Forms of Prayer Used in the Reformed Churches in France before their Persecution and Destruction. With an Account of their manner of Baptizing, Celebrating the Holy Supper, Marrying and Burying; with some Addi [...]ional Remarks.
Translated into English, for the use of such of the French Nation as do desire to learn English; and may be serviceable to those English who are willing to improve themselues in the French Language; and for the Information of All of the Reformed Religion, and others.
Unto which is also Annexed the Names of several Learned French Ministers, to Evidence the truth of this Translation.
London, Printed for E. Tracy at the 3 Bibles on London-bridge, and are to be sold by M. Baldwin near the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-Lane. 1699.
THE Translator TO THE READER.
HAving perused the Liturgy of the reformed Churches in France, framed in the beginning of the Reformation by Mr. Calvin, about the same time that the Prayers of the Church of England were [Page]made, by her Reverend Bishops and Divines, to lead Men from Tautologies and Superstitions, to the true worship of Almighty God, and in their known Tongues, to the end that all Men might understand them, and they might be useful, and conduce to draw the minds and affections of Men, from Temporal to Heavenly things, and that the Minister, and whole Congregation might joyn together with their Heart and Voice, to crave Gods Gracious Pardon for all their daily wants, and to render thanks and praise to his most Holy Name for their [Page]receiving of the same; and also observing the Doctrine and Ceremonies of the reformed Churches in France; and seeing the unhappy Differences and Misunderstandings, that are between the Church of England and some other Protestants, and that many of her Members, and others, believed that the reformed French Church had a nearer Affinity to the English Presbyterians, then to the Church of England, (as I my self did, till by my frequenting and often hearing of the French Ministers, I found the contrary) I [Page]thought it my Duty by this Translation, to undeceive all those who thro' ignorance or prejudice labour under that Error.
'Tis true, there are already many Books Written by very Pious and Learned Men, to shew the misery and unreasonableness of separation, and Divisions in Religion, and the advantage of a general Conformity in the same. The Titles of some of them, as of other Books that may be very useful on this occasion, are hereafter inserted; that all such Persons as are Piously inclined, and desirous of Ʋ nion [Page]in the Church; may with more ease find out such necessary Subjects, which I hope, may tend to their satisfaction, and Ʋ nity in Faith, Doctrine and Prayers.
The excellency and usefulness of our Liturgy, is explained by the Learned Doctor Cumber, and also by Doctor Beveridge in his Sermon upon that point.
I thought fit likewise, to direct you unto Mr. Hookers Ecclesiastical Polity, and unto the Case of a doubting Conscience, written by the most Reverend Father in God, John [Page]Sharp, the present Lord Arch-Bish [...]p of York.
And the London Divines of the Church of England, as established by Law, did with great Learning, Ingenuity and Candor, in several Discourses defend that Glori [...]us and Pious Church, of which they have the honour and happiness to be members, against the several objections that are usually raised by Dissenters against her.
But what need I Name more of the Ep [...]scopal Clergy.
Mr. Baxter himself hath in several of his Treatises [Page]well set forth the great mischief of Divisions and Separations; in his Christian Directory, p. 741. he saith, that Schism is a sin against so many clear and vehement words of the Holy Ghost, that it is utterly without excuse; he proceeds and declares that even Whoredom, Treason and Perjury, are not oftener forbidden in the Gospel then this, and that it is contrary to the design of Christ in our redemption, to the Spirit of Grace, and to the Nature of Christianity it self, &c. That Church Dividers are the [...]ost successful Servants of [Page]the Devil, and Enemies to Christ in his Family and Livery, that they serve the Devil more effectually then open Enemies, and much more on this head he hath said, in the pages above-cited. And you will find him quoting above forty places of Scripture against separations, in his Cure of Church Divisions, Direct. 7. and in his defence of the said Book, pag. 3. and saith, that the World, the Flesh and the Devil, are the Causes whence Divisions arise, all which you may see more al [...] large in the Books themselves.
If any reply, that Mr. Baxter was a Dissenter. I Answer, he is the more to be regarded by Dissenters; But withal, it is very well known that he often heard the Divine Service, and received the Communion from the hands of the Right Reverend Doctor Sharp, then Minister of St. Giles in the Fields.
To conclude, he that desires further information of the inexpressible dangers which accompany Divisions, let him peruse the Learned Mr. Edwards Book, called, Gangrena, unto which Tract I refer you; some, if not most of [Page]these Books herein Named may be had of Samuel Ke [...] ble, at the Turks Head in Fleet-street, or Walte [...] Kettleby, at the Bishop Head in St. Pauls Church-Yard, or of other Booksellers in London.
But yet considering tha [...] in other Treatises ther [...] are so many points discussed; as make most [...] those Books so dear, tha [...] all Persons are not enclined to buy them.
I have thought fit t [...] present unto the world this small Specimen of th [...] Prayers of the reforme [...] Churches in France, whic [...] [Page]shew their Concurrence and Harmony with the Church of England, in reading the Holy Scriptures in their Publick Assemblys, and in most substantial points, as Confessions of Faith contained in the Apostles, Nicene & Athanasian Creeds, and likewise in their Methods of VVorship, and Rules of Practice; by which you may see how near Divine Providence and the Holy Spirit, hath brought these Churches together.
And I am perswaded, that if all Men would impartially observe the same, it might prevail with considering [Page]Christians, and make them sincerely united together. This Liturgy being Composed in a small Tract, I was the more induced to Translate it into English, for the information of all such who can neither spare so much. Money or time, as the obtaining and perusing those larger Volumes do require. By which all may see the Prayers and Service, which were and are used in the reformed French Churches; and that this, or some such form is used i [...] all the reformed Churches throughout Holland, Hungary, Brandenburg, and [Page]in other Parts of Germany, Switzerland, and Piedmont, and in all those Places; where the Persecution hath not taken away the Exercise of the reformed Religion, used by Calvin and his followers.
There are also peculiar Forms of Publick Prayers in the Tigurian Churches, which are the Protestant Churches of the City, and Government of Zurick in Switzerland, as you may see in a Book lately Printed, and called Liturgia, Tigurina, or the Book of Common Prayers and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Ecclesiastical [Page]Rites and Ceremonies, used in the Churches and Chappels of Zurick.
And the aforesaid People as I have been well informed, do endeavour to liv [...] up to the strict Rules o [...] Justice and Piety; whic [...] their Lord and Master hat [...] enjoyned and required fro [...] them.
And it is to be remarked that there were and sti [...] are other Forms of Public [...] Prayers used in the Reformed Churches, where th [...] Doctrine and Discipline Luther hath prevailed.
Which are sufficient prove, and to convinc [...] People that set Forms [...] [Page]Prayer, were, and are used in other Ancient Churches, besides those of England, or Rome, and to demonstrate that such as reject Forms, are in that respect Dissenters from Luther and Calvin, as well as from that of England, and also to shew the unannimous agreement of the Churches before recited, and of the French Reformed with the Church of England; besides, these Prayers will infallibly point out to us the frequent use of the Lords Prayer, the Apostles Creed and the Ten Commandments, which were placed in their Churches, and still [Page]are the main subjects of their Catechism, which wa [...] taught every Lords Day and the two former are repeated when ever they assemble for the Publick Service.
At Baptizing an Infan [...] the Minister doth sprinkl [...] water on its Forehead, whe [...] the Name is given, an [...] that Church makes use of God-Fathers and God-Mothers, who do undertak [...] most of the same charge o [...] those in the Church of England.
