prohibited. Whether Rochester's Poems, Triftram 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 scriptures is against the Oxonian law; for Six young gentlemen were expelled the Univerfity 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 Univerfity by the Heads of Houses; for Six young men were expelled the University 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 cast 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 fast-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 University 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.

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

1. That there were but Six ftudents of all the University, who could be detected in those 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 Christians 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 sense 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 bearing of feveral hours,-Ah! my beloved, ye may fee 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

racter of the expellers, namely, Mr. ViceChancellor, and the Heads of Houses. But as I love to remove every hillock out of the way, for your better information I shall 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. But what was it then? Was it fwearing, and fighting, and abufing their fellow ftudents? No, for they fhunned the other students, as a wife man will foun 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. rand the Heads of Houses will fuffer no praying people to continue in the Univerfity.

Ve C

Reading and expounding the fcriptures was another part of the crime. But what, in the name of the Pope, can ftudents have to do with the fcriptures? What pity is it that the bible is not locked up in the Vatican? But letting that pass, 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

What added to their guilt was, that they carried their religion to a private boufe. But what can private people have to do with religion? Ought not they to do as their forefathers did, namely, give up their confciences and understandings to the guidance of their venerable priest? Is it not enough that gentlemen in black know, and understand religion, but every private perfon must be dabbling in it, contrary to the fenfe of this Univerfity? I wot, my beloved, that the clergy cannot thrive as they do, if every private house must become a worshipping temple; but it is thought there is little reason to fear this, feeing our text informs us, that the doctors of the univerfity are determined to do what they can to prevent it; for Six young men were expelled the Univerfity for being religious in a private house.

VII. Another part of their crime was, that they held Methodistical tenets. This fame methodist, my beloved, is a cramp word, gathered out of old books, by men of reverence and learning, and applied to fuch who pray, read, expound the fcripture, and fing hymns in private houses, a people never to be tolerated by the clergy. You'll observe, that this fame hard word, which the nation has long rung with, first of all was given to the fons of Efculapius, as a name of honour, and about thirty years ago, was by learned men raised up, as the witch of Endor (who seems, to have been a clergywoman too) raised the ghoft of old Samuel.

Thofe