en testatum esse volo, si mihi delata optio_, &c. The Bishop would
have made his hearers believe that Calvin _was not content with the
abolishing of the festival days_, whereas his words testify the very
contrary. Bishop Lindsey is as gross in perverting the end of that
epistle. _Nec tamen est cur homines adeo exasperentur, si libertate nostra
ut ecclesiae edificatio postulat utimur_, &c., from which words he
concludes, that in Calvin's judgment, the observation and abrogation of
those days is in the power and liberty of the church. But the reader will
perceive, that Calvin there speaketh only of the church's liberty to
abrogate holidays, and nothing of her power to observe them, for he is
showing, that howbeit he durst not have given advice to abolish them, if
the decision had been referred to him, yet they had no reason for them who
were offended at the abolishing of them in Geneva, because that church had
done no more than she had power and liberty to do for edification. 3.
Other testimonies they produce, which cannot help them much. That which
Bishop Lindsey(230) allegeth out of Zanchius's confession, maketh him but
small advantage; for though Zanchius there alloweth of the sanctification
of some festival days, yet, writing on the fourth commandment, he
acknowledgeth that it is more agreeable to the first institution, and to
the writings of the apostles, that one day of the week only be sanctified.
What meant the Bishop to say?(231) that this place is falsified and
mutilated by his antagonist, who quotes it not to prove that Zanchius
disalloweth of festival days, but to prove that, in Zanchius's judgment,
the sanctification of the Sabbath only, and no other day in the week,
agreeth best with divine and apostolical institution? Was there any need
to allege more of Zanchius's words than concerned the point which he had
to prove? The Bishop allegeth also a testimony out of Perkins on Gal. iv.
10,(232) which makes him but very little help; for albeit Perkins thought
good, in some sort, to excuse the observing of days in his own mother
church of England, yet I find in that place, 1. He complaineth that the
greatest part respects those holidays more than they should. 2. He
alloweth only the observing of days for order's sake, that men may come to
the church to hear God's word, which respect will not be enough to the
Bishop, if there be not a solemnising and celebrating of the memory of
some of God's inestimable benefits, and