Church we may hear any other Voice but his which is revealed in his Word Then his Kingly Office whether we may receive and obey any other Laws Institutions and Ordinances but what he hath himself appointed We own no other Law but what is in and derived from his holy Word Gal. 6.16 and let Peace be upon those that walk according to this Rule and to the Israel of God The Determinations of the most famous Councils are to be followed only as much as they agree with it and the Rulers of our Church have no more Power than they had We allow of none such Maxims of theirs as these how in the things in question the Precept of a Superiour doth bind more than the Conscience of the Inferiour can but we say particular men are allowed to examine the Orders of their Superiours as much as therein their Consciences are concerned and chuse whether or not they are to obey for we are not to admit of an implicit Faith and blind Obedience Neither is it true that the Subject having the Command of King or Bishop for his Warrant ought not to examine but only to perform what he is commanded a fair way indeed for Men to ride upon the Consciences of others at pleasure Upon Colos 2.13 Bishop Davenant teaches us a better Doctrine when in Opposition to Jesuitical Blind Obedience he she weth how Subjects may and ought to judge with the Judgment of Discretion the Decrees of their Superiors so far as in particular they are concerned These Matters about Ceremonies were under Debate not only here but also in other Parts of Europe in the Beginning and Progress of Reformation Junius who died a Divinity Professor at Leyden saith If any Man either by Civil or Ecclesiastical Authority will add things not necessary nor agreeable to Order we would not pertinaciously contend with him but desire only that he would seriously consider of three things first by what Authority or Example he is led to think that the holy Church of God and the Simplicity of the Mysteries of Christ whose Voice only is heard by his Sheep must be clothed with Human Traditions which Christ doth reject Secondly To what end he judgeth that those things should be added unto those that are Divine for if the End be Conformity with others it were more Equity that other Churches should conform to those which come nearest to the Word of God as Cyprian's Counsel is than that these should conform to the others if the End be Comeliness what is more comely than the Simplicity of Christ What is more simple than that Comeliness If there be no other Reason besides Will then that of Tertullian is to be thought of the Will of God is the chief Necessity and the Church of God is not tied unto Man's Wisdom in divine things The third thing to be thought on is what Event hath always followed upon human Traditions as a long Experience doth shew And as Polanus another Author well known Syntag. lib. 9. cap. 3 6 8. saith Superstition stands in chusing Worship to God or when one exceedeth Measure therein True Religion worshipeth the true God in a manner prescribed by the Word false that is Superstition worships God otherwise than he willeth or enjoyneth and elsewhere whatsoever pertaineth to God's Worship must by him be required Lib. 9. cap. 28. in another place he adds it is a foolish ill Zeal of the Popish Clergy to use such Player-like Apparel in Divine Service and thereby to be distinguished from Lay-men that Difference and Variety under the Old Testament was Typical but the Substance being come what mean they to require Types any more And if upon this matter we will hear few Words more of Calvin to Cassander Opusc pag. 355. he taught that the Ceremonies ordained by Christ are intirely and uncorruptly to be kept and nothing must be added to their Institution as if thy were lame or imperfect which indeed is somewhat but not all because by an indirect Shift he would let into the Church all other Rites but this half Truth is overturned when he believes a Right given to the Apostles and Successors to institute such Ceremonies in the Administration of the Sacraments which may be for Ornament therefore he which before confessed nothing should be added doth now not only admit such By-Ceremonies but also commends them yet will he help himself with a subtle Shift namely Additions must be allowed if the Sacrament be not held lame and imperfect therefore with what Mixtures you will Sacraments may be wholly changed and yet all be well provided you charge not Christ to his Teeth that any of his Institutions go lame and halting These Witnesses I bring in not only to shew their rational way of arguing upon this Subject but also to let Men see how there were those beyond Seas who stood in Opposition to Human Inventions in God's Worship and consequently it was not a Spirit of Refractoriousness as they call it that made here several learned and pious Men speak and write against them from the Beginning The Truth is the most wise God needeth none of our Help to find out means to excite Faith nor would the meanest Mechanick in his Profession endure but would himself take his own way and not be put out of it See then how bold are these Men who will prescribe to God means how to help forward our Salvation and that Decency which they would make a stalking Horse of is as Pareus saith opposed to Vanity Upon 1 Cor. 14. Spots and Riot it stands not in Hoods Caps or Vizards of fond Ceremonies Thus our Reasons we back with the Authority of some famous Men and shall do it farther to shew we are not singular in our Opinion they and we do all draw out of the same Spring the Word of God But I now conclude this Point with those notable Words of Calvin It is Devillish Blasphemy to say that God hath taught Men all that it behoveth them to do In Deuter. Serm. 85. Common by-word here hath place thou art the Devil's Servant for thou hast done more than was commanded thee Of Cross in Baptism HAving thus briefly spoken of Ceremonies in general for I intend as much as I can to contract my Discourse I must now speak of them in particular We shall begin with the Cross whereof the aerial Sign is used in Baptism this is one of their significant Ceremonies a Help to Devotion as they say which signifieth unto us that we should not be ashamed of Christ crucified I would know whether and where Christ the only Authentick Appointer of means appropriated to God's Service teacheth this Doctrine 'T is not enough for me to say 't is the Doctrine and Practise of the Church I must be satisfied how the Head and only Lawgiver of the Church hath commanded it with them 't is also a sign of Constancy but to what purpose is this Doth not the
