâ— Devonshire Law and so here 's liâ—â—le hope of the Conversion of the Church of Eâ—gland from this Pâ—inciple and therefore its good that thosâ— Laws may be taken away that gives thâ—m pâ—wer to put them in Practice And now whâ—â—her that the King if his Principles were such as these Men suâ—geâ—t but himself otherwise affirms whether there be not a possibility that he may be Converted Was not Paul while Saul a Persecutor yet by the Lorâ—s Power Converted King Manasseth the like And now whether there is not as much hope of this Kings Conversion as the Church of England's if not from his Religion yet from this Principle which yet he hath declared is not his Principle and by his Practice hath put a limit to the same and proposed a way to cut oâ—f its Power forever and settle Fâ—eedom Liberty of Conscience so that it shall not be in the Power of after Ages to alter it and so let 's try whether the King intends as he says and let a Parliament when called be ready to joyn with him therein and I doubt not but the Everlasting â—lmighty God will add a Blessing unto a Work so acceptable to him And therefore let me conclude with this The Lord Bless and Prosper the King in this Work he hath begun and discover all the secret Conspiracies Councells and Contrivings of all that design to oppose or hinder the same and Crown him with Everlasting Life in the World to come Page 4. Line 10. for the read then p. 6. l. 8. f. Persecution r. Prosecutioâ— l. 25. f. Act r. accompt p. 7. l. 1. f. to r. of A Perswasive to Moderation to Church Dissenters in Prudence and Conscience Humbly submitted to the King and his Great Councel By one of the Humblest and most Dutiful of his Dissenting Subjects Remarks upon a Pamphlet Stiled A Letter to a Dissenter c. In another Letter to the same Dissenter Vox Cleri pro Rege Or the Rights of the Imperial Soveraignty of the Crown of England Vindicated In Reply to a late Pamphlet pretending to answer a Book entituled the Iudgment and Doctrine of the Clergy of the Church of England concerning the King Prerogative in dispencing with Penal Laws In a Letter to a Friend Advice to Freeholders and other Electors of Members to serve in Parliament In Relation to the Penal Laws and Tests In a Letter to a Friend in the Country Reasons for the Repeal of the Tests In a Letter to a Friend in the Country Old Popery as good as New. Or the Unreasonableness of the Church of England in some of her Doctrines and Practices and the Reasonableness of Liberty of Conscience In a Letter from a Private Gentleman in the Country to his Friend a Clergy-Man in the City The Great and Popular Objection against the Repeal of the Penal Laws and Tests briefly stated and considered Pax Redux Or the Christian Reconciler In Three Parts Being a Project for Re-uniting all Christians into one sole Communion Done out of French into English by Philip Ayres Esq. Three Letters tending to demonstrate how the Security of this Nation against all Future Persecution for Religion lys in the Abolishment of the present Penal Laws and Tests and in the Establishment of a New Law for Universal Liberty of Conscience A Rational Catechism Or An Instructive Conference between a Father and a Son. By the Author of the Three Letters All Sold at the Three Keys in Nags-Head-Court in Grace-Church-Street over-against the Conduit