The CRANMERIAN LITURGY, Or, The Subtlety of the Serpent, In corrupting the True English Liturgy, by Cranmer and a Faction of Calvinists.  
THat there is in the most Solemn, Proper and Peculiar part of the Christian Worship, anciently in all the Western Churches entitled the Mass, now in English the H. Communion, as it hath always been celebrated throughout the whole Catholic Church, not a Sacrament only, but both a Sacrifice and a Sacrament, hath been the Doctrine not only of the Catholic Church in all Ages received from the Apostles, and accordingly it was called Sacrificium Quotidianum, but also of most of those of the Church of England, who Composed the First Book of Ed. 6. and upon good Deliberation and special Consideration of the Question fitted it for that purpose; & moreover of divers of the most eminent for Learning in England ever since; as Andrews, Feild, Montague, Cousens, Laud, Mede, Heylyn, Thorndike, Taylor, Sherlock, Hooper etc. As may be seen or perceived in their Writings; besides others, who are known to have been of the same Judgement, though they have left nothing in writing concerning it; and others, who out of Fondness for the Church, whereof they were Members, affecting a kind of Infallibility, and preferring the Honour of it, before the Honour and Unity of the Catholic Church, and Peace of the World, have rather cavilled at it, than could in their Conscience plainly and positively deny it.  
But Cranmer with his Calvinists, who were amongst them, who composed that Book, being unable to carry all in that work according to his own mind, in an Honest, Plain, Orderly way, presently applied himself to do it by Craft and the Secular Power, though in a Factious and Schismatical manner: And a Review of that Book, though but just before declared by Act of Parliament to have been composed by the Aid of the Holy-Ghost, was soon presumptuously, if not impiously, resolved upon, without any worthy cause, as the next Act saith expressly: And instead of an English Synod or Convocation of the English Clergy, (not one of them it seems, but had either so much Conscience or so much Caution, as not to appear in it,) Martin Bucer was sent for from beyond Sea, and the Book was translated into Latin for him to consider and model according to his own and Master Calvin's humour, ad Petitionem Archiepiscopi, as far as was thought fit, and like to pass.  
Bucer did what was desired, and presuming too much upon his own Judgement, and perhaps the more through the over valuation of it by Cranmer and his Faction, tho' he might mean well, dismembered, disordered and deformed it in the principal part, as may be seen in his Scripta Anglicana; but was soon after called to account for what he had done, in another World. tho' I do not find that all the Corruptions and Abuses in it are chargeable upon him, and particularly that, which was none of the least, the Defacing and Misplacing the Prayer of Oblation, of which more hereafter. But he was farther employed to promote the Work by writing to Mr Calvin, that by his Persuasions and Authority, the Protector, and the King himself, and other great men might be disposed for the passing it in Parliament, whether the Clergy would or not.  
And so the New Book was approved by the King, the Young Head of the New Church of England, and by him now grown up to fifteen, and sufficiently instructed in the New Doctrine, recommended to the Parliament, so taken up with the Spoils of the Monasteries, as left little leisure to think of Liturgies; and by them imposed upon the Church and Nation, without any Synod or Convocation, or declared Consent or Privity of any one of the Clergy of the Church of England, who is known to have had any hand in the Alterations, besides Cranmer; and upon mere Politic Considerations, without any other just Cause, as is declared by the Act itself, by which it was established  
And this is the true Generation of this spurious, supposititious, deformed Cranmerian Changeling; which hath been hug'd by a company of ignorant, inconsiderate abused People, like a Bastard child by a silly abused Husband, made a Bone of Dissension, and ridiculously contended for in several small matters, by such as were shamefully imposed upon in the greatest of all, and therein very tamely and weakly complied with such as had put the Abuse upon them; an Abuse not easy to be digested, or thought on without some Motion of Indignation by any intelligent person, who hath any Sense of, and Concern for the Honour of God, of our Saviour, or of his Church, the true Catholic Church, or any remainder of it in this Nation. But in short, this is matter of Fact, not to be denied; and upon this matter of Fact two things are to be inquired:  
1. By what Spirit this might be done? Whether by the Spirit of Christ, or the Spirit of Antichrist?  
2. How far, or Whether at all, one having Knowledge, or Notice of this Abuse aught or may use this imperfect and disordered Form, or comply with it, by reason of any Humane Law, or of his own Subscription before Notice or any Knowledge of it?  
