THE ABOLISHING OF THE BOOKE OF COMMON PRAYER By Reason of above fifty grosse CORRVPTIONS in it As also for that it commands the use of such Ceremonies in the WORSHIP OF GOD namely Surplice Crosse and Kneeling which man hath devised and which are notoriously knowne to have beene of old and still to be abused to Superstition and Idolatry and are of no necessary use in the CHVRCH Being the Substance of a Booke which the Ministers of Lincoln Diocesse delivered to King IAMES the First of December 1605. Well worthy of the serious consideration of the High COVRT of PARLIAMENT Reprinted and are to be sold by SAMVEL SATTERTHVVAITE in Warwicke Lane 1641. THE ABOLISHING OF THE BOOKE OF COMMON PRAYER WITH Exceptions against Subscribing to it EXCEPTION I. FIRST IN that by the Order it appoints for the reading of the holy Scriptures the greatest part of Canonicall Scripture is never to be read to the Congregation Contrary to the practise of the Church of the Jewes before Christ and of the Primitive Church in the Age next succeeding after Christ and his Apostles and of all the best Reformed Churches at this day in none of all which any part of the Canonicall Scripture was ever commanded to be left out in publike Reading And contrary to the Opinion of Bishop Jewell who affirmeth that to limit and diet the people what they ought to reade and what they ought to leave was sometimes the Superstitious discretion of the Rabbins herein saith he wee may say as Hilary saith the Sonne of God hath revealed to us no such thing 2. And that by the Order it appoints many of the first Lessons are to be taken out of the Apocryphall Books and that under the name of the holy Scripture of the old Testament without any note of difference from the Canonicall and Commands the Story of Susanna to be read under the name of Dan. 13. In which Story the Jewes in Babylon are said to have had Judges of their own and power to put offenders to death and Daniel is said to have beene a young childe when hee executed judgement upon the two false witnrsses and this is said to have beene done immediatly before the reigne of Cyrus and to have bin the meanes wherby Daniel grew famous all which doe evidently shew this Story to be fabulous and untrue as is observed by Iuntus Lubbertus Dr. Fulke Dr. Whitakers Dr. Willet and others In like manner also sundry of the other Apocryphall Chapters that are thus apointed to be read doe containe manifest errours and corruptions as are observed by the foresaid Authors 3. In that the Booke of Common Prayer appointeth such a Translation of the Psalmes to be reade in the Churches as leaveth out of the Text sundry words and sentences which were given by Divine inspiration for the profit of the whole Church as the titles of the Psalmes and these words Higaton and Selah and Praise yet the Lord is omitted at least seventeene times which is contrary to the word of God who hath expresly forbidden to take ought from his Word and said he will take their part out of the Booke of Life that shall presume to doe it 4. In that the Booke of Common Prayer misapplyeth sundry places of Scripture and that to the countenancing of some points of unsound Doctrine as for example to instance in one for many that in Rev. 14. 15. is applied to those children whom Herod murdered which is also made more plaine by the Collect which calleth them the witnesses of God which confessed and shewed forth his praise EXCEPTION II. In that the Booke of Common Prayer commands the use of such Ceremonies in the worship of God as man hath devised and which are notoriously knowne to have beene of old and still to be abused to Idolatry and Superstition and as are of no necessary use in the Church And as this might be made manifest by Arguments drawne from holy Scriptures so also is it confirmed by the judgement of the godly learned of all Churches and ages to wit that Christians are bound to cast off the Ceremonies and Religious Customes of Pagans Jewes Idolators and Hereticks and are carefully to shun all conformitie with them therein as we might instance in the testimonies of ancient Fathers and Counsells but we will onely produce the judgements of moderne Writers 1. It was the judgement of the Church of Scotland as appeareth in a Letter written from a generall Assemblie held at Edenbrough 1566. unto the Bishops of England in which besides many other sentences to this purpose thus he writ If Surplice Corner-cap and Tippet have beene badges of Idolaters in the very act of Idolatry what have the prayers of Christian liberty and the open rebukers of Superstition to doe with the dregges of the Romish beast and more plainely in the generall confession of their faith whereunto King James with other of the chiefe States of that Kingdome did solemnly sweare and subscribe where wee finde these words Wee detest all the Ceremonies and false Doctrine of the Roman Antichrist added to