The parson gave us a most erudite sermon on the rites and ceremonies
of Christmas, and the propriety of observing it not merely as a day of
thanksgiving, but of rejoicing; supporting the correctness of his
opinions by the earliest usages of the church, and enforcing them by
the authorities of Theophilus of Cesarea, St. Cyprian, St. Chrysostom,
St. Augustine, and a cloud more of saints and fathers, from whom he
made copious quotations. I was a little at a loss to perceive the
necessity of such a mighty array of forces to maintain a point which
no one present seemed inclined to dispute; but I soon found that the
good man had a legion of ideal adversaries to contend with; having, in
the course of his researches on the subject of Christmas, got
completely embroiled in the sectarian controversies of the Revolution,
when the Puritans made such a fierce assault upon the ceremonies of
the church, and poor old Christmas was driven out of the land by
proclamation of Parliament.* The worthy parson lived but with times
past, and knew but little of the present.
* From the "Flying Eagle," a small Gazette, published December 24th,
1652- "The House spent much time this day about the business of the
Navy, for settling the affairs at sea, and before they rose, were
presented with a terrible remonstrance against Christmas day, grounded
upon divine Scriptures, 2 Cor.
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