Last Legacy in Select Admonitions and Directions, Treatise · Section 32 – Section 33
Of Superſtition.
Do you not hate Superſtition?p. 282. Conſider then, what Superſtition is; it is the making of any new parts of Religion to our ſelves, and fathering them upon God. Of this there are Two ſorts, Poſitive, and Negative. When we falſely ſay, This is a duty commanded by God, or when we falſely ſay, This is a ſin forbidden by God, take heed of both. For inſtance,P. 288. The Scripture telleth us of no Church-Elders, but what were ordained, and of none but ſuch as were of the ſame Office with the Preaching Paſtors or Elders, of none that had not Authority to Baptize and Adminiſter the Lord's Supper; nor doth Church Hiſtory tell us of any other, as a Divine Office. But now we have concluded, that there is a diſtinct Office of Ruling Elders, who need not be Ordained, and who have no power to Baptize, or to Adminiſter the Lord's Supper. This I think is Superſtition,P. 290. for we feign God to have made a Church Office which he never made.—That it is ſimply unlawful to uſe a Form of Prayer, or to read a Prayer on a Book; That if a School-maſter impoſe a Form upon a Scholar, or a Parent on a Child, it maketh it become unlawful; That our preſence maketh us guilty of all the errors, or unmeet expreſſions of the Miniſter, in publick Worſhip, at leaſt if we before know of them, and therefore that we muſt joyn with none, whoſe Errors or Miſ-expreſſion we know of before;—That we are guilty of the ſins of all unworthy or ſcandalous Communicants, if we communicate with them, though their admiſſion is not by our fault; That he whoſe judgment is againſt a Dioceſan-Church may not lawfully joyn with a Pariſh-Church, if the Miniſter be but ſubject to the Dioceſin; That whatſoever is unlawfully commanded, is not lawful to be obeyed; That it is unlawful to do any thing in the Worſhip of God, which is impoſed by Men, and is not commanded in the Scripture: Theſe and more ſuch as theſe are Superſtitions, which ſome Religious People have brought in. And by all ſuch inventions fathered upon God,P. 292. and made a part of Religion, the minds of Men are corrupted, and diſquieted, and the Churches diſturbed and divided.
Moſt of our Acquaintance think it their duty to keep up the Reputation of the Publick Conformable Miniſtry. p. 246. of Plea, and p. 109. We are far from deſigning any abaſement of the Clergy; nor do we deny or draw others to deny any due Reverence or Obedience to them.
I repent, that I no more diſcouraged the peeviſh Spirit of quarelling with Superiors, and Church Orders; And that I encouraged ſuch by ſpeaking too ſharply againſt thoſe things, which I thought to be Church Corruptions. Admonition to Bagſhaw.
The People are ready to ſcorn the Graveſt and Wiſeſt Paſtors, we are indangered by Diviſions; chiefly becauſe the Self-conceited part of the Religious People will not be ruled by their Paſtors. Cure of Diviſions, p. 393.
I repent, that I no more diſcouraged the Spirit of peeviſh quarrelling with Superiors, and Church Orders, and (though I ever diſliked and oppoſed it) yet that I did ſometime too much encourage ſuch as were of their temper, by ſpeaking too ſharply againſt thoſe things which I thought to be Church Corruptions, and was too loath to diſpleaſe the Contentious, for fear of being uncapable to do them good, and meeting with too few Religious Perſons, that were not pleaſed with ſuch invectives. P. 52. to Bagſhaw.
In The Preface to Chriſt. Direct. It is ſaid, That my Writeings differing from the common judgment, had already cauſed offence to the Godly. Anſw. 4. If God bleſs me with opportunity and help, I will offend ſuch Men much more, by endeavouring further than ever I have done, the quenching that Fire which they are ſtill blowing up, and detecting the Folly and Miſchiefs of thoſe Logomachies, by which they militate againſt Love and Concord, and inflame and tare the Church of God: And let them know, that I am about it.
Of Prejudice.
Take heed of ſuffering Prejudice and Fancy to go for reaſon,Chriſt. Direct. p. 66. Part. 3. and raiſe in your Minds unjuſtifiable diſtaſts of any way or mode of Worſhip. It is wonderful to ſee what Fancy and Prejudice can do, get once a hard Opinion of a thing, and your Judgments will make light of all that is ſaid for it, and will ſee nothing that ſhould reconcile you to it. Partiality will carry you away from Equity and Truth. Abundance of things appear now falſe and evil to Men, that once imagined them to be ſo, which would ſeem harmleſs and laudable, if tried by a Mind that is clear from Prejudice.