The grounds & occasions of the contempt of the clergy and religion enquired into in a letter written to R.L. Eachard, John, 1636?-1697. 1672 Approx. 163 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 85 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-07 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A39232 Wing E52 ESTC R31398 11961541 ocm 11961541 51592 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A39232) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 51592) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1005:9) The grounds & occasions of the contempt of the clergy and religion enquired into in a letter written to R.L. Eachard, John, 1636?-1697. The eighth edition. [8], 160 p. Printed by E. Tyler and R. Holt for Nathaniel Brooke ..., London : 1672. Attributed to Eachard by Wing and NUC pre-1956 imprints. Reproduction of original in the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign Campus). Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Religious satire, English. Clergy -- England. 2003-02 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-05 Judith Siefring Sampled and proofread 2003-05 Judith Siefring Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE GROUNDS & OCCASIONS OF THE CONTEMPT OF THE CLERGY AND RELIGION Enquired into . In a LETTER written to R. L. The Eighth Edition . LONDON , Printed by E. Tyler and R. Holt , for Nathaniel Brooke , at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhil , near the Royal Exchange . 1672. THE PREFACE TO THE READER . I Can very easily phansie , that many upon the very first sight of the Title , will presently imagine , that the Authour does either want the great Tithes , lying under the pressure of some pitiful Vicaridge ; or that he is much out of humour , and dissatisfied with the present condition of Affairs ; or lastly , that he writes to no purpose at all , there having been an abundance of unprofitable Advisers in this kind . As to my being under some low Church Dispensation , you may know , I write not out of a pinching necessity , or out of any rising Design ; and you may please to believe , that although I have a most solemn reverence for the Clergy in general , and especially for that of England ; yet , for my own part , I must confess to you , I am not of that Holy Employment ; and have as little thoughts of being Dean or Bishop , as they that think so , have hopes of being all Lord Keepers . Nor less mistaken will they be , that shall judge me in the least discontented , or any ways disposed to disturb the peace of the present settled Church : For in good truth , I have neither lost Kings nor Bishops Lands ; that should incline me to a surly and quarrelsome complaining : As many be , who would have been glad enough to see His Majesty restored , and would have endured Bishops daintily well , had they lost no Money by their coming in . I am not , I 'll assure you , any of those occasional Writers , that missing preferment in the Vniversity can presently write you their new ways of Education ; or being a little tormented with an ill chosen Wife , set forth the Doctrine of Divorce to be truly Evangelical : The cause of these few sheets was honest and innocent , and as free from all passion , as any design . As for the last thing which I supposed objected , viz. That this Book is altogether needless , there having been an infinite number of Church and Clergy-Menders , that have made many tedious and unsuccessful offers : I must needs confess , that it were very unreasonable for me to expect a better reward : Only thus much I think with Modesty may be said ; that I cannot , at present , call to mind any thing that is propounded , but what is very hopeful , and easily accomplished . For indeed , should I go about to tell you , that a Child can never prove a profitable instructor of the people , unless born when the Sun is in Aries ; or brought up in a School that stands full South ; that he can never be able to govern a parish , unless he can ride the great Horse ; or that he can never go through the great Work of the Ministry , unless , for three hundred years backward , it can be proved that none of his Family ever had Cough , Ague , or gray Hair ; then I should very patiently endure , to be reckoned amongst the vainest , that ever made attempt . But believe me , Reader , I am not , as you will easily see , any contriver of an incorruptible and pure Crystalline Church ; or any expecter of a Reign of nothing but Saints and Worthies : But only an honest and hearty wisher , that the best of our Clergy might forever continue as they are , rich , and learned ; and that the rest might be very useful , and well esteemed of in their Profession . THE GROUNDS & OCCASIONS OF THE CONTEMPT OF THE CLERGY & RELIGION Enquired into . SIR , THat short Discourse , which we lately had concerning the Clergy , continues so fresh in your mind , that I perceive , by your last , you are more than a little troubled to observe that disesteem that lies upon several of those holy Men. Your good wishes for the Church , I know , are very strong and unfeigned , and your hopes of the World receiving much more advantage , and better advice , from some of the Clergy , than usually it is found by Experience to do , are neither needless nor impossible . And as I have always been a devout admirer , as well as strict observer of your actions ; so I have constantly taken a great delight to concur with you in your very thoughts . Whereupon it is , Sir , that I have spent some few hours upon that which was the occasion of your last Letter , and the Subject of our late Discourse . And before , Sir , I enter upon telling you what are my apprehensions ; I must most heartily profess , that for my own part , I did never think , since at all I understood the excellency and perfection of a Church , but that Ours now lately Restored , as formerly Established , does far out-go , as to all Christian ends and purposes , either the pomp and bravery of Rome her self , or the best of Free Spiritual States . But if so be it be allowable , where we have so undoubtedly learned and honorable a Clergy , to suppose that some of that sacred Profession , might possibly have attain'd to a greater degree of esteem and usefulness to the World ; then I hope what has thus long hindred so great and desirable a Blessing to this Nation , may be modestly ghess'd at ; either without giving any wilful offence to the present Church ; or any great trouble , dear Sir , to your self : And if I be not very much mistaken , whatever has heretofore , or does at present lessen the value of our Clergy , or render it in any degree less serviceable to the World than might be reasonably hoped , may be easily referred to two very plain things ; the Ignorance of some , and the Poverty of others of the Clergy . And first , as to the Ignorance of some of our Clergy ; if we would make a search to purpose , we must go as deep as the very beginnings of Education ; and , doubtless , may lay a great part of our misfortunes to the old fashioned Methods and Discipline of Schooling it self : Upon the well ordering of which , although much of the improvement of our Clergy cannot be denied mainly to depend ; yet by reason this is so well known to your self , as also , that there has been many of undoubted Learning and Experience , that have set out their several Models for this purpose ; I shall therefore only mention such loss of time and abuse of youth , as is most remarkable and mischievous , and as could not be conveniently omitted in a Discourse of this nature , though never so short . And first of all , it were certainly worth the considering , whether it be unavoidably necessary to keep Lads to sixteen or seventeen years of Age , in pure slavery to a few Latin and Greek words ? Or whether it may not be more convenient , especially if we call to mind their natural inclinations to ease and idleness , and how hardly they are perswaded of the excellency of the liberal Arts and Sciences , any further than the smart of the last piece of Discipline is fresh in their memories ; whether I say it be not more proper and beneficial , to mix with those unpleasant tasks and drudgeries , something that in probability might not only take much better with them , but might also be much easier obtained ? As suppose , some part of time was allotted them for the reading of some innocent English Authours ; where they need not go every line so unwillingly to a tormenting Dictionary ; and whereby they might come in a short time to apprehend common sence ; and to begin to judge what is true : For you shall have Lads that are arch knaves at the Nominative Case , and that have a notable quick Eye at spying out the Verb , who for want of reading such common and familiar Books , shall understand no more of what is very plain and easie , than a well educated Dog or Horse . Or suppose , they were taught ( as they might much easier be , than what is commonly offered to them ) the principles of Arithmetick , Geometry , and such alluring parts of Learning : As these things undoubtedly would be much more useful , so much more delightful to them , than to be tormented with a tedious story how Phaeton broke his Neck ; or how many Nuts and Apples Tityrus had for his Supper : For most certainly Youths , if handsomely dealt with , are much inclinable to Emulation , & to a very useful esteem of Glory ; and more especially , if it be the reward of Knowledge ; and therefore if such things were carefully and discretely propounded to them , wherein they might not only earnestly contend amongst themselves , but might also see how far they outskil the rest of the World ; a Lad hereby would think himself high and mighty , and would certainly take great delight in contemning the next unlearned Mortal he meets withal . But if instead hereof , you diet him with nothing but with Rules and Exceptions ; with tiresome Repetitions of Amo's and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; setting a day also apart to recite verbatim all the burdensom task of the foregoing week ( which I am confident is usually as dreadful as an old Parliament Fast ) we must needs believe , that such a one , thus managed , will scarce think to prove immortal by such performances , and accomplishments as these . You know very well , Sir , that Lads in the general , have but a kind of ugly and odd conception of Learning ; and look upon it as such a starving thing , and unnecessary perfection , ( especially as it is usually dispens'd out unto them ) that Nine-pins or Span-counter are judged much more heavenly employments : And therefore what pleasure , do we think , can such a one take , in being bound to get against breakfast two or three hundred Rumblers out of Homer , in commendation of Achilles's Toes , or the Grecians Boots ? Or to have measured out unto him , very early in the morning , fifteen or twenty well laid on Lashes , for letting a syllable slip too soon , or hanging too long upon it ? Doubtless , instant execution upon such grand miscarriages as these , will eternally engage him to a most admirable opinion of the Muses . Lads , certainly , ought to be won by all possible Arts and Devices , and though many have invented fine Pictures and Games , to cheat them into the undertaking of unreasonable burdens , yet this by no means is such a lasting temptation , as the propounding of that , which in it self is pleasant and alluring : For we shall find very many , though of no excelling quickness , will soon perceive the design of the Landskip , and so looking through the veil , will then begin to take as little delight in those pretty contrivances , as in getting by heart three or four leaves of ungay'd nonsence . Neither seems the stratagem of Money to be so prevailing and catching , as a right down offering of such Books which are ingenious and convenient ; there being but very few so intolerably careful of their Bellies , as to look upon the hopes of a Cake , or a few Apples , to be a sufficient recompense for cracking their Pates with a heap of independent words . I am not sensible , that I have said any thing in disparagement of those two famous Tongues , the Greek and Latin , there being much reason to value them beyond others ; because the best of humane Learning has been delivered unto us in those Languages . But he that worships them , purely out of honour to Rome and Athens , having little or no respect to the usefulness and excellency of the Books themselves ( as many do ) it is a sign he has a great esteem and reverence of Antiquity , but I think him by no means comparable for happiness to him who catches Frogs , or hunts Butter-flies . That some Languages therefore ought to be studied , is in a manner absolutely necessary , unless all were brought to one ( which would be the happiest thing that the World could wish for ; ) but whether the beginning of them , might not be more insensibly instilled , and more advantagiously obtained , by reading philosophical , as well as other ingenious Authours , than Ianua Linguarum's , crabbed Poems and cross-grain'd Prose , as it hath been heretofore by others , so it ought to be afresh considered by all well-wishers either to the Clergy or Learning . I know where it is the fashion of some Schools , to prescribe to a Lad for his Evening refreshment , out of Commenius , all the terms of Art belonging to Anatomy , Mathematicks , or some such piece of Learning . Now , is it not a very likely thing that a Lad should take most absolute delight in conquering such a pleasant Task , where , perhaps , he has two or three hundred words to keep in mind , with a very small proportion of sence thereunto belonging ; whereas the use and full meaning of all those difficult terms , would have been most insensibly obteined , by leisurely reading in particular this , or the other Science ? Is it not also likely to be very savoury , and of comfortable use , to one , that can scarce distinguish between Virtue and Vice , to be tasked with high and moral Poems ? For example : It is usually said , by those that are intimately acquainted with him , that Homer's Iliads and Odysses contain mystically all the Moral Law for certain , if not a great part of the Gospel ( I suppose much after that rate that Rablais said his Garagantua contained all the Ten Commandements ) but perceivable only to those that have a Poetical discerning Spirit ; with which gift , I suppose , few at School are so early qualified . Those admirable Verses , Sir , or yours , both English and others , which you have sometimes favoured me with a sight of , will not suffer me to be so sottish , as to slight or undervalue so great and noble an Accomplishment . But the committing of such high , and brave senc'd Poems to a School-boy , whose main business is to search out cunningly the Antecedent and the Relative , to lie at catch for a spruce phrase , a Proverb , or a quaint and pithy sentence , is not only to very little purpose , but that having gargled only those elegant Books at School , this serves them instead of reading them afterward , and does in a manner prevent their being further lookt into : So that all the improvement , whatsoever it be , that may be reap'd out of the best and choicest Poets , is for the most part utterly lost ; in that a time is usually chosen of reading them , when discretion is much wanting to gain thence any true advantage . Thus that admirable and highly useful Morality Tully's Offices , because it is a Book commonly construed at School , is generally afterwards , so contemn'd by Academicks , that it is a long hours work to convince them , that it is worthy of being look'd into again , because they reckon it as a Book read over at School , and no question notably digested . If therefore the ill methods of Schooling does not only occasion a great loss of time there , but also does beget in Lads a very odd opinion and apprehension of Learning , and much disposes them to be idle , when got a little free from the usual severities ; and that the hopes of more or less improvement in the Universities , very much depend hereupon , it is without all doubt , the great concernment of all that wish well to the Church , that such care and regard be had to the management of Schools , that the Clergy be not so much obstructed in their first attempts and preparations to Learning . I cannot , Sir , possibly be so ignorant , as not to consider , that what has been now offer'd upon this argument , has not only been largely insisted on by others , but also refers not particularly to the Clergy ( whose welfare and esteem I seem at present in a special manner solicitous about ) but in general to all learned Professions , and therefore might reasonably have been omitted ; which certainly I had done , had I not call'd to mind , that of those many , that propound to themselves Learning for a Profession , there is scarce one of ten , but that his lot , choice , or necessity , determines him to the study of Divinity . Thus , Sir , I have given you my thoughts concerning the orders and customs of common Schools : A consideration in my apprehension not slightly to be weighed ; being that to me seems hereupon very much to depend the Learning and Wisdom of the Clergy , and the Prosperity of the Church . The next unhappiness , that seems to have hindred some of our Clergy from arriving to that degree of understanding , that becomes such an holy Office , whereby their company and discourses might be much more than they commonly are valued and desired , is , the inconsiderate sending of all kind of Lads to the Universities , let their parts be never so low and pitiful , the instructions they have lain under never so mean and contemptible , and the Purses of their Friends never so short to maintain them there . If they have but the commendation of some lamentable and pitiful Construing-Master , it passes for sufficient evidence , that they will prove persons very eminent in the Church . That is to say , if a Lad has but a lusty and well-bearing Memory ( this being the usual and almost only thing whereby they judge of their abilities ) if he can sing over very tunably three or four stanza's of Lilly's Poetry , be very quick and ready to tell what 's Latin for all the Instruments belonging to his Fathers Shop ; if presently , upon the first scanning , he knows a sponde from a dactyl ; and can fit a few of those same without any sence to his fingers ends ; if lastly , he can say perfectly by heart his Academick Catechism , in pure and passing Latin , i. e. What is his name ? Where went he to School ? and What Author is he best and chiefly skill'd in ? A forward Boy , cries the School-Master , a very pregnant Child ! ten thousand pities , but he should be a Scholar : He proves a brave Clergy-man , I 'l warrant you . Away to the University he must needs go ; then for a little Logick , a little Ethicks , and God knows a very little of every thing else , and the next time you meet him it is in the Pulpit . Neither ought the mischief which arises from small Country-Schools to pass unconsidered ; the little Governours whereof , having for the most part , not suck'd in above six or seven mouths full of University Air , must yet by all means suppose themselves so notably furnished with all sorts of Instructions , and are so ambitious of the glory of being counted able to send forth now and then to Oxford or Cambridge , from the little House by the Church-yard's side , one of their ill educated Disciples , that to such as these oft-times is committed the guidance and instruction of a whole Parish : whose parts and improvements duely considered , will scarce