A36061:14
A Directory for the Public Worship of God
A directory for the public worship of God, throughout the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland together with an ordinance of Parliament for the taking away of the Book of common-prayer, ... die Jovis, 13. Martii, 1644 / ordered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that this ordinance and directory be forthwith printed and published.A directory for the publique worship of God, throughout the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland together with an ordinance of Parliament for the taking away of the Book of common-prayer, ... die Jovis, 13. Martii, 1644 / ordered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that this ordinance and directory bee forthwith printed and published.
London: printed for Evan Tyler, 1644
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.
In the mean time Papists boasted, that the Book was a compliance with them in a great part of their Service, and so were not a little confirmed in their Superstition and Idolatry, expecting rather our return to them, than endeavouring the Reformation of themselves: In which expectation they were of late very much encouraged, when, upon the pretended warrantableness of imposing of the former Ceremonies, new ones were daily obtruded upon the Church.
In the mean time Papists boasted, that the Book was a compliance with them in a great part of their Service, and so were not a little confirmed in their Superstition and Idolatry, expecting rather our return to them, than endeavouring the Reformation of themselves: In which expectation they were of late very much incouraged, when, upon the pretended warrantablenesse of imposing of the former Ceremonies, new ones were dayly obtruded upon the Church.
Add hereunto (which was not foreseen, but since hath come to pass) that the Liturgy hath been a great means, as on the ⟨p. 5⟩one hand to make and increase an idle and unedifying Ministry, which contented it self with set Forms made to their hands by others, without putting forth themselves to exercise the gift of Prayer, with which our Lord Jesus Christ pleaseth to furnish all his Servants whom he calls to that office: So on the other side it hath been (and ever would be, if continued) a matter of endless strife and contention in the Church, and a snare both to many godly and faithful Ministers, who have been persecuted and silenced upon that occasion, and to others of hopeful parts, many of which have been, and more still would be, diverted from all thoughts of the Ministry to other studies; especially in these latter times, wherein God vouchsafeth to his people more and better means for the discovery of Error and Superstition, and for attaining of knowledge in the mysteries of godliness, and gifts in Preaching and Prayer.
Adde hereunto (which was not foreseen, but since hath come to passe) that the Leiturgie hath been a great means, as on the