r 
 
 THE 
 
 REASONS 
 
 Agreed upon by the 
 
 Reformers of the Church 
 of Scotland^ 
 
 For which the 
 
 BOOK of Common-Prayer, urged 
 upon Scotland, Juno 1637. wasn> 
 fufed, 
 
 AS ALSO 
 
 The REASONS agreed upon by the 
 Assembly of Divines at Weftminfter, for 
 laying afide the Englijh Book of Common- 
 Prayer. 
 
 Together with 
 
 Mr. GEORGE GRAHAM'S Renunciation and 
 Abjuration of Epifcopacy. 
 
 Deut. Ver. 32. Ye jhall obferve to do as the Lord your 
 
 God bath commanded you : You Jhall not turn afide 
 
 to the Right-Hand, or to the Left. 
 I Cor. xi. 2. Now, I praife you, Brethren, that you 
 
 keep the Ordinances as I delivered them to you. 
 Mark vii. 7. In vain do they worfiip me, teaching /or 
 
 Dofirines the Commandments of Men. 
 
 
 EDINBURGH, 
 
 Printed for G. Pat on in Linlithgow, and Sold 
 by him, and other Bookfellers in Town and 
 Country. M.dcc.xliv. 
 
To the READER. 
 
 Perhaps (bine may be prejudiced againft the fol- 
 lowing Paper, becaufe its Arguments are levelled a- 
 gainft the Service-Book impofed on Scotland i6ij. 
 and not againft the Service- Book of England, now 
 generally ufed by our Scots Epifcopalians : But who- 
 ever has read both thefe Books, knows them to be 
 materially, if not almoft formally, one and the fame : 
 For Proof of which I only cite a few Lines of an 
 Epifeopal Minifter, Mr. William Smart, in a Paper 
 of his, intitled, A jhort Difiourfi [after Sermon) re- 
 commending the Service and Prayers of the Churchy 
 Pag. 8. " Some are difpleafed that we make Ufe of 
 cc the Englilh Liturgy, and not of our own, feeing we 
 * c have one of our own, and which fome Divines of the 
 * c Church of England prefer to tljeir own. But our 
 cc own Book of Common- Prayer is almoft out of 
 cc Print, at leaft wehavenoc a fuflicient Number of 
 cc them, as (by the pious and generous Difpofition 
 cc of good Chriftians in England) we are fupplied 
 cc with Englijh Books at this Time. And there is no 
 cc material Difference between the Scotijh and En- 
 cc glijh Books of Common- Prayer -, they differ as 
 " little as the Scotijh and Englijh Tongues, and are, 
 <c upon the Matter, one and the fame: So chat this 
 ff Objection ferves for nothing. " 
 
 From all which it appears, that the fame Argu- 
 ments ftrike equally againft the Englijh as the Scotifb 
 Service- Book. 
 
C 5 ) 
 
 'The Reasons agreed upon by the Reformers 
 of the Church of Scotland, for -which 
 the Book of Common-Prayer, urged 
 upon Scotland, Anno i6$j. was retu- 
 fed. 
 
 Reason I. 
 
 IT containeth divers Points and Dire&ions which 
 would breed a Change in fome Articles of that 
 Do&rine and Difcipline of the Church of the faid 
 Kingdom, which are both warranted in Scripture, 
 and approved by Parliament : And it feemeth to be 
 as well againft State-Wifdom, as againft Religion, 
 to change any Thing either in the Matter or Form 
 of the faid Dodtrine and Difcipline, without firft 
 (hewing both fome Evil or Defeat in the Things to 
 be changed, and what Good and Benefit ic is, that 
 the faid Service-Book will afford more to the Edifi- 
 cation of the Church, or true Worlhip of Almighty 
 God, than the Points of Doihine and Difcipline 
 which the faid Service*Book would breed a Change 
 of. 
 
 Reason II. 
 IN the pretended Communion, it hath all the Sub- 
 ftance and effential Parts of the Mafs, and fo brings 
 in the mod abominable Idolatry that ever was in the 
 World, in worftiippingof a breadenGod, and makes 
 Way to the Anticbriftof Rome to bring this Land 
 under his Bondage again ; as may be feen at large by 
 the Particulars of that Communion, wherein fome 
 Things that were put out of the Service-Book of Etig- 
 land, for fmelling fo ftrong of tbe Mafs, are reftored ; * 
 and many other Things, that were never in ir, are 
 brought out of the Majs-Book, though they labour to 
 
 cover 
 
C 4 ) 
 
 cover the Matter. It hath the Commemoration of 
 the Dead 5 the Table fet Altar- ways : The Oblation 
 of the Bread and Wine to God before Confecration : 
 It hath the Popifb Confecration, that the Lord would 
 fan&ify, by his Word, and by his holy Spirit, thofe 
 Gifts and Creatures of Bread and Wine, that they 
 may be unto us the Body and Blood of his Son s and 
 then repeat the Words of Inftitution to God, for thac 
 Purpofe. It hath an Oblation of it again, after it 
 is confecrate 5 the Confummation by the Pr ie/l, 
 kneeling before the confecrate Bread and Wine : It 
 lakes away the eating and drinking by Faith, men- 
 tioned in the English Liturgy. It bath the Patin Cha- 
 lifce, two Pater-nofiers in Englijh, before the Mafs, and 
 feveral other Particulars, that would take a long 
 Time to rehearfe and confute. 
 
