Why Some do Not Conform to Common Prayer, Section 4 · Part 1 – Part 3
SECT. IV.
Of the uſe of White Surpliſtes, Rochets, and other Epiſcopal and Sacerdotal Conſecrated Veſtments in the Celebration of Divine Service and Sacraments in Churches.
THe laſt thing I ſhall examine, is the pretended neceſſity, decency or expediency of Biſhops, Miniſters, Deacons, Scholars, Choriſters wearing of white Surpliſſes, Rochet, and other ſacred Veſtments, Habits, Ornaments in the celebration of Divine ſervice and Sacraments, which many have formerly, and now of late over-rigidly contended for, refuſing to admit ſuch into Fellowſhips or Orders, who out of ſcruple of Conſcience refuſed to wear them, and ſilencing, depriving many godly, orthodox, painfull, learned preaching Miniſters, who could not in judgement or conſcience ſubmit to uſe them.
Not to enter into any General diſcourſe concerning the ſeveral uſes of Apparel, as 1. ToaGen. 3. 21. c. 9▪ 23. 2. Chron. 28. 15. Mat. 25. 36, 38, 43, 44. Can▪ 2. 15, 16. Rev. 3. 18. cover our nakedneſs. 2ly. TobHag 1. 6. 2 Cor. 11. 27. Job 31. 19. keep our Bodies warm, and defend them from cold, heat, rain, winde, tempeſts. 3ly. tocRev. …1. 2. Iſay 61. 10. 1 Tim. 2. 9, 10. 1 Pet. 3. 3, 4, 5▪ adorn our Bodies in a modest, decent, comely manner; without laſciviouſneſs, prodigality, or fantaſtickneſs. 4ly. TodDeut. 22. 5. Eſther 6. 1… 6. 8, 10 Acts 12. 21. 2 Sam. 13. 18. Lu. 7. 25. 2 Chron. 18. 9. See Aretii Prolemata Locus, 120. De Veſtitu. diſtingiuſh the Male and Female Sexes, and ſome Ranks, Callings of men from others of a different degree, or Profeſsion. I ſhall only premiſe theſe 13. conſiderations, which I ſuppoſe muſt be acknowledged by the moſt zealous Contenders for theſe Pontifical and Eccleſiaſtical Veſtments, and Habits, without diſpute, when duly pondered.
1. That there is no particular kind, faſhion, form of holy Garments inſtituted or preſcribed by God in ſacred Writ, to Biſhops Miniſters or Deacons in and under the Goſpel, as there was toeExod. 28. 2, 3, 4▪ c. 29. 5. 21, 29. c. 35. 19, 21. c. 42. 13. Levit. 8. 1, 30. c. 16▪ 4. 32. Ezr. 2. 69. Neh 7▪ 70, 71. Ezra. 3. 10. Aaron the High Prieſt, and Jewiſh Priests and Levites under the Law.
2ly. That there is no one Text throughout the New Teſtament, nor authentick Teſtimony to prove, that either Chriſt or his Apoſtles, or any Biſhops, Miniſters, or Deacons in the Apoſtles times, (or for ſome hundreds of years after them) were diſtinguiſhed by their*Quali genere veſtitus uſi ſunt Apoſtoli, aut alii Chriſtiani, non eſt annotatum. Cent Magd 3. cap 6. …. 106. Apparel from other Chriſtians, or Believers; or that they preached, prayed or adminiſtred the Sacraments in any conſecrated Veſtments whatſoever, (much leſſe in ſuch Rochets, Surpleſſes, or other Pontifical Habits, as are now ſo eagerly conteſted for) but only in their ordinary wearing Apparel, the faſhion or colour whereof is no where particularly deſcribed, much leſſe preſcribed in the Goſpel to all or any Miniſters, Biſhops or Deacons. And why ſhould not all Prelates and Miniſters be content to imitate and conform themſelves to their Example, (as they are enjoyned, Epheſ. 5. 2. Phil. 3. 17. 1 Pet. 2. 21.) unleſſe they will be reputed, as in truth they are, the greatest Non-conformists.
3ly. The Goſpel being commanded to be preached to all Nations, who were as‖See … de Moribus … Alezandri ab Alexandro, Gen. Dicrum; Purchas his Pilgrimage and Voyages Cent. Mag. 2, … ▪ 13. cap. …. different in their Manners, Habits, Faſhions, Cuſtoms, Laws, Ceremonies, Governments, as in their Climates and Languages, it was neither poſſible, convenient nor reaſonable to preſcribe any one ſet-form of Biſhops, Miniſters or Deacons Veſtments, Liturgy, or Adminiſtration of Sacraments to them all, but to leave them arbitrary and indifferent, with this general limitation,f1 Cor. 14. 40. Let all things be done decently and in order.
