REASONS For which the Service Book, urged upon SCOTLAND ought to be refused.  
1. IT cònteineth diverse points and directions, which would breed a change in some Articles of that Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of the said Kingdom, which is both warranted in Scripture & approved by Parliament: 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 showing both some evil or defect in the things to be changed, and what good & 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 & discipline, which the said Service book would breed a change of?  
2. In the pretended Communion, it hath all the substance and essential parts of the Mass, and so brings in the most abominable Idolatry that ever was in the world, in worshipping of a breaden God, and makes way to the Antichrist of Rome, to bring this Land under his bondage again, as may be seen at large by the particulars of that Communion, wherein some things, that were put out of the Service book of England, for smelling so strong of the Mass, are restored, and many other things, that were never in it, are brought in, out of the Mass book, though they labour to cover the matter. It hath the commemoration of the dead: The Table set Altar ways: The oblation of the Bread and Wine to God before the consecration: It hath the Popish consecration, that the Lord would sanctify by his Words, and by his holy Spirit, those gifts and creatures of Bread and Wine, that they may be unto us the body and blood of his Son, and then repeat the words of institution to God, for that purpose. It hath an oblation of it again, after it is consecrat, 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. It hath the patin chalice, two Pater-nosters in English, before the Mass, and several other particulars, that would take a long time to rehearse and confute.  
3. Though they would take away the Idolatrous Mass out of it, yet it hath a number of Popish superstitions and Idolatrous ceremonies: as, 29 holy days, whereof 22 are dedicated to Saints, two of them to the Virgin Mary, the one whereof is called, The Anuntiation of our Lady, so she is made a Lady to Christians, not being on Earth, she must be a Lady in Heaven: Is not this to make her a Goddess? It hath 14 Fasting days, and some weeks. It hath also the humane Sacraments of Cross in Baptism, laying on of the Bishop's hand in confirmation: a Ring for the outward seal in Marriage: a sanctified Font, holy water, holiness of Churches and Chancels: private Baptism, private Communions, Ceremonies for Burial of the dead, and purification of women after Childbirth, the Priest standing, kneeling, turning to the people, and consequently from them, speaking with a loud voice, and consequently sometimes with a low voice. People's standing at Gospels, at Gloria Patri, & Creeds: their answering to the Minister, & many suchlike, in number above 50. besides any religious Ornament, that the King, or his Successors, shall prescribe, and Ceremonies that Bishops shall determine, or that shall be contained in Books of Homilies to be set forth hereafter.  
4. And though they would take out of the Book, both the Mass & all those superstitious Ceremonies, yet it hath a number of other material errors: as, leaving unread about a 120 Chapters of Gods word, and putting this reproach upon them, that they are least edifying, & might best be spared, and reading sundry Chapters out of Apocrypha, under the style of holy Scripture of the old Testament. It hath a Litany more like conjuring then like Prayers: It hath some places out of which Papists may prove, that Sacraments are absolutely necessary to salvation, in apointing Baptism in private, with such haste, that, if necessity require, he that baptises needs not so much as to say the Lords Prayer, and out of which they may prove, that Sacraments give grace by their work wrought, in saying, Children baptised, have all things necessary to salvation, & be undoubtedly saved. It hath other places out of which they may prove more Sacraments than two, which they say every Parishoner, who is already baptised, shall communicate, & shall also receive the Sacraments, and that Sacraments two, are generally necessary to salvation, as if there were others, either not so general, or not so necessary. It hath other places out of which they may prove universal grace: saying, God the Father made me, and all the world, and God the Son redeemed me, and all mankind: One Collect pretends to beg from God, that which they dare not presume to name, and a number others of this sort.  
5. Though likewise they amend all those errors, and that there were no material error in it at all: so they read nothing at all but Scriptures, yea, and that all their Prayers & Exhortations were nothing but words of Scripture, yet such a Liturgy were not lawful to be made the only form of God's Worship in public: for, though a form Liturgy may be to serve for Rule to other Churches & 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 Ministry to worship Him, or edify his people, but he hath given gifts to them to Exhort, Pray, and Preach, which they ought to stir up and use, and though they may in their private studies take help of other men's gifts, yet it is not lawful for a man to tie himself, or be tied by others, to a prescript form of words in prayer and exhortation, for these reasons:  
First, Such a prescript Form is ●gainst the Glory of God, in stinting to him such a daily measure of service, and so hindering the many spiritual Petitions and pra●ses that otherwise would be, if God's gifts were used.  
secondly, It is against the dignity of Christ, in making his gifts needless: for, though he send down no gifts at all, they can serve themselves with the Book, without them.  
thirdly, It quenches the holy Spirit, because he gets no employment.  
Fourthly, It hinders the Edification of God's people, they may as well stay at home, and be edified by reading the Book themselves.  
Fiftly, It is against the Conversion of those that know not God: will ever a Rat ●yme of words said over without feeling or blessing, work upon an unrenewed heart?  
Sixtly, It will never serve to convince an Heretic, to check a profane Person, or to waken a secure Soul: they may long go on or such a service bite upon them: yea, it ●osters people in a presumptuous conceit, that they are well enough if they be present, and say their part of service.  
Seventhly, It fosters a lazy ministry, and makes way for putting down Preaching: they need take no pains, and therefore needs no stipend: yea, they may come from the Ailhouse, or a worse place, and step to and read their Service, without either check or preparation.  
eightly, It may all be done by a Boy of 7 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 express the several needs of all people to God, or deal with them, according to their several estates, that will alter otherwise then any prescript form can be aplyed to.  
Tenthly, If any one stinted Liturgy had been good, or needful, no doubt but CHRIST would have set one down to us.  
6. Though a prescript form of Liturgy were lawful, yet there is no warrant for imposing of one: for, might not able Ministers (at least) make a prescript form to themselves, which would fit them and their people best? But if it were lawful to impose one, than there is one in this Country 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, than it ought to come in by a lawful manner: by a general Assembly, and men chosen to make it that are known to have the gift of Prayer themselves, and not the Mass book, translated into English, urged by Antichristian Prelates, upon God's people, without consent of any General Assembly or Parliament, against the will of all men, & with no small offence & scandal to the minds and consciences of such, as think all Liturgy unlawful, that is either in the Mass way, or inconsistent with the practice & peace of the reformed Churches of Scotland hitherto, and against the hearts of such as know many things in the English Liturgy and Canons, which the practice of, neither hath warrant in God's Word, nor can bring any such addition, to the profit, honour, or power of the King, that is able to compense the loss he may make of his good Subjects affections, by commanding such a change, as the urged Liturgy would bring to the Peace of our Church, and respect due to the Acts of Parliament and long custom, whereby our Church discipline, Order, and Government hath been established.   

PRINTED in the year of GOD. 1638.