because it would be the Downfall of Ecclesiastical Power; for which Reason, among many others, I am 3. For the Abolition of an hired and establish'd Priesthood. And for this, if for nothing else, I am sure to be prosecuted with Hatred and Violence, and loaded with the Calumnies and Reproaches of Infidelity and Blasphemy: And the _Clergy_, if possible, will have my Mouth stopp'd, and my Hands tied, before I proceed too far in my Labours and Endeavours to this End. And why should not the _Clergy_ of the Church of _England_ be turn'd to Grass, and be made to seek their Fortune among the People, as well as Preachers of other Denominations? Where's the Sense and Reason of imposing Parochial _Priests_ upon the People to take care of their Souls, more than Parochial _Lawyers_ to look to their Estates, or Parochial _Physicians_ to attend their Bodies, or Parochial _Tinkers_ to mend their Kettles? In secular Affairs every Man chooses the Artist and Mechanick that he likes best; so much more ought he in Spirituals, in as much as the Welfare of the Soul is of greater Importance than that of the Body or Estate. The Church-Lands would go a good, if not a full Step, towards the Payment of the Nation's Debts. I have promised the World, what, by the Assistance of God, and the Leave of the Government, shall be publish'd, a _Discourse_ on the Mischiefs and Inconveniencies of an Hired and Establish'd Priesthood: In which it shall be shewn, I. That the Preachers of Christianity in the first Ages of the Church (when the Gospel was far and near spread, and triumph'd over all Opposition of _Jews_ and _Gentiles_) neither received nor insisted on any Wages for their Pains, but were against preaching for Hire; and, as if they had been endew'd with the Spirit of Prophecy, before an Hireling Priesthood was establish'd, predicted their Abolition and Ejection out of Christ's Church. II. That since the Establishment of an _Hire_ for the Priesthood, the Progress of Christianity has not only been stopt, but lost Ground; the Avarice, Ambition, and Power of the Clergy having been of such unspeakable Mischief to the World, as is enough to make a Man's Heartake to think, read, or write of. III. That upon an Abolition of our present establish'd Priesthood, and on God's Call of his own Ministers, the Profession of the Gospel will again spread; and Virtue, Religion, and Learning, will more than ever flourish and abound. The Clergy are forewarn'd of my Design to publish such a _Discourse_; and this is the secret Reason, whatever openly they may pretend, of their Accusations against me for Blasphemy and Infidelity. Their Zeal and Industry will be never wanting to prevent the Publication of this _Discourse_; neither need I doubt of Persecution, if they can excite the Government to it, to that End.