Thus we see how hearty these People are in their Ill Will! How they attack Religion under every Form, and pursue the Priesthood through all the Subdivisions of Opinion. Neither _Jews_ nor _Heathens, Turks_ nor _Christians_, _Rome_ nor _Geneva_, _Church_ nor _Conventicle_, can escape them. They are afraid least Virtue should have any Quarters undisturbed, Conscience any Corner to retire to, or God be Worship'd in any Place. 'Tis true their Force seldom carries up to their Malice: They are too eager in the Combat to be happy in the the Execution. The Abuse is often both gross and clumsey, and the Wit as wretched as the Manners. Nay Talking won't always satisfy them. They must ridicule the _Habit_ as well as the Function, of the Clergy. 'Tis not enough for them to play the Fool unless they do it in _Pontificalibus_. The Farce must be play'd in a Religious Figure, and under the Distinctions of their Office! Thus the Abuse strikes stronger upon the sense; The contempt is better spread, and the little _Idea_ is apt to return upon the same Appearance. And now does this Rudeness go upon any Authorities? Was the Priesthood alwaies thought thus insignificant, and do the Antient Poets palt it in this Manner? This Point shall be tried, I shall run through the most considerable Authors that the Reader may see how they treat the Argument. _Homer_ stands highest upon the Roll, and is the first Poet both in Time, and Quality; I shall therefore begin with him. Tis true he wrote no _Plays_; but for Decency, Practise, and general Opinion, his Judgment may well be taken, Let us see then how the _Priests_ are treated in his _Poem_, and what sort of Rank they hold. _Chryses Apollo_'s Priest appears at a Council of War with his Crown and guilt Scepter. He offers a valuable Ransom for his Daughter; and presses his Relation to _Apollo_. All the Army excepting _Agamemnon_ are willing to consider his Character, and comply with his Proposals. But this _General_ refuses to part with the Lady, and sends away her Father with disrespect. _Apollo_ thought himself affronted with this Usage, and revenges the Indignity in a Plague. [Greek: Houneka ton Chrysên êtimês' arêtêra][228] [Greek: Atreidês.] _Adrastus_ and _Amphius_ the Sons of _Merops_ a _Prophet_, commanded a considerable extent of Country in _Troas_,[229] and brought a Body of Men to King _Priam's_ Assistance.[230] And _Ennomus_ the Augur commanded the Troops of _Mysia_ for the Besieged. _Phegeus_ and _Idæus_ were the Sons of _Dares_ the Priest of _Vulcan_.[231] They appear in an Equipage of Quality, and charge _Diomedes_ the third Hero in the _Grecian_ Army. _Idæus_ after the Misfortune of the Combat, is brought off by _Vulcan_. _Dolopion_ was _Priest_ to _Scamander_,[232] and regarded like the God he _Belong'd_ to, [Greek: Theos d' hôs tieto dêmô.][233]