'I Cor. ix.

13, 14.

and the Curate any thing confcientious in his Duty) are more honourable, and more rewardable both in the Sight of God and Man, needs no farther Deliberation. 'Tis as plain, I think, as all those Paffages both in the Old and New Teftament, that reprove the Negligent, and commend the Sedulous, and make our Labour and Affiduity the Condition of our Respect and Estimation with the People, can be prefum'd to make it. And therefore, to close this Point in the Words of a learned Author, who, after a View and Examination of moft of those Paffages, gives this for his Opinion in the Conclufion: "Since all the Returns of Obedience and Sub"miffion, of Efteem and Support, are declared "in Scripture to be due to the Clergy, on the "Account of their watching over, and feeding "the Flock of God; thofe who pretend to "these, without confidering themselves as "under the other Obligations, are guilty of "the worst fort of Sacrilege, in devouring the things that are facred, without doing those "Duties for which these are due; and what cc Right foever the Law of the Land may give "them to them, yet certainly according to the "divine Law, those who do not wait at the Altar, ought not to be Partakers with the "Altar; those who do not minifter about holy things, ought not to live of the things of the Temple; nor ought those who do not preach "the Gospel, to live of the Gospel."

I HAVE infifted the longer on this Privilege of Respect, not fo much with a Purpose to magnify our Office, (tho' that were no difcommendable Attempt) as to take away fome Prejudices, and let the good People of England

*Bishop Burnet's Paft. Care, p. 48.

know

know (what has been kept behind the Curtain too long) that the Glare and Figure of an Ecclefiaftic is no way effential to his Character; that a flaming Gown and Caffock have no more Virtue in 'em, and perhaps lefs Learning under them, than the meaneft Thread-baré Jacket; that the Rector, that lives in the great House, has no more Power and Efficacy in his Office, than the little ftarv'd Curate that lodges in a Garret ; that Rents and great Tythes make no Difference in their Orders, nor give any Force of Ratification to their Adminiftrations; that Wealth, in short, may be a Confideration in Traffick, but is none at all in Divinity; and whatever Regard belongs to a Clergyman, belongs to his Profeffion, not his Preferment. And I did it too, for the Information of my Brethren, whofe keeping their Dependents at fo fcornful a Distance, proceeds in a great Measure, I hope, from their not having fufficiently confidered this State of Equality that is among us; and thereby to facilitate my Way to the

II. NEXT thing, we think, we have a Right to, the Refpect and Benevolence that fhould interfere among us, and be, as it were, the common Soul of the Body of the Clergy. The Body of the Clergy, my Lord, are certainly bound by the fame Doctrines that they teach others. The Laws of Chriftianity, which cherish and promote Compaffion and Benevolence, which teach us to be humble and affable, courteous and charitable, ready and difpofed to every good Work, and prompt to all Offices of Humanity and Kindness, lay hold on the Priest as well as the People. When therefore we read in the Gospel fuch ftrict Charges as thefe, to love and to live like Brethren, to have fervent 1 Pet. iv. 8. Charity among themselves, to be kindly affec- Rom, xii. 10. tionate

I

25.

Phil. ii. 3 tionate one towards another, to do nothing out of Strife or Debate, but in Honour to prefer, and Gal. ii. 9. give the Right-hand of Fellowship one to another: When more efpecially we see our bleffed Saviour discountenancing all Pretences to Superiority among Equals, and fettling and adjusting this Point once for all in that remarkable DeciMatt. xx. cifion of his; Ye know that the Gentiles exercise Dominion over them, and they that are great, exercife Authority upon them; but it shall not be fo among you, but whofoever will be great among you, let him be your Servant: where the only Pre-eminence. he allows is fuch as arifes from our greater Condefcention. When we read and confider all this, I fay, one would think, in the Strength of thefe Precepts, and the Improvements of a liberal Education, the Clergy of this Nation fhould excel all other Fraternities whatever in Respect and Civility, and in Kindness and Beneficence to one another: One would think, that a Divine, with a fair Fortune, and many Preferments, fhould have a fenfible Pleafure to fee now and then at his Table, a Set of the fame Order and Profeffion with himself, whofe Converfation cannot but be more useful and entertaining, than the bawling Nonfenfe of a Country 'Squire, or the worfe Impertinence of a little rich Tradefman, who in all his Thoughts, Words, and Actions, fmells ftrong of the Compter, and fo will do to his dying Day; fhould delight to fee his Curare appear every Day as clean as his Footman, and if not to come up to the Clark, (which must eternally be defpaired of) yet confidering all things, to have a Salary very near as good as the Sexton; one would think, that a Perfon of fuch Eminence. fhould not fail to do Juftice at leaft, if no great Courtefies, to thofe that are beneath him;

fhould

Thould not fail to treat them with fome kind of Manners and Civility, by reafon of their Character; pay pun&tually their Stipends when become due, by reafon of their Exigencies; promote their Intereft and Advancement, by reafon of their Dependance upon him; speak commendably of their Parts and Proficiencies; speak tenderly, or not all, of their Faults and Imperfections; discountenance all falfe Rumours and Accufations against them; and when there are real Grounds for Cenfure and Reproof, reprove them gently, and in the Spirit of Meek- Gal. vi. £¦ nefs, remembring themselves, left they likewife be tempted.

THIS, and a great deal more, might be expected from Men in fuch high Stations, and happy Circumstances; under fuch Ties of Love, and mu tual Relations; and your Lordship, at that Diftance, may think perhaps nothing elfe, but that all the Clergy in the Kingdom are in this Manner treating, and refpecting, and complementing one another. But when the reverfe of all this appears, (as were I to draw the Curtain, and fhew your Lordship mighty Rectors riding over the Heads of their Readers and Curatès; re ceiving them with an Air of Superiority that would better become a Perfian Monarch than a Christian Priest; breaking Jefts upon their Poverty, and making themselves merry with their Misfortunes; turning them, among the Herd of their Servants, into the Kitchen, 'till Dinner comes in, and then fhewing them what a mighty Favour it is that they are permitted to fit down at the lower End of the Table among their Betters; curtailing in the mean while their Allowances, which are only held at the Will of their Lord; keeping them under the worst of Torments, a merciless Sufpenfe, and perpetual C

Incer=

Incertitude of daily Bread; then turning them out at a Minute's Warning, purely to fhew the Abritrarinefs of their Sway; and if at any time they pretend to murmur or complain, perfecuting them with Fury and Revenge, and calling in a fuperior Power to crush them; as were I to fhew and exemplify this to your Lordship, I fay, the Reverse of every thing would appear) what fhall we fay in Excufe for these Men? Shall we give in to the Calumnies of their Enemies, who impute all this to the worst of Causes, Pride and Arrogance, and a Spirit of Infidelity? Or fhall we fuppofe that there is an external and

internal Doctrine in the Chriftian Syftem; the one to be delivered and made publick to us, and the other to be concealed and reserved for their own private Practice?

I CAN never for mine Heart confent to either of these dishonourable Suggestions, and was therefore looking out for another Reafon to apologise for this odd Behaviour, but could think of none except that common one I learnt at School,

† Ζηλοι δέ τε γείτονα γείτων, Καὶ κεραμεύς κεραμε κοτέει, καὶ τέκτονι τέκτων, Καὶ πλωτός πλωτῷ φθονέει, καὶ αοιδός αοιδ till a Friend of mine, who has always an extenfive Way of thinking, gave me this Hint, that a great deal of what in other Men would be called Pride, and Haughtiness, and Disdain, may in a Clergyman, (especially a well-benefic'd Clergyman) very innocently be accounted for by his Manner of Life, and fome heedlefs Mifconceptions he may have entertained of us.

* Viz. Mr. Toland's Clidophorus. Heliod. Op. & Dies.

3. A