Proteftant Religion is established by Law, 4.D. 168 and Part of the Conftitution. If it be ob- The Prince jected, that the Church of England was once of Orange's of another Opinion, and preached up Obe- Adminidience to a Popish, as well as a Proteftant ftration.. Prince; declaring, that a Difference in Religion could not alter our Duty: I anfwer, that this was founded upon a Perfuafion, that it was poffible, a Popish Prince might govern a Proteftant People according to their Laws; but fince the Nation has twice made the Experiment, once in Queen Mary's Reign, and again in that of James 11; and by dear bought Experience, hath found, that fuch Princes look upon themselves obliged in Confcience to ruin and deftroy thofe Subje&s they are bound to protect, and to fubvert the whole Conftitution, rather than not establish their Superftition; We have now very good Reafon to alter our Minds; and if we fhould ever a third Time fuffer ourselves to come under a Popish Yoke, we deferve to feel the Effects of it. But to proceed.

Let us enquire of the Subjects of France or Spain, If their feveral Kings fhould turn Proteftants, whether they would not think themfelves bound in Confcience to withdraw their Allegiance from them? Nay, Whether the Pope, the Head of their Religion, would not look upon it as a meritorious Act, to take up Arms against fuch Proteftant Princes? And if this would be allow'd and applauded in abfolute Monarchies, where the whole Legifative Authority is lodged in the Prince, How much more are we excufable in a limited VOL. XXIII. Kkk Monarchy,

ftration.

A.D.168. Monarchy, where the King can neither make The Prince or alter the Laws, without the Concurrence of Orange's of the People, in recognizing the next Heir, Admini- profeffing the Religion of our Country? I may addrefs myfelf to the Presbyterians, and the reft of the Diffenters in like Manner, and demand, If any of their Sects were establish'd by the Laws of the Land in this limited Monarchy, Whether they would obey either a Popish or Epifcopal King, if he went about arbitrarily to deprive them of the Exercife of their Religion? To conclude: As the Laws of this Country have eftablish'd the Church of England here, and the Sovereign is obliged to be of that Church; poffibly, none of our future Princes will be fo weak as to profess themselves Papifts, or Presbyterians, or endeavour the Extirpation of the Church of England, while King James's unhappy Fate remains upon Record.

The Revolution brought about by Church

men, and not by

Diffenters.

I fhall make but one Obfervation more on this great Turn of State; and that is on the Diligence and Addrefs of the Diffenters, who always pretend to a great Share of Merit in every Alteration of Government. In Cromwell's Ufurpation, they gave out, he could not have fupported himfelf without their Affistance. At the Reftoration, That the King was principally obliged to them. When King James II, affumed a difpenfing Power, they congratulated him, and encouraged him in it, by the most flattering Addreffes, and bafe Submiffions: And when King William and Queen Mary came to the Crown, they pretended, this was brought about too by their

Means;

Means; though, in the Bishop of Rochester's 4.D.168 Words, The main Body of those who made The Prince fo brave a Stand at the Revolution, were all of Orange's of the Church of England, and the Principles Admini on which they stood, all Church of England ftration. Principles. It was by these Perfons and Principles, that Popery was ftopp'd in its Carreer, and the arbitrary Schemes King James had form'd, were entirely defeated. Give me Leave to obferve further, that it was a Church of England Parliament, and even a HighChurch Parliament, that firft fettled the Proteftant Succeffion in the Reign of King Wil liam; and another High Church Parliament, that establish'd it in the Reign of Queen Anne; though the Diffenters, it must be own'd, have generally had the Forefight to difcern when a Turn of State is likely to happen, to make Friends in Time, and claim the greatest Share in the Enterprize; and have been fo lucky as to be believed and favour'd accordingly, by thofe that did not thoroughly know them: Though if it be confider'd, that they can never be hearty Friends to any Government, but a Common-Wealth; and if they could, that they are not a fixteenth Part of the Nation; the Church of England, as it juftly deferves, would be efteem'd the greatest and firmeft Support of his Majefty's Throne, and enjoy a proportionable Share of his Favour.

Title.

The Title of King James was the fame with King that of his Brother King Charles II, and had James's never been difputed, if he had not abdicated the Government. As to his Character, fince His Chawe are fo divided about it ourfelves, I shall racter.

K kk 2

refer

A.D.168 refer the Reader to that given him by an inThat the genious Foreigner, who obferves,

Duke of York employ'd his Youth in the continual Exercife of Arms: He had always apply'd himself to it from the Age of Nine Years, when he was with his Father at Edgebill Fight, till the Age of Twenty Seven, when he returned into England with his Brohe C ther. His Genius led him that way;

valued any Opportunity of fignalizing his Courage, above the greatest political Advantages: This is both commendable and blame-worthy. I know not whether the Duke deferved the Blame, but all Europe was convinced, that he was worthy of the Praife; and the Commendations given his Valour by the Prince of Conde, and Marefchal Turenne, thofe two great Mafters of the Art of War, will remain his eternal Monuments.

'He gave fresh Proofs of it in the War the King his Brother declared against the States of Holland, in the Year 1665; and the Victory he gain'd over them at Sea, 'fhew'd the Duke to be as good a CommanC der in Chief, as he had been Officer and Soldier: Twenty two of the Enemy's Ships were then taken, burnt, or funk, by the English; Opdam, the Dutch General, perishing there in his. That Fleet had totally 'been destroy'd, had not one Bronkard, of the Duke's Bed-Chamber, prevented the Execution of his Orders, the very Night after the Victory. The Duke lay down to take a little Reft, after giving Orders to

.

'make

make all Sail, and keep up with the Remainder of the broken Navy: That Gentleman, who was none of thofe that valued their Honour above their Life, told the Captain, he was too lavish in expofing the Heir of the Crown, and counterfeited another Order from him, for flackening Sail, which was unadvisedly done. He was difgraced, and the Parliament would have brought him C to a Trial, but he was difcarded; and that Affembly, in the Name of all the Nation, made a publick Acknowledgement to the Victor, of the Service he had done the Kingdom, affigning him, by an A&, still preferved among the Records, a Gratification of 50,000 7. and upwards.

་

This Victory having added new Luftre to the Duke of York, he was in the happiest and moft agreeable Condition, a Prince of his Degree could be: He had an establish'd Reputation, not only in England, where they look'd upon him as the Support of the Nation, but throughout all Europe, where he was regarded as one of the Princes of his Time, who beft maintain'd the Grandure of his Birth, by his perfonal Merit: He enjoy'd most of the great Places of Profit and Honour, was Lord High Admiral of England, and Governor of the Cinque Ports, and of Portsmouth. He having Children, and the King none, abundance of People 'follow'd him, as the Heir to the Crown, which was to pafs away to his Head, and remain in his Family: And what made this the happier, the King was not jealous of

him.