Passing a Bill of Attainder in the first place against the Arch Rebell Head of that Republican Crevv vvho vvere Wafted hither from the Lovv-Countryes and then after vvards assisting their Soveraign vvith their Purses Persons to the utmost of their Povver till by the Blessing of God hee had vvholly suppress't a Dreadfull Rebellion vvhich hovvever small it might be in the beginning might have prov'd fatall to the vvhole Church as vvell as Kingdom On vvhich Wicked Bloody Designe vve may novv make the more severe Reflections as things have fallen out since that vile Rebellion after it vvas hatch'd in Hell had been harbour'd in Holland among our Neigbours vvho make a bad complement to England for raising them from a poor distressed state in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth to so High and mighty a Republick as to give chec to the most potent Crovvned Heads even to the greatest of their Benefactors and from disputing in the dayes of Charles 2 for the Soveraignty of the seas an act insolent enough to contend in the dayes of King Iames 2 for the Soveraignty of the Land and to fight for the Imperiall Crovvn of this Kingdome if not to vvear it on their heads vvhich it vvould badly become to trample it under their Feet vvhich vvould be the undoubted Issue of a Flemmish zeale mixt vvith Gunpovvder Brandy tho never somuch varnish'd over vvith Pretences of Liberty Religion Wee may learne the Favour of the Hollander in the stories of Amboina Bantam From Dutch Acts of Mercy tho some I do behold vvould not be convinced a fevv dayes ago that if the Dutch should land they intended us any harme the Lord deliver mee and all the Kings Obedient Subjects And let those vvho abound vvith so unaccountable absurd a sort of Charity only feel experiment their Compassion And novv from this seasonable and pertinent digression I am led to my third particular of that Visitation-Speech vvhich I am Epitomizing To vvit The unspeakable undeserved Mercy of Allmighty God in the blessed suppression of that Diabolick Rebellion vvhere vvith the Enimies of our King Church vvel-com'd our Soveraign to the Crovvne A sad vvelcome for a poor Weather-beaten Prince nevvly come into the Haven after a long terrible Storme lately banisht from Kingdome to Kingdome and vvhich hee had reason to thinke none of the least penances vvhich Heaven had imposed upon him driven into Holland among the Ducth vvho it is a Wonder did not use Violence to him since they did immediately upon his Coming to the Crovvne countenance support those Rebellious misereants that sought his Royall Life And vvhose good vvill vvell-vvishes to those unfortunate Rebells vvho landed in the vvest may novv Clearly be discover'd by the preparations vvhich they have been making ever since the Victory given by God to our Soveraign at King-Sedgemoor Which disappointment it is plaine greived them since they are at this very instant maintaining the same Quarrell publishing a no lesse Wicked Manifesto or Declaration only vvith this difference that these treacherous Enimies vvhich in this juncture of Affaires have impudently invaded us seem a little more angry than those traytors vvhich landed at lime vvith the God of Heaven for postponing their Stateholders pretences to the Crovvne by the Blessed Birth of a hopefull Prince vvhom God preserve To vvhom the Barbarous Dutch and some more barbarous among our selves have been more cruell than Bloody Herod in killing the Children by endeavouring to prove him illegitimate disinheriting him vvhich Providence the Kings vvisedome Care seems to have put out of dispute thereby destroying the Hopes felicity of three Kingdoms in depriving them of so unvaluable a Blessing as an heir Male to succeed to support the Monarchy But to returne the Remarkable Justice Vengeance of God in cutting of vvith great speed those Traytors last spoken of vvhich they had fostered in their Bosome and assisted vvith vessells and armes to land and begin a Rebellion in England and Scotland together vvith the many signall Providences of Heaven in frustrating all their Wicked designes bringing to nought all their mischeivous attempts and making that Rebellion intended for the Ruine of Church state a meanes as rightly improv'd it might have been the longer to uphold both should Convince I say even the most stupid Dutch Understanding of the heavy displeasure of God against such hatefull Hypocrisy as the Colouring over secular unjust nay treasonable bloody Machinations vvith the profession of Piety One of the Motto's vvhich they at present beare in some of their Flags as reported being pro libertate Religione for the Preservation of liberty and Religion That our Neighbours the Dutch of all others are become thus zealous devout concern'd for the liberties and Religion of England as they vvould have us imagine is some vvhat unintelligible Bibit Flander editque benè hath been by vvise men heretofore assigned for the Flemmins Character and I never since heard of his Reformation Such SAVIOURS OF OUR CHURCH God blesse her vvould be as bad as the late SAVIOURS OF OUR NATION If Heaven vvere incensed against us in such a degree as to put us under a necessity of such miserable Comforters and freinds to support us it vvould be hard to knovv vvhich to choose A Saviour from Amsterdam or Sala-Manca All I shall farther say before I proceed to the next particular is that as I do vvith all my soule thank blesse Heaven for Saving the Nation from one of these Saviours so I pray vvith most fervent Zeale in conjunction vvith all truly loyall subjects that vvee may in due time be saved from the Other Trusting in God nay resting vvell assured that vvee shall have a gratious Returne of our Prayers if our sins prevent not And so I ingage in my last particular of my first discourse namely Our indispensable Obligation both to God the King to live suitably to such unexpected Blessings of Heaven unmerited kindness of an indulgent Prince The mercy of God you were then told had been Wonderfull beyond expression to our Gratious Soveraign in first restoring him with his Royall Brothers after innumerable difficulties attending the Great Long Rebellion aftervvards preserving him from the danger of many Bloody Battells in defence of this nation against those very enraged Enimies vvhich would notwithstanding vvee feele their Malice make the vvorld beleive and some I find are easy enough to beleive it that they are our kinde nay Religious Freinds In the next place delivering him from that never to be forgotten danger of the Deep vvhen the GLOCESTER perish'd on the Lemon Oare vvhere God many vvayes manifested that hee vvas a Prince vvhich Heaven took into it's spetiall Extraordinary Protection Then rescuing him from a greater than any of the former danger even from the Madness of the People from the fury of the Rabble from the Rage of the incens'd Multitude
DIONYSIUS GRANVILLE DECANUS DUNELMENSIS AET. SVAE 54 Beaupoille pinxit G. F. Edelinck Sculp Jâ—peâ—sis Thomâ—â— Hacquet 〈◊〉 hâ—s pitis sui anno Dom. 1693. Serenissimum Dominum Jacobum Secundum Magnoe Britanioe Regem secutus est in Galliam Anno 1688. Propter fidelitatem Suam Domino Regi Principe Arausiacensi Coronam Anglioe Vsurpante deprivaÌ„tus fuit anno 1691. THE RESIGNED RESOLVED CHRISTIAN AND FAITHFUL UNDAUNTED ROYALIST In tvvo Plaine Farevvell-Sermons a Loyal Farevvell-Visitation-Speech Both deliver'd amidst the Lamentable Confusions occasioned by the Late FORREIGN INVASION HOME-DEFECTION of his Majesties Subjects in England By DENIS GRANVILLE D. D. Deane Archdeacon of Durham novv in Exile Chaplaine in Ordinary to his Majestie Whereunto are added Certaine Letters to his Relations Freinds in England shewing the Reasons and manner of his withdrawing out of the Kingdom VIZ A LETTER TO HIS BROTHER THE EARLE OF BATHE A LETTER TO HIS BISHOP THE BISHOP OF DURHAM A LETTER TO HIS BRETHREN THE PREBENDARIES A LETTER TO THE CLERGY OF HIS ARCHDEACONRY A LETTER TO HIS CURATS AT EASINGTON ET SEDGEFEILD Printed at Roüen by WILLIAM MACHUEL ruë S. Lo neare the Palace for JOHN BAPTISTE BESONGNE ruë Escuyer at the Royall sun and are to be sold by AUGUSTIN BESONGNE in the Great Hall of the Palace at Paris In the yeare of our Lord God M. DC LXXXIX TO THE READER THE Subject-matter of these ensuing sheets concerning Christian Resolution Humble Submission to the will of God in times of distresse according to the example of the holy Patriach Jacob Hearty subjection to the King according to the Doctrine of the Church of England our many Indispensable tyes of Conscience will with all those few who truly Feare God Honour the King sufficiently a pologize I hope for the publication of them in a Juncture an Age advanced to the highest contempt defiance both of Loyalty and Religion That Incensed God who hath for our manifold provocations and more particularly wee have reason to believe for our Carnall Confidence in the Arme of Flesh Disobedience to Gods Vice-Gerent powred out the vialls of his wrath on three Kingdoms is not like to be appeased without the serious practice of the contrary Graces in a manner as Universall and generall as hath been our late