A defence of the principles of love, which are necessary to the unity and…

1. There are men otherwise very honest, and truly godly, and of holy and unblameable lives, who think that the Scripture is intended by God, not only as a General, but a particular Law or Rule, for all the very Circumstances of Worship, (yea, some say of the common business of our lives): and that the second Commandment in particular condemneth all that is the product or invention of man in or about the Worship of God; and that to deny this is to deny the perfection of the Scripture; and that all written Books, and Printed, are Images there forbidden; and that all studied or prepared Sermons, (as to Method or Words, whether in Notes or memory) are forbidden Images of Preaching, and that all provided Words or Forms (written, or in memory, of our own or other mens Contrivance or Composition) are forbidden Images of Prayer; and all prepared Metre and Tunes are forbidden Images of Praise or singing; and that no man that useth any such preparation or form of words in preaching or prayer, doth preach or pray by the help of Gods Spirit: and that if Parents do but teach a Child a ⟨p. 98⟩form of words to pray in, they teach him this forbidden Imagery, yea, Idolatry.

I hope the number is but small that are of this Opinion, and that it being commonly disowned by the Non-conformists, no justice or Modesty can charge it on them, but only on the few persons that are guilty of it. But yet I must say, that we are obliged to take heed of Countenancing this Error, as well as of Countenancing Church-Usurpations.

For 1. When a few men of eminent integrity are of this mind, it proveth to us that many more may be brought to it, and are in danger of it; Because mere Piety and Honesty is not enough to keep men from it: Yea, when men otherwise eminent also for Learning and great understanding are of that mind (as they are) poor, ignorant, unlearned persons, though very godly, are not out of the danger of it.