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rent from the Scammony of the Ancients, and is adultcè rated; that which is black is not much esteemed.

I believe that Scammony wants a Corrector, and is very adhefive.

I believe that the Compilers of our Common-PrayerBook were very fenfible, that every Man muft needs be in a languishing Condition, who enters into the State of Matrimony; elfe why did they place the Vifitation of the Sick immediately after that Piece of Formality.

I believe that Cardinal Alberoni is in Lim. Pat.

I believe that the Jacobite Faction do not relish his Confinement.

I believe there are many in Places of Profit, who were averfe to the Hanover Succeffion.

I believe I could name fome.

I believe a perpetual Motion may be found at Bil ling fgate.

I believe that fome of our inferior High Clergy have studied Rhetoric in the Billing/gate Grammar.

I believe that too much Learning will ne'er make 'cm mad.

I believe that Tory and Traitor begin with a Letter, fo do Prift-craft and Perjury.

I believe I need not paufe long to determine, whether they are fynonimous Terms.

I believe that to find out a Longitude, a Man would do well to attend a Law-Suit in the Chancery of Ireland.

I believe that a Woman is generally at the Bottom of Mischief, and that great Mifchief is generally at the Bottom of a Woman.

I believe I could prove, by the Rule of Good-fellowhip, that a Beau makes a Figure only among Cyphers, and that he is a Cypher among Figures.

I believe that my very good Friend, Mr. Congreve, was in the Right, when he queftioned whether the Bible faved more Souls in Wefiminfter-Abbey, than it damned in W'eftminster-Hall.

I believe that fome Lords are wife, and fome are atherife.

I lelieve that Father Abraham was older than his Son Ifaac.

I believe that three Groats make one Shilling, and not thrie Shillings.

I be

I believe that the Anathemas of our inferior Clergy are not ratified in Heaven; and that there is a Power on Earth which can reverse them, maugre the Opinion of the charitable and meek Dr. Sacheverell.

I believe that the faid Gentlemen love Eating and Drinking as well as their Neighbours.

I believe that fome Lords deferve to be Kenmurized who now fleep in a whole Skin.

I believe that Gregg was a Fool and a Traitor.
I believe

Sat eft quod fufficit.

There are now in the Press, and will speedily be published, the following Books, viz.

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1.THE Independency, Supremacy, and Divinity of the P Clergy afferted. By Harry of

Helbourn.

2. A Canker in fome Men's Eftates, or the Neceffity of restoring Abby-Lands. By St. Michael of Hammersmith. 3. Faith without Reafon: Or, The Laity have no Right to their Senfes. By the wealthy Dean of C▬▬▬r. 4. Modern and orthodox Inconfiftencies: Or, Papifts better Friends to the Church than Diffenters. By Luke Prifbyter.

5. St. Peter robbed of his Keys: Or, the Porters of Heaven found guilty of Fraud and Corruption. By twelve Laymen.

6. An Argument proving that to preach the Lawfulnefs of Vice and Immorality, is the most effectual Method to prevent thofe Evils. By a Lover of the Mathematics.

Nitimur in Vetitum.

7. The Clergy reformed. A very valuable Piece. Diu multumq; defideratum.,

* Qu. What Church?

VOL. II.

R

Priefia

Prieftianity: or, A View of the Disparity between the Apostles and the Modern inferior Clergy.

By the Author of The Creed of an Independent Whig.

Anno 1720.

The PREFACE.

To promote Peace and Quietness, to endeavour a Reconciliation among Neighbours, is undoubtedly a Duty incumbent on all Mankind; but surely They, who call themselves the Servants of the Lord, the Succeffors and Followers of the Apostles, are under a double Obligation to perform this Christian Office. If we make a Scrutiny into the Actions and Ingratitude of the Inferior Clergy, we fhall find, that, Viper-like, they attempt to fting the Bo Som, which took Compaffion on them, nourished them, and gave them (as it were) fecond Life. If we fearch for the Original of our domeftic Feuds and petty Quarrels, we shall difcover that they are caused by the Chaplain, or one of his Tribe; at least it will appear, that he was the Encourager, if not the Author, of them. When a Shepherd will intruft a Wolf with the Care of his Flock, then I shall confent that a Prief may be Superintendant of my Family.

Whether it be by Nature or Compact, I shall not at prefent inquire; but it is demonftrable beyond Contradiction, that a Prieft is no fooner admitted into a Family, than he begins to worm himself into every Secret; and when he has difcovered their Failings (for who is there that does not fall feven Times every Day?) he lords it over them with a fupercilious Countenance, and haughtily ufurps an arbitrary Sway. He glories that he has it in his Power to create Quarrels, and foment Animofitics; he expects great Advantage from troubled Waters, and, if Threats will not prevail, creates Divifions in the Family, difunites the

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Affections (thofe mutual Bands of harmonious Wedlock) and fcruples not to put afunder whom God has joined. But thefe fpiritual Bufy-bodies do often meet with Punishment; though not in proportion to their Demcrit: The good Man of the Family (to use the Country Phrafe) perceiving the Tricks and Artifices of the well-fed Levite (not to mention his Amours and Intrigues) gives him a Dimittis, and reduces him to his primitive Neceffity of Preaching and Praying for Bread.

If as due Care was taken in the Execution of our Laws, as in the Enacting them, it would conduce much to the Prefrvation and Continuance of that Oeconomy and good Ordir, that Amity and even Temper, which is requifite in every Family. There is a Penalty on every Mafter and Minrifs, who shall take any Servants without a Certifi-. care of their good Behaviour from the Pcrfon by whom they were last employed; and this Law was thought to be so reasonable and just in its Nature (and who can make any Objection to it?) that it affects all Men alike: The highest Quality are as liable to this Penalty, as the inferior Subjects. If therefore they, who are refolved to keep Chaplains (whether from a Motive of Pride, and to gain the Esteem of the World, or for Fashion-fake only) would demand a Certificate from fuch as cringe for the Office; ave should find few Levites, who could produce Credentials fufficient to intitle them to a fecond Reception. Befides, much Confufion and Heart-burnings might be avoided by complying with this Law; and much more be prevented, if no Prieft were admitted to direct or dictate to a Family, but when he appears in his confecrated Afylum.

A Levite, take him in the Capacity of a Chaplain or Parish-Prieft, is but a menial Servant; and I have met with one only, (and never heard of another) who was fo just to his own Confcience, and ingenious to the World, to confefs that undeniable Pofition. Will they preach or pray without Hire? No. Will they guide and direct you without a Reward? No. Are they not maintained by the Parish, or by fuch Perfons avho unhappily take them into their Houses? No Man can deny it. Why therefore should they difown the Appellation which their Wages intitle them to? We can affign no other Reason than an innate Difpofition to Pride and Arrogance. If they were kept at that Distance, avhich

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which is abfolutely necessary for the Humiliation of a Servant, they would be more mannerly and lefs afpiring. pampered Chaplain flatters himself with having as much Right to my Lady's Favours as her Lap-dog, and no doubt but he could willingly fupply his Place; while the Parish-Priest, through our Indulgence and Familiarity, firft affumes to be our Equal, and then commands Admittance to our Wives and Daughters. There is one Thing worthy of our Notice, clean Straw and flender Dict (to peak in the Language of Sportsmen) preserves a Spaniel's Nofe, and caufes him to remember his Duty.

I know not any Subject which is fo liable to Laughter and Ridicule, no Topic, which lays jo juftifiable a Foundation for Banter, as to hear the Inferior Clergy affirm, that they are indued with the Holy Ghost. If they ftudied to do Religion a Differvice, they could not more effectually accomplish it, than by fuch an Affertion. I own, indeed, that they pretend as much to Religion, as the Warming-pan Gentleman does to the Crown of GreatBritain; but their Actions manifeft a Disfruft of their Doctrine, and run counter to their own Rules. From what Period of Time do they date the Gift of Inspiration? From the Moment, no doubt, of their Ordination: It will fellow, therefore, that all who receive Holy Orders, are endued with that divine Bleffing. If this be granted. then it is impoffible for a Pricft to preach or write amifs, or indeed to be guilty of any Crime. But we are coninced by Experience, that they preach and write what is not Orthodox, and lead enormous and irregular Lives : From whence it is evident, that they pretend to have that heavenly Gift, which they have not.

Can the Holy Ghost speak with a double Tongue? No Man fure will be fo prefumptuous to own fuch glaring-Blafphemy: And yet we must give Credit to this, if we believe

acknowledge the Tribe of Levi to be infpired. For let us enquire into the Tenets of the Priests of Rome, and those of England (omitting all others) and we shall find them as oppofite to each other as North to South: Yet no Man will deny the Validity of their Ordination. Nay, let us compare the Doctrine of our English Priefts with one another, and we fhall find them to clash violently; fo that we are brought under this Dilemma, that the Holy Ghoft contradicts him

Self,

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