266 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



And again, in 1698, after the king had con- 

 cluded the peace, he took occasion publicly to 

 congratulate the clergy of his diocese, ** That 

 their circumstances were altered so much for 

 the better since their last meeting. The nation 

 (said he) was then embroiled in a dangerous 

 and expensive war. That war, through the 

 blessing of God upon his Majesty's conduct, 

 is now brought to a happy issue by the estab- 

 lishment of an honourable, and, we trust, a 

 lasting peace. I hope we are all sensible as we 

 ought to be, of this great blessing, and that it 

 will have such effects upon us as it naturally 

 calls for. One of those effects certainly ought 

 to be, the treating the discontents, and removing 

 the prejudices and animosities (if there be any 

 such left in men's minds), against the present 

 government ; and the knitting together the hearts 

 of all the people of this nation in the firmest 

 bonds of affection, and duty, and allegiance 

 to his Majesty. Sure it is hard, that when he 

 is owned the lawful King of Great Britain by 

 ail the crowned heads and states of Christen- 

 dom, there should yet be found any in his own 

 dominions that are not in his interests." 



When the oath of abjuration was under de- 

 bate in the House of Commons, and it was made 

 a question whether it should be proposed as an 

 oath to be taken voluntarily, and at mere dis- 



