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Legiſlature, were laid aſide:And none of the Things complained of can be alledged to have been done, or the leaſt Attempt made to do them, any otherways than by Law.Law, Enacted by and with the Advice and Conſent of the Repreſentatives of the People, choſen by the Freeholders and Men of Property in the Nation. What a Degree of Impudence muſt it require, for any Man to compare Things of this Nature, with the many known Acts of mere Power and Violence (not only without Law, but in the Face of the plaineſt ſtanding Laws) done in former Reigns before the glorious Revolution? about which it was then dangerous to debate, and of which it was held criminal to complain! And how juſtly might we expect the Repetition of ſuch Acts of Violence, under the Reign of one, who claims the Crown by the pretended indefeaſible Right of Succeſſion to theſe Princes; extols the Equity and Clemency of their Adminiſtration; and ſets it before him as the glorious Pattern of his intended Government.
The Minds of theſe Men muſt be monſtrouſly perverted, who can favour a Deſign, the natural and neceſſary Conſequence of which muſt be, the Subverſion of what Great Britain glories in above all Nations, Religious and Civil Liberty! Can we expect Liberty from arbitrary Power;a free Parliament from an armed Force?Juſt Laws from lawleſs Men?The Security of our Property from the Invaders of Property?The Protection of our Commerce from France and Spain?The Safety of the Proteſtant Religion from a Popiſh Pretender?and Toleration of tender Conſciences from a perſecuting Spirit!
Our own Hiſtory acquaints us, that there are ſome yet alive who remember to have ſeen the beſt Blood of the Nation ſhed on Scaffolds, in the Cauſe of Religion and Liberty; and great Numbers of peaceable Men fined, impriſoned and put to Death, for ſerving GOD according to their Conſciences; ſometimes under Form of Law, and ſometimes without any Form of Law, by Soldiers who were authoriſed to do ſo; who were at once Judges, Witneſſes, Jury and Executioners.
As we deteſt the Principles of Slavery; as we abhor this flagitious Rebellion, and the baſe Methods by which it has been carried on; ſo we do, in the warmeſt Manner, exhort all Perſons of our Communion toperſIſt
