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doctrine_n	church_n	council_n	tradition_n	2,406	5	9.2525	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A69915	A plea for the Non-Conformists giving the true state of the dissenters case, and how far the Conformists separation from the Church of Rome, for their Popish superstitions and traditions introduced into the service of God, justifies the Non-Conformists separation from them for the same : in a letter to Dr. Benjamin Calamy, upon his sermon, called, Scrupulous conscience, inviting hereto : to which is added, A parallel scheme of the pagan, papal and Christian rites and ceremonies : with a narrative of the sufferings underwent for writing, printing and publishing hereof / by Thomas De Laune.	De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685.; Danson, Thomas, d. 1694.; De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685. Eikōn tou thēriou.; De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685. Narrative of the sufferings of Thomas Delaune.	1684 (1684)	Wing D893; Wing D891; Wing D892; ESTC R12757	93,215	122

our ONLY RULE of Faith As also of the Government of the Church of Christ by Lord Arch-Bishops Bishops Deans Arch-Deacons Parsons Vicars Curates Chancellors Officials c. Because not contained in our ONLY RULE of Faith In like manner do the Dissenters also Reject the Consecrating of Churches Chappels Cathedrals Priests Garments Altars Liturgies Singing Service Letanies Bowings Crossings Cringings Holy-dayes Fasts Feasts Vigils because not one word of any of them is contained in our only Rule of Faith So that the short Resolution of the Dissenters and the Doctor 's Faith in this great Point is this that they ought to believe nothing as an Article of Faith but what God hath revealed and that the Compleat Revelation of Gods Will to us is contained in the BIBLE Therefore Christ having in the Affirmative compleatly Revealed to us his mind and will in the Bible both as to the Doctrine and Discipline of his Church we need not go to Pope Council Tradition or any other for Additions to either nor trouble our selves to make Negative Articles of Faith and Practice which would be as Ridiculous as Endless And this we hope the Doctor and all his Party will take for good Pay and that you your self Sir amongst the rest will joyn Issue and acknowledge That this way of Arguing is very plain and convincing But this being so well performed by the Doctor what shall we say that so wise so learned and so great a man as Dr. Stillingfleet should forgot himself so far as to make head and run counter against his own Argument and to that degree as to pawn the whole Controversie upon that single point which he had so infallibly and indisputably resolved which indeed is very strange and wonderful but yet upon serious Thoughts we shall find it but a fulfilling of that Word of the Lord viz. I will do a marvellous Work amongst this People even a marvellous Work and a Wonder But what is that Why the Wisdom of their Wise men shall perish and the Vnderstanding of the Prudent men shall be hid But when shall that be viz. When they teach for Doctrines the Commands or the fear or Worship of God for the Precepts of men Our very case and whereof we have frequent and continual experience For with what Evidence and Demonstration of Truth will the Papists argue against and censure the Heathen for their Idolatries and yet at the same time be guilty of the same thing themselves and expose themselves to the Censure of the Heathen on the one side and the Protestants on the other How wisely how spiritually will Protestants dispute with handle and judge the Papists for leaving the Word of God for Fables for their Will-Worship False-Worship Idolatry c. and yet at the same time be guilty of Will Worship themselves exposing themselves to the Censure both of Papist and Non-Conformist Of which we might give you divers Instances both of the one and of the other and whereof take one or two This very Jesuite who disputes with the Doctor falls out in a most severe Censure of the Pagans for their most damnable Diabolical Idolatry in Worshipping their inferior Deities as Venus Mars Bacchus Vulcan and the like Rabble of Devils as he calls them who were their Damons Hero's or Intercessors to their superior Deity Jupiter not being aware which also the Doctor improves against him that they were guilty of the same Crime themselves in setting up their Inferior Deities the Virgin Mary St. Peter St Paul and a hundred more as Mediators and Intercessors to the Supream and to whom as the Doctor observes they pay divine Honour and Worship bowing and kneeling before them and their Images also which he proves against them to be no less Diabolical Idolatry The Jesuite being quick-sighted returns smartly upon the Doctor That whilst he judges their bowing and kneeling before their Images to be Idolatry how can he justifie their bowing and kneeling before the consecrated Elements bowing at the Altar East Name of Jesus Putting off their Hats c. which the Jesuite on the one hand and the Dissenters on the other hand improve against him And so whilst Dr. Pierce severely censures the Papists for varying from the primitive Pattern in their Superstitions and Abominations Because it was not so from the beginning Sergent the Jesuit returns his own Argument smartly upon him for doing the same thing in many particulars and which the Dissenter also doth for the same viz. for varying in so many things from the primitive Pattern whilst he judges others for the same To which we might add divers Instances both as to Papists and Protestants especially in those three Points Idolatry Imposition and Persecution So that as it hath been generally observ'd the Papists Arguments againsts the Heathen the Protestants Arguments against the Papists are most substantial Arguments against themselves when their practice gives their principle the Lye so rendring themselves altogether inexcusable as faith the Text Therefore thou art inexcusable O man whosoever thou art that judgest for wherein thou judgest another thou condemnest thy self for thou that judgest dost the same things But be sure that the Judgment of God is according to Truth against them which commit such things And thinkest thou this O man that judgest them which do such things and doest the same that thou shalt escape the Judgment of God c. Another Objection that is brought against the Dissenters is Because they separate from the Church of England for ●eer Nicities for little things which in their own Nature are indifferent To that purpose you are pleas'd to express your self viz. A scrupulous Conscience is conversant about things in their own nature Indifferent and it consists Either in strictly tying up our selves to some things which God hath no where commanded as the Pharisees made great Conscience of Washing before they did eat and abundance of other unnecessary Rights and Vsages they had of mens own inventing and devising which they as Religiously nay more Carefully observed than the indisputable Commands of God himself Or in a Conscientious abstaining from some things 〈…〉 not forbid nor any ways unlawful Touch not tas●● not 〈…〉 not doubting and fearing where no fear is thinking that 〈…〉 as much offend God by eating some kind of Meats 〈…〉 Garments as they should do were they guilty of 〈…〉 Adultery Which is the case of many amongst 〈…〉 Scrupulosity about little matters seem more 〈…〉 ●uster● than other good and honest Christians are or 〈◊〉 need or ought to be And a little further you add A 〈◊〉 Conscience therefore starts and boggles where there is no real 〈◊〉 or Mischief is afraid of omitting or doing what may be omitted or done without sin Which I know not how better to illustrate than by those unaccountable Antipathies or Prejudices that s●me men have against some sort of Meats or living Creatures which have not the least harm or

into the Epistles and Gospels which was not heard of before the days of Popery I dare not Avow that this is that Reverend handling of the Scriptures and the right dividing of the Word of Truth which Saint Paul Requireth 2 Tim. 2. 15. Thirdly The great Inconveniency which hath followed this Book while it hath Maintained an Vnlearned Ministry and made it thought sufficient to have the Service Read wherein we have made the Spirit of God to speak in vain 1 Tim. 3. 12. which Requires the Ministers of the Gospel to be apt to Teach and to exhort and Reprove Tit. 1. 9. This is an other Cause why I cannot Subscribe unto the Book that it hath all things answerable to the Word of God But the Abridgment is much more full bringing Arguments from the Scripture The Fathers the Old Reformers and our own Old Protestant Doctors against it whereof I shall give this following Account First It is contrary to the Word of God to use such Ceremonies in the Worship of God as man has devised if they be notoriously known to have been of old and still to be abused unto Idolatry and Superstition by the Papists especially if the same be now of no necessary use in the Church where note that the Ceremonial part of the English Service that is like unto that of the Romish is what has been abused by the Papists to Idolatry or Superstition but yet are not so necessary to Divine Worship but that the Worship may be Compleat Devout and orderly without them which appears saith they First by the Second Commandment which forbids all provocation unto Spiritual Fornication as the 7th doth unto that which is Carnal Secondly By the Commandment and Direction God hath given us in his Word to Seperate our selves from Idolaters and be as unlike to them as may be especially in their Religions Observations and Ceremonies to abolish not only all Idols and that so as we may best shew our utmost Detestation to them and root out the very memory of them Thirdly By the Equity and Reasons of these Commandments which we find set down in Holy Scripture viz. 1. The detestation which the Lord our God being a Jealous God beareth unto Idolatry and all the Instruments and Tokens thereof as unto Spiritual Whoredom Secondly That it cannot be said sincerely we have Repented of the Idolatry of our Forefathers unless we be ashamed of and cast away with Detestation all the Instruments and Monuments of it Thirdly That we shall be in danger to be Corrupted in the Substance of Religion and Purity of Doctrine and even to fall back again to Idolatry if we Conform our selves to Idolaterous Ceremonies yea if we shew not all Detestation unto them Fourthly That our Conformity with Idolators in their Ceremonies wherein they Repose the greatest part of their Religion will be a special means to harden them in Superstition Fifthly That