The divine right of church-government and excommunication

Answer. 1. This is right down work. But 1. I Answer, Both the precepts are not obligatory, you say true. We commonly say (saith the Doctors) that the precept of obedience to humane authority, must give place to the precept of eschewing scandal, although it be causelessly taken. We say not that Commonly, nor at all, if by Scandal causelessly taken, you mean scandal passive, only taken, and not given, for we are not to regard such scandals. But here the scandal is given in that, we must practise base Ceremonies, indifferent knots of straws for mens pleasure, though from thence many souls for whom Christ died, be destroyed. 2. It is good reason that the precept of obedience to humane authority in things which you call indifferent, and might well be sent away to Rome (were it not the Lord Prelates pleasure to command them, for their own carnal▪ ends) should yield and be gone, and lose all obligatory power, because it is but a positive precept, and 2. affirmative, that obliedgeth not ad semper, as Cross•, kneel, wear Surplice. And 3. In a thing indifferent, and that this Divine Commandment of God, (scandalize not) (kill not one redeemed by Christ) should stand in force. 1. Because it is a natural precept. 2. It is negative, and obligeth eternally. 3. It is of a necessary matter, because no man-slayer hath life eternal, 1 Jh. 3. 15. But our Doctors will have the Commandments positive of men to stand, and the Commandments of God, which are expressly of the law of nature to fall before their Dagon, and to lose all obligatory power, whereas Gods own positive law yieldeth, and loseth obligatory power, when Gods natural Commandment of mercy cometh in competition with it, as is clear as the noon-day, in David famishing, who eat the Show-bread, which by a positive law, was not lawful to any save the Priests only, to eat, yet must mans law stand, and Gods law of nature fall, at the pleasure of these Doctors. 3. We say justly, you err in saying it is real disobedience to deny obedience to the ordinance of Superiors, when the matter of their law is indifferent, and when it is scandalous, and obedience cannot be given to it, but by s•aying him for whom Christ died, yea, to give obedience to Superiors in that case, is real murdering of souls, and real disobedience to ⟨p. 33⟩God.

Answer. 1. This is right downe worke. But 1. I Answer, Both the precepts are not obligatorie, you say true. We commonly say (saith the Doctors) that the precept of obedience to humane authoritie, must give place to the precept of eschewing scandall, although it be causlesly taken. We say not that Commonly, nor at all, if by Scandall causlesly taken, you mean scandall passive, onely taken, and not given, for we are not to regard such scandalls. But here the scandall is given in that, we must practise base Ceremonies, indifferent knots of straws for mens pleasure, though from thence many soules for whom Christ died, be destroyed. 2. It is good reason that the precept of obedience to humane authoritie in things which you call indifferent, and might well be sent away to Rome (were it not the Lord Prelates pleasure to command them, for their owne carnall ends) should yeild and be gone, and lose all obligatorie power, because it is but a positive precept, and 2. affirmative, that obliedgeth not ad semper, as Cross, kneele, weare Surplice. And 3. In a thing indifferent, and that this Divine Commandement of God, (scandalize not) (kill not one redeemed by Christ) should stand in force. 1. Because it is a naturall precept. 2. It is negative, and obliedgeth eternally. 3. It is of a necessarie matter, because no man-slayer hath life eternall, 1 Jh. 3. 15. But our Doctors will have the Commandements positive of men to stand, and the Commandements of God, which are expresly of the law of nature to fall before their Dagon, and to lose all obligatorie power, whereas Gods owne positive law yeildeth, and loseth obligatorie power, when Gods naturall Commandement of mercy commeth in competition with it, as is cleare as the noon-day, in David famishing, who eat the Shew-bread, which by a positive law, was not lawfull to any save the Priests onely, to eat, yet must mans law stand, and Gods law of nature fall, at the pleasure of these Doctors. 3. Wee say justly, you erre in saying it is reall disobedience to deny obedience to the ordinance of Superiours, when the matter of their law is indifferent, and when it is scandalous, and obedience cannot be given to it, but by saying him for whom Christ died, yea, to give obedience to Superiours in that case, is reall murthering of soules, and reall disobedience to