278 OfCeremonies,andof libertie. Oneman thatfearetbGod isbetter than a thoufandfinners.And Paul faith, what haue I todoe with them that arewithout? God fhall iudgethem. Vponwhich words a learnedman biddethvs obferue, howthe Apoftle accounts euill menasnothing : wherefore feeingtho wicked are fovileand fovaine, one is better then many ofthem, thereforetheir cenfures and calumniations nottobe regarded, CHAP. I7.. Of Ceremonies,things indifferent, andofturning ChrJianlibertieintovnchrian licentionfneffe, S it is a faulctovfe'vnneceffary ceremonies whichwith the peaceof Agood are- 1 1._ the Churchmay be left : fo it is faultie toleaue agood ceremonie, monee. a ? which hath a good vfe and no fuperftitionwithit x The Lord cot-maunder', Exod.16.33. an Homer full of Manna tobee referued as amonument for pofteritie. And fo it waskept by the Lords commaundement, and therefore not a- bufed to fuperftition; as thebrafen Serpentand'Gedeons Ephod : which becault they were without Gods commaundementre- ferued, thereforetheywerequickely abufed. But this Mannaand theAltarwhich theRubenites made,hauing awarrantof Gods commandement,were not abufed. Wherewelearne, that in bringing in ceremonies and rites into the Church, we Whateeremo- ought to thinke,that iftheyhaue not theirwarrantfromtheword ofthe Lord,they are like vier arermi- tobevfedwithout fruit;and indangertobe turned tohurtfulfupertlition:butiftbey blue uedandre-. theirwarrant from the word ofGod,thatthe Lord bath commanded them, then may they tamed wthe hauever tofïtablevfes inGodsChurch. And they [hall neuer be fomuchabufed to doe churchwith YP Y profit. hurc,as they[hall beprofitable in the right vlèofthem. And thereforein bringing in'cere- moniesand orderswe snuffaske counfell oftheLord,that his wordmay beour warrant. 3 Themore ceremonies the leffeHuth. 4 This is agenerallrule,whatfóeuerleparateth manfromGod,or manfrom inanisa Col.a.xi. brogated:butwhatfoeuerconioynethmantoGod, ormantoman,isleftftil.Inthisrefped Whatetremo- the whole lawis abrogated accordingto the rigourofthecurie, forotherwife wecould not Hier beehre- ftandbeforeGod: So in Chrift now hailingfound reconciliationwe are more bound to Yee keepe the lawmoral] than thelewes,becaufeGods commandenientsare more clearelyre- uealed, and greater ftrength is now given againft finne, therefore nothing is taken from the lawthatwe Mould be careleffe : but the curtand condemnationof thelaw is donea- way, that we may liane an entrance to Godwith boidneiTh. Whatloeuerfeparatethman from man,isabrogated ; and fo the ceretnoniall law is abrogate : thatwhich is mead), isineerelyabrogated: andthat which is inpart ceremonial!, is inpartonely Sabbath. brogate,astheSabboth. f TlieApoftle,t.Tim.4.t.propheciethof certainefpiritsoferror, which fhould fuper- L fitimer. ftitioutlyforbidthevfeofChrifttan libertie:butz.Tim .3.hefpeakethofanotherfort,who amongmanyotherproperties [hould beloners ofpleafures morethan lovers ofGod .The Laff Bayer. former arePaid to be in the lait times, but thele in the Taftdayes, one degreefarther then the other. And fuchbewe and our times, long ridfrom that filperftitious generation : but ,r. ready now (as itis fail Deut.29.19.) toadde drunkenneffe to tlrirft, which commeth to pall's for waist ofcircumlje(hneIl'e in dehiuefingthe doftrineof liberne. And fo wefall to cbri/tiathber_ makePaul, Galat.5.and Petera cloake ofour licentious life. Weturnc thegrace of God tie turnedInto intowantonnelie (as Redo ['peaked].) This then beingas it were thecommon difeafeof vncbriftian ti- thele lait andperillous dayes : theMinifters of theGolpell muff Rand vp as ina gap, and eentioaAo. euery oneistobewatchfulouerhimfelfe ,thatheliinkenot awayinto theftpleafures,which feeme Ecclefiaft. t ì`. to cheare and bring good to the heart; but fuels a good as make the v
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