A fresh suit against human ceremonies in God's worship. Or a triplication unto. D.…A fresh suit against human ceremonies in God's vvorship. Or a triplication unto. D.…

2. The Def. gave five reasons for Hezekias his abolishing the Serpent. To which it was replied, that no man doubteth, but Hezekias had reasons, more then five, for that he did: and that the like may be alleged for abolishing of our Ceremonies. This last (saith the Rej.) should have been showed. So it is (say I) in the following dispute.

2. The Def. gave five reasons for Hezekias his abolishing the Serpent. To which it was replied, that no man doubteth, but Hezekias had reasons, more then five, for that he did: and that the like may be alleged for abolishing of our Ceremonies. This last (saith the Rej.) should have beene shewed. So it is (say I) in the following dispute.

Let them (addeth the Replier) be abolished by public authority, and I will undertake, reasons to justify the action done, will easily be acknowledged, even of those that now can see none to persuade unto the doing of it. Like enough; (answereth the Rej.) and well enough: because it is lawful, and just to abolish them as inconvenient. Now let this be well noted. In the general answer to this Argument, it was pleaded (pag. 406.) that Ceremonies abused to Idolatry are to be abolished, if they be not conveniently necessary. Here our Ceremonies so abused, are confessed to be such, as that, if they were once abolished by public authority, reasons could easily be found to prove them justly abolished as inconvenient. So that nothing but public authority, doth make them justifiable, or free from such inconvenience as deserveth and requireth the abolishing of them. And who can conceive such a virtue in public authority, as to make that morally convenient which before was inconvenient? or to make reasons forcible, for justifying an action done; which are not forcible for justifying the same, as to be done? Our cause by this confession, wanteth nothing but one Fiat, or act of public authority, to make it justifiable; so far at least, as concerneth this question: ⟨p. 396⟩whether the Ceremonies are to be abolished or no?