That the
poflestbr
has the right, where none claims
a better right.
a better right.
Rehearsal - v1 - 1750
8.
The old whig plot new vamp'd by a churchman.
9.
Tie snare by which some churchmen ha•ve been drawn in.
With the master-reason against the occasional bill.
And
the design of making the church the catVfoot again I
\J
Coun. f~\ N E more play-day, pray master, I have not
yet quite done with my park-keeper and deer-
I must not make the deer-stealer more unreasonable
stealer,
than he was. He made this offer more to the park-keeper ; That he would let him set up the pales of his park again, only desired that he might not do it now, not at thisjunc ture of time, for 'twas not seasonable ! '
R. Why not seasonable? And why not at this junc ture ?
C. Because the park-keeper was then engaged in a trou blesome lawsuit with a potent neighbour. The deer- slealer was equally engag'd in the fame suit, for it was against them both, as to ajoint concern they had in the
country ; and the deer-stealer did contribute his share in the expences of the suit. Now, faid he, why should we
have hinder'd you to do you know three or four times,
quarrel at this time ? and it will be a certain quarrel
already) if you ofser to set up the pales of your park again, at this time, to take this advantage of me, after
it
it,
I
(as
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The REHEARSAL.
405 and if you attempt it any more, I will withdraw my mo
ney, and contribute no more to the expences of ourjoint-
suit.
R. Did the park-keeper allow him any interest or confix
deration for what money he advanc'd towards carrying on
the suit?
C. Tho' the cteer-stealer paid but his proportion accord
ing to the share he had in the land; yet the park-keeper paid him more than double interest for and gave him greater advantages than he could have made any other
way ofhis money.
R. Then he need not be asraid of him for tho' a
deer-stealer be true to nothing else, he'll never be false to
himself, that to his interest.
Besides, can any one think that he would be content to
lose his own share of the land meerly out ofspite to the park-keeper? These are but vain threats.
(2. ) And there be anything in the world in them,
gives justsuspicion, that the dter-stealer deals underhand with their joint adversary, and will take care to secure his own stake, whatever becomes of the park-keeper. No body
can put better construction upon therefore the park- keeper had need to be more upon his guard, and take
good heed how he entrusts the deer-stealer with the ma
nagement of the suit.
But however that goes, he certainly destgns to worm
out the park-keeper, and then manage thesuit wholly for himself, which he knows well enough how to compound, when he's once got rid of the park-keeper, and then alfa
his own!
(3. ) C. prosess, master, there must be something in this for well remember that in a former suit betwixt
this park-keeper and deer-stealer, this fame deer-stealer call'd in this fame adversarys^his aid against the park- ketper, and was detected in and the very letters taken
which he wrote to the now plaintiff-adversary, craving his assistance to oust the park-keeper. And this fame plaintiffs assistance did at last, and got the whole park
to himself. And they fay, forewarnd fore-arm 'd, and
i
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406
The REHEARSAL.
he's a fool that's cheated twice by the fame hand! at least by the fame trick !
{4. } R. The plaintiff has ten times more/pi te against
the park-keeper than the decr-stealtr, and ever has had ; for the park-keeper knows the law, and is vers''d in it much more than the deer-stealer, and has all along wor-
Jled the plaintiff at law, while the deer-stealer only
ters at him, and calls him ill names ; but he's afraid of
thepark-keeper, knowing he has substantial skill, and has
often made use of the felly and boisterous deer-stealer, to plague and torment the park-keeper, and hopes some time or other to ruin him by it. Thisplaintiffand the deer- stealer never fail'd to take each other's afpstance, when
they needed against the park-keeper, who equally danger from them both, he's the eye-fore of both, and he willsecure himself against both, he must trust neither.
(5. ) But the deer-stealer fays not seasonable for the park-keeper to mend his pales now, when does he lay
will be seasonable
C. He fays he'll tell the park-keeper that! and bids him
stay till he tells him
Æ. Then he may stay long enough but hear some
of his pretended friends would have him stay till the
law-suit be over, and let the deer-stealer get power and grow great in the mean time.
C. Then this his only time to get Intopower, and d'ye think, master, that when he has more power, he will be more willing to part with than now when he has not so much
R. Now ifthis be the only time for the deer-stealer to get into power, the only time for the park-keeper to keep him from Nor would the deer-stealer reckon those to be hisfriends who should vote for letting him into power now, he thought they meant only to trick
him by that they might take from him more curely afterwards. He too sagacious to court andfiat ter these men as he does, if he were not well ajfurd that
they mean something else than they fay, and that sea sonable they mean never.
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The REHEARSAL.
407
Or if you suppose them impos'd upon, to believe and trust the decr-stealer, that he means no more by getting into power now, than freely and -willingly to part with
whenever shall please the park-keeper to ask to quit all the advantages he has got, and give himself in-
tirely up, to be govern the park-keeper, with whom he nas maintained so many years war to let him set up his pales then, and shut the deer-stealer for ever out of his park, you must suppose such counsellors to be weak indeed and to rescue them from being meer tools, you must conclude them to be errant managers for the decr-
stealer to be in league with him, and in his defign to have ihtpark turn'd into common.
(6. ) C. Some of them do not stick to own and think little comprehenfion may reconcile the park and the common, that is, only to have the pales of the park pull'd down, or rather let them drop down now they are so crazy, which will make less noise, and shew more ofmo deration
R. park without pales no sark at all, and ipfo
fafto common that the common will gain by this com
prehenfion, and swallow up the park.
C. But does not meddle with the deer, nor take
away the park-keepers property in them, and then what barm done him they are his deer still.
R. That as long as the deer-stealer pleases only after that, will not be called stealing, tut taking
C. How so man may steal horse ont of common,
for many beasts grazing there does not alter the property of the several owners.
And the forest-laws secure the deer there, though the
not impair
R. But are they as secure as in park? We sind, that
men use to put loch upon horses that graze in common,
and have other guards to keep their horses from being
stofn, because eafily done.
And when common thieves and deer-stealers would pull
down the pales of fork, what other defigns can they
have, than to make their access eaiier to their prey but for
forest
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The REHEARSAL.
for a park-keeper to be argued into and to give his con sent persect slupidity as well as treachery to his lord and master, who entrusted him with the keeping of his
(7. ) And to fay there any injury or injustice, far less persecution, in any man's impailing his park, and secuang his property, or in restraining all house-breakers or park- breakers, and bringing them to justice, to banish all justice and property out of the world, and turning all
into great common
When /sjs are turned out of the rar« they squeak
persecution! persecution! because they are not jw/fer' ——. which cures both their dinn, and their mischief.
