An account of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persuasions appointedAn accompt of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persvvasions appointed

And though Divisions began to disturb their Peace and holy ⟨p. 5⟩Orders, the Apostle in stead of prescribing them a form of Di•ine Services for their unity and concord, do exhort them to use their gifts and liberties aright, and speak the same thing for matter, avoiding Disagreements, though they used not the same words. 3. Just. Martyr, Tertull. and others sufficiently intimate to us, that the Churches quickly after the Apostles, did use the personal Abilities of their Pastors in Prayer, and give us no hint of any such Liturgy of Apostolical fabrication and imposition, and therefore doubtless there was nothing, for it could not have been so soon lost or neglected. 4. It is ordinary with those of the contrary Judgement, to tell us that the extraordinary Gifts of the Primitive Christians, were the reason why there were no prescribed forms in those times, and that such Liturgies came in upon the ceasing of those Gifts: and 1 Cor. 14. describeth a way of public worshipping, unlike to prescript forms of Liturgy: so that the matter of Fact is proved and confessed. And then how fairly the words of the Apostle, exhorting them [to speak the same thing,] are used to prove that he would have them use the same Forms or Liturgy, we shall not tell you by any provoking Aggravations of such abuse of Scripture. And indeed for all the miraculous Gifts of those times, if prescript Forms had been judged by the Apostles to be the fittest means for the concord of the Churches, it is most probable they would have prescribed such: considering, 1. That the said miraculous Gifts were extraordinary, and belonged not to all, nor to any at all times; and therefore could not suffice for the ordinary public Worship. 2. And those Gifts began even betimes to be abused, and need the Apostles Canons for their regulation, which he giveth them in that 1 Cor. 14. without a prescript Liturgy. 3. Because even then divisions had made not only an entrance, but an unhappy progress in the Churches; to cure which, the Apostle exhorts them oft to Unanimity and Concord, without exhorting them to read the same, or any Common-Prayer-Book. 4. Because that the Apostles knew that perilous times would come, in which men would have itching ears, and would have heaps of Teachers, and would be self-willed, and unruly, and divisions, and offences, and heresies would increase: