Page:Winding-sheet for the service-book, &c., or, Reasons for which the Book of Common Prayer urged upon Scotland, anno 1637, and now practised in many places in that kingdom, ought to be refused.pdf/10



n the Beginning of the bleſſed Reformation, our wiſe and pious Anceſtors took care to ſet forth an Order ſome Redreſs of many Things, which they, then, by the Word diſcovered to be Vain, Erronious, Superſtitious, and Idolatrous, in the publick Worſhip of God. This occaſioned many godly and learned Men to rejoice much in the Book of Comnmon-Prayer, at that Time ſet forth; becauſe the Maſs, and the reſt of the Latine Service being removed the publick Worſhip was celebrated in our own Tongue: many of the common People alſo received Benefit by hearing the Scriptures read in their own Language, which formerly were unto them as a Book that is ſealed.

Howbeit, long and ſad Experience hath made it manifeſt That the Liturgy uſed in the Church of England, (notwithſtanding all the Pains and Religious Intentions of the Compilers of it) hath proved an Offence, not only to many of the Godly at Home; but alſo to the reformed Churches Abroad. For, not to ſpeak of urging the reading of all the Prayers, which very greatly increaſed the Burden of it the many unprofitable and burdenſom Ceremonies, contained in it, have occaſioned much Miſchief, as well by disquieting the Conſciences of many Godly Miniſters, and People, who could not yield unto them, as by depriving them of the Ordinances of God, which they might not enjoy without conforming or ſubſcribing to thoſe Ceremonies Sundry good Chriſtians have been by Means thereof kept from the Lord's Table, and divers able and faithful Miniſter debarred from the Exerciſe of their Miniſtry (to the endangering many Thouſand Souls, in a Time of ſuch Scarcity faithful Paſtors) and ſpoiled of their Livelyhood, to the undoing of them and their Families. Prelates and their Factions have laboured to raiſe the Eſtimation of it to ſuch an Height, as if there were no other Worſhip, or Way of Worſhip of, amongſt us, but only the Service-Book to the great Hindrance of the Preaching of the Word, and