Common-â—rayer-Book that there was nothing in it but what was taken out of the Word of God or which was not against it being taken in a good sense Upon which occasion that Book was re-surveyed and in the particulars subjects to cavils or contentions corrected 3 Gilbertus's e Preâ—um fol. 302 312. a German who in a Book of his published many years since propounds our Book of Prayer for a Sample of the Forms of the Antient Church 4 Alexander Alefiut's a learned Scot who translated it into Latine in K. Edward's time where by the way our Book is observed to be translated into more languages than any Liturgie in the world again whatsoever it be 5 Peter Vermilius surnamed Martyr-his who was also one of the Compilers of it in the above-said pretious King 's time 6 Gualter's and the Tigurines-theirs 7 The Strasburgians-theirs and even service- a Our Service is good and godly every tittle grounded on holy Scripture and with what face do you cal it dark nesse look if any thing be blamable in our Service-Book 8 Deering's who in his Defence of Bishop Jewel against Harding defending this Venerable Book against him calumniating onely in general and calling it Darknesse c. Yea 9 b See Troubles of Frankfort p. 30. Calvin's himself who when from Frankford he had received an odious malicious account of many particulars in our said Book as will be acknowledged by any that shall compare and confront the narrative in that matter with what he finds though he who as Arch-Bishop Williams would say and 't is visible had his tolerabiles morositates were so far esmoved as to call them ineptias follies yet he added the Epithete of tolerabiles that though such they were yet tolerable c I might add also the mention of H. Grorius who was known to be a great admirer of the Church of England â—â— setled under K. Charles I. and other Princes of H. M. See Dr Hammond's Continuation of the Defence of Grotius p. 29. Who that he also highly reverenced Mr Hooker appears by his Letter to Dr Casaubon Hereto we not amisse nor very uncoheringly annex 10 Peter du Moulin the Father his interpretative testimonial of it who as his worthy Son gives us d Letter of a French Protestant to a Scotishman of the Covenant p. 28. lin 17. the Storie being in London in the year 1615. and observed withal by some discontented Brethren that the Reverend man was highly favoured by his Majestie King James who sent for him they came to him with a Bill of Grievances to be represented to the King which saies the Narrator my Father having perused returned it to them again saying That the exceptions were frivolous e In A. B. Bancrofts Sermon at Pauls on 1 John 4. 1. See also E. P 's testimonie mentioned in a Pref. to Arch-bishop Cranmer 's Book of Un written Verities And Bishop Ridley 's words which he thought should be his last against Knox a man of nature too conteâ—tious c. their quarrels and perverse exceptions to the Book-Yet saies the H. Martyr he cannot soundly by the word of God disprove any thing in it Take also that very popular Preacher Mr Baxters f See his Book of Disputations concerning Church-Government dedicated to Richard P. of somewhat a like nature Who hath Printed his expresse approbation of sundry things in our Service-Book and Church-Politie as Organs Ring in Mariage which were and are matters of strange dislike stick with them like meat offered to an Idol to his dear Disciplinarian Brethren as also who professed as himself hath attested in Print g In Post-script to Ep. before his Vain Religion of the formal Hypocrite to Dr. Gauden That the â—iturgie was unquarrellable as to Doctrine taking things in a candid sense h Well imployed therefore were the Assemblers when they attempted to correct Magnificat reform â—ur Articles and the Reasoners for Reformation when they corped at so many severals in the Doctrine of the Ch. 5. Consider what that most religious and blessed Martyr-Prince K. Charles I. hath delivered about this concernment in his most Excellent and Divine Soliloquies a Meditation XLV mihi p. 124 125. As to the matter saith â—e contained in the Book of Common-Prayer Sober and Learned men have sufficientlie vindicated it against the cavils and exceptions of those who thought it a part of pietie to make what profane objections they could One instance may be mortal sin in the Litanie and deadly sin Articles of Rel. Art XVI against it especially for Poperie and Superstition wherein no doubt the Liturgie was exactly conformed to the Doctrine of the Church of England and this by all Reformed Churches is confessed to be most sound and orthodox 6. Consider the admirable unanswered indeed unanswerable labour of a Member and Son of our Church who hath most learnedly and satisfactorily answered all the little and great exceptions and charges to and of our Book levied and exhibited by the Disciplinarians in all their Pamphlets or Pasquils gathered together by him Of which Authour and book now under mention the Reader shall pardon me to annex very