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.

Title

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.

Author

Fisher, Edward, fl. 1627-1655.

Publication

London :: Printed for E. Blackmore, at the Angel in St. Pauls Church-yard,

1650.

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"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A85326.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 21, 2024. content_copy

Contents

• title page
• A CHRISTIAN CAVEAT TO THE Old and New SABBATARIANS.
  • SECTION I. The Occasion and Method of this Treatise.
  • SECTION II. That Christian Magistrates may lawfully constitute and ordain Feast-daies, or daies of solemne Thanksgiving, and require obedience unto such Constitutions.
  • SECTION III. The severall names and titles of this Feast.
  • SECTION IV. That the Feast of the Nativity is grounded upon the Scri∣ptures.
  • SECTION V. That this Feast was duly celebrated by the Christians in all ages.
    • In the second age. From the yeare 100. unto 200.
    • In the third age. From the yeare 200. unto 300.
    • In the fourth age. From the yeare 300. unto 400.
    • In the fift age. From the yeare 400. unto 500.
  • SECT. VI. That our Saviour was borne on the 25. day of December.
  • SECT. VII. The work of the day.
  • SECT. VIII. A patheticall exhortation unto the true Sonnes of the Church of England.
• AN ANSWER To sixteen QUAERES, Touching the Rise and Observation of CHRISTMAS, Propounded by Mr JOSEPH HEMING of Ʋttoxeter.
  • 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?
  • QUAERE II. Whether you can substantially prove that Christ was born on the 25 of December? and what your proofes are?
  • QUAERE III. and IV. Whether the Celebration of that day can be clearly warrant∣ed by you from Scripture? and what your Scriptures are? Or, Whether you can clear it by sound consequence from the New Testament, though not set down there in toti∣dem verbis?
  • QUAERE V. Whether you can clear the Celebration of that day by Ʋni∣versal tradition?
  • QUAERE VI. Whether (in case it can be evidenced by none of these, viz. plain Text, solid Inference, universal Tradition) it be not a meer humane invention, and so Will-worship? And how you will one day acquit your selves before GOD, for placing and crying up mens Inventions, instead of the Institutions of Jesus Christ? And whether it were not faithfull dealing with poor simple people to tell them that you have neither of these to warrant it?
  • QUAERE VII. Since dayes and times commanded by GOD himself to be ob∣served under the Law, were and are unlawfull under the Gospel; Whether dayes and times commanded by men, and not by GOD, under the Gospel, are not lesse lawfull?
  • QUAERE VIII. Whether the true and genuine Interpretation of Christ∣mas be Christ-man? And whether to perswade people 'tis so, be not to abuse and delude them? And whether we may not as well interpret Candlemas Candle-man, Michaelmas Michaelman, as Christmas Christman?
  • QUAERE IX. Whether the Saints are bound to rejoyce in the Birth of Christ on that day men superstitiously call Christmas, more then at other times? And whether the Lords day be not THE day appointed for them to rejoyce on?
  • QUAERE X. Whether Christmas day ought in any respect to be esteemed above another of the week-dayes? And whether people may not without offence to GOD follow their lawfull vo∣cations on that day?
  • QUAERE XI. Whether you think the Parliament and Assembly have erred and played the fooles in condemning and rasing out Ho∣ly-dayes not warranted in the Word? And whether to observe them be not highly to dislike, and flatly to con∣tradict (in point of practice at least) their proceedings in order to a Reformation?
  • QUAERE XII. Whether (since most men and women in England do blind∣ly and superstitiously believe, Christ was born on that day) preaching on it doth not nourish and strengthen them in that belief?
  • QUAERE XIII. Whether this Feast had not its rise and groweth from Chri∣stians conformity to the mad Feasts Saturnalia, (kept in December to Saturne the Father of Gods) in which there was a Sheaf offered to Ceres Goddesse of Corne; a hymne in her praise called ? And whe∣ther those Christians by name, to cloak it, did not afterwards call it Yule, and Christmas, as though it were for Christs honour? And whether it be not yet by some (more ancient then truly or knowingly reli∣gious) called Yule, and the md playes or sports (where∣with 'tis celebrated, like those Saturnalia) Yule∣games? And whether from the offering of that Sheaf to Ceres; from that song in her praise; from those gifts the Heathens gave their friends in the Calends of January, ominis gratia, did not arise or spring our Blazes, Christmas Kariles, and New-years gifts?
  • QUAERE XIV. Whether conformity to, and retention of Heathenish Cu∣stomes be commendable in Christians, sutable or agree∣able with Gospel-principles, though under pretext of Christs Honour and Worship?
  • QUAERE XV. Whether you are not bound to prove your practice for the conviction and satisfaction of your Brethren, whose du∣ty it is to walk with you in things agreeable to the mind of Christ? And in case you cannot; Whether you ought not to acknowledge your errour, lay down your practice (as others have done theirs) no longer befooling and misleading the People?
  • QUAERE XVI. Whether in case you return no answer to these Quaeres, I have not ground sufficient to conclude you utterly unable to give any rational account of your practice, now put upon it?