all spirituall graces needfull for that seruice so spake of the great workes of God to the Iewes that from all parts of the world were come to Ierusalem that the same day there were added to the Church about 3000. persons Acts 2.41 Acts 8.1 After by reason of the persecution that was raised against those that receiued their doctrine and other occasions that God disposed their doctrine was published in diuerse Countries and at Antioch in Syria so preuailed Acts 11.26 that there first the Disciples were named Christians of Christ whose Religion they receiued of which beginning and proceeding of the Gospell to the time of the Apostle Pauls imprisonment at Rome the Euangelist Luke hath written the vndoubted certainty in his history of the Acts of the Apostles which story is inlarged by that was written also hereof by some of the Apostles themselues in their Epistles and also in the Reuelation By which sacred bookes of the new Testament it most certainly and manifestly appeareth what the religion and doctrine was which our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles taught and Christian Churches after professed that continued in their doctrine And this is summarily that most holy faith and true Christian religion which is now professed in England and established by publique Authority Thus summarily answer is made to that is here desired CHAP. II. The particulars of our Religion professed in England NOw for further satisfaction in the particular points of our Religion now professed in England it is to be vnderstood that there are two bookes established by publique and highest authority amongst vs wherein are declared the particular points of Christian Religion as they now are receiued and professed in England the one of these is intituled the booke of Articles of Christian Religion agreed in the Conuocation in the yeere of our Lord 1562. In which booke is declared shortly in seuerall Articles the whole doctrine of Faith and of the Sacraments which we professe The other is the booke of diuine Seruice and common Prayer wherein is set downe the whole order whereby we serue God publiquely in our Churches In these two or in either of them for substance is contained the declaration of our Religion wherefore if the Religion deliuered in either of these bee prooued to bee the same which Christ and his Apostles taught and that which for any part whereof true Martyrs of ancient time haue suffered then is that prooued which is here desired which proofe at this time it seemeth most conuenient to be made especially of the booke of diuine Seruice For the Law with vs requireth especially to serue God according to such forme as is established by Authority and set downe in the booke of diuine Seruice and common Prayer Therefore to yeeld satisfaction to such Romane Catholique Recusants as are offended at such parts thereof as differ from the Liturgy of the Church of Rome such principall parts of the said diuine Seruice are here to bee iustified to bee established amongst vs according to that Doctrine which our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles haue deliuered For performance whereof it is to be vnderstood that there are sundry points of Religion set downe in the said booke whereof no pretended Catholique is supposed to make any doubt Of this sort it is that the said Booke appointeth the reading of the holy Scriptures of both the Testaments and particularly out of the old Testament of the Law of the two Tables contayning the ten Commandements of Almighty God and out of the new Testament of the Lords Prayer Of like kinde also it is that in the same our faith in many of the highest and most sacred mysteries of Christian Religion is declared and professed in three of the most ancient and notable Confessions of Christian faith that haue beene gathered out of the Scriptures in any former ages Of which Confessions or Creedes as they are commonly called the first and most ancient is that which vsually is called the Apostles Creede because it containeth many principall points of the Doctrine of the Apostles and in a great part followeth from one degree to another the Story of the Gospell concerning the sundry degrees of the humiliation and glory of our Sauiour Christ The other two are somewhat larger declarations of the same points of doctrine that are in the former of which Confessions or Creedes the one is of Athanasius that resolute constant Professor of Christ worthy in honour to be immortall in the Church according to his name The other the Creede set forth by the first and most famous oecumenicall Councell of Nice Besides these though not expressed in this booke the Lawes of England so receiue the holy determinations of all the first foure generall Councels in that they agreeably to the Scriptures determined of the doctrine concerning Christs two natures of