probation (contrary to the laws of disputation), and state the question,
and also answer arguments.

And, moreover, when the Articles were put in voting, the Archbishop, in
calling on the names, did inculcate these and the like words: "Have the
king in your mind--remember on the king--look to the king." This Bishop
Lindsey passeth over in deep silence, though it be challenged by his
antagonist. Plinius proveth,(348) that _animalia insecta_ do sometimes
sleep, because sometimes when light is holden near them, yet they stir
not. And may not we conclude that the Bishop was sleeping, when, though
both in this and divers other places, such convincing light was holden out
before them, yet hath he said nothing, nor stirred himself at all for the
matter? Yet, farther, we find that Bishop Spotswood, in his sermon at that
pretended Assembly, answereth all such as cannot yield to the ceremonies
with the peace of their consciences, that without any more ado, they may
not control public judgment, but must always esteem that to be best and
most seemly which seemeth so in the eye of public authority,--that even
such rites and orders as are not rightly established must be obeyed so
long as they have the force of a constitution,--that the sentence of
superiors ought to direct us, and be a sufficient ground to our conscience
for obeying. This is the best of their reasoning, and before all fail. The
Bishop of Winchester reasoneth from bare custom.(349) Have we not cause to
renew the complaint which John Lascus made in behalf of the Protestants in
Germany,(350) _nulla cognitione causae per colloquium aut amicam
suffragiorum collationem habita, sed praejudicio tantum ipsorum sententiam
damnari_.

CHAPTER VIII.

THAT THE INEXPEDIENCY OF THE CEREMONIES, IN RESPECT OF THE SCANDAL OF THE
WEAK, MAY BE PLAINLY PERCEIVED. TWELVE PROPOSITIONS TOUCHING SCANDAL ARE
PREMITTED.

_Sect._ 1. There remaineth yet another inconveniency found in the
ceremonies, which is scandal. They hinder our spiritual edification and
growth in faith and plerophory, and make us stumble instead of going
forward. The best members of the body should be cut off when they offend,
much more the superfluous humours, such as the popish ceremonies must be
reckoned to be, Matt. v. 29, 30. And what if some wide consciences think
the ceremonies no stumbling-blocks? Nay, what if some pretend that they
edify? _Ferulae asinis gratissimae sunt in