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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A92206	Christmass revived: or An ansvver to certain objections made against the observation of a day in memory of our Saviour Christ his birth. By John Reading. M.A. And one of the prebends of Christs-Church in Canterbury.	Reading, John, 1588-1667.	1660 (1660)	Wing R445; Thomason E1053_9; ESTC R207981	15,390	23

To my honoured kinsman Mr. William Rooke SIR YOu know the occasion of my medling with this controversy It remaineth that I give account of my permitting these rude papers to the publike view which is first because all good Christians are not satisfied herein if I may hereby undeceive some of them I have so much of my end next I conceive it the duty of every good son of our sacred Mother the Church of England to defend her rites and holy decrees against the calumnies of turbulent spirits possessing so many in these times whose study is to cavil at all but the vain Minerva's of their own brains If my endeavour may happily contribute any thing to peace I shall think my labour well bestowed Lastly the candid Reader may be advertised that the satisfaction which he receives herein he oweth to you The God of peace compose all our unhappy differences which is the constant prayer of Your affectionate Kinsman I. R. An answer to certain Crudities and frivolous Objections made against the observation of a day in memorie of our Saviour Christ his Birth A true coppy of the objections THe Question concerning the Observation of a day in memorie of Chri●●'s birth is the same which our Saviour put to the Pharisees Whether Johns Baptism were of heaven or from men Luke 20. So the observation of this day if it be of God it is a duty and a sin to omit it But if it were set up by man all men do acknowledg That what man shall set up man may take down Therefore first 1. Have we any command in scripture for it if not then 2. Did the Apostles or Disciples ever observe it 3. Would they have omitted it if it had been a duty 4. Was it observed in the Primitive Church for fifty years after the Apostles were all dead search the Scripture and Ecclesiasticall history 5. How came it to be Christs day tell us the Original of this duty that we may know whether it be Divine or humane Is it like to be a duty and no footsteps at all left in the word either Precept or Example looking that way 6. Whether the Papists may not say as much for all their heaps of Traditions as we can say for this And if we once follow traditionall Divinity where shall we stop 7. Give us a definition of that sin which the Scripture calls Will-Worship I suppos● these Queries duely weighed will satisfy ●ny ingenuous spirit That man was the founder of this Festivall Object Do we not celebrate days of thanksgiving at the appointment of the Magistrate as the 5. of November and may we not this day as well as those Answer 1. Where-ever the Magistrate appoints such days it is lawfull for him to forbid them again when he will Answer 2. If God had not appointed what memorial he would have of his Son Christ man had the greater liberty But where we are directed how and when to celebrate the remembrance of our blessed Saviour for us to superadd we have cause to fear lest we become guilty of that sin which Scripture calls Will-worship Like whereto is that sin taxed Ezek. 48. 8. setting our threshold by his threshold and our posts by his posts which is there called a defilement Besides consider the constant abuse of this solemnity and though I know abusus non tollit usum yet where it is never otherwise but the devil hath more service at this time then God I think it concerneth the Magistrate to look to it He that would read more on this Subject let him read Mr Cawdrys book against Dr. Hamond concerning holydays and Superstitious worship Consider that there is nothing more often blamed in Scripture then this to follow the inventions of man in the worship of God which is the case in hand I would ask that man who blames the neglect of this Festival whether he that will not keep this memorial doth break any of the ten Commandements in so doing and if not then sure it is no sin to omit it Sect. 1. THe Question concerning observation of a day in memory of Christs birth is the same which our Saviour put to the Pharisees Whether John's Baptism were of heaven or from men Luke 20. In all orderly di●putes the Question should necessarily be stated now by your strict prohibition of our solemn commemoration of our Saviours nativity it seemeth the question is Whether it be lawful on any day to remember our Saviours birth and therein to meet in holy assemblies to preach and hear the word of God to sing Psalms pray give thanks administer and receive the holy Saeraments we affirme your sect deny it as if some Act of amnestie had passed upon that day as Job 3. 〈◊〉 c. and it were resolved upon the Question The day of Christ's birth shall be no more had in remembrance This Opponent not so much as repeating the question as in some sudden passion when furor ar●a minist●at snatcheth up that which first comes to hand and so precipita●ely rusheth on to the encounter that he stumbleth in his on-set saying The Question concerning the observation of a day in memorie of Christ's birth is the same which our Saviour put to the Pharises c. We answer 1. in the Scr●pture which you cite Luk 20. 1. there is no mention of the Pharises neither Math. 21. 23. Mark 11. 30. where the same history is recorded We read {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the Cheif Priests and or with the Elders of the people Consider whether you do well translate that the Pharisees c. 2. We say that the ●ord answered their question by another question which was concerning the Baptism of ●ohn there is not a word concerning the day of his nativity now to say that things so much differing are the same consider what you would call it if another had said so what a filly animal would you deeme him who would admit such conclusions In many respects this pretended parallel runs uneven 1. ●hrists dilemma was necessary to shew that if they had believed John Baptists testimony they would have known by what authority Christ did those things but your objection is unnecessary as will appear 2. That was an holy refutation of Jewish u●beliefe but yours a Schismatical caption to the contempt of the Christian Churches customes But to pass by these first over-sights of yours we may use Goliahs sword to cut him shorter and thus retort the point of your argument The prohibition of our observation of a day in memory of Christs n tivity is it from heaven or of men if from heaven shew us an● place of holy Scripture forbidding the same If you say that prohibition is of men we shall with good conscience follow venerable an●iquity rather then trouble the Sacred peace of the Church about things of such nature Sect. 2. SO the observation of this day What supplement is here necessary for your elliptical speaking we would