from the Christian Bible as related to the elements of worship, as not optional circumstances. Thus, they rejected musical instruments and hymns because they believed these were neither commanded by scripture nor deduced by good and necessary consequence from it. However, adherence to such a position is rare among modern Presbyterians.

The Puritan position on worship is thus in line with the common saying regarding adiaphora: "In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity."