A discourse concerning liturgies, and their imposition

In this sense we acknowledge the Power ordaining and imposing this Liturgy to be of God, to be good and lawful, to be obeyed unto the utmost extent of that Obedience, which to man can be ⟨p. 53⟩due, and that upon the account of the Institution and Command of God himself. But yet supposing the Liturgy to fall within the precincts and limits of that Obedience, yet the observance and use of it, being not Commanded of God, is purely an act of Civil obedience, and not Religious, wherein the Conscience lies in no immediate subjection to Jesus Christ. It is of the same general nature with the honest discharge of the Office of a Constable; and this seems in consistent with the nature of the Worship of God.

But whatever be the immediate imposing Power, we have direction as to our duty in the last Injunction of our blessed Saviour to his Apostle, Matth, 28. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded. In things which concern the Worship of God, the commanding Power is Christ; and his Command the adequate Rule and Measure of our Obedience. The Teaching, Commanding, and enjoining of others to do and observe those Commands, is the duty of those entrusted with Christs Authority under him. Their Commission to Teach and Enjoin, and our Duty to Do and Observe, have the same Rules, the same Measure, Bounds, and Limits. What they teach and enjoin beyond what Christ hath Commanded, they do it not by virtue of any Commission from him; what we do beyond what he hath Commanded, we do it not in obedience to him; what they so teach, they do it in their own Name, not his; what we so do, we do in our own strength, not his; nor to his Glory. The Answer of Bellarmine to that Argument of the Protestant Divines from this place, against the Impositions of his Church, is the most weak and frivolous, that I think ever any Learned man was forced to make use of; and yet where to find better will not easily occur. Our Lord Jesus Christ saith, Go and teach men to do and observe whatever I have commanded you, and so I am with you; To which he subjoins, It is true; but yet we are bound also to obey them that are set over us, that is our Church Guides; and so leaves the Argument as sufficiently discharged. Now the whole Question is concerning what those Church Guides may teach and enjoy, whereunto we are to give Obedience, which is here expressly restrained to the thing Commanded