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and feared, left the Law for burning Heretics would be foon put in Execution against Proteftants, a Repeal of that Law was attempted, and fucceeded: But it was opposed by the Bifhops, who defired that this Law might continue in terrorem to Fanatics, though God forbid, faid they, that it should ever be put in Execution! This Fact, and many others of the fame Kind, will foon be made more known by the late Bishop of Sarum's Hiftory of his

Times.

4. FOURTHLY, I obferve, that the Perfecutions fince the Reformation have mostly been for arrant Trifles, and things of the leaft Importance to the World: We have been chiefly plagued and fet together by the Ears, about Caps, Hoods, Surplices, Ceremonies, external Forms, removing Tables from one Part of a Church to another, and Railing them in. But the most extraordinary Subject of Perfecution and Animofities, and that feems peculiar to our High-Church, was the Book of Sports. HighChurch having taken a Fancy to make it Religion to have no Sermons on Sundays in the Afternoon; but, instead thereof, to make the People dance and play, in Oppofition to Puritans and Diffenters, who, it feems, were fo irreligious as to think, that they were obliged to fpend

fpend their Sundays, after Divine Service was over, in Family or private Devotion: That Book was iffued out by Authority; and many godly Clergymen were haraffed for not reading it, as many Laymen were for not turning that Holy Day into a Play Day.

*

BUT, to the Glory of King GEORGE, this priestly Atheism of Perfecution is now va nifhing. His Majefty began his Reign with a noble Declaration for Toleration, wherein he allows his Subjects to have a Right to a Religion and a Conscience. The Perfecution, commenced by a High-Church Priest against honest WHISTON, fell; and the Promoter is defeated of all Hopes of getting his Charges by a Bishoprick. The Bishop of Bangor: has preached up the Authority of God and Chrift before his Majefty; and his Majesty (the Head of our Church, the fupreme Ordinary, and the fole Fountain of all Ecclefiaftical, as well as Civil Authority) has preached it to the Nation. Some penal Laws have been repealed; wherein our truly Christian Prelates had, to their immortal Honour, their Share. Liberty of Examination and Debate (which is the most facred of all Principles, as it is the fole Foundation of all common Senfe, Truth, and.

* Dr. BENJAMIN HOADLEY, now Lord Bishop of Winchester.

VOL. II.

F

tru?

true Christianity) grows upon us. A Majority of Diffenting Ministers, affembled in a Synod, have declared for the Bible; which was never before done by any Synod of Priests, who have always endeavoured to establish their own or some other Human Authority. The High Priests dare not plainly excite the Mob to burn, plunder, and moleft their Neighbours; but are in great measure reduced to Pulpit and private Railing and Damning. The fole Perfecution now on Foot, and countenanced by Authority, is, That High-Church cannot perfecute Diffenters; for it is esteemed by fome a Church Perfecution not to be able to perfecute others. And lastly, I dare write the Independent Whig.

O GLORIOUS King George! O the Happi-nefs of a Nation to be governed by such a Monarch Of whom I cannot but observe, that he feems to me the Favourite of Heaven, which fo bleffes all his Defigns with Success, that he need not fear Succefs in any truly virtuous or religious Defigns. And (that I may ufe the printed Words of Mr. BOLD, an excellent Divine of our Church) "It is no "fmall Encouragement to all, who have "any Acquaintance with the Christian Reli"gion, to reft affured, that God will, in due

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"Time, notwithstanding all the Machina❝tions and Efforts of ill People, bring Mateters in this Land to an happy Iffue, because "none are against the Government of our «moft Excellent Sovereign King GEORGE, " and the Proteftant Succeffion, but who are "alfo against the Lord JESUS CHRIST being "fole King in his own Kingdom, and con"fequently against his being fole Law-giver "to, and Judge of, his own Subjects, in Mat"ters of Confcience, and which relate to << their eternal Salvation."

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Of High-Church ATHEISM. Part 4.

S a further Proof of the Charge of
Practical Atheism upon High-
Church Priests, I proceed to fhew
how they confound and fubvert

all Morality and Holiness of Life; which is the main Design of all Religion, and more particularly of the Christian.

1. THIS they do, in the first Place, by teaching the most immoral and unholy Doctrines, and thereby leading Men to Actions, in the highest Degree, prejudicial to human Society.

To do as we would be done unto, and to love our Neighbour as ourselves, are Moral and Christian Principles, of daily and moft general Ufe. We cannot converse a Moment, with

out

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