We haue no ceremonies but two, the ceremonies or sacramentes of Baptisme, and of the Lords supper, and we haue as certayne a direction, to celebrate them, as they had to celebrate their ceremonies, and fewer and lesse difficulties can rise of ours, than of theirs: and we haue more playne and expresse doctrine to decide our controuersies than they had for theirs. What houre had they for their ordinarie and dayly sacrifices? was it not left to the order of the Church? what places were appoynted in their seuerall dwellings to heare the worde of God preached continu∣ally, when they came not to Ierusalem? the word was commaunded to be preached, but no men∣tion made, what manner of place they should haue: where was pulpits commaunded or chaires? and yet they had both. Where any forme of buriall in the law? and yet it is a thing perteyning to the Chnrch, that the dead be after a comely sort buried: where, any order or forme of mariage? and yet it is knowne, they had. It was (which is more) in the discretion of that Church, vpon occa∣sion of dearth, or warre, plagues, or any other common calamitie, to proclayme a fast.
We haue no ceremonies which he sacraments, but two, and in them, and for al things* 1.1 perteyning to their substance, we haue as certeyne direction as they had for any of theyr sacraments. But yet is not euery circumstance to be vsed about the celebrating of them, so particularly, nor so certainely prescribed vnto vs, as was to them in theyr ceremonies, sacramentes, and sacrifices: for they had euery particular circumstance to be vsed about their sacrifices, sacramentes and ceremonies set downe vnto them, as it is euident Exod. 12. 25. 26. &c. and in Leuiticus. We are not bound to any suche prescript forme of outward ceremonies and circumstances, but haue frée libertie, not only to appoynte, but also to alter and chaunge the same, as shall be thoughte most conuenient: so that nothing be done against the word of God, and that the ge∣nerall* 1.2 rule be obserued. 1. Cor. 14. that all things be done decently and in order. All thys therefore that you speake of houre, place, and of the forme of buriall, and of mariage. &c. in∣firmeth nothing that I haue sayd, for these be circumstances not vsed in the seruice of God, but in other actions: and I speake of suche ceremonies and circumstances, as are vsed in the Church, about the seruice and worshipping of God, whiche were to the Iewes particularly prescribed (as appeareth in the places before alleadged) but be not so to vs.