two first weekes till the full of the Moone the third week the Ocean keepes his course according to the first weeke and the fourth weeke doth as the second did and so the weekes and moneths runne round with the Ocean Seventhly Seneca Epist 95. somewhat past the middle confesseth they did accendere lucernam Sabbatis light their Tapers on the Sabbath dayes and faulting them for so doing because nor God wants light nor men take pleasure in the steame or stench of Lampes or Candles confesseth withall their Religious observation of the Sabbaths by the Romans for the point was quo modo d◠sint colendi How God ought to be worshipped Tibullus lib. 1. Eleg. 3. pag. 84. is firme proofe that he obserued Saturnes day as the holy day whether we read it as it is in the body of his workes Saturni aut sacram me tenuisse diem that is Or that unto Saturnus old I us'd his holy-day to hold Or whether it be as Joseph Scaliger the Prince of Critickes in his Castigations on the place saith it is better Omnia dira Saturni Sacrame tenuisse die that is Or that to Saturne on his day I us'd to feast to pray to play Thus much with Gothofredus and the most learned Cerda against Rigaltius his needlesse alteration of Tertullian by which the day of the Sunne or Sunday is unjustly made to be the Gentles day of rest or Sabbath which indeed was on their Saturday and yet if Rigaltius his reading be supposed to be the best it affordeth Testimony that the Gentiles had some knowledge of the weekely honour due to God one day or other in that they observed a Sabbath * The returne to this Point after the ensuing digressions you shall finde below Paragraph the 9. Chap. 9 which reacheth proofe enough to my maine intention I cannot yet end the businesse of the Lords Day but have divers of mine owne observations to set downe and come nearer to the purpose the controversie against the Sabbatarians concerning both the day and the Recreations then lawfull hath beene so unanswerably handled by Bishop White and other most learned Doctors that much cannot be added somewhat shall in a mixed way nor will I blot out mine owne observations though others also have lighted on some of them First then I say the Sabbatarians doe grossely infantiliter childishly expound S. Austin whilst they would violently hale him to their sides against all manner of Recreations and nothing is more common than S. Augustines authoritie produced against any Recreation on the Lords Day I professe his authoritie moved me much till I read him himselfe and saw him misunderstood even by great ones and chiefe among the Sabbatarians The first place is on the enarration of the 91. Psalme on the Preface of the Psalme Melius est arare in Sabbato quam saltare T is better to goe to Plow than dance on the Sabbath Day but S. Augustine speaketh of the Iewish Sabbath or Saturnes day of the first day after the creation when God is said to rest Let me adde unto him To Plow on that Sabbath the Iewish Sabbath was not amisse in a Christian but to Dance on the Iewish Sabbath was an approving of the old first Sabbath and as it were a renouncing of the Christian Sabbath See the place who will and he shall find that S. Augustine spake not of the Lords Day or Dies solis Sunday nor of the Christians day of rest properly but of the Metaphoricall spirituall Sabbath of the dayly Sabbath or rest of a good conscience view his words In corde est Sabbathum nostrum multi enim vacant membris tumultuantur conscientiâ Omnis homo malus Sabbatum habere non potest ipsa tranquillitas Sabbatum est cordis our Sabbath is kept in our heart for many have bodily rest who are troubled in conscience an evill man hath no Sabbath Inward tranquility is the Sabbath of our heart What is this to the question of the Lords day His words there are these Ecce hodiernus dies Sabbati est hune in praesenti tempore ot◠quodom corporaliter languido fluxo luxarioso celebrant Iudai Behold even this day is the Sabbath day The Iewes keepe this day at this present time idlely lazily and luxuriously so he But our question is concerning the Lords Day the memoriall not of the Creation but of Christs Resurrection which S. Augustin doth not name nor meane not so much as point at nor the least way censure for faire Recreations in this place The second place extorted from S. Augustin is in his Booke De decem chordis cap. 3. almost at the beginning It is in his tenth Tome and is thus cited by Zepper Legum Mosaicarum Forenstum 4.9 Satius est operari quà m spectaculis interesse mulieres nere quâm tota die impidicè saltare I answer First I finde not those words in that Booke Satius est operari quà m spectaculis interesse Secondly if Augustin hath said so the beholding of bloody spectacles which were in viridi observantiâ in greatest request and permitted most even by some Christian Emperours was sinfull in it selfe and condemned by many Fathers and reacheth not against faire recreations post sacra peracta after Service is ended Thirdly the words indeede are thus truely translated It is sayd to thee that thou spiritually observe the Sabbath not as the Iewes who observe the Sabbath by being carnally idle applying their mindes to trifling toyes and luxurie a Iew should doe better to goe about his profit in his ground then inthesauro in the Exchequer or perhaps in his Counting-house to be seditious and their women on the Sabbath day or the women on the Sabbath day the words will beare it were better card and spinne than impudently to dance the whole day in their new Moones but thou art spiritually to keepe the Sabbath in hope of future rest which God hath promised thee who doth what he can to obtaine that rest though it seeme laborious what he doth yet if he referre it to the faith of the promised rest he hath not truely the Sabbath in re but in spe not in possession but in hope but thou wilt rest that thou mayst labour when thou oughtest to labour that thou mayst rest So farre he The like he hath toward the later end of the first Chapter Observe First he speaketh of the Christians spirituall Sabbath with an eye looking forward to the eternall promised Sabbath of Sabbaths as he phrazeth it in his first Chapter Secondly he speaketh of the Iewish carnall Sabbath he speaketh not one word of the Lords Day or Sunday neither doth he fault any recreations of Christians on that day Thirdly he telleth not what a Christian but what a Iew should doe not simply but comparatively rather be busie and profitable in his ground than seditious and their women rather card and spinne than the whole day in their Festivals and Feastings to dance immodestly but what
are their new Moones and solemne Iewes-feasts to us Christians They shamefully wrong S. Augustin and wrong the unlearned Readers who produce this testimonie to confute seemely recreations of Christians on the Lords Day after the holy Service is ended Fourthly let the indifferent judge whether S. Augustines later passages in this testimony doe not rather afford a patrociny for labour than the former words did condemne fit refreshings Lastly good Reader when thou readest in the Fathers or from the Fathers ought concerning the Sabbath I pray thee search and examine whether they speake of the Iewish Sabbath or of the Christian Quiet very seldome doe they call the day of Christian rest properly to be Sabbatum They doe often say it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dies dominicus our Lords Day or Sunday So much be said to vindicate S. Augustin from divers too Iewishly addicted in our dayes against our lawfull Sports Secondly that most learned Prelate the last Lord Bishop of Ely citeth Theodoret on Ezechiel the 20. as saying that no other Nations but onely the Iewes observed the Sabbath Day He meant no Nation kept the Sabbath to the same end and with the same strictnesse that Iewes did 2. Indeede no Nation but the Iewes onely kept the Sabbath at that time which Ezechiel speakes of viz. at their comming out of Aegypt Ezech. 20.10 c. yet many Nations did afterwards keepe the Sabbath day 3. No Nation kept it as a particular Law and as a signe of a distinct republique as Israel did Vt sit signum inter me ipsos to be a signe betweene me and them saith Theodoret in the very words of the text ver 12. yet is he Totius historiae ignarus blinde in all history who denieth that other Nations imitated the Iewes in observation of a Sabbath In which regard the most reverend Prelate the Eye of our Tymes and one who for all religious learning may be called Arca Foederis In the same page 156. saith If any Heathen did observe the Iewish Sabbath they did it not by the light of naturall reason but by imitation of Gods people But because the living Library in his Margin in the same place quoteth Josephus contra Appionem lib. 2. and Clemens Alexandrinus stromat 5. as denying Vrbem ullam Graecorum sive Barbarorum ex Judaico ritu âdiei septini cessatione ab opere suo in suos mores suscepisse That any city of the Grecians or Barbarians did use the fashion of resting from their worke on the seventh day from the custome of the Iewes I thus answer them If they sayd and meaned that the Iewish Sabbath with all its circumstance and severe strictnesse which the words ex Iudaico titu will well permit was never received by any Heathen cities or by the immediat delivery of God as the Iewes had it then they are in the right but particularly Josephus in the same Booke against Appion declareth the cleane contrary avouching that every Nation Greeke or Barbarous observed the Sabbath in imitation of the Iewes and Clemens Alexandrinus in the same cited booke saith expresly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septimum diem esse sacrum non solùm sicut Hebraei verum etiam Graci Not onely the Iewes but the Gentiles also know that the seventh day is the holy day and he proveth it by divers reasons and authorities but Clemens ibidem exceedeth when from Plato his tenth Booke de Repub. he would prove that Plato did fore-divine of the Lords day page 437. Againe though that Mundus eruditionis that world of learning saith the Grecians and the Romanes observed for resting dayes the one the eight day and the other the ninth day and saith it well enough to oppose the simple Sabbatarians who horribly incline to Iudaisme of late and will not remember that the Iewes shall be turned to be Christians but that the Christians should be converted Proselytes of the Iewes was never foretold nor expected yet the most learned Lord Bishops words if they be rightly printed must be interpreted of some of the Romanes and some of the Grecians and not of the greater part Or secondly of the extraordinary dayes of rest and not of the ordinary and continued weekely Sabbath Plutarch in the later end of Theseus life saith indeed the Athenians did make the solemnest and chiefest sacrifices unto Theseus on the eight of October and doe further honor him every eight day of every moneth but first this was Athens alone Secondly this honoring of Theseus on the eight day hindered not their other observations of the seventh day which they constantly also kept as I have demonstated Thirdly in the same place of Plutarch it is sayd they worshipped Neptune or did sacrifice to him on the eight day of every moneth because the number of eight is the first Cube made of the even number and the double of the first squared which reasons are ridiculous Lastly as we have holy dayes besides our Lords Day so had they multitudes of extraordinary Festivals which were not properly such dayes of sacred rest as the Iewes observed Romish Pestivalls on the Ides of their moneths See at large set downe by Alexander ab Alexandro Genialium dierum 3.18 singulis Idibus saith he ibidem which Ides jumpe not exactly with every eight day a Gracis singuliâ— Calendis dii vener antur The gods are worshipped by the Grecians every Calends Macrobius in the like place maketh not the ninth day a generall rest Indeed saith he Nundina est Romanorum Dea a nono die nusceritium nuncupata qui lustricâ—â— dicitur quo die infantes lustrantur nomen accipiunt Sed is maribus nonus Octavus est faeminis Nundina is a goddesse of the Romanes so called from the ninth day that infants were borne which day was called Lustricus because on it children were purged and first named but in men children it was the ninth day in women children the eight day it may now be used for the Christning day Idem Macrob. 1.11 Nonis Iuliis diem festuÌ„m esse ancillarum vulgò notum est it is commonly knowne that the Nones of Iuly is maides holiday Dio Cassius placing the weekely Sabbath among the speciall observances of that Nation doth not say that no other Nations kept their Sabbath day but rather pointeth at this the Sabbaths were given more especially to the Iewes that they were the first Nation that kept the Sabbaths and generally and strictly observed them Secondly the Sabbatarians unto their forced expositions invent lyes that they may further their seeming devotions but God needs not mans lye to uphold his truth Who but the Father of lyes suggested those horrid untruths which are published concerning the evills that befell upon Glastonbury for prophaning the Sabbath which the Inhabitants thereof and we the neighbours doe know to be false almost in every point Thirdly is it not knowne generally how dangerously many fell into Iudaisme and turned Traskites the most ignorant of all Hereticks and
