THE PREFACE.

*THe Kingdome of Sathan these last thousand yeares hath not been so much indamaged by a∣ny work of God, as by that glorious reforma∣tion of Religion, which in the dayes of our Fa∣thers the LORD stirred up many Protestant Potentates and Divines to undertake, and to this day with an undaunted courage and marvellous successe to maintaine: it is nothing strange to see or heare of plots singularly craftie, of practises eminently cruell, employed by the vassalls of the God of this world for the crushing of that reformation which hath pre∣ved so divine an engine to profligate errour, prophanenesse, and all other wickednesse, whereby the soules of men were wont to be led away to their destruction without controlment.

*The old devices of the Devill against the Protestant Chur∣ches by their long use are a little blunted and become nothing ei∣ther so terrible or effectuall as once we felt them▪ the learning, vivacitie, & indefatigable industry of the Jesuits & other Ro∣mish orders, in their Voluminous Writings: the spight and rage of Antichristian Princes, in their warres, massacres, banish∣ments, and persecutions of all kinds, have done their worst up∣on us, and yet by the mercies of our Protector, we stand firme against all these efforts. Our restles enemy finding himselfe in these his former indeavours disappointed, hath lately run a∣bout to a new poynt of his circle, and thought meet to assay a∣nother quarter of our walls, which to him appeared more weake and lesse attended, than those upon which he had spent his strength, and skill so long in vaine. When the most subtile dis∣putations and sharpest swords were not likely with haste enough to bring forth our ruine, behold that mischievous Generall Page  [unnumbered] sends forth the reserved squadron of Knights of his new order of refined Reconcilers, by whose pretences of friendship and peacea∣ble mediations, he is confident to overthrow the Protestant cause more quickly than by the heads and hands of all his for∣mer Souldiers. The experience he hath had of the efficacious operation of this engine, when at the first framing it was ma∣naged by the weak hands of Cassander, his remembrance how many thousand soules by the unhappy conceits of this mans mo∣deration were kept in the bosome of the great whore, when upon the cleare sight of her abominations they were on their wing to have forsaken with speed her communion, fills him now with hopes of drawing over to Rome whole Nations and kingdomes of Protestants, when he perceives this his noble instrument to be fallen into the hands of far greater spirits, and men armed with much greater authoritie.

*The Churches and States of Holland having outridden all their former tempests, by the blast of this last spirit, were well neere dashed on the rocks of a totall ruine: Arminius and U∣tenbogard, breathing nothing but charitie and moderation of the rigours of Calvin and Beza, after they had gotten the shoulders of Barnevelt and Grotius to support them, in a short time did bring these famous Provinces in a more evident hazard, to fall into the mouth of the Spanish Lyon for their bodies and estates, and of the Romish shee Wolf for their soules and Religion, than fortie or fiftie yeares of cruell and continuall warre had ever been able to reduce them.

*How ever the Cardinall of France by the sword of the King his Master, hath weakened the Protestant Churches of that Kingdome in all their outward securities, much more than all the enemi•s that ever professed to oppose them, yet his peaceable weapons are far more terrible than all his instru∣ments of warre. Whither his finger did stirre in that late smoke of Amirant and Testard, I doe not know, but the world doth now see him ready to strike (if he can) to the very heart these gracious Churches with Cassanders sword. This is all the labour of his hypocritish emissary Milletier, once amongst the most zealous and learned Gentlemen of the Religion there, but lately having tasted of the Cardinalls favour, by all the Page  [unnumbered] meanes he can endeavouring avowedly to perswade the Chur∣ches of France not to become at the first full Papists, but onely to passe from their first reformation as rash, to enter into a new capitulation of peace with the Pope, to keep so much and leave so much of the reformed Religion, that if his importunate ad∣vise were hearkened unto, the most both of Pastours and people of their owne accord without any violence from the Kings force or perswasion from the Jesuits craft, behoved incontinent to fall in such a mist of confusion, that they could not eschew to betake themselves either to open Atheisme or plaine Popery. No engine against our Churches pleased that too too wise man so well as this of a pretended reconciliation. Wherfore if it should faile in the hands of his servant Milletier, as indeed his too pal∣pable siding with the Pope hath made him to the most of Prote∣stants contemptible and ridiculous, yet hath his Master pro∣jected other means for the prosecution of this designe: his fa∣miliar and frequent conferences with the prime Ministers of the Religion; his contentment to heare of a Patriarchate in France, of translating the Popish Bible and Liturgie in the vulgar Language, and some other such fables, hath no other end but to amuse the Protestants with pleasant and foolish dreames, that the Papists at last are inclining to meet them in the mid-way; that by this means they may be drawne from their old station, defended so long with rivers of the best blood of France, that they may desert a great part of their cause on vaine hopes of an equitable condiscending, and when they are brought to the mid terme they imagine, they may either by perswasion be drawn quite over to the Romish side, or els quick∣ly by force be chased out of France.

