The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

Would you see any further how he hath played this successful game of Over-doing? Why he hath done as much by it in Worship and Discipline, as almost in any thing: When he cannot have Discipline neglected, he is an over-zealous spirit in the breasts of the Clergy; and he persuades them to appoint men Penance, and Pilgrimages, and to put the necks of Princes under their feet. But if this Tyranny must be abated, he cries down all Discipline, and tells them it is all but Tyranny and humane Inventions; And this confessing sin to Ministers for Relief of Conscience; and this open Confessing in the Congregation for a due Manifestation of Repentance, and satisfaction to the Church, that they may hold Communion with them, it is all but Popery and Priestly Domineering.

Would you see any further how he hath play'd this successful game of Over-doing? Why he hath done as much by it in Worship and Discipline, as almost in any thing: When he cannot have Discipline neglected, he is an over-zealous spirit in the breasts of the Clergy; and he perswades them to appoint men Penance, and Pilgrimages, and to put the necks of Princes under their feet. But if this Tyrannie must be abated, he cryes down all Discipline, and tels them it is all but Tyrannie and humane Inventions; And this confessing sin to Ministers for Relief of Conscience; and this open Confessing in the Congregation for a due Manifestation of Repentance, and satisfaction to the Church, that they may hold Communion with them, it is all but Popery and Priestly Domineering.

And in matter of Worship, worst of all: When he could not persuade the world to persecute Christ, and to refuse him and his Worship, the Serpent will be the most zealous Worshipper, and saith, as Herod, and with the same mind, Come and tell me, that I may worship him. He persuades men to Do and Over-do: He sets them on laying out their Revenues in sumptuous Fabrics, in fighting to be Masters of the Holy Land and Sepulchre of Christ, on going Pilgrimages. ⟨p. 362⟩Worshipping Saints, Angels, Shrines, Relics, Adoring the very bread of the Sacrament as God, excessive fastings, choice of meats, Numbered Prayers on beads, Repetitions of words, so many Ave Maries, Pater Nosters, the name Jesus so oft Repeated in a breath, so many Holy-days to Saints, Canonical hours, even at midnight to pray, and that in Latin for greater reverence, Crossings, holy garments, variety of prescribed gestures, kneeling and worshipping before Images, sacrificing Christ again to his Father in the Mass; forswearing Marriage; living retiredly as separate from the world; multitudes of new prescribed Rules and orders of life; vowing poverty, begging without need; creeping to the Cross, Holy water, and Holy bread, carrying Palms, kneeling at Altars, bearing Candles, Ashes; In Baptism, Crossing, Conjuring out the Devil, salting, spittle, oil; taking Pardons, Indulgences and Dispensations of the Pope; praying for the Dead, perambulations, serving God to Merit Heaven, or to ease souls in Purgatory; doing Works of supererogation, with multitudes the like: All these hath the Devil added to Gods Worship, so zealous a Worshipper of Christ is he, when he takes that way. Read Mr. Herbert's Church Militant of Rome, pag. 188, 189, 190. I could trace