much to the interests of our cause the words of the choicely learned Dr Meric Casaubon b In his Vindocation of the Lords Prayer p. 81 82. In very deed saith he such is my opinion of that incomparable Work that did not I believe the World that is the greatest number of men really mad in the true Stoical sense and that it is some degree of madnesse especially after long Wars confusions and alterations of States to expect it otherwise I would perswade men that have been buyers of books these 15 or 16 years to burn one half at least of those books they have bought they were as good do so as sell them for nothing and betake themselves to the reading of Hooker not doubting but by that And that incomparable Hooker concerning whom I may much rather sâ—y than of hiâ— Woâ—ks of whom it was said and made by Paulus Thorius Praeter Apostolicas post Christi tempora chartas Huic peperere libro secula nulla paâ—em Mounâ—â—gu's Gagg p. 324. time they had read him once or twice over accuratelie they would thank me for my advice but God much more that put it into their hearts to follow it 7. Consider what was said and hath been admirablie and unanswerably mâ—de good so far as his design led him by another Person c Dr Hammond View of the New Directorie Pref. § 3. of our Church a great Saint of a most Heroick most Primitive pietie as well as mighty most sterling judgment and most diffused researched learning That ever since the reproaches of men have taken confidence to vent themselves against this book the English Liturgie there hath nothing but air and vapour been vomitted out against it objections of little force to conclude any thing but onely the resolute contumacious either ignorance
versamur incerta est whom there was nothing poor men I could heartily wish it might have been groundedlie so a Utinam nemo pereat Nazianz. but Heaven-ward ho though a company of facinorous Impenitents Certainly a gracious tenour of a holy life is if not the onely yet the most sure and chief assurance b Altera est Quaestio de certitudine pro futuro Hic datur magis bona spes quà m certitudo spes qualis est in honestâ matronâ quae cum semper casta fuerit etiam in posterum talis esse vult futurum esse confidit ideóque non meâ—uit anxiè ne se maritus repudiet Haec spes sollicitudinem cautionem non excludit Quamdiuâ— vivimus in certamine sumus ut aiâ— l. 2. contra Pelag. Hieronymus Bernard Certitudinem utique non habemus sed spei fiducia consolatur nos 1 Cor. 10. 12 Phil. 2. 12. Grot. Annot. ad Cassand ad Art IV. For his other Instance and charge of imperfection no Prayer for Labourers c. it's also utterly causelesse For has not our Liturgie an excellent Prayer for the Whole State of Christs Church militant here in earth and therein do's not the Chuch beseech the Divine Majestie to inspire continually the universal Church with the spirit of truth c Do's She not pray in the Collect for S. Barnabe's Day c See also the Collect for S. Bartholomew's Day and oâ—hers That the Lord Almightie would not suffer us to be destitute of his manifold gifts nor yet of grace to use them alway to his honour and glorie So we have satisfied his Exceptions and challenge him to find any such Defective Omissions His Eleventh is Because there are so many unwarrantable and offensive things therein Answ For his offensive things I have accounted somewhat in Answ to his Fourth Reas against our Book For his Unwarrantables we 'l view them distinctly and applie Answer to them accordingly The 1. is Adding and diminishing from Scripture endeavoured to be proved by that sentence praeliminarie to our Book At what time soever c. Ezek. XVIII 21. 22. Answ 1. That the Accuser knows not what adding c. is Let him learn it above in my Answ to 's Twenty fifth Reas against Liturgies 2. He adds here for proof Prov. 30. 6. But let him here also take with him Grotius's Note on the words He d Addit qui aliter quà m Deus imperat facit ut dictuÌ„ ad Deut. IV 2 Grot. in Loc. adds that do's otherwise than God commands He brings for proof also Rev. 22. 18. To which we say 1 What if that be onely the adjuration e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Scribe whereof there are examples which was the learned Mr Lively's conjecture 2 We say â—t is a symbolical and Prophetical form of expressing the certaintie and immutabilitie of this Prophecie and that it imports also the absolutenesse and perfection of it in order to publick use that it should be the one Prophecie given to the Christian Church which should bring Divine Authoritie along with it as sent with a commission from Heaven and therefore now no new doctrine was farther to be expected by the Christian Church and whosoever taught any as a rule a Though many excellent things were written afterwards Josephus cont Appion l. 1. and there might be some Prophets after S. John as Justin tells us That the gift of Prophecie remained in the Church till his time See Dr Hammond in Rev. XXII 18. of Faith and Life and pretended Revelation * for it should fall under the censure denounced on false Prophets Deut. XIII and under S. Paul's Anathema Gal. 1. 8 9. Now let him applie this to his Charge if he can 3. To the particular place contested I say 1 'T is cited according to the sense though not the words And the same petulant censure ever and anon in that manner b Concerning the several wayes of citing in the N. and O. Testament 1 as to the words 2 as to the sense alone 3 as to the type fulfilled 4 as to the analogie 5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or indefinitely 6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or precisely 7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or summarily See in Bishop Pâ—ideaux his Fasciculus Controversâ—arum p. 24. See also Hooker l. 5. § 19. p. 213 214. See also concerning the place in Ezek. particularly Bishop Gauden 's Considerations c. p. 24. c. which Answ Mr Firmin has not cannot firmly overthrow For instance see a pregnant place Hebr. X 5 6. cited out of Ps XL 6 7 8. And this Answ may be snarled at but it can never be rationallie everted 2 Thus 't is also ordinarie for the Fathers not to cite precisely the words but the sense onely many times The 2. Vnjustâ—fiable wherewith he charges our Book is Our leaving out many Books of Scripture never to be read thooughout the year charging it as contrarie to 2 Tim. 3. 16 Answ 1. By asking in the learned Thorndike's words c Of the Service of God at Religious Assemblies p. 403. What will any man say now to the Order of reading the Scriptures once a year in the Church Shall this be the thanks of the Church of England for renewing that religious Order of the Antient Church and providing a publike course for the people to become acquainted with the Scripture To say that it is out of the Breviarie or Masse 2. Be it known to him we leave out none of the Scriptures in our yearly lecture or reading of them as if we thought them not divinely iâ—spired or unprofitable but allowing them to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we think that some Chapters may be well omitted in publick as being either 1 such as have been read already upon which score the Chronicles are omitted being for the most part the same d So VII of Nehem. with the Books of Kings read before or 2 such as having for the main been read alreadie either in the same Book or some other the case of certain chapters in some other Books or 3 such as being full of Genealogies a Sâ— for this cause are emiâ—ted Gen. 10 11 24 Exod. 6. likewise S. Matt â— 1. to 18 v. Luk. 3. 22. to end Some Chapters are not read because Ceremonial as Exod 25. to 32 and 35. to the end â—th Book Levit. 1. to 18. and 21. to 26. also the last Chapter in Numb and those two in Deut. 14. and 23. So those are left that describe Places Josh 15. to 23. Those also that are prophetically mystical as all Salomons Song and many Chap. in Ezek especially 9 last and Rev. 2. to 22. or some other matter counted lesse profitable for ordinarie Hearers as the nine last Chapters of Ezekiel the first eight of the first of Chronicles how would such Hearers be edified by Were not men resolved to keep up their animosities though never so causelesse and groundlesse
b Secunda â—d Theodorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the same sense And what more or other do's this signifie than what S. Luke saith c See Grot. ad Luc. XI Deum veâ—ò propitâ—uÌ„ reddi per poenitentiae opera eo sensu recte dicitur quo in veritate inisericordiae expiari iniquitatesdicit Saloâ—o Pro. 16. 6. Grot. Animad in Anim. Rivet p. 54 Note that righteousnes here signifies Alms deeds so in Matth. 6. 1. some Copies read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See Pract. Cat. l. 3. § 1. p. 245. c. 11. 41. But rather give alms of such things as you have and behold all things are clean unto you Nay what do's it signifie but the very thing we read Prov. 11. 4. Riches profit not in the day of wrath but righteousnesse delivereth from death But the Reader is besought to see Mr Mede on this matter where d Diatribe on Ps 113 6. espeâ—ially p. 312. he interprets this place of Tobit and the now-mentioned of the Proverbs as perfectly equivalent I shall not stand to justifie the other excepted places of the Apocrypha because I would be brief yet this I shall stay to say That the Reader shall find them lovely I adde and sound or savoury if he reads them imprejudicately with Grotius's perpetual notes upon them Yet 9. supposing the word supposable I say that what happely might serve to withhold from giving them the authoritie and dignity of eximiously Canonical Scripture will not as effectually serve to exclude them alltogether the Church and that publick use wherein they are onely held as profitable for instruction Now 10. and lastly for the peoples more plain instruction as the a See Hieronym Pâ—ef ad Librâ—â— Salomonis August de praed Sanct l. 1. c. 14. Glâ—ss Ord Lyr. ad Pâ—ol Hieron in Tâ—b antient use has been we