fame Enemies were fure to Tax them with SER M. fuch Defigns, as might Fire the People against XI. their Rightful KING: the Confequence of which, They well knew, would be, to dif pose them the more readily to receive the Pretender. But what a Delufion must this be? For, as, on the one fide, The greatest Enemies of the KING cannot name any one thing that looks like fo much as a Difpofition that way; and, as He hath given Us, and all Europe, the greatest Proofs, and the greatest Security, of the contrary: So, on the other fide, They suffer themselves to be perfuaded to throw themselves headlong into the Arms of Arbitrary Power, under Pretenfe of running from it. For this is certain, that, fhould the Caufe of the Pretender ever fucceed, it is fo big with the Miseries of Popery and Revenge, that nothing but Arbitrary Power can poffibly support it: nor will it ever trust itself here again, under the Influences of Law, and Liberty.

But the Great, and perhaps the most Prevailing; I am fure, the most Astonishing, Delufion of all, is, That of those Proteftants, who fuffer the Papifts to poffefs them with an Imaginary Fear about the Security of the Church of England; and then, with blinded Eyes, and darkened Understandings, to expect its greater Security, in the Pretender's Caufe. This, I should

SER M.think enough to cure any Proteftant of this JeaXI. loufy; that, from the beginning of that Ground

less Cry, it was very obfervable that the Sons of the Church of Rome, joined with their loudest Zeal and Noife, in it. For, what a shamelefs Infult is this upon the Common Sense of Mankind, for Them to put on an Air of Concern, and Tendernefs, for a Church, which they not only Hate, with an implacable Hatred; but which, it is a Meritorious Part of their Religion, to destroy from the Earth. I would appeal to any of the most deluded Proteftants, who will but promise to recollect their Thoughts for a Moment, whether the Papifts joining in fpreading this Jealoufy of the Danger of a Church, which they Hate, be not a certain Proof, that They think it really in a Flourishing Condition; much too fecure for their Designs, and their Intereft, unless, by fuch frightful Fictions, They can entice Protestants themfelves to join with them, in it's Destruction.

It is fruitless to obferve to fuch Proteftants, unless They will lay aside their strong Prejudices against their own Intereft, that the Worft Enemies of the KING, and the Adminiftration, cannot produce one Inftance, I will not fay, of an Injury, but of any Difregard, to this Church; but might produce many, if they would be fo juft, of the contrary: As many,

as

as in fo fhort a Time could be poffibly given. s E R M. But if they refolve to fwallow all the ground- XI. lefs Jealoufies of this fort; yet, what a degree of Infatuation must it be, to think of Security, where there can be none? To fly from the Imaginary Sufpicion, to the real Certainty of Ruine? To run from Thofe, who, they weakly fufpect, may; to Thofe, who, They know, muft, destroy it? Or, Is there any new League of strict Love and Friendship, now made, between the Church of Rome, and Us? and tied by closer Bonds than Proteftations, and Promises, which it is their Duty, to break, as foon as They can? or, Is all the Cunning and Policy of Rome funk at laft into this, of furnishing Money, and Arms; and of hazarding the Lives, and the Estates, of her true Sons, in this Nation; out of pure Love and Kindness to the Church of England, and folely to Establish That upon a lasting and ftrong Foundation? Or, do Men trust once more to Vows, and Assurances? If they do, They truft to what the Experience of this Nation hath felt to be No Security; and what their Enemies themselves profefs to be none. And, do They think that the Number of Romanifts, who venture their All in this World, for the Service of the Pretender's Cause, have not had much better Affurances and Security, that Their Interest, and Their Religion, is

to

SER M. to Reign in Triumph in this Land, before they XI. would engage themselves, in fo defperate a

manner? But, I confefs, I should not wonder if They, who can come to be fo deluded, as to think their Church fecure, in the Method of Utter Deftruction, should come to believe that the British Papists are inflamed with a Zeal for the Church of England; and undergo all the Fatigues, and Hardships, and Dangers, of a Rebellion; not to Establish, or serve, their own Church, which They love to Death; but the Church of England, which they Hate with an immortal Hatred. Even this may not be too hard for the Faith of Thofe, who can trust to any Promises and Vows of Good, or Security, to any Protestant Church upon Earth, from fuch as cannot, and, indeed, dare not, keep them.

3. The fame Perfons may be deluded, if they refolve upon it, by the reproachful Word of Foreigners, and Strangers to our Laws; and the like; caft upon our Royal Family: without confidering, how nearly, and how certainly, They are defcended from our KINGS; Or, without remembring that He, who throws out this Reproach, never had any better Opportunity, Himfelf, of knowing Us, or our Laws; Nay, that He hath very particular Reasons to hate, and destroy Them: That He cannot come, with

out

out being followed by a Line of Popish Princes, SE RM. Foreigners, in every Sense; and that neither He, XI. nor They, will come, without a Religion, Foreign and Superior to all the Laws both of God and Man.

4. They may, if they please, be deluded by the general Word, of redreffing Grievances ; which yet His Adherents themselves mention but very sparingly: because they well know that We have no Grievances, in His Eye, but the Security of our Conftitution, in Church, and State; no Grievances, for Him to ease Us of, but our Laws, Liberties, and Religion. He fincerely promises Us, to remove. I truly believe, that His Religion it felf will permit Him faithfully to observe such Pro

mises.

These

And

But I have faid enough. I have fhewn you, what that Caufe is, and how many Evils are contained in it, which is now opened, and avowed, by the Friends of the Pretender. I have confidered thofe Weak Pretenfes, and Falfe Infinuations, by which Many who call Themselves Proteftants, have been deluded; as they have been managed by the Artifices of Popery, Guilt, and Refentment: And, I hope, I have made it appear, that it must be a Fatal Delufion indeed, if They do not fee, that to join their Hands to the Efforts of our Ene