(Vol. ii., p. 495. Vol. iii., p. 30.)
The following passage from the works of a deeply pious and learned Caroline
Divine, which I have never before seen quoted, merits, I think, a place in
"NOTES AND QUERIES:"--
"As our Lord himself, so his Gospel also, is called Light, and was
therefore anciently never read without a burning taper, '_etiam Sole
rutilante_' ('tis Saint Hierome's testimony), though it were lighted in
the sun.... The careful Church, perceiving that God was so much taken
with this outward symbol of the Light, could do no less than go on with
the ceremony. Therefore, the day of Our Lord's nativity was to be
called [Greek: epiphania], or, appearing of the Light; and so many
tapers were to be set up the night before, as might give name to the
vigil, '_Vigilia Luminum_'. And the ancients did well to send lights
one to another, whatsoever some think of the Christmas candle. The
receiving of this Light in Baptism, though called not usually so, but
[Greek: phôtismos], Illumination, which further to betoken the rites,
were to celebrate this sacrament [Greek: haptomenôn pantôn tôn kêrôn],
etc., with all the tapers lighted, etc., as the order in the
Euchologus. The Neophytus, also, or new convert, received a Taper
lighted and delivered by the Mystagogus, which for the space of seven
days after, he was to hold in his hand at Divine service, sitting in
the Baptistery.
"Who perceiveth not that by this right way the Tapers came into the
Church, mysteriously placed with the Gospel upon the altar as an emblem
of the Truer Light?...
"The Funeral Tapers (however thought of by some) are of the same
harmless import. Their meaning is, to show that the departed souls are
not quite put out, but having walked here as the Children of the Light,
are now going to walk before God in the Light of the Living. The sun
never rose to the ancients, no, not so much as a candle was lighted,
but of this signification. '_Vincamus_' was their word, whensoever the
Lights came in; [Greek: phôs gar tên Nikên], etc., for Light (saith
Phavorinus) betokeneth victory. It was to show what trust they put in
the Light, in whom we are more than conquerors. Our meaning is the same
when, at the bringing in of a candle, we use to put ourselves in mind
of the Light of Heaven: which those who list to call superstition do
but 'darken counsel by words without knowledge.' _Job_ xxxviii.
2."--Gregorie's _Works_, 4th ed. p. 110. Lond. 1684.
I believe it is a fact, that in some churches (I hope not many) lamps or
candles are placed on the altar _unlighted_ during divine service. Now I
would not quarrel with persons who have objections to altar lights, &c.,
but I have no patience with that worse than superstition which would place
_unlighted_ candles on the altar,--if they symbolize any thing, it is
damnation, excommunication, misery, and dark woe.
Coming out of a church one time in which unlighted candles were
ostentatiously displayed, I was forcibly reminded of an hieroglyphical of
Quarles--an extinguished taper,--and under it the words, "_Sine lumine
inane_."
"How canst thou be useful to the sight?
What is the taper not endued with light?"