on a long opinion and experience of his merit, as well as conceffions to all their reasonable defires; fo that it is for fome time they have begun to say, and to fetch inftances, where he hath in many things been hardly used. How long these humours may laft, (for paffions are momentary, and especially thofe of a multitude) or what confequences they may produce, a little time will difcover. But whenever it comes to pass, that a popular affembly, free from fuch obftructions, and already poffeffed of more power, than an equal balance will allow, fhall continue to think they have not enough, but by cramping the hand that holds the balance, and by impeachments or diffentions with the nobles, endeavour ftill for more; I cannot poffibly fee in the common course of things, how the fame causes can produce different effects and confequences among us, from what they did in Greece and Rome.

THE

SENTIMENTS

OF A

Church-of-England Man

With respect to

RELIGION and GOVERNMENT.

W

Written in the Year 1708.

HOEVER hath examined the conduct and proceedings of both parties for fome years paft, whether in or out of power, cannot well conceive it poffible to go far towards the extremes of either, without offering fome violence to his integrity or understanding. A wife and a good man may indeed be fometimes induced to comply with a number, whose opinion he generally approves, though it be perhaps against his own. But this liberty fhould be made ufe of upon very few occafions, and those of small importance, and then only with a view of bringing over his own fide another time to fomething of greater and more publick

moment.

on a long opinion and experience of his merit, as well as conceffions to all their reasonable defires; fo that it is for fome time they have begun to fay, and to fetch inftances, where he hath in many things been hardly used. How long thefe humours may last, (for passions are momentary, and especially thofe of a multitude) or what confequences they may produce, a little time will difcover. But whenever it comes to pass, that a popular affembly, free from fuch obftructions, and already poffeffed of more power, than an equal balance will allow, fhall continue to think they have not enough, but by cramping the hand that holds the balance, and by impeachments or dissentions with the nobles, endeavour ftill for more; I cannot poffibly fee in the common courfe of things, how the fame caufes can produce different effects and confequences among us, from what they did in Greece and Rome.

VOL. III.

H

THE

SENTIMENTS

OF A

Church of England Man

With respect to

RELIGION and GOVERNMENT.

WH

Written in the Year 1708. *

HOEVER hath examined the conduct and proceedings of both parties for fome years past, whether in or out of power, cannot well conceive it poffible to go far towards the extremes of either, without offering fome violence to his integrity or understanding. A wife and a good man may indeed be fometimes induced to comply with a number, whose opinion he generally approves, though it

*This appears to be an apology for the Tories, and a juftification of them againft the mifreprefentations of the Whigs, who were then in the ministry, and used every artifice to perpetuate their power. Mr. Harley, afterwards lord Oxford, had by the influence

of the duke of Marlborough and lord-treasurer Godolphin, been lately removed from his poft of principal fecretary of ftate; and Mr. St. John, afterwards lord Bolingbroke, refigned his place of fecretary at war, and fir Simon Harcourt that of attorney-general.

be

But this li

be perhaps against his own. berty fhould be made ufe of upon very few occafions, and those of small importance, and then only with a view of bringing over his own fide another time to fomething of greater and more publick moment. But to facrifice the innocency of a friend, the good of our country, or our own confcience, to the humour, or paffion, or intereft of a party, plainly fhews, that either our heads or our hearts are not as they should be: yet this very practice is the very fundamental law of each faction among us, as may be obvious to any, who will impartially and without engagement be at the pains to examine their actions, which however is not so easy a task: for it seems a principle in human nature, to incline one way more than another, even in matters where we are wholly unconcerned. And it is a common obfervation, that in reading history of facts done a thousand years ago, or ftanding by at play among thofe, who are perfect ftrangers to us, we are apt to find our hopes and wishes engaged on a fudden in favour of one fide more than another.

H 2