ought to make question but that these humane inventions being performed not in superstition but in a good Intention are most acceptable well pleasing unto God and therefore ought of verie conscience to be conformed unto In which respect I do stryue gladly to dryue them from this deceitfull and conceited kinde of pleading by a Iudicial proceeding to the triall of their faith for so shall wee quickely discern what they are Infidels or Vnbeleevers for profession of the truth though never so fundamentall no nor practise of it also makes not a true beleever though a true professor for even that man of sin himselfe and many other of like ambitious humour know and acknowledge professe and practise many excellent truths but faith onely puts the difference and proues who is for the Lord and who bolds on the other side against him What action or ceremony then soever of Religious use is not conformed unto in faith is conformed to in infidelity unlesse we must admit of Agrippa his almost a Christian halfe faithfull halfe infidell halfe Papist halfe Protestant halfe of God and halfe of the Divell halfe Turke and halfe Christian not that I aime at any other perfection but that which is Evangelicall even sincerity and truth in all things but to declare that all are shut up under unbeliefe though they be never so wise and learned great and many till they bee enlightned But these men say and sweare they haue faith yea a iustifying living and saving faith as well as the best of them all and in their conformity do liue and walke thereby This is soone said but not so soone proved Let us therefore come to the tryall Faith consists not in good opinion or well meaning or preventing inconueniences For though I intend in kneeling before an image onely to stirre up my heart to devotion that I may with greater feeling and fervency call vpon God in the confession of my sins and craving pardon for the same yet this is not done in faith no though I finde that in my conceit such effect therein even as I did purpose and desire for nothing that is in nature as wisedom reason sence discretion iudgement experience or whatsoeuer can bee by any possible meanes in any respect the true object of saving faith for the learned and devout of all nations haue these and yet all in the true churches though true professors haue not faith but onely the word of God is the obiect of faith yea true and saving faith in all things of holy and religious use in the divine service of God rejects not onely what is forbidden therein but conformes to no thing but what in the evidence of the spirit is plainly grounded on the Scriptures for without the warrant and commandement of the word subscription to or approbation of any thing of divine use cannot bee an act of the faith of Gods elect but of some other counterfet faith transformed I confesse into the likenesse or appearance thereof which like Will with wispe ar Megg with Lanthorn or some other hob-goblin with a false light having dazled their sight or darkened their iudgement will by degrees lead them into the boggs and quagmires of Armenius his inherent grace free-will or other like deceiueable fables and damnable errors So that this is not an argument of true faith if I doe not conforme the people will bee untaught or the church overtbrowne and the like or it is not forbidden in the scripture therefore though it be of religious use in the worship of God and be onely devised by man yet thou mayest yea being commanded oughtest to conforme unto it but directly it is a plaine doctrine of infidelity For whereon I pray you is faith grounded in such a case but onely upon meere and wilde vncertainty a sea whereof this sluce will open As therefore it is the property of fooles to doubt of any thing which the Scriptures teach so it must needes be a speciall branch of infidelity in matters of conformity to things of religious use in Gods publicke worship to ground our faith therein for hope they will not say but they doe it in faith on any thing but the sacred Scriptures Now the Word telleth vs plainely that a table gesture was sanctified by our Lord in the institution are they not fooles then by Christs owne doome who will not beleeue that it is a good boly gesture that our faith in cōforming thereto is plainly grounded on the scriptures and seing no other gesture is warranted by the Scripture is not the doctrine of conformitie to any other whatsoeuer our faith therein being grounded on vncertainty a direct doctrine of Infidelity may not the Evangelists justly crie out Lord who hath beleeued our Report why so I pray you will some say what do they reporte euen this that in the first institution by Christ him self the sacramentall gesture in the act of taking or receving the holy bread and wine was onely a table gesture and no other will the professing and beleeving many other truthes though thou willfuly against the plane ouidence of the truth refuse to beleeue this euer prooue the to be a sound Christian hath Christ honoured a table gesture and do men onely honor another gesture will you say then conformity to them is an action of faith and yet refuse thereby that gesture which Christ by his presence approbation honored is not this to loue the praise of men or that which men praise more then the praise of God or that which his word commends true it is I knowe that men do preferre those that conforme vnto them and will not Christ doe so also Yea is it not a marke of infidelity to receiue such honour one of another and seeke not the honour that commeth from God alone Will you feare the displeasure of man if you doe not conforme and will you not feare the displeasure of God if you do not conforme to his gesture in the act of receiving I say his gesture for so none can deny but it was in the institution I meane of his direct appoynting and did he ever cashiere it or did his Apostles or true churches ever dislike or refuse it Take heed therefore for hee that beleeues not every place of Scripture beeing made known unto him will not be bound to be subject to any scripture further then hee lusts or likes They that will not beleeue Moses or his writings will not beleeue the doctrines or practise of Christ himselfe reject one place wittingly and in effect thou renouncest all Let us then beleeue the word of Iesus in this controversie he tels us by the Scripture that a table-gesture is a holy gesture of divine institution let us never therefore conforme to any other without like warrant For whatsoever hee hath done it shall be for ever unlesse himselfe alter it to it can no man add such deepnesse of learning is the very
the outward so the outward is the instrument of the soule to expresse the inward yea both these without those affections of the third commandement even holines to the Lord are in vaine and all three if possibly that can be without a conscionable observation of the Sabboth are abhominable Now as all the inward graces of the first commandement are the meere and free gifts of God and not at a mans command so all things essentially necessary in his outward worship as a gesture in the act of receiving the Sacrament is are Gods instruments for the edification of his Church even his conduits to convey those inward graces by which supernaturall vertue or divine property they cannot possibly haue from the canons or precepts of men though all the Christian world ioyne together therein but onely from the free will of God in making choyce of them and so appointing and ordaining them to such holy ends and purposes As therefore nothing ought to bee conformed unto in his outward worship but what is for edification so nothing can possibly be for edification in any degree or respect but what the Lord himselfe hath appointed for that use and purpose Either then kneeling for matter and manner as it is urged is for edification as indeed is pretended or else it may not bee conformed unto but for edification it cannot be unlesse God haue commanded it and therfore either proue by the word that God hath commanded it in the act of receiving or else though he haue commanded it in other parts of his worship and though you say it is not forbidden in this it is a humane device which never edifies but destroyes and therefore of absolute necessity to conforme thereto in the act of receiving the L. Supper is sin The Iewes silled the outward worship of God with actions and ceremonies deuised by them selves or by some other bordring people whose affinity they desired and whose conuersion they perhapps intended not hauing the least thought of setting vp another God or of declining from the true God but to stirre vp them selues with greater zeal and deuotion to serve the Lord their God and to draw others also to ioyne therein with them Yet did not this turne still to theire confusion many times to the ouerthrow of their state The Papists with the same consideratiō haue ordained new sacraments others in like humane boldnes ordain new sacramentals or ceremonies in the administration of the true sacraments you refuse conformity to theirs iustly as you speake because they are additions to the word and may wee conforme to yours without good warrant from the word you Conclude against them that of necessitie the word must come to the elements to prooue and make it plaine that God hath ordained these verie visible signs to be his instruments of grace for the edification of his Church or els though they haue all the devoutest significations that man can deuise there can be no sacrament and haue your ceremoniall signes such a supreame prerogatiue as without direct warrant from the word they ought ipso facto to be conformed vnto Indeed if a Reall presence which in the scriptures sence we acknowledg had destroyed the nature as it changeth the vse of the elements then the breaden gesture or the gesture of kneeling vsed to the breaden god had beene an vnavoidable consequence God is the God of the order as well as of the substance of his worship yea the verie outward order is a speciall parte of the substance of his outward worship and a principall parte of the proper subiect of the second Commandement which honor of ordaining ordering his owne ceremonies in his own worship he neuer committed to Angell prophet or Apostle but laid the gouernment thereof only vpon Christ and will not giue it to any other Now Christs gouernment for order in the act of receving we see to be a table gesture dare we then forsake this and conforme to your order of kneeling without any warrant from the word of Christ no not so much as from an Angel a prophet or an Apostle or Apostolicall Churches In the Institution the Ceremonies of the sacrament had the same warrant from Christ that the signes had If then it be an infallible marke of Antichrist to take away or alter the Elementall signes in which spiritually Christ is Really exhibited how can you Iustifie the alteration of the ceremoniall signe by which euery faithfull beleeuer doth really receaue him are not both these signs together sacramentally vnited to be those verie visible grauen Images or most liuely and reall representions whereby as by his selected and predestinated instruments God the father doth giue Iesus Christ his son all his graces to his children according to the measure of euery man by the effectual working of the holy ghost yea are not these together for without both nothing can be effected I meane the elementall and ceremonial signes by Gods owne ordinance efficient instrumentally to exhibit and receaue whole Christ and all his benefits and yet will you O what will not the Rebellious will of man presume to do against his direct Commandement make vnto your selues other Images and alter these Hereto you reply and say they are but ceremonies and thereto say I no more was the calf in Horeb or those in Dan and Bethel yea these are Christs Ceremonies and the very Ark or Cherubims were no more These are not therefore Idle or for state and ornament or vpon any respect or consideration to be varîed but purposely ordained and in the most absolute perfection of the divine wisdome in the verie institution for the help and strengthening of our weak faith vsed and established being therefore by Christ vnited and Ioyned with the word to make a perfect sacrament and a compleat maner of pertaking spiritual food how may they by any humane authority ever bee altred doth not such a graunt strike mainly and fundamentally at the authority of the second Commandement yea is it not high presumption when the Lord offers this heavenly food not by peeces but in fullnes neither seuering his graces from the substance nor the substance from the graces but even whole Christ and all his merits for us to alter not the placing or order onely which himselfe used and therefore being never repealed thereby established which yet were a fault foule enough but the very dishes or ceremonies themselues wherein this spirituall food is prepared tendred and received as some in restraining the cup others in altering the very elements and you in altering the gesture for so much doth conformity professe wherewith it is received As therefore no one part of Christ wrought our salvation but whole Christ and as where there is no more but the body and bloud of Christ received if that possibly could be yea though really there is no Christ received because it is the spirit or divine grace that quickneth unto eternall life and therefore the true receiving
inferres thus much and in this sence is so often mentioned in the scripture and conform to another or the likenesse therof which inferres and intimates communion with Antichrist and his followers or well-willers as kneeling doth Whereof therefore there is not onely no mention in the holy Scriptures but continuall intimations both in this and in all things else of religious use to the contrary I confesse it is very true that neither the visible signes representing nor the ceremoniall signes or gestures giving or receiving haue any naturall or inherent power efficacie or vertue to convey any manner or measure of spirituall grace to the receiver more then kneeling or any other gesture or signes whatsoever but the Lord was pleased to select and make choyce of these before all other and so it was his very will which concludes nothing without consulting with his wisedom and loue to make these efficient instrumentally hereunto As therefore our Lords using the bread and wine in the institution and never approving of any other made them the onely visible signes and no other by any meanes may in the act of giving or receiving be conformed unto so his very using a table gesture in the institution and never giving warrant in the scripture for any other is a direct commandement to use this and a plaine prohibition to conforme to any other If a table and visible signes thereon be necessary in the administration of the sacrament then the gesture of necessity both in giving and receiving must haue reference thereunto if there bee a feast for the guests invited to that table to eate and drinke that provision which is prepared set thereon then a festivall gesture must needs be most seemly as having relation to a feast even as at weddings wedding garments yea if it had been left to the wisedome and discretion of the Church a table gesture by the naturall Law of Correlatiues must needs of all other be most fit and decent Indeed seeing the Papists haue altered the Table to an Altar and the feast of God unto man to a sacrifice by men unto God they haue very wisely enioyned such a gesture as may hold correspondency with and hath a most fit relation to an Altar and to a sacrifice thereon Of all the gestures therefore in the world the likenesse of theirs is most unlawfull for us to conform unto As the heavenly things signified are never received if the earthly signes or instrumentall meanes be neglected so if the ceremoniall signe or gesture wherewith the holy elements are received bee wittingly innovated and against our knowledge perverted from the order of the institution such conformity hath no promise of a blessing from God continuance or custome therein must needs therefore harden the heart which of all iudgements and curses in this world is the most grievous Ieroboam and the Iewes never purposed or intended in their calues or other abominations of Molech Ashtaroh Baal or the like to alter the substance of Gods inward worshipe no nor yet to varie from the maine end or intent of his outward worshippe which was to knit the hart more and more vnto God and therefore these or any other of their images were nor representations of any other Trinitie or person then is therein but onely in a dyuers manner of one and the same Iehovah for considering the naturall disposition and diuers education or customes of those seuerall nations with whom they were mixed and desirous to draw them to the true religion and service of God and salvation of their soules they inclined some thing to the ceremonies and inventions of these heathens in the actions and gestures of Gods outward worship but were most carefull to haue the doctrine of the inward substance and spirituall significations concerning faith in the Messias to come preserued sound namely to loue the Lord with all their heart and with all their soule and to thinke no thing too deare for him whole Ryuers of oyle thowsands of Bullocks and Ramms yea the first borne of their children and there was neuer people killed no nor silenced or imprisoned for teaching this inward substance though hee were a son of thunder neuer so zealous and fervent therein but onely for refusing conformitie to theire state ceremonies wherein yet many learned prophets and reuerend Leuits and graue preists protested there was nothing intended but the very same decencie humillitie vnity and stirring vp of the heart to deuotion which the Lord aimed at required and diuers of them did vow vpon their saluation I speake by way of supposition that they having had experience of both ceremonies or formes of worship haue found as much inward comfort and heavenly consolation and haue been rapt up with as divine meditations in the ceremonies of Baal and of the Calues as in those at Ierusalem and they yeeld a sufficient reason which will giue a satisfaction to any honest and indifferent heart for say they it is true that these ceremonies gestures in their originall among the heathens were Idolatrous damnable and divellish for they used them to other gods and not to the true God Now we haue put it into the Magistrates head when he consulted for the setling of the state in peace that the retaining of these being purged from their Idolatrous abuse and the substance of the worship of the true God being preserved sound and ioyned with them and the mysticall significations of Gods ordinances being transferred unto these will be so farre off from confirming them in their old superstitions as it will proue the onely meanes in all learned probability and wise experience to make them all absolute prosolites But to this you say that notwithstanding such pretences their sin is most fearfull and damnable because they had the law of God as well direct for every ceremony and gesture in the outward service of God as either for the intent of the outward or for the substance of the inward worship and God never left or referred any action gesture or ceremony of religious use especially in his divine service to Moses David or Salomon but referred his Church still to the patterne which onely by the revealed word was made known unto them and therefore though it be never so true that they intended to serue God in these things and had very considerately and painfully purged them in a devised purgatory from their black-Mootes hue yet not being warranted by his word they offered their service in them not unto God but unto Divels For the Lord is not therefore God unto men because they suppose him so to be or verily intend to esteeme of him thus or so but because by his word which is as true as his own maiesty he hath manifested and made himselfe known to be so yea whatsoever doctrine concerning God in essence nature person property or attribute is other then the word doth teach is an Idoll of their owne heart a vision of their owne braine an imagination
of their owne devising yea though all the learning and wisedom in the world do never so well intend therby or religiously esteem therof Even so this gesture or that ceremony in divine worship is not therefore done unto God because in conformity thereto it is simply and seriously intended to doe it onely unto him but if it be not warranted by the word it is wicked and Divellish what good intent soever be in it Hereto the better sort of these graue and reverend Rabbins reply and tell you that though it be true that the law is as direct for the ceremonie as for the substance and that the Church is as strictly tied to the direction and warrant of the word for every one of them as for the most fundamentall poynt in the doctrine of Iustification or the substance or inward worship and may not vary one iot therefrom no not in any thing whatsoever without warrant thereof yet seeing it is not in their choyce to use or not to use them but a very great necessitie is layd upon them by the Magistrate and the Church who for some secret causes and State considerations haue in a most solemne Convocation or Assembly considerately by an vniversall consent determined the lawfulnesse and fitnesse of the ceremonies of these golden Calues and therefore haue decreed that whosoever will not conforme thereunto shall be after Canonicall admonition deprived and no longer suffered to minister before the Lord. In this case of extremiâ—y therefore utrum horum yea seeing the Magistrate professeth open detestation of all manner of Idolatry in these things and the Church condemnes all Idolatrous or superstitious use of them and they themselues understand the use of them in a sincere sence which qualifies whatsoever can be obiected against them Therfore rather then they will be contentious and breake yea or disturbe the quiet peace of the holy Church and leaue their flockes and charges so deere unto them unto woolvish or ambitious or carnall teachers and so be deprived of their ministery as deere unto them as their liues they are perswaded from these grounds that in this case they may very warrantably undergoe conformity doing it unwillingly as the Lord in whose pressence they stand beares them witnesse and bearing it as a heavy burthen till it please the Lord to visit his Churches with his salvation and to take from the shoulders thereof this heavy load which even bends the backe and at length will breake the necke thereof For prevention whereof they will teach and maintaine preserue and defend the substance and foundation sound and sincere from error and corruption and therfore though the Magistrate and Church do grivously sin in coÌ„manding yet they in conformity unto them are meere patients and not agents and therefore in so doing incline rather to martyrdome for God then rebellion against God Hereunto you reioyne and tell them in louing yea in most wise and learned termes that if their case had been indeed as yours is they had well sayd and most sufficiently answered and all the Vniversities in the whole world could never haue confuted them but they having so direct lawes for all manner of ceremonies of religious use and direct prohibitions against any other though an Angel from heaven should ioyne with the Magistrate they ought rather to haue followed that holy remarkeable and matchlesse president of their zealous fellow-Priests and learned Levies and other devout and iust persons who had set their very hearts to seeke the Lord and with them to haue left their suburbs and possessions their livings and free-holds and so to haue gone to Iuda and Ierusalem to haue offered to the Lord God of their fathers according to the warrant of the word and so to haue strengthened the kingdom both with peace and prosperity whereas the varying from the warrant of the word in the doctrine and practise of these ceremonies of religious use in the worship of God hath the cleane contrary effect and strongly yea strangely weakens the kingdom and Church by breeding diversity of opinions schismes divisions oppositions heart-burnings and grudges with infinite other muddy perturbations according to the variety of humor which men experienced in fishing can tell how to make use of therefore are content to foresee and further therefore conformity in such a case though never so unwillingly undergone yea though with all reasonable and wise considerations tempered and iudicious expositions and honest intentioms qualified is so farre off from looking after or inclining unto martyrdom as it opens the very widest gate to mutinie and rebellion both against God and man If then wee haue as direct warrant for the lawfulnesse of a table gesture as ever the Iewes had for their worship at Ierusalem and that the word of the Gospell bee as sure and certaine being spoken by Christ and his blessed Spirit as that under the Law which it cannot be unlesse it giue as certaine and sound directions for the ceremonies under the Gospell as that by Moses did for the ceremonies under the Law For if it bee an unsure word in the ceremonie how can we be sure it is sure in the substance then I say to erre from the practise of Christ in the institution without a direct precept or warrant from the sure word of God though you haue the same holy intent in such gestures and the like reverend respect to such ceremonies as you haue to Gods own ordinances yet conformity thereto even in them that do it ignorantly is sinfull but in those that doe it wilfully against their knowledge it is dangerous to the State and Church and breeds carnall worldly yea divellish dispositions and practises in such hearts when time and opportunity shall call for the effectes thereof Will any man be content that his liuely Image shall in any part thereof bee defaced The whole action of this sacrament both in signes and ceremonies and not some parcels thereof without the rest is the most liuely Image and representation of the most precious body and bloud of our Lord Iesus as God the Father hath ordained and appoynted to exhibit and giue it to be the spirituall nourishment of our soules even meat and drinke indeed unto eternall life Suppose the gesture be but the meanest part of this Image of Christ yet if without his warrant it be altered from the first institution the very patterne for the pourtraying of all others afterwards is there not iust cause of offence And dare any by conformity to any alteration therein professe vow that though it doe directly differ in this and that yet if we thinke so then it is his very true Image though something bee superfluous or out of the first order Is not every errour though not in the same degree opposite to truth and every defect contrary to perfection As there is difference betwixt the substance of the sacrament Christ Iesus our Lord and the fruits and benefits of the sacrament our holinesse sanctification and
