e festival days, though enjoined by
the prince. _In festis non recipiendis cuperem vos esse constantiores, sic
tamen ut non litigetis de quibuslibet._ Then he allowed them to contend
against some holidays, though the prince imposed them. 3. The church of
Scotland did remove festival days in another manner, and bound herself
never to receive them by another bond than ever the Monbelgardens did; so
that having other bonds lying upon us than other churches have, we are so
much the more straightly obliged neither to receive holidays, nor any
other antichristian and popish ceremony.

THE SECOND PART.

AGAINST THE EXPEDIENCY OF THE CEREMONIES.

CHAPTER I.

AGAINST SOME OF OUR OPPOSITES, WHO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INCONVENIENCY OF THE
CEREMONIES, AND YET WOULD HAVE US YIELD TO THEM.

_Sect._ 1. The Archbishop of St Andrews, now Lord Chancellor forsooth,
speaking of the five articles concluded at the pretended Assembly of
Perth, saith,(235) "The conveniency of them for our church is doubted of
by many, but not without cause, &c.; novations in a church, even in the
smallest things, are dangerous, &c.; had it been in our power to have
dissuaded or declined them, most certainly we would, &c.; but now being
brought to a necessity, either of yielding, or disobeying him, whom, for
myself, I hold it religion to offend," &c. Dr Burgess confesseth,(236)
that some of his side think and believe, that the ceremonies are
inconvenient, and yet to be observed for peace and the gospel's sake; and
how many Formalists let us hear their hearty wishes, that the ceremonies
had never been brought into our church, because they have troubled our
peace, and occasioned great strife? When they are demanded why do they
yield to them, since they acknowledge great inconveniency in them? they
answer, lest by their refusal they should cast their coal to the fire, to
entertain and increase discord, and lest, shunning one inconveniency, they
should draw on a great. Mr Sprint saith,(237) "It may be granted, that
offence and hinderance to edification do arise from those our
ceremonies."(238) He confesseth also, that the best divines wished them to
be abolished, as being many ways inconvenient; notwithstanding, he hath
written a whole treatise, of the necessity of conformity in case of
deprivation.

_Sect._ 2. But let us understand how he proveth(239) that sometimes it is
expedient and nec