PA KT II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. e35 ` the neceffity of the Church; nether too tedious in the whole, nor compolzd of too fhort Prayers, unmcet Repetitionsor Refponfals, nor too diffonant from the ` Liturgies of other Reformed Churches ; nor too rigoroufly impofed ; .nor the Mi- ` Hiller fo confined thereunto, but that he may a11ò make ufe of thofe Gifts fob Prayer and Exhortation whichChrilt bath given him for the Service and Edifica- tion of the Church. a. That inalìuuch ai the Book of Common Prayer hath in it many things that are juftly of enfive, and need amendment, bath been long difcontinued, and ve- ry many, both Minifters and People, Perfonsof Pious , Loyal , and Peaceable Minds are therein greatly diffatisfied ; whereupon, if it be again impofed , will inevitably follow lad Divifions, and widening of the Breaches which your Ma- jelly is now endeavouring to heal ; We do molt humbly offer to your Majelty's ` Wifdom, that for preventing fo great Evil, and for fetling the Church in Unity and Peace, fome Learned, Godly, and Moderate Divines of both Perfwaficns, ` indifferently choral, may be imployed toCompile filch a Form as is before de= ` fcribed s as much as may be in Scripture words : or at leali to Revile and effe- ` finally Reform the old ; together with an Addition or Infertion of fome other ` varying Forms in Scripture pbrafe, to be ufed at the Minifter's Choice : of which Variety and Liberty there be Inftances in the Book of Common Prayer, Concerning Ceremonies. We humbly reprefent, that we hold our felves obliged in every part of Divine Worlhip, to do all things decently, in order and to Edification, and are willing ` therein to be determined by Authority in fuch things as being meetly Circum- ftantial, are common to Humane Aétions and Societies, and are to be ordered ` by the Light of Nature and Chriftian Prudence, according to the General Riles ` of the Word which are always to be obfèrved. ` And as co divers Ceremönies formerly retained in the Church of England, We ` do in all Humility offer unto your Malelty thefe enfuing C'onliderations. That the Worlhip of God is in it felt perfeét, without baying filch Ceremo nies affixed thereto. That the Lord hash declared himfèlf in the Matters that concern his Worlhip, to be a yealour God ; and this Worlhip of his is certainly then molt pure,and molt agreeable to the Simplicity of the Gofpel,and to his holy and jealous Eyes, when it bath leali of HumaneAdmixtures in things of themfèlves confefledly unnecef fury, adjoyned and appropriated thereunto ; ,upon which account, many faith- fill Servants of the Lord, knowing his Word tobe the perfebt Rrile of Faith and Worihip, by which they malt judge of his Acceptance of their Services , and `mull beti:emfelves judged, have been exceeding fearful of varying from his Will, and of the danger of difpleafing him by Additions or Detra&ions in fuels Duties wherein they mull daily expeét the Communications of his Grace and Comfort; efpecially Cuing that thefe Ceremonies have been impofed and urged upon filch Confidurarioms as draw too near to die fignificancy and móral efficacy of Sacra- ` menu rhemfelves. . That they have, together with Popery, been reje led by many of the Reform- ' ed Churches abroad, amongfi whom notwithilanding we doubt not but the Lord ` is worlhipped decently, orderly, and in the beauty of Holinefs. That ever fiuce the Reformation they have been Matter of Contention , and `endlefiDifputes in this Church; and have been a Caulk of depriving theChurch of the Fruit and Benefit which might have been reaped from the Laboursof ma- ` ny Learnedand Godly Minifters ; tome of whom judging them unlawful,others unexpedient, were in Confcience unwilling to be brought under the power of them. That they have occafioned, by the offence taken at them, by many of the People, heretofore, great Separations from our Church, and fò have rather pre- ` judiced than promoted the Unity thereof : and at this time, by reafon of their long filait, may he more likely than ever heretofore topráluce the fame Incon- ` veniencies. That they are ar belt but indifferent, and in their Nature mutable and that it's (efpecially) is various Exigencies of the Church, very needful and expedient , that things in thenrfelves mutable, he fometimes akkually changed, left they fhould by perpetual permanency and conftancufs, be judgedby the People as neceffary ` as the bubltastialsof Worlhip themfelves. H h z ` And
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