The place of Calvin hath been answered before. Junius is plainly of the same mind, and so to be interpreted, so also Zanchius, Daneus and Whitaker: But because Junius is styled here by the Def. with his deserved title of Judicious, it will not be amiss to show his judgement fully about such additions as our ceremonies are. To name therefore one place for all at this time, because there he speaketh professedly his judgement, and bindeth it with a solemn oath, for the sincerity and impartialness of his conscience in that behalf: The place I mean is in his Ecclestasticus, lib. 3 cap. 5. towards the end. Where first he distinguisheth betwixt things necessary, and others not necessary in the administration of the Church: and concerning even the latter sort, he modestly, but throughly showeth how little liberty is left unto men. If any man (saith he) either by Civill or Ecclesiastical authority will add things not necessary nor agreeable to order, we would not pertinaciously contend with him, but desire only that he would seriously consider of three things. 1 By what authority or example he is led to think that the holy Church of God, and the simplicity of the mysteries of Christ (whose voice only is ⟨p. 14⟩heard by his sheep, 1according to the commandment of the Father, Joh. 10 27) must be clad with humane traditions, which Christ doth reject • 2 To what end he judgeth that his things should be added unto those that are divine? For if the end be conformity with others, it were more equity, that other Churches should conform to those which come nearest to the word of God, as Cyprian's counsel is, then that these should conform to the other. If the end be comeliness, what is more comely then the simplicity of Christ? what is more simple then that comeliness? If there be no other reason beside will, then that of Tertullian is to be thought of, the will of God is the chief necessity, and that the Church of God is not tied unto mans wills in things divine. The 3 thing to be thought on it, what event always hath followed upon humane Traditions, as daily experience doth show.
The place of Calvin hath been answered before. Iunius is plainly of the same minde, and so to be interpreted, so also Zanchius, Daneus and Whitaker: But because Iunius is stiled here by the Def. vvith his deserved title of Iudicious, it will not be amisse to shew his judgement fully about such additions as our ceremonies are. To name therefore one place for all at this time, because there he speaketh professedly his judgement, and bindeth it with a solemn oath, for the sincerity and impartialnesse of his conscience in that behalfe: The place I meane is in his Ecclestasticus, lib. 3 cap. 5. towards the end. Where first he distinguisheth betwixt things necessarie, and others not necessarie in the administration of the Church: and concerning even the latter sort, he modestly, but throughly sheweth how little libertie is left unto men. If any man (saith he) either by Civill or Ecclesiasticall authority will adde things not necessarie nor agreable to order, wee would not pertinaciously contend with him, but desire onely that he would seriously consider of three things. 1 By what authority or example he is led to thinke that the holy Church of God, and the simplicity of the mysteries of Christ (whose voyce onely is ⟨p. 14⟩heard by his sheep, 1according to the commandement of the Father, Ioh. 10 27) must be clad with humane traditions, which Christ doth reject • 2 To what end he judgeth that his things should be added unto those that are divine? For if the end be conformitie with others, it were more equitie, that other Churches should conforme to those which come neerest to the word of God, as Cyprians counsell is, then that these should conforme to the other. If the end be comelinesse, what is more comely then the simplicity of Christ? what is more simple then that comelinesse? If there be no other reason beside will, then that of Tertullian is to be thought of, the will of God is the chiefe necessitie, and that the Church of God is not tyed unto mans wills in things divine. The 3 thing to be thought on it, what event alwaies hath followed upon humane Traditions, as daily experience doth shew.
- 1Junius here speaketh to our Defen. who pag. 3. calleth his ceremonies The garments of Religion.Iunius here speaketh to our Defen. who pag. 3. calleth his ceremonies The garments of Religion.
