To proceed then to Times and Countries more generally known. The People of _France_ are branched into three Divisions, of these the _Clergy_, are the First. And in consequence of this Privilege, at the Assembly of the _States_, they are first admitted to Harangue before the King.[279]
In _Hungary_ the _Bishops_ are very Considerable, and some of them great Officers of _State_.[280] In _Poland_ they are _Senators_ that is part of the Upper _Nobless_. In _Muscovy_ the _Bishops_ have an Honourable Station; and the Present Czar is descended from the _Patriarchal_ Line.[281] I suppose I need say nothing of _Italy_. In _Spain_ the _Sees_ generally are better endowed than elswhere, and Wealth alwaies draws Consideration.[282] The _Bishops_ hold their Lands by a Military Noble _Tenure_, and are excused from Personal Attendance. And to come toward an end; They are Earls and Dukes in _France_, and Soveraign Princes, in _Germany_.[283] In _England_ the _Bishops_ are Lords of Parliament: And the _Law_ in plain words distinguishes the _Upper House_ into the _Spiritual_ and _Temporal Nobility_. And several _Statutes_ call the Bishops _Nobles_ by direct Implication.[284] To mention nothing more, their _Heraldry_ is regulated by _Garter_, and _Blazon'd_ by _Stones_, which none under the _Nobility_ can pretend to. In this Country of ours, Persons of the First Quality have been in _Orders_; To give an Instance of some few. _Odo_ Brother to _William_ the _Conquerour_ was _Bishop_ of _Baieux_, and Earl of _Kent_. King _Stephens_ Brother was _Bishop_ of _Winchester_. _Nevill Arch-Bishop_ of _York_ was Brother to the Great Earl of _Warwick_, and _Cardinal Pool_ was of the Royal Family. To come a little lower, and to our own Times. And here we may reckon not a few Persons of Noble Descent in Holy _Orders_. Witness the _Berklyes_, _Comptons_, _Montagues_, _Crews_, and _Norths_; The _Annesleys_, _Finches_, _Grayhams_ &c. And as for the Gentry, there are not many good Families in _England_, but either have, or have had a _Clergy-man_ in them,
In short; The _Priest-hood_ is the profession of a Gentleman. A _Parson_ notwithstanding the ignorant Pride of some People, is a Name of Credit, and Authority, both in Religion, and _Law_. The _Addition_ of _Clerk_ is at least equal to that of Gentleman. Were it otherwise the _Profession_ would in many cases be a kind of Punishment. But the _Law_ is far from being so singular as to make _Orders_ a Disadvantage to _Degree_. No, The Honour of the Family continues, and the _Heraldry_ is every jot as safe in the _Church_, as 'twas in the _State_. And yet when the _Laity_ are taken leave of, not _Gentleman_ but _Clerk_ is usually written. This Custom is an argument the Change is not made for the worse, that the Spiritual Distinction is as valuable as the other; And to speak Modestly, that the first _Addition_ is not lost, but Cover'd. Did the Subject require it, this Point might be farther made good. For the stile of a higher Secular Honour is continued as well with _Priest-hood_ as without it. A Church-man who is either _Baronet, or Baron_, writes himself so, notwithstanding His _Clerkship_. Indeed we can't well imagine the Clergy degraded from Paternal Honour without a strange Reflection on the Country; without supposing _Julian_ at the Helm, the _Laws_ Antichristian, and _Infidelity_ in the very _Constitution_. To make the Ministers of Religion less upon the score of their Function, would be a Penalty on the _Gospel_, and a contempt of the God of Christianity. 'Tis our Saviours reasoning; _He that despises you, despises Me, and he that Despises Me, Despises Him that sent me._[285]