Enjoyned by Authority to be used Obj. The grand great and chief exception that is taken against our Liturgy is that our Book of Common-Prayer is Popery taken out of the Popish Mass-book Answ To this we answer in general before we come to examine particulars Be pleased to take into your consideration this moderate point of Wisdom that all that the Papists have or make use of cannot properly be called or accounted Popery as we call Popery The old Rule is good here Qui hene distinguit bene docâ—t It is the part of a Wise-man to distinguish things to put a difference between things and not to confound and put together things that differ Therefore we should rightly know what Popery is Popery is properly the Errours Abuses Corruptions Superstitions Idolatries and Abominations which are used and mantained by the Pope Papists and Church of Rome either in Doctrine or Worship These indeed may properly and truly be called and accounted Popery if we submit our selves to the Pope of Rome receive his Laws his Doctrine his Worship if we cleave to his Adherents to them that worship him and receive his Mark if we maintain or profess either those false Doctrines or that Superstitious or Idolatrous worship which is professed among them and maintained by them Then indeed we may be rightly said to fall into Popery and to incline unto iâ— but if we call all those truths which they have and are kept sound among them in matters of Doctrine or those things which in matter of Worship are good and pure and free from corruption by the name of Popery we are very much mistaken If we must make use of nothing in the Service and Worship of God which they use nor may have liberty to assume to our selves the right use of those things which they do or have abused being purged from their corruptions we must then leave and renounce the Scriptures both the Old and New Testament both Baptism and the Supper of the Lord yea renounce all the Ordinances of God pull down our Churches and abandon all Religion Now it is known to the world that the Church of England renounceth the usurped power of the Pope of Rome and doth disclaim all his Religion and Laws all Errours Heresies Superstitions Idolatries and Abominations of the Church of Rome so that no man can accuse her unjustly of Popery or brand her with the name of Popery seeing she hath made a full Separation from the Church of Rome And though she maketh use of some things which they use in the Service and Worship of God yet they are such things as are lawful in themselves and fully purged from their Corruptions and Superstitions and cannot justly be accounted or called Popery The Church of Rome was once a true and sound Church though we profess no perfection in the world and not so pure but might be tainted with some Corruption and was famous for the profession of the true Faith and Doctrine of Christ Rom. 1. 8. Their Faith was spoken of throughout the whole world and as for her Bishops they were godly men most of them being Martyrs for three hundred years after Christ and more yet she was never accounted the Catholick or Universal Church but a Member of the Catholick or Universal Church But as time doth corrupt all things so she by degrees fell into corruption The Church of England even in the time of Popery was a Member of the Catholick or Universal Church and had not the being of a Church of Christ from Rome or by separating her self from Rome but having her eyes opened to see her Errours and her Spirits quickned and revived she began to think upon a necessity of Reformation and so cast off the yoak of Anti-christ and the usurped power of the Pope of Rome with all his Errours Superstitions and Abominations and sought to bring her Children to the right Faith of Christ and to the true and pure Worship and Service of God And examining the Liturgy and Book of Common Prayer then in use and finding it corrupted and fallen from the ancient purity she composed a new one of her own and though perhaps in some things it might not be much disagreeing from the former yet seeing those things were pure and sound free from corruption and after the ancient Form of Liturgies of the Church she thought good to retain them and to continue them for her use We do acknowledge our Liturgy and Book of Common-Prayer to be the work of man and as by man it was first composed so by man it may be at any time altered or put down and there is no work of man so perfect though never so absolute and compleat but may have some Errour in it or be tainted with some Corruption But that it is Popish Superstitious Idolatrous or Anti-christian as some who had more Zeal then Knowledge have been bold to defame it savoureth of too much Ignorance Pride Rashness and Presumption This we altogether deny and the very Ordinance of Lords and Commons which did put down this Book of Common-Prayer as you may