"The clergy, as the marquis of Ormonde a justly observes, have not been happy to themselves or others, when they have aspired to a rule, so contrary to their function."-Nature never seems to have intended the clergy, any more than the gospel, for state-affairs. For men brought up in colleges, and little versed in the world, as they generally are, make wretched work when they come to intermeddle with secular matters. To govern well, requires great knowledge of human nature, the particular interests, dispositions and tempers of the people one has to do with, the law of nations, and more especially the laws of the country. Great skill and address likewise are required to manage the different and contradictory tempers of men, and make them conspire to promote the public happiness; as likewise great practice in business, in order to dispatch it with speed and safety. And therefore it is evident, that the clergy, from the nature of their education, as well as their profession, cannot be qualified for it. They should therefore seriously weigh their incapacity for civil affairs; and how inconsistent they are with the business, to which they have solemnly engaged to devote themselves. They should consider how contemptible and ridiculous they render themselves in the eyes of all wise and good men, when they engage in parties, and most hateful, when they stir up wars and tumults. They should have the dignity of their character before their eyes, and scorn to disgrace it, by letting themselves out to ambitious, self-interested men. These things they should do; and a very small degree of knowledge and reflection will enable them to keep themselves from this, which is one of the greatest blemishes which can be found in their character.

* Ormonde's Papers, vol. II. p. 457.

But, perhaps, they are cautioned in vain".

If this is not sufficient, let them call to their minds Peters: who, after having been sought to, and caressed by the most eminent personages, was obliged to skulk about privately; was seized by the officers of public justice; laden with infamy and reproach, and embowelled by the hangman.-He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

19 Perhaps they are cautioned in vain.] No men in the world seem less willing to hearken to advice than the clergy. Puffed up with a conceit of their own knowledge and abilities, and being used to dictate uncontrouled from the pulpit, they with contempt hearken to instruction, and are uninfluenced by persuasion. For which reason, I say, perhaps they are cautioned in vain. Peters's fate will not deter them, but engage in factions they still will.After the Restoration, the pulpits sounded loud with the doctrines of passive obedience and non-resistance; the whigs and presbyterians were represented as villains; the power of the church was magnified, and the regal power was represented as sacred as that of God himself. Then Sam. Parker and his fellows arose, full of rage and venom; who treated all who opposed them, with ill manners and severity. Then were Englishmen pronounced slaves, in effect, by Hicks in his Jovian; and then was the infamous Oxford decree framed, which was doomed to the flames, by the sentence of the most august assembly in the world, anno 1710.

The bishops stood firm by the duke of York; and the whole clergy, in a manner, damned the bill of exclusion. In short, such was their behaviour, that they fell under great contempt, and were treated with much severity. Under James the Second, they acted the same

part; and would undoubtedly have continued his fast friends, had he not given liberty to the dissenters, and touched them in their most tender part, even that of their revenue, by thrusting in popish persons into their colleges. This alarmed them: they suddenly tacked about; wished heartily for the coming of the prince of Orange, and prayed for his success. He came and delivered them out of the hands of their enemies; but they could not be quiet and thankful. Numbers of them refused to own his government; many of them joined in measures to restore the tyrant James; and a great part did all that in them lay, to blacken and distress their deliverer.Lesly, Sacheverel, &c, worked hard to inculcate on men's minds the danger of the church; the designs of the dissenters; the villany of the ministry, during the first and glorious part of queen Ann's reign; in which they were but too successful.

When the protestant succession took place, it was railed at, and even cursed by these men, and many of them attempted to set up an abjured pretender. Their attempts however were vain: though for these their endeavours, parson Paul made his exit at the gallows, and the celebrated Atterbury died in exile.-What has been, and is the temper since, every one knows. The Oxford affair is too fresh in memory, to let us remain ignorant of the disposition of many of the clergy. They are of Peters's busy, meddling disposition; though, I hope, they will not merit his fate.

Far be it from me, to point these reflections at the whole body of the clergy. Numbers of them have been, and are men of great worth: who not only dignify their office, but add lustre to the human nature. He must have lost all sense of excellency, who is not struck with the generosity of Tillotson, the integrity of

xlvi

THE LIFE OF HUGH PETERS.

Clarke, the Christian sentiments of Hoadley, the worth of Butler (on whose late advancement, I beg leave to congratulate the public) and the piety, humanity, and patriotism of Herring.

These, and many others have been ornaments of the body, to which they belong, and have never studied to embroil us, or promote a party-spirit among us. Rectitude and benevolence, piety, and selfgovernment, have been their themes: these with uncommon abilities they have taught; and those who tread in their steps, cannot fail of being honoured now and for ever!-But those who make it their business to poison the minds of the people with factious and seditious discourses; those who censure their governors for actions, of which they are frequently no competent judges, and traduce and vilify every thing, right or wrong; those who join with the sworn foes of the best of princes, and strive to promote an interest incompatible with the public good, are the men, who deserve titles, which I do not care to give; and they may be certain, that though through the lenity of the present government they may escape unpunished, yet contempt will be their portion from all men of sense. For, when men pervert so excellent an office as that of the ministry, to the purposes of ambition and the lust of power, hardly any censure too severe can be cast on them.

POSTSCRIPT.

SINCE transcribing these Papers for the press, a very learned gentleman' has been so kind as to impart to me an account of Peters's writings (his Last Legacy excepted, from which a good deal has been inserted in this work) which I doubt not will be highly acceptable to the curious'.

'Which I doubt not will be highly acceptable to the curious.] In April, 1646, he preached a sermon before both houses of parliament, the lord mayor and aldermen of London, and the assembly of divines, which was printed in quarto. In this sermon he expresses his desire that "some shorter way might be found to further justice; and that two or three friend-makers might be set up in every parish, without whose labour and leave, none should implead another." He proposed likewise that the Charter-House should be converted into an Hospital for lame soldiers.

In the same year 1646, he published at London, in a quarto pamphlet of fifteen pages, intitled, " Peters's last Report of the English Wars, occasioned by the importunity of a friend, pressing an answer to some queries:"

*The Reverend Mr. Birch, F.R.S.