- Jan 1, 2024
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By William Prynne (1600-1669)
For first, the Scriptures do positively inform us; that Righteousness hath no fellowship with Unrighteousness; nor Light with Darkness: that Christ hath no concord with Belial; that he that believeth, hath no part, nor portion with an Infidel: that the Temple of God hath no agreement with Idles: and that we cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of Devils, nor be partakers of the Lords table, and of the table of Deuils. If then Christ, if Christians, and Infidels haue no communion; great reason is it, that they should not intercommon in these Heathenish Spectacles, and delights of sinne.
Secondly, all Christians have vowed in their Baptism: to forsake the Devil and all his works, the Pomps, and Vanities of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh: and how they any reason then, to harbour, or retain the Ceremonies of Worldlings, or Interludes of Pagans, which they have thus seriously renounced?
[ 3] Thirdly, all true and real Christians, are Redeemed by the red, and precious blood of Jesus Christ, from the ordinances, rudiments, and customs of the world:from their vain conversation received by tradition from their Fathers: they are purchased from off the earth, and from among the sons of men: they are ransomed, and taken out of this World, and made m•n of another world, that so they might have their whole conversation with God in Heaven; and walk on in all holy conversation, and godliness, serving God in holiness, and true Righteousness, all the days of their lives: Christ Jesus himself hath bought them at the dearest rate for this very end, that they should no longer live to the world, or to the will, and lusts of men, but unto him alone: that they should cast off the works of Darkness, and put on the armor of Light: that they should not henceforth walk as other Gentiles, in the vanity of their minds, following the desires of the flesh, and of the mind, giving themselves over to Lasciviousness, and uncleanness: that the time past of their lives might suffice them to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when as they walked in Lasciviousness, Lusts, Revellings, Banquetings, and abominable idolatries: that they should now deny ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and walke soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for the blessed com∣ming, and appearance of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: that they should not henceforth walk according to the course of this world, according to the power of the Prince of the ayre, which now worketh in the children of disobedience: but that they should be pure, and undefiled before God, keeping themselves unspotted from the World: Since there∣fore Ie•us Christ ha•h thus Redeemed all Christians from the World, and all its Pagan customs, pleasures, ceremonies, and delights of sinne, that so they might be holy, and blameless before him in love, and become a peculiar people to him, Zealous of good works: great reason is there, that they should abominate all Pagan practises, Interludes, and Ceremonies, as unlawful, and misbeseeming Christians: else they should but evacuate, and make void unto themselves the death of Christ: hyea trample under feet his precious blood, and put him unto open shame: And would any Christian be so ungrateful, so despiteful to his blessed Saviour, (whose iblee∣ding wounds doe preach Salvation to his fiercest enemies,) as thus to wrong, and shame him?
Fourthly, mans nature is exceeding prone to Paganism, and Heathenish superstition; as is evident, not only by the frequent Apostasies of the Israelites to gross Idolatry, recorded in the Scriptures; but likewise by that general deluge of Heathenism, Mahometisme, and hideous Idolatrie, which now, and always heretofore, hath overspread the greatest part of all the world: God Therefore out of his Fatherly care, and compassion •of his Children, to anticipate all occasions, which might withdraw them from him, to Idolatrie; doeth oft times prohibit them, to imitate the Fashions, Customs, Vanities, Habits, Rites, or Ceremonies of Infidels, and Heathen Gentiles; for fear lest one thing should draw on another by degrees, till they were quite Apostatized to Idolatry, and seduced from the Faith. Whereupon, Saint Augustine exh•rts all Christians, to prohibit the use of all diabolical Interludes, Vacillations, and songs of the Gentiles: and that no Christian should exercise any of these, because by this he is made a Pagan. Since therefore the imitation of Pagan customs, pleasures, and delights, are but so many ingredients, and collectives to Paganism, and gross Idolatry; and since they alienate, or at least in some degree, disioyne our affections from God, and heavenly things; there is ground, and cause enough, that Christians should reject them, as sinful, and pernicious.
