Metal. The Latin ‘metallum’ signified a mine before it signified the metal which was found in the mine; and Jeremy Taylor uses ‘metal’ in this sense of mine. This may be a latinism peculiar to him, as he has of such not a few; in which case it would scarcely have a right to a place in this little volume, which does not propose to note the peculiarities of single writers, but the general course of the language. I, however, insert it, counting it more probable that my limited reading hinders me from furnishing an example of this use from some other author, than that such does not somewhere exist.
It was impossible to live without our king, but as slaves live, that is, such who are civilly dead, and persons condemned to metals.—Bishop Taylor, Ductor Dubitantium, Epistle Dedicatory.
Methodist. This term is restricted at present to the followers of John Wesley; but it was once applied to those who followed a certain ‘method’ in philosophical speculation, or in the ethical treatment of themselves or others.
The finest methodists, according to Aristotle’s golden rule of artificial bounds, condemn geometrical precepts in arithmetic, or arithmetical precepts in geometry, as irregular and abusive.—G. Harvey, Pierce’s Supererogation, p. 117.
For physick, search into the writings of Hippocrates, Galen and the methodists.—Sanderson, Sermons, vol. ii. p. 135.
All of us have some or other tender parts of our souls, which we cannot endure should be ungently touched; every man must be his own methodist to find them out.—Jackson, Justifying Faith, b. iv. c. 5.
Militia. By this name, as the contests between Charles I. and his Parliament have made us all to know, the entire military force of the nation, and not a part of it only, was designated in the seventeenth century. It is true indeed that this force did much more nearly resemble our militia than our standing army, but it was never used for that to the exclusion of this.
It was a small thing to contend with the Parliament about the sole power of the militia, which we see him doing little less than laying hands on the weapons of God Himself, which are his judgements, to wield and manage them by the sway and bent of his own frail cogitations.—Milton, Iconoclastes, c. 26.
The king’s captains and soldiers fight his battles, and yet he is summus imperator, and the power of the militia is his.—Bishop Taylor, Ductor Dubitantium, iii. 3, 7.
Ye are of his flock and his militia; ye are now to fight his battles, and therefore to put on his armour.—Id., On Preparation for Confirmation, § 7.