Secondly, and if you think that the Scripture commandeth you this or that positive means, if Nature and true Reason assure you that it is against the End, and is like to do much more harm than good, be assured that you mistake that Scripture. For first, God telleth us in general that the means as such are for the End, and therefore are no means when they are against it! The Ministry ⟨p. 206⟩is for edification and not for destruction. The Sabbath is for man and not man for the Sabbath. Secondly, God hath told us, that no positive duty is a duty at all times. To pray when I should be saving my neighbours life, is a sin and not a duty, though we are commanded to pray continually. So is it to be preaching; or hearing on the Lords day, when I should be quenching a fire in the town, or doing necessary works of mercy: Wherefore the Disciples Sabbath-breaking was justified by Christ; and he giveth us all a charge to learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice; which must needs import, I prefer mercy before sacrifice and would have no sacrifice which hindereth mercy. Therefore if a Sermon were to be preached so unseasonably or in such unsuitable circumstances, as that according to Gods ordinary way of working, it were like to do more hurt than good; it were no duty at that time. Discipline is an Ordinance of Christ: But if sound reason tell me, that if I publicly call this man to Repentance, or excommunicate him, it is like to do much hurt to the Church and no good to him, it would be at that time no duty but a sin. As Physic must be forborne where the Disease will but be exasperated by it. Therefore Christ boundeth our very preaching and reproof, with a [Shake off the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. And give not that which is holy to dogs, &c. When treading under foot, and turning again and rending us, is l•kest to be the success, the wisdom of Christ, and not that of the flesh only, requireth us to take it for no duty. This is to be observed by them that think that Admonitions, and excommunications, ⟨p. 207⟩and exclusion from the Sacrament, must be used in all places and at all times alike, without respect to the End, come of it what will: Or that will tempt God by presuming that he will certainly either bless or at least justify, their unseasonable and imprudent actions, as if they were a duty at all times.
Secondly, and if you think that the Scripture commandeth you this or that positive means, if Nature and true Reason assure you that it is against the End, and is like to do much more harm than good, be assured that you mistake that Scripture. For first, God telleth us in general that the means as such are for the End, and therefore are no means when they are against it! The Ministery ⟨p. 206⟩is for edification and not for destruction. The Sabbath is for man and not man for the Sabbath. Secondly, God hath told us, that no positive duty is a duty at all times. To pray when I should be saving my neighbours life, is a sin and not a duty, though we are commanded to pray continually. So is it to be preaching; or hearing on the Lords day, when I should be quenching a fire in the town, or doing necessary works of mercy: Wherefore the Disciples Sabbath-breaking was justified by Christ; and he giveth us all a charge to learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice; which must needs import, I prefer mercy before sacrifice and would have no sacrifice which hindereth mercy. Therefore if a Sermon were to be preached so unseasonably or in such unsuitable circumstances, as that according to Gods ordinary way of working, it were like to do more hurt than good; it were no duty at that time. Discipline is an Ordinance of Christ: But if sound reason tell me, that if I publickly call this man to Repentance, or excommunicate him, it is like to do much hurt to the Church and no good to him, it would be at that time no duty but a sin. As Physick must be forborn where the Disease will but be exasperated by it. Therefore Christ boundeth our very preaching and reproof, with a [Shake off the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. And give not that which is holy to dogs, &c. When treading under foot, and turning again and rending us, is l•kest to be the success, the wisdome of Christ, and not that of the flesh only, requireth us to take it for no duty. This is to be observed by them that think that Admonitions, and excommunications, ⟨p. 207⟩and exclusion from the Sacrament, must be used in all places and at all times alike, without respect to the End, come of it what will: Or that will tempt God by presuming that he will certainly either bless or at least justifie, their unseasonable and imprudent actions, as if they were a duty at all times.
