of Chryfoftome. And well might this faint think it not unbecoming a bishop to marry, when our Lord thought it 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. (Matt. 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 fame 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 bishops 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 apostles, did prohibit either bishop, prieft, or deacon, to put away his wife upon pretenc

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pretence of religion. (See canon 5.) And if any fuch fhall abftain from marriage, as in itself abominable, command that he be corrected, or depofed, and caft out of the church. (Canon 50.)

Now fuppofing these canons (notwithstanding all that Whilon 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 fub-deacons, might not cohabit with their wives, which they had taken before ordination, the motion was prefently dashed by the famous Paphnutius, who was himself a fingle perfon. (Socrat. eccles., hift. 1. 1. c. 11.) Yea a long time after this council, we meet with many popes, who were fons of bishops and priefs.

Pope Theodorus, Silverius, and Gelafius I. were the fons of bifhops: pope Boniface 1. Felix II. and Agapetus II. were the fons of priefts. (Gratian. dift. 56. c. 2.) and that we may not think this ftrange, Gration 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 fcripture, and to primitive and apoftolical practice, but becaufe of the abominable fruits produced in the church of

Rome

Rome by it. For when the clergy might not have wives, (which God allowed), instead of them they took whores; and that wickednefs fo far prevailed in the church, that the Cardinal of Cambray informs us, (De reform. ecclef.) many clergymen were not ashamed publickly, 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 reafon, yet there was ftronger reason to reftore marriage to them again. (Hift. Council 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 exercife 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 bishops defired that married perfons might be promoted to holy orders; but this request was not granted, because, as the fathers obferved, if the clergy once come to be married, they will no longer depend on the Pope, but on their prince.

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To

To conclude this article, (and I shall 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 first great command and bleffing, increase and multiply.

As to Le Blanc's third obfervation, relating to the immoralities and bad behaviour of the English clergy; anfwer, if there are feveral bad men among fo large a body as the proteftant divines are, which is not ftrange, 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 mer, not only as fine gentlemen as I have ever converfed with; but, a clergy holy in heart; iuperior to pride, to anger, to foolish defires; who walk as Chrift alfo walked, and by their example and doctrine, labour to make the 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 pafs through things temporal, that they may be fure of obtaining

the

the things eternal. This I can fay of many English divines of my acquaintance: and I may add, that this teftimony from me, who am not over-fond of the clergy, (as the main of the christianity of too many of them lies in their opinion; decked with a few outward obfervances, fays Mr. Wefley 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 mafs-prieft, 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 mass-priests in my time, in many parts of the world and, a few excellent ones excepted, I can affirm, that more wicked and more worthlefs men than thefe Romish monks, I have never feen. If adultery, fornication, drunkennefs, and fwearing, are crimes, then the greateft criminals I could name in these refpects, are Roman-catholic priests. Let this affertion of mine be fet over-against the character the Abbé Le Blanc gives the Englifh proteftant minifters. Confider all I have faid, when you read this mass-priest's fiftyeighth letter, and then judge of our refor mation

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