notorious Defection towards the King by an abhorr'd detestable Violation of the many sacred often repeated Oaths whereby all subjccts were obliged to support his Crowne Dignity Such is my sense of what is past Dread of Allmighty Gods future Indignation when I consider that I am how weak and unworthy soever advanced to a publick station in the Church of England that I cannot satisfy my selfe with mourning in secret but conceive it my indispensable duty to proclame after such a Stupendious Revolution as soon as well as I am able to all persons in the Kingdom my unfeigned Resolution to adhere to my Soveraigne in his distresse least I may by silence contribute to the increase of that dangerous Lethargy which hath seized on the People of England who by Resisting at length Deserting their Prince have Apostatized from their Religion I have helped possibly as litle as any one of my Brethren or fellow-subjects in the Nation to the first growth of this disease having for six tuentie years together openned my mouth widely on Topicks which would have prevented had they met vvith due regard our present misery for the truth whereof I appeale to the whole Jurisdiction whereto I have long related But however I cannot think my-selfe perfectly disengaged to ioyn in attempting the Cure or at least to help on vvhat is God bee thanked in some sort begun vvhereto the contradictory preposterous proceedings of the Kings enimies have assisted I mean to the oppenning the eyes of thousands in England to see already the madness of their Change the Errors of their late method to redresse Grievances by labouring to bring their Soveraigne to Termes all that vvas aimed at I do in Charity beleive by the Church of Englands fallen sons and to deliver the Nation from Domestick Evills by calling for Forreigne Assistance § The number of souls committed to my charge in the Cathedrall in my Archdeaconry in the Peculiar Jurisdiction depending on the Church of Durham are too many too considerable to be forgotten or neglected by me now incapacitated othervvise to Preach to them Therefore in this low Ebb of Loyalty vvhen Instances of firme fidelity to ones Prince are so rare the Dean of Durham it is hoped vvill be pardonned if he sets so much value on his ovvn Example as to make use of it as vvell as his vvords vvritings tovvards the Extricating the People vvith vvhose soules hee hath been Intrusted out of the Labyrinth vvhereinto they are Run by Non-Compliance vvith their Lavvfull Gratious Soveraigne ready Concurrence vvith a Forreign Usurper or at least tovvards the Hindring them from Running farther yet into it remaining stupidly in so sinfull and deplorable a state condition This induces me to vvish that I could bring the last vvords I spoke to the Clergy Ecclesiastick Officers of my Archdeaconry to the Members of the Cathedrall and Citty of Durham contained in the ensuing Discourses to the vievv and consideration of the vvhole County Diocesse that those vvho vvere absent vvhen I utterd them may as vvell as those present partake of my poor zeale and endeavours for their spirituall Advantage vvhich is all the Returne I can at present make for the temporall Benefits I have reaped in that country during my injoyment of sundry considerable Preferments among them If such Communication of my Papers cannot be so soon so successefully effected as I would by reason all Intercourse betwixt the Kingdom of England this wherein I reside is stop'd I am willing in the meane while to let the world see that I am not Idle or Unconcerned but do all that in me lyes towards this honest End whereby if no proffit accrews to them or others I shall ease my mind deliver my soule If any are pleased to censure contemn or reject my writings because they find nothing in them Learned or Elaborate ot where of the Age is over-fond Controversial I desire them to consider that Polemik Learning Divinity are things I never did nor shall pretend to And that in the month of November 88. when I spake to the Clergy in the first week of December following when I preached in the Abby at Durham as ill as things did portend I little dreamt that my Soveraigne or selfe should be put under an unavoidable necessity to fly in to an other Kingdome or that I should be obliged to make use of such meanes methods to Evidence my sincerity in my Religion the first thing I should strive to Evince to all those to whose spiritual Assistance I administer otherwise
in their Misfortunes and thereby to demonstrate that my poor distressed Mother in the greatest and most generall defection as this seemes to be that ever vvas among any King of Englands subjects vvill never vvant some to bear testimony to the truth of her Doctrine vvho according to the Exemple of Christ and his Apostles doth maintaine the practice of Allegiance and intire submission and subjection to all Lavvfull supreme povvers deputed by God as his Vice-Gerents to Governe the vvorld Hovv great a contradiction hereof soever the last years transactions in England have proved vvhich hath given the greatest vvound that vvas ever yet given to our Church the Doctrine of Non-resistance Remaines on such authentick Record in the Church of Englands Printed Homilies against Rebellion vvhich I have in some sort Epitomised in the conclusion of my discourse that your Majesty as vvell as the King vvil I hope bee pleased to continue your Charitie to our Ecclesiastick Constitution vvith liberty to its members to Exercise their Religion and thinke no vvorse of the Parent for the disobedience of the Children but render that Iustice to the Church of England vvhich is due to all Churches to vvit to bee Iudged by her Doctrine Discipline and Order vvhich I am sure never did carry a long vvith them any Rebellion and not by the practice or Conversation of its Members VVhereby if the vvhole Christian Church vvas to bee Iudged it vvould in many things appeare more vile then some parts of the vvorld overrun vvith Turcisme and Paganisme Offerring to God my most fervent devotions for the preservation and Restoration of the King the Life and Happinesse of the Prince and out of Gratitude to Heaven in a most particular manner for your Majesty vvho have been Instrumentall to the Greatest blessing vvhich hath been these many yeares conferred on the Kingdom in bearing and bringing forth an Heir male for the support of the Monarchy I do vvith all humility implore yours together vvith his Majesties Patronage as vvell as beg Pardon for this Presumption and vvith the most profound respect imaginable subscribe my selfe YOUR MAJESTIES MOST DUTIFULL EVER FAITHFUL SERVANT SUBIECT DENIS GRANVILLE A DISCOURSE CONCERNINC CHRISTIAN RESIGNATION AND RESOLUTION WITH SOME LOYALL REFLECTIONS ON THE DUTCH INVASION Preached in the Cathedrall Church of Durham on the 1. Wensday in Advent the sunday follovving being the 5. 9. of December 1688. By DENIS GRANVILLE D. D. Deane Archdeacon of Durham novv in Exile Chaplaine in Ordinary to his Majestie TWO SERMONS CONCERNING CHRISTIAN RESOLUTION And Humble Submission to the VVill of God in Tymes of Distresse on the Holy Patriarch Iacobs Farevvell VVords to his sons at Parting IF I BE BEREAVED OF MY CHILDREN I AM BEREAVED Gen. ch 43. v. 14. FOR the better Understanding of the Story it Will be requisire to reade the precedent Words from the 11. verse to the text v. 11. If it must be so novv do this take of the best fruites of the Land in your Vessels and carry dovvn the man a Present a little balme a little honey spices mirrhe nuts almonds v. 12. And take double money in your hands and the money vvhich vvas brought againe in the mouth of your sacks carry it againe in your hand peradventure it vvas an Oversight v. 13. Take also your Brother and arise go againe unto the man. v. 14. And God Almicghty give you Mercy before the Man that hee may send avvay your other Brother Benjamin IF I BE BEREAVED OF MY CHILDREN I AM BEREAVED THe Approaching Holy Feast of CHRISTS NATIVITY or Coming in the Flesh doth Every yeare require a Solemne preparatory time of Devotion And that it may not want such due respect the Church takes care in its preceding Exercises Every Sunday service during ADVENT hath an Eye to that pious End purpose In pursuance whereof wee have in this Cathedrall revived an Antient Religious Custome Two dayes of every week throughout this season to wit wednesdays fridays are Sermon Dayes dedicated to Prayer Fasting to accompany those Exercises of Repentance which are allwayes thought a necessary part of out Preparation But Gods Impending Iudgements for our sins which at this time threaten Bloud Confusion do summon us to add to those exercises and by some voluntary impositions of Dayly Devotion Mortification to turne this Advent in to A little Lent giving up our selves wholy to the Exercise of Piety Prayer beseeching God that hee will not Enter into Iudgement vvith us and for our provocations give us up as a Prey unto our Enimies making us a scorne derision to them that are round about us It is lawfull nay Religious by Devout Prayer to Use Violence to the Kingdom of Heaven and if wee did in this our Distresse betake our selves to so