Now there is an
opportunity to perform them.
"For first, say they, the current of succeeding Parliaments is
stopped, which is one of the greatest privileges (and people's
liberties) for safety and peace. And if that continue stopped, we
shall be more offended by an hereditary Parliament than we were
oppressed by an hereditary King.
"And for the Commoners, who were called Subjects while the Kingly
Conqueror was in power, they have not as yet their Liberties
granted them. I will instance them in order, according as the
common whisperings are among the people."
THE POWER OF THE CLERGY.
"For say they, The Burthens of the Clergy remain still upon us, in
a threefold nature.
"_First_, If any man declare his judgement in the things of God
contrary to the Clergy's report, or the minds of some high
Officers, they are cashiered, imprisoned, crushed and undone, and
made sinners for a word, as they were in the Popes and Bishops
days; so that though their names be cast out, yet their High
Commission Court Power remains still, persecuting men for
conscience sake, when their actions are unblamable.
"_Secondly_,{9} In many Parishes there are old, formal, ignorant
Episcopal Priests established; and some Ministers, who are bitter
enemies to Commonwealth's Freedom, and friends to Monarchy, are
established preachers, and are continually buzzing their subtle
principles into the minds of the people, to undermine the peace of
our declared Commonwealth, causing a disaffection of spirit among
neighbours, who otherwise would live in peace.
Pages:
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249