Secondly, it is replied, that our Christian liberty is not taken Sect. IV away when practise is restrained, because conscience is still left free. The Christian Liberty tsaith Paybody, is not taken away by the necessity of doing a thing indifferent, or not doing, but only by that necessity which takes away the opinion or persuasion of its indifferency. So usaith Dr. Burgess, that the Ceremonies in question are ordained to be used necessarily, though the judgment concerning them, & immediate conscience to God, be left free. Ans. 1. Who doubts of this that liberty of practise may be restrained in the use of things which are in themselves indifferent? but yet if the bare authority of an Ecclesiastical Law, without any other reason, then the will and pleasure of men, be made to restrain practise, then is Christian Liberty taken away. xJunius, saith that externum optis ligatur from the use of things indifferent, when the conscience is not bound; but in that same place he showeth, that the outward action is bound & restrained, only quo usque circumstantiae ob quas necessitas imperata est, se extendunt. So that it is not the authority of an Ecclesiastical Law, but the occasion and ground of it, which adstricts the practise, when the conscience is left free. 2. When the authority of the Churches constitution is obtruded to bind and restrain the practise of Christians in the use of things indifferent, they are bereaved of their Liberty as well as if an opinion of necessity were borne in upon their consciences. Therefore we see when the Apostle, 1. Cor. 7. gives Liberty of Marriage, he doeth not only leave the conscience free in its Judgment of the lawfulness of Marriage, but also give liberty of practise, ⟨p. 7⟩to marry or not to marry. And Coll 2. 21. When he giveth instances of such human ordinances as take away Christian Liberty, he saith not, you must think that you may not touch, &c. but, touch not, &c. telling us, that when the practise is restrained from touching, tasting, handling, by the ordinances of men, then is Christian liberty spoiled, though the conscience be left free. Camero speaking of the servitude which is opposed to Christian liberty ysaith, that it is either animi servitus, or corporis servitus. Then if the outward man be brought in bondage, this makes up spiritual thraldom, though there be no more. But, 3.
Secondly, it is replied, that our Christian liberty is not taken Sect. IV away when practise is restrained, because conscience is still left free. The Christian Liberty tsaith Paybody, is not taken away by the necessity of doing a thing indifferent, or not doing, but only by that necessity which takes away the opinion or persuasion of its indifferency. So usaith Dr. Burgesse, that the Ceremonies in question are ordained to be used necessarily, though the judgment concerning them, & immediate conscience to God, be left free. Ans. 1. Who doubts of this that liberty of practise may be restrained in the use of things which are in themselves indifferent? but yet if the bare auctority of an Ecclesiasticall Law, without any other reason, then the will and pleasure of men, be made to restraine practise, then is Christian Liberty taken away. xIunius, saith that externum optis ligatur from the use of things indifferent, when the conscience is not bound; but in that same place he sheweth, that the outward action is bound & restrained, only quo usque circumstantiae ob quas necessitas imperata est, se extendunt. So that it is not the auctority of an Ecclesiasticall Law, but the occasion and ground of it, which adstricts the practise, when the conscience is left free. 2. When the auctority of the Churches constitution is obtruded to bind and restraine the practise of Christians in the use of things indifferent, they are bereaved of their Liberty as well as if an opinion of necessity were borne in upon their consciences. Therefore we see when the Apostle, 1. Cor. 7. gives Liberty of Mariage, he doeth not only leave the conscience free in its Iudgment of the lawfullnesse of Mariage, but also give liberty of practise, ⟨p. 7⟩to marry or not to marry. And Coll 2. 21. When he giveth instances of such human ordinances as take away Christian Liberty, he saith not, you must think that you may not touch, &c. but, touch not, &c. telling us, that when the practise is restrained from touching, tasting, handling, by the ordinances of men, then is Christian liberty spoyled, though the conscience be left free. Camero speaking of the servitude which is opposed to Christian liberty ysaith, that it is either animi servitus, or corporis servitus. Then if the outward man be brought in bondage, this makes up spirituall thraldome, though there be no more. But, 3.
- tApol. part. 3. c. 1. sect. 4. s• Dr. Forb. Iren. l. 1. c. 11. §. 5. & 6.
- uManuduct. p. 42.
- xThes. theol. de libers Christ thes. 10.
- yFrel. in Math. 18. 7. tom. 2. p. 340.
