§. 12. Direct. 7. Place n•t more in the externals, or modes, or circumstances, or ceremonies of worship 1than is due; and lay not out more zeal for indifferent or little things, than cometh to their share; but 2let the great substantials of Religion have the precedency and be far preferred before them: Let the Love of God and man be the sum of your obedience: And be sure you learn well what that meaneth; I will have mercy and not sacrifice. And remember that the great thing which God requireth of you, is to do Justice, and love mercy and walk humbly with your God. Destroy not him with your meat f•r whom Christ dyed. Call not for fire from Heaven upon dissenters; and think not every man intolerable in the Church, that is not in every little matter of your mind. Remember that the hypocrisy of the Pharisees is described by Christ, as consisting in a zeal for their own traditions and the inventions of men, and the smallest matters of the Ceremonial Law, with a neglect of greatest moral duties, and a furious cruelty against the spiritual worshippers of God. Math. 15. 2. Why do thy disciples transgress the Tradition of the Elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. v. 7. Ye Hypocrites well did Isaiah prophesy of you saying, This people draweth ni•• •nt• me with their mouth, and h••••ureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me: but in vain do they worship me teaching f•r doctrines the commandments of men. Math. 23. 4, 5, 6, 13, 14, &c. They bind heavy burdens, which they touch not themselves. All their works they do to be seen of men: They make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the burdens of their garments; and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief s•ats in the Synagogues, and greetings in public, and to be called Rabbi—But they shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men, and were the greatest enemies of the entertainment of the Gospel by the people: They tithed mint and anise and cummin, and omitted the great matters of the Law, Judgement and Mercy and Faith. They strained at a gnat and swallowed a Camel: They had a great veneration for the dead Prophets and Saints, and yet were persecutors and murderers of their successors that were living. v. 23, &c. By this description you may see which way Hypocrisy doth most ordinarily work:
§. 12. Direct. 7. Place n•t more in the externals, or modes, or circumstances, or ceremonies of worship 1than is due; and lay not out more zeal for indifferent or little things, than cometh to their share; but 2let the great substantials of Religion have the precedencie and be far preferred before them: Let the Love of God and man be the sum of your obedience: And be sure you learn well what that meaneth; I will have mercy and not sacrifice. And remember that the great thing which God requireth of you, is to do Iustice, and love mercy and walk humbly with your God. Destroy not him with your meat f•r whom Christ dyed. Call not for fire from Heaven upon dissenters; and think not every man intollerable in the Church, that is not in every little matter of your mind. Remember that the hypocrisie of the Pharisees is described by Christ, as consisting in a zeal for their own traditions and the inventions of men, and the smallest matters of the Ceremonial Law, with a neglect of greatest moral duties, and a furious cruelty against the spiritual worshipers of God. Math. 15. 2. Why do thy disciples transgress the Tradition of the Elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. v. 7. Ye Hypocrites well did Esaias prophesie of you saying, This people draweth ni•• •nt• me with their mouth, and h••••ureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me: but in vain do they worship me teaching f•r doctrines the commandments of men. Math. 23. 4, 5, 6, 13, 14, &c. They bind heavy burdens, which they touch not themselves. All their works they do to be seen of men: They make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the burdens of their garments; and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief s•ats in the Synagogues, and greetings in publick, and to be called Rabbi—But they shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men, and were the greatest enemies of the entertainment of the Gospel by the people: They tythed mint and annise and cummin, and omitted the great matters of the Law, Iudgement and Mercy and Faith. They streined at a gnat and swallowed a Camel: They had a great veneration for the dead Prophets and Saints, and yet were persecuters and murderers of their successors that were living. v. 23, &c. By this description you may see which way Hypocrisie doth most ordinarily work:
- 1Direct. 7.
- 2[…]ed m••••ad of hurt fu••••nes, & ceremonies be ob•itera••d by ceremonies. Let the Priests persuade the nov••••, that holy water, Images, •o•a••••, […], and •o•ches, and the rest which the Church alloweth and u••th, are very •it for them; and let them ex••l them with many praises in their popular Sermons, that instead of the old superstition they may be used to new and religious signs.] This is to quenth the •i•e with oil.〈…〉ed m••••ad of hurt fu••••nes, & ceremonies be ob•itera••d by ceremoni•s. Let the Pr••sts perswade the nov••••, that holy water, Images, •o•a••••, 〈…〉, and •o•ches, and the rest which the Church alloweth and u••th, are very •it for them; and let them ex••l them with many praises in their popular Sermons, that instead of the old superstition they may be used to new and religious signs.] This is to quenth the •ie with oyl.
