366 Why ChriRwas now more an- gry than at other times. Tradition the Churches Perdition. Chili: not cal- led Cu(fome, but Truth. Ouroffrings are no honor toGod, when theyharme another. On the VVednelday after theirhonour. Gentlemen, not meafuringtheir expencesky theirmean63-, it fò fais our, that oftentimesthey want a-royall tobuy breadto put in their mouths, yettheir vanitie fo farreouerfwaies them,that theywillnotbe without acóach, alackey , apage, anold beldame, anda fquire. They takevp commodities at deere rates,they run in debt,neuer thinkeofpaying it, and in the end are vt:erlÿ vndone ; thisalfo is Tradition. Your Captainesand Souldiers hand much vp- on the Lawesofyour Duell,and highlyadore them;whichbeefing well exami- ned, are thegreaten. &abfurdeft fooleries man can imagine!TheLye,muft haue the baftonadoe; the baftonado , drawing of bloud ; and drawing of blond, death, &c. One fhall ftrike thee with acudgell,that (hall breake thy fhoulder- blade ; And the Souldierwill fay,Hehad goodhap that heedid not lame him with a cane. And this is Tradition. Your bucking Merchants, yourcunning Tradefmen, &generally all that buy and fell,vfe to cog & lye : It is notgood,it is notgood, f yes emery buyer,And thistoo is Tradition.Your Catch-poles,pole their priioners ; your Regifters,regifter falfehoods And this is Tradition.SaintCy- 'Wan fayth, That the Churchesperdition bath beene, that Chriftians are not contented with finning throughweakeneflë,through ignorance, orthrough ma- lice, butthroughopinion;whenceit commeth to paffe,thatthey feeke not excu- fes for their finnes, butauthoritie tomaintaine them, thereby thebetter to per- petuatethem. They.that are condemned througherror , are eafilycured ; but when they haue opinionin their fauour, anda venerali confent, andareauthori- fcdby cuftome,they are fuch currantmoney that none refufes it , norfeekes to remedie thefaine. Infanientiummultitude (faythSeneca) ft fanitatùproteílio,The madne1ofmany,doth priuiledgemadneffè. This paffeth in thefe forefayd Tradi- tions. And fo arethey receiued of all, &c. Theyfayd vnto vYtituhear; ,?!lthe Prophetswith onegeneral!confent,propheciegoodvnto the King. But how doe they deliuerthis meflagewell , if God doe reueale it to be ill r It is Tradition. But the Lawof God , ought to beethe rulewherebywee are to leuell our a&ions, and the court wherein weeare togiue account of our doings`. Tertullian fayth, That our Sauior Chrift, was not called Cuftome,but Truth: Egolamvia,veritas, ¿ vita, lam the way,the trath,andthe lift. And Cuftome muff bee qualified by Veritie,and notbyAntiquitie. For God bath commaunded, laying, Honour thy Father andtj 'fother, andhe that doth thecontrarie let himdye ; But yee fay, Thoughhe honournot his Father or his Mother, hefhall be free: Thus haueyemade the commandements ofGod ofnoauthoritie by your Traditions. In this honouringofour Father and Mo- thcr,he likewifeincludes theirmaintainance,and that wee fhould not fee them want. But ye fay, That hethat fhalltake from Father and Mother andgiue it to theTemple,doth complywith theLaw. c.sJ unu gmodcunque exme obtultro Deo, tibiproderit ; It will profit thee, but it isbetter to giue it unto God.origen faith, That this errour did arifefrom another that was more antient. For when men were not willing to pay a debt , they did offer it to theTemple, and did noti- fiethe fameto the Creditor. Corban, ideft,donum eft, I hauegiuen it to theTem- ple, and therefore thou art not to require it at my hands. Thiswas a rauening kind ofcouetoufneffe . God would haue bread let vpon his altar,to theend that he that wasinneceflitie might be relecued;which was Dakidccafe when he was hungrie and in want,andGod tooke it well. But howcanhetake it wellat thyhands, that thoufhouldit take away the bread from thy hunger-ftaruedFa- ther,orfromapooreneedy foule,tooffer it on theAltar r vlthanafto reporteth anothereffe&of couetoufnes farmorebrutifhandabhominable, whowhen hee . fled Í
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