Some Treasure Fetched out of Rubbish, Title page – To the reader
SOME TREASURE Fetched out of RUBBISH: OR, Three ſhort but ſeaſonable Treatiſes (found in an heap of ſcattered Papers), which Providence hath reſerved for their Service who deſire to be inſtructed, from the Word of God, concerning the Impoſition and Uſe of Significant Ceremonies in the Worſhip of God. viz.
I. A Diſcourſe upon 1 Cor. 14.40. Let all things be done decently and in Order. Tending to ſearch out the Truth in this Queſtion, viz. Whether it be lawful for Church-Governours to command indifferent decent things in the Adminiſtration of God's Worſhip?
II. An Enquiry, Whether the Church may not, in the Celebration of the Sacrament, uſe other Rites ſignificative than thoſe expreſſed in the Scripture, or add to them of her own Authority?
III. Three Arguments, Syllogiſtically propounded and proſecuted againſt the Surplice: The Croſs in Baptiſm: And Kneeling in the Act of receiving the Lord's Supper.
Every Word of God is pure: Add not thou unto his Word, leſt he reprove thee, and thou be found a Liar,
Prov. 30.5, 6.
Prove all things, hold faſt that which is good: Abſtain from all appearance of evill,
1 Theſ. 5.21, 22.
Let every man be fully perſwaded in his own mind: For whatſoever is not of Faith is ſin,
Rom. 14.5, —23.
LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1660.
To the Reader.
THeſe enſuing Treatiſes were found laid by the Walls, and covered with duſt, in the ſtudy of an old Non-Conformiſt, (there being diverſe Copies of each, under ſeveral unknown hands:) And as Armour, Treaſure, and other things uſefull, hidden in the time of our late Wars, have ſince been brought forth for profitable Imployment; The like is hoped of theſe Papers (which have ſo long been kept in darkneſs), if ſeriouſly peruſed by men of ſober minds. The fileings of Gold are precious: and the Charge of Chriſt is conſiderable, Joh. 6.12. Gather up the Fragments that are left, that nothing be loſt: Which Speech of his, may both warrant and encourage the collecting & publiſhing of the precious divine Truths penned by Gods faithful Embaſſadours, for the edification of his Church.
Mr. John Cotton▪ that faithful Servant of Chriſt, (famous in both Englands) was the known Author of the firſt Diſcourſe, and (as its verily believed) of the ſecond alſo.
Mr. Robert Nichols ſtudiouſly compoſed the third, who was a man, though leſs known, yet deſervedly famous for his great Abilities and profitable Miniſtry in Cheſhire, for many years, where his memory is ſtill very precious.
When Reverend Dr. Morton was Biſhop of Cheſter, h… required in writing of thoſe Miniſters in his Dioceſs who did not conform to the Ceremonies, the Reaſons of this their refuſal: Thereupon theſe three Arguments were by Mr. Nichols preſented unto him, atteſted by his own hand, and afterwards defended in diſpute with that learned Biſhop before many Witneſſes. The Biſhop being hereby convinced of the good mans Ability and Ingenuity, was his friend to his dying day.
The publiſhing of theſe Papers is, for the preventing of the impoſition and practice of ſapleſs ſuperſtitions Ceremonies; which good end now deſigned may hopefully be effected, if the Lord will give men herein concerned to ſtudy theſe Controverſies with unbyaſſed hearts.
It is notorious, that the preſſing of theſe Ceremonies in former time, occaſioned woful Diviſions in the Church of Christ, with much affliction unto men, famous both for their parts and piety in their Generations, and men of truly tender Conſciences and unblamable Converſation: And it is much to be queſtioned, whether ever any reall ſpirituall advantage, come to Chriſtian Soul by the preſſing or by the obſerving of them.
If the Lord would grant that Iſſue unto this Publication which is ſincerely intended and heartily prayed for, many thanks would be given unto his Majeſty, through Jeſus Chriſt, with comfort unto them that love Truth and Peace.