Intemperance Uncharitableness Covetousness Uncleanness c. which should not be once named without Horrour among Saints what shall we then say but that we are too much infected with a Laodicean Temper accounting our selves to be rich and increasing in goods and have need of nothing when indeed we are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked We make our boast often of the great knowledge and understanding that we have in the mystery of the Gospel above all others that have been before us and that we are as Children standing upon the shoulders of Giants and therefore we can see further then they a childish Conceit and an absurd Crotchet wherewith many please themselves being ready to say not from the Humble Spirit of God but from a strong opinion of their own weakness and a weaker Judgment of the strength of others we are wiser then our Teachers we have more understanding then the Antient ever had but can they or any else tell us what Holiness there is more now then there hath been in the Saints of old What Brotherly Love What zeal for the Truth what contempt of the World what mortification of inward Lusts and crucifying of the Flesh with the Affections thereof is now to be seen in this Generation more then hath been formerly If we know more then others that have been before us and yet come short of them in the power of Religion what a shame is it At Saint Margarets Westminster It was an ingenuous Confession made by one of late times in their greatest Assemby though he mistook in his Paralel We were best saith he in worst times we held our Cloak in the winde and now are laying it off in the Sun A miserable declination from the Life and Power of Godliness is come to pass within these few years our practicals our inward and close ways of walking with God in Faith and Love are sublim'd into fancies and vapour out into Fumes of new opinions and which is worst of all we take this Dropsie to be growth and conceive our selves to be more spiritual and refin'd because more Aiery and Notional The Lord humble us for our declensions and swervings from the end of the Commandment which is Love out of a pure Heart and of a good Conscience and Faith unfained and for our turnings aside to vain Janglings And now if the example of our Lord Jesus Christ as it hath been before presented unto us together with his immutable constancy in being still the Same in the Dispensation of his Gospel it being never yet wholly retracted since it was first made known unto the World for it was once and but once delivered unto the Saints will not move us to give a due Veneration to the Holy Antients and Fathers that have gone before us who have been partakers with us of the same precious Faith and have laboured with indefatigable pains in the Lord's Vine-yard their workes praising them in the gates let the consciousness of our own unworthiness under that glorious Light unto which we do pretend perswade us thereunto But if any shall say quorsum haec To what purpose is all this earnestness about antiquity I may answer Is there not a cause when the Glory of Christ is diminished by our detraction from it and when a common violence is done to the Holy Scripture in limiting the Accomplishment of sundry Prophecies to these times and those that come after us It being most certain they have been already fulfilled even in those elder days of the Gospel that are made of small reckoning by us Thirdly This may serve to satisfie all the World that the Religion which we profess is the onely true Religion we I say that have separated from Rome as it now standeth or rather as it is fallen from what it was before that depraved and deplorable Corruption which it hath contracted by the intrusion of many and sundry superstitions upon it through the subtlety of Satan and the cunning crastiness of men of corrupt minds who have sought themselves and their own interests more then the things of Jesus Christ If Antiquity must needs be a mark of a true Church then can we make our boast of it as much as any The rock of Ages is our foundation and the gates of Hell shall never drive us from it We disdain to hold of Luther and Calvin or any man els how eminent soever he might be for Piety in his Generation A tenure indeed that the recent Conventicle of Rome hath devised which because it pretendeth to Peter as its Founder and Authour Paramount will therefore obtrude upon others the like Weak and Upstart originals and if they cannot compare with them as they conceive in such a Claim they are ready to cry them down for Novelists and intruders as utterly unworthy to have any society with the Churches of Christ But far be it from us to build upon any such foundations And for any Novelty in our Profession as concerning the substance of Religion we can maintain it against the World that we are in no wise Guilty thereof It must be acknowledged on all sides that the old way is the onely right way and that that is most consonant to Truth which is of greatest Antiquity But then the Question will be where our Computation shall begin Surely it must not be at some Centuries of years that have been lately before us but rather we are to look for the first beginning of this way from the beginning of the World otherwise it will not in this sense Merit the Title of Antiquity but that Gospel exception will be of force against it Non fuit sic ab initio Mat 19.8 It was not so from the Beginning A singular and compendious Gradation of the rise and progress of Truth is that which is given by a certain Antient Id verius quod prius id prius quod ab initio id ab initio quod à Deo That is truest which was first that which was first is from the beginning that which was from the beginning was of God And truely as it was said before so may we say it again our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ according to the order of the foundation laid in God's eternal decree and as the faithful people of God have had theirs in all the Ages of the Church that have been before us If we vary from others in outward formes or if there be variances amongst our selves about them as alas there are too many the more is the Pity and when was there a people of God constituted into a Church that were wholly free yet this will not conclude us to have taken up a new Religion no more then the several Fashions in our Attire do deprive us of the antient Priviledges of our Country and make us another Nation To conclude we are of Yesterday and know whom we have believed and are known of him viz. Jesus Christ
