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What can be more plain than that antiquity cannot be a confirmation to error, nor custom a prejudice to truth? Wherefore Dr Forbesse also despiseth such arguments as are taken from the custom of the church. Sect. 14. 3. There was a custom in the churches of God to give the holy communion to infants; and another custom to minister baptism only about Easter and Pentecost.
These things are so plain and undeniable, that Dr Forbesse himself acknowledged no less than that every individual human action is either good or bad morally; and that there is a goodness which is necessary to every action, namely, the referring of it to the last end, and the doing of it in faith; which goodness, if it be wanting, the action is evil.
Dr Forbesse himself setteth down some testimonies of Musculus, Chamier, and the professors of Leyden, all acknowledging that the apostles, when they received the Lord’s supper, were still sitting. Sect. 7.
Dr Forbesse, perceiving how these rules of Scripture may subvert his cause, desireth to subject them to the church’s determination, and to make it our highest rule.
Aquinas calleth that an indifferent action which is neither good nor evil. Rem indifferentem voco quae neque bona neque mala in se est, saith a later writer. But Dr Forbesse liketh to speak in another language.
As for Dr Downame’s two glosses upon that place, which he borroweth from Bellarmine, and whereby he thinketh to elude our argument, we thank Dr Forbesse for confuting them. Which difficulty yet more increaseth, if it be objected that neither of these two doth in all points answer or conform itself unto that primitive form of presbytery whereof we speak. Ans.
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.
The following occurrence will prove the truth of what I mean: "Here I must not forget the memory of one preacher, Master William Forbesse, a preacher for souldiers, yea, and a captaine in neede to leade souldiers on a good occasion, being full of courage, with discretion and good conduct, beyond some captaines I have knowne, that were not so capable as he.
As for that which Dr Forbesse objecteth to us, we answer, that temples, places of prayer, chairs, vessels, and bells, are of a necessary use, by the light and guidance of nature itself; and matrimonial benediction is necessary by God’s institution, Gen. i. 28; so that all those examples do except themselves from the argument in hand.
Dr Forbesse calleth the Articles of Perth, pauca necessaria, &c., a few things necessary for God’s glory, and the promoting of piety in our church, for order, peace, unity, and charity; and particularly he teacheth, that a minister may not lawfully omit to administer the sacraments in private places, and without the presence of the congregation, to such as through sickness cannot come to the public assemblies; which he calleth, eis necessaria ministrare.
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