mained in Holland that the Prince of Orange (who was foon after the glorious inftrument of delivering thefe nations) did him the honour to admit him feveral times into his presence, and difcourfed with him, with great freedom. And he ever after retained a particular refpect for him.

In the mean time King James was making quick advances towards the destruction of the Proteftant religion, and the liberties of England. But in the year 1687, for reafons of state, and the better to favour his grand fcheme, he published his declaration for liberty of conscience; which the Dissenters accepted of indeed, but the greatest and best part of them wifely refused to concur in an address of thanks to his majesty for that indulgence. Upon this turn of affairs Mr. Howe returned to his flock in London upon their earnest request. But before he left Holland, he thought it proper to wait on the Prince of Orange, who wished him a good voyage, and advised himn

tho

prehenfion of the great men of the Church, that nonconformity would have been only res unius aetatis ; fince, as the Doctor judiciously observed, that as long as the spirit of impofition continued, it was reasonable to expect that fome would think themselves obliged to ftand up for a generous liberty, the doing of which may be very confiftent with all that charity and brotherly love, that is required either by reafon or Scripture P. 42. fol. & p. 127-130. oct.

*

tho he and his friends made ufe of the li berty granted by King James, yet to be very cautious of addreffing, and to use his utmost influence in order to the restraining others; which he readily promised, and was as good as his word.

UPON his return into his own country, which was in May this year, he was received with great joy by his old friends and brethren, and returned with pleasure to the exercise of his miniftry. He was thankful for a little breathing time, and indeavoured to improve it to the best purposes, and to preferve himself and others from the fnares that were laid for them (B). For notwith

standing

But

(B) THE diffenters have often been feverely reflected upon for defigning to favour the intereft of popery against the Church of England at this time, merely because a few weak perfons, or fome who had received favours from the court, agreed to an addrefs of thanks for this indulgence, and to declare their approbation of the King's difpenfing power. after all the calumnies thrown out against them in general, it is well known that they as a body, abhorred the measures of the court; and as bifhop Burnet owns, "They faw through the defign of the papifts, which "was to set them now as much against the Church "of England, as before they had fet the Church of "England against them. +" It is not to be thought that any man in his fenfes could be fo ftupid as to imagine, that this indulgence flowed from any regard or affection for them. Every one faw that it was an artful design to ingage them to approve of the King's difpenfing power; that is, to make him a compliment

+ Vol. 1. p. 673.

ftanding the great indeavours made use of to draw in the diffenting minifters to approve the measures of the court, Mr. Howe in all their meetings, which were held among them to confider of their own behaviour in this juncture, always declared against approving the difpenfing power, and every thing that could give the papifts any affiftance in the carrying on their defigns. And confiftently with himself, when he was clofeted in his turn by King James, and difcourfed with about this affair, which his majesty's heart was fo much fet upon, he bravely replied; that he was a minister of the Gospel, and it was his province to preach, and indeavour to do good to the fouls of men but that as for meddling with ftate affairs, he was as little inclined, as he was called to it, and begged to be excufed (C).

BUT

of their liberties, and congratulate him, as it were, upon his victory over all the Laws of England.

(C) DR. CALAMY has fet the conduct of the diffenters in this regard in a clear and very good light, in p. 43-46. fol. & p. 132--142. oct. To which is added an account of the converfation between Mr. Howe and Dr. Sherlock, who asked, what he thought the diffenters would do, fuppofing the preferments of the Church fhould become vacant, and an offer fhould be made of filling them out of their number?

But now came on the glorious revolution; by which means the fears of all trueborn Englishmen, and Proteftants, were at once blown over. On this happy occafion, the diffenting ministers waited in a body on the Prince of Orange, and were introduced by the lords Devonshire, Wharton, and Wiltshire; at which time Mr. Howe in the name of the reft made a, handfome fpeech to his Highness. To which the Prince replied, that as he came on purpose to defend the Proteftant religion, he would do his utmoft ftill to defend it and to promote a firm union among Protestants. And without question the Prince was fincere, and really incouraged the design which was foon after fet on foot for a comprehenfion and an indulgence. But great was the furprize to see so strenuous an oppofition to this glorious defign, particularly from those, who in their fright and diftrefs were ready to promise every thing to the diffenters, provided they would but join them in their efforts to fave the Church of England, and the liberties of the nation. Upon this occafion Mr. Howe drew up an excellent paper, but too long to be inferted here, intitled, "The cafe of the Proteftant diffen

"ters,

ters, represented and argued;" which is well worthy of every man's perusal †.

HOWEVER at last, though the comprehension affair came to nothing, yet the memorable act of toleration received the royal affent on May 24, 1689, which repealed the penal laws against diffenters; with which they were contented and thankful, tho some others were very much displeased. It is true, it was faid by a certain party feveral years afterwards, that it was an unreasonable law, and strongly infinuated that it ought to be repealed. But the late lord chancellor King, Cowper, and other great lawyers, on a folemn occafion maintained, that it was one of the principal happy consequences of the revolution; wifely calculated for the fupport of the Protestant intereft; reasonable in it self; and to be required from the legiflators, as they were Christians, and men profeffing humanity and good-will, towards one another. But in order to prevent mutual flights and dangerous extremes, Mr. Howe, very prudently, foon after the toleration act paffed, published another sheet of paper, which is intitled thus; "Humble requests both to conformists and diffenters, touching "their

+ See p. 48-53. fol. p. 146—162. oct.