4ly. That though all Qualifications and Duties of Evangelical Biſhops, Deacons, (and their Wives too) be moſt fully and particularly ſet down in the Epiſtles of Timothy and Titus, yet there is not one ſyllable in them concerning the form or colour of their Ordinary or Prieſtly Veſtments, Accounterments; which if ſo neceſſary, expedient, decent as they are now pretended, would certainly have there been ſpecified, recommended, or preſcribed to all ſucceeding Biſhops and Deacons.
5ly. That the Apoſtle in this very Epiſtle to Timothy where he moſt particularly enjoyns the uſe of publick and private Prayers to Biſhops, Miniſters, and all other Chriſtians, and the manner how they ſhould perform the ſame; uſeth only theſe expreſſions,g1 Tim. 2. 1. 2, 3, 8, 9, 10▪ I exhort therefore that firſt of all Supplications, Prayers, Interceſsions, and Thanksgivings be made for all men, for Kings, and all in Authority, that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godlyneſſe and honeſty. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy Hands, (he would doubtleſſe have added, putting on holy Garments, Rochets, Surpleſſes, Albees, Hoods, &c. had they been neceſſary, decent, expedient) without wrath or doubtings: In like manner alſo that Women adorn themſelves with modeſt Apparel, with ſhamefaſtneſſe and ſobriety, (now almoſt quite out of faſhion even in Churches as well as Theatres) not with broydred or plaited hair, or gold, or pearls, or coſtly array, (or ſpots, or patches, now much in faſhion both in and out of Church) but (which becommeth Women profeſsing godlyneſſe) with good works. Let the women learn in ſilence, &c. This tranſition from Miniſters, Deacons, and mens praying in every place with pure hands, to womens apparel (eſpecially in the Church, as the laſt words evidence) without one ſyllable of Mens, Biſhops, Miniſters or Deacons apparel, or Church-veſtments, before or after it in this Epiſtle, or any other, is an unanſwerable argument in my weak judgement againſt the neceſſity or peremptory preſcription of any Rochets, Surpliſſes, or other kind of Veſtments ſince invented, enjoyned by Popes, or Popiſh Prelates, Prieſts, Monks, or any other Prelates, in the celebration of Divine Service, Maſſes, Sacraments.
6ly. That our Saviour himſelfhM…. …. 24. 26. Lu. 12. 22, 23. gave this ſpecial charge to his Diſciples, recorded by two Evangeliſts; Take no thought for your life, what you ſhall eat, or what you ſhall drink, nor yet for your body what you ſhall put on: Is not, or (for the) life (is) more than meat, and the body than rayment? If then the Apoſtles and Diſciples themſelves were thus ſpecially prohibited to take any thought for their ordinary neceſſary Rayment and wearing Apparel, much more then for any extraordinary, unneceſſary Surpliſſes, Rochets, Canonical or Pontifical Maſſing Veſtments, wherein they preach, pray or adminiſter the Sacraments. Of which Popes, Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Prieſts, Deacons, and Cathedral-men have been heretofore, and ſome now be ſo over-carefull, ſo immoderately zealous, as by*Gratian De conſecrat. diſt. 1. Bochellus Decret. Eccl. Gal. l. 1. Tit. 7. l 3. Tit. 1.—l. 6. Tit. 17. ſundry ſucceſſive Councils, Synods, Canons, Decretals, Injunctions, Rubricks, Cenſures, indiſpenſibly to impoſe, yea force them upon their Fellow-Miniſters and Chriſtians, againſt their judgements, wills, conſciences, or elſe to deprive them of their Miniſtry, Gods publick Ordinances, Sacraments, contrary to this expreſs Inhibition of Chriſt himſelf, whom the highly affront therein.
7ly. That God by St. Paul give; this Divine Precept or Admonition to Timothy, and all other Biſhops, Miniſters, Deacons, Chriſtians,i1 Tim 6. 6, 7, 8. Godlyneſs with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world, and it … certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and rayment (though ordinary, courſe, mean,) let us be therewith content. O that all over-covetous, worldly, pompous Prelates and Clergy-men, would ſeriouſly ponder, believe, practiſe, and preach over this Text by their heavenly world-contemning lives, inſtead of vexing, diſquieting, diſcontenting themſelves, and all others, with Law-ſutes, Citations, Injunctions, Cenſures about their Lordly Mannors, Palaces, Temporalties, Pontifical Ornaments, and Prieſtly Veſtments! This would make all to love, honour, reverence them with and from their ſouls, who now repute them the worldlyeſt, the proudeſt, and moſt avaritious of all men profeſſing Chriſtianity, even when they are departing out of this world, and dropping into their very Graves, if not into a deeper Pit, to the ſcandal of the Goſpel, and their holy Function. Let me only mind them of two concluſions from this Text. 1. That if all Biſhops and Miniſters ought to be contented with bare neceſſary rayment, as well as food, then they ought not to lade and cloath themſelves with ſo many ſuperfluous, unneceſſary Pontifical robes and Prieſtly veſtments, as now they wear and put on, even in Gods own preſence, Houſe, whiles they are diſcharging their Duties, and performing Divine ſervices unto him; much leſſe to force or impoſe them upon their Brethren and Fellow Miniſters, who are and would be content with their ordinary Garments, without theſe ſuperfluities, and are highly diſcontented, that they are enjoyned to put them on againſt this Precept, the forecited Texts, yea the very dictates of their own Judgments and Conſciences. 2ly. That they muſt ſpeedily leave all their worldly Temporalties, Epiſcopal robes, Prieſtly veſtments behind them, and ſhall neither carry them hence into their Graves, much leſſe to Heaven, or another world; why then ſhould they either trouble themſelves with them, or their Fellow-Miniſters & Chriſtians about them, who take no contentment in them, and deſire to officiate and ſerve God in their Miniſtry without them.
8ly. (Which is moſt obſervable,) That when Chriſt himſelf commiſſioned and ſent forth his Diſciples to preach, teach, and diſcharge their Miniſterial function, he expreſly enjoyned them among other things,kMat 10. 13, 10. Mat. 6. 9. Lu. 9. 3. not to provide, take, or put on two Coats, Neither to have two Coats a piece, as being an impediment to their preaching and Miniſtry. In obedience to which command, the moſt laborious preaching Goſpel-ſpreading Saint Paul, whiles he was travailing from Country to Country, and City to City, to preach the Goſpel,*2 Tim 4. 13. left his Cloak at Troas with Carpus, as a cumberſom impediment to his Miniſtry, which he ſent for after he was Priſoner at Rome, when he could no longer walk abroad to preach. With what colour then of Piety, Decency, Expediency or Neceſſity, can Popes, Patriarks, Metropolitans, Arch-Biſhops, Biſhops, when they go to ſay Maſſe, read Divine ſervice, preach, baptize, celebrate the Lords Supper, confer Orders, keep Viſitations, conſecrate Churches, Chapels, Veſſels, Veſtments, Kings, put on, adorn and load themſelves with mSee Honorius August dunenſis his Gemma Animae, l. 1. c. 89. 198, to …35. Gratian, cauſ. …1. qu. 4. de Conſecratione Diſtinct. 1. Gulie…mus Durantus, Rationale divinorum, l 3. de Indumentis, Tho. Waldenfis, Tom. 3. Tit. 4. c. 29. 30 Pontificale, Ceremoniale Romanum, Miſſale Romanum, Rubricae Generales Miſſalis. Bochellas Decret. Eccleſ. Gal. l 1. Tit. 7. 16. Tit. 17. Dr Rainolds conference with Hart ch. 8. diviſ. 4. 5. Thomas Beacon his Catechiſm. f▪ 485, 486. and compariſon of the Lords supper with the Popes Maſſe. f. 101. and 104.Miters, Caps, Caſſocks, Gownes, Rochets, Surpleſſes, Copes, Hoods, Stoles, Planets, Palls, Dalmaticks, Pectoral Croſſes, Girdles, Colobiums, Chymers, Gloves, Sandals, Handkerchiefs, Scarffes, without which, by their own Canons, Decretals, Miſſals, Pontificals, Pro…ſſionals, Ceremonials, they neither may nor muſt officiate; and enjoyn all Miniſters, Prieſts, Deacons, under ſevereſt cenſures and deprivations, to wear Caſſocks on their ordinary Apparel, Girdles, and Gownes upon them, Surpleſſes, or Copes upon their Gownes, and if Doctors and Graduates, Hoods, Scarfes, and Tippets upon them (which hinder and make them unapt to preach or diſcharge their Miniſtry) againſt theſe reiterated Precepts of our Saviour, recorded by three Evangeliſts for their own and all other Miniſters imitation? or how can they ever anſwer in the great day of judgement, when they ſhall appear naked before the Tribunal of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, their high contemptuous, willful violations of this his ſacred Injunction, their hating, reviling, perſecuting, rejecting, depriving any of his faithful, painful Miniſters, Servants, as Praeciſians, Puritans, Non-conformiſts, Sciſmaticks, or Fanaticks, only becauſe they will not or dare not in point of Conſcience, againſt the precedent ſacred Injunctions conform in every punctilio to thoſe ſuperfluous Veſtments, Diſguiſes, which their Fantaſtick frothy brains have invented, preſcribed in Gods worſhip, againſt and beſides his Word, and *Acts …. 19, 20. c. 5. 29.obey God rather than men.
