may appear up and down in our Homilies, which feem to require this Interpretation ; yet we shall find, that thefe, when we confider the Occafion of them, were rather intended to require a Submiffion to the reigning Princes on account of their Titles, if any Pretenders should rife up to difpute them, than a Submiffion to them in Cafes of bad Government. The Calumnies of the Papifts against the Proteftants at first, made it neceffary, that the Sacredness of the Office and Character of Sovereigns fhould be expreffed in very high Terms. For they reprefented the Proteftants, as aiming, under the Pretence of Religion, to throw off their Allegiance, and fet up for themselves. And after this, the Pretenfions of the Popes to difpofe of the Crowns of our Princes, because they were Hereticks, continued the Neceffity of fpeaking in very exalted Language, of the Obligations to Obedience, and the Guilt of Dijobedience. But it is evident, that all this was done on the score of Title. As to Nonrefiftance in Cafes of Publick and National Grievances, certain it is, that if the Clergy in Q. Elizabeth's time fhall be allowed to judge for themfelves, in their Publick Acts of Convocation, they did not understand those Expreffions in our Homilies in that rigorous Senfe. Witness their affifting the French, Scotch, and Dutch Subjects against their refpective Sovereigns by Taxes and Subfidies,

as

as well as by written Defences and Justifications: Witness likewise the Principles of the judicious Hooker relating to Government: Witness also what the Bishops Jewel and Bilfon have faid in reference to thefe Subjects.

The CONCLUSION. Thus much I thought expedient to observe in relation to Mr. Chubb's Cavils against these two Paffages of Scripture, Luke xiv. and Rom xiii. The Reason why I fingled them out from the reft, was, because I thought he had faid more plaufible things against them, than against any other; and that his Objections were fuch, as might have a bad effect upon weak Minds, who are apt to be startled at a Difficulty they cannot master. As to Mr. Chubb himself, he was certainly a Person of good Parts; and it were to be wished, that he had made a right ufe of them. However, I cannot think, that his Judgment was fo folid and penetrating, as the World has generally conceived. He had a clear Head in methodizing, and an happy Talent in reprefenting his Argument to the best Advantage: But his great Deficiency was, that he wanted Discernment to purfue an Argument thro' all its Difficulties and Turnings, and wanted the Humility to condefcend to receive Information from others. As the Train of Ideas lay in his own Mind, fo he judged they lay, or ought to lye in the Minds of others; without making the neceffary Allowance for the Difference

Difference of Times, Places, Cuftoms, and the faculties of different Men. With this Fundamental Error he went on. He viewed every Object thro' one End of the Telescope, and thought it neceffary for all Mankind to do the fame. Hence arofe his Pofitiveness about Fitneffes, Relations, &c. Which at the bottom amounted to no more than this, that if other Men faw things precisely in the fame Light that he did, without taking in, or leaving out any other Ideas, then the Fitnefs, the Relation, and the Truth of the Cafe was fo and fo: Which indeed might frequently be allowed him; and yet his Obfervations be very impertinent and inconclufive, as arifing, not from a full, but a partial View of the Subject in Debate.

But what was still worfe, he not only erred thro' the want of a due Confideration of all Circumftances neceffary to be attended to; but he was also continually shifting and varying his Opinions, without correcting the main Error. Every new Pamphlet or Treatife came forth with a new let of Fitneffes, Reafons, and Relations; which were infifted upon with as pofitive and dogmatical a Spirit, as those before. This was the Man, who was to lead us into all Truth; this was he, who was to give us a Specimen of the Powers and Strength of Human Reafon, and the Weakness and Uncertainty of the Chriftian Revelation.

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Er be wat OL He erent Obiect thro' one End of the T. and thought it seculty for 21 1 do the ime. Hence are his about Figenia, Kom, &c. the bottom amounted to nam that ifother Men ihw things sime Light that he did, with or leaving out any der Iders, nos, the Relation, and the 7. was fo and fo: Which indeed ly be allowed him; and yet be very impertinent and in fig, not from a fall, but the Subredt in Debate.

But what was itill wo. thro' the want of a dis Circomitances nectary he was allò continually his Opinions, wither. Fry, Frem 25. foth with a world