inundation of atheism, infidelity, profanenefs, and licentioufnefs, which was like to overwhelm us, from what mouths and hearts it firft proceeded, and how the people joined with the QUEEN's endeavours to divert this flood, I cannot but reflect on that remarkable paffage in the Revelations, where the ferpent with SEVEN heads caft out of his mouth water after the woMAN like a flood, that he might caufe her to be carried away of the flood: but the EARTH helped the WOMAN, and the earth opened her mouth, and fwallowed up the flood, which the dragon had caft out of his mouth. For the QUEEN having changed her ministry fuitable to her own wifdom, and the wishes of her fubjects, and having called a free parliament, and at the fame time fummoned the convocation by her royal writ, as in all times had been accustomed; and foon after their meeting fent a moft gracious letter to the archbishop of Canterbury to be communicated to the bishop and clergy of his province; taking notice of "the loofe and profane principles, which "had been openly scattered and propagated among her fubjects: that the con

"fultations

"fultations of the clergy were particularly requifite to reprefs and prevent fuch "daring attempts, for which her fubjects "from all parts of the kingdom have "fhewn their juft abhorrence: he hopes "the endeavours of the clergy in this refpect will not be unfuccefsful; and for "her part, is ready to give them all fit encouragement to proceed in the dif"patch of fuch business, as properly belongs to them; and to grant them powers requifite to carry on fo good a work: in conclufion, "earneftly recommending "to them to avoid difputes; and determining to do all that in her lies to compose and extinguish them."

It is to be hoped, that this laft part of her majefty's letter will be the first, fhe will please to execute; for, it feems, this very letter created the firft difpute; the fact whereof is thus related: The upper house having formed an addrefs to the QUEEN, before they received her majesty's letter, fent both addrefs and letter together to the lower house, with a meffage excufing their not mentioning the letter in the addrefs, because this was formed before H 3

the

the other was received. The lower houfe returned them with a defire, that an address might be formed with due regard and acknowledgments for the letter. After fome difficulties, the fame addrefs was sent down again with a clause inserted, making fome fhort mention of the faid letter. This the lower house did not think fufficient, and fent it back again with the fame request: whereupon the archbishop, after a fhort confultation with some of his brethren, immediately adjourned the convocation for a month; and no addrefs at all was fent to the QUEEN.

I understand not ecclefiaftical affairs well enough to comment upon this matter; but it seems to me, that all methods of doing service to the church and kingdom, by means of a convocation, may be at any time eluded, if there be no remedy against such an incident. And, if this proceeding be agreeable to the inftitution, Spiritual affemblies muft needs be ftrangely contrived, very different from any lay fenate yet known in the world. Surely, from the nature of fuch a fynod, it must be a very unhappy circumftance, when the majority

of

of the bishops draws one way, and that of the lower clergy another. The latter, I think, are not at this time suspected for any principles bordering upon thofe profeffed by enemies to epifcopacy; and if they happen to differ from the greater part of the prefent fett of bishops, I doubt it will call fome things to mind, that may turn the scale of general favour on the inferior clergy's fide; who, with a profound duty to her majesty, are perfectly pleased with the prefent turn of affairs. Befides, curious people will be apt to enquire into the dates of fome promotions, to call to mind what defigns were then upon the anvil; and from thence make malicious deductions. Perhaps they will obferve the manner of voting on the bishops bench, and compare it with what fhall pafs in the upper houfe of convocation. There is however one comfort; that under the prefent difpofitions of the kingdom a diflike to the proceedings of any of their lordships, even to the number of a majority, will be purely perfonal, and not turned to the difadvantage of the order. And for my part, as I am a true lover of the church, I had rather

H4

'find

find the inclinations of the people favour¬ able to epifcopacy in general, than fee a majority of prelates cried up by those, who are known enemies to the character. Nor indeed hath any thing given me more offence for several years past, than to obferve, how fome of that bench have been careffed by certain perfons; and others of them openly celebrated by the infamous pens of atheists, republicans, and fanaticks.

Time and mortality can only remedy these inconveniencies in the church, which are not to be cured, like thofe in the ftate, by a change of miniftry. If we may guess the temper of a convocation from the choice of a prolocutor, as it is ufual to do that of a house of commons by the speaker, we may expect great things from that reverend body, who have done themselves much reputation by pitching upon a gentleman of fo much piety, wit, and learning, for that office; and one, who is fo thoroughly versed in those parts of knowledge, which are proper for it. I am forry, that the three latin fpeeches delivered upon prefenting the prolocutor were not made publick; they might perhaps have

given