amongſt the boys, to ſay nothing of the ſlavery to forms, which makes religion worſe than a farce? For what good can be expected from the youth who receives the ſacrament of the Lord's ſupper, to avoid forfeiting half a guinea, which he probably afterwards ſpends in ſome ſenſual manner? Half the employment of the youths is to elude the neceſſity of attending public worſhip; and well they may, for ſuch a conſtant repetition of the ſame thing muſt be a very irkſome reſtraint on their natural vivacity. As theſe ceremonies have the moſt fatal effect on their morals, and as a ritual performed by the lips, when the heart and mind are far away, is not now ſtored up by our church as a bank to draw on for the fees of the poor ſouls in purgatory, why ſhould they not be aboliſhed?
But the fear of innovation, in this country, extends to every thing.—This is only a covert fear, the apprehenſive timidity of indolent ſlugs, who guard, by ſliming it over, the ſnug place, which they conſider in the light of an hereditary eſtate; and eat, drink, and enjoy themſelves, inſtead of fulfilling the duties, excepting a few empty forms, for which it was endowed. Theſe are the people who moſt ſtrenuouſly inſiſt on the will of the founder being obſerved, crying out againſt all reformation, as if it were a violation of juſtice. I am now alluding particularly to the relicks of popery retained in our colleges, when the proteſtant members ſeem to be ſuch ſticklers for the eſtabliſhed church; but their zeal never makes them loſe ſight of the ſpoil of ignorance, which rapacious prieſts of ſuperſtitious memory
