in whofe Name to be made, and likewife for the Internal manner: yet as to the External manner and circumftances (fave that of be ing made in a known Tongue) as whether it shall be made in a fet Form or without (except the direction given for the use of the Lords Prayer, or whether with the use of a Book or without it, or whether kneeling or standing, or how many shall be made at one. Church Affembly; these things are not particularly determined one. way or other, but are left to the prudence of men to use one or another, according as the exigence. of Circumftances fhall require, or their Governors order.

And if our Blessed Saviour. had not intended to have allowed

fuch a liberty in the choice of External Circumftances of Worship; we cannot in reafon but think he would have been as particular in determining them, as he has been in the matter and fubftance of Worship it felf, which yet we fee he has not been. For he could not but know it impoffible for all Church Guides not immediately infpired (tho' otherwise never so wife and good) to pitch upon the Self-fame Circumftances of Adminiftration, where they have only general Rules to Guide them in their Choice. And accordingly experience fhews that among good men, fome have thought fuch and Such Circumstances of Worship beft to agree with general Rules, when others as good as they have

thought

thought others to do fo. And tho in fuch cafes both cannot be beft under the fame Circumstances of things, yet that which is not beft in it felf may be beft to be used as Circumstances may fall out when that which is not beft cannot be refused without a greater inconvenience than the use of that rather than a better does amount

to.

,

as

Our Bleffed Savionr then having left his People at fo much liberty in the choice of External Circumstances of Worship as we fee he has, it argues fufficiently that the use of different Circumftantial modes of Worship is not at all difpleafing unto him, fo long as they agree with the general Rule, efpecially when the avoiding of a [64] Breach

Breach, and the prefervation of Peace, Unity, and good Will in the Church, does influence the choice.

If there be then fuch a liberty left by Chrift unto his Church of using different Circumftantial modes of Worship, fo long as they answer to the general Rule, as none can with any colour of reason deny but there is; then it cannot but be a great abuse of this liberty, for Chriftians fo to contend for one of thefe Circumftantial modes of Worship, in oppofition to the other, as to feparate and break Communion about it, and thereby to involve the Church in unpeaceable ftrife and contention, difaffection and fends. When it is but matter of liberty to use one or another,

another, and not matter of indifpenfable Duty to use one only and nct the other; it cannot but be an abuse of fuch a liberty to make ufe of it to a publick hurt to the Church. The making use of that which is but only matter of liberty, when to do fo caufeth a Brother to offend, is feverely condemned by St. Paul; how much more then is the making use of such liberty to be blamed when it tends to a great and publick mischief in the Church St. Paul faith, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty,onely use not liberty for an occafion to the flesh, but by love ferve one another, Gal. 5. 13. That the ufing of this liberty we speak of has been an occafion for the flesh to fhom