The Abolishing of the Booke of common prayer by reason of above fifty grosse corruptions in it : as also for that it commands the use of such ceremonies in the worship of God (namely surplice, crosse, and kneeling) which man hath

The Abolishing of the Booke of common prayer by reason of above fifty grosse corruptions in it : as also for that it commands the use of such ceremonies in the worship of God (namely surplice, crosse, and kneeling) which man hath

Table of contents

Title page

THE ABOLISHING OF THE BOOKE OF COMMON PRAYER. WITH Exceptions againſt Subſcribing to it.

EXCEPTION I.

EXCEPTION II.

§

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[Page] THE ABOLISHING OF THE BOOKE OF COMMON PRAYER, By Reaſon of above fifty groſſe CORRVPTIONS in it, As alſo for that it commands the uſe of ſuch Ceremonies in the WORSHIP OF GOD (namely Surplice, Croſſe, and Kneeling) which man hath deviſed, and which are notoriouſly knowne to have beene of old, and ſtill to be abuſed to Superſtition and Idolatry, and are of no neceſſary uſe in the CHVRCH.

Being the Subſtance of a Booke which the Miniſters of Lincoln Dioceſſe delivered to King IAMES, the Firſt of December, 1605.

Well worthy of the ſerious conſideration of the High COVRT of PARLIAMENT.

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Reprinted, and are to be ſold by SAMVEL SATTERTHVVAITE in Warwicke Lane, 1641.

THE ABOLISHING OF THE BOOKE OF COMMON PRAYER.
WITH Exceptions againſt Subſcribing to it.

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EXCEPTION I.

FIRST, IN that by the Order it appoints for the reading of the holy Scriptures, the greateſt part of Canonicall Scripture is never to be read to the Congregation.

Contrary to the practiſe of the Church of the Jewes before Chriſt, and of the Primitive Church in the Age next ſucceeding after Chriſt, and his Apoſtles, and of all the beſt Reformed Churches at this day; in none of all which, any part of the Canonicall Scripture was ever commanded to be left out in publike Reading.

And contrary to the Opinion of Biſhop Jewell, who affirmeth Reply art. 15. Diviſ. 16. pag. 543. that to limit and diet the people what they ought to reade, and what they ought to leave, was ſometimes the Superſtitious diſcretion of the Rabbins; herein, ſaith he, wee may ſay, as Hilary ſaith, [Page] the Sonne of God hath revealed to us no ſuch thing.

2. And that by the Order it appoints many of the firſt Leſſons are to be taken out of the Apocryphall Books and that under the name of the holy Scripture of the old Teſtament, without any note of difference from the Canonicall, and Commands the Story of Suſanna to be read under the name of Dan. 13. In which Story the Jewes in Babylon are ſaid to have had Judges of their own, and power to put offenders to death, and Daniel is ſaid to have beene a young childe when hee executed judgement upon the two falſe witnrſſes; and this is ſaid to have beene done immediatly before the reigne of Cyrus, and to have bin the meanes wherby Daniel grew famous: all which doe evidently ſhew this Story to be fabulous and untrue, as is obſerved by Iuntus Lubbertus, Dr. Fulke, Dr. Whitakers, Dr. Willet, and others.

In like manner alſo ſundry of the other Apocryphall Chapters that are thus apointed to be read, doe containe manifeſt errours and corruptions, as are obſerved by the foreſaid Authors.

3. In that the Booke of Common Prayer appointeth ſuch a Tranſlation of the Pſalmes to be reade in the Churches as leaveth out of the Text ſundry words and ſentences which were given by Divine inſpiration for the profit of the whole Church, as the titles of the Pſalmes, and theſe words Higaton, and Selah, and Praiſe; yet the Lord is omitted at leaſt ſeventeene times, which is contrary to the Deut. 4. 2. Rev. 22. 19. word of God, who hath expreſly forbidden to take ought from his Word, and, ſaid he, will take their part out of the Booke of Life that ſhall preſume to doe it.

4. In that the Booke of Common Prayer miſapplyeth ſundry places of Scripture, and that to the countenancing of ſome points of unſound Doctrine; as for example, to inſtance in one for many, that in Rev. 14. 15. is applied to thoſe children whom Herod murdered, which is alſo made more plaine by the Collect which calleth them the witneſſes of God, which confeſſed and ſhewed forth his praiſe.

