Twelve General Arguments, Argument 1 – Argument 7
The firſt Argument.
All Wil-worſhip is ſinne.
To uſe theſe Ceremonies in Church Service in manner and forme preſcribed, is a Wil-worſhip.
Ergo To uſe them is ſinne.
The Propoſition can not be denied, for the Apoſtle Paule plainly condemneth Wil-worſhip.
The Aſſumption may thus be proved:
All partes of Divine Service and Worſhip, impoſed only by the wil and pleaſure of Man, upon the Ministers of Divine Service, and that of neceſsitie, to be done, is Will-worſhip.
But to uſe theſe Ceremonies in manner and forme preſcribed, is to uſe ſuch Ceremonies as are 1. partes of Divine Service and Worſhip, 2. impoſed onelyonly by the pleaſure and will of Men, upon the Ministers of Divine Service, 3. 9 neceſsitie to bee done therein,
Ergo, To uſe theſe Ceremonies in manner an… forme preſcribed, is a Wil-worſhip.
The Propoſition is as cleare as the Sunne at noone-day.
The Aſſumption hath three parts, 1. That they are parts of Divine Worſhip and Service.
This is proved evidently by this Argument:
All Mysticall and Eccleſiaſticall Rites and formes of Divine Service, inſtitut…d by Eccleſiasticall authoritie, to be… Ministeriall actions in the ſolemne Worſhip of God, and performed in that manner, and having that uſe in Divine Service, that if God ſhould but ratifie and confirme the ſame uſe, they ſhould then be parts of his true Worſhip, (I ſay) all ſuch Ceremonies are uſed as partes of Divine Worſhip
But theſe Ceremonies in controverſie, are either all, or the greateſt parte of them ſuch.
Ergo, …hey are partes of Divine Worſhip and Service.
The Propoſition cannot with any modeſt face bee denied; For els how …ould a ſole Divine ratification of the preſent uſe of them, make them partes of his true Worſhip? if they were not uſed as partes of his Worſhip before.
The Aſſumption is as manifeſt, For if Chriſt ſhould by ſome Revelation from heaven ſignifie, That it is his will that a Miniſter in Divine Service ſhould weare a white linnen garment, In Baptiſme make the ſigne of a Croſſe, To theſe endes and purpoſes that are expreſſed in the Service booke, then certainly they ſhould be eſſentiall parts of his Divine Worſhip, els the Iewiſh Rites and Ceremonies and our Sacraments are no partes thereof.
The ſecond part of the Aſſumption… the 1. Syllogiſme.
That they are impoſed onelyonly upon t… pleaſure and will of man.
This is evident. For thoſe things th… God leaves as indifferent to the wi… and diſcretion of man to doe or leav… undone, being impoſed by man upo… man, are impoſed onelyonly upon the wi… and pleaſure of man.
The 3. part of the Aſſumption is: That they are of Neceſsitie to be don… in Divine Seruice.
Which is alſo out of all doubt, For… Miniſter ſtandes bound to doe them upon paine of ſuſpenſion and deprivation: and God muſt hauehave no ſolemne Worſhip in England, except it be adminiſtred in the ſame.
Upon all this it followes, That to uſe theſe Ceremonies in manner and forme proſcribed, is to uſe ſuch Ceremonies, as are partes of Divine worſhip impoſed onelyonly by the will of Man, &c.
The 2. Argument.
It is a ſinne against God for him that is by way of Excellencie a ſervaunt of IESVS Christ, (without a preciſe and direct warrant from him) at any time, (eſpecially in the Solemne Worſhip of God) to give ſpeciall Honour to Antichrist and his members,
But to uſe theſe Ceremonies, is in that manner aforeſaid, to give ſpeciall Honour to Antichrist and his members,
Ergo It is a ſinne against God to uſe them.
The Propoſition is manifeſt & cleare to any that have an eye of Reaſon and any light of Divinitie ſhyning in it. For what is a ſinne if this be not: That a Servaunt of Ieſus Chriſt, even then when hee is in the Service of Chriſte, ſhould performe ſpeciall Honour and Service to Antichriſt, or any of his limmes.
