A01760:778
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…
A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded upon the Church of Scotland Wherein not only our own arguments [sic] against the same are strongly confirmed, but likewise the answers and defences of our opposites, such as Hooker, Morton ... Forbesse, &c. particularly confuted.A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded vpon the Church of Scotland Wherein not only our ovvne argumemts [sic] against the same are strongly confirmed, but likewise the ansvveres and defences of our opposites, such as Hooker, Mortoune ... Forbesse, &c. particularly confuted.
Leiden: printed by W. Christiaens, 1637
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Our Writers have said much of the power of the Church to make laws. But this man (I perceive) will correct them all, and will not acknowledge, that the Church hath any power of making laws, about things pertaining to Religion, (except by accident, because of persecution, or permission) but only a power of executing what Princes please to direct. More fully to deliver our mind, we say; that in the making of Laws about things which concern the worship of God, the Prince may do much […] act• i•os, but nothing p•r act• •licitos. ⟨image 134⟩For the more full explanation of which distinction, I liken the Prince to the will of man: the Ministers of the Church, to mans particular senses: a Synod of the Church, to that internal sense which is called Sensus communis, the fountain & original of all the external: things and actions Ecclesiastical, or such as concern the worship of God, to the objects and actions of the particular senses: and the power of making Ecclesiastical laws, to that power and virtue of the common sense, whereby it perceiveth, discerneth, and judgeth of the objects and actions of all the particular senses. Now as the will commandeth the common sense to discern and judge of the actions and objects of all the particular senses, thereafter commandeth the eye to see, the ear to hear, the nose to smell, &c yet it hath not power by it self to exercise or bring forth any of these actions; for the will can neither see, nor yet judge of the object and action of sight, &c. So the Prince may command a Synod of the Church, to judge of Ecclesiastical things and actions, and to define what order and form of policy is most convenient to be observed, in things pertaining to divine worship, and thereafter he may command the particular Ministers of the Church to exercise the works of their Ministry, and to apply themselves unto that form of Church regiment and policy, which the Synod hath prescribed, yet he may not by himself define and direct such matters, nor make any laws thereanent.
Our Writers have said much of the power of the Church to make lawes. But this man (I perceive) will correct them all, and will not aknowledge, that the Church hath any power of making lawes, about things pertaining to Religon, (except by accident, because of persecution, or permission) but only a power of executing what Princes plase to direct. More fully to deliver our minde, we say; that in the making of Lawes about things which concerne the worship of God, the Prince may doe much act ios, but nothing pr act licitos.