EXCEPTION II.

In that the Booke of Common Prayer commands the uſe of ſuch Ceremonies in the worſhip of God, as man hath deviſed, and which are notoriouſly knowne to have beene of old, and ſtill to be abuſed to Idolatry and Superſtition, and as are of no neceſſary uſe in the Church.

And as this might be made manifeſt by Arguments drawne from holy Scriptures, ſo alſo is it confirmed by the judgement of the godly learned of all Churches and ages, to wit, that Chriſtians [Page] are bound to caſt off the Ceremonies and Religious Cuſtomes of Pagans, Jewes, Idolators, and Hereticks, and are carefully to ſhun all conformitie with them therein; as we might inſtance in the teſtimonies of ancient Fathers, and Counſells; but we will onely produce the judgements of moderne Writers.

1. It was the judgement of the Church of Scotland, as appeareth in a Letter written from a generall Aſſemblie held at Edenbrough 1566. unto the Biſhops of England, in which, beſides many other ſentences to this purpoſe, thus he writ; If Surplice, Corner-cap, and Tippet have beene badges of Idolaters, in the very act of Idolatry, what have the prayers of Chriſtian liberty, and the open rebukers of Superſtition to doe with the dregges of the Romiſh beaſt, and more plainely in the generall confeſſion of their faith, whereunto King James, with other of the chiefe States of that Printed at London by Thomas Man, 1603. Kingdome, did ſolemnly ſweare and ſubſcribe, where wee finde theſe words, Wee deteſt all the Ceremontes and falſe Doctrine of the Roman Antichriſt, added to the Miniſtration of the true Sacraments, wee deteſt all his vaine Allegories, Rites, Signes, and Traditions brought into the Church without the Word of God.

Occolampadius writing to a Miniſter of the Church of Scaphuſium, 1. Lib. Epiſt. pag. 129. requireth him utterly to caſt off all the Ceremonies of the Papiſts in the celebration of the Lords Supper, which cannot (ſaith he) be continued, but they will nouriſh the Superſtition and impiety whereunto they ſerved of old.

Calvin in one of his Epiſtles having ſpoken of ſome moderation that is to be uſed in reforming and remedying abuſes in the Epiſt. 87. pag. 167. Church, yet, ſaith he, I doe no leſſe conſtantly affirme that great heed is to be taken, leſt under this pretence any thing be tollerated, in the Church which came either from Sathan or from Antichriſt.

Muſculus writeth thus, It is not fit that thoſe things, which are rather Laricom. p. 421. Superſtitious than Religious, or have ſo much as a ſhew of Superſtition, ſhould be received in the Church, God forbid that I ſhould maintaine any Tradition Rites or Worſhips which are Popiſh, which either of their owne nature, or by abuſe doe ſerve unto Popiſh impiety.

Peter Martyr ſaith, that Order ought to be kept in Adminiſtration of the Sacraments, which is moſt ſincere, and differeth moſt In an Epiſt. to the Miniſters of Poland. from the toyes and Ceremonies of the Papiſts, and commeth neareſt unto that puritie, wherein Chriſt and his Apoſtles did firſt adminſter it.

Of the ſame judgement was Beza, Bucer, and many other beſides [Page] of the moſt famous Divines of other Nations, which for brevity ſake I will not ſo much as name.

Our late Queenes injunctions, require that all Monuments of Injunc. 23. Idolatry and Superſtition, be ſo utterly extinguiſhed and deſtroyed, that there may remaine no memory of them, either in our Churches or houſes.

Biſhop Jewell ſpeaking to the Papiſts of their Ceremonies, ſaith, Confuta. of the man of Cheſter. You have ſo miſuſed theſe things, or rather ſo defiled and bewrayed them with your Superſtitions, that we can no longer continue them without clogge of conſcience.

Biſhop Pilkinton miſliked that we were ſo like the Papiſts in marriage and many other things.

Dr. Humphry profeſſeth plainely, both his deſire and hope of the utter aboliſhing of the Ceremonies, and of all Monuments of Popiſh In Epiſt. Dedica. vit. Iewell. Superſtition that yet remaine in our Church.

