A reply to an answer made of M. Doctor Whitgifte Against the admonition to…A replye to an ansvvere made of M. Doctor VVhitgifte Against the admonition to…

Only this they add / that if the people do abuse and pervert these ceremonies / they ought to be better instructed / which is a counsel not so convenient / that the ministers and pastors which have so many necessary points to bestow their time on / and to inform the people of / should be driven to cut of their time appointed thereto / to teach them not to abuse these things / which if they use never so well / they can gain nothing / and to take heed that they hurt not them selves at those things / which in their best estate do no good / especially when one sermon of the taking of them away joined with authority to execute it / may do more good then a thousand sermons without authority.

Only this they adde / that if the people do abuse and peruert these ceremonies / they oughte to be better instructed / whych is a counsell not so conuenient / that the ministers and pastors whych haue so many necessary poynts to bestowe their time on / and to informe the people of / should be driuen to cutte of their time appoynted thereto / to teache them not to abuse these things / which if they vse neuer so well / they can gaine nothing / and to take heede that they hurte not them selues at those things / whych in their best estate do no good / especially when one sermon of the taking of them away ioyned wyth authoritie to execute it / may do more good then a thousand sermons wythout authoritie.

Besides that / it is absurd / that ceremonies which ought to be helpers to promote the doctrine / should become lets and hinderances / whilst the minister is occupied in teaching / to beware of the abuse of them / and of superstition. And it is as much as if one should be set to watch a child all day long / least he hurt him self with the knife / when as by taking away the knife quite from him / the danger is avoided / and the service of the man better employed. And so it followeth / that although the church may appoint ceremonies and rites / yet it can not appoint these that have great incommodity / and no commodity / great offence and no edifying.

Besides that / it is absurde / that ceremonies whych ought to be helpers to promote the doctrine / shoulde become lets and hinderances / whilest the minister is occupied in teaching / to beware of the abuse of them / and of superstition. And it is as muche as if one should be set to watche a childe all day long / least he hurt him selfe wyth the knife / when as by taking away the knife quite from hym / the daunger is auoided / and the seruice of the man better employed. And so it foloweth / that althoughe the churche may appoynt ceremonies and rites / yet it can not appoynte these that haue great incommoditye / and no commoditie / great offence and no edifying.