of such as he hath appointed to be the mouth of the Congregation vnto him aÌ„d his mouth vnto theÌ„ So that your patched Leitourgie paraphrases songes in rime homelies and al your dead mens writings are cast forth of the publick assemblies and manifest to be Idols when they are thrust into that place Now where I â—â—ledged that the binding of the publick asseÌ„blie yea of all assemblies to certeyne writings of men euerie day and yeare their number and portion of words daylie moÌ„thly and yearely in al asseÌ„blies the same matter and words reiterated in sâ—ead of powring forth their hearts vnto God according to their present needs and occasions was a setting of themselves in Gods seate and taking the office of his Spirit which only knoweth the wantes of the seueral assemblies according to their diuerse occasions he runneth away from the matter as one vnwilling to heare of this their Tautologia and counterâ—et babling demaÌ„ding wheter euerie one should vtter their owne perticular wantes in the publick assemblie or should pray nothing but that euerie one feeleth the present want of in himself or should tell the Minister before hand what euerie one of their wantes were then how the Minister should remember al. Are these any thing but mâ—re cauils can any of these follow vpon the former doctrine And let him looke againe whether he that is the mouth of the Congregation vnto God in publick prayer must not consider the present publick occasions of that publick assemblie and thereafter frame his prayers all the people ioyning in heart to his words of petition or thanksgiuing saying Amen to so much as he asketh according to the wil of God and neede of the time yea and if they haue not feeling in such prayers they are vnfeeling members yet neither doth he intermedle with private or secret waÌ„tes neither neede they tell him them he is sent for the publick affaires of the Church to commend the seueral actions general and publick vnto God And as they are diverse in everie assemblie so must he be a maÌ„ of wisdome to know see and consider them lest they al rashly step into the house of God to offer vp the sacrifie of fooles and make a counterfeit babling Eccle. 4. Yet the sinne of this is nothing comparable to the doâ—ng your Priests cast forth by pratling ouer your English Portuis which the Lord will one day cast in your faces As then in priuate prayer we are to lay forth our owne wantes and estate of our owne soule which cannot be done by reading an other mans writings alwayes singing one song customably repeating in superstition certeine words our hearts neuer ripped vp examined nor the diseases therof layd open vnto God seeking due cure So the man that is the mouth of the whole assemblie prayeth as the mouth of one bodie for al their open publick present wantes and occasions Which occasions considering the persons and actions are diverse and cannot be written for one assemblie before hand muchlesse for all assemblies in a whole kingdome neither by man nor Angel See theÌ„ the mockerye of your service booke and what Idolatrie is committed by yt to the abandoning true prayer according to the present wantes and occasion The next thing to be coÌ„sidered is about making of lawes in the worship of God Where he would persuade vs that their whole Leitourgie conteining al their publick worship gouernmeÌ„t offices and ordinances of their Church be but matters of order and conveniencie Then the compelling and teaching the publick assemblie to reade ouer mens writings both as CanoÌ„s and lawes in the Church aÌ„d publickly aÌ„d priuately to offer them vp in stead of true prayer aÌ„d holy invocatioÌ„ is a matter of comelines and conveniencie In the meane time it must be a turning away of the whole order and ordinaÌ„ces of God For what is the whole Testament of Christ but an order for euerie office person action in the Church if he wil haue it taxis and then must confesse their Leitourgie an other order of publick administratioÌ„ and so as I haue said an other Gospel an other Testament a setting vp an other worship And herevpon I trust I may cal al this an adding to the word of God yea I wil go a litle further an abolishing and disabling and dishonoring of the word yt self and graces of his spirit And whither all this smoke of the bottomlesse pyt may not be reproued with these Scriptures not only Proverb 30. verse 5.6 Deut. 4. verse 32 but also Revel 22. verse 18 19. let the godly ponder and search and let the fearefulnes of the threats deterre all flesh from presuming to alter the ordinances lawes and worship of the most high God And that the verie reading of an other mans writing for my owne prayer or the prayer of the Church in stead of powring foorth our owne hearts is a changing of the whole worship into the making mens writing an Idoll which is by these