render them fit Governours of a small Grammar-Castle . Not that it is necessary to believe , that there never was a learned or useful Person in the Church , but such whose education had been at Westminster or S. Paul's : But , whereas most of the small Schools , being by their first Founders design'd only for the advantage of poor Parish-Children ; and also that the stipend is usually so small and discouraging , that very few , who can do much more than teach to write and read , will accept of such Preferment ; for these to pretend to rig out their small ones for an University Life , prove oft-times a very great inconvenience and dammage to the Church . And as many such dismal things are sent forth thus with very small tackling , so not a few are predestinated thither by their Friends , from the foresight of a good Benefice . If there be rich Pasture , profitable Customs , and that Henry the Eighth has taken out no Toll , the Holy Land is a very good Land , and affords abundance of Milk and Honey : Far be it from their Consciences the considering whether the Lad is likely to be serviceable to the Church , or to make wiser and better any of his Parishioners . All this may seem at first sight to be easily avoided by a strict examination at the Universities , and so returning by the next Carrier all that was sent up not fit for their purpose . But because many of their Relations are oft-times of an inferiour Condition ; and who either by imprudent Counsellors , or else out of a tickling conceit of their Sons being , forsooth , an University Scholar , have purposely omitted all other opportunities of a livelihood , to return such , would seem a very sharp and severe disappointment . Possibly it might be much better , if Parents themselves , or their Friends , would be much more wary of determining their Children to the Trade of Learning . And if some of undoubted knowledge and judgment , would offer their advice ; and speak their hopes of a Lad about thirteen or fourteen years of Age ( which I 'll assure you , Sir , may be done without conjuring : ) and never omit to enquire , whether his relations are able and willing to maintain him seven years at the University , or see some certain way of being continued there so long , by the help of Friends or others ; as also upon no such conditions , as shall in likelihood deprive him of the greatest parts of his Studies . For it is a common fashion of a great many , to complement , and invite inferiour Peoples Children to the University , and there pretend to make such an all-bountiful provision for them , as they shall not fail of coming to a very eminent degree of Learning : But when they come there , they shall save a Servants Wages . They took therefore heretofore a very good method to prevent Sizars over-heating their brains : Bed-making , Chamber-sweeping , and Water-fetching , were doubtless great preservatives against too much vain Philosophy . Now certainly such pretended savours and kindnesses as these , are the most right down discourtesies in the World. For it is ten times more happy , both for a Lad and the Church , to be a Corn-cutter , or Tooth-drawer , to make or mend Shooes , or to be of any inferiour Profession , than to be invited to , and promised the Conveniencies of a learned Education , and to have his name only stand airing upon the College Tables , and his chief business shall be to buy Eggs and Butter . Neither ought Lads parts , before they be determined to the University be only considered , and likelihood of being disappointed in their Studies , but also Abilities or hopes of being maintain'd until they be Masters of Arts. For whereas two hundred , for the most part , yearly Commence , scarce the fifth part of these continue after their taking the first degree . As for the rest , having exactly learned , Quid est Logica ? and Quot sunt Virtutes Morales ? down they go by the first Carrier , upon the top of the Pack , into the West or North , or elsewhere , according as their Estates lye , with Burgersdicius , Eustachius , and such great helps of Divinity ; and then for Propagation of the Gospel . By that time they can say the Predicaments and Creed , they have their Choice of Preaching , or Starving ▪ Now , what a Champion for Truth is such a thing likely to be ? What an huge blaze he makes in the Church ? What a Raiser of Doctrines , what a Confounder of Heresies , what an able Interpreter of hard Places , what a Resolver of Cases of Conscience , and what a prudent Guide must he needs be to all his Parish ? You may possibly think , Sir , that this so early preaching might be easily avoided , by with-holding Holy Orders : the Church having very prudently constituted in Her Canons , that none under Twenty three Years of Age ( which is the usual Age after seven Years being at the University ) should be admitted that great Employment . This indeed might seem to do some service , were it carefully observed ; and were there not a thing to be got , called a Dispensation ; which will presently make you as old as you please . But if you will , Sir , we 'll suppose that Orders were strictly denyed to all , unless qualified according to Canon . I cannot foresee any other Remedy , but that most of those University Youngsters must fall to the Parish , and become a Town Charge , until they be of Spiritual Age. For Philosophy is a very idle thing , when one is cold : And a small System of Divinity ( though it be Wollebius himself ) is not sufficient when one is hungry . What then shall we do with them , and where shall we dispose of them until they come to a holy Ripeness ? May we venture them into the Desk to read Service ? That cannot be , because not capable : Besides , the tempting Pulpit usually stands too near . Or , shall we trust them in some good Gentlemens houses , there to perform holy things ? With all my heart , so that they may not be called down from their Studies to say Grace to every health : That they may have a little better Wages than the Cook or Butler : As also that there be a Groom in the House , besides the Chaplain : ( For sometimes to the Ten pounds a year , they crowd the looking after a couple of Geldings : ) And that he may not be sent from Table , picking his Teeth , and sighing with his Hat under his Arm , whilest the Knight and my Lady eat up the Tarts and Chickens : It may be also convenient , if he were suffered to speak now and then in the Parlour , besides at Grace and Prayer time : And that my Cousin Abigail and he sit not too near one another at Meals : Nor be presented together to the little Vicarage . All this , Sir , must be thought of : For in good earnest , a Person , at all thoughtful of himself and Conscience , had much better chuse to live with nothing but Beans and Pease-pottage ( so that he may have the command of his thoughts and time ) than to have his second and third Courses , and to obey the unreasonable humours of some Families . And , as some think , two or three years continuance in the University , to be time sufficient for being very great Instruments in the Church ; so others we have so moderate , as to count that a solemn admission , and a formal paying of College Detriments , without the trouble of Philosophical Discourses , Disputations , and the like , are Virtues that will influence as far as Newcastle , and improve , though at never such a distance . So strangely possessed are People in general , with the easiness and small Preparations that are requisite to the Undertaking of the Ministry , that , whereas in other Professions they plainly see what considerable time is spent , before they have any hopes of arriving to skill enough to practise , with any confidence , what they have design'd ; yet to preach to ordinary People , and govern a Country-parish , is usually judg'd such an easie performance , that any body counts himself fit for the Employment . We find very few so unreasonably confident of their parts , as to profess either Law , or Physick , without either a considerable continuance in some of the Inns of Courts , or an industrious search in Herbs , Anatomy , Chymistry , and the like ; unless it be only to make a Bond ; or give a Glyster . But , as for the knack of Preaching , as they call it , that is such a very easie attainment , that he is counted dull to purpose that is not able at a very small warning , to fasten upon any Text of Scripture ; and to tear and tumble it till the Glass be out . Many , I know very well , are forced to discontinue , having neither stock of their own , nor Friends to maintain them in the University . But , whereas a Man's Profession and Employment in this World , is very much in his own , or in the Choice of such who are most nearly concern'd for him : He therefore that foresees that he is not likely to have the advantage of a continued Education , he had much better commit himself to an approved-of Cobler or Tinker , wherein he may be duly respected according to his Office and condition of Life , than to be only a disesteemed Pettifogger or Empirick in Divinity . By this time , Sir , I hope you begin to consider , what a great disadvantage it has been to the Church and Religion , the meer venturous and inconsiderate determining of Youths to the Profession of Learning . There is still one thing by a very few at all minded , that ought also not to be overlooked ; and that is , a good Constitution , and Health of Body . And therefore discreet and wise Physicians ought also to be consulted , before an absolute Resolve be made to live the life of the Learned . For he that has strength enough to buy and bargain , may be of a very unfit habit of body to sit still so much , as in general is requisite , to a competent degree of Learning : For although reading and thinking , breaks neither Legs nor Arms , yet certainly there is nothing that so flags the Spirits , disorders the Blood , and enfeebles the whole Body of Man , as intense Studies . As for him that rives Blocks , or carries Packs , there is no great expence of parts , no Anxiety of Mind , no great Intellectual Pensiveness : Let him but wipe his Forehead , and he is perfectly recovered . But he that has many Languages to remember ; the Nature almost of the whole World to consult , many Histories , Fathers , and Councils to search into , if the Fabrick of his body be not strong and healthful , you will soon find him as thin as Metaphysicks , and look as piercing as School subtlety . This , Sir , could not be conveniently omitted ; not only , because many are very careless in this point , and at a venture determine their young Relations to Learning ; but because , for the most part , if amongst many , there be but one of all the Family that is weak and sickly , that is languishing and consumptive , this of all the rest , as counted not fit for any course Employment , shall be pick'd out as a choice Vessel for the Church : Whereas most evidently , he is much more able to dig daily in the Mines , than to sit cross-legg'd musing upon his Book . I am very sensible , how obvious it might be here to hint , that , this so curious and severe inquiry , would much hinder the practice , and abate the flourishing of the Universities : As also , there has been several , and are still many living Creatures in the World , who whilst young , were of a very slow and meek apprehension , have yet afterward cheared up into a great briskness , and became Masters of much Reason : And others there have been , who , although forced to a short continuance in the University , and that oft-times interrupted by unavoidable services , have yet by singular care and industry , proved very famous in their Generation : And lastly , some also of very feeble and crasie Constitutions in their Childhood , have out-studied their distempers , and have become very healthful , and serviceable in the Church . As for the flourishing , Sir , of the Universities ; what has been before said , aims not in the least at Gentlemen , whose coming thither is chiefly for the hopes of single improvement , and whose Estates do free them from the necessity of making a gain of Arts and Sciences ; but only at such as intend to make Learning their Profession , as well as Accomplishment : So that our Schools may be still as full of Flourishings , of fine Cloaths , rich Gowns , and future Benefactors , as ever . And suppose we do imagine , as it is not necessary we should , that the number should be a little lessen'd ; this surely will not abate the true splendour of an University in any Man's opinion , but his , who reckons the flourishing thereof , rather from the multitude of meer Gowns , than from the Ingenuity and Learning of those that wear them ; no more than we have reason to count the flourishing of the Church , from that vast number of People that crowd into Holy Orders , rather than from those Learned and useful Persons that defend her Truths and manifest her Ways . But , I say , I do not see any perfect necessity , that our Schools should hereupon be thinn'd and less frequented ; having said nothing against the Multitude , but the indiscreet Choice . If therefore , instead of such either of inferiour parts , or a feeble Constitution , or of unable Friends , there were pick'd out those that were of a tolerable Ingenuity , of a study-bearing Body , and had good hopes of being continued ; as hence there is nothing to hinder our Universities from being full , so likewise from being of great Credit and Learning . Not to deny then , but that now and then there has been a Lad of very submissive parts , and perhaps no great share of time allow'd him for his Studies , who have proved , beyond all expectation , brave and glorious : Yet surely we are not to over-reckon this so rare a hit , as to think that one such proving Lad , should make recompense and satisfaction for those many weak ones ( as the common people love to phrase them ) that are in the Church . And that no care ought to be taken , no choice made , no Maintenance provided or considered , because now and then in an Age , one miraculously beyond all hopes , proves learned and useful , is a practice , whereby never greater Mischiefs , and disesteem has been brought upon the Clergy . I have in short , Sir , run over what seemed to me , the first Occasions of that small learning , that is to be found amongst some of the Clergy . I shall now pass from Schooling to the Universities . I am not so unmindful of that Devotion which I owe to those places , nor of that great esteem I profess to have of the Guides and Governours thereof , as to go about to prescribe new Forms and Schemes of Education , where Wisdom has laid her Top-stone . Neither shall I here examine which Philosophy , the old or new , makes the best Sermons ▪ it is hard to say that Exhortations can be to no purpose , if the Preacher believes that the Earth turns round : Or , that his Reproofs can take no effect , unless he will suppose a Vacuum . There has been good Sermons , no question , made in the days of Materia Prima , and Occult Qualities : And there is doubtless , still good Discourses now under the Reign of Atoms . There is but two things wherein I count the Clergy chiefly concerned ( as to University Improvements ) that at present I shall venture to make Inquiry into . And the first is this ; Whether or no it were not highly useful ( especially for the Clergy , who are supposed to speak English to the People ) that English Exercises were imposed upon Lads , if not in publick Schools , yet at least privately . Not , but that I am abundantly satisfied that Latin , O Latin ! 't is the all in all , and the very cream of the Jest : As also , that Oratory is the same in all Languages : The same Rules being observed , the same Method , the same Arguments and Arts of perswasion ; But yet it seems somewhat beyond the reach of ordinary Youth , so to apprehend those general Laws , as to make a just and allowable use of them in all Languages , unless exercised particularly in them . Now , we know , the Language that the very learned part of this Nation must trust to live by , unless it be to make a Bond , or prescribe a Purge ( which possibly may not oblige or work so well in any other Language as Latin ) is the English. And after a Lad has taken his leave of Madam University , God bless him , he is not likely to deal afterward with much Latin ; unless it be to checker a Sermon , or to say Salveto to some travelling Dominatio Vestra . Neither is it enough to say , that the English is the Language with which we are swaddled and rock'd asleep , and therefore there needs none of this artificial and superadded care . For there be those that speak very well , plainly , and to the purpose , and yet write most pernicious and phantastical stuff : Thinking , that whatsoever is written must be more than ordinary , must be beyond the guise of common speech , must savour of Reading and learning , though it be altogether needless , and perfectly ridiculous . Neither ought we to suppose it sufficient , that English Books be frequently read ; because there be of all sorts good and bad ( and the worst are likely to be admired by Youth more than the best ) unless Exercises be required of Lads , whereby it may be ghessed what their judgment is , where they be mistaken , and what Authors they propound to themselves for imitation . For by this means they may be corrected and advised early , according as occasion shall require : Which if not done , their ill stile will be so confirmed , their improprieties of speech will become so natural , that it will be a very hard matter to stir or alter their fashion of Writing . It is very curious to observe , what delicate Letters your young Students write after they have got a little smack of University Learning ! In what elaborate heights , and tossing nonsense will they greet a right-down English Father , or Country Friend ! If there be a plain word in it , and such as is used at home , this tasts not , say they , of Education among Philosophers , and it is counted damnable Duncery and want of Phansie : Because , Your Loving Friend , or Humble Servant , is a common phrase in Countrey-Letters ; therefore the young Epistler is Yours to the Antipodes , or at least to the Centre of the Earth ; and because ordinary Folks love and respect you , therefore you are to him the Pole Star , a Iacob's Staff , a Load-stone , and a Damask Rose . And the misery of it is , this pernicious accustom'd way of expression , does not only oft-times go along with 'em to their Benefice , but accompanies them to the very Grave : And for the most part an ordinary Cheesmonger or Plum-seller , that scarce ever heard of an University , shall write much better sense , and more to the purpose than these young Philosophers , who injudiciously hunting only for great words , make themselves learnedly ridiculous . Neither can it be easily apprehended , how the use of English Exercises should any ways hinder the improvement in the Latin Tongue ; but rather be much to its advantage : And this may be easily believed , considering what dainty stuff is usually produced for a Latin Entertainment . Chicken-broth is not thinner than that which is commonly offered for a piece of most pleading and convincing sence . For , I 'll but suppose an Academick Youngster to be put upon a Latin Oration : Away he goes presently to his Magazine of collected Phrases ; he picks out all the Glitterings he can find ; he hales in all Proverbs , Flowers , Poetical Snaps , Tales out of the Dictionary , or else ready latin'd to his hand out of Licosthenes : This done , he comes to the end of the Table , and having made a submissive Leg , and a little admir'd the number , and