(8. ) C. But master, here's another mischief, of another ,/&/-/, just now come to my hand piping hot. Now look to your hits, or we're all untwisted! our papers now have discovered new they all o^? » upon bringing over
the princess Sophia, ot young prince of Hanover over hi ther immediately in all haste and which mazes me, master, this comes from some of high-church the Mer- curius Politicks, which called tory-paper, has broacWd it. What can be the meaning of this
I'm sure you told me formerly, that this was •whig- plot, arid you shew'd me the books wrote on that side, sirst to defeat the successlon of our now gracious queen, and
that failing, then as second best, to bring over the prin cess Dowager or prince of Hanover, or both, upon her
majesty.
R. was the whig-plot, and the whig-plot still,
but now manag'd with fineness -peculiar to them! They found would not go, while appear'd in it, there fore seems have found ways to draw in some of the /^gv£-sWs/;toespousethematter; whichthey will seem to oppose, tostxthokofthehigh-church the more; and then, uponashorU«/-»rwi! l give in to them, or, by absenting such
number (for they can tell noses) to let them carry, Kf and then the whigs gain their point two ways sirst, as to the queen (against whom the whole intended) shall
appear the ac? of the high-church, and so put them into
'
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The REHEARSAL.
489
the greatest suspicion with her mcjesty, or rather, as declar ing themselves open enemies to her. And then as to the c. ourt of Hanover they are ^Tittysure of their interest there, which they have cultivated from the beginning, aud Can / isuade them th. it there was no other way poffible to bring their
about; and they can easily distinguish betwixt those who are their friends in principle and interest, and those who would now make use of them, only to serve a turn, betwixt those to whom they owe their succession, and the upholding of their interest ; and those who, to serve themselves, came in late to them, and would expect to be
preferrd to those who have born the burden and heat of the day !
C. Now, master, I understand what I heard lately
among some top-whigs, who knew me not to be your
countryman. They laugtid in their sleeves and hugg'd themselves to think how they had drawn in some of the heads of the high-church-party to do their work for them f and to rivet t\ie. yoke upon their own necks, for ever with out retrieve! But how came they to get any of the high- thurch thus drawn in ? What snare did they lay for them ?
(9. ) R. They bausd it about, and threw it oat in all their papers, that these high-fliers were all papists and ja- cobites. This was the reason given by several who would be thought friends to the church, why they voted against the occasional bill, because* as they pretended, the bottom of that bill was to bring in the P. of Wales and popery !
C. They might as well have faid the Czar of Muscovy! or Luther! What relation had that bill to the P. of Wales ? Or if they were afraid of him, or any other, was not securing the church by all means possible, the most
proper method to be taken ?
To barr doors the your
faster, if you fuspect any attack upon you! And when is that to be done, if not in the reign of our gracious queen, Whose heart 13 entirely English, and her love to the church rooted in her, by her education in it ? Or does any think, that a bill to secure the church, is in favour of the P. of Walts ? This is new doflrine indeed! and does in ser, that both their interests are the fame ! and the one asaf-
part' to the other. T R. They
The REHEARSAL.
4'o
R. They did not mean that, but if they could make
it be believed, that those who promoted that hill were Ja cohites in their hearts ; then they could tack the P. of Wales to any hill whatsoever that such men brought in,
which they did not like, tho' it were the cafe of the Ailf-
C. Ifevery thing brings him in, he must come in ! But
bury-men ! or to make the river Ex navigable
P. of W. might come some time or other up that river ! Every thing they don't like brings in the P. of Wales !
master, I understand your meaning, that for sear of this
cry of popery and jacohitism, these higb-churchmen who are
concerned (if any be concerned) thought they could not clear themselves from it any other way than this of pro
spect to her majesty no doubt, I suppose that must be their meaning ! and that the prince of Hanover, if he mould come over, would only help the queen how to govern ! and if she and the nation should be blest with any issue of her body, would dutifully retire again to his former post in Ger many ! and make no dispute about hirths, or bring over an army of High-Dutch to argue the cafe with high- church, and see that no wrong was done to his succession !
parliament (without her majesty & leave and approbation sirst had) and be not thrown out with as much contempt as the occafional hill was by the lords ; we may conclude the hand of Joab is in because they that did the one may more eafily do the other.
But we hope that the whigs will have no handle
given them to shew their loyalty upon this occafion and
that the church will not be made the cafs-foot, now the second or third time, to draw their chestnuts for them out
of the fire
And from this single paper of Mercury not just to
draw an accusation against any party. little time will discover whether was not nostrum of his own. How ever he's man ofsense, and will treat him with all
moting the house of Hanover taking immediate possession of the government ; but still under, and with all due re-
! for
the
In short, if any thing of this matter be brought unto
vility, wherein happen to differ from him.
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The REHEARSAL.
411
Great clamours having been raised against a book called The cafe of the regale and ,pontificate, and the Flying- Post having spent one of Yi\s papers upon to represent at veering towards popery, in proposing our reconciliation with the church of France, occasioned my vindication of that hock, as to that particular, in the Rehearsal of last Marc the loth, Num. 32. wherein the gross misrepre
sentation of that book shew'd, and that the union there
proposed wholly upon the foot of their receding from their errors, and coming over to us, but not of our going into them, no, not in any outpoint. This was so apparent as stopt the clamour, at that time, or any reply from that day to this.
But in hopes that this forgot, the Review has now again set up the fame clamour, with open throat, and be stowed sive or six of his last papers upon it, with all the thunder and lightning he can raise of representing the high- church, as all papists in their hearts, and expofing them to the fury of the mob
He takes no notice of the former vindication, nor pre tends to give any one instance wherein that book proposes our going over to their popery, and not their coming into what we have reform But clamour clamour still that goes with mob instead of truth
This the method of these men, never to mind conviction or the plainest demonstration! but carry on the CrY still
Letflander run
Of which this author has given us fresh and astonishing
instance (we thank him in his Review of the 4th of this month, Vol. II. N. 92. for his malicious and wicked lye about the weather-cock at Oxford having been fully con
futed in Rehiars. N. 46. stopt his mouth from any reply, but not from impudently trumping up the fame again for which admoni/Pd him Num. 55, and he mentioned this admonition in his Num. 76. and (by way of repentance) repeats the fame without ossering one word tojustisy it. For this correfted him more severely Num. 58. yet
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The REHEARSAL
he mentions it again insultingly in his N. 92. calling a* excellent sermon at Oxford, another Oxford weather-cock. 'Tis a good jrst still ! which therefore he often reseats
I expect not (aftei this) to bring him, or his scandahus club to Jhame ! But I hope to make all men of sense a-
shamd of them.
! [ ae a>
From ^at. Oct. 1 i, to &at. Oct. 20, 1 705. N° 66.
1 . 77 •s/ God abolished an univerfal monarchy. And that the succefficn of the 70 nations was by the rule of
4i2
like hio Jkcrtejl way.
