or Honour, every Man adjusts his Principles to thofe of the Party he hath chofen, and among whom he may best find his own Account: But, by reafon of our frequent Viciffitudes, Men, who were impatient to be out of Play, have been forced to recant, or at least to reconcile their former Tenets with every new System of Administration. Add to this, that the old fundamental Cuftom of annual Parliaments being wholly laid afide, and Elections growing chargeable; fince Gentlemen found that their Country Seats brought them in lefs than a Seat in the House; the Voters, that is to say, the Bulk of the common People, have been univerfally feduced into Bribery, Perjury, Drunkenness, Malice, and Slander. NoT to be further tedious, or rather invidious; these are a few, among other Causes, which have contributed to the Ruin of our Morals, and confequently to the Contempt of Religion. For, imagine to yourself, if you please, a landed Youth, whom his Mother would never fuffer to look into a Book, for fear of spoiling his Eyes; got into Parliament, and obferving all Enemies to the Clergy heard with the utmost Applaufe; what Notions he muft imbibe; how readily he will join in the Cry; what an Esteem he will conceive of himfelf; and what a Contempt he muft entertain, not only for his Vicar at home, but for the whole Order. I THEREFORE again conclude, that the Trade of Infidelity hath been taken up only for an Expedient to keep in Countenance that univerfal Corruption of Morals, which many other Caufes firft contributed to introduce, and to cultivate. And thus, Mr. Hobbes's Saying upon Reason, may be much more properly applied to Religion: That,, if Religion will · be again a Man, a Man will be against Religion. Although, a young GENTLEMAN. 253 Although, after all, I have heard a Profligate offer much stronger Arguments against paying his Debts, than ever he was known to do against Christianity; indeed, the Reafon was, because in that Juncture he happened to be closer preffed by the Bailiff than the Parfon. IGNORANCE may, perhaps be the Mother of Superftition; but Experience hath not proved it to be fo of Devotion: For Chriftianity always made the most eafy and quickeft Progress in civilized Countries. I mention this, because it is affirmed, that the Clergy are in moft Credit where Ignorance prevails, (and furely this Kingdom would be called the Paradife of Clergymen, if that Opinion were true) for which they inftance England in the Times of Popery. But whoever knoweth any Thing of three or four Centuries before the Reformation, will find, the little Learning then ftirring, was more equally divided between the English Clergy and Laity, than it is at present. There were feveral famous Lawyers in that Period, whofe Writings are ftill in the highest Repute; and fome Hiftorians and Poets, who were not of the Church. Whereas, now-a-days our Education is fo corrupted, that you will hardly find a young Perfon of Quality with the leaft Tincture of Knowledge; at the fame Time that many of the Clergy were never more learned, or fo fcurvily treated. Here among Us, at least, a Man of Letters, out of the three Profeffions, is almost a Prodigy. And those few who have preferved any Rudiments of Learning, are (except, perhaps, one or two Smatterers) the Cler * gy's *N. B. This Discourse was written fourteen Years ago; fince which Time. the Cafe is extremely altered by Deaths and Succeffions, gy's Friends to a Man: For, I dare appeal to any Clergyman in this Kingdom, whether the greatest Dunce in his Parish be not always the moft proud, wicked, fraudulent, and intractable of his Flock. I THINK the Clergy have almoft given over perplexing themselves and their Hearers, with abstruse Points of Predeftination, Election, and the like; at leaft, it is Time they should; and therefore, I fhall not trouble you further upon this Head. I HAVE NOW faid all I could think convenient with relation to your Conduct in the Pulpit. Your Behaviour in the World is another Scene, upon which, I fhall readily offer you my Thoughts, if you appear to defire them from me, by your Approbation of what I have here written; if not, I have already troubled you too much. I am, SIR, Your affectionate January 9, Friend and Servant. THE The WONDERFUL WONDER OF WONDER S. Written in the Year 1720. HERE is a certain Perfon lately arrived at this City, whom it is very proper the World fhould be informed of. His Character may, perhaps, be thought very inconfiftent, improbable, and unnatural: However I intend to draw it with the utmost Regard to Truth. This, I am the better qualified to do, because he is a Sort of Dependant upon our Family, and almost of the fame Age; although I cannot directly fay, I have ever feen him. He is a Native of this Country, and hath lived long among us; but what appears wonderful, derful, and hardly credible, was never seen before by any Mortal. It is true, indeed, he always chufes the lowest Place in Company, and contrives it fo, to keep out of Sight. It is reported, however, that in his younger Days he was frequently exposed to View; but always against his Will, and was fure to smart for it. As to his Family; he came into the World a younger Brother, being of fix Children, the fourth in order of Birth; of which the Eldest is now Head of the House; the fecond and third carry Arms ; but the two youngest are only Footmen: Some, indeed, add, that he hath likewise a Twin-Brother, who lives over-against him, and keeps a VictuallingHoufe: He has the Reputation to be a clofe, griping, Squeezing Fellow; and, that when his Bags are full, he is often needy; yet, when the Fit takes him, as faft as he gets, he lets it fly. WHEN in Office, no one difchargeth himself, or doth his Bufinefs better. He hath fometimes ftrained bard for an honeft Livelihood; and never got a Bit, until every Body elfe had done. ONE Practice appears very blameable in him; that every Morning he privately frequents unclean Houses, where any modest Person would blush to be feen. And although this be generally known, yet the World, as cenforious as it is, hath been fo kind to overlook this Infirmity in him. To deal impartially, it must be granted, that he is too great a Lover of himself, and very often confults his own Eafe, at the Expence of his beft Friends. But this is one of his blind Sides; and the beft of Men I fear are not without them. He hath been conftituted by the higher Powers in the Station of Receiver-General; in which Em ployment, |