Question 103

The speciall Questions

1 What Ceremonies are.
2 Howe the Ceremoniall Lawes differ from the Morall Lawes.
3 How manie sortes of Ceremonies there are.
4 Whether the Church maie ordaine Ceremonies.

1 WHAT CEREMONIES ARE

Ceremonies are external & solemne actions ordained in the Ministerie of the Church, either for order sake or for signification.

2 How the ceremoniall Lawes differ from the Morall

1 CEremonies are temporarie, the Morall are perpetuall.

2 The Ceremonies are done all alike; The Morall are not doone alwaies alike. 3 The Ceremonies signifie; The Morall are signified. 4 The Morall are as the generall: The Ceremoniall are restrained in speciall. 5 The Ceremoniall serue for the Morall; The Morall are the end or scope of the Ceremoniall.

3 How manie sorts of Ceremonies there are

Ceremonies are of two sorts; some commaunded by God; some ordained by men. Those that are commanded by god, cannot be changed but by God only; and those are either sacrifices or Sacraments: A sacrifice is an obedience, which wee performe to God. A Sacrament is a token, whereby God testifieth somewhat to vs. Those ceremonies which are ordained by mē, may be changed by the aduise of the church, if there bee good causes for the changing and alteration of them.

4 Whether the church may ordaine ceremonies

The church maie and ought to ordaine ceremonies; because without defining and determining of circumstaunces the Moral cannot be kept. There are notwithstanding certaine conditions to bee obserued by the Church in ordaining ceremonies, namely, They must bee such ceremonies as are not impious, but agreeable to the word of the Lord. Secondly, they must not be superstitious, so that wee must not thinke them necessarie to be done: nether must they be done with offence. Thirdly, they must not be too many. 4. They must not be idle and vnprofitable, but must al tend to edifieng.