Five disputations of church-government and worship

§. 23. 15. In Civil actions, that are Religious only finally, and by Participation, and not any acts of special worship, it is lawful to use Symbolical Rites, that are in their kind near of kin to Sacraments in their kind, and may be called, Civil Sacraments: such […] the sealing and delivery of Indentures, or other Covenant writings: and the delivery of Possession of a house by a Key, and of the Temple by a Book and Bell-rope, and of Land by a twig and turf; and of Civil Government by a Crown, or Sceptre, or Sword, &c. And such is the use of a Ring in Marriage.

§. 23. 15. In Civil actions, that are Religious only finally, and by Participation, and not any acts of special worship, it is lawfull to use Symbolical Rites, that are in their kind neer of kin to Sacraments in their kind, and may be called, Civil Sacraments: such 〈…〉 the sealing and delivery of Indentures, or other Covenant writings: and the delivery of Possession of a house by a Key, and of the Temple by a Book and Bel-rope, and of Land by a twig and turf; and of Civil Government by a Crown, or Scepter, or Sword, &c. And such is the use of a Ring in Marriage.

§. 24. 16. Though God hath commanded that certain persons thus and thus qualified shall be elected and ordained Ministers of Christ, and separated to the Gospel of God; yet hath •e not nominated the individual persons, but left it to man to choose them, according to the directions that he hath given them: Prudence therefore is here the judge.

§. 25. In all these cases, it is no usurpation, nor addition to the word or institution of God, for man to determine: It is but an obeying of Gods commands: All these are Necessary in their Genus, and commanded us of God, and the Species (or individuals in the last case) no where by the word of God determined of: