The works of that late most excellent philosopher and astronomer, Sir George Wharton, bar. collected into one volume / by John Gadbvry ...

Of Ashwednesday.

THis is the Head, or Beginning of the Quadra∣gesimal Fast, or Holy time of Lent, dedicated (by Gregory the Great) to the Consecration of, and Sprinkling with Ashes, being therefore called Dies Cinerum, or Ashwednesday. And yet (as Hospinian confesseth) there is extant an Homily of Maximus Bishop of Tours in France, with this Inscription, IN DIE CINERUM; which shews the institution thereof before his time: For that Maximus Taurinensis lived 170 years before him, viz. Anno Christi, 440.

Quadragesima is so called , for that (as before hath been noted) it is Forty days distant from Easter, comprehending the Fast of Lent, as kept by the Pri∣mitive Christians, in Imitation of our Saviours Fast of Forty days, and Forty nights in the Desart. It i•• otherwise named Invocavit, because that thereon i•• sung Invocavit me & ego exaudiam eum, or taken out of Psal. 91.14. This is the First Sunday in Lent.

The Second Sunday in Lent is called Reminiscere, from the entrance of the 6 verse of Psal. 25. Remenis∣cere miserationum tuarum Domine, &c.

The Third, Oculi, from the entrance of the 15 verse of the same 25 Psal. Oculi mei semper ad Do∣minum, &c.

The Fourth, Laetare, from the entrance of th•• 10 verse of the 66 Chapter of Isaiah, Laetare cu•• Jerusalem, &c. it is called also Dominica de Rosa, from the Golden Rose, which the Roman Bishop car∣rieth in his Hand before the People in the Temple: Lik••wise Dominica de Panibus, for that thereon the Miracle of the five Loaves, in the Gospel, is explained We in England rightly call it Midlent-Sunday.

The Fifth, Judica, from the entrance of Psalm, 34. Judica me Deus, discerne causam meam, &c.

The Sixth, Dominica Magna, or the great Lords day, because of the great and ineffable good thing which befel the Faithful in the following week, viz. Death abolished, Slander removed, and the Tyranny o•• the Devil loosed by the Death of Christ. It is also called Palm-Sunday, from the Branches of Palms, which the Jewish People strewed on the ground, when our Sa∣viour enter'd Jerusalem.

The Wednesday next after this, is the Council day of the Scribes and Pharisees: The Thursday following the Parasceve, or preparation of the Legal-Passover;

and the Night thereof, the Institution of the Supper. This is otherwise called Maundy-Thursday, from a Ceremony antiently used by the Bishops and Prelat••s in Cathedral Churches and Religious Houses, of washing their Subjects Feet: Which Ceremony is term'd the fulfilling the Mandate, and is in imitation of our Saviour Christ, who on this day at Night, after his last Supper, and before his Institution of the Blessed Sacrament, washed his Disciples Feet, telling them afterwards that they must do the like to one another, which is the Mandate whence the day is denominated. At the beginning of the aforesaid Ceremony, these words of Christ (uttered by him anon after his wash∣ing their Feet) Joh. 13.34. are sung for an Anti∣phon: Mandatum novum do vobis, ut diligatis in∣vicem, sicut dilexi vos. And lastly Good Friday; being the Day of the Passion and Cross of Christ, whereon he suffer'd and satisfied for the Sins of the whole World.

Next to the great Week succeeds the Pasche, or Feast of Easter celebrated (not in memory of the Angels Transit in Egypt, according to the Jewish Custom, but) of the Resurrection of our Saviour. And yet we retain the name Pasce, not only because the Lamb which of old was kill'd by the Jews in the Passover, was a Type of the Lamb of God, Christ Jesus, which was slain and sacrificed for the salvation of the World: but because at that very time ••e pas∣sed from this World to his Father, (for Paesah or Phase, signifies a passage) or because that then a passage is made, from an Old to a New Life.

It is called Easter from Eoster, a Goddess of the Old Sa••cons, whose Feast they kept in April: or (as Min∣shew hath it) because at that time our Sun of Righ∣teousness did rise, as the Sun in the East. And ••his

is the foundation & Basis of all the Lords days in the year.

