Christian Liberty Vindicated, Appendix
An Appendix of 17. Queſtions, neceſſary to be diſcuſſed and determined by the Aſſembly of Divines without delay, that every one may know what to hold and reſt in, and the unnaturall diviſions in the ſame Body may ceaſe.
1. VVHether it be not best to have one ſet Form of Prayer to be publikely uſed throughout this Kingdom, inſtead of the Old Liturgie, as conducing moſt to Uniformity and to Unity, and is moſt agreeable to the practice of other Reformed Churches, and the judgement of our moſt judicious Calvin, and others of great note in the Church of God. The Prayer made by each Preacher in the Pulpit being ſhort at ordinary times, and onelyonly ad appoſitum, but the Lords Prayer not left out, but once at the leaſt uſed every day, as …s therein implyed, that it ought to be, for feare of cheriſhing that opinion of ſome, that it is no Prayer, but onelyonly a pattern for direction.
2. Whether it be not neceſſary for us all to have one Catechiſme, to avoid confuſion, by teaching divers in divers places, and to be ſo ſhort, yet full, that the meaneſt capacities may be capable of learning it, and to injoyne the diligent teaching of it in every Congregation, till that all have hereby ſome good diſtinct knowledge to ſalvation formed in them.
3. Whether the celebration of the Lords Supper may be deferred at any time without limitation of time, becauſe the Paſſeover might not, although it were ſo that ſome came to it not prepared, according to the preparation of the Sanctuary, as in Hezekiah his time?
4. Whether all the Communicants ought not to ſit about the Table, and not be left to this disjunction either at it, or neere to it? for then in one Church they may ſit ſtill to have it carried to them to other ſeates about, and in another ſit at the Table, which tends to diviſion in Chriſts Churches, that ought all to goe by one Rule.
5. VVhether the Miniſter ought not to forbeare giving the Bread to the Communicants before that be hath ſaid all the words of institution touching the ſame, becauſe it is in the Directory ſaid after theſe words, Take, eate, here he ſhall give them the bread, and whether his giving it ought to be any other then moving the veſſell wherein it is towards them, that each one after other may take it himſelfe, and then move it to the next, till it comes to the neather end, becauſe theſe things are not ſufficiently expreſſed.
6. VVhy upon a day of Thanksgiving an afternoones meeting it intimated contrary to Nehem. 8.10, 12. as though all the rejoycing then muſt bee ſpirituall, and none civill, which alſo hath beene uſed commonly, Judg. 21.19, 21. Hoſea 2.11. Either 9.19, &c.
7. Whether the keeping of the feaſt of the Nativity of our Lord, ought to be altogether ſleighted as ſuperſtitious, ſith it is of greater Antiquity by far, then any other holy-days intituled from the Saints, and although not commanded by the Lord in expreſſe word; yet it is by conſequence, and commended by the Saints doing the like in former ages; as by Eſter and Mordecai appointing the Feaſt of Purim to be kept that the remembrance of the Jewes deliverance by Eſter might never be forgotten: And by Judas Maccabeus the Feaſt of Dedication, graced by Chriſts owne keeping of it, Joh. 10. And for the Antiquity conſult with Chryſoſtome, J…r…my, and Auguſtine, who lived before Gregory the firſt, who had this fault, that he was very ſuperſtitious; and therefore this day, and the Reſurrection, and Pentecoſt, being kept before all Popiſh ſuperstition by the teſtimony of the foreſaid worthies, cannot be taxable hoc nomine, but for ſuperfluity and exceſſe of riot onelyonly then uſed, which as chaffe let be winnowed away, but let the VVheat remaine.
8. VVhether the diſorder of ſome of this or that particular Congregation in going commonly from that, whereof they are members, upon the Lords day, may be tollerated, where there is a faithfull and painfull Paſtour, as conducing to their more edification, becauſe this is pleaded, yet to doe ſo is apparently evill, the diſcouraging and quenching of the ſpirit in one Miniſter of Chriſt, and puffing up of another, a ground of diſorder laying in many, who are glad of ſuch a pretext to goe for other ends, &c. Et non faciendum eſt malum ut inde proveniat bonum.
9. VVhether being uncovered for reverence to God and his Ordinance in men in…me of propheſying, ought not to be commended to the people, becauſe S. Paul ſpeakes of it as aſha… and diſhonour to a man to doe ſo, as in praying, ſo in propheſying.
10. Whether the children of beleeving Parents ought not to bee baptized, and whether ſprinkling ſufficeth without dipping, and what ſolid reaſons of both theſe.
11. Whether Sureties are not rather to be accepted then rejected; for ſomuch as we ſay. Abundans cautela non nocet, and many poore children have fared the better for their God-fathers or Godmothers.
12. Whether both in adminiſtring this Sacrament and that of the Lords Supper, it were not better to have a preſcribed form of prayer, then to commit it to each Miniſters preſent conception, becauſe ſo this ſervice muſt needs be unequally performed, and by ſome very deficiently.
13. Whether private meetings for preaching may be tollerated, where the publike place is open, becauſe Chriſtians met not in corners of old, but being inforced through perſecution; about this Ordinance and this ſeperating, is a condemning of our Congregations as impure and Antichriſtian.
14. Whether perſons juſtified by faith in Chriſt, thenceforth are not lyable to ſin any more.
15. Whether Chriſts deſcent into hell be to be reteined as an Article, of our Faith, becauſe it was out of the Apoſtles Creed in the Latin Churches for 500. yeares.
16. Whether there be not a Catholike Church.
17. Whether the Articles of our Faith and Ten Commandements have not need to be recited in the Congregation every Lords day.
Touching all theſe, great ſatisfaction may be given to thouſands by their determinations and convincing reaſons, and ſo moſt probably our Church-tempeſt will turne into a calme; but otherwiſe it will probably rage more and more.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Mayer, Christian Liberty Vindicated (1647)