A69533:1205
Five disputations of church-government and worship
Five disputations of church-government and worship by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1659
Qu. Whether a stinted Liturgy, or form of Worship, be a desirable m… › Proposition 1
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.
This is thus proved:
Argument 1. That which is not directly or consequentially forbidden by God, remaineth lawful: A stinted Liturgy is not directly or consequentially forbidden by God: therefore it remaineth lawful.
Argument 1. That which is not directly or consequentially forbidden by God, remaineth lawfull: A stinted Liturgy is not directly or consequentially forbidden by God: therefore it remaineth lawfull.
The Major is undoubted, because nothing but a Prohibition can make a thing unlawful. Sin is a transgression of a Law: Where there is no Law, there is no transgression: And yet I have heard very Reverend men answer this, that it is enough that it is not commanded, though not forbidden. Which is plainly to deny both Scripture and Civil Principles. Precept makes Duty, or a Necessity ex praecepto: Prohibitions make an action sinful, which is prohibited, as Precepts prove an Omission sinful of the Duty commanded. But Licitum which is between Duty and sin, is that which is neither commanded nor forbidden. And such an act is not Actus Moralis, being neither good nor evil.
The Major is undoubted, because nothing but a Prohibition can make a thing unlawfull. Sin is a transgression of a Law: Where there is no Law, there is no transgression: And yet I have heard very Reverend men answer this, that it is enough that it is not commanded, though not forbidden. Which is plainly to deny both Scripture and Civil Principles. Precept makes Duty, or a Necessity ex praecepto: Prohibitions make an action sinfull, which is prohibited, as Precepts prove an Omission sinfull of the Duty commanded. But Licitum which is between Duty and sin, is that which is neither commanded nor forbidden. And such an act is not Actus Moralis, being neither good nor evill.