A sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons at their late solemn fast…A sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons at their late solemne fast…

Secondly, I shall describe them as ^oone of the Prelates hath done; who tells us, that the things which the Scripture hath left to the discretion of the Church, are those things, which ⟨p. 30⟩neither needed, nor could be particularly express. They needed not, because they are so obvious; and they could not, both because they are so numerous, and because so changeable.

Secondly, I shall describe them as ^oone of the Prelates hath done; who tells us, that the things which the Scripture hath left to the discretion of the Church, are those things, which ⟨p. 30⟩neither needed, nor could be particularly expresse. They needed not, because they are so obvious; and they could not, both because they are so numerous, and because so changeable.

1. oThe Bishop of Down, of the authority of the Church, pag. 29.

I will not insist upon questions of this kind, but will make ¹a short application of the Doctrine unto you (Honourable and Beloved) you may plainly see from what hath been said, that neither Kings, nor Parliaments, nor Synods, nor any power on earth, may impose or continue the least Ceremony upon the consciences of Gods people, which Christ hath not imposed. Therefore let neither antiquity, nor custom, nor conveniency, nor prudential considerations, nor show of holiness, nor any pretext whatsoever, plead for the reservation of any of your old Ceremonies, which have no ground nor warrant from the word of God. Much might have been said for the high places among the Jews, as I hinted in the beginning: and much might have been said