Certain Observations, Section 20
SECTION XX.
HAving ſhewed the unlawfulneſſe of theſe Ceremonies; in the next place we are to perſwade for the removall of them: Therfore the ſecond Commandeement ſhould be fully known and acknowledged, and ſo the Lord ſhall hauehave great glory. Now the ſubſtance of this commandement is to bar the dore againſt all falſe worſhip, and human inventions, wherin the Lord forbids man to make to himſelfe of his own head, all religious Ceremonies: This commandement being (as all others are) a common head to which all, the very leaſt things in that kind are to be referred: And the Lords backing this with ſuch forcible reaſons, ſhould moue all honeſt and good hearts. It is the Lord that forbids, who dare countermand or bid the contrary. 1 It is thy God by covenant that thou haſt given thy name unto. 2 It is thine husband, if authority will not perſwade, yet let louelove rule thee. 3 The Lord is a jealous God, and cannot indure any part of divine worſhip to be given to mans deviſes, that they ſhould be counted his Name, the Lord ſees this to bee the beginning of declining. 4 The Lord viſites the ſinnes of parents, that hauehave inſtituted and followed theſe deviſes of man in his worſhip, upon the children that ſo reverence their forefathers, and antiquity, that they will tread in their ſteps, and retain the ſame Ceremonies. 5 All this deviſing of Ceremonies, and appointing of them is hatred againſt the Lord. 6 Pure worſhip of God argues men doe truely louelove him, and hauehave care to keep his Commandements. 7 This brings bleſſings upon us, and many generations, even thouſands that worſhip the Lord according to his will.
Hearken, ô yee men, brethren, and fathers, unto the Lord our God, and ceaſe to provoke him to wrath; it is too long wee hauehave lived in the breach of this commandement, troubling them that hauehave deſire to walk ſincerely with the Lord.
A ſecond Ground is, becauſe then Chriſt ſhall be known to be the onelyonly King of his Church, and men ſhall not dare to propound any thing as doctrine, nor urge the ſervants of God to any practiſe, but what the word commands. Now under the name of the Church and Chriſtian Magiſtrate: How is the Kingdom of Chriſt weakened by ſome? Then ſhall that Ezech. 34.24, bee fulfilled. I will be their God, and my ſervant David ſhall be Prince amongſt them.
A third ground is the beauty of Gods face, and the glory of the Goſpell ſhould more appear, and ſhine forth, which now is clouded heerby many waies. For 1, men wreſt the Scriptures for the defence of theſe: 2 the whole counſell of God cannot be freely preached: 3 that divine order in each Congregation is diſſolved, which ſhould ſhew who are ſheep and who are goats: 4 the Lord is brought in favouring the wicked, and making ſad the hearts of his own ſervants; for men of tender conſciences are accuſed and traduced as turbulent ſpirits: Men ſhould then bend themſelues to teach the main grounds of Religion, which now are unknown: and how dear ſhould this be to us Engliſhmen eſpecially, by whoſe means our land hath been ſo highly honoured, and wonderfully lifted up aboue others.
4 Chriſtian meetings and holy communion of Saints (the nouriſher of grace) wherin men might be benefitting and edifying one another, ſhould be ſuffred: Wheras men now meeting for holy ends, are troubled, as making Conventicles dangerous to the State. What were it for our Magiſtrates to hauehave the prayers of ſo many good hearts, for their ſafety? Then ſhould that be fulfilled, Zachar. 8.20.21, &c.
5 The Goſpell ſhould be freely preached, there would then be nothing to hinder either admittance or continuance, in the Miniſtery. This liberty of the Goſpell procures continuance of our liberty; and tho reſtrayning of this makes the Lord depart, and brings bondage, captivity, and the ſword upon the Nation. Then ſhould the people that ſit in ignorance and the ſhadow of death, ſee a great light, & ſo many ſhould not periſh for want of viſion.
