A MOTION Humbly presented To the Consideration of the Honourable, the Committee of the high Court of PARLIAMENT.  
Consisting of 18. queres, concerning the Books of COMMON- PRAYER.  
October 8. 1641.  
As also, an Honourable SPEECH, Made by Mr, Pymme.  
Printed for H. Walker, 1641.   

QVAERIES' Concerning the Book of Common prayer.  
1. WHether the Preface before the Book of Common-Prayer, doth not sufficiently prove that the intent of those, by whom that Form was established, were fully resolved, that afterwards in conveniency of time, it should be altered? Published in the days Edward the 6.  
2. Whether those Ornaments wrought with Images upon them, as Copes in Cathedral Churches, and those Garments which the Bishops wear of woollen, and some of silk, with linen sleeves and surplices worn by others of the Clergy, be warrantable by God's Word, to be used in our Churches by the Clergy, as holy Vestments? Isay, 30. 22. Deutro. 22. 11. Levit. 19 19 Luke 19 35.  
3. Whether the Absolution pronounced by the Minister to the people, after Confession, be not direct Popery; and such Discipline, as Christ and his Apostles never left to the Church? Rev. 3. 7. Psld. 45. 11. john 1. 29.  
4. Whether whilst the Minister prayeth, the people should not rather go along with him, in what he prayeth: answering Amen only, or some such Expression; rather then by breaks to answer by responds: as it is ordered in the Book of Common-Prayer? Deut. 27. Acts 1. 24. 16. Acts 16. 25. Acts 20. 36, 37. Acts 12. 12.  
5. Whether the Minister, and the people, each changing their part, at every other verse in the reading of the Psalms; be not contrary to the custom of the Primitive Church? 1 Tim. 4. 13. Acts 15. 31. Luke 4. 16. Heb. 2. 12.  
6. Whether all the Canonical Scripture, ought not rather to be read through every year: then that only, and the rest left out, and part of the Apocrypha taken in, and used as it is? Dan. 10. 21. Mat. 21. 4. 2. joh. 5. 39 1 Cor. 16. 26.  
7. Wither it be not a great absurdity, to compel our Ministry to use such Songs as are translated out of the Popish Service Book, and are not in the Scripture, though otherwise perhaps less offensive? as Te Deum Laudamus, in English, etc.  

The Papist Clergy do delude the people with this hymn to believe a most abominable lie of a Maid in Saxony. Of whom they have placed a story in their Service Book, before the said hymn. There was (say they) a young, and an holy Virgin in a Monastery of Nuns, and it happened once in a great Feast, that (he was at matters in the quire. But because her Mistress did dread her feebleness, she had her go rest her in the Dortour. The maid was sorry, and loath to go thence, and therefore after she was gone out, she ab●de a while without the quire. And when this hymnd, we praise thee, o God, was begun, she saw (in a spiritual vision) heaven open, and the sister's quire lift up to heaven. And when they came to say after. To thee all Angels cry aloud, she saw all the Orders of Angels kneel down, and with great reverence do worship to God, singing with the quire. Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabbath. And when they came to this. The glorious Company of Apostles praise thee, she saw the Apostles kneel down to God, and sing forth with the quire. The same did the Prophets when they sung. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise thee. And so of the Martyrs: And then all Confessors, and Virgins, joined with them to the quire and sang forth with them with great joy. And when the last verse was in singing. O Lord in thee have I trusted, the quire came easily down again toward the Earth, and Heaven closed, and that heavenly blissful Company was seen no longer.  
This blasphemous lie is related in thrir Popish Service Book.   
8. Wither to stand up at the repeating of the Creed, be a Ceremony of absolute necessity? Acts 28. 23, 24. Ezek. 23. 26. Eph. 6. 11. Phil. 4. 1.  
9 Whither in order of the 3. Collects, that for grace, should not rather be first used, but is last, and after praying against our enemies, or for peace? And whither in that Collect for grace it be proper to call it the beginning of the day at 10. of the clock; or to call it night, at 2 or 3 in the afternoon, as it is there used? Exod. 22. 29. Rom. 8. 23. Rom. 11. 16. Mat. 6. 33. joh. 5. 44.  
10. Wither that expression, Almighty, and everlasting God, which only workest great marvels, send down upon our Bishop, etc. be a warrantable Prayer fit to be used? Mark 11. 24. Rom. 12. 12. Mat. 21. 13. 1 Pet. 3. 17. 2 Sam. 17 18, 19, etc.  
11. Wither it be not according to the primitive Church, and after their Discipline rather to read the Gospel before the Epistle, than after: the Gospel being first preached by Christ himself, and the Epistles written by the Apostles afterwards? Mat. 13. 11. Mark 13. 10. Acts 13. 24. joh. 19 39 Gal. 4. 13.  
12. Wither such jewish Ceremonies, as to bring Offerings to the Curate, are not utterly abolished by Christ? Eph. 5. 1. 2. Heb. 10. 10. and ver. 11. 14.  
13. Wither our alms do deserve any thing at God's hand? If not, why should we pray God to accept them, as is used in the Prayer for Christ's Church militant here on earth, as it is titled? Mat. 6. 1, 2, 3, 4. Rom. 3. 27, Gal. 2 16.  
13. Whether the Minister is to join with the people to pray for God's Heavenly grace; especially, for the Congregation present as it is used in the said prayer, and not rather particularly, because Gods especial Graces do belong only to his Elect? joh. 4. 10. Isay. 37. 21. Ezra. 10. 1, 2, 3. Acts 4. 31, 32. john 17. 9 verse 20.  
15. Whether the gesture of kneeling, aught to be used, at the receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, rather than to fit, as the Apostles did; the contrary being never commanded in God's Word, nor practised in the Primitive Church? Math. 26. Mar. 14 Luke 22. 1 Cor. 11.  
16. Whether it be of any consequence, to demand of the Infant's Godfathers, & Godmothers (as they are called) whither they forsake the Devil, etc. or whither they believe in God, etc. And they to answer in the child's behalf, as grounds of receiving the Child into the Church, and bapiizing it? Mat. 3. Acts 18. 25. Rom. 6. 3. 1 Peter 3. 21.  
17. Whether it be lawful to sign the child on the forehead with a Cross, there being no precedent for it in GOD'S Words, it being only a Popish Ceremony? Ezek. 13. 3. joh, 10. 5, Mat. 15. 6. 2. Cor. 6. 6. 1 john 5. 21.  
18. Wither the child be not sufficiently baptised, that is baptised in the name of the Father, and of the Son, & of the Holy Ghost: that it must be brought to the Bishop after to be confirmed of him? Mac. 3. 11. Mar. 1. 4. joh. 1. 33. 1 Cor. 1. 14, 15, 16.  
Many other quaerees concerning Matrimony, and concerning visitation of the sick and the Burial of the dead, and the Churching of women might be made. But to fouled up all in that one saying, presenting them together in the last place with that expression at the beginning of Commination: The words are these, Brethren, in the primitive Church, there was a Godly Discipline, etc.  
And by and by after, is said again. In the stead whereof, until the said Discipline may be restored again (which thing is much to be wished) it is thought good, that at this time in your presence, shall be read the general Sentences, etc.   

