The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their…

In some ages—and Churches they gave persons to be baptized, milk and honey, to signify, &c. As this ⟨p. 103⟩was not usual to give Hieroglyphics where they had plain precepts—it was of so very little use, that all Churches that I know of have laid it aside—And indeed if the Church might add things or rituals of signification, then the walls might be covered with the figures of Doves, Lambs, Serpents, Birds, and the Communion Table with Bread, Wine, Herbs, Tapers, Pigeons, Honey, milk or whatever the wit of man—might invent.

In some ages—and Churchs they gave persons to be baptized, milk and hony, to signifie, &c. As this ⟨p. 103⟩was not usual to give Hieroglyphicks where they had plain precepts—it was of so very little use, that all Churches that I know of have laid it aside—And indeed if the Church might add things or rituals of signification, then the walls might be covered with the figures of Doves, Lambs, Serpents, Birds, and the Communion Table with Bread, Wine, Herbs, Tapers, Pigeons, Hony, milk or whatever the wit of man—might invent.

To prepare the figure of the Crucifix and to buy an Image to describe the Sacrifice of the Cross— are things to no purpose, not only for the levity and theatrical gaieties and representments unbefitting the gravity and purity and spirituality of the Christian religion, but also the manner of teaching these truths by symbolical things and actions, is too low, too suspicious, too dangerous to be mingled with the Divine Liturgies —A Symbolical rite of humane invention to signify what it does not effect, and then introduced into the solemn worship of God, is so like those vain imaginations and representments forbidden in the second Commandment, that the very suspicion is more against edification, than their use can pretend to.—

To prepare the figure of the Crucifix and to buy an Image to describe the Sacrifice of the Cross— are things to no purpose, not only for the levity and theatrical gaieties and representments unbefitting the gravity and purity and spirituality of the Christian religion, but also the manner of teaching these truths by symbolical things and actions, is too low, too suspicious, too dangerous to be mingled with the Divine Liturgies —A Symbolical rite of humane invention to signifie what it does not effect, and then introduced into the solemn worship of God, is so like those vains imaginations and representments forbidden in the second Commandment, that the very suspicion is more against edification, than their use can pretend to.—