not
be found in theirs. For, 1. Ours have no necessary use, and might well be
spared; theirs had a necessary use for avoiding of scandal, Acts xv. 28.
2. Ours produce manifold inconveniences (whereof we are to speak
hereafter) in over use and practice of the same, which is prescribed,
theirs in the use and practice of the same, which was enjoined by the
apostles, were most expedient for winning of the obstinate Jews, 1 Cor.
ix. 20; and for keeping of the weak, 1 Cor. ix. 22; and for teaching the
right use of Christian liberty to such as were strong in the faith, both
among the believing Jews and converted Gentiles, Rom. iv. &c.; 1 Cor.
viii.; x. 3. Ours are proved to be, in their nature unlawful; theirs were
(during the foresaid space) in their nature indifferent, Rom. xiv. 6; Gal.
vi. 15. 4. Ours are imposed and observed as parts of God's worship (which
we will prove afterward);(242) theirs not so, for where read we, that
(during the foresaid space) any holiness was placed in them by the
apostles? 5. Ours have certain mystical significations; theirs not so: for
it is no where to be read, that the apostles either practised or
prescribed them as significative resemblances of any mystery of the
kingdom of God. 6. Ours make us (though unnecessarily) like unto
idolaters, in their idolatrous actions; theirs not so. 7. Ours are imposed
with a necessity both of practice and opinion, even out of the case of
scandal; theirs not so. 8. Ours are pressed by naked will and authority;
theirs, by such special grounds of momentaneous reason, as made the
practice of the same necessary for a certain time, whether the apostles
had enjoined it or not. 9. Ours are urged even upon such as, in their
consciences, judge them to be unlawful; theirs not so. 10. Ours have no
better original than human and antichristian invention; theirs had their
original from God's own institution. 11. Ours are the accursed monuments
of popish idolatry, to be ejected with detestation; theirs were the
memorials of Mosaical policy, to be buried with honour. 12. Ours are
pressed by such pretended reasons, as make them ever and everywhere
necessary; theirs, by such reasons as did only conclude a necessity of
using them at some times, and in some places. 13. Ours are urged after the
full promulgation of the gospel and acknowledgment of Christian liberty;
theirs, before the same. 14. Ours are urged with the careless neglect of
pressing more necessary duties; theirs not