Chapter III (2)

I am dispos'd to think that Dr. _Snape_, who is notoriously known to have gone into the greatest Lengths of Calumny and Satire against Bishop _Hoadley_[72], to have fall'n upon the dissenting Clergy in a burlesque and bantering Address to the _Peirces_, the _Calamys_, and the _Bradburys_, and to have written a long _ironical Letter_ in the Name of the _Jesuits_ to Mr. _de la Pilloniere_[73], will be thought a very improper Object of Censure for such Employment of his Pen. On the contrary, such sort of Attacks upon such Persons are the most meritorious Parts of a Man's Life, recommend him as a Person of true and sincere Religion, much more than the strongest Reasoning, and the most regular Life; and pave the way to all the Riches, and Pleasures and Advantages or Life; not only among those, who, under the Colour of Religion, are carrying on a common _Corporation Cause_ of Wealth, Power, and Authority, but among many well-meaning People, who allow of all Practices, which they suppose help out the _Truth_! It seems to me a most prodigious Banter upon us, for Men to talk in general of the _Immorality_ of _Ridicule_ and _Irony_, and of _punishing_ Men for those Matters, when their own Practice is _universal Irony_ and _Ridicule_ of all those who go not with them, and _universal Applause_ and _Encouragement_ for such _Ridicule_ and _Irony_, and distinguishing by all the honourable ways imaginable such _drolling_ Authors for their Drollery; and when Punishment for _Drollery_ is never call'd for, but when _Drollery_ is used or employ'd against them!

I don't know whether you would be willing, if you consider of it, to limit the Stage it self, which has with great Applause and Success, from Queen _Elizabeth_'s Time downwards, ridicul'd the serious _Puritans_ and _Dissenters_, and that without any Complaints from _good Churchmen_, that _serious_ Persons and Things were _banter'd_ and _droll'd_ upon; and has triumph'd over its fanatical Adversaries in the Person of _Pryn_, who sufficiently suffer'd for his _Histrio-Mastix_, and has been approv'd of as an innocent Diversion by the religious Dr. _Patrick_ in his _Friendly Debate_, in the Reign of King _Charles_ II. when the Stage was in a very immoral State. I don't know whether you would be willing even to restrain _Bartholomew Fair_, where the Sect of the _New Prophets_ was the Subject of a _Droll_ or _Puppet-Show_, to the great Satisfaction of the Auditors, who, it may be presum'd, were all good Churchmen, _Puritans_ and _Dissenters_ usually declining such Entertainments out of _real_ or _pretended_ Seriousness. ("A certain Clergyman thought fit to remark, that King _William_ could be no good Churchman, because of his not frequenting the _Play-House_."[74])

V. It will probably be a Motive with you to be against abolishing _Drollery_, when you reflect that the Men of _Irony_, the _Droles_ and _Satirists_, have been and always will be very numerous on your side, where they have been and are so much incourag'd for acting that Part, and that they have always been and always will be very few on the side of _Heterodoxy_; a Cause wherein an Author by engaging, may hurt his Reputation and Fortune, and can propose nothing to himself but Poverty and Disgrace. I doubt whether you would be for punishing your Friend Dr. _Rogers_, from whom I just now quoted an _Irony_ on the Author of _The Scheme of Literal Prophecy consider'd_, or any one else, for _laughing_ at and making sport with him; or whether you would be for punishing the Reverend Mr. _Trapp_, who implies the _Justness_ and _Propriety of ridiculing Popery_; when he says[75], that _Popery is so foolish and absurd, that every body of common Sense must_ LAUGH _at it_; and when he refers to _Erasmus_ for having _abundantly_ RIDICUL'D their _Reliques_; and himself puts _Ridicule_ in Practice against them, by representing their Doctrines and Practices as _ridiculously foolish_, as _despicably childish_, and _Matter of mere Scorn_; as _monstrous_; as _Spells_, _juggling Tricks_, _gross Cheats_, _Impostures_[76], and _wretched Shifts_; and in fine, in representing by way of _Specimen_, all their _Miracles_ as _Legends_; of which he says, _These and a thousand more such like unreasonable Lies, which a Child of common Sense would laugh at, are impos'd upon and swallow'd by the ignorant People, and make a_ VERY GREAT _Part of the Popish Religion._

And this, in concurrence with Mr. _Trapp_, I also take to be the Case of Popery, that it must make Men _laugh_; and that it is much easier to be gravely disposed in reading a _Stage-Comedy_ or _Farce_, than in considering and reflecting on the _Comedy_ and _Farce_ of _Popery_; than which, Wit and Folly, and Madness in conjunction, cannot invent or make a thing more ridiculous, according to that Light in which I see their Doctrines, Ceremonies and Worship, the Histories and Legends of their Saints, and the pretended Miracles wrought in their Church; which has hardly any thing _serious_ in it but its Persecutions, its Murders, its Massacres; all employ'd against the most innocent and virtuous, and the most sensible and learned Men, because they will not be _Tools_ to support Villany and Ignorance.

"Transubstantiation, says _Tillotson_[77], is not a Controversy of Scripture against Scripture, or of Reason against Reason, but of downright Impudence against the plain meaning of Scripture, and all the Sense and Reason of Mankind." And accordingly he scruples not to say, in a most _drolling_ manner, that "Transubstantiation is one of the chief of the _Roman_ Church's _legerdemain_ and _juggling Tricks_ of Falshood and Imposture; and that in all Probability those common juggling Words of _Hocus-pocus_, are nothing else but a Corruption of _hoc est corpus_, by way of ridiculous Imitation of the Church of _Rome_ in their _Trick_ of _Transubstantiation_." And as he _archly_ makes the Introduction of this monstrous Piece of _grave Nonsense_ to be owing to its being at first preach'd by its Promoters with _convenient Gravity and Solemnity_[78], which is the common Method of imposing Absurdities on the World; so I think that Doctrine taught with such _convenient Gravity and Solemnity_ should necessarily produce _Levity, Laughter and Ridicule_, in all intelligent People to whom it is propos'd, who must _smile_, if they can with safety, to see such Stuff vented with a grave Face.

