[To the second,1 That it is not a violation of Christs Royalty, to make such Laws for decency, but an exercise of his Power and Authority which he hath given to the Church, and the disobedience to such Commands of Superiors, is plainly a violation of his Royalty; As it is no violation of the Kings Authority, when his Magistrates command things according to his Laws, but disobedience to the Command of those injunctions of his Deputies, is violation of his Authority. Again, it can be no impeachment of Christs Laws, as insufficient, to make such Laws for decency, since our Saviour, as is evident by the Precepts themselves, did not intend by them to determine every minute and circumstance of time, place, manner of performance, and the like; but only to command in general the substance of those Duties, and the right ends that should be aimed at in the performance, and then left every man in particular (whom for that purpose he made reasonable) to guide himself by Rules of reason for private Services; and appointed Governors of the Church, to determine such particularities for the public. Thus our Lord commanded Prayers, Fasting, &c. But for the times and places of performance, he did not determine every of them, but left them to be guided as we have said. So that it is no impeachment of his Laws, as insufficient, to make Laws for determining those particulars of decency, which himself did not, as is plain by his Precepts, intend to determine, but left us Governors for that purpose, to whom he said [As my Father sent me, even so send I you, and let all things be done decently, and in order] of whom he hath said to us, [Obey those that have the oversight over you] and told us, ⟨p. 78⟩that if we will not hear his Church, we must not be accounted as Christians, but Heathens and Publicans; And yet nevertheless they will not hear it, and obey it in so small a matter, as a Circumstance of time, place, habit, or the like, which she thinks decent and fit, and yet will be accounted the best Christians, and tell us that it is the very awe of Gods Law, Deut. 12. 32. that keeps them from obedience to the Church in these Commands; not well considering that it cannot be any adding to the Word of God, to command things for order and decency, which the Word of God-commands to be done, so as they be not commanded as Gods immediate Word, but as the Laws of men;
[To the second,1 That it is not a violation of Christs Royalty, to make such Laws for decency, but an exercise of his Power and Authority which he hath given to the Church, and the disobedience to such Commands of Superiours, is plainly a violation of his Royalty; As it is no violation of the Kings Authority, when his Magistrates command things according to his Laws, but disobedience to the Command of those injunctions of his Deputies, is violation of his Authority. Again, it can be no impeachment of Christs Laws, as insufficient, to make such Laws for decency, since our Saviour, as is evident by the Precepts themselves, did not intend by them to determine every minute and circumstance of time, place, manner of performance, and the like; but only to command in general the substance of those Duties, and the right ends that should be aimed at in the performance, and then left every man in particular (whom for that purpose he made reasonable) to guide himself by Rules of reason for private Services; and appointed Governours of the Church, to determine such particularities for the publick. Thus our Lord commanded Prayers, Fasting, &c. But for the times and places of performance, he did not determine every of them, but left them to be guided as we have said. So that it is no impeachment of his Laws, as insufficient, to make Laws for determining those particulars of decency, which himself did not, as is plain by his Precepts, intend to determine, but left us Governours for that purpose, to whom he said [As my Father sent me, even so send I you, and let all things be done decently, and in order] of whom he hath said to us, [Obey those that have the oversight over you] and told us, ⟨p. 78⟩that if we will not hear his Church, we must not be accounted as Christians, but Heathens and Publicans; And yet nevertheless they will not hear it, and obey it in so small a matter, as a Circumstance of time, place, habit, or the like, which she thinks decent and fit, and yet will be accounted the best Christians, and tell us that it is the very awe of Gods Law, Deut. 12. 32. that keeps them from obedience to the Church in these Commands; not well considering that it cannot be any adding to the Word of God, to command things for order and decency, which the Word of God-commands to be done, so as they be not commanded as Gods immediate Word, but as the Laws of men;
- 1Ans. 2. Ans.
