, I believe it would be safe.«
    Adams did not at all relish the last Expression; he said, he was sorry to
hear Sermons compared to Plays. »Not by me, I assure you,« cry'd the Bookseller,
»though I don't know whether the licensing Act may not shortly bring them to the
same footing: but I have formerly known a hundred Guineas given for a Play -.«
»More shame for those who gave it,« cry'd Barnabas. »Why so?« said the
Bookseller, »for they got hundreds by it.« »But is there no difference between
conveying good or ill Instructions to Mankind?« said Adams; »would not an honest
Mind rather lose Money by the one, than gain it by the other?« »If you can find
any such, I will not be their Hinderance,« answered the Bookseller, »but I think
those Persons who get by preaching Sermons, are the properest to lose by
printing them: for my part, the Copy that sells best, will be always the best
Copy in my Opinion; I am no Enemy to Sermons but because they don't sell: for I
would as soon print one of Whitfield's, as any Farce whatever.«
    »Whoever prints such Heterodox Stuff, ought to be hanged,« says Barnabas.
»Sir,« said he, turning to Adams, »this Fellow's Writings (I know not whether
you have seen them) are levelled at the Clergy. He would reduce us to the
Example of the Primitive Ages forsooth! and would insinuate to the People, that
a Clergyman ought to be always preaching and praying. He pretends to understand
the Scripture literally, and would make Mankind believe, that the Poverty and
low Estate, which was recommended to the Church in its Infancy, and was only
temporary Doctrine adapted to her under Persecution, was to be preserved in her
flourishing and established State. Sir, the Principles of Toland, Woolston, and
all the Free-Thinkers, are not calculated to do half the Mischief, as those
professed by this Fellow and his Followers.«
    »Sir,« answered Adams, »if Mr. Whitfield had carried his Doctrine no farther
than you mention, I should have remained, as I once was, his Well-Wisher. I am
myself as great an Enemy to the Luxury and Splendour of the Clergy as he can be.
I do not, more than he, by the flourishing Estate of the Church, understand the
Palaces, Equipages, Dress,