1769. Account of the time fubfifted among his enemies, and which had ferved to poftpone his fall, grew more fierce and irreconcilable. Among the Prefbyterians (the only known party who, in the commencement of the civil war, had oppofed the tyranny of the times) there had from the beginning lurked a fecret diftinction, which common danger, and a consciousness of that weakness which attends the infancy of party, had for fome time fuppreffed; but as these diffenters encreafed in numbers, and as the power of the crown grew lefs formidable, they no longer fheltered themfelves under the wings of the Prefbyterians; but, avowing different principles and different views, divided into a diftinct party, and were filed Independents. The Independents (for they took their name from the nature of the tenets they profeffed) rejecting all church power, as productive of the worst kind of tyranny, and inconfiftent with the plain precept of the gofpel, would allow of no ecclefiaftical fubordination to government among paftors, no interpofal of the magiftrate in fpiritual concerns, nor fixed encouragement annexed to any fyftem of doctrines and opinions; all their congregations were formed upon a principle of coordinacy; all essential distinction was denied between the laity and the clergy; vocation, inftitution, and laying on of hands, were rejected, as politic fnares; and the election alone of the congregation was deemed fufficient to bestow the facerdotal character. The doctrine of toleration, in thefe enlightened ages adopted by the liberal of almost all perfuafions, owed its ori gin to the Independents, whofe declared averfenefs to perfecution and church tyranny was too oppofite to the bigotry and views of the Prefbyterians, not to be productive of high conteft and animofity. Whilst the Prefbyterians exclaimed that toleration was but an indulgence for foul murder, maintained the eternal obligation of their covenant to extirpate herefy and fchifm, menaced all their opponents with the fame rigid perfecution which they had themfelves fuffered, and of which they had fo loudly complained; the Independents, from the authority of the gospel and the dictates of reafon, argued, that every man had a right to direct his religious Independents. 139 confcience, and interpret the fcriptures, according to his own lights and apprehenfions; that the doctrine of intolerancy would equally juftify all religious perfecutions, Pagans against Chriftians, Papifts against Proteftants, with that which had been fo lately endured from the power of epifcopacy; and that the Prefbyterians, by preaching up the doctrine of obedience in fpiritual matters to established powers, paffed a felf-condemnation on their own oppofition to former tyrannies. The whole Scotch nation, from an intire parity of opinion, united themselves to the English Prefbyterians, whilft every differing fect clafled with the Independents, who, by a natural connection between civil and religious policy, were joined by the whole body of the republicans. So long as the Prefbyterians had a large majority in the parliament, all those who publickly vented contrary doctrines fuffered under the lath of their power; but as perfecution always ferves for the increase of that which it endeavours to fupprefs, fects and opinions daily multiplied, and repeated petitions were poured into the parliament, from the Prefbyterian minifters and the affembly of divines, for the haftening the directory, for the taking an effectual courfe to prevent the growth of fchifm, and for the keeping back ignorant and scandalous perfons from the Lord's fupper. Immediately before the treaty of Uxbridge, came forth the impatiently-expected directory; and the parliament (whofe committees of religion had hitherto affumed the whole ecclefiaftical jurifdiction) now published an ordinance, by which they established the Prefbyterian government in all its forms of congregational, claffical, provincial, and national affemblies. Materialas was the gaining this point, it was far from fatisfying the zeal of this bigotted fect, who made loud complaints on the conduct of parliament, for denying them fatisfaction on the following points: The affembly of divines had voted Prefbytery to be of divine right; but the Independents (affifted by Selden, Whitlock, and other able reafoners) had fo far prevailed, that the parliament refufed their affent to the deci. fion: excommunication, a power affumed by priests of all religions, was S 2 limited 140 REMARK S limited by an ordinance, which determined the cafes in which it could be ufed; appeals to the legislature from all ecclefiaftical courts were allowed; provincial commiffioners were appointed by the parliament to judge of such cales as fell not within their ordinance; and as the time of the meeting of the national affembly was left to the authority