always represented, as at this time, in greater danger than ever it was; though I should think the danger had been as great in King _James_'s Time: And notwithstanding the Toleration (said he) no Man can enjoy a place of Profit or Trust, though he be ever so dutiful a Subject, and ever so able or honest a Man, unless he hath a Conscience by Law Established: By which Church-device Men are deprived of the Privileges of their Country to which they are born, and for the discharge whereof they never did in any respect incapacitate themselves; and hereby it comes to pass, that the Nation cannot act vigorously in its own defence, being debarr'd the Use of one Moiety of it self; and notwithstanding this, they have the Confidence to tell us Lay-men, that we ought to love our Neighbours as our selves. Now if this be the way of the _Christians_, (concluded he) let my Soul be with the _Philosophers_. 2. And this brings to my Thoughts what another _Deist_ said jestingly to me, _viz._ That since I was a Christian, 'twas lucky for me that I was of the Bishop's Church; for though you were ever so Loyal (said he) to the King, yet if you did not pay as dutiful an Allegiance to the Bishops, you could not hold the Place you now enjoy; for as certain as the _Cross_ is above the _Crown_, so sure a thing is it, that the _Bishop_ will be above the _King_; which he undertook would appear to me if I looked back to King _Charles_'s Restoration, or King _William_'s Revolution. The _Presbyterians_, though they quarrelled with _Charles_ the First, yet became the loving Subjects of _Charles_ the Second; joined with the _Episcopalians_ in assisting him to the Throne, and made no scruple of Swearing their Allegiance to him, and owning his Supremacy. But after all this, the King was not able to support these his Loving Subjects against the Power of the Bishops, who in two Years time outed 'em of their Livelihoods, and after that, drove 'em five Miles distance from all Market-Towns; and at last the Acts made against _Papists_ were extended to them. But since King _William_'s Revolution the Case is alter'd; for the _Jacobite Clergy_, though turn'd out of their Livings by Law, for refusing Allegiance to the King, yet from the Allegiance they bare to the Bishops, they find such Favour from their Lordships, that if the Livings they lose are in the Bishops gift, he shall present any Friend which the dispossessed _Jacobite_ shall recommend; now what can be more by them desired, than to enjoy the Profits of their Livings, and put in what Curate they please? And after all, that they may enjoy the full Profits of their Livings, and pay their Curates another way, these _Jacobites_ may hold their Conventicles where they please, nay, Preach publickly and seditiously in an open Church near _Cheap-side, London_, without the least offence to the Spiritual Power. And is it not plain (said this Gentleman) from all this, that on this side the Water as well as on the other, the Clergies