Charity.*

HARITY to Strangers is enjoin'd in the Text. By Strangers is there understood those that are not of our own Kin, Strangers to your Blood;

not those you cannot tell whence they come; that is, be charitable to your Neighbours whom you know to be honest poor People.

Christmas.

HRISTMAS succeeds the Saturnalia, the same time, the same number of Holy-days; then the Master waited upon the Servant like

the Lord of Misrule.

2. Our Meats and our Sports, much of them, have Relation to Church-works. The Coffin of our ChristmasPies, in shape long, is in Imitation of the Cratch; our choosing Kings and Queens on Twelfth-Night, hath reference to the three Kings. So likewise our eating of Fritters, whipping of Tops, roasting of Herrings, Jack of Lents, &c., they were all in Imitation of Church-works, Emblems of Martyrdom. Our Tansies at Easter have

The word Charity, placed as above noted in the text of the Original Edition, should have been the head title of this Article, which is erroneously blended with the preceding, to which it has no relation.

† Jack o' Lents, i. e. Puppets to be pelted at like shrove-cocks in Lent.

reference to the bitter Herbs; though, at the same time 'twas always the Fashion for a Man to have a Gammon of Bacon to show himself to be no Jew.

Christians.

N the High-Church of Jerusalem, the Christtians were but another Sect of Jews, that did believe the Messias was come. To be called,

was nothing else, but to become a Christian, to have the Name of a Christian, it being their own Language; for amongst the Jews, when they made a Doctor of Law, 'twas Isaid he was called.

2. The Turks tell their People of a Heaven where there is sensible Pleasure, but of a Hell where they shall suffer they don't know what. The Christians quite invert this Order; they tell us of a Hell where we shall feel sensible Pain, but of a Heaven where we shall enjoy we can't tell what.

3. Why did the Heathens object to the Christians, that they worship an Ass's Head?* You must know, that to a Heathen, a Jew and a Christian were all one; † that

* V. Minucius Felix in Octavio, cap. 28, (ubi hæc Cæcilii verba laudatur: Audire te dicis caput asini rem nobis esse divinam? Quis tam stultus, ut hac colat? quis stultior, ut hoc credat. Conf. Martialis II. 95; Tacitus, Hist. lib. v. § 4.), and Ruperti's Commentary, where the subject is discussed and references given to everything bearing on the subject.

This opinion is founded on the passage in Suetonius. Claudius, 25. But see Van Dale de Oraculis Veterum Ethnicorum, p. 604. Gibbon, vol. ii. p. 401. Watson's Apology, p. 88.

they regarded him not, so he was not one of them. Now that of the Ass's Head might proceed from such a Mistake as this; by the Jews' Law, all the Firstlings of Cattle were to be offered to God, except a young Ass, which was to be redeemed. A Heathen being present, and seeing young Calves and young Lambs kill'd at their Sacrifices, only young Asses redeem'd, might very well think they had that silly Beast in some high Estimation, and thence might imagine they worshipped it as a God.

Church.

ERETOFORE the Kingdom let the Church alone, let them do what they would, because they had something else to think of, (viz.) Wars; but now in time of Peace, we begin to examine all things, will have nothing but what we like, grow dainty and wanton; just as in a Family when the Heir uses to go a hunting; he never considers how his Meal is drest, takes a bit, and away; but when he stays within, then he grows curious; he does not like this, nor he does not like that; he will have his Meat drest his own way, or peradventure he will dress it himself.

2. It hath ever been the game* of the Church when the King will let the Church have no Power to cry down the King and cry up the Church: But when the Church can make use of the King's Power, then to bring all under the King's Prerogative. The Catholics of England go one way, and the Court-Clergy another.

Original Edition, guin.

3. A glorious Church is like a magnificent Feast; there is all the Variety that may be, but every one chooses out a Dish or two that he likes, and lets the rest alone: how glorious soever the Church is, every one chooses out of it his own Religion, by which he governs himself, and lets the rest alone.

4. The Laws of the Church are most favourable to the Church, because they were the Church's own making; as the Heralds are the best Gentlemen, because they make their own Pedigree.

5. There is a Question about that Article, concerning the Power of the Church, whether these Words [of having Power in Controversies of Faith]* were not stolen in; but 'tis most certain they were in the Book of Articles that was confirm'd, though in some Editions they have been left out: But the Article before tells you, who the Church is, not the Clergy, but Catus fidelium.

B

Church of Rome.

EFORE a Juggler's Tricks are discover'd we admire him, and give him Money, but afterwards we care not for them; so 'twas before the Discovery of the Juggling of the Church of Rome. 2. Catholics say, we out of our Charity believe they of the Church of Rome may be saved, but they do not

* "Of having power in controversies." Article 20th. Inserted, says Fuller, in the original edition, 1562-3, 1593, 1605, 1612, omitted edition 1571, when first ratified by act of Parliament.

believe so of us; therefore their Church is better according to ourselves. First, some of them no doubt, believe as well of us, as we do of them, but they must not say so. Besides, is that an Argument their Church is better than ours because it has less Charity?

3. One of the Church of Rome will not come to our Prayers; does that argue he doth not like them? I would fain see a Catholic leave his Dinner, because a Nobleman's Chaplain says Grace. Nor haply would he leave the Prayers of the Church, if going to Church were not made a Mark of Distinction between a Protestant and a Papist.

Churches.

HE Way coming into our great Churches, was anciently at the West-Door, that Men might see the Altar, and all the Church before them; the other Doors were but Posterns.*

* I received letters lately out of France touching this pointWhether we find that any Churches in the elder times of Christianity were with the doors, or fronts eastward or no? because of that in Sidonius :-Arce Frontis ortum spectat æquinoctialem, lib. 2. Ep. 10. and other like. I beseech your Lordship to let me know what you think hereof.

My Titles of Honour are in the press, and new written, but I hear it shall be staid; if not I shall salute you with one as soon as it is done.

Selden to Usher, March 24, 1621.

Usher to Selden.

Touching that which you move concerning the situation of Churches in the elder times of Christianity, Walafridus Strabo