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…

Here is alleged the opinion which many people in all parts of the land have concerning our ceremonies, viz. that the Sacraments are not rightly & sufficiently administered without them. To this the Def. answereth three things, 1 That most people hold the contrary: 2 That the opinion of people in observing doth not prove the judgement of governors in imposing: 3 that it is most likely that those people which think so are brought into that conceit by the opposition which it made against the ceremonies. But first, I would fain know of the Defendant why he passeth by in silence, not only the testimony of Chemnitius cited by the Abridgement for confirmation of this part of the assumption, but also the passages of Gods word, and many of the best Divines, which are also alleged there in the proposition, and applied unto this part of the assumption by the Authors of the Abridgement? surely this is not plain dealing. Secondly, I answer that the opinion of a few may make that an action unlawful, which the opinion of many other cannot make lawful, as is to be seen 1 Cor. 10 28, if any man say unto thee. Thirdly, it doth not appear the most are otherwise minded. For the most being used unto the ceremonies, and not unto good teaching, may well be thought to have the same opinion of humane ceremonies which they have of divine. Fourthly, the Def. forgetteth what was to be proved in this place: for the question is not only whether ou• ceremonies be so imposed, but also whether they be so esteemed and observed, as appeareth in the Abridgement. Now the opinion of the people proveth I hope in what manner they are esteemed and observed. And while they are so observed, they that still impose them in those places where they are so observed, may truly be interpreted so to impose them. In actions of this kind (saith Hooker l. 5 p. 165) we are more to respect what the greatest part of men is commonly prone to conceive, then what some few mens wits may devise in construction of