What could he
say unto them who have attained his end without his mean? I find people
better instructed, and made more sensible of those benefits, where the
feasts are not kept than where they are. 3. Think they their people
sufficiently instructed in the grounds of religion, when they hear of the
nativity, passion, &c.--what course will they take for instructing them in
other principles of faith? Why do they not keep one way, and institute an
holiday for every particular head of catechise?

But Bishop Lindsey thinks yet to let us see a greater expediency for
observing holidays. "Certainly (saith he)(285) nothing is so powerful to
abolish profaneness, and to root out superstition out of men's hearts, as
the exercise of divine worship, in preaching, praying and thanksgiving,
chiefly then when the superstitious conceits of merit and necessity are
most pregnant in the heads of people,--as doubtless they are when the set
times of solemnities return,--for then it is meet to lance the aposteme
when it is ripe." _Ans._ This is a very bad cure; and is not only to heal
the wound of the people slightly, but to make it the more inveterate and
festered. I might object, that little or nothing is preached or spoken by
him and his companions at the revolution of those festivities against the
superstitious keeping of them; but though they should speak as much as can
be against this superstition, their lancing being in word only, and not in
deed, the recidivation will prove worse than the disease. The best lancing
of the aposteme were not to observe them at all, or to preach against
them, which are tried to work this effect more powerfully than the
Bishop's cure hath done; for all know that there is none so free of this
superstition as those who observe not the holidays.

_Sect._ 3. The same prelate pleadeth(286) for the expediency of giving the
communion to the sick in private houses, because he thinks they should not
want this mean of comfort, as if the wanting of the sacramental signs, not
procured by a man's own negligence or contempt, could stop or stay the
comforts of the Holy Spirit. Nay, it is not so. We have seen some who
received not the communion in time of their sickness, end more gloriously
and comfortably than ever we heard of any who received the sacrament for
their _viaticum_ when they were a-dying. Paybody(287) thinks kneeling, in
the act of receiving the communion, to be expedient for the reverend using
and handling o