on the beginning of the first day in the week had given life to an holy rest on the Lords day then ended and passed not onely the Sabbath of that weeke but all and every Sabbath for ever of the Mosaicall Law was abolished Men were no more obliged to them when Christ arose the Sabbaths lay downe and began to taste of their eternall periods as it was sinne not to have observed the legall Sabbaths before so after Christs Resurrection it had beene a greater sin to observe it the Ceremoniall Law was languishing all Christs life was dead at Christs death in most things but after his Resurrection and the promulgation of the Gospell was deadly The next Sabbath day of the Iewish Church not after Christs death immediatly yet after the Lords day was consecrated by Christs Resurrection was the first Sabbath that was needlessely kept and continued and now the Apostle in the same place to the Colossians is bold to inferre that no man should judge them in respect of an holy day or New-moones or of the Sabbath dayes ver 16. And if any had judged of them amisse they neede not to esteeme it and in all the Apostolicall Writings is no incitement to observe the Sabbaths any longer but the Lords day which Christ himselfe chalked out unto us by his oftner appearing on that day than on the Iewish Sabbaths yea but S. Paul Rom. 9.29 called God the Lord of Sabbath it should be read Sabaoth and the Apostle quoteth it from Esay 1.9 Where it is Iehovah Tsebaoth in the Originall in the Greeke as it is in S. Paul in the Latine Dominus exercituum and Iehovah exercituum in our English The Lord of hostes and so should be read in Rom 9.29 for the same words truely transtated Iam. 5.4 The Lord of Sabaoth or the Lord of Hosts yea but Act. 13.14 the Apostle went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and preached and S. Panl Act. 17.2 reasoned with them three Sabbath dayes And againe Act. 14 4. He reasoned in the Synagogue every Sabbath day I answer the Apostles relapsed not to Iudaisme but laboured to convert the Iewes to Christianitie and reasoned out of the Scriptures to convert both Iewes and Gentiles unto Christ Secondly no place is excepted but one may any where endeavour the salvation of soules and what place is fitter than the Church or where are men better prepared to receive instruction than there Paul kept not the Iewes Sabbath These were my thoughts when I read our last and best English Translation but when I consulted with the Originall Greeke Text Luke 18.12 I was more confirmed in mine opinion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is I fast twice in the weeke there cannot be two fasts in one Sabbath but in a weeke they might fast twice or more and therefore Sabbatum is there taken for a weeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Know then the Hebrew Schabbath and Schabbathon have produced with a milder pronunciation the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so used every where both in the Translation of the 70. and in the new Testament thence issued the Latine Sabbatum and never Sabbathum and doth sometime signifie a Weeke according to the Hebrew Idiotisme and sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used for one Sabbath Matth. 12.1 and this Sabbatum is properly called the Sabbath of dayes But otherwhere there is mention of the day of the Sabbath Luke 13.16 and Luk. 14.4 yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are all one Luke 13.14 The Sabbath day is the primary expression from the fourth Commandement or the same day was the Sabbath Luk 5.9 Much more may be sayd of the Sabbath viz. as that the Primitive Church and holy Fathers did seldome or never call the Lords day the Sabbath day and I could wish we would follow their example S. Augustin ad Ianuarium saith thus in one place men receive the Sacrament on the Sabbath and on the Lords day in another place they take it onely on the Lords day Behold a maine difference betweene the Sabbath and the Lords day the Sabbath was not the Lords day nor the Lords day the Sabbath but they were two distinct names and things Likewise though Morale naturall poynts out onely a set day for the service of God yet Morale disciplinae guideth us to doe as God our Teacher did prescribe that is on the seventh day to worship him rather than on any other day though the Jewish Sabbath expired at Christs death yet one day in the weeke was the Lords But I hasten to the words Matt. 28.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is translated by most learned men In the end of the Sabbath as it beganne to dawne towards the first day of the weeke but the interlineary hath it excellently and properly Vespere autèm Sabbatorum in the Plurall Lucescenti in unam Sabbatorum and this agreeth with my Interpretation that not onely that Hebdomal Sabbath was passed over but all the Iewish Sabbaths were now ended and passed none ever more needing to observe them when one of the Christian Sabbaths as in a good sense they may be called or Holy-dayes began to dawne which in other places is called the Lords day Drusius on that place saith that a late Interpreter hath turned it extremo Sabbato or extremo Sabbatorum as Illyricus hath it that is as I conceive the last Iewish Sabbath that ever was though perhaps they understood it not so In Marke 16.1 it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not onely peractâ die Sabati but peracto Sabbato or cùm peractum Sabbatum transiret sayth the Interlineary The end of one kinde of Sabbath was the beginning of another or rather the beginning of the Lords day was the consummate end of all other Sabbaths If the publishing the abrogation of the Mosaicall Sabbath was not intended by the Holy-ghost by those words I am much deceived and yet herein I submit my selfe to my Superiours It might have beene sayd and would in all likelihood if it had beene spoken onely of the weekely Sabbath viz. In the end of the Sabbath or of the or that Sabbath day but in the end of the Sabbath cannot but have reference as the case stood to the expiration of the Moisaicall Sabbaths the Latine Translations have it Vespere Sabbathi observe the naturall day in the Iewish account began at the Vespers The Evening and the morning were the first day Gen. 1.5 and the Paschall day was both to begin at Even Exod. 12.18 and the Sabbath day among the rest began at Eventide for it is said from Even to Even you shall celebrate your Sabbath's Levit. 23.32 And that was the reason why the Jewes besought Pilate to have the legges of the Crucifyed broken and that they might bee taken away that the bodies might not remaine on the Crosse on the Sabbath day Ioh. 19.31 Which it must have done if they had not taken them downe before the beginning of
old time divided not themselves from the Catholique Church in this respect as S. Augustine witnesseth Nor Novatus as Ruffinus recordeth The Christians in ancient time reserved the Sacrament Some reject things really tendred unto them Fol. 623 Par. 6 The second word Eate It is probable that Judas did receive the Sop into his Hand Mouth Many of the Fathers did thinke so Sinnes revealed grow more sinfull Carolostadius his fancy by most Divines disliked disploded The Future tense is never used for the Present tense but the Present tense is often used for the Future in Scripture Fol. 627 Par. 7 The third word This is my body which is given for you c. Transubstantiation roved at The farther Disquisition thereof wittingly and willingly forborne The Authors Apologie for the same His Valediction to the remainder of his Miscellanies Resolves to spend the remainder of his dayes in holy Devotion and continuall Praying The Moores of Morocco Pray sixe times every twenty foure houres The Lords Prayer highly commended and preferred before all other Prayers It ought to be used by every Christian at least seven times a day The Church of England commended Vnto which the Author submits himselfe and all his Writings Bishop Iewell Bishop Andrewes Bishop Morton Bishop White and incomparable Master Hooker have written Polemically the controversies of the Lords Supper unto whose unanswerable Writtings the Author referreth all scrupulous Christians for their better satisfaction The Contents of the seventh Chapter Par. 1 THe Word of God hath omitted to set it downe in particular 'T is probable they did kisse their right hand and so received it An evill custome of false complementing by kissing the hand in Iobs dayes In adoration our hands must be lifted up Our voyce lowly and submisse In great Agonies it is lawfull to cry aloud and roare Probable it is the Apostles received the heavenly Sacrament humbly kneeling on both their knees Tertullian is punctuall against Sitting even after prayer The Heathen after their prayers and some even at their prayers did use to sit upon their Altars Their servants had three Sanctuaries to flie unto from their angry Masters Numa's Law to sit at the time of adoring their false gods A reason why no passage eyther in the Evangelists nor Apostles commandelh Adoration at the Sacrament How the ancient Fathers are to be understood when they say The holy Eucharist is to be adored Fol. 635 Par. 2 Reasons proving that the Apostles received the blessed Eucharist kneeling Par. 1 Reason Most sacred reverence is to be exhibited to most sacred things Par. 2 Reason The Fathers of the Primitive Church received it kneeling Par. 3 Kneeling doth edifie the simple Par. 4 It is an Ecclesiasticall custome The manner of Reverence used both by Priests and Lay people in S. Chrysostomes dayes God will be worshipped as well in our body as in our Spirit The Penitents in Tertullians time did kneele downe at the receiving of Absolution And it was the common practise of all other Christians in his dayes to worship God kneeling Except from Easter to Whitsontide and on the Lords day Divers of holier times had knees as hard as horne by their continuall kneeling at Gods Worship An admonition to stiffe-kneed Pure-trants Fol. 637 Par. 3 Reasons why the devouter sort did forbeare kneeling betwixt Easter and Whitsontide 1 The Church did so appoint it 2 Hereby the people did shew themselves thankefull Whitsunday whence it hath its denomination Kneeling imports Repentance and sorow for sinne Standing implyes thanksgiving for the pardon of our sinnes The divers usances of divers Churches in the Primitive times concerning Fasting and Feasting on the Lords day Kneeling and Standing at the time of Prayer and the reasons thereof In the Primitive Church they baptized not any except the sicke but at Easter and Whitsontide The newly baptized stood to expresse their thankefulnesse to God for their baptisme The people in some Churches stood praying at the Altar on every Sunday betweene Easter and Whitsontide in remembrance of Christs Resurrection The Christians in the Primitive Church prayed Recto vultu ad Dominum to confront the Heathen who fell downe flat on their faces when they adored their false Gods Fol. 638 Par. 4 The great variations of the Primitive Churches concerning the eating or not eating of flesh offered to Idols A just discourse to that purpose A good Rule for the peace of the Church Why our Church hath commanded Kneeling at the receiving of the blessed Sacrament when the Primitive Church hath commanded Standing Churches have great power committed unto them The Church upon just motives may change her Orders The meaner sort of all people Ecclesiasticall and Civill are bound to obedience are not to Order Peter Moulin found fault with the precise Ministers of our Church of England The day of Christs Resurrection the first day of his Ioy after his Dolorus passions Why the Fathers made Sunday their Holy-day Why they forbade Kneeling and Fasting upon that day What indifferency is according to S. Hierome A thing indifferent in it selfe being commanded by the Supreame Magistrate or Church is no longer indifferent to thee Varietie of Ceremonies not hurtfull but beneficiall to the Church of Christ The Bishop of Rome taxed by Cardinall Palaeotus excused Rome Christian in too many things imitateth Rome Heathen in publique prayer commeth short of it Heathen Rome began all their businesse in the world with this Prayer Quod foelix faustumque sit c. The greater power the Pope and his Cardinals have the more neede they have to pray to God before their publique meetings in their Consistory Kneeling at receiving the holy Eucharist never disliked as a thing of its owne nature evill or unlawfull In the Primitive Church after Whitsontide they used to kneele Kneeling at the blessed Sacrament not prescribed by Scripture but authorized by tradition confirmed by custome observed by Faith In the Primitive Church when they received the Sacrament Standing Kneeling they prayed Standing Kneeling Our Factionists would follow the Primitive Church in one thing but leave her in another Fol. 639 Par. 5. A third Reason At the first Institution of things Sacred Profane the solemnitie is greater than in the sequell Every new thing hath a golden taile Proverbe Popular Lecturers have sunke even below scorne All sinnes of former times have descended downe upon our dayes An Epiphonema or Exclamation against the profane pretenders of Devotion now adayes The lowest humiliation is too little for the house of God They cryed Abrech or how the knee before Ioseph Hee that boweth himselfe most before man is most right in the sight of God Divers examples of Prostration and Geniculation both out of the old and new Testament A Vice-Roy of Ireland devoutly fell on his knees and asked an Archiepiscopall Benediction The Heathen kneeled downe to worship their very Idols S. Hieromes saying By Kneeling wee sooner obtaine what wee aske at the hands of God Not lawfull for any to sit