9ly. That John the Baptiſt (our Saviours immediate fore-runner) gave this command to Prieſts and Clergymen, as well as the People, Luke 3. 11. He that hath two Coats let him impart to him that hath none; which John the Evangeliſt, Paul and James have ſeconded in ſubſtance, if not in words, 1 John 3. 17. Rom. 12. 13. Jam. 2. 15, 16. How then can Biſhops, Deans, Prebends, Miniſters, heap living upon living, and one Coat, Veſtment upon another, when ſo many poor Chriſtians are naked and deſtitute of clothing, to whom theirnHonorius Auguſtedunenſis Gemma Animae l. 1. c. 237. Tho. Waldenſis, Tom. 3. Tit 4. c. 30. Sect. 5, 6. Gul. Durantes, Rationale Divinorum lib. 3. My Signal Loyalty and Devotion p. 219, 243. Lawes, Decretals reſolve, they muſt not impart any of their conſecrated Coats or Veſtments, though old and quite worn out, but burn them rather, becauſe fit for, and to be worn by none but ſacred perſons. Yea pull off the Coats of their fellow Miniſters, and ſtrip them of their Livings, Miniſtry, becauſe they will not heap Coat upon Coat, and one Veſtment upon another, when they are to pray, preach, adminiſter Sacraments, and the Coats of their own poor Stipendary Curates too, who diſcharge their duties and take all the pains in their Commendaes, Appropriations, Pluralities, Benefices on which they are for the moſt part Non-reſident, by allowing them ſuch contemptible Salaries as will ſcarce provide them Cloaths, much leſſe a competent ſubſtance for them and their Families.
10ly.oRom. 3. 11. 1 Pet. 1. 1…. c. 2. 3, 4. Act. 10. 34. Jam. 2. 1, …. c. 1. 27. That God being no reſpecter of perſons, and taking no notice of Biſhops, Miniſters, or Chriſtians Veſtments in his Worſhip, Service, but only of their Hearts, Spirits, Graces, Sincerity, Diligence and Fidelity. Yea St. Peter himſelf reſolving, That in every Nation be that feareth God and worketh righteouſneſſe, is accepted of him: and St. James particularly reprehending Chriſtians, for having the faith of our Lord Jeſus Christ, the Lord of glory in reſpect of perſons, and preferring thoſe who come into their Aſſemblies with a gold Ring, and goodly Apparel, (as Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Deans, Prebends, and other Pompous Clergy-men uſe to do) and conteming poor Curates, and conſcientious humble world-contemning Miniſters, who come into the Church (to preach, officiate, or celebrate the Sacrament) in ordinary or vile rayment; The diſcriminating of Miniſters from other Chriſtians, and Popes, Patriarchs, Arch-biſhops, Biſhops, Arch-deacons, Deans, Prebends from one another, and from other Miniſters, by their different habits, and Sacerdotal Veſtments, as more honourable, holy, dear, near, acceptable to God than other inferiour Miniſters or Lay-chriſtians, and reputing Sermons, Prayers, Sacraments, preached, made, read, adminiſtred in Surpliſſes Rochets, Copes, and other Church Veſtments, more Canonical, holy, decent, acceptable both to God and Men, than thoſe preached, read, celebrated without them, and that thoſe Prieſtsp…eccat graviter qui uutur in Miſſa veſtibus non benedictis. Sylveſter verbo Miſſa nu. …. Summa Angelica Miſſa ſect. 35. Soto in 4. ſent. diſt. 13. qu. 2. & 4. Aſtenſis. Tit. 14. ar. 4. qu. ult. Armilla. verbo Miſſa, nu. 6. Navar. cap. 25. nu. 24. Thomas Zerulae Praxis Epiſcopalis, part 1. Tit. Veſtimenta Sacara: Miſſale Pontificale & Ceremoniale Romanum. Bochellus Decreta Eccleſ. Gal. l. 1. Tit. 7. & l. 6. Tit. 17. grievouſly ſin againſt God, who officiate without them, is certainly a moſt groſſe, dangerous miſtake, diſhonourable to God, Religion, Chriſtianity it ſelf, and diametrically contrary to theſe ſacred Texts, and 2 Tim. 4. 2, 3, 4, 5.
11ly. That St. Peter himſelf with all the other Apoſtles, Elders, Brethren, aſſembled in the firſt Synod and Council under the Goſpel, Acts 15. reſolved upon ſolemn debate,qActs 15. 19. 20▪ 28, 29. c. 16. 1, 4. not to trouble them which from among the Gentiles were turned to God, with Circumciſion, or any other Jewiſh Ceremnnies inſtituted by God himſelf, and to lay upon them no greater burthen then thoſe Neceſſary things compriſed in their Letters which they ſent and delivered by their Delegates to all the Churches of the Gentiles, whereof Biſhops or Prieſts Veſtments were none; being never reputed Neceſſary things by that Council, or by Chriſt or any of his Apoſtles, as Popes, Prelates, and others now repute them. To preſcribe, enforce them therefore as Neceſſary things, and to revile, ſuſpend, cenſure, ſilence ſuch Miniſters, Schollars, Chriſtians, who repute them Ʋnneceſſary or Superfluous, is to affront, repeal this firſt Apoſtolical Council and Decree, and to advance themſelves above the Apoſtles.
12ly. That our Saviour himſelf when he commiſſioned his Diſciples and ſent them into all the World to teach all Nations, and preach the Goſpel to every Creature, gave them no inſtruction at all concerning Pontifical or Sacerdotal Veſtments, or any other Ceremonies now conteſted for, but only enjoyned them*Mat 28. 19, 20. Mark. 16. 15, 16▪ compared with Eccl. 12. 13. Fear God and keep his Commandements, for this is THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN, eſpecially in his Worſhip. to teach and baptiſe all Nations, teaching them to obſerve all things whatſoever he had commanded them, not their own fancies or decrees, as Popes, Prelates, and too many Miniſters do now. Yea, St. Paul where he particularly treats of preaching the Goſpel, of adminiſtring and receiving the Lords Supper, and of Church Aſſemblies, 1 Cor. c. 9. & 11. & 1…. delivered and preſcribed to them, only that which he received from the Lord, without one ſyllable of thoſe Veſtments, Rites, Ceremonies which now infeſt the Churches unity and peace. Therefore they may and ought to be ſet aſide, by Chriſts and his Apoſtles own precepts, practice, who neither enacted nor commanded them to be uſed in any part of Divine Service or Worſhip.
13ly. That Chriſt himſelf ſharply reprehends all ſuchrMat. 15. 9. Col. 2. 20. who teach for Doctrines, the Traditions and Ordinances of men: yea his Apoſtles, Apoſtolical Elders and Brethren in their firſt Council, blamed thoſe Ceremonial Miniſters who went out from them and taught the Brethren and converted Gentiles,ſActs 15. 1, 2, 24. that they ought to be circumciſed, and keep the Law; thereby troubling them with their words, and ſubverting their ſouls, becauſe they gave them no ſuch Commandement. Till therefore Popes, Archbiſhops, Biſhops and Prelatiſts can ſhew or produce an expreſſe command from Chriſt or his Apoſtles, for the uſe of Surpliſſes, Rochets, Palls, with other Pontifical, Sacerdotal Veſtments, in time of Divine Service, Preaching and Sacraments, they have good grounds and reaſon to lay them quite aſide, and no longer to conteſt for, much leſſe impoſe or enforce them upon any Miniſters, Scholars, Chriſtians, as they will avoid Gods, Chriſts, and their heavy diſpleaſure, cenſure.
Theſe Scriptures and reaſons premiſed, I ſhall in the next place proceed to ſhew the true Original, preſcription, uſe of Surpliſſes, Rochets, and other Veſtments in Divine Offices, Churches; then anſwer the Arguments, Reaſons produced for their uſe and continuance.
It is ingeniouſly acknowledged bytGemma Animae, l. 1. c. 118. Al…ui…us de Divinis Officiis, c. 38, 39.uRationale Divin…rum, l. 3. Honorius Auguſtodunenſis, Gulielmus Durantus, xDoctrinalis, Tom. 3. Tit. 4. cap. 29, 30.Thomas Waldenſis, ſomeyBochellus Decret. Eccleſ Gal. lib. 6. Tit. 17. Popiſh Councils, and the very Roman Pontifical and Miſſal, That white Surpliſſes, and other Pontifical, Sacerdotal Veſtments under the Goſpel, were originally … from Aaron, and the Levitical Prieſts garments under the old aboliſhed ceremonial Law. But who firſt invented, or enjoyned them to be worn in time of Divine ſervice, Maſſe or Adminiſtration of Sacraments, they do not mention, but only the various myſtical ſignifications, groundleſſe grounds, and frantick reaſons of their ſeveral inſtitutions. I finde in a ſpurious Deeretal Epistle attributed tozSurius Concil. Tom. 1▪ p. 253 Gratian de Conſecratione, Diſt. 1, 2. Summa Angelica, Tit. Veſtis, Sylveſter. Tit. Benedictio 1 Pontificale & Miſſale Romanum. Centur. Magd. 3. col. 246. Pope Stephen, Anno Chriſti, 261. this general Clauſe concerning Prieſts Veſtments, That the Garments wherein Priests and other Miniſters of the Church ought to celebrate Divine ſervice, and miniſter unto the Lord, ought to be conſecrated, and decent, and applyed to none other uſe, nor yet to be worn or touched by any but ſacred Perſons. But what theſe Veſtments were he particularly defines not. If Surpliſſes, or white Rochets, as ſome conceit, then they ought not to be touched by Scholars, Choriſters, Singing-men, and others who are no conſecrated Prieſts, nor in ſacred Orders, as they are now in Cathedrals, and ſome Colledges in our Univerſities, againſt this Popes and other his Succeſſors Decrees. This Decree the Century Writers ſtile, idle, ſuperfluous, altogether diſagreeing with the word of God, and ſavouring of the myſterie of Iniquity; Flaccus Alcuinus, De Divinis Officiis. c. 38, 39, 40. Bochellus Decret. Eccleſ. Gal. l. 1. Tit. 7. l. 6. Tit. 17. Honorius Augustodunenſis in his Gemma Animae, l. 1. Gulielmus Durantus, Rationale Divinorum, l. 3. Tho. Waldenſis, Tom. 3. tit. 4. cap. 29, 30. Franciſcus Zerula Praxis Epiſcopalis, pars 1. Pontificale & Miſſale Romanum, with ſundry others, have large diſcourſes concerning the ſeveral ſacred Veſtments of Popes, Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Deans, Deacons, Prieſts; and particularly of Albees and Surpliſſes. But who firſt introduced them into Chriſtian Churches is a Queſtion not reſolved by them.
The next Authority I meet withall is the Decree of Pope Euſebius about the year 309. firſt recorded by hDe Conſecratione diſt 1.Gratian, andiSurius Concil. Tom. 1. p. 311. Centur. Magd. 4. c. 6. col. 480, 1271. others out of him. Conſulto omnium ſtatuimus, ut ſacrificium Altaris non inſerico panno aut tincto quiſquam celebrare praeſumat, ſed in puro lined vel linted ab Epiſcopo conſecrato, terreno ſcilicet lino procreato atque contexto, ſicut corpus Domini Jeſu Chriſti in Sindone linea munda ſepultum fuit. John 19. 40. Mar. 15. 46. Mat. 27. 59. Lu. 23. 53. But this Decree of his, as it is forged, ſpurious, repugnant to the History of that Time, the phraſe, tenent, and practiſe of that Age, and ſuperſtitious, as the Century writers prove and ſtyle it; ſo the reaſon produced by the Author of it, why Prieſts and Clergymen ſhould celebrate the Sacrament of the Altar, not in a ſilken or died, but in a pure white linnen Garment made of Flax, ingendred out of the earth; becauſe Chriſts body was buried in linen cloaths, is very abſurd.
Had Chriſt celebrated his laſt Supper, or preached, prayed in a linen Surpliſſe whiles he lived, the inference had been tollerable; But ſince he never did it, for ought appears; and the Evangeliſts preciſely record, that at hiskMat. 17. …, 2, 3. Mar. 9. 28, …9. miraculous transfiguration only, when he went apart up into a high Mountain with three of his Diſciples alone from all other company, his Rayment (formerly of another colour) becauſe ſhining, exceeding white as Snow, ſo as no Fuller on earth can white them; and that only till his transfiguration was paſt: the Argument recoyles upon the Author of this Impoſture with great diſadvantage. For 1. Chriſt never preached nor celebrated his laſt Supper in a white linen Garment or Surpliſſe whiles he lived; Therefore no Prieſts, Biſhops or Miniſters, (who are his*2 Cor. …. 20. 1 Pet. 11. 23. 1 John. 2. 6. Eph. 5. 1. Phil. … 5. 1 Pet. 2. 21. Embaſſadors, and ſhould imitate his Example) ought to do it after his death. 2ly. Chriſt did not put on theſe linnen Garments himſelfe, or to officiate in them; but Joſeph of Aramathea and Nichodemus, wrapped his dead Corps in them to bury it; Therefore Biſhops, Prieſts, Deacons ſhould never put on white Rochets or Surpleſſes on their backs to preach, pray, or celebrate the Lords ſupper whiles they live, but only their dead Corps be wrapped up in them when they are interred. 3ly. Theſe white linnen Garments wherein Chriſts body was wrapped were only his Winding-ſheet and Grave-cloaths, not a Surpleſſe, Albee, Stole or Rochet: neither were they conſecrated by a Pope or Biſhop, not worn in a Church, but only in a Sepulchre: yea our Saviour left them lying in his Sepulchre when he roſe again, John 20. 5, 6, 7, 8. and never wore them afterwards: Ergo Biſhops, Prieſts, Deacons, ſhould only wear unconſecrated Winding-ſheets, and fine linnen Garments in their Graves when dead; and there leave them when they riſe again; not conſecrated Rochets, Surpleſſes, Albees, Stoles in the Church when living; 5ly. Chriſts body was not wrapped in theſe linen cloaths in any relation to his Prieſtly office of function; but only as a mere dead Corps to be interred, it being the uſual manner of the Jews thus to bury dead Corps, as well Laymen as Prieſts: witneſs John 19. 29. (quoted by this Impoſtor) Then took they the body of Jeſus, and wound it in linnen cloaths, with the ſpices, as the manner of the Iews is to bury: compared with John 11. 44. So the lAlexander … Alexandro. Gen. Dierum, l. 3. c. 7.Naſamones, Graecians, Spartians, A…gives, Syra…ſians, Sycionians, and other Nations wrapped the dead bodies of their deceaſed Friends in white linen cloaths, with ſpices and balmes and ſo interred them. Therefore if this reaſon be ſolid, all Men and Women as well Jewes as Gentiles, Pagans as Chriſtians ſhould wear white Rochets, Surpliſſes, Albees, Stoles in Churches, as well as Popes, Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Prieſts and Deacons, becauſe they are all alike interred and wrapped in white linnen Grave cloaths, when buried in their Graves.
