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

Here note to prevent mistakes; First, that as God is related to our actions, either as the efficient ⟨p. 285⟩commanding, or as the final cause; so there is a double superstition; One (which is the greatest as comprehending the other) when that which God never commanded or forbade, is feigned to be commanded or forbidden by him: The other when we feign him finally to be pleased with a Religious worship of our own invention, though we confess it to have no higher an original than our selves.

Secondly, That the matter of this later sort of superstition is either that which God forbiddeth and so is displeased with; or that which he hath made and holdeth indifferent; and so is neither pleased or displeased with, in any moral consideration, in it self considered. He that offereth God a sacrifice of sin (or things prohibited) or of a worthless and indifferent thing, and taketh God to be pleased with the later, or not displeased with the former, doth indeed displease him by either of these conceits. And the general prohibition of not adding or diminishing, rightly understood, may notify things as under the former head.

Secondly, That the matter of this later sort of superstition is either that which God forbiddeth and so is displeased with; or that which he hath made and holdeth indifferent; and so is neither pleased or displeased with, in any moral consideration, in it self considered. He that of•ereth God a ••crifice of sin (or things prohibited) or of a worthless and indifferent thing, and taketh God to be pleased with the later, or not displeased with the former, doth indeed displease him by either of these conceits. And the general prohibition of not adding or diminishing, rightly understood, may notifie things as under the former head.