'T is sadly a Lamentation and God in mercy grant it may not be so any more that the same signs are commanded by one Church as Symbolically significant and in testimony of Odoration and by another Church declared to be insignificant Mat. 2.24 and without any adorable respect yet in both Churches those Rites are Constituted Conditions of Communion though never made so by Christ But Servants that dare to turn their Ministry into Dominion Acts 17.31 and beat and kill their fellow servants must expect their doom designed them by the Lord when he comes to Judge the World in Righteousness The Authority of the Church is pretended for this That Name is highly venerable therefore to abuse it is the greater crime 'T is an Article of Faith to believe a Holy Catholick Church but heinous is the offence to subborn the Name of the Church to destroy the next Article The Communion of Saints without which the Notion of a Church is empty and unprofitable The Holy Catholick Church is the Body of Christ Col. 1.18 the Spouse of Christ Eph. 5.2 Gal. 4.26 't is the Heavenly Jerusalem which is free Heb. 12.22 which is the only Mother of us all Out of this Church there is no Salvation for whoever is a Member of Christs Body Eph. 5.23 to such and only to such Christ is a Saviour Of this Body every vissible Christian Church is an integral Part or Member Visible Church Act. 19. The Articles of Religion describe a visible Church to be a Congregation of faithful Men in which the pure Word of God is Preached and the Sacraments duely Ministred according to Christs Ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisit to the same Wich such a Church Christ hath promised to be alway even to the end of the World Rom. 3.2 the Authority with which our Lord invested the Christian Church being the same as before to the Jewish that unto them are committed the Oracles of God Mat. 28.20 that is according to his express Commission the teaching to observe all things whatsoever our Lord commanded This is the great Charter of the Churches Liberties and Power Here is no pretence for any Jurisdiction to make other conditions of Communion then of constitution The conditions constitutive of a Church are sufficient for Salvation the End and Perfection of every true Church therefore they are sufficient for the Title of every Member to admission and continuance in the Church This was all was required by Christ and his Apostles Acts 19.31 whereby the Churches were ed fied walking in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplied The first trouble to the Church within it self was from the atempt to subvert the Foundation of Christianity by introducing other conditions of Church Communion then Christ appointed Acts 15.24 but that was remedied by the direction of the Holy Ghost in the first Council at Jerusalem The contrary Practice to which in after Ages hath been the great occasion of the confusion and ruine of most of the Christian Churches and still remains like the Womans bloody Issue that wasted all her substance an incurable disease So that it may be truely affirmed the impiety of the Nicolaitans and Gnosticks who reckoned and practised the grossest Immoralities as things indifferent proved less mischeivous to the Christian World then the rigorous exacting and imposing in different things as necessary Upon which account on one side sprang Separations and Schisms and on the other most bloody and inhumane Persecutions for it is convenient that commands not Authorised by right Reason should be enforced with rage and cruelty The conditions therefore and Articles of Peace as they are called in the Church ought not to be any other then such as as are necessary to Salvation Because the Belief and Practice of every Church most be as Homogeneal as are in all Beings Life and Operation According to this rule of Divine Truth the Church of England reformed it self from Popery and upon all occasions justifies the Reformation Because the Union of the Catholick Church depends upon the making the Foundaations of its Being and the grounds of its Communion adaequate So that only these things which ought to be owned by all Christian Societies as necessary to Salvation on which the Being of the Catholick Church depends ought to be the necessary conditions of Church Communion Consequently the proper cause of Schism lies in transgressing those Bounds which observed might through Divine goodness conciliat the universal Peace of Christendome That according to the same Evidence by which the Reformed Churches condemn the Romanists for imposing the Belief of things as necessary to Salvation which are not necessary to the Being of the Catholick Church There ought not be imposed conditions of Uniformity upon any Member of the Church which were not antecedently necessary for the Being and Unity of the Church the later Imposition being eventually Equivalent with the former because they exclude from the means of Salvation 'T is Murther to mix Poyson with the Diet of the Family and almost as cruel to constrain the Table to any Meat or Sauce against which there is Antipathy Must he starve that cannot Eat Champignons with his Capon Poyson and Famine determine alike How