A discourse concerning liturgies, and their imposition

The Second is like the former. It will not, I suppose, be denied but that the Apostles took care for the Unity of the Churches, and for that Uniformity in the Worship of God which is acceptable unto him. Evidence lies so full unto it in their Writings, that it cannot be denied. Great weight every where they lay upon this duty of the Churches, and propose unto them the ways whereby it may be done, with multiplied Commands and Exhortations ⟨p. 22⟩to attend unto them. Whence is it then that they never once intimate any thing of that which is now pressed, as the only medium for the attaining of that end? It cannot but seem strange to some, that this should be the only expedient for that Uniformity which is acceptable unto God, and yet not once come into the thoughts of any of the Apostles of Christ, so as to be commended unto the Churches for that purpose. Considering the many Treacheries that are in the hearts of men, and the powerful workings of unbelief under the most solemn outward Professions, I fear it will appear at the last day, that the true rise of most of the Impositions on the Consciences of men, which on various pretences are practised in the World, is from the secret thoughts that either Christ doth not take that Care of his Churches, nor make that supply unto them of spiritual abilities for the work of the Ministry, which he did in the days of old; or that men are now grown wiser then the Apostles, and those who succeeded them in the administration of the things of God, and so are able to make better provision for attaining the end they professedly aimed at, then they knew how to do.

The Second is like the former. It will not, I suppose, be denied but that the Apostles took care for the Unity of the Churches, and for that Uniformity in the Worship of God which is acceptable unto him. Evidence lyes so full unto it in their Writings, that it cannot be denied. Great weight every where they lay upon this duty of the Churches, and propose unto them the wayes whereby it may be done, with multiplied Commands and Exhortations ⟨p. 22⟩to attend unto them. Whence is it then that they never once intimate any thing of that which is now pressed, as the onely medium for the attaining of that end? It cannot but seem strange to some, that this should be the onely expedient for that Uniformity which is acceptable unto God, and yet not once come into the thoughts of any of the Apostles of Christ, so as to be commended unto the Churches for that purpose. Considering the many Treacheries that are in the hearts of men, and the powerfull workings of unbelief under the most solemn outward Professions, I fear it will appear at the last day, that the true rise of most of the Impositions on the Consciences of men, which on various pretences are practised in the World, is from the secret thoughts that either Christ doth not take that Care of his Churches, nor make that supply unto them of spiritual abilities for the work of the Ministry, which he did in the days of old; or that men are now grown wiser then the Apostles, and those who succeeded them in the administration of the things of God, and so are able to make better provision for attaining the end they professedly aimed at, then they knew how to do.