 Reason IIL 
 THOUGH they would take away the idolatrous 
 Mafs out of it, yet it hath a Number of Popifb fuper- 
 ftirious and idolatrous Ceremonies ; as Twenty nine 
 Holy-Days, whereof Twenty two are dedicated to 
 Saints 5 two of them to the Virgin Mary y the one 
 whereof is called, The Annunciation of our Lady : So 
 fhe is made a Lady to Chriftians 5 not being on Earth 
 (he muft be a Lady in Heaven. Is not this to make 
 her aGoddefs? It hath fourteen Fading- Days, and 
 fome Weeks. It hath alio the human Sacraments 
 of the Crofs in Baptifm, laying on of the Bijhop's 
 Hand in Confirmation ; a Ring for the outward Seal 
 in Marriages a fandtified Font, Holy- Water, Ho- 
 linefs of Churches and Chancels 5 private Baptifm, 
 private Communions, Ceremonies for Burial of the 
 Dead, and Purification of Women after Child- 
 Birth h the Prieft (landing, kneeling, turning to the 
 People, andconfequently from them, fpeaking with 
 aloud Voice, and confequently fome Times with a 
 low Voice. People {landing at Gofpels, at Gloria 
 fatri, and Creeds ; their anfwering the Minifter* and 
 
 many 
 
C 5 ) 
 
 many fuch like, in Number above Fifty; befids* 
 any religious Ornament, that the King, or bis Suc- 
 ceffors (hall prefcribe, and Ceremonies that Bifhops 
 (hall determine, or (hall be contained in Books of 
 Homilies to be fet forth hereafter. 
 Reason IV. 
 
 AND though they would take out of the Book, 
 both the Mafsy and all thofe fuperftitious Ceremo- 
 nies, yet it tiath a Number of other material Er- 
 rors: As, leaving unread about a Hundred and 
 twenty Chapters of God's Word, and putting this 
 Reproach upon them, that they are lead edifying, and 
 might be bed fpared, and reading fundry Chapters 
 out of Apocrypha, under the Stile of holy Scripture of 
 the Old Teltament. It hath a Litany more like Con- 
 juring than like Prayers. Ic hath fome Places out 
 of which Papifts may prove, that Sacraments are 
 abfolutely neceffary to Salvation, in appointing Bap- 
 tifm in private, with fuch Hafte, that, if Neceflity 
 require, he that baptizes needs not fo much as to fay 
 the Lord's Prayer : And out of which they may prove, 
 that Sacraments give Grace by their Work wrought, 
 in faying, Children baptized have all Things necef- 
 fary to Salvation, and be undoubtedly faved. It hath 
 other Places out of which they may prove more 
 Sacraments than Two, which, they fay, every Pa- 
 rilhioner, who is already baptized, (hall communi- 
 cate, and (hall alfo receive the Sacraments; and that 
 Sacraments, two, are generally necefiary to Salvati- 
 on, as if there were others, either not fo general, or 
 not fo neceflary. It hath other Places, out of which 
 they may prove univerfal Grace, faying, God the 
 Father made vie and all the World, and God the 
 Son redeemed me and all Mankind. One Colled 
 pretends to beg from God, that which they dare not 
 pref ume to name, and a Number others of this Sort. 
 Reason V. 
 
 THOUGH like ways they amend all thofe Errors, 
 < and 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 and that they were no material Error in it at all $ fo 
 they read nothing at all but Scriptures, yea, and that 
 all their Prayers and Exhortations were nothing but 
 Words of Scripture, yet fuch a Liturgy were not 
 lawful to be made the only Form of God's Worlhip 
 in publick : For, though a formed Liturgy may be 
 to ferve for Rule to other Churches, and Monuments 
 to Pofterity, what Forms are ufed, or that it may 
 lead the Way, or be a Direction to tbofe that are 
 beginning in the Miniftry, yet it is not by read- 
 ing or Prayers and Exhortations, that the Lord ap- 
 points his Servants of the Miniftry to worftiip 
 him, or ediiy his People 5 but be has given Gifts to 
 them, to exhort, pray, and preach, which they 
 ought to ftir up and ufe j and though they may, in 
 their private Studies, take Help of other Men's Gifts, 
 yet it is not lawful fox a Man to ty himfelf, or be 
 tied by others, to a prefcript Form of Words in 
 Prayer and Exhortation, for thefe Reafons. 
 
 tirji, Such a prefcript Form is againft the Glory 
 of God, in dinting to him fuch a daily Meafure of Ser- 
 vice, and in bindring the many fpiritual Petitions 
 and Praifes that otfaerways would be, if God's Gifts 
 were ufed. 
 
 Secondly, It isagainfl: xhz Dignity of Cbrifl, in ma- 
 king his Gifts needlefs ; for, though he fend down 
 no Gifts at all, they can ferve themfelves with the 
 Book without them. 
 
 Thirdly, It quenches the holy Spirit, becaufe he gets 
 no Employment. 
 
 Fourthly, It hinders the Edification of God's "People ; 
 they may as well (lay at Home, and be edified by 
 reading the Book themfelves. 
 
 Fifthly, It is againft the Converfton of tbofe that 
 know not God. Will ever a Rat- rime of Words faid 
 over, without Feeling or Bkffing, work upon an 
 unrenewed Heart ? 
 
 Sixthly* 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 Sixthly, It will never ferve to convince an Here- 
 lick, to check a profane Per/on, or to waken a fecure 
 Soul; tbey may long goon, ere fuch a Service bite 
 upon them 5 yea, it foiters Peopleinaprefumptuous 
 Conceit, that they are well enough if they be prefentj 
 and fay their Part of Service. 
 
