Cautious and Moderate Thanksgiving - March 15, 1672 Indulgence

[VirginiaHuguenot]

On March 15, 1672 King Charles II issued an indulgence for Catholics and Dissenters which was later repealed. Some Puritans responded with a document which I believe was called "A Cautious and Moderate Thanksgiving for the Indulgence of 15 March 1672." I believe it may have been written at least in part by John Owen and was signed by other notables. Does anyone have further information about this document including where I might find the actual text?

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

Still researching...thinking out loud.

I found this comment here:

When Charles issued his Declaration of Indulgence in 1672, Owen drew up an address of thanks. This indulgence gave the dissenters an opportunity for increasing their churches and services, and Owen was one of the first preachers at the weekly lectures which the Independents and Presbyterians jointly held in Plummer's Hall.

I am aware that John Brown of Wamphray wrote The History of the Indulgence, which might shed further light, but I do not have a copy.

Alexander Shields wrote against the Indulgence in A Hind Let Loose but did not reference the letters of thanksgiving.

I wonder if Gilbert Burnet's Histories might reference this document or maybe some of the Non-Conformist histories found here?

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

From the Dictionary of National Biography on Matthew Poole:

He was one of those who presented to the king 'a cautious and moderate thanksgiving' for the indulgence of 15 March 1672, and hence were offered royal bounty.

From Peter Toon, God´s Statesman: The Life and Work of John Owen, Pastor, Educator, Theologian:

In June 1670 Charles II entered into the secret Treaty of Dover in which he pledged not only his support for the French in the war with the Dutch but also his intention to declare himself a Roman Catholic at the first favourable opportunity.1 The nature of this treaty, one of the most discreditable instruments in the history of English diplomacy, made it imperative that Charles should do something to please both Protestant and Roman Catholic Dissenters; he knew that a war with the Dutch would be unfavourably received in the City of London by many merchants who had nonconformist sympathies, and he naturally wanted to alleviate the lot of Catholics. So it is no surprise to learn that in August 1671 "œseveral from the King from time to time have met Dr Owen."2 The result of these discussions, and of the more difficult ones with the Presbyterian leaders, was the famous Declaration of Indulgence issued in March 1672 on the eve of the war with the Dutch. On the 28th March two groups of Nonconformists thanked the King, whom they met in Lord Arlington´s lodgings.3 In the morning four Congregational ministers led by Owen rendered their thanks and Owen delivered a short set speech;4 in the afternoon it was the turn of the Presbyterians led by Thomas Manton.

1Ogg, op. cit., pp. 338ff.

2C.S.P.D. (1671), p. 264.

3C.S.P.D. (1671"“2), p. 609.

4For the text of this speech see Correspondence, pp. 126"“7. For details of the Indulgence see Frank Bate, The Declaration of Indulgence, Liverpool, 1908.

From The Correspondence of John Owen (1616"“1683) -- With an account of his life and work edited by Peter Toon:

When the king eventually granted an Indulgence in 1672 Owen personally thanked him on behalf of his brethren in the following words:

May it please your Majesty,

We humbly thank you for the favour of this opportunity wherein we may acknowledge that deep sense which we have of your gracious clemency, the effects whereof we every day enjoy. It is that alone which has interposed between the severity of some laws, and some men´s principles and us, which otherwise would have effected our ruin; though we are persuaded that neither the one nor the other could countervail your Majesty´s damage thereby.

It is this principally wherein the kings of the earth may render themselves like to the King of heaven, when by their power, wisdom, and goodness, they relieve the minds of their peaceable subjects from fear, distress, and distracting anxieties, and trials on their persons, (rendering their lives burdensome to themselves, and useless to others), which your Majesty has done towards multitudes of your subjects in this nation: And we do rejoice in this advantage to declare to your Majesty that as we have as conscientious respect to all those obligations to loyalty which lie on the commonality of your subjects, so being capable of a peculiar one in the greatest of our concerns, the liberty of our consciences and assemblies, which others are not, (as desiring no more, but what they esteem their right by law), we hold it our duty which we engage into before you, not only to be partakers with them, but to preserve in our minds a peculiar readiness to serve on your Majesty´s commands, and occasions, as we shall be required or advantaged for it.

And we humbly pray the continuance of your gracious favour, and we shall pray that God would continue his presence with you in all your affairs, and continue your royal heart in these counsels and thoughts of indulgence, whose beginnings have restored quietness to neighbours, peace to counties, emptied prisons, and filled houses with industrious workers, and engaged the hands of multitudes into the resolved and endeavoured readiness for your Majesty´s service, as not knowing any thing in this world desirable to them, beyond what, under your government, and by your favour, they may enjoy.1

1This was printed for the first time in The Gentleman´s Magazine, Vol. XXXI, p. 253.

From Frank Bate, The Declaration of Indulgence, 1672: A Study in the Rise of Organised Dissent:

Butler's work did not end here. He went amongst Nonconformists, emphasising the wonderful and gracious care shown towards them by Charles, and urging them to return him thanks and to make their addresses to the king.47 But the London ministers were divided in opinion.48 Some were prepared to set forth their appreciation of the king's loving kindness in terms hardly less extravagant than those of Wilde. Manton and his followers stood out for moderation in their language, 'lest parliament should fall upon them.' Finally they agreed: on March 28, introduced Arlington, they waited on the king to present this address, penned by Owen: --49

May it please your Majesty,

We humbly thank you for the favour of this opportunity wherein we may acknowledge that deep sense which we have of your gracious clemency, the effects whereof we every day enjoy. It is that alone which has interposed between the severity of some laws, and some men´s principles and us, which otherwise would have effected our ruin; though we are persuaded that neither the one nor the other could countervail your Majesty´s damage thereby.

It is this principally wherein the kings of the earth may render themselves like to the King of heaven, when by their power, wisdom, and goodness, they relieve the minds of their peaceable subjects from fear, distress, and distracting anxieties, and trials on their persons, (rendering their lives burdensome to themselves, and useless to others), which your Majesty has done towards multitudes of your subjects in this nation: And we do rejoice in this advantage to declare to your Majesty that as we have as conscientious respect to all those obligations to loyalty which lie on the commonality of your subjects, so being capable of a peculiar one in the greatest of our concerns, the liberty of our consciences and assemblies, which others are not, (as desiring no more, but what they esteem their right by law), we hold it our duty which we engage into before you, not only to be partakers with them, but to preserve in our minds a peculiar readiness to serve on your Majesty´s commands, and occasions, as we shall be required or advantaged for it.

And we humbly pray the continuance of your gracious favour, and we shall pray that God would continue his presence with you in all your affairs, and continue your royal heart in these counsels and thoughts of indulgence, whose beginnings have restored quietness to neighbours, peace to counties, emptied prisons, and filled houses with industrious workers, and engaged the hands of multitudes into the resolved and endeavoured readiness for your Majesty´s service, as not knowing any thing in this world desirable to them, beyond what, under your government, and by your favour, they may enjoy.

47 C.S.P.D., 1671-2, p. 232.
48 Baxter, iii, 99.
49 C.S.P.D., 1671-2, p. 609; 'Gentlemen's Magazine,' xxxi, p. 253. Baxter states, incorrectly, that on this occasion Owen made an extempore oration.

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

Here is some additional information of interest concerning the 1672 indulgence.