Lutherans. So have our preachers done that are against the bishops, they have made themselves greater with the people than they can be made the other way, and therefore there is the less charity probably in bringing them off. Charity to strangers is enjoined 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.

1. CHRISTMAS succeeds the Saturnalia, the same time, the same number of holy days, then the master waited upon the servant like the lord of mis-rule.

2. Our meats and our sports (much of them) have relation to church-works. The coffin of our Christmas pies, 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 reference to the bitter

herbs: though at the same time it was always the fashion for a man to have a gammon of bacon, to show himself to be no Jew.

CHRISTIANS.

1. IN the high church of Jerusalem, the Christians 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, it was said 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 do not know what. The Christians quite invert this order, they tell us of a bell where we shall feel sensible pain, but of a heaven where we shall enjoy we cannot 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 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 killed at their sacrifices, only young asses redeemed, might very well think they had that silly beast in some high estimation, and thence might imagine they worshipped it as a god.

CHURCH.

1. HERETOFORE 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 the heir uses to go a hunting, he never considers how his meal is dressed, 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 dressed his own way, or peradventure he will dress it himself.

2. It hath ever been the gain 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 Eng- land go one way, and the court clergy another. 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 it is most certain they were in the book of articles that was confirmed, though in some editions they have been left out: but the article before tells you who the church is, not the clergy, but cœtus fidelium.

CHURCH OF ROME.

1. BEFORE a juggler's tricks are discovered we admire him, and give him money, but

afterwards we care not for them; so it was 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 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 agree 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.

1. THE 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.