An
Apology
for
the
Clergy
,
who
were
present
when
the
Minister
of
the
Parish
read
Prayers
and
preach'd
twice
in
one
Day
,
at
Tunbridge-Wells
.
Written
at
the
Request
of
a
Layman
.
How
well
these
Laymen
love
to
gibe
,
And
throw
their
Jests
on
Levi's
Tribe
!
Must
One
be
toil'd
to
Death
,
they
cry
,
Whilst
other
Priests
are
yawning
by
?
Forgetful
that
He
reaps
the
Gain
,
Why
should
They
waste
their
Lungs
in
vain
?
When
Men
were
weak
enough
to
prize
The
Christian
Scheme
,
as
good
and
wise
,
To
think
there
was
an
Heav'n
and
Hell
;
To
pray
and
preach
did
very
well
:
When
Mortals
look'd
beyond
the
Grave
,
A
Priest
,
for
Conscience
sake
,
might
slave
:
But
in
this
learned
Realm
and
Age
,
Where
Faith
is
beaten
off
the
Stage
;
This
happy
Realm
,
where
Reason
reigns
,
And
scorns
to
drag
Religion's
Chains
;
Where
free-born
Britons
,
ev'ry
Day
,
Sit
down
to
feast
,
and
rise
to
play
;
And
,
since
their
Money
buys
their
Meat
,
Won't
thank
their
God
for
what
they
eat
;
Where
e'vn
some
Chaplains
fill
their
Place
Politely
,
without
saying
Grace
:
If
here
,
(
where
Reason
swells
so
high
,
It
dares
all
other
Pow'rs
defy
)
The
Priests
are
,
like
the
Laymen
,
wise
,
Nor
hope
Reversions
in
the
Skies
;
Why
should
they
deign
to
preach
,
or
pray
,
For
any
View
—
but
present
Pay
?