[27] Marshall's reluctance to support Rogers's extremism is seen in the funeral sermon he preached at the latter's death (_A Sermon Delivered in the Parish Church of St. Giles Cripplegate, May 18, 1729. Upon Occasion of the Much Lamented Death of the Revd. John Rogers_ [London, 1729]). He made only the most casual and indifferent reference to Rogers's work. So obvious was this slight that it called for a rebuttal; see Philalethes (A. A. Sykes [?]), _Some Remarks Upon the Reverend Dr. Marshall's Sermon on Occasion of the Death of the Revd Dr Rogers_ (London, 1729). BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE This facsimile of _A Discourse concerning Ridicule and Irony in Writing_ (1729) is reproduced from a copy in the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library. A DISCOURSE CONCERNING Ridicule and Irony IN WRITING, IN A LETTER To the Reverend Dr. NATHANAEL MARSHALL. -------- _Ridiculum acri Fortius & melius magnas plerumq; secat res._ -------- _Ridentem dicere verum Quid vetat?_ _LONDON:_ Printed for J. BROTHERTON in _Cornhill_ and sold by T. WARNER in _Pater-noster-Row_, and A. DODD without _Temple-Bar_. 1729. A DISCOURSE CONCERNING _Ridicule_ and _Irony_, &c. REVEREND SIR, In your _Letter_ to Dr. _Rogers_, which he has publish'd at the End of his _Vindication of the Civil Establishment of Religion_, I find a Notion advanc'd by you: which as it is a common and plausible Topick for Persecution, and a Topick by which you, and many others, urge the Magistrate to punish [or, as you phrase it, _to pinch_] [28] Men for controversial Writings, is particularly proper at this time to be fully consider'd; and I hope to treat it in such manner as to make you your self, and every fair Reader, sensible of the Weakness thereof. You profess to "vindicate [29] a sober, serious, and modest Inquiry into the Reasons of any Establishment." And you add, that you "have not ordinarily found it judg'd inconsistent with the Duty of a _private Subject_, to propose his Doubts or his Reasons to the Publick in a _modest_ way, concerning the _Repeal_ of any Law which he may think of ill Consequence by its Continuance. If he be a Man of Ability, and well vers'd in the Argument, he will deserve some Attention; but if he mistakes his Talent, and will be busy with what he very little understands, Contempt and Odium will be his unavoidable and just Allotment." And you say, that "Religion is more a personal Affair, in which every Man has a peculiar Right and Interest, and a Concern that he be not mistaken, than in any other Case or Instance which can fall under the Cognizance of the Magistrate; and that greater Allowances seem due to each private Person for Examination and Inquiry in this, than in any other Example."