A Christian caveat to the old and new sabbatarians. Or, A vindication of our Gospel-festivals. Wherein is held forth, I. That the feast of Christs nativity is grounded upon the scriptures; was observed in the pure, antient, apostolique times; and is approved by all reformed churches. II. That Christ was born on the 25th. day of December; and all objections to the contrary refuted. III. An answer to XVI. Quæres, touching the rise and observation of Christmas, propounded by Mr. Joseph Heming of Uttoxeter. IV. The originall and true ground of the Lords Day. V. The just meaning and nature of the Sabbath. / By a lover of truth; a defender of Christian liberty; and an hearty desirer of peace, internall, externall, eternall, unto all men.

QUAERE I. Whether such Religious Customes as are binding to all the Churches of Jesus Christ, ought not to have sure footing upon the Word of GOD, or Apostolical Practice?

ANSWER.

WE must here distinguish of Religious Customes: Some are Religious Absolutely, some Respectively. Customes ab∣solutely religious, have sure footing upon the Word of GOD, either in expresse termes or by evident consequence; as, The peoples assembling to GOD'S Service, the Celebration of the Sacraments, and the like: These are absolutely and ever bind∣ing to all the Churches of Jesus Christ. Customes respectively religious, are such as in respect of their Matter, Manner, End are Religious, but have their Institution from the Practice and Authority of GOD'S Church; Of which number is this Observation of the Nativity; The Matter whereof is our Sa∣viours Birth; The Manner is with preaching, prayers, thanks∣giving, almes, and a liberal yet sober use of GOD'S Crea∣tures; The End is the Honour of Christ and our own Edifi∣cation: These Customes though in themselves things indif∣ferent, yet in respect of the Churches Authority become bind∣ing; and the wilfull contempt of them is a contempt of Au∣thority, a scandal and offence to the Church, which by the joynt consent of all Protestant-Divines is a fin against the Mo∣ral Law. a Your Quaere then containes a double errour:

First, it implies a misunderstanding of the Nature of our Festival; for we esteem it not (as you propound) amongst Customes absolutely religious.

Secondly, by the Disjunctive Or you insinuate, that such Cu∣stomes as have sure footing upon Apostolical Practice, are absolutely re∣ligious and binding to all Christian Churches; Which is false; For it is the Apostolical Precept, not Apostolical Practice, that

makes a Custome absolutely religious and universally bind∣ing. The Practice of our Saviour himself, and of his Apo∣stles with him, and of the Church to boot, b did not change the Nature of things indifferent; but as they used them free∣ly, so they left them free: We read, that the holy Commu∣nion was celebrated at the time of Supper, by our Saviour and his Disciples, c by the Disciples and the Church at Tr••as, d by the Church at Co〈…〉〈…〉th: e and yet who will say; that the Celebration of the Communion at that time is a Custome absolutely religious, hath Authority of Divine Precept, and bindeth all the Churches of Christ?

Notes

• a

  See our second Se∣ction. Also Harmon. Confess. fidei. Sect. 16. Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. page 5. Col. 8. Mr Edwards Treatise against Toleration. p.
• b

  As Mr Scudder would have in his Christians daily walk c. 6. p. 158.
• c

  Matt. 26 20. 26.
• d

  Acts 20 6. 7.
• e

  1. Cor. 11. 21.