38q The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. VIII. El ab h, ny volumes of ecclefiaftical laws, canons, and injunEtions, as have con - r594. founded, if not fubverted the laws of Chrift. erw Whereas if men confidered the church as afpirstual body, conftituted by Chrift its foie lawgiver for fpiritualpurpofes, they would then fee that it bad no concernwith their civil rights, properties and eftates, nor ány power to force men to be of its communion, by the pains and penalties of this world. The laws of the New Teltament would appear fuffrcient for the well-being of Curb a fociety ; and in cafes where there are no particular rules or injunflions, that it is the will ofChrift and his apoftles, there fhould be liberty and mutual forbearance; there would then be no occafion for chrßian courts (as they are called) nor for the interpofition of human authority, any further than to keep the peace. Upon the whole, as far as any church is governed by the laws and precepts of the New Teflament fo far is it a church of Chrift ; but when it Pets up its own by-laws as terms of communion, or works the policy of the civil magiftrate into its conftitution, it is fo far a creature of the ftate. Mr. Hooker's two laft propofitions are inconfiftent with the firft prin- ciples of the reformation, viz. that all that are born within the confines of an efiablJhed church, and are baptized into it, are bound to fubmit to its ecclefia/lical laws, underfuch penalties as the church in her w/dom (hall di- rect. Muff I then be of the religion of the country where I am born? that is, at Rome a papift ; in Saxony a lutheran ; in Scotland a prefby- terian ; and in England a diocefan prelatift ; and this under fuch penal- ties as the church in her wifdom (hall think fit? Muff I believe as the _ church believes, and fubmit to her laws right or wrong ? Have I no right as a man and a chriftian, to judge and aft for myfelf, as long as I con- tinue a loyal and faithful fubjeét to my prince? Surely religious princi- ples and church communion fhould be the effect of examination and a deliberate choice, or they lofe their name, and degenerate into hypocrify or atheifm. From general principles, Mr. Hooker proceeds to vindicate the parti- cular rites and ceremonies of the church, and to clear them from the ex- ceptions of the puritans, which may eafily be done when he has proved, that the church has .a difcretionary power to appoint what ceremonies, and efiablifhwhat order fhe thinksfit ; he may then vindicate not only the cere- monies of thechurch of England, but all thofe of Rome, for no doubt that church alledges all her ceremonies conducive to her well-being, and not inconfrften.t with the laws of Chrift. Daub of This year died Dr. ,7obn Aylmer, bishop of London, whole charafter Aylmer, bi- has been fufiiciently drawn in this hiftory; he was born in Norfolk, edu- fhap of Lou- cated in Cambridge, and in queen Mary's reign an exile for religion; he don. 8' 4 g g was
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