and the voyces of men in the world are farre different Thy times and wayes are in the Lords hands Set thy selfe in his presence view the course as it began proceeded hath been resisted should be refused and may end and see whether it shall be any griefe or offence of heart unto thee on that day that thou hast kept thy selfe in the loue of the truth from the beginnings of defection the end whereof no flesh can see and every heart may justly feare that it shall be beyong English Conformity in so farre as their lukewarm nesse hath been towards the hot and ours is after it towards the cold The Lord giue wisedome in all things Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultlesse before the presence of his glorie with exceeding joy To the onely wise God our Saviour be glory and majâ—ste dominion and power now and ever Amen The Course of Conformitie I. As it hath proceeded in times by past wherin consider 1 The incomparable goodnesse of God at the Reformation 2 The open malice of Satan to set up Idolatrie againe 3 The faithfulnesse of the ministry maugre all opposition preserving their 1 Vnitie 2 Authoritie 3 Order 4 Puritie of externall worship 4 The wiles of Sathan bringing in by degrees 1 For vnitie Division which 1 Entred at Perth 2 Increased at Dundie 3 Prevailed at Montrose 4 Brought forth many Tragedies deploted at 1 Bruntvland 2 Halyâ—udhouse 2 For authority Anarchie Begun about the Assembly of Aberdene and continued sensine 3 For order Episcopacâ— by 6 steps 1 Vote in parliameÌ„t at Perth 2 Perpetuall moderation at Linlithgow 3 High commission 4 Power Eccles at Glasgow 5 Consecracation brought from England 6 Ratification in Parliament at Edinburgh 4 For puritie of externall worship Antichristian Ceremonies in 5 articles 1 Motioned at Aberdene 2 Vrged at Saint-Andrewes 3 Enacted at Perth 5 The diligence of the Defenders by continuall 1 Preaching 2 Suplication 3 Protestation 4 Information 5 Reasoning 6 Admonition 7 Suffering II. As it is now coÌ„cluded in parliameÌ„t whereof consider 1. The preparation during the space 1. Of 3 yeares 1 Let time try and worke 2 The names of the kings service and conformitie 3 Rumour that the wise and learned are for it 4 Vrged in Synods 5 Inforced by the high Commission 6 Practised by some defended by others who never yet practised 7 After many stormes against pastors and professors a calme for a Parliament 8 A meeting for supply to the King of Bohemia pretended 9 A Parliament which was intended judged more convenient 2 Of 2 moneths 1 The Parliament continued 2 All dispositions sounded 3 Faire promises made 4 Great terrours threatned 5 Simple ones deluded 6 Great wits tempted to look too 3 of some dayes before the ParliameÌ„t 1 Privat and publick meetings of the plot-masters 2 Ministers commanded by open proclamation to leaue the Town 2 The proceedings The first day 1 Diligence used that no minister enter in the house 2 Search made if any had entred to remoue them 3 Orations framed for the purpose 4 Lords of the Articles cunningly chosen and the seven officers of estate joyned to them 2 the daies following 1 The kirk dispossessed of her place 2 The toleration at length disputed 3 The fiue articles suddenly concluded 4 The Lords of Articles set to hauking hunting c. till the way was prepared for voting in publick 5 Emissaries for triall of wits and hearts 6 Arguments fitted for every disposition 3 the last day 1 Absents made prresent by Proxeis wherethrough was made to vote 1 Strangers 2 Some who had their liceÌ„ces passed 3 some against their owne mindes 2 Some who had refused commission to vote notwithstanding 3 They who were present made absent 1 Some moved to leaue the towne 2 Some dealt with not to ride 3 Some not to vote who had ridden 4 The entry of the house kept that no Minister enter 5 Pithie speeches 1 exhortatorie 2 Apologetick 3 Declaratorie 4 Promissorie mixed with terrors 3 The conclusion 1 Confusion in voting 1 All the Articles hudled up in one 2 Negatiue voyces noted for affirmatiue 3 The distinction of the three Estates suppressed 2 Ratification denied to the negatiue Burroughes 3 Gratulation for great successe 4 Contradiction from 1 The Ministers by supplications protestations informations c. 2 The hearts of the actors within 3 The good people without 4 The Heavens aboue 5 The judgements sinsyne III. As it should be refused against 4 Difficulties 1 Of appearance that the controverted ceremonies seeme not to bee matters of faith but indifferent removed by shewing that that be 1 Three degrees of matters of faith 2 Answerably as many degrees of Infidelity 3 Three sort of things indifferent 1 Indifferent by comparison made among things 2 In respect of the effects and consequents in this case 3 In their nature qualitie where distinguish betwixt a naked action and an action clothed with