43t LIVES OF TIIE PURITANS. against protestants, and deal more severely with them than with papists, confusion must follow. B. We do not deal hardly with you, but the laws of the realm. We are only ministers to execute the law. C. You turn those laws against us, which were made against the papists. We think it is very hard dealing that you andyour brethren, the bishops, do punish us for not observ- ing the Book of Common Prayer in every point, especially as neither you, nor most of the bishops in England, have observed it in all points these twenty-eight years. B. Wherein do we not observe it ? C. Because you do not confirm children, as the book enjoins you to do. By the book we are charged not to receive persons to the communion, until they have been confirmed by the bishops so we are brought into a painful extremity, and must either offend God, by keeping the people from the communion, or the book, by admitting them without confirmation. If persons can examine themselves, and be able to give a reason of their faith, we may not, we dare not, refuse them the communion, though the book forbids us to admit them till after they have been confirmed by the bishop. B. Why, what canst thou say against it ? C. More than can be said for it. For, you well know it is a popish ceremony,and not warranted by the word of God'; therefore, you justly omit it. And why may not we omit other points, more superstitious andoffensive than this, without being brought into trouble ?. B. You shall not depart unless you will subscribe touse the book in every point, and engage to wear the surplice. C. These are things in which I am not yet resolved. I have not wore the surplice since I entered into the ministry; and if I could be persuaded to wear it, my parishioners would be offended, and all the papists andatheists in the country would triumph. Therefore, I pray you, give me sufficient time to deliberate upon it. B. I will, if you will give sufficient security for your appearance here next sitting. C. That I will do. B. But if thou go home, thou wilt confer with thy fellows, and they will persuade thee not to wear the surplice. Therefore, I will keep thee here, and will not let thee go.t .1 Here the bishop was much offended, and immediately suspended Mr. Cawdrey from preaching in any part of the kingdom. .1. MS. Register, p. 792-794.
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