THat the Churches of Christians, and places of praier, ought decently to bee kept, yea and with conuenient cost and seemely beautie to be built and re∣paired, and Church vessels with other necessarie furniture, to be of the best, not of the worst sort, we doe both commend it, and practise it: for so we learne by the example of our Sauiour, that cast out of the temple sellers of doues and mo∣ney changers, and would not suffer them to carrie vessels through it, Mark. 11.15, 16. that the house of praier ought to be reuerently regarded: but yet it fol∣loweth not, that such immoderate and excessiue cost should be bestowed vpon the walles of the Church and Idols, to garnish and beautifie idolatrie, and poore people in the meane time to want. A Matrone ought to goe comely and de∣cently apparelled, though not tricked vp with the iewels and ornaments of an harlot.
Argum. 1. Our Sauiour Christ reproueth the Scribes and Pharisees, because they drewe the people to bee good vnto the altar, and bestowe largely vpon them, and so leaue their parents helplesse, Math. 15.5. And he often doth incul∣cate that golden saying, I will haue mercie & not sacrifice: it is better to succour the liuing temples of God, which are the bodies of his poore children, then to bestowe superfluous cost vpon dead temples of stone.
Argum. 2. Christ also doth rebuke them, because like hypocrites they did garnish the sepulchres of the Prophets, & yet persecuted their doctrine, Math. 23.29: so all popish pharisees are worthie of blame, that take greater care in garnishing the temples and tombes of the holy Apostles and Martyrs, then they