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A Dispute against The English-Popish Ceremonies, OBTRVDED Vpon the CHVRCH of SCOTLAND, Consisting of foure Partes.
THE PROLOGVE.
HOW good reason those Wisemen had for them, who did not allowe of the English-Popish Ceremonies, at the first in∣troducing of these novations into the Church of Scotland, foreseeing the bad effects and dangerous evils which might ensue thereupon; and how greatly the other sort were mistaken, who did then yeeld to the same, apprehending no danger in them; it is this day too too apparent to us, whose thoughts concerning the event of this course, can not beholden in suspense betwixt the apprehensions of feare, and ex∣spectations of hope, because dolefull experience hath made us feele, that which the wiser sort before did feare. Since then this Church which was once a praise in the earth, is now brought to a most deplorable and dayly increassing desolation by the meanes of these Ceremonies, which have been both the sparkles to kindle, & the bellowes to blow up the consuming fire of intestine dissentions among us; it concerneth all her children, not only to cry out Ah, and Alas! and to a 1.1 bewaile with the weeping of Iazer, but also to bethink themselves most seriously, how to sucoour their deare (though distressed) Mother in such a calamitous case. Our best indeavours which we are to employ for this end, next unto b 1.2 praying earnestly for the peace of Ierusalem, are these, 1. c 1.3 So farre as we have attained to walke by the same rule, to mind the same thing, and to labour as much as is possible that the course of the Gospell, the Doctrine of godlinesse, the practise of piety lye not behinde, because of our differing one from another about the Ceremonies, lest otherwise 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 grow to be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 2. In such things whereabout we agree not, to make diligent search and enquiry for the Trueth. For to have our Iudgements in our heels, and so blindly to followe every opinion which