Against Human Ceremonies in Gods Worship, Part 2 · Chapter 4 · Section 4 – Section 5
SECT. 4. Concerning the aequitie of the Commandements formerly mentioned; &c.
1. THe third proof (sayth the Replier) in the Abrigement standeth thus: The aequitie of these Commandemens is thus set downe in Scriptures: 1. The detestation which our jealous God bearreth unto all instruments and tokens of Idolatrie, Exod. 20.5.6. Deut. 7.25.26. 2. That we cannot be sayd sincerly to have repented of Idolatrie, &c. except we be ashamed of, and cast away the instruments and monuments of it. 1. Chron. 33.15. Is. 1.29. and 2.20. and 3…. 22.2. Cor. 7.11. See Calvin in Deut. serm. 52. Eph. 86. 3. that we shall be in danger to be corrupted. Ex. 34.1…. 15. Deut. 7.25.26. Iudg. 2.13. Gal. 2.5.4. We shall harden Idolaters. Ezech. 16.54. 1. Cor. 6.10. 5. Ther is more danger in Popish Ceremonies, because the Pope is Antichrist, and we converse more with Papists, then with other Idolaters. Now of all these reasons, and allega…ions, the Def. answereth directly to nothing, but onelyonly to those wordes: See Calvin. The Rej. doeth not denie, but the proofe was suche as hath been sayd: neyther could he say, that the Def. had answered to any thing, but See Calvin.
Yet 1. he goeth about (by many words) to perswade …he Reader, that heer was no fault. To this end he speaketh of a Marke sh…t…t, and hit by the Def. of the Def. his professed method (to professe a full answer unto all ob…ected, and answer what he pleased to object to himselfe) of perverse and injurious dealing, that he should be told of this trueth; of welts, guards, and gallant shewes, and garnish onelyonly, in so many reasons, and Scriptures: What aile you? (saith he) What meane you? To all this, I answer nothing. 2. He himselfe undertaketh to answer all. To this there…ore I will attend, according to the skill I have.
2. His generall answer is, that these five reasons of equity, doe not prove, that we are bound unto all and the very same wayes of repressing Idolatrie, &c. which the Iewes were bound to. This we confesse, as the Rej. testifieth, neither could they, upon that supposition, be called five reasons of equity onelyonly, but of rigor. And what a kinde of answering is this; to say, reasons doe not proove that which they were not brought to proove? The question is, whether they do not proove, that it is contrary to Gods Word to use (much more to command the use of) such Ceremo…ies in the worship of God, as man hath devized, if they be notoriously knowne, to have beene of olde, and still to be abused unto Idolatry, by the Papists, especially if the same be now of no necessary use in the Church? This was the opppsition, for proofe whereof, these five reasons of equity were brought. And for this we have all our Divines that confound Popish Images, out of the selfe-same places of Scripture, as Vrsine on the second Commandement, Polanus, Syntag. lib. 9. cap. 26. and whom not?
His answer in particular, is first, to Exod. 20.5.6. Deut. 7.25.36. Isai. 1.29. and 30.32. that these places speake o… Idols themselves, or their garnish, not of indifferent Ceremonies. But 1. these places were not alleged against indifferent Ceremonies; but against Ceremonious instrumen… and tokens of Idolatry, not necessary unto true worship, 2. If they make against the use, or urging of those thing… which are either Idols, or Idols garnish (as is confessed) it is sufficient. For the Crosse is an Idol, and both Crosse▪ and Surplice, are the Garnish of Idols.
