An humble apology for non-conformists with modest and serious reflections on the Friendly debate…

Answ. These Ceremonies were at first retained and continued when others were cast out of the Church in hopes to bring the Papists to a compliance with our Church: But Archbishop Usher, as he that writes his Life informs us, upon occasion declared his Judgement concerning them, That experience of many years hath showed that this condescension hath rather hardened them in their Error, than brought them to a liking of our Religion; this being their usual saying, If our Flesh be not good, why do you drink of our Broth? If the Church stick close to the Ceremonies, she is not like to gain our Adversaries the Romanists to our Communion; if she lay aside the Ceremonies, she may gain thousands and ten thousands of our Brethren to our Church again. That they may do thus, God grant that ⟨p. 132⟩the same mind might be in all our Bishops, that was in Christ Jesus, the chief Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls; that they may love and feed their Sheep, and be ready to lay down their lives for their Sheep; and then their Yoke will be easy, and their Burden light. Or that was in the blessed Apostle Paul, on whom was the Care of all the Churches; who professeth of himself, I became all things to all men, that by any means I might win some. Or else that was in this Godly Archbishop Usher, of whom 'tis recorded in his Life, That though he conformed himself, yet he desired that his Majesty would not impose the English Ceremonies on the Irish Church; saying, If I had all mens Consciences in my keeping, I could in these disputable Cases give Laws unto them as well as my self: But 'tis one thing what I can do, and another thing what other men must do. Since the Ceremonies be things (saith our Church) in their own nature indifferent, and yet by some held superstitious and unlawful, it seemeth to fall within the Apostles Rule, which is, That the strong do descend and yield to the weaker; if we will hearken to the Counsel of the Lord Chancellor Bacon, in his Considerations touching the Church of England.

Answ. These Ceremonies were at first retained and continued when others were cast out of the Church in hopes to bring the Papists to a compliance with our Church: But Archbishop Usher, as he that writes his Life informs us, upon occasion declared his Judgement concerning them, That experience of many years hath shewed that this condescention hath rather hardned them in their Error, than brought them to a liking of our Religion; this being their usual saying, If our Flesh be not good, why do you drink of our Broth? If the Church stick close to the Ceremonies, she is not like to gain our Adversaries the Romanists to our Communion; if she lay aside the Ceremonies, she may gain thousands and ten thousands of our Brethren to our Church again. That they may do thus, God grant that