19. And this making a Religion of unnecessary things, or laying the Churches Unity thereon, is a dangerous snare to delude the Ignorant and ungodly, and make them believe that they are godly people, and in the way to Heaven as well as others. I use not this or any Argument against the profitable use of any forms in order to the understanding of the matter; nor against the due circumstantiating of the worship of God: But if profitable forms, and Gods own Ordinances are somewhat liable to this abuse, we cannot devise how to increase the danger, and quite enthral these miserable souls more ⟨p. 350⟩certainly then by multiplying unnecessary formalities, and placing Religion and Unity in them. For they that are most ignorant, and empty of the Love and fear of God, and the bitterest enemies to a Heavenly life, will presently set in with these formalities, and make themselves a Religion of these; and then they will take themselves as godly as the best. You shall never make them believe that they are ungodly. They think the difference lieth but in the way and manner of serving God: You serve him one way, and they another; but yet they serve him as well as you: Yea they will overdo in these Indifferent things, that they may make up that which is wanting in true godliness; and then they will think that they are better and righter then you. Thus did the Heathens cry out against the ancient Christians with a Tollite impios, away ⟨p. 351⟩with the ungodly; and killed them and cast them to wild beast to be torn by them, because they would not worship their Idols. And so many ungodly wretches now that will not be persuaded to a Holy life, will yet cry down others as impious because they observe not all the Ceremonies which they observe. When we have used all the means we can to bring them to the study of the Scripture, and to meditate in the Law of the Lord, and to holy conference, and fervent prayer; to hatred of sin, the contempt of the world, the mortifying of the flesh, to the Love of God above all, to a thankful admiration of the Love of Christ, and the great mystery of Redemption, to the believing, delightful forethoughts of everlasting life, and preparation for it, &c. I say, when we have done all to bring them to this which is godliness indeed, ⟨p. 352⟩we lose our labour, and leave them as we find them. They cannot away with so precise a life:
19. And this making a Religion of unnecessary things, or laying the Churches Unity thereon, is a dangerous snare to delude the Ignorant and ungodly, and make them believe that they are godly people, and in the way to Heaven as well as others. I use not this or any Argument against the profitable use of any forms in order to the understanding of the matter; nor against the due circumstantiating of the worship of God: But if profitable forms, and Gods own Ordinances are somwhat lyable to this abuse, we cannot devise how to increase the danger, and quite enthral these miserable souls more ⟨p. 350⟩certainly then by multiplying unnecessary formalityes, and placing Religion and Unity in them. For they that are most ignorant, and empty of the Love and fear of God, and the bitterest enemies to a Heavenly life, will presently set in with these formalities, and make themselves a Religion of these; and then they will take themselves as godly as the best. You shall never make them believe that they are ungodly. They think the difference lyeth but in the way and manner of serving God: You serve him one way, and they another; but yet they serve him as well as you: Yea they will overdo in these Indifferent things, that they may make up that which is wanting in true godliness; and then they will think that they are better and righter then you. Thus did the Heathens cry out against the ancient Christians with a Tollite impios, away ⟨p. 351⟩with the ungodly; and killed them and cast them to wild beast to be torn by them, because they would not worship their Idols. And so many ungodly wretches now that will not be perswaded to a Holy life, will yet cry dow others as impious because they observe not all the Ceremonies which they observe. When we have used all the means we can to bring them to the study of the Scripture, and to meditate in the Law of the Lord, and to holy conference, and servent prayer; to hatred of sin, the contempt of the world, the mortifying of the flesh, to the Love of God above all, to a thankful admiration of the Love of Christ, and the great mystery of Redemption, to the believing, delightful forethoughts of everlasting life, and preparation for it, &c. I say, when we have done all to bring them to this which is godlyness indeed, ⟨p. 352⟩we lose our labour, and leave them as we find them. They cannot away with so precise a life:
