A01760:409
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…
A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded upon the Church of Scotland Wherein not only our own arguments [sic] against the same are strongly confirmed, but likewise the answers and defences of our opposites, such as Hooker, Morton ... Forbesse, &c. particularly confuted.A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded vpon the Church of Scotland Wherein not only our ovvne argumemts [sic] against the same are strongly confirmed, but likewise the ansvveres and defences of our opposites, such as Hooker, Mortoune ... Forbesse, &c. particularly confuted.
Leiden: printed by W. Christiaens, 1637
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
MY fourth Argument against the lawfulness of the Ceremonies, followeth: by which I am to evince that they are Sect. 1 not only Idolatrous reductivè, because monuments of bypast, and participativè, because badges of present Idolatry, but that likewise they make Formalists themselves, to be formally, and in respect of their own using of them, Idolaters, consideration not had of the by-past, or present abusing of them by others. This I will make good: first, of all the Ceremonies in general; then, of kneeling in particular. And I wish our Opposites here, look to themselves, for this Argument proveth to them the Box of Pandora, and containeth that which undoeth them, though this much be not seen, before the opening.
MY fourth Argument against the lawfulnesse of the Ceremonies, followeth: by which I am to evince that they are Sect. 1 not onely Idolatrous reductivè, because monuments of bypast, and participativè, because badges of present Idolatry, but that likewise they make Formalists themselves, to be formally, and in respect of their owne using of them, Idolaters, consideration not had of the by-past, or present abusing of them by others. This I will make good: first, of all the Ceremonies in generall; then, of kneeling in particular. And I wish our Opposites here, looke to themselves, for this Argument proveth to them the Box of Pandora, and containeth that which undoeth them, though this much be not seen, before the opening.
First then, the Ceremonies are Idols to Formalists. It had been good to have remembered that which gAinsworth noteth, that Idolothyts and monuments of Idolatry should be destroyed, lest themselves at length become Idols. The Idolothyous Ceremonies, we see now, are become Idols to those who have retained them. The ground which the Bishop of Winchester taketh for his Sermon of the worshipping of imaginations, to wit, that the Devil seeing that Idolatrous Images would down, he bent his whole device, in place of them to erect and set up diverse imaginations, to be adored and magnified in stead of the former; is, in some things abused and misapplied by him. But well may I apply it to the point in hand. For that the Ceremonies are the imaginations which are magnified, adored, and Idolized, in stead of the Idolatrous Images which were put down, thus we instruct and qualify.