uncharitable then are they who abhor the Roman Poyson yet debar those of the same Houshold of Faith from the Bread of Life by the mixture of some unnecessary Rites their weakness suppose cannot digest They that like Champignons may Eat as they please but 't is inhospitable and barbarous to force them upon those that conceit them Toad-stools It is the Peace and Entertainment of every Civil Table to allow the indisputable Liberty of Tasts and Appetites and to require Uniformity in Eating and Drinking would be most slavish Imposition to disorder and confound Mankind How much worse may any presume to disturb the Table of the Lord the Freedom of which as well as the bounty is the Purchase of his own Blood Nor was there any such custome in the Church of God 1 Cor. 11.16 The Primitive Church continued stedfast in the Apostolical Doctrine and Practice according to which standing fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free only necessary things were commanded things indifferent in their Nature being as they ought left indifferent in use and Practice For it is only the Divine Prerogative and not in the power of any Creature to change the Nature of things to be practised in the Worship of God so as to require what is in it self indifferent to be used necessarily as condition of Church Communion The Divine Method to restore and preserve the Churches Peace is to command things necessary and to leave things indifferent to the Arbitrary description of every Christian to perform or not perform as shall seem conducible to present edification Thus Timothy was voluntarily Circumcised by St. Paul Acts 16.3
Church hath no power over Internal Actions Jesuites Morals Page 387. the evident Consequence of which Position overthrows the Foundations of Religion and Christian Piety but other Doctrine cannot be expected where Religion is only an Artificial Worship and the Church only a Politick Guild or Corporation As there is but one God from whom and to whom is derived and directed all true Worship though as St. Paul saith 1 Cor. 8.5.6 There be many called gods whether in Heaven or in Earth 2 Cor. 4.4 and there is the God of this World Gal. 4.26 so there is but one Church the Mother of us all â— Tim. 3.16 the Heavenly Jerusalem Which is the Piller and Ground of truth Joh. 17.17 the Word of God which only Sanctifies Religious Commands to Oblige Conscience Yet there be many Churches some Heavenly some Earthly For beside the Idolatrous Pollutions of some Churches which render them Synagogues of Satan There is also in some Churches a mixture of Civil Policy by which the Word Church becomes a Law Term and signifies a Body Politick endowed with certain Honours Priviledges and Revenues by the Munificence of Kings Such is the Gallican Church and such is Ecclesia Anglicana according to the Purport of several Statutes 26 H. 8. c. 1. in which respect it is a part of the Estates of the Realm 24 H. 8. c. 12. Lord Ch. Justice But all the Priviledges and Dignities given by the Crown to the Church Cook 5. report as it is a Political State in the Realm is in order to and for the sake of those Administrations necessary to its Being as a Member of the Catholick Church Article â—9 that is a Congregation of Believers in which the Word of God is purely Preached and the Sacraments in things necessarily required according to the Institution of Christ rightly Administred It must be therefore altogether Irrational and Unchristian to suborn an Authority in a Political Church to subvert the Essential Liberty of any Member of the Catholick Church If the Reverend Prelates of Christendom would govern their power according to this undeniable Rule of Christianity it would notably conduce even to their own security For if the Ceremonial Accidents in the Church were not necessarily imposed the dignified Accidents therein would be rendred more agreeable to all Christians and Mankind If Religion were cleared from Additional Superfluities which can no otherwise secure and adorn it then Clouds and Mists do the Sun the World might enjoy the desired felicity of our Lords Kingdom the Empire of Light and Love Prisons Fagots Gibbets would be no longer the miserable Propagators of Faith the Benign Influence of Princes would not be Intercepted from their Subjects the Obedience of Subjects would be Conscientious Religion no longer supposed an Awful trick would be embraced and obeyed in the absolute perfection and simplicity of Divine truth and Goodness For therein only may we find a certain Foundation for lasting Union among Christians Force and Violence may under pretence of extirpating Heresie or exacting Uniform Decency and Order determine in a Common Calamity and Destruction by such Course Princes may be deprived of their People and People forced from their Dwellings into Graves or Goals or Wildernesses But that is Desolation not Peace 'T is not Union but Depopulation No Tacit. vâ—t Agrie Vbi solitudinem faciunt Pacem Apellant the way to find and stablish Peace is only in the way of Gospel Truth which gives Glory to God in the Highest Peace on Earth Good Will toward Men and among Men From which only can be hoped a certain Foundation of lasting Union among