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CONCERNING THE SERVICE OF

THE CHURCH.

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wit of man so well devised, or so sure established, which in continu­ance of time hath not been corrupt­ed: as, among other things, it may plainly appear by the Common Pray ers in the Church, commonly called Divine Service. The first original and ground whereof if a man would search out by the ancient Fathers, he shall find, that the same was not or- i dained but of a good purpose, and for a great advancement of godliness. For they so ordered the matter, that all the whole Bible( or the greatest part thereof) should be read over once every year; intending thereby, that the Clergy, and especially such as were Ministers in the congrega­tion, should( by often reading, and meditation in God's word) be stirred up to godliness themselves, and be more able to exhort others by whole­some doctrine, and to confute them that were adversaries to the truth; and further, that the people( by daily hearing of holy Scripture read in the Church) might continually profit more and more in the knowledge of God, and be the more inflamed with the love of his true religion.

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But these many years passed, this godly and decent order of the ancient Fathers hath been so altered, broken, and neglected, by planting in uncer­tain stories, and legends, with multi­tude of responds, verses, vain repeti­tions, commemorations, and synod­als: that commonly when any book of the Bible was begun, after three or four chapters were read out, all the rest were unread. And in this sort the book of Isaiah was begun in Ad­vent, and the book of Genesis in Sep­tuagesima; but they were only be­

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like sort were other books of holy Scripture used. And moreover, where­as St. Paul would have such language spoken to the people in the Church, as they might understand, and have profit by hearing the same; the service in this Church of England these many years hath been read in Latin to the people, which they understand not; so that they have heard with their cars only, and their heart, spirit, and mind, have not been edified thereby. And furthermore, notwithstanding that the ancient Fathers have divided the Psalms into seven portions, where­of every one was called a Nocturn: now. late time a few of them have been daily said, and the rest utterly omitted. Moreover, the number and hardness of the rules called the Pie, and the manifold changings of the service, was the cause, that to turn the book only was so hard and intri­cate a matter, that many times there was more business to find out what should be read, than to read it when it was found out.

These inconveniences therefore con­sidered, here is set forth such an order, whereby the same shall be redressed. And for a readiness in this matter, here is drawn out a Calendar for that purpose, which is plain and easy to be understood; wherein( so much as may be) the reading of holy Scripture is so set forth, that all things shall be done in order, without breaking one pièce from another. For this cause be cut off Anthems. Responds, In­vitatories, and such like things as did break the continual course of the reading of the Scripture.orgpite

Yet, because there is no remedy, but that of necessity there must be