The French Protestant [...] have also a particular Form of Prayer for Baptizing [...]uch Persons of riper years [Page]as desire and duely prepare themselves to receive it.
The time and manner of their receiving the Holy Sacrament, is generally after the Morning Sermon; which is performed with much decency and r [...]spect, but for the most part they did receive it standing in France, partly because their Flocks being large, and their opportunities of receiving not frequent, they might the sooner give place one to another: And partly, because they would not follow the manner of the Papists among whom they lived, and who kneeled at the Communion, in [Page]order to adore their Host [...] or a Wafer, yet they do never oppose kneeling whe [...] it doth not tend to Idolatry. But supposing the [...] lookt upon kneeling as on [...] extreame, they took to b [...] sure sitting for the other [...]
But as to the sence of it they do agree with th [...] Church of England, a [...] you may more plainly s [...] towards the latter end o [...] their Catechism, which [...] often annexed to their Form of Prayers after th [...] Singing Psalms, at th [...] latter end of the French New Testament.
In the time of Persecution, before the general [Page]destruction of their Churches, the Protestants in France had but one hour allowed them in the Morning, and another hour in the Evening for the meeting of the thirty People to bury the Dead, (which was the greatest Number then permitted to attend the Corps unto the Grave) unto which they were obliged to commit them, without paying such decent respects which are usually done to the Corps of other Christians, to make a difference between the Bodys of Deceased Christians, and of such Animals as have nothing but meer sence, tho' they [Page]are sometimes put into th [...] Earth, yet never deserv [...] a solemn interment.
This Ceremony which used's to Deceased Christians, it also, to put the living in mind of Mortality and therefore after the return of the People from the Grave to the Deceased's late House, or to the place where they at first met; the Minister did make an Exhortation to admonish the living, and to comfort the afflicted, for the loss of their Friend.
At first, when they were allowed to bury publickly, the Minister followed after [Page]the Dead, and at the interment the Minister made such an Exhortation as before mentioned.
In this Book are also comprehended the Forms of Prayer, used upon Fasting Days, and at the Celebration of the Holy Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper, and also at Marriage.
Altho' their Prayers are short, they comprehend most things for most conditions of men; so composed, that the whole Congregation may joyn with the Minister, in praying for all necessaries and for Gods Love and Mercy in [Page]Jesus Christ, toward them, and in giving thank for the same.
Their affinity to the Antient Catholick, and no [...] reformed Church of England, is further demonstrated by several reformed French Churches, in and about London, whos [...] Ministers have not only received the Ordination o [...] the Church of England but do also make use of he Liturgy, and are conformable to her Orders an [...] Constitutions.
Moreover, the Protestants of Geneva, Swi [...] zerland, Germany, &c Esteem her Doctrine an [...] [Page]Discipline to be Apostolical and Orthodox.
And the Characters which our Episcopal Divines bore in the Synod of Dort, doth plainly shew the great veneration they had for the reformed Church of our Kingdom.
And especially Monsieur le Moines Letter, written at Leyden in September, in the Year of our Lord 1680, confirms the same; He was at that time, and in that Ʋniversity Professor of Divinity, and the Letters of Monsieur de Langle, one of the Ministers of the reformed French Church at [Page] Charenton, and of Monsieur Claude, another French Minister of the same Church, both written at Paris, do the like, and the last was wrote by one of the most Illustrious Men of the reformed French Church in his time.
In which he mentions, that he hath often explained his Opinion, concerning the Government of the reformed Episcopal Church which appears from a larger Discourse upon it in the 336 Page, of his defence of the Reformation.
Which Letters do likewise ascertain the giving o [...] their Pulpits, and committing [Page]the charge of their Flocks to such Ministers as had received Episcopal Ordination, and particularly to Monsieur du Plessis, and Monsieur Wicart, who were ordained by the Right Reverend the Bishops of London and Lincoln, the former was afterward received Minister of a reformed French Church in the Province of Paris, and the latter also Preached afterwards in the Protestant Church of Charenton in the same Province, and is now Dean of Winchester.
These Letters were all sent to the Right Reverend, [Page] Henry, present Lord Bishop of London, in which you may not only see the particular sentiments of those Reverend Ministers, but also the general Opinion of the reformed Churches then in France; concerning the Government and Discipline of the English Church, and of the Divisions that were then between her and the Presbyterians and others. Which Letters were written in French, and from the Originals Translated into English, and Printed in the life time of the Authors, they being Annexed unto the Treatise of the [Page]unreasonableness of separation, or an Impartial account of the History of the Nature and Pleas of the present separation from the Communion of the Church of England, written by the Reverend Doctor Stillingfleet, now Lord Bishop of Worcester; one of these Books was sent by the Lord Bishop of London, unto Monsieur Claude in 1681, with the said Letters Printed at the latter end thereof, which Treatise doth also shew the Government of the African, Helvetian, &c. Churches, unto which I refer you for your better Information [Page]and Satisfaction.
Moreover, I thought fit to shew you the great aversion which the reformed French Churches had to separation, as it appears by an Article made in 1644, and is Printed in the seventh Chapter and the 205 and 366 Pages, of the Discipline of the reformed Churches of France, and in the 72, 73, and 74 Pages of this Treatise; it is declared that all such as do make different Sects, and others, are Excommunicated from receiving the Holy Sacrament, until they do repent and unite.
You cannot well suppose, that what the Persons before mentioned have written was done out of fear or interest, for if you will truely consider the stile of their Letters, you will find them to be Men of Learning and Piety, and void of all manner of Hypocrisie and Dissimulation.
I know there are other French Churches whose Ministers do use their own constitution, more, because they were brought up therein, then out of any motive of aversion to the English Liturgy, for they go very often to Prayers, and to hear the Sermons, and do [Page]receive the Communion in the Church of England.
'Tis an amazing wonder, that any sort of Men should so much value their own mode of Praying, as to slight that comprehensive Prayer which our Lord both made and commanded, and it grieves me, that most of our English Separatists contrary to the practice of the Church, and to the instruction given by our Blessed Saviour to his Disciples (as it is written in the Gospel of St. Mat. in the sixth Chapter and the ninth verse, and in that of St. Luk. in the 11th. and 2d.) do too often [Page]refrain, not only the use of the Apostles. Creed and the Ten Commandments: But also of the Lords Prayer, which I fear is not only a shame to such as profess the Christian Religion, but is also a great offence unto our Lord, who hath expressly taught and enjoyned us when we pray, to say, Our Father which art in Heaven, &c.
But as Charity Commands us to forgive one another, I leave such to the mercy of Almighty God, who is able to Pardon the greatest offenders.
This being premised, together with the exemplary [Page]lives, Sincere and Charitable endeavours of our English Ministry, in shewing the true ground; of the Antient, and now reformed Catholick and. Apostolick Religion professed and taught in the Church of England; may by Gods assistance be the best means of bringing over the remaining part of the English Dissenters; who do not yet use the English Service, nor observe its Canons, and invite them by mutual love to conform and joyn with the Church of England, for the obtaining of Gods Blessings of Grace, Peace and Christian Charity among [Page]us, or at least prove them to be inexcusable for their separating from the reformed National Church, which never excludes Prayers in private.
Good Lord, be pleased to open our Eyes that we may see what Triumph it occasions to our adversaries, to behold the many divisions and bitter contentions among us upon the account of Religion, and that they take more advantage from discords among our selves, then from all their own Strength and Policy.
Wherefore because we are beset by Satan on one side, and by our Popish adversaries on the other, which are enslaving the Souls and destroying the Bodys of our Poor Brethren, and subverting the Fundamentals of our Religion; let us all joyn with one heart, and render most [Page]humble thanks unto God, that he hath been pleased by many eminent deliverances which he hath shewn to the Churches and Kingdoms of England and Ireland, in preserving us from the Power of our Enemies.
And let us most humbly beseech God to be pleased of his Infinite Mercy and Goodness, to prevent all their wicked designs against our distressed brethren and our selves, by defeating al [...] their Malicious attempts, and the works and power of the Devil, and to convert all our Enemies, and to turn their and our hearts unto him.
And the Lord grant that we may put away all hatred and malice, evil speaking, lying and slandering, and pray with true and contrite hearts for the remission of all our sins and heinous [Page]offences, and for the delivery of all our Persecuted Brethren, from the undermining designs of their Enemies, and for the Preservation of the true Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church, and more especially for the Church of England, and for our most Gracious Soveraign Lord King William, and the Royal Family, &c. That he will be pleased to lead us by his Holy Spirit, and enrich us with his Heavenly Grace, that we may follow the good Examples of the Primitive Christians, praying one for another in the same Words and Churches, and helping each other in Love, Charity, Justice and Truth, and that we may lay aside all worldly interests, and set our affections on things above, and that by our leading Holy and Peaceable [Page]lives, we may promote the Honour and Olory of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ, by ou [...] Words and Actions, and induce the Papists and all other divided Christians to do the same.
Finally, let us beg of God that he will bring over the Turks [...] Jews and Infidels, to acknowledge our Lord, and to receive his Faith and Doctrine, and to call upon and Praise his Holy Name, and by his assistance and merits, we may be instrumental in obtaining the salvation [...] their and our own Immortal Souls, which is the humble and chief aim of,
The FORM OF Church-Prayers, &.
On the Week-days the Minister makes such an Exhortation as seemeth good to him; accommodating it to the time, and to the subject which he treats of in his Sermon.
On the Lords-day before the Reader comes into the Church, the People usually sing some part of the Psalms, until he see it a fit time to begin in this manner:
OUR help is in th [...] Name of God, wh [...] hath made Heaven and Earth. Amen.
And after says these following words:
Let us give attention with reverence and fear to the holy Word of God contained in the — Chapter: which he read [...] and sometimes one or two more, which are take [...] out of the Old or New Testament.
Then he says these Preparatory words;
Let us sing to the praise and glory of God, for the Edification, and to the Consolation of our souls.
And upon that he gives out a Psalm, which is sung by him and the Congregation. That being ended he reads one or two Chapters more.
Thus reading and singing alternately, till the Church be full, and the Minister come into the Pulpit, then the Reader repeats these following words:
Hearken with reverence and faithful obedience unto the holy Commandments of God, contained [Page 4]in the 20th Chapter Exodus, which he reads.
Then the Minister begi [...] by this following Prayer:
Our help is in the nam [...] of God, who hath ma [...] Heaven and Earth. Ame [...]
An Exhortation.
Brethren, let every o [...] of you present himself before the Lord, hearti [...] confessing his sins, an [...] saying after me.
The Confession.
Lord God Almighty [Page 5]and everlasting Father, we sincerely confess and c [...] knowledge before thy holy Majes [...]y, that we are miserable sinners, conceived and born in iniquity and Corruption, inclined to do evil, and averse to do good; and that by our sins we continually transgress thy holy Commandments: whereby we justly incur thy Divine Vengeance: But, O Lord, we are truly sorrowful for our offences, we condemn our selves, and are sincerely penitent for our sins, imploring the assistance of thy Grace in this our miserable condition.
Grant us therefore thy pity, O God, most gracious and merciful Father, in the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Blo [...] out our sins and iniquities bestow and daily increase in us the gifts of thy holy Spirit, that we heartily acknowledging our unrighteousness, may be deeply affected with sorrow, which begets a true repentance in us, whereby being dead to sin, we may bring forth such Fruits o [...] Righteousness and Holiness, that may be accept able unto thee by the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Vhis being done, the Minister saith, Let us sing to the honour and glory of God, and for the consolation of our souls; and giveth out part of some Psalm which is sung.
Afterward he begins again to pray, and to desire of God the grace of his holy Spirit, that his word may be faithfully expounded to the honour of his Name, and to the Edification of the Church; and that it may be received with such humility and obedience as is meet.
The Form of this prayer is left to the discretion of the Minister.
At the end of which h [...] repeats the Lords Prayer and after that these following preparatory words
The word of God tha [...] we are to explain, you shall find— an [...] nameth the Text.
At the end of the Sermon, the Minister having read the Bills for the sick and made some Exhortations to prayer, he begins in this manner:
Almighty God, and Heavenly Father, tho [...] hast promised to gran [...] our Requests that we [Page 9]shall make unto thee in the name of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and we are also taught by him, and his Apostles, to assemble our selves together in his Name, promising he will be in the midst of us, and that he will be our Intercessor towards thee, for the obtaining all those things that are needful for us, which we shall agree to pray for upon Earth.
We are first commanded to pray for those whom thou hast set over us, as Superiors and Governors: likewise in the behalf of [Page 10]all thy people in necessity, and for all mankind; therefore trusting in thy holy Doctrine and Promises, for as much as we are here assembled in thy presence, and in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ, we heartily beseech thee, good God and Father, in the name of thy Son our only Saviour, and Mediator, to grant us, thro' thy infinite mercy, the free pardon of all our sins, and be pleased so to draw and raise our thoughts and desires towards thee, that we may make our supplications with all our hearts, according [Page 11]to thy will, and which is only most just and good.
Then the Minister prays for the King and the Royal Family by name.
We pray thee therefore, O heavenly Father, for all Kings, Princes and Governours, thy Servants, unto whom thou hast committed the dispensation of thy Justice, & particularly for W. &c. that it may please thee to endue them all with thy holy Spirit, which alone is the truly principal good. Increase those gifts [Page 12]daily in them, that they acknowledging with a true Faith Jesus Chris [...] thy Son our Lord, to be King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, as thou has [...] given him all power i [...] Heaven, and on Earth they may seek to serve him, and to exat hi [...] Kingdom in their Dominions, governing their Subjects, who are the works of thy hands, and the Sheep of thy Pasture according to thy will, so that we here, and all men through the whole Earth, being maintained in peace, and delivered from the fear of our Enemies, [Page 13]may praise thee all the Days of our Lives.
A Prayer for the Ministry.
We also pray thee, O Father and Saviour, for all those whom thou hast appointed Pastors over thy faithful Flock, and unto whom thou hast committed the Charge of Souls, and the dispensation of thy holy Gospel; that it may please thee to guide them by thy holy Spirit, that they may be found true and faithful Ministers of thy Gospel, always endeavouring that all thy poor dispersed [Page 14]Flock may be gathered, and brought unto the Lord Jesus Christ, the principal Pastor, and chief Bishop, that through him they may daily improve in all Righteousness and Holiness. Moreover, we beseech thee to deliver all thy Churches from the mouths of Ravening Wolves, and from all mercenary men, who do only seek after their ow [...] profit, and to gratifi [...] their ambition, and have no regard to the advancement of thy holy Name nor to the salvation o [...] thy Flock.