4. Some of these places (sayth the Rejoynder) a… grossely mistaken, misalleged, and abused. as Isai. 1.29. an… 2.20. where confusion, and not Godly shame for sinne is spoke… of: Ezech. 16.54. not speaking of hardening others: 1. Cor. 8.10. speaking of a thing in it selfe evill: Exod. 34.12. an… Deut. 7.4. speaking of marriage and league with Heathen… and Gal. 2.5. not respecting Ceremonies abused. To the first, I answer, 1. that the shame and confusion judiciall which is brought upon Idolaters, is because they are not ash… med unto repentance. 2. All those of whom the Prophet speaketh, were not judicially confounded, but penitentially ashamed. Ier. 31.19. Ezech. 16.54. should have beene joyned to the former allegations, as speaking of mens shame in themselves, not of hardening others. 1. Cor. 8 10. condemneth embolding others to sin, by eating things offered to Idols, though it were otherwise …awfull, as appeareth, 1. Cor. 10.29. And a question may …e made, whether it had beene more unlawfull, to eat …uch things in the Idols Temple, then to take from …hence things notoriously knowne to be such, and eat …hem in Christian Congregations, at Love-feasts? Exo. …4.12. Deut. 7.4. speake not onelyonly of a civill, but also of … religious league, such as should hinder them from brea…ing downe their Altars, Images, Groaues, &c. as Iuni…s (in his Anal.) noteth, and the words immediatly fol…owing shew. Gal. 2.5. placing danger in conformity to …ewish Ceremonies, doeth insinuate as much (at the …east) in conformity to Idolaters.
5. The Rejoynder addeth, that Isai. 1.29. and Iude 23. …nfute our Assertion: because men may pray in Gardens; and … garment spotted with the flesh, being washed, might be used. …nd such confutations the Rejoynder aboundeth with. …ut wee can distinguish betwixt Gods good necessary …reatures, and mans inventions of Idolatrous abuse, and …nnecessary use.
Yet Gardens might not be used by the Iewes, for their …eremoniall solemne worship. Neither is every washing … polluted garment sufficient to make it fitting for an …onest man, that hath other clothes to put on. The wa…ing of a Crosse, is like the washing of a piece of clay, or …f a Leopards spots.
6. Now Sir (sayth the Rejoynd.) You have your will. …he third proofe is examined, and found to be light, facing, …o bee repented of, as having abused men. Bate an acequoth …oulton: The whole proofe is not examined. Nothing is said to the substance of the reasons, but only to the testimonies, which yet are not found to be leight, facing, abusive, &c. And nothing at all is said to the fifth reason: Seeing the Pope is revealed to be that great Antichrist, 2. Thes. 2. Apoc. 17. and his Idolatrie troubleth the Church, at this day, more then any other, and our people converse more with Papists, then with any other Idolater, there is more danger, in retaining the Ceremonies and reliques of Popery, then of any other Idolatry whatsoever: Lev. 18.3.
See Calvin.
7. Calvin was alledged in his 52. Sermon on Deut. speaking thus: If we have any drop of good zeale in us, it must needs vexe and grieve us, to see the markes and signes of Idolatry: and that wee must to the utmost of our power, deface them. The Rejoynder answereth, that hee spake this of proper instruments and monuments of Idolatry; and namely of Images. Which we willingly grant except he meane by proper such as never any beside Idolaters, either before, since, or at the same time, did use. And we adde, that the Crosse is more then a proper instrument of Idolatry: because it is an Idol: Neither hath either the Defend. or Rejoynd. denied, as yet, that it is an Idol. We adde also, that mysticall Ceremonies, are (in Calvins phraze) Images, either living, such as Gods institutions, or dead, as mens inventions. Inst. lib. 8. cap. 11. sect. 13. Adde lastly, that seeing the Def. and Rej. hauehave admitted historicall Images, as of the same nature with other mysticall Ceremonies (in the former Chapter) it is too late now to distinguish their natures.
8. A second place of Calvin, is out of epist. 87. where he warneth the L. Protector of England, that nothing upon pretence must be tolerated in the Church, which came eyther from Satan, or from Antichrist. To this the Rej. (calling for all Calvin) answereth, that Calvin in that Epistle, speaketh against precise extremities about Ceremonies: and that he professedly intended rather to exempt our Ceremonies from those hee condemneth: as appeareth by his judgement of the Service-booke in Q. Maries time, the heads wherof were sent unto him from Franckfort, by M. Knox, and M. Whittingam, not one whit bettered (as the Rej. sayth he dare say) & out of his Epist. to Bull. an. 1551. &c. Now 1. because he will have all Calvin, he shall have enough of Calvin.