*But of all the Regions of the world this evill Cassandrian spirit did choose the Isle of Britaine for his principall habi∣tation, having once gotten possession in the heart of the great Arch Prelate there; from him as the head without much adoe he diffused his venome into the most of the inferior mem∣bers, numbers of the Clergie were incontinent in all the Do∣minions so farre intoxicated with this p•stilentious vapour, that how much true protestant life remained in their breast, it is hard to say. By all appearance too great a number needed Page  [unnumbered] no more for their posting to Rome, but a Warrant from the King and Parliament, yea so great a minde had they to the voyage, that many of them, notwithstanding of the King and States expresse discharge are found as fugitives much beyond the mid-way, if not within the walls themselves of that Ba∣bel: who pleaseth to perus• with attention that late Treatise of the Canterburian self-conviction, will find it more easie to recite the Catalogue of Romish errours, which were avow∣ed by a great number of Divines, with the heartie approbation, or at least open countenance of all the Bishops, than to finde any abomination of Popery whereof they were free.

*Amongst the manifold policies employed by these new in∣geniers to steale away the hearts of people from their zeale to the Protestant Religion, to diminish their hatred of Popish corruptions, peece and peece to bring them insensibly within the doores of the Harlots house: their master-peece for these ends was the crying up with all their strength of the Litur∣gie and Popish ritualls: they knew that amongst people the ca∣pacities of few did reach to the comprehension of doctrinall controversies, they perceived that the division of Protestants from Rome was most if not alone sensible in the use of their Liturgie and rituals; a civill societie with Papists we did ne∣ver refuse, diverse also make no scruple to come to their Ser∣mons, but to countenance their worship, to partake of their Sacraments, to joyne with them in their Missall, Breviatie, Pontificall, or any other of their Ceremoniall books, all true Protestants have ever abhorred as superstitious and idola∣trous pollutions. To remove this great if not sole wall of se∣paration,* our Masters of the new art did make it their chiefe task to frame all the rituals of our Church in such a mode, that they should in nothing at all crosse with the least offence the mind of the Pope himselfe: and as if it had not been favour enough to Papists to have removed out of our Books of devoti∣on, every thing any wayes displeasing to them, they will yet more shew their care of complying with the desires of these their friends; when the reframing of the Liturgie commeth into their hands, by cunning conveyance they will slide in so many more new clauses from the Romish Missall, as may serve at their Page  [unnumbered] first explanation to be a faire bridge to all our people to walk straight over the ancient ditches of division to the midst of the Citie of Rome. They saw by sensible reasons, that when we did embrace such a Liturgie as did justifie the Masse Book of the Papists, their Breviarie and all other their publick devotions, in all the most materiall exceptions we were wont to take at them, that then we were brought to an inevitable necessitie to conjoyne at the first occasion with the Papists in these things wherein our separation almost alone was appa∣rent.

