Some decent Habit is necessary;1 either the Magistrate, or the Minister, or associated Pastors must determine what. I think neither Magistrate, nor Synod, should do more than hinder indecency; if they do, and tie all to one habit (and suppose it were an indecent habit) yet this is but an imprudent use of power, it is a thing within the Magistrates reach, he doth not alien work, but his own work amiss, and therefore the thing in it self being lawful, I would obey him, and use that garment, if I could not be dispensed with. Yea though, secondarily, the whiteness be to signify purity, and so it be made a teaching sign, yet would I obey. And see no reason to scruple the lawfulness of the Ring in Marriage;2 for, though the Papists make a Sacrament of Marriage, yet we have no reason to take it for any Ordinance of Divine Worship, more than the solemnizing a Contract between a Prince and People. All things are sanctified and pure to the Pure. And, for Organs or other Instruments of Music in God's Worship,3 they being a help, partly naturally and partly artificial to the exhilarating the Spirits, for the praise of God, I know no argument to prove them simply unlawful,4 but what would prove a Cup of Wine unlawful, or the Tune and Metre, and Melody of Singing unlawful.
Some decent Habit is necessary;1 either the Magistrate, or the Minister, or associated Pastors must determine what. I think neither Magistrate, nor Synod, should do more than hinder indecency; if they do, and tye all to one habit (and suppose it were an indecent habit) yet this is but an imprudent use of power, it is a thing within the Magistrates reach, he doth not aliene work, but his own work amiss, and therefore the thing in it self being lawful, I would obey him, and use that garment, if I could not be dispensed with. Yea though, secondarily, the whiteness be to signifie purity, and so it be made a teaching sign, yet would I obey. And see no reason to scruple the lawfulness of the Ring in Marriage;2 for, though the Papists make a Sacrament of Marriage, yet we have no reason to take it for any Ordinance of Divine Worship, more than the solemnizing a Contract between a Prince and People. All things are sanctified and pure to the Pure. And, for Organs or other Instruments of Musick in God's Worship,3 they being a help, partly naturally and partly artificial to the exhilarating the Spirits, for the praise of God, I know no argument to prove them simply unlawful,4 but what would prove a Cup of Wine unlawful, or the Tune and Metre, and Melody of Singing unlawful.
- 1P. 409.
- 2P. 411.
- 3P. 412.
- 4Christ. Direct. p. 884
