Severity. It was very justly observed of you, Sir,« says he to the
Doctor, »that the lowest Clergyman in England is in real Dignity superior to the
highest Nobleman. What then can be so shocking as to see that Gown, which ought
to entitle us to the Veneration of all we meet, treated with Contempt and
Ridicule? Are we not, in Fact, Embassadors from Heaven, to the World; and do
they not, therefore, in denying us our due Respect, deny it in Reality to him
that sent us?«
    »If that be the Case,« says the Doctor; »it behoves them to look to
themselves; for he who sent us is able to exact most severe Vengeance for the
ill Treatment of his Ministers.«
    »Very true, Sir,« cries the young one; »and I heartily hope he will; but
those Punishments are at too great a Distance to infuse Terror into wicked
Minds. The Government ought to interfere with its immediate Censures. Fines and
Imprisonments and corporal Punishments operate more forcibly on the human Mind
than all the Fears of Damnation.«
    »Do you think so?« cries the Doctor; »then I am afraid Men are very little
in earnest in those Fears.«
    »Most justly observed,« says the old Gentleman. »Indeed, I am afraid that is
too much the Case.«
    »In that,« said the Son, »the Government is to blame. Are not Books of
Infidelity, treating our holy Religion as a mere Imposture; nay, sometimes, as a
mere Jest, published daily, and spread abroad amongst the People with perfect
Impunity?«
    »You are certainly in the Right,« says the Doctor, »there is a most
blameable Remissness with Regard to these Matters; but the whole Blame doth not
lie there; some little Share of the Fault is, I am afraid, to be imputed to the
Clergy themselves.«
    »Indeed, Sir,« cries the young one, »I did not expect that Charge from a
Gentleman of your Cloth: Do the Clergy give any Encouragement to such Books? Do
they not, on the contrary, cry loudly out against the suffering them? This is
the invidious Aspersion of the Laity; and I did not expect to hear it confirmed
by one of our own Cloth.«
    »Be not too impatient, young Gentleman,« said the Doctor. »I do not
absolutely confirm the Charge of the Laity. It is much too general, and too
severe; but even the Laity themselves do not attack them