Examination of Common Prayer, Section 4 · Benediction 1 – Benediction 2
SECT IV.
Of the use of white Surplisses, Rochers, with other Episocopal 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, D…acous, Scholars, Choristers wearing of white Surp…isses, Rochets, 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, deprivi…g many godly, orthodox, painfull, learned preaching Ministers, who could not in judgment or conscience submit to use them.
Not to enter into any General discouse concerning the several uses of Apparel, as 1. To aGen. 3. 21. … 9. 23. … Chron. 28. 15. Met. …5. 36, 38, 43, 44, Can 2. 15, 16 Rev. 3. 18.cover our nakedness. 2ly, To bHig. 1. 6. 2, Cor 11. 27. Iob 31. 19.keep our Bodies warm, and defend them from cold, heat, rain, winde, tempe…ts, 3ly. To cRev. 21, 2. Isay 61. 10, … Fim 3. 9, 10. … Pet. 303, …, 5.adorn our Bodies in a modest, decent, comely manner; without lasciviousness, …rodigality, or fantastickness, 4ly. To dDent. 2…. 5. Ester 5. 1 c. 6. 8, 10 Acts 12. 21. 1 Sai…. 13. 18 L…. …. 25. 2 Chren. 18. 9. See Aretii Prolemata Lacus, 120, DeVest… tu.distinguish 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 kinde, 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. 2, 30. c. 16. 4, 32. Ezr. 2. 69. Neh. 7. 70. 71. Ezr. 3. 10. Aaron the High Priest, and Iewish 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 ust sunt Apostoli, autasii Christiani, non est annotatum. Cent. Magd. 3. cap. 6. col. 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. 1. 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 Docmus de Moribus Gentium, Alexandri ab Alexandro, Gen Dierum; Par has his Pilgrimage and Voyages Cent, Mag. 2, to 13. cap. 6. different in their Manners, Habits, Fashions, Customes, 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 Eangelical 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 forme or colour of their Ordinary or Prieslly 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 enjoynes 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, Iutercessions, 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 godlyness 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 shamefastness and sobriety, (now almost quite out of fashion even in Churches as well as Theatres) not with broydred or plaited hair, or gold, or pearles, or costly array, (or spots, or patches, now much in fashion both in aud out of Church) but (which becommeth Women professing godlyness) 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 M…ns, 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 judgment against the necessity or peremptory prescription of any Rochets, Surplesses, or other kinde 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 himselfbMat. 6. 24, 26. I. u. 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 Surplesses, Rochets, Canouical 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 they highly atfront therein.
7ly. That God by St. Paul gives this Divine Precept or Admonition to Timotby, 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 is 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 Lorldly Mannors, Pallaces, 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 super…luous, 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 injoyned to put them on against this Precept, the forecited Texts, yea the very dictates of their own Judgements 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 and 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 Parl, whiles he was travelling 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 P…isoner 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, Archbishops, 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 Hen…rius Augustodunensis his Ge…a Animae, l. 1. c. 89. 198, to 235. Gratian, caus. 21. qu. 4. de Consecratione Distinct. …. Gultelmus Durantus, Rationale di…in…rum, l. 3. de Indumentis, Tho. Wa…densis, To…. 3 Tit 4. … 29, 30. Pontifi…ale, Ce…moniale …, Mssa…e Ram …spam… 17.Miters, Caps, Cossacks, Gownes, Rochets, Surplesses, Copes, Hoods, Stoles, Planets, Palls, Dalmaticks, Pectoral Crosses, Girdles, Colobiums, Chymers, Gloves, Sandals, Handkerchiefs, Scarsses, without which, by their own Canons, Decretals, Missals, Pontificals, Processionals, Ceremonials, they neither may nor must officiate; and enjoyn all Ministers, Priests, Deacons, under se…erest censures and deprivations, to wear Cassockes on their ordinary Apparel, Girdles, and Gownes upon them, Surplisses, or Copes upon their G…w…es, and if Doctors and Gradnates, 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 immitation? or how can they ever answer in the great day of judgement, when they shail appear naked before the Tribunal of our Lord Jesus Christ, their …igh contemptious, willfull violations of this his sacred injunction, their hating, reviling, persecuting, rejecting, dep…iving any of his faithfull, painfull Ministers, Servants, as Piaecisians, 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 superflous Vestments, Disguites, which their Fantastick frothy brains have invented, prescribed in Gods worship, against and beside, hi… Word, …nd*Acts 4. 19, 20. c. 5. 29. obey God rather then men.
9ly. That Iohn the Baptist (our Saviours immediate fore-runner) gave this command to Priests and Clergy-men, as well as the people, Luke 3. 11. He that bath two Coats let him impart to him that hath none; which Iohn the Evangelist, Paul and Iames have seconded in substance, if not in words, 1 Iohn 3. 17. Rom 12. 13. Iam. 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 Augustodunensis Gemma Animae l. 1. c. 237. Th. Waldensis, Tem. 3. Tit. 4 c. 30. Sect. 5, 6. Gul. Durantes, Rationale Div…norum lib. 3. My Signal L…yalty and Devotion p. 219, 243. Laws, Decreetals 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 perfons. 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, Pluralicies, 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 subsistance for them and their Families.
10ly.oRom. 3. 11. 1 Pet. 1. 15. c. 2. 3, 4. Act. 10. 34. Iam. 2. 1, to 6. 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 he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse, is accepted of him: and St. Iames particularly repiehending Christians, for having the Faith of our Lord Iesus 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 contemning 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 then other inferiour Ministers or Lay-Ch…tians, and reputing Sermons, Prayers, Sacraments, preached, made, read, administred in Surplises, Rochets, Copes, and other Church Vestments, more Canonical, holy, decent, acceptable both to God and Men, then those preached, read, celebrated without them, and that those PriestspFeccat graviter qui …tur in Missa vestibus non …en dictis. Sylu… … verbo Miss…nu. 2. Summa Angelica Missa sect. 3. S… to in 4. sent dist. 13. qu… … Astensis. T. t. 14. ar. 4., suult Armilla. verba Missa nu. 6. Navar. cap. 25. nu. 24. Thomas …erulae Pra…is Episcopalis part 1. Tit. Vestimenta Sacra: M…ssale Pontificale & Ceremoniale Romanum. Bochellus Decreta Eccles. Gal. l. 1. Tit. 7. …l. 6. Tit. 17. grievo…sly 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, …. 16. 1, 4. not to trouble them which from among the Gentiles were turned to God, with Circumcision, or any other Jewish Ceremonies 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, & 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 Vnnecessary 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 coutested for, but only enjoyned them*Mat. 28. 19, 20. Mark 16. 15, 16. compared with Eccles. 12. 13. Fear God and keep his Commandments, for this is THE WHOLE DVTY OF MAN, especially in his Worship. to teach and baptise all Nations, teaching them to observe all things what soever 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. & 14. 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 Surplises, Rochets, Palls, with other Pontifical, Sacerdotal Vestments, in time of Divine Service, Preaching and Sacraments, they must lay them quite aside, and no longer contest for, much lesse impose or enforce them upon any Ministers, Scholars, Christians, as they will avoyd 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 ingenuously acknowledged bytGemma Animae, l. 1. c. 11 8. Alerinus de Divinis Officiis, c. 38, 39.uRationale Divinorum, l. 3. Honorius Augustoduncnsis, Gulielmus Durantus, xDoctrinalis, Tom. 3. Tit. 4. cap. 29, 30.Thomas Waldensis, some yBochellus Decret. Eccles. Gal. lib. 6. Tit. 17.Popish Councils, and the very Roman Pontifical and Missal, That white Surplisses and other Prntifical, Sacerdotal Vestments under the Gospell, were originally assumed from Aaron, & 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, nor yet the various mystical significations, groundless grounds, and frantick reasons of their several Institutions. I finde in a spurious Decretal Epistle attributed to zSurius Concil. Tom. 1. p 253. Gra…an … Consecratione, Dist. 1, 2. Summa Angelica. Tit. Vestis; Sylvester. Tit. Benedictio 1. Pontificale & Missale Romanum, Centur, Magi, 3. col. 246.Pope Stephen, Anno Christi 2 6 1. 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, s… perfluous, 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 Augstodunensts in his Gemma Animae, l. 1. Gulielmus Durantus, Rationale Divinorum, l. 3. Tho. Waldensis, Tom. 3. tit. 4. cap. 29, 30. Franciscus Zerula Paxis Episeopalis, 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 easily resolved.
The next Authority I meet withall is the Decree of Pope Fusebius about the year 309. first recorded by hDe consecratione dist. 1.Gratian, andiSurius Concil. Tom. 1. p. 311. Centar. Magd. 4. c. 6. col. 480, 1 2 … 1. others out of him. Consulto omnium statuimus, ut sacrificium Altaris non in serico panno aut tincto quisqvam celebrare praesumat, sed in puro lineo vel linteo ab Episcopo consccrato, terreno scilicet lino procreato atque contexto, sicut corpus Domini Iesu Christi in Sindone linea mundo 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. 1, 2, 3. Mar. 9. 28, 39. 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) became shining, exceeding wht…c 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 linnen Garment or Surplisse whiles he lived; Therefore no Priests, Bishops or Ministers, (who are his*2 Cor. 5. 20. … Pet. 11. 23. … John 2. 6. …ph. 5. 1. Phil. 2. 5. … Po…. 2. 21. Embassadors, and should imitate his Example) ought to do it after his death. 2ly. Christ did not put on these linnen Garments himself, or to officiate in them; but Ioseph of Aramathea and N…bodemus, wrapped his dead Corps in them to bury it; Therefore Bishops, Priests, Deacons should never put on white Rochets or Surplisses 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 Surplisse, Albee, Stole or Rochet: neither were they consecrated by a Pope or Bishop, not worn in a Church, but only in a Scpulchre: yea our Saviour left them lying in his Sepulchre when he role again, John 20. 5, 6, 7, 8. and never wore them afterwards: Ergo Bishops, Priests, Deacons, should only wear unconsecrated Winding-sheets, and sine linnen Garments in their Graves when dead; and there leave them when they riseagain; not consecrated Rochets, Surplisses, Albees, Stoles in the Church when living; …ly. Christs body was not wrapped in these linnen cloa… in any relation to his Priestly office or function; but only as a mere dead Corps to be interred, it being thenfual manner of the Jewe thus to bury dead Corps, as well Laymen as Priests: witness Iohn 19. 29 (quoted by this impostor) Then took they the body of Iesus, and … it in linnen cloaths, with the spices, as the manner of the Ie…es is to bury: compared with Iohn 11. 44. So thei… Nasamones, Graecians, Spartians, Argives, Syra…s…ns, Sycionians, and other Nations wrapped the dead bodies of their deceased Friends in white linnen cloaths, with spices and balmes, and so intorred them. Therefore if this reason be solid, all Men and Women as well Jewes as Genti…es, Pagans as Christians should wear whice 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 first probable authority in any true Antiquity, for Bishops, Ministers and Deaeons wearing white Vestments in the celebration of the Lords Supper, is that of Hierom, about 410. years after Christ, Advers. Pelagiano, 1. 1. c. 9. Vnde adjungis, genera vestium & ornamentorum Deo esse contraria. Quae sunt, rogo, inimiciti… conira Deum sr tunicam habuero mundiorem? si Episcopus, Presbyter & Diaconus, & reliquus ordo Ecclesiasticus in Administatione Sacrificiorum cum candida veste processcrint… Cavete Clerici, cavete Monachi, viduae & virgines, periclitamini nisi sordidas vos atque pannòsas vulgus aspicerit. Ta…o de hominibus saeculi, quibus apertè bellum indicitur, & inimicitiae contra Deum, si pretiosis atque nitentibus utuntur Exuviis. And in hisnTom. 5. p. 875. D. Commentariorum 1. 13. in Ezech, e. 44. Vestibus lineis utuntur Aegyptii Sacerdotes, non selum intrinsecus sed & extringsecus, (he means their Pagan not Christian Priests,) Porre *He writes it of the Jewish Priests, not Christian Minister'sre…gio 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. Chrysostont, adoTom. 5. col. 338. D. & Tim. 2. Populum Antioehiae, 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 tuntcam circumeatis induti. Which he repeats again in his 83. Homily upon Matth. 26. Haec est dignitas vestra, haec stabilitas, haec Corona praecipua, non nt tunicam induti candidi…mant per Ecclesiam ambuletis. Whence thepCent. Magd. Tom. 5. c. 6. Col. 652. Century Writers observe, Candidae vestis meminit tantum obiter Chrysostomus, dum de Sacramenti corporis ac sanguinis Dominici administratione disserit. From these passages of Hierom, and Chrysostom, *Retionale Divinorum l. 3.Durantus, qEcclesiastical Policy 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 Towers in the 4th. 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, PopesCene. 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. Patn…. Tom. 8. p. 397. 398, &c. … Ordo Romanus Antiquus de Divinis Catholioae 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 …02. 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. … 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 …ince that age to this very day, which not only make the putting on or xCent. Magd. 9. 10, 11, 12, 13, &c. cap. 6. Batonil Annales Spon. danus, 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 Cousecration, as the Roman Pontifical and Ceremonial prescribe in their Rubricks, but likewise in their Missals, Pontifical and Ceremonial of Bishops, enjoyne set forms of Prayers and Crossings to be used by Bishops in the consecration of, and putting on of Rochers, 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 M…lla… I…manuin. Ex … ete Sacre Concilii T…d … Resor matum, …c. An tu…rpiae, 1630. Benedictiones Diverts p. 101, 10…. Pontificale Romanum. …. p. 357, 358.Benedictio Sacerdotalium indumentorum in genere.
V. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini. R. Quifecit Caelum & terram. V. 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 de crevisti: adesto propitius*Innovationibus nosteis, had been better. invocationibus nostris: & haec indumenta sacerdotalia, desuper irrigante gratia tua, ingenti benedictione per nostrae humilitatis servitium *Here they make …. Crosses.purifi…care, & bene…dicere, & conse…crare digneris …tit divinis culribus & sacris my steriis apta & benedicta existant: his quoque sacris vestibus Pontifices, & Sacerdotes; seu Levitae tui induti, ab omnibus impulsionibus fell tentationibus malignorum spirituum muniti & defensi esse mei eantur: tuisque mysteriis aptè & coneligne servire & inhaerere, atque in his tibi placitè & devote perseverare tribue. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.
Oremus.
DEus, invictae virtut is triumphator, & omnium rerum creator ac sanctificator: intende propitius preces nostras; & haec indumenta leviticae, sacerdotalis & pontificalis gloriae, ministris tuis fruenda, tuo ore proprio bene…dicere, sanctifi…care, & conse…crare digneris; omnesque cis utentes, tuis mysteriis aptos, & tibi devote ac laudabiliter servientes, gratos efficere digneris. Per Dominum nostrum.
Oremus.
DOmine Deus omnipotens, qui vestimenta Pontificibus, Sacerdotibus: & Levitis, in usum tabernaculi soederis necessaria,*Not Aacon, Priests, Po…es or Bishops. Moysen famulum tuum agere jussisti, eumque spiritu sapientiae ad id peragendum replevisti: haec vestimenta in usum & cul…u mysterii tui bene…dicere, sancti…ficare, & conse…crare digneris; at que ministros altaris tui, qui eainduerint, septiformis Spiritus gratia dignanter repleri, atque castitatis stola, beata sacias cum bonorum fructu operum ministerii congruentis immortalitate vestiri. Per Christum Dominum. R. Aman.
D…inde aspergit ipsaindumenta aqua benedicta.
Specialis Benedictio cujuslibet Indumenti.
V. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini.
R. Qui fecit coelum & terram.
V. Dominus vobiscum.
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.