Schism but that which is the cause of Separation now our Separation being upon a just account cannot be called Schism for the Errors and Superstitions of the Roman Church made our Separation necessary for God having discovered them to us by his Word we could not without bringing guilt upon our selves neglect that Commandment of God Revel 18.4 to come out of Babylon that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her Plagues besides it doth not become them to reproach us with our Separation and to accuse us of Schism since they first thrust us from amongst them by their Excommunications and all sorts of violence and we may much more justly call them Schismaticks they having so unworthily separated from Jesus Christ and his Apostles and from the purity of his Doctrine by so many Heresies which they teach Q. Yet could you not for peace sake have dissembled and contented your selves with distasting them in your heart A. No For God vomits out of his Mouth those that are luke warm Revel 3.16 and would have us to glorifie him as well in our bodies as in our spirits which are his 1 Cor. 6.20 and that as we believe with the Heart unto Righteousness we should with our own mouth make Confession unto Salvation Rom. 10.10 SECT X. Of the Head of the Church Quest WHo is the Head of the Church A. Jesus Christ only for St. Paul says Ephes 4.5 There is one Lord and one Faith and Chap. 1.22 he says that God hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church which is his Body Now as Jesus Christ hath but one mystical Body viz. his Church also this Body can have but one Head Q. But hath not Jesus Christ established under him one here upon Earth to be the visible Head of the Church A. No for the Word of God hath made no mention thereof and Ephes 4.11 St. Paul rekoning up the Offices in the Church says He gave some Apostles and some Pastors and Teachers but says nothing of this pretended Head which should have been the first And Jesus Christ forbids all Superiority of Authority amongst his Disciples Luke 22.25 26. The Kings of the earth exercise Lordship over them but ye shall not be so and Matth. 23.8 Be not ye called Rabby for one is your Master even Christ and all ye are brethren Q. It would seem that Jesus Christ looked on St. Peter as a Head Ordinarily he is first named in the Gospel and Matth. 16.18 Jesus Christ says to him Thou art Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church A. His being named first doth not import any Superiority of Authority or Jurisdiction but of Honour and Order because of his Age or Gifts and when Jesus Christ says upon this Rock will I build my Church he had not regard to the person of St. Peter but to his Doctrine and the Confession he had made in the name of the other Apostles saying Thou art Christ the Son of the living God and on this consideration not only Peter but the rest of the Apostles are called the Foundation of the Church as we are taught by St. Paul Ephes 2.20 And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself beeing the chief corner stone Q. But Jesus Christ in the same place promises to give him the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and that whosoever he shall bind on Earth shall he bound in Heaven A. In those words he gives no Authority to St. Peter which he gives not to the other Apostles to whom also he hath given the Keys and the power of binding and loosing and of remitting and retaining sins John 20.21 As my Father hath sent me so send I you verse 23. Whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted But supposing it were as true as it is false that Jesus Christ did in this passage Establish Peter Visible Head of the Church it would not follow that the Bishops of Rome are his Successors in that Office since we see no warrant for it in the Scripture neither hath the other Apostles had any Successors in their Offices as Apostles Q. But since the death of Jesus Christ and his Ascension did not the Apostles acknowledge St. Peter for their Head A. No on the contrary Acts 8.14 the Apostles send him with John to Preach the Gospel in Samaria and St. Paul says 2 Cor. 11.5 That he esteemeth not himself a whit behind the very chiefest Apostles and Gal. 2.9 Naming James before Peter he says James Peter and John gave him the right hand of Fellowship and proves at length in the same place that he was not called to be an Apostle by any but by Jesus Christ alone and 1 Cor. 1.12.13 He reproves those amongst the Corinthians that did choose to themselves any other Head or Patron but Jesus Christ every one of you says I am of Paul and I of Apollo and I of Cephas and I of Christ Is Christ divided Was Paul Crucified for you Or were you Baptized in the name of Paul To acknowlege then another Head than Christ is to divide Christ Neither can we acknowlege any other Head but he who was Crucified for us and in whose Name we are Baptized St. Peter himself takes no other Title in his Epistles but that of Apostle and Elder and speaks to the Pastors of the Church not as having Authority over them but as their comparison in service 1 Pet. 5.1 The Elders that are among you I exhort who am also an Elder SECT XI Of the Invocation of Saints Quest MVst we pray to Saints A. No Because we have neither Command nor Example in the Word of God for it and when the Apostles desired Jesus Christ to teach them to Pray he injoyns them to pray to God only Luke 11.2 When you Pray say Our Father which art in Heaven c. Now that which is without the Word of God is without Faith Rom. 10.17 Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God It is then a sin to Pray unto Saints since it is to Pray without Faith which is required in Prayer James 1.6 Let him ask in Faith nothing wavering Q. But is not Praying to Saints expresly forbidden in the Word of God A. Yes For God hath commanded us to Adore and Serve him only Matth. 