see in the Preface to the Directory did not accuse it of any such matter as Superstition or Idolatry no nor so much as of Errour but speaketh reverently of the first Composers of it and modestly and discreetly of the Book it self onely they alledge this that they found by experience that it proved an offence to many at home and abroad disquieted many mens Consciences of Ministers and others was too much heightned by the Prelates made as it were an Idol by many ignorant people was a means to hearten Papists and to nourish an idle Ministry therefore did agree and resolve to put it down and to set up the Directory in its room Though it be granted that some things in this our Book do agree with theirs not so much perhaps as some imagine and give out yet if we do acknowledge that Rome was once a true and sound Church we cannot but suppose her Doctrine and Worship Then to be sound and pure although since it hath been corrupted if then upon our Reeformation for we did not make a new Church but only reformed the Errours of the old our prudent Reformers did take such things as were good and pure after the ancient Form of the Liturgies of the Church which they had corrupted with Errours being purged and refined for their use what just cause have we to complain The abuse of a thing doth not abolish or take away the Right use of it that were as the Heathen said to take the Sun out of Heaven that hath been worshipped and abused There is no Creature made by God or thing used and made by man but hath been some way wronged or abused They were Wise-men and godly men who did at first make and compose this Book of Common-Prayer some of the chiefest of them being Martyrs and burned in Queen Marys days for the Profession of our Protestant Religion and
Four years if you Examine the time after this Book was made and Confirmed by that Act of Parliament of King Edward the Sixth So that no man can truely say or Judge that this Book of Common Prayer is Popery or was taken out of the Popish Mass Book much less that it was the Mass Book Translated Seeing it was set forth by King Edward as he affirmeth made with great Deliberation and the Advice of the best Learned of the Realm For all the World will acknowledge and bear witness that King Edward and his Divines were no Papists but the great and onely Opposers of Popery Opposing it strongly and stoutly to the Death the most of them suffering as Martyrs and Sealing our Religion with their Blood I will Conclude with the Answer of our English Divines which were at Stransburge to their English Brethren at Frankeford who were all forced by Queen Mary Anno Dom. 1554. for their Religion to fly beyond Sea to save their lives They at Frankford being friendly Entertained submitted too easily to the Orders of the Churches there used and did not onely leave off Our Communion Book then so called our Book of Common Prayer themselves and the Orders of the Church of England but wrote to their Brethren of Stransburge perswading them to Joyn with them and to do the like But they of Stransburge wisely considering the Inconveniences which would fall upon it if they did Consent unto them upon mature Deliberation Resolved to keep still the Orders and Liturgy of the Church of England and not to Change sending their Answer dated Novemb. 28. Subscribed with Sixteen Hands in these Words This were say they to Condemne the Authors of this our Book of Common Prayer who most of them Suffered as Martyrs It would give Occasion to our Adversaries to Accuse our Doctrine of Imperfection and us of Mutability To make the Godly to Doubt in that Truth wherein before they were perswaded And to Hinder their Coming hither which before they had purposed Think seriously of these things Do the Martyrs no wrong Do our Church our Religion no wrong Do the Godly Living and Dead no wrong Do your Selves no wrong Remember the Story which Josephus Relateth in his Fift and Sixth Book De Bellâ— Judaico Of those who called themselves Zelotae among the Jews pretending much to Religion who when Vespatians Army came up against Jerusalem took upon them to stand for the maintenance of their Religion to defend the City and especially to preserve the Temple But by their Dissentions between them and Simon and John who all pretended to defend the Temple they were the Chief and onely cause and occasion of Burning the Temple down much against the mind of Titus the Emperour their Enemy who desired to save it and Laboured what he could with his Souldiers to quench the Fire and to preserve the Temple though all in vain But they all pay'd dear at last and perished miserably in the end You know what they of Athens said of their Divisions Auximus Philippum Dissentionibus Nostris We have much Increased the power of Philip King of Macedon our great Adversary by our Dissentions and what can we expect to be the Issue of our unhappy Differences but the Strengthning and Increasing of the Power and Malice of our Adversaries against us and in the End without Gods Mercy the utter Ruine and Destruction both of our selves and of our Religion Let there be no Strife I pray thee saith Abraham to Lot Gen. 13. between thee and me between thy Herdsmen and my Herdsmen for we are Brethren Abraham fearing the danger of Division though the Elder and Better yet Submitteth himself for Peace goeth to Lot his Nephew and offereth any Conditions for Peace we should remember that we all professe our selves to be the Children of Abraham we are Brethren we should herein Imitate Abraham our Father Submit one to another for Peace loose any thing rather then Peace and not take Offence at every thing making a Difference Breach and Disturbance about Trifles things of so poor and small concernment but think upon the danger of Contention and take the Apostles Counsel Rom. 14. 19. Let us follow after the things which make for Peace that as Rom. 15. 6. we may with one mind and one mouth Glorifie God and may all Indeavour to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace FINIS
thankfulness and Honour Now what tribute of thankfulness and Honour shall we give them if no just cause requiring it we slight despise and reject this their Work which they Composed with so much pains industry care wisdom and discretion went through so many difficulties and dangers to compass it yea gave up their Lives to the Fire to Defend iâ— 2. The putting down of this Book would also call in question the Wisdom and Gravity of all our Parliaments which have been these hundred years which have not only passed it over and consented to it but Established it and again and again Confirmed it by Law Our Parliament is the great Representative of our Land and Kingdom made up of the most Learned most Wise most Godly and choicest men of the Realm And if this Book were so Erroneous Superstitious or Idolatrous as some defame it surely we cannot conceive but some of them would have seen and observed those Errours and moved to have had it some way changed or altered in so many years seeing they are as much concerned in it as any and their duty doth much lie upon it to see our Religion pure the putting down then of it now upon such an account could not but be a great blemish to them 3. This would also prejudice and wrong not only the Learning and Wisdom but the Integrity Sincerity and Conscientiousness of all our Godly and Grave Divines who have lived and been in England since the first Reformation of this our Protestant Religion who have not only submited to it but have subscribed to it as lawful and not contrary to the Word of God Were all blind and have led the blind all this time and could not see such gross Errours as are now pretended to be in it we cannot conceive so hardly or uncharitably of them but suppose they were as Learned Wise Religious and Conscientious as our selves But if we now make a change of it upon that account either of Errour Superstition or Idolatry we must needs acknowledge and confess some great defect in them either that they failed in knowledge or in Conscience or in both and so condemn them all 4. Let it be granted that this Book should be put down then one of these two must needs follow then either there must be no Form of Common-prayer set up and prescribed or a new Form devised 1. If there should be no Form set up but every man left at Liberty and have Liberty of Conscience as we call it to do what is good in his our own eyes we have seen too much of the fruits of that already There is no man so blind but can see it is that Liberty of Conscience which hath been long given and taken among us which hath brought all these Errours Schisms Sects Factions Heresies and Divisions among us which without Gods mercy must needs end in Confusion Forms of prayer of Common-prayer were first set up and are still continued especially to this end to stop Errours to stop Schisms prevent Factions preserve Order and to keep Unity and Uniformity in the Church 2. If a new Form should be devised to satisfie the Niceness Curiosity or Scrupulousness of some who are never long content with one thing but still running upon change What Form could possibly be invented to content all especially in these times wherein we are all broken and shattered into as many Sects Factions Shreds and Pieces almost as be Persons Nothing can possibly be framed to satisfie all and it is probable that whatsoever should be devised would be as little or less satisfactory then this Now upon these Grounds and Reasons as we may Conjecture and many other which might be alledged it hath been judged most expedient to continue this our Book of Common-prayer being somewhat altered in those things which were excepted against and to Confirm it because of the Fickleness of our nature who are never long content with any set course in any thing or in any condition of Life but still greedy and desirous of Novelty and Change though many times the change prove for the worse The truth is all men yea Wise-men and Good men have their Affections and the misery is that men are many time more swayed with their affections then ruled by judgment or over-ruled as they ought to be with perfect reason which should regulate the judgment Some meerly out of humour and prejudice who never did examine this Book of Common prayer throughly with understanding and judgment nay perhaps did never so much as vouchsafe to read it over unless it were in a Cursory way but if they â—aw it threw it away with indignation counting it an abominable thing yet clamour against it as Popish Superstitious Idolatrous and Anti-christian Surely Doctor Rowlard Taylor Minister of Hadley in Suffolk who in the times of Queen Mary was there burned at Hadley February 9. 1555. dying a glorious Martyr for the Testimony of the Gospel was no Papist nor Superstitious Idolater You may read in the Book of Martyrs how stoutly he defended our Religion to the face of Stephen Gardener then Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellour and told them plainly that he was a Revolter that he had forsaken the truth denyed our Saviour Christ and his Word and done contrary to his Oath and Writing which he gave and made in the time of Henry the 8th and Edward the 6th and there maintained as Mr. Fox Recordeth Marriage of Priests and the Communion against the Mass and the Papists Propitiatory Sacrifice for Quick and Dead denying Transubstantiation c. And at last when he was delivered over to be carryed to the Kings Bench he fell down upon his knees and lifting up both his hands prayed and said Good Lord I thank thee and from the Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable Errours Idolatries and Abominations Good Lord deliver us c. By these words you may see he was neither Papist not Idolater Yet this man and Martyr who was Doctor both of the Civil and Canon Laws a right perfect Divine as Mr. Fox stileth him who was so Learned Godly and Religious stood so stoutly and strongly against Popery and dyed so constantly for our Religion did not take this Book of Common-prayer then usually called the Sevice-book to be Popish Superstitious Idolatrous or Anti-christian for as Mr. Fox tells us he had it constantly by him and made use of it during all the time of his Imprisonment And the Night after he was degraded and so put over to the Secular Power his Wife and his Son Thomas and John Hull his Servant came and were by the Keepers of the Kings prison suffered to Sup with him And at their coming in before Supper they all kneeled down and said the Letany which by some is now reputed the worst and most Abominable part of all the Book of Common-prayer besides this Mr. Fox there reporteth that when this Doctor Rowland Taylor was to be carryed away
Book of Martyrs that when Bishop Latymer and Ridley were brought to the stake to be burnt for our Religion Mr. Latymer spoke these words to Bishop Ridley Be of good Comfort Mr. Ridley and play the man we shall this day by Gods grace Light such a Candle in England as I trust shall never be put out again This Candle by Gods mercy hath burnt hitherto and by his blessing if our sins do not hinder may continue and never be put out again Mr. Bagshaw who made a strong Speech in the beginning of our late Long-Parliament against our Bishops to bring them all into a Premunire for their late Canons then made and exceeding and going beyond their Commission according to Law giveth this honourable testimony of the Martyrs who first stood for our Religion in the Commendation of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge that William Sawtree was Martyrum Primus Ridley Martyrum Doctissimus and Bradsord Martyrum Piissimus yet all these stout Champions for the truth who were the very Pillars to bear up our Religion must be cryed up by these young men for Papists and this Book of Common-prayer their Work for Popery This cannot but shew a great deal of Pride and Ignorance Had these men been well bred at the Schools of the Prophets brought up at the University their full time and tarried at Jericho till their Beards were grown they would have had more Humility Modesty Wisdom and Discretion 2. For the several particulars of this Book which are either by the Ignorant Curious and prying wits of our Age or by the prejudiced Affections of men excepted against it were endless to examine all some being meer Punctilio's and Trifles not worth an answer The substance of all besides Te Deum Benedicte Gloria Patri The three Creeds the Apostles Creed the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed and the prayers there set are all Canonical Scripture which cannot be excepted against neither can any alledge and prove any thing in it to be Repugnant and contrary to the word of God only they stand upon these or such like scruples The chief exceptions which are made against this our Book of Common prayer are these 1. Against many Words Phrases of Speech wrong Translations and hard expressions in it 2. Against the set and Select Chapters called Lessons and the Epistles and Gospels appointed 3. Against the Responds and Answers of the Clerk 4. Against the Shotness and Multitude of our Prayers 5. Against the several Gestures prescribed the standing up at the Creed the bowing at the Name of our Lord Jesus kneeling at the Lords Supper 6 Against the Idolizing of this Book and clogging it with Popish Ceremonies which are against our Christian Liberty In all these we shall endeavour to give satisfaction to reasonable and moderate men by shewing the true Grounds and Reasons of them all in order Obj. There be many unfitting Words Phrases of Speech Corrupt Versions wrong Translations and hard Expressions in this Book of Common-prayer Answ We do acknowledge many passages in it have been excepted against yet of small Concernment if they had been favourably and charitably construed Exception hath been taken at the first Sentence At what time soever a sinner doth repent c. as there is no health in us in the Confession of sins at Te Deum Benedicte the praying part of the Letany by the Clerk and people at words in the Communion with Angels and Arch-angels after the Communion in the prayers which for our unworthiness we dare not and for our blindness cannot ask vouchsafe to give us for the worthiness of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord at the words in Baptism that Infants may receive Remission of sins by spiritual Regeneration at words in the Rubrick after Confirmation before the Catechism that Children baptized are undoubtedly saved though they had not Confirmation at the curses in the Commination then at many passages in the reading Psalms which are according to the old Translation Psa 28. 9. Psa 37. 38. Psa 38. 8. Psa 68. 6. Psa 105. 28. Psa 107. 40. Psa 125. 3. Then at the Epistles and Gospels being after the old Translation at some words in John 2. being the Gospel for the second Sunday after the Epiphany at words in Gal. 4. The Epistle on the fourth Sunday in Lent in Phil. 2. the Epistle on Palm Sunday and in Eph. 3. the Epistle on the 16th Sunday after Trinity But the greatest exception of all was at the words of Burial We commit his body to the ground Earth to Earth Ashes to Ashes Dust to Dust in sure and certain hope of Resurrection to eternal life These words indeed at the first sight or sound of them To be spoken of all indifferently without any distinction though their Lives had been never so bad and loose might seem somewhat strange and harsh to many an honest and well-meaning man who did not understand them aright or know the Grounds or Reasons of them 1. If you mark the words well it is not said in sure and certain hope of his or her Resurrection to eternal Life as in particular Reverence to the party deceased but the words are spoken in general In sure and certain hope of Resurrection to eternal life that is of a Resurrection to eternal life or as it is now Corrected and set down in the Book in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal Life To shew that we Christians do believe that there is a Resurrection to eternal life and that we bury our dead in a strong hope and faith that we and all true believers shall rise again to eternal life In doubtful Speeches charity should take the best construction and fairest interpretation and not pervert the meaning of the words 2. If they will not be perswaded but that it was meant by the Church as they take it and will apply it in reference to the party deceased yet this at most is but the charity of our Church and you know what the Apostle Saint Paul speaketh of charity 1 Cor. 13. 5. Charity thinketh no evil believeth all things hopeth all things covereth a multitude of faults we have no warrant in Scripture as far as I find to judge censure or condemn any man especially for his final end though he lived never so loosely he might have grace for ought we know to repent before his death but rather command to the contrary Luke 6. 37. Judge not and you shall not be judged condemn not and ye shall not be condemned Again Rom. 14. 4. Who art thou that condemnest another mans Servant He standeth or falleth saith the Apostle to his own Master And this charity is grounded upon more Reason then every one understandeth if we consider the constitution of the Government of our Church the strictness of Discipline that was set up and executed and the temper and condition of the people of those times you will find both Reason and Equity in it The Government set up was