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…

And who ⟨p. 7⟩is the Puritan now? Is not Mr. Sprint, who standeth in such a huge distance from all who are of our mind, and so far preferreth himself and his followers to us, as if we did no truly fear the name of God? Secondly, he supposeth, that when Non-conforming Ministers are thrust out, the ordinary means of Faith and Salvation are not dispensed (to the comfort and contentment of such as truly fear the name of God) by those conforming Ministers, who are surrogate in their stead. Which, how his fellows will take with, let them look to it. 3. Forasmuch as the fear of God is to depart from evil, therefore such a one as doth truly fear the name of God, in so far, as he doth fear the name of God, and quatenus, he is such a one, will never take well with the practise of inconvenient Ceremonies, which is not a parting from, but a cleaving unto evil. 4. They, who truly fear the name of God, are indeed scandalized by the Prelates their depriving of Ministers for refusing to conform: but by the Ministers, their suffering of deprivation for this cause, they are not scandalized, but edified. But fifthly saith Mr. Sprint, it offendeth the Magistrate, by provoking him (persuaded and resolved as he is) to disgrace these otherwise well deserving Ministers, and to strike them with the Sword of Authority. Ans. Our refusal to conform to inconvenient Ceremonies, being a necessary duty, if the Magistrate be provoked therewith, we are blameless: neither can it any otherwise provoke him to disgrace those well deserving Ministers, then Moses his seeking of liberty for Israel to go and serve God according to his will, provoked Pharaoh the more to oppress them; or then Christs preaching of the truth, and his abstaining from the superstitious Ceremonies of the Pharisees, provoked them to disgrace him, and plot his hurt. Howbeit we are not ignorant, that the Magistrate is not provoked by our refusing to conform, except as it is misreported, misdeemed, and misconstructed to him by the false Calumnies of our Adversaries: which being so, he is not incited by our deed, but by theirs.

And who ⟨p. 7⟩is the Puritane now? Is not Mr. Sprint, who standeth in such a huge distance from all who are of our mind, and so farre preferreth himselfe and his followers to us, as if we did no truly feare the name of God? Secondly, he supposeth, that when Non-conforming Ministers are thrust out, the ordinary meanes of Faith and Salvation are not dispensed (to the comfort and contentment of such as truly feare the name of God) by those conforming Ministers, who are surrogate in their stead. Which, how his fellowes will take with, let them looke to it. 3. Forasmuch as the feare of God is to depart from evill, therefore such a one as doth truly feare the name of God, in so farre, as he doth feare the name of God, and quatenus, he is such a one, will never take well with the practise of inconvenient Ceremonies, which is not a parting from, but a cleaving unto evill. 4. They, who truly feare the name of God, are indeed scandalized by the Prelates their depriving of Ministers for refusing to conforme: but by the Ministers, their suffering of deprivation for this cause, they are not scandalized, but edified. But fiftly saith Mr. Sprint, it offendeth the Magistrate, by provoking him (perswaded and resolved as he is) to disgrace these otherwise well deserving Ministers, and to strike them with the Sword of Auctority. Ans. Our refusall to conforme to inconvenient Ceremonies, beeing a necessary duty, if the Magistrate be provoked therewith, we are blamelesse: neither can it any otherwise provoke him to disgrace those well deserving Ministers, then Moses his seeking of liberty for Israell to goe and serve God according to his will, provoked Pharaoh the more to oppresse them; or then Christs preaching of the truth, and his abstaining from the superstitious Ceremonies of the Pharisees, provoked them to disgrace him, and plot his hurt. Howbeit we are not ignorant, that the Magistrate is not provoked by our refusing to conforme, except as it is misreported, misdeemed, and misconstructed to him by the false Calumnies of our Adversaries: which beeing so, he is not incited by our deed, but by theirs.