There is this much chronicled in utwo Relations of the proceedings of the same, howbeit otherwise very different, They who did sue for a Reformation of Church Discipline in England, complained, xthat they received no other answer but this, there is a law, it must be obeyed, and after the same manner are we used, yet is this too hard dealing, in the judgement of ya Formalist, who saith, that the Church doeth not so deal with them whom Christ hath redeemed, ac si non possint capere quid sit religiosum, quid minus, itaque quae ab Ecclesia proficiscuntur, admonitions potius & hortationes dici debent, quam leges. And after he says of Ecclesiastical Authority, tenetur reader praescripti rationem. I grant zsaith Paybody, it is unlawful to do in Gods Worship any thing, upon the mere pleasure of man. Chemnitius ataketh the Tridentine Fathers, for not expounding rations decreti. bJunius observeth, that in the Council of the Apostles, mention was made of the reason of their decree. And ca learned Historician, observeth of the ancient Councils, that there were in them reasonings, colloquies, discussions, disputes, yea, that whatsoever was done or spoken, was called the acts of the Council, and all was given unto all. Caeterum saith dDanaeus, quoniam ut ait Tertullianus in Apologetico, iniqua lex est quae se examinari non patitur; non tam vi cogere homines ad obsequium quam ratione persuadere debent caeleges, quae scribuntur à pio nomotheta. Ergo fere sunt duae cujusvis legis partes, quemadmodum etiam Plato. lib. 4. de legibus scribit, nimirum praefatio & lex ipsa. i. e. jussio lege comprehensa. Praefatio causum affert, cur homivum negotiis sic prospiciatur. Ecclesiastical Authority should prescribe what it thinks fit, magis docendo, quam jubendo; magis monendo; quam minando, as eAugustin speaketh. Non oportet vi vel necessitate constringere, sed ratione & vitae exemplis suadere, fsaith Gregory Nazianzen, speaking of Ecclesiastical Regiment. They therefore who give their Will for a Law, and their Authority for a Reason, and answer all the Arguments of opponents, by bearing them down with the force of a public Constitution, and the Judgement of Superiors, to which theirs must be conformed, do grule the Lords flock with force and with cruelty, has Lords over Gods heritage.
There is this much chronicled in utwo Relations of the proceedings of the same, howbeit otherwise very different, They who did sue for a Reformation of Church Discipline in England, complained, xthat they receaved no other answer but this, there is a law, it must bee obeyed, and after the same manner are we used, yet is this too hard dealing, in the judgement of ya Formalist, who saith, that the Church doeth not so deale with them whom Christ hath redeemed, ac si non possint capere quid sit religiosum, quid minus, itaque quae ab Ecclesia proficiscuntur, admonitiones potius & hortationes dici debent, quam leges. And after he sayes of Ecclesiasticall Auctority, tenetur reddere praescripti rationem. I graunt zsaith Paybody, it is unlawfull to doe in Gods Worship any thing, upon the meere pleasure of man. Chemnitius ataketh the Tridentine Fathers, for not expounding rationes decreti. bIunius observeth, that in the Councell of the Apostles, mention was made of the reason of their decree. And ca learned Historician, observeth of the auncient Councels, that there were in them reasonings, colloquies, discussions, disputes, yea, that whatsoever was done or spoken, was called the acts of the Councell, and all was given unto all. Caeterum saith dDanaeus, quoniam ut ait Tertullianus in Apologetico, iniqua lex est quae se examinari non patitur; non tam vi cogere homines ad obsequium quam ratione persuadere debent caeleges, quae scribuntur à pio nomotheta. Ergo fere sunt duae cujusvis legis partes, quemadmodum etiam Plato. lib. 4. de legibus scribit, nimirum praefatio & lex ipsa. i. e. jussio lege comprehensa. Praefatio causum affert, cur homiuum negotiis sic prospiciatur. Ecclesiasticall Auctority should prescribe what it thinks fit, magis docendo, quam jubendo; magis monendo; quam minando, as eAugustin speaketh. Non oportet vi vel necessitate constringere, sed ratione & vitae exemplis suadere, f
- uPerth assemb. p. 8. 9. 10. and B. Lindsay in the proceedings set down by him. p. 63. 64.Perth assemb. p. 8. 9. 10. and B. Lindsay in the proceedings set downe by him. p. 63. 64.
- xPark of the cross cap. 5. sect. 10.Parke of the crosse cap. 5. sect. 10.
- yCamer. prael. tom. 1. de potest. Eccl. contr. 2.
- zApol. part. 3. cap. 1. sect. 25.
- aexam. part. 3. de calib. Sacerd. pag. 38.
- bAnimad. in Bel. contr. 3. lib. 4. cap. 16.
- cHist. of the counc. of Trent. lib. 2.
- dPolit. Christ. lib. 5. cap. 3.
- eEpist. 64.
- fin apologet.
- gEzech. 34. 4.
- h1 Pet. 5. 3.