After this doth immediately follow the Quinquage∣simal Interval of Fifty days betwixt Easter and Pen∣tecost, which was kept by the Primitive Christians as a whole Festival, in Honour of the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ, and the Glorious Mission of the Holy Ghost, with exceeding great Rejoycing and Gladness. It containeth Six Lords days, or Sundays: Whereof,

The First is called Quasimodogeniti, from the en∣trance of 1 Pet. 2.2. Quasi modo geniti Infantes, ra∣tionabiles sine dolore lac concupiscite. It is otherwise called Dominica in albis, in respect of the Angels that appear'd at the Resurrection in White Garments; and because such as of Old were Baptized on Easter day, did wear and walk in White Garments all the Week after, until this day, on which they laid them aside: Or, for that those, who had then been Baptized, were con∣firm'd of the Bishop, and put on other White Vest∣ments, which they wore till the following Sunday.

The Second Sunday after Easter, is called Miseri∣cordia, from the entrance of the 5 verse of Psal. 32. Misericordiâ Domini plena est terra, &c.

The Third, Jubilate, from the entrance of Psal. 65. Jubilate Deo omnis terra, &c.

The Fourth, Cantate, from the entrance of Psal. 98. Cantate Domino Canticum novum, &c.

The Fifth, Vocem jucunditatis, from the like en∣trance, Vocem jucunditatis annunciate & audiatur, &c.— This is also called Rogation Sunday, and the Week following, Rogation Week; Invented or Re∣stored by Mamercus, or Mamersus Bishop of Vienna, Anno Christi, 452. and so called à rogando Deum, as being once (we cannot say now) Extraordinarily consecrated above all other weeks in the year, unto Pray••rs and Supplications.—

1. Because Princes about this time undertake their Wars.

2. For that the Fruits of the Earth (being in their Blossom) are in great hazard: In both which re∣spects all Christians have good occasion at this Season especially, to Pray.

In this week also, it hath been an ancient and good Custom (continued till of late days) to make per∣ambulations and processions in every Parish and Town∣ship, for viewing and considering the ancient Bounds and Limits, to prevent incroachments and contentions.

On the Thursday also of this Week, (which is the Fortieth day from Easter) was wont to be celebrated the Feast of Christs Ascension, which is the Consum∣mation of all he did and taught whilst on Earth, and therefore termed Foelix clausula totius Itinerarii filii Dei, the very Sabbath of all his Labour in the work of our Redemption;

The Sixth Sunday after Easter, is called Exaudi, from the Entrance of Psal. 27. Exaudi Domine vo∣cem meam. &c.

After which doth succeed the Solemnity of Pente∣cost, so called, because the Fiftieth day from the Resurrection of Christ. It is vulgarly called Whit-Sunday, or White-Sunday, from the Catechumens, who were cloathed in White, and admitted to the Sa∣crament of Baptism on the Eve of this Feast. But Verstegan says, it was Anciently called Wied-Sunday, that is, Sacred Sunday; for that Wied, or Wihed sig∣nifies Sacred in the old Saxon.

Which Festival, as it was of old Celebrated by the Jews, the Fiftieth day after the Passover in memory of the Divine Law promulgated on Mount Sinai: so is this Fiftieth day after Easter, by all good Christians, to commemorate the Mission of the Holy Ghost there∣on,

which is the only best interpreter of the Divine Law.

Next the Feast of the Holy Trinity, (bearing the Lords day following) which was instituted by Gre∣g••ry the fourth, who held the Episcopal Chair, Anno 827. in Honour of the Holy Trinity.

The Thursday next after, is the Festival of the Body of Christ, commonly called Corpus-Christi day, which Urban the fourth, Bishop of Rome instituted about the year of Christ, 1264.

The Sundays following this of the Holy Trinity, are all of them called according to the Numeral order whereby they succeed Trinity Sunday, until the First of Advent.

Lastly, the Four Lords days immediately prece∣ding the Nativity of Christ, are called the Sundays of Advent, ab adventu Domini in carnem: and were instituted by the Church, to the end that from the First of them, until the Nativity of our Saviour, our minds might be prepared to a sober life, and a pious Meditation of his Birth then approaching: Pa∣rate viam Domini, reclas facite semit••s Dei nostri.

