The true copies of the letters between the reverend father in God John Bishop…The true copies of the letters betwene the reuerend father in God Iohn Bisshop…

To make you a full and a clear ⟨p. 107⟩answer hereunto, I must needs use this distinction. There were sum orders in the Primitive church commanded by God, and sum other were devised by men, for the better training of the people. Such orders as were commanded by God, may not be changed in any case, only because God commanded them. For as God is everlasting so is his word and commandment everlasting.

To make you a full and a clear ⟨p. 107⟩answer hereunto, I must nedes vse this distinction. There were sum orders in ye Primitiue church commaunded by God, and sum other were deuised by men, for the better trainyng of ye people. Such orders as were commaunded by God, may not be chaunged in any case, only because God commaunded thē. For as God is euerlasting so is hys worde and commaundement euerlasting.

Of the other side, such orders as have ben devised by men, may be broken, upon sum good consideration, only because they were men that devised them. For as men them self be mortal, so all their wisdoms and inventions be but mortal. As that the communion should be used in the morning, or at night. That women should cum ⟨image 110⟩to the church ether covered or open faced, wherein ye say. Saint Peter toke order. That the ministers goods should be all in common, or otherwise. &c. These & other like, were things appointed and ordered by men, and therefore were never used in all places of one sort. But as they were brought in by men, so might they be dissolved & broken by men. In these things, I grant, the examples of the doctors, or Apostles, bind us not. In these things it were an error to say we are bound of necessity, to follow the use of the Primitive church. These and other like things they be, that. S. Ambrose speaketh of, whom ye at Westminster alleged in the case ye then entreated of directly making against your self. And we, when we heard you