And as touching the comparison instituted betwixt our controverted Ceremonies, and these antiquated Ceremonies of the Jews, practised and prescribed by the Apostles, after the ascension of Christ, and before the full promulgation of the Gospel, many evils there be in ours which could not be found in theirs. For, 1. Ours, have no necessary use and might well be spared: Theirs, had a necessary use for avoiding of scandal, Acts 15. 28. 2. Ours, produce manifold inconveniences (whereof we are to speak hereafter) in our use and practise of the same, which is prescribed: Theirs, in the use and practise of the same, which was enjoined by the Apostles, were most expedient, for winning of the obstinate Jews, 1 Cor. 9. 20. & for keeping of the weak, 1 Cor. 9. 22. ⟨p. 3⟩And for teaching the right use of Christian liberty, to such as were strong in the faith, both among the believing Jews, and converted Gentiles, Rom. 4. &c. 1. Cor. 8. & 10. 3. Ours, are proven to be in their nature unlawful: Theirs, were (during the foresaid space) in their nature indifferent, Rom. 14. 6. Gal. 6. 15. 4. Ours, are imposed and observed as parts of Gods Worship (which we will prove hafterward:) Theirs, not so, for where read we, that (during the foresaid space) any holiness was placed in them by the Apostles? 5. Ours, have certain mystical significations. Theirs, not so: for it is no where to be read, that the Apostles either practised or prescribed them as significative resemblances of any mystery of the Kingdom of God. 6. Ours, make us (though unnecessarily) like unto Idolaters in their Idolatrous actions: Theirs, not so. 7. Ours, are imposed with a necessity both of practise and opinion, even out of the case of scandal: Theirs, not so. 8. Ours, are pressed by naked will and Authority: Theirs, by such special grounds of momentaneous reason, as made the practise of the same necessary for a certain time, whither the Apostles had enjoined it or not. 9. Ours, are urged even upon such, as in their consciences judge them to be unlawful: Theirs, not so. 10. Ours, have no better original then humane and Antichristian invention. Theirs, had their original from Gods own institution. 11. Ours, are the accursed monuments of Popish Idolatry, to be ejected with detestation: Theirs, were the memorials of Mosaical policy, to be buried with honour. 12.
And as touching the comparison instituted betwixt our controverted Ceremonies, and these antiquated Ceremonies of the Iewes, practised and prescribed by the Apostles, after the ascension of Christ, and before the full promulgation of the Gospell, many evils there be in ours which could not be found in theirs. For, 1. Ours, have no necessary use and might well be spared: Theirs, had a necessary use for avoiding of scandall, Acts 15. 28. 2. Ours, produce manifold inconveniences (whereof we are to speake hereafter) in our use and practise of the same, which is prescribed: Theirs, in the use and practise of the same, which was injoyned by the Apostles, were most expedient, for winning of the obstinate Iewes, 1 Cor. 9. 20. & for keeping of the weake, 1 Cor. 9. 22. ⟨p. 3⟩And for teaching the right use of Christian liberty, to such as were strong in the faith, both among the beleeving Iewes, and converted Gentiles, Rom. 4. &c. 1. Cor. 8. & 10. 3. Ours, are proven to be in their nature unlawfull: Theirs, were (during the foresaid space) in their nature indifferent, Rom. 14. 6. Gal. 6. 15. 4. Ours, are imposed and observed as parts of Gods Worship (which we will prove hafterward:) Theirs, not so, for where reade we, that (during the foresaid space) any holinesse was placed in them by the Apostles? 5. Ours, have certaine misticall significations. Theirs, not so: for it is no where to be read, that the Apostles either practised or prescribed them as significative resemblances of any mistery of the Kingdome of God. 6. Ours, make us (though unnecessarily) like unto Idolaters in their Idolatrous actions: Theirs, not so. 7. Ours, are imposed with a necessity both of practise and opinion, even out of the case of scandall: Theirs, not so. 8. Ours, are pressed by naked will and Auctority: Theirs, by such speciall grounds of momentaneous reason, as made the practise of the same necessary for a certaine time, whither the Apostles had injoyned it or not. 9. Ours, are urged even upon such, as in their consciences judge them to be unlawfull: Theirs, not so. 10. Ours, have no better originall then humane and Antichristian invention. Theirs, had their originall from Gods owne institution. 11. Ours, are the accursed monuments of Popish Idolatrie, to be ejected with detestation: Theirs, were the memorials of Mosaicall policy, to be buried with honour. 12.
- hInfra part. 3. chap. 1.
