The Divine Right of Church Government and Excommunication, Religious polemic · Chapter 1 · Question 1
Q. 1. Whether or not Humane Ceremonies in Gods Worſhip, can conſiſt with the perfection of Gods Word?
THeſe humane Ceremonies we cannot but reject upon theſe grounds;
Our firſt Argument is: Every poſitive and Religious obſervance, and Rite in Gods worſhip, notArg. 1. warranted by Gods Word, is unlawfull: But humane Ceremonies are ſuch: Ergo,
The Propoſition is ſure, the holy Spirit uſeth a Negative Argument,The negative Argument from Scripture valid. Act. 15. 24. We gave no ſuch Commandment, Levit. 10. 1. Jer. 7. 30. and 19. 5, 6. and 32. 35. 2 Sam. 7. 7. 1 Chron. 15. 13. The Lord Commanded not this, Ergo, It is not Lawfull.
Formaliſts, Anſwer: Every worſhip holden to be of Divine neceſſity and yet not Commanded by God, is unlawfull; but not every worſhip holden as free, and not binding the Conſcience, requireth that God Command it.
Anſ. 1. Gods Conſequence is from the want of a Lawfull efficient and Author; you make him to reaſon from an Adjunct of the worſhip: But all worſhip hath neceſſity, and Divinity, and a binding power only from the Author God. For why is it Lawfull to Abraham to kill or intend to kill his Son? Why is not eating the forbidden fruit Lawfull? Only becauſe God Commandeth; and if God forbid Abraham to kill his Son, and Command Adam to eat, it is Lawfull. 2. If this be good, obſerve all the Ceremoniall Law, ſo you lay not Divine neceſſity upon the obſervance thereof; offer Sacrifices to God under the New Teſtament, and you cannot fail in the worſhip againſt the Inſtitutor▪ So ſlaying of the Children to Molech, ſo you count it free and changeable, ſhall not fail againſt Gods Commandments of the firſt Table (I Command it not.) They Anſwer, To kill Children, is Man ſlaughter; but I Reply: God doth no…, Ier. 7. Reaſon againſt Offering the ſeed to Molech, as it was murther and forbidden in the ſixth Commandment: but as falſe worſhip, and forbidden in the ſecond Commandment: Elſe he proveth not, that it was unlawfull worſhip againſt piety, but that it was an act of cruelty: Yea, ſo it be thought free and bind not the Conſcience, it may be Lawfull worſhip, and is not condemned by this (God Commanded it not) Ergo, It is not Lawfull.
I Commanded not, (ſaith aMorton defenſe of Cere. gener. q▪ 1. Sect. 12.Morton, and bBurges, rejoynder, p. 41.D. Burges.) that is, I diſcommanded, or forbade. Anſ. So cGregor. de Valent. to. 3 diſ 6. q. 2. re…. ad. 2. obj. Conſtat quandoquo dici non preceptum id quod adeo non eſt preceptum, ut ſit etiam contra preceptum.ſaith the Ieſuit Valentia; but ſo, Circumciſing of women, boyling of the Paſchall Lambe, another Ark then Moſes made, ſhould not be unlawfull, for theſe are not expreſly diſcommanded. But Gods Commanding to Circumciſe the Male-childe, to Roaſt the Paſchall Lambe, to make this Ark: and his ſilence of Circumciſion of women, and boyling the Paſſeover, and ſilence of another Ark, is a Command. 2. The Text, Jer. 7. Is wronged, I Commanded not, neither came it in my heart to Command this Abomination: That is, I never purpoſed it as worſhip: elſe they knew, to kill their Children, except to God, as Abraham was Commanded, was unlawfull, as Iſa. 63. 4. The Not to command, is to forbidday of Vengeance is in mine heart, 2 King. 10. 30. 1 King. 8. 18. Gen▪ 27. 41. To be in ones heart, is to purpoſe a thing. 3. Valentia ſaith, Exod. 18. 20. I Commanded not the falſe Prophet to speak; But how? By not ſending or calling him: Elſe God did not ſay by a Poſitive Commandment to every falſe Prophet, Prophecy not; but becauſe God b…de him not Prophecy, he was to know God forbade him: Elſe to ſpeak Arbitrary Doctrines and Propheſies, not tying the Conſcience, were no falſe Prophecying.
