hath most piously desired may be prevented and so the Peace 2. Because of the Resort of so many Jesuites and Popish Priests both in Church and State may be insensibly disturbed to the great danger of both WHICH was the reason of both the Houses of Parliaments Humble Suit to the King That he would be pleas'd to Issue out his Proclamation to command all Jesuites and Popish 3. Therefore the Parliament desire the King to issue out his Proclamation for their departure Priests c. to depart this Kingdom by a day under the penalties of the Laws to be inflicted on them but saith his Majesty to them presently in his Speech at the reception of that Petition pag. 5. It may be the general jealousie of the Nation hath 4. His Majesties present answer to them made this Address necessary and indeed I believe nothing hath contributed more to that jealousie than my own confidence that it was impossible there should be any such jealousie and the effects of that confidence but saith he in the next words I shall give you satisfaction and then I am sure you will easily satisfie and compose the minds of the Nation Answer to this Representation and Petition he 5. Afterwards his more deliberate return AND in his April 1. 1663. pag. 7. 8. saith having seriously considered it and having made some reflections upon himself and his own actions he is not a little troubled that his Lenity and Condescensions towards many of the Popish Perswasion which were but natural effects of his generositie and good nature c. have been made so ill use of and so ill deserved that the Resort of Jesuites and Priests into this Kingdom hath been thereby encreased with which his Majesty is and hath long been highly offended and therefore his Majesty readily concurs with the Advice of his Two Houses of Parliament and hath given order for the preparing and issuing 6. That he readily concurs with the advice of his Parliament to grant a Proclamation and that to be more effectual than any of that kind have ever been out such a Proclamation as is desired and his Majesty will take farther care that the same shall be effectual at least to a greater degree than any Proclamation of this kind hath ever been AND his Majesty further declares and assures both his Houses of Parliament and all his Loving Subjects of all his Dominions that as his affection and zeal for 7. For nothing is greater than his zeal for the Protestant Religion and to hinder the Growth of Popery the Protestant Religion and the Church of England hath not been concealed or untaken notice of in the world so he is not nor will ever be so sollicitous for the setling his own Revenue or providing any other expedients for the Peace and Tranquillity of the Kingdom as for the advancement and improvement of the Religion Established and for the using and applying all proper and effectual 8. That being the best way to Establish the Peace c. of all his Kingdoms remedies to hinder the Growth of Popery both which he doth in truth look upon as the best expedient to Establish the Peace and Prosperity of all his Kingdoms AND when it was as artificially as the King himself truly phrases it as maliciously divulged throughout the whole Kingdom That at the same time we deny a fitting liberty to those other His Majesties Declaration to all his Loving Subjects December 26. 1662. pag. 3. Sects of our Subjects whose consciences will not allow them to conform 9. The Malicious Scandal of his being more favourabie to Papists than other Dissenters to the Religion Established by Law We are highly indulgent to Papists not only in exempting them from the penalties of the Law but even to such a degree of countenance and encouragement as may even endanger the Protestant Religion As to that most pernicious and injurious scandal so artificially spread fomented of our favour to Papists saith 10. A Repetition of the same detestable Arts of the late Rebellious Times the King as it is but a repetition of the same detestable arts by which all the The same Declaration pag. 9 10 11 12. late calamities have been brought upon this Kingdom in the time of our Royal Father of Blessed Memory who though the most pious and zealous Protestant that ever Reign'd in this Nation could never wash off the stains cast upon him by that malice but by his 11. And therefore we should all be prepared against such poison Martyrdom We conceive our Subjects should be sufficiently prepared against that poison by memory of those disasters especially since nothing is more evident than that the wicked Authors of this scandal are such as seek to involve all good Protestants under the odious name of Papists or Popishly affected yet we cannot but say upon this occasion that our Education and course of Life in the True Protestant Religion hath been such and our constancy in the Profession of it so eminent in our most desperate condition abroad among Roman Catholick Princes 13. Yet the Education of the King in the Protestant Religion hath been such that should any but believe this Scandal it would be a most impardonable offence when as the appearance of receding from it had been the likeliest way in all humane forecast to have procured us the most powerful assistances of our Re-establishment that should any of our Subjects give but the least admission of that scandal into ☞ their beliefs We should look upon it as the most impardonable offence that they can be guilty of towards us 'T is true that as we shall always according to justice retain so we think it may become us to avow to the world a due sense we have of the greatest part of our Roman Catholicks 14. 'T is true the Roman Catholicks did adhere to the King his Father with their Lives and Fortunes against those who employed both against him of this Kingdom having deserved well from our Royal Father of blessed Memory and from us and even from the Protestant Religion it self in adhering to us with their Lives and Fortunes for the maintainance of our Crown in the Religion Established against those who under the name of zealous Protestants employed both fire and Sword to overthrow them both We shall with as much freedom profess unto the world that it is not in our intention to exclude our Roman Catholick Subjects 15. Therefore ought not to be excluded from all share in the benefit of the Act of Indemnity who have demeaned themselves well who have so demeaned themselves from all share in the benefit of such an Act viz. the Act of Indemnity as in pursuance of our promises the wisdom of our Parliament shall think fit to offer unto us for the ease of tender Consciences It might appear no less than injustice that those who deserved well and continued to
such reproach upon the Protestant Religion in general from the Enemies thereof as if upon obscure notions of faith and fancy it did admit the practice of Christian duties and obedience to be discountenanced and suspended and introduce a Licence in opinions and manners to the prejudice of the Christian Faith And let us all 59. And to strive to advance the Protestant Religion abroad by supporting the Dignity of the be Reformed Church at home endeavour and emulate each other in those endeavours to countenance and advance the Protestant Religion abroad which will be best done by supporting the dignity and Reverence due to the best reformed Protestant Church at home and which being once freed from the Calumnies and reproaches it hath undergone from these late ill times will be the best shelter for those abroad which will by that countenance both be the better protected against their Enemies and be the more easily induced to compose the differences among themselves which give their Enemies more advantage against them 60. No wonder why the â—ing was â—o zealous to Establish the True Protestant Religion before Indulâ—ent Dissenters from it NOW it must not be wondered at that being so zealous as we are saith our Royal Master again to us and by the grace of God shall ever be for the maintenace of the True Protestant His Majesties Declaration to all his loving Subjects Decemb 26. 1662. pag. 7. Religion finding it so shaken not to say overthrown as we did we should give its Establishment the Precedency before Matters of Indulgence to Dissenters from it For it is the great Wall and Bulwark of all the Reformed Churches abroad by this they stand are sheltered and defended and therefore as it were still the better to explain his meaning to us he repeats with enlargement saying We have been zealous to settle the Vniformity of the Church of England in Discipline Ceremony and Government pag. 8. and shall ever constantly maintain it AND whereas according to a former Declaration of the 61. The King Declares Liberty to Tender Consciences King from Breda 14 April 1660. in these words viz. We do declare a Liberty to tender Consciences and that no man shall be disquieted or called in question pag. 3. for differences of Opinion in Matters of Religion which do not disturb the Peace of the Kingdom and that we shall be ready to consent to such an Act of Parliament as upon mature deliberation shall be offered to us for the full granting that Indulgence SO saith he as for what concerns the Penalties upon those who living peaceably do not conform thereunto i. e. to the Act of Vniformity through scruple and tenderness of misguided conscience but modestly and without scandal perform their Devotions in their own way We shall make it our special care so far forth as in us lies without invading the freedom of Parliament to incline their 62. And Promises to try to incline the Parliament to consent to an Act of Indulgence for that purpose wisdom at this next approaching Sessions to concur with us in the His Majesties Declaration to all his loving Subjects Decemb. 26. 1662. Published by advice of his Privy Council pag. 7. 8. making some such Act for that purpose as may enable us to exercize with a more universal satisfaction for it seems the King did before now remember this Part of his Declaration and was sollicitous for one but he says just before that That Parliament to which those promises were made in relation to an Act never thought fit to offer us any to that purpose I say to exercize with a more universal satisfaction that power of dispencing which we conceive to be inherent in us Nor can we doubt of their chearful cooperating with us in a thing wherein we do conceive our selves so far engaged both in Honour and in what we owe to the Peace of our Dominions which we profess we can never think secure whilst there shall be a colour left to the malicious and disaffected to inflame the minds of so many Multitudes upon the Score of Conscience with despair of ever obtaining any effect of our promises for their ease 63. But the Parliament by no means did think it fit that such persons should have an Iudulgence who would dissent from the Act of Uniformity BUT the Parliament though they did with great joy receive his Majesties Most Gracious Speech wherein they were invited to consider this his above said Declaration did thus humbly give their advice hereupon That it was in no sort advisable that there be any Indulgence to such Persons who presume to Dissent from the Act of Uniformity and the Religion Established for these reasons 64. For several reasons here shewn BECAUSE it is not a Promise in it self but only a Gracious Declaration of your Majesties Intentions to do what in you lay and what a Parliament should advise your Majesty to do and no such advice was ever given or thought fit to be offered nor could it be otherwise understood because there were Laws of Uniformity then in Being which could not be dispensed with but by Act of Parliament THEY who do pretend aright to that supposed Promise put the right into the hands of their Representatives whom they chuse to serve for them in this Parliament who have passed and your Majesty consented unto the Act of Uniformity If any shall presume to say that a Right to the benefit of this Declaration doth still remain after this Act passed IT tends to Dissolve the very Bonds of Government and to suppose a disability in your Majesty and the Houses of Parliament to make a Law contrary to any part of your Majesties Declaration though both Houses should advise your Majesty to it WE have also considered the nature of the Indulgence proposed with reference to those consequences which must necessarily attend it IT will Establish Schism by a Law and make the whole Government of the Church precarious and the censures of it of no moment or consideration at all IT will no way become the Gravity or Wisdom of a Parliament to pass a Law at one Session for Uniformity and at the next Session the reasons of Uniformity continuing still the same to pass another Law to frustrate or weaken the execution of it IT will expose your Majesty to the restless Importunity of every Sect or Opinion and of every single person also who shall presume to Dissent from the Church of England IT will be a Cause of increasing Sects and Sectaries whose Numbers will weaken the True Protestant Profession so far that it will at least be difficult for it to defend it self against them and which is yet further considerable those Numbers vvhich by being troublesom to the Government find they can arrive to an Indulgence vvill as their Numbers encrease be yet more troublesom that so at length they may arrive to a general Tolleration vvhich your Majesty hath declared against
himself the most malicious men room to say I had not removed all causes which could be pretended to influence me towards Popish Councels BESIDES that end of Vnion which I am at and which I wish could be extended to Protestants abroad as well as at home I purpose by this last step I have made to discern whether the Protestant Religion and the peace of the Kingdome be as truly aim'd at by others as they are really intended by me FOR as he afterwards brings it in in the same Speech 155. He will defend the Protestant Religion with his life pag. 7. saith he I do give you this assurance that I will with my life defend both the Protestant Religion and the Laws of this Kingdom NOW with a very easie transposition of the Lord Chancellors own words in his Speech at the same time to both Houses of Parliament pag. 10. I may with great truth say that if his 156. Sure then his Majesty wants no evidence of his Zeal for our Religion Majesty had wanted any evidence of his Zeal for our Religion surely this testimony from his Enemies who were about to sacrifice him for it is sufficient to satisfie the whole World For as there neither is nor hath been these fifteen hundred 157. Not a purer Church than ours these 1500 years years a purer Church than ours so 't is for the sake of this poor Church alone that the State hath been so much disturbed It is her truth and peace her decency and order which Our Enemies labour to undermine and pursue with so restless a malice Id. Pag. 14. WHEN we consider the afflicted condition of the Protestants 158. What the Protestants abroad suffer is in some measure a weakening of the Protestant Interest abroad we may be sure that every calamity they suffer is in some measure a weakning of the Id. p. 15. Protestant Interest and looks as if it were intended to make way for a general extirpation HOW watchful therefore does it become us all to be that the same evil Spirit and temper does not get too much ground 159. Let us watch that no ill men do us harm at home among us here at home how ought we all to use our utmost vigilance and activity care and prudence to prevent those disturbances which the restless spirits of ill and unquiet men will be always contriving THERE are so many things to do and so little time to 160. No time to be lost do them in that there ought not to be one minute lost Id. p. 16. AND therefore the King makes it his constant care to do 161. The Kings constant care to do all things to preserve our Religion and to secure it for the future every thing that may preserve Our Religion and secure it for the future in all events and he there saith he hopes the several particulars Kings Speech to both Houses Wednesday April 30. 1679. p. 4. he hath commanded my Lord Chancellour to mention will be an evidence that in all things that concern the publick security he shall not follow Our Zeal but lead it THAT Royal care which his Majesty hath taken for the general quiet and satisfaction of all his Subjects is now more evident by this new and fresh instance of it HIS Majesty hath considered with himself Lord Chancellors Speech to the same pag. 5. that 't is not enough that your Religion and Liberty is secure during his own reign but he thinks he owes it to his people to do all that in him lies that these blessings may be transmitted to your posterity and so well secured to them that no succession in after ages may be able to work the least alteration AND what he there had in command to say to that Parliament I shall refer you to the Speech it self it being too tedious here to insert it all but shall conclude this with my Lords own words pag. 7. THUS watchful is the King for all your safeties and if he could think of any thing else that you do either want or wish to make you happy he would make it his business to effect it for you and therefore we may tell those who still contrive the ruine of the Church the best and the best reformed Church in the Christian world reformed by that Authority and with those circumstances as a Reformation ought to be made that God would not so miraculously have snatched this Church as a brand out of the fire would not have raised it from the 162. And therefore surely God would never have done so much for our Reformed Church as he hath unless it were a Church very acceptable to him and which shall continue for ever grave after he had suffered it to be buried so many years by the boisterous hands of prophane and sacrilegious persons under its own rubbidge to expose it again to the same rapine reproach and Impiety Lord Chancellours Speech Dec. 29. 1660. p. 20 21 That Church which delights its self in being called Catholick was never so near expiration never had such a Resurrection that such a small pittance of Meal and Oyl should be sufficient to preserve and nourish the poor Widow and her family so long is very little more miraculous than that such a number of pious learned very aged Bishops should so many years be preserved in such wonderful straits and oppressions until they should plentifully provide for their own succession that after such a deep deluge of sacriledge prophaness and impiety had covered and to common understanding swallowed it up that That Church should again appear above the waters God be again served in that Church and served as he ought to be and that there should be still some revenue left to support and encourage those who serve him nay that many of those who seemed to thirst after that revenue till they had possest it should conscientiously restore what they had taken away and become good Sons and willing Tenants to that Church they had so lately spoil'd may make us all piously believe that God Almighty would not have been at the expence and charge of such a Miracle so manifested himself to us in such a deliverance but in the behalf of a Church very acceptable to him and which shall continue to the end of the world and against which the gates of hell shall not be able to prevail The End of the first Chapter concerning Religion CHAP. II. Of Popery BUT notwithstanding his Majesties unquestionable affection 1 But yet notwithstanding the People are mighty jealous of Popery and zeal for the True Protestant Religion manifested in his constant profession and practise against all temptations whatsoever yet many of his Subjects generally are much affected with jealousie The Parliament Petition to the King concerning Romish Priests and Jesuites 1663 pag. 3 4. and apprehension that the Popish Religion may much encrease in this Kingdom which yet his Majesty
that there may be but one heart and one soul among us He that does not now put his Hand and Heart to support the King Lord C. S. to Si. Job harleton then chosen Speaker to the House of Com. Feb. 5. 1672. p. 23. in the Common cause of this Kingdom can hardly ever hope for such another Opportunity or find a time to make satisfaction for the Omission of this Let us tryby our means to raise up the hearts and hopes of all those whom ill men have wrought upon to such a degree as to cast them into a sadness end into a despondency which is most unreasonable Lord Ch. Sp. Ap. 13. 75. p. 22. What the Romans Scorned to do after the Battle of Cannae what the Venetians never did when they had lost all their Terra firma that men are now taught to think a vertue and the sign of a Wise and Good man desperare de Republica And let us try what we can to confirm the faith of those that p. 23. are made weak and give to the King the present of all our hearts and the full assurance of all our Lives and Fortunes to preserve him in his just Prerogatives that he may with the Greater confidence and chearfulness still secure and further promote the true protestant Religion and all due Liberties and Properties to these Kingdoms Then will the King esteem himself a Richer Prince then if he were possest of all the treasures of the East And if any man should question or suspect His Majesties affection towards the Protestant Religion and his firm resolution still to maintain it together with all our Civil Rights let him be pleased to hear him give his own Royal word for 't and as Solomon saith where the word of a King is there is Power And first to begin with Religion CHAP. I. Of the Protestant Religion FOR as his Majesty very wisely hath observed to us in his Declaration to all his Loving Subjects of his Kingdom 1. Of Religion of England and Dominion of Wales concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs in the very year of His Happy Restauration 25th day of Oct. 1660. pag. 3. There is so close a Connexion between the Peace of the Church and the Peace of the State That the One cannot be disturbed without the Other These are his words how much sayth he the Peace of the State is concern'd in the Peace of the Church and how difficult a thing it is to preserve Order and Government in Civil whilst there is no Order or Government in Ecclesiastical Affairs is evident to the world and this little Part of the World our own Dominions hath had so late experience of it that we may very well acquiesce in the conclusion without enlarging our self in discourse upon it it being a Subject we have had frequent occasion to contemplate upon and to lament abroad as well as at home TRUE Religion has an enlightning Influence 2. What Religion is over the minds of men It works upon Lord Keep Speech April 13. 