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King JAMES's Design to Invade England, in the Year 1692.

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Eace in a Nation, is like Health to a Natural Body, whofe Value is not sufficiently known, but by the want of it. God Almighty is wonderfully gracious to this Land, not only in continuing to us the Blessing of Peace, but teaching us the Worth of it, by letting us fee the Nations round about us at War, and groaning under all the miferable Effects of it, whileft it is kept at a distance from us, and we are only at fome Expence; which is unavoidable, all Circumftances confidered, unless we will fubmit to that Monster the French King; and indeed God has done fo many and great things for us, that nothing is wanting to compleat our Happiness but our felves.

Of all the Mercies this Nation has lately receiv'd, I think our Deliverance from King D d Fames

James was none of the least, if it be a Mercy to be deliver'd from Popery and Slavery: That we were in great danger of it, I think 'twas very evident, from what we had suffer'd, and King James had apparently further design'd to do, had he been let alone a little longer; for his Government was become fo exorbitant, that Men of all Perfuafions, many of the Papifts not excepted, did think his Yoak intollerable, and that it was highly juft to be relieved against his Oppreffion For when the Prince of Orange Landed, there was fcarcely any Man that appear'd for King James; nay, a great many of his Army deserted him; which coldness and neglect, could not probably proceed from any thing fo much as from the ill opinion they had of his Caufe. Now if any that were then fo indifferent and paffive, have now conceived a better opinion of him, it may well be fufpected, that a particular pique or fome finifter byafs guided their Motion at that time; and if fo, it's no matter what fide they are on; for those who are govern d in fuch Cafes by any thing but a publick principle, are easily turn'd about by every breath of Air.

Nor can I imagine what can give any Man a better opinion of King James, than he had of him before he went into France; the only place, as he fays, he could retire to with fafety, confidering how improbable it is, that any inftructions which that Tyrant may give him, will make him

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lefs inclined to Popery and Arbitrary

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I fuppofe it is no news to you, that King James did lately intend to Land with a French Force; I am perfuaded that most people believe it, they that don't may as well doubt whether there was a Gun-powder Plot; for it is as plain as a thing of that nature can be, which has not actually taken effect; and it is as certain, that he and those his good friends had been here feveral weeks fince, had they not been kept back by those Easterly Winds which continued fo long. Yet that did not break their measures, it only delay'd the matter; for at last they were ready to put all things on Board, but were happily prevented by the wonderful Success of our Fleet; for which the Name of the great God be prais'd.

The defeating of their design is a Mercy never to be forgotten; for no defign, that we know of, that was ever form'd against this Nation, could be more bloody and deftructive than this would have been.

For King James in his Declaration, does exprefsly fay, That his intent is to Spend the remainder of his Reign, as he has always defign'd fince his coming to the Crown.

These words fpeak a great deal of Comfort to England; for they cannot mean lefs, than what he has already done. When he took the Customs against Law; Carried on Sham-plots, by his countenance and bribery, to destroy honest and worthy Men; When Dd 2

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he bereaved the Corporations of their Liberties and Franchifes; When he turn'd out Judges for acting according to their Confciences, and filling the Benches with the Raff of the Gown; When he avowedly fet up Popery, and erected publick Chapels in all parts of the Kingdom; When he placed notorious Papists in the Seat of Justice, and brought a Jefuit into his Councels, which was more than any Popish Prince, but himfelf, ever did; When he fet up a High Commiflion; When he fet up in Time of Peace a numerous Army to the Terror of his Subjects, and allowed fo little for their Quarters, as it amounted to little less than Freequarter; When he affumed a Difpenfing Power, and declared he would be obey'd without referve. These and a great many other Irregularities were the product of his Reign; and it is not very probable that he is brought to a better temper, by any thing that he has seen or learnt by his Converfation with the French King; and it is as little probable that King would have treated him as he has done, had he difcover'd in King James any difpofition to govern more mildly and reasonably for the future.

How much he is influenced to the contrary, is very evident by defigning to bring in the French upon us; the people of all others this Nation ought moft to dread: in fome Hiftories they are called the Old Enemy of England, and very truly may be called the irreconcilable Enemy of England: For

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