Scintillula altaris.: or, A pious reflection on primitive devotion : as to the feasts and fasts of the Christian Church, orthodoxally revived. / By Edward Sparke, B.D.

[illustration] depiction of Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane shortly before his arrest

Christ praying in the Garden. Matt: 20: Mar: 14: Luc: 22:* Ioan: 18:

*41. And hee gate him selfe from them, about a stones Cast, and Kneeled downe and prayed.

42. Saying, Father, if thou wilt, take away this cupp from mee, etc.

43. And there appeared an Angell unto him from heauen. comforting him.

45. And hee rose upp from prayer, and came to his disciples, and found them sleeping for heauines.

(Book 11)

Here the Plate.

Ʋpon Palm-Sunday, being that next before Easter. (Book 11)

DISQUISITION 11. (Book 11)

THis day (for some considerations) beareth away the Palm from all the rest, as begin∣ning the Hebdonioda magna, Sancta, poenosae (as antiquity calleth it) the great, the holy, and the painful week: the great, as being that indeed, wherein were the most various scoenes and grea∣test Interchanges of our Saviours life, and death: the holy, as that wherein our meditati∣ons should be such (in conformity to Christ) by the apprehensions of our sins, and his suffer∣ings: and the painful, as that wherein was more then personated the last act of our blessed Saviours Tragedy on the Cross, for the Mor∣tification of our Sins: and yet the great week, beyond all this again, for the happy Catastro∣phe of his Resurrection, both for our Souls and Bodies Justification, * 1.1 Rom. 4. And first, this day openeth a pleasing scaene, presenting us our bless∣ed Lord riding in triumph to Jerusalem, and that in some measure of befitting equipage, suiting (at least) the Prophesies (if not his Ma∣jesty) Zech. 9. yet with general Acclamations of Rex Israel, * 1.2 and gloria in excelsis, round a∣bout

him, Behold thy King cometh, the King of Israel, and glory in the highest; cheerfully and with a double Hosanna acknowledging his God∣head and Humanity, and the dignity of both; where I shall contract your speculations unto Christs Actions herein, and theirs, the Jewes, Saint Mat. registereth the History at large, chap. 21. where at the second verse, * 1.3 Christ sends two of his Disciples for the Ass and the Colt. In the very circumstances of which Message (as well as in the substance) appeared some glimmerings of the Deity, foretelling them those future con∣tingencies whereof Angels have no cognizance, but in the prospect of their causes; and likewise in his Authoritative sending for those Beasts (whosoever was the owner) this spake no less then his divine prerogative; dominium despoticum (as the School speakeh) the was the grand Master of the whole Creation, by which he might at any time, curse the barren figtree, command the fish to be his treasurer; send whom, and whither, and for what he pleased, with a Dominus opus habet; the Lord hath need of him; and therefore non trahendum in exemplum; such actions of our Saviour are no object of our imitation, unless we will become like the Beasts he sent for; and that was an Ass, both as to the Prophecie, * 1.4 Zech. 9. &c. and as to the mystery of his taking our flesh, compared unto such riding; and as to the Al∣legory of Christs, and all true Christians meek∣ness, laboriousness and patience; this being la∣boriosum, patiens, & mite animal; and in this sense tis good to say with David, Ʋt Jumentum factus sum, Psa. 72. * 1.5 I was even as a Beast be∣fore

thee. Again tis said, an Ass used to the yoak, vers. 5. Christ loves no Sons of Belial, i. e. such as cast off the yoak, whether of Church or State, by rebellion, or Sacriledg; obedience to him being better then Sacrifice: * 1.6 and too this Ass used to the yoak, may signifie the Iewes mancipated to the Law, whereas the Colt whereon never man sate, till Christ now ri∣ding on both by turnes (as is observed) signified the Gentiles used to the liberty of nature: he thus came Riding that came to save both: and now let us look a little on their actions, wherein they are grown so officious in attending Christ, * 1.7 as though they would become his Prose∣lytes, rather then his persecutors; and Ierusalem happily exchange her old bloudy title (of sto∣ner of the Prophets) for an honourer of them, if not an Adorer of their Master; evidencing their affections by flocking out in throngs to meet him; which when they did, they cut down bran∣ches and strewed them in the way (so hot on it) as they would make every Tree pay a tri∣bute to his welcome. * 1.8 From the story, as de∣scribed by Saint Luke 19. and Saint Mat. 21. some of the ancient Church took occasion, as on this day, to go in procession with palms in their hands, and to denominate it, Dominica in ra∣mis Palmarum (i. e.) Palm-Sunday; and these Trees being Palms (though native to that coun∣try) were nevertheless Emblems emphaticall of his victory, and patience: we too should strew his way, i. e. our life, with flourishing virtues, breaking down boughes, from Abra∣ham-obedience, from Joseph-chastity, from Mo∣ses

humility &c. and then as David saith, Flo∣rebit just us sicut Palma. Psa. 92. * 1.9 The righte∣ous shall flourish like the Palm-tree. Besides, as if the Trees yeilded not ornament enough, they even strip themselves to dress his way, spread∣ing their garments; and so should our charity to his poor Servants, like Job; casting garment to the poor, that would make him him exchange garments with us, even the robe of righteous∣ness, wherewith he is clothed, as with a gar∣ment; and then that their hands might not out∣act, nor their Feet out-run their Tongues they make a consort of both sexes and all ages, distri∣buting themselves in roy all Method, vers. 9. The multitudes that went before, and that followed, singing all Hosanna to the Son of Davd, * 1.10 as though it had been no other then the solemn Proclamation of the King of Israel: for the * 1.11 word signifieth to save, and is taken, Psal. 118.25. as a prayer for the King, and like that 1 King. 1.34. God save the King, and this Ho∣sanna was the cry of both of them, the ante-nati and the post-nati. Those that went before, were the Patriarchs and Prophets; they that followed after, are the Apostles, Martyrs, and all pious Christians; all whose praises and gratulations make but up the same Hosanna (either of accla∣mation to Christ, or apprecation to themselves; Salva obsecro, or Glory to the Saviour: the Ancients Faith and ours is the same, though the manner of believing divers. But alas! how soon the beams of Popularity are beclouded? Their Sun goes down at noon (as is said in an∣other case) the scaene again is suddenly and sadly