jealous of his Honour namely to make his revealed Will the Rule of his Worship and no other As to bowing in matter of Religion it is an outward Act of Worship to be performed to him that is the true Object thereof and to none else David under the Type of Solomon speaking of the Kingdom of Christ saith they that dwell in the Wilderness shall bow before him which two Verses after he calls Psal 12.9 11. shall fall down before him pay him that Honour which is due to God alone so the very Act of Idolatry is expressed by the Name of bowing which God as already observed doth positively forbid in the second Commandment and was after repeated not only by Moses but also by Joshua in the very Words nor bow your selves unto them Deut. 5.9 Josh 23.16 which is rehearsed in the 16th v. of the same Chap. and bowed your selves to other Gods to Stock or Stones and when 't is observed how after the Death of Joshua the People did evil in the Sight of the Lord and committed Idolatry Judg. 2.12.17.19 it is represented in the same Words and by the same Act no less than thrice in the same Chapter they bowed themselves and bow down so that very Act being misapplied must need be abominable and idolatrous But to conclude this Point God forbid I should charge the Church of England with Idolatry for their bowing to the altar I verily believe they know and do better though the ignorant sort of People are apt to entertain wrong Notions about such things but indeed I do not know how to clear them from the Appearance of it they bow to an Altar as a Papist doth to an Image and to a Crucifix whether they make this the Object of their Worship or do worship God before it or before an Altar the Lord alone the Searcher of the Heart knoweth neither can I clear them from Superstition in their always bowing towards a certain Place and no other All these Prejudices conceived against them they might easily remove if they would part with that Ceremony in leaving it off there is neither Harm nor Danger when there may be both in the continuing thereof Can any rational Man deny it were better and more Christian-like quite to forsake it than to give Offence to so many and Occasion of stumbling to some that are weak and also Ground of Suspicion that if there be no Idolatry there is at least Appearance of Superstition which by all means ought to be avoided this tends neither to Decency nor to Order because it doth not edifie which ought to be the End of the other two but notwithstanding any Reason they will keep it nec possunt dicere quare without any true sound ground for 't Of bowing at the Name of Jesus THE other bowing we have is at the Name of Jesus we are not satisfied to have it at things but at Names and Letters too If we must bow when spoken why not when written like the Pharisees that were careful to have the Name of God and some Words of his law about them Matth. 23. made broad their Phylacteries and enlarged the Borders of their Garments but withal made the Commandments of God of none effect We know we can never do enough to express Honour Veneration and Adoration to our blessed Lord and Saviour but this ought to be rightly placed not upon the Sound and Letters of his Name but upon his Person who is God blessed for ever If it be due to the bare Name why not to that of Christ also to that of God of Immanuel and some others given him in Scripture at last the Cross the Nails the Crown of Thorns will challenge the same Those who are for such things as these I desire seriously to think upon that Scripture when St. Paul saith 2 Cor. 5.16 Though we have known Christ after the Flesh yet henceforth know we him no more After the Flesh no more after the Letter but only after the Spirit things must be spiritualized if we must bow at the Name then at the Name of Jesus Son of Nun of Jesus Son of Syrach of Jesus called Justus To make short though the Place of Scripture which they bring to prove their Practice hath sufficiently been answered I shall say few Words to it and all out of the Text That at the Name of Jesus every Knee should bow of things in Heaven and things in Earth Phil. 2.10 11. and things under the Earth 'T is not litterally observed for 't is said to bow the Knee yet People bow the Head then in Heaven and under the Earth are no Knees to bow Angels and the Spirits of just Men made perfect have no Knees nor the Dead in their Graves have no Knees but 't is the Honour due to the Person commanded in the Place which is explained in the next Verse And that every Tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father Who as 't is said v. 9. Hath highly exalted him and given him a Name above every Name a Power and Dominion above all for God hath made him Lord of all and made him sit at his right hand so that bowing at his Name is humbly submitting to and owning him both with Tongue and Heart to be the blessed and only Potentate 1 Tim. 6.15 the King of Kings and Lord of Lords He hath written on his Vesture King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 17.14 and 19.16 and as such the Angels the four Beasts the twenty four Elders say with a loud Voice Rev. 5.12 13 14. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Power and Riches and Wisdom and Strength and Honour and Glory and Blessing and every Creature which is in Heaven and on the Earth and under the Earth Observe these are the very Words used by St. Paul only Creature is put for Knee and such as are in the Sea and all that are in them saying Blessing and Honour and Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever The bowing of the Knee is here called worshipping as 't is also in the same Book Chap. 15.4 Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name What St. Paul calls to bow at the Name is here rendered by glorifying his Name and worshipping him for all Nations shall come and worship before thee Thus is clearly and fully interpreted that Phrase of bowing at the Name of Jesus These are the high and noble Notions we ought to have of the Name of Jesus and not of the Sound and Letters of it I think they are no better grounded out of this Place to prove their Practice than Papists to prove the Pope may judge all Men and be judged by none out of this Text 1 Cor. 2.15 He that is Spiritual judgeth all things yet he himself is judged of no Man great
