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thers, although thereby I might delight many grave women of the parish: Even her who hath done penance in the fheet will I not mention, forafmuch as the church hath been witnefs of her difgrace: Let the father who hath made due compofition with the Churchwardens to conceal his infirmity, reft in peace; my pen fhall not bewray him, for I alfo have finned.

The next chapter contains what he calls a great Revolution in the Church, part of which I tranfcribe.

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Now was the long expected time arrived, when the pfalms of king David should be hymn'd unto the fame tunes to which he played them upon his harp (fo was I informed by my Singing-matter, a man right cunning in Pfalmody :) Now was our over-abundant quaver and trilling done away, and in lieu thereof was inftituted the Sol-fa, in fuch guife as is fung in his Majesty's Chapel. We had London finging mafters fent into every parish, like unto Excife-men; and I alfo was ordained to adjoin myself unto them, though an unworthy difciple, in order to inftruct my fellow-parishioners in this new manner of Worship. What tho' they accused me of humming through the noftril, as a Sacbut yet would I not forego that harmony, it having been agreed by the worthy parifh-clerks

of London ftill to preserve the fame. I tutored the young men and maidens to tune their voices as it were a psaltery, and the Church on the Sunday was filled with these new Hallelujahs.

Then follow full feventy chapters, containing an exa&t detail of the Law-fuits of the Parfon and his Parifhioners concerning tythes, and near a hundred pages left blank, with an earreft defire that the history might be compleated by any of his fucceffors, in whofe time thefe fuits fhould be ended.

The next chapter contains an account of the Briefs read in the church, and the fums collected upon each. For the reparation of nine churches, collected at nine feveral times, 2 s. and 7d. 2. For fifty families ruined by fire, 1 s. 2. For an inundation, a King Charles's groat given by Lady Frances, etc.

In the next he laments the difufe of Wedding-fermons, and celebrates the benefits arifing from thofe at Funerals, concluding with thefe Words: Ah! let not the relations of the deceased grudge the small expence of an hatband, a pair of gloves, and ten fhillings, for the fatisfaction they are fure to receive from a pious Divine, that their father, brother, or bofom wife, are certainly in heaven.

In another, he draws a panegyrick on one Mrs. Margaret Wilkins, but after great encomiums concludes, that,

notwithstanding all, the was an unprofitable veffel, being a barren woman, and never once having furnished God's church with a christening.

We find in another chapter, how he was much flagger'd in his belief, and disturbed in his conscience, by an Oxford fcholar, who had proved to him by logick, that Animals might have rational, nay, immortal fouls; but how he was again comforted with the reflection, that, if so, they might be allowed christian burial, and greatly augment the fees of the parish.

In the two following chapters he is overpower'd wh Vanity. We are told, bow he was conftantly admitted to all the feafts and banquets of the Church-officers, and the fpeeches he there made for the good of the parish. How he gave hints to young Clergymen to preach; but above all, how he gave a Text for the 30th of January, which occafioned a most excellent fermon, the merits of which he takes entirely to himself. He gives an account of a conference he had with the Vicar concerning the Use of Texts. Let a preacher (faith he) confider the affembly before whom he preacheth, and unto them adapt his text. Micah the iiid and 11 th affordeth good matter for Courtiers and court-serving men. The heads of the land judge for reward; and the people thereof judge for hire; and the prophets thereof divine for money; yet will they lean upon the Lord, and fay, Is not the Lord among us? Were the firft Minister to

appoint a preacher before the House of Commons, would not he be wife to make choice of these words? Give, and it shall be given unto ye. Or before the Lords, Giving no offence, that the Miniftry be not blamed, 2 Cor. vi. 3. Or praifing the warm zeal of an Administration, Who maketh his Minifters a flaming fire, Pfalm civ. 4. We omit many other of his texts, as too tedious.

From this period, the ftyle of the book rifes extremely. Before the next chapter was pafted the Effigies of Dr. Sacheverel, and I found the oppofite page all on a foam with Politicks.

We are now (fays he) arrived at that celebrated year, in which the Church of England was tried in the perfon of Dr. Sacheverel. I had ever the interest of our High-Church at heart, neither would I at any feafon mingle myself in the focieties of Fanaticks, whom I from my Infancy abhorred, more than the Heathen or Gentile. It was in these days. I bethought myself, that much profit might accrue unto our Parish, and even unto the Nation, could there be affembled together a number of chosen men of the right spirit, who might argue, refine and define, upon high and great matters. Unto this purpofe, I did inftitute a weekly Affembly of divers worthy men at the Rofe and Crown Alehoufe, over whom myfelf (though unworthy) did prefide. Yea,

I did read unto them the Poft-Boy of Mr. Roper, and the written letter of Mr. Dyer, upon which we communed afterwards among ourselves. Our fociety was compofed of the following Perfons; Robert Jenkins, Farrier; Amos Turner, Collar-maker } George Pilcocks, late Exciseman; Thomas White, Wheel-wright; and myself. First, of the first, Robert Jenkins.

He was a man of bright parts and fhrewd conceit, for he never shoed an horse of a Whig or a Fanatick, but he lamed him forely.

Amos Turner, a worthy perfon, rightly esteemed among us for his fufferings, in that he had been honoured in the ftocks for wearing an Oaken bough.

George Pilcocks, a fufferer alfo; of zealous and laudable freedom of Speech, infomuch that his occupation had been taken from him.

Thomas White, of good repute likewife, for that his uncle, by the Mother's fide, had, formerly, been fervitor at Maudling college, where the glorious Sacheverel was educated.

Now were the eyes of all the parish upon these our weekly councils. In a fhort space, the Minifter came among us; he fpake concerning us and our councils to a multitude of other Minifters at the Vifitation, and they spake thereof unto the Ministers at London, fo that even the Bishops heard and marvelled thereat. Moreover Sir Thomas, member

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