of the same Church and polity in one holy harmony and to secure the unity of Faith and Doctrine which were oft tainted by ill tempered passions and courser kind of devotions but also by the joynt wisdom and devotion of the Church they sought to preserve the sanctity and solemnity of Holy duties from the contagion and deformity of private Ministers frequent infirmities either in their invention judgment memory or utterance all which ought to be avoyded as much as may be in publick celebrations of Christian mysteries Nor may any Ministers single abilities be compared especially when extemporaneous to that sociall and concurrent sufficiency of gifts and graces of wisdom and devotion which may be presumed in the spirits of the Prophets united and piously improving their joynt abilities to the common stock of Gods glory and the Churches edification while they wisely weigh measure and fix according to the Word of God which is the onely standard of true Religion both in Doctrine and Devotion the foundations of Faith and the superstructures of Worship by an humble obedience holy fervency and unanimous harmony so firme complete and uniforme that they shall least receive any prejudice detriment disparagement or diminution from any Ministers weakness depravedness or indisposition on which they are no more to be ventured than the Ark upon a Cart which should be carried on the Priests shoulders The established and uniforme use therefore of a well composed Liturgy hath very many great and good influences upon true Religion and every Church 1. First it conduceth much to the more solemne complete August and reverent Worship of the Divine Majesty in Christian Congregations where otherwise the most sacred and venerable mysteries must be exposed to that rudenesse and unpreparednesse that barrennesse and superficialnesse that defect and deformity both for matter and manner judgment and expression to which every private Minister is daily subject as late experience hath taught us Certainly societies of men and Christians owe a Solemne Comely Worship in publick services to God beyond those in private Closets proportionable to their dignity and eminency above single persons or families 2. Secondly a Liturgy is a most excellent means to preserve the truth of Christian and Reformed Doctrine by the consonancy of publick Devotions into which other wayes corrupt minds are prone to infuse the sowre leven of their own corrupt Opinions 3. A Leturgy is necessary for the holy harmony and sweet communion of all Christians in National as well as Parochial Churches while thereby they are all kept in one mind and spirit praysing the same things and cheerfully saying Amen to the same praises or petitions A little spark of difference in Religion is prone to kindle great dissentions among Christians nor doth any thing more quench the heat of Disputation than the cool and gentle dewes of uniforme Devotions when Obs. and Sols are resolved into Amens or So be it 's which are still the seals of charity and mutual love or consent 4. Liturgical forme and use is not onely of great benefit and comfort to the more knowing judicious and well-bred sort of Christians but highly to their security and to the Holy and humble composure of their spirits in the Worship of God who otherwise are prone not onely amidst the publick devotions curiously to censure but scoffingly to dispise yea many times to laugh at and at best to pity or deplore the evident defects and incongruities which appear in many Ministers odd expressions and incongruous ways of officiating according to their several opinions humors or abilities Hence not only distraction but indevotion yea great irreverence and profaneness do follow men of quick fight and acute understandings being made to dispise and abhor even these holy things of God when so unholily at least unhamsomely handled 5. But above all a constant and compleat Liturgy mightily conduceth to the edification and salvation as well as unanimity and peace of the meaner sort of people to whom daily variety of expressions in prayer or Sacraments is much at one with Latin Service little understood and lesse remembred by them They are still out and to seek when a new Minister officiates yea and when the same if he affect varity of words where the duty is the same Alas as I have oft observed when poor Boys and Girls who have no institution of Religion from their ignorant Parents or Masters and Dames when these whose souls are precious begin first to gape upon the Minister in Religious duties and to see as well as hear a Sermon which way can they in populous places be brought to or built up in Christian principles of Religion without some easy clear and constant summary or set from of wholesome words and sound doctrine in the Catechisme and Liturgy or Common prayer frequently repeated to them and so inculcated on their minds and memories For want of which what sober Minister sees not and grieves not to see how of late years ignorance profaneness faction irreverence superstition scandall of manners and all villany of opinions as well as of practise To remove this scruple I conceive that this meerly passive regeneration by the grace of God in Christ of which an Infant baptised is partaker is sufficient for its salvation in point of taking away the imputed guilt of Original sin by Adam if it dye without any actuall sin But if it live to wilfull actual sin it must have a further active work of regeneration by an actual faith and repentance without which 't is sure there is no salvation for knowing malicious or presumptuous actuall sinners The passive baptismal regeneration may suffice to take away Originall sin as to guilt and penalty in Infants and to fit them for heaven When from being born of flesh and blood yea children of wrath and death and damnation by nature they are by Christian baptisme instated into a relation and condition of Grace life and salvation by the Spirit and Merits of the second incarnate Adam Christ Jesus effectually applyed in baptisme to take away the sin of the first Adam derived to them without their actuall fault But this baptismal grace and passive regeneration or seminal principle and spark if afterwards smothered and quenched by actuall and presumptuous sin will not alone as I conceive suffice to save an adult Christian under another guilt though baptis'd in infancy unless there be an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a further renewing reviving by actual faith and repentance in w ch he is a worker together with the grace of God That first little spark and degree of grace baptismal as fire will serve to take tinder which is dry and apt to kindle but it will not take or continue in grosser materials nor on the same tinder if it be grown more damp and wet Nor but that the same first spark of regenerative grace received in Baptisme may continue in the soul as only raked up in the
a superstitious and penurious Religion from an ignorant idle and indigent Ministery The competent support of which would be a work as of great gratitude and acceptance to God so of infinite good to peoples souls no lesse then to the honour of the Nation and the advance of the Reformed Religion every way in the verity of our doctrine in the solemnity of our devotion in the dignity of our Ministry in the sanctity of our duties in the stability of our government and peace both Civil and Ecclesiasticall for that makes Ministers unquiet when they sit uneasie and hope for private benefit by publick troubles or popular complyings The authority and efficacy of the Evangelicall Ministry is as necessary to a just magistracy as the string is to the bow or the compasse to the ship or the Sun to the world or the soul to the body For a Nation without lawfull Magistracy or Magistrates without true Religion or true Religion without a worthy Ministry or such a Ministry without ingenuous maintenance or such competent maintenance without uniform diligence are such â—olecisms in reason and inconsistent with true policy as well as piety that they tend to nothing but contempt and confusion For the verifying of which we need go no further than our own late miserable experience sufficient to make any Nation and Church wise by its woes for one Age or Century at least unlesse it be condemned to such fatal infatuations as make men forsake their own mercies and pursue lying vanities as either ignorant of or enemies against their own and their posterities happiness FINIS His Majesties late Declaration is no disesteem of the English Liturgy The Liturgy as new and unwonted to many makes them lesse esteem it Higher tyes lye upon good Christians and Subjects than fear of punishment A review of the Liturgy desired by some learned and sober men The mischiefs of totall change or utter abolition of the Liturâ—y The Liturgy esteemed and used by the learnedest Non-conâ—â—â—mists of old 〈…〉 Many do the rather apply to the use of the Liturgy It is unworthy of Ministers to be now more averse from it Popular repute should be no impediment to Ministers use of the Liturgy The need some have of the Liturgy No compare between the Liturgy and Directly The esteem and desire of the most and best people of England for the Liturgy The incoveniences of some mens devotions in publick The end and use of Liturgies in the Church both ancient and moden church-Church-unity and solemnity in Christian Doctrines Preserved by their Liturgies Ministers single abilities far short of the Liturgy The siâ—nal benefits arising from an uniâ—…rme â—…y in the Church In 〈…〉 The Liturgy a great defence to true Doctrine as Christian A Liturgy much advanceth Christian Unity A Liturgy well composed and setled is most satitfactory to the most judicious people of England A Liturgy most necessary for the meaner and simpler sort of Christians Meer passive grace and regeneration sufficeth the infant as to that state After actual sin there must be actual Faith and Repentance The late increase of Anabaptisme by disuse of the Liturgy And so of Popery Why the Romish party are such enemies to our Liturgy and forbidden to join with us in it The enemies of the Church of England enemies to our Liturgy English Liturgy far enough from the Masse-book Of Ministers useful gifts in prayer Of a discreet review of the Liturgy Small and verball variation and additions no diminution or reproach to the Liturgy No rude or reproachful change to be made in the Liturgy The Liturgy consonant to Scriptures Objection against the first sentence in the Liturgy as falsly cited Answer The impudence of that calumny against the Liturgy The need we have at present of the Liurgy Oft the length of the Liturgy The peace of Church and State must depend on the Liturgy The Liturgy nâ—t 〈…〉 liberty 〈◊〉 Bishop without authority The same Liturgy unites King and people 〈…〉 Jealousies and Wars arise from difference in Religion and Devotion Authority must 〈…〉 nd the 〈…〉 Kings The Authors inoffensive designe for publick good The Liturgy not to be left arbitrary or abrogated The Liturgy a great glory and Saâ—â—â—y to Church and State to King and people Changes though for the better in small matters must not be easily admitted The want and 〈◊〉 of the Liturgy will 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 religion and 〈◊〉 station The innocency of the Liturgy Of Responds Of Musick used with the English Liturgy Some discreet regulation in Church Musick Of Ceremonies used with the English Liturgy 〈…〉 Every Nationall Church hath authority and liberty from Christ in ceremonies The ancient Bishops and Presbyters pâ—ayeâ—s We may have both the Liturgy and Minest as abilities in prayer The sad 〈◊〉 following the want and disuse oâ— the Liturgy The ingenuous confession of a poâ—… Minister Of the Chatechisme in the Book of Commâ—n prayer Two Books of Cathâ—cumens and Communicants The Auâ—hors mâ—tive to these humble Considerations Fervent and 〈…〉 a mâ—st 〈…〉 The excellent use of the Liturgy The way of Englands happinesse in Church and State
to the Reformed Church of England have made it their joynt designe to despise decry and destroy our Liturgy under pretence of I know not what new Modes and extemporary Abilities yea it was a great Jesuitick Artifice and back blow used by some to averre though falsely that the English Liturgy was nothing else but the Romish Missal or Masse-book turned into English 'T is true some things very Scriptural devout and excellent which the Roman Missal had taken and retained after the forme of the ancient Liturgy of the Church were severed and taken as wheat from chaff and jewels from dresse by our wise Reformers and preserved in the English Liturgy conforme to pious and unspotted Antiquity But nothing of the Romish corruption in Doctrine or Superstition in Devotion was retained in our English Liturgy which took nothing either of our Doctrine out of it but what was first in the Scriptures nor ought of devotional expressions but what were either used in the ancient Liturgies or were agreeable to the true Faith and nature of the duty No nor did the Church of England retain any ceremonies as the Crosse Surplice Standing up at the Creed or Kneeling at the Lords Supper but what were above a thousand years old and most in use when the Church knew nothing of Papal Usurpation or of Romish Superstition as is evident in the Histories Councils and Fathers of the first 600. years and being things in their nature indifferent were for their decent and devout use left by Gods general Commission to the liberty judgment and authority of this as any other Church within its own polity and communion to use and inpose As for the real and useful gifts of learned and discreet Ministers in Prayer as to Invention Judgment Memory and Expression as I do very much esteem them when used with humility gravity discretion devotion and sincerity nor doth His Sacred Majesty deny any Ministers such an use of them as may be advantageous to Religion and the peoples souls good according to those many particular occasions and instances which no to all those who in earnest have most need of some boundaries set to them not hereby to stint the spirit of prayer as some fear which consists in a judicious humble holy fiduciary and servent assent to what is prayed agreeable to Gods Word of which hearers as well as speakers and people as well as Ministers are capable but wisely to order and limit the profuseness confusions and straglings of Ministers private spirits which are many times as undevout as indiscreet The serious and speedy review of the English Liturgy much desired by some and not much opposed by others that are learned and sober men which is also graciously promised by His Majesty in his late Declaration as it can be of no more inconvenience then a New Translation of the Bible was if it be to the better so I hope it may be of good use for the explaining of some words and phrases in it which are now much antiquated obscure and out of vulgar understanding which is no newes after 100. years in which Language as all things under Heaven suffer some change Also it may serve for the quickning and improveing of some passages which seem lesse devotional and emphatick than they may easily be made