THE
Modern Fanatick.
..
:
By reaſon of the Author's Abſence from the Preſs,
Some of the Books went abroad with the enſuing
Errata ; thoſe that have ſuch a Copy, are deſired
to amend it hereby.
E RRA TA.
1.
9. dele ſo unreaſonable a Charge upon. P. 2,
Ins. r. fome Gentlemen. P. 3. 1. 11. for makes r. make. P.4.
1.4 for Royaliſts r. Royalit.
Book ; P. 9. I. 20. for Dr. H. s's r. Dr. H's. P. 13.
The Reference k l. 33. jould be after Rabbi I. 16. P. 16. I. 23. for
Titler. Titles. P. 17. 1. 7. r. Criticks. P. 22. 1. 12. m. uncon-
teſted. P. 25. 1. 21. add [ Sanctify'd Spleen. ] P. 26. I. 34. .in.
1. 35. r. with. P. 28. 1. 5. r. as Pitying one ; l. 11, inftead of
[tho I ſhall paſs } . to paſs. P. 29. 1. 4. dele (,)
at Liberty, and put
it to ſoon after. P. 31, 1, $. dele of before Eliſha. P. 32. 1.9. r.
none. P. 37. 1. 10. Add maintain, P.
40.
1.
Profane. P.41.
1. 24. 4. Preferments. P. 42. I. 17. add concerning before the
boalted. "P: 49. 1. 5. r. excepting. 1. 26. add our own) and our
Fellow-Creatures. P. sj. 1. 21. 7. Corporation. P. 58. l. ult. r.
were." P. 59. 1. 14. add of. P. 60. 1. 23. add his Wit, P. 61.
1. 3. 4. Balilovitz, 1. 15. r. Nefandæ.
4.1.
i
.
ADVERTISEMEN T.
Defore
Deſire thoſe whoſe blind Zeal for the Doctor
and the late Mobs, put 'em upon ſending Letters
without Name, Date, or Senſe, to pay the Poftage, or
they will miſs their End, and wrong the Office : For
I am reſolu'd to return unopen'd, all Letters that are
Superſcrib'd by an unknown Hand, if not Poſt-free.
Northamptonſhire,
W, B.
Dec. 23. 1710.
THE MODERN
FANATICK,
WITH A
Large and True ACCOUNT
OF THE
L I F E,
Actions, Endowments, T c.
of the Famous
Dr. Sa-
-1.
Veritas magna eſt, & prævalebit.
By WILLIAM BISSET, Eldeſt Brother
of the Collegiate-Church of St. Katherine,
and Rector of Whilton in Northamptonſhire.
LONDON:
Printed : And Sold by A. Baldwin, near the
Oxford-Armsin Warwick-Lane: And T. Harriſon
at the Weſt Corner of the Royal Exchange in
Cornbill. 1710.
Price Six-pence.
:
.
7
.
.
PRE FACE.
W
3
ܪ
E have had now a Year of extreme Violence and
Confuſion, ſuch as cannot be match'd without
a Civil War, in any Hiſtory that I have yet
met with ; a Year through which nothing but an
Almighty Providence could have brought moderare plain-
dealing Proteſtants alive and unmaim'd, and in which
all ſuch might truly be ſaid, like the Jews after Haman's
Court Intrigue, Ef. 8. 11. To ſtand for their Life. I
can't but think it highly unreaſonable
that ſuch
shou'd always be repreſented as a ſtubborn and ſtiff-neck'd
Generation, who have been fo tame and paſſive under
So many and ſuch outragious Inſults. Had my Houſe
(which is my Caffle in the Eye of the Law) been at-
tack'd and my ſelf in it (as was threatmed, lut I bappon'd
to be then in the Country), I conceive it was not only my
Right, but my Duty too, and a neceffary point of Diſtribu-
tive Juſtice, impartially to have diſpens'd the Contents of
a Muſquetoon or two (nay, as many as the time would admit)
amongſt them; and ſhould think my Life well beſtowed (as
well as in Spain or Flanders) to rid the World of as many
fucb lewd Fellows of the baſer Sort, as poſſible ; that the
Teſt wbo ſurvive might live more at peace, and ſo to die
with the Philiſtines. For certainly, a Frenchify'd Mob,
and a French Army, deſerve the sime iets of Hoftility ;
and 'tis an equal piece of Service to the Publick, to oppoſe
the Regular or IrregularTroops of the Grand Opprelfor.
With this View, I cannot but commend a ſtcut, and honeſ
Friend, who laid obrut half a ſcore of them ſprawling at
bis Dor, for brecking his Windows, and inſulting his Ser-
vant, and threatning further miſchief.
It can never enter into my Head, that the late were true
Natural Britiſh Mobbs : There are all the Signs that can
be of an Artificial hired Mobb, like Sir J. Friend's Re-
giment, tho' kept incognito in and about Town, ready to
appear in arms (ſuch Aims as the Caſe required) attbe
firſt Signal or Word of Command.
For beſides that one in the Chariot with the Doctor was
ſaid to bate ſcatter'd Money ameng ike Crowd, and He
was
PRETACE.
--risiä
was beard to ſay, with a moſt obliging Bow and Smile,
when be diſmil bis Corps de Guard at his Lodging in the
Temple, Good-night Genclcmen; a Condeſcenſion tog
great from ſo very proud a Perſon, to Porters and Coblers, if
ibere bad not been fome Gentlemen among them: A Friend of
mine happen'd to dine at a great Table a Day or two before the
Grand Rebellion, where a young Ox--n juſt come to
Town, (as ſome Hundreds more were) ſaid there would be
ſuddenly warm Work, and curs’d me in particular.
Since the firſt Outrages, there has been no Stone left una
turn’d to keep up tbe Ferment till the Election ; and one
main Artifice has been by ſwarms of Libels, to render the
Fanaticks (a Name that takes in all but Tories) odious.
Among the reſt out comes the Character of a L-C-Man,
with tbe Doctor's Name to it, and his Deſign profeſt in the
Front to influence the approaching Elections ; i preſently re-
Solved to anſwer the Book, and lay the Author open; but
conſider d, that if I should inflame on one ſide, ss be on the
other, and Blood-fhed ſhould follow (as there has 9201 a lit-
tle), it might in ſome meaſure lie at my Dour. But as ſoon
as the Elections were over, I reſumed my Deſign, 22!ich I
look upox as a Debt to God and my Country ; from the
Payment of which, as far as I am ſolvent, no Dillwaſions,
nor ſuggeſted Dangers, I hope, ſhall ever divert me.
Some ſay I am put upon it, as if I alſo were a Par-
iy-Tool. 1 folemnly declare no one ever mention'd it to me,
til I had formed the Reſolution ; and I waited ſome time to
fee if it would be attempted by ſome Abler Hand.
I belong to no Party, that I know of ; being ſenſible there
are Knaves and Rakes among all : And I neither love nor
fear
any ſuch, whomſoever they may berd with. I never
was concern'd in any Joint-Scock; and therefore let no Par-
ty bear the Blame of my Faults and Miſadventures. I
bave no Dependance but on God, nor did ever any Mor-
tal give me One Shilling, that I remember, for theſe Eleven
Years. My Principles and only Aims, arc Glory to God
in the Higheſt ; on Earth Peace, Good-Wiil towards
Men.
As to my Profeffion, I am a Conformiſt, the Son of
a Conformiſt, ( to anſwer the Reproaches of a Pamphle-
ceer,
PRE FACE.
teer, whoſe Zeal for the Church ke thinks warrants bim to
revile the Dead), confteint Communicant,and intimate Friend
of one of the greareft Church-of-England Divines, (en-
tirely ſuch) that this Age has enjoyed : Which a Letter
froin thri Doctor (:0w with God.) to me at the Univer-
fity, which I hate by me, will abundantly prove. But nei-
ther my E ther, nori, could ever imagine, that ſome Exter-
nal Modes were fufficient to cancel the Obligation to love as
Brethren all that are of the fame Houſhold of Faith.
One Lord, one Faith, one Baptiſm, one God, and Fa-
ther ; make, in my Judgment, one Religion : And not
one Dreſs, one Poſture, one Bow to the Eaſt, and one Form
of Prayer. My Favourite Authors, whom I admire, and
moſt delight in, are of tbe Higheſt Strain, and more vebe-
ment than I could wiſh againſt Proteſtant Diſſenters ý nay,
I love and bonour fome Non-jurors too, ( they are far leſs
dangerous than the Doctor and his Brethren) as Mr. Col-
lier, and Bp. Ken, whole great Devotion makes me reve-
rence him next to the preſent ABp. of Canterbury ; who
I think, in my Conſcience, may be compared to Athanafius,
for Soundneſs in the Faith, Holineſs of Life, and the spite-
ful Perſecution of Adverſaries, ( there being ſcarce a Week,
I am inform’d, but he has ſome virulent Lampoon, Libel,
or Letter, to Affront him.) From whom, 'ris eaſy to gueſs.
Nay, I could heartily luve, and freely converſe with a
good Papiſt, if ſuch can be found. For I cannot come
up to a late Speech-maker's Churity for the Jeſuits,
(Thoſe good Men, tho' of another Communion.]
There may be Good Nature in the Man : But a Papiſt as
ſuch, is an Enemy of Mankind, and engag'd by Princi-
pleto hate, and perfecute to the Death, all that are not of his
Church. This I plainly found, by a late Conference with a
ſenſible young Woman, perverted to Popery : When I preſs’d
her (among other Arguments) with the Barbarity of that
Religion, and inſtanc'd in the Powder-Plot, Iriſh Maſſa-
cre, Bc. she roundly deny'd all, and ſaid they were Sto-
ries made on purpoſe to render them odio24s. At laſt I preſs'd
her with the Gazetre of that Week, in the Article from
Lisbon, where 5 were Burnt, ( and a Friend of mine faw
them ) by Sentence of the Inquiſition for Hereſy. I had
her
کہ 7م
PRE FACE.
Her then at a Bay,and having no Evaſion left, ſhe told me before ber fr
ther and Mother, (who had deſired me to attempt her Recovery,) If they
were Hereticks, they de ferv'd it.
As to Civil Matters, I am a Royaliſt, the Son of Royaliſt, whose
Paternal Estate was deſtroy'd, and Youth ſpent in Fighting for K Charles
Il as long as ever he had an Army, and at length was taken Priſoner ut
Worceſter ; and with great Danger and Difficulty making his Eſcape,
was forced to ſeek his Bread for ſom: Pars in Foreign Parts; ani affer
the Reſtoration, had the Lot of many Indigent Officers, his Labour
for his Pains : ret never was in the least rower'd againſt the 11?rn.
mert on that Account. I am fori'd to this lisdiration, by being stely
told before a great company, of which one * 15 * papuit. ?!? : im-
placable Enemy; that my Father 1045 an old Rumper 3 1.2. nuit.
As to the preſent Gover umzot, 1 m fire true llegians to
Q. Anne, my undoubted Sovereig.1, in Defence of 2. Rich. I
would gladly venture my Life; as I hat fully refolu's to li if
I could have obtained it, with a Chxplain'; commijärn, if not mitha
Qyt ) had the Pretender Landed : In hopes I might rom phxt arimate
the Forces fint againſt him, by Exhortations; of which I should not have
been ſparing, in Seaſon, and out of Seaton ; for 1 bod, and always
hall have, the utmost Horror of leaving my Children under l'opery and
Slavery, and bad rather their Lot might fall at Algiers
To anſwer two Objections, and come ud?; fume will be apt to think I
am toorough with the Do&or conſidering his Function and Title. To
sohich I say, what can be too rough for ſuch a Mitchievous Incendiary?
Who has occafion'd the ſhedding of so much Blood, and the loſs of ſo many
Thouſands of Pounds to the Publick, and who is the moſt abuſive to his
Superiors, both by Tongue and Pen that ever Man was But let the Res.
der know, that I have left out many black Accounts for brevity fake, che
Truth of which I am fully afur'd of; and which may perhaps hereaf-
Ser appear.
Laſtly, may ſome ſay, Are you without Sin,that you ſhou'd caſt the
firſt Srone at him ? I anſwer, Far from it, I have my Faults and Follies
more than enow, for which I deſire to be humbled before God and Man. But I
challenge the world to prove any Scandal but Moderation upon me,
which is indeed extremely ſcandalous now-s-days. I muſt, and do expect, a
load of Reproaches and Slanders (if I eſcape fo); the anſwering of
which ſeverally would be an endleſs piece of work ; and therefore i de-
clare once for all before God and the World, (and let this riſe in Judgm?nt
Againſt me if I lye ;) that for the last 21 years, the half of my Life, I ne-
wer did any one the leaſt real wrong that I know of; and have through
Grace, eſcap'd the Corruptions that are in the World thro' Luft
and amidst all the Cenſures and Clamours I am to meet with, can ſay
with the Apoftle, I Cor.6.12. My Rejoicing is this, the Teſtimony of
my Conſcience, &c.
Decemb. ad.
1710
THE
THE
Modern Fanatick .
EETING lately with a very Learned and
Eminent Divine of the Eſtabliſh'd Church,
he expreſs'd his Wonder to me at the pre-
ſent State of Things, to this Effect. Was
there ever the like heard of? A perfect Enthuſiaſm for
the Church ! I told him I had made the very fame Ob-
ſervation, and had ſome Thoughts of writing the
Character of an High-Church-Fanatick : For their own
a Rabbi admits there Terms may be joined, tho' they
ſeem to claſh ; and I'm ſure, adding the Word High,
makes the Agreement more viſible and compleat. I
thank God I never faw, nor heard ſo much Fanaticiſm
in all my Life, as within theſe laſt 12 Months; nor any
thing ſo wild and extravagant, as what paſs'd at St.
Puuls Nov. sth. 1709, and ſince in all parts of the
Kingdom. He came into the Pulpit like a Sybil to the
Mouth of her Cave, or a Pythoneſs upon the Tripod ;
with ſuch an Air of Fierceneſs and Rage, as it is not
poſſible to expreſs.
ز
Non vultus, non celor unus
Non compte manſere comæ, fed peclus anbelum,
Et r.bie fera cordu tument
Virg. Æn. 6.
I remember he ſat direaly againſt me during Pray:
ers, and little ſuſpecting him to be the Bloody. Flag of
ficer, (for I had never ſeen him before ) I was ſurpriz'd
at the Fiery Red that overſpread his Face, (which I
Charadt. of a Low-Chureh-Man:
B
haye
2
The Modern Fanatick.
have fince ſeen Fair and Effeminate enough) and the
goggling Wildneſs of his Eyes: And I may truly ſay,
Ile was (if ever Man ) tranſported with an Helliſh
Fury ; (ſo little reaſon has he to reproach chat Vene-
rable b Prelate, whoſe great Learning, unblemiſh'd Life,
and Hoary Head, his very Enernies ſeem to revere,
with running mad with Enthufiam): and his Breath as
contagious Diftempers too ealily ſpread, when ill Hu-
mours are fermenting, ſeems to have infected this Part
of the Ille ; and to no one in my Memory, can that
of St. Fames be more truly apply'd, The Tongue is a a
Fire, a World of Iniquity, ---- it defileth the whole B dy,
and fetteth on Fire the Courſe of Nature : And it is ſet 07
Fire of Hell, ch. 3. v. 6.
Not that I ſuſpect him of being in any Senſe or De-
gree, the Cauſe of the many great Alterations in the
Publick, which are the Wonder of this part of the
World ; they do him much too great an Honour, who
imagine that one in jo low a Sphere and offifender a Ca-
pacity, could poſlibly have ſuch a mighey Influence :
Thoſe Meaſures were concerted before, as the Letter
of the Foreign Miniſter acquaints us ) the Train was
ready laid, and he only us’d as a Piecc of unthinking
Touch-wood, to give Fire, and raiſe a Combuſtion a-
mong the Beaſts of the People. Yet he has the Confi-
dence to ſay, chat [If he be a Tool, he's a ſharp
Tool, for he has cut chro' Parliament, Miniſtry, and
All.] I know nothing he has cut through, but ſome
Meeting-Houſes, and very many Glaſs Windows ; which a
dirty Pebble may do, as ſoon as a Diamond. But what
ſaid the Fly in the Fable ? when fitting on the Axle-
tree of the Chariot, which was drawn full ſpeed by fleet
Horſes ; What a mighty Duft do I raiſe! Never, certainly,
was there ſuch wild Work ſeen, ſince the Fanaticks in Ger-
many, by the Devil's Inſtigation, made ſuch dreadful
Havock' to blacken and obſtruct the Reformed Religion.
Let but any one read in the Seſlions-Paper, what was
ſworn at the Trial of the Rebels and Rioters ; and he
in Charact. of L-Chow Meeting
Diſplay of Fact,
may
The Modern TUNUTTURE
may have a juft Idea of Fanaticiſm; if he had not before.
A Torrent of Oaths, Curſes, and Blaſphemies, pour’d forth
in Zeal for the Church! Robberies, Burnings, and intended
Murthers, to maintain the Doctrine of Palive Obedience !
and downright Rebellion to aſſert Non-Reſiſtance ! All the
reputed Fanaticks, for theſe laſt 60 Years, never coſt the
City of London ſo dear ; which has learn'd at the Ex-
pence of many 1000 l. for the Train'd-bands, beſides
Loſs of Trade, and Failure of Funds; what it is to have
Real Fanaticke to deal with.
The ſame Furious Zeal appear'd at the ſame time, in
moſt parts of the Nation. And if this Fiery Doctrine
have had as full Scope in Private as Publick, what Ira-
gical Confuſions muſt ic needs have produc'd, or will in
time produce in Families? How ſurely muſt it diffolve
all the trongeſt Bonds of Blood and Alliance? I know
not the ſtricteft Conformiſt, but what has ſome Diſſenting
Relations, and many in the neareſt Degree ; ſuch as
Husbands, Wives, Parents, Children, Brethren, &c. and
if they muſt conſider them as Plegues, Growing Evils,
Church-devouring Malignants, Traytors, and Incarnate De-
vils, (as this ſpecial Cafuift has taught them) what muft
become of Conjugal, Parental, Filial, and Fraternal
Affeäion? The moſt endearing Language will be,
Get thee bebind me Satan, Thou art' an Offence unto me. It
iş the Natural Conſequence of this, what was the Acci-
dental of Christ's Doctrine ; To ſet a Man at Variance a-
gainſt his Father, the Daughter againſt the Mother, &c. and
to make a Man's Enemies thoſe of his own Houſhold. What an
horrid Thought is it, for People to Drinkas they often do,
Damnation and Confuſi n to their own Fleſh? For they too
are involv'd in the ſame General Curſe : High-Churcb-
Zeal knowing no ſuch thing as Reſpect of Persons; but
ſaying as Levi to bis Futher and Motber, I have not ſeen
bin, neither did he acknowledge his Brethren, nor know his
own Children. And the Doctor has upon this Head, made
cloſe Application of his Doctrine, and let the World ſee,
that he Practiſes as he Preaches.
a Deut. 33. g.
B
His
:
4
The Modern Fanatick.
,
,
His Father's own Brother, who was bred a Presbyte-
rian, came lately to viſit his Nephew, to deſire the Fa-
vour of a kind Office, which his Uncle thought he
might do him; he'd ſuch a Reception, that he had no
Opportunity to ſpeak of that Matter: The Dr. treated
hirn with all poſſible Contempt and Scorn; and conti-
nued in a perfect Rage during the whole Converſation:
And among other very indecent Reflections upon his
Father and the Family, added, That neither be nor his
buuld have any thing to do with, or own any Relation to ſuch
Dumi'd Fanaticks. His ſaid Uncle is a Man well
known, and ready to teſtify the Truth hereof.
He is reported to have turn'd a bitter Enemy to the
Family wřich Maintain'd him a Poor Orphan at School,
and ſent him to the Univerſity ; and his Gratitude to
the Bp. of Sc on his Mother's Account, whom he
put into an Hoſpital, has been plentifully expreſs’d in
ſeveral of his Libels and Sermons.
Nor was it only a foort Hurricane, ( for then we might
better have born it) but a lafting Tempeſt, and neither Sun
por Stars for many Day's appear'd. All Freedom of Con-
verſation has been ever ſince banilh'd; inſtead whereof
Quarrels or Sbyneſs have ſucceeded among the moft in-
cimate Acquaintance. It has fomented Diſputes among
are ever and anon fighting in this ſhameful Cauſe ; and I
hear ong was almoſt kills : And is to be fear'a, fuch
quences and Grudzes have been taken, as will not be ea-
fily overcome, till Reaſon and Religion begin to reco-
ver their former Powers. Nothing but Hectoring, Mob-
bing, Brazening, Inſulting, and Burning their Neighbours
hope to be at; viz. The old Smithfield Paſtime, and that
their Fingers itch to be throwing Faggots at Horeticks;
and in more Inflances than I can name, playing the De-
vil in Perfectionately
In Wales I hear a kind of Formal Perſecution is begun,
not only by a League to have no Commerce with Dillen-
ters, ( which is a fort of Outlawry) but alſo by exact-
ing Fines, by what Colour of Law I know hot : For
my own Part, I have livd as in a seat of War, or an
Enconi's
The Modern Fanatick.
5
Enemy's Country ; nay, among Generous and Honourable
Enemies, I doubt not to have met with much fairer
Quarter ; beſides the Danger my Perſon, Family and
Goods were in, during the late Rebellion, ( which were
plentifully threaten'd, ) I have ſince that been Mobb'd,
that is, inſulted in the open Streets, with the fouleſt
Language, by meer Strangers, (for Cavils of Ac-
quaintance I do not take into the Account ) Times
without Number. The fame Day the News of the
taking Doway came to Town, ( for any Succeſs of the
Allies conſtantly enrages 'em ) I was Inſulted 4 times
between my Home and the Exchange. Once a Com-
pany of bluftring Blades bad the People agen and agen
diſpatch me, by throwing me into the Thames; and i
have been inform'd, that 3 Armed Ruffians have been
enquiring for me, and hovering about to Way-lay me.
I bleſs God I fear nothing but Him, whilſt in the way
of my Duty, and hope for nothing but Heaven ; for
I muſt not think of riſing, ( as an honeſt Friend told
me) till the General Reſurrection; and can ſay upon
as good Grounds as the Doctor, am ready not only to be
bound, but to die, &c. for I matter all I have in the
World, and my Life too, no more than the Paring of
my Nails, in the Cauſe of Inſulted Religion, Truth, and
Britiſh Liberty, (all which are directly itruck ar); and
could ſuffer the laſt Extremity, as acceptably, I doubt
not, to God, and as comfortably to my ſelf, under
High Church Tyranny, as under Nero or Dioclefian : For
their M.lignity is not leſs, and their Hypocriſy greater.
After all, it's very hard that we ſhould hold our Goods
and Lives upon ſuch Uncertain and Precarious Terms :
And whilſt I pay a 4th. of my Income for the Sup-
port of the Government, ( for Land-Tax, Tentbs, and
Window Tax, cannot be leſs ) ſhould be no better
protected ; and chat for almoſt a Year together, théle
Tumultuous Outrages ſhould be unreſtrained, and no Man
ſure of bis Life. Where the Fault chiefly lies, Her Mije-
fty has rightly obſerv'd, in Her Letter to the City-Magia
ftrates : If they had done their Duty, Matters could
never have come to ſuch a ſhameful paſs. But, God'be
B3
praised,
6
The Modern Fanatick.
prais'd, we have now a Lord Mayor, ( not a Log of
State, inſtead of ſuppreſſing, to encourage the Mob; much
leſs by waving his Hät over his Head to them, to give
the Signal for their Beiftrous Triumph) but one who will
not bear the Sword in vain, but as he has promis'd
and I doube not the Performance, be a Terror to Evil
Doers, and ſcatter the Wicked with his Eye.
I humbly conceive I have as good a Right to what
God bas given me, and to a free unmoleſted Paljage in any
Part of my Native Country, as to the Common bir; and
tho' no Single Man can be a Match for the Many-Head-
ed Munfter, my Comfort ſtill is, that God's above the Deo
vil, and he can and will reſtrain, as the raging of the Sea,
ſo the Madneſs of the People. In Confidence of whoſe
Help, I can fay with Job, and truſt always ſhall ; Did
I fear a great Multitude, or did the Contempt of Families ter-
rify me, tbat I kept Silence, and went not our of the Door?
Upon the Whole, I am bold to ſay, It is ſafer and
quieter living among Turks, nay, the wildeſt Indians,
than among Tories : A Name, which many not only
own, but Glory in, tho' 'tis well known to be the ſame
as Rapparees; i.e. Wild Iriſh Cut-Throats. Mr. Maundrel
tells us, that they liv'd at Aleppo among the Turks with
very great Security, tho' they had little Converſation
with them. And Dr. Brown ſays, he never receiv'd
greater Civilities from any People, and never was In-
ſulted, unleſs now and then by Boys and Scoundrels.:
But I have been Mobb'd by Beaus and Ladies, as they
feem'd by their Dreſs. And Mr. Wafer gives a large
Account of the very great Kindneſs he found from the
Savages of 8 Darien, all the time of his Abode amongſt
them. And is it poſſible that Zeal for the Church can
turn profeſſed Chriſtians, nay, Proteſtants, into Cannibals,
and make a Polite, Civiliz'd Country, the very Suburbs
of Hell ? If the Turks, (as the Doctor b ſays) are Prote-
Šiants, (a Notion which he has the Honour firſt to have
broach'd, and I doubt not the Chevalier will thank him
Letter at the end of his Journey to Jeruſalem. #
thro' divers Parts of Europe. & Account of Darien.
Ser.
mon at St. Paul's.
for
Travels
The Modern Fanatick.
for it) ; let me tell him, they are far better Proteſtants
than himſelf ; for a Perſecuting Proteſtant is the worſt half
of a Papift. They are not for his wholſome Severities of
Burning, Hanging, Baniſhing, Impriſoning and Fi-
ning, (unleſs only Deferters ) much leſs Arraigning 'em
all as Traitors,
But to recurn from this Digreſſion to our late foul
Diſorders. They who have had occaſion to Travel, (as
I have ) find the Roads unſafe, eſpecially fince Mat-
ters were ripening for the Election, by drunken Zealots
crying High-Church ! High-Ckurch ! and like true Tanti-
vies, ready to break their own, and the Necks of all
that come in their way, if they cannot get our ſoon e-
nough to let them paſs : Nor will that do, for ſeveral
have been Alaiulted, and forc'd co defend themſelves,
who have ſtudiouſly ſhunn'd all Occaſion of Quarrel.
An honeſt Carpenter coming lately between Hackney
and London, was knock'd down for not anſwering High-
Church, and receiv'd ſeveral Blows after ; fo that if not
Dead, there's liccle Hope of his Life, and his wife and
Children are like to come to the Parith. Another that
I know of, was knock'd down at Ludgate for the ſame
Reaſon; and a Woman in Fleetfi reet loſt her Life, be-
ing in Child-Bed, by Stones thrown in at her Windows,
the ſame Night the Members for the City were declar'd.
For ought I can find, the Inſults and Violences at the Lone
don Election, and on the Lord Mayor's Day, equal'd thoſe
in March : Many were frighted, or forcibly hinder'd from
Voting. A Friend of mine,for not joining in the Com-
mon Cry,had his Head broke at Guild-Hall; and ſeveral
that I am acquainted with, moſt of their Windows;
and ſome for Illuminating them on K. William's Birth-Day:
A plain Proof that Papifts and Non-jurors are at the Bot-
tom of all, and their Malice levelſ'd againſt the Revo-
lution, and their Drift to bring in the Pretender. The
Lord' Mayor was Affronted beyond Example, being
Hiſs’d, Hooted, Jottled, and I hear, his Face ſpit on:
And all this by ſuch as would face the World down,
that their Aim is to prevent Levelling and Anarchy. It
would require an Hiſtory to relate the Confuſions,
Menaces,
B 4
8
The Modern Fanatick.
Menaces, and Violence in the ſeveral Countries. The
Reverend Dr. L----d had his Coach-Windows broke,
was pelted, abus'd, and in very great Danger of his
Life; as alſo Dr. B---dy. Nay, a Candidate for Knight
of a Shire, was not only Mobb'd, and had a Maſtiff ſet
at him, but forc'd to leave the Field, to ſave his Life.
Mr. C----d, Candidate for T...-", was Inſulted and A-
bus'd in the moſt outragious Manner: And I am fully
ſatisfy'd, that many Peaceable, but Faint-bearted Perſons,
declin'd appearing at the late Elections, for fear of Broils
and Bloodſhed. So truly may that of their Darling
Author, or rather Oracle, be apply'd to High.Church Fa-
Haticks,
Ibo prove their Doctrine Orthodox',
By Apoftolick Blows and Knocks. Hudibr.
Outrage, Murther, and affaſſinations, are the known
Practice of thoſe near Relations, bigotted Papifts, and
High-Flyers : It is their true Mother-Tongue, what has
been lately Publiſh'd in a Letter of one of theſe Zealots,
and I have met with others in the ſame Strain. [ I am
no Presbyterian Hypocrite, nor Low-Church Betrayer of my
Mother I will not fail to cut your Throat by G...d.]
And they have been often as bad as their Word; wit-
neſs the Barbarous Murtlier of Tutchin, who whatever he
were, had certainlya Rightto his Life,till forfeited by Law :
And the moſt Villanous
Afalination of Mr. Samuel fobn-
fon, by breaking into his Houſe at Midnight, and
wounding him almoſt to Death, ( for none of his
Goods were touch'd.) And the Alulins of K. William
were all High-Churcb Fanaticks, except a few of their
Popiſh Confederates. 'Tis confeſs'd, the Engliſh Se&taries
did Murther K. Charles I. with a Mock-Sliew of Juſtice,
(and 'twas an Abominable Fact) but then he had War-
ning, and Time to Prepare for his Change ; which is
better than being burry'd out of the World, perhaps,
with many Mangling Wounds : And for their pretended
Court, it was match'd by the other's pretended Commiſſi-
on, to Attack the Prince of Orange in his Winter-Quarters.