sure a Refuge making use of the Holy Weapons of the Antient Christians PRAYERS TEARES crowding up to the horns of the Altar rendring all our Devotions more prevalent by the vveekly Reception of the Lords Supper wee that meet in Gods House if we came with that spirit Which wee ought might do our King and Country better service than those who fight for him in the Field What hath been said I premise in regard to the present Season of ADVENT and the Ensuing Feastivall of CHRISTMAS by reason my text doth not respect Either of them so particularly as the Storme Danger Which is imminent doth loudly call for the Holy Resolution asvvell as submission of Pious Jacob. And having so done I shall before I enter on the Words Move you to Pray according to the Canonicall Exhortation of the Church Yee shall pray for the Holy Catholieck Church of Christ that is for the vvhole Congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the VVorld more espetially for the Churches of Great Britaine Ireland And here in I am to require you more particularly to pray for our Dread Soudraigne Lord Iames by the Grace of God King of England c. Yee shall likevvise pray for our Gratious Queen Mary Katherine the Queen dovvager his Royall Higness the Prince of VVales c. Concluding your Devotions allwayes with the Lords Prayer Our Father c. THe PATRIARCHS were now returned from their first journey Sermon I into Egypt and as they little thought from full-filling their Brother Iosephs dreame They had Bovved to him whom they thought they had Robbed of all Honour and been Fed by him whom they once conspired to Starve So inviolable is Gods purpose in things to man impossible OLD JACOB here at first with greatest Joy wellcomes home his weary sons but excesse of gladnesse is commonly attended on with Greife the end of Ioy is Mourning Whiles hee is yet congratulating their good successe in their Journey the sad newes of Simeons Imprisonment silenceth his mirth Which Greife too is attended on by a greater the necessity of his Deare Benjamins going into Egypt Crosses in
our Calling this our Election sure by adding good vvorkes to our Faith in doing where of wee shall never fall It was an Heathen Cannon that Fortune should not be prayed unto but with hands in Motion intimating that no Sacrifice could be accepted from a sluggard And it is the Apostles Rule wee all know to add Vertue to Faith industry to Prayer For to cry God helpe not to put to our helping hand is as vaine as to labour without Gods Helpe Not as if his Power were insufficient but because our Endeavour is required to entitle us to his blessing Shall the Plovvman burne his Plow or Marriner his ship because God hath said I vvill never leave thee nor forsake thee Shall vvee not provide decent cloathing because vvee must not take inordinate care for Raiment Because CHRIST sayth take no Care vvhat yee shall eat shall vvee therefore expect another vvhite sheet from Heaven Or vvith the suggard in the Fable lye on the ground and expect the falling of the figgs vvith Open mouth Which is not to serve God but to tempt him Such idlenesse becomes none vvorse than a souldier of CHRISTS band The vvatch-man must vvatch though it be God that preserveth the citty His vineyard must be husbanded his Garden drest Paul must plant Apollos vvater before God give the increase God could have healed Hezekiah vvithout a Bunch of figs. Our Saviour no doubt could have spoken the vvord to the blinde man and hee should have received his sight but that his actions might bee our Examples hee uses meanes for the Cure hee anointed his eyes vvith clay bad him vvash in the poole of Siloam before hee could see And in the 27 of the Acts of the Apostles hee gives S. Paul all the soules in the ship His promise could not faile yet their ovvn sedulity vvas required to their Safety by svvimming using broken pieces you vvill find by the story they all came safe to the Land. For hovv certain soever things are in respect of him vvho knovveth the End of all things as vvell of those vvhich shall be as those vvhich are or have been they are not so in respect of our knovvledge as you have heard vvherefore vvee must not idly Cast our selves upon his Providence but humbly submit our selves unto it allvvayes shevving our devotion in Prayers against an Evill tho vvee cannot our Povver in overcoming itt Discreet Diligence must accompany our Affection Faith must be our Anchor vvee must Rovve vvith Feare even vvith Feare Trembling in the least matter of our Salvation Not like those vvhose Faith dares speak as boldy to their Maker as their Neighbour and hear his Embassage vvith lesse reverence nay vvith like familiarily as the Message from an Acquaintance searching into the very secrets of God and presuming to learne vvhat God hath refused to teach A Generation vvhich may beknovvn by their Boldnesse vvho take Christs Office upon themselves and vvill vveed out those tares vvhich hee said should grovv vvith the vvheat till the Harvest And like true Pharisees they separate themselves from the Congregation of their Btethren thinking themselves more Holy than they more skillfull in Gods Counsells than if they vvere imediately inspired from on high intrepreting Gods Deepest Misteries vvithout an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at first sight yea and that more sanctifiedly too than vvith a Months preparation Daniel I doubt not as vvise a man as holy as any of these meu Ecclesiastick or Layick◠vvill not presume to intrepret so much as a Dreame vvithout respite and consideration Hee first Prayes you vvill finde vvith his Company to God for Mercy concerning the secret Nor vvill Hester speake unto her King untill shee be assisted vvith the prayers of all the Ievves in Shushan And S. Iohn as S. Ierome reports in his prologue upon S. Matthevv intreated by the Bishops of Asia his Brethren to vvrite his Gospell against the Heriticks Ebion Cerinthus first required a publick Fast to be solemnized throughout the vvhole Church Such preparation in a Proportion is requisite in our lesser affaires Rashly to enter the lists of any businesse espetially that vvhich is sacred is impudently to Challenge a Blessing not to entreat one vvhich profane Neglect of Duty hovv slightly soever men esteem of it savours of Infidelity Atheisme For vvho can Confesse a Deity and be ignorant of its concurrence to all actions and vvho can knovv this vvithout great impiety forbeare to implore its assistance To ask Helpe of God the Creatour can be no prejudice to man his Creature but his greatest advantage highest Honour Nether do mans ordinary meanes endeavours detract from Gods Allsufficient Providence but declare its Povver Wee sceing the slendernesse of our ovvne strength vvith greater admiration acknovvledge his Omnipotence vvhich vvorketh all in all Our Good old Father Iacob here well knew the Povver Mercy of God yet doth hee not presume in a danger though hee be resolved to beare it but uses his best meanes his faithfull Heart trembling Hand are imployed together The one in providing Presents for the Ruler of Egypt the other in sending up Prayers to God. If the first cannot persvvade him the last shall command him Faith is the ground of his diligence Hee first relyes on Gods Mercy and Feare the Rule of his actions Hee goes about to pacify the Rule Well then quoth hee if it must bee so my sons do thus take of the best fruits of the Land in your vessels alittle balme alitle Honey spices mirrhe nutts and Almonds c. His Prayers second his outward meanes And God Allmighty sayes hee give you Mercy before the Man that hee may send avvay your other Brother and Benjamin and what soever happens I will endure it yea IF I BE BEREAVED OF MY CHILDREN I AM BEREAVED Sermon II HITHERTO you have heard the necessity manner of Submitting to the VVill of God. I shall now enter on the 3 Part. of my text shew you the Benefit redounding from such submissions Part. III This casts mee un avoidably upon a Common Place and one of the most Common of Common Places even that of Adversity or afflistion as often preached as felt However there will be noe cause to passe it over since I am naturally led thereto by the Time as well as my Text a Time of Iudgement of VVar of Danger threatning our Poor Church Kingdom with a heavy measure of affliction large portion of this Bitter Cup which I feare is like to bee felt or tasted unlesse a speedy Returne in Duty to God the King prevent by our selves our Posterity While temporall crosses remaine which dye only with Man wee must preach their Necessity Benefit The one as absolute the other to the Godly certaine To Doe Good suffer vvrong after CHRISTS blessed Example is an Especiall part of Christian life Duty Your Diligence hath been required for the first
accuse mee over rigidly for not doing that for vvhich I am not so vvell as others quallified either by nature or education It hath been my fate to have suck'd in other Principles to have been trained up under better Tutours nay possibly in my vvhole Make to be so contrived and composed that it is not in the Povver of man to nevv-mould mee into that sort of Animal vvhich can blovv Hot Cold vvith the same Breath and is able to save his stake vvhat ever Card turnes up trump To these vvho shall condemne it in mee as a deplorable piece of Madness or folly to talk or vvrite avvay such a Considerable Revenue as Providence my Kind Patrons have bestovved on mee vvhich I am like to do by setting my name to vvhat I print I must declare that I am one of those Fooles S. Paul speakes of vvho that I may bee vvise am vvilling in the sight of the vvorld to become a Foole valuing my Innocency Quiet of Conscience more than I do the best Deanery or Bishoprick in Christendom And as nothing yet hath tempted mee I thank God to Compliment avvay my Religion tho I have been by some so reproached upon Gods raising setting over us a Prince of a different Communion So no Consideration vvhatsoever I rely on Gods Grace shall be able to prevaile vvith mee to prostitute it by falling dovvne to adore the multitude or any Image tho it be of Gold that shall be set up by the People Those therefore that attack mee by arguments or Threats in letters to seduce mee back and dravv mee into a Compliance vvith the nevv Government that I might set my hand to she raising up the Babell vvhich they are building in England may save their labour ink For till they have confuted the Doctrine vvhich they have preached as vvell as the sound Divinity of their Mother vvhich they have forsaken they may cease from offerring mee other arguments to convince mee And till they persvvade mee to set a higher value upon my money than I do on the Grace of God prize my temporall intrest more than mine Integrity vvhich no magick I have yet met vvith all hath been able to effect so as to fill my pockets they may also forbeare to affright mee vvith Deprivation I have long considered studied the point of Allegiance vvhich I ovve to my only Leige Lord Soveraigne King Iames 2 and to no other and am firmely vvithout doubt or scrupule satisfied that my Religion vvill not permitt mee to svveare fidelity to any besides him That the greatest part of my Brethren notvvithstanding the faithfull frequent endeavours I have used to establish them in Conformity Loyalty should forsake Gods Vice-Gerent to do Homage to the Peoples is an unexpressible greife to my soule To prevent the Incurring such guilt and the lamentable scandall of such Apostacy I did in due time as may appeare from the date of the ensuing Address expose my selfe to much censure by delivering my mind to an Auditory vvhich seem'd ready to run themselves as they have done into that Yoke servitude vvhich I vvho had greater temptations than others vvas resolved to run out of the Kingdom from my preferment rather than submit to And to demonstrate that I am after great thought fullness much prayer to God to direct mee of the very same mind here in France on Nov. 15. 1689 that I vvas in England on the same day of the month 1688 as vvell as desirous to expresse my vvillingness to do all that in mee lyes to avvaken those out of their sin vvhich I could not confirme in their Duty I am as vvilling to commit to the Presse the discourse I then made Tho I vvell knovv that I shall in so doing in case these Papers get into England and considering mens present Genius Actings there be exposed to the danger of running as it vvere the Gantlet through the Nation D. G. Trom my study in Roüen Nov. 15. 1689. ADVERTISEMENT IF this or the former Piece have the good fortune to find the way back to Durham and fall into the hands of those Persons that were present when they were spoken for whose sake they were first deliver'd and since Printed they may chance to take notice in the perusall if their memories do not faile them that the Authour is more sparing than heretofore or ever used to be in his Commendation of the Constitútion of the Church of England and more particularly in the Praise of its well compiled Liturgy which he was wont upon all occasions very highly to extoll In which case they are desired to understand and consider that these Papers have been Printed in a R. Catholick Country where they could not be permitted to pass the press without the perusal approbation of R. Catholicks and that it was a great mark of favour and an espetiall token of their present forwardness to concurre with and encourage Loyalty to suffer Sermons and A speech spoken by a Divine of the Church of England to be printed here at all notwithstanding the castigations which have been made by the retrenchment of sundry expressions omitting all Comparisons which did carry with them any Reflections And therefore the aforesaid people have no just cause given them to conceit that the Authour hath in any respect Changed his sentiments of the Religion of the Church of England which he hath ever professed where in he desires and resolues by gods Grace to live and Dye If the aboue mentioned Auditors who discouer too apparently that there is among them at home what ever is in the Authour abroad a lamentable Change or any other sort of Readers of our own or of any Forreigne Nation fancy him guilty of too much sharpness of expression they are intreated to remember or to be informed that what ever he hath utterr'd in a tyme of great Heat Hurry hath been spoken against such as did invade his own Native County with unexpressible injustice unnaturallness as well as many heightning aggravations for want gratitude and that it was a speciall Duty in every one of his Character his station at that time to expose as much as they were able an invasion which was beyond all precedent without paralell In so much that if a satyricall Invective of which the Authour was never a great louer be at any time allowable in the writings of a Divine it cannot be denied surely but that it may passe here in this Instance espetially Considering that he did very seasonably shew such his indignation even before the Forces that Landed had rowled to so great a number but that they might have been Opposed nay suppressed by any one County of England which would have shewed it selfe right valiant faithful and unanimous And if some 〈…〉 with 〈…〉 during the Reign of in raiâ—ing subjects 〈…〉 in the 〈…〉 of Doctor â— to dethrone their lawfull Soveraigne had done
enimies as allso passing over the Characters of a right Loyall and unalterably Obedient Subject to the King and of a true right bred son of our Church together vvith that Man of Indifference that pretends to be both yet is neither vvhich I did then very largely set before you as vvell as the motives to become the tvvo first that is Good subjects Good Christians Waving I say these and some other matters that time vvill not permitt mee to reflect on I shall only exercise your ears at present vvith hearing four Cautions or Directions vhich I recommended to my Auditory in the Conclusion of that Charge to the Clergy to vvit First that that just reasonable and moderate Ground of Feare vvhich every VVise man ought to have in our Circumstances might drive uâ— more close home to the Throne of Grace and Gods Altar and make us all acquaint our selves better than ever heretofore vvith our Hearts Consciences taking such care of the internall exercise of Grace vertue in the soule vvherein cheifly is the Kingdom of God living in such Obedience both to God the King as become the best Christians Subjects least that our Mercifull God Gratious Prince on vvhose Grace fâ—avour our Felicity did then greatly depend should for our past or future provocations be incensed and deprive us of the Liberty vvee injoyed in the Exercise of our Establish'd Religion The second Direction vvas to take care of the young Generation and never to suffer any Youth to depart from the parishes or families or approach to the LORDS SVPPER vvith out due Instruction and a sufficient degree of knovvledge and Devotion Hic labor hoc opus est And if you vvere for any vvorks of supererogation I prayed you to practise them in this course permitted to us Blessed be GOD his VICE-GERENT nay required of us by his Majestie in his pious DIRECTIONS to PREACHERS as before mention'd vvhereto vvee all ought as I then Caution'd you to keep close and the neglect vvhereof hath much contributed vvithout dispute to our present misery A Third Advice vvas to bevvare least a Vulgar notion of Loyalty obedience to your Superiours in Church State might debauch y ur Vnderstanding and make you more suspitious of your Governours Inchroaement on the Peoples priviledges than of the Peoples Sacrilegious Invasion on the Prerogative of GODS VICE GERENT When vvee cannot discover in England espetially in the family of the Stuarts any One Instance of the fâ—irst but may every day find out lamentable Examples of the latter And that you vvould remember be assured that the Religion of your Soveraign did not one jot either lessen or somuch as restrain the Authority or Povver vvhich hee received from GOD and not from his subjects as also be more afraid of and averse to Popular Tiranny than the Abuses of Government in a Monarch vvho may be supposed to have as vvell as his subjects knovledge Grace Conscience of Duty to his Soveraign in Heaven to restrain him from an extravagant exercise of his Povver and to informe him that his Account to God vvill be more heavy than that of his subjects in case of Male-Administration My fourth last Counsell vvas to be just to all men both to the Romanist and Dissenter That your Aversion to the Doctrine of any Party tho never so Contrary to your ovvn should not in any manner exceed your Love Concerne for the Religion you profess'd and tempt you to encourage barefaced Violations of Truth Justice vvhen it is in the Concerne of an Enimy or Adversary to your Opinions SPEECH IV. THERE remaines novv only the last of my foure Addresses to be brought to your vievv before I ingage in my Conclusive Reflections vvhich consisted of three heads vvherein I spoke by vvay of Caution I desire you to remember rather than accusation Three things I did advise and beseech you in a particular manner to take heed and be vvare of And so I shall in the name of God as long as I have the Honour to be your Archdeacon Things vvhich really portend much vvotfe than most grounds usually assigned in this suspitious Age for Fears Jealousies The first vvas A preposterous zeale against our Adversaries accompained too often vvith a spirit of Contradiction And vvhich distills more aversion into us and disgust against our Adversaries Person than Principles Inclining us to Oppose confute him right or vvrong Concluding all to bee evill in our Antagonists tho oftentimes very Commendable and fondly Over-vveening all to be Good tho some times very unchristian in our selves and others of our Persvvasion A mallady vvhich hath been long the Disease of our Nation Our Poor Church ever since the Puritan Faction began labouring under the same in such degree that a Spirit of Contradiction hath been Commonly made the Cheife standard measure of many mens Religion Devotion and the distance they kept from the vvays Sentiments of their Opposers look'd on as an infallible Mark of the vertue of their ovvn Persons and Truth of their profession Which Opinion and Judgement of matters tho never so popular are very false Weights Measures By reason at this rate the vvorst men must allvvayes be the greatest saints since in them dvvdls most Hatred animosity bitter Aversion to all that is not their ovvne Horrid vices are usually the Parents of this spirit vvhich I set before you desire you may all Loathe The second thing I caution'd you against vvas mens Declining in Loyalty Love to their Prince on account of his Religion Which doth not in any manner dissolve or abate the Bonds of Duty Respect in the subject But on the Contrary Favours received from such a Prince such as vve have received as I shevved then more largely oblige subjects to some more officious respects than are to be paid to a kind Prince of our ovvn Persvvasion The third thing vvhereof I told you that vvee ought to bevvare vvas Ingratitude to both God the King for those spetiall Mercies and Acts of Grace vvhich vvee receive from one and the Other even during our Murmurrings and Complaints Ingratitude to the King I then informed you vvas inseparable from Ingratitude to God A Good Gratious Prince being a Choice Gift of Heaven one of the greatest blessings vvhich a Nation can enjoy And hee that vvill not from the Bottome of his Heart returne his thanks Praise for so inestimable a Jevvel is a mounster of Unthankfullness to the Common Governour of the Universe the Greatest of Benefactors Reflections on some of the points repeated the circumstances of the Nation at the time of the delivery of this speech in reference to the Invasion AND novv Reverend Brethren I have by the assistance of God finish'd the Task vvhich I propos'd to vvit of Refreshing your memory vvith the recitall of the most important matters vvhich I recommended to your
Consideration in all my Publick Visitation-discourses since the Death of the King. And I am sure that there is not one of them but is very vvorthy of your thoughts espetially in such a Juncture of Affaires as obliges every man in authotrity to use the most povverfull Arguments vvhich ever vvere used to raise men to a high pitch of Loyalty affection to the Crovvn of England I might very properly profitably farther reflect and inlarge on any of the past particulars in these our Circumstances But I shall confine my selfe cheifly to the tvvo last vvhereon I did most breifly Touch as most pertinent for our Meditation in this day of Rebuke Trouble All men are novv I suppose sufficiently Convinced vvho do not labour under some desperate Delusion of the Mischeivous designe of our Treacherous neighbours vvhom vvee shall bee ashamed nay a fraid any more surely to stile Freinds or to cry they vvill do us no harme language wherevvith my eares have been long grated it being novv by Proclamation Treason so to do If the Prince of Oranges landing vvith 14000 Traytours or supporters Abettors of Treason at his heels the particulars of vvhose forces you have in the last Gazette together vvith some Heads of his Rebellious Declaration vvill not convince men that there vvas such a thing as an Evill intended Invasion and that there can be no good designe to our Liberty nor Religion by so manifest a Violation of both I shall give them up for lost for men void of common sence and not spend any more paines or breath upon them As soon as his Majesty told us in his late Proclamation that hee had undoubted advice of a Wicked Designe to invade Conquer his Kingdom I did thought it my duty so to do firmely beleive it and have ever since accordingly in my poor sphere not only offer'd my most fervent Prayers to Heaven for the protection of our Gratious King Church Kingdom but have done all that in mee lay both by vvord example to exhort every person Committed to my Charge to defend our King and Country And if all persons had been as forvvard as my poor unvvorthy selfe to give credit to rely on the Word of our Prince vvhich I have not yet doubted the Nation had been it is manifest in a better state of Preparation Tho God be praised his Majestyes vigilance hath been such that if his Officers continue faithfull the Kingdom is in no bad posture to receive requite the malice of our Enimies triumphing at last as gloriously over these inveterate Foes as hee did three yeares ago over the last rebellious villains vvhich landed in the same Country Thirty thousand vvel-disciplin'd loyall subjects under the banner of so valiant a Prince as ours are able undoubtedly by the blessing of God despaire not to encounter any Prince in the vvorld attended on but vvith 14000 Rebbells By vvhich appellation I do no injustice since in the Case of Rebellion Treason as in that of murder all companions are adjudged to be accessaries and justly are to under go their triall as vvel as the principall Actors The Goodnesse of our own Cause the Badness of our Enimie's is as cleare as the sun put beyond all mann'er of doubt or suspition Neither of which can be brought into Question by any person but such an one as having suck'd in sedition with his milk is Antimonarchicall whiles hee pretends to be Antipapisticall in his nature and so much more zealous for the Name of Protestant the worst thing in it than for the Religion of Protestants as to become a Well-willer to Turks against Christindom wishing success to Infidells because Cerent Tecli Bearing the name of a Protestant a Rebell and an Apost ate or as bad is one of their number Wee must not think so blasphemously of the Deity that the God of Heaven a God of Purity Truth can have more favour to such a Rebellious Rout than to a Loyall Army fighting under the Royall standard of their lavvfull Prince in defence of an antient Monarchy most excellent Government No no wee must not imagine that God who is of purer eyes than to behold any iniquity vvith approbation can have regard to such a Gathering together of the frovvard and Insurrection of VVicked Doers as holy David heartily Prayes against in the 64. Psalme vvho have vvhet their tongue like a svvord and shoot out their Arrovvs even bitter vvords Where Davids Character of the Wicked you vvil easily perceive if you vvill take the pains to peruse the whole Psalme exactly agrées with our Invaders Both the wickedness secrecy of their Undertaking having been such as hee describes But as his Character Complaint in the former part of the psalme doth well agree with those of our Enimies so I trust in God and heartily pray that the latter prophetick part may be verified of them likewise v. 7. 8. 9. But God shall suddenly shoot at them vvith a svvift arrovv that they shall be vvounded yea their ovvn tongues shall make them fall insomuch that vvho so seeth them shall laugh them to scorne And all men that see it shall say this hath God done for they shall perceive it is his vvorke Many considerations together with Gods Providence in bringing this and other pertinent psalms to the Churche's use since certain intelligence of the Enimyes landing do for my particular incourage mee to put my Trust in God that hee will not give us up I am sure hee will not unlesse our sins rise to a higher Pitch than theirs as a Prey to these our Malitious Enimies If all orders of men amongst us vvho have transgress'd his righteous Lavvs and render'd to use the words of our prescribed prayers both his Mercies Iudgements ineffectuall to our amendment do but unfeignedly confesse to God Heartily repent for such their Provocations turning avvay from their wickdnesse for vvhich it is not yet too late Hee vvill be pleas'd to turne avvay from his vvrath vvhich novv hangs over our heads doth greivously threaten us But let us all rest assured that vvee of England can never be throughly reconcil'd to Almighty God and somuch I dare in his name to assure you vvithout repenting of our Ingratitude of the late Odious unparallell'd Ingratitude to our Soveraign as vvell as himselfe Which brings mee home to the Topicks that are of all other at this time most pertinent for our Consideration Which Ingratitude I say your Ingratitude to God the King vvhich among other sins innumerable impieties many of vvhich I feare cry for veageance doth dare Heaven not only to chastise us it selfe but to make us to be rebuked of our neighbours and a By-vvord among the Heathens suffering us to be laught to scorne had in derision of those that are round about us The least vvhich the best of us at this Crisâ—s may justly dread for our late as vvell as former
accepted thereof at the very first offer of the People Secondly The Exercise of the Kings Prerogative in dispensing with some Lawes on Extraordinary Emergencyes was thought a Burden Intollerable But it hath been no Crime since in the Subject to dispense with all They having got as they thinke what they have long Contended for the Supremacy in their own hands Thirdly The Introducing of Arbitrary Power was the Dread of most men now they are contented to enjoy nothing else Fourthly It was Judged unpardonable Tyranny in our Soveraigne to touch the meanest of his subjects in Point of Property but it is a laudable vertue in the Subject to usurp upon nay dispose of the Crowne Fiftly The English were Overwhelmed with Jealousies of introducing Popery promoting the Intrest of France And all the while have gone the direct way to bring the worst of their Feares on themselves by Driving the King Prince out of the Kingdome Sixtly In a word Sundry other Things which were deemed nnsufferable in a lawfull Prince of Gods Ordaining are now Practised without disgust by an Usurper King of the Peoples making Hee that is not yet perfectly Convinced of the Hypocrisy of these Pretences Procedings which I hope the most Eminent of our Clergy Nobility by this time are seemes to have neither Eyes to see Eares to heare nor Heart nor Head to consider Understand I shall conclude with A Memorable Saying of our Royall Martyr King Charles the 1. on his Observation of a like spirit of Delusion which in his dayes possessed the generality of the People of the same Kingdomes in Dethroning nay Murthering their Lawfull King one of the Best of Princes at his owne doores Soe easy is that Leger de main which serves to delude the Vulgar That the Almighty Wise God who in his just displeasure for our sins ingratitude to Himselfe his Vicegerent hath for the present made the Chutch Monarchy of England A Notable Monument of his Wrath would bring all High Low who have contributed to soe Heinous a Guilt in his due tyme to such a sight sense of their Crimes that they may give to the world an undeniable Demonstration of the Truth of their Repentance labouring with all their Might to redresse the Scandalls they have given by an unparalelled Apostacy from the Principles of our Church an abhorred Defection in point of Loyalty is the hearty humble Prayer of Ever Honour'd and Deare Sir Your Lordships most humble Servant Affectionate Brother DENIS GRANVILLE Rouen Aprill 24. 1689. POSTSCRIPT THat the Printing of this letter with the following Address Queres may not appear to your selfe as I fore-see they will to all Zealous Contrivers Supporters of the Usutpation in England an act of not only deplorable Folly but downe right Frenzy I humbly Crave your permission to insert a few lines by way of Postscript I am not ignorant but that this attempt may render me absolutely incapà ble of all the favour you have shew'd me since my Flight into France in your voluntary kind interposition to secure my Revenu that it must also expose me for a subject of Common Talk Censure thoughout the Nation But since an un blemis'd Loyalty is infinitely mote valuable than the Possessions of this world that I was persvaded that the Course which I did by Gods grace Steer was the most effectual way to secure that the very Reputation whereof I esteem far beyond the Rents I had at Durham Easington Sedgefeild nay moreover since that my past Life last Deportment in England had not been all of a piece if I had not done as I did You will not I trust condemn my Cariage however contrary to the Maxims Temper of the Reigning Generation as unworthy of your House Family What I have done I have perform'd thanks be to the Almighty in the Integrity of my Heart Innocency of my hands the sence Consideration here of the Issue of things exery day more more convincing me that I was in the Right doth afford unspeakable Comfort to my soule My Feeding of some Friends in my voyage from Scotland hither with Expectation of an Inter-view in Kent talk of a Passport the fitst of which I did not intend the last if I could get away without it I did not desire is a crime I do assure my selfe of Gods pardon for of those friends likewise whom I deluded disapointed when God shall be pleas'd to send us a happy meeting As for that more unpardonable sin where with some do reproach me whereof I cannot so well clear my selfe before the World but is the only one thanks be to God that the World can accuse me of I meâ—n my Ignorance Imbecility to fill my Coffers Pockets so ful as some more frugall crafty than my selfe have done in less time with a smaller Estate or Revenu I am like to do a sad Pennance for it here abroad in a Forreigne Kingdome And the Friends Relations I leave at home will not I hope add affliction to affliction if they will not help me with their Purses by loading me with their Censures especially considering two last Acts of mine to demonstrate the sincerity of my Repentance for it First that I did voluntarily diminish my Revenu very considerably by Rent-Charges to satisfy my own just Debts Secondly that I look'd on my long Neglect to practize Frugality as so great a sin that I did as voluntarily put my selfe into a kind of white sheet to atone fot the same by confessing it to God the world in a small Peice I printed in the year 85. This is my Comfort that no person in England is like to loose by me unless by his own proper Choice if one man doth so he must thank himselfe rather than blame me If I suffer Deprivation to his loss he must quarrell with God the King whose Commands have unavoidably oblig'd me to hold fast my Religion Loyalty And if the Sacrificing of both or either of them was in my Judgement too dear a purchace of my Revenu for my selfe no one could reasonably expect that I should undergo it for an other Hoping that these few Hints may give some satisfaction to all but the Malitious Authors of our present Misery I shall not enlarge this Postscript farther than to acknowledge with all thankfullness the kindness which you have shew'd me in procuring A Dispensation for mee notwithstanding I have contradicted your Example which I esteem thegreater Obligation at those friends hands who were instrumentall therein since they did it without my Privity or Motion BY the Publication of the following ADDRESS QUERES it may appear tha the Author is not affraid notwithstanding the Obloquy he did a while undergo in the yeat 88 for his dutifull compliance with the King to owne those notions of Loyalty which he did endeavour
to infuse into all persons committed to his Charge and also that he is not asham'd to proclaim to all the world in spight of the Censures he mett with all that he did doth hold the following Queres in the affirmative being of opinion that to hold them otherwise is to place some of the King's Supremacy in the People An ADDRESS vvhich the Dean of Durham sent to his Majestie speedily after the Prince of Orange landed upon his Brethen their Refusall to joyne vvith him because the Superiour Clergy had not Addtess'd before to shevv his Abhorrance of that Unnaturall Invasion vvhich Address vvas intercepted by the Lord Lumley other Lords vvho had seiz'd on York as mention'd page 3. To the King 's most excellent Majestie The Hearty Humble Addresse of your Majestie 's ever loyall and faithfull Subject Servant the Dean of Durham MAY it please your Sacred Majestie In time of an Invasion as in a common Inundation or Calamity by fire VVhen every body is bound in duty to preserve the House Citty or Country vvhereof he is a member vvithout usuall ceremony or compliment to Superior or Equalls I do judge it an Indispensable Duty of every Faithfull right Loyall subject to hasten to assist his Soveraigne vvith his purse as vvell as his prayers to the utmost of his povver ability therefore not daring to stay till all my Betters have given me example in Addressing before me or all