read them in our Churches yet not as Scripture in which matter all men know our avowed and declared opinion touching the difference whereby we sever them from the Scripture I refer the Reader to farther and full satisfaction on this head to Mr Hooker b L 5. Sect. 20. p. 218 219 â—â—0 My self have the longer insisted on it because the lecture of the Apocrypha do's not easily digest with some that are not Bigots of Sectarism As to his Caveat omnia Apocrypha in Marg. We say 1. That that counsel of S. Jerome to Laeta may be in relation to matters of Faith not Manners that she should be cautious how she built upon them for the establishing the former not the regulating the latter 2. S. Jerome I may humbly say is but one Doctor c S. Hieâ—onym in Pâ—aef ad Proverbia ait utiles eos esse ad adificationem plebis non ad Ecclesiasticorum dogmatum authoriâ—atem confirmaâ—daÌ„ and besides that his Authoritie will be slighted by our Author and his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in other matters we may be allowed to think that some in these latter times have opened some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theocriti veteres noâ—aâ—ut Critici ut Viâ—gilis ex quiâ—us expedire se non poteâ—ant S. l. mas Ep l. 1. Ep 4. Beveâ—ovicio which in former were not understood 3. Again yet it may be in reference to some suspected places wherein Laeta was to proceed by art and judgment her own or learned mens which is the sense Mr Hooker e ib. p. 220. puts upon this place of the learned Father in this Argument who yet adds But surely the arguments that should bind us not to read them publickly at all must be stronger than yet we have heard any What the Pref. saith That there is nothing ordained to be read but the Scriptures is soon satisfied by saying that that excludes Legends and fabulous stories c. What he addes out of the Synods Catechism is answered 1. by saying We value not the Authoritie of such illegal hackney-Synods or to use the Scotch word for a Scotized Meeting Assemblies 2 that the proofs f Luk. 24. 27 44. Rom 32. 2 Pet 1. â—1 they bring prove nothing for there are other Scriptures beside Moses the Psalms and Prophets as Ezra Nehemiah Esther Lamentations fourth Book of Kings c. Why he sets down onely some few Chapters out of Wisdome and Ecclesiasticus when we read them all I know not unlesse he be a combatant a-kin to the Andabatae As-to his Sixth Uuwarrantable of our Book That it calls the Writings of the Prophets Acts Revelation Epistles affixing a List of Instances To his List afore-said we say 1 It is blunderingly and untruly set down E. G. where finds he Isa 7. 17. a It should be 10th then t is a proper lesson indeed for an Epistle Where Act 2. 1. 11. 17. 10. 24 2. The Epistle for Christmass-day is out of Hebr. 1. 1. which sure is an Epistle visibly contrarie to what he pretends 3. We say that the denomination or style fitly enough and not without precedent sacred b Thus not to mention the Book of Pâ—â—lms enstyled Davids nor that of Proverbs called Salomons the Book of the Acts is named of the Apostles and yet the actions of Stephen Silas Apollos c. are therein described But see Ambr. Fisher Def. of Lit. l. 1. c. 3. p. 39. and l. 2. c. 5. p. 302. and Bishop Traylor 's Collection of Offices in Prof. Sest 27. and profane is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from and according to the greater number which sure are out of the Epistles of S. Paul c. 4. The whole Word of God is his Epistle to Mankind c Quid estautem Scriptura sacra nisi Epistola omnipotentis Dei ad Creaturam Gregor l. 4. Epist 48. ad Theodorum Medicum and yet if it be said Why then are not the Gospels also called Epistles the third Answer in this Paragraph gives the account To his Seventh That we call the daies of the Week by the names of Idols Answ 1. By referring to our Answ to his Ninth Object against our Book in his p. 14. 2. To his places of Scripture where prohibition is made Not to mention the names of the Heathen Gods and where the Daies are called the first second third c. To the former I say 1 that Prohibition was peculiar to that imperfect people and prone to Idolâ—trie under which danger and proclivitie no Christians are towards the Idols instanced 2 He do's beat himself d Propria vineta caedit with those places for the Jews were thereby forbid to pronounce e Therefore for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so in the rest see Grot. in Exod. xxiii 14. His place Hos 2. 17 signifies that God would so punish them for their idolatrie to Baal v. 8 -13 that they shall not dare to use that word out of horrour to that
