pleased to bring so frequently against us, being but the bare reports of such people as either do not, or will not understand us what we are.

3. The third is, that they who are this way already religiously given, and whom earnest lets and impediments do often hinder from being partakers of the Public, might have here a daily and devout order of Private Prayer, wherein to exercise themselves, and to spend some hours of the day at least, (as the old godly Christians were wont to do) in God's holy worship and service; not employing themselves so much to talk and dispute as to practise religion, and to live like Christians; the continual and curious disquisition of many unnecessary questions among us, being nothing else but either the new seeds or the old fruits of malice, and by consequence the enemy of godliness, and the abatement of that true devotion, wherewith God is more delighted, and a good soul more

inflamed and comforted, than with all the busy subtilties of the world. In which sense St. Augustine was wont to say, that the pious and devout, though unlearned, indocti went to heaven, whiles other men, trusting

S. Aug.

"Veniunt

et rapiunt

nos cum

doctrinis nostris detrudimur

num."

cœlum:et to their learning, disputed it quite away. 4. The last is, that those who perhaps ad infer are but coldly this way yet affected, might by others' example be stirred up to the like heavenly duty of performing their daily and Christian devotions to Almighty God, as being a work of all others the most acceptable to His divine Majesty.

In so doing, we shall all give evident testimony to the world, Whose servants we are, and wherein our chiefest delight doth consist; we shall enjoy a perpetual communion with the saints triumphant, as well as militant; and we shall have just cause to conceive, that so much of our life is celestial and divine, as we spend in this holy exercise of prayer and devotion.

THE

CALENDAR,

WITH

THE FESTIVALS

AND

FASTING DAYS OF THE CHURCH,

AND THE MEMORIES OF SUCH HOLY MEN

AND MARTYRS AS ARE THEREIN

REGISTERED.

OF THE CALENDAR,

AND

THE SPECIAL USE THEREOF

IN THE

CHURCH OF GOD.

THE CALENDAR of the Church is as full of benefit as delight, unto such as are given to the serious study and due contemplation thereof. For, besides the admirable order and disposition of times, which are necessary for the better transacting of all ecclesiastical and secular affairs, it hath in it a very beautiful distinction of the days and seasons, whereof some are chosen out and sanctified, Ecclus. and others are put among the days of the week to number.

xxxiii. 9.

S. Aug. de

But the chief use of it in the Church (saith S. Austin,) is to preserve a solemn memory, Civit.Dei, and to continue in their due time, some

1. 16. c. 4.