seeing the Pope is revealed to be that Great Antichrist and his Idolatry troubleth the Church at this day more than any other and our people Converse more with Papists then with any other Idolators there is more danger in the Retaining of the Ceremonies and Relicks of Popery then of any other Idolatry whatsoever By the Judgment of the Godly Learned of all Churches and Ages who have Constantly Taught and given Testimony of this Truth That Christians are Bound to cast off the Ceremonies and Religious Customs of Pagans Jews Idolators and Hereticks and Carefully to shun all Conformity with them therein In the Council of Nice it was Decreed That Christians might not keep the Feast of Easter at that Time nor in that manner the Jews did let us say they in nothing agree with that most detestable rout of the Jews And in another Councel That none should fast on the Lords Day because the Manachees had taken up that day to fast in That such Altars as were set up in the Country and High-ways in Memory of the Martyrs should be Abolished and that Solemn Requests should be made to the Emperor that all Reliques and Monuments of Idolatry might be utterly Destroyed and this Decree we find Cited by Dr. Fulk In another Councel That Christians should not Celebrate Feasts on the Birth days of Martyrs because that was the manner of the Heathens Tertullian is large and vehement in this point As saith he We may give nothing to the Service of an Idol so may you borrow nothing from the Service of an Idol if it be against Religion to sit at Table in any Idols Temple What is it to be seen in the Habit of an Idol Thou that art Christian must hate those things the Authors and Inventers whereof thou canst not choose but hate Austin himself Saith if you would win Pagans leave all their Solemnities for sake their Toyes The Judgment of the Church of Scotland in their Letter to the Bishops of England 1556. from a General Assembly at Edenborough thus writ if Surplice Corner Cap and Tipper have been Badges of Idolators in the very Act of Idolatry what have the Preachers of Christian Liberty and the open Rebukers of Superstition to do with the dress of the Romish Beast And in the Confession of their Faith sworn to by them and the Kings Majesty also We find these words and Detest all his Ceremonies and False Doctrines of the Roman Antichrist added to the Ministration of the True Sacraments We Detest all his vain Rites Signs and Traditions brought into the Church without the Word of God Mr. Rogers that Holy Martyr would not Consent to a Cannon that was to be made in K. Edwards Days for the Clergies Conformity in Cap Tippet and the rest of the Apparel unless it might be Decreed that the Papists for a Difference between them and others might be Constrained to wear upon their Sleves A Challice with a House upon it Bishop Pilkington misliked that in our Liturgy we are so like the Papists in Marriage and many other things this faith he is our fault generally that we differ not from them in all our Ministry Bishop Bilson Defending the Reformed Churches against a Slander of the Papists Approvingly Reporteth thus of them The Reformed Churches Saith he are so far from Admitting the full dost of your Heresies that by no means they can digest one Dram of your Ceremonies Dr. Humphrey Saith That we aught to Refuse to Conform our Selves to the Enemies of God in any of their Ceremonies Professing plainly his Desire and hope of the utter Abolishing of the Ceremhnies af all the Monuments of Popish Superstition that yet Remain in our Church Dr. Fulk Saith That if a man mislike our Form of Service as not differing sufficiently from yours he Sheweth his greatest Zeal in Detestation of your Idolatry and Blasphemy And again we abhor sath he whatsoever hath but a Shew of Popery Dr. Stu●liff maketh this one of his Principal Arguments against the Papists that they have derived most of their Ceremonies and Customs from the

Jews and Pagans To the same Purpose Mr. Greenham and Mr. Marbury That Agreeing with us most of the Reformed Divines do hold 1. That those Laws that we have Alledged out of the Old Testement against the Monument of Idolatry do bind us as much as they did the Jews and from them they Conclude as we have done That all Reliques of Popish and heathenish Superstition are to be Banished out of the Church of Christ of this Judgment are Calvin Martyr Grineus Wolphins Vrsinus Machabeus Zanchius Simetrus Zepperus our own Book of Homilies Dr. Fulk and others 2. That Hezekiah Josiah and the rest of the Godly Kings of Juda which shewed most Zeal in Abolishing those things which had been abused by Idolatry did no more then they were bound by the Law of God to do And that from their Example the Argument holds strong against the Monuments of Idolatry now because all Christians are Bound to Imitate their Zeal therein Of this Judgment was Augustin Calvin Martyr Wolphins Eevator Zanchius Bishop Jewil Bilson Dr. Fulck Dr. Raynold Dr. Andrews Mr Perkins and Others 3. That the Retaining of Popish Ceremonies will certainly be a means to indanger the Doctrine that we profess and to bring the People back to Popery this was the judgment of the People of Saxony and them of Humburgh and of Luther 4. That the Retaining of the Ceremonies of Idolaters will Cause them to insult over our Religion as if it could not stand without help from them and to harden them in their likeing of their own Idolatry this Reason hath bee used against Conformity with the Jews by Constantine the Emperor and by all the Fathers in the first Counsel of Nice and against Conformity with the Papists Begentiis Musculus Bishop Jewel and Others 5. We are Confirmed in this our Perswasion that it is unlawful to Retain the Ceremonies of the Papists by Experience of the Great hurt they have done and do Dayly in the Church for we find that some of the Learnedest of the English Papists Namely Martial Bristow and he that penned the petition for the Papists which Dr. Stutliff and Mr. Powel have Answered have by this Argument Justifyed their Church and Religion that we have borrowed our Ceremonies from them yea some of them as Harding Martial and he that Writ the Astrological Epistle for our English Papists have professed that this was to them an Evident Argument that Q. Elizabeth did in her Conscience like well of their Religion because She liked and maintained their Ceremonies and the Superstitious Multitude do usually defend the Blessing of themselves with Crossing their Breasts and Foreheads by our Crossing our Children in Baptism So far the Abridgment And to which we may add this further Testimony following viz. Altas Damas p. 612 613. tells us That from three Romish Channels was the English Service raked together namely 1st The Breviary out of which the Common-Prayers are taken 2dly The R●tual or Book of Rites out of which the Administration of Sacraments Burial Matrimony Visitation of the Sick are taken 3dly The Mass-Book out of which the Cons●cration of the Lords Supper Collects Gospels and Epistles are taken Bishop Hall in his Quo Vadis saith That his Eyes and Ears can witness with what applause the Catholicks entertained the new translated Liturgy of our Church Mr. Thomas Gage in his English American chap. 22. p. 205 thus expresseth himself I conti●ued twelve Moneths at my Vnoles House at Gatton searching though unknown to my Vncle and Kindred into the Doctrine and Truth of the Gospel professed in England for which cause I made many Journies to London and then privately I resorted to some Churches and especially to Paul's Church to see the Service performed and to hear the Word of God preached but so that I might not be seen known or discovered by and Papist When in Pauls Church I heard the Organs and the Musick and the Prayers and the Collects and saw the Ceremonies at the Altar I remembred Rome again and perceived little difference betwixt the two Churches I searched further into the Common-Prayer and carried with me a Bible into the Country on purpose to compare the Prayers Epistles and Gospels with a Mass-Book which there I had at command and I found no difference but only English and Latine which made me wonder and to acknowledge that much remained still of Rome in the Church of England and that I feared my Calling was not right And p. 209. tells us That upon his return afterwards to Rome that Father Fitz Herbert told him that the Common-Prayer Book which was composed for Scotland was by Arch-Bishop Laud sent to Rome to be first viewed and approved by the Pope and Cardinals and who upon the perusal did approve thereof and liked very well for Protestants to be trained in such a form of Prayer and Service c. Great Cerus Panegyer Missae cap. 11. 12. alledgeth against the Reformed Churches the English Service-Book for their Popish Holy-days the Book of Canons for the Sign of the Cross and Kneeling at the Altar and for the whole Hierarchy c. Cornelpis Scultingius in his Hyerarchica Anicrists citeth whole Leaves out of Whitegift for the defence of their Hierarchy Stapleton Reflect against Whitaker Cont. 2. Qu. 3. Art 3. useth Whitegift's Argument to uphold their Discipline and professeth they are built upon one Foundation They further say as Paep Sapp Anno 1604. Reas of Relig. 13 That from their Treasure-House the Religion now established in England hath learned the form of Christening Marrying Churching of Women visiting the Sick Burying the Dead c. as their Book say they translated out of ours declares Curtaine Of Ch. Power p. 40. saith That he heard one of the Jesuits say that it was his hopes that our Service and Ceremonies would return us again to Rome Another Objection is this That whilst they separate for indifferent and about disputable things they do violate a known plain positive Scripture which enjoyns the Inferiors to be obedient and subject to their Superiors The Protestant Reconciler 2 part urges it as an Objection brought against the Diffenters compar'd with 1 part p. 198. That seeing God hath enjoyned all Persons to obey those that have the Rule over them Heb. 13. 17 and submit themselves and to be subject to the higher Powers as to the Ordinance of God and that for Conscience sake He that can satisfie his Conscience in his Refusal so to do must shew some Law of God as evidently forbidding his Obedience to what Superiors do enjoyn as do these Scriptures command OBEDIENCE to them in ALL LAWFUL THINGS And you tell us in your Scrupulous Conscience pag. 33. That these things of a publick Nature belong only to our Superiors and Governours and if they appoint what is unfit indecent and inconvenient they only are accountable for it It is not the fault of those that joyn in such Worship or yield to such Injunctions NOT PLAINLY SINFUL