our selves For suppose a present Submisson and Compliance unto the Humane Rites and Ceremonies enjoyned as Conditions of Church Communion yet there can be no Certainty such Union shall be lasting because the Terms are Arbitrarily alterable and may with one breath vanish and disappear to make make room possible for shaddows of another Mode but no less troublesome Hath not this been within fresh Memorie misery and almost our ruine But if we consider what is our Defence against the Common Enemie we may find what may be our Cement among our selves Dr. Stillingfleet's Rat. Acct. Page 53. Learned Dr. Stillingfleet in his Rational Account of the Grounds of the Protesant Religion hath excellently demonstrated That the Union of the Catholick Church depends upon the Agreement of it in making the Foundation of its Being to be the Grounds of its Communion For the Unity being intended to preserve the Being there can be no reason given why the Bonds of Union should extend beyond the Foundation of its Being which is the Owning things necessary to the Salvation of All. From whence it necessarily follows that whatsoever Church imposeth the belief of other things as necessary to Salvation which were not so Antecedently necessary to the Being of the Catholick Church doth as much as in it lies break the Unity of it And those Churches who do desire to preserve its Unity are bound thereby not to have Communion with it so long as it doth so These things premised saith he we shall thereby find what the necessary Conditions of Ecclesiastical Communion are and consequently where the proper cause of Schism Lies in transgressing those Bounds and what Foundations may be laid for the Peace of the Christian World Upon these Grounds was the Church of England Reformed from the Idolatrous Superstition of Popery defends it self against their assaults and thereby can only be preserved For the Church which is the House of the Living God can receive no Edification but what is Homogeneal with the Foundation Eph. 2.20 the Doctrine of the Apostles 1 Cor. 3.10 11. Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner Stone The Sum of all is briefly comprised in the Words of a late Learned and Pious Divine in the Church of England Mr. George Lawson's Coment upon the Hebr. c. 9. N. 5. Printed 1662. viz. He that will not serve a God is a profane Atheist He that serves any but the true God is an Idolater he that serves the true God after his own Fansies and the Inventions of Man is a Superstitious Fool. He that Inventeth Rites and Ceremonies and Modes of serving God and imposeth them on others is a presumptuous Wretch for as God alone doth know what kind of Worship and Service is fittest to be performed unto Him so He only hath Power to Impose it These two Books are lately Printed for Nevil Simmons at the Three Cocks at the West end of S. Paul's and Thomas Simmons at the Princes Arms in Ludgate-street 1681. CHurch-History of the Government of Bishops and their Councils Abbreviated Including the chief part of the Government of Christian Princes and Popes and a true Account of the most troubling Controversies and Heresies till the Reformation Written for the Use especially of them I. Who are ignorant or misinformed of the state of the Antient Churches II. Who can not read many and great Volumes III. Who think that the Universal Church must have one visible Soveraign Personal or Collective Pope or General Councils IV. Who would know whether Patriarchs Diocesans and their Councils have been or must be the cure of Heresies and Schisms V. Who would know the truth about the great Heresies which have divided the Christian World especially the Donatists Novatians Arrians Macedonians Nestorians Eutychians Monethelites c. By Richard Baxter a hater of false History in 4o. A Treatise of Episcopacy confuting by Scripture Reason and the Churches Testimony that sort of Diocesan Churches Prelacy and Government which casteth out the Primitive Church-Species Episcopacy Ministry and Discipline and confoundeth the Christian World by Corruption Usurpation Schism and Persecution Meditated in the Year 1640. when the Et coetera Oath was imposed Written 1671. and cast by Published 1681 by the importunity of our Superiours who demand the Reasons of our Nonconformity By Richard Baxter in 4o. FINIS
heard For Faith without which it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God which we cannot hear but by Preaching the great and standing Ordinance of the Church in all Ages and Dispensations In Paradise God Preached to Adam how he would be Obeyed particularly in keeping the Sabbath in not eating the Tree of Knowledge Jude 14. 