Political Pamphlets | Page 7

vengeance against the Church of England; may it not without
injustice be suspected that a thing so plainly out of season springeth
rather from corruption than mistake; and that those who act this
choleric part, do not believe themselves, but only pursue higher
directions, and endeavour to make good that part of their contract,
which obligeth them, upon a forfeiture, to make use of their enflaming
eloquence? They might apprehend their wages would be retrenched if
they should be moderate: and therefore, whilst violence is their interest,
those who have not the same arguments have no reason to follow such
a partial example.
If there should be men, who by the load of their crimes against the
Government, have been bowed down to comply with it against their
conscience; who by incurring the want of a pardon, have drawn upon
themselves a necessity of an entire resignation, such men are to be
lamented, but not to be believed. Nay, they themselves, when they have
discharged their unwelcome talk, will be inwardly glad that their forced
endeavours do not succeed, and are pleased when men resist their
insinuations; which are far from being voluntary or sincere, but are
squeezed out of them by the weight of their being so obnoxious.
If, in the height of this great dearness, by comparing things, it should
happen that at this instant there is much a surer friendship with those
who are so far from allowing liberty that they allow no living to a
Protestant under them--let the scene lie in what part of the world it will,

the argument will come home, and sure it will afford sufficient ground
to suspect. Apparent contradictions must strike us; neither nature nor
reason can digest them. Self-flattery, and the desire to deceive
ourselves, to gratify present appetite, with all their power, which is
great, cannot get the better of such broad conviction, as some things
carry along with them. Will you call these vain and empty suspicions?
Have you been at all times so void of fears and jealousies, as to justify
your being so unreasonably valiant in having none upon this occasion?
Such an extraordinary courage at this unseasonable time, to say no
more, is too dangerous a virtue to be commended.
If then, for these and a thousand other reasons, there is cause to suspect,
sure your new friends are not to dictate to you, or advise you. For
instance: the Addresses that fly abroad every week, and murder us with
another to the same; the first draughts are made by those who are not
very proper to be secretaries to the Protestant Religion: and it is your
part only to write them out fairer again.
Strange! that you, who have been formerly so much against set forms,
should now be content the priests should indite for you. The nature of
thanks is an unavoidable consequence of being pleased or obliged; they
grow in the heart, and from thence show themselves either in looks,
speech, writing, or action. No man was ever thankful because he was
bid to be so, but because he had, or thought he had some reason for it.
If then there is cause in this case to pay such extravagant
acknowledgments, they will flow naturally, without taking such pains
to procure them; and it is unkindly done to tire all the Post-horses with
carrying circular letters, to solicit that which would be done without
any trouble or constraint. If it is really in itself such a favour, what
needeth so much pressing men to be thankful, and with such eager
circumstances, that where persuasions cannot delude, threatenings are
employed to fright them into a compliance? Thanks must be voluntary,
not only unconstrained but unsolicited, else they are either trifles or
snares, that either signify nothing or a great deal more than is intended
by those that give them. If an inference should be made, that whosoever
thanketh the King for his Declaration, is by that engaged to justify it in
point of law; it is a greater stride than I presume all those care to make

who are persuaded to address. It shall be supposed that all the thankers
will be repealers of the Test, whenever a Parliament shall meet; such an
expectation is better prevented before than disappointed afterwards;
and the surest way to avoid the lying under such a scandal is not to do
anything that may give a colour to the mistake. These bespoken thanks
are little less improper than love-letters that were solicited by the lady
to whom they are to be directed: so that, besides the little ground there
is to give them, the manner of getting them doth extremely lessen their
value. It might be wished that you would have suppressed your
impatience, and have been content,