And that was instituted of God. 2. Ansiuer to in objection That the division of nations
was brfire the division languages. 3. Mr. Lock argument from Go to, let us build, That the builders f/' Babel wcre a commonwealth, or all independent. 4.
That the poflestbr has the right, where none claims
a better right. With an answer to the objections against, this in a certain specimen.
&M. X70U have fully clear'd to me, master, last &-
firms the rights of the primogeniture else when Cod gave that to any, he gave them nothing.
(1. ) Hence likewise plain to me, that, instead of an universal monarchy over the whole earth, in the person of the eldest son of Noah, and of his eldest, and on, to the end of the world pleased God to interpose his
authority, and to divide the world into 70 independent nations, and to set ra/ur over every one of them. And this he did without the intervention of any human
means, by the miraculous divifion of languages, that
might appear to be his own act; and marvellous in in our eyes. But
mogeniture.
•
how that God Lard pv£r his own.
turday,
institutions, can alter and dispense with them at pleasure can make the youngest the eldest, and give the rights of the primogeniture to whom he pleases which still con
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The RE HEAR SAL,
Bat now, master, after the earth was thus divided, in,
their nations, after their languages, how did the fuccession. .
ofgovernment go in these particular nations ?
R. When there is an exception from a general rule,. the rule stands in all cafes not excepted. The exception
here is only as to an universal monarchy, in which they propos'd mighty things to themselves. To make them a name, and that they shou'd not be dispersed abroad up
on the face of the whole earth, but live all together, and to be one people. As it is faid, Gen. xi. 6. Behold the •
people is one ■ And this they begin to do ; and now no
thing will be restrained from them, which they have ima gined to do. Therefore God divided them into several nations, by means of the several languages, as I have faid before, N. 62. This was all the alteration was made:
therefore the succession, in these several nations went on
C. But I wou'd have a positive text commanding the succession to be in the first-born, and so to continue to the end of the world, and this given to Adam. That it was
the receiv'd notion then, you have shew'd plain enough,
N. 57. from the instance of Cain and Abel. And that-
it was the fact and practice univerfally over all the earth. But this is but practice still. I would see the sirst command and institution given to Adam.
R. The history of Genefis before the Flood is very 'short, and gives onlyfacts. The institutions are sup-
pos'd, and were generally receiv'd as such by the Jews. at the time when Moses wrote, and to this day ; and,
by Christians as well as Jews. For example, marriage is faid, in our office of matrimony, to have been instituted of God in Paradise in the time of man's innocency. Yet
the institution does not appear, only the fact is told. Thus ofsacrifices, of priesthood, of clean and unclean beasts and fowl, which we sind in fact before the Flood; and there can be no doubt of the institution ! for they cou'd
T3 not
4r3.
as formerly, by the rule ofprimogeniture, as it was in alt the earth from that time to this day, which I have fhew'd before, N 56, and 57. with an answer to those exceptions which have been made against it.
The REHEARSAL;
not have been the invention of man. There is no com
mand in the New Testament for the change of the sabbath- from the seventh day to the first. But we conclude there was such a command from the practice of the apostles, and the universal eburch from them. And I have shew'd as universal a consent, and as early for the primogeniture as any of these before nam'd, of whose institution we do not doubt ; and therefore can doubt as httle of this,
(2 ) C. I have heard an objection, master, That the di vifion of nations being told, Gen. x. and the building of Babel, with the confusion of languages, told in the fol lowing chapter, it shou'd seem as if the divifion of tongues was after the divifion of nations, and so not the means by which it was efsected, as you have asserted, N. 62.
R. It is very frequent, as well in holy scripture, as in other writings, having related a fact, to tell afterwards ofpassages which happen'd before. Thus John xix. 18. it is faid, They crucified him. And ver. 23. Then the
soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, £SV. Yet after this, ver. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. seve ral passages before his death are related.
And thus it is faid, Gen. xi. I. And the whole earth
was of me language, and one speech. And ver. 6. The people is one, and they have all one language. Yet chap. x. 20, 31. it is faid, the people were divided after their tongues.
So that what is related chap. xi. resers to the time before
the divifion mention'd in the xth chap, where the divi fion of the nations, by their languages, being told, the: holy penman goes en, in the next chapter, to shew, upon
what occafion, and by what means, this divifion of ian guages was effected.
• . (3. ) C. Mr. Lock, in his Two treatises ofgovernment, p. 187. lays great stress upon its being faid, Gen. vi. 4. Go to, let us build us a city And thence wou'd inser, that the people were then a commonwealth, or something like
4t4
it ; this being, fays he, the consultation of a sree people.
R. This text neither shews their
theirfreedom ; but their canst nt and willingness towards the undertaking, which might have been fram'd by their
consultation,
nor leaders;
stines.
The REHEARSAL:
415 leaders ; and the work, no doubt, was conducted by them :
else it wou'd have gone flowly on, if all had been ma sters, and , none servants, as it must have been in Mr.
Lock's supposed state and freedom of nature.
It is faid, I Sam. iv. 7. The Philistines were afraid ;
and, ver. 9. they faid one to another, S>uit yourselves like men, and fight. Had they therefore no commanders, no
princes ? when we are told of the princes of these Phili
May not men encourage one another in perform ing what is commanded them ? and it is call'd their act, when they have done it. As it may be faid, that the work-men built St. Pauss ; and likewise, that the parlia ment built it ; and the work-men may fay one to another, Go to, let us build. It is faid, ver. 2. And the Philistines
put themselves in array. But does any doubt, that it was their commanders who did it ? Was it put to the vote of every individual how they shou'd array themselves \ It is faid, chap. xvii. 2 1 . Israel and the Philistines put the battle- in array, army against army; when we know, that Saul the king of Israel was then in the army, and, no doubt, commanded ; how frequent is it for people to be faid to do- what is both consulted and commanded them to do by 0- thers ? Yet when they have done They have done it.
And may not then be faid faid, Exod. xxxii. . . That the people made the calf which Aaron made.
Many more instances of the like sort may be brought.
C. desire no more. obvious and, Go to, let us build, can imply no more, meant of the people, than
their readily and freely going about the work and hin ders not, but that this defign might have been consulted by their monarch or ruler, with those he advis'd with as his council and this, Go to, let us build, might have been said of them, of the king and his councii. But either way comes not up to what Mr. Lock wou'd infer from
either of commonwealth, or his suppos'd independent state nature. And know of no argument the whigs
have brought that shews more of than this This fjbing for arguments and they are hard put to it. This rubbish indeed which yet you have done well to put
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The REHEARSAJL.
out of your way ; because many of our country-folks are taken with such texts and glasses ; though they will not go down with men offense and horning.
