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…

Now to the churching of women / in the which title yet kept / there seemeth to be hid a great part of the Jewish purification. For like as in the old law she that had brought forth a child / was holden unclean / until such time as she ¹came to the temple to show her self after she had brought forth a man or a woman: so this term of churching of her / can seem to import nothing else / than a banishment / & (as it were) a certain excommunication from the church / during the space that is between the time of her delivery / & of her coming unto y• church. For what doth else this churching imply / but a restoring her unto y• church / which can not be without some bar or shutting forth presupposed. It is also called the thanks giving / but the principal title which is the directory of this part of the Liturgy / & placed in the top of the leaf / as the which the translator best liked of is (churching of women.) To pas by the / that it will have them come as nigh the communion table as may be / as they came before to y• high altar (because I had spoken once generally against such ceremonies) y• of all other is most Jewish / & approacheth nearest unto the Jewish purification / y• she is commanded to offer accustomed offerings. Wherein besides that / the very word offering carieth with it a strong sent & suspicion of a sacrifice (especially being uttered simply without any addition / it can not be with out danger / that the book maketh the custom of the popish church (which was so corrupt) to be the rule & measure of this offering. And although the meaning of the book is not / ye it should be any offering for sin / yet this manner of speaking may be a stumbling stock in the way of y• ignorant & simple / & the wicked & obstinate thereby are confirmed & hardened in their corruptions. The best which can be answered in this case is / ye it is for the relief of the minister / but then it should be remembered / first that the minister liveth not any more of offerings. Secondarily / that the payment of the ministers wages is not so convenient either in the church or before all the people. And thirdly / y• thereby we fall into y• fault which we condemn in popery / & that