( 415) greffion in not keeping them. And then 9. it isnot fo flare that there is no tranfgreflion in keeping them : therefore the firer fide is to be taken. i o. And it Teems ftrange that we find not fo much as any ancient * general Council making any mention * The Pro.: ofChriflmas orfuch daies(thoughofthe Martyrs dales fome do.) vinc,al Con/it. All thefe reafons (which I run over haftily) and many more flgath.can.i4. ((which for brevity I pretermit) do Item to make it a very ;S the mb chat Y P ) I remember hard queftion, whether thekeeping ofthis fort of Holy dales be mentioning lawful). them, g. 47. And it is not to be much (tuckat, that a Day to Chrift doth feemmore necefffryand pious, then aDay in commemo- ration ofa Martyr, or a particular Mercy : For in the higheR parts of Gods worfhip, God bath left man leaft to do, as to Legiflation and Decillons : andufurpations here are far mat dangerous. Aweekly Day is fomewhat more then anAnn'verfa- ry : And yet I think there is few of the contrary- minded, but would doúbt whetherman might impofe on the Church the ob- fervation of another weekly Holy day, in commemoration of Chrijl,Nativity.The wor/hipofGod is amore excellenz and ncce: fary thing, then the venerationdue to a worthy perfon;And yet we havenot fo much liberty tomake new wales of worfhiping God, as ofveneration to men. So is it here, though even the Dales that are for thememorial ofthe Saints, are ultimately for the honourof God ; yet chofe that are fet apart directly and immediately to commemorate the work of Redemption, are Relatively much higher, and therefore feem to be more exempted from the Determination of humane laws. 48. By this and ranch more, I am fully fatisfied, a. That thekeepingof thefe daies is a thing of it felf r,nnecefary :. 2. And that there being none on earth that can jufily pretend toa power of univerfal Government over the whole Catbolick Church,it is certain that none on earth canbind the Cathoïick Church tofuch obfervances ; (The Canonsof Paftorsare Autho- ritativeDirection; to their awn flocks that are bound to obey them,fo it be in lawful things , but to other Churche,, or to theirfellowPafor,they arebut Agreemexts, and how far they bind, I than Phew anon.) 3. And even in a fingle Church, or a Province, or Nation, I am fat. ed that it is a great fin for Magiftratesor Patlrors toforceali that fcrup!e it, to the obferva- tion
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