Conformity of the ecclesiastical discipline of the Reformed churches of France with that of the primitive Christians written by M. La Rocque ... ; render'd into English by Jos. Walker.

II.

A Believer is not permitted to intermeddle in any thing wherein there may be an intermixture of Idolatry, as that which is called the Kiss of the hand, or the Ceremony of the Church, keep Masses, Vigils, and maintain Friers which are appointed for that purpose; But to hold Priories, Revenues, Rents, Chappellanies, and Tythes to pay the Revenue to Churchmen, inasmuch as they are Temporal Lords, it is a thing indifferent, and at the liberty of those that please to do it; Nevertheless Believers are advertis'd not to inter∣meddle in those matters, if they find any abuse therein, or appearance of any ill consequence, whereof the Consistories shall take special heed.

CONFORMITY.

It's only requisite to read what I have said on the Nineteenth Article of the Fifth chap. which is that of Consistories, to see after what manner those are treated in the Primitive Church as were any way poluted with Idolatry: I will here only add two things, First, That the Ancient Fathers called Idolatry, Crimen principale, summum scelus, principale crimen genneris humani, sum∣mum saeculi reatus, tota causa judicii: And by these ex∣pressions they would let Christians, see how much they should abhor Idolatry, seeing it breaks all manner of Communion with God. Secondly, That the Council

of Laodicea after having declared in the 35th Cannon, that Christians should not forsake the Church of God to follow Angels to invoke them it makes this Mennace, If any one be found to serve this hidden Idolatry, let him be anathematised, because he has forsaken our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, and is turn'd to Idolatry.

The Reader may observe if he please that the Fathers of Laodicea, think one abandons Jesus Christ, and for sakes him, at the very instant one makes any step to∣wards Idolatry; and 'twill be to no purpose to say that one often thinks there is Idolatry where there is none, because that as soon as ever a Man thinks there is Idola∣try he ought not be concern'd, more nor less, al∣though he might be mistaken in his Judgment; for he would betray his own Conscience, and indanger his Salvation, seeing that in matter of Religion, all that is done without Faith is Sin, as St. Paul saith.