 Seventhly, It fofters a lazy Minijlry> and makes 
 Way for putting down Preaching \ they need take 
 no Pains, and therefore need no Stipend: Yea, 
 they may come from the Ale-houfe, or a worfe 
 Place, and ftep to and read their Service, with- 
 out either Check or Preparation. 
 
 Eightly, It may all be done by a Boy of [even Years 
 old; and fo every private Man, that can read, yea, 
 nTurk, it he can read, may be fuch a Miniiler. 
 
 Ninthly, It cannot exprefs the fever al Needs of all 
 People to God, or deal with them according to 
 their feveral Eftates, that will alter otherways than 
 any ^refcript Form can be applied to. 
 
 Tenthly, If any one ftinted Liturgy had been good, 
 or needful, no doubt but CHRIST would have fee 
 one down for us. 
 
 Reason VI. 
 
 Though a perfcript Form of Liturgy were law- 
 ful, yet there is no Warrant for impofing one : For, 
 might not able Minifters (at leaft) make a prefcript 
 Form to themfelves, which would fit them and 
 their People bed ? But if it were lawful to impofe 
 one, then there is one in this Country already *. 
 Ought not that rather be impofed, than any orber, 
 feeing it is already eftabliftied by Parliament, now 
 ot a long Time ? But now, if a new one ought 
 Ff to 
 
 * This was the Form and Order of the Englifli 
 Church at Geneva, which was brought over here, and 
 made Ufeof as a Direflory in the Beginning of our Re- 
 formation in Knox'* Time. 
 

 C 8 ) 
 
 to be inpofed, then it ought to come in by a law- 
 ful Manner, by a General Affembly, and Men 
 chofen to make it, that are known to have the Gift 
 of Prayer thcmfelves, and not the Mafs-Book tran- 
 flated into Evglijh, urged by Antichri/lian Prelates 
 upon God's People, without Confentof any Gene- 
 ral Aflembly or Parliament, againft the Will of 
 all Men, and with no fmall Offence and Scandal 
 to the Minds and Confciences of fuch as think all 
 Liturgy unlawful, that is either in the MafsWay, 
 or inconfiftent with the Practice and Peace of the 
 Reformed Churches of Scotland hitherto; and a- 
 gainft the Hearts of fuch as know many Things in 
 the Englijh Liturgy and Canons, which the Practice 
 of neither hath Warrant in God's Word, nor can 
 t>ring any fuch Addition to the Profit, Honour or 
 Power of the King, that is able to compenfe the 
 Lofs he may make of his good Subjects Affe&ions, 
 by commanding fuch a Change as the urged Litur- 
 gy would bring to the Peace of our Church, and the 
 Refpeft due to the Ads of Parliament, and long 
 Cuftom, whereby our Church- Difcipline, Order 
 and Government hath been eftabliftied. 
 
 Aft of the General Affembly of the Church 
 of Scotland condemning the Service-Book, 
 Book of Canons, Book of Ordination, and 
 the High-Commiffion. 
 
 GlafgoWy December 6. 163S. 
 
 TH E Affembly having diligently confidered the 
 Book of Common-Prayer, lately obtruded up- 
 on the Reformed Kirk within this Realm, both in 
 refpedt of the Manner of the Introducing thereof, 
 and in nfpeft of the Matter which it containetb, 
 Findetb, that it hath been devifed and brought in 
 
 by 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 by the pretended Prelates, without Direction from 
 the Kirk, and prefled upon Miniftcrs without War- 
 rant from the Kirk, to be univerfally received, as 
 the only Form of Divine-Service, under all higheft 
 Pains, both Civil and Ecclefialtical : And the Book 
 itfelf, befide the Popijb Frame and Forms in Divine 
 Worfhip, to contain many Popijb Errors and Ce- 
 remonies, and the Seeds of manifold and grofs Su- 
 perftition and Idolatry* The Aflembly therefore, 
 all in one Voice, hath rejedted and condemned, 
 and, by thefe Prefents, doth rejedl and condemn 
 the faid Book ; not only as illegally introduced, but 
 alfo as repugnant to the Dodtrine, Difcipline and 
 Order of this reformed Kirk, to the Confeffion of 
 Faith, Conftitutions of General AfTemblies, and 
 Adb of Parliament eftablifhing the true Religion ; 
 and doth prohibit the Ufe and Practice thereof; 
 and ordain Presbyteries to proceed with the Cenfure 
 of the Kirk againft all fuch as (hall tranfgrefs. 
 
 The Aflembly alfo, taking to their Confiderati- 
 on the Book of Canons, and the Manner how it 
 hath been introduced, findeth, That it hath been de- 
 vifed by the pretended Prelates, without Warrant 
 or Direction from the General Aflembly \ and to 
 eftablifh a tyrannical Power in the Perfons of the 
 pretended Biftiops, over the Worfhipof God, Mens 
 Confciences, Liberties and Goods, and to overthrow 
 the whole Difcipline and Government of the General 
 and Synodal Aflemblies, Presbyteries and Seflions, 
 formerly eftablifhed in our Kirk. 
 
 Therefore the Aflembly, all in one Voice, hatb 
 rejected and condemned, and, by thefe Prefents, doth 
 rejedl and condemn the faid Book, as contrary to 
 the Conftflion of our Faith, and repugnant to the 
 eftablilhed Government, the Book of Difcipline, and 
 the Ads and Conftitutions of our Kirk > prohibits 
 the Ufe and Practice of the fame 5 and ordains Prep 
 
 byuries 
 
( io ) 
 
 lyteries to proceed, with the Cenfure of the Kirk 
 againft all fuch as (hall tranfgrefs. 
 
 The Aflembly having confidered the Book of Con- 
 jecration and Ordination, findeth it to have been fra- 
 med by the Prelates, to have been introduced and 
 pra&ifed without Warrant of Authority, either Ci- 
 vil or Ecclefiaftical 5 and that it eftablifoeth Offi- 
 ces in God's Houfe, which are riot warranted by the 
 Word of God, and are repugnant to the Difcipline 
 and Conftitutionofour Kirk j That it is an Impedi- 
 ment to the Entry of fit and worthy Men to the Mi- 
 niftry, and to the Difcharge of their Duty after their 
 Entry, conform to the Difcipline of our Kirk : 
 Therefore the Affembly^ all in one Voice, hath re- 
 jected and condemned, and, by thefe P relents, do re- 
 jedl and condemn the faid Book j and prohibits • 
 the Ufe and Practice of the fame ; and ordains Frefi 
 lyteries to proceed with the Cenfure of the Kirk 
 againft all fuch as (hall tranfgrefs. 
 
 The General Aflembly, after due Trial, having 
 found, That the Court of High-Commiffion hath 
 been eredied without the Confent or Procurement of 
 the Kirk, or Confent of the Eftates in Parliament 5 
 That it fubverteth the Jurifdidtion and ordinary Ju- 
 dicatories and AfTemblies of the Kirk-Seflions, 
 Tresbyteries, provincial and national AfTemblies j 
 Thar it is not regulate by Laws, Civil or Ecclefi- 
 aftical, but at the Difcretion and Arbitriment of 
 Commiflioners s That it giveth to Ecclefiaftical 
 Perfons the Power of both the Swords, and to 
 Perlons merely Civil the Power of the Keys and 
 Kirk-Cenfures : Therefore the Affembly, all in one 
 Voice, hath difallowed and condemned, and, by 
 thefe Prefents, doth difallow and condemn the faid 
 Court, as unlawful in itfelf, and prejudicial to the 
 Liberties of Chrift's Kirk and Kingdom, the 
 King's Honour, in maintaining the eftabhfhed Laws 
 *n 4 Judicatories of the Kirk 5 and prohibits the 
 
( II ) 
 
 Ufe and Practice of the fames and ordains Preshy- 
 teries to proceed with the Cenfures of the Kirk a* 
 gainftail fuchasftiall tranfgrefs. 
 
 Acl of the General Aflfembly of the Church of 
 Scotland concerning the Confeffion of Faith y 
 renewed in February, 1638. 
 
 Glafgow, December 20. 163 S. 
 
 TH E Aflembly confidering, Thar, for the Pur- 
 ging and Prefervation of Religion, for the 
 King's Ma jetty's Honour, and for the publick Peace 
 of the Kirk and Kingdom, the Renewing of that na- 
 tional Covenant and Oath of thisKirk and Kingdom, 
 in February 1638. was mod necefiary * likeas the 
 Lord bath bleffed the fame from Heaven, with a 
 wonderful Succefs for the Good of Religion. Thar 
 the faid Covenant fufpendeth the Practice of Nova- 
 tions already introduced, and the Approbation of 
 the Corruptions of the prefent Government of the 
 Kirk, with the civil Places and Power of Kirk- Men, 
 til! they be tried in a free General Aflembly : And 
 that now, after long and ferious Examination, it is 
 found, That, by the Confeffion of Faith, the five 
 Articles of Perth, and £/>//?0/7tf/ Government, are ab- 
 jured, and co be removed out of this Kirk, and the 
 civil Places and Power of Kirk-Men are declared 
 to be unlawful > the Aflembly alloweth and approv- 
 eth the fame, in all the Heads and Articles thereof, 
 and ordaincth, that all Minifters, Matters of Uni- 
 verfiues, Colleges and Schools, and all others who 
 have not already fubfcribed the faid Confeffion and 
 Covenant, fhall fubfcribe the fame, with thefe 
 Words prefixed to the Subscription, viz. The Ar^ 
 tick of this Covenant, which was^ at the firft Sub- 
 
 fcription, 
 
( « •) 
 
 fcription, referred to the Determination of the Ge- 
 neral Affvmbly, being now determined at Glafgow, 
 in December 163 8. and thereby the five Articles 
 of Perth, and the Government of the Kirk by 
 Bifhops, being declared to be abjured and removed, 
 the civil Places and Power of Kirk-Men declared 
 to be unlawful, We fubfcribe according to the De- 
 termination of the faid free and lawful General Af- 
 fembly holden at Glafgow $ and ordain, ad per- 
 petuam rei memoriam, the faid Covenant, with this 
 Declaration, to be infert in the Regifters of the Af- 
 fembliesof this Kirk, General, Provincial and fref- 
 hyterial. 
 
 Mr. George Graham his renouncing and ab- 
 juring of Epifcopacy, given in to the Gene- 
 ral jiffembly of the Church 0$ Scotland. 
 
 Edinburgh, Auguft 17. 1639. 
 
