Anonymous on Article XXXIV: Of the Traditions of the Church

out some Ceremonials, or Rules of Behaviour ; and all Chri- stian Assemblies must be under the Dire&ion of some general Rules, by which they may be conven’d or dissolv’d, directed and in- _ fluenced for the greater Decency and Improvement. This the Dis- senters will acknowledge, and practice in their several Meetings, tho’

they refuse to subscribe to the Article concerning the Traditions of

the Church. For all must acknowledge, that it is proper for the Governors of a Church to provide for the Gravity and Decency of | Worship, and not to allow private Persons to interrupt the Auditory in their Devotions with a Psalm of their own, a Doctrine, a Tongue, a Revelation, or Interpretation: But to provide, that all Things be done with Decency for edifying. Let all Things be done to edifying. Which justifies the Thirty Fourth Article, which ays,

eit is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all Pla-

ces one, or utterly like: For at all Times they have been divers,

„ and may be changed according to the Diverlities of Countries,

„% Times, and Men’s Manners ; fo that nothing be ordained against * God’s Word. Whosoever through his private Judgment,willingly and purposely, doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies « of the Church, which be not repugnant to the Word of God, * and be ordain’d and appointed by common Authority, . ought to < be rebuked openly (that others may fear to do the like), as he that « offendeth the common Order of the Church, and hurteth the

% Authority of the Magistrate, and woundeth the Consciences of

« weak Brethren. Every Particular or National Church hath Au-

40 1 775 to ordain, change, or abolish Ceremonies or Rites, ordaind

only _ * ing”. Let us consider,

y Man’s Authority; so that all Things be done to edify-

I. That Traditions and Ceremonies may differ in the Church of

God; it is not necessary, that Traditions and Ceremonies be in

all Places one, or ately like : For at all Times they have been divers, and may be changed, according to the Diverlities of Countries, Times, and Men’s Manners ; so that nothing be or- dained against God’s Word.

g 2 II. There

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| an E XO SI TI 0 N of the

Article XXXIV.

Heb. 13. 17, the first Part.

Evening: And amongst all Forms of Religion 0 shall no where find Two that pray alike. At t

II. There is Offence given by those that break the Customs of the Church, which are not repugnant to the Word of God. Whosoever through his private Judgment, willingly and pur-

posely, doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church, which be not repugnant to the Word, and be or- dained and appointed by common Authority, ought to be re- buk’d openly, (that others may fear to do the like) as he that offendeth the common Order of the Church, and hurteth the Authority of the Magistrate, and woundeth the Consciences of weak Brethren. | | Hs | III. It is in the Power of any Particular or National Church, to establish or vary the Ceremonies of it. Every Particular or National Church, hath Authority to ordain, change, orabolish Ceremonies or Rites ordain’d only. by Man’s Authority; fo that all Things be done to edifying. 5

I. Traditions and Ceremonies may differ in the Church of God, and there is or can be no Necessity, that they should be always one and the same, or exactly alike in all Places, and at all Times, thro“ the whole World. For as the Genius and Temper of Men differ, they have their Liberty to ordain, change, or alter the Circumstan- ces of their Worship, as they shall find most edifying. TE IF

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1. At all Times they have been divers, and not alike, according to the different Humours of Nations: From the first Publication” o the Gospel, there hath been a Difference, and ther ; wall be a Varia- tion as long as the World lasts. In St. Augustin Time , the Rites and Ceremonies. of the Church at Milan, were not the same that were ordained and observed at Rome. And formerly we have had our Methods secundum Usum Sarum, and” secundum 55 sum Bangor; every Diocese took the Liberty of varying in their Cathedrals in some minute Circumstances; and some Churches had their peculiar Customs : In Thessaly they baptiz’d all at Easter; at the Church of Antioch in Syria, they plac’d their Altar at the West End of the Church, when most others plac’d it in the East ; in Cyprus and Cap. e they began to interpret the Scripture every Lord’s Day at

alth Socrates) you is very Day, there are not the same Ceremonies allow’d in the Grecian Churches, which are current amongst our selves ; they have their particular Methods, as we have ours, according as their Governors in the Lord ordained, with whose Judgment the Primitive Christians comply’d with all Rea- diness, and gave them no Disturbance upon the Account of Cere- monies : They were sensible of the Obligation , Obey them that have the Rule over you, and submit your selves, _ 1