places condemned as an accursed sinne let the most hard text as he in carnall wonder exclaymeth be looked into Revel 22. verse 18.19 The words are plaine If anie man put or add any thing vnto these or if anie man take away from these words he shal be iudged as followeth Now if the adding an other whole Worship and suppressing of that God hath apointed be not an adding to these things written gyue sentence as you wil answere O saith he but it is said God wil add vnto such al the plagues written in this booke and there is in this booke mentioned the lake of fire As though the lake of fire is not due for euery sinne and yet not euery one that committeth sinne to be condemned what sinne is it that deserueth not the eternall wrath of God yet not euery one that sinneth giueÌ„ ouer to that iudgmeÌ„t for eiâ—her yt may be of ignorance or of negligence and washed away by repentance in the blood of Christ or it may be repented of and lest when wee see yt Mr. Giffard hath read wel the curses of the law and all the curses due for sinne that seeth not how many curses the law and the Prophets pronounced vpon sinne to call the persons themselues to repentance shewing together the equitie of Godâ— law and yet withal the free mercye of God to al that truly repeÌ„t their euil wayes All that receiue the Beastes marke in their hand or forehead are thretned to be cast with the Beast and false Prophet into that lake yet i doubt not but manie that haue bene so seduced into that sinne shal by repentance be saued Not that I encourage anie to continue in such fearful estate to hardeÌ„ their hearts against the threatnings of GOD but that I would haue Maister Giffard to put difference betwene the curse layd to the sinne and condemnation of the person sinning And seeing he taketh that lake a perticular seuere threat to the Apostasie vnder ANTICHRIST I would he had the grace to
gyve out Well consider your self before the Lord call you to accompt for defacing his truth and pleading for Baal I grant yea I were not of God if I should speake otherwise that the deare servaÌ„ts of God fall into most lothsome sinnes after regeneration that the riches of Gods mercy might appeare in their repentance through the worke of his grace Then you reason thus if ther be allwaies spottes and imperfectnes in the true Church vpon earth then al your ArgumeÌ„ts you bring against the Church of England are of no force except you will mainetaine a perfection Mâ—ne answeare is I will not meddle with your Church to proue yt a false Church in this treatise but refer you to Mr. Barrowes refutation of Mr. Gifford him that handleth that part of your booke Yet I must tel you your argument is verie simple For after the same maner you migt reason thus If ther be no true Church without spottes vpon earth then the Church of Rome is the true Church for yt hath manie spottes you all Schismatiques Againe you assume the matter you should proue It wil be proued against you that you haue not EcclesiaÌ„ a people called fourth of the world to the obedience of Christ Then that the spottes of your Church are Egiptian vlcers incurable running botches But I purposed not to deale with your Church only my mind is to shew the vnlawfullnes of this readingh and imposing mens writings vpon mens Consciences in stead of true praying Of which sinne the Lord giue you and this whole land grace to repent that so men may learne more feruently to cal vpon God The first Argument against read prayer c. No Apocrypha must be brought into the publique assemblies for there onlie GODS vvorde liuely voyce of his owne graces must be hearde in the publique assemblies But mens vvritings the reading them ouer for prayer are Apocrypha therfore may not be brought into the publique assemblies G. Gifford First touching the Proposition No Apocrypha is to be brought into the publique assemblies What can be more false Apocrypha is opposed against Canonicall If nothing may be brought into the publique assemblies but Canonicall Scripture then the Sermons and prayers of Pastors are to be banished c. I. Greenvvood IN the answere of this you will needes oppose against both Proposititions and yet have nothing to say if not to royle the doctrines deliuered with your feete least others should drinke therof The part of a wise man had beene to lay his hand on his mouth In the first Proposition you would oppose the worde Apocrypha against the liuely voyce of Gods graces when you see I said onlie that no Apocrypha might be brought into the publique assemblies And furder to explane my minde least you should willingly finde such a cauill I added this reason for there only Gods worde the liuely voyces of his graces are to be heard Where I acknowledged those liuelie voyces to be Gods ordinance yet nether to be called Apocrypha nor Canonicall How can you say