As the Apostle teacheth manifestly, as we have seen, so all learned men who be of sound judgement concerning the Magistrates office, do with one consent affirm, that these be the three chief parts of the office of the Prince, and of every godly Magistrate. Which thing being so, I see not how your gracious Majesty can with good conscience, propound again the garments in question, and other things of that kind, smelling as yet of Popish superstition, and once banished out of the Churches, to the consciences of the Bishops *to be taken on again, and so propound them that you should compel them by your commandment to receive them again. For first, this is quite contrary to the first and chief part of the Princes office. For if the Magistrate ought to have a chief care, that the worship of God be kept pure and without mixture; and if for this cause all things are to be abandoned which may any way either by themselves, or by accident defile this worship: and therefore all things are to be called back as much as may be, to the rule of God, and to the former and Apostolical, and so the more pure and simple form of religion: Finally, ⟨p. 47⟩if as the Apostle commandeth, we be to abstain, not only from all evil, but also from all appearance of evil; to what end, I beseech you most renowned and most godly Queen, should those things be brought again into the Church of God, by the Princes commandment, which be contrary to the purity of the Apostolical worship, which smell of Popish superstition, which be neither available to the edification of the godly, nor to order, nor for ornament, except that which is whorish: which lastly, can bring no profit, but on the contrary, many evils to the Church? It is out of all doubt, that by this law concerning apparel, all godly men will be offended, but the wicked will laugh in their sleeve, and hereby be putt in hope to get many moe things: as for those of the middle sort, that is, such as be newly converted and turned from ungodliness to godliness, and be not as yet well grounded, they will be in great danger, and if we speak according to mans judgement, they will rather look back to the old superstition, to which by nature we are inclined, then fix and fasten their eyes upon true religion. And therefore this is a decree which will bring no advancement at all to godliness, but may much further ungodliness.
As the Apostle teacheth manifestly, as we have seene, so all learned men who bee of sound judgement concerning the Magistrats office, doe with one consent affirme, that these be the three chiefe parts of the office of the Prince, and of every godly Magistrate. Which thing being so, I see not how your gracious Majestie can with good conscience, propound againe the garments in question, and other things of that kinde, smelling as yet of Popish superstition, and once banished out of the Churches, to the consciences of the Bishops *to be taken on againe, and so propound them that you should compell them by your commandement to receive them againe. For first, this is quite contrary to the first and chiefe part of the Princes office. For if the Magistrate ought to have a chiefe care, that the worship of God be kept pure and without mixture; and if for this cause all things are to be abandoned which may any way either by themselves, or by accident defile this worship: and therefore all things are to be called backe as much as may be, to the rule of God, and to the former and Apostolicall, and so the more pure and simple forme of religion: Finally, ⟨p. 47⟩if as the Apostle commandeth, we bee to abstaine, not onely from all evill, but also from all appearance of evill; to what end, I beseech you most renowned and most godly Queene, should those things be brought againe into the Church of God, by the Princes commandement, which be contrary to the purity of the Apostolicall worship, which smell of Popish superstition, which bee neither availeable to the aedification of the godly, nor to order, nor for ornament, except that which is whoorish: which lastly, can bring no profit, but on the contrary, many evills to the Church? It is out of all doubt, that by this law concerning apparrell, all godly men will bee offended, but the wicked will laugh in their sleeve, and hereby be putt in hope to get many moe things: as for those of the middle sort, that is, such as be newly converted and turned from ungodlines to godlines, and be not as yet well grounded, they will be in great danger, and if we speake according to mans judgement, they will rather looke back to the old superstition, to which by nature wee are inclined, then fixe and fasten their eyes upon true religion. And therfore this is a decree which will bring no avancement at all to godlines, but may much further ungodlinesse.
- *Pauls Bishops he meaneth, or else as I said before, he is misinformed.Pauls Bishops hee meaneth, or else as I sayd before, he is misinformed.
