I hope what I have offer'd on this Subject will not be misunderstood. There is no Vanity in necessary Defence. To wipe off Aspersions, and rescue Things from Mistake, is but bare Justice: Besides, where the Honour of God, and the Publick Interest are concern'd, a Man is bound to speak. To argue from a resembling Instance. He that has the Kings Commission ought to Maintain it. To let it suffer under Rudeness is to betray it. To be tame and silent in such cases, is not Modesty but Meanness, Humility obliges no Man to desert his Trust; To throw up his Privilege, and prove false to his Character. And is our Saviours Authority inferiour to that of Princes? Are the Kingdoms of this World more Glorious than that of the next? And can the Concerns of Time be greater than those of Eternity? If not, the reasoning above mention'd must hold in the Application.
And now by this time I conceive the ill Manners of the _Stage_ may be in some measure apparent; And that the _Clergy_ deserve none of that Coarse Usage which it puts upon them. I confess I know no _Profession_ that has made a more creditable Figure, that has better Customs for their Privileges, and better Reasons to maintain them. And here setting aside the point of Conscience, where lies the Decency of falling foul upon this _Order_? What Propriety is there in Misrepresentation? In confounding Respects, disguising Features, and painting Things out of all Colour and Complexion? This crossing upon Nature and Reason, is great Ignorance, and out of Rule. And now what Pleasure is there in Misbehaviour and Abuse? Is it such an Entertainment to see Religion worryed by Atheism, and Things the most Solemn and Significant tumbled and tost by Buffoons? A Man may laugh at a Puppy's tearing a Wardrobe, but I think 'twere altogether as discreet to beat him off. Well! but the _Clergy_ mismanage sometimes, and they must be told of their Faults. What then? Are the _Poets_ their _Ordinaries_? Is the _Pulpit_ under the Discipline of the _Stage_? And are those fit to correct the Church, that are not fit to come into it? Besides, What makes them fly out upon the _Function_; and rail by wholesale? Is the _Priesthood_ a crime, and the service of God a disadvantage? I grant Persons and Things are not always suited. A good _Post_ may be ill kept, but then the Censure should keep close to the Fault, and the Office not suffer for the Manager. The _Clergy_ may have their Failings sometimes like others, but what then? The _Character_ is still untarnish'd. The _Men_ may be Little, but the _Priests_ are not so. And therefore like other People, they ought to be treated by their best Distinction.