al Excesses, and administer to him the most Holy Rites of
their Religion, tho' he knows him to live in open Uncleaness, perhaps in
Adultery, and to betray, sell, and ruin his Country, I say, Friend, when a
Flock sees this Shepherd thus prostituting his Profession, and casting
holy Things before Swine, and this only for the Hopes of a Plurality, or
Commendam, or Dignity to feed his spiritual Pride with, is it possible for
them to conclude those Sins so heinous? Does not his Example influence
those of his Family, and the Examples of these those of the Village, till
the dreadful, black, Contagion spreads, like a Pest, over a whole County?
Who then are to blame for this? Why, verily, none but the profligate venal
Clergyman. For if he exerted his Ecclesiastical Power, with as much Zeal
against Vice and Prophaneness, as he does in the Recovery of his Tythes,
the Great would be obliged to quit their open Sins, and the little ones
would not be led astray by his scandalous Example.

But, it is time, my Friend _Thomas_, to draw towards a Conclusion. A
Reformation is certainly necessary. For whether we are punished by an
Earthquake or not, the natural Tendency of Vice is such, that a few Years
longer Continuance of it must bring along with it Plagues enow to punish
us grievously here, as we shall certainly meet a dreadful Reward
hereafter. Let me advise thy Brethren, the Clergy, in all Charity and
Meekness, to begin the great Work themselves. Purge and make clean the
House of the Lord, and drive all Pollution from his Sanctuary. Let the
Priesthood that are proud become humble, meek, and lowly, even as was
_Jesus_, whose Servants they are. Let them put away the false Gods from
amongst them, and destroy the Idol they have set up in their Hearts; that
is, let them banish the Love of Money, the Itch of Power and Dominion,
either over the Minds or Temporalities of the People. Let him, that has
two Livings, give one to his poor Brother; let him, that performeth the
Labour of the Vineyard, receive also the Wages; and let not the Drone eat
up the Meat of the Industrious Servant. Let them exert their Power without
respect of Persons, yet with all Humility and Meekness, not out of Malice,
or to gratify their Spleen, but for the Love of Truth and Purity. In a
Word, Friend, when they believe what they have sworn at their Ordination
to believe, and maintain; when they teach only what they believe, and act
as they teach, then without the Gift of