The Book of Common Prayer

at By what undue means, and for what and vain, but fuch Aterations as were mischievous purposes the use of the Li- tendred to us (by what persons, under turgy (though enjoyned by the Laws of what pretences, or to what purpose fothe land, and chose Laws never yet re- lever lo tendred) as seemed to us in any pealed ) came, during the late unhappy degree requisite or expedient, we have

contusions, to be discontinued, is too well willingly & of our own accord assented to known to the world, and we are not unco: Not enforced so to do by any en willing here to remember. But when strength of Argument,.convincing us of

upon His Majestie: happy Restauration the necessity of making the said Alterait seemed probable, that amongit other tions: For we are fully perswaded in in things, the use of the Liturgy also would our Judgements (and we here professig

recurn of course (the same having never to the world ) that the Book as it stood been legally abolish’d)unless some time before establiched by Law, doch nod e ly means were uled to prevent it ; those contain in it any thing contrary to the e men who under the late usurped Pow- Word of God, or to sound Doctrine, or

ers had made it a great part of their bu. which a godly man may not with a good të liness to render the People disaffected conscience use and tubmit unto, 2 thereunto, faw themselves in point of which is not fairly defensible against any able to mifconftruction: Orthirdly,tor that take the pains to compare the pre a more perf.ct rendring of such porti- fent Book with the former; we doubel ons of holy Scripture as are inserted in- not bur the reason of the change may so the Liturgy which in the Epistles easily appear. and Gospels especially, and in fundry And having thus endeavoured to di oiher places are now ordered to be read charge our duties in this weighty AF according to the lalt Tranllation; and fair, as in the fight of God, and to that it was thought convenient, that approve our sincerity therein (so far some Prayers and Thaaksgivings, fitted as lay in us ) to the consciences of all to special occasions, should be added in men, although we know it impossible their due places ; particularly for those in such variety of appprehensions, bu at Sea, together with an Office for mours and interests, as are in the world) the baptism of such as are of riper to please all; nor can expect, that men years; which although not so necessary of fa&ious, peevish, and perverse spirits when the former Book was compiled, should be satisfied with any thing that yet by the growth of Anabaptism, can be done in this kind by any other through the licențiousness of the late then themselves: Yet we have good times crept in amongst us, is now be- hope, that what is here presented, and come necessary, and may be always use- haih been by the Convocations of boch ful for the baptizing of Natives, in our Provinces with great diligence examiPlantations and others converted to the ned and approved, will be also well Faith. If any man, who iball desire a accepted, and approved by all fober, more particular account of the several peaceable, and truly conscientious fons alterations in any part of the Liturgy, of the Church of England.

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reputation and interelt concerned (un- that shall oppose the fame; if it shall be less they would freely acknowledge allowed such just and favourable con

themselves to have erred, which such struction as in Common equity ought to i men are very hardly brought to do) with be allowed to all Humane Writings, e

their urmolt endeavours to hinder the specially fuch as are set forth by Authorestitution thereof. In order wbere ricy, and even to the very belt tranilaunto, divers Pamphlets were publilhed tions of the holy Scripture it self. w against the Book of Common Prayer, the

Our generalaim therefore in this unold Objections mustered up, with the dertaking was,not to gratifie this or that addition of some new ones more then party in any their unreasonable des formerly had been made, to make the mands; but to do that which to our belt number (well. In fine, great importu- underitandings we conceived might most nities were used to His Sacred Majelty, tend to the preservation of Peace and that the faid Book might be Revised, Unicy in the Church; the procuring of and fuch Alterations therein, and Addio Reverence, and exciting of Piety and

tions thereunto made, as lhould be Devotion in the Publick Worlip of i thought requisite for the ease of tender God; and the cutting off occasion from

Consciences: Whereunto His Majeity them that feek occasion of cavil, or out of His pious Inclination to give fa- quarrel against the Liturgy of the tisfaîtion (so far as could be reasonably Church. And as to the several variations expected) to ah His Subjects of what from the former Book, whether by Alperswalion foever, did gracionlly con- teration, Addition, or otherwise, it shall descend.

suffice to give this general account, That la which Review we have endeavour moit of the Alterations were made, eied to observe the like Moderation, as ther first, for the better direction of we find to have been used in the like them that are to officiate in any part of case in former times. And therefore of Divine Service; which is chiefly done the sundry Alterations proposed unto in the Kalendars and Rubricks: 'Or seus, we have rejected all such as were ei-condly, for the more proper expressing ther of dangerous consequence ( as se- of some words or phrales of ancient cretly Itriking at some eitablilhed Do- ufage, in terms more suitable to the

trine, or laudablePractise of the Church language of the present times, and the of England, or indeed of the whole Ca- clearer explanation of some other tholick Church of Christ) or else of no words and phrales, that were either of consequence at all, but utterly frivolous doubtful fignification, or otherwite li

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