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[vi]

and the Heads of Houses, to whom, after I had mounted the roftrum with the ufual formality, I preached the following fermon, the whole world being Juppofed bearers:

Concerning which Sermon I would have it obferved,

1. That I pretend not to justify any part of the conduct of the Methodists, befides praying to God, reading, expounding the Scriptures, and finging hymns, &c.

2. That I cenfure none of the clergy, but fuch as are against praying, reading, and expounding the fcriptures, and finging of hymns.

3. That whoever this Coat is found to fit, I would have the gentleman put it on, and wear it as his own; affuring himself that it was made for him, and that, tho' a SHAVER, I am his TAYLOR,

4. That, perhaps, in gratitude for my great pains, and the new hints given in this fermon, which may caft a light upon ecclefiaftical history, the Ve Cr and Heads of Houses, may prefent me to fome good benefice. And they may depend

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upon it that I shall have the parishioners as handsome as any on 'em

Thus, reader, I have told you all about it; and have only to add, that after I had, at leisure hours, wrote my fermon fairly out, I carried it to a bookfeller, expecting that he would be as fond of it as I was, which, I believe is a cafe very common with us AUTHORS; but he drew up his Shoulders, looked four uponit and faid, he feared it was too courfe for this polite age. I affured him that the file was quite clerical, being borrowed from the Parish Prieft, and what he might hear in many Pulpits, if he would only travel for it; but he being of the faving order, and not over fit for travelling in deep roads, agreed to take my word for it, rather than be at the expence and trouble of feeking further Proof; foit was fent to the Prefs, to furnish you, my friend, with half an hour's entertainment, and pleafe

Your bumble fervant,

THE SHAVER.

A

SERMON,

&c.

Having the honor of addreffing fo learned a body, with bands fo white, gowns fo black, and caps fo orthodox, I take the liberty of striking a little from the common road of preaching; and as this is a fingular occafion, Ifhall make free with a fingular text.

You know, my beloved, it is the way of most preachers to choose fome paffage of fcripture for their text, which having distinctly read twice over, you hear no more of the bible till the fermon is finished; but are entertained with fuch a lecture as you may find in a news-paper, price two-pence halfpenny. But I have the honour of departing a little from this general rule, and fhall be the first who takes his text from a news-paper, and illuftrates his doctrine by fcripture hiftory; and having broken the ice, as we used to fay, I expect to have many ingenious followers. You will find our text in the St. James's Chronicle for Thursday, March 17, 1768, No. 1099, Printed by Henry Baldwin, at the PrintingOffice, White-Friars, Fleet-Street. Wherein, if you will pull your newspapers out of your pockets, you may read with me the following paragraph. EXTRACT

EXTRACT of a LETTER from OXFORD.

On Friday last fix ftudents belonging to EdmundHall were expelled the University, after an bearing of feveral hours before Mr. Vice Chancellor, and fome of the Heads of Houses, for bolding Methodistical tenets, and taking upon them to pray, read, and expound the fcriptures, and fing bymns in a private house, The

of the

defended their doctrines from the thirty-nine articles of the established church, and spoke in the highest terms of the piety and exemplarinefs of their lives; but his motion was over-ruled, and fentence pronounced aganft them. Dr., one of the Heads of Houfes prefent, obferved, that as thefe fix gentlemen were expelled for having too much religion, it would be very proper to enquire into the conduct of fome who had too little; and Mr.

was heard to tell their chief accuser, that the University was much obliged to him for his good work.

OUR

UR text is indeed fomewhat long; but we then, my beloved, we have the more matter to work upon; and you know this is a day in which invention is not very brisk, especially among the gentlemen clergy. But We proceed to profecute our subject after the old orthodox plan, namely,

I. To go over our text by way of expli

cation.

II. Deduce anotable point of doctrine from it, viz. That this act of the V-e C—————r, and the Heads of Houses, is defenfible from the conduct of the clergy in all ages, and in all countries.

III. Conclude

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