That the Lord hath declared Himself in the matters that concern his Worship, to be a Jealous God, and this Worship of His is certainly then most pure, and most agreeable to the simplicity of the Gospel, and to his Holy and Jealous Eyes, when it hath least of Humane admixtures (in things of themselves confessedly unnecessary) adjoined and appropriated thereunto. Upon these accounts many faithful Servants of the Lord knowing his Word to be a perfect Rule, of Faith and Worship (by which they must judge of his acceptance ⟨p. 8⟩of their Services, and must be themselves judged) have ever been exceeding fearful of varying from his Will, and of the danger of displeasing him by additions or detractions, in such Duties, wherein they must daily expect the communication of his Grace and comfort; especially in seeing these Ceremonies have been imposed and urged upon such Considerations as draw too near to the significacy and Moral efficacy of Sacraments themselves, that they have together with Popery been rejected by many of the Reformed Churches abroad; amongst whom, notwithstanding, we doubt not but the Lord is Worshipped decently, orderly, and in the beauty of Holiness: And ever since the Reformation they have been a matter of Contention and endless Dispute in this Church, and have been a cause of depriving the Church of the fruit and benefit they might have reaped from the labours of many learned and godly Divines, some of whom judging them unlawful, others inexpedient, were in Conscience unwilling to be brought under the power of them; And they have occasioned through the offence taken at them by many of the people heretofore great separation in our Church, and so have rather prejudiced than promoted the Unity thereof: And at this time by reason of their long disuse, may be more likely than ever heretofore to produce the same inconvenience. And they are at best indifferent, and in their nature mutable: And that it is (especially in various Exigencies of the Church) very needful and expedient, that things in themselves mutable, be sometimes actually changed, lest they should by perpetual permanency and constant use, be judged by the people as necessary as the Substantials of Worship themselves.
That the Lord hath declared Himself in the matters that concern his Worship, to be a Jealous God, and this Worship of His is certainly then most pure, and most agreeable to the simplicity of the Gospel, and to his Holy and Jealous Eyes, when it hath least of Humane admixtures (in things of themselves confessedly unnecessary) adjoyned and appropriated thereunto. Upon these accounts many faithful Servants of the Lord knowing his Word to be a perfect Rule, of Faith and Worship (by which they must judge of his acceptance ⟨p. 8⟩of their Services, and must be themselves judg'd) have ever been exceeding fearful of varying from his Will, and of the danger of displeasing him by additions or detractions, in such Duties, wherein they must daily expect the communication of his Grace and comfort; especially in seeing these Ceremonies have been imposed and urged upon such Considerations as draw too near to the significacy and Moral efficacy of Sacraments themselves, that they have together with Popery been rejected by many of the Reformed Churches abroad; amongst whom, notwithstanding, we doubt not but the Lord is Worshipped decently, orderly, and in the beauty of Holiliness: And ever since the Reformation they have been a matter of Contention and endless Dispute in this Church, and have been a cause of depriving the Church of the fruit and benefit they might have reaped from the labors of many learned and godly Divines, some of whom judging them unlawful, others inexpedient, were in Conscience unwilling to be brought under the power of them; And they have occasioned through the offence taken at them by many of the people heretofore great separation in our Church, and so have rather prejudiced than promoted the Ʋnity thereof: And at this time by reason of their long disuse, may be more likely than ever heretofore to produce the same inconvenience. And they are at best indifferent, and in their nature mutable: And that it is (especially in various Exigencies of the Church) very needful and expedient, that things in themselves mutable, be sometimes actually changed, lest they should by perpetual permanency and constant use, be judged by the people as necessary as the Substantials of Worship themselves.
