it were in my Power to remove thofe falfe and foolish Prejudices, which too many of the Vulgar have entertain'd in relation to the Clergy and their Rights. And one would think, that to mention them were an effectual Confutation of them. Such, in the firft Place, is the Conceit of thofe, who think a Clergyman guilty of Covetoufnefs and Extortion, if he require the Tythe of fuch Things, as his Predeceffor did not, or a greater Compenfation for them: As if the Neglects, or Overfights of a Predeceffor were any real Bar to the Right of the prefent Incumbent: If, indeed, a Clergyman be cut off from his Rights by any old fettled Modus, or Prefcription, he had much better be filent, than to raise a Storm to no Purpofe; but if he be not, by what Law of God or Man, is a Clergyman forbid to purfue his Rights more than another Perfon: Nor can the Laity blame Clergymen on this Account, except they meafure the Actions of themfelves, and the Clergy by two feveral Rules; For why may not they, as well as others, make the beft of their own, by all honeft and legal Methods? Tis 'Tis certain, that, if a Clergyman be poor, and unable to do fuch Works of Charity as are expected of him, he shall be defpifed and even revil'd, as if he were guilty of a real Fault: And, yet, if he endeavour to mend this Fault by improving his Benefice, this fhall be thought a greater. The Cafe is very hard: For 'tis Criminal for you to be poor, and yet 'tis more fo to grow rich, efpecially, if this be done by demanding your Ecclefiaftical Dues. If a Tenant, or Chapman, have made a hard Bargain, and hurt himself, 'tis expected, that you should make it eafy by abating in your Tythes; and yet if you offer to raise a Tenant, whofe Compofition was before unreafonably low, the Landlord fhall abet his Caufe, and you fhall be told by thofe who ought to know better, that 'tis unjuft for you to take more for Tythes, than was paid before the Farmer took his Farm (except the Tenant before he agreed with his Landlord, were apprifed, that the Tythes were to be raifed). But as this is a Reafon of no force in any Court; fo when the Clergyman has got his juft Right, let the Landlord be ask'd to abate so much in his Rent, as the Tenant has been raised in in his Tythe: And will he think it reafonable fo to do? No, no, what is thought Reafon and Justice, in relation to Clergymen, is not thought fo when it comes to be the Cafe of another Man. Nor was it ever expected of any Men in the Earth but the Clergy, that they should fuffer for the foolish Bargains that others make. The young Academic, or Clergyman, may think that Men of fuch Notions are very rare, and that fuch Practices as these are too monftrous to be common; but in lefs than feven Years Experience, he will be convinced of the contrary, efpecially if he get into a Country Benefice. And tho' this Precaution can do no other good, yet it may fore-arm him against that Treatment that he is like to meet with. If by this, or any other Hints or Cautions given to the Clergy, I have, or fhall do any real Service to the Church, and them, I have my End; For I am, Their entirely devoted Servant. THE THE CONTENTS OF THIS Chap. III. Of the Worship of the Church of Chap. IV. Of the Places of Worship, and Chap. VI. Of Archbishops and Bishops P 34 Chap. VII. Of Priests and Deacons p. 50 Chap VIII. Of Deans and Chapters, Arch- Chap. IX. Of Benefices, Donation, Collati- en, Prefentation, Inftitution, Induction, Chap. XV. Of the Privileges and Hardships Chap. XVI. Of Synods and Convocations, |