UNDERDOWN. 267 A. Is there any other reason why you will not subscribe to the Book of Common Prayer ? U. Yes, my lord, there are many others. For if we subscribe to the book, we must subscribe to the massing apparel : as copes, vestments, tunicle, &c. A. Whatever you are discharged from by any article or injunction, you are not required to subscribe unto it in the book. U. Who then shall interpret how far our subscription shall extend ? A. That will I and the other bishops do, who know best what the book and subscription meaneth. U. But, my lord, wedare not subscribe without protesta- tion. A. I will have no protestation. You are not called to rule in this church of England ; and you shall not rule, but obey. And unless you subscribe, you shall have no place in the ministry. Is there any other thing which hindereth your subscription ? U. The rubric requireth that after the reading of the Nicene creed, an homily shall be, read, either one already set forth by public authority, or hereafter tobe set forth ; and we think it is absurd to subscribe to the use of things not yet published. A. You need not trouble yourself about that. Have you any thing else ? U. If we subscribe, wemust subscribe to private baptism, and the baptism of women, directly contrary to the wordof God. A. Though baptism were unlawfully performed, yet being once performed, it is not to be repeated ; and seeing it has the seal of the prince, it may not be condemned, though not performed by an ordinary minister. U. We acknowledge the necessity of baptism, and that he who administereth it, does not make the sacrament better; yet from the words of Christ, " Go teach and baptize," it appears that he who administers this sacrament should be a minister of the word. A. Whosoever shall say it is of the substance of the sacrament, that he who baptizeth must be a minister, I will proceed against him as an heretic. I say, moreover, it is not lawful for women to baptize; yet if they do baptize, their baptism is valid, and ought not to be set aside. U. Seeing the sacrament is not saving, but the seal of God's promises, there is no need of them to baptize.
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