IN time of parliament, it used to be one of the first things the house did, to petition the King that his confessor might be removed, as fearing either his power with the King, or else, lest he should reveal to the Pope what the house was in doing, as no doubt he did when the catholic cause was concerned. SELDEN. THE Pope used heretofore to send the princes of Christendom to fight against the Turk; but Prince and Pope finely juggled together: the monies were raised, and some men went out to the holy war, but commonly after they had got the money, the Turk was pretty quiet, and the Prince and the Pope shared it between them. IBID. THE Pope, in sending relics to princes, does as wenches do their wassels* at new-year's tide: they present you with a cup, and you must drink of a slabby stuff; but the meaning is, you must give them monies, ten times more than it is worth. IBID. Anciently, on new-year's eve, it was the custom for young women to go about with a wassail bowl, that is, a bowl of spiced ale, with some sort of verses, that were sung by them in going from door to door. Wassail is derived from the Anglo-Saxon Was heal, that is, "Be in health." They accepted little presents from the houses they stopped at. Vide Story of Vortigern and Rowena, in Verstegan; also, Andrews's History of Great Britain, Brand's Popular Antiquities, &c. THE papists, wherever they live, have another king at Rome; all other religions are subject to the present state, and have no prince elsewhere.* Selden. THE priests of Rome aim but at two things; to get power from the king, and money from the subject. IBID. WHEN the priests come into a family, they do as a man that would set fire on a house; he does not put fire to the brick wall, but thrusts it into the thatch. They work upon the women, and let the men alone. IBID. * Notwithstanding the enlightened age in which we live, and that an instrument of great power has been raised up on the continent of Europe, which has gone nigh to eradicate the very root and foundation of popery; it is to be feared that much of the old leaven of superstition remains in the breasts of many professors of that religion. Although the Pope has been deprived of his temporal possessions and authority, there is little doubt that every true member of the Romish Church will still adhere to him as a spiritual father, and consider his authority and functions, whatever may be his fortunes in the world, as paramount to that of all earthly Kings. The rulers of our nation would do well to consider the above observation of a very wise and learned man, and the many woeful examples which our history unfolds, of the consequences resulting from a power lodged in such hands, before they proceed to make any alteration in the laws as they now stand with respect to the Roman Catholics. FOR a priest to turn a man when he lies a dying, is just like one that hath a long time solicited a woman and cannot obtain his end; at length makes her drunk, and so lies with her. IBID. THERE is no greater argument (though not used) against transubstantiation, than the apostles at their first council, forbidding blood and suffocation. Would they forbid blood, and yet enjoin the eating of blood ? IRID. PENANCE is only the punishment inflicted, not penitence, which is the right word: a man comes not to do penance because he repents him of his sin, but because he is compelled to it; he curses him, and could kill him, that sends him thither. The old canons wisely enjoined three years penance, sometimes more, because in that time a man got a habit of virtue, and so committed that sin no more for which he did penance. IBID. HE was a wise Pope, that when one that used to be with him, before he was advanced to the popedom, refrained afterwards to come at him, (presuming he was busy in governing the christian world) the Pope sends for him, bids him come again, and, (says he) "We will be merry as we "were before; for thou little thinkest what a "little foolery governs the whole world." SELDEN. IT is a vain thing to talk of a heretic, for a man for his heart can think no otherwise than he does think. In the primitive times, there were many opinions; nothing scarce, but some or other held, one of these opinions being embraced by some Prince, and received into his kingdom, the rest were condemned as heresies; and his religion, which was but one of the several opinions first, is said to be orthodox, and to have continued ever since the apostles. IBID. ALL men that would get power over others, make themselves as unlike them as they can. Upon the same ground, the priests make themselves unlike the laity. IBID. Priesthood, that makes a merchandize of heav'n; Nay, cheats heav'n too, with entrails and with offals, And keeps the best for private luxury. DRYDEN PRIDE. Pride, of all others the most dangerous fault, PRIDE thinks its own happiness shines the brighter, by comparing it with the misfortunes of other persons, that by displaying its own wealth, they may feel their poverty the more sensibly. This is that infernal serpent that creeps into the breasts of mortals, and possesses them too much to be easily drawn out. If you consider the use of clothes, why should a fine thread be thought better than a coarse one? And yet men, as if they had some real advantages beyond others, and did not owe them wholly to their mistakes, look big, seem to fancy themselves to be more valuable, and imagine that a respect is due to them for the sake of a rich garment, to which they would not have pretended, if they had been more meanly clothed, and even resent it as an affront, if that respect be not paid them. SIR T. MORE. EXCEED not in the humour of thy rags and bravery,* these will soon wear out of fashion; but Bravery, "show, ostentation, splendour." DICT. |