sh ceremonies used by the apostles were in their practice no way
hurtful, but very profitable. Mr Sprint allegeth another example out of 2
Chron. xxx. 18-21: To perform God's worship not as it was written, was a
sin, saith he, yet to further God's substantial worships, which was a good
thing, was not regarded of God. _Ans._ One cannot guess from his words how
he thought here to frame an argument, which might conclude the lawfulness
of doing some evil, that some good may come of it. Howsoever, that we may
have some light in this matter, let us distinguish betwixt these two
things: 1. The people's legal uncleanness, when they came to eat the
passover. 2. Their adventuring to eat it, notwithstanding their
uncleanness. That they were at that time unclean, it was a sin. But whilst
they prepared their hearts truly to seek God, and repented of their
uncleanness; that in this case they adventured to eat the passover, was no
sin, because it is the will of God, that such as prepare their hearts
unfeignedly to seek him, lament their wants, and repent for that they are
not so prepared and sanctified for his worship as they ought (there being
no other thing to hold them back beside some defect of sanctity in
themselves), notwithstanding of any defect which is in them, draw near to
him in the use of his holy ordinances. As touching the former, no man will
say, that they chose to be unclean, that they might further God's worship.
But as for the latter, repenting of their uncleanness, they chose to keep
the passover, this did they to further God's worship, and this was no sin,
especially if we observe with Tremellius, that it is said, ver. 20, the
Lord healed the people, that is, by the virtue of his Spirit purified and
cleansed them, so that, that which was lame was not turned out of the way,
but rather made straight and healed.

_Sect._ 7. And now we leave Mr Sprint, who hath not only conformed to the
controverted ceremonies, even upon presupposal of their inconveniency, but
hath also made it very questionable,(278) whether in the case of
deprivation he ought to conform to sundry other popish ceremonies, such as
shaven crown, holy water, cream, spittle, salt, and I know not how many
more which he comprehendeth under &c., all his pretences of greater
inconveniences following upon not conforming than do upon conforming, we
have hitherto examined. Yet what saith Bishop Spotswood(279) to the cause?
He also allegeth there is a great inconve