circumstances from divine determination which is three-fold 2 Of religious reasonable pretexts removed by shewing the like for 1 The foulest faults 2 The greatest Heresies 3 The grossest Idolatry 3 of promise that no more shall be urged 1 The times giue reply 2 The mysterie still prevailing 3 Against 1 The judgement of Prudence 2 The course of Gods dealing 3 Satans subtill working 4 Hard successe upon the Defenders 1 Dutie is ours successe is Gods 2 It may be better then is expected if we fall not away 3 More grievous Croceis and odious aspersions upon the worthiest 1 Of the foundation the principles of religion 2 Vpon the foundation their necessarie consequents 3 About the foundation whatsoever is in Scripture ceremonies should be of this degree condemneth 1 Ignorance in the first sort 2 Error in the second sort 3 obstinacie in the third sort 1 Of the same kinde Thus sitting best kneeling worst standing mid-way 2 Consisting in our knowledge Thus sitting best kneeling worst standing mid-way 1 Deplored 2 To the worst and to the weakest evill spirituall 3 To the best evill naturall oeconomicall civill Ecclesiasticall 1 Morall and vniversall removing Indifferencie from the controrverted ceremonies if ye consider 1 That circumstances are of the substance of an action 2 That the ten commandements bee not taken literally as ten words but largely as the common heads of all morall duties 2 Ceremoniall and Nationall among the Iewes Controverted ceremonies coÌ„pared with theirs in 4 periods of time 1 Before the giving of the law 2 Before the death of Christ 3 Before the destruction of the Temple 4 To the end of the world 3 Evangelicall christian where distinguish betwixt 1 Divine institutions 2 Ecclesiasticall constitutions to be made Human inventions such are they 1 Vpon matters in their nature indifferent knowne by 2 rules and their 3 consequents all removing indifferencie from the controverted ceremonies 2 According to the Apostolick rules transgressed by them THE COVRSE OF CONFORMITIE
as it hath proceeded Archippus I Begin no sooner to think upon the progresse of my short time in the Ministerie but I remember of the Students of Athens who the first yeare were wisemen the second yeare Philosophers onely lovers of wisedome the next year Rhetoricians no better then babblers and the last yeare Idiots At the first I seemed somewhat to others and more then somewhat to my selfe like many in these times at whose blind boldnesse out of mine own experience I would smile were it not a subject of compassion But afterward the Lord in his great mercie opening my eyes to see and touching my heart to blush at my owne insufficiencie and naughtinesse I began to denie my selfe to unsecret my soule to you and at the first poured out all my former phantasies and present thoughts into your bosome At which time my reverend Epaphras I received happie information in some measure to be that indeed which I was before in appearance and manie times since haue I beene with great delight exercised with you in heavenly contemplations for the furtherance of Gods work But now my harp with Iobs is turned to mourning and my Organ into the voice of theÌ„ that weep Through the iniquitie of the present Polemicall times I am led aside to Controversies which are not in the high way to heaven wherin we were walking before All my former delight is chaâ—ged into an earnest desire to bee throughly informed concerning the division which hath happened in this our mother Kirk so renoumed in the Christian world for perfect reformation through the late alterations wrought at the last Parliament holden at Edinburgh in August 1621 for the ratification of the fiue now famous Articles of Perth Assemblie Since which time the whole quarters of this Kingdome hath been universally filled with dinn and diversitie of motions and speeches Some like Haman when the letters of revenge were published against Mordecai and his people some like the Israelites when they sate down to eat and drink and rose up to play Others like the Iewes themselues when they were in perplexitie great sorrow The fourth sort equalling the first in miserie of scene-serving sycophants who finding the religion before them and not within them are readie to serue God or the divel as the companie will Three things demanded con ern ng conformitie And finally some so petted and empacque that they suspend both their judgement practise till they see which side shall prevaile As therefore I never went from your societie but either wiser or better so must I now in my great need importune you for my comfort and quietnesse of my minde to giue me some satisfaction in these three particulars all linked in one chaine First out of your old experience what hath been the methode of this mysterie of iniquitie from our reformation to this time Secondly out of your diligent observation by what meanes and after what manner past it in an Act in the late Parliament Thirdly after conclusion past in Kirk and Parliament out of your graue direction what is to be done of us especially in the case of mans immediate opposition of the Necessitie of Conformitie or Deprivation Promising for dutie to follow after you in the straitest waies of passiue obedience so farre as I finde truth going before you and leaving the successe with cheerefulnesse to his high providence who makes all things work together for good to them that loue him Epaphras And no sooner think I upon my long course in the holy Ministerie begun about the flourishing times of our first temple but with incredible joy of heart I call to mind the goodnesse of my God where with in a time of so great defection I haue escaped the danger of the proverbiall speech of the Hebrews first uttered of Balaam who seeking preferment lost the gift of Prophecie Camelus coruna quaerens aures amisis Drus The Camel seeking bornes lost his eares Had my care beene to haue lift up my horne on high my gift of Prophecie in publick and grace of giving good counsell in private had long since perished And so by this time I am sure whatsoever is become of others vvhom I judge not I had been troad on as unsavorie salt a burden to my selfe and unprofitable to you and all others of your disposition who for your invinceable courage are worthie of the oracle of Counsell Il ne perd rien qui ne perd Dieu And therefore albeit my mediocritie cannot promise full satisfaction because your demand requires a deep knowledge of things past present and to come with the height of the highest spirit not onely prepared to break the neck of his present fortune but also overlooking all casualties equally armed for all events And in a word a man that knows much of the world and cares little for it Yet because all that I haue I owe to God and his people by his grace in whom I am preserved who is able to keep me that I fall not I shall assay what I can with this premonition that in case the historicall part of my answer concerning things past and present shall happen to halt in some places and to walk upon one foot â—râ—p achepte le miel qui sur espines le leche not daring to set down the other in the midst of so many thornie purposes wherein all the veritie would not may not be heard let a vvord now and then albeit covertly uttered be enough to your vvise eare And let it bee my imputation that of the twofold commendation of a good historie No trueth unspoken Nihil Verum non nihil non Verum no untreuth spoken Charitie hath made me to bee content with the latter till I come to the third point vvhere I shall set down both my feet and vvithout danger of so great offence walk with greater libertie Archipp Your mind I perceiue malices no man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A threefold consideration for satisfying of the first Demand and your meaning according to your fashion of conference vvhich was ever more materiall then personall is rather tovvard then to giue a blow My desire also albeit an hieroglyphicall historie be halfe dumb is not so much after men as matter persons as purposes let me onely know by things past from whence vve are come and by things presently done and in doing where we now are that my course in time to come may be the more sate and sound Epaph. All prefaces are song to the greedie hearer To beginne then vvith your first Demand the length thereof reaching from the first reformation through manifold alterations to the last Parliament shall be abridged to a threefold consideration First vvhat Christ did for us in the beginning of his undeserved loue secondly vvhat Antichrist did against us in his unquenchable malice and thirdly vvhat the true members of the Kirk did in their sincerity and faithfulnesse Archipp That project punctually
suffer You haue here to remember that old caution propounded by a Father to the Emperour Take away the perill of the statute c. It is permitted to the maintainers of novelties to use a continued plentifull and running speech which here is not to be found For if the entising speeches of mans wisedome were true tokens of wisedome indeed the swallowes as they are swifter may justly bee sayd to bee aboue man in wisedom Paul for the truth is rude in speaking his presence weak his speech contemptible But Tertullus pleading against him in a mask of eloquence is admired for his pompous stile The matters in question every where are so backed with all meanes of credit in the hands of the one partie and so borne down by vehement cries in the weaknes of the other Mutation having now turned up-side-down that where before the truth had favour to be spoken heard without fear In companies now a man must needs lay his hand upon his care for