We abhorre, ſaith Dr. Fulke, whatſoever hath but a ſhew of Popery, we might alſo produce the judgements of Dr. Andrewes, Mr. Greenham, and others of our Engliſh Moderne Divines for the proofe of this point in generall. But it will better appeare if we ſhall conſider theſe three Ceremonies in queſtion ſeverally.

1. The Surplice is notoriouſly knowne to be by the Papiſts abuſed Miſſal. Rom. 3. part. 1. pag. 100. to Superſtition and Idolatry, for the Biſhop when hee halloweth any of them, he uſeth to pray thus, that the Prieſt wearing this holy Veſture, may deſerve to be ſhielded and defended, from all aſſaults and temptations of wicked ſpirits.

And this garment is injoyned to all that are admitted to the very loweſt degree of their Clergie, which they call primam tonſuram, and this was it which firſt brought in that cuſtome into the Univerſities, that every Student ſhould at certaine times weare the Surplice in Divine Service, becauſe they did in their matriculation receive this Primam tonſuram, and firſt entrance into the Clergie.

Neither is the Surplice, onely a badge and ornament of their Prieſthood, but the uſe of it is alſo injoyned in their Idolatrous Maſſe. For all Prieſts that are at Maſſe muſt needs have their Surplice on, and indeede ſome Prieſts cannot ſay Maſſe without it, yea they glory in it, as a garment peculiar to their Religion. And therefore have the moſt learned and Judicious of our Divines judged the Surplice to be a Popiſh Maſſing garment, and by this Reaſon they have condemned the uſe of it in thoſe Churches that profeſſe the Goſpell, as namely Peter Martyr, Bullenger, Brentius, Beza Gualther, Zanchius, Biſhop Hooper, Biſhop Farrer, Mr. Rogers, Biſhop Jewell, Biſhop Pilkinton, Dr. Humphry, Dr. Reynoilds, and others.

[Page] The Signe of the Croſſe alſo is notoriouſly knowne to be abuſed to Superſtition and Idolatry by the Papiſts; for both Stapleton, and Bellarmine, doe make it the ſpeciall badge of their Idolatrous Religion, and profeſſe that it is one of the Images to which they give Religious Adoration, yea, they teach, that it is to be worſhipped but they doe no where more abuſe it to Idolatry, than in the Sacrament, for in Baptiſme they hold that the water hath no ſpirituall vertue till it be ſanctified by it, they marke the childe with it as a meanes to drive away the devill, they hold that none can be rightly Baptized, nor have his perfect Chriſtendome without it; and this hath cauſed many of our chiefe Divines to condemne the uſe of it in Baptiſme, as Beza, Zanchius, Polanus, Napier, Dr. Pulke, Dr. Reynolds, Thomas Rogers, and others.

The geſture alſo of kneeling in the very act of receiving the Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper is notoriouſly knowne to have been of old, and ſtill to be abuſed unto Idolatry by the Papiſts; for it grew firſt from the perſwaſion of the Reall preſence.

And for this cauſe alſo have our Learned Divines, condemned that geſture, as namely, Calvin, Peter Martyr, Biſhop Hooper, Mr. Beza, and others.

And beſides this, that theſe Ceremonies have beene abuſed to Idolatry, the evill of them is manifeſt in that they are neither needfull nor profitable in the Church, neither unto edification, nor unto the more comely and orderly performance of the duties of Gods Service, and this may appeare, both by the experience of many yeares, whereby it is found, as Mr. Bucer alſo obſerved in his time, that there hath been farre leſſe growth of Knowledge and piety in thoſe Congregations; where they have beene moſt preciſely obſerved, yea though they enjoyed a Miniſtry of greater learning and gifts, then in thoſe where they have beene wholely left, and eſpecially by this, that neither Chriſt nor his Apoſtles, who doubtleſſe did performe every thing in their Miniſtry in that manner that was moſt decent and fit for edification, did uſe them.

