The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 06 (of 11) — Thomas Hobbes — John Shaqi
The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 06 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
_A._ According to whose interpretation was it received by the bishops
and the rest of the loyal party, but their own? He puts for another
duty, obedience and submission to God’s will. Did any of them, nay, did
any man living, do any thing, at any time, against God’s will?
_B._ By God’s will, I suppose, he means there his revealed will, that is
to say, his commandments, which I am sure they did most horribly break,
both by their preaching and otherwise.
_A._ As for their own actions, there is no doubt but all men are guilty
enough, if God deal severely with them, to be damned. And for their
preaching, they will say, they thought it agreeable to God’s revealed
will in the Scriptures. If they thought it so, it was not disobedience,
but error. And how can any man prove they thought otherwise?
_B._ Hypocrisy hath this great prerogative above other sins, that it
cannot be accused.
_A._ Another duty he sets down is, to honour Him in his house (that is,
the Church), in his possessions, in his day, in his word and sacraments.
_B._ They perform this duty as well, I think, as any other ministers, I
mean the loyal party; and the Presbyterians have always had an equal
care to have God’s house free from profanation; to have tithes duly
paid, and offerings accepted; to have the sabbath day kept holy, the
word preached, and the Lord’s supper and baptism duly administered. But
is not keeping of the feasts and fasts, one of those duties that belong
to the honour of God? If it be, the Presbyterians fail in that.
_A._ Why so? They kept some holidays, and they had fasts amongst
themselves, though not upon the same days that the Church ordains, but
when they thought fit; as when it pleased God to give the King any
notable victory. And they governed themselves in this point by the Holy
Scripture, as they pretend to believe. And who can prove they do not
believe so?
_B._ Let us pass over all other duties, and come to that duty which we
owe to the King, and consider whether the doctrine taught by those
divines which adhered to the King, be such in that point, as may justify
the Presbyterians, that incited the people to rebellion. For that is the
thing you call in question.