The Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2)Gillespie, George
Religion
The Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2)
Gillespie, George
Church of Scotland -- History; Gillespie, George, 1613-1648
4. I call to mind another logical maxim: _Sublata una parte, tolitur
totum._ An essential part being taken away, _totum essentiale_ is taken
away also. In like manner, an integrant part being taken away, _totum
integrum_ cannot remain behind. When a man hath lost his hand or his foot,
though he be still a man physically, _totum essentiale_, yet he is not a
man mathematically, he is no longer _totum integrale_. Just so if we
reckon any additions (as the cross, kneeling, holidays, &c.) among the
parts of God’s worship, then put the case, that those additions were taken
away, it followeth that all the worship which remaineth still will not be
the whole and entire worship of God, but only a part of it, or at the
best, a defective, wanting, lame, and maimed worship.
5. I have made it evident that our opposites make the controverted
ceremonies to be worship,(909) in as proper and peculiar sense as anything
can be, and that they are equalled to the chief and principal parts of
worship, not ranked among the secondary or less principal parts of it.
6. Do not our divines condemn the addition of rites and ceremonies to that
worship which the word prescribeth, as well as the addition of other
things which are thought more essential? We have heard Martyr’s words to
this purpose.
Zanchius will have us to learn from the second commandment,(910) in
_externo cultu qui Deo debetur, seu in ceremonus nihil nobis esse ex
nostro capite comminiscendum_, whether in sacraments or sacrifices, or
other sacred things, such as temples, altars, clothes, and vessels,
necessary for the external worship; but that we ought to be contented with
those ceremonies which God hath prescribed.
And in another place,(911) he condemneth the addition of any other rite
whatsoever, to those rites of every sacrament which have been ordained of
Christ, _Si ceremoniis cujusvis sacramenti, alios addas ritus_, &c. Dr
Fulk pronounceth,(912) even of signs and rites, that “we must do in
religion and God’s service, not that which seemeth good to us, but that
only which he commandeth,” Deut. iv. 2; xii. 32.
And Calvin pronounceth generally,(913) _Caenam domini rem adeo
sacrosanctam esse, ut ullis hominum additamentis eam conspurcare sit
nefas._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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