2. They may be changed, according to the Diversitics of Coun- tries, Times, and Men’s Manners. For the Excellency and Advan- tage of Religion does not lie or consist in Ceremonies, nor can it prove ineffectual, because variously set off, and dress’d up in diffe-

rent

Thirty Nine ARTICLES. 229

rent Places; it is’ one and the same under different Forms, Traditi- Article ons, and Customs, and proves as saving in one Place, as it does in XXXIV. another. As the Countrey is dispos d, or as Emergency of Affair may require, Forms may be changed, and Ceremonies altered; those in use in the Primitive Times, are in many Particulars defaced and worn out; and those which we allow of at present, may without PERS Truth, or endangering Religion, if Necessity so requires, e laid aside, and others established in their Stead. For they are to be considered according to the Influence they may have upon Godli- ness, when the different Humours and Inclinations of Men are | weigh’d with Prudence, and God’s Glory is particularly regarded: | And those, without Dispute, are best and most to be preferr’d and esteem’d, which are found most serviceable for the Decency of Wor- ship, the raising up true Devotion, and the Encouragement of an Holy Life. And if upon such a View, some in Use at present, should be thought unnecessary, and others should be advanced in their Stead, we ought to submit to such an Alteration. For as our | Church acknowledges the Power, we must acknowledge she may use it, when any urgent Necessity requires, and our Governors concur þ. with it, for the Establishment of Peace in our Borders, and of De- cency and Order in our Assemblies. But as clamorous as some have been for an Alteration, they have not as yet thought fit to make any ; being sensible that whilst they condescend to please their Ene- mies, they offend and disoblige their Friends; and by contriving to comprehend a few disaffected Tempers, may provoke too many to for- sake our Communion. For the Decency of our Worship is approv’d of by many more, than an Alteration can gratify. Let all Things be done decently and in order. . =

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1 Cor. 14. 40.

3. No Tradition, Rite, or Ceremony may be ordained or followed against God’s Word, or any express Command in it; for we may not | comply with the use of any Ceremony, which leads us into Disobe- “i

dience to the Word of God: For the Word is, and will be bifiding upon the Conscience of every Christian, though all the Authority of the World were employed against it; and we must chuse rather to

;

obey the plain Commands of God, than to conform to the Inventi- ons of Men. All Ceremonies therefore, which may be set up or pulled down, must relate to that, which the Word of God hath left — indifferent to be done, or not done, as may be found most profitable to Godliness; and to be observed, or not observed, without offend- ing God, or. breaking any Commandment , which .he hath given us. Upon this Consideration we assert, that the Ceremonies of our \ Church may be-lawfully used , because in no Respect repugnant to y the Word of God; ; nay, we have defended the Use of them, as conlistent with our other Duties, as that which does not clash or in- terfere with any one Christian Law, or hinder us in our Christian Warfare, and can challenge our greatest Enemies to mention one Law of God, or so much as one Word that our Ceremonies make \ void and ineffectual. So is the Will off God, that with well-doing ye f pet. 2. 15. rs put to silence the Ignorance of foolish Men. BT 1

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PIETY

“Un EXPOSITION of the

Article. XXXIV. | EEA

II. There is Offence given by those that break the Customs of the Church, which are not repugnant to the Word of God, and are or- dained by common Authority: It is against the common Order of the Church, hurteth the Authority of the Magistrate, and wound- eth the Conscience of weak Brethren, making them timorous and

feaful, where there is no Cause; and therefore such are to be re- buked openly, that others may fear. |

1. He offendeth against the common Order of the Church, who presumes to break the establish’d Customs, and disturbs the Peace of it. For if a Church’s Rules for common Order are observed, there will be the same Uniformity all the Land over, the same Worship in all Assemblies ; the same Devotions and Charity amongst Christians every where, and the Piety of the Land upon the Lord’s Day ap-

pears to be as exact and agreeable, as of one large Family. The Of- fence which breaks this Order, must be very great; it occasions Divi-

Rom. 14. 12.

sions in Worship, Misunderstandings in Brethren, and sets those at Variance and Difference, who are commanded to live in Unity and Love; and who are invited to go to the House of God together, and to pray for and to set forward one another’s Happiness and Peace. And whatever some; may think of this, it is in it self a great Fault, opens the Mouths of the Prophane, and leaves too many, in some Places the greatest Part, to their Liberty, to absent themselves from all Religious Assemblies, and to spend the Lord’s-Day as they lift. So then every one of us sball give an Account of himself” to God.

