with healing in his wings and that whereon all the succedent worke of our redemption and salvation doth depend And therefore as this doth in an eminent and speciall manner chalenge our praises and solemne services and acknowledgments unto God for so great a mercy So the Authority of the Church in appoynting a solemne time for such solemne service doth serve an holy and Scripture end very acceptable to God and by such a meanes which he himselfe hath approved and allowed the Church of God to make use off and doth justly require our obedience thereunto which wee cannot withdraw ordinarily without making a breach in that Communion of Saints which is both our comfort to enjoy and our duty to maintaine And these grounds being thus layd and well understood I hope may satisfie any peaceable minded Christians and arme them against all materiall temptations that your Queries which you seeme to thinke such Giants can offer against it and therefore I might well though perhaps set a period heere unto this present businesse But lest you should thinke your selfe despised or grow wise in your owne conceipt and for your further correction and the more full satisfaction of others I offer you and them this short answer unto your Queries and if you or any other shall thinke them in any thing wanting in that clearenesse which yours and some other mens apprehensions may perhaps require I shall by Gods grace be ready if I may be allowed liberty to doe it To render all things out of question and to resolve all doubts that may rest behinde in a faire calme and Christian disputation and discussion of the point with you or any other that shall in a sober and ingenuous way desire to enter into discourse with me thereabout In the meane time take this briefe Reply unto your Demands To your first Quaere Whether such religious customes as are binding to all the Churches of Jesus Christ ought not to have sure footing upon the Word of God or Apostolicall practice Answer That it is ground enough for the establishment of Customes in the Church and to bind all Churches to the Christian observation the roof so far as is required unto Church Customes and matters of order c. That such Customes and Observations beingin themselves harmelesse and conducible to those ends which Gods word prescribeth are commanded unto us by the Authority of the Church Catholick and because this quaere is somewhat too wide for the particular drift you aime at give me leave to take away all doubt to contract it a little by adding this Corolary That in such things the Authority of any particular Church is sufficient to binde those that are within the Verge of it The Examples of the Feast of Purim and of Dedication before mentioned will come in seasonably heere for the confirmation of this To your second Quaere Whether you can substantially prove that Christ was borne on the 25 of December And what your proofes are Answer That because as wee have layd downe the designation of this or that particular day is a thing in it selfe indifferent though the day being knowne wherein such mercies were performed may seeme more convenient then another The maine thing that wee rest upon being this That God may be solemnely praised for so great a mercy and to this end that that day what ever it be which is set apart by the Church for that holy purpose be duely observed Therefore although there is perhaps more to be sayd heerin then you are a ware of yet to make short worke and that they may be the easilier satisfied who are not able to examine Antiquities I answer that it is not at all necessary for us to prove substantially that Christ was borne upon the 25 of December it is sufficient for us that the Authority of the Church hath appoynted that day to performe the duty of praise therefore unto God neither doe wee so much depend upon that day but if upon good reason and equall Authority had designed any other it might be indifferent to us so that God may have his honour in the solemnization of his great mercies whether in this moneth or that moneth on this day or that day is of small concernment but in poynt of order peace uniformity and obedience to dote upon this or that day otherwise were superstitious To your third Quaere Whether the celebration of that day grant he was borne on it can be clearely warranted by you from Scripture And what your Scriptures are Answer It is answered already in the Reply made to the two former where you have beene shewed that it is neither necessary to be proved that Christ was borne upon that day nor yet that there needes any particular Scripture warrant for the observation of such dayes more then is expressed in the answer to the first and the grounds that are layd before you and so much as hath been shewed wee have abundantly for this day Viz. That the Church hath power to appoynt a day for so holy and excellent an end prescribed in Scripture and warranted unto us by the practice of a Quire of Angells of Simeon and Anna Zachary and Elizabeth in the Divine Story To your fourth Quaere Whether you