A41326:144
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.
Secondly, Are not these men more curious then God is? doth He so call for a verbal harmony? Is it not sufficient, that we pray the same things, though in divers Forms? if we keep to the Lords Prayer, begging the same things, though in other words, •s Austin saith, Is not this Harmony as much as God calls for, and cares for? Indeed for Doctrines, where the altering of a word (as in the Trinity, &c.) may bring in a Heresy, there the same words are good; and it is needful as much as may be, to hold to a wholesome Form of words; but this is not the same case.
Secondly, Are not these men more curious then God is? doth He so call for a verbal harmony? Is it not sufficient, that we pray the same things, though in divers Forms? if we keep to the Lords Prayer, begging the same things, though in other words, •s Austin saith, Is not this Harmony as much as God calls for, and cares for? Indeed for Doctrines, where the altering of a word (as in the Trinity, &c.) may bring in a Heresie, there the same words are good; and it is needful as much as may be, to hold to a wholesom Form of words; but this is not the same case.
Thirdly, By this take away all prayer by our own gift; for verbal Harmony is not to be found there, though we pray for the same things; here our National Harmony, and Amen are gone. Why not uniformity of words in prayer before Sermon, as at a Sacrament, or at other times in your Confession, and morning prayers, if the Argument be of such force?
It is strange to me that this taking Notion was not known in the first nor second Century; Why do not these boasters of Antiquity bring forth the imposed Liturgies in these times, so as to take away the use of Ministers gifts? I see the Doctor in his Gaybook, could beteem to prove from those words in Just. Mart. Apol. 2. [Greek or Hebrew], That there were such prayers then imposed; but he doth but glance at the place, and will not, I believe, venture his credit upon it, (for fear the next page in Just. Mart. should confute him; besides the very place where Justin uses the words, show what he means by them, nothing to this purpose.