The Conformists Plea, Commentary
The Commiſſioners in the Savoy, 1661.
In regard of the many defects which have been obſerved in that Verſion of the Scriptures which is uſed throughout the Liturgy, —We therefore deſire in ſtead thereof the New Tranſlation allowed by Authority, may alone be uſed. 8. p. 5.-9. It is therefore deſired that nothing may be read in the Church for Leſſons but the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Teſtament.
Exception 3. We deſire that the words, For thine is the Kingdom—may be always added to the Lord's Prayer.
Except. p. 13. The Leſſons, and Epiſtles, and Goſpels, being for the moſt part neither Pſalms nor Hymns, we know no Warrant why they ſhould be ſung in any place; and conceive that the diſtinct reading of them with an audible Voice, tends more to the edification of the Church.
Excep. We deſire it may be uſed but once in the Morning, and once in the Evening.
Except. We deſire that ſome Pſalm or Scripture-Hymn, may be appointed inſtead of that Apocryphal.
Except. We deſire it may be left out.
The Prefaces of many Collects ſeem not to have any clear and ſpecial reſpect to the Petitions, &c. Partic. p. 7.
In the Order for the Lord's Supper. Except. The time here aſſigned (in the Rubrick) for notice to be given to the Miniſter, is not ſufficient.
Except. We deſire the Miniſters power, both to admit and repulſe from the Lord's Table, may be, according to his Majeſty's Declaration, Octob. 25. 1660.
Except. Collections for the Poor may be better made at, or a little before the departure of the Communicants.
We deſire it may be made by the Miniſter only.
We deſire that the following Rubrick in the Common-Prayer Book of 5. of Edw. 6. may be reſtored, for the Vindication of the Church, in the matter of kneeling at the Sacrament, &c.
It being doubtful whether either the Flood Jordan, or any other Waters, were ſanctified to a Sacramental uſe by our Saviour's being baptized:— We deſire this may be otherwiſe expreſſed.
18. General Propoſal. After ſtrong arguing, they conclude, We therefore moſt earneſtly entreat the right reverend Fathers and Brethren, to whom theſe Papers are delivered, as they tender the Glory of God, the Honour of Religion, the Peace of the Church, the Service of his Majeſty, in the accompliſhment of that happy Union, which his Majeſty hath ſo abundantly teſtified his Deſires of, to join with us in importuning his moſt Excellent Majeſty, that his moſt gracious Indulgence, as to theſe Ceremonies granted in his Royal Declaration, may be continued and confirmed to us and our Poſterities, and extended to ſuch as do not yet enjoy the Benefit thereof.
Of Private Baptiſm
We deſire that Baptiſm may not be in a private place at any time, unleſs by a lawful Miniſter, and in the preſence of a competent number; and where it is evident that any Child hath been ſo baptized, no part of the Adminiſtration may be reiterated in publick under any limitations, and therefore we do not ſee any need of any Liturgy in that Caſe.
Exception of Confirmation.
Altho we charitably ſuppoſe the meaning of theſe words was only to exclude the neceſſity of any other Sacraments to baptized Infants; yet theſe words are dangerous, as to the miſleading of the Vulgar, and therefore we deſire they may be expunged.
Except. of the Catechiſm.
We deſire the firſt Queſtion may be altered, conſidering for 20 Years paſt, many had no God-fathers; and and the 7th Q. The ſecond Anſw. Wherein I was viſibly admitted into the number of the Members of Chriſt. That the Commandments may be inſerted according to the laſt Tranſlation of the Bible. That in the Expoſition of the Commandments, ſome clauſe may be inſerted to refer to the fourth Commandment, that thoſe words be omitted. Anſwer, thus given, Two only, Baptiſm, and the Lord's Supper, &c. A more full Explication of the Creed, Lord's Prayer, and Ten Commandments, &c.
Except. of the Form of Marriage.
The word Worſhip, being much altered in the uſe of it, ſince this Form was drawn up, we deſire ſome word may be uſed inſtead of it.
This Rubrick doth either enforce all to forbear Marriage as are unfit for the Sacrament, or the unprepared to come to the Sacrament. And therefore we deſire it may be omitted, the rather becauſe that Marriage Feſtivals are too often accompanied with ſuch divertiſements, as are unſuitable to thoſe Chriſtian Duties which ought to be before, and follow after the receiving of that Holy Sacrament.
Except. Viſitation of the Sick.
That form of Abſolution be declarative and conditional, as [I pronounce thee Abſolved] inſtead of [I abſolve thee] if thou doſt truly repent and believe.
This Pſalm (121) ſeems not to be ſo pertinent as ſome other, viz. Pſal. 113. & Pſal. 128.—
Except, Burial of the Dead.
Theſe words cannot in truth be ſaid of Perſons living and dying in open and notorious Sins.
Except. in the Litany.
In regard that the Wages of Sin is Death; We deſire that this clauſe may be thus altered, From Fornication, and all other hainous or grievous Sins.
Gen. Propoſition, 12. p. 6.
Becauſe ſinging of Pſalms is a conſiderable part of publick Worſhip, We deſire that the Verſion ſet forth and allowed to be ſung in Churches, may be amended, or that we may have leave to make uſe of a purer Verſion.