of a spirituall or holy use and such none can be but those gestures and ceremonies onely which are ordained by our holy God In all and euery one of which being faithfully vsed as there is certeinly and infallibly a blessing to be obtaind so whatsoeuer of religious vse is known not to be ordained by God but onely by man it is at least vtterly voide of all spirituall blessing if not filled with contrary effects and therefore not in any respect to be conformed vnto But such is this ceremony and therefore vnlawfull They that conforme to a right gesture or ceremonie in the sacrament and want the inward eye mouth and hand of the soule receiue onely the elements with Iudas not the spirituall things signified by which vnworthines they eate and drinke their owne damnation because they discern not the Lords body though they truly discerne vse the Lords gesture wil not by any means conforme to any other for they trample vnder foote the blood of Christ as an unholy thing not that they esteem it so in their minde for this trampling is inward or spirituall but where faith is wanting there is unworthy partaking and faith is as necessary in the action or gesture of taking as in the act it selfe for this whole action of the sacrament and not some speciall or principall parts therin is the evidence or seal of our assurance of partaking the divine mysteries or holy things signified even of our true and spirituall cōmunion with Christ To conforme then to a wrong gesture having no promise of any blessing cannot be an action of faith aud therefore sin Eating and Drinking are sacramentall phrases applying that to the soule which is proper to the body but doe necessarily imply that there must of absolute necessity be a spirituall eating and drinking in the very act of the corporall eating or els no benefit or spirituall blessing can possibly be sealed up by that action which necessarily inferres that such a gesture is onely lawfull in this action as in the nature thereof holds proportion with eating and drinking and hath relation thereunto which onely a table gesture doth and therefore was selected and chosen by Christ the Lord of the sacrament and sanctified in the institution and so not onely by his using preferred before all other but no other being commanded in the word it is thereby made onely usefull in the act of receiving and no other to be conformed unto If a corporall or visible and locall coniunction which yet cannot profit the soule or any other learned device of the spiritualtie were sufficient to bee conceited or with strong imagination to be beleeved then indeed any gesture or ceremony of carnall devising were indifferent or good enough and might safely be conformed unto but faith being invisible lookes according to the nature thereof not to reason and sence wisedom and discretion or other like humane considerations but to the things that are invisible and therefore in all the actions and ceremonies of Gods worship dare onely conforme to such as by his appointment who is invisible haue an inseparable relation by his divine institution to the invisible things signified or represented yea and verily exhibited in them and dare not conform to any other though by the learned Cleargie the same relation be appointed thereunto Reason and Sence even in Nicodemus cry mainly out How can this be It is impossible And in others Can this man giue us his flesh This is a hard saying who can choose but be offended at it So also in Naaman Why should not the rivers of Damascus being used with the like good intention and purpose be as full of vertue to wash away sin or leprosie as that of Iorden it is but an idle conceit of guiddy heads that makes this difference yea what good argument can any such finde out that is able to assure their consciences they do well in suffering for refusing conformity herein Even so concerning this blessed sacrament some cry out How can a peece of bread or a suppe of wine nourish my soule or increase my faith or patience humility and contentment Others which is a branch springing from the same root with open mouth exclaim Why should not all gestures in the act of receiving be alike or any gesture in the worship of God though deuised by man be indifferent What reason can bee given that one should be better then another and therefore why should not kneeling be as good as the table-gesture Here wisedom learning discretion reason and experience in a temperate and graue modesty lay hand upon their mouthes and for peace sake in this case of extremity by silence doe subscribe but faith knowes full well as a thing never denied unlesse by carnall and worldly minded persons that every thing is therefore onely good and better then all other because God hath commanded it and that nothing can possibly be of good or holy use in the holy worship of our most holy God but that onely which himselfe hath commanded instituted or ordained and therefore that whatsoever of religious use in his service is not in the word directly commanded is by direct consequence by the same word forbidden my reason is because every action of Gods worship is either performed in obedience or disobedience if it be in disobedience though in a case of extremity and danger or in case of commodity and advantage is it not if performed against our knowledge direct rebellion as in Saul And you cannot for shame say that your conformity is obedience unlesse a commandement from God go before For if our holy intentions and good considerations and purposes or zealous devotions could make our devised gestures and actions in Gods service works of obedience which of all the Kings of Iuda had not iust cause to punish and kill the Prophets for reproving them for their inventions which had as many good intentions as any in these dayes can haue But the old rule holds Whatsoever is not done in faith especially in actions gestures and ceremonies of religious use is sinne If then you bring faith to make triall of the lawfulnesse of these things in question it will not hearken what Canons this Convocation made nor regard what that Councell decreed or what such a State commanded or such reformed Churches practised or those reverent preachers godly people conforme unto but what God commands or what saith the Lord in his word and in this particular controversie faith retires to the institution wherein is set downe upon divine record what the Apostles received of the Lord concerning the gesture for their direction in laying the foundation for the ceremony in the act of receiving the Sacrament in any Church whatsoever yea faith dare not conforme to any thing of divine use in Gods publicke worshippe without Gods direct warrant in the word though all the wise and learned men in the world do never so highly commend and extoll it So that if it be
not done in obedience it is not done in faith and then you will confesse it is sinne and then you know we may not conforme unto it though we might prevent thereby never so great and fearefull mischiefes and procure never so many benefits blessings it cannot be done in obedience of faith unlesse a commandement goe before for looke whom you obey his servants you are that therefore cannot be Gods divine service which God doth not by his divine word command or that cannot be an action of faith which is not commanded by the word and every action of religious use which is not of faith is expressely forbidden Try your selues therfore whether in conforming to kneeling in the act of receiving the Lords holy Supper you stand in the faith or no if you say you looke to God and haue powred out your soules before him as your consciences and many other can beare you witnesse and you dare appeale to him how deere your ministery is unto you and how loath you are to leaue your flockes to a company of roaring boyes or raging beasts c. I answer if you looke to God then you must look to him in his word for else whatsoever you intend he doth not intend to be God unto you if you haue not his warrant therein you do not looke to the true God no more then the Barbarian or Turke doth but do make a very Idoll of him I meane our God doth not blesse or approue of any thing of religious use in his worship as good and lawfull to bee conformed unto but onely those things which himselfe requires in his word and he that will accept of any thing which is not commanded in the word is an Idoll and not the true God for all things concerning him or his worship are onely made known to his Church by the scriptures and the Churches never erre in these things but when they want the commandement or warrant of the word the defect whereof all the learning devotion wisedom authority and zeale of the whole world cannot supply I confesse you make goodly shewes for excusing your conformity but what haue you sayd or what can you pretēd which Ieroboam would not haue accepted at the hands of those Priests who left their places and charges because they would not conform to the ceremonies of the calues And if it be lawfull in you why not in them I confesse that which you obiect that their conformity overthrew the very substance of Gods worship but not that you will not say which was inward but that only which was outward and which is required in the second commandement for the doctrine of the inward substance was in the intention of that provision preserued sound but the forme of Gods outward worship was mainly and diversly I confesse perverted and I also acknowledge that your conformity is nothing so grosse and abhominable as theirs yet this I dare say and testifie that it is of the same nature and that it corrupts and perverts this part of Gods worship in the act of receiving the body and bloud of Christ so that though they differ and differ very greatly yet it is onely in the Species and not in the Genus Without further contention therefore let us bring it to the true rule Whence doth your conformitie come It is a matter concerning Gods outward worship and divine service and so appertaining to