THE Seditious Inſects, &c.
[3]NEAR the Cool Verge of that Delightful Strand,
Where winding Thames rowls over Golden Sand,
Where Weſtern Breezes fan the Gentle Air,
And Britain's brighteſt Ornaments appear,
An Ancient Hive of Ariſtaean Bees,
With pleaſure ſwarm'd among the Fragrant Trees.
Long did their Labours o'er the Land diffuſe
Aerial Honey, and Ambroſial Dews,
Collected from the Meads, and Roſie Bowers,
And Morning Sweets, that tip the gaudy Flowers
Of their gay Pride, deſpoiling every Plain,
To feed with Heavenly Juice the humble Swain,
And load with labour'd Sweets the flowing Land again.
Safe was their Hive from all oppreſſive Harms,
No Dreams of Danger diſcompos'd their Swarms;
But fam'd for Peace and Order they were known,
True Bees due Homage to Superiours own.
This was their State, when buſie Moths aroſe,
And Waſps Inſidious, equally their Foes.
Hornets and Drones, and all the humming Tribe
Whom Hate cou'd Summon, or whom Int'reſt Bribe.
Gnats, Beetles, Locuſts, all the Worthleſs kind
Of hateful Inſects in the Riot join'd,
Buzzing falſe Dangers, and diſtracting Fears,
In new Confuſions now the Hive appears;
[4] Cuſtoms unknown to Ages heretofore
Corrupt the Breed, the Virgin Race deflow'r.
So when Falſe Teachers in the Church ariſe,
Schiſm prevails, and true Religion dies;
Faith takes her flight, unable to ſuſtain
The Mighty Shock, Reaſon perſwades in vain;
Till Heavenly Energy our Breaſt inſpires
With Sacred Senſe of true Etherial Fires,
Then the dark Clouds of Errour fly apace,
And Revelation reaſſumes her Place.
Now the warm Foe their Io Paeans ſing,
In every Vale loud Peals of Conqueſt ring;
The painted Butterfly with empty Sound,
Proclaim'd the gaudy Triumph all around;
Every vile Inſect to the Hive repairs,
Foments the Tumult, and the Plunder Shares.
Sated with Spoil, with Victory elate,
The Hoſtile Vermine whet their pointed Hate:
Each Envious Thought they ſooth, and proudly drive
The Bees dejected from the Luſcious Hive;
When their Juſt King touch'd with a Princely Zeal,
To ſave his Subjects, and their Preſſures heal,
Gives up the Councellors who ill-advis'd,
And their Immoderate Enterprize chaſtis'd,
Another Set of Miniſters he choſe,
And freed the Hive from their Vexatious Foes.
With Rays of Heavenly Light returning Peace
Smil'd on the Great Deſign, and Crown'd it with Succeſs;
Such is the Power of Majeſty Divine,
When in full Luſtre it vouchſafes to ſhine.
[5] The Rebel Brood ſtruck with amazing Dread,
In trembling Horror and Confuſion fled.
So have the Zealots of our Church appear'd,
(If Little Things may be with Great Compar'd,)
Buſie with ſpecious Dangers to amuſe,
With Patriots Fears the Populace abuſe,
When 'twas the Churches Honey rais'd the Cry,
Join'd with the Sweetneſs of the Miniſtry.
Had they ſtill loll'd in Soft Luxurious Eaſe,
The Church had flouriſh'd in Triumphant Peace,
The Synods too been Safe, ſecure from Harm,
(Tho' even in them ſome Holy Vermin ſwarm:)
O ſay, Bright Goddeſs, whence this Temper flows,
And ſhow how firſt the Fatal Schiſm roſe.
Long has the Papal Power aſpir'd to reign
With Univerſal ſway: Why will they ſtrive in vain?
Some Angel ſtill by a Divine Command
Will interpoſe to ſave the Britiſh Land.
Succeſſive Plots, and Jeſuitick Wiles,
Open Attempts, and ſeeming Friendly Smiles,
Have in their Turns, with the ſame vile Intent,
Contriv'd the Ruin of this Government.
This to promote, ſome Fathers heretofore
Laviſh of Labour, prodigal of Gore,
Fain wou'd their Hands in Royal Blood imbrue,
And bleſs'd the Deed as Meritorious too,
Since the Libation to the Church was due.
This Sainted Herd, this Vile, Deceiving Race,
[6] Where Speaking Marble do's their Story tell,
This for the Faith, that for Religion fell;
When for the worſt of Crimes the Helliſh Breed,
Did by the Juſteſt Law of Nations Bleed.
Such Saints as Theſe England too much has known,
Who Clemens and Ravilliac's Maxims own;
King-killing Doctrines, and Depoſing Crowns,
Too oft have been the Theme of Servile Gowns.
Peters and Ferguſon may ſurely claim
A Share with Garnet in Immortal Fame.
