I therefore again conclude, that the Trade of Infidelity hath been taken up only for an Expedient to keep in Countenance that univerfal Corruption of Morals, which many other Caufes firit contributed to introduce and to cultivate. And thus, Mr. Hobbs's Saying upon Reafon, may be much more properly applyed 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 Atronger Arguments against paying his Debts, than ever he was known to do againft Chriftianity; indeed the Reafon was, becaufe in that Juncture, he happened to be clofer preft by the Bailyff than the Parfon.

IGNORANCE may perhaps be the Mother of Superftition; but Experience hath not proved it to be fo of Devotion: For Chriftianity always made the most eafie and quickest Progrefs in civilized Countries. I mention this, becaufe it is affirmed, that the Clergy are in moft Credit, where Ignorance prevails (and furely this Kingdom would be called the Paradife of Clergy-men, if that Opinion were true) for which they inftance England in the Times of Popery, But whoever knows any thing of the three or four Centuries before the Reformation, will find the little Learning then flirting was more equally divided between the English Clergy and Laity, than it is at prefent. There were feveral famous Lawyers in that Period, whofe Writings are still 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 leaft Tincture of Knowledge,

at

at the fame Time, that the Clergy were never more learned, or fo fcurvily treated. Here among Us, at leaft a Man of Letters out of the three Profeffions, is almoft a Prodigy. And thefe few, who have preferved any Rudiments of Learning, are (except perhaps one or two Smatterers) the Clergy's Friends to a Man And I dare appeal to any Clergy-man in this Kingdom, whether the greatest Dunce in his Parih, is not always the moft Proud, Wicked, Fraudulent, and Intractable of his Flock.

I think the Clergy have almoft given over perplexing themselves and their Hearers with abftrufe Points of Predeftination, Election, and the like; at leaft it is time they fhould; and therefore I fhall 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 Life 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.

THE

BATTEL

OE THE

Pygmies and Cranes.

T

HE Feather'd Warriors, and the Pigmy-State,
Record, Oh Mufe! their Battel and their
Fate,

Sing their great Wars, and as their
Troops engage,

Guide the low Heroes, and direct their Rage.
Here Swords all flaming for the Fight difplay;
There Beaks as vengeful, and as keen as they :
Dreadfully mingling in one lofty Strain,
The Pygmies Courage, and the Foes Difdain.
While Birds and Men in dire dread Conflicts try
The Earth's Command, and Empire of the Sky.

Already

ALREADY fair in Verfe each Warrior's Name, The Mufe has grately fung, and paid with Fame. His hardy Toil with Tranfport each admires, The Poet rifing, as the Chief Inspires

To diftant Time. the Mufe has handed down The Grecian Valour, and her Youths Renown. How fternly brave in Fight great THESEUS glows; How fwift ACHILLES drives upon his Foes. ENEAS' Fame with Wonder we perufe,

And WILLIAM's wreaths are green in ev'ry Mufe.
Whilft Theban Chiefs, and POMPEY'S mournful
Name,

Weary each Eye, and tire us with their Fame.
My bolder Mufe, unfung in antient Lays,
New Battels ranges, and new Camps furveys;
In Verfe the Trumpet's Silver Sound defcribes,
And fatal to the Cranes, the Pygmy Tribes.
Dark thro' the Air, while hov'ring Nations flow,
And from the Clouds defcends the Feather'd Foe.
WHERE happy India boafts a warmer Ray,
And, fmiling, blushes at the Birth of Day:
Embrac'd by Rocks, a flowry Vale is feen,
By few frequented, and for ever green.
Here high in Fame (till Heaven that Fame
withstand)

The fpreading Pygmy Nations wide Command;
By various Arts a frugal Life fuftain,

While lab'ring Millions throng each crowded
Plain.

But now their Defart Realms, as we defcry,
Untill'd their Vales, their Bowers unpeopled lye.
While Bones of mighty Dwarfs, and Warriors
flain,

Strike ev'ry Eye, and whiten all the Plain.
Thefe Realms are now by Victor-Cranes poffeft;
There fafe they triumph in each airy, Neft.
S 3

Not

Not thus they moan'd their Country's Fate of old,

When Subject States their Monarchs Arm controul'd.

The Soldier then, when e'er the Foe drew near, Grafp'd hard his Sword, and, dreadful, fhook : his Spear :

Till gafping now, and breathlefs on the Ground, Deep in his Breaft he drives the deadly Wound. His Shoulders fcarce the pond'rous Spoil con

vey,

Alive his Terror, and, when dead, his Prey.
Oft in the Grove her curious Manfions hung,
His Rage o'erthrows, and flays the Crying Young.
The Mother-Bird, from far, beholds with Pain
Her Kingdoms rifled, and her Infants flain;
Whofe little Lives their Parents Guilt átone
For Crimes alas! expiring, not their own.
His Breaft no Pity to their Cries will give;
Doom'd by his Sword to dye, before they
Five
E'er yet a Form th' Imperfect Young enjoys;
And in the Egg the future Foe deftroys.
FROM this dire Spring immortal Difcords
rofe,

"

;

Which wrought the Sons of Fame unnumber'd

Foes:

While warring Troops difturb the Earth and Sky,

And Birds, and Men, confus'd together, dye. LESS Tumults from lefs noble Caufes fprung The Grecian Bard of old fublimely fung. While Thund'ring Arms, and meeting Hofts around,

Mix in one Noife, and all the Lake* confound.

Homer's Batrachomudmachia.

Here