ABSTRACT
The Christians before Constantine the Great, throughout the Empire were every where surrounded with the gawdy Shew and pompous Ceremonies of triumphant Paganism. The Heathen Priests at first despised and ridiculed the Christian Religion, and for some time after contented themselves with crushing it by the Secular Power. As many learned Men had embraced Christianity, and their Cause was far the better, the Pagans were generally defeated by them; yet their Clashings together were of a long Continuance. All Ceremonies in use among Christians, even the most decent and the least liable to Censure, must be own’d to be of Human Invention, and that we had none we could with any certainty call Apostolical. A Churchman receives the Sacrament kneeling, a Presbyterian sitting. A Presbyterian that can rejoice, and treat his Friends on the Anniversaries of Princes, would be no longer angry with his Neighbour for not forgetting the Nativity of his Saviour.
