The PRESBYTERIANS PLEA of MERIT in order to take off the TEST, impartially examined.

WE

[Written in the year 1731 *.]

WE have been told in the common news papers, that all attempts are to be made this feffion by the Prefbyterians and their abettors for taking off the test; as a kind of preparatory ftep to make it go down fmoother in England. For if once their light would fo fhine, the Papifts delighted with the blaze would all come in and dance about it. This I take to be a prudent method; like that of a difcreet phyfician, who firft gives a new medicine to a dog, before he prefcribes it to a human creature f.

THE

* See a letter on this subject, P. 224. of this volume; which was reprinted in Ireland on the fame occafion that produced this and the three following tracts.

46

The author begins this tract in the true vein of wit and spirit, by faying," We have been told in the common news papers, that all attempts are to be made this feffion by the Prefbyterians and their abettors for taking off the teft; as a kind of preparatory step to make it go down fmoother in England. "For if once their light would fo shine, the Papifts delighted with "the blaze would all come in and dance about it. This I take to be a prudent method; like that of a difcreet physician, who "first gives a new medicine to a dog, before he prescribes it to a "human creature."I have quoted this fhort paffage for the ftyle, as well as the matter; and I dare fay, even from hence you will be confirmed in one general obfervation, that Swift maintains and conducts his metaphors and allufions, with a juftness particularly delicate and exact, and without the least stiffness or affectation. I have formerly mentioned in what degree of contempt and hatred he held the Diffenters, especially the Prefbyterians [above, p. 224]; and I need only add, that as this pamphlet was written for the meridian of Ireland, it ought to have been placed with the other tracts on the fame fubject. Orrery. And fo it is placed in this edition.

THE Prefbyterians have, ever fince the Revolution, directed their learned cafuifts to employ their pens on this fubject by fhewing the merits and pretenfions, upon which they claim this juftice, as founded upon the services they did towards the restoration of King Charles II. and at the Revolution under the Prince of Orange. Which pleas I take to be the most fingular in their kind that ever were offered in the face of the fun against the most glaring lights of truth, and against a continuation of public facts known to all Europe for twenty years together. I fhall therefore impartially examine the merits and conduct of the Prefbyterians upon thofe two great events; and the pretenfions to favour, which they challenge up

on them.

Soon after the reformation of the church in England under Edward VI. upon Queen Mary's fucceeding to the crown (who restored Popery), many Proteftants fled out of England to efcape the perfecution raifed against the church, as her brother had left it established. Some of these exiles went to Geneva; which city had recei ved the doctrine of Calvin, and rejected the government of bishops; with many other refinements. Thefe English exiles readily embraced the Geneva fyftem; and having added further improvements of their own, upon Queen Mary's death returned to England; where they preached up their new opinions, inveighing bitterly against Epifcopacy, and all rites and ceremonies, however innocent and antient in the church: building upon this foundation; to run as far as poffible from Popery even in the most minute and indifferent circumstances. This faction, under the name of puritan, became very turbu lent during the whole reign of Queen Elizabeth, and were always difcouraged by that wife Queen, as well as by her two fucceffors. However, their numbers, as well as their infolence and perverfeness fo far increased, that foon after the death of King James I. many inftances of their petulancy and fcurrility are to be feen in their pamphlets written for fome years after (which was a trade they began in the days of Queen Elizabeth) particularly with great rancour against the bishops, the habits, and the ceremonies: fuch were thofe fcurrilous libels under the title of Martin Marprelate, and feveral others. And

altho

altho' the Earl of Clarendon tells us, until the year 1640 (as I remember) the kingdom was in a state of perfect peace and happiness, without the leaft appearance of thought or defign towards making any alterations in religion or government; yet I have found, by often rumaging for old books in Little Britain and Ducklane, a great number of pamphlets printed from the year 1630 to 1640 full of as bold and impious railing expreffions against the lawful power of the crown, and the order of bishops, as ever were uttered during the rebellion or the whole fubfequent tyranny of that fanatic anarchy. How. ever I find it manifeft, that Puritanism did not erect itself, into a new separate species of religion till fome time after the rebellion began. For in the latter times of King James I. and the former part of his fon, there were feveral puritan bishops, and many puritan private clergymen; while people went as their inclinations led them: to hear preachers of each party in the parish churches; for the puritan clergy had received epifcopal orders as well as the reft. But foon after the rebellion broke out, the term puritan gradually dropt, and that of prefbyterian fucceeded; which fect was in two or three years eftablished in all its forms, by what they called an ordinance of the Lords and Commons, without confulting the King, who was then at war against his rebels. And from this period the church continued under perfecution, until monarchy was restored in the year 1660...

In a year or two after we began to hear of a new party rifen, and gewing in the parliament as well as the ar my, under the name of independent: it fpread indeed fomewhat more in the latter; but not equal with the Prefbyterians either in weight or number, until the very time the King was murdered.

WHEN the King, who was then a prifoner in the isle of Wight, had made his laft conceffions for a peace to the commiffioners of the parliament, who attended him there; upon their return to London they reported his Majesty's answer in the house. Whereupon a number of moderate members, who, as Ludlow fays, had fecured their own terms with that Prince, managed with fo much art as to obtain a majority in a thin house for passing a vote, that

the

the King's conceffions were a ground for a future Jettlement: But the great officers of the army joining with the dif contented members came to a refolution of excluding all thofe who had confented to that vote; which they executed in a military way. Ireton told Fairfax the General, a rigid Prefbyterian, of this refolution; who thereupon iffued his orders for drawing out the army the next morning, and placing guards in Weftminfter-hall, the court of requests, and the lobby; who, in obedience to the General in conjunction with thofe members who had oppofed the vote, would let no member enter the house except thofe of their own party. Upon which the queftion for bringing the King to juftice was immediate ly put, and carried, without oppofition that I can find. Then an order was made for his trial; the time and place appointed; the judges named, of whom Fairfax himself was one; altho' by the advice or threats of his wife he declined fitting among them. However, by fresh orders under his own hand, which I have feen in print, he ap pointed guards to attend the judges at the trial, and to keep the city in quiet; as he did likewise to prevent any oppofition from the people upon the day of execu tion.

FROM what I have already deduced it appears manifest, that the differences between those two fects, Prefbyterian and Independent, did not then amount to half fo much as what there is between a Whig and Tory at present a mong us. The defign of utterly extirpating monarchy and Epifcopacy was equally the fame in both; evidently the confequence of the very fame principles, upon which the Prefbyterians alone began, continued, and would have ended in the fame events; if towards the conclufion they had not been bearded by that new party, with whom they could not agree about dividing the fpoil. Howe ver, they held a good fhare of civil and military employments during the whole time of the ufurpation; and their names, actions and preferments are frequent in the accounts of thofe times. For I make no doubt, that all the prudent Prefbyterians complied in proper feafon's, falling in with the ftream; and thereby got that share in employments, which many of them held to the reftora

tion; and perhaps too many of them after. In the fame manner we find our wifeft Tories in both kingdoms, upon the change of hands and measures at the Queen's death, have endeavoured for feveral years by due compliances to recover the time they had loft by a temporary obftinacy; wherein they have well fucceeded, according to their degrees of merit; of whofe names I could here make honourable mention, if I did not fear it might of fend their modefty. As to what is alledged, that fome of the Prefbyterians declared openly against the King's murder; I allow it to be true. But from what motives? No other can poffibly be affigned than perfect fpight; rage, and envy, to find themselves wormed out of all power by a new infant fpawn of Independents fprung from their own bowels. It is true, the differences in religious tenets between them are very few and trifling ; the chief quarrel, as far as I remember, relating to congregational and national affemblies. But where-ever intereft or power think fit to interfere, it little imports what principles the oppofite parties think fit to charge upon each other: for we fee at this day, that the Tories are more hated by the whole fet of zealous Whigs, than the very Papists themfelves; and in effect as much unqualified for the fmalleft office altho' both these parties affert themselves to be of the fame religion in all its branches of doctrine and difcipline; and profefs the fame loyalty to the fame Proteftant King and his heirs.

If the reader would know what became of this Independent party, upon whom all the mischief is charged by their Prefbyterian brethren, he may please to obferve, that during the whole ufurpation they contended by degrees with their parent fect, and as I have already faid, fhared in employments; and gradually, after the reftoration, mingled with the mafs of Prefbyterians: lying ever fince undiftinguished in the herd of diffenters.

THE Presbyterian merit is of as little weight, when they alledge themselves inftrumental towards the King's reftoration. The kingdom grew tired with thofe ridiculous models of government: firft by a houfe of Lords and Commons without a King; then without bishops; after

wards