And it cannot but grieve many of the godly to ſee theſe things brought into the Service of Chriſt, which have beene ſo defiled by Antichriſt: and of this judgement, is both Calvin and Bucer, yea many of our owne Biſhops, and that of late dayes as Dr. Whitegift late Archbiſhop of Canterbury, Dr Chaderton Biſhop of Lincolne, and Dr. Vaughan Biſhop of London, and others in Eccleſiaſticall dignity, doe profeſſe that the Church might well be without them, and that they could wiſh they were taken away, and have ſpoken [Page] very baſely of them, and in their owne Congregations have beene accuſtomed oft times to omit the uſe of them; by all which they have evidently declared, that they doe not in their conſcience thinke them fit or profitable to edifie the Church by the more decent or orderly performance of the Service of God. Furthermore, beſides the commanding the uſe of theſe Ceremonies which you ſee are ſo neddleſſe and offenſive, the Booke of Common Prayer containeth in it ſundry things that are contrary to the Word of God.

The Booke of Common Prayer containeth in it, ſundry things (beſides thoſe handled in the Abridgement) that are contrary to the Word of God. For,

1. It appointeth a Leiturgie, which in the whole matter and forme thereof, is too like unto the Maſſe-booke.

2. It appointeth a Leiturgie which by the length thereof, doth in many Congregations oft times neceſſarily ſhut out Preaching, viz. When Baptiſme, the Communion, Marrying, Churching, and Buriall concurre all together (as oft times they doe) in great Congregations.

3. It approveth of a Miniſtery as lawfull, which wanteth ability to Preach.

4. It containeth in it ſundry Popiſh errors of ſuch things (at leaſt) as tend ſtrongly to the maintenance of Popiſh Superſtition. As, 1. The Miniſter of the Goſpell is throughout the Booke called Prieſt. The name Prieſt.

2. It commandeth the obſervation of many Holidayes, and requireth the Miniſter to bid them, and preferreth them (in ſome Holidayes. ſort) before the Lords day, For the ordinary Leſſons appointed in the Calendar for the Lords Day, muſt give place to the proper Leſſons of that Holy-day that falls on the Lords Day, and Athanaſius Creed is appointed to be read only upon certaine Holi-dayes.

3. It appointeth Saints Eves to be kept as Faſting-dayes, and commandeth the Miniſter to bid them ſo.

4. It appointeth the time of Lent to be kept as a Religious Faſt, and perverteth both the Example of Chriſts Faſt, and ſundry other Lent. places of Scripture to the juſtifying thereof. It preſcribeth a ſpeciall ſervice for the firſt day of Lent and appointeth the Commination, and other ſpeciall Prayers and Exhortations tending to Repentance, to be read upon that day onely, and it affirmeth that It was a godly Diſcipline in the Primative Church, (the reſtoring whereof is much to be wiſhed) that notorious ſinners at the beginning of Lent were put to open Penance.

[Page] 5. The weeke before Eaſter, onely of all weekes in the yeare, hath preſcript Service appointed with Epiſtles and Goſpels for every Weeke before Eaſter. day, as ſolemne as the Holy-dayes are wont to have.

6. The Fryday before Eaſter is called Good Friday, and hath Good Fryday. three ſpeciall Collects appointed for it, as hath no one day of the yeare beſides.

7. It commandeth that every Pariſhioner ſhall receive the Communion at Eaſter. Receiving the Communion at Eaſter.

8. It appointeth the Congregation to pray that God would give them that, which their prayers dare not preſume to aske.

9. The Catechiſme (in delivering the number of the Sacraments) Diffidence in Prayer. Number of the Sacraments. Necesſitie of baptiſme. ſaith, there are two onely, as generally neceſſary to ſalvation.

10. The Miniſter (as if Baptiſme were of abſolute neceſſity) is allowed not onely to Baptiſe in private, but to uſe the words of Inſtitution, and the element, though hee have not ſo much time as to ſay the Lords Prayer.

11. The Miniſter is allowed and directed to adminiſter the Private communion. Communion to one ſicke of the Plague, though there be not one more to communicate with him.

12. Interrogatories in Baptiſme are miniſtred unto Infants (as Interrogatories in Baptiſme. if repentance and Faith were requiſite in them, before they may be Baptized) and it is ſaid in the Catechiſme. That infants performe faith and repentance by their Sureties, who promiſe and vow them in their names.

13. Every child baptized (as if outward Baptiſme did conferre Baptiſme conferring of grace to all that receive it. grace to all that receive it) is ſaid to be regenerate; and in the Catechiſme, it is ſaid, that we are by Baptiſme made the children of grace, and (in the Rubricke immediatly before Catechiſme) that it is certaine by Gods Word, that children being baptized have all things neceſſary for their ſalvation, and be undoubtedly ſaved.

