Political Evolution. 53 



But the theocracy in England, though thus changed as to 

 its base, far from being overthrown, was for a time aug- 

 mented, and it was not until after it had transformed itself 

 into the despotism of the Commonwealth, that its vigour 

 began slowly to relax. The very slowness was, however, 

 one cause of the continuity of its ebb, for the resistance 

 of the Protestant bishops to the tyranny of James II. 

 (itself sustained by the theocratic sentiment) powerfully 

 aided in bringing about the expulsion of one who, had 

 he unhappily remained, might have effected a strongly 

 reactionary transformation. 



The government of the Dutchman, with its terrible 

 penal laws, was despotic enough ; but its tendencies were 

 distinctly anti-theocratic, and such thenceforward has been 

 the general direction of our legislation. 



Nevertheless, so conservative are we, that to this day the 

 Christian theocracy remains exceptionally erect in Eng- 

 land. We have, not only a national Church still in posses- 

 sion of its territorial endowments, but a multitude of our 

 positive enactments (such as those respecting the observ- 

 ance of Sunday) repose on a more or less distinct theocratic 

 basis, as also do our conspicuous state ceremonials, from 

 the coronation of the chief magistrate downwards. 



There can be little doubt, however, but that these last 

 relics will, more or less, gradually disappear. In spite of 

 the apparent present strength of Conservatism, converging 

 efforts from most opposite sides threaten that last vener- 



