t it Epifile to the Cai.tiartt. Chap.5. tnulbeMagiftrates, theymutt hauepower tomake lawesbe- fide the !awes of God : butthis powertheyhauenot, becaufe Chriftians haue a frcevfeofall thecreatures Godby Cirri- 1 ftian libertie. 4nf. We,tnuff diUinguifh betweene the libertic 5 it Idle, and the vieofit. And:theMagifirates authoritie dealer not with the libertie which is inthe confcicnce , but with the vfe oft: and he clothneither diminifhnor abolifh thevfe ofa- ny ofthe creatures, but reflraines the abufe,and moderates tha ouer common vie fòr the common good. Thus Magifiracie o and Chriflian liberticmay [land together : and the rather, be- caufe libertie is in confcicnce , and the Magiftratcs authoritie pertainestothcbodie. Here is further, comfort for all the godly:for cuen byChri- ftian libertie ,their -confciences arc exempted from=thepower t 5 ofall creatures, men, and Angels. r. Cor. 7.2 3. reare bought withaprtfe, be notfertmntsofmen,that is,let notyour hearts and confciences Rand in fubicaion to /hewill of anyman. Here then falls to the ground the Opinion of the Paptfls, namely, that the lawes and TraditionsoftheChurch bind confcienceas 20 truly and certenlyas the wordofGod. This dofltine is not of God,becaufeit isagainfl Chriflian hbertie. O6ieEf, 1. Rom:t 3., r. Befrcbieci to the higher power.for'con- fcience.Anf.Confciencehere isnot in rcfpeaofthe lawcsofthe Magiflrate , but in refpea ofthe lawof God , that binds vs in 25 contcience,toobaythe law of the Magiflrate. ObieEf.11. Heb. r 3:17.-064y them that haue the ouerfght o f you, andbefuhieE1. Auf Wemuff be fubieft to them:becaufe as Minitiers ofGod, they deliuer the wordof God in the name of God unto vs, and that wordbindsconfcience. Againe ¡the ao lawes which they snake touching order andcomelines in 'the feruiceof God, are"sobe obaied fòr theauoidingof fcandall and contempt. Obier/. // I. , A thing indifferent vponthecotnmandement oftheMagiflrate, becomes necefí'ar-ie. Auf. It is true. But it ;5 muff be obfcrued , that neceffitie is twofold, External! , inter- nal!. And the lawof the Magiflratemakes a thing indifferent tobe necefTarie .onely in refpeet ofexternall necefíitie,for the auoidingofthecontempt of authoritie, and fort the auoiding offcandall. Otherwife the thing in it felfe isnot necefarie, but emaines [tillindifFerent , and may bevfcd or not vied, if con- Aa-a t tempt 369
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