understanding countenances of his Auditors ( let the subject be what it will ) he falls presently into a most lamentable complaint of his insufficiency and tenuity : That he poor thing , hath no acquaintance with above a Muse and a half ; and that he never drunk above six-q . of Helicon , and you have put him here upon such a task ( perhaps the business is only , which is the noblest Creature a Flea or a Louse ) that would much better fit some old soker at Parnassus , than his sipping unexperienc'd Bibbership . Alas , poor Child ! he is sorry at the very soul that he has no better speech ; and wonders in his heart , that you will lose so much time as to hear him : For he has neither Squibs nor Fireworks , Stars nor Glories ; the curs'd Carrier lost his best Book of Phrases , and the Malicious Mice and Rats eat up all his Pearls and Golden Sentences : Then he tickles over a little the skirts of the Business : By and by , for a similitude from the Sun or Moon ; or if they be not at leisure , from the grey ey'd Morn , a shady Grove , or a purling Stream : This done , he tells you , that Barnaby-bright would be much too short for him to tell you all that he could say ; and so fearing he should break the thread of your patience , he concludes . Now it seems , Sir , very probable , that if Lads did but first of all determine in English , what they intend to say in Latin , they would of themselves soon discern the triflingness of such Apologies , the pittifulness of their matter , and the impertinency of their Tales and Phansies , and would according to their subject , age , and parts , offer that which would be much more manly , and to-tolerable sence . And if I may tell you , Sir , what I really think , most of that Ridiculousness , phantastical Phrases , harsh and sometimes blasphemous Metaphors , abundantly soppish similitudes , childish and empty Transitions , and the like , so commonly uttered out of Pulpits , and so fatally redounding to the discredit of the Clergy , may in a great measure be charg'd upon the want of that which we have here so much contended for . The second Inquiry that may be made , is this : Whether or no punning , quibling , and that which they call joquing , and such other delicacies of Wit , highly admired in some Academick Exercises , might not be very conveniently omitted ? For one may desire but to know this one thing : In what profession shall that sort of Wit prove of advantage ? As for Law , where nothing but the most reaching subtilty , and the closest arguing is allowed of , it is not to be imagined , that blending now and then a piece of a dry Verse , and wreathing here and there an old Latin Saying into a dismal Jingle , should give Title to an Estate , or clear out an obscure Evidence . And as little serviceable can it be to Physick , which is made up of severe Reason , and well tryed Experiments . And as for Divinity , in this place I shall say no more , but that those usually that have been Rope-dancers in the Schools , oft-times prove Iack-puddings in the Pulpit . For he that in his Youth has allowed himself this liberty of Academick Wit , by this means he has usually so thinn'd his judgment , becomes so prejudiced against sober sence , and so altogether disposed to trifling and jingling : that so soon as he gets hold of a Text , he presently thinks that he has catch'd one of his old School-questions ; and so falls a flinging it out of one hand into another , tossing it this way and that ; lets it run a little upon the line , then tanutus , high jingo , come again ; here catching at a word , there lie nibling and sucking at an and , a by , a quis , or a quid , a sic and a sicut ; and thus minces the Text so small , that his Parishioners , until he rendevouze it again , can scarce tell what 's become of it . But shall we debar Youth of such an innocent and harmless Recreation , of such a great quickner of parts , and promoter of sagacity ? As for the first , its innocency of being allowed of for a time , I am so far from that perswasion , that from what has been before hinted , I count it perfectly contagious , and as a thing that for the most part infects the whole life , and influences upon most actions . For he that finds himself to have the right knack of letting off a Joque , and of pleasing the Humsters , he is not only very hardly brought off from admiring those goodly applauses , and heavenly shouts , but it is ten to one if he directs not the whole bent of his Studies to such idle and contemptible Books as shall only furnish him with Materials for a Laugh , and so neglects all that should inform his judgment and reason , and make him a Man of Use and Reputation in this World. And as for the pretence of making people sagacious , and pestilently witty : I shall only desire , that the nature of that kind of Wit may be considered , which will be found to depend upon some such fooleries as these : As first of all , the lucky ambiguity of some Word or Sentence . Oh! what a happiness it is , and how much does a Youngster count himself beholding to the Stars , that should help him to such a taking Jest ? And whereas there be so many thousand words in the world , and that he should luck upon the right one , that was so very much to his purpose , and that at the explosion made such a goodly report ? Or else they rake Lilly's Grammar ; and if they can but find two or three Letters of any Name in any of the Rules , or Examples of that good man's works , it is as very a piece of Wit , as any has pass'd in Town since the King came in . Oh! how the Fresh-men will skip to hear one of those lines well laught at , that they have been so often yerk'd for ? It is true , such things as these go for Wit so long as they continue in Latin ; but what dismally shrimp'd things would they appear , if turn'd into English. And if we search into what was or might be pretended , we shall find the advantages of Latin-wit to be very small and slender , when it comes into the world . I mean not only amongst strict Philosophers , and men of meer Notions , or amongst all-damning and illiterate Hectors ; but amongst those that are truly ingenious , and judicious masters of phansie : We shall find , that a Quotation out of Qui mihi , an Axiom of Logick , a saying of a Philosopher , or the like , though manag'd with some quickness , and applyed with some ingenuity , whatever they did heretofore , will not in our days pass , or be accepted for Wit. For we must know , that as we are now in an Age of great Philosophers , and Men of Reason ; so of great quickness and phansie : And that Greek and Latin which heretofore , though never so impertinently fetch'd in , was counted admirable , because it had a learned twang , yet now , such stuff being out of fashion , is esteemed but very bad company . For the world is now , especially in Discourse , for one Language , and he that has somewhat in his mind of Greek or Latin , is requested now adays to be civil , and translate it into English for the benefit of the Company . And he that has made it his whole business , to accomplish himself for the applause of a company of Boys , School-Masters , and the easiest of Countrey Divines , and has been shoulder'd out of the Cock-pit for his Wit ; when he comes into the World , is the most likely person to be kick'd out of the Company , for his pedantry and over-weening opinion of himself . And , were it necessary , it is an easie matter to appeal to Wits both antient and modern , that beyond all controversie have been sufficiently approved of , that never , I am confident , received their improvements by employing their time in Puns and Quibbles . There is the prodigious Lucian , the great Don of Mancha and there is many now living Wits of our own , who never certainly were at all inspir'd from a Tripus's , Terrae filius's or Praevaricator's Speech . I have ventur'd , Sir , thus far , not to find fault with , but only to enquire into an antient Custom or two of the Universities , wherein the Clergy seem to be a little concern'd , as to their Education there . I shall now look upon them as Beneficed , and consider their Preaching : wherein I pretend to give no Rules , having neither any Gift at it , nor Authority to do it ; but only shall make some conjectures at those useless and ridiculous things , commonly uttered in Pulpits , that are generally disgusted , and are very apt to bring contempt upon the Preacher , and that Religion which he professes . Amongst the first things that seem to be useless , may be reckon'd the high tossing and swaggering preaching ; either mountingly eloquent , or profoundly learned . For there be a sort of Divines , who if they but happen of an unlucky hard word all the week , they think themselves not careful of their Flock , if they lay it not up till Sunday , and bestow it amongst them in their next preachment . Or , if they light upon some difficult and obscure Notion , which their curiosity inclines them to be better acquainted with , how useless soever , nothing so frequent as for them for a month or two months together , to tear and tumble this Doctrine , and the poor people once a week shall come and gaze upon them by the hour , until they preach themselves , as they think , into a right understanding . Those that are inclinable to make these useless Speeches to the people , they do it , for the most part , upon one of these two considerations : Either out of simple phantastick Glory and a great studiousness of being wonder'd at ; as if getting into the Pulpit were a kind of staging , where nothing was to be considered , but how much the Sermon takes , and how much star'd at : or else they do this , to gain a respect , and reverence from their people ; who , say they , are to be puzled now and then , and carried into the Clouds . For , if the Ministers words be such as the Constable uses , his matter plain and practical , such as come to the common market , he may pass possibly for an honest well-meaning man , but by no means for any Scholar : whereas if he springs forth now and then in high raptures towards the uppermost Heavens , dashing here and there an all-confounding word ; if he soars aloft in unintelligible huffs , preaches points deep and mystical , and delivers them as dark and phantastical ; this is the way , say they , of being accounted a most able and learned Instructor . Others there be , whose parts stand not so much towards tall words and lofty Notions , but consist in scattering up and down , and besprinkling all their Sermons with plenty of Greek and Latin. And because S. Paul , once or so , was pleased to make use of a little Heathen Greek ; and that only , when he had occasion to discourse with some of of the Learned ones , that well understood him , therefore must they needs bring in twenty Poets and Philosophers ( if they can catch them ) into an hours talk : Spreading themselves in abundance of Greek and Latin , to a company perhaps of Farmers and Shepherds . Neither will they rest there , but have at the Hebrew also ; not contenting themselves to tell the people in general , that they have skill in the Text , and that the Exposition they offer agrees with the Original , but must swagger also over the poor Parishioners with the dreadful Hebrew it self , with their Ben-Israel's , Ben-Manasses's , and many more Bens that they are intimately acquainted with ; whereas there is nothing in the Church , nor near it by a Mile , that understands them , but God Almighty himself , whom it is supposed , they go not about to inform or satisfie . This learned way of talking , though for the most part it is done meerly out of ostentation , yet sometimes ( which makes not the case much better ) it is done in complement and civility to the all-wise Patron , or all-understanding Iustice of the Peace in the Parish : Who , by the common Farmers of the Town , must be thought to understand the most intricate Notions , and the most difficult Languages . Now , what an admirable thing this is ? Suppose there should be one or so in the whole Church that understands somewhat besides English ; shall not I think that he understands that better ? Must I out of Courtship to his Worship and understanding , and because perhaps I am to dine with him , prate abundance of such stuff , which I must needs know no body understands , or that will be the better for it , but himself , and perhaps scarce he ? This I say , because I certainly know several of that disposition , who , if they chance to have a man of any Learning or Understanding , more than the rest in the Parish , preach wholly at him , and level most of their discourses at his supposed capacity , and the rest of the good people shall have only a handsome gaze or view of the Parson . As if plain words , useful and intelligible instructions , were not as good for an Esquire , or one that is in Commission from the King , as for him that holds the Plough , or mends Hedges . Certainly he that considers the design of his Office , and has a Conscience answerable to that holy undertaking , must needs conceive himself engaged , not only to mind this or that accomplish'd or well-dress'd Person , but must have an universal care and regard of all his Parish . And as he must think himself bound not only to visit Down-beds , and silken Curtains , but also flocks and straw , if there be need : So ought his care to be as large to instuct the poor , the weak and despicable part of his Parish , as those that sit in the best Pews . He that does otherwise , thinks not at all of a Man's Soul , but only accomodates himself to fine Cloaths , an abundance of Ribbons , and the highest seat in the Church : Not thinking , that it will be as much to his reward in the next world , by sober advice , care and instruction , to have saved one that takes Collection , as him that is able to relieve half the Town . It is very plain , that neither our Saviour , when he was upon Earth and taught the world , made any such distinction in his discourses : What more intelligible to all man-kind , than his Sermon upon the Mount ? Neither did the Apostles think of any such way : I wonder whom they take for a pattern ? I will suppose once again , that the design of these Persons is to gain glory : And I will ask them ; can there be any greater in the world than doing general good ? To omit future reward : Was it not always esteemed of old , that correcting evil practices , reducing people that lived amiss , was much better than making a high rant about a Shittle-cock , and talking Tara-Tantaro about a Feather ? Or if they would be only admired , then would I gladly have them consider , what a thin and delicate kind of admiration is likely to be produced , by that which is not at all understood ? Certainly that man that has a design of building up to himself real Fame in good earnest , by things well laid and spoken , his way to affect it , is not by talking staringly , and casting a mist before the peoples eyes , but by offering such things by which he may be esteemed with knowledge and understanding . Thus far concerning hard words , high notions , and unprofitable quotations out of learned Languages . I shall now consider such things as are ridiculous , that serve for Chimney and Market-talk , after the Sermon be done ; and that do cause more immediately the Preacher to be scorn'd and undervalued . I have no reason , Sir , to go about to determine what style or method is best for the improvement and advantage of all people : For I question not , but there has been as many several sorts of Preachers as Orators , and though very different , yet useful and commendable in their kind . Tully takes very deservedly with many , Seneca with others , and Cato , no question , said things wisely and well : So doubtless the same place of Scripture may by several be variously considered ; and although their method and style be altogether different , yet they may all speak things very convenient for the people to know , and be advis'd of . But yet certainly what is most undoubtedly useless and empty , or what is judg'd absolutely ridiculous , not by this or that curious or squeamish Auditor , but by every Man in the Corporation that understands but plain English and common sence , ought to be avoided . For all people are naturally born with such a judgment of true and allowable Rhetorick , that is , of what is decorous and convenient to be spoken , that whatever is grosly otherwise , is usually ungrateful , not only to the wise and skilful part of the Congregation , but shall seem also ridiculous to the very unlearned Tradesmen , and their young Apprentices . Amongst which , may be chiefly reckoned these following ; harsh Metaphors , childish Similitudes , and ill applyed Tales . The first main thing , I say , that makes many Sermons so ridiculous , and the Preachers of them so much disparag'd and undervalued , is an inconsiderate use of frightful metaphors ; which making such a remarkable impression upon the Ears , and leaving such a jarring twang behind them , are oft-times remember'd to the discredit of the Minister , as long as he continues in the Parish . I have heard the very Children in the streets , and the little Boys close about the Fire , refresh themselves strangely , but with the repetition of a few of such far-fetch'd and odd-sounding Expressions : Tully therefore and Caesar , the the two greatest masters of Roman Eloquence , were very wary and sparing of that sort of Rhetorick : We may read many a page in their Works , before we meet with any of those Bears ; and if you do light upon one or so , it shall not make your hair stand right up , or put you into a fit of Convulsion ; but it shall be so soft , significant , and familiar , as if 't were made for the very purpose . But as for the common sort of people that are addicted to this way of expression in their Discourses ; away presently to both the Indies , rake Heaven and Earth , down to the bottom of the Sea , then tumble over all Arts and Sciences , ransack all Shops and Ware-houses , spare neither Camp nor City , but that they will have them . So fond are such deceived ones of these same gay words , that they count all Discourses empty , dull , and cloudy , unless bespankl'd with these Glitterings . Nay , so injuditious and imimpudent together , will they sometimes be , that the Almighty himself is often in danger of being dishonoured by these indiscreet and horrid Metaphor-Mongers : And when they thus Blaspheme the God of Heaven , by such unhallowed Expressions , to make amends , they 'll put you in , an As it were , forsooth , or As I may so say ; that is , they will make bold to speak what they please concerning God himself , rather than omit what they judge , though never so false , to be witty : And then they come in hobling with their lame submission , and with their Reverence be it spoken . As if it were not much better to leave out what they foresee is likely to be interpreted for blasphemy , or at least great extravagancy , than to utter that , for which their own reason and Conscience tells them , they are bound to lay in before-hand an excuse . To which may be further subjoyn'd , That Metaphors though very apt and allowable , are intelligible but to some sorts of Men , of this or that kind of Life , of this or that Profession : For example : Perhaps one Gentleman's Metaphorical knack of Preaching comes of the Sea : And then we shall hear of nothing but star-board and lar-board , of stems , sterns and fore-castles , and such like Salt-water Language : So that one had need take a Voyage to Smyrna or Aleppo , and very warily attend to all the Saylers terms , before I shall in the least understand my