perfect law of liberty Jam. 1.25 These Humane significant Ceremonies are in some kind a Sacrament which none but God may institute nay they wrong Sacraments for it argues them of some imperfection as if in God's Institution something had been wanting that was necessary to be supplied by Men when they are used to teach any spiritual Duty by their mystical signification they usurp a chief part of the Nature of Sacraments and without those Rites the Sacraments signifie the same things as Christ and our Duty to him so that every Humane Invention appropriated to God's Service ordained and instituted to teach any spiritual Duty by mystical signification is unlawful The second Commandment forbiddeth to make the likeness of any thing whatsoever for Religious Use Now significant Ceremonies are external acts of Religious Worship even as they are used to further Devotion and therefore being invented by Man are of the same Nature with Images by which and in which God is worshipped but only such outward means must be used in God's Worship which he himself hath allowed no means may be used to stir up Devotion and to put Men in remembrance of good things but only those which God hath ordained and this directly brings us to the question between Protestant and Papists who would have Images Crosses c. to be the Books of ignorant People and to instruct them in their spiritual Duty though the Prophet calls them teachers of lies Habak 2.18 and another a Doctrine of Vanities Jer. 10.8 15. and the work of Errors This made Dr. Fulk against Saunders the Jesuit deny this Argument That Images are profitable because they teach us good things for nothing is profitable in Religion but that which is instituted by God for otherwise we might bring the Gallows into the Church which puts us in mind of God's Justice Our Saviour condemneth the Pharisees for three things First Their washing was preferred before the Commandment Secondly It was Hypocritical Thirdly 'T was a vain Worship and Ceremonies become Superstitious when they are occasion of Superstition when we think them necessary as if without them the Ordinance was imperfect as those Washings in which they placed a Holiness and Signification even as 't is done in our Ceremonies which are lookt upon as Helps to Devotion as Papists say of their Crucifixes Images Beads c. When all is said this matter of Ceremonies brings the question so far as to Images in Churches and therefore they make use against us of Bellarmin's Arguments against Calvin And Bishop Andrews doth not mince the matter In his answer to the 18 chap. of Card. Perâ—â—â— reply for he saith the Church hath power to retain as Ceremonies of Baptism Chrisme Salt Candles Exorcisms Ephata and the consecration of Candles all Popish Trash used in Baptism This is the same Author who in another place saith That we are heard not because of the prayer that is made but because of the place in which it is made A strange infatuation in some Men when once they are engaged in a way of Superstition If God had not raised some opposers of Ceremonies most Popish Ones might happen to have been brought in again but as Chamier saith We are to regard not only what is brought in but what may be brought in for with such Authority is challenged the yoke though not certain yet wavering and indeed as to Images in Bishop Laud's time under King Charles Crucifixes were brought into some Churches and Chappels amongst others into that of Litchfield which made so much noise on the account of the Lady Eleonor Davies persecuted upon that same occasion To palliate the use of these Popish Ceremonies amongst us it must not be said they are not abused in our Churches as they be amongst Papists who can tell us pretty Tales when we object they have amongst them the Idolatrous Things Customs and Places of the Heathens 'T is true say they but they abused them to Idolatry but we have converted them to a better use to a better Worship of the true God Instead of their Mars God of War we have our Christian Champions we disown their Neptune but have St. Nicholas a Christian Saint who protects those that go upon Waters Their Pantheon or Temple of all their Gods we dedicated to the Virgin and to all our Saints and much more of such stuff 'T is to be wished that Lesson was not appliable to us in matter of Ceremonies we may say Papists abuse them but not we this is no good reason whilest in the mean while we have them in our Churches Let us not deceive our selves our Alteration Institution Intention or what you please doth not alter the Nature of the thing an Idol of Baal is an Idol whether in Babylon Jerusalem or Samaria So a superstitious Ceremony is superstitious whether in Rome or in London The Nature of a Ceremony doth not consist in the Institution it doth not so much as entitle to Decency The Whiteness or Decency of the Communion-table-cloth doth not arise out of the Institution but out of the habitude of the thing which if it was foul and nasty would not be Decent let all the Institution do what it could that the Minister should not turn his Back but his Face to the Minister when he Preacheth is not this Comeliness in the natural aptness of the action without Institution Is there no Decency in this Or can the Institution of the contrary be Decent The same we may say of People hearing a Sermon sitting or standing and not all along upon their Faces We know there is Moral and Ceremonial Worship but Divine Ceremonies as such are parts of God's Worship for every species or kind as it is a species is part of his genus Divine Ceremonies as such are species of Religious Worship wherefore we must have a care not to mix humane Ceremonies with those that are Divine What is said about Institution may be spoken of Intention Papists say the Intention in the use of Ceremonies makes them lawful or unlawful then they must be sure every one that useth them hath a good Intention which 't is very difficult for them to know they being not searchers of the Heart Besides we know how foully the Doctrine of directing the Intention is abused by Papists 'T is to be wished this case did not come up to us and we were not too far engaged with them in this point for to say Papists retain Jewish and Pagan Ceremonies for Superstition but we not so is but a bare Assertion and 't is sure we retain Popish Ceremonies I do not see why they should not amongst us as well as amongst them tend to Superstition We own the Popish Religion doth chiefly consist in an outward shew and superstitious Ceremonies and if in these things we trade with them and receive five we might as well receive five hundred and 't is unknown what at last we may come to The door is open
