But it saith, In sure and certaine hope of the resurrection.

Quando nos pra dicamus. &c: Nobis liquere [...]on potest, qui ad verītatis agnitionem sin [...] peruenturi, qui non, vndesenti­re nos decet sal [...] tem vniuerso­rum, qui audi­ent. Proponimus en [...] ̄ omnibus in me [...] dium sicutietiā nobis praec [...]ptū est, ne cui prae [...] iudicemusin malum praeser­tim. Marlo: in 1, Ioh. 4, 14, When we preach the Gospell (saith Marlorat) it cannot be manifest to vs, who will reach through to the acknow­ledging of the truth, and who will not, wherevpon it be­commeth vs to thinke the Saluation of all, vho doe heare the word of God. For we propose it indifferently to all, [Page 3]as we are also commanded, that we preiudice none, speci­ally in the worse part. For it is better & a more safe course to thinke well of bad persons, then of the good to iudge ill, vnlesse we fully see they are obstinate, stubbourne, and contumelious. And yet in such, or toward such we may not giue too hastie a sentence. Now as the Church of God in preaching the Gospell deliuereth it pell mell in the hearing of elect and reprobate, which directly pertaineth to the faithfull that loue and feare the Lord, so in giuing thankes to God for this, or that brother the Church intendeth hir direction in generall for buriall of the dead, which in speciall belongeth to them, that die in the Lord, At whose sickenesse the Minister was either present, or not present: If present, by exhortation, conference, prayer,Nam tutius est de malis bene sentire quam de bonis &c. Ibidem. quanquam [...] in his quidem pracipitari d [...] bet sententia. Ibidem. and all such good meanes he did labour the sicke mans amendment, and therefore may well giue a com­fortable testimonie in the audience of his people: If absent and could not come, he is to bethinke himselfe, how farre forth the sicke partie had profited in knowledge, and what hope he gaue thereof in health, sicknesse, or both: If some one he were that gaue no testimony at all, but liued a wretched life, and made a wretched end, as it may fall out sometimes, then must the Mi­nister know the censures of the Church were exercised vpon him, or not: If not vpon him, he may be held a member of Christ his visible Church, till he be cut off, because all things must be done in order, and in their due place, neither till then néede the Minister take knowledge to the contrarie.Semel bonus, semper bonus, do necprobetur esse malus. For as once an honest man is euer presumed to be an honest man, till euidence come in against him, so once a member of Christ to be thought euer after, till sentence be pronounced by those to whom Authoritie is committed. And if sentence be pronounced, but not reuersed, or otherwise a man be taken in some notorious sinne of Treason, wilfully murdering, strangling, browning himselfe, or the like, and good proofe made thereof, at such times this order for buriall of such a no­torious, wicked person is not prescribed to any Minister, nor required of him.

The Minister must peremtorilie affirme, that God hath taken the Soule.

And if the Minister doe, it is no other necessitie, nor peremp­torie affirmation, then is agréeable to Gods word. For be he a wicked, or a godly man that teath seazeth vpon, indifferent it is in the forme of the prayer Booke, and no vntruth either way, because God hath taken him of his great mercy, though not toward the reprobate, yet of his great mercy toward his Church, in disburdening the world of him. Some haue thought, and more then thought it, for they haue disputed the contrarie.

The soule of a wicked man God cannot be said to take vnto him. For Luke 12.20. This night shall they fetch away thy Soule (that is) the Deuill, and his Angels shall.

The place misconstrued bréeds a wrong conclusion. For first they shal take &c. is a spéech vsuall in the language of Hebrew, Greeke, Ferunt, aiunt, pradicant, cla­mitant, [...] 1 Cor. 6. [...] Luc: 12.48. [...] Ibid: Latine, and English: They say, they report, they giue out, &c. When our meaning is no other, but in the destrate indefinitly to be vnderstood, not determining, who saith, or who reporteth, for that we cannot distinctly tell, only a generall re­port: it is like that of Paul It is generally said, that there is fornication, &c. So Luke 12. to whom much is giuen, of him they require much (that is) as the same Euangelist there in the same verse rendreth, it shall be required: Secondly to say (that by those words obiected) the deuill and his Angels are meant is to restraine it, and ouerstreighten the libertie of the obseruation. Whereas these words They shall fetch may well note any, whether men, Angels, deuils, or other creatures of what kinde soeuer: And all to teach vs, that all are to be feared, and are as well knowne to the Lord, as we are to one another, where being demaunded Who it is that calleth,Ioh. 18.8 we answere It is I, and who it is that fetcheth his soule, It is they. They it is: not one onely executioner of the Lord his wrath, but many. Sisera a naile in his temples:Iud: 4.21 2. King. 19, 37. Sennacherib his owne bowels Ad­ramelech and Sharezar: Herod his wormes: Egyptians frogs, [Page 5]li [...]e, &c. A Fi [...]e in the vttermost parts of the floods,Act, 12, 13. Exod, 8, 4, 17. Isay, 5, 27. a Bée in the lande of Ashur. And what ministers of indignation can be wante for any exploite by death, that hath a mightie and strong host like a tempest of haile and a whirlewinde?Luc. 28, 2. that causeth the blood fall on the head of Ioab and all his Fathers house, that the house of Ioab was neuer without some, [...] Sam. 3.29. that had running issues, or a Lepar, or that leaneth on a staffe, or that doth fall on the sword, or that lacketh bread. So as what Rab­sake said for his Master is true of the Almightie How canst thou despise any Captame of the least of my Masters seruants? 2 King. 18.24. The least of them (contemptible though they seeme) are able to take our life, and soule from vs, and yet at such times they come not without the Lord; yea what euer deadly arrest is made vpon any man, it is a Capias from the Lord. Be it deuill, or any imp of the deuill, few or many they fetch away a wretched soule, yet God it is, who (greater then the Prince of this world) so commaundeth and appointeth, and therefore to be held his acti­on, and worke. As Psal. 78.49. Psalm, 78, 49. He did cast vpon them the fierce­nesse of his anger, and [...]dignation, and wrath, and vengeance by sen­ding out of euill Angels. So that did we know (which we doe not) that such a day, such an houre, such a man a reprobate is to be buried, yet the words of Scripture allow vs to say, The Lord hath taken the soule of such a one. For the body is com­mitted to the graue, & his Soule to God that gaue it.Eccles, 12.7. Iob, 27, 8. Iob maketh it plaine Chap. 27. in his demand what hope hath an hypocrite when he hath heaped vp riches, if God take away his Soule? Heb. 10, 31. In iudgement it is (we confesse) because a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God.

He must affirme him to be a deare brother.

And reason. For we are somewhat beholding to the recei­ued stile of our countrie, somewhat to humanitie, [...] Act. 27.27. somewhat to our opinion and the outward appearance of a thing. In Paul his voyage the Mariners thought that some countrie did ap­proch vnto them: That was their opinion, such was the appea­rance, for in failing the eye so informeth. Humanitie some­times so tempereth a mans speech, as were it precisely censu­red, [Page 6]might peraduenture be suspected for an vntruth. Saint Au­stin writing to Macedonius giueth him in his letter the name of a good man,Ego quidem in­tuens mores tu­as appellaus te virum bonu [...]s, sed to intuens verba Christi die tibi-ipsi &c. August: Maced epist: 54. Quod cū verū sit hoc eni veri­tas dixit &c. Fallacia ssenta­tione dixisse, & dominicis verbis quasi contrari­us extitisse Ibid. Nō enim et ipse do [...]inus cōtra­r [...]a sibi loquu­tus est &c: Nee [...]egitur con­uersus fuisse ad fidem et paenitent [...]am. Auctor compilation. Chron [...]log. Temput est be­at a memoria Liberii pracepta reuoluere Am­bros [...]a a vurgim: Lib. 3. Ad Liberium Beatum Roma episcopum vna & Epiphan. hares. 75. A beatisims Liberis &c. Basil, epist 74. ad episcop: oc­cidentales. hereat Macedonius pausing, because there is none good but God, the answer is returned him by Saint Au­stin. In deede (quoth hee) looking vpon thy manners I cal­led the a good man, but you looking vppon the wordes of Christ say to your selfe their is none good but God: Which being a truth, (for the truth hath spoken it) yet would I not bee thought to haue spoken in a dissembling sort, and to contrarie (as it were) the Lord his owne wordes nor did the Lord himselfe contrarie his owne sa­ing Luke. 6. A good manous of the good treasure of the heart bringeth foorth good thinges: Afterwardes resoluing the doubt hee sheweth that God of himselfe is singularlie good by himselfe, and vnchangeablie, but man is not so, and yet be there proueth withall, how man may be called good. So as euerie scripture inforced to lend the coppie of a countenance for some notable obiection must not detaine vs from vsing kinde termes of one another, or to one another, though happslie at the first catch, a dest wi [...]te may be thought to haue saide some­what. Liberius Bishoppe of Rome in the daies of Constan­tius the Emperor became an Arrian, and an some histories write was not thought to haue reuoked his heresie and re­pented. Yet Saint Ambrose speaking of him nameth him not, but with greate reuerence, Time is (sayeth he) O holy sister to reuolue, and con ouer the precepts of Liberius of blessed memorie &c. In the Grecke church the ancient fathers Epi­phanius, & Basill doe the like: Epiphanius in this wise, Eu­stachius (saith hee) together with a manie Bishoppes went in embassic to blessed Liberius Bishoppe of Rome. Saint Basill hath these wordes Certaine thinges were proposed him by most blessed Liberius All these good men in their grati­ous hope call Liberius more then a deere brother though som­time liuing, and (as histories doe record) dying a profest Ar­rian, and in sure and certaine hope of resurrection to eter­nall life call him blessed of the Lord, the memory of his name blessed, yea himselfe a most blessed man: Vppon oc­casion or which wordes Maister Iunius obserueth in the [Page 7]monuments of antiquitie that it is a verie vsuall thing to call the deade whether men or weomen by the name of blessed, [...]. Beatos app el­lari defunctos &c. qui etsi cul­patè vixerunt tamē in gratians & gloriama deo recepti prasis­mun tur chari­tatis ethumani tat is officio, Iun. con. Bellar. controuers. 3. Lib 4. c 9. Math. 21 1 [...] [...]. Luc. 16.25 [...]. who though they liued blame-worthie yet by the duetie of charitie and humanitie are presumed by vs to bee recei­ued into grace and glorie. If the duetie of charitie, and humanitie binde vs so to speake, our church must bee reue­renced for taking this order for the deade, and others bet­ter aduise, who not knowing to the contrarie the last estate of some particular persons, yet thwartinglie in opposition will needes holde the contraries, But beside this receiued practise, (if sarder proofe neede) adde this hereunto: our bles­sed sauiour calleth him, that had not on a wedding garment fellow, and Abraham nameth the glutton in hell Sonne: He was not his sonne, nor the other hailefellow. Noe such fault therefore (as somethinke) to call a man Brother, deare brother. The phrase of our countrie, the guise of eiuill conuersation, the outward appearance, the rule of charitie all iustifie this appellation, though a sharpe-sighted eye sée it not, and a sharpedged dislike approue it not. Yet a bro­ther

• 1. because of the same nation and people if a brother 1 an Hebrue or hebruesse.
  Deut. 15.12
• 2. because of the same kindred, 2 so Christ taketh them for his brethren because of consangui­nitie,
  Ioh. 7.3.
  though they did not belieue in him: He disclaimeth not the bond of nature though they knit not with him in the 3 bond of the spirit.
  1 Kings. 20.33.
• 3. a brother sometimes because of the same office Ahab and Benhadad call one the other so, be­cause they were both Kinges,
• 4. a brother because some­what 4 somuch, or so little (as a man hath) is the image of 5 God:
  1 Cor. 6.6.
• 5. a brother because of the same profession a bro­ther goeth to law with a brother.
  Malus propter sacramenta communia frater esset Aug breuicicollat. 3. c. 3.
  A wicked man is a bro­ther saith Saint Austin euen for this, because of his out­ward profession, and fellowshippe in the Sacrements. So manie of these waies one that dyeth may bee a brother, a deare brother, how much rather may wee vse the name, not knoweing his finall and last end, as wee doe not.

How can we say, In sure and certains hope of resur­rection to eternall life.

Such a sure and certaine hope it is, as in such a case née­deth to relie vpon things apprehended in part, for so doth hope, receiuing hir direction from the rules of Christian charitie, which otherwhiles kindely qualifieth, what knowledge would ouer seuerely censure. A sure and certaine hope of resur­rection to eternall life in so many as doe beleeue, which whi­ther this or that particular person now to be interred, as we know not, so of our knowledge we speake not, but hoping in the rules of our Christian loue we make a fauourable constructi­on such as (we nothing doubt) is most acceptable to God and men.Potest fieri, vt ribi asiud vide­atur quam ve­ritas habet, dum tamen abt te non aliud fi­at, quam chari­tas habet opist 15: Hieron. One (saith Saint Austin) may thinke otherwise then truth hath, so he speake not otherwise then charitie hath.

This is besides his knowledge.

Doth any one know to the contrary, and can so well skill of all the infallible tokens of an impenitent heart, which is no ordinarie knowledge, the Booke no more inforceth him to vse euery word in that precise manner there set downe, then to say a deere brother when it is a sister? And with as much rea­son men may urge this cauill, as thus impertinently pretend that the Booke inioyneth vs to account a reprobate for an elect child of God. But at any time will a Minister bary from the standing rule, and order prescribed, let him consult epi­scopall authoritie to whom direction at such times belongeth, and from thence reciue warrant for his proceedings? And withall let him be of sure ground, that he speake according to knowledge, which bold ignorance cannot, yea let him see in his seuerall course that he giue not offence to others, and draw vp­on himselfe a needelesse hatred,De nullo quam nis pessimo in hac vita despe­randum est. Aug. Retract. lib. 1. c, 19. as no other likelihood but he shall, vnlesse at such times for that particular he be lawfully authorized, remembring what Saint Austin aduertiseth, Not to despaire of any, be he neuer so bad, while his Soule is within him. And in his last gaspe, who art thou that iudgest [Page 9]of his estate to be dammed?Perkin. how far a Reprobate may go. Pag. 12. B. Notes (saith Maister Perkins) that this often betalleth reprobates to be effeemed christians and they are often like them, that none but Christ can discerne shéepe frō goates true christians from apperant. Wherefore it is to bee thought far more besides a man his knowledge to denie, rather then it is to hope.

And it is against Gods word.

Whatsoeuer disagreeth with Gods word deferueth to be condemned,Sed quia hicsa­pe hallucinars conting it pra­cedat modesta & placida in­quisitie, vt sa­num sit, ac so­brium iudicium Cal. in Iob. 5. v. 10. Curiose inqui­rere nō vt emen­des &c. ld. in Math. 7. Sed notes, tibi­que vel probi­tatis opinionem sicū aliis cōfera ris, vel praus a nimi oblectati­nem concilies. Ibid. Superciliose de re qualibet sint strum feramus indicium, etiam si in bonam pat tem accipi pote­rat. Ibid. Hoe vitio labe­rant partim in­uidi: partim hy­pocrita: partim amantes sui. Ibid. Vi morosi sumus & maligui magis pendemus in s [...]ifram parsem Id. Act. 10. 1 f. Qui Iudi­dicat ex verbo des, Legem domini & Iudicium suum̄ ad charitatis regulam exigit, semper a soip so mititum faciens, &c. Ibid. Math. 7.1. but because in the misapplying it often falleth out we may be deceiued, let a modest and temperat inquisition goe before that the iudgement giuen may prooue sober, discrete, and sound, otherwise it is no better then curiously inquiring into other folkes their words and deedes not to amend, or com­mend them, but to note and tax, and all this to please our corrupt mindes, and to get an opinion of much holinesse in comparison of others. This disease breaketh forth into a peruerse holdnesse with a supercilious high looke pasting a finister iudgement of that, which might better be interpreted. A vice some men labour of, that are enulous, some that are hypocrites, and some that are louers of themselues, and not they onely, but the better sort of men to, as Peter the Apostle in eating foode offered him of the Lord, wherevpon it is noted That as we are testie, and ill minded, we more and more incline to the worser part. Against which a present helpe to settle and stay our iudgements, and to keepe a right measure, and order is, by iudging out of the word of God, bringing that iudgement (we thence make) to the rule of charitie, alway beginning at a mans owne selfe. Which it seemeth some men doe not, whose foongs are so flippant, what others know, and know not. For if they beganne with them­selues, they would learne to esteeme of others better then them­selues: In Gods graces that little, which is in others (though but little) they would price, and make more of, thē of their own, contrarie wise in sinne and infirmities, that much which is in o­thers, (much as it is) they would thinke nothing in comparison [Page 10]of their owne.2. Tim. 1.15. In euill, iudgeing worst of our selues, like Paul, when hee reckoneth himselfe chiefe of all sinners: In good, hold­ing it little to that, which others haue, and doe good with, more then wee, making this full account: Ours is a more gree­nous sinne, and what wee want in measure or waight, wee match at times for number. And so much is it the more hain­ous, as wee knowe more against our selues, then against an­other, and so much the more odious in the sight of God as I, or thou hast beene taught more,Spiritualiae pec cata sunt ma­ioris culpae, car­nalia maioris pana. and condemned it more then others. Spirituall sinnes (sayeth one) are of greater fault, car­nall of greater punishnment. Such oddes their is twixt per­son and person, though one of lesse blemish in the eye of the world, then some other is. A man that takes his beginning at himselfe can haue small time to let his thoughts range a­broade, as if hee were all eye to looke forth, and noe heart to consider, what measure he meateth, shalbee measured backe vppon him. Thus a censurer rightlie fitted in iudgeing others, must see into Gods word, and beholding the truth in generall, feare, least he bee ouer hastie, and too quicke in making a par­ticular applie of finall condemnation.Licebit interdū statuere sitne de ploratus qui ce­cidit &c. sed quia rarissime hoc accidit. &c Cal. in 1. Ioh. 5.16: Immensas gra­tia sua diustias commend ins, nos suo exemplo asse iubet. Luc. [...] non temere in quenquam seren dum est mortis aterna iudicisi, potius noschari­tas ad bene spe­randum flectat Ibid: Otherwhiles in deede wee may determin whether a man bee to bee doubted of, that is fallen, or whether any place bee for remedie: But because this hapneth very seldome, and God commending the infinite riches of his grace commaundeth vs to bee mercifull Luk. 6.36. iudgement of eternall death is not rashlie to bee past vpon anie: Rather let charitie binde vs to hope well. It is but sometimes, and seldome, and verie seldome: and sometimes or verie seldome, ouerthroweth not a generall order of prayer, which for the most part holdeth, as the communion booke expresseth. Beside God commendeth the infinite riches of his grace, not his grace onely, but the riches thereof, nor the riches but the infinite riches of his grace in commaunding vs to bee mercifull, as if either grace were wanting, or if present, it were in pouertie, and that pouertie infinite) to bee streight laced towarde our bre­thren that departe hence. Againe iudgement is a matter of iudgement and therefore not rashlie to bee pronounced, howe much lesse iudgement of eternall death: not vppon [Page 11]anie, in that bee sayeth anie, be tendereth everie particular. Lastly in steede of deeming the worst, Maister Caluin his counsell is, that loue should fake place to hope well, as if this did well become vs. And therefore in the large view a man takes of others, hee must borrowe helpe from rules of charitie beleeuing all thinges,Quod ait Apost. Heb 6, & 10 de his qui mali­tia sanguinem Christi pedi­bus proterunt illos sanguino faederis suisse sanctificatos re­ferendum est ad iudicium chari­tatis, qua om [...] ­nia credēs prox­imi fidem ex professione esti­mat, sed interin [...] non rar [...] falls tur. Piscat. cōt. And. Schaaf. Thes 68 & 70 2. Pet. 2.1. Heb: 10, & v. 6. Non est in oca cultadei tudici [...] nobis inquiren; dum, sed proba­biliter omnes ex professis Christianisinal natos ad vitam aternam electos merito praesup­ponimus Q. 9.19: Respom Iaco: Bethake Thes. 5. Ecclesiast. 9.2. and hopeing well of his neighbours es­tate to Godwarde by the profession the partie makes, speak­ing of him as of one whome the Lord hath bought with a price (for so Saint Peter doth in his 2. epistle: 2. Chap­ter and 1. verse) sanctified with the blood of the couenant, for so doth the Apostle. Heb. 6. and 10. Chapters, yet, notwithstanding such a one (thus charitablie thought of) may in the ende receiue his portion with the deuill and his Angels.

Gods worde Deut 29.29. Secret thinges belong to the Lord our God, but the thinges reue aled vnto vs, and our children for euer, that wee may doe all the wordes of this law.

Namely secrete thinges, which are not at all, nor in parte reuealed: True it is that a reprobate, and an elect childe of God may be found a like in y^t manner of their last end: Wee can goe noe farder then the outwarde appearance. VVee are not to pry into the secret iudgementes of the Lorde, but that probablie all borne of such as professe the Christian faith, wee doe vppon good cause presuppose, are elected to eternall life. Not to bee inquired into, of vs, but probablie, and vpon good grounde wee doe pre­suppose it &c. Doth our church with vs anie more? Is it not to bee confest with teares, some die rauing, blaspheeming &c. Alacke at such times what should wee thinke, but as wee are taught in the preacher. All thinges fall out alike to him that feareth an oth, and to him that feareth it not. As for those extremities mentioned, they arise manie times from occasion of some hidden melancholies, and frenzies, which often fall out in the paroximse and burnig fit, at what time the choller shoote vp into the braine & so disturbing the spirits with [Page 12]their mobilitie make the head light, and giddie. Some are blacks as a chimnie stocke, yet noe argument of the wrath of God vppon the personne so disfigured. A reasonable cause may bee giuen for it, as proceeding from some bruze, or putre­faction of the liuer, or some impostume. All these and a thou­sande more depriue a man of health, of vse of his limes, of sence, memorie, vnderstanding, faith, consolation, yea life, and all, yet noe warrant for vs to hold such a man or woman damned. Rather keepe wee to our compasse of hope yea a sure and certayne hope, Facile est atque procliue malos odisse, quia ma­li sunt, rarum autem et pium eosdem ipsos diligere quia ho­mines sunt vt simul culpam im probes & natu­ram approbes. August: epist. 54. Si desperata quorundam ma litia & impie­tas nonsecus nobis apparet, acsi dominus cam digito monstraret non est quodcer temus. &c: Cal in Ioh 15, 16 a­pud Marlor. Sunt tales diui no iudicio relin quendi. Ibid. for hope maketh not ashamed. To hate an euill man because euill is noe hard matter (saith Saint Austin) but a rare thing, and vertuous to loue the same rarties, because they are men, that so it may appeare wee doe both at once reproue their fault, and approue their nature. But if the desperate mallice, and impieties of any bee so euident, as if God did point with his finger to it, then is it not for vs to wrestle with his iust iudge­ment, as desireing to bee thought more mercifull then hée. And what of such? They are to be left to the iudgement of God. Wherein wee may not (if wee would leaue y^e forme pre­scribed in the communion booke,) manie a prouiso must bee thought vpon:

• 1. It must bee wickednesse
• 2. not anie wickednesse at all aduentures but malice (that is) a malig­nant cankred minde of set purpose against that, which is good, for so is malice:
• 3. it must bee desperate past all hope; as who should say there is noe more time remayning. All little inough to make experience (if at anie time) so indefinite the time is and vncertaine, whither God will call to repen­tance, in the turning of a hand, in a trice,, in the twinckle­ing of an eye twixt the bridge and the water, the cuppe and the lippe. Therefore it becommeth vs to bee wise that wee giue not ouer our hope, as long as anie hope may po­siblie bee conceiued:
• 4. This wickednesse, malice, des­perate wickednesse must bee euident, not surmised onely but apparant, certainely apparant, not by guesses but vp­pon sufficient warrant, for so it is, when God in his worde giueth expresse directiō: Al which if the minister make conscience are so dangerous pointes, and so nicelie set, as hee will not ea­silie [Page 13]bee wrought from a publicke course established.
  Si deus iniq [...] & scelestis par­cendo [...]isque vi­tam largiendo. &c. August. epist. 54 Vtrū faciant quod promittūt incerti sumus, &c. Ibid. Fratres nostri sunt permoti profunditate quastionis, sed regi debuerunt gubernaculo authoritatis. August de verb. Apost. serm. 14.

For if God in sparing wicked and vile persons giue them life, yea manie of them, whome hee well knoweth wil neuer repent, how much more should wee hee mercifull towardes them, that (peraduenture) promisse amendment, and whe­ther they make good their word or noe, wee cannot tell. In pointes of greater difficultie (then anie wee now handle) Saint Austin aduertiseth those of his time: Our brethren (sayeth hée) are verie much mooned with profoundnes of questions in this kinde, who shoulde, if they did regarde their duetie bee gouerned by them, that sit at the sterne of authorytie. But wee may se to what passe men are now come, our [...]ritickes and graund censurers meddle with noe small thinges, but the verie heigh of all, as children their estate at their entrance to the graue buried by baptisme, and elders at their going into the graue to bee laide vppe in the earth: one comming into the worlde, the other going out, asoording neither one nor other a good worde, noe not so much as the [...]ne of brethren deare brethren. A mariull it is that Deut. 29.29. Deut. 29, 29 For­bids vs to hope well, because election is the Lords secret, as if it did not condenme vs aswell for suspecting the worst. All the good commeth by such barbarous, rude, sanadge opinions, i [...], it spreadeth strange discipline [...]wens outward behauiour, that, as if they had forgotten all humanitie, scarce yeelde now adayes a kinde salutation of God speede, or God deen. Turkes and infidels doe not thus, whose manner, (as our merchants know) is, Alech salem, Illiric. clauis Scrip. verb. Pax. whereunto the murswere is valich sas lem To the peace and to the peale. The reason of this by course (among some with vs) ariseth from hence. For what knowe they, whither hee bee a brother or sister, what knowe they where about hee goeth, and whither hee will? For ought they can tell hée may goe kill, steale, breake vppon some house. So that by this blinde reason it may seeme should anie of this refined straternitie suffer in bondes, [...]. 1. Pet. 4, 15. and bée cast in­to prison as an euill doer, or a busie bodie, an other honest well meaning man heareing of it woulde in the bowels of his christian: tender affection pittie him much after this fashion. Sure lie such a one in prison, I holde him a verie godly man [Page 14]and one I dare say will change his opinion. And let others vpon what ground (I know not) be offended with him, I hold him the deare child of God, a brother in Christ, a deare brother, and in sure and certaine hope of his com­ming foorth, dare pawne all I am worth, and doe ingage my selfe with all thankfulnesse for inlarging his libertie. All this said. One should presently cast him this their position in Diuinitie for a chokepeare. It is more then you know, And speake no more then you know. A good Christian must proue his sayings and doings out of Gods word, you can­not iustifie this your hope in Scripture, it speakes to the contrary: Secret things belong vnto the Lord. This is not reuealed, For it is a contingent. It may be so, and it may not be so, De contingenti. bus nemo nisi Deut. In a point so doubtfull as another mans arbi­trarie will, dare you tell vs of asure and certaine hope you haue concerning him? You are farre wide, and your iudge­ment is too peremptorie. A strange reproofe a man may say this is, and yet as strange as it is, the premisses are theirs, that obiect against the Communion Booke: we put but minors to them, and in the applycation make the absurditie of their doctrine more manifestly appeare. Thus much by the way. In a word for a mans last end, he stands and falls to the Lord. As for vs (at his buriall) we come foorth as his brethren, not as his iudges, Remember we what S. Austin hath,Erogatorem me posuit deus non exactorem, ser. 164. The Lord appointeth me to lay out not to call in. And therefore our care must be to doe that, wherefore we come, namely in a decent manner to bu­ry the dead, and to iudge charitablie as in the Booke is ordained, rather then peremptorilie to crosse it, as some would. Kéepe we to our direction vnlesse we know the contrarie, and be we of a sure ground, that we know the contrary.

It nourisheth Origens error, that saith All shall be saued.

It doth in déede as much,Psalm: 77.9. as Psal. 77. where the Prophet de­maundeth. Hath God forgot to be mercifull? Hath he shut vp his tender mercies in displeasure?Rom. 11.32. or that Rom. 11. He hath shut vp all in vnbeliefe that he might haue mercie on all: or that, 1. Cor. 4. Judge nothing before the time,1, Cor, 4.5. &c. and then shall [Page 15]euery man haue praise of God. All which places, as they are not to be spunged out of Canonicall scripture, because Origen deriued his error thence, neither is their cause for this, though it so séeme in their corrupt vnderstanding, whose fault it is, wrest­ing it, as the vnlearned, and vnstable abused diuerse sentences in the writings of Saint Paul. 2, Pet, 3, 16,

This is, as it is in Esay, 5. to call good euill, and euill good.

Are all subiect to the woe there denounced by the Prophet,Vsis hoe venit omnibus cōmis [...] niter. Muscul. in Isay. c, 5, 20, that of ignorance and infirmitie speake what they thinke, though by mispersuasion seduced? Are all vnder a curse, that sometimes raise vp their voice like a trumpet bidding battell to sinne, and yet anone after sound a retreit, and call for a parlie, hauing chid, and chid roundly, change their note, and wrap vp their dose in a sugarswéete with some sentence as this? But we are perswaded better things of you, and such as accompany saluation, though we thus speake. Spake he of a reproofe, a curse, and burning, and yet makes vp his period with, But we are perswaded? Heb. 6.9. &c. When many times (God he knoweth) the teachers perswa­sion had néede be strong, for in experience else, they will soone find the contrarie. And shall any one twit them with this of the Prophet Isay, that they call good euill, &c. Because other whiles their perswasion is greater then their proofe? God forbid, Was it the Prophet his meaning, or is it theirs, that thus dispute to bold plea against God? whom it pleaseth of his vnspeakeable goodnesse, though we be euill, to call himselfe our heauenly Fa­ther, and they whose Father he is, are his children, and his chil­dren are those some which he nameth saying, A good man out of the treasure of his hart, &c.Luc. 6, 45, Well done good and faithfull ser­uant enter into thy master his ioy. Are all vnder a curse, that tal­king of a stubborue people, stifnecked, Mat: 25, 21, Act, 7, 2. & of vncircumcised harts and eares, whose Fathers resisted the holy Ghost, and their children heires of the same wickednes, a genera­tion of murderers, persecutors, traitors to God & Christ? Yet for all this euill knowen vpon them, and by them, cal­leth them notwithstanding brethren and Fathers in the one name afording reuerence, in the other loue, in both (because of both) prayeth for them, yea for all their crosse, obstinate [Page 16]courses in his presence that their harts burst for anger, gnash their teeth, fret, grin, shout, all to pault him with stones, when he in the greatnesse of hope against hope prayeth for them. Lord lay not this sinne to their charge. What can be said more against the forme of thankesgiuing inioyned in the booke, then may be (but fondly obiected) against Saint Stephen his practise? They resisted the holy Ghost, yet that hindred not his prayer: Murderers and Traitors he calleth in ciuilitie & good manners Fathers and Brethren They were enimies to God and him, yet that diminisheth not his loue: He set Christ before him for an example,Peccarunt ad mortem & in peccato suo mor tui sunt. &c. Mar. in 1. Ioh. 5, 16. Orationes non debito ordine factae, ad nullis nobis imputan­tur peccatum propter cha­vitatem qua oramus Ibid. Quinil potest sperare desperet nihil. who on the Crosse prayed for his enemies, though the Father forgaue not all of them: for some died, and perished in their sinnes, and are vnder condemnation. And as prayers at such times for men (peraduenture) out of order are not imputed for sinne, because they are made in loue and charitie, so when a man giueth thankes to God for one, he takes his deare brother, it is not charged vpon him for sinne, because of his loue and charitable hope. And little is his loue and lesse his hope, that will néeds despaire as denying him for a brother. All a man looseth is: He was deceiued in giuing thankes for one, with whom it sped not so well, and yet that it did not, he cannot absolutely say, nor positiuely determine which kinde of error beareth no action amongst men, but rather is a motiue to draw somewhat from men, who haue not béene so kinde (as we well hoped) how much more may it, and shall it from God, all in good time. For not meere naturall pollicie, but a fruite of the spirit it is,Satius est reum absoluere, quam condemnare innoceniem. of the two rather to saue a man that destructh to die, then to condemne an innocent: and a more gratious worke to call one brother tormented in hell (for so did Abraham) then set a negatiue in place of it, which must so be, if the contrarie preuaile. And though it be said that a man giuen to lodge strangers may intertaine he knoweth not whom, yet that Apostolicall adulse shall stand, as a principle of Chri­stian hospitalitie. Be not forgetfull to lodge Strangers for thereby some at vnawares haue receiued Angels into their house: So in like manner though it be said, that a Minister accustomed to bury the dead, in buriall giuing thanks to God, may giue thankes he knoweth not for whom, yet that Ecclesi­asticall [Page 17]direction may stand for a principle not disproued▪ Bee not forgetful: nay knowe it your duetie in th [...]se and these wordes. In sure and certaine hope &c. For thereby at vna­wars, yea purposely, thankes giuing shalbe made for manie, that are heires of the promise, and who is not so in particular, neither they, nor anie else can or dare holdely demonstrate. For such a one was in his life reputed a member of Gods church partaker of the holie word, and sacraments. And therefore this practise of ours is most consonant to christian religion speciallie setng the ground of this hope is in that forme of buriall plaine­lie expressed videlicet. Thorough our Lord Iesus Christ. Here now it were time to conclude this point but that wee must let thée to vnderstand (good reader) that these exceptions (we take) are not made so much against the wordes deliuered at the graue ouer the dead, as against this that we vse any words at al. Their cōmunion booke exhibited to y^e parlament forbiddeth anie farder duetie to bee vsed, but onely the neighbours following the corps to the graue, [...]. and there with a dumb show turning it to the earth so leaue it without anie admonition and consolation to the li­uing, or cōfortable remembrance of y^e dead. And this (forsooth) is done vnder a colour of remoouing superstition, so calling that holie custome which our church vseth in hir manifestation of y^e christian hope which shee hath and then publisheth concerning the glorious resurrection of our bodies at the last day. But (God bee thanked) our practise is most commendable, imploying the time of buriall in godly prayers, holsome instructions necessarie consolation, and special meditations of our mortalitie with effec­tuall motives leading vnto mortification: Others that would vary from this order haue onely these pretences for their best rea­sons.

