The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

Think not that all is unlawful to be obeyed, which is unlawfully commanded.

Many a Ruler sinneth in his Commands, when it is no sin but a duty of the inferior to obey them. He that hath but a bad end, or bad circumstances may sin in commanding: As if a Magistrate command Religious Duties in mere Policy for his own Advantage, or if he enforce a lawful Command with unlawful Penalties: And yet it will be the Subjects Duty to obey. Yea, as to the matter it self, it may be unlawful for a Ruler to command a thing that will do no good, (because it is a vain Command, and maketh men spend that time in vain:) and yet it may be the Subjects Duty to do it.

MAny a Ruler sinneth in his Commands, when it is no sin but a duty of the inferior to obey them. He that hath but a bad end, or bad circumstances may sin in commanding: As if a Magistrate command Religious Duties in meer Policy for his own Advantage, or if he enforce a lawful Command with unlawful Penalties: And yet it will be the Subjects Duty to obey. Yea, as to the matter it self, it may be unlawful for a Ruler to command a thing that will do no good, (because it is a vain Command, and maketh men spend that time in vain:) and yet it may be the Subjects Duty to do it.

If the Magistrate choose an inconvenient place for public worship, or an unfit hour, or if the Pastor choose a less fit translation, meter or tune, or other circumstances of worship, it may be their sin to do so, and yet the peoples duty to obey them. If a Father bid his Child but carry a straw from one place to another, it is his fault so to employ his time in vain; but the Child is not faulty in obeying. Indeed if the thing commanded be such as is simply evil, and forbidden us by God, in all cases whatsoever, than no ones commands can make it lawful. But if it be a thing that is only inconvenient, or unlawful by some lesser accident, then the command of authority