[Footnote 298: Ecclesiae: here undoubtedly the nave: as often church is so used in our prayer-book.]
24. But the ornament of the altar consists in portfolios, altar cloths, relicaries, candlesticks, crosses, an orfray, banners, missals, coverings, and curtains.
25. And notice, that the portfolio in which the consecrated host is kept, signifieth the frame of the blessed Virgin, concerning which it is said in the Psalms, 'Arise, O Lord into Thy resting place.' [Footnote 299] Which sometimes is of wood: sometimes of white ivory: sometimes of silver: sometimes of gold: sometimes of crystal: and according to the different substances of which it is made, designateth the various dignities of the body of Christ. Again, the pyx which containeth the host, whether consecrated or not consecrated, typifieth the human memory. For a man ought to hold in remembrance continually the benefits of God, as well temporal, which are represented by the unconsecrated, as spiritual, which are set forth by the consecrated host. [{57}] Which was also set forth by the urn in which God commanded that the manna should be deposited: which, albeit it was temporal, prefigured nevertheless this our spiritual sacrifice, when the Lord commanded that it should be laid up for an everlasting memorial unto future generations. But the pyx, being placed on the altar, which is Christ, signifieth apostles and martyrs. And the altar cloths and coverings are confessors and virgins, or all saints: of whom saith the Prophet to the Lord, 'Thou shalt be clothed with them as with a garment.' And of these we have spoken above.
[Footnote 299: Psalm cxxxii (Domine, memento), 8.]
26. Now there is a difference between phylacterium and phylacteria. Phylacterium is a scroll on which the ten commandments were written: and this kind of scroll the Pharisees used to wear on the front part of their garments, as a sign of devotion. Whence in the Gospel, 'They make broad their phylacteries.' [Footnote 300] And the word is derived from philare, which is to keep, and teras, which is law. But phylacteria (a relicary) is a vessel of silver or gold, or crystal, or ivory, or some substance of the same kind, in which the ashes and relics of the saints are kept. For when Vigilantius called the faithful Cinericii, [Footnote 301] because they preserved the ashes themselves, to testify contempt of his decision, it was ordered by the Church that they should be honourably preserved in precious vessels. And the name is derived from philare, which is to preserve, and teron, which is an extremity, because in them some [{58}] portion of the extremities of the bodies of saints is preserved: such as a tooth or a finger, or somewhat of the like kind. Over the altar in some churches also is placed a shrine: of which we have spoken in our section on the Altar.
[Footnote 300: S. Matthew xxiii, 5.]
[Footnote 301: Ais, Vigilantium, qui
hoc vocatur nomine (nam Dormitantius rectius diceretur), os foetidum rursum aperire, et putorem spurcissimum contra sanctorum martyrum proferre relliquias, et nos, qui eas suscepimus, appellare cinerarios.—S. Hieron, in Epp. See also the 'Church of the Fathers,' 2nd ed. chapter xv.]
27. At the horns of the altar [Footnote 302] two candlesticks are placed to signify the joy of Jews and Gentiles at the nativity of Christ: which candlesticks, by means of a flint, have their wicks lighted. For the angel saith to the shepherds, 'I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people: for to you is born this day the Saviour of the world. [Footnote 303] He is the true Isaac, [Footnote 304] which being interpreted, is laughter. Now the light of the candlestick is the faith of the people. For to the Jewish people, saith the Prophet, 'Arise, shine, for thy light is come: and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.' [Footnote 305] But to the Gentiles the Apostle saith, 'Ye were sometimes darkness, but are now light in the Lord.' [Footnote 306] For before the birth of Christ a new star appeared to the wise men, according to the prophecy of Balaam. 'There shall rise,' saith he, 'a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre out of Israel.' [Footnote 307] Concerning this we have also spoken in our section of the Altar.
[Footnote 302: This use of two candlesticks is very remarkable: as giving fresh authority to the custom of the English Church. ]
[Footnote 303: S. Luke ii, 10.]
[Footnote 304: Genesis xvii, 17, 19.]
[Footnote 305: Isaiah lx, 1. ]
[Footnote 306: Ephes. V, 8. ]
[Footnote 307: Numbers xxiv, 7.]