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…

We see now a double respect, wherefore our argument inferreth not the necessity of abolishing and destroying such Temples, Vessels and Bells, as have been abused to Idolatry, viz. because it can neither be said, that they are not things necessary, nor yet that they are things sacred.

We see now a double respect, wherefore our argument inferreth not the necessity of abolishing and destroying such Temples, Veshells and Bells, as have been abused to Idolatry, viz. because it can neither be said, that they are not things necessary, nor yet that they are things sacred.

Nevertheless (to add this by the way) howbeit for those reasons, Sect. 9 the retaining and using of Temples which have been polluted with Idols, be not in it self unlawful, yet the retaining of every such Temple is not ever necessary, but sometimes it is expedient for further extirpation of superstition, to demolish and destroy some such Temples, as have been horribly abused to Idolatry, as ^hCalvin also and ⁱZanchius do plainly insinuate. Whereby I mean to defend (though not as in it self necessary, yet as expedient pro tunc, that which the Reformators of the Church of Scotland did in casting down some of those Churches, which had been consecrate to Popish Idols, and of a long time polluted with Idolatrous worship. As on the one part the Reformators (not without great probability) feared, that so long as these Churches were not made even with the ground, the memory of that superstition, whereunto they had been employed and accustomed, should have been in them preserved, and with some sort of respect, recognized: so on the other part they saw it expedient to demolish them, for strengthening the hands of such as adhered to the Reformation, for putting Papists out of all hope of the reentry of Popery, and for hedging up the way with thorns, that the Idolatrously minded, might not find their paths. And since the pulling down of those Churches wanted neither this pious intent, nor happy event, I must say, that the bitter invectives given forth against it, by some who carry a favourable eye to the pompous bravery of the Romish whore, and have deformed to much of that which was by them reformed, are to be detested by all such, as wish the eternal exile of Idolatrous monuments, out of the Lords land: yet let these Momus-like spirits understand, that their censorius verdicts do also reflex upon those ancient Christians