Canon in stead of remedying their vices decreed that the Commutation of Penance shall not be without the Bishops privity XXIV The general abuse of that great ordinance of Excommunication which GOD hath left in his Church to be used as the last and greatest punishment the Church can inflict upon obstinate and great offenders and that the Prelates and their officers who of right have nothing to do with it do daily excomunicate men either for doing that which is lawful or for vain idle and trivial matters as working or opening a shop on a Holi-day for not appearing at every beck upon their summons not paying a fee or the like yea they have made it as they do all other things a hook or instrument wherewith to empty mens purses and to advance their own greatnesse and so that sacred ordinance of God by their perverting of it becomes contemptable to all men and seldome or never used against notorious offenders who for the most part are their favorites XXV Yea further the pride and ambition of the Prelates being boundlesse unwilling to be subject to either man or Laws they claim their Office and Jurisdiction to be Jure divino exercise Ecclesiastical authority in their own names and Rights and under their own Seals and take upon them temporal dignities places and offices in the Common-wealth that they may sway both swords XXVI Whence follows the taking Commissions in their own Courts and Consistories and where else they sit in matters determinable of Right at Common Law the putting of Ministers upon Parishes without the Patrons and peoples consent XXVII The imposing of Oaths of various and trivial Articles yearly upon Church-wardens and Side-men which without perjury unlesse they fall at jars continually with their Ministers and neighbours and wholly neglect their own calling XXVIII The exercising of the Oath ex Offâ—â—io and other proceedings by the way of Inquisition reaching even to mens thoughts the apprehending and detaining of men by Pursivants the frequent suspending and depriving of Ministers fining and imprisoning of all sorts of people breaking up of mens houses and studies taking away mens Books Letters and other writings seizing upon their Estates removing them from their callings separating between them and their wives against both their wills the rejection of prohibitions with threatnings and the doing of many other out-rages to the utter infringing the Lawes of the Realm and the Subjects liberties and arraigning of them and their families and of later time the Judges of the Land are so awed with the power and greatnesse of the Prelates and other wayes promoted that neither prohibition Habeas Corpus or any other lawful remedy can be had or take place for the distressed Subjects in most cases onely Papists Jesuites Priests and such others as propagate Popery or Arminianism are countenanced spared and have much liberty and from hence followed among others these dangerous consequences I. FIrst the general hope and expectation of the Romish part that their superstitious Religion will ere long be fully planted in this Kingdom again and so they are encouraged to persist therein and to practice the same openly in divers places to the high dishonour of God and contrary to the laws of the Realm II. Secondly the discouragement and destruction of all good Subjects of whom all multitudes both Clothiers Merchants and others being deprived of their Ministers and over-burthened with these pressures have departed the Kingdom to Holland and other parts and have drawn with them a great part of manufacturé of Cloth and Trading out of the land into other places where they reside whereby wooll the great staple of the Kingdom is become of small value and vends not trading is decayed many poor people want work Sea-men lose employment and the whole land much impoverished to the great dishonour of this Kingdom and blemishment to the government thereof III. The present wars and commotions hapned between his Majesty and his Subjects of Sâ—otland wherein his Maiesty and all his Kingdom are indangered and suffer greatly and are like to become a prey to the common Enemy in case the wars go on which we exceedingly fear will not onely go on but also encrease to an utter ruine of all unlesse the Prelateâ— with their dependancies be removed out of England and also they and their practises who as we under your Honours favour do verily believe and conceive have occasioned the quarrel All which we humbly refer to the consideration of this honourable Assembly desiring the Lord of Heaven to direct you in the right way to redresse all these evils FINIS THE ANATOMIE OF THE Common Prayer-Book Wherein is Remonstrated the Unlawfulness of it and that by Five several Arguments Namely From the Name of it The Rise The Matter The Manner and The Evil Effects of it John 9.31 Now we know that GOD heareth not Sinners but if any man be a Worshipper