282 FAMILIAR COLLOQUIES.
Among the same persons in Lent time, than which there is nothing of greater antiquity, nor more religiously observ’d among christians, as i have said before, they sup without any penalty; but if you shall attempt to do the same, after Lent is over, on a Friday, no body will bear it; if you ask the reason of it, they’ll tell you ’tis the custom of the country. They curse a man who does not observe the custom of the country, and yet they forgive themselves the neglect of the ancient custom of the universal church.
Fi. He is not to be approved, that without cause neglects the custom of the country wherein he lives.
Bu. No more do i blame them that divide Lent between God and their bellies; but i find fault with preposterous censuring in matters.
Fi. Tho’ the Lord’s day was instituted in an especial manner, that persons might meet together to hear the gospel preached; he that does not hear mass, is look’d upon as an abominable sinner; but he that neglects to hear a sermon, and plays at ball in the time, is innocent.
Bu. What a mighty crime is it accounted for any one to receive the sacrament, not having first wash’d his mouth! When, at the same time, they do not stick to take it with an unpurified mind, defiled with vile affections.
Fi. How many priests are there, that would die before they would participate the sacrament in a chalice and charger, that has not been consecrated by a bishop, or in their every-day clothes? But among them all that are thus nice, how many do we see that are not at all afraid to come to the Lord’s table, drunk with the last night’s debauch? How fearful are they, lest they should touch the wafer with that part of the hand that has not been dipp’d in consecrated oil? Why are they not as religious in taking care that an unhallow’d mind does not offend the Lord himself?
Bu. We won’t so much as touch a consecrated vessel, and think we have been guilty of a heinous offence, if we shall chance so to do; and yet in the mean time, how unconcern’d are we, while we violate the living temples of the holy spirit?
Fi. Human constitutions require that no bastard, lame, or one that hath but one eye, be admitted to any sacred function; how nice are we as to this point? But in the mean time, unlearned, gamesters, drunkards, soldiers, and murderers, are admitted every where. They tell us, that the diseases of the mind lie not open to our view: I don’t speak of those things that are hidden, but of such as are more plain to be seen than the deformity of the body.
Bu. There are bishops likewise, that have nothing, as to their function to value themselves upon, but some sordid accomplishments. The gift of preaching, which is the chief dignity of a bishop, this they make to give place to every sordid thing; which they would never do, unless they were possess’d with a preposterous judgment.
Fi. He that shall profane a holy-day instituted by a bishop, is hurried away to punishment: But some great men setting at nought the constitution of popes and councils, and all their thunderbolts, who hinder canonical elections, ravage the church-lands, not sparing alms-houses and hospitals, erected by the alms of pious persons for the succour of the old, sick, and needy, think themselves christians good enough, if they do but wreak their ill temper upon persons that offend in trivial matters.
Bu. But we had better let great men alone, and talk about salt-fish and flesh.
Fi. I agree with you: Let us return to fasts and fish.
