Sermon 17 November 1599, Apology · Part 2 · Accusation 4
The fourth generall Accuſation.
That church-ſervice, and thoſe exerciſes and diſportes that are materially fooliſh, meere paraſiticall, and ſpiced with flattery, which reduce men backe againe to the fearful abhomination of heatheniſh Idolatrie, longe ſince aboliſhed, and confounded, and hiſſed out of the worlde by the light of the glorious goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt, are not to be tollerated in any Chriſtian common wealth.
But the church ſervice, and exerciſe now yearely vſed in England are of the nature ſpecified in the Maior.
Ergo the church-ſervice and exerciſes now yearely vſed in England the 17. of November are not to be tollerated in any Chriſtian common-wealth.Calvinotur lib 2 P. 341 Note his vvorde. The contriver of this Accuſation is W. Reynoldes in the booke marginally cy…ed in theſe wordes: Eâdem perverſitate natales Reginae & die … annuum, quo primum ad regni gubernacula aſſumpta eſt, ingentibus pyrii, & laeto publico que campanarum ſonitu per omnes regiones civitatis, & pagos festive celebratis &c. with like prepoſterous aver ſeneſſe or croſſing humor,Overthwart in plaine Engliſh. the Proteſtants in England ſolemnize the 7. of September beeing the day of their Queenes Nativity or birth; and the day wherein ſhee firſt obtained in her right by lawfull diſcent the honor of the crowne of England, & was proclaimed Queene With great Bone-fires, with ioyfull ringing of Belles throughout all Shires, Citties, and Pariſhes of that Realme &c. If any one ſhoulde doe the like on the feaſt of Chriſts Nativity, the Nativity of his Mother, on the day of Chriſts Aſcenſion, or the day of the B. Virgines Aſſumption, hee ſhould be reputed by and by a perſon ſuperſtitious, a Papiſt, a man ill affected to the Queene, and an enemy to the reformed religion, beſides certainty of impriſonment for his demeanure,Let them looke whether their Carnwalls or Bachanalia open not a windowe to Paganiſme and their Iubelies to Iudaiſme. frō whence he ſhould not be diſmiſſed till he hauehave payed a good fine. Theſe actions are very prepoſterouſly and croſſely managed by that Engliſh nation at theſe times. For who can by this but evidently ſee and finde, that this church office is no braunch of true religion, but a bloſſome of fooliſh and ridiculous flattery reducing the practizers here of backe againe to the broade hye way of heathniſh Paganiſme, derived firſt from ſuch ſprings & foūtaines originally; namely by ſubiects honoring their Princes in thoſe daies, Iupiter, Mars, Hercules, with ſuch outward ceremonies and enſignes of honor, by whoſe induſtrious inventions and attemptes they attained ſome worldly profites,Note that Papiſts doe rely ever vponupon honour to the dead. or advauncements. VVhichWhich honours & celebrities notwithſtanding with greater reaſon, and with leſſe opinion of flattery, and in better diſcretion might be yeelded, attributed, and performed rather to them that are deade and departed hence, then to ſuch as doe preſently liue, when ſuch celebrities are performed to their honours or to congratulate or applaud them.
To averre the truth of this, this Accuſer marginally alledgeth and quoteth the 14.15.16.17. verſes of the 14. chap. of the booke of Wiſdome. 14.Wiſdom…e 14.14 15 16.17. &c. When a Father mourned greevouſly for his ſonne that was taken away ſuddainely, he made an image for him that was once dead, whom now he worſhippeth as a God, and ordeined to his ſervauntes ceremonies and ſacrifices. 15. Thus by proceſſe of time this wicked cuſtome prevailed, and was kept as a law, & …ooles were worſhipped by the commandement of T…ants. 16. As for thoſe that were ſo farre of that men might not vvorſhippe them preſently, they did counterfeit the viſage that was farre of, and did make a gorgeous image of a king whome they vvould honor, that they might by all meanes flatter him that was abſent, as though he had beene preſent. Dies nativ. et inaugurationis Vnited by the Accuſer heere. Saunders de Schiſmate. Pa. 302. The formal day of Q. Elizabeths inveſting & coronation was in Ianuary following the 15 day. The right of her Coronation materially, and acc… …ng to the i… mutual peried beginni…g the 17 of November Ann D. 1558.Againe the ambition of the crafteſmen thruſt forward the ignorant to increaſe the ſuperſtition.