• 1. The example of Geneua to warrantize them here­in, whose slender performance of this solenme duetie is noe suf­ficient rule to direct v [...]:
• 2. because their purpose is to winde the minister out from attendance vpon this office, and they can noe better way (it seemeth) redeeme his libertie, but by vtter­ly disclaiming any such duetie as then to bee performed, whereas we would vnderstand, why the minister may not aswel burie, as ioyne in marriage, vnlesse this may goe for a reason? The mi­nister of Geneua doth the one and not the other: Hee marrieth, [Page 18]but butteth not. Well: Retaine wee our irreproueable disci­pline in this kinde, had we noe church to ioyne handes of fel­lowshippe with vs herein,
  [...]. Greg. Nazian. orat. in laudem Basil. pag. 516. Grae. 64.98. [...]. Id. orat. 2, in Iul. pag. 304. [...]. Pag. 305. [...] Chris. homil. 4, ad Heb. p. 124. Tertullia lib. de anima mortuos etiam oratione a proesbyteri, cō poni consueuisse Centur. 3. c. 6. pag. 138. Orig. in 3. lib. Iob Ibid Tota ad funus eius Palastimarum vrbjū turba conuenit: hebra [...], graco, latmo sermone psalmi in ordine personabant. Hieron, in epist ad E [...]stoch. Paucanos dice re temporiscogit angustia, quod nouit & charitas vestra aebere nos exequits fidelis corporis solemne objequium. August. con. 2, in Psal. 103. sub mitio.
  as yet wee knowe we haue exam­ples both of elder and present churches: Greg. Nazian. wri­ting of y^e holy man Basil witnesseth, how lamentation for him were so great as the Psalmes then sung were quire borne downe with mourning and heauines. Againe in another place comparing the gouernment of Constantine with the ti­ranny of Iuliā the Apostate and of their death: He, (that is) Con­stantine was brought with solemne publick prayses, and orations to the graue, and withall such complements, as wee christians thinke to honour a Godlie translation, or death of godlie men. Anon after hee calleth the dueties then performed. A funerall recompence of Psalmes singing &c. S. Chrisostom of his time what are himnes (saith he)? Doe we not with them glorifie & thanke God, that at the last he hath crowned (our friend) gon hence now he is eased of his sore labours? Againe anon after. Consider what thou sing­est at such a time: Returne O my soule into thy rest, or that Psalme I will not feare what man doth vnto mee. For these were the Psalmes of Dauid it seemeth they sung in those dayes. As thus in the greeke church, so in the west churches the like manner was: for Tertullian sheweth that the deade were wont to be buried by the presbiters or ministers with prai­er: Origen vpon Iob, witnesseth that there was thanksgiuing to God for the dead that they dyed in the faith and euery one wished the like for himselfe that he might make the like godlie and peaceable ende. Saint Ierom noteth the like of the life and death of Paula, y^• whole cōpanies of y^e citys of Palestin came forth to hir funeral, & there were sung in course Psalms in Heb, greek Latine, and Syriack, and in other places of his workes hée al­ledgeth asmuch of others. And Saint Austin also implyeth, that his second sermon vpon the 103. Psalme was at some fune­rall, wherefore he was driuen to abridge his speach. The short­nesse [Page 19]of the time forceth me to be briefe and the reason your loue knoweth,
  Qui diuine [...]o­catione ab hac vita recodunt cum Psalmis tantūmodo & Psallentium vo cibus debent ad sepulchrū defer­ri. concil. Tol. 3, can. 21. In sepulturis & exequiis morta lit atis admoni­tio diligens fiat & exeit ands in ter alia prasen­tes, vt recogitēt sib teodem modo hinc excedendīs esse. concil. Col. part. 7. c. 52. Antequam cor pustradatur se pultura quaedā recitantur a maioribus eorīa ad hoc conscrip ta, quibus diut­na iustitia com­mendatur & hominum peccata exaggerantur. &c. Maimoni. tractat de luctu c, 4, apud Trē. in mare. 4 8. Improbamus maxime Cyni coscorpora mor tuorum negligentes, aut quā negligentissime contemptissime que in terram abiscientes nun quam vel verbū bonum de defunctis facientes Helnet conf. posler. c. 26 Sect. 16. Iudicamus vti­le esse vt in funeribus ca è sacris literis recitentur & explicentur, qua ad corroborandam fidem in horrore mortis & ad cōfirmandam spem resurrectionis conducunt. Witteberg, confes. cap. 24. Ibid an har.
  because we are to performe a solemne duetie to the funerals of a faithfull bodie. In the councell.
• 3. Of Toledo. can. 21. They who by God are called out of this life must bee brought to the graue with Psalmes onely, and the voyce of singers. As for a funerall song which was commonly sung for, or to the deade, we vtterlie forbid. In the councell of Colon. Par. 7. c. 52. In burials and funerals the people must care­fullie, be admonished of mortality, and they which are present must be rouzed vp to recount with themselues, that they must depart hence after the same manner. Among the Iewe, as [...]their owne Rabbins witnesse the fashion at buriall, hath beene and is this: Before the corps be [...]eliuered to the graue, certaine points are recited by their anncesters written to this purpose wherein the diuine iustice is commended, and mens shines exaggerated, whereby they deserued death, and God is intreated so to exercise his iustice, that withall hee forget not to be merciful. But these examples are (peraduenture) out of date, and some la­ter practise nearer home in our reformed churches will better content some. These therefore bee the confessions of other chur­ches at this day. We vtterly disallow al Cinicks, who neglecting the bodies of the dead, or els tumbling them into the earth in a most negligent & contemptuous sort neuer once mention a good word of their dead. Heluet. confess. Againe the church of Wit­tenberg. c. 24. Loue and charitie exacteth at our handes to wish the dead al tranquillitie and happinesse in Christ: Besides that wee must commende our dead to honest buriall so neare as we can in regarde of the time, and of mens places and all to wit­nesse the hope of the resurrection. Therefore iudge wee it expe­dient that in funerals those thinges be recited out of holy scrip­ture and then published, as doe make for strengthening of faith against the terrors of death, and to confirme our hope of the re­surrection. But leauing this argument sufficiently handled so farre forth as it concerneth other mens contradictions or our iust defence, wee proceede to the chap: following.

These words are contrary to another Collect read on the 23. Sunday after Trinitie. God our refuge and strength, which art the Author of all godlinesse, be ready to heare the deuou [...] prayers of the Church, and graunt that those thinges, which we aske faithfully, we may obtaine effectually. To aske faithfully, & to aske doubtfully, are contrarie one to the other.

These two are no such extremities but for a time one in [...]u­reth the other, as heat and cold, when either of them is indiffe­rently found in the same person, but with this difference that they are imputed to a seuerall beginning, the one of nature the other of grace, the one of flesh the other of the spirit. The flesh begetteth wauering, doubting, perplexed thoughts, and all from a law in the members rebelling against the law of the [Page 21]minde, where the [...]fe is like the [...]ight twixt the house of Saul and the house of Dauid, no day no houre but giuing or taking a soile. His expectation goeth away in a dreame,Quamuis vide autur hac du [...] pugnare nemb tamen est qui non idem in se experiatur. Marso in Marc, 9, 24. Quum [...]squō extet fides per­fect a sequitur ex parte nos esse incredulos. Ibid. Etiamsi in n [...] ­bis aliquam diffidentia (pe­ciom sentiamus non tamē propt [...] rea daspōdend [...] ̄ [...] esse animum quasi nullae fidu­ci [...] donat [...] su­mus a domino. Zanch. de relig. lib. 1, de diffiden. Orationes brea­uissimas & rap tim quodāmodo ci [...]culatas. Au, gust. ad Probā epist. 121. Act. 20, 10. Isay. 6, 13. [...]. 2 Cor 4.8. Pro charitate Christi nolis habere Christīs Hieron. ad Al­gas. 9.9. and perisheth like an abortiue that thinks he can haue abundance of the one, and no touch of the other. For our Faith being vnperfit as it is, the very best bele [...]u [...] not so fully as they ought: But though we feele some spice of distrust in our selues, yet must we not be quite out of hart, as if we had no confi­dence at all. To begin this point somewhat higher and speake more throughly to it, and of it. First, they that contrarie our Cōmunion Booke must know, that the Collects are certaine dartings & quicke elaculations, such as the earnestest deuotion is well acquainted with, fittest to expresse the spéedie thoughts of our Soule, when she is winged as a Doue in hir flight toward heauen. The motions are diuersly raised & they diuersly fall, some­times as in a full sea our thoughts beare aloft, sometimes they are at a low ebbe, all a-mort, dead and aliue in the twinckling of an eye: sometimes as the Crow out of the Arke houering twixt heauen and earth, and as in a sicknesse a good day and a bad day interchangeably haue their entercourse, euer and anone so these haue some swawin or other. Such are the spirituall apoplexies and traunces, whereinto the faithfull are cast, and yet like Eu­tychus they draw life though inwardly, for a holy substance is in them, as in an Elme or an Oke, when they haue shed their leaues and (vnlikely clusters as they seeme) Wine is found in them Destroy them not for their is a blessing. Subiect they may be, and are vnto doubtings, mammerings, and the like, but ouercome they are not. They stagger but sticke not. They may be, and are humbled in the sight of their owne sinne, but not destitute of all confidence in Gods mercies. Wherefore the cur­rant of their prayer in such a perpiexed stile speaketh better things, then it pleaseth some to thinke. And as Ierom of Moses for loue vnto Christ would not haue Christ, so our Church in a childlike boldnesse, while it presumeth not to aske, maketh bold to aske. Secondly, they that knit these knots, and cast a mist before the Sunne, should consider what is the course of these s [...]uerall Collects, how (commonly) they are a summary abridgement of some speciall matter handled in Epistle, or Go­spell, [Page 22]or both, as they know that busie themselues in a diligent obseruation of the particular contents in the Epistle appointed to be reade that day: Saint Paul speaking of their dignitie that labour in the word sheweth the insufficiencie of man, yea of the chiefest euen the Apostles, that they, though they haue trust to godward through Christ, and so both themselues & their pray­ers dare much, yet are not sufficient of themselues to pray, be­cause no prayer is without imployment of our thoughts wherein such weakenes they acknowledge, that whereas a man would take it for the easiest matter of a thousand to lend a spare thought vpon occasion, they renounce all possibilitie: How then should their prayer dare presume to aske? For if they be able to any thing the same commeth of God: all this the Epistle compriseth: no sufficiencie how then may they dare? not da­ring how can they presume? neither daring, nor presuming a truth it is their prayers dare not presume. In the Gospell read the same day, the like may be marked out vnto vs. For the historie taken out of the Euangelist, sheweth, how cercame of Decapolis brought vnto Christ a man that was deafe and stammered in his speech, and they all prayed our Sauiour, that he would lay his hands on him, not mentioning, what they would haue cured, nor how, nor in what manner: As for the partie himselfe he was so farre from speaking (for the string of his tounge was not vntied) and so farre from hearing for he was deafe, that if Christ had not beene more ready to heare, then he to speake, and to graunt more, then his or their prayers did presume to aske, he might haue liued and died in his infir­mitie. Whereupon our Church gathering briefe notes out of the Gospell (and the collection is warranted by the text) ob­serueth of Gods part it is meete to acknowledge, he is more ready to heare, then we to pray, and is wont to giue more then either wee desire or deserue, yea so gratious our God is, that he forgiueth vs, what our consciences may well be afraid of, namelie sinne, and giueth vs, what our prayers dare not to presume to aske (namely in temporall blessings) such, and such, in this or that manner, at this, or that time, which our praiers dare not presume to aske in such speciall sort: 3. they should 3 thinke as the candlelight is noe fit helpe to finde out the day, but [Page 23]it owne selfe must shew it selfe, el [...] we see it not: so a spirit, and that a holy one, and that in like measure may best giue iudgement of prayers thus in [...]ited Wherefore this considered; we returne them what our Sauiour said of his Disciples,Luk. 9.15. They know not of what spirit they are. Had they such brused, humblest, wounded consciences, as that seruant of God (who­soeuer in his meditation penned these Collects) they would soone skill, how the pulse of such a prayer beateth and keepeth tune very pleasingly in the eares of the Lord. For as a discord in Musicke giueth a grace, and commendation to the song, so these discords and iars in our petitions desirous to pray, and yet not daring to pray, comming, returning, and making a broken note, much pleaseth our Father, which is in heauen, though they seeme to displease vs:Palm 42 5. Why art thou cast downe O my Soule, why art thou disquieted within me, Hope in the Lord, for I will yet giue him thankes for the helpe of his presence. [...]gredere ani­ma mea quid times, egredere quid trepidas, 70. prope annis serui [...]sts Christ [...] & mortem ti­mes? Hieron. d [...] Hilari. Act. 27.41. The like dis­pute of and on Saint Ierom writeth Hilarion had. Goe foorth my Soule what fearest thou? goe foorth why tremblest thou? Almost 70. yeares hast thou serued Christ, and dost thou feare death [...] Such wauering affections like Pauls ship caught be­tweene two seas, when the forepart stucke, and the hinder part was broken, and yet the Pa [...]ingers [...]afe. These streights they fall into, that fall to prayer, and (what Saint Paul said of life and death) they are difficulties the faithfull are streightned with. The presence of his Maiestie to whom they pray, [...] Philip. 1.23. the guiltienesse of their sinne, the rigour of the law, the multitude of their wants, some bid thē pray for mercy, aboundance of mer­cie, as if a little would not serue but abundance must be pow­red downe, some againe (to their thinking) forbid them to pray, and demaund how they dare presume, and so both waies their speech sauoureth of confidence, and infirmitie. Such mixture is alwaies in our petitions, because such mixture is in our selues, flesh and not all spirite, some distrust, and not all fulnes of faith, sometime a feeling that we beleeue, sometime complaineing that we doe not beleeue the tongue of our ballance bearing so doubtfull, doubtfull it is, which scale will preuaile, & yet the bet­ter in the end preuaileth. For thorough stitch it goeth, commeth, ouercometh, and ouercomeing triumpheth, triumphing conclud­deth [Page 24]and the conclusion is through our Lord Iesus Christ, so as in the same sentence the fall of the leafe, and a spring againe, fire in the ashes and stirred vp againe: A little faith appeareth not with the soonest, but like scuit in the bud, whence his na­ture and substance is, so coucheth, and so is preserued. Thus it flu [...]t [...]reth twirt daring and not daring praying and not praying because it would haue aboundance of mercie, and yet findeth wants in the petition. This striuing in the womb of the same collect argueth the life of faith rather quickened then dying, springing then falling, so faultlesse it is, if all be well considered. For as Rebecca when she felt the twins in her womb (though it pained bit yet) thereby knew, she had conceiued, and that the childrē were aliue, so they who are brought vpon their knées, find­ing the maiestie of God infinite, his iustice strict, his knoweledge searching the reines, his holinesse such, as Angels are not pure in his sight, and what themselues are on the other side, their basenesse odious, their ignorance blockish, their sinnes abhomi­nable, their wants lamentable, (at what time notwithstanding they conceiue comfort, for els could they not pray) are fouly abasht and [...]eicted, as professing they dare not aske somethinges at the hand of the almightie. Which to like effect we finde: as if an honest good heart laying open his estate in more wordes would be thus vnderstood. Whereas our prayers, by which we craue that thou power downe the aboundance of thy mercies are thorough the want of a most holie faith ouerlaide with vn­speakable imperfections, such as tire them out in the way to hea­uen, therefore we pray thée O Lord with al other transgressions forgiue vs euen our prayers, whereof our conscience guiltie as it is (y^t they are so stained as they are) presumeth not nor dareth presum: to aske, what otherwise it would, and at other times doth, when more comforted then now it is, thou well knowest O almighty God the petitions of them that aske in thy sons name, Collet. 23 sun. after Trinitie and after the Communion at dismissing of the Con­gregation. we beseech the mercifully to incline thine eares to vs, that haue made now our praiers and supplications vnto thee, and graunt that these things which we haue faithfully asked according to thy will, may effectually be obtained to the reliefe of our necessity & to the setting forth of thy glo­ry &c. Thus a faithfule soule in praier sōtime raised & anon [Page 25]deiected wrestling w^t God as did Iacob in his conflict with y^• An­gel, diuersly tuneth the phrase of his troubled spirite & notwithstanding a supposed discord kéepeth measure & concord with faith and with the holy scripture.Genes. 32.24. But when men set their wits vpon the tenter to reach out their obiections, and to deale as if they had to deale with Beuis of Southhampton, thinking noe more reuerently of the humble, duetifull, bashfull, modest,Iob. 1.1. c 9.15 Altercando, dis­ceptando, glori­ando, nihilcorā de [...] obti [...]e [...]imu [...] La [...]ater. Ibid. Deo indicante▪ nemo i [...]sons est ipse melius qua [...] nos ipsinoust quales simus, [...] vsde [...] pectatum vbi nos nullu [...] animaduerti­mus. Ibid. 20. Nō ex toto ere­do me, velipsi cō scienti [...] mea, quippe cum [...] ipsa quidem queat me com­prehendere tot [...] neque iudicare potest de toto, qui totum non audit. Bernard. epist. 42. Audit deus in corde cog [...]tantis quod non audit velipse, qui co­gitat. Ibid. Licet integerri­mus essem tamā adeo sulgoro maiestatis eius consternarer, vt de me-ipso ni hi [...] scirem. La­uater an Iob. 9.21. low and lowly speethes proceding from a broken heart, thence it is, they make a doubt where no doubting is if the same minde were in them, as becometh censurers of the praiers of the church, those irreprouable collects would haue greater commendation, then be thought a stumbling block of offence, as they are. Take we example from Iob, Abraham, and Salomon. Holie Iob, of whome scripture giueth testimony, that he was an vpright iust man, one that feared God, and eschewed euill confesseth of him­selfe though he were iust he could not answer, but would make supplicatiōs to his iudge, holding it more fit to leaue wrangling, disputing, boasting, for these wil obtaine naught, but pray­ing zealously, behauing himselfe submisly he may find fauour at y^e Lords hand, yea were he iust, his own mouth would condemne him, were he perfit the Lord could iudge him wicked, because none is innocēt, whē God iudgeth, & he it is, that knoweth vs better thē we our selues, & seeth such sins, as we neuer think for. Accordingly whereunto S. Bernard speaketh I doe not wholy belieue my selfe, nor my own conscience, for it cā ­not comprehend me all, neither can he iudge of the whole that heareth not the whole. Anon after, God heareth in the hart of him, that he thinketh, which a mans own selfe hear­eth not. yea were Iob righteous, yet should he be ashamed with y^e brightnes of God his maiestie, that he should not know himselfe. We see how the look of a Prince dasheth his subiect out of coūte­nance & therefor much rather may the presence of y^e Lord (who is a dreadful God clothed with vnspeakable maiesty, as with a gar­mēt, whose glory surpasseth y^e brightnes of al the lights in heauē) astonish y^• brused conscience of Iob who knew, if he should wash himselfe with snow water & purge his hands most cleane, yet should God dip him in y^e pit, & his owne cloths would make him vncleane. For God is not a man, y^t he should answer him, if they [Page 26]should strine in iudgement.Iob. 9.30.31. All which sentences debasing him dis­couer the true estate of an humble soule, who vpon due examina­tion made, saieth in effect as a troubled conscience in this collect, that dareth not presume to aske, & yet would gladly haue what it standeth in néede of. The like may be obserued in Abraham the father of all the faithfull, who in his cōmunication with God & prayer to him for Sodome, ministreth to our edification these ex­cellent notes. First he confesseth he was dust and ashes, not for­getting he had a liuing soule, Now oblituse­ [...]as Abraham se se anima imor­tali praditum esse sedquod maximè contēp tibile est eligit qui scomni dig­ [...]itate exina­ [...]iat. Luth. in G [...]nes. 18.27. Quo propius ad deum acces­sit co melins sen tit, quam mise [...]s [...]t & abiect [...] hominum conditio. Solus est [...]nim deisulgor qui homines stulta & ebria sui fiducia exu­tos pudore con­fundit, & peni tus humiliat. Ibs Non debemus [...] ̄pudentes esse ad petendum quid­libet sed pudorē soruare ac vere cundiam. Muse. Ibid. Pro. 28.14. c. 14.16. but chusing the most contēp­tible things, & emptying himselfe of al other things whēce he might Glory: so y^t faithful saying in their praiers they dare not presume, proueth not they want al confidence in God his fatherly loue, but choose rather to lay open their abiect and distressed conditiō. Secondly it is to be obserued in Abraham The nearer a man draweth vnto God, the more feeling he hath how miserable & wretched mans estate is. For the onely bright­nes of the Lord his glory it is, that putteth to shame & truly hūbleth men, so as they are stript of al foolish confidence in themselues, wherewith comonly they are besotted & starke drūk. Thirdly in these words: let not my Lord be angry y^t I speak &c. And 32. Let not my Lord now be angry, & I wil speake but this once: He praieth to turne away y^e Lord his wrath, & so mak­eth his pelitiō acceptable by his humble sute, teaching vs withal, how we must not be saucy nor impudēt to aske any thing at al aduēturs, but to preserue shamefastnes & bashful modesty when we pray to God. And what els doth y^• collect in these words forgiuing vs those things whereof our conscience is afraid, & gi­uing vnto vs, y^t which our praiers dare not presume to ask, which forme of praier is very agreable to y^t place. Pro. 28. Blessed is y^e man y^t feareth alway, meaning is wary, and of a tender cōscience loth to do or say, yea euen in praier y^e least thing that may offend God, as y^e other branch of y^e verse, & the 16. of the 14. Chap. suf­ficiently proueth. This is certaine he y^t neuer doubted of his sal­uatiō after he was called to y^• knowledge of God in christ, y^t man neuer rightly beleued, for he which beleueth in y^t truth (of a truth) féeleth many wants & doubts like a sound man after a recouery frō an ague féeleth many grudgings of that disease, which if he had no health, nor life he could not féele at al. Let men please them [Page 27]selues, y^• are disposed to thwart this truth,Affermant tibi, non sibi Cicer [...]. de d [...]inations what Tully spake of Metrodorus fitteth thē wel. They say so to others, but not to thēselues. Fourthly we are to mark in whose name these praiers are offred not for the minister himselfe onely, or some few, y^t haue profited in the waies of godlines, & may be thoght to haue a greater measure of grace, but for the most, who cōmonly are the weakest, & but lately yeand in y^• sould of christ, tender lambs they must néeds tremble hearing, as they do the Lions, such as Abraham, & Iob behauing thēseluss in fearefull & bashful manner. Onely he that knoweth not what belongeth thereto, wil thinke all this a great deale more thē néeds.Pancissimos esse qui excellenti fi­de polleant, pa [...] cisesse mediocr [...] ̄ plurimos auiem mensura exigu [...] esse praditos. Marc. 9.24. But if we will obserue what is giuen euery one, it wil easily appeare the fewest haue an excellēt faith a very few an indifferēt faith, & the most are they, that haue the least measure of faith. Should a nurse be lisping to the babe on hir knée, another that stands by knoweth not the reason. It is sufficient that she doth. Our brethrē think we do in repeating this straine what beséemeth vs not, we answer. Let alone now. For it wel beséemeth vs to fulfil al humility, & if any be vile in his own eies vpon true repentance for sin,Tristitia & pudor sunt con­iuncta semper, vbi est vera pe [...] cati agnitie. Quod sicognos­cere velumus a [...] in penitenti [...] profecerimus, videamus an praoculis istos duos affectus habeamu; C [...]ls Luc. 18 13. he will thinke of himselfe more vildely thē all this commeth to, resoluing the more a man is a­shamed of himselfe, & hartily sorrowful, y^e more he profiteth in y^e course of repentance. Did we not know more sin of presumtion thē are guilty of faultles humility, & come to the Lord like hail fellow wel met, rather thē smitten with a holy feare, such clauses as these might otherwhiles be spared. But most of vs in our hearts know the contrarie. And were we (as some thinke) they may be bold and confident, it is for vs to haue a liuely touch for sin. No man but the lesse he prizeth himselfe in his own eies, the more he pleaseth the Lord, who giueth grace to the lowly. And though it may séem the speech of a dastardly conscience, yet vnto whō wil the Lord looke, but vnto him that is poore and of a contrite spirite, and trimbleth at his wordes? Say a sonne may bée bold, and wee wil not say otherwise, yet a father liketh his son neuer a whit the worse, if he make not alway so bould as the father would haue him.Isay. 66.1. That made Saint Paul vse this course. Sanctified he was from his mothers wombe, yet hee held himselfe chiefe of all sinners,Galat. 1.15. in regarde what hee once was, though it were forgiuen him.1. Tim. 1.15. And hee [Page 28]that praied for Corinth, Ephesus, & the like, beggeth praters at their hands like Lazarus, Eph. 6, 18.19. y^• begged crums at y^• rich mans table. Pray for all saints & for mee, As if he were no saint, or as if y^• stil ran in his mynd, how hee had beene a perse quutor of y^e chruch of God. Wich kinde of thoughts hauing their course, & recourse in prayer are a damp, & if not (as they cannot quite) put out the light of our hope, yet they dim, & calm the heat of our cōfidence, that it be not more hardie then is expedient.

Forgiuing vs those things, whereof our conscience is afraid.

This clause may stand vncontrold. For is not forgiuenes the remission of sin, & hath not our conscience good cause to be afraid of sin, doing that which God seuerely forbiddeth, omitting that w^t he strictly cōmandeth, negligently performing y^e best duties, we should intend? Can it be other, but that our conscience may well feare, til it be released, when it calleth to mindether wherein, or against whō the offence is cōmitted? Wherein, namely in praier for so it is many times,Copiosa vanita­tis cateruas August confess. lib. 10. c. 35. Irruentibus nu­gatoriis cogita­tionibus &c. Ibid. Abductus turpi cogitatione etiā qua dictu eru­bescenda sunt gero. Heiron. dial. aduers. Luciseria. Quanta cū re­u [...]rentia, quāto timore quanta illuc humilitate accedere debet à palude sua procedens repēs ranuncula vi­lis, quam tre­meb undus, sup­plex & solicitus Bern. de 4 modes [...]rands. as diuerse of y^e ancients witnesse. S. Austin with griefe confesseth seing our hart (saith he) is a little hold, or seat or conceit of such things (he spake of toying thoughts a lit­tle before) & carrieth after it whole troups of plenteous vani­ty, hence is it that our praiers are often interrupted, & troubled & that in thy presence O Lord, while with y^e voice of our heart we apply our selues to thy eare, I know not how so great a seruice is cut off in y^t very entrance by trifling thoughts rushing in vpon vs. S. Ierom witnesseth y^e like, whē I am at my pray­ers (I should thus & thus lament my sins & intreat my saui­our) very often one while I am ether walking in our gallerys or casting vp my accounts, or caried away with filthy thoghts or doing those things, whic a man should blush to name. All w^t strike the conscience with feare & shame, so do they y^e more, whē we consider before whō, & vnto whom it is, our supplicatiōs are directed. In time of praier we must entreat, saith Barnard the court of heauē, euen that very court wherein the king of heauē sitteth on his thron, attended vpō with an vnspeakable armie of blessed spirits, & therefor with great reuerence, with great feare with great humility should a vile cotemptible little frog, crawling out of a marsh come before him, how [Page 29]fearfull how suppliant how humble, & carefull, wholy, hear­tily thoroughly intentiue on the maiestie of his glory in the presence of his Angels, Assistere pote­rit homuncio Ibid. in the counsell of the iust can such a habberdehoy dare to stand or shew his face.

Giuing vs those things which our prayers dare not presume to aske.

Neither dare they presume to aske. For why should they? and yet God giueth vs, what we néede,Sed & vitam aeternā fortas­sis aliqui non in humilitate quarunt, sed tantum in fidu­ciae meritorum Idem. Serms. 5. de Quadrag. Prasume non de operatione aut oratione tuae, sed de gras tia Christs. Aug. serm. 28. de veth dom. Constaeutinū imperatorem tantis terrenis impleuit [...] ­ribus, quantae optare nullus au­deret. August. de Cinis. des. lib 5. c. 25. Quandoquidē vix petere debe mus. &c. Iosia [...] Simler, in obi­tum. P. Mar­tyris. else we might perish both here, and hereafter. There are (saith Bernard) that thinke be­cause they pray, that God is indebted to them. Peraduen­ture also eternall life some seeke for not in humilitie, but in speciall trust, they haue of their owne merits. Upon like oc­casion it séemeth Saint Austin giueth like counsell: Presume not of thy owne worke or prayer, but of the fauour of Christ. Accordingly our Church speaketh here, and in the Collect after the offertorie, where it saith, for our vnworthinesse we dare not, &c. A phrase we dare aduenture vsed by auncient and sate writers. One of each for example. S. Austin of old and Iosias Simler of late time. Saint Austin writeth that God furnished Constantine the Emperor after his conuersion with so great earthly blessings, as no man else may dare to wish the like. A wish every man knoweth is fat lesse then a prayer. If sometimes God bestow somethings, as no man dare to wish for the like, what reason is there, but we may arknowledge, God giueth somewhat which our prayers dare not presume to aske? Iosias Simler in his Oration vpon Peter Martir his death toward his conclusion maketh this prayer. Graunt vnto vs O most gratious good Father, if not another Martir and such a one we ought hardly so much, as to pray for, yet at the least, &c. Where it appeareth how the excellencie of God his gifts so ra­uisheth the mind of an humble suiter, that in the fulnesse of ad­miration astonished with the Lord his singular mercie, and on the other side with his owne lothsome vslemsse, he plaine­ly confesseth his prayer dareth not aske what the Almighty notwithstanding giueth for his Sonne Christ. In which sense any equall Reader shall doe well to thinke our Booke vseth it, if he doe well bethinke him, how he must not speake against the light of his owne hart.

These are directly against the word and true faith, Heb. 10.19. By the blood of Iesus we may be bold to enter into the holy place. And verse 22. Let vs draw neare with a true hart in assurance of faith, &c. And Heb 4.16. Let vs goe boldly to the throne of the grace. These places are directly against doubting, and slauish feare: Ergō not to be Subscribed vnto.

Be they, and euer may they he places directly against doub­ting, and slauish feare. Such doubting as is a slauish feare we admit not, because the assurance of our faith doth not: yet our knowledge in Scripture teacheth thus much, that Faith is beholding vnto feare, both in h [...]r entrance, and afterwards in the growth. In the entrance, when she takes possession of our harts. For the iudgements of God and the terrors of the law in humbling vs, are a Schoole master vnto Christ, and after too, when we many times are likely to play the wan­tons, and thinke our estate like mount Sion that cannot be mo­ued, so as what is said of Faith and Charitie is a true saying of assurance and feare. Fides & chari­tasbené distin­guntor in libris sed malé in mo­ribus. They are better distinguished in our Bookes, then in our persons. Much there is in vs of the flesh, that is vnregenerate, though like a begger still mending his cloke, we make vp the breaches by dayly repentance. At the entrance how it worketh may appeare by a similitude taken from a Sempsters worke,Act 9.38. who whither Dorcas, or some other drawing her néedle in & out bringeth the silke after. The needle commeth and goeth, the silke stayeth and maketh a gar­ment of needle-worke, yea if maketh a samplar for many yeares, though the needle breake, or be lost, or the partie dead: So is it in feare. The worke begun, the point maketh an entrance, after which the mercies of God as soft as silke follow, and stay to make vp a garment to put on, where no needle is now, but once was, so no shew of feare to fore, but the effect of it may be seene in the euill not of punishment, but of sinne,Osculatur mise ricordi [...] pedem vt pedem indi­cis non attendat Ber [...]serm de S. Maria. which as certainely draweth on punishment, as Ahaz diall in a Sunne-shine day casts his shaddow. Farre wide he is (saith Bernard) that doth so kisse the foote of Gods mercie that he doth not heede the foote of his iustice, as [Page 31]if he were a father and not a Lord. If a Father where is his loue, if a Lord, where is his feare? Malach. 1.6.

By the blood of Iej [...] we may be bold to enter into the holy place.

Heb. 10.19. The Author sheweth all ceremonies haue an en [...]e in Christ,Popule aditus in visibile fact­arium prohib [...] ­batur. Marlor. Ibid. Non symbolicè tantum, sed re­ipsa ingressus in caelum. Ibid. and where in time of the law people might not enter into the Sanctuarie, but must, and did stand without: now we may enter into heauen it selfe whereof the Sanctuarie was a tipe. Such boldnesse we haue to Godward thorough Christ his blood.

Let vs goe boldly to the throne, &c. Heb. 4.16.

That is, Let vs not sticke, and be doubtfull in seeking af­ter other mediators, as if he alone were not sufficient.Christi sacerdo­tio adim [...] virt [...] tem quamdi [...] hasitamus. Mar [...]o. Heb. 4. Such wauering, and vncertaintie propending to inuocation of An­gels, or Saints (as if there were n [...]t a God in Israel) our Church is no lesse vehement in prosecuting for erronious do­ctrine, then any other Church pray [...]ed be God.Nisi quitrepid [...] ad solam cius misericordiam confugiunt. Cal. in Luc. 18.13: Dubitatio Infi [...] delitans Admi­rationis. Vox aptissim [...] paenitentis v [...] ̄ que c [...]tiné [...] sensum peccats. Mercer. in Iocl. 2.14. Ambig [...]m po­nitur, vt dum dub [...]ant homi­ [...] fortius agāt paenitentiam. Hierō. Ibid. A [...]opiae [...]. What doe these places Heb. 10. and the fourth Chapter more discredit the vse of this straine (whereof our consciences are afraid) then Master Caluin, who speeking of the Publican his vnfained him liation writeth, that God will not be intreated of any, but those who in a trembling manner, flye to his mercie? Where this fourth to the Hebrewes hath, Let vs goe boldly, this author writeth tremblingly, yet will not we fondly iniury him so much, as these doe wrong our Church with taunis, & re­proches saying, It is against the word, This against true faith, &c. A doubting which proceeds of infidelitie may be thought so, but not that doubting, which ariseth from admiration, like that in Ioel 2. who knoweth whether God will turne & leaue a blessing? Which wordes carry a doubt in sound, but in effect imply a sound affirmation, and are most apt for repen­tance to speake with, because they include a sence of sume, & yet withall some hope to spéed. Not amisse obserued by S. Ierome mens doubting other whiles maketh thē more earnestly peni­tent. And it may well so be. For if doubting be the mother of [Page 32] inquirie (as they say it is) because he that doubts not séeketh not, then also is fearefulnesse the mother, or milch-nurse of a kindly repentance.Potuerunt per­uenire, nisi pu­tarent se perue­niss. Seneca. Illud ingeniorū pracox genus nō temere vnquā peruenit ad fru gem Quintil. Institut. lib. 1. c. 3. Well had it béene with some long ere now, if they would haue skilled of this point, that as in learning some held themselues for great Scholers, who faile of it, because they thought, they had obtained, what they haue not: so in duties to godward some want true confidence, because they are not right­ly confident making ouerbold, where it is more wisedome to vse modestie; more courage to séele their own famines, more au­dacitie to acknowledge their owne feare, fearing as they ought to be afraid. Marke the trée whose branches are séene. A graine (for thence sometimes is the beginning) lieth in the earth,Arbor em at tendite, Petit imaprius vt sur sum excrescat, Figit radicem in humili, vt verticem tédas in caelum. Aug. de verbo dom. in Ioh serm. 38. Multos impe­dit a firmit ate presumptio fir­mitatis. Id. sinks low, but the branches shoot forth that birds may nestle in them. It first taketh downeward, then séene aboue, at the first low, afterwards aloft. Many are hindred (saith Austin) of their strength, while they presume on their strength. Men that finde such contrarietie twixt Heb. 4. and this Collect our conscien­ces are afraid, may by their wrangling principles cauill with ease at a thousand places else, yea, and set Scripture against it selfe. As where the Publican is said to stand a farre off, loth to come to the Altar, not daring to lift vp his eyes, that the Lord might lift vp the light of his countenance vpō him, &c. May not a faire glasse be set vpon it that he did amisse. For say they, where he stood a farre off he should haue gone neare. And was not Peter well chidden in saying,Luc. 5.8. Goe away from me a sinner? As if the neater the better, the worse the farder off. Againe, in that he would not lift vp his eyes to heauen, he was much to blame.Gen. 4.6. Such a looke Caut had, for is it not said He cast downe his countenance. Much of this making skill they, whose delight is to weaue, though it be but a spiders webbe, and men of their mettall are like inough to charge Mary Magdalen for a micher well she escapeth, if not reproued for want of faith, Let vs goe (say they) Why then stood she the still? Boldly. Why did she trouble hir selfe with Christ his feete,Luc. 7.3 [...]. when she was to to goe to the throne of grace? And what was he at whose feete she stood, but the author of grace? (weeping) a womanish condition: more courage would haue done well, and she began to wash, as not daring to goe on. The basest in man (his féete) [Page 33]why not his head? Too too much str [...]ngen [...]s. (With her teares) why? Water of the next brooke might haue serued. The more blame she that would not make bolder. Was her eys d [...]m, that she could not see eye-water was more precious, then to trickle at ones feete? (She did wipe them) Happily with a towell, No such matter. The tresses of hir haire she wiped them with. A great deale more then needed (as they thinke that di­spute thus) twixt friends and kinffolkes [...] the spirit. He no doubt our eldest brother would haue accepted of farre lesse, then all she did, for is he not our brother and more, if more neede, to all that doe beleeue? Another it was came behinde him. Both of them contrary to this exhortation. Goe with holdnesse she said.Math. 9.20.21. But who heard it? For she durst not aske it with her lips (she said within her selfe, If I may) What Ifs and Ands be these, Why did she not goe boldly? (Touch) why did she not imbrace? (But touch) was not be reproued that smote but three times,2. King. 13.18. whē he might haue smote a many more? (His garment) why not his person? Belike a little would serue the turne. Ouermuch squeamishnesse spoyleth all. Boldly she should haue gone, and prest forward and thrungd before him, not neare him, or to him, much lesse behinde him. A signe of a seruile and crauenlike seare. All this yet their argument maketh good that oppose. Heb. 4. to discountenance this truth (our consciences are a­fraid) Faith we acknowledge & reuerence in hir certaintie, and full assurance. She may, and is, and must be in the faithfull,Luct a fidei. Vrs sin. Catech. Quemlibet ti­morem non esse fidet contrarin [...] inde patet, quod si nihil metusmus, obrepit su­pina carnis secu ritas. It a la [...] guescitfides. Math. 8.26. Stupids magis sunt quam con­stantes. Ita ti­mor fidem solli­citat ibid. yet that no ground of dislike to our selues, or cause at all, why we should not in a godly iealousie suspect our owne waies. Nay by wrestling, and combates in this kind we learne what vigor, and life is in our faith. The Collect speaketh neither of slauish nor seruile feare, neither of the spirit of bondage, onely this is all (whereof our consciences are afraid.) Now all feare is not contrary to faith. Por if we feare not, a carelesse securitie of flesh creepeth vpon vs, so faith languisheth, the affection to prayer becommeth dull, and in the ende a due remembrance of God and his mercie is extinguished. Ouer and beside, they which are not touched with a sence of euils to be afraid of them, are ra­ther dullards, then constant. Thus feare stirreth vp and quick­neth faith. Little to the commendation of the Disciples, that our [Page 34]Sauiour said, Why are ye afraid, O ye of [...]le faith? A small faith, but faith notwithstanding. And a small faith in God his children is no small portion, which when it is the least though ourneast with terthre of [...], con [...]th hope, euen in her readest and dead­liest time, knowing the spirit of adoption kéepeth fire in the hart, and that in most apparant weaknesse hir power in Christ is per­fected, gaining by her losse, raised by her fall, and after the com­bat finished, returneth home a conqueror. In which opposition of faith and feare, that which féedeth one, nourisheth the other. the mercies of God are the support of our faith, so are they the roote of our feare, and forgiuenesse of sinne, a iust occasion mi­nistering sufficient matter for true humiliation (forgiuing vs those things, whereof our consciences are afraid) like those couples in the Lords prayer Forgiue vs our sinnes & presently in the next petition Lead vs not into tentation: Th [...] one im­mediatly following the other, as if we said more then euery one is aware of in saying (forgiuing vs those thinges) &c. either be­cause of sinne (the remembrance whereof is gréeuous,Ama dei ho­mit atem, tima seueritatem, vtrumque te superbum esse won sinit: Ama­do enim times ne amatum & amaurem pero­das. August. de sanct. virg. c. 37. Si non amasti­me ue perdas, si amas time no displiceas. Ibid. Rom. 8.1. Cor. 2. Philip. 2.12. Non te à praefi­dents elatione reuerberat, va mundo à scan­dalis: Non con­tremiscis? &c. Ibid. the burden intollerable) or else because of forgiuenes it selfe, as it when they are forgiuen, euen then in that very instant we are afraid. For that when we haue most securitie, we haue most cause to feare, as if the sentence of S. Paul went for a watch-wood. Be not high-minded but feare, or that of our Sauiour, Thou art made whole, sinne no more lest a worse thing happen vnto thee, as it will soone doe, where securitie bréedeth pride: S. Austin intreating how feare is in vse with Gods seruants, and how farre foorth out of vse, aduiseth in these words, Be not high-minded but feare. Loue the goodnesse of God, feare his seueritie. Both these will keepe thée from being proud, For in louing thou dost feare, least thou grieuously offend thy louing and beloued: It thou loue not, feare least thou perish, if thou loue, feare least thou displease. He that said you haue not receiued the spirit of hondage to feare any more, said that himselfe was among the Corinthians with feare and trembling: He that said be not high minded but feare gaue a generall aduertisement to all the members of Christ, worke out your saluation with feare and trembling. Anone after that blessed father addeth. Doth not that sentence beat thee of from presumptuous pride, woe vnto the world [Page 35]because of offences? Dost thou not stand in a we? lest thou be reckoned among those many, whose loue should ware cold and iniquitie abound? dost thou [...]h [...] strike thy blest when thou hearest this sentence. Let him that stands take héede lest be fall? As for the other clause (Giuing vs those things, which our praiers dare not presume to aske) is and may be referd to spirituall & temporall blessings, which in the generall we may assure our selues shall be graunted, and we must dare to aske, but in particular as in this, or that very manner, at this, or that very time, by such & such meanes, we haue no warrant to limit the ho­ly one of Israel, nor cōmandement to craue or promise our selue. Paul prayed that Satan might be remooued, and be prayed often, and earnestly, yet was he not then remooued. 2. Cor. 12.6. Some things we may pray for absolutely, and affirmatiuely, as that the kingdome of God doe come, his will he done, the forgiuenesse of sinne, & our owne saluation, but the meanes sometimes we may faile in, while this may or that way, after this fashion, or that fashion, we pray they may come to passe. S. Paul could not be ignorant of so easie a point, and therefore it was not the forme he stood vpon, as the end he proposed. The very like is to be thought in temporall blessings: Dauid prayed to God for his child, which he had by Bothsabe, throughly & fully perswaded of Gods mercies towards him, though touching the babe,2. Sam. 12, 121 his thoughts and spéech were not so resolute, but arguing rather his expectation, then assu­rance. For this be said, Who can tell whether God will haue mercy on me that the childe may liue? Thus it appeareth that euery par­ticular neither may we, nor dare we presume to determine. Leaue we that to the wisedome, and gratious good pleasure of the Lord. Beggers must not be choosers, nor caruers, their own caruers. Thus they will haue it, and thus; or else it fitteth not him, that commeth in prayer vnto God. He may assure himselfe in generall, but in euery particular he may not, he néede not, he must not. It may be victory; it may be an ouerthrowe, it may be peace, it may be persecution: He may haue a child, he may goe childlesse. He may pray now, but the issue of his prayer is like A­braham a great way of. Such is the course of the faithfull. They apprehend Christ Jesus in whom all the promises are yea, and Amen. Sure of this once. That if they haue what they dare not indent for at Gods hand, they will be thankfull, & if they haue it [Page 36]not, they will possesse their soules in patience, onely because, they will not be thought wiser then the Lord, they commend all to his blessed disposition. When Zaedok carried the Arke into the Tittle these words Dauid vttred. [...]. Sam, 15.25: If I shall s [...]de fauour in the eyes of the Lord, be will bring me againe, and shew me both it and the Tabernacle thereof. But if he thus say, I haue no delight in thee, Behold here I am, let him doe to me, as see­meth good in his eyes. Here is a doubtfull, & perplexed speech, yet not destitute of assurance, which a holy faith ministreth. For he was certaine of his saluation;Quoad aternā salutem certus erat, sed hic de rectitutio [...]e in regnum agitur At deus ei reg­num, &c. P. martyr. Ibid. 2. Sam. 16.22 yea and certaine of the tempo­rall kingdome which God had promised him: But here was all the doubt: He knew not, whether the promise was absolute, or vpon condition. The like followeth in the next Chapter, where the same Prophet maketh this vse of Shimes his railing and reuiling. It may be, that the Lord will looke vpon my affliction, and doe me good for his cursing this day. In that he saith (Peraduenture, or it may be) not doubting of his sal­uation, but of being restored to his former estate,Cur dicit fortè? Non qùod de aterna salute dubitaret, sed de restitutione. Id. in 2. Sa. 16. or else think­ing of the hainousnesse of sinne before committed, doubteth whether his afflictions should be asswaged so speedily. As who would say, Peremptorily I affirme it not: my sinnes haue deserued more then all this counneth to. This I take as a gentle remembrance to put me in minde of my duety, It may be: If not: I know what to trust to: Ile not attempt to teach the Lord: I neither doe nor dare presume to aske, that it may be thus, and no otherwise. The Prophet Amos hath the like It may be, Amos. 5.15. the Lord God of Israel will be mercifull to the rem­nant of Ioseph. He meaneth in preuenting their captiuitie: But whether deliuerance, or no, the reckoning is made, they forgot not all comfort, well perswading themselues, that if the mercy of God faile them one way, some other way it shall meete with them, and they with it, knowing of a truth that God is good vn­to Israel in not giuing vs many times what we would, Bonus dominus, qui non tribuit saepè, quod volu­mus, vt quod malimus attri­buat, August. Paul [...]epist. 34. that he may giue ouer, and aboue, that which we should rather. So as to winde vp all on a small bottome, and comprehend much in fewe words (our prayers dare not presume to aske) many things, which God giueth, because they dare not set the Lord a time, nor binde him to such, and such meanes, but resoluing of [Page 37]the general, & making faith of our duety therein, refer our selues wholy to the Lord, for all such changeable circumstances, know­ing that fall they out so, or not so, or contrariwise,Rom. 8. [...]8. they fall out for the best to them that feare the Lord

Yea but in the second schedule were there no other?

Wée answer as he doth in y^e Poet,Qui demum [...] lif? solus Sauni [...] soruat dome. whē Thraso mustred his for ces, what other do you meane? Onely a scof, or gird is remaining y^e last & least worth. Bare repeating whereof is answer sufficient.

This is against the manifest word and decree of God. Act. 14.22.

A man may will a diuerse thing from that, which God wil­leth, and yet without sinne.Act. 16 7. Paul desired to preach the word in Asia, and Bethinia but he was hindred by the spirit, yet no con­trarietie twixt Paul and the spirit of God, but (for all that shew of discord) great consent. For that which Paul willeth well, the spirit of God willeth not, but yet by a better will, though the reason hereof be secret;Gloria celesti superindui abs­que mortis in­teruentu. Pis [...]. in 2. Cor. 5. and the reason of Pauls will be ma­nifest. The same Apostle desireth for himselfe, and other the Saints that they might be clothed vpon with heauenly glo­ry without death comming betweene. For we (saith he) that [Page 46]are in this tabernacle figh and are burdened because we would not be vnclothed but clothed vpon,2. Cor. 5.4. that mortalitie might be swallowed of life, which yet we know God had otherwise de­termined. And Saint Peter was tould aforehand that be must die some violent death, for so our Sauiour prophecied, yet that Apostle in some sort did will otherwise then God his manifest will was.Ioh. 21.18. [...] Psal. 55.6. For Iohn 21.18. another shall gird thee and lead thee whither thou wouldest not. The Prophet Dauid in Psalme 55. wisheth that he had the wings of a Doue, then would be file, &c. No manifest word or decrec of God knowne to auouch this wish and earnest prayer.Electio tantum fertur in possi­balia, voluntas interdum pro­ponit ea qua nō possunt fieri: Arist. Eth. lib. 3 But the note which the Philosopher in his wisedome of gentile learning giueth is not amisse; Election is carried onely vnto things possible, but the will sometimes proposeth those things which cannot be, and yet no fault at all in so doing. As for example, the Mini­ster in charitie reputing the whole congregation to be Elect in an holy manner. seekes and willeth the saluation of euery one which neuerthelesse the Lord in his eternall counsell willeth not, twixt which two wils, a difference without contrarietie. For one good thing as it is good may differ from another, but cannot be contrary vnto it. We are not alwaies to will (saith Saint Austin) that done which God will haue done, or hath decreed in the will of his secret pleasure. For God may wish one thing,Et tamen donae volūtati dei pi­etas illius potius consonat, quam huius idem vo­dentis impitas [...] August, enchir. ad Lauren. cap. 101. and man another, and sometimes it falleth out that he wisheth better, though crosse to Gods Decres then he that wisheth happily what God intendeth. The wic­ked Iewes would haue Christ put to death, Ioseph of Arimathea would not consent to his death. Luke 23. which God had decreed, yet he did well, they did ill: That we must through many afflicti­ons enter into the kingdom of heauen, that all who will liue god­ly in Christ Iesus shall suffer tribulation, that in the world we shall haue it, as they are the manifest words of God, so is it ma­nifest they are much wronged in being vrged against this clause (freedome from all aduersitie.) Math. 26.25. 1. Cor. 11.19. Math. 18 7. For as it was true that the treason of Iudas must be, so is it true that heresies and offences must be. As much necessitie of one as of the other, and the same words are deliuered of them all. They must be, shall be, must needs be, &c. Now, though offences must be, wherein the decree of [Page 47]God appeareth, yet who is he that with the Apostle prayeth not for himselfe, and for others, that they neither giue, nor take offence but that in their course of a Christian life,1. Cor. 8.13. 1. Cor. 10.32. Philip. 1.10. they may carry themselues wth an euen foote in all things possibly inde­nouring to please all men, and yet such a necessitie of offences our Sauiour mentioneth as that it cannot be otherwise,Luc. 17.1. [...]. nor can they be auoyded. Iudas must betray his Master, and that his Lord & Master well knew, yet no preiudice to the prayet made that the Cup might passe which our Sauiour would neuer haue so done if he might not haue so prayed: (Heresies must be) that no hinderance wherfore we should not teach, instruct, pray, and vse all good meanes to roote them vp. For as a Gardiner well knoweth that wéedes will grow, and the husbandman find­eth that the enuious man soweth tares, & therefore so much the more imployeth himselfe painfully, in all which he offendeth not, but well pleaseth the Lord, so beséemeth it the mother with her children to pray, exhort, informe, & doe all diligence for succouring her selfe and hers in the times of all aduersitie, & to striue with God in all humblenesse, and true repentance, that they may be preuented (if the Lord will,) or lessened, or withall patience meekely indured. Saint Austin saith well, What is he that can finde in his hart to suffer troubles and difficulties? Quis velit mo [...] lestias & diffi­cultates pati? Tolerare iubet illas, nō amare. Nemo quod to­lerat amat. Quamuis enim gaudeat tolera­re ma [...]ult ta­men non esse quod toleret. August. lib. 10. confes [...]e 28. God commaundeth vs to tolerate them not to loue them. No man loueth, that which he must tolerate: For although he reioyce to tolerate them, yet had he rather there were none for him to tolerate.

For the Church to be free from all aduersitie is against the manifest word of God.

It is not against the manifest word of God that the Church sometimes haue rest & breathing after a sore trauell: many exam­ples thereof are, before, & since y^t daies of Solamon, Iosias, In whose raigne Israel had great peace, & plenty, & such prosperity the Lord promised by the mouth of his Prophet, as old men & old women should dwell in y^t stréets of Ierusalem, Zachar. 8.4. & euery man with his staffe in his hand for very age, & the stréets of y^e citty shalbe full of boies [Page 48]and girles,Qui victurisūt securè, & sine aliqua molestia (externa dico) Nā scimus hoc non posse accide re, vt multi senes aliquo in loco cernantur quasi ferè exa­nimes atar ita vt baculo se se sustineant, nisi vndique pax, et quies sit ab bostibus. Cal. Ibid. Vniuersum Rō. orbem tenuit in gerendis bellis victoriosissi­mus per omnia prospe [...]atus est. filios [...]per [...]tes reliqu [...]. Aug. de Ciuit, dei lib. 5. c. 25. Proclamation for Authori­sing an vnifor­mitie of the booke of Cō ­mon prayer. Giuen at Westminster the 5. of March. 1. an. Reg. Iacobi Psalm, 1.3. Genes. 39.2. 2. Chro. 32.30 2. Chro. 20.20. Nunquam benè esse hominibus, nisiquatenus benignum se dominus illi [...]exhi­bet Caluin. in Genes. 39.2. who shall liue securely and without trouble at all (I meane outward) For we know, it cannot come to passe that many olde men be seene in any place spent for very age: that they must be faine to beare themselues vp with a staffe, vnlesse there be peace and rest on all sides from the enemie. Which gratious fauour hath stretched out to the daies of the Gospell both in the raigne of Constantine, Theodosi­us, Honorius, and other good Emperors. Of Constantine, whose gouernment was so happy that be b [...]d the whole Ro­maine world in subiection vnder him, most victorious in his wars, euery where throughout prosperous in subduing of tyrants, of a very great age ere he died, and blest with sonnes, whom he left Emperors after him. But what speake we of times past. Haue we not examples in our owne age? The kingdome wherein we liue vnder that forme of Religion, which by law was established in the daies of our late Queen of famous memorie, blessed with a peace and prosperitie both extraordinary, and of many yeares continuance (a strong euidence that God was therewith well pleased.) Which mercie in this kinde long may we pray for, and he grant to the ioy of our King, Quéene, and their royall progenie, and the comfort of vs all his loyall Subiects. They who with it not (as holding it vnlawfull) shew themselues vnthankfull to God, vnnaturall to their Countrey, yea and contrary to the manifest Scripture: which promiseth what euer a righteous man ta­keth in hand shall prosper: verified in Ioseph, who was a man that prospered; in Ezechia that prospered in all his works, and in the resolution that Ichosuphat made the people, beléeue the Prophets and yée shall prosper. If any reply these thrée sen­tences last quoted meane by prosperitie, the fauour & mer­cies of God, as that then onely it is well with a man, when God sheweth himselfe gratious. We confesse their exposition is a truth, and our Church in her prayer desireth so to be vnder­stood. For that which the wicked name aduersitie she calleth not so, nor what they hold for prosperitie doth she alwaies ac­count so, hauing well learned by comparing the Scriptures that there is no prosperitie to the mercies of God, and when that wanteth, the mercies of God are wanting. He that hideth his [Page 49]sinnes shall not prosper, but he that confesseth & forsaketh them,Prot [...] 131 shall haue mercy, [...] repentance had a reward, and that re­ward were prosperitie, and the mercies of God were that pro­speritie: yet so far forth as the righteous & prophane necessarily communicate in the meaning of the same language, freedome from infirmitie, sicknesse, persecution, troubles, bondage, ex [...]e, deration, & a thousand the like is to be desired in our pray­ers, or else it would goe ill with vs, that any aduersitie should befall vs, and we not haue recourse vnto prayer against it.

It is contrarie to Gods decres.

It is not contrarie to Gods Decree, that some particular Church at some one time, or other for some space may be free from all aduersitie, in comparison of that which it selfe either hath felt, or may feele, or in respect of what some other Churches doe indure. And in as much, as there is reason to pray for free­dome against one affliction, as another, and so in effect by consequent against all (for a ship may sinke by a leake, as by a wracke) not lying in our power to distinguish, which we can be safe in, and in which we cannot, our Church wisely prouideth by prayer, vniuersally against all aduersities, not binding the Lord ere the more, then standeth with the good pleasure of his blessed will, but making knowne what our duetie is to doe, and what our necessitie inforceth vs to doe. For as God hath de­creed to chastice his people, & his people must as well looke for it, so hath he decreed, that euen therefore they should call vpon him, and prepare to meete him in the humblenesse of their soule. That God, which purposed to send a famine in Chanaan, put into the hart of Ioseph wisely to prouide for a deare yeare, and made Iacob to send downe into Egypt for corne.1. Sam. 23.12.13. The same God that raised the men of Keilah against Dauid, directed the thoughts of the Prophet vnto prayer, and made him resolute to flye from Keilah. It was of the Lord in iudgement, that Saul cast his iauelin at Dauid, where he was, but in mercie the Lord so dis­posed it, that Dauid should, and did escape it. And it because the Lord hath decreed his Church shall haue aduersitie, therefore it may not vse prayer against it, neither then may we pray that [Page 50]all men be saued,Nesciētes, quis pertineat ad pradestinato­rum numerum, quis non per­tineat, sic affici debemus chari­tatis affectu, vt omnes velimus saluos fieri. August. de Correp. & gra. cap. 15. 1. Tim. 2.2. Psal. 119 39. because God hath decreed otherwise. But a better Diuine resolues vs better: Not knowing saith Austin, who belong, and who doe not belong to the number of the prede­stinate, it is our duetie to be so affected toward all with a chari­table affection, that we should wish all might be saued. And if because the Lord hath decreed his Church shall haue ad­uersitie, therefore it may not vse prayer against it, neither then may we pray to lead a godly and peaceable life, which yet the Apostle doth, neither may we frame our prayers a­gainst reproch and shame, which yet the Prophet doth, Lord (saith he) turne from me shame and contempt. For who know­eth not that in Scripture persecution, reproch, &c. are the ordinarie portion commonly allotted those, that professe the Gospell in truth and sinceritie? And if because the Lord hath decreed his Church shall haue aduersitie, therefore it may not vse prayer against it, then may it not vse any meanes at all by way of preuention. Which errour spposed for a truth openeth a wide gappe for presumption, despaire, and all neg­lect of all godly meanes:Orig lib. 2. con­tra Celsum. What reason had the Sophister in Origen to disswade a sicke person from sending for a Physi­tion but this: If God haue decreed thy health it shall be whether thou vse the Physition, or vse him not; And if God haue decreed thy death, thou maist spend thy money, he loose his paines, and thou neuer a whit the better. And as good neuer a whit as neuer the better. The Sophister being to marry, was confuted by an argument of the like making, and this he had returned vpon him. To what ende is it thou take a wife, if God haue purposed you children you must needes haue them, and if he haue purposed you none, doe all you can, you shall haue none. One pin driuen out with another, both of them a sufficient proofe that our actions and counsels must not depend vpon vncertainties this way or that way, but by a stayed sure line are to be ruled and ordred. And though it be one way true a man sometimes marrieth and hath no chil­dren, yet on the otherside being vtterly impossible in the course of nature for a man to haue children without companie of some woman, we are to doe in this case, what godly reason counselleth, not what the Sophister concluded. So likewise [Page 51]what euer aduersitie the Church feareth, and God hath de­creed to exercise her patience withall, she must binde the sa­crifice of her prayers with cords to the hornes of the Altar; and in forecast of all imminent daungers call vppon God that mercie may step in twixt her transgression, and his iudgement.

Impossible it is to be free from all aduersities, and there­fore it is not a petition, but a vaine babling.

What is simply absolutely and fully impossible, which we know shall neuer be graunted at all to one or other in any measure, that we are not to craue. But fréedome from all ad­uersitie in some measure for some particular Church is possible,Math. 26.39 Non obstat, qùod rē impossi­bilem sibi conce­di poscit, quia non semper fi­delium preces continue teno­re ad finem vs­que flu [...], non semper [...]quabi­le temperamē ­tum seruant, non semper dis­tinctoordine sūt composita, quin potius implici­ta & perplexa vel confligunt secum, vel in mediocursu sub sistunt. Cal. apud marlor in Math. 26. v. 39. Siomisso diui [...] consilis intuit [...] desyderium su [...] ̄ quo astuabat inpatris smum depos [...]rit. Ibid begun here, and hereafter more fully graunted, so that our pray­ers may well intreate for it. And as eternall life we craue here, yea and in some small measure doe inioy euen now, while flesh is vpon vs, so fréedome from all aduersities we shall haue in the life to come but the beginnings thereof, and a certaine swéete tast we haue now and pray we may haue more and more abundant, the consummation whereof also we desire now, though presently now we obtaine it not. Easie it is to know the difference of these seuerall petitions. To obtaine a thing, and to desire a thing. We aske not the consummation here, but here we aske the consummation. The beginning, middle, and increase we may hope for, pray for, and here obtaine, but fully after this life an ende of all aduersitie. Vppon those words of our Sauiour his prayer. Father if it be possible let this Cuppe passe from me, &c. Matth. 26. Our learned god­ly writers note thus. No hinderance it is, that our Sauiour craueth an impossible thing to be graunted. For the prayers of the faithfull doe not alway flow one with a continuall te­nour to the ende, they doe not alway keepe an euen temper, they are not alway composed in a distinct order, but rather implicat and perplexed either at variance with themselues, or stop in the midst of the way, &c. And anone after followeth this obseruation. It is no absurditie if Christ by a common recei­ued [Page 52]manner among the faithfull (the view in of Gods counsell being omitted) laid downe in his Fathers besome that desire of his,In fundēdis pre cibus non sēper ad speculanda cēscendunt &c. vel tanquam in otio expendunt quid factu sit possibile. &c. Ibid. Sed votorum fernore interdū celeres ferūtur Ibid. wherewith he did boile. For the faith [...]ull in powring foorth their prayers, doe not alway clamber vp to pry into Gods se­crets, nor are alway at lessure to weigh what is possible, but are sometimes speedily carried with the feruencie of their prayers to the thing which they begge.

No promise that we shall be free from all: Ergo to pray for that, whereof we haue no promise is against faith, and so not to be Subscribed vnto.

Both these propositions must be warily vnderstood. For if their meaning be, that we are not to pray for any thing, but what is expresly promised in Gods word, as concerning eue­ry particular that wee stand in neede of, we shall deny our selues in many thinges the comfortable vse of prayer. Where­as it may fall out that the Lord is so farre Trom promising, as he vtterly denieth vs what wee aske, yea▪ hee maketh knowne vnto vs by his some he will not graunt our petiti­on, but putteth it of and by name puts vs of.Math. 15.22.24. [...]5. Thus it plea­sed our Sauiour to intreate the Woman of Chanaan, whose daughter was miserably vexed with a Deuill. He answered bix not a word, and after much adde, when hee spake, he spake nothing to her comfort, for he said. He was not sent, but to the lost sheepe of the bouse of Israell. And then afterwards notwithstanding her importunitie, he tould her it was not for a dogge to haue the childrens bread. In all which answeres, as that also of the Disciples motion to haue her thrust away, because she cryed after them no expresse pro­misse did the Lord make vnto her for that which she craued at his handes: No doubt inwardly the spirit of God wrought in her heart: and the more she indured an open repulse the more she was extraordinarily incouraged to waite in expectation and giue attendance vpon the Lord for what she craued. Besides doe we instance in that example of our Sauiour before alleaged. What expresse promise had Christ to be deliuered from the Cup, [Page 53]who well knew that therefore be came into the world,Quamuis sit vera rectitude for mare n [...]str [...]s [...]mmes affectus ad des arbitriū, esse tamen quā dam obliqua dissensio [...]is spe­cum qua culpa caret, & in p [...] catum non im­putatur Cal­a [...]ud Marls. in Math. 26.39. Si quis trāquil lum & florent [...] ̄ ecclesia statum expetat &c. Ibid. Si cupiat arum [...]is liber atosessa dei filios, subla­tat è medio om­nes superstisio­nes, repressam. &c. Ibid. H [...] quam per­se recta sint rità possunt à fidels­bus expeti &c. Ibid. Proprium est fidelis [...]is nolla pati ali­quid doloris. Orig homil. 35. in Math. and that the prophe [...]es, [...]acritices, tipes, and sacrausents of the law did foretell what death he should die. From both which parti­cular allegations we gather this comfortable instruction. Al­though it be a true rightnesse, or rectitude to frame all our affec­tions to the will of God, yet there is a certaine shew of a slope or obliq [...] diff [...]ntion and disagrament, which is without blame and is not imputed vnto sinne: as for example, if a man wish for a quiet and flourishing estate of the church, if he desire the sons of God be freed from sorrowes, and that all superstitions be vtterlie taken away and that the lustful licentiousnes of the wick­ed be repressed, least it doe hurt. These thinges for asmuch as they are right in themselues they may rightly be praied for by the faithfull, although it please God otherwise to haue his some raigne among his enimies, his children exercised vnder the crosse &c. For as Origin hath vpon like occasion. It is the proper­tie of euerie faithfull man not to be willing to suffer anie griefe &c. Wherefore be it, there is noe expresse promise, nay were we the persons, whome God by name had dented. Yet so long as we craue in assurance of grace (with the church of God, well perfwaded she is in fauour,) so long as all we beg is with refe­rence to his blessed will, and in faith that hee heareth, certainely beleeuing in generali he will giue, though not this nor that for qualitie or quotient, yet so much as is expedient that we may the better goe for warde in the dueties of our calling: there is noe likelihood to the contrarie but we may pray and praying shall ef­fectually obtaine to the reliefe of our necessity and the setting forth of his glorie. But scripture is full of promises made to the faithfull for freedome from all aduersities except we thinke they were onely currant with the Jewes and noe way concerne the Israel of God. Exod. 23. Yee shall serue the Lord your God, He shall blesse thy bread, and thy water, and will take all sicknesse away from thee. And Deut. 7. The Lord will take away all in­firmities,Exod. 23.25. Deut. 7.15. c. 28.2.3.4.5.6. &c. and will put none of the euill diseases &c. Cap 28. The Lord is rich in mercie and vouchsafeth large promises of all manner of blessings to his people that barken to the law and o­bey the same, whither at home, or abroad in the fielde, in the house in his children, cattell going forth, conuning home &c. As [Page 54]may be scene by the specialties there expressed crossing the parti­cular crosses and [...]ses threa [...]ed to be cast vpon the shineched and disobedient.In nous Testa­mento prater [...]er [...]nd possessio [...], qua pro­mittitur sanctis [...]uins possesio­nis qua tran­situra est, mul­tiplicatio non substrabitur, & tante fit vberior quan to contemptius pos [...]idetur, Aug. contra Adimâ. c. 1 [...]. Psalm. 91.20. Abomni pericu le quod tibi cre­abitur. Iunins. Ibid. defendet te ab emniperi culo. Ibid. Post aliquod malorum speci­ficationem sum matim & in [...]enere dicit, Non occurret tibi malū di cti one mali omni [...] generis afflict­ones miserias & arumnas complectens. Marlo. Ibid. [...]aollerus totidē p [...]nè verbis. Psalm. 122.6. Pacis nomen g [...] neraliter pro la to & felsci sta t [...] posuit Marlo in Psalm. 121.2 [...]riuatam, publicam, intus & foris, Iunius. Ibid. Psalm. 128.5. Againe cap, 30. The Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in euery work of thy hand, in y^t fruit of thy bodie, of thy cattell, and of thy land for thy wealth. Vpon which wordes in that 28. chap, the former of these two quotations Saint Austin writeth in this fort. In the new testament be­side the eternall possession, which is promised to the Saints the multiplication of a transitory possession is not substracted, but somuch the more plentiful it becōmeth, as the more contempted­ly it is possessed. But to proceede in other scriptures. What is it els but a grations promise to be defended frō al aduersities, where in the first Psalme it is auouched in general termes. Whatsouer thou takest in hand, shall prosper. The like is Psal. 91. there shal no euil come vnto thee v. 10, & a little before v. 3 The Lord will deliuer thee from the snare &c that is saieth M. Iunius the Lord will deliner thee from all danger, and v. 4. Where the prophet saieth, he will couer theé vnter his winges &c. that is hee will defend thee from all euil. All danger and aleuil is no more then answereable vnto this collect All aduersities. Of which indge­ment is Marlorat and Mollerus. After a specialty of some euils he saieth humanity and in generall. Noe euill shall come vnto y^t vnder the word (euill) comprehending afflictions, miseries, and sorrowes of all forts. Beside these authorities and commen­taries Psalme. 121. Witnesseth asmuch. The Lord out of Sion shall preserue thee from all euill, and he shall preferue thy going out and thy comming in, that is all the actions and occa­sions of our life, for so going out and comming in is taken 1. Reg. 37. Num. 27.17. As Maister Iunius proueth in that place. Far der Psal. 122.6. the prophet sheweth it is the duety of the faith­full to pray for the peace of Jeruslem, that peace may be with­in hir wales & prosperitie within hir pallaces. Which name of peace is put generally for the pleasant and happie estate, and all things prosperous as Marlorat hath, or as Maister Iunius diui­deth it for al peace whither priuate or publicke, whither within or without. Againe Psal. 128. The Lord out of slon shal blesse y^e & thou shalt see y^e wealth & prospecous estate of Jerusalem al the days of thy life, to like effect is y^t promise by Esay y^t prophet whē thou passest thorough the waters I will be with the, and [Page 55]through the floods that they do not euer flow thée,Isay. 43. [...]. Per [...]gn [...] & aquam intelli­gi [...], omne genu [...] miser [...]arum quibus in hae vita ob [...]xij s [...] mus. Calain. Ibid. Visi [...]in or as. domin Ioh. 16.23. whē thou wal­kest thorough the very fire thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle vpon thee &c. Where Maister Calain teacheth that the Lord by fire and water doth vnderstand all kind of me­series: If al these quotations suffice not, the words of our sauiour note asmuch in the praier deliuer vs from cuil that is (faieth Vr­sinus whom we haue quoted els where) all euels both of sin & pu­nishment whither present or to come. Nor doth this clause onely warrantize thus much but also those words Ioh. 16. whatsoeuer ye aske the father in my name he shall giue it you: If whatsoeuer a man can aske, he shall haue, what cause is there that y^e church praying for freedome from all aduersities, any son or daughter of hirs should doubt that the Lord will grant it, or rather denie y^t the Lord wil grant it, being amply confirmed by manie scripturs in the old and new testament. In a word to put an end (if not to al aduersities till our liues end, yet) is our aduersaries & the trouble which this obiection hath occasioned, cuery word here arrested puts in baile for more securitie. The church may be free by y^e protectiō of y^e Almighty frō al aduersity.Rom. 6.201 [...]. 22. [...]. First y^e church particular not vniuersal: secōdly may be argueth it is not. 3. free but freed as y^e Apostle speaketh of our estate in christ freed from sin because borne naturally the vassals of sin, and our freedome not natu­rall but purchased, not actiue but passiue. 4. (From) not vtter­ly without all, but in aduersitie, and then afterwardes freed, For though this worde from in most languages bee sometimes taken exclusiuè for without in what manner young schollers proue their argument by a proposstion drawne from Aristotle where it neuer was, meaning it is not in Aristotle at all,Ex Aristotele. and so is out but quite out, yet no such error is here bred in these wordes (may be free from) because (free from) in Scrip­ture signifieth to haue beene first in it:1. Cor. 1.10. Ibid. c. 10.13. & thē afterwards deliue­red: So Paul receiuing y^e sentēce of death was deliuered frō it but he was first subiect vnto it:Math. 17.43. So God deliuereth from euill but a man is first in the tentation & then the Lord makes way out So. Mat 27. of Christ scoffingly they spake, he trusted in God let him deliuer him, if he wil haue him. So Luke 1.74 deliuered frō y^e handes of our enimies may serue him without feare al y^e daies of our life. And that before in the Psalme. 121. The Lord [Page 56]shal preserue shée from euill,Rom. 7.24.1 [...].31. 2. Thes. 3.2. 2. Tim. 3.11. Deut. 29.20. Non possunt quidem omnia maledicta e [...]e­nire vni ho­mini: Non e [...]im toties mor [...] po­test quot gene­ra mortis hic dicta sunt, sed omnia dixit pro quibuslibet. August super Deut lib. 5. c. 49. Rom. 1.8. Inomnibus ec­cles [...]is totius mundi Synechdo che est generis hyperbolica, nā intelligit eccle­sias plurinias. Piscat. Rom. 1 8. Optimè compre henduntur ōnia mala culpa & p [...]na &c. Vrsin. in orat. dominic. In dei custodiā ac fidem suscepti ac protectione [...]ius s [...]curi supra peccatū, mortem, infero­rum portas & totum Diabols regnum inuicts duremus. Cal. in Math. 6.13. he shall preserue thy going out and thy comming in from this time forth. And many the like In all which places danger is still presupposed imminent and pos­sible. Fifthlie (All) that is all manner not euery particular but in generall, or rather indefinite termes, because all at once doe not vsuallie fall vpon the church in one onely age. But as S. Austin well noteth vpon Deut, 29.20, 27. The Lord his Ielousie shall smoke against that man and euery curse that is written in this booke shall light vpon him. All (saieth that good father,) cannot come to one man for he cannot die so often, so many seuerall kindes of death, as are set downe in that booke But (all) he said for anie. Or els this word (all) may be taken for most as Rom 1. Because your faith is published through­out the whole world (that is) in all churches of the whole world. An hiperbolicall, or excessiue speech. For the Apostle thereby meaneth most churches, or verie many churches. So in this petition here all aduersities that is most aduersities. Sixtly (Aduersitie) may be taken here for what euer is aduerse and contrarie to soules health whither sinne, or the punishment for sinne: Sutable whereunto is that petition, which our sauiour taught his disciples Deliuer vs from euil, which Vrsinus inter­preteth in these wordes vnder the name of euill some vnderstand the diuill, some vnderstand sinne, others vnderstand death: But vnder this name are comprehended all euils of sinne and punish­ment whither they be present or to come: So as in asking that God deliuer vs from euils we craue that he do send vs no euill but deliuer vs from all euils present, & to come both of sin and punishment &c. Read the place in Vrsinus his Carechisme. Se­uenthly (through thy protectiō) may be free from al aduersi­ties (that is) being taken into the trust and custodie of God, and by his protection secure ouer sinne, death, the gates of hell, and the whole kingdome of Sathan we may continue vncon­quered. Implying All it is free from, is by his protection, as he that is saide to teach All the schollers in a town, not that (All) in the towne are taught, but that (all) which are taught are of his teaching: so not that the church is free from all, but that all she may be free from, may be by his protection as S. Austin interpreth that in 2. Tim 2.4. (All men are saued,) not that [Page 37]all are saued, but that all which are saued, are saued by him.Non quod nullus sit hominū quem saluu [...] fiers velit, sed quod nullus fiat, nisi quem velit. Aug. ad Lauren c. 103. Lastlie in the communion booke which themselues perued and offered to the parliament in a prayer that followeth after their prayer for the whole church, are the like wordes. Asswage and stay thy corrections, and so at length by deliuering them from all their troubles. Wee in our leiturgie say All aduersities which they call corrections and all troubles. Graunt it good in theirs after their meaning, then cannot it bee misconstrued in ours being to the same sense, and purpose. Now when so euident a truth in the manifold explanation sheweth it selfe, they who haue had a hand in wounding the credit of our church about this prayer, will in the end receiue condigne reproch, and well worthie are they for their fond defamations raised against that, which so manie waies cleareth it selfe in the vpright iudge­ment of the Godlie well aduised

In the whole bible there is mentioned onely 2. sorts of Priests the one of Aron, the other after Melchisedecke.

TWo sorts of Priests offering to God some visible, ex­ternall present, as sacrificeing vnto him, wee read in the bible. But if our word (Priest) being lished for that in the originall hebrue wee must knowe there are more thē onely two sorts of Priests. For the original word in [Page 38]in Hebrue signifieth a principall honourable officer of chiefe no [...] whither in ecclesiasticall or eiuill occasions.Cohen In which sence P [...] ­phar. because of his enmient place about Pharao hath the name,Genes. 41.45. whose daughter Ioseph maried. So the sonnes of Dauid, who might not burne incense are called 2. Sam. 8. So Iarah a chiefe prince about Dauid 2. Sam 20.26. [...]. 1. Ch [...]o. 18.17 2. Sam. 8. 2. Sam. 20.26. And because Aaron & his sons were to be of greater account then the Lenite, this name of pre­heminence they distinctlie had from the rest. In the Greek of the new testament there are two words both translated by this same word Priest, signifying a sacerdotall office in sacrificing, or els taken for an auncient and elder, in which sence commonly it is the name of a minister of the gospell, and so the word from Pres­byteros and presbyter contracted and made short Priest. [...]. Presbyter. Priest. The occasion intended may charge our language with penurie and want of words, in that she is inforced to make one english word interpreter to them al, and did we speak latine, the plea we put in would be of more force, but in our mother tongue, which we vse, it is not against vs, nor our letturgie.

Aarons priesthood with the name, together with all therest of the Ceremomes had their end by Christ, which to renue were to deni [...] Christ.

Yet they so haue not their end by Christ, but the ministers of the gospell succeede Aaron in teaching, and praying for the peo­ple, which dueties belonged to Aaron, and die not with him. The priest his lips should preserue knoweledge,Malac. 2.7: and of him should the people aske counsell, which verie course continueth in the mi­nisters of the worde and sacraments.

So if ministers must bee Priests by their office, it must needes be of the Popish sacrificing order, which I hope, none dare affirme.

So must ministers of the word be Priests by their office, & yet no néed they be of the Popish sacrificing order. For they are Priests, as the word is giuen them in the new testament that is auncients, and elders; And reason it is, they should be so thought, because of y^t originall, whence our english word is deriued. For it [Page 39]is not home borne but a stranger, first a greek; then latine, & now english. And y^t very word, which the holy ghost calleth vs by in y^t new testament, is the grand-sire to this name priest: Wherein our language (if anie complaine of hir pouertie that shée is not copious as y^t griek is) yet may reioyce in this hir dexteritie, that she giueth the name in y^t very same characts the other doth.

To affirme a Priest and Priesthood doth derogate from Christ Iesus who hath put an end to Priest, and Priesthood.

True it doth; to meane a sacrificer of a carnall, reall, external, propitiatorie sacrifice of the very body, and blood of Christ vnder the formes of breade, & wine vpon a materiall altar for the quick and dead:Isay. 61.6. 1. Pet 2.5. Apoc. 5.10. Els in a borrowed speech by way of allusion to the le­gall rites, it doth no way derogate. For the holie ghost witnes­seth accordingly, as was prophesied by Esay, we are a roial priesthood vnto God to offer vp spirituall sacrifices.

So is euerie godlie man and woman a Priest, but this is nothing to the minister.

True also it is, Euerie godlie man and woman is a Priest in the common receiued sence as the prophet speakes Isay 61. yee shalbe named the Priests of the Lord yet from among them he will take out some more speciallie to bee Priests and Leuites, Isay. 61.6.66.21. that is such, as in the ministerie of the Gospell should be distin­guished both from the people, and from themselues, as were the Priest and Luites. For though the people offer vp the calues of their lips, and their bodies a liuing, reasonable sacrifice, yet in two respects els for distinction sake the minister may haue that name, rather then the people. First because, they offer vp for themselues distinctly a part, but he in publicke by vertue of his of­fice both for himselfe, and for them in the name of the congrega­tion, standing vp before the Lord, and offering their prayers in that onely attonement, Christ Iesus, they in the meane while accompanying him with sighs and grones, sealing vp euery peti­tion with a still, silent, but effectuall Amen: Secondly he mini­streth in holie things the word and sacraments, which ministra­tion Saint Paul calleth by the name of one imploied in a sacred [Page 40]businesse, [...]. Rom. 15.16. Pastores quo sensu sacerdotes dicantur Feg­uernek. Crisost. [...]. Episcopi & prasbyters pro­priè appellātur sacerdotes Aug de ciuit dei lib. 20 cap 10 vetustissima cō suetudo fuit in ecclesia christi­ana, vt mini­str [...] vocarēsur sacerdotes Neque egomul­tum moror no­mina modo de rebus conueniat Zanch. deredēp. lib. 1 c. 19. [...] Kirck Church. for the word is a sacrificing knife in the hand of his mi­nister, by which our flesh is killed, and offered vp a [...]ring sacrifice vnto God: Where Peguer nekinus in his promtuarie vpō Mar­lorat, saieth in the title of the pastor. (In which sense Pastors are called sacrificers, or ministring in holie things) And it may be thought S. Chrisost. so meant intituling six books by y^t name (Hierosune) & S. Austin writing that Bishops and Priests are now properlie called sacerdotall Priests. Zanchius saieth in the 4. commaundement: It was a most auncient custome in the church of christ, that the ministers of the word & sacramēts should be called sacerdotall Priests, because ministers of sa­cred things Nor doe I much contend about names, so we did agrece in the thinges themselues.

To giue this new name to the ministers of the Gospel is to crosse, & reiect the wisdome of God who hath giuē so many fit names to his in his word.

It is no new name but the old, and the verie same which the worde of God giueth them: For it is Priest, whose name is presbuteros, and so translated into our tongue, as other words Bible, Euangilest, Baptisme, Church, and the like, which retaine the foot-print of their originall. And could wee redeeme the wrong it hath receiued, in being put to interpret the office of a popish sacrificer, our labour should be imployed herein, but we are not to cōmaund words. As for other naturall english El­der, aunciēt sen [...]or, whereof some are no more english thē this, the reason, why we vse them not, is because they are made triuial and common in other trifling pelting, and prophane occasions: So as what in regarde thereof, as also for [...] riuation whence this worde is taken, and the allusion it hath by way of simi­litude to them in the law (as we generallie among vs receiue it in our church, not to be misliked, nor so contentiously to be imrupned, more then y^t word (Sunday) among the beathē, which name we retaine, vnderstanding not y^t Sun in the firmamēt (though Pagans do) but our Lord the sun of righteousnesse to whose honour wee obserue it.Linguā teneat mentem corri­gat August. And therefore as S. Austin in another case about the worde (free will) Let him retainethe worde, and correct his minde. If any be popishlie affected it is not the worde, but their iudgement that needeth reformation.

To say that on Christmas day and the Sabbaoth following Christ to be borne this day is against the plaine manifest truth of Scrip­ture. For Christ had his naturall birth in one onely day.

Christ had his naturall birth in one onely day, [...]ut not his solemnized birth in one onely day, which is the meaning of the words in the Collect. And if that which hath béen already spoken suffice not, this we adde for a more plenary and ful answere. As a day in computation varieth, naturall, artificiall, supernaturall. Naturall comprising day & night; artificiall, as that which our Sauiour mentioneth of 12. houres, are there not 12. houres in the day: supernaturall as that in Iosua his time, & in the raigne of King Ezechias, so is there a day Politicall, & Ecclesiasticall; Politicall as that of our Kings, who are crowned one day, yet their tilts, iusts, and triumphs last thrée, seuen, or 13. daies after. Ecclesiasticall and that is thréefold Historicall, Euangelicall, Festiuall▪ Historicall the time of our Sauiours being here in the world: Euangelicall the day of mercie, and forberance. O if thou hadst knowne in this thy day. Festiuall a time of solem­nitie, which differeth more, or lesse. Lesse as the strict account of 12. houres from morning to euening, which commonly is the li­mited obseruation of euery Saints day. More, as that of Christ his Natiuitie, Passeouer, and the comming of the holy Ghost, at which times the Church ordaineth not onely for the anniuer­saries, when it commeth, but also a diurnall for some daies more, or lesse continued, as the example of the Iewes in their Passeouer,Exod. 12.15. Ioh. 18.39. Luc. 23.17. whereof the first, and the seuenth was a calling forth of the people to serue God, yea, sixe daies before it was called by the name of a Passeouer, as appeareth in the historie of Barrabas. So the first and the seuenth, yea sometimes sooner, whereon Christ was borne; arose: as this day, the holy Ghost came downe: notwithstanding it was but once done, yet twice, or more in that seuen night more solemnly▪ and publikely the memoriall is pre­serued. For as a day in the nature of the first relation strictly sig­nifieth the day wherein Christ was borne, and that could be but [Page 46]once, so in the nature of a history, y^e reporteth a report or festiual, that sosemnizeth, it signifieth the daies after, yea, euen so many as the memorie of that speciall action representatiuely by pub­like prayer,Memoriā Pas­cha & Pente­costes veteres Ecclesiastici scriptores vocāt Pascha et Pen­tecosten Confes: Wittenberg de sacra Cana sect. 14. pag. 147. and thanksgiuing is duely sanctified. So the auncient (saith the confession of Wittenberg) call the memoriall of Easter, and Whitsuntide by the name of Easter and Whit­suntide it selfe. Which in effect is like this receaued manner of our Church. We call the momoriall of Christ his birth day, by the name of y^e very natural day, wherin he was once to be borne. In a word little he obserueth in Scripture, Philosophie or other learning, who obserueth not, that these words Now, this day, yesterday, &c. signifie more then a bare stint either of moment, 12. houres,Math. 24 [...] pro [...]. Pascat: Heb. 2.16: 24, [...]. &c. For they reach sometimes to 3. 4. 6. daies yea a great while after vpon occasion. Lastly, considering Aduent sunday before presenting Christ to come, though come before, as also the phrase, Herod asked, where Christ should be borne, who was borne already, & that Heb. 2. He takes not Angels but the seede of Abraham, as if this day to be done which was so long agoe, and could be but once: yet a truth by a grace of spéech put­ting that in the present or future tence, which should be in the pre­terperfect tence, all prooue that this clause in the Collect thus car­ped at, is sufficiently defended.

Himselfe is commaunded to s [...]and.

How can any man thinke the minister should deliuer it other­wise, being as he is to passe from one to another?

To receiue the sacramēt kneeling is dangerous for minister, & peo­ple, in respect of law, in respect of God, religion, and conscience. Of law for the minister is charged by a statute Elizab. 13. to subscribe to the articles of religion &c. vpon paine of depriuatiō. But the 28. ar­ticle commaundes that the sacrament must not be worship. Ergo to minister to the people kneeling is to be in danger of the law.

Law is pretended, but disobedience intended. Rather then selfe-will can brooke a controull, church, and common wealth shall be made enimies each to other, as if the same persons, that haue au­thoritie in both did commaund things contrarie, & were not well aduised, what they do exact. But a truth it is, men are not aduised nor care they, against what it is that they do except. The 28. ar­ticle speaks not by way of cōmaund, but onely in these words, The sacrament of the Lords supper was not by Christs or­dinance reserued, carried about, lifted vp, or worshipped whereunto as an article of truth the statute Elizabeth 13. re­quireth our subscription, and if anie shall teach otherwise, it pas­seth vpon him sentence of depriuation. Proue they that anie a­mong vs doth reserue, carrie about, lift vp or worship the sacrament of the Lords supper, and good leaue haue they to sue all ex­tremities. A deuise onely found out to gull a simple honest well affected minde. For let men talke of law, as much as they list and bleare mens eyes, which they dare not doe thus, nor thus, and al for feare of law, truth wil detect a bad mind, & easily proue, that they respect not law nor lawful procéedings more, then fits their own humor: 1. Elizabeth a law it is, if any persons, any manner [Page 52]of way shall depraue the booke of common prayer, so, and so his punishment is set downe, and the penaltie quicke for euery such trespasse, yet how manifest, and daylie breaches are made, such writings, and preaching in this kind doe publish to the worlde. And therefore what tell they vs of law that are themselues law­lesse, and carelesse? But did they well smart for this breach of good order, offences would be fewer, and obedience more vsuall.

kneeling is worshipping For Mark 5.22. and Luk 8.41. Iairus is said to fall, or kneele downe at Christs feete. And Math 9.18. relating the same storie saieth, that Hee did worshippe.

Kneeling is not in that place put for diuine worshipping.Christ [...] diuinū bonorem non exhibuit Iairus, sed coluit vt dei prophetam. Genuautē flexio quàm vulgaris fuerit apud or [...] entales satit notum. Marlor in Mare. Gen 33.3.23.7. Iai­rus gaue not Christ anie diuine honor, but reuerenced him as a prophet of God. For bending the knee, how common it was among the easterne men is well knowne, and the manner of the countrie in the debter to his creditor Mathew 18. & in Iacob his obe [...]sance to Esau in Abraham, before the people of H [...]th, Gen, 23.7. So that mere kneeling that is, bowing of the knee, is not worshiping in a diuine manner. Children do it to their pa­rents, subiects to their king, and no hard point is it to be per­swaded, that some, who obiect thus, haue asmuch done them by the fruite of their loines when their children aske blessing, or els both children, and parents fault is the greater.

This kneeling to the sacrament was brought into the sacrament by Antichrist, the man of sinne, Pope Honorius the third an. 1220. teaching the people thereby to worshippe the bread, and all to be-god it.

The question is not of kneeling to the sacrament, Totius terrae prostrationem, terrae deosculais onē, alta suspi­ri [...], pectoris per­cus [...]iones Ber. d [...]n dom. ad­uers lodoc. Har. montensis dog­mata pag. 144. but kneeling at the sacrament. The one we allow, the other we mis­like, and condemne. Receiuing on our knees is not forbid, but ducking, prostrating falling on all foure, kissing the earth, bouncing the brest, and popish crouching, al to begodding the sacrament, this we like not of, nor doth the booke, whence the obiection would inforce an argument. The name of the book is a treatise of custome, and truth inserted in the book of Martyrs [Page 53]in King Edward the 6. his daies, where it speaketh of the practise of the primitiue church. VVhen the sacrament was dealt, none of them all crouched down and tooke it for his God, forgetting him, that sat there present before their eies, pag. 1264. Apostols non l [...] ­guntur prostra­ti in terrā ado­rasse sacramen­tum. Cal. Instit. 4.17. & 35.36. but tooke, and eat it, knowing it was a sacrament, and a re­membrance of Christ his bodie. Now all to be-goding it. Honorius appointed and thus the question is handled by Mais­ter Caluin. The Apostles are not read prostrated or laid a­long on the earth to haue worshipped the sacrament. Againe speaking of Rome at this day and the practise of hir followers They prostrate themselues before the bread to adore it. Of our writers, the author of the view of poperie sets it down thus.Coram pane s [...] ­se homines pro­sternunt vt pa­nem adorent. Ibid. Honorius the third did first cōmaund the people at eleuatrō time to incline and bow themselues, and when the hoast was carri­ed about in procession. This superstitious abuse, neither the 28. article, nor wee iustifie, onely what is decent wee labour to re­store. For wee know these misticall signes must be reuerentlie handled which the east, [...] and westerne churches did expresse with humbling, and bowing of their bodie, to shew that they presented themselues with bashfulnes and a reuerent feare.

The papist [...] would not kneele, if there Idols were not there, no more would men kneele, if the bread, and sacraments were not there.

If the bread, and sacraments were not there: What these wordes may imply wee coniecture, but as here they are set downe we cannot, following their example, but needes must dis­like. Som error sure it is; for they afterward (as it appeareth) challendge our booke of common prayer, wherein the title of the communion the Eucharist hath the name of Sacraments. But we wil take their meaning. (No more would men kneele if the sacrament were not there) which is a false proposition. For wee kneele alway in prayer, as well, when that blessed sa­crament is not, as when it is administred. Secondly if we may not kneele for feare of superstition, neither may we bee vnco­uered and bare head: The papist adoreth it calleth vpon it, confesseth vnto it &c. all which bee the partes of adoration. [Page 54]Wée then call not vpon it, nor confesse vnto it but because at time of diuine prayer, receiuing it we vse such submisse religious ges­tures, as well beseeme that singular work.Cum sa [...]cti se­riò [...]rant solent flectere genua. Oleuian. in Ephes. 3 14. For when the saints pray earnestlie (saieth Oleuian) they vse to kneele, vnder which verie name Saint Paul, comprehendeth prayer, when he saieth Ephesians 3. For this cause I bow my knees &c. that is I pray. Which bahauiour springing from an honest, and vnfain­ed heart cannot but be, (as it is) acceptable vnto God, other­wise in deedes,Math. 27.29. if the heart goe not withall, of asmuch acceptance with the Lord, as that kneeling of the Iewes, when they plat­ted a crowne of thornes on the heade of our sauiour.

This kneeling crosseth the practise of our sauiour, when euening was come he sat downe with the twelue.

As if the argument were in method and order concluded thus. VVhatsoeuer crosseth the practise of our sauiour must not be allowed of. But kneeling crosseth the practise of our sauiour. For hee kneeled not but sat. Whereunto our an­swer is. Wee denie both the maior and the minor: The maior For if whatsoeuer crosseth the practise of our sauiour must not bee allowed of, then the church order of Geneua (where the ministers of the worde distribute vnto the people the bread, and the elders (their gouernours for discipline) reach the cup) may not bee approued. For one part of the sacrament is no way inferior to the other, our sauiour brake the bread, and then tooke the cup, and gaue it to his disciples. The same hand that did one, did both. Againe for the maior, if that bee true,Christi actio nostra imitatio then the meaning is. Christ his action must bee our imitation, as if he did it, wee must doe it to; Which princi­ple is the foundation, that beareth the weight, and peize of all this argument, and is in great request with the Anabaptists. Christ was baptized at 30. yeares, and wee trow (say they) hee knew well the right vse of the sacrament, therefore nei­ther must wee bee baptised sooner. Which proposition if it goe vncontrouled, then must wee bee first circumcised, and after­wardes baptised, then must baptisme bee administred in Jordan or some such running water. As for the other sacrament of the [Page 55]Lords supper, wee must then receiue it, not in the church, but in an vpper chamber, not in the morning, but at euening, not be­fore dinner, but after supper, nor after his resurrection, but be­fore he suffered, which is in effect not at all. For we cannot so receiue it. And by that reason call vs to wash one anothers féete for so he did Where the reason is added wee should doe so to.Ioh. 13.34. You must also wash one anothers feete. Here is our sauiours prac­tise, what hee did, and his expresse commaundement,Ablutio pedum ad essentiam sacraments coenae non pertinet Zanch. de cult [...] dei exter. lib. 1. argument. 1. pag. 450. Horat. 1. carm: ode. 27. & lib. 2. ode. 3. Plutar Plato. [...]. Lucian. Amos. 2 8. Ester. 7.8, Pet. Ciaccon. de triclinio. [...]. Ioh. 13.23. Hoe refertur ad antiquorum discubitum, in quo fiebat pluri bus discumbena tibus, vt proxi­mus quasitu priores recumbe res pedibus exterius repositis. Bez. Ibid. Posset hodiè id vtdert parum decorum, sed ta liserat tum discumbendi ratio what hee did inioine. Yet this we do not. For satisfying of which doubt, least any man be offended at the omitting hereof, the answer which Maister Zanchius giueth, is the answer generally, which the rest of our diuines returne: washing of the feete pertaineth not to the essence of the sacrament, as for that his commaun­dement it is not properly, and strictly so to bee vnderstood as if one should wash anothers feeet, but onely a lesson of humilitie, that euery one so carrie himselfe, vpon occasion, as charitie re­quireth to serue his brother. &c. arguing hereby, that we are ne­cessarilie to learne the generall instruction of humilitie, and not precisely to imitate that particular fact of our sauiours. But pro­ceede we on: Is it true? must our conformitie be in sitting after the example of our sauiour? then wee aske, whither our shooes must of, and we lie a long, the second leaning in the bosome of his fellowes, his féete drawn out vpon a bed, with a pillow vn­der his armes. For this was the auncient manner of the East, and west countries, Romaines, Grecians, and the Iewes both in the time of the law, and in the dayes of our sauiour. For the Romaines and Grecians wee referre our selues to Horace, Plutarch, Plato, and Lucian: For the Jewes in the time of the law to Amos 2.8. and Ester 7.8. and in the dayes of our sauiour because that more nearely concerneth this argumēt, we cōmend the reader to Petrus Ciaccon de triclinio. but more specially to M. Beza, & M. Caluin. M. Beza vpon this verse there was one of his disciples, which leaned on Iesus bosome This is to bee referd (saieth hee) to the sitting downe of the auncient, that many being sat, the last did (as it were) leane back vpon the former, his feete laid out from him. M. Caluin deliue­reth his minde in these wordes: It might seeme at this daie little seemelie, but such was their manner of sitting then; for they did not sitte, as wee doe now at thee table, but their [Page 56]shooes of,Neque enim se debant, vt nos ad mensam sed calcess exuto & puluinis innixi in lectulis semi­supini iacebant Cal. lid. leaning on cushions, laid all along vpon little beds with their bodies halfe way boult vpright. Now being so, it were good that men resolued vpon this point, how they would haue vs sit, before we change the receiued custome of a most humble, and re­uerent gesture, which our church vseth.

This kneeling crosseth the practise of our sauiour &c.

When we said before this argument was in great request with the Anabaptist, we might also haue added, that it is so with the papist.Neque enim dubitars potest quin illud sit melius, & faci­endum quod Christus secit. Bel. de Euchar. lib. 4. c. 7. Dico nauū esse duplicem in us ecclesiss quaeazy [...]o potius quā fermentato pa­ne vtuntur. Hoc enim & Iudaismum sa­pit, & minus est quotidiani c [...]s analogiae accommodatum. Beza. Qq. & Respon. pag. 139. Nempe qu [...]niā eo tempore cae­nam hanc. &c Ibid. Si Christus ad coenam hanc eo qus tum vsita­tuserat pane vsus est &c. Ibid. Kneeling cros­seth not Christ his practise. For in the question whither leauened or vnleauened bread is to be vsed in the sacrament, Bellarmin reasoneth thus. Christ at his last supper vsed vnleauend bread, therefore we must also. For it cannot be doubted but that is farre better and rather to be done which Christ himselfe did. Where­unto Maister Beza answering (not Bellarmin, for he writ long before Bellarmin his workes came forth but to this argument) maketh this reply. Although I will not greatly contend, yet to tel you my minde freely, I say there is a double fault or blemish in those churches, which vse rather vnleauened, then leauened bread. First because it sauoureth of Iudaisme, 2. because it is lesse fitted to the analogie and proportion of our ordinarie bread. True it is Christ blessed vnleauened bread, because at that time he ordained his supper, when in deede the Iewes might vse no other. So as we may retort y^e argument: If Christ in this supper vsed such bread, as they then vsed, we must do so to; But he vsed cōmon ordinarie bread thē, & therefore we must vse ordinary bread. Now our ordinary & vsual bread is leauened therefore also is it that we vse such. As if he implied thus much. Be it Christs action is our imitation; We denie not, but euen in our bread we imitate Christ, not in that very particular, be­cause ours is leauened, but in the generall because ours is such, as is ordinary, for so was christs. The sum, & substance of w^t answer may iustify our denial of y^e minor which is here vrged, namely y^e our kneeling crosseth the practise of our sauiour. For christs actiō & gesture is followed, if in the general drift we do, as he did, though not in that special strict māner as he did. Which interpre­tatiō rightly conceiued pleadeth our case thus far. Christ & his A postls did that, which the custome both of those times & of their coūtry made vsual, we do now that, which the custome [Page 57]of our church of a long time hath made vsuall. It was their wonted guise to sit at meate so, and so as before, it is our ordinary fashiō to knéel in praier, because though a bāquet we assemble at, yet heauenly, diuine, spiritual it is, not a méere corporal banquet, as if eating were all we came for, but strengthning of our faith, sealing vp in our harts forgiuenesse of sins, and the like spirituall graces we come for at that time, and therefore we pray, kneele, confesse our sumes, and sing Psalmes, and all little inough, no way crossing the practise of our Sauiour more in this, then in the vse of leauened bread in time of the Sacrament, but here in following our Sauiour, because he did what the vse of his times and Countrie made fit, and decent, we what decencie, and custome of our times, and Countrie hath now made vsuall, and conuenient.

This is a shamelesse, and impudent reproching of Christ and his A­postles, that vsed not this gesture. As if Christ, or they wanted humilitie, and reuerence.

How chollericke these disputants are, and in their pelting chafe all to berattle vs for our Church custome, and vsuall prac­tise. But though they reuile vs, we will not reuile againe. For what were that else, but to proue vs both slaunderers? Quid aliud quam duo ma­ledici essemus? August. cont. liter. Petilian. lib. 3. c. 1. as S. Austin well noteth in his answere to Petilian. This shall be onely our defence at this present. It is neither shamelesse, nor impudent reproching of Christ, and his Apostles. For no com­mendable gesture sutable to the seuerall times can be thought contrary, one to the other. When our Sauiour instituted this Sacrament, he was not yet rose from Supper, where he sat with his Disciples. The place, the time, the person all plead that his action was lawfull, and good, neither doth any man say con­trarie hereunto: So farre of are we from reproouing what he did. For it was in a Chamber, and after they had supped, being not then risen from the bord, and our Sauiour himselfe was greater then any constitution of our Church since. At which time no doubt himselfe, and his presence might dispence with the Apostles for their gesture of sitting: which being but a circum­stance might be afterwards, as wel altered, as other circūstances [Page 58]of time, and place, and number of persons, or the like. For not long after, these were all altered, as we sée them at this day. Our Sauiour might doe that well, which we cannot so well. Any in­different gesture might beséeme his person, because without sin, yet chose he to frame himselfe to the rites of his countrey for that action at that time. He commended his demeanour, and not his demeanour commended him. With vs it is farre otherwise. We are sinners, we come to confesse our sinnes, and to craue pardon for the same, in token whereof is our humiliation, by knéeling, &c. None of all which needed Christ to doe. Such ods there is in regard of our selues, who are not, as Christ was to giue, but to receiue, and doe differ as much as the Master, & the Disciple, a mercifull Sauiour, and a polluted sinner, a Law giuer as then he was, and a Law receiuer, for so we are. Were a Scripture as ready at their hands for to proue ceremony of sitting, which some vrge, as there is in time of fasting to annoint our head, and wash our face,Math. 6.17. Praecipit vngi non vt hoc om­nino facianius sed vt semper omns cum dili­gentia bonum hunc thesaurū studeamut oc­cultare. Chri­sost. super Mat. homil. 21. Hubenda est in istis componen dis ratio tempo rum, quibus Christus est lo­quutus, & spec­tandus est loquē tis scopus Bez. in Math. Vnguentorum vsu nunc vix quisquam sinc luxus suspicione iusta vtatur. Ibid. what bitter words would they spare to lode vs withall, who vpon so small occasion here giuen, charge vs for shamelesse, and impudent reproching of Christ and his Apostles? Our Sauiour commaundeth saying, When thou fastest, an­noint thy head, and wash thy face. A Commaundement is more then a practise, for the true sence of which place the in­terpretation both of auncient and late Diuines well agreeth, and among them by name Saint Chrisostom, and M. Beza. Chrisostom thus: The Lord commaunded vs to be annointed, not that we should absolutely doe it, but that alwaies withall di­ligence we should study to hide this good treasure of fasting in priuate. Master Beza his obseruation is, that the manner of annointing was the fashion of those times, and the drift of the speaker we are to regard more, then the practise inioyned. For now if a man should vse that ceremonie of anointing his head, &c. He can hardly vse it without iust suspition of wast, and rioting. Whence we may obserue, if notwithstanding Christ his owne practise, yea his expresse commaundement, the Church vseth her libertie in refusall of this custome, then much rather may she in that ceremonie of sitting, where onely is Christ his example, but no commanundement at all, specially when we retaine the scope, and drift of reuerence, and humilitie as we doe. For in such cases, [Page 59]we are not so much to respect, what was done, as what Christ intended we should learne to be done. For many things he did, which we neither may, nor need, nor can doe,Actiones Chri­sti miraculosae, piaculares, mo­rales, Heming. dominic. Quad. Sieadem tent [...] mus prapostera erit a [...]nulatio. Cal. 1. Pct. 2.21. Rom. 4.25. Math. 11.29. Colos. 3.13. Ephes. 5.2. & therefore it is fit to distinguish Christ his actions, & know how far forth they re­quire our imitation. Some were miraculous as his walking vpon the water, Math. 14. Clensing the Lepars, restoring sight to the blinde, fasting fortie daies and fortie nights, if we assay to doe the like, our emulation is preposterous, some were expia­torie by way of attonement, as when deliuered to death for our sinnes he rose againe for our instification; some were arbitrary, as washing the Disciples feete, sitting at the Table, anointing his head, some morall for our imitation as his humilitie, for he is meeke, his kindnesse in our forbearing one another, and forgi­uing one another, euen as Christ forgaue vs, walking in loue, euen as Christ hath loued vs, meaning for qualitie not equa­lity; for comparison, not proportion; not in the same degree and perfection, but for the truth, and sinceritie. Lastly, in a word his constancie, who suffred for vs leauing an example,Luc. 9.23. Christi pana [...]. Afflictiones no strain [...]. Non dicit iciu­nium suum esse imitandū &c. Chrisost. in. Math. homil. 47 Non dicit disci te a m [...] mundū fabricare aus morious suscita re August. de 5. virginita. c. 35 that we should follow his steps in denying our selues, and taking vp his Crosse, not that we can satisfie for others as he did for vs, but in triall of our faith, & in witnesse of the truth, as also in iusti­fying God, when he checketh man for sinne. These many waies aboue mentioned are Christ his actiōs sorted, & euery one is a les­son for our instruction but not a sampler for imitation. Christ faith not his fast is to be imitated, nor learne of me to make the world, or raise the dead, but learne of me for I am humble, and méeke of hart. Such difference there is of those thinges which Christ did & suffred: And in the things which he did, because that concerneth the point, let vs distinguish what is the argument of our obedience, & make him our president, but otherwise we may not. Which distinction easily succoureth that doubt, of Christ what he did, & of vs what we must follow. His sitting therefore being arbitrarie, and none of those morall actions, which ne­cessarily require our obedience, we are in this to relie on the iudgement of our Church, in whose power it is to supply it with some other decent and reuerent behauiour. I deny not (saith Bishop Iewell) certaine circumstances, as fasting, sitting, Iuel. cont. Har­ding artic. 1. sect. 8. standing, kneeling, & other like ceremonies obserued in celebrating the holy mysteries are to be moderated and [Page 60]appointed at the iudgemēt of the Church, which resolution though to be acknowledged as a truth, for a truth it is, yet be­cause some will not be idle, but incumber themselues and others with vaine iangling to the contrary, read we, M. Caluin touch­ing this action, who in his institutions moouing the question whither (kneeling) at time of solemne prayer be a humaine tra­dition,Dico sic esse bu manam, vt si­mul sit diuina: Dei est quate­nuspars est de­coris illiu [...], cuius cura & obser­uatio per Apos­tolum commen d [...]tur, hominū autem quate­nus specialiter designat, quod in genere sue­rat indicatum Cal. Instit. lib. 4. c. 10. et. 30 Quoad genus di vina quoad spe­ciem humana. Ibic. [...]. Iustin. martyr. apol 2. ad Auto nium imperato rem. Aliud stans als udsedens. that one may refuse, or neglect, answereth thus. I say it is so a humaine tradition that withall it is diuine: Gods it is so farre foorth as it is a part of that beautie, whose care and obser­uation is commended vs by the Apostle: it is mans, or of men, so farre foorth, as it specially designeth what was shewed in the generall. The briefe of all which answere is, that in the gene­rall it is diuine, in the speciall it is humaine. Being there­fore at the solemne time of prayer, for the Minister prayeth ouer the Communicant. The body of our Lord Iesus Christ that was giuen for thy body preserue it to eternall life, &c. And of thankesgiuing for therefore it is called the Eucharist, we must take this action as a diuine ordinance, though appointed by men, and from men, yet not barely men as opposit vnto God, but such as are sanctified, and guided by the spirit of the Lord, for so may we assure our selues, and it is our reioycing, that our Church is so to be accounted at this present.

This kneeling was neuer vsed in any other Sacrament of the olde, or new Testament, Circumcision, Passouer, or Baptisme.

Where they vrge in Circumcision it was not so, nor in Bap­tisme, how doe they proone it? A Catholike affirmatiue hath either néede be, or giue a Catholike proofe. Because the Paschall Lamb was eate standing, meane they this must be so to, and if standing how then kneeling. To be of one minde standing, of another minde sitting argueth inconstancie. By that reason of theirs, the conclusion may inforce staues in our hands, for so the Hebrewes eate the Passeouer. Such post hast men make to be deliuered of an vntimely argument. But they, whose it is, reply in our defence that we, who kneele before the Sacrament detest Idolatrie: Which spéech of theirs we doubt not, but is vttred vpon their knowledge. For in another place [Page 61]before alleadged they tell vs,Part. 1 pag. 18 30. that the Minister must not affirme more then he knoweth. Since therefore they know so much we haue done, yet they that so speake, prosecute it thus farre against vs.

It is graunted: They that kneele before the Sacrament detest Ido­latrie: yet their outward bowing to, or before a creature in the matter of Gods worship, is a breach of the second Commaunde­ment. Thou shalt not how downe, nor worship.

A strange definition of Idolatrie. For then by that recko­ning if a man kneele, his Bible lying before him, he is an Ido­later, then Peter at the raising vp of Tabitha must be so charged, for he kneeled on his knées and turning himselfe to the dead bu­dy said Tabitha arise: yea then may we not kneele at any time. For how can we knéele but it is before some creature in heauen, or in earth, either Angles themselues, or our bréethren, & sisters where we are and liue, or the roofe, and wals, and whole edifice where we pray, valesse peraduenture these are not to be thought creatures, but must be stiled by some other name. Againe, where it is obiected that bowing before a creature in the matter of Gods worship is a breach of the second Commandement, it is very materiall to know, what they meane by these words (in a matter of Gods worship.) If they meane the time, or place of diuine seruice, sure we are, that kneeling is expedient to pro­fesse our humilitie in the houre of solemne prayer, which then is performed by the Communicants. If they meane bowing to, or before a creature it selfe in a matter of Gods worship (that is) exhibiting diuine worship vnto the creature, which is due vnto God, they knowing that we detest Idolatrie, know also that we detest that doctrine. But if in the time of the words of holy insti­tution then pronounced, they call the Elements of Bread and Wine Popish Images. or Idols, and estéeme our howing to be no other, but Idolatrous at such time, as that blessed Sacra­ment is administred: of the two we had rather be held (though falsly) superstitious, then (truely) prophane for so speaking, and yet to the glory of God we may, and doe proclaime our vtter de­testation of all superstition, & prophanenesse. As for the meaning [Page 62]of the second Commaundement, hitherto alwaies we vnder­stood this clause (Thou shalt not bow downe to them nor worship them,) to forbid vs worshiping or bowing downe is them, which God there mentioneth, such as we make vnto our selues either grauen, or the likenesse of some such in heauen or in earth Now we demand whither those sacred Elements are of our making, or doe we make them to our selues, or be they grauen, or doe we bow downe to them? If so: hold vs Idola­ters, and pertake not with bs in that sinne. But being not so, estéeme of vs as the Ministers of Christ, and faithfull disposers of those holy mysteries. The summe of all is, Our bowing at that time is an outward reuerenec (we thinke) méete should be perfourmed, because of that holy action, which is then in hand, namely a religious communicating of that blessed Sa­crament of the very body and blood of our Lord Jesus, partly to stirre vp in others a more religious estimation of those diuine seales;Seiungimus nos ab Epicureis cō temptoribus [...]ysteriorum, excitamus alios adveram reue­rentiam ne oc­casio detur sim­plisioribus &c. partly to remooue all prophane thoughts of Epicures and like contemners; partly to put a difference hereby euen externally from other Bread,Vulgares concoe [...]ationes. and Wine, which at home, or in our Gossiping and publike feasts we receiue, as the good creatures of God with thankes giuing, but standing, or sitting, neuer kneeling as we vse to doe in receiuing this Sacrament, and therefore we giue it the more reuerence because it is more, then ordinarie Bread, and Wine. And if for feare of Idola­trie it be dangerous to kneele, so is it to stand: for a man may commit Idolatrie standing. 2. If for feare of Idolatrie it be dangerous to kneele, so is it to vncouer our heads, for this ceremonie also we vse in the matter of Gods worship: Now how seemely that is let the indifferentest giue iudgement? 3. If so necessarie to kneele because our Sauiour did it at other times, then are we not alone to be reprooued, but other Churches also that receiue it standing, walking, &c. A ceremo­nie wherein we iudge not them, neither should they, or any else condemne vs. But to be reproched for well doing we ac­count our Crosse, and we will beare it.

For this same reason the Popish Wafer-cake was remooued, as in the Rubricke of the Booke of Common prayer.

For feare of Idolatrie was the Wafer cake remooued, yet not kneeling forbid, because the reason is not alike. For the Wafer cake did many waies offend.

• 1. For the substance, because it was not vsuall, as that which our Sauiour had.
• 2. In the qualitte, for the thinnesse did not so fully represent the forme of ordinary Bread.
• 3. The fashion was round.
• 4. The stampe vpon it was, we thinke, the Image of Christ crucified.
• 5. The grosse opinion then had of it, as that it was really, cor­porally, and carnally transubstantiated Christ himselfe, and only in outward shew a Wafer cake.

All which opinions being now confuted, & we by the preaching of the Gospell better instructed, the commendable practise of knéeling may be retained safely, where before it could not well be, at what time men held tran­substantiation for a doctrine of faith; Neither is it a good ar­gument, when we dispute of the action, to argue of the Element, as if because a Wafer cake is to be mist [...]ked, therefore knéeling also must indure a checke. But we will produce a fewe wit­nesses for proofe of this point, and so conclude. True it is, that where Master Beza liueth, the Communicants receaue standing, but that no more impeacheth our kneeling, then that of theirs who receaue in Wafer cakes, and we in ordinarie Bread: Now as our Countriementie not thēselues to the one, for the forme of Element, no more need they binde themselues to the other, for the maner of the action.Si qui infirmi­tate suorum ce­activel alias ob causas aliquid aliud ex vetu­stis ritibus sib [...] retinendum pu tarit, sua cut. que maneat lia bertas. Beza. 0664 0 de can. do [...]. ad­ners. lar. li. pag. 146. For Geneua is no more a Lawgiuer vnto vs, thē we are to it. This folly aduanced Rome to that height of prid, whereunto she aspired, inforcing all other Churches to her rites, & ceremouies. In regard whereof it may be that M. Beza speaking of this gesture, vseth these words. If any (saith he) compelled by the infirmitie of their owne brethren or for some other causes shall thinke good to re­taine any of the auncient rites let euery one haue their ac­customed libertie herein Peter Martyr thus determineth this question for vs, & others. I aduise in adoring when, we receiue the Eucharist, that we stay not in the elemēts, but worship in [Page 64]spirit, Quoadisti doce rentur P. mar­tyr Com. Loc. clas. 4. c. 10. & 50. Adoratio inter­na potest abs­que periculo ex biberi, neque externa sua na tura esset mala Multi eni [...] piè genu fle [...]tūt &c Nisi requen [...] esset de his re­bus in conci [...]ns bus nic [...]tio. Ibid and truth, Christ sitting in the heauens. Which thing because the simpler sort vnderstand not, we thinke, not amisse, if we restraine them from outward adoration, namely prostra­ting, and knéeling till such times, as they haue beene taught. Inward adoration may be giuen, without any danger, and the outward of it own nature cannot be euill. For many do in a god­ly manner bend the knée, & adore at the hearing of those words of the Gospell (and the word was made flesh) yet those words are not to be said to be adored, but the things themselues signified thereby. And what should hinder the very same thing to be done here, so that the Elements themselues be not worshipped, but that which is signified by them? Yet at this time for the cause be­fore mentioned (pera duenture) outward adoration is not so fit and conuenient, vnlesse often mention were made of those [...]ings in Sermons. In which large discourse these notes may be gathe­red.

• 1. The outward worship of it owne nature is not euill.
• 2. If the words of the Gospell may be outwardly reuerenced in a godly manner, at what time they are read, then may these Ele­ments haue the like.
• 3. Yet not they, but Christ signified by them:
• 4. He would haue externall reuerence by kneeling spared onely for a time:
• 5. But inward adoration alway ex­hibited, because without danger: Now inward worship is more then outward, for this is but a signe of the other, and if no danger in the inward, much lesse in the outward.
• 6. He deliuereth his iudgement in very easie termes, as peraduenture it may be a while forborne: Like a indicious wise man that speakes vnder correction of better aduertisement,
  H [...]c sacramen­tum sine adora­tione, sinc (que) illo (vni deo debit [...]) [...]ltis, cū debita tamē religione & reuerentia percipi ad [...]nis trariq [...]e debet, atque ca inpri [...]is, quae ōnium est maximè fide scilicet, & sui ips [...]s explorati [...]ne Sect. 14. pag. 120.
  not peremptorily as some a­mong vs that are euery way inferior to him both for modestie and learning.

Lastly, he takes this kneeling or prostrating not to be so fit, vnlesse often preaching be ioyned by way of instructi­on. So as if the people be taught, then no such feare, but it may still be vsed: which is our very case at this day. Beside the iudge­ment of this great diuine, we haue the consent of the Churches of Bohemia, who far from superstitious adoring the Elements, how their knées at receiuing of the Sacrament, as appeareth in the harmonie of the Confess. This Sacrament without adoration, and that worship which is due to God only, yet with due religion, & reuerence must be receiued, & admini­stred, and that specially, which is the greatest of all, namely [Page 65]faith, and examining euery ones owne selfe. Sacramentum religiosè cum [...] nipietate distri bustur. Populus autem fide [...]ium vsitatissimè in genua procum bens hoc accipit cum gratiarū actione. &c. Anon after it is added This sacrament is religiously distributed withfull godlines, and deuotion: The congregation of the faith all most vsually kneeling on their knees receiue it with thankes giuing, ioyfulnesse, singing of himnes and holie Psalmes &c. The spirit of God directing them, and our churches in the vnitie of one externall holie behauiour doing the like, may be a motiue to perswade others contrarilie minded, to thinke that the Lord hath not left vs destitute of that small portion of knoweledge, which may determin a circumstance of this nature, and so we intreat them to resolue.

The Communion Booke giueth allowance to the Minister, to minister to one alone.

Nothing contrary to Gods word, and Christ his institution to minister to one alone at a time, for how can it be otherwise. But if they meane one alone, and alonely, as if none else did communicate, but the sicke partie bedridden, they speake an vn­truth. For more are required at the Minister his discretion. And a very poore body, he or she is, like a Sparrow on the house top, that hath neither wife, nor seruant, nor friend, nor chairewo­man, nor kéeper to tend, and tender him in his sicknesse, yea euen in the Plague-time God disfurnisheth not a man of all company, but one, or other good neighbour he hath (beside the Minister) whom (vnlesse the congregation be prouided of another suffici­ently able, that may supply his absence) the laws of our. Church, and his owne conscience spare from communicating when the infection is: And great reason, because if a particular grieued, be to be caredfor, so are many much rather both of his familie and of the whole parrish, least through his vndauisednesse he drawe them into the like contagion.Zanch. in Phi­lip. 2.27.30. Master Zanchius sheweth this at large speaking of Epaphroditus and his earnest care for the Saints at Philippi, so doe other writers, whose names we spare in this argument, yea so doth the Rubricke in the Booke of common prayer,Can. Eccles. 67. and the Canons Ecclesiasticall in case the disease be knowne or probably suspected to be infectious. But admitting there were not another to communicate with the sicke person, is the Minister no body, doth not be,Etiamsi mini­mo numero. B [...] ­cer. in Math. 18.19. and that sicke partie make a number, though the least of all num­bers? If but two, or thrée agrée vpon earth sayeth our Sa­uiour, &c.

To minister the Sacrament to one alone doth not stand with eat yee.

To minister the sacrament to one alone at a time standeth with the words of Christ his institution, because Tertullian his rule is true:Subiectum est generali specia­cle, in ipso significatur quia in ipso continetur. Tertul. de velā. virg. cap. 5. Particularities are signified vnder that which is generall. And therefore in saying (eate yée) necessarily is im­plied eate thou, vnlesse we shall thinke that when our Sauiour said Baptise ye, therefore one alone may not Baptise, or praying (Pray yée thus) therefore one may not pray alone.

It is faultie that we doe not vse in a generalitie, once for all to say to the Communicants. Take yee, eate yee, drinke yee. But vn­to euery particular person, Eate thou, Drinke thou, which is ac­cording to the Popish manner, and not answerable to the forme, that our Sauiour did vse.

One false principle bréedeth many errors.Arist, Physic. lib. 1. c. 2. For see their argu­ment how it is concluded. That which will not stand with the words of institution (eate yee) that is forbidden: But to say take thou, eate thou, drinke thou, stands not with the words of in­stitution, eate yee, drinke yee, &c. Therefore to minister it in such words, is without exception forbidden. But a weake eye may see the weakenesse of this reason. Must we tye our selues vnto euery syllable. And if Christ speake in the plurall number of more may not we speake in the singular number of one, and one apart by themselues, which howsoeuer singled, are more then one being reckoned together? For so is this Eate thou, Drinke thou, Being but of two, how much rather. Which in effect is, as Christ commanded, Eate ye, Drinke ye, &c. So doe they: But say: must we needs tye our selues to y^t very syllables, which Christ spake, & in that expresse forme which he vsed, then leaue we our naturall language, and speake we Siriack or some such like, because he so deliuered the wordes of institution? And must we vse these words (Eate yee) once for all and no other? Why then is not a complaint taken vp against other Churches beyond the Seas, where one Minister commeth, and saith vpon [Page 75]deliuery of one part of the Sacrament.Minister ecclesia vnicuique ad canam accedenti partem de pane domini defractam por­rigent dicate, panis quem fran­gimus &c. mi. Formula ad nist. Catech. pag. 296. The Bread which we breake is the Communion of the body of Christ. Then ano­ther Minister of the Church reaching the Cuppe sayeth: The Cuppe of blessing which we blesse is the Communion of the blood of Christ.

In Sermons we doe not distinctly speake to one man apart from ano­ther, therefore neither is it conuenient to speake these words, Eate thou, drinke thou, seuerally to man after man.

This is no reason at all. For first we know how in Sermons many (whose massie bouldnesse ouerballanceth godly wisdome,) furiously conuent the consciences of men. Not amisse to speake to mens harts out of Gods word plainely, and truely; but sple­netickly to gall mens persons as if men would call them distinctly by their proper names, growing into particulars by a finger-pointing description, culling a man out thus? Thus attired, thus sitting, in such a pew, &c. We hould not fit. The fault is not better knowne, then they are, that make the fault.Scio me offens [...] rum esse quam plurimos qui generalem d [...] viti is disputationē in suam ref [...]rūt cōtumelians, & dum mihi iras­cuntur suam indicant conscientiam multo pe­ins de se quam de me iudicant. Ego enim nen inem nominabo, nec veteris co­m [...]dia licentia certas personas eligam atque perstringam. Hieron ad R [...]st epist de viuin­ds forma. A gene­rall discourse will reach home. I know (saith Saint Ierom) that I shall offend very many, who referre a generall disputa­tion concerning vice to their owne shame, and while they are angry with me, they shew their owne conscience, and doe iudge farre worse of themselues then of me. For I will name no man, nor after the licentious manner of the olde comedie, will I choose out certaine persons to perstringe them. Here we learne, how it is not safe to speake vnto men personally in our Sermons, and that they, who doe so, are rather satyricall, then other. But come we to the second branch of their comparison, which is rather a disparison, if it be rightly called. For the Sacra­ment is not so to be ministred, as Sermons, which are publi­shed in generall termes, but more particularly, and by perso­nall application. Because,

• first though Christ said, Eate yee, Drinke yee, collectiuely all at once, yet that distributiuely he did not, they must proue before we reuerse that forme we haue recei­ued.
• 2. In ministring cōforts we may distinctly speake to euery one in his own persō, because it is a part of the glad tidings of the [Page 76]Gospell, but in denouncing of Gods iudgements so warranta­bly we cannot doe.
• 3. Our voice comineth vnto all at once, but distributing the Sacrament is to man after man.
• 4. These pet­tie controuerst Diuines, that are so hard to please, allow in Baptisme, that the Minister say, I Baptise, though our Saui­our spake in the plurall goe yee, and Baptise: And if in one Sacrament the application must be made, why not in another? séeing that Sacraments are applicatorie seales of y^t righteousnes of faith.

To iustifie their opposition they might alleadge against vs the manner of the Gréeke Church which saith not as we doe I Baptise thee, Baptizetur N. seruus Christi in nomine &c. but let, N. the seruant of Christ be Baptized in the name, &c. But will we know, why this is not misliked, and in the Sacrament of the Eucharist the other is, our Anta­gonists want neither stomacke, nor will, but the onely reason why they doe not, is, some forraine Church beyond the Sea re­taineth the forme, which we doe vse. In briefe to fit both their scruples, whether Eate yee, or in particular, Eate thou, the an­swere,Non praescripsit suis ministris Christus qui­but, vel quot vo cibus essent vsu ri &c. sed actū ipsum definist. Bez. Qq. & Respon. pag. 85. Formula in la­tinis ecclesiis ob seruata mihs videtur admā ­datum domins propius accede­re, & confirmā dae baptizandi fidei accōmada tior. Ibid. which Master Beza maketh in the words of Baptisme may sutably be vsed in the words of the Eucharist: Christ hath not inioyned his Ministers what, and how many syllables they must vse in the function of their calling, but he hath limi­ted the Act, when he commaunds them to Baptise. And whe­ther they say (I Baptise thee) or let this seruant of Christ be baptized, the matter is not great, so the forme of the very Act be obserued. And (yet saith he) to speake as it is the forme in the Lattin Churches (me thinks) commeth nearer to the comman­dement of the Lord, and is farre more fit to confirme the faith of the partie baptized. Because the Minister speaking of himselfe in the first person I baptize, and putting to the pronoune (thee) maketh the minde of the partie baptized, both to obserue the acti­on more diligently, as if God himselfe were then present, doing by himselfe, what the Minister by word of mouth testifieth, as also to apply the promise to himselfe properly and peculiarly. No hard matter to fit this to the present occasion, why in the Euchatist we vse these words Eate thou. Tum ad pro­misstonem pro­priò, ac peculia riter sibi appli­candam Ibid. First, because often repeated better remembred, 2. Because of the speciall denomi­nation, and applycation then made: As for the other point, our Church is not alone in ministring to the sicke, for beside those [Page 77]testimonies afore produced we may vnderstand. That to the right & due action of the Eucharist are required two at the least, namely the Minister blessing the Eucharist, and he to whom the Sacrament of the Eucharist is dispensed,Hac est pia vuctio qua spiri tus sanctus effi­cax. Ibid. sect. 15. pag. 197. Priuat a & extrema agro [...] tantium comu­nio &c. Musc. tit. de coena d [...] mini. so speakes the Church of Wittenberg, naming it that godly ointment (in S. Iohn his Epistle) whereby the holy Ghost is effectuall in those that doe beleeue. In diuers other Churches this maner of ministring the Communion in a priuate manner is to be retained as Mus­culus witnesseth for this end, that the partie thereby may bee strengthned in faith, māde stronger against tentations of Sathan, and better armed to beare the paines of death. As for the place (though priuate because some chamber, or the like) yet we must not thinke it frustrateth the power of the sacrament and the vertue of the administration. For that is one, and the same in it own nature, how euer circumstances of time, and place doe alter extraordinarilie. What els was the roome but an vp­per chamber, where our sauiour kept his supper with his disci­ples? Where was it but at home the paschall lambe was eaten? and where for manie yeares after Christ the whole seruice and sacraments celebrated, but in hidden places, priuate and secret, [...] at what time persequtiō, & sickenes were in force? y^t former of which two ceaseth, namely persequution; for God hath raised vppe one, whose iust title Defēder of the true auncient faith streng­thē & eue [...] long may it our good hope of the peace of the Gospel but impotencie thorough sickenesse to come abroad, as also the weake conscience needing speciall choice comforts are euen now verie vrgent occasions to haue the communion sometymes som­what priuate, not any way herein cōtrarie to our sauiour christ his institution. But for ought we can see complaine wee may of want hereof, not vsing it at all, rather then of the abuse in vsing it ill. For what with the venom of some doctrine, as that sacra­ments neede not, what with the prophainnesse of men, that they care not, what with the slacknesse of some minister, what with forgetfulnesse in the sick, what with friuolous obiecti­ones in misliking it, what with y^t danger of contagion by some diseases, a verie auncient praiseworthie commendatione is dis­continued. Satan much aduantaged and the sick soule, that néedes the spirit of corroboration agaynst the terrors of death [Page 78]and hartned in a ioyfull expectation of deliuerance in good time, is then left destitute, when is most vse of all such possible helps. What thinke we of this? Shall Scribes and Pharisées vse falsely supposed remedies, for so they doe, and we neglect true, sea­sonable, conuenient succour? as if the readiest way to reach home were best to shoot short, and inough were held done to prooue a good Christian (alway prouided) we doe not so much as Pa­pists. Because they pray, fast, giue almes, &c. We shall do well to doe none of all,Seuen. Sulpit, epist. histor. eccles. these like one Ithacius, who so farre detested Priscillians doctrine of abstinence, and euery spare diet was sus­pected of that heresie, and with him the loosest demeanour made the sincerest profession. But in vtter lothing of all such grosse follie this we may learne as a sufficient resolution. What if the shield of Poperie beare not out Paper shot, and their priuate Masses stand the sicke in no fleed? yet know we so many, as fix not the grace of the Lord on the outward Element, but bring their thoughts in obedience to his commaundement, distressed soules crauing comfort at home, when they cannot come abroad shall (no doubt) finde the Lord to seale vp in their consciences by the ministerie of the word and Sacrament, as effectually in that houre of their necessitie, as in times of greater assemblies and more publike meetings? Alway remembred that some neighbours ioyne in fellowship for that holy businesse, they pre­pared aforehand, as it becommeth, and the sicknesse b [...] (though desperate yet) not infectious, or if none can be got (and that were very strange) yet because others default may not abringe a sicke mans comfort, resolue that the Minister communicating, the sicke partie cannot be thought to receaue alone, as some are disposed to argue.

Confirmation hath that ascribed vnto it, which is proper to the sacra­ments, in these wordes; That by imposition of hands, and prayer they may receiue strength, and defence against all temptations to sinne, and the assaults of the worlde, and the deuill.

Proofe for some mens iust dislike in this, hence appeareth, be­cause it is proper to the sacraments, as if thus in forme of argu­ment it were concluded what is proper to the sacramēts must not bee attributed to any thing els: to giue strength, and defence against all tentations of sinne is proper to the sa­craments, therefore not to be attributed to any thing els: and if not to anie thing els, then not to imposition of hāds, and prayer. In making answer whereunto, wee must know, that it is not proper to the sacraments to giue strength and de­fence, against all tentations. For proper that is called which is onely, alway, and vnto all proper. But to giue strength against all temptations is not proper to the sacraments: It is a thing common to other, as to the sacraments, but not proper onely vnto them. For the spirit properlie is the spirit of strength, and corroboration and none els. As meanes indeede, or helpes so the sacramentes are, but so are they not alone. For the worde of grace is able to build farder, and exhortations, and faith, and prayer, and daylie experience of Gods mercies heretofore, and conference with learned men, and diuerse other good blessings from Goddoe strengthen a man against all tentations &c. Wherefore in a worde wee returne them for answer, it is mani­festlie vntrue, that confirmation hath that ascribed vnto it, which is proper to the sacraments.

Confirmation hath that ascribed vnto it, which is proper to the sacra­ments in these wordes: wee pray thee to certifie them, on whome we haue laid our handes by this signe of thy fauour, and gracious goodnesse towardes them.

No good argument to conclude from a signe to a sacrament; as if because wee hold imposition of handes a significant action therefore we ascribe that vnto it, which is proper to the sacra­ments. All churches, that take this ceremonie to vse, vnderstand that it is a signe of commending to God that same par­tie, on whome handes are laid and if so, what difference is herein, from that practise, which our church retaineth. May it bee a signe of commending vnto God without derogation to the sacraments, and shall it not be as lawfull to certifie of Gods fa­uour? Hitherto we haue alwaies thought, that they who are commended vnto God by prayer (as at this time they are) haue a sure euidence, that they are the Lords. The verie order of the wordes whence it pleaseth some to take this their exception doth sufficiently cleare both, what our church coth, and what her purpose is herein. It is not the bare imposition of hands, as if y^t had power of it selfe to giue such a certificate. Solemne prayers are made be the Bishop ouer the childe, yea praiers are doubled, trebled, then this ceremonie annexed withall for a visible signe and not a sacramentall signe, which consisteth of some outward earthlie element as breade, and wine &c. but signe in this pray­er is signe of what the Bishoppe doth and the partie baptised vn­derstandeth is done, which is to such a one a plaine certificate, that he hath had Gods singular fauour reuealed vnto him, in that of an infant of a day olde, hee is brought to some competent measure of knowledge of God his grace, and wil, as also in that he is vpon examination confirmed, and certified by his reue­rent father in God, who is able to iudge, and accordinglie so doth, how, and how far forth hee is grounded in the necessarie e­lements of true religion.

Imposition of handes and prayer are both lincked together with a coniunction copulatiue (And) implying that they both ioynt­lie concur to obtayne this strength, and neither of them seuer allie.

If this copulatiue (And) were in the same kinde of cause, as it is couched in the course of the same sentence, Reason were to iudge equallie of them both, But in as­much, as the one is externallie to vs, the other internallie [Page 84]internallie to God, both effectuallie, but in a diuerse manner the practise of such disputants may be more iustly suspected, then their argument neede greatly be feared. This worde (and) here, is a copulatiue in vse but a disiunctiue in power: the weakest being put first in the rancke, but with respect to him that followeth. Imposition of hands were of little worth, but for prayer. The method and ordring of which wordes is like that Math 17. By fasting and prayer diuils are cast out:Math. 17.21. None but knoweth fas­ting is no part of the spirituall seruice, and worship of God, nor anie cause of it selfe able to dispossesse a diuill, yet ioyned with earnest and heartie yrayer vnto God, wee read what is spo­ken thereof.

If it be prayer alone, that obtaineth strength, why is imposition of handes vsed?

Prayer alone may obtaine strength, but not altogether in this action because though a weaker coupled with it,Doctor Fulk: Act. 8.17.6.7. Cum tincti essēt homines in in­fantia nec fidei professionem ediderunt, dea cretum est, vt cum venirent ad maturiorem aetatem, vocaren tur ad ep [...]sco­pum, vt publicè fidem suā profi­cerentnr Tune episcopus manus imponebat its, hoc est orabat pro iis, vt in ve rafide persiste­rent. P. Martyr. Com. loc. clas. 3. c 8.14. Inutilis est confirmatio, nisi primo modo ser uetur. Ibid. as a candle that is tinned in the sunne, yet somewhat it is, though how much or how little, we cannot discerne. But that prayer it is, which strikes the stroke wee are led to thinke with auncient & late wri­ters. Auncient as Saint Austin and after him Doctor Fulk, and Peter Martyr. Imposition of handes by Doctor Fulke after Saint Austin, is prayer ouer a man. Maister Peter Martyr in his common places, When infants were baptised not able to giue an account of their faith, it was decreed that when they came to riper yeares, they should be called to the Bishop to make publicke profession of their faith. Then the Bishop did lay his handes vpon them, that is he prayed for them, that they might continue in that true faith, which they publickelie professed. And afterwardes touching the grosse a­buse thereof he addeth these wordes. Confirmation is vnprofi­table, vnlesse it be kept after the first manner. That manner hee meaneth which before is here mentioned. Now then albeit prayer be the verie principall, yet that externall ceremonie name­ly imposition of handes was also vsed for diuerse reasons; partlie in regarde of the baptised, partlie of the ceremonie it selfe. Of the baptised, because by this meanes such an one knowing hee [Page 85]should bee examined, did looke the better to the learning of those principles, which were required and after the episcopal benedicti­on was much comforted and strengthened as his own comforta­ble experience herein could best witnesse. 2. in respect of the ce­remonie it selfe vsed grauely and solemnely by the Bishop after and with prayer, which if altogether needelesse, and of no vse, Pe­ter and Iohn needed not to haue tooke such paines as to come frō Ierusalem to Samaria to haue laid hands vpon them, whom Phi­lip the Deacon did baptise. For they might haue praied in Ieru­salem for them, but to shew that the other ceremonial action might haue due place, therefore is it, they did both accordinglie e­uer since the church of God hath vsed both praier and imposition of hands for distinction sake to distinguish the baptised after ex­amination from others that are praied for, Because though prai­ers be made for others, and so the comparison is alike, yet are they not with imposition of handes after catechizing a young graft, as then the manner is.

If the signes that Christ hath instituted in the Gospell bee sufficient to represent, and seale vp vnto vs Gods fauour, as in Baptisme the washing of water, in the Lord his supper the representations which the breade and wine doe offer to our mindes, then to bring in, or to approue by subscription the bringing in of other signes at the admi­nistration of these sacraments, to represent, or seale vppe vnto vs Gods fauour as speciall graces, which the said sacramentes were instituted to represent, is to detract from the sufficiencie of Christ his institution, and is an impious addition. The like may be said of the signes of imposition of handes in confirmation, and in other like thinges not commended vnto vs by Christs institution.

So far forth as this obiection concerneth the signe of the crosse in baptisme, because we would not trouble our selues,Part. 1. c. 26. pag. 139. 140. &c. or the rea­der againe, wee intreat him to looke our first part cap. 26. As for that where it is added. The like may be said of imposition of hands in confirmation, we inuert their words. The like may not be said. For impositiō of hands is not a signe brought in at y^e administratiō of y^e sacrament either baptisme, or y^e Eucharist but long after baptisme & sometime before y^e Euchrist: therfore (sup­posing it were true that is fasly surmised) the like may not be [Page 86]saide of imposition of hantes in comfirmation. For the argument it selfe here vsed (to ripe vppe the very bowels thereof) is verie weake and ruinous. The sequell of the Maior proposition wee vtterly dente (that is) It doth not follow that wee detract from the sufficiencie of Christ his institution, if wee approue of the bringing in this ceremonie of imposition of handes. For might this be a matter of consequence it would inforce by way of rea­soning to the like purpose in the dayes of the law. If the signes that God hath ordained in the law were sufficient to represēt and seale vppe vnto the Iewes God his fauour as in circumcisiō the cutting of the flesh, in the passeouer the representatiōs, which the Paschall Lamb did offer to their minds, thē to bring in other signes as imposition of hands &c. is to detract from the sufficien­cy of Gods ordinance and is an impious addition. All which draught faileth in the handling, because that notwithstanding the sufficiencie of both sacraments in time of the law, yet this cere­monie of impositiō of hands and praier for confirming & strength­ning was thē vsed. Where hence followeth. If so that impositi­on of hands did not impeach those sacraments at that time no more may it be thought to hinder the sufficiēcy of these, & if then no cause but it might be vsed though those sacra­ments were ordained, much lesse now is there cause, for the reason is all alike both in the sacraments of the law and of the Gospell. This might suffice to shew the inconsequence of this reason. But wee will examine the wordes yet more throughly.

If the signes that Christ hath instituted be sufficient &c (See before)

The sufficiencie of a thing, whither sacrament, signe, yea of y^e word it selfe is not impeached be addition of that which is explica­torie and of good vse. Sufficient is the holy scripture it selfe, nei­ther may a man adde, or detract from it, a curse there is vpon those that so doe, yet none of all their persons are in danger thereof, whose reuerend, ancient, painful godly labours haue béen imploi­ed in cōmentaries, expositions, sermons, catechisme, paraphrase, or the like, nor doe their commendable trauils detract from the sufficiencie of the scripture. Sufficient is a worde of [Page 87]truth deliuered by one honest man to another, yet an oth some­times is annexed, and neuer thought derogatorie to the truth be­ing so tendred, as it should bee. Sufficient is an oth to binde a mā,Simin [...]r [...]ai [...] re [...] discerit. yet more inuiolable, and barder vpon anie plea to be recalled, when a corporall ceremonie of lifting vppe the hand, or laying it on y^e holy gospelis ioyned thereunto. Sufficient is a vow made in baptisme. For therein wee promise vnto God all things that are for his glory, our neighbours benefit, and our owne duety, yet if a man doe promise anie thing afresh, bending himselfe to, or from this or that, being the furderance of the glorie of God, & his own good, it is no way derogatorie from the former which he made, and therefore these termes of (impious addition) might haue well beene spared.

The like may be saide of other like thinges, not commended vnto vs by Christs institution.

As if other thinges added to, or after the sacraments, not commended vnto vs by Christ were impious additions for this coherence we note in the wordes by their necessarie dependance from the former. But wee haue cleared imposition of handes which was not by Christ his institution in y^e sense as this obiecti­on intendeth, yet was alway practised by Christ & his Apostles & afterwards by apostolical men. And that other things, which our church approueth,Audiuiiam ex te confessio­nem sides tuae quodcredas in deum patrem, silium, et spiri­tum sanctums in hanc igitur confessionem in tingo te in aquam, vi hoc signaculo certus sisle esse inser­tum Christo. vade in pace Brentius in ca­techis. de bapt. Sponsores Tert. debaptismo. not mētioned by institutiō or impious addition, wee hold a speach that proceedeth from more spleene then truth. The manner of saying I baptise, is no forme of wordes, which our sauiour instituted, yet no impious addition to the sacrament, That it is not the expresse forme, which we can exactly inforce vpon Christs institution may appeare before, as also by M. Brentius, who in his catechisme approueth of the minister that shall say thus to a new conuert comming to bap­tisme. I haue now heard of thee a confessiō of thy faith that thou beleeuest in God the father, God the son, God the ho­ly Ghost, & therfore into this confession I baptise thee into the water that by this seale thou maiest be sure that thou art grafted into Christ. Goe in peace. The hauing of God­fathers and Godmothers in baptisme is a thing not com­mended vnto vs by Christs institution, yet no impious [Page 88]addition: The ceremonie of dipping once or forice in baptisme is that,Tertull. de coro milit. & ad­uers Praream. Chrisost. homil. 24. in loba. which the church hath vsed diuersly sometimes one way sometimes another: thrice at a time in, and before the daies of Tertullian, and Chrisostome, sometimes once, as now, because of the Arians and other hereticks, which did abuse that triple ac­tiō to signifie thrée natures of the 3. persons, where before it was intended by the church to signifie 3. persons in the Trinitie,Greg. lib 1 epist 41. ad [...]eand. concil. Toleta. 4. c. 5. Euseb. Lister. [...]c cles. lib 7 cap. 20. and Christ his 3. daies abode in the graue. The giuing of a name (as wee tearme it a christian name) to the childe in baptisme is not commended vnto vs by Christ his institution yet wee hold it (as our church vseth herein) no impious addition. The cere­monies of diuing the whole bodie into the water, pausing vn­ter the water and rising vppe againe from thence seemeth to bee an auncient rite,P [...]scator. Rom. 6.3. Beza. Ibid. whereunto the Apostle Romans 6. is thought to allude in the death of the old man, his buriall, and resurrection to newnesse of life. A signe added vnto baptisme (notwithstand­ing baptisme it selfe doth signifie so much) and neuer then called an impious addition, nor detracting from the sufficiencie of that holie sacrament, which hereby appeareth not essentiall, but changeable, because not in vse no we with vs in our church by reason of the coldnesse of the countrie, as also the tender­nesse of our infants, with whom charitie and necessitie doe both well to dispence. Perk. armil. aurea. c. 3 [...]. These signes, actions, additions all signifi­cant vsed in the administration of baptisme, yet neuer to this houre (except wee onely this obiection) ministred iust cause of dislike, as being thought impious, or derogatorie from bap­tisme and the sufficiencie thereof. The like wee are to exempli­fie in the sacrament of the Lord his supper, which is (that wee may returne men their owne english) a signe, that Christ in­stituted in the Gospell to represent, and seale vppe vnto men Gods fauour, as also the friend shippe and loue. which should bee amongst vs, whereof it is a symbol and pledge. For 1. Cor. 10. we that are many are one bread & one body because we are al persakers of one bread, yet y^e, which this signe instituted by christ doth represent and scale vnto vs,1. Cor. 10.17. Iustin. martyr. apolog. 2. the verie same representation was offered to the mindes of the faithfull by a kisse when they [Page 89]saluted one another at the same time. For it was a symbol and significant signe of linking their affections and giuing like honor one to another,Non solum ami citiae sed [...]. Bez. 1. Cor. 16 20. & 2. Cor. 13. and so by consequent a note of Gods loue vnto them. Not of Christs institution, yet not therefore detracting from the sufficiencie of the Sacrament, nor an impious addi­tion. Many other instances we might adde, but this shall serue only for this time. Mutuall consent twixt couples maketh mari­age, specially solemnized in publicke and witnessed by the con­gregation, & sanctified by the Minister his holy benediction, yet the ceremonie of the Ring is added hereunto by the Church, which is so farre from being impious as that Master Bucer, and Master Viret (a man ignorant of our controuersies now on foote) doth allow the vse thereof.

This ceremonie is added but not in the administration of Baptisme, or the Lords Supper, which are the Sacraments we speake of.

So likewise imposition of hands is not in the administra­tion of either Sacrament, and therefore the instance, which we bring is pertinent inough to the purpose wherfore alleadged, and sutable to the obiection before vrged, where these words are. The like may be said (namely that they are impious additions, what are not commended by Christ his institution. But to conclude our answere to this straine, and to returne a necessarie obserua­tion vpon this point. The termes in the former obiection preten­ding to open the nature of both Sacraments in full sufficiencie, are themselues vnsufficient and defectiue. For to call the Ele­ments (instituted by Christ) of water in Baptisme, and of bread and wine in the Eucharist representations, which offer to our minds, &c. Or such as represent speciall graces, as if their seale were to represent, and make some faire shew, we hold no defi­nition, nor sound explanation of a Sacrament. For séeing they doe exhibit and offer grace, seeing they are very true substan­ces, not qualities, and therefore not representations, seeing they are effectuall instruments of sauing grace vnto Gods children, yea more then all this, surely more would haue beene added, and not thus rawly ralling them representations, & doubling that one word, as if therein lay the strength, dignitie, and excellencie [Page 90]of a Sacrament. Againe, this clause is doubtfull where it is said (to bring in, or to approue by subscription the bringing in of other signes, &c.) (other signes) if they meane, such as thrust foorth those, which Christ hath instituted, and will needs supply their place, or (other signes) if they meane of like neces­sitie vse or validitie, equaling them to the Sacraments which Christ hath instituted, we confesse to bring in such signes were to detract from Christ his institution, but otherwise as tokens from man to man, yea some of them through prayer in the spirit as certificates of Gods grace and fauour, we how no way dero­gatorie at, or after administration of the Sacraments.

In the prayer the Bishop saith After the example of the Apostles we haue laid on our hands. This is no true imitation.

It is, and therefore a true spéech, For they and the apo­stolicall Churches did it, alway ioyning prayer with it. A cere­monie it was vsed after Baptisme vpon diuerse considerations, but alway for sarder strengthning the partie, whether Baptized, or to be ordained. And if comparisons were needefull. There is reason to iudge of the two, yoong children (anone after they haue beene entred in the principles of our holy faith) haue more neede of this after-helpe to put them in minde of the power of Bap­tisme, and to worke a remembrance thereof more effectuall in their harts and memories.

They had warrant, the Bishops haue none.

In this point, Apostolicall practise is Episcopall warrant. What expresse word in Scripture for all Churches both Pri­mitiue and since, the same is for our Churches (at this day) with whom the ceremonie is vsed, then to translate it from the sacri­fices of the Law now to deriue it ouer from those times to vs. This fashion of imposition of hands the Church (saith Austin speaking of the custome continued vnto his daies) re­taineth in her Prelats. Hunc morem impositionis manu um in su­is praepositi [...] e­ [...]iam nunc ser­uat. August. And the reason is manyfold, why they rather, then other Ministers that Baptised the children.

• 1. Because Philip that baptized did not impose hands but Iohn [Page 91]and Peter did.
• 2. Because all ages since Christ held a Bishop superior to an ordinarie Minister in his Diocesse,
  Heb. 7.7.
  for without all contradiction the lesse is blessed of the greater.
• 3. They ra­ther then others in honour to their prelacie and place as Ierom witnesseth.
• 4. Because the parochiall Minister should not be thought a partiall Minister ouer those whom he baptized.
• 5. For greater grace, and reuerence to the procéedings countenanced by one whose grauitie, yeares, and authoritie much preua [...]leth in such occasions.
• 6. For anoyding of heresie, schisme, and the like.

Lastly, for that the Bishop might be an arbiter twixt the Pa­rishioners and their Minister in praising, or dispraising, accor­dingly as vpon examination he found the youth and their friends had taken care for watring those buds with vertuons educati­on, & nurtured them vp in the knowledge of the articles of faith, and all such necessarie points as well beséeme a good Christian to his soules health. These and the like in histories seeme to be the cause why Bishops laid on their hands, and prayed ouer children baptized, that could giue account of the hope that was in them. A point duely to be remembred, because some take ex­ception against the Papist herein, yet against our Church iust­ly they cannot. For we preferre it not before Baptisme, but Baptisme before it: We make not alike necessitie of the one as of the other. For that may be deferd without any detriment to the childe, till he come to more yeares, Baptisme we hould not arbitrarie, nor (hauing conuenient meanes and time) doe we thinke meete it should be long deferd. Euery lawfull Mini­ster fitteth for Baptisme, but not euery one so fit for imposi­tion of hands: that a holy Sacrament of Christ his owne institution, and by him commanded: this a reuerent ceremony, and signe onely, though not expresly commanded in Gods word, yet laudably practised by Christ, by his Apostles, and apo­stolicall men which we doe euen for this cause imbrace, as com­mendable and expedient, alway professing the necessitie, dignity, and excellencie of Baptisme aboue it, because euery approo­ned Minister is vsed in that, and not in this, which argueth the worthinesse of the Sacrament, be the Minister of superior or inferior note. Whereas in this other ceremonie it is not so. For though Philip did Baptize, yet Iohn and Peter did lay [Page 92]on hands,Ipsique adhibi­ta impositione manuum in ella sis n [...] confirman di quanquam ipsam manuū impositionem putamus liberae obseruationis esse, vt cutus exemplum qui­dem Apostolicū extet, non autē preceptum Christs Riscat. in Heb. 6.2. Ad precationē pro illespueris sine superstitione adhihers posset impositio manu um. Nec inanis esset ea preca­tio. Nititur enim promissi­onibus de dono perseuerantiae & gratia con­firmationit. Chemnit. de con firm. p. 69. De exhortatio­ne etiam ad per seuerantiam & de confirmatione per verbū in semel suscep­ta doctrina & fide extant Apostolicae eccle sia exempla. Act. 14.15. & 18. Ibid. not derogating from what Philip did, nor extolling their confirmation aboue his Baptisme, notwithstanding that they were superiour to him in place and preheminence. Can our Church then be thought to doe without warrant, when it doth but as it hath the first and following Churches for an example? So Piscator obserueth, that when children haue been taught the doctrine of repentance and faith, they are to make pro­fession thereof, and then to be confirmed by imposition of hands. Although we thinke the very laying on of hands, to be a point of free obseruation, as hauing the Apostles ex­ample for a president, though not any expresse commaun­dement from Christ. Then the Apostles fact being an example. & this done after it, no such vntruth is maintained as some thinke in saying. After the example of the Apostles we haue laid on our hands, &c. Chemnitius writeth thus vnto prayer ouer the child to be confirmed, imposition of hands may be vsed without superstition. And that prayer cannot be in vaine. For it relieth on promises, concerning the gift of perseuerance, and the grace of confirmation. This rite (saith he) would bring much profit to the edefying of youth, and of the whole Church, and were also agreeing to Scripture and purer antiquitie. For in the Apostolicall laying on of hands was a triall of doctrine and profession of faith. Act. 19. and of exhortation to perseuerance, and of confirmation by the word in the doctrine and faith. Exam­ples of the Apostolicall Church are extant, Act. 14.15. & 18. Which being so, witnesseth in their iudgement whom we cannot thinke partiall in this behalfe, that the phrase, which our Booke vseth (after the example of the Apostles, &c.) is a phrase irreprouable.

The Apostles laid on hands and gaue gifts.

Sainct Austin writing of Simon Magus seeing the holy Ghost was giuen by laying on of hands, noteth, that the A­postles did not themselues giue it, but it was giuen, they praying and calling vpon God. For they did pray that it might come vpon them, on whom they laide hands, but themselues did not giue it. Non quia ipsi dabant, sed quia ipsis orantibus datusest. August. in Ioh. euangitract. 6. Orabant, quippè vt veniret in eos, &c. Idem de Trinitate, lib. 15. cap. 26.

The Bishop layeth on hands, but giueth no gifts.

Signa crant tē ­pori opportuna, oportebat enim ita significari Ibid. Significatum est & transut numquid modè quibus imponi­tur mannus vt accipiant spiri­tum sanctum hoc expectatur vt linguis lo­quantur? Ibid. Ita peruerse cor de aliquis ves­trum fuit vt diceret, non ac­ceperunt? &c. Interroget cor suum &c. 0752 0 Id. tract. 6. in epist Iohan. Sed inuisibiliter & latentur in­telligitur per vinculum pacis eorum cordibus diuina charitas inspirari. Id. lib 3. de bapt. c. 16. Those gifts were signes fitting the time. For so must sig­nification be giuen by the holy Ghost in all languages, because the Gospell of God was to run through the whole world in al languages, so much was signified, but is past and gone. Is it now expected that so many speake with toongs, as haue hands laid on them to receiue the holy Ghost? or when we haue laid hands on children, doth euery one at­tend, whether they speake with toonges, and when he hath seene they speake not with toonges, hath any of you beene so frowardly bent to say, they receaued not the holy Ghost? &c. Since therefore by such kinde of miracles there is not now that witnesse of the presence of the holy Ghost, whence it is, and how a man may know whether he loue his brother, Let him see and try himselfe in the sight of God, let him sée, if there be in him the loue of peace and vnities, the loue of the Church, &c. Which whole discourse verbatim, word for word rendred by that Father is more plainly to like purpose laid open, else where writing of Baptisme against the Donatist. The holy Ghost is not now giuen in temporall, and sensible mi­racles by laying on of hands as heretofore, &c. But inui­sibly and secretly, loue is knowne to be inspired in their hearts through the bond of peace. The substance of which answere so often handled by that Father implieth Imposition of handes with prayer, was vsed not onely for miraculous gifts, but also for confirmation and strengthning of their faith, which very same marke our Church aimeth at in those, on whom hands are laid, though former extraordinary graces long since discontinued. So in effect answereth Doctor Fulke in his defence of our translation against the Rhemists, namely,Doct. Fulk. Act. 8.17.6.7. that how euer impo­sition of hands, by which Simon Magus saw the holy Ghost was giuen, indured no longer, then the miraculous gifts, as vnction with oyle named by Saint Iames: yet another kind of imposition of hands, mentioned Heb. 6. is, and may be in perpetuall vse, &c. And where the Rhemists charge vs to make no more of it, or the Apostles fact, but as of a doctrine, institu­tion, [Page 94]or exhortation to continue in the faith receiued. Doctor Fulke answereth it is false. For we acknowledge (saith he) Im­position of handes with prayer, that they which were so taught, instructed, and exhorted might receiue strength of Gods spirit so to continue. And where those accusers lay to our charge that there are among vs, which put the baptized comming to yeares of discretion to their owne choice, whether they will continue Christians or no, he utterly denieth that im­putation, adding hereunto in our Churches name, that they are required to make confession from their owne mouth of the same articles,In primitiua ecclesia, qui ex paganismo in Christianismū &c Innocent. Gentilit. in exā concil. Trid. lib. 2. sess. 7.6.4. pag. 83. Illis manus im­ponebantur ab episcopo deum orante, &c. Ibid. Hoc denique sed seriùs sacramē tum appellatū est, sed a primi­tiua ecclesia cō firmatio simpli­citer dicebatur. Ibid. and performe by themselues, what others promised for them. Then afterwards with these words he shuts vp his sen­tence: finally that which the Scripture telleth vs of prayers, imposition of hands, of the holy Ghost, of grace, and vertue from aboue we acknowledge, as well as instruction. Gentile­tus in his examination of the councell of Trent handleth the ar­gument thus. In Baptisme this ceremonte was retained in ad­mitting two sorts of persons, one borne of vnbeleeuing, the other of beleeuing parents. Those of vnbeléeuing first Cate­chized in the word, conuerts from Paganisme, able to yéeld good reason for maintenance of the true Faith, were by Baptisme ad­mitted into the fellowship of Christ his visible Church, the other borne of beléeuing parents (and so in the couenant) were first baptized, and then after growing vp to yeares of maturitie, were confirmed by the Bishop with prayer, &c. In the ende this was called a Sacrament, but by the Primitiue Church plain­ly and simply Confirmation.

There is no commandement in Gods word for this imposition of hands.

Sci [...] quidem nō extare praceptū hac de re, Inie­rim exempla Apostolorum & veteris eccle sia vellem pluris astimari, imo deberent nobis esse instar diuina legis. Zanch. in 4. pracep. c. 19 pag. 716. Sciamus enim huius carimonia originem fluxisse ab Apostolis & ab illis authoribus institutam suisse vt esset so­lennis precands ritus, &c. Marlorat. in Heb. 6.3.We answere hereunto as Master Zanchius doth of this ce­remonie in ordination. I know it well (saith he) yet in the meane 0752 0 while I could wish the examples of the Apostles, and the an­cient Church to be of more account & indeede they should be a diuine rule vnto vs. Would they so were as he well aduer­tiseth they should be. For we may, or must know that the [Page 95]originall of this ceremonie came from the Apostles and was ordained by them the Authors, to be a solemne rite of prayer. Quorsum enim cadem doctrina &c nisiquia infantes, &c. Vt non aliud restaret quàm illis manum imponere, &c. For to what end should the same doctrine be called in some the doctrine of Baptisme, in other some a doctrine of imposition of hands, but because infants ha­uing receiued baptisme were instructed in the faith, so as nothing remayned but to lay hands vpon them? This in­struction in the faith was point after point a graue declaration how, why, into what, the little one was baptized, what y^e blessed Trinitie gaue and sealed vp, how a couenant of grace was made, and a renouncing of Satan with promise of obedience.

• 2.
  Secundum fora mulam Cated chismi quam tune habebant cortam & cō ­munem. Cal institut. 4. c. 19.4 Magistri Canteches.
  The childe being presented by the parents or friends did openly make confession of his faith according to a set Catechisme in those times. For there were Masters, as Chemnitius obserueth, whose part it was, to sée, that infants were taught, as soone as they became capable of godly information.
• 3. If in any thing any one of them doubted, or had béene corruptly taught (for there were heretickes sometimes Nouatians and Arrians, &c. that did seduce) he was better informed, and there publikely did dis­claime all such false doctrines and heresies.
• 4. If he did answere right, then followed an open protestation solemnely vndertaken to perseuere, & maintaine that doctrine which he protest.
• 5. This promise and vow being made the Bishop offered vp prayers to God in his behalfe, that he might continue in that faith, and in­crease in all other graces of God his spirit.
  Consecrare de [...] & illius gratia Zanch. in 4. pra cep. c. 19. Tradere illis ius vt inter re­liquos reciperē [...] tur Ibid. Bonum auctū & confirmatē per impositionū manuum Ibid. Quo (episcopa­lis) actio, qua alioqui grauis sanctaque merito esse debebat, plus reuerentia baberet ac dignitatis carimonia adhibebatur manuum impositionis. Cal. instir. lib. 4. c. 19.4.
  Vnto which prayer then made, imposition of hands was ioyned, whose vse was part­ly to consecrate to God and to his grace, so did the Hebrewes their beasts in the law when they laid hands vpon their sacrifice,
  • 2. To giue thē right to be receiued among y^t rest of the children; so Iacob laid his hands on Ephraim and Manasses.
  • 3. For confir­ming the graces of Gods spirit in thē, namely that the good &c. might be augmented and confirmed by imposition of hands.
  • 4. Tonote that the Lord tooke thē into his protection, to win reuerēce (as M. Caluin noteth) to that graue holy actiō of the Bishops, imposition of hands was vsed, that it might haue the more reuerence and dignitie.

For more testimonies [Page 96]we might heape vp, of Hessusius, Melanction, Herbrand, Bucer, Caluin, &c. But we will content our selues with the two last. Master Bucer, vpon the 4. to the Ephesians. The signe of imposition of handes Bishops onely did giue, and that not without reason. For whether the conenant of the Lord is to be confirmed to those that are Baptized, or whether they are to be reconciled, that haue grieuously offended, or whether the Mini­sters of the Church are to be ordained, all these ministeries doe best become those, to whom the chiefe care is committed. Ma­ster Caluin in his institutions and other treatises doth greatly commend it,Talem laudo. Ibid. Eiusmodiritum vbique institu­tum merito op­taremus Id vera eccl. reform pag. 459. inter opus. and wisheth the restoring of the same. What impregnable necessities commanded it forth of some Churches we know not, but the wisedome of our Church yet retaineth it, and we may rather be condemned for neglect of it, then blamed for the vse.

All reformed Churches speake against confirmation.

Denied it is not, but euery one of these whose names we haue cited, speake against confirmation, as doth also the Church of Wittenberg calling it a vaine, Popish, superstitious ceremony, and well may they so doe, nor let out Church finde any fauor, doe we maintaine confirmation to be a Sacrament:

• 2. Or de­tract we from Baptisme to giue vnto it?
• 3. Or make we vncti­on a part thereof?
• 4. Or giue we it prehemiuence aboue Bap­tisme?
  Consigne te fig no crucis & co­firme te chrys­mate salutis &c.
• 5. Or make we the essentiall forme to be the holy Chrisme, (as some call it) of saluation?
• 6. Or teach we that it doth confer grace?
• 7. Or doe we vse balme? &c.
• 8. Or pussing ouer a cruze salute it with all hasle holy Chrisme?
• 9. Or put we the child to kisse the Pax?
• 10. Or, in stéed of laying on of hands giue it a pat with the thumb, and then a blow on the chéeke?
• 11. Or tye a rag about the forehead?
• 12. Or pretend to confirme it being a child but seuen daies old?

If these, or any of these, we be guiltie of, we hartily giue them thanks that reproue But the world knoweth, so far as our name is heard of, euen therefore are we traduced by our open enemy abroad, because we omit all these things. What then shall we forgoe all patience? Our hope is, when our Countriemen know the sinceritie of our defence, and how farre approoued of by other Churches, they will flake their itching heate against vs in this argument.

The Rubricke speaketh in the plurall number. Shall also receiue the sacraments.

It doth, but either it taketh the word (sacraments) properly, or at large. [...] Math. 12.1. For so the word sacrament may be taken. Properly there are but two, and in that construction it beareth this sense. He shall also receiue the sacraments that is he shall also re­ceiue one of the sacraments. [...] Luc. 6.1. Like vnto that speach of the'uan­gelist Math. 12. Iesus went on the sabboths, through the corne which S. Luke rendreth in the singular number on the sab­both the second after the first, [...]. Ioh 6.45. so this, the sacraments, namely y^t second after the first or like vnto that Ioh, 6.45. a sentence writtē in the prophets that is one of the prophets namely Esay. Synecdoche in­tegri P. scator indofinitè loqui solet vulgus. Beza. For the vulgar people vse thus to speake indefinitlie. After which manner Maister Zanchius writting of the Eucharist receiued by a man of vnderstanding able to distinguish [Page 101]twixt the signe and the thing signified, which cannot be done by children. Sacraments (saieth hee) are misteries whereunto none are admitted, Sacramēta sunt mysteria, ad qua non admit­tuntur, nisi qui fide praediti re­lationes possint intelligere dis­cernereque sig­num a resigna­ta Zanch. de cultu dei exter, pag 3 [...]9. colū. 1. but such as indued with faith can vn­derstand and discerne the signe from the thing signified. Where this word sacraments vnderstood of the Lords supper, for of that hee intreateth, must needes be taken for one of the sacraments. Secondly this worde sacraments is taken at large for rites, as the terme accompanying doth well imply: He shall also receiue the sacraments and rites, as appeareth in another Rubricke, where it is saide by the holie sacraments of his bodie and blood, that is the consecrated bread and wine. As for the wrong conclusion (which men doe wrest vpon those wordes) followeth not at all, but rather the contrarie, as may appeare by these two arguments.

• 1. The sacraments and rites, which the Communion booke appointeth, and no other a pa­rishioner is to receiue: But more then two sacraments the communion booke appointeth not, and therefore a parishio­ner is not inioined to receiue more.
• 2. the placing of the words necessarilie inforce asmuch. Not that euery parishioner shal com­municate and also receiue the sacraments and other rites.

For had the booke meant other sacraments as of pennance, con­firmation &c. Hee would haue set them in this order. Not that euerie parishioner shall receiue the sacraments, and other rites, and shall also communicate. Because in a popish sense, parishoners are first brought to eareshrift and then after haue­ing done pennance &c. They are suffred to communicate But the contrarie order is here set downe, and therefore must needs, and doth, intreat a contrarie interpretation.

In the second exhortation to the Communion which sometimes is to be saide at the discretion of the Curat there are these wordes. Our sauiour Christ not onely to dye for vs, but also to bee our spirituall food and sustenance as it is declared vnto vs aswell by Gods word, as by the holy sacraments of his blessed bodie and blood. Here the booke stileth it by the name of sacraments, where it should not so bee, but rather by the holy sacrament of his body and blood &c.

This obiection may wel serue for an argument, that the book [Page 102]meaneth by the word sacraments, Baptism itum tum intersorts quo Christus nos spiritu sācto baptizat, & igne, tum exte­rioris, &c. lun. parallel lib. 3. c 6. in Heb. Baptismos plurals numero no ininat solennes ritus & statos baptizandi di­es. Cal. Heb. 6.2 Baptisma tum meminit plurali numero, non quod iteratus vnquam sed sed quod plures Catechumini so lerēt ad baptis. conu [...]nire. Beza. Ibid. [...] Vnanobis et illis fides, vnus Deus, idem Christus, eadē spes, eadem la­uacra sacramē ­ta. Tertull. de velan. virg. c. 2. Apostolica traditio est qua in toto mundo praedicatur vt baptismi sacramenta. Hieron in 2. Thes. 2. Sensus est Apo­stolicam tradi­tionem nihil a­liud esse, quam doctrinam Apostolorum toti ecclesia traditam et sacras res ex ponentem quibus per baptismum initiati sunt. Iunius contra Belarm. de Ro. Pontis. lib. 4. c. 4: 2. parts, which make but one yet are two parts, namely the body and blood answereable to the outward elements, which are like 2. eyes though but one sight. One signe alone is called a sacrament how much more being more may they bee called sacraments. If so: why not then the rather at what time the thing signified is implyed therein? being as the other was bread and wine, so this in a sacramentall relation the body and blood of our Lord Iesus. An argument to proue so much may be this, by way of more then probable conse­quēt. If the holy Ghost speaking of baptisme (which is but one) calleth it baptismes as more, either because outward & inward, so M. Iunius interpreteth it, that is the element & the thing signi­fied which numbred seuerallie are two, or because of the solemne set dayes ordained in the primitiue church for baptisme, as M. Caluin renders it, or because many striplings nouices in the faith did meet together at one time as M. Beza thinketh, then may this also though but one yet bee multiplyed for number in the same sense, because as then many were baptised at one time, and therefore baptismes so one cōmunicating many times it may bee called sacraments. A speech somewhat vnusuall, yet not vn­true. Baptisme is but one saieth S. Paul, yet in the language of aunciēt fathers as Tertullian and S. Ierom, and others it is not strange to say the sacraments of baptisme. Tertullian saieth, we & they haue one faith, one God, y^e same Christ, the same hope, the same sacraments of the lauer of baptisme. S. Ierom thus. An A­postolicall traditiō it is, which is published in y^e whole world, as y^e sacraments of baptisme. The meaning of which word (saieth M. Iunius) is that an Apostolicall tradition is nothing els, but y^e doctrine of the Apostles deliuered to the whole church, and expoū ­ding the holie things, whereby in baptisme wee are entred into y^e church. Which spéech of Ieroms M. Iunius condemneth not, but niterpreteth The sacramēts of baptisme for holy things & rites as our communion booke there interprets it. Wherefore con­tracting these before mentioned into one briefe, as some doe by way of question who demaund thus.

Whither according to the word of God a man hauing been once bap­tised and communicating 3. times a yeare there be any other sacra­ments to be receiued?

Wee answer:1. Cor. 15.5. Act. 1.26. This question (as commonly all such interrogatiues) made thus cunningly, is but a snare set to intangle a reply. For examples sake: Wée read in 1. Corinth. 15. that Christ was seene of the 12. Where as in the first of the Acts there were but eleuen, for Iudas had hung himselfe. Whereupon with a frame of words after the forme of the demaund here prefixed, wée may stile our question thus. Whither according to the word of God Iudas hauing hung himselfe, & therefor but 11. it may be said there were anie other to be reckoned then at that time for a 12. No diffe­rence at all in the scruple occasioned. For in what termes that is proposed, so may wee tender this, but not without danger and therefore such questions must be cast in a new mould, & be made in some other forme and fashion then this is here. Els wee shall not onely indanger the booke of common prayer, but euen by the like choplogick (at vnawares peraduenture) make worke for Atheists & their reprobate contradictions. Hoping therefore that men desire to be satisfied, and not wrangling at any hand multiplyed, our conclusion is thus. Wee answer. A man hauing beene once baptised and communicating 3. times in a yeare, hath no other sacraments to receiue but the Lord his supper, which is called sacraments because it is one of the sacraments, as also because a man communicateth often, as also because there are many cōmunicants w^t receiue with him, as also because of the se­uerall elements bread and wine, as also because of the seuerall partes signified by them, as also the sacramentall rites annexed to them. For all which respects though but vnum totale, one intire thing, yet as hath beene saide in the language of 1400. yeares agoe and now since in the communion booke called sacra­ments in these wordes: He shall also receiue the sacraments, and other rites. And againe. The sacraments of the bodie, blood &c.

By other rites is thought to insinuate ashes, holie water, the kissing of the pax, and such other like rites vsed in poperie.

Not so, but other rites according to the order in the book pre­scribed, for so the expresse words are of the Rubricke, and therefore [Page 104]seing both by law and practise the contrarie is required, what rea­son haue men to wrong out church thus? (Other rites a man must receiue according to the order in the booke prescri­bed) namely bread and not a water cake, leauened not vnleaue­ned, onely wine alone for the other element, and not wine ming­led with water, in the morning and not after supper, kneeling and so forth, for this order our church followeth. But thus much he spoken of both these Rubricks.

Why are children baptized not being able to performe these that is, faith and repentance (Answ.) In the Catechisme. They doe per­forme it by their Sureties. This is most absurd, and against the word, that one man shall beleeue for another, and one repent for another. The iust shall liue by his owne faith, and euery sinner must repent for his owne sinne.

Neither absurd, nor against the word. But when proofe wanteth, or draweth low, then let euery arrow of the quiuer flie: Absurd, most absurd, and can more be added to aggrauate their accusation? These may be degrees of comparison in bad English, but neither one, nor other of them that good degree, which Saint Pauls Minister should get vnto him. The places in Abacuk and Rom. 1.17. speake of actuall faith, by which the iust liue, but not of that which the Catechisme intendeth, namely the spirit of faith, the Sacrament of faith, and that which is in steed and supply of faith working by loue: the latter quo­tation of Scripture speaketh of such as are come to yeares and can distinguish twixt the right hand and the left, which children neither doo nor through imperfection of age can they. Let such Texts be vrged against them whom it may concerne, against vs it needeth not. For as it is euery ones owne life a man lives, so we confesse it is euery ones proper faith which iustifleth. But that is no hinderance to a child, that liueth by his mother while it is in the wombe, nor any let to a babe, with whom the Church tra­uaileth in birth.Heming postil. in Math. 9. in Dommic. 19, post Trinitat. Act. 27.24 Anothers faith benefiteth euen an Infidell and that very much, we say not immediately to his iustification, re­mission of sinne, and saluation, but yet to his preseruation from danger, as it did those whom God gaue Paul in his voyage. Yea it helpeth much to obtaine faith, that howsoeuer not now, yet hereafter the partie, we pray for, may beleeue. Which faith obtained at the humble request which we make (like that of the Palsie man his friends) may so farre iustifie,Si S. Stephanu [...] sic non or asset, ecclesia Paulu [...] non baberet. August. serm. de Stephan. as remission of sinnes and eternall life will certainely follow. Thus Saint Austin and other of the Fathers, take that Paul was conuer­ted at the prayer of Stephen For if holy Stephen had not thus prayed, the Church should not haue had Paul a conuert. [Page 106]And it is manifest (saith that good Father) that God giueth men in their prayer things to be giuen as the beginnings & entrance of faith and that he prepareth for others (not vn­lesse they pray) perseuerance and constancie to the ende. Cōst at deum dare alia da [...]da non or antibus sicut mitium fidei, alsa non nisi or antibus praeparasse, sicut vsque in finem perseuerantiā Id de bono per seueran. lib. 2. c. 16. Thus farre Saint Austin. We all must and doe confesse no man is wise by another man his wisedome, yet another man his wis­dome helps to put one into the way of knowledge and vnder­standing. So thinke we of another mans faith whether for chil­dren newly baptized, or olde folkes that are not conuerted, if so they belong vnto God. They whose leysure is more then the running band of a ready writer permits, may haue recourse in this wise to the auncient and late Diuines. Ambrose vpon Saint Luke. If thou art somewhat doubtfull of pardon, for thine owne sinnes, Sigrauium pec catorum diffi­dis veniam, adhibe precatorē, adhibe ecclesiā quapro te prece tur Ambros▪ lib 5. in Luc. c. 5. Intelligitur si­mul referri & ad portantes et ad eū quiporta batur. Chrisost. vide quantum vale at apud Deum fides pro­pria, apud quē sic valuit alie­ma vt intus & exera curaret homi [...]e [...] Glos. ordin▪ Hoc verè dixe­rim interuenic ente piorū parē tum fide fieri vt nati vel nascituri infātes sancti sint idest in f [...]dere censcantur ac proinds seruētur. Bez. Que­stionū & respons. part. 2. pag. 68. Non negamus, quin baptismus fidem requirat sednon quali [...] requiritur in c [...]na. Fidesenim relationem semper ad dei promissionem habet. Ero. etc. Bez. re­fut. errerum Micha, Seruet. pag. 829. take others to beg for thee. Saint Chri­sostome vpon these words Christ seeing their faith, Math. 9.2. referreth it not onely to those that bare the sicke man, bu [...] vnto him also that was borne. The ordinarie glosse. See how much ones owne faith auaileth with God, that anothers so much preuaileth, that both inwardly and outwardly a man is healed. Our late writers as Hemingius in the place quoted afore, and Caluin vpon the ninth of Mathew giue the like note. This may I truely say (the words are Master Be­zaes) The faith of the Godly parents entring betweene, it cometh to passe that infants borne or to be borne are holy (that is) reckoned in the couenant & therfore saued. Which answere of his vpon some occasion of dispute twixt him, and one Michael Seruetus (who was afterwards burnt at Geneua) is more fully inlarged. We deny not (saith he) but baptisme requi­reth faith; but not such as is required in the Supper of the Lord. For faith hath alwaies relation to the promise of God. I will be thy God and the God of thy seede. The same Author answering this Anabaptist, that we may see how one egge is like another, when Seruetus had said as much, as some else, [Page 107]thus he replyeth If thy word (Seruetius) must be an oracle vnto vs, Si v [...]xtua (Ser nete) pro [...]rac [...] l [...] nobis ost, cre [...] dimus figment [...] ̄ ess [...] papistic [...] ̄, quod in alterius fide alter bapti­zetur, sedqui [...] prohibet des in­stitutto, [...]e tibi credam securè contemu [...], quod pronuntiat Ibid 834. we must belleue it is a Popish deuice to say that one is Baptized into anothers faith, but because Gods holy institution forbids me, I safely contemne, what thou dost boldly pronounce. So then if no Popish deuise to say that one may be baptized into anothers faith, vnderstanding it as hath beene shewen, if their word be no oracle that say the contrarie, if Gods institution will haue vs so speake, if Bap­tisme require faith, though not such as is in the other Sacra­ment required of striplings and men of yeares, if no more be said by our opponents. then was by Michael Seruetus, if sure­ties may promise, what children (God inabling them) in time will themselues actually performe, we may doe well not to héed, what others haue done ill vnaduisedly to vtter.

Yet the Apostle saith in the first of Corinth. 15.21. we shall not all sleepe, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twickling of an eye, at the last trump.

True in deede it is, that some shall be reserued till that time, & suddainly changed, yet that no exception, because suddaine death shal be to some persons, y^t therefore none shal pray against it. For it needs must be, that heresies shall come, yet that no hinderance [Page 118]why we should not doe all diligence by prayer, studie, rea­ding the word of God, or any other good holy meanes to stop them. And if the Lord shall dispase of any of vs, (other wise, then in the point we intreate of) calling vs on the suddaine, as he hath done many good men, yet to pray against it, is no disobeying the Lords will, which is his owne secret, and vnknowne to vs. For if a man may wish contrarie to that which he knoweth will fall out, so man he be otherwhiles extraordinarily affected, and yet in a holy manner, as did Saint Paul desiring himselfe to be cut off,Rom. 9. so his kinsmen in the flesh all Israel might be saued, yea if a man in the earnestnesse of his loue, may wish contrary to that, which he seeth already come to passe, as appeareth in S. Paul, when he would he were with the Galathia [...]s, whereas he then was absent, and in that very instant could not at once be pre­sent; we see not,Galath. 4.20. but a man praying against suddaine death, may be farre from iust reproofe, specially, when a man knoweth not ought to the contrary, touching himselfe, and if he did know, or notwithstanding this particular clause should die suddainely, yet his, prayer made in what manner the Church giueth direction, is not so much distributiuely in his owne person, as collectiuely in the name of the whole congregation. For the soote of the auswere is not deliuer me good Lord, but deliuer vs. The effect of which petition howsoeuer some one person may misse of in the particular of suddaine death, yet the greater part doth not. And although he that dieth suddainely, may haue his prayer trustrated in that one point, yet some other way it taketh place, namely that he be neuer vnprepared for death. So as in a word to cut off all controuersies, & meete withall exceptions, this may giue full contentment to a peaceable, honest hart, that when we pray against suddaine death we pray against vnprepared death. And howsoeuer it may preuent a kindly opportunitie for mini­string of comfortable instructions to our selues, and others, which we might yeelde vpon respite giuen by sicknesse, yet the substance of that clause is, that suddaine death may in no case preuent vs of the glorious inheritance prepared of God for the Saints.

It is against the commaundement of our sauiour Math. 6.7. when yee pray vse no vaine repetitions as the heathen for they thinke to be heard for their much babling.

Doe such doubt makers rightly vnderstand the place in Saint Mathew 6.7. where auncient and late writers all con­cur in this, with the wordes of the scripture that our sauiour condemneth the manner of the heathen, who as without faith, because they were heathen men, so two other errors they were subiect vnto; the first was, they thought, that if they prated much, and tolde God a faire taile, that they should bee heard for that much talke; the second was, they had a conceit, [...] that they instructed God, as if he knew not what they needed: Yes saieth our sauiour your father knoweth whereof ye haue needs before ye aske of him:Math. 7.8. Now in repeating these wordes good Lord deliuer, and wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord, let it appeare that our Church prayeth without faith, or that shee thinketh to bee heard for much babling, or that shee hold­eth that God is ignorant till shee informe him, and then wee will confesse our error in vsing this clause before mentioned. But herein wee may see how men to aduance their owne credit care not what account they make of their brethren,Syrtace. as if they iudged no better of vs then of heathen men, infidels and the like. For that which they should attribute to the feruencie of spirit vttered in the publicke assemblies with an audible voice in giuing assēt to, what is praied for they cal by no better name the idle babling, or battologie: Whereas that fault of battology is an idle trifling with God, holding off and on, playing fast & loose [Page 124]as if we would or could deceiue God.— Sub illis montbus (in quit) erāt, er āt submontibus illis —& me mihs perf [...]de pro dis me mihi pro dis ait Ouid. Metam. lib. 2. [...] vel [...] quod significat idem quod [...] exiuit, et signi­ficat eos qui de­lectantur mul toisermones proferre, et quo rum ore multa prodeunt verba gallice babil­lards. Tremel in Math. 6.7. Absit ab crati­one multa lo­quutio sed non desit multa pre catio, si feruens perseuerat tu­tētio. Aug. epist. 121. ad probà. Multum preca­ri est ad eum quem preca­mur diuturna & pia cordis excitatione pul­sare Ibid. multiloquium adhibers, non cum di [...] preca­mur sed cum ci trafidem et spi­ritum verba multiplicamus persuasin [...]s propter numerū verborum audiri posse. P. martyr in 1. Sa [...]t. v. 12. [...]. Luc. 6.12. Math. 26. [...]4. [...]. Luck. 18 32. For so did one Battus whence this name is. Who being demaunded for one, which way he went, nothing could be got of him more then this, he was vnder those nils, so he was, that he was, whom Mercurie ta­king tardie, reproueth in the like accent: Thou perfidious false fellow doest thou betray to my selfe? to myselfe doest thou be­tray mee. In which speech of both sides, there is iugling, and in­uerting of wordes, as if the parties were in dalliance to and [...]o, playing wilie beguile one with another. A thing not vntrue of the heathen men, and of their parly with their Idols, and of their Idols with them, but vntruelie, and vnaptlie conceiued of the faithfull and their praiers to God, or bis gratious answer to their vnfained supplications. The siriack translating this word calleth them such as delight to be gabling and babling. No such heathnish delight is in Gods children, whose holy affecti­on inliueth their words, which els like an abortiue would soone die in their birth. For their practise answereth agreablie to that counsell, which Saint Austin giueth. Let prating (saieth hee) bee absent from mens orizons, but let not much prayer be wanting so there be a feruent earnestnes with perseuerance of mind. For to patter much is whē we vse superfluous words but to pray much is, when wee are set on with a long and godlie stirring vppe of the heart. And much speaking or babling is not, when wee pray long, but when wee multi­ply wordes without faith and spirit, persuaded (as Peter Martyr writeth) that for the verie number of wordes we may be heard. Otherwise Christ prayed long euen a whole night he continued in prayer. And where exception is taken of repetitions of one thing oft, it is wellknown Math. 26. that he repeated one prayer in the same words three times. Which a blinde man did also Luke 18. crying Lord Iesu thou sonne of Dauid haue mercie on mee which seemed a fault in the eares of the people, but his necessitie and earliestnes would not to be an­swered. For he cried the more. O thou sonne of Dauid haue mercy on mee. Wordes repeated so far from reproofe that they [Page 125]make accesse to our sauiour, & haue successe in their petition. So that a short conclusion may serue for all. Neither reciting the same wordes vpon vrgent occasion with earnest deuotion, nor long prayers doe deserue this rough hewed censure, but pattring with the lips, and the heart a far off, thinking belike to be heard for their talkatiue prating. Admit wee not this interpretation which yet is the meaning of the scripture, and Saint Augustin, Battologia, est nugacitatet lo­quacitas ea qua non vtilia pos­cimussed tem­poralia vt [...]oa nores diuitias &c. Theophi­lact. in Math. 6.7. after it, stand wee to the iudgement of Chrisostom and Theophilact, no aduantage haue: any for confirming thēselues in their wrong opinion. For these Gréek writers (as may appeare by him selfe & by Chrisost. in that ordinarily hee is an abridgement of Chrisost. call it babling or battologie, when we ouer earnestly busie our selues in praying speciallie for things not profitable, but trifles, as riches, honors, and the like. Now (vnlesse spirituall graces such as accompanie saluation, and temporall blessings in their commendable furderance to sanctification goe for trifles) an humble, and penitent heart cannot denie their assent to this mul­tiplyed petition in the letanie. Wherefore such must take heede that they grieue not the holy Ghost, and lesse it is not, to wrest of purpose the holie scriptures from that natural sense, wherein they are penned. Be it in weaknesse of knowledge, that some thus ea­gerlie reproch the burden and fall of our praiers, when thus bur­dened and humbled wee doe multiply the same request, yet wee intreat the Christian reader so oft, as his eye lighteth vpon these errors of theirs that euer and anon as hee commeth to a new straine, that his heart in silence will let fall some such request to Godward, as this, Lord forgiue them their ignorance, and though they for whom such prayer is, thinke it an idle affirmati­on, yet our request is, that whosoeuer shall read these criticall de­murie, his loue will not be sparing to say it, and to say it for them Lord forgiue them, they know not what they accuse.

It is great presumption that the Bishop will offer to giue that, which is not in his owne power, yea that which God alone can doe. This is against God and his worde.

Presumptiō great or smal, more or lesse, if they cal this, their speach is fearefullie pitched in dangerous places and may soone tilt vnlesse a helping hand support with the soonest. For in the extent of these wordes (as they sound at their first hearing) what [Page 128]is there in mans power to giue, or what is it he hath not re­ceiued? if he haue receiued why then are these wordes as im­plying ought in his power. This iealous interpreting of words well deliuered is a copie they set vs. Shall Moses doe ought in thinges pertaining to his office, and will not 3. brethren in e­uill Corah Dathan, & Abiram say he doth that which is not in his power, or it is more then he can doe and he taketh too much vpon him. Why then? this captiousnesse is a stale slaunder, and a wonder it is (that being readie to dote thorough time,) it hath so much as a snag, or stump to fasten vpon episco­pall authoritie. To receiue the holie Ghost is to giue that, which is not in anie mans power: Bee it as they say he giu­eth that, which is not in his power: so euerie embassador consi­dered as himselfe a priuate person Iohn, or Thomas, when he draweth articles of peace twixt nation and nation, doth a thing not being in his own power but by vertue of his embassie from that great monarch from whome he is sent. The power to ordaine a minister, and to lay hands on him with solemne prai­ers vpon serious and due preexamination is no priuate acti­on, but an authoritie giuen from aboue. To remit sinnes the scribes were not so blinde, but they could see, and say it is blas­phemie for none can forgiue sinne, but God onelie: The peace of God was not at the 70. disciples becke, yet their peace it is called.Math. 9.6. Little are the Prophets in comparison of Iohn Baptist, Luk. 10.6. little Iohn Babtist, & all the faithfull ministers of y^e gospel in respect of Christ, yet all are called light to shine amongst a crooked generation, & giue light to the world: Iohn Baptist a burning, and a shining lamp, and the prophets in their time, some such whose labours the Lord vsed to giue light to them that sat in darkenesse. May Ismaell lift vppe his hand against all, and none returne him like for like? May all his wordes goe for truth and this among the rest vncontrolde. None can offer that, which is not in their owne power. Then may none offer to plucke vppe, roote, destroie, builde, plant, saue a soule from death,Nemo dat quod non habet. hinde vppe the broken, Baptise, beget in the Gospell and the like for none of all these are in a mans owne power. The foundation of which argument is [Page 129]both in Philosophie, and Diuinitie very weake.Nihildat quod nō habet eléch. I. In Philosophie both Morall, and naturall. Morall for a seruant who many times hath not a halfepenny of his owne doth many times deli­uer from his Master many crownes at a time to some other man at his Masters appointment. In naturall Phylosophie our dis­putants know this proposition is much wronged. For what forme of a chaire hath an Axe, Chrisill, or Saw, yet these are in­struments to some such purpose? and in arguing of the Sunnes influence, of the elements, and the compounds thence, this pro­position is made ouermuch pliable: so in the question of the Sa­craments for their dependance from the Minister, what violence hath beene offered by the like, euery young Student of reasona­ble paines is sufficiently instructed, or may be, if he make recourse to Austin in his Bookes of baptisme against the Donatists. Nor their onely ground it was, but the Nouatians also, buil­ding vpon this principle denied the Ministers power to forgiue. Because as they said they gaue the Lord reuerence, in whom they held it was a case of reseruation,Aiuntse domia no referre reue­rentiam cuiso­li remittendorū criminum pote­statem deferūt. Ambros. lib. 1. de poeniten c. 6. and none else could giue that, which was not in his power. For God had power onely to forgiue shine. Many like inferences haue béene writhed in vp­on supposall of this premise None can giue that, which is not in his owne power. Which simply proposed may be acknow­ledged for truth, but all the error is in application. Iniuriously therefore doe they by whom the vse of these words Receiue the holy Ghost is hailed into obloquie, to the reproch of our Church and as we iudge to no small preiudice vnto others. For in the manner of imposition of hands ordinarily obserued in the Chur­ches of Fraunce it is decreed that these very words of Saint Iohn. La maniere de imposition. Receiue the holy Ghost should be at that time in the ele­ction of their Ministers repeated, and stood vpon, as also those other following, whosoeuer sinnes ye remit, &c. Then after fol­loweth a prayer, which vsually compriseth the contents of their Sermon, beséeching God for successe in that worke in hand of ordaining Ministers. Thus farre the words in vse with them, not only recitatiuè rehearsing that historie, nor precatiuè with prayers accordingly, but ordinatiuè in ordination, wh they vse their authoritie and power to ordaine or designe Ministers as our Sauiour did his Apostles.

Our Sauiour might giue what the Bishop cannot.

True if Christ had not sent them as the Father sent him: True if in ordination men did take vpon them to giue,Ioh. 20, 2 [...] as im­mediately from themselues in their owne persons, as Christ did in his: True if they prayed not that God would giue what they thinke necessarie to speake of: True if the Bishop did meane the person of the holy Ghost: True, if that God did neuer take of the spirit of his seruant, and giue of it vnto another, as in Moses when the Lord tooke of the spirit which was vpon him, and gaue vnto the 70. Num. 11.17. yea sometimes doubling it vpon one from another,Num. 11.17. as 2. King. 2.9. that of Elia vpon Elizeus. 2 King, 2.9. Sure­ly, surely were a caueller but modestly affected in handling this point, he would no more repine at these words. Receiue the holy Ghost, then at those, which euery Minister vseth the Lord be with you, Chrisost. homil. 33. in cap 9 Math. [...]. or at that which the people returne as in S. Chry­sostome his time the manner was, and yet is (and with thy spi­rit). Besides at such times what imply these words but autho­ritie in him that consecrateth? And they that are consecrated are giuen to vnderstand they haue power being thus ordained to intermeddle in spirituall, Ghostly, and holy occasions, so as they are in the words remembred warranted by their publike functi­on, that they are rightly and lawfully called, and are no intru­ders, hereby giuing vs and others to vnderstand, what reue­rence is to be yeelded them for their sacred function, which they now discharge. So as retaine they sinnes, or remit sinnes, ex­communicate, or pronounce absolution, Preach, pray, admonish, exhort, counsell, reproue, baptize, or administer the holy Supper of the Lord, in all these they are to be estéemed as the disposers of the mysteries of God, and their words sentence, iudgements, cen­sures, acts, or déedes are not hence foorth theirs, as of a priuate man, or of man at all, but the words, counsels, and déedes of the holy Ghost, and men disobeying or resisting disobey not, nor resist them,1. Sam 8.7. for who are they in the view of a carnall eye, but they disobey and resist the holy Ghost,N [...]m. 16.11. in whose name their commission hath so great power, as that it is not from earth [Page 131]earthly, but from heauen heauenly. For when it is (thus saith the Lord) it must be thought that the Prophets also did then speake. So little reason had any to trouble himselfe, or the Church with these occurrences, which are no sooner mooued, but assoone answere for themselues.

Another Paper maketh exception thus. We cannot subscribe to the Booke of ordination as is required, be­cause the Bishop is appointed in ordaining of Priests and Bishops to vse the very words receaue the holy Ghost, which Christ our Sauiour vsed at the sending foorth of his Apostles, which he did because he being God was able and did extraordinarily giue that which he willed them to receiue.

Though sufficient haue beene already answered concerning this point, yet because some renue their complaint we also re­turne them, if possiblie a more ample and full answere. In the ordination of Priests according to the forme established by law in our Church after sundrie exhortations, instructions, admo­nitions, prayers, protestations, and promises to, for, and by the partie to be made Priest, the Bishop with the rest of the Priests that are present laying his handes vpon his head vseth these words Receiue the holy Ghost, whose sinnes thou doest forgiue they shall be forgiuen, and whose sinnes thou doest re­taine they shall be retained, and be thou a faithfull dispenser of the word of God and his holy Sacraments, In the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghost, A­men. At the ordination of Bishops and Priests in the Apo­stels times the holy Ghost was giuen to such as were ordained by imposition of hands as in that Epistle to Timothie, I put thée in remembrance that thou stir vp the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands, 2. Tim. 1.6. Séeing then the Apostle knew that Christ in the ordination of ministery did bestowe the holy Ghost vpon such as they laid hands on, what other forme of words can any man probably coniecture, they should vse, when [Page 132]for the ceremonis of insufflation they laid hands on shē, but those which Christ himselfe by his owne example hath taught namely Receiue the holy Ghost, whose sinnes ye remit they are re­mitted, &c. If any man can tell vs, what words they vsed, he shall doe well to declare them, or if he cannot, it is our duetie to thinke they followed Christ his example.

How then commeth it to passe that the Bishop doth not first blow vpon them before he saith, Receaue the holy Ghost?

Alexander Alesius borne in Scotland in 1501. a Prea­ther,Professor theologus celebris & excellens &c. Admonis. Christi. de authori Lutheri p. 234. Est sūma mi­nisterii laus quod in eo verè donetur spiri­tus sāctus: nam hae verba insufflauit et dixit Accipite sp. sā ­ctū accommodā da sunt ad ordinationem, vel collationem ministerii. Alex. Ales. in Iohan. in qua confer­tur potestas do­cendi & admi­nistrandi sacramenta &c. Ac optandum esset, vt ad im­positionē ma­nuum hee simul accederet. &c. id quod dus obseruatum fuit in ecclesia & bodie adhuc obseruatur apud episcopos, sic enim et po pulus doceretur per ceremoniam de dignitate ministerii cum quo donatur sp. sanctus, & maiori oum reuerentia accederent. ld. and a famous excellent professor in Diuinitie (as appeareth in his answere to the defence, of the Louain articles set out by Ruardus Tapper) and buing at Basil, when the authoritie of Bishops was tumultuarily supprest, and withall, this forme (we speake of) in ordaining Ministers quite abrogated, writeth on these words. Receaue the holy Ghost after this manner. The highest commendation of the ministerie is herein, that the holy Ghost is truely and verely giuen in it. For these words he brea­thed and said Receiue the holy Ghost, are to be applyed vnto the ordination or collation of the ministerie: And we must know that it is a calling to the ministerie, or ordination, wherein is conferd a power to teach and administer Sacraments but with­all, with this ceremonie the holy Ghost is bestowed vpon them, that come worthily to ordination. And it were to be wished that to imposition of hands were appointed also to breath and say Re­ceaue the holy Ghost, which is a thing hath a long time been obserued in the Church, and to this day is yet obserued among Bishops. For so the people might be taught by this ceremonie of the worthinesse of the ministerie, wherewith the holy Ghost is giuen, and men would come vnto it with greater reuerence. This was his iudgement. But the former part of this action exprest by our Sauiour, our Church hath not thought good to retaine, because the Apostles, when they would vse some [Page 133] [...] to [...]he not this of insufflation [...],Cum vellent ad hibere aliquem ritum inordination [...] non sump seru [...]nt symbelū insufflationis &c. Chemni [...]t exam co [...]etl. de sacrament. or­dinis pag. 240. sed sump­seru [...]nt alium [...]s tum indifferē ­tem imposit. etc. Christus vt. oftē deret a se proce­dere spiritum sa [...]um sicut & a patre in­suffla [...]s in dis­cip [...]los suos ac­cipite spiritum sanctum. Aug. de Trinit. & vnitate des. c. l. [...]ast it should be thought that Christ gaue com­mandement to vse it, but they tooke another indifferent one, of imposition of handes (no doubt by Christ his warrant) and vsed it in ordination, but not the other of breathing: because the signification hereof did not fit any mortall man. For Christ (as the Author vnder Saint Austin his name witnesseth) to shew that the holy Ghost did proceede from himselfe, as also from the Father, breathed vpon his Disciples and said. Receaue the holy Ghost. Sufficient it may be our Church retaineth the latter clause which is no more blasphemous for the Bishop to say, then to say. They baptise, they absolue. This is my body. I haue begotten thee in the Gospell. For in execution of these particular offices he is but the minister of God, who doth him­selfe, in or by his ministrie beget vs, feede vs, absolue vs, bap­tise vs, and giueth the hohy Ghost to such as are ordained.

But there is no commandement giuen by Christ for Bishops in ordina­tion of Priest [...] to vse these words, Receiue the holy Ghost, as there is for baptizing, absoluing, and the like.

The examples of Christ and his Apostles are in many tales sufficient rules to be followed without any precept, and if so why not in this? Secondly, many things may be lawfully done accor­ding to the analogie of Scriptures, for which is neither expresse commandement, nor example of Christ as amongst others, in that the Church receiueth [...]omen to the holy Commu [...]ition. 3. Why may we not affirme Christ his example in saying Re­ceiue the holy Ghost, should be as well continued in ordaining Ministers without any far [...]er expresse commandement, as or­dination it selfe, which is not there by name prescribed. 4. These words This is my body, and this is the blo [...]d of the new Te­stament, which Christ vsed at his last Supper are generally held to be the words of the holy institution, and yet there is no commandement, that the Minister should vse [...]ein in celebra­ting that action, but because the action if selfe is commanded the words of the institution are therein withall implied. So [Page 134]stands the case with ordination of Priests, Receiue the holy Ghost, are the words of their consecration, which although it be not in expresse termes prescribed to be continued, yet the or­dination being deduced frō Christ his example, the same forme of ordination is thereby included, which he meant should con­tinue as a perpetuall succession in the ministerie. For in the words mentioned one is no plainer then the other. By these very words (faith Master Caluin on this 20. of Saint Iohn) Christ after a sort doth inaugurat his Apostles vnto an of­fice,His Verbis A­postolos swos que dammodo inau gurat Christus in officium cui cis pri [...]t destina [...]erat. Calum. Ioh. 20. Ne (que) profan a fuit in angera tis ritus ille &c. Id, in 2. Tim. 1. whereunto he before had destinate and appointed them. And vpon 3. Timoth. 1. This rite and ceremonie was not any prophane inauguration inuented onely to get authoritie in the eyes of men, but a lawfull consecration before God, which is not perfited, but by the power of the holy Ghost, whence we may thus reason. That which Christ giueth by imposition of the Bishops hands to the partie, that thereby is ordained Priest, the Bishop in Christ his name may will him to receiue. But Christ giueth the holy Ghost by imposition of the Bishops hands to the partie that is ordained Minister or Priest. There­fore the Bishop in Christ his name may say vnto him, Receiue the holy Ghost.

In vaine and idlie are these words vsed, Receiue the holy Ghost in ordination of Ministers, because vnlearned asses being made Ministers by theirs, returne no more learned from the Bishops, then when they went first vnto them.

This obiection might haue preindiff the Apostles,Mira fuit ille­rum r [...]ditas, quod tam abso­lute, tantaque curae per trien­tum edocti nō minorem insci­riam produnt. Cal. in Act. 1. Totidem in hae [...]uterrogations sunt errores quos verba Ibid who not­withstanding their ordination were no better learned then to aske, when Christ would restore the kingdome of Israel, &c. Where Master Caluin noteth maruelous great was their rudenesse and ignorance that being so exquisitely taught, and with so great diligence for three yeares they shew no lesse want of knowledge, then as if they neuer had heard word. So many errors are therefore in this their interrogatiue. Secondly, Saint Paul giuing rules vnto Timothie and Titus doth describe what manner of persons, and how qualified they must be afore they [Page 135] [...] [...]o ordination namely, bl [...]lesse, pr [...]t, [...]ha [...], [...], [...]oly, [...] is te [...]th and [...], vpon [...]asion of which note [...]ha [...]geth them they should [...]ay h [...]s o [...]r none (as neere as they could) that were not first in [...]ued with these vertues and gift [...], which had not béene so necessarie a precept, if the said vertues, or gifts, or any of them were then first to haue béene giuen by unpos [...]tion of ha [...]s in the ordination of Bishops and Priests. So as neither gift of learning, g [...]dlinesse, [...]ome, or any aboue last mentioned were either bestowed vpō the Apostles when Christ said vnto them, Receaue the holy Ghost, nor vpon Timothis, nor any other that was [...]is three ordained.

Many lewd and vnsufficient men there are ouer whom these words are pronounced, and yet not gifted or graced by the Spirit for ought we can see.

This obiection striketh at two sorts of men, one for want of knowledge, the other for want of a vertuous life, but while is so doth, it shameth the persons, it cannot aimihslate their calling. For Sacraments are the same administred by them and no [...]ng defectiue, though themselues be. As for want of knowledge. We are to vnderstand it either comparatiuely or absolutely: Abso­lutely, that there is no knowledge at all to be found in a man or­dained, and called to that function were strange, and indéede vn­like: comparatiuely, want of knowledge in respect of others, may be the best mans case compared with a better then himselfe at one time or another, in one place or another, yea it may so fall out, and doth in our dayly experience that men growing in years are much inferior to themselues of that,Sitanto est m [...] ­lius quod acci­pitur, quanto est melior per quē traditur, tanto est in accipienti bus baptismorī [...] [...]farietas, quan­ [...]o in ministris di­ [...]ersit as merito­rum. Aug. Come­tra Cresco [...]. lib. 3. cap. 6. which they were in middle age, when memorie, voice, and inuention serued them better then now it doth, and yet they cease not to be Ministers, at what time they are so disabled. If the Sacrament (faith S. Austin̄) be so much the better to him that taketh, adhe [...] is the better by whom it is deliuered, there is by so much, a varietie of Baptismes in the receiuers, as there is diuer­sitie of worth in Ministers. Such [...]re must he had (and we hope is s [...] as Paul requireth in Timothie) not to [...]ay [...] [Page 136]rashly on any. Which very [...]at arg [...]eth that if the Bishop shall ordaine any ouerhastily, the calling is lawfull, [...] may be done by such a man in his place. For it is ordination by imposition of bands that maketh a Minister, without which let his sufficiencie in toongs and other learning be admirable, yea incredible, we may and doe hold him learned, but we doe not account him a Minister, whose duetie stands in this, that being ordained, he is, to baptise.

• 2. To Catechize.
• 3. To in­struct publikely, and as occasion shall serue priuately.
• 4. To offer vp the prayers of the people.
• 5. To remit the sinnes of the penitent, and to binde and to retaine the offences of the ob­stinate.
• 6. To consecrate and distribute the blessed Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ.
• 7. To visite the sicke and to comfort them.
• 8. To blesse those who are ioyned in Matri­monie.
• 9. To praise God for deliuerance of women after child­birth, and lastly, to burie the dead in a godly manner as the or­der of our Church requireth.

Among all which preaching hath a speciall vse, whether memoriter by hart at times vpon iust occasion,Si prasbyter als quis infirmita­te prohibente per scipsum non poterit pra­dicare, sanctorū patrum homilia recitentur. &c Concil. vasense. can. [...]. as God shall inable a man, or else (a man being not so well prouided by reason of sicknesse or some other law­full hinderance) reading some homilie warranted by authority of our Church. For so it is required, and of auncient time hath beene practised as appeareth in the daies of Theodosius the younger. If a Presbiter or Minister (through sicknesse hindring) cannot preach of himselfe, let certaine homilies of the holy Fathers be recited.

Lewd and licentions men are not gifted and graced by Gods spirit.

We confesse with teares that a wicked Minister though his toong be plausible, if his life be not agreable, the insamie of his losell demeanor blemisheth the glory of his best doctrine, such is the weakenes of the people in taking offence, though they should not so doe. We acknowledge such may be compared to Noahs workemen that made the Ark to saue others & thēselues perished [Page 137]in the [...] But this [...] answer; who say. In the eye of the church it is not a mans learning, nor [...] of life (for these are qualities in common with other men) but ordina­nation with imposition of hand [...] which maketh a minister. Ambrose vpon Timothie. Imposition of handes are misticall wordes, Manus impositi ones verba sū [...] mystica, quibus confirmatur ad hoc opus electus, accipient autho vitatem testa conscientia sua vt andeat vice domius sacrifici um deo offerr [...] Ambros. in. 1 Timoth. 4. Baptizaut quantum atti­ [...]et ad visibile ministerium bo­ni & mali, inuisebiliter autem per cos count est & visibile bap­tisme, & inui­sibilis gratia. Aug contra Crescon. lib. 2. cap 21. Naziā. [...]r [...]t. de baptis. An solis [...] [...]per [...] diff [...] [...] contra [...] Aug [...] temperies & [...] contra Cescon. lib. 3. c. 8. by which he that is elected is confirmed vnto the worke receiuing authoritie his conscience bearing witnesse that in stood of the Lord he [...] d [...]eth [...] offer to sacrifice vnto God. Upon his perill be it that will attempt to deceive God or man. If he liue well thou hast what to follow, if he liue pro­phanely, doe what he teacheth but not what he doth. As con­cerning the outward and visible ministrie both good and bad do baptise, but inuisiblie he doth baptise by them, whose i [...] i [...] both visible baptisme, and invisible grace. Iud [...] did baptise, yet not he but Iesus Christ baptised with the holy Ghost. Neither hi [...] cal­ling nor message deserue dreproch, though the man did. A seale of wood may giue the stampe of Cesars image, as well as a [...]ed of gould. The light of the some is not stained, though his be [...] reach to Baals draughthouse. It is Saint Austins similitude against the Donatists. A pardon is worth accepting of their parts who neede it, though a sorrie fellow were the [...]ellenger of such glad tidings. When man [...]het is vpon the tai [...] man [...]ue [...] ­oneth whither the husbandman where he sowes the seed [...], [...] a leprous hand like Na [...]an, it contenteth so the séede be good, the ground battle, the time seasonable, the heauens kindely with their first and latter raine.

What remission of sins is to be hoped for, where the minister himselfe is wretched and impenitent?

Such men are to be lamented,Si [...] plain intustot and Actione [...] subsannans &c [...] dub [...]te [...] & calicemillius manuporresta, ver a [...] esses orporit &. sanguinis Christi pigwor [...]. Caluin. antiders Concil. Triden sos. 7. [...]an 11. yea more they deserue to be de­priued and thrust out, yet be the minister an epl [...]e inwardly to himselfe, deuiding the holie action of the sacrament. I cannot doubt (saieth M. Caluin) that the breade and cup reached vnto [Page 138]me by h [...] [...], are vnto not the true pledges of the [...]odis and blood of Christ.

If not to be able to preach make a man a dumb dog, the doubt is bo [...] that ordinatiō may be good, which setteth apart such ones to the work of the ministrie.

This frame of words fée [...]eth to take many things for gra [...] ­ted, as that a man not able to preach is a dumb dog, and that such a one his ordination is not good. The first of which propo­sitions needeth explication, the second requireth farder proof, thē onelie a bare affection. In the first wee doubt what is meant by preaching, secondlie who are these domb dogs. By preaching meane they, making a sermon vpon a text, expounding of the wordes for their depentance and fence, raising of the doctrin with their seueral vses, ane due application to time, person, and place, by instruction, reproofe, confutation, and the like, and al this done without books, co [...]d by heart, and vttered with an audible voyce in the eares of the congregation, we easily confesse an inestimable benefit commeth to Gods Church thereby, and men thus suffici­ently able are worthie of speciall in [...]enragements for mainte­nance of learning [...] religion, but then are they a verie few, that must beheld forable minister [...], and (belike) because others not thus able to preach must be reputed no ministers, which is vndoubtedlie a very dangerous, and false consequent. That some are so qualified, able thus to preach, is a singular blessing of God vpon both our famous vniuersities, and his rich mercy which he hath vouchsafed vnto our church, but that other are not therefor lawfull ministers,Qui bene pronū tiare possunt, quid autem pro [...]untiēt excogi­tare non poss [...]t Quod si ah a lies sumant elo quen ter sapienter que cōscriptum, nemo riaque cōmēdent at que ad populū profer ant sieam personam gerūt, nō improbe facions. Sic enim (quod vtile est) [...]ult [...] pradicatores [...] mu [...]t [...] mag [...]tr [...]st [...] verimagestri id ips [...]um die an [...] [...]ia, et nē sunt in iis schismata, Aug. de doct. Christia. lib. 4. c. 28. nor their ordination good who cannot doe so­much, wee dare not so iudge. For some there are as S. Austin well obserued in his time, that can pronounce well (or as wee english it) are good churchmen, but cannot so well in­uent, neither for matter, nor wordes, but if they take of others, what is well penned (as homilies or sermons) & pronounce thē to the people, if they sustaine that person [Page 139]they do not amisse. For so (which is a profitable thing) there are many preachers, but not manie maisters, if so be they speake all thinges of that one true maister Christ, and that there be no schismes among them. Where wee may note 1. the way to haue many preachers, secondlie that they who take other mens labours to vse do a profitable worke, 3. that they are not reckoned dumb dogs or vnpreaching ministers, but preachers and publishers of the truth. But let vs proceede on as wée be­gan. Some there are whose inuention serueth welinough, & vpon due meditation haue apt words at will, and can accordingly fore their places, & quotations for euery necessary proofe, which they do alledge & yet their memory is weake, & for their hearts they cannot deliuer without book what they haue penned in writing. These also must be put out of the number of ministers, as not a­ble to deliuer their message, and threefore being not able to preach, their ordination is not to be held for good. But by these mens patience who so dispute, we prefer other mens iudgements before such ouerhastie censures. For Zepperus & Bernard Textor (though otherwise known disciplinarians) giue their verdict otherwise.Tyr [...]nibus ali­quid sub imitie conceds potest et indulgeri, vt vel adverbēl ma moriterediscāt, veles chartale gant &c. Zep­pen Art. habend. concion. lib. [...]. Breus, memori­a subsidnum in charta, not at [...] & in libre re­positum se [...]fin­um Bernar. Texter. Pandect sacra. [...]om [...]to [...]. En [...]angelizare enim perpance [...] rum est bapti­zare antem cu­inslibet [...]de sacerdotie figatur Chrisest. in 1. Corinth. 1. Nune quidem prasbyteris qui in habilteres some hoc momustradimus Ibid. To young diuines at the first somewhat may be fanourablie yeelded, that either they con without booke, or els to read their sermons out of their paper. B [...] ­nand Textor distinguisheth of preachers, some are of a bad me­mory, some of a good. They of a bad memory may haue help from their notes in their paper booke, as it lieth before them. 3. others a gaine there are that can, neither inuent, nor dispose, nor remember, and therefore not able to preach in the sense here deliuered of preaching, and yet were rec­koned for ministers in the dayes of the Apostles. For so auncient and late writers vnderstand that place in 1 Corinthi­ans where Paul saieth he was sent not to baptise but to preach For (saith Chrifostome) preach a very few can, but bap­tize euery one may that is a Priest or minister. And then af­ter recording how the custome of the Church in his dayes diffe­red not from the Apostles times. Now truely (saith he,) wee [Page 140]giue this office to presbiters that are more [...]nable. Maiusest [...]n an gelizare quam baptizare. Non emnisqui baps tizat idoneut est euāgelizare. Ambros. in 1. Corinth. 1. Perfecte bapti­zare etiam mi nus decti possūt perfecte autem euangelizare multo difficili [...] ris & rarioris est operis. Ideo doctor gentium pl [...]rimis excel­lentior enangele zaremissusestuō baptizare, quo. niam hoc per mul [...]or fiers pot [...] rat, illud per pa [...]cos, inter quireminebat. August [...]ōrra ti­ter. Petils, lib. 3 c 56. Cū pa [...]corū esset docare, pluri but autem baptizare datū foret. &c. Calum in 1. Corinth. 1.17. Baptismune fere aliis ma [...]d [...] runt q [...]i ad pra­dication [...] for tassis [...]i [...]s ido [...]ei erant Gual­ter. Ibid. M [...]s tingends cuiuis in ecclesia cōmitti potest, nō itē munus euangelizā di. P. martir. Ibid. Ag [...]scimus quor [...]dā inecclesiaveteri pastorū [...]implicitatem innocuam plus aliquand [...] profecisse eccle (in, qua [...] quor [...] ­dam er [...]dition [...] variam exquisitam, delicatam (que) sed paul [...] post fastu osiorem v [...]de we bodieè quidē re [...]ici [...]ds [...]imphcit [...]te [...] quorandā pribā nee tumē [...] imperitā, Con [...]es. [...]. Vpon the same place Saint Ambrose hath these wordes It is a greater thing to preach then to baptise. Not euerie one that bap­tiseth is fit to preach. Some such note Saint Austin maketh. men of lesse learning may perfectly or sufficiently well bap­tise, but to preach wel, or perfectlie is a worke more rare and difficult, and therefore the doctor of the Gentiles be­ing more excellent then manie, was sent to preach the Gos­pell not to baptise, because that might be done by many, this could be done but by a few, among whome Paul, was eminent and chiefe. Maister Caluin noteth vpon that 1. Co­rinthi [...]s in this manner. The Apostle entreth not this com­parison to detract aniething from baptisme. But because verie few were able to teach, but to baptise was giuen to manie &c. Maister Gualter to the like purpose. Other A­postles that were imployed in continuall teaching follow­ed this course of Saint Paul, they commended baptisme to manie others, who perhaps were lesse fit [...]ed to preach. Pe­ter Martyr hath some such obseruation vpon the same text. The office of baptising may be committed to anie man in the church, but so may not the office of preaching. Wee speake not of Hemingius, and others, whose indgement agreeth here­unto Onely we wil content our selues with the confession of Heluetia. we acknowledge (saieth it) that harmles simplicity of pastors in the anncient church did profit the church a great deale more, then some mens various exquisite, & de­licat learning, but a little to proud & disdainfull: wherefore we reiect not at this day the honest simplicity of some ministers so it be not too vnlearned. 4. to conclude if by preaching they meane the spending of an hower idlie, to no [...] [...]urpose, or schis­matically or out of order, or like bold baiard, thē we graūt such as can exhort, say seruice, [...]e [...]ebrat y^e facr aments, read at times some [Page 141]s [...]odlie sermons which themselues haue penned, or some others for them, to be no ministers, because they cannot preach in that scandalous manner of preaching.

Dumb dogges.

As touching this appellation.Vocans mutos canes obiteit illis ignauiā & socordiam Cal. in Esa. 56.10. The Prophet calleth not those dumb dogs who are vtterlie vnable to doe their duty, for of them he spake in the wordes going before, but those he so nameth which are negligent and sluggish being able and not doing it 2. hee calleth not them dumb dogs that did read the law, admini­ster the sacraments, and those legall ceremonies with other such duties as became the priests though they all could not make far­der proo [...]e of their memories inuentiō, audacity, vtterance, learn­ing & in a most paineful manner spending their spirits aforehand to be prouided, and after meditation to deliuer it by heart fitlie and agreable to the holsome doctrines handled and the persons in presence: for such able Priests were alwaies verie rare, but those they are, whome he calleth dumb dogs, that did nothing at all, appertaining to their office but onely bearing a name were altogether idle and slothfull 3. neither doth the Prophet reproue onely those to whome the function of teaching was com­mitted, but (as Maister Caluin noteth) he vnderstandeth iudges gouernors, and kinges, Sedetiam indices praefectors, acreges, qui ritè omnia admi­nistrare debue­rant. Ibid. who ought to haue administred all thinges orderly. Now then as in ciuill policies; ignorance, and some defects make not a iudge, magistrate, or king his office void nor frustrateth the election (for that graunted will drawe on ma­nie absurd, rebellious, anabaptisticall conclusions) so neither doth want of some more speciall commendable perfection make a nullitie of the minister his calling or canonicall ordination.

Yes but it doth, For it is required he be able to conuince the gaine­saier.

Surely it is to be wished that all our ministers could per­forme their office in the best and most excellent sort, but we must doe as we may, when wee cannot as wee would. He that car­rieth a hod on his shoulder, and beareth bricke or morter is ma­nie [Page 142]times a good maison though not so expert, as the architect, and chiefe builder: hee that handleth a spade to cast vp the mould, is other whiles a good gardiner, though not so cunning as he that draweth the knot. He may be a good minister that wanteth as wée read a fore memory, vtterance, audacity to instruct by the pen or by reading his owne labours, and the approued labors of other holy men, though he be not of dexteritie to conceiue or con­fute as some other of his brethrenican. And certaine it is, manie there are, who because they will shunne the reprochfull name of dumb dogs are readiest to fling a stone at the head of others more sufficient then themselues. For of these vntimely, rathripe, vnlettered, vnpreaching preachers, some haue beene found so able to conuince the cōmon aduersary, that they haue not blushed to disclame the knowledge of the latin tongue (as forsooth and great reasō the marke of the beast) nor ashamed to thanke God they de­file not their studies with those antichristiā controuersies, and as for writing of the fathers they haue wished them all on a light fire, not any thing better affected to the studie of the arts and phi­losiphie, accounting them all vaine and curious, and our vniuersi­ty learning but pedagogicall, nor our sermons other then meta­physicall schoole preaching. Such ability it is these men haue to conuince the aduersary that in steed of confuting him, they dis­tract our owne forces, & when they should strike at his head they are nibbling at our beeles, and where they should fight for vs, it is either with vs or gainst vs.

The Apostle 1. Tim. 3. & in Titus 1. expressing the dueties of a Bishop or a minister doth write they must be apt to teach &c. not left arbi­trarie, but a matter of necessity. For he must be so, and so.

The word must is a word of conuenience not simplie ab­solute, [...]. meaning that Bishoppes, as neare as they can, ought to make choice of such men as are so qualified. For els by the like reason, no man may be a Bishoppe, or minister vnlesse he be a father of children. For the worde must there vsed includeth that particular. But the holy Ghost neither thinketh, writeth, or commandeth anie thing, which is not simplie and in euerie respect absolute and perfect, onely proposing the idea or patterne [Page 143]of a perfect minister not that alway there can be such a one. S. Ierom against Iouinian asketh a questiō not amisse to our pre­sent purpose.Nunquid, quia tuenercitu ferti sun us quisque eligendus est, [...]d circo non assu­mentur, &c. Hieron lib. 1. aduers. Iouini­an. Sic in descriptione episcopi, & in corum expo­sitione quaescrip ta sunt, &c. Hieron ad Oce­anum epist. 83. Quod dixit ir­reprehensibilis: aut nullus, aut rarus. Idem. ad­uers. Blags [...]nes lib. 1. c. 8 [...] Illud certè [...] qui possit cum cateris virtuti­bus difficulter inuenies. Ibid. Maximèque illud vt potens sit aduersariis resistere & per uersas opprime­re at que superare doctrinas. Ibid. Ita fit quodin alio primum aut totum est, in also in parte versetur, & tamen non sit in crimine, qui nō haebet omnia nec condemnetur ex eo, quòd non habet, sed iustificetur in co quod possidet Ib. Non suscip [...]unt magis & minus. Topic. lib. 6. What (saieth hee) because in an armie the vali­antest must be chosen, shall not therefore weaker persons be ac­cepted of, since all cannot be alike strong? And againe, writing to Oceanus. As Orators and Philosophers (saieth he) when they describe what kinde of orator, or philosopher they would wish to haue, doe no iniurie to Demosthenes, or Plato, but de­scribe the thinges without persons, so in the description of a Bi­shoppe, and in the exposition of those thinges, which are written, there is set before a mirror of the priesthood. And the same fa­ther against Pelagius writeth vpon these wordes of the Apostle In that he saith. He must be irreprouable, such a one is not at al or very rare, and that other which followeth apt to teach with the rest of the virtues you shall hardlie finde. Anon after. That he be accused of none, be well reported of them that are abrode, and free from euill speaches of the aduersaries, I thinke it be harde to finde such a one, specially so mightie as that he can re­sist the aduersaries, and oppresse or ouercome peruerse doctrines. Againe He is either none, or rare, that hath all which a Bishoppe should haue. A little before so it commeth to passe that, that which is excellent, or perfect in some, is in others, but in part, and yet he that hath not all, is not in fault, neither condemned for that he hath not, but approued for that which he hath. So that the best sufficiencie is a grace, but it is not the essentiall forme that giueth life and name to a minister. Now we speake of the office it selfe, not of the execution thereof which wee hold must with all diligence and faithfulnesse be performed. Let him bee as learned, graue, discreete, vertuous as the times shall yeelde and the place may require. For wee doe not thinke that all places require men of like gifts and graces, but those which are of smaller note, circuit, and rewarde may stand content with men of inferior note. Which verie truth ma­nifestly proueth that abilitie to preach is not the definition of a minister for definitions doe not rise and fall, like a bow that [Page 144]is strong and weake, but mens sufficiencie to preach after what exact manner they take preaching,Mixtum ad pō ­dus aquale. Aristot. de gene­rat. & corrup. [...]. whose temperature is not gould weight, as if a grane could not turne the scale of euery mans sufficiencie, but if it be in a meaner degree of fitnesse, as our health commonly is, it may serue the turne.

If the Bishoppe could as well fit them for the calling as admit thē into the calling, there were no doubt but he might vse the words Re­ceiue the holy Ghost.

Wee doe not say It is the Bishoppe that doth fit him to the ministrie,Spiritus sanctus in ecclesia praepo sito vel ministro soc inest, vt si fictus nonest, operetur per cū spiritus sanctus & adeius mer­cedem in salutē sempiternam et ad eorum rege­nerationem & adificationem, quiper cum &c. August. contra epist. Parm. lib. 2. cap 11. Nonest aqua profana & adultera super quam nomen Dei innocatur, etiamsià profanis & adulterisinuocemur &c. August de bapt contra Donet. lib. 3. c. 10. but God in and with the ordination giuen him by the Bishoppe, in which partie so ordained the holy Ghost worketh (saieth S. Austin) that if the party admitted be not a counterseit the holy Ghost worketh by him both to his owne reward for e­ternall saluation, and the regeneration of others to whom hee is sent. And if a counterfeit it is his owne losse, but yet the holie Ghost forsaketh not his ministrie, because by him he worketh the saluation of others. For as he witnesseth in another place bee the minister an adulterer or homicide &c. the water is not pro­phaine, nor adultered vpon which the name of God is called. The function is sacred and holie assisted by Gods spirit to the good of others, if not to his, that is thus ordained.

To be ordained a minister by menis no [...] or grace at all.

The ministrie or office whereunto wee are by men ordained, is a grace or gft. First because freely giuen without respect of a­ny merit before God in the party ordained 2. a gift of the holy Ghost, that thereby it might bee vnderstood to be an authority proceeding from God himselfe, though externallie collated by man 3. to distinguish it from other callings in the world 4. because such a singular and diuine gift hath euer annexed vnto it in the true execution of duties thereunto belonging, a powerfull pre­sence, assistance, & operation of the holy Ghost. In respect whereof [Page 145]it may not only be said, that when Bishops or Priests doe those things which they are commaundéd according to Christs in­stitution, it is not they, but Christ himselfe that doth them, but also in such an office so assisted with the holy Ghost, as that it is therefore called the ministerie of the spirit they doe therewith in like manner, specially if they feare God, receiue sundrie graces of his spirit, whereby there labours are made profitable vnto others. The Author of the questions out of the new Testament much auncienter then Saint Austin witnesseth that where it is read,Illud &c. accipi te spiritū sanctū ecclesiastica po­testas collata in telligituresse August, tom. 4. Qq ex nouo te­stamento c. 93. Quia omnia in traditione domi nicaper spiritū sanctum agun­tur. Ibid. Idcirco cum re­gula tis & for ma traditur buius discipli­na dicitur tis accipite spiritū sanctum Ibid. Non dixit acce­pistis sed accipi­te spiritū sanctū &c Chrisost in Ioh. c 20. ho­mil. 85: Potestatein quandam & pratiam spirita lem cos accepisse Ibid: Sed vt peccata dimitterent dof ferentes enim sunt gratia spi­ritos, quare ad­didit. Quorum remiseritis peccata. &c. ostendens quod genus virtutis largiat [...]r Ibid. Theophilact Ibid. that the Lord breathed vpon his Disciples, and said re­ceiue the holy Ghost, he implyeth the Ecclestasticall power that is giuen and collated, and that for these reasons Christ in be­stowing this power did vse these words,

• 1. To teach vs that all things, which are to be ministerially done in the name of Christ are really performed by the holy Ghost, because in the Lords ordinance all things are wrought by the holy spirit.
• 2. That hereby he might leaue an example to his Apo­stles and Ministers.

Therefore the rule and forme of this discipline being deliuered to them, it is also said vnto them Receaue the holy Ghost. S. Chrisostome noteth that our Sauiour said not, Ye haue receiued the holy Ghost but re­ceaue the holy ghost, because they receiued a certain power, and spirituall grace not to raise the dead and shew miracles, or vertues but to loose sinnes. For they are differing graces of the spirit wherefore he added whose sins ye remit, they are re­mitted, & whose sins ye retaine they are retained shewing what kinde of power it is be giueth. The like sense and construction is made by Cyrill, or the Author vnder his name who interpre­teth this, Receiue the holy Ghost, for, Take yee the power to forgiue sinnes, and to retaine whosoeuer sinnes ye remit, &c. To the like effect hath. Theophilact and that almost in the very same words with Chrisostome. Wherefore these words, Re­ceiue the holy Ghost, is in effect as much as Receiue the gift of God bestowed vpon thée by imposition of hands, whether to remit sinnes, or retaine sinnes. And thus much be spoken for clearing of doubts, that arise by occasion of this sentence.

By like holy promise the Sacrament of Matrimonie knitteth man and wife in perpetuall loue that they disire not to be separated for any displeasure or aduersitie that shall happen.

An euident place to shew what they intended who pend that Homily, taking the word Sacrament either particularly for a solemne promise vowed, or generally for a holy state ordained of God, as Doctor Whitakers noteth Saint Austin tooke the word, who honested Mariage by the name of a Sacrament, Sacramenti no mine matrimo­nium. Aug. coh [...] nestauit quan­do cius dignitae tem contra que rundam crimi­nationes defen­dit quod in illo li [...]ro [...]octissimè acsanctissimè fecit What. cōtra Duraū. p. 6 [...]6. St hoc inquam à pontificits a­geretur facilè posset de apella­ti one conuentre Chemnit. de Matrim. p. 256. Quia coniugtum est sanctum vita genus divinitus institutum & commend atum libenter et tri busmus nomen sacramenti, Confes. Wittenberg. when against certaine mens false criminations he defended the dignitie thereof, as he did in that Booke most learnedly and holily. That which was done learnedly & holily in Austin his booke, we liue to the times to heare it censured, & condemned as done corruptly in the booke of homilies. Chemnitius could be content Mariage were called a Sacrament so it might be an aduertisement of she whole doctrine thereof against the doctrine of the diuels, and of the heathen, if this were intended we might easilie yéeld to the name. The confession of VVittenberg saith. Because Mari­age is a holy kinde of life ordained of God and commanded by him we willingly giue it the name of a Sacrament. Take we first or last of these interpretations, we shall easily frée these words in the Homily of that waight, with which some delight to burden it withall.

It is directly contrarie to the 25. article of Religion, which saith there are but two. The other fiue falsly so called.

The article hath no such words (fiue falsely so called) but thus commonly so called after which manner so they are, because the [Page 148]word Sacrament is more generally vsed but to speake strictlie [...] what manner Baptisme & the Lord his supper are called Sacra­ments, the booke doth not so take marriage. For in the 2. tome of homilies speaking of matrimony there is not somuch as a sillable that soundeth to this purpose, where was both time and place to giue it the name of a sacrament if there had been any such mean­ing. But their opposing the book of homilies to the 25. article is as if a man would by their example knowing they allow but 2. sacraments make them contrarie to themselues who call imposi­tion of hands as it were a sacrament or set M. Caluin against himselfe because in his institutions he alloweth but two sacra­ments baptisme and the Lord his supper as we doe,Manuum signū hoc & quasi sacramentū vsur­parunt eccles. discip fol. 25. Quantum ad verum presbyte ri [...] 0536 0 munus liben ter eoloco habeo Institut. lib. 4. c. 19 sect. 28. Quod 3. in nu­mero non posui, eo factum est quod non ordi­narium nec cō ­mune, sed ad cer tam fūctionem specialis ritus Ibid. and yet willingly accepteth of the sunction of the ministry to haue that name, yet reckoneth it not as a third with baptisme & the Lords supper, bicause it is neither ordinary nor common with the faith­full, but a special rite for a certaine function. To take aduantage against that learned writer were very iniurious, and can it be ho­nest and godlie dealing to intreat our church thus, since in both we know their minde alike. For though beside two sacraments M. Caluin mentioneth the office of the ministrie, and our homilie maketh matrimony one, taking the word at large, yet as generally necessary to all the faithfull there are two sacraments onelie. which are expresse words, which our Catechisme vseth, as before (cap. 15) hath alreadie beene handled.

That can be no reason neither the one nor the other. Not the first, as that it was the propagation of mankinde for then it should haue begun with Adam. Because his times had most neede in that respect when there was no more but 'hee. The other is no reason that it was for increse of Gods Church. For then should it bee per­mitted now, because the true professors of the Gospell are but few to speake of, inrespect of Atheiests, Papists and other enimies of Christ his Church.

This reply is made by some great friends to this accusatiō vn­dertake against the Communion booke, but how weakly an in­different Reader may soone iudge. For first in the daies of Adam it might haue seemed most needfull to haue giuen this liberty if so [Page 153]the Lord had created more then one woman, which bee did not: As for the other that came after by propagation they were his daughters or nieces, and therefore herein appeareth a let: Se­condly God the lawgiuer, from whom kings and princes take direction for their best laws knew well, a law is best kept, when it is first made. Now to dash it in the prime by a contrarie prac­tise at the first, and to stifle it in the birth had beene with the soon­est. These as others also best known to the Lord might be the causes, why at the first that was not approued which was after borne withall. For the other clause of their obiection where they infer. If for spreading and increasing Gods Church, then it should be now in vse. That sequel is no good consequēt Because the worshippe of God is not within the place of Jewrie now, as it was then. But the sound of it is gon throughout the whole world, and euery place fitteth for the Lord his seruice in respect of what it did then. Now (saith Saint Austin) of all sorts of men, and all nations the members may be gathered to the peo­ple of God, and the cittie of the kingdome of heauen. Ex omni homi­num g [...]n [...]r [...], at­qu [...] omnibus g [...] ̄ tibus, adpopul [...] ̄ Dei et ciuit atē regni calorum [...]embra colligi possunt. August. de virgm. cap 9 Be­sides these thers are others giuen by the fathers why the Lord did be are with his people. They whose leisure it is to view what hath beene cited for testimony herein, may bee intreated to lay these reasons together which our fathers and brethren graue, as also the manner of speach they grace this question withall: Exacted, required, approued, tolerated, dispensed withall, wincked at, permitted, graunted. For all these they shall finde as these also: vsuall, lawfull, misticall, a custome no way culpable, without blame, free, indifferent, a speciall case, and say the most against it. Such a one it is, as may be excused and a rea­son giuen for it. All which speaches diligently perused, let men say whither the booke of homilies might not well deliuer that sentence as it doth.

It is directly against the word of God and his first institution of marri­age Gen. 2.24. Malac. 2.15. Rom. 7.10.1. Cor. 16.6.1. Cor. 7.2.

The place in Gen. wée wil answer anon. The other of Malachy & the Apostle are against s [...]eshly and carnal lust in their time, why are they thē vrged against these patriarks y^• were long before, & beside were not guilty of y^e carnal sin condēned by those scriptures [Page 154]Saint Paul inff [...]icteth the Rom. and Corinthians in their dueties and liberty in marriage. What is this to the Patriarks and their fact. But by one of this dumb shew brought forth, take a taste of the other. Let Peter Martyr bee heard in his notes vpon 16. or cap. 7. which is the place the obiector vr geth.Verba hae ali­qui putant face re aduersus polygamiā, quod mihi non displi­cet, modo hinc non inferatur. Patres qu [...] in veteri lege habue runt vxores, nō vsos fuisse tusto matrimonio, sed potius adulteros indicandos. Nam cum ea de causa insa­cris literis non damnentur, om nino putandum est tis tum tem poris licuisse. Martyr in Cor. 7. Leuit. 18.18. These wordes (saith hee) some men thinke make against pluralitie of wiues, which thinges mislikes mee not, so it bee not hereupon inforced, that the fathers, who in the old law had many wiues, did not vse law­full matrimony, but were rather to be iudged adulterers. For since they are no where condemned in holy scripture, wee must thinke it lawfull for them at that time to haue so many. Ju which sentence these two parts would bee noted 1. that the wordes in this 1. Cor. 7. (and the reason is all alike for the other epistle) maketh not against poligamie of the fathers; secoudlie nor doth any other scripture alledged, and therefore this their heaping vp of scripture, when it proueth no such thing is a ma­nifest breach of the commaundement, wherein he straightlie for­biddeth false witnesse bearing against the truth. A sinne the more grieuous, as the most innocent truth (for so are the scriptures) is forred to dispose for that, whereof they haue nothing to gaine say. Great vse there may be of them for the times of the Gospell, or of Malachie and after that the law was written in tables, where­unto Leuiticus, 18.18. as Tremellius translates may, haue re­ference; and wee haue deliuered our iudgement in writing vnto my Lords grace of Canterbury; but the instances remembred in the homilie are most of them taken out of the booke of Gen. where is added in the close an example of Dauid and Salomon, but with a Caue at in these termes for our vse and vnderstanding which thinges wee see plainely to be forbidden vs by the law of God and are now repugnant to all publike honesly. To treat with y^e libidinous humor of carnal men, who either chal­lendge the examples of the patriarks that they may doe the like, or condemne them for doing it, or protect ignorance of the scrip­tures, because such examples (say they) are scandalous.

I, but this is directly against the worde of God and his first institution of marriage.

I, but (saieth Ludouicus Lauater) God who made that law; hath also power to release it Besides it is a cortine peculiar, Sedenim qui l [...] gem sanxit De u [...] cande relax ands potest arē habet Pecuitare quid damest, quod [...]e mo temerè in ex plum, quo prod [...] ­giosam (uam lea bodinem excu­set, traxerit. Lauatur. in Easter. homil. 11. c. 2. pag. 22. Certis de causis largitus est plu rescodem tem­pore Vxores habere. Id homil. 10. pag. 20. Tam abest vt hac ceniugia culpauerie Deus. vt etiam fortunaucrit. Id de vita & obit. Nabal. hemil. 10. pag. 12. Duas sim [...]l vxores habera simpliciter lege Mosis vetitum nō fuit. Drus [...]n Ruth. 4.5. which no mā may rashly draw in to example to excuse his own prodigal lust by. And alittle before in y^t 10. homilie God (saieth he) for certaine causes graunted it as a larges and faucur to the Isralites to haue more wiues at once. Againe in his treatise of the life and death of Naball God (saieth hee) was so far from blameing them that he gaue them great successe. Their pe­culiar and a Larges speciall to them and their great good suc­cesse hereupon, what other sonse beareth it, then that common euglish which our homilie by some vniustly tared safely deliuer­eth, specially much more being added by others, as appeareth in the seuerall quotations afore, and this among the rest of Iohn Drusius. Simplie forbidden (saieth hee) it was not by the law of Moses to haue 2. wiues at once.

I but what warrant for this more then these authorities

Arguments strengthened in this sort no discrete godly wife­man but doth and will reuerence, for we receiue and so must the witnesse of men. But yet to thinke that some priui­ledge those patriarkes had, though not so expresly set downe this may be the reason. For dispensations and priuiledges are as lawes yea priuiledges are not held necessary to be written where lawes bee.1. Ioh. 5.9. Qualis lex, ta­li [...] despensatio Priutlegium dicitur guodema nat contra ius commane in fu [...] ro [...]m aliquam personarum Glos lib. 6. de Rescript. c: vers in Printlegium quasi prin [...]ta lox. As at this day wee obserue in Acts of Parlia­ment such fauours as concerne some few stand vnprinted, Be­cause lawes belong to all, priuiledges to some few. For a priuiledge is some personall or particular law, which either dieth with the person, or must not be made common; If so as wee know this to be true. How much lesse may we expect any record thereof before Moses and the law written. For those more specially the booke of homilies speakes of. Wherefore as a law they had in their mindes and consciences for [...]īngle mar­riage by speciall inspiration, so by a speciall inspiration, a tole­ration and fauour was inough.