which is but to forbear our selves a sinful act.
⟨p. 13⟩XVII. We never pleaded for any Elders (or Chancellors) power of the Keys, who are but Lay-men.
XVIII. We never held that Magistrates are bound to add their force by the Sword, to the censures of the Church as such, and to punish men more because the Church hath by Excommunication cast them out, or because they are not reconciled.
XIX. We never thought that things indifferent do become unlawful to us, because the Magistrate commandeth them.
XX. We never held that the Scripture is a particular Rule, commanding every accident and circumstance about Gods Worship, but only a general Rule (requiring all to be done in Love and Peace, and to edification, and decently, &c.) in those circumstances which must be some way determined, and God hath left to variable Humane determination: Such as are Time, Place, Utensils, Translations, Sections, Metres, Tunes, Methods and Words in Preaching and Prayer, Habit, Gesture, and many such.
XXI. We never held it unlawful to do one of these actions, though it were by mistake unlawfully commanded; e. g. If the Rulers prescribe a Time, Place, Metre, Tune, &c. unfit, if it be not so bad as to overthrow the ends and use of the Worship, the fault of the Commander will not disoblige us from the duty of obeying. And whereas some argue, that no man hath authority to sin, ergo, we are not bound to obey that which is no act of authority: I answer, Rulers have authority to command that which is good, though not in a faulty manner; and when we cannot do the good without the faulty manner, it is their fault and not ours: e. g. If an inconvenient Time, Place, Text, Tune, &c. be chosen, the Union and Concord which is held by agreeing in those▪ Modes is necessary: He that will not join in them cannot join in the Worship. So that we obey the Ruler or Guide as a determiner of the means of Concord, which is necessary, and not sub ratione erroris, as misdetermining, though in that which is misdetermined. If a Master bid his Servant go at an unseasonable time about his work, it's his duty to go at that time. We never pray without some fault in the manner, and yet must rather do it so than not at all. The mistaken Ruler bids us not sin: It's his sin to choose a mis-circumstance; and it is not his own action that he bids us do, but ours:
which is but to forbear our selves a sinful act.
⟨p. 13⟩XVII. We never pleaded for any Elders (or Chancellors) power of the Keys, who are but Lay-men.
XVIII. We never held that Magistrates are bound to add their force by the Sword, to the censures of the Church as such, and to punish men more because the Church hath by Excommunication cast them out, or because they are not reconciled.
XIX. We never thought that things indifferent do become unlawful to us, because the Magistrate commandeth them.
XX. We never held that the Scripture is a particular Rule, commanding every accident and circumstance about Gods Worship, but only a general Rule (requiring all to be done in Love and Peace, and to edification, and decently, &c.) in those circumstances which must be some way determined, and God hath left to variable Humane determination: Such as are Time, Place, Utensils, Translations, Sections, Metres, Tunes, Methods and Words in Preaching and Prayer, Habit, Gesture, and many such.
XXI. We never held it unlawful to do one of these actions, though it were by mistake unlawfully commanded; e. g. If the Rulers prescribe a Time, Place, Metre, Tune, &c. unfit, if it be not so bad as to overthrow the ends and use of the Worship, the fault of the Commander will not disoblige us from the duty of obeying. And whereas some argue, that no man hath authority to sin, ergo, we are not bound to obey that which is no act of authority: I answer, Rulers have authority to command that which is good, though not in a faulty manner; and when we cannot do the good without the faulty manner, it is their fault and not ours: e. g. If an inconvenient Time, Place, Text, Tune, &c. be chosen, the Union and Concord which is held by agreeing in those▪ Modes is necessary: He that will not joyn in them cannot joyn in the Worship. So that we obey the Ruler or Guide as a determiner of the means of Concord, which is necessary, and not sub ratione erroris, as misdetermining, though in that which is misdetermined. If a Master bid his Servant go at an unseasonable time about his work, it's his duty to go at that time. We never pray without some fault in the manner, and yet must rather do it so than not at all. The mistaken Ruler bids us not sin: It's his sin to choose a mis-circumstance; and it is not his own action that he bids us do, but ours:
