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 Roundheads 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.
* From the "Flying Eagle," a small gazette, published December
24, 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. v. 16; I
Cor. xv. 14, 17; and in honor of the Lord's Day, grounded upon
these Scriptures, John xx. I; Rev. i. 10; Psalms cxviii. 24; Lev.
xxiii. 7, 11; Mark xv. 8; Psalms lxxxiv. 10, in which Christmas
is called Anti-christ's masse, and those Masse-mongers 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.
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