§. I.
I did sufficiently demonstrate, in the Explanation and Proof of the former Proposition, how greatly the Professors of Christianity, as well Protestants as Papists, were degenerated in the Matter of Worship, and how much Strangers to, and averse from that true and acceptable Worship that is performed in the Spirit of Truth, because of Man’s natural Propensity in his fallen State to exalt his own Inventions, and to intermix his own Work and Product in the Service of God: From whence Idolatries and Heathen Superstitions did spring.And from this Root sprung all the idle Worships, Idolatries, and numerous superstitious Inventions among the Heathens. For when God, in Condescension to his chosen People the Jews, did prescribe to them by his Servant Moses many Ceremonies and Observations, as Types and Shadows of the Substance, which in due Time was to be revealed; which consisted for the most Part in Washings, outward Purifications and Cleansings, which were to continue until the Time of Reformation, until the spiritual Worship should be set up; and that God, by the more plentiful pouring forth of his Spirit, and guiding of that Anointing, should lead his Children into all Truth, and teach them to worship him in a Way more spiritual and acceptable to him, though less agreeable to the carnal and outward Senses; yet, notwithstanding God’s Condescension to the Jews in such Things, we see that that Part in Man, which delights to follow its own Inventions, could not be restrained, nor yet satisfied with all these Observations, but that oftentimes they would be either declining to the other Superstitions of the Gentiles, or adding some new Observations and Ceremonies of their own; to which they were so devoted, that they were still apt to prefer them before the Commands of God, and that under the Notion of Zeal and Piety. The Pharisees the chiefest among the Jews.This we see abundantly in the Example of the Pharisees, the chief Sect among the Jews, whom Christ so frequently reproves, For making void the Commandments of God by their Traditions, Matt. xv. 6. 9. &c. This Complaint may at this Day be no less justly made as to many bearing the Name of Christians, who have introduced many Things of this Kind, partly borrowed from the Jews, which they more tenaciously stick to, and more earnestly contend for, than for the weightier Points of Christianity; Many Things in Christendom are borrowed from the Jews and Gentiles.because that Self, yet alive, and ruling in them, loves their own Inventions better than God’s Commands. But if they can by any Means stretch any Scripture Practice, or conditional Precept or Permission, fitted to the Weakness or Capacity of some, or appropriate to some particular Dispensation, to give some Colour for any of these their Inventions; they do then so tenaciously stick to them, and so obstinately and obstreperously plead for them, that they will not patiently hear the most solid Christian Reasons against them. Which Zeal, if they would but seriously examine it, they would find to be but the Prejudice of Education, and the Love of Self, more than that of God, or his pure Worship. Of Sacraments so many Controversies.This is verified concerning those Things which are called Sacraments, about which they are very ignorant in Religious Controversies, who understand not how much Debate, Contention, Jangling, and Quarrelling there has been among those called Christians: So that I may safely say the Controversy about them, to wit, about their Number, Nature, Virtue, Efficacy, Administration, and other Things, hath been more than about any other Doctrine of Christ, whether as betwixt Papists and Protestants, or among Protestants betwixt themselves. And how great Prejudice these Controversies have brought to Christians is very obvious; whereas the Things contended for among them are for the most Part but empty Shadows, and mere outside Things: As I hope hereafter to make appear to the patient and unprejudiced Reader.