But this I cannot omit, that you make it an indifferent thing to preach the worde of God in Churches or in houses, that is to say, priuately or publikely. For what better interpretation can I haue than of your owne words, which saith by and by after, of Baptisme, that it is (a) 1.1 at the order of the Church, to make it priuate or publike. For if it be in the power of the Church to order that Baptis〈1 line〉〈1 line〉e may be ministred at the house of euery priuate person, it is also in hir power to ordayne that the word be preached also priuately. And then where is that whiche Salomon saith that (b) 1.2 wisedome crieth openly and in the streates, and at the corners of the streates where many 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ieete? and where be the examples of the old Church, which had besides the Temple at Ierusalem, erec∣ted vp Sinagogues in euery towne to heare the word of God, & minister the circumcisiō? (c) 1.3 what is become of the commaundement of our sauioure Christ, whiche willed his disciples that they should preach openly, and vpon the house topps, that which they hard in the eare of him and secret∣ly? and how do we obserue the example of our sauioure Christ, who to deliuer his doctrine from all suspicion of tumults and other disorders, sayd that he preached openly in the temple, and in the Si∣nagogues, albeit the same were very daungerous vnto him? and the example of the Apostles that did the sa〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ie? for as for the time of persecution, when the Church dare not, nor it is not meete, that it should shew it selfe to the enimie, no not then is the word of God nor the sacramentes priuately preached or ministred, nor ought to be.
For although they be done in the house of a priuate man, yet bycause they are and ought to be ministred in the presence of the congregation, there is neither priuate preaching, nor priuate bap∣tisme. For like as wheresoeuer the Queenes maiestie lyeth there is the Court, although it be in a gentleman his house, so wheresoeuer the Church meeteth, it is not to be holden priuate as tou∣ching the prayers, preachings, and sacraments, that shall be there ministred: so that I denie vnto you that the Chnrch hathe power to ordeyne at hir pleasure, whither preaching or ministring of Sacraments should be priuate or publike, when they ought not to be, but where the Church is, and the Church (d) 1.4 ought not to assemble (if it be not letteed by persecution) but in open places: and when it is driuen from them, those places where it gathereth itselfe togither, although they be o∣therwise priuate, yet are they for the time that the Churches do there assemble, and for respect of the word and sacraments, that are there ministred in the presence of the Churche, publike places. And so you see those (whome you charge slanderously with conuiuticles) are fayne to glase vp the windowes that you open to secret and priuate conuenticles.
But this you cannot omitte, that I make it an indifferent thing to preach the worde of God in Churches or in houses. &c. it is an argument that you lacke good matter, when you make such excursions from the purpose. My words be, that the scriptures speake not one worde of meeting in Churches, fieldes, or houses too heare the word of God, of baptising in fonts, in basons, or riuets, o∣penly or priuately, at home or in the Church. &c. If I haue said vntruly, conuince me with scripture, and shew me those places, where these things be deter∣mined. Where do I say that these things be now indifferent? to haue the word prea∣ched is not indifferent but necessarie, to haue it preached in this place or in that place, in Churches, in fieldes, or in houses, is indifferent, vntill suche time as the Churche* 1.5 hath otherwise determined. So is it likewise in baptisme, the sacrament is necessa∣ry, the circumstances of time and place. &c. be committed to the disposition of the Churche, and remayne so long indifferent, vntill the Churche hathe taken order in them: which being done, then they be no more indifferente. Do you not know that, wherevnto so many Churches reformed, and learned men haue of late subscribed? it is the. 6. assertion. Res alioqui per se mediae, mutant quodammodò natur〈1 line〉〈1 line〉m. &c. Things other∣wise* 1.6 indifferente of themselues, after a sorte change their nature, when by some lawfull commaundemente, they are either commaunded, or forbidden, bycause neyther then