But, reverend Sir, may we not presume to hope, that this voluntary speaker for the whole university, whoever he be, it maketh no matter to me, was somewhat out, and mistaken in his calculation. For it seems, not above three or four doctors, if so many, were present, at least sat as judges at this extraordinary tribunal. The _worthy Provost of Queen_’s (and undoubtedly many other worthy heads of houses were and are like-minded) was for prescribing more lenient methods; and all are glad to hear, that these young students worthy principal, who must necessarily be supposed to be the best judge of their principles, practices, and qualifications, boldly stood up in their defence, asserted their innocence, confronted their accusers, and brought in books to vindicate both their principles and conduct. But how this worthy principal, as well as the pupils, were treated, is best known to those who had an active hand in all.
However, as the Holy Ghost hath left it upon record, to the honour of _Nicodemus_, that he stood up in defence of our LORD before the whole _Jewish_ sanhedrim, and was not consenting to his death; so wherever this act of expulsion is recorded (and recorded it will be, even to latest posterity) it will be mentioned to the honour of Doctor DIXON, (and for acting thus he will have the thanks of all moderate, serious, sober-minded christians in the three kingdoms) that he had no hand in, but did all he possibly could to prevent these young mens expulsion. An expulsion for articles of impeachment to which indeed the accused pleaded guilty; but for articles which (wherever hereafter they may be called to minister in holy things) will be their best testimonial; and their expulsion for holding and confessing those articles, the strongest letters of recommendation.
How these young worthies are now to be disposed of, or how they will dispose of themselves, as it was not so much as hinted that they had the least connection with me, is not my business to inquire. But surely such an expulsion as this, cannot deter them from pursuing their preparations for their ministerial calling: friends they cannot want, because “he is faithful who hath promised, that whosoever forsaketh father or mother, houses or lands, for his sake or the gospel’s, he shall have an hundred fold in this life, with persecution, and in the world to come life everlasting.” But if any act so dastardly, as to make unscriptural concessions, or be terrified by unscriptural, and therefore mere _bruta fulmina_, if they were of trades before, the sooner they return again to their trades the better: for it is to be feared, such cowards would only make a trade of the ministry if they were admitted into the church, and the fewer of such kind of tradesmen our church is troubled with, the safer she will be.
But what a mercy is it, reverend Sir, that we live under a free government, under a King whose royal grandfather repeatedly declared (and he was as good as his word through a long and glorious reign) that there should be no persecution in his time; under a King who in his first most gracious and never to be forgotten speech from the throne, gave his people the strongest assurances “that it was his fixt purpose, as the best means to draw down the divine favour on his reign, to countenance and encourage the practice of true religion and virtue, and maintain the toleration inviolable.”
That both students and common people will be in danger of being tempted by such violent proceedings, to put themselves under the act of toleration, may easily be foreseen: and it may as easily be guessed, how such treatment will necessarily discourage serious people from sending their sons to the university, at least to the university of _Oxford_; and at the same time will furnish them with a new argument for entering their youth in some of our dissenting academies, where they will be in no danger, it is presumed, of being expelled for singing hymns, speaking a little now and then in a religious society, or using extempore prayer.