for through default of their concurrent Ratification many of their Canons became insignificant ciphers and where custome and Canon chanced to justle and enterfere the people if their either inclination or interest might be gainers by it alwayes fled to prescription And prescription was sure to carry the cause where no Act of Parliament interposed to the contrary Now at our first entry into the Realm c. The complaint implyed in this Proclamation is a Libel miscalled The humble petition of the Ministers of the Church of England desiring Reformation of certain Ceremones and abuses in the Church that they might the better fore-speak impunity for so strange boldnesse they exhibit their muster-roll thus formidable To the number of more then a thousand This Petition they presented in April 1603. Formed it was into four heads comprehending a summary of all their pitiful grievances concerning first the Church service Secondly Church ministers Thirdly Church livings Fourthly concerning Church discipline To encounter these schismaticks both the Vniversities presently endeavour what they can Oxford models out a very brief but solid answer to all their objections not suffering one to escape Cambridge passeth a grace in their publick Congregation June 9. in the same year That whosoever shall openly oppose the Doctrine or Discipline of the Church of England or any part thereof either in words or writing shall be forthwith suspended of all degrees already taken and made uncapable of taking any hereafter This notwithstanding they held private conventicles the usual forerunners of sedition so as the King was compelled in October next to restrain them by Proclamation but promising withal that he intended a conference should shortly be had for the sopiting and quieting of those disputes This was the great occasion of that Conference of Hampton Court. According to the form which the Laws of this Realm c. The Kings of this Realm are by the statute 26. H. c. 1. declared justly and rightfully to be the supream Governours of the Church of England to have full power and Authority from time to time to visit represse redresse reform order correct restrain and amend all such errours c. which by any manner spiritual Authority or jurisdiction ought or may lawfully be reformed repressed ordered redressed corrected restrained or amended Agreeable to this power Henry the 8. Edw. the 6. Queen Mary her self Queen Elizabeth severally in their respective reignes did act But the laws referred to by this Proclamation is first that Act of Parliament 1. Eliz. wherein it is ordained that the Kings and Queens of this Realm shall have have full power and authority by letters Patents under the great Seal of England to assigne name and Authorize when and as often as their Heires and Successors shall think meet and convenient such person or persons as they shall think meet c. to visit reform redresse c. Secondly the latter end of the Act for uniformity where the Queen and consequently her Successors are authorized by the Advice of their Commissioners or the metropolitan to ordain and publish further Rites and Ceremonies And this helps us with an answer to an objection of Smecttymnuus who from the several Alterations made in our Liturgy both by Queen Elizabeth and King James from that of the second establishment by Edw. 6. infer that the Liturgie now in use is not the Liturgie that was established by Act of Parliament and therefore that Act bindeth not to the use of this Liturgie To this we reply that those Alterations can excuse from that act onely in part and for what is altered as to what remaineth the same it bindeth undoubtedly still in tanto though not in â—oto And for the Alterations themselves the first being made by Act of Parliament expresse that of 1 Elis. and the second by Act of Parliament reductive and implied those afore-mentioned what gain Smecttymnuus by their illation that those alterations are not established by the first Act And whereas it may be supposed that that Proclamation may lose its vigor by that Kings death and consequently the Service book may be conceived to be thereby in statu quo prius yet considering his late Majesty did not null it by any expresse edict that several Parliaments sitting after did not disallow it that all subscriptions have been unanimous in reference to those changes that the Emendations were made to satisfie the Litigant party I conceive the Proclamation valid notwithstanding the death of that King The first original and ground whereof c. Here our Church is explicite expresse enough to confute the vulgar errour of her seduced children who fill the world with more noise then truth that our service hath its original from the Masse-Book her resort is to the Antient Fathers to their godly and decent orders she conforms her self leaving the Romanists to the yesterday devised innovations of their Church The Pye Pica or in English the Pye I observe used by three several sorts of men First by the quondam Popish Clergy here in England before the Reformation who called their ordinal or Directory ad usum Sarum devised for the more speedy finding out the order of Reading their several services appointed for several occasions at several times the Pye Secondly by Printers which call the letters wherewith they Print books and treatises in party colours the Pica letters Thirdly by Officers of civil Courts who call their Kalendars or Alphabetical Catalogues directing to the names and things contained in the Rolls and Records of their Courts the Pyes Whence it gained this denomination is difficult to determine whether from the Bird Pica variegated with divers