God and Man and of the Vnity of his Person and of the Godhead of the holy Ghost against the damnable Heresies of Arius Nestorius Eutyches and Macedonius as they ordaine punishment by death vpon any that shall obstinately maintaine the foresaid Heresies Moreouer the said booke appointeth the order for the administration of both the Sacraments instituted by our Sauiour Christ as signes and seales of the Gospell of Christ and of the righteousnes that is by Faith viz. Baptisme the Sacrament of our new birth and the Lords Supper the Sacrament of our continuall nourishment by him to life euerlasting Finally the same booke containeth besides the Lords prayer the true rule and direction whereby all other are framed many other godly prayers for all estates and degrees and applied to the confession of our sins to the administration of the Sacramenâ—s and other like occasions of the Church Thus farre of such particulars as it is to be thought no Christian doubteth but that thâ—y are from God Wherefore the proofe to bee made seemeth ne dâ—â—ull only in such points as our Church hath reformed in the Religion and Liturgie professed and vsed in the Church of Rome Now therefore the principall things of difference betweene our diuine Seruice and the Liturgie of the Church of Rome follow to be considered in the principall parts thereof after that two points haue beene debated which are to be regarded in them all whereof the former is the subiect or person that is to say who it is that with Seruice of Religion ought to be serued and worshiped by vs * In the Church of England God only is worshipped with diuine s ruice not any creature or dead things as Images reliques such like in England by publique Authority with Diuine seruice the law intendeth that onely the true eternall God the Almighty creatour of heauen and earth and the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ is to be religiously serued and honored by vs. For which cause it is ordained that the word of God be read and expounded that his Sacraments bee administred and that all our prayers be made to God and to
VINDICIAE ECCLESIAE ANGLICANAE OR A IVSTIFICATION OF THE RELIGION NOW PROFESSED IN ENGLAND Wherein it is prooued to be the same which was taught by our Sauiour Iesus Christ and by his holy Apostles written for their vse that haue desired such proofe BY W. T. Acts 24.14 This I professe vnto thee that according to the way which they call Heresie so doe I serue the God of my Fathers beleeuing all things which hath beene written in the Law and in the Prophets Vigilius against Eutyches lib. 1. This is the Catholique Faith and Profession which the Apostles haue deliuered which the Martyrs haue confirmed and which the Faithfull preserue euen to this present age Printed at London by T. C. R. C. for Michael Sparke dwelling at the blue Bible in Greene Arbor 1630. Ad Lectorem COurteous Reader this booke comming forth into the world offereth it selfe to thy view the very title whereof may inuite thee to reade it and may iustly promise if not challenge future hopes of matter worth the obseruation It is entitled a Iustification of the Religion professed in England and the worke doth make good the title for in it thou shalt finde these propositions learnedly prosecuted against the Pseudo-Catholiques 1. That the adoration of Images representing the persons either of the Trinity or of Saints or Angels is dissonant to the word of God 2. That Diuine Seruice ought to bee administred to the people in the vulgar tongue not in an vnknowne language according to the practise of Christ and his Apostles 3. That the word of God not Pharisaicall traditions or the Legends and Fables of men ought to be read and expounded to the people according to the custome of the Scribes and Pharises who while they sate in Moyses chaire read and interpreted the Law and the Prophets 4. That the Sacraments of the New Testament are not seauen as Anti-Christ that seauen-headed beast affirmeth for Christ instituted but two Baptisme and the Lords Supper which succeeded those two Legall ones Circumcision and the Pascha 5. That Baptisme ought to be celebrated according to the commandement of Christ without Exorcisme or any superfluous and superstitious Ceremony 6. That the Lords Supper ought to be administred to the people in both kindes without Eleuation Adoration Reseruation and pompous carrying it abroad in the streets and that in it there is neither Transubstantiation Consubstantiation or Reall presence 7. That Prayer ought to be made onely to God by the onely mediation of Iesus Christ And that it is an horrible impiety to make gods of creatures in giuing them Gods worship or to mocke with Christs mediation in seeking for new Intercessors whether Saints or Angels 8. That the Martyrs of the Primitiue Church suffered vnder the prophane Emperors for the same