the Ministration of the true Sacraments wee detest all his vaine Allegories Rites Signes and Traditions brought into the Church without the Word of God Occolampadius writing to a Minister of the Church of Scaphusium requireth him utterly to cast off all the Ceremonies of the Papists in the celebration of the Lords Supper which cannot saith he be continued but they will nourish the Superstition and impiety whereunto they served of old Calvin in one of his Epistles having spoken of some moderation that is to be used in reforming and remedying abuses in the Church yet saith he I doe no lesse constantly affirme that great heed is to be taken lest under this pretence any thing be tollerated in the Church which came either from Sathan or from Antichrist Musculus writeth thus It is not fit that those things which are rather Superstitious than Religious or have so much as a shew of Superstition should be received in the Church God forbid that I should maintaine any Tradition Rites or Worships which are Popish which either of their owne nature or by abuse doe serve unto Popish impiety Peter Martyr saith that Order ought to be kept in Administration of the Sacraments which is most sincere and differeth most from the toyes and Ceremonies of the Papists and commeth nearest unto that puritie wherein Christ and his Apostles did first adminster it Of the same judgement was Beza Bucer and many other besides of the most famous Divines of other Nations which for brevity sake I will not so much as name Our late Queenes injunctions require that all Monuments of Idolatry and Superstition be so utterly extinguished and destroyed that there may remaine no memory of them either in our Churches or houses Bishop Jewell speaking to the Papists of their Ceremonies saith You have so misused these things or rather so defiled and bewrayed them
were put to open Penance 5. The weeke before Easter onely of all weekes in the yeare hath prescript Service appointed with Epistles and Gospels for every day as solemne as the Holy-dayes are wont to have 6. The Fryday before Easter is called Good Friday and hath three speciall Collects appointed for it as hath no one day of the yeare besides 7. It commandeth that every Parishioner shall receive the Communion at Easter 8. It appointeth the Congregation to pray that God would give them that which their prayers dare not presume to aske 9. The Catechisme in delivering the number of the Sacraments saith there are two onely as generally necessary to salvation 10. The Minister as if Baptisme were of absolute necessity is allowed not onely to Baptise in private but to use the words of Institution and the element though hee have not so much time as to say the Lords Prayer 11. The Minister is allowed and directed to administer the Communion to one sicke of the Plague though there be not one more to communicate with him 12. Interrogatories in Baptisme are ministred unto Infants as if repentance and Faith were requisite in them before they may be Baptized and it is said in the Catechisme That infants performe faith and repentance by their Sureties who promise and vow them in their names 13. Every child baptized as if outward Baptisme did conferre grace to all that receive it is said to be regenerate and in the Catechisme it is said that we are by Baptisme made the children of grace and in the Rubricke immediatly before Catechisme that it is certaine by Gods Word that children being baptized have all things necessary for their salvation and be undoubtedly saved 14. The Minister is appointed to command that children be brought to the Bishop to be confirmed yea none may be admitted to the Communion till he have beene confirmed In confirmation children are said to be certified by the signe of the imposition of the Bishops hands of Gods favour and gracious goodnesse towards them And confirmation is said to be ministred to them that are baptized that by imposition of hands and Prayer they may receive strength and defence against all tentations to sinne and the assaults of the world and the devill Yea confirmation is dignified above Christs Sacraments in that none may administer it but a Bishop And it is said to be administred after the example of the holy Apostles and warrant thereby 15. It saith that Matrimony doth signifie unto us the Mysticall union betwixt Christ and his Church and that God did consecrate the state of Matrimony to such an excellent mystery that in it is signified and represented the spirituall marriage and unitie betweene Christ and his Church And the Ring in Matrimonie is appointed to be laid on the Booke and the Priest to take it and deliver it to the man and to teach him to say thus With this Ring thee wed c. And the Priest is appointed in his Prayer unto God to say that the Ring is a token and a pledge of the Covenant and vow made in marriage 16. The Priest is appointed to absolve every sicke person that findeth his conscience troubled with any weighty sinne and maketh speciall confession of it in this forme by Christs authoritie committed to me I absolve thee from all thy sinnes in the name of the Father c And in another place the people are appointed to come to the Minister to receive the benefit of Absolution 17. Buriall is made a ministeriall duty and a prescript Leiturgie is appointed for it to be said at the grave and we are appointed to pray thus that God would hasten his Kingdome that we with this our brother all other departed in the true faith of thy holy name may have our perfit consummation and blisse both in body and soule 18. Churching of Women is commanded and made a Ministeriall duty and a prescript Leiturgy appointed for it and the woman is appointed to kneele neere to the place where the Table stands and the Priest to stand by her when he Churcheth her and that he must offer her accustomed offerings 19. Both in that place and elsewhere in the booke offering dayes and an Offertory are allowed 20. In the Catechisme it is said that the Sonne of God hath redeemed all mankinde taking that phrase in a larger sense than for all the elect as is evident by the words immediatly going before and following after 21. It appointeth sundry things that tend directly to the profanation of the holy Sacraments either by prostituting them to unworthy persons or administring them unreverently For 1. All Priests and Deacons in Collegiat Churches are commanded to receive the Communion every Sunday at least 2 Every communicant may chuse whether he will give notice of his purpose to receive till after the beginning of morning Prayer on the same day that he is to communicate 3. All new married persons must receive the Communion the same day they are married 4. Private Baptisme in some cases is allowed to be administred without any Prayer Doctrine or Exhortation 5 It avoucheth sundry manifest and apparant untruths As 1. That in the Calendar so much as may be the reading of the Scripture is so set forth that all things might be done in order without breaking one piece from another 2. That nothing by this Booke is ordained to be read but the very pure Word of God the holy Scripture or that which is evidently grounded upon the same 3. That this booke is so plaine and perfit as that the Curates shall neede no other bookes for their publike service but this booke and the Bible and yet it injoynes him to read Homilies 4. That all our Ceremonies pertaine to edification and are apt to stirre up the dull minde of man to the remembrance of his duty to God by some notable and speciall signification 5. It calleth certaine Chapters of Esay Ieremy Ioel and the Acts Epistles 6. It appoints us to say every day from Christmas day to New-yeares day in a Collect that Christ was borne this day and upon whitsunday Munday and Tuesday God which on this day hast taught c. 7. It affirmeth that Michael mentioned Rev. 12. is a created Angell 8. It peremptorily affirmeth sundry things that if they be not manifestly false are doubtfull 1. That the Infants whom Herod murthered were Innocents and Gods witnesses and that they confessed his praise by dying 2. That there are Archangells 3. That every one that is buried is a brother That God hath taken to himselfe his soule that we commit his body to the ground in sure and certaine hope of Resurrection to eternall life 4. It appointeth sundry things that bring great disorder and confusion unto the worship of God As 1. That the people should say after the Minister whole sentences of prayer and
Where it is said that God did inspire the holy Apostles to choose S. Steven into the Order of Deacons which is mentioned in this Booke and that the Deacons then to be ordered are called to the like Office and administration that Steven was called unto 4. Some places of holy Scripture are perverted in it As 1. When Acts 6. 17. is applied to warrant the Ordination of our Deacons 2. When the Bishop is appointed in the ordering of a Priest and the Archbishop in the Consecrating of a Bishop to use these words Receive the holy Ghost as our Saviour did at the sending forth of his Apostles 3. It containeth sundry Popish errors and Superstitions whereas the Article saith it hath in it nothing that of it selfe is Superstitious As 1. That it alloweth and establisheth the Offices of Archdeacons and Archbishops 2. That Deacons Priests Bishops and Archbyshops are made severall Orders and degrees of Ministery 3. That the Minister of the Gospell is usually called Priest 4. That it ordaineth an Office of Deaconship with charge to read Homilies preach the Word and administer Baptisme 5. That the Lords Supper is dignified above Baptisme and confirmation above both when the Deacon is permitted to baptise and not to administer the Lords Supper the Priest to Minister both Baptisme and the Lords Supper the Bishop only to confirme 6. That private and secret prayer is preferred before publike and that in a publicke place and action For the Congregation is desired even in the midst of the solemne action in Ordination of a Priest secretly in their prayers to make humble Supplications to God for the foresaid things For the which Prayers there shall be a certaine space kept in silence that done the Bishop is appointed to pray againe 7. Sundry things in it are absurdly spoken and directly against that which is done and practised and to speake so specially in so holy and solemne an action is a wicked thing As 1. When in the Ordination of a Deacon it is said Take thou authority to preach if thou shalt be called thereunto 2. When both in the Ordination of the Deacon of the Priest the B. requireth the Congregation to deliver whether they can say ought against the party to be ordained whereas it is wel known that the Bishop useth seldome or never to give orders in a publike Congregation and if hee doth at any time it is in such an one where the people is altogether unacquainted with the conversation of them that are to be ordained 3. When the Priest is asked whether he will give his faithfull diligence alwayes to minister the Doctrine and Sacraments and Discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded whereas it is well known that no Minister is allowed to exercise the discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded And these faults there are in that Booke of Ordination which is of the last Edition and most reformed In the former Edition which seemes by the words of the 36. Article to be that we are required to subscribe unto and which it may be some of the Bishops doe still use there are other corruptions As 1. That the Cope Albe Surplice Tunicle and Pastorall Staffe are appointed to be used in Ordination and consecration 2. That the Oath of Supremacy is thus concluded So helpe mee God and all Saines and the holy Evangelists Soli Deo gloria FINIS Reply art 15. Divis 16. pag. 543. Deut. 4. 2. Rev. 22. 19. Printed at London by Thomas Man 1603. 1. Lib. Epist. pag. 129. Epist. 87. pag. 167. Laricom p. 421. In an Epist. to the Ministers of Poland Injunc 23. Confuta of the man of Chester In Epist. Dedica vit. Iewell Missal Rom. 3. part 1. pag. 100. The name Priest Holidayes Lent Weeke before Easter Good Fryday Receiving the Communion at Easter Diffidence in Prayer Number of the Sacraments Necessitie of baptisme Private communion Interrogatories in Baptisme Baptisme conferring of grace to all that receive it Confirmation Matrimony Absolution Buriall Churching of women Offering days and Offertory Vniversall grace Profanation of the Sacraments Manifest untruths Manifest untruths Doubtfull matters Disorder and confusion Absurdities Contradictions Reading of Nemilies Manifest untruths Tom. 2. pag. 305. Tom. 1. pag. 18. Tome 1. pag. 51. and 87. Tome 2. pa. p. 303. Doubtfull points and of dangerous construction Tome 1. pa. 22. Tome 2. pag. 22. Tom. 2. p. 160. Tome 2. pa 365. Tome 2. pp. 483. Few have seene the Book Defects Manifest untruths Scripture perverted Popish errors and Superstitions Absurdities
Scripture yea the Minister one part of the prayer and the people another And in sundry parts of the Letany the people make the prayer and the Minister onely directs them what to pray for 2. That the Minister is appointed to say some prayers kneeling some standing some in one part of the Church some in another 3. That one of the people is allowed to make the generall confession of sinnes at the Communion in the name of the whole Congregation 4. That at some one meeting of the Assembly the Lords Prayer is to be repeated eight severall times and Gloria Patri twelve times 5 That the holy Scriptures are so mangled into shreds and pieces in the Epistles and Gospels 6. That the words of the Institution are to be pronounced and repeated to every severall Communicant 7. That the Churchwardens are appointed to goe about on Communion-dayes togather the Devotion of the people in the midst of Divine Service 8. It containes sundry things that are ridiculous and absurd and such as no reasonable sence can be made of for 1. It commands the reading of such Homilies as shall hereafter be set forth by publique authority 2. It commands every parishioner to communicate at Easter and also to receive the Sacraments and other Rites 3. It ministreth Interrogatories to Infants which their Godfathers answer unto and saith that Infants performe faith and repentance by their Godfathers 4. It appointeth in some cases Baptisme to be administred conditionally in this forme If thou be not Baptised already I Baptise thee in the name of the Father c. 5. It requireth that every husband be taught by the Priest to say to his wife in the solemnization of wedlocke With my body I thee worship 10. It containes in it sundry evident contradictions for 1. In the second Article of the Rubricke after the Communion the Minister is forbidden to celebrate the Communion except there be a great number to communicate with him and in the third Article of the same Rubricke hee is allowed to celebrate it if there be but three to communicate with him 2. In one place it is said that it is thought good to follow the custome of the old Church in ministring Baptisme but twise a yeare so neere as conveniently may be and yet elsewhere it alloweth Baptisme to be administred not only every day of the yeare in publike but also every houre either of day or night in private 3. In the Catechisme it is said there are but two Sacraments and in another place the booke giveth to confirmation whatsoever by the definition of a Sacrament set down in the Catechisme belongs to the nature and essence of a Sacrament 4. In one place it is said that children should be brought to the Bishop to be confirmed so soone as they can say the Lords Prayer the Creed and the ten Commandements In another it saith that our custome is agreeable to the usage of the Church in times paâ—t wherby it was ordayned that Confirmation should be ministred to them that are of perfit age The 35. Article of Religion touching the two Tomes of Homilies is not to be allowed nor acknowledged to be agreeable to the word of God For 1. By it the reading of Homilies in the Congregation is approved to be a Ministeriall duty and so an unpreaching Ministery allowed of 2. The Bookes of Homilies containe sundry things that are evidently false and untrue As 1. That the Apociyphal Bookes are every where called holy Scripture And two onely places being alleadged both which are taken out of Toby and Ecclesiasticus that tend dangerously to the justifying of the merit of Almsdeeds it is said the Holy Ghost speaketh so in the Scriptures 2. That the place of the Psalmist Psal. 51. 5. is thus alleadged wherefore he saith Marke and behold I was conceived in sinnes he saith not sinne but in the plurall number sinnes 3. That it is said our Saviour did Sweare so oft as he said verily verily 4. Where it is said that plurality of Wives was by a speciall Prerogative suffered to the Fathers of the old Testament that they might have many Children because every one of them hoped and begged oftentimes of God in their prayers the blessed seed might come and be borne of his stock and kindred 5. In them are affirmed and that as by way of Doctrin publiquely taught in the Church sundry things that are doubtfull and of dangerous construction As 1. When it is said That though manslaughter was committed before yet was not the world destroyed for that but for whordome all the world few only excepted was overflowed with water 2. When the fact of Ambrose in Excommunicating Theodosius is justfied 3. When it is said by keeping your Churches in good repaire ye shall not only please God and deserve his manifold blessings but also deserve the good report of all godly people 4. When it is said that all Adams posterity by his fall were become plain reprobates and cast-awayes being perpetually damned to the everlasting paines of hell fire 5. When it is said that it is not to be born with but a great shame for an honest man to beat his Maid-servant though she be a bond servant The 36 Article of Religion Touching the Booke of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops and of ordering Priests and Deacons it is not to be allowed nor acknowledged to be agreeable to the Word of God For 1. Not one Minister of forty doth know what that booke containeth nor how to come to the sight of it 2. It doth not whereas that Article saith it doth containe all things that are necessary but omitteth sundry things which by the Ordinance of God ought to be observed in the Ordination of Ministers For 1. The examination of the life and learning of the Deacon and Priest is committed onely to the Arch-deacon 2 The voices and consent of the people over whom the Minister is to be set is not by this Book required to his election and calling 3. The Ordination of the Deacon by imposition of hands is permitted to one man viz. the Bishop 4. The Priest receiveth in his Ordination no authority to governe the flocke and exercise the Discipline of Christ but onely to Preach the Word and administer the Sacraments 5. Some manifest untruths are avouched in it whereas the Article saith it hath in it nothing that is of it selfe ungodly As 1. When it is said that it is evident to all men diligently reading the holy Scriptures and ancient Writers that from the Apostles times there have beene these Orders of Ministers in Christs Church viz. Bishops Priests and Deacons 2 Where it is said that this Realme hath received the Discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded whereas God hath commanded there should be governing Elders to exercise the discipline of Christ in each Congregation which our Realme hath not as yet received 3.