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

[To the first general Proposal,¹ we answer: That as to that part of it which requires that the matter of the Liturgy may not be private opinion or fancy,² that being the way to perpetuate Schism; the Church hath been careful to put nothing into the Liturgy, but that which is either evidently the Word of God, or what hath been generally received in the Catholic Church; neither of which can be called private opinion: and if the contrary can be proved, we wish it out of the Liturgy.]

[To the first general Proposal,¹ we answer: That as to that part of it which requires that the matter of the Liturgie may not be private opinion or fancy,² that being the way to perpetuate Schism; the Church hath been careful to put nothing into the Liturgie, but that which is either evidently the Word of God, or what hath been generally received in the Catholick Church; neither of which can be called private opinion: and if the contrary can be proved, we wish it out of the Liturgie.]

1. 1Answer. Prop. a. 1.
2. 2Sect. 1.

We call those Opinions which are not determined Certainties;¹ and though the greater number should hold them as Opinions, they are not therefore the Doctrines of the Church, and therefore might be called private Opinions: but indeed we used not the word, (that we can find:) the thing that we desired, was, that the materials of the Liturgy may consist of nothing doubtful, or questioned among pious, learned and Orthodox persons.] We said also, That the limiting Church-Communion to things of doubtful disputation, hath been in all Ages the ground of Schism and Separation, (which is not to say, that the Liturgy it self is a superstitious usage, or a direct cause of Schism.) And we cited the words of a learned man, (Mr. Hales) not as making every word our own, but as a Testimony ad hominem, because he was so highly valued by your selves, (as we suppose) and therefore we thought his words might be more regarded by you then our own. 2. Where you say, [That the Church hath been careful to put nothing in the Liturgy, but that which is either evidently the Word of God, or that which had been generally received in the Catholic Church:] We reply, 1. We suppose there is little or nothing now controverted between us, which you will say is evidently the Word of God, either the Forms or Ceremonies, or any of the rest. 2. If by [in the Church,] you mean [not by the Church,]