The compleat Christian, and compleat armour and armoury of a Christian, fitting him with all necessary furniture for that his holy profession, or, The doctrine of salvation delivered in a plain and familiar explication of the common catechisme, for the benefit of the younger sort, and others : wherein summarily comprehended is generally represented the truly orthodox and constant doctrine of the Church of England, especially in all points necessary to salvation / by W.S., D.D.

58. Doth the Church of God so allow it?

Yes, and ever hath, as Damas speaks of the like 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, may we say of some part of the reverence used, whiles divine worship on∣ly directed to God, and for whose sake yet the re∣spect and reverence that we yeeld to the holy things, is to them extended, and if all Isreael and the Priests, as before noted, without touch or staine of Idolatry, could or might and did wor∣ship (as well as David and Daniel towards the holy Temple) towards the mount, the cloud, the pillar of fire, the Tabernacle, the Arke, Oracle, and Mercy-seat (where yet were Images of Cherubims and Palmetrees, Exod. 37. 7. and 1 King. 6. 23. 32.) how much more we before God in his Church, and to him towards his holy Table, his Altar, Mercy-seat, and mysteries there tokens of his graces and presence, and where he hath no lesse mercifully promised, then power∣fully performed his promise, and manifested such his goodnesse, and gratious presence, yet firmly looking at him, so graciously promising and per∣forming, or his promises and graces in the things shewed and performed? not the bare things, nor boots it to cavill, or say thus the Heathen or any Idolaters might palliate their Idolatry, it is farre otherwise with them (besides the difference of the worship before noted) who terminate their worship even divine in the thing on their Altars, or under the thing shew a false god, Wherein it is terminated, as Dagon, Molec, Anubis, Osyris, Jupiter, or a creature or Divell, as some Heathens

and Indians, yea sometimes such wicked men, and caitiffes, (As a noble Christian Lady, told a hea∣then tyrant, and persecutor, worse then the wret∣ches that did, or commanded sacrifice to them, as she asked him, if he would willingly be counted so beastly blind, bad or blockish, as Vul••an, Plutus, Mercury, Stercutius, nay Mars himselfe, or his wife, as Venus or Flora, so infamous for lewd∣nesse, theeves and stales of theft, or strumpets;) thus the case far different, though even in the best things, we may note the Divell as it were, Gods Ape, and hereby perhaps in his divelish policy, seeking to disparage, and disgrace what were good, by such his apish imitation, which yet are, and ever shall continue holy, and his devices fru∣strate, soon as discovered.