A42771:354
A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…
A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are discussed and resolved ... / by Mr. George Gillespie ... ; published by Mr. Patrick Gillespie ...A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are discussed and resolved ... / by Mr. George Gillespie ... ; published by Mr. Patrik Gillespie ...
Edinburgh: printed by Gideon Lithgow for George Swintoun, 1649Edinburgh: printed by Gedeon Lithgovv for George Svvintoun, 1649
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.
The word Uniformity is become as odious to divers who plead for Liberty and Toleration, as the word Conformity was in the Prelates times. Hence proceeded Mr Dells book against uniformity, and Mr Burtons book, entitled, Conformities deformity. I confess my love and desire of uniformity hath not made me any whit to depart from my former principles against the Prelatical conformity, or the astricting of mens consciences (at least in point of practise and observation) to certain rites, whether unlawful or indifferent in their own nature, under pain of censure. Yet I must needs justify (as not only lawful, but laudable) what the solemn League and Covenant of the three Kingdoms, obligeth us unto, namely to endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in one Confession of Faith, one Directory of Worship, one form of Church Government and Catechism.
THe word Vniformity is become als odious to divers who plead for Liberty and Tolleration, as the word Conformity was in the Prelats times. Hence proceeded Mr Delles book against uniformity, and Mr Burtons book, intituled, Conformities deformity. I confesse my love and desire of uniformity hath not made mee any whit to depart from my former principles against the Prelaticall conformity, or the astricting of mens consciences (at least in point of practise and observation) to certain rites, whether unlawful or indifferent in their own nature, under pain of censure. Yet I must needs justifie (as not only lawfull, but laudable) what the solemne League and Covenant of the three Kingdoms, obligeth us unto, namely to endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdomes to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in one Confession of Faith, one Directory of Worship, one forme of Church Government and Catechisme.
It is always to be remembered, that good things, yea the best things may be dangerously abused by the corruptions of Men, especially when the times are generally corrupted. Luther had reason in his time, and as the case stood then, to decline a general Synod of Protestants for unity in ceremonies (which some moved for) before the doctrine of Faith, and the substance of the Gospel was settled. He said the name of Synods and Counsels was almost as much suspected with him, as the name of free will, and that he would have the Churches freely and voluntarily to comply and conform in external rites, by following the best examples in these things, but by