Against Symbolizing with Antichrist in Ceremonies, Part · Chapter 4 · Section 6
#Sect. 6. That the ceremonies controverſed, not only defile but hinder the worſhip of the Sabboth.
FRom the manner of Sabboth worſhip defiled, come we to the matter of it: not only defiled by theſe ceremonies controuerſed but alſo hindered. aWalafrid. Strab. de reb. Eccleſiaſt. c. 24.Boniface the Martyr can not thinke a Sabboth well ſanctified with golden Chalices, if the Preachers be woodden and therefore wiſheth for the golden Preachers that were in the Church when the Chalices and Cuppes were woodden. The ceremonies in preſent ſtrife hauehave drawne their patrons (as it ſeemeth) to a contrarie ſtraine. better to hauehave theſe golden ceremonies (ſay they in them ſelues) to adorne the Sabboth-worſhip, then golden preaching, whereupon they exchaunge (not like Glaucus golde for braſſe) but like the people of Boniface his age, golden preaching for woodden ceremonies: or at the leaſt for a woodden kinde of preaching. For to ſupply the want of Preachers: which the ceremonies hauehave brought vponupon vsus, they ſet vp the reading of homilies, which they dubb with the name of preaching, yea which they hold a preachinge ſufficient for the ſanctifying and for the ſauing of the Church. But (alas) an homilie is too leane a ſacrifice for a Sabboth▪ reading being the weeklie lambe which eueryevery day we are to offer. there is in the Sabbothday. required a4Numb. 28 9. Cant. 1.7. ſpecial one ouer and aboue which is the hearing of the word preached. An homilie is alſo too leane a feeding for the Sabboth: a fatter paſture in the tents of the ſheepheards hath the Lord for his kidds prouided, to witt, a right and diſcreet cutting of the word. 2 Tim. 2.15whereas an homilie ſheweth a loafe but doth not deuide it, yea ſheweth abGualt in Luc. homil. 76. Medicin, but doth not apply it to the ſore. and a Miniſterie of the ſpirit whereas the homilie is but a dead letter. What wanteth in it (ſay our Oppoſites?) There wanteth in it the gifte of the ſpirit which is giuen for edification there wanteth in it the art of the huſbandman which vſeth to make the Viniyard fat. 1 Cor. 12there wanteth in it the heate of the Nurſe that doth digeſt and concockt the milke to make it ſweet. there wanteth in it the opening of the booke, without which it is but ſhut. there wanteth in it the dreſſing of the meate which giueth it a powerful taſte. there wanteth in it that interpreter which is one amongſt a thouſand, and without whoſe guidance none vnderſtandeth there wanteth in it that ordināce of God which only bringeth the bleſſing with it, throughcB…cer in Cenſur. cap. 7. pag. 463. viua vox quae aedificat dante domino incrementum. to which we may adde that out of Hierome: dHieron. Paulino. 1 Epiſt. …30.habet neſcio quid latentis energiae viua vox & in aures diſcipuli de auctoris ore tranſfuſa fortius ſonat. But the people that hauehave homilies may be glad: better homilies then nothingh: and many there are which want them for their ſpirituall comfort. Iuſt as once Macarius told Anthony comming to him in the extremitie of his thirſt for want of water:eTripartit. hiſto. lib. 8. cap. 2. Vmbratibiſufficiat, ſaith he, multi namque nunciter agentium aut nauigantium etiam hac releuatione priuantur. Now I knowe not whether it were not better for the people of this lande, that may repayr to preaching elſe-where as the Sunamite did on eueryevery Sabboth and newe Moone: if they wanted this ſhadowe of preaching by an homilie in their pariſhes at home. becauſe then they would know their want, and the famine of the word in which they are: and runne to and fro to increaſe knowledge: and goe forth with their kiddes to the tentes of the ſheepheardes, wheras nowe this ſhadow maketh them hope they are well enough already, and the Church Gouernours would for ſhame prouide golden preaching indeed if this woodden ſhadow of preaching did not ſhrowde them. Is not golden preaching the water which the emptie thirſteth after? or this water, may it not be had? For the ſtate of our Church is glorious (ſay our Oppoſites,) the ſtate of our Church will be glorious (ſay we) and many golden preachers would enter, if the barr of ſubſcription and the clogg of ceremonies were (like vntounto the ſtone of the ſepulcher) rolled away. It was hard with the people of Iſraell, after their returne from Babilon, they had but a little ſtone (ſomefGenebrard lib. 2. in anno mundi. 3640. 3. fingers highe) with a Cenſor on the topp of it, inſteed of the glorious Arke whence before the Lord did teach them. and in place of the Oracle by Vrim and Thummim which neuer fayled them that ſought counſell of the Lord, they were only taught per Bathkol, which was a little ſlender voyce ſounding in the eares of the aſſembly mett together once at the hundreths end. Now what ſhould I ſay? that the ſtate is very like of thoſe places which hauehave homilies for to teach them in ſteed of preaching. Oh therfore that the Lord would in his goodnes once awake to reſtore vsus our Arke again & our Oracle, & our Vrim and our Thummim: and to that end remooue theſe ceremonies, as one exhorteth (ſpeaking of the Surplice)gBucer. Cenſur. ca. 2. pa. 458. Doctores ſi deſint idonei. &c. If there want fitt Preachers, both the vſing & the remouing of theſe popiſhe garments will be hurtfull and they make themſelues guiltie of an outragious iniurie againſt the bloud of the ſonne of God, & wil pull downe the wrath of God vnſufferable vpō the whole Kingdome, by whoſe meanes it ſhall ſtand that before all things there be not caretaken, that as Chriſt our Lord both in word & deed hath taught there be appointed able Preachers to all Baptized in his name, to teach them to obſerue whatſoeuer he hath commaunded, Mat. 10. & vlt. Ioh. 10. & vlt.