Page images
PDF
EPUB

ty; and fome, whofe abfence the new minifters most earneftly wifhed, held in for above two years after.

Mr. Harley, who acted as first minister before he had the ftaff, as he was a lover of gentle measures, and inclined to procrastination, so he could not, with any decency, press the Queen too much against her nature; because it would be like running upon the rock where his predeceffors had split. But, violent humours running both in the kingdom and the new parliament, against the principles and perfons of the low-church party, gave this minister a very difficult part to play. The warm members in both houfes, efpecially among the commons, preffed for a thorough change, and fo did almost all the Queen's new fervants, efpecially after Mr. Harley was made an earl and high treasurer. He could not in good policy own his want of power, nor fling the blame upon his mistress. And, as too much fecrefy was one of his faults, he would often, upon thefe occafions, keep his nearest friends in the dark. The truth is, ite had likewife other views, which were better fuited to the maxims of flate in general, than to that fituation of affairs. By leaving many employments in the hands of

the

d

the discontented party, he fell in with the Queen's humour, he hoped to acquire the reputation of lenity, and kept a great number of expectants in order, who had liberty to hope, while any thing remained undifpofed of. He feemed alfo to think, as other minifters have done, that fince factions are neceffary in fuch a government as ours, it would be prudent not altogether to lay the present one proftrate, left another more plaufible, and therefore not fo easy to grapple with, might arise in its ftead.

However, it is certain that a great part of the load he bore was unjustly laid on him. He had no favourites among the Whig-party, whom he kept in upon the fcore of old friendship or acquaintance; and he was a greater object of their hatred than all the rest of the ministry together.

A SER

A

SERMON

UPON THE

MARTYRDOM of K. CHARLES L

Preached at St. Patrick's, Dublin, Jan. 30, 1725-6, being Sunday.

GENESIS xlix. 5, 6, 7.

SIMEON and LEVI are brethren; inftruments of cruelty are in their habitations.

O my foul, come not thou into their fecret, unto their affembly mine honour be not thou united; for in their anger they flew a man, and in their felf-will they digged down a wall. Curfed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in JACOB, and scatter them in ISRAEL.

I KNOW very well, that the church hath

been often cenfured for keeping holy this day of humiliation, in memory of that excellent King and bleffed Martyr CHARLES I. who rather chofe to die on a fcaffold than betray the religion and liberties of his people, wherewith God and the laws had entrusted him. But, at the fame time, it is manifeft that those who make fuch cenfures are either people without

[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]

any

any religion at all, or who derive their principles, and perhaps their birth, from the abettors of those who contrived the murder of that Prince, and have not yet fhewn the world that their opinions are changed. It is alledged that the obfervation of this day hath ferved to continuc and encrease the animofity and enmity among our country-men, and to difunite Proteftants; that a law was made, upon the Reftoration of the Martyr's fon, for a general pardon and oblivion, forbidding all reproaches upon that occafion; and, fince none are now alive who were actors or inftruments in that tragedy, it is thought hard and uncharitable to keep up the memory of it for all generations. Now, because I conceive most of you to be ignorant in many particulars concerning that horrid murder, and the rebellion which preceded it; I will,

First, relate to you so much of the story as may be fufficient for your information:

Secondly, I will tell you the confequences which this bloody deed had upon these kingdoms:

And, laftly, I will fhew you to what good ufes this folemn day of humiliation may be applied.

2

As

As to the firft, In the reign of this Prince, Charles the Martyr, the power and prerogative of the king were much greater than they are in our times, and fo had been for at least 700 years before: And the best princes we ever had carried their power much farther than the bleffed Martyr offered to do in the moft blameable part of his reign. But, the lands of the crown having been prodigally beftowed to favourites, in the preceding reigns, the fucceeding kings could not fupport themfelves without taxes raised by parliament; which put them under a neceflity of frequently calling thofe affemblies: And, the crown-lands being gotten into the hands of the nobility and gentry, befide the poffeffions of which the church had been robbed by Henry VIII.; power, which always follows property, grew to lean to the fide of the people, by whom even the juft rights of the crown were often disputed.

But further: Upon the cruel perfecution raised against the Proteftants, under Queen Mary, among great numbers who fled the kingdom to feck for shelter, sevcral went and refided at Geneva, which is a commonwealth governed without a king, and where the religion, contrived by Cal

« PreviousContinue »