The Samaritan showing that many and unnecessary impositions are not the oil that must…The Samaritan shewing that many and unnecessary impositions are not the oyl that must…

19. Let nothing be inserted in the Public Liturgy of the Church, but what is agreeable to the Doctrines contained in the three Summaries of Christianity, formerly mentioned. If things of dark and uncertain nature be mingled in our Public Offices and Prayers, they will occasion the same Divisions, and Separations, the same Factions and Schisms, as if they had been put into the Public Test and Symbol of Communion; and those persons that come into the Church at one door, will be shut out at the other, and what is given to them with the right hand, will be taken away with the left. Let the matter of of Public and Common-Prayers, be plain and indisputable; let them contain nothing that can reasonably be scrupled; let the Confessions, Supplications, and Thanksgivings that do compound them, be such as all Good Men may consent unto, and readily and heartily say Amen. I must add; Let them be expressed in the Language and Words of Scripture, this will make them the more grateful and savoury to Pious and Devout Minds; this will render them the more unexceptionable to all men; and certainly no words can be more proper to express our Requests and Desires to God withal, than those that have the Holy Ghost for their Author. A Proposal of this nature was made to some Bishops suddenly upon ⟨p. 78⟩His Majesties Restoration, but 'twas rejected. A Liturgy so formed and expressed, would not serve their Ends, nor promote their Purposes so effectually, as that which had been formerly established and in use, and therefore in defiance to all Peace and Union, That must be Re-established. 'Tis true, there are not many things exceptionable therein, but something had been long objected against some passages in it, and the whole had been several years disused in almost all Congregations; and if from thence occasion had been taken, to new Cast and Mould it, I do humbly conceive it might have promoted more Love and Union, more Charity and Peace, than the Imposing it, as we have done with almost no Alterations. I remember a passage in Cyprian, De Oratione Dominica, When Christ hath told us (says he) that whatsoever we ask the Father in his Name, he will give it us. Quanto efficacius impetramus quod petimus in Christi nomine si petamus ipsius Oratione. Agnoscet Pater Filii verba, &c.

19. Let nothing be inserted in the Publick Lyturgy of the Church, but what is agreeable to the Doctrines contained in the three Summaries of Christianity, formerly mentioned. If things of dark and uncertain nature be mingled in our Publick Offices and Prayers, they will occasion the same Divisions, and Separations, the same Factions and Schisms, as if they had been put into the Publick Test and Symbol of Communion; and those persons that come into the Church at one door, will be shut out at the other, and what is given to them with the right hand, will be taken away with the left. Let the matter of of Publick and Common-Prayers, be plain and indisputable; let them contain nothing that can reasonably be scrupled; let the Confessions, Supplications, and Thanksgivings that do compound them, be such as all Good Men may consent unto, and readily and heartily say Amen. I must adde; Let them be expressed in the Language and Words of Scripture, this will make them the more grateful and savoury to Pious and Devout Minds; this will render them the more unexceptionable to all men; and certainly no words can be more proper to express our Requests and Desires to God withal, than those that have the Holy Ghost for their Author. A Proposal of this nature was made to some Bishops suddenly upon