Religion which we now professe To which our Martyrs as Cranmer c. not Garnet and his adherents haue borne witnesse vnder that Whore of Babilon euen to the death laying downe their liues for the Testimony of Iesus A defence of these Truths thou hast here in a short view comprised by a learned Author whom I neuer knew but in his workes whose writings doe seeme to beare witnesse to his labours and indefatigable paines in Study The fruites or effects whereof doe in part appeare in this which hath beene locked vp in priuate Cabinets like sire raked vp in ashes almost buried in obliuion but now comes forth to see the light for the publike good First reade then censure Thine in all Christian duties A.B. The Contents of the seuerall Chapters of this Booke CHap 1. The summe of our Religion professed in England pag. 1. Chap. 2. The particulars of our Religion professed in England pag. 3. Chap. 3. Diuine Seruice is to bee administred in a language which the people vnderstand pag. 18. Chap. 4. Of the reading and expounding to the people the word of God and not the Legends and Fables of men pag. 29. Chap. 5. Of Preaching pag. 35. Chap. 6. Of Sacraments pag. 41. Chap. 7. Of Baptisme pag. 43. Chap. 8. Of the Lords Supper pag. 44. Chap. 9. Of Prayer pag. 56. Chap. 10. Of Martyrs pag. 68. FINIS The vvriting occasioning this Treatise I Desire to haue it proued that the Religion now professed in England is the same which our Sauiour Christ taught his Apostles and they preached ouer all they world and conuerted thousands at one Sermon vnto Jf it be the same then there may bee some named that suffered for it For it is not likely that so many thousands which were conuerted to the true Faith should all be destroyed and no mention made of them in ancient Histories A IVSTIFICATION OF THE RELIGION NOW PROFESSED IN ENGLAND CHAP. I. The summe of our Religion professed in England TO proue that is here desired had beene sooner done if the matter had concerned onely some particular poynts of our Religion professed in England but now the proofe required being general without any limitation and restraint and extending it selfe to our whole Religion it must first bee shewed what Religion we professe and then such proofe is to bee made of the same as is here demanded both summarily and in some principall parts thereof First that our Sauiour and his Apostles taught the same then that the Martyrs mentioned in ancient Histories gaue testimony to the same by their death For clearing of the former point it is here to bee vnderstood Acts 24.14 First that Religion is the way and immediate duety whereby men serue God And further that true Religion and the right way to serue God is that onely which God hath revealed to men Now God spake to the Fathers in old time by the Prophets declaring his will herein by peece-meale or by sundry parts and in sundry manners but in these last dayes saith the Apostle he hath spoken to vs by his Sonne Heb. 1.1 that is by Iesus Christ In which words the nature of the opposition of these two reuelations of the will of God declareth that by Iesus Christ his onely Sonne God hath reuealed his will concerning true Religion and the right way to worshippe and serue him not any more by parts but wholly and fully nor in any manner that may be after changed as was the worship of the Fathers but in a manner certaine vnchangeable and to remaine for euer This Religion our Sauiour Iesus Christ first taught in his owne sacred person as it is declared in the history of the Gospâ—ll written by foure witnesses two Apostles and two Euangelists after by his commandement his holy Apostles preachâ—d and published the same Religion to all Nations For the preaching whereof vnto them while they yet remained at Ierusalem Acts. 5.8 according to his promise they were baptized with the holy Ghost and with fire By which holy Spirits inspiration Acts 2.3 4. they being clothed with power from aboue and hauing receiued the miraculous gift to speake with strange languages and a mighty increase of
guift of tongues whereby the same day they spake to the Iewes that were then from all nations assembled at Ierusalem the greatacts and mighty works of God For it is expressly written and that the people maruelled that they heard them speake euery one in the language of the Countrey wherein they had been borne By which miraculous guifr bestowed first vpon the Apostles then after vpon many other and by such vse of it in teaching the people of euery nation in their owne language it is manifest that our Sauiour Christs ordinance is that diuine Seruice should bee administred in a speach vnderstood by all the people This is also confirmed in that the Apostle Paul in his former Epistle to the Corinthians Chap. 14. saith that the ordinances set downe by him in that place amongst which this was one that no man should speake