Political Pamphlets | Page 9

is too late. Consider this in the
case of your anger against the Church of England, and take warning by
their mistake in the same kind, when after the late King's Restoration
they preserved so long the bitter taste of your rough usage to them in
other times, that it made them forget their interest and sacrifice it to
their revenge.
Either you will blame this proceeding in them, and for that reason not
follow it; or, if you allow it, you have no reason to be offended with
them; so that you must either dismiss your anger or lose your excuse;
except you should argue more partially than will be supposed of men of
your morality and understanding.
If you had now to do with those rigid prelates who made it a matter of
conscience to give you the least indulgence, but kept you at an
uncharitable distance, and even to your most reasonable scruples
continued stiff and inexorable, the argument might be fairer on your
side; but since the common danger has so laid open that mistake, that
all the former haughtiness towards you is for ever extinguished, and
that it hath turned the spirit of persecution into a spirit of peace, charity,
and condescension; shall this happy change only affect the Church of
England? And are you so in love with separation as not to be moved by
this example? It ought to be followed, were there no other reason than
that it is virtue; but when, besides that, it is become necessary to your
preservation, it is impossible to fail the having its effect upon you.
If it should be said that the Church of England is never humble but
when she is out of power, and therefore loseth the right of being
believed when she pretendeth to it: the answer is, first, It would be an
uncharitable objection, and very much mistimed; an unseasonable
triumph, not only ungenerous but unsafe: so that in these respects it
cannot be urged without scandal, even though it could be said with
truth. Secondly, This is not so in fact, and the argument must fall, being
built upon a false foundation; for whatever may be told you at this very

hour, and in the heat and glare of your perfect sunshine, 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 glimpse of her compliance
would throw you back into the state of suffering, and draw upon you all
the arrears of severity which have accrued during the time of this
kindness to you; and yet the Church of England, with all her faults, will
not allow herself to be rescued by such unjustifiable means, but
chooseth to bear the weight of power rather than lie under the burden of
being criminal.
It cannot be said that she is unprovoked: books and letters come out
every day to call for answers, yet she will not be stirred. From the
supposed authors and the style, one would swear they were undertakers,
and had made a contract to fall out with the Church of England. There
are lashes in every address, challenges to draw the pen in every
pamphlet. In short, the fairest occasions in the world given to quarrel;
but she wisely distinguisheth between the body of Dissenters, whom
she will suppose to act, as they do, with no ill intent, and these small
skirmishers, picked and sent out to piqueer, and to begin a fray amongst
the Protestants for the entertainment as well as the advantage of the
Church of Rome.
This conduct is so good, that it will be scandalous not to applaud it. It is
not equal dealing to blame our adversaries for doing ill, and not
commend them when they do well.
To hate them because they are persecuted, and not to be reconciled to
them when they are ready to suffer rather than receive all the
advantages that can be gained by a criminal compliance, is a principle
no sort of Christians can own, since it would give an objection to them
never to be answered.
Think a little who they were that promoted your former persecutions,
and then consider how it will look to be angry with the instruments, and
at the same time to make a league with the authors of your sufferings.
Have you enough considered what will be expected from you? Are you

ready to stand in every borough by virtue of a congé d'élire, and instead
of election be satisfied if you are returned?
Will you, in parliament, justify the dispensing power, with all its
consequences, and repeal the test, by which