A quench-coale. Or A briefe disquisition and inquirie, in vvhat place of the church or chancell the Lords-table ought to be situated, especially vvhen the Sacrament is administered? VVherein is evidently proved, that the Lords-table ought to be placed in the midst of the church, chancell, or quire north and south, not altar-wise, with one side against the wall: that it neither is nor ought to be stiled an altar; that Christians have no other altar but Christ alone, who hath abolished all other altars, which are either heathenish, Jewish, or popish, and not tollerable among Christians. All the pretences, authorities, arguments of Mr. Richard Shelford, Edmond Reeve, Dr. John Pocklington, and a late Coale from the altar, to the contrary in defence of altars, calling the Lords-table an altar, or placing it altarwise, are here likewise fully answered and proved to be vaine or forged. By a well-wisher to the truth of God, and the Church of England.

Courteous Reader, this should have come in at the 3. Question, concerning the Consecration of Churches; Immediatly before the words of Bishop Pilkington there cited, Page 214. Line 32.

* 1.1 Mathew Parker, the Learned Arch-Bishop of Canterbu∣ry, relating the forme of Consecrating Churches, Chapples, Al∣tars, Foundation-stones, Vestments, Chalices, and the like, out of the ancient Missals and Saxon Pontificals, which our Bishops at this day use; Concludes thus of them all.

Who can doubt, but that Papall Rites and Ceremonies abound with these kinde of Exorcismes, which differ nothing at all from these anciently used in the Ordalium and vulgar forme of Purgation, which they at length con∣demned, yea rather abound with more and more stupen∣dious Conjurations then they?

But S. Augustine, who in his time complained of the multitude of Ceremonies, if he were now alive, what would he thinke of that immense and prolix number of Ceremonie•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in use?

For writing to Ianuarius, he thus speakes of Ceremonies:

Notwithstanding he hath laden with servile burthens Reli∣gion itselfe, (which the mercy of God would have to be free, with very few and most manifest Ceremonies of Celebra∣tion,) that the condition of the Iewes is now more tollerable then that of Christians: Who although they acknowledge not the time of liberty, yet they are Subject to the rudi∣ments of the Law, not to human presumptions or Insti∣••••••ons.

Thus Augustine: And verify the condition of this our time is much to be deplored, that the Fathers of the Church, either will not, or cannot with the same edge of their minde, cut off these and such like Ceremonies, or rather TRIFLES from the Church, where with they discerned and corrected these former vices of Ordalium, or triall by fire. But those being damned and abolished as Superstitious, they still hold fast and retaine these (Con∣secrations) QUAMVIS PUERILIA ET DE∣LIRIA SINT, although they are Childish things and Dotages framed and co••piled out of them. How much more equall then moderne Papists, was Pope Gr••∣gorie,

who writes; That the rules of the Holy Fathers were delivered according to the circumstances of time,

Place, person and instant busines. But these having no regard, neither of time nor place, no•• busines, nor per∣son, nor of any other thing but their owne will and vaine glory; N•• pusillis in re••us 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ce••e••a volu••••; Will not submit to the truth even in these triviall things.

Thus this Arch-Bishop of these Dedications, so much now contested for by his present Successo••r; Ou•• of what spirit, he hath here determined to our hands, I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not recite 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Anti∣quita••es Ecclesiae Brit: p. 85. 86. 87