*Beside reason and sense they were taught by ancient experi∣ence, that the easiest way whereby the Pope of old subdued the most of the Western Nations to his obedience, was by the snare of his Liturgie; they were not unacquainted with the history of forraigne Churches, at least of their owne: It was not onely in Italy, France, and Spaine, where the Pope after his long warres and contests both with the Preachers and people, for the receiving of his Ordo Romanus, at last sore against the heart both of the Churches and States by the vio∣lent oppression of misled Princes, did bind the yoke of his Ser∣vice-book so fast on the necks of these realms, that to this day the knot of that slavery could never be gotten either loosed by art, or cut by force; but in England above all Nations the first introduction of the Romish Liturgie was tragicall and tyrannick, for notwithstanding of all that the crafty and in fa∣mous Apostle Austin could do, the Church-men of England were never induced to receive that Roman order, till that cruell maledictine Monk by the sword of the mis-informed King, had massacred 1200 of the most zealous and innocent of his op∣posers, to the end that the seed of Romish rituals being wate∣red with the blood of so many Martyrs, might take the dee∣p•r root in English ground; surely when once that cruell Monk, then Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Popes A∣postle to England, had brought that Romish service into the Church over the carkases of so many martyred Divines, the slavery of the whole Nation become so pitifull, that for many ages without any possible remedy, both their soules, bodies, and estates were trod upon by the foule feet of the Romane Anti∣christ.

These tryed experiences did encourage much of late our Leaders to assay the reducing of our Church in that old bea∣ten path to the obedience of the Apostolick Sea. The English Liturgie which contained the m•st tolerable fooleries of the old order of Satum was winked at in the beginning of King Ed∣ward and Q. Elizabeths Reigne, by many gracious men overswayed by the prepotent Popish faction, hoping withall in due time by the power of preaching to get all that trash cast out, and all the mist of these shadowes dispelled: but in this hope they were much deceived, for that book which at the begin∣ning might have (albeit with some difficultie) been gotten quite removed, in processe of time was so rooted, became so lovely to many of the Clergy, that when this new faction of Reconcilers was lifted up on the stage of this Isle, they found it the best instrument they could have wished for the promo∣ving of all their designes: the greatest follies and most inex∣cusable faults thereof, which in the dayes of former Gover∣nours were either altogether neglected or but softly pressed, by our new Masters wisdomes were all punctually and most straitly urged: these men gave unto many passages of that Book, which by a benigne interpretation were wont to be drawne unto a protestant sense; their first and native expo∣sition according to the minde of these Popes who had at the beginning composed them; and finding it most easie by a little variation to get in much more of the Romish stuffe, they procured from the King, as if it had beene for the use of the Church of Scotland alone, the reframing of the whole Book: in this their work they inserted so much farther of the Ro∣mish ritualls, that if God had not crossed their designe, it had been in all appearance most easie for them so to have dressed that new service in a second Edition (which by a fresh Pro∣clamation for a full uniformitie in the worship of God amongst all the Kings Subjects, might have been imposed on all the three Dominions) that Protestants should have no longer made any scruple to have gone to the Popish Masse and Matins, nor Papists to have come to the English Liturgy, when both of them with their eyes did see these books at last to have become really the same.

