Englands antidote against the plague of civill war presented in a sermon before the…Englands antidote against the plague of civill warre presented in a sermon before the…

That long prescription of time for Idolatry and superstition, is no ¹good argument to maintain Idolatry and superstition. This was the argument that the Athenians brought against Pauls doctrine, ver. 18. This man seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods, He preacheth new doctrine that our forefathers never heard of, and therefore we will not hearken to his doctrine. This was the argument the Jews brought against Steven and his doctrine, Acts 6. 14. We have heard him say, that this Jesus shall alter the customs which Moses delivered us. This is the great argument the Papists use to maintain their Mass-book, their adoration of images, and the rest of their superstitions. In King Edward the sixths days, when the great rebellion was in the West, the only argument ⟨p. 4⟩that was brought by the Rebels to uphold their rebellion was, because that King Edward did endeavour to bring in a new way of worshipping of God, which they and their Forefathers did not know. And this is the great and only reason, that makes many poor and ignorant people to cry down the Parliament; and for this cause many thousands have taken up Arms to fight themselves into Popery and slavery: And all because they fear the Parliament will take away their old Episcopal government, their old Cathedral service, their organs, altars, crossings of their children in Baptism, and other such like customs. For my part, I am not ignorant of what dangerous consequence it is, to alter and change the customs of a kingdom, and I know the Parliament is so wise, as that they will not alter, and the Assembly of Ministers so judicious, as that they will not advise them to alter any custom in the worship of God, but upon very grave and weighty considerations. But howsoever, this is no good argument: Because I have been accustomed to come to Westminster to hear the Organs play, and to hear Cathedral service; And because I my self was signed with the sign of the cross when I was baptized; And because I have lived all this while under Episcopal government, therefore I will take up Arms rather then the Parliament shall make me to worship God in any other way then I have been accustomed. The Text confutes this Argument, And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commands all men every where to repent.

That long prescription of time for Idolatry and superstition, is no