 The which Day there was given into the AJfembly, di- 
 recl from Mr. George Graham, fometime pretended 
 Bijhop of Orkney, an Abjuration of Epifcopacy, 
 Jubfcribed with bis Hand, which was publickly read 
 in Audience of the AJfembly, and thereafter they or* 
 dained the fame to beregiftrate in the AJfembly Books, 
 ad perpetuam rei memoriam, whereof the lenor 
 follows. 
 
 TO all and fundry whom it effeirs, to whofe 
 Knowledge thefe Prefemsfhall come, efpecial- 
 ly to the Reverend and Honourable Members of the 
 future AlTembly, to be holden at Edinburgh the 12th 
 Day of Auguft 1639 Years, me Mafter George Gra- 
 ham, fometime pretended Bifhop of Orkney, being 
 Jbrry and grieved at my Heart, that I (hould ever, 
 
 for 
 
C if 7 
 
 for any worldly Refpedi, have embraced the Order 
 of Epifcopacy, the fame having no Warrant from the 
 Word of God ; and being fuch an Order as hath had 
 fenfibly many fearful and evil Confequences in many 
 Parts of Chriftendom, and particularly within the 
 Kirk of Scotland, as by doleful and deplorable Experi- 
 ence this Day ismanifeft, tohavedifclaimed,likeas I, 
 by the Tenor hereof, do altogether difclaim and ab- 
 jure all Epifcopal Power and Jurifdittion, with the 
 whole Corruptions thereof, condemned by lawful 
 Aflemblies within thefaid Kirk of Scotland; in re- 
 gard the fame is fuch an Order, as is alfo abjured 
 within the faid Kirk, by virtue of that national 
 Oath which was made in the Years 15S0 and 15S1. 
 promifing, and fwearing by the great Name of the 
 Lord our God, that I fhall never, while I live, direct- 
 ly, or indire&ly, exerce any fuch Power within the 
 Kirk > neither yet (hall I ever approve or allow the 
 fame, not fo much as in my private or publickDif- 
 courfe : But, on the contrary, fhall (rand and ad- 
 here to all the A&sand Conftitutions of the late Af- 
 fembly holden at Glafgow the 21ft of November 
 1638. lafl by paft 5 and ftiall concur, to the uttermoft 
 of my Power, fincerely and faithfully, as Occafion 
 (hall offer, in Execution of the faid Adls, and ad- 
 vancing the Work of Reformation within this Land, 
 ro the Glory of God, the Peace of the Country, and 
 the Comfort and Contentment of all good Chriftians, 
 as God (hall be my Help. In Teftimony of which 
 PremifTes, I have fubfcribed thir Prefents with my 
 Hand, at Breeknefs in Strones, the Eleventh Day of 
 February, the Year of God 1639 Years, before thir 
 WirnefTes, Mr. Walter Stuart Minifter at Soutbro- 
 mldfay, Mr. James Hynd Minifter Tit Kirkwall, Mr. 
 Robert Feirjbn Minifter at Firth, and Mr. Patrick 
 Graham Minifter at Holme, my Son. 
 
 See alfo the Renunciation of Mr. Alexander Lind- 
 f<*1> pretended Bifhop of Dunkell, of Epifcopacy, 
 
 alfo- 
 
( H ) 
 
 alfo given in to the fame Affembly. See the imprin- 
 ted A&s of the faid Affembly j and likeways fee 
 Mr. Patrick Adamfon, pretended Bifhop of St. An- 
 drews, his Renunciation of Epifcopacy, in Calder- 
 wood's Hiftory, Pag. z6o. in the Year 1591. All 
 which plainly declares and clearly proves, chat 
 Prelacy, or the Government of the Church by Biftiops, 
 has no Warrant nor Foundation in the Word of 
 God. 
 
 ^The Reafom agreed upon by the Affembly of 
 Divines at Weftminifter, for laying afide 
 the Englifh-Book of Common-Prayer. 
 
 IN the Beginning of the Meffed Reformation, our 
 wife and pious Anceftors cook care to fet forth an 
 Order for Redrefs of many Things, which they 
 then, by the Word, difcovered to be vain, erroneous, 
 fuperfticious and idolatrous, in the publick Wor- 
 ftiip of God. This occafioned many godly and learned 
 Men torejoice much in the Book of Common-Prayer 
 at that Time fet forth 5 becaufe the Mafs, and the 
 reft of the Lathi Service, being removed, che publick 
 Worftup was celebrated in our own Tongue j many 
 of the common Feople alfo received Benefit by hear- 
 ing the Scriptures read in their own Language, which 
 formerly were unto them as a Book that is fealed. 
 Reason I. 
 Howbeic, long and fad Experience hath made it 
 manifeft, chat the Liturgy ufed in the Church oi Eng- 
 land (nocwichftanding all the Pains and religious In- 
 tentions of the Compilers of it) hath proved an Of- 
 fence, not only to many of the Godly at Home, 
 but alfo to the reformed Churches Abroad. For,, 
 not to fpeak of urging the reading of all the Prayers,; 
 which very greatly increafed the Burden of it 5 th : 
 many unprofitable and burdenfom Ceremonies con- 
 tains i 
 
