70 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



affumed their titles ; appropriated to itfelf their 

 rights and their revenues ; and even made ufe of 

 their arms to maintain interefts which were in fuch 

 dired oppofition to it's moraHty. A great many- 

 churches had their knights and their champions, 

 who fupported their claims in fingle combat. 



It would be unfair to impute to religion, the 

 mifchief occaficned by the avarice and the ambi- 

 tion of her minifters. She herfelf affifts us in de- 

 tefling their faults, and enjoins us to be on our 

 guard againft them. The greateft Saints, St. 

 Jerorh * among others, have expofed and con- 

 demned the vices of the clergy, with more vehe- 

 mence than ever modern Philofophers have done. 

 Much has been written of late to difcredit reli- 

 gion, with a view to diminifli the power of priefts. 

 But, univerfally, wherever ihe has fallen, their 

 power has increafed. Religion herfelf alone re- 

 ftrains them within due bounds. Obferve in the 

 Archipelago, and elfewhere, how many fraudulent 

 and lucrative fuperftitions have been fubftituted by 

 the Greek Papas and Caloyers^ in place of the fpirit 

 of the Gofpel ! Befides, whatever reproach may be 

 caft upon our own clergy, they have their anfwer 

 ready, namely, that they have been, in all ages, 

 like the reft of their compatriots, the children of 



* Confult his Letters. 



this 



