Man that reads the New Teftament, think that God Almighty intended the Gospel to be an Engine for the Advancement of fome Men, and for enflaving all the rest? Are any of the Schemes of Codex, the Power, Pomp and Pride of Prelates to be found there? No; it condemns them all. Every Man, with an Eye half open on the Scriptures, may fee that all the Power of Priests is Ufurpation, and an Antichriftian Tyranny; that all their Honours and Dignities, their Names and Titles, are a Contradiction both to the Precepts and Example of the Bleffed Author of our Religion. Does the New Teftament give to the Priests the Tenth of our Property, and authorize them to barrass and plague, diftrefs and ruin us when we refuse to pay it, or when we are not able to pay it? Does the Gospel infult common Senfe, by dreffing up a Set of Men in antique Garbs, to delude the Vulgar, and procure Reverence from the Mob? Do the Scriptures give to any Men a Power

to

to meet together, under the Name of Synods, Councils, Convocations, or Affemblies of Divines, to decree Rites and Ceremonies, and make Articles of Faith, and ruin all that will not practise the one, and damn all that cannot believe the other? Let them anfwer thefe Queftions.

And here I ask further, how the Conduct of the Priests is confiftent with the Belief of the Chriftian Religion? Do they not fubfcribe the Articles of Calvin, and yet preach against them? Do not fome of them, who fubfcribe Athanafian Articles, and read Athanafian Prayers, profefs Unitarian Principles? Do not many that read the Athanafian Creed disbelieve it; and thereby pronounce a Sentence of Damnation upon them. felves ? Can it be thought, that theje Men who thus prevaricate in the very Alt of Worship, and Sport with the Terrors of the Almighty, are Believers of the Chriftian. Religion; which condemns all Fraud and Hypocrify, all Infincerity and Double-deal

ing; and requires Truth in the Heart and Life?

And now I expect it will be faid, that I have abufed the Clergy. To which I anfwer; that fuch of the Clergy as are Lovers of Liberty, and Encouragers and Promoters of a Reformation in the Church, I highly reverence and esteem: But all fuch as are Enemies to free Enquiry, all that labour to promote Prieftcraft, and fpiritual Tyranny; as a Lover of Liberty and of Mankind, I defpife and abominate. How can they, who prostitute Religion to the vileft Purposes, look for any Reverence or Refpect? We value all other Sorts of Men in Proportion to their Ufefulness to Society, and their Endeavours to do Good. A Phyfician is defervedly esteemed, because he employs his Knowledge and Skill to deliver us from our Maladies; but what an execrable Villain is be that poifons his Patient? Why Should the Laity be defpifed and bated, when they abufe their Profeffions, and pervert their feveral Callings to publick

Mifchief; and yet the Clergy complain of Contempt for perverting the facred Function? Do they not make that Religion, which teaches Benevolence and Love more than any other Religion, to be the Occafion of Difcord and Animofities, Diftrefs and Ruin to many; and thus fight its Author under bis own Banners? With the Doctrine of Humility in their Mouths, do they not af pire after bigh Titles, Dignities, and Honours above others? Blefs us! what would thefe Madmen have? Refpect, when they deferve Contempt? Reverence, when they merit Indignation? Their Bufinefs is to study the Scriptures, to exhort Men to the Practice of Righteoufnefs, to fet forth the va rious Duties of human Life; and by this Means to promote and advance the publick Peace, and the general Welfare. Let them diveft themselves of all Craft, all worldly Views, all ambitious Defigns, and employ themselves in their proper Duty; and they will want no Respect, nor Encouragment in their feveral Stations. But to complain of

Con

Contempt, without confidering the Caufes from whence that Contempt proceeds, is abfurd and ridiculous. I can tell them, that if thefe Caufes be not removed, the Contempt will foon become univerfal. As they call themselves the Minifters of Jefus, and Succeffors to the Apoftles, let them shew us that they bear a Refemblance to Chrift and the Apostles. For my Part, I profefs that I can fee no Likeness at all betwixt them. Chrift faid, that his Kingdom was not of this World; and accordingly be did not feek the Riches of this World, nor affect its Honours. The Apostles, in like manner, bad no worldly Grandeur, no Titles of Honour nor did they diftinguish themselves from the reft of Mankind by their Garbs and Vestments. (mark that !) Compare the pride, Avarice and Ambition of the Priests, with the Humility and Difintereftedness of the Apoftles: Compare the Behaviour of Priests with the Directions laid down for Minifters in the New Teftament; where is the Likeness? where is the Affinity? With what Lace can the Priefts

;