The witch of Endor, or, The witchcrafts of the Roman Jesebel in which you have an account of the exorcisms or conjurations of the papists, as they be set forth in their agends, benedictionals, manuals, missals, journals, portasses, which they use in their churches concerning the hallowing of the water, salt, bread, candles, boughs, fire, ashes, incense, pascal lamb, eggs, herbs, milk, honey, apples, wine, cheese, butter, new baked bread, flesh, font, marrying ring, pilgrims wallet, staff, cross, sword, &c. : proposed and offered to the consideration of all sober Protestants / by Titus Otes.

Of Holy Ashes.

THese Ashes, whereof we must now entreat, are made of the hallowed Palms of the year past: And the Mass-book saith, That upon Ash-Wednesday, when the Priest hath absolved the People, &c. then must there be made a Blessing of the Ashes (without Dominus vobiscum, and without Oremus) by the Priest, being turned toward the East, and standing in the midst of the Quire, before the Altar. Notwithstanding the Roman use saith, That the Priest shall say Dominus vobiscum, and Oremus also: so little do the holy Fathers agree among themselves.

After that the Popish Priest hath set himself in a comely order for the dispatching of this matter, he beginneth on this manner, and saith, as we read in the Roman Manuale, otherwise called the Benedictionale.

O Almighty and everlasting God, spare them that fear, be merciful to them that make supplication, and vouchsafe cross; to send thy holy Angel from Hea∣ven,

which may bless ✚ and sanctifie these Ashes, that they may be an whol∣som Remedy to all that weekly call upon thy holy Name, and accuse themselves for the Conscience of their Sins, and lament their wickedness before the sight of thy divine Clemency, or that meekly and humbly desire thy most excellent Majesty: And grant through the invocation of thy holy Name, that so many as shall sprinkle these Ashes upon them for the redemption of their sins, may re∣ceive health of Body and safegard of Soul.

In this Petition the Priest requireth of God, That he will send down his holy Angel from Heaven to bless and sanctifie those Ashes, mistrusting, as it may seem, his own blessing and sanctifying, as a thing of no great force and virtue. But I believe, that he may pray to God for this matter twice, be∣fore it be granted him once. Where hath this Papist learned, That the Of∣fice of Angels is to hallow Ashes? The holy Scriptures testifie, That Angels, at the appointment of God, have many times come down from Heaven to the consolation and comfort of God's Elect and chosen People: but that they at any time came down to hallow Ashes, that is in no place read. And how dare the Papist ask that of God, for which he hath not one jot nor one tittle in the holy Scripture? We are taught to ask according to the Will of God, and not against the Will of God. That is the Will of God, which he hath manifested, declared and opened in his Word. All other things are fancies, dreams and idle imaginations of men. And as they are asked without, yea contrary to the will of God, so are they never granted of God. And thus may we well think of this Petition of the Priest, where∣in he asketh, That God would send down his holy Angel from Heaven to bless and sanctifie the Ashes. Without doubt a worshipfull office, more meet for the Angel of Antichrist than for the Angel of Christ. The Office of Gods Angel and Ambassador is, to execute Gods Will, to do Gods message to such as he sendeth them, to take care of Gods Elect, to defend him from the violence of Satan, to preserve them in the obedience of Gods Will, to nourish Concord, Peace, Amitie, Virtues, good Studies, Arts, Policy, &c. and in fine, at the day of Judgment to gather together Gods Elect into that Heavenly Kingdom, and to commit the Reprobate unto Everlasting Fire. Of this we read in the holy Scripture; but that it is their Office to bless and hallow Ashes, that read we not. Therefore as the Popish Sacrificer doth evil to put the Angels of God to such an Office as is not allotted unto them by the holy Scripture; so likewise do they wickedly require such a thing of God as is contrary to his Blessed Will. God hath appointed his Angels to serve him, and to attend upon his elect and chosen People for their Safeguard, and not to sanctifie and hallow Ashes.

But let us see to what end this Papist would have Gods holy Angel come down from Heaven and hallow these Ashes: verily saith he, That they may be an wholsom remedy to all that meekly call upon thy holy name, and ac∣cuse themselves for the conscience of their sins, and lament their wicked∣ness.

