A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded upon the Church of Scotland Wherein not…A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded vpon the Church of Scotland Wherein not…

But let us understand, how he proveth, ^ethat sometimes it is Sect. II ⟨p. 2⟩expedient and necessary to conform unto such burdensome and beggarly Ceremonies, as are many ways inconvenient, and occasions of sundry evil effects. His principal reason is, ^fThat the Apostles by direction of the Holy Ghost, and upon reasons of common and perpetual equity, did practise themselves, and caused others to practice, yea advised and enjoined (as matters good and necessary to be done) Ceremonies so inconvenient and evil in many main and material respects, as the Ceremonies enjoined and prescribed in the Church of England are supposed to be; whence he would have it to follow, that to suffer deprivation for refusing to conform to the Ceremonies of the Church of England,, is contrary to the doctrine and practise of the Apostles. Ans. These Jewish Ceremonies in the use and practise of the Apostles, were no way evil and inconvenient, as himself every where confesseth; whereas therefore ^ghe tells us, that those Ceremonies were abused to superstition, were of mystical signification, imposed and observed as parts of Gods worship, swerving from the general rules of Gods word, not profitable for order, decency, and edification, offensive many ways, and infringing Christian liberty; he runs at random all the while: for these things agree not to the Jewish Ceremonies, as they were rightly used by the Apostles themselves, and by others at their advise, but only as they were superstitiously used with opinion of necessity by the obstinate Jews, and by the false teachers, who impugned Christian liberty. So that all that can follow upon Mr. Sprints Argument, is this, That notwithstanding of the evils and inconveniences which follow upon certain Ceremonies in the superstitious abuse of them by others, yet if in our practise they have a necessary or expedient use, then (after the example of the Apostles) we may well conform unto them. Now all this cometh not near the point, which Mr. Sprint undertaketh to prove, namely, That granting the controverted Ceremonies to be in out use and practise of the same, many ways evil and inconvenient, yet to suffer deprivation for refusing to conform to the same, is contrary to the doctrine and practise of the Apostles.