The Aſſumption is prooved (If our adverſaries will graunt it, that the Pope is Antichriſt, and that all the viſible members of his Church, acknowledging him their ſupreame head, are mē bers of him) by this reaſon.
Such a Conformitie to Antichrist and his Members in the Ceremonies of Religion and Forme of Divine worſhip, as is not only beſides the word of God, but in a ſpeciall manner derogatorie to all reformed Churches that have departed from the Synagogue of Rome, is a ſpeciall honor to Antichrist and his members.
But to uſe theſe Ceremonies in Divine Worſhip, is ſuch a Conformitie to Antichrist and his members,
Ergo, To uſe theſe Ceremonies, in that manner aforeſaid, is to give ſpeciall honor to Antichrist and his members.
The Propoſition is without exception: For if it ſhould bee a ſpeciall honor to the Biſhops of England & their conformed Cleargie: For the Churches of Scotland, voluntarily to leave conformitie to the Churches of the low Countries, France, & Germanie, and to conforme them ſelves in Ceremonies, and Forme of Divine worſhip to the Prelaticall Cleargie of England: It muſt needes bee a ſpeciall honour to Antichriſt and his members, for anie to doe the like to them.
The Aſſumption is thus proved:
For a Minister of Ieſus Christ to conforme him ſelf in ſuch peculiar Rites, Ceremonies and formes of Divine Service to Antichrist and his members, as all other reformed Churches have reiected for vaine, fooliſh, and ſuperstitious, is in a ſpeciall manner derogatorie to all other reformed Churches.
But to uſe theſe Ceremonies in Controverſie, is in that manner to Conforme him ſelfe.
Ergo, It is in a ſpeciall manner derogatorie to all other Reformed Churches.
Both partes of the Syllogiſme are ſuch as may eaſilie bee prooved, if they bee denied.
The 3. Argument.
All worſhip more then Civill, performed to any beſides God, is a ſinne.
To uſe theſe Ceremonies in manner and forme preſcribed, is to performe a more then civill honor (even a Religious) onelyonly to a humane Power and Authoritie,
Ergo, To uſe theſe Ceremonies, is to ſinne.
The Propoſition needs no proofe, For there is no midle Honor betweene Civill and Divine, and therefore that which is more then Civill, is Divine. Now Divine Honor is to be givē only to God, who will not have his Glorie given unto another.
The Aſſumption is thus proved:
If theſe Ceremonies bee Religious Ceremonies, and all Religious Ceremonies bee a part of Divine worſhip, performed to that authoritie that instituteth & commaundeth them. If alſo the authoritie that instituteth and commandeth them, is but meerely humane, Then the Aſſumption is true.
But the first is true:
Ergo, The latter is true alſo.
The Propoſition can not be denied of any reaſonable creature.
The Aſſumption hath three partes:
I. That theſe Ceremonies are Religious Ceremonies.
This needes no proofe: For what ſhall we make to be Religious Ceremonies, If thoſe Ceremonies be not, That are preſcribed by the Church, to the Church only, tied to Religion only, and Religious functions, offices, & perſons: To be acted and performed onelyonly in exerciſes of Religion and Divine Worſhip, and are myſticall ſhadowes & types of Religious Doctrine.
II. That all Religious Ceremonies are partes of Divine Worſhip.
This neither ſhould need any proofe, If thoſe that are adverſaries unto us in this cauſe, did not to much preſume of the weaknes of our diſcourſe, and the ſtrength of their owne wit. For there being an externall Divine Worſhipp which properly cōſiſts in the outward Rites and Ceremonies of Religion: What Ceremonies can be called parts thereof, if ſuch Religious Ceremonies as theſe, bee not? For if bowing the knee, &c. in Divine Worſhip (though it be uſed alſo in Civill Worſhip) be a part of Divine Worſhip, much more are thoſe Ceremonies that are peculiarly appropriated to Divine Service & Worſhip, & wherein part of the forme thereof is made to conſiſt. But it may (for further ſatiſfying of men) be thus proved:
All meere and immediate Actions of Religion are partes of Divine Worſhip.
All Religious Ceremonies, are meere and immediate Actions of Religion.
Ergo, They are partes of Divine Worſhip.
