III. Conclude with fpecial application. I. Explain our text. In doing which I muft divide it into very fmall parcels, even as the skilful furgeon does the flesh of a hanged malefactor, when he diffects an organ. And in the first place,

Extract of a Letter from Oxford.

This Oxford, my beloved, is a city in the Weft of Englaud, notable for a great univerfity, i. e. a place of learning: and it would do you good to see the numbers of hopeful young gentlemen who come from all parts of England in purfuit of learning, infomuch that all the colleges are frequently crowded. But you will fay, What do they learn? To which I answer in the negative, as being much eafier than the affirmative. For it appears from our text, that there are fome things which they do not learn.

(1.) Praying:-I mean, they do not, in common, learn to pray to God. It feems this is no part of the approved exercises of the ftudents in that university; for, fays our text, Six young gentlemen were expelled the Univerfity for praying. From whence we may draw this inference, namely, Thet if the Vice Chancellor, and the Heads of Houses, expelled thefe fix offenders for praying to God, it is natural to fuppofe, that they are not guilty of that crime themselves; otherwise, they would fall under that reproof. Rom. ii. 1,

(2.) To read and expound the fcriptures is another thing which feems to be there

prohibited.

prohibited. Whether Rochester's Poems, Tristram Shandy, The Minor, and fuch books, are efteemed orthodox, and therefore tolerated, I pretend not to fay; but one thing is clear from our text, that reading and expounding the fcriptures is against the Oxonian law; for Six young gentlemen were expelled the University for reading and expounding the fcriptures.

(3.) Singing of hymns is another thing which they do not learn: this is alfo clear from the words. By finging of hymns, I mean praifing of God for bleffings received, according to Col. iii. 16. Let the word of Chrift dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in pfalms, and hymns, and fpiritual fongs, finging with grace in your bearts to the Lord. But finging of pfalms, and hymns, and fpiritual fongs, cannot be connived at in the University by the Heads of Houses; for Six young men were expelled the Univerfity for finging of hymns.

Note, This was an extract of a Letter from Oxford; which fhews, that there be fome people there who can write, notwithstanding all the reflections that have been caft upon them; and that, although reading is dangerous there, yet an Oxonian may write with impunity.

II. Laft Friday:-the better day, the better deed. Friday, you know, is a faft-day; on which it was fitteft to go about a work of this importance, when the judgment was not fettered with bodily groffnefs, but purged by an empty belly.

Laft

Laft Friday:-It was not a thing that happened in the dark ages of Monkih ignorance, but what has happened in this enlightened age of CHRISTIANITY. It was not when the Úniversity was tied hand and foot by Popish prejudices, and the Heads of Houses were obliged to fubmit to their betters; but it was Last Friday, the act and deed of Proteftant Divines.

III. Six Students!-What a miracle was it, my beloved, that, out of fo many hundreds of ftudents as are at Oxford, only Six should be found guilty of praying, reading, and expounding the fcriptures. faithfulness of their vigilant tutors, in guarding them against fuch pernicious practices. Now, from this, observe,

This fhews the

1. That there were but Six ftudents cf all the University, who could be detected in thofe evils of praying, &c. much to the honour of that learned body.

2. That thofe Six being expelled;-now there are none left in all the colleges who take upon them to pray, read, and expound the fcriptures:-therefore, gentlemen may with fafety fend their fons to that fountain of learning, without fearing that they will become religious;-there being none left

now to enfnare them.

IV. They all belonged to Edmund-HallIt seems they loved to be together; from whence it may be gathered that they loved one another. A fault which the Heathens accused the Chriftians of old with, but from which mankind in general are now pretty

free.

free. It appears as if this Edmund-Hall was the only place at Oxford in which praying people were to be found. But it is hoped that the governors of that Hall will be mulet for their careleffnefs in fuffering the students to read the bible and to enquire after religion, feeing it is contrary to the fenfe of this university.

V. Were expelled the Univerfity. Deprived of the rights and privileges of the king's loving fubjects, or as the word fignifies, they were drove out, forced away, and banished from the University. This religious act was performed by the Vice-Chancellor, after an hearing of feveral hours. I remember when bishop Hooper was fent for by queen Mary, the pious bishop of London and my Lord Chancellor, the guides of her confcience, being determined to have him burnt, they thought good to make a fhew of justice by giving him a hearing, withal refolving not to fwerve from their bloody defign. So, in like manner, our venerable tutors were determined not to fuffer praying perfons to breathe the Univerfity air; yet being tied to form, they would give them an hearing.

An hearing of feveral hours,-Ah! my beloved, ye may see how remarkably the fcriptures are fulfilled in that learned body of divines, where it fays, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; fee ye indeed, but perceive not.

VI. We come to the crime for which they were expelled the University; and I wot it was an heinous crime indeed. This would appear without illuftrating it, from the cha

racter

But

racter of the expellers, namely, Mr. ViceChancellor, and the Heads of Houfes. But, as I love to remove every hillock out of the way, for your better information I fhall explain it. What was their crime then, my beloved, think you? Was it drinking? No, no, it was not drinking; for they were very temperate. Was it whoring then, the common practice of many students? No, it was not whoring neither; for their lives are faid to have been very exemplary. I wish, my beloved, it had been no worse. what was it then? Was it fwearing, and fighting, and abusing their fellow students? No, for they fhunned the other students, as a wife man will bun an attorney: thus much may be gathered from our text, which intimates, that they met together among themselves. But it was praying: -that my beloved, was one part of their crime. Six young men were expelled the Univerfity for praying. For Mr. Ve Cr and the Heads of Houfes will fuffer no praying people to continue in the University.

Reading and expounding the fcriptures was another part of the crime. But what, in the name of the Pope, can students have to do with the fcriptures? What pity is it that the bible is not locked up in the Vatican? But letting that pafs, we find that learning to expound the fcriptures is no part of the employment of the ftudents, Six young men being expelled the Univerfity for reading and expounding the fcriptures.

What