The Liturgical Considerator Considered, Conclusion
CONCLUSION.
Now I have done with your Book, I leave it to the godly judicious to determine, whether you have carried your cauſe ſo throughly, that all muſt be charged by you with pride, peeviſhneſs, &c. if we do not preſently as you would have us. Sir, though I am a poor ſinful Creature, yet I have not ſo learned the Goſpel, nor do I ſo little deſire the healing of our wounds, nor am I ſo diſloyal to my King, that upon ſuch curſed principles as you mention I would hold off one day. If you will let me ſpeak in the Sea-mans phraſe, I will ſtretch my Bowlings, Haal ſharp, keep my Luff, do what I can to come up for peace; but when Chriſt, who Cuns the Ship, commands, No near, we muſt anſwer, No near, no.
You tell us, pag. 40. of an aged Miniſter, who pleaſing the Vulgar, forbare againſt his Conſcience to uſe Forms of prayer, and now came begging to you, &c.
As for the Lords prayer, ſometimes I do uſe it; not becauſe I muſt, but becauſe I may; yet I condemn no man who doth not uſe it, if he holds to that Subſtance; but for your Liturgy, and other things, we look to be outed likewiſe; our prayer is, That God would go before us into affliction, clear our way, that we may not miſtake through an erring conſcience; but if we do ſuffer, we may be ſure He calls us to it (your Book hath made our way a little clearer, if all be of your mind) and if my Bible will not maintain me and mine, I will then go beg; but I reſolve I will not come to your door.
The Title of your Book ſaith, you publiſhed it in order to a happy union; Alas, Sir, this, as your other Books ſhew, you have none of that Spirit; I know thoſe who are farther off ſince they read your Book; and truly if that were your aim, you have ſo fairly hit it, that I may fitly apply to you that Disti…on:
Aut Fabrum forceps, aut Ars ignara fefellit: foreign voluit cudere, cudit foreign.
FINIS.
End of the text · Giles Firmin, The Liturgical Considerator Considered (1661)