also for the supplying of some things in point of dayly praise and thanksgiving to God which duty seems lesse full and explicite in the Liturgy for the frequent Doxology of Glory to Father Son and holy Ghost as it is ancient very excellent and Angelical so it might well bear some larger Expressions of praise and thanks to God whereby to set forth the grounds causes and just sense we have to give all glory praise and thanks to the Eternal God and the ever-blessed Trinity for his infinite and undeserved mercies dayly bestowed upon such unworthy sinners for this Life and a better This work once well and wisely done as it may by Gods blessing much tend to the satisfaction of all sober Christians so it will not be any thing to the reproach of our Church and of the Liturgy in the former plainer wayes of Worship as either defective or incomplete for the main which they in no sort were but very sober good and sufficient as to necessity only as one day teacheth another so there may be as in all outward forms of divine worship both harmeless additions and innocent variations yea and sometimes inoffensive defalcations of some redundances according as men and times and words and manners and customes may vary Therefore as in lesser things I can humbly and cheerfully consent to such pious prudent and improving alterations of the Liturgy as shall seem meet to the piety and Wisdome of His Majesty whereto all mens piety and prudence in private and publick capacities ought to be servient so my judgment is that the Liturgy of the Church of England as to the main and essentialls of it in Doctrine devotion consecration and celebration for matter order and method may in no case be maimed rudely changed or odly deformed for it was very conform to the Word of God and fitted to the nature of the several duties as may easily be made appear by putting to all the Book of the Common prayer in the margin those parallel places of Scripture which either for Words or sense are very consonant to it which work is easy to be done and prepared by me if it may be thought usefull and acceptable for God forbid we should be commanded to say Amen in any part of the publick service of God to which the Word of God doth not encourage us in faith and so God himself and his Spirit say Amen with us for the Word and Spirit must go together in all our devotions This endevour to fortifie the Liturgy by allegation of Scriptural strength and consent will not onely satisfie the consciences of all that are scrupulous upon that account but also stop the mouthes of those evil speakers and confute the intollerable confidence yea impudence of some who of late as I know one Minister and heretofore have blasphemed the Liturgy and the honour of the Church of England as if it began its publick Devotions with a lye for so these inpudent or ignorant men dare to speak alledging That because the first sentence in the Book of Common Prayer is not word for word in that place of Ezekiel which is cited in the Margin Ezekiel 18.21 22. Ergo It is a lye 'T is very true all the words of that Sentence are not in that place cited in the Margin nor could the Composers be so blinde as not to see the Verbal difference between them nor did they cite that place in the figured Margin to shew the literal samenesse of the words but the Evangelical soundnesse of that sense which is more fully united and comprehensively set down in the Book of Common Prayer than in that
one or two Verses there cited in the Margin to which they refer the Reader and believer of those words which are great Evangelical Truths clear both in Old and New Testament and confirmed by the joynt suffrage of many Scriptures not to be denyed by any sober Christian nor to be abused by any presumptuous sinners who dayly harden their hearts by deferring their repentance turning that Grace into wantonnesse which God offers and the Church declares to draw men to repentance by the Cords of Divine Love referring I say not only to those single Verses figured in the Margin but to others both in that same Chapter and elsewhere fully to that sense as Verse 27 28 30 31 32. So Ezekiel 33.11 so Isaiah 1.16 17 18. and in many other parallel places as Acts 3.19 promising free and full pardon of sins past to those that fully repent of their sins from the bottom that is with sincere and upright hearts having no reserve of sin under any pleasure or power which is inconsistent with true repentance and sure pardon Is this to be called a lye which is the result of so many Evangelical Scriptures or is it new to find in the New Testament places cited out of the Old not word for word but to the sense scope and summary of one or two united together as Heb. 10.5 6. cited out of Psalm 40.6 7 8. let these supercritical censors compare the words a like allegation or reference is made yea by name cited out of Jeremiah as spoken by him Mat. 27.9 and fulfilled when the place is not verbatim to be found in Jeremiah but most in Zach. 11.12 13. and little in Jer. 1.8 save onely the historical mention of the Potter and the parabolical