who were impatient of being out of play, have been forced to recant, or at least to reconcile their former tenets with every new. fyftem of administration. Add to this, that the old fundamental cuftom of annual parliaments being wholly laid afide, and elections growing chargeable, fince gentlemen found that their country-feats brought them in less than a feat in the house, the voters, that is to say, the bulk of the common people have been univerfally feduced into bribery, perjury, drunkennefs, malice, and flander.

Not to be farther tedious, or rather invidious, these are a few, among other causes, which have contributed to the ruin of our morals, and confequently to the contempt of religion: for imagine to yourfelf, if you please, a landed youth, whom his mother would never fuffer to look into a book for fear of fpoiling his eyes, got into parliament, and observing all enemies to the clergy heard with the utmost applause, what notions he muft imbibe, how readily he will join in the cry, what an esteem he will conceive of himself, and what a contempt he must entertain, not

only

only for his vicar at home, but for the whole order.

I therefore again conclude, that the trade of infidelity hath been taken up only for an expedient to keep in countenance that universal corruption of morals, which many other caufes firft contributed to introduce and to cultivate. And thus Mr. Hobbs's faying upon reafon may be much more properly applied to religion: that, if religion will be against a man, a man will be against religion. Though after all, I have heard a profligate offer much ftronger arguments against paying his debts, than ever he was known to do against christianity; indeed, the reafon was, because in that juncture he happened to be closer preffed by the bailiff than the parfon.

Ignorance may perhaps be the mother of fuperftition, but experience hath not proved it to be fo of devotion; for chriftianity always made the most eafy and quickeft progress in civilized countries. I mention this, because it is affirmed, that the clergy are in moft credit where ignorance prevails, (and furely this kingdom would

D 3

8

would be called the paradife of clergymen, if that opinion were true) for which they inftance England in the times of popery. But whoever knoweth any thing of three or four centuries before the refor mation, will find the little learning then ftirring was more equally divided between the english clergy and laity, than it is at prefent. There were several famous lawyers in that period, whofe writings are ftill in the highest repute, and fome hiftorians and poets, who were not of the church. Whereas now-a-days our education is fo corrupted, that you will hardly find a young perfon of quality with the least tincture of knowledge, at the fame time that many of the clergy were never more learned or fo fcurvily treated. Here among us, at least, a man of letters, out of the three professions, is almost a prodigy. And thofe few, who have preferved any rudiments of learning, are (except perhaps one or two fmatterers) the clergy's friends to a man and I dare appeal to any clergyman in this kingdom, whether the greateft dunce in his parish be not always the most proud, wicked, fraudulent, and intractable of his flock.

I

I think the clergy have almost given over perplexing themfelves and their hearers with abftrufe points of predeftination, election, and the like; at least, it is time they fhould; and therefore I shall not trouble you further upon this

head.

I have now faid all I could think convenient with relation to your conduct in the pulpit: your behaviour in the world is another scene, upon which I fhall readily offer you my thoughts, if you appear to defire them from me by your approbation of what I have here written; if not, I have already troubled you too much,

AN

ESSAY*

ON THE

FATES OF CLERGYMEN.

THERE is no talent fo useful towards rifing in the world, or which puts men more out of the reach of fortune, than that quality generally poffeffed by the dulleft fort of men, and in common fpeech called difcretion; a fpecies of lower prudence, by the affiftance of which people of the meaneft intellectuals, without any other qualification, pafs through the world in great tranquility, and with univerfal good treatment, neither giving nor taking offence. Courts are feldom unprovided of perfons under this character, on whom, if they happen to be of great quality, moft employments even the greatest naturally fall, when competitors will not agree; and in fuch promotions no-body rejoices or grieves. The truth of this I could prove by feveral in

*This Effay was printed in the Intelligencer N° 5. and

ftances