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he had not adventur❜d to carry matters fo far, if he had not been fo invited to it by them: And his Brother the Duke of York could not but smile in his Sleeve to fee him fo induftrious in preparing his way to the Throne; for when King Charles died, he had carried the matter fo far, that he could go no farther, unless he did downright declare himself a Papift; but whether he died a natural death, or had foul play, I will leave that to be determin'd by every man in his own Thoughts; only thus much I must observe, that manifeft Symptomes of Poyfon appeared on his Body, and matters were then fo laid, that it was neceffary to have a Popish Prince on the Throne.

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His Eyes being clos'd, the Duke presently fhew'd how great an Affection he had for his Brother, not only in the great hafte, he made to interr him, but alfo by the reft of the Treatment he gave his Body; for if you had the Hiftory of it, you would fay they gave him the Burial of an 28.

And now his Brother being got into his place, he quickly pulled off the Vizard, for he had not the difcretion to diffemble the matter for a fhort time, but out of the depth of his Politicks in a few days went publickly to Maß, Fools being always more pofitive than men of better fence, and Cowards moft infolent when they have the upper band; for he thought he had the Nation in a String.

But though this was very plain above board, yet the Clergy and Tories fo little regarded it, that with great Zeal they addrefs'd to congratulate his acceffion to the Throne, as if God in mercy had taken away kis Brother to make room for bim.

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He had no fooner thus publickly made profeffion of the Romish Faith, but Maß was faid openly in other places, and in a hort sime Popis Chappels were erected in several parts of the Kingdom. To this he added a great Army, who lived in a manner upon Free Quarter, committing all manner of other Infolencies, and no Redress could be had upon any Complaints Ice,ad

But all this did not abate the Loyalty of the Tories and Clergy, till after the defest of the Duke of Monmouth in the West, upon which he not only put in Popish Officers,but told the Parliament to their Face that he hadfo done, and was refolv'd do praceed and he was as good as his word, for he made Popib Officers Juftices of the Place, and Fudges, upon which Loyalty began to decline, for they fell away from him every day more than other. But he ftopp'd not here, for that he might difoblige the Tories and Clergy, as well as he had the rest of the Nation, the Papifts excepted he fet up the High Commiffion,and then the Declaration of Indulgence, and for refufing to comply with ity he clapp'd up feven of the Bishaps in the Tower.

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I am far from detracting from the Praife that is due to that Action of the Bishops, yet give me leave to fay, the Merit of it is not fo great as many have cry'd it up to be, for they refused to read the Declaration more out of Self-Interest than out of regard to the Publick, otherwife why did they not refuse to read the Declaration of Charles I. upon his diffolving the Oxford Parliament, which firuck more directly at the Heart of the Government than King James did, yet not one Bishop refufed it, and accounted every one difaffected to the Government that did dislike it. And that which further prevails with me to be of this Opinion, is, Ffff 2

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because fome of these Bishops, at this time, refuse to take the Oaths.d

It would be endless to run through all the Particulars of King James's Exorbitant Reign, but in fhort he had turn'd the Government on its Head, and was refolv'd to fet up Popery, inftead of God's true Worship, and his Abfolute Will and Pleasure in the room of the Law, and had fully accomplish'd his purpose, if God had not fent us a Deliverer, by whofe afliftance we thruft him from the Throne. For having broke his Coronation-Oath, and the Condition upon which he receiv'd the Crown, he' thereby loft all the Right of Swaying this Scepter. And byla juft and real Authority, with which the People of England are invefted upon fuch occafions, has the Nation, by a full and free Confent,

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placed King on the Throne, who, I trust,

will be the Repairer of our Breaches.

How then ought we to rejoyce? what caufe have we to be thankful for fucha upendious Change, when we had nothing but a fearful look. ing for of utter Ruine ?.we now enjoy the Proteftant Religion inftead of Idolatry, and a just and equal Government inftead of Slavery, and all this brought about without the expence of Blood.→

So that I ftand amaz'd when I hear of any that are for recalling the late King James if there be any fuch, I hope I fhall not be accounted fevere if I wish they were with him, for I think it would be beft and fafeft for them and every body elfe.

Can any Man be fo fenceless as to defire to fet that man over them again, who had once deftroy'd their Religion and Liberties, and had juftly forfeited his Crown by Male Administration; for when the

King denies his Protection, the People are dischar ged of their Obedience to him, because the Obligation of Protection and Subjection is reciprocal. Nay, I may prefùme to fay, that the People have a greater Right to be well govern'd than any King can have to his Crown; for their Right of being well govern'd was firft in Nature, and fecondly, it is neceffary to the being of Mankind; but fo is it not that this or the other man be on the Throne, nor even the form of the Government it felf, for that fort of Government is most neceffary that is beft for the Common Goods

We now fit fafely under our Vines and Figtrees, and every man may Worship God without being bawled to a Goal, the Bone is taken away that the Papifts used to throw amongst Protestants to fet them together by the Ears. And truly, it was always my Opinion, that it would never go well with England till every man might worship God in his own way. And this being thus bappily accomplish'd, I do beg your permiffion to offer my Advice, which is this.

That all Proteftants would now unite against the Common Enemy, and forbear all Diftinctions and Revilings, though we may differ in fome things, yet let us neither reproach him that goes to his Parish Church, nor be fcandaliz'd at him that goes to a Barn: let no man be offended at a Liturgy, or fet Form of Prayer, nor think extempore Prayer is unacceptable to God; every Tub must stand on its own bottom, therefore let every man be more careful to mind and mend his own Failings, than to obferve the Faults of others: let every man live up to the Doctrine he profeffes, and fincerely act according to his Principles, and prefer the publick Ffff 3

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before any private Interest, and then it will go well with them bere and bereafter.

Thus have I given you my scatter'd Thoughts, which I have endeavour'd to put together as well as I could with the fort leifure I have had.

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As to the particular Busineß of this day, it would be needlefs to offer you any Directions, your Oath has fufficiently inftructed you, and I suppose moft, if not all of you, understand your Duty as well as I can inform you; therefore I will only fay, that whatever is an Offence against the Law is prefentable by you.

Your Country has reposed a great and honou rable Truft in you, and I don't doubt your good and faithful discharge of its only this I defire to recommend to you, That you will not find any Indictment or Prefentment upon Sufpicious or flight Evidence; for it is unjust, unreasonable, and may be of fatal confequence to our felves or our Pofterity. A Man's Reputation is a precious thing, and no man ought to be troubled unneceffarily: And I do rather give you this Caution, because it was the Practice of the Late Times, and I hope we shall rather reform their Practices than follow them, and come nearer to the Golden Rule, of doing as we would be done by. But in faying this I don't defign to lead you out of the way of Justice, that any who have offended the Law fhould efcape Punishment. Let the Guilty receive the Reward of their Doings, and the Innocent fuffer no Wrong, and then thall we be a happy People.

So I will trouble you no further, but to pray God to direct you in your Bufineß.

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