A discourse of schism

Moreover, they seem to be parts of Worship reputatively, as they are highly valued. Our Saviour charges the Pharisees, that they preferred their Traditions above the Commands of God, Matt. 15.3, 6, 9. Their Corban swallowed up their duty to Parents. The Jews say, that there is more in the words of the Scribes, than in the words of the Law; and that it were better to die, than to violate a Tradition. Our Divines charge the very same thing upon the Papists. Whitaker tells Duraeus, That it was a greater Offence,¹ Quadragesimam violare quam Dei verbum contemnere, to break Lent, than to despise the ⟨p. 99⟩Word of God. Gregorius Hemburgius, ²Doctor of Law, was wont to say, That for many years men might speak more freely, de potestate Dei quàm Papae, of the Power of God, than of the Pope. And what is the value that is now upon Ceremonies among our selves? Hath there not been too high a rate set upon them? May we not complain in the words of St. Cyprian, ³Divina praecepta solvit, & praeterit humana traditio. Human Tradition dissolves and passes over Divine Precepts? It is apparent, that if Learning and Piety could have outweighed a Ceremony, many Worthy and Excellent Persons had been now in the Church, who are at this time out of it. I may add, it is also clear, that if that Heat and Zeal which hath run out against Nonconformity, could have been turned against Impiety and Profaneness, we had now been a much more excellent People than at this time we are. It was often the complaint of Erasmus, ⁴Divina contemni, Humana urgeri. That Divine things were contemned, and Human urged. If this should be our case, it ⟨p. 100⟩would be no wonder at all for men to say, that the Ceremonies are made parts of Worship.

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