What wicked Doctrine is this of the Devil and the Pope, to teach that their abused Ashes should be not only a remedy, but also an wholsom reme∣dy to such as have offended? The holy Scripture teacheth far otherwise: That plainly declareth, that when we have sinned against the Lord our God, the next and best remedy is to turn again unto him whom we have offended: to repent us of our former wikedness, to crave mercy at our Heavenly

Fathers hand, in the name of our only Mediator Christ Jesus: To believe that our sins shall be forgiven us, if we ask in Faith: and in fine, to take upon us a new life, and above all things to take heed that we fall no more into a lewd life, lest the last be worst than the first, and so this common Proverb be verified of us, The Sow being washed is returned to her wal∣lowing in the mire, and the Dog unto his vomit.

But afterward, the Papist maketh it more plain, and desireth of God, that so many as shall sprinkle those Ashes upon them for the redemption of their sins, may receive health of Body and Safeguard of Souls. Here is a plain Doctrine of the Papists, That by sprinkling those Ashes upon them, they believe to have redemption of their sins. What is Blasphemy if this be not Blasphemy? What is it to work ignominy and dishonour to the pre∣cious bloud of Christ, if this be not? Who denieth the Lord that bought them, if the Papists do it not? Is it come to pass now, that Ashes work the redemption of our sins? We hitherto believed that Christ alone hath wrought our Redemption by his Passion and Death. For so are we taught in the Word of God. Christ, saith St. Paul, died for our sins, and rose again for our justification. Again there is one God and one Mediator, the man Christ Jesus, which gave himself a Ransom for all. Likewise saith St. John, The Blood of Jesus Christ purgeth us from all sin. Also in ano∣ther place, Christ hath loved us and washed us from our sins by his Bloud, and hath made us Kings and Priests to God his Father: To him be praise and rule for ever. Amen.

And as concerning health of Body and safeguard of Soul, who know∣eth that they come not from Ashes, but from the Mighty God of Israel, from whom every good and perfect Gift cometh, as we have before heard. Of him therefore must we ask whatsoever good thing we intend to obtain.

But we shall note also, that in the prayer which followeth, it is plainly declared, That the Popes Captains suffer the Ashes to be laid upon their heads, to this end, That by that means they may deserve to have forgiv∣ness of their sins: when notwithstanding we have before abundantly heard, that forgivness of sins cometh only from God, through Faith in the name of his Son Christ, and not by reason of any work, although com∣manded in the Law of God, much less by any ceremony invented by man, as it is written. Be it known to you, (ye men and Brethren) that through this man (Christ) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and that by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which we could not be justified by the Law of Moses. Again, Why tempt ye God that ye would put a Yoke on the Disciples necks, which neither our Fathers nor we we were able to bear. But we believe that through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, &c. And in the Service after Salisbury use, (as they term it) we read these words. Grant that through the Invocation of thy holy name, all they that bear these Ashes upon their heads for the obtaining of thy mercy, may merit of thee to receive forgivness of all their Trespasses. Are not these words all one in effect with the other which we heard before? Verily there is neither barrel better herring. Whether use we follow, both rob Christ of his glory.

After these benedictions and sanctifications, these Ashes must be sprinkled with Holy-Water to make up the matter. Which thing dispatched, certain Anthems must be sung, and in the mean season the Ashes must be received of so many as are present. First of all, the Priest that shall say Mass must

have the Ashes laid upon his head by another Priest, if he be present. But if there be no more Priests, then must he kneel down meekly before the Al∣tar, and lay Ashes upon his own head. Afterward must the other Ministers come, if any be present, and kneeling down before the Altar, receive Ashes of the Priest. They being served, the Brethren and Sisters shall come bini & bini, two and two together, like Fryers of one Cloyster, and meekly kneeling upon their marrow bones before the Altar, receive Ashes in like manner of the Priest. And in distributing these Ashes, the Priest must say to every one of them on this wise, Memento homo quod cinis es, ✚ (here must the Priest make a Cross with the Ashes upon the top of the Crown, if he be a Man, but if a Woman, upon her forehead) & in cinerem re∣verteris. That is to say, Remember man that thou art Ashes, and into Ashes thou shalt return.

These Ashes in times past, through the wicked Doctrine of the most wicked Papists, have been counted of the common People to be of so great virtue, that the receiving of them brought unto them Gods favour, and a worthy preparation unto the forgiveness of their sins. And contrariwise, that without them, neither Confession, Contrition, Pennance, Absolution, Fasting, Prayer, nor any other good work profited them any thing at all. O lamentable blindness!