254. `Fhe L I "F E of the LIB. I. lemn Covenant to be the wayof Entrance into his Church : And the Apilh Spi- rit which foilóweth him (to counter-work- him ), by the Addition of Humane Churches,..Sacramentsand Ordinances, Both alfo imitate him in making their Oaths andPromifes neceffary to engage Men to their Service and Inftitutions, as Chrilt hath made Baptifm neceffary to engage us to his Service and Inflitutions. And your Arguments for Diocefans are fo weak, that we wonder not that you think both Oaths, Subfcriptions, Prilons, Confilcations and Banifhments neceffary to enforce them. What you add of [fuch Peyton as have themfelver exalted Condition oftheir Com- munion not warranted by Law], we underfiand not : Either the Law warranteth Men to own Chrilt for their Saviour, and to own their own Memberfhip in the parti- cular Church which they demand confiant Communion with, or it doth not. If it do not, we have realms to deliire more than is warranted by that Law. If it do, you Ihould have done well to inffance what Perlons and what Exaltions you mean. If youipeak this of all the Churches of the Land that diflike your Prelacy, it is too prof an untruth to have been uttered in the Light. If you (peak only of fome Perfons or Parties, that is no reafon why others Ihould be deprived of their Liber- ty and Minillry. Nor indeed is it good Arguing thatfuch Oaths and Subfcripti- ons as the Church of old did never know, may be impofed by the Laws of Men, becaufe fome Brethren have lately required fuch Conditions of their Communion, as are impofedby the Laws of God. But let us prevail with you to drive this no further than the Perfòns, ( whoever they be) did drive it whom you blame : Their umaoil Penalty on the Reimers oftheir Conditionswas Non-Communion withthem; ( A thing which many of you voluntarily chofe). Let this be all our Penalty for refuting your Oaths and Subfcriptions (if we can get no better from you): But (hall we be Silenced, Imprifoned, Confifcated, Banilhed, for refuting your Oaths and Subfcriptions, becaufe fomebody impofed Things which the Law allowednot in order to their own Communion. Thefe are no fit Proportions of Jußice. 4 17. Out of your own Mouths then is your Government condemned: What Alt of Parliament ratifiedyour Canons? What Law impofed Altars, Rails, and the forcing of Minifters to read the Book for Dancing on the Lord'sDays? Or what Law did ratifie many Articlesof your Vifitation Books ? And did the Laws fufficiendy provide for all thofe poor Minilters that were Silenced or Sufpended for notreading the. Dancing Book, or any fuch things ? What the better were all thofe for the Laws that were Silenced, or driven into Forreign Lands ? But per- haps the Laws will provide for us indeed as you defire. Concerning the Liturgy. (This is § r8. T. TheDottrine is found. Bat the Apocryphal Matter of your Leffons, fpokenof in Tobith, Juditb, Bell and the Dragon, &e. is fcare agreeable to the Word of the Old God. common Prayer 2. Whether it be fitly faired, let our Exceptions and other Papers be heard before souk, and your Judgment go for infallible. nos of the 3- What Mens Prayers you take your Meafure or Encouragement from, we h` know not : But we are furethat if all the Common Prayers be twice a day read, when the y y Doctrine the time for Pfalms and Sermons will be thorn. And yet were they free from dif- in pointof order and defeltivenefs inMatter, we could the better bear with the length,though infants other'Prayers and Sermons were partly excluded by them. Salvation Though we live in the fame Countre s we fcarce differ an ischanged. 4. , g y y where more than in our very Experiences : Our Experience unre(i(tably convinceth us , that a contintied Prayer doth more to help molt of the People, and carry on their De- fires, than turning almoft every Petition into a diftindt Prayer i and making Pre- faces and Conclulons to be near half the Prayers. And if the way of Prayer recorded in Scripture ( even in the Jews Church, where Infirmity might be pleaded more than now) were fuch as yours, we (hall fay no more in that againit it: But if it werenot, be not wife then overmuch.. ç. We are content that the Liturgy have fach Repetitions as the Scriptures have, fo it may have no other ! And weare content that all Extemporate Prayer be re- ftrained which is guiltyof as much, Tautology and vain Repetition as the Liturgy is : If this much will fatisfie you, we are agreed. 6. Nor
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