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government the clergy naturally endeavour to recommend themselves
to the sovereign； to the court； and to the nobility and gentry of
the country； by whose influence they chiefly expect to obtain
preferment。 They pay court to those patrons sometimes； no doubt；
by the vilest flattery and assentation； but frequently； too； by
cultivating all those arts which best deserve； and which are
therefore most likely to gain them the esteem of people of rank
and fortune； by their knowledge in all the different branches of
useful and ornamental learning； by the decent liberality of their
manners； by the social good humour of their conversation； and by
their avowed contempt of those absurd and hypocritical
austerities which fanatics inculcate and pretend to practise； in
order to draw upon themselves the veneration； and upon the
greater part of men of rank and fortune； who avow that they do
not practise them； the abhorrence of the common people。 Such a
clergy； however； while they pay their court in this manner to the
higher ranks of life； are very apt to neglect altogether the
means of maintaining their influence and authority with the
lower。 They are listened to； esteemed； and respected by their
superiors； but before their inferiors they are frequently
incapable of defending； effectually and to the conviction of such
hearers； their own sober and moderate doctrines against the most
ignorant enthusiast who chooses to attack them。
The followers of Zwingli； or more properly those of Calvin；
on the contrary； bestowed upon the people of each parish；
whenever the church became vacant； the right of electing their
own pastor； and established at the same time the most perfect
equality among the clergy。 The former part of this institution；
as long as it remained in vigour； seems to have been productive
of nothing but disorder and confusion； and to have tended equally
to corrupt the morals both of the clergy and of the people。 The
latter part seems never to have had any effects but what were
perfectly agreeable。
As long as the people of each parish preserved the right of
electing their own pastors； they acted almost always under the
influence of the clergy； and generally of the most factious and
fanatical of the order。 The clergy； in order to preserve their
influence in those popular elections； became； or affected to
become； many of them； fanatics themselves； encouraged fanaticism
among the people； and gave the preference almost always to the
most fanatical candidate。 So small a matter as the appointment of
a parish priest occasioned almost always a violent contest； not
only in one parish； but in all the neighbouring parishes； who
seldom failed to take part in the quarrel。 When the parish
happened to be situated in a great city； it divided all the
inhabitants into two parties； and when that city happened either
to constitute itself a little republic； or to be the head and
capital of a little republic； as is the case with many of the
considerable cities in Switzerland and Holland； every paltry
dispute of this kind； over and above exasperating the animosity
of all their other factions； threatened to leave behind it both a
new schism in the church； and a new faction in the state。 In
those small republics； therefore； the magistrate very soon found
it necessary； for the sake of preserving the public peace； to
assume to himself the right of presenting to all vacant
benefices。 In Scotland； the most extensive country in which this
Presbyterian form of church government has ever been established；
the rights of patronage were in effect abolished by the act which
established Presbytery in the beginning of the reign of William
III。 That act at least put it in the power of certain classes of
people in each parish to purchase； for a very small price； the
right of electing their own pastor。 The constitution which this
act established was allowed to subsist for about two…and…twenty
years； but was abolished by the 10th of Queen Anne； c。 12； on
account of the confusions and disorders which this more popular
mode of； election had almost everywhere occasioned。 In so
extensive a country as Scotland； however； a tumult in a remote
parish was not so likely to give disturbance to government as in
a smaller state。 The 10th of Queen Anne restored the rights of
patronage。 But though in Scotland the law gives the benefice
without any exception to the person presented by the patron； yet
the church requires sometimes （for she has not in this respect
been very uniform in her decisions） a certain concurrence of the
people before she will confer upon the presentee what is called
the cure of souls； or the ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the
parish。 She sometimes at least； from an affected concern for the
peace of the parish； delays the settlement till this concurrence
can be procured。 The private tampering of some of the
neighbouring clergy； sometimes to procure； but more frequently to
prevent； this concurrence； and the popular arts which they
cultivate in order to enable them upon such occasions to tamper
more effectually； are perhaps the causes which principally keep
up whatever remains of the old fanatical spirit； either in the
clergy or in the people of Scotland。
The equality which the Presbyterian form of church
government establishes among the clergy； consists； first； in the
equality of authority or ecclesiastical jurisdiction； and；
secondly； in the equality of benefice。 In all Presbyterian
churches the equality of authority is perfect： that of benefice
is not so。 The difference； however； between one benefice and
another is seldom so considerable as commonly to tempt the
possessor even of the small one to pay court to his patron by the
vile arts of flattery and assentation in order to get a better。
In all the Presbyterian churches； where the rights of patronage
are thoroughly established； it is by nobler and better arts that
the established clergy in general endeavour to gain the favour of
their superiors； by their learning； by the irreproachable
regularity of their life； and by the faithful and diligent
discharge of their duty。 Their patrons even frequently complain
of the independency of their spirit； which they are apt to
construe into ingratitude for past favours； but which at worst；
perhaps； is seldom any more than that indifference which
naturally arises from the consciousness that no further favours
of the kind are ever to be expected。 There is scarce perhaps to
be found anywhere in Europe a more learned； decent； independent；
and respectable set of men than the greater part of the
Presbyterian clergy of Holland； Geneva； Switzerland； and
Scotland。
Where the church benefices are all nearly equal； none of
them can be very great； and this mediocrity of benefice； though
it may no doubt be carried； too far； has； however； some very
agreeable effects。 Nothing but the most exemplary morals can give
dignity to a man of small fortune。 The vi