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In déede it is to be wished, that ignoraunt ministers were remoued, if there were a sufficient number of such as be learned, to place in theyr roomes. As for priuate Communions, I know none allowed in this Churche.
Priuate baptismes are allowable by Gods worde, and there is neyther precepte, nor example to the contrarie in Scripture.
If Deacons or Midwyues meddle further than they ought to doe, good reason it is they shoulde bée punished,
and that sharpely.
Youre Eldership is not for this tyme and state, as it is before declared, and yet maye menne bée compelled to render a reason of their faythe if any be doubted of: althoughe youre places quoted for that purpose proue no suche thing. For Paule the .1. to the Corinth. 11. vse. 28. willeth a man to examine himselfe before he eate of that breade. &c. and not to be examined of any other. Peter. 1. Epist. cha. 3 vs. 15. willeth euery christian man to be redy without fear in time of persecution, to render a reason or defence (for the Greke is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) of his fayth, & not at all tymes to euery man, as maister Caluine him selfe noteth vppon that place.
Of the authoritie of statutes and Iniunctions, it per∣teyneth not to my facultie to determine, I leaue that to suche as list to contende with the Prince for hir authori∣tie in suche cases. This only I saye, that if it be breade, whether it be wafer cake, or loafe breade, the matter is not great, as it is before declared.
Of sitting and knéeling at the Communion, I haue spoken before: knéeling is no shewe of euill, but of an humble, reuerent, and deuoute mynde.
Of excommunication you haue spoken nothing hither∣to, and therfore it commeth in here out of place, we shall haue afterwarde more occasion to speake of it.
Surely the Papistes haue to thanke you, that you woulde not haue them constrayned to come to the Com∣munion: Thys one lesson of libertie hathe made all the stubborne and stiffenecked Papistes in Englande, great patrons and fautours of your booke: you myghte as well haue sayd that you woulde haue euery man frée∣ly professe what religion hée list without controlemente, and so set all at libertie, which is your séeking.
The Sacraments are ministred in as great puritie & simplicitie as euer they were, since ther was any Church
established, neyther are you able to proue the contrarie.
I muse what you meane to saye on this sorte: The parties to be baptized, if they bee of the yeares of dis∣cretion. &c. You knowe that in this Churche of England none tarrie for Baptisme so long, except it bée in some secrete congregation of Anabaptists. The place alled∣ged out of the thirde of Matthew, telleth howe they that were baptized, confessed their sinnes, it speaketh nothing of any confession of fayth.
It is well, that you admitte some to answere for the Infant in the absence of the parente, and why not in hys presence too? what Scripture haue you, that the parente at the baptizyng of hys chylde, shoulde make a rehersall of his fayth, and desyre that his chyld should bée therein baptyzed: Thys I desyre to knowe for myne owne learnyng, for I neyther remember anye suche thyng in Scripture, neyther yet in any auncient wryter: I doe herein but desyre to bée enstructed.
I knowe not what you meane, when you saye, (That in the absence of the parentes some one of the congregation knowing the good behaui∣our and sounde faith of the parentes, may both make a rehersall of their faith: and also if their fayth be sounde and agreeable to holie Scrip∣tures, desyre in the same to be baptised.) What if the parentes be of euill behauiour? What if it be the chylde of a drunkarde, or of an harlot? What if the pa∣rentes bée Papists? What if they be heretikes? what if they erre in some poynte or other, in matters of faythe? shall not their children be baptized? herein you haue a further meaning than I can vnderstande: And I feare, fewe doe perceyue the poyson that lyeth hydde vn∣der these woordes: Maye not a wycked father haue a good chylde? Maye not a Papiste or heretike haue
a beléeuing sonnes? Wil you seclude for the parents sake, (béeing himself baptized) his séede from baptisme? Sure∣ly, your fansies, nay your daungerous errours wil burst out one day in more playne maner.
This reformation you séeke for and desire, were ra∣ther a deformation, naye a confusion: and whilest you will nothing to bée doone but that for the whiche there is expresse warrant in Gods worde: you your selues pre∣scribe that whiche is not to be found in all Gods worde.