of God and doth his Will him he heareth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A pure Prayer is Gods Temple By DWALPHINTRAMIS Printed in the year 1661. TO The Well-affected READER Christian Reader OUt of a Respect to the Glory of the great God who is a God that will he worshipped by true Worshippers in Spirit and in Truth as also with a Desire of thy eternal good here is presented this following Treatise which was formerly Penned by some Eminent Orthodox Divines Late Non-Conformists wherein are many solid Arguments and Reasons declaring and clearly proving the Book of Common-Prayer or Liturgie to be wholly taken out of the Masse-book As first The Common-Prayers are taken out of the Breviary Secondly The Administration of the Sacraments Burial Matrimony Visitation of the Sick are taken out of the Ritual or Book of Rites Thirdly The Consecration of the Lords Supper Collects Epistles and Gospels are out of the Masse-book Fourthly The Ordination of Archbishops Bishops and Ministers is out of the Roman Pontifical So that the Service-book being thus unmasked is plainly evinced to be a rank Impostor in Gods Worship and notwithstanding its long Possession it is even a violent intruder in the House of God Then a Word to you Readers which are of Three sorts either doubtful in suspense vvho by this Treatise may be fully resolved or such as use it and Idolize it by strength of Reason may be brought off and that such as cannot brook it may be encouraged not only as a Learned Author observeth because many of Gods People are of the same mind but chiefly because God is of the same mind Lastly How much doth it concern all such who have lifted up their hands to the Most High God in a Solemn League and Covenant for the extirpation of Popery Prelacy Superstition Heresie Prophaness and the Reformation of Religion in Doctrine Worship and Discipline according to the Word of God and the best Reformed Churches to contend earnestly for the Truth and for purity in Gods Worship This being the prime work of the day and of this
A SHORT VIEW OF THE Prelatical Church OF ENGLAND Laid open in Ten Sections by way of Quere and Petition to the High and Honourable Court of Parliament the several Heads whereof are set down in the next two pages Written a little before the fall of that Hierarchie about the year 1641. by Iohn Barnard sometimes Minister of Batcomb in Somerset shire Whereunto is added THE ANATOMY OF THE COMMON-PRAYER Printed in the year 1661. TO THE HONORABLE AND High Court of Parliament HIgh and Mighty Power under Soveraigne Authority Assembled for God for your King and Countrey We distressed throughout the Land do earnestly begge commiseration and pitie at your helpfull hands behold see and consider how it is with us and receive graciously our humble Petitions The wisdom of our God guide you make you also valiant for Truth and Right and give you Magnanimitie of Heart Unanimity of spirit to finish the Lords Work for Gods glory for the Churches peace the Kings safety the welfare of our Kingdom and Countrey SECTION I. OF the title of the Church and why it is called Prelatical SECTION II. Of the Principal persons in this Prelatical Church and their Dependents SECTION III. Of the meanes to support their Prelatical greatness SECTION IV. Of the Prelatical rule and Government and the ends thâ—y aiâ—e at SECTION V. Of the Prelatical visitations SECTION VI. Of the Prelatical Churches and the dependents on them SECTION VII Of the Prelatical Service SECTION VIII Of the Prelatical Ministry SECTION IX Of the Prelatical Convocation SECTION X. Of the great and manifold evils of these Prelatical governments A SHORT VIEW Of the Prelatical Church OF ENGLAND SECTION I. Of the title Church and why it is called Prelatical THe Church of England now so called is the Church of our Prelates and may be rightly termed the Prelatical or Hierarchical Church of England received from Rome the seat of Antichrist and set up here after the Protestants fell off from that Papal Church for it is framed of Prelates and also of a Prelatical Clergy and onely ruled by them Quaere Whether any such Church was in the Apostles dayes or any time shortly within 2 or 300. years after Whether any such Church be among any of the reformed Churches or any where else but under the Pope the Beast which hath two Horns like a Lamb but speaketh like the Dragon Rev. 12. Whether therefore it be guided by the Spirit of Christ or by the Spirit of Antichrist Whether God ever permitted any mortal men to frame a Church after their wisdom For when he gave 1. The Pattern for his Tabernacle to Moses Exod. 25.9 and 26.30 Heb. 8.5 2. The Pattern of his Temple unto David 1 Chron. 28.19 and vers 11 12 13. 