of the parliament, nor liberty given in the particular of fitting, the whole authority of the church became fubordinate to the power of this affembly. Such an encroachment, as it was termed, on the fpiritual jurifdiction of the clergy, gave univerfal offence. The aflembly of divines fent up a petition on the fubject to the commons; but the commons were fo far from giving them fatisfaction, that they voted their petition a breach of privilege; and then publifhed a narrative, in which was laid down as a principle, that that aflembly had no right to judge or vote on any point, either as to the doctrine, worthip, or government of the church, hut as they were authorifed by parliament; and that they were to receive for law the determinations of the two houfes. Several un anfwerable queries were alfo drawn up by the commons, and put to the affembly of divines, concerning gospel authority for the jus divinum of churchgovernment." Of Digeftion. From Smith's Syftem of Phylic. (See our laft vol. p. 298.) "TH HE concoction of our aliment is a true fermentation, and fome degree of putrefaction; which is evident from this experiment: Take a pate, made up of the fame vegetable and animal fubftances that conititute our food, mix it with water and fall beer till it is of the fame confiftence as our aliment, when received into the ftomach: then inclofe it in a velel, with a degree of heat equal to that of the ftomach; thake it now and then, as the ftomach does the aliment in the operation of digeftion; and this mafs will fpontaneonly run into fermentation, without any, exciting ferment, and will foon turn into a putrid ftate, and detach large quantities of air. How is it polfible then to conceive that the fame mixture does not ferment and March putrify in the body, feeing it contains enough of falts and fpirits; which be ing acted upon, by the heat and trituration of the fibres of the ftomach, and the air we take in by inspiration, foon break all their chains, and find a vent; whence follows an attenua. tion of the aliment into a chylous subtance; and chylification is greatly promoted by the atmosphere; which is a fubtile medium replete with falt: or rather, to speak more properly, is itself an acid falt, or spirit in motion; which motion it receives from the body of the fun, which is a globe of fire, or the fame acid fpirit more rarified; this fubtile medium is the fountain of animal and vegetable life and motion; and is the cause of all the revolutions of our planetary system. The herbs receive their growth and nourishment, and the falt they are found to contain, from the fucceffive undulations of fresh air; and we need not be at a lofs to conceive how our bodies contain fo much falt, when we confider how much freth air we inspire both by the lungs, and every other part of the body. It is the air, in a morbid ftate, that is the cause, or at leaft the great promoter, of moft cuta. neous, epidemical infections, and vari olous difeafes; for upon receiving the contagious myafina, the fluids are fpoiled by an aflimulating ferment; which, acting upon the folids, occafions a fhutting up of the pores of the skin, by which means that volatile pirit, or acrid fubtile matter which is ufed to país off this way, is retained in the body, and mixes with the mass of blood, which it melts down to mere gore: but as foon as the morbid matter is evacuated, and a free pafage opened to the circumambient air, then the patient finds his health return.. It is this acid fpirit, which, mixing with the faliva, when the ftomach is empty, occations that irritation of its coats, which we call hunger, In digeftion the faliva of a healthy perfon ferves only for a vehicle to moilten the aliment, to regulate the fermentation, and caute it to go on more regularly and flowly, and to prevent flatulencies and acidities in the prima via. But if the faliva is deficien, unfound, or not well mixed with what is fwallowed, then the ali ment 1769. ON DIGESTION. ment may first putrify, then grow acid, and in that action ferment ftrongly, and generate much air in the ftomach and bowels. But though the faliva of a healthy perfón rather retards than haftens fermentation; yet the bile confiderably promotes it. Hence we fee in the jaundice, the digeftion is very weak, which is not however to be recovered by bitters; for indigeftion in the jaundice proceeds from an imperfect fermentation, and all bitters retard fermentation. The teftaceous powders ought to be joined with the bitters. When the food in the ftomach is reduced to chyle, the heaviest parts fall down firft in form of fediment, refembling lees of wine, whilst the lightest parts remain upon the top; but, the fermentation continuing, thefe also fubfide. The flesh we eat bears the chief part in promoting fermentation, which, by becoming in fome degree putrid, acts as a septic