( 478 ) called men off from Ceremonioufnefs to fpítitr lity, ifh had delighted in Ceremony. 4.27. Reaf. 25. The Worfhip of God s.ithont his bleflintg ie to littlepurpofe. No man can have encouragement to ufe ony thing as a Means to teach him and help hiedevotion,whitb he bathno ground tobelieve that God will biers. But there is no ground ( that I knowof), to believe that God will blefs thefe In[Iituted Teaching figns of mans inventions to the Edi. Eying ofour fouls. For God bath no where bid us devife or nfe fuch figns, ,2. Nor no where promifedus a blefiÿng on them ( that ever I could find) And therefore we have no encourage. ment toufe them. Ifwe will make them, and impofe them our felves,we muff undertake to biefs them our (elves. . 28. Rea,: 26. As vain thoughts and words ar.e fore bidden us in Scripture, fo no doubt but vain actions are forbid- den but efpecially in the worfhip of God : and yet more efpeo acidly when they are Impofed on theChurch by Laws with pe. nalties. But thefe Myftical Rites of humane inflitutionare vain. Youcall them your (elves but [Things indifferent:] And they are vain as to the ufe for whiçh they are pretended,, that is, to Teach And Ediße, &c. having no promife of a blefiing, and being needlefs imitations of the Sacraments ofChrift. Vanity there- fore is not to be impofed on theChurch, My Tait Reafon will fullier thew them tobe vain. 4.29 \Reaf..27. Weare lure the way in which Peter, and Paul, and the Churches of their times did worfhip God, was allowableand fafe : and that Princes and Prelates are wife and righteousovermuch , if theywill not only be more wife and righteous then the Apoftles in the mattersof Gods worfhip bnt alto deny their fubjeets liberty to worfhip God, and go to heaven in the fame way as the Apoftles did. If Peter and Paul went to heaven without theufe of Images,Surplice, the Crofs in Baptifm, kneeling in receiving the Lords Supper,and many fuch Ceremonies, why fhouldnot we have leave to live in theCommunionof the Church without them? would you have denyed the Apoftles their liberty herein? Or will you be parti- all? Muff they have one way, and weanother?They command us to imitate them ; give us leave then to imitate them, at leaft in all thingsthat your felves confefs tobe lawfull forus.
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