A01760:802
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.
2. If he had said, that we must obey for conscience sake, yet this could not have been expounded of an absolute bond of conscience, but only of an hypothetical bond, in case that which the Magistrate commandeth, can not be omitted, without breaking the Law of Charity. If it be said again that we are not only bidden be subject, lbut likewise to obey Magistrates. Ans. And who denieth this? But still I ask, are we absolutely and always bound to obey Magistrates? Nay, but only when they command such things as are according to the rules of the Word, so that either they must be obeyed, or the Law of Charity shall be broken: in this case, and no other, we are bidden obey.
2. If he had said, that we must obey for conscience sake, yet this could not have beene expounded of an absolute bond of conscience, but only of an hypotheticall bond, in case that which the Magistrat commandeth, can not be omitted, without breaking the Law of Charity. If it be said againe that we are not only bidden be subject, lbut likewise to obey Magistrats. Ans. And who denieth this? But still I aske, are we absolutely and allwayes bound to obey Magistrats? Nay, but only when they command such things as are according to the rules of the Word, so that either they must be obeyed, or the Law of Charity shall be broken: in this case, and no other, we are bidden obey.
- lTit. 3. 1•.
Thus have we gained a principal point, Viz, That the laws of Sect. XXXI Princes bind not absolutely but conditionally, nor propter se, but propter aliud. Whereupon it followeth, that except the breach of those ceremonial Ordinances wherewith we are pressed, include the breach of the law of Charity, which is of a superior bond, we are not holden to obey them. Now that it is not the breach, but the obedience of those ordinances, which violateth the law of Charity, we have heretofore made manifest, and in this place we will add only one general. Whensoever the laws of Princes about things Ecclesiastical, do bind the conscience conditionally, & because of some other law of a superior bond, which can not be observed if they be transgressed;