specting the Church of England. He was educated as a Presbyterian; but I apprehend, that he was indifferent as to the particular form of Protestantism which might prevail. Notwithstanding his sanction of the abolition of Episcopacy in Scotland, I do not consider him as so hostile to the Church of England as many of the Whigs. "As for those called Whigs, who were the warmest supporters of the Revolution, and are supposed more than others to have acted in it upon the motive of securing our religion,—I will make bold to say of many of them, and that both with truth and justice, that they have no religion but their interest, nor sacrifice to any deity but themselves. The Whig party is, generally speaking, a compound of the atheistical of all opinions and persuasions whatsoever: and they can be of any religion because they are really of none. They will take the sacrament in the Church of England to be qualified to get or hold a place; and then will herd with the fanatics ever after, that they may be esteemed partizans for our Sovereign Lord, the people."[1] Undoubtedly the Whigs contemplated strong measures against the Church: but happily they were defeated. Nor did the King go the same lengths as his Whig servants. But for the safety of the Church we are indebted to the clergy of that period. The clergy "now began to change their note, both in pulpit and discourse, on their old passive obedience, so as
- ↑ Whether the Preserving the Protestant Religion, &c. p. 31.
certainly deserved the highest acknowledgments a kingdom so happily rescued could make. But having admitted this, we may be allowed to wish, perhaps, that the constitution, like some ships in like manner thus overset, had been able to right itself; without being obliged to pay such an extraordinary price for salvage." Ralph, ii. 1023.