1675. pag. 11. the Conscience is an inward Principle of the divine Life by which good men do govern all their actions And if rightly followed and obeyed how great 3. How sweet and peaceable where it is right would the harmony of affection be amongst us The Impressions which the Law of Religion makes in the hearts of good men are all healing and Sanatory There is no divide Impera within her Districts no furious Heats and hostile Clashings to be heard where she has uncontrolled Power and Sovereignty That unruly and unmanly Passion which no question the Divine Nature exceedingly abhors sometimes and I fear too frequently Transports those who are in the right as well as those who are in the wrong and leaves Lord Chan. Speech Thursday Sept. 13. 1660. p. 20. 21 22. the latter more excusable than the former when men who find their manners and dispositions very conformable in all the necessary obligations of humane Nature avoid one anothers conversation and grow first unsociable and then uncharitable to each other because one cannot think as the other doth And from this Separation we Entitle God to the Patronage of and concernment in our Fancies and Distinction and purely for his sake hate 4. An Eminent Instance of Christian Love and Charity one another heartily It was not so of Old when one of the most Ancient Fathers of the Church tells us that Love and Charity was so signal and eminent in the Primitive Christians that it even drew admiration and envy from their Adversaries Vide inquiunt ut invicem se diligunt Their Adversaries in that in which they most agreed in their very prosecution of them had their Passions and Animosities amongst themselves They were only Christians that loved and cherished and comforted and were ready to dye for one another Quid nunc illi dicerent Christiani si nostra viderunt tempora Says the Incomparable GROTIUS how would they look upon our sharp and virulent Contentions in the Debates of Christian Religion and the bloudy Wars that had proceeded from those Contentions whilst every one pretended to all the Marks which are to attend upon the True Church except only that which is inseparable from it Charity to one another How did These in the Late Distracted Times who would 5. How different Christians are from the temper and spirit of Christ needs be call'd Christians differ from Christ the True and Only Head of the Church How calm and quiet how sedate and peaceable was he throughout the whole Conduct of his Life though he walked in the midst of a stubborn and perverse Generation that despised his Doctrine reproached him for his Miracles in saying That he cast out Devils through Beelzebub the Prince of the Devils he came to his own and his own received him not yet he was sweet and affable in all his Conversation 6. Christ was meek and Curteous gentle and affable to all continually doing good to those who were his Enemies and the worst of them too Though he was reviled yet he reviled not again and though he was oppressed and afflicted yet he opened not his mouth when he was wounded for our Transgressions and bruised for our Iniquities and the Chastisement of our Peace was upon him and by his Stripes we are healed yet he went as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a Sheep before the shearers he was dumb and opened not his mouth but just before his expiration upon the Cross he mercifully poured out this prayer for those his Enemies that could not forbear breaking forth into this curse of his Blood be upon us and our Children that God would freely pardon them in this their sin Father says he forgive them they know not what they do But how did these make it their business to rend 7. We are sowre and morose fierce and bitter one against another and divide the Church by tying it up
just to such a Party â—nd such a Perswasion as if only Loe here was Christ where they were pleased to have him and not there whereas alass it is not different Forms as to Circumstantials that denominate us Christians but it is the holding of the Truth in the substance of it And is it not too much so now in our dayes what Parties what Factions what Interests and separations are among us and in matters meerly circumstantial how hasty are we in stamping a Jus Divinum on such things as are doubtful dark and disputable among men that perchance are equally wise and pious judicious and learned on both sides We ought to put no more weight nor a greater necessity on those things than the Divine Wisdom hath clearly put upon them in his word nor to Spend more of our Zeal about such things than is proportionable to its weight and measure We should allow for the imperfection of men and the imperfect state of the Church for here we know but in part and therefore we should bear with one another if in any thing we be otherwise minded one to another But we are instead of this pecking one at another How positive are we of our own ways as if we were all infallible stretching our Authority far beyond our just Rule and Line when we have catched up a new Notion strait we lay it upon Conscience as that which must be maintained although to the great prejudice of the whole Interest of Religion and so rend the Church and run away from all those that agree not with us in all things Oh! what peeques and grudgings what heart-burnings and contentions are there between parties that differ What defamatory Speeches what scandalous Reflections and how unbecoming are their heats of language one against another so much that we are in a very fair way of running into the same if not more violent and worse distractions than we were in in the late sad and dismal times if God of his infinite wisdom and mercy heal not these our breaches and compose our differences Quis Talia fando Temperet a Lachrymis THIS disquisition hath cost the King many a sigh many a 8. This division among us hath cost the King many a sigh sad hour when he hath considered as was said before the almost irreparable reproach the Protestant Religion hath undergone from the divisions and distractions which have been so notorious within this Lord Chan. Speech Thursday Sept. 13. 1660. pag. 22. Kingdom What pains he hath taken to compose them after several discourses with learned and pious men of different perswasions you shall see by and by as also his great Indulgence to those who can have any protection from Conscience to differ from their Brethren And he is a most discerning generous and merciful Prince who hath had more experience of the Nature and humour of mankind than any Prince living can best distinguish between the tenderness of Conscience and pride of Conscience between the real effects of Conscience and the wicked pretences to Conscience who having fought with Beasts at Ephesus knows how to guard himself and Lord Chan. Speech Monday May 19. 62. pag. 17. the Kingdome from the assaults and violence of a strong malicious corrupted Understanding and Will and how to secure himself and the Kingdome from the feeble traps and nets of deluded fancies and imaginations In a word He is a Prince of so excellent a Nature 9. Who is a most discerning Prince and of a tender Conscience himself and hath the highest compassion for all Errours of that kind and so tender a Conscience himself that he hath the highest compassion for all Errours of that kind and will never suffer the weak to undergo the punishment ordained for the wicked and knows and understands better than any man that excellent Rule of Quintilian Est aliquid quod non oportet etiam si licet aliud est jura spectare aliud justitiam Therefore let us hold Communion in such things wherein we are agreed and Love and Charity wherein we differ HIS Majesty hath considered Religion first in General as 10. Religion considered 1st generally as opposite to Popery 2 d. as established by Law in the Church of England it is PROTESTANT and stands in Opposition to Popery and Secondly more particularly as it is the Protestant Religion Established by Law Lord Keep Speech Apr. 13. 1675. pag. 9. 10 11. in the Church of England he sees that as such it is not only best suited to the Monarchy and most likely to defend it but most able to defend it self against the Enemies of all Reformation Upon the former account 11. Therefore the Laws against both Papists and Dissenters are now awakened he hath awakened all the Laws against the Papists there is not one Statute extant in all the volume of our Laws but his Majesty hath now put it in a way of taking its full course against them Upon the latter account his Majesty with equal and impartial Justice hath revived all the 12. Not with equal severity against the latter Laws against dissenters and Non-conformists but not with equal severity for the Laws against the Papists are edged and the execution of them quickned by new rewards proposed 13. These and all other Laws subject to the pleasure of a Parliament to the Informers those against Dissenters are left to that strength which they have already Both these and all other Laws whatsoever are always understood to be subject to the pleasure of a Parliament which may alter amend or explain them as they see cause and according unto publick convenience FOR when we consider Religion in Parliament we are supposed 14. Religion how to be consider'd in Parliament to consider it as a Parliament should do and as Parliaments in all Ages have done that is as it is a part of our Laws a part and a necessary part of our Government Of this more hereafter Let us now hear what this our most Excellent Majesty hath declared and said to us concerning it WHEN he was at his Court at Breda a little before his 15. How the King declares for the establishment of the Protestant Religion happy coming over to us and sent his Letter to the Speaker of the then House of Commons Assembled in Parliament he thus Writes to him what he should read to the House If you desire saith he the advancement April 14. 1660. pag. 5. 6. and propagation of the Protestant 16. Nothing could stratle the King or make him in the least degree swerve from the true Protestant Religion Religion we have by our constant profession and practise of it given sufficient testimony to the World that neither the unkindness of those of the same faith towards us nor the civilities and obligations from those of a contrary profession of both which we have had abundant evidence could in the least degree startle us or make us
swerve from it and nothing can be proposed to manifest our Zeal and Affection for it to which we will not readily consent And we hope in due time our self so propose some what to you for the propagation of it that will satisfie the World that we have always made it both our care and our study and have enough observed what is most like to bring disadvantage to it HIS Majesty saw that it was the first 17. Religion as it was first in our thoughts so it was the Kings first and principal ca thing in all our thoughts and we cannot but Lord Keep Speech April 13. 1675. pag. 9. see that it hath been and still is the first and principal part of his care AND this Royal declaration of himself joyned to what 18. Therefore we need not doubt he hath since done carries in it self so evident an assurance and is stampt by so sacred an Authority that there remains no place for doubting nothing can scarce be added to the efficacy of it Id. ib. THEN after a repetition of the same words just above cited to the Speaker of the House of Commons in his Majesties Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical affairs He proceeds thus And the truth pag. 4. 5. 19. The King most fit to propose being the most competent Judg from his experience with the most learned of the reformed Churches abroad is we do think our self the more competent to propose and with Gods assistance to determine many things now in difference from the time we have spent and the experience we have had in most of the reformed Churches abroad in France in the Low Countries and in Germany where we have had frequent Conferences with the most learned men who have unanimously lamented the great reproach the Protestant Religion undergoes from the distempers and too notorious Schisins in matters of Religion 20. Our Religion suffers from the distempers and schisms that are in the Church in England And as the most learned amongst them have always with great submission and reverence acknowledged and magnified the established Government of the Church of England and the great Countenance and shelter the Protestant Religion received from it before these unhappy times so many of them have with great ingenuity and sorrow confessed that they were too easily misled by mis-information and prejudice into some dis-esteem of it as if it had too much complyed with the Church 21. Church of England the best fence against Popery in the World of Rome whereas they now acknowledge it to be the best fence God hath yet raised against Popery in the world and we are perswaded they do with great Zeal wish it restored to its old dignity and Veneration AND a little after in pag. 8 9. he further says We need 22. The Kings great esteem for the Church of England not profess the high Affection and Esteem we have for the Church of England as it is Established by Law the Reverence to which hath supported us with God's blessing against many temptations AS to the Opinion of the Presbyterians concerning Episcopacy hear how the King declares himself in this point When we were in Holland saith he we were attended by many grave and learned Ministers from hence who were looked upon as most able and principal assertors of the Presbyterian 23. Presbyterians affectionate to the King Zealous for the Peace of Church and State and no Enemies to Episcopacy Opinions with whom we had as much conference as the multitude of affairs which were then upon us would permit us to have and to our great satisfaction and comfort found them persons full of Affection to us of Zeal for the Peace of the Church and State and neither Enemies as they Pag. 5. Declar. conc Eccles affairs Octob. 25. 1660. at Whitehall have been given out to be to Episcopacy or Liturgy but modestly to desire such alalterations in either as without shaking Foundations might allay the present distempers which the indisposition of the time and the tenderness of some mens consciences had contracted AND We further find upon the full conference we 24. The Mischiefs the Church labours under as well as the State result from the passions and Interests of private persons have had with the learned men of several perswasions that the mischiefs under which both the Church and State do at present suffer do not result from any formed Doctrine or Conclusion Pag. 7. Of the same woich either party maintains or avows but from the passion and appetite and Interest of particular persons who contract greater prejudice to each other from those affections then would naturally arise from their Opinions FOR we must for the honour of all those of either persuasion 25. The professions and desires of both perswasions for the advance of Religion are the same with whom we have conferred declare that the professions and desires of all for the advancement of piety and true godliness are the same their professions of Zeal for the Peace of the Church the same of affection and duty to us the same they all approve Episcopacy they all approve a set form of Liturgy and they all disprove and dislike the sin of Sacriledge and the alienation of the Revenue of the Church and if upon these excellent foundations in submission to which there is such a harmony of affections any superstructures should be raised to the shaking Pag. 8. Of the same those foundations and to the contracting and lessening the blessed gift of Charity which is a vital part of Christian Religion we shall think our self very unfortunate and even suspect that we are defective in that administration of Government with which God hath intrusted us NOW we do not think that Reverence which we have 26. No Reverence for the Church of England lessened by dispensing with some Ceremonies in it for a while for the Church of England in the least degree diminished by our condescensions not peremptorily to insist on some particulars of Ceremony which however introduced by the piety and devotion and order of former times may not be so agreeable to the then present but may even lessen that piety and devotion for the improvement whereof they might happily be first introduced and consequently may well be dispensed with and we hope this Charitable compliance of ours will dispose the minds of all men to a cheerful submission to that Authority the preservation whereof is so necessary for the Vnity and 27. The support of Episcopacy the best support of Religion Peace of the Church and that they will Pag. 9. acknowledge the support of the Episcopal Authority to be the best support of Religion by being the means to contain the minds of men within the Rules of Government IF we had the command of as many tongues as his Majesty 28. His Majesty cannot be sufficiently thanked for his dispensing with some Ceremonies hath of hearts we could
and in time some prevalent Sect vvill at last contend for an Establishment vvhich for ought can be foreseen may end in Popery IT is a thing altogether vvithout Precedent and vvill take avvay all means of Convicting Recusants and be inconsistent vvith the Method and Proceedings of the Lavvs of England LASTLY it is humbly conceived that the Indulgence proposed vvill be so far from tending to the Peace of the Kingdom that it is rather likely to occasion great disturbance And on the contrary the asserting of the Lavvs and the Religion Established according to the Act of Uniformity is the most probable means to produce a Setled Peace and Obedience throughout your Kingdom because the variety of Professions in Religion vvhen openly indulged doth directly distinguish Men into Parties and vvithall gives them opportunity to count their Numbers vvhich considering the Animosities that out of a Religious Pride vvill be kept on foot by the several Factions doth tend directly and inevitably to open disturbance nor can your Majesty have any security that the Doctrine or Worship of the several Factions vvhich are all governed by a several Rule shall be consistent vvith the Peace of your Kingdom These Reasons vvere too povverful for his Majesty not to be 65. These Reasons o're-powred the King so that He yielded to them and He hoped that the Truly Religious and Peaceable would soon do so too overcome by them and therefore he yielded to their force and prevalency and doubted not but in a little vvhile The Truly Religious and the Peaceable vvould likevvise be brought over to a submissive Acquiescence and a dutiful compliance with them and that their minds would be better composed and the Peace of the Church Established And though he was verily perswaded That the great Piety and Devotion the Moderation Wisdom Charity and Hospitality of the Bishops would in a short time recover the Weak and the Misled to 66. And that by the Bishops Care and Example the Weak would be brought over to their Primitive Temper of Obedience to Laws and Government their Primitive Temper of a chearful Obedience and Submission to Laws and Government and so to be the best Neighbours and the best Friends and the best Subjects of the World yet was he not also insensible that the forwardness and pride of some might not be yet enough subdued The Humours and Spirits of such Men being too rough and boisterous and therefore was willing that there should be prepared sharper Laws and Penalties to contend with those Refractory Persons and to break that stuborness which would not bend to gentler 67. That those who would not must feel the weight of sharper Laws Applications and it is great reason that they upon whom Clemency cannot prevail should feel that severity they have provoked but still the Execution of those sharp Laws depends upon the Wisdome of the King who is the most discerning 68. But yet the Execution of those Laws depended on the King who was merciful and of a tender conscience himself generous and merciful Prince in the world and of so excellent a Nature and so tender a Conscience himself that he hath the highest compassion for all Errours of that kind as before is said But his constant zeal for the Church hath been visible throughout the whole course of his Reign scarce can he admit a Speech to come from him unless it hath in it some 69. His constant zeal the Church went above all things earnest request that his Parliament would take care of the Protestant Religion That they would see to secure the Church of England and to keep that up in all its just and Antient Rights THIS Zeal of his for the Church after the Dreadful Conflagration of his great City of London made the King so earnest with them soon after to get up some of their Churches Reedified that so the Service of God in the publick Worship might be performed and that we might there mourn for those our grievous sins which was the cause of Gods so heavy a judgment upon us These are his words We do heartily recommend it to the Charity and Magnanimity of all well-disposed Persons 70. How instant the King was to have Churches Rebuilt after the Fire of London that some might have publick places to worship and serve God in and we heartily pray unto Almighty God that he would infuse into the hearts of Men speedily to endeavour by degrees to Reedifie some of those many Churches which in this Lamentable Fire have been burnt down and defaced that so men may have those publick places of God's Worship to resort to to humble themselves together before him upon this his heavy dipsleasure and joyn in their Devotion for his future mercy blessing upon us as soon as we shall be informed 71. The King invites his People to it by the promise not only of his assistance and direction but of his Bounty too any readiness to begin such a good work we shall not only give our assistance and direction for the Model of it and freeing it from Buildings at so near a distance but shall encourage it by our own Bounty and all other ways we shall be desired Is not this sufficiently expressive of his zeal for upholding the True Religion What after this astonishing Judgment of Fire upon the Metropolitan City of this Kingdom was the King's first care ought to have been that of us all to endeavour to have God worshipped in his Sanctuary for this makes up the Beauty of Holyness and declares our great desires for what we all do at least outwardly profess to believe the Communion of Saints NOR did his Majesty rest here his zeal for the Church was his zeal for the service of it and he was resolved that nothing justly belonging to it should be lost Says He Our Care and Endeavours for the Preservation 72. His Majesty hath all along shewâ—d his care to preserve the Rights and Interests of the Church of the Rights and Interests His Majesties Declaration to all his Loving Subjects March 15. 