then I would haue these or that these are banished if all Apocrypha writings be banished the publique assemblies Yet as I told you I take Apocrypha to be all writings but the Canonicall Authentique Scriptures But say you then I will exclude the Paraphrases vpon the Scriptures and the Psalmes in metre etc. Affirme you them to be Apocrypha as you do and can do no other and I will through Gods grace proue they ought not to be brougt into the publique assemblies First no mans writinghs are giuen to the Church by testimonie of Gods spirit and we are onlie commaunded to heare what the spirith saith therfore though mens writings be permitted to be read priuatlie of them that will and therupon called Apocrypha that is hidden they may not be brought into the publique assemblies Secondly no mans writinhs are without errour and imperfections therfore not to be brougt into the publique asseÌ„blies The Church is the pillar of truth Thirdlie the Church is builded vpon the foundation of the Prophets and the Apostles Christ Iesus being the cheif corner stone and not vpon meÌ„s writinges Therfore mens writins may not be brougt into the publique assemblies Ephes. 2.20 and 1. Cor. 3. Fourthlie if we might bring in anie mens writings into the publique assemblies theÌ„ all mens writings which we iudge agreable to the Scriptures But this is forbidden Ecclesiastes 12.11.12 My proof of the first Proposition to this If anie mens writings are to be brougt into the publique assemblies by Gods commaundement because they are agreable to the Scriptures as you in an other place alleadge then all that are thought agreable to the Scriptures ought of necessitie by the same commandement and if ther be no commaundement then none are to be make Authentique which God hath not made Authentique For that were to set man in the place of God No mans writinges cary that maiestie that the penne of the holy ghost No mans writinges are Cecuromenai Authentique confirmed by signes and wonders from heauen sealed by Christes blood that not one worde or title shal be vnfulfilled The Scriptures are all sufficient All men must walke by that one rule To thinke ther were not rules ynoug prescribed by the Lord for his house were blasphemous and papisticall Now for the explication interpretatioÌ„ etc. and speach vnto God in prayer God hath giuen giftes vnto men to pray and prophecye and ordeyned his ministerye of Pastors Teachers whose liuely voice is appointed to be the mouth of God vnto the people and of his people vnto himself in the publique assemblies And thâ—se graces are not Apocryphall for no prophecie of the Scripture is of priuate interpretatioÌ„ idias epiluseos to euery one to giueÌ„ the manifestatioÌ„ of te spirit to proffit withal Most excelleÌ„t meÌ„ serue but their tyme in the publique asseÌ„blies Now I may coÌ„clude a I beganne That only Gods holy word the liuely graces of his holy Spirit are to be heard offred vp vnto him in the publique assemblies Where then in way of answere to the Minor Proposition you say you see not how our speach vnto God should be Apocrypha It answeareth not me who deny an other mans writing to be our speach in prayer vnto God But conuinceth your self by your owne mouth thus True prayer ys not Apocrypha but all mens writings are Apocrypha Therfore meÌ„s writings is not true prayer Here when you haue nothing to say for your self you woulde make me belieue that I accoÌ„pt the Psalmes and the other formes of prayer in the Scripture to be Apocrypha when they be read though a litle before you confessed you had in your last writing donne me wrong therin I do accoÌ„pt the reading of theÌ„ for praying to be a grosse and superstitious abuse of theÌ„ yet theÌ„ to be holie and canonical Scripture And here you haue flatly ouerthroweÌ„ your self saying the worde Apocrypha is
his house the builder beginner and finisher of our Faith Christ Iesus he foresawe what inconuenieÌ„ce would haue growne if either meÌ„ or Angells should make newe liturgies or other formes of praier theÌ„ he hath prescribed for the publique assemblies Here therfore you deeply chardge him not to haue donne all thinges that were needfull in not prescribing you more formes then he hath donne or not suffred learned diuines to impose their owne writinges vpon publique assemblies as rules for the Church and worship vnto God But see what the Scripture saith who hath knoweÌ„ the mynde of the Lord that he might instruct him Againe wher is the wise where the Scribe where the disputer of this world hath not God made the wisedome of this world foolishnes To put you out of doubt then that we neede not any newe liturgie nor anie mens writinges to be brought into the publique assemblies the Holie Ghost saith 2. Timot. 3.16 The whole Scripture is Theopneustos inspired of God and profitable vnto doctrine vnto improof vnto correction vnto erudition which is in righteousnes that the maÌ„ of God may be absolute perfect fully furnished vnto euerie good worcke Nowe if onlye the Scriptures be Theopnestos and sufficieÌ„t to make Gods children absolutely perfect even fully furnistied to euery good worck what blasphemie is yt to say sundrie inconueniences would growe if mens writinges were not imposed vpon the publique assemblies And in this your wisedome let vs see what is the chiefest inconuenieÌ„cy that would growe You say euerie fraÌ„ticke spirit of which sorte ther be manie in the ministerie would not only be vnlike themselues but varie from others I answered and still do that the Papists haue not so weake a reason for their Idolatrous liturgies Rubricks Canons You say yt appeareth by all my Arguments how meete a man I am to iudge the weight of reasons alleadged by the Papists and others well I am weake and you strong foolish and you wise yet might you haue shewed me a weaker reason which they alleadge for their constitutious ecclesiastical as they call them But my chief answere was wherby you might haue beene satisfied that if it were but in Phrases the ministerie should differ yt is no sufficient cause to ordeine liturgies And if they offend in matter of doctrine or conversation the censure of the Church should help that The first you graunt the second also you confesse that the Church should censure such thinges But you say ther are sundrie other differeÌ„ces in administration of publique prayers and SacrameÌ„ts as in order and ceremonies which the Church is to haue regard of and not to leaue arbitrarie All other ceremonies in Gods worship then Christ and his Apostles haue prescribed vs are diabolicall and not Apostolical Then for all thinges donne in the Church in those publique actions the offenders must be admonished if they transgresse the rules of the word And for the orers you speake of you meane circumstaÌ„ces of time place kneeling sitting standing etc. of them thet can be no furder lawes then Christ hath prescribed that all things be donne to edifying in comelyues and decency etc. of these to set particular lawes were to breake the lawe of God which leaueth them in the Churches liberty as neede requireth to the glorie of God In these thinges to do anie thing contrarie to the generall rules of order edifying decencye etc. the traÌ„sgressour is by those rules to be instructed admonished and ceÌ„sured Well here you haue made a faire hand to make read prayers but a matter of order which is all the worship you haue to bring in mens writings into the publique assemblies to make then ether rules to bind the conscience and so put them in the place of Gods booke or to reade them ouer for praying is but a matter of order well then put them in your cornerd Capp we haue enough rules for the ordering of Christs spouse without such Babilonish ware Here you say mine experience is not so great as my boldnes I passe not to be iudged of you yt is not like that the enchaunters of egipt should knowe the beautye of Sion ther is a cloude betweene you and vs we haue blessed be our God a pillar of fire before vs. An other fault you say in my former reason is that because the censure of the Church should redresse defaultes therfore ther needeth no liturgie Naye take all with you No fault caÌ„ be censured that is not a transgression against the rules of Gods worde and those to be censured by the doctrine and admonitions of the Church theâ—fore we neede no leiturgies To the worde of God only ought all meÌ„ to be bounde by covenant and for the transgressions therof only to be censured G. Gifford The Church hath this power to ordeine according to Gods worde to appointe such orders in matters of circumstance c. as shall most fitly serue to edification And then these orders being established the Church is to driue men to the obseruation of them I. Greenvvood FIrst in this your papisticall mudde I must tell you your reading of meÌ„s writinges for prayer is a false worship of God and not a matter of circumstance And for matters of order and circumstance which are no part of the worship ther can be no other lawes made of theÌ„ theÌ„ Christ hath made As for ordeyning of lawes in the church it is to plead for vnwritten verities and to make the lawe of God vnsufficieÌ„t nether caÌ„ yt be according to the worde to make anie lawe that God hath not made but an adding to his worde which is execrable pride these your wordes then according to Gods worde was but a cloake to couer the grosseues of your position for the worde ordeyne or create lawes is to make some that are not made before let vs theÌ„ see your cleane sentence to be this The Church hath aucthority in matters of order circumstance to make ordeine lawes in his Church for his worship nowe see how you contradict these Scriptures Rev. 22.18.19 Prov. 30.5.6 euerie worde of God is pure etc. put nothing to his worde least he reprooue thee aÌ„d thou be found a liar likwise Deut. 4.2 and 12.32 and Gal. 3.15 though it be but a mans covenant when it is confirmed no man doth abrogate it or superordeine anie thing to it And the second CommaundemeÌ„t forbiddeth anie such humane tradition in the worship of God all the Popes trinckets might be brought in by the same grounde We would willingly haue seene your warraÌ„t for this doctrine your bare worde is not sufficient to impose other lawes then God hath made vpoÌ„ his Church This is the foundation of poperie and Anabaptistrie to giue libertie to make lawes in the worship of God Yet you will go furder that such lawes being ordeyned and established by publique auctoritye the discipline and censures of the CHVRCH are to driue men to the observation of the same By your iudgment our
Sauiour CHRIST was an Anabaptisticall Schismatique that would not himself nor his Disciples obey and obserue the traditions of the Elders And what saith he vnto pleaders for traditions It is thus writteÌ„ Marke 7.5 theÌ„ asked him the Pharises and the Scribes whie walke not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders but eate meate with vnwashed hands TheÌ„ he answeared surely ISAY hat prophecied well of you hypòcrites as it is written this people honoreth me with their lippes but their heartes are far froÌ„ me But they worship me in vayne teaching doctrines meÌ„s precepts Foâ— you lay the commaundement of God aside and obserue the tradition of meÌ„ And to helpe fourth your euill matter instead of proof from the scripture you fall out into furious exclamation against them that desire only to haue the worde practized saying who is able to imagine the innumerable divisions and offences in the practize of your anabaptisticall freedome in which you deny the Church to have power to ordeine and impose any orders lett all men iudge the venemousenes of this tongue Christ pronounceth them accursed that add or super ordeyne any thing to his worde and you pronounce iudgment of them that only obey his worde Shall yt be said that Mr. Gifford holdeth that the only practize of Gods worde would be the cause of innumerable diuisions and offences This hath bene Satans old accusation in the mouth of the most enimies of Christs Gospell nowe yt must be Mr. Giffords accusation of Gods ordinances to be insufficient â— vnperfect etc. fearfull is his Apostacy from that truth he hath knowen I take it yt is more like to be Anabaptistry to practise any thing without warrant of the word to make their owne devises lawes in Gods worship then to do nothing but what God hath commaunded within the limites of our callings For the fraÌ„ticke ministery yt came of your owne wordes that therfore you must needes haue a liturgie because ther are manie fraÌ„tick spirits in the ministerie then I say it is like you haue a frantick ministerie that cannot be gouerned without an other liturgie then Christs Testament For their great giftes you speake of I will not compare with them My reason from the Colossians was that as the church there is commaunded to admonish their Pastor Archippus if he transgressed and to stirr him vp to his busines so all ministerâ— that caused divisions contrary to the doctrine of Christ were to be admonished and auoyded if then repent not so that the worde of God and admonition by the same if they transgressed is the waye to keepe all men in due order and not imposing liturgies vpon the church besides Christs Testament And where you collected thus that if read praiers and imposed liturgies be Idolatrous theÌ„ wher will you finde a visible church say you I answered that the true Church might erre euen in this poynte though not in like height of sinne Then you desire that the churches of England may find likâ— fauour at our hand to which I answeare let him that handleth that question with you shew you how your sinnes herein exceede other countries and persequâ—t such as reproue you Your church as you call yt cannot pleade ignorance Your rayling speaches of blind Schismatiques Donatists etc. bewray what sweet water is in the heart if you cannot proue your church to be the established church of CHRIST they light all vpon your self Ther are none Schismatiques but such as departe from the faith shew wherin we haue transgressed and will not be reformed In the meane tyme you are Schismatiques from Christ in that you practize the Statutes of omry You chardge vs with pride for that you saye we imagine to knowe more then all the Churches vppon earth This also hath bene Satans old weapon to deface the truth Iere. 18.18 why maye not a simple babe in Christ see that which whole nations haue not seene we cannot but speake the things GODS Worde teacheth vs if we speake trueth you need not oppose that we iudge anie man yt is the worde of God shall iudge vs all aÌ„d I saye yt is an old popish Argument to reason thus all Churches do such a thing therfore it is lawfull except you hold with the Pope that the Church cannot erre which were blasphemous You are not well pleased that I will not say it is no Church that hath a liturgie imposed vpon yt and because you haue so often sclandered me that I hold yt so you take great paynes to conclude it I haue said that to impose meÌ„s writings to be read in stead of praying is to worship God after a false maner that yt is a devise of Antichrist a deade letter quenching the spirit not of faith Idolatrous is changing the worke of the spirit into an Idoll breauing our ChristiaÌ„ libertye and so most detestable By these speaches I condemne al churches say you this is not true I condemne but the sinne But you have sayd I deny that to be the Church that hath any thing ymposed I say you speake an open vntrueth and remember the iudgment of him that inuenteth and maketh lyes And God giue you grace to repent if you belong to him The consideration of this our discourse I hartelie commeÌ„de to be dulie aÌ„d vprightly wayed of all that feare God who graunt vs his grace to forsake any sinne where it shal be shewed vs by how weake instruments soever yt be reproved and pardon me all my defaults in this my hastie answere Thus have we seene the vnlawfullnes of thrusting mens writings vpon publique assemblies and reading instead of praying A generall Argument against their vvorship in respect of their present estate both of Ministers and people The praiers of such ministers people as stand vnder a false gouernmeÌ„t are not acceptable not only because they aske amisse but because they keepe not his Commaundements The praiers of such ministers people as be subiect to Antichrist are abhominable Those ministers people vvhich stand subiect to the Bishops and their Courts are subiect to Antichrist c. Therfore their praiers c. G. Gifford These do oncerne the third fourth accusatioÌ„ and therfore the answere is included in the ansvvere to them Yet I take exception against the first that the Church may be holden by force from executing Gods commaundemens touching externall gouernement and yet be the true Church of Grd I alleadged the Church that was holden captiue in Babylon c. I. Greenvvood HEre after your acustomed maner you offer me great wronge first insteade of answere you alter the question very subtylie then you dismember my former answere and not only so but you haue nether let my former aÌ„swere be aÌ„swered nor prynted Thus you alter the questioÌ„ and answere not where the PropositioÌ„ speaketh of a ministerie aÌ„d people standing vnder a false gouernmeÌ„t you say the Church may be holdeÌ„ vp force from executing Gods commaundements in externall gouernment wherof I never
superstition or custome as God had not inioyned them and to leaue vndone the lawes and commandements of God which sinne is your transgression at this day Reade therfore the 7. of Marke and 15. of Mathew more diligently Further those superstitious traditioÌ„s Gal 4. and Colos. 2. the observing wherof were the denyall of Christ were neither held meritorious nor iustification sought by them manie of them being Iewish ceremonies sometimes as rudiments commanded of God now abolished and no further burden to be layde in such outward thinges no We reade not that the law of God yt self was eyther commanded or so observed as to seeke righteousnes by yt Now then to the matter Mr. Giff. thinketh Christ and his Apostles did well in refusing to obey the traditions of the Fathers at the Pharisies commandement and so must confesse it lawful and a dutie of vs to refuse to observe your Iewish cerimonies and Romish superstitious traditions which are so manie as euen your whole Leitourgie and worship conteine nothing els God 's lawes and ordinances not only left vndone but al that pleade for them and seeke to walke in them persecuted with deadly hatred And how Mr. Giffard will proue that there is no adding or diminishing to or from the word of God by imposing and creating more lawes theÌ„ God hath made in his worship and gouernmeÌ„t of his Church but such as bee made part of the worship or bynde the conscieÌ„ce or bee meritorious or against such rules of his gouernment as bee perpetuall though I take all your orders lawes worship in this compasse yet howe you can poue this I know not for looke againe vpon the scriptures Pro. 30.5.6 Deut. 4.2 and 12.32 and Gal. 3.15 Revel 22.18.19 and you shal finde that to add superordeine innovate or diminish or take anie thing from the lawes of God already prescribed for his worship were to abrogate his lawe to laye further burdens then hee hath layde to make his lawe vnperfect and set