1 King 6.38 3. The Pattern of the rebuilding of it to the Prophet Ezek. 43.10 11. He did not suffer Moses nor David nor Solomon nor the Prophet nor any after them to attempt such a thing Was he so carefull for the Type and shadow and not for the Antitype and substance Whether therefore a frame of a Church after an humane device may not be altered upon good reasons by lawfull power The humble Petition That it may be considered of HOw according to the Romish fashion by the name of Church 1 The Prelates understand onâ—ly themselves and as they call them their Clergy 2. That they seclude the Nobles and Gentry the whole house of Parliament the Vpper and Lower from being of their Church and so debar them from having any right to meddle in Church matters When the title of Church monopolized now to themselves is taken in Scripture of the new Testament either for the Ministers and people together Math. 16.18 Act 12.1 and 13.1 and 9.31 and 15 22. and 14.27 and so usually Or for the people distinct from Ministers Act. 14 23. where the people are called the Church before they had Pastors set over them when Paâ—ors and people are distinguished there the people are called the Church and not the Ministers the Ministers are said to be of the Church Rev. 18.2.1.8 The Churches dâ—nomination is from the people who also are the Lords clâ—rgy Pet. 5.3 the word in English is heritage in Latine cleri and in the Greek cleros There is much complaint touching Monopolies in another nature and justly but this is taken no notice of and yet this Monopolie is a mystery of mischiefs for by this name of the Church assumed to themselves They dâ—gnifie very greatly their Prelatical power as may appear by the â—o Article of Religion which they have corrupted from that it was at first set out in Anno 1561. and 1571. 2 They decree what they please without controle as is evident by their former and late Canons 3. They strike an awefulnesse in all sorts under the sacred name of Church When the Church representative ought to be gathered of both sorts as they be now distinguished of the learned and godly Laity as well as of he clergy Why should therefore the noble Lords and the christian Spirits of the Gentry lose the right into which the Holy Ghost by calling them and the rest of his Churâ—h hath invested you In former times Parliaments have confirmed Injunctions Ecclesiastical and our Service Book containing Gods worship matters of an high nature and wâ—y not will so And if the Nobles and Commons can claim so much as to ratisie the matters Ecclesiastical being concluded upon I hope it is by pernsal thereof before else how can they in judgement confirm them And if they have wisdom from God to confirm them made why may not some chosen men be appointed to consult with the convocation house about the framing of those things which are to be sâ—â—â—orth seeing they very much â—oncern all The Brethren in the great council at Jerusalem were not shut out while the Apostles and Elders came together to consider of a great controversie in Divinity and in making their decrees but when they were sent forth they passed under their own name and the name of the brethren also Act. 15.6.22 23. David consulted with the Laity as well as with the Priests and Levites to bring up the Ark of God 1 Chron. 1â— 1 2 â— Hezekiah concerning the keeping of the Passeover took counsell thereabout not with the Priests onely but with his Princes and all the congregation in Jerusalem 2 Chron. 30.1 2. This Monopoly was not then learned among Gods people nor among the holy Apostles in their dayes SECT II. Of the principal persons in this Prelatical Church and of their Dependents upon them I. Their two Provincials Archbishops THe one of the Province of York Metropolitan of England the other of Canterbury Metropolitan of all England Dependents of Canterbury 1. His Prince-like retinue 2. His Domestick Chaplains and the rest 3. Houshold Servants 4. All his Officers for temporalities and the Revenues thereof which are very great 5. All his Spiritual Officers under him which are these
their unjustifiable courses and grievous wrongs Whether we should not endeavour to introduce that which may better the Ecclesiastical government and bring this Prelatical power within bounds and our selves from the intollerable burthen thereof The humble Petition That for these so many great and grievous evils they may be questioned and caused to reform or else be censured and punished For they never had possâ—ssion peaceably but they have been 1 Prayed against for a long time 2 Preached against by many 3 Written against by divers on this side and beyond the Seas 4 Testified against by suffering Suspension Excommunication ' deprivation open punishment to the cropping of Eares slitting of the Nose standing on the pillorie imprisonment and some have suffered death 5 Withstood by the Sword And what now remaineth but for these their evils they should be condemned by the Honorable and happy Assembly in Parliament That a better way of Government might be thought of after the