Tricoenivm Christi in nocte proditionis suæ The threefold svpper of Christ in the night that he vvas betrayed / explained by Edvvard Kellett.

PAR. 38.

AVgustus his Supper is famous; Sueton. (p. 127. post. medium secundi libri) It was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, where sixe men were at the Table, in the habit of sixe gods; and sixe women, in the habite of sixe Goddesses,

Dum nova divorum coenat adulteria,

as the Satyriall Poet galled him,

Whilest the old Heathen gods adulteries He imitates, supping with new supplies, Of faigned, yet knowne whoring deities.

Lucius Ʋerus Imperator, praeter exempla majorum, cum duodecim, solenni convivio, pri∣mus accubuit, saith Alexander ab Alex. (5.21.) yet, what did Augustus, as is cited immediatly before? Convivium majores nostri solenne instituerunt, idque Charistia appellaverunt, cui praeter cognatos, & affines, nemo interponebatur; ut si qua, inter necessa∣rias personas querela esset orta, apud Sacra mensae, & hilaritatem animorum fautoribus Concordiae adhibitis, tolleretur, saith Ʋalerius Maximus (2.1) that is, they were wont in old time, to keepe a solemne Feast, which they called Charistia, at which none but children and kinsfolkes were present; to the intent, that if there were any quarrell betweene any friends, the matter might be taken up by some Referees, and Vm∣pires in the middest of their Feasting and merriment. It may be from hence sprang the Custome, in our Westerne parts on little-wiving Sunday (such are the termes) for all married children to bring Cakes to their Parents, and to be merry, and feast with them: Cùm paucissimi convivae erant, non minores tribus; cum plurimi, non ultranovem, in eâdem mensâ, eisdémque lectis coenitabant, saith he, there crossing himselfe; unlesse you interpret him favourably, by distinguishing of common, and extraordinary Feasts: saying, (that I may English his words, when the guests were fewest, there were not lesse then three; and at the most, not above nine did sup at the same Table, and on the same beds: the Grecians used to sup, foure or five toge∣ther:

It is an old proverbe; Sixe make a Feast; seven a brawle; Turba plerunque turbnlenta est, sayth Gellius (13.11) from Varro, that is, a route most commonly turnes into a riot. I would chuse alwayes, if I might, the number of the foure Evangelists, at an ordinary repast; I cannot abide to eate my morsells alone: at a great solemne Feast, the number of the twelve Apostles, seemeth fit to me.

The Primitive Christians continued their course of meeting Per sodalitia, by fraternities, even at the time, that Rome was arrived to its highest pitch of glory: Pliny (10.97.) wrote to Trajan, that the Christians confessed, they were wont to meete before day, to adore, worship, and sing praises to Christ, as God, then to re∣ceive the Sacrament, binding them, as it were, from all evill, and to all manner of goodnesse; when these things were ended, they departed, and met customarily a∣gaine, to eate meate together promiscuously, but innocently. This was at their Love-feasts, which then were taken, after the blessed Eucharist. The same truth is also confirmed by Tertullian, in Apologet. (cap. 2.) Belike Trajan had heard of such meetings; for sayth Plinius to him, secundum mandata tua hetaerias esse vetui; betae∣riae, hoc est, ipsa sodalitita vetia erant, saythb Baronius; when Pliny had forbid them, according to the mandate of the Emperour; the Christians did forbeare such mee∣tings. To this effect, Caius Plinius secundus: But I fully beleeve, that after Trajan his favorable Edict, Conquirendi non sunt, that Christians should not be enquired af∣ter: and much more, after that Persecution wholy failed, and Peace was restored to the Churches of God, the Christians met againe, as they were wont, and more boldly, more publiquely, celebrated both Divine, and Humane Offices, and re∣newed their sodalitates or fraternities.

Notes

• b

  Baron. ad An. Christi. 104. Num. 4.