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…

Now as touching the other sort of things which we consider in Sect. XX the Worship of God, namely, things merely circumstantial, and such as have the very same use and respect in civill, which they have in sacred actions; we hold, that whensoever it happeneth to be the duty and part of a Prince, to institute and enjoin any order or policy in these circumstances of Gods Worship, then he may only enjoin such an order, as may stand with the observing and following of the Rules of the Word, whereunto we are tied in the use and practice of things which are in their general nature indifferent.

Now as touching the other sort of things which we consider in Sect. XX the Worship of God, namely, things merely circumstantiall, and such as have the very same use and respect in civill, which they have in sacred actions; we hold, that whensoever it happeneth to be the duty and part of a Prince, to institute and injoyne any order or policy in these circumstances of Gods Worship, then he may onely injoyne such an order, as may stand with the observing and following of the Rules of the Word, whereunto wee are tied in the use and practice of things which are in their generall nature indifferent.

Of these Rules I am to speak in the fourth part of the Dispute. And here I say no more but this: Since the Word commandeth us ^qto do all things to the Glory of God, ^rto do all things to edifying, & ^sto do all things in Faith, & full persuasion of the lawfulness of that which we do: therefore there is no Prince in the world who hath Power to command his Subjects, to do that which should either dishonour God, or not honour him; or that which should either offend their brother, or not edify him, or lastly, that ⟨p. 142⟩which their conscience either condemneth, or doubteth of. For how may a Prince command that which his Subjects may not do? But a wonder it were, if any man should so far refuse to be ashamed, that he would dare to say, we are not bound to order whatsoever we do according to these Rules of the Word, but only such matters of private action, wherein we are lest at full liberty, there being no Ordinance of Superiors to determine our practi; and that it such an Ordinance be published and propounded unto us, we should take it alone for our Rule, and no longer think to examine and order our practice by the Rules of the Word.