The following passage from a sermon preached at Paul's Cross, March 26, 1620, by John King, Bishop of London, refers in a curious manner to many improvements and alterations which have either been already effected in our own time, or are still in contemplation. The sermon was "on behalfe of Paule's Church," then in a ruinous condition; and was delivered in the presence of James himself, who suggested the preacher's text, Psal. cii. 13, 14.
"So had my manner ever beene aforetime," says the Bishop, "to open the volume of this Booke, and goe through the fields of the Old and New Testament, plucking and rubbing such eares of corne therein as I best liked, makings, choice (I meane) of my text, and buckling myself to my task at myne owne discretion; but now I am girt and tied to a Scripture by him, who as he hath most right to command, so best skill to direct and appoint the best service I can."
After an elaborate laudation of England, and of London as the "gem and eye," which has
"the body of the King, the morning and midday influence of that glorious sun; other parts having but the evening.... O fortunati nimium; you have the finest flowre of the wheat, and purest bloud of the grape, that is, the choice of His blessed Word hath God given unto you; and great is the companie of the preachers"—
the Bishop proceeds thus:
"Not to weary mine eyes with wandering and roving after private, but to fixe upon publicke alone,—when I behold that forrest of masts upon your river for trafficke, and that more than miraculous bridge, which is the communis terminus, to joyne the two bankes of that river; your Royall Exchange for merchants, your Halls for Companies, your gates for defence, your markets for victuall, your aqueducts for water, your granaries for provision, your Hospitalls for the poore, your Bridewells for the idle, your Chamber for orphans, and your Churches for holy assemblies; I cannot denie them to be magnificent workes, and your Citty to deserve the name of an Augustious and majesticall Citty; to cast into the reckoning those of later edition, the beautifying of your fields without, and pitching your Smithfield within, new gates, new waterworkes, and the like, which have been consecrated by you to the dayes of his Majestie's happy reigne: and I hope the cleansing of the River, which is the vena porta to your Citty, will follow in good time. But after all these, as Christ to the young man in the Gospell, which had done all and more, Unum tibi deest, si vis perfectus esse, vade, vende; so may I say to you. There is yet one thing wanting unto you, if you will be perfit,—perfit this church: not by parting from all, but somewhat, not to the poore, but to God himselfe. This Church is your Sion indeed, other are but Synagogues, this your Jerusalem the mother to them all, other but daughters brought up at her knees; this the Cathedrall, other but Parochiall Churches; this the Bethel for the daily and constant service of God, other have their intermissions, this the common to you all, and to this doe your tribes ascend in their greatest solemnities; others appropriated to several Congregations, this the standart in the high rode of gaze; others are more retired, this the mirrour and marke of strangers, other have but their side lookes; finally, this unto you, as S. Peters in the Vatican at Rome, S. Marks at Venice, and that of Diana at Ephesus, and this at Jerusalem of the Jewes; or if there be any other of glory and fame in the Christian world, which they most joy in."
Richard John King.
Minor Notes.
Meaning of Luncheon.—Our familiar name of luncheon is derived from the daily meal of the Spaniards at eleven o'clock, termed once or l'once (pronounced l'onchey).—From Ford's Gatherings in Spain.