A26924:175
The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated…
The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated and argued by Richard Baxter ; who earnestly beseecheth rulers and clergy not to divide and destroy the land and cast their own souls on the dreadful guilt and punishment of national perjury ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1689
Chapter 8: IV, and V. Of subscribing and declaring Assent and Consent.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
M. Subscribing according to the Canon, that there is nothing in the book of Common-Prayer contrary to the word of God. and that we will use no other form. 2. And publicly declaring our Assent and Consent to all things contained and prescribed in and by it, and our Approbation of all the Forms, Orders, &c, as aforesaid.
M. Subscribing according to the Canon, that there is nothing in the book of Common-Prayer contrary to the word of God. and that we will use no other form. 2. And publickly declaring our Assent and Consent to all things contained and prescribed in and by it, and our Approbation of all the Forms, Orders, &c, as aforesaid.
L. What have you against this Approbation of the Liturgy?
M. Negatively, 1. We blame nothing in it that is good: And I take it for a good Book, in the main, but not faultless. As you said of the Canon of allowing Readers, so say I of the Liturgy; it was better immediately after Popery than it is now, that is, it was more congruous, and was a great Reformation, and we honour the Book and their Memory that made it. 2. We do not think that there is any such faultiness in it, as maketh it unlawful to join in the public Worship, and ordinary Communion, with the Church where it is used, We honour them as true Churches of Christ. 3. I do not think it unlawful to read the ordinary Lords day Service, when the public good requireth it, and we can have no better without greater hurt than benefit: Our objections being most against the by-offices, especially of Baptizing and Burial. ⟨p. 43⟩B••, 1. We think it unlawful to Covenant to use no other Forms in public Prayer. II. And unlawful to subscribe and declare that it is faultless. I. For the first we have these Reasons. 1. The Bishops themselves by the King's order, do upon special occasions of Fasts and Thanksgivings, prescribe, impose and use other Forms? and we must not covenant to disobey them. 2. The public Ministers have and do in the Pulpits before Sermon use other Forms: And so break this Covenant themselves. 3. It belongs to the office of a Pastor, as well to word his own Prayers as his own Sermons: And it is sinful to renounce so much of the work of the Office which we are vowed and ordained to.