hemiah, as we read in the Books known by thoſe Names, In 4, ogy to the pradtice of Solomon, when they had finiſhed the Buildi,; of the Temple, there was another Feaſt of Dedication kept; of whis we read, Ezra 6, 16,17, 18, bur we read of nothing done inthe; Dedication, but the Offering of 100 Bullocks, 200 Rang, ,.. Lamber, and 12 He-Goars, and (ctting the Prieſts and ZCevites in or der for the ſervice of God. This Temple was defaced by tics, bur not wholly ruin'd ; and was Kepaired and Purified ty 144, Maccabeus, of which we read, 2 Maccab. 2. 23. Chap. to, 6," 5 r Maccdb. 4+ 525 58, which Books of Maccabes, rhcugh they bu Cationical Scripture, yerare as good a picce of E:cleſia{{ical Hijiory any 3 and 7oſephss alſo giveth us an account of ir. Antiq. /, 12, cop, 1, We do nor read of any thing they «1d, ſaving Offerirg Sacrifire and ſerting things in order, according tothe Law of Moſes, and Feih, ing 3 Foſephys tells us, They ufed all Lawful Pleaſures. We gg Lot read thar cither God appointed an 4nnual Feaſt of Dedication for the Sartliary, nor Silomon, nor Exra, for either of the Temples; bur ve read rwice in the Book of Macrabes and Foſephus (writing the 5,6 Hiſtory tells us, ) That Judas Maccabens made it a Law, That the Feaſt ſhould be kept yearly for Eight Days, in Memory of that ver. cy which God had ſhewed them. This was withcut doube the þ1} of Dedication here mentioned : for this Feaft began upon the Tye, ty-filth day of the Month Chiſiez, which anſwereth our Months of y, vember and December, and took in part of each; ſo ir agreeth with the Text which faith, That it was in Winter, whereas Soloman's Del. carion was in Autumn, Ezya's in the Spring, Some make a Quelticy, Whether Judas Maccabeus did well in appointing this .4nnuul Felft neither Solomon, nor Ezra having, that we read of before, dure any ſuch thing : acd think char our Saviour was nor at this Fel in any honour to the Feaſt, but only to rake advanrage of the multitude of People that met to Preach the Goſpel, For my own part, as I will not defend, ſo 1durft not condemn him: ! ſee 06 more that he did in this, than was done Eſther 9. 27, 28. #t the days of Pkrim. Magiſtrates certainly have a power to appoint Publick Days, yea Annual Days of Thankſgivings, for Merdes never to be forgotten. Indeed they cannot make a day holy, fo as it ſhall be a fin againſt God to labour in ic, or to uſe any ples. ſures (as in the caſe of the Sabbath) bur they may command the Publick Worſhip of God to be performed on particular Dajs, ad Men'ought to attend fr when with conveniercy they can : Only they ought to take care thar ſuch days be nor ſpent in Luxury and Proface- neſs, and that they be for ſignal Providences, and nor ſo multiplied, ard frequently renewed, as that the Service of them degenerate into meer matter of torm. Whether Chriſt weor up jn order cothe Feall or becauſe of rhe great concourſe of People he knew weuld be there at thar time, cannot be determined. For the Second Queſtion, [t is nor ſo mucha Queſtion whether ic be lawful in a ſolemn and de-
409
cent manner, to cunſecrate an Houſe to the Publick Worſhip of God,
by ſuch Ads of Worſhip as God hath appointed under the Gelpe!, ſich as Prayer and Praiſe, Reading, Preaching, and Hearing the Word: As whether it may be done by ſuch Rires and Ceremonies as the Papiſts do it with, for the which there js no lafticurien; tor the former, though ir may be ſome will not agree ie necefſary, yet certainly no ſober Perſon can deny, bur if a place be-made for People ordinarily ro meer in ro Worſhip God, there they may 5 welf mcer at the firſt to Praiſe God for his Mercy, and to beg bis Pic- ſence, when they ſhall there meer rcgether to worſhip God, aud t9 hear his Word, as they may meet there afterwards for Prayer, Praile,
Preaching, or Kearing : but this ſarisfieth not che Papiſts.They firlt« Ic by many ſuperſtitious Ceremonies, Secondly, they plead for the it lineſs of che Place when ſo conſecrated. As the Ceremonies > it: Conſecrations , or Dedications, Bellarmine reckoneth® up E'pit 1. The Painting twelve Croiles in the ſeveral parts cf the Houle 19 be Conſecrated, and lighting up ewelve Lamps, one ar every Crois, co lignifie the Twelve Apofiles who carried the Banner © it: Croſs throvghour the World. 2. The Biſhop's kuocking at the dur with a Paſtoral ſtaff, commanding the Devil to give place, andinic%: ing of God, the Angels and Sainrs, to granc thelr preſerce i067 place 3 which they make co fignifie the openirg of peoples Hearts?) the reaching of the Goſpel, 3 The ſcattering of aſhes upon clit flore of the place, vpon which the Biſhip writes the ferre's 0! tle Latizand Greek Alphabet, in the Figure of a Croſs. 4. The ſpriok- ling the Place with Holy-water,and lighiing up Wax candles. 5: The arointing of the Crcfles before-mentiored, and painred on the mo S. The ſprinkling of the place, with a mixture of Water, Wine," and Aſhes, 9. The Anointing of che Temple, and the alta 8. The keeping of a Feſtival upon jt: And forall theſe chey 124* deviſed ſeveral Significancies tco vain and fanciful to repeat. FO note of which we know not any the leaſt warranc in Hely Writ: OT can we conceive, how ary Conſecration can imprint any charadter G ho!ir.cſs vpon a place, crmake prayers cfered up in or toaard It noe
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