The Holy Life and Happy Death of John Bruen, Chapter 29
CHAP. XXIX.
NOw becauſe popery and profannes two ſiſters in evill, had conſented,Popiſh and profane Wakes a… Tarum. Paul Jov. Hist. l. 24. Calv. de vera eccleſrefor. Ratione. Bullſing de Origin. err.e. 33.34. His godly care and labour to ſuppreſſe them. and conſpired in this Pariſh, as in many other places together, to advance their idols againſt the Arke of God, and to celebrate their ſolemne feaſts of their popiſh ſaints, as being the Dii Tuteleries, the ſpeciall patrons and protectors of their Church and Pariſh, by their Wakes and Vigils, kept in commemoration and honour of them, in all riot and exceſſe of eating and drinking, dalliance, and dancing, ſporting, and gaming, and other abominable impieties and idolatries: this godly. Gentleman being ſtirred in his ſpirit, at theſe their groſſe ſuperſtitions, and much grieved in heart at their grievous miſdemeanors and diſorders, knowing well that the cuſtomes of the people were raine, yea, and vile alſo, poyſoning their mindes with erriours, and corrupting their hearts and lives with baſe luſts, and the bitter fruits thereof: And fearing leſt their carnall joyes and delights in theſe fleſhly and earthly things, might make the Heavenly Manna to ſeeme as light bread unto them, and the wholeſome food of life more unſavoury and diſtaſtfull than otherwiſe it would have beene.By a more plentifull and powerfull uſe of the Word preached. This Gentleman, I ſay, to prevent theſe miſchiefes, and procure the peoples good, did uſually at theſe times bring in, and ſet up the Arke of God in greater pomp and power amongſt them, to bring downe and break in peeces their Dagon, ſo much admired and adored by them. So hee did, and prevailed in ſo doing. Againſt S. Andrews day, which is the time of Tarum Wakes, and the weeke following, I obſerved (ſaith he) many yeares together, to invite two or three of the beſt affected Preachers in the Dioceſſe, that ſpent moſt part of three dayes in preaching and praying in the Church,Whereby he prevailed and bleſſed God. ſo as the Pipers and Fidlers, and Beare-wards, and Players, and Cameſters, had no time left them for their vanities, but went away with great fretting, and yet multitudes of well affected people, filled the Towne and the Church, and that with much rejoycing, bleſſed be God. O what, and how great comfort and contentment, did this godly man take in diſcountenancing and ſuppreſſing (ſo farre as hee could) all popery and profanneſſe,With rejoycing. together with all the inſtruments, abbetters and maintainers of the ſame! O how great was his rejoycing, and ſolace, when by any care, coſt, or labour, hee might refreſh the bodies, and rejoyce the ſoules of Gods people, either by corporall or ſpirituall repaſt,And feaſting. provided and prepared for them! To which end, as it is well knowne, at one of theſe times, beſides all other proviſion, there was ſpent in his houſe a fat Beife, and a half, within the ſpace of three days, upon godly and well affected people, and his Cook did then relate unto him.Of Gods people. Such was his deſire to doe good, his delight in the Saints, his joy in the houſe of God, and love to his ſervice; that all other things, in compariſon of theſe, were but loſſe, and droſſe, and dung, unto him. O,Renouncing all fellowſhip with ſinne and ſinners. how truly might he ſay with David, Away from me all yee workers of iniquitie, I will keepe the commandements of my God: I hate all vaine inventions, but thy Law doe I love: all my delight is in the Saints, and in ſuch as excell in vertue: I was glad when they ſaid unto me, let us goe up into the houſe of the Lord, our feet ſhall ſtand in thy gates O Jeruſalem? How well did he herein imitate the example of Christ, And herein following the example of Chriſt Ieſus.who at the feaſt of the dedication of the Temple (though it were no divine, but a humane conſtitution) tooke occaſion notwithſtanding, upon the frequent concourſe of the people, to teach and preach the Goſpell of the Kingdome unto them, and whiles they ſought after carnall things, to pleaſe their fleſh, to miniſter unto them ſpirituall, to profit and doe good unto their ſoules?
Nether doe I ſpeake this to juſtifie or approve theſe feſtivall ſolemnities,Bulling de Origin. …. c. 35.114. for the anniverſary commemoration and celebration of Saints and Martyrs, and dedication of Churches, which ſavour rancke of the caske, and ſmell hugely of the veſſels of Judaiſme, Paganiſme, and Papiſme,Lib. Inter. cap. de Ceremoniis. See Bullin. de orig. …r. cap. 36. ſol. 113. whence they were firſt drawne … derived (for ſo I ſhould condemne many both Fathers and Councels, that have condemned and inhibited the like Wakes, and ſolemne Aſſemblies at ſuch times, and to ſuch ends, which they called their Vigilias and Encania, and that for the ſame errours, abuſes enormities, and villanies that wee doe now condemne them for) But I ſpeake it to the juſt commendation of this worthy Gentleman,D. Rain. de Idol. l 2. c. 3 13. and for the faire provocation of other Gentlemen alſo, of like power and place, by his example, is doe what they can to ſuppreſſe and aboliſh all ſuch Wakes and feſtivals: and if they cannot doe that, yet to make the beſt of the worſt, by ſtanding againſt them, ſtriving both by courage and countenand, to diſgrace, and diſappoint them, and to bring in better meanes of mercy and of grace, either to water or to plant the Uineyard of the Lord which is before them.