264 LIFE 01 AUCHBISHOP SHARP. 



the laws enjoin. If therefore King William, in 

 the eye of the law, be our king, we must in 

 conscience pay obedience to him as such. I 

 take this (says he) for a certain truth, that as 

 the law makes the king, so the same law 

 extends, or limits, or transfers our obedience 

 and allegiance ; and all oaths imposed by the 

 law oblige the conscience no further than the 

 law meant they should oblige; only this is 

 always to be remembered, that whatever obe- 

 dience the laws of the land require of us, it is 

 to be understood with this proviso, that it be 

 not contradictory to the laws of God. But in 

 that case we must obey passively, though we 

 cannot obey actively. And with this tacit con- 

 dition I do suppose all oaths of fidelity in the 

 world are given and taken." 



It is true, he had a very great tenderness and 

 pity for all those who could not satisfy their 

 consciences in this point, after taking advice, 

 and using the best means of information. His 

 inclinations were always to relieve such, and 

 not to distress them. But if he found there 

 was any thing of humour or obstinacy in their 

 case, he would then use what authority he had 

 over them. Thus, having been informed that 

 some few of his clergy had been remiss in the 

 observation of the monthly fasts, and reading 

 the occasional prayers, and had likewise ex- 