And these are the Christian Solemnities, or Holy days, rightly called Moveable.

The Fixed or Stative, are they, which notwith∣standing they fall upon divers day•• of the Week, yet do they not Change, but always fall upon one and the same day of the Month, and so have a Fixed and cer∣tain 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the Cal••ndar.

Of this sort are, The Circumcision of Christ, the Epiphany, and all other the Feasts of Saints and Mar∣••yrs, ••xcept the Movable before recited.

The Circumcision (which is the first in the order of th•• Calendar) in Commemoration of the Mystery

of his Legal Circumcision, when He, who was the Truth and Substance did at once fulfil and take away the Type thereof.

The Epiphany, or Apparition, or the Feast of Twelfth-day after Christmas, so called and celebrated in Me∣mory and Honour of Christs Manifestation, or Appa∣rition made to the Gentiles, by a Miraculous Comet or Blazing Star, by vertue whereof He drew and con∣ducted the three Magi, or Sages, (commonly called the three Kings) who, upon sight of that Star, came out of the East into the Country of Palestine, or Jew∣ry, to adore him in the Manger, where (a Twelve-Month after Christs Birth) they presented him with Myrrhe, Gold, and Frankincense, in testimony of his Regality, Humanity, and Divinity, whereof Pru∣dentius in the following verses:

Hic pretiosa Magi, sub virginis ubere Christo Dona ferunt Puero, Myrrhae, & Thuris, & Auri; Miratur Genetrix tot casti ventris honores, Se{que} Deum genuisse, Hominem, Regem{que} Supremum.

Which are thus excellently translated by Dr. Ed∣ward Spark, in his Primitive Devotion.

The Wise men, here, Choise Treasures do dispense, To Christ and Mary, Myrrhe, Gold, Frankincense: While thus astonish'd at this glorious thing, A maid, at once, to bear God, Man, and King;

Or, from the Holy Ghost's appearing in the Shape of a Dove, at his Baptism thirty years after, (for this sixth day of January was the day of his Baptism, and therefore it is also called by Alcas Cyriacus, an Arabique Manuscript of Astronomical Tables, in the

Arch Bishop's Archives in the Oxford Library (as the Learned Dr. Hammond tells me) The Feast of Epi∣phany; or, Benediction of Waters: The Vigil where∣of was of Old called Vigilia Luminum, and the Anci∣ents were then wont to send Lights one to another.

This day was anciently celebrated by the Romans, in Honour of Augustus Caesar, for the conquest of Parthia, Egypt, and Media, which were thereupon added to the Roman Empire, wherefore the Church, willing to change that Solemnity for a better, institu∣ted this of the Epiphany in the room of it.

The testification of his true Incarnation, was by the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, when Jesus was presented in the Temple, and pro∣claimed by Simeon and Anna to be the Messiah.

This Feast was instituted by Justinian the Emperor, Anno Christi, 542.

Saint Matthias, who being one of the Seventy Dis∣ciples, was (after the Ascension) chosen Apostle, by Lot, in the room of Judas the Traytor; He Preach∣ed the Gospel in Macedonia, and (coming afterwards into Judea) was there first stoned, by the Jews, and th••n beheaded after the Roman manner, Anno Christ••, 51.

The Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Vir∣gin, is kept in remembrance of the time when the Ang••l Gabri••l declared our Saviours conception, or In••a••nation by the Holy Ghos••.

Saint Mark the Evangelist, who Penned the Life, Acts, Miracles, Dea••h, and Resurrection of our Sa∣viour. He was the first Bishop of Alexandria, where he Preached the Gospel, and so all over the bordering Regions from Egypt to Pentapolis. At the same Alex∣andria, in the time of Trajan, he had a Cable-Rope tyed about his N••ck, by which he was drawn from

the place call'd Bucolus, unto that other call'd Augets, where he was burnt to Ashes by the Furious Idolaters (against whom he had preached) Anno Christi, 63. and buried at Bucolus.

Saint Philip, and Saint James, both Apostles and Martyrs: The first, of the City of Bethsaida, who preached the Gospel in Phrygia, and converted the Eunuch Candaules. He is said, by some, to have sent twelve Disciples into Britain, for conversion thereof. But at length the Painims laid hold on, and Crucified him, at Hierapolis about the year of Christ 53.

The later, viz. Saint James the lesser, Son of Al∣pheus, the Author of that excellent Epistle bearing his Name, who was for his Wisdom and Piety, surnamed the Just. After the Ascension he was Created Bishop of Jerusalem, where (when he had govern'd that Church for thirty years space) he was first stoned, and afterward placed on a Pinacle of the Temple, from whence he was precipitated, and then (lying with his Thighs broken, and half dead, lifting up his Hands to Heaven) knocked on the Head with a Full••rs club, in the seventh year of Nero.

The Feast of Saint John Baptist, son of Zachary and Elizabeth, and who was of the Tribe of Levi: of him that shewed us the Lamb of God, the Son of the Father, which taketh away the Sins of the World: who nevertheless was beheaded by H••rod the Tetrarch, at the request of Herodias (the Relict of his Brother Philip) Anno Christi 30.

Saint Peter, and Saint Paul, the first whereof was chief of the Apostles, and Preached the Gospel in Pon∣tus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Bithynia, and (in the end) at Rome, where he was aft••rwards Crucified, under Nero, with his Head downward, (for that was his desire) and there also buried.

The latter, viz. Saint Paul, who (being called of Christ himself, after his Assumption, and number'd in the Catalogue of the Apostles) Preached the Gospel from Jerusalem to Illyricum, Italy and Spain; and was beheaded at Rome under Nero, Anno Christi, 68. on the third Calends of July; as was also Saint Pe∣ter, with whom he there lyeth buried.

Saint James (the greater) Brother to Saint John, Son of Zebedee, an Apostle and Martyr, who preach∣ed the Gospel to the twelve dispersed Tribes, and was slain by the Sword (or Beheaded) by Herod Agrippa, in Judea, Anno Christi, 45, where also he was buri∣ed, and so consequently the first of all the Twelve Apostles in Christs Kingdom.

Saint Bartholomew, who was Nephew (some say) and Heir to a King of Syria, yet both an Apostle and Martyr. He preached the Gospel to the Indians, where by the Command of Polemius King of India, He was the first day beaten with Cudgels; the next, Crucifi'd and Excoriated, or fleyed alive, as fastned on the Cross. And last of all (whilest Breath re∣mained) Beheaded, Anno Christi, 51. Wherefore it is called Duplex Festum, some keeping also the Twenty Fifth, as we the Twenty Fourth, of August.

Saint Matth••w, who being a Jew by Birth, and a Publican or Toll-customer by Profession, became a Disciple, an Apostle, an Evangelist, and Martyr. He wrote the Gospel of Christ in the Hebrew tongue, and delivered it to James (the Brother of our Lord) then Bishop of Jerusalem. The same he preached in Ethiopia, where he was entertain'd by the Eunuch (C••amberlain to Queen Candace) whereof mention is made in the Acts: And prevailed so far that Aeglip∣pus the King, and his People came to Baptism: but there reigning after him one Hyrtacus, who hated

the Apostle; by his Command he was run thorow with a Sword, in the year of Christ, 71.

Saint Michael (the Arch-Angel) is he, who figur∣ed Christ, and fought for his Church against the Red Dragon (or the Devil) and his Angels.

Saint Luke born in Syria, by Profession a Physician of Antioch, an Evangelist, and the Penman of the Apostles Acts: who accompanied the Apostles in their Peregrination, but Especially Paul, and died at Ephe∣sus in the Eighty Fourth year of his Age, where also he was buried, Anno Christi, 74▪ But many years after Translated, (together with Andrew and Timo∣thy) to Constantinople in the time of Constantine, Son to Constantine the Great.

Saint Simon Zelotes, and Saint Jude the Brother of James, both Apostles of Christ. The first of which was born in Cana, a Town of Galilee, (being the son of Mary and Cl••ophas, according to Eusebius, lib. 3. Ch. 11.) and preached the Gospel in Egypt and Persia; whence he returned and succeeded Saint James in the Bishoprick of Jerusalem, where he was Crucified un∣der Trajan, in the 120 year of his Age, and so the last Martyr of all the Apostles.