Mr. Pym his worthy Speech in Parliament,  
THE distempers of this Kingdom are well known, they need not Repetition; for though we have good Laws, yet they want their Executioner: if they be executed, it is in a wrong sense. I shall endeavour to apply a remedy co the breaches that are made. And to that end, I shall discover first the quality of, the Disease.  
1. There is a Design to alter Law and Religion, the Parties that effect this, are Papists; who are obliged by a maxim in their Doctrine, that they are not able to maintain their Religion but to extirpate all others.  
2. The s●cond is our Hierarchy, which cannot mount to the hight they aim at, without the breach of Law.  
To which Religion necessarily join, that if the one, the other falls.  
3. Agents and Pensioners to foreign States, who see, we cannot comply with them, if we maintain the Religion established with us, contrary to Theirs, here we intent the Spanish white Gold work, which are of most effect for Earthly favourites, as for petty promotion, not Conscience. And such are our Judges Spiritual and Temporal. Such are also our Counselors of State, all these settled in their contrivements, that aim at one end, and to this purpose they walk on four feet, discountenancing of Preachers and men virtuous for Religion, persecuted under the Law of Purity.  
Th● second is the discountenancing of Preachers of contrary dispositions.  
3. The negotiating with the faction of Rome, by frequent Preaching, and instruction to p●each of the absolute Monarchy of Kings. Here follow several IIeads.  
THe political interpretation of the law to serve the times, and this to impose taxes, with the colour of law A Judge said it, when a habeas Corpus was paid for, by keeping the King in continual want, that he may seek to their Counsels for relief. To this purpose they keep the Parliament in distaste that their Counsel might be taken. The King Himself is brought to this, like a woman that useth herself to poison, when she might eat good meat. Search the Chronicles, and we shall see, no King ever used Parliaments that was brought to this want, Arbitrary proceed in Courts of Justice; we have Law left to the Conscience of a single man, all Courts are now of Conscience.  
Plotters to insorce a war between France and Us; that when we had well wearied one another, we might be brought to what scorn they pleased. The petition wall is only Unity, the sudden dissolving of Parliaments, and punishing of Parliament men, to affright us from speaking what we think, one was committed, for not delivering up the Patitions of the House, a Declaration which slandereth our proceedings, as full of lies, as letters, who would have the first ground to be our Example; and Papists under appearance to the King his best Subjects; for they contribute money to the war, which the Protestants will not do.  
The other is the Military, by getting places of importance into the Papists hands, as who were Commanders in the late Army, but they who were strong in Arms, but they, to whom their Armour is delivered contrary to the Statute.  
Their endeavours are to bring in strangers to be billitted upon us.  
We have had no account of the Spanish Navy, and our fear is from Ireland, the next is papistical, that proceeds of Agents here in London, by whose desires many Monasteries and Nunneries are erected.  
FINIS.