Of Ceremonies, Why some be abolished and some retained.
Of such Ceremonies as be vsed in the Church, and have had their beginning- by the Jnstitution of man, some at the first were of godly intent and purpose devised, and yet at length turned to vanity and superstition: some entred into the Church by vndiscreet devotion, and such a Zeale as was without knowledge ; and for because they were winked at in the begining they grew daily to more and more abuses which not only for their vnprofitableness, but also because they have much blinded the people, and obscured the glory of God, are worthy to be cut away and clean rejected. Other there be, which although they have been devised by man, yet it is thought good to reserve them still, as well for a decent order in the Church (for the which they were first devised) as because they pertain to edification, wherevnto all things done in the church (as the Apostle teacheth) ought to be referred. And although the keeping or omitting of a Ceremony, in it self considered, is but a small thing, yet the wilfiill and contemptuous transgression and breaking of a common order and discipline is no small offence before God.
Let all things be don among you, saith S. Paul, in a seemly and due order. The appointment of the which order pertaineth not to private men: therefore no man ought to take in hand, nor presume to appoint or alter any publick, or common order in Christs church, except he be lawfully called and authorized thereunto.
And whereas in this our time, the minds of men are so divers, that some think it a great matter of conscience to depart from a peece of the least of their Ceremonies; they be so addicted to their old customs : and again on the other side, some be so newfangled, that they would innovate all things, and so despise the old, that nothing can like them but that is new: Jt was thought expedient, not so much to have respect how to please and satisfie either of these parties, as how to please God and profitt them both. And yet lest any man should be offended, whom good reason might satisfie, here be certein causes rendred why some of the accustomed Ceremonies be put away, and some retained, and kept still. Some are put away because the great excess and multitude of them hath so increased in these latter dayes, that the burthen of them was intolerable; whereof S. Augustine in his tyme complained that they were grown to such a number, that the estate of Christian people was in worse case concerning that matter, then were the Iews. And he counselled that such yoke and burthen should be taken away, as time would serve quietly to do it.
But what would S. Augustine have said, if he had seen the Ceremonies of late daies vsed among vs: whereunto the multitude vsed in his time was not to be compared? This our excessive multitude of Ceremonies was so great, and many of them so dark, that they did more confound and darken, then declare and sett forth Christs benefits vnto vs. And besides this, Christs Gospell is not a ceremoniall law, (as much of Moses law was) but it is a Religion, to serve God, not in bondage of the figure, or shadow, but in the freedom of the spirit, being content only with those ceremonies which do serve to a decent order, and godly discipline, and such as be apt to stir up the dull mind of man to the remembrance of his duty to God, by some notable and speciall signification, whereby he might be edified.
Furthermore, the most weighty cause of the abolishment of certain Ceremonies was, that they were so far abused, partly by the superstitious blindsess of the rude, and vnlearned, and partly by the vnsatiable avarice of such as sought more their own lucre, then the glory of God ; that the abuses could not well be taken away, the thing remaining still. But now, as concerning those persons which peradventure will be offended, for that some of the old ceremonies are retained still: if they consider that without some ceremonies it is not possible to keep any order or quiet discipline in the Church, they shall easily perceive iust cause to reform their iudgements. And if they think much that any of the old do remain, and would rather have all devised anew: then such men granting some ceremonies convenient to be had; surely where the old may be well vsed, there they cannot reasonably reprove the old, only for their age, without bewraying of their own folly. For in such a case they ought rather to have reverence vnto them for their antiquitie: if they will declare themselves to be more studious of vnitie and concord, then of innovations, and newfangleness, which (as much as may be with the true setting forth of Christs religion) is alwayes to be eschewed. Furthermore such shall have no iust cause with the Ceremonies reserved to be offended. For as those be taken away which were most abused, and did burden mens consciences without any cause; so the other that remain, are retained for a discipline and order, which (vpon iust causes) may be altered and changed, and therefore are not to be esteemed equall with Gods law. And moreover they be neither dark nor dumb ceremonies, but are so set forth, that every man may vnderstand what they do mean, and to what vse they do serve. So that it is not like that they in time to come should be abused, as other have been. And in these our doings we condemn no other Nations, nor prescribe any thing, but to our own people only. For we think it convenient that every country should vse such ceremonies as they shall think best to the setting forth of Gods honour and glory, and to the reducing of the people to a most perfect and godly living without errour or superstition: And that they should put away other things, which from time to time they perceive to be most abused, as in mens ordinances it often chanceth diversly in divers countries.