our selves in his seate yea whatsoeuer wee put to which hee hath not commanded or whatsoeuer wee inhibit that hee hath commanded is here forbidden For this saith the Lorde Ye shall put nothing vnto the word which I command you neither shall you take ought therefrom that you may keepe the preceptes of the Lorde your God which I commande you Deut. 4.2 And that this was as well in the outwarde ordinaÌ„ces of the Temple as in the iudgments is plaine in the first verse Againe in the 12. Chap. 32. Whatsoeuer I command you take heede you do yt Thou shalt put nothing therto nor take anie thing therfrom and in the Proverbs Euerie word of God is pure put nothing vnto his wordes lest hee reproue the aÌ„d thow bee found a lyer Now the scripture speaking so absolutely and generaly against al addition or detraction to or from his ordinances Mr. Giffard ouershooteth himself of his bare word to contradict and limit so expresse commandementes for these Scriptures saith hee are against adding of humane preceptes and lawes to bee kept as partes of Gods worship to bynde the conscience to seeke righteousnes forgeuenes of sinne merit in them or against such rules of gouernmeÌ„t as God hath set to be perpetuall This is true but this is not all for the lawe is generall against all inventioÌ„s traditions constitutions whatsoeuer God hath not commanded as the second Commandment doth also teach Thou shalt not make to thy self etc. so that God hath left nothing to be layde vpon his Church by commandement Which he hath not commanded And therfore that place of the Apostle to the Gal. 3.15 must be better pervsed If it be but a mans Testament when yt is confirmed no man doth abrogate yt or superordeine anie thing to yt CHRISTS Testament then being much more perfect his whole minde for the ordering of his house manifested therin it is wicked presumption to alter the ordinances thereof or to holde them vnmeete or vnsufficient for anie age or estate Well Mr. Giffard coulde nowe bee content thus far to limit the power of the Church namelie to haue her subiect and obedient to his voice but that he supposeth there may be lawes ecclesiastical made of things in themselues indifferent that where the scripture hath commanded such things to be vsed at our libertie for order for comelynes edification and glorye of God as matters of place time and such circumstance But hee here mistaketh his text for the Lorde commandeth by the Apostle in that place â— Corint 14. that those publique busines and exercises of the assembliâ—s shoulde be done in order in comlynes to edifying and doth not leaue somthing to bee commanded which the maister buylders hath not prescribed For to binde those thinges by lawe which God hath not bound in his worship were to add newe traditioâ—s to bring vs into bondage of the creatures which the same Apostle denyeth euer to bee brought into bondage vnto 1. Cor. 6.12 in his owne person teaching vs so to walke the Lord see in his wisdome cause to leaue them in our libertie knowing there woulde bee no end of such perticular lawes especially if he had left it to mans wyt to make and vnmake lawes therin For the orders you speake of then meaning circumstances of time place kneeling sitting standing etc. there can be no further lawes of them then the Apostle hath set and as the Minister of Christ prescribed that al be donne to edifying in comlynies order etc. Of theis to set perticular lawes were to break these generall lawes of God whereby he teacheth vs the true vse of them and leaueth them in the Churches libertie as need requireth to vse them or not vse them Neither can all assemblies bee bound in these thinges to the same in perticular that being needfull and decent in one that is not in an other And in that you woulde haue them no further commanded then they bee needfull convenient decent etc. you condiscend that there can bee no setled lawe in perticular layde vpoÌ„ the Church in theÌ„ For to vse them so far as they bee convenient necessarie and to edifijng is the lawe and commandement of God and to vse them further at anie mans commandement were both a breach of Gods lawe and making the creatures stumbling blockes Idolles bondages and euerie way sinnefull And when the Church commandeth them so far to be vsed as they are commanded of God the Churche doth but ratifye and see GODS lawe executed so that you haue lost your selfe whiles you sholde haue proued your bold affection That the Church hath power to ordeyne lawes for to create or make lawes which you see the folly of being nowe driuen to another shift that in the perticular thinges whereof GOD hath giuen generall lawes wee may make setled lawes and yet but for the tyme they be convenient Wheras in deed GODS lawe is the same and nothing ells But because they bee necessarye in one place that bee not in another