Lacy and Marion too in time may vie
With either kind for Gifts and Prophecy;
The ſame Seditious Spirit forms their Will
For Miſchief, Arm'd alike with Blind Ungovern'd Zeal.
Whole Ages have ſuch Emiſſaries try'd,
This much too fickle Nation to divide
With open Violence. In Eighty-eight
They lead their eaſie King, and rid the yielding State.
Law fell before their Arbitrary Sway,
And now they Smil'd, and Bleſs'd the Happy Day,
When Britiſh Liberty no more ſhou'd ſtand
In oppoſition to Supream Command.
Thus were we cruſh'd by the Intrigues of Rome,
Till Glorious Naſſau had revers'd our Doom;
He came to ſave us with extended Arms,
Reſtore our Laws, and break the Tyrants Charms,
Reſcue the Church from her inſulting Foes,
And leave the Nation in a Bleſt Repoſe;
This done, he fled to his Congenial Sphere,
And ſhines upon the Land a Bright Auſpicious Star.
[7] Forgive, Immortal Hero, if my Muſe,
Conſcious of Weakneſs, her own Theme purſues,
Nor aims to Praiſe ſo Excellent a King,
None but a Virgil ſhou'd a Caeſar Sing.
With Mortal Pangs they ſaw the Romiſh Yoke
Thus by our Happy Revolution broke
By open force; deſpairing to ſucceed,
On New Deſigns their Factious Agents lead
Various Intrigues, their Curſed Engines try,
No Difficulties daunt their Induſtry,
But what the Sword denies they attempt by Prophecy.
Earth, Hell, and Seas, they'll compaſs to deceive,
And Glory in the Toil if Proſelites believe.
So when Imperial Juno had implor'd
The Thunderer's Aid to cruſh the Trojan Lord,
The Awful God denying her Requeſt,
Told her, Aeneas muſt in Latium reſt;
But ſhe Impatient, by ſtrong Paſſion mov'd,
(So much a Female Jeſuit ſhe prov'd)
Beſought the Powers beneath to be her Friends,
And went to Hell to gain her Pious Ends.
Sure 'twas from thence this Gifted Spirit came,
No Heavenly Fire, but an Infernal Flame,
Deſign'd by Jeſuits to deſtroy Our Eaſe,
And pall the Joys of our United Peace.
For this, Seditious Spirits in diſguiſe
Swarm in the Church, tho' they that Church deſpiſe:
[8] Loudly they boaſt her Ancient Rights and Fame,
Whilſt underhand they play a Popiſh Game.
The Seed of Loyold with Artful Pains
Firſt fixt this High-Church Poyſon in our Veins,
Infecting too too many of our Youth,
Who, blindly led, fell from the Cauſe of Truth.
Iſis no more can boaſt of healing Streams,
The Deity has long withdrawn his Beams;
Diſpleas'd that they polluted his Abode,
That High-Church Victims now his Altars load,
And Prieſts no Incenſe offer worthy of a God.
Hence we derive the Cauſe of all our Woes,
From hence the Dangers of the Church aroſe;
Hence empty Libertines with Modiſh Air,
At Myſt'ry laugh, and all Religion jeer;
When Fountains are corrupt, how can the Streams be clear?
So when at Athens the Degenerate Race
Left their old Morals, new Ones to Embrace,
The Guardian Deities their Shrines forſook,
In vain the Victims on their Altars ſmoak;
In vain the Fragrant Gums in Spheres aſcend,
Th'unhallow'd Incenſe did but more offend:
Then Highflown Prieſts their new Diſtinctions brought,
And Faction for Religion firſt was taught;
Then Piety and Ancient Faith decay'd,
And Synod-Men the Churches Right betray'd;
Then Vice and Vertue were in Schools defin'd,
As the Declaiming Stagyrite inclin'd;
But Truth abandon'd did in Secret Mourn,
And begg'd the Blooming Goddeſs to return.
[9] O ſay, Celeſtial Muſe, the Reaſon tell,
Why in thoſe Heavenly Men ſuch Paſſions dwell?
Why thoſe who preach Religion, Zeal profeſs,
And for the Church ſuch Flaming Love confeſs,
Shall in vile Terms of their Superiors ſpeak,
Slight their Authority, their Orders break;
In open Diſobedience live, and rail,
And hope by Innovations to prevail,
With Intermediate Seſſions, why confound
The Churches Peace, the Convocation wound?
By Rights Uſurp'd why Presbyters prepare
Their Primate's Power without Conſent to ſhare,
And fill without his leave the Prolocutor's Chair?
Why to their Members they pretend to give
Commiſſions to abſent? Why grant 'em leave,
And by what Right, with what aſſuming Face,
They ſubſtitute their Proxies in their Place?
Why Actuaries they choſe? But with intent
T'infringe the Power of their Preſident,
Whoſe moſt Undoubted Right 'thas always been
As well for to Prorogue as to Convene.
