Five disputations of church-government and worship

§. 4. The English Church Laws do tie the Ministers to a particular habit, and to the particular Chapters of Scripture that we must read: and if the Law-givers had pleased, they might as well have tied us to that particular Text which they will have us preach on, and forbid us to choose a Text as a Chapter: And they might have as well tied us to particular Psalms in singing, as in Reading. But all this is against the nature of our office, and the good of the Church: And therefore it is not fit matter for a Law. If I know my hearers to be most addicted to Drunkenness, must I be tied up from Reading or Preaching against that sin, and tied to Read and Preach only against Covetousness or the like, because it seemeth meet to Governors to tie me to a constant course? If I have a tractable people, it may do them no harm to limit them to this or that gesture, vesture▪ &c. But what if they be prejudiced against a thing that in it self is lawful, and take it to be a sin, and resolve that they will rather forbear Gods Ordinances then use a thing that their Consciences are against? must I needs exercise or ⟨p. 441⟩press a Gesture, vesture or such Ceremony, when I see it tendeth to the destruction of my flock?¹ Must I needs deny the Lords Supper to all my flock, if they dare not receive it in this or that gesture (let it be sitting or kneeling,) and all because I am commanded to do so?

§. 4. The English Church Laws do tie the Ministers to a particular habit, and to the particular Chapters of Scripture that we must read: and if the Law-givers had pleased, they might as well have tied us to that particular Text which they will have us preach on, and forbid us to choose a Text as a Chapter: And they might have as well tyed us to particular Psalms in singing, as in Reading. But all this is against the nature of our office, and the good of the Church: And therefore it is not fit matter for a Law. If I know my hearers to be most addicted to Drunkenness, must I be tyed up from Reading or Preaching against that sin, and tyed to Read and Preach only against Covetousness or the like, because it seemeth meet to Governours to tye me to a constant course? If I have a tractable people, it may do them no harm to limit them to this or that gesture, vesture▪ &c. But what if they be prejudiced against a thing that in it self is lawfull, and take it to be a sin, and resolve that they will rather forbear Gods Ordinances then use a thing that their Consciences are against? must I needs exercise or