( u ) 
 
 rained in ft, have occafioned much Mifchief, as well 
 by difquiecing the Consciences of many godly, Mi- 
 nifters and People, who could not yield unto them, 
 as by depriving them of the Ordinances of God, 
 which they might not enjoy without conforming or 
 fubfcribing to thofe Ceremonies. Sundry good Chri- 
 ftians have been, by Means thereof, kept from the 
 Lord's Table, and divers able and faithful Minifters 
 debarred from the Exercife of their Miniftry (to the 
 endangering many Thoufand Souls, in a Time of 
 fuch Scarcity of faithful Paftors) and fpoiled of their 
 Livelyhood, to the Undoing of them and their Fami- 
 lies. Prelates and their Fadtion have laboured to 
 raife the Eftimation of it to fuch a Height, as i£ 
 there were no other Worftiip, or Way of Worfhip of 
 God amongftus, but only the Service- Book, to the 
 great Hindrance of the Preaching of the Word, and 
 (in fome Places, efpecially of late) to the Juftling of 
 it out as unneceffary j or (atbeft) as far inferior to 
 the reading of CommorNPrayer, which was made 
 no better than an Idol, by many ignorant and fuper- 
 ftitious People, who, pleafing themfelves in their 
 Prefence at that Service, and their Liplabour in 
 bearing a Part in it, have thereby hardned them- 
 felves in their Ignorance and Carelefnefs of faving 
 Knowledge and true Piety. 
 
 Reason II. 
 IN the mean Time, Papifts boafted that the Book 
 was a Compliance with them in a great Part of 
 their Service 5 and fo were not a little confirmed in 
 their Superftition and Idolatry, expediing rather 
 our Return to them, than endeavouring the Refor- 
 mation of themfelves : In which Expe&ation they 
 were of late very much encouraged, when, upon the 
 pretended Warranrablenefs of impofing of the for- 
 mer Ceremonies, new ones were daily obtruded upon 
 the Church. 
 
 Gg Add 
 
 
( 16 ) 
 
 Add hereunto (which was not forefeen, but fine 
 hath corns to pafs) that the Liturgy hath been a grea 
 Means, as, on the one Hand, to make and increafe 
 an idle and unedifying Miniftry, which contented 
 kfelf with fet Forms made to their Hands by o- 
 thers, without putting forth themfelves to exer- 
 cife the Gift of Prayer, with which our Lord jfc- 
 fus Cbrifl pleafeth to furnirti all his Servants whom 
 he calls to that Office : So, on the other Side, it 
 hath been (and ever would be, if continued) a 
 Matter of endlefs Strife and Contention in the 
 Church, and a Snare both to many godly and 
 faithful Minifters, who have been perfecuted and 
 filenced upon that Occafion, and to others of hope- 
 ful Parts, many of which have been, and more 
 ftill would be diverted from all Thoughts of the Mi- 
 niftry, to other Studies 5 efpecially in thefe latter 
 Times, wherein God vouchfafeth to his People more 
 and better Means for the Difcovery of Error and 
 Superftition, and for attaining of Knowledge in the 
 Myfteries of Godlinefs, and Gifts in Preaching and 
 Prayer. 
 
 Reason III. 
 
 UP O N thefe and many like weighty Confide- 
 rations, in referrence to the whole Book in general, 
 and becaufe of divers Particulars contained in it, not* 
 from any Love to Novelty, or Intention to difpa- 
 rageour firft Reformers, of whom we are perfwad- 
 ed, thar, were they now alive, they would join, 
 with us in this Work, and whom we acknowledge 
 as excellent Inftruments, raifed by God, to begin 
 the Purging and Building of his Houfe, and defire , 
 they may be had of us and Pofterity in everfefting 
 Remembrance, with Thankfulnefs and Honour 3 buc 
 that we may, in fome Meafure, anfwer the gracious 
 Providence: of God, which at this Time calleth up- 
 on us for further Reformation, and may fatisfy 
 our own Conferences, and anfwer the Expectation 
 
 of 
 
( \7 ) 
 
 of other reformed Churches, andtheDefiresofmany 
 of the Godly among ourfelves, and withal give 
 fome publick Teftimony of our Endeavours forU- 
 niformity in divine Worfhip, which we have pro- 
 mifed in our folemn League and Covenant : We have, 
 after earned and frequent calling upon the Name of 
 God, and after much Confulcation, not with Flefti 
 and Blood, but with his holy Word, refolved to lay 
 afide the former Liturgy, with the many Rites and 
 Ceremonies formerly ufed in the Worfhip of God. 
 
 Royal Witneffes with refpeti to the Englifh- 
 Service. King Edward VI. his Anfuer 
 to the People ajfembled in Devonfhire, An- 
 no 1^9. 
 
 AS for the Service in the Englijh Tongue, it hath 
 manifeft Reafons for it : And yet perchance ic 
 feemeth to you a new Service, and indeed it is no 
 other than the old, the felf-fame Words in Eng/ijb 
 which were in Latin, faving a few Things taken our, 
 which were fo fond, that it had been a Sbame to 
 have heard them in Engltfo, as all they can judge 
 which lift to report the Truth. The Difference is, 
 we meant godly, that you our Subjects fhould under- 
 ftand in Englijh, being our natural Country Tongue, 
 that whicb was heretofore fpoken in Latin, then 
 ferving only for them which underftood Latin, and 
 now for all you which be born Englijh. How can 
 this with Reafon offend any reafonable Man, that: 
 he fhail underltand what another faith, and fo con- 
 fent with the Speaker ? If the Service in the Church 
 was good in Latin, it remaineth good in Englijh ; for 
 nothing is altered, but to fpeak with Knowledge, 
 that which was fpoken with Ignorance, and to let 
 you underltaud what is faid for you, to the Intent 
 
 you 
 
 1 
 
( is ) 
 
 you may further it with your own Devotion : An 
 Alteration to tbe better, except Knowledge be 
 worfe than Ignorance. So that, whofoever hath 
 moved you to diflike this Order, can give you no 
 Reafon, nor anfwer yours, if ye underftoodit. fox's 
 Ads and Monuments, Vol. II. P. 667. 
 
