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…

WHEN you find, good Reader, any straggling testimonies of some few foreign Divines alleged by the formalists, which seem to savour of toleration, consider first that some did write in the dawning of the day of reformation, and therefore could not so soon see distinctly and clearly every corruption which was in the Church, 2. That notwithstanding of greater light shining in the Church, after the rising of the Sun above our Horizon, the Divines treating upon many points, could not be exact in every one, or intending principally to beat down such corruptions as did most assault their own Churches, no wonder that there fell from their pens some sentences not ripely digested concerning other points. 3. That howbeit these had purposely set themselves to consider the controversies of our Churches, yet not being throughly acquainted with the particular state of the same, might give their judgment in the general case, but could not so well in the particular, as many worthy Divines in England have done. 4. They were but men, and might err in judgement, and so appeareth by the weak reasons subjoined sometimes to their opinions. And living in Churches where some corruptions do remain, they might the more readily stumble at the like in others. 6. It hath been the practise of the English Prelates from time to time, and is at this present hour, not only to offer preferment to Divines at home, but also to send gifts to foreign Divines, to blunt at least the edge of their zeal, if they could not make them altogether their own, as they have done some. For proof of this their old practise I have here subjoined a few lines taken out of the friendly caveat to B. Sands, then Bishop of London, written ann. 1567. extant in the book entitled, The Register.