A Discourse Concerning Ridicule and Irony in Writing (1729) Part 3

The great Concern is and ought to be, that _the Liberty of examining into the Truth of Things should be kept up_, that Men may have some Sense and Knowledge, and not be the _Dupes_ of _Cheats_ and _Impostors_, or of those who would keep them in the dark, and let them receive nothing but thro'

their Hands. If that be secur'd to us by Authority, I, for my part, am very ready to sacrifice the Privilege of _Irony_, tho so much in fas.h.i.+on among all Men; being persuaded, that a great Part of the _Irony_ complain'd of, has its rise from the _want of Liberty to examine into the Truth of Things_; and that if that _Liberty_ was prevalent, it would, without a Law, prevent all that _Irony_ which Men are driven into for want of Liberty to speak plainly, and to protect themselves from the Attacks of those who would take the Advantage to ruin them for direct a.s.sertions; and that such Authors as _Rabelais_, _Saint Aldegonde_, _Blount_, _Marvel_, _Thekeringil_, and many others, would never have run into that Excess of _Burlesque_, for which they are all so famous, had not the Restraint from writing _seriously_ been so great.

"If [61] Men are forbid to speak their Minds _seriously_ on certain Subjects, they will do it _ironically_. If they are forbid at all upon such Subjects, or if they find it dangerous to do so, they will then redouble their Disguise, involve themselves in mysteriousness, and talk so as hardly to be understood, or at least not plainly interpreted by those who are dispos'd to do them a Mischief. And thus _Raillery_ is brought more in fas.h.i.+on, and runs into an Extreme. 'Tis the persecuting Spirit has rais'd the _bantering_ one: And want of Liberty may account for want of a true Politeness, and for the Corruption or wrong Use of Pleasantry and Humour.

"If in this respect we strain the just Measure of what we call _Urbanity_, and are apt sometimes to take a buffooning rustick Air, we may thank the ridiculous Solemnity and sour Humour of our _Pedagogues_: or rather they may thank themselves, if they in particular meet with the heaviest of this kind of Treatment. For it will naturally fall heaviest, where the Constraint has been the severest. The greater the Weight is, the bitterer will be the Satire. The higher the Slavery, the more exquisite the Buffoonery.

"That this is really so, may appear by looking on those Countries where the spiritual Tyranny is highest. For the greatest of _Buffoons_ are the _Italians_: and in their Writings, in their freer sort of Conversations, on their Theatres, and in their _Streets_, _Buffoonery_ and _Burlesque_ are in the highest Vogue. 'Tis the only manner in which the poor cramp'd Wretches can discharge a free Thought. We must yield to 'em the Superiority in this sort of Wit. For what wonder is it if we, who have more Liberty, have less Dexterity in that egregious way of _Raillery_ and _Ridicule_?"

Liberty of _grave_ Examination being fix'd by Law, I am, I say, ready to sacrifice the Privilege of _Irony_, and yield to have a Law enacted to prevent it. I am, moreover, willing to leave the drawing up such a Law to your self; who honestly and impartially say[62], that all who _droll_, let them be of any Party, let them _droll for the Truth or against it_, should be equally punish'd.

Thus this grand Affair of _Irony_, _Banter_, and _Ridicule_; this last persecuting Pretence, upon which you would set the Humours and Pa.s.sions of People, who are all at quiet, on float, and make a Fermentation, and raise a Persecution against particular People, seems perfectly settled, by yielding to your own Terms.

