Against Human Ceremonies in Gods Worship, Part 2 · Chapter 3 · Section 20 – Section 21
SECT. 32. Concerning the Lords-Day, Temples, and ceremoniall Festivals.
1. THe Def. having spoken of his much sayling in the maine, and narrow Seas, commeth to object the observation of the Lords Day, as a fit example of a humane Ceremonie: whereupon, the Replier continuing his similitude, sayth, that he was at this time, eyther sea-sicke, or sleepy, with his much sayling. This the Rej. calleth a scurrilous jest, and scoffe: so liberall is he of termes, when reasonable answers are not at hand. But if he had thought of the ordinarie sayings, Quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus; animi perturbatio est quaedam ejus aegritudo; he would have spared an innocent usuall phraze of speech, and not markt it with so foule pich or tarre as Scurrilitie.
2. Now let us heare, how hee can excuse the Def. his allegation, from all sicknesse, and drowsinesse! The observation (saith he) of the Lords Day, in place of the Iewes Sabbath, is not a humane institution: but the analogicall and allegoricall instructions, lawfully rais…d from that Day, are of humane institution, not divine. I say againe, as the Repl. sayd, (without feare of the Rej. his Spitte of scurrility) this is a sicke or drowsie answer. For 1. it maketh all analogicall instructions, instituted Ceremonies: as if nothing could be gathered from any fact, or text, in the Scripture, by analogie, or proportion, but it must bee straight a ceremoniall institution! 2. These analogicall instructions, are, (as the Def. expresseth them) meditation of Christs resurrection, and of our eternall rest to come. And who ever heard or read, that these were humane insti…utiō ? what mā instituted them? when? by what authority? upon what necessity? Are they ambulatorie, or mooveable Ceremonies, which our Convocation may change at their pleasure? Awake, awake, both Def. and Rej. and see the vanity and scandall of this allegation.
3. As a Parallel of the former example, Temples were added by the Defend. And to make it agree, the Rej. is driven to this issue, that if it be lawfull by accommodation, to put men in minde of heavenly things by earthly; then it is lawfull to institute things to that use. Which is as if hee should argue thus: if it bee lawfull, by accommodation, to put men in minde of Gods faithfulnesse in keeping his Covenant of Grace, by the constant course of nature which he hath set in heaven and earth, or by the faithfulnesse and constancy of men morally honest; then it is lawfull for men to institute sacred signes for confirmation of the Covenant of Grace, and so new Sacraments properly so called.
4. Concerning Ceremoniall Festivals, of mans m…king, our practise cannot bee objected: because wee observe none. We take occasion of hearing,… sed Ve … & a…censione …. and praying upon any day, when occasion is offered. Wee say (with Hospini…n de Orig. Fest. Christ. cap. 2.) Not the day, but the Word of God, &c. puts us in minde of the nativity, resurrection, and ascension o… Christ. And this might be the reason, why the Repl. passed over this example, as of no moment. For we doe not feare (as the Rej. imagineth) lest all the Churches of God will condemne us herein. Those that consent with Geneva, nor those of Scotland; (except some of the new edition) no nor any that follow Bucers judgement (in Mat. 12.Ferias alias (prater diem Dominicum) sive Christi, &c. optarim abrogatas universas. Zelus ille quo introductae fuere, omni verbo & exemplo Scripturae caruit, mereque rationem secutus est, ut ferias Ethnico rum, seu clavum clavo truderet. Tantis sup…rtitionibus contaminata illa festa fuerunt, ut mirer, si quisquam Christianus fit. qui ad nomina corum non exhorrescat, &c. Dominicum diom, resurrectionis Christigaudium, festiviorem nobis reddidit, &c. Nullum prudentem virum audivi, qu… non censeat magnam p… r…m aliorum festorum abolendam. Maximè consentaneum est cum princa institutione, & cum scriptis Aposteli…, ut unus tantum dies in s…ptimana, sanctificatur.) I would to God that every Holy-day whatsoever beside the Lords Day, were abolished. That zeale which brought them first in, was without all warrant of the Word, and meerely followed corrupt reason, forsooth to drive out the Holy dayes of the Pagans, as one naile drives out another. Those Holy dayes, have beene so t…inted with superstitions that I wonder wee tremble not at their very names. See the place. Occolampadius (in Isaiam, cap. 1. v. 4.) thinketh that no wise Christian will condemne us. I never heard wise man yet, who did not judge that a great part at least of other feasts beside the Lords Day should be abolished. He insinuateth manifestly more then hee speaketh. Zanchie (how favourable soever hee speaketh of some festivals) cannot condemne us by that sentence of his, (in 4. praec) It is most agreeable to the first institution and Apostolicall writings, that onelyonly one day in the weeke be kept holy.
SECT. 33.
IN this Section (which the Repl. thought to require no answer) the summe is, that we are crosse and contrarie to the Authors of our Seruice-booke, who thought our Ceremonies to be the better for being significant. Now if this be understood so, as if we disliked the significancy of them, because those Reverend men did like it; then we are uncharitably wronged by rash judgement. If so, that though such excellent men did thinke so, yet wee thinke otherwise; then our answere is they were men; and though they saw much evill in Popish Ceremonies, yet not all; and therefore judged some tolerable for a time, which were free from some faults, that others were guiltie of; though they banished divers, which were as free from darkenesse and dumbnesse, as those they reteyned. Why they removed those, we see good reason: why they retayned, or rather tolerated these, more then them, we see none, that experience hath not confuted.