had C. Cities 3. And yet no such disparitie in Power or Regencie 'twixt Timothie and Titus for Timothie also was Metropolitan They are S. Chrysostom's words b Hom XV. in 1 Tim 5. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 't is manifest that Timothie was intrusted with more Churches than one even with a whole Nation that of Asia and therefore S. Paul discourses to him of Elders or Bishops and by Eusebius he is styled c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eccl Hist l. 2. c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bâ—shop of the Province about Ephesus So that 4. a Synod of Bishops as he closes scoffinglie need not straine much to resolve this doughtie dout or knot A Third Object he brings is thus framed by him But in the Epistle directed to the Seven Churches of Asia there is mention onely of one Angel To this he returns 4. things First that in Ephesus one of the Seven there were divers Bishops Answ The very contrarie hath been clearly shewn He adds that d Rev. 2. 24. in the Church of Thyatira the H. Ghost writes to you and the rest c. which were more than one Answ The reading in the antient Manuscripts particularly the King 's Tecla's manuscript leave out the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and read thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but to you I say the rest which are in Thyatira And this takes away all force from the Objection for the former part of the Epistle belonging to the Angel who permitted Jezabel and to them that committed fornication with her the the But in the front seperates the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you the rest from the Angel and those other formerly spoken to and therefore the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you cannot possibly be the Angel wherein all the strenth of the Obj consists 2. The ordinarie reading ha's been irrefragably proved by the most eminent Dr Hammond e See his Vindication against the London Ministers Jus divinum § 8. throughout not to confirm the pretensions of the Anti-Episcoparians whose words for brevitye's sake I recite not But in stead of them take the late King 's But following saith His Majestie the ordinarie Copies the difference is not great such manner of Apostrophe's by changing the number or turning the speech to another person being very usual both in Prophetick Writings such as this book of Revelation is and in Epistles of this nature writ to one but with reference to many others therein concerned Beza expoundeth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to you that is the Angel as President and his Collegues the other Presbyters and to the rest that is to the whole Flock or People which manner of speaking might be illustrated by the like forms of speech to be used in a Letter written to a Corporation wherein the Major and Aldermen especially but the whole Town generally were concerned but directed to the Major alone c. Secondly he returns that one Angel is commonly taken for diverse sheâ—ing that all the Officers in the Congregation were entire and one Answ 1. This is perfectly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a piteous begging of the Question which yet the London-Provincialists were guilty of before this our Retailer of their sleazy wares which must not See the same excellent Doctor ib. §. 10. p. 48. be had for the asking 2. Though Church be a collective body and so one Church is known to consist of many men yet Angel is not of that nature one Angel signifies neither many men nor many Angels Thirdly he returns that if there were but one in those Churches then the order in those and other Churches would not be the same as was shewed before Phil. 1. 1. Act 14. 23. Answ The very same Bishops there and Bishops here solitarie Governours Fourthly he returns that suppose there was but one c. and their power did not extend farther as saies he there 's no ground to believe it did then they were not Diocesans Answ They were they were for though but one Bishop of one Citie yet the Territorie adjoyning was under his inspection now the City and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Adjacence the Territorie or Region lying thereto makes the Diocese as might be abundantly shewed but for retrenching of tediousnesse A Fourth and last Obj by him produced as against himself is The Government of Bishops is antient of fifteen hundred years standing therefore lawful To which he answers The Devil and Anti-christ may make that plea as well Answ This Antiquitie is a good presumption that this Government is lawful according to that of the learned Father Tertullian Illud verum quod primum adulterinum quod posterius 2. What is so antient as to be devolvable upon Apostolical Institution Is caryingly argued-for from the Antiquitie of it 3. This is not our onely of six hundred Arguments for Episcopacie That 't is antient but we assert it from S. Scripture undoubted By all that we have said to assert the rights of Presbyterie we do not intend to invalid the antient and Apostolical institution of Episcopal preeminence But we believe that wheresoever it is established conformably to the antient Canons it must be carefully preserved and wheresoever by some heat of contention or otherwise it hath been put down it ought reverently to be restored was Blondel's conclusion