blies and parliaments, used and
enjoyed with so great peace and purity? Our custom should have holden the
ceremonies out of Scotland, hold them in elsewhere as it may.

CHAPTER VII.

THAT THE LAWFULNESS OF THE CEREMONIES CANNOT BE WARRANTED BY ANY
ECCLESIASTICAL LAW, NOR BY ANY POWER WHICH THE CHURCH HATH TO PUT ORDER TO
THINGS BELONGING TO DIVINE WORSHIP.

_Sect._ 1. We have proved that the ceremonies cannot be warranted by the
law of God. It followeth to examine whether any law of man, or power upon
earth, can make them lawful or warrantable unto us.

We will begin with laws ecclesiastical, where, first of all, it must be
considered well what power the church hath to make laws about things
pertaining to religion and the worship of God, and how far the same doth
extend itself. Dr Field's resolution touching this question is as
followeth: "Thus (saith he(876)) we see our adversaries cannot prove that
the church hath power to annex unto such ceremonies and observations as
she deviseth, the remission of sins, and the working of other spiritual
and supernatural effects, which is the only thing questioned between them
and us about the power of the church. So that all the power the church
hath, more than by her power to publish the commandments of Christ the Son
of God, and by her censures to punish the offenders against the same, is
only in prescribing things that pertain to comeliness and order.
Comeliness requireth that not only that gravity and modesty do appear in
the performance of the works of God's service that beseemeth actions of
that nature, but also that such rites and ceremonies be used as may cause
a due respect unto, and regard of, the things performed, and thereby stir
men up to greater fervour and devotion."

And after: Order requireth that there be set hours for prayer, preaching,
and ministering the sacraments; that there be silence and attention when
the things are performed; that women be silent in the church; that all
things be administered according to the rules of discipline.

This his discourse is but a bundle of incongruities. For, 1. He saith,
that the church's power to annex unto the ceremonies which she deviseth
the working of spiritual and supernatural effects, is the only thing
questioned between our adversaries and us about the power of the church.
Now, our adversaries contend with us also about the power of the church to
make new articles of faith,