APPENDIX. many if the common people alfo received benefit by hearing the fcriptum read in their GWit language, which f ormerly ~vere unto them as a book that is fealed. H~wbeit, long and fad experience ha.th mad~ it manifgl, .that the liturgy ~fed t~ the c.hurch if .Englan~, (notwtthflandmg all the pams and religious mtcnttons of the comptlers if tt), bath .proved an qjj'ence, not only to many if the godly at home, but alfo to the reformed churches abroad. For not to jpeak qf urging ~he reading of all the pra)'en, which very greatly increajed the burden oJ tt; the many unprofitable and burdenjome ceremonies con– taine~ in it, have occajio11e~. much miji:hiif, as ~cell by difquieting the conji:tences if many godly mznijlers and people, qvho could not yield unto them as by depri·ving them if the ordinances of God, which they might not en~ joy without coriforming or fubfcribing to thqfe ceremonies. Sundry good cbriJ– tians have been, by means thereof, kept from the Lora's table, and divers able andfait!iful minijlers debarred from,the exercife of their minijlry, (to the endangering if man.Y thoufand fOuls, in a time offucbfcarcity of faith– ful paflors), and [poi!ed of their livelihood, to tht undoing of them and their families. Prelates and their faC!ion have laboured to raife the if– timati(Jn if it to Jucb an height, as ifthere u:ere no other qvorjbip, or qvay of wo.rjhip of GOD amongft us, but only theflrvice-book; to the great hindrance of the preaching of the word, and (in Jomt places, ejpecially if late), to the juflling if it out, as unnece/Jary; or (at be/l) as far iiferior to the reading ·qf common. prayer, which was made no better than an idol by many igno– . rant and fuperjlitious people, who pleajing themjef.ves in their prejmce at that Jervice, and their Hp-labour in bearing a part in it, bave thereby hardened themfelves in their ignorance and carelejsnefs of foving knowledge and true piety. In the mean time, papifls boa/led, that tbe book was a compliance qvith tbem in a great part of tbeir Jervice; and fl were not a little confirmed in their jitperjlition and idolatry, expeC!ing rather our return to them, than endeavouring the reformation if thm!fe!ves : In which expeflation they were of late very much encouraged,. when upon the prete:ded warrantab/enefs · of impoftng the former ceremomes, new ones were datly obtruded upon .the ·church• · Add he~eunto (which was not forejeen, but jince bath come to pafi.), tEat the lit«r'gy hath been a great means, as on the one hand to make and mcreafe an idle and unedifying minijlry, which contented itfe!fwith Jet forms made to theirhana~ by ot•hers,. without puttingforth themjelves to exerci(e the gift of. prayel";
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=