They Object, 1 King. 8. 17. It was well that it was in Davids heart to build a houſe to God, and yet David had no warrant in Gods Word, for to build an houſe to God. So Morton dMorton gener. defe, c. 1. Sect. 6, 7.Burges eBurges, rejoynder, c. 1. Sect. 7. p. 34. Of Davids purpoſe to build the Temple, how far it was lawfull.Anſ. David had a twofold will and purpoſe to build Gods houſe: 1. Conditionall: It was revealed to David, that God would have an houſe built, therefore David might conditionally purpoſe to build it; ſo it was Gods will he ſhould be the man. This wanteth not Gods word: We may deſire what ever may promove Gods glory conditionally. As that Petition teacheth (Thy Kingdom come.) This was recommended of God and approved▪ 2 Kin. 8. 17. 2. A reſolute will upon Nathans miſtake, the blinde leading the blinde, this was not Commanded, though the deſire of the end was good, that is, that a houſe ſhould be built.
Morton, 16. It was Lawfull upon common equity, conſidering Gods mercy to him, in ſubduing his enemies, and that he dwelt in Cedars, whereas God wanted an houſe, but he could not actually perform it, without Gods word: So Burges.
Anſ. 1. The conſequence without Gods word, is as good to conclude, that David might actually build Gods houſe, as to will and purpoſe to build it: Becauſe the word is a perfect rule to our thoughts and purpoſes, no leſſe then to our actions; if to build without Gods Word was unlawfull: Ergo, to purpoſe this without Gods Word was unlawfull. A purpoſe of ſin, as of Adultery, is ſin, a purpoſe of will worſhip, is will-worſhip and ſin. 2. A man of blood is as unfit to purpoſe to be a type of a peaceable Saviour, as to be a type of a Saviour, 3. If God reprove Samuels light for judging according to the eye, 1 Sam. 16. 7. Far more he rebuketh his purpoſe to Anoint a man without his word, Who giveth Kingdoms to whom he pleaſeth: Yet Samuel had a good intention, and Gods word in generall, that one of Ieſſe's Sons ſhould be King. 4. I… that good purpoſe had remained with David deliberately to build the Lords houſe, after the Lord had ſaid, Solomon, not David, muſt build the houſe, it would have been ſinfull; yet the reaſons upon common equity, and a generall warrant that God would have an houſe, had been as good as before: if Mortons conſequence be once good, its ever good. 5. By this, without the warrant of the Word, we may purpoſe to glorifie God: The Baptiſt without Gods warrant, may purpoſe a New Sacrament, Cajaphas may purpoſe that he ſhall be the man who ſhall dye for the people: I may purpoſe to glorifie God, by a thouſand new means of worſhipping: Papiſts have good intentions in all they do. 6. A purpoſe of heart is an inward ſubſtantiall worſhip warranted by Gods Word, Pſal. 19. 14. Pſal. 50. 21. Pſal. 74. 11. Ier. 4. 14. Gen. 8. 2. Eccleſ. 2, 3. Iſa. 55. 7. Ergo, The word is not a rule in ſubſtantiall and Morall Duties; heart-purpoſes cannot be indifferent heart-ceremonies. 7. David needed not aske counſell at Gods mouth and word, for an indifferent heart-purpoſe, grounded upon ſufficient warrant of common equity, whether he ſhould act it or no…; that which warranteth the good purpoſe, warranteth the enacting of the good purpoſe. 8. Who knoweth if God rewardeth additions to the word, with a ſure houſe, and all indifferent Ceremonies?
All additions to Gods Word are unlawfull▪ Deut. 4▪ …. Deut. 12.Arg. 2. Of Additions. 32. Prov. 30. 6. Rev. 22. 18. Ioh. 20. 31. Luk. 16. 29, 30. 2 Tim 3▪ 17. Pſalme 19. 7, 8. So, aBaſil. in morall.Baſilius, bHieron. in Matth. 23.Hieron, dCyprian epiſt. 68.Cyprian, eChryſ. in 2 Tim. 1.Chryſoſtome, fProcopius, in Deut. 12.Procopius, gTurtullian, de preſcript adver. heret.Turtullian, All the Fathers, all Proteſtant Divines oppoſing Traditions▪ put their ſeal and Pen to the plenitude of Scripture: But humane Rites are Additions to Gods word. hMorton, Burges, ſupra. c. 2, 3. p. 136.Morton and Burges ſay, God forbiddeth in the foreſaid places, additions of any thing, as Divine and a part of Gods Word, or additions contrary to Gods Word, and corrupting the ſenſe thereof, but not additions perfecting and …plaining his Word▪ a… Commentaries and Annotations of the text.
So do Papiſts Anſwer, Duvallius, iDuvallius, 2. delegibus, q. 5. art. 1. reſ. ad. 3. Hoc tantum facito, id eſt, non offer as alia victimarum genera filios aut fili…s d…o, ut Gentiles.a Sorboniſt▪ He forbiddeth other new Sacrifices, as of the Gentiles, who offered their Sons and Daughters: So kValent. tom. 3. diſp. 6. q. 2. reſp. ad. 2▪Valentia, lVaſquez, tom▪ 2. in 12. deſp. 152. c. 14. Qui addit novum, non dicitur declinare.Vaſquez, mBellarm. de pont. l. 4. c. 17. Moſes non alloquitur Principes, quorum eſt leges condere (et ſic addere) ſed populum e…ius eſt obedire.Bellarmine, nSuarez de trip. virit. diſp. 5. Sect. 4. Additiones non▪ corrumpentes ſed perficientes, non ſunt additiones, dat… enim ſunt a Spiritu ſancto.Suarez, oIta Cajeta.Cajetan, They are not added which the Church addeth▪ they are from the spirit of God: So pBannes, in 22. q. 1. Art. 10. Non adduntur▪ verbis dei ipſa dei verba.Bannes; but all theſe do elude, not expound the Texts: 1. Becauſe▪ if the Iewiſh Princes had Commanded Arbitrary and conditionall Ar…s, Sacrifices, places of worſhip, ſo they add… not heatheniſh and wicked, as the Gentiles Sacrificing their Children, they had no… failed by this anſwer; yet Moſes the Prince, is Commanded to make all according to the Patern in the Mount. 2. God ſpeaketh to all Iſrael, and not to the Princes only, Deut. 4. 1. Hearken O Iſrael, he ſpeaketh to theſe who are bidden to keep their ſoul diligently, v. 6. 3. It is Bellarmines groundleſſe charity, to think private heads who were not Princes and Law-givers, did not take on an h…iry Mantle to deceive, Zach. 13. 4. And ſay, Thus ſaith the Lord▪ when God had not spoken to them, Ier. 23. 16. 32. Yea, and Private women added their own dreams to the word of God, Ezech. 13. 17, 18. 3. They ſay TraditionsAll additions, even theſe which perfecteth the word are unlawfull. are from Gods Spirit: But hath Gods Spirit loſt all Majeſty, Divinity and power in ſpeaking? If the Popes Decretals, the Councels, the dirty Traditions, wanting life, Language, and power, be from Gods Spirit: Formaliſts admit Traditions from an humane ſpirit, and in this are ſhamed even by Papiſts, who ſay, God only …an adde to his own Word, whereas they ſay, men, and the worſt of men, Prelates may adde to Gods vvord: 4. But that additions perfecting are forbidden is clear: 1. Additions perfecting, as Didoclavius pDidocl. in alt. Damaſc. p. 504, 505.ſaith, argueth the word of imperfection, and that Baptiſme is not perfect without Croſſing. 2. It is Gods Prerogative to adde Canonick Scripture to the five books of Moſes, and the Nevv-Teſtament, and the doctrine of the Sacraments which cannot be Syllogiſtically deduced out of the Old Teſtament, Matth. 