Beams of Former Light, Chapter 2
CHAP. II. The firſt Argument. Rites and Forms that have a ſtated uſe, and to ſpiritual ends in the worſhip of God, ought to have Scripture warrant for their eſtabliſhment.
§ 1.
ALl Methods and forms preſcribed to be received as a matter of Piety, and for ſpiritual and ſpeciall ends and advantages in the ſervice of God, ought to have expreſs direction and warrant out of the Word of God. This is one of the great truths our brethren the Non Conformiſts aſſerted in their age againſt humane oppoſitions, and ſealed it by their ſore and great ſufferings. Which they have argued againſt, from theſe Scriptures, Deut. 16.21. Col. 2.20.23. Exod. 20.4. Eſay 1.12. Matth. 13.19. Hebrew 3.4, 5, 6. Matthew. 28.20. And by other Scriptures alſo, they prove that, not onelyonly what is done againſt or contrary to the word, but alſo what is done beſides it, Deuteronomy 4.2. Deut. 12.32. Prov. 30.6. Levit. 10.1. 2 Sam. 7.7. Jer. 7.31. is unwarrantable.
That ſaying of Auguſtine is frequently urged by them, ſive de Chriſto, ſive de Eccleſia, ſive de quacumque alia re, non dico ſi nos, ſed ſi Angelus de coelo vobis anuntiaverit preter quam quod in Scripturis accepiſtis anathema ſit. Dr. Reynolds (a learned N. Conformiſt) avouching theſe words, makes this obſervation, hee ſaith not contra quam, ſed preter quam, ſo that Auguſtine thinketh not onelyonly things which are contrary to the Word to bee unlawful, but even thoſe things alſo which are beſides the word. Doctor Reynolds confer. with Hart. cap. 2.
And in particular againſt the impoſing,
1 A form, method, or an external garb or way of worſhip to bee held conſtantly, and not appointed in the Word, We are not to think ſaith Mr. Cartwright,Againſt Whitg. lib. 1. p. 26 that in the word there is onelyonly the ſubſtance of Religion, &c. and thoſe things left out which ſhould pertain to the form and faſhion of it. Thoſe ſaith Mr. Bradſhaw, that have power to make peculiar forms of Religion and worſhip, have power to invent a Religion and worſhip of their own, and Page 29. and 30. True worſhip both for matter and manner ought to bee according to the preſcript rule of Gods word onelyonly: Religio eſt vertus voluntatis ergo ut prolatio exterior ſit vera, debet procedere ex intenſione, pertinente ad religionem.Neither hath any mortal man authority to frame according to his own conceit, any form or faſhion of Gods ſervice and worſhip; for the manner of worſhip alſo muſt be holy, and not the matter onelyonly, and no man hath power to make any thing holy, that God alloweth not by his word and Spirit. In the diſcipline of Scotland as it was ſet forth. Anno. 1560. As the Magiſtrate ought not to preach, (catechizing is a part*So termed by the aſſembly in their advice for Chur. Government. Engliſh po. Cerem. pag. 139. out of Daneus. of preaching) ſo hee ought not to preſcribe any rule how it ſhould bee done, but command the Miniſters to obſerve the rule commanded in the word. And a learned Scotchman, in the worſhip of God whether internal or external, hee (the Magiſtrate) ought to move nothing, preſcribe nothing, except that which is expreſly delivered in Gods written word. Nulla juſta diſponendi ſervos Dei (ſaith Jun. in Lev. 9) ad cultum Dei ratio ab hominibus in veſtigari poteſt niſi quam Deus preſcripſerit.
§ 2.
2 A ſtated ſervice of God, or a help or means for the making of ſuch ſervice or any part of it more effectual or acceptable.
Medul. lib. 2. cap. 4Res illae ſaith Doctor Ames, quae inſtitutione ſingulari uſibus religionis deſtinantur tanquam religionis inſtrumenta, recte etiam propter ſtatum aut relationem fixam quam habent vocantur religioſae. Its the ſame with that another ſaith, what is done by a Servant of God in the ſolemn ſervice and worſhip of God by preciſe cannon of the Church (or law of the Common-wealth) is a part of divine worſhip. Brad. 12. Arg. arg. 3. and of worſh. p. 47.
Reaſons from Scotland.Thus againſt our ſet form of prayer they argued, if there were never an ill word or ſentence in all the prayers (if it were framed all out of Scripture phraſes & ſentences ſaith an another) yet to uſe it as a ſet ſervice, &c. though the words bee good, yet the uſe is nought. Adm. 2. par. p. 55.Freſh. Sute p. 211. If Chriſt ſaith Dr. Ames bee our authentique Teacher in all good that wee learn about Religion, who taught our Prelates ſuch good manners as to put feſcues of their own making into his hand, and ſo appoint him after what manner, and by what means hee ſhall teach us? And brings this ſaying of Peter Martyr, For as much as God is moſt wiſe, hee needs not our deviſe for inſtruments to stir up faith in us, which alſo no tradeſman in his kinde would endure, but would chuſe to himſelf at his own pleaſure what hee ſhould think moſt fit.
Our brethren were offended at the Leiturgy upon this account, becauſe in the Act by which it is eſtabliſhed, you have this reaſon of the impoſition, namely to make the ſame prayer and faſhion of ſervice more earneſt and fit to ſtir Chriſtian people to the true honour of Almighty God, his Majeſty hath ordered the book of Common Prayer to be peruſed and made fully perfect.Stat. 5. Ed. 6.
§ 3.
3 If with opinion of holineſſe or neceſſity in the reaſons given againſt ſubſcription, by the Miniſters of Lincoln. Abrid. pa. 38.When opinion of neceſſity or holineſſe is known to bee annexed, either by ſuch as impoſe or uſe them, in this caſe, it is a part of that confeſſion which every Chriſtian is bound to make of his religion, to reject them.
The Church at Geneva to their brethren in England write thus, humana decreta atque inventa omnia quantumvis illuſtrem ſecum ſplendorem perſuaſionemque apportent, ſi vel verbum Dei curſum impediant vel neceſſitatem inferant abſque omni dubitatione refringi reſcindi que debent.
It is then ſacred, when appropriated to ſome holy end or uſe (as was ſaid before) The holy God onelyonly, and by his holy Word ſanctifies and ſeparates what hee is pleaſed to accept from us as holy in all our approaches before him. Things appropriated to religious or ſpiritual perſons, Functions or Actions, either are or ought to be religious and ſpiritual. And therefore either are, or ought to bee instituted immediately by God, who alone is the Author and Inſtitutor of all religious and ſpiritual actions and things, whether internal or external, Doctor Ames in his Pur. Anglic. cap. 1.6. What is holy muſt bee from God, A ſolo Deo diximus, quia ejus ſolius eſt, & ſuum cultum, & res cultui, & rebus Ceremonias, & omnibus ipſas Circumstantias ſacrare. Anon. de adiaph. p. 11.
And then in our eſteem neceſſary. 1 When urged in the uſe, to bee conſtant, and without intermiſſion, ſuch an impoſition either findes things, or makes the things impoſed to be ſo, Ritibus ne accedat perpetua obſervatio, Part 1. p. 88.Parker out of Urſinus. 2 When the uſe (of ſuch things impoſed) is urged more, or as much as the obſervation of the Lawes and Ordinances of God, Link. Abridg. p. 39. If thoſe that are willing to doe all neceſſary ſervices tending to the Salvation of man, but cannot conforme, muſt therefore bee turned out of Chriſts ſervice, Brad. 12. Arg. at. 11ſuch Conformity is reputed neceſsary to Salvation. When ſo preſſed (ſaith Maſter Parker) that the moſt reſpected Preachers ſhall bee utterly caſt away, (themſelves and theirs) &c. How can it bee but wee muſt conceive that the men who bring this wrack, doe hold them neceſſary in their judgement, Mr. Par. of the Croſs, p. 2. cap. 2. §. 19. 3 We eſteeme that neceſſary that we judge tends to edification, for edification is neceſſary, and all things tending thereto, neceſsitate precepti, ſaith another.
§. 4.
All or moſt of theſe will bee found the blame of this impoſition, as,
1 It is by this appointment a part of the ſet Service of God to be performed every Lords Day in the Publick Congregation; this Book to be inſtituted (and ordained as it were by the laying on of the hands of Authority) and ſet apart from other Books of this kind, to inſtruct and reveale to our people the whole Truth of God neceſſary to Salvation; it is to be a kind of Curate to officiate with us, and as the mouth of God to our people. A ſet Forme of Prayer, and thus eſtabliſhed, to bee held to by all Miniſters, may with more reaſon bee pleaded for. The Miniſter in the duty of Prayer is the mouth of the people to God, in preaching or inſtructing as the mouth of God to the people; it is now more congruous in reaſon, that the people, or their Repreſentatives preſcribe in what words he ſhall bee a mouth for them to God, then that hee by them ſhould bee taught (and words put into his mouth) when he comes as an Ambaſſadour, and from God, or in Chriſts ſtead to teach them. The Biſhops themſelves were aſhamed of their State Homilies, and State Catechiſmes, and quietly permitted the laying them aſide by godly Miniſters, when their State Prayers were kept up in greateſt ſeverity.
2 It is likewiſe impoſed as a means or help in the Service of the Lord, it is clear in thoſe expreſſions, a better way for the underſtanding of the Principles, & expreſſly deſigned for the propagation of the Goſpel, and to prevent the growth of Ignorance & Atheiſm. It is put as a feſcue in the Miniſters hand, and muſt bee made uſe of by all, without reſpect to what they want, or have of ſufficiency for the worke of the Miniſtry,…x neceſſitate faciendi non facientis. which evidently ſpeakes it a help to the Worſhip, and not to the perſons only: whoſoever he bee that engageth in teaching, and inſtructing work, muſt make uſe of this help, or elſe hee muſt hold his peace and depart; ſurely ſuch a maine beam of the Houſe, ſuch a peice of Architecture without which it cannot ſtand if it be ſet up, would not have been omitted, or left out by our wiſe Maſter-builder. 3. As ſacred and neceſſary; the former expreſſe; it is termed, not only an ancient and good; but alſo a pious or holy way of inſtructing. Perpetua obſervatio.And for the neceſsity it is impoſed as a Rite every Lords Day to bee performed, as Prayer, or Preaching, or reading the Scriptures, not left to the diſcretion of the Miniſter at any time, or upon any occaſion to bee omitted. With ſuch a penalty alſo, as if it were equally neceſſary as any, nay as all other Miniſterial duties put together. For let the Miniſter bee ever ſo well qualified, and diligent, and faithful in all Miniſterial Services appointed by Jeſus Chriſt, in relation to his Flock, if ever ſo peaceable and deſirous to ſubmit to Superiours in all lawful Commands, yet if hee ſcruple obedience in this, he muſt bee thrown out of his Miniſtry, his Wife and Children to beggery; there is no Chriſtian tender-hearted Magiſtrate would make ſuch an impoſition, if he were not perſwaded of it, as a neceſſary help and furtherance of the Service of Chriſt.
And that it was to bee impoſed as tending to edification, and that not only for the matter, but the very forme and way, is evident, not only in the title, but throughout the Act.