The Holy State, Book 2 · Chapter 6
CHAP. 6. The true Church Antiquary.
HE is a traveller into former times, whence he hath learnt their language and fashions. If he meets with an old manuscript, which hath the mark worn out of its mouth, and hath lost the date, yet he can tell the age thereof either by the phrase or character.
He baits at middle Antiquity, Maxime 1.but lodges not till he comes at that which is ancient indeed. Some scoure off the rust of old inscriptions into their own souls, cankering themselves with superstition, having read so often Orate pro anima, that at last they fall a praying for the departed; and they more lament the ruine of Monasteryes, then the decay and ruine of Monks lives, degenerating from their ancient piety and painfulnesse. Indeed a little skill in Antiquity inclines a man to Popery; but depth in that study brings him about again to our religion. A Nobleman who had heard of the extreme age of one dwelling not farre off, made a journey to visit him, and finding an aged person sitting in the chimney-corner, addressed himself unto him with admiration of his age, till his mistake was rectified: for, Oh Sr, (said the young-old man) I am not he whom you seek for, but his sonne; my father is farther off in the field. The same errour is daily cōmitted by the Romish Church, adoring the reverend brow and gray hairs of some ancient Ceremonyes, perchance but of some seven or eight hundred years standing in the Church, and mistake these for their fathers, of farre greater age in the Primitive times.
He desires to imitate the ancient Fathers, 2as well in their Piety, as in their Postures. Not onelyonly conforming his hands and knees, but chiefly his heart to their pattern. O the holinesse of their living and painfulnesse of their preaching! how full were they of mortified thoughts, and heavenly meditations! Let us not make the ceremoniall part of their lives onelyonly Canonicall, and the morall part thereof altogether Apocrypha, imitating their devotion not in the finenesse of the stuff, but onelyonly in the fashion of the making.
3He carefully marks the declination of the Church from the Primitive purity. Observing how sometimes humble devotion was contented to lie down, whilest proud superstition got on her back. Yea not onelyonly Frederick the Emperour, but many a godly Father some hundreds of years before held the Pope's stirrop, and by their well-meaning simplicity gave occasion to his future greatnesse. He takes notice how their Rhetorical hyperboles were afterwards accounted the just measure of dogmaticall truths; How plain people took them at their word in their funerall apostrophes to the dead; How praying for the departed brought the fuell, under which after-ages kindled the fire of Purgatory; How one Ceremony begat another, there being no bounds in will-worship, wherewith one may sooner be wearied then satisfied; the inventours of new Ceremonyes endeavouring to supply in number, what their conceits want in solidity; How mens souls being in the full speed and career of the Historicall use of Pictures could not stop short, but must lash out into superstition, vailing their bonnets to Rome in civill courtesie, when making honourable mention thereof, are interpreted by modern Papists to have done it in adoration of the idole of the Popes infallibility. All these things he ponders in his heart, observing both the times and places, when and where they happened.
4He is not zealous for the introducing of old uselesse Ceremonies. The mischief is, some that are most violent to bring such in, are most negligent to preach the cautions in using them; and simple people, like Children in eating of fish, swallow bones and all to their danger of choking. Besides, what is observed of horse-hairs, that lying nine dayes in water they turn to snakes; so some Ceremonies though dead at first, in continuance of time quicken, get stings, and may do much mischief, especially if in such an age wherein the meddling of some have justly awaked the jealousie of all. When many Popish tricks are abroad in the countrey; if then men meet with a Ceremony which is a stranger, especially if it can give but a bad account of it self, no wonder if the watch take it up for one on suspicion.
He is not peremptory but conjecturall in doubtfull matters. 5Not forcing others to his own opinion, but leaving them to their own libertie; not filling up all with his own conjectures to leave no room for other men: nor tramples he on their credits, if in them he finds slips and mistakes. For here our souls have but one eye (the Apostle saith, we know in part) be not proud if that chance to come athwart thy seeing side, which meets with the blind side of another.
He thankfully acknowledgeth those by whom he hath profited. 6Base natured they, who when they have quenched their own thirst, stop up, at least muddy, the fountain. But our Antiquary, if he be not the first Founder of a commendable conceit, contents himself to be a Benefactour to it in clearing and adorning it.
He affects not phancy-full singularity in his behaviour:7 Nor cares he to have a proper mark in writing of words, to disguise some peculiar letter from the ordinary character. Others, for fear travellers should take no notice that skill in Antiquity dwells in such an head, hang out an antique hat for the signe, or use some obsolete garb in their garments, gestures, or discourse.
8He doth not so adore the Ancients as to despise the Modern. Grant them but dwarfs, yet stand they on giants shoulders, and may see the further. Sure, as stout champions of Truth follow in the rere, as ever march'd in the front. Besides, as *Sr. Fran. Ba…on Advance. of learn. p. 46.one excellently observes, Antiquitas seculi juventus mundi. These times are the ancient times, when the world is ancient; and not those which we count ancient ordine retrogrado, by a computation backwards from our selves.