and as drunk on their Holy Days, as we of the Established Church can be on ours.

G.

NUMBER XXXIX.

Wednesday October 12. 1720.

Priefts afraid of Ridicule.

R

ELIGION, as the Popish Priests have disfigured it, is only a wicked and ambitious Scheme, contrived by them, to set themfelves above the People. This is fo true, that where-ever the Priefs have the moft Power, Religion has the least. Being neither appointed by the Law of Nature, nor the Law of Chrift, they are only Intruders into the Affairs of Religion; which is therefore under an Ufurpation, while it is under them. So that their Foundation being falfe, they are in moft Countries reduced to fupport it by falfe Facts,

Facts, and deceitful Appearances. And as they are thus obliged to cover Fraud with Fraud, and fupport one Violence by another, it is no Wonder, that we find it often fo carefully hidden under Inventions, and deformed by Abfurdities; and all thofe Inventions and Abfurdities defended by Cruelty, and a strong Hand.

THIS ftrange Jumble of Fictions they have the Front to call by the holy Name of Religion, and gravely to create Faith out of Lyes: And with the groveling Multitude, whose Eyes are in the Earth, all this paffes off well enough; They have fearful Hearts, and fimple Heads, and fo ftand always prepared to be frightened or deluded at the priestly Word of Command. But because the Craft lies fubject to daily Detection from rational and difcerning Men, its Champions have raised loud Cries, and strong Prejudices, against the two principal Weapons by which their Caufe is moft annoyed; I mean the Weapons of REASON and RIDICULE; the former of which discovers Truth, and the latter exposes Fraud.

WHAT Civil Treatment thefe Reverend Seers afford to Reason, I have fhewn elfewhere; and fhall handle, in this Paper, the Bu finefs of Ridicule, which they always reprefent

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as impious and profane, when ever it with the Caffock; and yet always e according to their Talents, without when the waggish grave Creatures are p be arch upon Diffenters or Free-Thinker To them is no doubt owing, that but falfe Saying, now in the Mouth Ignorant; namely, that it is an eafy make a Fest upon Religion or the P which, whether they are aware of i is faying that their Religion and its Pri Jeft. For he, upon whom the Jeft does, in Effect, make the Jeft; other none. Religion and Virtue cannot be and whoever attempts it, by fhewing Villain, raises Horror instead of Laught is the End of Ridicule. But the ve Grimace for Religion, and fetting up without Virtue, are the natural Subject and Merriment.

WHOEVER fears Ridicule, defer cule. He is confcious of a weak. knows that he cannot ftand a Laugh. the Cafe of facred Grimace, or Gravit Men of Senfe fee to be only a ftudied laid upon the Mufcles of the Face, Joints of the Body, and teaching them t not by the Impulfes of Nature, and tions of the Heart, but by Defic attract Admiration, or obtain (

Followers. And therefore facred Grimace dreads Men of Senfe. However, it is never to be fet afide; for this fame affected Demureness, ridiculous as it is in itself, is a folemn Bait to catch the Mob, whose Respect always follows their Wonder. The Vulgar are caught, like Woodcocks, by the Eyes; and led, like Calves, by the Ears; Shew and Sound lead their fat Heads captive. It is therefore no Wonder, that in Popish Countries, a fhewy Chancel, a curious tall Steeple, gilded Organs, and a delicate Ring of Bells, keep the Many on the Parfon's Side, make them all good Churchmen; and always get the better of a plain Religion, that has its Abode only in the Heart, and wants all the above-mentioned Marks of the true Church. Besides all this, there is more Mirth, and more Holy Days, in their Orthodox Faith, than in the contrary Scheme, which obliges Men to earn Heaven with the Sweat of their Brows, and take Pains to be faved.

THESE, however, are but fmall Inftances of Ridicule, taken from the Force and Grimace of an external Religion. I fhall here give Inftances much more confiderable, as well as much more ridiculous. Do we not fee the pretended Succeffors of the Apostles, at home and elsewhere, instead of making Tents, or converting the World, living voluptuously, and

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promoting the Excife? Do we not frequently fee the Embaffadors of God, sent to promote Virtue and Peace, and the Obfervance of his Laws, p omoting Strife, frequenting debauched Houfes, rooking after Wealth, and plaguing and reviling their Neighbours? Do we not fee holy Men, who have the Call of the Spirit, rioting in all the Works of the Flefh? Do they not buy Livings with Money, and then claim them by Divine Right? Do they not chop and jockey away poor Parishes for fuch as are richer, and yet pretend to have upon their Hands the Cure of Souls, though, by fuch vile Bargaining, they fhew that they value as little thofe Souls which they have just bought, as they do thofe which they have lately fold? Do not many of them, though they are void of all Merit, yet demand great Refpect; and though ignorant, pretend to teach, and to reveal God's Will, which is already revealed, and yet live as though there were no God? And do they not, without obeying God,. fet up to command Men? Do they not feck Honour from their Cloth, which yet they difhonour? And do they not, for the blackeft Crimes, claim Sanctuary from the Church, which Church is the People, which People they abufe and deceive? Do they not pretend to mend others, without being better than others, but in Truth more idle and proud than

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