 In the eighth Seilion of the General Affemlly of 
 the Church of Scotland, held in Augufl 1590. King 
 James VI. was prefent, where he praifed God, that 
 ht was born in fuch a Time, as in the Time of the 
 Lighr of the Gofpel ; to fuch a Place, as to be King 
 of fuch a Kirk, the fincereft Kirk in the World. The 
 Kirk of Geneva, [aid he, keepeth Pafcb and Yule ; 
 What have tbey for them ? They have no Initiati- 
 on. As for our Neighbour Kirk, in England, their 
 Service is an evil-faid Mafs in Englijb ; they want 
 nothing of the Mafs but the Liftings. I charge you, 
 my good People, Minifters, Doftors, Elders, No- 
 blemen, Gentlemen, and Barons, to ftand to your 
 Purity, and to exhort the People to do the fame; 
 and I forfooih, fo long as I bruik my Life and 
 Crown, ihall maintain the fame againft all deadly, 
 &c. There was nothing heard for a Quarter of an 
 Hour, bur praifing God, and praying for the King, 
 Calderivoofs Hijl. P. 286, 2S7. 
 
 As to Prelacy, and the Identity of Bifhop and Pref- 
 lyter, the great Erafmus, upon 1 Tim. iv.. 4. Bifhop 
 Cranwer, in his Conferences, P. 310. 331. Bifhop 
 Jewel, in Defence of his Apology, Part II. Chap. 
 5?. Divif. 1. Bifliop Morton'm his Catholick Apology, 
 i'art I. Chap. 33. Bifhop Bilfin in bis Book againft 
 Seminaries, Lib. I. P. 31S. and Archbifhop Wlnte- 
 guift againft Carthright, and many others $ as Bifhop 
 JFulk, Bifhop Pilkington, Bifhop Fox, &c. Dr. Dun- 
 ham, Dr. Hooker, "Dr. IVhitaker, Dr. Holland, and 
 Dr. Stillingfeet, in their Writings, overthrow the 
 prerended divine Right of Prelacy, and plead for 
 u only -as .an human Inftitution. And not only 
 
 fo 
 
( 19 ) 
 
 to, but thefe very Bijhops and prelatical Divines, give 
 their clear and full Confent, That Arcb-epijbopacy, 
 'as it differs from Presbytery, was only ot human 
 Right, and nor of divine Inltitution : And thefe Bi- 
 jbops and Doflors further affirm, and prove^utof the 
 fathers, That the Church, acfirft, was governed by 
 common Council of Presbyters. And therefore, 
 Bifwps, (fays one of them out of Hierom) muft un- 
 derftand, that they be greater than Minifters, rather 
 by Cuftom, than the Lord's Appointment $ and 
 the Bijbops cam£ in after the Apoftles Times. Jus 
 divinum Mtnifteri Evangel. Part 2d. Chap. iv. 
 
 Alfo, Daniel Tilen, in his Difputations in the Col- 
 lege of Sedan, Geneva, printed 161S. P. 544. de- 
 clares, That the Difference between Bijhop and Pref- 
 hyter hath no Foundation in the facred Scriptures, 
 but is only founded upon human Inftitution. For 
 Confirmation of which, he cites Hierom. Lombard. 
 Gratian. Card. Cufan. All which fairly yield the 
 Caufe of the pretended divine Right of Prelacy. 
 
 S C R I P TU R E S, &c. 
 
 What Thing foever I command you, obferve to 
 doit; thou (halt not add thereto, nor diminifh from 
 it, Dent. xii. 32. 
 
 To the Law and to the Teftimony, if they fpeak 
 not according to this Word, it isbecaufe there is no 
 Light in them, Ifa. viii. 20. 
 
 Wherefore the Lord faid, Forafmuch as this 
 People draw near me with their Moucb, — — — and 
 their Fear towards me is taught by the Precept of 
 Mens therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a mar- 
 vellous Work amongft thefe People, even a marvel* 
 lous Work, and a Wonder ; for the Wifdom of their 
 wife Men (hall perifti, and the Underftanding of their 
 prudent Men (hall be hid, Ifa. xxix. 13, 14. 
 
 He anfwered and faid unco them, Well hath Ifaiah 
 prophefied of you. Hypocrites, as it is written, This 
 
 People 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 People honoureth me with their Lips, but their Heart 
 is far from me. Howbeit, in vain do they worftiip 
 me, teaching for Do&rines the Traditions of Men : 
 For, laying afide the Commandment of God, ye 
 hold the Tradition of Men, as the walhing of Pots 
 and Cnps, and many other Things ye do. Howbeit, 
 full well ye rejedt the Commandment of God, that ye 
 may keep your Tradition, Mark vii. 6, 7, S, 9. 
 
 Thus, faith the Lord, Stand ye in the Way, and 
 fee, and ask for the old Path, where is the good Way, 
 and walk therein, and ye (hall find Kelt for your 
 Souls, Jer. \u 16. * 
 
 And he faid unco them, The Kings of theGra- 
 tiles exercife Lordftiip over thems and they thai ex- 
 ercife Authority upon them are called Benefafiors : 
 But ye (hall not befo, but he that is greatelt among 
 you, let him be as the younger, and be that is chief, as 
 he that doth ferve, Luke xxii. 25, 2(5. Mattb. xxii. 
 25, 26, 27. Mark. x. 4*> 43 > 44« 
 
 Feed the Flock of God which is among you, tak- 
 ing the Overfight thereof, not by Conftraint, but wil- 
 lingly ; not for filthy Lucre, but of a ready Mind 5 
 neither as being Lords over God's Heritage, but being 
 Enfamples to the Flock, 1 Pet. v. 2, 3. 2 Cor.i. 24. 
 