The*See Centur. Magd. 2▪ 3. 4, 5, & 6. cap. 6. De Ritibus circa caenam Domini: & Romanae. Eccleſiae, & circa Miſſam Dr. Rainolds Conference with Hart ch 8. div. 4. 5. firſt probable authority in any true Antiquity, for Biſhops, Miniſters, and Deacons wearing white Veſtments in the Celebration of the Lords Supper, is that of Hierom, about 410. years after Chriſt, Adverſ. Pelagianos. l. 1. c. 9. Ʋnde adjungis, genera vestium & ornamentorum Deo eſſe contraria. Quae ſunt, rogo, inimicitiae contra Deum ſi tunicam habuero mundiorem? ſi Epiſcopus, Presbyter & Diaconus, & reliquus ordo Eccleſiaſticus in Adminiſtratione Sacrificiorum cum candida veſte proceſſerint? Cavete Clerici, cavete Monachi, viduae & virgines, periclitamini niſi ſordidas vos atque pannòſas vulgus aſpicerit. Taceo de hominibus ſaeculi, quibus apertè bellum indicitur, & inimicitiae contra Deum, ſi pretioſis atque nitentibus utuntur Exuviis And in hisnTom. 5. p. 876. D. Commentariorum l. 13. in Ezech. c. 44. Veſtibus lineis utuntur Aegyptii Sacerdotes, non ſolum intrinſecus ſed & extrinſecu…, (he means their Pagan not Chriſtian Prieſts) Porro *He writes it of the Jewiſh Prieſts, not Chriſtian Miniſters.religio divina, alterum habitum habet in Ministerio, alterum in uſu vitaque communi. Which compared with his former paſſage, intimates, that ſome Eccleſiaſtical Perſons did then wear white Veſtments, in the Religious publick exerciſe of their Miniſtry, and Adminiſtration of the Sacrament: which is further evidenced by St. Chryſostom, adoTom. 5. Col. 338. D. & Tim. 2. Populum Antiochiae, Serm. 60. Wherein he applying his Speech to the Miniſters who diſtributed the Lords Supper to the people, uſeth this expreſſion, Hoc veſtra dignitas, hoc ſecuritas, hoc omnis Corona, (to keep ſcandalous unworthy perſons from the Lords Table) non ut albam et ſplendidam tunicam circumeatis induti. Which he repeats again in his 83. Homily upon Matth: 26. Haec eſt dignitas veſtra, haec ſtabilitas, haec Corona praecipua, non ut tunicam induti candiſſimam per Eccleſiam ambuletis. Whence thepCent. Magd. Tom. 5. c. 6. Col. 652. Century Writers obſerve, Candidae vestis meminit tantum obitur Chryſoſtomus, dum de Sacramenti corporis ac ſanguinis Dominici adminiſtratione diſſerit. From theſe paſſages of Hierom, and Chryſoſtom, *Rationale Divinorum l 3.Durantus qEccleſiastical Polity l. 5. ſect.Mr. Hooker and others juſtifie the Antiquity, uſe of Surpliſſes, though they do not poſitively define theſe white Garments to be Surpliſſes; nor can they prove they were conſtantly and univerſally uſed by, much leſſe preſcribed to all Miniſters, Deacons, and Eccleſiaſtical perſons in that age, or ſome hundreds of years after, by any Oecumenical, National or Provincial Councils. rSee Cent. Magd. 6. c. 6. Col. 337.Gregory of Tours in the fourth Book of his Hiſtories, c. 60. makes mention of the Arch-deacons putting on the Albe upon the Biſhop when he officiated, which ſome take to be a Surpliſſe, about 640 years after Chriſt, but for Biſhops or Prieſts conſtant uſe of them by any Canon or Law in that age, I yet remember none. About 700 years after Chriſt, PopeſCent. Magd. 7. col. 153, 154▪ Sylveſter and other Popes brought in the uſe of Stoles, Surpliſſes, with other Prieſts Maſſing Veſtments by degrees, and ſoon after turned their Maſſes and Divine Services, by their manifold diſguiſed Veſtments, Ceremonies, Proceſſions, Bowings, Croſſings, ridiculous, antique, fanatick innovations, geſtures, into a meer Pagentry or Enterlude, as is evident bytBibl. Patrum Tom 8. p. 397, 398, &c. Ordo Romanus Antiquus de Divinis Catholicae Eccleſiae Officiis, ſaid to be compiled about 800. years after Chriſt: by Abbot Alcuinus, Tutor to Charles the Great, De divinis Officiis, cap. 38, 39. publiſhed about the year 802. where he at large deſcribes the