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.…

To conclude, that golden saying of a certain learned man is very true and certain, and approved by long experience, that indifferent things, that is, the question about indifferent things, is that golden apple of contention. So much shall suffice to have spoken of the troubling of public peace; what should I say of the consciences of private believers? It is manifest, that they are greatly troubled with this commandment, to put on these linen garments. For they do so greatly complain, that their lamenting voices and groans do reach unto, and are heard in Germany. Now how grievous and distasteful an offence it is to trouble the consciences of the godly, the holy Scripture showeth: partly when it commandeth that we make not the holy Spirit sad, neither offend the weak ones; partly when it threateneth grievous punishments against those who fear not to do these things: partly also when it propoundeth the examples of the Saints, and specially of Paul, who speaks thus: If meat offend my brother, Isle eat no flesh while the world standeth, that I may not offend my brother. For in those words he giveth a general rule, by his example, taken out of the doctrine of Christ, to wit, that no indifferent thing is to be admitted and yielded unto, much less to be urged upon others, and least of all to be ⟨p. 59⟩commended by decree: if in the admitting, urging, and commanding of it, the minds of good men, and consciences of the faithful be offended; for a tender conscience, which feareth God, is a thing most precious and acceptable to God. How therefore can that counsel be approved, which would have a law established and proclaimed by the Princes command for the use of garments to be used by Ministers in the ministry. For (to speak many things in few words) if such garments be to be propounded to the faithful, they are to be propounded either as indifferent, or as necessary: if the later, we do ungodlily, because we make those things necessary, which Christ would have to be free: If the former, then are they to be left free to the Churches. But by commanding and compelling, we make things that be free and indifferent, to be necessary, and so fall into the same trespass.

To conclude, that golden saying of a certaine learned man is very true and certaine, and approved by long experience, that indifferent things, that is, the question about indifferent things, is that golden apple of contention. So much shall suffice to have spokē of the troubling of publick peace; what should I say of the consciences of private beleevers? It is manifest, that they are greatly troubled with this commandement, to put on these linnen garments. For they doe so greatly complain, that their lamenting voyces and grones doe reach unto, and are heard in Germany. Now how grievous and distastfull an offence it is to trouble the consciences of the godly, the holy Scripture sheweth: partly when it commandeth that we make not the holy Spirit sad, neither offend the weak ones; partly when it threatneth griveous punishments against those who feare not to do these things: partly also when it propoundeth the examples of the Saints, and specially of Paul, who speakes thus: If meat offend my brother, Ile eat no flesh while the world standeth, that I may not offend my brother. For in those words he giveth a generall rule, by his example, taken out of the doctrine of Christ, to wit, that no indifferent thing is to be admitted and yeelded unto, much lesse to be urged upon others, and least of all to be