Against Idolatry and Superstition, Sermon 2 · Part 6
VI. Popish Holy Dayes.
THese are another Idol of the Church of England. For nothing can be holy to the Lord, which is not made holy by the Lord. It was a part of the Pharisees Superstition to fast twice a week, Luk▪ 18. 12. and it was the brand set upon … 1 King. 12 33. that he ordained a Feast unto the Child on of Israel, upon the fifteenth day of the eighth MonethMonth, even the MonethMonth which he had devised of his own Heart. And though it was like unto the Feast that was in Iudah, ver. 32. and though He pretended the glory and worship of that God that brought them up out of the Land of Egypt, as well as the case and accomodation of the people, ver. 28. yet all this would not excuse Him, And what is Christmas and Easther, and all the rest of them, but dayes, which the Ieroboam of Rome hath devised of his own Heart? And the people had them from the Pagans, for Christmas is nothing else but the old Heathe…ish Bathanalia, it is kept at the same time of the year, and after the same profane manner only the Pope hath Christened it with a new name.
The Apostle condems the observation of the Iewish Festivals, because they were a shaden of good things to come, Col. 2. 16. such weak and rudimentary Instructions were fit for those darket and weaker Times of the Churches nonage, when under the Tutorage and paedagogy of Moses, before the coming of Christ. But after that ye have known G…d, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggerly Elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage, ye observe dayes and Moneths, and Times, and Years. I am afraid of you lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain, Gal. 4. 9, 10, 11. It is a Sign the preaching of the Gospel hath had but small success in such a place, and in the Hearts of such a people, and if the Apostle said it concerning Iewish dayes, surely it is much more true concerning Popish dayes, for there was more Reason to retain those which were appointed at first by God himself, then to observe those which were invented by the Pope, and which have done so much mischief to the Churches of Christ. For as Dr. Ames observs, they were from their first rise not only equalled unto, but also extolled above the Lords day. Easther brought in a Superstitious Lent to attend upon it, made Baptism wait for Her Moon, and conformed our Lords Supper unto the Iewish Passover in unleavened bread. It was the first apple of Contention amongst Christians, the Latine and Greek Churches striving and contending fiercely about the time of it, de lan… caprina, and Victor Bishop of Rome desperately excommunicating those that were not of his opinion in the thing, so that it was the first weapon wherewith the Bishop of Rome plaid his prizes against other Churches, and after slew so many persons with, by Augustine the Monke. Holy dayes devised by men in honour of Christ, invited and drew on Holy dayes to Saints. Though indeed it is but a vain pretence to say, they do it in honour of Christ, for it is not good Intentions that will excuse bad actions. Ieroboam pretended very good Intentions, The Israelites pretended an holy-day to Iehovab, Exod, 32. 5. though they kept it in a rude manner but what saith the Lord to them, even after all the prayers of Moses for them, ver. 34. in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.
These dayes are rather celebrated in dishonour, and as it were in despite of Christ, as if Christ were a God that delighted in Profaneness and Wickedness: for he is dishonoured by letting the reins loose to all manner of Profaneness, as much in the Twelve dayes, and in some respects more, then in all the Twelve Moneths of the year beside. And it is a dishonour to his Sabbath, for men to set their Posts by his Posts, and their Altars by his Altars, as Jeroboam dev…sed a Feast of his own heart, like unto the Feast that was in Judah. Suppose the Church might sanctifie a day where the Lord hath not done it, yet it is needless and superfluous, yea presumptuous to do it, where the Lord hath made other provision, for it is to charge God with folly. But Christ the Lord of Time, and the Lord of the Sabbath, hath sanctified and instituted the first day of the week, whereon he arose from the dead, for the Commemoration of the great work of our Redemption by him. And what can the man do that cometh after the King? and in those things which have been already done? Eccles. 2. 12. It is a bold and deep reflection upon the wisdome of Christ, to adde thus to his Appointments, as if the Lord Jesus Christ himself were not wise anough, to appoint dayes and times sufficient to keep his own Nativity, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and all the great things he hath done for us, in everlasting remembrance in the hearts of his Saints, but the Devil and the Pope must help it out. Neither is the yea…ly time certainly known, but much disputed amongst Chronologers and D… vines, so that Holy-day keepers cannot say that they do commemorate opus dici in die suo, the Lord having hid it, as he did the body of Moses, to prevent Idolatry.
And it is a great infringement of our Christian Liberty, when God hath given us six dayes wherein to serve him in our Callings, Six dayes shalt thou labour. As it is Profaneness to call that common which God hath sanctified and made holy; so it is Tyrannical Superstition and Presumption to make that holy which God hath made common. Occasional dayes of Humiliation and Thanksgiving, when God by his Providence calls thereunto, there is Scripture-ground and warrant for: for, Jo…oshaphat proclaimed a Fast, 2 Chron. 20. 3. and so did the King of Nineveh, Jonah 3. 7. see also Joel 1. 14. & 2. 15. From whence some have not unaptly said, That the Magistrate and the Church hath as it were a Warrant dormant for such dayes. Neither indeed could all the particular Causes, and Occasions, and Times thereof be particularly determined in the Scripture, because they are infinite, and Christ allows also private Fasts, Matth. 6. 17, 18. but here there is onelyonly an occasional designation of a time, upon a present emergency of Providence calling thereunto. But in those Anniversary Popish Festivals time is dedicated and sanctified to an holy use in a stated way, which is more then the Scripture impowers men to do. So for Week-day-Lectures, they are most impertinently objected, for these are not hours sanctified or consecrated to Gods service, but onelyonly the most convenient times when most may resort to the hearing of Sermons. So that time is onelyonly designed occasionally, not dedicate or sanctified. Time is made to serve Gods people, and not Gods people made to serve the time, or to serve God because it is an holy time.
And whereas some have seemed to condemn the superstitious p…rt of Christmas, but plead hard for the Hospitable part, as they call it: The Answer is, That the Feasting and Sporting is an Appendix to the Worship, or rather to the Superstition, and therefore stands or falls together with it. The Apostle therefore calls them Idolaters, even for their Feasting and Sporting▪ 1 Cor. 10. 7. Neither be ye Idolaters, as were some of them: as it is written, The people sate down to eat, and drink, and rose up to play. And if you reade the story of that Idolatry of the Calf, Exod. 32. you will finde that it was Celebrated much after the same manner that Christmas is, or rather somewhat better; for they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt-offerings, and brought peace-offerings: So that it seems they went to Church, and said their Prayers most devoutly in the morning, and then they sate down to eat and drink, and rose up to play, ver. 6. and there was shouting, and singing, and dancing amongst them, ver. 18, 19. Sober mirth, and the moderate use of the good Creatures of God, is lawful at any time of the year, and there never was any Minister that Pr…ached or spake against that; but to have better Cheer upon a Popish Holy-day, then at another time, meerly upon this account, because forsooth it is an Holy-day, this is superstitious: and the Revelling, and Rioting, and Luxury which is usual at those times, is every way an hinderance to Hospitality, and not a furtherance to it, that which might and ought to be bestowed in a way of Liberality to the Poor, being mis spent and lavished away in vain Prodigality and Luxury.
The dayes of Purim, Esth. 9. were seven hundred years since obj…cted by Papists unto the Waldens…s, and since by all Papists that have written against Protestants about Ceremonies, as Gr…gonius de Valentia, Bellarmine, S…ar…z; and we need not seek for new Answers about it, for that which our Divines have answered to the Papists, is suffi…ient in two words. 1. That it cannot be evinced, that these day…s …f▪ Purim were Religious Feasts. Junius saith, Praeceptum fuit Politi…u…▪ they were onelyonly dayes of Civil rejoycing, they are called onelyonly the dayes of Purim, not the holy dayes of Purim. They are not called Chaggim, no peculiar Sacrifice was appointed, nor any holy Convocation of the people enjoyned. The Ordinance required but Feasting and Joy, and sending of portions to one another: the R…st mentioned Esth. 9. was onelyonly from their Enemies; so much work as might stand with a Feasting-day was not forbidden. 2. Ʋpon supposition of a Religious F…ast instituted by Mordecai, he did it, saith Dr. Whitaker, God inspiring him, and p…radventure by order from some Prophet. As Zech. 8. they changed their Fasts into Feasts by the mouth of the Lord, by the Ministry of the Prophet. And though we do no… reade expresly, that either God or any Prophet did require this Feast of Purim, yet forasmuch as it stands approved in Scripture, there is no doubt but it was done by warrant from God.
The Feast of Dedication, Joh. 10. 22, 23. hath also been objected from the time of the Waldenses, but it is not certainly known what Feast of Dedication this was, and whether meerly of humane Institution. Some take it for that which Solom…n appointed, others ascribe it to Ezra, others to the Maccabees; neither is there any evidence that Christ approved it. The Text onelyonly saith, that he walked then in Solomons Porch, which he might do without observing or approving it: if it was nothing but a Tradition of the Elders, we may be sure that Christ who testified against other Inventions of men, did never observe this.
It was Luthers desire no less then Seven-score years ago, in his Book de Bonis Operibus, set forth Anno 1520, that there were no other Festival dayes amongst Christians, but onelyonly the Lords-day: And right excellent was that Speech of King James to a National Assembly in Scotland, Anno 1590. He praised God that he was King in the sincerest Church in the world; sincerer then the Church of England, for their Service was an ill-said Mass in English; sincerer then Geneva it self, for they observed Pasche and Yoole, that is, Easter and Christmas, and what warrant (said he) have they for th…?