WILLIAM AND MART.

257

never could have held, either in peace or in war, a place in the chap.first rank of nations. We are unfortunately not without the - -

means of judging of the effect which may be produced on themoral and physical state of a people by establishing, in the ex-clusive enjoyment of riches and dignity a Church loved andreverenced only by the few, and regarded by the many withreligious and national aversion. One such Church is quiteburden enough for the energies of one empire.

But these things, which to us, who have been taught by a Wj* “f

bitter experience, seem clear, were by no means clear in 1689, ash low, . , ,. . . T church-

even to very tolerant and enlightened politicians. In truth the men 10English Low Churchmen were, if possible, more anxious than Iplsco- 0the English High Churchmen to preserve Episcopacy in Scot- gcouand.land. It is a remarkable fact that Burnet, who w ; as alwaysaccused of wishing to establish the Calvinistic discipline in thesouth of the island, incurred great unpopularity among hisown countrymen by his efforts to uphold prelacy in the north.

He was doubtless in error: but his error is to be attributed to acause which does him no discredit. His favourite object, anobject unattainable indeed, yet such as might well fascinatea large intellect and a benevolent heart, had long been anhonourable treaty between the Anglican Church and the Non-conformists. He thought it most unfortunate that one oppor-tunity of concluding such a treaty should have been lost at thetime of the Restoration. It seemed to him that another oppor-tunity was afforded by the Revolution. He and his friends wereeagerly pushing forward Nottingham’s Comprehension Bill,and were flattering themselves with vain hopes of success. Butthey felt that there could hardly be a Comprehension in oneof the two British kingdoms, unless there were also a Com-prehension in the other. Concession must be purchased byconcession. If the Presbyterian pertinaciously refused to listento any terms of compromise where he was strong, it would beMacaulay, History. IV. 17