IV. Let me here add, that I am apt to think, that when you draw up your Law, you will find it so very difficult to settle the Point of _Decency_ in Writing, in respect to all the various kinds of _Irony_ and _Ridicule_, that you will be ready to lay aside your Project; and that you will be no more able to settle that _Point of Decency_, than you would be to settle by Law, that _Cleanliness_ in Clothes, and that Politeness in Dress, Behaviour, and Conversation, which become Men of Quality and Fortune in the World, and should be habitual to them: And that, if you are able to do that to your own Satisfaction, you will find it very difficult to engage the Lawmakers in your Project. For I am persuaded, that if our Lawmakers were, out of a rational Principle, disposed to give Liberty by Law to _serious_ Opposition to publickly receiv'd Notions, they would not think it of much Importance to make a _Law_ about a Method of _Irony_. They will naturally conclude, that if Men may and ought to be allow'd to write _seriously_ in Opposition to publickly receiv'd Doctrines, they should be allow'd to write in their own way; and will be unwilling to be depriv'd of ingenious and witty Discourses, or such as some of them will judge so, about a Subject wherein _serious free_ Discourse is allow'd. Besides, I am apt to think, that you, upon consideration of the Advantages which the Church has receiv'd from the _Berkenheads_, the _Heylins_, the _Ryves's_, the _Needhams_, the _Lestranges_, the _Nalsons_, the _Lesleys_, the _Oldesworths_, and others, in their _Mercurius Aulicus_'s, their _Mercurius Pragmaticus's_, their _Mercurius Rusticus's_, their _Observators_[63], their _Herac.l.i.tus Ridens_'s, _Rehearsals_, their _Examiners_[64], and the three Volumes against the _Rights of the Church_; from the _Butlers_ in their _Hudibras_'s, and other Burlesque Works upon the Religion and Religious Conduct of the Dissenters; or from the _Eachards_, the _Tom Browns_, and _Swifts_; or from the _Parkers_[65], _Patricks_[66], _Souths_[67], _Sherlocks_[68], _Atterburys_[69], and _Sacheverels_[70]; in their Discourses, and Tracts against the Nonconformists, Whigs, Low-Church-men, and Lat.i.tudinarians; and other such ironical, satirical, and polemical Divines; and from such _drolling_ Judges as _Howel_, _Recorder_ of London, and the Chief Justice _Jefferys_, who, in all Causes, where _Whigs_ or Dissenters were the Persons accus'd and try'd before them, carried on the Trial by a [71] Train of ridicule on them, their Witnesses and Counsel: I say, I am apt to think, that you would be unwilling to be depriv'd of what has been and may be again so serviceable.

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 _punis.h.i.+ng_ 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 distinguis.h.i.+ng 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 abolis.h.i.+ng _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 punis.h.i.+ng 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 punis.h.i.+ng 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 s.h.i.+fts_; 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 Wors.h.i.+p, 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 Ma.s.sacres; 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 t.i.tle of "Irrisio Dei Panarii, _The Derision of the Breaden G.o.d_," 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 t.i.tle-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 int.i.tled[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 t.i.tle 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-s.h.i.+rts, 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 Ma.s.s_.----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 p.r.o.nounce 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 ent.i.tled, _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 G.o.dly 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 pa.s.sed 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 _Buckinghams.h.i.+re_) was Lord Chamberlain; he was apt to comply in every thing that he thought might be acceptable, for he went with the King to Ma.s.s, 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 G.o.d, 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 G.o.d, and made G.o.d 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_, int.i.tuled, _The Hind and Panther_; which, setting aside the Absurdity of the Matters therein a.s.serted, 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 pa.s.s 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 int.i.tuled, _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 Pa.s.sage.

"_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 int.i.tle 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 Wors.h.i.+p, and to Pictures, Images, and Musick in Churches; mixing Religion in common Conversion, using long Graces, practising Family-Wors.h.i.+p, 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. Pa.s.sive 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 G.o.d (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 t.i.tle 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 pa.s.s 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 n.o.ble 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 G.o.dly 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 punis.h.i.+ng 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 punis.h.i.+ng 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 Bishop.r.i.c.k. 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 publis.h.i.+ng an _Answer_ to the said _Irony_, compos'd in the same _ironical Strain_, int.i.tled, _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 a.s.semblies 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 Pa.s.sion 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.