In like manner many other Divines treat and laugh at _Popery_. Even the solemn and grave Dr. _Whitby_ has written a Book against _Transubstantiation_, under the Title of "Irrisio Dei Panarii, _The Derision of the Breaden God_," in Imitation of the primitive Fathers, who have written _Derisions_ and _Mockeries_ of the _Pagan_ Religion.

And he takes the Materials whereof this drolling Performance of his consists, from the _holy Scriptures_, the _Apocryphal Books_, and _Writings_ of the _holy Fathers_, as he tells us in his Title-Page; three inexhaustible Sources of Wit and Irony against the Corrupters of true and genuine Religion. In like manner he turns upon the Popish Clergy the several Arguments urg'd by the _Jewish_ Clergy in the _New Testament_, for the Authority of the _Jewish_ Church; and answers, under that _Irony_, all that the Popish Clergy offer in behalf of the _Authority_ of their _Church_, in a _Sermon_ at the End of his _Annotations_ on St. _John_'s _Gospel_.

Nor do our Divines confine their _Derisions_, _Ridicule_ and _Irony_ against _Popery_ to their Treatises and Discourses, but fill their _Sermons_, and especially their _Sermons_ on the _Fifth_ of _November_, and other political _Days_, with infinite Reflections of that Kind. Of these _Reflections_ a Popish Author publish'd a _Specimen_, in a Book intitled[79], _Good Advice to Pulpits_, in order to shame the Church out of their Method of _drolling_ and _laughing_ [80] at _Popery_. But this Book had no other effect, than to produce a _Defence_ of those _Sermons_ under the Title of _Pulpit Popery true Popery_, vindicating the several _Droll_ Representations made of _Popery_ in those _Sermons_.

Of these _drolling_ Reflections cited by the Popish Author out of our Church of _England Sermons_, take these following for a Specimen of what are to be met with in those _Sermons_[81].

"Pilgrimages, going Bare-foot, Hair-shirts, and Whips, with other such Gospel-artillery, are their only Helps to Devotion.----It seems that with them a Man sometimes cannot be a Penitent, unless he also turns Vagabond, and foots it to _Jerusalem_.----He that thinks to expiate a Sin by going bare-foot, does the Penance of a Goose, and only makes one Folly the Atonement of another. _Paul_ indeed was scourg'd and beaten by the _Jews_; but we never read that he beat or scourg'd himself; and if they think his keeping under his Body imports so much, they must first prove that the Body cannot be kept under by a virtuous Mind, and that the Mind cannot be made virtuous but by a Scourge; and consequently, that Thongs and Whipcord are Means of Grace, and Things necessary to Salvation. The truth is, if Mens Religion lies no deeper than their Skin, it is possible they may scourge themselves into very great Improvements.----But they will find that bodily Exercise touches not the Soul; and consequently that in this whole Course they are like Men out of the way: let them flash on never so fast, they are not at all nearer their Journey's-end: And howsoever they deceive themselves and others, they may as well expect to bring a Cart, as a Soul, to Heaven.

"What say you to the Popish Doctrine of the _Sacrifice of the Mass_.----According to this Doctrine, our blessed Saviour must still, to the end of the World, be laid hold on by Sinners, be ground with their Teeth, and sent down into their impure Paunches, as often as the Priest shall pronounce this Charm, _hoc est corpus meum_: and it seems that he was a false Prophet, when he said upon the Cross, _It is finish'd_, seeing there was such an infinite deal of _loathsom Drudgery_ still to be undergone.

"For _Purgatory_, 'tis not material in it self, whether it be, or where it be, no more than the World in the Moon; but so long as that false Fire serves to maintain a true one, and his Holiness's Kitchen smokes with the Rents he receives for releasing Souls from thence, which never came there, it concerns him and his to see to it, that it be not suffer'd to go out."

An ingenious Author, Sir _Richard Steel_, has of late made a _Dedication_ to his _Holiness_ the _Pope_ himself, before a Book entitled, _An Account of the State of the Roman Catholick Religion throughout the World_, &c. In which _Dedication_, that most exalted Clergyman the _Pope_, that [suppos'd] infallible Dictator in Religion, and most grave Person; who, if _serious_ Matters and Persons were always to be treated _seriously_, may vie with any other Mortal for a Right to _serious_ Treatment; is expos'd by incomparable _Drollery_ and _Irony_ to the utmost Contempt, to the universal Satisfaction of Protestant Readers, who have been pleas'd to see a gross Impostor, however respected and ador'd by godly and serious Papists, so treated.

VI. In fine, it is suited to the common Practice of this Nation to ridicule _Popery_ as well as _Nonconformity_; and tho several _grave_ Books, written among us against Popery, in the Reign of King _James_ II. (of which yet the _Romish_ Priests complain'd, as treating the King's [82] _Religion_ with Contempt) were then very well receiv'd and applauded for Learning and strength of Arguing; yet, I believe, it may with more Propriety be said, that King _James_ II. and _Popery_ were [83] _laugh'd_ or _Lilli-bullero'd_, than that they were _argu'd_ out of the Kingdom.

The reading the _King's Declaration of Indulgence_ in Churches 1688, had this fatal _Jest_ put upon it by a reverend Divine, "Who pleasantly told his People, _That tho he was obliged to read it, they were not obliged to hear it_[84]; and stop'd till they all went out, and then he read it to the Walls." To which may be added, the famous Mr. _Wallop_'s excellent Comparison of that _Declaration_ upon the Instant of its Publication, to _the scaffolding of St._ Paul_'s Church; which, as soon as the Building was finish'd, would be pull'd down_.

