Now touching the Saints feasts, if you taynt them with suspect:
of superstition, because they are held vpon those Saints daies,
by whose names the parish Churches are stiled, I will ward that blow
with the shield of Arch-Saint Austines authoritie, who in his 8. booke
of Gods Citie, and 27. Chap. in the like case, iustifieth a lesse
allowable practise of the primitiue Christians. Summa, he closed his
discourse with this protection, that hee appealed not from, but to
the honourably respected censure of the reuerend Ministery, desiring
his speach might receiue, not the allowance of a position, but the
licence of a proposition: which my friends modest submission, I could
not but embrace my selfe, and recommend it ouer to your fauourable
acceptation.
My last note touching these feasts, tendeth to a commendation of the
ghests, who (though rude in their other fashions) may for their
discreete Judgement in precedence, and preseance, read a lesson to
our ciuilest gentry. Amongst them, at such publike meetings, not
wealth but age is most regarded: so as (saue in a verie notorious
disproportion of estates) the younger rich reckoneth it a shame
sooner then a grace, to step or sit before the elder honest,
and rather expecteth his turne for the best roome, by succession,
then intrudeth thereto by anticipation.
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