More Work for Priests, Answer 16 – Answer 17
J. GREENWOOD.
THe Scripture never inforced to reade praiers for praying, nether stinted vsus what, or how manie wordes to vse, nether is the formes of praier prescribed in the Scripture and devise of man. Let vsus then hold these two to be the matters in hand, the one, reading in steade of praying, the other, stinging and limiting by a written liturgie, what & howe many wordes to pray, with all other such prescriptions as your liturgie conteyneth All may be affirmed antichristian which is not warranted by Christs worde: Yet your liturgie, is even from that Antichrist lifted vp into the throne you speake of, as may by all men be seene that will compare it with the Portuis. And (as I have heard) the Pope would have approved of your liturgie, if it might have bene receaved in his name. Nowe we have proved in the discourse before, that reading for praying hath no warrant from Gods Worde, which maketh them two severall and divers actions every where.
Here then we must consider something for an other liturgie, then Christes Testament which we shall find to be nothing els, then an other gospell. And because Mr Gifford saith ther were liturgies in the Church before Antichrist was lifted vp into his throne (which I will not denye) I would have all men vnderstand that I do not go about to prove the church no church that hath a liturgie (as mine Arguments are falslie wrested to that purpose) but to prove the vnlawfullnes of such liturgie thrust vponupon mens Consciences, is onlie my determination through Gods assistance. The worde liturgie signifieth publicum manus, ergon Laon, the worke of, or for the people: that is the very execution of the ministerial actions in the Church, according to the worde, of all the officers therof, that is the practise of those ministeriall duties prescribed by Christ, we may eueryevery where reade. Jn the first of the Gospell of Luke the 23. verse it is said. And is came to passe that when the daies of his ministration were past, he went home to his house, meaning, Zacharias: where we see the worde Liturgie for his execution of his ministeriall function. Now this Leitourgia of the newe Testament, is even the rule and function prescribed by Christ, for the puqlique actions to be donne in his Church: which leiturgu Gal. 1.8.9 Rev. 22.18.19.2 Tim. 1.13, 1 Tim. 6▪14of Christ is perfect, and he pronounced accursed that addeth any thing therto, or taken any there from: yea al mē are bound to keep the true patterne therof, without alterration or innouating anie part of the same as is called a commaundement to be kept without spott, till the appearing of our Lorde Iesus Christ. Nowe, to make an other leiturgie, is to lay other foundation, and to make an other Gospell, not that ther is an other Gospell, but that there are some willing to pervert the Gospell of Christ. Then your leiturgies to which you are sworne, and by which you administer, being (as you cannot denie) an other leiturgie then Christes Testament, is plainely an other Gospell, for the Canons and rules you prescribe and impose are such, as he hath not prescribed or commaunded, or at the best, a transforming of his ordinances. Now if you should say, you do nothing but make laws of particular thinges collected from the scriptures, and with that collour impose your leiturgies, we have shewed the vnlawfullnes of bringing anie mans writinges, as rules into the Church, For the explaining of the whole will of Christ, so far as is meet for vsus, he hath given vsus his officers to administer, according to his liturgie by liuely voyce, and due execution of all things by one rule. Making then a newe litourgia, you must also make a new ministerie, for Christes ministerie cannot administer after a counterfeit liturgie. And that Antichrist was the cheif Innouator of this liturgie (howsoever the thing might be long a working by litle & litle) it is plaine when he is called Antikeimenos that opposite man, or laier of an other foundation. Now we must not make all liturgies beside the Testam., of like wickedness or blasphemie. But how neere the most heynousest yours approach, let him that answereth the other part of your booke witnesse vntounto me.
Nowe where I said you had confessed that you never read in the Scriptures any warrant to reade praiers vntounto God, you say now, I knowe I have falsified your wordes. Surely it would be knowen, for I would not willinglie so doe, your wordes you say were these, to your remembrance: God never commaunded a man to reade praier: vponupon the booke: Is not this the same that I saye: you confesse ther is no warrant for reading prayer: is ther anie thing warranted in his worship that he hath not commaunded? Then you aske me if I will gather thus, is it not expresse commaunded, therfore it is not warranted. No you forgot the worde expressie to help your self to saye & vnsaye. I gathered, that because you said absolutely it was not commaunded, therfore it was not warranted. Here you come againe to shewe your ignorance in the scriptures, to say ther is not anie exprese commaundement to vse praier before or after doctrine. And remember, you here will have it a commaundement, and said before you hold it not of necessitie.
G. GIFFORD.
There would sundry inconveniences growe for want of a Lyturgie or prescript formes of publique praiers.