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…

But when our Opposites object, that many are scandalized by us who refuse the Ceremonies, we here compare the Scandal of Non-conformity, if there be any such (for though some be displeased at it, I see not how they are scandalized by it,) with the Scandal of Conformity, and show them that the Scandal of Non-conformity is not to be cared for, because it is necessary, and that by reason of the unlawfulness of the Ceremonies. I will make all this plain by a simile.

But when our Opposites object, that many are scandalized by us who refuse the Ceremonies, we here compare the Scandall of Non-conformity, if there be any such (for though some be displeased at it, I see not how they are scandalized by it,) with the Scandall of Conformity, and shew them that the Scandall of Non-conformity is not to be cared for, because it is necessary, and that by reason of the unlawfullnesse of the Ceremonies. I will make all this plaine by a simile.

A Pastor dealing with a Fornicator, layeth before him both his sin and the Scandal of it too. Now as touching the Scandal, the Fornicator careth not for it, because he is in the opinion that Fornication is indifferent. Whereupon the Pastor thus proceedeth. If it were indifferent, as you say, yet because Scandal riseth out of it, you should abstain. And so amongst many Arguments against Fornication, the Pastor useth this Argument taken from the Scandal of it, both for aggravating the sin in it self, and for convincing the sinner, and this Argument of Scandal, the Pastor can make good against the Fornicator, out of his own ultroneous and unrequired concession of the indifferency of Fornication (because things indifferent and in the case of Scandal, and when they are done with the appearance of evil, should be forborne) without ever mentioning the unlawfulness of it. But if in an froward tergiversation, the Fornicator begin to reply, that he also is scandalized and provoked to go on in his Fornication obstinately, by the Pastors rebuking him for so light a matter, and that the Pastors reproof to him hath appearance of evil, as much as his Fornication hath to the Pastor: Albeit here it may be answered, that the Pastors reproof is not done inordinatè, neither hath any appearance of evil, except in the Fornicators perverse interpretation, yet for stopping the Fornicators mouth as well more forcibly as more quickly, the Pastor rejoyndeth, that if any scandal follow upon his reproof, it is not to be regarded, because the thing is necessary and that because Fornication being a great sin, he may not but reprove it.