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…

This rule did the great council of Nice follow / when it ordained / y• where ¹certain at the feast of Pentecost / did pray kneeling / that they should pray standing / the reason whereof is added / which is / that one custom ought to be kept throughout all the churches. It is true / that the diversity of ceremonies ought not to cause the churches to dissent one with an other / but yet it maketh much to the avoiding of dissension / that there be amongst them an unity / not only in doctrine / but also in Ceremonies. Now we see plainly / that as the form of our service and Liturgy cometh to near that of the papists / so it is far different from that of other churches reformed / and therefore in both these respects to be amended.

Thys rule did the great councell of Nice follow / when it ordained / y• where ¹certaine at the feast of Pentecost / did pray kneeling / that they should pray standing / the reason wherof is added / whych is / that one custome oughte to be kepte throughout all the churches. It is true / that the diuersity of ceremonies ought not to cause the churches to dissent one wyth an other / but yet it maketh much to the auoyding of dissention / that there be amongst them an vnity / not only in doctrine / but also in Ceremonies. Nowe we see plainely / that as the forme of oure seruice and Leyturgie commeth to neare that of the papistes / so it is farre different from that of other churches reformed / and therfore in bothe these respectes to be amended.

1. 1Concil. Nice. canon. 20.

An other fault there is in the whole service or Liturgy of England / for that it maintaineth an unpreaching ministry / and so consequently an unlawful ministry. I say it maintaineth / not so much in that it appointeth a number of psalms and other prayers and chapters to be red / which may occupy the time which is to be spent in preaching / wherein notwithstanding it ought to have been more wary / considering that the devil under this colour of long prayer / did thus in the kingdom of antichrist banish preaching / I say not so much in that point / as for that it requireth necessarily nothing to be done by the minister / which a child of ten year old can not do / as well and as lawfully / as that man wherewith the book contenteth it self. Neither can it be shifted / in saying this is done for want of able men to be ministers / for it may be easily answered / that first the want of sufficient ministers ought to be no cause for men to break the unchangeable laws of God / which be / that none may be made minister of the church / which can not teach / that none minister the sacraments which do not preach. For although it might be granted / (which thing I would not deny / no not when there are enough sufficient ministers / ) that they may appoint some godly grave man which can do nothing else but read to be a reader in the church / yet that may not be granted / that they may make of one that can do nothing but read / a minister of the gospel / or one which may have power to minister the sacraments.