This being the State and Condition, this the Issue, That the Invention of Liturgies to be read in the Worship of God was come unto, before the Reformation, I shall briefly subjoin unto it an account of what was done in these Kingdoms in reference unto it, which will make way to the clear stating of the question in particular that we are further to speak unto. The History of our Reformation is known. I shall not speak any thing that may reflect with the least dishonour on the Work or the Workmen. We have abundant cause to bless the Lord continually for the one and the other. Yet still we must remember that our Reformers were men, and that the Reformation was a work performed by men; The former never claimed Infallibility, nor the latter, that I know of, Perfection; so that some things that were done by the one, and in the other, may admit of new Considerations without the reflection of any thing upon them, that the one and the other would not readily and willingly admit. I shall therefore briefly give an account of that part of the Work which concerns our business in hand. What was the state of this Nation at the time of the Reformation, and what were the minds of the greater part of men in them, in reference unto the Work, is sufficiently declared, in all the stories of those days. God having been pleased to send the saving Light of the Gospel into the minds and hearts of them in chief Rule, that is King Edward, and some of his Counsellors, they found no small difficulties to wrestle withal in dealing with the inveterate prejudices wherewith the Generality of men were possessed against the work they intended. The far greater part of the Clergy, true to their carnal present Interest, with all their might and cunning opposed their endeavours. The greatest part of the Nobility averse to their proceedings. The Body of the people blinded with superstition and profaneness, easily excited by the Priests (whose peculiar, concernment lay in keeping all things in their old channel and course) to make head against their proceedings; Foreign Nations round about fomenting to the uttermost all home-bred discontents, and offering themselves, by the instigation of the Pope, to hinder the work by all ways that possible they could imagine.
This being the State and Condition, this the Issue, That the Invention of Liturgies to be read in the Worship of God was come unto, before the Reformation, I shall briefly subjoyn unto it an account of what was done in these Kiagdomes in reference unto it, which will make way to the clear stating of the question in particular that we are further to speak unto. The History of our Reformation is known. I shall not speak any thing that may reflect with the least dishonour on the Work or the Workmen. We have abundant cause to bless the Lord continually for the one and the other. Yet still we must remember that our Reformers were men, and that the Reformation was a work performed by men; The former never claimed Infallibility, nor the latter, that I know of, Perfection; so that some things that were done by the one, and in the other, may admit of new Considerations without the reflexion of any thing upon them, that the one and the other would not readily and willingly admit. I shall therefore briefly give an account of that part of the Work which concerns our business in hand. What was the state of this Nation at the time of the Reformation, and what were the minds of the greater part of men in them, in reference unto the VVork, is sufficiently declared, in all the stories of those dayes. God having been pleased to send the saving Light of the Gospel into the minds and hearts of them in chief Rule, that is King Edward, and some of his Counsellors, they found no small difficulties to wrestle withal in dealing with the inveterate prejudices wherewith the Generality of men were possessed against the work they intended. The far greater part of the Clergy, true to their carnal present Interest, with all their might and cunning opposed their endeavours. The greatest part of the Nobility averse to their proceedings. The Body of the people blinded with superstition and profaneness, easily excited by the Priests (whose peculiar, concernment lay in keeping all things in their old channel and course) to make head against their proceedings; Foreign Nations round about fomenting to the uttermost all home-bred discontents, and offering themselves, by the instigation of the Pope, to hinder the work by all wayes that possible they could imagine.
