By Water & Blood

Against Profane Christ-mass-Keeping

From Increase Mather, A Testimony against Several Prophane and Superstitious Customs (London, 1687). Text Creation Partnership transcription (public domain), spelling lightly normalized for reading.

Against profane Christ-mass-keeping. In the Apostolical Times the Feast of the Nativity was not observed. The very name of Christmass savours of superstition. It can never bee proved that Christ was born on December 25. It is most probable that the Nativity was in September. The New Testament allows of no stated Holy-day but the Lords day. Objections answered. It was in compliance with the Pagan Saturnalia that Christmass Holy-dayes were first invented. The manner of Christ-mass-keeping, as generally observed, is highly dishonourable to the Name of Christ.

COncerning that practice of Keeping the 25th day of December in a stated Anniversary way, as a Festival in pretended honour to our Saviour Christ, and in commemoration of his Birth-day, I shall briefly present a few Arguments to the consideration of the Judicious.

1. In the pure Apostolical times there was no Christ-mass day observed in the Church of God. We ought to keep to the primitive Pattern. That Book of Scripture which is called, The Acts of the Apostles, saith nothing of their keeping Christ's Nativity as an Holy-day. The Centuriators, and many others take notice that in the first Ages of the New-Testament Church, there were no stated Anniversary Holy-dayes among Christians. Easter was kept a long time before the Feast of the Nativity, and yet the Apostles never ordained that, as Socrates (the most excellent of the Ancient Ecclesiastical Historians) does truely observe. Had there been the least hint of any such day observed in the primitive times, learned Vossius would have told the world of it. One saith of him, Si pergama dextra defendi possunt, etiam hac defensa fuissent But he acknowledges that the Feast of Christs Nativity was not kept in the first nor yet in the second Century. After Prelatical writers have said all they can say, Chemnitius his words will be found true, Anniversarium diem Natalis Christi celebratum fuisse, apud vetustissimos nunquam legitur. The most Auncient writers speak not the least word concerning the celebration of Christs Birth-day.

2. The word Christ-mass is enough to cause such as are studious of reformation to dislike what shall be known by a name so superstitious. Why should Protestants own any thing which has the name of Mass in it? How unfuitable is it to joyn Christ and Mass together? h. e. Christ and Antichrist. But what Communion has light with Darkness, and what concord hath Christ with Belial? 2. Cor. 6. 15. some of the Jesuites have advised that endeavours should be used to keep up their old terms and names, such as Priest, Altar, Christ-mass, Candlemass, and the like, hoping that by means thereof in time the things would follow the Names whereby their memory is preserved.

3. It can never be proved that Christs nativity was on 25. of December. The most learned and accurate Chronologers conclude otherwise; so Scaliger, Lidiat, Calvisius, Casaubon, Lansbergius, Alstedius; And the ablest Divines which this and the last age have known, such as Parcaeus, Scultetus, Spanhemius, Hospinian; and of our own nation, Perkins, Broughton, and innumerable more; yea, some of the most learned amongst the Papists refer the observation of December 25. to Ecclesiastical Constitution. So Petavius, Suarez, Azorius, &c. The Providence of God has strangely hid the day, perhaps (as concerning Moses's Body) to prevent Idolatry. They that lived 1400 Years nearer to the time of Christs Nativity then we do, yet were at a loss about the day. Clemens Alexandrinus (who lived Anno 200.) testifieth that in his time there were various opinions concerning it; And he reflects on them as guilty of curiosity who would go about to determine the day of Christs Birth. Moreover, when that superstition of keeping a stated Festival in commemoration of the day of Christs Nativity did first obtain in the Church, not the 25. of December, but the 6th day of January was the time observed. Many of the Churches in Aegypt kept the 5th of January; And so did the Christians of o in Jerusalem. And the Armenians even untill the year 1170. And that some belonging to the Latine Church supposed that to be the true day of Christs Nativity, is evident from the Glossa ordinaria. Epiphanius conceived that to be the true time. And some of our late writers (in special Lansbergius) are of that opinion. The truth is that the keeping of December 25. came from Rome: And it began there after Constantines time. Nor would the Graecian Churches comply with it at first. Chrysostom (who flourished Anno 400. circiter) in one o his Sermons endeavours to excuse the Novelty of that observation, acknowledging that the 25 of December had not been kept amongst them in Constantinople above ten years The Arguments commonly alledged in favour of this day are very insufficient. The Pruton Pseudos, or original mistake which Popish Writers (and before them some of the Ancients) have laid much weight upon, is, that Zachary was the High Priest, and that he did Minister on the 10th of Tisri, h. e. September 27, whence it would follow that John Baptist wa born in the latter end of June, and consequently that Christs Nativity must be in the latter end of December. But Zachary was not the High Priest; nor can it beproved that his Turn to Minister was at the time mentioned; nor could the Nativity to a day or a week be from thence demonstrated, supposing the premises to be indisputable. There have been some who pretend to a miraculous Argument for their 25 of December viz. That of the Rose of Jericho. They have given o that there is at Jericho a Plant like a Rose, which every year on Christ-mass-Eve flourished, and the next day is dry again. Adrichomius & other Papists mention this as a wonderfull testimony to their Opinion, of 25 December. But Bellonius has informed us that this is a Monastical Imposture. There is a thorny shrub at Jerico which bears white flowers; and the nature of that Plant is such, that if the Leave of it (tho Dry) be moistned, they will dilate themselves and seem to flourish: which the Monks observing, would o Christ-mass-Eve apply water thereunto, and then make Ignorant People believe that this hapned as a sign of Christs Nativity on that day. Perhaps the story of the Holy Thorn at Glassenburg in Somerset is the Daughter of this Fiction.

