Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

MEMOIRS, &c.

SECTION XIII.

The Parliament express to the king their dissatisfaction with his declaration.-Persecution renewed in 1673.-The case of Friends presented to the king in 1679.-George Whitehead and T. Burr imprisoned in Norwich in 1680, and proceedings of the quarter sessions. Their manly and Christian defence on their trial.

The liberty granted to tender consciences by king Charles the Second's declaration, 1671-2, held not long; for the Parliament being not reconciled to the liberty granted and allowed thereby, took occasion against the said declaration, and moved the king to cancel and make it void; alleging that thereby he extended his prerogative too far, or advanced it above the law, by suspending the execution of penal laws in matters ecclesiastical; suggesting what dangerous consequence it might be of, to have such a precedent remaining. But they took no care of Christ's prerogative and government over the consciences of his subjects: they must be exposed to severe sufferings, oppressions, and cruelty, for conscience' sake towards Him, and for obeying his doctrine, chiefly in refusing to swear at all, and for solemnly meeting together in his name and spiritual worship.

If the Parliament and all parties who were displeased with the king's said declaration, because not an act of Parliament but of prerogative, had been so generous and noble as to have allowed a general liberty to tender consciences, or freedom from persecution, they might

[blocks in formation]

easily have turned the substance or effect of the king's said declaration into an act of Parliament. And no doubt the king would readily have signed and confirmed the same, seeing he had so often not only publicly promised liberty to tender consciences, but also in his declaration from Breda positively and voluntarily promised, "That no man shall be disquieted or called in question, for differences in opinion in matters of religion, which do not disturb the peace of the kingdom; and that we shall be ready to consent to such an act of Parliament, as upon mature deliberation shall be offered to us for the full granting that indulgence."

And moreover, in the king's declaration concerning ecclesiastical affairs, dated October the 25th, 1660, it is again declared: "In a word, we do again renew what we have formerly said in our declaration from Breda, for the liberty of tender consciences: that no man shall be disquieted or called in question, for differences in opinion in matters of religion, which do not disturb the peace of the kingdom, &c."

And in the same declaration it is further said: “Our present consideration and work is, to gratify the private consciences of those who are grieved with the use of ceremonies, by indulging to, and dispensing with, the omitting these ceremonies."

And in the king's speech to both houses of Parliament, the 8th of July, 1661: "It is to put myself in mind as well as you, that I so often (I think so often as I come to you) mention to you my declaration from Breda; and let me put you in mind of another declaration published by yourselves about the same time, and which I am persuaded made mine the more effectual. An honest, generous, and Christian declaration, signed by the most eminent persons who had been the most eminent sufferers; in which you renounced all former animosities, and the memory of all former unkindnesses. And, my lords and gentlemen, let it be in no man's power, to charge me or you with the breach of our words or promises, which can never be a good ingredient

« AnteriorContinuar »