That Pious and Learned Divine (who was Tutor to the late Arch Bishop Tillotson, when in the University) Mr Clerkson in his Sermons on Rev. 2.10. has Largely, and Judiciously Answered such Objectors; Showing how the Faithful Servants of Christ have chosen rather to submit to the extremest Sufferings then to Sin, though it were but in a circumstance of Divine Worship: And that things which are but small in their first beginning, may become great in their Progress and tendency: e. g. Imposed Forms of Prayer, made way for the Mass, and for all the Corruptions of it. If stinted Liturgies had not been at first yielded to, the Popish Mass could never have taken place. Again, the first step to the Popes Throne, was the introducing of a Superiority amongst ordinary Officers in the Church. This by degrees rose to the Papal Height. The Commemoration of Saints and Martyrs at the place of their Sepulchres, made way for the Idolatry of Prayer to them. If ⟨p. 7⟩the first commemoration had not bee• admitted, then the other had never followed. If men have power to Institute one Religious Ceremony, they may as well appoint an hundred. Moreover, the introducing of small matters, may endanger that which is the main Bulwark of the Protestant Religion. This Principle, That nothing but the Scripture is the Rule of Faith and Worship, is that Bulwark. If by giving way to small matters pretended to be Indifferent, we let go that Principle, all our Religion is in danger. He further adds, that the smaller the matter is which we suffer for, presuming it to be an Evil, the more Honourable and the more Comfortable will our Sufferings be. It is a great Honour to Christ, that He has any in the world who will suffer much, rather then swerve from Him in the least. And it will be Comfortable to those that Suffer, because this will argue much Love to Christ, and great Fear of Sin, and so will be a great Evidence of Sincerity. Here is the greatest Try•l, when we are called to suffer for that which is counted a small matter▪ Thus ⟨p. 8⟩writes the Judicious Author […] in a M S. which I have seen, and […] wish that the Public had the […] of it.
That Pious and Learned Divine (who was Tutor to the late Arch Bishop Tillotson, when in the University) Mr Clerkson in his Sermons on Rev. 2.10. has Largely, and Judiciously Answered such Objectors; Shewing how the Faithful Servants of Christ have chosen rather to submit to the extremest Sufferings then to Sin, though it were but in a circumstance of Divine Worship: And that things which are but small in their first beginning, may become great in their Progress and tendency: e. g. Imposed Forms of Prayer, made way for the Mass, and for all the Coruptions of it. If stinted Liturgies had not been at first yielded to, the Popish Mass could never have taken place. Again, the first step to the Popes Throne, was the introducing of a Superiority amongst ordinary Officers in the Church. This by degrees rose to the Papal Heighth. The Commemoration of Saints and Martyrs at the place of their Sepulchres, made way for the Idolatry of Prayer to them. If ⟨p. 7⟩the first commemoration had not bee• admitted, then the other had never followed. If men have power to Institut• one Religious Ceremony, they may as well appoint an hundred. Moreover, the introducing of small matters, may endanger that which is the main Bulwark of the Protestant Religion. This Principle, That nothing but the Scripture is the Rule of Faith and Worship, is that Bulwark. If by giving way to small matters pretended to be Indifferent, we let go that Principle, all our Religion is in danger. He further adds, that the smaller the matter is which we suffer for, presuming it to be an Evil, the more Honourable and the more Comfortable will our Sufferings be. It is a great Honour to Christ, that He has any in the world who will suffer much, rather then swerve from Him in the least. And it will be Comfortable to those that Suffer, because this will argue much Love to Christ, and great Fear of Sin, and so will be a great Evidence of Sincerity. Here is the greatest Try•l, when we are called to suffer for that which is counted a small matter▪ Thus ⟨p. 8⟩writes the Judicious Author 〈…〉 in a M S. which I have seen, and 〈…〉 wish that the Publick had the 〈…〉 of it.
