Pagans Indeed Durand derives this dedication or consecration from the practice of the Jews and Gentiles and Durantus urgeth the latter as an argument for it De Ritib Eccles Cath. Lib. 1. cap. 24. First They consecrate the ground where the Church is to be built and the form and manner of it is thus prescribed in the Roman Ritual and Pontifical The Place being appointed by the Bishop where the Church is to be built the day before the first Stone is to be blessed or consecrated the Bishop or some Priest deputed by him fixeth a venerable Cross of wood where the Altar is to be erected The next day the Stone to be laid in the foundation of the Church which must be four square and the Corner stone is consecrated after this manner The Bishop or his Deputy having put on his Robes and standing in the place where the Church is to be built blesseth the Salt and Water and while the Clergy is singing an Antiphona and Psal 83. sprinkles the place where the Cross is set with holy Water The Psalm being ended the Bishop or Deputy turning himself towards the place thus sprinkled prayeth O Lord God though Heaven and Earth cannot contain thee yet thou art pleas'd to have a House upon Earth where thy Name may be always called upon We beseech thee visit this place with the serene aspect of thy Piety the merits of the Blessed Mary ever a Virgin and B. N. naming the Saint in whose Honour and Name the Church shall be built and by the infusion of thy grace purifie it from all defilement and being purified preserve it and thou who didst compleat the devotion of thy beloved David in the work of his Son Solomon vouchsafe to perfect our desires in this work and let all spiritual wickedness fly away Through our c. Amen Then the Bishop or Priest blesseth the first Stone saying O holy Lord Father Almighty Eternal God be pleased to bless ✚ this Stone to be the foundation of the Church in honour of S. N. Through our Lord c. Amen Then he sprinkles the Stone with holy Water and with a Knife makes the sign of the Cross in every part of it saying in the Name of the Fa †ther and of the Son †and of the Holy †Ghost And then this Prayer Bless O Lord this Creature of Stone and grant by the invocation of thy holy Name that whosoever shall with a pure mind assist in the building of this Church may obtain soundness of body and health of soul Through c. And after some other Ceremonies which I omit for brevity sake the Bishop or his Deputy toucheth the Stone and puts it in the foundation saying In the Faith of Jesu Christ we lay this first Stone in this foundation in the Name of the Fa †ther and of the Son †and of the Holy †Ghost that true Faith may flourish here and the fear of God and brotherly love and that this place may be destinated to Prayer c. And when the Mason hath laid the Stone with Mortar the Bishop sprinkles it with holy Water saying Sprinkle me with Hysop O Lord and I shall be clean and wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow After this he sprinkles every part of the place where the Church is to be built if it be not covered but if it be covered then he walks round about sprinkling the foundation of the Church Many other Ceremonies are observed and Prayers added which I must pass over Pontificale Rom. p. 199. Ritual Roman p. 241. And that they cast in silver and gold with the first Stone as the Heathen did Hospinian gives us two Instances out of Bruschius De Origine Templor Lib. 1. cap. 11. Secondly They consecrate the Church after it is built And that their Ceremonies used herein are as superstitious idle and ridiculous as those of Pagans needs no other proof than the meer relation and mystical signification of them And here I will follow their Durandus Rational Divin Officior Lib. 1. cap. 6. and Durantus de Ritibus Eccles Cathol Lib. 1. cap. 24. All being put out the Church except a Deacon who remains shut within the Bishop halloweth the water mixed with Salt before the door of the Church and in the mean time twelve Candles burn within before twelve Crosses painted on the Walls After this the Bishop the Clergy and People following him goes three times about the Church and with a Branch of Hysop sprinkles the Walls with holy Water and every time coming to the door smites it with his Pastoral Staff saying Lift up your heads O ye Gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors and the King of Glory shall come in And the Deacon within answereth Who is this King of Glory To whom the Bishop replies The Lord strong and mighty the Lord mighty in Battel At the third time the door being opened the Bishop with a few Ministers enters the Church saying Peace be to this house c. Then he begins at the left Corner of the East to write with his Pastoral Staff on the Pavement sprinkled with ashes the Greek Alphabet to the right Corner of the West and again from the right Corner of the East the whole Latin Alphabet to the left Corner of the West viz. in this Form according to the Roman Pontifical p. 222. Then