Therefore (to conclude all) do not this great, this dangerous evil, The Bearing of them that are, The Bearing of that which is evil. Bear not Oppressors and Merchants, rather then Stewards of Justice in the State. Bear not Buyers and Sellers, Money-changers rather then Ministers in the Temple. Bear not the Seats of those who have sold and vexed Doves, but have spared Crows, and admitted unclean birds to nestle there. Bear not ignorant, idle, Idol-Shepherds, who feed themselves and not the flock. Bear not sons of Belial, who make men abhor the offerings of the Lord. 1Bear not profane Atheists, blasphemous Swearers, swinish Drunkards, filthy Adulterers, bloody Murderers, ⟨p. 54⟩false Witnesses in any corner of the Land: Bear not Idolaters, who change the truth of God into a Lye, and 2worship the creature more then the Creator (or the creature with the Creator) who is blessed for evermore: Bear not a Graven Image, nor the Maker, nor the Adorer of it; But defile all the Coverings of the Graven Images of Silver, 3and the Ornaments of all the molten Images of Gold, cast them away as a menstruous cloth, say unto them, with a mighty voice (a voice hath been heard as the voice of many waters already) But say it now with a mighty voice, even the voice of a great thunder) Get ye hence. Bear not superstitious 4Innovators, who are all for mixtures in the worship of God: Whose minds are corrupted (and they have a mind to corrupt others) from the simplicity that is in Christ. 5The Gospel and the ways of it are not Simple, as Simplicity is opposed to depth of wisdom (for therein is made known the manifold wisdom of God) But as simplicity 6is opposed to mixture: As in Philosophy we distinguish between simple and mixed Bodies: so in Divinity we may between simple and mixed Ordinances. Every thing the more simple (in this sense) it is, the more excellent it is, and more free from corruption: And God who infinitely excels All, is most Simple: He is Ens Simplicissimum, Simplicity is his first Attribute. I hear, the Heralds have a rule amongst them, That the most simple Bearing is the most honourable Bearing; Coats full of Devices show a mean Descent. I am sure the simplest Worship is fullest of Honour. A Religion full of devices could never, nor ever shall prove (it hath often attempted to purchase) a Pedigree from Heaven. Then bear not mixing Innovators.
Therfore (to conclude all) doe not this great, this dangerous evill, The Bearing of them that are, The Bearing of that which is evill. Beare not Oppressors and Merchants, rather then Stewards of Justice in the State. Beare not Buyers and Sellers, Money-changers rather then Ministers in the Temple. Beare not the Seates of those who have sold and vext Doves, but have spared Crowes, and admitted uncleane birds to nestle there. Beare not ignorant, idle, Idoll-Shepheards, who feed themselves and not the flocke. Beare not sonnes of Belial, who make men abhorre the offerings of the Lord. 1Beare not prophane Atheists, blasphemous Swearers, swinish Drunkards, filthy Adulterers, bloudy Murtherers, ⟨p. 54⟩false Witnesses in any corner of the Land: Beare not Idolaters, who change the truth of God into a Lye, and 2worship the creature more then the Creator (or the creature with the Creator) who is blessed for evermore: Beare not a Graven Image, nor the Maker, nor the Adorer of it; But defile all the Coverings of the Graven Images of Silver, 3and the Ornaments of all the molten Images of Gold, cast them away as a menstrous cloth, say unto them, with amighty voice (a voice hath been heard as the voice of many waters already) But say it now with a mighty voice, even the voice of a great thunder) Get ye hence. Beare not superstitious 4Innovators, who are all for mixtures in the worship of God: Whose minds are corrupted (and they have a mind to corrupt others) from the simplicity that is in Christ. 5The Gospell and the wayes of it are not Simple, as Simplicity is opposed to depth of wisedome (for therein is made knowne the manifold wisedome of God) But as simplicity 6is opposed to mixture: As in Philosophy we distinguish between simple and mixt Bodies: so in Divinity we may between simple and mixt Ordinances. Every thing the more simple (in this sence) it is, the more excellent it is, and more free from corruption: And God who infinitely excels All, is most Simple: He is Ens Simplicissimum, Simplicity is his first Attribute. I heare, the Heralds have a rule amongst them, That the most simple Bearing is the most honourable Bearing; Coates full of Devices shew a meane Descent. I am sure the simplest Worship is fullest of Honour. A Religion full of devices could never, nor ever shall prove (it hath often attempted to purchase) a Pedigree from Heaven. Then beare not mixing Innovators.
- 11 Sam. 2. 12 17.
- 2Rom. 1. 25
- 3Isa. 30. 22.
- 4Rev. 14. 2.
- 52 Cor. 11. 3
- 6Eph. 3. 10.
