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…

For those counsels (most godly Queen) are not for the good of that your Church and kingdom, nor for the honour of your Majesty, seeing they neither serve to the increase of godliness, nor to the retaining of the honesty of the Church, neither to the preservation of public peace, but rather very greatly weaken all these good things, which ⟨p. 111⟩your. Princely Ma• ought chiefly to stand for. Let your Ma• rather bend all your thoughts,¹ authority and power hereunto, that first and above all you may have Bishops, who be truly godly, and well exercised in the holy scriptures, as by the blessing of God you have very many, and that you make much of, and give ear to them. Secondly, that you be careful that with all diligence they may discharge their office, watching over the flock teach sound doctrine, confute heresies, drive away Wolves, keep every man in his own calling, and exhort and stir up every man to lead a life beseeming a Christian. The Elders also and Deacons are to be admonished, that every one be diligent in his own office, and if need be, they are to be compelled by your gracious Ma• authority, that neither the former by their sleeping and winking at the misdemeanours of the flock, suffer the reins to be loosed to all licentiousness, and to the lusts of the flesh; neither that the later, by reason of their immoderate care for their own private businesses, neglect the poor people of the Church, and omit such other things as belong to their office. For these three sorts of men be the very sinews of the Church, upon whom the salvation or destruction of the Church doth chiefly depend. Furthermore, your gracious Ma• ought to use great care and diligence, that the Universities, and in them good and godly teachers, be well looked to, cherished, liberally maintained and preserved, for these are as the mothers, and nurses of the Churches, in which and by which those are to be fashioned, borne, brought up and adorned, who being fit, may be called from time to time to rule and govern the Churches. Last of all such things as cannot be corrected & amended by the word and discipline of the Church, as it is necessary, that according to Gods word they be cut off and taken away by the sword of the Magistrate, so your gracious Majesty is to take care of them: as adulteries, blasphemies, and other capital crimes of that sort.