Selected quad for the lemma: diversity_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
diversity_n	ceremony_n	church_n	rite_n	580	5	10.7927	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66548	A history of antient ceremonies containing an account of their rise and growth, their first entrance into the Church, and their gradual advancement to superstition therein.	Porrée, Jonas.; Douglas, Thomas, fl. 1661.; Wilson, John, fl. 1676-1678.	1669 (1669)	Wing W2895A; ESTC R27674	84,845	221

Controversie commenced therein It is the constant opinion of the Writers of Ecclesiastical History that the Apostles never imposed any Law obliging the Church to the observance of any Feast whatsoever no not so much as that of Easter but that such Solemnities were voluntarily introduced by Christians and authorized by custome And in effect the very diversity of usage found amongst them in that observance doth abundantly manifest the indifferency of the thing it self For all the Churches of Asia the less did celebrate the Feast of Easter upon the fourteenth day of the Moneth of March after the manner of the Jews alledging that this was their constant practice ever since Saint John did exercise his Apostleship in Ephesus But the European Christians in regard they would have no manner of communion with the Jews did celebrate the same upon the Sabbath following howbeit thi● difference did nothing infringe the unio● of the Churches But about the year 195● it began to be controverted the one party labouring to reduce the other to th● tearms of one and the same Custome● touching which difference several Councils were held the Eastern in opposition to the Western and both in fine fomented t● that excess of heat passion as that Victo● Bishop of Rome made bold by a Process and Act of Jurisdiction till then unhear● of to excommunicate all the Asiatick Churches whereupon he was censure● by sundry Bishops Ireneus Superintendent in the French Churches by name who did both by Reason and Example remonstrate to him that such observances were things arbitrary and indifferent and that diversity therein did never heretofore interrupt mutual correspondence amongst the Churches Anno 200. c. THe Age ensuing was very fruitful in Ceremonies for besides that they retained many things proceeding from Jewish Custome The Pagans also incorporating themselves into the Christian Church in●ermingled therewith many and various Pagan Rites Now the Observances of that time were not all continued for many of them having been afterwards buried in oblivion are not at all practised at this day For the Church of Rome doth not approve that the Eucharist be administred to little Children which was practised then and a long time after that nor that it be celebrated in the Evening nor that the Baptized be made to tast of Milk and Honey as is practised in Africk nor of the Cannon forbidding People to pray ●neeling upon the Sabbath Day and from Easter to Whitsuntide and commanding them to Pray standing whence the tearm stations had its rise nor the custome of giving the Eucharist to Women to be by them carried to their Houses kept in Coffers and eaten in a corner nor that of sending it to the Sick by the hands of Children nor of that notorious abuse which was then in the Church of Rome of propining pure Water instead of Wine under pretence of sobriety in the Celebration of the Sacrament nor yet of that Prayer whereby they besought God for a proorastination of the last Day nor of many other Ceremonies which we pass with silence Let us then take a view of such as serve for modern pretence and the respective sources whence they are sprung It was a Pagan Custome that those who came out of Baths the use whereof was very frequent did anoint themselves with Oyle Wrestlers also and such as were to run a career that they might become the more supple and active were accustomed to oyle and anoint their Bodies Christians possibly in imitation hereof anointed those whom they Baptized in an Athleti●k or Champion-like capacity who were singled out to combat the World which Ceremony they authorized by the Old Testament alledging that it was derived from Judaisme This Vnction however can make nothing for the pretended Sacrament of Confirmation nor was it ever applyed to dying Persons as is practised at this day We have seen how that they carried their Offerings into the Church now for as much as they held their Assemblies upon the Days solemnized for the Martyrs the Offerings presented by them upon those Days were entitled Sacrifices or Oblations offered in memory of the Saints the circumstance of the Day occasioning that title for nothing passed in that action relating ●o the Saints other than simple Commemoration and those Offerings were not the Body of Jesus Christ but Bread and Wine only or the very first fruits themselves imployed unto several ends and uses It is further remarkable that to induce every one to contribute something the Names of those who offered and the offering it self were with a loud voice Proclaim'd in the Church which yet was by many disallowed of even a long time after At the same time offerings for the dead had their rise whereof we must know the Institution for though they might be reckoned amongst the Customes ushe●'d in by Pagans nevertheless the intent of them was quite another thing than what they were afterwards applyed to Any one then having departed this life the year fully exspired they commemorated in the Assembly the Name of the defunct upon that day declaring how happy he was having dyed in faith and all that were present besought God that he would grant them the like exit which done the Parents or Friends of the Deceased that they might render his memory honourable presented the Church or the Poor present at the action with a certain quantity of Bread or other Alimentals many of them also at the same time took Order that their Names might after their Death through such acts of charity continue in a sweet savour in the Church bequeathing to that effect certain testamentary Legacies to be yearly paid to the Legatees upon the day of their decease upon which Foundations the Anniversaries were grounded Now those Offerings were only Memorials of the devotion of the dead not expiatory Sacrifices for the very Women who were never permitted to sacrifice did yet offer in Memory of their Deceased Husbands besides many presented such Offerings upon their birth-day this being an act of recognition only and a piece of homage paid to God who gave them life upon that Day Then also began praying for the dead which the Christians of that Age confess to be founded upon Custome and not upon Scripture ranking it amongst many other observances which are at this Day disallowed of by the Church of Rome● Now we must carefully remark in what sense Antiquity prayed for the dead for she never believed that they were shut up in place of torment and the Doctrine of Purgatory was as yet as unknown as fabulous but she held that the departed Souls of the faithful were not admitted into the joy of the beatifick Vision till after the day of Judgment and that they were reserved in some certain subterraneous place till the Day of the Resurrection she prayed then for the Consummation of their Glory and earnestly entreated that she might be joyned with them and have part in