hearing the partie absent or fall in folly and shame to answer a matter before he hath heard it The truth is not to be measured by the means of them that speak for it and all calumnies are but swines flesh though they be dressed after a divers fashion The cause in controversie wronged by the violence of the time may justly complaine of impar congressus in respect of worldly helpes in the particulars following and many moe The new course hath the countenance of the world But it fareth with the ancient profession as with the Gospell it selfe Haue any of the rulers beleeved in him Excepting alwayes the honorable Peeres of the land whose loue is more large then their credit 2. The most part of the ancient ministers professors are removed either out of this life or out of their former mind and many out of their places and such as arise up and are admitted to the ministerie must sweare subscribe to maintaine and defend privatly and publickly the alterations inforced 3. There is very few to be found having courage for the truth to honor God with their credit riches such receiue the Gospell with a provision of safetie to their own estate the poore who receive the Gospell are willing but not able both to doe and suffer for the truth 4. The pations and proctours of this new plea are richly rewarded with a fat b nefice or great sume of the taxation and benefic s promised but the defenders are ready to be respected with Depriue and Confine 5. They haue a strong assistance but the other are few weak and if they be permitted to remain in their places they are tied to the daily pains of their callings and caâ—e of their families and if they be thrust forth they are forced to provide for their owne necessities having no time for these matters but stolne houres 6. The one partie hath libertie to meet with full help of all requisite meanes few or many where and when at their owne pleasure The other if two or three of them meet upon their lawfull affaires it is a scandall of Conventicle a matter of challenge 7 They are judges of their own cause and haue at their right hand the power of Kirk and policie but the cause of the other is like the widow the fatherlesse no man will heare it 8 To them all the Presses are open and expenses furnished Printers beyond sea are troubled upon suspicion of having the copies of the other 9 Their assertions are probations the contrary cause acknowledged for a found truth in secret is in publick respected as an errour 10 Threatned dangers maketh men afrayed to reade write or print in favours of the one all may be done to the advancement of the other with great commendation 11 For loue of peace and lack of meanes necessary purposes as the answer to a rabble of untruthes known to a many yet living hatched by Joan Fani Andrea Arch ep and favoured with a latine complexion of some despised Doctor and idle for lack of patients and presented to the world under the triumphing title Refutatio libelli de regimine Ecclesiae Scoticanae The answer to the Doctors Lyndesay David Brechin Michelson their bragging and begging pamphlets The answer to Mercenary Tilen his pragmaticall paraenesis c. are hid from the light while necessitie call for them Finally were there a change made of the prosperous case of the one cause with the adversity of the other or would the world but smile or frowne equally on both they would not busie the Printer and Reader so much But the aequivalent of that old truth poore Luther made many rich is in some sort verified in this cause and that which preaching substance against Papists could not procure pleading for ceremonies against Protestants hath procured The Defenders haue no other comfort but that they deliver their soules discharge their consciences and serue for witnesses 〈◊〉 the truth and least they be witnesses also against thee Take hâ—ed to thy selfe be not one of those who either for loue of the world wil not like a known truth or who fear to read know the truth lest they find themselues obliged to follow it and so either be moved to change their present course which may seem unprofitable or else be vâ—â—ed with a crying conscience for keeping it and that will proue unpleasant Think not their labours like the circlings made by Archimedes when Marcelius was on the sea and nigh unto the ports of Syracuse except thou remember also that by his weake meanes the Citie was a long time defended against the Roman enemie albeit at albeit last with the losse of his life Neither be thou over vvise to say they might haue been like the good Geographers who seldome trouble themselues with the description of smal Brooks but waite on till by confluence they make great rivers and are disburdened into sea For had the riverets either been dryed up in time or yet were drained in severall chanels the maine streame would not swell so