But I never heard them charg'd with Alfaffination of Prin.
ces
i.
The Modern Fanatick.
9
rinas
ces, or even private Perſons, tho' their moft Inveterate
Enemies. I cannot hear thac Mr. Lefly has ever been
Mobb'd ; if he had, he that makes ſuch a Tragical Buſi-
neſs about hurting the Drawer's Noſe at Greenwich
with the Glaſs, (which cho' it were but a ſcratch, I'm
heartily ſorry ſuch Tcryiſh Whigs ſhould be found, 10
give them ſomewhat, and 'tis a very poor ſomewhat
to reply) would have made noiſe enough of any Out-
rage offer'd to bimſelf.
Buc beſides theſe Lay-tumults and popular Aſſaults, there
has been much more Pulpit-wild-fire thrown, beſides that
at St. Pauls by their chief Gunner: I heard one before
him at St. Pauls Covent Garden from that Text, Fools
make a Mock at Sin, tell the People what a great Sin it
was to make light of the preſent Danger of the Church ; and
an Eminent Dignitary told a very great Congregation
in my hearing, that there was never more occaſion, (no, I
warrant, not in K. James's nor even Q: Mary's ift Days)
for true Sons of the Church to ſtand by ber. And if the
Account I have heard from ſeveral of Dr. H.-s Ser-
mon before the Queen be true (for it ſeems he has not
thought fit to print it, the Queen being offended at it)
there wanted but the Swelings and Rotations to match
the French Prophets; for I am told he broke out into
Tears; and denounc'd God's Judgment againſt the Ma-
nagers, for diſcharging the Part they were commanded
to act by Lawful Autbority with the Queen on their lide,
againſt a Mover of Sedition, and Perverter of Holy Scrip:
ture, who had preached neither Divinity nor Morality
( but point-blank againſt both) and very wretched Poli-
ticks.
Ay, but he ſtood up for the Churcb, which atones for
all. I am even aftoniſh'd at the Impudence of ſuch Advo-
cates of Satan. What, is Cbrift divided againſt himſelf?
Is his Church built upon the ruins of all Cbarity and e-
ven Humanity ? Has not this been in all Ages the Ro-
piſh Cant, and are we not aſhamed to lick up their Spittle ?
Whenever an honeft Prince was to be detbroned, or al-
for our Holy and Undefiled. Morber ; but not a Word of
our
IO
The Modern Fanatick.
our Heavenly Father; as if she were at ſeparate Mainte-
nance, and kept Houſe without bim : Was not all the Dra-
gooning in this Age exprefly for the Church, to recover
Itray Sheep, and compel them to come into Her Fold
by Military Execution ? Was not the Temple of the Lord,
(which founded ſomewhat better, and left leſs room to
doubt whether the Church Militant or Malignant were
meant) as formally pretended by thoſe who hated the
Lord of the Temple ? Were not Chriſt and his first Mariyr
both arraigned for the ſame Offence, (peaking againſt
tbat Holy Place? For when Perſonal Holineſs is run down
and decry'd, Lacal Holineſs is ever trumpt up in ic's ftead.
Do we think, when thoſe brave Captains of the Temple,
Admiral Damarie, and General Purchas, curs’d and damn'd
and fought ſo ſtoutly for the Church againſt the Queen's
Guards with Fire and Sword, they meant by it the Intereſt of
Cbrift, and the Power of Godlineſs ? as much, I am ſure,
as thoſe who ſet them on. They are not for ſuch cant-
ing Old-faſhion'd Terms, buč the more modiſh of the
Church, which Louis le Grand is not aſhamed of, and will
paſs mufter even at Rome.
But after all, what moft fully proves the Fanaticiſm,i.e.
the downright Diſtraction of all theſe violent Proceedings
(which I am as certain are levelld againſt Chriſt and
his Interest in the World, as I am of any Propoſition in
Euclid): there has not been the leaſt Shadow of an Al-
tempe againſt the Church ; nor did the Doctor in his ſorry
Collection pretend to produce any ; for all he al-
ledg'd (and he left out far worſe than he quoted, før Par-
my-lake) was equally againit all Religion. In two Reigns
that many of us remember, whatever were the real
Dangers of the Church, no noiſy Complaints, and Out-
cries were made of it, but they who were moſt appre-
henſive, kept to their Prayers and Hope in Divine Pro-
vidence, which did not fail them ; whereas now when
the Queen has been ſo heartily in the Intereſts of the
Cbureb, and not one of her chief Miniſters an Adverſa-
rý to it, continual Murmurs, and even loud Uproars
have been rais'd of the Church's Danger. Without all
queftion, theſe groundleſs Diſcontents and Complaints,
that
2
The Modern Fanatick.
II
that have carried away fome honeſt and well-meaning
People,muſt have been rais’d and fomented by deſigning
Men, who had other Proje&s in view, and cover'd
them with this ſpecious pretence : For the greateſt Noiſe
of danger to the Church, has been made by choſe Perſons
who are leaſt concern'd for it, i. e. by Jacobites, Nonju-
rors,
and their Abertors the profeſt Papists. Abundance
of all which were at St. Pauls when theDo&or preach'd,
being appriz'd beforehand what agreeable Entertain-
ment he wou'd give them.
I have challenged ſome of the warmeſt Advocates in
this Cauſe over and over, together, and apart, to
name, if they could, any one the leaſt Paſſage that in
theſe laſt Years cou'd give any manner of Umbrage
to the Eſtabliſh'd Church: But never cou'd get one Syl-
lable of a Reply; and conſequently all this Uproar has
been about nothing. I cannot hear of one Diſſenter
that has had any conſiderable Post in the Government
unleſs you'l reckon Sir S-- * Ha-e-t, and Mr. H---y who
were indeed brought up together at a Presbyterian sca-
demy.
It's more than I know, if any one Parſon has loſt a
Penny of his Dues; but this I know, that not only Dit.
ſenters but Diljenting Miniſters have contributed largely
to Church of England Le&turers, tho' moſt bitter againit
them'; but now they are forc'd to hold their Hands,
and keep what they can ſpare to Rebuild their Meetings
and refurniſh their Houſes. I am told there were not
above 5 or 6 Diflenters in the late Parliament, and ſo ten-
der were they of the Church's Safety,that no ſooner did a
Pamphlet appear for taking offthe Teft,but they condem-
ned it to the Flames. In ſhort, the Church has had all for
ought I can hear to the contrary. The Do&or tells us
(tho" 'tis a ſtrange, and in my Judgment an immodeft
and unſeemly Expreſſion, titter to be apply'd to 7 ---
W--y than Her Majeſty) that if she put forth ber Finger to
touch their Loins, i.e. to tickle 'em, they'll curſe their
God and Queen, and look upwards; one would think rather
downwards to ſee who touch'd 'em: But our H. Ch. Fa-
geticks cannot bear the Shadow of her little Finger, and
not
The Modern Fanatick.
not only cry Ob! But even to Arms! when no one
touch'd 'em.
But the Burthen of the Complaint, as that Illuftrions
innument of H. Ch. Loyalty the Memorial (which threat-
ens the Queen with Nature's Rebeling againſt Principle)
remonftrates, is ; that ſuch Churchmen have been pre-
ferr'd, who profeſs that Heterodox Principle of Modera-
tion (which a Preacher at Mercers Chapel, Jan. 15. 1709,
faid he had obſerv'd had enrich'd more Knaves, and made
imuré Fools, than any Word in the Holy Scripture): and are
for terting their Diſenting Brethren live in peace amongſt
them, and for joining with them at this Criſis againſt
the common Enemy; and therefore they ſay they are Jeuu's
and are not, whilit they admit any Dealings with the
Samaritans; whom all true Sots of the Church (if we be-
lieve the Doctor) are bound to curſe with Bell, Book,
and Candle. This is indeed the truth of the Matter ;
es not conformity but Malignity that is expected, as the
Proof of our Affection to the Church, No Faith to be
with Hereticks, ſay the Papiſts: No Peace with None
conformiſts ſay the H- Ch-men, for 'tis a damnable Schiſm ;
If ye love the one ye muft hate the other, if ye cleave to the
one ye muſt deſpiſe the other. With what a Torrent of
Wrach and Bitterneſs did I once hear a Regiſter inveigh
againſt the preſent State of things? What Indignation
did he expreſs that ever Fanaticks ſhould have Liberty
by Law and talking once with a Parſon that had two
great Livings, about Proteſtant Diffenters, he ſaid with
the greateſt vehemence, I hate 'em; not conſidering,
that be who hiteth his Brother is a Murderer. In fine, if
they cannot perſecute, they are extremely perſecuted; they
ara preſt above meaſure, beyond Strengtb, so as to deſpair
even of Life: at leaſt they are of Rebecca's Mind,
Gex. 27. ult. I am weary of my Life becauſe of the Chil.
dren of Heth.
Having thus opened the Way, I fhall proceed in my
Deſign of deſcribing an H. Ch. Panasick, and according
to their own Example ſet their pretended Champon's Pi-
Eture in the Front,
kept
I have
The Modern Fanatick.
13
I have already prov'd one heavy Charge, both from
their Doctrine and Practice, that they are without natural
Affection, implacable, unmerciful, and think it no Sin nor
Sbame to hide themſelves from their own Fleſh, if they are
not exa&ly of their own Spirit and Party.
The 2d Imputation, which, without any Shadow of
Injury, may ſafely be laid to them, for they not only
own, bue glory in it; is, that they are very High, for
if this is to be vile, laps another noted Champion, ) I will be
more vile yet.
jet. They are not only High for Rituals but
for carrying all things with a very High Hand, and
make little Conſcience of the Apoſtle's Charge, to conden
ſcend to Men of low Eftale. With what scom do they
look down upon their poor Low-Church and Diffenting
Brethren: How far from that Temper, We that are Strong
ought to bear the Infirmities of the Heak, and not to pleafe tur
Jelves? In what one point are they ever willing to con
deſcend? The utmoſt Pomp and Grandur which the Pro-
teſtant Religion admits, will ſcarce content them; tley
muft have not only very bigh Steeples, even where
they were high before, as an Emblem of their a viring
Minds; but high altars too ; whereas Los-Cb-men, and
Dillinters and even our Canons are content with a Commu-
nion-Table; and the only low thing to be found amongſt
chem is their Bow to the High Altar; and chat by ver-
tue (fays their young Rabbi * )of Traditional Cuftoms; which
if I underland Engliſh, is drrant Pepery, and next to
their Principle of Perfecution, the worſt part of it too.
And I ſuppoſe that's another of his Traditional Cuftoms;
In a Faft Sermon at Oxford: June 10. 1702. Where he reaa
ches the People to retain Blefjed Advocates in Heaven ia
plead in their Defence. Here he is not a Pupift diſguiſed.
That'tis their right to engroſs all Preferments, Ecclefia.
ftical, Civil and Military, is their undoubted Poftulatum;
and if any poor Creepers come in for a fhare , the Church
is in Danger. Men of Station and Character, tho' but a
Conſtable or Tide-waiter, are Falfe-Breibren and are come in
i Mr. L. Milo Funeral Sermón fo Mr. Copii
LCh Man.
k Charact. of
privily
14
The Modern Fanatic).
privily to spy out our Liberty. I think they will readi-
ly allow that to be a Fanatical Tenet, that Dominion is
founded in Grace; and why ſhou'd it not as well be
chought ſo when High-Church is put inſtead of Grace?
One would ſhrewdly ſuſpect, as the Doctor charges the
Low-Church-man, they are not over-confident of another
World, who are ſo very jealous left the ſmalleſť Portion
of this ſhould eſcape them. For ſure they will not found
their Pretenſions upon that Promiſe, the Meek Mall inbe-
rit the Earth : for a meek Tory at this time of day ſeems
à Contradiction in terminis, and requires an Oedipus to
reconcile them.
Now to apply this Character to their renowned Hero
the Knight of the Tirebrand. I firſt folemnly proteſt be-
fore God and the World, that I have no manner of
Grudge, or Envy againſt him; and am ſo far from repi-
ning af the unuſual Honours paid him by the Mobb, and
the Magiftrates of B--y, that I think they come far fhort
of his demerit ; and doubtleſs the Courts of R-- and St.
G-ons deſign him far greater. The only Principle I
proceed on, is that which Mr. Hoadly has irrefragably
pror'd, of Self Defence. Beſides the neceſſary Vindicati.
on of ſo many excellent Biſhops whom this Reviler, who is
not afraid to ſpeak Evil of Dignities, has inoft foully af-
perſed, and as far as in him lies, hindred from doing
any good in their Dioceſes; inſomuch, that the Biſhop
of W-" was fain to make a Viſitation on purpoſe to
clear himſelf to his Clergy of his railing Arculations.
Tis as much as our Peace, Properties, nay our Lives
are worth; to ſet our defamer in a true light, who has
branded all that are not of his mind with the inodiating
Title (to borrow for once a new.coin'd Word from his
Mint of Scandal, as an ingenious Manager did a ſtring of E-
pithers) of Trimming Villains ; and thereby mark'd us out
for popular Fury, w and halloo'd his Hell-bounds upon us }
and if they take him (as fome do) for a Saint, they muſt
sake us, as he bids them, for the worft of Miſcreants ; for
he ſays, P. 4. It may not only be affirmed tbat thoſe wbo call
Charad. of L-C-Man, m Charact. of a L--Ch... Man,
thema
12
The Modern Fanatick.
15
has put to
themſelves Low.Ch--men, are not, but by their very Princi-
ples are oblig'd not to be Chriſtians : therefore whoſoever kils
is will think he does God Service
. But above all,'cis neceſſary
to give ſuch a plain and true Account of the Doctor and
his Teaching, and Behaviour, as may refute the vul-
gar Errors, and make it appear, thachis Cauſe is far
from being the Cauſe of the Church (as Thouſands run a-
way with that greatMiſtake) por did he ſuffer any thing
as a Champion or Defender of it; and therefore is far
from deſerving that craiterous Title which I am told was
on ſome of his Pictures, of Defender of the Faith. Howe-
ver I ſhall endeavour to keep within the ſtricteſt bounds
of Truth; and if I know my own Heart, I would not
raiſe or ſpread a Slander againft the worſt of Men, to
gain the World; much leſs would I lie for God or talk
deceitfully for him : And if I ſhould in the leaſt point be
miſinformed, (as I ſuppoſe he'll try it with me, and I
am ready to join Iſſue) and in ſuch variety of Matter
afrer the urmoft Caurion, it may happen: I will readi-
ly confeſs my Miſtake.
As co his ambitious Title of Doctor, nothing but ex-
treme Pride could make the Son of a Pauper at 34 aſpire to
it, without either Benefice, or Eftate to ſupport it. Tis
well known, his Aim was to take place of his Seniors
in the College, ſeveral of whom, (about 12) his Vanity
whence he has got the name of the Doctor-Driver. I
would not be ſo underſtood, as if Poverty were a juſt
Reproach. I own my ſelf a Poor Scholar in every fenfe,
and found always more occaſion for my Money among
Relations that needed it, than to lay it out for a Fea.
ther in my Cap. I could have taken the fame Degree
ſeveral Years ago being much his Senior, if I would
like him, have left a Parent in an Hoſpital
. The great
Apoſtle, whoſe Words he ſo often 'uſurps in his Speech,
gives us this Injun&tion (for no one will ſay 'tis meerly
Counfel) 1 Tim. 5. 4. If any Widow have Children or
Nephews, let them learn firſt to thews Piery at bonite, and to
requite their Parents. And more pofitively yet, u. 16. If
any Man or Woman that believetb, bave tři dowo, let them
relieve
16
The Modern Fanatick.
relieve them, and let not the Church be charged. Now 'cis
á Myſtery to me, how he can ſatisfy his Conſcience,
or clear his Reputation upon this point : nay how he can
acquit himſelf of Sacrilege; to lay out 100 l. for a De-
gree, which I ſcarce ever knew any but a Nobleman
take ſo young (in ſome Univerſities 'tis nor granted till
50) which might far more creditably have been laid
out to maintain his Aged Mother, or purchaſe her an An-
nuity , chac ſo the Church might relieve them that are Wi-
dows indeed. i, e. who have no near Relation to provide
for them. Beſides, how does ic debaſe ſo venerable a
Title as Doctor in Divinity, to be worn by a Foppiſh,
conceited (and I wiſh I could not ſay) turbulent and
ungodly Youth? As to Wit and Learning, he that can
make any diſcoveries to ſpeak of in the Two Condemned
Sermons and his Character of a Low-Church-man (which
are the moſt famous of his Lucubrations,) muſt have better
Eyes than I, or any I have talk'd with about 'em ; and
I dare be his Compurgator with reſpect to both theſe,
and his Oratory too, that he never was long in a con-
clave of Jefuits; if any one heard before of ſuch an
Affembly.
The very Titles of his 2 Sermons are falſe Grammar
There is a Communication of Sinners, and there is a Con
tagion of Sin, but as the Doctor has put it,'tis contrary ac
leaſt to the Common Way of ſpeaking. So the Perils of
Falſe Brethren in Charch ond State, is properly the Perils
to which thore Falſe Brethren are expoſed, and not the
Perils ariſing from them. His Text (if he could have
kept ro ic) had it much more correctly, Perils among Falſo
Bretbren. This was obſerv'd by a Noble Peer, even in his
Plea for him ; cho' he was for Sparing the Man he con-
demi'd th: Sermons, and openly declared there was
Nonſence in the Title Pages of them both.
As to other groſs Nonſenſe, did any Man ever
hear before of [Profeft Hypocrites] ? but if he did I'm con-
fident [Parallel Lines running together, and at lajf meeting
in the Centre) is a diſcovery entirely his own, and what
no one will envy him the Glory of, For which Ex-
preffios
the Election; and reflected very barbarouſly, on his Com.
preſſion in an Alize Sermon at Oxford, we might appeal to
the Judges, who have often complain'd of his Ignorance.
I cannot omit here, a Remark of an ingenious Courtier,
who at the Begining of the Trial, being ask'd how he
thought the Doctor waid come off, ſaid, He did not know how
the Lords wou'd deal by himi; but if he were to be try'd by a Jury
of Grammarians and Criticks, he cou'd hope for no Mercy.
And as to his Logick, a good Judge of Premiſes and Conſe-
quences, was heard to ſay, that the Do&tor's Sermon at St.
Pauls, cou'd never be anſwer'd; for there was no finding
out any one Argument in it.
The Stile of thoſe two Sermons, is, in the Opinion of all
Men of Sence; the moſt turbulent and turgid, che moſt
rumbling and rampant, ſuch a Heap and Huddle of Epi-
rhets, ſuch a loading of every Period wich Length and
Breadth; That moſt Readers partial and impartial, to the
Preacher, have confeft, that it is the worſt preaching Lan-
guage they ever met with in their Lives.
And as to his Skill in Aſtronomy, which he charitably
produces to regulate thoſe wandring Stars the Diffenters,
bidding them move within their proper Sphere, and not grow
Exentrick, and like Comets that burſt their Orb, threaten the
Ruin and Downfall of Church and State. To paſs by the Bom-
baſt and Pedantry; if the Lord Mayor, &c. had gone from
St. Pauls to Greloam-Colledge, to enquire into the Meaning
of this, their learned Profeffours, could have given them
little or no Satisfaction in it.
Yet behold the prodigious Allurance and Luciferian
Pride of this whifing Novice. The Night after his Electi-
on in Southwark, he came to a Club at the Mitre Tavern in
Fenchurch-ſtreet; and there at the Head of a great Number
of inferior Clergy, boaſted very much of the Succeſs of
petitor Mr. G (whoſe Books a far worthier Doctor told
me, he is not worthy to carry), upon which one ſaid,
Doétor, I have been long acquainted with Mr. 6—, and
think it does not become you to inſule him in this Manner
Alas! Sir, (ſays he) I heard him preach for the Place, and re-
ally think he's the dulleſt Shoul (with a Snear of Infolenče)
that ever came in Timber, (very Apoftolical Language.) Af-
C
ter
ter this, the Diſcourſe was of Doctor Tillotſon and Stilling-
fleet, who he ſaid, were two of the dulleſt Writers in the Church
of England, and challeng'd any of 'em to mention a good Book
wrote by either: Upon which one inention'd the Origines Sa-
cra. O! ſays he, there are in that Book, Ten Thouſand, and
Ten Thouſand Times Ten Thouſand Errors: At which moſt
of the Company were very much offended.
It is well known how imperiouſly he carried himſelf in
Maudlin-Colledge, how diſreſpectfully to the Preſident, in
many Inſtances, (whom yet he had the Face to call to his
Reput ation, the only one he did or could call, but he could
ſay no good of him, and therefore appear'd no more 'till
the Trial was over). How rude to the Fellows, and how
he laid violent Hands upon one or two of the Members:
How many Stories are there in that Place, of his inſulting
the Vice Chancellor, and his quareHing with whole Houſes?
I think in my Conſcience, he is the proudeſt Prieſt, that ever
the Church was peſter'd with, ſince Arius. His Inſolence
to the Court of Aldermen, is beyond all Example: Upon a
Motion made, for Thanks and Printing, a great Majority
deny d it, and would have proceeded further to reſolve that
He ſhould never again preach before that Court; if a
fudden Adjournment had not prevented it. This Rebuke
wou'd have made a Man of any Modeſty, unwilling to
come inco the Preſs, eſpecially there being by this Time,
a general Offence taken at the Sermon, and moſt of his
Friends aſham'd to defend it: They ſaid it was hot and
fooliſh, and would do them Miſchief; and therefore rejoyced
at the Report that it was not to be publiſhd. All this
was but a Spur to the Doctor, he was fo far from valuing the
Opinion of the Aldermen, that he took the Preſs in Defiance
of them; telling the World, that his Diſcourſe ventures to
appear in Contempt, &c.
Such inſolent Language to the
higheſt Court of the City, as was never yet us'd by any
Divine, nor any Man of what Rank foever: Nay it was
ſo unſufferably rude, that he might have been call'd to an-
fwer it in that Court, if he did not live without the Liber-
cies of the City.
I certainly do him no Wrong, in terming him a Fana-
ick, for he is as truly mad with Pride, ſince he has gone
about
about to receive the Homage of the ſeveral Counties ( for
what I know not, for his Sermon al} Sides are agreed, to be a
Peice of Nonſence) as ever was the Pewterer's Wife in Bedlam.
Had he demean'd himſelf modeſtly under his mild Sentence,
and (as any other Man would have done) retir'd for a
while; I fou'd have heartily pitied and pray'd for him,
and with the Mantle of Chriſtian-Chariry, have endeavour'd
to cover a Multirude of Sins: But for a Criminal to ride
about in Triumph,
Per Grajum Populos, médiaque per Elidis Urbes,
Ibat ovans, Divumque ſibi pofcebat Honores.
As the Managers, pro and con, have very aptly quoted that
Diſtich in his Cafe; is enough to provoke any Lover of his
Country and Conftitution, to vindicate the Juſtice of the Na-
tion, againſt ſuch unteard of Inſolence. But who will un-
dertake to clear him of this Charge, when his own Councel
declar'd he was pretty pert, they might have ſaid malapert to
command the ſuperior Paſtors, (he ſaid the Biſhops, tho' he
has alter'd this, and ſeveral other Paſſages; as I and many
more can make Oath) to do their Dury. I am aflur’d, one has
given a Guinea to receive, I remember not juſt how many
when the High-Church Party hate him, for his unſuffer able
Infolence as mach as the other. Nay many of them talk at
that Rate already, that the Work's done, but he is a blunt
Tool. His beſt Friends ſpeak of him wich a Sort of Pity,
and for the moſt Part with Contempt; and their Writers
ſo treat him as if they were now alhamid of him : Foc.
which I refer to theſe three late Treatiſes, Eſſay upon Crean
dit, Faults on bord Sides, and Ejay upon the Hiſtorg of the late
Miniſtry.
I find this moſt hatefull Vice of Pride ſhew'd it felf
very early: When he came to be ordain’d by the Biſhop
of L--- and C-, now of Wa; the Biſhop charg'd
him with falſe Latin, (and it was fo) be ſtifly defended it,
and the Biſhop was forc'd to ſend for Books out of his Scudy
to convince him. I have heard from a Clergyman that liv'd
then very near, that he ſaid 'twas better Latrin than he or
any of his Chaplains could make: However the Biſhop
having ask'd him ſome Queſtions in Divinity, and finding
him very raw and ignorant, refus'd to ordain him, at chat
2
Time
:
Metro
Third Para
Time, and let him a Time of Study to be better prepard
For which he has born him ever since a molt inveterate
Grudge, and ſhew'd how little Regard he had to the Ca-
monical Obedience he then profeſt to his Ordinary, and how he
ſtrovc to weaken thoſe Hands, by Impoſition whereof he was
at Length ordained: Which brings me to the
in Perfe£tion. Lec but any one read his Character of a Low-
Church Man, and the baſe and barbarous Reflections upon
that rrorthy Prelate the Bishop of W-, from Begining
to end, and he will plainly perceive a radicated Spite.
Manet alta Mente repoſt um
Judicium Loydi ſprctique Injuria Stili.
But to call ſuch a Perſon, as he docs in Effect, a Trimming
V lain, is a Note beyond Archbiſhop Grindal's falſe Son of
the Church, and perfidious Prelate (thoſe intemperate Expre-
fi ns, as his Councel calls them). Which Expreſſions
d feive to be cenſur'd, for their vile and abominable Fall-
ho1, no leſs chanfor their Rudeneſs and Infolence: And
th:ll this Dolor be ſet up to defend the Church, when he is
guilty of deaming, and (as far as in him lies) deſtroying
the G'ory of the Reform tion?
But all this was intended thro' his Sides to wound ano-
ther of the fame Hog's Station, and the ſame unblemiſh'd Ho-
lineſs of Life, and I doubt not 'twas this left that chiefly en-
rag'd bin, both ag ioſt all theſe Proteſtant Biſhops, and the
Sicieties for Reformtion, becauſe they filently, but forcibly
condemn his own very looſe Converſation. The Courſe
of his Life is too well known to his Friends and Compani-
ons, for them to make any Boaſt of ir: And as far as I can
fi d, there is a profound Silence amongſt them upon that
Head.
And here let me leave this Thought, wirh bis deluded
Proſelytes, when his paſt Life comes to be beter known, or
poſſibly when his future Converſation ſhall make him more
obnoxious: What a Reproach will it be to the Church for
the Enemies of it to ſay, Lord here was your Champion and
Confoffer for the Church of England! the Contempt and
Scandal that muſt infue
As
The Modern Fanatick.
21
As to chis Head of Scurrility and foul Language, he and
his Coadjutor Mr. Lelly (who ore'cops him by Head and
Shoulders, and indeed I wonder to find a Friend and Pro-
moter of Popery and Slavery, Maſter of ſo much Wit)have
gone beyond all that ever I met with: Martin Mar Prelate
was modeſt to them. But after all, to the everlaſting Ho-
nour of theſe true Biſhops, they have not a Syllable againſt
'em, but Revolution and Moderation.
As to his Rage and
unbridled Fury, which I'll throw under the ſame Head,
(his Vices being too many to be all ſingly ſpoke to) there
needs no fuller Proof, than his barbarous lolults
upon
the
Death of King William, of which I have heard ſeveral ru-
der than moſt French Papiſts would have made; his hang-
ing out the Bloody Flag, without Loſs of Time, both by
Way of Triumph and Repriſul, and his leaving his Compa-
ny, and croſſing the way to juftle_the Non-Cor-Minifier
into the Kennel; with that Sarcaſm you have had the upper
Hand long enough: And to add no more, what ſhows his
natural Temper, even without his Party-Rage his beating one
with a Shoulder of Mutton; which a Gentleman told me,
he had from ſeveral of his own College,
Fourthly, As to the main point now in Queſtion, his Sen.
timents of the Revolution, the Reign of King Willam, and the
preſent Government built thereon ; ! never heard any one
deny, nay his own Silence, and all his Friends upon it, give
Confent, to what ſeveral have already princed: And the
Author of the four Letters declares, le low the Affidavit of
it, under Mr. Eberral's own Hand, who lives near Birmi-
cham, That King William deſerv'd to be De Witted, and that
he hepd he should like to ſee it
. This is the Man whoſe Zeal
againſt Regicide runs ſo high: To cut off the Grandfather's
Head, was, and I agree with him, a moſt borrid Tragedy;
but to ſee the Grandfon, (a Sovereign Prince, as his own moſt
zealous Councel confeſſes) corn Liinb from Limb, wou'd
be a charming Spectacle, far beyond the Lincolns-Inn-Field
Bonefire, tho' Mr. Burs had been thrown into it, and
(a) The Revolution Party, Character of a Low Churchman, p. 23.
b) Charriter of a Low Churchman, 1, 2,
made
22
The Modern Fanatick.
made a Burnt-Offering with his own Timber, for coming
into it, without a Doctors-Commons Licenſe.
His Triumph upon the Death of that glorious Prince, is a
pregoant Proof of his Affection to him, and thews 'twas
indeed the moſt joyful Day he had ſeen in thirteen Years. [This
popular Cant being by the Providence of God blown over, with the
Governmentthar ſupported ır.] On which the Anſwerer makes
a proper Remark, To make his Dearba Deliverance, who was
the Protector of all Europe, and mho preferu'd us from being
Slaves, and to thank Providence for the Mercy, is like the other
Fuſtice done by ſome Men to his Memory. And I think that
other Saying of his, is no leſs unconteſted, and all that
could make me doubt whether 'cis genuine, is the Appear-
ance of ſome Charity, which I never heard before could be
charg'd upon him, That he could forgive King William all that
ever be did, but his curſed Legacy of the Hannover Succeſſion. It
has been an uſual Phraſe with him to call a Low Church-man
or Diſſenter, a damn'd Hannoverian. A very grave Gentle-
man of a plentiful Eſtate, whoſe Word I durft venture my
Life upon, cold me, he knew where he drank the Pretender's
Health, and which I am ſorry for (Allault and Battery be-
ing contrary to Law, which we are ſtrugling to preſerve)
was drub’d for it. And the whole Town rings of the
Story of Mr. Pr Regiſter of the Prerogative-Court, at
Can-?), Brother to Mr. S. Pra Nonjuror at 0--d,
who aſſur'd Dr. Boyle, an eminent Phyſician of that City,
that his Brother, upon Diſcourſe about Dr. S-, ſaid
to him, that he had drunk the Pretender’s Health ſeveral
Tiines with him, by the Name of James the Third. The Sup-
plement to Faults on both sides, acquaints us with a higher
Strain of Loyalty, (for while the French ſtile him but Che-
valier de St. George, I thought our Brittiſk, or rather Frenchi-
fid Jacobites would not run ſuch Lengths) his drinking the
Pretender's Healch on bis Knees.
