at three o'clock next Thursday (2): that we may endeavour to perform, by the affiftance of the holy God, that heavenly mystery, by which the devil with his pomp is destroyed, and the gate of the kingdom of heaven fet open." When the time appointed was come, the infants appeared, and an acolothift took down their names, or the names of their attendants. This done, the acolothift called over the lift; John fuch a one, and fo on, and placed the boys on the right-hand, and the girls on the left (3). Then the prefbyter proceeded to croffing, praying, exorcifing falt, and giving it to the children. Then the children withdrew, and the fervice of the day proceeded. At length the priest sat down, and the deacon went to the door and called (4), "Let the catechumens come forward." They did fo, and the acolothift called over the list, and placed them as before. Prefently the deacon faid; "Ye elect males, kneel down and pray." The children did fo. When the deacon thought they had prayed long enough, he cried; "Rife, finifh your prayers altogether, and fay Amen :" and they all anfwered, Amen. Then the fame was repeated with the girls: Ye elect females, kneel down and pray; and fo on as before. Next the priest proceeded to exorcifm and benedictions, and in the end difmiffed them by faying; Return, and come again to the fcrutiny on Saturday, and be at church in time, John, Thomas, Mary, and fo forth. Between this day and Eafter fix times more were added, for the whole fcrutiny included feven days, in honour of the fevenfold gifts of the Holy Ghoft. The whole was a course of tuition mixed with fuperftitious ufages. Many paffages of fcripture were read; as Take of the best fruits in the land, and carry down the man a prefent; and take alfo your brother, and God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may fend away your other brother and Benjamin.....And he lift up bis eyes, and faw his brother Benjamin, his mother's fon, and faid, is this your younger brother of whom ye spake unto me? God be gracious unto thee, my fon Hearken diligently unto me, and eat you that which is good, and let your foul delight itself in fatnefs. Incline your ear and come unto me: bear and your foul fhall live: and fo on. Seek ye the Lord while be the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forfake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will

(2) Sequenti quarta feria.

(3) Ut autem ad ecclefiam venerint, ficut diximus, quarta feria, hora tertia, fcribantur nomina infantium, vel eorum qui ipfos fufcepturi funt ab acolytho, et vocenter ipfi infantes ab acolytho in ecclefia per nomina, vel ordine ficut fcripti funt, ita dicendo, ille puer, et fic per fingulos. Et ftatuuntur mafculi fcorfim ad dexteram partem; feminæ ad finiftram.

(4) Sedet in fede fua, et vocentur infantes a diacono dicente. Catechumeni procedant. Et vocantur infantes ab acolytho per nomina, vel ordine ut fcripti funt, et ftatuuntur ut prius, mafculi ad dextram, feminæ ad finiftram : et poftmodum commonentur a diacono ita, orate electi, flectite genua. Et poftquam oraverint, dicit, Levate. Complete orationem veftram in unum, et dicite, Amen....Iterum admonet diaconus, orate electæ, et reliqua ficut antea.

have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.....There were many lepers in Ifrael.....In the beginning was the word....John bare witness of him....Now in the fifteenth year of Tiberius....The beginning of the gospel of Jefus Chrift the Son of God, as it is written in the prophets, behold I fend my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. These, and several more fuch leffons were read to the children, and the deacon often cried between times: "Stand ftill and hear diligently. Mind and obferve your order (5)." On the laft day of the fcrutiny the priest gave notice of the time and place of baptifm.

As there were feveral baptifmal churches at Rome (6), that of St. John Lateran, the mistress if not the mother of all the reft, where the pope was bishop, and where himself officiated, is the moft proper to be feen on the prefent occafion. Holy Saturday, the day before Eafter, was the chief day of baptizing (7). The prime, or the first canonical hour of that day, began at midnight: and three hours were spent in finging pfalms, faying prayers, and reading homilies (8). At three in the morning the catechumens who had been fcrutinized, attended, and various ceremonies were performed, as croffing (9), bleffing, catechizing, taking the renunciation, and fo on; and in the end the archdeacon difmiffed them with thefe words: "My dear children, return to your places, and wait for the hour in which the grace of God may be communicated to you by baptifm." At nine the pontiff, attended by a great number of prelates and clergy, went to the facrifty, and after they had put on the proper habits, proceeded in filent order into the church (1). Then the leffons for the day were read, and feveral benedictions performed. When this part was finifhed, his holiness with his

(5) Aduunciat Diaconus, dicens: State cum filentio, audientes intente....State cum difciplina, et cum filentio....Audiftis dile&tiffimi dominicæ orationes....Hæc fumma eft fidei noftræ dileƐtissimi nobis, &c.