Eucharist was taken were altogether at three Suppers in one night in that night in which he was betrayed and that those Apostles certainely and Christ himselfe partaked of all the three suppers that they kept not one constant forme but varyed their gestures that there is no firmenesse of consequence to argue that whatsoever was done at the first supper the same was done at the second or whatsoever was at the second supper that it continued in the same fashion untill the end of the third supper that these severall Suppers were not in the same degrees of holinesse and were attended with proportionable Rites and different ceremonies That the eating of the Paschall Lambe was the first Supper That their joynt-eating of common food was their second Supper That the institution of the Eucharist and taking of it was their third supper called by the * 1 Cor. 11.20 Apostle the Supper of the Lord. To some intelligent people which heard me these things seemed though new and strange yet probable and analogall to faith others hung betweene doubt and beliefe but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ecce Rhodus Ecce salius here is the man here his leape Nunc specimen specitur nunc certamen cernitur now is the tryall you may see it as Mnesilochus phraseth it in Plautus what I said I am ready not onely to say againe but to prove and justify God the truth and learned men the Disciples of truth being judges Indocti procul este viri procul este profani Let men unlearned and profane Be farre from hence they judge in vaine PAR. 4. THat I may beare the whole truth before me necessary to the unfolding of what our Saviour practised from the beginning of his eating of the Paschall Lambe till he had finished the most sacred Eucharist I intend under the divine benediction to handle foure poynts three preparatory the fourth definitive and decretory 1. What the Iewes of those times did at their ordinary meales 2. What they then did at their Feasts or Festivall dayes 3. What the Iewes were wont to observe at their eating their Passeover 4. What courses in particular our blessed Saviour tooke and used the night of his apprehension The Prayer ASsist me therefore I beseech thee O omniscient supreamest intelligence most wonderfull Vni-Trinity Trin-Vnity transcendent in fulnesse of knowledge and O sweet Saviour most blessed Lord whose cause I handle whose truth I search and disclose take the vayle of ignorance from before my face let me see with thy piercing eyes let my fleece be wet with thy dew from heaven distill upon me some drops of thy Divine knowledge power thy sacred oyntment and spreading oyle upon my head and fill me with humble veracity for thine owne Names sake O Saviour Iesu God and man the gracious Mediator betweene God and Men. Amen CHAP. II. The Contents of the second Chapter 1. The Iewish strictnesse in often giving of thankes 2. The duty of thankefulnesse exhorted unto 3. Ingratitude condemned 4. The Iewes at their Feasts began their banquet with blessing of a â—â—p of Wine what the particular words were poculum bibatorium every one dranke in order our most blessed Saviour scorned not to follow that custome The custome of the Table of the King of Sweden 5. The Master of the Feast among the Iewes consecrated the bread the very words of consecration translated are set downe 6. Some recreations were at their Festivals and wise holy discourses sometimes riddles were propounded our Saviours divine Table talke 7. The duty of Thankesgiving appoynted by the Apostle for all our doings 8. The temperance of the Primitive Church at their repast and at Feasts also proved by Tertullian and Minutius Foelix also their Prayers and singing and sober retyring 9. Our age in a double extreame some over-prodigally feast it the immoderate use of Tobacco taxed 10. Some are inhospitable inhospitality under pretense of devotion distiked 11. The meane in eating and drinking commended 12. Mirth and feasting practised on the Lords day in Tertullians time 13. Holy Hester her banquet of Wine the brethren of Joseph were temperate though the vulgar hath it inebriati sunt cumeo Iosephs liberality and full table was not intemperate or immodest 14. Christ Feasted on Sabbath dayes 15. Ahashuerus his moderation and Law wished for to be in use PAR. 1. THe Iewes were never wont to eate or drinke without Prayers blessings or giving of thankes especiall thankes for especiall blessings sometimes shorter ejaculations were in use sometimes longer devotions if they are but of Nuts Plumbes Apples Grapes or the like they had Peculiares preculas apt short prayers Zorobabel powred forth thankes for wisedome given unto him 1 Esdras 4.60 1 Esdras 4.60 The Psulmist was abundant in thankesgiving above any other duty both for ordinary and extraordinary blessings inviting all the Host of Heaven and Earth reasonable sensible vegetable yea inanimate creatures to prayse the Lord. PAR. 2. GIfts of minde body and fortunes are to be received with blessing of God generall favours of the Almighty looke for a returne of thankes yea are more to be esteemed as being more common That the heavenly Creatures move constantly in their Spheres that the Sunne shineth that the Moone powreth downe the supernall influences that our preservation with the meanes thereof is continued deserveth from us the Sacrifice of prayse unto God every grace of God unto us must be answered with a grace or thankes from us to God all Rivers runne into the Sea saith * Eccleâ—â— 1.7 Ecclesiastes Chap. 1.7 Unto the place from whence the Rivers come thither they returne againe Adfontem saith Saint a Bern. in cap. Iejunij Serm. 1 Bernard unde exeunt flumina revertuntur ut iterum fluant Flummis aqua si stare caeperit ipsa putrescit inundatione facta superveniens repellitur sic plane sic gratiarum cessat decursus ubi recursus non fuerit nec modo nihil augetur ingrato sed quod acceperat vertitur ei in perniciem Rivers returne to the fountaines that they may flow againe if they begin to stand they grow to decay even so grace ceaseth when it is not returned and to the ungratefull man nothing increaseth but what he received turnes to his overthrow Out blessed Saviour spent a good part of his time in this holy duty for brevity sake I will infist onely upon one place b Ioh. 6.11 Iob. 6.11 Christ gave thankes and then distributed the bread to his Disciples The Apostle gives a reason God hath created meates to be received with thankesgiving c 1 Tim. 4.3 1 Tim. 4.3 It was Gods intention they were created to that purpose or end and they goe against Gods intention who are unthankefull He that eates and drinkes and le ts grace passe Sits downe like an Oxe and riseth like an Asse PAR. 3 THe ingratitude of the receivers indeed infecteth not the meate but their receiving is uncleane and filthy even their minde
come nigh the vessels of the Sanctuary and the Altar that neither they nor you also dye No lesse then death is menaced if the Levites come nigh the Altar which they must doe if they sacrificed aright Both may be well reconciled thus first I say that the ordinary continued duty was committed by God to the Priests onely and the Levites by their place were not to meddle in sacrifices yet if Levites were divinely inspired by God to doe so they might and did so did Samuel a Levite offer a whole burnt offering d 1 Sam. 7.9 and in exigents the priests were helped by the Levites e 2 Chro. 29.35 2 Chron. 29.35 The priests were so few that they could not flay all the burnt offerings wherefore their brethren the Levites did helpe them till the worke was ended now the flaying of beasts belonged to the priests the sonnes of Aaron f Levit. 1.6 Levit 1.6 As this upon extremity was practized by the Levites so were the other duties also and Salianus saith well in this point Nunc ex necessitate duntaxat propter multitudinem victimarum non ex officio id munus usurpabant Not the place or office of Levites but necessity priviledged them for this time and for this Worke. PAR. 8. LEt me adde when priests and Levites were too few when Sacrifices were superabundant as in the Iewish passeovers which were to bee killed on a set moneth on a set day of that moneth on a set houre towards the end of the day on the first part of that houre when all the Lambes could not be brought nigh the doore of the Tabernacle not onely every Levite chiefe of an house but every Master of a Family was allowed to be as a priest for that time his servants as under Levites his house as a Temple That this was one true reason of communication of that power to the Levites and the people appeareth by the contrary practice when the Sacrifices were few when they kept the passeover g Ezr. 9.19 Ezr. 6.19 The Priests and the Levites were purifyed together all of them were pure and killed the Passeover for all the children of the captivity and for their brethren the Priests and for themselves the Priests and Levites killed all the Lambes h see 2 Chron. 29.21 likewise The sonnes of Aaron offered a sin-offering for the Kingdome and the Sanctuary and for Iudah for the number of the sacrifices was but 21 and they killed the bullockes and received the blood and sprinkled it on the Altar but when the Sacrifices and Thanke-offerings encreased when the priests were too few the Levites helped as the Scripture said before yet if the people were unpure they might nor they did not use their priviledge their prerogative ceased and not the impure people themselves but the Clerus Dei must reconcile the people the Levites had the charge of killing the passeovers for every one that was not cleane to sanctify them unto the Lord i 2 Chro. 30 17 2 Chro. 30.17 Yet did the onely right in ordinary belong to the priests to which sacrificing of beasts by the priests Christ alluded k Math. 12.5 Math. 12.5 When he said on the Sabbath dayes the priests in the Temple prophane the Sabbath which is more forcible then if he had said they observe not the Sabbath because God commanded their Sabbaticall duty of sacrificing l Num. 28 9. Num. 28.9 c. Which not Levites but priests fulfilled m Levit. 1. Levit 1.6 PAR. 9. THey prophane the Sabbath not simply but by an improper locution because if eyther Priests or any others had killed flayed or cut a sunder any beasts any where else it had beene a sinne but the law priviledgeth the Temple from the Law of the Sabbath the wiser Jewes held in Templo non esse Sabbatum there is no Sabbath in the Temple and a rule they have that Circumcision chaseth away the Sabbath for it was exactly kept on the eight day though the eight day happened to be the Sabbath it sanctified all the laborious workes of mens hands done in it done to the worship of God and his service which is perfect freedome makes those handy-workes lose their name of servile workes Away then with those halfe-Jewes strict Sabbatarians who will not have bells rung on the Sabbath dayes nor water carryed in pitchers or payles to fill the font nor the raw ayre of the Church to bee sweetned with frankincense perfumes or wholesome odours nor the decent ornaments of the Priests to be put on they are ignorant that the Temple priviledgeth if not sanctifieth such workes and what is done in ordine ad Deum as tending towards the worship of God is no way forbidden when their imperiall censoriousnesse and scorne the daughters of pride are forbidden for never had the common people libertie to judge their Priests oh how humble was Hannah to erring Ely The heathen were very strict in keeping of their Holy-dayes yet saith e Macrob. Sturnal 1.16 Macrobius Vmbro denyed him to be polluted qui opus vel ad deos pertinens sacrorumve causâ fecisset vel aliquid ad urgentem vitae utilitatem respiciens actitasset Scaevola denique consultus quid Ferijs agiliceret respondit quod praetermissum noceret Wherefore if an Oxe fell into any dangerous place and the master of the family did helpe him out or if a man under propped a broken beame of an house to keepe it from ruine hee seemed not to breake the holy day saith Scaevola which words I have the rather related to shew not onely as f Clem. Alex. Strom. 5. Clemens Alexandrinus hath it Philosophia peripatetica ex lege Mosaicâ aliis dependet Prophetis but even the very Roman Priests borrowed much of Moses his Law and in likelihood even from the Gospell his particular instance that mercy is to be shewed to the Oxe in need g Luk. 14.5 Luk. 14.5 Which of you shall have an Oxe fallen into a pit and will not straight way pull him out on the Sabbath day which is all one with that which Scaevola delivereth after to the Romans PAR. 10. ANd now I come to the seventh extraordinary great Passeover when the Israelites came out of the Babylonish captivitie for the Passeover appointed in Ezekiel was onely in Vision where there is mention indeed of the first moneth and foureteenth day of unleavened bread Seven dayes and other offerings for the feast to be provided by the Prince h Exek 45.21 Ezek. 45.21 but what Ezechiel fore prophefied was not accomplished in his time but about 150. yeares after it was performed by Ezra which is the last famous Passeover specialized in the old Testament when they were freed from bondage and had dedicate the Temple i Ezra 6.19 Ezra 6.19 they kept the passeover for all the children of the captivitie and for their brethren the Priests and for themselves And so much for the seven