1671. pag. 3. 4. of the Church have been sufficiently manifested to the World by the whole course of our Government since our happy Restauration and by the many and frequent ways of Coercion that we have used for reducing all erring or dissenting persons and for composing the unhappy differences in matters of Religion which we found among our Subjects upon our Return but it being evident by the sad experience of twelve years that there is very little 73. By the way the Supream Power in Ecclesiastical Matters is not only inherent in the King but is Recognised so by divers Acts of Parliament Fruit of all those forcible Courses We think our Self obliged to make use of that Supreme Power in Ecclesiastical Matters which is not only inherent in us but hath been declared and recognized to be so by several Statutes and Acts of Parliaments and
me in it I have transmitted the Book of Common Prayer with those Alterations and Additions which have been presented to me by the Convocation to the House of Peers with my approbation that the Act of Vniformity may relate to it so that I presume it will be shortly dispatched there and 89. It requires great prudence and discretion no passion and precipitation when we have done all we can the well-setling that Affair will require great prudence and discretion and the absence of all passion and precipitation You see how his Majesty promised that he would give up all his endeavours to compose the unhappy differences in matters of Religion and to restore the Languishing Church to Peace Vnity and Order Constantine himself hardly spent so much of 90. How mightily his Majesty has laid out himself to restore the Church to peace unity and order his own time in private and publick conferences to that purpose His Majesty Lord Chancellors Speech to both Houses of Parliament on Saturday Decemb. 29 1660. The Day of their Dissolution pag. 8. in private Conferred with the Learned Men and heard all that could be said upon several Opinions and Interests apart and then in the Presence 91. Constantine himself scarce spent so much time about it of both Parties himself moderating in the Debates and less care and diligence and authority would not have done the work And if after all this his Majesty doth not reap 93. If after all some will keep up old Breaches they must be reduced by Law to the obedience of the Law the full Harvest he expected from those Condescentions if some men by their Writing and by their Preachings endeavour to continue the old Breaches c. I shall say no more than that I hope their want of modesty and obedience will cause them to be disclaimed by all pious and peaceable men who cannot but be well contented to see them reduced by Law to the obedience they owe to Law ON Tuesday April 5. 1664. as if his Parliament were somewhat doubtful of it The King when he came then to give his Royal Assent to two Bills breaks out into these words to them I do assure you upon my word and I pray believe 9â— The King has no other thoughts or designs in his heart but to support the Religion Established and make us happy by it me That I have no other thoughts or designs in my heart but to make you all happy in the support of the Religion and Laws Established pag. 4. The Late King lost his Life in the defence of the Reformed Religion and his present Majesty whom God Almighty long continue among us hath manifested his affection to the Church of England as by Law Established in despight of all calumnies and through extream difficulties with the highest acts of Solemnity imaginable WHEN his Majesty met his both Houses of Parliament in 67. how instant was he to have them take it into their considerate thoughts how to settle Religion more to the quieting of his Peoples minds and His Majesties Speech to both Houses Monday 10 Feb. 1667. pag. 4. for the Establishment of Unity and Concord among them Saith he one thing more I hold my self obliged to recommend unto you at this 94. And therefore reminds his Parliament that they would think of some course to beget a better union among his Protestant Subjects as being the best way to support the Government present which is that you would seriously think of some course to beget a better union and composure in the minds of my Protestant Subjects in matters of Religion whereby they may be induced not only to submit quietly to the Government but also chearfully give their assistance to the support of it WHEN the King sent his Grace the then Earl of Lauderdail his Maiesties High Commissioner for the Parliament of Scotland You shall hear what he said to them concerning his Majesties 95. The Kings constant and unalterable zeal to maintain and defend the True Reformed Protestant Religion in Scotland Resolution to maintain the True Protestant Religion there It was by command from his Royal Master to say in his Name at the opening Earl of Lauderdail 's Speech to the Parliament of Scotland Oct. 19. 1669. pag. 3. 4. of that his Parlirment And first saith he I am to assure you of his Majesties constant and unalterable zeal for maintaining and defending the True Reformed Protestant Religion in this 96. That â—e will maintain and defend the autient Government of it being most suitable to Monarchy his Kingdom for which he will constantly lay out his whole power and authority as also for discouraging and punishing all Atheism and Prophanities and all that is contrary to true Religion and Godliness I am further particularly commanded to assure you that with no less zeal and constancy he will maintain and defend the Antient Government by Arch-Bishops 97. Episcopal Government the most Primitive and Apostolick and Bishops as now it is happily setled as a sure Fence for the True Refromed Protestant Religion a Government most suitable to Monarchy and well may I call it Antient for whoever 98. The King will refend the persons of the Archbishops Bishops all the Orthodox Clergy in their Functions will look into Antiquity shall find Episcopal Government hath continued in the whole Catholick Church both East and West even from the most Primitive and Apostolick Times and a little after in the said 4 pag. after he had just touched upon the sad Calamities and Confusions of the Late Times he says farther in his Majesties Name and by his special Command I do assure you he will employ his utmost power in the maintenance 99. Will not endure those numerous Conventicles that tend to Sedition and Schism of that Government and will protect the persons of my Lords the Archbishops and Bishops and of the Loyal Orthodox and Peaceable Clergy in the exercise of their Functions he will not endure those numerous and unlawful Conventicles 100. The King of late hath set up some that were peaceable men in vacant Churches though they came not up to the Rules Established They should therefore carry themselves worthy of that high favour which tend to Sedition and Schism which have been too frequent in some few Shires of this Kingdom Good Laws have been made and in prosecution of those Laws the Lords of his Majesties Privy Council have shewn their care for suppressing those Seditious Assemblies yea and of late his Majesty has graciously indulged the planting of some who were esteened peaceable men in vacant Churches though they came not up to the Rules Established it will be expected that they walk worthy of so great a favour but if after this removal of the very pretence of unlawful Conventicles any Factious People shall in contempt of his Majesties Laws yea 101. But if any factious people in contempt of his
now suffer Sit Ecclesia Anglicana libera habeat libertates suas illaesas Magna Charta IN order to this great work the Commons have prepared 113 A Bill brought by the Commons to Repeal the Act fâ—â— exclusion of the Bishops from sitting in the House a Bill to repeal that Law was made in 17. Car whereby the Bishops were excluded this House These Noble Lords have all agreed and now we beg your Majesty will give it life speak but the word Great Sir and your Servants yet shall live TO which his Majesty presently was pleased to return this 114. The great thanks the King gives them for the Repeal of that Act as being an unhappy Act in an unhappy time most gracious Answer I thank you with all my heart indeed as much as I can The King's Speech to both Houses July 30. 1661. pag. 4 5. do for any thing for the Repeal of that Act which excluded the Bishops from sitting in Parliament it was an unhappy Act in an unhappy time passed with many unhappy circumstances and attended with miserable events and therefore I 115. It has restored Parliaments to their Primitive Institutions do again thank you for repealing it You have thereby restored Parliaments to their Primitive Institutions AND his Majesty was so greatly pleased with this Act of Repeal that he found it as it were impossible for him to forbear coming to his House of Lords even the very first day of their meeting after the Adjournment and what was it for you shall immediately know from his own words I know the Visit saith he I make you this day is not ne necessary is not of course yet if there were no more in 16. How the King visits them the first day of their next Meeting to give them thanks again and how he rejoyces to see the Lords Spiritual and Temporal House of Commons met together c. it it would not be strange that I come to see what You and I have so long desired to see The Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons of England met together to consult for the peace and safety of Church and State by which Parliaments The King's Speech to both Houses on Wednesday Novemb. 20. 1661. pag. 1. are restored to their Primitive Lustre and Integrity I do heartily congratulate with you for this day THIS surely was a signal evidence of his true love to the Church his hearty joy to behold the great Supporters and Pillars of it restored to their rightful Seats in Parliament And this both the King and the Parliament knew was one ready way to restore to them their due honour and reverence from the People If the Authority of the Church should not carefully be upheld how quickly should we come to have no Church at all and into what sad Calamities should we lapse by such an abandonment which in some sense but little differs from a Persecution LET us suppose that possible which the piety and goodness of the Kng hath made next to impossible says the 117. What would become of the Church if her Authority were despiled Lord Keeper in his Speech to both Houses of Parliament but let it be for once supposed Lord Keepers Speech April 13. 1675. pag 12 13. that the Church of England were forsaken her Authority made insignificant her Government precarious suppose her disarmed of all those Laws by which she is guarded denied all Aid from the Civil Magistrate and that none were obliged to obey her commands but those that have a mind to it would not this turn a National Church into nothing else but a Tolerated Sect or Party in the Nation Would it not take away all appearance of Establishment from it would it not drive the Church into the Wilderness again where she should be sure to find her self encompassed with all sorts of Enemies if at least she should find her self at all in the midst of so many Tolerations THEREFORE is it not most fitting that a strict Rule should be observed and that we could have the Law to be that Rule and not to leave every Man to be a Law and Rule unto himself WELL then may the King say to his Parliament what 118. His Majesties assurance that he will preserve the True Reformed Protestant Religion and the Church as now established he has said since in almost every one of his Speeches to them I will conclude with this assurance to you that I will preserve the True His Majesties Speech to both Houses Feb. 5. 16672. pag. 4. Reformed Protestant Religion and the Church as it is now Established in this Kingdom and in the whole course of my indulgence to Dissenters I do not intend that it shall any ways prejudice the Church but I will support its Rights and it in its full power THE Church of England and all good Protestants says 119. The Church and all good Protestants have reason to rejoyce in this their Defendour the Lord Chancellor to this Speech of the King in his own pag. 12 13. have reason to rejoyce in such a Head and such a Defendour His Majesty doth declare his care and concerns for the Church and will maintain them in all their Rights and Priviledges equal if not beyond any of his Predecessours He was born and bred up in it It was that his Father died for 120. Good reasons to induce his Majesty to it We all know how great temptations and offers he resisted abroad when he was in his lowest condition and he thinks it the honour of his Reign that he hath been the Restorer of 121. He hopes to bring it into greater lustre than ever yet it has been the Church 'T is that he will ever maintain and hopes to leave to posterity in greater lustre and upon surer grounds than our Ancestours ever saw it but his Majesty is not convinced That violent ways are the interest of Religion or the Church 122. violent ways not conducing to it AND after his Majestie 's conclusion of his Speech let me 123. Let us then all bless God and the King conclude nay let us all conclude with blessing God and the King Let us bless God that he Idem pag. 14. 15. hath given us such a King to be the Repairer of our Breaches both in Church and State and the Restorer of our paths to dwell in LET us bless the King for taking away all our fears and 124. That God hath given us such a King who makes the Church of England his great care leaving no room for jealousies for those assurances and promises he hath made us Let us bless God and the King that our Religion is safe that the Church of England is the care of our Prince what more hath a good English Man to ask but that this King may long Reign 125. Long therefore should we pray that this King may Reign WHEN He met his Parliament
let the world see that it shall not be my fault if The Kings Speech to both Houses Feb. 15. 1679. pag. 1 and 2. they be not happy by your Consultations in Parliament AND how shall the world see this why saith he in the 140. By securing the Protestant Religion to them very next words For I declare my self very plainly to you that I come prepared to give you all the satisfaction and security in the great concerns of the Protestant Religion as it is established in the Church of England that shall reasonably be asked or can consist with Christian prudence TO be sure his Majesty when he said this was sufficiently sensible of what the Lord Chancellor at the same time had in command to say viz. that The Peace of the Church is harder to preserve than the 141. For the Peace of the Church is harder to be preserved than that of the State peace of the State for they who desire Innovations in the State most commonly Lord Chancellors Speech to the same p. 6. begin the attempt upon the Church AND by this means it comes to pass that the peace of 142. Hence it is so oft disturbed by two sorts of persons by mistaken souls and by malicious designing men the Church is so often disturbed not only by these poor mistaken souls who deserve to be pittied but by malicious and designing men who deserve to be punisht And while things continue in this State it cannot be avoided but that the Laws which are necessary to restrain the malicious must and will sometimes disquiet and wound those that are weak Yet the Phanaticks Sectaries and Nonconformists as the 143. How Phanaticks no friends to the established Government Speaker of the Honourable House of Commons then said as they differ in their shapes and species accordingly are more or less dangerous but in this they all agree they are no friends to the established Sir Edward Turnors Speech Tuesday May 14. 1664. pag. 9. Government either in Church or State And if the old Rule hold true Qui Ecclesiae contradicit non est pacificus we have great reason to prevent 144. Therefore was the Bill against Conventicles their growth and to punish their practice Therefore was the Bill then prepared against their frequenting of Conventicles the Seed-plots and Nurseries of their Opinions under pretence of Religious Worship BUT yet by such Bill no man is hindered the use of his own Judgement in the exercise of Religion by himself or in his own Family or in the presence of 145. But by it none are hindred the use of their own Judgement in their families four strangers but because the peace Sir Edward Turnors Speech to the King Monday April 11. 1670. Vpon the Parliaments adjournment p. 5. of the Nation may be endangered by more populous meetings contrary to the Liturgy and practice of the Church of England therefore from a prudent prospect of such a destructive inconvenience to the weal of the State did the Parliament prepare such a Cautionary prevention AND yet for all this their great care and wisdom 't is somewhat an unpleasant observation to see how slow many inferiour Magistrates are in the 146. How slow the inferiour Officers are in this to discharge their duty discharge of this part of their duty Lord Keepers Speech to both Houses April 13. 75. p. 11 12. which refers to the safety of the Church against the Enemies on both sides of it the Papists and the Dissenters For this is that which opens men's mouths to object against the Laws themselves This is that which encourages offenders to dispute that 147. This encourages Offenders to dispute Authority and to judg the Laws Authority which they should obey and to judge those Laws by which they ought to be judged They have found a way to make even Justice it self criminal by giving it a hard name and calling it persecution IT is no doubt a duty which we owe to God and to our 148. It is the duty of us all to improve the opportunities God gives us to fence our Vineyard selves to the present Age and to posterity to improve the opportunities God gives us of fencing Lord Chan. Speech Thursd May 23. 1668. p. 13 14. our Vineyard and making the hedge about it as strong as we can And therefore goes the Lord Chancellor on saying The King hath commanded me to tell you i. e the Parliament that he is ready to concur with you in any thing of this kind which shall be found wanting and which the Christian Prudence and Justice of a Parliament can propose as expedient LET not any then give themselves up to complain of the danger 149. Let none complain of the dangers of Religion of Religion for fear lest they should and that too justly too be thought to complain only for complaining sake id ibid. FOR what can possibly be said to satisfie any people as to 150. What more can be said to satisfie the people of the security of the Protestant Religion than what the King hath said to his Parliament the security of the Protestant Religion than what the King said to his Parliament When he gave them all his most hearty thanks for the great and extraordinary care they had already taken and still did continue to shew for the safety and preservation of his Royal Person in these times of danger NOR saith he do I think it enough to give you my thanks only but I hold my self obliged to let you see withall that I do as much study your preservation too as I can possibly and that I am as ready to joyn with you in all the ways and means that 151. Our own hearts can't with for more than what he is ready to do for us that way may establish a firm security of the The Kings Speech to both Houses Nov. 9. 78. p. 3 4. Protestant Religion as your own hearts can wish AND this not only during my time of which I am 152. He would secure it to us for ever sure you have no fear but in all future ages even to the end of the world HE proceeds in the next Speech to give them a further demonstration of his Zeal and he saith I meet you here with the most earnest desire that Man can have to unite the minds of all my Subjects both to me and to one another and I resolve it shall be your faults if the success be not suitable to my desires I have done many great things already in order to that end as the Exclusion of the Popish Lords from their Seats in Parliament 153. He has excluded the Popish Lords the House c. And above all I have commanded His Majesties Speech to both Houses on Thursday March 6. p. 3 4. my Brother to absent himself from me because I would not leave 154. Commanded his Brother to absent
