Answ. What is to be done for the Churches Peace we shall afterwards consider. To be done, is intended of Acts of Religion in the Worship of God. I say then, the Apostles never gave any such Rule, as that pretended. ⟨p. 273⟩the Rule they gave was that all things which Christ hath commanded, were to be done and observed, and for the doing of any thing else, they gave no Rule. Especially they gave not such a large Rule as this, that might serve the turn and interest of the worst of men, in imposing on the Church, whatever they esteemed Lawful, as (not by virtue of any Rule of the Apostles, but in an open Rejection of all they gave) it afterwards fell out in the Church. This is a Rule, which would do the Work to the Purpose of all that have the Reputation of Governors in the Church, be it the Pope, or who it will. For they are themselves the sole Judges of what is Lawful; the People, as it is pretended, understand nothing of these things. Whatever therefore they have a Mind to introduce into the Worship of God, and to impose on the Practice of men therein, is to be done by virtue of this Apostolical Rule, for the Churches Peace, provided they judge it Lawful; and surely no Pope was ever yet so stark mad, as to impose things in Religion, which he himself judged unlawful. Besides, things may be Lawful in themselves, that is, Morally, which yet, it is not Lawful to introduce into the Worship of God, because not expedient, nor for Edification; Yea things may be Lawful to be done sometimes, on some occasions, in the Worship of God, which yet, it would be unlawful to impose by virtue of a general binding Rule for all times and seasons. Instances may be multiplied in each kind. Therefore I say the Apostles never gave this Rule; they opened no such Door unto Arbitrary Imposition; they laid no such Yoke on the Necks of the Disciples, which might prove heavier, and did so, then that of the Jewish Ceremonies which they had taken away; namely, that they were to do and observe all that should by their ⟨p. 274⟩Rulers be imposed on them as lawful in their Judgement. This Sovereignty over their Consciences was reserved by the Apostles unto the Authority of Christ alone, and their Obedience was required by them, only unto his commands. This is that which I see some would be at. To presume themselves to be the Church, at least the only Rulers and Governors of it.
Answ. What is to be done for the Churches Peace we shall afterwards consider. To be done, is intended of Acts of Religion in the Worship of God. I say then, the Apostles never gave any such Rule, as that pretended. ⟨p. 273⟩the Rule they gave was that all things which Christ hath commanded, were to be done and observed, and for the doing of any thing else, they gave no Rule. Especially they gave not such a large Rule as this, that might serve the turn and interest of the worst of men, in imposing on the Church, whatever they esteemed Lawful, as (not by vertue of any Rule of the Apostles, but in an open Rejection of all they gave) it afterwards fell out in the Church. This is a Rule, which would do the Work to the Purpose of all that have the Reputation of Governours in the Church, be it the Pope, or who it will. For they are themselves the sole Judges of what is Lawful; the People, as it is pretended, understand nothing of these things. Whatever therefore they have a Mind to introduce into the Worship of God, and to impose on the Practice of men therein, is to be done by vertue of this Apostolical Rule, for the Churches Peace, provided they judge it Lawful; and surely no Pope was ever yet so stark mad, as to impose things in Religion, which he himself judged unlawful. Besides, things may be Lawful in themselves, that is, Morally, which yet, it is not Lawful to introduce into the Worship of God, because not expedient, nor for Edification; Yea things may be Lawful to be done sometimes, on some occasions, in the Worship of God, which yet, it would be unlawful to impose by vertue of a general binding Rule for all times and seasons. Instances may be multiplied in each kind. Therefore I say the Apostles never gave this Rule; they opened no such Door unto Arbitrary Imposition; they laid no such Yoke on the Necks of the Disciples, which might prove heavier, and did so, then that of the Jewish Ceremonies which they had taken away; namely, that they were to do and observe all that should by their ⟨p. 274⟩Rulers be imposed on them as lawful in their Judgement. This Soveraignity over their Consciences was reserved by the Apostles unto the Authority of Christ alone, and their Obedience was required by them, only unto his commands. This is that which I see some would be at. To presume themselves to be the Church, at least the only Rulers and Governours of it.