applying of his work to the Jews so that Mat. 2.23 of being foretold by the Prophets that Jesus should be called a Nazarene which is not literally read in any of them yet collectively is in them as Christ is called Netzer Isai 53.2 or as he was typified in Sampson the Nazarite or sacred to God These and many like places well considered upon which no brand of lye or falsity may be fixed though they do not literally and syllabically agree with the quotation but are verified either in a partial or concurrent sense may sufficiently justifie that place in the first front of the Liturgy to be no lye but a Divine Scriptural Truth and may sufficiently shame the popular petulancy of those Ministers who dare cast such high reproches upon the Liturgy and the whole Church upon so true grounds or merits at all which is so vile a rashness in men pretenders to Learning and Sanctity as is infinitely to the disgrace of their persons and profession so to abuse the common people and maintain faction by calling good evil and branding Gods Truth with the Devils mark of a Lye As then the present Liturgy cannot justly be exautorated and abolished without infinite inconveniencies and mischiefs so nor may it as I said before and again cautiously repeat be rudely changed as to the main beyond any want that really is in its matter or forme which are holy and comely which would be an over-pragmatick boldness much to the reproch as of all times and duties past so to the great dissatisfaction of the present Age in which many yea most judicious and steddy Christians do highly desire justly approve love and devoutly use the Liturgy as a very excellent publick form of judicious humble holy united and pathetick Devotion I am sure we all need it as to our common relations and publick devotions and truly those commonly most need it who are most inconsiderately eager to be rid of it some alledging If nothing else yet the great length and burthen of it if all parts must be used by each single Minister in one Lords Day besides other duties of praying preaching and chatechising expected from him to all which a man aged or infirme will hardly be sufficient For Answer to this Truly I never knew any such rigor or exaction used toward any Minister that did soberly and ingenuously shew his conformity to the use of the Liturgy as occasion required and as his strength or time would fairly bear but to crowd all or most of it quite out of the Church onely to make way for the pomp and ostentation of mens private gifts this is not to obey but to baffle and affront the authority of Church and State by a most preposterous pride and disobedience Therefore there might be an appointment of some parts which shall never be omitted others appointed on some days and occasions only in the Sacramental forms all Ministers should be commanded to use them wholly and solely This is in Reason and Religion in Order and Church-polity evident that private Ministers prayers should not be as great trees over-dropping the Church Liturgy but only as small grafts or little inocculation added to it and growing modestly with it as the main standard test and measure of publick devotions upon the unity and harmony of which setled by due authority and preserved with efficacy depends the peace and unity of this Church and State as much as the house did on its pillars which Sampson pulled down Nor doth any Minister upon due examination if he pray soberly and judiciously add any thing in his particular forms which is not for the main and general parallel fore-comprised in the Liturgy There is no outward conservation of Ecclesiasticall and Civil peace comparable to that of united Religion whose orbe or sphear is true Doctrine its center holy Devotion and its circumference good Government or Autoritative order and polity The one is best set forth in a few clear Articles the other in a constant Liturgy and the last in Catholick Episcopacy all must be conform to the word of God for the main contrary to which nothing is to be believed prayed or obeyed in the Church of Christ Our Doctrine blessed be God as a Christian and Reformed Church is not much shaken or can be justly disputed by men of any worth for it is Scripturall primitive and Catholick if to this union of Doctrine we can be happy to adde and enjoy that of an uniform Liturgy and to joyn to both for their preservation a setled Church Government by learned pious industrious and authoritative Bishops assisted with grave humble and choise Presbyters nothing will be wanting by Gods blessing to Englands happiness or the honour of his Majesties most welcome person and government whose wisdom doubtlesse never intends either to exautorate the Liturgy by leaving all to Liberty or to Enervate Episcopacy by sending Bishops to govern without any jurisdiction or coercive authority either Spiritual or Ecclesiastical which is indeed to make both King and Bishop despised Add to all this How not only comely and convenient but even necessary it is in order to publick peace that people of all sorts should be thus united as