the second commandement What must bee the cause of this for if the cause be good the effect is good faith is the cause of all true obedience and that obedience or conformity which is not an effect of faith cannot by all the trickes and devises in the world ever be made good for where the cause is there is the effect and where the effect is there is the cause the effect can never bee in truth whatsoever is conceited or pretended where the cause is not If therefore kneeling as it is urged bee an effect of faith then haue you a precept a promise for it is in the word upon which your faith is grounded and so your obedience and conformity is holy but if it bee not in this very kinde required therein it cannot possibly be an effect of faith and therefore set the best face you can upon it it is but an Idoll of mans invention and therefore conformitie thereto upon what pretence or in what case of extremity soever is unlawfull and wicked It is confessed and professed publikly by some of you that the magistrate sins greevously in requiring this conformity but yet you do well in yeelding thervnto rather then to suffer such a world of incōveniences which you wisely carfully foresee wil otherwise fall vpon Church Cōmonweale Cōpare your case with former times Dauid sinned grevously though not presūptuously as I think some of you do not in bringing the arke from Gibeah in a new Carte this Arke or outward worke the glory of Israell in this iorney was so dangerously shaken by the oxen at the threshing floore of Ornan as if Vzza had not put to his hand it was like to haue bin broken all to peeces did not Vzza cōmendably therfore in putting forth his hand to preuent such a mischeif is not this your very argument many inseparable euils cleaue to this cōsequence he was not stricken for touching the ark for that the Leuits might do but onely for the manner and order of touching it being in a cart which was not warranted by God and I tell you the best and most learned men in the whole world are but as oxen and put the Arke of Gods word into the most temperate Cart of their newest and best reformed Invention they will grieuouusly shake the verie substance of it Seing then the sacraments and whatsoeuer is sacramentall as a gesture in the act of receaving is are ordeined not by man but by God not for any worldly carnall or civill respects as to testifie our obedience to the magistrate which yet I confesse must most cheerfully be manifested but meerly and properly for spirituall vses euen to nourish our soules by sealing vp unto our hearts the assurance and certeintie of the couenant of grace in the free pardon of all our sins through the sole merit of the most pretious blood of our Lord Iesus Christ most liuely represented and truly or effectually exhibited to every faithfull beleeuer herein let vs hold fast the right order and forme of administration thereof in all the signs elementall or ceremoniall euen in all the actions gestures or ceremonies which by Christ himself in the first administration being vsed and neuer after repealed not any other by his warrant established come within the compasse of diuine institution Ieast wittingly though wee pretend vnwillingly conforming to the alteration of the signe though but ceremoniall wee depriue our selues of that which stands in relation therevnto which is substantiall The sacraments with all the essentiall properties therein together with the scepter of
will distinguish vs from Idolatrous vnclean persons and are your consciences perswaded that this plaine apparant difference and direct and wilful dissenting from Christ and his Apostles in the ceremonie of the acte in receaving so long as we holde the doctrine of the inward substance sounde and free it in teaching from fundamentall corruption hauing no warrant from scripture but only from sence and so conforming to a gesture which hath beene allwaies not in some but in all true Churches of ill reporte will this course I say giue sound testimonie of our vnion with Christ as our head and with all reformed Churches as fellow members haue you warrant from the words of eternall life for this perswasion or is it but a conceite of your owne imagination arysing from an honest affection to continue your ministery and to do good to your people I beseech you consider what is the true obiect of your faith in this choice which you haue so consideraâ—ly made for if faith doe not guide you heerein you haue done an abominable thing and to ground faith on any thing but onely the worde of God is at best erronius but wittingly persisted in is Idolatrous wil vtrum horum or in a case of superior reason satisfie in this case and testifie for you that you are not gone from the truth in this conformity because you once were for it search the scriptures you were best and if you finde no good warrant there repent and returne for els you cannot rest here but do the best you can you shall decline more and more Remember Demas There haue been indeed signes or sacraments and ceremonies of religious use in the publicke worship of God which were variable and not perpetuall but differed from the first institution and came in and went out as the times and occasions of the Church required as the rocke was called Christ the sea Baptisme the brazen serpent was a figure also of him and divers other as Manna and the Rocke but was it ever heard unlesse in the mouthes of false teachers that the Churches ought to conforme to any sacraments either ordinary or extraordinary or to any such significant Rite or ceremony as the questioned gesture is which are not expressely grounded on the word of God but as it ever was no great or strange thing that the Ministers of the Divell should transforme themselues and by their teaching many fundamentall truthes and by many pleasing passages of their life deceiue the world yea and notwithstanding their abhominable workes and most damnable hypocrisie yet be reputed and taken for the Ministers of Righteousnesse being growne so absolute in the trade of Deceitfulnesse even so let it not seem any wonder that men of your parts and gifts having changed your mindes do labour to transform the traditions of men and ceremonies or rudiments of the world into the very likenesse of the ordinances of Jesus Christ for whosoever liues shall see greater things then these breake forth in you But as nothing in the worship of God can possibly profit unlesse it be mixed with true faith so it is utterly impossible that iustifying faith should upon any tearmes or in any respect bee mixed with any thing in the service or worship of God which is not grounded on the word of God if then your contentious gesture be not in that very manner and order as it is urged warranted by the word of God it is not neither possibly can bee of faith and therefore may not for prevention of the greatest mischiefe in the world bee conformed unto for we may not do the least evill though the greatest good that could be wished would come to the Church thereby Some please themselues with a conceited evasion from the phrase of Supper earnestly contending that we are no more tied to Christs gesture then to Christs supper which I willingly grant to be very true even that we are bound to both alike but yet let them also be pleased to understand that the purpose of the Holy Ghost is not by this sacramentall phrase to set forth the fittest time in the peaceable condition of the Church for the administration of this Sacrament which being to succeed and come in the roome of the passover was as I may safely say by a casuall necessity inforced to attend the evening or Supper passover but to expresse for ever to all the Churches of Christ that this sacrament is the solemne great feast of the Lord IEHOVAH wherein he keepes open house and sets forth his rich loue exceeding bounty and admirable greatnesse yea immeasurable goodnesse by the surpassing excellency of his all-sufficient provision and by the hearty welcome loving countenance kinde and familiar entertainment of his beloved guests who are invited to his owne table not as strangers or by way of curtesie or to shew his magnificence and bounty but as his deerest and most respected friends to whom onely he admits this particular and speciall familiarity must not therefore of necessity I speake but by the way their gesture in this action hold correspondencie with and haue relation unto a feast and to a table and to beloved friends of whose hearty welcome this whole action whereof the gesture is a part is a most certaine assurance Yet the word Supper is not put in at random or accedentally but purposely and for speciall instruction to teach the Church for ever that as usually their greatest and most solemne sumptuous feasts wherein they desired to expresse and manifest the superabundance of their loue and entire good will were not at dinners but at suppers so this great feast or supper of the Lord doth affoord to every worthy partaker a most plentifull and abundant increase of all those graces and heavenly comforts which are formerly or elsewhere obtained by any other of Gods ordinances whatsoever and that there is no where the like provision to be sound againe for even aske the father what you can here it is to be had he that neglects this must never looke for the like againe any where else Now I beseech you I meane those that stand so much upon sence and reason consider whether it be not very high yea intollerable presumption for any invitant to thinke any thing wanting in this princely feast of this King of eternall glory and so to take upon him either to ad matter of substance or ornameÌ„t or order having seen the carriage and gesture of the kings owne person and of all his most honourable guests yet in a conceit of his owne wisedom learning and experience having perhaps been a farre traveller undertakes to set downe a more seemly and decent ceremony for the gesture or behaviour of the guests then then the Lord himselfe by his owne presence approved and appointed dare wee conforme to the practise of such a device as lawful good especially being very like the behauiour of the most mortall and deadly enemy that the King hath Your conformitie
