Against the Observation of a Day in memory of Christ's birth, written in 1659. and now tendered to the consideration of all sober and serious Persons, this present Decemb. 1660. by a reverend Divine.  
1 HAve we any command or example in holy Scripture for the observation of this day or of any other in memory of our Lord's birth? Scripture is perfect, Psal. 19 if there be no command or example, it is no duty.  
2 Did the Apostles after our Saviour's ascension keep this day or any other in memory of Christ's birth? do you pretend to more holiness than they?  
3 Would they have omitted it if it ought to have been observed?  
4 Was it observed in the primitive Church for the first hundred years?  
5 How came it to be Christ's day? tell us the original hereof that we may know whether it be of God or man? Is it like to be of God and no footstep at all left hereof in his word! Neither precept nor example looking that way?  
Hence we may safely conclude that it was set up by man; And what man setteth up, man may pluck down.  
6 Whether may not the Papists say as much for their heaps of Traditions as is ordinarily said for the observation of this day.  
He that would read more on this subject may see in Master D. Cawdry his Book against Doctor Hammond of superstitious worship and holy days, also in Mr. Baxter.  
If it could be proved to be the mind of God that we should observe a day in memory of Christ's birth, I doubt not but that there are many yet left among us who would make conscience hereof, although it be now forbidden by the Magistrate. But it is so far from being a duty that it is no hard matter to prove it to be a sin.  
For first it cannot be denied but that there is such a sin as will-worship, which is a breach of the second Commandment, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Therefore secondly, see if this be not that sin.  
Paraeus defines it thus, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est species subtilior Idololatriae quum Deus colitur commentis humanis, Col. 2.8. Hominum traditiones, Jdem. verse. 16.18. & 23. A show of wisdom, cultu voluntario, etc.  
Def. Will-worship is a more refined kind of Idolatry, when God is worshipped with ways of Man's devising.  
Again thus. Superstitio est Peccatum precepto secundo prohibitum quo vero Deo cultus adhibetur indebitus quoad actus & media religionis externa.  
If then the observation of a day in memory of our Saviour's birth, be an invention of man; If it be cultus indebitus (especially being counted a matter of conscience by some) It cannot escape the just censure of will-worship, superstition, and a breach of the second Commandment.  
Objection. Do not men appoint days of thanksgiving for mercies received, and it is esteemed a duty? yea some men keep yearly their birthday or wedding-day, and on that day feast and give to the poor. How much more may we appoint a day to keep in memory the greatest mercy that ever mankind enjoyed? Is this great memorial of our Saviour esteemed will-worship, and superstition; and therefore sinful. And are our ordinary days of thanksgiving for providential transient mercies esteemed duties?  
Answ. If man appoint days of memorials and commemoration of mercies received, it is lawful for the same power that appointed them, or any succeeding powers to alter them, or take them clean away. Here is no superstition, we enjoy our Christian liberty, no obligation lies on the conscience, but for this memorial of Christ's nativity, we contend for it as necessary, and find fault with them that omit it, which proves that we affect this time superstitiously.  
2d. Answ. If God had not already laid down, and appointed what memorials of his Son Jesus Christ he would have to be observed in his Church: we than might have done it, and the objection might have the more strength: But where God hath deelared what memorials of Christ he will have: For man to come in and superad, is a breach of the second Commandment; and a sin frequently condemned in Scripture; This is to worship God with men's inventions, to find fault with his wisdom, as if he did not enough; and therefore we will do more: This is to set our post by his Posts, and our threshold by his threshold, as Ezek. 43.8. which the holy Ghost calls abomination. The memorial which God hath appointed are in every week the first day, and this merely in thankfulness for Jesus Christ, for before the coming of Christ there was another day set apart for the service of God.  