(4. ) But now, master, comes my grand objection ; and if you can dear that as plainly and easily as you have the ethers, I think I shall have little more to trouble you with upon this subject.
You fay, that the succession of the 70 rulers in the xth of Genefis was to go hereditarily according to the prime- geniture. Is it not then neceflary that every king now
4i6
in the world shou'd derive himself from some of these 70, and by the eldest son all the way ? else what right has
he to the government more than I
nothing else but an usurper. And all you have faid hitherto goes for nothing ; because we cannot sind out the right heir to any one os these 70.
? and then he can be
R. I told you at the beginning, that God did create man with a designation for government ; and God did or
dain, that government shou'd continue to the end of the world; for without it mankind cou'd not subsist. And our bltsscd Saviour did command obedience to governments as to the ordinance of God, in that late age of the world, when he came into it ; which shews, that government was always to continue.
This then being six'd as the foundation, we go on- And now I must account for the several conquests and ui
furpatiens have been in the world, to the breaking that line of succession which began in these 70, nam'd Gen. x.
possessor. For example, countryman, to speak to your capacity, and make it very familiar to you. Suppose I shou'd rob you of your hat ; this does not give me a right
against you. But it gives me such a right to that another shou'd rob me of that hat, wou'd be robbery in him. And though he shou'd prove, at his trial, that had robb'd you of that hat, wou'd be no justification
of him, because he cou'd shew no right- that he had to it. C. Tbia
And the rule in all such cases is this :
is in possession of the government, has the right likewise where there is none who claims a better right than the
That whoever
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The REHE A RS AL;
4iT C This is very plain and easy to me ; but is the cafe
the fame in a crown as in a hat ?
R. The very fame in this point : That the right goes
along with the possession, where there is none that claims a better right than that of the possessor. If there are several competitors to the crown, as in the case of York and Lan caster, every man must inform himself, as well as he can, which of them are nearest in blood to the preceding right ful king. Both York and Lancaster did pretend to be nearest in blood to king Richard II. and set up their title upon that foot. Therefore both of them did acknowledge
the nearest in blood to be the rule of sucetssion. .
But where there is no competition, the possessor has the best WgAs in the world, because there is none other right but his ; and government must quite cease out of the world, if this be not the rule. But God having ordain'd
government always to continue, as before is faid; there fore this must be the rule.
Again, that must be a right government, which is not. usurp'd ; and there is no usurpation, but where one is got into the possession of what another has right to. These are: Mr. Lock's own words in his forefaid Two treatisesi. Book II. chap. xvii. which he intitles, Of usurpation, p. . 418. where he lays this down as a sure rule or principle.
I quote him, because I hope the whigs will submit to his authority, and receive from him what they would contend with me for. Here then where the peace of the world is preserv'd, governments concinu'd, and no man's right invaded, what dispute can remain ? If that be not right, there is no right in the world!
C. I prosess I can fay nothing against it ; for that must be right where no body's wrong d.
But you are not like to come oft' so easily ; for the book I told you of last time we met, call'd, A defence of the natural rights ofmankind, wrote or to be wrote against
Cassandra, makes this very point you are upon, which, is mention'd in Ca/sandra, his second specimen, to shew how cleverly he can baffle all these principles. He attacks this principle, in hisspecimen, only as to the consequences of
The REHEARSAL.
It. But for the reason of the thing, &c. he reserves that for his great work, and has given us no specimen of it. Unless his specimen be more than I have seen; for it seems to break off abruptly, as if there were more of it to follow immediately ; for thus it ends, p. 16. "Hav ing thus given my reader the lively instances of history for the illustration of this noble principle, I shall now
R. I might wave giving any answer to his instances from history as to the consequences of this principle, till I see what he fays to the reason of the thing ; for that is it must determine the cause with reasonable men. Argu
ments from consequences are often fallacious, attributing
4i8
look into the reason of the thing, &c.
the evil effects or consequences that happen in any kingdom
or state to wrong causes. There are complications of di- stempers oftentimes in a state, as well as ire the natural bo
dy ; and the greatest skill of the physician is Ihew'd in sinding out the root and true ground of the disease.
But I will not delay answering for this ; for I can re member since a certain author was attack'd; and many
instances given from history (none of which came up to the point, as was afterwards shew'd) with a promise, like that of this author, to consider the reason of the thing af terwards : and it was very long astcvwards, for it is not come out to this day, though this was several years ago.
But not long afterwaids came out insults and bravado's, why this author was not answer d; for his opponent waited for his reasons, and his entring upon the merits of the cause ; which, 'tis to be presum'd, he never intended, because he never perform d. Now, lest this cafe shou'd happen a second time, I will go on with you now, as to his argument from consequences, and histoty : therefore let me hear them. "
C. He fays, p. 1 2. That the consequence of this doctrine That any one shall poison prince, or
stab him, and destroy all the royal family, and pos
sess himself of the throne, he has divine right to be king
that " And under, in the fame he country. " page,
puts case,
Thus (fays he) the conspirators in the gun.
f a
if if
a
a so
is,
The REHEAR
AL;
4i9 gunpowder treason- plot had succeeded, and blown up the king, lords, and commons, by this doctrine they
wou'd have had a right to the government, if they had pleas'd to have seiz'd it. For as to a better right, 'tis a jest, according to their principles ; for who must decide the controversy betwixt two pretenders ? "
cafe.
R. Here's a jumble of arguments thrust together, to blind the reader's eyes, and hide the true state of the
But I will take them asunder, and put them in a true light ; and I must begin with the last, because it is the foundation of all the rest ; and that Whoshall decide the controversy betwixt two pretenders If he means the ijfue of battle, or who shall de facto prevail, know none pretends to decide it. That lies in the hands ofpro
vidence, who, for thefins of nation, often suffers wicked ness to prevail, and civil wars and destruction to ensue, as in the case of David and Absalom, of Joash and Aha- liah, and come home to our own country, of York and Lancaster, which contest lasted above 100 years, with vast effufion of English blood and treasure. Nor did end till the right line was restor'd.
But the deciding be meant, how every man shall de termine his own conscience whichfide to take as have faid before, examining the pretences on both
and joining with that he thinks the best, according to the law of God, and the known statutes and law of the land, pursuant to the holy scriptures. And there no other way of determining private conscience in any case
whatsoever. As what religion he will embrace or how
be will determine of any particular action in his life, con
versation, or bufiness.
