the blessed
evangel, and received, believed and defended, by many and sundry notable
kirks and realms, but chiefly by the kirk of Scotland, the King's Majesty,
and three Estates, &c., as more particularly expressed in the Confession
of our Faith, &c.," are altogether perverted by the Bishop; for there is
no discipline spoken of in these words, but afterward. Why, then, talks he
of a discipline revealed to the world by the gospel, having the consent of
many notable churches, and expressed in the Confession of Faith? And if
the Bishop will have any discipline to be meant of in these words, he must
comprehend it under the Christian faith and religion, which bringeth
salvation unto man. But this he cannot do with so much as the least show
of reason. Thus put we an end to the argument taken from the oath of God,
wishing every man amongst us, out of the fear of God's glorious and
fearful name, duly to regard and ponder the same.

CHAPTER IX.

A RECAPITULATION OF SUNDRY OTHER REASONS AGAINST THE INDIFFERENCY OF THE
CEREMONIES.

_Sect._ 1. That the ceremonies are not indifferent to us, or such things
as we may freely practise, we prove yet by other reasons:

For, 1. They who plead for the indifferency of the ceremonies must tell us
whether they call them indifferent _in actu signato_, or _in actu
exercito_; or in both these respects. Now, we have proven,(1299) that
there is no action deliberated upon, and wherein we proceed with the
advice of reason, which can be indifferent _in actu exercito_, and that
because it cannot choose, but either have all the circumstances which it
should have (and so be good), or else want some of them, one or more (and
so be evil). And for the indifferency of the ceremonies _in actu signato_,
though we should acknowledge it (which we do not), yet it could be no
warrant for the practice of them, or else the believing Gentiles might
have freely eaten of all meats, notwithstanding of the scandal of the
Jews, for the eating of all meats freely was still a thing indifferent,
_in actu signato_.

_Sect._ 2. The ceremonies are not indifferent _eo ipso_, that they are
prescribed and commended unto us as indifferent; for, as Aquinas(1300)
resolveth out of Isidore, every human or positive law must be both
_necessaria ad remotionem malorum_ and _utilis ad consecutionem bonorum_.
The guides of God's church have not power to prescribe any other thing
than that which is