OLYMPIC DIALOGUE. 243 



more harmlefs people than thofe to whom they muft 

 now give place. They enjoyed their authority and 

 their revenues in peace, were complacent with all men, 

 and combated no man's belief : tbefe are domineer- 

 ing and intolerant, perfecuting one another with the 

 utmoft fury, for empty phrafes and unintelligible 

 terms ; determining by the plurality of voices, what 

 mankind fhall think of inconceivable objects, how 

 they fhall fpeak of Inexpreffible things, and treat all, 

 who think and fpeak differently from them, as the ene- 

 mies of God and man. That the priefls of us celeffials, 

 till they were outraged by thefe boifterous image-break- 

 ers, ever had any difference with the government, or 

 otherwife difturbed the public tranquillity, wasfcarcely 

 heard of in a thoufand years : whereas the new priert- 

 hood, fince their party is encouraged, has never ceafed 

 to put the world in confulion. Their pontifs are at 

 prefent working in fecret : but fhortly will they 

 grafp at the fceptre of kings, conftitute themfelves'the 

 vicegerents of their God ; and, under that title, affaffie 

 an unheard-of fovereignty over heaven and earth. — * 

 Our priefb were indeed (as is reafonable to fuppofe) no 

 Very zealous encouragers, yet at leaft they were not the 

 fworn foes, of philofophy, from which, under the pro- 

 tection of the laws, they had nothing to fear ; but it 

 leafl of all ever entered their heads to bring the thoughts 

 and opinions of mankind under their jurisdiction, or 

 attempt to impede their free circulation in fociety : 

 whereas t heir's — - who, while they were the weaker 

 party, were artful enough to have reafon on their fide, 

 and placed her in the front whenever they were attacked 

 )by our's, — now bid her farewell, as ftie' would only be 



r a a bin- 