for some others may follow by degrees or in a Croud Let us not be wiser than God or trust our strength too much we give Papists advantage upon us and matter of bragging with cause of hardning themselves that we borrowed our Ceremonies from them and this string they hung upon amongst us or else one way or other they had been gone but by the same reason some Ceremonies were taken away all ought to have been We return to the Intention and say 't is not the Opinion that Men have that makes a true or false Worship but the nature of the thing as already said for thus a Man may go to Mass conceiving a private Opinion to himself different from that which Massmongers have so he may fancy he doth not sin when he commits a gross one Calderinus when he was about going to Mass used to say eamus ad communem errorem let us go to the vulgar Error but going to Mass that is doing all those outward actions which Massmongers use to perform is Idolatry which to avoid the three young Men would not fall down and Worship the Image of Nebuchadnezar Dan. 3.18 If the Intention had made the thing lawful or unlawful they might have fallen down before the Image but intentionally worship'd God but they would not going to Mass with what intention you please is to approve of and commit Idolatry God hath made Body and Soul and will be Worshipped in both the proper Nature of Worship consists in honouring of God so that all outward Ceremonies whose proper use is the honouring of God will be external Worship 'T is sad to see how to defend these Ceremonies retained in our Church they are put upon shifts they are resolved to keep and defend them let what will become of it In order to it they call upon Sophistry for help and to avoid coming to the point they make a Logomachy a Dispute about words coining Definitions Divisions Distinctions as Doctrinal and Ritual Ceremonies essential accessary accidental simple double and treble significant sacred by application mutable ambulatory arbitrary reductively sacramental moral Ceremonies immediate Worship in respect of means by vertue of something else in respect of the manner and reductively in respect of the utmost and Divine Worship and many more of the same stamp so 't is like to me when I hear such words to be with Lombard Durandus Occam and other Schoolmen to hear of entity quiddity ut qui ut quo and such other barbarous terms under which they confounded the Nature of Things Thus they will talk of Altars commanded and Altars permitted under the Law Deut. 4 2â— And when out of Scripture we press them against Additions to be made unto the Word and Worship of God then they will tell us of corrupting Additions but not preserving are there forbidden let them shew the least step in Scripture to ground that shameful and pitiful distinction upon as despicable as those I heard hissed out in Philosophy Schools ex creditis concedo ex credendis nego ut soepius concedo ut semper nego which yet considering the matters they were about and only to try Man's Wits were much more tolerable than this which concerneth things of so high a Nature But such distinctions can never put off the blow of these words Ye shall not add unto the Word which I Command neither shall ye diminish ought from it Besides that these preserving additions are an inlet for Superstition and incongruous Acts of Parliament are for preservation of Religion but they would not hear their Laws are an Addition to the Word and Worship of God All this while our Ceremonies go upon a wrong Principle which 't is necessary to beat them off and this is it they think the Church hath power to institute all such things but a preliminary question is who that Church is They will say 't is the Convocation out of which most Ministers and all the Laity a Chancellor excepted are excluded so this will be a National Church Thus if we ask Papists what they mean by their Church they will say Pope and Council or else Pope and Cardinals Well that 's for Papists For us the Convocation decides and then the whole Church as well Ministers that have right to sit there and give in their Opinions and all the Laity must submit But this Convocation never concludes any thing for the common good of the Church they generally are servile to those whom they depend upon and Tyrannical over those that are subject to them and though sometimes some good motions be made amongst them 't is nothing but what we may say of the Council of Trent and of other mercenary publick Assemblies But doth not this Convocation except they will be above St. Paul think that what Authority the Church hath is for edification 2 Cor. 10.8 and not for destruction 't is a bound power not Magisterial but Ministerial If they may institute Ceremonies then Circumcision if thought fit may be imposed as well as Cross in Baptism It may be as of the King who was not to multiply Horses Wives Deut. 17.16 17 Silver and Gold to himself which Solomon made a shift to go thorough So the Church or Convocation might in time happen to multiply Ceremonies that which is not grounded upon the Word may at last be upon ill Custom if it was thought fit to bring in that which hath been kept out not heeding what Paul saith if I build again things which I destroyed I make my self a transgressor Gal. 2.18 To see how in these matters they tread the steps of Popery they assert how some such Worship is good which is not taught in Scripture that many teaching Ceremonies which God never instituted may by Men be brought in to Worship Images themselves not excepted that Additions to God's Word so they be not contrary to it may and ought to be made The sum of their Doctrine in this point is by Hooker set down in his Book of Ecclesiastical Policy He hath these words much the Church of God shall always need that which the Scripture teaches not Page 125. Which argueth the Word of God of insufficiency contrary to what our Saviour and Sr. Paul say which no doubt must be supplied with Traditions These are rare Principles They further say Scripture is as perfect in giving general Rules as it should be in setting down of particular Instances this is only to make good to themselves the adding and enlarging Power But general Rules make only the proposition tending to particulars and particulars are not so fully inferred as if they were expresly set down General Rules for Civil Policy may be given in the New Testament yet not so fully and clearly taught as in the Old or as Religious Worship is now in the New the Rule of clean and unclean Beasts was general and easily discernable without Institution of Men as now for Bread and Wine in the Communion
