to each other in their publick Liturgies and devotions so chiefly to their King or Prince and chief governour that as they have the honour of one God and Saviour so they may have the comfort to enjoy the same Sacraments and holy mysteries in the same method manner form and words without any envy or offence cavill or contention censure or uncharitablenesse emulation or jealousie against each other Yea doubtless Subjects cannot be so tite and firm or so zealous and forward or so chearful and constant in their Loyalty love and duty to their Soveraigns if they either think themselves commanded to serve God in a worse way then their Princes use or that their Soveraign and Prince serve God worse and lesse acceptably then themselves certainly the greatest honour love and safety of Kings is from the samenesse of true Religion with their Subjects as to the main though Princes may use greater pomp and solemnity in the publick worship From this seed of Schisme or Serpents teeth of division in Devotion and so in Religion arise the armed men and minds of Civill Wars of both which the good people of England cruelly sore and circumcised are now equally weary sick and ashamed Infinitely blessing the eternall God for his miraculous mercies in redeeming us from the later by the most happy Restauration of our gracious King and passionately praying yea hoping for the other deliverance of this Church from being any longer sawn in sunder with factions in Religion and divided devotions by the excellent wisdom condescention and moderation of the King who as a common Father is of all men in the world the fittest to make us all as Brethren friends by his naturall gentlenesse Christian charity and Princely clemency seconded with Kingly Majesty just Empire and vigorous authority For if His Majesty trust too much to peoples good natures it is most certain they will never agree but onely in this to destroy each other and at length their King the whole Church and their own souls neither Religion must be arbitrary nor government precarious As is apparent in the late inordinate zealotries and desperate frolicks of Religion which under pretence of some mens various and vertiginous Reformations contrary to our laws no lesse then against the will command and conscience of the King run themselves with this famous and florishing Church and Kingdomes into most miserable confusions yea and exposed the late incomparable King to those infinite Tragedies which only Gods grace and his own Christian Heroick constancy to our Laws and Religion could turn to and crown as they did with the honour of Christian Martyrdom for the truth of Jesus setled in the doctrine devotion and discipline of the Reformed Church of England And we see this piece of policy was early used by some Jesuitick engines to foment our sad divisions the Liturgy must be laid aside and people taught to differ from to be jealous of yea to despise the devotion of their Prince which is the flower spirit and quintescence of Religion For the preventing of which Iliades of miseries in Church and State for the future which some mens tongues and pens of late did not obscurely threaten I have as much as in me lies adventured thus freely to express my humble sense in this great concern for an establishment of an uniform Liturgy now under his Majesties and his Loyal Houses of Parliaments consideration Not but that it may be I might as easily dispense with the want of a Liturgy in respect of what is counted by some the gift of prayer as most of those who so gloriously contemn this and all other set forms of publick devotions yet in reference to the publick interests of this Church and State of my most dread and indeared Soveraign and of my Country-men also of our Religion as Christian and Reformed I do in all humble and conscientious freedom declare my judgment as highly approving yea and admiring since I lately perused it most seriously the piety prudence compleatness and aptitude for the main of the Liturgy of the Church of England as the best of any ancient or modern that ever I saw and I think I have seen the most and best of them Some modest and discreet alterations in some words and expressions with some small additions may soon tender it most compleat and polite both for matter and forme yea and satisfactory to all sober Protestants and to true Catholicks But I can never counsel or consent in conscience or prudence in piety loyalty or charity either rudely to innovate or totally to abrogate the Liturgy of the Church of England and as little to leave it free and arbitrary to every Minister whether he will vouchsafe to use it or refuse it For first I shall never live to see any thing set up comparable to the former Liturgy if this be once nulled and destroyed and if after its being reviewed it be not by Law re-established and authoritatively enjoyned but every one is left to ramble as they please I never hope to see Truth or Peace setled in the Church of England which had nothing in it of greater improvement ornament or muniment to the Christian and reformed Religion than this excellent Liturgy was Which I hope and believe His Sacred Majesty as a great and constant Defender of the true Faith will maintain and establish with no less Christian care and Kingly Authority than His Royal Ancestors King CHARLES King JAMES Queen ELIZABETH and King EDWARD did for in this both His Majesties and His Kingdomes welfare as well as the Churches is bound up Nothing will be considerable in England for publick Piety Honour Order Beauty and Solemnity much less for Charity and Peace if in this point of publick Devotion and Worship Ministers and People be left to eternal variations and mutual vexations Farewell the Glory Charity Unity and Safety of England farewell both Reformation and true Religion Other Objections or scruples which some sober men make are easily either satisfied or charitably smothered nor may things of publick consent and legal constitution be every day shaken or altered by every mans supercritical curiosity and needlesse severity things that are safe and setled in the circumvallation and defence of what is true and good are not every day to be put upon the tenters of new mutations in order to mend or better their condition or under an ambition of aspiring to the Acropolis or pinacle and height of what by some is thought absolutely best in its kind many times as St. Augustine observes the novelty in these things doth not compensate the scandal difficulty and trouble of attaining it much less of onely ayming at it with fruitless essaies of mendings which leave all things worse then they found them Our first pious and wise Reformers and the best Parlaments of England since that time with the people of all sorts heretofore justly thought it an high degree of happinesse to have by
the Soveraign Authority such an excellent Liturgy set up in our English Tongue end established as it hath been by many Statutes or Lawes in Parlament never yet repealed Now weaknesse and wantonnesse if not wickednesse are prone to betray men to such ingratitude toward God and the King that they delight with much proud squeamishness and nauseous coyness to loath and reject this Liturgy as the wanton Jews did their Quails and Manna Truly they have cause to fear lest leanness enter into their souls after such fulnesse and consumption follow their surfeits in Religion An easie spirit of Prophesie which is no other than prudential will serve to foresee and foretell that the want much more the contempt of so excellent and usefull a Liturgy will betray the Church and Nation to ignorance and prophaneness besides infinite factions divisions and confusions the best that can be expected is a devout kind of Superstition or superstitious devotion that instead of the English Liturgy which men so so ingratefully petulantly and unjustly quarrel at because they can understand it they shall be at last contented with such a Latine forme of Devotion in a strange Tongue which they will less cavill at and more admire when they least understand it 'T is almost a Demonstration That the darkness of Popery will follow the absence of that clear light of true reformed Religion which shines in the English Liturgy most agreeable to Scripture and purest Antiquity The Book of Common Prayer as I have of late by special Command most diligently perused to observe wherein a sober review might be most to its clearing and improvement as to some words and expressions so upon this serious perusal I must profess as Pilate did when he had examined our blessed Saviour and as Felix of St. Paul that I find no fault in it worthy of death no nor of stripes or bonds or any reproches and hard speeches or evil surmises much less are those many and great things true which some popular Orators as Tertullus vehemently object against it either as to matter or manner I cannot but commend the candor justice and ingenuity of Mr. Baxter who lately professed to me that he saw nothing in the Liturgy which might not well bear a good construction if men looked upon it as became Christians with eyes of charity Nor do I doubt but the faithfull people of the Church of England have since the Reformation served God acceptably day and night in the solemn devout and holy use of the Liturgy which in many places where were small maintenance and so but weak Ministers was the chiefest part of the provision which poor people had for their souls Nor can I believe but that the blessed Apostle St. Paul if living and the other holy Apostles would have joyned with it and said Amen rejoycing to see the soundnesse of our faith the sanctity of Sacraments the unity of Devotion the order and decency of holy duties carryed on with that Spirit and understanding which best agrees to the word of God the honour also and harmony of Christian congregations in the worship of God To which I find those devout alternations and responds sometimes used by the people especially in the Liturgy as the ecchoes of humble intent and fervent affections are so far from being any hinderance inconvenience or uncomliness when people are perfect in them that to me they seem in the most ample and judicious auditories among whom none exceeds that of the two honorable Temples to be very quick excitations and elevations of Ministers and peoples spirits in prayer and harmonious tokens of that mutual correspondency in holy duties which ought to be between Minister and people when the work is carryed on as it ought to be gravely decently and devoutly not in a huddling and perfunctory way whereof not onely some people but many Ministers seem very guilty in the formall use of the Liturgy when their lips move apace but their hearts not at all they speak with their tongues in a tumultuary and posting way but admit no such humble and fervent impressions on their souls as becomes the Majesty of God the excellent matter of that Liturgy and the miseries or wants of their own souls with the humble sense they ought to have of them I know some also have been more at discord with the Liturgy because they find in Cathedrals and other great Churches the use of Musick both vocall and organicall hath been applyed to some parts of it which certainly is as lawful as any meeter psalmody hymnology or singing to tunes which was never questioned by learned and godly men for lawfull in the worship of God publick or private especially that of praising and giving of thanks Nay there is no scruple but that even in prayer and the deepest notes of that viz. penitentialls both Musick of voice and instruments may be so gravely and solemnly applyed as may very much fit the temper of mens spirits and the spirit of that duty when either sad and solemne with grief or chearfull and exalted with joy Who doubts but David and the whole Church of the Jews served God in spirit and truth amidst those joyful and harmonious noises they used with singers and musicall instruments The gift and use of Musick is so sweet so Angelicall so heavenly and divine that it is pity God should not have the glory and honour of it in his service and the Church an holy comfortable use of it that such an orient pearl may not be used onely in civill conventions or abused in wanton carols and vain effusions which is to put a Jewel in a Swines snout certainly the Christian Church hath more cause to rejoyce then the Jews had and we see the Angels at Christs nativity began the Church Musick with their heavenly Quire 'T is true possibly there may be some discreet regulations and emendations even in our Church Musick so as not to sing either the Creeds or Commandements as not the Lessons or those parts of the Liturgy which are most plain doctrinall and fundamentall which ought to be fitted to the meanest auditors ears and understanding considering that in the pauses or intervalls of the lessons and in the close of Divine Service the Psalms and Hymns or holy and devout Anthems may be very aptly used not only as read or plainly sung but as advanced with excellent Musick so as may sometime suit with and regulate the common peoples tunes and singing other while it may be elevated to those perfections of Skill which are worthy of the best Quires and those chief singers or Masters of Symphony which were and still are in the Church of England it was onely fit for those mens rudeness to abandon Church Musick who intended to fill all things with the alarums of war and crys of confusion The last shock of popular envy and displeasure which the innocent and excellent Liturgy of England was wonted to bear was
the factious Vulgar reduced to so low an ebbe both as to respect and subsistence that having shifted from one sequestred Living to another at last he was outed of all and having a great charge which hastened the armed man of poverty upon him he made to me with tears and horror of his sad condition this confession That after much tossing to and fro he knew not now which way to turn himself or to subsist that Gods hand was justly against him because he had trusted too much to the arme of flesh and followed popular applause that having against his judgment and conscience for many years forborne to use as other holy forms so that of the Lords Prayer for fear of offending some factious and fanatick people he saw God would teach him to pray for his daily bread by his want of it and by filling him with his own delusions Not only the Liturgie reviewed and setled by Authority will be of great use and concern to the good of the Church but also that short and plain Catechisme which is in the Book of Common-Prayer with some few other Questions and Answers added to it that so it might be if not more complete yet more explicate and plain to common understandings and might be distributed into 52. heads that each Lords day might have its portion assigned which every Minister should more or lesse insist upon after he had first asked every question in the Catechism and received the answers from the Cathecumens or younger sort This would certainly keep up knowledge as to fundamentals in all and advance it both with the elder and younger people who might easily by His Majesties command and the care of the respective Bishops and Ministers be digested once for all into two Books or Catalogues one of the Cathecumens the other of Communicants the first rank of Christians to be prepared by constant catechising in the After-noon for confirmation and the standard or proof of their knowledge to be the Church Catechisme thus confirmed they might be admitted to the holy Communion and put in the Roll of Communicants as an honour and advance to their souls hence not to be removed or rescinded unlesse they be for scandal by the censures of the Church excommunicated or are self-excommunicated by not receiving at least once in half a year The expunging of them out of this Book of Communicants to be publick and solemn as a note of Infamy no lesse than of Impiety Impenitency and Apostacy this method to be begun by every Minister in his charge taking once for all a particular account of all those people in point of knowledge of whose defect he hath any cause to be jealous But I fear to seem more forward curious and solicitous than becomes any private person in these times and in so publick a concern which requires publick â—ouncills and these ought not to be forestalled or prejudged My great invitations to these suggestions are 1. First Gods wonderfull mercy to this Church and State offering us miraculous opportunities of being happy if we be not by restivenesse and peevishnesse wanting to his providence 2. The next is the remembrance of the sore tribulations which we have felt and feared and which are still summons to all sorts of men Prince and People Bishops and Presbyters that having been so long in the furnace it is fit all of us should come forth of it well refined from our dross lest a worse thing come unto us that God may delight in our constant peace and prosperity to build us up and not pull us down 3. My last encouragement is the great benignity and gentlenesse of our Gracious King who being loth to grieve any friend or foe Trojan or Tyrian whom His clemency may amend or His charity relieve is wholly disposed both in His temper and judgment to win unite reconcile bind up and heal all parts in which is any thing sound sincere and honest that by His Royall hand and Soveraign touch as He daily doth on the infirm bodies of many so on the ill-affected minds of men He may work such cures and recoveries as may make all more devoted to serve God His Majestie and each other in all godliness loyalty honesty and charity which is then best done when mens minds by such gentle means being purged of peevish proud and uncharitable humors and reduc'd to a more humble meek and Christian temper our publick fistula's and ulcers which were fed and inflamed by these distempers may come to be dryed up and healed A mercy to be obtained followed and perfected by our prayers and to which no supplications will be more effectuall then the devout authoritative and uniform use of the Liturgy or common-prayer in the Church of England which unites all honest minds includes all our common necessities craves all spirituall and temporall supplyes keeps Christians warme in their love to God in Loyalty to their King and in their charity to each other it daily propounds the summary of all necessary religion it lays and confirms in the minds of the meanest people the foundations of sound faith and saving knowledge according to Gods word it is so compleat for duties to be done graces to be obtained mercies to be enjoyed both here and hereafter that I doubt not to affirm this truth of the Liturgy That if the common sort of people duly attend it judiciously learn it and conscienciously live up to the duties and graces there proposed to them of which Ministers particular prayers and sermons are but either Commentaries Repetitions or Paraphrases there is no doubt but they shall please God and be well prepared for an happy death and blessed eternity To the advance of all which excellent duties uses and ends nothing next the grace of God on mens hearts will more contribute then Ministers grave reverent deliberate pathetick devout and constant using of the Liturgy with and before their own prayers as an excellent means by little and little to edifie common people by frequent inculcations in faith and charity also to bring in and preserve a good harmony and correspondency among the Clergy who for many years have sounded so confusedly and awkly that they were like bells rung backwards in a conflagration or scar-fire Lastly to consolidate the publick peace of this Church and Kingdome by the uniformity industry and sanctity of Ministers godly lives and orderly labours which I hope will in time by Gods blessing so move the piety and holiness of all other estates and degrees or Nobility Gentry and Commons after the great example which His Majesties charity hath given that they will find out some way of effectual augmenting poor Ministers maintenance to some such ingenuous competency as may become both the worth of an able and painfull Ministry and also the piety and munificence of this populous and opulent Kingdome this great and mighty Nation whose glory is to be furthest from idolatry and sacriledge from
a superstitious and penurious Religion from an ignorant idle and indigent Ministery The competent support of which would be a work as of great gratitude and acceptance to God so of infinite good to peoples souls no lesse then to the honour of the Nation and the advance of the Reformed Religion every way in the verity of our doctrine in the solemnity of our devotion in the dignity of our Ministry in the sanctity of our duties in the stability of our government and peace both Civil and Ecclesiasticall for that makes Ministers unquiet when they sit uneasie and hope for private benefit by publick troubles or popular complyings The authority and efficacy of the Evangelicall Ministry is as necessary to a just magistracy as the string is to the bow or the compasse to the ship or the Sun to the world or the soul to the body For a Nation without lawfull Magistracy or Magistrates without true Religion or true Religion without a worthy Ministry or such a Ministry without ingenuous maintenance or such competent maintenance without uniform diligence are such â—olecisms in reason and inconsistent with true policy as well as piety that they tend to nothing but contempt and confusion For the verifying of which we need go no further than our own late miserable experience sufficient to make any Nation and Church wise by its woes for one Age or Century at least unlesse it be condemned to such fatal infatuations as make men forsake their own mercies and pursue lying vanities as either ignorant of or enemies against their own and their posterities happiness FINIS His Majesties late Declaration is no disesteem of the English Liturgy The Liturgy as new and unwonted to many makes them lesse esteem it Higher tyes lye upon good Christians and Subjects than fear of punishment A review of the Liturgy desired by some learned and sober men The mischiefs of totall change or utter abolition of the Liturâ—y The Liturgy esteemed and used by the learnedest Non-conâ—â—â—mists of old 〈…〉 Many do the rather apply to the use of the Liturgy It is unworthy of Ministers to be now more averse from it Popular repute should be no impediment to Ministers use of the Liturgy The need some have of the Liturgy No compare between the Liturgy and Directly The esteem and desire of the most and best people of England for the Liturgy The incoveniences of some mens devotions in publick The end and use of Liturgies in the Church both ancient and moden Church-unity and solemnity in Christian Doctrines Preserved by their Liturgies Ministers single abilities far short of the Liturgy The siâ—nal benefits arising from an uniâ—…rme â—…y in the Church In 〈…〉 The Liturgy a great defence to true Doctrine as Christian A Liturgy much advanceth Christian Unity A Liturgy well composed and setled is most satitfactory to the most judicious people of England A Liturgy most necessary for the meaner and simpler sort of Christians Meer passive grace and regeneration sufficeth the infant as to that state After actual sin there must be actual Faith and Repentance The late increase of Anabaptisme by disuse of the Liturgy And so of Popery Why the Romish party are such enemies to our Liturgy and forbidden to join with us in it The enemies of the Church of England enemies to our Liturgy English Liturgy far enough from the Masse-book Of Ministers useful gifts in prayer Of a discreet review of the Liturgy Small and verball variation and additions no diminution or reproach to the Liturgy No rude or reproachful change to be made in the Liturgy The Liturgy consonant to Scriptures Objection against the first sentence in the Liturgy as falsly cited Answer The impudence of that calumny against the Liturgy The need we have at present of the Liurgy Oft the length of the Liturgy The peace of Church and State must depend on the Liturgy The Liturgy nâ—t 〈…〉 liberty 〈◊〉 Bishop without authority The same Liturgy unites King and people 〈…〉 Jealousies and Wars arise from difference in Religion and Devotion Authority must 〈…〉 nd the 〈…〉 Kings The Authors inoffensive designe for publick good The Liturgy not to be left arbitrary or abrogated The Liturgy a great glory and Saâ—â—â—y to Church and State to King and people Changes though for the better in small matters must not be easily admitted The want and 〈◊〉 of the Liturgy will 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 religion and 〈◊〉 station The innocency of the Liturgy Of Responds Of Musick used with the English Liturgy Some discreet regulation in Church Musick Of Ceremonies used with the English Liturgy 〈…〉 Every Nationall Church hath authority and liberty from Christ in ceremonies The ancient Bishops and Presbyters pâ—ayeâ—s We may have both the Liturgy and Minest as abilities in prayer The sad 〈◊〉 following the want and disuse oâ— the Liturgy The ingenuous confession of a poâ—… Minister Of the Chatechisme in the Book of Commâ—n prayer Two Books of Cathâ—cumens and Communicants The Auâ—hors mâ—tive to these humble Considerations Fervent and 〈…〉 a mâ—st 〈…〉 The excellent use of the Liturgy The way of Englands happinesse in Church and State