Five disputations of church-government and worship

§. 63. As for the Common prayer it self, I never rejected it because it was a form, nor thought it simply unlawful, because it was such a form, but have made use of it, and would do again in the like case. But I must needs say, 1. That the shredding it into such abundance of small parcels seemeth to me very inconvenient. It seems too light and ludicrous to toss sentences so formally between the Priest and Clerk, and to make such ⟨p. 422⟩a multitude of Prayers consisting but of a sentence, or two at most: And it seemeth to be tautology and vain repetition to repeat over the same word so oft: and a taking of Gods name in vain, or too unreverently, to begin with his Titles and Attributes, and end with his name again, and the merits or sake of Christ, and this at almost every sentence: as if we had done with him, and were taking our leave, and had forgot somewhat that called us to begin again: and thus we begin and end, and begin and end again, it may be twenty times together. 2. But the enforcing imposition of these Prayers, is most to be condemned; of which I have spoken, in the former Disputation. But for my part, I censure none that use them, nor take them to be therefore men of another Religion or worship: It is but a modal difference in the same worship.

§. 63. As for the Common prayer it self, I never rejected it because it was a form, nor thought it simply unlawfull, because it was such a form, but have made use of it, and would do again in the like case. But I must needs say, 1. That the shreding it into such abundance of small parcels seemeth to me very inconvenient. It seems too light and ludicrous to toss sentences so formally between the Priest and Clerk, and to make such ⟨p. 422⟩a multitude of Prayers consisting but of a sentence, or two at most: And it seemeth to be tautologie and vain repetition to repeat over the same word so oft: and a taking of Gods name in vain, or too unreverently, to begin with his Titles and Attributes, and end with his name again, and the merits or sake of Christ, and this at almost every sentence: as if we had done with him, and were taking our leave, and had forgot somewhat that called us to begin again: and thus we begin and end, and begin and end again, it may be twenty times together. 2. But the enforcing imposition of these Prayers, is most to be condemned; of which I have spoken, in the former Disputation. But for my part, I censure none that use them, nor take them to be therefore men of another Religion or worship: It is but a modal difference in the same worship.