s and unrequired
concession of the indifferency of fornication (because things indifferent,
and in the case of scandal, and when they are done with the appearance of
evil, should be forborne), without ever mentioning the unlawfulness of it.
But if in a froward tergiversation, the fornicator begin to reply, that he
also is scandalised and provoked to go on in his fornication obstinately,
by the pastor rebuking him for so light a matter, and that the pastor's
reproof to him hath appearance of evil, as much as his fornication hath to
the pastor, albeit here it may be answered, that the pastor's reproof is
not done inordinate, neither hath any appearance of evil, except in the
fornicator's perverse interpretation, yet for stopping the fornicator's
mouth, as well more forceably as more quickly, the pastor rejoineth, that
if any scandal follow upon his reproof, it is not to be regarded, because
the thing is necessary, and that because fornication being a great sin, he
may not but reprove it.

So, albeit our argument of scandal holdeth out against the ceremonies
considered by themselves, without making mention of the unlawfulness of
them in themselves albeit also when the scandal of non-conformity (if
there be any such) is compared with the scandal of conformity, we say
truly that this hath appearance of evil in its own condition, and that
hath none, except in the false interpretation of those who glory in
gainsaying.

Yet for further convincing of our opposites, and darting through their
most subtile subterfuges with a mortal stroke, we send them away with this
final answer,--You should abstain from the ceremonies when scandal riseth
out of them, because you confess them to be in themselves indifferent. But
we do avouch and prove them to be unlawful, wherefore it is necessary for
us to abstain, though all the world should be offended.

_Sect._ 12. The Doctor(405) proceedeth to throw back the argument of
scandal upon our own heads, and to charge us with scandalising both the
church and commonwealth by our refusing the ceremonies. But what? should a
doctor be a dictator? or a proctor a prater? Why, then, doth he ventilate
words for reason? That some are displeased at our non-conformity, we
understand to our great grief; but that thereby any are scandalised, we
understand not; and if we did, yet that which is necessary, such as
non-conformity is, can be taken away by no scandal.

But the Doctor(406) goeth forward, denying tha