Selected quad for the lemma: tradition_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
tradition_n	holy_a	know_v	scripture_n	1,758	5	5.8907	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64622	A body of divinitie, or, The summe and substance of Christian religion catechistically propounded, and explained, by way of question and answer : methodically and familiarly handled / composed long since by James Vsher B. of Armagh, and at the earnest desires of divers godly Christians now printed and published ; whereunto is adjoyned a tract, intituled Immanvel, or, The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God heretofore writen [sic] and published by the same authour.; Body of divinity	Ussher, James, 1581-1656.; Downame, John, d. 1652.	1645 (1645)	Wing U151; ESTC R19025	516,207	504

more perfect directions in the worship of God and the way of life then is already expressed in the Canonicall Scriptures Mat. 23. 8. Joh. 5. 39. Mat. 15. 9. Finally these holy Scriptures are the rule the line the square and light whereby to examine and try all judgements and sayings of men and Angels Joh. 12. 48. Gal. 1. 9. All traditions revelations decrees of Councels opinions of Doctors c. are to bee imbraced so farre forth as they may bee proved out of the Divine Scriptures and not otherwise so that from them onely all Doctrine concerning our salvation must bee drawn and derived that onely is to bee taken for truth in matters appertaining to Christian Religion which is agreeable unto them and whatsoever disagreeth from them is to be refused How doe you prove that the Scripture is such a Rule Since God hath appointed the holy Scriptures which beare witnesse of Christ Joh. 5. 39. to bee writen for our learning Rom. 15. 4. hee will have no other Doctrine pertaining to eternall life to bee received but that which is consonant unto them and hath the ground thereof in them therefore unto them onely is the Church directed for the saving knowledge of God Esa. 8. 20. Luk. 16. 29. 31. Insomuch that all Prophesies Revelations and Miracles are to bee judged by their consent with the Law of God writen by Moses to which nothing is to bee added nor any thing to bee taken away from it Deut. 12. 13. 1 2. yea Christ himself appealeth to the triall of those things which Moses did write of him Joh. 5. 46. being none other in any respect but even the same whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets which were the interpreters and commentaries upon the Law writen by Moses did write of John 1. 45. and his Apostles preaching the Gospel among all Nations taught nothing beside that which Moses and the Prophets had spoken to bee fulfilled in Christ as S. Paul testifieth Act. 26. 22. saying as he taught all the rest of the Apostles did teach Where doe you finde that the Scriptures are able to instruct us perfectly to salvation The Apostle Paul in 2 Tim. 3. 15. doth expressely affirm it and reasons which may bee gathered out of the two Verses following doe plainly prove it What are those Reasons 1. God being author of these books they must needs be perfect as he himself is who being for his wisdome able and for his love to his Church willing to set down such a rule as may guide them to eternall life hath not failed herein 2. They are profitable to teach all true doctrine and to confute the false to correct all disorder private and publique and to inform men in the way of righteousnesse 3. The man of God that is the Preacher and Minister of the Word is thereby made compleat and perfect sufficiently furnished unto every good work or duty of the Ministery How doth this last reason hold Most strongly for the people being to learn of the Minister what to beleeve and what to doe and more being required of him that must be the eye and mouth of all the rest if he may be perfectly instructed by the Scriptures they are much more able to give every common man sufficient instruction Again seeing the Minister is bound to disclose the whole counsell of God to his people Acts 20. 27. he being thereunto fully furnished out of the treasury of the Word of God it followeth that by him out of the Scriptures they may also be abundantly taught to salvation What further proof have you of the sufficiency of the Scriptures The five Books of Moses which was the first holy Scripture delivered to the Church was sufficient for the instruction of the people of that time in all that God required at their hands as appeareth by that they were forbidden to adde any thing unto it or to take any thing from it but to doe that onely which was prescribed by the Law Deut. 12. 