IOW CCNFIRDIEb CHtuSTIAN. 567 him for that universal charity and moderation, which is against their factious and destroying zeal, (described, James iii.) Even Christ himself was not strict enough (in superstitious observances) for the Ceremonious, zealous Pharisees. He transgressed, with His disci- ples, the tradition of the elders, in neglecting their observances, who transgressed the .commandment of God by their tradition; Matt. xv. 2, 3. He was not strict enough in their uncharitable observation of the Sabbath day ; Matt. xii. 2. John, who wasemi- nent for fasting, they said, had a devil. "The Son of man came eating and drinking,,and they say, ' Beheld a mangluttonous, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.' But wisdom is jus- tified of her children;" Matt. xi. 18, 19. And the wéak Chris- tians (Rom. xiv. 1-3.) did censure those that did eat those meats and do those things which they conceived to be unlawful. They that err themselves, and make God a service which he never ap- pointed, will censure all as lukewirm, or temporizers, or wide-can scienced men, that err not with them, and place not their religion- in such superstitious observances, as, "touch not, taste not, handle not," &c. ; Col. ii. 18.21-23. And theraw, censorious Christians are offended with the charitable Christian, because he damneth not . as many andas readily as they, and shutteth not enough out of number of believers, and judgeth not rigorously enough of their ways. In a word, he is taken by one sort tobe too strict, and by the other to be too compliant or indifferent in religion; because he placeth not the kingdom of God in méats and days, and such like circumstances, but in "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost ;" Rom. xiv, 15-17. And as Paul withstood Peter to the face, for drawing men to make scruple or conscience of things law- ful ; (Gal. ii. 11--13.) so isthe sound Christian withstood by the superstitious, for not making scruple oflawful things. 2. And the weak Christian is in the same casé, ,so long as he followeth prudent, pious, charitable guides. But if he be taken in the snares of superstition, he pleaseth. the superstitious party, though he displease the world. 3. And whereas the solidsChristian will not stir an inch from j truth and duty, to escape either the hatred of the wicked, or the bitterest censures of the sectary, or the weak, the hypocrite must needs have on party on his side ; for if both condemn him, and neither applaud him, he loseth his peculiar reward ; Matt. vi. 2. 5. xxiii. 5-8. LVII. 1. The confirmed Christian doth understand the neces- sity of a faithful ministry, for the safety ofthe weak, (as well.'as the conversion of the wicked,) and for the preservation of the interest ofreligion upon earth. And thereforeno personal unworthiness of ministers, nor any calumnies of enemies, can make him think or speak dishonorably of that sacred office. But he reverenceth it as
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