When the revolution of one thousand six hundred and eighty-eight happened,few men then alive,I suppose,went farther in their search after the causes of it,than the extravagant attempt of king James against the religion and liberty of his people.His former conduct,and the passages of king Charles the Second's reign might rankle still at the hearts of some men,but could not be set to account among the causes of his deposition;since he had succeeded,notwithstanding them,peaceably to the throne:and the nation in general,even many of those who would have excluded him from it,were desirous,or at least willing,that he should continue in it.Now this example,thus stated,affords,no doubt,much good instruction to the kings,and people of Britain.
But this instruction is not entire,because the example thus stated,and confined to the experience of that age,is imperfect.King James's mal-administration rendered a revolution necessary and practicable;but his mal-administration,as well as all his preceding conduct,was caused by his bigot attachment to popery,and to the principles of arbitrary government,from which no warning could divert him.His bigot attachment to these was caused by the exile of the royal family;this exile was caused by the usurpation of Cromwell:and Cromwell's usurpation was the effect of a former rebellion,begun not without reason on account of liberty,but without any valid pretence on account of religion.During this exile,our princes caught the taint of popery and foreign politics.We made them unfit to govern us,and after that were forced to recall them that they might rescue us out of anarchy.It was necessary therefore,your lordship sees,at the revolution,and it is more so now,to go back in history,at least as far as I have mentioned,and perhaps farther,even to the beginning of king James the First's reign,to render this event a complete example,and to develope all the wise,honest,and salutary precepts,with which it is pregnant,both to king and subject.
The other example shall be taken from what has succeeded the revolution.
