A41326:272
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.
Answ. These blessed men are in Heaven, how shall we know their minds? We need not ascend to know, the word is near, Rom. 10.8. To Paul then let us go, who Act. 20.27. when he sent for the Elders of Ephesus (whom also he calls Bishops, making ⟨p. 30⟩no difference) he tells them, I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. That Counsel it seems taught not him to set up a Bishop above a Presbyter, neither now, nor when he wrote to Timothy and Titus, I never thought of any difference, will holy Paul say, if I had, I would have somewhere appropriated the word Bishop to a distinct Officer, as though in some places I call my self a Minister, yet in others I say I am an Apostle. I told this Church, Eph. 4.11. what Officers Christ appointed, and so 1 Cor. 12.28. But I find amongst you Arch-Bishops, Lord-Bishops, above Presbyters, Deans, Arch-Deacons, Prebends, Chancellors, Chapters, &c. I never declared the Counsel of God for such Officers; these are your own Counsel sure enough.
Nor did I, will St. Peter say, for Epist. 1. chap. 5. vers. 2. I thought Bishop and Presbyter to be the same, and appointed them the same work.
2. I declared all the counsel of God; but I never told you it was his mind to Consecrate a Day to God for the Nativity of Christ. Surely God hath revealed more of his Counsel to you than to me, if it be his mind, yet the cause was existent in my time, and I suppose I loved Christ as well as Dr. Gauden.