The second notorious flaw which I find in the Defendant his subdivisions is sect 9, where he granteth that much indulgence indeed is to be used in things indifferent towards weak persons, whose infirmity proceedeth only from simple ignorance: but that only till such time as the doctrine concerning such things have been sufficiently declared: because a scandal doth always presuppose a mere weakness for want of due means of knowledge. For 1 Paul had sufficiently declared that it was lawful for him to take wages, yet he would not, 1 Cor. 9, he had given sufficient reasons for the lawfulness of eating all kind of meats, yet he abstained, and so counselled others, for fear of scandal, Rom. 14 1 Cor 9. 2 There can be no certain set time for all sorts of men when they are sufficiently taught. 3 Who is this Def. that he dare judge so many of his fellow servants, that in such indifferencies as our ceremonies are held to be, they take offence not upon weakness, but upon presumption? 4 What authority have our Prelates to obtrude unnecessary ceremonies upon the Church, which must be declared before they can be used? Is it fit that the people should be troubled with the declaration of mens inventions, when they are hardly brought to hear willingly the main things of the Gospel? 5 Is it not more agreeable to the wisdom of God, Ex. 21. 33, to fill up the pit, then to set one by for to warn the passengers they fall not into it? 6 There was never yet sufficient declaration of this doctrine of ceremonies throughout England. In many places there is no preaching at all. Many preach so, that they declare nothing almost to the people but their own folly. Many are ashamed, or at least unwilling to declare unto the people mens devices. Many declare them so corruptly that the scandal thereby is not removed but increased. And among those that go about with some good mind to declare this kind of doctrine, there is almost as great variety of declarations as there is of declarers: while some will have them significant some not: some say they are good and profitable ⟨p. 78⟩to edification, and others condemning them as altogether unfit, declare them to be tolerable for avoiding of a greater mischief: Some will have them only civill, and others Ecclesiastical: some excuse all but the cross, and some extol the cross above all.
The second notorious flaw vvhich I finde in the Defendant his subdivisions is sect 9, where he granteth that much indulgence indeed is to be used in things indifferent towards weake persons, whose infirmity proceedeth onely from simple ignorance: but that onely till such time as the doctrine concerning such things haue been sufficiently declared: because a scandall doth alwaies presuppose a meer weakenesse for want of due meanes of knowledge. For 1 Paul had sufficiently declared that it vvas lawfull for him to take wages, yet he would not, 1 Cor. 9, he had given sufficient reasons for the lawfulnesse of eating all kind of meats, yet he abstayned, and so counselled others, for feare of scandall, Rom. 14 1 Cor 9. 2 There can be no certaine set time for all sorts of men vvhen they are sufficiently taught. 3 Who is this Def. that he dare judge so many of his fellow servants, that in such indifferencies as our ceremonies are held to be, they take offence not upon weakenesse, but upon presumption? 4 What authority haue our Prelats to obtrude unnecessary ceremonies upon the Church, vvhich must be declared before they can be used? Is it fit that the people should be troubled with the declararion of mens inventions, vvhen they are hardly brought to heare willingly the maine things of the Gospell? 5 Is it not more agreeable to the wisedome of God, Ex. 21. 33, to fill up the pit, then to set one by for to warne the passengers they fall not into it? 6 There vvas never yet sufficient declaration of this doctrine of ceremonies throughout England. In many places there is no preaching at all. Many preach so, that they declare nothing almost to the people but their own folly. Many are ashamed, or at least unwilling to declare unto the people mens devices. Many declare them so corruptly that the scandall thereby is not removed but increased. And among those that goe about vvith some good mind to declare this kind of doctrine, there is almost as great variety of declarations as there is of declarers: while some will haue them significant some not: some say they are good and profitable ⟨p. 78⟩to edification, and others condemning them as altogether unfit, declare them to be tollerable for avoiding of a greater mischiefe: Some will haue them onely civill, and others Ecclesiasticall: some excuse all but the crosse, and some extoll the crosse aboue all.
