Fides Catholica, or, The doctrine of the Catholick Church in eighteen grand ordinances referring to the Word, sacraments and prayer, in purity, number and nature, catholically maintained, and publickly taught against hereticks of all sorts : with the solutions of many proper and profitable questions sutable to to [sic] the nature of each ordinance treated of / by Wil. Annand ...

SECT. 5. Questions resolved.

• Quest. 1. Whether the feasts of the Church Catholick iff••r from those of the Church of Rome.
• Quest. 2. Whether the Festivals of the Church of England may lawfully be observed.
• Quest. 3. Why are Bone-fiers made in England upon the feast of the fifth of November.
• Quest. 4. Whether the time of a Martyrs death be a proper time for feasting.
• Quest. 5. Whether the feast of Philip and Jacob be not pro∣phaned?

Quest. 1. Whether the Feasts of the Church Catholick differ from those of the Church of Rome.

That the Saints are to be honoured, is by no true Christian denyed, and that days may be set apart, upon their account, to worship God in, is justifiable, and in this both the Catholick Church, and that of Rome agree, but vastly differ in the man∣ner of keeping these days, as also in other points touching those days. For

• 1 The Catholick Church, performes worship or makes pray∣er even in those days to God alone, whereas that of Rome offers supplications, petitions, intercessions to those Saints in whose days they are performeing that or any other holy service.
• 2 The Catholick Church keeps feasts, for no Saint, but what she is sure had a being, and once were, and keeps no day but upon good and real grounds, now that of Rome hath days ob∣served, and prayers made to those whose very being not with∣out just cause are called in question. It is very much to be doubt∣ed if ever there were such a man as Saint Christopher, or Saint George, or such a lady as Saint K••therin, or how can they know that Ios••ph, the supposed Father of our Lord, was a pious con∣fessour, or that Lady Anne was mother of the virgin Mary. Who was he that told them that the virgin Mary never dyed, but was taken up to heaven alive, Aug. 15. and therefore that day must be in red letters in the Roman Almanack, and on that day prayers must be made to her. This is not to serve the Lord Christ, the days that the Catholick Church keep, are such as have in them a real truth, and not legendary vanities.
• 3 The Catholick Church keeps no days in memorial of Saints but those whom she knows to be good, they were not only men, but good men whom she honours with a day, now in this the Church of Rome also fails, she hath not only days in remem∣brance

• of them that never were, but dayes in memoriall of them that never were good. Thomas Becket must be Sainted and given to the Christmas holy days by way of augmentation, and yet his religion purely consisted in rebellion, and being an arch traytor, deserved to be preferred in another sort, and as we pray to Saint Feriol for geese, to Saint Agatha for sore breasts, to Saint Giles for Children, to Saint Hubert for dogs, to Saint Iab for them that have the pox, to Saint Kathern for know∣ledge, to Saint Orilia for the head arch, to Saint Russin for madnesse, to Valentine for the falling sicknese, so we must pray to B••cket for sinners, when if stubornesse be as iniquity: were he in a capacity to be bettered by prayers, supplications ought to be made for him, yet poor souls are taught to pray.

  Tu per Thomae sanguinem, quem pro te Impendit, ••ac nos Christe scandere, quo Thomas ascendit.

  The like might be sayd of many others

• 4 The Catholick Church, she loves, useth, and enjoyn∣eth those days to be observed, as meanes conduceing to the good of men, and no further, no, what ever day be enjoyned by Rome, were it Beckets or Leola's they must be observed as part of divine worship, binding the consciences of men to the observation of them, though but of humane con∣stitution, in themselves, and often times fictitious in their nature.

Quest 2. Whether the Festivalls appointed by the Church of England may lawfully be ob∣served?

Those solemnities established by law in the Church of England ought not by any that is compos mentis, well in his wits, to be spo∣ken

against for they appear in many respects to be lawfull and usefull.

1 From that countenance God gave to those feasts Instituted by the Church of the Jewes under the Law: the the days of Pu∣rim, was never spoken against, and that seven days feast of Iudas Maccabeus his institution, was graced by our Sa∣viours observance, shall they and may they appoint days to worship God in for temporall mercy and not be bla∣med? what hinders then but that the Church of England may appoint days to return thanks for spiritual mercy shown to her in common with the whole Church of Christ on Earth?

2. From the nature of that worship she in those days per∣formes, though the day may be denominated from a Saint, or kept in remembrance of one, yet the prayers she offers up are purely to Christ, the Gospel she reads is the Gospel of Christ, the b••ead she breaks is the communion of the body of Christ, and nothing is done in way of worship but what is agreeable to the rule of Christ and will of Christ.

3. From that opportunity that they put into the hands of such as hunger after spirituall food, they may by these of∣ten hear the word of the Lord, receive the Sacrament instituted by the Lord as a memoriall of his death, untill his second coming, and what ever ordinance they take most delight in, or receive most refreshment by of that they have abundance in the using of those dayes instituted by the Church.

