3dly. The Ceremonies thus taken do seem to be against Christian Liberty, Charity and Unity. They seem to be against Christian Liberty. The Liberty which we have in Christ is a real one. Omnia (saith Tertullian) imaginaria in seculo; All things, even Liberty it self, are imaginary in the world; but the Liberty which we have in Christ is true. Our Christian Liberty stands in a spiritual manumission, not only from Sin, Satan, Death, but also from the Yoke of Ceremonies. In the Gospel we have a double Door open to us, one into Heaven, another into Ordinances, to fit us for that Blessed Region; both these open Doors were purchased by the precious Blood of Christ, neither of them may be shut by man. The Jewish Ceremonies, as made necessary to Salvation, did shut the first Door, because there more things were made necessary to Salvation than the Gospel made. Our Ceremonies, as made terms of Communion, seem to shut the second Door, ⟨p. 83⟩because thereby other Conditions of participation in Ordinances are put upon men than are to be found in the Gospel. A free access unto the Sacraments was not only purchased by Christ's precious Blood for us, but granted by his Evangelical Charter to us; and a choice, a rare Liberty it is; but if men may bar up, or conditionate this access, where is our Christian Liberty? How can we come to Ordinances, [Greek or Hebrew], as the Freemen of Christ? The Human Yoke of Ceremonies is upon us; and I wonder that it can enter into rational minds, that God should break off the Yoke of his own Ceremonies, as unsuitable to the Evangelical Liberty, and yet that a Yoke of Human Ceremonies should be put on as congruous to it. If Human Ceremonies may succeed in the room of Divine, then the Yoke is not removed, but changed, and that as much for the worse, as Human Ceremonies weigh heavier than Divine. Were it put to the option of any intelligent man, whether he would have a Ritual Burden of God's binding laid upon ⟨p. 84⟩him, or one of Man's: He would certainly choose to have it done rather by the God of Wisdom and Mercy, than by any Creature. We see clearly that God hath no where in the New Testament laid any such burdens, or set any such conditional bars to Ordinances; and how, or why should man do it? Or if he do it, how or which way is the Christian Franchise preserved?
3dly. The Ceremonies thus taken do seem to be against Christian Liberty, Charity and Ʋnity. They seem to be against Christian Liberty. The Liberty which we have in Christ is a real one. Omnia (saith Tertullian) imaginaria in seculo; All things, even Liberty it self, are imaginary in the world; but the Liberty which we have in Christ is true. Our Christian Liberty stands in a spiritual manumission, not only from Sin, Satan, Death, but also from the Yoke of Ceremonies. In the Gospel we have a double Door open to us, one into Heaven, another into Ordinances, to fit us for that Blessed Region; both these open Doors were purchased by the precious Blood of Christ, neither of them may be shut by man. The Jewish Ceremonies, as made necessary to Salvation, did shut the first Door, because there more things were made necessary to Salvation than the Gospel made. Our Ceremonies, as made terms of Communion, seem to shut the second Door, ⟨p. 83⟩because thereby other Conditions of participation in Ordinances are put upon men than are to be found in the Gospel. A free access unto the Sacraments was not only purchased by Christ's precious Blood for us, but granted by his Evangelical Charter to us; and a choice, a rare Liberty it is; but if men may bar up, or conditionate this access, where is our Christian Liberty? How can we come to Ordinances, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, as the Freemen of Christ? The Human Yoke of Ceremonies is upon us; and I wonder that it can enter into rational minds, that God should break off the Yoke of his own Ceremonies, as unsuitable to the Evangelical Liberty, and yet that a Yoke of Human Ceremonies should be put on as congruous to it. If Human Ceremonies may succeed in the room of Divine, then the Yoke is not removed, but changed, and that as much for the worse, as Human Ceremonies weigh heavier than Divine. Were it put to the option of any intelligent man, whether he would have a Ritual Burthen of God's binding laid upon ⟨p. 84⟩him, or one of Man's: He would certainly chuse to have it done rather by the God of Wisdom and Mercy, than by any Creature. We see clearly that God hath no where in the New Testament laid any such burthens, or set any such conditional bars to Ordinances; and how, or why should man do it? Or if he do it, how or which way is the Christian Franchise preserved?