6 Magiſtrates ſhould be out of danger of thoſe threats, Hoſ. 5, for paſſing their bounds, and Eſa. 29, none ſhould make Iſrael ſin and wound their conſciences with theſe leſſer things at firſt, and then afterwards fall into extremity and height of wickedneſſe.
7 Miniſters ſhould hauehave more gifts and more authority: for the ſetting up theſe, reſtrain the ſpirit of God; and ſuch urging of theſe, without ground from the Word makes that their miniſtery grow farre leſſe reſpected. People ſhould be driven from Formality and ſuperſtition, that now come to delight themſelues in unprofitable Ceremonies, and ſo delude the Law: Then ſhould that be fulfilled, Hoſ. 2.18.
Popiſh grounds for maintaining their deviſes ſhould fall, and ſo Babell ſhould bee caſt down, and the way ſhut againſt all ſuperſtition hereafter: Thus men ſhall bring that bleſſing upon them, Pſal. 137.
The people that are in bondage ſo as they may not examine things, but receiu all, ſhould freely try the ſpirits, and ſo hold that which is good.
Peace ſhould be eſtabliſhed, 1 With the Lord, where they that break the leaſt of his commandements, and teach men ſo, ſhall be counted little, or none in the Kingdom of God.
2 Peace with our Chriſtian Prince that is over us, when as the adverſaries of Gods people ſhall hauehave nothing, like the adverſaries of Daniel to accuſe them off: then ſhall the King be to the juſt, as the rain upon the mowen graſſe, Pſal. 72.
3 Then ſhall there be peace twixt inferiour Magiſtrates and Eccleſiaſticall perſons, who ſhould not intermeddle confuſedly each in others Province, nor one be ſo adverſe to the other.
4 Peace twixt Miniſters, whoſe hearts burn on againſt another, for theſe trifles: ſome count us ſchiſmaticks and hereticks; and others count them Popiſh, to plead for Baal: How happy a thing it is and profitable for brethren to dwell together in unity?
5 Peace twixt Miniſter and his people, the Miniſter ſhall not be then an hatred in the houſe of God: nor ſhall he ſpy to intrap others that ſincerely and purely worſhip God, as Hoſ. 5.1.
6 Peace twixt a man and his neighbour, wheras now men reproach and revile one an other for no other cauſe but diſſenting in theſe; then ſhould be fulfilled that, Eſa. 13.
7 Peace with the reformed Churches, from whom to diſſent (having had ſo long and proſperous a time to get knowledg in, and to reform things that are amiſle) and to ſpeak evill of them that brought ſuch light into the world, is ſhame and ſin; it indangers their eſtimation, we being ſo great and happy a Nation. But if we doe abuſe our proſperity, and vaunt our ſelues becauſe of that, to pleaſe the Lord, and ſo draw others to us, we ſhall drink deep of the cup of Gods anger.
8 Peace with our enemies, when our waies pleaſe the Lord, Prov. 16.7. We ſhall not need fear the power of the Papiſt, when we hate their ſinnes.
Grounds and certainty of this peace.
1 Then men ſhall be of one judgment when theſe fire balls ſhall be removed.
2 The bleſſing of the Lord ſhall be upon us, if wee doe heare and obey, Pſal. 82.
3 All ſhall ſet themſelues more to pleaſe the Lord; and drawing neerer to him is the beſt meanes of concord amongſt our ſelues.
4 Wicked profane men ſhall hauehave the ſtaffe taken out of their hands, wherwith now they ſmite the Kings faithfull ſubjects.
5 Popiſh and ſuperſtitious perſons that now lie hid amongſt us, and kindle this fire, ſhall be diſcerned and expelled.
Are they then enemies to peace, that deſire reformation, and the removall of theſe? Are they not ſuch as pray for the peace of Ieruſalem? Why are they troubled as enemies to State and Prince? And moſt high and mighty King, how happy ſhall you be, if as labouring to ſet ſuch peace amongſt Kings, you ſet this peace in the Church?