For this foundation so poorly and fallacioufy laid, he
makes no scruple to inser, that, as to a better right, 'tis a jest according to their principles. Which of their princi ples their principle of adhering to the better right,
and making that the rule And this making jest of it not the jest on his side, who wou'd throw off' a rule so solidly laia, and substantially prov'd such fay
From hence
sides
ing, as has no meaning and perfect banter
is
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the design of making the church the catVfoot again I
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Coun. f~\ N E more play-day, pray master, I have not
yet quite done with my park-keeper and deer-
I must not make the deer-stealer more unreasonable
stealer,
than he was. He made this offer more to the park-keeper ; That he would let him set up the pales of his park again, only desired that he might not do it now, not at thisjunc ture of time, for 'twas not seasonable ! '
R. Why not seasonable? And why not at this junc ture ?
C. Because the park-keeper was then engaged in a trou blesome lawsuit with a potent neighbour. The deer- slealer was equally engag'd in the fame suit, for it was against them both, as to ajoint concern they had in the
country ; and the deer-stealer did contribute his share in the expences of the suit. Now, faid he, why should we
have hinder'd you to do you know three or four times,
quarrel at this time ? and it will be a certain quarrel
already) if you ofser to set up the pales of your park again, at this time, to take this advantage of me, after
it
it,
I
(as
is
The REHEARSAL.
405 and if you attempt it any more, I will withdraw my mo
ney, and contribute no more to the expences of ourjoint-
suit.
R. Did the park-keeper allow him any interest or confix
deration for what money he advanc'd towards carrying on
the suit?
C. Tho' the cteer-stealer paid but his proportion accord
ing to the share he had in the land; yet the park-keeper paid him more than double interest for and gave him greater advantages than he could have made any other
way ofhis money.
R. Then he need not be asraid of him for tho' a
deer-stealer be true to nothing else, he'll never be false to
himself, that to his interest.
Besides, can any one think that he would be content to
lose his own share of the land meerly out ofspite to the park-keeper? These are but vain threats.
(2. ) And there be anything in the world in them,
gives justsuspicion, that the dter-stealer deals underhand with their joint adversary, and will take care to secure his own stake, whatever becomes of the park-keeper. No body
can put better construction upon therefore the park- keeper had need to be more upon his guard, and take
good heed how he entrusts the deer-stealer with the ma
nagement of the suit.
But however that goes, he certainly destgns to worm
out the park-keeper, and then manage thesuit wholly for himself, which he knows well enough how to compound, when he's once got rid of the park-keeper, and then alfa
his own!
(3. ) C. prosess, master, there must be something in this for well remember that in a former suit betwixt
this park-keeper and deer-stealer, this fame deer-stealer call'd in this fame adversarys^his aid against the park- ketper, and was detected in and the very letters taken
which he wrote to the now plaintiff-adversary, craving his assistance to oust the park-keeper. And this fame plaintiffs assistance did at last, and got the whole park
to himself. And they fay, forewarnd fore-arm 'd, and
i
it
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by
!
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if
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it,
it
it, ;
406
The REHEARSAL.
he's a fool that's cheated twice by the fame hand! at least by the fame trick !
{4. } R. The plaintiff has ten times more/pi te against
the park-keeper than the decr-stealtr, and ever has had ; for the park-keeper knows the law, and is vers''d in it much more than the deer-stealer, and has all along wor-
Jled the plaintiff at law, while the deer-stealer only
ters at him, and calls him ill names ; but he's afraid of
thepark-keeper, knowing he has substantial skill, and has
often made use of the felly and boisterous deer-stealer, to plague and torment the park-keeper, and hopes some time or other to ruin him by it. Thisplaintiffand the deer- stealer never fail'd to take each other's afpstance, when
they needed against the park-keeper, who equally danger from them both, he's the eye-fore of both, and he willsecure himself against both, he must trust neither.
(5. ) But the deer-stealer fays not seasonable for the park-keeper to mend his pales now, when does he lay
will be seasonable
C. He fays he'll tell the park-keeper that! and bids him
stay till he tells him
Æ. Then he may stay long enough but hear some
of his pretended friends would have him stay till the
law-suit be over, and let the deer-stealer get power and grow great in the mean time.
C. Then this his only time to get Intopower, and d'ye think, master, that when he has more power, he will be more willing to part with than now when he has not so much
R. Now ifthis be the only time for the deer-stealer to get into power, the only time for the park-keeper to keep him from Nor would the deer-stealer reckon those to be hisfriends who should vote for letting him into power now, he thought they meant only to trick
him by that they might take from him more curely afterwards. He too sagacious to court andfiat ter these men as he does, if he were not well ajfurd that
they mean something else than they fay, and that sea sonable they mean never.
Or
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The REHEARSAL.
407
Or if you suppose them impos'd upon, to believe and trust the decr-stealer, that he means no more by getting into power now, than freely and -willingly to part with
whenever shall please the park-keeper to ask to quit all the advantages he has got, and give himself in-
tirely up, to be govern the park-keeper, with whom he nas maintained so many years war to let him set up his pales then, and shut the deer-stealer for ever out of his park, you must suppose such counsellors to be weak indeed and to rescue them from being meer tools, you must conclude them to be errant managers for the decr-
stealer to be in league with him, and in his defign to have ihtpark turn'd into common.
(6. ) C. Some of them do not stick to own and think little comprehenfion may reconcile the park and the common, that is, only to have the pales of the park pull'd down, or rather let them drop down now they are so crazy, which will make less noise, and shew more ofmo deration
R. park without pales no sark at all, and ipfo
fafto common that the common will gain by this com
prehenfion, and swallow up the park.
C. But does not meddle with the deer, nor take
away the park-keepers property in them, and then what barm done him they are his deer still.
R. That as long as the deer-stealer pleases only after that, will not be called stealing, tut taking
C. How so man may steal horse ont of common,
for many beasts grazing there does not alter the property of the several owners.
And the forest-laws secure the deer there, though the
not impair
R. But are they as secure as in park? We sind, that
men use to put loch upon horses that graze in common,
and have other guards to keep their horses from being
stofn, because eafily done.
And when common thieves and deer-stealers would pull
down the pales of fork, what other defigns can they
have, than to make their access eaiier to their prey but for
forest
a
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4o8
The REHEARSAL.
for a park-keeper to be argued into and to give his con sent persect slupidity as well as treachery to his lord and master, who entrusted him with the keeping of his
(7. ) And to fay there any injury or injustice, far less persecution, in any man's impailing his park, and secuang his property, or in restraining all house-breakers or park- breakers, and bringing them to justice, to banish all justice and property out of the world, and turning all
into great common
When /sjs are turned out of the rar« they squeak
persecution! persecution! because they are not jw/fer' ——. which cures both their dinn, and their mischief.
