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

A Papist fasteth on Friday, or avoideth flesh in Lent as a Divine duty: superstitiously: A Protestant fasteth the same day, because an Act of Parliament commandeth it, which renounceth the Papists religious end; Or because his Physician prescribeth it as necessary for •is health. This is not superstition. Another Protestant avoideth it through necessity for his health: And another in Popish Countries avoideth it only as scandalous: Neither of these are superstitious. Another fasteth on a Friday for his own necessity or convenience, as a time which he may lawfully choose. And another fasteth on a Friday; because the Master of the family, or the Pastors of the Church, have appointed a fast on that day. This is no superstition. A Sectary thinketh that it is superstition or some other sin to fast the same day that the Papists do, because the Papists do it superstitiously. This is superstition (unless in the case of scandal as aforesaid.)

A Papist fasteth on Friday, or avoideth flesh in Lent as a Divine duty: superstitiously: A Protestant fasteth the same day, because an Act of Parliament commandeth it, which renounceth the Papists religious end; Or because his Physician prescribeth it as necessary for •is health. This is not superstition. Another Protestant avoideth it through necessity for his health: And another in Popish Countries avoideth it only as scandalous: Neither of these are superstitious. Another fasteth on a Friday for his own necessity or conveuience, as a time which he may lawfully choose. And another fasteth on a Friday; because the Master of the family, or the Pastors of the Church, have appointed a fast on that day. This is no superstition. A Sectary thinketh that it is superstition or some other sin to fast the same day that the Papists do, because the Papists do it superstitiously. This is superstition (unless in the case of scandal as aforesaid.)

The multitudes of superstitions by which the Papists or any others, have corrupted and debased the Christian Religion, I shall not n•w digress to mention; But only touch upon a few instances, of the superstitions of those godly persons of this age, to whom I am now writing: To show them, that it is the Religious sort, that are the common beginners of superstition, by over-doing, out of a mistaken zeal, or fear of sinning.