Divine Worship, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of Naturall Ceremonies.
CEremonies are either Naturall or Inſtituted. Naturall ceremonies are all ſuch voluntary compoſitions & geſtures of the body, as are with moderate deliberation vſed to ſhadow forth thoſe hiddē motions, affections, and habits of the mind, that are begotten in the mind by ſome goodnes in thoſe vntounto whom they are performed and done; for a man performeth no ceremonie vntounto him ſelfe, but vntounto others, and the ground of that ceremonie is in him, vntounto whom it is performed.
2. For example: Authoritie in another begetteth reverence in me. This reverence poſſeſſing and affecting my ſoule, it breedeth in me a deſire to manifeſt it vntounto the partie reverēced, but I cannot poſſibly doe it by any other meanes, but by ſome bodily ſhadow and ſigne, wherevpon nature teacheth me to bow the body; the like may bee ſaid of lifting vp of handes, caſting vp the eyes, &c. All of which kind are certaine naturall impreſſions of the ſoule made in and vponupon the body, endevouring in and by them to make her hidden motions ſo viſible and effectuall, as they may affect our ſelues & others.
3. Comelines and decency doth eſpecially conſiſt in the vſe of Ceremonies of this kinde, and they hauehave bene ever carefullie obſerved in the Church of God, aſwell before Chriſt as ſince, both in her publique and private miniſtrations; which willfully to neglect, were to ſinne againſt God, and for any to inhibite only vpō their will and pleaſure, were impietie. But theſe Ceremonies in controverſie are of another nature as ſhall afterward appeare.
4. This firſt kind of Ceremonies the more naturall they are & the more they ſhall appeare to flow from the free & inforced will, of him that acteth them, the more decent and of greater grace they are, for they are ſuch ſhadowes as are ſent forth from our paſſions by the light of nature, and are not fit for any other vſe or ſignification.
5. And as nature only frameth them well, ſo if it ſhal appeare that they proceed from her and are not forced and wrong from men (invita minerva) ſhe putteth into them ſuch a light, that any of ordinarie conceyt may in the ſigne ſee the thing ſignified.
6. Theſe Ceremonies though Naturall and therefore common to all men, yet are they not in all degrees vniverſally the ſame, becauſe havinge their originall from the naturall motions and conceptions of the minde, eſpecially paſſion & affection, by which they are animated and formed, there being in the ſtock of mankind ſuch diverſitie of natures & diſpoſitions; ſuch diverſe degrees of the ſame inclinations; ſuch a divers compoſition and minglinge of affections, it can not be but nature muſt needes vary and bee divers in them.
7. And though they are naturall, yet are they not ſuch as nature by violence forceth and wringeth from men (as the actions of panting and breathinge) ſuch as men cannot at their pleaſure abſtaine from, or lay downe, for laughter in extreeme mirth, and weeping in great ſorrow, though they be naturall impreſſions and ſignes of inward and hidden paſſions, yet are they not Ceremonies; but ſuch ſignes only are ceremonies, wherein there is concurrence both of nature and will, in the framing and vſe of them, as appeareth in the particulars aboue ſpecified; and therefore are ſuch, as may vponupon ſome ſpeciall or particular occaſions, be omitted or ſuppreſſed.
8. Thus much of naturall ceremonies. Inſtituted ceremonies are ſuch outward rites and ſignes as by reaſon of ſome Analogie or ſimilitude, are ordeyned and appointed to ſignifie and ſhadow forth any mystical truth. They being not brought forth by nature to any ſuch end or purpoſe: of whiche kinde are all the Iewiſh Ceremonies, Our Sacramentes, All Paganiſh & Popiſh rites, & thoſe Ceremonies in preſent controverſie. For none of al thoſe externall rites, doe by nature ſignifie any ſuch matter, but their vſes & ſignifications are put vponupon them only by the wil of the institutor or vſer, and are not ſo much intended for decencie & order, as for ſolemnitie and ſtate.
9. Thoſe things that are put to this Ceremoniall vſe, being not made by nature to any ſuch end or purpoſe, muſt, if they be not vaine and fooliſh, borrow light from ſome word of institution, for the more mysticall the Ceremonies of this kinde are and of ſecreatecſenſe, of greater grace they are.
10. Naturall Ceremonies, if by inſtitution & appointment they bee put to any other vſe thē nature it ſelf hath fitted them vntounto, doe looſe their name and become Inſtituted Ceremonies, as kneeling tied to eating and drinking in the Sacrament, &c.