submit to his dictates and commands; if instead of being a shepherd, he is a wolf, worrying and tearing the flock by cruel persecution: he by such behaviour ipso facto depriveth himself of authority and office; he becometh thence no guide or pastor to any Christian, there doth in such case rest no obligation to hear or obey him; but rather to decline him, to discost from him, to reject and disclaim him.

This is the reason of the case, this the Holy Scripture doth prescribe, this is according to the primitive doctrine, tradition, and practice of the Church.

*

Now that the Pope, or papal succession, doth pervert the truth of Christian doctrine, in contradiction to the Holy Scripture, and primitive tradition; that he doth subvert the practice of Christian piety in opposition to the Divine commands; that he teacheth falsehoods, and maintaineth impieties, is notorious in many particulars, some whereof we shall touch."

The distinctive doctrines and practices of the Papacy are then compared with Scripture, and it is shown conclusively that the Pope "doth support and cherish, as his special favourites, the teachers of wicked errors and doctrines which are heretical, conducing to pernicious practices; whence whosoever doth so much as communicate with the maintainers thereof, according to the principles of ancient Christianity, are guilty of the same crimes."

T

MISCELLANEOUS EXTRACTS.

The Supreme Excellence of Christianity.

It is a peculiar advantage of Christianity (which no other law or doctrine so much as pretendeth to) that it not only clearly teacheth us and strongly persuadeth us to so excellent a way of life, but provideth also sufficient help and ability to practise it; without which, such is the frailty of our nature, as experience proveth, that all instruction, all exhortation, all encouragement would avail little. Other laws for want of this are, in effect, "ministeries of condemnation," racks of conscience, parents of guilt and of regret; reading hard lessons, but not assisting to do them; imposing heavy burthens, but not enabling to bear them. Our law is not such; it is not "a dead letter," but hath a " quickening spirit" accompanying it; it not only soundeth through the ear, but stampeth itself upon the heart of

him that sincerely doth embrace it; it always carrieth with it a sure guide to all good, and a safeguard from all evil. If our mind be doubtful or dark, it directeth us to a faithful oracle, where we may receive counsel and information. If our passions are unruly, if our appetites are outrageous, if temptations be violent and threaten to overbear us, it leadeth us to a full magazine, whence we may furnish ourselves with all manner of arms to withstand and subdue them. If our condition in respect to all other means be disconsolate or desperate, it sendeth us to a place where we shall not fail of refreshment or relief; it offereth, upon our earnest seeking and asking, the wisdom and strength of God himself for our direction, our aid, our support and comfort in all exigencies. To them, who with due fervency and constancy ask it, God hath in the gospel promised to "grant his Holy Spirit," to guide them in their ways, to admonish them of their duty, to strengthen them in obedience, to guard them from surprises and assaults of temptation, to sustain them, and cheer them in afflictions. This advantage, as it is proper to our religion, so it is exceedingly considerable; for what would the most perfect rule or way signify without as well a power to observe it as a light to discern it? and how can man (so ignorant, so impotent, so inconstant a creature; so easily deluded by false appearances, and transported with disorderly passions; so easily shaken and unsettled by any small assault) either alone without some guidance perceive, or by himself without some assistance prose

cute, what is good for him, especially in cases of intricacy and difficulty? how should he who hath frequent experience of his own weakness, not be utterly disheartened and cast into despair either of standing fast in a good state, or of recovering himself from a bad one; of rescuing himself from any vicious inclination, or attaining any virtuous habit; if he did not apprehend such a friendly power vigilantly guarding him, ready upon all occasions to succour and abet him? This consideration it is which only can nourish our hope, can excite our courage, can quicken and support our endeavour in religious practice, by assuring us that there is no duty so hard, which by the grace vouchsafed us we may not achieve; that there is no enemy so mighty, which by the help afforded us we cannot master; so that, although we find ourselves "able to do nothing of ourselves," yet we can do all things by Christ that strengtheneth us.”

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The Victories of Faith.

FAITH preserved Noah from two mighty deluges, one of sin, the other of water, overflowing the earth; by it he stemmed the torrent of the one, and rode on the back of the other; it encouraged him to be "a preacher of righteousness" against the grain, and a practiser of it against the fashion of the world; not regarding the common hatred and envy which he did incur thereby : it moved him to undertake that great and strange work of building the ark, for a sanctuary and seminary of

mankind; the type of that spiritual vessel, by embarking into which through faith we are saved from utter ruin.

Faith disposed Abraham to forsake his country and home, his estate, his kindred, following divine conduct "he knew not whither," to wander abroad and sojourn among barbarous strangers. Faith inclined him at God's command to sacrifice his only son, a goodly youth in the flower of his age and hopes, worthily most dear unto him; the son of his old age, and the comfort thereof, given to him by miracle, and in special favour; the prop of his family, and the heir of promise, by whom his seed was to be propagated and his memory to flourish; him was he ready, in obedience, with his own hand to slay, quelling nature and his bowels, thwarting his own hopes, defying all semblances of contradiction or clashing between the commands and promises of God.

Faith through the rudest efforts of envy and malice, through the dismal calamities of exile and slavery, through hideous snares of temptation, through villanous slanders, through loathsome prisons and fetters of iron, all along sustained with admirable moderation and presence of mind, did rear up Joseph to the helm of that great kingdom.

The same inclined Moses to exchange the dignities and delights of a court for a state of vagrancy and servility; it heartened him to outbrave the invincible obstinacy of a mighty prince; it steeled him with patience