An English Gentleman, was at Bruſſels about the Time
of the Doctor's preaching at St. Paul's; and the firſt News
he heard of the Doctor or his Sermon, was from the Pope's
Nuntio, who ask'd him, in Converſation, what News from
:.
(c) The Preamble to the Articles of Impeachment, charge him with as-
perſing the Memory of his late Majeſty, Character of a LowChurchmán.
Eng-
The Modern Fanatick.
23
England ? The Gentleman anſwer'd I hear none; ſays the
Nuntio, you have heard of the famous Docteur, that preach'd
in the great Church in London? No Sir, ſays the Gentlemar),
I know nothing of the Matter ; ſays the Nuntio, He's á
bold honeſt Man, he has preach'd up the Title of the Chevalier
St. George, and will ſtand by it. Sir, ſaid the Gentleman,
that's impoſſible. I have it ſays he, by good Intelligence, and
before you get into England, you'l find the Matter work well; it
will in the End bring in the King. This was told to one of
the Judges this laſt Circuit, before ſome Perſons of the
higheſt Rank,
A Sea-Captain, who was at that Time Priſoner in France
gives much the ſame Account of what he heard there.
As to his Affection to her preſent Majeſty, which makes up
ſo large a Part of his Speech; it is not long ſince this very
Dutyful Subject and true Son of the Church; as he would be
thought, was pleas’d to ſay, upon a certain Occaſion, he's a
Waxen Queen. A Complement of the ſame Strain, with that
paſs'd on her ato-d where Loyalty now, is ſo predomi-
nant, where her Motto, Semper eadem, was put in the Vane of
a Weather-Cock, which if I have any Skill in Emblems and
Hierogliphicks, is making Virgils Comment upon it, Variuni
mutabile ſemper Femina ; Nay I fee no other Con-
ſtruction it can poſibly bear. But to return to our Maud-
lin Doctor, when he had made his Speech in Weſtminſter.
Hall, I ſhou'd ſay read it, for ’tis no more like his Scile,
than Dr. Cale's like Dr. Atters; A Prelate on his Side
ſpoke to a great Temporal Lord in Commendation of it ;
who anſwer'd, he ſhould admire it too, if he did not know the
Man, which conſider'd be really expected (and well he might
Si quoties peccant Homines fua Fulmina mittat)
a Thunder-Bolt from Heaven to ſtrike him dead.
ſtrike him dead. A certain
eminent Lady, who had ſome Reaſon to know him ſaid, I
beard him with Horror. And the Story of that other Lady
is in every ones Mouth, to whom he had ſhewn ois Sermon
before he preach'd it; and given her a Key to it; this
upon the Revolution, this upon King William,--this upon
the Min-yo-this upon the Lord Tr-r, &c. who upon
hearing his mumsverdiæ cry'd out with Aſtoniſhment the great-
eft under the Sun. But the Suplement to Faults on both
Sides
1
24
The Modern Fanatick.
Sides, repreſents him worſe yet, as making a Jeſt of all
that he ſaid at the Bar, in private Converſation.
The following Relation is very true. One of his own
Order, who was with him at the Tavern in the Evening
Nov. 5. did report to him, that ſome of the Company
were in Pain for him, leſt he ſhou'd be charg'd with re-
flecting upon ſome great Men; ſays the Doctor, I fear not,
I only wiſh that the Dean had been in his Stall : I would ha?c
thrown my Volpone directly in his Face.
Indeed whoſoever after his moſt folemn Proteſtations, and
awful Appeals, to the great God and the ſupremeTribunal,
for bis fincere Affection to the Revolution and Hannover Such
ceffion, and his abhorence of any Reflection upon the Govern-
mene enough, as one well obferves, to niake an Heathen-
Moralift tremble; join'd with an Account lately given in
Print, of one, (as I remember a Juſtice of Peace ) who took
the Abjaration in open Court, and intermix'd by Way of
Parentheſis, turning aſide to one who ſtood near hiin, Gad
d me if ever 1 keep this Oath, &c. whoſoever I ſay, will
for the future, lay any Streſs, upon the Profeſſions and De-
clarations, how folemn and numerous ſoever, which Men
of that Party and Principle make; inuit be ander che Pow-
er of ſtrong Deluſions to believe a Lye.
For the moſt that even the largeſt Charity can do in the
Caſe, is to chooſe which side of a Contradi&tion you will
believe : If they are true to their Principles, their Profelli-
ons muſt be falſe
For as Horace in a like Cafe,
Pergis pugnantia ſecum
Frontibirs adverfis cumpononere,
He that can reconcile abfolute Non-Reſiſtance, and the Law-
fullneſs of the Revolution; Hereditary and undefeaſable Right,
and the Suecefion of Hannover, (when ſo many, nearer in
Blood are ſet alide) moſt have a Reaſon of a quite different
Make and Turn from the Reſt of Mankind, or a Faith as
blind and implicite as the Romaniſts; and is, to ſay all, com-
pleatly ripe for Tranfubftantiation. Wherefore 'țis not
without evident Reaſon, that Mr. Leſley triumphs ſo much
in his Good-old-Cauſe reviv’d; and cries ſo loudly, lo Victoria,
as if the Day were already their own: For a Man of his
Parts and Penetration, could not but perceive, that theſe
new-advauc'd Tenets lead directly to the Pretender; accord-
..
.
ing
The Modern Fanatick.
25
***:
ingly he concludes with the greateſt Aflurance, from fo
hopefull and promiſing a Dawn, that it will fine more and
more, into the perfect Day.
But fuppoſing we could be, as I think ’is impoſible,
miſtaken here, it cannot be deny'd, but theſe Poſitions
blacken the Memory of King (Villiam, and makc him an
Ulurper, for the laſt ſeven years, whatever he might be
the Reſt of his Reign: For beſides that Hereditary ſuggeſts,
that King William wanted ſuch a Title; 'tis moſt certain,
there was no Bar or Incapacity upon Her preſent Majeſty,
and it follows, if the Right to the Crown be Hereditary
and indfeaſable, that muſt be a Kind of Interregnum and the
Conftitution off the Hooks all that while.,
To return from this neceſſary Digreſſion to our Doctor,
the Vth. Charge I ſhall lay againſt him, is, that of great
Profaneſs, moſt unbecoming a Chriſtian and much more a
Miniſter. There needs no fuller Proof on this Head, than
his own Writings: For certainly, a Lucian or Celfus, a
Butler or a Brown, could not have treated ſacred Things in
a more irreverent Manner: He has all their Profaneſs but
none of their Wit. ) SanctifidVillany funtify'd ſpleen, con-
cerning the Societies for Reformation : Sit as demurely as the flia
Saint of 'email; is not this ridiculing the Language of the Ho-
ly-Ghoſt if not blafpheming him, as if he could or would make
villany and Malice holy, (for 'tishis office to ſanctify) or in-
fuſe the Craft of the Serpent into Saints. But that's a Sentence
enough to ſtrike any pious Soul with Horror, Hypocriſie is
the main Perfection of the Saints. (*) With greater Profane-
neſs, if poſſible, he makes his true Churchman to be his God
Almighty [under all Circumſtances like that God and Reli-
gion he believes and ſerves, without variableneſs or fhadow of
turning, but is the ſame to day, to morrow, and for ever.] I
may venture to ſay this is downright Blaſphemy, to af-
cribe the incommunicable Attribute of God to a fallen fickle
Creature, who is not the ſame as to Body or Mind twen-
cy four Hours together. Such Paſſages as theſe are enough
to make one think him (if not what he ſays foine take
(d) Derby Sermon. (e) Sermon at St. Pauls. (f) Chara ter of a
Low Churchimin.
him
26
The Modern Fanatick.
7
hin for) a Papiſt diſguis’d; yet what is as bad, an Atheiſt
barefac’d; which Charge has but too ſtrong a Foundation
in the following Account which I had from very good
Authority. When he was Curace and partly Chaplain at
Sir Ch--- Hails, the Living became void, and every
one expected that he would have had the Refuſal of it';
but the Mother (highly eſteem'd for Wiſdom and Piety)
fent for Mr. W, and made him the Offer : He hum-
bly thank'd her Ladiſhip, but deſir'd to be excus'd, bc-
cauſe he intended to return to the Univerſity, and finiſh
his Studies; but ſaid withal, I wonder you do not tender
it to Mr. S.O fie, ſaid the Lady, pray do not name
him : He's a forey Wretch; he'll go into the Kitchin among
the Servants, and banter the Torments of Hell-Fire before
them. I think that Paſſage favours either of Atheiſm or
groſs Ignorance. With what Impudence can (he ſhould have
faid with what Face, for as he has worded it, 'tis as he
modeſtly tells the Bifhep a Bull) ſuch Wretches preſume to
take
upon them the ficred and inviolable Title of the Church,
who are for under mining the Civil State and Government,
upon which alone it depends.] Here's Doctrine for a zea-
lous Church-man! much like that in his Gun-powder Ser-
inon. [The Teſt- Aft is her only Security.] Another would
have ſaid, under God; hat 'tis too plain, God is not in
all his Thoughts. The Church depends upon the State
Alone, and conſequently there is no Providence, no Pro-
iniſe of Chriſt, that the Gates of Hell ſhall not prevail,
po everlaſting Arms underneath to ſupport it.
The Sixth Charge I ſhall lay against him, is of moſt
unchriſtian Imprecations, which are a Mixture of both the
former Rage and Profaneſs, and therefore not ftri&ly
reducible co eicher. His Sermons are Evidence ſufficient
on this Head; for indeed bis Preaching is of Curfing and
Lies; but I have alſo too many Inſtances with his common
Diſcourſe. He was once railing in his uſual Rancour
againſt the Diffenters; and one ask'd what he would have
done with them as the Caſe now ſtands, there being ſuch
Numbers of them in the Nation: His Anſwer was, Do
(9) Clara&er of a Low Churchman.
mith
The Modern Fanatick.
27
with them, d'em. Nay, during his very Tryal, when
one would think the awful Providetice he was under,
ſhould have reſtrain'd him, how ſtrong foever his Habits
were, (eſpecially if as he declar'd in his Progreſs, be ex-
pected nothing but Death, for which I am very ſure he
was ſorrily prepard) when any thing diſpleas'd him,
the D-I take 'em; and once when his own Servant came
to him about a Matter he did not care to hear, he ſaid,
A Plague take you.
A Seventh Article is very fonl Dealing, nay if the Aca
count be as I have had it from ſeveral Hands, with very
litele Variation, it falls under his own darling Term of
Villany. While he was Curate of
Ck in St_dhire,
where his Behaviour will never be forgotten by ſome of the
Inhabitants; his Inclination to keep much Company, his ill
Habit of telling incredible Stories, his over-bearing Con-
tempt of the Common People, his falling into the Jaco-
bite Party, and his preaching ſeditious Sermons ; eſpecially
a famous one at Litchfield, the Proſecution of which was
drop'd in Diſdain of meddling with an obfcure Country
Curate. But theſe Matters made a much leſs Noiſe among
the People than his Love-Intrigue with a young Gentle
Woman in thoſe Parts of a good Family and Fortune,
Mrs. Jos of Ky, which he carried on with great
Privacy, as apprehending the Reſentment of her parents :
when he had entangled the young Gentlewoman's Affections,
he deſerted her for another Porſuit; ſhe expoftulated with
him upon his Inconſtancy and Falfhood; he deny'd it with
many Proceſtations, but at length ſhe was fatally convinc'd
of the Truth, and loſt her Senſes upon it. Her Parents
not fully knowing the fad Occaſion, broke open her Ca-
binet, and found the Copies of her own modeſt and af-
fe&tionate Letters to him, and many of his Anſwers, ro-
lemnly declaring his Love, and making dreadful Impreca.
cions if ever he forfook her for any other Woman ia
the World. In ſhort this young Lady dy'd, and he fur
viv'd without Shew of Repentance. This is all Matter
of Fađ, that can be atteſted by thoſe of that Family who
are now remaining in very good Repute. If Biſhop
Grindal was a perfidions Prelate, I'm ſure he was a more
per-
28
The Modern Fanatick.
y Wi-
TY
perfidious Suitor; and I an apt to think that the Guilt
of theſe horrid Crimes has had that Effect upon him,
hac he has never fiace been calm and compos’d. I hope
t
the Ladies, who are his chief Advocates fron a Compaſſi-
on natural to their Sex, as pitying one under Proſecu-
tion, will from hence be touch'd with ſome Senſe of the
Wrongs done to cheir own Sex, and not be quite ſo zea-
lous for him as they have been. Eſpecially when they
have heard and confider'd,
The Eighth Article, viz of great immodeſly if not Lerdo
neſs. For to paſs by the Story of I
as not fufficiently atteſted, tho' I have it from honourable
Hands; and his ſinuggling and cowzing the Wench at his
Inn ia Woodſtoock, ('cis laid he deſign d ſomething more
had lhe not been too ſtrong forhim) which tho but a youth-
ful Frolick, did not become the Gravity of a Miſſionary
in his folemn Progreſs. St. Paul would ſcarce have done it,
when he ment about confirming the Churches. I have anocher
Account from Southmark, where at a Coriſt ring, after Supper
he ſtood up and ſaid, he muſt ask the Qieſtion whether
there was not in the Company a Woman with Child ;
while the Women were ſiniling at one another, ſays he
again, I muſt know, for there's a Proverb in our Coun-
try, that when the Parfon chriſtens the Chilid, if none of the
good Women are breeding, he forfeits bis Breeches: Now be-
ſides the great Indecency of ſuch Smut at fo facred an
Ordinance, and the Rudeneſs to the Company, what a
fool Intimation does it carry, as if every Parlon were a
Belfwagger. I have heard from one who liv'd ſome time
with him in the fame Houſe, chat he has affirm'd, 'tis no
Sin to lie with a ſingle Woman, and no great one with a
married. If theſe things are true, as I have Reaſon fuffi-
cient to conclude, I'm afraid his long Celibacy is not the
Effect of his Cantinence, buc a Dread of Confinement; for
who (lay our Libertines) would be ty'd co a Tree that
may range in a Wood ?
I cannot but cite under chis Head one unparalleld Para-
graph. A Man cannot but wonder at the ſtrange Impudence
(h) Chara&er of a Low Churchman.
of
of this Author, who in the very beginning enters upon an Inve-
Etive againſt that Practice which this very l'aper is ſo notorious
an Intance and Example of, (that's like Freedom and Li-
berty ſoon after, my Saddle and thy Saddle ). But always the
Cant of a Whire is upon Chuflity and Modeſty more effe&tically to
blind and catch her Cully. I ſhall add the Anſwerer’s Remark,
and then make my own. The Character of impudent, up-
on a Biſhop, is not very uſual, and I'm ſure thoſe he calls
Lom Church, have learned a litile better Manners; let me
add, to compare a Biſhop's Advice to his Clergy, with the
Cant of a Whore, is yet an higher Proof of his Breeding.
But what I chiefly aim at here, is how he came ſo well ac-
quainted with a Whore's Cant, and the Terms of the
Town, catching her Collies? Some would ſuſpect he had
been catch'd himſelf, and ſo had bought his Experience
dear; the beſt we can ſuppoſe is, that he has learn'd this
Myſtery of Iniquity ( which I never heard of before ) from
5-yW-r, or the Men of the Town, which will not
greatly inend the Matter, for ſure none have made him
their Father Confeſſor.
The Ninth Accufation of Drunkenneſs, will ſcarce be de-
ny'd by the moſt zealous of his Friends (if by himſelf).
They own, that he lives freely, and 'tis well known what
the real senſe of that Expreſſion is. He loves his Church
( Dic quibus in Terris ciers miki magnus Apollo ) his Fricnd
and his Bottle; the laſt, I'm afraid at anoiher guiſe Rate
than he did his Miſtreſs, and 'cis pot a ſmall Matter will
part 'em: I was aſſur'd by one, that he fat to it at an
Inn upon the Road, from Nine at Night, till Ten the
next Morning; and all the Town rings of his being Low
Church at Sr. J Wag's in Oxfordſhire, that is laid fiat un-
der the Table, which gave occaſion for that Sarcaſm,
There lies the Pillar of our Church; or as the Hemp-man
at Warwick, The Stay of the Nation.
Which brings me to the Tenth Article, viz. Of Gaming,
and that at a very improper Time, and attended with
another heinous Sin, in the Account of the Reformers, but
a Peccadillo with High-Church and Papiſts, viz. The Pro-
fanation of the Lord's Day : One aſſur’d an intimate Friend
of mine, that he had play'd at Cards with him often on a
Sunday;
Sunday, and once as he was in the midſt of his Game, the
Clerk came to remind him of the Service he was upon, and
ask'd him if it were not Time to get ready, for the Peo-
ple would be quickly coming to Church: Why, you Fool,
ſaid he, my Sermon is ready cut and dry'd. Which gives
me an Hint for,
The Eleventh Accufation with Reſpect to his Office,
which he ſo much magnifies, and that is, very great and un-
excuſable unfaithfulneſs, and taking a Charge which he can
never fulfil (tho' he had more than enough to ſerve any
reaſonable ſingle Man before, eſpecially one who will
own no Relation but where he pleaſes) for filthy Lucres
ſake; which makes me ſtrongly ſuſpect him, tho’ I will
1100 make a ſeparate Article of it, of Avarice ; I may fafe-
ly ſay, a greedy deſire of the Manimon of Unrighteouſneſs.
Would any one have imagin’d that heard him expreſs his
Concern at his Tryal, (1) as one of his ſore Alictions, That
he could not perform his Diley to his Flock, over which the Holy
Ghoſt had made him Over ſeer, ( he might in Reaſon have ex-
pected a ſorer Affliction to come within Timber, in another
Senſe ) chat this zealous Miniſter of the Goſpel, as he ſtiles
himſelf, tho' he would have call?d it canting in another ;
would the very next Month take a large Pariſh with Cure
of Souls, as far as Wales, where he cannot go at moſt above
once a year, and probably will not above once in three,
when he had ſo vaſt a Pariſh upon his Hands already, and
he could preach to neither of them theſe three Years.
Whatever may be ſaid for two Livings with Cure of Souls,
where the Pariſhes are not large, nor the Diſtance be-
tween them great, ſo that there may be Time, by a double
Diligence, to watch over both ; I'm ſure, he that would
take ſuch a Charge many Scores of Miles from the Place
of his Abode, can never be in good Earneſt with God,
nor underſtand the Nature and Obligations of his Fun&i.
on, but values the Fleece more than the Flock, and cannot
fay with the Apoſtle, We ſeek not yours, but you: Yet this
is he, forfooth, that muſt reach the Biſhops their Duty,
and charge them to perform it, that takes upon him the
Care af all the Churcbes, and has made himſelf the Keeper of
the Vineyards, but his own Vineyard has not kept ; nor to his
(i) Tet be bas taken Lombings now, in St. Martin's Lane, and has left hva dear Flos&
to heng bimſelf daily in I Lobby, and Court of Roqueſts.
great Mortificatior., when he had been tampering in ſo
many Counties, could carry the Election in his own Burs
rough, from whence 'cis plain what an awkmard Tool he is.
The Twelfth Charge I ſhall exhibit againſt him, is of
many notorious Falſhoods both in Do&trine and Fact. This
and Sedition, are the Subſtance of the Articles brougho
againſt him, and prov'd upon him by the Honourable
Houſe of Commons: As to the perverting of the Holy Scrip-
tures, which is the worſt of Falfhoods, the changing the
Truth of God into a Lie; not one of his Council ſaid a
Syllable in his Defence, but ſhifted off that Part upon him ;
who left it alſo wholly untouch'd, onder Pretenes of re-
ſerving that Matter to the Supreme Tribunal; as if it be-
long'd not in the leaſt to the Cogpifance of his Judges.
The falſe Repreſentation of che paſſage about Eliſha, I
am willing to impute to ignorance and diſuſe of the Bible,an
his Council own he was miſtaken in it, but 'tis a Blunder
for which a School-boy, I'm ſure, under my Maſter, at
the Top of the School, would have paid dear. That
King William diſclaim'd all Impuietion of Reſiſtance, is alſo
confert by his Counſel to be falſc; and Sir P, K-g has
abundantly prov'd him a foul Slanderer of Archbiſhop
Grindal; but the Biſhops of W-Yand S-m, he has bely'd
without Meaſure, and he knows, as the Anſwerer tells
him, to the Character of a Low Churchman, that his Confecrat-
ing Scorch-Cloth, is a groſs untruth.
Under this Head of Lying, I ſhall add a groſs Forgery;
I cannot call it a pious, but I may a ſeditious Frand; when
he preach'd the () fame Sermon, which I find has been a
common Hack, at Oxford, (for he did not think ſo grear
an Auditory,as the Magiſtracy and Companies of London, de
ferv'd the Honour of a new one ) that he might repreſent
the greater Danger of the Church, from the Reſolution of the Ito
Houſes, and the Declaration of the Queen, he cited this Sena
tence as from a Latin Hiſtorian, Nunquam magis periclit et a
est refpublica Romana quam cum nemo eam periclitari auſus ſit.
afferere. Many of the Scholars were ſo pleas'd with that
pointed Latin Sentence, that they ask'd him from what Au-
thor he had borrow'd it. He would at firſt have upbraid-
ed their Ignorance, without betraying his own K-ry, but
(k) He lays i# bis Anſwer a great Streſs upox ibis Plea, that the Vote of borb Hoxfes.
*Mp4ff4 rear ago; wheredt be preached the Sermon within a Tear after the said Vate.
when
ſometimes lile:Meetings, are never krown to break op
when they had ſearch'd the Claſſicks and found no ſuch
thing, they brought him to a ſilent Confeſſion that he
had no Authority for it but his own pretty Invention.
But after all, I expect ſome of his blind Votaries will
reply in anſwer to what has been ſaid, we know all this
as well as you can tell us, and perhaps a great deal more
of the ſame Kind) and like him the better: for he is juſt
as we would have him; tight for the Church, no Enemy
to the Pretender, but for none of your Puritanical Pre-
ciſeneſs, and a mortal Enemy to Reformation of Manners.
As a Country Geatleman came to a worthy London Di-
vine whom I knew, to belp their Pariſh to an honeſt
Parſon, and asking him what he meant by honeſt; he
told him they had some Gentry who were for one that
would be company, give them a ſhort Sermon in the
Morning, and after Prayers in the Afternoon go and
take his Bottle freely, and be merry amonſt 'em.
Having done with what particularly concerns their
High-Priejt, or rather Idol, not of Silver or Gold, but
of Brass, if any Metal to all; I ſhall now proceed in my
intended Deſcription of an High-Church Fanatick in ge-
neral, and lay down the chief of thoſe Paradoxes or mone
ſtrous Poſitions which make up this mad Philoſophy (as
Tully ſtiles Epicurus's) if that terin may be apply'd to them
ſince Confuſion to Philoſophy, i. e. the Friends of Sophia, is be-
come the Favourite Toaſt.
The Firſt and Fundamental Maxim, the very Pillar and
Ground of their Do&trine, is this, 'Tis better to be a Papiſt,
than a Presbiterian: I take it for granted, that moſt Peo-
le have heard this openly inaintained, and 'bis with ſome
bext to Hereſy to deny it. If I am rightly inform’d, 'twas
for confuring this High Church Principle that the Mayor and
Adermen of S----- Look fuch Offence at their Biſhop, as to
order the Serjeant to take up the Mace and go out of the
Church; no Doubt with a Deſign to draw the whole Con-
gregacion after them: An Inſult that no Biſhop, Proteſtant or
Papilt ever receiv'd before; and ſuch a Peice of Fanaticiſm,
as the Quakers wou'd be aſham'd of; who tho’ they have
as ſoon as one begins to ſpeak; But mbere Entying and Strife
The Shame of being trete in that Fo-géry, tindired bin from printing the Sermon
then, and fo it wa,reerveddfor anore Miſchief.
is.
The Modern Fanatick.
33
2
there is Confuſion, and every evil Work.
To give the Hearing is a Reſpect we owe to the meaneſt
of Men, much more of Miniſters, when delivering their
Mellage from their Great Mafier, as his Embaſſadors : And
is it poſſible it ſhould be deny'd with ſuch Circunſtances of
extreme Rudeneſs by thoſe who glory in their Zeal for Epifa
copacy, to their Aged and very Learned Dioceſan in his own
Cathedral? This was look'd on in France as a Paſſage that
deſerv'd a Place in the Paris Gazette, to let the French fee
how low the Revolution Intereſt is ſunk ainongſt us, and into
what Contempt the chief Promoters of it are fallen; and
conſequently how ripe we are for another, in order to re-
vive their Couragt, and buoy up their finking Spirits.
But it ſeems the Biſhop touch'd upon a fore Place, they
knew this Notion was calculated for a Tavern, and not for
a Temple : It may paſs, over a Buttle, when Confuſion to
the Presbyterians is the Toaſt; but would not bear what he
was about, a calm Debate ; itating fairly (as I heard he
did) what a Presbyterian is and holds, and what a Papiſ;
and then leaving it to their own Reaſon which is worjt. For
indeed there is ſcarce one in 100 of thoſe who maintain
this Afertion, that knows what the Word Presbyterian lig-
nifies, or whence it is deriv'd, and what is the form of
Church-Government by which they are ſpecify'd; and there-
fore I wonder they do not rather uſe their darling Term Fa.
natick, than Presbyterian; according to a late wiſe and
learned Addreſs, chat fets Popery on the one Hand, and
Fanaticiſm on the other : (I hope they underſtand Arms
more than Arts, and are better at fighting then diſtinguiſh-
ing, or we hall be very forrily, as we have laſt Year been,
defended :) For this is truly a Diſtinction without a Diffe-
rence, and conſequently a Diviſion into one Member ; as if
Popery were not the rankeft Fanaticiſm that ever the World
faw. The Sectaries are ſaid on all hands to have borrow'd
the King-killing Dodrine, which is the main Blot in their
Scutcheon, from the Papiſts; and they try'd it but in one,
the other in ſundry Inſtances: And as for their Worſhip,
let any one but ſee the antick Dreſs and more antick Poſtures
of their Prieſts at Mafs; and above all that Sacrifice of Fools
in an unknown Tongue, and take 'em for other than Fana-
D
ticks,
34
The Modern Fanatick.
pany of
:
ticks, or rather Bedlamites, if he can. To obferve a Com-
poor deluded Souls mumbling over their Beads,
and ſaying Amen to they know not what; croſſing ſcores
of times their Breaſts and Faces, and knocking their Heads
againſt the equally intelligent Stones ; praying to Saints and
Angels, who ('cis more than likely) hear nothing at all of
the matter; is a Scene of Diſtraction beyond what the moſt
Enthuſiaſtick Allembly amongſt us can fhew; who,
who, what-
ever their Method may be, ſpeak things eaſy to be underſtood
in their own Mother Tongue; we have the plain Verdict of
Scripture as to the one, 1 Cor. 14. 23. Will they not ſay ye
are mad? But I cannot find Extempore Prayer condemn'd
as Fanaticiſm, or any Infinuation of ſuch a * Charge.
How ftrangely is the Cafe alter'd ſince 1680 ? when Ri-
chard Tlompfor, Clerk, was impeach'd by the Houſe of Com.
mons, Ven. 24 Dec. for having preach'd at Briſtol, that
the D-1 l'lefone at the Presbyterians--that a Presbyterian Bro-
thcr, qua talis, was as great a Traytor as any Prieſtoy Jefuit
That he loop'd the Presbyterians would be pluckt out of their
Houſes, and their Hrueſes burnt. With other things agree-
able to the Spirit of the Doctor and the Practice of his Mob ;
but the ſudden Diffolution of the Parliament put a ſtop to
the Impeachment.
Now what groſs Partiality is betray'd in that Addreſs be-
tween Popiſh and Proteſtant Dilſenters, and how evidently in
favour of the former. They have not only the firſt Place,
but all the Reſpect they can deſire: Their Way is called by
no harder Name than Popery, i. e. Subječtion to an Univerſal
Biſhop, which they not only own but glory in : the other
Fanaticiſm, which ſure the Proteſtant Dilſenters never did,
nor will allow to be any other but a Term of Reproach given
'em by Rakes. Do theſe worthy Magiſtrates find any ſuch
Name in the Act of Exemption ? Sure they might have
carried their Hand and Cop a little evener, and call’d the
ift, if not Idolatry, as ic better deſerves than the other Fa-
naticiſm; at leaſt as the Exeter Addrejs, the detefi able Su-
* But this Clarge of Fanaticiſm againſt the Papifis, is abundantly made
out by the viry Learned Biſhop Stillingfieet. Idol. of the Ch. of Rom.
perftition
The Modern Fanatick. 35
perſtition of Popery : But doubtleſs this moſt obliging Com.
plement will not be overlook'd by the Pretender, nor fail of
a ſuitable Acknowledgment.
