v. 16; 1 Cor. xv. 14, 17; and in
honor of the Lord's Day, grounded upon these Scriptures, John xx. 1;
Rev. i. 10; Psalm cxviii. 24; Lev. xxiii. 7, 11; Mark xv. 8; Psalm
lxxxiv. 10, in which Christmas is called Anti-christ's masse, and
those Massemongers and Papists who observe it, etc. In consequence
of which Parliament spent some time in consultation about the
abolition of Christmas day, passed orders to that effect, and resolved
to sit on the following day, which was commonly called Christmas day."
Shut up among worm-eaten tomes in the retirement of his antiquated
little study, the pages of old times were to him as the gazettes of
the day; while the era of the Revolution was mere modern history. He
forgot that nearly two centuries had elapsed since the fiery
persecution of poor mince-pie throughout the land; when plum
porridge was denounced as "mere popery," and roast-beef as
anti-christian; and that Christmas had been brought in again
triumphantly with the merry court of King Charles at the
Restoration. He kindled into warmth with the ardor of his contest, and
the host of imaginary foes with whom he had to combat; he had a
stubborn conflict with old Prynne and two or three other forgotten
champions of the Round Heads, on the subject of Christmas festivity;
and concluded by urging his hearers, in the most solemn and
affecting manner, to stand to the traditional customs of their
fathers, and feast and make merry on this joyful anniversary of the
Church.
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