A discourse concerning liturgies, and their imposition

Things being thus stated in the connivance and forbearance of God among the Jews, some of them not contented to use the indulgence granted to them in mere patience for the ends before mentioned, began sedulously to urge the Mosaical Rites upon all the Gentiles that were turned unto God. So making upon the matter the Preaching of the Gospel to be but a new way of proselyting men unto Judaism. For the most part it appears, that it was not any mistake or unacquaintedness with the Liberty brought in by Christ, that made them engage in this quarrel for Moses, but that indeed being themselves carnal, and notwithstanding the outward Name of Christ, seeking yet for righteousness by the Law, they esteemed the observation of the Ceremonies indispensably necessary unto Salvation. This gave occasion unto Paul, unto whom the Apostleship of the Gentiles was in a special manner committed, to lay open the whole mystery of that Liberty given by Christ to his Disciples from the Law of Moses, as also the pernicious effects which its observance would produce upon those principles which were pressed by the Judaical Zealots. Passing by the peculiar dispensation of God towards the whole Nation of the Jews, wherein the Gentile Believers were not concerned; as also that determination of the case of scandal made at Jerusalem, Acts 15. and the temporary rule of Condescension as to the abridgement of Liberty in some particulars agreed unto thereupon, he fully declares that the time of the Appointment was come, that there was no more power in the Law of their Institutions to bind the Consciences of men, and that it was not in the power of all the men in the world, to impose the observation of them, or any like unto them, upon any one though the meanest of the Disciples of Jesus Christ. The mind of Christ in this matter being fully made known, and the Liberty of his Disciples vindicated, various effects in the minds of men ensued thereupon. Those who were in their inward principle themselves carnal, notwithstanding their outward profession of the Gospel, delighting in, and resting on an outward ceremonious Worship, continued to oppose ⟨p. 8⟩him with violence and fury.

Things being thus stated in the connivance and forbearance of God among the Jews, some of them not contented to use the indulgence granted to them in meer patience for the ends before mentioned, began sedulously to urge the Mosaical Rites upon all the Gentiles that were turned unto God. So making upon the matter the Preaching of the Gospel to be but a new way of proselyting men unto Judaism. For the most part it appears, that it was not any mistake or unacquaintedness with the Liberty brought in by Christ, that made them engage in this quarrel for Moses, but that indeed being themselves carnal, and notwithstanding the outward Name of Christ, seeking yet for righteousness by the Law, they esteemed the observation of the Ceremonies indispensably necessary unto Salvation. This gave occasion unto Paul, unto whom the Apostleship of the Gentiles was in a special manner committed, to lay open the whole mystery of that Liberty given by Christ to his Disciples from the Law of Moses, as also the pernitious effects which its observance would produce upon those principles which were pressed by the Judaical Zealots. Passing by the peculiar dispensation of God towards the whole Nation of the Jews, wherein the Gentile Believers were not concerned; as also that determination of the case of scandal made at Jerusalem,