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Matter which you relate in many Places, and the Manner of relating it, and you have not only imitated, but have manifeftly acquired the Perfpicuity and neat Simplicity of his 'Style: So that, if Xenophon had understood French, I am of Opinion he would have written in no other Words or Manner than you have done upon the fame Subject.

I say not these Things to flatter (a Vice I am not at all liable to) but from my real Sentiments; and as you have inriched me with the choicest Gifts, to which I know myself unable to make a fuitable Return, in the fame, or any other, Kind of Learning. I was at leaft defirous to fhew a willing and grateful Mind to you, and to make you fome fmall Prefent,* tho' very unlike what I had received. Go on, moft Learned and Reverend Sir, to deferve well of the Republick of Letters, in these Days too much neglected and defpifed: Go on to form the Youth of France (fince you will acknowledge yourself useful only to them) by the best Precepts and Examples.

Which that you may accomplish, may God add many Years to your Life; and may they be attended with Health and Tranquillity. Thefe, Sir, are the hearty Wishes of

Your moft Obedient Servant,

FRANCIS ROCHESTER.

*The Bishop fent Him his Sermons.

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P. S. Our Friend, your Neighbour, told me you would dine with me after the Holy-Days. When you have fixed your Day, be pleased to give him Notice of it. Whenever you come, you will certainly find me at home, difabled, as I am, by Old Age and other Evils.

December 27. 1731.

ORATIO

ORATI O.

M.DCC. X.

IDOfficii, quod à te, PATER REVERENDIS

SIME, fibi demandatum habuit Clerus, ut virum aliquem doctum et difertum, fufcipiendo PROLOCUTORIS muneri idoneum, fuftinendo parem, è gremio fuo eligeret, pro folenni mori fideliter explevit; vobifque hodie, PATRES admodum VENERANDI, meâ voce commendat eximium hunc Virum, noftræ, veftræ, & bonorum omnium exiftimationi fuis in Ecclefiam meritis jampridem commendatum: Virum iis ingenii dotibus præditum, ut omni præconio fit dignus, eâ nominis famâ celebrem, ut nullo indigeat: Virum ad defcriptam à majoribus defignandi PROLOCUTORIS formulam adeò compofitum, ut non tam noftris fuffragiis quàm antiquis Synodorum legibus ad infigne hoc munus evocari videatur. Si quid enim adjumenti afferat ad obeundam hanc provinciam exquifita doctrina. Quis eam majori aut fuâ laude aut noftro fructu eft obiturus, quàm Vir in nullo literarum genere hofpes, in plerifque artibus & ftudiis diù & feliciter exercitatus, in maximè perfectis literarum difciplinis perfectiffimus? Si ad confummati PROLOCUTORIS tandem id præcipuè pertinet, ut complurium difertiffimorum vi

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rorum fententiam fui unius linguâ eleganter exprimat, habemus Oratorem eâ facundia perpolitum, ut à vobis, PATRES, minime metuendum fit ne refponforum veftrorum dignitati fua dicendi infcitiâ detrahet; à nobis maximè fperandum, quòd noftris defideriis multum ponderis ac momenti fuâ eloquentiâ fit additurus. Si in conciliandis hominum animis plurimùm valet gratia, in concionibus moderandis permagnam vim habet autoritas, quem potiùs optemus rerum inter nos difquirendarum arbitrum, quàm Virum placidiffimis moribus ita popularem, ut omnes bonos atque humanos indolis fuæ fuavitate ad pacis & concordiæ ftudium facilè fperet allicere; ita fine arrogantiâ gravem, ut procellarum fi quæ fortè ingruerint motus, ipfius præfentiæ dignitate ftatim reprefferit? Vestræ igitur expectationi, PATRES SANCTISSIMI, parum fatisfecerat Clerus, fi graviffimum hoc onus in humeros minos valentes collocaverat, pariterque ingratum fefe & maximorum beneficiorum immemorem arguerat, fi quæ honoris præmia penes ipfos pofita Viro optime de fe merito non libenter obtulerat. Primam certe fedem in fynodali noftrâ domo jure vendicat, qui fufcitante Deo, id vehementer conatus eft, favente Deo, id feliciter effecit, ut non omnino demortuæ, non penitùs elingues apud nos fuerint Synodi.

Favete mihi, PATRES, hanc rem paulò altius repetenti; nihil ad dignitatem veftram, quam ex animo fubmiffe veneror, minuendam, nihil ad inimicitias, à quibus totus abhorreo, refufcitandas fum dicturus. Multis jam annis interrupta fuerant Prelatorum & Cleri concilia: ad tractanda Reipublicæ negotia frequens fuit fenatûs populique congreffio, ad promovendam Ecclefiæ utilitatem nulli interim Epifcoporum cum Presbyteris conventus.

Iniquo id confilio factum non dico, non exiftimo: imò ex propenfà in Ecclefiam voluntate, ex pio diffidii metu, ex ardentiffimo pacis confervandæ ftudio profectum facilè credo; verùm enimvero diuturnam illam Synodorum intermiffionem in maximum Ecclefiæ detrimentum aliquando ceffuram multi autumabant homines nec improbi nec imprudentes. Quod ab optimo PRINCIPE optimis confiliis inchoatum norant, id à pejori PRINCIPE pejora meditanti in Ecclefiæ perniciem trahi poffe valdè metuebant. Multa interea novorum dogmatum portenta indies evulgantur, multæ ubique hærefes virus fuum ac venena impunè fpargunt: in Sacerdotes, in res facras, in fanctiffimum ipfius Dei nomen, dictu turpia, auditu horrenda evomuntur convitia. Adverfus teterrimas has peftes falubre olim ac præfens remedium adhibuerat Synodorum autoritas: hanc opem boni omnes implorârant, hâc ope deftituti, de tuendâ apud nos Religione prorfus defperandum putant. Ea fuit rérum noftrarum conditio, cùm Synodi Anglicana jura, poteftates, ac privilegia in apertâ luce collocanda & firmiffimis legum ac confuetudinum præfidiis munienda cenfuit Vir doctiffimus. Ad hanc metam collimans, antiqua Ecclefiæ monumenta fitu & fqualore obfita fedulus veftigat; cogendorum Synodorum viam ac rationem, habendarum normam & regulam, non ex fermone hominum recenti, non ex noftrâ aut PATRUM noftrorum memoriâ, fed ex prifcorum commentatis, ex Regum edictis, ex Pontificum faftis eruendas ducit: Chartas ipfà vetuftate pene obliteratas, locis multùm diffitas, magno labore ac pretio conquifitas, in fua fcrinia compilat, legit, relegitque. Hifce adminiculis adjutus, viam multis fpinis obfeffam, fpiffis tenebris obvolutam, variis ambagi

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