A01760:1115
A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded upon the Church of Scotland Wherein not…A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded vpon the Church of Scotland Wherein not…
A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded upon the Church of Scotland Wherein not only our own arguments [sic] against the same are strongly confirmed, but likewise the answers and defences of our opposites, such as Hooker, Morton ... Forbesse, &c. particularly confuted.A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded vpon the Church of Scotland Wherein not only our ovvne argumemts [sic] against the same are strongly confirmed, but likewise the ansvveres and defences of our opposites, such as Hooker, Mortoune ... Forbesse, &c. particularly confuted.
Leiden: printed by W. Christiaens, 1637
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. The Ceremonies are not indifferent, eo ipso that they are prescribed Sect. II and commended unto us as indifferent. For as hAquinas resolveth out of Isidore, every humane or positive Law, must be both necessaria ad remotionem malorum, and utilis ad consecutionem bonorum. The Guides of Gods Church have not power to prescribe any other thing, then that which is good and profitable for edifying. For they are set not as Lords over Christs inheritance, but as Ministers for their good. It seemed good to the holy Ghost & to us isay the Apostles and Elders to the Churches, to lay upon you no greater burden then these necessary things. They would not (you see) have enacted a Canon about those things, howbeit indifferent in their own nature, had they not found them necessary, for the eschewing of Scandal. And as for the Civill Magistrate, he also hath not power to prescribe any thing which he pleaseth, though it be in it self indifferent: for he is the Minister of God unto thee for good, ksaith the Apostle: mark that word for good. It lets us see, that the Magistrate hath not power given him, to enjoin any other thing, then that which may be for our good. Non enim su a causa dominantur saith lCalvine: sed publico bono: neque effraeni potentia praediti sunt, sed quae subditorum saluti sit obstricta. Now the first and chiefest good, which the Magistrate is bound to see for ⟨p. 44⟩unto the Subjects, is, (as mPareus showeth) Bonum spiritual. Let us then, either see the good of the Ceremonies; or else we must account them to be such things, as God never gave Princes nor Pastors power to enjoin. For howsoever they have power to prescribe many things which are indifferent, that is to say, neither good nor evil in their general nature: yet they may not command us to practise any thing, which in the particular use of it is not necessary or expedient for some good end.