Five disputations of church-government and worship

§. 52. 8. But of all our Ceremonies, there is none that I have more suspected to be simply unlawful then the Cross in Baptism. The rest, as I have said, I should have submitted to rather then hinder the Service or Peace of the Church, (had I been put to it: For living in those days in a Privileged place, I had my liberty in all save Days and the Gesture.) But this I durst ⟨p. 418⟩never meddle with. And yet I know that many think it as reasonable, and more venerable then any of the rest. Yet dare I not peremptorily say that it is unlawful: nor will I condemn either Ancients or Moderns that use it: nor will I make any disturbance in the Church about it, more then my own forbearance will make: only my own practice I was forced to suspend, and must do if it were again imposed on me, till I were better satisfied. The Reasons that most move me, I shall give you in the end, but some of them take at the present.

§. 52. 8. But of all our Ceremonies, there is none that I have more suspected to be simply unlawfull then the Cross in Baptism. The rest, as I have said, I should have submitted to rather then hinder the Service or Peace of the Church, (had I been put to it: For living in those daies in a Priviledged place, I had my liberty in all save Daies and the Gesture.) But this I durst ⟨p. 418⟩never meddle with. And yet I know that many think it as reasonable, and more venerable then any of the rest. Yet dare I not peremptorily say that it is unlawfull: nor will I condemn either Antients or Moderns that use it: nor will I make any disturbance in the Church about it, more then my own forbearance will make: only my own practice I was forced to suspend, and must do if it were again imposed on me, till I were better satisfied. The Reasons that most move me, I shall give you in the end, but some of them take at the present.

§. 53. 1. This is not the mere circumstance of a Duty, but a substantial humane ordinance of worship: nor is it necessary in genere that man ordain any such symbolical Mystical signs for Gods worship: And therefore it is a matter totally exempt from humane Power. There must be some Time, some place, some gesture, some vesture, some utensils, &c. But you cannot say that, There must be some teaching symbols, or mystical signs, stated by humane institution in Gods worship: There is no command to man in Scripture de genere to institute any such thing. And therefore in the case of Circumstantials I shall usually (of which more anon) obey the Magistrate, even where he doth mistake, because it is his own work, though he misdo it: But here his action is like that of a judge in alieno foro, in another court, where he hath no power, and therefore his judgement is null. It is not an act of Authority to make and state new mystical signs (that are such in their primary use,) in Gods worship: For there is no Power but of God: And God hath given no such power: They that say, he hath, let them prove it if they can. Natural and Artificial helps we disallow not But Instituted signs, that have what they have by Institution, and that as a solemn stated ordinance, I know not that ever God required or accepted from the invention of man. I doubt this will prove a mere usurpation, and nullity, and worse.