2. In that which the Replier collected out of the Defender his allegations, it is confessed, there is little or nothing to the purpose. The Rejoinder therefore, accusing the Replier, for picking the Defender his purse, undertaketh to restore it unto him again, by making this new collection: 1. If the celebrity of the Feast of Easter was held by many to be lawfully kept on the same day which the Jews superstitiously (as then) observed. 2. If they, avoiding Pagan Fasts, and Feasts, did freely institute other. 3. If superstitious habits were lawfully retained. 4. If Circumcision, after it became a mere human Ceremony, was lawfully used: Then the ancient Fathers and Churches were of opinion, that godly men may lawfully use some Human Ceremonies, abused by others. But this is a mere empty purse (not worth the picking) which the Rejoinder sticketh into the Defender his pocket; as his own. For 1. It hath not in it our question, of Ceremonies devised by man, not necessary, notoriously known to have been abused unto Idolatry, or superstition. 2. In the first instance there is only many noted, from whence cannot be concluded, in a kind of generality, the Fathers and Churches opinion. 3. Easter was by them that kept it, not held as a mere human invention, but as Apostolical tradition, as all know. 4. Easter was not invented by men, but only by men superstitiously continued. 5. The second Argument stifles it self. For if they so carefully avoided Pagan Fasts, and Feasts, though they might have pleased many professed Christians, and drawn on other by retaining of them, it seemeth, they held them unlawful, because of the Idolatry wherewith they had been defiled. 6. We ⟨p. 502⟩absolutely deny, with all Divines, that Circumcision, after the Date of it, was fully expired, which was in the Apostles time, was ever lawfully used as a religious Ceremony. 7. Concerning Ceremonious habits, the Defender bringeth no proof at all. The Rejoinder 1. allegeth Tertullian, de Corona mil. as allowing the use of a white linen garment, he meaneth for a Ceremony: whereas Tertullian only showeth, that our Saviour did lawfully use a linen towel, in washing his Disciples feet, Joh. 13. notwithstanding linen garments had been abused to Idolatry.
2. In that which the Replier collected out of the Defender his allegations, it is confessed, ther is litle or nothing to the purpose. The Rejoynder therfor, accusing the Replier, for picking the Defender his purse, undertaketh to restore it unto him againe, by making this new collection: 1. If the celebritie of the Feast of Easter was held by many to be lawfully kept on the same day which the Iews superstitiously (as then) observed. 2. If they, avoyding Pagan Fasts, and Feasts, did freely institute other. 3. If superstitious habits were lawfully reteyned. 4. If Circumcision, after it became a meer human Ceremonie, was lawfully used: Then the anci•nt Fathers and Churches were of opinion, that godly men may lawfully use some Human Ceremonies, abused by others. But this is a meer empty purse (not worth the picking) which the Rejoynder sticketh into the Defender his pocket; as his owne. For 1. It hath not in it our quaestion, of Ceremonies devised by man, not necessarie, notoriously knowen to have been abused unto Idolatrie, or superstition. 2. In the first instance ther is onely many noted, from whence cannot be concluded, in a kinde of generalitie, the Fathers and Churches opinion. 3. Easter was by them that kept it, not held as a meer human invention, but as Apostolical tradition, as all knowe. 4. Easter was not invented by men, but onely by men superstitiously continued. 5. The second Argument stifles it self. For if they so carefully avoyded Pagan Fasts, and Feasts, though they might have pleased many professed Christians, and drawn on other by retayning of them, it seemeth, they held them unlawfull, because of the Idolatrie wherwith they had been defiled. 6. We ⟨p. 502⟩absolutely denie, with all Divines, that Circumcision, after the Date of it, was fully expired, which was in the Apostles time, was ever lawfully used as a religious Ceremonie. 7. Concerning Ceremonious habits, the Defender bringeth no proof at all. The Rejoynder 1. allegeth Tertullian, de Corona mil. as allowing the use of a white linnen garment, he meaneth for a Ceremonie: wheras Tertullian onely sheweth, that our Saviour did lawfully use a linnen towell, in washing his Disciples feet, Ioh. 13. notwithstanding linnen garments had been abused to Idolatrie.