14. The Miniſter is appointed to command that children be brought to the Biſhop to be confirmed, yea none may be admitted Confirmation. to the Communion till he have beene confirmed. In confirmation children are ſaid to be certified (by the ſigne of the impoſition of the Biſhops hands) of Gods favour and gracious goodneſſe towards them. And confirmation is ſaid to be miniſtred to them that are baptized, that by impoſition of hands and Prayer, they may receive ſtrength and defence againſt all tentations to ſinne, and the aſſaults of the world and the devill. Yea, confirmation is dignified above Chriſts Sacraments, in that none may adminiſter it but a Biſhop. And it is ſaid to be adminiſtred after the example of the holy Apoſtles, and warrant thereby.

[Page] 15. It ſaith that Matrimony, doth ſignifie unto us the Myſticall union betwixt Chriſt and his Church, and that God did conſecrate Matrimony. the ſtate of Matrimony to ſuch an excellent myſtery, that in it is ſignified and repreſented the ſpirituall marriage and unitie betweene Chriſt and his Church. And the Ring in Matrimonie is appointed to be laid on the Booke, and the Prieſt to take it, and deliver it to the man, and to teach him to ſay thus, With this Ring [thee wed, &c. And the Prieſt is appointed in his Prayer unto God to ſay, that the Ring is a token and a pledge of the Covenant and vow made in marriage.

16. The Prieſt is appointed to abſolve every ſicke perſon (that Abſolution. findeth his conſcience troubled with any weighty ſinne, and maketh ſpeciall confeſſion of it) in this forme, by Chriſts authoritie committed to me, I abſolve thee from all thy ſinnes, in the name of the Father, &c

And in another place the people are appointed to come to the Miniſter, to receive the benefit of Abſolution.

17. Buriall is made a miniſteriall duty, and a preſcript Leiturgie Buriall. is appointed for it to be ſaid at the grave, and we are appointed to pray thus that God would haſten his Kingdome, that we with this our brother, & all other departed in the true faith of thy holy name, may have our perfit conſummation and bliſſe, both in body and ſoule.

18. Churching of Women is commanded and made a Miniſteriall duty, and a preſcript Leiturgy appointed for it, and the woman Churching of women. is appointed to kneele neere to the place where the Table ſtands, and the Prieſt to ſtand by her, when he Churcheth her, and that he muſt offer her accuſtomed offerings.

19. Both in that place and elſewhere in the booke, offering Offering days and Offertory. dayes and an Offertory are allowed.

20. In the Catechiſme it is ſaid, that the Sonne of God hath redeemed all mankinde, taking that phraſe in a larger ſenſe than for all Vniverſall grace. the elect, as is evident by the words immediatly going before, and following after.

21. It appointeth ſundry things that tend directly to the profanation of the holy Sacraments, either by proſtituting them to unworthy perſons, or adminiſtring them unreverently. For, Profanation of the Sacraments.

1. All Prieſts and Deacons in Collegiat Churches, are commanded to receive the Communion, every Sunday at leaſt.

2 Every communicant may chuſe whether he will give notice of his purpoſe to receive, till after the beginning of morning Prayer on the ſame day that he is to communicate.

3. All new married perſons muſt receive the Communion the

Manifeſt untruths.

ſame day they are married.

[Page] 4. Private Baptiſme in ſome caſes is allowed to be adminiſtred without any Prayer, Doctrine, or Exhortation.

5 It avoucheth ſundry, manifeſt, and apparant untruths.

Manifeſt untruths.

As 1. That in the Calendar (ſo much as may be) the reading of the Scripture is ſo ſet forth, that all things might be done in order without breaking one piece from another.

2. That nothing (by this Booke) is ordained to be read, but the very pure Word of God the holy Scripture, or that which is evidently grounded upon the ſame.

3. That this booke is ſo plaine and perfit, as that the Curates ſhall neede no other bookes for their publike ſervice, but this booke and the Bible, and yet it injoynes him to read Homilies.

4. That all our Ceremonies pertaine to edification, and are apt to ſtirre up the dull minde of man, to the remembrance of his duty to God, by ſome notable and ſpeciall ſignification.