of his Homilies speaks of an absurd Practice of some to put a living Man under the Bed of the deceased and then the dead person was asked whether he would be baptized whereupon he that was under the Bed made answer for the dead and desired Baptism and him they immediately baptized in the place of the dead and this he justly calls there a piece of meer Mockery an histrionical Sacrament aludicrious Prophanation of Baptism for thus they did but act a Part in a Play And indeed I believe our Questions in Baptism to the Child and the God-father's Answers come very nigh to this for the Child though naturally alive yet wanting the Use of Reason and Senses is as good as morally dead Further to see the Errors of primitive times baptizing of the dead was anciently used by some Christians as it was usual to give the dead the other holy Sacrament as both appear to have been practised out of two ancient Councils in which is a Prohibition against that Administration of Baptism and of the Eucharist to the Bodies of the deceased the Grounds of these Practices are given by Zonara and Balsamon 3 Conc. Carthag Can. 6. and Conc. Trullo Can. 83. and if we must believe Buxtorf so well versed in the Tongue and Rabbinical Learning in his Synagoga the Jews had the same Error about Circumcision for if the Child died before the eight Day he was circumcised in the Burying-place After this we must agree with Scaliger Disput 17. De Baptismo who out of Lactantius and Austin speaks of the Dotages of the primitive Church which he calls Ineptiae patrum Ecclesiae Doctorum So we must say of the Sign of the Cross in Baptism which once was introduced into the Church though perhaps without an ill Design but hath thorough Superstition been continued therein and is abominably abused in the Romish Church Hence we may see how those things that are brought into God's Ordinances without a Warrant from his Word thorough a just Judgment become a Snare as Altars proved to Ephraim wherefore they ought to be left off and forsaken Hos 3.11 and the Lord never blesseth what he hath not appointed in his Worship Now I say this every Image or Likeness for a religious Use is forbidden in the second Commandment but the Sign of the Cross in Baptism is a Likeness for a Religious Use wherefore it is forbidden by the second Commandment whose Latitude no Man may restrain Of the Surplice NOW I proceed to another Point which I shall be the shorter upon because some things I already said concerning the Cross that may be appliable to the Surplice which say they signifieth Purity and Righteousness required in Ministers yet with some Country Ministers that Purity is very foul as well as their Surplice where we have seen some make use of them as of Hankirchifs and so dirty that they spoiled the Decency However Angels appeared in white Apparel and in the Book of Revelation Ministers are called Angels This indeed is a strange way of arguing for People who pretend to much Reason Thus because God calleth himself the antient of Days Dan. 7.9 he may be represented as an old Man with a grey Hair and a grey Beard as Papists do so may Ananias be represented with a Surplice because St. Paul calls him a whited Wall Acts 23.3 I also should have said the Holy Ghost may be represented under the Shape of a Dove because he appeared so in our Saviour's Baptism Luke 3.22 but if to prove the Surplice a Sacrament for that 's the long and the short of the business only it wanteth God's Institution though it hath Man's and that Sanctity wherewith Ministers ought to be endued we have no better Grounds in Scripture for if we had we would fetch it than Angels appearing in white Raiments we have nothing but Apparitions to ground it upon Out of this way of arguing we should also conclude that every Minister should have six Wings fastened to his Body with certain Faces like Faces of Lyons Isa 6. and Ezech. 1. Eagles Oxen c. because Angels have so appeared and nothing of black about them no black Caps no Tippets nor Hood because Angels appeared all in white It cannot be denied but that this white Garment is an Invention of Popery used in most if not all their religious Worship hardly any Foppery is acted amongst them but this is in nay it is ever used in the very Act of Idolatry for idolatrous Ends hence one may judge how defiled it must be but say they amongst Papists 'tis consecrated not amongst us as for that it may as well be consecrated as Altars Churches and Church-yards however we ought to hate even the Garment spotted by the Flesh Jud. 23. not to bring them in and make significant Ceremonies of them this might very well be spared and no hurt in the case as there is some to use it but say they 't is appropriated to an holy use in God's Service reading of his Word c. But the thing is never the more holy for that or else the Pulpits Tables Table-cloths Cups Railes Bells Seats would be so for they are appropriated to God's Service in their kind as the Surplice is As to Decency is not a black Gown as decent as a Surplice The Worship of God doth not confist in Garments or such Ceremonies that 's good for those who will make Religion as pompous as they can like the Romish Church and we imitate it upon Coronation-days but Soundness and Purity in Doctrine Simplicity in Worship and Holiness of Life is what we ought to stand upon so then the use of Surplice or Font in Baptism gives them not any Sanctity no more than have the Bottles wherein is the Wine to be used in the Lord's Supper or the Mud and Banks that contained the Water of Jordan where Baptism was administred Now amongst the several Evils this idle Ceremony causeth this is a great one that it stops the Course of the Gospel the Church is deprived of the Labours of many a good and learned Man the wearing of it is so necessary a Qualification that no Surplice no preaching and time hath been when Men neither ignorant nor scandalous who had a lawful Call to the Ministry being distressed between two either to be deprived of the Exercise of their Ministry a thing more grievous than the Loss of their Places or else to do things contrary to their Consciences were put to a sad and lamentable Dilemma either to be deprived of all or else to comply with the times and become Hypocrites We justly blame the Violence in France offered to the Consciences of People and yet here hath been done as ill though in another kind within these 30 Years till the time of our late Deliverance We made nothing of above a thousand poor Ministers at once upon the account of these Superstitious Rags and Ceremonies turned out
