ledge. Let us consider, saith he, "the primitive
church, flourishing more in times of the apostles than ever it did
afterwards. Who will not admire her great simplicity in all points, and
especially in ceremonies? for excepting the celebration of baptism by
washing of water, and of the holy supper, according to the Lord's
institution, in taking the bread and wine, and distributing them after
thanksgiving; excepting also the imposition of hands upon those who
extraordinarily received the Holy Ghost, whether it were in a general
calling or a particular, to a charge in the church, and availing for a
miraculous effect of healing the sick; I say, these excepted, there will
not be found any other ceremony in those primitive times, so admirable was
their simplicity."

_Sect._ 3. Thirdly, the ceremonies are a great hinderance to edification,
because they make much time and pains to be spent about them, which might
be, and (if they were removed) should be spent more profitably for godly
edifying. That which is said of the ceremonies which crept into the
ancient church, agreeth well to them.(319) _Ista ceremoniarum accumulatio,
tum ipsos doctores, __ tum etiam ipsos auditores, a studio docendi atque
discendi verbum Dei abstraxit, atque impedivit necessarias et utiles
divini eloquii institutiones._

Pulpits sound oftentimes with declamations for the ceremonies, when there
is need of pressing the power of godliness upon the consciences of people,
and when there are many more necessary things to be urged. The press also
sends forth idle discourses and defences of the ceremonies which might be
employed more profitably.

And, moreover, faithful men whose labours might be very profitable to the
church in the holy ministry, have neither a door of entrance nor a door of
utterance licentiated to them, and that because they will not consent nor
yield themselves to be the unhappy instruments of imposing this yoke of
ceremonial bondage upon the necks of God's people. Others who have
entered, and have been both faithful and painful labourers in the Lord's
vineyard, are thrust from their changes for no other quarrel, but that of
non-conformity. O unhappy ceremonies! woe unto you, you mischievous lets
and prejudices to the edification of the church.

CHAPTER V.

THAT THE CEREMONIES ARE INEXPEDIENT, BECAUSE THEY ARE OCCASIONS OF INJURY
AND CRUELTY.

_Sect._ 1. The ceremonies serve to be instruments o