A TREATISE ON RE-BAPTISM. 403 of allthechurches,and withbecoming humilityhad desiredto innovatenothing,as observingno kind of room forcontradic tion. For everythingwhich isboth doubtfuland ambiguous, and isestablishedinopinionsdiffering[from those]ofprudent and faithfulmen, ifitisjudged to be againsttheancientand memorable and most solemn observanceof allthoseholy and faithfulmen who have deservedwell,ought assuredlyto be condemned ; sincein a matter once arranged and ordained, .whateverthat iswhich isbrought forward againstthe quiet and peace of the church,willresultin nothing but discords, and strifes,and schisms. And in thisno otherfruitcan be found but thisalone,— thatone man, whoever he is,shouldbe vaingloriouslydeclaredamong certainficklemen tobe of great prudence and constancy;and,beinggiftedwiththe arrogance of heretics,whose only consolationin destructionis the not appearing to sinalone,shouldbe renowned among thosethat are most similarand agreeabletohimself,ashaving corrected the errorsand vicesof allthechurches. For thisisthedesire and purpose of allheretics,to frame as many calumnies of thiskind as possibleagainstour most holymother thechurch, and to deem ita greatgloryto have discoveredanything that can be imputed to her as a crime,or even as a folly. And sinceitbecomes no faithfulman of sound mind todaretohold such a view,especiallyno one who isordainedin any clerical officeat all,and much more in the episcopalorder,itislike a prodigy forbishopsthemselvesto devisesuch scandals,and not to fearto unfold too irreverentlyagainstthe preceptof the law and of allthe Scriptures,with theirown disgraceand risk,the disgraceof theirmother the church— ifthey think that thereisany disgracein thismatter,althoughthe church has no disgraceinthisinstance,savein the errorof such men as thesethemselves. Thereforeitisthe more grievoussinin men of thiskind,ifthatwhich isblamed by them in themost ancientobservance,asifitwere not rightlydone,ismanifestly and forciblyshown as wellto have been rightlyobservedby those who were beforeus,astobe rightlyobservedalsoby us ; so thateven ifwe shouldengage inthecontroversywith equal arguments on both sides,yet,sincethatwhich was innovated