T'appoint his Regiſter, of Deputation,
To act in either Houſe or Convocation.
And why ſuch grateful Thoughts theſe Men retain,
Of the Tranſcendent Mildneſs of this Reign,
So warmly to oppoſe the Lords Addreſs, *
Where in the Humbleſt Terms they did expreſs
Their Thanks to Heaven for that Illuſtrious Queen,
In whom ſuch Wondrous Piety is ſeen;
[10] Whoſe unexampled Bounty has declar'd
How much the Churches Welfare ſhe rever'd;
Such true diffuſive Charity reveals
What Senſe of Goodneſs in her Soul ſhe feels.
A Charity which in its Nature ſhews
Heaven for its Birth-place, where it firſt aroſe,
From whence deſcending to her Royal Breaſt,
The Radiant Virtue Kind'red Flames Confeſt,
And own'd the Bright Abode, worthy the Godlike Gueſt.
For me, the firſt Deſire which does Controul
The Secret Springs which move my riſing Soul
Is, that her Glorious Reign I might rehearſe
In equal Numbers, and diſtinguiſh'd Verſe.
But far, O far above the Poet's Flame
Is her Bright Story, and Immortal Name.
Cou'd I, like H [...]x, in laſting Strains
Tranſcend the Mantuan or Moeonian Swains,
Then ſhou'd her more than Mortal Vertue ſhine,
And Heavenly Eloquence adorn each Line;
Then ſhou'd my Happy Muſe record her Fame,
And ANNA's Glory be my endleſs Theme;
But whether does the Raviſh'd Muſe Aſpire?
Not Phoebus boaſts a more exalted Fire,
Or touches with more Art the ſweetly ſounding Lyre.
In vain our Monarch labours to engage,
With all her Clemency, theſe Men of Rage,
Who their Defect of Duty wou'd ſupply,
By wrangling for their Independency.
[11] Who without Precedent inſiſt to uſe
Forms of their own, and their own Methods chuſe;
Tho' former Synods always in like Caſe
Comply'd with the Directions of his Grace,
And Suffragans; but theſe too Wiſe are grown
T'acknowledge Duty, or Dependance own:
Theſe claim a Right Co-ordinate with theirs,
And Model as they pleaſe the Church Affairs.
So Puritans of Old in the ſame Strain,
Did of the Biſhops Legal Pow'r complain.
A Presbyterian Parity they taught,
In the ſame Language which by theſe is brought,
To vindicate the Lower Houſe's Claim,
By Advocates of the ſame Strength and Fame.
This Levelling Contention to promote,
Full many then, as well as now, have wrote,
Tho' none with more Aſperity appears
Than Gifted Urim, void of Filial Fears;
He treats the Biſhops with the ſame regard,
As if he for Presbytery declar'd.
Such foul Miſtakes, ſuch groundleſs Calumnies,
Occur in all this * Sun-burnt Author ſays,
That Charity apart, one might believe
He did from Hell his Influence receive.
With Scorn of others, full of Self-conceit,
This Scribler undertook the Grand Debate,
Miſrepreſenting every thing that made
Againſt his Cauſe, and did with Art evade
The Force of Truth, as if deceiving was his Trade.
Thus to his Cauſe he Courted Partial Praiſe,
With all the Sophiſtry his Wit cou'd raiſe.
[12] But whilſt his Eloquence profuſely Toils,
Old Anarchy reviews his former Spoils,
Pleas'd with the Thought the Shapeleſs Monſter Smiles.
Here the Epiſcopate in mournful hue
Appears, there falling Mitres ſtrike the view.
For this Inceſtuous Twigg in Zealous Strains
Of Preſident and Upper-Houſe complains,
Quarrels with Biſhops Rights and Dignities,
Since the Coy Lawn his fond Embraces flies.
For this Bold B [...]s in that dark Orb declaims,
He both the Church and Churches Head Blaſphemes;
No Senſe of Piety or Grace reſtrain
The Heterodox Effuſions of his Brain,
Who for his Party ſticks at no Abuſe,
But for the Cauſe will even his * God traduce.
Elaborate H [...] with the ſame Intent
Engages in this weighty Argument:
But of Bright Truth afraid, he ſoon retreats,
Still ſafe behind ſome puzzling Theme he gets,
Where in round Periods, and Sonorous Words,
A Barren Entertainment he affords.
No Cogent Reas'nings in his Thoughts abound,
His Senſe in Fairy Circles dances round,
And never is without ſome Labour found.
Nay, tho' the M [...] dignifies his Brows,
He ſtill their Levelling Deſigns avows.
[13]
With flagrant Marks of moſt Irreverend Spleen
Looſe S [...]n is in his Letter ſeen.
There Inbred Calumny, and Native Spight,
Wrangle by turns for Lower-Houſe's Right;
There High-Church Zeal defends Fanatick Claim,
Soft'ning Sedition by a milder Name,
To ſave the Church with Scorn her Fathers Treats,
Such Rage of Schiſm in his Boſom beats.