wisdome of God in the State tending not to the subversien of Ecclesiastical Government but to moderate the now Prelatical governours ease the Land of excessive charges rid our selves of these insufferable evils weaken the Kingdome of Satan advance the glory and procure our own peace and happiness A short Letanie From this Prelatical pride and their Lordly dignities From all their superstitious vanities and Popish Ceremonies From their late innovations and mischievous policies From the cursed oath Ex officio and high Commission cruelties From their Romish Clergy and the peoples unsufferable maseries From their greedy gainful visitations and the Church-wardens enforced perjuries From their most corrupt Courts and their vexing slaveries From all their fruitlesse shadows and hypocritical formalities From their hatred and malice against Christs appointed Ordinances From their needlesley devised and troublesome conformities From all their Illegal proceedings and oppressing Tyrannies From their sinful Synods and all their Papal Hierarchy From Abaddon and Apollyon with their Priests Jesuites their favorites and all their furious blasphemies Good Lord deliver us A short draught of Church-government to be erected I. In every Parish THat there be a meeting of choise men for wisdome gravitie and love of Religion to wit Churchwardens else-where called Elders and Over-seers of the poor in other Churches called Deacons the number more or sewer as the place shall require These with their Pastour to come together as often as shall be judged fit at a set time and place once a moneth to look unto all within the Parish concerning their Religion their honest behaviour and peaceable demeanure and to see all abuses reformed according to the word of God and according to the godly and Ecclesiastical laws which shall be prescribed unto them This will free us from all weekly corrupt Courts and free the people from all burthensome expences and not suffer sin to raign as it doth in every Congregation II. In every division or Circuit That there be a Presbytery of Ministers such as they should be learned grave and godly men The meeting to be appointed at a certain time and place once a fortnight and in every meeting an Election to be freely made of a fit moderator in it These are to see how the government is to be observed in Parishes and how Ministers and Overseers do discharge their duties at this meeting Ministerâ— gifts are to be shewed and tryed that such as come thither may be edified and instructed and here are they to be ordained III. In every Province That there be a Provincial Synod gathered once a year of godly and learned Pastors and out of every County certain learned and grave Divines selected and the number to be according to the Circuits in every County In this to look into the Presbyterian Assemblies and to see that all things be well ordered according as they ought to be IV In the whole Nation That a general Assembly National be gathered once in three year of chosen men to consult for the general good of all to make Canons and to establish Ecclesiastical Government Of the Excelleny of this Government I. It may stand with a Monarchy for what is here that justly can be said to hinder it II. It takes off all Prelatical Lordly tyranny for every part is subordinate to another the Parochial meeting to the Superintendent and his Presbytery this Presbytery to the County Assembly this Assembly to the Provincial Synod and this to the National Convocation III. It keeps Pastours to their spiritual function and suffers them not to intermeddle in Civil and worldly affairs IV. It sets up a learned and preaching Ministry and casts out the before mentioned Prelatical destroying Clergy V. It furthers the power of Religion in Families Villages Townes Cities in Vniversities and in Princes Palaces VI. It s Christs government and easie yoke freeing Gods people from great payments as hath before been named from all the corruptions of the Courts which all the Land doth groane under from that cruel oath ex officio and that unlimited high Commission grievous to be born It s a government that aymeth at godliness and not at greatness and gain It makes none jealous of painful Pastors none to be offended at Christian meetings as if they were Conventicles none to envie other mens graces but stirreth up to wrath one over another and freely to admonish one another to further one another to Heaven It graceth very highly the godly and learned Laity It s grounded upon the word proceedeth by the word rejecting the Popish Canon Law Popish Ceremonies Popish Superstitions and Idolatry and all mens vain inventions in Doctrine Sacrament worship and government of CHRIST Lord Jesus advance thine own self in thine own Ordinance The second part of the Letanie That it may please thee to take into thine own hand thine own cause to plead against all thine Enemies