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
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
nor be a Hinderance for Ministers to exercise the Gift of Prayer or to make them neglect it nor to justle out preaching neither must Men make the publick Worship of God consist only or chiefly in hearing Prayers read With these Cautions we approve well of a Liturgy wherefore let it be known we except not against Liturgies in general and as such but in particular against such as we think to have just Exceptions against either as to the matter or to the manner of using them As to those Liturgies fathered upon St. Peter St. James and Mark they are spurious and were obtruded upon the World by the Romanists Although I do not intend to insist upon those Places of the Common-prayer-book which we have just Cause to except against because others have done it before yet something must be said to it and we must come to some particlars I shall begin with the Rubrick concerning the Order how the rest of the holy Scripture besides the Psalter is appointed to be read in the first Paragraph is a Brand and a Slight put upon holy Canonical Scripture of the Old Testament for it is said It shall be read through once every Year except certain Books and Chapters which be least edifying and might be spared yet instead of these are read several of the Apocryphal Books as Ecclesiasticus the Wisdom 2d of Esdras Baruch Judith Tobith c. Whereby a visible Preference is given to those Humane Writings before the authentick Word of God for they are lookt upon as best edifying and least to be spared In the point this is worse than Papists who give the Apocryphas and their Traditions an equal Authority to Canonical Scripture which is the Word of God when the others are the Word of Man but this as I already observed giveth the Preference to some of the Apocrypha before some of the Canonical I hope this shall be no Question between us we all know the Reasons we have against Papists about the Authority of the Apocrypha First They were all written after the Time of Malachy the last of the Prophets Secondly None of the Apocrypha is written in Hebrew which is the Tongue used by the Prophets Thirdly Neither the Jews nor the primitive Apostolical Church ever received them as Canonical Fourthly they were never quoted in the New Testament by our Saviour or his Apostles tho there be Places quoted out of every Book of the Old Testament and our blessed Saviour mentioned the Old Testament under three Heads The Law of Moses the Prophets Luke 24.44 and the Psalms But the fifth and chief Reason because in every thing they do not agree with the Canonical Scripture nor with themselves as hath been shewed by some of our Divines as Whitaker Reynolds c. specially in Vsher's Body of Divinity and by Forreigners as Polanus Chamierus and so many more And this I press the more because the Authority of it in Scripture is one of the Fundamental Points of our Religion and one of the greatest Controversies between Papists and us In the last Paragraph of the same Rubrick 't is ordered thus as often as the first Chapter of St. Matthew is read either for Lesson or Gospel ye shall begin the same at Vers 18. and the third Chapter of St. Luke 's Gospel shall be read unto the middle of Verse the 23d Surely that which is ordered to be left out is Part of Scripture as that which is read the one as well as the other are written for our Instruction as well as Comfort That which is unread is of a high Concernment for though it consists only of proper Names yet contains a most important Matter every Degree of our blessed Saviour's Genealogy which God under the Old Testament took such Care to preserve clear that when the Messiah came to be born there should be no Doubt no Difficulty made of his being of the Seed of Abraham of the Family of David which St. Matthew proves on Joseph his supposed Father's side as St. Luke on Mary's the first divided into three Classes of 14 Generations every one of which makes undisputably a great Article of our Faith how Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary is the true Messiah promised to the World out of Abraham's Seed and then the mention amongst Christ's Ancestors made of Thamar of Rachab of Ruth of her that had been Vrias's Wife Bersheba whereby Christ owns for his Relations according to the Flesh some branded with notorious Faults others though Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and Strangers from the Covenants of Promise to shew how in his Spiritual Relations he would not disown the most notorious Sinners and never so much Gentiles This I say affords matter of Meditation and so is not to be unread Here followeth the Table of the proper Lessons to be read at the Head whereof we find the Word Mattens for Morning Prayer and to have matched things well there should have been the Word Vespers instead of Evening Song both Words in that Sence used in the Church of Rome from whom we borrow both Names and things as we shall have Occasion farther to speak of now these Words are derived from Latin and used in Italian Spanish French c. 'T is no wonder if having taken things out of their Latin Books we also retain some of their Names as Advent Epiphany Quinquagesima Sexagesima Septuagesima c. which are barbarous to every English Man unacquainted with the Latin Tongue or with the Customs of that Church so we do continue their Mass Names and Days as Christmas the Day when Mass is said for the Birth of Christ Candlemass the Day of the Mass of Candles for then Popish Churches are full of them Lammas Day the Day when here in Time of Popery they said Mass for the Preservation of Lambs Michaelmass the Day when Michael's Mass is said c. We say no Mass upon those Days but we have Collect Epistle and Gospel some of which Papists use upon those very Days Now if we look into the Kalender we shall there find the Names of many Saints which either were never in Nature or else are honoured upon Earth when may be their Souls are tormented in Hell Boniface Silvester Clement Dunstan George Martin Denis for there must be Champions to defend the rest specially the Ladies as Margaret Agnes Magdalene Katharine Agathe c. and to be merry Cicely the Patroness of Musitians with Nicolas Crispin Blasius Patrons of Seamen Shoemakers c. Hugh Valentine Edward Machal amongst other Inventions that of the Cross must be in too Remige and several other Popish Saints whose Names should not be in our Mouths much less in our Common-prayer-book we must not omit how there are five Holy Days for the blessed Virgin Purification Annunciation Visitation Nativity and Conception there should have been also her Assumption when she was as they pretend carried up to Heaven in Body and Soul then we could have