CHAP. II.

STATE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY DURING THIS

PERIOD.

SECTION I.

STATE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY DURING THE REIGN OF KING

WILLIAM.

In the praises of liberty, only Eloquence herself is qualified to write. Among sublunary blessings is there one which can bear a comparison, or which has a more benign and powerful influence on the formation of the human character? What an important figure the little barren spot of Greece makes in the history of the ancient world! How much superior in words and deeds were its people to the millions inhabiting the extensive regions of Asia! But to what can it be attributed? When the Greeks ceased to be free, they sank into an abject state like the Asiatics, and produced none of those great men who had been so numerous in former times, hence it is clearly seen that political liberty was the cause. Among the nations of modern Europe, in the scale of character for talents, for energy, and for social comfort, it will be found that they may be properly placed according to the measure of it which each enjoys, or has enjoyed for a century past; for time is required to produce its delicious and salutary fruits. Britain owes her pre-eminence in the

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most solid advantages, to the possession of political and civil liberty since the glorious revolution.

If there be an individual in the whole family of man who is warranted to be strongly attached to the cause of liberty, it is the disciple of Jesus Christ; and the more ardent his zeal for the propagation of the Gospel in the world, the stronger may be his attachment. Nor will it be viewed as either extravagant or misplaced, when it is considered, that with political, religious liberty is inseparably connected. Whenever political liberty is, unhappily for its inhabitants, banished from a country, religious liberty is virtually included in the proscription. Should it in any instance, for reasons of state, be permitted to remain, the security is so precarious, and it is found so uncongenial to the sentiments and views of those who banished political liberty, that, after a trial of the incompatibility of it with their wishes and designs, it also receives orders to depart. Of the truth of this, the records of the nations contain abundant evidence.

At the time when Christianity was first introduced into the world, the defect of religious liberty was, in some measure, compensated by the nature of the ancient governments. Whatever might be their distinguishing forms, there was a looseness in all of them, which left to the people a considerable measure of freedom from constraint: and their compulsory methods of exercising authority, which were all of a military kind, instead of organizing the people, overawed them, and coerced them into quietness and subordination. Amidst such a state of things Christianity arose in the world; and by favour of such lax institutions, was permitted to spring up, to cast

its roots deep, and spread its branches far and wide, while the rulers and the great were almost unapprized of its existence.

In the middle ages, the same service was rendered to religion by the feudal system. The barons were complete masters in their own domains, and could, except in very extraordinary circumstances, preserve from harm those who sought a sanctuary under the wing of their friendship and power. Thus Wickliffe was protected by John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster,. at a time when the clergy sought his ruin, and the king would have permitted them to wreak their vengeance on the illustrious reformer. In the territories of the count of Tholouse, the Waldenses and Albigenses, for a considerable time, found a place of safety; while Rome and her ecclesiastical myrmidons, roared with ceaseless rage. A multitude of similar instances occurred, during the space of several centuries, which were equally favourable to the cause of true religion.

But in modern Europe, where political institutions are in one respect more perfect, where every thing which takes place is accurately known, and magistrates have information concerning each individual within their jurisdiction, unless religious liberty be enjoyed, pure Christianity will be unable to find an entrance. If by any means it has gained admittance, it holds but a precarious existence, and if an attempt be made to propagate the truth, (a privilege without which religious liberty is but an empty name) it is the certain signal for its departure. The history of Europe, from the reformation to the close of the seventeenth century, furnishes a luminous commentary on the present subject. During this period, the

state of the people on the continent became gradually more unfavourable with respect to political liberty; and in consequence of this, the progress of the Gospel. and its propagation in the world were essentially impeded. With the exception of one country in Europe, a generous allowance of forms of religion, differing from those established, was almost unknown: and in that country, the dissenting sects were more indebted to a connivance at their worship, than to statute law confirming their rights. Such was the state of things in the Dutch republic..

At this time religious liberty entered our beloved country, under the protection of the prince of Orange, and in spite of one or two stern warnings in the following reign to be gone, has continued with us ever since.

The tyranny of James the second having alarmed the friends of freedom, and his inordinate haste to introduce popery, alienated the hearts of all good protestants, a general dissatisfaction took place. The chief men of the country turned their eyes to William prince of Orange, who, by his mother, the daughter of Charles the first, was nephew, and by his wife, was son-in-law to the king. Urged by a variety of considerations, he complied with their wishes. A peculiar providence directed his way in the ocean, and guarded him from the attacks of a superior fleet, which was waiting to intercept his course. He landed at Torbay, on the fourth day of November, in the year one thousand six hundred and eighty-eight. The people, nay James's friends, and troops forsook him; and being seized with fear, he descended from his throne, and sought a sanctuary in France, The convention

which was assembled, placed the crown on the head of William and of Mary; and being exalted into a parliament, their attention was immediately directed to the numerous and important matters which required to be speedily settled, in consequence of the change which had taken place. To delineate the revolution settlement belongs to the department of civil history the promise of the writers of this work, is to take cognizance of what relates to the cause of religion.

When William was meditating his arduous expedition, in order to give satisfaction to the minds of his friends in Britain, he sent over a confidential declaration, which was likewise published, "promising to endeavour a good agreement, between the church of England, and all protestant dissenters; and to cover and secure all those who would live peaceably under the government, from all persecution on account of their religion"." Some of the most considerable and moderate among the clergy, anxious that the dissenters should form one body with them in opposition to the enemies of the protestant faith, had the frankness to acknowledge that the church had treated them with severity, and promised, that if by their united means they were delivered from their present alarming condition, the dissenters should find them disposed to do every thing in their power to bring about a re-union on terms of conformity to which they could easily submit. Forgetting past injuries (and to forget injuries so numerous and aggravated was no ordinary piece of heroism), the dissenters cordially co-operated with their fellow-protestants in opposition to popery; and throwing the whole weight of their influence * Dr. Calamy's Abridgment of Baxter's Life, &c. vol. I. p. 422.