A Quench-Coal, Errata
Courteous Reader, this should have come in at the 3. Question, concerning the Consecration of Churches; Immediatly before the words of Bishop Pilkington there cited, Page 214. Line 32.
*Antiquita…es Ecclesiae Brit: p. 85. 86. 87Mathew Parker, the Learned Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, relating the forme of Consecrating Churches, Chapples, Altars, Foundation-stones, Vestments, Chalices, and the like, out of the ancient Missals and Saxon Pontificals, which our Bishops at this day use; Concludes thus of them all.
Who can doubt, but that Papall Rites and Ceremonies abound with these kinde of Exorcismes, which differ nothing at all from these anciently used in the Ordalium and vulgar forme of Purgation, which they at length condemned, yea rather abound with more and more stupendious Conjurations then they?
But S. Augustine, who in his time complained of the multitude of Ceremonies, if he were now alive, what would he thinke of that immense and prolix number of Ceremonie… … in use?
For writing to Ianuarius, he thus speakes of Ceremonies: Notwithstanding he hath laden with servile burthens Religion itselfe, (which the mercy of God would have to be free, with very few and most manifest Ceremonies of Celebration,) that the condition of the Iewes is now more tollerable then that of Christians: Who although they acknowledge not the time of liberty, yet they are Subject to the rudiments of the Law, not to human presumptions or Insti…ons.
Thus Augustine: And verify the condition of this our time is much to be deplored, that the Fathers of the Church, either will not, or cannot with the same edge of their minde, cut off these and such like Ceremonies, or rather TRIFLES from the Church, where with they discerned and corrected these former vices of Ordalium, or triall by fire. But those being damned and abolished as Superstitious, they still hold fast and retaine these (Consecrations) QUAMVIS PUERILIA ET DELIRIA SINT, although they are Childish things and Dotages framed and co…piled out of them. How much more equall then moderne Papists, was Pope Gr… gorie, who writes; That the rules of the Holy Fathers were delivered according to the circumstances of time, Place, person and instant busines. But these having no regard, neither of time nor place, no… busines, nor person, nor of any other thing but their owne will and vaine glory; N… pusillis in re…us … ce…e…a volu…; Will not submit to the truth even in these triviall things.
Thus this Arch-Bishop of these Dedications, so much now contested for by his present Successo…r; Ou… of what spirit, he hath here determined to our hands, I … not recite ….