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A32800
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Of Episcopal confirmation in two discourses / by B. Camfield.
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Camfield, Benjamin, 1638-1693.
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1682
(1682)
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Wing C381; ESTC R14520
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52,623
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130
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both in every Individual and as it is embodied in the respective Societies of Men. 3. We may suppose he represented to them the Goodness and obligingness of that Lord and Master to whom they had devoted themselves How well he had deserved of them what transcendent and unparallel'd Love he had shewed to them in giving himself to and for them and redeeming of them with his most precious Blood And how ready he was still at all times to stand by them for their Help and Assistance in whatsoever he should call them to 4. It is not unlikely but he might bring into their View the great Cloud of Witnesses encompassing of them round about The many good Examples and Presidents both under the Old and New Testament whom they were herein to follow And then Lastly We may be sure he put them in mind of the exceeding and incomparable Recompence of Reward which would be certainly theirs if by patient Continuance in well-doing they look'd and waited for it A Reward of Eternal Life and Happiness and Glory wherewith neither the good nor the evil things of this World which are but for a moment are worthy to be weighed Concluding to a like purpose as we find St. Paul his Brother and Companion in that Work doth to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15. ult And I cannot conclude better than so Therefore my Beloved Brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the Work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your Labor is not in vain in the Lord. Lord of all Power and Might who art the Author and Giver of all good things graft in our Hearts the Love of thy Name Increase in us true Religion nourish us with all Goodness and of thy great Mercy keep us in the same through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Lord we beseech thee grant thy People Grace to withstand the Temptations of the World the Flesh and the Devil and with pure Hearts and Minds to follow thee the only God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O God Forasmuch as without thee we are notable to please thee mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our Hearts through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O God who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great Dangers that by reason of the Frailty of our Nature we cannot always stand upright grant to us such Strength and Protection as may support us in all Dangers and carry us through all Temptations through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O God who hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as pass man's Understanding pour into our Hearts such Love towards thee that we loving thee above all things may obtain thy Promises which exceed all that we can desire through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen THE END A TABLE OF THE CHIEF CONTENTS OF the Scope and Sence of Hebr. 6.2 page 1. Our Church-Catechism most agreeable to the Apostolical p. 5. Of the Names whereby Confirmation is known and call'd viz. Imposition or laying on of Hands 7. Perfection 8. Chrism or Unction 9. Consigning or Sealing 10. Confirmation 11. Obligation 12. 2 Tim. 2.19 Well accommodated by Dr. Hammond to this matter ibid. Most of the precedent Names found in 2 Cor. 1.21 22. 14. Other Scripture Paterns and Grounds for it ib. Figur'd out and pointed to us in the visible Descent of the Holy Spirit 1. On our Blessed Saviour in the Form of a Dove St. Matthew 3. ib. 2. On the Apostles afterwards at Pentecost Acts 2. ibid. Recommended by Christ himself St. John 3.5 as Bishop Taylor with St. Cyprian expounded that Text 15. Vndoubtedly practiced by the Apostles St. Peter and John Confirming the Samaritans Baptized by Philip the Deacon Acts 8. St. Paul the Ephesians Acts 19. 16. These Instances so understood and appeal'd unto by St. Cyprian 17. St. Augustin 19. St. Hierom ibid. As will as by the Church of England 20. Some other Scripture Instances glanced at Acts 11.14 15. Chapters 21. This Apostolical Practice both a Light unto and farther Illustrated by Hebr. 6.2 expounded accordingly by the Ancient Fathers ib. The Additional Authority of the Council of Eliberis and Tertullian 22. The same allowed by the Generallity of Modern Expositors also ibid. Calvinists as Calvin 23 Beza 25. Piscator 26. Doctores Lugdun 27. Lutherans Chemnitius 28. Waldenses Confess Apolog. 