A reply to Dr. Mortons general Defence of three nocent [sic] ceremonies viz. the…A reply to Dr. Mortons generall Defence of three nocent [sic] ceremonies viz. the…

Come we therefore to the examination of witnesses in particular. Calvins words are, Instit. l. c. 10. sect 8. all humane constitutions, in which the worship of God is placed, are ungodly. The Def. saith, that 1. Calvin meaneth not by worship circumstances of order. Which is most true, neither was any reader so sottish, as ever took that to be his meaning. For what sense could there be in these words, all humane constitutions, in which the circumstances of order are placed? 2. He telleth us that he meaneth the inward virtue of worship, which consisteth in an opinion of holiness and justice. Where first I will not urge or grate upon the ill sound which these words have, the inward virtue of worship consisteth in an opinion. 2. How can an inward virtue be placed in an outward ceremony? 3. The proper nature of worship is not in holiness and justice, but in the honouring of God: and all external ceremonies whose proper use is the honouring of God, are external worship, as all divinity showeth. This is therefore but an idle unlearned evasion, to talk of holiness, and justice, in opinion, when the question is of worship. Calvin never thought of such toys. He amplifieth indeed his accusation against the Papists by such circumstances as those are, according as the Def. showeth: but what Logic can thence conclude, that nothing else is contained in the general rule? Calvin himself professeth the contrary, as directly as if he had undertaken to confute this defender of ceremonies. For these are his words, Epist. 259. Si probe & penitus inspicitur, quid homines tantopere solicitet ad fabricandas ⟨p. 20⟩ceremonias, reperiemus ex hoc fonte omnes fluxisse, quia quisque novum Dei cultum fingere ausus fuerit• atqui fictitios omnes cultus non modo repudiat Deus, sed etiam severe abominatur. i. The original of all ceremonies was, that men would needs forge new worships of God: whereas God doth not only refuse such worships, but also abhorreth them.

Come vve therefore to the examination of witnesses in particular. Calvins words are, Instit. l. c. 10. sect 8. all humane constitutions, in which the worship of God is placed, are ungodly. The Def. sayth, that 1. Calvin meaneth not by worship circumstances of order. Which is most true, neither was any reader so sottish, as ever tooke that to be his meaning. For vvhat sence could there be in these words, all humane constitutions, in which the circumstances of order are placed? 2. He telleth us that he meaneth the inward vertue of worship, which consisteth in an opinion of holinesse and justice. Where first I will not urge or grate upon the ill sound which these words have, the inward vertue of worship consisteth in an opinion. 2. How can an inward vertue be placed in an outward ceremonie? 3. The proper nature of worship is not in holinesse and justice, but in the honouring of God: and all externall ceremonies vvhose proper use is the honouring of God, are externall vvorship, as all diuinitie sheweth. This is therefore but an idle unlearned evasion, to talk of holinesse, and justice, in opinion, vvhen the question is of vvorship. Calvin never thought of such toyes. He amplifieth indeed his accusation against the Papists by such circumstances as those are, according as the Def. sheweth: but what Logick can thence conclude, that nothing else is conteined in the generall rule? Calvin himselfe professeth the contrary, as directly as if he had undertaken to confute this defender of ceremonies. For these are his words, Epist. 259. Si probe & penitus inspicitur, quid homines tantopere solicitet ad fabricandas