Veneer on Article XXXIV: Of the Traditions of the Church

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2 Cijuixlj,

Thtrty-‘Nine Articles. 6% 2

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The E xposiTioN.

I T E S and Ceremonies are in them- feJves indifferent, as is agreed on all Hands i and therefore there is no Neceflity for their being the fame in all Countries, and all Times. For as the Apo- ftle argues, Koni. xiv. 1 7. the elfential Parts of Religion are of another Nature, n)iz. […] and Joy in the Holy Ghofi.

Nevertheless when thofeindiflferentThings are eftablifhed by the Authority of the Church, they ought to be observed by all, out of Re- verence to that Authority, because it is from God, who hath commanded us to chey those who banje the Rule ever us Heh. xiii. i. and to he fuhjei to the higher Powers Rom. xiii. i. And hath left a Power with the Governors of the Church to take Care .that all things in the Publtck Uorjhip he done decently and in Order I Cot. xiv. 40. And therefore, whofoever wil- fully and openly breaks the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church thus ordained, is a fchifmatical Person, aDifturber of the Church’s Peace ; and, inafmuch as all Vice is of a spread- ing and infectious Nature, as St. Paul tells us, I Cor. XV. 3 3. a Wounder of the Confciences of the weak Brethren, by inclining them to follow his bad Example. And although private Ad- monition be necelfary when Mens Faults are not open and notorious ; for then we are to intreat them as Fathers if they are old and as Brethren

if

684 ^’^ Eypofition on the

Art.xxxiv. if they are youngs as we fee i 7’im. v. i. Yet ^^.yy^J when the Cafe is otherwise, they that fin are to

he rebuked hefore all^ that others also may fear^

ver. 20.

I T hath been already observed, that such Rites and Ceremonies as are of Human Inftitu- don, may be different in different Countries or different Times ; and the last Clause of this Ar- tide observes, where the Authority of ordain- ing, changing, and abolishing such Ceremonies is lodged, ‘viz. in every National Church, and how far it extends, njiz. as far forth as they tend to Edification. For such Churches have no Power over each other ; they afe equally fubjedb to Christ, who is their King and Lord, and their Authority is equal. From whence it follows, that in such Things as he hath neither commanded nor forbidden, every Church may ufe its Liberty as Occasion shall require, pro- vided it does as St. P^/// directs, Kom. xiv. 19. that is, if it follo’W after the things that make for Peace^ and things zvherewitb one may edify another.

IKENjEUSyin his Account of the Dif- pute betwixt Polycarp Bishop of Smyrna and Anicetus Bishop of Kome concerning the Ob- fervation of Easter, hath these Words S. Po- lycarp being at Rome with Anicetus and they having had fbme little Controversy with each other, prelently composed the Difference, and fhewed themfeives no Lovers of Strife upon this Account : For neither could Polycarp be persuaded by Aticetus to observe it as he did, having always observed it as St. John the Dif- ciple of our Lord, and the rest of the Apostles

observe4

Thirty ‘Mne Articles. 685

observed it, with whom he had been conver- Art.xxxiv.

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observe it as he did, who laid in his Defence,

that ‘twas his Duty to observe it as the Elders

did who were before him. And this being the

Result of their Debate, they communicated

with each other, Vag, 466. t

f See Freface to the Common-Trayer. Hooker’s EccL Pol, Book III. and IV. §. 13. Whitgiffs Def. Tracft. 2. Fri- deaux lafc. Cont, c. 4. §. 3. q. ^. Burf cough of Schism, Sed. 4. §. 6,

RTICLS

686 An Exposition on the