And doubtless all the Heathens and Mahometans, and ⟨p. 33⟩all the contending Christian Princes, will never agree together (nor never did) to let all their Christian Subjects concur to hold a General Council. It saith also, [And when they be gathered together, (for as much as they be an Assembly of men, whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God) they may err, and sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining unto God: therefore things ordained by them, as necessary to salvation, have neither strength nor authority, unless it may be declared that they be taken out of the Holy Scriptures.] And if they may err in things pertaining unto God, and ordained by them as necessary to salvation, much more in lesser things. And are we contentious if we err not with them? Our 39 Article determineth this Controversy, saying, [It is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one, or utterly like; for at all times they have been divers, and changed according to the diversity of Countries, times, and mens manners, so that nothing be ordained against Gods Word.] And after, [Every particular, or National Church, hath Authority to ordain, change, or abolish Ceremonies, or Rites of the Church, ordained only by Mans Authority, so that all things be done to edifying:] They that believe not this, should not subscribe it, nor require it of others. As for the Testimonies cited by you, they are to little purpose: We deny not not that the custom of observing Lent, either fewer days or more, was as Ancient as those Authors. But first, That Lent was not known or kept in the second or third Ages, you may see as followeth, Tertul. de jejun. l. 2. cap. 14. pleading for the Montanists, [Si omnem in totum devotionem temporum, & dierum, & mensium, & annorum erasit Apostolus, cur Pascha celebramus anno circulo in mense primo? cur quadraginta inde diebus in omni exulcatione deturrimus? Cur stationibus quartam & sextam, sabbati dicamus? & jejuniis Parasceven? quanquam vos etiam sabbatum si quando continutatis; nunquam nisi in Pascha jejunandum, &c. And cap. 15. excusing that rigour of their Fasts, [quantula est apud nos interdictio ciborum, duus in anno. Hebdomadas xerophagiarum nec totas, exceptis scilicet sabbatis, & dominicius offerimus Deo:
And doubtless all the Heathens and Mahometans, and ⟨p. 33⟩all the contending Christian Princes, will never agree together (nor never did) to let all their Christian Subjects concur to hold a General Council. It saith also, [And when they be gathered together, (for as much as they be an Assembly of men, whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God) they may erre, and sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining unto God: therefore things ordained by them, as necessary to salvation, have neither strength nor authority, unless it may be declared that they be taken out of the Holy Scriptures.] And if they may erre in things pertaining unto God, and ordained by them as necessary to salvation, much more in lesser things. And are we contentious if we erre not with them? Our 39 Article determineth this Controversie, saying, [It is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one, or utterly like; for at all times they have been divers, and changed according to the diversitie of Countries, times, and mens manners, so that nothing be ordained against Gods Word.] And after, [Every particular, or National Church, hath Authority to ordain, change, or abolish Ceremonies, or Rites of the Church, ordained onely by Mans Authority, so that all things be done to edifying:] They that believe not this, should not subscribe it, nor require it of others. As for the Testimonies cited by you, they are to little purpose: We deny not not that the custome of observing Lent, either fewer days or more, was as Ancient as those Authors. But first, That Lent was not known or kept in the second or third Ages, you may see as followeth, Tertul. de jejun. l. 2. cap. 14. pleading for the Montanists, [Si omnem in totum devotionem temporum, & dierum, & mensium, & annorum erasit Apostolus, cur Pascha celebramus anno circulo in mense primo? cur quadraginta inde diebus in omni exulcatione deturrimus? Cur stationibus quartam & sextam, sabbati dicamus? & jejuniis Parasceven? quanquam vos etiam sabbatum si quando continutatis; nunquam nisi in Pascha jejunandum, &c. And cap. 15. excusing that rigour of their Fasts, [quantula est apud nos interdictio ciborum, duus in anno. Hebdomadas xerophagiarum nec totas, exceptis scilicet sabbatis, & dominicius offerimus Deo:
