Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BX5151 .B3 1659

( 47r) Cot. z. 16. &c. And is it a likely thing that God would' take down his own inflicutions when they became unnecefLry, and at the fame timeg ve commiffon to the Parlors of the Church to fet up unneceffsry Ce emonies of their own ? Yea or give them leave to do it, without his commiffìon ? If it be Inch. a mercy to be' delivered from Divine Ceremonies, when they grew needlefs, and a liberty which we are commanded to flan.i fall in, I knownot why men fhould impofe on us unnecef%iry Ceremonies of theirown, at d robus ofour Mercies. g. It. Real". l a. The impofition of unnecefffry Ceremo- nies, is a certain means for the D.vifion of Chriflians, and therefore is but an engine of the Devil!, the great divider. As thePapifls fec up a Vicechrifl and falle Center of union, under pretence of the unity of Chrifiians, when no'hing is fo great a caufeof their divifion ;, fo ufually the Impofers of Ceremo- nies pretend the Unity andPeace of Chriflians to be their end, . when they are moll effe&ually dividing them. They are pre- ferving the houle by calling fire in-o the thatch. There is no moreeffecftual means of Divifion, then to fec up in pflibie terms of unity, and tell men, that they muff Agee upon there- or none. All Chriflians will unite in Chrifl, and Agree in ail the effentials of Chriftianity, and all that is the known word of God : But no wife man will expe& that all Chrifiiar,s' Mould ever Unite and Agree about the Myflical Ggns and Ceremonies of mans invention and impofition. Come to a Congregation that walke in unity and holy order in the fim- plicity of faith and Scripture ordinances, and make Laws to this Church, that no man (hall joyne in the worfhip of God-!, . that will not Crofs himfelf, and be fprinkled with holy water,. and bow towardthe. Altar, and wear a fword and heltner, to lignifie the fpiritual warfare, and fuch like, and try whether this courfe will not divide the Congregation; Men are Ra- n agree in few things then in many; in Certain truths, then. in uncertain Controverfies in Divine ordinances, then in Hu- mane inventions. Undoubtedly ifyou impole fuch Ceremonies, multitudes ofhonefi Chriflians will diffent. And if they dif- fent, whit will you do with them ? If you leave them to their liberty, then your Ceremonies are not impofed. If you do noti you will drive them to a feparation, and break all in y\ieces,

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