Washing of Feet

Gen. xviii. 4.WASHING of Feet. The Orientals were used to wash the Feet of Strangers, who came off a Journey, because they commonly walked with their Legs naked, and their Feet only defended with a Sandal. Thus Abraham washed the Feet of the three Angels. They washed the Feet of Eliezar, Gen. xxiv. 32.and those that accompanied him, when they arrived at the House of Laban: And likewise those of Joseph’s Brethren, when Gen. xliii. 24. 1 Sam. xxv. 41.they came into Egypt. This Office was commonly performed by Servants and Slaves. Abigail assures David, who then sought her in Marriage, that she should think it an Honour to wash the King’s Servants Feet. Our Saviour washed his Apostles Feet, to give them an Example of a perfect Humility. When St. Paul would recommend Hospitality, he would have no one chose to be a Widow and Deaconess in the Church, but one who has washed the Feet of the Saints. In a moral Sense, to wash one’s Feet, signifies, to purify one’s earthy and carnal Affections.

The Saviour of the World, after his last Supper, which he eat with his Disciples, had a mind to give them his last Lesson of Humility, by washing their Feet. After John xiii. 3, 6. John xiii. 5, 6. 1 Tim. v. 10.that he poureth water into a Bason, and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter; and Peter saith unto him, Lord, doest thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

This Threatening of our Saviour to Peter, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me, has given occasion to several of the Ancients to believe, that the Washing of Feet has something of the same Effect as Baptism. St. Ambrose testifies, that in his Ambros. l. de Myster. c. 6.time they washed the Feet of those that were newly baptized, at their coming out of the Holy Font. He seems to think, that as Baptism washes away actual Sins, the Washing of Feet, which was used afterwards, takes away Original Sin, or at least subdues Concupiscence: Ideo planta abluitur, ut hæreditaria peccata tollantur: nostra enim propria per baptismum relaxantur. He says the same thing upon Psal. xlviii.¹ Alia est iniquitas nostra, alia calcanei nostri. Unde Dominus discipulis pedes lavit, ut lavaret venena serpentis. But he adds, that what is cleansed by the Washing of Feet, is rather Concupiscence; or as he explains it, the Inclination that we have to Sin, than Sin itself. Unde reor iniquitatem calcanei magis lubricum delinquendi, quàm reatum aliquem nostri esse delicti. St. Austin² quotes pretty near the same thing, from a Work of St. Ambrose upon Isaiah, which is not now found.

The Custom of washing the Feet of the newly baptized, was not peculiar to the Church of Milan;³ it was observed in other places of Italy, in Gaul, in Spain, and in Africa. Some of the Ancients have given it the Name of a Sacrament, and have ascribed to it the Grace of remitting venial Sins. St. Bernard,⁴ and Ernaldus⁵ Abbot of Bonneval, are of this opinion. An Author printed in the Appendix of the fifth Tome of St. Austin,⁶ imputes to it also the Power of the Remission of mortal Sins. St. Austin⁷ makes no doubt but that this Ceremony, if practised with Faith and Humility, may put away venial Sins. Gerard Bishop of Toul,⁸ every Day put in practice the washing of the Feet of a certain number of poor Men; being persuaded that he that received this Lotion obtained the Remission of his Sins; Credens, ut est vera fides, criminum sordes abluere, uti multoties sanctum audiebat Præsulem certissime prædicare. This holy Bishop dyed in 994, and his Life was written by Vidric Abbot of St. Eure, who was almost contemporary with him.

The Syrians celebrate the Festival of Washing of Feet on Good Friday. On the same Day the Greeks perform the sacred Niptere, or the Holy Washing. On this Day also in the Latin Church they practise the devout Ceremony of Washing of Feet. The Bishops, the Abbots, and Princes in many Places, practise it in Person. The Council of Elvire,⁹ seeing the Abuse that some made of it, by putting too great a Confidence in it, suppressed it in Spain.

Mark vii. 3, 4.To wash the Hands. The Hebrews frequently washed their Hands, as we see in St. Mark: For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. The Greek Text might signify, that they washed their Hands from the Elbow to the ends of their Fingers. Elisha2 Kings iii. 11. Matth. xxvii. 24. poured Water upon the Hands of Elijah. Pilate washed his Hands as a Token of his Innocency, in the unjust Sentence that he pronounced against Jesus Christ.

Ezek. xvi. 4. Acts ix. 37.Children were washed immediately after their Birth. They also washed their Dead, as may be seen by the washing of Tabitha. They washed their Cloaths when they would purify themselves from any Uncleanness, or prepare themselves for any Action, that required a particular Sanctity. External Lotions were the Symbols of that internal Purity and Cleanness which God requires of those who approach to holy things, and in those who serve him.

Job xxix. 6. Gen. xlix. 11. Psal. lviii. 10.To wash one’s Feet in Butter, to wash one’s Cloaths in Wine, to wash one’s Feet in the Blood of the Wicked, are figurative and hyperbolical Expressions, to signify the great abundance of Butter, or Wine, and the Vengeance that the Just obtains over the Wicked.

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