Twelve General Arguments, Postscript
An advertiſ…ment.
I had thought (good re…er) to hauehave fortified ſome other poynts in the Arguments, which to thē that doe not cōſider may ſeem weake, but I forbeare …or ſome ſpeciall reaſons, I am …nly to admon…h thee of one de…e…t amongſt …thers t…at … me. viz. The mi…ta…ng of the A…c…ps Argument thoug… I … it better t… was, …or thus it is, and … been pour…ed.
… good, are lawfull and good ceremonyes.
The doctrine of theſe ceremonyes is ſound and good,
Ergo.
Which is ſubiect to the very ſame abſurdityes that the other and more alſo. For 1 the doctrine of them is unſound & falſe, for the doctrine of them is this, that they are matters indifferent, of order decency, and edification, no parts of Divine worſhip, that they are Sciſmatickes that will not conforme unto them, enimyes to the Supremacy and State, that it is a wicked error to hould them unlawfull & ſuperſtitious that they are to be excommunicated that affirme thē to be ſo. etc. All which is unſound doctrine concernyng them. 2 Graunt the doctrine ſound, yet it followeth not that the Ceremonyes are good, for the thing may be wicked, and yet the doctryne of it ſound. For, There is a ſound doctrine of all Vices. 3 In what reſpect doth he affirme the doctrine to be ſound and good? Is it not from the uſe and end that is aſſigned unto them by himſelf? Becauſe they are appoynted for ſuch & ſuch ends? Hence will follow the very ſame abſurdities, that I hauehave obſerved in the former. For then any ridiculous or baſe Ceremony, may be inſtituted, ſo it be under pretence of a good end.
End of the text · William Bradshaw, Twelve General Arguments (1605)