Sect. 37, 38, 39 And now we are come to another consideration of the last way, that he supposes, may be called Su∣perstition, that is, because men place Holiness in some observances, &c.

HEre he said, [The onely inquiry will be, by whom, and how far any thing is thus separa∣ted; by Christ, or the Apostles, &c.] To which I answered, [He tells us here,*by whom the separa∣tion is made; but not a word, how far, or in what difference, a thing separated is made holy, by the se∣veral Authors: whether, onely gradual, or specifi∣cal, &c.] To which he returnes not a word of an∣swer: which yet is a thing of very great concern∣ment: That we may know what degree, or kinde of Holiness we put upon things; So himself said, [The way to discern, whether we exceed, and place more Holiness then is due to them, is to account them Holy, in a degree proportionable to the Autho∣rity of him that separated them.] This is a blind; we should know what is the degree of Holiness, proportionable to every one of their Authorities; else we may place as much Holiness, in the institu∣tions of a private man, or a particular Church, as we should place only in those of Divine institution, by Christ and his Apostles. And so commonly men do; account the Church as Holy, as the Tem∣ple was: and Festivals as Holy, as the Lords day, and are not by the Doctor taught their due propor∣tions. Many things were there propounded to his consideration, Sect. 39. which we cannot but take ill, to be slighted, as not concerning him to take no∣tice of; first, whether any but God can make a thing properly Holy. 2. What proper Holiness is. Page  1383. The diff•…ence of Holiness given by the diffe∣rent Au•… &c. and the rest there propounded. The Doctor waving all these, (for what reason, he best knowes) catches at an advantage from some words of mine. I said, [In times or places separa∣ted by God or men, there is this difference, (besides others) that those sanctified by God, require holy duties to fill them up: but those by men, are to wait upon holy duties.] This, he sayes, (without consi∣deration) is not so: [Prayer and Fasting, &c. were not appointed for time or places sake, &c.] He clearly mistakes me; for I meant thus: The Sabbath, and the Temple being made Holy by God, required Holy Services to fill them up: But times and places, set apart by men, have respect to the Worship of God; and are appointed for the Wor∣ships sake, not the Worship, for the time and pla∣ces sake: That's it that I said a little afore; men cannot make any thing properly Holy, but onely improperly, with respect to Holy things or Duties. And that is, to make any time or place, when and where those duties are performed, as Holy as any other time or place, that is, the one no more Holy then another. But this Holiness, I doubt, will not serve the Doctors turn; yet it must, if he be con∣stant to his principles: For he professes not to make his time and place, (Festivals and Churches) parts of Worship, but circumstances onely of Worship; which any Day, or place, is as well as his separa∣ted Dayes and places; and so one as Holy as ano∣ther. * But to this he hath to say, [The time and place instituted by God himself, is as truly a cir∣cumstance of Worship, as when instituted by men; and duty is equally the Substance, &c] This is another of his mistakes; not that time and place instituted by God, are not as truly Circumstances, as those by men; but that they are more, even Page  139parts of Worship; so was the Sabbath and Tem∣ple: but so are not his Holy-dayes, and our Chur∣ches. [Art thou a Master in Israel, and knowest not these things?] And now he may take home his *Absurdity put upon me, to himself.

I said, [I had thought Apostolical and Divine, had been both one with the Doctor, (and so they are sometimes) but I perceive he makes them differ, &c.] He answers, [It is soon dispatcht,*by say∣ing, I do not think the Apostles to be God.] Too soon dispatcht indeed; Did ever any man charge him to think so, when he made Apostolical insti∣tutions to be Divine and infallible? Is not this a miserable subterfuge? when he knowes well enough how to distinguish, between Immediately Divine, (so were Christs own Institutions;) and mediately,* by commission from him, and Inspiration from the Holy Ghost; so were the Apostles, Divine. Why then did he speak thus? Sure it was, either to bring Apostolical down to Ecclesiastical, or to advance the latter, to the Authority of the former, and to make them equal. But is it not uncharitable for me thus to judge? No, not at all, knowing him so well as I do. For he sayes expresly hereafter, [His Festival and the Lords day are founded both on the same Authority.] Fest. 5.57. Then, either Ec∣clesiastical is Divine, for so is Apostolical; or Apo∣stolical is but Humane, for so is Ecclesiastical; un∣less the Doctor will joyn with Papists, and make the Churches Sanctions to be Divine; as was said afore. But more of this hereafter.

Yet before we part with this Section, one thing the Doctor is desired, in his next, to satisfie, how Page  140he will avoid that in the close; [By this distinction (aforegoing) of his, the Papists may excuse their grossest Superstition, in placing Holiness in things, times, places; they may borrow the Doctors answer; They may say, they account them Holy, but either by the authority of the general, or particular Church of Rome; and that is no Superstition, sayes he, say they.] Something would be said to this.