it_o for_o since_o thing_n be_v best_a cure_v by_o their_o contrary_n it_o be_v both_o wisdom_n and_o piety_n in_o the_o ancient_a christian_n who_o work_n it_o be_v to_o convert_v the_o heathen_n from_o such_o as_o well_o as_o other_o superstition_n and_o miscarriage_n to_o vindicate_v such_o time_n from_o that_o service_n of_o the_o devil_n by_o appoint_v they_o to_o the_o more_o solemn_a and_o especial_a service_n of_o god_n and_o to_o recall_v people_n from_o that_o practice_n of_o wickedness_n by_o call_v they_o unto_o the_o practice_n of_o true_a holiness_n thereupon_o as_o for_o that_o you_o add_v about_o your_o yule_n game_n it_o be_v not_o material_a after_o that_o which_o have_v be_v say_v and_o therefore_o for_o brevity_n sake_n i_o pass_v it_o over_o the_o blaze_n be_v foolish_a and_o vain_a and_o not_o countenance_v by_o the_o church_n christmas_n kariles_fw-la if_o they_o be_v such_o as_o be_v fit_a for_o the_o time_n and_o of_o holy_a and_o sober_a composure_n and_o 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the_o vindication_n of_o the_o solemnity_n of_o the_o nativity_n of_o christ_n show_v the_o ground_n upon_o which_o the_o observation_n of_o that_o and_o other_o festival_n be_v justify_v in_o the_o church_n with_o a_o short_a answer_n to_o certain_a query_n propound_v by_o one_o joseph_n heming_n in_o opposition_n to_o the_o aforesaid_a practice_n of_o the_o church_n by_o thomas_n warmstry_n d._n d._n let_v we_o follow_v after_o thing_n that_o make_v for_o peace_n and_o thing_n wherewith_o we_o may_v edify_v one_o another_o rom._n 14.19_o unto_o you_o be_v bear_v this_o day_n a_o saviour_n which_o be_v christ_n the_o lord_n luk._n 1.11_o print_a in_o the_o year_n 1648._o the_o vindication_n of_o the_o solemnity_n of_o the_o nativity_n of_o christ_n etc._n etc._n before_o i_o come_v to_o answer_v these_o query_n that_o i_o may_v make_v way_n for_o the_o clear_n of_o man_n judgement_n i_o shall_v brief_o lay_v down_o the_o ground_n upon_o which_o the_o observation_n of_o this_o and_o 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opposition_n to_o any_o law_n of_o gâ—â—_n 〈◊〉_d of_o excellent_a use_n and_o benefit_n to_o god_n people_n 1._o to_o preserve_v and_o 〈◊〉_d the_o memory_n of_o these_o great_a blessing_n 2._o to_o stir_v up_o the_o people_n to_o the_o duty_n or_o praise_n 3._o to_o call_v upon_o the_o minister_n in_o their_o several_a charge_n to_o study_v and_o handle_v those_o great_a and_o necessary_a part_n of_o christian_a knowledge_n 4._o to_o give_v so_o many_o opportunity_n for_o the_o assemble_v of_o the_o people_n to_o holy_a duty_n 5._o for_o the_o render_n of_o those_o great_a and_o mystical_a blessing_n familiar_a unto_o the_o people_n thereby_o that_o be_v fulfil_v in_o this_o sense_n that_o the_o psalmist_n speak_v in_o the_o 9_o psal_n one_o day_n tell_v another_o and_o one_o night_n certifi_v another_o there_o be_v neither_o speech_n nor_o language_n yet_o their_o speech_n be_v hear_v among_o they_o thus_o it_o come_v to_o pass_v that_o the_o calendar_n of_o the_o church_n &_o â—he_v cycle_n of_o the_o festival_n present_n be_v as_o it_o be_v a_o easy_a and_o familiar_a catechism_n unto_o the_o people_n and_o do_v instruct_v they_o almost_o whether_o they_o will_v or_o no_o in_o the_o apprehension_n or_o those_o high_a point_n and_o comfortable_a motion_n of_o the_o conception_n nativity_n circumcision_n manifestation_n to_o the_o gentile_n presentation_n in_o the_o temple_n of_o the_o death_n and_o passion_n resurrection_n ascension_n of_o christ_n into_o heaven_n and_o of_o the_o send_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n to_o bring_v home_o the_o fruit_n of_o all_o which_o be_v as_o so_o many_o part_n of_o the_o holy_a anthem_n of_o the_o church_n the_o epiphonema_n or_o clâ—se_v of_o all_o which_o be_v in_o the_o festival_n of_o the_o trinity_n which_o be_v unto_o all_o the_o rest_n as_o the_o glory_n be_v to_o the_o father_n to_o the_o son_n and_o to_o the_o holy_a ghost_n etc._n etc._n at_o the_o close_a of_o a_o psalm_n call_v upon_o we_o to_o give_v honour_n and_o 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may_v be_v add_v the_o mercy_n that_o do_v hereby_o accrue_v unto_o servant_n and_o the_o poor_a beast_n in_o a_o relaxation_n of_o their_o labour_n upon_o such_o day_n the_o incitement_n that_o they_o administer_v unto_o work_n of_o charity_n neighbourhood_n and_o hospitality_n thing_n very_o please_v in_o the_o sight_n of_o god_n howsoever_o dislike_v by_o those_o of_o this_o age_n that_o place_n religion_n in_o cruelty_n faction_n and_o sedition_n and_o the_o nursery_n and_o supply_v that_o be_v thereby_o suggest_v unto_o the_o exercise_n of_o our_o spiritual_a joy_n and_o delight_n in_o god_n and_o his_o goodness_n last_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n both_o ancient_a and_o modern_a both_o general_a and_o of_o this_o particular_a church_n come_v upon_o we_o with_o all_o these_o warrant_n and_o convenience_n to_o serve_v the_o end_n of_o god_n and_o scripture_n and_o strengthen_v by_o the_o
regard_n it_o be_v more_o especial_o require_v of_o all_o her_o child_n to_o do_v it_o at_o such_o time_n then_o at_o other_o time_n and_o the_o fault_n be_v the_o great_a to_o omit_v it_o then_o in_o as_o much_o as_o to_o the_o neglect_n of_o the_o universal_a duty_n be_v add_v the_o sin_n of_o disobedience_n against_o the_o wholesome_a order_n of_o the_o church_n and_o a_o division_n the_o rein_n of_o ourselves_o from_o the_o body_n and_o a_o denial_n of_o that_o concurrence_n and_o assistance_n that_o we_o ought_v to_o give_v in_o the_o communion_n and_o fellowship_n of_o god_n people_n in_o those_o thing_n which_o be_v public_o perform_v for_o the_o celebration_n of_o the_o praise_n and_o worship_n of_o god_n and_o for_o the_o advancement_n of_o divine_a comfort_n in_o the_o congregation_n and_o though_o it_o be_v true_a that_o the_o lord_n day_n be_v a_o day_n wherein_o they_o ought_v to_o rejoice_v which_o yet_o as_o to_o the_o particular_a day_n be_v but_o a_o holy_a 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authority_n and_o to_o the_o discouragement_n and_o hindrance_n of_o such_o holy_a end_n and_o duty_n by_o follow_v their_o ordinary_a vocation_n which_o be_v lawful_a at_o other_o time_n be_v a_o breach_n of_o good_a order_n a_o violation_n of_o unity_n a_o hindrance_n to_o piety_n and_o the_o holy_a solemnity_n of_o such_o time_n as_o well_o as_o to_o do_v it_o upon_o a_o day_n of_o fast_v or_o humiliation_n institute_v by_o humane_a authority_n and_o can_v be_v so_o do_v without_o a_o offence_n to_o god_n to_o your_o eleaventh_fw-mi quaere_fw-la whether_o you_o think_v the_o parliament_n and_o assembly_n have_v err_v and_o play_v the_o fool_n in_o condemn_v and_o râ—â—sing_v out_o holy_a day_n not_o warrant_v in_o the_o word_n and_o whether_o to_o observe_v they_o be_v not_o high_o to_o dislike_v and_o flat_o to_o contradict_v in_o point_n of_o practice_n at_o least_o their_o proceed_n morder_fw-mi to_o a_o reformation_n answer_n i_o doubt_v not_o to_o say_v that_o they_o have_v err_v in_o divers_a respect_n first_o in_o make_v unnecessary_a change_n in_o the_o church_n which_o ought_v not_o to_o be_v do_v but_o upon_o urgent_a cause_n but_o do_v discover_v in_o they_o that_o do_v it_o a_o love_n unto_o change_n which_o the_o wise_a man_n condemn_v prov._n v._n 4.21_o and_o be_v ordinary_o of_o evil_a consequence_n to_o the_o church_n as_o we_o find_v by_o too_o lamentable_a experience_n for_o whist_a the_o people_n like_o those_o that_o be_v sick_a of_o a_o fever_n have_v think_v good_a mutationibus_fw-la pro_fw-la remediis_fw-la nti_fw-la to_o take_v such_o kind_n of_o change_n for_o medicine_n their_o remedy_n have_v prove_v their_o great_a disease_n and_o now_o we_o see_v how_o sick_a they_o be_v grow_v of_o their_o physician_n and_o how_o sick_a the_o physician_n be_v of_o their_o own_o administration_n second_o they_o have_v err_v in_o go_v about_o to_o abolish_v so_o harmless_a and_o useful_a a_o mean_n of_o the_o promote_a of_o god_n glory_n and_o of_o the_o edification_n of_o the_o people_n three_o in_o undertake_v to_o dissolve_v so_o laudable_a custom_n and_o so_o universal_o and_o ancient_o receive_v and_o establish_v by_o full_a power_n of_o the_o state_n and_o church_n either_o without_o any_o authority_n thereunto_o or_o by_o a_o power_n inferior_a unto_o that_o whereby_o they_o be_v constitute_v four_o in_o do_v those_o thing_n without_o any_o admission_n of_o those_o that_o be_v contrary_a mind_a to_o be_v hear_v or_o any_o fair_a discussion_n or_o debate_n of_o those_o difference_n that_o be_v in_o man_n judgement_n thereabouts_o and_o therefore_o their_o proceed_n therein_o be_v and_o may_v be_v just_o dislike_v and_o contradict_v both_o by_o declaration_n and_o practice_n without_o lie_v open_a to_o any_o such_o charge_n as_o you_o mention_v of_o oppose_a proceed_n in_o order_n to_o reformation_n proper_o so_o call_v such_o undertake_n with_o the_o rest_n that_o be_v like_o they_o be_v rather_o in_o order_n to_o a_o 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people_n to_o travel_v into_o their_o own_o country_n as_o be_v require_v in_o that_o imposition_n of_o augustus_n yet_o it_o be_v no_o strange_a thing_n in_o magistrate_n and_o those_o both_o prudent_a and_o pious_a to_o pass_v through_o such_o small_a and_o private_a inconvenience_n for_o the_o obtain_n supply_n of_o public_a necessity_n it_o will_v be_v a_o very_a weak_a argument_n if_o any_o shall_v hereafter_o undertake_v to_o prove_v this_o unhappy_a parliament_n begin_v not_o in_o november_n because_o that_o month_n be_v usual_o none_o of_o the_o best_a season_n to_o travel_v from_o the_o several_a part_n of_o this_o kingdom_n to_o london_n in_o and_o though_o sheep_n be_v tender_a creature_n yet_o that_o season_n be_v not_o of_o the_o same_o bitterness_n in_o all_o climate_n and_o if_o i_o mistake_v not_o as_o tender_a as_o they_o be_v they_o be_v even_o in_o this_o