George Gillespie

“ For, though a formed Liturgie may be to serve for Rule to other Churches, and Monuments to Posterity, what Forms are used, or that it may lead the Way, or be a Direction to those that are beginning in the Ministry, yet, it is not by reading of Prayers and Exhortations, that the Lord appoints his Servants of the Ministrie to worship him, or edifie his People; but, he has given Gifts to them, to exhort, pray, and preach, which they ought to stir to and use ”

“ Howbeit, long and sad Experience hath made it manifest That the Liturgy used in the Church of England, (notwithstanding all the Pains and Religious Intentions of the Compilers of it) hath proved an Offence, not only to many of the Godly at Home; but also to the reformed Churches Abroad. ”

“ If the Service in the Church was good in Latin, it remaineth good in English; for nothing is altered, but to speak with Knowledge, that which was spoken with Ignorance, and to let you understand what is said to you, to the Intent you may further it with your own Devotion: An Alteration to the Better, except Knowledge be worse than Ignorance. ”

“ But if it were lawfull to impose One, then there is One in this countrie already. Ought not that rather be imposed, than any Other seeing it is already established by Parliament, now of a long Time? But now, if a new One ought to be imposed, then it ought to come in by a lawfull Manner; by a General Assemblie, and Men chosen to make it, that are known to have the Gift of Prayer themselves, and not the Masse-Book, translated into English, urged by Antichristian-Prelats, upon God's People, without Consent of any Generall Assemblie of Parliament, against the Will of all Men ”

“ Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this People draw near me with their Mouth, and their Fear towards me, is taught by the Precept of Men; therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous Work amongst these People, even a marvellous Work, and a Wonder; for the Wisdom of their wise Men shall perish, and the Understanding of their imprudent Men shall be hid. ”

“ VI. Though a perscript Form of Liturgie were lawfully, yet there is no Warrand for imposing One: For might not able Ministers (at least) make a prescript Forme, to themselves which would fit them and their People best? ”

“ And it seemeth to be as well against State-wisdom, as against Religion, to change any Thing either in the Matter or Form of the said Doctrine and Discipline, without first shewing both some Evil or Defect in the Things to be changed, and what Good and Benefit it is, that the said Service-Book will afford more to the Edification of the Church, or true Worship of Almighty God, than the Points of Doctrine and Discipline, which the said Service-Book would breed a Change of. ”

“ Sixthly, It will never serve to convince an Heriticke, to check a prophane Person, or to waken a secure Soul; they may long go on, ere such a Service byte upon them; yea, it sosters People in a presumptuous Conceit, that they are well enough if they be present, and say their Part of Service. ”

“ It hath the Popish Consecration, That the Lord would sanctify by his Word, and by his holy Spirit, whose Gifts and Creatures of Bread and Wine, that they may be unto us, the Body and Blood of his Son, and then repeate the Words of Institution to God, for that Purpose. It hath an Oblation of it again, after it is consecrate; the Consummation by the Priest; kneeling before the consecrate Bread and Wine. It takes away the eating and drinking by Faith, mentioned in the English Liturgy. ”

“ We have, after earnest and frequent calling upon the Name of God, and after much Consultation, not with Flesh and Blood, but with His holy Word, resolved to lay aside former Liturgy, with the many Rites and Ceremonies formerly used in the Worship of God; and have agreed upon this following Directory for all the Parts of publick Worship at ordinary and extraordinary Times. ”

“ That it is an Impediment to the Entrie of fit and worthy Men to the Ministry, and to the Discharge of their Duty after their Entrie, conform to the Discipline of our Kirk: Therefore the Assembly, all in one Voice, hath rejected and condemned, and by these Present, do reject and condemne the said Book; and prohibits the Use and Practise of the same; and ordains Presbyteries to proceed with the Censure of the Kirk against all such as should transgresse. ”

“ PREFACE to the Directory for the publick Worship of GOD, agreed upon by the Assembly of Devines at Westminster 1645, and approved and received by the Kirk of Scotland the same Year.
In the Beginning of the blessed Reformation, our wise and pious Ancestors took care to set forth an Order some Redress of many Things, which they, then, by the Word discovered to be Vain, Erronious, Superstitious, and Idolatrous, in the publick Worship of God. This occasioned many godly and learned Men to rejoice much in the Book of Comnmon-Prayer, at that Time set forth ”

“ It hath the Patine, Chlaice, two paternosters in English, before the Masse, and several other Particulars, that would take a long Time to rehearse and confute.
III. Though they would take away the idolatrous Masse of it, yet it hath a Number of Popish Superstitions and idolatrous Ceremonies; as, twenty nine holy Days, whereof, twenty two are dedicated to Saints, two of them to the Virgin Mary; One whereof, is called, The Anunciation of our Lady: So is made a Lady to Christians, not being on Earth she must be Lady in Heaven: Is not this to make her a Goddesse? ”

“ Yea, they may come from the Ail-house, or a worse Place, and step to and read their Service, without eyther Check or Preparation.
Eyghtly, It may all be done by a Boy of seven years old and so every private Man that can read; yea, a Turk, if he can read, may be such a Minister.
Ninthly, It cannot expresse the severall Needs of all People to God, or deal with them, according to their severall Estates that will alter otherwise then any prescript Forme can be applyed to.
Tenthly, If any one stinted Liturgie had been good, even needfull, no doubt but CHRIST would have set One down for us. ”