But to prove the real Fanaticiſm of thoſe who advance this
Tenet, and what a Labyrinth of Nonfenſe and Self-contradi&tion
they are bewilder'd in. The ſame Perſons who make the Preſ-
byterians worſe than Papiſts, nay worſe than the Devil, before
they are aware give them the Honour of being the beſt of
Proteſtants, and far more zealous for the great Truths and
Duties of Religion, than the ſoundeſt Members of the
Eſtabliſh'd Church; as if none could expreſs their Indigna-
tion againſt Vice and Profaneneſs but they : and ſo like
undutiful, ungrateful, nay falſe Children, bring a Reproach
upon their mother, and give her true Cauſe to complain of
the Wounds mbich ſhe has recciv'd in the Houſe of her pretended
Friends. The Attempts for Reformation of Manners, tho'
many ſtrict Conformiſts are engag'd in it, and the moſt active
Promoters of it, are callid Fanaticiſm, and as ſuch condemn'd
by the Doctor, tho'he, and one Miniſter more, who was
inform'd againſt for profane Curſing, and vindicates him-
ſelf in Print by being provok'd, are the only perſons in
Holy Orders that ever oppos’d them, or at leaſt would be
known to do it. One who din'd with the Doctor's Man
during the Trial, upon his curſing the Meat inſtead of crai
ving a Blesſing, reprov'd him for ſo unchriſtian a Beha-
viour, upon which he preſently replies (what I ſuppoſe he
had learnt of his Maſter) I warrant you are a Presbyterian.
And the Mob, like genuine Diſciples of the Doctor, drew
the ſame Concluſion in the height of their conſuming Zeal:
He won't ſwear --- He's a Presbyterian -- Down with bim. I
met not long ſince upon the Road fone bluſtering Blades,
who in great Endearment faluted each other with a Volley
of Oaths and Curſes, and upon my telling 'em ſuch Lan-
guage did not become the Figure they ſeem'd to bear, ſays
one preſently (tho' I was in a black riding Coat and a
Band, an Habit which Diflenters ſcarce ever travel in)
You are fome Presbyterian. I was heartily forry they had
B
# Ch L. Ch-man p. 10
D 2
36
The Modern Fanatick.
:
no better Opinion of their own Church.: And oncs 'at a
Coffee-houſe, cho' I was in a Night-gown and Neckcloth,
upon a like Reproof, What a D-, ſaid one, are we in a
Presbyterian Coffee-boufe, that people cannot ſwear at quiet?
Now what baler Reflection can the bittereſt Enemies of
the Church of England make upon her, than ſuch treacbe-
rous Eſpouſers of her Cauſe? 'Tis abundantly plain, that
'cis not the Presbyterian, but the ſuppos'd Puritan, that of
fends them : For if a Difſenter will but drink as hard, and
take in other Inſtances as great a Liberty as themſelves,
they'll hug and careſs him, and any Difference in other
Matters ſhall break no ſquares between them ; whence it
is but too fadly evident that their pretended Zdal for the
Church, is direaly against it, and is us'd as a Skreen for
what the Church abhors, Vice and Profaneneſs. I knew
one who was wont in Diſcourſe to be ever adıniring and
extolling the Liturgy as the moſt perfect Method of Devo-
tion the World was ever blelt with, (and I believe there
is not a better to be met with): and yet during all the time
of Dirine Service would be reading Virgil or Horace, which
he held in his Hand for a Common-Prayer-Book And
fome of the Lorcl- Mayor's Officers, who were always talking
high, and drinking for the Church, as ſoon as they had at-
tended his Lord hip to his Place, would lip out to the Ts-
vern or Ale-houſe till Sermon was half over, and then come
in to wait on him to his Coach. Upon which my Friend;
whom they us’d to reproach for a Presbyterian (tho' he was
ſcarce ever in a Meeting) ſaid to’em, Wbat, Geritlemen, are
you turn’d Presbyterians too, to come to Church conſtantly after
the Prayers are over? One of the mightieſt Sticklers for the
Church in the Kingdom, I ſaw the laſt time I was at the
Queen's Chapel, fitting down, and laughing and talking
all the while the Te Deum (which is indeed a molt admi-
rable Hymn) was ſinging, tho' Her Majeſty was preſent.
The 2d Paradox of H. Ch. Fanaticks is to love the French
and true Original Tories, i. e. the Wild Iriſh, for more than
the Scotch and Dutch, who are the greateſt Eye-love to
them next their Low-Ch, and Diſſenting Brethren, on the
Face of the Earth. This is a neceſary Conſequence of the
former Poſition; for’tis well known both the latter are Prel-
byterians,
The Modern Fanatick.
37
byterians, and the former no worſe than l'apiſts; and French
Popery, Mr. Leſley thinks, is no conliderable Bar to an
Union. With how much Warmth and Vehemence have I
often heard the Gentlemen of this Principle declaim againſt
the Inhabitants of Frogland, as they call it, and ridicule the
Hogan-Mogans in the moſt ſcornful Terms? and now their
Sawcineſs is become the grand Topick of their Diſcourſe.
Nay, I have heard ſome poſitively deny, that they have
any Ordinances or Miniſtry, becauſe not ordain'd by Riſhops,
and conſequently maintain that they are no Chriſtians. The
fame is apply'd to our Northern Country-then, upon whom the
Memorial is very liberal in its invectives; and while the late
Treaty was on foot, low miglicily did the Scotch Onion, as they
ſcoffingly ſtyl'd it, ſtick in chcir Stomaciis? How much more
nauſeous than Garlick or Coloquintida? And what would
theſe Britiſh Proteſtants give, yea wliat would they not give
or riſque, to break the Brotherhood between Judali and Iſrael.
But what a blefled Scene of things, what a joyful Turiz
would it ſeem to many amongſt us, if the W.2r with Franca
and Spain were once chang'd into another Dutcb War?
How light would the Taxes ſeem for ſuch a Service? The
Spaniſh Invaſion with their Inſtruments of Cruelty, the Gun.
powder-Treaſon, the Iriſh Maſſacre are nothing co the Buſi-
neſs of Ambayna, which could yield a proper Subject for a
Tragedy to inflame Peoples Pallions, thonone of the fore-
mention'd. On the other ſide how liberal are they in
their Panegyricks upon the Glorious French Monarch? becauſe
he concurs with them in terming the Hugonots, Fana-
ticks, and breaks their Preachers upon the Wbeel when he
gets them in his Clutches; the Gallantry and Politeneſs of
that Nation compar'd with the Clowniſiunefs of the Min-
heers ? I've heard an eminent Counſellor of the Temple run
on for an Hour together, in magnifying the Splendor of
that Court, and the vaſt Riches of its Miniſters, and when
I anſwer'd that theſe were but Golden Chains ; he reply'd,
I wiſh I were but to wear thoſe Chains. Now what can
be Fanaticiſm or Frenzy (for theſe are the ſame) if this be
not ? to bare our Friends, whoſe Caſe is the ſame with, and
Interelt inſeparable from ours, and doat upon our invite-
rate Enemies? To be fond of Slavery and bring upon our
D
Necks
38 The Modern Fanatick.
Necks a Yoke of Iron, which neither we nor our Fathers were a-
ble to bear ! Let them but read the Reigns of the 21ſt Nor-
man Kings, or look but at preſent into the Palatinate, and
other new Conqueſts, and (if they are not quite infatuared)
they'll ſoon be of another Mind. Now are not ſuch Per-
fons like to act very vigorouſly and ſtrenuouſly in concert
with thoſe whom they deſpiſe and abhor, againſt thoſe they
applaud and admire? May not wondrous Feats be expected
from them? Are they not like to give dead-doing Blows,
and to follow their Blows home, to bring them down whom they
delight to exalt? Any one that has read the Paris Gazettes
this Summer, eſpecially the Article de Londres, April 18,
1710, cannot but ſee that their Expectations are as much
xifen as our publick Socks and Credit fallen; and that they
promiſe themſelves Wonders from the Aſcendant their
High Church Friends have gain'd. Is it poſſible (humanely
ſpeaking) that the French King, who has been theſe Two
Years ſuing for Peace (tho' his hanghty Spirit could not
ſtoop to the Terms) ſhould after ſuch a Blow in Spain, the
Loſs of ſo many Towns in Flanders, and being every where
vpon the Defenſive, withour gaining the leaſt Advantage
any where, talk fo big of a ſudden, make ſuch mighty Ef-
forts, and vaſt Preparation to act offenſively next Campaign
(as if like Antæus, from every Fall he roſe up ſtronger) if
he had not, as the Biſhop of Troyes cells him, fome mighty
Proſpects of things ſecretly working in his Favour.
A third Mark or Dignoſtick of an High Church Fanatick
(which has always been reckon'd by all ſober and modeſt
Chriſtians the Effe&t of Enthuſiaſm) where-ever 'tis found,
is a Pretence to Perfection; a Thought that can enter into
no Head that is not drunk with Spiritual Pride, and ſo has
quite forgot the corrupt degenerate State of fallen Man,
who is abominable, diſobedient, and to every good Work re-
probate ; and therefore in many things offends daily; which
Character cakes in Communities, as well as ſingle Perſons ;
for me are all (ſays the Propbet ) as an unclean thing, and all
our Righteouſneſſes are as filtby Rags: and an undefiled Church
of miſerable Sinners certainly ſmells ſtrong of a Contradicti-
on, He that conſiders the once ſeven flouriſhing Churches
of Afia (eſpecially that of Laodicea, whoſe Kuin was her
good
The Modern Fanatick. 39
good Opinion of her ſelf, I am rich and incries'd in
Goods, &c.) cannot but deteſt the Arrogance of the Church
of Rome (if ſhe deſerves the Name of a Church) who, tho'
over-run with the groſſest Corruptions in Doitrine, Diſci-
pline and Worſhip ; tho'ſwarming with Errors, Szupertitions,
and even abominable Idolatries; and like fallen Balyion, the
Cage of every unclean and hatefúl Bird ; yet aſſumes the five!.
ling Titles of Infallible, Catholick, Apoſtolick, &c. God be
prais'd, it is not ſo with us, he has tranſl.ited 245 04t of the
Kirigdom of Darkneſs into his marvellous Light; but ſtill let
us remember by the Grace of God we are wbizt 10: are, where
is Boaſting then? It is excluded: Let us thank God is ſo
well, and earneſtly pray that it may be better, and not
be high-minded, but fear, and ſay with the Apoſtle to our
Fellow- Proteft rents, Phil. 3. 13. Brethren, I count not my felf
to have apprehended, but this one thing I do - I preſs toward the
Mark. There is doubtleſs a National as well as a perſonal
Modeſty expected of us; That nothing be done or ſaid through
Strife or vain Glory, but in Lowiniefs of Alind, let each count
other better than themſelves : For he that bumbleth himſelf
Shall be exalted. I have been aſtoniſh'd to hear ſome Mini-
Iters in their Prayers before Sermon tell God what an ex-
cellent ard truly Apoſtolical Conſtitution onrs is, ſhining with
Primitive Doctrine and Diſcipline, as if he did not know
how Matters are amongſt us. Inſtead of humbling our ſerves
under his mighty Hand; this is indeed to come to him
upon the Brag, and ſtand upon bigh Terms with him. But
doubtleſs, however we may carry it towards others, in-
ſtead of this Confidence of Boaſting, it were both our Inte-
reſt and Daty to walk humbly with our God; and rather ben
wail our Defects, than blazon our Achievements. The
Phariſees Prayer would as ill become a Congregation as a
fingle Suppliant : Lord, we thank thee that we are not as o-
tber pretended Churches are, headed by Schiſmatical Presby-
ters, but holy and without blame before thee. We faſt twice in
the Week, and give Tythes of all things that we poffefs. Scriſ-
ture furnishes us with no ſuch Examples, but many of the
contrary Strain. This was the Style of the antient Church
in her Addreſſes at the Throne of Grace, and the fame our
Church has taught us to begin with ; To the Lord our God
Ꭰ ;
49
The Modern Fanatick.
belong, &c. and we lie down in our Shame, and our Confuſ-
on covereth us, becauſe we have finned againſt the Lord our God,
we, our Prieſts, &c. But how muſt it look for fome of! er
moſt profane and debauch'd Pretenders, to vaunt of their
boly and undefiled Mother, (like the Jews, We have Abra.
ham to our Father who are themſelves the ſtiongeh Ob-
jection againſt what they ſo confidently advance. It would
become us all, and much more ſuch unruly Members, to take
the Wiſe Man's Counſel, Lit another Man praiſe thee, and not
thy own Mouth, a Stranger, and not tly own Lips, for were
there no Tye of Humility in the caſe, the Lord Bacon well
obſerves, Imumioderaic Praises are the greateſt Diſſervice, as be-
ing apt to raiſe Envy and Contradiction (for none can endure
to be ſo unmercifully out-fhin'd) Prov. 27.14. He that blef-
Setb bis Friend mith a luud Voice, riſing early in the Morning,
it ſhall be counted Curſe to him.
But after all this cracking and crowing there are things
amifs, manifeſtly amiſs, and that by the Confeſſion of the
Higheſt amongſt us: And lam but too certain, that thoſe
who make ſuch a Noiſe about the Church, and ſuch a
Bluftring for it, mean neither her Doctrines nor Devoti-
ons, which are found and good, but the Abuſes and Corrup-
tions that are crept into it, and all the Danger they appre.
hend is left choſe ſhould be remov’d, as there is very lit-
tle likelihood they ever will, at leaſt in our Days,
Pluralities and Non-reſidence are a confeſt Abuſe, for e-
ven the Author of the Memorial to the Archbiſhop (who is
high enough of Conſcience) makes great Complaint a.
gainſt 'em. I never yet ſay any thing offer'd in their Vin-
dication, or can there be without grofs Prevarication e.
ven againſt common Senſe; and yet our Conſtitution, as
Apoſtolical as 'uis, has not provided againſt this palpable
Diſorder. I never heard of any ſuch thing in Scotland, or
the united Provinces, and perhapschis is one main Cauſe of
ſome Mens Spleen againſt them.
There is great and juſt Complaint on all Hands in the
Matter of Advomſons. The Tatler (who he is I know not,
but he's the greateſt Nit i ever niet with, and were he of
Mr. Collier's Opinion about the Siage, might be an uſeful
Cenford preſents the World with a Letter ſubſcribd High
Church
? 월
​The Modern Fanatick.
41
Church, complaining that the Body of Mrs. Abigail is an-
nexed to the Cure of Souls, and conſequently he cannot have
the Living without the Living Thing. There is Icarce one
Living in five diſpos'd of without ſome valuable Confidera-
tion; and what is the moſt flagrant Abuſe, a Biſhop cannot
refuſe a ſcandalous or inſufficient Clerk, but the Patron will
bring his Quare impedit, and be too hard for him, as the
Biſhop of Oxford lately found to his Coſt and Sorrow.
The Biſhop of St. Awas became a Prelate of his graag
Reputation, was very loath to let the Doctor have a Li-
ving in his Dioceſe, to make (as he will) a Sine Cure of
who told him by way of Bravado, (as who ſhould ſay,
Refuſe me if you dare) The Eyes of ihe World were upon
bim: I hope they have ſomewhat elſe to obſerve, but
the Eyes of a Fool are in the Ends of the Earth. I was aflu-
red by an able Counſellor, that inſufficience is no good
Plea at Common Law, the more's the Pity.
Is it not a burning Shame, that a raw and perhaps a
wild Youth of 3 or 4 and 20, if he can get but a College
Teſt imonial, which I never knew denied, or the Hands
of three Miniſters, can be made the Paſtor, the ſole Paftor,
of the biggeſt Pariſh within the Bills of Mortality, if the
Patron be but a Friend or Relation, which has the great-
eſt Stroke in all Preferments; and when they are in,
who can get them out ? I never knew but one ejected,
and that coſt the Pariſh 1000l. I knew one under Age,
debauch'd, and Atheiſtical to the laſt Degree, who
preſented (upon what Terins may be eaſily gueſs’d) to a
very great Pariſh, which is a Corporation, and his Fa-
ther in Law and Guardian, (tho’he was a Counſellor)
told me, he could not, tho’ he fain would, prevent it.
'Tis too well known what ſort of Chriſtians many of our
Lay-Patrons are ; and that the Parſon is expected to keep
his Patron Company on a rainy Day at Back-gammon and
the Bottle: And can it be thought, if he do not make a
Peny of his Advowſon, which viis & modis is generally
done, he will look out an able pious Perſon faithfully to
There is another yet more glaring Abuſe, and that is,
that Papiſts can preſent (unleſs convict, of which fort I doubt
whether
reprove him.
42
The Modern Fanatick.
whether there are fix in the Kingdom) for who will be at
the Pains and Charge to convict them? In the Countries
where boam acquainted, they are careſs’d by the Great
Ones; and their Company, in publick, is thought no Diſ-
grace, if not an Honour, by thoſe who would not, for
half they are worth, be ſeen familiar with a Proteſtant Dif-
enter. The late E. of Saly, a bigotted Papift, had the
Gift of 16 or 20 the beſt Livings in the Nation; and I
warrant ſuch will be very careful to look out faithful Pa-
ſtors to keep our Mother as undefiled as theirs: We have an
Inſtance in Dr. Salisbury, executed at Tyburn about 9 Years
ago, for forging Stamps; who, I am aflur'd by one that
well knew him, ſaid Maſs at his Patron's, and Divine Ser-
vice at the Pariſh Church, the ſame Day. I will venture to
touch upon one Abuſe more, (tho’I know what will follow,
and let the worſt come that can, I ſhall not be ſurpriz'd)
and that is concerning the boaſted Diſcipline of the Church,
which this hot-brain'd Champion ſo magnifies and makes his
Pretence, for running down the Societies of Reformation: as if
there were no Need of their Endeavours, when all Sins are
ſo effectually reſtrain’d by Eccleſiaſtical Diſcipline, 'Tis well
for bim'tis not what he pretends. We had a Chancellor who
had the Spiritual Juriſdiction of five Counties, who was
fuch a Swearer, I durit not be in his Company, (cho' I had
much Bufineſs with him) for a Judge would not bear a
Check from one under him. I once, with great Difficul-
ty, got my Church-wardens to preſent a notorious Adulte-
rer, who, tho' he had a Wife and 7 Children, openly
gloried he bad debauch'd moſt of the Women in the Neigh-
bourhood. I went with them my ſelf to the Chancellor at
Churcb, to ſee him preſented; but no ſooner had he read
the Article (being ſurprized not to find the wonted Omnia
Bene), but he gave us, I remember, an angry Frown, and
cried Pill! and I heard no more about it. Another Time,
I got five or ſix preſented for being drunk at a Funeral
Sermon, and diſturbing the Congregation ; but Money
(how bigch I know not) made up the Matter. I appeal
to any ones Reaſon, Does it look like Primitive Apoſtolical
Diſcipline for a Beau, with a Sword and long-Wig and Ruffles,
and often his Snufb-box, like the Do&or at the Bar of the
Houſe,
ausreiter
The Modern Fanatick.
43
Houſe, in his Hand ; to take Care that the Church be not
corrupted from the Simplicity that is in Chriſt? Do we think
the inceſtuous Corinthian was thus brought to Repentance,
and the Peace of the Church? Or that the Apoſtle ſent a
Civilian of the Laity, as his Chancellor or Official, well
skill'd in the Roman Laws, to ſee the Laws of Chriſt duly
and ſecundum formam put in Execution.
For my part, beſides 3 or 4 that have ſtood in a white
Sheet for having Baſtards, (tho I never heard but of poor
Whores that could not maintain 'em) and a few that have
been made ask Pardon for calling their Neighbours Whores,
and one Miniſter worried out of his Living and Life too,
for denying the Communion to a Rake, before the Chan-
cellor had excommunicated him ; I never could hear of any
Examples this boaſted Diſcipline has made, whereby to de-
ter others from Vice and prophaneneſs.
pudet hæc opprobria nobis
Et dici potuiffe di non potuiſſe refelli. Ovid.
But becauſe an Argument from the Mouth of an Adver-
ſary has or ſhould have double Force to ſtop it : If our Dif-
cipline be ſo admirable, how comes the * Age to be ſo ſunk
into Senſuality, that it cannot bear found Doctrine, and † that
be verily believes there never were ſuch horrid Blaſphemies prina
ted in any Chriftian State, &c. from the Foundation of Chriſti-
anity to this Day? 'Tis ſtrange that ſuch an Holy and Undea
filed Mother, who keeps ſuch excellent Order in her Houſe,
Thould have ſuch a vile and flagitious Family. Who does
or can hinder all the Methods of reclaiming 'em, while
ſhe has the Law, the Miniſtry, and now the very Mob of
her Side ? Ay, but Diſſenters are tolerated, and they
make it an evil and adulterous Generation : they debauch the
Age, and till they are rooted out or abjure the Realm 'tis
impoflible to make it ſober and godly. There be not ma-
ny Diflenters in the Fleet and Army, and they have no
Seminaries nor Conventicles ta propagate their Schiſm; they
are wholly under the Inſtruction of Church Chaplains, and
moſt I believe, H. Church, and yet he that can come where
three of them are together, and not hear as many Oaths
* Derby. Sermon. $ Anſwer to the Articles
and
Taman
44
The Modern Fanatick.
and Curſes as other Words, muſt have better Luck than I
have hitherto had. Nine Parts in ten of the Publick Houa
ſes, whether Taverns, Ale-houſes, or Brandy-Shops, are
ſtanch Conformiſts; and moſt of them have the Doctor's
Pi&ure in their chief drinking-Rooms, and fome, as I
have ſeen, bis Sign at their Doors (the fitteſt Post but one
that could have been found for him) and yet the Serſu-
ality of the Age is not abated, no, not by the Sight of
that Reverend Face that ſhould awe them into Sobriety and
good Behaviour.
The Fanaticks have very little Influence in the Univerſi-
ties, which are the Hope of the riſing Generation, there,
without Doubt, the Diſcipline of tbe Church may have free
Courſe, and yet what juſt and general Complaints have we
of the Diſorders reigning there? How many prudene
Parents, iho are far from Puritannical Preciſenefs, are
afraid on veicure their sons in chen? I wiſh they had not
fovahappily, by their printed Accounts of their Feuds,
expus'd one another: but ſince it is out, I muſt ſay, that
he who has liv'd as long as I have done, in one, and ve-
ry near the other, whither my Buſineſs often callid me,
will be apt to ſay, Surely the Fear of God is not in this place.
The main things inſtilld are, an extreme Scorn and Ha-
tred of what they are taught to call Fanaticiſm ; and I re-
member I was almoſt hooted at for having a Book of Mr.
Buxter's, who was far enough from an Enthufiaft, and a
ſtrenuous Aflerter of Epiſcopacy, in my Study.
God be bleſs'd that we have many ancient, ſober,
grave Divines, who are Incumbents of the London Churches
but as for the laſt Shoot of young Le&urers, Curates,
and Readers; as Mr. Bickerſtaff has rightly taken Notice
of their vain Affectation of the Politeneſs, Humour, and
Terms of the Town, even in their Sermons, ſo there is
little Difference between the young Clergy and the inns of
Court Gentlemen, except the Make of their Gowns, they
give themſelves to uſe the modiſ Phraſe, much the fame
Airs, as their Acquaintance and Converſation lies much
together. There is nothing more dreaded amongſt them
than a mbining Prayer and a canting Sermon (as the Phraſe
is) 4 Minutes for the one, as I have exactly obſervd,
and
*
The Modern Fanatick. .
45
rance,
and
25
for the other, is the faſhionable Stint. You fall
ſcarce ever here of Grace, or Godlineſs, or Saints, unleſs
by Way of Jeer or Ridicule ; nor of the New Birth, Cone
verſion, Covenanting, nor ſcarce of Chriſt or the Holy Gholt,
unleſs at or ſoon after the Three Feafts; but fome dry Sen-
tences about Virtue (nay Honour is now a Pulpit Term) and
thoſe ſhort of Seneca and Epictetus. The Truth is, ſince
the Doctor and his Pupils have been more vers'd in Rehear-
ſals, than in the Study of the Scriptures ; the Canditates for
Holy Orders have been many of them found in groſs Igno-
A preſent Biſhop will ceſtity that he lately refus'd
an Univerſity-Man from Ordination, becauſe he could
give no Account of what Books he read; at laſt, bis Lord-
ship asking wher her he had read the Scriptures, he modeſt-
ly ſaid that he had read the New Teſtament, tho' neither
did that much appear by his Examination in it; but who
can expect better, when ſuch as our Dottor ſet up for
Pupilmongers ?
As to their Sentiments of King William and the Revolu-
tion, the Reverend D- of Ph has truly obſerv'd
chat the younger Clergy are generally and ſtrongly diſaf-
fected : which Prejudices they bring with them from the
Univerſity, where I found them ſtrangely predominant.
I made my Way through Oxford the Year Her Majeſty
came to the Crown, at the Publick Act that was kept for
Joy of their Deliverance; and being in Company with
many of my School-fellows and Contemporaries, i found
the Diſcourſe run ſtrong in Invectives againſt the late de-
ceaſed King. I was nettled at fuco Ingratitude and Dir.
ingenuity, and ſaid, Gentlemen ; Is this the Tribute you pay
to the Memory of our glurious Deliverer, who you muſt con-
feſs fav'd us from Popery and Slavery? They laught at ine
as a meer Ignoramus, and told me, He came not to ſave us,
but only to gratify his own Ambition, and tbat he was always an
Enemy to the Church of England. Pray, faid I, how does
that appear? I take him to have been her beſt and trueſt
Friend.' The Anſwer was, He had made none but Fana-
ticks Biſhops. Now theſe Nocions, with the new vamp'd
Doctrines of Paſſive Obedience and abſolute Non-Reſiſtance,
let any one judge of what Efficacy they are towards fe-
curing
46
The Modern Fanatick.
curing the Hannover Succeſſion, and batring the Pretender.
Theſe young Preachers ſhew'd their Talents and Senti-
ments notably this sth of November, the chief Subject of
their Thankſgiving, was the Deliverance that Day Twelve
Month by that Propher, that Angel of Light, (as one of the
ſame Order of Angels ſtyld him) the Doctor : The two
other Deliverances were like Almanacks out of Date, the
laft was ſur'd, and * one heartily thank'd God in the Pul-
pit, that he had no Hand in the Revolution ; and do we
think theſe Gentlemen have not their Cue given them
by their Patriarch Lefley, and his Suffragan at Southwark,
and they from another Court and See than St. James's
and Canterbury ?
The 4th Proof of Fanaticiſm in our Super-Canonical
High Flyers, is the Method and Matter of their Prayers
before Sermon, the only time they ever pray without
Book, I cannot fay by Heart. Every one knows, that
the Charge of Fancticiſm, at leaſt on moderate Diſſenters,
is from what they call extempore Prayer, more properly
conceived Prayer, for we ſhould in Charity believe that
they conſider before-hand. Yet the Epiſcopal Miniſters in
North Britain never us’d the Liturgy, or any other Form
that I can hear of, and their extempore Prayer does not
make them Fanaticks, or if they are, being Non-jurors
ſets all right again. Now I appeal to any indifferenč
Perſon, which ſeems moſt conſiſtent both with Reaſon
and Scripture, to pour out our Hearts before God, as he
ſhall enable us (for I believe he is not ſo apt to be offend-
ed at a Word miſplac’d, or a quaint Phraſe, as our ri-
gid Conformiſts ſuppoſe, but where there is a willing Mind,
accepteth according to what a Man bath :) or to ſay what no
Man knows what to make of, whether it be Praying or
Preaching, and conſequently whether we are to lift up
our Hearts to God as Suppliants, or only to perform
the part of Auditors. This is what they call Bidding
Prayer. A great Prelate has obſerv'd, that this is one of
the worſt Reliques of Popery, that could be retain'd; for
* At St. Ben. Grace-Church
at
The Modern Fanatick.
47
at every ſuch Clauſe or Paragraph they were wont co
drop a Bead, that they might be ſure they were not out
in their Reckoning. The 55th Canon, upon which, i
any thing, this Practice muſt be founded, ſays, (The
Miniſter ſhall move the People to joyn with bim in Prayer.]
And therefore he ſhould pray, and not barely tell the
People they ſhall or ought to pray for the Queen, c.
Nor is their way much better, who tho they addreſs
themſelves directly to God, have little elſe to lay before
him but the ſeveral Ranks into whichMankind are forted,
and what Titles modern Civility has confer'd upon them.
I would not be ſo underſtood, as if I diſlik'd thoſe
Marks of Diſtinction, which Law or Cuſtom has given
to Quality ; in due time and place they are very proper,
but as in Addreſſes to the Queen, it is not (I think) u-
fual to ſpeak of her Subjects in ſuch lofty Terms; nor is
ſhe won't to give them. I ſuppoſe if any one were to
deliver a Meffage, he would ſay to Her Majeſty, the
Lord Chancellor ſent me, and not the Right Honourable the
Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain : ſo much more
when the Infinite Majeſty of Heaven is directly apply'd to,
that of Elihu is a very reaſonable Poſtulation, Job 32. 21.
Let me not, I pray you, accept any Man's Perſon, neither let me
give flattering Tirles unto Men. And the Reaſon is plain, Ifa.
2. 17. The Loftinefs of Man ſhall be bewed down, and the
Lord alone ſhall be exalted in that Day. Asto Chaplains, who
in Humility expreſs their Reſpect to their patrons, I
have nothing to ſay; but for thoſe who depend only on
God, to come to him with ſuch a Trainof Titles, as if they
expected God ſhould deal out his Bleſſings, as Joſeph did his
Melles to the Eldeft, according to his Birthright, and the
Youngeſt according to his Youth,in proportion to their ſeveral
Preferments. The moſt Reverend Father in God, the
Lords, the Archbiſhops, the Right Reverend, the Biſhops, the
Reverend, the * Prieſts and Deacons, (which carries a Com-
plement to themſelves by the Way) the Right Honourable the
Lords and others of the Privy Council, the Worſhipful the
* The Canon bas left out all tbis and to diſallow'd it.
Magiſtrates,
48
The Modern Fanatick.
Magiſtrates, the Two famous Univerſities : What can be
more abſurd than to go to the Herald's Office for an Office
of Prayer, and uſe Guillim inſtead of a Directory, and
what is ſuch a Prayer (of which fort I have heard ma-
ny) but as Niro ſaid of Seneca's Writings, becauſe of his
ſhort independent Sentences, Arena ſine calce, Sand with-
· out Lime to bind ir? a Collection of Names and Words
without one Peticion, except the common Verb bleſs to
hold them together. And this Abſurdity they run into,
for fear of what the Dr.calls extempore Cant (which I ne-
ver knew apply'd to Prayer before) or as he varies the
Phraſe, and ridicules all that is ſerious, whining out a
long Prayer before Surmon.
