A Just Defense of Hearing the Sermons, Chapter 7 · Section 11 – Section 12
Sect. 11. Acting in the holy things of God, by an Office-power and modes of Idolaters, may be without Idolatry.
To which we add. Argument 2. Those who act in the holy things of God, by vertue of an Office-power received from Idolaters; and offer up to him a Worship meerly of humane composition, once abused to Idolatry, with the modes and rites of Idolaters, are guilty of the sin of Idolatry: But the present Ministers of England, act in the holy things of God, by vertue of an Office-power received from Idolaters, and offer up to him a Worship meerly of humane composition, o…c… abus…d to Idolatry, with the modes and rites of Idolaters. Therefore. The major (or first Proposition) carrying a brightness along with it, sufficient to lead any one into the belief of the truth thereof, one would think may be taken for granted. Two things are asserted therein,
1. That such as act in the holy things of God, by vertue of an Office-power received from Idolaters, are themselves such at least in respect of that their Office-power so received by them) That Jeroboams Priests were all of them Idolaters, we suppose will not be denied: Supposing some or more to act in the Worship of God, by vertue of an Office-power received from them, were these to be accounted in that respect Idolaters? It seemeth so: Nor can there be the least pretence of reason to the contrary: Certainly such as act by vertue of authority committed to them, in matters Civil, from Rebels, are equally guilty of Rebellion, as those from whom they derive that their authority. The case is here the same.
2. That such as offer up to God a Worship meerly of humane composition, once abused to Idolatry, with the modes and rites of Idolaters, are Idolaters: If these be not such, I must profess, I know not who are. That there are few, or none, that worship the Creature terminative, will not be denied, the most of Idolaters in the world are such, upon the account of their worshipping the true God through mediums of their own d…vising, with rites and modes that never entred into the heart of God to prescribe. To assert, that any should symbolize with Idolaters herein (who are solely upon this foot of account such) and not be guilty of the sin of Idolatry, is absurd and irrational. The major Proposition then (as was said) may be taken for granted.
Answ. Not so, without better proof, and thus understood, That they still abuse it to Idolatry; and, That the modes and rites be of themselves Idolatrous: without these limitations, the major is denied. Those that were ordained Priests by Papists, and used the Common-Prayer Book after, in the dayes of Edward the 6th. were not Idolaters: though this Author will not acquit Latimer, Cranmer, Ridley, Hooper, and others, from Idolatry then, yet I shall boldly do it: And to what this Author saith, I reply, That the Office-power, no, not though it were from Idolaters, for Idolatrous purposes, doth not make persons actually Idolaters, till they do actually exhibit Divine worship to a creature. Suppose a person be ordained a Priest, to offer Sacrifice propitiatory for the quick and dead in the Mass; yet if he …epent thereof, and never do adore the Breaden-God he is not an Idolater: Yea, suppose he act in baptizing, preaching, marrying, burying according to the rituals of the Romanists, by vertue of his Ordination, as a Priest; or, as this Author speaks, his Office-power, without exhibiting any Divine worship to a creature (which in some of these may be) yet is he not thereby an Idolater. The reason whereof is manifest, because he is not an Idolater, to whom the definition of Idolatry ag…ees not. And this is the reason why, if Jerob…ams …riests, though consecrated for the worship of Idols, did not worship them, they were not to be accounted Idolaters: Nor are those that act by vertue of authority committed to them, in matters Civil, from Rebels, equally guilty of rebellion, as th…se from whom they derive that their authority, unless they act rebelliously; if they act for the restitution of their P…ince, the publique peace, they are accounted good Subjects, and not Rebels, though at first they derived their authority from Rebels. Nor doth the worshipping of God by a Form meerly of humane composition, make Idolaters, though it have been abused to Idolatry, with the rites and m…des of Idolaters, unless the…e be Idolatry in the Form, and the rites and modes be Idolatrous in their use: because, notwithstanding this, no Divine worship may be given to a creature. So, though the Form of Baptism in the Roman Church▪ were mee…ly of humane composition, used with Crossings, Cream, Oyl, Spittle, if these rites were used, though by them abused to Idolatry, not as they do, so as to give Divine worship to a creature, the Users, in this manner, however guilty of Will-worship or Superstition, yet would not be justly chargeable with Idolatry; no, not though they should in …ome sort symbol…ze with Idolaters, that is, be assimilated to them, or in some sort comply with them. Much less is it true, that they are Idolaters, who use that which is of Di…ine appointment, to the right use, because Idolaters a…u…ed it to Idolatry: He that should use the Lords Prayer, or the Psalms, to worship God with them should not be an Idolater, because Witches have invocated the Devil, by the Lords Prayer, or the Papists the Virgin Ma…y, by the words of the P…alms in Bonaventures Psalter. That which he saith here, That few or none worship the creature terminative, he doth revoke the next page save one, finding Bellarmines ass…rtion, l. de Imag. c. 21. That the Images thems…lves …erminate the veneration given them, as they are in themselves considered, and not only as supplying the … that which they represent. But had not this passage p…oved it, the Idolatry of the Papists, in worshipping the H…st, invocating Angels, Saints, the worship of the Devil by Americans, the Sun and Moon of old, would prove, that most of …dolaters do worship the creature terminative. From that which is said, I inferr, That his maj…r may be denied wi…hout … or irrationali…y. But I pass to his minor, of which he sai…h thus,
Sect. 12. The English Ministers opp…s… P…pish Idolatry, as other Protestants.
Whether this be true of the pr…s…nt Ministers of England, is next to be considered, of which briefly.
1. That the Romish Church (so called) are Idolaters; their Wo…ship, in the complex thereof, Id…la…ry, will not (we suppose) be denied by any that call thems…lves P…otestants; the most learned of whom have asserted an… …: And then allegeth th… Hymns, O felix pue…pera▪ O crux spes unica: Bo…a…scius the J…suite, that is, … lib. 3 Amphith. Honor. c. ult. ad Divam Hallensem & … J…sum, hae…eo lac inter medita…s, inter que cruo…em, &c. Aqu. Sum parte 3. q 25. Bell. de Imag. c. 21. F…ar… seus de mend…za in viridatio utrius que eruditionis, lib. 2. p…o…. 2▪ The vsual ascription in Bellarmine, Baronius, Laus Deo Virgini que matri Mariae.
Answ. In which I agree with him, That the Papists are guilty of most horrid Idolatry: and, could he shew any such things in the Common-p…aye… Bo…k, or the Service of the Ministers of the Church of England, I should agree to his Separation. But when no such thing is to be found in the Liturgy or Service of the present Ministe…s of England: And, when he knows the H…mily of the Peril …f Idolatry, and the writings of the lea…ned Bishops and D…v…nes of the Church of England, are as much against …h…ir Idolatry as other Protestants, to insinuate into the peoples minds, as if the present Ministers of England did symbolize with these Idolaters, of whose Idolatry they shew so much detestation, is a most viperous calumniation, and most unworthy of a Christian. But he goes on thus: