Of such Ceremonies as be used in the Church, and have had their
beginning by the institution of man, some at the first were of
godly intent and purpose devised, and yet at length turned to
vanity and superstition: some entered into the Church by undiscreet
devotion, and such a zeal as was without knowledge; and for
because they were winked at in the beginning, they grew daily to
more and more abuses, which not only for their unprofitableness,
but also because they have much blinded the people, and obscured
the glory of God, are worthy to be cut away, and clean rejected:
other there be, which although they have been devised by man, yet
it is thought good to reserve them still, as well for a decent
order in the Church, (for the which they were first devised) as
because they pertain to edification, whereunto all things done in
the Church (as the Apostle teacheth) ought to be referred.
And although the keeping or omitting of a Ceremony, in itself
considered, is but a small thing; yet the wilful and contemptuous
transgression and breaking of a common order and discipline is
no small offence before God, _Let all things be done among you_,
saith Saint Paul, _in a seemly and due order:_ The appointment of
the which order pertaineth not to private men; therefore no man
ought to take in hand, nor presume to appoint or alter any public
or common Order in Christ's Church, except he be lawfully called
and authorized thereunto.
And whereas in this our time, the minds of men are so diverse,
that some think it a great matter of conscience to depart from a
piece of the least of their Ceremonies, they be so addicted to
their old customs; and again on the other side, some be so
new-fangled, that they would innovate all things, and so despise
the old, that nothing can like them, but that is new: it was
thought expedient, not so much to have respect how to please
and satisfy either of these parties, as how to please God, and
profit them both. And yet lest any man should be offended, whom
good reason might satisfy, here be certain causes rendered, why
some of the accustomed Ceremonies be put away, and some retained
and kept still.
Some are put away, because the great excess and multitude of them
hath so increased in these latter days, that the burden of them
was intolerable; whereof Saint Augustine in his time complained,
that they were grown to such a number, that the estate of Christian
people was in worse case concerning that matter, than were the
Jews. And he counselled that such yoke and burden should be taken
away, as time would serve quietly to do it. But what would Saint
Augustine have said, if he had seen the Ceremonies of late days
used among us; whereunto the multitude used in his time was not
to be compared? This our excessive multitude of Ceremonies was
so great, and many of them so dark, that they did more confound
and darken, than declare and set forth Christ's benefits unto us.
And besides this, Christ's Gospel is not a Ceremonial Law, (as
much of Moses' Law was,) but it is a Religion to serve God, not
in bondage of the figure or shadow, but in the freedom of the
Spirit; being content only with those Ceremonies which do serve
to a decent Order and godly Discipline, and such as be apt to
stir up the dull mind of man to the remembrance of his duty to
God, by some notable and special signification, whereby he might
be edified. Furthermore, the most weighty cause of the abolishment
of certain Ceremonies was, That they were so far abused, partly
by the superstitious blindness of the rude and unlearned, and
partly by the unsatiable avarice of such as sought more their
own lucre, than the glory of God, that the abuses could not well
be taken away, the thing remaining still.
But now as concerning those persons, which peradventure will be
offended, for that some of the old Ceremonies are retained still:
If they consider that without some Ceremonies it is not possible
to keep any Order, or quiet Discipline in the Church, they shall
easily perceive just cause to reform their judgements. And if
they think much, that any of the old do remain, and would rather
have all devised anew: then such men granting some Ceremonies
convenient to be had, surely where the old may be well used,
there they cannot reasonably reprove the old only for their age,
without bewraying of their own folly. For in such a case they
ought rather to have reverence unto them for their antiquity, if
they will declare themselves to be more studious of unity and
concord, than of innovations and new-fangleness, which (as much
as may be with the true setting forth of Christ's Religion) is
always to be eschewed. Furthermore, such shall have no just cause
with the Ceremonies reserved to be offended. For as those be taken
away which were most abused, and did burden men's consciences
without any cause; so the other that remain, are retained for a
discipline and order, which (upon just causes) may be altered
and changed, and therefore are not to be esteemed equal with
God's Law. And moreover, they be neither dark nor dumb Ceremonies,
but are so set forth, that every man may understand what they do
mean, and to what use they do serve. So that it is not like that
they in time to come should be abused as other have been. And in
these our doings we condemn no other Nations, nor prescribe any
thing but to our own people only: For we think it convenient that
every Country should use such Ceremonies as they shall think best
to the setting forth of God's honour and glory, and to the reducing
of the people to a most perfect and godly living, without error or
superstition; and that they should put away other things, which
from time to time they perceive to be most abused, as in men's
ordinances it often chanceth diversely in divers countries.