my inferiour Brethren have agreed on a forme to Address vvith me I do heartily offer to your Majesty all that I have to spare for your present service thinking nothing mine ovvn in such a time of danger but vvhat is sufficient to suffice nature Assuring you vvithall that I do not only from the very bottome of my soule Abhorre Detest this Treacherous Vnnaturall Invasion of the Prince of Orange together vvith all the other VVicked Rebellious Bloody Designes of his Adherents vvhether Enemies at home or abroad and more particularly of those among us vvho have lately revolted from their Allegiance but do vvith great Indignation Renounce all manner of Violence Force Contempt of Authority offer'd to your Sacred Person or Government either by the Rabble the very dregâ—â— of the Mobile in the Citty as vvell as Rebells in the Field Conceiving gs a great sin to use any Compulsive Arguments to Constreine or Terrify Gods Vice-gerent into a Compliance vvith the VVill Desires of his subjects be they never so much for the good of himselfe Church or Kingdome having learnt in the Communion of my Mother the Church of England vvherein I am firmly resolv'd to live dye other principles than to teach my Supreme or any of my Superiours vvhat He or They ought to do vvith a svvord in my hand or compell a Soveraigne Monarch vvhether he vvill or no to do his duty gratifie his people sooner than he is inclin'd or his ovvn Necessity vvhereof he is the best Iudge vvill permit Satisfying myselfe most thank fully vvith the repeated assurance vvhich yeur Majesty hath already given of our Religion Lavvs Libertiesâ— together vvith all your past present Gratious Condescentions to remove the Fears Iealousie of your people Resolving to stay your leasure for the Calling of a Parliament all other means methods vvhich are in your Majesties ovvn choice for the securing your ovvn Royall Person or Establishment of your Government in Church or State. Nov. 27. 88. DENIS GRAINVILLE Dean of Durham QVERES Put by the Dean of Durham to some Young Clergy men to ansvver privately in his ovvn Study near about the time his Majesty sent forth an order to read his Declaration for liberty of Conscience vvhich being treacherously stolen avvay or falsely transcrib'd upon the interception of a letter to a Friend vvere dispers'd canvass'd up and dovvn the Coffee-Houses of London other parts of England as mention'd pag. 7. and are for that reason printed 1. Whether a Subject is not bound to comply vvith his Prince in every Command or Reasonable Intimation of his pleasure vvherein he is not in Conscience bound to the contrary 2 Whether a Subject is not bound to comply vvith his Prince in some things vvhich he conceives not only inexpedient but such as may tend to the Prejudice of the Flourishing condition of the Church provided the Being of the Church be secure if a lavvfull Prince of a Different Religion doth absolutely command them vvill not be satisfied vvithout Compliance vvith such Command 3. Whether the Church of England vvas not an establish'd Church before the enacting of the Penall Lavvs If so vvhether it is not better to comply vvith his Majesty in consenting to take avvay those Penall Lavvs vvhich his Majesty desires to be abrogated than hazard the Being of our Church by provoking the King on vvhose Favour vvee depend FINIS TO THE BISHOP OF DURHAM MY LORD So Suddain and violent a separation betwixt a Bishop and his Dean as hath been occasion'd betwixt your Lordship my selfe by our late stupendiouâ— Revolution is a matter of too great importance to be pass'd over in silence by one who was driven from his station by the impetuosity of that dreadfull storm which lately fell on and overthrew our Church and State. I conceive it therefore my duty to informe your Lordship not only where but what I am in this age of mutability which hath produced I think almost all kind of changes among men of every Quality Degree Calling but that which Doctour B. speaks of in his letters concerning his travells into Italy I mean the change of sex I need not my Lord give You any particular account of my behaviour or usage in England after your Lordship was call'd up to London about Michaelmass last or of the manner of my Escape since your Lordship was certified by letters from my selfe in the months of Oct and Nov last of most matters of moment relating to the Church and County of Durham tho I had the honour satisfaction of receiving an answer to few of them and may come to the knowledge of other things by the relation of my deportment which I have publish'd in my printed letter to my Brother the Earle of Bathe whereto I crave leave to refert your Lordship all who are inquisitive after me I shall only embrace this occasion solemnely publickly to assure your Lordship in generall that I did faithfully and with as much punctuallity as I was able discharge those Trusts which were committed to me in every one of the places and offices which I had the honour to beare under your Lordship maintain'd my Poste in your Absence not withstanding mighty discouragements till it was not possible for me any longer to strive against that Torrent which had hurried all matters in that other parts of the Nation into great disorder confusion When I saw there was no possible means left for me but to
sink by endeavouring to oppose what was irresistable or swimme down the stream which no argument not example of the age could I thank God prevaile with me to do I was under a necessity to turne aside and withdraw my selfe beholding matters a while at a distance rather than in my own station place of acting since I carried about whiâ—h me an unalterable loyall heart which would not suffer me to runn as most did with the multitude on the other side wanted both strength of mine own the assistance of others effectually to oppose that unruly many headed monster But did not resolve to leave the Kingdome commit my Flock Family alone to Almighty God's protection care as I afterwards did till I had a powerfull example which a dutifull subject ought to be proud to follow and a Precedent which may set me above the censures of any person in the three Kingdomes When my Soveraine was forc'd from his own pallace nay driven out of the Realme it was time for those who were firmly resolv'd to adhere to suffer with Him to yeild to that force necessity which A mighty Potentate by complying with proclaim'd to be invincible Having then the honour to be one of that number glorying that I am so it would have been a preposterous course for me who never play'd my game so as to save my stake to have stay'd at home or in England when I was no longer capable to serve Him in those offices wherein I was plac'd and while I had no other prospect but that of a prison without doing what was impossible for me to do I mean bow down to Baal or in plain English submit to an Usurper This occasion'd my Flight first to Carlisle from thence upon it's declaring for the P. of Orange change of Governour to Edingburgh from that citty upon intelligence of an Imbargo into France as is set forth more at large in the former letter to my Brother to have the honour satisfaction which is no small consolation to a loyall Subject in Banishment of doing homage to the Royall Family viewing our hopefull young Prince who will live I trust in God to constreine his Enemies to confess what they were I doubt not alwayes perswaded of in their hearts that he is the legitimate son of King Iames the 2 and one of the greatest blessings which God ever bestow'd on the English Nation As for my part how great a parodox soever it may appear to some I am fully convinced of the truth thereof as I alwayes was of Gods wonderfull Goodness Providence in bringing his Father our Gracious Soveraine through all his troubles to the Crown And I fear that our abhorr'd Ingratitude towards God for two such inestimable blessings as the security of the succession by an Heire Male those Halcyon dayes which we for two years enjoy'd and might have enjoy'd longer had it not been our own faults under a Gracious Prince of a condescending race have above other sins pull'd down God's judgements contributed towards the miserry we now groan under the greater misery which hangs over our heads out of which we can never be deliver'd but by the extraordinary assistance of the same mercifull gracious God and King whom we have above measure provoked and incens'd I have never been asham'd I thank God to owne such sentiments as these amidst all the delusions which the generality of men of a contrary opinion have layen under the greatest Obloquy Contempt which by them hath been cast on every one who stuck close to his Majesty as I thank God I have done to the utmost of my power in asserting his Prerogative But I need not affirme this to your Lordship or any within your Diocesse having sufficiciently proclaim'd my judgement concerning these matters in the pulpit both in the Cathedrall other Churches after his Majesty's happy accession to the Imperial Crown the Birth of the Prince of Wales Towards the Filling up the measure of that Iniquity wherewith our just God would no longer dispense