A discourse concerning liturgies, and their imposition

An Humane Provision of means for the accomplishing of any End or Ends in the Worship of God, for which Jesus Christ himself hath made and doth continue to make Provision, to the exclusion of that Provision so by him made, is not allowable, About this Assertion I suppose we shall have no Contention. To assert the Lawfulness of such Provisions, is in the first instance to exalt the Wisdom and Authority of men, above that of Christ, and that in his own house. This men will not nakedly and openly do, though by just consequence it be done every day. But we have secured our Proposition by the plainness of its terms, against which no Exception can lye. It remaineth then that we show, that the things mentioned in it, and rejected as disallowable are directly applicable to the Imposition of Liturgies contended about.

An Humane Provision of means for the accomplishing of any End or Ends in the Worship of God, for which Jesus Christ himself hath made and doth continue to make Provision, to the exclusion of that Provision so by him made, is not allowable, About this Assertion I suppose we shall have no Contention. To assert the Lawfulness of such Provisions, is in the first instance to exalt the Wisdome and Authority of men, above that of Christ, and that in his own house. This men will not nakedly and openly do, though by just consequence it be done every day. But we have secured our Proposition by the plainness of its terms, against which no Exception can lye. It remaineth then that we shew, that the things mentioned in it, and rejected as disallowable are directly applicable to the Imposition of Liturgies contended about.

That the Prescription of the Liturgy, to be used as prescribed, is the Provision of a means for the accomplishing of some Ends in the Worship of God, the Judgement and the Practise of those who Contend for it, do sufficiently declare. Those Ends, or this End (to sum them up all in one) is, That the Ordinances and Institutions of Christ may be quickly administered and solemnized in the Church with decency and order unto the Edification of the Assemblies wherein it is used. I suppose none will deny this to be the end intended in its Imposition; it is so pleaded continually; nor is there uny other that I know of assigned. Now of the things mentioned it is the last that is the principal end; namely, the Edification of the Church, which is aimed at for its own sake, and so regulates the whole Procedure of mere mediums, and those that are so mediums as also to be esteemed subordinate ends. Such are Decency and Order, or Uniformity. These have not their worth from themselves, nor do they influence the intention of the Liturgists for their own sakes, but as they tend unto Edification. And this the Apostolical Rule expressly requireth,