big nor the great Whore that sitteth upon many waters proue so stately amongst us Onely first for stirring up thy own soule think with thy selfe how like the times of our Kirk may prooue unto the darkenesse of the ninth Centurie after Christ which the Centuriatours obserue to haue proceeded of foure pregnant causes 1 the excessiue loue of mâ—ns writtes with the neglect of Scripture 2 the praeeminence of some persons aboue others 3 the multiplication of ceremonies and humane inventions 4 persecution and oppression of the most sound in heart and judgement Secondly for judging of the Defenders part consider that howsoever they be commanded to loue such as hate them and pray for such as persecute them yet how small reason they haue to beleeue that they who persecute them thinke that in so doing they doe God good service And thirdly for thy own resolution remember that the sentence of Christs throne
pursued vvill delight any true Scots heart to heare and vvill giue eye to me borne out of time to see as that I had lived then that vvhich I both feare and loue to knovv first then vvhat vvas that incomparable loue vouchsafed on us Epaph. Our Saviour Christ did plant a vineyard in this land as in a verie fruitfull hill he hedged it The first consideration and gathered out the stones of it and planted it vvith the best plants he built a tovver in the midst of it and also made a vvine-presse therein and after manie yeares and divers troubles and travells according to the truth uttered by a deere servant of God vvhen the gospell first began to shine among us the realme vvas illuminated vvith the light of Christs Evangell as clearely as ever vvas any realme since the daies of the Apostles The house of God was builded in it yea it did not lacke whatsoever the enemie imagine in the contrarie the verie coapstone the jurisdiction and libertie of the true Kirk Generall and Provinciall Assemblies Presbyteries Sessions and Discipline were brought to their perfection all lawes of idolatrie abrogate all presentations of Benefices directed to the particular Presbyteries with power to put order to all matters Ecclesiasticall within their bounds Hic fuit vnitâ—s sine schismate ventas sine haeresi bonitas absque hypocrisi according to the discipline of the Kirk But all this faire and flourishing estate is tyed to it own condition of contrary change if the people shall be after unthankfull then fearefull and terrible shall the plagues be Archipp That truth of the man of God I must confesse meeteth us this day in our face for as the loue hath been great the people haue proved unthankfull and the plagues are alreadie begun The Lord looked for grapes and behold nothing but wilde grapes why should he not then lay his vineyard wast and command the clouds that they raine no more raine upon it But what secret would you haue me to consider upon the Antichrist his side Epaph. Antichrist inflamed with the furious zeale of his cursed Kingdome and enraged by his inveterate malice against our profession Secondly what Antichrist did as a burning light to discover his damnable darkenesse never ceased to resist the grace of God among us to his uttermost possibilitie sending forth as he might command the armies of crueltie his wilde Boares and roaring Lyons with open mouth and readie pawes to threaten and proclaime their enmitie as in that bloudie enterprise of the 88 when God shewing his might no lesse against these mortall enimies then for the Kirks Kingdomes of this Iland redeemed his own people mightily from the teeth of the Dog and ruined these Vnicornes as mightily in his wrath But that marvellous overthrow from the heaven aboue and the waters beneath conspiring to represse the pride of that tyrant did no wise moue him to forsake his bloudie purpose but within few daies thereafter assaying to practise by craft which hee could not performe by open crueltie like a sworne enemie to the oath of Alleageance he treacherously inchanted and miserably perverted diverse of this Kingdome to negotiate with him and his Emissaries Iesuites and seminarie Priests for subversion of this whole state You may reade and remember the execution of â—entrie the Bridge of Dee and the unnaturall and treacherous attempt of the 93 c. Archipp You seeme to me if you would follow forth that discourse in speaking of the times past to point at the present and to taxe the treacherie of living men in their persons who are long since dead But I rest content for the present with your pointing at that Spanish spring from whence the streames haue been comming northward this time by past which now overflow this Kirk and Iland and desires to know what was done at that time for resisting of Antichrist Epaph. The watchmen of the Lords house and sincere professors as they were directed and assisted by grace Thirdly how