Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and…

There must be order: Many cannot speak at once to edification; modest and grave carriage is required of us, as a society of men, meeting about matters of weight. In these circumstances, and other of the like nature, there is no worship at all, there is no spiritual efficacy, there are only natural or civill helps to us, while we are worshipping; therefore for these circumstances, humane prudence is sufficient to order them.

There must be order: Many cannot speak at once to edification; modest and grave carriage is required of us, as a society of men, meeting about matters of weight. In these circumstances, and other of the like nature, there is no worship at all, there is no spirituall efficacie, there are only naturall or civill helps to us, while we are worshipping; therefore for these circumstances, humane prudence is sufficient to order them.

The right understanding of this takes away a great prejudice that many have against such as desire to keep to Divine Institutions, not only in Substantials, but in the Circumstantials of worship; they think it an unreasonable thing, that divine Institution should be required for every circumstance in worship; this hath bred a great quarrel in the church: and well may it be thought unreasonable, if we required Institutions for circumstances in worship, which are but natural or civill helps, and have no worship at all in them, for that indeed were endless, and a mere vanity. Certainly Institutions are to be required only in things that are raised beyond what is in them naturally, in tendering my respects to God by them, or expecting to draw my heart nearer to God, or God nearer to me in the use of them. The contention about Uniformity is much increased for want of a right understanding of this difference in the circumstantials of worship; did we understand one another in this, we might soon have Peace as concerning this thing.

The right understanding of this takes away a great prejudice that many have against such as desire to keep to Divine Institutions, not onely in Substantials, but in the Circumstantials of worship; they thinke it an unreasonable thing, that divine Institution should be required for every circumstance in worship; this hath bred a great quarrel in the church: and well may it be thought unreasonable, if we required Institutions for circumstances in worship, which are but naturall or civill helps, and have no worship at all in them, for that indeed were endlesse, and a meer vanity. Certainly Institutions are to be required onely in things that are raised beyond what is in them naturally, in tendring my respects to God by them, or expecting to draw my heart nearer to God, or God nearer to me in the use of them. The contention about Uniformity is much encreased for want of a right understanding of this difference in the circumstantialls of worship; did we understand one another in this, wee might soon have Peace as concerning this thing.