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.…

A notable example we have of this policy, in Gregory's direction unto Augustine the Monk, then in England, lib. 9. ep. 71. which was, that sacrificing of Oxen with feasting, in the Idol Temples, should be turned into slaying of Oxen for fasting about those Temples, made Christian by holy-water.

A notable example we have of this pollicy, in Gregories direction unto Augustine the Monke, then in England, lib. 9. ep. 71. which was, that sacrificing of Oxen with feasting, in the Idol Temples, should be turned into slaying of Oxen for fasting about those Temples, made Christian by holy-water.

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