A discourse concerning liturgies, and their imposition

The Lord Jesus who hath appointed the Office of the Ministry, hath also provided sufficient furniture for the Persons called according to his mind to the discharge of that Office, and the whole Duty of it. That the administration of the Ordinances of the Gospel is the work of the Ministry I suppose will not be denied. Now that this work of the Ministry may be discharged to the edification of his Body, and that to the end of the World, until all his People in every Generation are brought unto the Measure of Grace assigned unto them in this life, is expressly affirmed. He hath given Gifts for this end and purpose; namely, that the work of the Ministry may be performed to the edification of his Body. To say that the Provision he hath made is not every way sufficient for the attaining of the End for which it was made by him, or that he continueth not to make the same Provision that he did formerly, are equally false, equally blasphemous; the one injurious to his Wisdom, the other to his Truth, both to his Love and Care of his Church. For Decency and Uniformity in all his Churches the Lord Jesus also hath provided. The Administration of the same specific Ordinances in the Assemblies of his Disciples convened according to his mind, according to the same Rule ⟨p. 58⟩of his Word, by virtue of the same specific Gifts of the Spirit, by him bestowed on the Administrators of them, constitutes the Uniformity that he requires and is acceptable unto him. This was the Uniformity of the Apostolical Churches, walking by the same Rule of Faith and Obedience, and no other; And this is all the Uniformity that is among the true Churches of Christ, that are this day in the World. To imagine that there should be an Uniformity in Words and Phrases of Speech and the like, is an unpracticable Figment, which never was obtained, nor ever will be to the end of the World. And when men by the invention of Rites and Orders, began to depart from this Uniformity, how far they were from falling into any other, is notorious from that Discourse of Socrates on this matter, lib. 5. cap. 21. For these then the Lord Christ hath made provision. And where there is this Uniformity unto Edification, let those things be attended unto, which are requisite for the nature of Assembles meeting for such ends, as Assemblies, and all the Decency and Order which Christ requireth will ensue.

The Lord Jesus who hath appointed the Office of the Ministry, hath also provided sufficient furniture for the Persons called according to his mind to the discharge of that Office, and the whole Duty of it. That the administration of the Ordinances of the Gospel is the work of the Ministry I suppose will not be denied. Now that this work of the Ministry may be discharged to the edification of his Body, and that to the end of the World, until all his People in every Generation are brought unto the Measure of Grace assigned unto them in this life, is expresly affirmed. He hath given Gifts for this end and purpose; namely, that the work of the Ministry may be performed to the edification of his Body. To say that the Provision he hath made is not every way sufficient for the attaining of the End for which it was made by him, or that he continueth not to make the same Provision that he did formerly, are equally false, equally blasphemous; the one injurious to his Wisdome, the other to his Truth, both to his Love and Care of his Church. For Decency and Uniformity in all his Churches the Lord Jesus also hath provided. The Administration of the same specifical Ordinances in the Assemblies of his Disciples conveened according to his mind, according to the same Rule