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…

This I had to say concerning the Title. Now before I come to the book it self, some few things are to be questioned in the Epistles, which are three, according to the number of the ceremonies defended. In the first Epistle to the Marquis, • I would willingly learn, what that Church is, which is the mother of the Non-conformists? it must of necessity be either the faithful Congregations which are in England, collectively considered: or else the Hierarchy, consisting of Archbishops, Bishops and their Officers. If the •ormer ••here understood, then this Defence is begun with a Slander. For neither is the Non-conformist an adversary impugning those Congregations, nor do they defame their religious worship, nor infringe their wholesome liberty, nor contemn their just authority: but of all these things are the Prelates manifestly guilty. For they in their Lordly humours, do scorn and defame the most religious people as Puritans: they hinder the people from hearing of Sermons in another parish, though they have none, or worse then none at home: they are enemies to that preaching whereby the godly people find themselves most edified: they enslave both Minister and people, not only to themselves, but even to their Chancellors, Commissaries, officials, and such like officers of their own making, to whom not Christ only, but all the Primitive Church saith plainly, Depart from me I know you not: they deny any authority at all to be either in the Congregations, or in their Ministers, except it ⟨image 4⟩be a little of courtesy from the Ordinary. These things are so well known, that they need no proof.

This I had to say concerning the Title. Now before I come to the book it selfe, some few things are to be questioned in the Epistles, which are three, according to the number of the ceremonies defended. In the first Epistle to the Marquis, • I would willingly learn, what that Church is, which is the mother of the Non-conformists? it must of necessitie be either the faithfull Congregations which are in England, collectiuely considered: or else the Hierarchie, consisting of Archbishops, Bishops and their Officers. If the •ormer ••here understood, then this Defence is begunne with a Slander. For neither is the Non-conformist an adversarie impugning those Congregations, nor doe they defame their religious worship, nor infringe their wholesome libertie, nor contemne their just authoritie: but of all these things are the Prelates manifestly guiltie. For they in their Lordly humours, doe scorne and defame the most religious people as Puritanes: they hinder the people from hearing of Sermons in another parish, though they haue none, or worse then none at home: they are enemies to that preaching wherby the godly people finde themselues most edified: they inslaue both Minister and people, not onely to themselues, but even to their Chancellors, Commissaries, officials, and such like officers of their own making, to whom not Christ onely, but all the Primitiue Church saith plainely, Depart from me I know you not: they denie anie authoritie at all to be either in the Congregations, or in their Ministers, except it