Antichrist was resisted resisted the violence of open enemies and diligently searched the hid wickednes of lurking vipers intending to sting to the death and after tryall taken of the venomous heads of those Romish monsters who spared not to adventure themselues their friends and whole estate in that foule and unnaturall trick they proceeded against them and put them under the highest censure Ecclesiasticall and therupon procured their deserved forefalture Archip. Those Satanicall supposts of that Italian Priest and Indian Pluto deserved no lesse And now it seemeth that the Kirk and the Country are well purged of such Antichristian and disnatured spirit Epaph. Had the successe been answerable to the censure the fire had been quenched and we quit of them and their adulterous generation multiplying in midst of us to this day But the general Assembly holden at Edinburgh 1594 declareth the contrarie in these words of Inscription The dangers which through the impunitie of the excoÌ„municate Papists trafiquers with the Spaniards and other enemies of the Religion estate are imminent to the true Religion professed within this Kingdom his Majesties person crown libertie of this our natiue Countrie And at more length in Eleven Articles of which number the first is It is certaine that the Spaniard who with so great preparations in the 88 did interprise the conquest of this I le remaines as yet of that same intention and waites onely upon a meet occasion to accomplish that his devilish purpose as cleerely appeares in his continuing in this intertainment of intelligence and traffiquing with the foresaid excommunicates ever since the dissipation of his Navie And the last whereas his Majestie and Estates at the first discoverie of their conspiracies apprehended a verie great danger to true Religion the Kings estate and crown and libertie of the Countrie and notwithstanding that the same cause of danger as yet remaines whole unremoved their is no apprehension of any danger nor earnest care to withstand it it is evident that their is an inclination and purpose to cover extentiate bear forth the evil cause wherthrough they will not see or else the Lord in judgement hath blinded and hardned the hearts of all estates to grop in the mid day at that which they caÌ„not see which is the greatest danger of al a most certain argument of the wrath of God and his heavie judgement hanging over the land so much the more to be feared because there is no cause of fear apprehended Archip. But what could either the civill or spirituall sword doe more for the good of the kirk and countrey against their vnnaturall malice Epaph. When you tempt me after that sort ye forget my protestation in the beginning I will onely shew what the kirk now holding the wolfe by the eares resolved to doe out of the apprehension of so great danger for preventing of ensuing evils and for purging the realme from open offences ready to draw on
of the Iewes are antiquat is it not lawfull for the Christian Kirk to appoint new ceremonies in their place Epaph. D. Downam hath been in a great slumber vvhen he wrot pag. 69 of Christian liberty That as it is lawfull for Law-givers to make civill Lawes in stead of the abolished judicial Law that it is also lawfull for the Kirk in her Provincionall Nationall or Generall Synode to establish lawes Ecclesiasticall in place of the abrogated law of Ceremonies for vvhat vvere that else but to erect a new Ceremoniall law in place of the old to make it necessary albeit not by necessity of divine precept Si non necessitarâ— medii aut precepti divini at saltem necessitate praecepti humans in Christiana subversienem libertatis divini humani juris aquipondium as the former was during that time yet to the wreck of Christian liberty by the necessity of mans commandement Onely he that maketh summer to succeed after winter the night to day old age after youth may set down one forme of worship after another The saying of Vindicanus the witty Physition The medicine workes not because I directed it not Quia ego non jussi belongeth to the Lord in matters of his worship August epict 5. Archip. He seemes to haue gone too farre and I thinke in the Reformed Kirkes will find few followers Yet I am sure the Lord vvho hath appointed Kirk Assemblies hath granted them some power and vvherin can the power be except it be in matters of Ceremonie Epaph. That I deny not Three sorts of ordinances in the Christian Kirk compared with the three sorts of Iewish ceremonies 1 Divino divinae 2 Divino humanae 3 Humanae 1 Divinae instieutiones 2 Ecclesiastica constitutiones 3 Humana inventiones yet many are mistaken in taking up that power And so was I for a long time till I began in simplicity of heart to make the right comparison betwixt the Christian and Iudaicall Kirk the morall law keeping equall