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You your selues in this question haue obiected M. Caluin, P. Martyr, and Zepperus, as if they had abando∣ned all vse of Romish Ceremonies; with as an extreme a detestation, as they do the very Heathenish: whereas,* 1.1 if you would haue consulted with M. Caluin, in a place professedly assigned for the Auoiding of Romish supersti∣tion,
he would haue taught you that there is a maine difference betweene Turkes and Papists; Because [Mul∣ta habemus &c.] There are many points common (saith he) betweene vs and Papists, especially this, that we haue both our Denominations from Christ &c. And after he infer∣reth, that Although there be many Ceremonies among the Papists, which we may not obserue, yet (saith he) [Nequis me adeo austerum esse, vel praecisi rigoris &c.] lest any man may thinke me to be so rigorously precise, that I would for∣bid a Christian [ne se Papistis vlla in Ceremonia aut obser∣uatione accōmodet] that is, to apply himselfe in any Ceremo∣ny vnto the Papists; Be it knowne, that it is not my purpose to condemne any thing which is not directly euill in it selfe.
Now who knoweth not, that the thing which is made Euill onely through Abuse, cannot be said any way to be euill in it selfe? And we haue heard already of his allowance of materiall Churches, howsoeuer they were once polluted with Romish superstition:* 1.2 whereof Zeppe∣rus confesseth, saying; The Popish Temples, what were they, but the Receptacles of all Idolatrie, which did bellow out nothing but meere abhominations? yet from hence it doth not follow, that the Churches of Protestants must there∣fore be destroyed, and new ones built in their steads: because those Temples were not the immediate instruments of Ido∣latry, as the Altars were, which could not but serue im∣mediatly vnto their God Mauzim, euen to the execrable sacrifice of the Masse. And although we reade in the Eccle∣siasticall Storie of Ruffinus,* 1.3 of the destruction of an Hea∣thenish Temple by conuert Christians; and of Constantine his Edict for the demolishing of the Temples of the Gentiles and Heretickes:* 1.4 the like of the Edict of Theodosius the elder; that is no more than we may say of some Churches and Temples, which stand in remote places, instituted by
Papists for the vse of Pilgrims and Passengers, whereof there is no conuenient vse. In this Authour, you may ob∣serue a distinction betweene things immediatly, (as Al∣tars,) and mediatly (as Temples) dedicated to Idolatrie; and that Zepperus excluding the latter, yet alloweth of the first, although the Temples so polluted with Idolatry, be now materially and indiuidually the same, which are vsed by Protestants in the syncere and holy worship of God.
P. Martyr is plentifull in this point;* 1.5 first putting in a Caueat, which will be for the direction of your consci∣ences, if you will hearken vnto him; & if you will not, yet then also will it make for your correction. Cauendum est profectò &c. Wee must in any case take heed (saith he) lest that we do presse the Church with too much seruitude, as to thinke that we may vse nothing which hath bene Popish. Surely, the ancient Fathers tooke the Temples of Idols and conuerted them into holy houses of God, wherein Christ our Sauiour should be worshipped; and the Reuenewes which had bene consecrated vnto the gods of the Gentiles, for the maintenance of their Vestall Virgins, that they tooke for the support of the Ministers of the Church; albeit such things had serued not onely to the honour of Antichrist, bu•• of the diuels themselues. Yea, and also the very verses of the Poets, which were dedicated vnto the Muses, and diuerse gods, or for the vse of Comedies, or seruing in the Theater, for pacifying of their gods; such did Ecclesiasticall Writers (the holy Fathers) vse, so farre as they found them fit, good, and true; and were thereunto directed by the example of the Apostle, who did not disdaine to cite Menander, Ara∣tus, and Epimenides, and to set downe the same words, which were otherwise prophane, and to apply them to Gods worship: Except perhaps you shall deeme that the
words in holy Writ do serue so much vnto Gods worship, as do the visible words of the holy Sacraments. Furthermore, who doth not know, that wine was consecrated vnto Bac∣chus; Bread to Ceres; Water to Neptune; Oliues to Mi∣nerua; Letters to Mercurie; Songs to the Muses, or to A∣pollo? All which, notwithstanding we doubt not to apply as well in Sacred, as in Ciuill vses, albeit they had beene de∣dicated vnto the very Diuels. So he. Whereby, as we see, he putteth in a caueat against all fierce and calumnious Disputers, who inferre from euerie former abuse of Sur∣plice, a necessarie abolishing of all vse thereof.
Cal. Opusc. Tract. de vi∣tand. superstit. pag. 78.
Mosaic. expl. l. 4. c. 7. pag. 318.
Ruff. l. 2. c. 4.
Euseb. lib. 3. de vita Const. c. 1. & 3. ••useb. lib. 5. hist. Eccl. c. 16
P. Martyr Ep. ad Hoope•••• p. 1087.