Further, how can a man imagine that a meere Religious and Eccleſiaſticall Act, done by a Servant of God in the ſolemne Service and Worſhip of God, by preciſe Canon of the Church ſhould be no part of Divine Worſhip, Sith all the ſolemne Rites & Ceremonies that are uſed in the ſolemne Services of Civil States, (eſpecially ſuch as are done in their preſence) have bene ever reputed partes of Civill Honor & Worſhip.
Laſtlie, conſidering that God in his Divine Worſhip, doeth require the whole heart, and all the powers of the Soule during the act of his Worſhip, It were great preſumptiō for any mortall Creature, to preſcribe any Action to man during the ſame Act that is no part thereof: Conſidering that every Action ſo preſcribed muſt of neceſſitie pull a part of the heart from Divine Worſhipp.
III. That authoritie that instituted them is but merely Humane.
This is moſt certaine, for if they were …nſtituted by Divine authoritie, They could not bee eſteemed Matters indifferent: and ſhould not be in the power …nd diſcretion of the Magiſtrate to diſannull them.
The 4. Argument.
If it be lawfull for a Minister of the Goſpell without ſinne to uſe theſe Ceremonies in Divine Worſhip: It is lawfull for him upon the ſame occaſion to uſe any Iewiſh, Turkiſh, Paganiſh or Popiſh Ceremonie whatſoeuer.
But it is not lawfull for the Minister of the Goſpell to uſe in Divine Worſhip, upon the ſame occaſion, any Iewiſh, Popiſh, Paganiſh or Turkiſh Ceremonie.
Ergo, Hee cannot without ſinne uſe theſe.
The Aſſumption cannot for ſhame be denied, We prove the conſequent of the Propoſition.
If any Iewiſh, Turkiſh, Paganiſh, or Popiſh Ceremonies and Rite bee a thing in it owne Nature as indifferent as theſe Ceremonies are and either have, or may hauehave by ſuch like inſtitution as good uſe, then the conſequent of the Propoſition is true.
But the first is true.
Ergo, The latter is true alſo.
The Propoſition, as I think, cannot be denied nor the Aſſumption, but by bringing ſom contrarie inſtance in ſom of their Ceremonies: When any ſuch …hall be given, this Argument ſhalbee …urther proſecuted.
The 5. Argument.
Everie ſciſmaticall action done by a Minister of the Goſpell is a Sinne.
To uſe theſe Ceremonies in controverſie are ſciſmaticall actions.
Ergo, To uſe theſe Ceremonies is Sinne.
The Propoſition will bee graunted. I muſt proove the Aſſumption.
All Actions of irregularitie and n… cōformitie to the Catholike church wherin we liue, are ſciſmaticall Actions.
To uſe theſe Ceremonies in controverſie, are actions of irregularitie, and non conformitie to the Catholike church wherei… we live.
Ergo, The uſe of theſe Ceremonies in controverſie are ſciſmaticall Actions.
The Propoſition cannot be denie… for if we be branded with the cole … ſciſme iuſtly, for denying cōformitie in ſome Ceremonies, but to ſome of our owne particular Churches wherein we live, though we be content, to ioyne with them that uſe thē in Divine worſhip: much more ſciſmatiks are they that are not conformable in Rites and Ceremonies to the Catholike Church wherein they live.
I proove the Aſſumption.
If all the Protestants, Pastors, Miniſters & Governors living this day in Europe, and all the painefull reſident Pastors of our owne countrey (except ſome Nonreſidents, Idoll ſhepheards, ſom that depend upon the prelacie, and ſome other that are forced and conſtreyned to uſe them againſt their will) doe not only refuſe to uſe theſe Ceremonies, but esteeme them vaine, fooliſh and ſuperſtitious: Then the uſe of theſe Ceremonies are actions of irregularitie and non Conformitie to the Catholike Church.
But the first wilbe prooved true,
Ergo, The latter is true alſo.
The Propoſition is evident, by their owne principles: For an irregularitie & non-Conformitie to the Paſtors and Governours of Churches, is an irregularitie and non-Conformitie to the Churche, for they are reputed the CHVRCH REPRESENTATIVE: and if they be to be anathematized, & excōmunicated that deny The Biſhops and other Miniſters aſſembled in the Cōvocation, to be the Church of England repreſentative, then ſurely are all the Paſtors of the viſible Churches in Europe, the Catholike Church repreſentative, & thoſe particular Miniſters in this Realme, that ſhall uſe not onelyonly different Ceremonies; but ſuch as they have renounced and forſaken, are ſciſmatikes and irregular perſons.
