If any say, that I derogate much from the Authority of the Sect. VII Church, when I do nothing which she prescribeth, except I see it lawful and expedient; because I should do this much for the exhortation and admonition of a Brother. Ans. 1. I give far more reverence to the direction of the Church, then to the admonition of a Brother, because that is Ministerial, this fraternal: that comes from Authority, this only from Charity: that is Public, this Private: that is given by many, this by one: And finally, the Church hath a calling ⟨p. 11⟩to direct me in some things, wherein a brother hath not. 2. If it be still instanced, that in the point of obedience, I do no more for the Church then for any brother, because I am bound to do that which is made evident to be lawful and expedient, though a private Christian do but exhort me to it, or, whether I be exhorted to it or not. For answer to this, I say, that I will obey the directions of the Church in many things, rather then the directions of a brother; for in two things which are in themselves indifferent, and none of them inexpedient, I will do that which the Church requireth, though my brother should exhort me to the contrary. But always I hold me at this sure ground, that I am never bound in conscience to obey the ordinances of the Church, except they be evidently lawful & expedient. This is that, fine quo non obligant, and also that which doeth chiefly bind, though it be not the only thing which bindeth. Now for making the matter more plain, we must consider, that the constitutions of the Church, are either lawful, or unlawful: if unlawful, they bind not at all: if lawful, they are either concerning things necessary as Act. 15. 28. and then the necessity of the things doeth tind, whether the Church ordain them or not; or else concerning things indifferent, as when the Church ordaineth, that in great Townes there shall be Sermon on such a day of the week, & public prayers every day at such an hour, here it is not the bare Authority of the Church that bindeth, without respect to the lawfulness or expediency of the thing it self which is ordained, (else we were bound to do every thing which the Church ordains, were it never so unlawful, for quod competit alicui qua tali, competit omni tali.
If any say, that I derogate much from the Auctority of the Sect. VII Church, when I doe nothing which shee prescribeth, except I see it lawfull and expedient; because I should doe this much for the exhortation and admonition of a Brother. Ans. 1. I give farre more reverence to the direction of the Church, then to the admonition of a Brother, because that is Ministeriall, this fraternall: that comes from Auctority, this only from Charity: that is Publike, this Privat: that is given by many, this by one: And finally, the Church hath a calling ⟨p. 11⟩to direct me in some things, wherein a brother hath not. 2. If it be still instanced, that in the point of obedience, I doe no more for the Church then for any brother, because I am bound to doe that which is made evident to be lawfull and expedient, though a privat Christian doe but exhort me to it, or, whether I be exhorted to it or not. For answere to this, I say, that I will obey the directions of the Church in many things, rather then the directions of a brother; for in two things which are in themselves indifferent, and none of them inexpedient, I will doe that which the Church requireth, though my brother should exhort me to the contrary. But allwayes I hold me at this sure ground, that I am never bound in conscience to obey the ordinances of the Church, except they be evidently lawfull & expedient. This is that, fine quo non obligant, and also that which doeth chiefly binde, though it be not the only thing which bindeth. Now for making the matter more plaine, we must consider, that the constitutions of the Church, are either lawfull, or unlawfull: if unlawfull, they bind not at all: if lawfull, they are either concerning things necessary as Act. 15. 28. and then the necessity of the things doeth tind, whether the Church ordaine them or not; or else concerning things indifferent, as when the Church ordaineth, that in great Townes there shall be Sermon on such a day of the weeke, & publike prayers every day at such an houre, here it is not the bare Auctority of the Church that bindeth, without respect to the lawfullnesse or expediency of the thing it selfe which is ordained, (else we were bound to doe every thing which the Church ordaines, were it never so unlawfull, for quod competit alicui qua tali, competit omni tali.