Bishop _Burnet_ celebrates, with the greatest Justness, our Taste, and indeed the Taste of the World in this Respect, when he relates how _Popery_ was then used among us; and he recites some of the _Jests_ which passed and were received with universal Applause. He tells us[85], "The Court was now (that is, in 1686,) much set on making Converts, which fail'd in most Instances, and produc'd _Repartees_; that whether true or false, were much repeated, and were heard with great Satisfaction. The Earl of _Mulgrave_ (since Duke of _Buckinghamshire_) was Lord Chamberlain; he was apt to comply in every thing that he thought might be acceptable, for he went with the King to Mass, and kneeled at it; and being look'd on as indifferent to all Religions, the Priests made an Attack upon him: He heard them _gravely_ arguing for _Transubstantiation_. He told them he was willing to receive Instruction; he had taken much Pains to bring himself to believe in God, who made the World and all Men in it: But it must not be an ordinary Force of Argument that could make him believe that Man was quits with God, and made God again. The Earl of _Middleton_ had marry'd into a Popish Family, and was a Man of great Parts and a generous Temper, but of loose Principles in Religion; so a Priest was sent to instruct him. He began with _Transubstantiation_, of which he said he would convince him immediately: And began thus, You believe the _Trinity_. _Middleton_ stop'd him, and said, who told you so? At which he seem'd amazed. So the Earl said, he expected he should convince him of his Belief, but not question him of his own: With this the Priest was so disorder'd, that he could proceed no farther. One Day the King gave the Duke of _Norfolk_ the Sword of State to carry before him to the Chappel, and he stood at the Door. Upon which the King said to him, My Lord, your Father would have gone farther. To which the Duke answer'd, Your Majesty's Father was the better Man, and he would not have gone so far. _Kirk_ was also spoken to, to change his Religion, and he reply'd briskly, that he was already pre-engag'd, for _he had promised the King of_ Morocco, _that if ever he chang'd his Religion he would turn_ Mahometan." When K. _James_ sent an _Irish_ Priest to convert the D. of _Bucks_ [_Villers_] the said Duke entertain'd the Priest with a Bottle, and engag'd him in a _Dialogue_, which the Duke afterwards caus'd to be printed, to the no small Mortification of all Papists, who were therein exceedingly ridicul'd, and to the Triumph of all good Churchmen, who are never better pleas'd, than when they have the _Laugh_ on their side.

At this time also were publish'd two merry Books, by a couple of our Divines, with express View to make Protestants laugh at _Popery_, as at a _Farce_; and they were, _The School of the Eucharist_, wherein is a Collection of ridiculous _Miracles_, pretended to be wrought to support the Truth of _Transubstantiation_, and _Purgatory prov'd by Miracles_.

I must not omit another incomparable Piece of Wit and Raillery against _Popery_, publish'd at that time. It seems the famous Poet, _Dryden_, thought fit to declare himself a _Roman Catholick_; and had, as 'tis said, a _Penance_ injoyn'd him by his Confessor, for having formerly written _The Spanish Fryar_, of composing some _Treatise_ in a _poetical way_ for _Popery_, and against the _Reformation_. This he executed in a _Poem_, intituled, _The Hind and Panther_; which, setting aside the Absurdity of the Matters therein asserted, and of the several Arguments to maintain them, is, in other Respects, one of the most mean Compositions that ever the Press produc'd. Was it proper to pass over in silence such a Work, from whence probably the Popish Party expected great Matters, as knowing the Efficacy of Poetry, and being Witnesses of the Success the Author had had in his _Absalom_ and _Achitophel_ against the _Whigs_? Was it proper to write _seriously_ and _gravely_ against a Book, wherein the Author every where aims at Wit, Irony, and Burlesque, and does himself make so ridiculous a Figure, as to be a standing Jest throughout the whole? Was not the Convert himself, as such, a _Jest_, or as professing any Religion, a _Jest_; who argu'd for Pay, and spoke as he was brib'd, and would have profess'd any Opinions, as is the Mode and Practice of the World, to which Salary and Preferments are annexed? Some ingenious Persons of the Times took a better Method, and agreeably to the Temper and Disposition of our Countrymen, and to the nature of _Dryden_'s Attack, and his interested Writing for Religion, made a Return in a Paper intituled, _The Hind and Panther transvers'd to the Story of the Country-Mouse and City-Mouse_: Out of which, for a Specimen of _just Irony_, and _fine Raillery_, I will give you the following Passage.

"_Sirrah, says_ Brindle, _thou hast brought us_ Wine,
"_Sour to my Taste, and to my Eyes unfine._
"_Says_ Will, _All Gentlemen like it. Ah! says_ White,
"_What is approved by them must needs be right._
"_'Tis true, I thought it bad, but if the_ House
"_Commend it, I submit, a_ private Mouse.
"_Nor to their Catholick Consent oppose_
"_My erring Judgment and reforming Nose._
"[86]_Why, what a Devil, shan't I trust my Eyes,_
"_Must I drink Stum, because the Rascal lies,_
"_And palms upon us_ Catholick _Consent,_
"_To give_ sophisticated Brewings _Vent?_
"_Says_ White, _what antient Evidence can sway,_
"_If you must argue thus and not obey?_
"Drawers _must be trusted, thro' whose hands convey'd_
"_You take the Liquor, or you spoil the Trade._
"_For sure those honest_ Fellows _have no Knack_
"_Of putting off stum'd Claret for_ Pontack.
"_How long alas! would the poor Vintner last,_ }
"_If all that drink must_ judge, _and every Guest_ }
"_Be allow'd to have an understanding_ Taste? }

VII. I question whether High-Church would be willing to have the reverend Author of the _Tale of a Tub_, one of the greatest _Droles_ that ever appear'd upon the Stage of the World, punish'd for that or any other of his _drolling_ Works: For tho religious Matters, and all the various Forms of Christianity have therein a considerable Share of _Ridicule_; yet in regard of his _Drollery_ upon the _Whigs_, _Dissenters_, and the _War_ with _France_ (things of as _serious_ and weighty Consideration, and as much affecting the Peace of Society, as _Justification_ by _Faith only_, _Predestination_, _Transubstantiation_, or _Constansubstantiation_, or _Questions_ about _religious Ceremonies_, or any such interested Matters) the _Convocation_ in their famous _Representation_ of the _Profaneness_ and _Blasphemy_ of the Nation, took no notice of his _drolling_ on Christianity: And his Usefulness in _Drollery_ and _Ridicule_ was deem'd sufficient by the _Pious_ Queen _Anne_, and her _pious Ministry_, to intitle him to a Church Preferment of several hundred Pounds _per Ann._ [87] which she bestow'd upon him, notwithstanding a _fanatick High-Churchman_, who weakly thought _Seriousness_ in Religion of more use to High-Church than _Drollery_, and attempted to hinder his Promotion, by representing to her Majesty, "What a Scandal it would be both to Church and State to bestow Preferment upon a Clergyman, who was hardly suspected of being a Christian." Besides, High-Church receives daily most signal Services from his drolling Capacity, which has of late exerted itself on the Jacobite Stage of _Mist_'s and _Fogg_'s Journal, and in other little Papers publish'd in _Ireland_; in which he endeavours to expose the present Administration of publick Affairs to contempt, to inflame the _Irish_ Nation against the _English_, and to make them throw off all Subjection to the _English_ Government, to satirize Bishop _Burnet_ and other _Whig_ Bishops; and, in fine, to pave the way for a new or Popish Revolution, as far as choosing the most proper Topicks of Invective, and treating of them in the way of _Drollery_, can do.

VIII. It is well known, that Gravity, Preciseness, Solemnity, Sourness, formal Dress and Behaviour, Sobriety of Manners, keeping at a distance from the common Pastimes of the World, Aversion to Rites and Ceremonies in the publick Worship, and to Pictures, Images, and Musick in Churches; mixing Religion in common Conversion, using long Graces, practising Family-Worship, part of which was praying _ex tempore_; setting up and hearing Lectures, and a strict Observation of the Lord's Day, which was call'd the _Sabbath_, were the Parts of the Character of a _Puritan_; who, it is to be observ'd, usually had the Imputation of Hypocrisy for his great and extraordinary Pretences to Religion: He was also a great Opposer of the Court-Measures in the Reign of King _James_ and King _Charles_ I. and most zealous for Law, Liberty, and Property, when those two Princes set up for raising Money by their own Authority, and in consequence thereof, fell into numerous other Acts of Violence and Injustice. It is also well known, that to quell these Puritans, and lessen their Credit, and baffle all their Pretences, Gaiety, Mirth, Pastimes or Sports, were incourag'd and requir'd on _Sundays_ of the People, that Churches were render'd gay, theatrical, and pleasant by the Decorations, Paintings, Musick, and Ceremonies therein perform'd[88]; and that the utmost Ridicule was employ'd against some of them, as _Enthusiasts_, and against others of them as _Hypocrites_, and against them all as factious and seditious, by their Adversaries; who were under no Restraints, but incourag'd to write with Scorn, Contempt, Raillery and Satire against these suppos'd Enemies of Church and State. Nor did the great Success of the _Puritans_ in the Field of Battle suppress that _Vein_ and _Humour_ of _Ridicule_ begun against them; but the _Laudean_ Party still carry'd on a Paper War with innumerable Pamphlets, which all tended more or less to make the World _laugh_ at and _ridicule_ the _Puritans_. And I am verily persuaded, that no History of any other Country in the World can produce a Parallel, wherein the Principle and Practice of _Ridicule_ were ever so strongly encourag'd, and so constantly pursu'd, fix'd and rooted in the Minds of Men, as it was and is in Churchmen against Puritans and Dissenters. Even at this Day the _Ridicule_ is so strong against the present Dissenters, so promoted by Clergy and Laity, especially in Villages and small Country Towns, that they are unable to withstand its Force, but daily come over in Numbers to the Church to avoid being _laugh'd_ at. It seems to me a Mark of Distinction more likely to last in the Church than any other Matter that I can observe. Passive Obedience, the divine Right of Kings, _&c._ rise and fall according to particular Occasions; but _Laughter_ at _Dissenters_ seems fixt for ever, if they should chance to last so long.

_South_'s Sermons, which now amount to _six Volumes_, make Reading _Jests_ and _Banter_ upon _Dissenters_, the religious Exercise of good Churchmen upon _Sundays_, who now can serve God (as many think they do by hearing or reading Sermons) and be as merry as at the Play-house. And _Hudibras_, which is a daily High-Church Entertainment, and a Pocket and Travelling High-Church Companion, must necessarily have a very considerable Effect, and cannot fail forming in Men that Humour and Vein of _Ridicule_ upon _Dissenters_ which runs thro' that Work. In a word, High-Church has constantly been an Enemy to, and a Ridiculer of the _Seriousness_ of _Puritans_ and _Dissenters_, whom they have ever charg'd with _Hypocrisy_ for their _Seriousness_.

"After [89] the Civil War had broke out in 1641, and the King and Court had settled at _Oxford_, one _Birkenhead_, who had liv'd in _Laud_'s Family, and been made Fellow of _All Souls College_ by _Laud_'s Means, was appointed to write a Weekly Paper under the Title of _Mercurius Aulicus_; the first whereof was publish'd in 1642. In the Absence of the Author, _Birkenhead_, from _Oxford_, it was continued by _Heylin_. _Birkenhead_ pleas'd the Generality of Readers with his _Waggeries_ and _Buffooneries_; and the Royal Party were so taken with it, that the Author was recommended to be Reader of _Moral Philosophy_ by his Majesty;" who, together with the religious Electors, it is justly to be presum'd, thought _Waggery_ and _Buffoonery_, not only Political, but _Religious_ and _Moral_, when employ'd against _Puritans_ and _Dissenters_.

IX. King _Charles_ the Second's Restoration brought along with it glorious _High-Church_ Times; which were distinguish'd as much by _laughing_ at _Dissenters_, as by persecuting them; which pass for a Pattern how Dissenters are to be treated; and which will never be given up, by _High-Church-men_, as faulty, for ridiculing Dissenters.

The King himself, who had very good natural Parts, and a Disposition to banter and ridicule every Body, and especially the _Presbyterians_, whose Discipline he had felt for his Lewdness and Irreligion in _Scotland_, had in his _Exile_ an Education, and liv'd, among some of the greatest _Droles_ and _Wits_ that any Age ever produc'd; who could not but form him in that way, who was so well fitted by Temper for it. The Duke of _Buckingham_ was his constant Companion. And he had a [90] _great Liveliness of Wit, and a peculiar Faculty of turning all things into ridicule_. He was Author of the _Rehearsal_; which, as a most noble Author says, is [91] _a justly admir'd Piece of comick Wit_, and _has furnish'd our best Wits in all their Controversies, even in Religion and Politicks, as well as in the Affairs of Wit and Learning, with the most effectual and entertaining Method of exposing Folly, Pedantry, false Reason, and ill Writing_. The Duke of _Buckingham_ [92] brought _Hobbes_ to him to be his _Tutor_, who was a _Philosophical Drole_, and had a great deal of _Wit_ of the _drolling_ kind. _Sheldon_, who was afterwards Archbishop of _Canterbury_, and attended the King constantly in his Exile as his _Chaplain_, was an eminent _Drole_, as appears from Bishop _Burnet_, who says[93], that _he had a great Pleasantness of Conversation, perhaps too great_.