2. This Offence which breaks the publick Order of the Divine

Worship, hurteth the Authority of the Magistrate ; as if he had

not Power, with the Advice and Concurrence of the Governors of the Church, to appoint and ordain innocent Ceremonies, for the promoting Decency and Order in the Church: Whereas he hath Authority to provide for the Publick Worship of God, and the Esta-

blishment of true Religion. Kings are to be Nursing-Fathers, and

Queens Nursing- Mothers unto the Church: And as the Kings

amongst the eg settled the Temple Service, appointed the Courses of the Priests in their Attendance and their daily Service; Christian Princes have the like Authority; and such as refuse to comply with that Order, which they establish, provided it is not contrary to the Word of God, hurt this Authority of the Magistrate, diminish from the Efficacy of it, and deny them the Use of that Power, which every one challenges in his own Family and Assembly. For the

that break the Order of the Church, will not allow that the Order of their own Families should be broken; and whilst they speak against our Ceremonies, they will have their own Congregations be punctual in the Observation of what they establish ; which must be reputed a great Mistake ; for certainly the Magistrate may as well go- vern them, as they. govern their Families and Congregations : For * he is the Minister of God to(every one) for good ”, and may oblige Christians © to serve God 5 with Reverence and Godly

Fear ”.

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Thirty Nine ARric LES. 231

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« Fear”. He cannot indeed alter the Essentials of Religion, for Article they are the {ame whether Men believe or not; but he may pro- XXXIV. | vide for the Practice of true Religion, may appoint Time and Place for Prayer , and Attendance upon the Word, and may ordain the Order and Methisd of it; and if any, to humour their own private Judgment, willingly, openly, and purposely contradi&, oppose, and eak that Order he hath established , they hurt his Authority, ex- Pole it to Contempt, and offend therein. Wherefore ye mf] needs be Rom. 13: 5 subject, not only for Wrath, but also for Conscience sake,

3. This wounds the Conscience of weak Brethren, who are apt to be too timerous, and to believe those Suggestions of evil-minded Men, who would thus frighten them from their Duty, and draw them from the Communion of the Church. For there are some that are prone to startle at every Thing, which they hear spoken against : And when such are told that Ceremonies are of a dangerous Conse- quence, they are too soon prevail’d upon to dislike them, and by De- grees prejudiced against those that use them, and then run from the Church, as dangerous to their Souls. The Wounds that have been made upon such weak Brethren, are too visible, in their Doubts and Fears, Scruples and Aversions, that are current amongst us. Some

_ approve of our Prayers, but they do not fo well approve of a Sur- plice: Others value our Sermons, but they esteem not our Forms of Prayer; and too many have left us, and associate by themselves for

purer Worship. From whence came all these Wounds upon Consci—

ence, but from the first breaking of the Orders of the Church? One scrupulous Man hath drawn forward another, till we are divided,

at variance, unsettled, and that Order of Worship, which should unite our Hearts and Devotions, and which would (if sincerely us’d)

heal up our Wounds, is made the Occasion of our Divisions. Brut when ye sin so against the Brethren , and wound their weak Consci- S . ence, ye sin against Chrisl, 7 5

4. Such as thus offend, ought to be rebuked openly, that others may fear to do the like. For no private Min may be allowed to oppose the Establishment of a Church, or to prefer his own Method before the Publick Orders of it. For are not the Governors of the Church as able to consider what 1s proper for the Divine Worship, and decent for a whole Congregation,as private Zealots? And when they have ordained the fame, 1s not their Authority of Force ? Are not their Orders binding upon the Consciences of private Men, who - are to submit for the Sake of Peace and Charity? And it any oppose, ought they not to be reproved and rebuked, as those that set up their private Judgment against the Sense of a whole Community ? Bur, alas ! though they may be rebuked, they will not bear it ; though they have been reproved before all, they regard it not ; nay, they 2

1 are so far improved in their Boldness, that others will not fear, being supported by them, and Rebukes are cast away amongst them, and prove ineffe&ual. However, whether they will hear or not, the Order of the Church is of that Moment, that we are bound to vin-

dicate

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A EXPOSITION of th

F

Article XXXIV.

Rom. 14. 19.

I cor. 8. 13.

