Mixture of Scholastical Divinity with Practical Part 2, Excerpt and reply 29 – Excerpt and reply 30
Dr. Hammond. sect. 36.
His third and last impression now remaines, wherein he undertakes to prove by three arguments, that custome is not the only rule of decency; and his first argument is, because the light and law of nature is also a rule of decency. To this I answer, that … those things, whereof alone he knowes I there … in the Sect: concerning uniformity, i. e. in things indifferent, gestures, and other Ceremonies in Gods service, the law of nature is no rule at all: and I suppose he cannot think, I am sure he pretends not to prove, or so much as affirme it is, and therefore though not … in all … of things, of which I speak not, nor can by any rules of discourse be supposed to have …, yet as to the matters then before me, wherein Ecclesiastick conformity consisted, custome, and only custome was the rule of ….
Jeanes.
1. I had no reason to imagine that your words were to be restrained unto things indifferent, gestures and other Ceremonies in Gods service, for you undertook to give us the importance of the Apostles words: Let all things be done decently, and the Apostles words reach unto even naturall decency, now of that the light of nature is a rule.
2. There be, as Bellarmine rightly lib. 2. de … …. cap. 20. some Ceremonies, which receive their institution as it were from nature it self, which may be called naturall Ceremonies, as to looke up … Heaven, to … up our hands, to bow our knees, and knock our breasts when we pray unto God: Quaedam … sunt … … natura … …, quae naturales … possunt, qual. est respicere in …, tollere manus, flectere genua, … …, cum Deum …: … … natura ipsa docet, unde ettam communes sunt Gentilibus & … sectis.
3. Those Ceremonies which we oppose, … …, such as the Crosse and Surplice, are not things indifferent, because they are imposed and used as parts of Gods worship, and no worship of God is ….
4. Suppose that I concurred with you in holding the questioned Ceremonie: to be lawfull, yet I should deny Custome to be the onelyonly rule of their Decency, and that because the light and Law of Nature, right Reason is a rule thereof too. My argument I shall thus re-enforce; If Custome be in the Ceremonies of Gods service, the only rule of …, then nothing else can be a rule thereof besides Custome; but this is false; for the light and law of Nature is also a rule thereof: therefore in the Ceremonies of Gods service Custome is not the onelyonly rule of Decency.
The … of the Major is evident from what Logicians say concerning, first, the exposition, secondly, conversion, and thirdly, consecution of exclusive propositions.
1. Concerning the exposition of them, Propositio … subjecti … exponitur per duas exponentes, quarum prima est affirmata, & appellatur praejacens, estque nihil … quam propositio exclusiva, … signo exclusivo: & secunda est negativa de subjecto exclusivè in …, vel …. This exclusive proposition then in the Ceremonies of Gods service, Custome is the only rule of Decency, must be expounded by these two.
1. By an Affirmative: in the Ceremonies of Gods service, Custome is a rule of Decency: And then
2. Negative: whatsoever is not Custome, that is not in the Ceremonies of God: service a rule of Decency.
2. Concerning the conversion of them, Propositio exclusiva subjecti affirmativa convertitur in universalem affirmativam de transpositis terminis. The Doctors proposition then, Custome in the Ceremonies of Gods service, is the onelyonly rule of Decency, is converted into this Universall Affirmative, every rule of Decency is Custome.
Well, upon this premised concerning the … and conversion of exclusive propositions, Logicians lay down concerning the consecution of them this rule: Ab exclusiva ad exponentes propositiones itemque ad universalem conversam bona est consequentia: By this rule then it will follow, that if Custome in the Ceremonies of Gods service be the only rule of Decency, that then in them nothing but Custome is the rule of Decency, and that every rule of Decency is Custome. The Major then is fortified beyond all exception.
The Minor I shall confirme by instancing in the light or law of Nature, right reason, this to joyn issue with you, would bee in the controverted Ceremonies of Gods service, if they were lawfull, a rule of Decency.
For first, what is the end of a rule but to regulate and direct? now the light and law of Nature regulates all gestures and Ceremonies in Gods worship, as touching their Decency.
2. It is in these particulars not only a rule, but a principall rule of Decency, by which all Customes are to be tryed, examined, and regulated.
For the confirmation of this I shall adde three reasons.
1. Gestures, Ceremonies agreeable … Custome may be found to be dissonant unto the light and law of Nature, and to be rejected as undecent.
2. Custome is not the rule of decency unlesse it have the force of a Law, and that it cannot have, say the School-men, rightly, unlesse it be rationabilis, and such it cannot be, unlesse it be agreeable unto right reason, which is all I meane by the light and law of nature; though the light of nature doe not dictate the necessity of it, yet it must give allowance and approbation of it; without its warrant it is not to be received as Decent.