Let it be further added here, that except we could know the hour of the day when our Saviour came into the world, (which no man living does, and it would be sinfull curiosity to enquire concerning it) it cannot be proved that it was on December 25. This Suarez was aware of: And therefore he coufesseth that if we suppose Christ to be born before midnight, not the 25, but the 24 of December should be celebrated in honour of his Nativity. To conclude (as Torniellus does) that Christ was born a little past Midnight, or (as others say) on the same day of the week, and the same hour of the day in which Adam was created, are curious and bold speculations which cannot be justified. As for the Astrologers (such as Petrus de Aliaco, Cusanus, Gauricus, Cardan, and some more lately) who by their Horoscopes and Calculations have undertaken to declare the day and hour of Christs birth, their attempt is justly charged with not only Vanity but Impiety. A late learned Astronomer (tho a Jesuite) acknowledges that such Practices are not onely unprofitable, but highly Profane:

4. Tho the particular Day of Christs Nativity is now unknown unto the world, yet it seems most probable that He was born in the latter End of September, or in the beginning of October. There hath been great Variety of Opinions amongst Christians concerning the time of our Lords Nativity. Paulus de Middleburgo thinks it was on March 26. But the grounds he goeth on are weak. There were some of old (as Clemens Alexandrinus witnesseth) who believed it was on April 22. unto which opinion Temporarius seems to incline. Lydiat conjectures that the Nativity was on or near May 22. Dr. Petit thinks it was in the beginning of November. Thus we see that the Providence of God has kept the day secret from the knowledge of men; and it is in vain for any to determine the particular day. Nevertheless, as to the month, a probable Judgement may be made. The Great Scaliger, Calvisius, and L'Empereur conclude that it was in the latter end of September, or the beginning of October. And before them, Beroaldus, Wolfius and Hospinian were of that Judgement. And this suits well with what is recorded of the shepherds, Luke 2. 8. It is not probable that the Shepherds would be abroad watching their Flocks in the Depth of Winter. The moneth of December is by Hesiod called Meis kalepos probatois, And tho in Judaea the summer be hot, yet the winter is cold. Matth. 24. 20. Ps. 147. 17. But in September or October this might well be. Nor is it likely that Augustus should enjoyn all his Subjects throughout the whole Roman World to travel into their own cities in the midst of Winter, as he did at the Time when Christ was born. Luke 2. 1. Moreover, the Feast of Tabernacles, which signified the Incarnation of Christ, was in the seventh moneth. Inasmuch as the Passover typified Christs Death, he was crucified in that moneth. Why then may we not think that since the Feast of Tabernacles typified his Nativity, he was in that moneth born? There were also several other Festivals in that moneth, which might fitly type the Good Tidings of great joy that should be to all People by reason of Christs being born into the world at that season af the Year. Likewise in the same moneth was th Ark by Solomon brought into the Temple.

From these considerations, some of the Jewish Rabbins ( Midrash Ribba) have concluded that Messiah should be bo in Ethanim or Tisri, h. e. in the 7th Moneth. And Mr. Brough (in his Book called the Lords Family) oserves that the Jew scoff at Christians for keeping the Feast of Christs Nativity 25. of December, saying that they place Christs Birth in t moneth of his Conception. And this Opinion has been confirme by the practice of the Church in Alexandria, who did of o (as Cyril Alexandrinus testifieth) keep the Feast of Joh Baptists nativity on the 28. of Pharmuth, h. e. the 23. of o April. And if Johns Birth was at that time of year, Christ must needs be in September, or October. I shall not insist the Argument urged by Scaliger & Calvisius (which so look upon as demonstrative) taken from the several course appointed for the Priests to Minister, because it depen much upon the testimony of Josephus, who does often mista in his relating of things. Nor is it certain that Christ was born the year of the world 3947. upon which Foundation the Sc ligeran Argument is built. I shall onely add, that Chri was 30. years old when he entred upon his Publique Ministr Luc. 3. 23. And he continued preaching three years and a half, Dan. 9. 27. so that he lived 33 years and an half. A if so (dying at the time of the Passover in the first moneth his Birth must needs be in the latter End of September, or beginning of October.