Now there Notions and Practice make 'em not only
uncapable of praying in any Special Caſe, and many ſuch
there are for which the whole Liturgy will not furniſh
them with a proper Prayer; which made a Parſon, when
a Butcher dehir'd publick Thanks to be return'd for his
narrow Eſcape from an Ox chat had dangerouſly wound-
ed him, Church him (as we call it) with that Form:
Foraſmuch as it bas pleaſed God to deliver you from the great
Pain and Peril of Oc-goaring, you shall therefore give hearty
Thanks to God, and ſay: I am well plealed, &c. But further
it betrays them ſometimes into the grofleft and worſe than
Fanatick Blunders. I had this Account from an H. Ch.-man
(as I had alſo the foregoing,) that one he knew being
ſent for ro pray with a Knight on his Deach-bed, ke be-
gun the Litany, but when he came to that Petition, From
Lightning and Tempeft, &c. the Knight who could com-
mand himfelf no longer, interrupted hion, and ſaid, I be-
ſeech you, Sir, ſuit your Prayers more to my Cafe, I am under
10 Apprehenſion of Lightning and Tempeft; but have been a ve-
many great Sinner, and am in great Doubt as to my everlafting
State. The Parfon being puc out of his Rote in the beſt
Collect he could make, defired God to extend bis Mercy,
grant a Pardon to this Right Worſhipful Sinner. This
puts me in mind of a very proper and pertinent Queſti-
on, ask'd by the late Duke of Bedford (who tho'& Man
of Moderation, was no Diſſenter) when one recommended
his Son to him for his Domeſtick Chaplain. Sir, ſays he,
Can
The Modern Fanatick.
49
Can be pray? I do not mean can be read Prayers, that I take for
granted, but I expect ſomewhat more from one of his Function.
What a monſtrous Affertion was that in a Sermon at
Mercer's Chapel, Jan. 15, 1709. (That all extempore Pray-
er (not excepting that appointed in our Office of Ordi-
nation, which is alone a ſufficient Warrant of the Church,
to be the Inſpiration of the Devil.] I ſuppoſe 'twas borrow'd
from Mr. B~'s parallel Sentences, that 'tis an abominable
Invention : and (the Engine that Satan ever us'd to ſubvert
our Saviour's Kingdom.]
It's amazing to me how any Man of Senſe can be fo
bigotted, as to think none but the Common Prayer is plea-
fing to God, as the * Doctor plainly intimares, and as I
heard another of the ſame Claſs confidently affirm in the
Pulpit, that if the Angels in Heaven ſerve God by a Liturgy,
they could not have a better than ours. I ſuppoſe they would
not, as an ingenious Perſon reply'd, have ſo often miſc-
rable Sinners. Now all the Prayers that are daily us’d,
except the Offices of Baptiſm, &c. and the Scripture Hymns,
may be printed in one large Sheet of Paper ; and can
we think, tho'God be not like us, plea:'à with Varie-
ty, he would never hear inore from us in Publick to the
End of the World? Why may it not be ſuppos'd, that
we may addreſs our felves to God for a Quarter of
an Hour, with good Senſe and Language, when we
have fo copious a Theme as his Glory, our own and out
Fellow-creature's Happineſs both preſent and eternal ;
as a Lawyer ſpeak for an Hour or more at the Bar, or a
Member in either Houſe, amidſt ſo 'many ſharp Cri-
ticks; upon a ſingle, and perhaps that not a plentiful
Head of Diſcourſe.
But as to the uncommanded Practices of ſinging Pray-
ers, eſpecially the Litany, in a very airy Tune, much
too airy for miſerable Sinners, and the Prayer between
the Commandments (which King William forbad in his
Chapel, and Her preſent Majeſty I find continues the
Prohibition) this is what claſhes with every Man's Rea-
fon, and ſuch Muſick muft needs ſeem the harſheſt Dif-
Charaft. of a Low Church-man.
E
com
50
The Modern Fanatick.
cord to a thoughtful Mind. Would any one that came
to beg his Life, as we always do at the Throne of Grace, to
ſhew the Greatnefs of his Concern, make a Song of 'ic ?
Dr. Wiſe the Muſician, when he was deſir'd to fét his
Hand to a Petition he did not approve (it was for the
Parliament's fitting in K. Ch. 2d's Reign) wittily an-
ſwer'd, No, Gentlemen, that's not my Buſineſs, but I'll
ſet a Tune tot, if you pleaſe; and why ſhould it be thought
a more reaſonable Service to chant out Suits and Requeſts
to God than Man? I own the Rubrick allows the Litany
to be either ſung or ſaid, and therefore the moſt decent
and rational ſhould be choſen of the alternative : but as
to the Prayer between the Commandments, the Rabrick is
this : [ And the People ſtill keeling, ſhall, after every Com-
mandment, ask God Mercy for their Tranſgreſſion thereof for
the Time paſt, and Grace to keep the ſame for the time to come.]
and I appeal to Reaſon, whether Sol, la, mi, fa, with a
Pair of Organs, be the fitteſt for this purpoſe. Yet ſee
the Blindneſs of H. Ch. Zeal. A Gentleman told me, that
hearing ſome Company at a Coffee-houſe in Bath railing
againſt the late Biſhop of Briſtol, and calling him (a Phraſe
inuch in vogue of late) Fanatick in Lawn Sleeves, he de-
fir’d to know what they had to ſay againſt him, for he
had never heard any thing of him, but what became a
very Worthy Prelate; it ſeems all the Accufation they
could bring was, that he had order'd the Litany in his
Church nor to be fung.
The sth Character of an High Church Fanatick is that
whereby He in whom are hid all the Treaſures of Wiſdom and
Knowledge, prov'd the Scribes and Phariſees ſuch'; is their
tything Mint, &c. and neglecting the weightier Matters of the
Law; laying the greateſt ſtreſs on the ſlighteſt Matters,
and overlooking the moſt important. Theſe prepoſterous
Zealats had rather lofe (I warrant) all the Spaniſh Domi.
nions from the Allies, than Bel and the Dragon, tho' juſt as
ti ue as St. George and the Dragon, out of the Kalendar,
which is fome Plea for the Papiſts putting it into the Ca-
non. And to part with the old Tranſlation of the Pſalms
in the Liturgy, tho' confefſedly faulty, or why was there
a new one made ? and in ſome places point-blank con-
traty
The Modern Fanatick.
51
trary to the new, as (they were obedient) in the one,
in the other [diſobedienr] to his Word, and Contra-
di&tions cannot both be true: Beſides fome Sentences
that are ſcarce Senſe, as the Ground which he hath made
continually-and take away their Iniquity, and thou ſhall find
none, which I once heard a High Church-man make very
merry with, as no better than a Bull. This, I ſay,
would be thought by ſome a very dangerous Innovation.
Now would not any one expect that ſuch ſtrenuous Al-
fertors of the Church's Authority would keep to the Rubrick
and Canons with the utmoſt Exactneſs? And yet I may
truly ſay to them as Chriſt to the Jews, Did not Mofés
give you the Law? yet none of you keep the Law. They that
are fo forward to bind heavy Burdens, and lay them on Mens.
Shoulders, will not touch the heavieſt, nor ſometimes the
lighteſt of them with one of their Fingers.
For inſtance, 'tis expreſly requir'd in the Rubrick at
the beginning of the Liturgy, that every Miniſter not
lawfully hinder'd ſhall read Prayers daily in his Church,
&c. I know not one Village in all my Travels where
this is done, nor even Corporation, unleſs where a ſpe-
cial Allowance is made for it. As for the Plea, that few
or none will come; there are foine leiſure People in
every Pariſh (as Alms-folks and Penſioners, beſides Gens
try) and moſt Miniſters Families will make enough for
that Promiſe, Where two or three are gathered together, &c.
The very firſt and moſt folemn Part of the Rubrick before
the Communion Service, is, (Sa many as intend to be partakers
of the Holy Communion, ſhall ſignify their Names to the Curate
att leaſt some time the Day before. This is more than I ever
knew done : I'm ſure 'cis omitted in all or moſt of the
London Churches. The reading the ſecond Service ar
the Communion Table is wav'd by many of the ſtricteſt
Conformiſts (for which no reaſonable Man will find fault
with them, it being an Inconvenience to most Congre-
gations.) Nay, I have known a very High Churcb-man,
whoſe Zeal is always up at Wrab, and wants but Power
to reach Perſecution, leave out the Litany for brevity's
fake many Lord's-days together. The 75th Canon forbids
al Minifters going to Taverns, other than for their honeft Ne-
E 2
cefities
52
The Modern Fanatick.
DO
ceflities, and the playing at Dice, Cards, or Tables, and how
well theſe are obey'd, I appeal to our zealous Southwark
Canoniſt himſelf, whether the uſual Adjournment on E-
venings has not been from Ch-d's Coffee-houſe to the
Queens Arms Tavern, at the Weſt End of Pauls: where
the Thankſgiving Supper for his Deliverance was celebra-
ted with about twelve of his Brethren, with Plenty of
Wine, and a Conſort of Muſick. I need not mention
the 24th Canon, which requires Copes to be worn in Cathedrals
by the Dean and Prebends at the Communion, which I never
ſaw or heard of but at a Coronation, and what ſeeins im-
proper, a Royal Funeral in Weſtminſter Abby. Likewiſe the
25th, which requires the Names of all Strangers that
preach in any Church to be enter'd: I have preached in
many, and never once had the Queſtion ask'd me.
Cum multis aliis, quæ nunc perſcribere longum eft.
There is no Diſpenſing Clauſe in any of the foremention'd
Injunctions, but they are as poſitive and unlimited as Words
can make’em; 110r were they ever repeald; from whence
'tis plain, after all the Noiſe and Pother they make about
our Conftitution, to blacken their Neighbours, who, to
ſay the leaſt, are as conſcientious as themſelves; they
are partial in the Law; pick and chooſe which they like
beft, and ſet the reſt aſide ; and, upon occaſion, will
make no Scruple to diſpenſe with all; yer a boiſterous
Zeal for the Church, and againſt Low Church-men and Dif-
Jenters, makes a full Atonement. I have often thought
what a fine eafy Life our High-Flyers have cut out for
themſelves, and how ſmall parts or Pains will do their
Buſineſs. The whole of their work is only to read, and
that they may do with a fair Print, and their Thoughts
be all the while upon what Objects they like beſt. I do
ers, and other Performances that require a cloſe Appli-
sation, and keep the Mind upon the Stretch, and ſo is
properly call'd taking Pains : for much Study is a Wearintfs
to the Fleſh; their Eyes and Lungs are all they have OC-
calion to exerciſe; what remains is to get a Diſcourſe of
halfan Hours length, or leſs, once a Week, and how ea-
fily that may be done, without much troubling their
Books or their Brains, is very well known.
The
The Modern Fanatick.
53
The 6th Mark of a Fanatick, which any Man in his
Senſes will admit to be ſuch, is to condemn themſelves in that
Thing which they allow, and ſo play faſt and looſe with
their own Principles, that no Man knows where to have
them. The Chap- of St. Mary Overey, (it ſhould be
St. Tooley) is notoriouſly guilty under this Head, and his
Council did not pretend to bring him off, but own'd,
'Twas his Unhappiness to ſpeak obſcurely, and they did not well
underſtand him themſelves. (I know not how they ſhould,
when it was all the Way Henry againſt Sach). King
William diſclaim'd all Imputation of Reſiſtance, and yet open-
ly appear'd in Arms, and at Wincanton and Reading his
Forces were actually engag'd with King Fames's, and Tome
flain. All that diffent from the Church are to be arraign'd as
Trayfors to the State ; and 2. Elizabeth's wholeſom Severities
highly applauded: and yet he would Bot be ſo underſtood, (No,
not he, good Man! not for the World, for he loves them
as his own Soul) as if he diflik'd the Indulgence granted by
Law: which as the Learned Biſhop of Linc --- ", in his excel-
lent Speech rightly obſerv'd, was to ſerve as a Back-door,
to ſlip out at, when he should be call'd to an Account. So
the Occaſional-Bill, Dec. 1702. begins with a Preamble,
That the Church of England kbbor's Perſecution for Conſcience
Sake, and that the Toleration ought to be inviolable; and yet
proceeds to deprive free-born Subje&s of their Birth-righe,
which no Law has bar'd, and make them Gibeonites in
their own Native Land. Was there no Perfecution before
that Bill ; or was there no Church of England then in be-
ing? Have not I feen (and tho' I was very young it
ftruck me with Horror, that ſuch Things ſhould be done
in a Proteſtant Country) Officers entring into Houſes,
and haling Men and Women, commit them to Priſon ; Shops
forcibly broken open, and the working Tools, i.e. Pean
ples Bread, ſeiz’d by Diſtreſs, for not coming to hear;
for ſuch he was) a very ignorant Sot; and this was not
Mob-Fuffice, as theſe laft Twelvemonths, but by Warrant
from Magiftrates. The fame Perſons pretend a mighty
Concern that by *an high Road made in upon her Communion
Sermon at St. Paul's.
the
54
The Modern Faxatick.
the pure Spouſe of Chrift ſhould be proſtituted to more Adulterers
than even the Scarkt Whore : Yer Dr. Was ſuſpended
for denying the Sacrament co ſuch as only came to it as a
Qualification to ſell Ale and Brandy; this was proſtituting
with a Witneſs, and making the Blood of the Covenant an
unholy or xave a common thing, when it ſerv'd to ſet up a Pub-
liek Houſe. And what a fad Cafe would it be for every Pub-
lican, Militia Officer, &c. thrice every Year to approach
that ſolemn Ordinance, and eat and drink Judgment to them-
ſelves, not diſcerning (as who can imagine ſuch ignorant
Souls ſhould) the Lord's Body. Once to do it is once too
much, unleſs they were fitter; but to repeat it ſo often,
is doubtleſs to add Iniquity to their Iniquity. I had very
lately, one came to me with a Caſe truly compaffionable,
and which gave me a very ſenſible Regret, and yet I
knew not well what to adviſe. A poor Man, with a
large Family, had a Tide-waiter's Place given him ac
the Cuſtom-houſe, which he ſaid he ſhould loſe if he did
not take the Sacrament the very next Sunday, and he had
then very great Trouble of Spirit, and Checks of Con-
ſcience and that Text, He that doabterb is damn'd if he
eat (tho' he miltook the Meaning of it, for 'tis there of
Things offer'd to. Idols) forely perplex'd him, and drove
him to his Wits EndAll I could lay was to bid him pray
earneſtly to God, that he would guide him bay bis Counfel,
and make bis Way plain before him, and acceptable to himſelf.
To ftarve on one side, or be guilty of the Bady and Blood of
the Lord on the other, is like David's, a great Sereighe,
and I believe he chafe (for I have not ſeen him ſince)
rather to truft God's Mercy for bis Souly than Man's for his Bo-
dy. But a certain Great Man has found out an eafie Solu-
tion for all luch Scruples, in this pithy Sentence, to one
who ask'd him whịther he need qualifie himſelf again, hą.
ving done it very lately? (What Damage it it to pledge the
Parlon in a Cup of Wine; fuppofing only tbe Wims be good? ]
Now, what can be more unfais chan to turn the Edge
of that it againſt Pratefons, which was wholly intend-
ed againk the Papifts; for Alderman Love,.. Difimter, was
the grand Promoter of it, little fuſpecting what an Uſe
would be made of it, even after a Toleration : For furely in
uain
The Modern Fanatick.
55
vain is the Net Spread in the light of any Bird. And why
may not a moderate Diſſenter, who does not feruple Knee
ling (as few do); for Mr. Baxter, and ſeveral others of
their leading Men, without any Proſpect of Preferment
have ſo far conform’d more than once to ſhew their Mods
ration; receive at the Hands of a pious and moderate Minin
ſter, as (God be prais’d) we have many ſuch in the E-
1abliſh'd Church, without being oblig'd to hear a ſcan-
dalous, and unedifying Pretender to her Communion
ever after: (and that ſuch there are, the nioft zealous Com
formiſt will ſcarce deny) which may happen to be the
Incumbent or Curate of his own Pariſh: For who can
profit by him (talk what you will of God's Blefling on
his Ordinances, notwithſtanding the Unworthineſs of
the Inſtruments) who gives his own Sermons the Lye
every Day in the Week? And I muſt needs ſay, if the
Miniſters of the Church kept but to their own Articles
and Homilies, and liv'd and preach'd according to what
they ſubſcribe : and a very few Abatements were made
in Matters confeffedly indifferent ; the greater part
of Diſſenters might ſoon be brought over. But this Com
prehenſion, this terrible Plot, worſe than the Popiſh in ſome
Mens Account, of thoſe Ecclefiaftical Achitophels, Archbp.
Tillotfón, &c. would prove the Bane of the Church,
that is of ſuch fcandalous Pretenders to her Communion
as this Reverend Rake, who would bring a Scandal upon
Popery it felf; and has given juſter Exception to Diffen-
ters, and done more to prejudice them againſt the
Church, than all others together thefe ewenty Years.
To touch upon two or three more Incorfiitencies be.
fore I have done with this Head: It is a Riddle come
and many more, how the ſame Council could profecute
the Author of the ſhorteſt way with Diffènters, and that
chiefly by Vertue of this Argument, That be bad infinuta
ted as if the Church of England would uſe ſuch rigorous Me-
thods with Proteſtant Diflenters; and yet defend Bonder the
Second, who had then aâually hang'd out the Bloody
Flag; and fince openly declar'd his Judgment for having
all Diſſenters drawn, hang’d, and quarter'd; betides
conligning them to the bottomleſs Pit, and leaving them
there
56
The Modern Fanatick.
there with the Devil and his Angels : Whereas a good na-
tur'a Papiſt would firſt try to pluck them as a Brand out of
the Burning. Whowould undertake to prove, ſuch an one
(what I am fure paffes all their Law and Logick to do)
an innocent Man? How long will it be e're be attain to Inno-
cency? But I find his Counſel was generally of his Mind:
and one of 'em holds with him, that Archbp. Grin-
dal was a perfidious Prelate, for not cruſhing the Puritans
while they were few; a; if nothing but Numbers (and
who ſhall judge what Numbers) could entitle 'em to a
Toleration. The next Paradox I ſhall name, is to ſup-
poſe that K. James's Ecclefiaftical Commiſſioners, i.e. the
barefac'd Subverters of our whole Conftitution, once profeſt
Papifts (and who kuiows how ſoon they may return
from whence they came) and the vehement Oppoſers of
the Abdication-Vore, are fieçer to be truſted with our
Laws and Liberties, Civil and Sacred; than the Seven Bi-
fhops Counſel, who certainly would chooſe the beſt for
their own Reputation, and the known Oppoſers of Po-
pery and arbitrary Power, who would never give way, no
not for a Moment. But Ingratitude is a ſmall Crime (if a-
ny) with High-flyers, and the Church is bound to pay no
Debts, and make no Acknowledgments: Witneſs that Glo-
rious Hero, R. William, whoſe Heart was half broke, and
Days ſhorten'd by the barbarous Uſage,repeated Affronts,
and conſtant Oppoſitions of thoſe whom he reſcu'd (un.
der God) from ucrer Ruin. Nor are they more grate-
ful to the Duke of Marlborough and his family, and
General Stanhope, who have ſo bravely and ſucceſsfully
fought cheir Battles, and have none but Athenian Thanks
for their Pains. I happen'dro ſet out on a Journey juſt
when the News came of the Vi&ory in Spain, and in a-
bout Sixty Miles riding, heard not one Bell ftir all the
way.
Once more, whata Clamour did that Party raiſe a-
gainſt the Kentiſh Petitioners, what an Outrage was it to
a Parliament then Sitting, to beſeech them to turn their
loyal Addreſſes into Bills of Supply: and how roughly were
they dealt with for fuing to their own Repreſentatives.
Whereas now a Crew of Debauchees, headed by a barba-
TOWS
The Modern Fanatick.
57
rous Murderer, who undeſervedly eſcapd the allows,
fhall pretend to ſpeak tbe Senſe of the Nation, as if they
were its true Repreſentatives, (tho' one of the buſieſt Pro-
moters of theſe new fashion'd Addreſſes, proy'd upon
Trial, a Non-Juror) affront both Houſes of Parliament, ac-
tually ſitting, impeach their Proceedings, favour the Crimia
nal, then under Proſecution before them; and (unheard of
Inſolencies !) Addreſs the Queen to diffolve them, to the Joy
of the wbole Nation. If the preſent Parliament do not re-
ſent ſuch Outrage, whereynto will theſe Things grow?
The Seventh and laſt Proof 1 ſhall produce of their
Phrenzy (and ſuch as deſerves a Commiſſion of Lunacy, if any
would'vódertake to manage, and keep them from doing
Miſcheif,) is, that they are conſtant Promoters and Abet-
tors of Tyrany both in Church and. State, and offer their
Service to enſlave their Fellow-Subjects, and keep them un-
der ; upon Condition, they may be always uppermoſt, and
trample upon them; But upon the leaſt imaginable Failure
of this Expectation, Nature preſently rebels againſt Principles
(for their Principles are very loafely held;) and I can ſafely
fay, and appeal to God and all the World, for the Truth
of it; they are the moſt mutinous, diſcontented, fa&ious
and unruly Generation under the Sun.
As to their baſe and ſervile, Flatery of Princes while
They lide with them; I heard a certain Deator from theſe
Words, 2 Sam. 3:36. And all tke People took Notice of is,
and it pleaſed them, as whatſoever the King did, pleaſed the Peo-
ple; lay down this Doctrine, and it was the whole of his
Sermon to flourith upon it, that we ought to approve and
applaud all the Proceedings of the Prince whatſoever, with-
out Exception. Dr. Ball's Law Lectures are well known
at the Temple, all is Thathars: By ſuch Doctrines and Pro.
feſſions, were the Royal Pair drawn in, to copy after their
Brother Lovis le Grand: And I may be poſitive, at Weft-
minſter- Abby, where I heard one Sermon of Repentance,
Faith, and the renewing of the Holy Ghift, I heard three
of the other, and 'tis hard to ſay whether Jeſus Chriſt or
King Charles the i ft were oftner menţion'd and magnifyed:
Dr. B-ks has given in fome Reſpect the latter the Pre-
heminence.
As
F
58
.
The Modern Fanatick.
As to Church Tyranny; Time was when fome Hundreds
of Clergymen, for refuſing to read the (™) Book of Sports
to be uſed on the Lord's Day; were firſt ſuſpended from
all Office and Benefice, and if they refus'd to ſubmit, were
abſolutely depriv'd; tho’they made a good Plea in Court,
that the Matter of the ſaid Book was again it the Land of
God and the Realm, and the Authority of Councils, Fathers
and late Writers of all sorts: Nor did the Declaration it
ſelf appear to be the King's, tho' publiſh'd in bis Name;
nor was there any Command of the King's, that it ſhould
be read by any in Churches, much leſs by Miniſters; nor
any Puniſhment threatned or preſcrib'd for not reading it.
Many other Preachers were ſoſpended from their Livings,
or depriv'd of their Fellowſhips, and expell’d the Univerſi-
ty, for preaching on the Conwoverted Points, contrary to
the King's Direction: I dare fet that ſpiritual Phalaris
Archbiſhop Land, againſt the crueleſt Perſecutor, the Sen-
tences of the Star-Chamber (where he prelided) were like
Draco's Laws, rrit in Blood, and ſo fevere, that after the
Reſtauration, when he was made a Martyr, that Court was
thought fit for ever to be ſurpres’d: The Proceedings
againit (") Alexander Leighton, D.O. were cruel in Extre-
mity, and I do not remember in any Chriſtian Nation the
like. I. He was ſent to the High-Commiſſion Court to be
degraded. II. He was ſeverely whip'd in the Palace-Tard.
III. He was then ſet in the Pillory, and had one of his
Eats cut off. IV. One Side of his Noſe was flit. V. He
was branded on one Check, with a red hot Iron, with the
Leccers S. S. ſignifying a Sower of Sedition. VI. He was
carried back Priſoner to the pleet, to be kept in cloſe Cur-
tody: VII. On that Day Fortnight, his Sores being not
cur'd, he was whip'd again at the Pillory in Cheapſide. And
then, VIII. The Remainder of his Sentence was exe-
cuted, by cutting off the other Ear, ſitting the other Side
of the Noſe, and branding the other Cheek. Who wou'd
not rather live among Horrentors,or Tartars, than ſuch mer-
cileſs
. Tormentors? Little leſs were the Sufferings of Hen-
(m) See Ruſhworths Hiſtorical Collections, Vol. II. P. F. p.45.
(n) Id. P. 2. p. 57.
ry
The Modern Fanatick.
59
ry Burton, (º) B. D. a grave City Miniſter, and one who had
heen Chaplain at Court; who for a Sermon preach'd the
fifch of November, in his own l'arifl-Church, and a printed
, Pamphler enticuled, News from Ipſwich, was adjudged to
pay I. A Fine of sooo l. II. To ſtand in the Pillory at
Weſtminſter, and then to have both bis Ears cut off. III.
To be committed cloſe Priſoner (as he was) in a remote
Caſtle and Iſland, where his own Wife was not ſuffer'd
to have acceſs to him, and an Order of Council (º) was
afterward made, that he ſhould remain without Pen, Ink
or Paper, or any Book but the Bible and Common Prayer.
And to come nearer our own Times, when that Inguiſi-
tion Court, was put down. See the Account of (9) Samuel
Johnſon, Clerk, being brougbe before the Biſhops Durham,
Rocheſter and Peterborough, Commiſſioners to exerciſe Eccle-
fiaftick Juriſdiction within the Dioceſs of London, and being
in full Court degraded, and deliver'd over as a meer Lay-
man, to undergo the Puniſhments inflicted by the Court of
Kings Bencb, 1. 6. Whiping, Pillorying, &c. only for uter-
ing what the World is now convinc'd to be true,
Tis well for the Doctor bis Los did not fall in thoſe
Sanguinary Times, buč under a Miniſtry, that both profeft
and practis'd, what he condemns, bus, enjoys the Benefit of,
true Moderation.
As to our Civil Liberties, what can have a more dan.
gerous Aſpect (if it be noc a dowuright Aſſault) upon it,
chau to tell Princes chey are irrejitable, (tho' a late Reli-
tance ſav'd us from Ruin): and to make a Tender of unli
inited Obedience, (as our late Addreſſers have done), and how
can they be tryed but by illegal Commands? for Allegiance,
i. e. Obedience according to Law, is confeſt on all Hands,
to be their Due: And there is Reaſon to fear, leſt Eaſterna
Proſtrations, (unknown in theſe Parts) come in Faſhion
amongſt us. What is this but to invite them to aſſume
and exerciſe Arbitrary Power, and promiſe to maintain
them in it; and ſo to make their Couri at the Expence of
(0) Speech of Archbillop Laud, at the Cenſure of Baftwick, Prýn
and Burton. (p) Dated July XXL. 1637.' (4) Gazet, November
29. 1686. Numb, 2192,
their
F.2
60
The Modern Fanatick.
their Fellow Subjects Freedom, and give away what they
have no Right to diſpofe of. There is ſcarce another Mo-
narchy in the World, beſides that of Great Britain, that is
not abſolute, or very near it. The Sweeds and Danes have
loſt their Liberty within our Age, and the latter by this
very Means, as Mr. Molefworth in his Srate of Denmark ac-
quaints us: one Party to wreak their Revenge on the other,
inviting the King to affume abſolute Poder, and Hereditary
Right, and ſo enſlaving both. No doubt our happy Conſti-
tation is no ſmall Eye-Sore to the Neighbouring Tyrant and
he would ſpare no Colt to ſubvert it, that his own Subjects
may be the eaſier under their Yoke, when none are free
about them, to remind them of what they have loſt.
Now I think that Charge is binding, ia point of
Conſcience, (') re are bought with a Price, be ye not the Ser-
vants of Men. I have always. obſerv'd, that Rebels againſt
God are for making themſelves and others Slaves to Man.
Subje&tion, their Conſcience tell's 'em, is due ſomewhere,
and they had rather pay it' to one of their own kind
than be in ſubječtion to the Father of Spirits and live, and
make no fcruple to render unto Cæfar the things that are
God's, being themſelves without God in the World. The
Reherſer tells us, to ſhew his Wit, great Charity, and
Politicks together, that Whigs may creep in any where but
into Heaven, where is Abſolute Monarchy and no Parliaments,
implying that ſuch a State on Earth would be next to
Heaven, and that Parliaments are the main Bar to Per-
fection : and doubtleſs his Admirers, which are very many
are of his Mind.
Could a Monarch be found like God, of infinite Wir-
dom and Goodneſs, who cannot do the leaſt Wrong, and
who neceſſarily takes pleaſure in tbe Proſperity of his people;
I ſhould think Abſolute Power well lodg'd in ſuch hands,
but as Human Nature is, ſince the fall, Power is too
intoxicating a thing for a Mortal to be truſted with too
far. Of all the Temporal Judgments that a Nation can
groan under, Tyranny to a thinking Perſon is moſt
unſupportable, and I dare affirm, it has made more ha-
(r) 1 Cor. 1, 23. And Gal. 5: I,
Vock
The Modern Fanatick.
61
vock among Mankind, than any Calamity, if not all
together. He that has read the Hiſtory of Ruſſia eſpecially
of the Grand Tyrant Juan Bafilovitz, and the Accounts
of Africk, and the Eaſtern Countries (not to mention the
old Roman Emperours) what Multitudes of miſerable Mor-
tals have been, and daily are facrific'd to the Pride Caprice
or Cruelty of a Fellow Creature ?
Some of which as I have been aſſurd by Eye-Witneſes,
without any Shadow of Provocation, will ſlay with their
own Hands, a Score or two for a Breakfaſt. (One Ty.
rant in China, New as I caſt 'em up, at ſeveral Times, One
Million and two hundred Thouſand, Men, Women and
Children) not to mention the horrible Tortures and ling-
ring Deaths that many are put to,
Dirumque nefande,
Morem Sevitie pereuntis parcere Morti. Lucan.
And ſure breaking on the Wheel is one of the worſt, which
the F. King inflicts upon whom he pleaſes, without al-
lowing them an hours time to prepare for Death.
He, I ſay, that duly conſiders theſe Things, will ſee reaſon
to wiſh that with Lightning and Tempeſt, 6c this were aded
and conſtantly usd in our Litany, From Tyranny and Ar-
bitrary Power, Good Lord deliver us. For my own part I
heartily wiſh (if it be the will of God) to part with
Life and Liberty together, and ſhould reckon it worſe than
all the Evils that have or can befall me in this World,
if the one ſhould outlaſt the other. But 1 hepe better
things, and am, thro' Grace prepared for the worſt.
}
FINI S.
?
Poſtſcript.
Si
INC E thefe Sheets were prepared for the Preſs, the Tino
following Letters were communicated to me; the former is
from an eminent Non-Juror to the Doctor; my friend, who ſent
it me, is a Perſon of great Senſe and Honour, and ſuppoles ir to
be genuine, if not, the Doctor may ſoon diſprove it; the other
needs no more than its own unaffected Plainnefs and Sincerity to
recommend it.
T
Bath, July 29th 1710.
HIS Morning I received a Letter from H. Sa,
which by the Paltrineſs, luhumanity, and extream
Infolence, I take to be writ by the Author of the
icandalous Sermon, and not of the (inolt impioully )
prevaricating Speech. I do very readily own, That you have
been, and fill are very inftrumental, in bringing a Blot and Re-
joach upon (inore than) your own Society Ido really esteem
General Stanlope, a Perton of great Honour, ota noble Under-
standing, and not altogether unskilled in Prophecy, viz. TOOL
WORK. And I do think it ny manner of Scandal or Reproach,
tor ny Son to be expelld a Coll dye which retains H. Sa
and I do not queſtion, but I ſhall have the Juſtice and Honour of
being ſupported in this Opinion, by that truly great Man, Sir
Thomas Parker, now Lord Chief Juſtice of England.
Fortes indigne tuli ſed quod- te cogor
For H. SIL
ferre, Ignavam pecus, Nature de-
in Oxon
decuh, bis videor mori.
1l ;
Y
SIR
Decemb. 5. 1710.
OURS I receiv'd; and as to Dr. St-, his Life and
Actions with us, have been unbecoming a Doctwr of
Divinity, or ot' a Chriſtian ; and what I ſend you is
really Truth, for I had it froin the Mouths of the Par-
ties concerned, and they are ready to atteſt the ſame to all the
World, if required.
Mr. Ryley, a Glover by Trade, living near St. Mary's Church in
Oxon, being left Guardian to two Sons of one Mr. Mathews, a
Painter, and the Doctor being indebted to the Caid Mr. Mathews,
he gave Pond to Mr. Ryley for about Five Pounds, and one Mr.
Liggan, a Fellow of the ſame Colledge, was bound for him; but
foon after, Mr. Ryley, hearing that Mr. Loggan was gone from
the Colledge, reſolved to go to the Doctor, to endeavour to get
the
The Modern Fanatick.
63
the Money for the Uſe of the Children; and going to his Cham-
ber one Morning, about Nine a Clock, he found him a Bed; and
one Mr. Stepheus, Fellow of Mlerton Colledge, walking about the
Chamber; Mr. Ryley began very mildly, and told the Doctor,
le beard ihat lis.loggnin was gore, and the Children wanted
the Money, and defired that he would pay it; the Doctor seply'u,
that Mr. Loggan was to pay him; Mr. Ryley told him, that his
Name was luft in the Bond, and Mr. Logg.in was only bound for
him ; the Doctor reply'd, he would not pay him; then Mr. Ryley
told him, that if he would not pay him by fair Means, lae muit
trouble him; then the Ductor fell a curſing and ſwearing, that it
he tued himn to Eternity, lie would not pay him : Mir. Stephens
being preſent, delired Mr. Ryley to depart, and ſo he did, with an
Intent to make him pay for his Oaths (which were near Twenty)
but being loth to be called an Informer he did not; but he made bin
pay the Money foon after. Now Mr. Ryley, being an honeſt Alan
and a good Churchman, no body here queilions the Truth of the
Story, being done but lately; many years ſince he hath been a
Preacher; and Mr. Ryley told me, that Mr. Anthony Claske told
hiin, that the Doctor uwed him Money for Horſe-hire and Cheef-
cakes, but never would pay liin. And that he owed Aloney to
the Widow Reeves (lately deceaſed, who kept a Coff-e-Houte )
tur Liquors ; but would not pay her.
As to what Mrs. Appleby knows of him, it was before he was
a Preacher, and ſo we will paſs that by.
And now I come to his poor Waſher-woman, whom he will not
pay 75 6d that he owes, for no Fault but tor going to lear
Mr. Woodcock; for ſhe had waſhed his Linnen ſome Time, and he
liked her very well; but being inform'd that ſhe went to Meetings,
the next Time she came to his Chamber, he ask'd lier; who told
him, wherever ſhe went the would wath his Linnen well; but le
fell to calling her bad Names, and took her by the Arm, and
Shook ler, and then led her out of his Camber, and down two
Pair of Stairs, making her believe he would thruw her down
Stairs, ſo that the poor old Woman was afraid he would break
her Neck; and in the left him at that Time; but about a Week
after, the fent a Girl, who was her Grandaughter, to him, de-
firing the Doctor to let her waſh his Linnen again, but he an-
(wer'd, ſhe ſhould not ; then the Girl prayed him to ſend her
Granmother?s 6d that he owed her; but he replyed, the was
an old Prcpyterian, and he would never say her; and the poor
Wretch did not dare to complain of hin, for fear of loſing
what little Buiſineſs Me had of other Schollers; and he will not
pay her to this Day.
And now I will appeal to any honeſt Man, if ſuch Actions are
becoming a Dr. of Divinity. And the worſt Hurt I wilh him, is, that
God would give him the Grace of Repentance; that as he has
been a Means to do many an Injury, he may be Inſtruinental to
do good. This is all at preſent tiom him, who is
Jour humble Serrant,
•Tire':'''' - The """"""""""":":"","a********
等
​者
​:
;
1
}
THE MODERN
FANATICK.
PART II.
CONTAINING
What is Neceſſary to Clear all the
Matters of Fact in the Firſt Part;
AND TO
Confute what has been Printed
IN THE
PRETENDED Vindication of
Dr. Sucheverell, relating to my ſelf.
Being the Firſt Book that ever was Anſwer'd
before it was made.
With a Poſtſcript on that Account.
Non defenforibus iſtis
Tempus eget. Virg.
Purturiunt montes naſcetur Ridiculus Mus. Hor.
By WILLIAM BISSET, Eldeſt Brother
of the Collegiate-Church of St. Katherine,
and Rector of Whiſton in Northamptonſhire.
LONDON:
Printed; And Sold by A. Baldwin,near the Oxford. Arms in
Warwick-Lane} And T. Harriſon, at the Welt-Corner of
the Royal Exchange in Cornhill. 1910. Price 4 d.
1
*
D
hogy
S12
V.
relation
TO
it hineing
4.28.43
49xMr. Henry Clements, Bookſeller.
SIR,
F
VINDING your Name, and no other, to a very
Scurrilous Libel, which contains ſeveral foul Slan-
ders, and (as the Sequel will abundantly make ap:
pear) notorious Falfhoods in Fast, highly reflecting on
me, about which, with a very little enquiry, you might bave
been better informed; I know not whom elſe to apply my ſelf
to; for 'tis plain, the Libel is Patch-work, from the variety of
Stile, eſpecially tbat piece of Fuftian with Mrs. Herít's
Name to it, which ai firſt Bluſh diſcovers its Author.
I had two Papers ſent me by an Officious Perſon before
Chriſtmas, Printed for Abel Roper; one with Jome
wretched Rbimes, foul and abuſive to the laſt Degree; it bet
ing that obſolete piece of Wit, cald an Acroſtick, with
the Name of a great Peer, who very lately repreſented Her
Majeſties Perſon in a very high Station, in Capital Letters; an
Infolence never known or beard of in a News-paper before
.
I the rather mention this, beiauſe the ſame Lordisinſulted at
much the ſame rate in this Book of yours; of which the Cler-
gymans Letter to Dr. Sach--l. p. 32. I paſs by this rude and
infolent Treatment of a Noble Peer, whoſe late Honourable
Polt, might, one would think, bave ſecured bim from ſuch
impudent and ſawcy Reflections. And another with an Ad-
vertiſement, (That there would be speedily publiſhed a FULL
Vindication of the Reverend Dr. Sa.. --verel from the falſe,
ſcandalous and malicious Afperfions in Mr. Biſlet's impudent
Pampblet, called the Modern Fanatick; with the Conſertt
and Approbation of the Dr.] The Libel was
ſent me; with
other Papers into the Countrey, but they never reacb'd me :
Vhen I came to Town a Fortnight ago, I found towny greatfur-
prize, a very different Title ; tbe Full was left out; my Name
put thus B-t, wbich will ſerve for many Hundreds; and
not a word of the Dr's Conſent and Approbation; with a
ftrange medley of long Quotations in the Title Page: Fir/4, Six
Verſes of Horace, as the beft Authority; and one would
shink the most Antiens, by the Order they are placed in; then
I bree
a
A 2
PREF A C E.
three of Solomon, and one of Iſaiah: So that what was ne-
ver ſeen before, the Title Page contains much more than any
of the 99. Now I am informed this is foul dealing, for
the Advertiſement pould (as mine did) contain neither
more nor leſs then the Title.page. It ſeems to one like
Pirates hanging out falſe Colours at a diſtance, and when
ready to engage, putting out the true; or rather to freak in
the way of Trade as if a Broker ſhould appoint a Sale of TRUE
FRENCH Brandy, full proof, near, an entire Parcel; and at
the Time and Place of Sale it ſhould prove no better than a
broken Remnant of Coarſe Spirits of the loweſt Extracti.
on : Tor I bumbly conceive, [Poor,mad, ftupid Fool Cox-
comb, Blockhead, and what admirably agrees therewith,
Villain, Miſcreant, Wretch, Viper, Apoftate, Rogue,
Knave, Deviliſh Fellow, Knight of the Poft, and that
Pog.Bt;] are no better. But I cannot much wonder
at ſuch Treatment, when a Reverend Divine recommended
in a molt extraordinary manner, by the Commons of Great-
Bricain to ber Majeſty, can have no better Fitle ihar (that
profligate Wretch Ben. H.-.-l.]
But this is not the worft ; as the Clergy-man's Letter to
the Dr. obſerves, there is a manifeſt deſign, p. 37. to raiſe
the Mob“upon me, not only to break my Windows (which
Practice, p. 43. is pleaded for, as a juſt and gentle reproof
to Whiggiſh Families, tho' every Stone might have ſtruck
out an Eye, or killed a Child) 'but even to murtber me. p.44.
He deſerves to be fton'd into the other World; the Fel.
low is not fit to live. And I bave reaſon to ſuſpect, that
ihofe Pictures taken from Page the Second, at the bottom and
p. 13. bave been diſperſed about, eſpecially in my Neigbbour-
bood, with that very deſign according to that of Horace.
Segniùs irritant animos demiffa per aures :
Quam quæ ſunt oculis commiffa fidelibus,
I am beartily ſorry ſays that Author, p. 27.) that throw
ibe wbole, be ſo plainly diſcovers bimſelf to be a
to be a Clergy-
man, (meaning the chief Writer); a Divine no one I am Yure
will ever take bim for. Several, bord Church men and Dif-
enters bave complained in my hearing of the extreme, and
fuen horrible Pröpbaneneſs: How ladly do ſuch verify, that
Remark
5
PREF A C E.
Remark, For from the Prophets of Je-
ruſalem, is profaneneſs gone forth into all Jeremiah 23.15.
the Land. Indeed there appears throughout ſuch an Air of
Libertiniſm as would be unpardonable in a Play, and the
Lewdeft Men of the Town cannot go much furiber. Bifides
the Pleas for the Moo and their Outrages; the calling an
Aſſault wbich coft a Man bis Life, an HONEST dry
drubbing; and no more than he deſerved ; as if every
one had a right to be bis own Judge and Avenger; which
Doctrine wonderfully ſuits with Non-Reſiſtance and Pallive
Obedience. Downright Swearing ;for p. 37. Faith! is a
very great and awful Oatb, as an eminent Divine has ob .
Served, taking in all the Articles of our most Holy Faith,
and among the reſt the Glorious Trinity; and what is little bet.
ter [in the Name of God] (for God's Sake] p.98. which
in ſuch a ludicrous Dialogue is certainly a breach of the third
Commandment. Downright Curling p.76. Hang him a Dog
with a mixture of Hemp. He elſewhere ſtrikes at the very
Heart of all Morality, p. 91. [I have now done; for this
other Letter is trifting and not worth taking notice of
and p. 92. [They can find nothing but ſuch TRIFLES
as theſe to charge him with.] And what are theſe Trifles
Twenty Oaths and Curſes freſh and fafting before he was up;
contriving to leave bis Bail in the lurch; wronging ſeveral
Perſons of their juft Debts; and not only tbat, but calling a
poor oldWoman allto naught and putting her in fear of ber Life,
only for ſerving God according to ber Conſcience, wben bj
Law she had right foto do. If theſe are almoſt allowed
peccadillo's, p. 92. And if ibis Doctrine be once publiſhed
from the Pulpit as well as the Preſs, by Perſons in Holy
Orders, wbat can we expect but ſuch a Scene as the
Prophet ſets before us? Judgment is tur-
ned away backward; and Juſtice ftand- Iſaiah 59. 14.
eth afar off: for Truth is fallen in the Streets, and E-
quicy cannot enter. There can be no ſuch thing as Com-
merce amongſt Men; and not only Diffenters which he
bigbly commends in the Welſh Gentlemen) will be de
barrd from Trade, but Churchmen too: For who will ever
fruft, if to defraud of acknowledgʻd Debts be but a Trifle ?
I am amaz'd, that you who are a Tradeſman, will publillo
Sücb
PREFACE.
Such Doctrine with your Nam: to it; for the Authors were
500 cunning to ſet their own. The Convocation is exhort-
ed, p. 98. to cenſure me (as the Mob before to knock my
Brains ont ); but they have more Diſcretion than to cenſure
what they and all the World know to be Truth. But your
Authors bave far more Reaſon to expect their Cenſure, not on.
ly, for bantering both Religion and Morality; but alſo for a-
buſing, in the moſt ſcurrilous Terms, a Learned and Venes
rable Biſhop (as the Letter of a Clergyman, p. 32.) which,
Says be,deſerves another Sort of Animadverſion than from
my Pen. As alſo for ridiculing very prophanely the HOLY
Soiety for Reformation of Manners; wbith moſt of the Bi-
Thops, and Judges, and the moſt Eminent Clergy, bave
publickly own’d and bonour'd, as the ſtrongeſt Mound under
God and the Laws, againſt the Overflowing of Ungod-
lineſs. Nay, the Grand Jury too bave abundant Realon
to preſent ſuch a pernicious Book; as fatal to Trade, no
leſs than all Virtue, and favourable to Knavery, as well as
Vice and Debauchery. And what muſt become of this great
City, if once ſuch Principles as theſe obtain ? I ſhall add but
The Remark of the forementioned Author, p. 28. Such Le-
vities' wou'd be unpardonable in any Preacher of the
Goſpel, excepe him who declares he hates a Religious
Face; to be ſure he means not his own; and we have
Reafon to believe, his ownLooking-glafs never prefents
ſuch a Face to his View.
Wirb the like Propbaneneſs he makes himſelf merry with
the Sins of his Youth; which ſhould be the Subjet of
Shame and Sorrow, as they were to the Pſalmift. I fani-
sy, if you enquire nicely, and very maliciouſly, you
may find froin the day of my Birth till now, that I
have not kept my ſelf without Sin." It may be I have
robb'd an Orchard, and diſobey'd my Maſter, doc.
St. Auſtin, after his Age, look’a back with another-guiſe
View on the fame Trangreffion; he did not think the Breach
of the 8th Commandment a jefting Matter; bat gives it a
large place in bis Confeſſions, and makes very fevere Refio
Elions thereon. This Author ſeems of the Prophane Pope's
Mind, That wonderd God ſhould be ſo angry with
Mankind for an Apple or two."
I bave
PREFACER
I have not enquir'd at all, much leſs nicely, after his Cha-
retter and Converfation ; fo far from that, I know not wbere
his Lodging or Lecture is, ( if be bave one ); but I bave,
met with Accounts, or rather tbey have come home to me,
of a much freſher Date, and mucb deeper Dye: But I would
expoſe no Clergyman, except the Doctor, whom I deny to be
fuch, as having profeſſedly ridiculd the Name Proteftanr,
and eſpous'd the French and Popiſh Intereſt: And therefore
I ſhall only ſtile this Author, what be ſeems proud of being
thought, a very wild licentious Youth.
There is one Point more, that I and not others are at 4
lofs about, viz. when he is in Feft, and when in Earneſt;
wbat be would bave paſs for Romance, and what for Reali-
ty; or whether he would have the whole Vindication under-
food as the Letter to me. There is not the leaſt Appearance
of Veracity in that, but an Affectation of impudent Lying ;
as if a Clergyman was not tyd to Truth in the leaji, if
he can but make the Societies for Reformation ridiculous.
He says, I know a great Man I am related to, has left
me in his Will Two of Oliver's Shillings, and a great
Silver Calve's Head, &c. Now all this is a mere Fiction
without Queſtion ,tbo' uſher'd in with this ſolemn Allever ation
I KNOW. So a little before be affirms that his Printer bas a
New Edition of the Engliſh Rogue in the Preſs, which
is obe Reaſon he has not printed the Black Liſt of my kogue-
ries, which would fpoil the Sale, being ſo very like.
This agrees well with my other Chara&ters of Madman,
Fool, Coxcomb, Blockhead, Stupid, Ignoranc Wretch;
if this were true, it would bave been publith's, or adver-
tis'd by this time. Yet he ſeems, or would be thougbt, ſeri-
ous, when he tells me, that Dr. Sacheverell is very much
my Friend; for when he ſhew'd to him the amazing
Accounts of my ſcandalous Life, which flow'd every
Day into the Printer's Shop from Iver, from Whifton,
from St. Katharines, and your other Abodes, he would
not ſuffer me to print them.] You know I ask'd you, if
you bad receiv'd any Letters from Whifton, and you own's
gou; bad ſeen none; and how ſhould they find their way to the
Printer's Shep, (which is uſually a Garret) but throʻyour
Hands: However, that I might be fure, I ſent to Whifton,
and receiv'd this Certificate.
Whifton,
PREFACE.
Wbiſton. Feb. 14. 171
Theſe are to ſatisfy the World as to what H. Clements has pub-
Jiſh'd, that he has Letters from Whifton concerning the Reve.
rend Mr. Biſſet : All We of the ſaid Town that can write, do
ut-
terly deny ever ſending any ſuch Letters ; and thereto We have ſet
our Hands.
Thomas Coles, ſenior. David Gilite. Robert Johnson, jun.
Robert Law.
George Dawkes.
William Cotes.
Mary Lan.
Robert Dowkes, Mary Morris,
Folen Briarly.
Joyce Dawkes.
Thomas Colles, jun
Thomas Morris, fen. Särab Thomſon. Sarah Colles.
Thomas Morris, jun. Robert Johnson, fen. Elizabeth Miles.
Beatrice Morris. Thomas Briarly.
And if Iver had not been too large a Pariſh ( being 30 Miles about)
and too full of inhabitants, I doubt not to have procur'd the like shexce;
for after between 6 and 7 Years, I left not one Enemy that I know of, or
could fufpect, st my coming away.
However, ſince the Engliſh Rogue us
mot yet ready for Publication, you have my free Conſent, ſetting your own
and the Author's Names ( as I have done mine) to Print 'em as soon as
you pleaſe. I would farther deſire to know of yox, Whether ſuch infinus..
sions are not Kraviſh (p. 77.) 'about my Courting my Maid ( he barba-
Toufly lefe her after a Courtſhip of many years, and Promiſes
to ] Was there ever ſuch a Break us'd by an honeſt Man ? Is
it not expe&ted that the Reader ſhould add to marry her ? ). Is not this
raiſing & Slander fo as to be out of the reach of an Action? Which, howa
over the other of my being Expeil'd the Univerſity, and my Horſes be-
ing ſeiz'd for non-payment, are fufficient grounds for. is not that too.
ſuch another Knaviſh Hint, p. 62. the Horſes were ſeiz'd by the Man
chat fold them; the Carpenter has his Stable again. Wbrwould not
underſtand this as it was deſign'd to be taken, for his Money? whereas
be and all the other Workisen were paid, as I can make appear by tbeir
Bills and Receipts above three years before. The laſt thing I would pat
to you, which it greatly concerns your credit to be clear of, is, whether you
did not print and publiſh my pretended Recantation, dated from S. Kach.
Jan. 17. 1710.11.whereas I was then,and near a Fortnight after, in Nor.
thamptonſhire; 'twas drawn up by the ſame Hands with the Dri's Vin.
dication, as I am afur'd by their intimate Acquaintance ; and my Pub-
liſhers Names put in the Title Page; the better to deceive the World. And
it did so in great Meaſure ; for ſeveral have been fince with me, to know
if it were mine : And I receiv'd this Night - Letter out of the Country
to be fasily'd of the Truth; for the writer allures me ibe Parfon of their
Pariſh bas told him I have retracted all, and humbly begg'd the Dri's Para
don; and ſoon after came one to me with a Mesſage from Harwich torbe
Same Efi.
Now this is a downright Forgery, like the Latin Sentence iyike
Gunpowder Sermon when preach'd at Oxford, and if the Ausgors
go or in this Practice, the Review may in time be even with them, and
triumph in his Turn, as the writer or Writers molt barbarouſly de over
bin, P. 2.
Farewel.
Sr. Katherine's, Feb. 25,
1710-11.
1
1
The Modern Fanatick.
PART II.
I
.
Na ſmall Treatiſe that I publiſht a little above a Year a-
go, I declar'd that I did not think my ſelf bound to take
any Notice of, or beſtow the Pains of an Anſwer upon
Anonymous Libels: and therefore if any one ſhall think fit
to write againſt me, let him fairly ſet his Name in the Front,
as I have always done, and then (by the Help of God) he
ſhall have a Reply. For he that writes what he dares not
own, ſeems to be either Knave or Fool, or both. (I always
except inodeſt Men, who conceal their own Naines that God
may have all the Glory.)
But for ſuch as enter the Lifts in a
Polemical Way, 'tis fit we ſhould ſee whom we have to deal
with, and not fight in the dark, which muſt needs make mad
Work.* If they'll kick fair, and not bafely come behind to
trip up my Heels, I care not if I have a Game or two at Foot-
ball with them ; but if they skulk behind the Scenes, and play
leaſt in ſight, while I am on the Stage as a Mark for their Ma.
lice; I declare once more, I am for no Combats incognito. By
Vertue of this Declaration, I might fairly enough have been
excus'd froin this Trouble, lince nothing has yet come out a-
gainſt me with a Name to it; and the pretended Vindication
now before me, is fovery ſlight, and ſuperficial, ſo far from
entring into the Merits of the Cauſe, that (as ſeveral have told
me) 'tis really a Vindication of my Book, rather than of the
Dołtor ; that they knew not well what to think before, but
now they fee plainly, I had good Grounds for what I ad-
vanc'd; for there is ſcarce a fixth Part of what I produce diſpu-
Cædimus inque vicem præbemus crụra ſagittis ;
Vivitur hoc pacto; fic novimus. Perlo
B
ted;
2 The Modern Fanatick. Part II.
ted ; and nothing at all diſprov'd. Indeed who could expect
any thing of a ſerious Defence from one who ſet out in ſuch a
jocular Manner ? whofe whole Deſign is manifeitly to
banter, and not by Dint of Argument to confute. And who
can tell what to believe, when there is ſuch a Mixture of Fa-
ble, and palpable Falthoods all the Way? May not Mrs.
Hearft's and Sir Fohr-Letters (for ought appears to the contra-
ry) be of the ſame Strain and Stamp with my Recantation, and
their Silver Calves Head, or Frior Bacon's Brazen Head, ci-
ther of which have as much Truth and Wiſdoin to thew as
the Authors. But that he never intended to vindicate the Do-
ctor, that is to waſh an Æthiop, tho'he declares (p. 98.) I
cannot proceed to the other part of his Book, having at this time
undertaken taftand in Defence of Dr. Sacheverell's Cause only,is ve-
ry plain ; ſince of 99 Pages, he ſpends 58, and is gone no
further than the firſt of twelve Articles; and yet can find Room
for a moſt impertinent Excurſion (for ſuch all the World con-
felles it to be) about a Lady's Shifts on a Lawrel Hedge ('tis a
Sign what his Thoughts run upon), and melting down the Lead of
certain Turret into Standiſhes and Bullets.
Dic aliquid de tribus capellis.
The very Scheme of the Performance (if nothing elſe) betrays
the Deſign of Trifling and Amufing, and not coming home and
cloſe to the Matter : For who ever went about the Defence of
one who was charg'd with high and heinous Crimes, and that
in plain Terins, and above-board; by the looſe rambling Way
of Dialogue, which is fitter for a Droll than a Defence : And
he does inanage it the moit awkwardly that ever was ſeen;
he makes his Whig ſay the ſillieft things, and moſt inconſiſtent
with his Character that can be imagin'd; he makes him a Con-
vert ſeveral times, and then a Whig again; makes himn knock
under to his potent Arguments, renounce his Cauſe, Page 37
reſolve to break my Windows, and Page 75. he is ſtill but in the
Aronies of Converſion. 'Tis froin filt to laſt a true orlouarida
a Fighting with his own Shadow ; he raiſes Mud-Walls and
Banks of Sand, and then gloriouſly triumphs in demoliſhing
them; and makes the poor Whig (for he inay do what he will
with him) applaud his Wit, and trumpet out his Praiſes;
Page 65. Aftcr an Account of their Tavern-Convocation, and
the Cenfures paſt there on the Moderate Men: Says tlie Whig,
very conſiſtently with his own Principles; I think you give a
fair and bandſome Accommit of this Matter; and I am pleaſed to
bear
as,
PART II. The Modern Fanatick.
3
hear that the Clergy are ſo well employed when they weet together.
Did ever a conceited vain-glorious Novice compliment hinſelf
at this fulſom rate. But is this according to Horace's Rule ?
Scribere perſona moda convenientia cuique.
However, ſince that abominable Forgery of my prçtended Re-
cantation, an:l the Menaces of ſuch Recriminations as ſhall make
my Eyes fore, and my Ears tingle, render an Anſwer neceſſary
(tho'many have diſlwaded ine from it, as altogether necdleſs)
I ſhall only make ſome ſhort Remarks, (the two Lerters to
the Doctor froin Oxford, and from the Clergyman, having
brought this Task within a narrow Coinpals) · Thew the
Weakneſs of his Replies to my Charge, and the Fallhood of
what, without the leaſt Offer of Proot, or ſo much as the firſt
Letter of his Author's Naines, he has caſt upon me ; tho'I
have freſh Matter, and that well atteſted, enough to take up
many Pages, when his Letters from Iver, Whiton, O'c. ſhall
have led the Way, and given me a jaft Handle for Reprijals
upon him and his Abetters.
The firft thing I ſhall take Notice of is, Page 2. his conſtru-
ing that hard Latin Sentence Clauſe by Clauſe, like a School-
boy : Non quod amem, not becauſe I love thee; Sed quod odio ha-
beam, becauſe I hate thee; and yet he calls him Neighbour !
Here's an excellent Comment for'a Miniſter to inakeupon that
Royal Law, thou ſhalt love thy Neighbour as thy ſelf; and that
of St. John, He that hateth his Brother is a Murtherer. No
wonder, his Mind being in a Poſture ſo ſuited to the Enterprize,
as he ſays a few Lines further, (I have heard of Bodily Poitures
often, but never of Mental, i.e. Inviſible Poitures before ; and
I fancy 'twould puzzle even Poſture-Mafter Clark to expreſs'em)
he makes that verluous Reſolution, Y'll let it looſe, and take my
Fill of Roaring at your abominable Clan. The Doctor, whole
Cauſe he pleads, thought himſelf call'd to blow the Trumpet in
Zion, but I know no Warrant a Miniſter of the Goſpel has for
Roaring, the ſmall ſtill Voice better becomes thein , but I fup-
poſe this is brought as a Proof, that heis, what he braits in his
Letter to me, a great Tory, for ſuch may truly ſay, Ifa.59.'11.
We roar all like Bears, and to make the Simile coinpleat, are as
rude too, and far more ravenous.
Page 3. Speaking of ebat Miſcreant B.-t, I know the Abili-
ties of the Man to be ſo deſpicably weak ----- This is ſcarce Senſe,
for weak Abilities is like full of Emptineſs, and he that is moſt
despicably weak has certainly in the fame Reſpect no. Abilities ar
B2
all
;
4
The Modern Fanatick. PART II.
r
all; but how cau he ſay, I know 'em to be fo? I never faw
the pert Youth that owns and glories in this doughty Perfor-
inance, that I know of, and am ſure never chang'd a Word
with him; and be my few Writings that are made publick ne-
ver fo weak, (as every ones Talent does not lie that Way it
does not follow but I may have ſome ſmall Abilities, tho not
xeak, in ſomething elſe, for any thing a meer Stranger cau
KNOW to the contrary. A few Lines farther he calls the
Impeachment, drawn up by the Honourable House of Commons,
declar'd to be made good by a conſiderable Majority of the
Houſe of Lords, and by a Majority of the Biſhops, and had all
been preſent 'tis well known the Majority had been yet great-
er; and approv'd by the Queen, who declard it À necesſary Oc-
caſion of taking up their Time, one of the First-rate Party-Stupidi-
ties of the faction. I will not call this bold Stroke as he does my
mention of Reſiſting the Mob, High-Treafon; but it ſeems to
me to border upon it, and I remember the Time when it would
have coſta Man bis Liberty and Efate, if not his Life.
