§. 102. Of excess in honouring Saints departed.
UNto those to whom Guides for imitation are given, I would commend a cau∣tion and a direction.
A Caution in two respects. One to prevent excess. Another to redress defect.
The excess is of such as have the patterns of those whom they take to be Guides in too high admiration, accounting their works meritorious, yea and supererro∣gatory. Hereupon they conceive that they may receive benefit by the works of those others. The superstitious Priests and Pharisees among the Jews taught their people such a conceit; namely, that by childrens giving 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great gift to the Tem∣ple (which they called Corban) their parents might be profited, though they did no more for them, Mark 7. 11, 12. By this means men are so farre from obser∣ving this duty of following their Guides, as they are kept from it. For by expe∣cting benefit from others walking in such and such courses, they think it needless for themselves to walk in such waies; because they have the benefit of others walk∣ing therein, without such pains of their own.
From this high conceit of others meritorious and supererrogatory works hath risen an Idolatrous practise of Canonizing, Deifying, Adoring and Invocating them; of setting up their Images, of consecrating Churches, of making prayers, and vows, and offering oblations unto them, and of reserving their Reliques.