To which may be added a third and fourth.  
3. Whether the People may communicate in the use of it, and not be Partakers in the Gild?  
4. Whether the Clergy in general, and every particular person of them ought not to use in the Celebration of these Holy Mysteries a more Complete and Perfect Form, notwithstanding any temporal Laws to the contrary, as they will answer it to God upon the Salvation of their Souls at the last day?  
The First of these Questions may easily be resolved upon a due Consideration of the Alterations, which were made; of which there are 4 or 5 Very Considerable, and notoriously Contrary to the Practice of the whole Catholic Church in the three Principal parts of that Office: In the Prayer for the Catholic Church, the Commemoration of the Saints, and Prayers for the Dead: In the Prayer of Consecration that part, wherein the Greek Churches and all Antiquity place the very Form of Consecration: And the whole Prayer of Oblation: the three former expunged and the last not only maimed of a principal part, but the remainder removed from its proper place, and most perversely placed after the Communion.  
In all these Alterations so Considerable in themselves, and moreover in respect to the Reverence which ought to be used toward the Holy-Spirit of God, and the regard to be had to the Honour of the State, if there appear no Considerable Advantage to the State to excuse them, nor any thing really for the Honour or Service of God, which required them, but much to the contrary, with great and manifest Gratifications of the Adverse Powers, the Devil and his Angels, it will not be unreasonable to believe that they were made by the Importunity of Cranmer, Archbishop and Godfather to the King, and through the Instigation and Energy of those Powers, by whom he was deluded.  
That there was no such Advantage to the State appears by the very Act itself: Nor have I ever yet known any thing alleged or pretended in them for the Honour or Service of God, that had so much weight as deserved to be taken notice of: But on the contrary in them all there is one Common Gratification of the Spite and Malice of the Spirit of Antichrist against both the Catholic-Church, by contempt of the Authority of it, and such a Breach and Division in it; and against the Church of England in particular, by making it Guilty of so execrable Schism and Separation from the whole Catholic-Church of all Ages, with great Presumption and Indignity to it, by so insolently rejecting, and by consequence condemning, so many such Solemn Acts of her Worship: and this not merely against the Church Militant, but extending even to the Church Triumphant, and Communion of Saints.  
For besides all this, in the Expunging of the Commemoration of the Saints, there was a Special Gratification of their Spite and Malice against Them, by whom, and in whom, by Christ residing in them, they had been so often overcome; and even against Christ their Head, and God, the Father himself: For the Thanksgiving to God for the Grace communicated to them, which was a Principal Fruit of Christ's Passion, being a Duty to God, and an Honour to Christ, in the Honour done to them, and a most Solemn Act of Communion of Saints, answered by them in their Prayers for the Church upon Earth; To have all this abolished was undoubtedly matter of much Joy and Triumph in the whole Kingdom of Darkness.  
And such another Special Gratification of their Spite and Malice was the Expunging of the Common Prayers of this Office for the Souls of the rest departed in the Faith of Christ and Communion of the Catholic Church, by the Interruption of so Solemn an Act of the Church, of Charity to them and Communion with them.  
In the due Consecration of the Eucharist it hath always been believed in the Catholic Church that there is a Special Sanctification of the Elements of Bread and Wine by the Descent of the Holy Spirit at the Prayers of the Church: In the putting out therefore of that Prayer there is a double Gratification of that Malicious Spirit, 1. By the Injury or Disrespect thereby done to the Holy Spirit, by whom the Oblation should be Sanctified, and by whose Aid the former book was declared to have been composed. (a special Instance of the Madness and Inconsiderateness of Schismatics.) and 2. by depriving the Church of the Benefit of that Prayer, and making the Consecration at least doubtful, but none at all according to the Sentiments of the greatest part of Christians at this day, and generally of all anciently as may be believed upon the Agreement of all Ancient Liturgies in what is here put out; and that by Tradition from the Apostles, as is affirmed by S. Basil. Nor is it much to be wondered to see such Decay of Primitive Fervour and Vigour, when we see such Departure from Primitive Institutions, and Orders, and such Neglect and Contempt of so Divine Means of Spiritual Supplies.  