5. It calleth certaine Chapters of Eſay, Ieremy, Ioel, and the Acts, Epiſtles.

6. It appoints us to ſay every, day from Chriſtmas day, to Newyeares day in a Collect, that Chriſt was borne this day, and upon whitſunday, Munday and Tueſday, God which on this day haſt taught, &c.

7. It affirmeth that Michael (mentioned, Rev. 12.) is a created Angell.

8. It peremptorily affirmeth ſundry things that (if they be not Doubtfull matters. manifeſtly falſe) are doubtfull.

1. That the Infants whom Herod murthered, were Innocents, and Gods witneſſes; and that they confeſſed his praiſe by dying.

2. That there are Archangells.

3. That every one that is buried is a brother, That God hath taken to himſelfe his ſoule, that we commit his body to the ground, in ſure and certaine hope of Reſurrection to eternall life.

4. It appointeth ſundry things that bring great diſorder and

Diſorder and confuſion.

confuſion unto the worſhip of God. As

1. That the people ſhould ſay after the Miniſter, whole ſentences of prayer and Scripture; yea the Miniſter one part of the prayer, and the people another. And in ſundry parts of the Letany, the people make the prayer, and the Miniſter onely directs them what to pray for.

2. That the Miniſter is appointed to ſay ſome prayers kneeling, ſome ſtanding; ſome in one part of the Church, ſome in another.

3. That one of the people is allowed, to make the generall confeſſion of ſinnes at the Communion in the name of the whole Congregation.

[Page] 4. That at ſome one meeting of the Aſſembly the Lords Prayer is to be repeated eight ſeverall times, and Gloria Patri twelve times.

5 That the holy Scriptures are ſo mangled into ſhreds and pieces, in the Epiſtles and Goſpels.

6. That the words of the Inſtitution are to be pronounced and repeated to every ſeverall Communicant.

7. That the Churchwardens are appointed to goe about on Communion-dayes togather the Devotion of the people in the midſt of Divine Service.

8. It containes ſundry things that are ridiculous and abſurd, Abſurdities. and ſuch as no reaſonable ſence can be made of; for

1. It commands the reading of ſuch Homilies as ſhall hereafter be ſet forth by publique authority.

2. It commands every pariſhioner to communicate at Eaſter, and alſo to receive the Sacraments and other Rites.

3. It miniſtreth Interrogatories to Infants, which their Godfathers anſwer unto, and ſaith, that Infants performe faith and repentance by their Godfathers.

4. It appointeth (in ſome caſes) Baptiſme to be adminiſtred conditionally in this forme, If thou be not Baptiſed already, I Baptiſe thee, in the name of the Father, &c.

5. It requireth that every husband be taught by the Prieſt to ſay to his wife, (in the ſolemnization of wedlocke) With my body I thee worſhip.

10. It containes in it ſundry evident contradictions. for

1. In the ſecond Article of the Rubricke after the Communion, Contradictions the Miniſter is forbidden to celebrate the Communion, except there be a great number to communicate with him; and in the third Article of the ſame Rubricke, hee is allowed to celebrate it, if there be but three to communicate with him.

2. In one place it is ſaid, that it is thought good to follow the cuſtome of the old Church (in miniſtring Baptiſme, but twiſe a yeare) ſo neere as conveniently may be, and yet elſewhere, it alloweth Baptiſme to be adminiſtred not only every day of the yeare in publike but alſo every houre, either of day or night in private.

3. In the Catechiſme, it is ſaid there are but two Sacraments, and in another place, the booke giveth to confirmation whatſoever (by the definition of a Sacrament ſet down in the Catechiſme) belongs to the nature and eſſence of a Sacrament.

4. In one place it is ſaid that children ſhould be brought to the Biſhop to be confirmed, ſo ſoone as they can ſay the Lords Prayer, the Creed, and the ten Commandements. In another it ſaith, that [Page] our cuſtome is agreeable to the uſage of the Church in times pa [...]t. wherby it was ordayned, that Confirmation ſhould be miniſtred to them that are of perfit age.

The 35. Article of Religion touching the two Tomes of Homilies, is not to be allowed, nor acknowledged to be agreeable to the word of God. For,

1. By it the reading of Homilies in the Congregation, is approved Reading of Nemilies. to be a Miniſteriall duty, and ſo an unpreaching Miniſtery allowed of.

