579 THE HOLINESS OF PLACES OF WORSHIP. abolish the holy and consecrated places of his own appointment, I cannot find the text wherein he has given to man any order or authority to pretend to make ether places holy. Mortal men can never put holiness in ground or buildings, where God has not put it. No pompous ceremonies, no solemn forms, no magnifi- cent appearances, no gaudy or golden solemnities can sanctify anyplace unto God and his worship, or make it more holy than it was before : And whatsoever fooleries and ridiculous rites or notions are found in the church of Rome in this case*, I am well persuaded our wiser brethren of the church of England do not, cannot believe them to be of any value or importance, in order to make the worship more acceptable toGod. They are of opinion indeed, that it is a very proper thing for christians to build large and convenient edifices, where considerable assemblies may meet together to worship God hi and through Jesus Christ: They suppose, that nothing indecentshould be done in these buildings, to bring them into contempt, and that they should usually be separated and kept for the sacred purposes of worship, for which they are built : And I think the protestant dissenters are of the same opinion. They believe also, that when a commodious build- ing is erected for the worship of God, it is a very decent thing to begin the worship at that place, with solemn prayeror addresses to God, that the solemnities of the christian religion, which are performed there, may find acceptance of the God of heaven through Jesus Christ their Saviour ; and that the christian ordi- nances, there celebrated, may be blessed to the edification of the souls of men : Nor do the dissenters differ from them in this prac- tice, for we are met together here, this day, for this very purpose. It is true, the conformists havebeen pleased to call this the consecration of their churches ; but though the dissenters use not that name, when they begin to worship in their newerected build- ings or meeting-houses, yet they generally suppose and intend these buildings should be set apart chiefly for this end, nor should be usually employed for mean, or dishonourable, or ridiculous purposes in human life, without some appearing necessity of it, or some very great convenience to be obtained thereby, which might overbalance the mere considerations of decency and pro- priety. Reason and htìmanity seem to dictate this separation or appointment of buildings for public worship. Should the senate- house where our law-givers assemble be used for á' theatre or R is no wonder, that the church of Rome should pretend to make common things and places holy, by the consecration of tbeir bishops, whenevery priest, among them, assumes a power to turn a bit of senseless paste, into the holy body and blood of our blessed Saviour. Their ceremonies at the consecration of a church are so numerous and theatrical, that it would be very tedious to recite them ; I shall only therefore, for a specimen, present you with a short abstract of the form of ceremonies, for blessing the firatstoneof any church, that is to be built, and this may be done by a common priest, provided he has power 4iven .him by the bishop. See the appendix at the end of this discourse.
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