A Reprimand to bigotism, or, Reflections on the several letters of a book called The Mistery of phanaticism wherein the dissenters are vindicated from the calumnies and whims of the author of that book.

REFLECTIONS ON Letter XIII.

ANother Artifice of the Dissenters to keep up their Schism, is, he says, a pretence to better means of Edi∣fication. This is a Device occasioned by the Ignorance of the People, and cherished in them by the Subtilty of their Teachers. They cannot Edifie they tell us, in the Church as in the Conventicle, and they profit more by the Sermons of the one than they can by the other.

I Question whether a bare pretence to better Edification, without other Rea∣son, will continually Justifie a Man in leaving one Teacher to hear another: for since there are so many degrees in the profitableness of Sermons, and so various the Opinions of People con∣cerning them. This Principle is, as he says, A Principle of great Giddiness and Inconstancy.

But on the other Hand, where a Man hath conceived a prejudice against his Teacher, a Camel might as soon pass through the Eye of a Needle, as such a Man's Doctrine enter into the Heart of one so prejudiced. And there are several Cases in which it is not meerly the Fault of the People that they are not Edified, but of their Teach∣ers, in part at least. And as to the matter of Edification in general; It seems that no Man can be so proper a Judge of it as himself, whether he Edifies by this Preacher most or ano∣ther; though our Author pretends to judge, That there is better Edification in the Church than in the Conventi∣cles, and without doubt, the other Mem∣bers of the Church think the same: so that here they come into the same predicament with the Dissenters, in pretending to better means of Edification. So that methinks this matter might be well enough accomodated, if each Par∣ty will be content to enjoy their own Thoughts about the best means of Edifi∣cation, and not boast and quarrel about it.

But now our Author will not allow the Dissenters to have any good means

of Edification at all; For he gives out, That they take the fond Opinions, and ••ff••cted Phrases of a Party, for the best means of Edification.

As to fond Opinions, if he means by them, the Articles and Doctrines of the Church of England. The Dissenting Teachers have Subscribed them, and indeed Preach according to them. I hope he doth not begin to dislike the Doctrines of his own Church, because they are the Opinions and Sentiments of the Dissenters.

As to affected Phrases; 'Tis possible some may use them both in Church and Conventicle. Then is a large Ca∣talogue of them, in the Contempt of the Clergy, and a great part of them lies at the Churches Door.

He proceeds to tell us, That the Dis∣senters mistake the false Heats of Fancy for the true warmth of the Heart.

Thus he talks as if he had felt the Pulse of all the Dissenters Hearts, and found them to be as cold as a Stone. But thus to know how it is with Mens Hearts throughout the Kingdom, is cer∣tainly a great piece of Skill; and he must either be a Witch or a Fortune-Teller, as people speak.

Now he amplifies upon this, by tel∣ling us, That they are deluded by a melting Tone, solemn Looks, and vehe∣ment Action.

I wish he had told us what Tones, Looks and Actions are most Canoni∣cal.

Tho' I am as little a Friend to Af∣fectation in Tones, Looks and Actions as any Man, yet I must observe, That those who Write of Rhetorick and O∣ratory, do not only allow, but prescribe Rules for the Behaviour of the Speaker, in each of these things. And it well enough becomes a Minister to consider what Modulation of the Voice, what Aspect, and what Gestures are (within the compass of Decency) most proper to quicken the Attention, and enliven the Affections of his Auditory. There is no doubt that a loud Voice (if a Man be Master of it) will do more to keep the People awake and listening, than a low and Spiritless one; and if it be varied with proper Elevations, and suitable Depressions, &c. as occasi∣on requires; not only will the Rules of Oratory, but Experience also, speak for its Usefulness, and shew that it is ordinarily more profitable than an Even

and Uniform sound throughout a whole Sermon.

There is also very much in the As∣pect or Looks, if a Man can command them, and doth not shame facedly suf∣fer them to be commanded by the Au∣ditory.

And as to Action, I have seen some Writers of Oratory direct the Motion of Hands, Arms and Fingers, almost to a degree of Mimickry. Without doubt there is a great Advantage in the ordering these Circumstances a∣right, so as to keep within the Bounds of Decency, and not to pass within those of an uncouth Affectation; for no Minister is obliged to stand in the Pulpit like a Statue, that you can scarce know whether he be Preaching or no, but by the faint Motion of his Lips.

To conclude, I know not whether our Divine be so competent a Judge in this matter of Edification, as that his Censures on the Dissenters should pass without Controul. If he Preaches as he Writes, I think 'tis very little to Edi∣fication.