Examination of Common Prayer, Dedication
To the Kings Most Excellent Majesty, CHARLES the IId.
By the Grace and admirable Providence of GOD, of Great Britain, France and Ireland KING, Defender of the Faith; and all syncere Professors of it, within His Dominions.
HAving had the Honour on last Easter-Eve, to present Your Majesty with a Brief Account of my Service that week in the almost-accomplished Great-good-work of Paying and Dis…ding Your Majesties Army and Navy (which for … Moneths space ingrossed all my time from Mor…ng till Night, and oft till Midnight) to Your Majesties great content, and your Peoples ease from future …cessant heavy Monthly Taxes; I humbly crave …ave to prostrate at Your Royal feet my Easter-holydayes studies, to exonerate the Backs of hundreds, … truly tender Consciences of thousands of Your …yal, pious, sober-minded Protestant Subjects of all Degrees, from some Exuberances in the Commo… prayer Book, and superfluous Ceremonies, Vestments … tending it, (which give them offence, and may w… be laid aside, if your Majesty and your approachi… Parliament shall judge convenient) for our Ch… ches future peace, union in Gods publick worship, pursuance of Your Majesties late most Gratious, …ous, Prudent, elegant Declaration to all Your Lovi… Subjects of Your Kingdom of England and Dominion Wales, concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs, which ga… Life and Birth to this Publication.
It is very observable, that albeit the aSurius Concil. Tom. 1. p. 218, 251, 381, 382. Tom 2. p. 588. 589. Tom. 4. … p. 453. Bellarmine De Romano Pontif. & de Conciliis, l. 2. c. 2. Gregde Valentia Com. Theolog Tom. 3: p 247. Dr. Iohn Whites Way to the true Church Sect. 17. p. 45. & Defence of the Way, c. 47, 48,Popes Rome, and their Flatterers, hold themselves infall… in their Chair, and their Church, Councils inerrab… yet they all accord, that their Publike Missals, …turgies; though made, confirmed by their joynt a… vice with greatest care and diligence, are amendab… alterable upon just occasion: Witness their la… Council of bSessio 22. Decretum de observandis & evitandis in Celebratione Missae, Surius Tom. 4. Concil. p. 962.Trents Decree for the correction, ame… ment of their formerly established Catechism, Miss… Breviary; and the subsequent emendations of the… and institution of A NEW MASSE BOOK, …Pope Pius the 5. with the advice of learned m… expressed in his Bull dated at Rome July 1557. p… fixed to Missale Romanum, ex Decreto Sacro-sa… Concilii Tridentini RESTITUTUM; Pii 5. P… tificis Maximi jussu editum, printed at Rome t… year … enjoyned by that Bull, to be universally served, without any subsequent addition, alteration, mutation, under pain of his Papal indignation:… notwithstanding by another Bull of his own, da… at Rome 17 December 1570. beginning with t… memorable Clause; cAd hoc nos Deus unxit oleo lat tiae, ac haereditatis suae participes effecit, ut ad ipfiu, Sacerdotium vocati tanquam Aaron, non solum ea quae ad divinum cultum pertinent salubriter disponamus; Ve…ùm etiam ea quae aliquando per Nos statuta suerant, salubrius mode remur, ac aliàs desuper disponamus, prout rerum & personarum qualitate pens…ta, conspicimus in Domino salubriter expedire.For this purpose God hath anointed us with the oyl of gladness, and made us partakers of his Inheritance, that being called to his Priesthood like Aaron, we should not only wholesomly order these things which pertain to divine worship; but should also more wholsomly moderate those things which have been formerly enacted by us, and moreover alter and dispose of them, as upon serious consideration of things and persons, we discern to be wholesomly expedient in the Lord; He did (upon this account) by reason of some difficulties concerning the use of this New Missal, arising in the Kingdom of Spain, tendred by some Grave men sent to him from Philip their Catholike King, to which hee gave undoubted credit; of his own meer motion, without the instance of any Petition tendred to him thereupon, out of his certain knowledge and plenitude of Apostolical power, think fit to reform several things in this New Missal, as to the Kingdoms of Spain, and alter, dispense with it in no lesse than 21. particulars (expressed in this Bull) notwithstanding all his former Bulls and Prohibitions to the contrary. After which Pope Gregory the 10, his immediate Successor, by another Bull (dated at Rome 30 Decemb. 1573.) to take away some other new scruples and differences about this Missal in the said Kingdoms of Spain (upon the motion of other Delegates sent thence from that same King Philip) granted several other dispensations and amendments of this Missal in sundry Particulars, comprised in his Bull; Notwithstanding his Predecessors Letters, and all and singular clauses, prohibitions, and Decrees to the contrary; Which two Bulls of theirs, are printed before Missale Romanum, &c. Cum licentia & privilegio, Salmantica 1589. Some thirty year after Pope Clement the 8. observing divers Errors to be crept into this Missal of Pope Pius the 5. by the Trent Councils Decree; through the Printers Errors, and some alterations in the Epistles, Gospels, Psalms according to the vulgar Edition different from the Original Text, commanded his learned Cardinals to revise and correct this Missal according to the original copy of Pius Quintus: dVerum in illo munere peragendo factum est, ut nonnulla ex diligenti librorum antiquorum collatione in meliorem formam redacta, & in regulis & rubricis aliqua uberiùs & clariùs expressa, quae tamen ex illorum principiis et fundamentis, qu…si deducta, illorum sensum imitari potíus & supplere, quàm aliquid novi afferre videantur: Missam itaque quod idem Pius 5. ediderat, sic RECOGNITUM in nostra Typographia quam emendatissimè imprimi, & ad communem utilitatem publicari jussimus.which task they undertaking, put some things into better form in the Missal it self, and expressed some things more clearly and fully in the Rules and Rubricks; which being notwithstanding deduced from their principles and foundations, may seem rather to imitate and supply their sense, than to induce any innovation. Which being thus revised, amended, enlarged with new Masses for new canonized Saints, and proper Masses of saints expressed at large for the easier benefit of those who celebrated them, he caused to be most exactly printed in the Vatican, and published for the common good, in the year of our Lord 1604. as he declares in his Bull praefixed to this Missal dated at Rome the 7. of July the same year; with this additional Title;—Missale Romanum ex Decreto Sacro-sancti Concilii Tridentini Restitutum, Pii 5. Pont. Max. jussu editum; Clementis 8. auctoritate RECOGNITUM. ET CUM MISSIS NOVIS DE SANCTIS à Paulo 5. Gregorio 15. & S. D. N. Urbano 8. ordinatis. Missae propriae de Sanctis OMNES AD LONGUM POSITAE SUNT PRO FACILIORI CELEBRANTIUM COMMODITATE.
If therfore the Council of Trent it self thought meet to reform the antient Roman Catechism and Missal formerly established,*Sessio 22. Decretum de observandis et evitandis in celebratione Missae. Surius Concil. Tom. 4. p. 961. into which it confesseth, either by the vice of times, or unwariness or dishonesty of men, many things had crept, which were far from the dignity of so great a Sacrifice, and had need to be reformed, that due honour and worship to the glory of God and edification of faithfull people might be restored to it. Yea, to set out a new Masse-book by authority of Pope Pius the 5. and this Pope, within few years after, held it necessary and expedient to make some alterations, and dispence with other things in it, relating to the Kingdoms and Church of Spain; and Pope Gregory the 13. within 3. years after, to dispence with some other Formalities and Rubricks thereof upon the same reason: And Pope Clement the 8. (about 30. years after) held it necessary to revise the whole Masse book, to correct the Printers errors, the Mistranslations of the Epistles, Gospels, Psalmes therein varying from the Original Text; and adde new Rules, Rubricks to it, explaining, supplying the defects of the former, together with New Masses, for New Saints, notwithstanding all former printed Bulls, Prohibitions, Decrees to the contrary, and the pretended Infallibility and Inerrability of their Chairs, Church, Councils; Then by the selfsame Presidents and better Reasons, Your Majesty, with advice of Your pious, learned Divines and Parliament, who have by*13 Eliz. c. 12 Law established these Articles of our Churches Belief (to which all Bishops, Ministers have subscribed)*A…tic'c 2: 34 That (not only Popes, but) General Councils may erre, and sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining to GOD. That it is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one, or utterly like; ‖See Centur Magd. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, P 3, c. 6. where this is proved at large.FOR AT ALL TIMES THEY HAUEHAVE BEEN DIVERS, & MAY BE CHANGED ACCORDING TO THE DIVERSITY OF COUNTRIES, TIMES, & MENS MANNERS, so that nothing be ordained against Gods word. Every particular or National Church, hath authority to ordain, Change and abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the Church (and Liturgies too) ordained only by Mans Authority, so that all things bee done to edifying; may with much more Justice, Piety, Prudence reform all errors, mistranslations of the Epistles, Gospels, Psalms, and obsolete or unfit expressions in the Book of Common Prayer, *2 & 3 E. 6. c. 1. 