which would not have thee to raign over them That it may please thee to deliver us from cruel and unreasonable men and let them be snared in the work of their own hands let their feet be taken in their own net and let them fall into the pit they dig for others We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. The Conclusion of all is this and the summe of my desire viz. that there may be a full Conformity in Doctrine and Discipline with the rest of the Protestant Churches of Scotland reformed Church of France Geneva c. 1. For this will prevent future differences betwixt the two Nations 2. Prevent the removal of many of the Kings good subjects into other countries with many other benefits This I humbly request to be taken into Consideration which being done will bring a blessing upon this Kingdome and Church The manner of CONSECRATION Of the BISHOPS IN DUBLIN By the LORD PRIMATE in this present year 1660. WHereas we have thought fit to appoint the 27th of this instant January 1660. for the Consecration of Bishops To the end therefore that the same may be
dissolute ignorant and erroneous men in the Ministry which swarme like the Locusts of Egypt over the whole Kingdome and will they but weare a Cononical Coate a Surplisse a Hood bow at the Name of Jesus and be zealous of Superstitious Ceremonies they may live as they list confront whom they please preach and vent what errours they will and neglect preaching at their pleasures without controule VII The discouragement of many from bringing up their Children in Learning the many schismes errours and strange opinions which are in the Church great corruptions which are in the Universities the grosse and lamentable ignorance almost every where among the people the want of preaching Ministers in very many places both of England and Wales the loathing of the Ministry and the general defection to all manner of profaneness VIII The swarming of lascivious idle and unprofitable Books and Pamphlets Play-books and Ballads as namely Ovids fits of Love the Parliament of Women came out at the dissolving of the last Parliament Barnes Poems Parkers Ballads in disgrace of Religion to the increase of all vice and withdrawing of people from reading studying and hearing the Word of God and other good Books IX The hindring of godly Books to be printed the blotting out or perverting those which they suffer all or most of that which strikes either at Popery or Arminianisme the adding of what or where pleaseth them and the restraints of reprinting Books formerly licensed without relicensing X The punishing and venting of Popish Arminian and other dangerous Books and Tenets as namely that the Church of Rome is a true Church and in the worst times never erred in Fundamentals that the Subjects have no propriety in their Estates but that the King may take from them what he pleaseth that all is the Kings and that he is bound by no Law and many other from the former whereof hath sprung XI The growth of Popery and increase of Papists Priests and Jesuites in sundry places but especially about London since the Reformation the frequent venting of Crucifixes and Popish pictures both engraven and painted and the placing of such in Bibles The multitude of Monopolies and Pattents drawing with them innumerable Perjuries the large increase of Customes and Impositions upon Commodities the Ship-monys and many other great burthens upon the Common wealth under which all groan XIII Moreover the Offices and Jurisdictions of Arch-Bishops Lord-Bishops Deanes Arch-Deacons being the same way of Church-Government which is in the Romish Church and which was in England in the time of Poâ—ery little change thereof being made except only the head from whence it was derived the same Arguments supporting the Pope which do uphold the Prelates and overthrowing the Prelates which do pull down the Pope and other reformed Churches having upon their rejection of the Pope cast the Prelates out also as Members of the Beast Hence it is that the Prelates here in England by themselves or their Disciples plead and maintain that the Pope is not Antichrist and that the Church of Rome is a true Church hath not erred in Fundamental points and that Salvation is attainable in that Religion and therefore have restrained to pray for the Conversion of our Soveraign Lady the Queen Hence also hath come XIV The great Conformity and likeness both continued and increased of our Church to the Church of Rome in vestures Postures Ceremonies and Administrations namely as the Bishops Rotchets and Lawn-sleeves the four corner'd Cap the Cope and Surplisse the Tippit the Hood and the Canonical Coat the Pulpit clothed especially now of late with the Jesuites badge upon them every way XV. The standing up at Gloria Patri at the reading the Gospel praying towards the East bowing at the Name of JESUS the bowing to the Altar towards the East