the Bishop makes new Holy-water mixed with Salt Ashes and Wine wherewith he sprinkles the Altar Walls and Pavement of the Church After this he anoints with Chrism the Twelve Crosses painted on the Walls saying Let this Temple be sancti †fied In the Name of the Fa †ther and of the Son †and of the Holy †Ghost Lastly These and other Ceremonies being ended the Bishop celebrates Mass And then follows the mystical signification of these Ceremonies The Holy-water wherewith the Church is sprinkled signifies Baptism because the Church after a certain manner is baptized And the water is mixed with salt to denote our Prudence which is the condiment of all Vertues as Salt is of all Meats Again the threefold sprinkling of the Church within without with this Holy-water signifies the threefold immersion in Baptism And this is done for three reasons 1. For the expulsion of evil Spirits 2. For the purgation and expiation of the Church 3. For the removal of every Malediction For the Earth from the beginning was subject to a curse because man fell by its fruit but the Water was under no curse Hence our Saviour did eat fish and we do not read that he ate flesh except of the Paschal Lamb. And this sprinkling in their going about the Church signifies the care that God hath of his who sends his Angel to guard those that fear him Again the Bishops thrice going about the Church denotes our Saviour's threefold Circuit for the sanctification of the Church The first was when he came from Heaven to Earth The second when he descended
Plenty is likwise the product of Religion and that both Naturally and Morally Naturally as it makes men frugal and temperate and diligent in their Callings Morally as it brings the Blessing of God upon their enjoyments and undertakings Levit. 26. 3 If ye walk in my statutes and keep my commandments and do them Then I will give you rain in due season and the land shall yield her increase Again Deut. 28. 2 All these blessings shall come on thee and overtake thee if thou shalt hearken vnto the voice of the Lord thy God Blessed thou shalt be in the City and blessed thou shalt be in the field And ver 8. The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy store-houses and in all that thou settest thine hand unto Thus you see what Advantages come to Human Societies by Religion it procures the choice Blessings of Peace and Plenty wherein their Happiness doth consist 2. Let us in the second place consider how advantagious Religion is to particular Persons and in reference only to the Good things of this life viz. Honours Pleasures and Profit Things which all men carnestly desire and set the highest value upon 1. It brings Honour Observe what honourable Titles are given to good men in Scripture they are called princes in all Lands a crown of Glory a royal Diadem a chosen Generation the Excellent of the earth c. What Diogenes said of Learning is applicable to Religion It makes young men sober old men happy poor men rich and rich men honourable Vertue is a lasting Pillar that causeth the righteous to be had in everlasting remembrance The disgrace which wicked men cast upon them is at worst but like the noise of some loud tongue-Gun gone as soon as heard but the Honour which God and good men put upon them is a pillar that endureth to all Eternity such a monument as neither time nor envy can waste or wear out 2. It brings Pleasure I know Satan would represent Christians under uggly Vizards and Christianity in the most frightful averting forms to make men loath both the one and the other But Religion is far from such a crabbed face and austere countenance Joy is one essential part of it Rom. 14 17. The Kingdom of God consisteth not in meats and drinks but in Righteousness and Peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Her ways saith Solomon speaking of Wisdom are ways of pleasantness Prov. 3. 17. The Pleasure which Religion yields is 1. Cordial it doth not only with Oyl cause the face to shine but with Wine make the heart glad The Blessed Virgin 's expression is My spirit rejoiceth in God my Saviour Luke 1. 47. 2. 'T is pure and unmixed Ther 's nothing adhering to it to make an abatement or put a check to it 3. 'T is permanent and lasting Carnal Pleasure is of a short continuance Job 20. 5. The triumphing of the wicked is short and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment And Solomon compares it to the crackling of thorns under a pot Eccles 7. 6. Carnal Joy like a standing pool quickly dries up and leaves nothing but the mud of discontent Whereas the Pleasure that Religion yields is like a fountain of water ever running That is like a candle which goeth out in a snuff a stink This like the morning-light shineth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day 3. It brings Profit And what is more earnestly desired and highly valued by the Sons of men The Souldier for this will scale the Walls and leap upon the Pikes The Merchant for this will plow the Ocean and dance upon the surging Billows the Husbandman for this will rise up early and go to bed late c. Now Godliness with Contentment is great Gain 1 Tim. 6. 