pofterity: would not such a gentleman justly think himself highly injured, although his lordship did not affirm, that the faid gentleman had picklocks or combustibles ready; that he had attempted his daughter, and drawn his sword against his father in order to ftab him? whereas, in the other cafe, this writer affirms over and over, that all attempts for introducing popery and flavery are already made, the whole business concerted, and that little less than a miracle can prevent our ruin.

Thirdly, I could heartily wish his lordship would not undertake to charge the opinions of one or two, and those probably nonjurors, upon the whole body of the nation that differs from him. Mr. Leslie writ a propofal for an union with the Gallican church: fomebody else hath carried the necessity of priesthood in the point of baptism farther than popery: a third hath afferted the independency of the church on the ftate, and in many things arraigned the Supremacy of the crown. Then he speaks in a dubious infinuating way, as if fome other popish tenets had been already advanced, and at last concludes in this affected strain of defpondency; What will all these things end in? And on what defign are they driven? Alas, it is toa vifible! It is as clear as the fun, that these authors are encouraged, by the ministry, with a defign to bring in popery; and in popery all these things will end.

I never was fo uncharitable to believe that the whole party, of which his lordship profeffeth himfelf a member, had a real formed design of establish

ing atheism among us. The reason why the whigs have taken the atheifts or freethinkers into their body is, because they wholly agree in their political fchemes, and differ very little in church power and difcipline. However, I could turn the argument against his lordship with very great advantage by quoting paffages from fifty pamphlets wholly made up of whiggifm and atheism, and then conclude, What will all these things end in? And on what defign are they driven? Alas, it is too visible!

Lastly, I would beg his lordship not to be so exceedingly outrageous upon the memory of the dead; because it is highly probable, that, in a very short time, he will be one of the number. He hath, in plain words, given Mr. Wharton the character of a moft malicious, revengeful, treacherous, lying, mercenary villain. To which I fhall only fay, that the direct reverse of this amiable defcription is what appears from the works of that moft learned divine, and from the accounts given me by those, who knew him much better than the bishop seems to have done. I meddle not with the moral part of this treatment. God Almighty forgive his lordship this manner of revenging himself; and then there will be but little confequence from an accufation, which the dead cannot feel, and which none of the living will believe.

SOME

ARGU M MENT S

AGAINST ENLARGING

THE POWER

O F

BISHOPS

IN

LETTING LEASES.

Mihi credite, major hæreditas venit unicuique veftrum in iifdem bonis a jure et a legibus, quam ab iis a quibus illa Cicero pro A. Cœcina.

ipfa bona relicta funt.

R 3

SOME

ARGUMENTS

Against ENLARGING the

POWER OF BISHOPS, &c.

Written in the Year 1723 [c].

N handling this fubject, I fhall proceed wholly

who profefs themselves members of the church established, and under the apoftolical government of bishops, do defire the continuance and tranfmiffion of it to posterity, at least in as good a condition as it is at present: because, as this difcourfe is not calculated for diffenters of any kind, so neither will it fuit the talk or fentiments of those perfons, who, with the denomination of churchmen, are oppreffors of the inferior clergy, and perpetually quarrelling at the great incomes of the bishops; which is a traditional cant delivered down from former times, and continued with great reason, although it be now near two hundred years fince almost three parts

[c] The general subject of this pamphlet leads me to recollect a circumftance much to the dean's honour; he could never be induced to take fines for any of the chapter lands; he always chose to raise the rents, as the method least oppreffive to the present tenant, and moft advantageous to all future tenants and landlords. ORRERY.