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gerous consequence( 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 so tender­ed) as seemed to us in any degree re­quisite or expedient, we have will­ingly, and of our own accord assent­ed unto: not enforced so to do by any strength of argument, convincing us of the necessity of making the said alterations: for we are fully persuad­ed in our judgements( and we here profess it to the world) that the Book, as it stood before established by law, doth not contain in it any thing contrary to the Word of God, or to sound doctrine, or which a godly man may not with a good conscience use and submit unto, or which is not fairly defensible against any that shall oppose the same; if it shall be allowed such just and favourable construction as in common equity ought to be allowed to all human writings, especially such as are set forth by authority, and even to the very best translations of the holy Scripture itself.

Our general aim therefore in this undertaking was, not to gratify this or that party in any their unreason­able demands; but to do that, which to our best understandings we con­ceived might most tend to the pre­servation of peace and unity in the Church; the procuring of reverence, and exciting of piety and devotion in the publick worship of God; and the cutting off occasion from them that seek occasion of cavil or quar­rel against the 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, That most of the alterations were made, either first, for the better di­rection of them that are to officiate in any part of Divine Service; which is chiefly done in the Calendars and Rubricks: Or secondly, for the more DET HOS Vad

THE PREFACE,

proper expressing of some words or phrases of ancient usage in terms more suitable to the language of the present times, and the clearer ex­planation of some other words and phrases, that were either of doubt­ful signification, or otherwise liable to misconstruction: Or thirdly, for a more perfect rendering of such por­tions of holy Scripture, as are insert­ed into the Liturgy; which, in the Epistles and Gospels especially, and in sundry other places, are now or­dered to be read according to the last Translation: and that it was thought convenient, that some Prayers and Thanksgivings, fitted to special occa­sions, should be added in their due places; particularly for those at Sea, together with an office for the Bap­tism of such as are of Riper Years; which, although not so necessary when the former Book was compiled, yet by the growth of Anabaptism, through the licentiousness of the late times crept in amongst us, is now be­come necessary, and may be always useful for the baptizing of natives in our plantations, and others convert­ed to the faith. If any man, who shall desire a more particular account of the several alterations in any part of the Liturgy, shall take the pains to compare the present Book with the former; we doubt not but the reason of the change may easily appear.

discharge our duties in this weighty And having thus endeavoured to affair, as in the sight of God, and to approve our sincerity therein( so far as lay in us) to the consciences of all men; although we know it impossi­ble( in such variety of apprehensions, humours and interests, as are in the world) to please all; nor can expect that men of factious, peevish, and perverse spirits should be satisfied with any thing that can be done in this kind by any other than them­selves: yet we have good hope, that what is here presented, and hath been by the Convocations of both Provinces with great diligence ex­amined and approved, will be also sober, peaceable, and truly conscien­well accepted and approved by all tious sons of the Church of England.

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