An Answer to Two Treatises of John Can, Chapter 1 · Section 7
SECT. 7.
CAN Stay ag. Sect. 3. pag. 58.
THe ſinfull office of the Teacher becomes his ſin who practiſeth will-worſhip with him. For hereby he enwrappeth himſelfe into the guilt of his office. To heare ſuch a Minicter is to honour, approve, and uphold his office of Ministeris. To yeeld any approbation, liking, or reverence, unto mens inſtitutions in the exerciſe of religion, is ſin. But in hearing Antichriſtian Miniſters, d. §. 4. p. 61.there is approbation, liking, and reverence, yeelded unto mens institution in the exerciſe of religion, Mat. 15.9. Pſ. 6.4. Col. 2.20, 21. De. 5.9. 1 Cor. 6.17. Hoſ. 2.16. Exod. 23.13.therefore it is ſinne. The Major cannot be denyed, for the Scriptures teach us the very thing. Beſides the moſt judicious Writers affirme it too.
The Minor is as cleare, For firſt, Jt is not poſſible that men can come to Antichristian Churches to worſhip God, but they muſt by their precence there, ſhew reverence and honour to the publike falle ſtate and miniſterie.
ANSWER.
HEre you come over with the ſame text of Scripture and the ſame arguments, whereunto anſwer hath beene given already. But I muſt follow you in that path, wherein you are pleaſed to goe before mee. 1 Will-worſhip is unlawful, both in the teacher, and them that communicate with him in that worſhip. But the preaching of the word and adminiſtration of the Sacraments in our aſſemblies is not will-worſhip, but the ordinance of Chriſt. 2 To yeeld any approbation, liking, or reverence unto mens inſtitutions, deviſed, and to be exerciſed with opinion of holineſſe, Babing in Lev. 10 Calv. in loc. Iun. anal. in loc. Piſcat. ibid.neceſſitie, and worſhip, is ſinne. And if this be the meaning of your propoſition, we confeſſe the Scriptures teach this very thing, and judicious learned Divines affirme it. And what uſe there is of heaping up Authors to prove that which is moſt willingly aſſented unto, I cannot tell. The Lord hath laid downe the way and manner of his worſhip, and hath not left it to any creature to meddle with, but according to his preſcription and appointment. CAN Stay, § 5. p. 40.The outward worſhip of God muſt be ſtrictly done according to his commandement. A good intention there hath no place, workes deviſed by mans fancie, have not only no promiſe of reward for doing of them, but contrariwiſe great threatnings and maledictions of God. Q. Eliz. Injunct. 3.But all inſtitutions of men in the exerciſe of religion, ſuch, to wit, as be ſimply matters of order, or appurtenances of worſhip, as time, place, method, phraſe of ſpeech, ſtinted catechiſmes, formes of bleſſing and adminiſtration of the Sacraments, &c. bee not of that nature, neither doth every thing concerning the qualification and exerciſe of miniſterie belong to the ſecond Commandement. So that all inſtitutions in generall are not condemned in Scripture, nor diſliked by godly and learned men, ſo the generall given for direction in ſuch caſes be obſerved. 3 We hold it unlawfull outwardly, and but in appearance, to joyne with Idolaters in their Idolatry: Many words in this matter might well bee ſpared: But wee deſire to ſee your commandement, why for every particular act, that in a large ſenſe is Idolatrous, adjoyned to the true worſhip of God, Calfeb. againſt Mar. art. 10. p. 185, 186.we ſhould forbeare our preſence at the worſhip it ſelfe, or be ſaid to communicate in the ſinne there committed? For then no man might preſent himſelfe with good conſcience, at any publike worſhip of GOD, wherein any thing is done amiſſe, for matter, or manner, which is in effect to ſay, hee cannot bee preſent at any at all. 4 To communicate in the ordinances of God with the Miniſters of the Church of England, is not to like, approve or reverence the inſtitutions of men, in the exerciſes of religion, nor to communicate with the Teacher in his ſin, nor in ought elſe that is amiſſe. For the worſhip is of God both for matter and manner. And put caſe, the Miniſter bee diſorderly choſen, enter not as he ought, be Symoniacall, covetous, froward, corrupt, idle, ſcandalous, doe the people partake in his ſin, in that they make uſe of his Miniſtery? No Scripture teacheth any ſuch thing, no reaſon doth confirm it, noe approved authors ever ſaid it. That which you alledge for proofe, falleth utterly ſhort.