28. 19, 20. Ioh. 21. 31. Heb. 3. 2. Rev. 1. 19. and theſe are perfecting and explaining additions, therefore men may by as good reaſon adde Canonick Scripture to the Revelation, as adde new Poſitive Doctrines like this (The holy Surplice is a ſacred ſigne of Paſtorall Holineſſe) (Croſſing is a ſigne of dedicating the childe to Chriſts ſervice) for Papiſts …ay, even Vaſquez qVaſqu. to. 2. in 12. diſp. 154. cap. 3. Respondetu… pontificem quidem nec extra generale concilium nec inill… poſſe Statuere aliquid de fide quod non contineatur in principiis & articulis revelatis aut certiſſime ex iis colligatur.That the Pope neither in a generall Councell, nor out of it, can ordain any nevv points of Faith, vvhichwhich are not contained in the principles or Articles revealed, and may not be evidently concluded out of them.
Formaliſts anſwer, It is not lavvfull to adde any thing as a part of divine worſhip, but it is Lawfull to add… ſomething as an indifferent Rite, coming from Authority grounded upon common equity▪ And this is the anſvver of the Jeſuite Vaſquez rVaſq. ib.The Pope and Church cannot make an Article of Faith, for that is believed by divine Faith, to come from God only, but as Lawgivers they may give Laws that bindeth the conſcience, and yet are not altogether eſſentiall in worſhip. If additions, as divine parts of Gods worſhip (ſay we) be forbidden; God then forbidding to adde ſuch Traditions, forbiddeth his own ſpirit to adde to Gods word, for no man but God can adde additions Divine, that is, coming from God, but God himſelf, & by good conſequence the forbidding men to add additions, as really coming from God, ſhould forbid men to be Gods, for divine additions are eſſentially additions coming from God; but if he forbid additions only of mens diviſing, but obtruded to have the like efficacy and power over the conſcience, that Canonick Scripture hath, then were it lawfull to adde killing of our children to Molech, ſo it were counted not really to come from God, with opinion of divine neceſſity; and by this, God ſhould not forbid things to be added to his Word, by either private or publick men, but only he ſhould forbid things to be added with ſuch a quality, as that they ſhould by Divine Faith be received as coming from God, and having the heavenly ſtamp of Canonick Scripture, when as they are come only from the Pope and his baſtard Biſhops; ſo all the fables of the Evangell of Nicodemus; The materials of the Iewiſh and Turkiſh Religion might be received as lawfull additions, ſo they do not contradict the Scripture, as contrary to what is written, but only beſide what is written, and with all, ſo they be received as from the Church: Alſo 3. Additions contrary to the word, are diminutions; to adde to the eight Command this addition (The Church ſaith it is lawfull to ſteal) were no addition to the ten Commandments, but ſhould deſtroy the eight Commandment, and make nine Commandments only, and the meaning of Gods precept, Deut. 12. Thou ſhalt neither adde, nor diminiſh; ſhould be, Thou ſhalt neither diminiſh, neither ſhalt thou diminiſh: And ſo our Maſters make Moſes to forbid no additions at all: 6. Commentaries and Expoſitions of the Word, if ſound, ſhall be the word of God it ſelf; the true ſenſe of a ſpeech, is the form and eſſence of a ſpeech, and ſo no additions thereunto but explanations, except you make all ſound Sermons, Arbitrary Ceremonies and Traditions, whereas Articles of Faith expounded are Sermons, and ſo the Scripture it ſelf materially taken, is but a Tradition.