And 2dly, The two Sacraments are commemorations of the Lord Jesus, among other uses of them. The Lord's Supper we are commanded to celebrate often, that so we may keep a frequent remembrance of our Saviour Christ. And observe that it is a constant beginning of departure from God to worship him in ways of our own devising, and consequently with times of our own devising, when as we have times prescribed by himself. In this we follow the Papists, who in all parts of God's worship have some addition of their own, aliquid amplius, God hath given two Sacraments, they add five more, God hath given one way to expiate sin, they find out more, as Masses, Pilgrimages, etc. So here to the memorial of Christ which God hath commanded, we will add, aliquid amplius, Hose. 8.14. Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth Temples: It is strange he should be found fault with for building Temples; yes, if God will have but one Temple, and they build more, it is called a forgetting his Maker; so for building Altars, vers. 11. Gualther. If the written word of God be not a rule to direct us, how far shall we run? and where shall we stop: If it cannot be manifested by scripture or by arguments derived from Scripture, we may as well observe all the Papists unwritten Traditions. Specious pretences of love to religion, first brought in Images into Churches, and then a reverend esteem of the Persons they represented brought in worship of Images; And an ill-guided love to Christ brought in the adoration of his Mother; and so Idolatry came in with a side-wind, the same which hath ushered in this Christmas day. Give way to this, and I pray tell me where we shall stop. Jeremi. 10.3. The customs of the people are vain. We may invent a thousand several sorts of services to almighty God, and urge our zeal to his service, and our good meanings, and as much as is said in defence of this solemnity, and yet all will in the end meet with that objurgation, Quis haec a manu vestra postulavit?  
If we have not Scripture for our rule, there will be no bounds to our services. I will add a word more, (though no Argument) It is a solemnity which God did never bless, it hath been kept like the heathen Bacchanalia, dicing and drinking, fooling and lewdness, as if the Christians God were a master of Revels, the Devil hath had for the most part more service in the twelve days then God in the twelve months.  
Master Mocket hath also written a Book on this subject. And read Master Baxter's Arguments. Whatever concerned our Saviour Christ, which the holy Ghost thought fit to make known, is exactly laid down in Scripture. As 1. The Town where he was born. 2. What House? An Inn. 3. The place in the Inn, a stable, where he was laid in the manger. 4. Yea, a further particular is mentioned, the very  he was wrapped in. Luk. 2. But for the time! 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. as foreseeing our distemper. Yet is there a great averseness in people from letting go this solemnity.  
1 One reason may be, because of our natural inclination (especially in youth) to merriments, gamings, and such kind of gambols as are ordinarily the chief keeping of Christmas. 2. Another reason may be because it was forbidden by that Authority who were guilty of introduceing so great evils among us, as in the state arbitrary government; and in the Church contempt of God's Ordinances, etc. Now when the people saw this solemnity checked by such men; Quis tulerit Gracchoes? They thought sure it was done on as little grounds as some other things then removed. But if they had done no worse things then taking away this festival, we should not have had so much cause to mourn under their misgovernment as we had.  
Object. Oh but the Angels in heaven rejoiced at his birth, and shall not we?  
Answ. This is arguing, a baculo ad Angulum. Rejoice in your Saviour. What is this to keeping holy days for his birth? Just thus the Papists for the Virgin Mary, what can you do too much, in honour of Christ's blessed Mother? Resp. Yes, if we give her such honour as God doth not approve of, even so in this case. Besides, consider the many inconveniences attending hereupon, Men must neglect their callings divers days together to spend their time in fooling, and break the command, which saith 6. days shalt thou labour.  
Object. A time of relaxation from labour is but convenient once in the year. Semel in Anno ridet Apollo.  
Answ. If this be granted, it must be upon a civil not on a religious account.  
If we act without ground from the written word of God, if it be in spiritual things it soon becomes will-worship, if in temporals we are out of God's way and so out of his protection.  
Object. Why was not this looked into before, have we not had truth among us till now?  
Resp. Do not corruptions grow in any Church and then there must be a time to remove them; blessed be God we keep fundamentals. It was always the will of God that Adultery should be punished with death, yet hath it not been so by the law of the Land till of late.  
FINIS.