It appertaineth to the vertue of truth, Dav. determ. 7. p. 40.that as a man ſheweth himſelfe by externall ſignes, ſo he is indeed to be eſteemed. And ſuch as frequent or repair unto unlawfull aſſemblies, for the publike worſhip of God, by their being there, are to be reputed of the ſame religion, or elſe diſſemblers, as it were to have no care of religion, knowing God, Dovvay annot in 4. King. 5.19. p. 778.but not glorifying him as God. But herein you have miſrelated the Doway tranſlators, for their words are, But in a Chriſtian countrey, where all beare the name of Chriſtians, eſpecially where men are at controverſie about the true Chriſtian Religion, all that frequent or repaire unto the ſame aſſemblies, for publike ſervice of God, are to be reputed of the ſame religion, or elſe diſſemblers. Bodily preſence at falſe worſhip, by which they ſhew a liking unto it is unlawfull. To eate of meates ſacrificed unto Idols in the Idoll Temple, Your condemning the worſhip of God performed in our aſſemblies as pernicious idolatry vvherein is it a leſſer ſinne han the Popes prohibition of publike prayer, and reſtraint of the Word and Sacraments throughout the Realm? you can neither ſhevv us warrant for it an the Scriptures, nor example of it in the Church of God. You that ſo teach and cenſure ſtand guiltie of great impietie and they that hearken unto your perſvvaſions, are partakers of your iniquity in ſome ſort, of the vvrong imaginations of Chriſtians, Aug. in Tract. …o 19. ſaith, Quae omnia idola cordis ſunt. T. Caepl. 1. art. 3. pag. 4.is to communicate with Idolaters. Theſe things are evident and freely granted: But the Aſſemblie met to call upon God, in the mediation of Jeſus Chriſt alone, to heare the doctrine of ſalvation, ſoundly and purely preached, to receive the Sacrament rightly adminiſtred, is not a falſe idolatrous aſſemblie: they that repaire unto it, be not Idolatrous …falſe worſhippers. If you eſteem of them as they ſhew themſelves by out ward ſignes, you muſt eſteem them to be of the true religion, and the true worſhippers of God according to his will; The miniſterie in that aſſembly to be true, ſound and faithfull and of God of ſubſtance. In this lieth the point of the controverſie, which you are contented to paſſe by in ſilence, without any proofe at all.
But if any humane frailtie or infirmitie cleave to the miniſterie or congregation, in reſpect of doctrine, manners, lawes, government or order, which concernes not the life and ſoul, but only the ſafety of the Church or wellfare of Religion. In theſe a Chriſtian doth not partake by his preſence at the ordinances, as the Scripture, reaſon, and the approved practice of the Saints in all ages of the Church do plentifully witneſſe. This is the judgement and practice of the Nonconformiſts, and therefore they profeſſe they praiſe God for this reformation, ſo farre forth, as it is agreeable to the Word of God, they are glad the Word of God is preached, that the Sacraments are adminiſtred; that which is wanting they deſire to be added, that which is overmuch cut off. But that a Chriſtian muſt ſeparate from the Word and Sacrament, by reaſon of ſome ſuperfluities or defects, is no reſponſive concluſion, that can be gathered ſoundly from their writings.
CAN Stay. Sect. 5. pag. 66.
