A41326:14
The liturgical considerator considered, or, A brief view of Dr. Gauden's considerations touching the…
The liturgical considerator considered, or, A brief view of Dr. Gauden's considerations touching the liturgy of the Church of England wherein the reasons by him produced for imposing the said liturgy upon all, are found to be so weak, his defence of things offensive in it so slight, the arguments against the liturgy by himself afforded, are so strong, that some, who upon His Majesties declaration did incline to the liturgy, are now further from it, by reading his wordy discourse about it : also some reasons humbly rendered, why many ministers, as yet cannot conform to that liturgy, but not out of disloyalty, pride, ingratitude, peevishness, nor schismatical petulancy, as the sarcastical pen of this uncharitable doctor hath published ... / by G.F.The liturgical considerator considered, or, A brief view of Dr. Gauden's considerations touching the liturgy of the Church of England wherein the reasons by him produced for imposing the said liturgy upon all, are found to be so weak, his defence of things offensive in it so slight, the arguments against the liturgy by himselfe afforded, are so strong, that some, who upon His Majesties declaration did incline to the liturgy, are now further from it, by reading his wordy discourse about it : also some reasons humbly rendered, why many ministers, as yet cannot conform to that liturgy, but not out of disloyalty, pride, ingratitude, peevishness, nor schismatical petulancy, as the sarcastical pen of this uncharitable doctor hath published ... / by G.F.
London: printed for Ralph Smith, 1661
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.
This, and works of this nature are commended to thee, not to the end it should maintain or promote the Controversies conce ning the Common Prayer Book (which have been so high in nature, 1and long in continuance, ever since before the reign of Queen Elizabeth, that would men with serious and composed spirits, consult the Churches peace, (to which they so fairly pretend,) it would be found a sufficient Reason to abolish this Book, and make void this Form of public Worship, which none dare affirm necessary; and therefore must confess to be alterable, when found inconvenient) but to convince the World, the Ministers who do yet demur to the use thereof, are not without conscientious grounds for their so doing, which they could with much ease and equity digest into an Apology: what serious Christian can observe the malici us vexations of Ministers, by the spite of many Churchwardens and particular persons prosecuting their faithful and able Ministers, unto the loss of their Estates, imprisonment of their persons, (and at least,) present interruptions of their Ministry, though the want of a Standard whereby to try the Common-prayer Book which hath had its change by every of our Kings, since the Reformation of Religion must needs render their conviction impossible to every understanding, and conscientious Juror: Or, the Bishops wilful and pertinacious refusing to ordain, institute, or induct any Ministers, unless they will subscribe the use of the Common Prayer Book to be lawful, and that they will use it in all public prayer, and none other, according to the Canon, (whose establishment by Law is doubted and denied) notwithstanding His Majesties Gracious Indulgence in his Royal Declaration every way proportionable to that Authority by which these Canons were at first established; or those heavy Censures, and harsh Invectives proudly belched out by our Antagonist, against all such as do not presently conform to the use thereof, as guilty of peevishness, ingratitude, schismatical petulancy, or pride, not so much as considering what hath been by one well suggested, That the prudence of some, expecting the alteration promised in his Majesties Declaration, ⟨image 3⟩doth supersede the Act which their desire of the peace, 2unity and uniformity of the Church doth incline them unto.