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    nourish the inward reverence , respect and devotion which is due unto God ' s sovereign majesty and power ? What , if out of a persuasion and desire that Papists may be won over to us the sooner , by the removing of this scandal out

    of their way ; and out of an holy jealousy , that the- weaker sort of Protestants might oe the easier seduced to them by the magnificence and pomp of their churchin it

    se ^ vicr * case were removed ? I say , vvhat , if out of these considerations * the governors of our church , more of late than formerly , have set themselves to adorn and beautify the places where God's honour dwells ^ and to make them

    as heaverwlike as they can with earthly ornaments ? Is this a sign that they are warping towards Po . | # ry ? Is this devotion in the Church of England an argument that she is coming over to the Church of Rome ? Sir Edwin

    Sands , I presume , every man wilr grant , had no inclination that way ^ yft he , forty years since , highly commanded this part of devotion in Papists , arid makes no scruple of proposing it to the imitation of Protestants : little think .

    mg that they who would fdlldw his counsel and endeavour to take away this disparagement of Protestants / and this glorying of Pa . pists , should have been censiitedl ftr it , as making way , and

    inclining to , Popery His words to thte purpose are excellent words , and because they shew plainly that \ Vhat is hpw practised was approved by zealous Protestants » o long ago I will here set them down « r " ^ " ThiS on e thing I cannot but highl commend in ^ hat sojr t and o rdei ;; tfWy spiue nothing which

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    cost can peiform an enriching , or skill in adorning the temple of God ; or to set out his service with the greatest pomp and magnificence that can be devised # And although , for the most part , much , baseless arui childishness is

    perdominant in the masters and contrivers of their ceremonies , yet this outward state and glory being well-disposed , doth ingender , quicken , increase , and nourish , the inward reverence , respect , and devotion , which is due unto sovereign majesty and pouer . And although I am not ignorant , that many men well-reputed have embraced the thrifty opinion of that disciple , who thought all to be wasted * that was betowed upon

    Christ in that sort , and that it were much better bestowed on the poor ( yet with an eye , perhaps , that themselves would be his quarter-almoners ) ; notwithstanding , I must confess , it will never sink into my heart , that in proportion of reason , the allowance for furnishing out of the service of God should be measured by the scant and strict rule of mere necessi ty ( a proportion so low , that nature to other most bountiful , in

    matter of necessity hath not failed , no not the most ignoble creatures of the world ) ; and that for ourselves , - no measure , of heaping , but the most we can get ; no rule of expence , but to the utmost pomp we list : or that God hknself had so enriched the lower

    parts of the world ^ . with such wonderful varieties of beauty and glory , that they might serve on | y to the pampering of mortal man

    in his pride ; and that in the service of the high Creator , Lord and Giver ( the outward glory of whose higher palace may appear by the

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    Chillingworth . 555

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1814, page 555, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2444/page/31/