chaged, their acclamations turned into accusa∣tions, their Benedictions into Blasphemies, their Palms into Thornes, and their Hosaenna into a double Crucifige! no stone so rowling as the mobile vulgus; tis like its gender with Gram∣marians; neutrum modo, mas modo vulgus. So fluctuant and unsteady is popular affection, that David calls it madness, and parallelleth it with the Seas tumultuousness * 1.12 ; and there's but one hand onely that can still them both; and therefore let him caution how far to trust it, Psal. 118. * 1.13 Trust in the Lord, cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils, &c. see the instability of earthly favour (and learn to scorn it) how agu∣ish the temper of the many-headed monster, a∣gainst which, of all beasts, make use of your Letany, Libera nos Domine; their Magnificat is soon turned into a wronged sense of venite ex∣ultemus! as our Saviour this day found (and we have often seen!) who was never in any great honour all his life, but twice; externally had but two cheerfull daies; one was that of his trans∣figuration, yet there he talked with Moses and Elias of his death, whereby that was sowred! and here he is going to his Death indeed, and weepeth even in the midst of his glory! Luk. 19.41. and this honour continued but a very little while, * 1.14 so slippery a Pinnacle is the bosom of a multitude, a reed shaken with the wind; nay like the wind that shakes it! for they that so admired him in the morning, would none of them vouchsafe him a lodging at night, * 1.15 Matth. 21. fain to go back to Bethany; their affecti∣ons cooling faster then ere before they kindled,

till their fire became a frost! they that even now cryed him up as the King of Israel, soon after cry lowder, We have no King but Caesar; and they that erewhile cut down boughes to strew his way, soon after cut down a Tree to hang him on, the cross, the curse! and those that cast their Garments, now soon cast losts for his! So that the Church, as by her devotions on it appear∣eth, may well call this the passion-Sunday, as be∣ing but one step short of Calvary.

POEM 14.

What means this Multitude? say, whats the News With this strange concourse? tis the King o'th' Iews Inauguration sure; look how they throng As they to swear Alleagiance to Him, long: Their Love out-runs their patience; they contend Whose Duty shall him first and most attend; Hierusalem runs out of 't self as twere, To meet him by the way, and greet him there; The Trees are clambred, and each breaks his Bough; Nor have their numerous Palms branches enough To dress his way, their Garments too they strew To fill the Ostentation of their shew. Mean time behold his humble highness pass On the meek emblem of a sluggish Ass To fulfill Prophesies, and meekness teach, If we would learn, when word and action preach. Thus Equipag'd they wait on him to Town, Where of all sorts, what hurrying up and down To have a sight of him? the windows packt With Female gazers, He their fair object:

(Somewhat of holy Austin's chief desire, To see Christ in the flesh ere they expire.) Now all the way as this King pass'd along, What Acclamations both of old and young? Children their cries into a treble raise, While th' Aged chant the Basis to his praise; Ages and sexes both in Consort sing, Hierusalem doth with Hosanna's ring. So should we deck the places Christ frequents, With inward praise, and outward Oruaments; All this was right and due, what his desart Challeng'd not onely from their hand, but Heart, And from ours too; but both prove Iewes! alas What venomous Serpents lurk in pleasant grass? All these are holy frauds, in this sweet Calm A storm wrap'd up, and snares in every Palm! What vanity! what danger! O what Death Sculks in the loose applause of vulgar Breath! This very day Christs passion-week began, Twas but the Preface to behold the man! Thus having heard how they their King proclaim, Next see his Coronation by the same; Sit but and hear the tragick muse now sing How these feign'd Saints us, d a true Divine King!

The COLLECT PRAYER.* 1.16* 1.17

Almighty and everlasting God, which of thy tender love towards man, hast sent our Saviour Je∣sus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the Cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility: mercifully grant, that we both follow the example of his patience, and be made partakers of his resurrection, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 4.2.
• * 1.2

  Zech. 9.9.
• * 1.3

  Matth. 21. vers. 2.
• * 1.4

  Zech. 9.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 72.23.
• * 1.6

  Psa. 72.23.
• * 1.7

  The Jews acti∣ons.
• * 1.8

  Luk. 19. Mat. 21.
• * 1.9

  Psa. 92.12.
• * 1.10

  Psa. 118.25.
• * 1.11

  Hosanna. Vocabulum Sy∣riacum ex He∣braeo 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 quaeso. Psal. 118.25. Salvare, aut salvificare, ser∣va quaeso, O Regem Deus-Ex optatio, similis illi, 1 King. 4 34. Vivat Rex So∣lomo; as much as God save the King.
• * 1.12

  Psal. 65.7.
• * 1.13

  118.8, 9.
• * 1.14

  Luke 19.41.
• * 1.15

  Matth. 21.17.
• * 1.16

  The Epistle, Phil. 2.5. to 11.
• * 1.17

  The Gospel, Mat. 26.1. cha. 27.57.