Altare Christianum: or, The dead vicars plea Wherein the vicar of Gr. being dead, yet speaketh, and pleadeth out of antiquity, against him that hath broken downe his altar. Presented, and humbly submitted to the consideration of his superiours, the governours of our Church. By Iohn Pocklington. Dr. D.

CAP. III. Of Altars in S. Martialis, in S. Irenaeus, in Tertullian, in Origen, in S. Cyprian. (Book 3)

BVt if the Decretals be of no value,* 1.1 the like I hope will not be said of S. Martialis, who lived eighty yeares before Pius, and maketh mention of Altars, Coena Domini offertur in Ara. Now I come to an Authour whom I conceive to be without all ex∣ception, viz. Irenaeus, a Martyr, and Scholer unto Po∣lycarpus the Martyr brought up under S. Iohn, and therefore knew well what the practice was of holy Martyrs, and godly Fathers both in the Greek and La∣tine Church, and was able to speak his mind, being chosen Ambassadour to the Bishop of Rome by the Church of France: though the Centurists jerk him for his negligent, and improper manner of speech.

This Martyr lived within twenty two yeares of Pi∣us, viz. 180. who both mentioneth and alloweth of Altars in Churches, and oblations upon them, not be∣cause Pius and his predecessors so decreed, but because it is the will of God to have it so.* 1.2 Deus nos vult offerre munus ad Altare frequenter sine intermissione. The name of Table then cannot be two hundred yeares more an∣cient in the Christian Church, than the name of Altar. For that were to place a table in the Christian Church, twenty years before there was a Christian Church.

Tertullian lived Anno. 203. within twenty three yeares of Irenaeus. This learned Writer speaking of confession made by Penitents, in the Primitive Church, unto Priests; saith further, that the manner was, accor∣ding to Rhenanus, Aris Dei adgeniculari, to kneele down before Gods Altar. Here is mention made of Altars, and of reverence done before them. So Origen, who lived within twenty three yeares of Tertullian,* 1.3 viz. Anno. 226. * 1.4 maketh often mention of Altars, and reproveth those that brought not their oblations to the Altar; And saith, that it was the Lords owne Or∣dinance, that the Priests of the Gospell should partici∣pate of the Altar. He also mentioneth the contribu∣tions that were made, ad ornatum Altaris, for the deck∣ing of Altars.

The blessed Martyr Saint Cyprian, who lived with∣in 14. yeares of Origen, viz. An. 240. maketh often mention of Altars, and of the use of them in the Chri∣stian Church,* 1.5 long before his time, and the Priests Ab Altari non recedant, ought not to be withdrawne from their service at the Altar, nor to be otherwise imploy∣ed, Nisi Altari & sacrificiis deserviendo. To descend lower to prove the Antiquity of Altars, were against reason. By this, that hath beene said, it appeareth, that the name of Table is not 200. yeares more ancient than the name of Altar. But that the name of Altars, and the reverend use of them, have beene in the Christian Church long before the name, or use of Table; and have continued in the Christian Church, in honourable repute from the very beginning thereof, without inter∣ruption for 3943. yeares: therefore the name of Table cannot be 200. yeares more ancient in the Christian Church, than the name of Altar.

Notes

• * 1.1

  S. Martial. E∣pist. ad Burde∣gal.
• * 1.2

  Iren. •• 4. c. 34
• * 1.3

  Tertul. De poe∣nitent: cap. 9.
• * 1.4

  Rhenanus. hic vides Chri∣stianis antiqui∣tus Altaria ve∣nerationi fuis∣se, quibus ad∣genicularentur. Orig. hom: 11. super Num: Hom: 10. su∣per Iesū Navi.
• * 1.5

  Saint Cypr. l. 1. Ep. 9.7.