32. The Prince and the people are commanded to be directed thereby altogether and not to depart from it either to the right hand or to the left Deut. 17. How much more the Law and the Prophets which did more at large set forth the Doctrine delivered by Moses both in precepts and promises in practice and example was sufficient for the time that succeeded untill John the Baptist Mat. 11. 12. Luk. 16. 16. What more can you alledge for this purpose Psal. 19. 7. David saith the Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul and Psal. 119. 96. I have seen an end of all perfection but thy Commandement is exceeding large Luk. 16. 29. Abraham in the Parabolicall story testifieth that Moses and the Prophets were sufficient to keep men from damnation John 5. 39. Our Saviour Christ affirmeth of the Scriptures of the old Testament that they were witnesses of him in whom our salvation is perfect Acts 17. 11. The Bereans are commended for examining the Doctrine of the Apostles by the Scriptures of the old Testament Acts 26. 22. Paul taught nothing but that which Moses and the Prophets had written of Christ to be fulfilled 1 Joh. 1. ver 1 2 3 John saith what they have heard and seen that they delivered Gal. 1. 8 9. Paul wisheth that if an Angel from heaven came and taught any other Doctrine we should hold him accursed Apoc. 22. 18 19. there is a curse pronounced against him that addeth any thing or taketh away any thing from Scripture 1 Cor. 4. 6. Paul saith that no man must presume above that which is written John 20. 31. S. John saith that these things are written that we might beleeve that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that beleeving we might have life through his name where he speaketh not onely of his Gospel but being the surviver of the rest of the Apostles of all their writings Seeing then that faith by those things that are written and eternall salvation by faith may be attained it ought to be no controversie amongst Christians that the whole Scripture of the old and new Testament doth most richly and abundantly contain all that is necessary for a Christian man to beleeve and to doe for eternall salvation Obj. 1. Yet our adversaries quarrell against this most rich and plentifull treasure of the holy Scriptures alledging that we receive many things by tradition which are not in Scriptures and yet we beleeve them as Maries perpetuall Virginity and the baptisme of Infants We make not Maries perpetuall Virginity any matter of religion but a likely opinion so far as it can be maintained that it were an unseemly and unfitting thing for a sinfull man to use to the act of generation the vessell which was chosen and consecrated by the holy Ghost to so high an use as was the bringing forth of the Saviour of the world it hath warrant from the Apostles charge Phil. 4. 8. of doing whatsoever is honest whatsoever

is of good report whatsoever is praise-worthy c. As for baptisme of Infants it is sufficiently warranted by reasons of Scripture though not by example Obj. 2. They object that it is by Tradition and not by Scripture that we know such and such Books to be Scripture Though new beginners doe first learn it from the faithfull yet afterwards they know it upon grounds of Scripture as an ignorant man may be told of the Kings Coin but it is not the telling but the Kings stamp that maketh it currant and good Coin Obj. 3. It is objected that it was by Tradition and not by Scripture that Stephen knew Moses to be 40 years old when he left Pharaoh Acts 7. 23. That Luke knew a great part of the Genealogie of Christ Luk. 3. That Jude knew Satans striving for Moses body Jude v. 9. and the Prophesie of Enoch ver 5. 14. That Paul knew Jannes and Jambres 2 Tim. 3. 8. and the saying of Christ that it is more blessed to give then to receive Acts 20. 35. Such particular Histories or speeches might be received from hand to hand but no different Doctrine from that which was written Obj. 4. The Apostles testimony is objected 1 Cor. 15. 3. 2 Thess. 2. 15. Hold the traditions which you have been taught whether by word or our Epistle He meaneth the doctrine he delivered unto them which was nothing different from that which is contained in the Scriptures The Scriptures you say are a rule and a line but are they not as the Church of Rome imagineth like a rule of lead which may be bowed every way at mens pleasures They are as a rule of steel that is firm and changeth not Matth. 5. 18. Psal. 19. 9. for seeing they are sufficient to make us wise unto salvation as is before proved it followeth of necessity that there is a most certain rule of faith for instruction both of faith and works to be learned out of them by ordinary means of reading prayer study the gifts of tongues and other sciences to which God promiseth the assistance of his grace Joh. 5. 39. Jam. 1. 5. And this sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God written as the example of Christ our generall Captain sheweth Mat. 4. is delivered unto us by the holy Ghost both to defend our faith and to overcome all our spirituall enemies which are the Devil and his instruments false Prophets Hereticks Schismaticks and such like Eph. 6. 17. Therefore the holy Scriptures are not as a nose of wax or a leaden rule as some Papists have blasphemed that they may be so writhen every way by impudent Hereticks but that their folly and madnesse as the Apostle saith 2 Tim. 3. 9. may be made manifest to all men Are the Scriptures then plain and easie to be understood There are some hard things in the Scripture that have proper relation to the time in which the Scripture was written or uttered or which are prophesies of things to be fulfilled hereafter which if we never understand we shall be never the worse for the attaining of everlasting salvation there are other things in Scripture belonging to the saving knowledge of God all which are dark and difficult unto those whose eyes the God of this world hath blinded 2 Cor. 4. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 5. Joh. 8. 43. but unto such as are by grace enlightened and made willing to understand Psal. 119. 18. howsoever somethings remain obscure 2 Pet. 3. 16. to exercise their diligence yet the fundamentall Doctrine of faith and precepts of life are all plain and perspicuous for all Doctrine necessary to be known unto eternall salvation is set forth in the Scriptures most clearly and plainly even to the capacity and understanding of the simple and unlearned so far is it that the Scriptures should be dangerous to be read of the Lay folks as Papists hold How prove you this which you have said Deut. 30. 10. 11 c. Moses taketh heaven and earth to witnesse that in the Law which he had written he hath set forth life and death and that they can make no excuse of difficulty or obscurity This Commandement which I command thee this day is not hidden from thee neither is it far off c. which Paul also Rom. 10. 16. applieth to the Gospel Psalm 19. 8. the Prophet David testifieth that the Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimonies of the Lord are true giving wisdome to the simple and Psalme 119. 105. Thy Word is a Lampe or Candle unto my feet and a Light unto my pathes Prov. 1. 4. It giveth subtilty to the simple and to the young man knowledge and discertion and Prov. 8. 9. All the words of wisdome are plain to them that will understand Esa. 45. 19. The Lord saith I have not spoken in secret in a dark place of the earth I have not said in vain to the seed of Jacob Seek mee 2 Cor. 4. 3. Paul saith If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost c. 2 Pet. 1. 19. S. Peter commendeth Christians for taking heed to the word of the Prophets as unto a light that shineth in a dark place c. The Scripture is our Fathers Letter to us and his last will to shew us what inheritance he leaveth us but friends write Letters and Fathers their wils plain It were to accuse God of cruelty or desire of mans destruction for to say that he should make the means of their salvation hurtfull unto them Women and children have read the Scriptures 2 Tim. 3. 15. Saint Paul affirmeth that Timothy was nourished up in the Scriptures from his infancy namely by his Grandmother Lois and his Mother Eunice whence the same Apostle commendeth chap. 1. 5. If little children are capable of the Scriptures by the small understanding they have and lesse judgement there is none so grosse which hath the understanding of a man but may profit by it comming in the fear of God and invocation of his name Obj. 1. But here the Papists have many things to object against you to prove that the Scriptures are darke and hard to be understood and First that the matters contained in them are Divine high and beyond mans reason as the Trinity the Creation of nothing c. These matters indeed are above humane reason and therefore are we to bring faith to beleeve them not humane reason to comprehend them but they are delivered in Scripture in as plain tearms as such matter can be Obj. 2. Peter saith that something in Pauls Epistles be hard and wrested by men 2 Pet. 3. 16. First he saith not that all Pauls Epistles are hard but something in them which we grant Secondly they are the wicked and unsetled in knowledge that wrest them as the Gluttons and Drunkards abuse meat and drink Obj. 3. If Scriptures were not dark what need so many Commentaries upon them and why are they