Teacher . Now , although such a Sermon may possibly do some good in a Coast-Town , yet upward into the Countrey , in an Inland Parish , it will do no more than Syriack or Arabick . Another he falls a fighting with his Text , and makes a Pitch'd Battel of it , dividing it into the right wing and left wing , then he rears it , flanks it , intrenches it , storms it ; then he musters all again , to see what word was lost , or lam'd in the Skirmish , and so falling on again with fresh valour , he fights backward and forward , Charges through and through , Routs , Kills , Takes , and then , Gentlemen , as you were . Now to such of his Parish as have been in the late Wars , this is not very formidable ; for they do but suppose themselves at Naseby or Edg-hill , and they are not much scared at his Doctrine : But as for others , who have not had such fighting opportunities , it is very lamentable to consider , how shivering they sit without understanding , till the Battel be over . Like instance might be easily given of many more Discourses ; the Metaphorical phrasing whereof , depending upon peculiar Arts , Customs , Trades and Professions , makes them useful and intelligible only to such who have been very well busied in such like Employments . Another thing , Sir , that brings great disrespect and mischief upon the Clergy , and that differs not much from what went immediately before , is their packing their Sermons so full of similitudes ; which , all the World know , carry with them but very small force of Argument , unless there be an exact Agreement with that which is compared ; of which there is very seldom any sufficient care taken . Besides , those that are adicted to this slender way of discourse , for the most part , do so weaken and enfeeble their judgment by contenting themselves to understand by colours , features , and glimpses , that they perfectly omit all the more profitable searching into the nature and causes of things themselves . By which means it necessarily comes to pass , that what they undertake to prove and clear out to the Congregation , must needs be so faintly done , and with such little force of Argument , that the conviction or perswasion will last no longer in the Parishioners minds , than the warmth of of those Similitudes shall glow in their Phansie . So that he that has either been instructed in some part of his Duty , or excited to the performance of the same , not by any judicious dependence of things , and lasting reason , but by such faint and toyish evidence ; his understanding upon all occasions will be as apt to be misled as ever , and his affections as troublesome and ungovernable . But they are not so unserviceable , as usually they are ridiculous ; for People of the weakest parts are most commonly overborn with these fooleries ; which together with the great difficulty of their being prudently mannag'd , must needs occasion them , for the most part , to be very trifling and childish . Especially , if we consider the choiceness of the Authors , out of which they are furnished : There is the never-to-be commended-enough Lycosthenes ; there is also the admirable Piece , called the second Part of Wits Common-wealth ( I pray mind it , it is the second Part , not the first : ) and there is besides , a Book wholly consisting of Similitudes , applyed and ready fitted to most preaching Subjects , for the help of young-beginners , who sometimes will not make them hit handsomly . 'T is very well known , that such as are possess'd with an admiration of such Eloquence , think that they are very much encourag'd in their way , by the Scripture it self : For , say they , did not our blessed Saviour himself use many Metaphors , and many Parables ? And did not his Disciples , following his so excellent an example , do the like , and is not this , not only warrant enough , but near upon a commmand to us so for to do ? If you please therefore we will see what our Saviour does in this case . In S. Matthew he tells his Disciples , that they are the Salt of the Earth ; that they are the Light of the world ; that they are a City set on a Hill : Furthermore , he tells his Apostles that he sends them forth as Sheep in the midst of Wolves ; and bids them therefore , be as wise as Serpents , and harmless as Doves . Now , are not all these things plain and familiar , even almost to Children themselves , that can but taste and see ; and to men of the lowest Education , and meanest Capacities ? I shall not here insist upon those special and admirable Reasons for which our Saviour made use of so many parables : only thus much is needful to be said , namely , that they are very much mistaken , that from hence think themselves tolerated to turn all the world into frivolous and abominable Similitudes . As for our Saviour when he spoke a parable , he was pleased to go no further than the Fields , the Sea-shore , a Garden , a Vineyard , or the like ; which are things , without the knowledge whereof , scarce any man can be supposed to live in this world . But as for our Metaphorical and Similitude-men of the Pulpit , these things to them are too still and languid , they do not rattle and rumble : These lie too near home , and within vulgar kenn : There is little on this side the Moon that will content them : Up presently to the Primum-mobile , and the trepidation of the Firmament : Dive into the Bowels and hid Treasures of the Earth : Dispatch forthwith for Peru and Iamaica ; a Town-bred or Country-bred Similitude , it is worth nothing ! 'T is reported of a Tree growing upon the bank of Euphrates , the great River Euphrates , that it brings forth an Apple , to the Eye very fair and tempting , but inwardly it is fill'd with nothing but useless and deceitful dust : Even so , dust we are , and to dust we must all go . Now , what a lucky discovery was this , that a man's body should be so exactly like an Apple ? And I will assure you , that this was not thought on till within these few years . And I am afraid too , he had a kind of a hint of this from another , who had formerly found out , that a man's Soul was like Oyster ; For says he , in his Prayer , Our souls are constantly gaping after thee , O Lord ; yea verily , our souls do gape , even as an Oyster gapeth . It seems pretty hard , at first sight , to bring into a Sermon all the Circles of the Globe , and all the frightful terms of Astronomy . But , I 'll assure you , Sir , it is to be done , because it has been ; But not by every Bungler and Text-divider , but by a man of great cunning and experience . There is a place in the Prophet Malachi , where it will do very neatly , and that is chap. 4. vers . 2. But unto you that fear my name , shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his Wings : From which words , in the first place , it plainly appears , that our Saviour passed through all the twelve Signs of the Zodiak : And more than that too , all proved by very apt and familiar places of Scripture . First then , our Saviour was in Aries ; or else what means that of the Psalmist ? The Mountains skipked like Rams , and the little Hills like Lambs . And again , that in the second of the Kings ch . 3. v. 4. And Mesha King of Moab was a Sheep-master , and rendered unto the King of Israel an hundred thousand Lambs : and what follows ? and an hundred thousand Rams , with the wool . Mind it ; it was the King of Israel . In like manner was he in Taurus , Psal. 22.12 . Many Bulls have compassed me : Strong Bulls of Bashan have beset me round . They were not ordinary Bulls : They were compassing Bulls , they were besetting Bulls , they were strong Bashan Bulls . What need I speak of Gemini ? Surely you cannot but remember Iacob and Esau , Gen. 25.24 . And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled , behold there were Twins in her Womb. Or of Cancer ? when as the Psalmist says so plainly : What ailed thee , O thou Sea , that thou fleddest ? thou Jordan , that thou wast driven back ? Nothing more plain . It were as easie to shew the like in all the rest of the Signs : But instead of that , I shall rather chuse to make this one practical observation : That the Mercy of God to Mankind in sending his Son into the world , was a very signal Mercy : it was a Zodiacal Mercy . I say it was truly Zodiacal : For Christ keeps within the Tropicks : He goes not out of the Pale of the Church . But yet he is not always at the same distance from a Believer : Sometimes he withdraws himself into the Apogaeum of doubt , sorrow , and despair , but then he comes again into the Perigaeum of joy , content , and assurance : But as for Heathens and Vnbelievers , they are all Artick and Antartick Reprobates . Now when such stuff as this ( as sometimes it is ) is vented in a poor Parish , where people can scarce tell what day of the month it is by the Almanack , how seasonable and savoury is it likely to be ? I seems also not very easie , for a Man in his Sermon to learn his Parishioners how to dissolve Gold : of what and how the stuff is made . Now , to ring the Bells and call the people on purpose together , would be but a blunt business ; but to do it neatly , and when no body look'd for it , that 's the rarity and art of it ▪ Suppose then , that he takes for his Text that of S. Matthew , Repent ye , for the Kingdom of God is at hand . Now , tell me Sir , do you not perceive the Gold to be in a dismal fear , to curl and quiver at the first reading of these words . It must come in thus : The blots and blurs of your Sins must be taken out by the Aqua-fortis of your Tears : To which Aqua-fortis if you put a fifth part of Sal-Almoniack , and set them in a gentle heat , it makes Aqua-regia , which dissolves Gold. And now 't is out . Wonderful are the things that are to be done by the helps of Metaphors and Similitudes ! And I 'll undertake , that with a little more pains and consideration , out of the very same words , he could have taught the people how to make Custards , Marmalade , or to stew Prunes . But pray , why the Aqua-fortis of Tears ? For , if it so falls out , that there should chance to be neither Apothecary nor Druggist at Church , there 's an excellent Jest wholly lost . Now had he been so considerate , as to have laid his Wit in some more common and intelligible Material : For example , had he said that the blots of sin , will be easily taken out by the Soap of sorrow , and the Fullers-Earth of Contrition ; then possibly the Parson and the people might all have admired one another . For there be many a Goodwife that understands very well all the intrigues of Pepper , Salt , and Vinegar , who knows not any thing of the all-powerfulness of Aqua-fortis , how that it is such a spot-removing Liquor . I cannot but consider with what understanding the people sighed and cryed , when the Minister made for them this Metaphysical Confession : Omnipotent All ; Thou art only : Because thou art All , and because thou only art : As for us , we are not , but we seem to be ; and only seem to be , because we are not ; for we be but Mites of Entity , and Crumbs of something ; and so on : As if a company of Country people were bound to understand Suarez , and all the School-Divines . And as some are very high and learned in their attempts ; so others there be who are of somewhat too mean and dirty imaginations : Such was he , who goes by the name of Parson Slip-stocking : Who preaching about the Grace and Assistance of God , and that of our selves we are able to do nothing ; advised his Beloved to take him in this plain Similitude . A Father calls his Child to him , saying , Child , pull off this Stocking : The Child mightily joyful , that it should pull off Father's Stocking , takes hold of the Stocking , and tuggs , and pulls , and sweats , but to no purpose ; for Stocking stirs not , for it is but a child that pulls : Then the Father bids the child to rest a little , and try again ; so then the Child sets on again , tuggs again , and pulls again , and sweats again , but no Stocking comes ; for Child is but Child : Then at last the Father , taking pity upon his child , puts his hand behind , and slips down the Stocking , and off comes the Stocking : Then how does the Child rejoice ? For child hath pull'd off Father's Stocking . Alas , poor Child ! it was not child's strength , it was not child's sweating , that got off the Stocking , but yet it was the Fathers hand behind , that slipt down the Stocking . Even so — Not much unlike to this was he , that preaching about the Sacrament and Faith , makes Christ a Shop-keeper ; telling you , that Christ is a Treasury of all Wares and Commodities : And thereupon , opening his wide throat , cries aloud , Good People , what do you lack ? what do you by ? Will you buy any Balm of Gilead , any Eye-salve , any Myrrh , Aloes or Cassia ? Shall I fit you with a robe of roghteousness , or with a white Garment ? See here ! what is it you want ? Here 's a very choice Armory : shall I shew you an Helmet of Salvation , a Shield or a Breast-plate of Faith ? Or will you please to walk in , and see some precious Stones ? a Iasper , a Saphyre , or a Chalcedonit ? Speak , what do you buy ? Now for my part , I must needs say , and I much phansie I speak the mind of thousands , that it had been much better for such an imprudent and ridiculous Bawler , as this , to have been condemn'd to have cryed Oysters or Brooms , than to discredit , after this unsanctified rate , his Profession and our Religion . It would be an endless thing , Sir , to count up to you all the Follies , for an hundred years last past , that have been Preached and Printed of this kind . But yet I cannot omit that of the famous Divine , in his time , who advising the people in days of danger to run unto the Lord , tells them , that they cannot go to the Lord , much less run without feet : There be therefore two feet to run to the Lord , Faith and Prayer : 'T is plain that Faith is a foot , for by Faith we stand , 2 Cor. 1.24 . therefore by Faith we must run to the Lord who is faithful . The second is Prayer , a spiritual Leg to bear us thither : Now , that Prayer is a spiritual Leg , appears from several Places of Scripture ; as from that of Jonah , speaking of coming , chap. 2. vers . 7. And my Prayer came unto thy holy Temple : And likewise from that of the Apostle , who says , Heb. 4.16 . Let us therefore go unto the Throne of Grace : Both intimating , that Prayer is the spiritual Leg , there being no coming or going to the Lord without the Leg of Prayer . He further adds : Now , that these feet may be able to bear us thither , we must put on the Hose of Faith ; for the Apostle says , our feet must be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace . The truth of it is , the Author is somewhat obscure : For , at first , Faith was a Foot ; and by and by it is a Hose ; and at last it proves a Shooe. If he had pleased , he could have made it any thing . Neither can I let pass that of a later Author ; who telling us , It is Goodness by which we must ascend to Heaven ; and that Goodness is the Milkey-way to Jupiter 's Pallace ; could not rest here , but must tell us further , that to strengthen us in our journey , we must not take morning milk , but some morning Meditations ; fearing , I suppose , lest some people should mistake , and think to go to Heaven by eating now and then a Mess of Morning Milk , because the way was milkey . Neither ought that to be omitted , not long since Printed , upon those words of S. Iohn , These things I write unto you , that you sin not . The Observation is , that it is the purpose of the Scripture to drive men from Sin. These Scriptures contain Doctrines , Precepts , Promises , Threatnings and Histories : Now , says he , take these five smooth stones , and put them into the scrip of the Heart , and throw them with the Sling of Faith , by the hand of a strong Resolution , against the forehead of Sin , and we shall see it , like Goliah , fall before us . But I shall not trouble you any further upon this subject ; but , if you have a mind to hear any more of this stuff , I shall refer you to the learned and judicious Author of the Friendly Debates ; who particularly has at large discovered the intolerable fooleries of this way of talking . I shall only add thus much ; that such as go about to fetch blood into their pale and lean discourses , by the help of their brisk and sparkling Similitudes , ought well to consider whether their Similitudes be true . I am confident , Sir , you have heard it many and many a time ( or if need be , I can shew you't in a Book ) that when the Preacher happens to talk , how that the things here below will not satisfie the mind of man ; then comes in , the round world , which cannot fill the triangular heart of man : Whereas every Butcher knows , that the heart is no more triangular , than an ordinary Pear , or a child's Top : But because Triangular is a hard word , and perhaps a Jest , therefore people have stoln it one from another , these two or three hundred years . And , for ought I know , much longer ; for I cannot direct to the first Inventer of the phansie . In like manner they are to consider , what things either in the Heaven , or belonging to the earth , have been found out by experience to contradict what has been formerly allow'd of . Thus , because some ancient Astronomers had observ'd , that both the distances , as well as the Revolutions of the Planets , were in some proportion or harmony one to another ; therefore people that abounded more with imagination than skill , presently phansi'd the Moon , Mercury and Venus to be a kind of Violins or Trebles to Iupiter and Saturn ; and that the Sun and Mars supply'd the room of Tenors ; the Primum mobile running Division all the time . So that one could scarce hear a Sermon , but they must give you a touch of the Harmony of the Spheres . Thus , Sir , you shall have 'm take that of St. Paul , about Faith , Hope and Charity ; and instead of a sober instructing the People in those eminent and excellent Graces , they shall only ring you over a few changes upon the three words : crying , Faith , Hope and Charity : Hope , Faith and Charity ; and so on : And when they have done their Peal , they shall tell you , that this is much better than the Harmony of the Spheres . At other times I have heard a long Chyming only between two words ; as suppose Divinity and Philosophy , or Revelation and Reason ; setting forth with Revelation first : Revelation is a Lady : Reason an Handmaid . Revelation's the Esquire : Reason the Page . Revelation's the Sun : Reason's but the Moon . Revelation is Manna : Reason's but an Acorn . Revelation a Wedge of Gold : Reason a small piece of Silver . Then by and by Reason gets it and leads it away . Reason indeed is very good ; but Revelation is much better . Reason is Counsellor ; but Revelation is the Law-giver . Reason is a Candle ; but Revelation is the Snuffer . Certainly those People are possess'd with a very great degree of dulness , who living under the means of such enlightning Preaching , should not be mightily settled in the right Notion , and true bounds of Faith and Reason . Not less ably , me-thought , was the difference between the old Covenant and New , lately determined . The Old Covenant was of Works ; the New Covenant of Faith. The Old Covenant was by Moses ; the New by Christ. The Old was heretofore ; the New afterwards . The Old was first ; the New was second . Old things are passed away ; behold all things are become new . And so the business was very fundamentally done . I shall say no more upon this subject , but this one thing , which relates to what was said a little before : He that has got a set of