5 & 6 E. 6. c. 1. 1 Eliz. c.…twice altered, reformed in som particulars, in few years after its first publication by authority, Acts of Parliament) yea, change, abolish such unnecessary Rites, Ceremonies attending it, which have given just offence, and occasioned much Schism, Dissention in our Church between the Protestant Members of it, as well of the Clergy as Laity, ever since its first establishment in the 3d. year of K. Edw. the 6. till this very day, and will do so in perpetuity, if not removed by your Majesties Piety and VVisdom, according to the purport of your late Incomparable Declaration (for which the whole House of Commons and all Your Protestant Subjects whom they represented, returned Your Majesty their most cordial, publike Thanks by their*Novemb … 1660. Speakers own mouth) the blessed fruits whereof they all now hope and long to reap; not only without the least prejudice to our Religion, Church, and main Fabrick of the former Liturgy, but with great advantage to them all.
It is a received Maxim among all Polititians, Artists, that no human Institutions, Laws, Inventions, Edifices are so absolutely exact, usefull, wholesom, necessary, but that they may upon just reasons of Policy, piety, sundry emergent occasions and necessities be amended, altered, with wisdom, honour, safety, an publike utility. Your Majesty since your most happy miraculous restauration, have with great prudence and glory, made some laudable alterations in Your Royal Palaces, Walks, Parks, of Whitehall, Hampton-court, and in Westminster-Hall itself, as well for Conveniency as Delight (though very noble, usefull, compleat before) without any prejudice to their Structures, Foundations, Soile: And those Bishops, Deans and Chapters who seem most opposite to the least alterations in our publike Liturgy, or Ceremonies, have yet very much altered, improved their old Rents (and Tennants likewise) to which they will not be confined by Your Majesties late Declarations, or Commissions: yea they daily violate and dispense with the very Rubricks in the Common Prayer Book, and several*2 & 3 E. 6 c. 1. 21. 5 & 6 E. 6. c. 1. 12. 1 Eliz. c. 1. 5 Eliz. c. 1. Acts of Parl. by selling Licenses to marry to all sorts of people for filthy lucre, without asking the Banes three several Sundayes or Holy-dayes in time of Divine service, the people being present, after the accustomed manner; In reading the Epistle, Gospel and second Service at the Communion Table when there is no Communion; and in not receiving the Communion in their Cathedral Churches every Sunday at the least, though they have no reasonable cause to the contrary, as the Rubricks enjoyne them. And may not your Sacred Majesty then with as much wisdom, honour, and all your Bishops and Cathedral Clergymen with farre more piety, justice, prudence, (in obedience to Your late Royal Declarations and Engagements to all Your Subjects) dispence with the Oath of Canonical Obedience, the use of Surplises, and other Ceremonies for which there is no Rubrick, Statute, or known Law of the Land; the reading of Psalms, Epistles, Gospels in the Church, according to the New Translation of Your Royal Grandfather of famous memory, KING JAMES; yea freely admit all able, godly Ministers ordained only by Presbyters during the late unhappy Differences and Confusions of Government, to Benefices, Fellowships, Lectures, Cures of Souls, without a Re-ordination by Bishops, as well as admit reclamed Popish Priests ordained by Bishops in the Church of Rome, without the least opposition, contest, for future Peace, Amity, Unity between all Your Protestant Subjects of different perswasions in these dividing particulars? To facilitate, promote this much desired work, I have spent my few vacant Holy-day hours in compiling this seasonable, short, sober, pacific Examination, consisting principally of 4. Particulars (discussed in several Sections) to wit; the Use, and Frequent Repetition of Gloria Patri; standing up at it, and at Gospels, Creeds, Wearing of Surplises, with other Pontifical & Sacer dotal vestments in the celebration of Divine Service and Sacraments; in the last wherof (because most peremptorily insisted on from pretended grounds of Scripture, Reason by many Romanists, and some Protestant Prelates, and*Peter Heylyn, his History of the Reformation of the Church of Engla…d, p. 91, 92, 93. History? of Queen M…y, & Queen Eliz. p. 59, 60. 115, 116, 131, 132, 164, 165, 166, 176… Divines) I have most expatiated, I hope, without the least offence to moderate sober Christians, or your Sacred Majesty, and good satisfaction to all judicious perusers.