force in both Archip. I would gladly heare of that comparison that I may be as ye are who am as ye vvas Epaph. As in the Kirk of the Iewes there were three sorts of Ordinances some merely Divine some mixed and some meerly humane so haue there been answerably the same three kindes in the Christian Kirk Divine Institutions Ecclesiastick Constitutions humane inventions for so may they be named for distinction sake The Christian Kirk hath divine institutions as the Kirk of the Iewes had the Kirk of the Iewes behoved to haue Ecclesiastick constitutions as the Christian Kirk hath And both the kirk of the Iewes and the Christian Kirk through Satans subtill tentation and mans presuming superstition haue been polluted with traditions of men and will-worship Now when men will haue Ecclesiastick constitutions in the Christian Kirk whether they be alone or joyned vvith divine to succeed lineally to divine institutions in the Iewish Kirk and when men vvill haue their own traditions or inventions in the Christian Kirk to answer Ecclesiastick or Divine constitutions in the Iewish Kirk they goe awry either not knowing vvhat Christian liberty is or else wittingly turning it into licentiousnesse They abridge Gods marâ—hes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iud. 19. Divine institutions in the one and the other Kirk compared and inlarge their owne Archip. What comparison make ye then betwixt Divine Institutions in the one Kirk and the other Epaph. Divine institution of Legall Evangelicall worship is equally full coÌ„pleat in all things necessary that could conveniently be determined according to the coÌ„mendation of good lawes which leaue as little undetermined without the compasse of the Law as may be Giving of lawes is no part of Christian liberty under the Gospell more then under the Law The King of the Kirk is her onely Lawgiver at all time Archip. Equally full and compleat that cannot be for divine institutions under the law were many in respect of the few institutions under the Gospell Epaph. Yee vvill say vvith me it must be if yee consider that in the ceremoniall law of Moses there vvere two things to be distinguished number and light multitude and direction the one vvas a burthen the other a benefite the one a yoke the other an ease Evangelicall liberty makes the Christian Kirk free of the number and multitude but the perfection of the Law-giver aboue Moses suffereth him not to giue lesse perfect and particular direction We haue not multitudes of Sacrifices and Sacraments as the Iewes had But our information concerning our few and easie Sacraments in every thing necessary and lawfull is as plaine and perfect and fewer questions referred to the Kirkes decision now then at that time As then negatiue conclusions from the Ceremoniall law vvere good and affirmatiue bad so are they now from the Gospell They concluded thus it is not commanded therefore it is not lawfull and not thus it is not forbidden therfore it is lawfull and so must vve now Affirmatiue conclusions of that sort are indirect accusations of the vvord of God and direct challenges of the personall ignorance of men vvho for the most part can as little giue a sufficient reason from Scripture against Arrian heresie Theologia in subjecto non adaequat Theologiam in objecto Rectum est sui obliqui norma Nihil extra praeter aut coÌ„tra â—cripturam nihil nisi ex scriptura doceri debet aut potest Nisi quis sorte naturam in suo genere perfectam Scripturam vero minus perfectam statuat ac proinde magis in natura Deum quum in Scriptura sap nisse Iun. Thes disp 6 thes 9. as against kneeling at the Communion Our knowledge ought to be fundamentally positiue and occasionally privatiue It is vvell if vve can giue a reason for our owne practise from the Word albeit vve cannot bring a place of Scripture against each errour that breaketh out of every crazie brain It is a safer conclusion in health to say this agreeable to my constitution therefore I vvill use it then I knovv no harme this can doe therefore I vvill use it The Author to the Hebrewes reasoneth many times negatiuely in that Epistle The Ancients use it frequently against the errour of their times The Papists use it unwittingly and all our Writers against the Papists use it purposely And yet it is refused in this cause by our Adversaries to us Archip. No marvell for it hath place onely in matters dogmaticall and of faith not in matters Traditionall and of Ceremony Epaph. The vvord also must be the soule that giveth life to the ceremonies vvithout vvhich they are but dead carkasses Verbum Del tanquam anima est quae ceremonias vivificat sublato verbo quicquid rituum observant homines etiamsi externa specie piâ—rum observationi conveniat nihil aliud est quam putida satua superstitio Nonne vides ista quâ—a in Sacrosancto hoc pharmacopolio non