And _Hide_, afterwards Earl of _Clarendon_, who attended the King in his Exile, seems also to have been a great Drole, by Bishop _Burnet_'s representing him, as one, that _had too much Levity in his Wit, and that did not observe the Decorum of his Post_[94]. In a _Speech_ to the Lords and Commons, _Hide_ attack'd the Gravity of the Puritans, saying[95], "Very merry Men have been very godly Men; and if a good Conscience be a continued Feast, there is no reason but Men may be very merry at it." And upon Mr. _Baxter_ and other Presbyterian Ministers waiting on him in relation to the _Savoy Conference_, he said to Mr. _Baxter_ on the first Salute[96], that if "he were but as fat as Dr. _Manton_, we should all do well."

No wonder therefore, that _Ridicule_, and _Raillery_, and _Satire_, should prevail at Court after the _Restoration_; and that King _Charles_ the Second, who was a Wit himself, and early taught to laugh at his _Father's Stiffness_[97], should be so great a Master of them, and bring them into play among his Subjects; and that he who had the most sovereign Contempt for all Mankind, and in particular for the People and Church of _England_, should use his Talent against them; and that his People in return should give him like for like.

It is well known how he banter'd the Presbyterian Ministers, who out of Interest came over to him at _Breda_; where they were placed in a Room next to his Majesty, and order'd to attend till his Majesty had done his Devotions; who, it seems, pray'd so artfully, and poured out so many of their Phrases, which he had learned when he was in _Scotland_, where he was forced to be present at religious Exercises of six or seven Hours a-day; and had practis'd among the _Huguenot_ Ministers in _France_[98], who reported him to have a _sanctify'd Heart_, and to _speak the very Language of_ Canaan. This _Ridicule_ he _cover'd_ with _Seriousness_; having at that time Occasion for those Ministers, who were then his great Instruments in reconciling the Nation to his _Restoration_. When he had no farther Occasion for them, he was open in his _Ridicule_, and would say, that [99] _Presbyterianism was not a Religion for a Gentleman_.

X. Would you, who are a Man of Sense and Learning, and of some Moderation, be for punishing the Author of _The Difficulties and Discouragements which attend the Study of the Scriptures in the way of private Judgment_, &c. who is suppos'd to be a Prelate of the Church, for that Book, which is wholly an _Irony_ about the most sacred Persons and Things? Must not the fine _Irony_ it self, and the Execution of it, with so much Learning, Sense, and Wit, raise in you the highest Esteem and Admiration of the Author, instead of a Disposition to punish him? Would you appear to the intelligent Part of the World such an Enemy to Knowledge, and such a Friend to the Kingdom of Darkness, as such Punishment would imply? In fine, can you see and direct us to a better way, to make us inquire after and understand Matters of Religion, to make us get and keep a good temper of Mind, and to plant and cultivate in us the Virtues necessary to good Order and Peace in Society, and to eradicate the Vices that every where give Society so much Disturbance, than what is prescrib'd or imply'd in that Book? And can you think of a better _Form_ of _Conveyance_, or _Vehicle_ for Matters of such universal Concern to all intelligent People (if you consider the State of the World, and the infinite Variety of Understandings, Interests, and Designs of Men, who are all to be address'd to at the same Time) than his Method of _Irony_? And has not Success justify'd his Method? For the Book has had a free Vent in several Impressions; has been very generally read and applauded; has convinced Numbers, and has been no Occasion of trouble either to Bookseller or Author. It has also had the Advantage to have a most ingenious _Letter_ of _John Hales_ of _Eton_ join'd to some Editions of it; who by this _Letter_, as well as by several others of his Pieces, shews himself to have been another _Socrates_, one of the greatest Masters of _true Wit_ and _just Irony_, as well as Learning, which the World ever produc'd; and shews he could have writ such a Book as the _Difficulties_, &c. But if you are capable of coming into any Measures for punishing the Author of the _Difficulties_, &c. for his _Irony_, I conceive, that you may possibly hesitate a little in relation to the same Author, about his _New Defence of the Bishop of_ Bangor_'s Sermon of the Kingdom of Christ, consider'd as it is the Performance of a Man of Letters_; which, tho far below _The Difficulties_, &c. is an ingenious _Irony_ on that _Sermon_. You may probably, like many others of the Clergy, approve of Satire so well employ'd, as against that Bishop, who has succeeded Bishop _Burnet_ in being the Subject of _Clergy-Ridicule_, as well as in his Bishoprick. The Bishop himself was very justly patient, under all Attacks by the Reverend _Trapp_, _Earbery_, _Snape_, _Law_, and _Luke Milbourne_, in his _Tom of Bedlam's Answer to his Brother_ Ben Hoadley, _St._ Peter_'s_ Poor _Parson near the Exchange of Principles_; some of which were of a very abusive kind, and such as can hardly be parallel'd; and did not call upon the Magistrate to come to his Aid against that Author, or against any others of the Clergy who had attack'd him with as great Mockery, Ridicule, and Irony, as ever Bishop had been by the profess'd Adversaries of the Order; or as ever the Bishops had been by the _Puritans_ and _Libellers_ in the Reigns of Queen _Elizabeth_, King _James_ and King _Charles_ the First; or as _Lesley_, _Hickes_, _Hill_, _Atterbury_, _Binks_, and other High-Church Clergy, did the late Bishop _Burnet_. Instead of that he took the true and proper Method, by publishing an _Answer_ to the said _Irony_, compos'd in the same _ironical Strain_, intitled, _The Dean of_ Worcester _still the same: Or his new Defence of the Bishop of_ Bangor_'s Sermon, consider'd, as it is the Performance of a great Critick, a Man of Sense, and a Man of Probity_. Which Answer does, in my Opinion, as much Honour to the Bishop, by its Excellency in the _ironical Way_, as it does by allowing the Method it self, and going into that Method, in imitation of his Reverend Brethren of the Clergy, who appear to be under no Restraints from the _Immorality_ or _Indecency_ of treating the Bishop in the way of Ridicule and with the utmost Contempt; but, on the contrary, to be spurr'd on by the _Excellency_ and _Propriety_ thereof to use it against him, even in the [100] _Pulpit_, as Part of the religious Exercise on the _Lord's-day_.

XI. There is an universal Love and Practice of _Drollery_ and _Ridicule_ in all, even the most _serious_ Men, in the most _serious Places_, and on the most _serious Occasions_. Go into the Privy-Councils of Princes, into Senates, into Courts of Judicature, and into the Assemblies of the Kirk or Church; and you will find that Wit, good Humour, Ridicule, and Drollery, mix themselves in all the Questions before those Bodies; and that the most solemn and sour Person there present, will ever be found endeavouring, at least, to crack his Jest, in order to raise a Character for Wit; which has so great an Applause attending it, and renders Men so universally acceptable for their Conversation, and places them above the greatest Proficients in the Sciences, that almost every one is intoxicated with the Passion of aiming at it.

In the Reports made to us of the Debates in the Houses of Lords, Commons, and Convocation, the serious Parts of the Speeches there made die for the most part with the Sound; but the Wit, the Irony, the Drollery, the Ridicule, the Satire, and Repartees, are thought worthy to be remember'd and repeated in Conversation, and make a Part of the History of the Proceedings of those Bodies, no less than their grave Transactions, as some such must necessarily be.

Whoever will look into Antiquity for an Account of the Lives, Actions, and Works of the old Philosophers, will find little remaining of them; but some of their witty, drolling, and bantering Sayings, which alone have been thought worthy to be preserv'd to Posterity. And if you will look into the Lives of the modern Statesmen, Philosophers, Divines, Lawyers, _&c._ you will find that their witty Sayings ever make a considerable Part: by reporting which great Honour is intended to be done to their Memory. The great and most religious Philosopher Dr. _H. More_, has a great many Pieces of Wit attributed to him in his _Life_ by Mr. _Ward_, who represents him from his Companions, [101] _as one of the merriest Greeks they were acquainted with_, and tells us, that the Doctor said in his _last Illness_, to him[102], _that the merry way was that which he saw mightily to take; and so he used it the more_.

The great and famous Sir _Thomas More_, Lord Chancellor of _England_ in _Henry_ the Eighth's time, was an inexhaustible Source of _Drollery_[103], as his voluminous Works, which consist for the most part of controversial Divinity in behalf of Popery, show, and which are many of them written in Dialogue, the better to introduce the _drolling_ Way of Writing, which he has us'd in such Perfection, that it is said [104] _none can ever be weary of reading them, tho they be never so long_. Nor could Death it self, in immediate view before his Eyes, suppress his _merry_ Humour, and hinder him from cracking _Jests_ on the _Scaffold_; tho he was a Man of great _Piety_ and _Devotion_, whereof all the World was convinced by his Conduct both in his Life and at his Death.

It is said (as I have before observ'd) of my Lord Chancellor _Clarendon_, that "he had too much _Levity_ in his _Wit_[105], and that he did not always observe the _Decorum_ of his Post." Which implies not only his Approbation of _Drollery_ in the most _grave_ Business, but also his great Knowledge of Mankind, by applying to them in that _Way_; which he knew from Experience, and especially from the common _drolling_ [106] Conversation in the Court of King _Charles_ the Second, would recommend him to the World much more than an _impartial Administration of Justice_; which is less felt, less understood, and less taken notice of and applauded, than a _Piece_ of _Wit_; which is generally suppos'd to imply in it a great deal of Knowledge, and a Capacity fit for any thing.

Mr. _Whiston_[107], a famous Person among us, sets up for great _Gravity_, and proposes a Scheme of _Gravity_ for the Direction of those who write about Religion: He is for allowing _Unbelievers_, nay for having them "invited by Authority to produce all the real or original Evidence they think they have discover'd against any Parts of the _Bible_; against any Parts of the _Jewish_ and Christian Religions, in order to their being fully weigh'd and consider'd by all learned Men; provided at the same time, that the whole be done _gravely_, and _seriously_, without all _Levity_, _Banter_, and _Ridicule_." And yet this Man, having a handle given him by Bishop _Robinson_'s Letter to the _Clergy_ of his _Diocess_ about _New Doxologies borrow'd from Old Hereticks_, takes the advantage of the Bishop's (supposed) Ignorance, Dulness, Stupidity, and Contradiction to himself, and writes and prints, like a _Tom Brown_ or _Swift_, a most _bantering_ and _drolling_ Letter, under the sneering Title of a _Letter of Thanks to the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of_ London, _for his late Letter_, &c. whom, one would think, he should not only have spar'd, but have applauded for his _profound Gravity_, and carrying on the Cause of Religion in a very remarkable manner, with the most _consummate Solemnity_. But so strong was the Temptation, so naturally productive of Mirth was the Bishop's _Cause_, and his grave Management thereof, as that he could not help laughing at the Bishop, by himself; and so was led on mechanically to write in that Humour, and to publish what he wrote, and afterwards to defend his drole _Manner_ [108] of attacking the Bishop, against those who took _offence_ at that _Manner_ of writing.

XII. The burning Papists themselves are not always _serious_ with us: They treat the Church and its Defenders as _fanatical_, and _laugh_ at them as _such_, just as the Church does the Dissenters, and have their elaborate Works of _Drollery_ against their Adversaries. They publish'd a Poem against the _Reformation_, just before the Death of Queen _Anne_, which was design'd to have given such a Stroke to the Protestant Religion among us, under the new projected Revolution, as _Hudibras_ did to _Puritanism_ after the _Restoration_. The Popish Editor, in the Preface to the said Poem, says, "that the Motive of the Author (_Thomas Ward_) for publishing the _History of the Reformation in a Burlesque Style_ (tho a History full of melancholy Incidents, which have distracted the Nation, even beyond the hope of recovery, after so much Blood drawn from all its Veins, and from its Head) was that which he met with in Sir _Roger L'Estrange_'s Preface to the second Part of his _Cit_ and _Bumkin_, express'd in these Words; _Tho this way of fooling is not my Talent, nor Inclination; yet I have great Authorities for the taking up this Humour, in regard not only of the Subject, but of the Age we live in; which is so much upon the Drole, that hardly any thing else will down with it._"

And the ingenious Protestant Editor of this Poem at _London_, which he allows to have some Wit in it, concludes the Remarks he makes upon it, by saying, "One thing more we can't forbear hinting at, that a Retaliation would be as happy a Thought as could enter into the Head of a Man of Genius and Spirit. What a fruitful Harvest would the Legends, Tricks, spiritual Jugglings, Convents, and Nunneries, yield to a good Poet? _Buchanan_ in his _Franciscani_, and _Oldham_ in his _Satires_ on the Jesuits, have open'd the Way, and we heartily wish some equal Pen would write the whole Mystery of Iniquity at length."

XIII. All the old Puritan Preachers, who were originally Divines of the Church of _England_, sprinkled and season'd their Sermons with a great many _drolling_ Sayings against _Libertinism_ and _Vice_, and against Church Ceremonies; many of which Sayings are reported and handed down to us in Books and Conversation, as are also the Effects of those Sayings, which we are told converted many to _Christ_ on the Spot, or in the Instant of Delivery. Nor is that manner wholly laid aside, but has continued to be kept alive by some Hands at all times; who have been greatly follow'd for their Success in drolling upon _Sinners_, and treating of Religion in humoursom and fantastical Phrases, and fixing that way of Religion in some Mens Minds.

I do not remember to have met with a more complete Drole in the Church of _England_, or in any other of the _laughing_ or _ridiculing_ Sects, than _Andrew Marvel_ of the grave _Puritan_ Sect, in many Works of his both in Prose and Verse, but especially in his _Rehearsal Transprosed_; which tho writ against _Parker_, who with great Eloquence, Learning, and a Torrent of Drollery and Satire, had defended the Court and Church's Cause, in asserting the Necessity of Penal Laws against the Nonconformists, "was read from the _King_ down to the Tradesman with great pleasure, on account of that Burlesque Strain and lively Drollery that ran thro' it," as Bishop _Burnet_ tells us[109]. Nor were the gravest _Puritans_ and Dissenters among us less taken and pleas'd with his Writings for their _Drollery_, than our _drole King_; tho there are some Passages in them, which should give just Offence to chaste Ears.

I find also, that the _Puritans_ and _Dissenters_ have always born with, and allow'd of, a great Mixture of _Drollery_ in their Sermons, that one would think should offend their Gravity, and pious Ears; and that they applaud their Ministers for such their Discourses, as much as the Church does Dr. _South_ for the Ribaldry sprinkled thro'out his Sermons about the most high Points in Divinity. They have always had some eminent Divines among them who have been remarkable for such Passages and Reflections: And these have never lessen'd their number of Auditors, nor drawn upon themselves the Character of _Irreligious_; but have had the largest Auditories of contributing Hearers, as well as of Churchmen, who came to smile, and have been esteem'd very _pious_ Men.

In fine, the _Puritans_ and _Dissenters_ have, like the Church, their Taste of Humour, Irony, and Ridicule, which they promote with great Zeal, as a Means to serve Religion: And I remember, that, among other things said in behalf of _Bunyan_'s _Pilgrim's Progress_, upon the reprinting it lately by Subscription, it was affirm'd, and that, in my Opinion, truly, "that it had infinitely out-done _The Tale of a Tub_; which perhaps had not made one Convert to Infidelity, whereas the _Pilgrim's Progress_ had converted many Sinners to _Christ_."

XIV. The _Quakers_ are certainly the most _serious_ and solemn People among us in Matters of Religion, and out-go the Dissenters of all other Kinds therein: But yet the Church has no regard to them on that Account, but takes Advantage from thence to _ridicule_ them the more, and to call their Sincerity more in question. And I much doubt whether there was ever a Book written against them by the Divines of any Sect with perfect Decency, and that had not its extravagant Flouts, Scorn, Banter, and Irony, and that not only of the _laughing_, but of the _cruel_ kind: Wherein they copy'd after the _Jews_ of old, who while they prosecuted _Christ_ to Death, and carried on their High-Church Tragedy against him, acted against him the _comick Scenes_ [110] "of spitting in his Face, and buffeting him with the Palms of their Hands, saying, _Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, who is he that smote thee_;" and who, when they had nail'd him to the Cross, _revil'd_ him with divers _Taunts_, in which the _Chief Priests_, _Scribes_, _Elders_, and even the _Thieves, which were crucified with him_, concurr'd. But yet for all this, these solemn Quakers themselves are not altogether averse to _Irony_ and _Ridicule_, and use it when they can. Their Books abound in Stories to ridicule in their Turn the Priests, their great and bitter Adversaries: And they please themselves with throwing at the Priests the _Centuries of Scandalous Ministers_, and the Books of the _Cobler of_ Glocester. They have also their Satirist and Banterer, _Samuel Fisher_; whose Works, tho all wrote in the _drolling_ Style and Manner, they pride themselves in, and have collected into one great Volume in _Folio_; in which Quaker-Wit and Irony are set up against Church, Presbyterian, and Independent Wit and Irony, without the least Scruple of the lawfulness of such Arms. In a word, their Author acts the Part of a _Jack-Pudding_, _Merry Andrew_, or _Buffoon_, with all the seeming Right, Authority, and Privilege, of the Member of some Establish'd Church of abusing all the World but themselves. The _Quakers_ have also encourag'd and publish'd a most arch Book of the famous _Henry Stubbe_, intitled, _A Light shining out of Darkness_, &c. Wherein all the other religious Parties among us are as handsomly and learnedly banter'd and ridicul'd, as the _Quakers_ have been in any Book against them. And when they were attack'd by one _Samuel Young_, a whimsical Presbyterian-Buffoon-Divine, who call'd himself _Trepidantium Malleus_, and set up for an Imitator of Mr. _Alsop_, in several Pamphlets full of Stories, Repartees, and Ironies; in which _Young_, perhaps, thought himself as secure from a Return of the like kind, as a Ruffian or Thief may when he assaults Men: His Attacks were repell'd in a Book intitled "_Trepidantium Malleus intrepidanter malleatus_; or the West Country Wiseaker's crack-brain'd _Reprimand_ hammer'd about his own Numbscul. Being a _Joco-satirical_ Return to a late Tale of a Tub, emitted by a reverend _Non-con_, at present residing not far from _Bedlam_," said to be written by _William Penn_, who has therein made use of the carnal Weapons of Irony and Banter, and dress'd out the Presbyterian Priest in a Fool's Coat, for a Spectacle to the Mob. It is also to be observ'd, that there are several Tracts in the two Volumes of _William Penn_'s Works lately publish'd, that for ingenious Banter and Irony, are much superior to the Priests his Adversaries; and that other Quaker Authors profess to write sometimes in a [111] _drolling Style_.

XV. The Jacobite Clergy have set up for great _Droles_ upon all the true Friends of the _Establishment_. And I presume, the Body of our High Churchmen would not willingly deprive them of the Benefit of their _Drollery_.

The celebrated Mr. _Collier_ [112] thus attacks Bishop _Burnet_, for his ESSAY _on the Memory of Queen_ Mary. "This Doctor, you know, is a Man of mighty _Latitude_, and can say any thing to serve a Turn; whose _Reverence_ resolves Cases of Conscience backwards and forwards, disputes _pro_ and _con_, praises and dispraises by secular Measures; with whom Virtue and Vice, passive Obedience and Rebellion, Parricide and filial Duty, Treachery and Faithfulness, and all the Contradictions in Nature, are the _best_ and _worst_ things under the Sun, as they are for his Purpose, and according as the Wind sits: who equally and indifferently writes for and against all Men, the Gospel, and himself too, as the World goes: who can bestow a Panegyrick upon the seven deadly Sins, and (if there be occasion) can make an Invective against all the Commandments.----"

In relation to Dr. _Payne_'s _Sermon_ on the Death of that _Queen_, he says[113], "that to go thro' it is too great a Discipline for any Man, whose Palate hath ever relish'd any thing above _three half-penny Poetry_." He adds, "Why, Sir, many Years ago I have heard some of it sung about the Streets in wretched and nauseous _Doggrel_. What think you of this? _Page_ 6. _I know not how to draw her Picture, 'tis so all over beauteous, without any Foil, any Shade, any Blemish; so perfect in every Feature, so accomplish'd in every Part, so adorn'd with every Perfection and every Grace._ O rare, Sir! here's _Phillis_ and _Chloris_, and _Gillian a Croydon_.

"_Sh' hath_ every Feature, every Grace,
"_So charming_ every part, _&c_.

"Tis no wonder he tells us, (_p._ 8.) of _strewing her with the Flowers of withered and decay'd Poetry_; for the _Song_ out of which he hath transcrib'd his _Sermon_, is of very _great age_, and hath been sung at many a _Whitsun-Ale_, and many a _Wedding_ (tho I believe never at a Funeral before) and therefore in all this time may well be _decay'd and wither'd_: In the mean time, if you were to draw the Picture of a _great Princess_, I fansy you would not make choice of _Mopsa_ to sit to it. Alas! Sir, there was _Cassandra_ and _Cleopatra_, and many a famed _Romance_ more, which might have furnish'd him with handsome Characters, and yet he must needs be _preaching and instructing_ his People out of _Hey down derry_, and the _fair Maid of_ Kent. If he had intitled it, _The_ White-Chapel _Ballad_, and got some body to set it to the Tune of _Amaryllis_, compos'd by _W. P. Songster_, the Character of the _Author_, the _Title_, and the _Matter_, would have very well agreed, and perhaps it might have passed at the Corners of the Streets; but to call it a _Sermon_, and by _W. P._ Doctor in _Divinity_, 'tis one of the _lewdest_ things in the World.----"

Mr. _Lesley_ attacks the Clergy, who pray'd "that God would give King _James_ Victory over all his Enemies[114], when that was the thing they least wish'd; and confess'd, that they labour'd all they could against it," saying, "good God! What Apprehensions, what Thought had those Men of their publick Prayers; bantering God Almighty, and mocking him to his Face, who heard their Words, and saw their Hearts? Is not _Atheism_ a smaller Sin than this, since it is better to have no God, than so to set up one _to laugh at him_."

Again he says, (_p._ 123.) "It is a severe Jest, that the common People have got up against the Clergy, that there was but one thing formerly which the Parliament could not do, that is, to make a Man a Woman: But now there is another, that is, to make an Oath which the Clergy will not take."

The same Author attacks Bishop _Burnet_'s _Speech upon the Bill against Occasional Conformity_, by a Pamphlet intitled, _The Bishop of_ Salisbury_'s proper Defence from a Speech cry'd about the Streets in his Name, and said to have been spoken by him in the House of Lords upon the Bill against Occasional Conformity_; which is one perpetual _Irony_ on the Bishop, and gives the Author occasion to throw all manner of Satire and Abuse on the Bishop. The beginning of this Pamphlet, which is as follows, will let the Reader into the full Knowledge of the Design of the Irony, and the manner of Execution.

"The License of this Age and of the Press is so great, that no Rank or Quality of Men is free from the Insults of loose and extravagant Wits.

"The good Bishop of _Salisbury_ has had a plentiful Share in this sort of Treatment: And now at last, some or other has presum'd to burlesque his Lordship in printing a Speech for him, which none that knows his Lordship can believe ever came from him.

"But because it may go down with others who are too apt to take Slander upon trust, and that his Lordship has already been pelted with several Answers to his Speech, I have presum'd to offer the following Considerations, to clear his Lordship from the Suspicion of having vented (in such an august Assembly) those crude and undigested Matters which are set forth in that Speech, and which so highly reflect on his Lordship's self."

He has taken the same Method of Irony to attack the said Bishop for his _Speech_ on the _Trial_ of _Sacheverel_, and for a _Sermon_, under this Title, "The Good Old Cause, _or_ Lying in Truth; being a Second Defence of the Lord Bishop of _Sarum_ from a Second Speech, and also the Dissection of a Sermon it is said his Lordship preach'd in the Cathedral Church of _Salisbury_." And this Pamphlet, which is also a continued Banter, begins thus.