The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

I do not take all that I have mentioned for superstition, but I show you the circulation which zeal, and formality and malignity make, both in things warrantable and unwarrantable.

I do not take all that I have mentioned for superstition, but I shew you the circulation which zeal, and formality and maligni•y make, both in things warrantable and unwarrantable.

But especially take heed of that which is true superstition indeed: By which here I mean, the making of any new parts of Religion to our selves, and fathering them upon God, who never made them. Of this there are two sorts, Positive and Negative: When we falsely say, This is a Duty commanded by God; or when we falsely say, This is a sin forbidden by God. Take heed of both. I do not speak here of doing or not doing the same things upon any other account (as humane duties, or mere conveniences or the like) but as they are falsely pretended to be Divine.

But especially take heed of that which is true superstition indeed: By which here I mean, the making of any new parts of Religion to our selves, and fathering them upon God, who never made them. Of this there are two sorts, Positive and Negative: When we falsly say, This is a Duty commanded by God; or when we falsly say, This is a sin forbidden by God. Take heed of both. I do not speak here of doing or not doing the same things upon any other account (as humane duties, or meer conveniences or the like) but as they are falsly pretended to be Divine.

For first, this is properly a belying of God, and that adding to his word (whether precepts or prohibitions) which he hath so strictly forbidden us. Jer. 5. 12