Several Treatises of Worship and Ceremonies, To the reader 4
To my Chriſtian Friend, N. Grace and Peace.
HOwſoever it grieveth me to hear of, much more to ſee the troubles wherewith Sathan (knowing his time to be ſhort) doth trouble the Church of God in all places, about unprofitable and Popiſh Ceremonies, yet (to tell you the whole troth) my Grief is the leſſe, when I conſider that both they themſelves, who be moſt troubleſome, and do moſt urge thoſe Reliques of Rome, be ambitious, or Dumb Doggs, or Non-Reſident, ſerving their Bellies,Rom. 16.17, 18 Phil. 3.2, 19. Gal. 6.12. and minding Earthly Things, even like their Predeceſſors, who urged the Ceremonies of MOSES in the Primitive Churches, and their proceedings, (like themſelves) be ſo exorbitant that they cannot but prove odious to all men. What a matter is this, that after the Sacramental Bread is miniſtred, the Cup ſhould be denyed becauſe of not Kneeling? If any of theſe ſcrupulous Miniſters had played ſuch a part, though it were with one openly known to live in ſin, notorious without repentance, whom by the 26. Canon no Miniſter ſhall in any wiſe admit to the Receiving of the Holy Communion, how would that Preciſian be trounced. But in this Puritan Government of the Church there is no fault but Non Conformity to ſuperſtitious vanities; A Bird of their feather may Preach ſcores of Popiſh Doctrines, be ſcandalous in Life, and at his laſt caſt at Dice when he hath loſt all, ſay; In the Spite of God let him do now what he can, and yet hold his own well enough; An other Mans own and ill enough, I might well ſay if the Law might have due courſe: well, God amend all, and reſtrain the remnant of this Rage. In the mean while I rejoyce to hear that it is given to any of Gods people not onelyonly to beleeve in Chriſt, but alſo to ſuffer for his ſake, having the ſame fight which they ſee or hear to be in their Miniſters, as it becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt, the ſincerity whereof belongeth as well to the people as to the Miniſters of Chriſt.Phil. 1.27. For howſoever all are not to wear the Whore of Babylons Smock, yet all are to make conſcience of bowing the Knee to Baal. To confirm your zeal againſt the ſuperſtition of KNEELING, I have long ſought (being often ſollicited ſo to do by you) and at length found a ſhort but (in my poor judgement at leaſt to me) a ſufficient diſcourſe which I have printed, that I may comfort not onelyonly you, but many others alſo who are in doubt, with that comfort wherewith I my ſelf am comforted of God. I ſay comforted. For when the judgement is ſatisfied the heart is comforted; This onelyonly I require of you that there be no inquiring after or gueſſing at the Author or Publiſher. If that hurtful curioſity were mortified, learned mē now fearing that humour would be bolder to write and publiſh their Godly Judgements, touching points in controverſie; among other I hear of a more large and learned Treatiſe of this point, which no doubt the Author will publiſh in time, or other for him, if curious Heads, itching Ears, and wanton Tongues, do not hinder. In the mean while let us make as good uſe of this, as we can, And the Lord give us underſtanding in all things.
Farewell.