In preaching of the truths of the Goſpell by a falſe Minister, an Idolatrous act is performed. For Divine worſhip is not to be determined by a particular thing (howbeit in it ſelfe good) but as the eſſentiall parts belonging thereto (whether they are perſons or things) are kept and obſerved. The Church of Rome in Baptiſme uſeth water, and in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper gives bread and wine otherwhile too: doth this cleare their adminiſtrations of Idolatry? I think all men doe thinke that Vzziah committed an Idolatrous act, 2 Chron. 26.16.when he invaded the Prieſts office. But what made it ſo? tooke he unlawfull incenſe? no. Vſed he ſtrange fire? no. Offered hee prohibited Sacrifice, or upon a wrong Altar, No: Where then lay the fault, the Scripture telleth us, Verſe 18.it pertained not to him to burne incenſe unto the Lord, but to the ſons of Aaron. To apply this, if his act were Idolatrous becauſe he wanted a calling, howbeit obſerved many truths of the law. By the ſame reaſon the Church acts of Artichriſtian Miniſters are Idolatrous, yea, and as for the truths which they preach, this cleares their acts no more from Idolatry, than Vzziahs true Incenſe and the Altar quitted him from tranſgreſſion.
ANSWER.
Your great words are of ſmall force, CAN. Stag. §. 3. p. 56.for ſhould I ſpeake my conſcience, (it is your phraſe,) They are words without weight of reaſon. For ſtill you preſuppoſe the Miniſterie of the Church of England to bee falſe and idolatrous, which is to beg, not to conclude the queſtion. But that being preſuppoſed, let us ſee how you goe forward. In preaching the truth of the Goſpell by a falſe Miniſter, an Idolatrous act is performed, you ſay. But doth the Scripture ſay ſo? Do you read it in the Law, or in the Prophets, in the Apoſtles or in the Evangeliſts? The Scribes and Phariſees were falſe, Miniſters, but it was not an Idolatrous worke in them to expound the Law of Moſes, or diſpence other Church ordinances, at that time commanded. The popiſh Prieſts and Biſhops are falſe Prophets, but the ſimple adminiſtration of Baptiſme by them is not an idolatrous act. The Miniſter that is prophane, and hateth to be reformed, is a falſe Miniſter, and hath nothing to doe to take the covenant of God into his mouth, but the Word preached by a treacherous Judas, proud Diotrephes, covetous Demas, or one that envieth the proſperitie of Saints, and peace of Ieruſalem, is not an Idolatrous act. If it be Idolatrous in him that performeth it, yet it doth not follow, that it is idolatrous in them that joyne in the ordinance. Let it bee idolatrous in the prieſts, who deſpiſe knowledge, and live prophanely, put caſe Elies ſons, to offer ſacrifice, it is idolatrous likewiſe for the people to appeare before God in his holy Temple.
That Vzziah committed a grievous offence, when he invaded the Prieſts office, all men thinke. In what reſpect all men conceive it to be an idolatrous act I cannot ſay: but all falſe Miniſters do not uſurpe the Prieſts office, as Vzziah: nor all things done by falſe Prophets, Ex. 30.7, 8. Pſal. 141.2. Apoc. 8 3. Moller in Pſ. 141.2 Heriſ. ibid. Deod. Bib…. Ital. annot in Pſa. 141.2 & Apoc. 8.3. Oriin Ioſ. hom 17. tom 1. Eſt in coelis all re. Paſchal. Rhadbert. in Lam. Ier. l. 2. Biblioth pat tom. 9. pa…t 1. Chriſtus altare …edi u… eſſe, hoſtia & ſacrifi…ium, pont. fex & ſacerdos. Ambr. Enar. in Pſ. 118. Greg. Magan Pſa 7 paenit. Altare Domini Chriſtus. An. Ex of D… cenſure art. 15 p. 19.to be matched with Vzziahs offering incenſe. For the offering of Incenſe was typicall, and might be a ſhadow of Chriſts interceſſion, and ſo the act of Vzziah might be Idolatrous, and in that particular directly croſſe to the inſtitution of God. But many Church actions typifie no ſuch thing. Vzziah had no calling to offer incenſe, but ſome falſe Miniſters may have ſome calling to adminiſter the things of God, though they be not approved of God. Vzziah could not offer incenſe in any reſpect by authoritie from God, but a falſe Miniſter in one reſpect may be called of God, in ſome other to doe an act miniſteriall, that is, by authoritie from God, hee may doe ſome acts for ſubſtance lawfull and effectuall, though the Miniſter himſelfe be not approved. Thus the Nonconformiſts, upon whoſe grounds you pretend to build your concluſions, let it be as the cenſure reporteth, that his words are of a Miniſter, which cannot preach Doth he doubt whether he be in any reſpect a a Miniſter or no, becauſe he ſaith, if I may ſo call him? Indeed this manner of ſpeaking declareth that he judgeth him that cannot preach a man unworthy to bee a Miniſter, but he doth not deny him altogether.
