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/12

 and Honour;) but that we may, in ſome Meaſure anſwer the gracious Providence of God, which at this calleth upon us for further Reformation, and may  our own Conſciences, and anſwer the Expectation of  reformed Churches, and the Deiſres of many of the  among our ſelves, and withal give ſome publick Teſtimony of our Endeavours for Uniformity in Divine Worſhip,  we have promiſed in our Solemn League and Covenant:  have, after earneſt and frequent calling upon the Name of God, and after much Conſultation, not with Fleſh  Blood, but with His holy Word, reſolved to lay aſide former Liturgy, with the many Rites and Ceremonies formerly uſed in the Worſhip of God; and have agreed  this following Directory for all the Parts of publick Worſhip at ordinary and extraordinary Times.

Wherein our Care hath been, to hold forth ſuch Things as are of Divine Inſtitution in every Ordinance; and Things we have endeavoured to ſet forth according to  Rules of Chriſtian Prudence, agreeable to the general Rule of the Word of God: Our Meaning therein being only,   the general Heads, the Senſe and scope of the Prayers, at other Parts of publick Worſhip, being known to all,  may be a Conſent of all the Churches, in thoſe Things  contain the Subſtance of the Service and Worſhip of God, and the Miniſters may be hereby directed in their Adminiſtrations, to keep like Soundneſs in Doctrine and Prayer, and may, if need be, have ſome Help and Furniture; are yet ſo, as they become not hereby ſlothful and negligent ſtirring up the Gifts of Chriſt in them, but, that each on by Meditation, by taking heed to himſelf and the Flock  God committed to him, and by wife obſerving the Way of Divine Providence, may be careful to furniſh his Head and Tongue with further, or other Materials of Prayer and Exhortation, as ſhall be needful upon all Occaſions.

S for the Service in the Engliſh Tongue, it hath manifeſt Reaſons for it: And yet perchance it ſeemeth you a new Service, and indeed is none other than the