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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61900	Of confirmation a sermon preach'd at St. Benedict Grace-Church, March 14th, 1693, the day on which the Right Reverend Father in God, Henry, Lord Bishop of London, confirmed there / by Philip Stubs ...	Stubs, Philip, 1665-1738.	1693 (1693)	Wing S6078; ESTC R14889	15,679	42

Falkneri Libert Ecclesiast lib. cap. uti supra §. 14. as an immediate Representation of a Benediction and of being thereby received into a higher Degree of Christians by the Ministerial Power of the Church and though further Grace from God is needful in this higher Degree and humble and devout Persons may receive Grace from God suitable to whatsoever State he calleth them yet Grace is in these Cases to be expected in the Use of Prayer and from the Promises of God's Assistance to and Presence with his Ministers and People not immediately by the use of Imposition of Hands The Benefits consequent upon which as it is joined with the Prayers of the Bishop and other Holy Christians I come next to consider as my Third Head 3. Now the Benefits received by Imposition of Hands in Confirmation with the Bishops and the Church's Prayers are very great and many But I shall crowd them for the present into the three following The First with Respect to the Confirmed Persons as herein immediately concern'd the other Two with Relation to the Established National Church of Christ as it at present stands circumstantiated in England First As to the Persons immediately concern'd The Benefit they receive by Confirmation if duly qualified is the Infusion of that Heavenly Grace into their Hearts mention'd in the Bishop's Benediction and specified in the First Prayer See Dr. Comber pag. 223. as we are assured out of the Office of Confirmation as long ago as St. Ambrose's Time To be the Spirit of Wisdom and of Vnderstanding Of Wisdom i. e. in spiritual Matters and of Vnderstanding i. e. of apprehending what we are taught The Spirit of Counsel and of Ghostly Strength of Counsel i. e. of prudent managing all our Actions and of Ghostly Strength i. e. of executing all our Religious Purposes The Spirit of Knowledge and of True Godliness of Knowledge i. e. of discerning between Good and Evil and of True Godliness i. e. of Devotion in God's Service Lastly The Spirit of Fear i. e. of Reverence towards God in all our Actions And what an inestimable Advantage is this if we reap this great Blessing from Confirmation as I question not but every pious Christian doth who is sincere in his Intentions and Endeavours Id. ibid. If we are from henceforward wise and apprehensive prudent and courageous discreet in our choice devout in our Duties and pious in our Lives what Graces will there be wanting Which of them will not spring from this Root We shall then be endued with Charity and the Love of God Humility and Watchfulness Faith and Holiness Meekness and Patience Temperance and Chastity every thing that may make us good Christians good Communicants Whence a Second Benefit of Confirmation arises to the National Church of Christ here established amongst us 2. 'T is a known inveterate Prejudice sown in the Minds of most Presbyterians Independants and others among us That we admit to the Holy Sacrament all sorts of Comers good or bad godly or profane without any Care or the least Distinction To which though I might answer That their own Communions however they may pretend them to be made up of the only Saints here on Earth are but mixt ones as is too evident from the scandalous Lives of many of their most zealous Professors as well as ours and that whatever is amiss amongst us of that Nature might have been cured long since by that Discipline wish'd for every Year in the Ash-Wednesday service Preface to the Commination did not they industriously hinder its Restauration by bug-bearing People into strange Notions of its Popishness Prelateness and I know not what Mischievousness besides I say though I might reply thus to them yet we may hence all of us afford them a more convincing Argument to the contrary and at the same time demonstrate the great Advantages of Confirmation which we have but they have not yet received amongst them though confessedly of so very great Use See above pag. 9 10. That is let us every one of us who shall be or are already confirm'd but approach to the Holy Sacrament And there shall none be admitted to the Holy Communion until such time as he be confirmed c. Rubr. 3d. in the Office of Confirmation and no Body ought to come near it before Confirmation as ours with the Primitive Church expresses its Unwillingness in the last Rubrick of the Office for it with devouter Affections and live to better Purpose after Confirmation than before we did and we cannot fail of doing a great deal of Honour to God Almighty by thus vindicating our Church's Constitutions and doubly stopping the Mouths of these Gain-sayers as effectually we do 3. Those of the Anabaptists V. Humfredi Ep. Sarisburiensis Diat Praelimin ad Hammondi Com de Confirmat §. 