the unity of the Godhead But doe you not beleeve the Godhead is to be divided whilst you beleeve that in one God are three persons No not divided into divers essences but distinguished unto divers persons for God cannot be divided into severall natures nor into severall parts and therefore must the persons which subsist in that one essence be onely distinct and not separate one from another as in the example of the Sun the beames and the heat What be those resemblances that are commonly brought to shadow out unto us the mystery of the Trinity First the Sun begetteth his own beams and from thence proceeds light and heat and yet is none of them before another otherwise then in consideration of order and relation that is to say that the beams are begotten of the body of the Sun and the light and heat proceed from both Secondly from one flame of fire proceed both light and heat and yet but one fire Thirdly in waters there is the well-head and the spring boyling out of it and the stream flowing from them both and all these are but one water and so there are there persons in one Godhead yet but one God Fourthly in man the understanding cometh from the soul and the will from both May it be collected by naturall reason that there is a Trinity of Persons in the Vnity of the God-head No for it is the highest mystery of Divinity and the knowledge thereof is most proper to Christians for the Turkes and Jewes doe confesse one God-head but no distinction of persons in the same How come we then by the knowledge of this mystery God hath revealed it in the holy Scriptures unto the faithfull What have we to learn of this That those are deceived who think this mystery is not sufficiently delivered in the Scripture but dependeth upon the tradition of the Church That sith this is a wonderfull mystery which the Angels doe adore we should not dare to speak any thing in it farther then we have warrant out of the word of God yea we must tye our selves almost to the very words of the Scripture lest in searching we exceed and goe too farre and so be overwhelmed with the glory How doth it appear in the holy Scripture that the three Persons are of that divine nature By the divine names that it giveth to them as Jehovah c. By ascribing divine attributes unto them as Eternity Almightinesse c. By attributing divine works unto them as creation sustentation and governing of all things By appointing divine worship to be given unto them What speciall proofes of the Trinity have you out of the old Testament First the Father is said by his word to have made the world the Holy Ghost working and maintaining them as it were sitting upon them as the hen doth on the egges she hatcheth Gen. 1. 2 3. Gen. 1. 26. The Trinity speaketh in the plurall number Let us make man in our Image after our likenesse Gen. 19. 24. Jehovah is said to rain upon Sodom from Jehovah out of heaven that is the Sonne from the Father or the Holy Ghost from both 2 Sam. 23. 2. The Spirit of Jehovah or the Lord spake by me and his Word by my tongue there is Jehovah the Father with his Word or Sonne and Spirit Prov. 30. 4. What is his name and what is his Sonnes name if thou canst tell Isa. 6. 3. The Angels in respect of the three Persons doe cry three times Holy Holy Holy Isa. 42. 1. Behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soule delighteth I have put my Spirit up on him Hag. 2. 5. The Father with the Word and his Spirit make a Covenant What are the proofes out of the new Testament As all other doctrines so this is there more cleare as Matth. 3. 16. 17. at the Baptisme of Christ the Father from heaven witnesseth of the Sonne the Holy Ghost appearing in the likenesse of a Dove John Baptist saw the Sonne in his assumed nature going out of the water there is one Person he saw the Holy Ghost descending like a Dove upon him there is another Person and he heard a voyce from heaven saying This is my beloved Son there is a third Person Matth. 17. 5. At the transfiguration the Father in like manner speaketh of his Son Matth. 28. 19. We are baptized into the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost John 14. 16. 26. 15. 26. 16. 13 14 15. The Father and Son promise to send the Holy Ghost Luke 1. 35. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall over-shadow thee therefore that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Acts 2. 33. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which you now see and heare 2 Cor. 13 14. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Gal. 4. 6. God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts Tit. 3. 4 5 6. God saved us by the washing of the new birth and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour What clear proof have you that these three are but one God and so that there is a Trinity in Vnity 1 Joh. 5. 