A69535:263
The grand debate between the most reverend bishops and the Presbyterian divines appointed by…
The grand debate between the most reverend bishops and the Presbyterian divines appointed by His Sacred Majesty as commissioners for the review and alteration of the Book of common prayer, &c. : being an exact account of their whole proceedings : the most perfect copy.
London printed : s.n., 1661
THE PAPERS That passed between the COMMISSIONERS Appointed by His M… › Section
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
[This experience of former and latter times hath taught us, when the 1Liturgy was duly observed, we lived in peace, since that was laid aside, there hath been as many modes and fashions of public Worship, as fancies, we have had continual dissension, which variety of Services must needs produce, whilst every one naturally desires and endeavours not only to maintain, but to prefer his own way before all others; whence we conceive there is no such way to the preservation of peace, as for all to return to the strict use and practise of the form.]
[This experience of former and latter times hath taught us, when the 1Liturgy was duly observed, we lived in peace, since that was layd aside, there hath been as many modes and fashions of publick Worship, as fancies, we have had continual dissention, which vaeriety of Services must needs produce, whilest every one naturally desires and endeavours not only to maintain, but to prefer his own way before all others; whence we conceive there is no such way to the preservation of peace, as for all to return to the strict use and practise of the form.]
- 1Sect. 3.
Reply. Pardon us while we desire you to examine whether you speak as members that suffer with those that suffer, or rather as insensible of the calamities of your Brethren, that is as uncharitable: You say you lived in peace, but so did not the many thousands that were fain to seek them peaceable habitations in Holland, and in the Deserts of America, nor the many thousands that lived in danger of the High Commission, or Bishops Courts at home, and so in danger of every malicious neighbour that would accuse them, hearing Sermons abroad, when they had none at home, or of meeting in a Neighbours house to pray, or of not kneeling in the receiving of the Sacrament, &c. We would not have remembered you of these things, but that you necessitate us by pleading your peace in those days, as an argument for the imposing of the Liturgy. 2. Might not Scotland as strongly argue from this Medium against the Liturgy, and say, before the Liturgy was imposed on us, we had peace, but since then we have had no peace. 3. When the strict imposing of the strict use and practice of these forms, was the very thing that disquieted this Nation, (taking in the concomitant Ceremonies and subscription) when this was it that bred the Divisions which you complain of, and caused the separations from the Churches, and the troubles in the Churches; it is no better arguing to say, we must return to the strict use of that form if we will have peace, than it was in the Israelites to say, we will worship the Queen of Heaven, because then we had peace and plenty, when that was it that deprived them of peace and plenty, (we compare not the Causes, but the Arguments) nor is it any better an Argument, than if a man in a Dropsy, or Ague, that