THE PREFACE.
This Preface, first prefixed to the Revised Prayer Book of 1661, was written by Bishop Sanderson, and amended in some trifling points by a Committee of the Upper House of Convocation. Its main purpose is to explain the causes and effects of the Revision just completed.
Glancing first at the history of the past, since 1549, it alludes to the three Revisions already made( the first under Edward VI. in 1552, the second under Elizabeth in 1559, and the third under James I. in 1604), and asserts that through all these" the main body and essentials" of the original Book of 1549" have still continued the same." The phrase ascribing to the Church of England" the middle way between two extremes" has become celebrated, being supposed to be a description of her general principle and policy. A glance at the context will, however, show that it refers simply to the policy adopted in the revisions of the Prayer Book.
Next the Preface refers to the prohibition of the use of the Liturgy under the Commonwealth. This was by an order of Parliament on January 3rd, 1645," abolishing the Book of Common Prayer," and " establishing" for use in all Churches" the Directory for the Public Worship of God," followed, on August 23rd, by another Order, enjoining the surrender of all Prayer Books, and making the use of the Liturgy, even in private, punishable by fine and imprisonment. It then recites the demands made, on the Restoration of Charles II., for Revision, enforced by the publication of objections, some old and some new, against the Prayer Book ( which, never having been legally abolished, came at once back into use), and the consent of the King thereto. The Presbyterians, in fact, had presented a petition to the King, allowing the lawfulness of a Liturgy, but asking that the Prayer Book might be revised, and that some ceremonies might be abolished and the use of others made optional. Charles answered by a" Royal Declaration on Ecclesiastical Affairs," in October 1660, allowing toleration of diversity for a time, and promising a Conference, which met at the Savoy on March 25th, 1661.
Of the demands for alteration then made, which were very numerous, both general and special, it is declared that those representing the two extremes- of change of fundamental principles on the one hand, and of mere frivolous objection on the other -have been rejected, and those which seemed" requisite and expedient" willingly accepted, without, however, any allowance of the objections made to the old Book, as unscriptural, unsound, or against the conscience of" a godly man." The objects of the Revision are expressly declared to be, not the satisfaction of the demands of this or that party, but" the preservation of peace and unity;"" the procuring of reverence and exciting of piety and devotion;" and" the
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