&tures as this, have opened their Eyes, and will not endure to be governed by Clodius and Curio at the Head of their Myrmidons, tho' these be ever so numerous, and composed of their own Representatives.

THIS Aversion of the People for the late Proceedings of the Commons, is an Accident, that if it laft a while, might be improved to good Ufes for fetting the Balance of Power a little more upon an Equality, than their Jate Measures seem to promise or admit. This Accident may be imputed to two Causes. The First, is an univerfal Fear and Apprehenfion of the Greatness and Power of France, whereof the People in general feem to be very much and justly poffess'd, and therefore cannot but resent to fee it in fo critical a Juncture, wholly laid aside by their Minifters, the Commons. The other Cause, is a great Love and Sense of Gratitude in the People towards their prefent King, grounded upon a long Opinion and Experience of his Merit, as well as Conceffions to all their reafonable Defires;

fo

fo that it is for fome time they have begun to fay, and to fetch Instances where he has in many things been hardly used. How long thefe Humours may laft, (for Paffions are momentary, and especially those of a Multitude) or what Confequences they may produce, a little time may discover. But whenever it comes to pafs, that a popular Affembly, free from fuch obftrutions, and already poffefs'd of more Power, than an equal Balance will al low, fhall continue to think they have not enough, but by cramping the Hand that holds the Balance, and by Impeachments or Diffentions with the Nobles, endeavour ftill for more; I cannot poffibly fee in the common course of things, how the fame Causes can produce different Effects and Confequences among us, from what they did in Greece and Rome,

FINIS.

7

1

THE

SENTIMENTS

OF A

Church of England-Man

With Respect to

RELIGION and GOVERNMENT.

Written in the Year, 1708.

W

HOEVER has examined

the Conduct and Proceedings of both Parties for fome Years paft, whether in or out of Power, cannot well conceive it poffible to go far towards the Extreams of either, without offering fome Violence to his Integrity or Understanding. A Wife and a good

Man

Man may indeed be fometimes induced to comply with a Number whose Opinion he generally approves, tho' it be perhaps against his own. But this Liberty fhoud be made ufe of upon very few Occafions, and those of fmall Importance, and then only with a View of bringing over his own Side another Time to fomething of greater and more Publick Moment. But, to Sacrifice the Innocency of a Friend, the Good of our Country, or our own Confcience to the Humor, or Paffion, or Intereft of a Party, plainly fhews that either our Heads or our Hearts are not as they should be. Yet this very Practice is the Fundamental Law of each Faction among us, as may be obvious to any who will Impartially and without Engagement be at the Pains to examine their Actions, which however is not fo ealy a Task: For it feems a Principle in Humane Nature, to incline one Way more than another, even in Matters where we are wholly unconcerned. And it is a common Obfervation, that in reading a Hiftory of Facts done a Thoufand Years ago,

P