A Directory for the Public Worship of God

Howbeit, long and sad Experience hath made it manifest, That the Liturgy used in the Church of England, (notwithstanding all the pains and Religious intentions of the Compilers of it) hath proved an offence, not only to many of the Godly at home; but also to the Reformed Churches abroad. For, not to speak of urging the Reading of all the Prayers, which very greatly increased the burden of it; the many unprofitable and burdensome Ceremonies, contained in it, have occasioned much mischief, as well by disquieting the Consciences of many godly Ministers and people who could ⟨p. 3⟩not yield unto them, as by depriving them of the Ordinances of God, which they might not enjoy without conforming or Subscribing to those Ceremonies. Sundry good Christians have been by means thereof, kept from the Lords Table, and divers able and faithful Ministers debarred from the exercise of their Ministry (to the endangering of many Thousand Souls, in a time of such scarcity of faithful Pastors) and spoiled of their livelihood, to the undoing of them and their Families. Prelates and their Faction have laboured to raise the Estimation of it to such an height, as if there were no other Worship, or way of Worship of God amongst us, but only the Service-Book; to the great hinderance of the Preaching of the Word, and (in some places, especially of late) to the jostling of it out, as unnecessary; or (at best) as far inferior to the Reading of Common-Prayer, ⟨p. 4⟩which was made no better then an Idol by many Ignorant and Superstitious People, who pleasing themselves in their presence at that Service, and their Lip-labour in bearing a part in it, have thereby hardened themselves in their ignorance and carelessness of saving knowledge and true piety.

Howbeit, long and sad Experience hath made it manifest, That the Leiturgie used in the Church of England, (notwithstanding all the pains and Religious intentions of the Compilers of it) hath proved an offence, not only to many of the Godly at home; but also to the Reformed Churches abroad. For, not to speak of urging the Reading of all the Prayers, which very greatly increased the burden of it; the many unprofitable and burdensome Ceremonies, contained in it, have occasioned much mischief, as well by disquieting the Consciences of many godly Ministers and people who could not⟨p. 3⟩