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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A35057 The judgment of M. Cartwright and M. Baxter concerning separation and the ceremonies Cartwright, Thomas, 1634-1689.; Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691. 1673 (1673) Wing C701; ESTC R21747 13,713 32

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is left to humane Determination what Place the Publick Assemblies shall be held in 2. It is left to man to determine of the Time of Holy Duties except only where God hath determined of it already 3. It is left to the Determination of humane Prudence what Vtensils to employ about the Publick Worship of God Here therefore we must thus conclude 1. That every misordering of such great affairs is the sin of them that do it 2. But yet that the Subject is not exempted from Obedience by every such mistake of the Governor but by some he is § 67. If the mischoosing of such Circumstances by Church Governors be but an Inconvenience and do not destroy the Ordinance it self or frustrate the Ends of it we are to obey 1. For he is the Judge of his own work and not we 2. The thing is not sinful though inconvenient 3. Obedience is commanded to our lawful Governors We must obey in all things lawful And when we do obey in a Case of Miscommanding it is not a doing evil that good may come of it as some do misconceive but it is only a submitting to that which is ill commanded but not evil in him that doth submit It is the Determiner that is the cause of the Inconvenience and not the Obeyer Nor is it inconvenient for me to Obey though it be worse perhaps to him that Commandeth While he sinneth in Commanding he may make it my Duty to Obey § 6. Dist 4. We must distinguish between Ceremonies imposed by a Lawful Magistrate or Church-Governors and such as are imposed by Vsurpers or Men without Authority § 25. Prop. 12. It may be very sinful to command some Ceremonies which may lawfully yea must in Duty be used by the Subject when they are commanded § 27. Prop. 14. Yet certain things that are commonly called Ceremonies may lawfully be used in the Church upon Humane Imposition and when it is not against the Law of God no person should disobey the Commands of their Lawful Governors in such things Of set-Set-Forms and the Book of Common-Prayer Prop. 1. A Stinted Liturgy is in it self Lawful 2. A Stinted Liturgy in some parts of Publick Service is ordinarily necessary 3. In the parts where it is not of Necessity it may not onely be submitted to but desired when the Peace of the Church requireth it 7. The safest way of Composing such a Publick Form is to take it all for Matter and Words out of the Holy Scriptures 8. Yet is not this of such Necessity but that we may joyn in it or use it if the Form of Words be not from Scripture Prop. 1. A Stinted Liturgy is in it self Lawful This is thus proved Argument 1. That which is not directly or consequentially forbidden by God remaineth lawful A stinted Liturgy is not directly or consequentially forbidden by God therefore it remaineth lawful The Major is undoubted's because nothing but a Prohibition can make a thing unlawful Sin is a transgression of a Law where there is no Law there is no Trangression And yet I have heard very Reverend men answer this That it is enough that it is not commanded though not forbidden Which is plainly to deny both Scripture and Civil Principles Now for the Minor That a stinted Liturgy is not forbidden we need no other proof than that no Prohibition can be produced Argument 6. If it be lawful for the People to use a stinted Form of Words in Publick Prayer then is it in it self lawful for the Pastors but it is lawful for the People for the Pastors prayer which they must pray over with him and not onely hear it is a stinted Form to them even as much as if he had learnt it out of a Book They are to follow him in his Method and Words as if it were a book-Book-Prayer Argument 7. It is lawful to use a Form in Preaching therefore a stinted Liturgy is lawful 1. Because Preaching is a part of that Liturgy 2. Because the reason is the same for Prayer as for that in the main Argument 8. That which hath been the practice of the Church in Scripture-times and down to this day and is yet the practice of almost all the Churches of Christ on earth is not like to be unlawful but such is the use of some stinted forms of Publick Service therefore c. That it was so in the Jews Church and approved by Christ I have shewed That it hath been of ancient use in the Church since Christ and is at this day in use in Africk Asia Europe even among the Reformed Churches in France Holland Geneva c. is so well known that I think I need not stand to prove it yea those few that seem to disuse it do yet use it in Psalms and other parts of Worship As for the Common-Prayer it self I never rejected it because it was a Form nor thought it simply unlawful because it was such a Form but have made use of it and would do again in the like case Of Ceremonies 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 an Oath the Organs and Church-Musick Holy-dayes Altars Rails and the Cross in Baptisme Of the Surplice Some decent Habit is necessary either the Magistrate or the Minister himfelf or the Associatcd Pastors must determine what I think neither Magistrate nor Synod should do any more than hinder Undecency But yet if they do more and tye all to One Habit add suppose 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 aliene 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 signifie Purity and so it be made a teaching sign yet would I obey Of Kneeling at the Sacrament But yet as sinfully as this Gesture was imposed for my part I did obey the Imposers and would do if it were to do again rather than disturb the Peace of the Church or be deprived of its Communion For God having made some Gesture necessary and confined me to none but left it to Humane Determination I shall submit to Magistrates in their proper work even when they miss it in the manner I am not sure that Christ intended the example of himself and his Apostles as obligatory to us that shall succeed I am sure it proves sitting lawful but I am not sure that it proves it necessary though very convenient But I am sure he hath commanded me Obedience and Peace Of the Ring in Marriage And for the Ring in Marriage I see no reason to scruple the lawfulness of it For though the Papists make a Sacrament of