over 10. an Indifferency or detestable Neutrality: But that Authority should be wrought over to fhew kindness to fuch a Combination against it self, or that any should propofe it to the old Cavaliers to give leave to their old Perfecutors to believe themselves under the Oath of God, to bring every, one of them to condign punishment, is a thing which may juftly raise all mens wonder.

I confefs indeed, that by the last Bill of Comprehenfion it was provi ded (and fo perhaps it may in this) That no man fhould dare to fay, that the Covenant doth oblige under fuch a Penalty, &c. But it is much to be doubted that fuch a Provision may not be fufficient; for let us confider this one thing: Thofe Perfons, concerning whom our prefent Debate is, are fuch as are to be entrusted to be Guides of Confciences, and if this Renunciation be once taken off, then they have Liberty enough to infift upon the Obligation. of the Covenant amongst their Confidents, without coming within the danger

N 3

danger of the Law. Let us remember that the Holy League in France was taken by above half the Kingdom,before the King did ever fo much as hear of it.

But, to make this Matter plain, I fhall propofe a Cafe very like it in our own Kingdom. Suppofe that any man out of the great Tenderness which he pretends to have for the Confciences of Men, fhould propofe that the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy should be by Act of Parlia ment taken away, upon this very pretence, That Oaths are not to be multiplied but upon great neceffity; that the Confciences of Men are nice and tender things, and ought not to be difquieted by being pried into; and difputable Points of Government are not fit matters to be put into an Oath: Ought not fuch a Perfon to be looked upon with a very jealous Eye, as being ill affected to his Majefties Perfon, his Crown and Dignity? He himself and all his Favourers will, no doubt, reply, no; becaufe he doth at the fame time offer a Security in it

felf

felf as Good and more fit to be taken, and that is this, That it fhall be very punishable for any man to fay, That our Soveraign Lord King Charles is not lawful and rightful King of thefe Realms, &c. and that the Pope bath any Power or Authority to depofe the King, &c. He, I fay, who should propofe this Alteration, ought in all reafon to be looked upon as a better Subject to the Pope than to the King. And fo likewife, and for the fame Reason, thofe, who with fo great Eagerness and Importunity have fo of ten endeavoured the taking away the Renunciation of the Covenant, ought to be very much fufpected, left they have in their Eye fomething which is of much higher Confideration with them, than either the Settlement of the Church or the fafety of his Majelty.

It now remains that I confider the great Objections which are urged againft all which is already faid, which are thefe, That Comprehenfion, fay fome, others Toleration, others both, are fit to be granted; 1. By reafon

of the great Numbers who do defire it; Secondly, in respect of their great Merit, they being Persons in whom doth confift a great part of the Sobrie ty,Industry, Frugality and Wisdom of the Nation, and particularly the Prefbyterians have deferved well of His Majefty. Thirdly, it is very advise able to grant a Liberty at this time to these Persons by reason of the great affiftance which they are able to afford us against Popery; and Fourthly,that if a Liberty be not given, it will be a very great Inconvenience to Trade. Fifthly, Toleration of feveral Forms of Religion, is a thing which we may fee a good effect of among our Neighbours in France and Holland: Laftly, Civil Penalties are of no ufe in Religion, but only to make Hypocrites. To all which pretences I return this.

First,that the Numbers of these men are not in any degree fo great as they do pretend; It is indeed one of their great and old Arts to make all the Thew they can poffibly, and to boast of thofe Numbers which they cannot fhew; one who is as well acquainted

with the Muster Rolls of these Parties as any man, doth plead for an Indulgence by this very Argument, that they are not fo confiderable as that any danger needed to be feared from them. Peace-offering, p.8. What are we that Publick Disturbance fhould be feared from us, nec pondera rerum nec momenta fumus; by what way or means, were we never fo defirous, could we contribute any thing thereunto? What Defigns are we capable of? &c. So that it feems this is an Argument which they can either ufe or lay afide, as occafion offers it felf: They can either wheedle Authority into pity and forbearance upon the account that they are so inconfiderable, as that no danger can poffibly be feared from then ; Or otherwise they can Hectour Au thority, as being fo confiderable, as that there is no danger so great, bur if they are disobliged, it may reafonably be feared from them.

In the fecond Place, is it any wonder that thefe men do appear in fome. Numbers, confidering how easily many honest well-meaning Perfous may

be