THING. How would he triumph over a Popish Adverfary that dealt fo difingenuously! I dare fay if Chillingworth's Terms were only infifted on in Subscribing, very few would refufe it. But alas! How different are they from the only Terms to be used in that cafe by the Act of Parliament! Chillingworth was a great and a fhining light, and I honor and reverence his memory. But as he was no more than a Man, he might be mistaken; and I think he was fo in this. But I will presume to offer it as a Conjecture, that he would have acted a very different part, if any other Perfon than his God-father Arch Bishop Laud had been at that time the Chief of the Clergy. Chillingworth fell in the great Rebellion for fteadily adhering to the Royal Cause. The Spirit of Faction and Party then excited People on both fides, to perpetrate the most outrageous cruelties; and the extraordinary merit of Chillingworth could not exempt him from being treated

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like one of the common fort, but in many things worse, as his Character was better. No wonder that this furious Spirit, which then manifested itself in fo many fatal instances, produced fuch effects as it did at and after the Restoration. Mens minds were sharply fet against each other; and the Royal Party thought more of raising themselves and depreffing their enemies than of promoting the common cause of Proteftantifm. There was then a noble opportunity of enlarging the Church and taking in almost the whole Nation into one Communion. But instead of thisInstead of promoting the happiness of the whole by fome Comprehenfive Scheme, the Paffions of men intervened; Party prevailed, and the King by joining with one, helped that to exclude and suppress all the reft. Now another A&t of Uniformity was made, and fuch Subscriptions required as were never heard of in a Free Country or a Proteftant Church and which indeed they were fo far asham

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ned of at the Revolution, that the governing party of that time were forced, in their own defence, to repeal in part. Oh that they had then gone a little farther, and fettled the Religion of Great-Britain upon as generous a plan as they did the Civil Government! Then there would have been no difference between that of England and Scotland. None would have delighted to destinguish themselves as Epifcopalians or Presbyterians; but All would have rejoiced in the more glorious appellation of Reformed Chriftians. But alas ! though King William was very defirous to promote this great and noble defign, he found himself unable to accomplish it; yea he was hated and vilified for seeming to attempt it and many People who called themselves Proteftants, would have brought King James back again, who was the common Enemy of them all, rather than fuffer any Proteftant, who differed from them in the smallest ceremony, to enjoy any honors or preferments in

the state, or even any exemption from the perfecutions they had long laboured under. And the fame factious Spirit, exerting itself furiously in the latter end of Queen Ann's reign, by crying out The Danger of the Church, had almoft put an end to the Proteftant Religion in England, which the Papists then, as always, heartily labored at, as they knew this would be the most effectual means to root out the Northern Herefy. For had this fucceeded, all Europe, by this time, would have been reduced to as low a ftate of Vaffalage to the See of Rome as they groaned under five hundred years ago. Some People indeed still affect to say that the Church was, at that time, really in danger. But I never could find out any Symptom of danger, but the Profpect we then had of the Proteftant Hanover Family fucceeding to the Crown of Great Britain upon the demife of Queen Anne. People of all demominations indeed expected that when this Succeffion fhould take place, a great Reformation

Reformation in Ecclefiaftical affairs would be brought about: and This many of the Churchmen greatly dreaded, who even difliked former Reformations, and fo they raised the Cry of the danger of the Church. But let us confider a little what is the meaning of this word Church amongst us. In our common Idea of the English Church the Body of the People is hardly included. It is fuppofed to consist of the King as Supreme Head (and I heartily thank God that he is fo) of Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Deans, Archdeacons, Convocations, Chancellors, Treafurers, Præcentors, Prebendaries, Canons, Petty Canons, Rectors, Vicars, Curates, Chaplains, Chorifters, Organifts, Parish Clerks, Vergers, Sextons, &c. Now in a large fense these are all fupposed to belong to the Church. But in a more confined sense, the Church commonly fignifies the Clergy alone, as diftinguished from the Laity: and when it is faid the Church is in danger, the Meaning is,