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…

Neither do they make Christs spouse comely, as we showed a little before. Therefore we ought not to yield unto them. And such things as have been invented by men, void of Gods spirit, do nothing appertain to us. Lastly, the Apostles used not these garments. For we have no authentic testimony. Now the Church is to be fashioned after the rule of that Apostolical Church in ceremonies and garments, as well as in Doctrine. What do we then with these garments in the Church? By whose authority can they be approved? What profit or wholesome use can the Christian people have by them? But on the contrary we have showed that godliness is weakened by them, the pure worship of God is violated, Popish superstition is by little and little called back, the godly be offended, the wicked be confirmed and hardened in their ungodlinesses; the weak in faith are brought into hazard of their salvation; there are occasions of many evils given; Monks and other Popish preachers are hereby helped to confirm their followers in their superstition; the wrath of God is provoked against us; those things which God would have to be destroyed, are hereby builded again by […]; the whole face of the Church is defiled and disgraced: there is a foul sin committed against honest and good laws forbidding the putting on of strange and outlandish garments: and so the whole Church is dishonoured, Besides, the public peace of the Church, yea of many Churches is troubled: one Bishop is set against another, the consciences of the godly are troubled, and the minds of good men are offended, Gods spirit is made sad in them, and this apple of contention is cast, as it were, upon the table of the Gods. Now seeing the matter stands thus, most gracious Queen, not only I• but all my fellow-ministers, and all the godly prostrate before you, entreat your Majesty, and for Jesus Christs sake, whom we are persuaded you love from your heart, we humbly beseech your Majesty not to embrace that counsel aforesaid, neither to give ear to such counsellors.

Neither doe they make Christs spouse comelie, as we shewed a little before. Therfore we ought not to yeeld unto them. And such things as haue been invented by men, voyd of Gods spirit, doe nothing appertaine to us. Lastly, the Apostles vsed not these garments. For we haue no authenticke testimonie. Now the Church is to be fashioned after the rule of that Apostelicall Church in ceremonies and garments, as well as in Doctrine. What doe wee then with these garments in the Church? By whose authoritie can they be approved? What profit or wholsome use can the Christian people haue by them? But on the contrarie we haue shewed that godliness is weakned by them, the pure worship of God is violated, Popish superstition is by little and little called back, the godlie be offended, the wicked be confirmed and hardened in their ungodlinesses; the weak in faith are brought into hazard of their salvation; there are occasions of many evills given; Monkes and other Popish preachers are hereby helped to confirme their followers in their superstition; the wrath of God is provoked against us; those things which God would haue to bee destroyed, are hereby builded againe by ; the whole face of the Church is defiled and disgraced: there is a foule sinne committed against honest and good lawes forbidding the putting on of strange and outlandish garments: and so the whole Church is dishonored, Besides, the publick peace of the Church, yea of many Churches is troubled: one Bishop is set against another, the consciences of the godly are troubled, and the minds of goood men are offended, Gods spirit is made sad in them, and this apple of contention is cast, as it were, upon the table of the Gods. Now seeing the matter stands thus, most gracious Queene, not onely I but all my fellow-ministers, and all the godly prostrate before you, intreat your Maiestie, and for Iesus Christs sake, whom we are perswaded you loue from your heart, we humbly beseech your Maiestie not to embrace that counsell aforesayd, neither to giue eare to such counsellors.