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they tell us of "a hive of bees seen in St. Gervais' "monastery in Paris, that built a chapel of wax "in honour of the host, which somebody

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put into their hive: and a miracle of an ass "that left his provender to worship the host," and many other the like. But I have staid too long amongst them; and, therefore, let this be the conclusion of the hypocrisy of liars, that we may pass on to what is yet behind.

CHAPTER VII.

That by these two characters (forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from meats) are chiefly deciphered monks and friars.-That prohibition of marriage and abstaining from meats are inseparable characters of monastic profession.-That the renouncing of possessions or the having no propriety in anything (another principle in monkery) may be included under the abstaining from meats.-That the word (Bpwμara) translated meats, implies all things needful for maintenance of life, proved from several places of Scripture.

I COME now unto the last particular of the description of the means whereby the doctrine of demons was to be advanced, viz., "through the hypocrisy of such as forbid marriage, and command to abstain from meats." Who are these? The wonderful correspondence of the event makes me verily believe that the Holy Ghost intended here, at least chiefly, to decipher unto us monks and doctors of monkery, by two such marks as are the chief points and grounds of that singularity of life. For prohibition of marriage and difference of meats are inseparable characters of monastical profession; and, therefore, common to all that crew of hypocrites, whether Solivagant Hermits, or Anchorites which live alone, or Cœnobites which live in society. And if we take them joined together, as our Apostle doth, I think they can befit no

other kind of men by way of rule and precept but these alone. 'Tis true, all Antichrist's priests are forbidden marriage generally and absolutely; but meats they are not, but only upon certain days and times; which is not their case alone, but the people also partake with them in the like restraint. But monks are bound by the vowed rule of their profession to abstain from both, absolutely and perpetually. Concerning the first, hear St. Chrysostom speak, (Hom. 7, in Matthew,)* "All the commandments of God's law are common to us with monks, besides marriage." Wherefore in the Council of Chalcedon is an express Canon, cap. 16, "That no nun or monk should marry," (Ut nec Deo dicata virgo nec Monachus nubant,) i.e. they might not forsake their profession.

For the second, the abstaining from meats, St. Benedict can tell us best, who is the father and founder of well-nigh all the monks of the west; his rule, which they all bind themselves to observe, saith, "Let all abstain from flesh." (A caruibus omnes abstineant.) Again, "Let all abstain altogether from the eating of flesh, even of four-footed beasts." (Carnium etiam quadrupedum omnino ab omnibus abstineatur comestio.) Hence is that decree of Bishop Fructuosus in Gratian, Dist. 5. "No monk hath leave granted him to take, or so much as to taste a piece of flesh." (Carnem cuiquam Monacho nec gustandi nec sumendi est concessa

* Nobis and Monachis (saith he) omnia mandata legis sunt communia, πλὴν τοῦ γάμου.

licentia.) And these were the two principal observances of the first monks, before they came to be gathered into a society of a common life, under certain set rules. Paulus Thebæus, the first pattern of this kind of life, abstained, as from marriage, whereof there is no question, so from all meats, save bread and dates. Anthony, the next, ate nought but bread and salt, and both drank no other drink but water. Epiphanius, in his Anchorato, tells us of differing observances in this kind. Some ate no flesh, but fish; some neither, but only fruits and herbs; some ate flying creatures, but abstained from all besides.

But if you will take meats in this place in a larger sense, you shall have a full definition of monkery, and take in that other monastical principle of renouncing possessions, and having no propriety in anything, which they account the second fundamental principle, next to the vow of chastity or single life. Now may not meats* be expounded in this sense? We know the word bread in Scripture signifies all things needful for maintenance of life, (omnia vitæ subsidia;) and, therefore, we ask them all in the Lord's Prayer, under that name," Give us this day our daily bread." Mark the words of David to Ziba, 2 Samuel ix. 10, Thou and thy sons and thy servants shall till the land for him, (Mephibosheth,) and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat. Here bread or food is taken for Mephibosheth's whole maintenance, the whole profit of the lands which Βρωματα.

*

Ziba tills. Matthew x. 9, 10, Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey; neither two coats, nor shoes, nor yet staves; for the workman is worthy* of his meat. Here gold, silver, brass, clothes, and staves, all come under the single word meat. Instead whereof, St. Luke chap. x. 7, putteth his hire. Proverbs xxx. 8, Agur saith, "Give me neither poverty nor riches: feed me with food convenient for me. By all which it appears, that food and meat in Scripture is often taken for all necessaries, as St. James speaks (chap. ii. 16,) for all provision of things for the use of this body and this life:-maintenance, revenue, estate, possession. Why may not, then, abstaining from meats in this prophecy mean, or include, abstaining from possessions, (votum paupertatis,) the vow of poverty and renouncing of the world, as the hypocrites call it? to which the following words § are every way as pliable as to the stricter sense, and may be read thus: Which God hath created to be enjoyed with thanksgiving of them which, &c. Let us hear S. Benedict's rule speak for all,|| "Let no man have anything proper or as his own, no kind of thing, neither book, nor writings, nor inkhorn, nor anything at all." And those who had once imposed upon themselves this law, were prohibited for ever to

* τῆς τροφῆς αὐτοῦ.

† τοῦ μισθοῦ αὐτοῦ.

† τὰ ἐπιτήδεια τοῦ σώματος. § εἰς μετάληψιν. Nemo aliquid proprium habeat, nullam omnino rem, neque codicem, neque tabulas, neque graphiarium, sed nihil omnino.

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