And sith it is none of the least causes, why faithful people, so far forth as may be, are wont and ought to dwell together in the same cities, towns and villages, that they might not only privately among themselves, daily nourish a common faith by godly conferences, & practise mutual charity by christian duties, but also that they might meet together in certain places, & at certain known times, publicly to praise, & pray unto God, to hear his word, to receive the sacraments, to perform public works of charity towards the poor: which things indeed cannot be done without language, without rites & ceremonies: therefore concerning them also, what our opinion is, we will briefly declare. Seeing it is beyond all controversy, that all things in the church ought to be done to edification, & all show of superstition ought to be avoided, we judge, that true piety, and the churches edification requireth, §11first, concerning places, that, if they may use the old and profaned temples, the same must be clean purged of all idols, and all relics and monuments of idolatry and superstition. 2For what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? §23Moreover no language is to be used, but that which is known to the whole congregation. For what edification can come to the church by an unknown language? 4the Apostle surely commandeth them to keep silence in the church which speak languages, if there be no interpreter. Thirdly ⟨p. 230⟩all pride and vanity of garments are to be shunned, and all those ornaments, §35which do rather beseem the profane theatres of the Gentiles, then the sacred temples of christians: and which rather tend to delight the flesh, than to edify the spirit: but all things must be done in the churches with most high reverence and modesty, as in the very sight of God and his Angels. And albeit concerning the fashion of garments, which ministers ought publicly to wear, either in their ministry, or out of it, we do not think it a matter to be so stood upon, that for it, the peace of the church ought to be troubled: yet where they come nearest to the simplicity of the Apostles, there we judge the church rather to be approved. §46Fourthly, that upon every Lords day the congregation should come together, and make an holy assembly:
And sith it is none of the least causes, why faithfull people, so farre forth as may bee, are wont and ought to dwel together in the same cities, townes and villages, that they might not onely priuately among themselues, dayly nourish a cōmon faith by godlie conferences, & practise mutuall charitie by christiā duties, but also that they might meete together in certaine places, & at certaine knowne times, publikely to praise, & pray vnto God, to heare his worde, to receiue the sacraments, to performe publicke workes of charitie towardes the poore: which thinges indeede cannot be done without language, without rites & ceremonies: therefore concerning thē also, what our opinion is, we will briesty declare. Seing it is beyond all controuersie, that all thinges in the church ought to be done to edification, & all shew of superstition ought to be auoided, we iudge, that true pietie, and the churches edification requireth, §11first, concerning places, that, if they may vse the olde and prophaned temples, the same must be cleane purged of all idolls, and all reliques and monuments of idolatrie and superstition. 2For vvhat agreement hath the temple of God with idolls? §23Moreouer no lāguage is to be vsed, but that which is known to the whole congregation. For what edification can come to the church by an vnknowne language? 4the Apostle surely commaundeth thē to keep silence in the church which speak languages, if there be no interpreter. Thirdlie ⟨p. 230⟩all pride and vanitie of garmentes are to bee shunned, and all those ornaments, §35which doe rather beseeme the prophane theaters of the Gentiles, then the sacred temples of christiās: and which rather tend to delight the flesh, thē to edifie the spirit: but all things must be done in the churches with most high reuerence and modestie, as in the verie sight of God and his Angells. And albeit concerning the fashion of garments, which ministers ought publikly to weare, either in their ministerie, or out of it, we doe not thinke it a matter to bee so stood vpō, that for it, the peace of the church ought to be troubled: yet where they come neerest to the simplicitie of the Apostles, there wee iudge the church rather to bee approued.
- 1Temples or churches.
- 21 Cor. 6.16
- 3Language.
- 41 Cor. 14 28
- 5Garments
- 6Holy-daysHolie-daies