a branch of the Law of Nature and both Gentiles and Iewes had all the Law of Nature written in their hearts though some more plainely others more obscurely PAR. 4. THe Author of that excellent worke whosoever he was called a Patterne of Catechisticall Doctrine Pag. 122. c. sheweth first that the Iewes had the effect of every Commandement in them before the Law as 1. Gen. 35.2 Put away the strange gods 2. Gen. 31.34 Idolls Gen. 35.5 Earerings 3. Gen. 25.3 Sweare by the Lord God of Heaven 4. Gen. 2.3 And Exod. 16.23 Rest of the Sabbath 5. Gen. 27 41. Dayes of mourning for my Father 6. Gen. 4.9 Cain hideth his killing of Abel 7. Gen. 38.24 The whore Thamar to be burnt and 34.3 8. Gen. 44.7 God forbid we should steale 9. Gen. 38.20 Iudah kept promise not lying or deceiving by untruth's 10. Gen. 12.17 and 20.3 It was sin to looke on a woman with lust after her Vide si libet plura hâc de Re apud Nicolaum Hemmingium in libro de lege Naturae Secondly not onely the Iewes but the Gentiles also had the same law by Nature in their hearts though some of the Commandements more manifestly than other some Manifestly sixe namely the 3.5.6.7.8.9 Somewhat obscurely foure as 1.2.4.10 For the most manifest Commandements the third was a Law of the Aegyptians as Diodorus Siculus faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sweare not nisi morieris lest thou dye let me adde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He who sweareth and nameth Eccles 23.11 for Reverence to the Name of God this word God is not in the Greeke but wholly forborne nor in Hentenius and Santandreanus though the Bishops Bible and our late Translation have expressed it according to the sense without difference of Character and though the precedent verse doth necessarily cause it to be understood of God Drusius on the place thus the Iewes doe so scrupulously if not superstitiously observe the precept that they doe not write in their letters the name of Elohim which name yet is communicated to the Creatures but the proper Name of God they called Iehovah which they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the word of foure Letters they are so farre from naming that they know not this day how it is to be read or pronounced Furthermore it is very likely that the Heathen imitated the Iewes for the Religious among them did forbeare to speclalize 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but contented themselves with the reserved sense and understanding saying onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so Suidas The fifth Homer saith of one that had a misfortune it was Quia parentes non honoravit because he honoured not his Parents the fixt is a Rule even in Nature Homicîda quod fecit expectet let the murtherer expect murther the seventh Stephanas out of Nicostratus Fuge nomen moechi si mortem fugies avoyd Adultery as thou wouldst death the eighth Demosthenes against Timocrates repeateth it as Solons Law in the very words Thou shalt not steale The ninth in the twelve tables Tarpeio saxo dejieatur cast him downe from a high rocke who giveth false testimony For those they had somewhat obscurely For the first Pythagoras sayd if a man come and say I am God let him create another world and we will beleeve him For the second they agreed that every god should be worshipped as he himselfe thought good and this is the very foundation of the second Commandement For the fourth little can be found but sufficient for their condemnation they know that numerus septenarius est Deo gratissimus the number of seaven is most pleasing unto God and it was numerus quietis a number of rest and thence they might have gathered that God would have his rest that day and so saith the Doctor the seventh day after birth they kept exequiae and the seventh day after death the funerall which words were mistaken or mis-printed the tenth their Lawes neuer touched yet the scope of them was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non concupiscere Thou shalt not covet and Menander saith they should not covet so much as a button so he most deepely and divinely PAR. 5. ANd yet because the Author bringeth but one instance and specially out of the Roman Lawes I hope mine ensuing discourse will not bee ill accepted by the intelligent Criticke but he will taste of my gleanings and thanke God and pray for me Tacitus Annal. 3. saith the twelve Tables were compounded and made ac citis quae usquam egregia fuerunt from Greece and other parts Indeede there were at first but ten tables of the Roman answerable to the number of Gods Lawes being onely ten afterwards the Decem-viri added two tables more quae leges Romanorum proprias continebant which conteined the proper Lawes of the Romanes the ten Tables being taken from other Cities and Law-makers and as by the sequell will appeare principally from the lawes of God that the Sibyllae were well acquainted with the Iewish affaires is most apparent that the Romanes esteemed the Sibylline bookes as the Oracles of God the Romanes themselves doe confesse and the keeping of them Tarquinnius Superbus committed Duo-viris sive Duumviris Sacrorum who were the most eminent Patricians but because Marcus Tullius gave Petronius Sabinus leave to transcribe that booke which conteined Secreta civilium sacrorum the Mysteries of the civill Lawes Tarquinius caused Marcus Tullius to be so wed up in a sacke and cast into the Sea To conclude by what streames soever the Romanes had their Lawes conveighed or derived unto them most certaine it is the fountaines and heads of their Lawes they had from the Law of God Phocylides writeth so many divine passages that you may imagine he was acquainted with Moses or his Law and so did diverse of the Greeke Poets in whom the Romanes were well versed PAR. 6. TErtullian Apologet. cap. 45. Scitis ipsas leges quoque vestras quae videntur ad innocentiam pergere de divinâlege ut antiquiore formam mutuatas which words of Tertullian since neither Rhenanus Pamelius Cerda Iunius Albaspinaeus Regaltius nor any other ever explaned in particular suffer me to exercise my Tyrociny that way in amplifying this unperformed this unattempted passage Cicero lib. 1. de Oratore bringeth in Crassus strongly thus avouching fremant omnes licèt dicant quodsentio Bibleothecas meherculè omnium Philosophorum unus mihi videtur 12. Tabularum libellus si quis legum fontes capita viderit authoritatis pondere utilitatis ubertate superare Take exception who will I will speake what I thinke assuredly that one little booke of the 12. Tables if a man have recourse to the head-springs of the Lawes is to be preferred before the Libraries of all the Philosophers both by the strength of its authority and abundance of benefit Well Rhetorized Tully you knew some would chafe at your Hyberbolicall straine and laboured to prevent it by fathering it on Crassus Tully knew what belonged
would bury in the Dunghill chines of porke or puddings or any swines flesh which their neighboures courteously bestowed upon them they further bragged they would know the saved from the damned by their lookes the Lords day they regarded not and were as obstinate as the Iewes laughing at imprisonment and punishment as a good poore man complained of his wife to me and was it not time that the supreme Magistrate should looke to them If we consider the Scripture of the new Testament which must first be heard we shall finde that Christ doth not diminish but rather augment the weight force and power of divers other commandements concerning Murther see the strictnesse Matth. 5.21 c. and concerning Adultery Matth. 5.28 c. and Matth. 5.24 are choyce Rules for swearing and for other matters in that Chapter but he no where commanded a more rigorous keeping of the Sabbath Indeed he sayd Matth. 24.20 Pray that your flight be not on the Sabbath this evinceth not that he intended a stricter observation of the Sabbath than the Iewes admitted but sensu primo his well-wishings were that they might meete in their flight which was to be both sudden and remote even out of Judea with no impediment either from their opinion of the Sabbath who then thought they might not travell on that day above two miles which they accounted a Sabbaths dayes journey Act. 1.12 or from any other Crosses whatsoever and that Christ meaned not in that place to improve the strict Religion of the Sabbath fairely resulteth from the other words in the first place Pray that your flight be not in the Winter that is cold wet stormy weather or short dayes nor on the Sabbath when ye are unprovided to fly by reason of your full bellies and store of cloathes or your over-strict opinion for in these Cases many more will dye than if the flight were at other times Marke 13.18 He wholly leaveth out the mentioning of the Sabbath and onely sayth Pray ye that your flight be not in the Winter when he mentioneth an impediment from the Sabbath himselfe meaneth not that it is unlawfull to fly farther than two miles to save ones life but argueth from their opinion at that time but in all other places of Scripture where he speaketh of the Sabbath though the Mosaicall Law was then of force and the Sabbath strictly to be observed he inveieth against the Iewish rigour and reduceth it to an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Church of England runneth the same way and is not Iewishly zealous In a booke of Canons Printed 1571 by Iohn Day pag. 15. It is said Every Sunday and holiday the Parsons Vicars and Curates shall come to Church so timely and conveniently in due season that the Parishioners having done their businesses may come together c. Lo a permittance of doing worldly businesse before they come to Church and obiter pag. 13. on other times the Parsons are to use their Bowes and shafts onely more to the former point in the advertisement made upon Queene Elizabeths command 1584. among the Articles for administration of Sacraments it is sayd in all Faires and common Markets falling upon Sundayes there shall be no shewing of wares before the service be done Loe here also is no disallowing of shewing wares after service is done but rather an involved indulgence and permittance Besides Christ defended his Disciples for plucking and eating some eares of corne which the Pharisees condemned Matth. 12.1 but Christ proved the lawfulnesse thereof by Davids eating the shew-bread in an exigent which otherwise was unlawfull ver 3.4 Secondly by the Priests who prophane the Sabbath and yet are blamelesse ver 5. by reason that Christ was greater than the Temple and Lord even of the Sabhath day which Lord accepteth more of mercy than of Sacrifices ver 6.7.8 and not fearing their accusation hee both miraculously healed the mans withered hand on the Sabbath day and since every one of them who should have a sheepe fallen into a pit on the Sabbath day would lay hold of it and lift it out how much better is a man than a sheepe wherefore saith Christ it is lawfull to doe well on the Sabbath day ver 11.12 S. Marke 2.27 addeth remarkeably The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath and S. Luke speaking of the same Story sayth Christ propounded to them this quicke question Is it lawfull on the Sabbath day to doe good or to doe evill Luke 6.9 apparently implying that not to doe a good worke on the Sabbath day was to doe evill Againe when the Ruler of the Synagogue answered with indignation because Christ healed one on the Sabbath day Christ called him hypocrite Luke 13.25 confuting him by his owne and their generall practise Doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his Oxe or his Asse from the Stall and lead him away to watering Observe first nor Oxe nor Asse can take much hurt if they be not wrought though they drinke not from Sun-rising to Sun-set yet for covetousnesse or for pitty they did loose them Secondly they might have loosed them though themselves had not led them away to the watering places for Nature teacheth beasts to know their drinking places but they would lead them away thither which they needed not and being done for lucre was certainely a breach of the Sabbath And Iohn 7.22 The Iewes did on the Sabbath day circumcise a man about which they used many Ceremonies of preparation of abscission of washing of stopping the blood and applying of salves to heale the would though it were but one little part to be wounded and made whole and are ye angry with me saith Christ because I have made a man every whit whole on the Sabbath day Every member of his body and I doubt not also but he healed the ulcers of every ones soule whose bodily parts he healed In 1 Cor. 16.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is well translated On the first day of the weeke on the Sabbath day Christ did not take up already made but newly made clay and healed the blinde Joh. 9.14 so that not onely the mayne worke of healing or doing good but all necessary or convenient helpes conducing thereto may be used on the Sabbath day without prophanation thereof for Christ anointed his eyes and sent him to the Poole Siloam and there he washed Againe it is said Matth. 28.1 In the end of the Sabbath as it began to dawne toward the first day of the weeke and Marke 16.1 When the Sabbath was passed the words are most observeable and may involve within themselves not onely that the Sabbath of that weeke was at an end and passed which was true and no man questioneth but even this deeper sense when Christ's rest in the grave had supplied and substantiated the Typicall Sabbath adumbrating his rest for the Sabbaths were shadowes of things to come but the body was Christ Col. 2.17 and his Resurrection from the dead