4. From that profit that would accrew to the poorer and weaker sort of people to them those days would be a Cate∣chisme, upon the feasts of the nativity to hear of the birth of Christ, and afterward of his circumsion, and then of his passion, and then at Easter of his resurrection, and then of his ascension, and then of the spirits descension, and so for∣ward this might, being taught upon those dayes, be of very great consequence to all Christians, especially to those whose understandings are not ripe enough for high contem∣plations in subjects of this nature.

5 From that power that the Church hath to ordain fasts, and dayes of humiliation, which is granted, we may draw her power to ordain feasts and dayes of thanksgiving which is the thing doubted, but of the power of the Church in such cases we have spoken in another place.

6. From the doctrine of reformed Churches, Confess. of Helva. Art. 24. of Bohem. Art. 17. which Churches deliver their minds thus: that of Helvatia says. Every Church doth choose unto it self a certain time for publick prayers, &c. & it is not lawful for every one to overthrow this appointment of the Church at his own pleasure, and if the Churches do reli∣giously celebrate the memory of the Lords Nativity, Circum∣cision, Passion, &c. according to Christian liberty we do very well allow of it.

The Church of Bohemia says thus;

Many of the ancient Ceremonies are retained among us at this day: of this sort be many appointed for feasts and holy days, &c. such as Christs nativity, such as be dedicated to the Apostles, &c. chiefely of those Saints of whom there is mention made in holy Scripture; all these things are done of us that the word of God may be taught and that he may be glorified among us, &c. the same teacheth, the Church of Ans. Art. 4.

The ignorant must or may learn that the observation of those dayes is no superstitious observation of days condemned in Gal. 4.10. for with the Atheist there is neither good luck, nor bad luck, supposed to be in them, neither with the Papists are the consciences of men tyed to them: It is no more a sin to observe such times as the Church teacheth, then it is will-worship to observe noon for dinner time, or to open a shop upon a market day.

Quest. 3. Why are bonefires made in England upon the feast of the fith of November.

It is not only the Practise of England to make bonefires upon dayes of thanksgiving or great deliverance, but almost every where: yet we shall chiefly consider it upon that account.

1 That the fire might be a memoriall of our deliverance from the Popish fire, there was a secret pile, to devour the blood of nobles, and burn to ashes the bones of Princes, and powder to blow up the Majesty of Kings, to remember which to all posterity, fire and powder is then in an harmless way used by us, and layd before us.

2 To show what death traitors ought to dye, a rebel is as a witch, and therefore ought not to have the Eearth which is Gods to be buried in, but to be dissolved to ashes, and blown to and fro in the ayr, the region or principality of him with whom they covenant, against them that are called Gods on earth.

3 To prevent darknesse least it should hinder men in ma∣nifesting their joy, they will have light to rejoyce in, though the Sun go down:* 1.1 the longest day may be too short for a loy∣all subject to make known the Love he beares to his Prince in his rejoycing through that deliverance which God is plea∣sed to give unto him, this makes him, that in spight of might he will have day, and for all that others eyes are closed up in darknesse, he will have light roud about him.

4 To expresse that heat and fire of affection that is in the bosomes of all true subjects, the fire of wood burns in the streets, and the flame goeth toward heaven, this is a visible sign of that fire of zeale and holy affection which goeth up in praise and thanksgiving for that deliverance.

5 That the memoriall of it might be kept up to all ge∣nerations, we know that Children delight to look in the fire; let them this day play about the fire: It is such circumstances

as those, that will make the deliverance even be observed of Children, that as soon as they learn to speak, they can prat∣tle of the powder treason, which but for this would be scarce known of them.

6. That it might mind traytors of the fire of hell: fire is dreadfull, but who can dwell with everlasting burnings, and though this fire burn them not through the Kings mercy; yet fear that everlasting fire through Gods justice.

Quest. 4. Whether the time of Martyrs death be a proper time for feasting?

It is certain, that the days in which the Saints were crowned with Martyrdome, or baptized with their own blood, is not feasted in, purely for their dying: shall the Church of God make great mirth An. c. 37. for the death of Stephen, when the Church of Christ, made great lamentation, over him, A. c. 36. The Church keeps feasts not purely for that: but

• 1 For the preservation of the Gospell notwithstanding their death, Stephen was stoned to death that the light of the Gopell might be extinguished, Herod Ascalonite sur∣named the great slew the infants or innocents of Bethlel••m, that Christ might have been killed: for his preservation, more then for the poor childrens deaths doth the Church rejoyce. When Andrew the Apostle was crucified, when Iames had his braines dashed out, when Thaddeus was slain, when Matthias was stoned, when Philip and Peter was cru∣cified, when Matthias, Iames, Paul, and Matthew were be∣headed, Bartho slayed alive, &c. It was done for to hinder the Gospell, which not doing the Church makes great mirth.
• 2 For that confirmation the Gospel received by their deaths: those men put to their hand, and by their blood gave testi∣mony touching the truth as it was in Jesus. In this they set to their seales that God was true; for by their blood, and their constancy in death did religion it self receive a rigorous life.

• The Churches foundation was with blood, so was its propa∣gation, this makes the Christian to rejoyce:
• 3 For that glory that was given to the Saints at that time, the day of the Saints Martyrdome, was the day of their coro∣nation, they were crowned with glory and immortality, hence it is said that devout men made great lamentation over Stephen, Act. 8.2. not for him, it was a losse to the Church not to Stephen to be stoned from life, especially in that time of her none-age, when she was but weak and feeble to re∣sist that power wherewith she was dayly assaulted. The Church being now established devout men rejoyce for that consolation that God that day gave Stephen in reference to him selfe, and also for stirring up such a man to evince the truth of that doctrin, which they professe that all its enemyes were not able to resist.
• 4 That it might be as motives to perswade others to constancy, if God should call them forth to suffer: were it not for the celebration of those days, the storys might pa∣sse without much observance, but in the return of the year people hearing the nature of the Apostles deaths, their pa∣tience in them, the advantage that it gave to the grow∣ing of Christianity, they might receive profit and advantage even in point of suffering.

Quest. 5. Whether the Feasts of Phillip and Jacob be not profaned.

That the Church might not be overflowed with publick solem∣nities and being willing to commemorate Gospel Saints bring sometimes two Apostles in together, perswading her members by their examples to sutable holinesse, as upon the first of May, Philip and Iacob. Unto which the Satanicall and Hethenish practise of erecting May-poles, is an unsutable pro∣phane preface as may appear.

1 From the lawlesse practise of them, neither Church nor State

as now constituted gives strength to such customes. The Church setting apart this day for holy uses, and the state owns it by obedience, but of this custome taking no notice, some other originall would then be inquired after for this annuall custome then law, for no statute was ever made in the least to countenance that irregularity.

2 From the sinfull originall of them, Let this practise be traced up to the times wherein these May-games were first instituted,* 1.2 and a nationall Christian will grant the question without much dispute. They sprung out of this ground (viz.) There was one Flora or Maia, who being a notorious strumpet of the City of Rome when heathen, gathered great riches; leaving the common-wealth her heir, upon con∣dition they should yearly celebrate her birth-day. The Senate being ashamed to own such open prophannesse, coloured the businesse by giving out that she was a goddesse of the fields, meadows, flowres, &c. and except she were pleased and appea∣sed nothing that year would prosper. Upon this her feast is instituted (the Devil being alwayes Gods ape) and observ∣ed the four last days of Aprill and the first of May, at which times all sorts of wickednesse was acted, and women ap∣peared upon the streets of Rome in those dayes naked: the young sort with flowres, garlands, &c. and dancing of Elephants and other exercises spent their time.

The very mentioning of this should make these things not so much as to be named among Saints, &c. yea what height of impiety was con••eived, as when a Mayd out of most parishes was culled out personally to represent this Flora, under the notion of a May-Lady: who oftentimes by relation proved a May-where, &c.

3. From the circumstances that do accompany them, appear they to be sinfull and the day of those glorious Saints prophan∣ed, as

• 1 Stealing, this is so frequent, and so known a custome, that it needs no proof, and so odious that it needs no con∣futation.
• 2 Prophanation of the Lords day, Once in seven years,

• the day set apart for the Lords resurrection,* 1.3 must be abused by those May-games, and the day of the Lords Apostles is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 prophaned by these sports, it is held unlawfull to prophane the places set apart for the Lords worship by any thing that is not comly, sure this therefore upon this day ought not to be esteem∣ed decent.
• 3 Great loosenesse, as quarrels, fightings, drunkenesse, which so certainly are known to attend it, that good, honest, moral men have no hand in them, but the loose wicked and de∣boyst. If it were good holy men would own it, if not bad wick∣ed men would not incourage it.

4. Eventualy there is no good in them. What Christians do ought to be for the glory of God, either originaly or eventualy, now these sports originaly tend to his dishonour, casualy pro∣phanes his day, really and sensibly breaks his laws, abuseth his creaturs, and in the close brings no honour to Christ, and therefore are not to be suffered where God or Christ is owned. If this day be set apart in pious memoriall of Christs disciples, for the doctrine of the Gospel to be publickly taught, Flora (who in these May-games is remembred) ought not to be commemorated which so suits to the doctrine of Devils, left prophannesse in the streets hinder our prayers from heaven.

I would have insisted on this longer, but since the de∣livery of this there came forth a tract in particular against May-games called Funebria Flora, to which I referre the Reader.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Satan is prince of the power of the ayr: and there∣fore the fit. ••est place for such witches to have heads and limbs abid in.
• * 1.2

  Cod. Rom Aut. lib. 1.7.87. Ovid lib. 5. fast. As a day or place may have relative holinesse though not absolute, so a thing or act may be relatively prophane absolutely no hurt be in it. •••• tubae so∣nitu vocata nudato co∣pore in flora lib. discurat Farn. in Iu∣ven. Sat. 6. Cato severe venistii A•• ideo tantum vn••ras ut exires Mat. epig. lib. 1. Ep. 1. half the mirth is in the poles stealing.
• * 1.3

  More peo∣ple appear at those games, then at the Churches devotion. Th••s suits with the o∣riginal of those game not with the church∣es Institu∣tion of this day. Except it be the sel∣ling of the pole by the Erectors, though this also eventualy is not good.