A30587:68
Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and…
Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and evils of them : with cautions that we may not be hurt by them, and endeavours to heal them / by Jeremiah Burroughs.Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and evils of them : with cautions that we may not be hurt by them, and endeavours to heal them / by Jeremiah Burroughes.
London: printed for Robert Dawlman, 1653
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
In the substantials of worship, Unity is necessary; there all are bound to go by the same rule, and to do to the uttermost they are able, the same thing.
But the circumstantials of worship have a two-fold consideration: They are either such, as though but circumstances to some other worship, yet have also in themselves some divine worship, some spiritual efficacy, something in them to commend our service unto God, or to cause some presence of God with us, or to work us nearer to God, by an efficacy beyond what they have in them of their own natures. As for instance, Time is a circumstance, but the Lords day hath a worship in it commending our service to God, and an efficacy to bring God to us, and raise us to God: this not from any natural efficacy of the time,1 but from Gods institution. Now in such circumstances as these, there ought to be uniformity; for these have institutions for their rule, and are not at mans liberty to be altered as he thinks best in prudence; But there are other circumstances which are only natural or civill, subservient to worship in a natural or civill way; They are conversant about worship, but have nothing of worship in them, but are merely natural or civill helps to it. When we worship God, we do something as men as well as worshippers; hence we have need of some natural or civill helps. As for instance, when we meet to worship God, we being men as well as Christians, must have a conveniency of place, to keep us from the weather, ⟨p. 15⟩to know whether to resort; and of time to know when.
But the circumstantials of worship have a two-fold consideration: They are either such, as though but circumstances to some other worship, yet have also in themselves some divine worship, some spirituall efficacie, something in them to commend our service unto God, or to cause some presence of God with us, or to work us nearer to God, by an efficacy beyond what they have in them of their owne natures. As for instance, Time is a circumstance, but the Lords day hath a worship in it commending our service to God, and an efficacie to bring God to us, and raise us to God: this not from any naturall efficacie of the time,