A41330:546
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.
For our case; the things in question are no necessary circumstances of Divine Worship, as time, place, &c. which are necessary attendants of Worship, and Antecedaneous to any act of mans will; but such as have their dependence upon mans pleasure only. Hence you tell us, you may change them when you please. Those things fell under the command of God; and so not these, unless as forbidden by the general Law of God, as those meats were by particular Laws. For a man, a creature, to institute a Doctrinal, Religious Ceremony, to teach men their duty they owe to God; ordain it as a mean to help, stir up their minds to their duty, and annex this to the worship of God; yea so as there must be no Divine Worship unless this Ceremony be used, it is such high boldness, it doth so touch the Lords Prerogative, and tacitly so charge him with defect of wisdom, as if he had not appointed means sufficient to teach his Creature, but we must supply his defect by adding to his word; that let superstition speak never so smoothly, as it always comes with some pious end in the mouth, it is no other but wretched impiety, not will we by the help of his Grace conform unto it.
For our case; the things in question are no necessary circumstances of Divine Worship, as time, place, &c. which are necessary attendants of Worship, and Antecedaneous to any act of mans will; but such as have their dependance upon mans pleasure only. Hence you tell us, you may change them when you please. Those things fell under the command of God; and so not these, unless as forbidden by the general Law of God, as those meats were by particular Laws. For a man, a creature, to institute a Doctrinal, Religious Ceremony, to teach men their duty they owe to God; ordain it as a mean to help, stir up their minds to their duty, and annex this to the worship of God; yea so as there must be no Divine Worship unless this Ceremony be used, it is such high boldness, it doth so touch the Lords Prerogative, and tacitely so charge him with defect of wisdom, as if he had not appointed means sufficient to teach his Creature, but we must supply his defect by adding to his word; that let superstition speak never so smoothly, as it always comes with some pious end in the mouth, it is no other but wretched impiety, not will we by the help of his Grace conform unto it.