Page 4. He ſays the Whigs have neither Honour, Conſcience
,
nor Loyalty ; that Forgery, Slander, and barefac'd Lying, are the
chief Weapons of their Warfare: Have we ſo long heard you acknow-
ledge the Advantage of throwing Dirt, that ſome will fick if plen-
tifully beflow'd ? this is like profeff Knaves and Hypocrites: Was
cver Man fo fenfeleſs as to acknowledge this, and in their Ene-
Inies Hearing too, who are to be belpatter'd? But All such
Weapons, he ſays, Serve only to give as Mirth, they adminiſter to
our Pleaſure and not to our Pain. Here's Language for one in
Holy Orders! Is not this that worſt of Sins call cmxaupstaníc,
or Rejoicing in Iniquity? Forgery, Lying, and Slander give them
Mirth, and adminifter to ibeir Pleaſure. Is this like the Royal
Prophet ? Rivers of Tears run down my Eyes, becauſe Men keep not
ihy Law. Or rather like Solomon's Fool, that makes a Mock at
Sin : And 'tis to be fear'd, while he does fo, Says in bis Heart
shere is no God. Charity rejoiceth not in Iniquity, but rejoiceth in
ibe Truth.
Page 5. He ſays, I have been with Dr. S--------, and he has
furniſht me with ſuch Materials as I think will convince the molt
implicite Whig that every Story in that Book is a malicious Slander;
that there is not the lealt Grounds for any of them.' Here's a tho-
rough-pac'd Voucher! The Doctor has taken care to chooſe a
Nail that will drive. Who after all this will venture to believe
one Syllable he ſays? He ſticks-at nothing, no not the grof-
felt self-contradiction, to ſerve his Maſter, and is jult such a
Tool for the Deftor, as he for the Jacobites ; but Liars have need
of
!
PART II. The Modern Fanatick.
5
of good Memories : For when he comes to the very firſt Ştory of
all
about the Uncle, he ſays, Page 24. Truly Old Rump,this
Story
has fome Foundation for indeed the Doctor's Presbyterian Uncle
did come to ſee him after his Trial, &c. Reconcile theſe if you
can; Every Story in that Book is a malicious Slander, and there is
not the least Grounds for any of them, and yet Truly the firſt has
fome Foundation, but without the leaſt Grounds : It has not only
fome Grounds, but as the Uncle himfelf has inform’d the
World, 'twas far worſe in all Reſpects than I have repreſent-
ed it. Again, Page 63. about what paſs'd at the Mitre-Taverna
Club. I my ſelf (lays our Hiſtoriographer) was in Company
at that Time; the Dodor did mention his Competitors---
« with ſome of the little Sarcaſms of Converſation which give A
"Reliſh to it very pretty; Back-biting and Sarcaſms, i. e.
Ironia amare, bitter Feers, (as any Syſtem of Rhetorick will in-
form him) on abſent and deceaſed Perſons, are the Pickles and
Anchovies to give a Reliſh to their Tovern-Divinity. Lectures;
for ſometimes (it ſeems) they preach over their Bottle, and mix
A little bitter with their Wine, and the Nods and Titubations
of Tillotſon,and Stillingfleet (I may well be content with plain
B-----t when thoſe who are fo much my Betters are treated
at the ſame ſlovenly Rate) were pitch'd on for the preſent Di-
verſion, and what were theſe Til ubations, they ſtumble not like
them with Wine,
but Heterodox Notions, no leſs than Socinianiſm,
and the Denial of eternal Torments in Hell. Yet after all
there is not the least Grounds for this Story; tho' it comes from
another that was at the Conference, whoſe Account may be
more ſafely depended on than the Vindicator's. Again, There
is not the leeft Grounds for the Story of his coming to be or-
dain'd, and his Behaviour to the Biſhop of Lo-ed and Cov---y;
and yet he owns near all, that he defended the Latin againſt the
Biſhop, and was ſent back without Orders, i.c. was refuſed;
and denies nothing but a farther Examination. This brings
to my Mind a Paſſage of Dr. South's, in his Book againſt Dr.
Sho-ock, after he had knock'd all the School-men o'th Head, and
left 'em for dead ; He is gracionſ, pleas'd to fretch forib his
Golden Sceptre of self-contradiction, and reftore them to Life 4-
gain, I hope the Reader is now convinc'd, that every one of
them are not ENTIRELY the Children of that fertile Womb of
Forgery and Lyes.
Page 6. Speaking of me: His Converſation is impudent,
Reviling, and unbandſomly Reproving: He shoots out his Ar-
rows, even bitter Words In his Morals he is Lewd, Senſual,
Deviliſh, even to aſſaulting Women af Noon-Day, and in his
Gown :
6 The Modern Fanatick. PART II.
Gown : Now let any Perſon of common Senſe judge if theſe
Characters can be made to agree : For if I were that open,
undiſguis'd, ſcandalous Sinner he makes me, durft I be ſo
Sharp upon others.? Muft I not expect, upon every Reproof,
to be told my own, and have my Mouth ftop'd with my own
flagitious Practices? I have indeed reprov'd many Perſons
for Swearing, Curſing, and other groſs Immoralities, but
never in my Life, that I can remember, met with any ſuch
Reply; or ſo much as, Phyſician, healthy ſelf. But if I'affault
Wimen at Noon-day, why don't they, or their Relations, bring
their A£tion of Afault. I am fufficiently known, and have
Eneniies, more than enough, to take ſuch an advantage a-
gainſt me. But if by aſſaulting (which is very improper) he
means Picking up ; 1 once more declare, before God and the
World, that I never committed Fornication, much leſs Adul-
tery ; never offer'd to pick up any Woman in my Life, nor
entertain'd a Thought, or Purpoſe of ſo doing: If i had, fo
many ſpiteful Adverſaries as I have would have foon found
her out, and brought her to confront me: And indeed, I can-
not but admire, and adore the gracious Providence of God,
in reltraining Human, and Diabolical Malice; when ſo ma-
my good Men have been not only afpers'd, but ſworn againſt,
to the loſs or danger of their Lives, that no one has been ſub-
orn'd to charge me with taking a Purſe on the Road; or to
lay a Baſtard to me; or to affirm that be cur’d me of a Clap;
or found me Drunkin a Saw-pit, all over Mire; or in a Ken-
nel, and carried me home; but have been ſo far left to follow
their own Inventions, as to charge me with nothing, but what
I can, by asthentick Teftimonies, diſprove. 'Tis well known
in this Neighbourhood, where I am not inuch befriended,
(and who can expect I ſhould, conſidering whom I live near)
that my Wife and Children are in Northamptonſhire, which í
call my Hoine : And that I have had for theſe 2 Years, a
Widow Gentlewoman, younger than my ſelf (with a Mai-
den Daughter about 16) Siſter to one of the greatelt Perſons
in the Kingdom, living with me in the Houſe; a Perſon of a
very good Family and Eſtate, and of the cleareft Character
;
wbo was long, and well acquainted in theſe Parts, before ſhe
came to my Houſe; and conld not have nift of my Character
were I gụiliy of ſuch barefac'd Immoralities, For he that hideth
fuch bideth the Wind, or the Oyntment of his Right Hand, which
bewr areth it self! And is it likely, the would venture her
Perſon, Daughter, and Reputation, with ſo lewd a Miſcre-
ent, there being no other Woman, beſides Servants, in the
Houſe,
PART II. The Modern Fanatick.
7
Houle, (eſpecially if I were a Madman) and ſo live in danger
of daily Affaults.
Page 7. He charges me with no leſs than High Treaſon,
becauſe I declare, that if the Mab had attack'd my Houfe
while I was in it, (I don't mean only by breaking iny Win,
dows, but as they did the Meeting-houſes, to plunder, pull
down, and burn, and as they had refolv'd, if they could have
found Mr. Burgeſig to throw him into the Fire ;) I think it
my Duty, againſt a Frenchify'd Rabble, to have defended my
Houfe as long, and told iny Life a: dear as I could ; and I
am ſtill of the ſame Judgment, and all his Reaſons can ne-
ver convince a Thinking-Man of the contrary. But why is
it High Treaſon to reſiſt thoſe whom the Queen declar'd Rebels?
He tells us, Page 10. He that preaches the Doctrine of Refan
ſtance] and be that praktices it, is a Rebel to God and the King,
A Rebel to God and the King; there's ſpecial Grammar, like
his Tutor's Perils of Falſe Brethren: I always thought it had
been againt :: Does any one fay, to rebel to the King? tho
ſome may pretend to rebel for him. But what King is this?
We have, God be praiſed, a Queen on the Throne; and the
next Expectant is a Princeſs. I'm afraid he means the person
whom no Man dares name; and thinks him a Falſe Brother tbat
won't pledge the ſame.
Page 8. He tells the Reader, He (i.e. B-----t) Swears he
would have made ftrange Havock'; and yet there is nothing like
an Oath; nor will any Mortal, I am certain, lay any ſuch
thing to my Charge.
As to that fooliſh Slander, that the Diſenters pull'd down
their own Meeting-Houſes; I reply with the Clergyman, P. 31.
What cannot a Man believe wbo believes that He may fure be
brought to ſwallow the Belief of Tranſubftantiation in Time. Good
Mrs. Hearſt ſays, P. 31. Tou was never guilty of a Childiſh
Ačtion. I cannot ſay so of your Vindicator ; for no ane but a
Child would offer to argue as he does. And as to his baſe and
barbarous Reflections on the Reverend Mr. Hoadly, I leave
this Beginner to his Maſterly Pen, if he ſhall think him wor-
thy of his Chaſtiſement. But that's a moſt villainous At-
tempt to direct the Mob to St. Peter's Poor, and tell them, Page
12. Vengeance ſhould begin there firit
. If this be not to play
the Incendiary, I know not what is. Eſpecially when he adds,
Page 11. That the Rebels were hurried on by iheir Zeal for a good
Cauſe; and 'tis plain, he endeavours to kindle the ſame con-
fuming Zeal again.
Page
8 The Modern Fanatick. PART II.
repents, and
Page 13. Is taken up in reviling me : 11. For boaſting of
the Greatneſs of my Family: Whereas I ſaid no more but that
my
Father was always a Royalift, and fought for King Charles
the Firſt, from the beginning of the War to Worceſter Fight,
where he was taken Priſoner, being then a Cornet,' which is
no great Poft; and was ever after forc'd, both abroad and at
home, to carn his Bread; but, God be prais'd, never to bez
it : Nor was he beholding to any, bat God and his own In-
dulry; tho' he might have expected, his long Services ſhould
be conſider'd at the Reſtoration.
The next Crime he charges me with, is accuſing a Brother
Clerggman ; and Page 23. be falls foul on thoſe who ſit and ſpeak
againf their Brethren, and Nander their own Mother's Sons: To
which the Letter of the Clergy-man repties, Page 31. He who
can ontdo you two that way, is a great Proficient in that noble
Science: And let me tell him, that he has wounded, as far as in
bim lay, the Reputation of ſome worrby Men, for which he mud
expect to be call'd to a fevere Account, anteſs he
makes them all the Publick, and Honourable Amends he can. But
I did it, he ſays, without the leaſt proper and neceffary Teſtimo-
ny. Do not I refer to his Unkle för my ift Charge? to Mr.
Eberal, for that Paſſage, of ſeeing King William dewined ; to
Dr. Boyſe, and Mr. Parker, for his drinking the Pretender's
Health many times, by the Name of King Fames the Third ?
to Mr.Ryley, naming his Trade, and Place of Abode in Oxford,
for his Prophanenels and Injaftice; (and ſince, the Head of an
Houſe bas ſent for Mr. Ryley, and examin'd him and he ſtood to
the Truth of it) to Mr. Anthony Clark; and to his poor Waſhers
Woman, who is ftill alive there? And had I put in the Names
of iny other Authors at largt, might not I juſtly expect foul
Practices might be usd by the Party, to take them off? and
when it came to a Tryal (as I expected; and he has his fure
Remedy at Law, boch Coinmonand Civil) I thould perhaps
have my Evidence to feek for one of the Chief has been
tamper'd with, and deſir'd to unlay what he had faid; but
thre Folpone that was with him, met with this mortifying An-
{wer
, That he would (if calrd to ir) declare, not only that,
but much more.
As to the next Charge, that I betray, revile, and ridicule a
Church that gives me my Bread; I never ear any but what God
gave ine, to whom I pray, and not to the Church, Give me
This Day my daily Bread. What I have is owing (under God)
to my own honeſt Labour, in inſtructing Youth. But wlio
moſt ridicules the Church and all that is Sacred, I, or the Do-
etor
PÁRT II. The Modern Fanatick.
୨
in ”
ctor and his Vindicator, I leave to God, and every ſerious
Chriſtian to judge. There is yet no Anſwer to that part of my
Book, and I'm ſure no one can ſhew in that, or any elfe of
iny Writings, a Word againſt any real Part of our Conſtituti-
on, but only their Traditional Cuftoms, and palpable Diſorders ;
and I think 'tis the greateſt Faithfulneſs to the Church to point
out what is amifs; ſince a Convocation may Toon amend it.
As to my Profeſſion, tliat for the laſt 20 Years I have done no one
the leaſt real Wrong; I ſaid, that I know of; yet I always pray
with David, Lor I cleanſe me from my ſecret sins; there may be
ſome I never perceiv'd, or have forgot : But l'hear of none
yet that is charg'i upon ine; tho' there are Eyes enough upon
ic, nicely and maliciony (as this Author words it) to pry
to my Beliaviour. And as to the Doctor, I fee rothing but
one or two Circumſtances that do not enter the Merits of the
Cauſe, in which I am wrong. Yet, P.14 he lays me under con-
fummate, i. e. finiſh'd Reprobation ; (a Doctrine which be ſcarce
believes) and after all, prays God (low heartily let any one
judge) to forgive me ; and puts this prophane Remark into his
Whig's Mouth, You are plaguy Piores (here's Language for a
Miniſter) on a sudden, make a Man a Devil, and then pray
for him,
Paffing over that fulſom Harangue of the Tories good Tem-
per, Page 16. We bore yon, we endur'd you, we fuffer'd you; as if
one would not have ſerv'd, to leave more Rooin for the Do-
Etor's Vindication, and yet, Page 17. It was a Noble Entertain-
ment to ſee the ſoporiferous Draughts of Moderation (pued up, (the
Engliſh Reader will be much the wiler for ſuch crainp Words.)
He ſtarts next a Caſe of Conſcience, which was ſcarce ever
met with before, Whether a good Christian may with Safety to his
Conſcience kill a Thief that either afaults him in his Houſe or upon
the Road? I never heard of their Title to Non-Reſiſtance before ;
and I believe the Gangs would raiſe him large Contributions,
if he would ferve them fo far as to convince the World of this
Doctrine. His Conſcience is wondrous tender of hurting Tories
and Banditti, when Mr. Tutchin's was an honest Drubbing; and
1 ought to be fton'd, (which cannot be legally, our Law know-
ing no ſuch Punithinent, and therefore by lawleſs Violence)
into the other World. I may truly fay, His Voice is the Voice of
Jacob, but the Hands are the Hands of Efau. Now I am of a-
nother Mind, that if all honeft Men would ſtoutly defend their
own againſt ſuch Sons of violence, they would have little Sto-
mach to that Trade, but betake themſelves to honelt Labour ;
and perhaps the killing 2 or 3 upon the Spot might ſave as
o
many
JO
The Modern Fanatick. PART II.
inany Hundreds froin the Gallows : But if all were of his
pre-
tended Judgment, how would any Robbers be taken and
brought to condign Pupilhment; for when beſet they are ge-
Jerally deſperate, and are kldoin kiz'd without Lofs of Blood,
or Hazard of Life.
As to his Friend Dr. W----n's wife Saying, P. 22. before the
Lieutenancy, the Commons of Great Britain have impeach'd the
guiltleſs, and manag'd againſt Heavın ; bis Sentiments about
the Revolution, and Hannover Succeffion, were fufficiently dif-
covered on the laſt Thirtieth of January, and Time may coine
when he ſhall be oblig'd to cxplain himſelf. Page 23. He calls
mne Aase, as if I had ever been. High Church, or had anyo-
ther Opinion than now of their Traditional Cuftoms.
The Story of tlie Uncle is confeſs'd ; therefore I ſhall only
obterve in the Cloſe of it, Page 26. his wiſe Calculation of
th: Dinenters: They are a poor deſpicable bandful of aſpiring
Schifmaticks; Jo inconfiderable in reſpect to the Number of Church-
men, that I think they can never be ſuperiour to us, till our Sins
have provok'd, and their Goodneſs induc'd God to suffer one to
chaſe 1000. If they were as he computes, our Country-men
ought not to be ſo deſpicable in our Eyes, for he that deſpiſeth his
Neighbour finnerk, and why dost thou ſet at nought by Brother?
But he muit certainly be out in his Reckoning of one to 1000.
I believe the Engliſh Diflenters, and Presbyterians of North Bri-
tain, if once we come to tell Nofes, will very near match (for
ought I know exceed) the Number of Church-men; and if froin
a Prohibition of all Commerce (which is ſo highly commend-
ed) and the gen:le Reproof of throwing Stones into their Houſes,
a further Rupture ſhould enſue, the Pretender migbt make his
triumphant Entry, and the Church of Rome would foon make
both know to their Colt, that the vattly exceeds for Nun-
bers, and can out-poll us all; and then ſome Men would have
their Ends.
He confeffes, Page 27. Where there is an Abſence of theſe Vera
tnes (natural Affe&tion to bis Kindred, and Gratitude to his Bene-
faktors) the Man is a Monter, and should be treated as fucb:
Yet he had own'd his Churlishneſs to his Uncle, who is not
pretended to have given bin any Cauſe of Offence : and his
Icurrilous Treatment of the Biſhop of Earum, who help'd his
Mother into a College, which is fomething better than an Hong
Spital; fo by his own Principles the Man is a Monfier, &c.
As to that Excellent Lady, Page 28. a lofty Title for a Coun-
try Apothecary's Widow, and the extraordinary Letter, not to
b. Idich'd in the whole Academy of Complements, whiclıthat
Lady
PART II. The Modern Fanatick.
II
Laly SIGN'D,
if all Parts of it are equally true, 't will gain very
little Belief in the World : for if ſhe never know him
guilty of
any immoral, nay of any childiſh Action, it will follow that
either ſhe knew very little of him, and ſo is not a compe-
tent Witnes, or that he was fan&tified like St. John the Baprift
from the Womb, and yet even he I believe might have done ſome
childiſh Action in his Time : St.Paul confeſſes that urhen he was a
Child he ſpake us a Child, thought as a Child, but St. Cheverel, (as
fome file him) in his very Childhood was above all theſe. I
wiſh he could ſay with him in the next Words, When I became
A Man I put away childiſh things.
Heu! quam difimiles hic vir, & ille puer. Ovid.
But admitting this part of the Atteſtation, and her Account
of the Fainily, which the Uncle has at large confuted in Print,
not to weaken the other, as it must with any thinking Porſon;
ſeveral have obſerv'd as well as I, 'tis nothing to the Purpoſe.
My Words were, He is reported to have turn'd a bitter En.my
to the Family that maintaind him a poor Orphan at School, and
ſent him to the Univerſity. I did not ſay to all the Family there
might be fome (and here is an Account ofone) that he carriet
it fair to: Her Words are, Page 29. [So far as relates to MI
SELF] ſhe ſhould have ſaid, and my deceaſed Husband, and
the relt of my Relations, if he would have clear'd bin. As to
the Reflexions on the Doctor's Grandfather, which, it true, bor-
der on the Sin of Cham ; I refer the Reader to his incle's printed
Account, who affur'd ine he is nothing a-kin to the late High
Sheriff of Derby, and then how can the Doctor be? So that the
whole Letter ſeems all of a Piece, and not at all to the Purpoſe.
Yet the Vindicator lums up the whole Evidence with this Deci-
five, P.33. That this B-t is A Knight of the Poft. (Should I let the
'World know what he is, a Pulpit would not be thought the
fittelt Place for him.) Did I make any Oath? or ſay any
more than He is reported, and I am ſure I had it from good Au-
thority. IFI am a Knight of the Post for a falſe Report, which
I really thought, and ſtill think to be true, what is he for forg-
ing a Paper, as under my Hand, with Date of Time and Place,
and publiſhing it as ſuch
We come now to the Matter of the Biſhap of Sarkm, and the
Service he did the Doctor's Mother ; where he wilfully miſcon-
ſtrues my Meaning, as if I reproach'd himn with his Mother's
Poverty, whereas I exprelly ſay, Page 15. I wauld wat be lo vrh-
derſtov.t
;
C 2
I 2
The Modern Fanatick. Part II.
derſtood, as if Poverty wore a juft Reproach. But withal, I would
have the son of a Pauper demean limfelt as ſuch, and not as if
he were Son to the first Duke in the Kingdom. The infolent Re-
proaches on that very learned Prelate, Page 134. I hat he has almoft
torsted the Doctrines of the Church of England, and brought them
into Contempt and Dilafe; and the very filly Banter about the
Pig, Scotch-Cloth, and Brann, much like the Shifis on the L.18-
rel Hedge, deferve a ſevere Cenſure from the Convocation, or his
Dioceſan;
for he has taken the ſureſt way to explode Epiſcopa-
ty,
and bring the Perſons and Authority of Biſhops into ut-
moft Contempt: And never was that Prophecy more evi-
dently fulfill'd, Ila. 3. 5. The Child hall lchave himſelf
proudly against the Antient, and the Baſe againſt the Honou-
Table.
But ſee the Abſurdity of this young Writer, he ir.akes the
\Vhig, Page 37. applaud him, and that with an Oath; Why,
Faith, I don't know what to ſay to you; I believe thou'lt make me
turn Tory. I shall run, in ny Zeal, and break B---t's Win-
doms. That's a wiſe Stroke: To break Windows is (he con-
failes) the true Zeal of a Tory. But Page 38. About the Welch
Confederates, he plays the Fool yet more egregiouſly, and makes
his Whig'(Itill owning himſelf fuch) confeſs, that if a Story
be black inough, we deſire no more. Can it be imagin'd, that
he would thus betray the Secrets of bis Party. As to his Po-
litical Diſcourſe, Page 39, and 40. about excluding the Dif-
fenters from all Commerce, by virtue of that Maxiin, Keep
them poor and they'll be quiet : which he calls a Revolution Prin-
ciple, like the Doctor's Revolution Party; and we know how
well they are affected to it ; I leave that to the Parliament, and
Commiſſioners of Trade.
This Youth would have made a fit Tool for ſome Reigns,
when Men were condemnd for Irinuendo's. Page 41. He quotes
me thus, High-Church-Tyranny [that is the preſent Adminitra-
tion) is worfe ihan Nero's and Dioclelian's; If he had been on
Col. Sydneys Jury, he would not have gone from the Bar, but
upon the firſt sight of Nero, in his Cloſet-Papers, have
pronolinc'd him guilty; yet he has the Impudence in the next
Line to inſult the laft Parliament, and Page 42. the late Lord
High Ch-------r; which is ſpeaking Evil of Dignities in the
Page 43. We have his Vindication of the Mob, as well as the
Doctor, That the Stones which the Mob threw only did the Errand
they were Jeni'wpon, juſt reprov'd the Family, for not Illuminating
their Windows, they hardly went into the Room : Then iliey ituék
baleit way.
in
PART II. The Modern Fanatick.
, 13
in the Holes which they made; for if not, they muſt either
fall in the Room, or fall back into the Street, and cither way
endanger the Life of fomnc. But was ever ſuch Non-ſenſe as
what he has put into the Mouth of his Whig? If you can
prove this, (about the Woman in Fleei treet,) then we are Sons of
Belial, Rogues, and whatever you'll pleaſe to call us. He makes
hin put the whole Reputation of his Friends on this Iſue,wbe-
ther a Story (which he owns to have been cominon Tow 11-
Talk) were truc, or falſe ; for the fame Stones, inſtead of one,
inight have kill'd fome Hundreds : And then he adds a moſt
prophane Jelt; that ſhe had a Funeral Sermon in many Mee-
tings; is look'd apon as a Martyr ; and is callid Sieplien's Si-
fter. But beliold yet a far worfe Abſurdity. He makes his
Whig ſay, I think the Villain (meaning me) deſerves the Death
be ſpeaks of, to be ſton'd into the other World ; for it is not fit the
Fellow ſhould live. That it would be MERITORIOUS in ANY of
them to chaſtife him. If a Whig muſt be ſuch a falſe Knave as
this, God bleſs the High-Church, Say I. And yet (prodigious
Ignorance and Sottiſhneſs!) he makes him a Itanch Whig a-
gain but 2 Leaves farther; and after he had call'd me, in one
Thort Paragraph, Villain, Fellow, falje k'nave, and made it
meritorious to knock niy Brains out. He ſays, Page 50, Indeed
Neighbour you banter 100 much, Mr. B.-.-t is in the right. And
liintelf had ſaid before, he had a Funeral Sermon in many Meru
ting, as a Mariyr, becauſe he was ſton'd 10 Death; and yet i
am a Villain, not fit to live, for reporting it. If I ſhould be
imuderd (as there is no Stone left unturn'd to procure it)
my Death will, in a great Meaſure, lie at young Mr. L---b's
Door.
While I am writing this, the Husband of the Party deceas'd
came to my Houſe, I having ſome Days before deſir'd to ſpeak
with him and declares, that he and his Wife went to bed as
well in Health, except a Cough, as ever in their Lives; that
after they had been ſome time in bed, there came in abun-
dance of Stones at the Window, ſome reach'd to the Bed ; his
Wife was immediatele taken with a Fright and Shivering, and
continu'd fo about 12 Days, when ſhe died; and both the Do-
ctor and Apothecary gave their Judgment, that the Fright was
the Cauſe of her Death. The next Morning, as many Stones as
fiil'd 2 pretty large Boxes, were found in the Raoms and Bal-
cony. Now if the Mob, in obedience to the Doctor and his
Vindicator,' had diſpatch'd me for this Story, I ſhould have
bad Naboth's Fate. As to the Circumſtance of her being with
Child, (which is not material) I own I was milimformnd :
And
a
14
The Modern Fanatick. Part II.
And I had declared before, that in ſuch a variety of Matter,
after the utinolt Caution, I might be iniſinformn'd, and that
I would readily confeſs iny Miſtake.
Page 45. We have a Parallel drawn between King Charles
the Firit, and Mr. Turchin, who (he ſays) had an honeſt dry
Drubbing, juſt as much as he deſerv'd, and no more, but that's
inore barbarous yet, to murther his Memory, as if he dy'd of
the Pox; when I have been aſſurd from good Hands 'tis whol-
ly a Slander. Why does not the Chyrurgion who diffected
him atteſt it, (as this Author ſays) be will? Tutchin, he ſays,
was ſent oxt of the World with his Head broke ; but the King was
fent into the other World without his Head. This comes very,
near the Iriſhman's Ball, that St. Patrick ſwam to Holyhead
with his Head in his Teeth: Was not King Charles's Head
buried in the ſame Coffin with his Body? And how then was !
he ſent without it, any more than the old Woman of 70
Years (tho' not much above 50) who died as fairly of a Droply
as any one in the Bills of Mortality. We have foon after a-
nother Fallhood in Fact, that the Drawer's Noſe in Greenwich
was flic'd off : Why then are not the Actors in this Tragedy
proſecuted upon the Coventry AEt ?
What horrible Language is that for a Miniſter Next
Line, there is a deal of Difference between you Saints and us : Is
not that a Scripture Term? and ought it then to be ridiculd?
And if they neither pretend nor affect to be firch, how can
they be meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in
Light? Again, What a villanous Reflection is that on the
Queen and her late Miniſtry; Page 46. That if the Whigs
had killd a Biſhop or a Parſon, he doubts whether they would
have been hang'd for it a little while ago.
I had ſaid, that even Diffenting Miniſters have contributed
to Church of England Lecturers. This he tells me is a Lye.
Is not Mr. Milburn a réal Church-man in his Account? Yet
he, I affirm, has receiv'd fuch Contributions: And yet this
confident Writer will give the Lye to a Fact he knows nothing
of. Soon after he ſays, of 6 worthy Conformits, of otherguiſe
Morals than he and his Doctor, that they receive their 30 Pieces
of Silver upon Judas's Terms, to betray their Saviour : Who is
now the Acculer of the Brethren I accus'd but
I accus'd but one ſingle
Man, whom the Repreſentative Body of the Nation had pub-
Zickly condemn'd, and who could not be defended without a
fort of Schifm, by diſowning the Father's of the Church, a con-
fiderable Majority of whom are againſt him. He damns
them by Half-Dozens for the Diſciples of Judas. And P.47. Fa-
PART II. The Modern Fanatick IS
natick lukewarm Son of Moderation; charge 'em with Hereſie
and Schiſm, and ſays at the Bottom, I thought I had a fair Oppor-
tunity, and he could not posſibly deny himſelf the Pleaſure of Speak.
ing againt, in ſuch opprobrious Terms, his own Mother's Sons.
