IT IS GOD ALONE, THAT CAN BRING LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS.

Never could there have been an opportunity so offenceless on the Church's part, for amending the Book of Common Prayer, as now, when it hath been so long disused, that not one of five hundred is so perfect in it as to observe alterations; and they who are likeliest to pry into it, do know themselves to have been the Causers of it. If, therefore, upon the loud clamours which for these fifteen* years have been taken up, in general terms, against the Book by the several factions, (who would have no set Forms, that they themselves might be bound to none; that desire all Religion should hang on their lips, as well for Praying as for Preaching; that liked not to have the King's authority so much asserted, and so often prayed for, as in the Liturgy it is; nor would have the Bishops at all,) it may now please the King of his grace to all, by Proclamation, or how else he shall please, to make it lawful for every man, of such a quality, in every County, at such places, and within so many days, (which need not be many, after fifteen years' preparation) to bring in under their hands, in terms beseeming, what particulars soever they would except against in the Book, and the reasons, to be delivered to such as His Majesty shall appoint in every County to receive the same: also, that they who receive the same shall keep a perfect note of every such. † the day when and the parties from whom they receive the same, and then shall presently, under their own hands and seals, transmit the same into the Chancery, where all such exceptions shall be viewed and judged of, by those whom His Majesty shall think fit to appoint in his

..

*Fifteen years. The public use of the Prayer Book was forbidden by Act of Parliament, January 3rd, 1645; and the private use in families, by another Act, August 23rd, 1645.

†The MS. is damaged so as to be illegible.

own stead; and these alterations being by them so admitted as thereby to make perfect that Form of Common Prayer,—the Book shall come forth, for public use, as the former Book did.

This would be done with as much expedition as may be; with a command, that none of the old Editions shall in the meanwhile be required in the Churches. But by this way those amendments whereof there is need, may be inserted; and nothing shall redound to the dishonour of the Church under which it was so long used, and not amended before.

TOWARD THIS REFORMING,

1. One general Rule would be, that every word throughout (as much as can be) should be commonly understood. The aiming whereat in the Compilers of the Old Book was very commendable, though it was but slenderly observed, because Latin Terms were then so much in use; and one course which they took therein was not so well advised, as having produced that which is now a blemish, and calls for an amendment. When using a word not perfectly understood in our Language, they joined another to it to expound it, as "Erred and Strayed," "Perils and Dangers," "Vanquish and Overcome," "King and Governor," "Bishop and Pastor." But now 'tis grown to be but an idle repetition; and in some, the latter word is less understood, or liable to more misconstruction, than the former.

2. Another Rule would be, That whatsoever is not very perfect and right, be it never so small, should now be set right, to prevent all after quarrels; yet all care now to be had, that, in setting it right, it be done with as little alteration as well may be. But the more it is now condescended to the mending of the smaller things, though some but merely verbal, the less scruple will be made of altering some other things, that may seem to be of a greater consequence.

3. A third Rule would be, because no Language but at

first is more imperfect and unpolished, and in every Age (of seventy years) admits much variation, that heed be now taken to this, it being so long since the former Book was composed, that the errors thereof have now by use corrupted the Language. There is one little word which crept into our Prayers, at the Translation of the Litany into English, under King Henry VIII., for the use of the Army then going to Boulogne, which from thence has spread itself, and hath infected many of the Collects and the Prayers which have been used since, and yet is a very solecism: That the word which, which doth only belong unto things without life or without reason, should be used also instead of who, and be the Relative for persons, human, or (much less) Divine. It began, therefore, then with Our Father, Which art in Heaven, instead of Our Father, Who art in Heaven. The altering whereof, if it may seem strange at first to unskilful ears, yet will it not be a nine days' wonder, but for ever after a right expression in all our addresses unto God.

Some other Rules, fit to observe, will fall in by the way as we go on.

In these Advices, I go by that edition (which I only now have) of the Book of Common Prayer, in quarto, printed A.D. 1639. Unto every page whereof I have added the number, until I came unto the Epistles and Gospels, which I cite by the Day.

At the Order also for the Communion, I return again to set the pages thereof, and to make my notes by those numbers. But in this part there was a mistake, the fifteenth page being set twice, which I hope will be pardoned.

The forty first pages of this Book contain nothing but Kalendars and Rubricks, and Rules, and other Preambles. But in that they are set in the front of the Book, it is fit that they be reviewed also.

To the very Title Page, towards the bottom thereof, would be added,

With the Psalter, or Psalms of David, as they are to be read in Churches.

The first page is in a manner needless, and very much of it is wrong. Let therefore the first ten heads be quite left out, as being very broken, false, and disordered. §

The other part to be placed rather for the fortieth page, and to be set down thus:

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

X.

XI.

XII.

XIII.

XIV.

The Order for Morning Prayer.

The Order for Evening Prayer.

The Confession of Faith, called Quicunque vult.
The Public Supplication, called the Litany.

The Collects, Epistles, and Gospels.

The Order for administering the Holy Communion.
The Order for Baptism, Public and Private.

The Order for Confirmation, with the Instruction, called

the Catechism.

The Order for Holy Matrimony.

The Prayers in Public for the Sick. (If any shall be appointed.)

The Visitation of the Sick.

The Communion of the Sick.

The Order for Burial.

The Thanksgiving after Childbirth.

XV. The Denouncing of God's Judgments against Sinners,

called the Commination.

§ The first ten heads are:-(1.) The Table and Kalendar for Psalms and Lessons, with necessary Rules appertaining to the same. (2.) The Table for the Order of Psalms to be said at Morning and Evening Prayer. (3.) An Almanack. (4.) An Act for the uniformity of Public Prayer. (5.) A Proclamation for the authorizing of the same. (6.) A Preface. (7.) Of Ceremonies, why some be abolished, and some retained. (8.) The Order how the Psalter is appointed to be read. (9.) The Order how the rest of Holy Scriptures is appointed to be read. (10.) Proper Psalms and Lessons at Morning and Evening Prayer, for Sundays and certain Feasts and Days.