THE present Establ [...]shment in this State, was made with so much Peace and general Satisfaction a­mong all sorts of Pr [...]testants, that no Man would guess but that it was done with the Universal Consent of the Nation: they seem'd passionately to desire it▪ as the only Security of the Protestant Religion, and their Native Liberty and Property; and according­ly, when obtain'd, they approved it with all the demonstrations of publick Joy and Tri­umph imaginable. None but the Roman-Ca­tholicks were disgusted, T [...]ey alone seem'd to labour under any discontent, or to re [...]ine, at the late Revolution: And their dissatisfaction had thus much of excuse in it, That it was the genuine effect of their zeal for their Reli­gion, which they apprehended was in danger of a total extirpation, since they had lost King James, whom they always esteem'd its in vincible Patron and Protector. Hence it was, they could not behold the downfal of that unfortunate Monarch, without insupportable passion; having been all along transported with the most flour [...]shing hopes of his rising Grandeur, and of seeing the R [...]man Faith pro­pagated in these Nations, under the auspici­ous influence of his Reign: so that their sor­row and discontents admit of some Apology. The late Eclipse of King James his Lustre and Glory might well draw sighs from their hearts, and tears from their eyes, who were of his own Religion, and had for some time bask'd in the Sunshine of his Prosperity. Gra­titude it self must needs prompt them to con­dole his misfortunes, whom he had warm'd with his Royal Favours. Grief and Compassion were but the due Attendants on their Master's Fall. They could do no less in Nature and Honour, than accompany the obscure Exit of their once-glorious Sovereign wi [...]h some su­nest thoughts and resentments. All this was within the Verge of Nature and Humanity. But there is a Time and a Measure for all things. Ne quid nimis▪ was wholsom Advice. Men are not obliged to exhaust their Vitals in unprofitable mourning for the loss of a Friend or Patron; neither had it been pru­dence in the R [...]man Catholicks by an unseaso­nable and long continued peevishness to have render'd themselves burdensom, and an eye­sore to the rest of the Nation; and by a too passionate fondness for a lost Interest, to for­feit that which they might otherwise keep.

And yet, i [...] this be not their fault, there are another sort of people in the Nation, who are guilty of it, a kind of Malecontents who go up and down, insinuating themselves into all Compan [...]es, and privately sowing the Seeds of Sedition in such tempers as they find flexi­ble enough to receive them. These Men mur­mur at the present Posture of Aff [...]irs, whis­pering▪ That all [...]as ill [...]gal and unjustifiable; challenging their Superiours with the Dep [...]si­tion of their lawful Sovereign. And casting in­vidious Reflections on the Government, they say▪ T [...]at the Doctrine of Mariana the Spanish Jesuit is now practica [...]ly translated into English; and that Men need not any longer be beh [...]lding to Rome for Dispensations and Absolutions▪ since in England every Man has found out the way to b [...]come his [...]wn Conf [...]ssor, and can r [...]adi [...]y abs [...]lve him [...]e [...]f from Oaths of A [...]legiance, &c. Thus do they de [...]cant on the publick Conduct of the State, endeavouring to ferment their Disci­ples and Hearers into a belief that King James will shortly return with a powerful Army, and re-settle things on their right foundation. But, in my opinion, those who give credit to this kind of stuff, discover more Passion than [Page 2] Reason, and a greater share of Credulity than of Wit or good Understanding. They take an estitmate of things by the Great, w [...]thout b [...]llance or measure. They condemn or ap­prove the Motions and Overtures of State in the lump, without examining and comparing the partic [...]lar emergencies from whence they spring. Such as these are Men of short dis­course, who frame their conceptions of Publ [...]ck Aff [...]irs from their mere exte [...]nal Appear­ance; gazing on the ou [...]side of the Cabinet, they are dazled, and behold not the Secret within. Such as these are fittest to be impo­sed on by the Incendiaries of the Nation, who are every where Caballing, and making Par­ties for the French King, under the Notion of being Friends to King James. A Notion which they would fain improve so far, as to persuade some easie men, That the Interest of the Church of England is involved with that of King James; as if the one could not subsi [...]t without the Restauration of the other. This is the old Artifice of Faction, to dress their Intrigues in the disguise of Religion; a successful way to gain on the softer part of Mankind. And he that suffers himself to be thus cajol'd, led by the Nose, and cully'd out of his Sense, so as not to discern a Snake in the Grass, deserves to be bit for a Remem­brancer, and a caution, not to be catch'd in the same Noose again. Does not the Church of England Hourish much more under the Reign of King William and Queen Ma [...]y, than it did under King James? Wherein has she been discountenanced, or injured? Or will these men pretend to more care for the Church of England than the Great Represen­tative of the Nation? Are not the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament (for the major part) of that Communion? Was it not with their Advice and Consent the Regen­cy was first committed to the then Prince of Orange? who afterwards was Crowned King of England, &c. A Prince whose Character surpasses the highest Rhetorick of Fame! A Prince, whose more than Royal Virtues charm the World, and bespeak him another Titus Vespatian, Deliciae humani generis. It is need­less to examine or prove his Title to the Im­perial Crown of these Realms. That has been performed by more acurate and ju­dicious Pens. It is sufficient that He with His Royal Consort Queen Mary, are in actual p [...]ss [...]ssion of the Throne. We use to say, That Possession is eleven Points of the Law; and had he no other pretensions of Right and Title, yet the Unanimous Consent of the Nation, with which he was invested with the R [...]galia, may well make up the twelfth. His Mild and Indulgent Government r [...]nders Him beloved at home; and His active Resolution and Conduct against France procures and confirms to Him Potent Allies abroad. Only Lewis the XIVth opposes Him without, and the big [...]tted Faction of Lewis here, malign and undermine Him within His Dominions. This restless Faction being baf­fled in their former Methods, have no other Stratagem left, but sweetning the People with Panegyricks on King James; Lectures on the present Interest of the Church of England, and fine Harangues on the Generosity of the French King: endeavouring to persuade them, That ere long King James will return, and claim his own, and that he will find innume­rable Friends to side with him. By this means they prevail up [...]n some easie Natures, and flatter themselves with a greater increase of Proselytes. Whereas, Supposing such a thing should come to pass as the landing of King James, yet, considering the general hatred which the English bear to the French, it seems to me as easie for the Grand Signi [...]r with for­ty or fifty thousand Turks to conquer these Nations, as for King James to be restored by an Army of Men, whom all the English esteem their mortal Enemies. Besides, if the Irish, (who are of their own Religion) having late­ly experienced the French Integrity, grow weary of those their new Patrons and most Christian Taskmasters, and thereupon a con­siderable part of the Army have deserted King James; you may be assured the English (a People of much more refined Wits, and of contrary Interests to the French) will take care to prevent their Encroachments and Ty­ranny, by not resorting to him at his Land­ing. To conclude, there is no medium be­tween Liberty and Slavery. The One will be preserved, by opposing the French, and serving King William and the present Govern­ment; the Other will be introduced by our Divisions, and Revolt to the French, though mask'd with the plausible pretext of serving King James.