ature endued with reason,
there is one part of it that concerneth ourselves, viz., that we should
live honestly, and _secundum modum rationis_, that we should observe order
and decency in all our actions. This order and decency do not respect our
holy duties to God, nor comprehend any sacred ceremony in his worship; but
they look to usward, and are referred only to such beseeming qualities as
are congruous and convenient to a reasonable nature in all its actions.
Yea, even generally, we may say with Scalliger,(1166) _Ordinem dico sine
quo natura constare non potest. Nihil enim absque ordine vel med tata est
vel effecit illa._ Another part of that which nature requireth of man, as
he is a creature endued with reason, concerneth (as we showed) our
neighbours, whom it teacheth us not to harm nor offend, &c. And if our
opposites would reckon with us here, their ceremonies will appear
repugnant to nature, because of the detriment and offence which they offer
unto us, whereof we have spoken in our argument of scandal. But there was
a third part, concerning God and his worship; and here must our opposites
seek a warrant for the ceremonies. Now, albeit nature (as was said)
teaches all men that there is an eternal and mighty God, who should be
worshipped and honoured by them, yet it descendeth not unto such
particular precepts as can have any show of making aught for significant
ceremonies. _Omnibus enim innatum est et in animo quasi insculptum, esse
deos_; but yet _quales sint_, saith Cicero, _varium est_.(1167) And as
nature hath not taught men to know the nature and attributes of the
Godhead, together with the sacred Trinity of persons in the same; so
neither hath it taught what sort or manner of worship should be given unto
God. _Lex naturalis rerum communium est_,(1168) and doth only inform us
with those common notions called {~GREEK SMALL LETTER KAPPA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH VARIA~} {~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH VARIA~}. Concerning the worship of
God, it speaks only _de genere_, not _de specie_: wherefore there can be
no inference from that worship which the law of nature requireth, either
of any distinct kind of worship or of any ceremony in that kind