But it is evident that these pretences must be countenanced by some peculiar Consideration of this Nation, and Government thereof; seeing the utmost of what is here desired, is both established and practised in other Nations. The whole of it is plainly exercised in the Kingdom of France, where the Protestants paying all Duties to the Church, sustaining all Burdens and Offices in the Commonwealth, equal with others, are freed from Ecclesiastical Courts, Censures, and Offices, and all Penalties for their Dissent, with an allowance for the Worship of God in their own Assemblies, provided by themselves, and known to the Magistrates under whose Jurisdiction they are; which is the sum of all that is here desired. The like Liberty, if I mistake not, is granted to the French and Dutch Churches here in England. The United Provinces of the Netherlands have continued in the same practise ever since the Reformation. So also hath the Kingdom of Poland, where the Dissenters are both numerous, ⟨p. 30⟩and divided among themselves. Lutherans are tolerated in the Dominions of the Pauls-grave, Elector of Brandenburg, and Landgrave of Hassia: So are Calvinists in many free Cities of the Empire; in some places of the Kingdom of Denmark: And both Lutherans and Calvinists in sundry Principalities in Germany, whose Magistrates are of the Roman Religion. In the Hereditary Dominions of the Emperor, where-ever Difference in Religion once made an entrance, either a Forbearance and Toleration is granted and continued, as in Hungary; or the Countries themselves have been made utterly waste and desolate, as Bohemia and Moravia, and yet in a great measure continue so to be. The Attempts of the Duke of Savoy against it, have been condemned, detested and abhorred, by all Princes of the same Religion with himself, and yet have ended in some tolerable forbearance. It is also known, that the Kings of England have by virtue of their Power in things Ecclesiastical, in all Ages as occasion required, and as they saw meet, exempted Persons and Societies from the common and ordinary course and way of Church-Discipline and Inspection.
But it is evident that these pretences must be countenanced by some peculiar Consideration of this Nation, and Government thereof; seeing the utmost of what is here desired, is both established and practised in other Nations. The whole of it is plainly exercised in the Kingdom of France, where the Protestants paying all Duties to the Church, sustaining all Burthens and Offices in the Commonwealth, equal with others, are freed from Ecclesiastical Courts, Censures, and Offices, and all Penalties for their Dissent, with an allowance for the Worship of God in their own Assemblies, provided by themselves, and known to the Magistrates under whose Jurisdiction they are; which is the sum of all that is here desired. The like Liberty, if I mistake not, is granted to the French and Dutch Churches here in England. The United Provinces of the Netherlands have continued in the same practise ever since the Reformation. So also hath the Kingdom of Poland, where the Dissenters are both numerous, ⟨p. 30⟩and divided among themselves. Lutherans are tolerated in the Dominions of the Pauls-grave, Elector of Brandenburg, and Landtgrave of Hassia: So are Calvinists in many free Cities of the Empire; in some places of the Kingdom of Denmark: And both Lutherans and Calvinists in sundry Principalities in Germany, whose Magistrates are of the Roman Religion. In the Hereditary Dominions of the Emperour, where-ever Difference in Religion once made an entrance, either a Forbearance and Toleration is granted and continued, as in Hungary; or the Countries themselves have been made utterly waste and desolate, as Bohemia and Moravia, and yet in a great measure continue so to be. The Attempts of the Duke of Savoy against it, have been condemned, detested and abhorred, by all Princes of the same Religion with himself, and yet have ended in some tollerable forbearance. It is also known, that the Kings of England have by vertue of their Power in things Ecclesiastical, in all Ages as occasion required, and as they saw meet, exempted Persons and Societies from the common and ordinary course and way of Church-Discipline and Inspection.