(8. ) C. But master, here's another mischief, of another ,/&/-/, just now come to my hand piping hot. Now look to your hits, or we're all untwisted! our papers now have discovered new they all o^? » upon bringing over
the princess Sophia, ot young prince of Hanover over hi ther immediately in all haste and which mazes me, master, this comes from some of high-church the Mer- curius Politicks, which called tory-paper, has broacWd it. What can be the meaning of this
I'm sure you told me formerly, that this was •whig- plot, arid you shew'd me the books wrote on that side, sirst to defeat the successlon of our now gracious queen, and
that failing, then as second best, to bring over the prin cess Dowager or prince of Hanover, or both, upon her
majesty.
R. was the whig-plot, and the whig-plot still,
but now manag'd with fineness -peculiar to them! They found would not go, while appear'd in it, there fore seems have found ways to draw in some of the /^gv£-sWs/;toespousethematter; whichthey will seem to oppose, tostxthokofthehigh-church the more; and then, uponashorU«/-»rwi! l give in to them, or, by absenting such
number (for they can tell noses) to let them carry, Kf and then the whigs gain their point two ways sirst, as to the queen (against whom the whole intended) shall
appear the ac? of the high-church, and so put them into
'
the
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The REHEARSAL.
489
the greatest suspicion with her mcjesty, or rather, as declar ing themselves open enemies to her. And then as to the c. ourt of Hanover they are ^Tittysure of their interest there, which they have cultivated from the beginning, aud Can / isuade them th. it there was no other way poffible to bring their
about; and they can easily distinguish betwixt those who are their friends in principle and interest, and those who would now make use of them, only to serve a turn, betwixt those to whom they owe their succession, and the upholding of their interest ; and those who, to serve themselves, came in late to them, and would expect to be
preferrd to those who have born the burden and heat of the day !
C. Now, master, I understand what I heard lately
among some top-whigs, who knew me not to be your
countryman. They laugtid in their sleeves and hugg'd themselves to think how they had drawn in some of the heads of the high-church-party to do their work for them f and to rivet t\ie. yoke upon their own necks, for ever with out retrieve! But how came they to get any of the high- thurch thus drawn in ? What snare did they lay for them ?
(9. ) R. They bausd it about, and threw it oat in all their papers, that these high-fliers were all papists and ja- cobites. This was the reason given by several who would be thought friends to the church, why they voted against the occasional bill, because* as they pretended, the bottom of that bill was to bring in the P. of Wales and popery !
C. They might as well have faid the Czar of Muscovy! or Luther! What relation had that bill to the P. of Wales ? Or if they were afraid of him, or any other, was not securing the church by all means possible, the most
proper method to be taken ?
To barr doors the your
faster, if you fuspect any attack upon you! And when is that to be done, if not in the reign of our gracious queen, Whose heart 13 entirely English, and her love to the church rooted in her, by her education in it ? Or does any think, that a bill to secure the church, is in favour of the P. of Walts ? This is new doflrine indeed! and does in ser, that both their interests are the fame ! and the one asaf-
part' to the other. T R. They
The REHEARSAL.
4'o
R. They did not mean that, but if they could make
it be believed, that those who promoted that hill were Ja cohites in their hearts ; then they could tack the P. of Wales to any hill whatsoever that such men brought in,
which they did not like, tho' it were the cafe of the Ailf-
C. Ifevery thing brings him in, he must come in ! But
bury-men ! or to make the river Ex navigable
P. of W. might come some time or other up that river ! Every thing they don't like brings in the P. of Wales !
master, I understand your meaning, that for sear of this
cry of popery and jacohitism, these higb-churchmen who are
concerned (if any be concerned) thought they could not clear themselves from it any other way than this of pro
spect to her majesty no doubt, I suppose that must be their meaning ! and that the prince of Hanover, if he mould come over, would only help the queen how to govern ! and if she and the nation should be blest with any issue of her body, would dutifully retire again to his former post in Ger many ! and make no dispute about hirths, or bring over an army of High-Dutch to argue the cafe with high- church, and see that no wrong was done to his succession !
parliament (without her majesty & leave and approbation sirst had) and be not thrown out with as much contempt as the occafional hill was by the lords ; we may conclude the hand of Joab is in because they that did the one may more eafily do the other.
But we hope that the whigs will have no handle
given them to shew their loyalty upon this occafion and
that the church will not be made the cafs-foot, now the second or third time, to draw their chestnuts for them out
of the fire
And from this single paper of Mercury not just to
draw an accusation against any party. little time will discover whether was not nostrum of his own. How ever he's man ofsense, and will treat him with all
moting the house of Hanover taking immediate possession of the government ; but still under, and with all due re-
! for
the
In short, if any thing of this matter be brought unto
vility, wherein happen to differ from him.
AD
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The REHEARSAL.
411
Great clamours having been raised against a book called The cafe of the regale and ,pontificate, and the Flying- Post having spent one of Yi\s papers upon to represent at veering towards popery, in proposing our reconciliation with the church of France, occasioned my vindication of that hock, as to that particular, in the Rehearsal of last Marc the loth, Num. 32. wherein the gross misrepre
sentation of that book shew'd, and that the union there
proposed wholly upon the foot of their receding from their errors, and coming over to us, but not of our going into them, no, not in any outpoint. This was so apparent as stopt the clamour, at that time, or any reply from that day to this.
But in hopes that this forgot, the Review has now again set up the fame clamour, with open throat, and be stowed sive or six of his last papers upon it, with all the thunder and lightning he can raise of representing the high- church, as all papists in their hearts, and expofing them to the fury of the mob
He takes no notice of the former vindication, nor pre tends to give any one instance wherein that book proposes our going over to their popery, and not their coming into what we have reform But clamour clamour still that goes with mob instead of truth
This the method of these men, never to mind conviction or the plainest demonstration! but carry on the CrY still
Letflander run
Of which this author has given us fresh and astonishing
instance (we thank him in his Review of the 4th of this month, Vol. II. N. 92. for his malicious and wicked lye about the weather-cock at Oxford having been fully con
futed in Rehiars. N. 46. stopt his mouth from any reply, but not from impudently trumping up the fame again for which admoni/Pd him Num. 55, and he mentioned this admonition in his Num. 76. and (by way of repentance) repeats the fame without ossering one word tojustisy it. For this correfted him more severely Num. 58. yet
ADVERTISEMENT.
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The REHEARSAL
he mentions it again insultingly in his N. 92. calling a* excellent sermon at Oxford, another Oxford weather-cock. 'Tis a good jrst still ! which therefore he often reseats
I expect not (aftei this) to bring him, or his scandahus club to Jhame ! But I hope to make all men of sense a-
shamd of them.
! [ ae a>
From ^at. Oct. 1 i, to &at. Oct. 20, 1 705. N° 66.
1 . 77 •s/ God abolished an univerfal monarchy. And that the succefficn of the 70 nations was by the rule of
4i2
like hio Jkcrtejl way.