their Sabbath by the Vespers observe further though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be truely and literally interpreted and is by some in unâ—m Sabbatorum which accordeth with Gen. 1.5 Where it is sayd fuit Vespera fuit Mane Dies unus as it is in the interlineary yet I thinke it may be better interpreted the first day for indeed it was the first day of the world and the evening and the morning made the first day saith our last and best Translation unum and primum often concurre in one and adhere together Vatablus agreeth ex Vesperâ Mane completus fuit Primus Dies or as others have it fuit Vespera fuit Mane diei primae for instead of the word first the Hebrew usurpe the word one Cardinalem numerum pro ordinali the principall for the initiall the chiefe for the first in number or order as if he had sayd the first day was passed so farre Vatablus If therefore you reade it according to the letter in the end of the Sabbath's as it began to dawne in the first of the Sabbaths then you have the end of the Jewish Sabbath and the beginning of the Christian Sabbath the last of the old Sabbath's and the first of the New Sabbath's the Christian Sabbath beginning in the Morning the Jewish at the Evening observe in the third place that as every other Jewish Sabbath had one Vesper and but one so this last Sabbath that ever ought to be among them had two Vespers the first of them ordinary and usuall to make up a naturall day their Sabbath day beginning with one Vesper the other subsequent Vesper was ordeined to bury their last Sabbath that ever the Jewes should have their Sabbath was begun with darkenesse and ended with darkenesse our Christian Sabbath began with the dawning of the day and with light and cannot have two Vespers their latter Vespers being but halfe of a Naturall day without light and ending in darkenesse as their Law it selfe was obscure and transitory fuller of pleights and vayles than the Gospell the Scripture being cleared that not the Mosaicall Sabbath with its strictnesse and rigour is now in force but the Lords Day in remembrance of Christs Resurrection what then was the Church to doe but to abolish Judaisme punish Traskisme and animate the godly in good courses PAR. 8. AFter this long divagation or extravagancie that I may returne with some effect I must crosse two by-pathes and therefore I pray you suffer two digressions more one from the words of Tertullian which shall not be impertinent for these times another in defence of Authority for placing our holy Tables at the East Tertullian is so plaine ad Nationes 1.13 quod innotuerit ad Orientis partem facere nos precationem or as he after varied it quod innotuerit nos ad Orientis regionem precari Apologet. cap. 16. that is It is commonly or certainely knowne that we pray towards the East that Gothofredus justly referreth Some neede not doubt any longer of that point Junius was much awry to thinke Tertullian spake Ironically and Gretzer did well to reprehend him for it for not Tertullian alone but many other holy learned Fathers give in their verdict with Tertullian that the Primitive Church to which we ought to conforme even reformation it selfe used to pray towards the East or bending that way First therefore let us prove that they did so Secondly let us shew the reasons why they did so Origen sideth with Tertullian in giving no reason why they did so yet saith they did so and we must needes doe so in lib. Num. Hom. 5. In Ecclesiasticis observationibus sunt nonnulla hujusmodi quae omnibus quidem facere necesse est nec tamen Ratio eorum omnibus patet nam quòd genua flectimus orantes quòd ex omnibus caeli plagis ad solam Orientis partem conversi orationem fundimus non facile cuiquam puto ratione compertum that is there are many things in the Ecclesiasticall constitutions which all indeede must needes doe and yet the reason of them is not manifest unto all for why wee doe bend our knees in time of prayers and why of all the coasts of heaven wee turne our faces duely towards the Easterne part while we doe pray I suppose no man can readily render a reason what Origen ascribeth to Ecclesiasticall observations wee finde written in the Apostolicall Constitutions 2.61 Nor doe I agree with Origen saying ibid. that they who know the reasons must also know sibi velanda haec operienda that these things are covered unto them as it were with a vaile other Fathers have revealed the reasons and we may and God willing will pluck away the Curraine Epiphanius adversus Ossen haere sin inter Elxai errores posuit quòd ad Orientem orare suos sectatores prohibuit that is it was Elxai his errour to forbid his followers to pray towards the East Prochorus cap. 5. in the life of S. Iohn the Evangelist saith that the holy Apostle at his praying sighing or sobbing turned towards the East the like he saith of Linus and of S. Paul I close up this first point briefely because all the proofes for the second point viz. why they prayed towards the East doe infallibly demonstrate the precedent namely that that they did pray towards the East every 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proves the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a cause cannot be given why a matter is so if the matter be not so S. Basil de S. sancto cap. 27. referreth to make us thinke of the Creation we all looke to the East when we pray but few of us know that in so doing we wish and desire our old Country namely Paradise which God did frame in Eden to the East if S. Basil had thought that Christians inhabite in the East beyond Eden by his reason they should turne their faces West-ward if his words may be restrained onely to us of the Westeme Church the words may passe for currant Damascene de side Orthodoxâ 4.12 useth Basils reason amongst others the like I answere to the full Cerda who alledgeth this reason when Christ was on the Crosse his face was towards the West therefore the Churches converting themselves as it were to Christ hanging on the Crosse did looke Eastward but the Easterne Christians which lived beyond Ierusalem could not looke toward the East as it were to see Christs face unlesse their imagination either framed a Crosse and a Christ on the East of them or else supposed themselves to be on the West of Ierusalem Caelius Rodiginus antiquar Lection 12.9 saith the Jewes worshipped towards the West and therefore the Christians did toward the East Pamelius doubteth of the Jewish posture Indocus Clichtovaeus on Damascene de fide Orthodoxâ 4.13 who might leade the way to Caelius Rodiginus thus the Jewes by Gods appointment worshipped God to the West and he prooveth it fully by Ezekiel 8.16 Where it
Consecration The words of Consecration were onely these This is my body c. Innocentius the third his opinion concerning Christs Consecration of the blessed Sacrament censured A second and third opinion related by Aquinas censured Lucas Brugensis thinkes Christ used more words in the Consecration When or at what Time Christ said those words Take c. Christ gave the hallowed bread not in Promise but in Exhibition John the Baptist called a foole Epictetus saying Christ put not the blessed Sacrament into the Disciples Mouths but into their Hands In the Primitive Church the Christians received it into their Hands So did they in Tertullians time So did they in Cyprians dayes Taking is by the Hand Cases may fall out wherein the hallowed food may be put into the Recipients mouthes We are not bound to doe All whatsoever Christ did at the first Celebration We must doe All whatsoever he commanded us to doe Authorities for Taking the blessed Sacrament into our Hands The Tripartite History Chrysostome Cyprian Tertullian The Schismaticks in old time divided not themselves from the Catholique Church in this respect as S. Augustine witnesseth Nor Novatus as Ruffinus recordeth The Christians in ancient time Reserved the Sacrament Some Reject things really Tendred unto them 6. The second word Eate It is probable that Judas did receive the Sop into his Hand Mouth Many of the Fathers did think so Sinnes revealed grow more sinfull Carolostadius his fancy by most Divines disliked disploded The Future tense is never used for the Present tense but the Present tense is often used for the Future in Scripture 7. The third word This is my Body which is given for you c. Transubstantiation roved at The farther Disquisition thereof wittingly and willingly forborne The Authors Apologie for the same His Valediction to the Remainder of his Miscellanies Resolves to spend the remainder of his dayes in holy Devotion and continuall Praying The Moores of Morocco Pray six times every twenty foure houres The Lords Prayer highly commended and preferred before all other Prayers It ought to be used by every Christian at least seaven times a day The Church of England commended Vnto which the Author submits himselfe and all his Writings Bishop Jewell Bishop Andrewes Bishop Morton Bishop White and incomparable Master Hooker have written Polemically the Controversies of the Lords Supper unto whose unanswerable Writings the Author referreth all scrupulous Christians for their better satisfaction PARAGRAPH 1. THe accursed Gnosticks have fained abominable blasphemies and ascribed them to our holy Saviour in his first Institution Sixtus Senensis in my opinion deserves a very sharp censure for the bare reciting and recording such damned horrid lyes though his soule detested them May they never more be thought upon Let us consider the Actions in order in the same manner as Christ performed them First He tooke bread and so the Cup he might have bid them take it themselves as in the Second Supper he bade them Divide the wine among themselves Luke 22.17 But he himselfe now Tooke the bread and by Taking it sheweth he would do somewhat more by It than by other bread which he took not into his hands So John 6.5 Jesus lift up his eyes and he took the loaves and when he had given thankes he distributed to the Disciples ver 11. So he took the seven loaves and fishes and gave thankes and brake them and gave them to the Disciples Mat. 15.36 Neither did he ever take Any thing in a religious forme into his hands but it was bettered and changed from its old nature some way or other Simeon tooke Christ up in his armes and blessed God Luke 2.28 for Christ needed no blessing Christ took a child into his armes Mark 9.36 And some think this child was Ignatius who saith of himselfe that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 borne or carried of God But whosoever hee was certainly he was blessed of Christ more than others whom he took not into his armes When little Children were brought to him that he might touch them Christ was much displeased with his Disciples because they rebuked them who brought them he took the children up in his armes but what followed He put his hands upon them and blessed them Mark 10.16 If I should say that when Christ made a scourge of small cords John 2.15 and drove all the faulty ones out of the Temple no doubt that scourge had more vertue than an ordinary whip If vertue went out of him when a woman touched but the hemme of his garment Mat. 9.20 questionlesse when in a religious way he touched other things he imparted vertue to them So when he took the bread you cannot but think He put his hands upon it and blessed it blessed it above other bread which he touched not Saint Matthew saith expressely He took bread and blessed it Mat. 26.26 So it is also Mark 14.22 confirmed with a back of steel It is varied Luke 22.19 Christ took the bread and gave thanks and brake it And this is also doubled or redoubled 1 Cor. 11.23 c. Christ took bread and when he had given thanks he brake it Hence ariseth the next point the Second point worthy the disquisition PAR. 2. AFter he took bread he blessed it Mat. 26.26 What it is to blesse All words names voices and things whatsoever which are applied to God are more significant than if they be referred to ordinary matters When God blesseth he giveth bequeatheth exhibiteth blessings He doth good and prospereth the parties blessed Gods Benedicere is his Benefacere imparting to the creature some reall benefit efficacious blessing Gen. 12.2 I will blesse thee and make thy name great .. That was one effect of Gods blessing but many more concurred with that both Temporall The Lord hath blessed my Master greatly and he is become great he hath given him flocks and heards silver and gold c. Gen. 24.35 What need have we to cite more particulars when God blessed Abrahaem in all things ver 1. And God blessed Abraham not in Temporall things alone for they many times are the portion of the wicked but even in Eternall and Spirituall blessings Gal. 3.14 It followeth Thou shalt be a blessing or as the Interlineary hath it rightly from the Hebrew Be thou a blessing Gen. 12.2 He spake the word and it was done By the word of the Lord were the heavens made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth Psal 3.6 Abraham became a blessing to us The faithfull alive are the children of Abraham The blessed who are dead are in Abrahams bosome It yet followeth I will blesse them that blesse thee and curse them that curse thee that is who do good for thee I will do good for them who do ill to thee I will do ill to them God said to Kings Touch not mine Annointed and do my Prophets no harme Psal 105.14 15. One of the Kings was Pharaoh whom the Lord plagued and his
