good Roman Catholick without fubfcribing to the depofing Doctrine.

G. And may not I be as good a Roman Catho- « lick, if I do believe it, and defend it, and practise it « too? pag. 68. «

L. And may not I be a very good Proteftant, if I believe the People's depofing Power, and defend it, and practise it too?

G. Have I not all the Encouragement, the Church « of Rome can give me? The frequent practice of « Popes themselves, and here the Canon of a general Council for it? And have any of the Popes ever re- « nounced it? pag. 68. "

L. And have not I all the Encouragement, the whole Body of reform'd Churches in the World can give me, and the Authority of all the reforming Apoftles into the Bargain, who not only taught, but practifed the depofing Doctrine, and fome died Mar tyrs in the Caufe, only Shifting the Question from the Pope to the People? Either therefore Depofing and Rebelling are not the fame; or, if they be, all your Railing at the Pope, and Church of Rome upon that Account is but Lampooning the Reformation, and making Satyrs upon your own Church. As to the Canon, you fpeak of, I have already told you, it Admits of various Interpretations.

G. Then your Lordship fees that Canons are but a « dead Letter, and that there and that there may be Difputes about « them. And where then is the living infallible Judge « always in Being? pag. 68. a

L. I told you, Sr, juft now. But greats Wits have bad Memories.

G. You fee the Canons of paft Councils cannot be « this Judge, there must be another Judge to deter- a mine their true Senfe. pag. 68. «

L. The very fame, Sr, as determines the true Senfe of Scriptures.

» G. And who should that Judge be but the Pope » the Head of the Church? I am fure, if I were a » Roman Catholick, I should be on that Side, pag

» 68.

L. The Pope, Sr, is very much obliged to you for your good Inclinations towards him. However I prefume he will not be less Infallible, if the diffufive Body of the Church, or a general Council (when he thinks fit to call one) be join'd with him.

» G. I could shew your Lordship several other » Canons of Councils, that are in Difpute among your Doctors. But what Wonder is it, when I have » already shew'd, that they are in Dispute about » Councils themfelves. It follows however that there » is no Certainty, what the Judgment of your Church

is. Or rather it is certain, that it is moft erroneous; ~ » and in Matters that concern eternal Salvation, as well as the Peace of the World, that is, Rebellion » amongst other Things, which is as Witchcraft and » Idolatry. pag. 68. 69.

L. What, Sr! Is her Judgment certainly erro neous; tho there be no Certainty of what her Judg ment is! That's very hard indeed. But you need not be in Pain about the Judgment of the Roman Catholick Church concerning the depofing Doctrine. For 'tis certainly her Judgment, that it is no Article of Faith, and may therefore be either held or rejected without Danger of Herefy. Nay it is generally rejected, as I have already told you. So that may bestow your Witchcraft and Idolatry upon what Church you please. For the Church of Rome has no thing to do with them.

you

» G. My Lord, I have inftanced in this Sin, be

cause I know your Lordship is tenacious of your Loyalty. pag. 69. a

L. Sr, I am obliged to you for your good Opinion of me, and I hope I shall always deferve it. G. And now, My Lord, fince the faving of our Souls is the End for our being in any Church, I a leave your Lordship to Judge whether the People « are fafeft in the Communion of Rome, or in the Church of England as to this Point. pag. 69. «

L. Sr, to prevent all Equivocation in my Anfwer, the depofing Doctrine may be confider'd either relati vely to the Pope alone, or as it regards all Sorts of Perfons indifferently: that is, precisely as it is Juftifiable or Unjustifiable in the Court of Conscience. If you confider it with Relation to the Pope alone, then the Dispute is not whether Depofing Princes be Lawful or Unlawful, but whether the Power of doing it ought to be acknowledg'd in the Pope which reduces it to a meer political Controversy, and the Holding or not Holding it makes no more Diffe rence as to the Safety of Salvation than maintaining contrary Opinions about a Point of Law. So that, altho a Protestant Government (which denies the Pope's depofing Power as all Proteftants do) may indeed have a political Advantage over that of a Catholick Kingdom, which allows it; yet the Church on either Side is wholly unconcern'd in the Question thus ftated.