colours or whether from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 contracted into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which denoteth a Table the Pye in the Directory being nothing else but a Table of rules directing to the proper service for every day I cannot say from one of these probably derived it was and no great matter which Wherein the reading of the Scriptures is so set forth c. The Lessons appointed in the Kalendar are onely ordered for the week dayes or such festivals as happen upon them not for the Sundayes for which resort must be had to a future order Nothing but the pure word of God or that which is evidently grounded upon the same Here the Church declareth that over and besides the Canonical Scripture what is evidently grounded upon the same viâ— Some part of the Apocrypha she approveth and appointeth to be read in Churches to which end some Lessons in the Kalendar are selected thence but neither considered by her in a party of honour with the Canon nor so strictly enjoyned but that she in some cases tolerateth yea commendeth a swerving from her prescriptions For where it may so chance some one or other Chapter of the Old Testament to fall in order to be read upon the Sundayes or holy-dayes which were better to be changed with some other of the New
shall execute the holy ministry shall put upon him the vesture appointed for that ministration that is to say a white Alb plain with a vestment or cope And where there be many Priests or Deacons there so many shall be ready to help the Priest in his ministration as shall be requisite and shall have upo them likewise the vestures appointed for their ministry that is to say Albes with tunicles Then shall the Clerks sing in English for the office or Introite as they call it a Psalm appointed for that day Common Prayer The Table having at the Communion time Scot. Lit. a Carpet and a faire white linnen cloth upon it Scot. Lit. with other decent furniture meet for the high mysteries there to be celebrated shall stand at the uppermost part of the Chancel or Church where the Presbyter standing at the North side or end thereof shall say shall D stand in the body of the Church or in the Chancel where morning Prayer and Evening Prayer be appointed to be said Common Prayer 1 B. of Edw. 6. And the Priest standing at the north side of the Table shall say the E Lords Prayer with this Collect following Scot. Lit. for due preparation The Priest standing humbly before the middle of the Altar shall say the Lords Prayer with this Collect. ALmighty God unto whom all hearts be open all desires known and from whom no secrets are hid clense the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy holy spirit that we may perfectly love thee and worthily magnifie thy holy name through Christ our Lord Amen Common Prayer  1 B. of Edw. 6. F Then shall the Priest Scot. Lit. Turning to the people rehearse distinctly all the ten Commandments and the People Scot. Lit. all the while kneeling Scot. Lit. and asking God mercy for the transgression of every duty therein either according to the letter or mysticall importance of the said Commandment shall after every Commandment ask Gods mercy for their trrnsgression of the same after this sort  Then shall he say a Psalm appointed for the introite which Psalm ended the Priest shall say or else the Clerks shall sing iii Lord have mercy upon us iii Christ have mercy upon us iii Lord haeve mercy upon us Then the Priest standing at Gods board shall begin Glory be to God on high Minister  The Clerk The Commandments and their responds wanting in 1 B. of Ed. 6. God spake these words and said I am the Lord thy God Thou shalt have no other Gods but me And in earth Peace good will towards men we praise thee we blesse thee c. As in the hymn before the blessing in the Common-Prayer   Then the priest shall turn himself to the People and say   The Lord be with you The Answer People  And with thy spirit Lord have mercy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this law  The Priest   Let us pray Minister Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven image nor the likenesse of any thing that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the water under the earth thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them for I the Lord thy God am a jelous God and visit the sin of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shew mercy unto thousands in them that love me and keep my commandments People Lord have mercy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this law Minister Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain For the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vain People Lord have mercy upon us and incline our hearts c. Minister Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day Six dayes shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt do no manner of work thou and thy son and thy daughter thy manservant and thy maid servant thy cattel and the stranger that is within thy gates For in six dayes the Lord made heaven and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and hallowed it People Lord have mercy upon us and incline our hearts c. Minister Honour thy father and thy mother that thy dayes may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee People Lord have mercy upon us and encline our hearts c. Minister Thou shalt do no murther People Lord have mercy upon us and incline our hearts c. Minister Thou shalt not commit adultery People Lord have mercy upon us and incline our hearts c. Minister Thou shalt not steal People Lord have mercy upon us and encline our hearts c Minister Thou shalt not â—ear false witnesse against thy neighbour People Lord have mercy upon us and incline our hearts c. Minister Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife nor his servant nor his maide nor his Ox nor his Asse nor any thing that is his People Lord have mercy upon us and write all these thy laws in our hearts we beseecâ— thee Then shall follow the Collect of the day with one of these two Collects following for the King the Minister standing up and saying Let us Pray ALmighty God whose kingdom is everlasting and power infinite have mercy upon the whole congregation and so rule the heart of thy chosen servant our King and governour that he knowing whose minister he is may above all things seek thy honour and glory and that we his subjects duely considering whose authority he hath may faithfully serve honour and humbly obey him in thee and for thee according to thy blessed word and ordinance through Jesus Christ our Lord who with thee and the holy Ghost liveth and raigneth ever one God world without end Amen ALmighty and everlasting God we be taught by thy holy word that the hearts of kings are in thy rule and governance and that thou doest dispose and turn them as it seemeth best to thy godly wisdom we humbly beseech thee so to dispose and govern the heart of thy servant our King and governour that in all his thoughts words and works he may ever seek thy honour and glory and study to preserve thy people committed to his charge in wealth peace and godlinesse Grant this O merciful father for thy dear sons sake Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Common Prayer 1 B. of Edw. 6.  Immediately after the Collects the minister shall read the G Epistle saying thus The Epistle written in the Chapter of Scot. Lit. at the verse And when he hath done he shall say here endeth the Epistle And the Epistle ended Scot. Lit. the Gospel shall be read he shall say the Gospel beginning thus The Gospel written in the Chapter
sunt quos dirigit amor i. e. they are the best natured whom love perswades so plures sunt quos corrigit timor they are more numerous whom awe constrains upon which very score necessary it was to call in aid of the civil power which was done here by act of Parliament So that no one order had reason to except against this established form the Clergy were imployed as contrivers of the model The laity from the highest to the lowest all Kings Lords and Commons were interested in the ratification wherby a coercive power in order to conformity was constituted And that the said book with the order of service c. This act is not introductory of a now Liturgy but a reviver of the old that of the fift and sixth of Edward the 6 the remains of which structure are so considerable notwithstanding it hath gone twice to the mending as may worthily give it the denomination of Edward the 6 his Liturgy With one alteration c. It must not be imagined that either the Queen or the Parliament made those alterations for the review of the Liturgy was commited by the Queen to certain Commissioners viz to Mr. Whitehead Doctor Parker after Arch-Byshop of Canterbury Doctor Grindal after Bishop of London Doctor Cox after Bishop of Ely Doctor Pilkinton after Bishop of Durham Doctor May Dean of St. Pauls Doctor Bill Provost of Eaton and Sr. Thomas Smith These adding and expunging where they thought meet presented it to the Parliament who onely established what they had concluded upon As for the several changes Alterations and differences betwixt this Liturgy of ours and that of the 2 of Edward 6. this statute takes not notice of them all but what is defective herein Smectymnuâ—s hath supplyed as shall be observed at their several occurrences To inquire in their visitation c. Diocesan visitations were alwayes of very eminent use in the Ecclesiastical Polity and peculiar of the Episcopal function Indeed none â—o fit to make the scrutiny and lustration as he who is to pronounce the censure upon this account Primitive Bishops held themselves obliged as no disparagement to their Grandure to perform the office in their own persons St. Augustine plead it in bar to Celer's action of unkindnesse against him for not writing sooner Quâ—niam visitandarum Ecclesiarum ad meam Curam pertinentium necessitate profectus sum i. e. Because saith he I was gone a broad upon abusinesse of necessity the visiting of such Churches as were within my cure So the Mareotick Clergy in the defence of Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria against a calumny of his adversaries make mention of his visitation in person and not onely so but also that they themselves were of his train when he went upon that service In after times their work encreasing so as they could not well attend it themselves they had their Periodeutae and Itinerary Vicars to go the circuit for them these acting still agreeable to a series of Articles enjoyned by their Bishops In the beginning of the Reformation when it much concerned the Civil power to act as we say of natural agents ad extremum Potentiae to the utmost of its politick hability King Henry the eighth and Edward the sixt and Queen Elizabeth though I presume upon consultation had with the Clergy assumed and exercised the Authority of framing and imposing a body of Articles for Episcopal visitations which had certainly this very commendable property that they preserved uniformity whereas the leaving them to every arbitrary fancy and the exercise of that liberty by some Bishops of later memoray was in my opinion a probable way of erecting Altar against Altar and creating Schisme in the Church The Queens Majesty may by the like advice c. There was in the Act premised a prohibition with a penalty annext to it that no Parson Vicar or other whatsoever Minister shall use any other rite ceremony order form c. then is mentioned in the Book of Common prayer against this constitution a caveat is entred here whereby the Queen may by the advice of her Commissioners or metropolitan ordain and publish such farther Ceremonies or Rites as may be most for the advancement of Gods glory c. So that upon the entertainment of this exception the rule is corroborated as to all particulars not so exempted and consequently that none might innovate any Rite not expressly enjoyned in the book of Common Prayer then established or Book of Canons legally to be framed afterwards Which clause of reserve was no impowring nor enabling the Queen with any new and upstart authority but onely a declaration of what was resident in her before as inseparably incident to the supream Dominion vested in the Crown Agreeable to which She Anno. 1597. authorised the Clergy then met in Convocation to make and publish certain Canons which she after confirmed under the great Seal of England Other Canons there were made Anno 1571. But being not ratified with royal Authority I suppose they were not obligatory enough to constrain obedience and as concerning these of 1597. the formal words of her heires and successors being omitted in those Ratifications they were supposed onely obligatory during her Reign and that they together with her self breathed their last Whereupon King James in the first year of his reign issued forth a new Commission by his letters Patents to the Convocation then assembled therein giving them full power and Authority to consult and agree upon such Canons c. as they should think necessary which being concluded upon by the Clergy and presented to his Majesty He did for himself his heires and lawful successors confirm them with his royal assent as may be seen more at large in that Ratification Indeed the supremacy of the Civil Magistrate as to confirmation and a cogency of external obedience in Religious and Ecclesiastical affaires is no usurpation upon the Churches right as the Romish party contend against us but hath been approved of in the purest times and therefore whereas they seem to presse us with the objection That our Religion is Parliamentary because some concernments thereof have been Ratified by Act of Parliament Our answer is that Parliaments Enact not without the Royal assent This is onely this that vital spirit which regularly animates those establishments and from such assent the two first general Councels not to insist upon Nationals received their confirmation Eminent is that of Socrates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. I therefore so often mention the Emperours in the series of my History though Ecclesiastical because that from the very first of their becoming Christians all Church matters depended upon their pleasure so as the greatest and Oecumenical Councels were then and are still convented by their order and summons As concerning these Canons of our Church Regal assent it was alone which firmed them the Parliament though then sitting not being resorted to nor interposing their Authority an unhappy disjunctive
grant that the scarcity and dearth which we do now most justly suffer for our iniquity may through thy goodnesse be mercifully turned into cheapnesse and plenty for the love of Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be praise for ever Amen In the time of war O Almighty God King of all Kings and governour of all things whose power no creature is able to resist to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners and to be merciful to them that truly repent Save and deliver us we humbly beseech thee from the hands of our enemies abate their pride asswage their malice and confound their devices that we being armed with thy defence may be preserved evermore from all perils to gloriâ—ie thee which art the onely giver of all victory through the merits of thy onely son Jesus Christ our Lord Amen In the time of any common plague or sicknesse O Lmighty God which in thy wrath in the time of King David didst â—ay with the plague of pestilence threescore and ten thousand and yet remembring thy mercy didst save the rest have pitty upon us miserable sinners that now are visited with great sicknesse and mortality that like as thou didst then command thine Angel to cease from punishing so it may please thee to withdraw from us this plague and grievous sicknesse through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen O God whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive receive our humble petitions and though we be tied and bound with the chain of our sins yet let the pitifulnesse of thy great mercy loose us for the honour of Jesus Christs sake our mediatour and advocate Amen A Thanksgiving for rain O Gd our heavenly Father who by thy gratious providence doest cause the former and the latter rain to descend upon the earth that it may bring forth fruit for the use of man we give thee humble thanks that it hath pleased thee in in our greatest necessity to send us at the lâ—st a joyful rain upon thine inheritance and to refresh it when it was dry to the great comfort of us thy unworthy servants and to the glory of thy holy name through thy mercies in Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Thanksgiving for fair weather O Lord God who hast justly humbled us by thy late plague of immoderate rain and waters and futhy mercy hast relieved and comforted our souls by this seasonable and blessed change of weather we praise and glorifie thy holy name for this thy mercie and will alwayes declare thy loving kindnesse from generation to generation through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Thanksgiving for plenty O Most merciful father which of thy gracious goodnesse hast heard the devout prayers of thy Church and turned our bearth and scarcity into cheapnesse and plenty we give thee humble thanks for this thy special bounty beseeching thee to continue this thy loving kindnesse unto us that our land may yield us her fruits of increase to thy glory and our comfort through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Thanksgiving for peace and victory O Almighty God which art a strong tower of defence unto thy servants against the face of their enemies we yield thee praise and thanksgiving for our deliverance from those great and apparant dangers wherewith we were compassed we acknowledge it thy goodnesse that we were not delivered over as a prey unto them beseeching thee still to continue such thy mercies toward us that all the world may know that thou art our Saviour and mighty deliverer through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A thanksgiving for deliverance from the plague O Lord God which hast wounded us for our sins and consumed us for our transgressions by thy late heavy and dreadful visitation and now in the midst of judgement remembring mercy hast reoâ—emed our souls from the jaws of death we offer unto thy fatherly goodnesse our selves our souls and bodies which thou hast delivered to be a living sacrifice unto thee alwayes praising and magnifying thy mercies in the midst of the Congregation through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Or this WE humbly acknowledge before thee O most merciful father that all punishments which are threatened in thy law might justly have fallen vpon us by reason of our manifold transgressions and hardnesse of heart yet seeing it hath pleased thee of thy tender mercy upon our weak and unworthy humiliation to asswage the noisome pestilence wherewith we lately have been sore afflicted and to restore the voice of joy and health into our dwellings we offer unto thy Divine majestie the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving lauding and magnifying thy glorious Name for such thy preservation and providence over us through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen The end of the Letany Annotations upon CHAP. IIII. A Catechising part of the Evening Office The want thereof the cause of heresies Judgement of the Synod of Dort Sermons where in the Primitive Church part of the Evening Office B Evening Prayer why so called An ancient Evening hymn C. The Doxology of the Pater Noster why omitted in our service D. A necessary Rubrick added by the Scotch Liturgy E. Athanasius his Creed falsly so called yet ancient and extant in Anno 600. after Christ. F. Litanies Ancient in the Western Church long before Mamercus Reformed by Gregory the Great ours whence derived the Gesture proper for it G. Wednesdaies and Fridayes why dayes of fastings Stations what and why so called Tertullian cleared H. Forgiving our Enemies a peculiar of Christianity The Jewish and Romish practice contrary to it I. Repeated Prayers most powerful K. The Thanksgivings for Rain c. a necessary Reformation AN order for Evening Prayer Though Evening service varieth not much from that of the Morning yet doth it afford something which obligeth our consideration For what is too much forgot I must reminde you that there is an Evening service befor Evening Prayer The Curate of every Parish or some other at his appointment shall diligently upon Sundayes and holy days half an hour before Evening Prayer openly in the Church instruct and examine so many children of his parish sent unto him as the time will serve and as he shall think convenient in some part of the Catechisme The same rule is observed by the Belgick Church and so did the Palatine Divines advise at the Synod at Dort that it should be an afternoon exercise with this positive resolution Non dubitamus cur tot haereses et nova dogmata locum passim inveniant causam vel maximam esse Catechizationis neglectum We are consident that the neglect of catechizing is the main cause of so many heresies and novel doctrines which infest the Church I wish they of the Presbyterian inclination would more listen to these their friends and if not for conformity's yet for Christianity's sake not suffer Preaching so totally to usurp and justle out this most necessary office that as an Inmate to expel the right owner
body or in soul that the Almighty would send them the thing that is most profitable as well bodily as ghostly Also ye shall pray for all Pilgrims and Palmers that have taken the way to Rome to saint James of Jerusalem or to any other place that Almighty God may give them grace to go safe and to come safe and give us grace to have part of their prayers and they part of ours Also ye shall pray for the holy Crosse that is in possession and hands of unrightful people that God Almighty may send it into the hands of Christian people when it pleaseth him Furthermore I commit unto your devout prayers all women that be in our Ladies bonds that Almighty God may send them grace the child to receive the Sacrament of Baptisme and the mother purification Also ye shall pray for the good man and woman that this day giveth bread to make the holy-loaf and for all those that first began it and them that longest continue For these and for all true Christian people every man and woman say a Pater Noster and an Ave c. After this followeth a Prayer for all Christian Souls reckoning first Arch-Bishops and Bishops and especially Bishops of the Diocess then for all Curates c. then for all Kings and Queens c. then for all Benefactors to the Church then for the Souls in Purgatory especially for the Soul of N. whose Anniversary then is kept This was the form preceding the Reformation of it made by King Henry the eighth This King having once ejected the Popes usurped Authority used all possible Artifice to keep possession of his new-gained Power That by the whole â—lergy in Convocation that by Act of Parliament he was recognized Supream Head of the Church of England he thought it not enough But further ordered the Popes name to be utterly rased out so are the words of the Proclamation of all Prayers Orisons Rubrioks Canons of Mass Books and all other Books in the Churches and his memory never more to be remembred except to his contumely and reproach Accordingly also he caused this Form to be amended by omitting the Popes name with all his Relations by annexing the title of Supream head to himself and by contracting it into a narrower model But though this King corrected so much as served his own turn yet all the Popery of this form he did not reform but left the Prayer of the Dead remaining As for King Edward the sixth the form enjoyned by him was the same precisely with that of Henry the eighth That of Queen Elizabeth varieth for the better from both these Praying for being changed into Praysing God for the dead and with her form agreeth that in the 55 Canon of our Church almost to a syllable Before all Sermons Lectures and Homilies Preachers and Ministers shall move the People to joyn with them in Prayer in this form or to this effect as briefly as conveniently they may Ye shall pray for Christs holy Catholick Church that is for the whole Congregation of Christian People dispersed throughout the whole world and especially for the Churches of England Scotland and Ireland And herein I require you most especially to pray for the Kings most excellent Majesty our Soveraign Lord James King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defendor of the Faith and Supreme Governour in these his Realms and all other his Dominions and Countries over all persons in all causes aswell Ecclesiastical as Temporal Ye shall also pray for our gracious Queen Anne the Noble Prince Charles Frederick Prince Elector Palatine and the Lady Elizabeth his wife Ye shall also pray for the Ministers of Gods holy word and Sacraments aswel Arch-Bishops and Bishops as other Pastours and Curates Ye shall also pray for the Kings most honourable Councel and for all the Nobility and Magistrates of this Realm that all and every of these in their several Callings may serve truely and painfully to the glory of God and the edifying and well governing of his people remembring the account that they must make Also ye shall pray for the whole Commons of this Realm that they may live in true Faith and Fear of God in humble obedience to the King and brotherly charity one to another Finally let us praise God for all those which are departed out of this life in the Faith of Christ and pray unto God that we may have grace to direct our lives after their good example that this life ended We may be made partakers with them of the glorious Resurrection in the life Everlasting Alwayes concluding with the Lords prayer Having beheld the Reformation of the form it will not be amisse to look into the practise This upon my best inquiry all along the dayes of Edward the 6. and Queen Elizabeth is exhibited by onely six Authors Two Arch-Bishops Parker and Sands Four Bishops Gardner Latimer Jewel and Andrews In all these I observe it interveneth betwixt the Text delivered and the Sermon Arch-Bishop Parker onely excepted who concludeth his Sermon with it I observe also in them all that it is terminated in the Lords Prayer or Pater Noster for which reason it was stiled Bidding of Beades Beads and Pater Nosters being then relatives Lastly I observe in every of them some variation more or lesse as occasion is administred not onely from the precise words but even contents of this form And from hence I infer that the Injunctions both of Edw. the 6. and Queen Elizabeth being framed before any reformed Liturgie was by Law established did not bind Preachers so strictly to the precise words of that form when the service was rendred in English as when in Latin for it is not presumable those eminent men would have assumed such a liberty to vary the expression and enlarge in some other matters had not they understood the Churches dispensation therein But there were afterward some overforward to abuse this Liberty and minding the interest of their owne Principles took the boldnesse to omit the main who could be content to pray for James King of England France and Ireland defender of the faith but as for supreme Governor in all causes and over all Persons as well Ecclesiastcal as Civil they passed that over in silence as that very King hath it who thereupon re-inforced the form by the Canon afore specified As for the late practical change of Exhortation Let us pray into Invocation we pray In my weak apprehension it is but the very same in effect and operation and neither to be justly quarrelled at especially when the Lords Prayer which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 summarily comprehendeth all we can ask is the close to both Having discoursed the practise of our own Church it will not be amisse to examine that of the Primitive Church and the rather because many have been of that opinion that no prayer before the Sermon was used in those times Counter to which several Authorities may be opposed