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natur'd ill-manner'd Perfon. In fuch cafes 'tis Prudence not to hazard a Reputation by fhewing we have fo little Knowledge of the World, or fo little Firmness of Mind, as to be difcompofed by trivial things. • That Greatness of Soul, which makes a Man appear Superiour to the Enemies of his Reputation, by defpifing them, is no uncommon way to advance a Reputation. Men may without any imputation of Vanity or Pride, affume an Air of Greatnefs, and a Virtuous Consciousness of their Deferts, against the impotent Attempts of harfh unciviliz'd Spirits; and as knowing Themfelves fecure from Danger in fuch Inftances, make them the Foils to fet off an Establish'd Reputation. But when the attempt is made by Perfons who have Power or Intereft enough to do mischief; when they charge fuch things as Effentially hurt a Reputation; it is a prudent management to wipe off all fuch Afperfions with Brisknefs, and Refolution. When a Man fits down quietly and tamely under a Charge that touches his Honefty and Integrity, the World will likely take it for a Confeffion of his Guilt; at least for the mark of a mean or timorous Spirit. To be unconcern'd for one's whole Reputation is a fure way to ruin it. The World will judge He can hardly deserve a Reputation, who appears to have no value for one. And He will always be thought not to value it, who is unconcern'd about what is Effential to it. Nothing can be more Effential than Honefty and Integrity: For without Thefe, all other good Qualities will not be able to procure

Efteem,

Efteem, Trust and Affection. It muft needs therefore touch a Man in a very tender Point to rob him of fo valuable a Treasure as his Credit.

So in whatever way a Man's Reputation is blacken'd, he is obliged to refent it in pro- . portion to the Importance of what is ftruck at. Efpecially when a Man is attack'd in his moft peculiar Excellence and Talent; in the principal Labour and chief Glory of Ones Life; in his Knowledge and Learning in his own Profeffion; his Sincerity or Virtue in a facred Character, and the like.

It may happen that a Man's neceffary Vindication of himself in fuch Cafes may force him to prefs his Adverfary to many Inconveniencies, and to leave him at laft under a Load of Difgrace, which his Goodness and Humanity would have avoided if poffible. But a vigorous Defence of injur'd Reputation, is juft in the Defender by the strictest Rules of Morality; and it is honourable in the Opinion of all civiliz'd People. Whatever Inconveniencies are brought on the Aggreffor, he must place to the Account of his own Injuftice, and Evil Design on the Reputation of his Neighbour.

Yet even in this Cafe, Men fhould take prudent care that the Senfe of an Injury do not make them loofe their Temper, and draw them into any Indecencies; and fo betray them into a Discovery either of a weak Judgment, or Intemperate Paffions. That they do not help to deftroy a Reputation, which the falfe Accufations of their Enemies Gould never hurt, if they had not lent them

their own Affiftance. When they betray Perverfenefs and Ill-humour, a morofe Nature and revengeful Temper, all they can expec from their Friends is Pity for Efteem; but from their Enemies they are fure to meet with Scorn instead of Respect. Whereas, if under the fevereft Provocations, a Man can preferve that Kindness and Humanity which fhall add a Reputation to his other Abilities, and ufes no other Severity than what a just Self-Defence makes neceffary, He has an opportunity to fhew the Brightest Character; That He is compleatly Mafter of himself and of his own Conduct: That He knows what He fhould be, and yet more, knows how to be what he should. This must heighten a Man's Reputation with his Friends, and force an inward Refpect even from Enemies themselves.

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To the Author of the OCCASIONAL PAPER.

SIR,

Your

Our Thoughts are Earneftly defir'd by fome of your Readers on that which has been of late the chief Subject of Conversation, aud has fo much employ'd the Prefs; I mean the Affair of the Bishop of Bangor. Methinks your Pen fhould not lye ftill, when Truth and Catholic Chriftianity are fo much concern'd. Remember your firft Advertisement, and what you have given Reafon to expect from you. And then fay, what Clamour and Noife! what Sophiftry and vile Arts! what falfe Infinuations, and Lyes detected, are used to ruine the Name of a Man for preaching a Doctrine moft plainly deliver'd in the Gofpel. It must furely be a Kingdom of this World that can need, or ufe fuch Supports as these. 'Tis the Craft being in Danger that makes this Uproar not the Kingdom or True Minifters of 'Chrift. Religion, Church, Miniftry, Difcipline, &c. are Words loudly used to the fame Purpose with Great is Diana of the Ephefians. Help Reverend Operators in Calumny! The Reverend Mr. Hilliard who tells us his Gall is broke in the Controverfy: The Reverend Mr. Trap with his diabolically Mad, Dumb, and Deaf, and Dull Devil. Let the Reverend Dr.

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Innys affift too; For He can prove out of the Apoftolical Conftitutions that the Bishop is a God upon Earth (v izio) Whilft his Fellow-Labourers infinuate him to be a Devil: 'Tis either God or Devil according as it ferves the purpose. Let the Reverend Dr. Snape produce his Living Man and Jefuit; and Dr. Sherlock talk of his Bars and Bolts. Follow ye Hendlys! Laws! and Marsdens! and all the Underworkers in Rudenefs and Detraction! Upon the whole it must be allow'd there never was more of it on one fide of a Controverfy, manag'd on the other fide fo handfomly, and with fo much Temper. Really Sir I cannot help faying, that the Attack upon the Bishop's Reputation has been manag'd as if He was the only Perfon that had any to tofe in the Scuffle. After fuch a manner of Dealing as fome have used; (Violent Distortions of the Sense; feparating and disjoynting Words from their proper Places; Wrenching away the honeft meaning from fome Sentences, impofing a Bad one upon others; not allowing an Author to fay what he has faid; and making him fay what He never thought on;) I would undertake after this manner to make Nonfence and Blafphemy of the Bible it felf, and turn any Author in the World into Ridicule. Yet fome of my Lord Bangor's Oppofers follow one another in thefe ways, with the moft Stupid Reflections: If one fays the Bishop. lets the Devil into the Church of Christ, because he afferts the Church to be his Kingdom; Another licks it up after him, and afferts it over again; without any regard to the Distinction. between

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