For first, the Scriptures do positively inform us; that Righteousness hath no fellowship with Unrighteousness; nor Light with Darkness: that Christ hath no concord with Belial; that he that believeth, hath no part, nor portion with an Infidel: that the Temple of God hath no agreement with Idles: and that we cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of Devils, nor be partakers of the Lords table, and of the table of Deuils. If then Christ, if Christians, and Infidels haue no communion; great reason is it, that they should not intercommon in these Heathenish Spectacles, and delights of sinne.
Secondly, all Christians have vowed in their Baptism: to forsake the Devil and all his works, the Pomps, and Vanities of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh: and how they any reason then, to harbour, or retain the Ceremonies of Worldlings, or Interludes of Pagans, which they have thus seriously renounced?
[ 3] Thirdly, all true and real Christians, are Redeemed by the red, and precious blood of Jesus Christ, from the ordinances, rudiments, and customs of the world:from their vain conversation received by tradition from their Fathers: they are purchased from off the earth, and from among the sons of men: they are ransomed, and taken out of this World, and made m•n of another world, that so they might have their whole conversation with God in Heaven; and walk on in all holy conversation, and godliness, serving God in holiness, and true Righteousness, all the days of their lives: Christ Jesus himself hath bought them at the dearest rate for this very end, that they should no longer live to the world, or to the will, and lusts of men, but unto him alone: that they should cast off the works of Darkness, and put on the armor of Light: that they should not henceforth walk as other Gentiles, in the vanity of their minds, following the desires of the flesh, and of the mind, giving themselves over to Lasciviousness, and uncleanness: that the time past of their lives might suffice them to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when as they walked in Lasciviousness, Lusts, Revellings, Banquetings, and abominable idolatries: that they should now deny ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and walke soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for the blessed com∣ming, and appearance of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: that they should not henceforth walk according to the course of this world, according to the power of the Prince of the ayre, which now worketh in the children of disobedience: but that they should be pure, and undefiled before God, keeping themselves unspotted from the World: Since there∣fore Ie•us Christ ha•h thus Redeemed all Christians from the World, and all its Pagan customs, pleasures, ceremonies, and delights of sinne, that so they might be holy, and blameless before him in love, and become a peculiar people to him, Zealous of good works: great reason is there, that they should abominate all Pagan practises, Interludes, and Ceremonies, as unlawful, and misbeseeming Christians: else they should but evacuate, and make void unto themselves the death of Christ: hyea trample under feet his precious blood, and put him unto open shame: And would any Christian be so ungrateful, so despiteful to his blessed Saviour, (whose iblee∣ding wounds doe preach Salvation to his fiercest enemies,) as thus to wrong, and shame him?
Fourthly, mans nature is exceeding prone to Paganism, and Heathenish superstition; as is evident, not only by the frequent Apostasies of the Israelites to gross Idolatry, recorded in the Scriptures; but likewise by that general deluge of Heathenism, Mahometisme, and hideous Idolatrie, which now, and always heretofore, hath overspread the greatest part of all the world: God Therefore out of his Fatherly care, and compassion •of his Children, to anticipate all occasions, which might withdraw them from him, to Idolatrie; doeth oft times prohibit them, to imitate the Fashions, Customs, Vanities, Habits, Rites, or Ceremonies of Infidels, and Heathen Gentiles; for fear lest one thing should draw on another by degrees, till they were quite Apostatized to Idolatry, and seduced from the Faith. Whereupon, Saint Augustine exh•rts all Christians, to prohibit the use of all diabolical Interludes, Vacillations, and songs of the Gentiles: and that no Christian should exercise any of these, because by this he is made a Pagan. Since therefore the imitation of Pagan customs, pleasures, and delights, are but so many ingredients, and collectives to Paganism, and gross Idolatry; and since they alienate, or at least in some degree, disioyne our affections from God, and heavenly things; there is ground, and cause enough, that Christians should reject them, as sinful, and pernicious.
