DISSENTERS, 
ftances jultified, of forming feparate congregations. The 
perfecution a nike fuffered tended to excite compafiion, 
and to enfure eft 
r. Locke eal, hee worthy, learned, pious, orthodox 
divines, who = not throw themfelves out of fervice, but 
were forcib eed. 
rowed them, but for the fake_of their families, or becaufe 
they were unwilling to be buried in filence. Several young 
ftudents, who were defigned for the pulpit, mayen them- 
{elves to law or phyfic, or diverted their views to ecus 
This act was paffed after the ae had 
engaged his faith and honour in his de claration from 
promife opened the way is_reftoration ; 
ter the royalifts had given public affurance, that all face 
animofities fhould be laid afide as rubbifh, under the founda- 
tion of univerfa] concor 
The name of puritans was now changed into that of 
roteftant non-conformifts ; who were fub- pico into pref. 
byterians, independents, anabaptilts , and quaker, 
kine was a concealed Roman catholic ; and an cou 
difpofed to pafs the act of uniformity in the fev 
in order to make the number of diffenters more confiderble 
and when this was objected, it was replie e dif- 
fenters the better, becaufe it will make a Teieetons more 
needful, in which the ta ae will be included. In Decem- 
ber 1662, the king, dvice of his privy council, 
publithed Lis declaration ‘of indulgene e. This was fucceed- 
ed, on the preten plot in a north, by an ad for 
fappre fling eaitious conventicls (16 Car. II. c. 4.) (See 
CONVENTICLE. — age 1665, the Oxford five-mile 
act, entitled * Aad reftrain non-conformifts from 
pies “corporations” er Car. II. c.2.) received the 
royal a Some few took the oath required by this a&t ; 
but ae a body of non-conformift minifters refufed it ; 
and preferred going to banifhment. In the year 1668, a 
cae wna (which fee) was projected ; but the fcheme 
was defeated by the court-bifhops and the friends of lord 
Clarendon; and the perfecution was renewed. od in 
pril 1670, the conventicle act was revived, ven fome ad- 
ditional clanfes. (Stat. 22 Car. If. c. 1.) at great 
fe were profecuted, and many Gies pees re- 
Many minifters were confined in gaols 
ac clofe prifons $ ; and warrante were iffued againft them 
and their hearers, by which great fums of money were le- 
vied. n 1672, a new declaration of indulgence was iffued, 
which was foon recalled. But this mode of obtaining re- 
lief, by 
° die ‘but wes now re ea. and 
threatened to be put in execution by the tories. o repeal 
paffed the houfe of commons with a high hand, but went 
hawly through the houfe of lords ; but when it “ould hrave 
been offered to the king for the reyal affeat, at the clofe of 
the feffion, : was miffing, and never heard of more, the 
clerk of the c 
h 
Resse contra- 
e 
opinion cf this houfe, that the profecution > proteftant 
ace upon the penal laws, is, at this grievous to 
jet, a weakening the proteftant ieee an encou~ 
cace of the 
urpa 
demies in feveral parts of the 
to appear r b 
nation. At length the a& - toler relieved them from: 
oppreffion Due a courfe of fuffering, as unmerited 
as it was fevere, they led to exami rincie 
e more firm~ 
and zealous they were in maintainin them. 
D ffenters may be led, by the brief furvey which we have 
enabled them to take of the perfecuted and diftreffed condi- 
tion of theif anceftors, to congratulate themfelves cn ac- 
count of the happier circumftances in which their lot is caft ; 
Their advocates allege, that whilit 
ee feparate ani the eftablithed church with fome degree 
Bor of temper, but 
winds, and from a confcientious regard to wh 
ceive to be an and duty. iffenters are not men 
e peculiara turn of mind, as to love fuffering and bid or 
to defpife the dignities, prefermen ts, and luc 
‘| 
5° 
a 
p 
pal 
% 
y a learned judge already cited, ‘‘ that many dif-. 
ee nee Lis the church upon matters of indifference, 
or, In other o reafon at all.” Allowiag them 
to be ete isaiiceas it has been faid, that the autho. 
5 hs rity: 
