what Violations of Men's natural Rights, have always followed the Establishment of Priefts? Witnefs the Teft-A&: Witness the perfecuting Laws, yet unrepealed in this, otherwife, free Country; by which Men are required to believe what they cannot understand; to believe, that One is Three, and Three One again. Did Chrift, or his Apoftles, ever teach fuch Abfurdities? Or, did they or der Men to be fined, imprisoned and ruined in this World; or threaten them with Damnation in the next, for not believing fuch Contradiction and Nonfenfe? Did they give any Directions, that as foon, as the Civil Magiftrate of any Country should become a Chriftian, he bould iffue out Creeds like Proclamations, commanding all his Subjects to receive and embrace them, and threaten with Gaols and Gibbets, all that cannot believe them?

'Tis high time for fuch of the Clergy, as are zealous for Liberty and true Religion, to protest against thefe Things. And we may justly expect that all fuch will countenance and affift the Authors of the Free and Candid Difquifitions, and to the utmost of their Power promote that good Defign, which thofe worthy Men have begun. tion is univerfally owned to be wanted. do not our Clergy exert themselves, becoming Zeal for it? We are often

A ReformaWhy then and shew a told, what worthy

worthy Clergy we have, what Lovers they are of Liberty, &c. but we desire fome farther and better Proof than Hearfay; we demand that Evidence in this, which all Men expect in other Cafes. Quid Verba audiam, cum facta videam?

If the free and candid Gentlemen fhould pursue their Defign, and call yet louder upon their Governors for a fair Hearing, I beg Leave to tell them, that a partial Reformation will do no Good, nor anfwer any valuable End.. Let every Thing, derived from Rome, be fent back thither: Let all Impofitions, of every Kind, be abolished; and all Diftinctions of Drefs be laid afide; that the Minifters of Religion may appear like Men, not like We shall not furely be told, that the Nation is not yet prepared for fuch a thorough Reformation? That would be owning what at other times is denied, viz. That the Clergy, instead of teaching and inculcating the pure Doctrines and divine Precepts of Chrift, have been promoting amongst the People a ftupid Zeal for the Church. Nor will it be just and reasonable, to object the Noife and Clamours of selfish and interested Priests, to fuch a glorious Defign.

Such Reafons would have obftructed Christianity at firft, and all Reformations ever fince. When

Christianity first appeared, and detected the Frauds of the Pagan Priests; they all cried out for their Diana: The fame Part was acted by Popish Priefts at the Reformation. And if the World had been deterred by their felfish Clamours, we fhould all have been in the Darkness and Horrors of Paganifm or Popery to this Day. If the Friends of Liberty will unite, we have nothing to fear 3 our Caufe is the nobleft in the World; and shall we be intimidated by a few ignorant, selfish, proud, obftinate, and perverfe Priests? We have Truth, and Virtue, and Chrift, and God on our Side: With fuch Advantages, what may wè not hope for? With fuch ids and Supports, what may we not do? It will be the greatest Scandal and Reproach to the People of this Kingdom, if they are not able to dif tinguish Religion from the Paffions and Interests of Priefts.

To draw to an End; let all the Minifters of Religion Audy thoroughly the Law of Nature, the Ends of Civil Government, and the great Defign of the Chriftian Religion. Let them not buy themfelves in Politics, instead of looking after the Souls of their Flocks: Let them not flatter Minifters of State, and preach to please a Court: Let them not talk People out of their Rights, and promote Slavery under the Notion of Obedience: Let them, in their public Difcourses, remind Princes and other

Ma

Magiftrates of their Duty, and the People of their Privileges; left the former should be tempted to abufe their Power, and the latter forget to maintain their Rights. Let them shew the People the Benefits of Liberty, and the dreadful Effects of arbitrary Power; what a mighty Difference there is between a legal, limited Government, where Property is fecured, and Justice free; and a Govern– ment where all is fubject to the Lufts of one Man, or a few. Let them not embitter the Minds of the People with idle Difputes about Words and Sounds: Let them not be rigorous and severe in their Cenfures against fuch as do not believe all their System: Let them fhew us, that they do really themselves believe the Chriftian Religion, and are more concerned for its Honour and Purity and Succefs in the World, than for the Power and Riches of the Earth; and let them not fet their Veftments and Trumpery, ́in balance with the Profperity and Happiness of Nations.

And finally; let all our diffenting Minifters a like upright and boneft Men; let them not betray the glorious Caufe which they receive Wages to fupport: Let them not affect Crape, nor Lawn-Sleeves; nor feek to be called of Men Rabbi, Doctor: Let them ftudy to propagate true Religion and Liberty: Let them preach against Superftition and

'Prieft

Prieft-craft, and all thofe Fooleries and Delufions which have produced fuch infinite Mischiefs; and expofe the Abfurdity, Pride and Hypocrify of thofe that uphold and fupport them..

Let them not be intimidated from doing their Duty in this Respect, by any Reproaches or illUfage they may fuffer for it; but rather go on the more boldly, that they may be more and more conformed to Chrift and his Apoftles, who were made perfect by Sufferings. Let not fuch as were formerly Champions for the Caufe, project partial and Selfish Schemes of Reformation; but let them cry aloud for the Removal of all Civil Punishments and Reftraints on the Account of Religious Principles; and for extending a free, impartial Toleration to all that acknowledge the Civil Government, and pray for King George. Then may we hope for glorious Days;-then fhall we enjoy Peace and Happiness ourselves, and have the pleafing Profpect of tranfmitting pure Religion and Civil Liberty to our Pofterity. But if the Conduct of our religious ́ Guides and Teachers should be the Reverse of all this, then farewell true Religion and Liberty; farewell all that is good and dear to Men; our Ruin is inevitable, and we know who will be the Authors of it.

Exegi Monumentum,

R. B.

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