it be Superstition in them to joyn with him in the Observation thereof especially when they are few in number no merit placed in them nor are they required to be observed as things necessary to salvation or as parts of Gods worship which under pain of Damnation ought to be used nor as signs operative working Grace in those that make conscience of them but are expresly declared to be indifferent in their own nature and that upon just causes they may be altered and changed In so much that if the Supreme Magistrate shall again forbid the use of the said Service and Ceremonies the people may without sin lay them aside yea are bound in Conscience so to do and observe others provided that they have the same premised Boundaries which he shall command All which considered Who seeth not how unjustly we are accused of Superstition in the Service of our God because of our religious using of some few harmless Ceremonies without which our late Experience may sufficiently teach us that Religion it self would not long stand in safety but by degrees be totally laid waste Ego certe illas veneror tantae pietati semper assurgo for my part I shall notwithstanding the Oggannition of gain-sayers highly esteem them and commend the observation of them to all who are willing to advance the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus It was said of one Luke 7.47 She loved much because much was forgiven Were it not here a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Excursion from the matter in hand I who have too much complyed with the late Schisme and through mercy not onely been convinced of my folly therein but blessed be God do partake of the Indulgence of Holy Church my Mother in the forgiveness thereof could open my heart at large in her vindication against her Adversaries who are very apt to cast aspersions upon her But the design of this Treatise tendeth another way and Wisdom in this matter hath been clearly justified of her children Nevertheless I shall presume without offence I hope to offer a small Libamen of my love and duty unto this dear Mother in the justification of two of her Ceremonies which by her unnatural children are as much quarrelled at as any Those are First Bowing at the Name of Jesus Secondly Bowing at our Entrance into and Departing from the Congregation For the first besides what hath been abundantly written by others we are in the duties of Divine Worship and Service to give unto Christ this Honour upon these two Considerations First Because that for our sake he made himself of no Reputation Secondly Because a sort of wretched men in the world about us set on by the Devil conspire together to make him of no Reputation also First I say for our sake he made himself of no Reputation great reason therefore that we should account him worthy of all Honour not onely that which is Spiritual in captivating every thought to the obedience of his Gospel but that also which is of the body in the outward deportment of it for he hath bought it with a Price a great Price even his dearest Bloud as well as the Soul it was no robbery for him to be equal with God for he was the Brightness of his Fathers Glory the Character of his Person yet Saint Paul tells us he emptied himself and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross Now Quanto pro me vilior tanto mihi charior said Holy Bernard sweetly The more humility appeared in him it is but meet that the more honour be ascribed unto him Admit that it be not a duty of the Text to use Genu-flexions at the mentioning of his blessed Name whiles we are employed in the publick exercises of Divine Worship yet since the Father hath even upon the account of his Humility highly exalted him and given him a Name above every name it well becommeth the Church upon the same account in a conformity to that Divine Pattern according to her poor strength and ability by all ways and means to exalt him likewise This then I conceive may somewhat stop the mouth of Contradition against the holy and religious custom of our Church in requiring all persons to Bow at the Name of Jesus for she hath learned it of the Father whose example is withuot controversie in this case worthy of all imitation to exalt him because for our sake he made himself of no reputation Again Is not our Lord now as it hath been prophecied of him Esa 53.3 despised and rejected of men Do not Jews Turks and Infidels blaspheme that worthy name by which we are called Are not Socinians those cursed Hereticks as unwearied now in their malice against him to lay his honour in the dust as the Arians were of old Is not the precious Bloud of this Immaculate Lamb of God shed to take away the sin of the World every where almost beslaver'd with the impious mouthes of execrable swearers And are there not some wretched people risen up amongst us in these days who out of a Luciferian Pride pretend that they are as well and as truly God as Jesus Christ because they have their Being in God and are partakers of the Divine Nature What then should the Church do but out of a detestation of these horrid impieties and out of a tender regard to the honour of her Lord give a signal testimony of her duty in commanding all her faithful children to bow their bodies in token of reverence unto him at the mentioning of his Name That Name I say which sounds the sweetest in the ears and hearts of poor penitent sinners which speaks him not onely to be Inmanuel God with us but Immanu as the rapture of our admired Bishop Andrews distinguisheth it With us or One of us bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh which hath been the occasion that his enemies have laid hold upon to make light account of him But enough of this It is said also that our bowing the body at our Entrance into the Congregation and Departure from it is Superstition In answer hereunto to add somewhat likewise to that which hath been written by others If this be Superstition we may justly retort it upon the common practice of Non-conformists themselves in their private meetings where they use at their rising up from their Devotions to bow their bodies to one another pretending as it hath been said by some of their principal leaders that it is a laudable custom among them for that they do thereby testifie their unanimity in the service of God and mutually witness their gratitude for their mutual praying for one another Thus plausibly can they please themselves with Apologies for what they act of this nature among themselves in private without any scruple at all of conscience and yet
uncharitably condemn the Churches order for doing the very same thing in publick to the same good ends and purposes amongst many other as if their private Incurvations were more warrantable from the word of God then our publick Genu-flexions Certainly as publick prayers are more acceptable unto God then private so publick reverence in the place and time of Gods Worship and Service will better become us and more adorn our Christian Profession then any thing can of that kinde in private whatsoever It is usual amongst us for men in token of reverence to be uncovered when they enter into the Congregation and it is generally look'd upon as a bold impiety if any should be so voyd of shame as to presume to do otherwise Judge then whether it be not as lawful to bend the knee or bow the body as to uncover the head in such a time and place since those gestures are more solemnly reverential then this and the more reverence we use that is sutable to the quality of the service we are about the more comely doubtless is it in the sight of God and man Our blessed Saviour would have his Disciples when they entred into an house to salute it And if the Sonne of Peace were there to let their peace at their departure rest upon it How much more then when we enter into and depart from the house of God for such are our Churches notwithstanding the malicious prating of profane scoffers as well as the Synagogues of old were amongst the Jews should we shew the affection of our hearts towards it by the gesture of our bodies Especially when we know that it is the Tabernacle of Meeting between God and his people Shall our God then the God of love and peace be there and we not aware of it And shall his people there assemble together in obedience to his Command To adore his goodness To praise his name To hear his word To receive his blessing To testifie their faith To pour out their requests To joyn together in a holy communion as becometh members of one and the same mystical body And should not we be ready as those that are obliged to the same obedience at our Entrance among them and Departure from them to give testimony by the bowing of our bodies of the bending of our souls to the same service and of our cordial rejoycing at our fellowship with them therein Nay more Are the glorious Angels there present as the holy Scriture once and again hinteth unto us they are desiring to look into our manner of the publick service of our God and willing to be our guardians in it And should not we from first to last so demean our selves therein with a respect unto their presence that they may rejoyce to behold their God and our God worshipped on earth as he is in heaven according to our capacities with reverence and godly fear Surely If these things were considered aright as they ought to be they that have hitherto been so stiff in their prejudices against the holy Church for requiring these externall Genu-flexions would be more flexible then they have been They would not say It sufficeth that our hearts are right towards God though we do not shew it and because God requireth truth in the inward parts Therefore it is enough that we do with our souls love the assemblies of Gods people and delight in the Law of our God in the inward man thereby thinking to palliate their want of reverence which is due to God and his Church But the wisdome of the Wise checks them for this their folly telling them that open rebuke is better then secret love This by the way in the vindication of the Order of our Church concerning these two particular Ceremonies Let us now proceed more generally as we began in answer to the before-mentioned Objection Secondly Admit that it was Will-worship which brought on those Ceremonies and Liturgy at first and hath now restored them yet it wil not follow that they therefore are superstitious For what is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Will-worship which the Apostle makes mention of Col. 2.23 Col. 2.23 And which these Objectours so much insist upon Great out-cryes indeed have been made against it But what if in the end it do appear that there is not a mark of dislike set upon it by the Holy Ghost but rather an approbation given unto it Let the place be consulted and we shall finde that the Apostle there joyns Will-worship with humility and beating down or mortifying of the Body both which are required in those that will be Disciples of Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not sparing If Will-worship therefore be to be condemned how comes it to be ranked with those things that are so good and commendable Again the Traditions that the Apostle speaks of are said in respect of Will-worship that is pretended to be in them to have a shew or pretext of wisdom that is of true spiritual wisdom otherwise what advantage would the shew be unto them And can any thing be said to have a shew or shine of such wisdom in Will-worship if all kinde of Will-worship be in it self sinful Hypocrites make a shew of Holiness and false Prophets will make a shew of Truth Zach. 13.4 putting on a rough garment to deceive so to make a shew of wisdom in Will-worship implies clearly that Will-worship is a thing good and acceptable unto God Else what shall we judge of the free will offerings among the Jewes which were not required by any particular Law but were left to every mans liberty and so were spontaneous not necessary And what else was the Celebration of Purim The fast of the fourth moneth kept for a memorial of the taking of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans the ninth day of that moneth Or the fast of the fifth moneth for the burning of the Temple the tenth day of that moneth Zach. 8.19 Or the fast of the seventh moneth for the death of Gedaliah upon which followed the utter dispersion of the remainder of the Jews into Egypt c. Or the fast of the tenth moneth for the seige laid before Jerusalem in the tenth day 2 Reg. 25.1 Moreover what were the abstinences and austerities of the Rechabites which are so commended by God Jer. 35. and yet were over and above the proportion that was required in the Law What the feast of dedication or restitution of the Jewes Temple and Religion which Antiochus had corrupted Mac. 4.59 instituted by Judas Maccabeus and his brethren and yet observed by Christ himself Joh. 10. All these and many more of the like nâ—â—â—â— which the Scripture makes mention of reckoned up by Docâ—â—â— Hammond in his Annotations on the Epistle to the Colossians whom I acknowledge to be the Authour of this Exposition what were they but Will-worship being supra statutum which some vainly conceive to be all one with Superstition not under any positive