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/11

 ſome Places, eſpecially of late) to the juſtling of it out  unneceſſary; or (at beſt) as far inferior to the reading of Common-Prayer, which was made no better than an idol by many Ignorant and Superſtitious People, who pleaſing themſelves in their Preſence at that Service, and their Lip-bour in bearing a Part in it, have thereby hardned themſelves in their Ignorance and Careleſneſs of ſaving Knowledge and true Piety.

In the mean Time, Papiſts boaſted, that the Book was a Compliance with them in a great Part of their Service; and were not a little confirmed in their Superſtition and Idolatry, expecting rather our Return to them, than endeavouring the Reformation of themſelves: In which Expectation they were of late very much incouraged, when upon the pretended Warrantableneſs of impoſing of the former Ceremonies, new ones were daily obtruded upon the Church.

Add hereunto (which was not foreſeen, but ſince hath come paſs) that the Liturgy hath been a great Means, as on the one Hand to make and increaſe an idle and unedifying Miniſtry, which contented it ſelf with ſet Forms made to their Hands by others, without putting forth themſelves to exerciſe the Gift of Prayer, with which our Lord Jeſus Chriſt pleaſeth to furniſh all his Servants whom he calls to that office: So on the other ſide, it hath been (and ever would be, if continued) a Matter of endleſs Strife and Contention in the Church, and a Snare both to many godly and faithful Miniſters, who have been perſecuted and ſilenced upon that Occaſion, and to others of hopeful Parts, many of which have been, and more ſtill would be diverted from all Thoughts of the Miniſtry to other Studies; eſpecially in theſe latter Times, wherein God vouchſafeth to his People more and better Means for the Diſcovery of Error and Superſtition, and for attaining of Knowledge in the Myſteries of Godlineſs, and Gifts in Preaching and Prayer.

Upon theſe, and many the like weighty Conſiderations, in Reference to the whole Book in general, and becauſe of divers Particulars contained in it; not from any Love to Novelty, or Intention to diſparage our firſt Reformers (of whom we are perſwaded, that, were they now alive, they would join with us in this work, and whom we acknowledge as excellent Inſtruments, raiſed by God, to begin the Purging and Building of his Houſe, and deſire they may be had or us and Poſterity in everlaſting Remembrance, with Thankfulneſs