❧ An Order made by the House of Commons , for preaching Lecturers in this Kingdome .

IT is Ordered by the House of Commons now Assembled in Parliament , that it shall be Lawfull for the Parishioners of any Parish within the Kingdome of England and Wales , to set up a Lecture , and to maintaine an Orthodox Minister , at their owne charge , to Preach every Lords day , where there is no Preaching : And to Preach one day in every weeke , where there is no weekely Lecture .

Hen . Elsynge . Cler . Parl .

Considerations upon the Booke of Common Prayer .

1. WHether the names of some d●parted Saints , and others should not be quite expugned the Calender .

2. Whether the reading of Psalmes , sentences of Scripture concurring in divers places in the Hymnes , E●ist●es , and Gospels , should not bee set out in the new translation .

3 Whether the Rubrique should not bee mended , where all westments in them of divine Service are now commanded which were used . 2. Ed. 6.

4. Whether Lessons of Canonicall Scripture should be put into the Calender in stead of Apocrypha .

5. That the Doxologie should be alwaies printed at the end of the Lords Prayer , and bee alwaies said by the Minister .

6. Whether the Rubrique may not be mended , where it is ( that the Lessons should bee sung in a plaine tune ) why not ( read with a distinct voyce . )

7. Whether Gloria Patri should bee repeated at the end of every Psalme .

8. Whether according to that end of the Preface before the Common Prayer , the Curate should be bound to read Morning and Evening Prayers every day in the Church , if he beat home , and not reasonably letted , and why not onely on Wednesday , and friday morning , and in the afternoone on Saterdaies , with holiday eves .

9. Whether the Hymnes , Benedicite omnia opera , &c. may not be left out .

10. In the Prayer for the Clergie , that phrase perhaps to be altored ( which onely worketh great marvells . )

11. In the Rubrique for the Administration of the Lords Supper whether this alteration to be made , that such as intend to communicate shall signifi their names to the Curate overnight or in the morning before prayer .

12. The next Rubrique to bee cleared , how farre a Minister may repulse a scandalous and notorious sinner from the Communion .

13 Whether the Rubrique is not to bee mended , where the Churchwardens are straightly appointed to gather the almes for the poore before the Communion begin , for by experience it is proved to bee done better when the people depart .

14 Whether the Rubrique is not to be mended , concering the party that is to make his generall confession upon his knees before the Communion , that it should bee said only by the Minister , and then at every clause repeated to the people .

15 These words in the Consecration This is my body , this is my blood of the New Testament , not to be printed hereafter in great Letters .

16 Whether it will not be fit to inserta Rubrique touching kneelling at the Communion , that is , to comply in all humility with the prayer which the Minister makes , when he delivers the Element .

17 Whether Cathedrall and Colegiate Churches shall be straitly bound to celebrate the holy Communion every Sunday at the least , and might not it rather be added rather once in a moneth .

18 In the last Rubrique touching the Communion , is it not fit that the Printer make a full point , and begin with a new great letter at these words . And every Parishioner shall also receive the Sacraments .

19 Whether in the first prayer at the baptisme , these words , Didst sanctifie the flood Iordan , and allother waters , should not be thus changed . Didst sanctifie the Element of water .

20 Whether it be not fit to have some discreete Rubrique made to take away all scandall from signifiing the signe of the Crosse upon the Infants after baptisme , or if it shall seeme more expedient , to be quite disused , whether this reason should be published , that in antient Liturgies no Crosse was consigned upon the partie , but where Oyle also was used , and therefore Oyle being now omitted , so may also that which was concomitant with it , the signe of the Crosse .

21. In private Baptisme , the Rubrique mentions that which must not bee done , that the Minister may dip the child in wat●r being at the point of death .

22. Whether in the last rubrique of confirmation those words be to be left out ( and be undoubtedly saved . )

23. Whether the Catechisme may not receive a little more enlargement .

24. Whether the times prohibited for marriage are quite to be taken away

25. Whether none hereafter shall have licences to marry , nor be asked their banes of Matrimony , that shall not bring with them a certificate from their Ministers that they are instructed in their Catechisme .

26. Whether these words in Matrimony , ( With my body I thee worship ) shall not not be thus altered , ( I give thee power over my body .

27. Whether the rubrique of marriage should not bee mended , that new married persons should receive the Communion the same day of their marriage , may it not well be or upon the next Sunday following when the Communion is celebrated .

28. In the absolution of the sicke , were it not plaine to say , I pronounce thee absolved .

29. The Psalmes of thankesgiving of woman after Child birth , were it not fit to be composed out of proper Versi●l's taken from divers Psalmes .

30 May not the Priest rather reade the Communion in the D●sk● , then goe up to the pulpit .

31 The publique in the Communion leaves it doubtfull , whether the Letany may not be read in divers place in the Church .

32 In the order of the buriall of all persons , 't is said , We commit his body to the ground , in sure and certaine hope of resurrection to eternall life . Why not thus , knowing assuredly , that the dead shall rise againe .

33. In the Collect , next unto the Collect against the Pestilence , the clause perhaps to be mended , for the honour of Christs sake .

34. In the Let any instead of fornication and other deadlie sinnes , would it not satisfie thus ? from fornication and all other grievous sinnes .

35. It is very fit , that the imperfections of the matter of the singing Psalmes should be mended , and then lawfull authority added unto them , to have them publikely sung before and after Sermons , and sometimes in stead of Hymns of morning and evening prayer .

Certaine reasons why the Booke of Common Prayer beeing Corrected should Continue .

1 Because it was composed and approved of godly reformed professors and Martyrs ; and reverently used and frequented by devout Protestants , in the times of religious Princes , the happy Instruments and pronogators of the true reformed religion .

2 Because they have beene at severall times Enacted and Established as lawes of the Land in the times of most religious and and reformed Princes .

3 Because that , which gives the offence therein is most Master of Faith and Salvation , but discipline , and the Ceremonies of the Church .

4 Because they have endured opposition , And the greatest number of the opposers have beene either weake and Ignorant Christians , mis ▪ led and misinformed , or perverse , seditious , and inconformable to the established Government .

5 Because the oppositions have beene divers times fully answered by learned and Religious Protestants , but especially so fully determined in a conference on mature deliberation , by our late Renowned King Iames of blessed memory .

6 Lastly because they are and have beene so Common passengers amongst us .

An Order by the Lords and Commons in Parliament touching the Government and Liturgie of the Church .

THe Lords and Commons doe declare , they intend a due and necessary reformation of the Government and Litturgie of the Church , and to take away nothing in the one or the other , but what shall be Evill , and iustly offensive , or at least unnecessary and burthensome , and for the better effecting hereof , speedily to have consultation with godly and learned Divines , and because this will never of itt selfe attaine the end sought therein , they will therefore use their utmost endeavours to establish Learned and Preaching Ministers , with a good and sufficient maintenance throughout the whole kingdome , wherein many darke corners are miserably destitute of the meanes of salvation , and many poore Ministers want necessary provision .

Hen . Elsyng Cle . Parl . D. C. FINIS .