uſe, original, and reaſon of inſtituting the ſeveral ſorts of Pontifical and Prieſts Veſtments, both under the Law and Goſpel, paralelling them and the grounds of their inſtitution together. After whoſe time I finduBochellus Decret. Eccleſ. Gal. l 1. Tit. 7. l. 3. Tit 1. l. 6. Tit. 17. ſeveral Canons made in divers Provincial Councils in France, for the uſe of Albees and Surpliſſes in the Celebration of Maſſes and Sacraments; the uſe of them being continued, and ſucceſſively preſcribed in all Popiſh Churches ſince that age to this very day, which not only make the putting on or xCent. Magd. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13▪ &c. cap. 6. Baronii Annales Spondanus, Miſſale, Pontificale, & Ceremoniale Romanum.wearing a Surpliſſe by every Priest in the Act of his Ordination, and of a Rochet, with ſundry other Epiſcopal Veſtments and Ornaments upon Biſhops, a principal part, badge of their Conſecration, as the Roman Pontifical and Ceremonial preſcribe in their Rubricks, but likewiſe in their Miſſals, Pontifical and Ceremonial of Biſhops, enjoyn ſet forms of Prayers and Croſſings to be uſed by Biſhops in the conſecration of, and putting on of Rochets, Albees, and other Trinkets when they are to officiate, or diſcharge their Miniſtry in them; which I ſhall here inſert, that all may diſcern their ſuperſtition and vanity. I ſhall begin with their conſecration of theſe Garments.
*At the end of Miſſale Romanum, Ex Decreto Sacri Concilii Tridentini Reformatum, &c. Antuerpiae 1630. Benedictie…es Diverſae, p. 101, 102. Pontificale Romanum, par. 2. p. 357, 358.Benedictio in Sacerdotalium indumentorum in genere.
Ʋ. Adjutorium noſtrum in nomine Domini. R. Qui fecit coelum & terram. Ʋ. Dominus vobiſcum. R. Et cum ſpiritu tuo.
Oremus.
OMnipotens & ſempiterne Deus, qui per Moyſen famulum tuum pontificalia & ſacerdotalia, ſeu levitica veſtimenta, ad explendum in conſpectu tuo miniſterium eorum, ad honorem & decorem nominis tui fieri decreviſti: adeſto propitius*Innovationibus noſtris had been better. invocationibus noſtris & haec indumenta ſacerdotalia, deſuper irrigante gratia tua, ingenti benedictione per noſtrae humilitatis ſervitium *Here they make 3 Croſſes.purifi care, & bene✚dicere, & conſe✚crare digneris: ut divinis cultibus & ſacris myſteriis apta & benedicta exiſtant: his quoque ſacris veſtibus Pontifices, & Sacerdotes, ſeu Levitae tui induti, ab omnibus impulſionibus ſeu tentationibus malignorum ſpirituum muniti & defenſi eſſe mereantur: tuiſque myſteriis aptè & condignè ſervire & inhae…ere, atque in his tibi placitè. & devotè perſeverare tribue. Per Chriſtum Dominum noſtrum. R. Amen.
Oremus.
DEus, invictae virtutis triumphator, & omnium rerum creator ac ſanctificator intende propitius preces noſtras; & hac indumenta Leviticae, ſacerdotalis & pontificalis gloriae, miniſtris tuis f…uenda, tuo ore proprio bene✚dicere, ſanctifi✚care, & conſe✚crare digneris; omneſque eis utentes tuis myſteriis aptos, & tibi devotè ac laudabiliter ſervientes, gratos efficere digneris. Per Dominum noſtrum▪
Oremus.
DOmine Deus omnipotens, qui veſtimenta Pontificibus, Sacerdotibus: & Levitis, in uſum tabernaculi foederis neceſſaria,*Not Aaron Prieſts, Popes or Biſhops. Moyſen famulum tuum agere juſſiſti, eumque ſpiritu ſapientiae ad id peragendum repleviſti: haec veſtimenta in uſum & cultum myſterii tui bene✚dicere, ſancti✚ficare, & conſe✚crare digneris; atque miniſtros altaris tui, quia ea induerint, ſeptiformis Spiritus gratia dignanter repleri, atque caſtitatis ſtola, beata facias cum bonorum fructu operum miniſterii congruentis immortalitate veſtiri. Per Chriſtum Dominum. R. Amen.
Deinde aſpergit ipſa indumenta aqua benedicta.
Specialis Benedictio cuj…ſ…et Indumenti.
Ʋ. Adjutorium noſtrum in nomine Domini.
R. Qui fecit coelum & terram.
Ʋ. Dominus vobiſcum.
R. Et cum ſpiritu tuo.