2 Pet. 2.5 Enoch and Noah were Preachers to the Old World before the Flood And every Age since hath enjoyed wherever was a Church Isa 30.20 the blessed Promise that though God gave the bread of Adversity and the Water of Affliction yet their Eyes and Ears were not deprived of Teachers Deut. 8.3 For both the Law and the Gospel instruct this Fundamental Lesson Mat. 4.4 That by the word of God Man lives more necessarily then by Bread Obedience thereto giving the Warrant and Value to all Religious performances without it all Devotions though never so exactly observed Amos 5.25 being by God Contemned and Rejected Acts 7.2 As the Holy Ghost by Stephen testifies against the Jews Consequently in all Ages and Places as Preaching hath been either slighted or esteemed so hath Religion it self declined or flourished How famous were the Churches of Greece Asia and Afric when Chrisostome Austine and other such excellent Bishops were their Preachers But when due Preaching was neglected Ritual Idolatrous Superstition by degrees fretted and cankerd out the Truth and Power of Christian Religion at last after long Contempt of Divine long-suffering which should have led to Repentance sadly exposed those Churches to Ruine and desolation by the Miscreant Superstition of Mahometanism The Latine Churches have been as miserably shipwracked by the Idolatrous Superstition and Tyrany of the See of Rome For not content with the absolute Simplicity and Spirituality of Christian Religion Pompus Liturgies of Devotion were invented Upon which Foundation by degrees was reard the whole Tower of Antichristian Babel The Sacrifice of the Mass and all other Popish Idolatries to Saints and Angels sprang from this Original to wit The enjoyning and requiring a Superstitious Formulary of Words composed by Men as a necessary Liturgy of Divine Service This Usurpation upon the Divine Prerogative whose alone it is to give Laws of Worship first confers upon a set of imposed Words greater Interest and Efficasie of Devotion as more the Prayers of the Church then any other Supplications though composed of express Scripture Phrases uttered by the same Minister and offered up by the same Congregation at the same time This boldness once assumed Additions were facile and then without fear of the Lord of the Church or regard to the Peace of the Church under the plausible Name of Ecclesiastick Uniformity this Mechanick or Artificial Religion is enjoyned as the necessary Sum of Church Devotion Hence issued those Iliads of Mischief for so many Ages have Corrupted and Destroyed the Church And wherever such Opinion obtains there is a Gap opend for the Roman Idolatry and Tyranny to be re-established Jure post Liminij It is but suitable to irreligious profane Mouths to scoff at Praying by the Spirit alas poor Creatures they seldom name their Maker but to Blaspheme Him But any that call themselves the Tribe of Levi the Clergy of God they are Successors to Hophni and Phinehas who knew not God and have no part nor lot in Him if they reproach and persecute those that pray as did the Glorious Company of the Apostles the Noble Army of Martyrs the Holy Church through out all the World in Primirive Christianity Tertul. p. 6. sine monitore quia de pectore that is without Bead Book or Formulary from the Heart by the Spirit who helps our infirmities Rom 8.26 for we know not what we should pray for as we ought God alone as Tertullian saith can teach how he will be prayed unto and for that end gives us his Holy Spirit Tertul. Lib de Orat. c. 9. The Divine Form commonly called the Lords Prayer is Doctrinal Deus solus docere potuit ut se vellet Orari and the most excellent Summary of Prayer but not always necessary to be used Tertull. ibid Dominus Prospector humanarum necessitatum seorsum post tradictam orandi disciplinam Petite Inquit Jus est superstruendi Extrinsecus petitiones every Christian hath right to ask in the Name of Christ for whatsoever is according to the will of God and for Publick Worship in the Church 'T is the Ministerial Office in Preaching to speak as the Oracles of God and also to be the Mouth of the People to God in all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit 1 Pet. 4.11 Eph. 6.18 4.8.12 by which Christ gives gifts to Men for the work of the Ministry In contradiction to this reasonable Service in Spirit and Truth which only is acceptable to God the Church of Rome hath turned Prayer into a meer Rote or Charm of unintelligible Words No wonder then that they have also introduced a Ritual of Ceremonial Religion for the most part a medley of Judaism and Hetheanism Religious Ceremonies are Acts of Divine Worship Religious Ceremonies expresly Instituted by God and to be continued or altered enforced or abolished only by the command of God In Holy Scripture the same word is for Ceremonies Precepts Mandates Statutes Judgments Ordinances of Worship which appeareth by comparing Psal 19.9 Psal 119.15 16 Numb 9 3. Heb. 9.1.10 Luke 1.6 and many other Scriptures The Ceremonial Law began imediately upon the Promise of Mercy to lost Man by God's Institution of Sacrifice and other Ceremonial Rites vouchsafed as Subsidiary Reliefs and Assistances to the weakness and frailty of Faith in the Promise of a Saviour and Redeemer The Sacrifice Offered by Abel could not have been by Faith Heb. 11.4 consequently not acceptable had there not been an express word of Command and Promise from God to be the Object of Faith The difference of Meats clean and unclean was observed before the Flood Gen. 7.2 After the Flood at sundry times and in divers manners it pleased the Wisdom of God to give to his Church Ordinances of Divine Worship which were Types and Figures and shaddows of what was Spiritual and Heavenly respecting Christ who was the Substance being Carnal Ordinances imposed until the time of Gospel Reformation as the Apostle to the Hebrews at large declares Heb. 9.19 Abraham received the Sign of Circumcsion a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith through which the Promise was made Rom. 4.11.13 that he should be the Heir of the World Moses received the Institution of the Passeover and under his Ministry was compleated the Law of all Ceremonial Rites Sacrifices Priesthoods Times and Places of Worship But David and Solomon put the last Hand to finish and fix the Administration of all Typical Divine Service by appointing the Courses for the Priests and Levites and Building
