Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 18.djvu/192

178 there is not one point of duty so universally and exactly observed.

And society has so great consideration of place, that we find wise provisions made for the regulating of it, and for settling the due preeminence of all degrees of men, and an office of heraldry for that purpose, which may be found in almost every house of quality. I could go farther than this, but for this reason, that it is out of my way, and none of my business, to determine the force of great examples, and make conclusions upon Scripture; and perhaps iny friend's best apology is, that the Bible is out of the road of his profession and study: but I will say thus much, that as I have observed divines to be so far scriptural in their carriage, as to take "the right hand of fellowship" on all occasions, and carry their disputes about place as high as any other sort of men; so their practice (such is my deference) is to me the best gloss upon duty, and my conviction, and should be his. And this plainly determines the point against him, and shows the importance of precedence; and then it will follow in logick, that, if taking place be matter of moment, to dispute about place is not womanish or trivial.

And, this allowed, I am inclined to believe, that, upon this religious principle, all our late promotions of nobility have proceeded; and that so many gentlemen have procured themselves titles, not, as some have injuriously thought, that they might take place of their betters, but out of a sense of duty; and while some (alas! too many) ignorantly despise them for their worthless ambition, I regard them with another eye, and honour them for their piety, and courage, and conscience, and even condescension in being