6 INTRODUCTION. manifested their disapprobation of the numerous popish ceremonies and superstitions still retained in the church. King. Edward desired that the rites and ceremonies used under popery, should be purged out of the church, and that the English churches might be brought to the APOS- TOLIC PURITY. Archbishop Cranny was alsovery desirous to promote the same ;a and he is said to have drawn up a book of prayers incomparably more perfect than that whichwas then in use; but he was connected with so wicked a clergy and convocation, it could not take place.+ And the king in his diary laments, that he could not restore the primitive discipline according to his heart's desire, because several of the bishops, some through age, some through ignorance, some on account of their ill name, and some out of love to popery, were opposed to the design.t. Bishop Latimer complained of the stop put to the reform, ation, and urged the necessity of reviving the primitive discipline.§ The 'professors of our two universities, Peter Martyr and Martin Bucer, both opposed the use of the clerical vestments. To Martyr the vestments were offensive, and he would not wear them. " When I was at Oxford," says he, " I would never use those white garments in the choir ; and I was satisfied in what I did:" He styled them mere relics ofpopery. Bucer giving his advice, said, " That as those garments had been abused to superstition, and were likely to become the subject of contention, they ought to be taken away by law ; and ecclesiastical discipline, and a more thorough reformation, set up. He disapproved of godfathers answering in the child's name. - He recommended that pluralitiesand ponresidences might be abolished ; and that bishops might not be concerned in secular affairs, but take care of their dioceses, and govern them by the advice of their presbyters." The pious king was so much pleased with this advice; that " he sethimself to write upon a further reformation, and the necessity of church discipline."11 Bucer was displeased with various corruptions in the liturgy. " It cannot be expressed, how bitterly he bewailed, that, when the gospel began to spread in England, a greater regard was not had to discipline and purity of rites, in constituting the a Neal's Puritans, vol. i. p. 73.-Strype's Cranmer, p. 299. t Troubles at Frankeford, p. 43. KingEdward's Remains, numb. 2. in Burnet, vol, Burnet's Hist. of Refor. vol. ii. p. 152. 1J Ibid. p. 155-157.
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