( 417) sious) brethren that obferve it ; but every one fhould be fully perfwaded in his ownmind. TheHoly Ghon hash deci- ded the cafe, that we fhould here bear with one another. g. 5 c. Yea more, I would not only give men their Liberty in this, but if I lived under a Government that peremptorily commanded it, I would obferve theoutward refl of fuch a Holy day, and I would preach on ir, and joyn with the Affemblies in Gods worfhip on it. Yea I would thus obferve the Day, rather thenoffend a weakbrother,or hinder any mans falvation, much more rather then I would make any divifion in the Church. I think in as great mattersas this did Pax/ condefcend whenhe circumcifed Timothy, and refolved to eat no flefh while he lived rather then offend his brother, and to become all things to all men for their good. Where a thing is evil but by acci- dent, the greaten Accidents muff weigh down the lefs. I may lawfully obey and ufe the day, when another doch unlaw- fully command it : And I think this is the true cafe. g. S 1. 7. And for the next ceremony, theBlame and form of an Altar, no doubt it is a thing indifferent, whether the Table Rand this way or that way : and the Primitive Churches ufed commonly the names of Sacrifice, and Altar,and Prieff, and 1 think,lawfully:for my part, I will not be he that Thall condemn them. But they ufed them but metaphorically, as Scripture it felt doth, Heb. 13. 1o, 15, 16. Rom. 12. 1. Ephef. 5. 2. Phil. 2.17. & 4.18. All believers arecalled Prie/fe, and their fervice,Sacrificel, 1 Pet. 2. 5, 9. Rev. t. 6. & 5. to . dt. 20. 6. I conceive that the dillike of thefe things in England (the form and name ofan Altar, and the Rails about it) was not as if they were limply evil : But a . becaufe they were illegal innovations, forced on the Churches without Law, or any Tuft authority. And 2. becaufe the wayof thofe times did caufe men to fufpett, that fomewhat worfe was intended to be brought in by fuch preparatives , efpecially whenthe Miniflers were talc out. g. 52. 8. But of all our Ceremonies, there is none that I have more fufpe&ed to be frmply unlawfull then the Craft ire Baptifm. The reI, as I have laid, 1 fhould have fubmitted to rather thenhinder the Service or Peace of the Church, ( hadI been put to it : For living in thofe dales in a Priviledgedplace, I had my liberty in all favc Dairs and theGeliHre.)But this I durst H h h never
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