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.

Our ceremonies haue beene defiled with superstition.

In this case wee answere with the learned: It is a bard taske and a point not easily proued. That the impietie of Poperie is such that whatsoeuer it toucheth is so vtterly polluted,* 1.1 as the godly & the Saints may in no case vse it to holy purposes

For then neither may we vse glasse windowes nor Church, Pew Cup, Challice, Patien, Cushion, Gran••st one,* 1.2 nor ground either in Church, or Churchyeard. To be a note of Antichristianism is in no manner of thing (saith one) for to this end nothing is created of God, but wholie dependeth vpon our consent to Antichristianisme, and the profession thereof: VVhich consent and profession being changed into a consent and profession of true christian religion, there connot anie note of Antichristianisme cleaue vnto the thinges themselues. The bread and wine which Pagans offred to Diuels (as Iustin Martyr and Tertullian remember) were no hinderance why we should not vse the like ceremonie. For which as the commaundement is expresse, so is it thus far in generall, that al thinges be done for comelinesse, preseruation of order, &c. Where it is farder obiected.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Tantam Papa∣tus impietatem vt quicquid at∣ting it prorsus reddat contaminatum que bonis & piis sancto vsui concedi non possit. Ibid.
• * 1.2

  Aliquid esse no∣tā antichrists. in nulla re inest In hoc enim mul lares condita sūt a deo, sed pē•• det totū à cōsen su in Antichri∣stianism•••• & eius professionē Quo consensis quaque professi∣one commuta∣tis in cōsensum. &c. Bucer Iohn a Lasco. Nihil potest in rebus ipsis harere nota Antichristianismi Ibid. Distributionem panis & vint sacrificulis damonibus celebrarunt Ibid. Preceptum est vt decorum seruetur. Ibid.