human
A Vindication of the Solemnity of the Nativity of Christ, was published in 1648, is strongly in favour of this view. He says:
gpt
If it doth appeare that the time of this festival doth comply with the time of the heathen's _Saturnalia_, this leaves no charge of impiety upon it: for since things are best cured by their contraries, it was both wisdom and piety in the ancient Christians (whose work it was to convert the heathens from such as well as other superstitions and miscarriages) to vindicate such times from the service of the devill, by appointing them to the more solemne and especiall service of God. The _blazes_ are foolish and vain, not countenanced by the church.
human
here referred to are evidently the yule logs and immense candles, which the worthy pastor denounces with orthodox precision.
gpt
Blazes and
human
Pandemonium are yet synonymous terms, in vulgar mouths, in many parts of Lancashire. Some of the ceremonies of this period, however, meet with his somewhat qualified approval. He says: