An answer to a scandalous pamphlet entituled, A letter to a dissenter concerning His Majesties late declaration of indulgence

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A N

ANSWER

To a Scandalous Pamphlet,

entituled

A LETTER

T O A

DISSENTER

CONCERNING

His MAJESTIES

LATE

Declaration of Indulgence, &c.

I Being a 7)iffeftter, your Letter was delivered to Me,
whether by miftake, or no, I cannot tell^ nor (hall ex-
amine 3 But this 1 am fiire of, That it concerns all (brts
of Men under that Denomination, to conlider, as well
the End to which your Councils tend, as the Motives
from whence they Spring-
It is noways material to them whether fear^ Tniereji, T^e-
fetftment^ or pure 'Politicks undertakes to be their Guide, but

A to

to what they are driving, and they ought to be careful of their
CoTidiicior., when to mits the right wav lo Repofe, leadt to no
left than perpetual fVuine and Mifcry. You confe(s you differ in
Opinion from 'Di/Jtfw/er/jandcanfcquently are within the Pale of
CcKjormity^ v»'herefore you rauft not wonder if jxjur ^incerit^^
frtendjhjp^ zi\d Charity be doubted ; You are at prefent, difar-
raed of your dangerous Weapons, the Tenal and Sartguinary
Liavpj. therefore your Fury is not now felt^ But can you think
the memory of Seven and Twenty years forrowful SulFcrings
will not bit half a one, or that they who have had fuch wo-
fbl experience of your Brotherly Love to the fub divifion of
Trotefiants, muft not be jealous at leaft of your Officious Friend-
Chip at ppefent, and what fort o^Vs your Arguments are necef-
firy tc prejerve.

It cannot be fuch to whorH your Patty have conftantly impu-
ted ihe Exclf/fi^ff, and Rebel/hnj for the condition of thofe you
confcfs calls/i?r prefent Eafc : And now their immediate Cure is
prcfciibed by the only Phyfician on Earth for that Diftemper,
you would perfwade tliem to refufe to take it, for fear their E-
nemies fhould grow Sick with Envy at tbeir wonderful Recove-
ry. . But if ihev be Infatuated to that degree as to take your
Council, let me beg this Favour for them in their future Mi(e-
neSjThat they may be removed from the Collum of iH Men, to
that of Mad^ for they who poffels fuch Publick Spirits as to be
delighted with Eternal Torments, and Miferies for the Trefer-
wtJo» of their only Enemies, ought at leaft to be relax*d from
tbe-Infamy of their Sufferings.

But I have heard Orong Proofs offered by T)ijjenlers^ to lay
both the 'ExcUiJion and Rebellion to the charge of fome very
- 2Ati\Gu% Ccr.formers '^ hx\d d\d not your unintelligible, as well
as-much repented Doflrine of Non-re fiji am e diCheard all un-
fuccfsful Rebels from being Church of England- Men ^ it would
be hard to diftinguifii them from the moft a(kive Parrators you
heve.

But paffing over all Refledions differing Parties are apt to
m^ke on one another.-, ,v/e will confidec the Tv/o parts of your

Adv'iCQ'.

C 3]
Advice, 'withthis aGTurance, That I believe the new. Friendrhip,
has no r<?W«?/f in it, and is as you fay, to be fufpecied^ and
confequently Examined , But whether in your Method, or no,
remains a QiirQi/ij.

We will t:»iic for granted, That the common Intereft of the
Eftabliih'd Church, and His Majefties Royal PredecelTors in the
four laft Reigns had fo joyn'd them together , that it had
been as well uonatuva], as undutiful in the homanCatholicki xo
have made Court to any other Party of the Nation , And it had
(perhaps; been as Imprudent in His Majefty not to proffer them
the fir(t Fruits of His Favour and Protedlion^ that being no
ways inconfiitant with the Kindnefs He intended to thofe of
His own Communion, nor the Indulgence He always defigned
to His other Peaceable DiJJenting'iuh)t^s: But how ungrate-
fully He has been dealt with by the Efl:abli(hed Church/or His
Generous Condefentions and Complements, I will not repeat,
becaufe as you fay. What is unnecejfary^ muji be tedious h And
the truth of this Affertion is fo plain, that could it admit of a
Difpure, your Letter would put an end to it, for it is in well
Compofed Sentences, and Periods, the Univerfal Voice of the
Party who have much (againfl: his will) forc'd the King to dis-
cern, that their magnify'd Loyalty was meerly their Jntereft,
and that they were Difciples of theCrown only for the Loaves.
He muft too at laft perceive, that the feverity of the Laws
made againft the very Nature of the Reformation^ io^io^ce. a
Conformity to a Fallible Authority, compell'd Trotefiant 1)if'
[enters to (eek for Relief from Rebellion, having Examples of
fuccefs in that method to their Brethren in Foreign Countries,
as well as their Fatal prevailing thereby atHome: But to the Ho-
nour of them, let this truth be rcmembred. That their Natural
Prince on His Promife of Liberty of Confcience-i was moft dear
to them all, and made them with Univerfal Joy^ like true Eng~
liffj-Men, bring Him back with Triumph to His Dominions,
from whence their Swords, and Jntereft had driven Him .* Nor
cao it be believ'd, they would ever have had Recourfe to theii
Swords again for the Remedy, if they had not found their old
Difeafe, Opprefjion return. ' M

C4D

As to \!cieMiance betwixt Liberty^ a fid Infallibility which you
are pleafed to Redicuic , it (eems to the T)iJJentersx\o fuch im-
poffible thing as you would perfwade them, when mutual In-
tereftistheSemcnt of the League: For tbo' it (hould be true,
that a Church which pretends to Infallibility^ cannot in its own
Nature, confent to the Propagation of Errour : Yet Experi-
ence ftiews by Holland and many other places, that the Mem-
bers of fucb a Church, can be Good and Friendly Neighbours
with thofe they think in the wrong ^ But on the contrary fide,
a Church that had its only Beginning, Form, and Foundation
in Severe Sanguinary and Tenal Laws for Extirpation of the
Religion they (ound in Pofieffion, and for preventing any
other whatfoever but its own, and yet pretending to no Jn-
fallibility^ but its Power : It is hard, I fay, to believe fuch a
Church can willingly part with its only Supporter, Force i And
therefore there is a necedity, where there is a Warrantable Op-
portunity for all Parties they would Oppreftj to joyn together
to put it out of their Power to do it.

Troieflant 7)ijfenters, are by their Lawful Prince put in Pof-
feffion of Liberty, and are invited to make that Indulgence laft-
sng to them by Law, on condition all Men may (hare in it ; You
would perfwade them, to caft away this Opportunity, in hopes
the time may come, you will be fo good natur'd to remember thi
Co»rte/y, and not be fofevere to them asyon have keen, Alledging,
That the Church of "Evighn^ convinc d of its Errour iti being fevere
to them\ the parliament, whenever It meets, is fire to be Gentile,
The next Heir Bred* in the Conntrey which they have fo often
Quoted for a Tatern of Indulgence, a General Agreement of all
thinking Men^ Scc Makes you fay all things conjpire to give them
Eafe, and Satisfa&ion, if by too much hade to anticipate their
good'fortune, thy do not deflroy it : Pretty plaufible Sophiftry, to
make Men negledt the prefent PofTefHon of their Defires, in
hopes of a future Poffibility of gaining them : This plainly (hews
you do not believe you have to do with Thinking Men, for fuch
well e.ioagh can fee the difference between Pofleflion and
HopeS; efpecially fupported with Untruths : For all men know

the

the «e;c^ ^/(?/>wa>Bredin the Striaeft Foim of your Church
and adheres to all the Ceremonies of it, in a Countrey v/here
they are not only more Hated, but more Contemptible, and Ri-
diculous thanthofeof the Mafs , to which by the multitudes
of Tapifis they are well accuftomcd ^ And would you make the
7)7jfenters believe, That Princefs would begin an hdulgeptce
She has been Educated to think is Criminal 5 Biit it the THJJen-
ten once get PodeiTion of it under Her Royal Father, the firo»g
Argument of Numbers will ceitainly ftcure the magainQ Her re-
calling the Favour, as well asmake itimpoflibfe for that Party,
who are as you confefs, but as One to Two Kundred, from Op-
preffing the common Fntereft of the /f^i>/e. '

I am not willing (you fee) to car p*at your f^uinting Term of
t\\G next Heir : But this I muff afTure you in g-neral, a more
Difloyal and Dangerous Paper, both to His Majefty and His
Children, did nor fee Day in the hotteft Times of Exclufton.\
as I could eafily fHuftrate, but ftall avoid to do ^0^ fince it be-
comes all true Lovers of their Country in fome degree to be
humble Imitators of Hts Sacred Ma jefty, whofe ftock of \lercy
to His People, feems impofTible to be Exhaufled 5 and whofe
Healing Temper gives apparently the Lye to all the Scandals
His Enemies ever invented' of Him to deprive'Him of His Ri^ht.

The 'D/^^ferjhavethe Word of this Glorious Prince 5' That
they (hall be fure of their prefent Eafe during His Reign , and
thai it (hall be none of His F-ault, if it be not made Perpetual
*10 them , not only by Recinding the Livvs ih.u can Hurt
thern , but alfo tocQ^^^tmtlie Right of free enjqyment of Con-
(iience to every £^^//;?^ Man for^^verV by a Mapt[i Chart^t,
equal to that by which rhcy hold their Eftates .• And ilns DifJ
interefted Favour of Brs Vhjeflres, with the Fntallible Security
it may becontirm'd to their, by;^ You would have them thrown
away and defpife,, ' to relie upon the fingb Promife of T. fF,

But 6'/>, you niW^ I believe , be better known before you
are fo far Truffed : For though you fccm Tfenipotentiirj for
your Church, yet your C/vt/c^///^// may be Forg'd ^ and whilft
}Qur Memorial C^zzk^ plainly the Senfe of your Party in the

Scan-

Scandalous Refle<^ions it makes on His Majefties ^Uions and
AUiatjcei ^ yet it is in their Power to difown you for one of
their Church, when ever it is necedary for them to Boaft Jm-
ptacnlate Loyalty 2ig^\n : So it may happen that T,W, maybe
Hang'd for a Tray tor, the T)jjffenters undone for taking his
Word, and the Church of Ettgland ftill continue in its Ori-
ginal Innocency .• A conveniency (Iconfefs) peculiar to your
Party, all others being forc'd to bear their Iniquities, and un-
dergo the Reproach of their Brethrens Sins.

But toexamin a little clofer what you would be at, and what
you exped from the Z)7/7^«/er/.* In your Treaty, it appears to be
That they JJjould not be fo linked to their New Friends^ as to RejeB
an Indulgence the Parliament may offer them, without comprehend-
ing the Papifts.

A very furprizing Propofal in the Circumftances of the Times,
and feems, as ifyou would offer to reftore to them that of 42.
For I know no other Parliament can make good your Word,
whilft His Majefty lives .* But thele fort of Expreffions are no
Sin in your Circumftances, \\z.v\v\g.NHmbers enough to back them
if they would be Laught out of their T^oUrine of Non-Re^ftance,
His Majefties beft Security ("as you would Infinuate)/{?r his Crown.
But believe it Sir^ difcerning Men know this Boaft of yours is
but a Copy of your Countenance s for His Majefties Indulgence
and the Addrejjes you are fo troubled at, leaves your Church
but a Thin Mufter, ftiould ftie Renounce her pretended Prin-
ciple .• And what you (ay in other parts of your Paper, proves.
ufficiently, that That Doftrine you would formerly have rob'd
aU^ther Churches of, to Adorn your own, is from its Ornament,
become only an excule, and will in the end prove a Thinner
Covering for herNakednefs then Fig-leaves were to our Fore-
Fathers ftiame.

