SACRAMENT.

1. Christ suffered Judas to take the communion. Those ministers that keep their parishioners from it, because they will not do as they will have them, revenge, rather than reform.

2. No man can tell whether I am fit to receive the sacrament; for though I were fit the day before, when he examined me, at least appeared so to him; yet how can he tell what sin I have committed that night, or the next morning, or what impious, atheistical thoughts I may have about me when I am approaching to the very table? *

* This article, like the last, is apparently directed against the Puritans, who were generally inclined to take a very mystical view of the sacrament. In reference to this subject, we beg leave to produce the opinion of a very worthy member of the English church, the late Dr. Newton of Oxford. "The unconcernedness with which many persons kneel to pray is not less unreasonable than the astonishment with which they go to receive the sacrament: forasmuch as both offices, when the nature of both is truly understood, require equal fitness, and expose the unfit to equal danger. So that he who is fit to say his prayers, is fit to receive the sacrament. And he who shall incur the displeasure of God for unworthily receiving, shall do so in the same degree, if the unworthiness be equal, for unworthily praying." (Newton's Sermons, p. 60. Oxford. 1784. 8vo.)

SALVATION.

WE can best understand the meaning of owτngia, salvation, from the Jews, to whom the Saviour was promised. They held that themselves should have the chief place of happiness in the other world; but the gentiles that were good men, should likewise have their portion of bliss there too. Now by Christ the partitionwall is broken down, and the gentiles that believe in him, are admitted to the same place of bliss with the Jews and why then should not that portion of happiness still remain to them who do not believe in Christ, so they be morally good? This is a charitable opinion.

STATE.

IN a troubled state save as much for your own as you can. A dog had been at market to buy a shoulder of mutton; coming home he met two dogs by the way, that quarrelled with him; he laid down his shoulder of mutton, and fell to fighting with one of them; in the mean time the other dog fell to eating his mutton; he seeing that, left the dog he was fighting with, and fell upon him that was eating; then

the other dog fell to eat when he perceived there was no remedy, but which of them soever he fought withal, his mutton was in danger, he thought he would have as much of it as he could, and thereupon gave over fighting, and fell to eating himself.

SUPERSTITION.

1. THEY that are against superstition oftentimes run into it of the wrong side. If I will wear all colors but black, then am I superstitious in not wearing black.

2. They pretend not to abide the cross, because 't is superstitious; for my part I will believe them, when I see them throw their money out of their pockets, and not till then.

3. If there be any superstition truly and properly so called, 't is their observing the Sabbath after the Jewish manner.

SUBSIDIES.

1. HERETOFORE the parliament was wary what subsidies they gave to the king, because they had no account; but now they care not

how much they give of the subjects' money, because they give it with one hand, and receive it with the other; and so upon the matter give it themselves.

In the mean time what

a case the subjects of England are in! If the men they have sent to the parliament misbehave themselves, they cannot help it, because the parliament is eternal.

2. A subsidy was counted the fifth part of a man's estate; and so fifty subsidies is five and forty times more than a man is worth.

SIMONY.

THE name of simony was begot in the canon law the first statute against it was in queen Elizabeth's time. Since the Reformation simony has been frequent one reason why it was not practised in time of popery, was the pope's provision; no man was sure to bestow his own benefice.

SHIP-MONEY.

1. MR. Noy brought in ship-money first for maritime towns; but that was like putting

in a little auger, that afterwards you may put in a greater. He that pulls down the first brick, does the main work; afterwards it is easy to pull down the wall.

2. They that at first would not pay ship-money till it was decided, did like brave men, though perhaps they did no good by the trial; but they that stand out since, and suffer themselves to be distrained, never questioning those that do it, do pitifully, for so they only pay twice as much as they should.

SYNOD. ASSEMBLY.

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1. We have had no national synod since the kingdom hath been settled as now it is, only provincial and there will be this inconveniency, to call so many divines together; 't will be to put power in their hands, who are too apt to usurp it, as if the laity were bound by their determination. No, let the laity consult with divines on all sides, hear what they say, and make themselves masters of their reasons; as they do by any other profession, when they have a difference before them. For example, goldsmiths; they inquire of them, if such a jewel be of such a value, and such a stone of such a