In short; The _Priest-hood_ is the profession of a Gentleman. A _Parson_ notwithstanding the ignorant Pride of some People, is a Name of Credit, and Authority, both in Religion, and _Law_. The _Addition_ of _Clerk_ is at least equal to that of Gentleman. Were it otherwise the _Profession_ would in many cases be a kind of Punishment. But the _Law_ is far from being so singular as to make _Orders_ a Disadvantage to _Degree_. No, The Honour of the Family continues, and the _Heraldry_ is every jot as safe in the _Church_, as 'twas in the _State_. And yet when the _Laity_ are taken leave of, not _Gentleman_ but _Clerk_ is usually written. This Custom is an argument the Change is not made for the worse, that the Spiritual Distinction is as valuable as the other; And to speak Modestly, that the first _Addition_ is not lost, but Cover'd. Did the Subject require it, this Point might be farther made good. For the stile of a higher Secular Honour is continued as well with _Priest-hood_ as without it. A Church-man who is either _Baronet, or Baron_, writes himself so, notwithstanding His _Clerkship_. Indeed we can't well imagine the Clergy degraded from Paternal Honour without a strange Reflection on the Country; without supposing _Julian_ at the Helm, the _Laws_ Antichristian, and _Infidelity_ in the very _Constitution_. To make the Ministers of Religion less upon the score of their Function, would be a Penalty on the _Gospel_, and a contempt of the God of Christianity. 'Tis our Saviours reasoning; _He that despises you, despises Me, and he that Despises Me, Despises Him that sent me._[285] I hope what I have offer'd on this Subject will not be misunderstood. There is no Vanity in necessary Defence. To wipe off Aspersions, and rescue Things from Mistake, is but bare Justice: Besides, where the Honour of God, and the Publick Interest are concern'd, a Man is bound to speak. To argue from a resembling Instance. He that has the Kings Commission ought to Maintain it. To let it suffer under Rudeness is to betray it. To be tame and silent in such cases, is not Modesty but Meanness, Humility obliges no Man to desert his Trust; To throw up his Privilege, and prove false to his Character. And is our Saviours Authority inferiour to that of Princes? Are the Kingdoms of this World more Glorious than that of the next? And can the Concerns of Time be greater than those of Eternity? If not, the reasoning above mention'd must hold in the Application.