Religio Medici, Hydriotaphia, et al, | Page 7

as lands, and every clime distinguished not only by their laws and
limits, but circumscribed by their doctrines and rules of faith,--to be
particular, I am of that reformed new-cast religion, wherein I dislike
nothing but the name; of the same belief our Saviour taught, the
apostles disseminated, the fathers authorized, and the martyrs

confirmed; but, by the sinister ends of princes, the ambition and avarice
of prelates, and the fatal corruption of times, so decayed, impaired, and
fallen from its native beauty, that it re- quired the careful and charitable
hands of these times to restore it to its primitive integrity. Now, the
acci- dental occasion whereupon, the slender means whereby, the low
and abject condition of the person by whom, so good a work was set on
foot, which in our adver- saries beget contempt and scorn, fills me with
wonder, and is the very same objection the insolent pagans first cast at
Christ and his disciples.
Sect. 3.--Yet have I not so shaken hands with those desperate
resolutions who had rather venture at large their decayed bottom, than
bring her in to be new- trimmed in the dock,--who had rather
promiscuously retain all, than abridge any, and obstinately be what they
are, than what they have been,--as to stand in diameter and sword's
point with them. We have re- formed from them, not against them: for,
omitting those improperations<2> and terms of scurrility betwixt us,
which only difference our affections, and not our cause, there is
between us one common name and ap- pellation, one faith and
necessary body of principles common to us both; and therefore I am not
scrupulous to converse and live with them, to enter their churches in
defect of ours, and either pray with them or for them. I could never
perceive any rational consequences from those many texts which
prohibit the children of Israel to pollute themselves with the temples of
the heathens; we being all Christians, and not divided by such de-
tested impieties as might profane our prayers, or the place wherein we
make them; or that a resolved con- science may not adore her Creator
anywhere, especially in places devoted to his service; if their devotions
offend him, mine may please him: if theirs profane it, mine may hallow
it. Holy water and crucifix (danger- ous to the common people) deceive
not my judgment, nor abuse my devotion at all. I am, I confess, natur-
ally inclined to that which misguided zeal terms super- stition: my
common conversation I do acknowledge austere, my behaviour full of
rigour, sometimes not without morosity; yet, at my devotion I love to
use the civility of my knee, my hat, and hand, with all those outward
and sensible motions which may express or promote my invisible
devotion. I should violate my own arm rather than a church; nor
willingly deface the name of saint or martyr. At the sight of a cross, or

crucifix, I can dispense with my hat, but scarce with the thought or
memory of my Saviour. I cannot laugh at, but rather pity, the fruitless
journeys of pilgrims, or contemn the miserable condition of friars; for,
though misplaced in circumstances, there is something in it of devotion.
I could never hear the Ave-Mary bell*
* A church-bell, that tolls every day at six and twelve of the clock; at
the hearing whereof every one, in what place soever, either of house or
street, betakes himself to his prayer, which is commonly directed to the
Virgin. without an elevation, or think it a sufficient warrant, because
they erred in one circumstance, for me to err in all,--that is, in silence
and dumb contempt. Whilst, therefore, they direct their devotions to her,
I offered mine to God; and rectify the errors of their prayers by rightly
ordering mine own. At a solemn procession I have wept abundantly,
while my consorts, blind with opposition and prejudice, have fallen into
an excess of scorn and laughter. There are, questionless, both in Greek,
Roman, and African churches, solemnities and ceremonies, whereof the
wiser zeals do make a Chris- tian use; and stand condemned by us, not
as evil in themselves, but as allurements and baits of superstition to
those vulgar heads that look asquint on the face of truth, and those
unstable judgments that cannot resist in the narrow point and centre of
virtue without a reel or stagger to the circumference.
Sect. 4.--As there were many reformers, so likewise many
reformations; every country proceeding in a par- ticular way and
method, according as their national interest, together with their
constitution and clime, in- clined them: some angrily and with
extremity; others calmly and with mediocrity, not rending, but easily
dividing, the community, and leaving an honest possi- bility of a
reconciliation;--which, though peaceable spirits