12. The chiefest of whose Objections against our Infant-Baptism is That it doth not lay so strict an Obligation upon Men as that of Adult Persons doth But see how the Force of that is taken away by the right Use of Confirmation amongst us For do they call for a Personal covenanting with Christ in Believers See the Bishop's Interrogation in the Confirmation Office Here we have it every confirm'd Person taking upon him or her self those Vows which were made for them in Baptism by Proxy Do they require Publick Solemnity in this Matter for a firmer Engagement of Men to their Duty Our Confirmation answers this their Expectation to a Tittle For we ever renew our Baptismal Vow in the Church the most Publick Place set apart for God's Publick Worship before the Bishop and others God's publick Ministers and a full Congregation frequently Is there any thing else that can engage Persons more rigidly to the Performance of this Covenant which the Anabaptists don't require Can a particular Witness that may frequently stir us up to the Remembrance of our Solemn Promise made to God before his People be desired for this end That nothing may be wanting to render People as much Christians as can be Our Church enjoins Rubr. 4th in the Church-Catechism That every one shall have a God-father or God-mother as a Witness of their Confirmation Which Order were it not neglected as I fear it is too much would make our Provision more effectual for the promoting of Christianity and less exceptionable than the Rebaptization of these our Adversaries But now Fourthly and Lastly That these Three Benefits of Confirmation may truly redound to ours and the Church's Good The Person immediately concern'd must be of a competent Age Rub. 3d. in the Catechism Which is the first Qualification ought to be required of Persons that do desire to be confirmed 'T was the Practice of the Church of Rome at first to confirm Children presently after Baptism not many Years ago here in England they did it not till they were Five Years of Age and in a late Council younger than that of Trent since the

Mr. STUBS's SERMON OF Confirmation Imprimatur May 23d 1693. Guil. Lancaster R. P. D. Henrico Episc Lond. a sacris Domesticis Of Confirmation A SERMON Preach'd at St. Benedict Grace-Church March 14th 1693. The Day on which the Right Reverend Father in GOD HENRY Lord Bishop of LONDON Confirmed there By PHILIP STVBS A. M. Fellow of Wadham-College Oxon. And Chaplain to the Right Reverend Father in God ROBERT Lord Bishop of CHICHESTER Published at the Request of the Parishioners LONDON Printed for Henry Bonwicke at the Red Lion in St. Paul's Church-Yard MDCXCIII To the much Esteemed his very good Friends the Inhabitants of the United Parishes St. Benedict Grace-Church And St. Leonard East-Cheap Gentlemen THE Importunity of Friends is generally suspected to be but a feign'd Apology of some conceited Writers for the Publication of their darling Conceptions and where it s more than a mere pretence I must confess my self of the Opinion That 't is one of the weakest Motives for a Man's exposing of himself that can be By signifying openly the repeated Requests of both Parishes for the Printing this Sermon of Confirmation it must be own'd I clear my self sufficiently from the former Imputation But how I shall get rid of the other Charge I know not Tho' I should declare That you back'd your Requests with an Intimation that ye thought it not only a Seasonable Discourse but a very serviceable one too For however the First part of the Character may be applicable enough to it with respect to the Time when and occasion on which 't was Preach'd I cannot be so fond of this mean hasty Performance as to think the rest of the World will be so charitable as ye have been in admitting of the latter But whatever success it may have abroad I am glad it had its intended effect at home which was To make you still more enamour'd with and benefited by one of the Pious Constitutions of our Established Church for which in General I cannot without the highest Ingratitude omit this Opportunity of Publishing it ye have many of you a profound Veneration That God Almighty would confirm you all every Day more and more in this just Esteem for her Principles and Practices i.e. That he would daily strengthen you all in the Faith profess'd by her once deliver'd to the Saints and that ye may have such a right Judgment to follow her respective Injunctions as may settle in every one of your Breasts a firm Peace here and procure for you everlasting Happiness hereafter is the hearty desire and shall be whilst amongst you the continued Endeavour of him who professes himself with the greatest Sincerity Your most Obliged Affectionate Humble Servant In the Lord PHIL. STVBS A SERMON OF Confirmation c. Heb. vi part of the Second Verse And of laying on of Hands The Context runs thus Vers 1. Therefore leaving the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ let us go on unto Perfection not laying again the Foundation of Repentance from dead Works and of Faith towards God Vers 2. Of the Doctrine of Baptisms and of laying on of Hands and of Resurrection of the Dead and of Eternal Judgment THE Words are in Prosecution of a Digression begun by the Author of this Epistle at the 11th Verse of the foregoing Chapter Where in the middle of a Discourse concerning the Authority and Dignity of our Saviour's Priesthood beyond that of Aaron's he takes Occasion to reprimand the Negligence and Improficiency of some new Converts in the Sublimer Mysteries of the Gospel Telling them that he had many things more to say about those Matters which he afterwards resumes again accordingly at the Beginning of the 7th Chapter but they were such as were now hard to be uttered clearly enough because they were dull of hearing v. 11. For saith he as he goes on blaming them when for the Time that considerable Time that ye have professed Christianity ye ought to be Teachers of others ye have need some of you That one teach you again which be the