Catholic communion doubly defended by Dr. Owens, vindicator, and Richard Baxter and the state…Catholick communion doubly defended by Dr. Owens, vindicator, and Richard Baxter and the state…

That which I say of such, I fully believe; that is, 1. That the Dr. greatly mistakes in his intimations, as if Liturgies had been the only cause, or at least greater than they were, of a defective Ministry, when so many of its greatest Adversaries have been so faulty, and defective.

That which I say of such, I fully believe; that is, 1. That the Dr. greatly mistakes in his intimations, as if Lyturgies had been the only cause, or at least greater than they were, of a defective Ministry, when so many of its greatest Adversaries have been so faulty, and defective.

2. Because those Errors may be dangerous to the hearers, which God forgiveth to the ignorant speaker, I assert, that sound Doctrine read out of Notes or Books, is less hurtful to the Hearers, then dangerous practical Error delivered with fluent extemporate fervency, and that when Calvin, Hildersham, and such great, and holy men, prayed usually in the Pulpit by a Form, they failed not of the Spirits help, so much as they that extempore pray erroneously. And that Mr. Phil. Nigh spake not mistakingly, when (to me) he wished that the public Congregations in Wales had good Sermon books read to them, (though men should call them Homilies in contempt; not to put down Preaching, but where it's wanting: And that a very excellent Ministry beyond Sea, use public Liturgies, and Pulpit Forms: And excellent Holy Men in England long used the English Liturgy, from whom I never would have separated; even such A. Bishops, and Bishops, as Granmer, Parker, Grindal, Abbot, Usher, &c. Ridley, Hooper, Farrar, Jewel, &c. such holy Teachers as Bolton, Whately, Preston, Sibs, Crook, Bifield, and abundance like them; Men of such rare Learning and Piety, as Davenant, Gataker, Stoughton, Bishop Miles Smith, Dr. Field, &c. And I do not believe that the Westminster Assembly were all, save eight Ministers, void of the Spirit, or unfit for Communion, while they used the Liturgy: Nor yet that of the 9000 that were in the public Churches in 1659. or 1660. the 7000 that Conformed▪ Aug. 24. 1662. were suddenly made insufficient, if they were sufficient before, (though I meddle not with the question, whether they did well▪) And yet against the contrary extreme, I say, if many thousands be not in Heaven whom Bishops have Excommunicated, and thought intolerable, yea, whom great Councils have called Heretics, woe to those Bishops that are worse than they.