wife that house treated it; and to do juftice to the loyalty of these injured noblemen, and entirely to clear them from these falfe accufations, voted, that the papers which have been read, intitled, Sir John Fenwick's informations, accufing feveral peers of the realm of difloyalty, were falfe and fcandalous, tending to the fubverfion of the government, to raise a jealousy between the king and his fubjects, and to stifle the truth of the controverfy. And these prevarications are fuppofed to have been one great inducement with many members, to concur in the bill of attainder, which brought him to the scaffold..

A LATE author, (fays Mr. Lediard,*) fays, Fenwick was put upon this artifice to fave his life, or at least to gain time, by the earl of Monmouth, formerly known by the name of lord Mordaunt; who, he adds, was the contriver of it, more out of fpleen or revenge, againft certain perfons, who he thought were more fa'voured than he, than to ferve Fenwick. To this end, he drew up certain inftruc

tions, which he put into the hands of the dutchess of Norfolk, to be conveyed to the prifoner; who finding it accompanied with threats and promises, according to the ufe he should make of those instructions, he thereupon formed * Life of Marlborough, Vol. I. p. 117.

the

the accufation I have given an account of above?

THIS was the first attempt of our enemies against our civil and religious liberties. They endeavoured to render the patrons thereof fufpected both by the court and country: and though they met with a difappointment, yet they ftill continued their attempts, and fo far prevailed in the next reign, as to effect it, had not providence, I may fay, miraculously interpofed to fave us. And the fame attempts are ftill carrying on by that reftlefs party, as shall be fhewn in the fequel of this hiftory, in proper place.

His majefty was congratulated by the nation on his deliverance from this horrid

intended afaffination plot, by many addreffes. And the Baptifts prefented their address to him, by Mr. Jofeph Stennet, on the 9th of April, being introduced by the right honourable the earl of Monmouth, then earl of Peterborough: which addrefs was at that time much taken notice of, and was as followeth.

To the King's Moft Excellent Majefty.

The humble addrefs of the minifters of the Baptift denomination, in and about the city of London, in behalf of themfelves, and their respective congrega

tions.

May it pleafe Your Majefty,

AFTER having paid the grateful tribute of our humble thanks at the throne of the king of kings, for that fignal favour, wherewith his providence has bleffed your majefty, thefe your kingdoms, and the whole proteftant interest abroad, in the feafonable difcovery and defeat of the late barbarous confpiracy of the blood-thirfty enemies of your majefty's government and life; a life highly endeared to us, by the many fucceffive dangers to which your majefty has fo generoufly expofed it, in the defence of all that's valuable to us; and by thofe remarkable inftances of the divine protection, by which it has been as often guarded: We your majefty's moft loyal and obedient fubjects, with all becoming refpect, beg leave to congratulate your majesty on this fo eminent and happy deliverance.

AND we gladly embrace this occafion ❝ to affure your majefty, that as we have • enjoyed

‹ of

enjoyed a fhare of the benign influences your government, whereby both our civil and religious liberties have been so happily protected and vindicated; fo we fhall make it our glory (as we account it our duty) to render your majesty the utmost service we are capable of, in that fphere, wherein the law allows us to move. And as a further teftimony of our fidelity and affection to your majefty's perfon and government, we chearfully follow the pattern of the honourable the house of commons, in fubfcribing the affociation, fubjoined to this our humble addrefs. Nor fhall we cease to offer our fervent fupplications to heaven, that the fpirit of wildom may continue to direct all your majefty's councils; that the Lord of hofts may still fucceed your arms; that troops of affociate angels may always guard your royal perfon; that your majefty may have a long and profperous reign on earth; and at length wear a crown of immortal glory in the kingdom of heaven. So pray,

Matthew

contro

verfy.

I SHALL in this place take notice of the controverfy between Mr. Matthew Caffin, and Mr. Jofeph Wright, which brought fome trouble to the baptized

churches.

Mr. Wright brought a charge against Caffin's Mr. Caffin, and, in a general aflembly, in- : fifted upon his being excluded, both from. the affembly, and from all communion with the Baptist churches; and in proof of his charge, alledged feveral things he had heard from him in private converfation; and that in particular, he had started fuch objections to certain material parts of the Athanafian Creed, as amounted to a direct denial, both of the divinity and bumanity of Christ. Mr. Caffin's anfwers to these charges were to this effect. He readily acknowledged, that there were fome propofitions in that creed, which were above his understanding, after the most diligent and impartial examination ; and therefore he never had, nor could as yet receive it as the ftandard of his faith. He infifted upon it, that the holy fcriptures contained all that could be neceffary for a christian to believe and profefs; that if he were from hence catechifed ever fo feverely, he should not decline a free and open declaration of his fentiments; alledging his belief in Chrift, as the WORD, in the beginning of the creation with God;