That this doeth follow upon the former grant, if so be that such exercises of religion be public actions, M. R. doeth well understand: & therefore to avoid that which he is loth to acknowledge, he denieth such actions to be of public nature. To this purpose he insinuateth 2 reasons. 1. Because a private action may be performed in a public place, as a public may in a private: and 2 because no action is public, that is not performed by public calling or authority. The former of which I willingly grant: and therefore made no such mention of the place, as if it were of it self sufficient to make these exercises public. The second I do flatly deny until I see that reason which (as he saith without any further proof) doeth of it self teach it. For this purpose he willeth the reader to see Mr. Perkins in treatise of christian equity; where nothing is to be found that pertaineth unto this purpose. For there Mr. P. speaketh only of such public actions, as are usually called actions of law, wherein public justice is questioned, the mitigation ⟨p. 5⟩whereof pertaineth unto that christian equity which there is handled: such as execution of penal statutes, suing of bonds, taking forfeitures & fines are. If he would know Mr. Perkins his judgement about this point, let him see to the purpose his treatise of divine or religious worship (the thing that now is in hand) where he shall find this description, church service is that which is performed publicly in the congregation of the people of God. But leaving his testimony, let us search a little after that reason which Master Robinson telleth us will teach us what actions are public. Public is as much as peoplelick because that which is not restrained unto one or a few,1 but extended as commune to a people either civill or ecclesiastical, that is peoplelick or public. Thus some actions done first in private, and after extending to the knowledge of the people, become thereby public scandals, though the actors of them have no public calling or authority for doing of them. Much more, are those actions to be esteemed public, which are performed in a public place, extending to the praesent knowledge or use of the people, & so intended, whether they be good or evil in which respect no man can deny the prophecies of Zedekiah & other his fellows 2 Crō. 18.
That this doeth follow upon the former grant, if so bee that such exercises of religion bee publick actions, M. R. doeth well understand: & therfore to avoyd that which he is loth to acknowledge, he denieth such actions to bee of publick nature. To this purpose he insinuateth 2 reasons. 1. Becaus a privat action may bee performed in a publick place, as a publick may in a privat: and 2 because no action is publick, that is not performed by publick calling or authoritie. The former of which I willingly grant: and therfore made no such mention of the place, as if it were of it self sufficient to make these exercises publick. The second I doe flatly denie until I see that reason which (as he sayth without any further proofe) doeth of it self teach it. For this purpose he willeth the reader to see Mr. Perkins in treatise of christian equity; where nothing is to be found that perteyneth unto this purpose. For there Mr. P. speaketh onely of such publick actiōs, as are usually called actions of lavv, wherin publick justice is quaestioned, the mitigation ⟨p. 5⟩wherof perteyneth unto that christian equitie which there is handled: such as execution of penall statutes, suing of bondes, taking forfeitures & fines are. If he would know Mr. Perkins his judgement about this point, let him see to the purpose his treatise of divine or religious worship (the thing that now is in hand) where he shall find this description, church service is that vvhich is performed publickly in the congregation of the people of God. But leaving his testimonie, let us search a litle after that reason which Maister Robinson telleth us will teach us what actions are publick. Publick is as much as peoplelick because that which is not restreined unto one or a few,1 but extended as commune to a people eyther civill or ecclesiasticall, that is peoplelick or publick. Thus some actions doen first in privat, and after extending to the knowledge of the people, become therby publick scandals, though the actors of them haue no publick calling or authoritie for doeing of them. Much more, are those actions to bee esteemed publick, which are performed in a publick place, extending to the praesent knowledge or use of the people, & so intēded, whether they bee good or evil in which respect no mā cā denie the prophecies of Zedekiach & other his fellowes 2 Crō. 18.
- 1Publicus quasi populicus.
