Paris, April the third, 1660. SIR, my Honoured Brother, Nthe Revolutions of England, Scotland, and Ireland."' After Othing hath happen'd more ftrange in our days, than E the tragical Death of the late King, hopes were given that a, Commonwealth might be eftablish'd, that fhould become the: wonder and admiration of the whole World. But the feveral Changes that have happen'd fince, from time to time, and the Confufions that are to be fear'd, caufe many to believe, that God will reduce Affairs to their firft ftate, and fet the three Crowns united, upon the Head of one Monarch. That which in this doth moft rejoice and comfort us, is, That it feems for the doing of this glorious Work, God will use the. Service of thofe with whom we have more ftrict Communion in Doctrine and Difcipline. For we understand, that fuch as are call'd Presbyterians, are now poffefs'd of the greateft. Power, and fit at the Helm of State. That illuftrious Aff. mbly, which would have preferv'd to their King his Life and his Royalty, was without doubt very far from defigning to rob his Children of that Right which is convey'd to them by a continued Succeffion in their Royal Family for many Ages. A Report is here, that the thing which might hinder this King from being recall'd to the Inheritance of his Fa-thers, is the Opinion conceiv'd by fome, of his being turn'd to the Roman Catholick Profeffion; and the fear that in time he might ruin the Religion now flourishing in those three Kingdoms. But, Sir, you know that we have ever detefted the Doctrine of Popes and their Inftruments, who teach that all Princes, call'd by them Hereticks, are incapable of Suc ceffion of Crowns, and if in poffeffion, to be turn'd out. And more than this, I fee not any ground there is for calling this Prince a Roman Catholick, he making no profeffion of it; but on the contrary, hath rejected all the Advantages and all the Aids offer'd to him upon that condition. Charity is not jea lous, and if it forbid us to fufpect on flight grounds private Perfons, how can it approve Jealoufys upon Perfons fo fa cred? Experience hath taught us, how little reafon hath in the end appear'd, for the like, and even the greateft Appr henfions of that kind: our Hiftory doth furnish us with a co. vincing Example. The League never pretended other caufe for their Rebellion againft King Henry the Third, but for his being 002 of godly Ula be bever gace le he was Graced at Paris; me Cale of thole calli Le Presbyterias; Xem vas Ambat the Presbyte Amel the Event of ent was pracipaly his me Ancapris for the Nato be t mari is Father's d But, wherewith our Chur=x ww at length be t Created: which I know may be & compos'd as Sexter, ut rulently wreftel mendly and freely pro In the Calamrys of in Bremse you, embrace Let your Countrymen. and has your Endeavours, css or refacing Happines 4th me much of this, for imakasty you; but I nsdar què moved me thereto, sk ay, which will take all in good f your Labours, your hich is the Flower God is truly wi Paris, April the third, 1660. SIR, my Honoured Brother, Othing hath happen'd more ftrange in our days, than the Revolutions of England, Scotland, and Ireland. After he tragical Death of the late King, hopes were given that a Commonwealth might be eftablifh'd, that fhould become the onder and admiration of the whole World. But the feveral. Changes that have happen'd fince, from time to time, and he Confufions that are to be fear'd, caufe many to believe, hat God will reduce Affairs to their firft ftate, and fet the hree Crowns united, upon the Head of one Monarch. That which in this doth moft rejoice and comfort us, is, That it eems for the doing of this glorious Work, God will ufe the. Service of thofe with whom we have more ftrict Communion in Doctrine and Difcipline. For we underftand, that fuch asare call'd Presbyterians, are now poffefs'd of the greateft Power, and fit at the Helm of State. That illuftrious Aff. m-bly, which would have preferv'd to their King his Life and his Royalty, was without doubt very far from defigning to rob his Children of that Right which is convey'd to them by a continued Succeffion in their Royal Family for many Ages. A Report is here, that the thing which might hinder this King from being recall'd to the Inheritance of his Fathers, is the Opinion conceiv'd by fome, of his being turn'd to the Roman Catholick Profeffion; and the fear that in time he might ruin the Religion now flourishing in thofe three Kingdoms. But, Sir, you know that we have ever detefted the Doctrine of Popes and their Inftruments, who teach thatall Princes, call'd by them Hereticks, are incapable of Succeffion of Crowns, and if in poffeffion, to be turn'd out. And more than this, I fee not any ground there is for calling this Prince a Roman Catholick, he making no profeffion of it; but on the contrary, hath rejected all the Advantages and all the Aids offer'd to him upon that condition. Charity is not jea lous, and if it forbid us to fufpect on flight grounds private Perfons, how can it approve Jealoufys upon Perfons fo facred? Experience hath taught us, how little reafon hath in the end appear'd, for the like, and even the greateft Appr henfions of that kind: our Hiftory doth furnish us with a co. vincing E The League never pretended other caufe againft King Henry the Third, but for his for + 002 being being an Heretick, and a Maintainer of Hereticks. And thence was infer'd, that he was no ways affected to the Roman, and a Favourer of our Religion. In the mean time, we never had a more potent Enemy; and to all mens knowledg he lived and died in the Communion of Rome, and therein thew'd as much Zeal as any of his Predeceffors. But not to pass the Seas, you have in the midft of you an inftance against all Contradiction: For what Jealoufys have not been raised againf the Religion of the late King of Great Britain, and yet at the hour when there was no place for diffembling, as being void of Fears and Hopes from Man, he made his Zeal to the true Religion appear; and even that Sweetnefs and that admirable Patience with which he fuffer'd Death by the hands of his own Subjects, hath made it very vifible that the Spirit of God reign'd in his Heart. True it is, that from my felf I am not able to relate any thing touching the Religion of that Prince; because for Reafons of State, we had not the Honour of his Prefence in our Affemblys of Charenton, the only place where in a formal Body we are able to witness the Respect we bear to ftranger Princes in Communion with us. And as to my felf, I am not confiderable enough to have made a vifit to fo great a Prince, which was alfo the reason why I had not the Honour to fee the Duke of York. But two years fince being inform'd, how the Duke of Glocefter had manifefted his Ability to confound the falfe Doctors that had undertaken to feduce him, and that he had Courage and Generofity enough to refift thofe who would have placed him in the College of the Jefuits; I thought, confidering how very young he was, that I might have the Honour to give him a vifit, without apprehending any difadvantage. And I perform'd the Work freely, becaufe I knew that not only he would accept it, but did alfo defire it. I cannot exprefs how much I was fatisfy'd with that young Prince. For befides the obliging manner wherewith he receiv'd me, he gave me feveral Proofs of his Zeal and Piety. I remember, that among other Difcourfes, he told me, how the late King his Father, a little before his death, had charg'd him with three things: Never to change his Religion: To obey his elder Brother, who was to be his King, in the fame manner as he would have obey'd himself, if God had fpared his Life: And to continue obedient to the Queen his Mother, in all, but what related to Religion. To which he added, that in perfevering in his Religion, he did not only do his Duty towards God, and preferve the Peace of his Confcience; but alfo perform the laft Will of the King his Father, and follow the Order of the King his Brother, who had fent for him, to free him of future Temptations. This This Difcourfe, which he deliver'd with a very good Grace, confirm'd me in the Belief I had of the late King's Religion, and made me fee what I ought in Charity to believe of the King his Son. But over and above, there are in his Family among his Domefticks fome Gentlemen of our Religion, and my antient Friends, who at feveral times have given me Affurances of the Piety of this Prince, and his Stability in the Profeffion he makes. True it is, English-men have unadvisedly done him great Wrong, for upon falfe Prejudices they have ftaid from Communion with us, and fo have rais'd Jealoufys, as if their King and all his Court were inclin'd to Popery. But the more difcreet behave themselves otherwife; for knowing that the Belief of our Church, and that of the Church of England is the fame, they willingly came to our Churches, and even Dr. Cofin, the King of Great Britain's Chaplain, hath join'd with us with great Devotion. To return to my Difcourfe, God intrufts at this day your Presbyterians, the Gentlemen now in power, with the Honour and Reputation of our Churches: For if without the intervening of any foreign Power, they recal this Prince, and feat him in his Throne, they acquire to themselves and to their PofteFity an immortal Glory, and ftop their mouths for ever, who charge us falfly as Enemys of Royalty, and make appear, that the Maxim of, No Bishop no King, is injuriously imputed to us. For my part I confefs, that as I have deplor'd with bitter Tears the bloody Death of the late King; fo fhall it be to me an exceeding Joy, to behold the Re-eftablishment of the King his Son, if perform'd with Circumftances not leffening the Splendor of Royal Majefty; and which may be to the Glory of God, and the Good and Reft of the three Kingdoms. 'Tis for this that I will offer up my hearty Prayers to God: and for you, Sir, that he will preserve and bless you. I have perfuaded my felf, that you would not take it ill that I open my Heart to you, and difcover my Thoughts upon a Subject of fuch moment; fince I am, Sir, Your moft humble and moft affectionate |