4.10 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve now praying is one of the chief and principal Acts of Religious Worship and Service and St. Paul teaches us that we cannot call on those we do not believe in Rom. 10.14 How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed then we are not to Pray to Saints since it is not lawful to put our confidence in them for God declares them cursed that put their trust in man Jerem. 17.5 Cursed be the the man that trusteth in man Q. It is true we are to serve God
That he had said no other things than these which the Prophets and Moses did say should come and to Teach us that these things did contain all that is Necessary to Salvation he assures the Ephesians Act. 20 27. That he had declared unto them all the Counsel of God Q. Yet the Church believes many Doctrines which are not contained in the Scripture as the perpetual Virginity of the Holy Virgin the Baptism of Children the translation of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday the number of the Sacraments to be but two A. For the perpetual Virginity of the Blessed Virgin the Church receives it not as an Article of Faith necessary to Salvation but as an Article becoming the honour they think themselves obliged to render to this Sacred Vessel But for the other points they are taught in Scripture if not in formal terms at least by necessary consequences St. Peter Acts 2.38.39 would have all the Jews Baptized because the Promise was to them and to their Children and we see that in the time of the Apostles Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.2 Rev. 1.10 Believers Assembled themselves for Prayer and to make Collection the first Day of the Week which St. John calls The Lord's Day And the Church may well conclude there are but two Sacraments since they see not in the Scripture that Jesus Christ hath instituted any more SECT V. Of Reading the Holy Scripture Q. IS it Lawful for all Persons to Read the Scripture A. Jesus Christ Recommends the Reading of it indifferently to all John 5.39 Search the Scriptures and Deut. 17.18 19. God Commandeth Kings to have the Book of the Law and to read therein every day and the Apostle St. Paul 1 Thess 5.27 Charges that his Epistle be read to all the holy Brethren and 2 Tim. 3.15 he praises Timothy because from a Child he had known the Holy Scriptures And the Eunuch of Queen Candace did Read in the Chariot Esaias the Prophet Acts 8.28 And in all the Synagogues the Law and the Prophets were read every Sabbath-day Acts 15.21 17. The believing Bereans having heard the Doctrine of St. Paul compared it with the Scriptures to know if it was as he had said And tho' the Revelations be the most obscure Book in the Scripture yet the reading of it is recommended to all Rev. 1.3 Blessed be he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophesie Q. It seems notwithstanding that it would be expedient to hinder the simple People from the reading thereof St. Peter tells us that there are in the Epistles of St. Paul things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction A. Upon the contrary the simple and ignorant are to read the Scriptures that they may become wise to Salvation and Jesus Christ tells us that the ignorance of the Scriptures is cause of Errors You Err not knowing the Scriptures said he to the Sadduces Mat. 22.29 And David Psal 19. says That the Law enlightens the Eyes and maketh wise the simple And tho' there be some ignorant and unstable that wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction yet it hinders not St. Peter from recommending in the same place to Believers the Epistles of St. Paul And in the first Chapter of the same Epistle he tells us That we have a sure word of Prophesie whereunto we do well to take heed as to a Light that shineth in a dark place For because those that are Prophane abuse the Word of God and his Graces the Children of God must not be forbidden the Use thereof Q. What Profit then do Believers receive from the Reading of the Scriptures A. By them they are instructed in the Knowledg of God fortified in the Faith and Expectation of their Salvation comforted in their Afflictions furnished against Temptations of Satan the World and the Flesh For whatsoever things were written afore-time they were written for our Learning that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have Hope Rom. 15.4 SECT VI. Of the Church Quest WHat signifies this word Church A. An Assembly Q. How many ways is the name of Church taken in the Scripture A. Four ways principally 1. For the Church of the Elect. 2. Generally for the Universal Visible Church and they that make profession of Faith in Jesus Christ And it is this Church St. Paul speaks of when he says That in a great house there are not only vessels of Gold and of Silver but also of Wood and of Earth because that this Church is composed of good and of evil ones 2 Tim. 2.20 3. The Church signifies an Assembly of the Leaders of the Church which Jesus Christ speaks of Matth. 