Mixture of Scholastical Divinity with Practical Part 2, Excerpt and reply 9
Dr. Hammond.
For that indecency, which is a vice, or sin must be contrary to some Law of Gods, and so also that which is opposed to the due manner which is …, and so is … either incessitate …, or … also, to obtain in a just end, this sure is more then the … of an indifferent custome, which may, or may not be continued without any offence against nature, even the omission of strict universal duty, either naturall decency, or somewhat that bears proportion with it.
Jeanes.
That decency in Gods worship and service, the neglect of which would be undecent, is necessary both … … and praecepti.
1. Medii is required as a means unto the acceptable celebration of Gods worship, but then it is not a means proper and peculiar thereunto, for it hath the same immediate end both in civil and religious matters, and therefore is common unto both.
2 That it is necessary necessitate praecepti you cannot question, unlesse you will deny the title and obligation unto the Apostles injunction, for that it binds as an edict of nature we have the testimony of your own Hooker: if this twofold necessity of decency be chargeable with any absurdities, you are as deeply concerned to answer them as my self: indeed that decency. from the omission whereof we cannot inferre indecency is necessary, neither necessitate praecepti, nor medii.
But with such a decency we have nothing to doe; for it comes not within the compasse of the Apostolical command, and such is the decency of your ceremonies altogether unnecessary; neither commanded by any Law of God, nor necessary as a means for the better service of God. But perhaps you may attempt to prove, that God is better served with your Ceremonies, than without them; when I shall have such proof from you, I shall return it an answer.
In the mean while let us consider the absurdity with which you charge the assertion of the, but now mentioned, double necessity of decency in Gods worship: If that be necessary, necessitate praecepti, or medii, then undecency, say you, which is opposed thereunto, is more than the omission of an indifferent custome, which may, or may not be continued without any offence against nature.
For answer, the undecency here prohibeted by the Apostle, is either by the light of nature, or by civil custome.
The former is more than the omission of an indifferent custome, and is an immediate transgression against nature.
As for the latter, we must distinguish of a twofold consideration of such customes, they may be considered either … … in the generall, as abstracted from all singularizing circumstances, or … … … & …, as clothed with such and such circumstances, and so they are not indifferent but necessary necessitate both praecepti and medii. I might exemplifie this by instancing in the long hair, proper apparel, viz. long garments of women, and the like. There is a passage in Ames, already …, that will be here very apposite; Bishop Morton had demanded of him whether the womens vailes, 1 Cor. 11. were not a thing indifferent, and his answer is, it is indifferent in the generall nature of it, yet at that time, and in that place, they finned that did otherwise, even before Paul, or any of their Overseers gave them charge about it.