We also pray thee; most gracious and merciful Father, for all mankind in general, and as thou wilt be acknowledged Saviour of the whole world by the Redemption thereof, purchased by thy Son Jesus Christ, grant that such as are still strangers to him, being in Darkness, Error and Ignorance, may by the illumination of thy holy Spirit, and by the preaching of thy Gospel, be brought to the true way of salvation, which is to know thee the only true God, and him whom thou hast sent, Jesus Christ, [Page 16]that those whom thou hast already visited with thy grace, and enlightne [...] by the knowledge of thy word, may daily increase in goodness, and being enriched with thy spiritual blessing, we may adore thee altogether with one heart, and one mouth and give honour and obedience unto thy Christ, our Master, King and Legislator.
We likewise recommend unto thee, O God of all Comfort, all those whom thou visits, and chastisest, by Crosses or Tribulations, and also those people whom thou [Page 17]dost afflict by War, Pestilence or Famine, and all such who do suffer by Want, Imprisonment, Sickness, Banishment, or any other Calamity in Body or Mind, and (especially all those for whom our prayers are desired) be pleased to make them sensible of thy Fatherly Affection, which is to visit them in order to their amendment, that they may be heartily converted unto thee, and being converted, may receive perfect consolation, and be delivered from all evil.
We more especially recommend [Page 18]unto thee all our poor Brethren who are dispersed under the Tyranny of Antichrist, being destitute of the Food of Life, and deprived of the liberty of thy publick Service; and all those who are detained Prisoners, or persecuted by the Enemies of thy Gospel; that it may please thee, O gracious Father, to strengthen them by the assistance of thy holy Spirit, so that they may never fall from thy word, but may constantly persevere in thy holy Religion; help and assist them according to [Page 19]their several necessities, comfort them in their afflictions, preserve them from the rage of Wolves, and increase in them all the gifts of thy Spirit, to the end that they may glorifie thee both in Life and Death.
Finally, O God and Father, grant also to us who are here assembled in the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ, for the sake of his word, and of his holy Communion, that we may sincerely, and without hypocrisie acknowledge how miserable we are by Nature, and what Condemnations we [Page 20]deserve, and daily draw down upon our selves by our wicked and disorderly Lives, that we seeing there is no good thing in us, and that our Flesh and Blood are not capable of inheriting thy Kingdom, we may with all affection and steadfast confidence, intirely surrender up ou [...] selves unto thy dear Son Jesus Christ, our only Saviour and Redeemer; that he dwelling in us, may mortifie our old Adam, and renew in us? better Life, whereby thy holy and glorious Name may be exalted and glorified by all, and in all places.
Then he proceeds thus:
Hear us, O merciful Fath [...]r, for Jesus Christs sake, in whose Name and words we further call upon thee, Our Father, &c.
The Minister having said the Lords Prayer and the Apostles Creed, he gives some part of the Psalms, which is sung; and before the Congregations g [...] forth of the Church, he gives the following B [...]n [...]diction: (which is according to what our Lord commanded in the sixth Chapter of Numbers:)
The Lord bless you, and keep you; the Lord make [Page 22]his Face to shine upo [...] you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon yo [...] and give you peace. Ame [...]
A further Blessing th [...] Minister says to the people
Go in Peace, and fo [...] the Love of God remember the Poor.
This following Pray [...] is added to the former i [...] time of great danger an [...] distress.
And also as thou ha [...] the Dominion and Government over us all [Page 23]grant that we may daily learn more and more to submit and humble our selves before thy Majesty; and as thou art King and Ruler every where, we beseech thee to guide thy People by thy Word, and by the Efficacy of thy Spirit, confounding thy Enemies by the power of thy Truth and Justice, that so all Power and Dominion contrary to thy Glory, may be daily destroyed, and brought to nought, until thy Kingdom be perfected, and fully established; when thou shalt appear in Judgment in the Person of thy [Page 24]Son. Grant that we and all Creatures may render thee true and perfect Obedience, even as th [...] Heavenly Angels wai [...] only to execute thy Commands, so that thy Wil [...] may be intirely fullfilled and that all may devot [...] themselves to thy Service and Pleasure, and renounce their own Wills and all the desires of thei [...] flesh. Grant that we may walk in the love and fea [...] of thy Name, and be nourished by thy bountifu [...] goodness that thou giving us all things which are needful and expedien [...] for us, we may eat ou [...] [Page 25]Bread in peace; and seeing that thou carest for us, we may the better acknowledge thee to be our Father, and expect all good things from thy hand; and by withdrawing our confidence from all Creatures may place it wholly in thee, and in thy goodness, because in as much as during this mortal Life, we are poor sinners, so full of frailty that we continually fall, and go astray from the right way, be pleased to pardon all our sins, whereby we are liable to thy Judgment, and to deliver us by thy pardon from the Eternal Death, [Page 26]in which we are; that may please thee not t [...] impute to us our Iniqu [...] ties, as we according t [...] thy Commandment pa [...] don all the Injuries w [...] have received from [...] thers, and instead of see [...] ing Vengeance, do goo [...] to our Enemies.
Finally, we pray, tha [...] it may please thee to support us henceforth by th [...] power, that we may n [...] fall through the infirmit [...] of our flesh; and for [...] much as we are so wea [...] of our selves that we can not continue steadfast on moment, and on the othe [...] side so continually surrounded [Page 27]and assaulted by so many Enemies, as the Devil, the World, Sin, and our Flesh not ceasing to war against us, grant we may be strengthned with thy holy Spirit, and so armed with thy grace, that we may constantly resist all Temptations and persevere in that spiritual Warfare, until we shall obtain a full Victory and Triumph at length in thy Kingdom, with our Captain and Protector, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Ʋpon such days as they celebrate the Lords Supper, they add to the former this following Prayer:
As our Lord Jesus Chris [...] hath not only once offer'd his Body and Blood unto thee upon the Cross fo [...] the remission of our sins but also communicate them unto us for our nourishment to eternal life grant that we may with true sincerity of heart and ardent Zeal, receiv [...] such benefits by a tru [...] Faith, that we may par [...] take of his Body an [...] Blood, yea, and enjoy the [...] entirely: he being tru [...] God and true Man, [...] truly the holy Celesti [...] Bread to quicken us, t [...] the end that we may liv [...] no more to our selves, according [Page 29]to our vicious and corrupt nature; but that he may live in us, and bring us to an holy, blessed and eternal life; grant therefore that we may be made true partakers of the new and everlasting Covenant of Grace; being fully assur'd that thou wilt ever be to us a gracious Father, in not imputing our sins unto us; and as to thy beloved Children and Heirs, wilt provide for us all things necessary, as well for our Bodies as Souls, that we may continually give thee thanks, and glorifie thy holy Name by Words and [Page 30]Works. Therefore, heavenly Father, give us grace this day to celebrate the blessed memory o [...] thy Dear Son, in this manner, and to set forth the benefit of his Death; so that we receiving new increase and strength in Faith, and in all goodness, may with the greater confidence call thee Our Father, and glory in thee.
Amen.
After the holy Sacrament is ended, they use this following Thanksgiving, or the like.
Heavenly Father, we give thee Eternal Praise and Thanks, in that thou [Page 31]hast bestowed upon us, poor sinners, so great a blessing, and brought us to the Communion of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, having delivered him unto Death for us, and given him for our spiritual nourishment unto life everlasting. Grant that we may never forget thy mercies, but having them engrafted in our hearts, we may continually grow and increase in good works; and in so doing we may order all our lives to the advancement of thy glory, and to the Edification of our Neighbours, by the same Jesus Christ thy [Page 32]Son, who in the Unity o [...] the holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth with thee God eternally blessed. Amen.
For as much as the Scripture teaches, That Wars, Pestilence, and other such Adversities are Visitations sent from God, by which he punisheth us for our sins; when we see them coming, we must acknowledge that God is displeased with us, and as true Christians we must confess our sins, and be grieved in our selves, returning unto the Lord by Repentance and Amendment of life, and pray unto him with true humility, [Page 33]that we may obtain pardon.
Wherefore if at any time we see that God threatens us, to the end that we may not tempt his Patience, but rather prevent his Judgments, which otherwise we may perceive to hang over our heads, it is meet that we should keep one day in every week on which these things especially should be represented, and in which we must make Prayers and Supplications according to the Exigency of the times.
For which here follows a proper Form.
Before the beginning of the Sermon they use the general Confession, as before written, and used on the Lords Day.
At the end of the Sermon, having remonstrated to the people, that God afflicts Men because of their Offences which are committed upon the Earth, and that the World is given up to al [...] Iniquity; having also exhorted the people to convert and amend their Lives, and to pray unto God to obtain mercy, they use this following Form of Prayer:
Almighty God, and Heavenly Father, we do acknowledge and confess [Page 35]as the Truth is, that we are not worthy to lift up our Eyes to Heaven, to present our selves before thee; and that we ought not to presume so far as to think that thou wilt hear our prayers, if thou shouldest mark what is amiss in us; for our Consciences accuse us, and our sins bear Witness against us, and we know that thou art a Just Judge, who dost not justifie sinners, but punishest the sins of those who have transgress'd thy holy Commandments; therefore, O Lord, when we consider our whole Lives, we are ashamed at [Page 36]our hearts, and cannot but sink down in despair, as if we were already in the gulph of Death. But, Lord, since it hath pleased thee in thy infinite mercy to command us, that we should call upon thee; and the greater our Weakness and Misery is, we should with so much the greater Confidence betake our selves to thy Soveraign Bounty, since thou hast promised us to receive our supplications and requests not in respect of our own worthiness, but in the Name, and by the Merits of our Lord Jesus Christ whom thou hast made to [Page 37]be our Advocate and Intercessor; we do therefore renounce all humane confidence, and do altogether rely on thy sole goodness, and present our selves before thee to call upon thy holy Name for mercy.
First, Lord, besides the infinite benefits which thou hast in general bestowed upon all men in the world, thou hast done us so many singular Favours, that it is impossible for us to declare, or sufficiently to comprehend them; and in particular it hath pleased thee to call us to the knowledge of thy Gospel, and to draw us [Page 38]from the miserable slavery of the Devil, in which we were detained, delivering us from the Curse of Idolatry and Superstition, in which we were plunged, to guide us into the light of thy truth; yet by our Ingratitude we have forgotten the benefits which we have receiv'd from thy hand, and have gone astray, and turned our selves from thee after our own Lusts; we have not given that honour and obedience to thy holy Word which we ought, neither have we praised and glorified thee as it behoved us to do; and although [Page 39]though thou hast always faithfully admonished us by thy Word, yet we have not hearkned to thy Admonitions; therefore we have sinn'd, Lord, and offended against thee; this covers us with shame and confusion, confessing that we are grievously guilty before thy Judgment-Seat; and if that thou should'st deal with us according to what we deserve, we might expect nothing but Death and Damnation; for when we would excuse our selves, our Consciences accuse us, and our Iniquities are before thee to condemn us; [Page 40]and indeed Lord we see by the Punishments which are already come upon us, that thou art Justly displeased with us; for as thou art Just and upright, it is not without Cause that thou dost afflict thy People; having therefore been chastized with thy Rod, we acknowledge that we have provoked thee against us, and now we behold thy hand still lifted up to punish us; for the Sword with which thou wert wont to execute thy Vengeance is unsheathed, and the threatnings which thou hast made against the wicked and ungodly are [Page 41]ready to be executed. But tho thou should'st punish us much more severely than thou hast hitherto done, and that for one Plague we should receive an hundred; and should'st even suffer such Calamities to fall upon us as thou didst afflict thy People of Israel with; yet we must confess that it were just with thee, and no more than what we have fully deserved.
However, Lord, thou art our Father, and we are but Dust and Ashes; thou art our Creator, and we are the works of thy hands; thou art our Pastor, [Page 42]and we are thy flock; thou art our Redeemer, and we are the people thou hast redeemed; thou art our God, and we are thine Heritage; therefore be not so angry with us as to correct us in thy fury, neither remember our Iniquities to punish them, but chastise us lovingly in thy mercy. By reason of our sins thine Anger is inflamed, but remember that we are call'd by thy name, and that we bear thy sign and Token. Maintain therefore the work thou hast begun in us by thy grace, that all the Earth may know that thou art [Page 43]our God and Saviour; thou knowest that the Dead in the Grave, & those whom thou hast destroyed, cannot praise thee, but sorrowful and afflicted souls, contrite hearts, and Consciences oppressed with the sence of their sins, and longing after thy grace, shall give thee glory and praise. Thy People of Israel often provoked thee to Anger by their Iniquities; thou didst Justly afflict them by thy Just Judgments: but when they did return unto thee thou didst always in pity receive them: were their Offences never so heinous, [Page 44]for the sake of thy Covenant which thou mad'st with thy Servants, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, thou didst turn away those Evils, and thy Rods which were prepared against them; so that their Prayers were never rejected by thee. We have by thy Grace a much better Covenant to rely on than they, which thou hast made and established in Jesus Christ our Lord, which thou wast pleased should be written with his Blood, and ratified by his Death and Passion; therefore, Lord, renouncing our selves and all humane [Page 45]hopes, we have recourse unto that blessed Covenant, by which our Lord Jesus, in offering his Body as a Sacrifice, hath reconciled us unto thee; look then, Lord, on the Face of thy Christ, and not on us, that by his Intercession thy Anger may be appeased, and thy Face may shine upon us with joy to our salvation, and grant we may henceforth be received into thy holy conduct, and guided by thy holy Spirit, which may regenerate us into a better life, by which thy Name may be hallowed, thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done, &c.
And altho we are not worthy to open our mouths unto thee for our selves, and to call upon thee in our necessities, yet since it hath pleased thee to command us to pray one for another, we pray thee for all our poor Brethren and Fellow-members, whom thou dost visit with the Rod of thy correction, beseeching thee to turn thine Anger from them, and more especially for N. N. that it may please thee, Lord, to remember they are thy Children, as we are; and altho they have offended thee, yet cease not to extend [Page 47]thy wonted goodness and mercy towards them; which thou hast promised should continue for ever to all thy faithful. Look down with pity, we beseech thee, upon thy whole Church and People at this time afflicted by War, Pestilence or Famine, and also upon all persons which do suffer by Sickness, Imprisonment, or Poverty; comfort them all according to their several Necessities; make them to profit by thy Correction, endue them with patience, and let not thy whole Displeasure arise against them, but in [Page 48]the end deliver them, and cause them fully to rejoice in thy goodness, and to bless thy Name.
Especially that it may please thee to look down upon all, and every one of those who do labour in the defence of thy Truth, strengthen them with invincible constancy, protect and assist them however dispersed or distressed; defeat all the Plots & Practices of their & thy Enemies; restrain their fury, and confound all their wicked attempts against thee and the Members of thy Church; let not thy Inheritance be [Page 49]brought to desolation, nor suffer the memory of thy Name to be abolished; permit not those to perish who call upon thy Name, nor the Turks, Pagans, or any other Infidels to rejoice in blaspheming of thee.
Then followeth a part of the Sundays Prayer; wherein they pray for the King, and the Royal Family, &c.
The FORM of Administration of Baptism.
It is to be observed that those Children which are to [Page 50]be Baptized, ought to be brought on the Lord's Day at the time of Catechising, or on some other days of Preaching, to the end tha [...] Baptism being a solemn Reception into the Church, i [...] should be performed in the presence of the Congregation.
At the end of the Sermon they present the Children, and then the Minister begins to say,
OUR help is in the Name of God, who hath made Heaven and Earth. Amen.
Do you present thi [...] Child to be baptized?
Ans. Yes.
The Minister.
Our Lord shews us what Poverty and Misery we are all born in, telling us we must be born again; for if our Nature must be renewed, that we may have an entrance into the Kingdom of God, it is a sign that it is wholly corrupt and evil, in that he admonishes us to humble and dislike our selves, and so he prepares us to desire and seek after his grace, by which all the Depravity and Corruption of our Original state, may be abolished; for we are not able to receive it before [Page 52]we are void of all confidence in our own goodness, Wisdom and Righteousness, so as to disclaim all that is in us.
Now when he makes us sensible of our misery, he likewise comforts us by his mercy, promising to regenerate us by his holy Spirit into a New Life which may be to us a an entrance into his Kingdom. This Regeneration consists in Two Points, [...] That we should deny ou [...] selves, and not follow ou [...] own Reason, Will an [...] Pleasure, but submit ou [...] Understanding and Heart to the Justice and Wisdo [...] [Page 53]of God; and that we should mortify all that is in us, and our Carnal Lusts. 2. That we should follow the Light of God to please him, and to obey his Will and good pleasure, as he teacheth us by his word, and leads us thereto by his Spirit. The fullfilling of both these is in our Lord Jesus Christ, whose Death and Passion hath such Vertue, that in our partaking thereof we are dead to sin, that our Carnal Lusts may be mortified; likewise by the Vertue of his Resurrection, we do rise from sin unto a new and godly [Page 54]life, seeing his Spirit governs and leads us to do such works as are acceptable unto him. Now the first and chief Point of our Salvation is, that he by his mercy pardoneth all sins, not imputing them unto us, but blotting out the memory of them, that they may not stand in judgment against us; all these Graces he confers upon us when it pleaseth him to incorporate us into his Church by Baptism; for in this Sacrament he declareth the Remission of our sins; and therefore he ordained the sign of the Water to represent [Page 55]unto us, that as by this Element our bodily filth and Pollutions are cleansed, so he will wash and purifie our Souls, that they may be without blemish. Moreover, he there represents to us our Regeneration, which consists as before instanced, in the Mortification of our flesh, and in the Spiritual Life, which he produceth in us. Thus we receive a double benefit from God in Baptism, if we do not make the vertue of this Sacrament of none effect by our Ingratitude. First, We have thereby a real [Page 56]assurance that God will be our gracious Father, in not imputing our sins and offences to us; And, Secondly, That he will assist us by his holy Spirit, that we may be able to fight against the Devil, Sin, and the Lusts of our flesh, until we obtain Victory over them, that we may get Freedom in his Kingdom, which is the Kingdom of Righteousness and Justice; therefore seeing that these two things are thus wrought in us by the grace of Jesus Christ, it followeth, that the vertue and substance of [Page 57]Baptism is comprehended in ou [...] Saviour; and we indeed can no otherwise be cleansed than by his Blood, nor renewed but by his Death and Resurrection; but as he communicates his Riches and Blessings to us by his Word, so he distributes them unto us by his Sacraments.
Now our good God hath not only been pleased to adopt us for his Children, and receive us into the Communion of his Church, but also hath more abundantly extended his goodness towards us, in promising, that he [Page 58]will be our God, and the God of our Posterity, unto a thousand Generations; therefore, tho the Children of the Faithful be of the corrupted Seed of Adam, yet he receives them by the vertue of that Covenant, into the Number of his own; therefore he would heretofore that in his Church the Children should receive the sign of Circumcision, figuring thereby the same, as is now represented unto us in Baptism; and as he did command, that they should be Circumcised, so he did also own them for his [Page 59]Children, calling himself their God, as he was the God of their Fathers.
Now therefore as our Lord Jesus did not come down from Heaven to lessen the Grace of God, his Father, but to enlarge his Covenant of Salvation through all the world, which was before limited to the people of the Jews, there is no doubt but our Children are heirs of that Life which he hath promised unto us; and therefore St. Paul saith, the Children of the Faithful are holy, to distinguish them from the Children of Pagans and Infidels; [Page 60]for this Reason our Saviour received the Children which they presented unto him, as it is written in the 19th Chapter of St. Matthew, the 13th and 14th verses, Then were there brought unto him little Children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray; and the Disciples rebuked them; but Jesus said, Suffer little Children, and forbid them not to come unto me; for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Now seeing he declares that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them, and that he layeth his hands [Page 61]on them, and recommendeth them to God his Father, he fufficiently teacheth us, that we ought not to exclude them from his Church; therefore, according to this Rule, we will receive this Child into his Church; that he may be made partaker of those benefits which God hath promised to his Faithful; and we will first humbly present him unto God by our Prayers, saying with all our heart,
Lord God; Eternal and Everlasting Father, since it hath pleased thee by thy infinite goodness to [Page 62]promise us, that thou wilt be a God to us and to our Children, we pray that it may please thee to confirm thy Grace in this Child here present, begotten of parents whom thou hast called into thy Church, and as he is offered and consecrated unto thee by us, receive him into thy holy protection, declaring thy self to be his God and Saviour, by pardoning the Original sins which the whole Race of Adam are guilty of. Sanctify him also by thy Spirit, that when he shall come to the use of Knowledge, he may own [Page 63]and adore thee as his only God, in glorifying thee all his Days, that he may obtain of thee the remission of his sins, and to the end that he may obtain such grace, be pleased to incorporate him into the Communion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and make him partaker of all his Benefits, as one of the Members of his Body. Hear us, merciful Father, that the Baptism we are to communicate unto him, according to thy Ordinance, may produce such Fruits and Vertues in him, as are declared to us in thy Gospel. (Our [Page 64]Father which art in Heaven, &c.
Seeing we are about to receive this Child into the Congregation of the Christian Church, do you promise when he shall come to years of discretion, to instruct him in the Doctrine which is received by the People of God, as it is briefly comprehended in the Confession of Faith which we all profess? (I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven, &c.)
Do you promise to take pains to instruct him in all this Doctrine, and [Page 65]generally in all that is contained in the holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments, that he may receive it as the true Word of God come from Heaven? You must also exhort him to live according to the Rule which our Lord hath given us in his Law, which doth briefly consist in these Two Points, That we should love God with all our minds, and with all our heart, and with all our strength, and our Neighbour as our selves; likewise according to the Exhortations that the hath given by his Prophets [Page 66]and Apostles, that this Child, renouncing himself and all his Carnal Desires, should dedicate himself unto the glory of the Name of God, and of Jesus Christ, and to the Edification of his Neighbour.
After the Promise is made (the Godfather speaking to the Minister), the Child hath his Name given him; and then the Minister, sprinkling water on the For [...]head, baptizing him, saying, (with a loud voice,)
N. I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, [Page 67]and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
The whole being audibly performed in the vulgar Tongue, that all they which are present may understand, and be Witnesses to what is done, and be edified in acknowledging, and calling to mind what is the Fruit and Ʋse of their Baptism.
THE MANNER OF Celebrating the Holy Supper.
IT is to be observed, that they declare to the People on the Lords day, before the holy Sacrament is given; First, that every one may prepare hims [...]lf to receive it worthily, and with such Reverence as it behoves him to do. Secondly That [Page 69]they do not admit any children, but such as are well instructed, and have made profession of their Faith in the Church. Thirdly, if there come any Strangers that are yet ignoraut, to present themselves, they should come to be instructed first in private. The day it is to be celebrated, the Minister speaks of it at the end of his Sermon; or if it be necessary, makes his Sermon wholly upon it, to explain to the people what our Lord did signify by this Mystery, and in what manner we must receive it.
After the Prayers and Confession of Faith are [Page 70]made, to testify in the Name of the People, that all would live and die in the Christian Doctrine and Religion, he says with a loud voice;
Let us hear my brethren, how Jesus Christ hath instituted for us his holy Supper, as St. Paul saith in the 11th chap. of the first Epist. to the Corinthians; I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, [Page 71]eat; this is my Body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner he also took the Cup when he had supped, saying, This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood: This do ye as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this Bread, and drink this Cup, ye do shew the Lords death till he come; Wherefore whosoever shall eat this Bread, and drink this Cup of the Lord Ʋnworthily, shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat [Page 72]of that Bread, and drink of that Cup; for he that eateth and drinketh Ʋnworthily, eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself, not discerning the Lords Body.
Brethte, we have heard how our Lord made his Supper amongst his Disciples; which shews us, That Aliens, and such that are not of the Number of his Faithful, should not be admitted thereto. Therefore according to that Rule, in the Name, and by the Authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, I do Excommunicate [Page 73]all Idolaters, Blasphemers, and contemners of God; Hereticks, and all people that make separate Sects to break the Union of the Church; all that are Perjured, and all those who are Disobedient to Parents or to their Superiors; all Seditious, Mutinous Strikers, Litigious. Adulterers, Whoremongers, Thieves, Covetous, Usurers, Extortioners, Drunkards, Gluttons, & all such as lead a wicked or scandalous Life; declaring unto them, that they must abstain from this holy. Table, for fear [Page 74]of defiling and polluting of this holy Food, which our Lord Jesus Christ doth not give but to his faithful servants.
Therefore, according to St. Paul's Exhortation, let every one of you examine his own Conscience, to know if he doth truly & sincerely repent; resolving hereafter to live holily, according to the Will of God, and above all if he puts his Trust in the Mercy of God; wholly seeking his salvation in and through Jesus Christ; and renouncing all Enmity and Hatred, have a true desire [Page 75]and resolution to live in brotherly Love and Charity with his Neighbours.
If we have this Testimony in our hearts before God, let us not at all doubt but that he will receive us for his Children; and that the Lord Jesus invites us unto his Table, and to this holy Sacrament, which he hath communicated unto his Disciples.
And although we are conscious of our great Frailty and Misery, in not having a True Faith, being inclined to Incredulity and Diffidence; [Page 76]and in not being so entirely devoted to serve God with such zeal as we ought, being daily struggling with the Lusts of our Flesh; yet seeing our Lord hath by his Grace engraven his Gospel in our Hearts, and hath given us the desire and will of Turning our selves from our Carnal Lusts, to follow his lust & holy Commandments; Let us be assured, that our Sins and Imperfections will not hinder us from being received by him, and made Worthy Partakers of that Spiritual Table. For we do [Page 77]not come there, presuming that we are perfect or just in otr selves. But on the contrary, by seeking our Life in Jesus Christ, we do confess we are dead; therefore let us understand that this Sacrament is a Remedy for the poor, spiritually sick: and all the worthiness which our Lord requires of us, is, that we should examine our selves, and be grieved for our Sins, and to place our Delight, Joy, and Contentment in him alone
Let us therefore first believe these promises which Jesus Christ, who [Page 78]is the infallible truth, hath declared with his own Mouth; Namely, that he will make us true partakers of his Body and Blood, that we may so entirely enjoy him as to live in him, and he in us; and altho we do see nothing but Bread and Wine, yet let us not doubt but that he will Spiritually accomplish in our Souls, all that he hath outwardly shewn us by these visible signs, which is to say, that he is the Heavenly Bread, to feed and nourish us to Eternal Life: So let us not be ungrateful to the [Page 79]infinite bounty of our Saviour, who displays all his Riches and Benefits on this Table, in order to Communicate them unto us, for in giving himself unto us, he signifies to us, that all he hath is ours. Therefore let us receive this Sacrament as a Pledge, that the virtue of his Death and Passion is imputed to us for Righteousness, as if we had suffered in our own Bodies. Let us not be so perverse as to refrain from this Table, when Jesus Christ hath so kindly invited us by his word; but weighing [Page 80]the dignity of this precious gift, let us present our selves unto him with such fervent Zeal, as may make us capable of receiving him.
Wherefore let us raise up our hearts and minds on high, where Jesus Christ is in the Glory of his Father, from whence we do expect him for our Redemption; and let us not amuse our selves with these Earthly and Corruptible Elements which we see with the Eye, and touch with the Hand, nor seek him there as if he were in the Bread and Wine, for then our Souls [Page 81]will be disposed to be nourished and quickned with his substance, when they shall be raised above all Earthly things into Heaven, the K [...]ngdom of God, where our Saviour dwells, let us then content our selves in our having the Bread and Wine for Signs and Tokens, seeking Spiritually the truth, where the word of God promises that we shall find it.
(After the Minister hath admonished the People to come with reverence and in good order: He distributes the Bread, and gives the Cup to the People, and [Page 82]in the mean time they sing some Psalms, or read some part of the Holy Scripture that is agreeable to that which is signified by the Sacrament.)
(And after, he makes use of the thanksgiving as hath been before-said.)
THEIR FORM OF Solemnization OF Matrimony.
YOƲ must observe that before the Celebration of the Marriage, They do publish it three Lords Days successively in the Church, that if any Person [Page 84]knows any Lawful impediment, he or she may come to declare it in good time, or if any other Person have any interest therein, he or she may there oppose it.
(That being done, both Parties come and present themselves at the begining of the Sermon, then the Minister says.)
Our help is in the Name of God who hath made Heaven and Earth. Amen.
After that God our Father had Created Heaven and Earth, and all that in them is, [Page 85]He created and made Man after his own Image, who should have Dominion and Power over all the Beasts of the Earth, the Fish of the Sea, and Fowls of the Air, Gen. 2. And the Lord God said, It is not good that the Man should be alone: I will make him an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and he took one of his Ribs, and the Rib which the Lord God had taken from Man, made he a Woman; signifying, that the Man and the Woman [Page 86]are but one Body, one Flesh, and one Blood, therefore shall a Man leave his Father, and his Mother, and shall cleave unto his Wife; which he ought to love as Christ loved his Church, which are the true Faithful Christians for whom he Dyed. The Wife ought also to serve and obey her Husband in all Holiness and Honesty, for she is subject, and is in the Power of her Husband so long as she lives with him; this Holy Marriage which is instituted by God is of that Nature, that by it▪ the Husband [Page 87]hath no Power over his Body but the Wife, nor hath the Wife any Power over her Body but the Husband: Therefore being joyned by God they cannot be parted, unless it be for sometime by consent of both, to apply themselves to Fasting and Prayer; bewaring they be not tempted by Satan to incontinency, wherefore they are to come together again, to avoid all uncleanness: Every Man ought to have his Wife, and every Woman her Husband. So that all those who have not the gift of continency [Page 88]are to Marry, that the Holy Temple of God which is our Bodys should not be defiled and corrupted, for seeing that our Bodys are the Members of J [...]sus Christ, it would be a great reproach to make them Members of an Harlot, therefore we must keep them in all Holyness, for if any defile the Temple of God, him will God destroy.
You then Naming the Bridegroom and the Bride N. N. knowing, that God hath ordained it thus, will you live in the Holy State of Matrimony, [Page 89]which God hath so greatly honoured? have you such an intention, as you do here declare before this holy assembly, desiring that it should be confirmed?
They Answer. Yes.
(The Minister.)
I take you all, that are here present as Witnesses, desiring you to remember it, yet if there be any who know any impediment in it, or that either of them be Married to any other, let him declare the same.
(If no Person opposes it, the Minister says thus.)
Since there is no Person that opposes it, and that there is no impediment: Our Lord God confirm that holy design which he hath given you, let your begining be in the Name of God; who hath made Heaven and Earth. Amen.
(The Minister speaking to the Bridegroom, says thus:)
N. Do you confess here before God, and this holy Assembly, that you have taken, and do take M. here present, for your Wedded Wife, and do you promise to keep her, in Loving, and faithfully [Page 91]maintaining her, as the duty of a Loving Husband towards his VVife requireth; Living Holily with Her, keeping Faith and Loyalty in all things, according to the word of God, and of his Holy Gospel.
Answer. Yes.
(After speaking to the Bride the Minister says,)
M. Do you confess here before God, and this holy assembly, that you have taken and do take N. here present for your Lawful Husband, do you promise to obey him, serving and being subject unto him, living a [Page 92]holy life, Keeping saith and loyalty with him in all things, as a faithful and loyal wife ought to do towards her husband, according to the Word of God, and of his holy Gospel?
Answer. Yes.
(Then the Minister doth say,)
The Father of all mercy, who hath called you by his Grace to this holy State, for the love of his Son Jesus Christ, who did sanctify Marriage by his holy presence, and where [...]t he wrought his first Miracle before his Apostles, give you his [Page 93]holy Spirit to serve and honour him together with one accord. Amen.
Hear the Gospel, in which our Lord shews how he would have holy Matrimony to be kept; and how it is firm, and indissolvable, as it is written in the 19th of St. Matthew.
The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his Wife for every cause? and he answer [...] and said unto them, have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning, made them Male and Female, [Page 94]and said, for this cause shall a man leave Father and Mother, and cleave unto his Wife, and they twain shall be one Flesh; wherefore they are no more twain, but one Flesh; what therefore God hath Joyned together, let no man put asunder.
Believe these Holy Words which our Lord hath spoken; as they are contained in the holy Gospel, be assured that our Lord God hath joined you in holy Matrimony. Therefore live holily together in Love, Peace and Unity, keeping true Charity, Faith and Loyalty, [Page 95]one toward another, according to the Word of God.
(Let us all pray to our Father with one accord.)
God Almighty who art good and wise, and hast foreseen from the begining, that it was not good for Man to be alone, and therefore didst create an help meet for him, like unto himself, and hast ordained that two should be one. We most humbly pray and beseech thee, since it hath pleased thee to call these here present unto the holy State of Matrimony, that thou would be pleased of thy bountiful grace to give them thy holy Spirit, that they may live in true and stedfast faith according to thy good will, that they may overcome all Evil Affections, and edify [Page 96]others in all Honesty and Chastity; give them thy Blessings as thou didst to thy Faithful Servants, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: That they having an Holy Seed, may praise and serve thee; instructing and nourishing them up to thy Praise and Glory, and to the Edification of our Neighbours; and the advancement of thy Holy Gospel. Hear us most merciful Father through our Lord Jesus Christ thy most Dear Son. Amen.
Our Lord replenish you with his Grace and Goodness, and grant you a long and holy life together Amen.
POSTSCRIPT.
AS I have mentioned the differences between the Protestant Dissenters and the Church of England, and the great respect paid her, by the reformed Forreign Churches; So I think fit to conclude, by hinting to the Romanists, Quakers, &c. That the Differences between Reform'd Forreign Churches and the [Page 98]Church of England, are not so material and great as some have maliciously reported. The present Controversies of Papists with Papists, and of Quakers among themselves, are considerably greater in my Opinion; and the Breach between our English Presbyterians and Independents I take to be wider.
As for that amazing Point of Absolute Predestination, it is not so much disputed amongst the Reformed as the Roman Churches. One Order of Monks hath hotly engaged another; The [Page 99]Jesuists and Jansenists have written so many hectoring and swelling Volumes upon that knotty Subject, that a small Library will scarcely contain them.
Whereas, in my poor Apprehension, it would be much better to practice the Doctrines we profess, than to quarrel about them; and to use the words of the Learned, Let us, confessing that nothing can be done without the Providence of God, Adore in humility the Secrets which are hid from us, without our enquiry beyond our [Page 100]measure, and rather apply to our use that which is shewn us in the holy Scriptures for to be in repose and security. The World had been much happier if all who follow that Judicious Divine Mr. Calvin (as well as others) had embraced this sound, this useful and pious instruction.
As for the Government of the Church by Bishops, the Learned Calvin had neither a seasonable time or opportunity to use it. It was not feasible or practicable for him to maintain it; for how could he establish Protestant [Page 101]Bishops where Popish Bishops were setled? But I Appeal to the world, if the Calvinian Clergy hath not generally shewn a great Veneration, both for the Orders and Persons of our Bishops; whether they have not admired their Books, and received holy Orders from them. And for a further Demonstration of their entire Agreement, few of them, (if any) have ever refused a Prebendary, a Deanery, or any Episcopal Preferment.
But were there a real Disagreement in any [Page 102]point, with what Forehead could a Romanist object it? The Arch-Bishop of Paris, uncharitably Damns the Arch-Bishop of Cambray; the Bishop of Meaux and others joyn with him; whilst the Prelate of Cambray doth not want a Party who adhere to him: The Pope and his Cardinals are stunn'd atit, and for all the Infalibility they pretend to, they cannot easily tell on which side to determine. The great God compose all Divisions amongst Christians of what Denomination soever, let us [Page 103]humbly beseech him to inspire continually the Universal Church with the Spirit of Truth, Unity and Concord, and grant that all those who confess his Holy Name, may agree in the truth of his holy word, and live in Unity and Godly Love; grant this O Father for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
FOR the satisfaction of all such persons that doubt of the Truth of this preceeding Translation, they may please to observe, that it hath been Examined by us, and found to be faithfully translated from the French Form of Prayers, which was in use in the Reformed Churches in France among our Ancestors, and in our days, whose Names are here subscribed.
- Ministers of the French Church in the Savoy.
- T. Satur,
- P. Larriviere,
- C. G. Lamothe,
- Ministers of the Old French Church in London.
- C. Piozet,
- Ch. Bertheau,
- Dubourdieu, Minister of the Old Frnnch Church in Soho.
- A. Gilbert, Minister of the French Chappel at the Palace of St. James.
- C. Pegorie, Minister of the French Church near Leicester Fields.
- [Page 106]La Place, Minister of the French Church in Newport-Market, Soho.
- Blanc, Minister of the Old Patant French Church in Soho.
- Gally Degaujac, A French Minister of an English Church.
- J. Lions, Minister to several French Churches in and about London.
- Ministers of the New French Churches in London and in Hungerford-Market.
- J. Doules,
- J. Lombard,
- Peter Degaleniere,
- John Graverol,
- P. Roussilions,
- [Page 107]De Milly Melin, Minister and Reader of the New French Church in London.
This Translation hath been carefully compared with the Original, and Corrected by S. Lyons, a French Minister.