550 A CHRISTIAN CHURCH'. hut modes and circumstances of action made necessary to the Jewish worshippers, ordainedto be holy, and converted into reli- gious ceremonies. Under the NewTestament the ceremonies distinct from na- tural religion, whether real actions or mere modes and circum- stances of action, are few and easy, such as the washing with water and baptism; and eating bread cold wineat the supper ofthe Lord, to which we may add the observation of thefirst day of the week inmemory of our risen Saviour. Any of the circumstances or modes of action which belong to these religious rites, which are not determinedby scripture, and are not necessary to be de- termined one way in order to social worship, must be left indiffer- ent to every worshipper, according as his conscience or his con veniency shall direct. I know not any text whereGod has given any man, or set of men, any power, to impose on others.. See these thingshappily set forth at large inDoctor Calamy's excel- lent discourse, called an " Introduction to the Second Part of Moderate Non-conformity ;" of which I am informed, that Mr. Locke himself should say upon the perusal of it, that while the protestant dissenters kept close to these principles, they would sufficiently maintain their ground, and justify their separation from any established national church, if that church should assume an authority to impose things which ought to be left in- different. Surely the fourteenth chapter of the Romans lays a foun- dation for this christian liberty, and forbids to impose on conscience the observation of meats or days, and in general all impositions of this kind. The apostle, whilehe handles this subject, had no order to imposeor forbidthese practices on the Romans, to whom he wrote. He leaves every man to use his own liberty in the gospel, nor to be entangled with any fresh yokes of bondage ; Gal. v. 1. supposing always't11at the light of nature andcommon reason will keep all sober christians within the bounds of human decency, common prudence, and civility ; and that a preference be given to such modes, and gestures, and seasons, which seem to be patronized by the examplesmentioned in scripture. The custom alsò of the holiest and purest churches may have some influepce to direct otìr practice, in stich affairs of small im- portance wherewe cannot find any other rule of determination,. either from the light of nature or scripture. 'i'he apostle Paul seems to give this 'advice to the Corinthians in the business of wearing the hair long or short ; 1 Cor. xi. 14, 15. For after he had offered some reason on one side from the mere light of nature anddecency, he adds, verse 16. that if any man seem to be con-. tentious, that is, be not satisfied with my arguments, and persist in contending about this matter, we have no such customs, nor the churches of God: That is, let him be determined by the custom
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