make themselves perfect in the church service, has promised upon
the death of the present incumbent, who is very old, to bestow it
according to merit.

The fair understanding between Sir Roger and his chaplain, and
their mutual concurrence in doing good, is the more remarkable,
because the very next village is famous for the differences and
contentions that rise between the parson and the 'squire, who
live in a perpetual state of war. The parson is always preaching
at the 'squire, and the 'squire to be revenged on the parson
never comes to church. The 'squire has made all his tenants
atheists and tithe-stealers; while the Parson instructs them
every Sunday in the dignity of his order, and insinuates to them
in almost every sermon, that he is a better man than his patron.
In short, matters are come to such an extremity, that the 'squire
has not said his prayers either in publick or private this half
year; and that the parson threatens him, if he does not mend his
manners, to pray for him in the face of the whole congregation.

Feuds of this nature, though too frequent in the country, are
very fatal to the ordinary people; who are so used to be dazzled
with riches, that they pay as much deference to the understanding
of a man of an estate, as of a man of learning; and are very
hardly brought to regard any truth, how important soever it may
be, that is preached to them, when they know there are several
men of five hundred a year who do not believe it.



THE WIDOW.