352 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. W. I fear you seek some advantage against me. S. I promise you, that you shall have no hurt for any thing you may speak here. W. I dislikeprivate baptism by laymen or women. S. YoU know my lord of Canterbury denies that the book alloweth any such thing. W. It is too plain to be denied. And though he do deny it, he alloweth that if a woman or any private person perform the action, it is a sacrament, and is not to be renewed by the minister. Where there no other things, this is sufficient to keep me from subscribing. S. But if you may have favour in that point, will you yield to the rest ? W. I wish theywere such things, that I could yield to them. S. What else then do you dislike. W. The book of makingbishops and ministers. S. Why so ? W. Because I find no such thing done by one man, and. in that manner, in the word ofGod. S. Then I can say nothing toyou. W. But I could say something to you, sir, if you would patiently hear me. S. What is that ? Say what you please. W. If you can shew me any statute, now in force in England, which requireth me to subscribe to the Book of Common Prayer, to the book of making bishops and minis- ters, and to the whole book ofarticles; I will promise before you and these people, that I will subscribe. But if I offer my hand to subscribe, as far as any statute loth, require, why is the offer not admitted ? or by what law cau it be rejected ? S. There is a statute which alloweth these things. This, I think you will not deny. W. I do not deny it. But where is the statute which commandeth subscription to them ? S. The bishops have a commission from her majesty, to deal in these matters according to their own discretion. W.- But neither their commission, nor their discretion, may oppose the discreet laws made by her majesty and parliament. If they do, I dare boldly say, that they abuse her majesty, her subjects, and their own commission. S. Take heed what you say. You must yield to this subscription, or you cannot be admitted. Besides, you are no proper minister, and were never authorized to preach.
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