By all which, you see where the idolatry of worship lies. The instituting of any, though the smallest part of worship, in and by our own authority, without scripture- warrant, makes it idolatrous, as well as if we worshipped an idol. And hence it isj that God gives his people the same call from this latter sort of Romish idola-* try ; See Rev. xviii. 4. as he doth from the more gross pagan ido- latry, 2 Cor. vi. 17. So that if that worship you perform to God, be corrupted by a mixture of mere human, doctrinal, s}Tnbolical, rites and ceremonies, which God hath not appointed in his worship by the word ; though your worship be right for the object, yet it is idolatrous in the manner. Here you had need to be advised, and careful, for you are u]X)n a ticklish point.
And for superstition, that is nothing else, but an excess hi rcl'i-^ gion, For the better understanding whereof, consider tln-ec things,
1. That all, and every part of God's instituted worship, de- pends entirely upon his own sovereign will and pleasure : So that no man can appoint any part of it, but God alone, forasmuch as no man knows what will be acceptable to God, but God himself; that which is highly esteemed among men, is an abomination to God: Besides, none can give efficacy to a creature, as bread, wine, water, or raise them up to such high supernatural ends and uses, but God.
2. The will of God, which is the foundation and rule of liis worship, is only revealed to us in the scriptures; whence it is
528 AXTIPHARMAOUM SALUBERPvIMUM.
manifest, that in worship all men are bound to keep close to the word; and besides the reason that is in the thing itself, the com- mand is express, Exod. xxiii. 13. Deut. iv. 2. Gal. vi. 10. [tw -/mmvi ro-j-uj} according to this canon, or rule : This is true canonical obe- dience. So Rom. xii. 7. \j.oyr/.r, /.ar^s/a] is properly word-service ; (i. e.) such as the word prescribes.
S. Hence then you may see the door at which superstition enters, even addition of new and uncommanded things. When we invent new rites and ceremonies, and bring them into the worship of God, with a spiritual signification and use, this is superstition; being (supra statutum) something above and be^^ond what God appoints and requires. And as all the water in the Tyber cannot wash the Papists from the filth of their idolatry and superstition, in their mass, altars, surplice, cross, ^c. So neither can any thing besides the blood of Jesus, cleanse us from the same, if we do like them.
Having thus opened the nature of idolatry and superstition to you. I shall reinforce that apostohcal caution upon you ; " Little " children, keep yourselves from idols ;"' I beseech you, get senses exercised, Heb. v. 14. and suffer not yourselves to be abused by an easy credulity : " the simple believeth every word," Prov. xiv. 15. There is no idolatry or superstition in Rome so gross, but is glossed over with plausible pretences, and many subtle * distinctions in- vented to defend it. But take not you any thing upon trust in God's worship; be like those well-bred Beraeans, Acts xvii. 11. ex- amine the grounds of your practice. It was a good saying of Sir Thomas More, ' I will pin my faith (saith he) upon no man's ' sleeve, because I know not whether he will carry it.' See that you be provided with an answer, if God should speak to you, when you are at your divme service, as he did to Elijah, 1 Kings xix. 9. when he was hid in the cave at Horeb, " What dost thou here, " Elijah?" Or as to the Jews, Isa. i. 12. " Who hath required this " at your hands .'^" See that you be able by the word, to justify your practice : And as you love your souls, defile them not with idolatry and superstition. And the rather,
Arg. 1. Because, should you be found in a false way of worship, you betray a special trust committed to you by the Lord.
Christians, unto you hath the Lord committed his precious gospel truths and appointments, as precious treasure to defend and keep for him. Rev. iii. 10. Jude 8. Phil. i. 7, 17. and one special means of its preservation, is by witnessing against all those eiTors and innovations, that corrupt and endanger it : O see that none pf Christ's jewels be embezzled, if you can help it. You your-
• Additio corrumpenSi et conversans. Addilk accidentaliunij et essentiatium,
ANTIPHARMACUM SALUBERRIMUM. 529
selves have committed a trust to Jesus Christ, 2 Tim. i. 12. and expect he should be faithful in what you have committed to him ; and lie expects the same from you. O consider what precious things the pure institutions of Christ are: All tlie good in this world cannot compensate the loss of one of them. " Let heaven " rush (said * Luther) rather than one crumb of truth should " perish." O what hard things have the saints in all generations suffered, to preserve and transmit it to us : And shall we now be- tray it ? AVould not the generations to come curse us, and abhor our remembrance ? And then to speak nothing of any solemn bond or engagement under which you have put your souls to the contrary.
Ai'g. 2. Shall we not liereby oppose and cross the great design which God is carrying on in the world, by his present providences? O it will be sad to be found opposing God's design. Now what is that but, by -f* shaking heaven and earth, to remove the things that are [made] viz. by man invented in his worship, Heb. xii. 27- To pluck up by the roots, every plant; (i. e.) ceremony and tradition, not of his planting, Matth. xv. 13. Are not all these things appointed to perdition ? Col. ii. 22. and darest thou then by thy presence, or pleading for them, go about to support and establish them, and so strive against God ! O consider it seriously,
Arg. 3. Is it not dangerous to be found amongst idolaters ? Doth not judgment sometimes sweep away the whole community and neighbourhood, of such sinners ? Read 1 Sam. vi. 19, 20. 1 Chron. XV. 13. And hath not God given thee timely warning of the danger before it come ? Rev. xviii. 4. And is it not more than ordinary dangerous, to be found among them now, when God is preparing his troops to invade Babylon ; I mean ready to pour forth the vials of his wrath upon her ?
Arg. 4. And may not your example have a mischievous influence upon others ? May it not harden sinners in their ways ? And even compel and draw away the weak Christian ? Gal. ii. 13, 14. and so draw the guilt of their sins upon thine own soul ? And what a dreadful thing is that : ' J actors and consenters are alike guilty ' and punishable :' O you have too much personal guilt of your own ; add not the guilt of others sins to it : Nay, by this means thou mayest be sinning in another, when thou liest in the dust.
* Ruat caelum potUis quam una mica veritatis pereat. Luth.