But in your eſteeme, all Miniſters not called and ordained of that particular Church, whereunto they doe adminiſter, and performing their authoritie by vertue and authoritie derived from them, are falſe Miniſters, becauſe all other adminiſter by power uſurped and Antichriſtian, which is with one breath, to blaſt all the worſhip and ſervice, which hath beene done unto God in the congregations of his Saints, for this fourteene or fifteene hundred yeares or more.
CAN. Stay. Sec. 5. pag. 76.
It is very true ſaid of one, Lavater. In Ioſh. 22, hom. 63.we ought not to conclude of an action that it is good, becauſe it hath in it ſomething which in it ſelfe is ſo, and this is true, as in things divine, Omne totum ſuis partibus ordinatur, menſuratur, & determinatur.ſo in humane too. For it is a knowne tenent of Philoſophers, The whole is compoſed, meaſured and determined of all the parts.
ANSWER.
It is true, an action is not good, Aqu. 1.2. qu. 8. art. 3. Cameron pral…ct. Tom. 2. p. 49. Amb Catharin in the Councell of Trent. l. 2. p. 224. CAN. Stay. Sect. 6 page 85. Rutgerſ. inſtit. Metaphyſ. l. 2. cap. de Bon. Quemadmodum convenientia ad rationalem Naturam, …ve dictamen rectae rationis conſurgit in actu honeſto ex bonitate objecti finis & aliarum circumstantiarum: ita contraria diſconvenientia ſeu defectus in malo culpae conſurgit, ex defectu illorum in actione, ita ut ſi vel minimum contrariū deſit, actus exeoſtatim reddatur culpabilis five pectaminoſus. Dionyſ. dixit. Bonum eſt ex integra cauſa, malum autem ex quolibet defectu. Revet. in Hoſea 4.14. p. 152. Iob 14 4. Hag. 2, 12, 13. See Iun. i… loe.unleſſe all circumſtances required to the doing of a good act be obſerved: but the act good in it-ſelfe is evill in the doer, if one circumſtance bee evill. For every thing that is morally good muſt be conformable to the rule, which, that which is defective in any part required, cannot be. But how ſhall this bee applyed to the purpoſe? Is every deficient act forthwith Idolatrous? Or that which is by circumſtance unlawfull in the doer, becauſe of his failing, unlawfull to every one that doth communicate with him in the Ordinance, but not in the defect? If a Miniſter preach Chriſt of envie, doe they ſinne that heare ſincerely and receive the truth in love? If a man give almes in vaineglory, doth the poore man ſinne, who receives it in humilitie and thankſgiving? An action done in one forme and manner may be ſinne, which in another forme and manner is the true worſhip of God, which may be obſerved of him that is preſent in our Aſſemblies.
CAN. Ibid.
As Iob ſaith, who can bring a cleane thing out of an uncleane? Not one. But the falſe office is uncleane, as is acknowledged. And this further may bee amplified by that paſſage of the Prophet, where it is ſhewed, That holy things are polluted by touching things which are uncleane.
ANSWER.
That which is uncleane cannot cauſally, univocallie, and properlie bring forth that which is cleane, but inſtrumentally it may. A profane Miniſter may be the inſtrument of God to convert a ſinner from the errour of his way, and indiſpenſation of the Sacrament, ſeale to the worthy receiver the pardon of his ſinne, though he himſelfe reape no profit or benefit thereby. For herein the good that is wrought is not effected by any vertue or power in the Miniſter, who is the Lords Officer or inſtrument, but by the power of Gods Spirit, and his free grace, who knoweth how to uſe and bleſſe evill inſtruments for his owne purpoſe. An uncleane Officer or perſon pollutes the holy things of God to himſelfe, but not to others, who uſe them in faith according to the Lords appointment. Why you ſhould referre us to Iunius annotations I ſee not, unleſſe it be to ſhew us your forwardneſſe to quote Authors, which make nothing to your purpoſe. For all that Iunius obſerveth is this, That the Iewes being impure and polluted in heart, did receive no ſanctitie from the touch of Temple or Altar.
CAN. IBID.
If in preaching the truth no Idolatrous act is performed then it will follow, Ibid. Sect. 11. p. 116 They need not by his vvriting leave their unbleſſed ſtanding; For ſo they preach the truths of the Goſpell, they ſinne not. And then vvhat need is there to lay dovvne their falſe office? I cannot ſay of this mans Logicke as Aristotle did of Theodorus his making Epithites, It is his vvhole art. CAN. Stay. p. 27.that a man may remaine a Minister of a falſe Church all his life time, provided hee onelyonly teach the truths of the Goſpell. Our reaſon is, for in this, if he doe no idolatrous act, then hee ſinneth not, and ſo conſequently no juſt cauſe of his comming out from among them.
ANSWER.
Ill might you twit your adverſarie with his little skill in Logicke, unleſſe it was done in policie to hide your own looſenes in this and the like arguments. For though it be not an Idolatrous act to preach the truth of the Goſpell in a falſe Church, in other reſpects it may be ſinne to continue a member in that ſocietie, and ſo alſo to teach the Goſpels Truths, As it may be ſcandalous and offencive, an appearance of evill. A man may doe that whereunto he is not called, from an evill mind. Alſo it may bee ſinne to continue in a falſe Church, though a man teach nothing but the truth of the Goſpell, becauſe he cannot profeſſe all maine and fundamentall truths, or that border thereupon, nor teſtifie againſt all corruptions, groſſe, haereticall, reallie Idolatrous, which in Conſcience cannot bee tolerated or borne withall without groſſe hypocriſie or diſſimulation; or hee cannot keep himſelfe from the tincture of Idolatrie in practic…. As for example, though it be not an Idolatrous act for a Popiſh Prieſt to preach the Goſpell, or adminiſter the Sacraments of Baptiſme, yet it is not lawfull for a Chriſtian to remaine as a member in that ſociety, becauſe he cannot partake with them in the Ordinances, but he ſhall commit reall Idolatrie, or muſt diſſemble many grievous and hatefull abominations, which cannot bee diſſembled, and ſhall bee thought to bee of the ſame Religion with them, or of no Religion, &c.
The multitude of Authors which you quote againſt hearing falſe Prophets, or continuing in falſe Churches, doe they not give other reaſons why wee ought to ſeparate from them? or doth any one ever lay this down, as a truth or foundation of ſeparation?
In the page following you alledge ſixe reaſons, which you ſay may bee applyed againſt the going with others to an Idol miniſterie, Church or worſhip, &c. But if they bee of any ſtrength, this reaſon whereof now wee ſpeake, is nought worth, for they are directly croſſe. Here you ſay, If in preaching the truth of the Goſpell he doe no Idolatrous act he ſinneth not, but there, you ſay, he ſinneth many other wayes.
