Against Idolatry and Superstition, Title page – Errata
A TESTIMONY FROM THE SCRIPTURE AGAINST IDOLATRY & SUPERSTITION, In Two Sermons; Upon the Example of that Great Reformer Hezekiah, 2 Kings 18. 4.
The first, Witnessing in generall against all the Idol… and Inventions of men in the Worsh…p of God.
The second, more particularly against the Ceremonies, and some other Corruptions of the Church of England.
Preached, the one September 27. the other Septemb. 30. 1660.
By Mr. SAMUEL. MATHER, Teacher to a Church of Christ in Dublin in Ireland.
1 Sam. 5. 3, 4.
And when they of Ashd…d arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon w… fallen upon his face to the earth before the Ark of the Lord: and they took Dagon and set him up in his place a…
And when they rose early on the morrow … fallen upon his face to the gro… the head of Dagon and … upon the threshold, …
TO THE READER.
Sundry Judicious and Learned (in both Englands) upon the perusal of the following Sermons, have professed that the Author hath therein done like himself, and (according to the wisdome given unto him of God) comprehended in a little room, the Substance of what is to be said, in Defence of that Cause, which in this last Age hath been so abundantly confirmed, both by Words and Sufferings of many of the Lords faithfull Servants. I have known some in that City where these Sermons were Preached, who although by reason of their adherence to Hierarchical Principles, they esteemed the Author as one of their greatest Opposites, yet would say of him, That for a Scriptural, Logical, Methodical Pracacher, they never knew his equall.
It hath been the Fate (may we use that word) attending the Posthumous Works of many Learned men, that they have come forth with a Caetera desiderantur, as is to be seen in sundry of our great Rainold his Praelections de libr. Apocr. (not to mention others) And so it is here: Nevertheless, this Copy is perfect so far as it goeth, having been not onelyonly perused by the Author himself, but a great part of it written with his own hand, (who saw cause to enlarge the Second Sermon especially, after it was Preached) from whom I received it some yeares ago, we being, then both of us in the sa…e Land; but we were constrained strained to part, before he could cause all his Medit…ions and Collections on this Subject to be Transcribed. That defect notwithstanding, it hath been conceived, that if what is here presented, should be in this way brought into publick light, it would conduce very much towards the establishment of many in the present Truth, both in the Land where these Sermons were Preached, and amongst us also, who are Exiles for the same Cause, should any number of Copies (as after Printed, '…is hoped there may) happen to be dispersed amongst us: they are therefore Transmitted for the Press.
The most specious Reason, which our Opposites seem to have for the impleaded Ceremonies, is the pretended Indifferency of them. Were that so, yet considering that the Imposition of them is attended with Scandal to many Protestants, who embrace these Superstitions with r…ucting Consciences, yea with Scandal to Pap…sts, who are thereby hardened in their Idolatries; since as one well saith, The Ceremonies are Monuments of Popery, the Trophies of Antichrist, and the Reliques of Romes Whorish Bravery, they therefore ought to be called Nehus…tan. I wish that some who are much taken with that Socinianizing, and at last Papizing, and most corrupt Interpreter Hugo Grotius, (who is extremely followed by the amongst Praelatical men admired Dr. Hammond, who in his Notes on the Nevv Testament, hath shewed all possible favour to Antichrist; which things I am the rather willing to mention, not to detract any thing from the worth or deserved praise of those Authors, in respect of their great Learning, but that young Students may be Cautiened against sucking in poison from their Writings; I say, I wish such) would remember Grotius his Note on the Text which is in the following Discourses largely and elaberately disc…ss…d, Egregium (inquit) documentum Regibus, ut quamvis benè instituta sed non necessaria, ubi foreign, malè usurpantur, è conspectu tollant, ne ponant ostendiculum caecis. But besides that Argument (which yet is not easily answered) the ensuing Discourses demonstrate, That to allow Popish, or any Non-instituted Ceremonies, a Religious state and use in the Worship of God, is absolutely sinfull, as being a direct violation of the Second Commandment.
I confess there are other large and elaborate Tractates on the Subjects here treated on, which as yet remain unanswered, … as Mr. Parker of the Cross, Dr. Ames his Fresh … against Ceremonies, Mr. Gelaspy's Dispute against English Popish Ceremonies. Indeed some have glanced at less materiall Passages in the Books mentioned, but never any (that I could hear of) did strike at their whole Frame, or undertake (foreign) to answer them, or any one of th…m. Nevertheless, the Publication of the Sermons herewith emitted, hath not been thought unnecessary, because they are in a Method suited to vulgar Capacities, and contain in few Pages the strength and substance of what others have v…luminously expr…ssed. Nor can those other Tractates be easily obtained, or digested by the ordinary sort of Re…ders, as these may. And who knoweth, but the Lord may bless what is here made publick, for the Enlightening and Establishing of the R…sing Generation, that they also having their Mindes well informed, and girt about with Truth, may be able to suffer, r…ther then comply with Prelatick Superstitions, (or with Erastianism) for non-conformity whereto, our blessed Fathers suffered many things, and not in vain? I will likewise confess, that the remembrance of the awful Saying of that Ancient, h…d some impr…ssion upon my spirit, inducing to this Publication, Non solùm ille proditor veritatis est qui palàm mendac…um pro veritate loquitur, sed etiam ille qui non liberè pronuntiat veritatem.
N…w the same Spirit that breathed mightily in the Preacher, when (vivâ voce) delivering what is here Published, go along with his Truth, that the Lords Name may be glorified, and his People edified thereby. Which is the Prayer of him, who hath still an earnest desire to be found not onelyonly amongst Witnesses, but (if the will of God be so concerning him) amongst Sufferers, on that account of Testifying against the Superstitions and Corruptions of the Times.
M. I.
ERRATA.
Page 18. line 10. reade Archflamins, Primiflamias. pag. 24. l. 19. r. Peter. p. 33. l. 11. r. have not. p. 37. l. 23. r. Feathers. p. 52. l. 20. r. bold.
That istz desiderantur, p. 31. l. 24. should have been printed in the Margi…, having respect to the Objections, &c. there mentioned, which are not in this Edit…on.