42 A CHRISTAR CI1tJRCII. Besides this, once in a month, suppose they meet together, according to an appointment of their prince, to eat a morsel of bread, and drink a glass of wine together, in memory of some great benefit which the wholenation of England received by a difficult and bloody enteeprize of the king's son, when in former years, he took a voyage fromEngland to China ; and they keep up this feast in honour to his name, wherein the provisions, after a-short speech, are distributed to every member of the society, by theperson whom theyhave appointed to instruct them in English affairs. Now because this man spends a great part of his time in letters, or dispatches to England, and in the study of English affairs, that he may the better entertain the assembly of his brethren at their solemn weekly meetings, the community agree to release him from the secular businesses of life, and join their liberality to maintain him with honour. But here let it be ob- served, that though they pay so much respect to the person whom they chase to be their instructor, and to go before them in the honours due to their king, yet they do not entrust him to invent any new ceremony to testify their allegiance, nor to impose on them any new law or custom, but what he can find prescribed among the laws of their nation, and appointments of the king, or of his ambassadors to China. In these matters indeed, he may require obedience in the name of their king; but in all other - things he must act according to the agreement or opinion of the society ; which mustbe testified by the vote of the major part. Arn.ng this community, some happen to- beaged, or sick, or disabled for work ; or they are fallen into poverty, and their circumstances are sunk in the world; notwithstanding their dili- gence and labour: These are not capable of maintaining them- selves ; the society therefore chearfully contribute toward their support : And they entrust two or three persons with this money, and desire them to take care that the table of the poor be sup- plied. They entrust also with these persons what money they collect for the honourable maintenance of their teacher; and desire them to take care, that every thingnecessary toward their weekly meetings at a certain time, and at a convenient place, be provided at their public charge. They go on in this manner with . much comfort and mutual assistance, in every thing that relates to their welfare in a foreign land ; and rejoice in their hope, to meet one day in England. And as they are ever adding to their society by admitting new members, upon their credible profession and appearance to be true Britons, in the room of such as are yearly called home ; so if any amongthem prove to be false and ieviucere, and are guilty of crimes highly disgraceful to their pro- fession of being natives of England, and their allegiance to their king, they have no other punishment for them besides that they are cut off from the society, and forbid to enjoy the privileges thereof any longer.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=