Thus therfor he writeth unto the L. Protecteur, I come to the other head about abolishing and plucking up by the very roots …buses and corruptions, Veni… ad capu… alterum, de abolendis & evellendis radicitus abusibus & corruptelis, quas invexit Satan superioribus seculis in Dei ordinationem Constat Christianisimi Papatus plane esse nothium & adulterinum. Quar… si al illa voragine plibē educere est animus, exemplo Apostoli utendum est ▪ 1. Cor, 11 Iude colligenda generalis doctrina: cum de legit…ma reformati…ne, & qu… Deo accepta sit, agitu…, a… ipsum purum Dei verbum redeundum nobis esse. Quot enim supererunt mixturae ex bominū ingenio pralatae, totidem exstabunt pollutiones, quae homines distrahant a recto corum usuquae Dominus in corum …alutem instituerat. Proinde dum istiusmodi sentina ex parte tantum exhauritur, res suo loco verò restituta dici non potest, ubi Christianismus larvatus pro syncero & nativo deprehenditur. Atque illud a me ideo dicitur, quod multo… longe aliter judicare intelligam, tolerandos nempe esse abusus, neque attingendos, dummodo crassissimae corruptelae sublatae dici pos…t. Atqui ex opposito, i…sa experientia edocuit, quam sertilis sit mendaciorum seges …umanum ingenium, ut v…l minut… tis granis cons…ersum, in altissimum cumulum assurga, uti totum natu…a eo ferri constat. Longe vero a…ia est rati… quam tradit Scriptura David de Idolis agens, ne ipsorum quidem nominis se recordaturum testatur, ut estendat, quam illa sibi omnibus modis detestanda judicet. Ab omni Satanae fermento quam longissime pedem re…eramus. Quid enim illae Cerementae fuerunt, quam totidem lenocinia, quae miseras animas. Ad malum perducerent, uti ad ip…as illaqu…andas omnino positae erant? Iam si de cautione agitur (this is to our Defend. and Rejoyn a cu…e) monebuntur homines, scilicet, ne ad illas nunc impingant. Quis tamen non videt obdura…i ipsos nihil ominus ni…il ut infelici illa cautione obtmeri possit Quare si quid istiusmodi intactum relinquetur, certi…simum erit g…avio…i… obfirmationis in malum somentum, idemque velamen oppositum, ne syncera doctrina quae propener…tur, adm…tat… ut par est.which the Devil in the ages past hath brought into Gods ordnance. It is evident that the Christianity or religion of Poperie is bastardly and false. Wherefore if we resolve to bring the people out of that gulfe, we must follow the Apostles example 1. Cor. 11. From whence is generaly ta…ght: that when men would reforme as th…y ought to do and acceptably to God, they must then betake themselves to the pure word of God. For look how many mixtures (which mans braine hath hatched) do remaine; so many pollutions are there which distract men from the right use of those things which the Lord had appointed for their Sa…vation. Wherefore while such a sink as that, is but in part pumpt out, things cannot be said to be as they should be, specia…y when religion appeares rather masked, then sincere and with open face, which I therefore note because I perceive many now a-dayes of another judgmēt; as if petty abuses were to be let alone, as long as grosser maters be remooved. Whereas contrari-weise experience it selfe sheweth what a fertil soyle and fruitfull seed-plot of lyes, mans invention is, that being but thin sown (as it were) with lesser graines, groweth to such a heape as if his nature did intend nothing els. Now the Scripture is farr different from this. When David speaks of Idols, he professeth their names should not go in or out at the dores of his lips, to shew extreme detestation. Let us remoove our foot as far as possibly we can from all the leaven of Satan. For what were all thos… Ceremonies but so many who…rish inticements to lead s…ely soules unto mischeif▪ yea even snares to catch them in? But if we talke that the people may be warned (forsooth) lest they stumble, yet notwithstanding who doeth not behold men hardned by them? So little doth that warning availe to any purpose. Therefore if any such thing b… left untouched, it will be but the foment and fuel of greater mischeif, and a very blind sett up to hinder sincere Doctrine from all entrance as were meet.
