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…

I have here subjoined apart an Epistle of Zanchius who otherwaies was somewhat favourable to Bishops: wherein the Reader may see his judgement concerning superstitious garments.

I haue here subioyned apart an Epistle of Zanchius who otherwaies was somewhat favourable to Bishops: wherein the Reader may see his iudgement concerning superstitious garments.

To the most renowned Queen Elizabeth, Defendresse of the Christian Religion, and most mighty Queen of England, France and Ireland H. Zanchius sendeth greeting. MOST gracious and most Christian Queen, we have not without great grief understood, that the fire of contention about certain garments, which we thought had been quenched long agone, is new again to the incredible offence of the godly, as it were raised from hell, and kindled a fresh ⟨p. 99⟩in your Majesties Kingdom: and that the occasion of this fire is, because your most gracious majesty being persuaded by some, otherwise great men, and carried with a zeal (but certainly not according to knowledge) to retain unity in religion, hath now more then ever before resolved and decreed, yea doth will and command that all Bishops^† and Ministers of the Churches shall in divine service put on the white and linen garments which the Popish Priests use now in Popery; yea that it is to be feared, least this fire be so kindled, and cast its flame so far and wide, that all the Churches of that most large and mighty kingdom, to the perpetual disgrace of your most renowned Majesty, be set on a flaming fire: seeing the most part of the Bishops, men greatly renowned for all kind of learning and godliness, had rather leave their office and place in the Church, then against their own conscience, admit of such garments, or at the least signs of Idolatry and Popish superstition, and so defile themselves with them, and give of fence to the weak by their example. Now what other thing will this be, then by retaining of these garments, to destroy the whole body of the Church• For without doubt that is Satan's intent, by casting a seed of dissentions amongst the Bishops. And that he aimed at in the infancy of the Church by stirring up discord between the East and West Churches, about the Passover and other ceremonies of that kind. Therefore Ireneus Bishop of Lions, had just cause in his Epistle sent out of France to Rome, sharply to reprove Victor the Pope of Rome, because he out of a kind of zeal, but not according to knowledge, was minded to excommunicate all the churches of Asia, because they celebrated not the Passover just at the same time, as they at Rome did.