Nor was it without some particular Gratification of the same wicked Spirit that the use of the Sign of the Cross was also left off at the Consecration, contrary to the Practice of the whole Catholic Church derived from the Primitive times. The Victories obtained by Holy Christians over the Powers of Darkness by the Use of that Sign (for which the English Reader may have recourse to Dr. Caves Lives of the Fathers, and others) are an Evidence of their Abhorance of it; and that of the true Original of the like Abhorance in the minds of some men, from what Spirit it proceeds.  
But the Subtlety of the Serpent, as well as his Malice is in none of the Alterations more remarkable, then in those of the Prayer of Oblation, which Bucer did not think fit to alter, yet were made and designed purposely to abolish all that might import the Oblation of an Unbloody Sacrifice. And that was done as affectually as could be, in this manner: 1. It must not be quite taken away, lest that should give occasion for some contest about it. but 2. It must be exenterated and the Heart taken out; and then 3. be placed after the Communion, so that then the Memorials could not be offered or presented to God, which were eaten and drunk by the people; whereby the business was efectually done. And yet this was not enough, but 4. Another Prayer must be added to be used, the one or the other, at discretion, that so none might be obliged to the use of so much as that; and they who understood the Mystery of it, needed not to be troubled with any relic of it, or the Spirit, which inspired them, with the Memory of a thing so offensive to him. And yet was not all this enough, but after all even the Lords Prayer itself must also be displaced, contrary to the use of the Catholic Church in all Ages, that so all the Prayers of this Church might be Schismatically separated, and set at a Distance from the Memorials of our Saviour's Sacrifice upon the Cross, through which alone they have Acceptance. And if from the beginning of this Service we do but take notice how the Special Confessions in use in the Greek as well as Latin Churches are by a very formal General Confession and Absolution superseded and brought into disuse, we may observe the same Subtlety from end to end throughout. Such is the Subtlety of Schismatical Superstition inspired by a Spirit of Delusion, and imposed upon inconsiderate People, under a false Cover of Zeal for God against Superstition.  
Nor are the Gratifications less remarkable than the Subtlety. The Matter of Fact is plain in the Books; and the Design not only easily perceivable in the Alterations, but moreover owned and expressly affirmed in the Charge and Allegations of the Scotish and English Calvinists (who better understood the Mystery of all, than the Clergy of the Church of England did, or were willing for shame to acknowledge) against Archbishop Laud for restoring it. And had it been a Fault, he had been really guilty of it; but was really guilty of Preferring the Honour of his particular Church before the Honour of our Lord and his Catholic Church; and not faithfully and plainly setting out the Truth, and endeavouring in the proper and regular way of a National Synod to have it restored at home. And therefore while he thought to do the Work and save his Life in the Cranmerian way of a Crafty Trick, he was suffered to lose both his Design and it too. It is not a light matter to corrupt the Solemn Worship of God; or for those in place of Authority knowingly to connive at such Corruptions. Nor are matters of true Religion to be promoted by Tricks and underhand Deal. I know none of the known Actors in the Cranmerian Corruptions, who lived long after, or came not to unhappy ends. And the present Governors of this Church have had sufficient warning to have restored the Honour of God, and prevented the exposing of so much of their own Shame. Sins of Omission in places of great Trust are dangerous and damnable: And such is frequently the State of such as join with them. And this undoubtedly has been a continual Gratification to the Powers of darkness to have held this Nation in such Fetters so long.  
