LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 101 



may not be improper to give the reader that 

 particular passage, which only can, by any con- 

 struction, be thought to have any untoward or 

 offensive look at so critical a juncture. 



" Had this been done," said he, speaking of 

 the King's murder, "in a Popish country, 

 where the deposing and murdering of Pinnces is 

 allowed ; nay, and sometimes encouraged and 

 promoted by the pretended infallible Vicar of 

 Christ, it had been no such great wonder. But 

 to be done in a Protestant country, nay, and a 

 country that hath always gloried that, by the 

 p?inciples of her establishment, she hath given 

 the best security to princes for their persons 

 and their rights that any Protestant country in 

 Europe hath done : — Oh, what a wound is this 

 to our religion, and what a blemish doth it cast 

 upon it ! * Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in 

 the streets of Askelon, least the daughters of the 

 Philistines rejoice, least the daughters of the un- 

 circumcised triumph *.' " 



This seems to be the obnoxious passage re- 

 ferred to by Dr. Sharp in his memorandum, 

 which displeased certain members. But Dr. 



* The remainder of this sermon containing an answer to 

 the Roman Catholics for reproaching the Church of England 

 with the King's murder, which might likewise in the opinions 

 of some be unseasonable at this nice conjuncture, is thrown 

 into the Appendix. Appendix I. No. III. 