 And from Miletus he fent to Epbejits, and called 
 the Elders of the Church : Take heed therefore unto 
 yourfelves, and to the Flock, over the which the 
 Holy Ghoft hath made youOverfeers, or Bijhops, to 
 feed the Church of God, Afisxx. 17, 28. Philip, i. 
 I. Ads vi. 3, 4- 
 
 Ye obferve Days and Months, and Times and 
 Years, Gal. iy. 10. 
 
 Wherefore, if ye be dead with Chrift from the 
 Rudiments of the World, why, as though living in 
 the World, are ye fubjeft to Ordinances, (touch not, 
 tafte not, handle not, which are all to perifo with 
 theufing) after the Commandments and Do&rinesof 
 Men 5 which Things have indeed a Shew of Wif- 
 
 dom, 
 
( *' ) 
 
 dom, in Worftiip and Humility, &c . — Cor. it. 
 20, 21, 22, 23. 
 
 Meddle not with them that are given to Change, 
 Prov. xxiv. 21. 
 
 Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye 
 feparate, faith the Lord, and touch not the unclean 
 Thing, and I will receive you, 2 Cor. vi. 17. 
 
 7he Greek Poftfcripts of the Epi files to Timo- 
 thy and Titus, cleared in the Parliament 
 of England, 
 
 TH E Authority of the moft ancient Parchment 
 Manufcript of the Bible, remaining in his Maje- 
 fty*s Library at St. Jameses, being all written in great 
 Capital Greek Letters, was vouched and aflerted by 
 Sir Simonds D'Ewes, in a Speech delivered by him, 
 on Friday, June 11. 1641. in the Morning, upon the 
 Debate of the Bill touching Bijh/)ps y &c. by which 
 it infallibly appeareth, that the Styling of Timothy 
 the firft Bijhop of Ephefus, and Titus the firft Bijhop 
 of Crete, are but the bold and fpurious Additions of 
 fome Eajtern Bijhop or Monk, to the Pojlfcripts of 
 thofe Epijiles of St. Paul, at lead 500 Years after 
 Chrift. The Pojlfcripts of the faid Epijiles, in that 
 ancient Manufcript, agreeing in the main with the 
 Syriac Teftament, are only thus : The firft to Timothy, 
 written from Laodiceas the fecond to Timothy, writ- 
 ten from Laodicea , to Titus, written from Nicopolis. 
 This rare Manufcript was fenc to his Majefty, that 
 now is, by Cyrillius then Patriarch of Alexandria. 
 And the WordBijhop is not in all the Dutch Tranfla- 
 tion of the New Teftament, and where the Word 
 Bijhop is in our Tranflation, the fame is always ren- 
 dered Overfeer in theirs, according to the Original. 
 
 for 
 
:- 1" . . iPW > 
 
 Jr For Trtfatifes, which farther difcover and con- 
 ~ ju& Prelacy, rJd the Scots and Enflifh 
 
 Common^ay^er^Books, the Reader, *hat 
 
 has more Eeffitfe, tofaokfulty 
 
 1 ry Ion's Plea againft nPrelacy, Shot/fa? 
 
 2 ^£, Alcare Damafcenum Edwardi Di^J' 
 
 doclavii, Quarto. '„ 1625 
 
 3 Gillefpy's Englifh Fopifti Ceremonies, 
 
 Quarto. 16 J 7 
 
 4?Hugb's Popifti Errors aad Ungodlinefs in 
 tbeService-Book. 
 
 5 Baily's Parallel of the Liturgy and Mafs- 
 
 Book, Quarto. 
 
 6 Firmin againft Dr. Vandon on the Liturgy, 
 
 Quarto. 1661 
 
 7 Pinn's Examination of the Common- 
 
 Prayer, Quarto. 1661 
 
 3 Forefter againft Epifcopacy, Quarto. 1706 
 9 Smettimnus Redivivus, Quarto. 1 70S 
 
 10 Quepies to the Scots Innovators, &c. Quarto 171 2 
 
 11 Anderfon againft Rhind, Quarto. 1 714 
 
 1 2 Anderfbn's Dialogues, Quarto. 
 
 13 A modeft Apology, occafioned by the Bi- 
 
 fliop of Dary. 
 
 14 DeLaune's Plea for Non- Confer mills* 
 
 08avo. 1 71 2 
 
 15 A modeft Apology for the Church of Scot- 
 
 land, Ociavo. I7IZ 
 
 16 Jamefon'sSum of Epifcopal Controverfy, 
 
 OBavo. lyil 
 
 17 King's Enquiry into the Conftitution, Uni- 
 
 ty and Worftiip of the primitive 1713 
 Church, Offavo. 
 I S Dr. John Owen's Anfwers to the two Que- 
 ftions concerning the Common Prayer- 
 Book, with twelve Arguments againft 
 any Conformity to worfhip not of di- 
 vine Inftitution, printed at the End oF 
 2d Volume of his Senhons, Qfiavo. 1 720 
 FINIS.