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…

And first of all / as this almost is a general fault in them all / that they maintain in the minds of the ignorant the opinion of praying for the dead: so is this also another general fault / that these ceremonies are taken up without any example / either of the churches under the law / or of the purest churches under the gospel / that is / of the churches in the apostles times. For when the scripture describeth the ceremonies or rites of burial amongst the people of God so diligently / that it maketh mention of the smallest things / there is no doubt but the holy Ghost doth thereby show us a pattern / whereunto we should also frame our burials. And therefore for so much as neither the church under the law nor under the gospel / when it was in the greatest purity / did ever use any prescript form of service ⟨p. 201⟩in the burial of their dead / it could not be but dangerous / to take up any such custom / & in the time of the law it was not only not used / but utterly forbidden. For when the law did forbid that the priest should not be at the burial / ¹which ought to say or conceive the prayers there / it is clear y• the Jews might not have any such prescript form. And yet they had most need of it / for the causes of obscure knowledge / & weaker faith before alleged. Again / by this means a new charge is laid upon the minister / and a taking him away from his necessary duties of feeding and governing the flock / which being so great as a marvellous diligence will scarcely overcome / ought not to be made greater by this / being a thing so unnecessary. The Admonition doth not say that the Prayers which are said / are for the dead / but that they maintain an opinion of prayer for the dead in the hearts of the simple / and that they declare manifestly enough / when they say that it may be partly gathered. &c.

And first of all / as thys almost is a generall fault in them all / yt they maintayne in the mindes of the ignorant the opinion of praying for the dead: so is thys also a nother general fault / yt these ceremonyes are taken vp wtout any example / either of the churches vnder the law / or of the purest churches vnder the gospel / that is / of the churches in the apostles times. For when the scripture descrybeth the ceremonies or rites of buryall amongste the people of God so dilygently / that it maketh mention of the smallest thyngs / there is no doubte but the holy Ghoste doth therby shew vs a paterne / wherevnto we should also frame oure buryalles. And therfore for so much as neyther the church vnder the law nor vnder the gospell / when it was in the greatest puritye / dyd euer vse any prescript forme of seruice