The second and last part of Reasons for refusall of subscription to the Booke of common prayer vnder the hands of certaine ministers of Deuon. and Cornwall, as they were exhibited by them to the right Reuerend Father in God William Cotton Doctor of Diuinitie, and Lord Bishop of Exceter. As also an appendix, or compendious briefe of all other exceptions taken by others against the bookes of communion, homilies, and ordination, word for word, as it came to the hands of an honorable personage. VVith an ansvvere to both at seuerall times returned them in publike conference, and in diuerse sermons vpon occasion preached in the cathedrall church of Exceter by Thomas Hutton Bachiler of Diuinitie, and fellow of S. Iohns Colledge in Oxon.

That Stephen disputed with the Libertines, and made an Apologie for himselfe it doth appeare, but that he preached it doth no way appeare.

It doth not appeare de facto that Saint Stephen did distri∣bute, yet that he did de iure we may and doe graunt: So were it not expressed that de facto he did preach, yet de iure of right he well might, for being ordained with imposition of hands, fur∣nished with gists of knowledge and vtterance, full of the holy Ghost and wisedome, he was no priuate person, nor so inabled but for a greater worke then onely ministring at tables. But the truth is he did preach, vnlesse because a man stands vpon the defence of Gods truth, mightily conuincing his aduersaries by Scripture, therefore it shall be saide he did not preach. Whereas euen in Sermons a man disputeth, by very forcible arguments conuinceth the gainsaier. And Saint Peter Act. 2. his apologie there made call we it an oration,* 1.1 or what else, we cannot deny it was a Sermon. Vpon this sixth of the Asts now questioned, Master Gualter writeth thus.* 1.2 Although nothing be spoken of his publike Sermons, yet notwith∣standing it is euident by the contents of the history that he had these both often, and effectuall, and very serious.

wherefore we may see that the Deacons of the primitiue Church were not all together estranged from the mini∣strie of the worde but although they were chiefly occupi∣ed about the dispensation of the churches goods, neuer∣thelesse they imployed their labour so farre as they might in the other ministeries of the Church, that by this meanes ac∣cording to the sentence of Saint Paul, they might get vnto them∣selues a good degree 1. Tim. 3.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Act. 2.14.
• * 1.2

  Quamuis de public••s concio∣nibus. Gualter. in Act. 6.