If your felf had not known this to be true, you had fpar*d
the Pains of your Ingenious Paper .• But truly, I confefs, you
ought in this Jundure to be Indulg'd a little Liberty of Con-
fcience too, for the Propagation of your Faith .• For finceyou
have loft the Power o^TrejJing men to your ^de 5 it is but rea-

(bnable

C 7 ]
fonable you ftiould be allowed to Beat up for Volunteers. For
this Caule I (hall (ay little more to you^ either about the Re-
flections you make on His Maje(ty5 .or thofe that Addrefj to
Him, but will clofe up all with thefefew Memoraftdums to your
next Labours.

That you take care to (hew, what King you cxpei^t will be
fo mad to part with his undoubted Prerogative of Difpenfing
with Tenal Statutes 5 when hs judges it convenient for the Ser-
vice of Himfelf and Ringdonij now it is Recogniz'd to be His
Right by Law.

Next you are to prepare ftrong Reafons" to induce that King
to be fuch a Fdlo defe to his Title and Power.
% Then you are to fbew the Ufe of the Teji in matters of Places 5
for to a Catholic^ King it can be no Hindrance to imploy Papijisy
fince he can Difpenfe with the taking it 5 and to a Trolejianp
'tis needlefs, fince his own Averfion to that Party, will (it^may
be fuppos'dj fufficiently Exclude them .• Then fince it can be
of no life in a Tapift or Proteftant Princes Reign , It feems un-
rcalbnably Fradious not to recind it at the Requeft of a Prince,
who is ready to Grant fb many Favours in confequence of fuch
a Repeal, and isagainft it , as it is plainly more againft Chrifts,
than his own- Prerogative.

As to your fuggeftion againft Repealing the Teji in its Legijlx-
five u(e 5 let it be but Impartially confider'd, that the Making of
it did, as the Continuance of it does, ftrike at the Root, and
deftroys the very Foundation of En^liJJj Liberty 3 fince againft
the true intent of Magna Charta, it deprives Men of their Birth-
right, without any Crime or Tryal of their Teers 5 and may be
an In-let by Fa&ion to all manner of Slavery. But a Recogni-
tion in Parliament, that it is void in it felf 5 for that caufe, will
n^ot only reftore the Nation to its tiue Liberty and Property ^
but be a Bulwark againft the like Law for Deftruction of any
other Party, may chance to be out of faftiion.

I am, I confefs one of thofe T)i}Jcr)ters , who would be glad
His Maiefties Favour was turn'd into a La w, fince there is no

Pro-J

[8] ,
Probability any future condutS of C^tholfcl^t could meet with

the fame Circumftances to caufe new Statutes to be made againft
them 3 like thofe, the doubtful Title of Queen Elizabeth occa-
fion'd : And 1 hope you do not exped to be accounted a Con-
jurer, for finding out the Secret , to tell the other 7^i(fenters,
7/&<?f Papifts themfelvcs don.4 relye on the Legality of this Tomer
to make it Terpetual 5 Since it is plain, that to our Sorrow, as
well as the Nations lofs, We cannot hope His Majefty will be
Immortal : Though to our Comfort at the fame time , few of
us doubt, but he will live long enough to carry his own Glory
beyond any of his Predeceilors ^ and to lay a lafting Founda-
tion for the Felicity of-^his People. Which that he-may do^
willbe the Pray ers.of all his Honefi: Subjeds, as they are of one,
that wifties your Polite Pen better imploy'd, then to the
Difturbance of your King and Country, which is,

Sir^

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Tour Humble Servant*

Henry Payne

London^ Printed for K 71 Anno Domini 16^1*