Then follow the words which the Rejoynder citeth for all Calvin. Let any understanding Reader judge now of Calvins judgement: if we require any more praecise rigor then Calvin did not onelyonly wish, but also contend, for, and that with such Arguments, as no De…ender or Rejoynder will ever answer? 2. Wheras he sayth that he dare say Mr. Knox and Whittingam sent the heads of the Service-booke not one whit bettered, insinuating that they made the worst they could of it, quoting the D…scourse of Frani…so …t troubles, it is as much as to say, he dare denie, that which those good men sayd, and proved (by repraesenting their writing) concerning their owne fact, without any reason. Surely their conclusion was this: Other thinges not so much shame, as pitie, compelleth us to keep close: &c.
Note (sayth the Author of that Discourse) that the description is very favorably put down. If you conferre it with the Booke, and the usage of the same in many Churches of this Realme▪ you can confesse no lesse. And therof you may gather, what M. Calvin would have written, if they had noted al the abuses of the same. Beside the Letter it self (written by M.K. and M. Wh. unto Calvin) is to be seen & read, in that Discourse; where mention is made of the Surplice, Kneeling, and Crosse; But none of Confirmation, Offeringes, Womens Purification, and such other thinges as the Rejoynder would have Calvin onelyonly to have respected▪
3. For Calvines Epistles to Bullinger, 1551. they were two: and in the first, epist. 120. he excuseth onelyonly as tolerable in extremitie, the Cornerd cap, and Rochet: and what is this to our Ceremonies using and urging? In the second epist. 121. he exhorteth the Protectour, to help Ho…per, standing even against those fopperies, What can the Rejoynder gleane from hence. 3. As for that the Rejoynder addeth, that Calv. Instit. lib 4. cap. 17. sect. 37. (for Easter day was handled before) professedly alloweth our Kneeling, it is nothing so. For he speaketh onelyonly against the Papists kneeling unto the Hoste in Procession; and for aggravation of that Idolatrie, sayth▪ that in the Supper it self, we may kneel to Christ. There is not one word of such kneelinge as ours is. There is no Non-Conformist, which refuseth to kneel unto Christ, in the celebration of the Lords Supper.
9. But Calvin (sayth the Def.) hath these words: that in labouring to remoove such things as may seeme to nourish Idolatry, we must take heede of being too supersti…ious, i… urging too vehemently things in their owne nature i…different. To which there needeth no answer, then this: we assent to those words, without any exception. Afte… Calvin, the Replier made mention of Martyr, Gryncu…, Wolphius, Vrsinus, Machabeus, Zanchius, Simlerus, Z…pperus, Fulke, and the Authors of our Homilies, as quoted i… the Abrigement (pag. 24.) to the same purpose. Bu… the Rejoynder thought not them worth the answering in special: and therfore I must leave them to considention onelyonly. To the rest of this Section I answer nothing but, Nihil dicit.
SECT. 5. Concerning Daniels abstinence.
HEere nothing is handled but Daniels example, Dan. 1.8. Neither doeth the Rejoynder adde any thing to the Defendant, but onelyonly, that Daniels forbearance of the Kings meat, was grounded on speciall ceremoniall injunctions of God, and not upon our morall rule, that the abuse had made the use unlawfull; nor was this a Ceremony in Gods worship. To which I answer 1. that our argument is also grounded on the equitie of Ceremoniall injunctions, and that equity is our morall rule.
2. It must needs be, that if good meats (not otherwise uncleane) were unlawfull unto Daniel, then it was because they were defiled by Idolatry: which is all that this place was alleged for.
3. If this was not a Ceremonie of Gods worship, the Argument is so much the stronger: because all Christians know, that whatsoever is unlawfull out of Gods worship, the same (not being by God appropriated to his worship) is much more unlawfull in it.