Wee all use to alter the proportion, matter, quality, fashion, number of our Garments, Attires, according to the several ages of our lives, the seasons of the year, the temper of the Climates where wee live, and extraordinary occasions of solemnity, joy, grief or humiliation; not only without offence to others, or prejudice to our healths, lives, but with much applause, and that for the necessary preservation both of health, life, and humane societie. The like wee doe in our corporal Food: Why may not wee then use the same Liberty (by your Majesties and your parliaments publike Authority or Indulgence) in the controverted case of Ecclesiastical Garments, Ornaments, Food, now under publike consideration, provided alwayes they bee a1 Cor. 14. 40.decent, orderly, wholesom, andbIsay 8. 20. Lu. 16. 29. Gal. 6. 4. 16. not repugnant, but agreeable to the holy Scriptures?
If this poor Mite, (humbly presented to Your all-piercing favourable Eye, and Gracious acceptation, as a Monument of my bounden Homage to Your Sacred Majesty, at this most joyfull, triumphant Solemnity of Your CORONATION, (the*In the Second Part of my Signal Loyalty & Devotion of Gods true Saints &c. to their Soveraigns. p. 225. &c. Form wherof I humbly dedicated and presented to Your Majesty soon after your Glorious return to Your Royal Pallace) shall contribute any assistance to the accomplishment of Your Majesties healing, uniting Design of all disagreeing parties in points of Ceremony, Liturgy, Worship, (the only end of its Compiling and publishing;) I shall heartily blesse God for its good successe, and alwayes continue my cordiallest daily prayers to thea1 Tim. 6. 15. Rev. 17. 14. c. 19, 16. King of Kings, for Your Majesties long, most pious, just, peaceable, glorious reign over all your Dominions upon Earth, for the advancement of the true reformed Religion, the protection of all real, zealous Ministers, Professors of it, and all Your Subjects Tranquillity, Felicity: til You shall exchange that fading bPs. 21. 3.Crown of pure Gold, (which GOD himself hath now set upon upon Your Anointed Head, to the unspeakable Ioy of all Your Loyal Subjects, maugre all Oppositions, Conspiracies of Men or Devils to prevent it, and that with greater Magnificence, Splendor, than any of Your Royal Progenitors have been crowned, which God grant You alwaies to wear with most transcendent Renown) for an eternal c1 Pet. 5. 4. c. …. 4.Crown of Glory in the highest Heavens, which fadeth not away.
Your MAJESTIES most humble, devoted Subject and Servant, WILLIAM PRYNNE. Lincolnes Inne, Apr. 23. 1661.
A short, sober, pacifique Examination of some Exuberances in, and Ceremonial Appurtenances to the Common-Prayer.