*It is strange that men who professe more than ordinary zeale to the peace of the Church of England, should at this time be so earnest soliciters for the preserving of this Liturgie, when the far most part, if not simply all the godly of the Isle are lon∣ging with great expectation, and greater desires to see that in∣strument after all the evill they have suffered by it to be broken in pieces; these bygone yeares the truths of God, of the highest qualitie in a very great number by their Brethren the Can∣terburians were shamefully trod underfoot, the world truly wonders how then these mens pens and tongues were employed, where their remonstrances, their defences, their apologies lay then buried? when the whole Protestant religion before their eyes was violate, when a deluge of Arminianisme and Pope∣ry was overflowing the Land, were they not then dumb as fishes? did either the King, or the Parliament, or the Countrey heare one syllable of the smallest complaint from them? but now when the holy Miters of Prelates begin to be touched, when the book of sacred Ceremonies commeth in hazard of a removall, heaven and earth is filled with their clamours, no end there is now of their pamphleting, as wave presseth wave, so their irrefragable propositions must be seconded with their divine Episcopacy, and that backed with a remonstrance, and this with a defence; and however all these should swell never so big with disdainfull pride and most bitter injuries, yet the world must forsake their sences, and take all for the most sweet, milde, and humble moderation. I will passe no censure on that Spirit which leads men of eminent parts and dignitie to a dumbe silence, when both Church and State are set on fire about their eares by Incendiaries of their speciall acquaintance and intime familiaritie, but wakens them to high and out∣ragious passions, when Bishops and Ceremonies come to be cald in question, onely they would beware least this their second practice be a just punishment on them from God for their first fault, least for their former betraying (at least through their connivance) the truth of God, and liberties of their Countrey, they be now scorched with the flames of intemperate zeale for keeping in the Church that trash which they may know hath ever been, and now is like to be an occasion of most pitifull di∣vision Page  [unnumbered] both in Church and State, which the world knowes hath ever been a rod of Scorpions in the hands of the sons of Belial, to scourge alongst all the Kingdome many amongst the best both pastors and professors of the whole Land, which them∣selves have seene with their eyes to have been the prime in∣strument whereby the Canterburians were like in a short time to have redelivered all these Dominions into the hands of the Pope, and which if they please they may know to be of that nature that to the worlds end will make it very apt to doe the like service to any who shall have the like boldnesse and occa∣sion to reattempt the like designes.

*But with the Liturgie of the Church of England I will not meddle, those whom more properly it concernes will doubt∣lesse now shortly in all seriousnesse recognise upon it, whether or no at this divine occasion when without the least hurt to any soule it may most easily be gotten quite removed, it ought not once for all to be cast away for the remedying of many great e∣vils wherwith in all bygone times it hath afflicted both Church and State, as also for the procuring of many great blessings which through the want of its incumbrance all other refor∣med Churches this day enjoy. It is my onely intention to con∣sider the Scottish Liturgie, which the Bishops perswade the King to be all one with the English, and is indeed by the Eng∣lish Authours so cunningly contrived that no sensible diffe∣rence to a common and running eye will appeare: according as the generall Assemblies and Parliament of Scotland give expresse warrant, and as now thanks be to God both his Maje∣stie and this gracious Parliament of England doth freely consent; I will shew that this our Service-Book is not onely ta∣ken well neare word by word, out of the Sincks of Rome, but also that all the filth which runs in any laines of the Masse, is either clearly to be seene in the gutters of it, or at least se∣cret conduits are laid under its streets for to receive all the myre of the Romish rituals, whenever it shall be the plea∣sure of a misleading Prelate to open the Sluses for deriving to us more of the Romish puddle. It is my labour in this sub∣sequent Treatise to shew not so much that the Liturgie is in the Masse, whereof none doe doubt, as that the Masse is in the Page  [unnumbered] Liturgie: that the matter and the forme, that the substance and the accidents of the Masse are here; that of the integrall parts those which are incomparably the worst, doe actually and expresly appeare in our Service; that all the portions of the Masse better and worse are in our Booke, if not expresly (as very many be) yet virtually such a seed of them being sowne that for their bud, blossome, and fruit, they needed no more but a command from a Bishops mouth to a Printer, upon a privie Warrant from Court, purchased by false information; if this I make good to the sense of every imprejudicate Reader, I hope all reasonable men will absolve of rigour not of unjustice onely, the decrees of the Scottish Church against this unhappie Booke, and all those within her jurisdiction who have contri∣buted their indeavours for the contriving, imposing, or defen∣ding thereof, and who yet refuse to give any true securitie of their purpose to oppose, if that same Booke or a worse by a mis∣led Church, or mis-informed Prince, should to morrow againe be recommended, though not peremptorily commanded to be imbraced by our Nation. With what safetie a flock of Christi∣an people may be committed to the charge of men of that tem∣per, it is easie to judge.