The grand debate between the most reverend bishops and the Presbyterian divines appointed by…

Reply. The desire of your hearts is the grief of our hearts, the Conceptions of Prayer by a public person, according to a public Rule, for a public use, are not to be rejected as private Conceptions: We had hoped you had designed no such innovation as this in the Church: When we have heard any say that it would come to this, and that you designed the suppression of the free Prayers of Ministers in the Pulpit, suited to the variety of subjects and occasions, we have rebuked them as uncharitable in passing so heavy a censure on you: And what would have been said of us a year ago, if we should have said that this was in your hearts? nothing will more alienate the hearts of many holy prudent persons from the Common-Prayer, than to perceive that it is framed and used as an Instrument to shut out all other Prayers, as the Ministers private Conceptions. Such an end and design will make it under the notion of a means, another thing than else it would be, and afford men such an Argument against it, as we desire them not to have: but we hope you speak not the public sense. As the Apostles desired (as aforesaid) that all would speak the same things, without giving them (that ever was proved) a form of words to speak them in, so might we propose to you, that uncertain opinions be made no part of our Liturgy without putting all their words into their mouths, in which their desires must be uttered. Your hearty desire, and the reason of it, makes not only against extemporary Prayer, but all prepared, or written forms, or Liturgies, that were indited only by one man, and have not the consent antecedently of others. And do you think this was the course of the Primitive times? Basil thus used his private Conceptions at Caesarea, and Greg. Thaumaturgus before him at Neocesarea, and all Pastors in Justin Martyrs ⟨p. 58⟩and Tertullians days. And how injurious is it to the public Officers of Christ, the Bishops and Pastors of the Churches, to be called private men, who are public persons in the Church, if they be not? every single person is not a private person, else Kings and Judges would be so. And have you not better means to shut out private opinions, than the forbidding Ministers praying in the Pulpit, according to the variety of subjects and occasions: