nor be a Hinderance for Ministers to exercise the Gift of Prayer or to make them neglect it nor to justle out preaching neither must Men make the publick Worship of God consist only or chiefly in hearing Prayers read With these Cautions we approve well of a Liturgy wherefore let it be known we except not against Liturgies in general and as such but in particular against such as we think to have just Exceptions against either as to the matter or to the manner of using them As to those Liturgies fathered upon St. Peter St. James and Mark they are spurious and were obtruded upon the World by the Romanists Although I do not intend to insist upon those Places of the Common-prayer-book which we have just Cause to except against because others have done it before yet something must be said to it and we must come to some particlars I shall begin with the Rubrick concerning the Order how the rest of the holy Scripture besides the Psalter is appointed to be read in the first Paragraph is a Brand and a Slight put upon holy Canonical Scripture of the Old Testament for it is said It shall be read through once every Year except certain Books and Chapters which be least edifying and might be spared yet instead of these are read several of the Apocryphal Books as Ecclesiasticus the Wisdom 2d of Esdras Baruch Judith Tobith c. Whereby a visible Preference is given to those Humane Writings before the authentick Word of God for they are lookt upon as best edifying and least to be spared In the point this is worse than Papists who give the Apocryphas and their Traditions an equal Authority to Canonical Scripture which is the Word of God when the others are the Word of Man but this as I already observed giveth the Preference to some of the Apocrypha before some of the Canonical I hope this shall be no Question between us we all know the Reasons we have against Papists about the Authority of the Apocrypha First They were all written after the Time of Malachy the last of the Prophets Secondly None of the Apocrypha is written in Hebrew which is the Tongue used by the Prophets Thirdly Neither the Jews nor the primitive Apostolical Church ever received them as Canonical Fourthly they were never quoted in the New Testament by our Saviour or his Apostles tho there be Places quoted out of every Book of the Old Testament and our blessed Saviour mentioned the Old Testament under three Heads The Law of Moses the Prophets Luke 24.44 and the Psalms But the fifth and chief Reason because in every thing they do not agree with the Canonical Scripture nor with themselves as hath been shewed by some of our Divines as Whitaker Reynolds c. specially in Vsher's Body of Divinity and by Forreigners as Polanus Chamierus and so many more And this I press the more because the Authority of it in Scripture is one of the Fundamental Points of our Religion and one of the greatest Controversies between Papists and us In the last Paragraph of the same Rubrick 't is ordered thus as often as the first Chapter of St. Matthew is read either for Lesson or Gospel ye shall begin the same at Vers 18. and the third Chapter of St. Luke 's Gospel shall be read unto the middle of Verse the 23d Surely that which is ordered to be left out is Part of Scripture as that which is read the one as well as the other are written for our Instruction as well as Comfort That which is unread is of a high Concernment for though it consists only of proper Names yet contains a most important Matter every Degree of our blessed Saviour's Genealogy which God under the Old Testament took such Care to preserve clear that when the Messiah came to be born there should be no Doubt no Difficulty made of his being of the Seed of Abraham of the Family of David which St. Matthew proves on Joseph his supposed Father's side as St. Luke on Mary's the first divided into three Classes of 14 Generations every one of which makes undisputably a great Article of our Faith how Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary is the true Messiah promised to the World out of Abraham's Seed and then the mention amongst Christ's Ancestors made of Thamar of Rachab of Ruth of her that had been Vrias's Wife Bersheba whereby Christ owns for his Relations according to the Flesh some branded with notorious Faults others though Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and Strangers from the Covenants of Promise to shew how in his Spiritual Relations he would not disown the most notorious Sinners and never so much Gentiles This I say affords matter of Meditation and so is not to be unread Here followeth the Table of the proper Lessons to be read at the Head whereof we find the Word Mattens for Morning Prayer and to have matched things well there should have been the Word Vespers instead of Evening Song both Words in that Sence used in the Church of Rome from whom we borrow both Names and things as we shall have Occasion farther to speak of now these Words are derived from Latin and used in Italian Spanish French c. 'T is no wonder if having taken things out of their Latin Books we also retain some of their Names as Advent Epiphany Quinquagesima Sexagesima Septuagesima c. which are barbarous to every English Man unacquainted with the Latin Tongue or with the Customs of that Church so we do continue their Mass Names and Days as Christmas the Day when Mass is said for the Birth of Christ Candlemass the Day of the Mass of Candles for then Popish Churches are full of them Lammas Day the Day when here in Time of Popery they said Mass for the Preservation of Lambs Michaelmass the Day when Michael's Mass is said c. We say no Mass upon those Days but we have Collect Epistle and Gospel some of which Papists use upon those very Days Now if we look into the Kalender we shall there find the Names of many Saints which either were never in Nature or else are honoured upon Earth when may be their Souls are tormented in Hell Boniface Silvester Clement Dunstan George Martin Denis for there must be Champions to defend the rest specially the Ladies as Margaret Agnes Magdalene Katharine Agathe c. and to be merry Cicely the Patroness of Musitians with Nicolas Crispin Blasius Patrons of Seamen Shoemakers c. Hugh Valentine Edward Machal amongst other Inventions that of the Cross must be in too Remige and several other Popish Saints whose Names should not be in our Mouths much less in our Common-prayer-book we must not omit how there are five Holy Days for the blessed Virgin Purification Annunciation Visitation Nativity and Conception there should have been also her Assumption when she was as they pretend carried up to Heaven in Body and Soul then we could have
of his Homilies speaks of an absurd Practice of some to put a living Man under the Bed of the deceased and then the dead person was asked whether he would be baptized whereupon he that was under the Bed made answer for the dead and desired Baptism and him they immediately baptized in the place of the dead and this he justly calls there a piece of meer Mockery an histrionical Sacrament aludicrious Prophanation of Baptism for thus they did but act a Part in a Play And indeed I believe our Questions in Baptism to the Child and the God-father's Answers come very nigh to this for the Child though naturally alive yet wanting the Use of Reason and Senses is as good as morally dead Further to see the Errors of primitive times baptizing of the dead was anciently used by some Christians as it was usual to give the dead the other holy Sacrament as both appear to have been practised out of two ancient Councils in which is a Prohibition against that Administration of Baptism and of the Eucharist to the Bodies of the deceased the Grounds of these Practices are given by Zonara and Balsamon 3 Conc. Carthag Can. 6. and Conc. Trullo Can. 83. and if we must believe Buxtorf so well versed in the Tongue and Rabbinical Learning in his Synagoga the Jews had the same Error about Circumcision for if the Child died before the eight Day he was circumcised in the Burying-place After this we must agree with Scaliger Disput 17. De Baptismo who out of Lactantius and Austin speaks of the Dotages of the primitive Church which he calls Ineptiae patrum Ecclesiae Doctorum So we must say of the Sign of the Cross in Baptism which once was introduced into the Church though perhaps without an ill Design but hath thorough Superstition been continued therein and is abominably abused in the Romish Church Hence we may see how those things that are brought into God's Ordinances without a Warrant from his Word thorough a just Judgment become a Snare as Altars proved to Ephraim wherefore they ought to be left off and forsaken Hos 3.11 and the Lord never blesseth what he hath not appointed in his Worship Now I say this every Image or Likeness for a religious Use is forbidden in the second Commandment but the Sign of the Cross in Baptism is a Likeness for a Religious Use wherefore it is forbidden by the second Commandment whose Latitude no Man may restrain Of the Surplice NOW I proceed to another Point which I shall be the shorter upon because some things I already said concerning the Cross that may be appliable to the Surplice which say they signifieth Purity and Righteousness required in Ministers yet with some Country Ministers that Purity is very foul as well as their Surplice where we have seen some make use of them as of Hankirchifs and so dirty that they spoiled the Decency However Angels appeared in white Apparel and in the Book of Revelation Ministers are called Angels This indeed is a strange way of arguing for People who pretend to much Reason Thus because God calleth himself the antient of Days Dan. 7.9 he may be represented as an old Man with a grey Hair and a grey Beard as Papists do so may Ananias be represented with a Surplice because St. Paul calls him a whited Wall Acts 23.3 I also should have said the Holy Ghost may be represented under the Shape of a Dove because he appeared so in our Saviour's Baptism Luke 3.22 but if to prove the Surplice a Sacrament for that 's the long and the short of the business only it wanteth God's Institution though it hath Man's and that Sanctity wherewith Ministers ought to be endued we have no better Grounds in Scripture for if we had we would fetch it than Angels appearing in white Raiments we have nothing but Apparitions to ground it upon Out of this way of arguing we should also conclude that every Minister should have six Wings fastened to his Body with certain Faces like Faces of Lyons Isa 6. and Ezech. 1. Eagles Oxen c. because Angels have so appeared and nothing of black about them no black Caps no Tippets nor Hood because Angels appeared all in white It cannot be denied but that this white Garment is an Invention of Popery used in most if not all their religious Worship hardly any Foppery is acted amongst them but this is in nay it is ever used in the very Act of Idolatry for idolatrous Ends hence one may judge how defiled it must be but say they amongst Papists 'tis consecrated not amongst us as for that it may as well be consecrated as Altars Churches and Church-yards however we ought to hate even the Garment spotted by the Flesh Jud. 23. not to bring them in and make significant Ceremonies of them this might very well be spared and no hurt in the case as there is some to use it but say they 't is appropriated to an holy use in God's Service reading of his Word c. But the thing is never the more holy for that or else the Pulpits Tables Table-cloths Cups Railes Bells Seats would be so for they are appropriated to God's Service in their kind as the Surplice is As to Decency is not a black Gown as decent as a Surplice The Worship of God doth not confist in Garments or such Ceremonies that 's good for those who will make Religion as pompous as they can like the Romish Church and we imitate it upon Coronation-days but Soundness and Purity in Doctrine Simplicity in Worship and Holiness of Life is what we ought to stand upon so then the use of Surplice or Font in Baptism gives them not any Sanctity no more than have the Bottles wherein is the Wine to be used in the Lord's Supper or the Mud and Banks that contained the Water of Jordan where Baptism was administred Now amongst the several Evils this idle Ceremony causeth this is a great one that it stops the Course of the Gospel the Church is deprived of the Labours of many a good and learned Man the wearing of it is so necessary a Qualification that no Surplice no preaching and time hath been when Men neither ignorant nor scandalous who had a lawful Call to the Ministry being distressed between two either to be deprived of the Exercise of their Ministry a thing more grievous than the Loss of their Places or else to do things contrary to their Consciences were put to a sad and lamentable Dilemma either to be deprived of all or else to comply with the times and become Hypocrites We justly blame the Violence in France offered to the Consciences of People and yet here hath been done as ill though in another kind within these 30 Years till the time of our late Deliverance We made nothing of above a thousand poor Ministers at once upon the account of these Superstitious Rags and Ceremonies turned out
hold a Communication with and in some kind own a Dependency upon the Church of Rome with using her Language nay we seem so fond of it that we use it also in Law a Bond and some other Deeds are in Latin which is a shameful Subjection as if they were our Masters whose Tongue we ought to speak When England was subject to the Roman Empire there was something to say for it but now nothing at all except we have a mind to go back to Rome all that can be pleaded for 't is an old Custom and an evil one too to be left off But much having by others been said upon the matter I shall no further enlarge upon it only as to the manner of using the Prayer-book This particular I shall add concerning the Word of God read sometimes standing and sometimes sitting But if to stand at the reading of God's Word be a more reverend Posture than to sit why do they sit when the Epistle is read and stand when the Gospel is Surely there is for this Difference not the least Shaddow in Scripture the Epistle is as much the Word of God as the Gospel but they not only make Epistle to differ from Gospel but also Gospel from Gospel for at the second Lesson they stand when some Part of a Chapter of the Gospel is read and yet they sit when a whole Chapter is read in the first Lesson what 's the meaning of all this One Part is read with more Reverence than the whole for when that very same Chapter out of which the Part is taken happeneth to be read at the first Lesson People doth sit and is a greater Respect to be shewed at the reading of the second Lesson than at the first To me this seems unaccountable But a thing there is which I must not omit taking notice of it being liable to a just Exception though not in the common-prayer-Common-prayer-book At the latter End of most of our old Bibles is a Form of Prayers for private Families in that for the Evening are these Expressions That all the World may know that at what time soever a Sinner doth repent of his Sins from the Bottom of his Heart thou wilt put all his Wickedness out of thy Remembrance as thou hast promised by thy holy Prophet But no Prophet saith so Ezech. 18.21 we know they ground it upon the Prophet who in God's Name declareth that a holy penitent Sinner shall live Three things are here to be observed first That turning and Repentance upon which Life is promised is not in the Power of Man but a special Gift of God The second That the turning therein mentioned is upon a legal Bottom for he saith If the wicked will turn from all his Sin that he hath committed and keep all my Statutes and do that which is lawful and right he shall surely live To keep all God's Statutes is impossible for Men however there is nothing but what the Law says do this and thou shalt live thus our Saviour doth interpet it Matth. 19.17 if thou wilt enter into Life keep the Commandments The third thing here to be observed and upon which I ground what I said is That in the Place there is no such thing as at what time soever nor nothing equivalent nor in any other Prophet for out of such a Text if there was the wicked would take Encouragement to continue in Sin to the last now Scripture presses Sinners not to delay Repentance we know some say they can repent when they will but God never said so in his Word thus though this be not in the Prayer-book yet I bring it under that Head Now after this to shew we are not singular in our Judgment concerning these Points we will back our Reasons with the Evidence of some few eminent Instruments of Reformation pious and learned Men both abroad and at home Calvin Epist and Protect Calvin is the first Forreigner in his Letter to the Lord Protector in good King Edward's time he saith thus I come to the other Head about abolishing and plucking up by the very Roots Abuses and Corruptions which the Devil in Ages passed hath brought into God's Ordinances it is evident that the Christianity or Religion of Popery is Bastardy and false wherefore if we resolve to bring the People out of that Gulf we must follow the Apostle's Example 1 Cor. 11. from whence it is generally taught that when Men would reform as they ought to do and acceptably to God they must then betake themselves to the pure Word of God for see how many Mixtures which Man's Brain hath hatched do remain so many Pollutions are there which distract Men from the right Use of those things which he hath appointed for their Salvation Wherefore while such a Sink as that is but in the Part pumpt out things cannot be said to be as they should be specially when Religion appeared rather masked than sincere and with open Face which I therefore note because I perceive many now a-days are of another Judgment as if petty Abuses were to be let alone as long as grosser matters be removed whereas contrariwise Experience it self shews what a fertile Soil and faithful Seed-plot of Lies Man's Invention is that being but thin sowen as it were with lesser Grains groweth to such an Heap as if his Measure did intend nothing else Now the Scripture is far different from this when David speaketh of Idols he professeth their Name should not go in or out at the Door of his Lips to shew extream Detestation let us remove our Foot as far as we can from the Snares of Satan for what were all those Ceremonies but so many whorish Enticements to let silly Souls into Mischief yea even Snares to catch Men in But if we talk that the People may be warned least they stumble yet notwitstanding who doth not behold Men hardned by them So little doth that Warning avail to any purpose Therefore if any such thing be left untouched it will be but the Foment and Fewel of greater Mischief and very blind set up to hinder sincere Doctrine from all Entrance as were fit In his second Epistle he exhorteth the same Protector to help Hooper who stood against those Foppish Ceremonies this is all we shall for the present make use of out of him though abundance more might be produced Beza is the next he often speaks much to our Purpose specially in the Place mentioned before now quoted in the Margent not to be repeated here in his Annotations upon these Words 1 Cor. 7.23 Ye are bought with a Price be not ye the Servants of Men He condemneth those that contrary to that Part of Scripture do press superstitious Rites upon the Consciences of Men and from Colos 2.20 he demonstrates how Man's corrupt Nature is too much inclined to loose Liberty and submit to Superstition which with Seneca we may well call insanus Error a mad Error which Superstitious Ceremonies