instead of worshiping God Consecrates as it were an Idol God is the only Object of Worship and the only Law-giver of the Rules and Rites Isaiah 33.22 of the Materials and Circumstances of Religion whatever Creatures invades this Prerogative of Heaven though under the most Devout and Humble pretence doth thereby expose the God-head and provokes the sensualist to deny or contemn that Sovereignty it sees usurped upon and dethroned Superstition Superstition is vain and ignorant Devotion directed either to a false Object or to a Right Object in a false manner When directed to a false Object it is a breach of the first and great Commandment Thou shalt have no other Gods before me In the Obedience to this Commandment is fixed the Foundation of all Religion Non potest igitur noc Religio a sapientia seperari nec sapientia a Religione cerni quiaidem Deus est qui intelligi debet quod est sapientiae Hono rari quod est Religionis Lactant Lib. 4. de vera Sap P. 356. For as there is no Wisdom without Religion so without Wisdom there cannot be Religion The property of Wisdom being to direct the way to Happiness and of Religion to give interest in and obligation unto what is perfectly true and good which is only to be found in the Divine Unity Whatever is varied and multiplied must necessarily forsake the perfection of Unity And can no more Answer the end of Devotion then can in the Firmament a Parelius or Mock-Sun shed forth the Influences of Light Warmth and Growth which continually beam from the real Sun An Idol is nothing in the World that is 1 Cor. 8.4 no such thing as the Superstitious suppose or Esteem It cannot do Good or Hurt or Reward or Punish He that comes to God must believe that he is Heb. 11.6 and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him All we can understand of a false God is to know in what Age and Countrey and by what Artifice the Idol was Consecrated And the highest Inquiry can only find out that Qui singit sacros auro vel marmore unltus non facit ille Deo qui rogat ille facit Mart. neither the Painter nor the Statuary nor yet the Consecration can effect this Apotheosis 't is only the deceived Heart makes what he Worships to be his God What a wretched Deity is that which hath no subsistance but in the deluded fansie of Superstition that can at will and pleasure profane or destroy the adored Shrine Knowledge begets Religion therefore in Holy Scripture the Profane and the Idolaters are said not to know God as is cheifly charged upon the Priests Hophni and Phinehas 1 Sam. 2.12 and King Manasses 2 Cron. 33.13 Ignorance is the Mother of Superstition it cannot be of true Devotion This is true likewise in the other branch of Superstition when Worship is directed to a right Object in a false manner which is a breach of the second Commandment and incurs the Wrath of God who is a Jealous God that will certainly visit the iniquity of Illegitimate uncommanded Worship The Church of England teaches that no Religion is in that place wheresoever any Image is Hom. against Peril of Idolatry Second Part. This is a Quotation out of Lactantius who fully gives the Reason Religio nulla est ubicunque simulacrum est Because God the Object of Worship must be greater then Man Non Religio in Simulacris sed mimus Religionis Lact. de Orig. c. Lib. 2. P. 229. and Religion the manner of Worship must be Divine that is from Heaven Therefore whatsoever Object or Medium of Worship is invented or contrived upon the Earth can only have a Mimick Semblance of Religion but is not Religion The antient Champions of Christianity most rationally convinced the Vanity of Heathenish superstition because their Idols which were the Mediums of Worship were continually subject to the disposition of those that Worshiped them which implies the grossest contradiction viz. That Man should make God after his Image This is that Sacriledge condemned by Minutius Faelix Min. Fael P. 46. Sacrilegij enim vel maximi instar est Humi quaererequod in sublimj debesinvenire that seeks in the dust for what can only be found come from above 'T is that like the Witch of Endor makes Gods ascend out of the Earth she and the unhappy King employed her were evident Types of what befalls all that forsake the lively Oracles of Divine Truth A grave Spectrum in Samuels Mantle may promote the Deceit but still it is not any thing Divine or Heavenly Such pretended gods are Devils indeed they cannot make any Holy or Happy Jon. 2.8 they can only terrifie and torment when they