can cleare it by sound consequence from the New Testament though not set downe there in totidem verbis Answer That which hath been sayd may suffice in that the celebration of this day is appoynted by sufficient Authority for those ends which are commanded in the New Testament as is the rendring praise to God for so great a blessing of the New Testament and is a meanes allowed by God for such purpose and conducible thereunto as hath been shewed in the grounds To the fifth Quaere Whether you can doe it by universall tradition Answer That it is well knowne that the observation of this day hath been very Ancient and doth appeare to be of universall reception as if leasure and opportunity would permit might be manifested more abundantly but for the present it may suffice to set down that notable testimony of St. Cyprian a very Ancient Father in his booke de Nativitate Christs in initio Adess saith he speaking of this Festivall of the Nativity of Christ Christi multum desiderata diu expectata Nativitas adest Solemnit as inclita in praesentia salvatoris grates landes Visitatori no per orbem terrarum Sancta reddit Ecclesia There is now present the much desired and long expected Nativity of Christ now is present that famous Solemnity or Festivall and the holy Church throughout all the World doth render thankes and praises to her visiter in the presence of our Saviour and though it be sufficient to binde us that so wholesome custome is enjoyned by Authenticall Authority in this Church and Nation yet this and other testimonies that might be brought of the Antiquity and universality thereof doe much strengthen the obligation that lyes upon us for the
THE VINDICATION of the SOLEMNITY Of the Nativity of CHRIST Shewing the grounds upon which the Observation of that and other Festivalls is justified in the Church With a short Answer to certaine Quaeries propounded by one Ioseph Heming in opposition to the aforesayd practise of the Church By Thomas Warmstry D. D. Let us follow after things that make for peace and things wherewith we may edifie one another Rom. 14.19 Vnto you is borne this day a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Luk. 1.11 Printed in the Yeare 1648. The Vindication of the solemnity of the Nativity of Christ c. BEfore I come to answer these Queries that I may make way for the clearing of mens judgements I shall briefely lay downe the grounds upon which the observation of this and other Festivalls is justified in the Church which are these First It is a thing not onely lawfull but justly due unto God that he should be praised publickly and solemnely for this and other such like great blessings as he hath bestowed upon the Church by Christ and that to this end the memory of them should be preserved in the Church Secondly That for these ends the Observation of a yearely day of memoriall is a meanes conducible in it selfe and approved by God in Scripture who made use thereof among the ancient people to summon and stirre them up thereby to the praise of God for those great blessings and deliverances which were bestowed upon them Thirdly That the appoyntment of such dayes being conducible to those ends before named which are Scripture ends hath so far its ground in the word of God Fourthly That the Church hath a power from God to promote those ends which are commanded in his word by all kinde of meanes which are not contrary thereunto and such a meanâ—â— is this appointment of dayes which hath been with approbation practised by the Church even in the time of the Jewish Bondage in the designation and ordaining of Festivalls yearely to be observed which were not enjoyned by any expresse command of God as is cleerely to be seene in the institution of the Feast of Purim Esther 9.17 c. and of the Feast of Dedication Machab. 4.59 honoured and confirmed by the presence of our Saviour Job 10.22.23 Fiftly That this power in the Church is though unobservedly yet in cleare consequence is confirmed by divers arguments from the allowance and practise of Adversaries themselves As first looke what power private Ministers challenge that they must much more allow the Church But they challenge a power to appoynt times for publick worship which are not expresly commanded by God as upon Lecture dayes E go And there can be no reason why hey should have more power to appoynt an houre or more in a day then the Church a day or more in a ye are Secondly There is as good reason that the Church should appoynt dayes of fâ—â—sting which are not commanded by God as dâ—yes of fasting which are not commanded by God since the end of the former is as exceptable to God and more excellent then the latter and hath no plea against it that lyes not equally against the latter Thirdly That there is much more reason that the Church should appoynt solemne dayes for praising God for Christ and for spirituall blessiâ—â—â— then for remporall ones But the latter is allowed and practâ—â—ed by the Parliament as may appeare by the late Ordinance for the observation of the fifth of November