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PROPOSAL

Humbly offered to the PARLIAMENT, for the more effectual preventing the further growth of POPERY.

With the Description and Use of the ECCLESIASTI

CAL THERMOMETER.

Very proper for all Families.

Infani fanus nomen ferat, æquus iniqui,
Ultra quam fatis eft, virtutem fi petat ipfum.

HOR.

HAving, with great forrow of heart, obferved

the increase of Popery among us, of late years, and how ineffectual the penal laws and ftatutes of this realm have been, for near forty years laft paft, towards reclaiming that blind and deluded people from their errors, notwithstanding the good intentions of the legiflators, and the pious and unwearied labours of the many learned divines of the established church, who have preached to them without ceafing, although hitherto without fuccefs:

Having alfo remarked, in his Grace's speech to both houfes of parliament, moft kind offers of his Grace's good offices, towards obtaining fuch further laws as fhall be thought neceffary to

wards

wards bringing home the faid wandering sheep into the fold of the church; as alfo, a good difpofition in the parliament to join in the laudable work; towards which, every good Proteftant ought to contribute at least his advice: I think it a proper time to lay before the public, a scheme, which was writ fome years fince, and laid by, to be ready on a fit occafion.

That whereas the feveral penal laws and ftatutes now in being against Papifts, have been found ineffectual, and rather tend to confirm, than reclaim men from their errors; as, calling a man coward, is a ready way to make him fight; it is humbly propofed,

I. That the faid penal laws and ftatutes against Papifts, except the law of Gavelkind, and that which difqualifies them for places, be repealed, abrogated, annulled, deftroyed, and obliterated, to all intents and purposes.

II. That, in the room of the faid penal laws and ftatutes, all ecclefiaftical jurisdiction be taken from out of the hands of the clergy of the established church, and the fame be vefted in the feveral Popish archbishops, bishops, deans, and archdeacons; neverthelefs, fo as fuch jurifdiction be exercised over perfons of the Popish religion only. III. That a Popish prieft fhall be fettled, by law, in each and every parish in Ireland.

IV. That the faid Popish prieft fhall, on taking the oath of allegiance to his Majesty, be intitled to a tenth part, or tithe, of all things titheable in Ireland, belonging to the Papifts within

VOL. II.

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their respective parishes; yet so as such grant of tithes, to fuch Popish priefts, fhall not be conftrued, in law or equity, to hinder the Proteftant clergyman of fuch parish from receiving and collecting his tithes, in like manner as he does at prefent.

V. That, in cafe of detention or fubtraction of tithes by any Papift, the parifh-prieft do have his remedy at law, in any of his Majefty's courts, in the fame manner as now practifed by the clergy of the established church; together with all other ecclefiaftical dues. And, for their further difcovery, to vex their people at law, it might not be amifs, to oblige the Solicitor-General, or fome other able King's counfel, to give his advice or affiftance to fuch priests gratis, for which he might receive a falary out of the barrack fund, military contingencies, or concordatum; having obferved the exceedings there better paid than of the army, or any other branch of the establishment; and I would have no delay in payment, in a matter of this importance.

VI. That the archbishops and bishops have power to visit the inferior clergy, and to extort proxies, exhibits, and all other perquifites ufual in Popib and Proteftant countries.

VII. That the convocation having been found, by long experience, to be hurtful to true religion, be for ever hereafter abolished among Proteftants.

VIII. That, in the room thereof, the Popish archbishops, bishops, priests, deans, archdeacons,

and

and proctors, have liberty to affemble themselves in convocation, and be impowered to make fuch canons as they shall think proper, for the government of the Papifts in Ireland.

IX. And, that the fecular arm being neceffary to enforce obedience to ecclefiaftical cenfure, the fheriffs, conftables, and other officers, be commanded to execute the decrees and fentences of the faid Popish convocation, with fecrecy and difpatch; or, in lieu thereof, they may be at liberty to erect an inquifition, with proper officers of their own.

X. That, as Papifts declare themselves converts to the established church, all spiritual power. over them fhall cease.

XI. That as foon as any whole parish shall renounce the Popish religion, the priest of such patifh fhall, for his good services, have a penfion of 2001. per annum settled on him for life; and that he be, from fuch time, exempt from preaching and praying, and other duties of his function, in like manner as Proteftant divines, with equal incomes, are at present.

XII. That each bishop, so soon as his diocese fhall become Proteftants, be called My Lord, and have a pension of two thousand pounds per annum, during life.

XIII. That when a whole province fhall be reclaimed, the archbishop fhall be called His Grace, and have a penfion of three thoufand pounds per annum, during life, and be admitted a member of his Majefty's most honourable privy council.

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The good confequences of this scheme (which will execute itself, without murmurings against the government) are very visible. I shall mention a few of the moft obvious.

I. The giving the priest a right to the tithe, would produce law-fuits and wrangles; his Reverence, being intitled to a certain income at all events, would confider himself as a legal incumbent, and behave accordingly, and apply himself more to fleecing than feeding his flock. His neceffary attendance on the courts of justice, would leave his people without a fpiritual guide; by which means, Proteftant curates, who have no fuits about tithes, would be furnished with proper opportunities for making converts; which is very much wanted.

II. The erecting a spiritual jurisdiction amongst them, would, in all probability, drive as many out of that communion, as a due execution of fuch jurifdiction hath hitherto drove from amongst ourselves.

III. An inquifition would ftill be a further improvement, and, moft certainly, would expedite the converfion of Papists.

I know, it may be objected to this scheme, and with fome fhew of reafon, That, fhould the Popish princes abroad purfue the fame methods, with regard to their Proteftant fubjects, the Proteftant intereft in Europe would thereby be confiderably weakened. But, as we have no reafon to fufpect Popish councils will ever produce fo much moderation, I think the objection ought to have but little weight.

A due

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