are Executioners of Divine vengeance upon those forsake Mercy by following lying Vanities Such also is the Religion that teaches any Medium or way of Worship not commanded by God Col. 2.23 it may have the shew of Wisdom but it comes not from above therefore Saint James saith it is Earthly Sensual James 3.15 Devilish It holds not the Head Christ Jesus to whom is given all power in Heaven and in Earth Christ is the only Saviour and the only Lawgiver of his Church He is the only Mediator both of Reconciliation and of Intercession He only hath Power to Authorise the Institutions of Worship and in him only is the promise of acceptance All Religion in every part of it being Consecrated to us in the Blood of Christ So that whatsoever Worship is not derived from our Lords Institution Rom. 14.23 hath neither Command nor Promise therefore is not of Faith and whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin There may be costly Oblations strict Regularities clamorous Devotions pompous Services in the Worship of God but if uncommanded they fall under that severe Animadversion Isaiah 1.12 Who hath required this at your Hand in vain do you Worship me Matth. 15.9 Such service is no better then the Athenian Devotions Act 17.22 which St. Paul calls too Superstitious an ignorant Worship of an unknown God We know 't is equally Treason to serve a Usurper and to Usurp the Regalities of the Lawful Prince by forging new Standards of Commerce or Charters of Grace or Laws of Allegiance It is so in Religion Crimen lasae Divinae Majestatis To apply any peculiar Act of Worship to a Creature or to Institute any Act of Worship to God It is a Principal of Natural Reason to Worship God only according to his own appointment Aug. de Consen Evan. Lib. 1. c. 18. quia si alio modo cum cohere vellent quam se Colendum ipse dixisset non utque illum Colerent sed quod ipsi finxissent Isa 65.7 For Worship not comanded by God is not Worship to God but to Humane Imagination Upon this account the Prophets denounce Judgments upon the
in order to a present Service but the same Apostle would not permit Titus to be compelled to be circumcised Gal. 2.3.4 because it would have brought the Liberty of the Church into Bondage After the Decease of the Apostles many Rites and Ceremonies not commanded by God crept into the Church but they were Arbitrarily practised Tertul. Lib. de Cor. Militis c. 2. Nam si idco dicetur Coronari Licere quia non prohibeat Scriptura aeque retorquebitur ideo Coronari non Licere quia Scriptura non jubeat not at all enjoyned as Tertullian manifests and particularly instances among many others the signing the Forehead with a Cross upon several occasions of Civil Conversation These and others by him mentioned saith That Learned Father were only Customary Practises not warranted by Scripture But for things imposed the Rule saith he is before I believe for whatsoever is not of saith is sin I must know what Scripture it is that commands me to obey For Sed quod non prohibetur ultro est permission Imo prohibetur quod non ultro est permissum saith he this or that is not Lawfull because the Scripture doeth not forbid it but that is unlawful which the Scripture doth not command The Discourse is directed against the Imposition of any humane Rite upon the Conscienceofany Christian And the reason isenforced by him C. 11. Ter. de Cor. mil. Credimus ne humanum sacramantum Divino superduci Licere in alium Dominum respondere post Christum because it is not Lawful to superinduce any Humane Sacrament or Ordinance upon a Divine What havock in the Church did the breach of this Rule make One instance concerning Easter may serve for all The Christian Churches all under the Dominion of one Imperial Crown varied among themselves concerning the Observation of Easter Socra Eccles Hist. Lib. 5. c. 21. Euseb Lib. 5. c. 3. Nevertheless communicated without discord That variety as saith Irenaeus commending the Unity of Faith Every Sect had sundry and divers Rites and Ceremonies yet therefore conceived they no worse Opinion of others then of themselves To be short faith the History among the Customs and Observations of all Sects we shall not find two which follow and retain one and the same order of Service Notwithstanding the Customary and Arbitrary practice of so many various and different Rites the Peace of the Church remained intire untill the Arrogance of Victor Bishop of Rome Imposed upon the Churches concerning Easter and broke the Unity of Communion Then as the same History Notes the Commandments of God were despised and Men established Canons of their own They made no account of the Law determined by the Apostles which only prescribed the Observation of things necessary and rashly urged the Practice of Decrees contrary to the Will of God contending about Festivals as it were for Life and Death It is too well known what blood and ruine this Usurpation in the Church occasioned in Brittain and other parts of Christendom In succeeding Ages the Latine Churches differed much in the practice of several Rites and Ceremonies Council Lat. 4. yet without breach of Communion So that when the Fourth Lateran Council made a New Cannon of Catholick Faith