Answ. It was not always so. Time was, and ⟨p. 18⟩that but in the year 1644. when learned Mr. Chillingworth preaching before King Charles the First at Reading, used these words: At what time, soever a Sinner doth repent him of his Sins from the bottom of his heart, I will put all his wickedness out of my remembrance, saith the Lord: saith thus: The plain truth (if you will hear it) is, The Lord hath not said so; these are not the very words of God, but the paraphrase of men; and (by reason of the mistake to which it is subject) I fear very often a pernicious paraphrase. The Right Reverend the Bishops have done very well to remove this stumbling block at the beginning of the Liturgy; O that they would go on to remove out of the way every thing that offends! That the Lessons out of the Apocrypha-Books might be either exchanged altogether for the Canonical Scripture, or at least reduced to that small number that was appointed in the late Scottish Liturgy, where were appointed only two Chapters out of the Apocrypha, one out of Ecclesiasticus, the other out of the Book of Wisdom. That the new Translation of the Psalms might be read, as well as of the Epistles and Gospels: That the three Ceremonies, the Cross in Baptism, the Surplice, and Kneeling at the Sacrament, whether nocent or innocent, night be removed out of this, as out of divers other Reformed Churches, by means of the Bishops Mediation with his Majesty and the Parliament, on that behalf, as was thought advisable ⟨p. 19⟩by the Sub-Committee for Religion, whereof the Bishop of Lincoln had the Chair, and Bishop Brownrig, Dr. Holsworth, Bishop Hacket, &c. were Members: Or at least, that the use of them might be free, according to his Majesties gracious Declaration about Ecclesiastical Affairs. I wish that of my Lord Verulam might be always sounding in the Ears of the Fathers, and the Sons and Daughters of the Church, till they give ear to it, That a contentious retaining of Custom, is a turbulent thing, as •ell as Innovation. Methinks 'tis as possible for Nonconformists and Conformists to be reconciled, •s for the Church of England to be reconciled with Rome; and yet that great learned Bishop Bramhal thought that not altogether impossible: supposing (saith he) that something from whence.
Answ. It was not always so. Time was, and ⟨p. 18⟩that but in the year 1644. when learned Mr. Chillingworth preaching before King Charles the First at Reading, used these words: At what time, soever a Sinner doth repent him of his Sins from the bottom of his heart, I will put all his wickedness out of my remembrance, saith the Lord: saith thus: The plain truth (if you will hear it) is, The Lord hath not said so; these are not the very words of God, but the paraphrase of men; and (by reason of the mistake to which it is subject) I fear very often a pernicious paraphrase. The Right Reverend the Bishops have done very well to remove this stumbling block at the beginning of the Liturgy; O that they would go on to remove out of the way every thing that offends! That the Lessons out of the Apocrypha-Books might be either exchanged altogether for the Canonical Scripture, or at least reduced to that small number that was appointed in the late Scottish Liturgy, where were appointed onely two Chapters out of the Apocrypha, one out of Ecclesiasticus, the other out of the Book of Wisdom. That the new Translation of the Psalms might be read, as well as of the Epistles and Gospels: That the three Ceremonies, the Cross in Baptism, the Surplice, and Kneeling at the Sacrament, whether nocent or innocent, night be removed out of this, as out of divers other Reformed Churches, by means of the Bishops Mediation with his Majesty and the Parliament, on that behalf, as was thought advisable ⟨p. 19⟩by the Sub-Committee for Religion, whereof the Bishop of Lincoln had the Chair, and Bishop Brownrig, Dr. Holsworth, Bishop Hacket, &c. were Members: Or at least, that the use of them might be free, according to his Majesties gracious Declaration about Ecclesiastical Affairs. I wish that of my Lord Verulam might be always sounding in the Ears of the Fathers, and the Sons and Daughters of the Church, till they give ear to it, That a contenti•us retaining of Custom, is a turbulent thing, as •ell as Innovation. Methinks 'tis as possible for Nonconformists and Conformists to be reconciled, •s for the Church of England to be reconciled with Rome; and yet that great learned Bishop Bramhal thought that not altogether impossible: •upposing (saith he) that something from whence.
