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

Sect. 10.

[The Command for decent Ceremonies,¹ may still continue in the Church, notwithstanding the 12. of Deut. and so it may too, for all the exceptions taken against them, by sundry Learned, Pious, and Orthodox persons, who have judged them they say unwarrantable; and if Laws may be abrogated as soon as those that list not to obey, will except against them, the world must needs run into confusion; but those that except are weak Brethren, whom by Christs Precept and Example we must not offend. If by weak we understand ignorant, they would take it ill to be so accounted, and it is their own fault if they be, there having been so very much written, as may satisfy any that have a mind to be satisfied. And as King James of blessed memory, said at Hampton Court (if after so many years Preaching the Gospel, there be any yet unsatisfied, I doubt it proceeds rather out of stubbornness of opinion, than out of tenderness of Conscience; if by tenderness of Conscience, they mean a fearfulness to sin, this would make them most easy to be satisfied, because most fearful to disobey Superiors.) But suppose there be any so scrupulous, as not satisfied with what hath been written, the Church may still without sin, urge her Command for these decent Ceremonies, and not be guilty of offending her weak Brother; for since the scandal is taken by him, not given by her, it is he that by vain scrupulosity offends himself, and lays the stumbling-block in his own way.]

[The Command for decent Ceremonies,¹ may still continue in the Church, notwithstanding the 12. of Deut. and so it may too, for all the exceptions taken against them, by sundry Learned, Pious, and Orthodox persons, who have judged them they say unwarrantable; and if Laws may be abrogated as soon as those that list not to obey, will except against them, the world must needs run into confusion; but those that except are weak Brethren, whom by Christs Precept and Example we must not offend. If by weak we understand ignorant, they would take it ill to be so accounted, and it is their own fault if they be, there having been so very much written, as may satisfie any that have a mind to be satisfied. And as King James of blessed memory, said at Hampton Court (if after so many years Preaching the Gospel, there be any yet unsatisfied, I doubt it proceeds rather out of stubborness of opinion, than out of tenderness of Conscience; if by tenderness of Conscience, they mean a fearfulness to sin, this would make them most easie to be satisfied, because most fearful to disobey Superiours.) But suppose there be any so scrupulous, as not satisfied with what hath been written, the Church may still without sin, urge her Command for these decent Ceremonies, and not be guilty of offending her weak Brother; for since the scandal is taken by him, not given by her, it is he that by vain scrupulosity offends himself, and layes the stumbling-block in his own way.]