viz. The Doctrine of Transubstantiation another Cannon immediately Decreed That provided their Unity of Faith were professed If in the same Diocess or City several Persons Observed divers Rites The Bishop was enjoyned that the Offices of Divine Service should be Administred to every one according to their own various Rites In the English Church before the Reformation the Rites and Usages were various since the Reformation until the late Act of Uniformity the only condition of Communion enjoyned by Law was Subscription and Assent 13 Eliz. R. c. 12. not to a Uniformity in Rites and Ceremonies but to all the Articles of Religion which only concern the Confession of the True Christian Faith and the Doctrine of the Sacraments This was sufficient for any Minister though ordained in other Form then prescribed by the Rubrick The Ceremonies also retained in the Rubrick Dr. Stillingst Irenic P. 122. In composing our Liturgie those Holy Men who did seek by any means to draw in others at such a distance from their Principles as the Papists did never intend by what they did for that End to exclude any truly tender Consciences from their Communion seem not to be necessarily Commanded but rather Temporarily reserved and recommended for the Cross is not enjoyed in private Baptism the Reverence at the Name of Jesus is not determined how or when to be performed These and the like are declared in the Rubrick to be indifferent in their Nature and were so accounted in the first Practice after the Reformation during which time the Church of England flourished in great Peace The disturbance and breach of which being occasioned by the strict Imposition of Rites and Ceremonies in themselves indifferent the encrease of those severities still widening the breaches and heightning the disturbances How easie might the cure be accomplished if the Practice or Omission of all the Rites and Ceremonies in the Rubrick not commanded by the Word of God were left to that indifferent Freedom prescribed in the Seventh Cannon made 1640. Can. 7. 1640. concerning the Situation of the Communion Table and the approaches there unto and the doing Reverence and Obeysance coming in and going out of Churches c. viz. That the Rule of Charity prescribed by the Apostle be Observed which is that they which use this Rite despise not them who use it not and that they who use it not condemn not those that use it The Doctrine of the Church is owned and believed Art of Relig. 8.21 because it is taken out of Holy Scriptures for what is not so hath neither strength nor Authority though Constituted by any General Council whatsoever Accordingly in Divine Worship Human understanding ought not to Contrive or Impose but intirely Observe the absolute and simple perfection of the Gospel The departure from which Religionem Christianam absolutam simplice Arinesti superstitione confundens Am. Mar. as was long since Observed even by Amianus Marcellinus proved the Confusion of Christian Religion by vain Superstition It is the Command of Christ Joh. 10.4.5.8 therefore no Crime in Christians not to obey nor know the voice of any but Christ in matters of Religion Est in Vniversis servientibus non Dominium sed Ministerium Opt at Milevi Lib. 5. to whose Scepter only it belongs For all in the Church by what Names or Titles soever dignified are yet but Servants now the Universal Property of Servants is Ministry not Dominion They cannot make Laws they can only obey and require Obedience to the Laws of Christ our King and Lord Isa 25.9 for whose Salvation the Church waits The Divine Will is the only Rule and Measure of things Therefore Chrisostom declares to
the Judaising Christians Crisost Ora. prima adv Judaeos that the most devout Severities if not commanded by God are no better then Debaucheries That only being pleasing and acceptable to God which is commanded by God And that which is most plausible and venerable according to Humane Opinion if not commanded by God is most vile and impious Lord Bishop of Hereford's Epist to a Friend concerning Popery Accordingly a Reverend Prelat Sums up all in this Conclusion I will in the worship of God do only that which his Will tells me is acceptable to his Divine goodness Therefore to say Though the Rites and Ceremonies be indifferent and insignificant yet when once commanded by Authority 't is hainous to disobey it is a real Conviction of Sacrilegious abuse of Authority to enforce Humane Constitutions Rival with the Divine Law in Matters of Religion which is to set Man's Post Ezok. 43.8 by God's Post against which Crime God denounces severe Judgment But from what Authority doth the Command proceed If from the the Church the Articles of our Religion teach that things ordained even by General Councels as necessary to Salvation Art 20.21 1572. have neither strength nor Authority unless it may be declared that they be taken out of Holy Scripture If it be replied these are not ordained as necessary to Salvation but to Uniformity The Answer is clear and certain because the Connexion between the means and the end is indissoluble therefore whatsoever is Ordained as necessary to Church-Communion the means of Salvation unless Salvation may be had