And that was instituted of God. 2. Ansiuer to in objection That the division of nations
was brfire the division languages. 3. Mr. Lock argument from Go to, let us build, That the builders f/' Babel wcre a commonwealth, or all independent. 4.
That the poflestbr has the right, where none claims
a better right. With an answer to the objections against, this in a certain specimen.
&M. X70U have fully clear'd to me, master, last &-
firms the rights of the primogeniture else when Cod gave that to any, he gave them nothing.
(1. ) Hence likewise plain to me, that, instead of an universal monarchy over the whole earth, in the person of the eldest son of Noah, and of his eldest, and on, to the end of the world pleased God to interpose his
authority, and to divide the world into 70 independent nations, and to set ra/ur over every one of them. And this he did without the intervention of any human
means, by the miraculous divifion of languages, that
might appear to be his own act; and marvellous in in our eyes. But
mogeniture.
•
how that God Lard pv£r his own.
turday,
institutions, can alter and dispense with them at pleasure can make the youngest the eldest, and give the rights of the primogeniture to whom he pleases which still con
a
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The RE HEAR SAL,
Bat now, master, after the earth was thus divided, in,
their nations, after their languages, how did the fuccession. .
ofgovernment go in these particular nations ?
R. When there is an exception from a general rule,. the rule stands in all cafes not excepted. The exception
here is only as to an universal monarchy, in which they propos'd mighty things to themselves. To make them a name, and that they shou'd not be dispersed abroad up
on the face of the whole earth, but live all together, and to be one people. As it is faid, Gen. xi. 6. Behold the •
people is one ■ And this they begin to do ; and now no
thing will be restrained from them, which they have ima gined to do. Therefore God divided them into several nations, by means of the several languages, as I have faid before, N. 62. This was all the alteration was made:
therefore the succession, in these several nations went on
C. But I wou'd have a positive text commanding the succession to be in the first-born, and so to continue to the end of the world, and this given to Adam. That it was
the receiv'd notion then, you have shew'd plain enough,
N. 57. from the instance of Cain and Abel. And that-
it was the fact and practice univerfally over all the earth. But this is but practice still. I would see the sirst command and institution given to Adam.
R. The history of Genefis before the Flood is very 'short, and gives onlyfacts. The institutions are sup-
pos'd, and were generally receiv'd as such by the Jews. at the time when Moses wrote, and to this day ; and,
by Christians as well as Jews. For example, marriage is faid, in our office of matrimony, to have been instituted of God in Paradise in the time of man's innocency. Yet
the institution does not appear, only the fact is told. Thus ofsacrifices, of priesthood, of clean and unclean beasts and fowl, which we sind in fact before the Flood; and there can be no doubt of the institution ! for they cou'd
T3 not
4r3.
as formerly, by the rule ofprimogeniture, as it was in alt the earth from that time to this day, which I have fhew'd before, N 56, and 57. with an answer to those exceptions which have been made against it.
The REHEARSAL;
not have been the invention of man. There is no com
mand in the New Testament for the change of the sabbath- from the seventh day to the first. But we conclude there was such a command from the practice of the apostles, and the universal eburch from them. And I have shew'd as universal a consent, and as early for the primogeniture as any of these before nam'd, of whose institution we do not doubt ; and therefore can doubt as httle of this,
(2 ) C. I have heard an objection, master, That the di vifion of nations being told, Gen. x. and the building of Babel, with the confusion of languages, told in the fol lowing chapter, it shou'd seem as if the divifion of tongues was after the divifion of nations, and so not the means by which it was efsected, as you have asserted, N. 62.
R. It is very frequent, as well in holy scripture, as in other writings, having related a fact, to tell afterwards ofpassages which happen'd before. Thus John xix. 18. it is faid, They crucified him. And ver. 23. Then the
soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, £SV. Yet after this, ver. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. seve ral passages before his death are related.
And thus it is faid, Gen. xi. I. And the whole earth
was of me language, and one speech. And ver. 6. The people is one, and they have all one language. Yet chap. x. 20, 31. it is faid, the people were divided after their tongues.
So that what is related chap. xi. resers to the time before
the divifion mention'd in the xth chap, where the divi fion of the nations, by their languages, being told, the: holy penman goes en, in the next chapter, to shew, upon
what occafion, and by what means, this divifion of ian guages was effected.
• . (3. ) C. Mr. Lock, in his Two treatises ofgovernment, p. 187. lays great stress upon its being faid, Gen. vi. 4. Go to, let us build us a city And thence wou'd inser, that the people were then a commonwealth, or something like
4t4
it ; this being, fays he, the consultation of a sree people.
R. This text neither shews their
theirfreedom ; but their canst nt and willingness towards the undertaking, which might have been fram'd by their
consultation,
nor leaders;
stines.
The REHEARSAL:
415 leaders ; and the work, no doubt, was conducted by them :
else it wou'd have gone flowly on, if all had been ma sters, and , none servants, as it must have been in Mr.
Lock's supposed state and freedom of nature.
It is faid, I Sam. iv. 7. The Philistines were afraid ;
and, ver. 9. they faid one to another, S>uit yourselves like men, and fight. Had they therefore no commanders, no
princes ? when we are told of the princes of these Phili
May not men encourage one another in perform ing what is commanded them ? and it is call'd their act, when they have done it. As it may be faid, that the work-men built St. Pauss ; and likewise, that the parlia ment built it ; and the work-men may fay one to another, Go to, let us build. It is faid, ver. 2. And the Philistines
put themselves in array. But does any doubt, that it was their commanders who did it ? Was it put to the vote of every individual how they shou'd array themselves \ It is faid, chap. xvii. 2 1 . Israel and the Philistines put the battle- in array, army against army; when we know, that Saul the king of Israel was then in the army, and, no doubt, commanded ; how frequent is it for people to be faid to do- what is both consulted and commanded them to do by 0- thers ? Yet when they have done They have done it.
And may not then be faid faid, Exod. xxxii. . . That the people made the calf which Aaron made.
Many more instances of the like sort may be brought.
C. desire no more. obvious and, Go to, let us build, can imply no more, meant of the people, than
their readily and freely going about the work and hin ders not, but that this defign might have been consulted by their monarch or ruler, with those he advis'd with as his council and this, Go to, let us build, might have been said of them, of the king and his councii. But either way comes not up to what Mr. Lock wou'd infer from
either of commonwealth, or his suppos'd independent state nature. And know of no argument the whigs
have brought that shews more of than this This fjbing for arguments and they are hard put to it. This rubbish indeed which yet you have done well to put
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The REHEARSAJL.
out of your way ; because many of our country-folks are taken with such texts and glasses ; though they will not go down with men offense and horning.
(4. ) But now, master, comes my grand objection ; and if you can dear that as plainly and easily as you have the ethers, I think I shall have little more to trouble you with upon this subject.
