Upon All Saints Day: The Preface

Summary

Tho we hav no Command in the Gospel, to Commemorat Saints with Solemn Days and Festivals, yet is there nothing to forbid it. And He who bids us Prais God in His Saints, and tels us that they shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance, and that their Memory shall be Blessed Knew the Pleasure of God herin as much as any. The Psalmist therfore teaching us our Duty, and the H. Church our Mother Commanding us to perform it, is sufficient Warrant to Secure us herin.

So Ancient is this Custom of the H. Church, that Dionysius Bishop of Alexandria, 1400. yeers ago wrote on the Argument of Holy Days, as Eusebius tels us. Now such a Custom, that hath without Opposition or Intermission been so long continued in the Church, may be well Admitted for a Law. However that we may do nothing without Reason as well as Antiquity : let us see the Reasons of our H. Mother in this observation.

First and Principaly She keeps these Feasts to the Honor of Almighty God, who Sanctified these His Saints, and made them such ; that through them His Glory might Admirably appear : which by them is Manifest unto us.

Secondly that We might all perform our own Duty, intimated in our Professed Article of Communion of Saints : which is don by Honoring them, and their Memories. That we may not be Ingratefull for them, who did, and suffered Such Things for our Sakes : who imitated Christ in Thirsting our Salvation ; and to Whom Gratitude is Due, tho they are the Instruments only of our Happiness and Glory.

Thirdly, that we might enjoy the Benefit of their Lives and Labors : the Comfort of their Examples, the Sence of their Affections, the Light of their Knowledg, and the Beauty of their Holiness. For all the Saints are ours. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, saith the Apostle, all are yours ; and yee are Christs, and Christ is Gods. Their feasts and Joys are ours. They keep Holy Days for us as it were in Heaven rejoycing in the Conversion of one poor Sinner, more then for 99. Just Persons that need no Repentance : and therfore it is but just Retribution, that we should rejoyce for them, and keep H. Days for their Salvation.