the Vehemence of our Temper than any thing else. As for myself, My Lords and Gentlemen, (whom his Majefty hath honoured with a Character far above my Ambition) I fhall not fay much, having no Degn before my Eyes, but the publick Good, and what is clearly your own Interest.

I have no Apologies to make, as having been ei ther an Actor in, or Complier with, what hath been grievous to you, or prejudicial to the Nation; I hope my Deportment and Sufferings the By-past Part of my Life, wiil (at least ought to) fecure me from all Sufpicions of being a Promoter of Arbitrary Power. And I am fure my Mafter whom I ferve, is far from defigning or defiring any fuch thing, whatever his or our Enemies may fuggeft.

I acknowledge that what Truft his Majesty hath been pleased to confer upon me,is above my Strength, but it shall be my Endeayour to fupply my other Defects, by an intire Faithfulness to the King my Mafter, a fincere Refpect to you; and a zealous Application for promoting of the true Religion and common Good of all.

A Speech for the Bill against Occafional Conformity. By Sir J. P. Baronet.

Mr. Speaker,

HE

Er Majefty has been pleas'd in all her Speeches, to give us fo many Affurances of fupporting the Church of England as by Law establish'd; and alfo fuch Inftances of being punctual to her Promise in this Particular, that I think the very justly deferves the Title of, Defender of the Faith. Her Defire to fee this Bill fucceed the laft Seffions of Parliament, was fufficiently fhewn by the Prince of Denmark's conftant Attendance upon it; and I believe the Reason why fome Perfons oppos'd it, was, because the Queen feem'd to efpouse it.

But

But pray, Gentlemen, let us confider, how this Bill came to be loft? Why two or three noble Lords were by Turns to be abfent: The Mifcarriage of the Bill was imputed to their Want of Attendance; when at the fame time they were defired to be out of the Way. And is it not a Shame, that we, who have given fourfcore Millions of Mony for the Prefervation of the Proteftant Religion, fhould have Trimming at laft in a Bill to prevent Hypocrifie?

It was a Law among the Athenians, that when any Mutiny or Difference arofe in the City of Athens, the Inhabitants fhould take one fide or other, or elfe they banish'd them the City; and truly, Sir, when Members of Parliament and Minifters of State ftand Neuter, in Matters that nearly concern the Intereft of the Church England, and have not Courage to own their Opinion, I think they very well deferve to be turn'd out. Every Gentleman here is fent up to give his Vote, and when he de clines that, he can't be properly faid to ferve the Place he reprefents. This I take to be the worst fort of Cowardice.

But, pray Sir, let us enquire into the Meaning of all this Trimming. Are we afraid to difoblige a Party of Men,that are againft the Church and Government? Whofe Principle of Hatred and Malice to the Family of the Stuarts defcends to them by Inheri tance? Men, Sir, that offer'd open Violence to her Majefty's Royal Grandfather Men that have not only the Impudence at this time to juftifie that Fact, but to turn the Day of his Murder into Ridicule,and keep a Calves Head-feaft in the City. And can we imagin that those who are Enemies to her Majesty's Perfon and Office, and that were for hindering her from coming to the Throne, would not be glad of any Opportunity to shove her out of it.

Are

1

Are these the Men to be countenanc'd and encou raged? This, in plain English, makes me believe this Miniftry has too great a Refemblance of the laft; that my Lord Sd is rifen from the Dead, and now become prime Minister of State.

And now I am upon this Subject, give me leave to tell fome Gentlemen here, who have been bellowing and roaring against Perfons for taking Places in the late Reign, that it is a Reflection upor them to hold and continue their Places, in the Company of those that they have been exclaiming a gainst,

They may remember, if they please to recollect, the Language of the late Reign Sir, you must turn this Gentleman out, or else I can't ferve you. And if any Gentleman was in the Intereft of the Church of England, 'twas a fufficient Exception a gainst his being employ'd. No Gentleman of that Principle was then thought fit to be a Deputy-Lientenant, or a Juftice of the Peace. If we would take the fame Refolution, and the fame Spirit, things might be better manag'd than they are."

I did wonder to hear fo many Bs against this Bill, but that Wonder ceas'd, when I confidered whom they ow'd their Preferment to. The A. B-P of Cy, I think, was promoted to that See by my Lord Sd's Intereft; and being ask'd what Rea fon he had against this Bill, replied, He had not well confider'd the Bill, but that my Lord Srs told him it ought not to pass. This was a very weighty Reafon for the Head of our C-h to give; and yet, I dare fay, none of the reft of them could give a better. One would be provok'd by the late Behaviour of the B-s, to move for Leave to bring in a Bill for the Toleration of Ep-cy; for, fince they are of the fame Principles with the Dif fenters, it is but juft, I think, that they should stand on the fame Foot.

Now,

1

Now, Sir, give me leave to anfwer fome ObjeЯtions made againft this Bill. The firftis, That it's unfeasonable at this time. Why unfeafonable? Is it not as feasonable for us to pass a Law for the further Defence of the Church of England here, as it was for Scotland to pass an Act laft Seffion for the Security of their Kirk there? Why unfeasonable? Does the Success of our Arms abroad, or the levying Money at home depend upon it? No Gentleman can say that either of them do; and fince there can be no Objection made against the Goodness of the Bill, why should we defer the putting it in Execution?

Another Argument against this Bill is, That it will create Divifion. Are we to allow a Schifm to avoid Division? The Diffenters hold it lawful to communicate sometimes, and if fo, why unlawful to communicate at other times? But, Oh! the Fear of offending Diffenters, is to be urg'd as an Argument, and not provoking the Church of England: Either the Ministry muft think we are fo good Natur'd, as not to be difpleas'd at any thing they do, or else that our Number is fo inconfiderable, that they do not value it if we are difpleafed. 96 Another Argument against this Bill proceeds from the Number and Strength of the Diffenters. This I take to be an excellent Argument for the Bill, for if they are fo ftrong and numerous, it is high time for us to guard our felves against them and I appeal to every Gentleman here, whether one Diffenter in Place, is not capable of doing more Mifchief to the Church of England, than ten out of it. Suppofe, Mr. Speaker, the Diffenters had the Power in their Hands (as they will certainly in a fhort time, if not reftrain'd) would they admit the Church of England into Places of Truft, and into the Legislature upon Occafional Conformity?

Her

Her Majefty has been fo generous as to offer what further Security they think fit for the Religion in Scotland; how comes it, that fome Gentlemen should reprefent her Majefty To much concern'd to preferve a Religion fhe is not of, and fo unwilling to grant a Security for the Church in which the expects to be faved? According to this Method, one might expect the Scotch Covenant to be brought again into England, and that the Presbyterian Party of that Kingdom, fhould remonftrate (as they did to her Royal Grandfather) the Neceffity of having one Religion, and one Worship in both Kingdoms.

We have been under great Expences in keeping thefe Gentlemen out, and have been traduced as Perfons defigning a French Government; and all the Return we are like to have for our Services and Suf ferings, in our Purfes and Reputations, is, that these Perfons are like at laft to become our Masters, which is a very great Difcouragement.

Mr. Speaker, I take this Practice of Occafional Conformity, to elude the Force of one of the beft Laws made in the Church of England's Defence, that it is fcandalous and knavih in itself, and I will pretend to foretel this, that by the Benefit of this OG cafional Conformity, the Diffenters will come to be the Majority of this House, and then I'll venture to pronounce the Days of the Church of England few. I may not fee fuch difmal Effects of our pretended Moderation, I heartily with Succefs to this Bill. coil norden. O pravo of losgeri bun

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