Five disputations of church-government and worship

§. 39. 1. About Episcopacy (which was the principal point, concomitant with the Ceremonial Controversy) I have given you my thoughts before. 2. The ceremonies controverted among us, were especially, The surplice, the gesture of Kneeling in Receiving the Lords supper, the ring in Marriage, Laying the hand on the Book in taking a• Oath, the Organs and Church music, Holy days, Altars, Rails, and the Cross in Baptism. (To say nothing of the matter or form of the Prayers.)

§. 39. 1. About Episcopacy (which was the principal point, concomitant with the Ceremonial Controversie) I have given you my thoughts before. 2. The ceremonies controverted among us, were especially, The surplice, the gesture of Kneeling in Receiving the Lords supper, the ring in Marriage, Laying the hand on the Book in taking a• Oath, the Organs and Church musick, Holy daies, Altars, Rails, and the Cross in Baptism. (To say nothing of the matter or form of the Prayers.)

§. 40. And 1. If the surplice be Imposed by the Magistrate (as it was) who is a lawful Governor, and that directly but as a Decent Habit for a Minister in Gods service, I think he needlessly strained his Power, and sinfully made an engine to divide the Church, by making such a needless law, and laying the Peace of the Church upon it; But yet he meddled with nothing but was within the reach of his Power in the general. Some Decent Habit is Necessary; Either the Magistrate or the Minister himself, or the Associated Pastors must determine what. I think neither Magistrate nor Synod should do any more then hinder undecency: But yet if they do more, and tie all to one Habit, (and suppose ⟨p. 410⟩it were an undecent Habit) yet this is but an imprudent use of Power. It is a thing within the Magistrates reach; He doth not an alien work, but his own work amiss: and therefore the thing in it self being lawful, I would obey him, and use that garment, if I could not be dispensed with. Yea though Secondarily the Whiteness be to signify Purity, and so it be made a teaching sign, yet would I obey: For secondarily, we may lawfully and piously make Teaching signs of our food and raiment, and every thing we see. But if the Magistrate had said that the Primary reason or use of the Surplice was to be an instituted sacramental sign, to work grace on my soul, and engage me to God, then I durst not have used it, though secondarily it had been commanded as a decent garment. New Sacraments I durst not use, though a secondary use were lawful.