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ease of tender consciences: where unto 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.

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 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 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 sig. nification, 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

II

In which review we have endea­youred to observe the like modera­tion, as we find to have been used in the like case in former times. And therefore of the sundry altera­tions proposed unto us, we have rejected all such as were either of dangerous 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 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 judgments( 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