But in all this you take that for granted, which we confidently denie, ſc. That our Churches, worſhip, or Miniſterie is falſe and Idolatrous. And therefore taking the propoſition in your ſenſe, we ſay, It is not only lawfull, but neceſſary to remaine Miniſters or members of ſome Churches, which lye under your cenſure as falſe and Idolatrous, but indeed are the true Miniſters and Churches of Ieſus Chriſt, graced with his preſence, covered with his banner, and beautified with his Ordinances and tokens of love. And that which you call an unbleſſed ſtanding, wee make no queſtion but it is approved and bleſſed of Chriſt, and therefore regard your reviling the leſſe.
Can. Stay. Sect. 5. Pag. 73.
If a man performe an action in a ſtate, and of publike nature he is to be conſidered (in reſpect of himſelfe) as is that ſtate and according to the publike Ordinances: For if the ſtate be falſe and the officer unlawfull, it is familiſme for him to ſay, I know this ſtate is ſet up againſt the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and every commer here to worſhip, according to the conſtitution, is an Idolater, but I will have in my ſelfe a ſecret meaning from the reſt. Id. page 77. Seeing falſe Churches and falſe Miniſters are reall Idols, ſet up by earthly Princes, &c. Whoſoever comes and bovves before thoſe Idols cannot eſcape the juſt blame of Idolatry, Id. pag. 73.This is a ſure thing, (and let it bee noted) No adminiſtration performed in a ſtate, and by a power and conſtituted office, can be ſought, deſired and received, but in ſo doing, the doer (ipſo facto) really approves of that ſtate, power and office, bee the ſame lawfull or unlawfull. And as for any mans ſaying to the contrary, it is ſine capite fabula, a viſion of his owne Head, and will prove as good as the miracles which Iannes and Iambres wrought, even meanes to harden his owne heart, and ſome others, as they did Pharaohs, by doing them.
ANSWER.
You ſay it is an eaſie thing to Conquer, CAN. Stay. Sect. 5. page 66. Wee are no ſuch Children as to give the cauſe ſo avvay. CAN. Neceſſ. of ſep. p. 226. But this vvee cannot give him, though hee begge it ſhamefully, becauſe the thing is othervviſe, as their ovvne vvritings manifeſt. CAN. Stay. Sect. 5. page 74. Calfeh. againſt Mart art. 3. page 86.if begging might procure it, and if confident aſſertions will carrie a matter, you will not goe without it. But we muſt not be driven from the Church, the Ordinances and worſhip of God, communion with Chriſt and ſocietie of Saints, by an emptie blaſt of words: No, though you ſhamefully boaſt you have proved it by our owne writings. Doe you thinke your bold impudent aſſeveration, that any mans ſaying to the contrarie is ſine capite fabula, a viſion of his owne head, will make us by and by yeeld to your definitive ſentence, for which you can produce neither Scripture, nor reaſon, nor authoritie but your owne, as if your ipſe dixit. Pope-like were to be reſted in? Wee are no ſuch Children, We are not to be feared with rattles. You muſt bring better matter than your vaine fictions, and ſounder proofe than vaine repetitions of the ſame things over and over, or elſe you muſt expect ſmall credit to bee given unto your words.