30. Bohemian Brethren Comenius Ratio Disciplin c. 32 With some of Name among our selves Mr. Hanmer and Mr. Baxter 34. Dr. William Gouge ib. Assembl Annotations 35. Of the Ceremony of Imposition of Hands 37. Mr. Calvin 's Idle Question about it answered from his more calm and considering self 39. The Blessing of Ministers under the Gospel no less Authoritative and Prolifique than under the Law 41 Of the peculiar Minister of Confirmation the Bishop whence it is called Bishopping 42. So in the first Patterns and so confessedly in the Vsage of the Ancient Church ib. Mr. Bucer 's Reason for it ib. Their uncharitable Rashness condemn'd who impute it to the Bishop's Pride 44. What Supplemental Provision seemeth desirable upon some Necessities ibid. Of the Qualification of Persons to be confirmed viz. Baptism and Prae-instruction in the Church-Catechism at Years of Discretion 45. The Preface read to that purpose at Confirmation 46. The Question then also put by the Bishop and answered by all the Candidates 47. Aquinas and Contarenus of another mind but dislik'd by the later Romanists themselves 48. The Benefit of this Sacred Right depends much upon a competent Growth of Age and Vnderstanding ibid. No prejudice by deferring it till then by our Churches Declaration ibid. A serious Exhortation to all that come on this Errand 49. Of the great Importance and Vsefulness of this whole Transaction in five particulars 50. Melchiades his Epistle to the Bishops of Spain in Vindication of it 54. The same more largely from Eusebius Emissenus or Eucherius Lugdun Homilie on Pentecost 55. A Summary of the Graces and Blessings consequent out of Bishop Taylor 56. A Concluding Admonition to all persons concern'd not to disgrace so well grounded Principles by an unsuitable Practice enforced from Mr. Hooker 58. Dr. Jackson Dr. Hammond and Dr. Henchman 59. Contents of the Appendix T C's Objections against Confirmation 61. Mr. Hooker's Answer to the same 62. A Translation of some admirable Passages out of Dr. Hammond De Confirmatione 65. An useful Description of Confirmation from all the Premisses 68. Contents of the Sermon Annexed Of the First Plantation of the Church of Antioch 72. St. Barnabas sent thither from Jerusalem to Confirm ibid. How he was affected with Joy at the sight of their hopeful Beginnings 73. How he endeavor'd to encourage and hearten them to an answerable Perseverance ibid. Of coming and cleaving unto Christ in the Scripture Sence 76. Of that purpose of Heart wherewith it is to be done 82. Including a Personal Resolution of Soul ibid. Sincere Resolution of Soul 87. Deliberate Resolution of Soul 90. Free Resolution of Soul 95. Firm Resolution of Soul 98. Zealo us Resolution of soul. 100. Humble Resolution of Soul 101. General Motive and Exhortations to inforce this Exhortation 103. FINIS
own and profess all these things before the whole Church to their own Salvation in the celebration of the Rite of Imposition of Hands which being done they are confirmed And there is forthwith given them full Power and Right to communicate of the Body and Blood of Christ with the Faithful Thus they who are called Waldenses or Picardi And to what you have heard from them give me leave to add the Form of receiving the Baptized and Catechized Youth among the Bohemian Brethren who sometimes go under the same Name a Remnant of the Slavonique Church and the Eminent Disciples of Wickleff Huss and Jerome of Prague as it is described to us by their last Bishop the Excellent Comenius The Young ones Ratio Discip ordinisque Ecclestin unitate Fratâ—um Bohem p. 46. saith he having been taught the Heads of Religion at Home by their Parents and Sureties or at School by their Masters are publickly delivered to the care of their Pastors in the Church before the Receiving of the Lord's Supper most usually at the time of Pastoral Visitation after this manner 1. The words of Christ Matt. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labor c. are read with a short Explication of them 2. The Youth of both Sexes appointed thereunto and preexamined by the Pastor are placed in order in the middle of the Church 3. Then they are asked whether they will renew the Covenant they entered into with God at Baptism 4. This being consented to by them the heads of that Covenant are explained according to the form prescribed by the Apostle to Titus chap. 2.11 12 13. Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts to live righteously soberly and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope c. And they are commanded openly before the Church to renounce the World the Devil and the Flesh c. 5. Next a profession of the Faith is required of them so that they all repete aloud the Apostles Creed 6. Then on their bended Knees saying after the Minister they pray unto God to forgive the Sins of their Youth and strengthen them by his Holy Spirit unto all the good purpose of his Will which also the whole Assembly doth praying for them After which Prayers 7. There is declared to these young Disciples and the whole Church Absolulution and the Right of the Sons of God in participating the Supper of the Lord. And lastly there is added the Apostolical Rite of Imposition of Hands with the Invocation of the Name of God upon them to strengthen or confirm the hope of his Heavenly Grace Thus the Bohemian Brother-hood the most exemplary for good Order among all the Reform'd Churches abroad Unto these now I could easily superadd many other Testimonies but I will close them all with three or four of our Nation and those such as cannot be suspected of casting any favourable Eye upon a Brat of Popery or Prelacy as some have pleased unequally to yoak them Mr. Hanmer and Mr. Baxter above twenty years since have written each of them a Particular Treatise upon this Argument of Confirmation Finding no such way it seems to extricate themselves and others out of the Confusions into which the Times were then fallen as by returning back in part to what had been too rashly discarded together with the Church of England And the later of them understands that Text of St. Mr. Baxter of Confirm p. 102. 119. Paul 2 Tim. 1.6 I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the Gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my Hands of the Apostolical Imposition of Hands after Baptism for the giving of the Holy Ghost rather than the Ministerial Ordination and Gift Dr. William Gouge in his Commentary on the Text tells us that Ordinary Cases wherein Imposition of Hands was used were 1. Blessing Children by our Saviour Mark 10.16 2. Setting men apart to the publick Function of Ministers of the Word 1 Tim. 5.22 and Deacons Act. 6.6 3. Deputing Men to some special Work Acts 13.2 And 4. Confirming such as had been instructed in the Principles of Religion This last particular saith he meaning Confirmation is not expresly set down in Scripture but gathered out of it by the Ancient Orthodox Fathers and with a Joint-consent afterwards by most Divines not Papists only but Protestants also And of the same Judgment those of the late Assembly so called who put forth the English Annotations Assembl Annot. in Loc. declare themselves to be Laying on of Hands which say they is usually call'd Confirmation which stood 1. In examining those who had been Baptized what Progress they had made in the Doctrine of Christianity And 2. In praying for them that God would continue them in the Faith and give them more Grace strengthening them by the Holy Ghost Now when the chief Pastor or Pastors of the Church say they prayed for them they laid their Hands upon them whence the Apostolical Constitution was called laying on of Hands So St. Augustine and so most of the Fathers with one Consent And here now were a fair occasion to wonder that so Reverend and Divine an Assembly as that was reputed should utterly cast off a thing so well established and never so much as consider of it in their Directory Vindic. of Liturgie p. 38. That the defaming and casting out of this so blameless and gainful an Order should be necessary or useful to any Policy save only to defend the Devil from so great a Blow and to sustain and uphold his Kingdom I never yet had any Temptation or Motive to suspect or imagine Mr. Ham. L' Estrange Alliance of Divine Offices p. 262. saith our Pious and Learned Dr. Hammond And There is not any thing wherein the late pretended Reformers amuse me more than in this particular saith another worthy person Nor do I know what Account to make for them unless this may pass for one That they practiced against known and avowed Principles T. C. p. 174. §. 2. as T. C. formerly stuck not to aver of Mr. Calvin himself That as well as he allowed of Confirmation he put it out of the Church of Geneva where he was Pastor But this may suffice abundantly to have spoken concerning the Scripture Patterns and Grounds which we have for this Sacred Appointment as they are expounded and handed down to us by most unquestionable Authorities I pass on Thirdly to the Ceremony used in it the Imposition of the Bishop's Hands And here I shall offer a few words 1. Of the Ceremony it self And 2. Of the Special Minister concerned about it First Of the Ceremony it self Imposition of Hands according to the Scripture Warrant without either Crossing or Annointing with Chrism made of Oyl and Balsom or boxing on the Ear or Cheek as is used among the Papists This laying on of Hands is a most natural unaffected and Ancient Ceremony of Prayer and Benediction as we find it used first in the Old