A41330:349
The questions between the conformist and nonconformist, truly stated, and briefly discussed Dr. Falkner,…
The questions between the conformist and nonconformist, truly stated, and briefly discussed Dr. Falkner, The friendly debate &c., examined and answered : together with a discourse about separation, and some animadversions upon Dr. Stillingfleet's book entitled, The unreasonableness of separation : observations upon Dr. Templars sermon preached at a visitation in Cambridge : a brief vindication of Mr. Stephen Marshal.The questions between the conformist and nonconformist, truly stated, and briefly discussed Dr. Falkner, The friendly debate &c., examined and answered : together with a discourse about separation, and some animadversions upon Dr. Stillingfleet's book entituled, The unreasonableness of separation : observations upon Dr. Templers sermon preached at a visitation in Cambridge : a brief vindication of Mr. Stephen Marshal.
London: printed for Tho. Cockerill, 1681
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2ly. Come to Decency, how they serve for Decency I know not. I think light of Scripture, light of Nature, and common approved Civil custom should be rules for Decency, not mens bare wills. For then some men will appoint such Ceremonies of such a colour, and such a Form; and he saith the worship of God cannot be decently performed without them. Another appoints Ceremonies of a contrary colour, and different Form, and saith the Worship cannot be performed decently without them. So many Heads and Wills, so many Rules for Decency, that we shall never know when the Worship of God is performed decently. For the Woman to be veiled, as the note of her subjection, was the civil custom before the Worship of God was known in Corinth; for the woman now to lay it by, was undecent.
2ly. Come to Decency, how they serve for Decency I know not. I think light of Scripture, light of Nature, and common approved Civil custom should be rules for Decency, not mens bare wills. For then some men will appoint such Ceremonies of such a colour, and such a Form; and he saith the worship of God cannot be decently performed without them. Another appoints Ceremonies of a contrary colour, and different Form, and saith the Worship cannot be performed decently without them. So many Heads and VVills, so many Rules for Decency, that we shall never know when the Worship of God is performed decently. For the Woman to be vailed, as the note of her subjection, was the civil custom before the Worship of God was known in Corinth; for the woman now to lay it by, was undecent.
3ly. That is decent, the contrary to which is undecens; but for a Minister to pray without a Surplice is not undecent. You know how ⟨p. 35⟩many foreign Churches will not use it; what then? is the Worship of God therefore performed undecently in all those Churches? Nay, appeal to your own Sons; the chief Gentleman in my Parish, and a Son of your Church told me, I think you are as decent and more decent in your Gown and Cassock, than you are in a Surplice. I have spoken with several Ministers, Conformists, and they all tell me, they would not care if they were all thrown out of the Church; only they are commanded, therefore they use them. But were they such things as without which the Worship could not be decently performed, they would not speak so slightly of them, and wish them thrown out; they are men of reason, fit to judg of decency.