by her laws
and ordinances, as a thing left to her determination, must be one of such
things as were not determinable by Scripture, on that reason which Camero
hath given us, namely, because _individua_ are _infinita_. We mean not in
any wise to circumscribe the infinite power and wisdom of God, only we
speak upon supposition of the bounds and limits which God did set to his
written word, within which he would have it contained, and over which he
thought fit that it should not exceed. The case being thus put, as it is,
we say truly of those several and changeable circumstances which are left
to the determination of the church, that, being almost infinite, they were
not particularly determinable in Scripture; for the particular definition
of those occurring circumstances which were to be rightly ordered in the
works of God's service to the end of the world, and that ever according to
the exigency of every present occasion and different case, should have
filled the whole world with books. But as for other things pertaining to
God's worship, which are not to be reckoned among the circumstances of it,
they being in number neither many, nor in change various, were most easily
and conveniently determinable in Scripture. Now, since God would have his
word (which is our rule in the works of his service) not to be delivered
by tradition, but to be written and sealed unto us, that by this means,
for obviating Satanical subtility, and succouring human imbecility, we
might have a more certain way for conservation of true religion, and for
the instauration of it when it faileth among men,--how can we but assure
ourselves that every such acceptable thing pertaining any way to religion,
which was particularly and conveniently determinable in Scripture, is
indeed determined in it; and consequently, that no such thing as is not a
mere alterable circumstance is left to the determination of the church?

_Sect._ 7. 3d. If the church prescribe anything lawfully, so that she
prescribe no more than she hath power given her to prescribe, her
ordinance must be accompanied with some good reason and warrant given for
the satisfaction of tender consciences. This condition is, alas! too
seldom looked unto by law-makers, of whom one fitly complaineth thus:--

Lex quamvis ratio Ciceroni summa vocetur, Et bene laudetur lex que
ratione probatur, Invenies inter legistas raro logistas: Moris et
exempli leges sunt juraque templi.

But th