old, that nothing can like them, but that is new: it was
thought expedient, not so much to have respect how to please
and satisfy either of these parties, as how to please God, and
profit them both. And yet lest any man should be offended, whom
good reason might satisfy, here be certain causes rendered, why
some of the accustomed Ceremonies be put away, and some retained
and kept still.

Some are put away, because the great excess and multitude of them
hath so increased in these latter days, that the burden of them
was intolerable; whereof Saint Augustine in his time complained,
that they were grown to such a number, that the estate of Christian
people was in worse case concerning that matter, than were the
Jews. And he counselled that such yoke and burden should be taken
away, as time would serve quietly to do it. But what would Saint
Augustine have said, if he had seen the Ceremonies of late days
used among us; whereunto the multitude used in his time was not
to be compared? This our excessive multitude of Ceremonies was
so great, and many of them so dark, that they did more confound
and darken, than declare and set forth Christ's benefits unto us.
And besides this, Christ's Gospel is not a Ceremonial Law, (as
much of Moses' Law was,) but it is a Religion to serve God, not
in bondage of the figure or shadow, but in the freedom of the
Spirit; being content only with those Ceremonies which do serve
to a decent Order and godly Discipline, and such as be apt to
stir up the dull mind of man to the remembrance of his duty to
God, by some notable and special signification, whereby he might
be edified. Furthermore, the most weighty cause of the abolishment
of certain Ceremonies was, That they were so far abused, partly
by the superstitious blindness of the rude and unlearned, and
partly by the unsatiable avarice of such as sought more their
own lucre, than the glory of God, that the abuses could not well
be taken away, the thing remaining still.

But now as concerning those persons, which peradventure will be
offended, for that some of the old Ceremonies are retained still:
If they consider that without some Ceremonies it is not possible
to keep any Order, or quiet Discipline in the Church, they shall
easily perceive just cause to reform their judgements. And if
they think much, that any of the old do remain, and would rather
have all devised anew: then such men granting some Ceremonies
convenient to be had, surely where