Repl. 1To make Laws (to determine of undetermined Circumstances, necessary in genere, to be some way determined, and left to Magistrates or Ministers de specie, and to do this according to the general Rule of Scripture, and in order to the main end, and not against it) is not against the Royalty or Will or Christ; but to make new dedicating Covenanting Symbols, to signify the Doctrine of the Covenant of Grace, and solemnly engage us unto God, and place these in the public Worship, which are not mere Circumstances, but substantial Institutions, not necessary in genere (that there should be any such at all, besides Gods Sacraments) we fear this is a violation of the Royalty of Christ, and a reflection on his Laws, as insufficient. For, 1. If it belong to the Power proper to Christ, then it is a violation of his Royalty, for any man to exercise it; but it belongeth to the Power proper to Christ, Ergo, &c. The Minor is proved thus: If it belong to the universal Head, or Ruler of the Church, as such; then it belongs to the Power proper to Christ; (for we are ready to prove there is now under him, no universal Head or Ruler, personally, or collectively and civilly one) But, &c. If in the Reason of it, it should be the matter of an universal Law, if any, then it should be the work of the universal Law-giver, if any: But, &c. If in the Reason of it, it be equally useful to the Church, universal as to any particular Church, or Age, then it should according to the reason of it, be the matter of an universal Law, if of any: But, &c. It hath the same aptitude, to engage us to a duty of universal necessity, and hath no reason proper to this Age, or Place for it; but common to all. Moreover, it is no where committed ⟨p. 79⟩to the power or care of man; Ergo, it is proper to the Care and Power of Christ; no Text is showed that giveth man power in such things: To do all things decently and orderly, and to edification, is no giving of power on that pretence, to make new Covenanting dedicating Signs: To do Gods work decently, &c. is not to make more such of our own heads; it's but the right modifying of the work already set us. And to do all decently, orderly, and to edification, was a duty in Moses time, when yet such things as these in question might not be added by any but God: (when we say by God, we mean by his inspired Instruments;
Repl. 1To make Laws (to determine of undetermined Circumstances, necessary in genere, to be some way determined, and left to Magistrates or Ministers de specie, and to do this according to the general Rule of Scripture, and in order to the main end, and not against it) is not against the Royalty or Will or Christ; but to make new dedicating Covenanting Symbols, to signifie the Doctrine of the Covenant of Grace, and solemnly engage us unto God, and place these in the publick Worship, which are not meer Circumstances, but substantial Institutions, not necessary in genere (that there should be any such at all, besides Gods Sacraments) we fear this is a violation of the Royalty of Christ, and a reflection on his Laws, as insufficient. For, 1. If it belong to the Power proper to Christ, then it is a violation of his Royalty, for any man to exercise it; but it belongeth to the Power proper to Christ, Ergo, &c. The Minor is proved thus: If it belong to the universal Head, or Ruler of the Church, as such; then it belongs to the Power proper to Christ; (for we are ready to prove there is now under him, no universal Head or Ruler, personally, or collectively and civilly one) But, &c. If in the Reason of it, it should be the matter of an universal Law, if any, then it should be the work of the universal Law-giver, if any: But, &c. If in the Reason of it, it be equally useful to the Church, universal as to any particular Church, or Age, then it should according to the reason of it, be the matter of an universal Law, if of any: But, &c. It hath the same aptitude, to engage us to a duty of universal necessity, and hath no reason proper to this Age, or Place for it; but common to all. Moreover, it is no where committed ⟨p. 79⟩to the power or care of man; Ergo, it is proper to the Care and Power of Christ; no Text is shewed that giveth man power in such things: To do all things decently and orderly, and to edification, is no giving of power on that pretence, to make new Covenanting dedicating Signs: To do Gods work decently, &c. is not to make more such of our own heads; it's but the right modifying of the work already set us. And to do all decently, orderly, and to edification, was a duty in Moses time, when yet such things as these in question might not be added by any but God: (when we say by God, we mean by his inspired Instruments;
- 1Rep.
