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A92206
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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.
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Reading, John, 1588-1667.
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1660
(1660)
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Wing R445; Thomason E1053_9; ESTC R207981
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15,390
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23
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sufficient warrant without consent of Pharisees to prescribe a duty to men on earth but believers whose hearts and tongues do indeed accord in prayer neither question the original of this duty nor whether it were divine and from heaven or of men guided by Gods Spirit they were The ground of your doubt is a meer caption and begging of the question sufficiently refuted in that which hath been said â—hat you say no footsteps at all are left in the word either precept or example looking thâ—t way consider better and know that the gospel Luke 2. is the word of God and the practice of a multitude of holy Angels example sufficient for them who desire indâ—ed to do the will of God on earth as it is donâ— in heaven Lastly we say shew us before Mr Calvins time any footstep or example I say not of holy Angels but of any true Christian for your new discipline Sect. 12. VVhether the Papists may not say as much for all their heaps of traditions as we can for this They may and do say as you do some things untrue But for satisfaction in this behalf you must know 1. That some traditions were Apostolical 2. Thes. 3. 6. and they were either written as the dogmata doctrines of holy Scripture which Jrâ—naeus calleth veritatis traditionem l. 3. c. 4. or sine charactere vel atramento of which saith he many nations of the Barbarians who beleive in Christ diligently holding the old tradition beleiving in one God the maker of the heaven and earth all things that are therein by Christ Jesus his son through faith please God c. Therefore some traditions Apostolical were not written but delivered viva voce to the Churches which they planted as rites for oâ—der and convenience of the same The ground of this dâ—stiâ—ction the Apostâ—e himself layâ—th down 2 Thâ—s. 2 15. saying {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Hold fast the traditions which ye have been taught whether by word or by our Epistle And we must remember that the Apostles committed not all to writing but onely those things which appertained unto the ground and essence of faith and sanctification or thereto neerly subordinate Again it is neâ—essary to distinguish ri es of the hurch from doctrines and things necessary from indifferent also things perpeâ—ual from changable which are not universal as some of the others are for somâ— of the Apostolical traditions were accâ—mmodated to times places and persons and so not to be esteemed universally binding aâ— all times places and all persons as for example saluting with an holy kiss anointing the sick Jam 5. 14. absâ—inence from blood Act. 15. 0 29. Also as it is necessary to distinguish in these things so to know that in things of their own nature indifferent thou art bound to give no offence to the brethren with whom thou livest but to observe such their rites there being necessary to all men ever and in all places as one faith so one love but not one rite or custom though these are not rashly to be violated by any person the institution whereof was from its beginning in publike authority of the Church not any private spirits Moreover by traditions good writers sometimes understand any thing concerning rites doctrine and discipline Ecclesiastical not expresly written in Scripture but that which is by good and necessary consequence thence to be concluded as paedobaptism observation of the Christian Sabboth c. wherein it is observable that Christ condemned the Sadduces of error through ignorance of that Scripture whose consequence they knew not or would not acknowledge Moses said I am the God of Abraham c. here was no express word to prove the resurrection of the dead but necessary consequence here is because God is the God of the living Thus understand in holy duties that though we must ever be regulated by the holy Scriptures yet is it not always necessary to have express Scripture in terminis for our warrant therein where a necessary consequence from the general rule is sufficient for example we finde no express word commanding us to pray in the English tongue you cannot hence conclude that praying in English is will worship because we have no express word of God for it because the general rule is sufficient omnis lingua laudet Dominum and the sense of Scripture that we should pray in a known tongue viz. in that tongue which we those with whom we pray do understand we read not in any express Scripture that we must preach the Gospel in England or that the Apostles ever did so yet you will not say that it is will-worship or Popery so to do because the general rule is sufficient warrant which saith Go into all the world preach the Gospel to every Creature Mark 16. 15. but this is a tradition and practice of the Church since religion was planted among the English though we finde no express mention of England in holy Scriptures yet we know no cause to doubt whether we ought to preach in England or may lawfully so do without danger of being guilty of will-worship because we have no express Scripture for it and if it be lawful to preach in this place upon the generall warrant why not also to preach pray praise God on the 25. of December the general warrant concerning the circumstance of time being rejoyce evermore pray without ceasing in every thing give thanks See Ephes. 1. 16. and 5. 20. 1 Thes. 5. 16 17 18. 1 Thes. 2. 13. 2 Thes. 1. 3. Phil 1. 3. Col. 3. 15. 1 Tim 2. 1. Hebr. 13. 15. In what Scripture finde you your exception to the 25. of December may we not on that day give God thanks for our meat and drink with your good leave and why not for the greatest of blessings the bread of life bestowed upon us on that day To conclude hence it may appear that the Church may appoint and use external rites and orders for conveniency and decency tending to edification though we hold that no tradition beâ—â—des holy Scripture is simple necessary to salvation yet as Augustin saith â—p Casulano In his rebus de quibus nihâ—l certi statuit Scriptura divina mos populi Dei vel instituta maiorum pro lege tenend sunt that is In those things concerning which divine Scripture determineth nothing certain tâ—e custom of Gods eople or institutions of our Ancesters are to be held instead of a law provided that th re appear nothing therein constituted accustomed or used contrary to the word of God so much be spoken concerning Apostolical and holy traditions 2. Apostolical traditions are tares of the envious mans scattering meer inventions of men not subordinate to faith sanctity and edification nor consonant to the holy word of God many such crept into the Jewish Church before our Saviours incarnation whereof see Math. 15. 2. 3. 6. Mark 7. 13. Gal. 1. 14. Paul before his calling saith that he
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 Chriâ—â—'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 supposâ— these Queries duely weighed will satisfy â—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 diâ—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 arâ—a ministâ—at snatcheth up that which first comes to hand and so precipitaâ—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 Scrâ—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 â—ord answered their question by another question which was concerning the Baptism of â—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. â—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 uâ—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 anâ— place of holy Scripture forbidding the same If you say that prohibition is of men we shall with good conscience follow venerable anâ—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