6. Wealth and Riches shall be in his House Psal 112. 3. Length of days is in her right hand and in her left hand Riches and Honour Prov. 3. 16. This just Right Honourable and Worshipful but imperfect Account which I have given you of Religion discovers unto us two Things 1. That Religion is no unreasonable thing God hath graciously conjoin'd Mans Duty and his Interest in serving God he serves himself in promoting Gods Glory he promotes his own Happiness Though God have the Right of absolute Dominion and might exact Obedience on his bare Command yet he 's more pleased to shew himself a Benefactor than a Lord and therefore descends to treat with men by the more gentle and inviting methods of Promises and Rewards Nay indeed the end of his Commands is only to make us capable Subjects of those eternal Felicities he desires to bestow And this surely is enough to excite Men to a faithful Improvement of those Talents they have receiv'd since 't is indeed themselves they are trading for 'T is true the Stock is Gods but all the Increase of it will by his bounty certainly devolve on them 2. That we should in our several places zealously endeavour the Advancement of Religion This is a Duty incumbent on all but more especially Persons in Authority and the Relation Right Honourable and Worshipful I stand in to You obliges me at this time to press it upon you And your Professions of Love and Zeal for Religion give me no small encouragement that this Exhortation will be kindly entertain'd That it may make the deeper Impression let me add to the former Considerations That in advancing Religion you will be highly serviceable both to your King and Country 1. To his Majesty for Religion lays the strongest obligation upon men to give tribute to whom tribute custom to whom custom and honour to whom honour is due in a word to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars Prov. 24. 21. My Son fear the Lord and the King 1. Pet. 2. 17. Fear God honour the King Observe the order first Fear God and then Honour the King implying that men must be good Christians before they can be good Subjects Our late Soveraign doth acknowledg that natural influence which Religion hath upon the obedience of Subjects Take his own Words 'T is no wonder saith he if men not fearing God should not honour their King They will easily contemn such Shadows of God who reverence not that supream and adorable Majesty in comparison of whom all the glory of men and Angels is but obscurity And therefore he gives it in charge to his Son our gracious Soveraign to countenance and promote solid Piety None are more observant of Laws than they that are most a Law to themselves 2. To your Country yea the whole Kingdom The Wiseman tells us That righteousness exalteth a nation It brings the Blessings of mirth and joy peace and prosperity wisdom and policy riches and plenty success and victory God promiseth Israel to enrich them with all Blessings and advance them above all Nations upon their faithful Obedience Deut. 28. And the Heathen Poet could acknowledg That so long as Rome stood Religious so long she
from Earth into Limbus The third when he ascended from thence into Heaven It also signifies the threefold state of those that shall be saved viz. Virgins Continent and Married persons 2. The twelve lighted Candles signifie according to Rabanus Maurus the twelve Patriarchs and Apostles or according to Ivo that the shining and burning light of the Apostles is to be commended 3. The Bishop's thrice smiting of the door with his Pastoral Staff shews that the Powers of Heaven Earth and Hell yield unto him and that Christ hath a threefold right to his Church Again by this threefold smiting of the door with his Staff is understood the preaching of the Gospel And the opening of the door denotes that by the preaching of Pastors Infidels are converted to the Faith The Deacon's Interrogation Who is the King of Glory signifies the peoples ignorance of Christ And the Bishop knocks thrice Because that is the most noted and sacred Number and because without the invocation of the Trinity there is no Sacrament in the Church 4. The door being opened the Bishop enters to note that nothing is able to resist his Office when rightly executed according to that Lord who can resist thy power And he enters the Church with two or three that in the mouth of two or three Witnesses every word of Consecration may be confirmed or because few were present when Christ in his Transfiguration pray'd for the Church And when the Bishop is entred he saith Peace be to this House because Christ came into the world to make peace between God and Man 5. The Bishop begins at the left corner of the East and goes to the right corner of the West and then at the right corner of the East to the left of the West writing on the Pavement sprinkled with ashes the whole Alphabet in Greek and Latin 1 By the Alphabet we are to understand the first Principles and Rudiments of the Christian Faith according to that of the Apostle Heb. 5. 