I might bere fay fomething to Rails about the Altar, as another of our Ceremonies; but I fhall only obferve, that this was usual in the primitive Church; for the fixth Council of Conftantinople, called the (e) Trullan, decreed, that no Laicks should enter intra fepta facri Altaris, within the Inclofures of the holy Altar, except the Emperor, when he made his Offerings. But let none be offended, I pray, that I here term the Communion-Table an Altar, as if the word imply'd either Judaism, or Popery; for as Chriftians have their proper Sacrifices, of which the fymbolical Body and Blood of Chrift offered up by the Priest on that Table is one; fo upon that account, it was very justly denominated an Altar, and commonly fo called by the Ancients. And well it might, when, to celebrate the Communion, was with them (f) προσφέρειν τὴν ἀναίμακτον Θυclav, to offer the unbloody Sacrifice.

I name but one Ceremony more, viz. the Ring in Marriage. And furely, some Pledge between the Parties to be given by one, and received by the other, being then of useful Sig, nification; a Circle being an Hieroglyphic of Eternity, a Ring must be very proper and

(ε) Μὴ ἐξέστῳ τινὶ τῶν ἁπάντων ἐν Λαικοῖς τελέντι, ἔνδον ἱερῶ, εἰσιέναι Θυσιαστηρίο, &c. Can. 69.

\(f) Zonar. in Can. 12. Concil. Sardicen.

agreeable,

agreeable, as being a proper Symbol of precious Amity and perpetual endearing Kindness between the new married Couple.

Ornaments

II. Her ORNAMENTS are Innocent and ufeful. For as fome Grace, or fet off our Churches, and others fhew the Dignities, or Degrees of fpiritual Perfons; fo others again Difference them that officiate in the Divine Service, and are bound to attend it, from thofe, who at this or that time and place are not: And furplices white and clean, particularly ferve this latter Distinction.

And that white Vestments, are most suitable to God's publick Service, or to them imploy'd in it; we have the Judgment of the wisest Man that ever lived, attefted by his open Royal Approbation. For when they feparated to the Jewish Worship, were most folemnly ingag'd in its facred Minifteries, they were array'd with white Linen, 2 Chron. v. 12. and famous King Solomon approved of the Habit.

III. Her MUSICK is grateful and Mufick beneficial. We put Musick (says a (a) great Philofopher) amongst those things that yield the higheft Delight, whether it be fingle, or in Symphony, or Confort, And more truly

(4) Ariftot. de Repub. lib. 8. cap. 5.

may we make the fame account of Church-Mufick, as it affects the Mind, and fo elevates the Soul, and raifes her Devotion.

Pious St. Austin was fenfible of this, and owns the holy Harmony was fo very pleasing, that in him it produced joyous Tears. (a) How have I wept, fays he, being vehemently moved by the Sweet-founding Voices of thy Church! And does not our Mufick, I intreat you, raise a most Divine and Heavenly Sweetness, in Devout and Holy Perfons, not to be expreffed.

Yet bere, as well as in white Array, we conform to the Ifrael of God, who used Musick in His facred Worship, and glorious Temple. And both must be Lawful, and very agreeable to the Church of Chrift: For the Divine Apocalyptift foretold long fince, that Her Members should be clothed with white Robes, Rev. vii. 9. and fing Anthems to God, harping with their Harps. Rev. xiv. 2. So that if thofe Predictions be literally true, ufing them is fo far from Superftition and unwarrantableness, that 'tis the direct fulfilling of Gofpel Prophecies: Or if it amounts not to an actual Completion of thofe Prophecies, yet had the use of them been the leaft unlawful in God's Worthip, they could have had no Place

(a) Quantùm flevi in hymnis et canticis tuis Suave Sonantis Ecclefiæ tuæ vocibus commotus acriter! Confefs. lib. 9. cap. 6.

in S. John's Vifions. For then he must have fet forth the pure Churches Devotional Ser vice, by Allegorical Illusions to unlawful Things. This therefore, I hope, fairly and fully justi. fies our Minifterial Attire, as well as our Vocal and Inftrumental Melody, in the House of God.

IV. Her SUBMISSION is bumble and bearty. I mean, to her lawful So

vereigns and Superiors. Here the Submiffion, fhines with fo bright a Luftre, as

to be the Glory and Renown of particular Churches; and if the be oppofite to that, which calls her felf Univerfal, it is HER great Fault. For the Frame of her Government is fo wretchedly Political, as to be more artfully contrived for Self-Ends and fecular Gains; than for God's Honour, and the Salvation of Men. I beg leave just to mention one Instance, as a clear Specimen, and fo a good Proof of this.

She has (or rather the Church of Rome pretends to have) an infallible Bishop, vested. as Christ's Vicar, with fupreme Power and Catholick Jurisdiction over the whole Church on Earth; which reaching to Temporals in order to Spirituals, by a fly Complication involves both; and fo, in great measure, difpofes of Men's Souls in the next World as well as

in

in this. Now this is fuch an Engine to beat down Piety, and advance Ambition and worldly Interefts, that the most skilful Antichriftian Artificers, can never invent one of greater Force for that defperate Ufe.

Its Strength and Efficacy are plain and vifible in its Success; for this Machine being at one Time brought to pretty good Perfection, and fet to play against the fecular Powers; the Mitre foon prov'd too hard for the Crown, and Kings were fain to kifs the Pope's Pantofle. Nay, the Bishop grew fo intolerable Infolent, that he made the Emperor hold his Stirrop, fet bis Foot upon his Neck, crown'd bim with bis Feet, and forced him to (a) wait, Fafting and Barefoot, in bitter cold and frofty Weather, three Days together, at the Gate of Canufium. Tho' all this is not faid of one Pope and one Emperor, and therefore must not be fo understood.

But here our Church fo differs from that of Rome, as to be contrary to it. For as to the Civil Powers, fhe pays due Deference and juft Obedience; fo denying and renouncing the Papal Authority, and owning and asserting the Regal Supremacy, were two fair Stones, laid early in the Building of her Reformation. And

(a) Horat. Turfelin. Epit. Hift. L. 1. 8. pa. (mihi) 259.

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