But because the Gratifications of those Apostate Spirits arise from their Success in their attempts upon Men, to involve them in Sin and Disobedience and Indignities to God, and so engage them in their own state of Apostasy, they cannot be well understood, unless the Wickedness of what was done in this matter be farther detected and explained, than is commonly apprehended. For which purpose it is to be noted, that it was usual with Mankind from the beginning to perform their most Solemn Transactions with all the external Declarations of their Minds that they could; that is, not only with Audible, but also with Visible Signs and Significations; not with Words only, but with the conjunction of Actions and Things; and the Omission of those was interpreted to be a 'Slight or Contempt. Accordingly it was usual to make their Addresses to God, and even to Princes and Prophets, with Presents in Recognition of Superiority. And the chief Aliments of their Lives, Bread and Wine, were usually part of their Offerings, even at their Sacrifices. This was retained by the Jews, who at all their Festivals consecrated a Cake of Bread, and a Chalice of Wine with Water, and over it gave Thanks to God, for his Creation of the World, and his special Mercies to Mankind, and to themselves, particularly mentioned, and more largely for that Celebrated at that time. This is what God foretold by the Prophet, Mal. 1.11. should be done by the Gentiles; and this is the import of our Saviour's words, as often as ye do this, do it in Commemoration of me, whereby he appropriates this, which was used before in Commemoration of several other Divine Favours, to be done always from thence forward in Commemoration of his Sacrifice upon the Cross, as the Compendium of all. And from this Institution the Apostles, and from them the Churches founded by them received it, and have ever since used it, as an Antitype, as effectual for them to all intents and purposes, as were all the Types and Sacrifices of the Jews for them before his Passion.  
But more particularly therein may be observed, 1. A solemn Recognition of the Sovereignty of God by right of Creation, in the Oblation of the chief Aliments of our Lives, with Thanksgivings for it, and all his Divine Favours. 2. The Sanctification of those Creatures by the Descent of the Holy Spirit at the Prayers of the Church. 3. The Oblation of the Creatures Sanctified in Commemoration of the Sacrifice of Christ upon the Cross, the great Propitiation for the Sins of the World, by which alone we have Access unto, and Acceptance with the Father, with Supplications, Prayers, and Intercessions for all Men, according to the Apostles Exhortation, 1 Tim. 2.1. So that the Oblation of the Memorials of his Son's Passion, is a Solemn Actual Allegation of his Covenant, (v. Gen. 9.13.17. And therein is employed. 4. A Solemn Recognition of our Redemption by him, Subjection to him, and Obligation to lay down our Lives in Obedience to him, as he did his for us in obedience to his Father; and a Solemn Act of Confederation with him. And lastly, the Communion and Participation of these Sanctified Creatures for the Sanctification of our Souls and Bodies, and Augmentation of Spiritual Life and Vigour, and Special Application of all the Benefits of his Holy Sacrifice unto us.  
And now, what could be either more honourable for our Saviour, or a more Solemn Engagement with him on the one side, or more offensive and grievous to that Envious and Malicious Spirit on the other, than to see that Passion, which he had most maliciously procured to be so honoured, and applied to the Honour of the Holy Trinity, and the Benefit and Advantage of Men, and turned to his own Confusion, and his quondam Vassals and their Posterity thus confederating and fortified against him? And what could be a greater Gratification to him, then to see all this, which was so offensive and grievous, and done weekly at least in all Churches, and daily in all great Churches, to be thus Abolished, and even what remained of it, soon after almost every where neglected?  
And this is what their Grandfather Cranmer, or rather this wicked Spirit by him, and in him, was so subtle and industrious to abolish: And this is what the present Cranmerians, his Posterity, have so obstinately opposed, and refuse to restore, notwithstanding the Public Admonition, raised and conducted by the hand of God undoubtedly, into the very heart of the Chief City of the Nation, notwithstanding the Fortifications of Humane Laws against it; and although divers learned men have declared their Convictions of the truth of the Case in print; but to no other effect, than their own self Condemnation, and Condemnation of the rest, and plain Manifestation of what Spirit they are. And here we may plainly perceive the Reason of what Mr. Mede hath well observed in fact, That the Devil hath exercised and vented more Malice and Spite against this Holy Rite, than against any other part of the Christian Religion, except the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity. And from hence alone it is abundantly manifest, that it was the same Spirit, or of the same party, which secretly inspired and instigated Cranmer, and which more openly disputed with Luther before, against it. And this I think is sufficient for Satisfaction to the First Question.  