The Aſſumption is evident in it ſelf.
The 6. Argument.
All ſpirituall Communion with thoſe Idolatours amongst whom we live in the mysteries of their Idolatrie and Superſtition, is ſinne.
To uſe theſe Ceremonies in Divine worſhip, is a ſpirituall Communion with the Idolatrous Papistes (That doe not onelyonly border round about us, but are tollerated in infinite numbers to live amongest us) in the mysteries of their Idolat. and Superstition.
Ergo, To uſe theſe Ceremonies is to ſinne.
The Propoſition is his M. own, if Maſter B. have made a true report of the Cōference at Hampt. Court, for therein his Ma. confeſſeth, That if wee lived amongſt Idolators, we ought not then to communicate with them in their Rites and Ceremonies.
The Aſſumption is thus prooved.
If Papistes be Idolators, if we be not onelyonly in league with whole kingdomes of Papistes bordering upon us and neare unto us, but have many Thouſande profeſſed ones living amongst us: if theſe Ceremonies be ſpeciall myſteries of their Superſtition if to uſe the ſame Rites that they do in theirs in our ſpirituall and Divine Service, he ſpiritually to communicate with them in the ſame: Then is the Sentence of the Aſſumption true.
But wee ſhall be able to prove, as ſone as any ſhall deny, that the first and every parte and parcell thereof is true.
Ergo, The later is true alſo.
The 7. Argument.
To mingle Profane things with Divine, is to ſinne.
To uſe theſe Ceremonies in Divine Worſhip is to mingle Profane things with Divine.
Ergo, To uſe theſe Ceremonies in Divine Worſhip, is to ſinne.
The Propoſition ſhineth in the eyes of the very Heathen, who have eſteemed it a diſhonor to their Religion & worſhippe, that any profane perſons ſhould be Actors in it, much more that any profane Actions ſhould bee mingled with it.
The Aſſumption is thus proved.
All peculiar Actions done in Divine Worſhip, that are neither Civill nor holy, are profane.
Theſe Ceremonies are peculiar actions done in Divine Worſhip, that are neither civill nor holy.
Ergo, They are Profane.
The Propoſition cannot with any ſhew of reaſon be denied, there being no meane betweene theſe in ſuch actions as are preſcribed to be done in Divine Service by Canon and Law: For though ſpitting, coughing, hemming, &c. if they be uſed for neceſſitie, bee neither civill, holy, nor profane Actions: Yet if there ſhould be an Eccleſiaſticall Canon that ſhould require the Miniſter to ſpit at every full period; or the people to hem, and hauke at every trāſition in a Sermon, they muſt needs then be referred to one of theſe three heades, as ſhall eaſily be proved if it be denyed.
The Aſſumption is as cleare.
For firſt his Ma. (with words of great diſgrace and contempt of thoſe, that hold the contrarie): hath lately proteſted that they are not urged as holy & Religious matters: And that they are not Civill Actions, hath beene proved before, for there beeing an oppoſition in Reaſon betweene things Civill & Eccleſiasticall, though they hauehave ſome things common to both (as all oppoſites hauehave) yet it is ridiculous to affirme that thoſe things are Civill, that are meerely Eccleſiaſticall, and are Actions peculiarly appropriated and tied to Divine Worſhip: For Civill Actions, are performed in Civill affaires, and though there is a common Civilitie alſo to be obſerved even in Divine matters: Yet thoſe Actions cannot be called Civill, that are uſed onelyonly in Divine Offices and duties, no more then thoſe can be called Eccleſiaſticall and Divine that are uſed onelyonly in Civill affaires. For it may be affirmed by as good reaſon, that an Eccleſiaſticall Officer imployed onelyonly in Eccleſiaſticall matters, is a Civill Officer only. Or a Civill Officer imployed onelyonly in Civill matters is an Eccleſiaſticall Officer only; as that a meere Eccleſiaſticall action, done in and by the Church onelyonly, ſhould be a Civill Action.