There is a report of a fort of people, who for five or fix Months laft paft, have talk'd of King James his being here and fettled in a fhort time, and of what powerful affiance France would give him to that purpofe: If you, Gentlemen, fhall be inform d of any fuch, it is your duty to take notice of it; for it's plain,by what has been lately. discover'd, that they did not fpeak without book: they would not make fuch difcourfes for want of fomething to fay, but to in-, courage people to ingage in it, and to promote the defign; for Men do not purpose ly make difcourfes that will render them fufpected, and bring them under the dif pleasure of the Government, but out of a profpect of fome advantage,

I do alfo hear that feveral who have formerly taken the Oaths to this King and Queen, have fince lately refus d them, when upon occafion they were tendred to them, and others that wish they had not taken the Oaths: If, Gentlemen, you fhall be inform'd of any fuch, you ought not to pass it over in filence: for by their refusing the Oaths at fuch a time, they have juftly render d themselves fufpected to be privy at least to the intended Invasion of the French: It being a vain excufe to pretend they do it out of Confcience: for if it was lawful to take the Oaths heretofore, how comes it to be lefs lawful now? but if fome prudential Confideration, and not Confcience, prevailed with them at first to take the Oaths: there

is

is then very little reafon to imagine, that there is more of Confcience in the refufing the Oaths at this time, but rather that they are making fair weather against fome expected revolution; for otherwise, why of all others, was this time pickt out to dif cover an averfion of Swearing to this Government?

Gentlemen, If any indeavour to leffen our late Victory at Sea, and to cry up the Naval force of the French, thefe do bring themselves under the fufpicion of being no ill-wishers to the late design of the French: For, wherefore fhould any defire to make our Success to appear lefs than it is, if he were not forry that we had got the better: And wherefore fhould he extol the French Power at Sea, if his good wishes did not attend their defigns, or elfe did thereby hope to keep up the hearts of his Party, that they should not defpair, but expect fome favourable opportunity to put their design in execution; for they must intend either good or bad to us thereby, and which of them is most likely, I leave to every Man to judge.

I have mention'd these things, not that I am of opinion that any or all of them put together, without fome other direct proof, is evidence fufficient to convict them upon a tryal; for God forbid that any Man fhould be condemn'd, but upon a fair tryal and clear evidence: But I take notice of those things, as they do render perfons juftly

fufpected,

fufpected, to be privy to, or approving of the late defign against this Nation: which as every honest Man ought to abhor, so it is his duty to keep a watchful eye against them; for as the defign was laid very broad and deep, and the fuccefs of it is of the greatest confequence to them, fo I am far from believing, that they have given it over for a loft game.

And I am the rather confirm'd in this opinion, because of the incouragement they do receive from the unfortunate divifions that are amongst us. I wish from my Soul we in this City could begin that great Good and neceffary Work of Union ; I have always defignd and indeavour'd it fince you did me the honour to place me on this Seat; and if I have committed any mistake in or der to it,fhall hold my self oblig'd to him that does fhew me my error.

Thinking often with my felf of the best means to effect this, Two things have still presented themselves to me..

Firft, That we would for the future study Charity more, and the Politicks less than heretofore we have done; for if Men did feriously apply their thoughts that way, it would take off moft of the prejudices they : have conceived against any upon flight and immateral occafions: or where there is jufter. caufe of refentment, it will prevent all unnecessary aggravations; it will keep both fides in better temper, and difpose the one to a more moderate reparation for the in

jury

jury he has received, and the other to be more fenfible of his fault, and inclined to make a reasonable amends; it would prevent men from being too apt to take offence upon flight occafions: it will make every man understand himself better; it will difcover to him whither his principles are true or erroneous; it will explain to many men their mistake, who through ignorance did those things whereof afterwards they will be afhamed.

The fecond thing is, that every man would confider, how far his princples and actions have a coherence: For it is not profelling to be of this or that Principle, but how near he has fquared his actions to that Principle, that gives any man this title of an honeft man: For two men of very different principles may be both very honeft; if fo be that they are guided by no other byafs, but that of their principle: For that is only an error in judgment, which is rather to be pitied than blamed ; but to act otherwise than according to the di&tate of their principle, is in no fort to be excused for that is it, which truly denominates a man a Knave; he that defires to be honest, muft take heed that he do not deceive himself for men are apt to value themselves for being of this or that Party, and to flatter themselves in what they do, because they profefs the fame principle with fome other perfons, who are of undoubted honour and reputation. These

things are the best expedient, that I can yet think on, how far they will go in the matter, every man can judge as well as I; but this I may prefume to fay, that if people did seriously reflect upon these things. they would find fo much to do at home, that they would have little leisure to obferve what people do, or if they fhould discover any thing to be amifs in their neighbours, their faults would not appear fo monstrous and unpardonable as otherwise they might.

Of all the ills of the two laft Reigns, in my opinion nothing was fo treacherous and devilish, as that of making parties amongst us, that we might become our own destroyers; for as it was the fureft method to effect our destruction; so if any thing fhould interpofe to prevent our ruin, yet nothing is more difficult than to make up fuch a breach; and therefore the best that could be hoped for from it was to entail upon this Nation heart-burnings, and all the ill confequences of it; I have the charity to hope that many who helpt to carry on that fatal defign, did it more out of ignorance, than for any ill intention: I believe that the arbitrary Sermons being delivered as the Oracles of God, might draw in a great many unwary people ; others might comply either out of fear, or else out of hope of preferment: But as new fight is fprung up, fo I hope and wish from my heart, that men would walk accordingly:If any man has been in an error, as

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