These arguments, which had influence with wise men, were the very reasons which engaged the violent Protestants to reject the habits.

They pushed matters to a total opposition with the church of Rome; every compliance, they said, was a symbolizing with Antichrist.[*] And this spirit was carried so far by some reformers, that, in a national remonstrance, made afterwards by the church of Scotland against these habits, it was asked, "What has Christ Jesus to do with Belial?
What has darkness to do with light?
If surplices, corner caps, and tippets have been badges cf idolaters in the very act of their idolatry, why should the preacher of Christian liberty, and the open rebuker of all superstition, partake with the dregs of the Romish beast?
Yea, who is there that ought not rather to be afraid of taking in his hand, or on his forehead, the print and mark of that odious beast ?"[**] But this application was rejected by the English church.
There was only one instance in which the spirit of contradiction to the Romanists took place universally in England: the altar was removed from the wall, was placed in the middle of the church, and was thenceforth denominated the communion table.

The reason why this innovation met with such general reception was, that the nobility and gentry got thereby a pretence for making spoil of the plate, vestures, and rich ornaments which belonged to the altars.[***] * Strype, vol.i.p.

416.
** Keith, p.565.Knox, p.

402.
*** Heylin, Preface, p.3.Hist.p.