imself.
Immediately after his reflections on the duties and functions of a
Commonwealth's Parliament, he proceeds to consider the work of a
Commonwealth's Ministry, as follows:

"THE WORK OF A COMMONWEALTH'S MINISTRY, AND WHY ONE DAY IN SEVEN
MAY BE A DAY OF REST FROM LABOR.

"If there were good Laws and the People be ignorant of them, it
would be as bad for the Commonwealth as if there were no Laws at
all. Therefore it is very rational and good that one day in seven
be still set apart, for three reasons:

"_First_, That the People in such a Parish may generally meet
together to see one another's faces, and beget or preserve
fellowship in friendly love.

"_Secondly_, To be a day of rest, or cessation from labor; so that
they may have some bodily rest for themselves and cattle.

"_Thirdly_, That he who is chosen Minister (for that year) in that
Parish may read to the People three things. First, the affairs of
the whole Land, as it is brought in by the Post-Master. Secondly,
to read the Law of the Common-wealth, not only to strengthen the
memory of the ancients, but that the young people also, who are not
grown up to ripeness of experience, may be instructed to know when
they do well and when they do ill. For the Law of a Land hath the
power of Freedom and Bondage, life and death, in its hand,
therefore the necessary knowledge to be known; and he is the best
Prophet that acquaints men therewith, that as men grow up in years
they may be able to defend the Laws and Government of the Land. But
these Laws shall not be expounded by the Reader; for to expound a
plain Law, as if a man would put a better meaning than the letter
itself, produces two evils: First, the pure Law and the minds of
the people will be thereby confounded, for multitude of words
darken knowledge. Secondly, the reader will be puffed up in pride
to contemn the Law-makers, and in time that will prove the father
and nurse of tyranny, as at this day is manifested by our
Ministry."

WHAT SHALL BE SPOKEN OF.

"But because the minds of people generally love discourses,
therefore, that the wits of men, both old and young, may be
exercised, there may be speeches made in a threefold nature:

"_First_, To declare the acts and passages of former ages and
governments, setting forth th