340 f The Coronalion Oath, and the Cabinet. (Apri, 
that their religion, laws, and liberties might not again be in danger of 
being subverted. The full and solid establishment of Protestantism for 
ever, and the utter exclusion of the perverted principles, and unscrip- 
tural religion of popery, from all power to trample upon England again, 
are the constant topics in the addresses of the people to the parliament, 
and of the parliament to the king. In the royal proclamation, the 
« zeal of the Princess of Orange for the Protestant religion,” is augured 
into “ bringing a blessing with her on the nation.” 
In the speaker’s address to their Majesties on the 12th of April, the 
day after their coronation, he declares this: “That which completes our 
happiness is, the experience we have of your Majesties’ continual care to 
maintain the Protestant Religion, so that we can no longer apprehend 
any danger of being deprived of that inestimable blessing by either secret 
practices or open violence.” 
We have now seen how important the maintenance of the established 
religion was held by the parliament and people, who best knew, from 
experience, its value ; and we see that the means by which they proposed 
to maintain the religion, were the renewal of the tests, which James 
had abrogated ; and the wtter and jinal rejection of Papists from all 
and every share in the legislature. The Protestant lords and represen- 
tatives only were summoned to parliament, and the whole offices of the state 
were filled with men who had publickly taken the oath of supremacy. 
If it be said, that at the time of taking this Coronation Oath, Papists 
sat in the Irish parliament, let it be remembered how slightly Ireland was 
at that time under English jurisdiction ; that, immediately on the over- 
throw of James, and its reduction of English allegiance, Papists were 
excluded from parliament, and that the 5th of Anne,the Actof the Scotch 
Union, declares, that every sovereign of England and Ireland shall take 
the oath to the support of the established religion, inviolable for ever. 
The true means on which no change of circumstances could be brought 
to act, being the exclusion of all Papists from parliament. 
It will be seen that the ecclesiastical clause of the Coronation Oath 
consists of two parts, the latter part, one in some measure dependant on 
circumstances. It declares that the bishops and clergy shall be main- 
tained in the privileges that do or shall appertain unto them. But the 
former clause contains three things, which it separates, as equally and 
perfectly unchangeable: the maintenance of the laws of God, the true pro- 
fession of the gospel, and the Protestant reformed religion, as established 
by law. 
Mr. Hampden, the younger, expressed the common sense and truth 
‘of the case, when he said, “ As to religion, the king swears positively 
to the true profession of the gospel, that is, the Christian religion—no 
latitude in that—and then comes to the Christian religion, as it is, 
against popery, and this is the stress of all your oath.—This Coronation 
Oath ‘ is the very touchstone and symbol of your government.’” (Cobb. 
Parl. N. V. p. 202.) 
This oath, then, thus changed and formed for the express mainte- 
nance of Protestantism, in its power and purity, to the end of time; was 
the Oath taken by King George the Fourth on the day of his putting 
the crown upon his head ; and from this Oath he cannot withdraw, while 
he is able to maintain it by his “ wémost” exertion. In fact, nothing but 
the sword at his throat, nothing but the most absolute physical necessity, 
can justify his conceding an iota of this, the most solemn obligation 
that can be laid on the conscience of man. It is nonsense to say that he 
— 
Nt as te 
bi} 
5 
i 