first Principles of the Works of God and are become such as have need of Milk and not of strong Meat v. 12. That is they were yet such Babes in Christ as he expresses himself in the next Verse v. 13. That they were hardly past their Catechism as we say That little Book which teaches young Beginners the first Rudiments of Religion Such an one as is supposed to be hinted at in the Context which did contain amongst others the respective Doctrines there reckon'd up But now that he might fully wean them from this Childish Diet and by stronger Nourishment rear them up unto perfect Men unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fullness of Christ Eph. 4.13 he doth in the Words before us like a wise Master in the School of the Blessed Jesus catch them by Guile 2 Cor 12.16 that I may use his own Phrase in another Place smoothing them up as it were and yet tacitly upbraiding them for their past Miscarriage in this Particular Therefore as if he had said If we mean not always to be Children leaving the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ for shame Let us go on unto Perfection Not laying again the Foundation of Repentance from dead Works c. From which Reproof of our Apostle what Doctrine for our Instruction might be rais'd at this time is very obvious viz. That the Backwardness or Non-proficiency of these new Converts in Religious Matters under the ablest Teacher then in the World was unconceivably great For that St. Paul was so after our Saviour's Ascension must be allowed by all in that He alone of all the Apostles was a Scholar before he was a Christian and so learn'd without Inspiration That upon that single Account he might with Modesty enough have said He was not a whit behind the very Chiefest Apostles 2 Cor. 11.5 had not he as he himself tells the Galatians profited in the Jews Religion above his Equals Gal. 1.12 14. and receiv'd the Knowledge of our Saviour as he did not from Men but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ We might I say raise a good Head of Discourse for our present Instruction from this general Reproof of our Apostle about the Backwardness or Non-proficiency of the Primitive Christians in Religious Concerns under the ablest Teacher in the World did not the Business of this Day and the Ignorance of too many even amongst our selves determine our Meditations to that Part of the Context where mention is made of laying on of Hands By which Words what is to be understood and what is contained in them I shall endeavour to shew with all the Brevity and Clearness I can as a proper preliminary Subject to the solemn Celebration of that pious Primitive Institution of Confirmation to be perform'd here this Afternoon by the Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of this Diocess Now for the better and more full Explication of

Printing of our Common-Prayer Book they have prohibited the Administration of it to all under Seven at least Minori septennio Confirmationis Sacramentum nemini praebeatur Conc. Mediol I. Cap. Quae pertinent ad Sacramenti Confirmat administrationem I am glad I confess to see a Church that boasts so much of her Antiquity doth not think her self yet too old to learn Quare si duodecimus annus non expectandus videatur usque ad septimum certe annum differre maxime convenit Catechism ad Paroechos Cap. de Confirmatione But she has not reached the Prudence of our Constitution for all that There being some at Seven nay at Twelve which is thought early enough by some what through difference of Education want of natural Parts and other the like Impediments are as uncapable of answering the End and Design of Confirmation as others are at Five Our Church therefore by requiring that Persons to be confirm'd should be of a competent Age leaves it to the Care of Ministers Parents God-fathers Masters or other Trustees That they recommend none to the Bishop but such as are of Years of Discretion enough be they older or younger to make a Renunciation of the Devil the Pomps and Vanities of the World with all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh and can give a tolerable account of the Creed the Lord's Prayer the Ten Commandments and the Sacraments Those therefore who bring or send any to Confirmation who can only say their Catechism by Rote and are not duly qualified as has been said though they mean well in the main I don't doubt yet they must be look'd upon as such who grossly abuse their Charge and expose this Holy Institution to the just Scoffs of the Enemy who will be sure to brand it upon this Account as a ridiculous useless Ceremony 2dly As Persons desirous of Confirmation must be of a competent Age so be they never so old they should not be confirmed twice 'T is a pious Errour I verily believe in a great many who thinking they can't have the Blessing of a Holy Man too often follow the Bishop almost wheresoever he goes But such are to be acquainted since 't is hardly possible to avoid the Impracticableness of its Reiteration in populous Cities that there is no more need of a Second Confirmation than there is of a Second Baptism 3dly The last Qualification of Persons to be confirmed is That they come with Devotion and Reverence not for Fashion's Sake or Company 's Sake only as I fear is the Case of too many They who come to Confirmation should be as much in earnest as if they were going to the Holy Sacrament or were even upon their Death-Beds See the Interrogation and Answer in the Office of Confirmation For when they answer all I do to the Bishop's Question who asks them Whether they will now release their God-fathers and God-mothers from the Vow they took in their Names and take it now in Person They solemnly promise the utmost Diligence and endeavour in their Christian Warefare the Breach of which he will most grievously punish in the negligent but to the rest will afford such Strengthening Grace as may enable them to overcome the Powers of Darkness and gain that immortal Prize the Crown of Glory which he has laid up for all them who shall fight a good Fight and finish their Course by continuing faithful to the End Having thus explain'd to you at large the Nature of Confirmation told you who only has Authority to confirm set down the Benefits of it and hinted at the Qualifications of such as are desirous of them Give me leave before I dismiss you to present you in Miniature with an exact Representation of the whole according to the exactest Model of the Excellent Erasmus Who in his Wishes for a more useful Confirmation than that in the Church of Rome many Years ago seems methinks prophetically as it were to describe what we shall see perform'd here this Afternoon His Words are to this Purpose in his larger Preface to his Annotations on the new Testament Aguntur nunc in Templis quibusdam Comediae de Christo resurgente c. Erasm Roterodam Pio Lect. You shall see saith he now Comedies acted in some Churches meaning those under the Papal Jurisdiction of the Resurrection of Christ of his Ascension to Heaven of his sending the Holy Ghost and the like But how magnificent would this Spectacle be To hear the Voice of many Youths dedicating themselves to Jesus Christ of many Striplings taking their Oath of Allegiance to him at the Hands of the Bishop To see these new Christians that carry their General 's Mark in their Foreheads which they received at the sacred Laver renouncing the World which all lies in Wickedness abjuring and hissing at the Devil with all his Pomps Pleasures and Works and to hear the Voice of the rest of the Multitude applauding and wishing well to these young Soldiers of Christ And let us who have been already confirm'd so heartily wish well to them all that we may at the same time look well to our selves who are every one of us equally concern'd in the Business of the Day Our Church having appointed Confirmation as well as Baptism to be administred Publickly that her several Members may have frequent opportunities of being put in mind of those Vows which God knows the best of us are too prone to forget That we may then all of us improve this favourable one to our great Advantage Let me conclude the whole Discourse with a Word of Advice to every one of you here present As well to you who are already confirmed as you who shall be by and by in the incomparable Exhortation of the Greek Church to her Catechumens when they promise to become Christians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 factà a Pariarchâ congregatis Catchumenis in Euchol Graecorum Edit Goar p. 342. The Bonds are now seal'd and Christ has receiv'd them who is in Heaven Mind your Promises and fulfil your Engagements which will be openly produc'd at the Day of Judgment Take heed ye blush not at Christ's dreadful Tribunal where all the Powers of Heaven tremble and all Mankind stands to be judg'd Where the Devil will be present to accuse you saying Lord this Wretch in word renounced me at thy Altar before the Bishop other thy Ministers and the whole Congregation but in Deed was my Servant Then Angels shall sigh and Holy Men bewail their Misery But Father nor Mother cannot help you Brethren and Friends will not own you but every Man shall be naked and destitute Consider therefore and provide for your own Safeties in this Life that ye may be all happy in the Next Which God of his infinite Mercy grant c. To whom with the Son and the Holy Ghost Trinity in Vnity and Vnity in Trinity be ascribed by the whole World all possible Adoration Honour and Glory As it was in the Beginning is now and ever shall be World without End Amen FINIS Books Printed for Henry Bonwicke at the Red-Lion in St. Paul's Church-Yard THE General History of the Reformation of the Church written in Latin by John Sleidan faithfully Englished To which is added a Continuation to the End of the Council of Trent by E. Bohun Esquire in Folio Two Useful Cases resolved 1. Whether a Certainty of being in a State of Salvation be attainable 2. What is the Rule by which this Certainty is to be attain'd 4º A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of the Reverend Mr. John Culme Vicar of Knowstone and Molland in Devon By Lewis Southcomb Rector of Rose-Ash Of Publick Baptism A Sermon Preached before the Lord Mayor c. at Guild-Hall-Chapel Nov. 20th 1692. By Philip Stubs A. M. A Discourse proving from Scripture and Reason that the Life of Man is not limited by any absoute Decree of God By the Author of the Duty of Man c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or Hope and Peace In a Letter to a Person troubled in Mind who though a Vertuous Lady yet laboured under the great Scrupulosities Doubts and Fears and some uneasie Degrees of Desparation By a Divine of the Church of England 12o. The Art of Catechising or the Compleat Catechist in Four Parts 1. The Church-Catechism resolved into easie Questions 2. An Exposition of it in a continued full and plain Discourse 3. The Church-Catechism resolved into Scripture-Proofs 4. The Whole Duty of Man fitted for the meanest Capacities the weakest Memories the plainest Teachers and the most Uninstructed Learners