Ioh. 7.8.10 11.14 verses But I remember not that ever the Feast of Pentecost was called a Feast singly and directly And I am sure the Passeover is called so divers times more then any other Feast View these proofes f Luk. 2 42. Luk. 2.42 They went up to Hierusalem according to the custome of the Feast and that feast was the Passeover as is proved by the precedent verse Againe The Iewes would take Iesus by subtilty and kill him but not on the Feast day g Math. 26.5 Mat. 26.5 And by that word Feast is the Passeover meant as appeareth ver 2. Lastly if you looke for the use of the same word in Saint Iohn you shall finde in h Ioh. 13.29 Ioh. 13.29 Buy those things we have need of against the feast but by the word Feast onely the Passeover is meant in that place as is evident ver 1. Briefely summe it thus Pentecost is never called by it selfe a Feast the Passeover is divers times above other feasts solely and simply called a Feast therefore by these words of the Evangelist Ioh. 5.1 There was a feast of the Iewes and Iesus want up to Hierusalem Pentecost was not understood but the Passeover in the fayrest way of argumentation must be meant It is prefixed After this there was a Feast of the Iewes that is after all things before recorded in the 2 3. and 4. Chapters Christ ascended againe into the Holy City healed him who lay at the poole of Bethesda thirty and eight yeares ver 9. And did livers other things PAR. 13. THe next passeover being the third after Christs publique ministery Christ went not to Hierusalem nor did take the Passeover at least in its appoynted usuall time and place nor was he at the following feast of Pentecost being seven weekes after A reason was this The Iewes sought to kill him Iohn 7.1 i Ioh. 7.1 And therefore he walked in Galilee and therefore he would not walke in Iury ibid. But certainely the Scribes came to him from Hierusalem to Galilee because he did not at these feasts come to them and he disputed with them about keeping the Tradition of the Elders a Math. 15.1 Mar. 7.1 Math 15.1 Mar. 7.1 See the many admirable things done by Christ in the space of sixe moneths namely from the Passeover till the Feast of Tabernacles in the excellent Itinerary of Christ made by Franciscus Lucas Brugensis When the murtherous rage of the Iewes was somewhat cooled though still the Iewes hated Christ b Iohn 7.7 Ioh. 7.7 About the middest of the feast of Tabernacles Iesus went up into the Temple and taught ver 14. PAR. 14. THe exact keeping of the Passeover was not so strictly appointed but many occasions might cause it to be differred Christ was not bound to cast himselfe into the mouth of danger whilest they ravenously thirsted for his blood but as sometimes he withdrew himselfe by disappearing and passed through the middest of them so here he thought fit not so much as to come among them Nor is our spirituall passeover so meerely necessary or so absolutely commanded but it may be omitted sometimes though never neglected much lesse contemned Sickenesse locall distance danger and the astonishing or stupifying consideration of sins unrepented of may excuse one from receiving for a while I dare not pronounce that profound humility to be sin When Peter fell downe at Iesus knees saying depart from me for I am a sinfull man O Lord c Luk. 5.8 Luk. 5.8 I suppose Christ was seldome nearer joyned to him in love And I have knowne him who in holy thoughts of his owne unworthinesse sinlesly as I conceive abstained Want of Charity is a sinne not receiving when men want Charity is not sin to receive then were a double sin d Math. 8.8 Math. 8.8 The Centurion said Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roofe yet none in Israel had so much faith as he To the woman of Canaan who accounted her selfe as a dogge unworthy to eate bread at the Table content with the crummes which fell from the Masters Table e Math. 15.27 Mat. 15.27 Christ said her faith was great and be it unto thee as thou wilt ver 28. Subjecting his power to her desires And thus much of the third passeover during Christs publicke manifestation by our blessed Saviour or omitted or privately kept The Prayer MOst gracious God and blessed Saviour who hast commanded all those who are heavy laden to come unto thee and hast promised to refresh them and hast appoynted thy blood of the Testament to be shed for many for the remission of sinnes be mercifull unto the sins of us all make us walke strongly and Christianly by the strength of thy Sacraments all the dayes of our lives and let us so feed on the holy consecrated signes that we may never be separated from the thing signifyed even holinesse it selfe Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen CHAP. VI. The Contents of the sixt Chapter 1. In what manner Christ kept his last passeover with its particular rites cannot bee sooner found then by the Iewish observation of the Sabbath in those times 2. The Iewes had a liberty at the first to choose a Lambe or a Goate for the proper rosted Paschall Sacrifice 3. A Lambe and a Kid are not all one against Paulus Brugensis 4. The difference betweene the Pascha and the Chagigah 5. The reason of some Iewes and some late good Christians confuted 6. Rupertus his over-nice observation 7. The Lambes or Kids in the Aegyptian Passeover were called out foure dayes before 8. This was also a temporary rite divers reasons why they then chose the Lambe or Kid so long before hand in their first Passeover 9. Hunnius erreth in this point 10. The striking or sprinkling of the blood on the two side-postes and upper doore-post was not any of the durable rites but appropriated to the first Passeover 11. Sprinkling of blood much used of old 12. Empty houses in Goshen needed not be sprinkled 13. The Angelus exterminator could not hurt when the blood was sprinkled 14. Such a sprinkling as this was used in no other sacrifice 15. The Iewes generall consent that such sprinkling was never after in use 16. A true reason why this ceremony ceased 17. Christ was the doore thus besprinkled 18. Hannibal his imitation 19. The first Passeover was eaten in great haste 20. The succeeding Passeovers were not eaten in such haste 21. Faire meanes and foule were used to hasten the Israelites out of Aegypt 22. Vatablus his opinion of the foure Ensignes under which the Israelites marched 23. They went out rather bene cincti then quintati 24. Reasons why they went not onely five by five in a ranke 25. Yet some went well armed and some were unarmed 26. The most probable manner of their departure out of Aegypt described at large 27. The Israelites had abundance of lesser standards but foure chiefe ones in severall quarters 28.
were of a free heart burnt offerings 2 Chro. 29.31 And the offerings were more than the Priests could kill ver 34. It is most remarkeable what even the most learned Mr. Selden confesseth and what is a knowne truth that one way or other the Iewes did pay by Gods appointment the fift part of their whole estate unto the Lord and his Priests annually Let the Sacrilegious tithe-robbers seriously weigh that point we have too many so devout forsooth that they give to God their eares yet so prophane and covetous that they will afford God nothing but their eares A single scute or farthing they will not offer how rich soever they be unlesse the Law compell them unlesse their Priests be at their beckes dues duties or Revenewes they cannot abide to neare of yet God hath done more for us Christians than he did for the Iewes and therefore out returne unto the Lord ought to exceede theirs It was a well-weighed collection of Chrysostom's that a good Christian when he considereth what the Iewes pay'd to their Priests and Levites will thinke more is due from him even Horace condemned himselfe for having beene Parcus deorum cultor infrequent a spare and seldome worshipper of God David would not offer to the Lord but that which cost him enough for it nor would the Father of the faithfull consecrate his Church-yard or Abrahemium for a burying place till he had payd for it But we have a late generation of Religion-framers who as I sayd before give nothing willingly unto God but their eares which cost them nothing and have found as they thinke the cheapest way to heaven that ever was thought of by any unlesse Atheists by keeping all to themselves as if no Recognition by goods were due to God for his Creation Universall Dominion generall preservation and particular blessings upon men The Iewes gave God of his owne as much as they were able let Christians looke to it and that they may the better looke to it at least for the payment of their tyth's let them consider what Augustine writeth Serm. 219. de Tempore let us give thankes to God therefore because he gave us good Corne and let us thinke of offering or rather restoring backe the tithes to God he who payeth no tithes invadeth anothers goods St. Hierome on the third of Malachi what I sayd of tithes which were wont of old to be payd by the people to the Priests and Levites is commanded also to the people of our Church viz. not onely to pay tithes but to sell all and follow Christ All in affection and habite not alwayes all actually yet must the taught man communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things While thou with-holdest thy due thou deceivest thy brother thou defraudest God of his due yea doest mocke with him thou deceivest thy selfe But be not deceived God is not mocked Gal. 6.6 if thou payest not God God will pay thee as wee have opportunity we must doe good to all men especially to them who are of the houshold of faith Gal. 6.10 Lastly Origen Homil. 11. on Num. 18. Tom. 1. pag. 209. c. how doth our justice exceede the justice of the Scribes and Pharises as it must or else in no case shall we enter into the kingdome of Heaven Matth. 5.20 if they dared not to taste of their fruits before the Tenths were separated for the Levites and we doe no such things but so abuse the fruites of the earth that nor Priest nor Levite nor Altar partake of it It is convenient and profitable that first-fruites should be payd to the Priests of the Gospell for the Lord hath so ordeined that they who Preach the Gospell should live of the Gospell Contrarily it is unconvenient unworthy and impious that he who worshippeth God and goeth into his Church and knoweth that the Priests and Ministers waite at the Altar doth not give the first-fruites to the Priests of those fruites of the ground which God giveth by his sun and his raine I thinke such a soule hath no memory or mind of God nor thinketh nor beleeveth that God gave those fruits which he so hideth as strange from God For if he beleived them to be given of God he would also know to honour God by rewarding his Priests what Christ would have done by the Pharises more and more abundantly would he have his Disciples to performe and very earnest he is for the first fâ—uites of Corne and beasts and not for the tithes onely so farre Origen The Prayer VVHether it were thy will O heavenly Father that thy precept to the Jewes of rosting the Lambe whole who did secretly insinuate unto us that halfe-Services please not thee that the Sacrifices of our soules without the body or the body alone without the soule are disliked or whether by it thou didst typifie that thou hatest division schisme partialities and delightest in perfect intire unity or whether thou didst intimate both these I humbly beseech the for Jesus Christ his sake that I may please thee both with my soule and with my body and that I may ever be defended and preserved from any singularity defection and obstinacy and may by thee be strengthned to keepe the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Amen CHAP. XIII The Contents of the thirteenth Chapter 1. Bread and water imply all Necessary food and sometimes full store 2. Vnleavened Bread was to be eaten with the Passeover and the flesh of the Passeover not to be eaten with any other save unleavened bread 3. Maymonides confuted 4. Sowre Herbes must of necessitie be also eaten with the Passeover 5. When leaven was permitted when the use of it forbidden 6. The Israelites ate no leavened bread from their comming out of Aegypt till they trod on the borders of the Land of Canaan 7. Leaven betokeneth either good or evill 8. Illyricus his triplex fermentum 9. How unleavened bread is called bread of affliction 10. What are the best Monuments 11. The pracept of bitter herbes is a durable Rite 12. Why bitter herbes were to be eaten 13. Christ ate the Passeover with bitter Herbes and the Mysticall signification 14. The bitter Herbes mentioned in the Law 15. The Jewes used herbes for meate as well as for sauce 16. Salt and Vineger were not onely the Jewish sauces PARAGRAPH 1. I Come now to the Ceremonies properly Sacramentall they were three 1. The Eating it 2. With unleavened bread 3. With soure herbes I refer the discourse concerning the eating of the flesh of the Passeover untill I handle the first of the 3 suppers or it may be I may touch it on the By in the interim Bread and water imply all necessary food and sometime full store Elisha said unto the King of Israel set bread and water before them 2 King 6.22 and he prepared great provision for them ver 23. Not against the intent of the Prophet But here bread is taken properly as the two other things Cyprianus in
And after blessing then the younger fort enquired why the preceding Supper was so discordant and divers from all other Suppers with double washings without baked boyled or stewed meates without any herbes save bitter ones As the youth enquired according to that Exod. 12.26 So the head of that societie you may say he was Rex sacrorum Architriclinus King of the Ceremonies Sewer or Master of the feast Gentleman-Vsher Chaplaine in Ordinary or Marshall of the Hall or Symposiast pater discubitus Initiator 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who placed the guests according to their worth Nomarcha Coenae the Ruler of the Feast according to that of Exod. 13.8 made remonstrance of what God had done to deliver them from the house of bondage nor might any of their Table-talke be irreligious or vaine or carpingly censorious or provoking to wrath nor was it as at other times with Riddles or other delightfull good discourses nor roved they at large at all sacred conferences but was empaled in and confined to the well-seasoned Relations as the Memoriall then lead them of the plagues in Aegypt of the destroying Angell inhibited to destroy their First-borne of the Seas retiring and the Two walles of water forgetting their naturall Fluidity on the right hand and on the left of their haste and feare and of Pharaohs hardened heart mollified by his drowning and Gods carrying them on Eagles winges Aulus Gellius Noct. Attic. 13.11 Nec loquaces Convivas nec multos legere oportet guests must not be tatling like Geese nor mute as Fishes and the discourses must be jucunde invitabiles delightfull and profitable not perplexing or troublesome the Master or Lord of the Feast must be Non tam lautus quà m sive sordibus neate and cleanely Macrobius Saturnal 7.1 handleth the poynt more at large as a few mute letters dispersed among many vowells in societatem vocis facilè mansuescunt doe make an easie pronounciation so some few unlearned delighting in the company of more learned either accord with them if they can or are delighted with their discourse Timotheum clarum hominom Athenis principem Civitatis ferunt cùm coenuvisset apuà Platonem eoqui convivio admodùm delectat â—s esses videssetque eum postridiè dixisse vestrae quidem Coenae non solùm in praesentiâ sed etià m postero die jucundae sunt that is It is storied of Timothy a famous man of Athens and one of the chiefe of that Citie that having on a time supped with Plato hee was wonderously delighted with that Feast and meeting him by chance the next day he told him that his Supper did rellish a long time after a Philosophers banquet as Cicero lib. 5. Tusquaest PAR. 6. HOw great a care God had of continuing the Memorialls of his favour to the Israelites appeareth by appointing the pot of Manna to be kept and Aarons rod which budded likewise Iosh 4.5 c. Twelve men tooke up twelve stones every man a stone upon his shoulder that this may be a signe among you that when your children aske their fathers in time to come saying what meane you by these stones Then ye shall answer them that the waters of Jordan were cut off before the Arke of the Covenant of the Lord when it passed over Jordan the waters of Jordan were cut off as it is pithily repeated ver 7. See to the same purpose Iosh 4.20 c. Quoties Christiani agapis vescebant fidem Psalmis pascebant ait Tertullianus that is as oft as Christian did fill their bellies together with good cheere they fed their faith with finging of Psalmes Cyprianus lib. 2. epist 2. Nec sit velhora convivii gratia coelestis immunis Sonet Psalmis sobrium convivium that is at all your sober Christian Feasts let Grace be Salt and Psalmes the Musique what Ioshua did was in immitation of what God commanded Exod. 12.35 When ye be come to the land which the Lord will give you you shall keepe the Passeover and when your children shall say unto you what meane you by this Service that yee shall say It is the Sacrifice of the Lords Passeover who passed over the houses of Israel in Aegypt when he smote the Aegyptians and delivered our houses ver 27. Though such discourse was not directly appointed at the first Aegyptian passeover because of their affrighted haste yet I doubt not but both they and their children knew why this Feast was thus kept and ever after it was to them a speaking memoriall of their deliverance concerning which their children were taught to enquire of their parents and their parents were used to relate unto them all their passed seares sorrowes and deliverances with their enemies destructions Exod. 13.8 Thou shalt shew thy sonne in that day and 14. When thy sonne asketh thee Thou shalt say c. So Deut. 6.20 c. When thy sonne asketh thee in time to come Thou shalt say to thy sonne we were Pharaohs bondmen in Aegypt and ver 7. Thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children and shall talke of them when thou sittest in the house when thou walkest by the way when thou lyest downe and when thou risest up The Spouse Cant. 2.9 saith of Christ My beloved is like a Roe or a young Hart behold hee standeth behinde our walls he looketh forth at a window shewing himselfe through the Lattesse Which words the Targum thus Paraphraseth to our purpose as it is set forth by the learned Edmund Rivius The Congregation of Israel said in the time when the glory of God was revealed in Aegypt in the night of the passeover and when he slew all their first-borne God ascended upon swiftest lightning and ranne like ae Roe or young Goate and protected and defended the houses in which we were and stood behind our wall and looked through the Lattesses and saw the blood of the Passeover and of the Circumcision imprinted as it were on our portalls and behold from the highest heavens and saw his people eating the passeover rosted with fire with wilde Lettuce and unleavened bread and spared us and gave no power to Apollyon to destroy us These are the declarative sayings of the Church as the Targum imagineth in answer forsooth to the question like enough to be propounded at the eating of the passeover but in truth Delrio most divinely on the place adapteth the words to our Saviours Incarnation which the obstinate Iew will not beleeve to be accomplished PAR. 7. IF any Psalme were sung at their passeover after Davids time or in it I presume it was the 78. Psalme in which was a full relation of Gods wonders in Aegypt and he teacheth them what he had learned of others ver 3.4 as God commanded them ver 5.6 though God commanded them in other places to teach their children yet this place of Exod. 12.25 may be also aymed ar Till Davids time I suppose they at the passeover did recite Moses his song Exod. 15.1 I will sing unto the Lord for
taken in the morning Secondly The Agapae were in the evening Thirdly Yet at the first they were both about the same time Let me say a little of each point 1. For the receiving of the Sacrament in the morning Tertullian ad uxorem thus Non sciot maritus quid secreto ante omnem cibum gustes Shall not thy husband know what thou dost eat in secret before thou dost caste a bit of any other meat And after him Saint Augustine would have the Eucharist eaten fasting propter honorem Corporis Dominici out of a religious reverence to the Lords Body More plainly the same Tertullian in lib. de corona militis Eucharistiae Sacramentum etiam antelucanis coetibus nec de aliorum manu quà m de prasidentium sumimus we receive the Sacrament of the blessed Eucharist even at our morning meetings and that at the hand of no other but of our owne Ministers And Pliny who was Rationalis Trajani Trajans Receiver and Accountant did certifie the Emperour that the Christians were wont to meet before day light ut sua sacra facerent to performe their divine service 2. Concerning the second point namely the Agapae that they were kept in the evening is as apparent Coena nostra de nomine rationem sui reddit Vocatur enim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id quod Dilectio penes Gracos est The name of our Supper sheweth its nature that it is a Love-feast yet a Supper it was and so he called it Otherwhere he saith Coenulas nostras sugillatis you scoffe at our Suppers where the Agapae are not wholly excluded Otherwhere Coena nostra vocatur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Supper is called a Love-feast Quantiscunque sumptibus constat lucrum est pietatis nomine facere sumptum siquidem inopes quoque isto refrigerio juvamus How costly soever our Love-feasts be expence for pietie sake is gaine for the poore are refreshed with it Augustinus contra Faustum 20.20 Agapae nostrae pauperes pascunt sive frugibus sive carmbus Our Love-feasts doe feed the poore either with bread or meat one way or other 3. The third point is as evident from 1 Cor. 11. that the Primitive Christians kept no great distance of time betweene the sacred Eucharist and the Agapae For the Apostle proceedeth from the abuses of one to prevent the abuses which might fall in the other and speaketh as of things almost conjoyned And from hence the Gentiles objected that Christians at their Love-feasts did eat an Infant because the blessed Eucharist was in the same Agapae or neere the time administred and it being called spiritually the Flesh and the Blood of Christ the Christians were accused that they did eat mans flesh and drinke mans blood Alba-spinaeus doth answer very shallowly That this crime was forged even from the daies of Tiberius as Tertullian saith in his Apologetick I reply All this is true that it was a most horrid falshood an affected Lie coined in Tiborius his time But the question is not Whether the same were true or false to which only Alba-spinaeus supinely but idlely answereth but from what ground or probability the rumour did arise or how we may trace the report home to its owne forme to the bed from whence it first started I say againe It was because the Eucharist and the Agapae were conjoyned and were then kept at Night-season thereupon they found fault with the Suppers of Christians as sated with blood and humane flesh And perhaps in after times this was one true reason why they are the blessed Sacrament in the morning and the Agapae at night to remove that objection That in the night they feasted not themselves with the blood of an Infant Which practice though it staggered the report and someway diverted it and the Christians absoluti sunt were acquitted yet litura manebat the spot was not cleane taken away as Claudius was wont to say in another case aliquid haerebat but something still remained behind because the accusation was boldly vouched Inveterate rumours are not easily wiped out If Alba-spinaeus had observed that at their single separated Agapae there was no possibility of suspition of Infanticide or feeding on mans flesh or drinking of mans blood but that the words of the body and blood of Christ eaten and drunken might in the carnal mis-interpretation be Caput famae a ground though slippery for report and for such a report through their malice and infidelity he would then have said without a perhaps that for a good while after Christs time both the Eucharist and the Love-feasts did touch or kisse each the other and that thence arose the horrid imputation that their Suppers were accused as sceleris infames infamous for villanies to use Tertullians phrase Weigh this farther circumstance The Agapae were kept on the Lords day Diebus Dominicis celebrabant Agapas they celebrated their Love-feasts on the Lords day saith Alba-spinaeus himselfe observat 18. and then was the most blessed Eucharist administred that day above all other dayes that time of the day even about Supper time in imitation of our Lord. Tertullian ad uxorem 2.4 speaketh of Pagan husbands suspition of their Christian wives Quis ad Convivium Dominicum illud quod infamant sine sua suspitione dimittet Who can endure to let his wife goe to that infamous banquet of the Lord without jealousie What this Convivium Dominicum this Banquet of the Lord is falleth under enquiry Pamelius interpreteth it de Missa Christianorum of the Christians Masse Rhenanus Junius Mornaeus Casaubonus Exercitat 6. pag. 512. interpreteth it of the Eucharist Alba-spinaeus in his notes on this place of Tertullian thus farre concludeth wittily and truly That Tertullian speaketh of that Banquet or Feast that was infamous among the Gentiles Convivium illud quod infamant are the very words of Tertullian But they were not suspected of any incest at the Eucharist saith Alba-spinaeus or of any unlawfull lust then as from Pliny junior and others may appeare Therefore those scandals were only taken against the Agapae or Love-feasts What things are objected against the Christians in Justin adversus-Judaeos Apolog. 2. In Tertullian Apologet. and ad Scapulam De cultu foeminarum in Minutius Foelix in Eusebius 4.1 4. capitibus concerning their Suppers and Infanticide they are to be referred to the Agapae in which the Eucharist was neither consecrated nor received Thus farre White-thorne or Alba-spinaeus But if he had observed either that at their Agapae only there was no possibility of suspition concerning Infanticide and that at the Eucharist a carnall man might so interpret it or that the Eucharist was held by the Gentiles worse than the Agapae so much worse as Infanticide and devouring humane flesh and blood are worse than the sins of the eighth Commandement or that the holy Eucharist and the Agapae were kept both at one time about Supper time in the dayes Apostolicall and the Eucharist being first dispatched the suspition for lust