in the Church and Assembly of the people a strange language not vnderstood by them except it were interpreted are the commandements of the Lord that is of Iesus Christ Thus then it appeareth to be the practise and ordinance of Christ that diuine Seruice should be administred in a speech which the people vnderstand Now that the Apostles taught the same is likewise manifest for first that their practise was such appeareth Acts 2. Where hauing receiued the guift of tongues they imployed it rightly to that end for which it was giuen and spake to men of diuers tongues in the language of the Country wherein they were borne And this was the generall practise of the Apostles as appeareth in the booke of their Acts. 1 Cor. 14. Now the Apostle Paul debating this matter at large not onely teacheth manifestly that all diuine Seruice should bee performed in the Church in a speech which the people vnderstand but confirmeth this doctrine by many reasons In which discourse it appeareth that diuine Seruice ought to bee administred to Gods glory verse 47. For it being the Lords coÌ„mandemeÌ„t that it should be so performed as the Apostle there calleth it it is for the glory of God that with all due obedience it be so performed Besides this the reason of this commandement doth likewise proue it which is that by such meanes the knowledge of God is enlarged Acts 2. the great and marueilous workes of God as his Creation Prouidence redemption of the world by his onely begotten Sonne his lawes and his commandements the promises of the Gospell preached in the Word set out in the Sacraments which are of forgiuenâ—sse of sinnes of life and immortality to euery one that beleeueth and such like are made knowne to men to Gods vnspeakeable glory as it was by the Apostles By that meanes also the people vnderstand the prayers and thanksgiuing which are made by the minister yeeld therin consent to such services of God and together with him doe God that honor that thereby they acknowledge all good guifts to come from him and therefore that they ought to be desired of him by prayer and that he is to be glorified for them with all thanksgiuing Therefore that God may be honoured with all this honor it behooueth and is necessary that he be serued in the Church in a speech that the people vnderstand Furthermore the edification of the people doth require the same concerning which it is the Lords expresse commandement 1 Cor. 14.26 That in the Church all things should bee done to their Edification By edification is meant their furtherance in the knowledge of God in the vnderstanding of the Scripture in faith in obedience in comfort and all Christian duties But none of these can be furthered in the people if the Minister vse a language which the people doth not vnderstand Therefore it is necessary for the instruction and comfort of the people that the Scriptures be read and expounded the Sacraments administred the Prayers and thanksgiuing bee made in the Church in a speech that all the people doth vnderstand On the contrary part by administring of diuine Seruice in a speech not vnderstood by the people both God is dishonoured and the people are suffered to perish For touching the first point Gods commandements of the right vse of his guift of tongues of doing all things in the Church to edification are broken God is also highly dishonoured in that the knowledge of him is kept from the people that his name is taken in vaine and Seruice prophaned and his people suffered to perish in ignorance and disobedience Concerning the peoples perishing by this meanes it is plaine in that the blind led by the blind must needes pâ—rish By this meanes they doe remaine in their sinnes and namely in the ignorance of God which howsoeuer the adherents of the Church of Rome teach to bee the mother of deuotion the word of God teacheth to be the iust cause of error disobedience and destruction Math 22.29 For it is said that the seruant that knoweth not the will of his Master shall be beaten it is said indeed with few stripes in comparison of the many stripes wherewith they shall be beaten which know their Masters will and do it not Luke 12.47 48. but by those few stripes are meant euerlasting torments as the Apostle Paul teacheth saying And to you which are troubled 1 Thes 1.7 8 9. rest with vs when the Lord Iesus shall shew himselfe from heauen with his mighty Angels in flaming fire rendering vengeance vnto them that doe not know God and which obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ which shall bee punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord-and from the glory of his power Now as the Church is edified by him that prophecieth 1 Cor. 14 3 4. receiueth instruction exhortation comfort and direction whereby they may ioyne together in Prayâ—s and thanksgiuing So on the contrary they want all these meanes