A26853:463
An account of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persuasions appointedAn accompt of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persvvasions appointed
An account of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persuasions appointed by His Sacred Majesty, according to letters patent, for the review of the Book of common prayer, &c.An accompt of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persvvasions appointed by His Sacred Majesty, according to letters patent, for the review of the Book of common prayer, &c.
London : s.n., 1661
THE PAPERS That passed between the COMMISSIONERS Appointed by his M… › Preface › Section 5
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.
Sect. 5.
[These Rules and Canons for decency made and urged by Superiors;1 are to be obeyed by Inferiors, till it be made as clear, that now they are not bound to obey, as it is evident in general, that they ought to obey Superiors; for if the exemption from obedience be not as evident as the Command to obey, it must needs be sin not to obey.]
[These Rules and Canons for decency made and urged by Superiours;1 are to be obeyed by Inferiours, till it be made as clear, that now they are not bound to obey, as it is evident in general, that they ought to obey Superiours; for if the exemption from obedience be not as evident as the Command to obey, it must needs be sin not to obey.]
- 1Answ. Rule 3. Heb. 13. 17. Rom. 13
Repl. 1To your third Rule we add; It is first considerable, what the thing is? and then, how it is apprehended? if it be really lawful, and well commanded, and to be obeyed, it is no ignorance, doubt or error of the Subject, that can exempt him from the duty of obeying; But it may ensnare him in a certainty of sinning, whether he obey, or disobey: For as God commandeth him to obey, and also not to do that which man commandeth, when God forbiddeth it; So he obligeth the erroneous, first to lay down his errors, and so to obey. But if a thing be forbidden of God, and commanded of man, and one man erroneously thinks it lawful, and that he should obey, and another is in doubt between both, it is neither a duty, nor lawful for either of them here to obey: For mans error changeth not Gods Laws, nor disobligeth himself from obedience; But this mans duty is both, to lay by that error, and to refuse obedience: But if the question be only of the order of such a persons duty: We answer; If the thing be really lawful, and obedience a duty, then he that doubteth or erreth, should if possible suddenly lay by his errors or doubt, and so obey: But if that cannot be, he should first go about the fittest means, for his better information till he be resolved, and so obey. And so on the contrary, if really the thing commanded be unlawful, if he be sure of it, he must resolve against it; if he hesitate, he is not therefore allowed to do a thing forbidden, because he is ignorant: For his ignorance is supposed culpable it self; but he is first