Truth and innocence vindicated in a survey of a discourse concerning ecclesiastical polity, and…

To wind up the state of this Controversy; we say that antecedent to the Consideration of the power of the Magistrate, and all the Influence that it hath upon men or their Consciences, there is a superior determination of what is true, what false in Religion, what right and what wrong in the Worship of God, wherein the ⟨p. 101⟩Guidance of the Consciences of men doth principally depend, and whereinto it is ultimately resolved. This gives an Obligation, or Liberty unto them, antecedent unto the imposition of the Magistrate, of whose command and our actual Obedience unto them in these things, it is the Rule and Measure. And I think there is no Principle, no common presumption of Nature, nor dictate of Reason more evident, known, or confessed, than this, that whatever God commands Us in his Worship or otherwise, that we are to do; and whatever he forbids us, that we are not to do, be the things themselves in our eye great, or small.

To winde up the state of this Controversie; we say that antecedent to the Consideration of the power of the Magistrate, and all the Influence that it hath upon men or their Consciences, there is a superiour determination of what is true, what false in Religion, what right and what wrong in the Worship of God, wherein the ⟨p. 101⟩Guidance of the Consciences of men doth principally depend, and whereinto it is ultimately resolved. This gives an Obligation, or Liberty unto them, antecedent unto the imposition of the Magistrate, of whose command and our actual Obedience unto them in these things, it is the Rule and Measure. And I think there is no Principle, no common presumption of Nature, nor dictate of Reason more evident, known, or confessed, than this, that whatever God commands Us in his Worship or otherwise, that we are to do; and whatever he forbids us, that we are not to do, be the things themselves in our eye great, or small.

Neither is there any difference in these things with respect unto the Way or manner of the declaration of the Will of God; Whether it be by innate common light, or by Revelation, all is one; The Authority and Will of God in all is to be observed. Yea a Command of God made known by Revelation, (the way which is most contended about) may suspend as to any particular Instance, the greatest command that we are obliged unto by the Law of Nature in reference unto one another; as it did in the precept given to Abraham for the Sacrificing of his Son. And we shall