A Just Defense of Hearing the Sermons, Chapter 7 · Section 8
Sect. 8. No Particularity instituted is a meer Circumstance, yet Particularities undetermined are.
Object. If to what hath hitherto been proposed, it be said, That the Liturgy, or Common-Prayer Book, is no essential part of Worship, but meerly circumstantial: Praying, tis true, is part of Worship, but praying in this or that Form is not so, but meerly a circumstance thereof: And therefore, though it be true, that the present Ministers of England worship God after the way of the Common-Prayer Book; yet it follows not, that they worship him after a way that is not of his appointment. To this we answer,
1. That many things are strenuously supposed, as the Basis upon which the weight of this Objection is laid, which the Framers thereof knowing to be no easie task to demonstrate, do earnestly beg us to grant unto them: which being matter of greater moment than many are aware of, we shall not part with, on such easie terms. Tis supposed,
First, That there are some things in the instituted Worship of Christ, that are meerly circumstances thereof, as such.
Secondly, That it is lawful for Saints to pray in a Form.
Thirdly, That Forms of Prayer imposed, are but meer circumstances of Worship, and no essential parts thereof.
Fourthly, That circumstances of Worsh…p, as such, are not determined by the Lord in the Scripture, but left to the wills of men, to determine therein as they shall judge meet. All unproved. Of the last of we have already spoken, and shall not here re-assume the debate thereof.
Touching the First, That there are s…me things in the instituted Worship of Christ, that are meerly circumstances thereof, as such, we crave liberty to deny, which, till the proof be attempted, may suffice. Circumstances in the worship of Christ, attending religious actions, as actions, we grant;) but circumstances of Worship, as such, will never be proved:) To inferr, that because time and place, with sundry things of the like nature, are circumstances in Worship, therefore there are circumstances of Worship, as such, is frivol…us: Those things being the attendments of religious actions, common to any civil actions of the like nature, to be performed by the Sons of men; No action to be managed by a community, can be orderly performed by them, without such an assignment of time and place: Publick Prayer being so to be managed, as a religious action, hath the circumstances before mentioned attending it; and so it would, were it a meer civil action, to be performed by a community, though it related not at all to the Worship of God.
Answ. It is not true, that the Objection supposeth, That some things in the instituted Worship of Christ, are but meer circumstances thereof, as such: meaning, that any particularity of that action, which Christ hath prescribed for his Worship, being instituted by him, is a meer arbitrary circumstance, and not a necessary part of that Worship. It is held in the Lords Supper, and all institutions of Christ, in which particularities are expressed, there should be strict observation of them, as part of the Worship: But in things not determined, liberty is allowed to vary; and therefore, if Christ have not instituted, that you shall pray without a Book, or set Form, Prayer by it may be lawfully done. The distinction of circumstances in, and of the Worship of Christ; of religi…us actions, as actions, or as religi…us, a…e but unnecessary nice…ies, so long as the meaning of the Objection is manifest, That the praying in this, or that Form, is not a part of the Worship; as if without it, the Worship were not, or not according to Christs institution, but an accident of it, which may adesse vel abesse, which is in effect, if … understand this Author, the same which he grants, That there are circumstances in the W…rship of Christ, attending religi…us actions, as actions which are not in their particula…ities expresly prescribed by Christ And if we agree in the thing, it is but frivolous to wrangle about words.