9. On the other hand, we are sensible, that Obedience, Peace, Order and Uniformity are great things; and on the other hand, I think no Man can think that the things, which are the Instances of Obedience, which are said often to be things indifferent, to be under-valued. If I say the harm and danger of precious Souls, are of far greater Consideration. If we think then, that if Authority think sit to silence the Controversy by the removing the matters of those things, not good, or necessary in themselves, that the Salvation of precious Souls may not be obstructed by a rigorous exacting of them: We make but a ⟨p. 54⟩moderate Estimation of them if we think them of less moment than the Good or Evil to Souls for whom Christ died. Better the Controversies were buried, than that Souls should be endangered to perish for them. And though touch not, taste not, handle not, a needless Scrupulosity, Shyness and Displeasure against them, be the cause of Irregularity; yet it must be acknowledged that a Zeal for Ordinances, without unnecessary Rites, is laudable, and a Zeal against Rites is not so much to be blamed, as the Evil to be feared on the other hand,1 to those many erring and superstitious Souls, that think Ordinances are not Ordinances without them. We cannot rhetoricate upon them as some Men do, that they are Helps and Ornaments to Devotion, that they are edifying in their Nature and Use; for if so, they are necessary, and the Ordinances are maimed when they are taken off. We know no Inconvenience or Damage, but Good to have followed the Abolition of many Ceremonies formerly in use, for some of which as much may be said as for these in use. And two things prevailed upon our Reformers to lay them aside: 1. Their Multitude: 2. And principally, because they were abused by the Superstitious Blindness of the rude and unlearned; and partly by the insatiable Avarice of such as sought more their own Lucre than the Glory of God; that the Abuses could not well be taken away, the things remaining still. Of Ceremonies, why some be abolished, &c.
9. On the other hand, we are sensible, that Obedience, Peace, Order and Uniformity are great things; and on the other hand, I think no Man can think that the things, which are the Instances of Obedience, which are said often to be things indifferent, to be under-valued. If I say the harm and danger of precious Souls, are of far greater Consideration. If we think then, that if Authority think sit to silence the Controversy by the removing the matters of those things, not good, or necessary in themselves, that the Salvation of precious Souls may not be obstructed by a rigorous exacting of them: We make but a ⟨p. 54⟩moderate Estimation of them if we think them of less moment than the Good or Evil to Souls for whom Christ died. Better the Controversies were buried, than that Souls should be endangered to perish for them. And though touch not, taste not, handle not, a needless Scrupulosity, Shiness and Displeasure against them, be the cause of Irregularity; yet it must be acknowledged that a Zeal for Ordinances, without unnessary Rites, is laudable, and a Zeal against Rites is not so much to be blam'd, as the Evil to be fear'd on the other hand,1 to those many erring and superstitious Souls, that think Ordinances are not Ordinances without them. We cannot rhetoricate upon them as some Men do, that they are Helps and Ornaments to Devotion, that they are edifying in their Nature and Vse; for if so, they are necessary, and the Ordinances are maim'd when they are taken off. We know no Inconvenience or Dammage, but Good to have followed the Abolition of many Ceremonies formerly in use, for some of which as much may be said as for these in use. And two things prevailed upon our Reformers to lay them aside: 1. Their Multitude: 2. And principally, because they were abused by the Superstitious Blindness of the rude and unlearned; and partly by the insatiable Avarice of such as sought more their own Lucre than the Glory of God; that the Abuses could not well be taken away, the things remaining still. Of Ceremonies, why some be abolished, &c.
- 1See Mr. Bold's Plea for Moderation, sadly and ingenuously speaking his own Experience, p. 14.
