Diatribe triplex, or, A threefold exercitation concerning 1. Superstition, 2. Will-worship, 3. Christmas festivall, with the reverend and learned Dr. Hammond / by Daniel Cawdry ...

The Preface.

WHat was said of old, "That in the accu∣sation of Heresie, no man ought to be silent; may well be applyed, to a charge of Superstition, and Wil-worship arrow_forward , The one is a crime against the Truth of God, the o∣ther two against the arrow_back worship arrow_forward of God; and the questi∣on is, which is the greater sinne, "To corrupt the Doctrine, or the arrow_back worship arrow_forward ? That, Heresie is a great and a damnable sinne, all men confesse; That Su∣perstition, and Will- arrow_back worship arrow_forward , are as criminall, and abhominable to God, (though some men ac∣compt them rather their vertues, than their crimes) is as demonstrable; and hath been demonstrated else-where. The words (and things imported by them) have so long heard ill, in the Reformed Churches, that men must either deny themselves guilty of the things, or study to defend, and vindi∣cate the words from the evill sense and savour put upon them. * 1.1 The Reverend Doctor (with whom I deale) takes it very hainously, "that the crimes of Superstition and will- arrow_back worship arrow_forward , should bee

charged upon the late Government and Dis∣cipline of the Church, and the ceremonies and observances, either prescribed or customary among us. Particularly, * 1.2 that any should charge his Christmas Festivall (as it was of late ob∣served) with those two crimes,

besides the Riot attending on it. He will not (by his good will) grant, that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, Superstition and wil- arrow_back worship arrow_forward , in the Scriptures, are to be taken in an ill notion; much lesse to bee

accounted crimes; or if they be so, to be justly char∣ged, upon his Christmas Festivity. And no mer∣vail, if the matter be as he makes it seem to be; For first, * 1.3 for Superstition he saies,

it is most clearly according to the use of the word, Superstitum cultus, the arrow_back worship arrow_forward of some departed from this World,

alive in another, which though hee grants,

justly charged on Heathens and Pa∣pists, and properly called Superstition;

Yet not on Protestants at all: Or if Protestants be guilty of any Superstition, it is onely of one kind, that is,

To affirm (as a false Teacher) God to com∣mand, * 1.4 when he doth not command, or to forbid when he doth not forbid.

And secondly, as for VVil- arrow_back worship arrow_forward , thats far from a crime, in his opinion; its nothing but voluntary arrow_back worship arrow_forward , as innocent, as the Freewill-offerings, allowed by God in the time of the Law; * 1.5

the more volun∣tary, the more acceptable.

Which assertions, if they be true; it will be easie for him, to vindicate his Festivities, from those charges laid agai••st them, as the grounds of laying them aside. But that I may, at once and together, both shew and remove the grounds of the Reverend Doctors mist••kes, and facilitate the way to the reading of the following Discourses; I shall here very briefly recapitulate, what I suppose to be the causes of his Miscarriages, in this whole businesse. And they are these four mis∣prisions.

1. That a man cannot be too Religious: This he confidently asserts, Sect. 33. both of the intenti∣on or degree, and of the extension or number of rites and ceremonies, taken into the arrow_back worship arrow_forward of God, sect. 34. A distinction or two, will cleare the way. A man may be said to be too Religious, either be∣cause

he gives more to God than he deserves, but so he cannot be too Religious; or because he gives more than he requires, by the rule of arrow_back worship arrow_forward ; and so a man, may be too Religious. 2. In regard of wor∣ship commanded, especially naturall arrow_back worship arrow_forward , a man cannot be too Religious, in reference to the in∣tention of the Devotion; as in love, fear, trust in God: (though in instituted arrow_back worship arrow_forward , a man may be too Religious: as if he pray, or Fast to the wast∣ing of his health, or neglect of his calling, &c.) Put in uncommanded arrow_back worship arrow_forward , the least Addition to the Rule of arrow_back Worship arrow_forward , is too much, and such a man, may be said to be too Religious. This I prove.

1: If a man, or Church, may adde to the Rule of Religi••n, then he, or they may by too Religious: But a man or Church may adde to the Rule of Religion, ergo. The consequence is clear. The assumption is proved by Deut. 4.2. where all Additions to the word are prohibited.

2. Religion, (saies the great Schoolman) is a morall virtue (or very like is) and stands betweene 2. extremes; ergo. a man may as well be too much Religious, as too little.

3. The Doctor himselfe grants, there may be a Ni∣miety or excesse of Religion, in

adding to the commands of Christ, the Gospell rule, those things which belong not to it, and so is not an exceeder in the feare and service of God.

Of Superst. sect. 46. And this is the first ground of the Doctors mistake.

4. The second is,

That excesse in Religion, is not wel called Superstition; or that Superstiti∣is on not an excesse of Religion.

Sect. 27. &c. which is proved to be so.

1. Because it is an Addition to the Rule of wor∣ship, and so an excesse, as Super statutum. Though the originall of the Word was Heathenish to sig∣nifie Superstitum cultus, yet its well applyed by Divines, to those Additions made to the Rule of wor∣ship. That which the old Testament calls Addition to the word, the new calls Doctrines, traditions of men, VVil- arrow_back worship arrow_forward and Superstition.

2. As the defect in Religion is called propha∣nesse, so the excesse is called Superstition, as standing in opposition to it.

3. By the Doctors own concessions. For first hee grants, Superstitious may denote such an excesse Sect 31.2. The arrow_back worship arrow_forward of Angells is an excesse or Addition to the object of arrow_back worship arrow_forward , and by him sti∣led, that crime of Superstition. 3. Superstitum cul∣tus, the arrow_back worship arrow_forward of the worthies departed, by Hea∣thens, or of Saints and Angells, by Papists, is called Superstition, Sect. 3. most properly, why? but that it addes to the Rule of arrow_back worship arrow_forward . 4 Slavish fear of God, is granted to be Superstition, because Feare of God, being arrow_back worship arrow_forward commanded in the first Com∣mandement, Slavish fear is an excesse of that Feare. sect. 24.25. 4. To affirm God to command when he doth not, is granted to be Superstition,

under the notion of Nimiety or excesse, because that man addes to the commands of Christ.

Sect 46.5. To place more vertue in things, than God or na∣ture hath put in them, is granted to be an excess, because it addes to the promises of Christ, and called Superstition. sect. 45. Thats the second ground of mistake.

3. The third is.

That 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or will- arrow_back worship arrow_forward , is nothing but voluntary arrow_back worship arrow_forward , as innocent as the Freewil-offering, &c.

Which seems a contradiction in adjecto;

that voluntary arrow_back worship arrow_forward and uncommanded, should be innocent.

For 1. Its expresly against the second Commandement; which forbids all wor∣ship not commanded by God. 2. Voluntary Wor∣ship is an Addition to the Rule of arrow_back worship arrow_forward , and eo nomine, Superstition, and thats sinfull. 3. Why is the arrow_back worship arrow_forward of Angells, of Saints, &c. criminall? but because it was arrow_back worship arrow_forward invented and added by the will of man; but thats granted to be sinfull. Yet they do not urge it as a Commandement of God. 4. If Wil- arrow_back worship arrow_forward be innocent, I cannot see, how all that rabble of Superstitious arrow_back worship arrow_forward at Rome, can be condemned; for they are not held out as Commande∣ments of God, but as the Traditions of men.

4. The last ground of Mistake is, that the Doct∣or takes for granted,

That a Church or particu∣lar person, hath power to institute & observe, arrow_back worship arrow_forward not commanded by God.

Which re∣maines, upon him to prove; before he can vindicate his Festivall, (as he and others maintain it) from the double crime, of Superstition, and Willwor∣ship: which I prove by this one argument; If all Ad∣ditions to the word in matter of arrow_back worship arrow_forward , be crimi∣nous and sinfull, as prohibited by God Deut. 4.2. and elsewhere; then no man or Church can with∣out sinne adde any arrow_back worship arrow_forward , to that commanded by God; But the first is true: ergo. These (I take it) are the principall grounds of the Doctors Misprisi∣ons, and are more largely shewed in the Tracts themselves: To shut up this, If Superstition be an excesse of Religion, (as allready it is proved to be, and more hereafter) if Willworship or uncom∣manded arrow_back worship arrow_forward , be an Addition to the Gospell Rule (as cannot well rationally be denyed) I see not how

the Doctor can wash his hands, or his Holiday, from those two crimes. For he makes

the conse∣cration & observation of the day, to be a part of (uncommanded) arrow_back worship; the day to be more holy than other daies; as holy as the Lords day; places virtue in it by pleasing God by it, and of more acceptance because voluntary,

&. (all which and more, appeare in the Tract it self) which if they be not Additions, and excesses against the second and fourth Comman∣dement; I leave to the judgement of the indifferent Reader, when he hath seriously considered and weighed, what hath been, and shall be spok••n here∣after.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pref. to 6. tracts.
• * 1.2

  Of Fest. s. 26.
• * 1.3

  Of Superst. sect. 2.
• * 1.4

  Sect. 46, 47, 48.
• * 1.5

  Sect. 9.