Aedes Christi in Academiâ Oxoniensi THE SECOND PART OF A PLAIN DISCOVRSE OF AN VNLETTERED CHRISTIAN WHEREIN BY WAY OF demonstration hee shevveth vvhat the reasons bee vvhich hee doth ground upon in refusing conformity to kneeling in the act of receiving the Lords Supper * ⎠* By Tho. Dighton Gent. PSAL. 119. 113. I hate vaine inventions but thy law doe I loue Printed in the yeare 1619. TO ALL FAITHFVL MINISTERS AND CHRISTIANS WHO ARE perswaded of the lawfulnes of kneeling in the act of receiving the Lords Supper grace in Christ Iesus and satisfaction by these presents AL this whole world and all the learning and wisdome thereof lies in wickednes or darknes and cannot possibly discerne or judge and find out whether any gesture be indifferent or if they were which is the fittest gesture for he that walketh in darknes knoweth not whither he goeth whither he conforme to a right gesture or to a wrong it is all oneto him Harken not then to the arguments or reasons of Darknes or of flesh bloud though all the chosen chariots of Egipt go before thē but let vs goe to the light not in the doctrine onely but in the Ceremonie also not in the substance onely but in the gesture also for no error may be conformed vnto in either and whatsoeuer is not warranted by the light must needs bee darknes yea if it come not from the truth of necessity it is erroneous and dangerous and therefore not to bee conformed vnto If then Christ bee the light of the world and his word be the onely truth in the world then whosoever followes not Christ in the gesture according to the testimony of the word walkes in darknesse and conformes to errour therein Howsoever therefore I doe with all thankefulnesse to God and due respect of you confesse and acknowledge that I doe highly reverence you with Peter yet I doe avow in the sight of God and of all his Churches that all those are worthy to be blamed who either iustifie or approue conformity to kneeling in that manner and order as it is urged and by the meaner or poorer sort refused or especially that presse it with such violence as if they would take it by force yea herein I am bold through Christ to resist you because I know Whosoever be his gifts never so excellent and admirable doth any thing in substance or in ceremony presumptnously against the apparant practise of the Apostolicall primitiue Churches grounded in the evidence of the spirit upon the plaine testimony of the inspired Scriptures being approved by Christ himselfe in the very institution and haue no warrant from the word of God for their so doing do directly blaspheme the Lord which place that I be not censured to abuse or any other at any time upon this occasion mentioned by me this once for alwayes I doe in all humility desire the godly to consider and remember that howsoever every place of Scripture hath a particular intendment or speciall respect yet in the large extent thereof as it hath relation unto all ages Churches and persons there is also and that warrantably a more generall drift and purpose directly intended though therefore I presse them not in that speciall or particular intent yet if according to the true Analogie of faith I use and urge them in the larger sence and respectiue meaning of the Holy Ghost I hope I may sasely yea in the assurance of faith iustifie that I erre not from the direct purpose of the spirit of truth As for example the Holy Ghost saith that not to heare the the voyce of Christ even in all things will harden the heart Whence I conclude from the large extent and generall scope of these places That not to heare and regard the word of God which is the voyce of Christ which plainly declares that Christ hath approued a table-gesture and no other and yet to declare and teach the people that any gesture ordained by the Church and in particular this in question is lawfull and ought onely to be conformed to or in cases of extremity may bee vndergone as a burden though Christ haue given no warrant for it I say such positions and courses taken and maintained will harden the wisest most learned best disposed and most zealous heart or hearts of the sincerest teachers and professors in the best reformed Churches in the world Againe it is said When Christ commeth hee will tell us all things the particular intent of this place concernes the publicke worship of God from the larger and generall scope whereof I hold it a most warrantable conclusion that Christ in his word hath certainly made knowne what gesture we may conforme to in the act of receiving the Lords Supper being essentially necessary in this part of his worship but in the whole Scrip. Christ hath not given approbation to any but a Table-gesture therefore no other may bee conformed unto For these things were not written for them of those times onely but for us also yea for all the churches to the end of the world Another thing I also desire not to be mistaken in namely that though I do verily beleeue and therfore confidently affirme that Conformitie to any gesture of religious vse in the worship of God being not warranted by the word is absolutly vnlawfull and sinfull yet do I not thereby Iudge or hold all Conformitants to be vile and wicked persons or that such Congregations are not the true Churches of Christ for I know it is God which works both the will and the deede euen of his good pleasure as he sees best not alike at all times nor to all persons but some shall remaine ignorant of some truths yet not to be therfore seperated from Others hate all Inventions yet not therfore to be runne after as if they were the onely true churches and salvatiō no where els to be found some I say ignorantly conforme to error others according vnto knowledge abhorre and hate all false waies and yet both of these the true Churches and faithfull servants of God Onely my desire before the Lord is to strip hypocrits of that conceite which they haue of their wisdom learning authoritie and great estimation which they haue purchased or obtained in the world for nature or the naturall man putting on the shew of grace or the name and title of the spirituall man as the Asse in the lyons skinne is presently conceated that forthwith they are Canonically holy spirituall or diuine because such traditionall titles are successiuoly compounded for thē though none in the world be more lycentious and profane then euen some of thē yea and that in these outward forms of Godlines divised by man for Gods diuine worship and service the verie substance of Religion so farre as it is outward and subiect to sence doth in a speciall or principall parte consist for they hold that no man neede or
must be spirituall and of whole Christ God and man or else no benefit is received even so the visible instruments corporall substances or bodily exercises which in the institution our Lord united for the exhibiting and receiving this spirituall food may not be separated omitted altered or displaced Seeing then the Lord himselfe for the effecting of this divine and spirituall worke hath ioyned them together is it not high presumption I say to alter them or put them asunder True it is that the spirituall eye hand and mouth onely seeth receiveth and pertaketh this heavenly food and I dare appeale to any who haue this eye to bee iudge in this case even which gesture is most decent and seemly that which out blessed Lord and Saviour in the institution of the Sacrament made choyce of as the very best of all other whatsoever for I hope you will not deny but that if he had known a better I mean would he ever haue had his Churches to haue a better opinion of any other as more decēt or in any respect more useful or as fit he would either then haue chosen it for some of his disciples to haue used or else left warrant in the word for our conformity thereto or whether that gesture in case of deprivation be rather to be conformed unto for so much you inferre notwithstanding your distinctions of unwillingnesse and I know not what which many hundred yeares after was devised by Antichrist were his doctrines doctrines of Divels because they were of his owne devising and are not his ceremonies of the same disposition And yet must we conforme unto them or by your own confession to the likenesse of them Is there no transgression in this haue we no precept for things of good report Doth no commandement forbid all appearance of evill yea the