Similitudes , calculated according to the old Philosophy , and Ptolomy's Systeme of the World , must burn his common-place-Book , and go a gleaning for new ones : It being now a days much more gentile and warrantable , to take a Similitude from the Man in the Moon , than from solid Orbs : For though few people do absolutely believe that there is any such Eminent Person there , yet the thing is possible , whereas the other is not . I have now done , Sir , with that imprudent way of speaking , by Metaphor and Similitude . There be many other things commonly spoken out of the Pulpit , that are much to the disadvantage , and discredit of the Clergy , that ought also to be briefly hinted . And that I may the better light upon them , I shall observe their common method of Preaching . Before the Text be divided , a Preface is to be made : And it is a great chance , if , first of all , the Minister does not make his Text to be like something or other . For Example : One he tells you , And now ( me-thinks ) my Text , like an ingenious Picture , looks upon all here present ; in which both Nobles and People may behold their sin and danger represented . This was a Text out of Hosea . Now , had it been out of any other place of the Bible , the Gentleman was sufficiently resolv'd , to make it like an ingenious Picture . Another taking ( perhaps ) the very same words , says , I might compare my Text to the Mountains of Bether , where the Lord disports himself as a young Hart , or a pleasant Roe among the Spices . Another Man's Text is like the Rod of Moses , to divide the Waves of Sorrow ; or , like the mantle of Elijah , to restrain the swelling floods of Grief . Another gets to his Text thus ; As Solomon went up six steps to come to the great Throne of Ivory ; so must I ascend six degrees to come to the high top-meaning of my Text. Another thus : As Deborah arose and went with Barack to Kadesh ; so , if you will go along with him , and call in at the third Verse of the Chapter , he will shew you the meaning of his Text. Another he phancies his Text to be extraordinarily like to an Orchard of Pomegranates ; or like Saint Matthew , sitting at the Receipt of Custom ; or like the Dove that Noah sent out of the Ark. I believe there are above forty places of Scripture that have been like Rachel and Leah : and there is one in Genesis , as I well remember , that is like a pair of Compasses stradling : And if I be not much mistaken , there is one somewhere else , that is like a man going to Jericho . Now , Sir , having thus made the way to the Text , as smooth and plain as any thing ; with a Preface perhaps from Adam ; though his business lie at the other end of the Bible : In the next place , he comes to divide the Text. — Hic Labor , hoc Opus . Per varios casus , per tot discrimina rerum . Silvestrem tenui — Now come off the Gloves , and the Hands being well chafed , he shrinks up his shoulders , and stretches forth himself as if he were going to cleave a Bullock's head , or rive the body of an Oak . But we must observe , that there is a great difference of Texts . For all Texts come not asunder alike : For sometimes the words naturally fall asunder ; sometimes they drop asunder ; sometimes they melt ; sometimes they untwist ; and there be some words so willing to be parted , that they divide themselves , to the great ease and rejoycing of the Minister . But if they will not easily come in pieces , then he falls to hacking and hewing , as if he would make all fly into shivers . The truth of it is , I have known , now and then , some knotty Texts , that have been divided seven or eight times over , before they could make them split handsomely , according to their mind . But then comes the joy of joys , when the parts jingle , or begin with the same letter ; and especially if in Latin. O how it tickled the Divider , when he had got his Text into those two excellent Branches ; Accusatio vera : Comminatio severa . A charge full of verity : A discharge full of severity . And I 'll warrant you that did not please a little , viz. there is in the words duplex miraculum ; miraculum in modo ; and miraculum in nodo . But the luckyest that I have met withal , both for wit and keeping the letter , is upon those words of St. Matthew . 12.43 , 44 , 45. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a Man , he walketh through dry places , seeking rest , and finding none ▪ Then he saith , I will return , &c. In which words all these strange things were found out . First , there was a Captain and a Castle . Do ye see , Sir , the same letter ? Then there was an ingress , an egress ; and a regress or reingress . Then there was unroosting and unresting . Then there was number and name , manner and measure , trouble and trial , resolution and revolution , assaults and assassination , voidness and vacuity . This was done at the same time , by the same Man : But , to confess the truth of it , 't was a good long Text , and so he had the greater advantage . But for a short Text , that certainly was the greatest break that ever was ; which was occasioned from those words of St. Luke 23.28 . Weep not for me , weep for your selves ; or , as some read it , but weep for your selves . It is a plain case , Sir , here 's but eight words , and the business was so cunningly ordered , that there sprung out eight parts : Here are , says the Doctor , eight words , and eight parts . 1. Weep not . 2. But weep . 3. Weep not , but weep . 4. Weep for me . 5. For your selves . 6. For me , for you selves . 7. Weep not for me . 8. But weep for your selves . That is to say : North , North and by East . North North East , North East and by North , North East , North East and by East , East North East , East and by North , East — Now it seems not very easie to determine which has obliged the World , he that found out the Compass or he that divided the forementioned Text : But I suppose the cracks will go generally upon the Doctor 's side ; by reason what he did , was done by undoubted Art , and absolute Industry ; but as for the other , the common report is , that it was found out by mere foolish fortune . Well , let it go how it will , questionless , they will be both famous in their way , and honourably mentioned to Posterity . Neither ought he to be altogether slighted who taking that of Gen. 48. 2. for his Text , viz. And one told Jacob , and said , Behold , thy Son Joseph cometh unto thee ; presently perceived , and made it out to the People , that his Text was a spiritual Dial. For , says he , here be in my Text twelve words , which do plainly represent the twelve hours . Twelve words : And one told Jacob , and said , Thy Son Joseph cometh unto thee . And here is , besides Behold , which is the Hand of the Dyal , that turns and points at every word in the Text. And one told Jacob , and said , Behold thy son Joseph cometh unto thee . For it is not said , Behold Iacob or Behold Ioseph : But it is , And one told Jacob , and said , Behold , thy son Joseph cometh unto thee . That is to say : Behold And. Behold one . Behold told . Behold Iacob . Again Behold and. Behold said . ( And also : ) Behold Behold , &c. Which is the reason that the word Behold is placed in the middle of the other twelve words , indifferently pointing at each word . Now as it needs must be one of the Clock , before it can be Two or Three ; so I shall handle this word And the first word in the Text , before I meddle with the following . And one told Jacob : This word And is but a Particle , and a small one : but small things are not to be despised : S. Mat. 18.10 . Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones . For this And is as the Tacks and Loops amongst the Curtains of the Tabernacle . The Tacks put into the Loops did couple the Curtains of the Tent , and sew the Tent together : So this Particle And being put into the Loops of the words immediately before the Text , does couple the Text to the foregoing Verse , and sews them close together . I shall not trouble you , Sir , with the rest ; being much after this witty rate , and to as much purpose . But we 'll go on if you please , Sir , to the cunning Observations , Doctrines , and Inferences , that are commonly made and rais'd from places of Scripture . One he takes that for his Text , Psal. 68.3 . But let the righteous be glad . From whence he raiseth this Doctrine , That there is a spirit of Singularity in the Saints of God. But let the righteous . A Doctrine I 'll warrant him , of his own raising ; it being not very easie for any body to prevent him . Another , he takes that of Isai. 41.14 , 15. Fear not thou Worm Jacob , &c. thou shalt thresh the Mountains — Whence he observes , That the Worm Iacob was a threshing Worm . Another , that of Gen. 44.1 . And he commanded the Steward of the House , saying , Fill the mens sacks with food as much as they can carry : And makes his Note from the words ; that great Sacks , and many Sacks , will hold more than few Sacks , and little ones . For look , says he , how they came prepared with Sacks and Beasts , so they were sent back with Corn : The greater and the more Sacks they had prepared , the more Corn they carry away ; if they prepared but small Sacks , and a few , they had carried away the less : Verily and extraordinarily true . Another he falls upon that of Isa. 58.5 . Is it such a Fast that I have chosen ? A day for a man to afflict his soul ? Is it to bow down his head like a Bulrush ? The observation is , that Repentance for an hour , or a day , is not worth a Bulrush . And there , I think he hit the business . But of these , Sir , I can shew you a whole Book full , in a treatise called Flames and Discoveries : consisting of very notable and extraordinary things , which the inquisitive Author had privately observed , and discovered , upon reading the Evangelists . As for example : Upon reading that of S. Iohn chap. 2. vers . 15. And when he had made a scourge of small Cords , he drove them all out of the Temple : This prying Divine makes these Discoveries . I discover , says he , in the first place , that in the Church or Temple , a scourge may be made . And when he had made a scourge . Secondly , that it may be made use on : He drove them all out of the Temple . And it was a great chance , that he had not discovered a third thing , and that is , that the scourge was made before it was made use of . Upon Mat. 4.25 . And there followed him great Multitudes of People from Galilee . I discover , says he , when Jesus prevails with us , we shall soon leave our Galilees . I discover also , says he , a great Miracle , viz. that the way after Jesus being straight , that such a multitude should follow him . Matth. 5.1 . And seeing the Multitude , he went up into a Mountain : Upon this he discovers several very remarkable things : First , he discovers , that Christ went from the Multitude . Secondly , That it is safe taking warning at our eyes ; for seeing the Multitude he went up . Thirdly , It is not fit to be always upon the plains and flats with the Multitude ; but if we be risen with Christ , to seek those things that are above . He discovers also very strange things from the latter part of the forementioned Verse : And when he was set , his Disciples came unto him . 1. Christ is not always in motion : And when he was set . 2. He walks not on the Mountain , but sits : And when he was set . From whence also , in the third place , he advises People , That when they are Teaching , they should not move too much , for that is to be carried to and fro with every wind of Doctrine : Now certainly never was this place of Scripture more seasonably brought in . Now , Sir , if you be for a very short and witty Discovery , let it be upon that of S. Mat. 6.27 . which of you by taking thought , can add one Cubit unto his stature ? The Discovery is this : That whilst the Disciples were taking thought for a Cubit , Christ takes them down a Cubit lower . Notable also are two Discoveries made upon S. Mat. 8.1 . When he came down from the Mountain , great Multitudes followed him . 1. That Christ went down as well as went up ; when he came down from the Mountain . 2. That the Multitude did not go hail fellow well met with him , nor before him : For , great Multitudes followed him . I love with all my heart , when People can prove what they say : For there be many that will talk of their Discoveries and spiritual observations ; and when all comes to all , they are nothing but pitiful ghesses , and slender conjectures . In like manner that was no contemptible Discovery that was made upon S. Mat. 8.19 . And a certain Scribe came and said , Master , I will follow thee wheresoever thou goest . A [ thou ] shall be followed more than a [ that : ] I will follow thee wheresoever thou goest . And , in my opinion , that was not altogether amiss , upon S. Mat. 11.2 . Now when John had heard in the Prison the works of Christ , he sent two of his Disciples . Some also possibly may not dislike that upon S. Luke 12.35 . Let your Lions be girded . I discover , says he , there must be a holy girding and trussing up for Heaven . But I shall end all with that very politick one , that he makes upon S. Mat. 12.47 . Then one said unto him , Behold thy Mother and thy Brethren stand without , desiring to speak with thee . But he answered and said , Who is my Mother ? and who are my Brethren ? I discover now , says he , that Jesus is upon business . Doubtless , this was one of the greatest Discoverers of hidden mysteries , and one of the most Pryers into spiritual Secrets , that ever the world was owner of . It was very well that he happen'd upon the godly Calling , and no secular Employment ; or else in good truth , down had they all gone , Turk , Pope , and Emperour ; for he would have discovered them one way or other , every Man. Not much unlike to these wonderful Discoverers are they , who chusing to Preach upon some Point in Divinity , shall purposely avoid all such plain Texts , as might give them very just occasion to discourse upon their intended Subject , and shall pitch upon some other places of Scripture , which no creature in the world but themselves did ever imagine that which they offer to be therein designed . My meaning , Sir , is this : Suppose you have a mind to make a Sermon concerning Episcopacy , ( as in the late times there was several occasions for it ) you must by no means take any place of Scripture that proves or favours that kind of Ecclesiastical Government : For then the plot will be discovered , and the people will say to themselves , we know where to find you , you intend to preach about Episcopacy . But you must take that of the Acts c. 16. v. 30. Sirs , What must I do to be saved ? An absolute place for Episcopacy , that all former Divines had idlely overlook'd : For , Sirs , being in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which is to say in true and strict translation , Lords , what more plain than that of old , Episcopacy was not only the acknowledg'd Government , but that Bishops were formerly Peers of the Realm , and so ought to sit in the House of Lords ? Or , suppose that you have a mind to commend to your people Kingly Government ; you must not take any place that is plainly to the purpose , but that of the Evangelist , Seek first the Kingdom of God. From which words the Doctrine will plainly be ; That Monarchy or Kingly Government is most according to the Mind of God. For it is not said , Seek the Parliament of God , the Army of God , or the Committee of Safety of God ; but it is , Seek the Kingdom of God. And who could expect less ? Immediately after this the King came in , and the Bishops were restored . Again , Sir , because I would willingly be understood , Suppose you design to preach about Election and Reproprobation : As for the eighth Chapter to the Romans , that 's too too well Known : But there 's a little private place in the Psalms that will do the business as well , Psal. 90.19 . In the multitude of my thoughts within me , thy comforts delight my Soul. The Doctrine which naturally flows from the words , will be , That amongst the multitude of thoughts , there is a great thought of Election and Reprobation . And then away with the point according as the Preacher is inclined . Or , suppose lastly , that you were not fully satisfied that Pluralities were lawful or convenient : May I be so bold , Sir , I pray what Text would you chuse to preach upon against Non-residents ? Certainly nothing ever was better pick'd than that of S. Matth. 1.2 . Abraham begat Isaac . A clear place against Nonresidents : For had Abraham not resided , but discontinued from Sarah his Wife , he could never have begot Isaac . But it is high time , Sir , to make an end of their Preaching , lest you be as much tired with the repetition of it , as the People were little benefited , when they heard it . I shall only mind you , Sir , of one thing more , and that is the ridiculous , senseless and unintended use , which many of them make of Concordances . I shall give you but one instance of it , although I could furnish you with an hundred printed ones . The Text , Sir , is this , Galat. 