Wee cannot subscribe vnto their booke of Common prayer, not onely he∣cause it is not authorized, nor hath giuen vs anie good proofe, what acceptance it may deserue, but (were it in place authorized) e∣uen for these causes wee cannot subscribe viz. because there are in it mauie thinges doubtfull, disgraceful, vntruths, misappli∣ing, leauing out, putting in &c. Of all which onelie a tast for wee desire to bee short.
Doubtfull.
First their interpretation they make of Christs descending in∣to hel, namely to be his suffrings in his bodie hel torments vpon the crosse. This wee doubt whither be the proper and true mea∣ning of the words in the Creed.
2. Obedience to the Magistrate. For in the same confession they say, we must render to yt ciuil Magistrate, honor & obedience in all thinges which are agreable to the word of god, Soe as if any be disposed to wrangle and say, This or that I am required to do, is not agreable to the word of God, there shall followe no obedience. Whereas learned, godly, wise Diuines, would stile it thus (In all things not repugnant to the word of God) Be∣sides they would adde this wholsome instruction, in such things as are repugnant, the magistrate must be so honoured and obeied, as that wée submit our selues in all dutifulnesse to the penaltie inioyned.
3 These platformers imagin their owne deuises to bee the onely ordinance of Christ, and all other formes of gouernment of the Church to be the wisdoine of man, couertly seeme to exclude all els (that are otherwise affected) from the kingdome of heauen, where they say in the end of their confession. Then wee, which haue forsaken all mens wisdome to cleaue vnto Christ, shall heare that ioyfull saying Come yee blessed of my father &c.
4 These men doe mislike in vs to say Haue mercy on all men, yet in their prayer for the whole estate they pray not onely for the faithfull alreadie, but also for such as haue beene helde captiue in darknesse and ignorance. Nowe faithfull and not faith∣ful are contradictorie, & conse quently we doubt whither they haue such cause to reprehend our praiers, as they see me to pretend.
Page 2575. In their order of Baptisme they haue these words. The Sacraments are not or dained of God to be vsed, but in places of the publike congregation & necessarily annexed to the preaching of the word as seales of the same. Where occasion of doubt is giuen vs, that they meane no preaching is effectuall, where Sacraments are not so administred, and in effect argue. No Baptisme nor Supper without a Sermon.
6. In their administration of the Lord his supper they say: Our Lord requireth none other worthinesse on our part, but that vnfainedly we acknowledge our wickednesse, and imperfection. If this were in our Communion booke, we doubt, we should be thought to exclude faith, charitie, purpose of amendment of life, and wholesome instruction concerning that holy mysterie and Sacrament.
2. Disgracefull to the Kings Maiestie, In his title, and in his Authoritie.
In his title. No part of the stile mentioned, but Quéene Eli∣zabeth in their Communion booke. And no other ceremonie, nor order being to be vsed (as they craue in their bill exhibited) in∣forceth that no man must vse any other forme at all in his prayer,* but onely the bare name of King Iames without mentioning all the other parts of his iust title accordingly as in our Uni∣uersities is required, and in other godly faithfull prayers is duely administred.
In his Authoritie. For speaking in that booke of the ciuill Magistrate, they attribute not any direction or gouernment for Ecclesiasticall either orders or persons, but onely reformation at the first planing. 2. In their Rubrick before Baptism, Autho∣ritie is giuen the Minister by consent of the Presbyterie to ap∣point a publike méeting,* which we call a holy day, & which hath béene a prerogatiue which Kings and Emper ors alway had.
3. Vntruths.
As when they call it publishing the contract. For asking the hanes is too olde, and may. (perhaps) be accused of superstition, Page 258yea what if the parties be not contracted, nor minde to be, till so∣lemnization, as it often falleth out by consent of both parties, shall the Minister neuerthelesse peremptorily affirme that they haue contracted matrimonie. Againe, in distribution of the bread they say of the people, who shall distribute, and de∣uide it among themselues, that all may communicate. This ceremonie it séemeth they vrge of necessitie. For they say (who shall) yet no such thing to be gathered out of Scripture, but the contrarie when it is said; He brake it and gaue it, not that they did breake and giue it one vnto another. As also appeareth by the Rituall of the Jewes, their Calmud, and their very custome at this day. For the Maister of the family in the feast of sweete bread (which is celebrated after the Paschall Lamb is eaten) doth take a péece of sweete bread and giuing thanks (per con∣cepta verba) there set downe, doth dip it in the sauce prouided to eate the sower herbs,* which he doth eate and then breake so many péeces as there be persons sitting there, and giueth to euery one a piece to be eaten saying. This is the bread of tribulation which our Fathers did eate in Egypt, &c. Many other such points we might note, which if they were in our Communion booke should beare reproofe. But goe we on a little farder.
Misapplying Scripture as that in the Commaundement. Six daies shalt thou labour. Therefore no holy day to come toge∣ther in publike but only on the Sabboth. And yet herein seemeth a contradiction,* because with consent of the presbitery (as may be seene afore) yt Minister may appoint a publike solemn meeting. &c.
Misinterpreting. For they translate that in Genes. It is not good for man to be alone, thus, It is not good for man to liue alone, implying it sinne to liue vnmaried. This license they take for translating, not induring any the smallest libertie vnto others to doe the like.
As where hauing spoken onely of the persons, the Father, and the Sonne they conclude.* To whom be all praise. In our Communion booke such words would haue borne exception for leauing out the holy Ghost.
As in the Action of the Lords Supper. Take eate, This bread is the body of Christ.* Had it beene in our Communion booke Page 259we should haue beene challenged for adding these words. (This bread) more then is in the Euangelists, or in the Apostle Saint Paul. In all which alleadged (beside many else we might adde hereunto) as men vse to beat a cur-dogge in presence of a Lyon that the beast for all his greatnesse of stomacke, may the rather be tamed, so haue we thought good at this time in mentioning these doubts, disgraces, contradictions, misapplications, &c. to bring downe their curst hart, who wilfully misconstrue, what they otherwise know was, and is the right godly mea∣ning of our Church, that they who are so ready to finde fault, may themselues see their owne writings are not free from their owne intended exceptions. And not to multiply farder in∣stances for that would be infinite. Generally in all their booke this may be worth our obseruation, that albeit themselues can∣not deny, but many points are singularly set downe in our leiturgie, yet their spite is such vnto it, and themselues so wed∣ded vnto innouation and selfe loue, that (excepting the exhorta∣tion before the Communion they haue not transserd any thing from thence into their booke.