whereto our Kings our Princes our Prophets nay all the people in the land to speak in the Evangelical Prophets phrase have contributed more or less I know that I my selfe a wretched miserable sinner have sadly help'd in every one of my capacities heartily beg pardon of God through JESUS-CHRIST for my share of the guilt But it is to me an unspeakable comfort that neither my Enemies nor my own Conscience can accuse me of those sins which do seem to be the more immediate ingredients of God's wrath which certainly more than others have provoked him in such Manner by such Instruments to punish Us. For I have heartily from the bottome of my soule rejoyc'd at our Gracious Soverain's mounting the Throne at Gods blessing him us with a hopefull Prince I have been all along without murmuring contented with his Government I have had allwayes more jealousy of the subject than of my Soveraigne I have thought our selves as it hath proved nearer a Rebellion than the Introducing of Popery And lastly I am not no not in the thoughts of my heart guilty in the leastwise of that Perfidiousness Ingratitude to my Soveraigne or Injustice Vnnaturalness to my Fellovv-Subjects of calling in Forreigne assistance for our Preservation Or if I had it should have been any Nation in the world rather than our Neighbours of Holland being not ignorant of their dealings with the English both at Amboina Bantam T is highly probable my Lord that these very things which I here alledge for my justification wherein I so much glory will be received with derision and objected against me as my crimes that mine other men's forwardness to obey comply vvith the King has contributed to his Fall. This is a fate which I am sure it will not be possible for me to avoid since that before I left the Nation I had this lay'd to my charge by some who to justify their own sawning on the Mobile out of Fear or Intrest began to lay all the guilt of the King Kingdome 's overthrow to the door of the King his most obedient subjects as in Oates's Tong 's plot some brought in our late gracious Soveraigne as concern'd in a designe against his own Life But I would crave leave here to know who are the Objectors If they are such as have renounced their Allegiance to their lawfull Soveraigne I may save the labour to answer them they being not qualified to censure accuse me for helping to what they were well pleas'd with desir'd should be brought to pass If they be such as will not at last submit to the change of Government take new oaths tho they have been too far concern'd in have too much contributed to the setting up an usurp'd power by a greater Complaisance with the Prince of Orange
Respect which I did once owe You whereby I am capacitated to take greater freedome with your Lordship than 't was lawfull for me to doe in former letters as well as debarr'd of of begging your Benediction with the same delight I have done formely I rest MY LORD Roüen July the 1. 1689. Your Lordships c DENIS GRANVILLE FINIS To the Vice-Dean Prebendaries of the Cathedrall Church of Durham MR Vice-Dean other Prebendaries of Durham Tho the bodily Infirmities I now feele as well as the greater ones I have struggled with since I left Durham intimated in a letter from Edingburgh have been and are sufficient to excuse my Absence and may justify me in the eyes of God Man for leaving for some time so cold and moist an air as the North of England and repairing into a Clime more warme and benigne Yet I who have been all my dayes a Lover of Plain-dealing think not fit to conceal any longer the more substantial reasons which did at first hurry me away from You and do still detain me abroad Till I was well got out of the reach of those New Governours whom I could neither owne nor obey and from whom for that very cause had hopes of small favour I was as well as my Betters necessitated to use the most plausible Arguments I could with Innocence for a Voyage into France without declaring the bottome of my designe And Providence at that time furnishing me with one very Authentick and reasonable enough to witt upon the returne of a dangerous Cough to go once more into a Country from which I had receiv'd formerly considerable advantage in point of Health I should have been much to blame if I had not made use thereof as I did in order to my Escape On this account in my letter to You discourse with those I mett in my journey I insisted on little else than what related to my then growing Indisposition which was come to a great height neither did I God be thank'd meet or converse with any so unreasonable or inquisitive as to demand stronger motives than the recovery and preservation of my health the next valuable Blessing to the Salvation of my Soule to authorise my designe of hastning into this Kingdome famous for it's Soveraigne Beneficial air for all Consumptive Constitutions the virtue whereof tho I am not got into the most salutiferous Region I now already in a very great measure perceive But tho all I alledge be very true and real yet I dare not deny that other and greater matters set forth in a precedent letter did first put it into my thoughts and incline me to quitt my Station and without which had the danger of my life been never so great I must confess that I think I had never more thus left my Charges after so considerable an Absence heretofore to recover my health from my Offices Cures In plain English then I declare to all the World that the true Cause of my suddain flight was that I carried about me a Conscience more untractable and less pliable to an Usurpation than most I left behindâ— as process of time hath made too apparent My Conscience such as it was did oblige me to the utmost of my Strength to oppose all usurp'd power as I did to the last wittness all the Congregation present in the Quire the Sunday before my departure and then I need not tell You it was not fitt for me to stay there any longer I might use the word impossible rather than unfitt since I could not with good Conscience stay Id tantum possumus sayes the Civillian quod jure possumus I cannot deny that every one of You and all those Clergy in the Nation which were satisfied and resolv'd to Submitt that is to say renounce your Allegiance to your Lawfull Soveraigne and swear new to those who have ungodlily and unjustly depos'd him have done politickly enough to remaine at home sit still hold your Tongues at a time when the Right Church-of-England-Religion according to the best notion I have of it nay Christianity in generall required all faithfull Preachers to lift up their voices like a Trumpet to oppose the madness of the People stop them in their Carreer to Destruction But I your unworthy Dean who without doubt or scruple beleived it at that time as I do at present a peice of detestable Rebellion to joyne with any in a Conspiracy against our Kings Crown as well as Life and desire to be torne with wild Horses rather than so to do did as politickly and I am sure more honestly in withdrawing But I desire You to remember that I did not stir from my Poste till the Citty of Durham was polluted by the Reading of a Declaration which by a late Proclamation of the King 's was pronounced treasonable that there werè not four publick Magistrates nor one Minister in the Town had the Courage any wayes to oppose it or declare their dissent thereto a vâ—ry feeble support for a Dean resolv'd as I then declar'd I was now declare a new that I am to stick close by God's grace to the Crown of my only lawfull Soveraigne King Iames the 2. his Heires Successours knowing no difference betwixt the Duty Obedience I owe to a Prince of the Protestant to a Prince of the Roman Faith. Nay I desire you moreover to consider that I did not runn avvay forsake my flocks as some may be apt to object when I saw the Wolfe coming but after I saw him come with open mouth ready to devoure had my selfe in some sort tasted his Fierceness I beseech You therefore so take notice that it was not till the 11. of December at night that I left Durham a day after his Sacred Majesty was driven from Whitehall By which time the Wicked Contrivers of this sad Revolution had accomplish'd what they had been long endeavouring stript the King of all his Supports put him under a necessity as well as his most faithfull Subjects to fly into an other Nation shewn their Good Will towards the Dissolution of the Government And farther and above all this tho I could not stay longer in Durham without being defiled by concurring or confined for opposing I did not leave England till the 20. of January nor fly out of the Kings Dominions till the Subject who was tender enough of his own Property had after innumerable Violations of the King's Prerogative presum'd to disspose of the very Crown For Ashwensday was over before I took shipping in Scotland A Dismal day a day which I shall mark in my Calendar with a note of deeper Humiliation than before A day which by all truely devoted Soules to the Honour Interest of the Imperiall Crown of England will be remembred with more Regrett than Ashwensday 53. A day indeed once thought fitt for the Inauguration of an Usurper who thô in all other