supposing them to have been the skins of animals slain for sacrifice, in consequence of the fall and if such, they were of the clean sort, amongst which the Sheep had the preference, being afterwards appropriated to the daily service of the Tabernacle and Temple.

XVII. In the modern Science of Honour, commonly called Heraldry, the principal Characters are taken from the animal kingdom. But here again the chief place is given to Beasts and Birds of the savage and rapacious kinds. Cornelius Agrippa, in his work upon the l'anity of the Sciences, which is a Satire upon all orders and professions, but rather too precipitate and unmerciful, takes occasion from this circumstance to fall foul upon all the Titles of Honour and Nobility, as having their original in Theft, Murder, and Rapine. "It is unlawful (saith he) for "Noblemen to bear in their Coats an Ox, a Calf, a Sheep, a Lamb, a Capon, an Hen, or any of those Creatures which are necessary for the use of mankind; but they must all carry for the Ensigns. "of their nobility the resemblances of cruel "monsters and birds of Prey.-There be

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many of the smaller animals also that

"claim a prerogative in the shields of great

men, provided they are the documentors of mischief.-Those shields that are blazoned "with things that are less noxious, as "Trees, Flowers, Stars, or are otherwise "distinguished only by variety of colours,

are accounted much more modern and "less noble than the other, as not being "acquired by any acts of war, or other ar"tifices of Ruin and Destruction." It is indeed very true, that the chief and perhaps the only merit of some, who have been raised to that Honour by which their posterity are ennobled at this day, consisted in their adhering to the fortune of some Tyrannical Invader, who took that to which he had no Right but from the Sword; and rewarded his accomplices with Inheritances violently taken away from the lawful Possessors. Yet after all, there is a Military Virtue, which ought to be distinguished as a proper foundation of Nobility. For as some have been raised by the ruin of the innocent; others have received the honours they justly deserved for delivering their Country at the hazard of their lives: a service which the

strictest laws of Christianity have not condemned, though peace on earth is its principal object. For, as things are now constituted, peace and good order are the consequences only of war: and John the Baptist, who was sent to reform all orders of men, did not censure but rectify the profession of a soldier; who ought never to begin a quarrel, nor proceed to bloodshed upon false accusations. And all Kings, who are Soldiers by their office, should lay up this Counsel in their hearts.

For

XVIII. But leaving Heathens, Mythologists, and Heralds, it concerns us more immediately as Christians to consider how it comes to pass, that we are not now obliged to a literal observation of this Law. this there are two Reasons. 1. Because it is better to fulfil the Spirit than to observe the Letter of the Law. The Gospel enjoins all that purity without a figure, which the Law suggested to the Jews under the distinction of meats. He, who has attained that purity of heart, hath already answered the end of the Law; in which case the descriptive or ceremonial part may be rejected as a yoke of bondage no longer necessary. In this moral part the Jews miscarried: the YOL. III. Apostle

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Apostle having taught us, they were not profited by the meats in which they were occupied. It was the design of the Great Lawgiver that they should be profited: such was the admonition which this distinction held forth to them but they were not. They had the form, without that grace to which it should have led them: while Christians, on the contrary, having that grace which the Jews. wanted, are dispensed with concerning the form. The Law and its meaning is written in their hearts, and manifested in their lives. Instead of making void the law, they establish it by keeping up to its intention. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost: it is all that the figurative meat and drink of the Law signified and recommended. food that is clean and holy is a true faith, and a life separated from Sin. He, who is thus distinguished from other men, is the Guest of God, and hath communion with Christ, whose meat was to do the Will of the Father that sent him.

The

On this consideration we are released from the literal observation of the Law. That

* Heb. xii. 9.

practice

practice is now superseded by a better, which will bring us to a nearer alliance with God. Another consideration is this; that the Gentiles, being admitted to the Gospel, are no more to be accounted common or unclean. For the separation of the Jews was kept up, as Dr. Spencer hath learnedly remarked, by the observation of this Law in particular: and as that separation subsists no longer, the law is of course become obsolete.

XIX. But though the Divine Mercy hath accepted men of every kind to the privileges of Christianity, it cannot be too often repeated, because it ought never to be forgotten, that Jesus Christ did not come to save men in their sins, but from the dominion of sin and all its evil consequences. The Church is therefore not to be used as a sanctuary to all manner of iniquity. On the contrary, they who enter into it should put off their savage natures, as the animals which entered into the ark of Noah. The Gospel is more excellent than other Systems, because it hath a power of changing the manners by rectifying the passions. For Pride will have the effects of Pride; Covetousness will be followed by fraud and rapine; Ambition and worldly Policy will transform Christians

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