Third Scruple.
We are by this Covenant to sweare to inde to u•• the Reformation of Religion in England and Ireland, hereby Doctrine, we must needs understand dognata fidei to distinguish••it from Worship, Discipline, and Government: now my conscience as∣keth me, how I can indeavour the Reformation of that which is unchangeable ac∣cording to the former Rule, Regula fidei, &c.
In regard this Scruple hath his dependance on that which goeth before, as your owne words testifie, [according to the sormer Rule, Regula fidei,] thrice now repeated by you, by which straight Rule, seeing you so often write away, and lead your sel•• into a Lab••ynth, I might justly refuse to roule the samestone over a••••ine with you; but to answer some expectation, first, I will let you see your errour, and secondly answer your Question, which your conscience pretends to make. First, concerning your errour you here runne into, it is his, that you say, Dogmata fidei, are to be distinguished from Worship, &c. I must be plaine with you, it is a grosse errour, to hold, That Worship must be distinguished from Dogmata fidei, for Worship is in the chiefe number of Dogmata fidei, and though Discipline and Government are not to be received but in part, as Dogmata fidei, I meane so farre as ordai∣ned by God, yet they may in the same part of the Covenant be sworn too to be preserved with Dogmata fidei, according to their condition in part permanent, and in part as having addition of man, alterable. Second∣ly to answer your Question your conscience makes, to sweare to Reforme that which is unchangeable; I answer, there is no intention to change Ar∣ticles of Faith, further then onely to make them more cleare and perspicu∣ous from such phrases and obscurities whereby Arminians, &c. tooke ad∣vantage, and this is all the Reformation that is intended, which is] not to be scrupled at.