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CHAP. IV.

Of Garlands in Country Churches: Of strawing Flowers on the Grace; the Antiquity of these, Customs, the Innocency of them.

IN

some Country Churches 'tis customary, to hang a Garland of Flowers over the Seats of deceased Virgins, as a Token of Esteem and Love, and an Emblem of their Reward in the heavenly Church.

This Custom perhaps may be look'd upon, as sprung from that antient Custom of the Heathens, of crowning their Corps with Garlands in Token of Victory. But Mr. Bingham tells us, That we find not this Custom used by the Ancients in their Funeral Rites. For as he observes, the Heathen in Minutius makes it one Topick of Accusation against them, *That they did not crown their Sepulchres.

But if they did not crown them after the Manner of the Heathens, they had a Custom of using crowns of Flowers, if we may believe Cassalion, who tells us, + It was a Custom of

* Min. P. 35. Coronas etiam sepulchris denegatis. Bing. Vol. 10. P. 68.

† Fuit quoque mos ad capita virginum apponendi florum coronas, &c. Cass. de Vet. Sacr. Christ. P. 334.

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ancient Christians to place, Crowns of Flowers, at the Heads of deceased Virgins; for which he quotes Damascen, Gregory NysSt. Jerom and St. Austin. And this hath probably been the Original of this Custom among the Vulgar.

sen,

That other Custom of strawing Flowers upon the Graves of their departed Friends, is also derived from a Custom of the ancient Church. For it was usual in those Times for the common Sort of People, to straw the Graves of their Friends with various Flowers. Of this there are two notable Instances taken Notice of by Cassalion, and several other Ritualists. The one is that of St. Ambrose, in his Funeral Oration on the Death of Valentinian, * I will not sprinkle his Grave with Flowers, but pour on his Spirit the Odour of CHRIST. Let others scatter Baskets of Flowers: CHRIST is our Lilly, and with this will I consecrate his Relicks.

The other is that of St. Jerom, in his Epistle to Pammachius upon the Death of his Wife.

* Nec ego floribus tumulum ejus asperagam, sed spiritum ejus Christi odore perfundam; spargant alii plenis lilia calathis: Nobis lilium est Christus: Hoc reliquias ejus sacrabo. Ambros. Orat. Funebri. de abitu Valentin.

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*Whilst other Husbands strawed Violets, and Roses, and Lillies, and purple Flowers, upon the Graves of their Wives, and comforted themselves with such like Offices, Pammachius bedew'd her Ashes and venerable Bones with the Balsam of Alms.

Now these Instances, tho' they justly commend these other Actions, and wisely prefer them to the Ceremonies of adorning Graves with Flowers, yet they no Way decry these ancient Customs. These lower Marks of Esteem and Honour, which the Vulgar paid to the Remains of their Friends, were in themselves harmless and innocent, and had no Censure; and as they were so, so should the present Customs be without any, being full as harmless and innocent as the other.

* Cæteri mariti super tumulos conjugum spargunt violas, rosas, lilia, floresque purpureos, & dolorem pectoris his officiis consolantur; Pammachius noster sanctam favillam ossaque veneranda eleemosynæ balsamis rigat. Hieron. Epist. ad Rammachium de obitu Uxoris.

OBSER

CHAP. V.

Of Boxing towards the Altar at the first coming into the Church; a Custom generally observed by ignorant People; its Meaning and Antiquity.

WE may observe the Generality of old People among the Commonalty, as they enter into the Church, to turn their Faces towards, the Altar, and bow or kneel that Way. This, no Doubt, is the Remains of that ancient Custom of the Church, of worshipping towards the East: For in the ancient Church they worshipped that Way upon several Accounts. First, That by so worshipping, they might litt up their Minds to GOD, who is called the Light and the Creator of Light. And therefore St. Austin says, * When we pray standing, we turn our Faces to the East, from whence the Day springs, that we might be reminded of turning to a more excellent Na

Cum ad orationem stamus, ad orientem covertimur, unde celum surgit, &c. Ut admoneatur animus ad naturam excellentiorem se convertere, id est, ad Dominum. Aug. de Serm. Domone, du Mone. Lib. 2. Cap. 5.

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ture, namely, The LORD. Secondly, That for as much as Man was driven out of Paradise, which is towards the East, he ought to look that Way, which is an Emblem of his Desire to return thither. St. Damascen therefore tells us, That because the Scripture says, That GOD planted Paradise in Eden towards the East, where he placed the Man which he had formed, whom he punish'd with Banishment upon his Transgression, and made him dwell over against Paradise, in the western Part; we therefore pray, (says he) being in Quest of our ancient Country; and as it were panting after it, do worship GOD that Way. Thirdly, It was used when any were baptized. They first turn'd their Faces to the West, and so renounc'd the Devil; and then to the East, and made their Covenant with CHRIST. Lastly, They prayed that Way, believing that our SAVIOUR Would come to Judgment from that Quarter of the Heavens. For as the Lightning cometh out of the East, and shineth unto the West, so shall the Coming of the Son of Man be; and he is to come in like Manner as he ascended. And that he ascended up Eastward from Mount Olives, St. + Damascen assures us. For (says he) when he ascended into

* St. Damasc. Lib. 4. C. 13. Orthod. Fid.

E

+ Ibid.

Heaven,

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