Whatever may be the relation between social corruption and clerical unpopularity, it is certain the two things co-existed. Nelson deplored a decay of the spirit and life of devotion;[424] Thoresby declared that God seemed angry with the nation, as well He might, and so hid counsel from men, and left them to take such courses as would be neither for their own nor the public good;[425] and Burnet relates, that profane wits were delighted at the circulation of books against the Trinity; that it became a common thing to treat mysteries in religion as priestly contrivances; and that, under cover of popular expressions, the enemies of religion vented their impieties.[426] Patrick lamented the prevalent coldness and carelessness in religion, “scarce an handful of people appearing in many churches at Divine Service, when the playhouses were crowded every day with numerous spectators;”[427] and John Norris referred to the decay of Christian piety and the universal corruption of manners. Christ seemed to him, asleep in the sacred vessel, while the tempest raged, and the waves almost overwhelmed the bark. Students of prophecy, regarding the state of Christianity as _anti-christianized_, anticipated the outpouring of the vials of wrath, the breaking-up of Christendom, and the replacement of God’s chosen people, the Jews, on the ruins of the Gentile Church.[428] Profane swearing so far prevailed, that it is said in many circles a man’s discourse was hardly agreeable without it;[429] and it is remarkable that the instances given of John Howe’s courtesy, and the wisdom with which he administered reproof, relates to the frequent utterance of oaths. On one occasion, a gentleman addicted to this practice expatiated at great length on the merits of Charles I. Howe remarked that in his enumeration of the excellencies of the unfortunate Sovereign, he had omitted one--that he was never known to utter an oath in common discourse. On another occasion, he heard two gentlemen in the street damning each other. The Divine, taking off his hat with a polite bow, exclaimed, “I pray God save you both!” Meeting a nobleman in the park, who, in speaking of the Occasional Conformity Bill, burst into a rage and said, “Damn the wretches! for they are mad, and will bring us all into confusion!” Howe replied, “My Lord, it is a great satisfaction to us, who in all affairs of this nature desire to look upwards, that there is a God who governs the world, to whom we can leave the issues and events of things; and we are satisfied, and may thereupon be easy, that He will not fail in due time of making a suitable retribution to all, according to their present carriage. And this great Ruler of the world, my Lord, has among other things also declared, He will make a difference between him that sweareth and him that feareth an oath.” “Sir, I thank you for your freedom,” was the reply; “I understand your meaning: I shall endeavour to make a good