A reply to Dr. Mortons general Defence of three nocent [sic] ceremonies viz. the…A reply to Dr. Mortons generall Defence of three nocent [sic] ceremonies viz. the…

Innocent indeed these ceremonies may be called in regard of their materials, and the fashions also which they have in their natural being: for the cloth of a Surplice and the fashion of it is innocent, and so are all the idols of Papists and Heathens very innocent: so that this is no praise. But if we look at the use whereunto they have been applied, and wherein they have been a long time employed, I may truly say by the devil, not only among the Papists, but even in our Churches, to the breeding of dissension and distraction among brethren, to quenching of many, and many a burning shining light, to the grieving and unsettling of so many good souls, and to the advancing of the Kingdom of darkness: If these things I say be considered, then it is more then manifest, that this licking them over with a fair word will make them no more innocent indeed then Pilats hands were when they were washed. The fashion of a Surplice natural or artificial in another use, as if a Porter or Baker wear such a garment is indifferent.

Innocent indeed these ceremonies may be called in regard of their materials, and the fashions also which they haue in their naturall being: for the cloth of a Surpless and the fashion of it is innocent, and so are all the idols of Papists and Heathens verie innocent: so that this is no praise. But if we look at the use whereunto they haue been applyed, and wherein they haue beene a long time employed, I may truely say by the devill, not onely among the Papists, but even in our Churches, to the breeding of dissention and distraction among brethron, to quenching of many, and many a burning shining light, to the grieving and unsetling of so many good soules, and to the advancing of the Kingdome of darkeness: If these things I say be considered, then it is more then manifest, that this licking them over with a fair word will make them no more innocent indeed then Pilats hands were when they were washed. The fashion of a Surplice naturall or artificiall in another use, as if a Porter or Baker weare such a garment is indifferent.

If it shall be said, that notwithstanding these accidental abuses, yet the ceremonies are innocent in their own nature and use: I answer, first, they having no necessary use otherwaies, and these being the ordinary effects which have followed on them, there is no rule of Logic much less of zeal that will allow the Defendant simply to call them innocent. 2 It is a shame for our Prelates to talk of the ceremonies innocency, when they cannot defend their own innocency in obtruding and urging of them. They are wont to say, the practise and manner of urging we will not defend, but the lawfulness or innocency of the things themselves. Indeed for a private man to stand upon such