But I prefume, Sr, our Difpute is not about what is fafeft in Politicks, but what is fafe in Conscience: fince you have pofitively declared the depofing Doctrine to be inconfiftent with Salvation, and contrary to the exprefs Doctrine of St Paul. Nay you have equall'd it with the Crimes of Rebellion, Witchcraft, and Idolatry. Leaft therefore I should mistake your Meaning, give me leave to propofe fome Questions

to you. Is the depofing Doctrine inconfiftent with Salvation, only as it regards the Pope? Again, when St Paul fays, that they who refift Powers shall receive Dam nation to themselves (which is the very Text you have quoted) do's he only fpeak of Popes? Finally, when you told me that Depofing is the Sin of Rebellion, which is as Witchcraft and Idolatry, did you mean, that it is a Sin of this hainous Nature, only when it is commanded or authoriz'd by the Pope? Pray, Sr, answer me these Questions.

G. My Lord, it is plain my Meaning is, that depofing a Lawful Prince is a moft grievous Sin, let him command or practise it that will.

L. I confefs, Sr, I took this to be your Meaning; because I could not eafily comprehend how a Man of your Wisdom should maintain that Depofing is inconfiftent with Salvation, and contrary to the Word of God, nay ftigmatize it with the odious Names of Rebellion, Witchcraft, and Idolatry, unless you regarded it as a moft grievous Sin in it's own Nature, that is, independently of the Character or Religion of the Perfons concern'd in it. So that, whether it be practifed by Proteftants or Papifts, by the Pope, or by Proteftant Bishops, the Sin is the fame. For tho (as I have already obferved) there may be very good politick Reasons for Difallowing a depofing Power in a foreign Prince, which perhaps will not hold with equal Force in Relation to the natural Subjects of any Sovereign, yet Reasons of Confcience, fuch as it's being inconfiftent with Salvation, and contrary to the Word of God regard all equally nor is Rebellion, Witchcraft, and Idolatry any more Lawful in one Perfon than another.

G. My Lord, I fee not what all this drives at, or that it is any Answer to what I faid last.

L. Sr, it leads me directly to it. You told me,

that

bat fince the Saving of our Souls is the End for our being in any Church, you left me to Judge whether the People are fafeft in the Communion of Rome, or in the Church of England as to the depofing Doctrine. My Judgment then is, that whether Depofing be Lawful or Unlawful (for all are not of your Mind) you can claim no Advantage over us. For if it be Lawful, there can be no Danger of Salvation in a Church that holds it: and we are thus far upon equal Terms as to the Point in Question. But if it be Unlawful (which is your Opinion) believe me, Sr, your Church is in a very ill Way, and has no Reafon to chalenge any Advantage over the Church of Rome. Witnels: firft the Revolution; in which your Church had the greateft Hand; tho she was afterwards bubbled out of the best Part of the Fruits of it. Witness 2dly; the following At paffed by both Houses of Parlia ment fome Time after the Revolution. If the King and Queen shall be reconciled to the Church of Rome,

profeß the popish Religion, or marry a Papist, then fuch Perfons shall be excluded to inherit the Crown, or have regal Power in the Realm, and the People shall be abfolved of their Allegiance. This Act was affented to not only by the Reprefentatives of the People, but likewife by the Reprefentatives of the Church of Eng land, I mean the Bishops. Now I believe you will be puzled to find any Thing fo clear, so ftrong, and decifive for the Pope's depofing Power in any Canon of the Church of Rome, as this Act of Parliament is for the depofing Power of the People of England. And therefore I think I shew myself very moderare in Advifing you to come to a fair Compofition as to the Point in Queftion; and not to boast or fwagger, as if you had fome fignal Advantage over us.

མ

But let all this be as it will; if after all you will needs maintain, that Depofing is the fame as Rebels Hh