Common reason also doth teach / that contraries are cured by their contraries: now Christianity and Antichristianitie / the gospel and popery / be contraries / therefore antichristianitie must be cured not by it self / but by that which is (as much as may be) contrary unto it: So that a meddled & mingled estate of the order of the gospel / & the ceremonies of popery / is not the best way to banish popery. And therefore as to abolish the infection of false doctrine of the papists / it is necessary to establish a divers doctrine / & to abolish the tyranny of the popish government / necessary to plant the discipline of Christ: so to heal y• infection y• hath crept ⟨p. 132⟩into mens minds by reason of the popish order of service / it is meet that the other order were put in the place thereof. Philosophy which is nothing else but reason / teacheth / that if a man will draw one from vice which is an extreme unto virtue / which is the mean / that it is the best way to bring him as far from that vice as may be / and that it is safer and less harm for him to be led somewhat too far / then he should be suffered to remain within the borders and confines of that vice wherewith he is infected. As if a man would bring a drunken man to sobriety / the best and nearest way is to carry him as far from his excess in drink as may be / and if a man could not keep a mean / it were better to fault in prescribing less then he should drink / then to fault in giving him more then he ought. As we see to bring a stick which is crooked / to be straight / we do not only bow it so far until it come to be straight / but we bend it so far / until we make it so crooked of the other side / as it was before of the first side / to this end / that at the last it may stand straight / and as it were in the mid way between both the crooks / which I do not therefore speak / as though we ought to abolish one evil and hurtful ceremony for an other / but that I would show / how it is more dangerous for us that have been plunged in the mire of Popery / to use the Ceremonies of it / then of any other idolatrous and superstitious service of God. This wisdom of not conforming it self unto the ceremonies of the Idolaters in things indifferent / hath the church followed in times passed.
Common reason also doth teach / that contraries are cured by their contraryes: now Christianitie and Antichristianitie / the gospell and popery / be contraries / therefore antichristianitie must be cured not by it selfe / but by that which is (as much as may be) contrary vnto it: So that a medled & mingled estate of the order of the gospell / & the ceremonies of popery / is not the best way to banish popery. And therfore as to abolishe ye infection of false doctrine of the papistes / it is necessary to establish a diuers doctrine / & to abolish the tirāny of ye popish gouernment / necessary to plant the discipline of Christ: so to heale y• infection y• hath crept ⟨p. 132⟩into mens myndes by reason of the popish order of seruice / it is meete that the other order were put in the place thereof. Philosophie which is nothing else but reason / teacheth / that if a man will draw one from vice which is an extreeme vnto vertue / which is the meane / that it is the best way to bring hym as far from that vice as may be / and that it is safer and lesse harme for him to be led somewhat too farre / then he shuld be suffered to remayne within the borders and contines of that vice wherewith he is infected. As if a man would bring a droncken man to sobrietie / the best and nearest way is to cary hym as farre from hys excesse in druicke as may be / and if a man could not keepe a meane / it were better to fault in prescribing lesse then he shoulde drincke / then to faulte in geuing hym more then he ought. As we see to bring a sticke which is crooked / to be straight / we doe not only bow it so farre vntill it come to be straight / but we bende it so far / vntill we make it so crooked of the other side / as it was before of the first side / to thys end / that at the last it may stand straight / and as it were in the mid way betwene both the crookes / which I do not therfore speake / as though we ought to abolishe one euill and hurtfull ceremony for an other / but that I would shew / how it is more daungerous for vs that haue bene plunged in the mire of Popery / to vse the Ceremonies of it / then of any other idolatrous and superstitious seruice of God. Thys wisedome of not conforming it selfe vnto the ceremonies of the Idolaters in things indifferent / hath the church followed in times passed.
