VIII. It seems not to be agreeable to that great law of Christ, Mat. vii. 12, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.”
But whatever was objected, the said bill at length passed, and was confirmed with the royal assent, which gave occasion to the Quakers to add in the conclusion of the printed epistle of their annual assembly at London, the following caution and exhortation: ‘There seems at present to hang over us a cloud, threatening a storm. Let us all watch and pray, and retire to our munition and strong hold in our spiritual rock and foundation which standeth sure; that our God may defend, help, and bless us as his peculiar people, to the end of our days and time here, and the full fruition of the heavenly kingdom and glory hereafter.’
About Midsummer this year died Sophia, widow and electoral princess of Brunswick Lunenburg, on whom the succession of the crown of Great Britain was settled. Scarce two months after her demise, queen Anne deceased, who after having languished a long time, at length was taken away by death on the first of August, the self-same day that the act against the growth of schism was to have taken effect.
The same day George, prince elector of Brunswick Lunenburg, was proclaimed king of Great Britain; who some time after repairing to England, made his entry at London on the 20th of September. Not long after his arrival he declared in council, that he would maintain the toleration in favour of the Protestant dissenters. Hereupon many addresses of congratulation were presented to him, and on the third of October the people called Quakers also offered their address, which was delivered by George Whitehead, and about forty of his friends, introduced by the lord Townsend, one of the principal secretaries of state. The prince was not only present, but many of the nobles, and others also; and G. Whitehead presenting the address to the king, said, ‘We are come in behalf of the people called Quakers, to present to king George our address and acknowledgment: may it be favourably accepted.’ Being then presented, G. Whitehead said, ‘One of us may read it to the king.’ Whereupon he receiving it again, delivered it to Joseph Wyeth, who read it audibly, being as followeth:
To GEORGE, King of Great Britain, &c.
The humble address of the people commonly called Quakers.
‘Great Prince,
‘It having pleased Almighty God to deprive these kingdoms of our late gracious queen, we do in great humility approach thy royal presence with hearts truly thankful to divine Providence for thy safe arrival, with the prince thy son, and for thy happy and uninterrupted accession to the crown of these realms; which, to the universal joy of thy faithful subjects, hath secured to thy people the Protestant succession, and dissipated the just apprehensions we were under, of losing those religious and civil liberties, which were granted us by law, in the reign of king William III. whose memory we mention with great gratitude and affection. We are also in duty obliged thankfully to acknowledge thy early and gracious declaration in council, wherein thou hast, in princely and Christian expressions, manifested thy just sense of the state of thy people, and which we hope will make all degrees of thy subjects easy.
‘And as it hath been our known principle to live peaceably under government, so we hope it will always be our practice, through God’s assistance, to approve ourselves of hearty affection, thy faithful and dutiful subjects.