A Speculation upon this Head, and an Enquiry into the Caufes of fo prodigious a Change, would be worthy the Endeavours of the brighteft Wits and Genius's of our Age and Country, who undoubtedly must be found amongst our own genuine Clergy. I have long withed to fee a Differtation upon this great and useful Subject; and with the greateft Humility propofe to the Confideration of the Lower House of Convocation at their next (fo much defired) Meeting, to give theWorld their Thoughts upon it, in a Second Representation of the Caufes of Vice and Infidelity. In Hopes to encourage them in fo publick an Undertaking, I intend before that Happy Day, to give them my poor Affiftance, and in fome Measure to alleviate their Labours, by endeavouring to prove that no Part of this Misfortune ought to be laid at the door of the Laity.

INDEED, it would be unbecoming the Refpect and Reverence, which I have always profeffed, and hope fhall always pay to these Reverend Gentlemen, even to hint at any Thing fo improbable as the contrary Conjecture: For fince Human Nature is always the fame, who can entertain fo indecent a Thought of their Designs, or have fuch a Contempt of their Performances, as to imagine that Mankind can grow worfe under the Light of the Gofpel, in Defiance of their pious Lives and Examples; of the numerous Forms of publick and private Prayer; of their conftant Sermons, and godly

E5

Ex

Exhortations; of fo many Creeds, Catechifms, Systems, Commentaries, and whole Cart-Loads of o her ghoftly Geer, which the World is every Day bieffed with from the laborious Endeavours of above a Million of Ecclefiafticks, or more; who have always, and do ftill, coft the People more than their whole Civil and Military Expence put together? Since therefore, we may be fure that this great Change and Degeneracy cannot be owing to any remaining Defect amongst the Laity, it may well be expected from Perfons of their Penetration and Perfpicuity, to let us into the true Causes of fo furprizing a Phænomenon.

IN the mean Time, (though with all the due Submiffion of an humble Votary) I fhall for once prefume to advise them, not to level fo many Batteries against good Senfe and human Reason, which are impregnably fortified and fecure against the fierceft Affaults. A great Philofopher tells us, when Reafon is against a Man, a Man will be against Reafon. I therefore much fear if these my Friends, and Patrons, fhould continue to hold forth and exert their Eloquence against Private Judgment, Freedom of Enquiry, and a daily and diligent Search after a religious Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, that the World may miftake their Endeavours, and imagine that all these good Things make against them; and yet unfortunately they are in fuch Repute, that there are little Hopes of depreciating or putting them out of Coun

tenance.

B.E

BESIDES, I humbly conceive it to be impolitick upon other Accounts too. It appears to me to be very indiscreet in Perfons Militant, to endeavour to put an End to a War, which for the most part puts an End_to themselves and their own Pay. A jovial Country Parfon once in a merry Mood, pa fing by a Waggon which was overturned, told the Carter that he had killed the Devil; to which the profane Wretch replied, that he was glad of it with all his heart, because then, quoth Ralph, I have Spoiled your Trade. A Word to the Wife is fuf

ficient.

METHINKS alfo, it fhould be doing too much Credit to his Satanick Majefty, to fuppofe him more than a Match for a Million of confecrated Perfons, with all their Hierarchical Powers, and, as they say, Divine Affistances .about them.

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The Enmity of the High Clergy to the Reformation and their Arts to Defeat the End of it.

M

CHIAVEL advifes any One, ho would change the Confticution of a Stare, to keep as much as poffible to the old Forms; for then the People seeing the fame | Officers, the fame Formalities, Courts of Justice, and other outward Appearances, are infenfible of the Alteration, and believe themselves in Poffeffion of their old Government.

THUS, Cafar, when he feized the Roman Liberties, caufed himself to be chofen Dictator, (which was an Ancient Office) continued the Senate, the Confuls, the Tribunes, the Cenfors, and all other Powers of the Common-Wealth; and yet changed Rome from the most Free, to the moft Tyrannical Government in the World.

THIS Policy is yet more neceffary to be obferved in altering the Religion of a Country; for very few Perfons, of any Sect or Party in Faith, are converfant with the Speculations or diftinguishing Tenets of their own Church, or fo much as know what they are.

WHILST they see the fame broad-brimmed Hats, Bands, Caffocks, and Long Gowns; and hear the fame Pfalms fung in the fame Tone, and in the fame fafhioned Buildings; they think that they have the fame Religion, and will be angry with any one who fhall tell them the Contrary.

BUT if the Ceremonies or other Forms of Religious Worship are to be altered too, the Change must be made infenfibly, and by Degrees, that the Difference may be unobserved, or thought of no Confequence; and all Advantages must be taken of Revolutions in Government, of Publick Calamities, and of Factions, when they beat high, and are ready to fall into any Measures to oppose and mortify each other.

THE Priesthood in all Ages have made these Arts, and a Thousand others, contribute to their Greatnefs; the High-Church Jacobite Clergy of England have put them all in Practice to regain every thing which they loft at the Reformation; and if they could but have prevailed upon their Flocks to have followed them, they had long ago fold them again in the