of his Apologia c. Catholick Tradition consentient Testimonie of the Antient Church Topicks from which we draw such Proofs and Arguments as that all the Smects and Sects in the World will never be able to bear up against with any even colour for their not coming-in and submitting to a truth so evident so attested 4. Do not even the Novellists themselves Presbyterians Independants c. plead antiquitie and primoevitie for their several new-fangle aerie Models 'T is not worth the while to speak to his ugly Instances of the Devil and Anti-christ which may as well be applied to Moses's Writings the ever-blessed Gospel c. when we praise them for Antiquitie 6. Old things hear well in Scriptures the Old paths the Antient of daies * Aetas per sevenerabilts Calvin Senectus est vestigium aeternitatis What remains of the Pamphlet is soon dispatched by these few following Strictures If we read Church-Historie we shall readily discern how no other Government of the Church had any footing in any place but Episcopacie till about an hundred years ago when Mundus senesâ—enâ— patitur phantasias We have sufficiently proved the no-difference 'twixt the Bishops of the three first Centenaries and Ours in Essentials in Accessionals or other Extrinsecals there may be some difference and also in the Manners of some We say also the Controversie is about the Power of Bishops which we have proved to belong to single persons in a standing Majoritie or Prelacie and the very Name of Bishop has been shewn though here some strive not to belong ever and onely to them We acknowledge the Word of God a perfect
or malice of the Objectors Whereto may go affixt that of a most elegant Pen attesting consonantlie that the book is of so admirable a composure as that the most industrious Wits a Vocabula penè syllabas expendendo saith Alesius the above-mentioned learned Scotcâ— man of its enemies could never find an Objection of value enough to make a doubt or scarce a scruple in a wise Spirit 8. Consâ—der what is most notoriouslie certain that this very Liturgie hath been a continual float oâ— tide of joy and delight to all true Englishmen to see and observe the prosperitie and flourishing of this Church in a perpetuall swelling and growth ever since the establishing of that Protestant Liturgie and Religion together An Italiaâ— Protestant for Religions sake flying his Native habitation and inquiring where he might best settle himself family was by a grave and learned Divine in Germanie advised hither with this recommendation that If God had on earth e're a Church triumphant it was the Church of England Dr Na. Bernard in hu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. from Mr Calendrine p. 5. among us till at last it was grown to such an height as was certainly never heard of in this Kingdom or in any other part of Europe also for these many hundred years b View of the Directorie c. 2. p. 49. See what Radzivil 's Son of Poland and a Nobleman his Governour thought hereof in the Life of Bishop Morton writ by the worthy Dr Barwick p. 77. But then the calamity brake in upon us when the fashion of the structure not pleasing some capricious builders they like Ahaz when he had been at Damascus c 2 Kings 16. 10. having grasped an undue power must needs have the building altered or quadrata mutata rotundis d See Mr J. Maâ—tin 's late choice Sermon called Hosannah p. 6. Whence Spanhemius called the English Ocellus ille Ecclesiarum c. Ep Ded to A. B. Usher c. before Dub Evan 3. Vol. must needs Genevize or Scottize unnatural Englishmen for Discipline and novel models of Worship when they had the best and primitivest in the World in England 9. Consider that though the thick-shoo'd rupices and barbari as the last-cited ingenious person enstyles them lay the â—nglish Liturgie under their feet now when there are abroad so many Demogogues and Sect-masters especially considâ—ring and courting the multitude in order to their proselyting them to their several divided imaginations and novell caprices yet certainly they will never passe muster for good and competent Judges or Estimatours of things Populus dicit ideò errat e Tradere turpi fasces populus Gander eosdem colit atque odit Seneca in Hippolyto And these our new Antiliturgical Masters can have the complaisance of no more priviledges in this concern than is the acquisition of the very worst of Papists in the Church of Rome I mean the Jesuites who most of any other division in that Communion influence and sway with that People 10. Consider that as the Disciplinarians loaded our Ltturgie and Politie with the ugly besmooting appellatives of Popish Antichristian c. So their very loose illegitimate Establishment intended hath very plentifully heard in the same kind of language a Ut quod quis fecit patiatur jus erit equâ—m as is visible in Mr Edwards's three Parts of Gangrana in the Preface to the Book intituled John Baptist and innumerous Anti John-Presbyter-Pieces b See also a book written by Mr John Spittlehouse entituled An â—mbleme of Antichrist in his threefold Hierarchies of Papacy Prelacy and Presbyterie Also a description of the Trinity in Unity and Unitie in Trinitie of their Lord God the Pope in his Holinesse Deitie Otherwise Rome ruinated by Whitehal or the Papal Crown demolish't containing a confutation of the three-degrees of Popery viz. Papacy Prelacy and Presbyterie c. And the whole sort of Sectarian anti-Liturgists that have so virulently begnawn our Liturgie Greenwood Robinson Johnson c. in themselves or followers have had parallel or semblable high and vehement dislikes to their compositions Which truly it is easie even very soberly and groundedly to tax or charge with defects or faults that will never be rationally and satisfactorily defended or made good by but onely referring to or transcribing some part of the so oft praised View c Especially ch 3. p. 82 83. c. c. Bishop Taylor 's Preface d Sect 46. Where he shews the great imperfection of the Directorie in one and thirty particulars to his Collection of Offices or Bishop Andrews's Sermon of Imaginations though preached long before the birth of the Mushrome 11. Consider that â—hereas the Puritan and Sectarie will say that the Composers of our Liturgie were indeed good men the Composition also good for those times and considering that crepusculous imperfecter light they then had but that were they now alive they are perswaded say the Directorians e Pref. to Directorie they would joyn with them consider for this â— say that our B. Reformers those of the first Reformation in Queen Maries daies flying and living in Frankford met with and saw the exceptions or objections that have been ☞ produced and exhibited by our new Reformers and yet gave not place to them no not for an hour were not at all soon or late shaken in mind or removed from their stedfastnesse by them but maintained the Book against them all and after in Q. Elizabeths flourishing Reign it was ordained and enacted that it alone and none other of others devising no other way of open Service should be used under penalties f See Act for the Vnifâ—râ—ity of Common-Prayer See Dr Heylin's Historie of Liturgies notwithstanding all the objections of the dissentient Frankfort Brethren g Passionate Mr Knox witâ—ingham c. all their new models notwithstanding III. For Episcopacy praeliminarily and referring to what according to my poor ability the Reader hath presented unto him in the last part of my Book Consider 1. The Challenge of that most profound most candid modest man Mr. Hooker a The Augsburg Confessâ—onists there and in their Apology for that Confession cap. de Ord. Eccl. and in their Colloquies at Wormes and Ratisbon and diverse of their Books besides are for the Order of Bishops We require you Disciplinarians to find out but one Church upon the face of the whole earth that hath been ordered by your Presbyterian Discipline or hath not been ordered by ours that is to say by Episcopal regiment sithence the times that the blessed Apostles were here conversant There precedes A very strange thing sure it were that such a Discipline as ye speak of should be taught by Christ and his Apostles in the Word of God and no Church ever have found it out nor received it till this present time contrariwise the Government against which ye bend your selves be observed every where throughout all
t'other like our B. Lord between two thieves has been and is still crucified This Body of Objections is levied in part out of Smectymnuus under the high style of Godly and learned Presbyterian Ministers To which Character we shall say but this That Godly is oft the Badge of a Partie or Faction but Christ has given us a sure Characteristick S. Matth. 7. 20. And these we know by their fruits For the title learned it s a very modified one as applied to some men and there are that are learned as Curio was eloquent to the publick mischief b malo pubâ—ico 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Democrates Et 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Id. Well the Issue of this Club of Divines is now again midwiv'd into the World to annoy truth peace and order 'T were well if the Antidote were republished also That the Children of this world too much so in some particulars might not be more diligent than the children of light But out it 's come with a strange Metamorphosis of a Hill c Areopagi for Areopagitae It was a constitution of those admired Sons of Justice the Areopagi p. 1. And this piece of incrudition is well I wis excused by citing of Chaucer 's writing semyramus for semiramis c See their Animadversions upon the Remonstrants Defence against Smectymnuus p. 6 or Street into a man Mar's-street or Areopagus put for the severe Judges that sate in the Place so styled After his Laudative and the enumeration of the particular Names of this zealous Cluster he produces their Arguments against our Liturgie whereof The 1. is That it symbolizeth or agreeth so much with