be put in or out but by Authority of Parl. no Lord-Lieutenant or Deputy-Lieutenant nor no Officer in the Navy during the Reign of any Popish Successor be put in or removed but either by Authority in Parliament or of such persons as the Parliament shall intrust with such Authority 'T is hard to invent another Restraint to be put upon a Popish Successor considering how much the Revenue of the Successor 97. And 't is hard to invent another Restriant upon a Popish Succes will depend upon consent of Parliament and how impossible it is to raise Money without such Consent But yet if any thing else can occur to the Wisdom of the Parliament which may further secure Religion and Liberty against a Popish Successor 98. And if a Parl. can think of any thing else further to secure Religion the K. will consent to it without defeating the Right of Succession it self his Majesty will most readily consent to it BEAR with me now in this necessary Repetition which you had at the latter end of the last Chapter Thus watchful is the 99. Thus watchful is he for all our Safeties King for all your Safeties and if he could think of any thing else that you do either want or wish to make you happy he would make it his business to effect it for you AND we may tell those desperate wretches who yet harbour in their thoughts wicked designes against the sacred person of the King in order to the compassing their own Imaginations That God Almighty would not have led him through 100. And certainly now God would never have done so much but for a servant whom he will always preserve from the utmost malice of his Enemies so many Wildernesses of Afflictions of all kinds conducted him through so many perils by Sea and perils by Land snatched him out of the midst of this Kingdom when it was not worthy of him and when the hands of his Enemies were even upon him when they thought themselves so sure of him that they would bid so cheap and so vile a price for him he would not in that Article have so covered him with a Cloud that he travelled even with some pleasure and great observation through the midst of his L. Chancellor's Speech Decemb. 29. 1660. page 21 22. Enemies he would not so wonderfully have new-modelled that Army so inspired their hearts and the hearts of the whole Nation with an honest and impatient longing for the Return of their dear Soveraign and in the mean time have so exercised him which had little less of providence in it than the other with those unnatural or at least unusual Disrespects and Reproaches abroad that he might have a harmless and an innocent appetite to his own Country and return to his own People with a full value and the whole unwasted bulk of his Affections without being corrupted or by assed by extraordinary forreign Obligations And let me adde that he would not now have so miraculously as it were preserved him from the many late most wicked and hellish Conspiracies of the Papists God Almighty would not have done all this but for a Servant whom he will always preserve as the Apple of his own Eye and always defend from the secret Machinations of his Enemies 101. Let us to the utmost then labour to improve the confidence between the King and his People LET us then extinguish our fears and jealousies and lay out our utmost endeavours to improve the confidence between the King and all his people He sufficiently takes notice that the malice of his Enemies hath been very active in sowing so many Tares as are almost enough to spoil that harvest of Love and Duty which his Majesty 102. He finds he has Enemies enough to grapple with Lord Keeper's Speech Jan. 7. 1673 4. pag. 18. 19. may justly expect to reap from all the good seed which he himself hath sown FOR Calumnies and Slanders of this nature are like Comets 103. But Calumnies are nothing after a while in the Air they may seem perhaps especially to the fearful to be ill Prognosticks and the direct fore-runners of mischief but in themselves they are vain Apparitions and have no kind of solidity no permanence or duration at all For after a little while the Vapour spends it self and then the base Exhalation quickly falls back again into that Earth from whence it came LET not the whispers or evil surmises of those who lie in 104. Let not ill surmises endanger the state of the Government wait to deceive make any man the unhappy occasion of endangering the safety Lord Chancellor's Speech on Thursday May 23. 1678. page 18. 19. of the Government by mistrusting it But let the world now see that our Zeal 105. But let the world see our Zeal to preserve it to preserve the Government is the same it was when we were ready to die for its restoration LET us labour to shew the world the most effectual significations 106. And by our Loyalty and Duty let us dsscourage our Enemies of our Loyalty and Duty that we are able to express for nothing in Lord Chancellor's Speech Oct. 21. 78. page 15. the world can more discourage our Enemies 107. Then shall the King possess the greatest Glory that of reigning in our hearts and we the highest felicity that this world can afford as on the contrary nothing does or can so ripen a Nation for destruction as to be observed to distrust their own Government THEN shall the King be possessed of that true Glory which others vainly pursue the Glory of reigning in the hearts of his People then shall the People be possessed of as much Felicity as this world is capable of CHAP. III. Of Liberty and Property c. AND now having thus at large shewn you the Pious 1. The Proem Zeal of the King and his firm resolution to maintain and defend the Church of England as it is now established by Law in all its Rights and Privileges as also his great and extraordinary care to suppress the Growth of Popery by awakening all his Laws against the Papists and Popish Recusants and by his frequent Declarations to his Parliaments of his readiness to concur with them still in all further necessary Bills against them which are fit and reasonable for them to present 2. How affectionate the King is and how desirous to keep up the just Measures of our Liberties him with to pass into Laws I presently imagine that you will in the next place be desirous to hear what he hath said in the behalf of your Liberties and Properties I am sure to your Religion that is the Second thing in all your thoughts and I wish to God my fears may be groundless if I should tell you that in truth I am jealous whether your Liberties and Properties are not a great deal dearer to most of you than your Religion which
Laws in full force and power and hath not 32. Our Safety most consists in being govern'd by Law Justice been equally and impartially administred to all ever since the happy Restoration of the King LET There be then no Complaining in our Streets no Murmurings 33. And if our Civil Rights can be yet made more firm to us the King's Heart is full of gracious Intentions for our general Satisfaction in our Borders if we have not Laws enough to secure and please us if we think our Liberties and Civil Rights can be yet more firmly established to us then let us lay down our just Necessities before him Who saith God knows Our Heart is full of Gracious Intentions The King's Declaration to all his Loving Subjects Dec. 26. 1662. pag. 13. not only for the Plenty and Prosperity but for the Vniversal Satisfaction of the Nation And no doubt but he will concur with us in all things which may advance our Peace and preserve our Just Rights to us THIS We may stedfastly believe when he assures his Parliament 34. For nothing can be reasonably proposed but he will readily receive That If there be any thing you think wanting to secure Property there is nothing The King's speech Jan. 7. 1671 4. pag. 4. which you shall reasonably propose but I shall be ready to receive it THEREFORE Be but pleased your selves 35. Therefore being pleased our selves he is best pleased and perswade others to be so contrive all the ways â—â—e Lord Chanâ—â—llor's Speech â—eptemb 13. â—â—60 pag. 23. imaginable for your own Happiness and you will make him the best pleased and the most happy Prince in the World NOW nothing recommends the present Age 36. Nothing so much recommends the present Age as the good Laws made in it unto Posterity so much as the Wisdom and the The Lord Keepers Speech Apr. 13. 1675. p. 15. Temper of the Laws that are made in it for all succeeding Ages judge of our Laws as we do of our Ancestors by the true and unerring Rule of Experience IN Making of Laws therefore it will import us to consider that too many Laws are a Snare for Id. ibid. 37. But too many Laws are a Snare Mr. Grivel in 35 Eliz. said in Parliament as Sir Robert Filmer reports it in his Freeholders Grand Inquest he wished not the making of many Laws since the more we make the less Liberty we have our selves Her Majesty not being bound by them 38. Too few a Weakness in the Government pag. 49 50. too few are a weakness in the Government too gentle are seldom obeyed too severe are as seldom executed And Sanguinary Laws are for the most part either the Cause 39. And Sanguinary Laws either the Cause or Effect of a Distemper in the State or the Effect of a Distemper in the State TO establish this State there seems not to need Id. ibid. many new Laws some will always be wanting And therefore saith the King to his Parliament in his Speech before this of my Lord Chancellor's The principal End of my Calling you now is to know what The King's Speech Apr. 13. 1675. pag. 3. 40. Some Laws will always be wanting you think may be yet wanting to the Security of Religion and Property THIS Speech of the King 's as my Lord Chancellor says very 41. Therefore the King calls his Parliament to know what is wanting truly Was in order to unite the Hearts of his The Lord Chancellor's Speech Apr. 13. 1675. pag. 8. Parliament and People to himself by all the Emanations of Grace and Goodness that from a great and generous Prince can be expected And here 42. And this in order to unite the Hearts of both Parliament and People to him The King is pleased to add the Consideration of your Id. ibid. Liberties and Properties And while he does so you may be sure that he who is so careful of your Rights will be mindful of his own too for he that does Justice to all can never be wanting to himself AND Saith the King about two Months after I think I 43. And he that is so careful of our Rights sure ought to mind his own have given sufficient Evidence to the World that I have not been wanting on my part The King's Speech to both Houses Jun. 9. 1675. pag. 3. in my Endeavours to procure the full Satisfaction of all my Subjects in the matters 44. The King not wanting in his endeavours to have all his people satisfied in matters both of Religion and Property both of Religion and Property I have not only invited you to those Considerations at our first Meeting but I have been careful through this whole Session that no Concern of my own should divert you from them RELIGION and Liberty stand secured by The Lord Keepers Speech Jan. 7. 1673 4. p. 19. the most Sacred Ties that are Nay the King 45 45 He invited his Parliament to those Considerations not only at first but all along 46 46 Religion and Liberty secured by the most sacred Ties that are 47 47 The King's Interest to prefer both greater than ours hath a greater Interest in the preservation of both than you your selves for as Religion the Protestant Religion commands your indispensable Obedience so it is a just and lawful Liberty which sweetens that Command and endears it to you DOTH not every man see that the King hath 48. The King hath given new life and motion to Laws given new Life and Motion to such Laws as were The Lord Keeper's Speech Jan. 7. 1673 4. pag. 19. long dead or fast asleep HATH he not commanded a rigorous and severe Prosecution at Law of all the Officers and Soldiers in His 49. All Officers and Soldiers severely to be prosecuted when they misbehave themselves Majesty's ordinary Guards when they mis-behave themselves towards the meanest Subject And doth not this secure your Properties ARE not all the Priviledges from Arrests which were claimed by His Majesty's Servants extraordinary Id. ibid. who are very numerous abrogated And doth not this 50. All Priviledges of Arrests claimed by any of the King's Servants abrogated prevent the Delays and Obstructions of Justice THESE are not single and transient Acts but such Acts as flow from Habits These are not Leaves Id. ibid. and Blossoms but true solid and lasting Fruits Long long may that Royal Tree Live and Flourish upon which these Fruits 51. These not single and transient Acts but such as flow from Habits do grow BUT the King doth not think this yet sufficient but he will go further on and give us new Assurances that nothing can be more welcome to him than the receiving of such Bills from his Parliament as may truly tend to the Happiness and Ease of his 52. The King ready to gratifie his People in further securing
