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…

As for our answer it is the same which all our divines give unto Bellarmine: as the objection is the very same with that which Bellarmine opposeth to Calvin, de pont. lib. 4 c. 19. 1. this act of Solomons was by special direction of Gods Spirit. So D. Whitakers answereth, de pont. c. 4 qu. 7. ad arg. 7 quicquid Solomon fecit, id Dei authoritate & spiritus sancti nutu fecit. So D. Su•cleife de pont. l. 4. c. 6. But from M. Nic. this answer vvill not be received. The Def. saith it can never be proved. But suppose an altar to have been built as the Def. vvill have it, and then I hope the nature of the thing doth sufficiently prove it, as before I showed: Beside Solomon had not yet declined from the right ways of his father David, who did attempt nothing about the Temple but according to the writing which he received from God, as he told Solomon 1 Chron. 28 19, Neither is it to be omitted, that Solomon at that very time when he did this thing in question, was acted and lifted up extraordinarily in communion with God: as appeareth by that divine prayer which he then made for the Dedication of the Temple, which cannot be judged but to proceed from the extraordinary ⟨p. 53⟩direction of Gods holy Spirit. Lastly, if that had not been so, yet the high Priest was at hand with Urim and Thummim, by which when it was so easy to have special direction, who can think that Solomon would venture on such a matter as this upon his own head? But the contrary is proved (saith the Def.) because a reason is rendered in the Text which moved Solomon to do that he did. As if these two could not stand together, to do a thing upon some reason: and yet to do it upon special direction from God! see Num. 36.

As for our answer it is the same vvhich all our divines giue unto Bellarmine: as the objection is the very same vvith that which Bellarmine oppose•h to Calvin, de pont. lib. 4 c. 19. 1. this act of Salomons was by speciall direction of Gods Spirit. So D. Whitakers answereth, de pont. c. 4 qu. 7. ad arg. 7 quicquid Salomon fecit, id Dei authoritate & spiritus sancti nutu fecit. So D. Su•cleife de pont. l. 4. c. 6. But from M. Nic. this answer vvill not be received. The Def. saith it can never be proved. But suppose an altar to haue been built as the Def. vvill haue it, and then I hope the nature of the thing doth sufficiently proue it, as before I shewed: Beside Salomon had not yet declined from the right vvaies of his father David, vvho did attempt nothing about the Temple but according to the vvriting which he received from God, as he told Salomon