For no focner were they aware of the power of the apoftles doctrine (by apoftles I mean those who took upon them to pray, read, and expound the fcriptures in private houses, as you may fee in the fubfequent part of the history) as these fix young men who were expelled the univerfity are faid to have done. Seeing, I fay, their extraordinary fervour in preaching, they cried out against them as perfons drunk with new wine, by which we may understand enthufiafm. Acts ii. 13. Well, my beloved, this is the very cry of the clergy against all fuch as preach Jefus and the refurrection, and from their mouths the vulgar catch the found; fo that with many, a methodist, and an enthusiast; a diffenter, and a fanatic, are thought to be fynonimous terms. From hence we may learn, that flander may as well be thrown out in a fermon as in a farce, and will iffue with as good a grace from a pulpit as from a theatre. But no more of this, because our time draws towards the other end.

It is very remarkable how zealous thofe gentlemen of the gown, who aimed no higher than a good fat benefice, have always fhewed themselves when the doctrine of Christ in its fimplicity hath beeen preached; for why? truly because it lays the axe to the root of the tree of prieftcraft, and throws down the importance of the parfon into the dirt. If the clergy were all to obferve the rules given by Chrift to his difciples in his fermon upon the mount, where would be all their titles, their riches and grandeur, their

coaches,

coaches, their livery-men, and their plate? But ye know that thefe rules are different from this craft, whereby the parfons get their wealth, as heaven is different from hell. But as priestcraft is lucrative, it will be fure to find fupporters, whilft the houses have got one HEAD left upon them.

In Acts v. we find that Peter and the reft of his praying, reading, and fcripture-expounding brethren, were brought before the Vice Chancellor and the Heads of Houses for a hearing, and after a hearing of several hours they took counsel to flay them, v. 33. But there was one Dr. Gamaliel, the head of a certain house, who fided with them, and probably proved their doctrine from the articles of the Jewish church as by law eftablifhed. I trow this fame Dr. Gamaliel was tinctured with the doctrine they preached, as the principal of Edmund-Hall who defended the faith of the fix young men who were expelled the university of Oxford for praying, &c. may be fuppofed fecretly to have believed in the articles which he once fubfcribed, though he dare not now to avow his faith openly.

There is one thing in the account that is fomething remarkable, namely the wife motion of doctor Gamaliel over-ruled the bloody defigns of the priests; but it was not fo at the other univerfity, for although the principal of Edmund-Hall defended and proved the methodistical doctrine from the articles of the church, and spoke highly of the piety and exemplarinefs of the lives of the young C

men

men his motion was over-ruled, and the fix young men were expelled, as before obferved, What is one methodist among a host of divines?

Another thing we may take notice of, namely, thofe ancient doctors had a law by which they could put people to death for praying, reading, and expounding the fcriptures; but our univerfities have no fuch law, or it is no way doubtful but that the fame zeal which will, under a proteftant government, expel the students of the univerfity for praying, &c. would, for the fame reafons, burn offenders at a stake, were they favoured with a popish king. So that if the Heads of Houses were lefs bloody in their defigns than their ancestors, it is not to be imputed to want of good-will, but to the proteftant restraints which they are under.

Remarkable was the procedure of the Jews against Stephen, related Acts vi. 9. Then there arofe certain of the fynagogue, which is called the fynagogue of the Libertines, &c. difputing with Stephen, &c. This fame Stephen was a low churchman, a whig, and a puritan, and therefore was fure to be oppofed in that blinded age. But who were they, my beloved, that here are faid to have rifen against Stephen?-Not bargemen, link-boys, lamp-lighters and Irish chairmen; but gentlemen of the fynagogue. Certain of the fynagogue, i. e. Devout men of the established church; their Lauds, their Calamys, and their Sacheverals. But to what fynagogue did they belong, think you? Why they belonged to the fynagogue of the Libertines. Was ever

one

one egg more like to another, than ancient things are to modern? If the gentlemen of the fynagogue of the Libertines would have been quiet, Stephen might have gone on preaching and praying without oppofition: but then it would have fpoiled the priests trade of getting wealth.

This leads me to enquire wherefore they rofe up against him. Was he a drunkard, a murderer, or feditious perfon? or did he speak reproachfully of the miracles of Chrift and of Mofes? No, none of all these were alledged against him. But the grand caufe of their umbrage was, "The word of God "increased, and the number of the difciples

multiplied," whereby people forfook their old Libertine paftors, infomuch that the parifh fynagogues, in many places, were almost wholly forfaken. Exactly alike again: Stephen, you must know, was a great ringleader of that fect that turned the world upfide down; he was full of faith and power, performing many notable miracles, to the great grief of the gentlemen belonging to the fynagogue of the Libertines; therefore they thought it beft to difpatch him out of the way, for the fafety of the church.

It would be endlefs, my beloved, to point out all the inftances in which the Jewish and the clergy agree I fhall therefore leave them to another occafion, and fhall pafs on to another very famous church in that part of the world, and after that I hall come nearer home, within our own ken. And,

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III. This

III. This famous church was that of Diana at Ephefus; and I wot, in this church there was many a good living in the gift of the univerfity; and I trow, that the Heads of Houses were very careful that none should enjoy one of them unless he was well known to be a true fon of the church, that is to fay, a promoter of the fale of the shrines of Diana, and a worshipper of the image that fell down. from Jupiter.

This Diana was, in her day, a lady remarkable for hunting of ftags, and ever fince, her clergy have been as remarkable for the hunting of (not ftags, but) a good benefice. Now, my beloved, this fame huntress was the perfonage worshipped by most people of Afia, and fhe had many, very many clergy, who adored her for the fake of gain; for by this craft we have our wealth, faid they. A language not yet practically laid afide.

There was a famous univerfity for the training up of young gentlemen in the holy craft of making fhrines for the goddess; and a lucrative craft they found it, my beloved, for they had it in their power to fell a brazen fhrine for a golden price; a thing which others befides them practise.

This univerfity was at Ephefus, a very populous city, where water was cheap, but fire very dear; and here were many colleges and halls for the training up of young men in the craft of getting wealth. Every hall had a Head, and over all the Heads of Houfes was a Vice Chancellor, the Rev. Dr. Demetrius