PRAEFATIO.

worth. This compels us to make a separation from Papistic Roman Catholic superstitions, because they defile and contaminate those who take part in them. But if anyone should object that it is not therefore lawful to hold private meetings and establish a Church separately, the answer is easy.

Psalm 137 The people of God, captive in Babylon, complained that they could not sing the songs of the Lord in a foreign land: and that was at a time when there was but one place where it was lawful to sacrifice to God. Today the situation of the faithful is different,

1 Timothy 2:8 for whom it is lawful everywhere to lift up pure hands to heaven. Therefore, since the opportunity to meet and unanimously invoke God as if from the same mouth presents itself, they not only ought not to despise it, but cannot do so without ingratitude, unless they wish to put themselves in danger of losing their faith.