Concerning Ceremonies
that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth."
"Holding fast the faithful word, as he hath been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." (1
Tim. 3:2. 2 Tim. 2:15. Tit. 1:9.)
CONCERNING CEREMONIES
A part of this fourth commandment being ceremonial, as has been shown in the remarks we have made, it seems proper that we should here make some remarks respecting ceremonies; and for a better understanding of the whole subject, we shall enquire, I. What are ceremonies?
II. In what ceremonies differ from moral works?
III. How many kinds of ceremonies are there?
IV. Is it lawful for the church to institute ceremonies?
I. WHAT ARE CEREMONIES?
The Romans were wont to call every form of divine worship by the name of ceremony, from the town Cære, in which the images of the gods were kept from the Gauls, as Livy testifies in his fifth book. Macrobius derives the term from carendo. As understood by the church, all external and solemn actions instituted by the ministry, for the sake of order, or signification, are termed ceremonies.
II. IN WHAT DO CEREMONIES DIFFER FROM MORAL
WORKS?
Ceremonies differ from moral works, in the following particulars: 1.
Ceremonies are temporary; moral works are perpetual. 2. Ceremonies are always observed in the same way; moral works are not always performed in the same way. 3. Ceremonies signify; moral actions are signified. 4.
The moral is to be viewed as the general; the ceremonial as the particular.
5. The moral is the end and design of the ceremonial; the cereonial