i8 The Gofpel of the Prìefi's Holy Garments. Anfte. We muff not do evil, that good may come thereof, Rom. 3. and therefore we may not preach in a Fools Coat : For it is not decent. The plain truth is, that this pretence which fo many have abufed them- [elves withal, that they had rather preach in a Ibols Coat, forfooth, than not preach the Gofpel, it is a weak and finful Speech. The first that fpeke it, as I have heard, was a French Proteftant, who being made a Prebend by King James,was content to accept of it, and made this Excufe, be not underftanding, or not rightly confidering the Englifh Controver- fies that were then on foot about it: As if a Man fhould fay, he had ra- ther Lie, or Steal, or Whore, or be Drunk, or kifs the Pi; or bow to an Idol, or go to Mafs, then not preach the Gofpel. For I befeech you confider, either It is a Sin, or it is not a Sin. If it be not a Sin to preach in a Fools Coat, or in a Surplice, prove this, and then ufe it, and wear it in the Name of God : But if it be a Sin, it is not a fop. pofed good intent to fave a Soul, that will juffifie an evil Action, tho' it be not fo foul an Evil as force others. If a Minifter would fain do good toSouls, and therefore is very loth to be filenced, let him obferve this Rule ; Let him take heed of con- forming, left God hence him ; left God ftophis Mouth, or blaft his Endeavours, that he (hall never fpeak with any great evidence and de- rnonffration of the Spirit, nor with any great Succefs for the good of Souls : For I fee but few Surplices or Circingle -men that do much good. Vfe 2. To confute the Popifh .Allegorizers, who tell us the literal fenfe of thefe Garments is fuch as this; namely, That the difpofìtion and frame of the World is exprefï'ed in them, and that the High Prieft did thereby profefs himfelf the Minifter or Servant of the Creator of Heaven and Heaven. For of the fignifications of thefe holy Garments thus they defcant; ( fee Aquin; i. 2' quaff. 102. art. 5, ad to. and Becan. tom. 3. Opufc. '7. cap. s. q. r.) Fceminalia lintea fignificabant ter ram, ex qua linum nafcitur, Balteas Oceanian, qui cingit terram, the Lin- nen Breeches lignifie the Earth, out of which Flax groweth ; the Gir- dle the Ocean, becaufe it compaffeth the Earth like a Girdle. Tunica byacinthina Äerem, quia hyacinthini coloris eft, the sky-coloured Coat the Air, becaufe it is of a Sky-colour : The Golden Bells of it the Thun- der in the Air : ThePomegranates, the Lightnings : TheEphod, the Icarry Heavens : The two Onyx,flrones, the two Hemifpheres, or the Sun and the Moon : The twelve precious ftones in the Ephod, the twelve Signs in the Zodiack : The Mitre, the Empyrean Heavens : The Golden Plate, God the King of all. This they call the literal Account of thefe holy Prieftly Garments. Well,
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