The latter, viz. Saint Jude, (likewise called Thad∣daeus, and Lebbaeus) who preached the Gospel to the Edessaeans, and throughout all Mesopotamia: and was slain at Berytus in the time of Agbarus King of Edessa, where also he was very honourably buried, Anno Christi 51.

The Feast of All-Saints, is dedicated to all Christs Apostles, Martyrs, and Holy Confessors in general.

Of Saint Andrew, the Brother of Simon Peter, by Profession a Fisher, yet an Apostle and Martyr: Who preached to the Scythians, Sogdians, Sacians, and in the Middle Seabastopolis: After that in Cappadocia,

Galatia, Bithynia, and along the Euxine Sea: Lastly in Thrace, Macedonia, Thessally, and Achaia, where (in the time of Vespatian) he was Crucified, by Aegeas King of the Edesseans, and buried at Patris, a City of Achaia, about the 80. year of Christ.

Saint Thomas Didymus, Christs Apostle and Martyr, who Preached to the Parthians, Medes, and Persians: So also to the Caramans, Hircans, Bactrians, and Magicians: and was slain with a Dart at Calamina, a City of India, where he was Honourably buried, Anno Christi 35.

The Feast of Christs Nativity, which without all doubt, was on the Twenty Fifth day of December; as is fully proved by that Learned Gentleman, Edward Fisher Esq in his Vindication of our Gospel Festivals; a Book never as yet (that I know of) answered by any of the separation, although Printed (and reprint∣ed) ever since April, 1649.

It is commonly called Christmass from the old Saxon word Maeppan whence the English Misse, and Mass, signifies a Feast; and accordingly with them any Holy or Festival day is called Maeppan 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that is Masse day: and so doth the Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and the Latine Missa, from whence the common word Mensa, is but lightly removed, and signifies the Meat, and not the Table only (—Mensae{que} remotae, in Virgil, the Meat taken away; and Mensae secundae, the second Course) and all this from the Latin, Missa, because ad Mensam mittitur, it is sent or served up to the Ta∣ble. So the Reverend Dr. Hammond.

In the Northern parts of this Nation it is called, Yule, from the Latin Jubilum, which signifies a time of Rejoycing and Festivity. By the Western or La∣tin Church, Luminaria, or the Feast of Light: be∣cause they used many Lights and Candles at this Feast;

or rather, because Christ the Light of all Lights, that true Light, then came into the World. But for the high and Excellent Titles which the Christian Churches gave this Feast; See the above mention'd Mr. Fisher, Sect. 3. —And this is the Basis and Foun∣dation of all the other Christian Festivals, and ought to be Celebrated accordingly.

Of Saint Stephen the First Martyr, who was Or∣dained one of the Seven Proto-Deacons, Ut bona com∣munia curaret, ea{que} viduis & pauperibus rectè distri∣bueret, who zealously refuted the erroneous Opinions of the Jews concerning the Messiah, affirming Jesus Christ of Nazareth to be the true one foretold by the Prophets: and (being therefore accused of Blasphemy) was condemned and stoned to Death, by the Jews at Jerusalem, Anno Christi 35.

Saint John (the Brother of Saint James) who was also an Evangelist, and the best beloved Apostle. He preached the Gospel in Asia: but the Emperor Trajan exiled him into Patmos (an Isle of the Egaean Sea) where he wrote his Gospel, afterward published at Ephesus, by Gaius his Host, and Deacon, After the Death of Trajan, he returned from Patmos, and re∣main'd at Ephesus, until he had lived 120 years, where he died of an Apoplexy, Anno Christi 104.

Lastly, of the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem, slain by Herod the Great, in our Saviours stead, though not for his sake: amongst whom his own Son (as some Historians affirm) escaped not his (till then) unheard-of cruelty: which gave Augustus Caesar that occasion to say, Melius est esse Herodis Porcum, quam Puerum: Better it was to be Herods Hog, than his Son. But touching this, see the Learned Mr. Gre∣gory, in his Episc. Puerorum.

For the rest of the Saints and Martyrs, as it cannot

be expected they shall all of them be couch'd in this small Volume: so neither are they especially in favour with the times, and therefore forbear I any further mention thereof.