in memoriall of the deliverance of that very State Church and Religion 〈◊〉 an outward destruction which themselves now persecute by the Army in appoynting dayes of Thanksgiving for their bloody Victories other their brothren in an impious way Therefore the former viz. the appoynement of solemne dayes for greater and spâ—â—â—tuall blessings cannot reasonably be condemned by them Sixâ—ly This appoyntment of dayes to the purposes aforesayd is no◠〈…〉 as noâ—â—â—ying in oposiâ—ion to any Law of Gâ—◠〈◊〉 of excellent use and benefit to Gods people 1. To preserve and 〈◊〉 the memory of these great blessings 2. To stir up the people to the duties or praise 3. To call upon the Ministers in their severall charges to study and handle those great and necessary parts of Christian knowledge 4. To give so many opportunities for the assembling of the people to holy duties 5. For the rendring of those great and mysticall blessings familiar unto the people thereby that being fulfilled in this sense that the Psalmist speaketh in the 9. Psal One day telleth another and one night certifieth another there is neither speech nor language yet their speeches are heard among them Thus it comes to passe that the Calender of the Church â—he Cycle of the Festivalls presents is as it were an easie and familiar Catechisme unto the people and doth instruct them almost whether they wil or no in the apprehensions or those high points and comfortable motions of the conception naâ—ivity Circumcision Manifestation to the Gentiles presentation in the Temple of the death and passion resurrection Ascention of Christ into Heaven and of the sending of the holy Ghost to bring home the fruit of all which are as so many parts of the holy Antheme of the Church the Epiphonâ—ma or clâ—se of all which is in the Festivall of the Tâ—inity which is unto all the rest as the Glory be to the Father to the Sonne and to the holy Ghost c. at the close of a Psalme calling upon us to give honour and praise unto the Trinity for all those incomprehensible blessings and benefits whereby the worke of mans redemption is perfected and brought home unto us This wisedome and piety of the Church is not understood nor considered by those heady and haire brain'd people that waigh things in the corrupt scales of oâ— their owne contradictory and antecclesiasticall spirit but they that are sober and peaceable discover and admire it and blesse God for it and do foresee with sad hearts the designes of Satan moving against this Church of ours by the abolishing of these and and other usefull Ordinances and customes to blot out by degrees the memory of the great and inestimable blessings of God in Christ and to open the doore to prophanesse and infidelity to the former benefits may be added the mercy that doth hereby accrue unto servants and the poore beasts in a relaxation of their labours upon such daies the incitements that they administer unto workes of charity neighbourhood and hospitality things very pleasing in the sight of God howsoever disliked by those of this age that place religion in cruelty Faction and Sedition and the nurcery and supply that is thereby suggested unto the exercise of our spirituall joy and delight in God and his goodnesse Lastly The authority of the Church both ancient and modern both generall and of this particular Church comming upon us with all these warrants and conveniences to serve the ends of God and Scripture and strengthened by the
power of the civill Magistrate and by the authenticall Lawes of the Kingdome in those Acts of Parliament which have establisht these things must either engage all that are within the verge of the Church and of this Church and State especially unto a peaceable and pious obedience thereunto or else leave the staine of Impiety Faction and of a turbulent and disorderly spirit or else of folly and blindnesse upon all those that oppose it Indeed there is nothing free from temptations but it is well said of one as I remember and may be well considered of others that it is not at least not alwaies the infirmity but the excellency of things that maketh them the matter of temptation Abuses of things that are good must teach us wisedome and caution but not set us upon confusion And truly there is need of more warines in the observation of these daies then hath been used by many 1. That superstitioÌ„ be avoided that we think not one day in it self better or more holy then another but only so far as they are actually designed or applyed unto the service of God we must remember that these and other particular times as places are but circumstances in the time of the Gospell the substance is in the worship and service that is given unto God thereupon not in the observation of this or that particular day which is in it selfe a matter of liberty as the Apostle sheweth Rom. 14.5 c. Col. 2.16 And that may be a satisfactory reason why in the new Testament these things are not particularly or expresly injoined in Scripture because these are but matters of Order and of liberty not of