Canterburys Doom, Branch 1 · Evidence 2 · Section 17
17. Paſſages expunged againſt the Blindneſſe, Superſtition, Idolatrous, Pompous worſhip and Adoration of Papiſts, prophane perſons, Popiſh Saints, Reliques.
IN Maſter Wards Comentary on Matthew, page 35. 36. written copy, this paſſage is evpunged.Qveſt.
What blindneſſe are we ſubject unto without Chriſt?Anſw.
There is a double blindneſſe, which men are ſubject and incident unto; to wit, Firſt, the blindneſſe of Superſtition, which is apparently ſeen in the Papiſts, who firſt teach us to worſhip Demoniacks, or damned ſoules in hell, or traitors, as Thomas Recket, and impious Gregory the ſeventh, called Heldibrand. And ſecondly, teacheth us to worſhip Chime…es, fictious, and things that never were in rerum natura: Thus they teach us to worſhip Saint Chriſtopher, Sanit George, Saint Katherine, and many hundreds more which cannot be proved to have been, or at leaſt, not Saints, but ſome of them grand impoſtors. Thirdly, they teach us to worſhip vile and baſe things, as peeces of rotten wood, making then beleeve they were peeces of Chriſts Croſſe, and old thred-bare garments, for ſome ſacred Veſtments, although the Prieſts themſelves knew them to be otherwiſe; yea the Euchariſticall wafer-cakes, although they have been conſecrated flightly, the Prieſt thinking of ſome other thing elſe, and not intending the conſecration thereof, which (according to their owne doctrine) is not then tranſubſtantiated, and therfore is palpable idolatry to fal down to a bare piece of bread. Fourthly they teach us to place Religion in outward things, as in the obſervation of dayes, meats, apparrell, and the like, Col. 2. 17. 18. None of all which things we are taught to doe in the Word of God, and therefore we had need beware of this blindneſſe of ſuperſtition.
Secondly, there is a blindneſſe of prophaneneſſe, which is twofold; to wit, either Pura negationis, or Pravae dispoſitionis, i. e. either naturall, or affected ignorance: Firſt there is in us a naturall ignorance, we by nature not knowing thoſe things which concerne the glory of God, or our owne ſalvation; and this blindneſſe is in all, even in the elect untill they be enlightned by the Spirit of God. Secondly, there is an affected ignorance, when men refuſe the meanes of knowledge, like thoſe deafe Adders that ſtop their eares againſt the voyce of the charmer, charme he never ſo wiſely: Now this blindneſſe of heart is alſo in every man by nature, for as naturally we know not our duty towards God, ſo naturally we deſire not the knowledge thereof, but are backward and negligent in the uſe of thoſe meanes, which God hath appointed for the curing of this blindneſſe.
And this, Ibidem page 365. Becauſe our Saviour doth acknowledge the powring of this precious oyntment upon him to be a good work, it may therefore be demanded if the Papiſts doe not well, who worſhip the Lord in great coſt and pomp? Firſt, Chriſt prayſed the precious oyntment, not as an ordinary worſhip, which ſhould alwayes afterwards he imitated, but onelyonly as a ſingular miniſtery of his funerall, ver. 12. ſhee did it for my buriall: But Chriſt now is aſcended into Heaven, and is no more to be buried, and therefore this fact of Maries will he no ground for the Popiſh pompom worſhip: Secondly, the Popiſh pompous worſhip is full of ſuperstition and idolatry, but in this anointing there was none, and therefore it will not ſupport their pomp: Thirdly, when Chriſt departed from the world to Heaven, he left behind him in his ſtead the poore, commanding us to honour him by our bounty toward them; and therefore if we would beſtow our liberality aright, we ſhould enrich or refreſh with our ſubſtance the poore members of Chriſt, for he doth accept of that which is done unto them, as done unto himſelfe, Heb. 13. 16.