when diuine Seruice is administred in a strange tongue which they doe not vnderstand For the minister speaketh not to them that is to their vnderstanding and therefore whatsoeuer have heauenly doctrine bee read or deliuered in a strange tongue the people is nothing instucted by it but departeth from the Church as ignorant of God of all godlynes as they came to it And as hee that is ignorant is not instructed in any thing so he that is dull and sloathfull in his duty to God or man according to Gods commandement is not furthered by exhortation nor he that is heauy in heart is not comforted verse 1â— likewise when the minister prayeth or giueth thanks he can neither pray nor giue thanks with him nor answer firly to any thing he pronounceth because he vnderstandeth not what it is that he sayeth For this cause the Apostle saith that their vnderstanding remaineth fruitelesse and that fiue wordes spoken to their vnderstanding were more worth then many thousands in that sort And in respect of the Prophet or minister hee saith that in so doing
people Of the example of our Sauiour Christ it is expresly written as hath beene touched before Luke 4.16 17 21 22. that hee entred into the Synagogue of Nazareth vpon the sabbath day as his manner was and there standing vp to reade when the booke of the Proâ—â—â—â— Esay had beene deliuered to him hee opened it and read that which is written in the begining of the 61 Chap. of hat Prophecy And further that hauing deliuered againe the booke hee sate downe and thâ— eyes of all that were in the Synogogue were bent vpon him To whom hâ—uing sayd that that Scripture was fulfiled that day in th ir hearing they all baâ—e him witnesse that it was so and maruelled at the speeches full of grace that proceeded out of his mouth The like practise of the Apostles in their Liturgie and puâ—lique ministry in the Church at Ierusalem appeareth in the booke of the Acts and namely in these places Acts 2 4 7 8 14 22 37 38 40 41 42 46 47. Throughout the same booke and likewise in all Epistles of the Apostles it is playne that this was their practise amongst the dispersed Iewes and the Churches of the Gentiles as of the Romanes Corinthians and the rest yea that they did so ordaine in all Churches in their time 1 Cor. 14.33 36 37. For the time succeeding it appeareth by the Apologeticall writings of Iustin Martyr Tertullian and others that the Liturgies in their time were such as the people vnderstood The like appeareth in Ierome who was so dâ—sirous to further the knowledge of Religion in the common sort as hee translated the Scriptures into the Dalmaticall Sclauonian tongue for the vse of his Country men Origens Hexapla and Octopla bookes setting out the Scripture in so many diuers translations witnesse the like care and desire in him And of others Augustine writeth that the Latine translâ—tions were not to be numâ—red The Liturgies that go vnder the name of Basil 〈◊〉 Chrysostome declare also that in the time wherein they were written when soeuer it was for they cannot be of their time but latter the Church vnderstood the Scripture Prayer Thankesgiuing and other parts of diuine Seruice that was administred amongst thâ—m And in the East Church is continued so a long time as appeareth by many exhortations of Chrysostome and other of the Greeke Teachers to the reading of the Scriptures and by some parts of the Liturgie wherâ— of mention is made in their writings So did it likewise long continue in the West Church euen till almost all things were corrupted and that darkenâ—sse had ouercast thâ— face of thâ— heauens and taken the light thereof from these parts of the earth namely in the Church of Rome which howsoeuer it hath preuailed and continued a long time in diuers parts and especially in these of the West yet in this blessed age of reformation it hath pleased God to driue away that darkenesse and to cause the light of his countenance so comfortably to shine vnto vs againe as that now in our owne tongue Gods holy word is read and expounded vnto vs the Sacraments administred Prayers and thanksgiuinges are offered vp vnto God and the whole Seruice of God in England is performed in a speech which all our English people vnderstand In which respect it hath beâ—ne proued that our Religion in England is that which was taught by our Sauiour Christ and his holy Apostles And thus much may suffise also for this poynt being the second generall here considered in all Diuine Seruice CHAP. IIII. Of the reading and expounding to the people the word of God and not the Legends and fables of men Now it followeth to proceed to declare the like in the sundry parts of Gods Seruice The chiefe parts of diuine Seruice as the Apostles teach speaking of their ministry to whom first the dispensation of Christian Religion and of the mysteries of God and the whole administration of Gods