They that joyn together in the worſhip of God, Ambr. in Luk. 6. c. 9. Fides Eccleſiae imprimis quaerenda, in quâ ſi Christus habitator ſit, haud dubiè legenda, &c. ſed ſiqua est Eccleſia quae fidem reſpuat, nec Apostolicae praedicationis fundamenta poſſideat, ne quam labem perfidiae poſ…it aſpergere, deſerenda eſt. Sadeel. de legit. Miniſt. vocat. p. 6. Aug. Ex. 166. Our heavenly Maſter gave us vvarning before hand to make the people ſecure touching evill overſeers, leſt for their ſakes the chaire of vvholeſome doctrine ſhould be forſaken And Tract. in Ioh. 46. The Lords fold hath ſome overſeers, that bee Children, & ſome that be hirelings.& ordinances of Religion, they approve the faith proteſſed in points fundamentall, the worſhip performed for the ſubſtance, Ordinances adminiſtred and the truth of Miniſterie for ſubſtance, whereby theſe things are diſpenſed. For of neceſſitie, if the doctrine of ſalvation be reſtored, the lawful uſe of the miniſtery is reſtored alſo. Where God is truelie called upon in the Congregation, and the Sacraments rightlie diſpenſed, there is a true miniſterie, whereby theſe offices are rightlie exerciſed. But the particular Lawes, manner of Government and orders in the Church, the qualifications or qualities of the Miniſter or Communicants, their diſorders, careleſneſſe, or other miſcarriage in the adminiſtration, he doth not approve reallie or interpretatively by his preſence at the Ordinances. If the Miniſters be careleſſe, proud, covetous, ſuperſtitious, enemies to true godlineſſe, friends to profaneneſſe; if they aſpire after dignitie, love preheminence, prate againſt the brethren, they that communicate with them in the Ordinances of Religion, doe neither in ſo doing countenance them in ſinne, nor approve their doi…gs. If the Communicants be ignorant, earthlie minded, diſobedient, prophane, ſcandalous, they that communicate with them in the true worſhip of God, and therein hold externall ſocietie, becauſe they have not libertie to depart themſelves, nor power to caſt the others out, they are not defiled with their ſinne, nor partakers in their tranſgreſſion. And the ſame may be ſaid of orders and rites eſtabliſhed by the conſtitution of men preſence at the ordinance doth not enwrape a Chriſtian within the guilt thereof, nor was it ever the pub…lke intention of the ſtate, that all preſent ſhould approve every particular inſtitution or order. It ſufficeth if they approve the faith profeſſed, and worſhip performed, which are of God.
It is true, that by words, works, example, ſilence, men may become guiltie of others ſins, and that ſome kind of diſſimulation is a denying of Chriſt. But it is true withall, that preſence at Gods Ordinances is no diſſimulation, nor participation in the ſinnes of others, by word, example, ſilence or other waies. If a man doe one thing and pretend another, and hope to ſave himſelfe, by his ſecret meaning, you may rebuke his hypocriſie as the cauſe requireth: But we ſay, in reparing to the Ordinances of God, our heart and actions goe together, and both are allowed and approved of God.
And here conſider, whether you doe not directly confute your ſelfe by the Engine of your owne acknowledgment, as you phraſe it.
For here you ſay, CAN. Stay. Sect. 6. p. 78.no adminiſtration performed in a ſtate and by power and conſtituted office can be ſought, deſired and received. And in your Margin, There is a maine difference betweene a mans bare preſence in a conſtituted ſtate, as being there unawares, unwillinglie or by compulſion, and preſence there, Jd. page 75.of purpoſe to partake of the adminiſtrations. And a little before you argue thus, whoſoever takes to himſelfe a practice, which is not grounded on Gods Word, and therein is ſtrict, he is juſt overmuch. Id. page 74. & 122And many times you inculcate, that you are to bee underſtood of hearing in a Church way, and of Church officers. Now if you deale plainely herein, let the indifferent judge whether you doe not more than inſinuate, that all hearing in our aſſemblies is not abſolutelie to be condemned, but that wherein a man is ſtrict, that which is ſought and deſired. And how then can it be eſteemed an act of Idolatrie, or compared to bowing downe before an Image? For the worſhip of an Image, though occaſionally done, and that but once, with what intent or purpoſe ſoever, you wil acknowledge to bee ſin: and if hearing the Word preached in our aſſemblies occaſionallie be not a ſin, you have ſinned grievouſly in matching it with Idolatrie of the moſt hainous kind, and abuſed both Scripture and learned Authors to countenance your impietie.