absolute necessity and therefore left to the moderation of the Church but then we must remember that the liberty of Christians is first the right and interest of the Body and then of the Members who must not urge their particular interest against publique moderations and constitutions in these things yea it is a maine liberty that belongs unto the whole body of the Church that she hath power to restraâ—ne the liberty of private Members by publique authority for the publique good but Superstition must be avoided as I have said noe humane authority must impose these or any such like things as substantiall unalterable or absolutely necessary to salvation but as matters of Order as holy circumstances and meanes conducible unto higher ends and so and no otherwise they are to be received and obeyed by the people according to this is that of a late learned Father of our Church Non putandum plus sanctitatis uni diâ—i inesse quam alteri sad sciendum quod propter ordinem praeceptum Ecclesiae aliasque causas supra memoratas uno die magis quam alio convenimus ad hac exercitia sanctitatis And againe Non putandum Bishop Davenant upon the Coloss c. 2. v. 16. c. we are not to thinke that the Church of God is tyed by any necessity to the immutable observation of these particular Festivall daies Sed statuendum saith he dies hosce humanâ authoritate constitutos câdem posse tolli mutari si utilitas necessitas Ecclesiae id postulaverit nam omnis res per quascunque Causas nascitur per casdem dissolvitur But it must be so judged that these daies which are appointed by humane authority may be abolished and altered by the same where the profit and necessity of the Church doth require it for all things are dissolved by the same causes whereby they are established But then this ought to be done upon good and true grounds and by 〈◊〉 power equall at least to that that hath established them 2. There must be care taken that there be a prudent moderation used in the number of such daies that nothing be imposed o-over burdensome upon the people 3. That they be rightly imployed not in Superstitious worshiping of Saints or Angels as is in use in the Church of Rome nor yet in riot intemperance or any other sinfull liberty as hath been the practise of too many amongst us making little or no other use of such times but to give themselves to idlenesse loosenesse and vanity an evill that hath not onely violated the holinesse of these Festivals we speak of but also the Lords day which some have turned into Sabbathum Vituli aurei into the Sabbath of the Golden Calfe of which it is said Exod. 32. That The people sate downe to cate and drinke and rose up to play Others into Sabbathum Bâ—â—â—â— Asinorum the Sabbath of the Oxe and the Asse spending it in eating and drinking and doing nothing and too many make little or no other difference betweene that and other dayes But onely in putting on their better cloathes and giving themselves to none or else worse imployment then all the rest of the weeke as if bene vestiri nihil agere To be well attired and to doe nothing were to celebrate the Christian Sabbath And indeed it cannot be denyed but as this hath been the ill lot that too many have cast upon the Lords day and other Festivalls So it hath been too too much the share of the Solemnities appoynted for the celebrating the Birth of our Saviour and the rest of the Festivalls that the Church hath joyned with it which instead of being made dayes of prayse and thanksgiving to God and of the exercise of other holy christian and charitable duties with that sobriety that becomes Christians have been made dayes of riot and gaming and wantonnesse and unlawfull liberty as if men were to sacrifice to the Devill for these great and incomprehensible mercies of God A great and intollerable abuse of such blessed opportunities and such as although it doth not at al justifie men in the abolition of them but should rather have set them upon the Reformation of those miscarriages and the restitution of such times unto the first and prefitable institution of them That these evills and corruptions being removed the divine Solemnities and Religious Duties might have been returned and advanced still amongst us to the comfort of the Church and the honour of the name of God Yet they may justly provoke God to deprive us of the comfort of these joyfull Celebrities which wee have so miserably abused to his dishonour and the hurt of our selves and of our brethren But these being the errours of particular men they do not blemish the constitution of the Church in these things which intendeth not such times for such evill purposes but for the service and honour of God and the edification of his people And therefore as it must be the care of all good Christians to seperate the abuses in practice So it is their part and duty to yeeld a ready obedience unto so profitable and wholesome a constitution and as in other Festivalls so in this of the Nativity of Christ c. This being as it were the rising of the Sunne of righteousnesse upon us