To give some Instances of their Civility! In the _Spanish Fryer, Dominick_ is made a Pimp for _Lorenzo_;[199] He is call'd _a parcel of Holy Guts and Garbage_, and said _to have room in his Belly for his Church steeple_.
_Dominick_ has a great many of these Compliments bestow'd upon him. And to make the Railing more effectual, you have a general stroke or two upon the Profession. Would you know what are the _Infallible Church Remedies_. Why 'tis to _Lie Impudently_, and _Swear Devoutly_.[200] A little before this _Dominick_ Counterfits himself sick, retires, and leaves _Lorenzo_ and _Elvira_ together; And then the Remark upon the Intrigue follows. 'You see Madam (says _Lorenzo_)[201] 'tis Interest governs all the World. He Preaches against Sin, why? Because he gets by't: He holds his Tongue; why? because so much more is bidden for his Silence. 'Tis but giving a Man his Price, and Principles of _Church_ are bought off as easily as they are in _State_: No man will be a Rogue for nothing; but Compensation must be made, so much Gold for so much Honesty; and then a Church-man will break the Rules of Chess. For the Black Bishop, will skip into the White, and the White into the Black, without Considering whether the remove be Lawful.
At last _Dominick_ is discover'd to the Company, makes a dishonourable _Exit_, and is push'd off the _Stage_ by the Rabble. This is great Justice! The Poet takes care to make him first a Knave, and then an Example: But his hand is not even. For Lewd _Lorenzo_ comes off with _Flying Colours_. 'Tis not the Fault which is corrected but the Priest. The Authors Discipline is seldom without a Biass. He commonly gives the _Laity_ the Pleasure of an ill Action, and the _Clergy_ the Punishment.
To proceed. _Horner_ in his general Remarks upon Men, delivers it as a sort of Maxim, _that your Church-man is the greatest Atheist_. In this Play _Harcourt_ puts on the Habit of a Divine.[202] _Alithea_ does not think him what he appears; but _Sparkish_ who could not see so far, endeavours to divert her Suspicion. _I tell you (says he) this is Ned_ Harcourt _of_ Cambridge, _you see he has a sneaking Colledge look_.[203] Afterwards his Character is sufficiently abused by _Sparkish_ and _Lucy_; but not so much as by Himself.[204] He tells you in an _Aside_ _he must suit his Stile to his Coat_. Upon this wise Recollection, He talks like a servile, impertinent Fop,