The two next Pages, 48 and 49. are taken up with a certain
Peer, bis Coach-horſes, Turret, and his Lady's Shifts, of which
being wholly foreign, enough already. Page 50, 51, 52, and
53, are ſpent upon that wretched ſenſeleſs Sophilm about the
Advocates in Heaven; this gives hini an Opportunity which I
ſuppoſe he is as glad of as the laſt, of railing at his Betters, io
thew his Skill in Greek, and let me know, Page 52, that an
Engliſh Treatiſe only is level to my Underſtanding ; whereas
I could (I thank God) read a Greek Author before he was born,
at leaſt before he could ſpeak. I met very lately with two
Doctors and another eminent Divine of the Eſtabliſh'd Church,
who all agreed 'twas a meer Evaſion, like his Tutor's Speech;
and the laſt ſaid he was ſurpriz'd to find any Plea offer'd at,
not doubting but the Fault would have been laid on the
Printer. He tells us can gikan G is in the Margin render'd Ad-
vocate : Our Church-Bible of a late Oxford Edition has no
ſuch Word, nor any Bible I have; and therefore he who
blames Biſhop Stillingfleet for falſe References, fhould have told
us on what Bible it is to be found : But without Recourſe to
the learned Languages, every Engliſh Reader is a competent
Judge whether the Text he quotes, Rom. 8. does not confute
him ; The Spirit helpeth our Infirmities, and maketh Interceſſion
for us with Groanings that cannot be utter'd. And are there In-
firmities or Groanings in Heaven? Who ever ſuppos'd any o-
ther but that this Interceflion is in our Hearts, by enabling us
as the Spirit of Grace and Supplications to intercede or plead for
our ſelves, and can he poſſibly be call'd another Advoeate in
Heaven, eſpecially when Jeſus Chriſt is ſo often ſtiľd by the
Church of England our only Mediator and Advocate? So that
the Charge of Popery againſt the Doktor holds good, notwith-
ftanding this poor filly tranſparent Shuffle ; and few
will think the Vindicator the better Proteſtant, for calling Dr:
Pearſon, Page 52. almof Infallible Prelate.
Page 54. We have two notable Pieces of Profaneneſs. If
you love a Diſſenter for his Scripture Stories you may as well love
Dutch Tiles. It had been well for the Doctor if he had met
with the Story of Eliſa, tho' in a Tavern Chimney, ſince he
has not leiſure to ſearch the Scriptures, rather than make what
an High Churchman declar'd it,' ſuch an unpardonable Blunder.
But I ſuppoſe the Doctor and his Champions tco (Ib. l. 31.)
baie
16 The Modern Fanatick. Part II.
.
hate a religious Face tho' in Tiles and Tapeſtry; it frights 'em,
and makes 'em cry (Page 55.) Thieves, Tories, Moderation :
Did ever the two laſt (indeed one is blotted out after 'twas
printed) meet together before? Page 56. He calls the Church
as he had done before, The ſtrong Man's Houſe, which Chriſt
undeniably uſes to ſignifie (Mar. 12. 29. and Mar. 3. 27.) the
Kingdom of Satan : Here is a ſpecial Son of the Church, to
make it not only a Den of Theives, but the Devil's Caſtle !
At length, Page 58. we are come to the 2d Article, and he
begins it with a Charge upon me, Page 59. This Fellow B-----
you muſt know mas expelled the Univerſity before he bad been in
it three years : This he affirms roundly and boldly, without
any ſuch Reſtriction as I us'd about the Family that brought
up the Doctor, He is reported----- and about the Drinking-bout
in Oxford-ſhire, The Town rings--- as every one knows it did.
In anſwer to this Caluminy I declare I never had the leaſt Re-
primand from any Officer of ny College, or the Univerſity;
nor that I can remember, froni my Tutor ; and here is my
Teſtimonial from the College in my 5th Year,(where 'tis plain
they declare me at that very time one of the Foundation, as I
was two or three years after) which I will not, like the Do-
étor, put in Engliſh, leſt it favor of Vain-glory.
Quid
VUM antiqua fit laudabilis Academia noftræ con-
ſuetudo, ut qui ad bonarum artium de linguarum ſcien-,
tiam pietatis cultum, morumque probitatem adhibuerint, juſto
eruditionis de pietatis teſtimonio honeſt arentur: NOS Vice-
Magiſter, doo Socii Seniores Collegii Sancta digo Individuce
Trinitatis Cantabrigiæ Gulielmum Biſlett in Artibus Baccalau-
reum, primi anni de unum ex Alumnis ejuſdem Collegii noſtris
biſce literis commendatum multis nominibus omnibus eafdem
infpečturis effe cupimus, eò quod apud nos per proximum trien-
nium probe bu pie se geflerit, bonis artibus diligenter operam na-
Vaverit, ex ante acta etiam vita fpem nobis præbuerit futu-
rum eum Reipublicæ & Ecclefiæ non inutilem. In cujus rei
Teſtimonium Literis hiſce unuſquiſque noſtrum proprid manů
libens ſubſcripſit. Dat in Collegio noſtro prædicto vicefimo fep-
timo die menfis Maii, Anno Domini 1691. Sub Sigillo no-
ftro quo in fimilibus utimur.
Ro. Scott, Vice-magiſter, Deput. Guil. Lynnet.
Jo. Hawkins. Guil. Corker. Tho. Bainbrigg.
Dan. Brattell. Joan. Ekins, Hen. Lane.
Now
Part II. The Modern Fanatick. 17
Now to ſhew that himſelf has made a much longer ſtay and great-
er Improvement in the Place of Polite Learning, he adds preſently
after, Therefore ('tis a Wonder it was not Ergo) Bmt is a Block-
bead and a Coxcoinb.
As to the Charge of taking the Degree of Doctor of Divinity, I
never heard it computed at leſs than 100 l, at leaſt, without un.
common Frugality, or even Parfimony: But if the Doctor (as he
publiſhes) has dedicated 100 l. per annum to his Relations, I ſtill
affirm, He ought to maintain his Mother entirely, that ſome other
Miniſter's Widow that needs it (of whom there are, alas! but too
many ) may come in her ſtead, according to that Apoſtolical In-
jun&tion, 1 Tim. 5. 4. and 16.
As to the Charge upon me about my Leather Convenience (for the
Searcher of Hearts knows I kept it no otherwiſe) being over-perfwa-
ded after' much Importunity and many Refuſals, to preach at a
Chappel above 2 Miles from me, thrice a Week; and in my Turns
here, being to read Prayers and Preach (as I conitantly did) thrice
a Day, and let any one judge if I was able to walk ſo far and back a-
gain, after ſuch hard Work; and to have hird conſtantly would
have coft me more than keeping a Coach, for I had two Horſes to
carry me and my Wife into the Country, before, which my Cha-
rior would do more compleatly.
What an Heap of Falſhoods has this ſhameleſs Writer cram'd into
one Page ? viz. 62. ift, He ſays with the utmoſt Aſſurance (as if it
had paſs'd through his Hands) The Fellow's Income at the moſt is not
120 l. per Annum ; whereas my Re&tory alone is conſiderably more ;
and fure my Brotherhood here is worth ſomething, as his intimate Aca
quaintance can inform him ; and I had ſomething allow'd me for
Preaching thrice a Week, which was the only Occafion of my buy-
ing a Chariot : And I had another conſiderable Income, no wiſe
depending on the Church ; (as not a Shilling of Church money went
to the Purchaſe of my old Chariot). 2dly, He ſays what none but
the coarſeft unbred Clown alive would meddle with, That my Wife
only increas'd my Family, implying that ſhe did not increaſe my In-
come, which is a great Fallhood. 3dly, He immediately ſet up his
Coach; whereas 'twas above a Year after I was married, having
then no Child, nor Appearance of any. 4thly, As to my Stable,
upon which he takes occaſion to be very fooliſhly profane, there is
a Turret with two thick Walls between that and the Church; and
there was before a Shed with a Copper in it for a Wafa-houſe, in
the ſame Place : Befides the Maſter and the whole Chapter had
view'd it about 3 Years before, and lik'd it, and let it ſtand, till I
brought ſome Abuſes before the Lord High Chancellor for redreſs;
of all which I have already publifh'd an Account. sthly. He ſays, I
muſt farther add, that he was thus extravagant while his Siſter mas ſtar-
ving, and fubfifted only by the Charity of ber Acquaintance; he turn's her
out of Doors into this wretched State, becaufe she preſun'd to tell him,
when five found bim playing the wanton with bis Head'in a Woman's Bo-
ſom, that it was indecent and ſcandalous. I ſhall not, like the Doctor,
boast of my Kindneſs and Bounty to my Relations ; but only ſubjoin
D
the
18
The Modern Fanatick. Part II.
COInt
the following Atteſtation drawn up of my Siſter's own accord, in her
own Forn, as the reſt are, without any Directions from me.
H
Dear Brother,
Iver, Feb. 23. 1712
Aving read the Book call'd The Vindication of Dr. Sacheverell,
and finding there is a most notorious Slander caft upon you, with
Heſpect to my ſelf, I think my ſelf under the ſtrongeſt Obligations, both
from Nature and Grace, to juflifie you, and to give the World an Ac
came to live with you, which was 16 years ago. As to your Carriage to
your Father, it was moſt obedient and obliging ; delighting mech in his
Company, and thinking I was ſomewhat defečtive therein : To thoſe of
your Relations that bad need of your Help, liberal beyond your Power;
and to my ſelf the beſt of Brothers ; infomuch as a Lady here uſed to ſay
to me, you are always i'raiſing your Brother ; for which I thought I had
great Cauſe. As to your Carringe bere as a Miniſter, there are many
that will ivy, and more that are dead that did say, Iver never had the
like of you, nor ever expect to have; who preached half the Year once a
Day more than you were obliged, frecly, and taught them from Houſe to
Houſe, ſitting many Hours in poor Cottages, to teach them and their
Children: And Charitable among the Poor to the uttermoſt of your Pow-
And as for your Chaſtity and Honeſty, I did and do believe and
fry, that you were truly ſo; neither did I ever ſee your Head, as your
Standerer ſait), in any Woman's Bofon. When I left your Houſe you
took a Coach and went wii) me to my Siſter, where you paid well for my
Board, so that I never needed or deſired the Charity of any other Perfun
whatſoever in my whole Life ; and I am ſtill maintained by your Bounty
comfortably. And as to your Maid Sarah Green, there is nothing but
Falſpood in the Report : You took ber for a Servant, and was to her 4
good Mafter, and never pretended Courtſhip to ber, and in my very
Scul believe never touched her Lips, nor did I ever think otherwiſe: As
to her going to Worſhipping Afſemblies with me, you never order'd it, but
when jie bad taſted the good Word of God there preach'd, soe ſaid ſhe
lov'd me as her Mother for ever letting her go : And the Reaſon of
ber leaving of you, as alſo of mine, was your breaking up Houſe-keeping.
As to the Truth of all this I ſet my Hand, Your Loving Sifter,
And if need ſo require will
Eliz. Biflet,
ir
add my Dail.
6thly, The Wlim of the Coach laſted but a little while ; the Horſes
#cre ſeized by the Man that ſold them. I kept the old Chariot above
a Year and a half, till it was almost worn out, and when Hay was
Dear sl. a Load (3 times as dear as I gave at first I ſold all toge-
ther again, within 5 l. of what I gave. As to my Horſes being ſeized
by the Seller, here is the Receipt the very Day I bought thein.
Eceived Nov. 14. 1705. of Mr. William Biffet, Thirty Eight
Pounds, Eighteen Shillings, in full for a pair of Coach-horſes
qud a Chariot and Harneſs. I ſay receited,
2. 38: P8
7 William Diſher.
And
R
Parr II. The Modern Fanatick.
19
And let any one judge whether ſuch a poor Purchace, (which is
but the Price of one good Horfe) was intended for Pomp and Shew,
or Uſe and Convenience ; tho' I know ſeveral (ſome of my own
Function) that have kept and do keep Coaches upon leſs than I had.
And I can further affirm I never was ask'd for Money that was due
twice in my Life,and very ſeldom at all. I hope now the Reader will
perceive the Arrogance and Abſurdity of that boat which he wiſely
puts in the Mouth of my Advocate, P. 63. Well, I do own this is a
goodi Turn upon him. The 3 next Pages are about the Milie-Tavern-
Conference, of which enough before. After having told us, P. 66.
that the Doctor's Behaviour was admir'd by all (which I re idily own in
one Senſe to be true) he comes to that Paſſage about the Biſhop of
Im now W- upon whom he baſely reftects; as if lis L P
had found Fault with the Latin, p. 67. in ſpite to the Dean, and
this he ſays is the Doctor's Belief. I leave the World to judge whe-
ther ſo great a Man would reject a Candidate for Orders on lo flight
an Account, and without a further Examination. As to Mr. Price
his only Witneſs, he was diſcarded by his L p for Reaſons
he very well knows, and conſequently his Teſtimony is liable to juſt
Exception,
As to the Charge about the Revolution, King Williamı, and the Pre-
tender, ler the World judge whether a Cercificate of 3 Perſuns that
they did not hear him, are a Ballance to a poſitive Oath; and no
Realon was ever yet offer'd why Mr. Eberal ſhould be perjurid,
(and he is a Man of a good Estate, and nothing offer'd to fully his
Credit) without any imaginable Advantage. He ſays he has a Let-
ter from Mr. Samuel Parker of Oxford; if fo (as another Writer has
lately obſerv'd) he would certainly have printed it, as well as Mrs.
Hearft's, and Siri John's: for 'tis an allow'd Maxim, De non entihis
& non apparentibus eadem eft ratio. As to all bur theſe two he ſays
not a Word.
We come next to Sir C)---- Hi-t, p. 73. whoſe Curate he ſays I
make him; whereas my Words are, when he was Curate, and partly
Chaplain at Sir Ch------ H--t's; only the laſt (as any one may fee)
is refer'd to him. For the Truth of what I have reported there
needs no more than the following Atteftation.
SIR;
F
London, Jan. 17. 17+..
Inding in a Vindication of Dr. Sacheverel, juſt publifb'd by you, a
partial and unfair Account of one Relation, which originally came
from my ſelf, tho it was printed by Mr. Biſlet intirely without my
Knowledge, and with ſome Omiſions and Miſtakes alfo ; I thought it
proper to send the Do&or, by you, a true Account under my Hand that
in caſe it be at any time printed, he may not complain of my private
Method of Turting his Reputation, and may take what care le can be-
fore band for his Vindication. Only I muſt ſay, that if the reſt of the
Stories which paſs of him, can be no better cleard ibin be has cleard
this in his late Book, he bad better think of altering his way, toib of
talking, writing, and living, than do the Chriftian Religion, and
D2
C'urch
-20
The Modern Fanatick, PART II.
Church of England, ſo much Diſſervice, as his vain, and laoſe, and
uncbriftian Conduct at preſent, moſt certainly does to both.
I am, Sir, bis and your very humble Servant,
To Mr. Henry Clements, to
be communicated to Dr.
Henry Sacheyerel.
Will. Whiſton.
Bout tbe Year 1696, when I was for ſome time in the Country at
Tamworth, and occaſionally at Alton, near Birmingham in
Warwickſhire; at the former of which Places, the Pious, Charitable,
and Learned Lady Clobery then liv'd; and at the latter, her San-in-
law, Sir Charles Holt, one of great Eſteem alſo, for his known Lear-
ning, Sobriety, and Piety, in the regular way of the Church of England;
that Living of Afion fell void. At the ſame time Mr. Henry Sache-
verel was at, or near Afton; as having, I ſuppoſe, been Curate to the
formier Incumbent, Mr. Piercehoufe, during his Sickneſs ; and ſo fre-
quently Converſant in Sir Charles's Family. Upon ibe Vacancy of
Allon, Sir Charles was pleas'd, of his own accord, or at the Lady
Clobery's Deſire, or both, to ſend, by Mr. Allop of Tamworth, the
kind offer of the Place to me, if it was agreeable to my Circumſtances
and Inclinations. I return'd hearty Thanks for ſu free and generous an
Offer. But conſidering, that that Living would void my Fellowſhip at
Clare. Hall that my Health was then in a very ill State; and that
the Pariſ was therefore too large for me to undertake; with ſome Re-
lu&ancy, and after ſome Deliberation, I was forc'd to refuſe it. Upon
this, it was in ſome time given to the Reverend Mr. Hollier, who now
popeles it : while ſtill no Offer was made of it to Mr. Sacheverel,
who expected it. My Lady Clobery, talking one Day with me about
that Matter, bappen'd to enlarge upon the Reaſons ſhe and Sir Charles
bad to be averſe to him. So much I fully remember ſhe ſaid, “That
« Sir Charles knew him too well to give bim Alton: That bis Bebavi-
our was exceeding light and foolijb; without any of that Gravity
6 and Seriouſneſs which became one in Holy Orders: That he was fita
C ter to make a Player than a Clergyman; That in particular, he
" was dangerous in a Family, ſince he would, among the very Ser-
" vants, jett upon the Torments of Hell, This I here atteſt under
my Hand, and that the ratler, becauſe I have so often declar'd it to
others ;. even befare I in the leaſt dream'd of being nam'd, as I was in
bis Tiyal; which otherwiſe might be fuppos'd capable of provoking me,
to aggravate things againſt him. And I think that bis Vindication of
bimſelf, as well as all his late Conduct, do jhew, that this Lady and
her Son-in-law, were very right in their Judgment of him.
Jan. 17. 1712
Will. Whifton.
As to the next Charge of profone Curſes, He denies nothing, but
banters it with a Story of Moon-fhine and Pliimib-pisdding'; 'as if a
Mixture of Rage and Profaneneſs were not (what all the World owns)
a proper Account of Curfing. Aid to let the World ſee 'tis an al
Joined Peccadillo with him," he gives me an hearty Curſe, Page 76.
Hang him a Dog with a Mixtgre of Henspa
We
Part II. The Modern Fanatick. 21
I
Wecome p.67. to the Do&tor's Miſtreſs; but first he falls upon
me with a Story of my Maid: there needs no other Anſwer but that
of the blunt Diſputant; Bellarmin thort lieft; for 'tis every tittle falle:
and does it look with a Face of Probability, that I ſhould be s Years
courring a poor Orphan, without a Penny Portion ? and while I
was courting her, with an allowance of ſuitable Raiment, and Edu-
cation, force her fore againſt her Will to attend my siſter to the Con-
venticle, and let her do (for I had then no other Servant) all the
Work of the Houſe, as making Coal-Fires, esc? As to the Tears,
I never heard of or ſaw one; and the has often been (ſince the
left me) at my Houſe, to ſee me and my Wife ; and we have both
a very great Reſpect for her, as being a very pious and blameleſs
Maid. I ſent to the place where the liv'd about two Years after
mine, and to another where I thought ſhe might be heard of, but
they could give no Account where the lives; but I have met with
her by a ſtrange Chance at a Friend's of mine in Town, where the
fign'd the following Certificate.
Mar. 1. 1712
Do hereby declare to the World, That the Account given in the Book
callid, The Vindication of Dr. Sacheverel, concerning me and the
Reverend Mr. William Biſſet, once my Maſter, is utterly falſe.
Sarah Green.
Now as to the Doctor's Amours, I find I was miſinform'd
about the Gentlewoman's Death: In the fair Copy deliver'd to the
Bookſeller I ſpoke of her as alive; and alter'd it upon the Autho-
rity of one that I thought knew better ; but roo Miles and more
was too far to ſend of a ſudden; yet this is not very material, the
foul Dealing is the ſame.
And ſince my Book has been out, I have received a Meſſage from
a near Relation of Mrs. I-s, that 'tis as bad or worſe than I
have reported: If it were ended, as his Vindicator affirms, p. 79. with
all the Honour and fair Dealing that a Man can shew; why does he
rot get ber Atteſtation? or if he had it, is it just and fair to court a
Gentleman's Daughter, and carry on the Intrigue without his
Knowledge or Leave ? If the Dr, read ſuch Ethicks to his Pupils,
Parents had need be upon their Guard: But if her father be dead,
and ſhe has enough to tempt any Man to take ber, why does not the
Dodor renew his Addreſſes?' for I was aſſur'd by a very credible
Perſon, that in one of his Letters is this Expreſſion, Let God
for fake me if ever I forſake you : And now ought this Fellow B-
to loſe bis Tongue and Hand for this Story? I find they long for 2
French Government, in which ſuch arbitrary Sentences may pals, and
Bit would loſe them and his Life too, if they could find a Rab-
ble or Ruffians for their Turn.
As to the 8th Article of great Immodeſty; the Doctor knows 110
ſuch Perſon as Sy Wy, but the Letter from the Gentle-
man at Oxford has rub'd up his Memory about 3 W-(the
Name in iny Account which he wilfully miſtook) and a Fellow-
Collegiate that ſhe was married to. As to the Wench at the Inn
I know not what he calls his Progreſs, or whether he owns any, but
-t
The Modern Fanatick. PART II.
the fact he has not in the leaſt diſown'd. The Whimſical Saying at
the Chriſtning too is not donied, as if for a Parſon to be the Town-
Bull were but a Wbimfey, or as it is, pi 82. a Trifle ; but the Vindi-
eator cakes his Riſe hence for a moſt profane Banter upon the New-
Birth and Religious Diſcourſe ; yet I dare not ſay he deſerves to loſe
his Tongue or Hand, but this I will ſay, Such a Tongue and Hand
are not very fit for a Pulpit.
As to Sir 2. W -o's Letter, 'tis no more to the Purpoſe than
Mrs. Hearft's; for be only teſtifies as to that Part which belongs to me,
whereas hc fhould have ſaid, As to the Doctor's Behaviour at my
Houfe, to my certain knowledge he was not diſorder'd with Drink.
I have heard it fince confidently affirm'd; as I had it at firſt from
2 greater Perſons than Sir 7. who being ſo very ſober himſelf,
makes no Scruple to term one he knows not, a Madman.
Page 83. He gives us a Taft of his Charity : I proteft, I am afraid
the W ligs will worſhip the D, and ofer their Sons and Daughters
at bis Altar : If all his Proteſtations and Oaths have no more
Truth and Sincerity, he too may come to the Honour of Knighthood.
As to the Gaming, he denies nothing ; bur jefts it off, with
being a great Dab, and playing on Sundays. And as to his Menaces,
P. 84 I defy him, and all his intimate Friends, with whom I can
foon be much more than even; and after this Taft of his Vera-
city (for I have by authentick Teſtimony diſprov'd every Tittle)
the World will not be over hatty in believing him.
For the Parallel be draws, p. 85, & 86, between my Cafe and
the Dodor's, about our Places ; concluding, p. 8. himſelf is
equally guilty; nay, mine is a Beam, and his but a Mote'; and
confequently the Argument holds ſtronger againſt me. I own I
have a Living, 52 Miles from Town, and I have a Place in a
Collegiate Church here : but is there no Difference between a Colle-
giate Clurch and a Parochial, as both his are ? Between the
Extent of the Precinet of St. Katherine, and the Pariſh of St. Saviour's
Southwark, which contains, I believe; 4 times as inany Souls. Be.
fides (what is the main Difference) I have but 4 Weeks here in a
Quarter ; when thoſe are out, I have nothing to do in the Church:
Whereas he is bound, as Pavilla Miniſter, to Preach every Week,
and do Parochial Duties conſtantly. I have 8 Months in the Year
to ref.de, as I and my family conſtantly do, upon my Cure; and
I believe the ſtrictent Reſident, taking one Year with another, is
very near as much abſent from his Charge: I have but a Days
Journey, and he at leaſt 3; I never fail to be there every Quarter,
and 'tis well if he go once a Year.
As to the 12th, ſure there never was ſuch wretched Shuffling
Since the World ſtood: I charge him with divers Falfhoods, both
in Doctrine and Fact; which he lays his Thumb complearly upon;
and would perſwade the World, i Die Weight of the Article lies chiefly
upon preaching an old Sermon to fo great an Auditory. . The Decency
of which he proves from the Pra&tice of Jockeys and Ship-Carpen-
ters. And what is abſurder yet, he makes the poor Wbig concur
with him, p. 89. I tbink you have ſaid cnough upon this Article ;
whicu
Part II. The Modern Fanatick.
33
none
when he had ſaid just nothing, but left the Falfhoods and Forge
fy even as they were.
As to the Ponſcript, p. 90. & 91. I am fairly acquitted; and
therefore let the Iriſh Dean, Mr. Ryley, and the poor Waſperwomanho
&c, anſwer for themſelves, and agree the Matter with the Doctor
as well as they can. But I believe very few are of the Vindicator's
Mind, p.92. that theſe are but TRIFLES, and almoſt allow'd Peccadil-
lo's
3 ſure they cannot ſeem ſo from one that never did at School
an Inmoral or a Childiſh thing. Et To Brate, might Mrs. Hearſt tru-
ly ſay to him, as Cafar to his reputed Son; What thou, my Child!
whom I have taken to my own Árms ; whoſe Youth was ſo full of the
fweeteſt Modeſty, p. 31. And no leſs full of Manly Goodneſs. I have
read of Venial Sins, but never before of allow'd ones, even in the
Church of Rome. I hope he does not preach ſuch Doctrine ; if he
does, there will be need, more than enough, of the utmoſt Endea-
vours of the Societies for Reformation of Manners; when the Ene-
my comes in like a Flood, to ſtop the Overflowings of Ungodlineſs. Con-
cerning the Senſe of the 2 Biſhops nt ntion'd in this page, I will
believe it when I ſee it under their own Hands, and not as we have
it here, at 2d, 3d,or 4th Hand.
The whole 93d Page, is the fawcieſt Arraignment of ſeveral of
the greateſt Perſons of the Kingdom, eſpecially the renowned Duke
of Marlborough, (who is fill Commander in Chief, by Her Majefty's
own Choice ) that ever came from an audacious, ſelf-conceited
Stripling.
Page 94. Is taken up with a Panegyrick upon the Doctor, and his
great Atchievements who under God and the Queen has given us
this new Life ; which may ſerve to explain his new coin'd, crabe
bed, long-winded Word Reviviſcence, which, and ſoporiferous,
are all that the World has got by this learned Treatiſe. A new Life
the Do&tor has help'd to give us indeed, viz. with broken Heads,
broken Limbs, broken Windows; and as this Author hopes, and
thanks God for in the worſt Senſe, p. 95. broken Hearts. What a
Life is here about him? But I have reaſon to think with the
Clergyman, in his Letter to the Doctor, p. 26. A time will come when
you may quietly walk the Streets, without being run after, and pointed
be but this, There goes he, who was once the great Troubler of our Il-
rael. This is indeed giving a new Life, ſuch as it is; but God de-
liver us from ſuch Reviviſcence.
The Vindicator has now done with me, except only an Addreſs
in the laſt Page to the Convocation, to deliver me over to Satan, and
cut of all thoſe that trouble us. That fo the true Tories, from hence-
forth, may reign Lords and Maſters without controul: The reſt,
p. 95, 96, 97, &98, is a furious Declamation againſt thoſe in ge-
peral, that are called Moderate Clergymen; all whom he declares,
in his exceſs of Charity, p. 96. Perjur'd before God and Man. Ho
chiefly infults them upon the Meanneſs of their Parentage ; and ſays,
they were born, p. 97. to embrace Dungbills: As if God, the Father
of Spirits, ever form'd a Reaſonable Creature, which is bis Ofspring,
24
The Modern Fanatick. PART
II.
for fo vile a Condition : Born to embrace Dunghills ! Now you
muſ know his Father was a Dean, which makes him as proud as
if he had been a Duke, and trample upon his Betters as the Mire,
ibid, in the Streets. But no wonder ; for he declares, p. 96. I own
I have no Moderation. Sure he never read, or does not own for Ca-
nonical, that .Text, Let your Moderation be known unto all Men.
P. 98. The Wbig, who is relaps'd again, tho' ſo often converted
by his mighty Reaſonings, ſays, For God's Sake, what do you mean
by all this Hear and Paſſion? What indeed ? For 'twould puzzle
the ableit Head on Earth to make any Senſe of it. Thou art as hot
as a Glaſs-Houſe ; (let me add too, as foul as a Draught-Houſe)
yet he declares, If I had time I would be 7 times hotter than I am.
I cannot imagine how that can poſſibly be on this ſide Hell. I
Thall only leave with him that Remark of the Wiſe Man, which,
if duly conſider'd, may perhaps bring him to a cooler and hum-
bler Temper, Prov. 21. 24. Proud and baughty Scorner is his Name,
who dealeth in proud Wrath.
at.
POSTSCRIPT.
H E fame Author, as I have good reaſon to believe, being
reſolv'd to have ſome Notice taken of him, has pitch'd
up-
on an unexampled Piece of Folly; to anſwer this Book before it was
publiſh'd, nay before it was written; and to foretell what will be
found in the ſeveral Pages. I wonder any one that has the leaſt
grain of Thought, would ever take ſo much Pains to be laugh'd
But 'tis the leſs to be wonder'd at, ſince Solomon has obſerv'd,
Ecclef. 10. 3. When he that is a Fool walketh by the way, his Wiſdom
faileil him, and he ſaith to every one that he is a Fool
.
But of all his Follies, none is fo horrid and unexcuſable, as the
putting that Text of Scripture in the Title Page, from Pf. 139.
v. 2. And underſtandeſt my Thoughts long before ; which he manifeft-
ly, impiouſly, and I may fay, blaſphemouſly refers to himſelf, as
knowing my Thoughts, long before I knew 'em all my ſelf; and to
joyn thar Verſe with a Verſe of Sir Roger L'Strange, I think adds
to the Profaneneſs.
I am aſſur'd his greateſt Friends are highly offended at his act-
ing this very weak Part; eſpecially at that Citation. There is,
p. 6. a molt impudent Falíhood, which he well knows to be ſuch;
ſpeaking of the forg'd Recantation in my Name. [I am of Opinion that
bis Printer may be prevail'd upon, to produce the Copy in his own Hand
writing] and p. 14. [peaking of me, He often declares he could eat the
Heart of a Tory with pleaſure. I will not ſay, (as he) Was there
ever ſuch a daring Knight of the Post ? But this I will ſay, there
have not been many ſuch licentious Miniſters.
The 4 laft Pages are ſo dull and impertinent, that few have had
Patience to read them out ; and p. 13. his Language is ſo very
coarſe and beaſtly, as a civil Carman would be asham'd to uſe, and
None but a Gald-finder, (to uſe his own Terms) is fit to deal
with fo foul a Writers who has no more, Regard to Civility,
Decency or Truth.
Å I N I S.