A Complete collection of farewell sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl…A Compleat collection of farewel sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl…

So to Consecrate moveable or immovable goods, as that it should be a sin for the Church to use them in any secular employments, it is an execrable and abominable superstition: God hath not consecrated any thing in the Gospel so, as that it is a sin to use it otherwise. It was a sin in them to make use of the Cups, in the Temple, in any secular way, but it is not so for us: the reason is, because those things were set apart by Gods own institution: ⟨image 38⟩but there can be nothing so consecrated by men, as that it may not be made use of in secular things without sin.

So to Consecrate moveable or immoveable goods, as that it should be a sin for the Church to use them in any secular employments, it is an execrable and abominable superstition: God hath not consecrated any thing in the Gospel so, as that it is a sin to use it otherwise. It was a sin in them to make use of the Cups, in the Temple, in any secular way, but it is not so for us: the reason is, because those things were set apart by Gods own institution: ⟨image 38⟩but there can be nothing so consecrated by men, as that it may not be made use of in secular things without sin.

2. A second thing I deny is, That no place now in the time of the Gospel hath such an holiness either from Institution or Use, as to sanctify or make more acceptable or effectual the Services therein performed: This is not in the time of the Gospel; God is present at places of Religious performances, not with respect unto the place, but the performance by him instituted and enjoined; and therefore he doth not say, Where two or three are met together, I will be in the midst of that place, but among them. God will be present in the place for the Duties sake, not among them for the Places sake, but the Duties sake in the place, to bless the Ordinance for his own Institution sake. Prayers and other Duties in the Ceremonial Law were regarded for the Places sake, but now we must abhor this piece of Judaism: For a man to set a place apart by Consecration, that this place makes the Duty any thing the more excellent, or acceptable to God, this is to make the Traditions of men equal to the Institution of God. The Temple sanctified the Duty, but not the Synagogue; and the Altar did sanctify the Gift, and the Person and Service, because it was by Gods Institution, and so the Temple and Altar did add efficacy and worth to the work; but for men to Consecrate the Church, it is to make the appointment of men equal with the Institution of God. Our Churches and Meeting-places, are not holy (if they be holy at all) without relation to the Duties performed, but our Duties are holy without relation to the Church or the Place. None but God can Consecrate a place to be an effectual means of Worship. The Jews worshipped God by the Temple, but we worship God in the Church, as the place doth afford a natural conveniency for our meeting together; the place then hath no influence at all upon our duties, and if any of you should think so, you do err exceedingly: It is but only a Physical act of Duty, or a natural Adjunct of duty, which is but at the most helpful to the bodies conveniency.