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 case needeth no long demurring on: for there is not one sentence in all the length of it, which doth not smell, without any uncasing. 1. are all those factious and schismatical men, that refuse to conform? was Hooper such a kind of man? was Peter Martyr and Mr. Perkins such, when one at Oxford, and the other at Cambridge, refused to wear the Surplice? was Mr. Goodman, Mr. Deering, Mr. More, Mr. Rogers, and such like heavenly men, the lights and glory of our Churches, were all these factious and schismatical? In the presence of God it is well known they were were not. But our prelates have this prerogative, they may dub whom they please factious and schismatical, and after that, there is no redemption, they must be such, be they otherwise never so full of all grace.

This case needeth no long demurring on: for there is not one sentence in all the length of it, which doth not smell, without any uncasing. 1. are all those factious and schismaticall men, that refuse to conforme? vvas Hooper such a kind of man? vvas Peter Martyr and Mr. Perkins such, vvhen one at Oxford, and the other at Cambridge, refused to vveare the Surplice? was Mr. Goodman, Mr. Deering, Mr. More, Mr. Rogers, and such like heavenly men, the lights and glory of our Churches, vvere all these factious and schismaticall? In the presence of God it is well known they were were not. But our prelats haue this prerogatiue, they may dubbe whom they please factious aud schismaticall, and after that, there is no redemption, they must be such, be they otherwise never so full of all grace.

2 Are all peaceable discreet men, which are placed in the deprived ministers stead? For the best of them, they are still as great eye• sores to our Bishops almost as the other: because they reprove a great deal of Episcopal darkness, by their practises. For the rest, the congregations over whom they are set, cannot find it, the voice of all the country is otherwise for many of them; yet according to the Prelates measure, who meat (as it seemeth) the virtues and vices of a minister by certain ceremonies of their own imposing, it cannot be denied, but the most of them are very peaceable & discreet: Even so as many of the Bishops themselves were known to be afore they were Bishops, and show themselves to be still: for Episcopatus plures accepit quam fecit bonos.