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dicate her Ceremonies, and to reprove those that oppose. Let us therefore follow after the Things which make for Peace, and Things where with one may edify another. 4

III. It is in the Power of any Particular and National Church, to establish or vary the Ceremonies of it. Every Particular or Na- tional Church, hath Authority to ordain, change, or abolish Cere- monies or Rites ordain’d only by Man’s Authority; fo that all Things be done to edifying. OE 0

1. The Church hath Power to ordain or change Rites, ordatned only by Man’s Authority. For what was set up by Man, may be taken down by Man. But as for Ceremonies which God hath or- dained; such as Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper, the Church hath no more Power to ordain others in their Stead, or to change them, than she hath to ordain or alter any Articles of Faith ; because she- hath no Authority to make void what God hath established, as an Ordinance to be observed for ever. So that all the Power the Church hath to ordain or change, relates only to such Ceremonies as are set up by Man, which may be changed with as much Reason(as Occasi- on may serve) as they were at first set up. Wherefore if Meat make my Brother to offend, I will eat no Flesh while the World standeth, lest

I make my Brother to offend.

2, Such Ceremonies may be chang’d which Man hath ordained,

so that all be done for Edification, that is, for the better, and for Ad-

vantage of the Church, for the Improvement of Religion, and to do

more Service than those which were current before. Upon such Considerations, what Man hath ordained may be alter d: But then it is not left to every conceited Zealot to judge of that which is most edifying, or to any humoursome Christian to chuse for himself ; for

at that Rate, there could be no publick Order or Agreement; for

that which suits one Man’s Fancy,would displease another: But it is left to the Governors of the Church, to consider with great Cauti-

ousness and Deliberation, what may be proper to ordain, and what

1 Cor. 14.12, the larterPart.

may be most proper to lay aside, or change. For they as Governors

should be most able to judge of such Matters, and are invested with sufficient Power to a& and proceed therein,as they find Cause; and in all such Changes, their Flocks are to submit to their Determinations. Seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the Church. From this consider , That the Dissenters ordain and change their Ceremonies, as they judge proper; That our Church hath more Rea- son to vindicate her own; That all Order and Ceremonies are design’d

for Edification in Peace, Charity, and Holiness. | 1. The Dissenters are indeed excused from subscribing this Article,

and yet they challenge and use the like Authority, and ordain and

change their own Ceremonies, as they judge most proper and conve- nient. There are scarce Two Congregations amongst them, that have exactly the very same Way and Method of taking in, or expel- ling Members: Every one is left at Liberty to agree upon their —

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Thirty Nine ARTICLES. 233

Ceremonial, and Bey differ not with one another upon that Account. Article One Sort will have sil

ent Meetings, and none oppose them: Another XXXIV. have their Lectures, and they proceed as they think fit; a third &w—

Sort allow any to speak in their Turns, and they are plcafed with

their own Modes. Allowing this to be agreeable to Matter of Fact,

I must declare, I cannot see why they may not allow our Church to proceed in her own Way, and to ordain Ceremonies that please her : And if they allow of no Members, but what comply with their Modes, we may demand the same Compliance from our own : And

if their Authority is so sacred, that it may not be oppos’d, ours

must be much more sacred; and it will be 4 difficut Tatk to excuse

their Separation from us : For I hope we have as much Authority to

ordain Ceremonies as they; and that ours may be as edifying as theirs ; and that we may enjoin those in our Communion to befaith-

ful by Reproofs and Punishments. If our Authority is Christian,

let them take heed, lest they break the Church’s Peace for nothing,

Follow Peace with all Men, and Holiness, without which no Man Heb. 12. 14. shall see the Lord. Eos

2. All Order and Ceremonies are, or should be, for Edification,

Peace, and Charity, that the Communion of Christians may be se-

cur’d, their Worship perform’d with all Decency, and their Affecti- ons and brotherly Kindness kept up and preserved in their mutual

Improvements. It is happy when Christians in a Nation agree toge-

ther in Principle and Practice; when they have no Jealousies and

Suspicions of one another, but meet together in one Place, with Hearts full of Devotion and Affection, and own the same Faith and

Communion, join in the same Prayers and Praises, attend to the same Word and Doctrine; and as they come up together to the House of God as Friends, return from thence with contented Spirits, and

_ Christian Charity, and honest Zeal for Practice. This Happiness

the publick Order of the Church is design’d to promote, and could

we hy aside all Prejudice and Conceit, it would promote it in a great

Measure amongst us; for we value not Ceremonies, but as they

| fence Religion, guard Devotion, encourage Holiness, and prosper Godliness. For the Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink, but Rom. 14. 17, | Righteousness and Peace, and Foy in the Holy = 6 For he that in s.

these Things serveth Christ, is acceptable to God, and approved of

Hh Ak T.

234 An EXPOSITION of the

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