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"Great care had been taken taken beforehand to arm him with the utmost Rage and Fury against Fanaticism; and his Tutor employ'd all his art and skill to fasten in his Brain a long Chain of Orthodox High-Church Images. The Chain was ended in a twelvemonth; but it took up four years more to strengthen and close the Links."

— Arbuckle, James (d. 1742)

Author

Arbuckle, James (d. 1742)

Work Title

Hibernicus's Letters, No. 77 [Dublin Weekly Journal]

Date

September 17, 1726

Metaphor

"Great care had been taken taken beforehand to arm him with the utmost Rage and Fury against Fanaticism; and his Tutor employ'd all his art and skill to fasten in his Brain a long Chain of Orthodox High-Church Images. The Chain was ended in a twelvemonth; but it took up four years more to strengthen and close the Links."

Metaphor in Context

A Taylor in this City, having been very active in promoting the Election of Tucker and Fownes, was rewarded for his pains by a zealous Parson with the Clerkship of the Parish. He had at that time a Son turn'd of fifteen, and was in great suspense whether to put him out Apprentice to a Button-maker, or dedicate him to the Church. But his own Preferment having raised his Ambition, he expected no less than to see his Boy come in Curate in a few years, and so resolved he should be a Parson; ay, marry, should he, and a High-Church Parson too. The Boy, who had some beginnings of (what is call'd) Classic Learning, having finished his grammatical Studies, and receiv'd his Manumissory Indorsement, was sent to the University, and provided with a High-Church Tutor. Great care had been taken taken beforehand to arm him with the utmost Rage and Fury against Fanaticism; and his Tutor employ'd all his art and skill to fasten in his Brain a long Chain of Orthodox High-Church Images. The Chain was ended in a twelvemonth; but it took up four years more to strengthen and close the Links. And now the Work was so strong and well finished, that nothing was able to break it. This Train of Images continually revolv'd in our young Parson's Brain; and to preserve them from being jostled out by any intruding Foreigners, who might dispossess the Original Orthodox Inhabitants, the first Link of the Chain was rivetted by Pride, and the two last closed up by those two inseparable Companions, Laziness, and Dread of Heresy. The Theological Machine thus fitted up, ascends the Pulpit, thunders out against Schism, draws a Parallel betwixt Rome and Geneva, and gives the preference to the former, for having preserv'd the Hierarchy of the Church, and the Jure Divinoship and uninterrupted Succession of the Royal Priesthood. Next it damns the Whigs and Fanaticks for a pack of sad Dogs, that would eat up Kings with a Corn of Salt, and stain the whole Kalendar with the Blood of Royal Martyrs. The poor old Taylor all this time wept for Joy at his Desk; one half of the Congregation stared, and the other half most judiciously concluded him to be one of the most eminent Preachers of the Age. He now begins to fansy himself so too; for (what will seem very strange) he has never to this hour felt that he hath a rational Soul; and if he did, he would not know to what use to put it.
(pp. 191-3)