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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.
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.