WUHAN: AND MAKY.

259

Which form of government should he adopted was in his judg-ment a question of mere expediency. He would probably have -preferred a temper between the two rival systems, a hierarchyin which the chief spiritual functionaries should have beensomething more than moderators and something less thanprelates. But he was far too wise a man to think of settlingsuch a matter according to his own personal tastes. He deter-mined therefore that, if there was on both sides a dispositionto compromise, he would act as mediator. But, if it shouldprove that the public mind of England and the public mind ofScotland had taken the ply strongly in opposite directions, hewould not attempt to force either nation into conformity withthe opinion of the other. He would suffer each to have its ownchurch, and would content himself with restraining bothchurches from persecuting nonconformists, and from encroach-ing on the functions of the civil magistrate.

The language which he held to those Scottish Episcopalianswho complained to him of their sufferings and implored hisprotection was well weighed and well guarded, but clear andingenuous.- He wished, he said, to preserve, if possible, theinstitution to which they were so much attached, and to grantat the same time entire liberty of conscience to that party whichcould not be reconciled to any deviation from the Presbyterianmodel. But the Bishops must take care that they did not, bytheir own rashness and obstinacy, put it out of his power tobe of any use to them. They must also distinctly understandthat he was resolved not to force on Scotland by the sword aform of ecclesiastical government which she detested. If,therefore, it should be found that prelacy could be maintainedonly by arms, he should yield to the general sentiment, andshould merely do his best to obtain for the Episcopalian mino-rity permission to worship God in freedom and safety.*

* Burnet, ii. 23.

CHAP.

xnr.

1689 .

17 *