into the scale, gave a powerful ascendancy to the prince of Orange.

The revolution being happily accomplished, they naturally looked for the fulfilment of the fair promises which had been so lately made. Whatever William had promised on this head, he was desirous to perform. Trained up during his early years in a private station, and mixing with mankind on the footing of equality, he knew more of human nature than usually falls to the lot of those who are born in a palace, and educated for a throne. It was also an advantage to him, that from his childhood he had seen different religious sects living together in harmony,and performing the various duties which they owed to each other in Society, with as much good will as if all had thought alike. Persons living in a country where they have seen none but those of their own creed, are apt to think of other denominations with a kind of horror, and imagine them to be little better than demons in human form.

*

When our country threw off the yoke of Rome, the Spanish priests persuaded the people, that the English, in consequence of becoming heretics, were stripped of their former shape, and had horns like the devil, and satan's cloven foot. It was therefore not without astonishment, that the first time an embassy was sent from England to Spain, the persons who composed it were seen to have undergone no change of form, in consequence of the change of their faith; but were as handsome and well shaped as if they had still continued within the pale of the Romish church. Such horrors as the Spaniards felt at the imagined alteration in the English, do many persons of good natural abilities, and dispositions, and even of culti

vated minds feel in respect to those who hold a creed differing from their own when this happens to be the case with princes, and men of influence in society, the effects are exceedingly to be deplored. From such bigotry William was entirely free: he had a liberality of mind in respect to different religious denominations enjoying the rights of conscience and of worship, which, with the exception of Cromwell, none of the rulers of England had ever possessed. Sensible therefore of the importance of uniting all English protestants, he was no sooner fixed on the throne, than he endeavoured to carry into execution the plans which he had formed for the accomplishment of so desirable an end.

In consequence of the changes produced by the revolution, a considerable number of offices, both civil and military, being left vacant, required proper persons to fill them. It was William's wish to be able to call into public service the talents of any of his protestant subjects without exception: and he thus expressed his sentiments to both houses of parliament: As I doubt not but you will sufficiently provide against papists, so I hope you will leave room for the admission of all protestants who are willing and able to serve. This conjunction will tend to the better uniting you among yourselves, and the strengthening you against your common adversaries." The intimation of the king's desire, gave rise to a motion, in the house of lords, for introducing a clause in the bill, by which it was proposed to take away the necessity of receiving the sacrament, in order to make a man capable of enjoying any public office,

b Bishop Burnet says, that the king put this into his speech with out the knowledge of his ministers, vol. II. p. 8. Calamy, p. 439,

employment, or place of trust. This was when the house was deliberating on measures for abrogating. of oaths of allegiance and supremacy, and appointing other oaths. But here the king was advanced more than a century before the greater part of his subjects; for when the clause was reported to the house, it was rejected by a large majority. Seven peers however entered their protest."

Unable to attain an object so very desirable, his majesty's ministers resolved to make a second trial; and perceiving they could not prevail to set aside a sacramental test, they introduced another clause, by which it was provided that a person should be sufficiently qualified for any office, employment, or place of trust, who a year before, or after his admission or entrance thereunto, did receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper, either according to the usage of the church of England, or in any other protestant congregation; and could produce a certificate, under the hands of the minister, and two other credible persons, members of such a protestant congregation. But this clause had the

The lords Delamere, Stamford, North, and Grey, Chesterfield, Wharton, Lovelare, and Vaughan. The substance of the reasons of their dissent was that an hearty union among protestants, was a greater security to the church or state than any test which could be invented that this obligation to receive the sacrament, was a test on the protestants, rather than on the papists: that as long as it was continued, there could not be that hearty and thorough union among protestants, as had always been wished,' and was at this time indispensibly necessary and lastly, that a greater caution ought not to be received from such as were admitted into offices, than from the members of the two houses of parliament who are not obliged to receive the sacrament to enable them to sit in either house. Calamy, p. 439, 40. Tindal's Continuation of Rapin, vol. XVI. p. 175.

2 Calamy, p. 440. Tindal, vol. XVI. p. 175.

same fate as the former, being rejected by a great majority of the house. Six peers, however, were so strenuous for it, that they recorded their dissent. Foiled in both these attempts, the king was obliged to remain deprived of the services of such of his subjects as dissented from the church of England, and could not, with a good conscience, communicate in the Lord's supper according to her rites. His zeal in their cause gave extreme offence to the high church bigots, and created a bitter enmity against him, which ceased not with his life.

Besides these rejected measures, the king had two other objects in view respecting the dissenters, in both which he was exceedingly desirous of success. The one was a comprehension, which would, by the removal of those exceptionable parts of the rubric, to which they generally objected, bring the greater part of the presbyterians into the church: the other was a toleration, for the benefit of such as could not even then conscientiously enter the establishment. The former failed, the latter was crowned with success.

From what unexpected quarters benefits, great and lasting, sometimes arise: and the ancient proverb may be still not improperly used," Is Saul also among the prophets?" When the bishops, who scrupled to take the oaths required by the new government, were in the house, some of them, for the last time; just before they left it, they closed their parliamentary career with a motion for a bill for granting toleration to protestant dissenters; and another for a comprehension. The proposal for a toleration was immediately taken up; and on the twenty-eighth of February, in the year one thousand six hundred and eightynine, the earl of Nottingham presented the bill to the

house of lords. It was, he said, for substance the same with one which he had formerly drawn up and laid before parliament, in the reign of Charles the second, when the nation was so violently agitated about the bill of exclusion, by which a papist was to be declared incapable of sitting on the English throne. The bill appeared so reasonable, and so necessary for the public welfare, that it does not seem to have met with any serious opposition in passing through its different stages, in either house; and it received the royal assent on the twenty-fourth of May, in the year one thousand six hundred and eighty-nine. Some indeed proposed to give it a limited duration, that the dissenters might be kept upon their good behaviour; and at the close of the period might have it continued, abridged, or annulled, according to their deserts. But more generous sentiments prevailed. The good disposition of the nation at the time, for granting what all allowed to be conducive to the public tranquillity, was urged as a reason for granting it without a clause which must hurt the feelings of those whom it was designed to please.

A copy of this act, which may be considered as the Magna Charta of the dissenters, will be deemed a valuable document, and its insertion necessary in a history of this kind.

The Toleration Act, entituled, 'An act for exempting their majesties' protestant subjects dissenting from the church of England from the penalties of certain laws.

Forasmuch as some ease to scrupulous consciences, in the exercise of religion, may be an effectual means to unite their majesties' protestant subjects in interest and affection.