Seruice then was committed consisteth in the Word of God whereunto belong the Sacraments as visible words setting out the same doctrine of the Gospel and in Prayer whereunto also thanksgiuing is to be referred For thus are performed whatsoeuer the Ministers are to declare vnto the Church in Gods behalfe and what duty and seruice the Church offereth vnto God on their part Wherefore all Diuine Seruice consisting in these two principall partes and the former hereof bâ—ing the administration of the word and that first in the reading and expounding of the Scriptures the next thing to bee shewed is that our Religion and seruice of God in England in that concerneth the reading and expounding the word of God and no Legends or fables is such as was taught by Iesus Christ and his Apostles For clearing whereof it is fiâ—st to be vnderstood that in England it is appointed that the holy Scriptures the writings of Moyses the Prophets and Apostles be read vnto the people and not any Legends of Saints as they are called or other like vncertaine or fabulous writings as haue beene vsed and commanded to bee read in the churches subiect to the Sea of Rome Now thâ—s to serue God that our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles haue taught may appeare by their doctrine and practise Luke 16.29 31. Our Sauiour Christ saith by Abraham They haue Moyses and the Prophets heare they them And againe If they heare not Moyses and the Prophets thâ—y would not bee perswaded no although one should rise from the dead Againe hee sayth Search ye the Scriptures Iohn 5.39 Math. 22.29 Math. 12.3.7 21 1â— 4â— Ye are deceiued because ye know not the Scriptures And how often doth he say Haue ye not heard how reade you and with many like speeches referring them to the Doctrine of the Scrâ—ptures declareth the ordinance of God the duty of the people and the practise of the Church at that time to haue beene such as that in the publique assemblies that which was read and taught the people was the word of God and not any fables of the Iewes Luke 4.16 31 Further also the practise of our Sauiour was agreeable thereunto for it is noted to haue beene his manner and custome vpon the Sabbath dayes wherein Moyses was read and expounded vnto the Church to enter into the Synagogues and to teach the people Now this custome of his in one place is so particularly râ—ported as that it is said that hee came to Nazareth where hee had beene brought vp and entered according as he had beene wont into the Synagogue vpon the Sabbath day and stood vp to reade then there was deliuered vnto him the booke of Esay the Prophet which he hauing vnfolded opened found the place where it was written The Spirit of God c. verse 17. Which text after hee had read hee expounded vnto them and out of it preached the Gospell of the kingdome of God vnto them And it is further added that the people heard him and the eyes of
of the Sea of Rome which are very many were withall to bee confuted But if particular questions be moued of any one of them no necessary duty shall bee wanting to proue the truth and soundnesse of that may bee doubted of and to disproue any error that may bee maintained against it For this time the poynt that is in hand it may suffice heere to haue mentioned the care of our Church in England that the word of God bee not onely read but also expounded vnto the people and that by warrant of the same they may bee taught the truth of Christian Religion and that with all faithfullnesse and diligence and that herein our Religion is the same which Christ and his Apopostles taught and deliuered vnto vs. On the contrary part exceeding great is the corruption of the Church of Rome in this behalfe First in that there haue beene of many ages so many errours as haue beene discouered in their Doctrine yet they haue confirmed the same by their last Councell holden at Trent and doe still maintaine the same both by their continuall writings and also at such times as they pretend to preach the Gospell of Christ vnto the people Further also how violently soeuer they contend that all their Doctrine is true yet haue they little care to instruct the people in it This appeareth in that it is a Doctrine which they teach and hold that ignorance is the mother of deuotion Likewise in that they neither reade the word of God publiquely to the people in a knowne Language nor suffer them priuately so to reade it This appeareth also by that their parish Priests are generally so ignorant as hardly one Preacher can bee found amongst them in a great Country Finally their dispensations for nonresidency and for multiplying of benefices and for attendance vpon other persons and matters are so ordinary that it manifestly declareth as experience also hath taught yet doth in most places that it is one of the least cares that they haue by Preaching to instruct the people Whereby it is plaine that heerein they are departed from the doctrine practise institution ordinance of Christ his Apostles Luk 21.37 38. and â— 15 For of their continuall attendance vpon this duty their earnest charges to all Ministers of the Gospell Act. 10.18.19 â—0 21.26 27 28 29.30 31.32 1 Pet. 5.2.3 4. 