Page:Oration on the virtues of the old women, and the pride of the young (2).pdf/6

 6  JANET'S OSATION.

put in the whole fields of wheat harvest, and the priests of that church commenced him therefore Because the season was backward, why should no man be disobedient? And this infection is come here also, surely the loss of this Sabbath-day will be counted a black Saturday to fame ; when I walk in the fields, I know it not but by the stopping of the plo when in the city, only by the clossness of a few shop doors and the found of the bells; degenerate idea of religion indeed ! when the high praise is founder only by bell metal, A founding brass and a tinkling cymbal, is it not come to pass, the taverns roar like Etna’s mouth; children follow their gaming, and old sinners their strolling about, nothing stopt but coal-carts and common carriers, the Sabbath lasts much longer than the sermon, and the sermon is measured by a little sand in a glass ; many, too many frequent the church, seemingly only to show their antic dress with heads of a monstrous form, more surprizing that those described by Aristotle, as for length exceeding that of an asses head, ears and all, and ah how humbling would it be to see their heads struck into such forms, &c.

They disdain now to ride on pads as of old, or to be hobled on a horse’s hurdles, but must be hurled behind the tail, safely seated in a leather conveniency, and there they fly swiftly as in the chariot of Aminadab.

They will not speak the mother language of their native country, but must have southern oaths, refined like raw sugar thro’ the mills of cuifing, finely polished and fairly struck in the profane mint of London, into a perfect form of flunkey, language; even the very wild Arabs from the mountain tops, who have not yet got English to profane his Maker’s name will cry Cot, Cot; hateful it is to hear them swear who cannot speak, O! strange alteration since the days of old, the downfal of Popery and the Prelate decay, when reformation was alive, and religion in taste and fashion ; the people during the Sabbath were all packed up in closets, and their children kept