not unbecoming an apostle, no not the prince of the apoftles (as the Romanifts will have him), for it is without doubt, that St. Peter was married; in that the fcripture makes mention of his wife's mother. (Mat. viii. 14.) And Clemens of Alexandria tells us, that it was certainly reported, that when he faw his wife led to death, he rejoiced; and having exhorted her and comforted her, he called her by her name, and bid her remember the Lord. (Clemens Alex. Stromat. 1.7. p. 736. Lut. 1629.) And that he was not only married, but begat children, the same Clemens, in another place, affirms, (Stromat. 1. 3. p. 448.) Yea, that St. Philip and St. Jude were alfo married, and had children, Eufebius is witnefs, (Eufeb. ecclef. hift. 1. 3. c. 20.-31.) And in like manner we find, that many of the primitive bifhops were married. Charemon bishop of Nilus, St. Spiridion, St. Gregory Nazianzen, St. Gregory Nyffen, St. Hilary, and many more, were married men.

Nor can it be faid, that they took wives while they were laymen, and after they took upon them the facred miniftry, were feparated from them; fince the canons, commonly called the apoftles, did prohibit either bishop, prieft, or deacon, to put away his wife upon pretence of religion.

(See canon 5.) And if any such shall abstain from marriage, as in itself abominable, command that he be corrected, or depofed, and caft out of the church. (Canon 50.)

Now, fuppofing thefe canons (notwithstanding all that Whiston has faid) were not made by them whofe name they bear, yet they are allowed by all to be of much greater antiquity than the first Nicene council. And when in that council it was moved, that bishops and priests, deacons and fubdeacons, might not cohabit with their wives, which they had taken before ordination, the motion was presently dafhed by the famous Paphnutius, who was himself a fingle perfon. (Socrat. ecclef. hift. 1. 1. c. 11.) Yea, a long time after this council, we meet with many popes, who were sons of bishops and priests.

Pope Theodorus, Silverius, and Gelafius I. were the fons of bifhops: pope Boniface I. Felix II. and Agapetus II. were the fons of priests. (Gratian. dift. 56. c. 2.) and that we may not think this ftrange, Gratian himfelf informs us, that the marriage of priests was in those days lawful in the Latin church. (Dift. 56. c. 12.)

Nor is this doctrine to be rejected only as contrary to scripture, and to primitive and apoftolical

apoftolical practice, but because of the abominable fruits produced in the church of Rome by it. For when the clergy might not have wives, (which God allowed), inftead of them they took whores; and that wickedness fo far prevailed in the church, that the Cardinal of Cambray informs us, (De reform. ecclef.) many clergymen were not afhamed publicly, in the face of the world, to keep concubines. And the glofs upon Gratian fays, A prieft may not be depofed for fimple fornication, because there are few priests to be found without that fault. This made Pius the fecond fay, that though priests were by the western church forbid to marry for good reason, yet there was stronger reafon to reftore marriage to them again. (Hift. Coun cil Trent, 1. 7. p. 680.) And many in that council, were fo fenfible of this, that they alledged the great fcandal given by incontinent priests, and that there was want of continent perfons fit to exercise the miniftry. (Paoli, p. 679. &c.) The Emperor and the Duke of Bavaria did therefore require, that the marriage of priests might be granted. (Paoli, p. 680, &c.) And many bifhops defired that married perfons might be promoted to holy orders; but this requeft was not granted, becaufe, as the fathers observed, if the clergy once come to

be

be married, they will no longer depend on the Pope, but on their prince.

To conclude this article, (and I fhall do it in the words of a great man, a prelate of the church of England, now living); To make war against the very Being of their fpecies, they (the Romish priests) devote themselves to a fingle life, in blafphemous oppofition to that firft great command and bleffing, increafe and multiply.

As to Le Blanc's third obfervation, relating to the immoralities and bad behaviour of the English clergy; I answer, if there are feveral bad men among fo large a body as the protestant divines are, which is not strange, as it is the common cafe of all focieties, yet the majority of them, orthodox and other dox, are as worthy men as can be found among the human race. I am very fure my acquaintance among them has been much larger than Le Blanc's could poffibly be; and I can affirm from my own knowledge, that there are very many of this order of men, not only as fine gentlemen as I have ever converfed with; but, a clergy holy in heart, fuperior to pride, to anger, to foolish defires; who walk as Chrift alfo walked, and by their example and doctrine, labour to make the VOL. III. H

people

people what the gospel requires they should be, that is, pious and ufeful, pure and honeft, meek and charitable; to walk by faith, and not by fight; and fo pass thro' things temporal, that they may be fure of obtaining the things eternal. This I can fay of many English divines of my acquaintance: and I may add, that this te ftimony from me, who am not over-fond of the clergy, (as the main of the chriftianity of too many of them lies in their opinion, decked with a few outward obfervances, fays Mr. Welley very truly, in his letter to Bishop Warburton) and only upon occafion, endeavour now to do them juftice, is certainly of more weight in their favour, than the calumny and abuse of a furious bigot and mass-priest, can be to make the world have as bad an opinion of them, as popery, and its wretched emiffaries, would have the public entertain. Confider this then when you read Le Blanc's letters.

On the other hand, I have had a very large and intimate acquaintance with masspriests in my time, in many parts of the world; and, a few excellent ones excepted, I can affirm, that more wicked and more worthless men than thefe Romish monks, I have never feen. If adultery, fornication, drunkenness, and fwearing, are crimes,

then