VIII. It is well known, that Gravity, Preciseness, Solemnity, Sourness, formal Dress and Behaviour, Sobriety of Manners, keeping at a distance from the common Pastimes of the World, Aversion to Rites and Ceremonies in the publick Worship, and to Pictures, Images, and Musick in Churches; mixing Religion in common Conversion, using long Graces, practising Family-Worship, part of which was praying _ex tempore_; setting up and hearing Lectures, and a strict Observation of the Lord's Day, which was call'd the _Sabbath_, were the Parts of the Character of a _Puritan_; who, it is to be observ'd, usually had the Imputation of Hypocrisy for his great and extraordinary Pretences to Religion: He was also a great Opposer of the Court-Measures in the Reign of King _James_ and King _Charles_ I. and most zealous for Law, Liberty, and Property, when those two Princes set up for raising Money by their own Authority, and in consequence thereof, fell into numerous other Acts of Violence and Injustice. It is also well known, that to quell these Puritans, and lessen their Credit, and baffle all their Pretences, Gaiety, Mirth, Pastimes or Sports, were incourag'd and requir'd on _Sundays_ of the People, that Churches were render'd gay, theatrical, and pleasant by the Decorations, Paintings, Musick, and Ceremonies therein perform'd[88]; and that the utmost Ridicule was employ'd against some of them, as _Enthusiasts_, and against others of them as _Hypocrites_, and against them all as factious and seditious, by their Adversaries; who were under no Restraints, but incourag'd to write with Scorn, Contempt, Raillery and Satire against these suppos'd Enemies of Church and State. Nor did the great Success of the _Puritans_ in the Field of Battle suppress that _Vein_ and _Humour_ of _Ridicule_ begun against them; but the _Laudean_ Party still carry'd on a Paper War with innumerable Pamphlets, which all tended more or less to make the World _laugh_ at and _ridicule_ the _Puritans_. And I am verily persuaded, that no History of any other Country in the World can produce a Parallel, wherein the Principle and Practice of _Ridicule_ were ever so strongly encourag'd, and so constantly pursu'd, fix'd and rooted in the Minds of Men, as it was and is in Churchmen against Puritans and Dissenters. Even at this Day the _Ridicule_ is so strong against the present Dissenters, so promoted by Clergy and Laity, especially in Villages and small Country Towns, that they are unable to withstand its Force, but daily come over in Numbers to the Church to avoid being _laugh'd_ at. It seems to me a Mark of Distinction more likely to last in the Church than any other Matter that I can observe. Passive Obedience, the divine Right of Kings, _&c._ rise and fall according to particular Occasions; but _Laughter_ at _Dissenters_ seems fixt for ever, if they should chance to last so long.