2. The Bookes of Homilies containe ſundry things that are evidently falſe and untrue. As Manifeſt untruths. Tom. 2. pag. 305.

1. That the Apociyphal Bookes are every where called holy Scripture. And (two onely places being alleadged, both which are taken out of Toby and Eccleſiaſticus, that tend dangerouſly to the juſtifying of the merit of Almſdeeds) it is ſaid, the Holy Ghoſt ſpeaketh ſo in the Scriptures.

2. That the place of the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 51. 5. is thus alleadged, Tom. 1. pag. 18. wherefore he ſaith, Marke and behold, I was conceived in ſinnes: he ſaith not ſinne, but in the plurall number ſinnes.

3. That it is ſaid, our Saviour did Sweare ſo oft as he ſaid verily, Tome 1. pag. 51. and 87. verily.

4. Where it is ſaid, that plurality of Wives was by a ſpeciall Tome 2. pa. p. 303. Prerogative ſuffered to the Fathers of the old Teſtament, that they might have many Children, becauſe every one of them hoped, and begged oftentimes of God in their prayers, the bleſſed ſeed might come and be borne of his ſtock and kindred.

5. In them are affirmed (and that as by way of Doctrin publiquely Doubtfull points and of dangerous conſtruction. taught in the Church) ſundry things that are doubtfull, and of dangerous conſtruction; As,

1. When it is ſaid, That though manſlaughter was committed Tome 1. pa. 22. before, yet was not the world deſtroyed for that: but for whordome all the world (few only excepted) was overflowed with water.

2. When the fact of Ambroſe in Excommunicating Theodoſius is Tome 2. pag. 22. juſtfied.

3. When it is ſaid, by keeping your Churches in good repaire, Tom. 2. p. 160. ye ſhall not only pleaſe God, and deſerve his manifold bleſſings: but alſo deſerve the good report of all godly people.

4. When it is ſaid, that all Adams poſterity by his fall were become Tome 2. pa, 365. plain reprobates and caſt-awayes, being perpetually damned, to the everlaſting paines of hell fire.

5. When it is ſaid, that it is not to be born with, but a great Tome 2. pp. 483. ſhame for an honeſt man to beat his Maid-ſervant, though ſhe be a bond ſervant.

[Page] The 36 Article of Religion. Touching the Booke of Conſecration of Archbiſhops and Biſhops, and of ordering Prieſts and Deacons, it is not to be allowed, nor acknowledged, to be agreeable to the Word of God, For

1. Not one Miniſter of forty, doth know what that booke containeth, nor how to come to the ſight of it. Few have ſeene the Book Defects.

2. It doth not (whereas that Article ſaith it doth) containe all things that are neceſſary, but omitteth ſundry things which (by the Ordinance of God) ought to be obſerved in the Ordination of Miniſters. For

1. The examination of the life and learning of the Deacon and Prieſt, is committed onely to the Arch-deacon.

2 The voices and conſent of the people, over whom the Miniſter is to be ſet, is not (by this Book) required to his election and calling.

3. The Ordination of the Deacon by impoſition of hands, is permitted to one man, viz. the Biſhop.

4. The Prieſt receiveth in his Ordination no authority to governe the flocke and exerciſe the Diſcipline of Chriſt, but onely to Preach the Word, and adminiſter the Sacraments.

5. Some manifeſt untruths are avouched in it, (whereas the Article ſaith, it hath in it nothing that is of it ſelfe ungodly.) As

1. When it is ſaid, that it is evident to all men diligently reading Manifeſt untruths. the holy Scriptures, and ancient Writers, that from the Apoſtles times, there have beene theſe Orders of Miniſters in Chriſts Church, viz. Biſhops, Prieſts, and Deacons.

2 Where it is ſaid, that this Realme hath received the Diſcipline of Chriſt, as the Lord hath commanded; whereas God hath commanded there ſhould be governing Elders to exerciſe the diſcipline of Chriſt in each Congregation, which our Realme hath not as yet received.

3. Where it is ſaid, that God did inſpire the holy Apoſtles to chooſe S. Steven into the Order of Deacons which is mentioned in this Booke, and that the Deacons, then to be ordered, are called to the like Office and adminiſtration that Steven was called unto.

