A01760:96
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.
The B hath yet a third dart to throw at us. If the Church csaith Sect. VI he, hath power upon occasional motives to appoint occasional Fasts or Festivities, ⟨p. 23⟩may not she for constant and eternal blessings, which do infinitely excel all occasional benefits, appoint ordinary times of commemoration or thanksgiving. Ans. There are two reasons, for which the Church may and should appoint Fasts or Festivities upon occasional motives, and neither of them agreeth with ordinary Festivities. 1. Extraordinary Fasts either for obtaining some great blessing, or averting some great judgement, are necessary means to be used in such cases: likewise, extraordinary Festivities are necessary testifications of our thankfulness for the benefits which we have impetrate by our extraordinary Fasts; but ordinary Festivities for constant, & eternal blessings, have no necessary use. The celebration of set Anniversary days, is no necessary mean for conserving the commemoration of the benefits of redemption, Because we have occasion, not only every Sabbath day, but every other day, to call to mind these benefits, either in hearing, or reading, or meditating upon Gods Word. Dies Christo dicatos tollendos existimo judicoque saith dDanaeus: quotidienobis in Evangelii predication nascitur, circumciditur, moritur, resurgit Christus, 2. God hath given his Church a general precept for extraordinary Fasts, Joel, 1. 14. and. 2. 15. as likewise for Extraordinary Festivities, to praise God, and to give him thanks in the public assembly of his people, upon the occasional motive of some great benefit which by the means of our fasting and praying, we have obtained, Zechar. 8. 19. with. 7. 3. If it be said, that there is a general command for set Festivities, because there is a command for Preaching and hearing the Word, and for praising God for his benefits; and that there is no precept for particular Fasts, more then for particular Festivities? I ans. albeit there is a command for preaching & hearing the Word, and for praising God for his benefits, yet is there no command (no not in the most general generality,) for annexing these exercises of religion to set anniversary days, more then to other days: whereas it is plain, that there is a general command for fasting and humiliation, at some times, more then at other times.