and refolute ftand which the Proteftants then made against the advances of Popery, produced the Revolution.

In the reign of William the Third, the ftate was thought to be in danger from the encroachments of Rome; to prevent which, the act of parliament was made, which is now, in the most material parts, repealed, and several Proteftants being of opinion, that this repeal will, in its confequences, act as an open toleration of the Popish religion, they are filled with the most painful apprehenfions: they think, that liberty, which they value more than their lives, and which they would piously transmit to their children, to be in danger: they are full of the most alarming fears, that chains are forging at the anvil of Rome for the rifing generation: they fear, that the Papists are undermining our happy conftitution: they fee the purple power of Rome advancing, by hafty ftrides, to overspread this once happy nation they fhudder at the thought of darknefs and ignorance, mifery and flavery, fpreading their fable wings over this highly favoured ifle: their fouls are pained for their rights and liberties as men; and their hearts tremble for the ark of God.

Infpired

Inspired with fuch fentiments, and under the influence of fuch reasonable and wellgrounded fears, they think it a duty which they owe to themselves, their posterity, their religion, and their God, to unite as one man, and take every poffible, loyal, and conftitutional measure, to ftop the progress of that foul-deceiving and all-enflaving superstition which threatens to overfpread this land. It is to be hoped, that an attempt, fo juft and reafonable, will be crowned with fuccefs; but fhould it fail, through the fupineness or groundless prejudices of those who ought to ftand first in this caufe, the members of this Affociation will enjoy the fatisfaction of a selfapproving mind, confcious of having done its duty; while those who meanly defert the Proteftant caufe, and tamely fuffer the encroachments of Rome, may fee their error when it is too late, and be filled with bitternefs and remorfe at a conduct fo mean and despicable, and fo unworthy their profeffion.

Whatever fuch perfons may think of themfelves and their conduct, and however they may dress themselves up in the splendid robes of candour and moderation, they are to be informed that their conduct is highly criminal, and may be attended with the moft deplorable confequences; as, by their eglecting

. .

glecting to appear on this great occafion,

they give our rulers reason to conclude, that it is the fenfe of the nation that Popery should be tolerated.

It is fincerely to be lamented that Proteftants in general, are not more apprehenfive of the danger. Have they forgot the reign of bloody queen Mary? Have they forgot the fires in Smithfield, and can they behold the place without emotion where their fathers died? Will it ever be believed in future times, that perfons of eminent and diftinguished rank among the Proteftants, and perfons of high and exalted religious characters, refused to petition against Popery; and let it overspread our nation without oppofition? Will it be believed that Englishmen were fo far degenerated from the noble fpirit of their ancestors, as tamely to bow the neck to the yoke of Rome? "Tell it not in "Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; "left the daughters of the Philiftines rejoice; left the daughters of the uncircumcifed "triumph."

It is not to be wondered at that the Papifts, either openly or in disguise, take every method to prevent the juft and reasonable view of the Proteftant affociation, and therefore reprefent them as factious, feditious, and ene

mies

mies to toleration. These charges, and every other which the malice of our enemies, or the groundless fears and prejudices of our mistaken friends fhall hereafter exhibit, will be separately and diftinctly confidered in the course of these letters; and fuch an account given of the views of the Proteftant Affociation, and the line of conduct which they have pursued, and intend to pursue, in order to accomplish the great end for which they affociate, as will, I hope, obviate every objection, remove every scruple, and excite the Proteftants to join hand in hand, and unite as one man, in that cause, in which their present and future welfare is fo nearly concerned, by

J. W.