The Papists say, that these “[44]Colloquies, by turning into Ridicule the Devotion to the holy Virgin and Saints, the Worship of Relicks and Images, religious Vows and Pilgrimages, have made more Hereticks than the Works of Luther and Calvin.” And I find the reverend Mr. Trapp [after calling [45] Reliques, Foolish] celebrates Erasmus for having abundantly ridicul’d them.
His Praise of Folly treats of serious Matters, in such a gay, familiar, ingenious and pleasant manner, as makes it a Work proper to be read by intelligent People, to remove out of their Minds all Bigotry contracted by Ignorance and an evil Education, all Peevishness, Hatred, and Ill-nature towards one another, on account of different Sentiments in Religion; and to form in them the natural Principles of Moderation, Humanity, Affection and Friendship. Our learned and ingenious Bishop Kennet could not do a more signal Piece of Service to our Country, than by translating into English this Book, which the Ladies have now an Opportunity of understanding no less than the Men; and from whence they may see the pleasant, amiable, and just Disposition of Mind of one of the most learned and ingenious Men that ever liv’d, as well as Author of a great Number of religious and devotional Books; nor could the Bishop well give a heartier Stroke at Popery, than by approving of Erasmus’s [46] laughing at it, and applauding his numberless Taunts on its Impostures, Cheats, and Delusions.
Our Clergy have ever treated Mr. Hobbes with the greatest Mockery, Ridicule and Raillery: As for example, Ward Bishop of Sarum, Brambal Bishop of Derry, Parker Bishop of Oxford, Dr. Wallis in his several bantering Treatises against him, Lucy Bishop of St. Davids, Shafto, and particularly the Reverend Droll, Dr. Eachard, in two Dialogues, which, it is well known, have been universally well receiv’d by the Clergy, and that for their Treatment of Mr. Hobbes in the ridiculing Way; for which the Author himself makes the following just Apology, in his Dedication of his Second Dialogue to Archbishop Sheldon, “That of all Triflers, ’tis the Set, the Grave, the Philosophical, and the Mathematical Trifler, to which he has the greatest Aversion; whom when he meets, very gravely making out all Men to be rational Beasts both in Nature and Conversation, and every Man, he pleases, a rational Rebel; and upon any Fright or Pinch a rational Atheist and Anti-Christian; and all this perform’d with all Demureness, Solemnity, Quotation of Scripture, Appeals to Conscience and Church-History; he must humbly beg his Grace’s Pardon, if then he has endeavour’d to smile a little, and to get as much out of his Road and way of Writing as possible.” These Dialogues used to be much recommended to the Youth to make them laugh at Mr Hobbes, who was constantly represented as provok’d and put out of all Temper by them, and was said to have vented this strange and impious Expression, upon its being told him, that the Clergy said Eachard had crucify’d Hobbes; “Why then don’t they fall down and worship me?”
Mr. Selden has been the constant Subject of Clergy-banter, for his History of Tythes; in the Preface to which, “He reproaches the Clergy with Ignorance and Laziness, and upbraids them with having nothing to keep up their Credit but Beard, Title, and Habit; and their Studies reach’d no farther than the Breviary, the Postils, and Polyanthea.” For this Work he was attack’d more particularly by three Divines, Tillesly, Mountagu, and Nettles. And their Success was thus originally represented[47], “That he was so gall’d by Tillesly, so gagg’d by Mountagu, and so stung by Nettles, that he never came off in any of his Undertakings with more loss of Credit.” And this Jest has pass’d much upon the World, and been continued down in many Books, where Mr. Selden is mention’d, to his Discredit with ignorant Readers, but not with the Knowing and Learned; who, as Dr. Wotton tells us[48], have, now Party-heats are over, acquiesced in what Mr. Selden advanc’d; who first, of all Christians, set the Affair of Tythes in a clear Light.
It is usually said the Comedy called Ignoramus, which is a Clergy-banter upon the Law, was a design’d Return for Mr. Selden’s History of Tythes.
The Reverend Dr. Beaumont, late Master of St. Peter’s College and King’s Professor of Divinity, has given us a Book, entitled, “Some Observations upon the Apology of Dr. Henry More for his Mystery of Godliness;” which endeavours to render the said Doctor ridiculous, and set People a laughing at him, (p. 9. &c. 64.) and used to be applauded as a complete Performance in the way of Raillery and Irony, and was well receiv’d for being directed against a Person esteem’d Heterodox.
Many Clergymen have written Books to banter the Works of Mr. Locke, among whom Dr. Edwards must have the first Place; whose Brief Vindication of the fundamental Articles of the Christian Faith, which has the Imprimatur before it of James, Beaumont, Covel, and Balderston, four Cambridge Heads, was never exceeded by the most licentious Droll.
When Sorbier’s Voyage to England, which was a pert and insolent Abuse and Satire on the Nation, and written in the French manner of contemptuously treating all Countries and Men but France and Frenchmen, was publish’d, it was deem’d proper that a drolling and satirical Answer should be given to it, and that the Reverend Dr. Sprat should be the Droll employ’d; who perform’d his Part according to the Expectation of the Drolling Court of King Charles II. and as the ingenious Mr. Addison tells us, [49] Vindicated the Honour of his Country, in a Book full of Satire and Ingenuity.
Bishop Beveridge ever pass’d for a serious and profound Divine; and his Writings have fix’d that Character upon him among the Religious of the High Church, who have receiv’d his Private Thoughts and his Volumes of Sermons, like Manna from Heaven. And yet possibly never Man had two more severe Attacks made upon him than he had; one by Bishop Stillingfleet, who in A Vindication of their Majesties Authority to fill the Sees of the depriv’d Bishops, &c. occasion’d by Dr. Beveridge’s Refusal of the Bishoprick of Bath and Wells, satirizes both his Prudence and his Sincerity; and another, by an ingenious Bishop also, who in A short View of Dr. Beveridge’s Writings, has in a most refin’d drolling manner represented those Writings as abounding in most absurd and ridiculous Divinity.
But one of the justest and finest Pieces of Irony, and the most timely and seasonably vented, and that deserves perpetual Remembrance, is, Andrews the grave Bishop of Winchester’s Irony, on Neal the grave Bishop of Durham; of which we have the following Relation in the Poet Waller’s Life, prefix’d before his Works: “On the Day of the Dissolution of the last Parliament of King James the First, Mr. Waller, out of Curiosity or Respect, went to see the King at Dinner; with whom were Dr. Andrews the Bishop of Winchester, and Dr. Neal Bishop of Durham, standing behind his Majesty’s Chair. There happen’d something very extraordinary in the Conversation those Prelates had with the King, on which Mr. Waller did often reflect. His Majesty ask’d the Bishops, My Lords, cannot I take my Subjects Money when I want it, without all this Formality in Parliament? The Bishop of Durham readily answer’d, God forbid, Sir, but you should; you are the Breath of our Nostrils. Whereupon the King turn’d and said to the Bishop of Winchester, Well, my Lord, what say you? Sir, replied the Bishop, I have no Skill to judge of Parliamentary Cases. The King answer’d, No Put-offs, my Lord; answer me presently. Then, Sir, said he, I think it is lawful for you to take my Brother Neal’s Money, for he offers it. Mr. Waller said the Company was pleas’d with this Answer, and the Wit of it seem’d to affect the King.” Which shews the exceeding Aptness and Usefulness of a good Irony; that can convey an Instruction to a vicious, evil, and tyrannical Prince, highly reflecting on his Conduct, without drawing on his Resentment.