LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP S-HARP. 263 



heartily into it. Nor did he barely acquiesce 

 in the being satisfied with it, but did as much 

 contribute as was in his power to recommend, 

 support, and perpetuate the establishment upon 

 the foot on which it was then settled. 



When he first went down to his diocese, he 

 found the minds of several, both of laity and 

 clergy, perplexed about the Revolution; and 

 some of them alienated from their Majesties. 

 And he was as willing as he was able to give 

 every one the satisfaction they desired, when 

 they applied themselves to him ; as some did 

 by letter, others in person. He had cases of 

 conscience put to him about the lawfulness of 

 'taking the oaths to the government after the 

 Revolution. By his answer to one of these 

 cases, his sentiments will appear. The question 

 was, How a person who had sworn allegiance to 

 Ki?ig James, could with a good conscience take the 

 same oath to King Willia7n? To which he an- 

 swers directly, " That the laws of the land are 

 the only rule of our conscience in this matter, 

 and we are no further bound to pay obedience 

 to governors*, nor to any other governors than 



* The sense here is a little obscured by the shortness of the 

 expression. The meaning is, we are no further hound to -pay 

 obedience to governors (viz. with regard to the extent of our 

 obedience) than the lams enjoin. And we are no further bound to 

 pay obedience to any as our governors (viz. with respect to the 

 persons who are the proper objects of it), than the laws enjovit. 



