And if we will hearken to their pleading, it tells no less; for howbeit Sect. II they plead for the Ceremonies as things indifferent in their own nature, yet when the Ceremonies are considered as the ordinances of the Church, they plead for them, as things necessary. M. G. Powell in the consideration of the Arguments directed to the high Court of Parliament, in behalf of the Ministers suspended and deprived, ⟨p. 2⟩bhath these words: yea these particulars, Subscription, Ceremonies, &c. being imposed by the Church, and commanded by the Magistrate are necessary to be observed under the pain of sin. The Bishop of Edinburgh resolves us concerning the necessity of giving obedience to the Laws of the Church, enacted anent the Ceremonies, thus cWhere a man hath not a Law, his judgment is the rule of his conscience, but where there is a Law, the Law must be the rule. As for example, before that Apostolical Canon that forbade to eat blood or strangled things, every man might have done that which in his conscience he thought most expedient, &c. but after the making and the publication of the Canon that enjoined abstinence, the same was to rule their consciences. And therefore after that time, albeit a man had thought in his own private judgement, that to abstain from these things was not expedient, &c. yet in that case he ought not to have eaten, because now the will of the Law and not the judgment of his own mind, was the rule of his conscience. The Archbishop of Saint Andrews to the same purpose sayeth, In things indifferent, we must always esteem that to be best and most seemly, which seemeth so in the eye of public Authority, neither is it for private 3men to control public judgment, as they can not make public Constitutions, so they may not control nor disobey them, being once made, indeed Authority ought to look well to this, that it prescribe nothing but rightly, appoint no Rites nor Orders in the Church, but such as may set forward godliness and piety, yet put the case that some be otherwise established, They must be obeyed by such as are members of that Church, as long as they have the force of a Constitution, &c. But thou wilt say, my conscience suffers me not to obey, for I am persuaded that such things are not right, nor well appointed.
And if we will hearken to their pleading, it tells no lesse; for howbeit Sect. II they plead for the Ceremonies as things indifferent in their owne nature, yet when the Ceremonies are considered as the ordinances of the Church, they pleade for them, as things necessary. M. G. Powell in the consideration of the Arguments directed to the high Court of Parliament, in behalfe of the Ministers suspended and deprived, ⟨p. 2⟩bhath these words: yea these particulars, Subscription, Ceremonies, &c. being imposed by the Church, and commanded by the Magistrate are necessary to be observed under the paine of sinne. The Bishop of Edinburgh resolves usconcerning the necessity of giving obedience to the Lawes of the Church, enacted anent the Ceremonies, thus cWhere a man hath not a Law, his judgment is the rule of his conscience, but where there is a Law, the Law must be the rule. As for example, before that Apostolicall Canon that forbade to eate blood or strangled things, every man might have done that which in his conscience he thought most expedient, &c. but after the making and the publication of the Canon that enjoyned abstinence, the same was to rule their consciences. And therefore after that time, albeit a man had thought in his owne private judgement, that to abstaine from these things was not expedient, &c. yet in that case he ought not to have eaten, because now the will of the Law and not the judgment of his owne mind, was the rule of his conscience. The Archbishop of Sainctandrews to the same purpose sayeth, In things indifferent, we must alwayes esteeme that to be best and most seemly, which seemeth so in the eye of publike Authority, neither is it for private 3men to controle publike judgment, as they can not make publicke Constitutions, so they may not controle nor dissobey them, being once made, indeed Authority ought to looke well to this, that it prescribe nothing but rightly, appoynt no Rites nor Orders in the Church, but such as may set forward godlinesse and pietie, yet put the case that some be otherwise established, They must be obeyed by such as are members of that Church, as long as they have the force of a Constitution, &c. But thou wilt say, my conscience suffers me not to obey, for I am persuaded that such things are not right, nor well appoynted.
- bAs 3. to the 16. Arg.
- cEpist. to the Past. of the Church of Scotl.
- 3(d) Serm. at perth. assem. insert by Dr. Lindsey
