our
pleasure: for if at all we be (as certainly we are) abridged of our
liberty, chiefly it is in things pertaining to divine worship.

But I marvel why Dr Forbesse discourseth so much for the indifferency of
the ceremonies; for, lib. 1, cap. 7, he holdeth, that there were just
reasons in the things themselves why the pretended Assembly of Perth
should enjoin the five articles; some of which he calleth very convenient
and profitable, and others of them necessary in themselves. Sure, if he
stand to that which he hath there written, he cannot choose but say that
it is unlawful, both for us and for all Christians anywhere, to omit the
controverted ceremonies; and that all such as have at any time omitted
them, have thereby sinned, in leaving that undone which they ought to have
done--for the conveniency and necessity of them which he pretendeth is
perpetual and universal.

CHAPTER IV.

OF THE RULE BY WHICH WE ARE TO MEASURE AND TRY WHAT THINGS ARE
INDIFFERENT.

_Sect._ 1. That the word of God is the only rule whereby we must judge of
the indifferency of things, none of our opposites, we hope, will deny. "Of
things indifferent (saith Paybody(1214)) I lay down this ground, that they
be such, and they only, which God's word hath left free unto us."

Now these things which God's word leaveth free and indifferent (in respect
of their nature and kind) are such things as it neither showeth to be good
nor evil. Where we are further to consider, that the word of God showeth
unto us the lawfulness or unlawfulness, goodness or badness of things, not
only by precepts and prohibitions, but sometimes also, and more plainly,
by examples. So that, not only from the precepts and prohibitions of the
word, but likewise from the examples recorded in the same, we may find out
that goodness or badness of human actions which taketh away the
indifferency of them.

And as for those who will have such things called indifferent as are
neither commanded nor forbidden in the word of God, I ask of them whether
they speak of plain and particular precepts and prohibitions, or of
general only? If they speak of particular precepts and prohibitions, then,
by their rule, the baptising of young children, the taking of water for
the element of baptism; a lecturer's public reading of Scripture in the
church upon the Sabbath day; the assembling of synods for putting order to
the confusions of the church; the writing a