too particularly to dilate; and being not able to call to mind, with that suddenness the occasion required, an authentick phrase for demanding the way to the back-side, he chose rather, as the most prudent course, to incur the penalty in such cases usually annexed. Neither was it possible for the united rhetorick of mankind, to prevail with him to make himself clean again; because having consulted the will upon this emergency, he met with a passage[1] near the bottom (whether foisted in by the transcriber, is not known) which seemed to forbid it.
He made it a part of his religion, never to say grace to his meat[2]; nor could all the world persuade him, as the common phrase is, to eat his victuals like a Christian[3].
He bore a strange kind of appetite to snapdragon[4], and to the livid snuffs of a burning candle,
- ↑ I cannot guess the author's meaning here, which I would be very glad to know, because it seems to be of importance.
Ibid. Incurring the penalty in such cases usually annexed, wants no explanation. He would not make himself clean, because having consulted the will (i. e. the New Testament) he met with a passage near the bottom, (i. e. in the 11th verse of the last Chapter of the Revelations:) 'He which is filthy, let him be filthy still,' which seemed to forbid it. Whether foisted in by the transcriber, is added; because this paragraph is wanting in the Alexandrian MS. the oldest and most authentick copy of the New Testament. - ↑ The slovenly way of receiving the Sacrament among the fanaticks.
- ↑ This is a common phrase to express eating cleanly, and is meant for an invective against that indecent manner among some people in receiving the Sacrament; so in the lines before, which is to be understood of the Dissenters refusing to kneel at the Sacrament.
- ↑ I cannot well find out the author's meaning here, unless it be the hot, untimely, blind zeal of enthusiasts.