the Vail True Worshipers must avoid the Rites of Idolatry for all the Difference we can make in some Circumstances The Heathen out of an ancient received Custom did in their lower Chambers in the Forenoon hang out consecrated Boughs what could have been said of Christians if they had also hanged them out though unconsecrated out of an upper Room and in the Afternoon Would to God we had none of these heathenish Customs as Maypols Green Boughs at certain times of the Year at the Windows of our Houses and in the very Churches but two great Abuses are committed about this Posture of kneeling the one most cruel to deny the Sacrament to those who believe in Conscience they may not receive it in that Posture This if the Party be otherwise well qualified I look upon as unwarrantable at least the Posture ought to be left indifferent the other Abuse is that an Ordinance of God instituted to be a Seal of the Pardon of our Sins is made use of for a prophane End namely to qualifie a Man for civil Offices for except he receiveth the Sacrament kneeling he shall not be admitted to any publick Place Of Altars IN the Celebration of the Lord's Supper we ought wholly to cast off all Popish Ceremonies as those that cannot be continued without nourishing that Superstition whereunto they served of old and this brings us to another Point relating to the Lord's Supper namely to Altars hereupon the Church is indeed too superstitious as if in part we would bring in the old Ceremonial Law or the Popish Worship and after this rate we must call the Lord's Supper the Sacrament of the Altar as Papists call the Mass for we have Priests that 's the Name we give our Ministers we have Altars with Steps to come up to them railed about in their Situation we observe East and West Offerings are made towards it Men bow at it that Part wherein it stands must be holier than the rest of the Church for at the side of it the Ten Commandments and some other Part of the Service ought to be read thence by those who are the thorough-paced Ceremonists blessing is given to the People we adorn them with the diminutive of the Name of Jesus embroidered we have Candlesticks and unlighted Candles upon it we formerly had Crucifixes upon them and nothing is wanting but saying Mass for we have what we call Priests to make it perfect Popery Are we not ashamed to have all these Trinkets in our Churches so like to Popery if not so why should we not call it the Communion Table St. Paul calls it the Lord's Table 1 Cor. 10.21 and why should we borrow all these things and Names from the Synagogue of Anti-Christ Those who have been beyond Sea and in Popish Countries and have seen their Churches may have observed what I say And now I am speaking about Altars before I leave it I must take notice how to prove that Men may institute things belonging to Divine Worship they use an Argument fetcht very far off the Altar at Jordan built by the Children of Reuben Gad Josh 22. from 10. to 34. and half the Tribe of Manasseth But 't was not upon a religious as the other Tribes thought it had been which made them so stirring in the Business but upon a civil account and a Memorial as they declared no more holy than a Land-mark I cannot but once more think upon the Fancy to say that Candles upon the Altar do signifie the Light of the Gospel but our Lights are out In this Papists are more in the right than we their Candles are a burning but can a Candle unlighted signifie Light that there is hope of Light or that there hath been a Light it may but surely we are out to think a Candle out is the Sign of Light Lord heal our Blindness this is the Effect of instituting morally significant Ceremonies which are condemned as well as sacramental And seeing God will be worship'd by the Rule of his Law and therefore doth detest all feigned and intruded Services it is undoubtedly contrary to Faith that any thing be added to his Precepts by the Judgment of Man so we must not wonder to see such Intrusion attended with so bad Effects Of bowing to the Altar NOW we must come to our bowings whereof we have two one to the Altar which is to bow to Wood and Stone to the Work of Man's Hand which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only without but also against Scripture here is a Worship expressed by an outward Act bowing which is not denyed only they say they worship not the Altar but God before the Altar so Papists say they worship not the Image but God before the Image so the Jews might say they worshipped not the Golden Calf but God before the Golden Calf however in the second Commandment God hath as expresly as can be forbidden to bow down before any Image or Likeness of any thing This is performed in the Church the Place appointed for God's Worship But this having more at large been handled elsewhere In the just and sober Vindication of the Observation of the 30th of January c. I shall add these few Words how there are different Degrees of Idolatry and Superstition whereof the very least is carefully to be avoided They who worshipped the Sun and Moon cannot be excused from Idolatry however 't is not in such a Degree and so grosly as of those that worshipped Kine Calves Snakes Crocodiles c. and rational Men will own it is a worse Degree of Idolatry to worship Stock and Stones than living Creatures which are God's Works when others are Man's Now indeed Idolatry committed by Christians as we all know Papists do is more abominable than that of Heathens because they sin against greater Lights So amongst Christians they which know most and are better acquainted with God's Will revealed in his Word are more guilty than those who know less for they ought to act according to and be guided by their Light Was it a fair and Christian-like thing for some Jesuits in the Indies when they found that barbarous People unwilling to forbear worshipping their Idols amongst them to set up Crucifixes and then boast of that kind of Wit how they had brought them to adore the Crucifix A rate Mixture and a fine trimming of Worship indeed whereby they withal strengthened them in their Idolatry instead of removing their Idols they only increased their Number with bringing a new one amongst the old ones though under a specious Pretence of Christ crucified but in matter of Worship all Pretences are not worth a Straw Remove the Cause and the Occasion too do neither countenance nor encourage it in the least if Altars be unto us a Sin we must not make Altars to sin rather no Altars at all Hos 8.11 if they prove Snares False Ways are many whilest there is but a true one to please a God
