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.…

13. Upon occasion of that reason which the Def. rendered for condemning of popish Ceremonies, the Repl. addeth: because he had heard men often speak in this manner, of the fault that is in multitude, he would willingly know, what certain limits, and bounds are set, by Gods law, for the number of humane Ceremonies, such as ours? If there may be three, why not four, five, six, and so forth, as many as shall please the Convocation? Surely (saith he) if once we depart from Gods institution, there will be no place to rest our foot on, but we must ever follow wind and tide, which in religion is baseness it self. The motion is reasonable, even according to received grounds: because we must have a rule for number, if some number doeth make Ceremonies to be justly condemned: and if that number doeth make them condemned by the word, we must also have that rule out of Gods Word. Now see what fluttering and flying answers are given, by the Rejoinder. His 1. is that all our Divines do censure Popish Ceremonies for their number. So did all or most of the Prophets censure not only the Idols of Israel, but even their high places, for their number. His 2. is, that just so many Ceremonies must be allowed, as shall not clog an overcharge the Churches, in the judgement of those, to whose discretion it belongs, to judge thereof: Where he meaneth the Convocation house, for England. Now to pass ⟨p. 145⟩by here, that which formerly hath been noted, (how corrupt this position is, to appropriate the judgement of discretion; even in Ceremonies, unto Prelates) if this be all the rule, then Augustine was too rash, in his time, to judge the number of Ceremonies used then to be a burden more then Jewish. For it did no more belong to him, for to discern of Ceremonies used especially out of his Diocese, then it doeth belong to every Minister in England, to discern what Ceremonies he and his people may use. Nay then all our Divines do wrongfully charge the Popish Ceremonies, for their number: because in the judgement of those among them, to whose discretion it belongs to judge of such things, as well as to our Convocation, they are not thought to clog and overcharge the Churches. Thence also it would follow, that no Prelates could offend, in instituting of Ceremonies, without sinning directly against their Consciences:

13. Vpon occasion of that reason which the Def. rendred for condemning of popish Ceremonies, the Repl. addeth: because he had heard men often speake in this manner, of the fault that is in multitude, he would willingly know, what certain limits, and bounds are set, by Gods law, for the number of humane Ceremonies, suche as ours? If ther may be three, why not fower, five, sixe, and so forth, as many as shall please the Convocation? Surely (sayth he) if once we depart from Gods institution, there will be no place to rest our foot on, but we must ever follow winde and tide, which in religion is basenesse it self. The motion is reasonable, even according to receyved groundes: because we must have a rule for number, if some number doeth make Ceremonies to be justly condemned: and if that number doeth make them condemned by the word, we must also have that rule out of Gods Word. Now see what fluttering and flying answers are given, by the Rejoynder. His 1. is that all our Dvines doe censure Popish Ceremonies for their number. So did all or most of the Prophets censure not onely the Idols of Israel, but even their high places, for their number. His 2. is, that just so many Ceremonies must be allowed, as shall not clog an overcharge the Churches, in the judgement of those, to whose discretion it belonges, to judge therof: Where he meaneth the Convocation howse, for England. Now to passe