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. Mary Barber Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T42622 519 p. 45 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.

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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 . 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 ?