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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.

1 How well these Laymen love to gibe,
2 And throw their Jests on Levi's Tribe!
3 Must One be toil'd to Death, they cry,
4 Whilst other Priests are yawning by?
5 Forgetful that He reaps the Gain,
6 Why should They waste their Lungs in vain?
7 When Men were weak enough to prize
8 The Christian Scheme, as good and wise,
9 To think there was an Heav'n and Hell;
10 To pray and preach did very well:
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11 When Mortals look'd beyond the Grave,
12 A Priest, for Conscience sake, might slave:
13 But in this learned Realm and Age,
14 Where Faith is beaten off the Stage;
15 This happy Realm, where Reason reigns,
16 And scorns to drag Religion's Chains;
17 Where free-born Britons, ev'ry Day,
18 Sit down to feast, and rise to play;
19 And, since their Money buys their Meat,
20 Won't thank their God for what they eat;
21 Where e'vn some Chaplains fill their Place
22 Politely, without saying Grace:
23 If here, (where Reason swells so high,
24 It dares all other Pow'rs defy)
25 The Priests are, like the Laymen, wise,
26 Nor hope Reversions in the Skies;
27 Why should they deign to preach, or pray,
28 For any View but present Pay?

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Title (in Source Edition): 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.
Author: Mary Barber
Themes: religion
Genres: satire
References: DMI 11564

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Barber, Mary, ca. 1690-1757. Poems on Several Occasions [poems only]. London: Printed for C. Rivington, at the Bible and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1734, pp. 144-145. xlviii,283,[7]p.; 8⁰. (ESTC T42622; DMI 519; Foxon p. 45) (Page images digitized from a copy in the Bodleian Library [Harding C 3644].)

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Other works by Mary Barber