all possible Earnestness Id. pag. 3 4. and do conjure you to provide for as speedily as is possible and in such a manner as may give us Security at home and some Reputation abroad I make this Discourse to you with some Confidence because I am very willing and desirous that you should throughly examine whether these Necessities I mention be Real or Imaginary or whether they are fallen upon us by my Fault my own ill Managery or Excesses and provide for them accordingly I am very willing that you make a full Inspection into my Revenue as well the Disbursements as Receipts and if you find it hath been ill managed by any Corruption in the Officers I trust or by my own Vnthriftiness I shall take the Information 138. But not to believe any loose discourses of giving away vast sums of Money in a Morning and Advice you shall give me very kindly I say if you find it for I would not have you believe any loose Discourses how confidently soever urged of giving away Fourscore Thousand Pounds in a Morning and many other Extravagancies of that kind 139. For he is sorry he can reward his faithful Servants no better I have much more reason to be sorry that I have not to reward those who have ever faithfully served the King my Father and my self than ashamed of any Bounty I have exercised towards any Man HERE you find is plain dealing The King comes to ask of 140. Thus if the King ask for Money it is to provide for our Safety and Interest his Parliament some Supply but it is to this end that the Nation may be the better by it that some necessary Provisions for the very Safety of the Kingdom may be made without delay that we may have cause to rejoyce in our own Peace and Quietness being under the Covert of his Wings whose Princely Heart and Head cannot no more than it ought to be free from cares and thoughts of our Protection and Happiness NOR unless upon serious Examination these pressing Necessities be found real and that they have not happened by any fault in him who is perfectly willing that they should enter into the strictest Search in the Case does he require any thing And he would take the Information kindly from them if they would be so free as to tell him upon the Enquiry that they do find Corruption in any of the Officers that he trusts WHEN His Majesty met the House of Commons in the Banquetting-House at Whitehall in March and told them That 141. And he is exceedingly deceived if whatever he hath had given him be any otherwise given than to be laid out for the publick use and benefit and so it shall and we shall find we are the richer by our giving in truth he did not know they were any whit nearer setling his Revenue than they were The King's Speech to the House of Commons Mar. 1. 1661 2. pag 5 6. at Christmas Saith he I am sure I have communicated my Condition to you without Reserve what I have coming in and what my necessary Disbursements are and I am exceedingly deceived if whatever you give me be any otherwise given to me than to be issued out for your own use and benefit Trust me it shall be so and if you consider it well you will find that you are the richer by what you give since it is all to be laid out that you may enjoy the rest in Peace and Security GENTLEMEN I need not put you in Id. ibid. pag. sequente 142. Miserable have been the effects that attended the Wants of the Crown mind of the miserable Effects which have attended the Wants and Necessities of the Crown I need not tell you that there is a Republical Party still in the Kingdom which hath the Courage to promise themselves another Revolution and methinks I 143. Therefore to have such Provision made for the Crown as that it might be able to support it self and secure us is all the King desires and that only for our Preservation should as little need to tell you that the only way with God's Blessing to disappoint their hopes and indeed to reduce them from those extravagant Hopes and Desires is to let them see that you have so provided for the Crown that it hath where withal to support it self and to secure you which I am sure is all I desire and desire only for your Preservation Therefore I do conjure you by all the Professions of Affection you have made to me by all the Kindness I know you have for me after all your Deliverations betake your selves to some speedy Resolutions and settle such a real and substantial Revenue upon me as may hold some proportion with the necessary Expences I am at for the Peace and Benefit and Honour of the Kingdom that they who look for Troubles at home may have that Esteem and Value of us as may secure the Interest and Honour of the Nation and make the Happiness of this Kingdom and of this City once more the Admiration and Envy of the World THUS you see the Peace and Benefit the Interest and Honour and Happiness of this Nation the King's Heart is full of Gracious Intentions to procure and support This is it he greatly desires and desires it for our sakes as well as his own Under his 144. Well when the Parliament had given the King Moneys how does he thank them for it and tell them he will apply it all to the greatest advantage for the Peace and Happiness of the Kingdom Protection he would have us to enjoy our Safety not only that our Persons should be safe but that all that belongs or is dear to us should be so likewise our Religion our Liberties and all our Civil Rights And what more is it possible for a King to do to win over all the Hearts of his Subjects to him And shall he so deserve our Affections and we ever grudge him our Purses BUT to return to the King 's own further Words Saith he to his Parliament My Lords and Gentlemen You have so much obliged me not only in the The King's Speech to both Houses at their Prerogation Mond May 19. 1662. pag 4. matter of those Bills which concern my Revenue but in the manner of passing them 145. And with the best Advice and good Husbandry he can he will contract his Expences with so great Affection and Kindness to me that I know not how to thank you enough I do assure you and I pray assure your Friends in the Country that I will apply all you have given me to the utmost Improvement of the Peace and Happiness of the Kingdom and will with the best Advice and 146. How the King found the Crown when he came to it good Husbandry I can bring my Expences within a narrower Compass THE Lord Chancellor in his Speech after this of the King 's said
with you in any Remedies which might consist with preserving the Succession of the Crown in its due and legal course of Descent I do again with the same Reservations renew the same Promises to you WELL His Majesty you see having thus given us the greatest Assurances that Words are capable of expressing of his readiness to do any Reasonable thing that shall be proposed and offered to him for the maintaining and defending the Protestant Religion to us and our Posterities his next work is to tell us wherein he chiefly relies and thinks himself most safe great and happy and that is in the Hearts and Affections of his Good People and in their joint union among themselves Take his own words for your security in these that follow THAT which I value above all King's Speech to both Houses Octob. 21. 1680. pag. 6 7. the Treasure in the World and which I am sure will give me greater Strength and Reputation both at home and abroad than any Treasure can do is a perfect union amongst our selves NOTHING but this can restore the Kingdom to that strength and vigour which it seems to have lost and raise us again to that Consideration which ENGLAND hath usually had ALL Europe have their Eyes upon this Assembly and think their own happiness or misery as well as ours will depend upon it IF we should be so unhappy as to fall into such misunderstanding amongst our selves as would render our friendship unsafe to trust to it will not be to be wondered at if our Neighbours should begin to take new Resolutions and perhaps such as may be fatal to us LET us therefore take care that we do not gratify our Enemies and discourage our friends by any unseasonable disputes IF any such doe happen The world will see it was no fault of mine for I have done all that was possible for me to doe to keep you in peace while I live and to leave you so when I die BUT from so great Prudence and so good Affections as yours I can fear Nothing of this kind but doe rely upon you all that you will use your best Endeavours to bring this Parliament to a good and happie Conclusion NOW that Gracious and pious disposition which God hath put into Your Royal Heart of doing your Subjects good saith the Speaker of the House of Commons to the King in the Banquetting House November 9. 1660 pag. 5 6. is the greatest Temporal Blessing we are capable of here in this world We must confess your Majesty hath not only Jacob's voice but you have likewise Jacob's hands You have spoken kindly unto your People and you have handled them gently and therefore we must for ever make it our humble Requests in our daily prayers unto his Throne of Grace to bestow upon your Majesty Jacob's blessing de Rore Coeli variaque pinguedine terrae that you may have for your Portion of the Dew of Heaven and of the Fatness of the Earth Serviant tibi populi incurvant se tibi Nationes honorem exhibentes Let your People serve you and the Nations of the Earth bow down before you Those that curse you let them be cursed and they that bless you let them for ever yea and they shall be blessed FINIS ERRATA TItle page l. 24. for Inner r. middle p. 3. l. 24. blot out the parenthesis p. 7. l. 42. for so r. to p. 10. l. 47. r. bodily l. 50. for fol. r. Num. p. 11. l. 24. for their r. the. p. 12. l. 10. for by r. by p. 20. l. 9. blot out what p. 27. l. 30. for II hope r. I hope I. p. 31. l. 35. for said r. said more p. 32. l. 22. for am r. aim in the second Cutting in add after March 6. 1678 9. p. 34. l. 41. for about r. about it p. 50. l. 12. for grown r. Crown p. 76. l. 25. for vere r. very p. 105. l. 22. blot out the last to There are perhaps several other literal mistakes in the printing which it is hoped the Reader will favourably correct