be wicked, and to administer to Vice, or cease to eat. In
short, their Circumstances are so connected with the prevailing Vices,
that they have no other Choice left, but either to starve here, or submit
to be damned hereafter. This is a dreadful Case, Friend, and hardly
credible: yet a little Knowledge of the World, and Acquaintance with the
present Times, will furnish innumerable Instances of Wretches in this
unhappy Dilemma. What must such People do? Dost think a Sermon, or a
Pastoral Letter, can persuade them to starve here for the sake or an happy
Hereafter? No! Appetites are strong; and as this Class of Men have many
great Examples to follow, they are no ways intimidated by what either Thou
hast, or I could utter unto them on this tremendous Occasion. Before then
the Body of the People can be reformed without a Miracle, it is necessary,
that these Publick Vices should be plucked up by the Roots; and that the
Reformation should begin amongst those of higher Rank, amongst our Rulers,
and the Grandees of the Land: but more especially, amongst that Order of
Men, the worldly and dissolute Example of some of whom have most
contributed to taint the Morals, and pervert the Judgment of the
Community. I mean, Friend, thy Brethren, the Clergy. Start not, my
Brother! I am not going to bring a railing Accusation against thee in
Person, or to Accuse thy Fraternity in a Lump. I verily believe there may
be a great Number of thy Profession, who make a Conscience of their Duty;
and as much as lyeth in their Power, both by Precept and Example,
endeavour to stem the Torrent of Vice and Immorality. But thou knowest as
well as I, that there are many in the World, who are Wolves in Sheeps
Cloathing, who destroy the Flock they should feed, and poison by their
Example the pure Streams of the Gospel, with which they ought to water the
Vineyard of the Lord. Its not to be concealed, nor palliated, that there
is no Vice, however odious, practised by the blind Laity, but what is
likewise committed by some of their more enlightened Teachers: This,
Friend, is the great Evil I hinted at above. This is the Source of all our
Woes, and here, and no where else, the Reformation must begin.

How is it possible for thee to think, that though the Clergy were to
preach as with the Voice of Angels, that their Discourses should have any
Effect upon the Minds or Morals of the People, as long as they see these
very Clergy, or a great Number of them, acting diam