Corinthinans cap. 11. By Isidore de Divinis Officiis By Bede on Luke 22. By Paschasius de corpore Domini cap 19. and most amply handled by Walafridus Strabo de rebus Ecclesiae cap. 19. So far Pamelius on Cyprian That ill Custome is condemned by Calvin Institut 4.10 But the kneeling in prayers with our hats off he there commendeth and the administration of the Lords Supper not fordidly and unmanerly but sollemnly and reverently More particularly concerning Kneeling in the time of solemne prayers he saith ibid. Parag. 30. That it is so an Humane tradition that it is also a Divine tradition And it proceedeth from God as it is part of the Decency which the Apostle commendeth to us but of this more hereafter PAR. 7. I Now proceed to the twelfth point In the Epistle of Cyprian and of the African Synod to Cornelius as it is in the first volume of the Generall Councels printed at Venice pag. 381. Nos Sacerdotes sacrificia Des quotidiè celebramus we Priests doe daily celebrate the service of God And Augustine in the fore-cited Epistle to Januarius thus Alii quotidiè cōmunicant corpori sanguini Dominico alii certis diebus accipiunt c. Some every day receive the Eucharist some at certaine times only In one place they receive it on the Sabbath and on the Lords day in another they take it only on the Lords day Neither doth Saint Augustine condemne those who take it daily nor them who choose Set-daies nor them who receiue After Supper or Sup After their receiving Faciat ergo quisque quod in eâ Ecclesia in quam venit invenerit Let every one saith he follow the Custome of that Church in which he liveth Which is an holy advice in it selfe but thrusteth through the loynes of all selfe-conceited Singularists who know not or use not that holy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that pliable condescent that humble yeelding that charitable peaceable and candid exposition of things either unknowne or doubtfull which the Fathers of the first Christian times both practised and taught Casaubone commendeth the Fathers for it and wished to find it among the Jesuits and I for my part rather preferre a supple accordance a reconciling and uniting of differences before the drawing and stretching of the rope of Contention by both ends and before the multiplying of alienations or divisions which S. Basil calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Over-earnest desire to draw all things to the contrary part Eudemon Johannes that fierce fiery Divell holds That healing vertue that balme for scissures or ruptures that milde and moderate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be little lesse than the betraying of Truth than the abjuration of all Christian Religion Casaubone justly reproveth the eager and fiery Jesuit Exercitatione 16. cap. 32. And not Casaubone only but the great and learned Rigaltius in his Observations on Tertullian de Oratione commendeth in the same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Tertullian aswell as of other Fathers Tanta fuit patribus charitatis cura ut plerosque ritus ratione non bona receptos tolerarent potius quà m rigidâ censurâ vel minimam scissurae occasionem praberent pag. 40. The Fathers saith Rigaltius had so great a regard unto or care of Charity that they did rather beare with diverse Rites though instituted and received upon no good ground than they would by rigid censure administer the least occasion of scissure or division Yet there were ever some who whereas they ought to esteeme or labour to make indifferent things good and good things Better do yet indevour to make good things but Indifferent Indifferent matters to be bad and bad to be worse But as Rigaltius truly observeth Hac erat illo aevo Christianoruni 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In those dayes not only the Fathers but other Christians also used that modest holy complying and condescent Neither God bee blessed hath this latter age had all and only rigid and inflexible Lutherans Jesuits and Puritanes but God hath given unto the Church moderate men of softer metall Calvin himselfe gives good advice to Farellus Though saith he we be free in all things yet let us be servants to peace and concord I cannot but add that most divine temper of Calvin if the same flowed from his heart which flowed from his pen that though Luther called him a Divell a thousand times yet he would never say otherwise of Luther but that he was a chiefe servant of God And I hope the best because in another case where he was much abused yet his complaints were moderate and modest To establish his new-found Presbyterie which was falling to the ground he became the busiest Polypragmon that ever was in the world of his meanes He cryeth downe Tithes giveth all power almost to the Lay-Magistrates of Geneva upholdeth usury culium obsequio petens by flattery and beggery seeking to be reverenced accepteth a slipend of forty pounds annually And when the fixed honorary of Tithes was taken away the unfixed humours of the Laicks appeared They cared not to pay him his ten pound quarterly and if the silly man had starved for his pretty new invention they had not much esteemed Yet doth not he play the Boutefeau he animateth none to rebellion he seeketh not the change of estate though the penurious man in his Commentaries on Gen. 47. and Gal. 6. could not but complaine how slowly and ill he was paid When they received the blessed Sacrament on Good-friday they did forbeare to kisse one another as it was usuall at other times For the Apostle commands it Romans 16.16 1 Cor. 16.20 and 2 Cor. 13.12 in all three places not a Lustfull but a Peacefull An Holy kisse is appointed Greet ye one another with an Holy kisse as it is in all three places But 1 Thes 5.26 it is varied Greet ye All the brethren with an Holy kisse Lastly the Apostle Saint Peter sheweth what manner of Kisse this ought to be Greet ye one another with a kisse of charity peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus 1 Pet. 5.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a kisse of Charity perhaps because it was given and received when they went to their Agapae or Feasts of Charity a Kisse to manifest true Charity a Kisse to settle peace a Kisse to seale up the prayers of Christians one to another and practised duly and reverently it was as appeareth both by the Greek and Latine Liturgies Origen saith this Custome is delivered to the Churches that After prayers fratres suscipiant se invicem osculo the Christian brethren kissed one another Saint Augustine thus divinely and alwayes like himselfe After the Lords prayer they say Pax vobiscum peace bee with you and then the Christians kisse one another with an Holy Kisse which is the signe of peace As thy lips approach to the lips of thy brother so let thy heart come nigh his heart Sermone 83. de diversis So this kisse is called Holy
as dividing one chapter into soure chapters another or the second chapter into three chapters Nonnus observeth not our chapters much lesse verses Suidas doth otherwise distinguish the chapters Cyrill maketh twelve bookes on Saint John as if all were concluded in twelve chapters Who desireth to see more let him have recourse to the cited place of that rare Scholer and he shall find admirable curiosities concerning chapters and verses of the New Testament and he shall not repent him of his labour And let him consult with Sixtus Senonsis Bibliothecae Sanctae 3. pag. 157. c. Let me adde somewhat more The Arabick Translator is much different from all others Francis Junius in his preface before the Arabick translation of the Acts Arabs noster capita nec sine judicio aliter planè distinguit atque in libris nostris distincta sunt consimiliter versus alios dividit in nostris confusos Alios conjungit disparatos suâ compositione id quod fuerat obscurius tanquam adunatis stellis illuminant Our Atabick Interpreter saith Iunâ—us distinguisheth not without cause or reason the chapters otherwise than they are distinguished in our bookes Likewise concerning the verses he divided some which are confounded together in our bookes and joyneth others together which were disparate and sundred And by this his Composition that which was more obscure he ilustrateth and illuminateth as by a conjunction of stars Heinsius in the fore-cited place concurreth with unius that some others divisions are better than those which we now have in use in some things His words are Intelligimus eos nonnunquam meliùs quae non haererent divisisse where some chapters or verses had little dependance one upon another they sometimes better distinguished them than we doe now I answer if in some few of their variations they come neerer to conveniency than ours doe which I will not wholly deny yet if I have any judgement they have strayed worse than the Greek divisions have done in other places whilest they strive to be menders that ought to be but Translators Indeed if Saint Mark had delivered the Gospell to the Syrians as themselves say he did and if their distinguishments be now such as Saint Mark left them it would make much for their authority Or if any of those Arabians Acts 2.11 who were at Jerusalem at Pentecost had in the dayes of the Apostles translated the Gospels and kept them since from alteration we might ascribe much to it But concerning the Syriack translation Non desunt etiam quaedam in ea editione quae viris doctis piis non admodum placent There are somethings in that edition which holy and learned men are not well pleased with saith Bellarmine And I cannot easily be brought to beleeve that S. Mark delivered to the Churches of Syria and Egypt the Syriac edition of the New Testament since neither Clemens Alexandrinus nor that living Library Origen who laboured more about the Editions than ever any other did Nor Eusebius nor Athanasius nor Dydimus nor Theophilus nor Epiphanius nor Hierom nor Cyril nor Theodoret nor other Fathers who were Bishops or Priests in Syria or Egypt since none of these Fathers who lived there mentioned any such Edition or Translation it shall passe with me as a work of later times The same Arabick translator maketh fifty chapters of the Acts of the Apostles whereas we have only 28. chapters The first Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians in the Arabick hath 21. chapters having only 16. chapters with us The second Epistle hath only 12. chapters in the Arabick and yet we have 13. chapters in the Greek Ammonius divided every one of the foure Evangelists into many chapters S. Matthew into 355 chapters S. Marke into 135 chapters S. Luke into 344 chapters S. John into 232 chapters So Sixtus Senensis Bibliothecae sanctae lib. 3. pag. 160. relateth If such difference be in chapters which is the mainer division there must needs be more variant diversity in the verses which are the subalternate differences depending on the chapters Much more might be said but I have wandred too long and returne to what I handled before namely That we have no reason of necessity to expect that Christs administring of his Third and Last Supper should be distinguished by the beginning of a new chapter For it is not so in any other of the Three Evangelists Nor are the chapters and verses of Divine institution but servient to the Churches ordination varying according to the opinions of diverse ages and in the opinion of Junius and Heinsius may be better than now they are And yet there might be a new chapter in ancient times when Judas went out the old one ending John 13.30 at these words And it was night For presently thereupon in all likelyhood was the blessed Eucharist administred and the Evangelist S. John wholly omitted what the other Three Evangelists had so fully described And a new chapter might begin John 13.31 Or if not a new matter namely our thrice blessed Saviour his holy heavenly last Sermon Sermo Domini in coenaculo which the other Three Evangelists very briefly touched at but S. John declareth at large from John 13.31 to John 18.1 Foure whole chapters and more in a continued and uninterrupted manifesto or declaration PAR. 8. LAstly since it is apparant even to sense and rectified reason that Christ mingled not his most sacred Third Supper and holy Eucharist with ordinary meats but took it by it selfe as a distinct Sacrament of the New Testament and as a glorious testimony of the Law of Grace there is no place in my opinion so likely to establish our Saviours administration of it as immediately upon Iudas his excommunication and secession And when the holy administration was ended to the joy of the Apostles and to the glory of God Our divinest Saviour brake forth into this Jubilee and exultation of joy Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him viz. when his Flesh and Blood were made a glorious Sacrament of the New Law then Christ was glorified and God in Christ How was Christ at that instant glorified above other times if not by Iudas his departure and Christ giving the holy Eucharist to his holy Apostles Or where could it be given more commodiously As for the words Edentibus ipsis I have heretofore cleared them by good authority that they are not to be taken strictly as if whilest meat was in their jawes and whilest their mouths were full and their teeth champing Christ gave them the Supper of the Lord nor as if we were not to receive the hallowed food but as we are eating of some other things nor as if it were essentiall to have a co-eating No Christian heart can think so For it were an undervaluing of the Body and Blood of the Lord and little or no discerning of the Lords Body from other common meats yea indeed an horrid mingle-mangle But the words are to