A69535:382
The grand debate between the most reverend bishops and the Presbyterian divines appointed by…
The grand debate between the most reverend bishops and the Presbyterian divines appointed by His Sacred Majesty as commissioners for the review and alteration of the Book of common prayer, &c. : being an exact account of their whole proceedings : the most perfect copy.
London printed : s.n., 1661
THE PAPERS That passed between the COMMISSIONERS Appointed by His M… › Section
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.
[To the second) that it is not a violation of Christs Royalty to make such Laws for decency, but an exercise of his power and authority, which 1he hath given to the Church: And the disobedience to such commands of Euperiours is plainly a violation of his Royalty. As it is no violation of the Kings Authority, when his Magistrates command things according to his Laws; But disobedience to the command of those Injunctions of his Deputies, is violation of his Authority; Again, it can be no impeachment of Christs Laws as insufficient, to make such Laws for decency, since our Saviour as is evident by the Precepts themselves, did not intend by them to determine, every minute and circumstance of time, place, manner of performance, and the like, but only to command in general the substance of those duties, and the right ends that should be aimed at in the performance, and then left every man in particular (whom for that purpose he made reasonable) to guide himself by rules of reason, for private Services; And appointed Governors of the Church, to determine such particularities for the public: Thus our Lord commanded Prayers, Fasting, &c. for the times and places of performance; he did not determine every of them, but left them to be guided as we have said; So that it is no impeachment of his Laws as insufficient, to make Laws for determining those particulars of decency, which himself did not, as is plain by his Precepts, intend to determine but left us Governors for that purpose, to whom he said, As my Father, sent me, even so send I you, and let all things be done decently, and in order; of whom he hath said to us, Obey those that have the over sight over you; and told us that if we will not hear his Church we must not be accounted as Christians, but Heathens and Publicans; And yet nevertheless they will not hear it, and obey it in so small a matter, as a circumstance of time, place, habit, or the like, which she thinks decent and fit, and yet will be accounted for the best Christians, and tell us that it is the very awe of Gods Law, Deut. 12. 32.
[To the second) that it is not a violation of Christs Royalty to make such Laws for decercy, but an exercise of his power and authority, which 1he hath given to the Church: And the disobedience to such commands of Euperiours is plainly a violation of his Royalty. As it is no violation of the Kings Authority, when his Magistrates command things according to his Laws; But disobedience to the command of those Injunctions of his Deputies, is violation of his Authority; Again, it can be no impeachment of Christs Laws as insufficient, to make such Laws for decency, since our Saviour as is evident by the Precepts themselves, did not intend by them to determine, every minute and circumstance of time, place, manner of performance, and the like, but only to command in general the substance of those duties, and the right ends that should be aimed at in the performance, and then left every man in particular (whom for that purpose he made reasonable) to guide himself by rules of reason, for private Services; And appointed Governours of the Church, to determine such particularities for the publick: Thus our Lord commanded Prayers, Fasting, &c. for the times and places of performance; he did not determine every of them, but left them to be guided as we have said; So that it is no impeachment of his Laws as insufficient, to make Laws for determining those particulars of decency, which himself did not, as is plain by his Precepts, intend to determine but left us Governours for that purpose, to whom he said, As my Father, sent me, even so send I you, and let all things be done decently, and in order; of whom he hath said to us, Obey those that have the over sight over you; and told us that if we will not hear his Church we must not be accounted as Christians, but Heathens and Publicans; And yet nevertheless they will not hear it, and obey it in so small a matter, as a circumstance of time, place, habit, or the like, which she thinks decent and fit, and yet will be accounted for the best Christians, and tell us that it is the very awe of Gods Law,