So Patriots of old, to ſave the Crown,
Deſtroy'd its Power firſt, then pull'd their Sovereign down.
Againſt Conviction, and the cleareſt Light
Of Sacred Truth, did railing N [...]m write
With Artificial Strokes of Party Skill,
He gilds their Errors with the Name of Zeal,
And the deluded Herd believe the lying Oracle.
To ſuch mean Shifts thoſe Scribblers muſt deſcend,
Who an ill Cauſe avowedly defend.
Among theſe Champions A [...] too appears
With * Hieroglyphics of the Parties Fears;
No wonder they the Church's Danger ſee,
Who wou'd deſtroy the Church's Polity;
Pull down her Biſhops, and their Rights betray,
And modelize the Church the ſhorteſt Way.
What wou'd the Parliament of Forty-one
Have given for ſuch a Convocation?
[14] Such Levellers as theſe, ſuch Sons of Zeal,
Sure at that time muſt have ſucceeded well,
When every Schiſmatick and gifted Saint,
Who cry'd down Biſhops Pow'r in ſawcy Cant,
Found ſuch Rewards, and ſuch Encouragement.
Wiſe † Pennington's Petition had appear'd
More Juſt, if Presbyters, like theſe, had ſhar'd
In the Church Hierarchy with leſs Diſgrace,
Sacred Epiſcopiſts had yeilded Place
T' Inferiour Clergy of Reforming Race.
Theſe are the Inſects which the Hive infeſt,
And theſe give Life and Motion to the reſt.
Numerous Meetings of the leſſer Fry
Take Influence from theſe to raiſe the Cry
Of Danger to the Church from too aſſuming Prelacy.
Not far from that moſt Celebrated Hall,
Where the Rich Trophies of the Conquer'd Gaul,
The Glory of the Britiſh Hoſt diſplay,
And ſhow the Wonders of that dreadful Day,
When Marlbro' great in Arms the Foe ſubdu'd,
And ſtopp'd with Heaps of Slain the rowling Danube's Flood.
There ſtands a Dome, * as Modern Stories tell,
Diſtinguiſh'd from its Neighbours by a Bell;
There the ‖ Grand Inqueſt of Religion meet,
To forge new Scandals for the Church and State.
[15] Thither the Tippling Prieſthood flock in Shoals,
And leave to Heaven the trifling Care of Souls.
'Tis there the Tories find out Means to raiſe
Funds of Reproach, Volumes of Lying Lays,
T'aſperſe the Queen, the Miniſtry diſgrace;
Whilſt their own Peers of a diſtinguiſh'd Name,
Their B's, and R's, and N's, of Recent Fame,
Promote the Farce, and Glory in their Shame.
There the Irreverend Sots their Goblets Crown,
And in full Bowls all Moderation drown.
A Caſt there is from this Mellifluous Swarm,
Who Nightly meet their Principles to warm,
Where Bloated Bacchus in gay Triumph rides,
And Shut [...]h provokes Salacious Tides;
Hither the High-Church Vermin do retreat,
For where but at the Devil ſhou'd they meet?
Drunk with Prieſt Wine new Dangers they perceive,
And for the Church in ſtrong Gallicia grieve.
To rail ſecure, and fence againſt Alarms,
They ſhift and vary their induſtrious Swarms;
Where Ben [...]y Brews with Luſitanic Port
True Engliſh Redſtreak, thither they reſort,
And warm with Zeal perceive not the Abuſe,
But for true French miſtake the blended Juice;
There mock Committees judge of each Debate,
And Convocation Bus'neſs regulate.
[16]
There florid S [...] in ſtrong Oration ſhows
How far the Lower-Houſe the Upper may oppoſe;
With early Zeal he did their Cauſe embrace,
And in this Seſſion claims the Chair-man's Place.
Sure ſome Malicious Star, an Enemy to Peace,
Shone o'er his Head when firſt he join'd with theſe;
Too ſtrong for the Bright Rays of Truth or Senſe,
Virtue Innate, or Sey [...]r's Influence,
To hinder his Conjunction with that Crew,
Who ſeek to ruin Church and Nation too;
His ſolid Judgment want of heat Supplies,
And ſpeaks him only Tory in diſguiſe.
H [...]n next in the Black Liſt appears,
This Butter-flie a ſullen Aſpect wears;
No Saints his Gloomy Calenders contain,
But ſuch as of the ſinking Church complain.
The Tack he vindicates in Senſleſs Tone,
Do's none but Tories for true Patriots own,
And is in Church Diſputes a meer pretending Drone.
The next Vile Inſect of the High-Church Clan
Says Grace to Northern Metropolitan;
He from his Lord whole Paragraphs purloins,
And mingles Nonſence with moſt Reverend Lines;
Roars for the Church, Triumphant in his Drink,
But rarely, very rarely, condeſcends to think.
D [...]g, a Waſp of the ſame Shape and Hue,
To Paſſive Principles and High-Church true,
Comes next in Place, tho' higher in Degree,
This Reverend Thing ſubſcribes himſelf D. D.
[17] He for Dragooning Learnedly declares,
Such Zeal for Mother-Church this flutt'ring Inſect bears.
Nor S [...]h for Plagiary is accus'd in vain,
A Furious Bigot of the Tory Strain;
He knows to value Oaths far leſs than Gold,
And how both VVife and Fellowſhip to hold;
VVho leſt the Church ſhou'd think, as Bards report,
VVill make the Play-houſe work for its Support.
O! Collier lay aſide thy Manly Rage,
Since thy own Prieſts in Buskins tread the Stage,
To raiſe dejected Merit, and maintain
The Grandeur of the Church without a ſtain,
That Gold for Injur'd Rights no more atone,
Be theſe peculiar to the Whigs alone.
VVell-natur'd Pei [...]n I lament thy Fate,
Miſtaken Reas'ning prompted thee to hate
That Moderation which adorns the Mind,
And what alone in Modern Whigs we find;
High-Church apart thy Character is fair,
Thou haſt no other Fault but being there.
To this * Grand Oatcake Club of quaint Divines,
Groſs R [...]n his Guts and Malice joins;
A Greezy Ionian of Amphibious Breed,
VVho can for Gain with any Party lead;
But in his Nature oppoſite to thoſe
VVho healing Peace and Unity eſpouſe;
[18] All the Extreams of the vile Tory Brood,
In him conjoin, with no Alloy of Good.
To him alike all Languages are known,
VVith the ſame Truth he underſtands his own;
This Paedagogue lives undiſturb'd by Cares,
Nor minds the Widows Tears nor Orphans Pray'rs,
But rakes for Money for Foundation Boys,
Which he for Coals and Candles ends employs,
VVhilſt he poor Man but Five Pluralities enjoys.
Unknown in Morals, Character, and Fame,
To the Great Founder, of Illuſtrious Name,
VVhoſe Boundleſs Charity, and High Deſerts,
He Impiouſly Leſſens, and perverts.
Of Iriſh Extract, and Hibernian Sence,
(Qualifications for an Evidence,)
R [...] Supercilious, Haughty, Dull, Moroſe,
Do's to the Board his Genuine Thoughts diſcloſe;
So burning is his Zeal, that he declares
The Government too moderate appears
To thoſe who from his Principles diſſent,
Such Smithfield ſhou'd convert, and not the Parliament.
J [...]n a Locuſt of the Factious League,
For Birth and Learning fam'd as his Collegue,
He Pray'rs and Preaching primitively blames,
And againſt Prieſtly Offices declaims;
Unhappy Barthol'mew, who muſt confide
In the looſe Notions of this wand'ring Guide,
VVhom neither Goodneſs, Chaſtity, nor Peace
Adorn, nor any other Chriſtian Grace;
[19]
T [...]d a Prieſt or Biſhop, which you pleaſe,
Looſe in his Morals, ſtiff in his Addreſs,
Do's both the Club and Principles Careſs.
From Tweed to Roterdam this Hornet ſhines,
And for the Cauſe in Florid Fuſtian whines.
In this Cabal all Vices you may trace,
Or in it O [...]r had found no place;
If lying qualifies, or ardent Love
For Pious Theft, none can a better Title prove.
Arrowſmith's Sermon Preach'd before the May'r,
To Plagiary his Averſion muſt declare;
This Zealot to the Tory's High-Prieſt bows,
And offers up at F [...] all his Vows;
The Solid B [...] ſmiles on his Addreſs,
And in Propitious Dulneſs does him Bleſs;
Conceited H [...] with Melancholly Mien,
Adds to the Club his Piety and Spleen;
But both affected, both uneaſy ſit,
For that can boaſt no Truth, and this no Wit.
Firm to the Cauſe, he wou'd at ſomething aim,
Tho' ſtrong in Zeal, he's in Performance lame;
And after all his Pious Pains are o'er,
Tho' Lady F [...]ge his Fate deplore,
He's but the ſame dull Mortal that he was before.
If Arduous Spight, and moſt obdurate Hate,
To that Dear Name which muſt be ever Great,
[20] Weigh with this Club, none can more juſtly claim,
Than F [...]n a Patent to defame.
This Debauchee, as Play-houſe Annals ſay,
Ply'd at the Theatre in hopes of Pay,
But proving there too awkard to ſucceed,
Finding his Genius did to Action lead,
He Liſted in the Service of High-church,
And left his pompous Buskins in the Lurch.
With theſe the L [...]ds too demand a Place,
Two drowzy Beetles of the Tory Race;
Both of our Modern Dangers were appriz'd,
And at the falling Church ſeem'd much ſurpriz'd;
They thought the Lords too Fearleſs and Supine,
And with Tripe Higgons at her Eaſe repine.
