ither possess a large revenue and a military force,
or enjoy some discretionary powers, in order to execute the laws and
support his own authority.

We have had occasion to remark, in so many instances, the bigotry which
prevailed in that age, that we can look for no toleration among the
different sects. Two Arians, under the title of heretics, were punished
by fire during this period; and no other reign, since the reformation,
had been free from the like barbarities. Stowe says, that these Arians
were offered their pardon at the stake, if they would merit it by a
recantation. A madman, who called himself the Holy Ghost, was without
any indulgence for his frenzy, condemned to the same punishment. Twenty
pounds a month could, by law, be levied on every one who frequented not
the established worship. This rigorous law, however, had one indulgent
clause, that the lines exacted should not exceed two thirds of the
yearly income of the person. It had been usual for Elizabeth to allow
those penalties to run on for several years; and to levy them all
at once, to the utter ruin of such Catholics as had incurred her
displeasure. James was more humane in this, as in every other respect.
The Puritans formed a sect which secretly lurked in the church, but
pretended not to any separate worship or discipline. An attempt of
that kind would have been universally regarded as the most unpardonable
enormity. And had the king been disposed to grant the Puritans a full
toleration for a separate exercise of their religion, it is certain,
from the spirit of the times, that this sect itself would have despised
and hated him for it, and would have reproached him with luke-warmness
and indifference in the cause of religion. They maintained, that
they themselves were the only pure church; that their principles and
practices ought to be established by law; and that no others ought to be
tolerated. It may be questioned, therefore, whether the administration
at this time could with propriety deserve the appellation of persecutors
with regard to the Puritans. Such of the clergy, indeed, as refused to
comply with the legal ceremonies, were deprived of their livings, and
sometimes, in Elizabeth's reign, were otherwise punished: and ought any
man to accept of an office or benefice in an establishment, while
he declines compliance with the fixed and known rules of that
establishment? But Puritans were never punished for frequenting separate
congregations;