But we have not yet seen all the inveterate Spite and Malice of this Antichristian Spirit against this Holy Solemnity: That could not satisfy it thus to have depraved and abolished it, and deprived God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of the Honour, and the Christian People of the Benefit, of it, unless he could prevail also to have a piece of Mockery set up in the place of it: Such another as was heretofore introduced in France, called Missa Sicca, but soon exploded there, as a dry, empty, barren thing; but set up here, upon some occasion taken from the first Book of Ed. 6. very formally in the latter, enlarged with the Priest's Rehearsal of the Ten Commandments, and a supplicatory Respons for the People, at the end of each; and commonly called the Second Service. The Subtlety of the Serpent is remarkable enough in it, having nothing but what is innocent and good and well accommodated to deceive the people, and make them believe it as good as what they had before; but being performed at the Altar, and in the place of that August, Venerable, and as S. Chrisostome calls it Tremendous Sacrifice, it was an Abominable Abuse both to God and Man. As if a Tenant should with great formality present to his Lord at a great Feast at his own Table, for a Basket of choice Fruit, an Empty Basket. And yet is this Abuse of a shadow continued very formally in most Churches in England, and the Substance neglected: A very pleasant Spectacle undoubtedly to Troops of Apostate Spirits, and a special Invitation and Gratification to them to come and attend such a Service in the place of the Good Angels, who offended at such an Abuse are most likely to withdraw their Presence. The Indignity done to God, and to our Saviour, in this, is greater than I think fit to enlarge upon: but there is one thing I think fit the People should be admonished of: The Christian Church, as I take it, hath always looked upon this Holy Solemnity, as a Representation upon Earth, in the best manner Mortals can perform it, of what our Great High Priest doth for us in Heaven, in a Divine and Spiritual manner. And how can they expect the Complete, or indeed any Benefit of what he doth there, who set up such a lame Service and Abuse of it here? I do much suspect that both the Greek and Latin Churches for 1200 years' last passed have suffered much for their Curtelling a Considerable part of this Office; as may easily be perceived by comparing all their Liturgies now in use, with that most ancient Form in the Constitutions, and the most ancient Usages of the Jews: And what these incorrigible Cranmerians have farther to expect, they may do well to consider.  
There remains still a Considerable part of the Subtlety of the Serpent for Securing, by the Power of the Beast, the Advantages he hath gotten by the Treachery of the False Prophet and Unfaithfulness of the Whore: but what hath been observed already being abundantly sufficient for a ground of Answer to the remaining Questions, the Consideration of this may be more seasonable upon another occasion: as the Cranmerian Heresy. or etc.  
Since therefore both the Subtlety and the Malice of the Adversary, the Devil, is so manifest in the Alterations aforesaid, against this Holy Ordinance, and there in against the Holy Trinity, the Sacrifice of our Saviour upon the Cross, the Communion of Saints, the Holy Catholic Church; and the Church of England in particular, the Answers to all the remaining Questions are very easy, plain, full, and yet Short: That all, who have any regard to their Baptismal Covenant and the Renunciation therein of the Devil and all his works, to the most tremendous Denounciations of our Saviour, the Admonitions of his Apostles after his Ascension, or the Salvation of their own Souls, must abstain from all Communion or Participation in these Corruptions and Abuses, after Notice of them, be they of the Clergy or Laity: And if they be Priests, must celebrate this Holy Sacrifice, as often as they can have a competent number of qualified Communicants in the compleatest Form, they can procure; such as The first book of Ed. 6. The Scotch Liturgy, The Liturgy of the Ancients represented in English Forms, or some Translation out of the Ancient Forms, or Composure according to them, Notwithstanding any temporal Laws, Cannons or Subscription to the contrary: And if of the Laity, have recourse to such as do so; and abstain in the mean time, and employ so much the more time in Prayer to God, who is not tied to his own Ordinances, to supply by his Grace their want of Opportunity, and to restore his H. Worship to its due Integrity and Frequency in Public; and to provide for them at least in private in the mean time.  
FINIS.