was always Retailing Religion. You " could not buy an Ounce of Pepper but you had a Pound of Edification into the Bargain, and the Shopman would repeat you a Chapter while he was twisting "his Packthread. I knew a Trader in a Market-Town, who was very dexterous "this way; when a Country-Man came .cc in, he would weigh him his Ounce of "Tobacco, and then if the Shop was -GC empty, otherwife his Religion always "fubmitted to his Intereft) invite him to "fit and smoke a Pipe; in the Difcourfe "he would not fail to acquaint him with "the Accomplishments of his Minifter, a

faithful Labourer in the Lord, and perfwade

him to come amongst them, and hear that "powerful Man (for once only, and there "could be no harm in that) who was as "much beyond the Parfon of his Parish, the fimple Ruftic thanks him for

as

his Love, and innocently accepts his "Kindnefs, blows out one Smoke, but "fucks in another far more dangerous and "intoxicating he is perfuaded, comes to "the next Meeting, hears and applauds

what he does not understand; goes Home, "tells the fine Story to his Neighbours, and "draws them likewise into the Tunnel.

CC. I am forc'd to break off in this "abrupt Manner, becaufe my little Grand“fon,

"fon, who writes for me, begins to be "tired; but you may expect to receive a "further Account at a more convenient time,

" from,

Yours,

The Fanatick Hater.

Inftead of my own Remarks upon this LETTER, I fhall beg Leave to fubjoin a SPEECH of Archbishop Whitgift to Queen Elizabeth, which appears to be a direct Prophecy of thofe licentious Times: This Princess, it seems, upon the Request of her Favourite the Earl of Liecefter, was perfuaded to encroach upon the Church, and break in upon her Privileges, which was fo warmly refented by this Prelate, that he bravely addrefs'd himself in this Manner.

I

Befeech your Majefty to hear me patiently, and believe that the Church's and your Safety are dearer to me than my Life, but my Confcience dearer than both; and therefore beg Leave to difcharge my Duty in telling you, That Princes are intrufted with Power to protect the Church, and therefore God forbid you fhould be fo much as Paffive in her Ruin, when you may prevent it; or that I fhould fee it without Horror or Deteftation, or forbear to acquaint your Majefty with the Sin and Dan

ger

ger that attend it; Madam, there are fuch Sins as Profanenels and Sacrilege; and that as the laft is the greateft, fo the Curfe of God is due to it in a higher Degree. Your Majesty, like all your Predeceffors, was Sworn at your Coronation to protect the Church in all her Rights and Privileges; and it would be a great Crime in any that abhor Idols to commit Sacrilege. Let not what the Earl of Liecefter objected against fome few Clergymen prevail with your Majefty to prejudice Pofterity. Let particular Men be punished for particular Errors; and not the Righteous made to fuffer with the Wicked. I pretend not to Prophecy, yet would have Pofterity observe, that Church Lands added to an ancient Inheritance, have often confumed both. And tho' I forbear to fpeak reproachfully of your Father, King Henry the VIII. yet I beg you to take notice, that Part of the Churches Estate being added to the vast Treasure, left him by his Father, brought an inevitable Confumption upon both, notwithstanding all his Sedulity to preserve it. And your Majefty may pleafe to confider, that after he had violated his Oath, with respect to Magna Charta, God fo far denied him his reftraining Grace, that he fell into greater Sins than I will mention. Madam, Religion is the Foundation and the Bond of Humane Societies, and when they that Mini

fter

fter at God's Altar fhall be reduced to Poverty and Contempt, Religion will foon dwindle into nothing; and therefore as your Majesty is now endued with a Power to fave or confume the Revenues of the Church, yet I beg you, for Jefus fake, the Good of your Kingdom, and the Peace of your own Confcience, to difpofe of them according to the Intention of the Donors. Animate the Spirit of the Univerfities, and imitate the Example of Samuel, in whofe Days the Schools of the Prophets flourished; even Saul himself, who did much Hurt among the People, yet when he came to the Schools of the Prophets, his Heart relented, he durft not violate their Rights, but put off his Robes and prophecied among them. Put a Stop, I befeech you, to the Ruin of the Church, as you expect Comfort in the Great Day of the Lord, for Kings must be judged. Pardon this dutiful Plainnefs, my moft Dear Sovereign, continue me in your Favour, and the Lord continue you in His.

N° 6.

N° 6.

MONDAY March 11. 1717.

I will visit their Offences with the Rod, and their Sin with Scourges, Pfal. lxxxix. 3.2.

警示

Am fenfible that whoever con

cerns himfelf with the Sedtarifts of this Age, puts his Hand into a into a Neft of Hornets, and had need be well guarded both with Law and Innocence, to escape their Stings and the Fury of their Refentments: As for the Laws, 'tis certain they are the Honour and Protection of our Establishment; and we juftly glory that the Happiness of this Nation depends entirely upon the Church of England, whofe Profperity alone can derive a Bleffing upon the State, and make us a pious and flourishing People: And the Author of the SCOURGE appeals to Hea

ven