247 French League tranflated by Mr Dryden pag. 67. that Pope Gregory XIII. conftantly perfifted in Refusing to approve the League: and Urban the 7th enjoy'd the Pontificat for fo short a Time that he could have no Part in their Counfels. Now, Sr, you may tell your whole Story out if you please.

сс

G. After the Converfion of Henry IV. and his «. being by that establish'd on the Throne, they fear'd his Power, and therefore the Pope (as now) « made lefs Noise with the depofing Doctrine, which « yet he would not difown, but kept it in Petto till « a fitter Opportunity. But yet it was not carried « fo covertly, but that even in their Sermons wife « and willing Men might know their Meaning. Ra- « vaillac upon his Examination alledg'd the Lent- « Sermons before his Affafination of Henry IV. as « the Ground and Encouragement to that execrable a Fact. But after that magnanimous Prince had thus « falna Sacrifice to their reftlefs furious Zeal, and « his Son fucceeded Young and fenceless to the « Government, then they fet up again the depofing Doctrine on High; because then they durft do it. « With which our King James do's juftly upbraid them, particularly his Opponent the Cardinal of Perron in his Preface to his Book entitled (a De- ce fence of the Right of Kings) for it was but five Years « after the Murder of Henry IV. viz. An. 1615. that «: Cardinal Perron in the Affembly of the three Ef- « tates of France, and in the Name of the first Ef- « tate, that is, of the Clergy, did reaffert the Power « of the Pope to depofe Rings with this Reason, that a aberwife there had not been any Church for many Ages paft, and that indeed the Church (he meant the « Church of Rome) would be the very Synagogue of An- « tichrift. es

But, to come to a fresh Inftance now on Foot, a

33

§. 41. » Pere Jouvency a French Jefuit has lately printed a " Book at Rome in Defence of the Pope's Power to depofe Princes: And the Unwillingness and Shifts » of the Jefuits at Paris to difown him in this, and to disclaim that Doctrine fairly and above Board "shews, that it is not yet quite extinguish'd in' France, but kept up in the Embers as in the Reign » of Henry IV. For all, who understand that Order » of the Jefuits, know full well that none of them » dare print especially upon such a Subject without » the Approbation of their Superiours, and that » France is not entirely free from the Infection. And,

tho the Vigour of this King has deprefs'd it very » much, we cannot fay it is totally extinguish'd, »or that there is no Danger of a Relapse, whilst the » Authority of the Pope is revered as Head of the Catholick Church, and the Council of Lateran is still own'd as truly general and infallible, and the Bish--ops of France till take an Oath of Fidelity and 0. »bedience to the Pope. pag. 72. 73. 74.

» L. Well, Sr, I prefume you have now finish'd your Satyr upon the Depofing Doctrine. But what is it you chiefly drive at ?

G. My Lord, I have told you that already. 'Tis to convince your Lordship, that the People are fafer in the Church of England, than in the Church of Rome.

L. Truly, Sr, if Depofing be a godly Work, I own the People to be very fafe (as to that Article) in the Church of England. But if it be true what you fay, viz. that Depofing is the fame as Rebelling; then all have faid, nay you tho you could fay ten Times more against the Church of Rome upon that Head, is fully anfwer'd by these two Verfes in St Mathew C. 7. Why beholdeft thou the Mote, that is in thy Brather's Eye, but 'confiderft not the Beam, that is in thy

own Eye? Thon Hypocrite, firft caft out the Beam out of thy own Eye, and then shallt thou See clearly to caft out the Mote out of thy Brother's Eye. Math. 7. ¥. 3. 5.

However I defire you not to expect that I shall join iffue with you in your Notion of it, or call the Practice of it Rebellion, Witchcraft, Idolatry, and what not! For I am not fo void of Sense as not to reflect that I live under the Protection of a Government, which will not perhaps relish fuch harsh Expreffions. I likewise remember that not many Years ago a certain Proteftant Divine was upon the very Brink of utter Ruine for prefuming to preach up the Doctrine of paffive Obedience, and Non-resistance; and an eminent Member of Parliament, who was one of the Managers against him, ftuck not to say, that if the Doctrine of paffive Obedience and Non-resistance were maintainable, Queen Ann had to more Title to the Crown of Great Britain than My Lord Mayor's Horfe. Nor have I forgot that the bold Author of Hereditary Right, &c. was condemned to eat the Bread of Sorrow and drink the Waters of Tribulation for two whole Years together in the Marshalfee, even whilft the high Church had the Reins of Government in their Hands. Now to deal plainly with you, I have no Ambition to be a Boarder in that Place, and therefore will not meddle with Politicks. But, whoever will but give himfelf Time to reflect upon the Part your Church has had in the Transactions of above thirty Years paft, must be furpriz'd to find you fo very sharp upon the Depofing Doctrine, and Practice of a few Papifts, when it was your Bufinefs to confider' firft, whether all were well guarded at Home. For let me tell you, Sr, this Caution is very neceffary in Difputes: Since without it you only put Stones into the Hands of an Adverfary to throw at you: nor are any privi

§. 416 ledg'd to throw the firft Stone, but they, who are free from Sin.

Now, Sr, I have shew'd from undeniable Facts, that a Man may be a very good Proteftant, nay a good Church of England-Man, tho he holds the Depofing Power of the People, and believes it, and practifes it' too. Whether therefore that Doctrine be true or falfe, right or wrong, 'tis certain you cannot condemn thofe amongst Papifts, that hold that Power lodg'd in the Pope without Condemning your own Church in the highest Degree. For it is beyond my Comprehenfion, that Depofing should be Rebellion, Witchcraft, and Idolatry, when it is commanded by the Pope against a Proteftant Prince, and have nothing of this foul Afpect, when it is executed by Protef tants against a Popish Prince.

Nay, Sr, you quarrel with us meerly for the Speculative Doctrine of the Pope's depofing Power (for there is no great Danger of it's taking Effect) when at the fame Time the Practice of the People's depofing Power runs violently on the Proteftant Side, as may be clearly proved from the Hiftories of all the Proteftant Countries in Europe. Alas, Sr, the depofing Power of the Pope is but a Fleabite to that of the People: and give me Leave to tell you, that one Act of a British Parliament do's more Execution in the Business of Depofing than twenty Papal Bulls. For the Pope can never depofe without the People, but the People have depofed many a Prince without the Pope. So pray, Sr, let the good old Gentleman live quietly at Rome, and meddle no more with him, till he meddles with you.

§. 42.

The Oath of the Bishops to the Pope is no Prejudice to their Allegiance.

G.

MY Lord, I must beg your Pardon; I have not yet done with him. Nor have you faid any Thing to what I objected concerning the Oath of Fidelity, which the Bishops of France as well as others take to the Pope.

L. Why should they not? That Oarh is not in confiftent with their Fidelity to the King.

G. Pray, My Lord, let me ask you, is not an e Oath to be taken in the known and declared Sense « of the Imposer, for whofe Security it is taken?« Pag. 74. "

L. Well, what then?

G. Then the Question will be, what the Pope . means by the Regalia of St Peter, and all the Rights, Prerogatives, &c. of the Apoftolick Chaire, as he calls « his own; to which the Bishops are sworn contra « omnem hominem, against all Men in the World? « For it is the Pope, who impofes this Oath, and it « is taken for his Security. Pag. 74. "

L. Very right, Sr. But, if the Pope's Sense of it be known and declared, as you told me juft now, how can there be any Question about the Meaning of it? I think it very plain, that neither the Impafer nor Taker of the Oath can mean any Thing more, than the just Rights and Prerogatives of the Apoftolick

"See.

G. But, My Lord, has he not fufficiently de- «< clared what he means by the Oath? Take it in the « Words of the Proceedings of the Parliament of Paris in the Appendix, pag. 42. where they say that by <