It has been often urged as a Reafon against laying open the true Principles of our HighClergy, that in cenfuring fome we condemn all, and that Religion fuffers by expofing the bad Clergy: Far be it be from me to cenfure the whole Body there have been, and still are, Men of an exemplary Life and Conversation, good Learning and found Judgment, who know the Principles of the Reformation, on which (I always thought) the Church of Esgland is built, and, without which, it cannot fubfift: But whilft fome are vindicating thefe Principles, fhall Numbers of unlearned and difloyal Sprigs of Divinity be fuffered to debauch the Nation with the most destructive Doctrines? nay, even fuch as are directly contrary to the Reformation; and who, inftead of defending it, run back to their Ancestors in Queen Mary's Time, and trump up a Jargon of Noise and Nonfenfe, bellowing out their being the Lord's Ambaffadors, lineally defcended from the Apoftles, having an uninterrupted Succeffion, the Power of making Creeds, and in short, of riding the Laity, and many more fuch Abfurdities; Things that a Proteftant cannot hear without Indignation! And what is ftill more abfurd, they they will not yet, it seems, throw off the Mask, but call themselves Proteftants, though it is as plain as the Sun at Noon Day, they are only Wolves in Sheeps Cloathing, i. e. Papists in Difguife. Once for all, I defire the Reader to note, that when I mention the Clergy with the leaft Difrefpect, I mean only thofe, who fo peculiarly glory in being High Churchmen, or who have either by their Actions or Preaching expofed themselves to public View and Contempt. And I confefs again, that no one has a greater Veneration for a good Proteftant Divine of the Church of England, than my self. Truth is very hard to be found, even in our own Nation, where the Proteftant Religion is openly profeffed; the Clergy would keep the Key of Knowledge, and not let the Laity come at it, at leaft without paying them well for it, and then we only have it at fecond-hand, with their Explanations. This brings to my Mind a remarkable Paffage of a late Author. I made a Romantic Search (fays he) after a fair Lady, called Truth, whom, after many tedious Journies and ob • ftinate • ftinate Encounters by the way, I found, at laft, in a large Caftle, guarded by a numerous Regiment of black Giants, who told " me that she was their Prifoner, and that it was in vain to attempt her refcue. They told me farther, that they and their Predeceffors had kept her there for above a Thoufand Years, and levied upon Mankind im⚫ menfe Sums of Money for maintaining them. in their religious Ignorance, which they conftantly paid with great Thankfulness and Humility. How far this agrees with the late Proceedings of our High Clergy, is too plain and too true to need any Comment; the Cafe muft certainly be bad, if the Clergy are afraid to let the Laity ufe their Reafon and their Senfes: Some of them are against having the Bibie read, without we believe as they believe, that is, believe their Explanations; fo that con fequently we are not to believe the Bible, but their Explanation of it. Now if the Bible is the Religion of Proteftants, if it be the only Rule of Faith, by which we muft live, and at laft be judged, and if this facred Book contains all Things neceffary to Salvation, let every Man read it, and judge for himself, and not let another be judge for him; why do we blame the Popish Clergy for locking up the Bible from the Laity, if we thus follow their Example and thruft our Interpretations and Decifions upon others? Has not the Almighty given the Laity the Use of their Senses,, as well as the Clergy? or do we any where find in the inspired Writings, that God has any where placed Spiritual Rulers over the Confciences or Purses of the Laity? Our High Clergy would be thought very Religious; for they make a horrid Outcry of the Church upon-all Occafions. The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord are we, (fay they); but let us confider what fort of a Church some of our High Clergy will make it: Why truly we find it made up of a Hodgepodge Compofition: They tell us, that it is not the Congregation, i. e. the People that affemble there, that conftitute the Church, but it must be a Stone Wall, a High Steeple, a fine Altar Piece, a mufical Organ, and a Ring of Bells, with other Ingredients, to make it decent and orderly, that a Piece of Lawn.or a black Gown can invent: That this Church muft be governed by Moft Reverends and Right Reverends, with a Number of about fifty Thousand in their Regimental Habits; and notwithstanding 'tis a Time of profound Peace Peace and Tranquility, yet we (the Laity) maintain them in whole Pay. They tell us of the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, and at the End of it they put this knocking-down Argument, as by Law eftablished: This unanswerable Reafon the Clergy are fure to let the Ears of the Laity ring with; and you fhall fcarce ever hear the Church mentioned but established by Law at the Tail of it. They tell us alfo that this Church is the pureft and the beft conftituted of any other in the World. I readily join with them as to its being the best constituted, as will ap pear by the following Story, which I have received from a dignified Man in the Church, and therefore I do not question the Truth of it: A Country Parfon, having a good fat Living, as he calls it, upon his receiving a Quarter's Tithes, the Parfon's Eyes rolled upon the Money, fo that his Collector expected he would have worshiped it: After feveral Ejaculations, (I did not enquire whe ther they were extempore) he pulled off his Beaver, and held it in one Hand, while he fwept in the Money with the other, repeating it often, over with an orthodox Voice, Our * Church is the best conftituted Church in the • World |