the same under Justinian, as it was in the time of Scipio, because the senate and consuls still remained, although the power of both had been, for several hundred years, transferred to the emperors.
Remarks on the Preface.
Page iv, v. "IF men of opposite sentiments can subscribe the same articles, they are as much at liberty as if there were none." May not a man subscribe the whole articles, because he differs from another in the explication of one? how many oaths are prescribed, that men may differ in the explication of some part of them? Instance, &c.
Page vi. "Idea of Government." A canting pedantic way, learned from Locke; and how prettily he shows it. Instance —
Page vii. "25 Hen. VIII, c. 19, is a bar to any such divine right [of a legislative power in the Clergy.]" Absurd to argue against the clergy's divine right, because of the statute of Henry VIII. How does that destroy divine right? The sottish way of arguing; from what the parliament can do; from their power, &c.
Page viii. "If the parliament did not think they had a plenitude of power in this matter, they would not have damned all the canons of 1640." What does he mean? A grave divine could not answer all his playhouse and Alsatia[1] cant, &c. He has read Hudibras, and many plays.
- ↑ A ludicrous name for White Friars, which was formerly a privileged place, and consequently a receptacle for sharpers.
