550 The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. IV. K. Charles L curie he bowed to the eaff, and faid let all the peoplefay Amen. When the X630 curies were ended; which were about twenty, he pronounced a like number t.rv-.'> of bleffings uponall who had any hand in framing and building of that facred andbeautiful edifice, and on thofe who had given or should hereafter give, any chalices, plate, ornaments, or other utenfils ; and at the end of every blefling he bowed to the eaft, and faid let all thepeople fay Amen. After this followed the fermon and then the facrament, which the bifhop con- fecrated and adminiftred after the following manner. Hisco fecra- As he approached the altar, he trade five or fix low bows and coming Lion of the up to the fide of it, where the bread and wine were covered, he bowed facrament. . feven times;; then, after reading many prayers, be came' near the bread, and gently lifting up the corner of the napkin, beheld it, and imme- diately letting fall the napkin, retreated haflily a ffep or two, and made three lowobeyfances. His lordihip then advanced, and having uncovered the bread bowed three times as before; then laid his hand on the cup, which was full of wine, with a cover upon it, which having let gohe ftepped back, and bowed three times towards it; then came near again,, and lifting up thecover of the cup, looked into it, and feeing the wine, he let fall the cover again, retired back, andbowed as before: After which the elements were confe- crated, and the bifhop having firft received, gave it to Tome principal men in their furplices hoods and tippets; towards the conclufion, many prayers being laid, the fólemnity of the confecration ended. 'Of St. He confecrated St. Giles's church in the fame manner, which had `Giles's and been repaired, and part of it new built in his predeceffor bifhop Moun- others. Cain's time. Divine fervice had been performed, and the facraments ad- Prynne, miniflered in it for three or four years fence that time without exception ; 'Cant. Doom. but as loon as Laudwas advanced to the bifhoprick of London, he inter- `P' 117. ;dieted the church, andprohibited divine fervice therein, till it fhould be reconfecrated, which is more than even the canon law requires. Sundry other chapels and churches which had been built long fence, were by the bifhop's direction, likewife fhut up till they were confecrated in this manner; as Immanuel chapel inCambridge built 1584. Sidney collegechapel, built t596.,and feveral others. Remarks. This method of confecratingchurches was new to the people of Eng- land, and in the opinion of the firft reformers fuperffitious and abfurd; for tho' 'tis reafonable there should be publick buildings referved. and Pet apart for publick worfhip, and that at the firft opening them, prayers fhould be offered for a divine blefìing on the ordinances of Chrifi, that may at any time be adminiftered in them ; yet have we not the leaff ground to believe that bill-lops, or anyother dignitaries of the church, can by their declaration or forms ofprayer, hallow the building, or make the ground holy, or introduce a divine prefence orglory into the place, as was in
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