By this it is appears that Christ-mass-Keepers speak the know not what, when they say on the 25 of December Thou hast given thy Son to be born this Day; and to use th expression several Dayes one after another, is absurd. A le ned Man observes that when the Papists in their Post say of the Festival dedicated to the memory of this or th Saint, He was bora this day, such Festivals are Teachers Lies, like their graven Images. The like is to be affirm in this case. It is said of Jeroboam, that he ordained a Fe in the Eighth Moneth, on the 15 day of the Moneth, ev The Moneth that he had devised of his own Heart, 1 Kin 12, 33. So has the Jeroboam, of Rome ordained a Festival be kept on the 25th of the 10th Moneth, but it is the Moneth and the day which he has devised of his own Heart.

5. God in his Word has no where appointed Christians keep an Anniversary Holy-day in Commemoration of Christ Nativity. It is not a Work but a Word makes one Day more Holy then another. There is no day of the Week, but some eminent Work of God has been done therein; but it does not therefore follow that every day must be kept as a Sabbath. The Lord Christ has appointed the first day of the Week to be perpetually observed in remembrance of his Reurrection and Redemption. If more day then that had been needful, he would have appointed more. It is a deep Reflection on the Wisdom of Christ, to say, He has not appointed days enough for his own Honour, but he must be beholding to men for their Additions. The Old Waldenses witnessed against the observing of any Holidays, besides that which God in his Word hath Instituted. Calvin, Luther, Danaeus, Bucer, Farel, Viret, and other great Reformers, have wished that the Observation of all Holidays, except the Lords Day, were abolished. A Popish Writer complains that the Puritans in England were of the same mind. So was John Huss and Jerom of Prague long ago. And the Belgic Churches in their Synod, Anno 1578. The Apostle condemns the Observation of Jewish Festivals in these days of the New Testament, Gal. 4. 10. Col. 2. 16. Much less may Christians state other days in their room. The Gospel has put an end to the difference of Days as well as of Meats. And neither the Pope nor the Church can make some Days Holy above others, no more then they can wake the use of some Meats to be Lawful or Unlawful, both which are expressly contrary to the Scripture. Rom. 14. 5, 6. All stated Holidays of mans inventing, are Breaches both of the Second and of the Fourth Commandment. A stated Religious Festival is a part of Instituted Worship. Therefore it is not in the Power of men, but God only, to make a Day Holy.

It has been by some pleaded, that Mordecai and Esther appointed the Days of Purim. This was objected by the Papists against the Waldenses many hundred years ago. And of latter time by Bellarmin, Servarius, Bonartus, and other Papists in their Writings against Protestants. And lately by the Prelates against the Non-Conformists. There are two answers given by our Divnes. 1. It cannot be proved that those Days of Purim were a Religious Pestival. Many Judicious Authors take them to be no more then Days of Civil Rejoycing. They are not called Holy Days of Purim; nor do we find that there was an Holy Convocation of the People enjoyned on those Days. Te present Jews do not look upon those Days as Holy; they spend them in Feasting, and in telling merry Stories; and althô few of them do any servile work on those Days, yet they confess that servile labour is not prohibited therein; so that it appears to be only a Political Feast, not unlike our 5th of November. 2. If we suppose them to be Religious Feasts, we have reason to conceive that they were not of meer Humane Institution. Dr. Whitaker thinks that Mordecai was Divinely inspired, or that some Prophet was sent to give orde about the Observation of these Days.

It is also objected. That Christ manifested his Approbation of the Feast of Dedication, by his walking in the Porch of the Temple at that Time, John 10. 22, 23. And yet that Feast was made Anniversary by Judas Maccabaeus. But it is answered that Christ's walking there was no Approbation of the Feast. Our Saviour might walk in the Porch of the Temple, and yet not approve all that was done there, at that time. Nor is there the least Evidence of Christ's going up to Jerusalem, that so he might keep that Feast, or that he was present at it as a Feast. When Paul hasted to be at Jerusalem before Pentecost, Act. 20. 16. it was not to keep that Feast, but for other Reasons. And undoubtedly, if the Feast of Dedication was a Tradition of the Elders, Christ, who was for Divine Institutions only in matters of Religion, never manifested his Approbation of it. When Solomon had built the Temple, he made a Feast at the Dedication of it, but he did not command that it should be stated and anniversary. The like is to be said of the second Temple in Ezra 6. 16. And therefore it may be questioned whether Judas Maccabaeus did not go beyond his Commission, when upon Repairing and Purifying of the Temple after its Defilement by Antiochus, he made it a Law that eight Days should be observed in a stated Anniversary way, to commemorate that Mercy. Some have truly observed, that the Jews in their declining times appointed several Fasts and Feasts which they had no warrant for out of Gods Word.

It is further alledged that the Jews did of themselves state a Fast on the Fifth Month, because of the Temple's being burnt in that Month, and another Fast in the Seventh Month, on account of Gedaliah's being then murthered, Zachar. 7. 5. Answer. But these were only Temporary and not Perpetual Fasts. Nor did the Lord, when enquired of by thm, manifest the least approbation of what they did, but rather the contrary.

6. Christmas Holidayes were at first invented and institut in compliance with the Pagan Festivals, of old observed at that very time of the Year. This Stuckius has fully cleared. And Hospinian speaketh judiciously, when he saith, that he doth not believe that they who first of all observed the Feast of Christ's Nativity in the latter end of December, did it as thinking that Christ was born in that Month, but because the Heathens Saturnalia was at that time kept in Rome, and they were willing to have those Pagan Holidays metamorphosed into Christian. Hence December was called Mensis Genialis, the Voluptuous Month. Whilst the Saturnalian Days lasted, the observers of them were wont to send Gifts one to another, which therefore Tertullian calls Satrnalitia, and Jerom giveth them the Name of Saturnalium Sportulae. The like is done by many in Christmas time. Again, In the Saturnalian Days, Masters did wait on their Servants, as Macrobius and Athenaeus declare. Hence is that of Horace—Age Libertate Decembri. The Gentiles called Saturns time the Golden Age, because in it there was no Servitude, in Commemoration whereof on his Festival, Servants must be Masters. And that amongst Christmas-keepers in some parts of the World, there use to be such Masters of Misrule, is too well known. From these Considerations not only Protestant writers, but some Papists acknowledge that Christmas Holidays succeed the Old Saturnalia of the Heathen.

Now for Christians thus to practise, is against clear Scripture, which commands the Lords People not to learn the way of the Heathen, nor do after their manner, Jer. 10. 2. Lev. 20. 23. Ezek. 11. 12. To observe the Festivals of the Heathen, is one way of partaking with them in their Superstitions. Tertullian in his Book against Idolatry, (cap. 14.) expresseth himself after this manner, Shall we Christians who have nothing to do with the Festivals of the Jews, which were once of Divine Institution, Embrace the Saturnalia and Januaria of the Heathen? How do the Gentiles shame us? who are more true to their Religion than we are to ours. None of them will observe the Lords-Day for fear lest they should be Christians: And shall not we then by observing their Festivals, fear least we be made Ethnic's?

We might take notice of the Ethnicism of this Festival in another respect. It was the manner of the Gentiles to celebrate the Birth-days of their Princes and Patrons. And in Imitation of them, Degenerating Christians thought good so far to symbolize with the Customs of the Nations, as to keep the Birth-day of Christ, whom they acknowledge to be their Lord and Soveraign.

7. The generality of Christmas-keepers observe that Festival after such a manner as is highly dishonourable to the name of Christ. How few are there comparatively that spend those Holidays (as they are called) after an Holy manner. But they are consumed in Compotations, in Interludes, in playing at Cards, in Revellings, in excess of Wine, in mad Mirth; Will Christ the holy Son of God be pleased with such Services? Just after this manner were the Saturnalia of the Heathen celebrated. Saturn was the Gaming God. And (as one saith) the Feast of Christ's Nativity is attended with such Profaneness, as that it deserves the name of Saturns Mass, or of Bacchus his Mass, or if you will, the Devils Mass, rather than to have the Holy name of Christ put upon it. Mr. Perkins justly complains that, The Feast of Christ's Nativity (commonly so called) is not spent in praising God, but in Revelling, Dicing, Carding, Masking, Mumming, and in all Licencious Liberty for the most part, as though it were some Heathen Feast of Ceres or Bacchus. And Latimer in one of his Sermons saith, That Men dishonour Christ more in the 12 Days of Christmas, than in all the 12 Months besides. Nor is it to be wondred at, if that Festival be accompanied wi much Profaneness and Vanity, when the chief Pleaders for them (yea Dr. Hammond himself) are not ashamed to justifie the playing at Cards as lawful for a Divertisement on Christmas Holydays. And is that the way to honour Christ? The Love-Feasts (though in themselves lawful) which began in the Apostles times, were wholly laid aside amongst Christians, because they had been an occasion of Riotous Abuses. There is much more reason to omit the Observation of Christmas Festivities, which have brought a Deluge of Profaneness upon the World. The Scandal of them calls for their Abolition. The School Doctors affirm rightly, Etiam Spiritualia non-necss sunt fugienda, si ex iis Scandalum oritur. Things of an indifferent nature, when they become an occasion of Sin, should not at all be used.