Protestant interest in general, and in particular to the Church of England, that all true Englishmen must acknowledge they owe to the then representatives of the nation, their privileges, their liberties, their lives, their religion, their present and future security from Popery, slavery, and arbitrary power."*

SECTION IV.

THE INTENTION SHOWN IN THE PUBLIC DECLARATIONS OF THE REVOLUTION.

THE next inquiry, "WHAT were the intentions of the Legislature ?" presents matter for consideration deeply interesting, and most important, both to the question of the Coronation Oath, and to the great question with which that is intimately connected.

The first thing in the records of the Revolution, which must strike even the most careless observer, is the frequent, one might say the constant, expression of this sentiment, that there is an intimate, an indissoluble union between the Protestant religion, and the civil freedom of

"A Vindication of the Proceedings of the late Parliament, by John Lord Somers." Somers's Tracts, 1 Col. vol. ii. p. 341.

this country, and that upon the maintenance of this union hang the vital interests of the State. We know that all men, of the slightest political consideration, of different parties in politics and religion, joined in the transactions of the Revolution. But whether we refer to the acts of the Legislature at large, or of the different branches of it, to the public declarations of the political associations of the time, or of the leading individuals engaged in the Revolution, we find that upon this fundamental principle, all parties (except of course the adherents of James) were united. Every act and expression evinced their anxious desire, "that," (to use the forcible language of the Prince of Orange,) "the Protestant religion, and the peace, honour, and happiness of these realms, might be established upon lasting foundations;"* and that they had "no other design than to procure a settlement of the religion and of the liberties and properties of the subjects, upon so sure a foundation, that there might be no danger of the nation's relapsing into the like miseries at any time after."t

The nobility and gentry who signed the famous "Association," (which was commenced at Exeter, on the landing of the Prince of

* First Declaration, 10th of October, 1688. Journal of the House of Commons.

+ Second Declaration, 24th of October, 1688. Journal.

Orange, and afterwards subscribed by most persons of note,) declared, that " they would never depart from it, until their religion, their laws, and their liberties, were so far secured to them in a free Parliament, that they should be in no danger of falling again under Popery and slavery."

They therefore addressed the Prince of Orange, urging the propriety of calling together a free Parliament, "as the best means tending to such an establishment, as that their religion, laws, and liberties, might not be in danger of being again subverted." In accordance with these views, many of the Lords, spiritual and ́ temporal, and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London, having met in conference, stated, in their joint declaration, "That they would assist in obtaining such a Parliament, wherein their laws, their liberties, and properties, might be secured, and the Church of England in particular, with a due liberty to Protestant Dissenters; and in general, that the Protestant religion and interest over the whole world might be supported and encouraged."

This was followed by an address from the city of London, in which, "Taking into consideration his Highness's fervent zeal for the Protestant religion, they humbly thanked him for appearing in arms in this kingdom, to carry

* State Tracts, 1. page 78. vid. 2. Rapin. 777.

on and perfect his glorious designs,—to rescue three kingdoms from slavery and Popery ;and, in a free Parliament, to establish the religion, and the laws, and liberties of these kingdoms upon a sure and lasting foundation."

In the speech of the Prince of Orange, at a great council of the Lords, spiritual and temporal, holden at St. James's, on the 21st of December, the same objects are expressed ;"I have desired you," said he, "to meet here to advise the best means how to pursue the ends of my declaration, in calling a free Parliament, for the preservation of the Protestant religion, the restoring the rights and liberties of the kingdom, and settling the same, they may not be in danger of being again subverted."

that

Such were the measures, such the line of conduct which the nation required of that Legislature, whose intentions, in what was done in consequence, we are now investigating. That it fulfilled the trust reposed in it, by strictly acting in accordance with the desires of the people, so unequivocally expressed, we have every reason to acknowledge with gratitude. "A new settlement was then made of the whole Constitution; and we have ever since enjoyed, if not the best system of government, at least, the most entire system of

с

liberty that ever was known among mankind."*

The first measure of the Convention Parliament, (after resolving that James the Second had violated the contract with his people, and had abdicated the throne,) was to draw up that memorable Declaration of Rights, in the preamble to which, for the justification of their conduct to the world, and to posterity, they set forth the most flagrant violations of law and justice perpetrated by the late King. The introductory words, and the whole construction of this preamble, evince, in the most forcible manner in which language can express ideas, the conviction of the framers of it, that there is an inseparable connexion between the national, or Protestant religion, and national liberty; and that the same acts which endanger the one, must necessarily, in the same proportion, endanger the other.-" "Whereas, the late King James the Second, by the assistance of divers evil counsellors, judges, and ministers, employed by him, did endeavour to subvert and extirpate the Protestant religion, and the laws and liberties of this kingdom;—

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By assuming and exercising a power of dispensing with, and suspending of laws, and the execution of laws, without consent of Parliament.

* Hume's History of England. Conclusion.