Ans. All cometh to this, Ceremonies taketh the place of Word and Sacraments, but cannot fill the chair, and discharge the office so well as Gods Ordinances doth: A Clown taketh on the Crown, and usurpeth the Throne, and cannot do Regal Acts, with such ⟨p. 134⟩grace of Royal Majesty, as the Lawful King, what, is he for that no usurping Traitor? 2. He will not have Ceremonies to be causes of worship, but occasions so do Papists say: Images (saith cVasquez) do only set before us the History and effects of God. Bellarmine, Suarez (as all know) do say, That Images cannot so represent Jehovah; as he is in himself, or described in his word, nor can the Idol or Image of▪ God represent God, as a cause, but only as an object external and occasion, and yet God forbiddeth it, Isa. 40. 18. Hab. 2. 19. 20. 2. Gods word to the reprobate is a sealed Book, and is, as if you would teach letters, to a new weaned child, Isa. 29. 11. c. 29. 9. It worketh by no inherent virtue wrapped in it self, but though it be mighty, yet is it mighty through God, 2 Cor. 10. 4. Joshua's twelve stones, the Phylacteries, the Manna, the Rainbow, did only, (as dAquinas saith well) work upon the senses and memory. The word it self doth but work morally or objectively, and is not a cause having the power of God wrapped in it. If Surplice work only as an occasion, the Preachers, Napkin, the bands of women doth so excite the memory and the affection: 3. All our Divines teach, that the Sacraments are exhibitive seals, but not of themselves, or by any virtue inherent in them (as Papists say) but by the power of God, which worketh by the right receiving of the Sacraments, and the Sacraments Actu Primo and essentially are only signs, which worketh objectively and occasionally, as you say your unhallowed Ceremonies do: 1. because they are Sacraments essentially, whether they be received by Faith, or not, and they are exhibitive seals only to believers. 2. Unbelievers should not profane the Sacraments by their unworthy receiving of them, if they were not Sacraments to them only signifying, and if they were exhibiting seals to them, then should they receive them worthily, which is against what we suppose: 3. The Fathers, as aJustine Martyr bIreneus cEpiphanius dChrysostom eAmbrose prove, that Circumcision, in its nature, except to believers, did only signify Grace.
Ans. All cometh to this, Ceremonies taketh the place of Word and Sacraments, but cannot fill the chaire, and discharge the office so well as Gods Ordinances doth: A Clown taketh on the Crown, and usurpeth the Throne, and cannot do Regall Acts, with such ⟨p. 134⟩grace of Royall Majesty, as the Lawfull King, what, is he for that no usurping Traitor? 2. He will not have Ceremonies to be causes of worship, but occasions so do Papists say: Images (saith cVasquez) do only set before us the History and effects of God. Bellarmine, Suarez (as all know) do say, That Images cannot so represent Iehovah; as he is in himself, or described in his word, nor can the Idoll or Image of▪ God represent God, as a cause, but onely as an object externall and occasion, and yet God forbiddeth it, Isa. 40. 18. Hab. 2. 19. 20. 2. Gods word to the reprobate is a sealed Book, and is, as if you would teach letters, to a new weaned childe, Isa. 29. 11. c. 29. 9. It worketh by no inherent vertue wrapped in it self, but though it be mighty, yet is it mighty through God, 2 Cor. 10. 4. Ioshuahs twelve stones, the Phylacteries, the Manna, the Rainbow, did only, (as dAquinas saith well) worke upon the senses and memory. The word it self doth but work morally or objectively, and is not a cause having the power of God wrapped in it. If Surplice work only as an occasion, the Preachers, Napkin, the bands of women doth so excite the memory and the affection: 3. All our Divines teach, that the Sacraments are exhibitive seals, but not of themselves, or by any vertue inherent in them (as Papists say) but by the power of God, which worketh by the right receiving of the Sacraments, and the Sacraments Actu Primo and essentially are only signes, which worketh objectively and occasionally, as you say your unhallowed Ceremonies do: 1. because they are Sacraments essentially, whether they be received by Faith, or not, and they are exhibitive seals only to believers. 2. Vnbelievers should not prophane the Sacraments by their unworthy receiving of them, if they were not Sacraments to them only signifying, and if they were exhibiting seals to them, then should they receive them worthily, which is against what we suppose: 3. The Fathers, as
- cVasquez 3. p. To. 1. de ador. 103. c. 4. Cum nos eas form as quibus Deus apparuit d• pingimus, nolumus aliud quam bistoriam illam, & effectum ob oculos ponder.Vasquez 3. p. To. 1. de ador. 103. c. 4. Cum nos eas form as quibus Deus apparuit d• pingimus, nolumus aliud quam bistoriam illam, & effectum ob oculos pon•re.
- dAquin. 12. q. 102. art. 6. ad. 7. Et idco per aspectum hujus signi induccbantur in memoriam suae legis.
- aJust. Martyre Dialog. cum Tryph. ante medium.
- bIrenaeus l. 4. c. 30.
- cEpiphanius heres.
- dChrys. hom. 27. in Gen.
- eAmbros lib. 1. de Abraham cap. 4.