it appears enough whom he means in such Disputes as this Reasons and not Injuries should be made use of 't is a bad Cause that uses such means to defend it self We own there are Fanaticks in the World but Men must not be so peremptory as magisterially to Father it upon those who are no such Men they are Fanaticks as before observed who are wholly guided by Fancy under the Notion of Inspirations and Lights of the Spirit different from and contrary to the revealed Will of God who feed upon meer Appearance and bare Imaginations but that Name doth not belong to those who make the Word of God the Rule of their Faith and of Divine Worship to retort we say it belongs to those which make their own Inventions the Rule thereof There is another thing which indeed upon this Occasion I cannot avoid taking notice of how that Author flies out against the Writer of the Book called Patronus bonae fidei in few places specially Pag. 231. where he uncharitably and unjustly charges him with Rage and Madness and not to be endured in a christian Common-wealth c. Who art thou that judgest another Man's Servant I confess I am concerned to see that worthy Person so unworthily abused if alive he now could have defended himself thereby I judge the Author knew him not if he did may be only by Relation and not so well as I. He had I confess some Notions and few Opinions which as I sometimes as a Friend said to him I did not approve of nor could joyn with him in but they did not concern the Fundamentals of Faith or Christian Religion only Church-government outward Worship and Ceremonies in some of which he was in the right as to all Essentials very sound as far as I could find by him but as to Practice Life and Conversation in my Opinion one of the best and uprightest Men that ever I knew As to what is said that his Friends that is a Brother assisted him I must say he did nothing for him but what before he had received from him yet that which he gave being mixed with chidings brought him no great comfort Once he shewed me a Letter from that same Brother wherein he would have sastned upon him those very Words of Peter to Simon Thou art in the Gall of Bitterness Act 8.23 and in the Bond of Iniquity because he went a different Way from his and I am sure those Supplies for a while were stopped but whether for altogether I cannot tell for certain Thus far I think my self bound to vindicate his Memory His Words that make that Author so angry with him as to say like a mad Man he leaves him to his Keeper namely that Egyptians pretended some Ground for their Idolatry as that an Ape a Cat or a Wolf c. had some Participation of the Divinity but those that bow down to a Wooden Table are themselves Stocks These Words I say deserve not so hard a censure as is passed upon their Author Here I intended to have made an end but before I do I am bound to take notice of a thing now come to my Mind too common abroad a Token of the Ignorance and uncharitableness of some of our Adversaries and a clear Demonstration of their Love for and Inclination to Popery take it as it followeth Amongst those that are so possest with a Spirit of Violence and Persecution are some so depraved in their Judgment or so perverse in their Hearts or both that to express their perfect Hatred against those who in some things dissent from them they openly say they had rather to be Catholicks for that 's the Name which out of respect they give Papists than Fanaticks Schismaticks as they are pleased to call them and Presbyterians That which is bred in the Bone never goes out of the Flesh there is in their Hearts still something of the Nature and Seed of that elder Sister the Roman Church that savoureth the Ambition Tyranny and the desire of the Exercise of an absolute Authority over the Souls and Consciences of Men which all that oppose must be Fanaticks but they should know that Names signifie things and ought not to be given but to those whom the things by the Names signified do belong unto otherwise they be misapplied we are guided neither by our own Fancy or that of others nor are Entheusiasts led by Dreams Visions and meer Appearances I leave every impartial Man that hath but common Sence and Reason to judge whether such a Name be proper for those who make the Word of God the only Judge of the controverted Questions and will be by their Reason directed no longer than it is ruled by holy Scripture the Judge of all Controversies in Matters of Religion The Malice of such doth not stop here against us in these present or late Times but they go back and would fasten upon the Persons tread under Feet the Ashes and unworthily defame the Memory of the first and eminent Instruments of Reformation with all the ill Names and Words their Malice can invent making them as St. Paul speaks of himself pass thorough evil Report as better Men than they do thorough good a thing as unhansome as can be let them speak to the living and some will be able to answer for themselves when none of the dead can These Men like those whom the Prophet speaks of encourage themselves in an evil Matter They commune of laying Snares Psal 64.5 Then they had rather to be Papists than Presbyterians or Independents they need not to say so or express themselves in those Terms but 't were more proper for them to say they are Papists more than Presbyterians and then they will speak the Truth and to the purpose for such amongst us are Papists under the Cloke of Protestants Spies and Emissaries of the Church of Rome to work Divisions Animosities and all possible Mischief to promote the Interest of that Antichrist who would not refuse to take a fat Abbey if they were restored among us though they were to say Mass for it much less Palliums Patriarchs Cardinals Caps and the rest of the proud Titles and Dignities of that Antichristian Hierarchy All these according to such Men's Principles could easily and with Pleasure be swallowed up by them and these are such grievous Wolves entered in amongst us which St. Paul speaks of and our blessed Lord had foretold before And to shew we can never enough abhor such Notions as these for a Protestant to say I had rather to be a Papist than a Presbyterian he who talks at such a rate must either be a Papist indeed or ought to be looked upon as such Every Papist must own and believe the Fundamental Points of their Religion which by them are thought necessary to Salvation and which daily they are brought to believe and to practise and none but Papists will believe those Fundamental Errors wherein all Protestant and Reformed Churches do differ
from them on the other side to say so argues a very great Ignorance of what Popery and Presbitery are as indeed it is common amongst some of our ordinary Sort of People which like Parrets in a Cage have learned the Name they often heard repeated unto them by some of the Church's passionate Teachers who will as confidently affirm Arminianism to be the Doctrine of the Church though never so false and who sometimes have been heard to complain how the first Reformers went too far they might have spared several things and not have been so rigid to have preserved Union with the Romish Church and not made an absolute renting from it doth not a sensible Man believe that Men of such Principles will be ready when it doth not cross their Worldly Interest to meet half way with the Church of Rome but such no Reason can cure the very Springs of their Souls are corrupt the Disease is past Recovery without the immediate working of God's Spirit wherefore I shall not trouble my self with speaking to those that are such But to the unlearned that are imposed upon and that sin out of Ignorance I shall give Reasons to inform and Satisfie their Judgments no Man may with himself to be of a Church except he already be a Member of it that believeth such Fundamental Errors which a Man dying in cannot be saved and doth practise Idolatry if Scripture saith Truth Here I desire not to be mistaken as if I should say how none that is a Papist can be saved for God's Mercy is great and free and when he pleases he can reveal his Truth to some that now lie in the Ignorance and Blindness of the Errors in Judgment and Practice of that Church so the good God may do to any Jew Mahometan or of any other wrong Perswasion whatsoever as in Practice to the repenting Thief but I say that a Papist dying in the Belief of those effential Errors God not imparting the Light of the Truth unto his Mind and the Love of it into his Heart such an one if God's Word speaks Truth shall not be saved Why so Because the Church of Rome hath instituted several Ways of Salvation when Scripture speaketh but of one surely all but that must be wrong and false so Christian Religion owns but one only Saviour namely the Lord Jesus Christ Acts. 4.12 Neither is there Savation in any other For there is none other Name under Heaven given amongst Men whereby we must be saved and as there is a Saviour and but one Saviour so there is a Mediator and but one Mediator there is one God and one Mediator mark as there is but one God so there is but one Mediator for in the Original the Word to express one God is the same to signifie one Mediator the Man Jesus Christ Now any one though but little versed with the Doctrines of the Popish Religion knows that they have other Mediators to trust to to intercede for them whom they worship and pray to as all their Saints specially the blessed Virgin and these in a high Degree as her Litany doth fully evidence they attribute her a Power of commanding her Son the Lord Jesus Now as to their other Ways of Salvation they are many and by Vertue whereof they pretend to be justified before God as are good Works Indulgencies of Popes See seasonable Discourse about Religion in 1689. Treasures of the Church Merits of Saints for the Favour of one Saint or other whose Protection they put themselves under they do much trust to and depend upon 'T is true they do not exclude the Merits of Christ but they come in only in part and as Sharers to what purpose this Heb. 7.25 Seeing Christ is able to save them to the utter most that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them he alone hath satisfied God's Justice and pacified his Wrath I have trodden the Winepress alone Isa 63.3 and of the People there was none with me saith he by the Mouth of his prophet neither Archangel or Angel or any Creature in Heaven or in Earth being joyned with him in that Work and can we think that after he alone hath endured the Torments of making Atonement for our Sins he would leave with the Creatures the Honour to have it applied throrough their Intercession Heb. 12.2 Now he is the Author and Finisher of our Faith take notice of both Author and Finisher of our Salvation and of all things belonging thereunto which is more clearly explained in that other Place he became the Author of eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him and he is also called the Captain of our Salvation Chap 2.10 Again I say they which for Salvation depend upon any other Sacrifice than that which Christ made of himself upon the Cross may not upon any good Grounds hope for Salvation because no Promise for it in the Word Scripture makes mention of none other but of that only We shall be content with quoting some few Places all out of one Book of Scripture where the Point of the Lord Christ's Priesthood is of a set purpose and fully treated of and therein the pretended and abominable Sacrifice of the Mass is condemned which Point alone if there was none other is a sufficient Cause for true Christians to break off Communion with that Church Heb. 9.25 26 28. 't is in the Epistle to the Hebrews Nor yet that he should offer himself often speaking of the Lord Jesus for then must he often have suffered since the Foundation of the World Hence we see how Christ was not often to offer himself The Reason is because he was not often to suffer wherefore they that would have him often offered would have him also often to suffer for whether he offereth himself or be offered by a Priest still a Sufferer he must be Now to shew how often this was to be 't is expressed and fixed v. 28. so Christ was once offered to bear the Sins of many once and no more and that 's passed too Christ was once offered and it must be of a high Concernment for us to know it ought to have been but once for Chap. 10. 't is repeated twice in v. 10. We are sanctified thorough the Offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all and v. 12. But this Man Jesus after he had offered one Sacrifice for Sins for ever but one Sacrifice and that for ever that is never to be reiterated any more and v. 14. the Reason is given why there ought to be no more because there is no Necessity for it for by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified But why should I trouble my self any longer to insist upon these essential and abominable Tenets and Practices of the Church of Rome which is full of Errors in Doctrine and of Idolatry and Superstition in Worship I hope no true Son of the Church can have the Face to deny the Church of Rome to be guilty of Idolatry for they yield a religious Worship to the Creature as to the Pope whom after his Election Cardinals do place upon the Altar and there adore him for that 's the Word to signifie the Homage which at that time they give him then to the Virgin to Saints to Images and to their Wafer-God whereof they have Millions amongst them Now I say no more only neither Presbyterians nor Independents believe or do so that is that there is any other Mediator than the Lord Jesus that there are other Ways of Salvation than by the only Sacrifice he once made of himself upon the Cross neither do they practise any Idolatry as the Church of Rome doth and we know for certain that no Idolaters shall inherit the Kingdom of God I hope these few things of many more I might have said will satisfie any impartial Reader not blinded with Prejudice or with a violent Passion As for those that had rather to be Papists than Presbyterians let them now with their Mass in their Mouth their other Saviour and Saints upon their Backs with their Superstition and Idolatry about their Girdle go home with Shame and hide themselves or rather amongst the Church of Rome where they would be in their proper Place and not amongst us for we can spare them well enough FINIS