Cross in Baptisme kneeling at the Communion XVI The turning of the Communion Tables Altar-wise setting Images Crucifixes and conceits over them and Tapers and Books upon them and bowing and adoring to or before them the reading of the second Service at the Altar and forcing people to come up thither to receive or else denying the Sacrament to them terming the Altar to be the Mercy-seat or the place of God Almighty in the Church which is a plain device to usher in the Masse XVII The Christening and Consecrating of Churches and Chappels the Consecrating Fonts Pulpits Tables Chalices Church yards and many other things and putting holiness in them yea reconsecrating upon pretended pretended pollution as though every thing were unclean without their Consecrating and for want of this sundry Churches have been interdicted and kept from use as polluted XVIII The Liturgy for the most parts framed out of the Romish Breviarie Retualium Masse-book also the Book of Ordination for Archbishops and Ministers framed out of the Roman Pontifical XIX The Multitude of Canons formerly made wherein among other things Excommunication ipso facto is denounced for speaking of a word against the devices abovesaid or subscription thereunto though no Law enjoyned a restraint from the ministry without such subscription and Appeal is denyed to any that should refuse subscription or unlawful conformity though be never so much wronged by the inferiour Judge also the Canons made in the late Sacred Synod as they call it wherein are many strange and dangerous devices to undermine the Gospel and the Subjects liberties to propagate Popery to spoyl Gods people insnare Ministers and other Students and so to draw all into an absolute subjection and thraldome to them and their government spoiling both the King and the Parliamant of their power XX. The countenancing pluriality of Benefices prohibiting of Marriages without their license at certain times almost half the year and licensing of Marriages without Banes asking XXI Prophanation of the Lords day pleading for it and enjoyning Ministers to read a Declaration set forth as it is thought by their procurement for tolerating of sports upon that day suspending and depriving many Godly Ministers for not reading the same only out of Conscience it was against the Law of God so to do and no Law of the land to enjoyn it XXII The pressing of the strict observation of Saints Dayes whereby great summes of Moneys are drawn out of Vens purses for working on them a very high burthen on most people who getting their living by their dayly imployments must either omit them and be idle or part with their money whereby many poor families are undone or brought behind hand yea mâ—ny Church-wardens are sued or threatned to be sued by their troublesome Minâ—sters perjured persons for not presenting their Parishioners who fayled in observing Holy dayes XXIII The great increase and frequencie of whoredomes and Adâ—lterers occasioned by the Prelates Corrupt administration of justice in such cases who taking upon them the punishment of it do turn all into monies for the filling of their purses and least their Officers should defraud them of their gain they have in their late
by this same Act the first year of Queen Elizabeth and that the aforesaid Book with the alterations and additions therein added shall stand and be and all Ministers shall use the said Book authorized by Act of Parliament in the said fifth and sixth year of King Edward the sixth and no other This is the sum of the Statute in relation to the Subject namely What Service-book is it that the Statute establisheth and for any thing we can see there is not one passage or tittle for confirmation or establishing any other Service-book but that of King Edward the sixth divers Ministers in King James his time urged with subscription answered the Prelates True it was that if they refused they should make themselves transgressours of the Laws of the Kingdome in subscribing to another Book than that established by Law the Prelates in pressing this subscription 13 Eliz cap 12. forced two Statutes namely the Statute alleadged by the change of the Book and also another Statute requiring no subscription but barely to the Articles of Religion which only concern the Confession of true Christian faith and the Doctrine of the Sacraments Now to come to further answer let us grant by way of Confession that there were an Act Sect. or Acts for ratifying of the Book which in terminis we cannot see as Statutes use to be expressed yet by the Law of charity and duty we hold our selves bound to believe that a State professing the truth of Religion would never inact so for a Service-book of mans device as that it might be a snare to the People of God having other ends as a kind of uniformity supply for want of Ministery and bringing Papists to the Church but not to press it in the bulke beyond the sphear of any mans Conscience witness a Rubrick in King Edward the sixth his Book but give it to speak as punctually for the Book as they would have it shall it be simply good for that it is only in the power of a divine Statute simply to make a thing good all Divines Humanists and Lawyers that have written on the Lawes concurr in this Maxime Omnium lâ—gum inanis censura nisi divinae legis imaginem gerant August de Civit. Dei lib. 9. Cic. lib. 3. de Repub. the power of all Lawes is voyd except they bear the impression of the â—aw of God the Orator gives a reason for it Lex divina omnium legum censura the divine Law is the standard of all lawes yea a thing evil in it self established by a Law becometh worse as the learned tell us it becometh armata injustitia an armed injustice or with Lactantius to the same purpose Lib 4 Inst Lucan lib. 2. May. Legitime injurias inferre to do in jury in the form of Law just with the Poet jusque datum sceleri well Englished and licenced Which truth also is cleared from divine Authority the Psalmist complaineth of the injurious evil done upon Gods Church and People aggravating it from this Psal â—4 2â— that is it was framed by a decree which place the Authour of Zions Plea applieth very pertinently to the Hierarchy proving it to be the Master-sin wherewith the Church and State are pestered and for which especially God hath a controversie with us because it is decreed by a Law and as a Law for the Hiâ—rarchy proved of no force to keep it up no more than the late Lawes of Scotland could uphold their Prelates so grant that there were a Law for the Service-book the thing being naught what could it help it Within these hundred years there was a Law in England for the Popes supremâ—cy say that were not repealed stood it either with Reason Religion or Loyalty to submit unto it Yea some fragments of Laws are yet unrepealed in this Land that no judicious man will obey neither have we alleadged those evidences upon this suspition to encounter with an Statutes but to stop the mouths of those men who would make the Statute-Law a blind guide under which their unlawful callings and superstitious service might march furiously against the word of truth Now Sect. to come to an end for we are sorry we could be no briefer we will only answer this Qâ—aerâ— consisting of these two heads First whether we do approve of any set prayer in a more private way And secondly whether we do approve of any set Liturâ—y in publiâ—ue to both these we answer ingenuously as we think and for the former we do think that parties in their infancy or ignorance may use formes of prayer well and wholesomely set for helps and props of their imbecility yea riper Christians may do well to read such profitable formes the matter whereof may by setting of their affections on edge prepare and fit them as matter of Meditation the better to Prayer but for those parties so to continue without progress to conceived Prayer were as if children should still be poring upon spelling and never learn to read or as if children or weak should still go by hold or upon cruches never go right out We may say of set-prayer used for infirmity as Divines say of the legal Ceremonies in the interim that they were tolerable not necessary and so whatsoever is or may be said in the behalf of it is not so much as we conceive for the commendation of it as for the toleration of it for a time and for giving satisfaction to scrupulous consciences for the warrantable use of it in case of necessity To the second head Sect. for a set form of Liturgy in publique we answer that with all the Reformed Churches we do allow a sound form of set-liturgy as an exampler or president of our preformance of holy ordinance but so that none should tie himself or be tied to those Prayers exhortations and other things in the Lyturgy much less should it be violently thrust upon any Minister or People which proves in very deed a limiting of the spirit especially in a Minister able to pray in by the Holy Ghost yea it a very transplantation of the Essence or Nature of Prayer wherein the words are to follow the affections and not the affections the words as it doth in the best set formes but for our Liturgy what can be said for form or hath been said that cannot be said for the Popish Liturgy Canon 38. but the clothing it in another tongue yet this is pressed under great penalty upon all the Ministers who if they had the tougues of Angels they should not pray till every rag remnant of that be said To shut up the business if this Liturgy aque caput mali being the head peece of our evil be put away Act. 13.5 we should have no more ado about such a Liturgy than the Masters of the Synagogue had when after the reading of the Law and the Prophets they desired Paul to preach where without question Calvin as the learned observe Prayer was not wanting FINIS