Bring this answer to the light,1 and it yieldeth the cause as fully as can be desired. For if the Jews had or used a stinted Liturgy in their synagogues and celebration of the passover, devised ⟨p. 130⟩by others, when the faithful did lawfully resort to the synagogues, and observe the passover administered according to that form; then the faithful may and ought to join in prayer or participation of Divine ordinances, though administered in a stinted Liturgy devised by others. It is to no purpose to allege that that form was not set apart for public use, nor they necessarily tied unto it, when the simple use of such a stinted form devised by others is condemned as unlawful in respect of minister and people, the imposer and user. Plain dealing is a jewel. Moreover (to take away the ambiguity of the word) a stinted form may be set apart for public use two ways: Either as sanctified to be the immediate and infallible rule of prayer, a substantial or proper means of worship, holy by institution and necessary in conscience, in respect of Divine commandment: and in this no public Liturgy is or ought to be set apart, because none is prescribed of God, none such can be devised or appointed of men: Or it may be set apart,2 where no one being determined by God, one is freely chosen and agreed upon for public use, as consonant to the general rules of ⟨p. 131⟩scripture for orders sake, to testify consent in matters of faith, and for the help of them that may stand in need, not as the immediate and infallible rule of prayer, nor as a proper means of worship, nor as holy above others, nor necessary in point of conscience: and in this sense a Liturgy or stinted form may be set apart; and it cannot well be conceived how it should generally be used unless it be set apart, that is, unless one be chosen amongst many and agreed upon, to testify consent. In a stinted form or Liturgy two things are to be considered: the matter it self; which, if holy and good, is of God, as in conceived prayer: and the external method, order and phrase of speech; which is not determined by God, as, whether it shall be in these and these words, suddenly conceived or more solemnly composed, devised by others or invented by our selves. And seeing neither of these is determined, it is the devise of man to place opinion of worship, holiness, or necessity in either of them simply considered.
Bring this answer to the light,1 and it yieldeth the cause as fully as can be desired. For if the Jews had or used a stinted Liturgie in their synagogues and celebration of the passeover, devised ⟨p. 130⟩by others, when the faithfull did lawfully resort to the synagogues, and observe the passeover administred according to that form; then the faithfull may and ought to joyn in prayer or participation of Divine ordinances, though administred in a stinted Liturgie devised by others. It is to no purpose to alledge that that form was not set apart for publick use, nor they necessarily tied unto it, when the simple use of such a stinted form devised by others is condemned as unlawfull in respect of minister and people, the imposer and user. Plain dealing is a jewel. Moreover (to take away the ambiguitie of the word) a stinted form may be set apart for publick use two wayes: Either as sanctified to be the immediate and infallible rule of prayer, a substantiall or proper means of worship, holy by institution and necessary in conscience, in respect of Divine commandment: and in this no publick Liturgie is or ought to be set apart, because none is prescribed of God, none such can be devised or appointed of men: Or it may be set apart,2 where no one being determined by God, one is freely chosen and agreed upon for publick use, as consonant to the generall rules of ⟨p. 131⟩scripture for orders sake, to testifie consent in matters of faith, and for the help of them that may stand in need, not as the immediate and infallible rule of prayer, nor as a proper means of worship, nor as holy above others, nor necessary in point of conscience: and in this sense a Liturgy or stinted form may be set apart; and it cannot well be conceived how it should generally be used unlesse it be set apart, that is, unlesse one be chosen amongst many and agreed upon, to testifie consent. In a stinted form or Liturgie two things are to be considered: the matter it self; which, if holy and good, is of God, as in conceived prayer: and the externall method, order and phrase of speech; which is not determined by God, as, whether it shall be in these and these words, suddenly conceived or more solemnly composed, devised by others or invented by our selves. And seeing neither of these is determined, it is the devise of man to place opinion of worship, holinesse, or necessitie in either of them simply considered.
