,
laughed them to scorn, as if they had impoverished themselves to get that
blessing which Christ had promised to the poor.

The canon law speaketh for the Lord's bishops, which are persecuted from
city to city:(325) _Nec ipsi in hoc peccant, quoniam non sponte sed coacte
hoc agunt: sed illi __ qui eos persequuntur, nec ipsis episcopis hoc
imputari potest, sed illis qui eos hoc agere cogunt_. How is it that they
are not ashamed, who say, that ministers have their own places and
callings, when they would fain abide in them, and with heavy hearts are
thrust from them.

_Sect. 3._ Neither is this all the injury which is occasioned by the
ceremonies, they make godly and zealous Christians to be mocked and
nick-named Puritans, except they can swallow the camel of conformity. Our
consciences bear us witness, how without all reason we are branded with
the name of those ancient heretics, from whose opinions and manners, O,
how far are we!(326) And as for ourselves, notwithstanding all this, we
shrink not to be reproached for the cause of Christ. We know the old
Waldenses before us,(327) were also named by their adversaries, Cathares
or Puritans, and that, without cause, hath this name been given both to
them and us. But we are most sorry that such as are walking humbly with
their God, seeking eagerly after the means of grace and salvation, and
making good conscience of all their ways, should be made odious, and that
piety, humility, repentance, zeal, conscience, &c., should be mocked, and
all by occasion of the ceremonies.

CHAPTER VI.

THAT THE CEREMONIES ARE INEXPEDIENT, BECAUSE THEY HARDEN AND CONFIRM THE
PAPISTS.

The Papists make advantage of the ceremonies, and thereby confirm
themselves in Popery. First, in that they use them as the bellows to blow
up the fire of contention among us, remembering the old rule, _divide et
impera_. They set us by the ears among ourselves, that they may be in
peace, and that intestine discord may make us forget the common
adversary.(328) Calvin wrote to the Earl of Somerset, _Fieri non posse qum
Papistae superbius insolescerent, nisi mature compositum esset dissidium de
ceremonus_. Dr White saith,(329) that our strife about ceremonies is
kindled and nourished by Papists. If we were liberate from the ceremonies,
then might we do more against the Papists, and they should not insult as
they do.

_Sect._ 2. But they have yet more advantage from our F