ALthough I have in my judgement and practise alwayes approved the use of set-forms of publick Prayers, and Administration of the Sacraments in Churches, as warranted by aNum. 6. 22, to 27. Deut. 26. 13, 14, 15. c. 33. 1, to 47. ps. 92. ps. 66. & 67, & 68, … 78, & 79, & 90. Ioel 2. 17. Hos. 14. 2, 3. Mat. 6. 9, 10, &c. Lu. 11. 1, to 5. 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2, 3.Scripture, the antient Practise and bLiturgi… S. S. Patrum, Liturgi… Basil…i, Chysostostomi, Gregorii Theologi, Cyri… Alexandrini, &c. Paris 1560. & August. Vind. 1604. Liturgicae Latino…unt, Colon 1571. Antiquitates Liturgies, Duaci, 1605. Bibliotheca Patrum, T. 1. 2, 3. & 15. Cassandri Liturgica.Liturgies of the Greek, Latine, Gothick, Aethiopick, and other Churches (some whereof are spurious Impostures, others interlaced with modern Sophistications and Superstitions by Popish Innovators) and of all or most Churches at this day throughout the Christian world, whether Epipiscopal or Presbyterial, Papists or Protestants; and albeit I was never an Oppugner of, or Sep…ratist from the Book of Common-Prayer, and administration of the Sacraments, established in the Church of England, whereunto I have constantly resorted; yet I must ingeniously professe I am clear of opinion,
1. That a set standing form of Common-Prayer and Sacramental Administrations, is not absolutely necessary for the being, thoughcSee 2, & 3 …, 6. c. 1. 3, & 4 E. 6. c. 10. 5, & 6 Ed. 6. c. 1. 1 Eliz. c. 2. convenient for the well-being, and unity of a National Church. Therefore not to be prescribed as a thing of absolute indispensible necessity; but only of conveniency, decency, as tending to publick unity.
2. That there are and may bedActs 15. 24, 27, 28. c. 16. 4, 5. Eph. 6. 18. Phil. 4. 4. 6. 1 Thes. 5. 17. See the several Offices, Howers, Missels. Precessionals, Liturgies, Books of Devoti…n, in antient or present use among the Papists, 3, & 4 E. 3. c 10. Officium beat… Mari… secundum usum Sarum; secundum usum Dang…; secundum usum Walsingham, Lincoln, used in England; 2. & 3 E. 6. c. 1. The divers formes of Lieugits and Administrations used in the Protestant Churches of England, Scotland, France…, Germany, Helvitia, Denmark, and in the Greek, Russian, Ethiopian Churches. several set-forms of publick, as well as of private Prayers and Devotions, used in several Provinces, Kingdoms, National Churches, and that all Churches, Nations are no more obliged to use one form of publick Prayer and Administration of Sacraments, than all private Christians are to use the self-same form of Private Prayers in their several Families, Closets, or one kind of Grace before and after meat: but are all left at liberty to embrace or establish what forms they deem most beneficial for the Peoples spiritual edification, best conducing to their salvation, and union in Gods publick worship.
3. That no one form of publick Liturgy is so compleat, exact, or unalterable, but that upon grounds of Piety, Prudence, and sundry emergent occasions, it may be altered,eEphes. 6. 18. c. 3. 14, to 22. …em. 15. 30, 31. Phil. 1. 4, 9, 10, 11. varied, amended, or totally set aside; and a new form of Common-Prayer established in its stead; (at fIn their Broks… prefixed to Missale Romanum, Salm. 1588. and Antw. 1630.Pope Pius the 5. and Clement the 8. acknowledge) being only of human and Ecclesiastical, not Divine institution.