out of the Church is Ordained as necessary to the End it self Salvation and the Command being not taken out of the Holy Scripture is no Law therefore there cannot be any Transgression But if urged as a Law Civil or Municipal it hath no more Obligation upon Conscience then the Statute forbiding to eat Flesh in Lent 5 Eliz. R. c. 5. which expresly provides whoever shall declare it to be the Service of God shall be punished as a spreader of False News that is as Guilty against the Law of Premunire The Civil Magistrate is Ordained of God and Invested with the high Prerogative to be Custos and vindex utriasque Tabule but not with any power to alter or abrogate any Command of God or any Ordinance of Divine Worship or to enjoy any other Condition of Church Communion then is expressed in the Gospel It is not in the power of any no not by the Universal consent of Mankind so to change the Nature and Signification of any Acts of Worship as either by applying to a Creature what is peculiar to God or by Instituting any Devotion to God not by him required Dr. Stillingfleet's def of discourse concerning Idolatry c. page 259. 260. It being as was before Observed a Principle of Natural Religion to Worship God only according to his own appointment for Worship not at all Commanded by God is not Worship but Fancy Aug. De Conson Evang. L. 1. cap. 18. and can have no Obligation upon Conscience which in performances of Religion is the grossest Contradiction We must be taught by God what is due Honour to God For as it is Crimen laesae Majestatis Hibar De Trini Lib. 5. p. 54. not only to perform Allegiance to another Person then the King but to Make or Constitute ex proprio Motu a Law for the Acts or Circumstances of Allegiance to be tendred to the King because thereby is directly Invaded the Supreme Athority So to apply Acts of Divine Worship to a Creature and to address to God in Worship by any Rite or Ceremony of Humane Invention both include Blasphemy because thereby is taken away from God the Peculiarity of his Dominion and Excellence whereby he is God alone For as the Sovereign Prerogative of making Laws of Civil Government is not Transferable to any Subject much less may any Creature usurp the incomunicable Attribute of Divine Auchority to make Laws of Religious Worship This happy Priviledge belongs to the Magistrate that what is already a Divine Law Dr. Stillingfleet's Irenic Page 44. he may Enact to be a Law of the Land and require the Observance of what was before in Conscience Obligatory and Animadvert upon the Offenders The Princes of the Hethen World might well be allowed to make and unmake their Religious Rites because Invented and Authorised only by themselves and thence many of them proceeded to receive even the Flattery of their own Apotheosis But every sober Mind judges all such Assentation to be as a great Offence to the Divine Majesty who will not allow the giving his Honour to another so a real Contumely and mock Honour to any Prince to Invest him with Divine Authority 'T is no less sinful now by a new Mode of Deification to place the Magistrate in the Throne of Christ who only hath Supreme Right to make the Laws by which Kings Reign It is therefore worthy the Consideration of all Christian Princes that the very making Laws for Religious matters not commanded by God shakes the greatest Prop of Thrones Conscience of Duty which in such a Case hath no Obligation Dan. 6.22 Therefore Daniel when cast inro the Lyons Den for breaking the irreversisible Law of Darius tells the King that God had delivered him from the Lyons forasmuch as he was Innocent before God and had committed no offence against the King which could not be true if the Decree of the King had been Lawful Jer. 27.6.7.8 God gave to Nebuchadnezzar absolute Dominion over all the World threatning Destruction to whatsoever Nation would not Obey him Notwithstanding it was Holy and Pious not to Obey him when his Command was otherwise then the Command of God For pure and undefiled Religion which Obliges to Obey the Magistrate in all matters of Civil Policy forbids Obedience in Matters of Religion not warranted by God's Word and Commands to suffer rather then sin This from the Apostles days until now hath been the Epidemical Motive to persecute the Disciples of Christ because they do contrary to the Decrees of Caesar Acts 17.7 Gregi Nazi Ora Prima con Julian Upon which account Nasiansen objects against Julian the Apostate the Contrivance of this Pestilent Mischief against the Christians that whereas it was the general Custom and not refused by Christians to perform a Civil Reverence to the Statues and Images of the Emperors upon which also were usually Engraven Representations of some Triumph or Magnificence of the Emperor Julian instead thereof with his own Image caused to be Engraven the Idols he worshiped Thereby either to ensnare the Christians into Idolatry if they Reverenced his Image or if they refused to expose them for doing contrary to the Imperial Decrees generally observed by Christians The like Device hath been long Practised to enforce Humane Rites and Ceremonies and stablish Hierarchich Policy in the Church by procuring from Princes Laws