Page:The Book of Common Prayer.djvu/25

 do by any strength of Argument convincing vs of the necessity of making the said alterations : for we are fully perswaded in our iudgements (and we here profess it to the world) that the Book, as it stood before established by Law, doth not contain in it any thing contrary to the word of God, or to sound doctrine, or which a godly man may not with a good conscience vse, and submitt vnto, or which is not fairly defensible against any that shall oppose the same; if it shall be allowed such iust and favourable construction as in common equity ought to be allowed to all humane writings, especially such as are set forth by Authority, and even to the very best translations of the holy scripture it selfe.

Our generall aime therefore in this vndertaking was, not to gratify this or that party in any their vnreasonable demands : but to do that which to our best vnderstandings we conceived might most tend to the preservation of peace and vnity in the Church ; the procuring of reverence, and exciting of piety, and devotion in the publick worship of God; and the cutting off occasion from themthat seek occasion of cavill, or quarell against the Liturgy of the Church. And as to the severall variations from the former Book, whether by alteration, addition, or otherwise : it shall suffice to give this generall account. That most of the alterations were made either ffirst, for the better direction of them that are to officiate in any part of divine service, which is chiefly don in the Kalendars, and Rubricks, or secondly for the more proper expressing of some words or phrases of antient vsage, in terms more suteable to the language of the present times ; and the clearer explanation of some other words and phrases that were either of doubtfull signification, or otherwise liable to misconstruction. Or thirdly, for a more perfect rendring of such portions of holy Scripture, as are inserted into the Liturgy : which in the Epistles and Gospells especially, and in sundry other places are now ordered to be read according to the last