4. That the prescription or use of set-forms of publick Prayers ought not to suppresse, discontinue, interrupt, or disparage the exercise of the gift or grace of conceived, extemporary Prayers or Thanksgivings by Ministers and other Christians in publick or private upon ordinary or extraordinary occasions; nor yet to hinder or disturb the constant preaching of the Word in season, and out of season; as is evident by the whole Book of Psalmes, theg1 Chr. 6. c. 20. 5, to 14. c. 32. 24. c. 33. 12. Ezra 7. 27. c. 9. 6, &c. Neh. 1. 4, to 11. c. 9. throughout. Esth. 4. Dan. 9. 3, &c. Joel 2. 9, to 18. Hos. 14. 2. Lu. 11. 1, 2, …. Matth. 14. 23. John 26. 39. John 17. 9, &c. Acts 1. 14, 24. c. 3. … c. 4. 24, to 31. c. 8. 22 c. 10, 1, 9. c. 12. 5. c. 13. 3. c. 14. 23. c. 16. 25. c. 20. 36. c. 21. 5. c. 28. 8. Rom. 1. 8, 9. 10. c. 8. 26. c. 15. 30, 31. c. 16. 24, 25, &c. 1 Cor. 14. 15. Eph. 1. 16, 17, &c. c. 3. 13, to 21. c. 6. 18. Phil. 1. 4, 9, 10, 11. Col. 1, 3, 9, 10, &c. 1 The…. c. 2. c. 5. 17. 2 The… 2. 16, 17. c. 3. 1, 2. 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2. c. 5. 5. Philemon 4. 24. Rev. 5. 8. c. 8. 3, 4. Jude 20. … Acts 2. 42, 46. c. 4. 1, 2, 18, 19, 20. c. 5. 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 42. c. 20. 10, 31. c. 19. 8, 9, 10. c. 28. 30, 31. Rom. 15. 19, 20. Luke 21. 36, 37, 38. Justin. Martyr, & Tertul. in Apologia. special Prayers and Thanksgivings of Moses, David, Solomon, Nehemiah, Ezra, Hezekiah, Daniel, Ieremiah, in the old, and of (h) Christ and his Apostles, recorded in the New Testament; being all compiled and used upon extraordinary occasions; the (i) publick Prayers in the Primitive Church never secluded or diminished the use of private conceived prayers or preachings; Therefore they should not do it now.
5. That the bare-reading or chanting of Common-Prayers in the Church (which every Parish-Clerk, Chorister, Singing-man, Scholar, or Parishioner who can read, may and can perform as well as any Archbishop, Bishop, Dean, Prebend, or Minister;) and wearing of Canonical Vestments is no principal part of a Bishops or Ministers Duty, as many now of late suppose it: but only theaMat. 10. 7. c. 28. 19, 20. Mar. 16. 15. constant, frequent preaching of the Gospel, and administration of the Sacraments; wherein too many Bishops and Ministers are over-negligent, as if it were the least part of their Function; whenas their Ministerial and Episcopal Office consists principally therein; as is evident by Christs own first and last Missions of, and charges to his Disciples, Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every Creature, Teach all Nations, baptising them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. BybMat. 26. 55. Mar. 14. 49. Lu. 19. 47. c. 22. 52. ps. 62. 11. Lu. 4. 18, 19, 31, 43, 44. Christs and hiscActs 2. 46, 47. c. 4. 1, &c. c. 5. 42. c. 16. 5. c 17. 11, 17. c. 19. 9, 10. c. 20. 18, 19, 20, 21. Rom. 1. 15, 16, 17. c. 15. 15, to 26. c. 16. 25. 2 Cor. 11. 28. 1 Cor. 9. 13, to 27. Heb. 3. 11. Apostles daily constant preaching the Gospel publickly, and from House to House, in all places where they came, without intermission. By Pauls asservations,d1 Cor. 1. 17. c. 9. 16. Christ sent me not to baptise, (that is principally, or in the first place, nor yet to read, or chant Common-Prayer in a Cathedral Tone) but to preach the Gospel. For though I preach the Gospel, yet I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is laid upon me, yea, Wo is unto me if I preach not the Gospel; And that dreadfull injunction of God himself by Paul to Timothy, (whom ouraSee Bishop Downh…ms Consecration Sermon; Bishop Halls Remonstrance, & Divine Right of Episcopacy; Mr. Sudburyes; Mr. Sandcrofts, and Dr. Allest…yes Sermons at the last Consecrations of Bishops, 1660. Bishops and their Chaplains, as well in their late as former Consecration Sermons and Discourses, will needs make to be a Diocaesan Bishop or Motropolitan by Divine institution, upon whom they found their Episcopacy, and therefore must be equally lyable to this injunction, as well as Timothy)b2 Tim, 4, 1, 2, 3. fully refuted in my Vnbishoping of Timothy and Titus I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Iesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his Kingdom, preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season, rebuke, reprove, exhort with all long-s…ffering and doctrine, Do the work of an Evangelist, make full proof of thy Ministry. Thus seconded by his Charge to the Bishops of Ephesus, cActs 20. 28, 20, 21.Take heed therefore unto your selves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy G…ost hath made you Bishops, to feed the Church of God (by teaching publickly, and from House to House) which he hath purchased with his own blood. The due consideration whereof should terrifie and amaze all Non-preaching, or Rare-preaching Bishops and Ministers, who by their Curates or Choristers read or sing Common-Prayers once or twice every day or Lords day at the least, and yet seldom personally preach the Gospel to their People once a Month, Quarter, Year; yea cry up Common-Prayers to suppresse frequent constant preachings; when as thedSessio 24. Decr. de Reformatione, cap. 4. Surius Concil. Tom. 4. p. 976, 9… 7. Council of Trent it self resolves, That preaching of Gods word is the principal part of a Bishops Office, and belongeth chiefly to Bishops; Whereupon it enjoyns them, and the Parish-Priests throughout their Diocesse, to preach every Lords day, and Holy day, and in the time of Easts, Lent, and Advent, to preach the word of God daily, or at least thrice a week, and at all other times whenever it may be oportunely done, for the salvation of this people, whom they are diligently to admonish, that they repair to the Church to hear Gods word, when ever they can conveniently do it. YeaeSermo 10… De Observanti… …abbat…. Bernardinus Senensu, a famous Popish Fryer, is not afraid to assert, That the People are more obliged to hear, and Priests to preach the word of God, than to hear or say Masse; and that experience manifests, that the People will incomparably suffer more prejudice both in faith and manner, and grow more void of the fear, love, knowledge of God, and veneration of the Sacraments, and more over-grown with the stench and horror of sinnes, by the want of preaching, than by the want of Masse and Common-Prayer; concluding, Sic utique est populus sine divino verbo licet etiam Missae frequententur, sicut mundus s…e sole, That the People without the preaching of Gods word, although they frequent Masse and Common-Prayers, will be but like the World without the Sun. And therfore all our Bishops, Ministers should much more diligently presse and apply themselves to the diligent frequent preaching, and all People to the assiduous hearing of Gods word, than to the reading or hearing of Common-Prayers, which too many esteem the principal means to instruct and save their Souls, and more necessary than preaching of the Gospel of Christ, though aRom. 1, 16, 17. c. 10. 13, 14, 15. 1 Cor. 1. 16, 17, 21.the Power of God …nto salvation, and principle means of faith, of converting and saving the Souls of those who believe it.
6. That there are somethings in the Book of Common-Prayer very necessary and fit to be amended; As 1. the mis-recital of Ezech. 18. 21, 22. in the very beginning of the Book, which many much abuse, to the deferring of their repentance. 2ly. The continuance of the old English Translations of the Psalmes, Epistles, Gospels, and other Texts of Scripture, according to the Versions of Mr. Tyndal, Thomas Matthews, and Mr. Coverdale, which are not so exact, so agreeable with the Original, and Dialect of this Age, as the more compleat, refined Translation made by King Iames his Command, now only read and used in our Churches, and most private Families: Therefore most fit to be used, and henceforth inserted into the Common-Prayer-book, to take away all former controversies and exceptions against the old Translation, as well by Mr. Thomas Cartwright, the Lincoln-shire-Ministers, the Assembly of Perth, and others heretofore, and ofaHis Necessity of Reformation of the Publike Worship, Rites, Ceremonies, London 1660: foreign In nomine Iesu omne genu flectatur. Dr. Cornelius Burgesse, with sundry more of late times; especially against that of Psal. 105. v. 28. (occasioned by the Printers omission of one syllable, to wit, obedient, for disobedient,) not the Translators. Only I shall observe, that the old Translation of Phil. 2. 10. in the Epistle for Palm-Sunday; according to the Greek Original, all Latin translations but one, all English Versions whatsoever but the Geneva, and that of King Iames, (which ought to be amended in this particular) truly rendred the words, That IN (not AT) the Name of Iesus every knee be bowed, or should bow (in the passive, not active verbe and sense) of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, &c. till corrupted and turned into AT (not IN) the name of Iesus every knee should bow, &c. in the active, not passive signification, by Dr. Cosins, about 25. years past: expresly against the Original, the Latin, and most other translations whatsoever, the old English translations of Trevisa, Tyndall, Matthews, Coverdale, the Bishops Bible, Dr. Fulke, Mr: Cartwright, the Epistles and Gospels printed in English at Paris, Anno 1558. yea against the very sense and scope of the Text it self, and our English dialect; foreign, In Nomine, &c. being never rendred or translated At, but IN the name alone, in all Texts, Liturgies, Collects, Writs, Warrants, Histories, Authors whatsoever; and the phrase At the name, never heard of, read, used in any English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Syriack, A… abick, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Sclavonian, or other Writer whatsoever, but only in this text; and all to justifie the Ceremonie of bowing the head, and putting off the hat at the sound, or hearing of the name Iesus: first introduced and prescribed by Pope Gregory the 10. about the year of Christ 1272. at the reading of the Gospel only; after that enjoyned by other Popes, Popish Canons, Decrees and Masse-books, with indulgences annexed for the users thereof to induce them thereunto; though never intended nor prescribed by this text, nor practised in the Primitive Church for above 1200 years space, nor in the Reformed Churches abroad, nor enjoyned by the Common-Prayer-book, or any Injunctions or Canons of our Church confirmed by Parliament, to make them valid, as I haveaIn the Appendix to my Anti-arminianism, concerning bowing at the name of Jesus, Lame Giles his Haltings, Certain Quaeres propounded to the bowers at the Name of Jesus, Anno 1636. Canterburies Doome, p. 64. elsewhere proved at large.
3ly. The frequent repetition of the Lords Prayer, purposely instituted, prescribed to prevent much babling, and vain repetitions in prayer, (inb1 Kings 18. 26, 27, 28. See Ecclesiasticus 7. 4. use only among the heathens, who thought they should be heard for their much speaking) expresly prohibited by our Saviour, Mat. 6. 7, to 16. and by Eccles. 5. 1, 2. Prov. 10. 19. Which Repetitions seem to countenance thecSee my Plassant purge for a Roman-Catholick. Papists vain Battologies and abuse of the Lords Prayer in their Missals, Offices, Rosaries, Psalters, Beads, by many successive rehersals thereof, against the expresse command and institution of Christ.
4ly. The often rehearsals of Good Lord deliver us; Wee beseech thee to hear us good Lord, by all the People in the reading of the Letany: Which Antiphonies and Responsals between Minister, Clerk and People (exceptdDeut. 27. 15. 1 Chron 16. 36. Neh 5. 13 c. 8 6 Psal. 41. 13. Ps. 72. 19. Ps. 89. …3. Ps. 106. 48. Rom 1. 25. Mat 6. 13. 1 Cor. 14. 16. Phil 4. 20. 1 Tim. 1. 17. Rev 5. 14. c. 7. 12. c. 19. 4. Amen at the cloze of every Prayer) have no precept nor president in Scripture or solid Antiquity, but only in Popish Missals, Pontificals, Offices, Processionals, Ceremonials, Psalters, Primers.
I shall not at all insist upon kneeling at the Sacrament, the Crosse in Baptism, the Ring in Mariage, for which there is neither command nor example in Scripture or the Primitive Church next after the Apostles, which Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Knewstubs, the Lincolnshire Ministers, Mr. Parker, Mr. Paybody, Doctor Burgesse, Archbishop Whitguift, Master Hooker, Doctor Prideaux, and sundry others have at large debated, pro & contra, and may be omitted, or left arbitrary to all; but only confine my self to some few Particulars, which others have but slightly touched, not satisfactorily discussed.