2. 2. This Alphabet is written in Greek and Latin and not in Hebrew because the Jews departed from the Faith 3. It is written in an oblique after the manner of a Cross and not a direct line Because no man can attain to this holy knowledg who receives not the Mystery of the Cross 4. He goes from the left corner of the East to the right of the West and then from the right corner of the East to the left of the West where we have a two-fold figure 1. Of the Cross signified in such a Scheme 2. The collection both of Jews and Gentiles into one Church And he begins at the left corner of the East to shew that Christ was born of the Jews and goes to the right corner of the West to shew that though Christ was born of the Jews the Doctrine and belief of his Incarnation and Passion was received by the Gentiles And his going from the right corner of the East to the left corner of the West seems to signifie that when the fulness of the Gentiles is come all Israel shall be saved 6. Twelve Crosses are painted on the Walls for three reasons 1. To affright Devils 2. To be Ensigns of Christ's Triumphs 3. To excite Devotion And these Crosses are anointed with Chrism and have Candles burning before them to signifie that the Twelve Apostles who received the first fruits of the Spirit have revealed the Mystery of the Cross to all Nations And so much for the mystical signification of these Ceremonies and the second particular 3. The Heathen beautified their Temples with many noble Gifts and much costly Furniture The Capitol in Rome consecrated to Jupiter Imperator upon Mount Torpeius was adorned with the Statues and Images of all the gods Maiolus mentions a Temple in Vpsalia of such splendor and glory that the Pavement Walls and the very Pillars of it were covered with Gold Dies Canicul p. 405. And Ruffinus speaking of the Temple of Serapis saith that the Walls within were covered with Plates of Gold apud Maiol ibid. The Heathen when in any distress or danger frequently vowed to enrich and adorn the Temples of their gods with magnificent gifts Hinc Augusta nitent sacratis munera Templis Aurea Phoebeis certantia Lumina Templis Manilius apud Rosin Antiq. Rom. lib. 2. cap. 2. Instituit pulchram solidavit robore Templum Caepit perfecit donisque ornavit auxit And a little after he adds Plurima votorum sacravit dona suorum Immensoque pium ditavit munere Templum Corippus Africanus apud cundem Tertullian speaking of the old Romans saith Deum victimis Templum donis honorâstis Ye have honoured God with Sacrifices and beautified the Temple with gifts Apol. cap. 26. Thus do Papists adorn and beautifie their Churches For this their great Doctors urge many Arguments Bellar. de Cultu Sanctor lib. 3. cap. 6. Stapleton Antidota Evangelica in Caput 12. Johannes Durantus de Ritib Eccles lib. 1. cap. 4. And Durandus and Belethus tell us That this adorning consisteth in three things viz. in the decking and trimming of the Church Quire and Altar The Church that is the body of the Church is to be adorned with Curtains and Princely Hangings of Silk and Arras the Quire with Tapistry or Hangings wrought with Pictures of divers colours c. the Altar with rich Coverings Crufixes Phylacteries c. Rational Divin Officior lib. 1. cap. 3. numb 23 Explicat Divin Officior cap. 115. And answerable hereunto is their Practice as all Travellers into those parts where the Roman Religion is established and Historians declare The Palaces of Princes come far short of many of their Churches in splendor and glory How richly and magnificently the Church of Loreto is adorned by Popes Kings and Emperors Turselin gives us a large account Pope Julius 2. beautisi'd this Church with many noble gifts He enriched the high Altar with sacred Ornature viz. an excellent Sute of Cloth of Gold a Silver Cross of Forty pound weight gilt and carved with rare art two Candlesticks a cubit and an half high of twenty six pound weight being of the same substance and work Histor Lauret lib. 2. cap. 12. Francis Cajetan a Noble-man of Rome gave Golden Ornaments for the Altar Cardinal Arigonio other Vestments of Silver and beset with Pearl and the Cardinal of Vrbine most of the Sacred Ornature of his Chappel which was very rich and costly lib. 4. cap. 13. lib 5. cap. 1. 4. The Heathen every year celebrated the Dedication of their Temples which they called the Feast of Dedication Hospinian mentions a famous Fountain in Italy called Juturna from which the Romans fetched water for all their Sacrifices At this Fountain a Temple was built and dedicated to Juturna and the Dedication of it was solemnly observed on the Ides of January De Origine Festor Pagan lib. 2. cap. 8. p. 51. And on the 17 of February or then-about was celebrated the Dedication of the Temple Concordia which Camillus vowed