the Popish Masse as that the Pope would have consented to the use of it might he but confirm it and that K. Edw 6th told the Devonshire-Rebels a Cambden in Anno 1560 contending for the Masse that though it seemed to them a new Service 't was indeed no other than the old and therefore if good in Latine good in English To which I say 1 and t is appliable to all his Reasons following that this and the rest are used onely ad conflandam invidiam and more to intangle or insnare weak people and breed scruples in their minds For to them that look at or behold all Liturgies as images or inventions of men forbidden in the second Commandement this Objection and the others that follow are perfectly inâ—â—gnificant in sober reasoning But more particularly to this and the following Reasons we say 2. that 't is childish to think that Truth is to be measured by its opposition to the Church of Rome's Religion and that the more distant we are from that Church the more truth we possesse 3 It is grosly false that it symbolizeth any farther with the Portuis or Masse than these agree to sound doctrine and devotion The matter thereof consisting of 1. Scripture-Readings in a known tongue 2. Invocation of God in the sole intercession or mediation of Jesus Christ and not 3. Upon Angels or Saints departed 4. For the living and not for the dead 5. The right administration of the Sacraments and Psalmodie Now are these things Popish Is the celebration of the Eucharist sub utrâque both with bread and cup in remembrance of Christ's death and passion b See the Office of Communion who by one oblation of himself once offered hath made a full perfect and sufficient oblation and satisfaction for the sinnes of the World is thiâ— J say any peice of the Masse or is not that in the propriety of the now-use of the Word put for what 's quite contrary to this 1 unbloody 2 sacrifice of the Body of Christ which the â— Preist doth â— continually offer up for the quick 5 and dead Whence it followes 4. That the matter is good and if the form of words should be allowed to be taken out of the Masse-Book what the least blame can there be affixt on that Will expressions derived from even Heathens and used in a Sermon which to doe is very lawfull c See Bishop Andrewes 's Serm of Worshiping Imaginations p. 31 32. Egeon Askewe's Apologie for the use of the Fathers and secular learning in Sermons published 1605. Bishop King 's XLth Lecture on Jonas Dr Fleming saies my Authour in an Excellent Vniversity-Sermon determined it lawfull so saies he did Dr House against Dr Reynolds who upon this Sermon disclaimed the contrary opinion See all this in a little Book called A Brief View of the state of the Ch. of E. as it stood in Q. El. and K. Ja. Reigns by Sir John Harrington p. 153 154 155. See also Dr Chaloner's Sermons Serm on Tit. â— 13. p. 6. c. not being used for the expressing any evil or erroneous matter supposed and proved to be left out conclude the Sermon wherein they are respersed to be Heathenish or the device of an Heathen Whereon I frame this Dilemma if our Liturgie symbolize with the Popish Masse it do's so either in respect of the Matter or the Form Not of the Matter for that which duly brooks the name of Popish or as they 'l have it Anti-Christian the foul and grosse errours are expurged Not of the Form for order and phrase is not properly Anti-christian or Popish in that sense 5. The agreeing of our Liturgie with the Masse in all things but the crasse errours thereof speaks the Composers of it to have title to Christs blessednesse a S. Matth. â— 9. Blessed are the peace-makers or the peaceable for so the b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word will signifie which words are also a sufficient Warranty for any to endeavour peace to repair the breaches in the Church and to make c Psal 122. 3. Jerusalem a City which is at unitie in it self when it may be done without any breach of charity or wrong to Faith Well! say they what they will that hunch d Pacem utroque cubito proturbant away peace with both elbows and would have our divisions and quarrels e Qui aeterna cupiunt esse dissidia Votum pro pace Ecclesiae eternal as Grotius speaks 't is an amiable thing to live peaceably with all men as far as it is f Rom. 12. 18. possible and as much as in us is and to make no wider ruptures in Christ's seamlesse coat than is of rigorous necessity 6. About the Popes consent to the confirming ouâ— Lâ—turgie when I have Answered That acts of this nature or perhaps foâ— their turn at all points the Popes have been willing to multiply above what was required or necessary to gain consideration and honour and farther advantage to themselves let g Tryal of the grounds tending to separation c. 8. p. 152 153. Mr Ball tell them That the Papists can't sincerely approve our publick Service but they must condemn and detest their own their prayers in an unknown tongue their praying to Saints departed much more to feined Saints their receiving in one kind