(6) Ordo Roman. xi. n. 43. Cardinales revertuntur ad titulos fuos. Mab. not. Hæc eft miffio cardinalium ad baptizandum infantes in ecclefiis baptifmalibus, quæ Romæ non paucæ erant: qualis in primis ecclefia fanctæ Mariæ majoris, &c.

(7) Ordines Miffal. Breviar. De Sabbato Sancto. Ord. Rom. i. vii. 46. Hunc autem fupradictum ordinem baptifmi in hoc fabbato Pafchæ, ficut et in fabbato pentecoften, omnimodis celebretur. (8) Miffal. Sabbato fancto. Ad Matutinam. In primo nocturno, Antiphona Pfalmus iv. Ordo Rom. i. Sabbato. Media nocte furgendum eft. Dicuntur viiii pfalmi cum refponforiis, tres lectiones leguntur....Deinde leguntur homeliæ fanctorum patrum ad ipfum diem perti

nentes.

(9) IBID. Poft horam tertiam procedunt qui baptizandi funt ad ecclefiam, et ordinantur per ordinem, ficut fcripta funt, mafculi in dexteram, feminæ in finiftram....Sacerdos tangit de oleo fancto scapulas et pectus, et dicit: Abrenuncias Satana ? R. Abrenuncio. Et omnibus operibus ejus? R. Abrenuncio. Et omnibus pompis ejus? R. Abrenuncio. Ego te lino oleo falutis, &c. Poftea dicuntur eis ab archidiacono: Orate electi, flectite genua. Et poft paululum dicit: Levate, &c. Dicit Diaconus; filii chariffimi revertimini, &c.

(1) Hora nona ingrediuntur facrarium pontifex, facerdotes, et ceteri, et induunt fe vestimentis, &c.

attendants

attendants proceeded to the baptiftry, the choir (2) finging all the way the forty-fecond pfalm: As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, fo panteth my foul after thee, O God; and fo on. This ended at the porch of the firft chapel, where his holinefs fat down. Then the cardinals prefented themselves before him, and one, in the name of the rest, prayed for his benediction, which was beftowed (3). This was repeated thrice, and immediately after the laft, the pontiff added: Go ye, and baptize all nations in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft. The cardinals having received the miffion withdrew immediately, and mounting their horfes proceeded each to his own ftation to baptize. The pope went on to the baptifmal-hall, and, after various leffons and pfalms confecrated the baptifmal water. Then, while all were adjufting themselves in their proper places, his holiness retired into the adjoining chapel of St. John the evangelift, attended by fome acolothifts, who took off his habits, put on him a pair of waxed drawers, and a furplice, and then returned to the bapiftery (4). There three children were waiting, which was the number ufually baptized by the pontiff. Silence was ordered. When the firft was prefented, he asked, What is his name (5)? The attendant anfwered, John. Then he proceeded thus. John, doft thou believe in God the Father Almighty, the creator of heaven

(2) MAB. in ord. Rom. comment. xv. De ritibus Sabbati fan&ti. Poft hæc in fancti Johannis baptifterium procedebatur decantando litaniam, ibique fontis benedictio fiebat.

Ord. Rom. x. 20. Infantibus vero catechizatis, et finitis lectionibus, et orationibus et canticis decantatis, pontifex cum omni fchola clericorum defcendit ad benedicendos fontes, præcedentibus fub diaconibus cum cruce et facula, et alia neceffaria ad benedictionem fontium, primicerio et cantoribus decantate tractum, ficut cervus defiderat ad fontes aquarum.

(3) Ord. Rom. xi. 43. Dominus pontifex defcendit ad fontem....Primicerius cum fchola cantando ficut cervus ufque in porticum fancti Venantii: ibi præparato faciftorio [faldiftoria] pontifex fedet Cardinales autem....intrant per porticum fancti Johannis, et vadunt in ecclefiam fancti Venantii....Pontifex benedicit eum, et dicit: Ite, baptizate omnes gentes in nomine patris, et filii, et fpiritus fancti. Cardinales vero ita induti cum equitibus revertuntur ad titulos fuos. Tunc pontifex intrat ad baptifmum [baptifterium].

(4) Ord. Rom. x. 22. Benedictione completa, fecedit paululum ibi in fecretario, juxta fontes ; et abstracta planeta et pallio, acolythi præparant cum, ficut confuetudo eft.

Ord. Rom. xii. 14. Quid debeat Dominus papa facere in fabbato fan&to. Hoc facto (i. e. benedictione completa) revertitur ad eamdem ecclefiam [i. e. S. Joannis Evangelifta] ibique exuit fe de pallio et planeta, et induit bracalia cerata, et revertitur ad fontes, &c.

MAB. not. Bracalia cerata. Ita etiam legit Panvinius. An femoralia cerata? Lege Anastafium in vita Hadriana Papæ, ubi Carolus M. Romam ingressus fabbato, in bafilica falvatoris juxta Lateranum dicitur ftetiffe, quoufque baptifmatis facramentum pontifex perficeret.

(5) Ord. Rom. x. 22. Preparatus vero, regreditur ad fontes, et præfentatis fibi infantibus, Johanne fcilicet, five Petro et Maria, interroget offerentem. Quis vocaris? Refp. Johannes. Inculcat et dicit, Johannes, credis in Deum patrem omnipotentem, creatorem cæli et terræ ? R. Credo, &c.....Interrog. et dicit: Johannes vis baptizari? R. volo. Tunc baptizat cum fub trina immerfione, fanctam trinitatem femel tantum invocando, fic, Et ego te baptizo in nomine patris; et immergat femel; et filii, et immergat fecundo ; et fpiritus fančti, et immergat tertio; ut habeas vitam æternam. R. Amen. Similiter Petrum et Mariam. His vero tribus baptizatis immantatus manto fupra dalmaticam pontifex vadit ad chrismarium.

and

and earth? I do believe. I do believe. Doft thou believe in Jefus Chrift his only Son our Lord, who was born and fuffered death? I do believe. Doft thou believe in the Holy Ghoft, the holy catholick church, the communion of faints, the remiffion of fins, the refurrection of the body, and life eternal ? I do believe. John do you defire to be baptized? 1 do defire it. I baptize thee in the name of the Father, dipping him once, and of the Son, dipping him a fecond time, and of the Holy Ghoft, dipping him a third time. The pontiff added, may you obtain eternal life! John anfwered, Amen. The fame was then repeated to Peter and Mary, the other two. Attendants with napkins received the children, and retired to drefs them (6). The attendants of his holiness threw a mantle over his furplice, and he retired. The reft of the catechumens were baptized by deacons, who in clean habits, and without fhoes, went down into the water (7), and performed the ceremony as the pontiff had fet them an example. After all was over (8), and the children dreffed, they waited on the pope in an adjacent room, where he confirmed them, and delivered to each chrifm and a white garment. The part relative to the habits of the pope is taken from the twelfth ordinal in the collection of Father Mabillon, and it was written by a cardinal in the latter-end of the twelfth century.

That these ordinals were originally compofed for the baptifin of thofe of riper years feems not to admit of a doubt, and that baptifm was performed by immerfion cannot be queftioned, nor can any one hefitate to determine, that the candidates were the children of Chriftians. The fcrutiny; the fervice in part in the night; the command of filence; the change of deacon's habits; the wax, or oil-fkin drawers, breeches, or trowfers of the pontiff; the interrogations and answers; the kneeling and praying of the candidates; the proper leffons for the days; the fervices of fufceptors, parents, patrini, and matrini, who were uncles, aunts, relations, or affiftants, and not modern godfathers performing fponfion; the addreffes to the young folks; the total omiffion of charges to sponsors; all go to prove the point.

(6) Ord. Rom. i. 44. Et fint parati qui eos fufcepturi funt cum linteis in manibus eorum, et accipiunt ipfos a prefbyteris vel diaconibus, &c.....Pontifex vero egredietur a fonte.

(7) Ord. Rom. i. 43. Deinde prefbyteri, aut diaconi, etiam fi neceffe fuerit et acolythi, difcalciati, induentes fe aliis veftibus mundis vel candidis, ingrediuntur in fontes intro aquam, et baptizantur primo mafculi, deinde feminæ fub hac interrogatione, Credis in Deum patrem omnipotentem, &c.....Et acceptos infantes de parentibus baptizent eos fub trina merfione, tantum fanctam Trinitatem femel invocantes, ita dicendo, baptizo te in nomine patris, et mergit femel; et filii, et mergit iterum; et fpiritus fanéti, et mergit tertio.

MAB. not. Intro aquam. Idem ritus legitur in codice Gellonenfi, immo etiam in vulgato ordine Romano. Sub interrogatione credo. Hæc eft redditio fymboli, quam Amalarius ait reddi fabbato fancto fecundum ordinem Romanum: aliis in cana Domini, &c.

(8) Ord. Rom. x. 23. Deinde veftitur infans veftimentis, &c,

CHAP. XV.

Of the Catholick and the Arian Baptifteries at Ravenna (1).

HE very ancient and noble city of Ravenna was built and inha

Tbited by idolaters, or hippers of Diana, and other Etrufcan deities,

as marbles, altars, and other ancient monuments prove (2). A primitive Christian, named Apollinaris, and faid by the ecclefiaftical hiftorians of Ravenna to have been one of the feventy difciples, firft preached Christianity there (3). He taught in private houfes, his converts affembled to worship God in a cottage without the walls, and he baptized fometimes in the fea, and at other times in a bath belonging to an officer of the army, in whofe houfe alfo during twelve years he taught the gofpel. In procefs of time Christianity profpered in this city, and was eftablifhed by law. Before the year 451, in which the baptiftery now in fight was put into its prefent form, the emperours Honorius and Valentinian had refided here. There are two of these buildings in Ravenna, one erected by the Arians in the reign of Theodorick, the other earlier by the Catholicks in the reign of Valentinian (4). That in view is the catholick, and it was built, or rather re-built in a more elegant tafte on the ground plot of the old one by Neon, archbishop of Ravenna (5). Proper drafts of this beautiful little monument of anti

quity

(1) MURATORII Spicilegium Ravennatis Hift. Tom. i. Part 2....AGNELLI pontifical Eccles. Ravennatis. Tom. ii. O Ravenna, urbs metropolis, mater civitatum, Domina populorum, fedes regni proceribus gloriofa, mænibus inclyta, civibus illuftris, opibus infignis....A Christo in Petrum et Petro in Apollinarem, ab Apollinari in patres, et fic ufque ad noviffima membra ecclefiæ irrigatio fupernæ benedictionis infufa eft.

(2) ANT FRANC. GORII Museum Etrufcam. Tom. ii. Tab. xxxv. Diana....Tab. cviii. Heros Etrufcus cum infcript. Bulcopedov.

(3) Jos. VICECOMITIS. Obferv. Eccles. Tom. i. Lib. i. Cap. 4. Iis autem, qui jam in Chriftum credebant, miffas et baptifmata faciebat in domo tribuni cum difcipulis fuis.... Habebant autem Chriftiani tigurium non longe a manibus, in quo ille miffas faciebat, baptizabat anten in mari, &c.....JAC. BASNAGE Hift. Eccles. Tom. i. Liv. vii. Cap. i.... HIERON RUBEI. Hift. Raven..Spicileg. ut fup. Multi nobiles dabant filios fuos Appollinari ut ab eodem facris literis, erudirentur. lis vero qui jam Chrifto credebant miffas et Baptifmata in domo tribuni B. Apollinaris agebat cum difcipulis fuis.

(4) CIAMPINI....PACIAUDI. ut fup.

HIERON. FABRI In facris Memiriis Ravennæ antique.

Cede vetus nomen, novitati cede vetuftas.

Pulchrius ecce nitet renovati gloria fontis..

Magnanimus hunc namque Neon, fummafque facerdos,

Excoluit, pulchro componens omnia cultu.

M

CIAMPINI,