upon the reft of the aliment; for all putrid animal fub. Atances are ferments to the farinacia. Though the faliva, when well prepared and healthy, rather retards putrefaction; yet when it is putrid, too fcanty, or not intimately mixed with the food, it makes great changes in the operation of digestion. When it is putrid, it not only haf tens fermentation, but makes it tronger and more productive of air: the flesh thereby becomes more than ufually putrid; and, after the action is over, remains uncommonly four to the taste and fmell: And if there is any other putrid matter in the ftomach, as corrupted blood, or chyle, that has lain longer than, by the laws of the animal economy, it ought, then the fermentation is strong, the intef tine motion confiderable, and a great deal of air is produced; and the liquor that remains, after the opefation, is very acrid and auftere. Hence we fee, that when the faiiva is in a putrid ftate, as in hectic and scorbutic habits, vegetable diet is very proper. In furfeits, or upon fwallowing without due maftication, when the meat is tough and fat, or of the farinaceous unfermented kind, or when the faliva is vitiated; then the ferMentation becomes tumultuous, the 141 ftomach fills with air; and this extra- Again, when the ftomach is relaxed, An acid abounding in the prima In coldness and debility of the fto- pr. 142 Virtues, &c. of Polypody. Dr. Hill, in a late Publication, intituled, Polypody. The ancient Doctrine of the Virtues of that Herb, tried and confirmed, recommends the Root as a mild and ufeful Purgative. "TH out: HE best time, for gather- The courfe of the growth of Polypody is this. The root lives long; in Spring new leaves rife up; and those of the preceding year decay. There is no other part; for every leaf is itfelf a perfect plant, bearing its feeds upon its back; no other stalk arifing, During the courfe of fpring and fummer, the great purpose of nature, the propagation of the plant, is car. rying on in thefe leaves: they are growing in fize, increafing in firm. nels; and the little clusters of their wonderful feeds are gradually forming, and growing to their due maturity. In all this time the body of the root is but a place of paffage, through which the juices, taken in by its fibres, make their way up to the ftalks and leaves; no portion of it remaining there any time. The virtues of the plant are therefore at this feafon fcattered through the whole compaís of its growths, and retained long no where. The leaves at this time poffefs as much as the root; but no part has the juice well concocted. Through the course of winter the matter is quite otherwife; the full grown leaves having done their office, and perfected the feeds for a new fucceffion, draw little more juices. In the mean time the fibres take in as much as ufual; and this, remaining in the body of the root, fwells it; becomes well concocted in its fubftance; and by degrees furrounds and feeds the buds which, in the enfuing fuminer, are to rife into new leaves. The root at this time acquires twice its former thickness: it grows tender, and its juice, when broke, is faccharine, thick, and gummous. The tafte, the fmell, and the fubftance of the root, are altogether different now, from what they were in fummer; its virtues, which depend on this condition of its juices, are alfo by many times greater. It was March at this feafon, and in this ftate, the ancients gathered it; for they were philofophers as well as phyficians. and being dried in this ftate, it will retain the virtues all the fummer, We take it as old women chance to gather it: but it is worfe than chance; their feafon of collecting herbs is fummer, fo that it is only in it's poorelt ftate the prefent practice ever gets the root into use; and even this perhaps ten times watered upon the herbman's tall, and after that dried, and long kept, before it comes into the hands of the apothecary. The difference between the fresh root in its best season, and this poor ftate of it, may be eafily conceived: nay, it may be certainly known; for the prefent month (November) though not the very beft, is yet a feason of its great virtue. One cannot doubt the veracity of thofe who say from their own practice, that four, or even two ounces of Polypody are neceflary for a dofe, as a laxative; but whoever is difpofed to try it now, will find two drams, the dofe of the ancients, given as they gave it, produce the expected effect. Take an ounce of fresh Polypody root, chufing such parts of it as are covered with the protuberances for buds of the next year; bruife this in a marble mortar: flice thin an ounce and half of fresh root of white Beet; pour upon thefe a pint and quarter of water, boiling hot; cover it, and let it ftand twenty-four hours; then train it off. A quarter of a pint of this clear liquor contains the infufion of two drams of the root, and is the general dose. It is to be taken well sweetened with brown fugarcandy, or honey. The laft is preferable, and, for fuch as chufe it, is beft put in with the ingredients on making the infufion, allowing a tablefpoonful to each quarter of a pint of the liquor, if fugar-candy be used, it is beft added afterwards. In either cafe, as much of the fweetening fhould be allowed, as the palate will bear without difguft; for after many trials, to get the better of what is amifs in the taste of Polypody, the best way proves to be the increafing its fweetnels." 1769. MAGAZINE. An Excellent Expedient. An Expedient towards the Establishment of a worthy body of parochial refident Clergy throughout the whole Kingdom. In a Letter to a Friend. SIR, 143 To the AUTHOR of the LONDON fuch as adminifter in holy things, and by providing hberally for their maintenance. He thewed himself thoroughly fenfible of the great importance of fuch regard for the clergy, and fpared no pains in recommending and preffing for an honourable and plentiful maintenance---fuch as would bear fome proportion to the dignity of their office. He heartily wifhed and longed to fee every parochial minifter repoffeffed (under proper and neceffary conditions) of what (in the words of an excellent man) he might claim, as his own-The ancient patrimony of his church with all its rights and emoluments, that his parish had been fo notoriously robbed of by the Pope of Rome and his agents. Kent, March 8, 1769. T is faid, on very fufficient authority, of Titus Vefpafian, that having recollected at fupper, that he had done no good to any man that day, heuttered this memorable apothegmAmici diem perdidi!... A fentence every good man will fay, with Mr. Echard, worthy of an emperor, and even of a christian. And a few reflections on fo benevolent a difpofition in fo great a perfonage, could not but alarm a little-.. excite enquiries of the like fort; and make one feek out for ways and means of doing daily all poffible good in the world. And amidst many others, thofe recommended to perfons of quality and eftate by fo excellent a perfon as Mr. Nelfon, made more than ordinary impreffions on my mind. He.confiders the wants of men under two diftinct views--fuch as relate to their fouls, and fuch as relate to their bodies. But as I would not aim, Sir, at engroffing too much room in your Magazine, I will only felect one of the first fort...which will not be of any great length; yet appear to be of the utmost confequence, and the happy means of proinoting moft of the other good defigns, propofed by the worthy gentleman I have mentioned. His goodness, zeal, and conftant endeavour to ferve, and adVance the intereft of religion, are well known in the world... His name will live for ever. And next to his firft grand concern for promoting the honour and glory of God, the fubjects chofen by him for the ember fafts, will abundantly thew his folicitude and ardour to retrieve the refpect due to the flewards of the myfteries of God. And how worthily does he obferve that all nations, whether learned or ignorant, whether civil or barbarous, have agreed in this, as a common dictate of natural reason, to express their reverence for the Deity, and their affections to religion, by conferring extraordinary privileges of honour upon He might by this means make full proof of his miniftry be able, as well as ready, to diftribute, and willing to communicate---and be an example to the bel lievers in charity, and every good work. But Mr. Nelfon's fentiments on this fubject will appear to much greater advantage in his own words, and therefore I will readily tranfcribe what he fays relating to the governors of the bounty of Queen Anne for the better maintenance of the poor clergy, he fo heartily defired. He makes the great defign of this bounty one of his ways and means of doing good to the fouls of men; and thews how it may become fo in the best manner poffible. "This corporation (he obferves) is now made a fund for increafing the maintenance of the poor clergy; which is of very great importance towards the promoting of religion in the na tion. For as long as the provifion for the clergy is mean and inconfiderable, it is not likely that parents will dedicate their children of the best parts to the fervice of the altar; nor is it reafonable, they fhould bestow expenfive education upon their chil dren, to place them in a fiation that will hardly afford them fubfiftence. Nei ther can it be expected that fmall livings can be otherwife fupplied than by men of low parts of mean education; and of very indifferent characters, as to their moral accomplishments. This makes pluralities neceffary, and reduces the clergy to fuch contempt, that their labours have no influence upon the minds of men, except it be thoje very few, that are able |