A sober discourse of right to church-communion

Mans Nature is very prone to be meddling with things beyond his Commission, ⟨image 10⟩which has proved the very pest and bane of Christianity; for notwithstanding that dreadful prohibition, Rev. 22.18,19. of adding to, or taking from his word, is not Europe full of pernicious Additions and Subtractions in the Worship of God, which are imposed as Magisterially as if enstamped with a Divine Character, though in themselves no other than (as Christ himself calls them) the Traditions of men! Matth. 15.3. It is a superlative and desperate piece of audacity for men to presume to mend any thing in the Worship of God; for it supposes the All-wise Law giver capable of error, and the ⟨image 10⟩attempter wiser than his Maker. And if Sovereign Princes and Worldly States be so jealous of their Prerogatives and respective Rights, that they will (to the utmost hazard) repel any Invader: If men be displeased to have their Laws undervalued by the private Judgments of those who rather Interpret than obey them: ¹If the Conquest of an Enemy against the Command of his General, cost a Roman Gentleman his life, though his own Father were the Judge: ²If the killing of a Lion contrary to the Laws of the Kings Hunting (though to rescue the King himself) cost a poor Persian his Head: If the Architect that ⟨image 11⟩brought not the same (but as he judged a fitter) piece of Timber than he was commanded, to a Roman Consul, was rewarded with a bundle of Rods. If ^*Nadab and Abihu came to a Tragical end for their prohibited service, in offering not the same that was commanded, but strange fire before the Lord; what shall we say to such as mix their Inventions with the Sacred Institutions and Prescripts of the Great unerring Sovereign? When the same person who is to perform the Obedience, shall dare to appoint the Laws? Implying a peremptory purpose of no further observance than may