use of any thing not being commanded by God for then the abuse indeed is onely to bee taken away which hath been an instrument of Idolatry This Sacrament was ordained not to nourish to a carnall or temporall life but to a holy and spirituall that so in all the occasions and occurrences of this world we might liue by faith and be made able more and more to bring forth the fruits thereof it must of necessity therefore follow that this ceremonial signe or gesture or any thing essentially necessary in the act of receiving this holy nourishment may not be carnall or of humane devising but holy and spirituall not onely in the intention of the party for so was theirs to the Calfe but of divine ordinance or else whatsoever the world esteemes of it it is most abhominable unto God and dare we then conforme unto it so that what gesture soever is proposed if Christ haue not ordained it it is strange and vnlawfull and so not being holy conformity thereto is hatefull for none can make a gesture for the sacrament holy but onely he that may ordaine a sacrament As the elementall signe being delivered hath relation to the spirituall thing signified so the ceremoniall signe or significant gesture in the act of receiving hath relation to the very true and assured partaking of that heavenly feast and spirituall food which is the thing signified and whereunto the Lord hath invited us as his most welcome guests and deerely beloved friends even to his owne Table to haue communion and fellowship with him in partaking of his divine nature in the act of receiving this sacrament Therefore as in cases of extremitie to use other signes herein is erroneous and wilfully to persist therein is directly heresie and as the Papists in ordaining an other manner of union or coniunction betwixt the elementall signes and the spirituall things signified then the nature of them will suffer do destroy the Sacrament and by changing it into a sacrifice commit most damnable Idolatry so you in iustifying defending or excusing without warrant from God this gesture of kneeling as it is urged altogether disproportionall to a Feast or Supper and to a Table wherein the visible signes are set apart and prepared though you wash your hands neuer so often to giue testimony of your innocency doe giue sentence against Christ his own practise in the institution the sole president of the whole action and doe directly inferre that you hane a more fit and decent gesture then he could finde out and make choyce of As the sacrament admits no other coniunction betwixt the visible signes and the things signified then a sacramentall which is not subiect to sence and reason but is meerly misticall secret and spirituall so the gesture by the same ordinance of Iustitution is of the very same nature and may not without grievous sin vpon any terms or consideration whatsoeuer admit of any Innouation or alteration though all the reason wisdome learning common sence and vnderstanding in the whole world do neuer so highly approoue thereof but must be misticall secret and spirituall perpetually euen hold proportion with and haue relation vnto a table and to a feast and a great supper set and to be communicated thereon Whosoeuer therfore shall bnt ad any other misticall signification therevnto or translate this to any other gesture then was in the institution seeme it neuer so full of decencie deuotion and humilitie yea though the godly themselues protest they can as comfortably receiue the sacrament there with as with that of the institution yet shall they be Iudged as those that add vnto the ordinances of Christ and therfore shall receiue an additiō of his indignation Therefore no gesture but a sacramentall and such in this case is the table gesture only which our Lord him self in the institutiō being author thereof may vpon any termes or in any respect in the act of receiving be conformed vnto Vnles you hold that Christs institution is herein defectiue and therefore variable without his own warrant which we haue for the alteration of the time who but that blasphemous man of sin and his louers or freinds dare professe they haue power to ordaine a sacramentall gesture or any other essentiall propertie of a sacrament for it that of the institution by Christ be sufficient and els you deny his sufficience in this then any other is superfluous and therefore a humane addition which admitted to haue dominion in one thing will be resisted in nothing Is not this a speciall parte of the foundation of our Comfort and stay in all occasions that whatsoeuer God hath done must needs be good and iust and to open our mouthes against it is to call in question his wisdom goodnes and truth and yet dare flesh and bloud with voyces of trumpets or the flashing report of a thundring Canon proclaime that though Christ haue done it euen approued of a table gesture onely in all his disciples in the institution and neuer gaue warrant for any other yet kneeling is better more significant and decent yea do not the best of you by your vnwilling conformity willfully admit
Christ cā be let in It is but folly to professe thy faith in him and hast not repented of that I speak not of their order which of these is first but of their inseparation All therefore who haue not this spirituall hunger and see not in the elementall and ceremoniall signes this holy union haue some invisible Idoll in them even some secret corruption or bosome sin which lies lurking in the heart the custome or continuall fume whereof hath so darkned the sight and flattered the taste of the soule as it cannot discern or iudge truly in this controversie but esteemes of one gesture as good as another that which Antichrist devised as that which Christ approued hallowed As Gods worship even for the substance of it is partly inward and partly outward so this sacrament being a speciall part of his worship is of the same nature The inward substance is the spirituall things signified the outward substance or essence is the visible signes signifying or having relation to those spirituall things signified Now whatsoever in Gods worship is conformed unto as having relation to these spirituall things signified whether it be purity or holinesse of life or humility devotion or whatsoever must of necessity be cōfessed to be in the acceptation of these that so use it a part of Gods outward worship which consists of outward and visible things as actions gestures and ceremonies signifying and having reference unto some invisible thing signified True indeed every thing used in the worship of God is not I confesse of this nature as our usuall apparrell places of assembling seats in those places and the like which therefore come within the termes of indifferency and decency but to say and defend that any one thing of significant use in the divine service of God is either not of the essenc of his outward worship or is indifferent and variable is I dare say a fault more then remarkeable yet true it is that he who makes such a part of Gods worship of this or that spirituall use and signification may verily vary and alter it But as no mortall or created power can giue the spirituall gift or grace signified and therfore may not devise the thing signifying so if God haue approved and sanctified any action gesture or ceremony of such holy significancie none but he can alter the same and therefore to hold that such a thing is or can possibly bee indifferent or may in any case be conformed unto is sin But the Table gesture in the act of receiving the sacrament of the Lords body and bloud is of divine signification assuring us that as verily as we take and partake of those visible signes so verily in that very action we by faith take and partake of the very body and bloud of Christ signified and represented yea truely exhibited in and by them And this gesture onely was hallowed by the Lord in the institution of the Supper in the action of all his Apostles who were the types of all communicants to the end of the world to that very end and purpose therefore none but Christ may alter it who was authour of it and to hold that it is variable whatsoever sence and reason babble for it is a fearefull sin As the inward substance of the sacrament and the outward signes elementall or ceremoniall having relation thereunto even the whole sacramentall action is holy and heavenly which nothing can possibly be but that which is of divine institution so let thy care in partaking thereof bee faithfull and zealous according to knowledge and godlinesse Look not so to the inward substance as thou neglectest the outward signes and ceremonies as if divine reverence belonged not to them being Gods divine instruments or holy mysteries and so might be varied according to the will pleasure or determination of man Neither yet let it suffice that thou commest with a right gesture unlesse thou come with a right heart also lest in stead of receiving a blessing thy heart be hardned and thou goe away with a curse for even as not to use Gods ordinances with divine reverence is the mother of Apostasie and Atheisme so to use mans ordinances with divine or holy reverence in Gods divine service as every thing of divine signification ought is the father of superstition and heresie to conforme therfore to a ceremony of