2 Tim. 4.1.2 Ioh. 21.15 16.17 there are manifest testimonies in the Scriptures from whose examples and commandements they swaruing so farre declare that they little remember or regard the earnest obtestation of the Apostle made before God and the Lord Iesus Christ and with mention of his glorious Kingdome with comming to iudge the quick and the dead They little regard the great charge giuen by our Sauiour Christ to the Apostle Peter that as he loued him he should feed his sheepe Finally they smally regard either the promise of the Garland that neuer withereth or the threatning of the punishment of the vnfaithful seruant that is to bee cut in two and to receiue his portion with Hypocrits and Infidels Thus as these enormities are iustly reprooued so our contrary proceedings in England are iustified in the care that is held that the doctrine preached should bee holy and true and that the preachers should faithfully and diligently instruct the people in the same And thus much of the word of God both read and preached in our Churches in England CHAP. VI. Of Sacraments IT followeth to consider of the Sacraments and of prayer Concerning the Sacraments our Church in England doth professe that they are in nature holy signes and seales of the doctrine of the Gospell and of the righteousnesse that is by faith thereof In number also wee professe that there are two viZ. Baptisme and the Lords Supper And that our Religion herein is that which Christ and his Apostles taught is thus proued That Iesus Christ ordayned these two Sacraments is most manifest in the Gospell wherein is declared both that Christ ordained these two and in what manner hee appoynted them to bee administred We reade also in the Gospell Math 28.19 20. 26.26 and in other bookes of the new Testament that the Apostles accordingly did administer them both But of any other Sacrament wee reade not that either our Sauiour Christ ministred and ordained any nor that the Apostles did administer any other As for those fiue which the Sea of Rome addeth to the number of the Sacraments some of them wee acknowledge to bee holy ordinances and states of life allowed in the Scripture but haue not like nature with Baptisme and the Lords Supper and some haue beene brought into the Church vpon a corrupt following of examples not intended for Sacraments But because this question is at large debated in answer to another question concerning this matter it may suffice to haue said thus much in generall touching the Sacraments Concerning the Sacraments as farre as we differ from the Sea of Rome and haue reformed the abuses thereof in the administration of them wee administer them in the English speech with declaration of the chiefe doctrines signed by them wherein our Religion and practise is according to the word of God For it hath beene Gods good pleasure alwayes that the Sacraments should not be as dumbe shewes and spectacles but so administred as the people might bee taught to vnderstand what were the Doctrines that were signed and confirmed by them This was also the Doctrine of our Sauiour Christ as appeareth by this that giuing charge to his Apostles heereof he saith Teach all Nations Math. 28.19 baptising them declaring thereby that the meaning and Doctrine for confirmation whereof hee ordained Baptisme should bee declared And of the Sacrament of his Supper saith As oft as yee doe this 1 Cor. 11.26 shew forth the Lords death till he come And againe Doe yee this in remembrance of me Now Christ taught the Doctrine of that ordinance which hee there instituted and deliuered Such was also the Doctrine of the Apostles in all places of the New Testament that make mention of their Doctrine and administration of the Sacraments of Baptisme Act. 2.38.41 10.47 48. Act 20.7 and of the Lords Supper CHAP. VII Of Baptisme PArticularly concerning Baptisme wee administer it without adding thereunto exorcisme or adiuring the diuell to goe out of the child Because it is not written that our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles vsed any such ceremony or appointed any such to be vsed in the administration of it Further also because it is a superstitious ceremony in sundry respects and grounded vpon a false supposition that the infants that are to bee baptized are possessed with the diuell For our Sauiour saith that Theirs is the kingdome of heauen Math. 19.14 1 Cor. â— 14 And the Apostle Paul saith that The children of Christian Parents are holy yea though but one of their Parents be a Christian and faithfull And