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…

Before we go further, we will see what our Opposites have said to those Scriptures which we allege, ^bHooker saith, that the reason Sect. 3 why God forbade his people Israel the use of such rites & customs, as were among the Egyptians, and the Canaanites, was not because it behoved his people to be framed of set purpose, to an utter dissimilitude with those Nations, but his meaning was to bar Israel, from similitude with those Nations, in such things as were repugnant to his ordinances and laws. Ans. 1. Let it be so: he hath said enough against himself. For we have the same reason to make us abstain from all the Rites & Customs of Idolaters, that we may be barred from similitude with them in such things, as are flatly repugnant to Gods word, because dissimilitude in Ceremonies, is a bar to stop similitude in substance, and on the contrary, similitude in Ceremonies ⟨p. 37⟩openeth a way to similitude in greater substance. 2. His answer is but a begging of that which is in question, for as much as we allege those laws and prohibitions, to prove that all the Rites and Customs of those Nations, were repugnant to the Ordinances and Laws of God, and that Israel was simply forbidden to use them. 3. Yet this was not a framing of Israel of set purpose to an utter dissimilitude with those Nations, for Israel used food & raiment, sowing and reaping, sitting, standing, lying, walking, talking, trading, laws, government, &c: notwithstanding that the Egyptians, and Canaanites used so. They were only forbidden to be like those Nations in such unnecessary Rites and Customs, as had neither institution from God nor nature, but were the inventions and devices of men only. In things and rites of this kind alone, it is, that we plead for dissimilitude with the Idolatrous Papists. For the Ceremonies in controversy are not only proven to be under the compass of such, but are besides made by the Papists, badges and marks of their religion, as we shall see afterwards.

Before we goe further, we will see what our Opposites have said to those Scriptures which we alledge, ^bHooker saith, that the reason Sect. 3 why God forbade his people Israëll the use of such rites & customes, as were among the Egyptians, and the Canaanites, was not because it behoved his people to be framed of set purpose, to an utter dissimilitude with those Nations, but his meaning was to barre Israell, from similitude with those Nations, in such things as were repugnant to his ordinances and lawes. Ans. 1. Let it be so: he hath said enough against himself. For we have the same reason to make us abstaine from all the Rites & Customes of Idolaters, that we may be barred from similitude with them in such things, as are flatly repugnant to Gods word, because dissimilitude in Ceremonies, is a barre to stop similitude in substance, and on the contrary, similitude in Ceremonies