6.15 . For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision , nor Vncircumcision availeth any thing but a new Creature . Now all the World know the meaning of this to be , that let a Man be of what Nation he will , Iew or Gentile , if he amends his life and walks according to the Gospel , he shall be accepted with God. But this is not the way that pleases them : They must bring into the Sermon , to no purpose at all , a vast heap of places of Scripture ( which the Concordance will furnish them with ) where the word new is mentioned : And the Observation must be , That God is for new things ; God is for a new Creature . S. John 19.41 . Now in the place where he was Crucified , there was a Garden ; and in the Garden a new Sepulchre , wherein was never man yet laid ; there laid they Jesus : And again : St. Mark 16.17 . Christ tells his Disciples , That they that are true Believers , shall cast out Devils , and speak with new Tongues : And likewise the Prophet teaches us , Isa. 42.10 . Sing unto the Lord a new Song , and his praise unto the end of the Earth . Whence it is plain , that Christ is not for old things ; he is not for an old Sepulchre ; he is not for old Tongues ; he is not for an old Song ; he is not for the Old Creature ; Christ is for the new Creature ; Circumcision and Vncircumcision availeth nothing , but the new Creature . And what do we read concerning Sampson , Iudg. 15.15 . Is it not , that he slew a thousand of the Philistines with one new Iaw-bone ? An old one might have killed its tens , its twenties , its hundreds ; but it must be a new Iaw-bone that 's able to kill a thousand . God is for the new Creature . But may not some say , is God altogether for new things ? How comes it about then that the Prophet says , Isa. 1.13 , 14. Bring no more vain oblations , &c. your New-Moons and your appointed Feasts my Soul hateth ? And again , what means that , Deut. 32.17 , 19. They sacrificed unto Devils , and to New-Gods , whom they knew not ; to New-Gods , that came newly up : And when the Lord saw it he abhorred them ? To which I answer ; that God indeed is not for New-Moons , nor for New-Gods ; but , excepting Moons and Gods , he is for new things : God is for the New-Creature . It is possible , Sir , that some-body , besides your self , may be so vain as to read this Letter ; and they may perhaps tell you , that there be no such silly and useless people as I have described ; and if there be , there be not above two or three in a County ; or should there be more , it is no such complaining matter , seeing that the same happens in other Professions , in Law and Physick : In both which there be many a contemptible Creature . Such therefore as these may be pleased to know , that if there had been need , I could have told them either the Book and very Page , almost of all that has been spoken about Preaching ; or else the when and where , and the Person that Preached it . As to the Second , viz. That the Clergy are all mightily furnish'd with Learning and Prudence , except ten , twenty or so ; I shall not say any thing my self , because a very great Scholar of our Nation shall speak for me , who tells us , That such Preaching as is usual , is a hindrance of Salvation , rather than the means to it . And what he intends by usual , I shall not here go about to explain . As to the last , I shall also in short answer : That if the advancement of true Religion , and the eternal Salvation of a Man , were no more considerable than the health of the Body , and the security of his Estate , we need not be more solicitous about the Learning and Prudence of the Clergy , than of the Lawyers and Physicians : But being we believe it to be otherwise , surely we ought to be more concern'd for the Reputation , and success , of the one than of the other . I come now , Sir , to the second Part that was designed , viz. the Poverty of some of the Clergy : By whose mean condition , their sacred Profession is much disparaged , and their Doctrine undervalued . What large provisions of old , God was pleased to make for the Priesthood , and upon what reasons , is easily seen to any one that looks but into the Bible . The Levites , it is true , were left out in the Division of the Inheritance ; not to their loss but to their great temporal advantage : for whereas , had they been common sharers with the rest , a twelfth part only would have been their just allowance , God was pleased to settle upon them a tenth ; and that without any trouble or charge of Tillage : Which made their portion much more considerable than the rest . And as this provision was very bountiful , so the reasons , no question , were very divine and substantial : Which seem chiefly to be these two . First , that the Priesthood might be altogether at leisure for the Service of God , and that they of that Holy Order might not be distracted with the cares of the World , and interrupted by every Neighbour's Horse or Cow , that breaks their hedges , or shackles their Corn : But , that living a kind of spiritual life , and being removed a little from all worldly affairs , they might always be fit to receive holy Inspirations , and always ready to search out the mind of God , and to advise and direct the People therein . Not , as if this divine exemption of them from the common troubles and cares of this life , was intended as an opportunity of Luxury and Laziness ; for certainly there is a labour besides digging : And there is a true carefulness without following the Plough , and looking after their Cattel . And such was the Employment of those holy Men of old : their care and business was to please God , and to charge themselves with the welfare of all his People : Which thing he that does with a good and satisfied Conscience , I 'll assure you , he has a task upon him , much beyond them that have for their care , their hundreds of Oxen and five hundreds of Sheep . Another reason that this large allowance was made to the Priests , was , that they might be enabled to relieve the Poor , to entertain Strangers , and thereby to encourage People in the ways of Godliness : For they being in a peculiar manner the Servants of God , God was pleased to entrust in their hands a portion more than ordinary of the good things of the Land , as the safest store-house and treasury for such as were in need . That in all Ages therefore , there should be a continued tolerable Maintenance for the Clergy ; the same reasons , as well as many others , make us think to be very necessary . Unless they 'l count Money and Victuals to be only Types and Shadows , and so to cease with the Ceremonial Law. For where the Minister is pinch'd , as to the tolerable conveniences of this Life , the chief of his care and time must be spent not in an impertinent considering what Text of Scriptures will be most useful for his Parish , what Instructions most seasonable , and what Authors best to be consulted : But the chief of his thoughts , and his main business must be to study how to live that week : Where he shall have Bread for his Family ? Whose Sow has lately Pigg'd ? Whence will come the next rejoycing Goose , or the next cheerful Basket of Apples ? How far to Lammas , or Offerings ? When shall we have another Christening and Cakes , and who is likely to marry or die ? These are very seasonable considerations , and worthy of a mans thoughts . For a Family can't be maintain'd by Texts and Contexts : And the child that lies crying in the Cradle , will not be satisfied without a little Milk , and perhaps Sugar , though there be a small German System in the house . But suppose he does get into a little hole over the oven , with a Look to it , call'd his Study , towards the latter end of the week ( for you must know , Sir , there is very few Texts of Scripture that can be divided , at soonest , before Friday night ; and some there be that will never be divided but upon Sunday morning , and that not very early , but either a little before they go , or in the going to Church : ) I say , suppose the Gentleman gets thus into his Study : one may very near ghess , what is his first thought when he comes there , viz. that the last Kilderkin of Drink is near departed ; and that he has but one poor single Groat in the house , and there 's judgment and execution ready to come out against it , for Milk and Eggs. Now , Sir , can any man think that one thus rack'd , and tortur'd , can be seriously intent half an hour to contrive any thing that might be of real advantage to his people ? Besides , perhaps that week he has met with some dismal crosses and undoing misfortunes . There was a scurvy-condition'd Mole that broke into his pasture , and plough'd up the best part of his Glebe : And a little after that , came a couple of spightful ill-favour'd Crows , and trampl'd down the little remaining Grass : Another day , having but four Chickens , sweep comes the Kite , and carries away the fattest and hopefullest of all the Brood . Then after all this came the Jack-daws and Starlings ( idle Birds that they are ! ) and they scattered and carried away from his thin thatch'd house , forty or fifty of the best straws : And to make him compleatly unhappy , after all these afflictions , another day , that he had a pair of Breeches on , coming over a perverse stile , he suffered very much in carelesly lifting over his Leg. Now , what Parish can be so inconsiderate and unreasonable , as to look for any thing from one , whose phansie is thus check'd , and whose understanding is thus ruffl'd and disordered . They may as soon expect comfort and consolation from him that lies rack'd with the Gout and Stone , as from a Divine thus broken and shatter'd in his fortunes . But we 'll grant , that he meets not with any of these such frightful disasters , but that he goes into his Study with a Mind as calm as the Evening : For all that , upon Sunday , we must be content even with what God shall please to send us . For as for Books , he is ( for want of money ) so moderately furnish'd , that except it be a small Geneva-Bible , so small , as it will not be desired to lie open of it self , together with a certain Concordance thereunto belonging ; as also a Book for all kind of Latin Sentences , called Polyanthaea ; with some Exposition upon the Catechism ( a portion of which is to be got by heart , and to be put off for his own ; ) and perhaps Mr. Caryl upon Pineda , Mr. Dod upon the Commandments , and Mr. Clark's Lives of famous men , both in Church and State ; such as Mr. Carter of Norwich , that uses to eat such abundance of Pudden : Besides , I say , these , there is scarce any thing to be found but a boudget of old stitch'd Sermons , hung up behind the door , with a few broken Girts , two or three yards of Whipcord , and perhaps a Saw and a Hammer , to prevent dilapidations . Now , what may not a Divine do , though but of ordinary parts , and unhappy education , with such learned helps and assistances as these ? No vice surely durst stand before him , nor Heresie affront him . And furthermore , Sir , it is to be considered , that he that is but thus meanly provided for , it is not his only infelicity that he has neither Time , Mind , nor Books , to improve himself for the inward benefit and satisfaction of his people , but also that he is not capable of doing that outward good amongst the needy , which is a great Ornament to that holy Profession , and a considerable advantage towards the having his Doctrine believed and practised in a degenerate world . And that which augments the misery , whether he be able or not , it is expected from him . If there comes a Brief to Town , for the Minister to cast in his Mite , will not satisfie , unless he can create six pence or a shilling to put into the Box , for a stale to decoy in the rest of the Parish : Nay , he that has but twenty or thirty pounds per annum , if he bids not up as high as the best in the Parish in all acts of Charity , he is counted carnal and earthly-minded , only because he durst not coin , and cannot work Miracles ▪ And let there come never so many Beggars , half of these I 'll secure you , shall presently enquire for the Ministe'rs house : For God , say they , certainly dwells there , and has laid up for us sufficient relief . I know many of the Laity are usually so extremely tender of the spiritual wellfare of the Clergy , that they are apt to wish them but very small temporal goods , lest their inward state should be in danger , ( A thing they need not much fear , since that effectual humiliation of Henry the Eighth . ) For , say they , the great Tithes , large Glebes , good Victuals and warm Cloths , do but puff up the Priest , making him fat , foggy , and useless , and fill him with pride , vain-glory , and all kind of inward wickedness , and pernicious corruption . We see this plain , say they , in the Whore of Babylon : To what a degree of Luxury and Intemperance ( besides a great deal of false Doctrine ) have Riches and Honour raised up that Strumpet ? How does she strut it , and swagger it over all the world , terrifying Princes , and despising Kings and Emperors ? The Clergy , if ever we would expect any edification from them , ought to be dieted and kept low , to be meek and humble , quiet , and stand in need of a pot of Milk from their next Neighbour , and always be very loth to ask for their very right , for fear of making any disturbance in the Parish , or seeming to understand , or have any respect for this vile and outward World. Under the Law indeed , in those old times of darkness and eating , the Priests had their first and second dishes , their Milk and Honey , their Manna and Quails , their outward also and inward Vestments : But now under the Gospel , and in times of Light and Fasting , a much more sparing Diet is fitter , and a single Coat , though it be never so ancient and thin is fully sufficient . We must now look , say they , ( if we would be the better for them ) for a hardy and labouring Clergy , that is mortified to a Horse , and all such pampering vanities ; and that can foot it five or six miles in the dirt , and preach till star-light for as many shillings ; as also a sober and temperate Clergy , that will not eat so much as the Laity , but that the least Pig , and the least Sheaf , and the least of every thing , may satisfie their Spiritualship . And besides , a Money-renouncing Clergy , that can abstain from seeing a penny a month together , unless it be when the Collectors , and Visitationers come . These are all Gospel-dispensations , and great instances of Patience , contentedness , and resignation of affections ; to all the emptinesses and fooleries of this life . But , cannot a Clergy-man chuse rather to lie upon Feathers than an Hardle , but he must be idle , soft , and effeminate ? May he not desire wholesome Food , and fresh Drink , unless he be a cheat , a Hypocrite and an Impostor ? And must he needs be void of all Grace , though he has a shilling in his Purse after the Rates be cross'd ? And full of pride and vanity , though his House stands not upon crutches , and though his Chimney is to be seen a foot above the Thatch ? Oh , how prettily and temperately may half a score children be maintained with almost Twenty pounds per annum ! What a handsome shift a poor ingenious and frugal Divine will make , to take it by turns , and wear a Cassock one year , and a pair of Breeches another ? What a becoming thing is it , for him that serves at the Altar , to fill the Dung-cart in dry weather , and to heat the Oven , and pill Hemp in wet ? And what a pleasant sight is it , to see the man of God fetching up his single Melancholy Cow , from a small rib of Land that is scarce to be found without a Guide ? Or to be seated upon a soft and well grinded pouch of Meal ? Or to be planted upon a Pannier with a pair of Geese , or Turkies , bobbing out their heads from under his Canonical Coat , as you cannot but remember the man , Sir , that was thus accomplish'd ? Or to find him raving about the Yards , or keeping his Chamber close , because the Duck lately miscarried of an Egg , or that the never-failing Hen has unhappily forsaken her wonted Nest ? And now , shall we think that such Employments as these can any way consist with due reverence , or tolerable respect from a Parish ? And he speaks altogether at a venture , that either says that this is false , or , at least it need not be so , notwithstanding the mean condition of some of the Clergy . For let any one make it out to me , which way it is possible , that a man shall be able to maintain perhaps eight or ten in his Family , with twenty or thirty Pounds per annum , without a most intollerable dependence upon his Parish , and without committing himself to such vileness , as will in all likelihood , render him contemptible to his People . Now , where the In-come is so pitifully small ( which I 'll assure you , is the portion of hundreds of the Clergy of this Nation ) which way shall he mannage it for the subsistence of himself , and his Family ? If he keeps the Glebe in his own hand ( which he may easily do , almost in the hollow of it ) what increase can he expect from a couple of Apple-trees , a brood of Ducklings , a Hemp-land , and as much pasture as is just able to summer a Cow ? And as for his Tithes , he either rents them out to a Lay-man , who will be very unwilling to be his Tenant , unless he may be sure to save by the bargain at least a third part : Or else he compounds for them ; and then as for his money , he shall have it when all the rest of the world be paid . But if he thinks fit to take his dues in kind , he then either demands his true and utmost Right ; and if so , it is a great hazard if he be not counted a Caterpiller , a Muck-worm , a very Earthly-minded man , and too much sighted into this lower world ; which was made , as many of the Laity think , altogether for themselves : Or else he must tamely commit himself to that little Dose of the creature , that shall be pleased to be proportioned out unto him : Chusing rather to starve in peace and quietness , than to gain his right by noise and disturbance : The best of all these ways that a Clergy-man shall think fit for his preferment to be mannag'd , where it is so small , are such , as will undoubtedly make him either to be hated and reviled , or else pitifully poor and disesteemed . But has it not gone very hard in all ages with the men of God ? Was not our Lord and Master , our Great and High Priest ; and was not his fare low , and his life full of trouble ? And was not the condition of most of his Disciples very mean ? Were not they notably pinch'd , and severely treated after him ? And is it not the Duty of every Christian to imitate such holy Patterns : but especially of the Clergy , who are to be shining Lights and visible Examples , and therefore to be satisfied with a very little Morsel , and to renounce ten times as much of the World as other People ? And is not Patience better than the great Tithes , and Contentedness to be preferred before large Fees and Customs ? Is there any comparison between the expectation of a cringing Bowe , or a low Hat , and mortification to all such Vanities and Fopperies ; especially with those who , in a peculiar manner , hope to receive their Inheritance , and make their Harvest in the next life ? This was well thought of indeed : but for all that , if you please , Sir , we will consider a little some of those remarkable Inconveniences , that do most undoubtedly attend upon the Ministers being so meanly provided for . First of all , the holy Men of God , or the Ministry in general , hereby is dis-esteemed , and rendred of small account . For though they be called the Men of God , yet when it is observed , that God seems to take but little care of them in making them tollerable Provisions for this Life , or that Men are suffered to take away that which God was pleased to provide for them , the People are presently apt to think , that they belong to God no more than ordinary folks , if so much . And although it is not to be question'd but that the laying on of Hands is a most Divine Institution ; yet it is not all the Bishops Hands in the World , laid upon a Man , if he be either notoriously ignorant , or dismally poor , that can procure him any hearty and lasting respect . For though we find that some of the Disciples of Christ , that carried on and established the great designs of the Gospel , were Persons of ordinary Employments and Education ; yet we see little reason to think that Miracles should be continued to do that , which natural endeavours , assisted by the Spirit of God , are able to perform . And if Christ were still upon Earth to make Bread for such as are his peculiar Servants , and Declarers of his mind and Doctrine , the Laity , if they please , should eat up all the Corn themselves , as well the tenth sheaf , as the other ; but seeing it is otherwise , and that that Miraculous Power was not left to the succeeding Clergy ; for them to beg their Bread or depend for their subsistence upon the good pleasure and humour of their Parish , is a thing that renders that holy Office very much slighted , and disregarded . That constitution therefore of our Church was a most prudent design ; that says , that all who are Ordain'd , shall be Ordain'd to somewhat ; Not Ordain'd at random , to Preach in general to the whole World , as they travel up and down the Road , but to this or that particular Parish . And no question the reason was to prevent Spiritual-Pedling , and gadding up and down the Country with a bag of trifling and insignificant Sermons ; enquiring , who will buy any Doctrine ? So that no more might be received into holy Orders , than the Church had provision for . But so very little is this regarded , that if a young Divinity-intender has but got a Sermon of his own , or of his Father's , although he knows not where to get a Meals Meat , or one penny of Money by his Preaching , yet he gets a Qualification from some Benefic'd Man or other , who perhaps is no more able to keep a Curate , than I am to keep ten Foot-boys , and so he is made a Preacher . And upon this account I have known an ordinary Divine , whose Living would but just keep himself and his Family from Melancholly and Despair , shroud under his protection as many Curats , as the best Nobleman in the Land has Chaplains . Now , many such as these go into Orders against the Sky falls ; foreseeing no more likelyhood of any Preferment coming to them , than you or I do of being Secretaries of State. Now , so often as any such as these , for want of Maintenance , are put to any unworthy and disgraceful shifts , this reflects disparagement upon all that Order of Holy Men. And we must have a great care of comparing our small prefer'd Clergy with those but of the like fortune in the Church of Rome , they having many Arts and Devices of gaining Respect and Reverence to their Office , which we count neither just nor warrantable . We design no more than to be in a likely capacity of doing good , and not discrediting our Religion , nor suffering the Gospel to be dis-esteemed : But their aim is clearly , not only by Cheats , contriv'd Tales and faigned Miracles , to get Money in abundance : but to be worshipped , almost deified , is as little as they will content themselves withal . For , how can it be , but that the people belonging to a Church , wherein the Supreme Governour is believed never to erre , either purely by vertue of his own single Wisdom , or by the help of his Inspiring Chair , or by the assistance of his little Infallible Cardinals , ( for it matters not where the root of not being mistaken lies ) I say , how can it be , but that all that are Believers of such extraordinary knowledge , must needs stand in most direful awe , not only of the foresaid Supreme , but of all that adhere to him , or are in any Ghostly Authority under him ? And although it so happens , that this same extraordinary knowing Person is pleased to trouble himself with a good large proportion of this vile and contemptible World , so that should he now and then , upon some odd and cloudy day , count himself Mortal , and be a little mistaken ; yet he has chanced to make such a comfortable provision for himself and his followers , that he must needs be sufficiently valued and honoured amongst all : But had he but just enough to keep himself from catching cold , and starving , so long as he is invested with such spiritual Soveraignty , and such a peculiar privilege of being Infallible , most certainly , without quarrelling , he take the Rode of all Man-kind . And as for the most inferior Priests of all , although they pretend not to such perfection of knowledge , yet there be many extraordinary things , which they are believed to be able to do , which beget in People a most venerable respect towards them ; such is the power of Making God in the Sacrament ; a thing that must infallibly procure an infinite admiration of him that can do it , though he scarce knows the ten Commandments , and has not a farthing to buy himself Bread. And then when Christ is made , their giving but half of him to the Laity , is a thing also , if it be minded , that will very much help on the business , and make the People stand at a greater distance from the Clergy . I might instance likewise in their Auricular Confessions , injoyning of Penance , forgiving sins , making of Saints , freeing people from Purgatory , and many such useful Tricks they have , and Wonders they can do , to draw in the forward believing Laity into a most Right-Worshipful Opinion , and Honourable Esteem of them . And therefore seeing our Holy Church of England counts it not just , nor warrantable thus to cheat the World , by belying the Scriptures , and by making use of such falshood and stratagems to gain respect and reverence : It behoves us certainly to wish for , and endeavour all such means as are useful and lawful , for the obtaining the same . I might here , I think , conveniently add , that though many preferments amongst the Clergy of Rome may possibly be as small as some of ours in England , yet we are to be put in mind of one more excellent Contrivance of theirs , and that is the denyal of Marriage to Priests , whereby they are freed from the Expences of a Family , and a train of young Children , that , upon my word , will soon suck up the milk of a Cow or two , and grind in pieces a few sheaves of Corn. The Church of England therefore thinking it not fit to oblige their Clergy to a single life , and I suppose are not likely to alter their Opinion , unless they receceive better reasons for it from Rome , than has been as yet sent over ; he makes a comparison very wide from the purpose , that goes about to try the livings here in England , by those of the Church of Rome : There being nothing more frequent in our Church , than for a Clergy-man to have three or four children to get Bread for , by that time one in theirs shall be allowed to go into Holy Orders . There is still one thing remaining , which ought not to be forgotten ( a thing that is sometimes urged , I know , by the Papists , for the single life of the Priests ) that does much also lessen the Esteem of our Ministery ; and that is the poor and contemptible Employment that many children of the Clergy are forced upon , by reason of the meanness of their Fathers Revenue . It has happen'd , I know , sometimes , that whereas it has pleased God to bestow upon the Clergy-man a very sufficient Income ; yet such has been his carelessness , as that he hath made but pitiful provisions for his children . And on the other side , notwithstanding all the good care and thoughtfulness of the Father , it has happen'd at other times that the children , beyond the power of all advice , have seemed to be resolved for Debauchery ; but to see Clergy-mens children condemn'd to the walking of Horses , to wait upon a Tapster , or the like , and that only because their Father was not able to allow them a more gentile Education , are such Employments that cannot but bring great disgrace and dishonour upon the Clergy . But this is not all the inconvenience that attends the small Income , the Portion of some Clergy-men ; for besides that the Clergy in general is disesteemed , they are likely also to do but little good in their Parish . For it is a hard matter for the People to believe that he talks any thing to the purpose , that wants ordinary Food for his Family , and that his Advice and Exposition can come from above , that is scarce defended against the Weather . I have heard a travelling poor man beg with very good Reason and a great stream of seasonable Rhetorick , and yet it has been very little minded , because his cloaths were torn , or at least out of fashion : And on the other side , I have heard but an ordinary saying , proceeding from a fine suit , and a good lusty Title of Honour , highly admired ; which would not possibly have been hearken'd to , had it been uttered by a meaner Person ; yet by all means , because it was a phansie of his Worships , it must be counted high , and notably expressed . If indeed this world were made of sincere and pure beaten Vertue , like the Gold of the first Age , then such idle and fond prejudices would be a very vain supposal : And the Doctrine that proceeded from the most tattered and contemptible Habit , and the most sparing Diet , would be as acceptable as that which flowed from a Silken Cassock , and the best chear : But seeing the world is not absolutely perfect , it is to be questioned , whether he that runs upon Trust for every ounce of Provision he spends in his Family , can scarce look from his Pulpit into any Seat of the Church , but that he spies some body or other that he is beholden to , and depends upon ; and for want of money has scarce confidence to speak handsomly to his Sexton ; it is to be question'd , I say , whether one thus destitute of all tolerable subsistence , and thus shattered and distracted with most necessary Cares , can either invent with discretion , or utter with courage any thing that may be beneficial to his People , whereby they may become his diligent attenders , and hearty respecters . And as the People do almost resolve against being amended , or bettered by that Ministers Preaching , whose circumstances , as to this life , are so bad , and his condition so low ; so likewise is their Devotion very cool , and indifferent in hearing , from such a one , the Prayers of the Church . The Divine-service , all the World know , is the same , if read in the most magnificent Cathedral , or in the most private Parlour : Or , if performed by the Arch-Bishop himself , or by the meanest of his Priests : But as the solemnity of the place , besides the Consecration of it to God Almighty , do much influence upon the Devotion of the People : so also the quality and condition of the person that reads it . And although there be not that acknowledged difference between a Priest comfortably provided for , and him that is in the Thorns and Bryars , as there is between one placed in great Dignity and Authority , and one that is in less ; yet such a difference the People will make , that they will scarce hearken to what is read by the one , and yet be most religiously attentive to the other . Not surely that any one can think , that he whose countenance is chearly , and his Barns full , can petition Heaven more effectually , or prevail with God for the forgiveness of a greater sin , than he who is pitifully pale , and is not owner of an ear of corn : yet most certainly they do not delight to confess their Sins , and sing Praises to God with him , who sighs more for want of Money and Victuals , than for his Trespasses and offences . Thus it is , and will be , do you and I ( Sir ) what we can to the contrary . Did our Church indeed believe , with the Papists , every person rightfully ordained , to be a kind of God Almighty , working miracles and doing wonders ; then would People most readily prostrate themselves in every thing to holy Orders , though it could but just creep : But being our Church counts those of the Clergy to be but mortal men ( though peculiarly dedicated to God and his Service ) their behaviour , their condition and circumstances of life will necessarily come into our value , and esteem of them . And therefore it is no purpose for men to say , that this need not be ; it being but meer prejudice , humour and phansie : And that if the man be but truly in Holy Orders , that 's the great matter : And from thence come blessings , Absolution , and Intercession through Christ with God : And that it is not Philosophy , Languages , Ecclesiastical History , Prudence , Discretion , and Reputation , by which the Minister can help us on towards Heaven : Notwithstanding this , I say again , that seeing men are men , and seeing that we are of the Church of England , and not of that of Rome , these things ought to be weighed and considered ; and for want of being so , our Church of England has suffered much . And I am almost confident , that since the Reformation , nothing has more hindred People from a just estimation of a Form of Prayer , and our Holy Liturgy , than employing a company of Boys , or old illiterate Mumblers , to read the Service . And I do verily believe that at this very day , especially in Cities and Corporations , ( which make up the third part of our Nation ) there is nothing that does more keep back some dissatisfied People from Church , till Service be over , than that it is read by some Ten or Twelve-pound-man , with whose Parts and Education they are so well acquainted , as to have reason to know , that he has but just skill enough to read the Lessons with twice conning over . And though the Office of the Reader , be only to read word for word , and neither to invent or expound ; yet People love he should be a Person of such worth and knowledge , as it may be supposed he understands what he reads . And although for some it were too burthensome a task to read the Service twice a day , and preach as often ; yet certainly it were much better if the People had but one Sermon in a fortnight or month , so the Service was performed by a knowing and valuable Person , than to run an unlearned rout of contemptible People into Holy Orders , on purpose only to say the Prayers of the Church , who perhaps shall understand very little more than a hollow pipe made of Tin or Wainscot . Neither do I here at all reflect upon Cathedrals : Where the Prayers are usually read by some grave and worthy Person ; And as for the unlearned Singers , whether Boys or Men , there is no more complaint to be made , as to this Case , than that they have not an all-understanding Organ , or a prudent and discreet Cornet . Neither need People be afraid that the Minister for want of Preaching should grow stiff and rusty , supposing he came not into the Pulpit every week : For he may spend his time very honestly , either by taking better care of what he preaches , and by seriously considering what is most useful and seasonable for the People ; and not what Subject he can preach upon with most ease , or upon what text he can make a brave Speech , for which no body shall be better , or where he can best steal without being discover'd , as is the practice of many Divines in private Parishes : or else he may spend it in visiting the Sick , instructing the Ignorant , and recovering such as are gone astray : For , though there be Churches built for publick Assemblies , for publick Instruction , and Exhortation : and though there be not many absolutely plain places of Scripture that do oblige the Minister to walk from house to house , yet certainly People might receive much more advantage from such charitable Visits and friendly Conferences , than from general Discourses levell'd at the whole World ; where perhaps the greatest part of the time shall be spent in useless Prefaces , Dividings and Flourishings . Which thing is very practicable , excepting some vast Parishes : In which also it is much better to do good to some than to none at all . There is but one Calamity more that I shall mention , which though it need not absolutely , yet it does too frequently accompany the low condition of many of the Clergy : And that is , it is a great hazard , if they be not idle , intemperate and scandalous . I say , I cannot prove it strictly and undeniably that a man smally beneficed , must of necessity be dissolute and debauched : but when we consider , how much he lies subject to the humour of all kind of Reprobates ; and how easily he is tempted from his own house of Poverty and Melancholly ; it is to be feared , that he will be willing too often to forsake his own Study of a few scurvy Books , and his own Habitation of Darkness , where there is seldom eating or drinking , for a good lightsome one , where there is a bountiful provision of both . And when he comes here , though he swears not at all , yet he must be sure to say nothing to them that doe it , by all that they can think of : And though he judges it not fit to lead the Forelorn in Vice and Profaneness ; yet , if he goes about to damp a Frolick , there is great danger , not only of losing his Sunday Dinner , but all opportunities of such future refreshments , for his niceness and squeamishness . And such as are but at all disposed to these lewd kind of Meetings , besides the Devil , he shall have solicitors enough , who count all such revelling occasions very unsavoury , and unhallowed , unless they have the presence of some Clergy man to sanctifie the Ordinance : Who , if he sticks at his Glass , bless him , and call him but Doctor , and it slides presently . I take no delight , I must confess , to insist upon this , but only I could very much wish that such of our Governors , as go amongst our small preferr'd Clergy , to take a view of the Condition of the Church and Chancel , that they would make but enquiry whether the Minister himself be not much out of repair . I have now done , Sir , with the Grounds of that disesteem that many of the Clergy lie under both by the Ignorance of some , and the extream Poverty of others : And I should have troubled you no farther but that I thought it convenient not to omit the particular occasions that do concur to the making up of many of our Clergy so pitifully poor and contemptible . The first thing that contributes much to the Poverty of the Clergy is the great scarcity of Livings : Churches and Chappels we have enough , it is to be confessed , if compared with the bigness of our Nation : But in respect of that infinite number that are in Holy Orders , it is a very plain case , that there is a very great want . And , I am confident that in a very little time I could procure hundreds that should ride both Sun and Moon down , and be everlastingly yours , if you could help them but to a Living of Twenty five , or Thirty pounds a year : And this I suppose to be chiefly occasioned upon these two accounts ; either from the Eagerness and Ambition that some People have of going into Orders ; or from the refuge of others into the Church ; who being otherwise disappointed of a Livelihood , hope , to make sure of one by that means . First , I say , that which encreases the unprovided for number of the Clergy , is people posting into Orders , before they know their Message or Business , only out of a certain kind of Pride and Ambition . Thus some are hugely in love with the meer Title of Priest , or Deacon ; never considering how they shall live , or what good they are likely to do in their Office : But only they have a phansie that a Cassock , if it be made long , is a very handsom Garment , though it be never paid for : And that the Desk is clearly the best , and the Pulpit the highest Seat in all the Parish : That they shall take place of most but Esquires and Right-Worshipfuls : That they shall have the honour of being Spiritual Guides and Counsellors : And they shall be supposed to understand more of the Mind of God than ordinary , though perhaps they scarce know the old Law from the new , nor the Canon from the Apocrypha . Many , I say , such as these there be , who know not where to get two groats , nor what they have to say to the People , but only because they have heard that the office of a Minister is the most Noble and honourable Employment in the World , therefore they , not knowing in the least what the meaning of that is , Orders by all means must have , though it be to the disparagement of that Holy Function . Others also there be , who are not so highly possess'd with the mere dignity of the Office , and honourableness of the Employment , but think , had they but a Licence and Authority to Preach , Oh how they could pay it away ! And that they can tell the People such strange things , as they never heard before in all their lives : That they have got such a commanding Voice , such heart-breaking Expressions , such a peculiar Method of Text-dividing , and such notable Helps for the interpreting all difficulties in Scripture , that they can shew the People a much shorter way to Heaven , than has been as yet made known by any . Such a forwardness as this , of going into Holy Orders , either meerly out of an ambitious humour of being called a Priest , or of thinking they could do such feats and wonders , if they might be but free of the Pulpit , has filled the Nation with many more Divines , than there is any competent Maintenance for in the Church . Another great crowd that is made in the Church , is by those , that take in there only as a place of shelter and refuge : Thus we have many turn Priests and Deacons , either for want of Employment in their Profession of Law , Physick , or the like ; or having been unfortunate in their Trade , or having broken a Leg , or an Arm , & so disabled from following their former Calling ; or , having had the pleasure of spending their Estate , or being ( perhaps deservedly ) disappointed of their Inheritance . The Church is a very large and good Sanctuary , and one spiritual shilling is as good as three Temporality shillings : Let the hardest come to the hardest ; if they can get by heart , Quid est Fides ? quid est Ecclesia ? quot sunt Concilia Generalia ? and gain Orders , they may prove Readers or Preachers according as their Gifts and Opportunities shall lie . Now , many such as these , the Church being not able to provide for ( as there is no great reason that She should be solicitous about it ) must needs prove a very great disparagement to Her : They coming hither just as the old Heathens use to go to Prayers : When nothing would stop the anger of the Gods , then for a touch of Devotion : And if there be no way to get Victuals , rather than starve let us Read or Preach . In short , Sir , We are perfectly over-stock'd with Professors of Divinity ; There being scarce employment for half of those who undertake that Office. And unless we had some of the Romish tricks , to ramble up and down , and cry Pardons and Indulgencies : Or for want of a Living , have good store of Clients in the business of Purgatory , or the like , and so make such unrighteous gains of Religion , it were certainly much better if many of them were otherwise determined . Or unless we had some vent for our learned ones beyond the Sea , and could transport so many Tun of Divines yearly , as we do other Commodities with which the Nation is over-stocked ; we do certainly very unadvisedly to breed up so many to that Holy Calling , or to suffer so many to steal into Orders , seeing there is not sufficient Work and Employment for them . The next thing that does much heighten the Misery of our Church , as to the Poverty of it , is the Gentries designing , not only the weak , the lame , and usually the most ill-favour'd of their children for the office of the Ministry , but also such as they intend to settle nothing upon for their subsistence ; leaving them wholly to the bare hopes of Church-preferment . For , as they think , let the thing look how it will , it is good enough for the Church ; and that if it had but Limbs enough to climb the Pulpit , and Eyes enough to find the day of the Month , it will serve well enough to preach and read Service : So likewise they think they have obliged the Clergy very much , if they please to bestow two or three years Education upon a younger Son at the Vniversity , and then commend him to the Grace of God , and the favour of the Church , without one penny of Money or inch of Land. You must not think , that he will spoil his eldest Son's Estate , or hazard the lessening the Credit of the Family , to do that which may tend any way to the reputation and honour of the Clergy . And thus it comes to pass that you may commonly ride ten miles , and scarce meet with a Divine that is worth above two Spoons and a Pepper-box , besides his Living , or Spiritual Preferments . For , as for the Land , that goes sweeping away with the eldest Son , for the immortality of the Family ; and as for the Money , that is usually employed for to bind out , and set up other children . And thus you shall have them make no doubt of giving five hundred or a thousand pounds for a stock to them : But for the poor Divinity-Son , if he gets but enough to buy a broad Hat at second hand , and a small System or two of Faith , that 's counted stock sufficient for him to set up withal . And possibly he might make some kind of shift in this world , if any body will ingage that he shall have neither Wife nor Children ; but if it so falls out , that he leaves the world , and behind him either the one or the others ; in what a dismal condition are these likely to be , and how will their sad Calamities reflect upon the Clergy ? So dismal a thing is this commonly judged , that those that at their departure out of this Life are piously and vertuously disposed , do usually reckon the taking care for the relief of the poor Ministers Widows , to be an opportunity of as necessary Charity , as the mending the High-wayes , and the erecting of Hospitals . But neither are spiritual Preferments only scarce by reason of that great number that lie hovering over them , and that they that are thus upon the wing are usually destitute of any other Estate and Livelihood ; but also when they come into possession of them , they finding for the most part nothing but a little Sauce and second Course , Pigs , Geese , and Apples , must needs be put upon great perplexities for the standing necessaries of a Family . So that if it be enquired by any one , how comes it to pass that we have so many in Holy Orders that understand so little , and that are able to do so little Service in the Church ? If we would answer plainly and truly , we may say , Because they are good for nothing else . For , shall we think that any man that is not curs'd to uselesness , poverty , and misery , will be content with Twenty or Thirty pounds a year ? For though in the bulk it looks at first like a bountiful Estate ; yet , if we think of it a little better , we shall find that an ordinary Bricklayer , or Carpenter , ( I mean not your great Undertakers and Master-workmen ) that earns constantly but his two shillings a day , has clearly a better Revenue , and has certainly the command of more Money : For that the one has no dilapidations , and the like , to consume a great part of his weekly Wages , which you know how much the other is subject unto . So that as long as we have so many small and contemptible Livings belonging to our Church ( let the world do what it can ) we must expect that they should be supplyed by very lamentable and unserviceable things : For that no body else will meddle with them : Unless one in an Age , abounding with Money , Charity and Goodness , will preach for nothing . For if men of Knowledge , Prudence , and Wealth , have a phansie against a Living of twenty or thirty pounds a year : There is no way to get them into such an undertaking , but by sending out a spiritual Press : For that very few Volunteers that are of worth ( unless better encouraged ) will go into that Holy Warfare : But it will be left to those who cannot devise how otherwise to live . Neither must people say , that besides Bishopricks , Prebends , and the like , we have several brave Benefices , sufficient to invite those of the best Parts , Education , and Discretion . For imagine one Living in forty is worth a Hundred pounds a year ; And supplied by a Man of Skill , and wholsome Counsel : What are the other thirty nine the better for that ? What are the People about Carlisle better'd by his Instructions and advice who lives at Dover ? It was certainly our Saviour's Mind , not only that the Gospel should be preached to all Nations at first , but that the meaning and Power of it should be preserved and constantly declared to all People , by such as had judgment to do it . Neither again must they say , that Cities , Corporations , and the great Trading Towns of this Nation , ( which are the strength and glory of it , and that contain the useful People of the World ) are usually instructed by very learned and judicious Persons . For , I suppose , that our Saviour's Design was not that Majors , Aldermen , and Merchants , should be only saved ; but also that all plain Countrey People should partake of the same means : Who , though they read not so many Gazetts , as a Citizen , nor concern themselves where the Turk , or King of France sets on next ; yet the true knowledge of God is now so plainly delivered in Scripture , that there wants nothing but sober and prudent Offerers of the same , to make it saving to those of the meanest understandings . And therefore in all parishes , if possible , there ought to be such a fixt and settled Provision , as might reasonably invite some careful and prudent Person , for the Peoples Guide and Instruction in Holy Matters . And furthermore : It might be added , that the Revenue belonging to most of Corporation-Livings is no such mighty business : For were it not for the uncertain and humorsome contribution of the well-pleased Parishioners , the Parson and his Family might be easily starved , for all the Lands or Income that belongs to his Church . Besides the great mischief that such kind of hired Preachers have done in the World : which I shall not stay here to insist upon . And as we have not Churches enough , in respect of the great multitude that are qualified for a Living ; so , considering the smallness of the revenue , and the number of People that are to be the Hearers , it is very plain that we have too many . And we shall many times find too Churches in the same Yard , whenas one would hold double the People of both the Parishes : And if they were united for the encouragement of some deserving Person , he might easily make shift to spend very honestly and temperately the Revenue of both . And what though Churches stand at a little further distance ? People may please to walk a mile without distempering themselves ; when as they shall go three or four to a Market to sell two pennie-worth of Eggs. But suppose they resolve to pretend , that they shall catch cold ( the Clouds being more than ordinary thick upon the Sunday , as they usually are , if there be Religion in the case ) and that they are absolutely bent upon having instruction brought to their own Town : Why might not one Sermon a day , or rather than fail one in a fortnight , from a prudent and well esteem'd-of Preacher , do as well as two a day from him , that talks all the year long nothing to the purpose , and thereupon is laught at and despised ? I know what people will presently say to this , viz. That if upon Sunday the Church doors be shut , the Ale-houses will be open . And therefore there must be some body , though never so weak and lamentable , to pass away the time in the Church , that the people may be kept sober and peaceable . Truly , if Religion and the Worship of God consisted only in Negatives ; and that the observation of the Sabbath was only not to be drunk ; then they speak much to the purpose : but if it be otherwise , very little . It being not much unlike ( as it is the fashion in many places ) to the sending of little children of two or three years old to a School-Dame , without any design of learning one Letter , but only to keep them out of the fire and water . Last of all ; People must not say that there needs no great store of Learning in a Minister , and therefore a small Living may answer his deserts : for that there be Homilies made on purpose by the Church for young Beginners and slow Inventers . Whereupon it is that such difference is made between giving Orders , and License to preach ; the last being granted only to such as the Bishop shall judge able to make Sermons . But this does not seem to do the business : For , though it be not necessary for every Guide of a Parish to understand all the Oriental Languages , or to make exactly elegant or profound Discourses for the Pulpit ; yet most certainly it is very requisite that he should be so far learned and judicious , as prudently to advise , direct , inform , and satisfie the people in holy matters , when they demand it , or beg it from him . Which , to peform readily and judiciously , requires much more discretion and skill , than , upon long deliberation , to make a continued talk of an hour , without any great discernible failings . So that were a Minister tyed up never to speak one sentence of his own invention out of the Pulpit in his whole Life-time , yet doubtless many other occasions there be , for which neither Wisdom nor Reputation should be wanting in him that has the Care and Government of a Parish . I shall not here go about to please my self with the imagination of all the great Tithes being restored to the Church , having little reason to hope to see such dayes of vertue . Nor shall I here question the Almightiness of former Kings and Parliaments ; nor dispute whether all the King Henries in the world , with never such a powerful Parliament , were able to determine to any other use , what was once solemnly dedicated to God and his Service . But yet when we look over the Prefaces to those Acts of Parliament , whereby some Church-revenues were granted to Henry the eight , one cannot but be much taken with the ingenuity of that Paliament : That when the King wanted a supply of Money , and an Augmentation to his Revenue , how handsomely out of the Church they made provision for him , without doing themselves any injury at all : For , say they , seeing His Majesty is Our joy and life , seeing that He is so couragious and wise , seeing that he is so tender of , and well-affected to all his Subjects ; and that He has been at such large Expences for five and twenty whole years to defend and protect this his Realm ; therefore in all Duty and Gratitude , and as a manifest token of our unfeigned Thankfulness , We do grant unto the King , and his Heirs for ever , &c. If follows as closely as can be , That because the King had been a good and deserving King , and had been at much trouble and expence for the safety and honour of the Nation , that thererefore all his wants shall be supplyed out of the Church : As if all the Charges that he had been at , was upon the account only of his Ecclesiastical Subjects , and not in relation to the rest . It is not , Sir , for you and I to ghess which way the whole Clergy in general might be better provided for . But sure it is , and must not be denyed , that so long as many Livings continue as they now are , thus impoverished ; and that there be so few encouragements for men of Sobriety , Wisdom , and Learning , we have no reason to expect much better Instructors and Governours of Parishes , than at present we commonly find . There is a way , I know , that some people love marvellously to talk of , and that is a just and equal levelling of Ecclesiastical-preferments . What a delicate refreshment , say they , would it be , if twenty or thirty thousand pounds a year were taken from the Bishops , and discreetly sprinkled amongst the poorer and meaner sort of the Clergy ? how would it rejoice their hearts , and encourage them in their Office ? What need those great and sumptuous Palaces , their City , and their Country-houses , their Parks and spacious Waters , their costly Dishes and fashionable Sauces ? May not he that lives in a small thatch'd house , that can scarce walk four strides in his own ground , that has only read well concerning Venison , Fish , and Fowl ; may not he , I say , preach as loud , and to as much purpose , as one of those high and mighty Spiritualists ? Go to then , seeing it hath pleased God to make such a bountiful provision for his Church in general , what need we be sollicitous about the amending the low condition of many of the Clergy , when as there is such a plain remedy at hand , had we but grace to apply it ? This invention pleases some mainly well : But for all the great care they pretend to have of the distressed part of the Clergy , I am confident , one might easily ghess what would please them much better : If instead of augmenting small Benefices , the Bishops would be pleased to return to them those Lands that they purchased in their absence . And then as for the relieving of the Clergy , they would try if they could find out another way . But art thou in good earnest my excellent Contriver ? Dost thou think that if the greatest of our Church-Preferments were wisely parcell'd out amongst those that are in want , it would do much feats and courtesies ? And dost thou not likewise think , that if ten or twenty of the lustiest Noble-mens Estates of England were cleaverly sliced among the Indigent , would it not strangely refresh some of the poor Laity , that cry Small-coal or grind Scissars ? I do suppose that if God should afterwards incline thy mind ( for I phansie it will not be as yet a good while ) to be a Benefactor to the Church ; thy wisdom may possibly direct thee to disperse thy goodness in smaller parcels , rather than to flow in upon two or three with full happiness . But if it be my inclination to settle upon one Ecclesiastical person , and his successors for ever , a thousand pounds a year ; upon condition only to read the Service of the Church once in a week ; and thou takest it ill , & findest fault with my Prudence , and the Method of my Munificence ; and sayst , that the stipend is much too large for such a small task : Yet , I am confident , that should I make thy Laityship Heir of such an Estate , and oblige thee only to the trouble and expence of the spending a single Chicken , or half a dozen of Larks , once a year , in Commemoration of me , that thou wouldst count me the wisest Man that ever was since the Creation : And pray to God , never to dispose thy mind to part with one farthing of it for any other use than for the Service of thy self and thy Family . And yet , so it is , that because the Bishops , upon their first being restored , had the confidence to levy Fines according as they wore justly due , and desired to live in their own Houses ( if not pull'd down ) and to receive their own Rents : Presently they cry out , the Church-men have got all the Treasure , and Money of the Nation into their hands . If they have any , let them thank God for it , and make good use of it . Weep not Beloved , for there is very little hopes , that they will cast it all into the Sea , on purpose to stop the mouths of them , that say they have too much . What other contrivances there may be for the settling upon Ministers in General a sufficient Revenue for their subsistence and encouragement in their Office ; I shall leave to be considered of by the Governours of Learning and Religion . Only , thus much is certain , that so long as the Maintenance of many Ministers is so very small , it is not to be avoided , but that a great part of them will want learning , prudence , courage , and esteem to do any good where they live . And what if we have ( as by all must be acknowledged ) as wise and learned Bishops as be in the World ; and many others of very great understanding , and wisdom , yet as was before hinted , unless there be provided for most Towns and Parishes , some tollerable and sufficient Guides ; the strength of Religion , and the Credit of the Clergy will daily languish more and more . Not that it is to be believed , that every small Countrey Parish should be altogether hopeless as to the next Life , unless they have a Hooker , a Chillingworth , a Hammond , or a Sanderson , dwelling amongst them ; but requisite it is , and might be brought about , that somebody there should be , to whom the People have reason to attend , and to be directed , and guided by him . I have , Sir , no more to say , were it not that you find the word Religion in the Title ; of which in particular I have spoken very little : Neither need I , considering how neerly it depends , as to its glory and strength , upon the reputation and mouth of the Priest. And I shall add no more but this , viz. that among those many things that tend to the decay of Religion , & of a due Reverence of the Holy Scriptures , nothing has more occasion'd it , than the ridiculous and idle discourses that are uttered out of Pulpits . For when the Gallants of the World do observe how the Ministers themselves do jingle , quibble , and play the fools with their Texts , no wonder if they , who are so inclinable to Atheism , do not only deride and despise the Priests , but droll upon the Bible , and make a mock of all that is sober and sacred , I am , Sir , Your most humble Servant , T. B. August 8. 1670. FINIS .