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Nor is it poffible that the eafe that should be granted can continue long, when the party in whose favour they are not repealed, may thereby be enabled to turn the point of the fword again upon Diffenters.

I know Holland is given in objection to this extent of freedom, where only one perfuafion has the government, though the reft their liberty: but they do not confider, firft, how much more Holland is under the power of neceflity than we are. Next, that our conftitutions differ greatly. For the first, it is plain, in the little compafs they live in; the uncertainty and precarioufnefs of the means of their fubfiftence: that as they are in more danger of drowning, fo nearer ruin by any commotion in the ftate, than other countries are. Trading is their fupport; this keeps them bufy, that makes them rich; and wealth naturally gives them caution of the diforders that may fpoil them of it. This makes the governing party wary how they use their power, and the other interefts tender how they resist it; for upon it, they have reafon to fear a publick defolation; fince Holland has not a natural and domestick fund to rely upon, or return to, from fuch national diforders.

The next confideration is as clear and cogent; our conftitutions differ mightily: for though they have the name of a republick, yet in their choice, in order to the legislature, they are much lefs free than we are: and fince the freeholders of all the parties in England may elect, which in Holland they can no more do than they can be chofen, there is good reason why all may be elected to serve their king and country here, that in Holland cannot be chofen or ferve. And if our power to chufe be larger than theirs in Holland, we are certainly then a freer people, and fo ought not to be confined, as they are, about what perfon it is that must be chofen: methinks it bears no VOL. IV.

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proportion, and therefore the inftance and objection are improper to our purpose.

But it is faid by fome, That there cannot be two predominant religions; and if the church of England be not that, Popery, by the king's favour, is like to be fo.' It is certain that two predominant religions would be two uppermofts at once, which is nonfenfe every-where: but as I cannot see what need there is for the church of England to lose her churches or revenues; fo while fhe has them, believe me, fhe is predominant in the thing of the world that lies nearest her guides. But if I were to fpeak my inclination, I cannot apprehend the neceffity of any predominant religion, understanding the word with penal laws in the tail of it: the mifchief of it, in a country of fo many powerful interests as this, I can eafily underftand, having had the opportunity of feeing and feeling it too and because nothing can keep up the ball of vengeance like fuch a predominant religion, and that penal laws and tefts are the means of the domination, I, for that reason, think them fit to be repealed, and let English mankind fay, Amen.

I do not love quibbling; but it is true, to a lamentation, that there is little of the power of religion feen where there is fuch a predominant one, unless among thofe it domineers over.

I conclude, they that are fo predominant, and they that feek to be fo (be they who they will) move by the fame spirit and principle; and however differing their pretenfions and ends may be, the odds are very little to me, by which it is I must certainly be oppreffed.

Dare we then do (for once) as we would be done by, and show the world, we are not religious without juftice, nor Chriftians without charity; that falfe felf fhall not govern us against true felf; nor opportunity make us thieves to our neighbours, for God's fake? The end of tefting and perfecuting un

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der every revolution of government! if this we can find in our hearts to do, and yet as men, and as Chriftians, as Englishmen, we do but do our duty, let the penal laws and tefts be repealed: and in order to it, let us now take those measures of men and things, that may give our wishes and endeavours the best fuccefs for the publick good, that our posterity may have more reafon to blefs our memories for their freedom and fecurity, than for their nature and inheritance.

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JUST MEASURES,

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EPISTLE OF PEACE and Love,

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Such Profeffors of TRUTH as are under any Diffatisfaction about the present ORDER practifed in the Church of CHRIST.

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FRIENDS,

Published in the Year 1692.

Have, with a deep fenfe and forrow, often beheld the distance and diffatisfaction you are under in re ference to your ancient and faithful brethren, and that fellowship, which, I am fure, was once very dear and valuable with you, and I would have the charity to hope, is what many of you defire still; and for your fakes that would not willingly think amifs, nor differ, nor divide from those that otherwife you have an esteem for and are in judgment one with, as to the worship and doctrines of truth, I defire to open my mind, both with tenderness and plainness; and if what I fay has the voice and matter of peace and love in it, and may be helpful to you, in clofing with your brethren again, I fhall greatly rejoice :

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