A discourse concerning liturgies, and their imposition

Secondly, God doth exert his Authority immediately; and that either directly from Heaven, as in the giving of the Law; or ⟨p. 52⟩by the inspiration of others to declare his will, unto both which his Word written answereth. Now whatever is done in obedience to the Authority of God thus exerting it self, is a part of that Religious duty which we owe to God; whether it be in his first Institution and Appointment, or any duty in its primitive Revelation; or whether it be in the Commands he gives for the Observation of what he hath formerly appointed. For when God hath Commanded any things to be Observed in his Worship, though he design and appoint men to see them observed accordingly, and furnish them with the Authority of Commanding to that purpose, yet the interposition of that Authority of men, though by Gods Institution, doth not at all hinder, but that the duty performed is Religious obedience, relating directly to the Will and Command of God. The power commanding in the case we have in hand is mans, not that of the Lord: For though it be acknowledged that those who do command, have their Authority from God; yet unless the thing commanded be also in particular appointed by God, the Obedience that is yielded is purely Civil, and not Religious. This is the state of the matter under Consideration. The Commanding and Imposing Power is variously apprehended. Some say it is the Church that doth it; and so assert the Authority to be Ecclesiastical; every Church, say they, hath Power to order things of this nature for order and decency sake; when it is enquired what the Church is that they intend, there some are at a loss, and would fain insinuate somewhat into our thoughts that they dare not openly assert and maintain. The truth is, the Church in this sense is the King, or the King and Parliament, by whose Advice he exerts his Legislative Power. By their Authority was the Liturgy Composed, or it was Composed without Authority: by their Authority it must be Imposed if it be Imposed; what is, or was done in the Preparation of it by others, unto their judgement hath no more influence into the Authoritative imposition of it, when the act of a Person learned in the Law, drawing up a Bill for the Consideration of Parliament, hath into its binding Law Power, when confirmed.

Secondly, God doth exert his Authority immediately; and that either directly from Heaven, as in the giving of the Law; or ⟨p. 52⟩