A 3. Argument shall be ad hominem: by nature you say, out of …, is meant 1 Cor. 11. 14. Custome of some continuance in that place, and what more probable reason can be assigned for terming of a Custom Nature, then its conformity unto its allowance and approbation by the Law of Nature?
It being thus proved, that even in the Vestures, Gestures, and Ceremonies of Gods service, upon supposition of their lawfulnesse, the law and light of nature is a principall rule, it will follow that wee may with farre better reason say of it, than of custome, that 'tis, in the matters spoken of, the onelyonly rule of Decency: For
1. We may truly say of the law and light of Nature, that it is in Ceremonies the only rule of Decency, though Custome be a rule thereof also; because the exclusive particle onelyonly doth not exclude things subordinate: Now Custome is a rule of Decency subordinate unto the light of Nature, and therefore is not excluded; when I say, the light and law of nature is the onelyonly rule of Decency.
2. We cannot say of Custome, with any truth at all, that it is the onelyonly rule of Decency in the matters before you, wherein Ecclesiastical conformity …, because the onelyonly things excepted from being excluded by the particle onelyonly, are things subordinate, and things necessarily …; but now the light and law of Nature as it is not subordinate unto custome, so neither is it necessarily concomitant therewith; for divers customes in Ceremonies may be, and have been irrational against the light and law of Nature: The law and light of Nature then is excluded from being a rule of Decency, by saying Custome is the onelyonly rule of Decency.
Adde hereunto, that the particle …, onelyonly, doth not alwaies exclude à totâ …, but sometimes onelyonly à summitate speciei, as may bee seen in Scheibl. topic. c. 2. n. 29. Now Custome is a lesse principall rule, that must undergoe tryal and examination by the light and law of Nature, as a superiour rule.
Dr. Hammond. sect. 37, 38.
His second argument is wholly deceitfull, and must be discovered to be so, by reducing it to rules of art. 'Tis by him variously formed in two several …. The … is this.
Nothing can be undecent which is agreeable to the onelyonly rule of Decency.
But divers things are undecent, which yet can plead …. The conclusion now must be, Therefore Custome is not the onelyonly rule of Decency.
38. But this is no regular Syllogisme, 'tis in no mood or figure, not readily reducible to any; and therefore 'twas his onelyonly way to presume it evident, and never to endeavour … proof thereof.
Jeanes.
I never said that it was an exact and regular Syllogisme.
But first, here is matter for a Categorical Syllogisme, and it is easily reducible
1. Unto a Hypothetical Syllogisme.
2. Ad Syllogismum ducentem ad impossibile.
1. Here is matter for a Categoric al Syllogisme: The only rule of Decency hath not any thing undecent agreeable unto it: Custome hath many undecent things agreeable unto it: Therefore Custome is not the onelyonly rule of Decency.
2. 'Tis easily reducible,
1. Unto a Hypotheticall Syllogisme.
2. Ad Syllogismum ducentem ad impossibile.
1. It may be reduced unto an Hypotheticall Syllogisme thus: If Custome be the onelyonly rule of Decency, then nothing can be undecent, that is agreeable unto Custome: But divers things are undecent which are agreeable unto Custome; Therefore Custome is not the onelyonly rule of Decency.
The sequele of the Major is evident, because nothing can be undecent that is agreeable to the onelyonly rule of Decency.
And the Minor cannot bee denyed: In the Syllogisme then there is only a Crypsis, the Major is concealed, and the proof thereof placed in its roome, and Cryptical Syllogismes are in all discourses justifiable, when they may be reduced: If you call upon me to reduce the hypothetical Syllogisme, unto which it is reduced, unto a Categorical, you will herein be unreasonable; for those hypothetical Syllogismes that have four terms in the Major, are hardly capable of reduction unto a Categorical Syllogisme; So Scheibler hath instructed me, de Propos. &c. cap. 12. n. 24.
2. It is reduced unto that Syllogisme which is foreign, which doth ducere ad impossibile, as it is taken largly for that argumentation which doth reduce an adversary unto an … upon his own principles; for from this your principle, that Custome is the onelyonly rule of Decency, this Syllogisme will inevitably follow,
Nothing that is agreeable to the onelyonly rule of decency can be undecent.
All things customary are agreeable to the onelyonly rule of decency: Therefore nothing customary can be undecent.
But now this conclusion is apparently false, therefore one of the premises is also false; for ex vero nil nifi verum sequitur: It is not the Major, for the only rule of decency makes and denominates every thing conformable unto it to be decent, therefore it is the Minor, which is, that all things customary are agreeable unto the only rule of decency; and if this proposition be salse, then your position is false too, that custome is the only rule of decency, because all things customary are agreeable unto custome.