7. It is expresly said there are three that bear Record in heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one What learn you of that the Apostle saith they are three Wee learne that the word Trinity although it bee not expresly set down in the word yet it hath certaine ground from thence What learn you of that that they are said to be three witnesses The singular fruit that is in the Trinity of persons in one unity of the Godhead whereby great assurance is brought unto us of all things that God speaketh in promise or threat seeing it is all confirmed by three witnesses against whom no exception lyeth What are they said here to witnesse That God hath given eternall life unto us and that this life is in that his Sonne 1 John 5. 11. How are these being three said to be but one They are one in substance beeing or essence but three persons distinct in subsistence Acts 20. 28. 1 Cor. 12. 4 5. Deut. 6. 4. Mark 12. 32. 1 Cor. 8. 4 5 6. Joh. 14. 16. 15. 26. 17. 1. If three persons among men be propounded whereof every one is a man can it be said that these three are but one man No but we must not measure Gods matters by the measure of reason much lesse this which of all others is a mystery of mysteries For the better understanding of this mystery declare unto me what a person is in generall and then what a person in the Trinity is

they did at the first from the Creation untill the time of Moses for the space of 2513. years First because then God immediately by his voice and Prophets sent from him taught the Church his truth which now are ceased Heb. 1. 1. Secondly traditions might then be of sufficient certainty by reason of the long life of Gods faithfull witnesses for Methusalem lived with Adam the first man 243. years and continued unto the Flood Shem lived at once with Methusalem 98. years and flourished above 500. yeares after the Flood Isaac lived 50. years with Shem and died about 10. years before the descent of Israel into Aegypt So that from Adams death unto that time three men might by tradition preserve the purity of Religion but after the comming of Israel out of Aegypt mans age was so shortened that in the dayes of Moses the first Penman of the Scriptures it was brought to 70. or 80. years as appeareth by the Psal. 90. 10. Thirdly God saw his true religion greatly forgotten in Aegypt Israel then falling unto Idolatry Ezekiel 20. 8. and having brought Israel then his people from thence did not onely restore but also encreased the same adding thereunto many more particulars concerning his service which were needfull for mens memories to be written Fourthly God having gathered his Church to a more solemn company then before it was his pleasure then to begin the writings of his will and therefore first with his own finger he wrote the ten Commandements in two Tables of stone and then commanded Moses to write the other words which he had heard from him in the Mount Exod. 34. 27 28. Fiftly thus God provided that the Churches of all ages and times might have a certain rule to know whether they embraced sound Doctrine or no and that none should be so bold as to coin any new Religion to serve him with but that which he had delivered in writing What is Scripture then The Word of God written by men inspired by the holy Ghost for the perfect building and salvation of the Church or holy Books written by the inspiration of God to make us wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3. 15 16. 2 Pet. 1. 21. 1 Pet. 20. 21. Joh. 20. 31. If that the Scriptures be written by men which are subject unto infirmities how can it be accounted the Word of God Because it proceeds not from the wit or mind of men but holy men set apart by God for the work of God spake and writ as they were moved by the holy Ghost therfore God alone is to be counted the Author therof who inspired the hearts of those holy men whom he chose to be his Secretaries who are to be held only the Instrumentall cause thereof When Jeremy brought the Word of God to the Jews they said it was not the Word of the Lord but he spake as Baruc the son of Neriah provoked him Jer. 43. 2. and so some perhaps in these days are so ungodly as to take the Jews part against Jeremy and all his fellowes How may it appeare therefore that this Book which you call the Book of God and the holy Scriptures is the Word of God indeed and not mens policy By the consonant testimony of men in all ages from them that first knew these Penmen of the holy Ghost with their writings untill our time and reasons taken out of the Word themselves agreeable to the quality of the writers both which kind of arguments the holy Scriptures have as much and far more then any other writings wherefore as it were extream impudency to deny the works of Homer of Plato Virgil Tully Livy Galen c. when as consent of al ages have reached delivered them unto us which also by the tongue phrase matter and all other circumstances agreeable are confirmed to be the works of the same Authors whose they are testified to be so it were more then brutish madnesse to doubt of the certain truth and authority of the holy Scriptures which no lesse but much more then any other writings for their Authors are testified and confirmed to be the sacred Word of the ever-living God not onely testified I say by the uniform witnesses of men in all ages but also confirmed by such reasons taken out of the writings themselves as doe sufficiently argue the Spirit of God to be the Author of them for we may learn out of the testimonies themselves as David did Psa. 119. 125. That God hath established them for ever Let me hear some of those reasons which prove that God is the Author of the holy Scriptures First the true godlinesse and holinesse wherewith the writers of the Scriptures shined as Lamps in their times and far surpassed all men of other religions which sheweth the work of Gods Spirit in them and how unlikely it is that such men should obtrude into the Church their own inventions in stead of Gods Word Secondly the simplicity integrity and sincerity of these Writers in matters that concern themselves those that belong unto them doing nothing by partiality 1 Tim. 5. 21. neither sparing their friends nor themselves so Moses for example in his writing spared not to report the reproach of his own Tribe Gen. 34. 30. 49. 5. 7. nor the incest of his parents of which he himself was conceived Exod. 6. 20. nor the Idolatry of his brother Aaron Exod. 32. nor the wicked murmuring of his sister Miriam Numb 12. nor his own declining of his vocation by God to deliver the Children of Israel out of Egypt Exo. 4. 13 14. nor his own murmuring against God in his impatiency Num. 11. 11 12 13 14. nor his want of faith after so many wonderfull confirmations Num. 20. 12. 27. 14. Deut. 32. 51. And though he were in highest authority and having a promise of the people to beleeve whatsoever he said Exod. 19. 8. 20. 19. 24. 3. he assigneth no place for his own sons to aspire either to the Kingdome or to the high Priesthood but leaveth them in the mean degree of common Levites all which things declare most manifestly that he was void of all earthly and carnall affections in his writings as was meet for the Penman and Scribe of God hereunto also may be added that he writeth of himself Numb 12. 3. that he was the meekest of all the men that were upon the face of the whole earth which no wise man would in such sort report of himself if he were left to his own discretion Thirdly the quality and condition of the Penmen of these holy writings some of whom were never trained up in the school of man and yet in their writings shew that depth of wisdome that the most learned Philosopers could not attain unto Some also were before professed enemies to the truth whereof afterwards they were Writers Amos was no Prophet but an Heard-man and a gatherer of wilde figges Amos 7. 14. Matthew a Publicane

powers of our soules thereby to fasten our mindes and so to hold them during the exercise that no idle or vaine thoughts withdraw us from the same 2. Zeale in the Action with such Affections as are answerable to the matter in hand as in Prayer we must have a sure confidence in God that we shall obtaine the things we aske agreeable to his will In thanksgiving we must have a sweet feeling of the benefits that God hath given us in the Word and Sacraments we must come with affection to them What is required of us after the Action That we feele the fruit of it that is some increase either of knowledge of true feare or comfort for the strengthning of us in the duties we performe So also every one must examine themselves herein and all those that belong unto them else they are like unto them that having eaten a good meale by warme water doe give it up again What be the outward things that doe accompany Gods Worship 1. Ecclesiasticall Ceremonies making for Order and Decency 1 Cor. 14. 40. which are left to the appointment of the Church being of that nature that they are varied by Times Places Persons and other Circumstances 2. All comely and reverend gestures of the body as kneeling lifting up the hands and eyes to Heaven silence in the service of God and such like For the gestures of religious Adorations being here forbidden to be given unto Images are therein commanded to be given unto the God of Heaven Is there any use of our bodily behaviour sith he is a Spirit and looketh to the Heart Yes verily For 1. The whole Man and consequently the Body it selfe oweth duty unto God 2. It is a Glasse wherein the affections of the Mind are beheld 3. The Mind is the better holden in the thing affected and the better holpen and furthered in the inward Worship when both Body and Mind are joyned together notwithstanding the Mind must alwayes proceed in Affection else it is shamefull hypocrisie What gestures are most convenient for the Body Divers according to the divers Exercises of Religion as at the reading of the Word standing at prayer kneeling and therein to witnesse our humility by casting downe our eyes our confidence by lifting them up or with the Publicane to knock our breasts except our infirmities or the like Le ts hinder us herein So much of the right use of Gods Ordinances Wherein standeth the abuse of them 1. In rash negligent and carelesse dealing in any particular point of the worship of God 2. In using any thing that God hath commanded for his worship otherwise then he himselfe hath appointed 1 Chron. 15. 13. For the brasen Serpent abused was worthily broken in pieces 2 Kings 18. 4. and the Israelites for carting the Arke were worthily punished 2 Sam. 6. 3 7 8. What speciall abuses of the Word are here condemned To hang pieces of Saint Johns Gospell about Mens necks or to use any other Gospell to heale the diseases as for any man to charge a Devill to goe out of one as the Apostles did VVhat may be lawfully done in this cause We must and may pray onely unto God that he would command the Devill to depart for he is the Master that authorised him to goe thither VVhat speciall abuses of the Sacraments are condemned The receiving of them unworthily making them to bee Sacrifices 1 Cor 11. 27. 29. as is done in Popery VVhat of the Ministerie The turning of that which is given to edifie in Christ to other ends then those for which it was ordained and when Ministers exercise Tyrannicall Lordship over their flock or their fellow servants as the Bishops of the Church of Rome use to doe Luke 22. 25. 1 Pet. 5. 2 3. Or when in the execution of their function they seek themselves and not the edification of Gods people What of the Discipline and Censures When they are used in another manner and for other causes then God hath ordained Esa. 66. 5. VVhat of Prayer To aske evill things or to pray for such things as God hath made no promise of or for such persons as he hath made no promise unto as when men pray for soules departed or for those that sinne to death 1 Ioh. 5. 14 15 16. To pray in a strange tongue which we doe not understand to pray on Beads and use much babling as also to ayme more in our requests at the relieving of our necessity then at the advancement of Gods glory VVhat of thanksgiving To thanke God for things unlawfully gotten or come unto us VVhat of Fasting To make it a matter of merrit or to use superstitious choyce of meats as is done in Popery VVhat of Vowes To undertake rash Vowes to break or else to delay and deferre the paying of our lawfull Vowes as also to performe Vowes that are unlawfull Psal. 66. 13. 76. 11. Eccles. 5. 1. 5. Gen. 35. 1. VVhat defects are condemned that concerne the inward things required in the performance of all these parts of Gods worship 1. Want of understanding when we doe good duties ignorantly or thinke that we can please God by meaning well when that which wee doe is evill 2. Want of Zeale and Affection in performing God service 3. Hypocrisie when men make a greater shew of the service of God outwardly then they have a desire to serve him inwardly 4. Hearing Reading Meditating Conferring singing of Psalmes and receiving the Sacraments without Preparation Attention Reverence Delight and Profit 5. Praying without Faith Feeling Reverence Fervency not waiting for answer VVhat defects concerne the outward worship 1. All unreverent and unbeseeming Gestures 2. All Ecclesiasticall Ceremonies and Rites of Religion which are pugnant to Gods Word or not warrantable by the generall grounds thereof such as are not for Order and Comelinesse and Edification So much of the parts of Gods Worship prescribed together with the right use and abuse thereof What say you of such formes of Worship as are not prescribed by God in his Word We are commanded to serve God not according to the Traditions of men but according to his Will revealed in the Scripture Col. 2. 18. Mat. 15. 9. What followeth hereupon That no Power must be admitted in the Church to prescribe other formes of Worship not appointed by God himselfe in his Word What is then to be observed herein We must observe the Apostles rule and practise 1 Cor. 11. 28. where he saith That which I have received I have delivered unto you For if he might adde nothing to Gods Ordinances much lesse may we What is here forbidden In generall all VVill-worship whereby we make any thing a part of Gods service which he hath not commanded For how great a shew soever it have yet in that it leaneth to mans wisdome it is unlawfull Col. 2. 23. In particular to ordaine any other VVord or Sacraments then those which God hath appointed to devise any