18.17 When there is a quarrel between two Brethren he will have the party offended tell it to the Church 4. The name Church is given to each particular Christian Assembly which is a part of the Universal Visible Church such in the time of the Apostles was the Churches of Corinth of Ephesus of Rome c. to whom St. Paul directs his Epistles Q. What is meant by the Church of the Elect A. It is the Assembly of all Believers that Goth hath Elected in Jesus Christ of which some are Glorified in Heaven others are yet Combating on the Earth others are not yet born or called to the Faith but must be in their time and subsist already in the Counsel of God of these Jesus Christ speaks John 10.16 saying Other sheep have I which are not of this fold they also I must bring and they shall hear my voice Q. Where doth the Word of God speak of this Church of the Elect A. The Apostle Hebrews 12.23 calls it the Heavenly Jerusalem the General Assembly and Church of the first born It is this Church which St. Paul calls the Body of Christ for Christ cannot have dead Members 1 Cor. 12.27 Ephes 4.12 Colos 1.24 and the Spouse of Christ Ephes 5.32 for Christ cannot have an Adulteress for his Spouse St. Peter 1 Epist 2.9 call this Church A chosen Generation a royal Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar People Q. Which Church is spoken of in this Article of the Apostles Creed I believe the Holy Catholick Church A. Of the Church of the Elect for we believe things that are not seen as the Apostle Heb. 11.1 says Faith is the Evidence of things not seen And after those words I believe the Holy Catholick Church is put the Communion of Saints in this Church that the Profane may be excluded Q. Why is this Church of the Elect said to be invisible since it is composed of men who are Visisible A. Not only because the Glorified Saints are out of our sight and that those who belong to the Election of God and are not yet born cannot be seen but also because that though the Elect that live upon the Eatth are visible men yet it is not visible that they are
Elected God only knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2.19 Q. How understand you that out of the Church there is no Salvation A. First Out of the Church of the Elect none can be saved for they that have no Communion with the Members of the Body have none also With the Head which is Christ and which is the only name by which we can be saved Secondly Out of the Communion of the Catholick Visible Curch there is no Salvation if there be not an impossibility which cannot be overcome as suppose some among the Turks and Pagans Converted to Christ at the hour of death but it is altogether necessary to Salvation when it is possible to be joyned to some Assembly of Christians and make profession of the Faith of Christ for with the heart man believeth unto Righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation Rom. 10.10 But this Maxim may not be understood of any particular Church much less of the Roman Church which is the most corrupted of all the Churches which call themselves Christian Churches SECT VII If the Church can err Quest IS there any particular Church in the world to whom God hath given this priviledge not to err but to be infallible A. There is none which hath this privilege The Church of Israel who before the coming of Jesus Christ was the only Visible Church of God hath erred and fell many times into Idolatry in the 2 Chron. 15. it is said that for a long season Israel had been without the true God and without a teaching Priest and without Law and the Prophets Isaiah 56.10 Reproaches the Church of Israel that their watchmen were all blind and ignoraant Ezek. 20.7 We may learn that the Church of Israel committed Idolatry in Egypt did she not err in making of the Golden Calf Exod. 32. And when Juda had as many gods as Cities Jerem. 2.28 And in the time of Jesus Christ the Church of the Jews was infected with many Heresies and with the evil Leven of the Pharisees and there is not to be found an example of any particular Church from the Apostles time till now that hath persisted in their purity and it was for good reason that St. Paul writing to the Church of Rome bids her take heed least she should be cut off for her incredulity Rom. 11.21 22. For she hath fallen the most heavily and gone the furthest astray from the truth of all others Q. But if it be so that every particular Church hath erred and may err then it follows that all the Church hath failed and then what will become of the promise Jesus Christ made to his Church that the Gates of Hell should never prevail again her Math. 16.18 A. Jesus Christ in that passage speaks not of any particular Church precisely but of the Church of the Elect and gives us assurance by these words that all the machinations of the World and Satan shall never be able to hinder the Church from subsisting in the Earth but that there shall be a company of Believers which shall confess his Name for the Foundation of the Lord standeth sure God knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2.19 and notwithstanding the Corruption of the World there is all ways reserved some who boweth not the Knee before Baal 1 Kings 19.18 And if it happen that some Church fall from the Truth God raiseth up another in whom he manifests his Knowledg Q. What you say seems contrary to your received opinion that the state of the Church hath been interred A. We only understand by this the general condition of the Church in the West which by reason of the Dominion of the Pope and the Supperstitions in the Roman Church hath been interrupted or greatly Corrupted but it follows not that though there were not in the West pure particular Visible Churches that there was not in the East and other parts of the World Q. But though each particular Church may err yet General Councils assembled in the Name of Jesus Christ cannot err for Jesus Christ hath promised that when two or three are gathered together in his Name he will be in the midst of them Matth. 18.20 A. I answer it cannot be affirmed with any certainty of Faith that there hath been any Council that hath not erred in some kind except that of the Apostles Acts 15. because they were immediately and infalliably lead into all Truth as Jesus Christ promised John 14.26 The Church of Israel assemnled in Council erred having condemned Jesus Christ to death as a Blasphemer Many that have named themselves General Councils have manifestly erred as that of Nice 2. which commanded to Worship Images upon pain of Curse and Anathem and that of Constance which took away the Cup in the Sacrament from the people though they grant that Jesus Christ had Instituted it and the Primitive Church had practised otherwise such Councils though they say they are assembled in the Name of Jesus Christ are not so since they Combat his Doctrine Q. What call you then a Council assembled in the Name of Jesus Christ A. These who being assembled by his Authority submit their decisions to his Holy Word SECT VIII Of the marks of the True Church Quest BY what mark know you the True Church since there are so many and so different in their sentiments and each of them pretending to be the true one A. By that which Jesus Christ gives us John 10.27 My sheep hear my voice and they follow me and Chap. 8.31 If you continue in my word then are you my disciples indeed That is then the true Church which is Conform to the word of Jesus Christ and obeys his voice Q. But what say you to Antiquity A. That it is a deceitful mark untruth being little later then Truth An error is nor the truer because it is ancient Antiquity destitute of Truth is but an antient error as an Antient Elegantly spoke Jesus Christ said not I am Custom but I am the Truth John 14. The only Antiquity that we receive is the first Truth which we have in the Holy Scripture to the which we Appeal for the condemnation of all error saying with Jesus Christ In the beginning it was not so Matth. 19.8 Q. What juâ—gment make you of Succession in the Chair A. That is also a false mark for Hereticks may also make use of Antiquity and Succession in the Chair without Truth is void We are not to judg of the Truth of a Church by her Succession but upon the contrary of her Succession by the Truth she Teaches The Pharisees in Moses Chair corrupted the Law and at this time the Doctors of the Roman Church in the pretended Chair of St. Peter Combat his Doctrine Q. Visibility and splendor may not it be a mark of the True Church A. No for the Word of God upon the contrary foretels crosses and afflictions to befal the Church and there happens sometimes so much calamity to the Church that she
seems to be hidden or to be vanished from the Earth as when she was Captive in Egypt and in Babylon shut up in the Family of Abraham and when many days passed in Israel without the True God and without a Teachin Priest and without the Law 2. Chron. 15.3 and when Idolatry was publickly introduced into the Kingdom of Juda and into the Temple of Jerusalem Q. But the Christian Church having received more authentick promises for extention and splendor it is not likely to be invisible and that City set on a Hill cannot be hidden Matth. 5.14 A. It is true that by the calling of the Gentiles the Christian Church is more extended than that of the Jews was and there shall always be a Visible Christian Church in the World but it is not necessary to a particular Churches being pure that it be Splendent and Visible The seven thousand men that had not bowed their Knee to Baal were the true Church though they appeared not in Israel and since the Church of Jerusalem ceased not to be the True Church when Revelation 12. she was forced to fly into the Wilderness to shun the persecution of the Jews and Rev. 12. Wings are given to the Church that she might fly and hide her self in the Wilderness And Chap. 13. there is spoken of a time wherein all the Earth should Worship the Beast Jesus Christ says Luke 18.8 When he shall come he shall find no Faith in the Earth and they of the Church of Rome themselves say that Antichrist will make the Sacrifice of the Mass to cease for three years and a half Q. May not perpetual duration be a mark of the true Church A. No because perpetual duration is a thing not known but hoped for and there is no particular Church hath received any promise from God to endure for ever Q. But some will say we wonder not that you reject those precedent marks seeing it is two hundred years agoe only since you appeared in the World so that you cannot show your Succession nor where you were before Calvin and Luther A. We do not boast of our Succession but of our Truth yet we prove sufficiently that our Religion is not new but the first and most antient in making appear that we have the same Religion that Christ and his Apostles had and being truth it self by consequent it could not be interrupted Truth being Eternal and immutable and there must needs therefore always have been some Church in the World that hath made profession thereof for the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against the Church Those then that ask us where our Religion was before Luther and Calvin we will ask them where theirs was in the time of Christ and his Apostles both of us begin the History of our Religion at that time Q. May not multitude be a good mark of the True Church A. No more than the rest for it agrees better-with a false than with a True Church Jesus Christ commands us to enter in at the strait gate for broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in there at Matth. 7.13 and Luke 12.32 he calls his Church the little flock and Exodus 23.2 we are forbidden to follow a multitude to do evil in short multitude cannot be a good mark of the True Church since Pagans and Mahumetans are more in number than the Christians and amongst the Christian Churches the Hereticks are commonly more numerous than the Orthodox as Christian Catholicks were fewer than the Arians Q. What think you of Miracles A. That we have reason to suspect that Mark since Jesus Christ hath foretold us Matth. 24.24 That false Christs and false Prophets shall arise shewing great signs and wonders and St. Paul foretels us 2 Thess 2.9 That the son of perdition will come with signs and lying wonders Q. How know you that the Miracles of the Roman Church are lying wonders A. First Because they give Authority to lies as Worshiping of Images and Praying to Saints Secondly Because often they are not done in the Name of God and Jesus Christ as the Miracles of Jesus Christ and his Apostles but in the name of some Images or Saint Thirdly Because they are feigned inventions and contrivances to deceive the simple and credulous and to keep them in their Superstition therefore they do them not in publick before those they call Hereticks to Convert them but secretly without Witnesses Q. Hath the True Church no Miracles A. Yes Those of Jesus Christ and his Apostles which having sufficiently comfirmed the Doctrine declared to us we have no need of new Miracles to give Authority thereto an Evil and Adulterous Generation seeketh after a sign Matth. 12.39 16.4 Signs are not for them that believe but for them that believe not 1 Cor. 14.22 Q. May the titles of Catholick and Holy be marks of the True Church A. No Because names are not essential properties and an Heretical Church may as well assume these Titles as the True one besides the Title of Catholick or Universal can be no mark of any particular Church Q. What think you of Vnion A. That it is not an absolute mark of the Church for it is found in false and Heretical Churches which are well United but Union in Faith and Conformity to the Word of God is a true mark of a Church but if destitute of Truth it is only a conspiracy against God Q. What judgment make you of Holiness A. That is the only right mark of the True Church provided that Holyness in Doctrine be understood as well as in manners SECT IX Of our Separation from the Roman Church Quest WHy have you separated from the Church of Rome A. Because our Conscience would not suffer us to partake of her Errors and Superstitions since we find not in her the only mark of the True Church which is Conformity to the Word of God nor the pure Administration of the Sacraments Q. But ought not Christian Charity and the love of peace make us bear with their errors St. Paul tells us that Charity beareth all things 1 Cor. 13.7 and should the infirmities and faults of our brethren make us separate from them and break the Vnion of the Church by a Schism A. We must bear with our Neighbours faults but we must not consent to them now we cannot continue in Communion with an Heretical Church but we must consent to their Errors 2 Cor. 6.14 What Fellowship hath Righteousness with Unrighteousness and what Communion hath Light with Darkness and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols And it were not just that to please our Neighbours we should defile our selves with their Superstition St. Paul recommends Truth to us as well as Charity and Ephes 4.3 he would have us to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace Q. But may not our separation be justly accused of Schesm A. No For it is not absolutely Separation which makes
we have an Advocate with the Father even Jesus Christ the Righteous 1 John 2.1 And Jesus Christ says John 14.6 I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh to the Father but by me Q. But may not Saints and Angels be also Mediators A. No For St. Paul says 1 Tim. 2.5 There is one God and one Mediator between God and men the man Jesus Christ Q. This passage seems to be altered for in the Greek it is There is one Mediator and not one only Mediator A. The Greek word as in this Context signifies one only as also Ephesians 4.4 5 6. And they of the Roman Church in the Louvain Version have turned it so in the next Chapter Verse 2. That a Bishop must be the Husband of one Wife they have it of one only and it is clear that in that place it should be taken so for the Apostle would have us to understand that there is one Mediator as there is one God now there is but one only God there is therefore also but one only Mediator Q. It is true there is but one Mediator for redemption but there may be more for Intercession A. Not as Intercessor is to be understood in this question for one who can procure us the favour of God by his own Merit and Intercession and so those of the Roman Church understand the word when they pray God in the Mass to hear them for the Merits of the Saints whose Relicks are under the Altar Now there can be no such Intercessor but Jesus Christ only who alone hath reconciled us to God by his blood and is the only Advocate and Propitiation for our sins 1 John 2.2 And it is in this beloved that God accepteth us Eph. 1.6 Q. Why may not glorified Saints Pray to God in Heaven for us as well as Believers Pray for one another on the Earth have they less Knowledge and Charity in Heaven then they had on Earth A. Glorified Saints may pray for the Church in general but not for particular Believers not for want of Charity but for want of knowledge of the persons and their necessities for though their knowledge be much more perfect because of their seeing God yet have they no more communication with Believers here on Earth as it hath been said before that they have no more portion for ever in any thing that is done under the Sun Q. But is it not expedient at least to make use of the Intercession of Saints to go to Jesus Christ for us A. No For he commands us to come to himself Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden SECT XIII Of Images Quest IS It not lawful to make Images of God A. No for the Prophet Isaiah sheweth us that God cannot be represented Chap. 40. Vers 18. To whom will ye liken God or what Likeness will ye compare unto him And Deut. 4.15 Moses speaketh to the Israelites saying Take ye heed unto your selves for ye saw no manner of Similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire 16. Lest ye corrupt your selves and make you a Graven Image the similitude of any Figure the likeness of Male or Female Q. Nevertheless God hath often appeared to Believers under the Old Testament in humane shape as to Abraham and Lot Gen. 18. 19. A. Extraordinary Appearances of God are not to be the Rule of our Actions but his Commands and though God appeared in Humane Likeness yet the Church of Israel never made any such Representation of him Q. Is it lawful to make Images of Saints and give to them any Religious Worship or Honour A. No for God hath forbidden us to bow down before any Image whatsoever in his second Gommandment Thou shalt not make unto thee any Graven Image nor the likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath Thou shalt not bow down to them nor serve them Q. This word should he translated Idol and not Image for God forbids there only the Pagan Idols which did represent false Gods and not Images of Saints A. Images both of Saints and Angels are forbidden for he forbiddeth to make any Likeness of any thing that is in Heaven Q. Why then did God command to put Cherubims upon the Ark and in the Tabernacle which did represent Angels A That was a Command of the Ceremonial Law which since hath been abolished by Jesus Christ but the forbidding to worship Images is a Command of the Moral Law which is eternal and indispensable Besides they were not put there to be worshipped by the people for there were two Veils between the people and them so that the people could not see them and there was moreover an express Command to make Cherubins whereas there is none to make Images of Saints and to put them into the Church Q. Is it lawful to worship the Relicks of Sainis A. No We should have a respect unto the Sepulchres of the Saints and Martyrs since their Bodies have been the Temples of the Holy Ghost but to give them any Religious Worship is to leave the living God to serve dead Idols And God hid the body of Moses lest the people of Israel should have committed Idolatry with it Deut. 34.6 SECT XIV Concerning Praying for the Dead Quest MVst we pray for the Dead A. No Because we have neither Command nor Example in the Word of God and since the Scripture speaks only of two places Heaven for the Righteous and Hell for the Wicked our Prayers cannot draw the Wicked out of Hell for their Torments are to be Eternal nor can they add to the Happiness of those in Heaven because it is already Compleat Q. Yet we have an Example in the 12th Chapter of the 2d Book of the Maccabees where Juda and his Men prayed for their Brethren which were slain and under whose Garmenâ—â— were found things consecrated to Idols that their sin might be pardoned A This Book is not Canonical nor was ever acknowledged as such by the Church of the Jews and there were many Superstitions sliden in among the Jews in the time of the Maccabees so their Practice cannot be an Example to be followed neither did they pray that they might be delivered out of Purgatory but that they might be happy at the Resurrection as it appears from Vers 44. SECT XV. Of Purgatory Quest DO You believe that after this Life the Souls of all Believers go to the fire of Purgatory for many years to be tormented that they may be purged and cleansed from their sins A. No For the Scripture speaking of the Condition of Believers after this Life tells us Isa 57.1 That the Righteous is taken away from the Evil to come and shell enter into Peace and Rev. 14.13 that Blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord from henceforth yea said the Spirit that they may rest from their Labours and their Works do