THE PREFACE

IT hath been the wisdom of the Church of England, ever since the first compiling of her publick Liturgy, to keep the mean between the two extremes, of too much stiffness in re­fusing, and of too much easiness in admitting any variation from it. For, as on the one side common experience aheweth, that where a change hath been made of things advisedly established( no evident necessity so requiring) rundry inconveniences have thereupon ensued; and those many times more and greater than the evils, that were intended to be remedied by such change: So on the other side, the particular forms of Divine worship, and the Rites and Ceremonies appointed to be used therein, being things in their own nature in­different, and alterable, and so acknowledged; it is but reasonable, that upon weighty and important considerations, according to the various exigency of times and occasions, such changes and alterations should be made therein, as to those that are in place of Authority should from time to time seem either necessary or expedient. we find, that in the reigns of several Princes Accordingly of blessed memory since the Reformation, the Church, upon just and weighty considerations her thereunto moving, hath yielded to make such alterations in some particulars, as in their respective times were thought convenient: yet so, as that the main body and essentials of it( as well in the chiefest materials, as in the frame and order thereof) have still con­tinued the same unto this day, and do yet stand firm and unshaken, notwithstanding all the vain attempts and impetuous assaults made against it, by such men as are given to change, and have always discovered a greater regard to their own private fancies and in­terests, than to that duty they owe to the publick.

By what undue means, and for what mis­chievous purposes the use of the Liturgy ( though enjoined by the laws of the land, and those laws never yet repealed) came, during the late unhappy confusions, to be discontinued, is too well known to the world, and we are not willing here to remember. But when, upon His Majesty's happy restora­tion, it seemed probable, that, amongst other things, the use of the Liturgy would also return of course( the same having never been legally abolished) unless some timely means were used to prevent it; those men who under the late usurped powers had made it a great part of their business to render the people disaffected thereunto, saw themselves in point of reputation and interest concerned( unless they would freely acknowledge themselves to have erred, which such men are very hardly brought to do) with their utmost endeavours to hinder the restitution thereof. In order whereunto divers pamphlets were published against the Book of Common Prayer, the old objections mustered up, with the addition of come new ones, more than formerly had been made, to make the number swell. In fine,

Majesty, that the said Book might be revised, great importunities were used to His Sacred and such alterations therein, and additions quisite for the ease of tender consciences: thereunto made, as should be thought re­whereunto His Majesty, out of his pious in­clination to give satisfaction( so far as could be reasonably expected) to all his subjects of what persuasion soever, did graciously con­descend.

In which review we have endeavoured to observe the like moderation, as we find to have been used in the like case in former times. And therefore of the sundry altera­such as were either of dangerous consequence tions proposed unto us, we have rejected all ( as secretly striking at some established doc­trine, or laudable practice of the Church of England, or indeed of the whole Catholick Church of Christ) or else of no consequence at all, but utterly frivolous and vain. But such alterations as were tendered to us,( by what persons, under what pretences, or to what purpose soever tendered) as seemed to us in any degree requisite or expedient, we have willingly, and of our own accord as­strength of argument, convincing us of the sented unto: not enforced so to do by any necessity of making the said alterations; for we are fully persuaded in our judgements ( and we here profess it to the world) that law, doth not contain in it any thing contrary the Book, as it stood before established by which a godly man may not with a good con to the Word of God, or to sound doctrine, or fairly defensible against any that shall oppose science use and submit unto, or which is not the same; if it shall be allowed such just and favourable construction as in common equity ought to be allowed to all human writings, and even to the very best translations of the especially such as are set forth by authority, holy Scripture itself.

taking was, not to gratify this or that party Our general aim therefore in this under­in any their unreasonable demands; but to conceived might most tend to the preservation do that, which to our best understandings we curing of reverence, and exciting of piety and of peace and unity in the Church; the pro­devotion in the publick worship of God; and occasion of cavil or quarrel against the the cutting off occasion from them that seek Liturgy of the Church. And as to the

several variations from the former Book, whether by alteration, addition, or otherwise, it shall suffice to give this general account, either first, for the better direction of them That most of the alterations were made, Service; which is chiefly done in the Ca that are to officiate in any part of Divine lendars and Rubricks: Or Becondly, for the more proper expressing of some words or able to the language of the present times, and phrases of ancient usage in terms more suit­the clearer explanation of some other words