Compton, bishop of London, declared that the church was in danger, from profaneness, irreligion, and the licentiousness of the press.

He complained, that sermons were preached wherein rebellion was countenanced, and resistance to the higher powers encouraged.

He alluded to a sermon preached before the lord mayor by Mr.
Hoadly, now bishop of Winchester.

Burnet of Sarum said, the bishop of London was the last man who ought to complain of that sermon; for if the doctrine it contained was not good, he did not know what defence his lordship could make for his appearing in arms at Nottingham.

He affirmed the church would be always subject to profaneness and irreligion, but that they were not now so flagrant as they usually had been; he said the society set up for reformation in London and other cities, had contributed considerably to the suppression of vice; he was sure the corporation for propagating the gospel had done a great deal towards instructing men in religion, by giving great numbers of books in practical divinity; by erecting libraries in country parishes; by sending many able divines to the foreign plantations, and founding schools to breed up children in the christian knowledge; though to this expense very little had been contributed by those who appeared so wonderfully zealous for the church.