Five disputations of church-government and worship

§. 10. Object. But if a Magistrate may not make Laws about Indifferent things, then may he not make any Laws at all: For Evil may not be commanded: And that Good which God hath commanded already, having a higher stamp then mans authority, needs no such Law.

§. 10. Object. But if a Magistrate may not make Laws about Indifferent things, then may he not make any Laws at all: For Evill may not be commanded: And that Good which God hath commanded already, having a higher stamp then mans authority, needs no such Law.

§. 11. Answ. I have heard this Argument insisted on in the reign of the Ceremonies, above any other: but it deserveth not such high esteem. For 1. The work of the Magistrate, at least about the worship of God (and so of the Pastors) is not directly to make new duties: but to procure Obedience to the Laws of God. And therefore they are to command the same things again that God hath commanded, and to forbid the same that he hath forbidden. If a Magistrate make a Law, and see it disregarded, he may make another to quicken men to obedience and execution of the former. 2. And this is not vain, though it have the stamp of a higher authority before (unless you will say that humane Government is vain;) For Magistrates are seen when God is unseen; Corporal penalties are felt, when Hell fire is unseen, unfelt, and too little believed. Present things have an advantage for operation. 3. And we grant that some things neither commanded nor forbidden before, may be commanded or forbidden by a Magistrate, so they be not Indifferent as to their Usefulness and Aptitude, to be a means for the obtaining of that which is the end of the command.

§. 11. Answ. I have heard this Argument insisted on in the reign of the Ceremonies, above any other: but it deserveth not such high esteem. For 1. The work of the Magistrate, at least about the worship of God (and so of the Pastors) is not directly to make new duties: but to procure Obedience to the Laws of God. And therefore they are to command the same things again that God hath commanded, and to forbid the same that he hath forbidden. If a Magistrate make a Law, and see it disregarded, he may make another to quicken men to obedience and execution of the former. 2. And this is not vain, though it have the stamp of a higher authority before (unless you will say that humane Government is vain;) For Magistrates are seen when God is unseen; Corporal penalties are felt, when Hell fire is unseen, unfelt, and too little believed. Present things have an advantage for operation. 3. And we grant that some things neither commanded nor forbidden before, may be commanded or forbidden by a Magistrate, so they be not Indifferent as to their Vsefulness and Aptitude, to be a means for the obtaining of that which is the end of the command.