Theſe Grand Intrigues moſt Zealous to aſſiſt,
D [...]n's appears a vile traducing Prieſt;
His Fruitful Malice pleaſingly beguiles
Their Cares, on him the Black Aſſembly ſmiles,
Whilſt Ten [...]n and William he reviles.
When O [...]y has his yawning Flock diſmiſs'd,
And from her Pain St. Peggy is releas'd,
This Mortal mounts a ſecond time on high,
Once more the Sacred Text to crucifie.
He from the Scriptures evidently proves,
The Modern Church on a falſe Axis moves;
Says ſhe's to blame to tolerate her Foes,
That Perſecution better wou'd compoſe
The Wavering Minds of her Rebellious Sons,
If once convinc'd by Orthodox Dragoons.
[21]
Theſe are the Club who for the Church appear,
And for her Diſcipline and Rights declare;
No Blemiſhes their Characters diſtain,
No Private Piques, no Sordid Hopes of Gain,
Corrupt the Dictates of their Sounder Senſe,
Who act from Tory Principle and Influence.
Beſides theſe conſtant Members there are ſome
Who caſual Volunteers do thither come;
T [...]tt and lovely G [...]tt both have been,
Tho' not of late, with theſe Reformers ſeen.
Nature Rebels when Int'reſt comes in play,
And Principles to ſtronger Tithes give way.
Some too there are whom Penury deters
From being in this Harveſt Labourers;
Not that they want foul Slanders to defame
And brand the Miniſters with Marks of Shame.
Fruitful in Impudence they ſtill are found,
And with their Parties Villany abound;
Skilbec, and P [...]r Sh [...]w, and Thouſands more,
Too Black for Honeſt Satyr to explore.
Others with Griping Avarice repleat,
In viler Liquors one another treat;
Theſe frugal Sinners can ſupinely rail,
As warm'd by muddy Influence of Ale. *
On clumſy Wings their feeble Spirits riſe,
Before 'em hated Moderation flies,
And baſe Detraction want of Wit ſupplies.
[22] Here F [...]d and B [...]r of Noiſie Fame,
With Hotſpur F [...]n for the Church declaim,
And ſink her Credit to exalt her Name.
Here S [...]t and K [...]ys do for the High-Church lye,
Damnation drink to Naſſau's Memory,
O Spar [...]g have a Care of ſuch vile Company.
Some not admitted, qualified appear
To taſte the Sweetneſs of this High-Church Fare;
Thrifty and Gripewell an Inſipid Drone,
Do both the Spirit of the Party own;
Their Pious Spight and Sordid Thirſt of Gain,
Betray their Patron's Temper in each Vein;
Unlike the happy † Saint whoſe Arms they bear,
No part of Cloak or Money will they ſpare.
Such Zeal for Perquiſites of every kind
Dwells in the ſecret Foldings of their Mind,
That thoſe * who Scorn their Profits to divide,
Still feel the Weight of their Oppreſſive Pride.
Gripewell in plenty rowls, deep ſunk in Eaſe,
He leaves his Drudgery to Refugees.
Long have they been of that Tenacious Fry,
Who for Exaction even with Jews may vie,
Oppreſſing all who are beneath their Care,
So Gripewell does the Gain, Thrifty the Odium ſhare.
They wiſely know that to be Rich in Grace
They frugally muſt manage their Increaſe,
And make the moſt they can of Curates Place.
[23] Such Evangelic Doctrines they diſcloſe,
That Scar'd Communicants forſake their Vows,
Forc'd by theſe Vermin from the Face of Day,
Their Minds in wild Imaginations ſtray,
And in the Maze of Error loſe their Way.
With theſe Divines Pert H [...]d may ſit
In cloſe Debate, a Vain Sarcaſtic Wit!
He threw of Moderation's eaſie Rule,
Impatient to expoſe a High-Church Fool,
In flaming Print the Wou'd-be-Wit appears,
Thund'ring loud Peals in Peaceful He [...]y's Ears.
But whilſt with noiſie Eloquence he roars,
And Hells Abyſs for Scandal he explores,
Bright Liberty her Sacred Pinnions tries,
The Saint confeſs'd the Glory of her Eyes,
Drops his Deſign, and in a Sarcaſm dies.
To cloſe the Rear of this Highflying Liſt,
Comes Ghoſtly M [...] the Cambridge Exorciſt.
He in the Cauſe has ſo much Heat expreſt,
He ſcarce with more his Landlady careſt,
When from the Tunns ſhe Nightly did repair,
To taſte the Sweetneſs of St. B [...]tts Air:
But now thoſe mean Embraces are no more,
His Am'rous Soul do's more Sublimely ſoar,
And tho' of High-Church Make can ſtoop to C [...]r's Pow'r.
Theſe of Inferiour Claſs which thoſe combine,
And in the Convocation Riot join.
Theſe Sow Sedition in the Peaceful Land,
And in the Gap of Comprehenſion ſtand.
[24] Such Prieſts as theſe Embaraſs our Affairs,
And fill the giddy Populace with Fears;
Divide and Rule their Grand Apoſtle cries,
Then Liberty ſhall fall, and High-Church Power riſe.
But all are not of this Degenerate Race,
Some Noble Prelates their Religion Grace,
Whom no Siniſter Aims, or Party Spleen,
Cou'd ever Bribe the Church to undermine.
No Popular Attempts prevail with theſe,
Who moſt ſincerely cultivate her Peace,
Thoſe vile deſtructive Meaſures to purſue,
Which would infallibly the Church undo.
They ſaw with Horror what her Foes deſign'd,
And for her Ancient Legal Right combin'd,
With all thoſe vaſt Advantages to Sence,
Which Truth can furniſh out for Eloquence.
Judicious Lin [...]n for his Worth Renown'd,
With Piety, and every Vertue Crown'd,
In this Diſpute acquir'd a Bright Applauſe,
And well defended his Illuſtrious Cauſe.
Couragious Car [...]le his diſtinguiſh'd Parts,
And finiſh'd Learning to the Cauſe imparts;
The routed Argument before him flies,
And in its Primitive Confuſion dies;
Urg'd by ſtrong Principles of Truth and Right,
Illumin'd Fr [...]n did with Judgment write,
To cruſh the growing Schiſm which might tend
To ſink the State, and Church Dominion end.
[25] But he to ſave 'em puſh'd his juſt Deſign
And with him Fifty more in Proteſtation join.
That Presbyters Subordination owe
To Biſhops, S [...]k did moſt plainly ſhow,
And Learnedly their Danger did diſcloſe,
Who held the Doctrines of the Lower-Houſe.
Trim [...]ll for Innate Piety rever'd,
Againſt theſe furious Levellers declar'd;
With unaffected Modeſty and Senſe,
He prov'd the Primate's juſt Preheminence.
Gib [...]n with Oratories pleaſing Force,
With Streams deriv'd from the Immortal Source
Of Heaven and Lambeth, zealouſly maintain'd
Th'Archbiſhop's Pow'r, and Reputation gain'd.
Learn'd in Church Hiſtory, and Ancient Uſe
Of former Synods, Ken [...]t did deduce
The Metropolitan's preſiding Place,
And prov'd it with Inimitable Grace.
Full of the ſame moſt Excellent Deſign,
Pathetic Will [...]s in a Strain Divine,
Shews Ephraim how he may loſt Peace reſtore,
And envy Judah's happy Race no more.
With what Exceſs of Joy does Vern [...]y tread
The Heavenly Paths of Peace, no Guilty dread
Can interrupt his Eaſe, no Black remorſe
Stains with ungovern'd Zeal his Learned Courſe.
[26]
Not melting Lovers when the Fair they Wooe
Taſte more Delight, nor with more Sweetneſs Sue,
Than theſe, when for the Churches Peace they move
With all the ſoft Artillery of Love.
Beſides theſe Glorious Few, a num'rous Train
Of Worthy Prelates the ſame Cauſe maintain;
Intrepid Sa [...]m, Nor [...]h all Divine,
E [...]y and Wor [...]r with true Luſtre ſhine.
Ox [...]d St. A [...] Cov [...]y appear,
With Rays of Heavenly Light ſerenely clear;
Ban [...]r and W [...]m's, Her [...]d all claim,
With B [...]ll and Pet [...]h dear to Fame,
Among the Worthies of the Church a Name.
Gl [...]r and B [...]ll eminently true,
With Lan [...]ff, Win [...]r old Faith renew,
And the juſt Int'reſt of the Church purſue.
Theſe all in ſtrict Obedience perſevere,
And for the Queen's Supremacy declare;
Theſe no Deluſions ever cou'd perſwade,
To join with thoſe who have her Right betray'd.
Long her Reſentment glow'd within her Breaſt,
And long her Mercy her juſt Rage depreſt;
Even now in mildeſt Terms * her Letter claims
Her Legal Right, 'tis with Concern ſhe blames,
Her Prieſts, and with Regret their Diſobedience Names.
With deepeſt Penetration ſhe beheld
Their vile Deſigns, nor Force by Force repell'd,
[27] But in a Charming Stile, with Heavenly Love,
The Lower Houſe's Schiſm do's reprove.
But they regardleſs of her Dread Command,
In Oppoſition to her Pleaſure ſtand;
And tho' prorogu'd, her Mandates diſobey,
And meet and act their own Seditious Way.
No wonder they have in Rebellion been
Againſt their Primate, who thus ſlight the Queen;
That Glorious Queen, who freely from the Throne
Has given ſuch large Revenues of her own,
And to theſe Thankleſs Prieſts ſuch true Compaſſion ſhown.
So when the Wanton Iſra'lites Rebell'd
Againſt their Heavenly Guide in Horeb's Field;
Nor did his Piety or Gifts avail,
Th'Ungrateful Levites vehemently rail;
Sated with Food Divine which Manna cloy'd,
They murmur at the Bleſſings they enjoy'd;
Forgetting all their Mighty Prophets Pain,
Of Pow'r aſſum'd the Factious Herd complain,
And Aaron's Legal Right invidiouſly Arraign.
Pleas'd with a Cauſe his Primate to oppoſe,
Seditious Korah and his Tribe aroſe;
Rights of the Hebrew Temple they diffuſe,
To raiſe Rebellion, and they Church traduce;
To leſſen Aaron, whom with Scorn they treat,
So near did Jewiſh Spight reſemble High-Church Hate,
Aſpiring Dathan's Soul, and On's, we ſee
Flaming in Pious B [...]'s and K [...],
And Hot Abiram's Zeal betrays poor A [...]
[28] Theſe Modern Levellers like thoſe Renown'd,
Thro' our Bleſt Aaron's Sides the Temple wound,
And on pretence of Rights her Sacred Peace confound.
By ſuch as theſe the Church in every Age
Has felt the ſad Effects of Party Rage;
But Heaven which always ſmil'd on her Bright Fame,
And look'd with Pity on the ſuff'ring Dame,
Has rais'd up Hero's to aſſert her Cauſe,
And rouze the Terror of Vindictive Laws,
T'avenge her Injur'd Honour upon thoſe
Who dare Inſinuate her loſt Repoſe.
Begin Coeleſtial Muſe the pleaſing Strain,
Record the Hero's of Great ANNA's Reign,
By whoſe Unerring Councils ſhe endears
Her Peoples Love, and Europe's Fate declares.
Harmonious Co [...]r ſing in Lays Divine,
By whoſe Bright Virtue Courts of Juſtice ſhine;
Such are the Charms of his Immortal Sence,
Union ſucceeds, and Happy Days Commence,
And Equity receives from him its Influence.
But Oh! What Numbers ſhall the Sprightly Muſe,
Equal to Great God [...]n's Wiſdom chuſe?
What Happy Strains his Management diſcloſe,
Ador'd by Friends, and even rever'd by Foes?
Too weak alas is her aſpiring Flame
To praiſe ſuch Worth, ſuch Merit to proclaim,
Such Scenes of Glory open to her view,
She's loſt in Thought, yet urges to purſue.
O Charming Ad [...]n, the Theme is thine,
The Subject as the Poet is Divine.
[29] Thy Strength of Reaſon, ſweetly flowing Verſe,
Alone are fit Great Sp [...]r to rehearſe;
To paint the Graces of that Godlike Mind,
Where Judgment is with ſtricteſt Honour join'd,
And every Thought to Britain's Peace conſign'd.
Your Senſe Sublime it is, which muſt relate
How So [...]rs, Ha [...]x Divinely Great
Appear, like Guardian Angels of the Britiſh State.
How they in every Art and Council join,
How wake for our Support, for our Defence combine.
A Muſe like yours Superiour to the Nine,
Alone is equal to the vaſt Deſign.
A Radiant Liſt of Worthies I behold,
Whoſe Powerful Hands the Fate of Albion hold,
Whoſe Reſolutions terminate in Law,
Peace to Preſerve, and Rebels keep in Awe.
Among the Brighteſt of this Godlike Race,
A Heavenly Prelate ſtor'd with every Grace
Appears, Coeleſtial Peace and Love
Thro' every Scene of his Bright Actions move;
In him true Piety and Zeal we find,
A Nervous Judgment and Sweet Temper join'd,
The Ornament and Joy of Church and State,
The Jeſuits Terrour, and the Tories Hate.
The Beſt of Kings by Light from Heaven inſpir'd,
And with juſt Ardour of his Vertue fir'd,
This Beſt of Biſhops to the Temple gave,
To vanquiſh Errour, true Religion ſave,
To fix her Throne ſecure on laſting Peace,
Till Time ſhall fail, and rowling Ages ceaſe;
[30] That no Attempts from Factious Prieſts or Rome
Might interrupt her Happineſs to come.
For this his Enemies revile his Fame,
And load with Slander his Immortal Name;
But he at Peace within ſedately bears
Their Hate, and unconcern'd their Malice hears.
No gath'ring Clouds of Thunder yet appear,
Nor more amazing Premunire's ſcare;
No Cenſures interrupt the ſoft Repoſe
Of his Rebellious and Inſulting Foes;
Like the Good Queen he all Forgiveneſs ſeems,
And the foul Rancour of their Spight contemns.
So when his Glorious Maſter was abus'd
By railing Jews, by their High-Church traduc'd,
Mildly he did their Inſolence reprove,
For Murd'rous Hate he ſhow'r'd down Heavenly Love,
And Healing Moderation from above.
FINIS.