o take care that, in his dominion or kingdom, religion out
of the pure word of God, expounded by the word of God itself, and
understood according to the first principles of faith (which others call
the analogy of faith), either be instituted, or, being instituted, be kept
pure, or, being corrupted, be restored and reformed, that false doctrines,
abuses, idols, and superstitions, be taken away, to the glory of God, and
to his own and his subjects' salvation."

_Sect._ 19. But in all the Scripture princes have neither a commendable
example, nor any other warrant, for the making of any innovation in
religion, or for the prescribing of sacred significant ceremonies of men's
devising. Jeroboam caused a change to be made in the ceremonies and form
of God's worship, whereas God ordained the ark of the covenant to be the
sign of his presence, and that his glory should dwell between the
cherubims. Jeroboam set up two calves to be the signs representative of
that God who brought "Israel out of Egypt;" and this he means while he
saith, "Behold thy gods," &c., 1 Kings xii. 28, giving to the signs the
thing signified; whereas God ordained Jerusalem to be the place of
worship, and all the sacrifices to be brought to the temple of Solomon,
Jeroboam made Dan and Bethel to be places of worship, and built there
altars and high places for the sacrifices; whereas God ordained the sons
of Aaron only to be his priests, Jeroboam made priests of the lowest of
the people, which were not of the sons of Levi; whereas God ordained the
feast of tabernacles to be kept on the fifteenth day of the seventh month,
Jeroboam appointed it on the fifteenth day of the eighth month. Now, if
any prince in the world might have fair pretences for the making of such
innovations in religion, Jeroboam much more. He might allege for his
changing of the signs of God's presence, and of the place of worship, that
since Rehoboam's wrath was incensed against him, and against the ten
tribes which adhered unto him (as appeareth by the accounting of them to
be rebels, 2 Chron. xiii. 6, and by the gathering of a huge army for
bringing the kingdom again to Rehoboam, 2 Chron. xi. 1), it was no longer
safe for his subjects to go up to Jerusalem to worship, in which case God,
who required mercy more than sacrifice, would bear with their changing of
a few ceremonies for the safety of men's lives. For his putting down of
the priests and Levites, and his ordaining of other priests wh