DEERING. 199 However before Mr. Deering could be restored to his beloved ministerial work, the bishop or the archbishop required him to acknowledge and subscribe to the four following articles: --" 1. I acknowledge the Book of Articles, agreed upon by the clergy in the Synod of 1563, and con- firmed by the queen's majesty, to be sound, and according to the word of God." In reply to this, he excepted against the article of the consecration of bishops and archbishops, as contained in the-said book. 44 To what purpose," says he, 44 is this article put in ? What reason is there to make all subscribe unto it ? Who dare make so bold an addition to the word of God, as to warrant these consecrations to be tied unto it ? Let him allow of it, who bath the profit of it : and he that liketh it not, let him have no bishopric. I would, therefore, gladly make this exception. Also, the article touching homilies, to which, because they are made by man, I dare not give my absolute warrant, that they are, in all things, according to the word of God. And when I set my hand unto it, I must needs avow that which I know not. I would, therefore, make this addition, Asfar as Iknow." " 2. That the queen's majesty is the chief governor, next under Christ, of the church of England, as well in eccle- siastical, as civil causes."-" The second article," says he, " I freely acknowledge." " 3. That in the Book" of Common Prayer, there is nothing evil, or repugnant to the word of God ; but that it may be well used in this our church of England." To this he excepts, 44 That in the book, there are many phrases and hard speeches, which require a favourable exposition. There are many things, though well meant, when first appointed, which were certainly ill devised, being first used by papists. And, therefore, being still kept in the Prayer Book, they are offensive.-That day in which there is no communion, certain prayers are to be said after the offertory. What this offertory is, and what it meaneth, I cannot tell. And to account our prayers as offertories, I dare not warrant that it is according to the word of God.- In this book, we are commonly called by the name of priests; which name, besides importing a popish sacrificer, and so is sacrilegious, cannot possibly be given to us, and to our Saviour also.-On Christmas-day, we say, ' Thou bast given us thy Son this day, to be born of a virgin.' The same words we use all the week after, as if Christ had been born anew every day in the week. If it be said, this
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