A41326:77
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.
2. We are obliged to endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms, to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Worship: And that must be, by bringing Scotland to receive our Liturgy, which must be done by convincing them of its consonancy to Gods Word, and conformity to the best Reformed Churches, and that before their form of worship we have sworn to preserve (if in this point any be better than themselves) for bellum Episcopal hath already proved too feeble an Argument: or by considering their Directory, and getting it established in the two Kingdoms, unless the Word of God, and Reformed Churches, can point us to a Medium of some purer way of Worship.
2. We are obliged to endeavor to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms, to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Worship: And that must be, by bringing Scotland to receive our Liturgy, which must be done by convincing them of its consonancy to Gods Word, and conformity to the best Reformed Churches, and that before their forme of worship we have sworn to preserve (if in this point any be better than themselves) for bellum Episcopale hath already proved too feeble an Argument: or by considering their Directory, and getting it established in the two Kingdoms, unless the Word of God, and Reformed Churches, can point us to a Medium of some purer way of Worship.
3. 1Though the Directory was not directly and explicitly Covenanted, yet the Assembly of Divines advised, the Parliament ordained, and Ministers of most Counties of England received and attested it in pursuance of their Covenant; as most agreeable ⟨image 12⟩to the Word of God, and example of the best Reformed Churches; and the Kings Majesty hath graciously sworn to use it in His Royal Family, and •n the same principle give his Royal assent to the injunctions for it, passed, or to be passed, and endeavour to establish it in all his Dominions. Now, Lex currit cum praxi, and Oaths are well interpreted by concomitant and subsequent actions: I think it worth the serious enquiry of such who pretend and pursue a correction of the Service-book, whether the Directory be not according to the Word of God, and example of the best Reformed Churches? and how far the Covenant b nds unto it? lest by a correction our King and Kingdom be plunged under a God-provoking, Land-destroying perjury. For sure I am, the Directory and Service-book (though amended in most things) cannot consist; and therefore we must be resolved in this before we receive that (when something refined) we may suffer, we must not sin.