The second and last part of Reasons for refusall of subscription to the Booke of common prayer vnder the hands of certaine ministers of Deuon. and Cornwall, as they were exhibited by them to the right Reuerend Father in God William Cotton Doctor of Diuinitie, and Lord Bishop of Exceter. As also an appendix, or compendious briefe of all other exceptions taken by others against the bookes of communion, homilies, and ordination, word for word, as it came to the hands of an honorable personage. VVith an ansvvere to both at seuerall times returned them in publike conference, and in diuerse sermons vpon occasion preached in the cathedrall church of Exceter by Thomas Hutton Bachiler of Diuinitie, and fellow of S. Iohns Colledge in Oxon.

1. The Collects vpon Innocents day, The third Sunday after Easter, the Epiphanie. The first Sunday in Lent, The Sun∣day before the Easter, Trinitie Sunday, The fiftenth Sunday after Trinitie, and other prayers that are not warrantable. * 1.1

Though a many dislikes are here shuffled together, yet we will take them one after one. The Collect vpon Innocents day is thus. Almightie God, whose praise this day, &c. Where the dependance is excellent by way of relation, that as the babes did die a violent death, Christ being sought for in them,

who were witnesses of his name not in speaking but in dying (so the prayer runneth) mortifie and kill, &c. That we also may dye (not a naturall death but) the death to sinne mortifying and killing all vices in vs, that in our conuersation our life may expresse his faith, which with our toongs we confesse, &c. Which coherence what man among vs can iustly mislike, but onely such as discipline better fitteth then disputation, and a sharp reproofe rather then any larger instruction.

The Collect on the third Sunday after Easter is, Almighty God, which shewest to all men that be in error the light of thy truth to the intent, that they may returne into the way of righ∣teousnesse, grant vnto all them that be admitted into the fel∣lowship of Christs religion, that they may eschew those things, that be contrary to their profession, and follow all such things, as be agreeable to the same, &c. When we say that the Lord sheweth to all men the light of his truth,* 1.2 &c. It is as that Iohn 1.9.* 1.3 The true light that lightneth euery man that commeth into the world. And 1. Timoth. 2.4. Who will that all men be saued and come vnto the acknowledgement of the truth. As for the dependance it easily cleareth it selfe. For since none can come to the light of the truth but by the Lord, and that light is to conduct in the way of righteousnesse, the prayer of the Church is for all them, to whom the light hath appeared, that their course may be the course of godlinesse and sanctification eschewing things contrarie, &c.

The Collect on Epiphanie sheweth the Dependance of the prayer in proposing for the argumēt thereof Gods mercy vouch∣safed the wise men by the leading of a Starre,* 1.4 to the finding of Christ Jesus his bodily presence, that we also who haue the Starre-light of faith may after this life enioy his glorious Godhead which inioying is well called fruition, because we shall then sée him as he is, when he shall be God all in all vnto vs,* 1.5 1. Cor. 15.28. And that whereas other things in their vse doe but now tend vnto him, then we may possesse imme∣diately himselfe who is true happinesse and blisse filling vs with grace and glory for euermore. For now though he be all in all euen in this life, yet is he not immediatly but by outward means and in a small measure.

The Collect on the first Sunday in Lent is, O Lord, which for our sakes didst fast fortie daies and fortie nights giue vs grace to vse such abstinence, that our flesh being subdued to the spirit, we may euer obay thy godly motions in righteousnesse, and true bolynesse to thy honor and glory. Who can iustly charge this as hauing no dependance, but they whose vnder∣standing (as it seemeth) hath no dependance vpon the truth?

The Collect on Trinitie Sunday is a little before ranged in the number of those particulars, which they can make no sense of, there it is charged to haue no dependance, because speaking of a true saith in the Trinitis and Unitie it conclu∣deth thus, We beseech thee that through the stedfastnesse of this faith we may euermore be defended from all diuer∣sitie. Where the dependance of this prayer sufficiently ap∣peareth to all those whose faith dependeth vpon this article that there are thrée persons, but one God, the very substance and summe of all Christian Religion, as Master Perkins well noteth in these words,* 1.6 Whereas we are taught to come to God as to a Father, & therefore in the name of his Sonne our Sa∣uiour Christ, we learne to lay the first ground of all our prayers in the holding and maintaining of the Union and distinction of the three persons in Trinitie. This being the lowest and the first foundation of prayer, it is requisite that all, which would pray aright should haue this knowledge rightly to beleeue of the Trinitie, and to know how the thrée persons agree and how they are distinguished, and the order of them, how the Fa∣ther is the first, the Sonne the second, the holy Ghost the third, and therefore how the Father is to be called vpon, in the name of the Sonne, by the holy Ghost.* 1.7 Hence it is manifest that ignorant and silly people, which doe not so much as dreame of the Union, distinction, and order of the persons in Trinitie, make but cold and stender kind of praying. And long before him Saint Austin resolueth thus, that as in no article the error is more dangerous, so neither is the truth more laborious to be sought out, nor more commodious when it is found out. Now if faith be our defence, yea more our victorie, whereby we ouercome the world, then surely grounded vpon a principall stay, as this point is, néedes must it be a truth of great coherence as

before is deliuered namely, we beséech thée that through the sted∣fastnesse of this faith we may euer be defended, &c.

The Collect on the Sunday before Easter is thus: Almigh∣tie and euerlasting God, which of thy tender loue towards man hast sent our Sauiour to take vpon him our flesh, and to suffer death vpon the Crosse, that all mankinde should follow the ex∣ample of his great humilitie, mercifully graunt, that we both follow the example of his patience, and be made partakers of his resurrection through the same Iesus Christ. The dependance of one part and of the other in this petition may appeare,* 1.8

• ...1. Pet.
• 2. where the Apostle exhorting to suffer wrong, and to take it patiently followeth it thus, Hereunto yee are called.

For Christ also suffered for you leauing an example that yée should follow his steps. And he was the onely president of humilitie. For he humbled himselfe to the death of the Crosse. Many such applications are made in other places. So little cause haue men to mislike the dependance of this prayer.

The Collect on the 15. Sunday after Trinitie néedeth no defence. It sufficiently speakes for it selfe. Kéepe we beseech thée O Lord thy Church with thy perpetuall mercie, and because the frailtie of man cannot but fall, keepe vs euer by thy helpe, and leade vs to all things profitable to our saluation through Christ our Lord. As for exceptions taken at other prayers, that they are not warrantable they also in their place follow now to be examined.

Notes

• * 1.1

  No depen∣dance.
• * 1.2

  Ioh. 1.9.
• * 1.3

  1. Tim. 2.4.
• * 1.4

  Res quibus fru endum est. Pater filius & spiritus sanctus Aug. de doctri∣na Christiana. lib. 1 c. 5.
• * 1.5

  Res quibus fru endum est bea∣tos nos faciunt istis, quibus vtē dum est tēden tes ad beatitu∣dinem adinua. mur. Ibid. c 4.
• * 1.6

  Master Per∣kins on the L. praier. pag. 31.32.
• * 1.7

  Vbi quaritur v∣nitas Trinita∣tis pater filius, spiritus sactus, nec alicubi pe∣riculosiùs erra∣tur, neclabor••o∣sius aliquid qua ritur, nèc fru••∣ctuosius aliqui & inuenitur. Aug de Trinit. lib. 1. c. 3.
• * 1.8

  1. Pet. 2.21.