divine signification not being established by God must needs be wicked and sinfull As no person may meddle with the administration of a sacrament but such as are called by God in the word thereunto so may not they who are truely called of God presse to any thing therein but what the Lord hath in his word required or commanded For howsoever it is God onely that giues the spirituall grace or heavenly things signified so yet he is pleased to use the ministery of man in the dispensation thereof by those meanes or instruments which himselfe hath appoynted and as wee cannot haue the blessing but from him nor from him by any other meanes then those which himselfe hath appoynted so to receiue the signes at the hands of such as he hath not sent or called or to conforme to or approue of any ceremonies of significancie in the worship of God though it bee at the hāds or by the advise of such as are truly called of God which himselfe hath not ordained is to be convocated or gathered together against the Lord as Corah though not every one in the same degree for as the best ministers in the world can exhibite and giue no more but the outward and visible signes and yet even in such their exhibition the inward and invisible thing and grace signified is given by God through Christ by the effectuall working of the holy Ghost so to professe that either they haue power to giue more then the signe or haue warrant to devise any signe to represent or exhibit or to receiue grace by is meere and high presumption against the Lord Conformity therefore for the approbation thereof must needs be abhominable upon what tearmes or in what case soever it bee Let vs content our selues with the holy Counsel and determination of God concerning the right administration of this sacrament euen whatsoeuer is of ministeriall elementall or ceremoniall vse therein concerning all which the institution is without all exception and seing it was to be the verie patterne and president to all Churches for euer as Christ his precept Doe this vndeniable includes let vs neuer conforme to any thing of the nature of any of these therein vnles wee haue from the patterne or from some other part of the word Christs warrant so to doe And howsoeuer wee shall hereby procure great dammage to our selues yet seing nothing that is in the flesh or is not of Gods own ordaining and appointment can possibly please God let vs remember it is farre lesse danger to offend those that for not conforming to their Canons can but depriue vs of our
the word truely administred are the vndoubted markes or proper Cognizances of the Churches communion both with Christ the head with all the saints making one entire misticall body and by these they may be known where these are is a true Church whosoeuer say to the contrary Let vs therfore preserue not some fundamentall partes onely but all things of essential vse herein uncorrupted and vndefiled euen pure and vnspotted and therfore neuer conform to wordly rudiments carnall innovation human invention in any part of Gods worship lest we decline from our first loue wherein we vowed and professed to haue a sincere respect not to some principall but to all the parts of Gods worship euen to all his commandements and so shall wee rteaine the infallible markes of the true Churches of Christ vpon vs but if wee forsake the gesture or ceremonie of the purest Church that euer was wherein the heavenliest order diuinest decency that euer was vpon the earth was by our Lord and Sauiours owne presence and practise in the institution sanctified and proposed for all succeeding Churches to follow for euer as this neuer being repealed nor any other approued by the scriptures doth plainly testifie do we not bespot and obscure this marke of our visibilitie especially by conforming to the ceremonie or the likenes thereof of the falsest most perfidious bloodiest and most Apostate Church that euer was or can be is not euery thing which is of religious vse in Gods publicke worship being without warant froÌ„ the word erronious and doth not error in any one part though but in the ceremonie prooue a direct defect in the whole sacrament being an entire and an inseperable action if therefore we wittingly subscribe to the lawfullnes of that which we know wee are defectiue in we haue no promise of God for his blessing vpon vs in our so doing yea the very hoping of mercie in such a case I meane where there is no ground for it in the word but onely in our owne intentions is a main cause of Apostacie Atheisme and like abominable presumptions Rytes and signes of religious vse in the publike worship of God which are not ordained by him to be seales for as all the parts of the seale make but one seale so euery part not being deuided may truly be faid to be the seale of his covenant and instruments of his grace are not the true marks of the true Church though the true Church vse them to that very intent and indowe them with the verie same properties and intentions for none can ordain a sign in Gods worship whethere actions gestures or any kinde of ceremonie of holy or religious signification which indeed are peculiar marks of Cognisances but he onely that is able to giue that spirituall grace or heavenly invisible blessing which is represented therein or signified thereby Seing then the holy gesture in the act of receauing the most pretious body and blood of our Lord Iesus sacramentally is on all sides confessed to be significant and a part of the individuall seale it cannot be denied that none of what condition of quallitie soeuer may ordaine it but hee onely who is able to giue the thing signified or receaved thereby If then kneeling in this very kinde manner order as it is vrged be not ordained by the Lord and yet haue a spirituall signification as all men agree though all the wisdom of the world labor to grace it with all the complements than art wit and learning or authority can possibly conferre vpon it wee may not conforme vnto it neither is it a marke or seale of the true Church but a blot and staine thereof for the precept and promise of Christ haue no relation therevnto but onely to those gestuers and other ceremonies in his worship which himselfe hath ordained and therefore no other may be with safety of conscience conformed vnto Nothing of religious vse but what is of divine institution can be holy and all such are holy to the beleeuer though wicked persons administer them or be pertakers of them but if God haue not ordained it to be of religious vse in that very manner and order of his worship it is profane to the beleeuing receiuer though the holiest men in the world administer it and approoue thereof for therefore onely is any thing in divine service Gods instrument because he hath ordained it so to be whether it be a ceremony of pâ—aier or of praise of receiving a blessing or shewing thankfulnes for the same whether it be of humiliation or of ioyfulnes or whatsoeuer is aimed at therein there is no blessing to be obtained where none is promised for if God had appointed the forme of the altar of Damascus it had beene as good and holy as that at Ierusalem they were both altars and the same sacrifices to the same God offered thereon yet differing in the very forme made the whole worship abominable therefore those who dare so confidently affirm that God will blesse our conformity to ceremoniall signs being some in matter some in manner of mans meere deuising is directly with the grossest idolators to adiure the holy ghost to sanctify or make of holy vse our owne carnall deuises because wee aime at nothing but deuotion therein is not this to goe a whoring after our owne Inventions The end of all Gods ordinances is to vnite vs to himselfe not carnally locally ot naturally but spiritually mystically sacramentally or holily after the manner of contracts or covenants What beleeving heart then dare conform to any essentiall Ryte in this holy sacrament a most speciall and effectuall instrument of increasing our assurance of this our spirituall vnion with God through Christ which is not commanded or warranted by the scriptures may mortall men yea or Angels of heaven ordain any thing to be done in remembrance of Christ and without a gesture in the act of receiving this whole action of his remembrance vanisheth or to put vs in mind of what he hath done for vs or to vnite and knit vs more firmely vnto him doth not the opening of this gap in the gesture approue of and not whisperingly recall alwaies provided that a Canon wash and wype away their superstition and Idolatry all those fleshly and carnall abhominations which our forefathers and Churches both Princes and people haue cast out as the notorious workes of that infamous Beast Is conformity then to this humane devices in the gesture the very best way you can devise to preserue the Churches from utter ruine Are carnall inventions I say in this cleare light of the Gospell the very best course to preserue holy Assemblies and Ecclesiasticall Ministery will God else quite forget to be gracious Doth the moisture hereof onely preserue his hand of helpe and power from withring and his arme of protection from being shortened do you verely beleeve indeed that as the case doth stand conformity to the liknes of Idolatrous vncleane ceremonies