nor the Minister so confined thereunto, but that he may also make use of those Gifts for Prayer and Exhortation which Christ hath given him for the Service and Edification of the Church.
2. That inasmuch as the Book of Common Prayer hath in it many things that are justly offensive, and need amendment, hath been long discontinued, and very many, both Ministers and People, Persons of Pious, Loyal, and Peaceable Minds are therein greatly dissatisfied; whereupon, if it be again imposed, will inevitably follow sad Divisions, and widening of the Breaches which your Majesty is now endeavouring to heal; We do most humbly offer to your Majesty's Wisdom, that for preventing so great Evil, and for settling the Church in Unity and Peace, some Learned, Godly, and Moderate Divines of both Persuasions, indifferently chosen, may be employed to Compile such a Form as is before described; as much as may be in Scripture words: or at least to Revise and effectually Reform the old; together with an Addition or Insertion of some other varying Forms in Scripture phrase, to be used at the Minister's Choice: of which Variety and Liberty there be Instances in the Book of Common Prayer.
3. Concerning Ceremonies.
We humbly represent, that we hold our selves obliged in every part of Divine Worship, to do all things decently, in order and to Edification, and are willing therein to be determined by Authority in such things as being merely Circumstantial, are common to Humane Actions and Societies, and are to be ordered by the Light of Nature and Christian Prudence, according to the General Rules of the Word which are always to be observed.
And as to divers Ceremonies formerly retained in the Church of England, We do in all Humility offer unto your Majesty these ensuing Considerations.
That the Worship of God is in it self perfect, without having such Ceremonies affixed thereto.
That the Lord hath declared himself in the Matters that concern his Worship, to be a Jealous God; and this Worship of his is certainly then most pure, and most agreeable to the Simplicity of the Gospel, and to his holy and jealous Eyes, when it hath least of Humane Admixtures in things of themselves confessedly unnecessary, adjoined and appropriated thereunto;
nor the Minister so confined thereunto, but that he may also make use of those Gifts for Prayer and Exhortation which Christ hath given him for the Service and Edification of the Church.
2. That inasmuch as the Book of Common Prayer hath in it many things that are justly offensive, and need amendment, hath been long discontinued, and very many, both Ministers and People, Persons of Pious, Loyal, and Peaceable Minds are therein greatly dissatisfied; whereupon, if it be again imposed, will inevitably follow sad Divisions, and widening of the Breaches which your Majesty is now endeavouring to heal; We do most humbly offer to your Majesty's Wisdom, that for preventing so great Evil, and for setling the Church in Unity and Peace, some Learned, Godly, and Moderate Divines of both Perswasions, indifferently chosen, may be imployed to Compile such a Form as is before described; as much as may be in Scripture words: or at least to Revise and effectually Reform the old; together with an Addition or Insertion of some other varying Forms in Scripture phrase, to be used at the Minister's Choice: of which Variety and Liberty there be Instances in the Book of Common Prayer.
3. Concerning Ceremonies.
We humbly represent, that we hold our selves obliged in every part of Divine Worship, to do all things decently, in order and to Edification, and are willing therein to be determined by Authority in such things as being meerly Circumstantial, are common to Humane Actions and Societies, and are to be ordered by the Light of Nature and Christian Prudence, according to the General Rules of the Word which are always to be observed.
And as to divers Ceremonies formerly retained in the Church of England, We do in all Humility offer unto your Majesty these ensuing Considerations.
That the Worship of God is in it self perfect, without having such Ceremonies affixed thereto.
That the Lord hath declared himself in the Matters that concern his Worship, to be a Iealous God; and this Worship of his is certainly then most pure, and most agreeable to the Simplicity of the Gospel, and to his holy and jealous Eyes, when it hath least of Humane Admixtures in things of themselves confessedly unnecessary, adjoyned and appropriated thereunto;
