Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

What Cautions or to be vsed and obserued in writing those lawes and humane traditions?

1 That they be not repugnant to the analogy of faith, or that they lead vs not from Christ, or be superstitious: of which sort for the most part the popish rites are: neither must our consciences be intangled, as though those lawes of order and decency be for that cause onely brought in, as if they were parts of diuine worship.

2 That they be not preferred before the heauenly doctrine which the Apostles receiuing from God haue deliuered: nei•••••••• must those lawes be eternall or immutable, but as necessitie shall require, mutable.

3 That those things which are vnprofitable, ridiculous, foolish, & parasitical and operatiue, should not be appointed for a graue, ho∣nest, and profitable order: such as those which the Papacie doth commaund of Auricular confession, the difference of meates, daies, and apparell, vowed peregrination and the like.

4 That the Church be not burdened with the multitude of those precepts, as is done in poperie, and the true and pure wor∣ship of God be oppressed, as it was once done of the Pharisiesb 1.1: and so the commaundements of God be made void in respect of menc 1.2.

That they doe not degenerate into superstition or impietie: that there be no merit ascribed to them, or worship or neces∣sitie: that is, they may not be accounted necessarie to saluation, or a part of Gods worship; and that of themselues, by the work done, as they speake: which if it come to passe, let them pre∣sently be reformed, or altogether abolished, by the example of Ezechias, which brake in peeces the brasen Serpentd 1.3: and lastly we must beware least through a pretence of indifferencie, they offer poyson, and hide a deadly hooke vnder a hony bayte.

Notes

• b 1.1

  Mat. 23.4.
• c 1.2

  Mat 15.3. Mar. 7.13. Act. 15.10.
• d 1.3

  2. Reg. 18, 4