You fay, that the succession of the 70 rulers in the xth of Genefis was to go hereditarily according to the prime- geniture. Is it not then neceflary that every king now
4i6
in the world shou'd derive himself from some of these 70, and by the eldest son all the way ? else what right has
he to the government more than I
nothing else but an usurper. And all you have faid hitherto goes for nothing ; because we cannot sind out the right heir to any one os these 70.
? and then he can be
R. I told you at the beginning, that God did create man with a designation for government ; and God did or
dain, that government shou'd continue to the end of the world; for without it mankind cou'd not subsist. And our bltsscd Saviour did command obedience to governments as to the ordinance of God, in that late age of the world, when he came into it ; which shews, that government was always to continue.
This then being six'd as the foundation, we go on- And now I must account for the several conquests and ui
furpatiens have been in the world, to the breaking that line of succession which began in these 70, nam'd Gen. x.
possessor. For example, countryman, to speak to your capacity, and make it very familiar to you. Suppose I shou'd rob you of your hat ; this does not give me a right
against you. But it gives me such a right to that another shou'd rob me of that hat, wou'd be robbery in him. And though he shou'd prove, at his trial, that had robb'd you of that hat, wou'd be no justification
of him, because he cou'd shew no right- that he had to it. C. Tbia
And the rule in all such cases is this :
is in possession of the government, has the right likewise where there is none who claims a better right than the
That whoever
it
it
it, I if
The REHE A RS AL;
4iT C This is very plain and easy to me ; but is the cafe
the fame in a crown as in a hat ?
R. The very fame in this point : That the right goes
along with the possession, where there is none that claims a better right than that of the possessor. If there are several competitors to the crown, as in the case of York and Lan caster, every man must inform himself, as well as he can, which of them are nearest in blood to the preceding right ful king. Both York and Lancaster did pretend to be nearest in blood to king Richard II. and set up their title upon that foot. Therefore both of them did acknowledge
the nearest in blood to be the rule of sucetssion. .
But where there is no competition, the possessor has the best WgAs in the world, because there is none other right but his ; and government must quite cease out of the world, if this be not the rule. But God having ordain'd
government always to continue, as before is faid; there fore this must be the rule.
Again, that must be a right government, which is not. usurp'd ; and there is no usurpation, but where one is got into the possession of what another has right to. These are: Mr. Lock's own words in his forefaid Two treatisesi. Book II. chap. xvii. which he intitles, Of usurpation, p. . 418. where he lays this down as a sure rule or principle.
I quote him, because I hope the whigs will submit to his authority, and receive from him what they would contend with me for. Here then where the peace of the world is preserv'd, governments concinu'd, and no man's right invaded, what dispute can remain ? If that be not right, there is no right in the world!
C. I prosess I can fay nothing against it ; for that must be right where no body's wrong d.
But you are not like to come oft' so easily ; for the book I told you of last time we met, call'd, A defence of the natural rights ofmankind, wrote or to be wrote against
Cassandra, makes this very point you are upon, which, is mention'd in Ca/sandra, his second specimen, to shew how cleverly he can baffle all these principles. He attacks this principle, in hisspecimen, only as to the consequences of
The REHEARSAL.
It. But for the reason of the thing, &c. he reserves that for his great work, and has given us no specimen of it. Unless his specimen be more than I have seen; for it seems to break off abruptly, as if there were more of it to follow immediately ; for thus it ends, p. 16. "Hav ing thus given my reader the lively instances of history for the illustration of this noble principle, I shall now
R. I might wave giving any answer to his instances from history as to the consequences of this principle, till I see what he fays to the reason of the thing ; for that is it must determine the cause with reasonable men. Argu
ments from consequences are often fallacious, attributing
4i8
look into the reason of the thing, &c.
the evil effects or consequences that happen in any kingdom
or state to wrong causes. There are complications of di- stempers oftentimes in a state, as well as ire the natural bo
dy ; and the greatest skill of the physician is Ihew'd in sinding out the root and true ground of the disease.
But I will not delay answering for this ; for I can re member since a certain author was attack'd; and many
instances given from history (none of which came up to the point, as was afterwards shew'd) with a promise, like that of this author, to consider the reason of the thing af terwards : and it was very long astcvwards, for it is not come out to this day, though this was several years ago.
But not long afterwaids came out insults and bravado's, why this author was not answer d; for his opponent waited for his reasons, and his entring upon the merits of the cause ; which, 'tis to be presum'd, he never intended, because he never perform d. Now, lest this cafe shou'd happen a second time, I will go on with you now, as to his argument from consequences, and histoty : therefore let me hear them. "
C. He fays, p. 1 2. That the consequence of this doctrine That any one shall poison prince, or
stab him, and destroy all the royal family, and pos
sess himself of the throne, he has divine right to be king
that " And under, in the fame he country. " page,
puts case,
Thus (fays he) the conspirators in the gun.
f a
if if
a
a so
is,
The REHEAR
AL;
4i9 gunpowder treason- plot had succeeded, and blown up the king, lords, and commons, by this doctrine they
wou'd have had a right to the government, if they had pleas'd to have seiz'd it. For as to a better right, 'tis a jest, according to their principles ; for who must decide the controversy betwixt two pretenders ? "
cafe.
R. Here's a jumble of arguments thrust together, to blind the reader's eyes, and hide the true state of the
But I will take them asunder, and put them in a true light ; and I must begin with the last, because it is the foundation of all the rest ; and that Whoshall decide the controversy betwixt two pretenders If he means the ijfue of battle, or who shall de facto prevail, know none pretends to decide it. That lies in the hands ofpro
vidence, who, for thefins of nation, often suffers wicked ness to prevail, and civil wars and destruction to ensue, as in the case of David and Absalom, of Joash and Aha- liah, and come home to our own country, of York and Lancaster, which contest lasted above 100 years, with vast effufion of English blood and treasure. Nor did end till the right line was restor'd.
But the deciding be meant, how every man shall de termine his own conscience whichfide to take as have faid before, examining the pretences on both
and joining with that he thinks the best, according to the law of God, and the known statutes and law of the land, pursuant to the holy scriptures. And there no other way of determining private conscience in any case
whatsoever. As what religion he will embrace or how
be will determine of any particular action in his life, con
versation, or bufiness.
For this foundation so poorly and fallacioufy laid, he
makes no scruple to inser, that, as to a better right, 'tis a jest according to their principles. Which of their princi ples their principle of adhering to the better right,
and making that the rule And this making jest of it not the jest on his side, who wou'd throw off' a rule so solidly laia, and substantially prov'd such fay
From hence
sides
ing, as has no meaning and perfect banter
is
is
?
a a
is is, it I
by
?