4. Some places of holy Scripture are perverted in it. As Scripture perverted.

1. When Acts 6. 17. is applied to warrant the Ordination of our Deacons.

2. When the Biſhop is appointed, in the ordering of a Prieſt, and the Archbiſhop in the Conſecrating of a Biſhop, to uſe theſe words, Receive the holy Ghoſt, as our Saviour did at the ſending forth of his Apoſtles.

3. It containeth ſundry Popiſh errors and Superſtitions, (whereas Popiſh errors and Superſtitions. the Article ſaith, it hath in it nothing, that of it ſelfe is Superſtitious. As

[Page] 1. That it alloweth and eſtabliſheth the Offices of Archdeacons and Archbiſhops.

2. That Deacons, Prieſts, Biſhops, and Archbyſhops are made ſeverall Orders, and degrees of Miniſtery.

3. That the Miniſter of the Goſpell is uſually called Prieſt.

4. That it ordaineth an Office of Deaconſhip with charge to read Homilies, preach the Word, and adminiſter Baptiſme.

5. That the Lords Supper is dignified above Baptiſme, and confirmation above both, when the Deacon is permitted to baptiſe, and not to adminiſter the Lords Supper, the Prieſt to Miniſter both Baptiſme and the Lords Supper, the Biſhop only to confirme.

6. That private and ſecret prayer is preferred before publike, and that in a publicke place and action. For the Congregation is deſired (even in the midſt of the ſolemne action in Ordination of a Prieſt) ſecretly in their prayers to make humble Supplications to God for the foreſaid things. For the which Prayers there ſhall be a certaine ſpace kept in ſilence: that done, the Biſhop is appointed to pray againe.

7. Sundry things in it are abſurdly ſpoken and directly againſt Abſurdities. that which is done and practiſed (and to ſpeake ſo ſpecially in ſo holy and ſolemne an action is a wicked thing.) As

1. When in the Ordination of a Deacon, it is ſaid, Take thou authority to preach, if thou ſhalt be called thereunto.

2. When both in the Ordination of the Deacon & of the Prieſt, the B. requireth the Congregation to deliver whether they can ſay ought againſt the party to be ordained, whereas it is wel known, that the Biſhop uſeth ſeldome or never to give orders in a publike Congregation; and if hee doth at any time, it is in ſuch an one, where the people is altogether unacquainted with the converſation of them that are to be ordained.

3. When the Prieſt is asked whether he will give his faithfull diligence alwayes to miniſter the Doctrine and Sacraments, and Diſcipline of Chriſt, as the Lord hath commanded, whereas it is well known that no Miniſter is allowed to exerciſe the diſcipline of Chriſt, as the Lord hath commanded.

And theſe faults there are in that Booke of Ordination which is of the laſt Edition and moſt reformed. In the former Edition (which ſeemes by the words of the 36. Article to be, that we are required to ſubſcribe unto, and which it may be, ſome of the Biſhops doe ſtill uſe) there are other corruptions, As

1. That the Cope, Albe, Surplice, Tunicle, and Paſtorall Staffe are appointed to be uſed in Ordination and conſecration.

2. That the Oath of Supremacy is thus concluded. So helpe mee God and all Saines, and the holy Evangeliſts.

Soli Deo gloria.

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

The Abolishing of the Booke of common prayer by reason of above fifty grosse corruptions in it : as also for that it commands the use of such ceremonies in the worship of God (namely surplice, crosse, and kneeling) which man hath

Edition statement

1641

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Text Creation Partnership,

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Date

2006-02 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A69529

ID [STC]

Wing A97

ID [STC]

ESTC R1281

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

12885793

ID [OCLC]

ocm 12885793

ID [VID]

95023

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A69529)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 95023)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1:22 or 256:E178, no 2)

Source

— The Abolishing of the Booke of common prayer by reason of above fifty grosse corruptions in it : as also for that it commands the use of such ceremonies in the worship of God (namely surplice, crosse, and kneeling) which man hath,

Extent

[5], 13 p.

Reprinted, and are to be sold by Samuel Satterthvvaite in Warwicke Lane,. [London] :: 1641.. (Reproduction of original in Thomason Collection, British Library and Harvard University Libraries.) (Marginal notes.)

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