the same to serve better to godlinesse XXXIII Of excommunicate persons how they are to be avoided THat person which by open denunciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the unity of the Church and excommunicated ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithfull as an Heathen and Publicane untill he be openly reconciled by Penance and received into the Church by a Judge that hath authority thereto XXXIV Of the traditions of the Church IT is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one or utterly like for at all times they have been divers and may be changed according to the diversity of countries times and mens manners so that nothing be ordained against Gods word Whosoever through his private judgment willingly and purposely doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church which be not repugnant to the word of God and be ordained and approved by common authority ought to be rebuked openly that other may fear to do the like as he that offendeth against the common order of the Church and hurteth the authority of the Magistrate and woundeth the consciences of the weak brethren Every particular or nationall Church hath authority to ordain change and abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the Church ordained onely by mans authority so that all things be done to edifying XXXV Of Homilies THe second Book of Homilies the severall titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth contain a godly and wholesome Doctrine and necessary for these times as doth the former book of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the sixth and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may be understanded of the people ¶ Of the names of the Homilies 1 OF the right use of the Church 2 Against perill of Idolatry 3 Of the repairing and keeping clean of Churches 4 Of good works first of Fasting 5 Against gluttony and drunkennesse 6 Against excesse of apparell 7 Of prayer 8 Of the place and time of Prayer 9 That common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministred in a known tongue 10 Of the reverent estimation of Gods word 11 Of alms-doing 12 Of the Nativity of Christ 13 Of the Passion of Christ 14 Of the Resurrection of Christ 15 Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ 16 Of the gifts of the holy Ghost 17 For the Rogation dayes 18 Of the state of Matrimony 19 Of Repentance 20 Against Idlenesse 21 Against rebellion XXXVI Of consecration of Bishops and Ministers THe book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops and ordering of Priests and Deacons lately set forth in the time of Edward the sixt and confirmed at the same time by authority of Parliament doth contain all things necessary to such Consecration and ordering neither hath it any thing that of it self is superstitious and ungodly And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to the Rites of that book since the second yeer of the afore-named King Edward unto this time or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same Rites we decree all such to be rightly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered XXXVII Of the civill Magistrates THe Queens Majesty hath the chief power in this Realm of England and other her Dominions unto whom the chief government of all estates of this Realm whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Civill in all causes doth appertain and is not nor ought to be subject to any forreign Iurisdiction Where we attribute to the Queens Majesty the chief goverment by which Titles we understand the mindes of some slanderous folks to be offended we give not to our Princes the ministring either of Gods word or of the Sacraments the which thing the Injunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth our Queen do most plainly testifie but that onely prerogative which we see to have been given alwayes to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself that is that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Temporall and restrain with the civill sword the stubborn and evil doers The Bishop of Rome hath no Iurisdiction in this Realm of England The Lawes of the Realm may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences It is lawfull for Christian men at the commandment of the Magistrate to wear weapons and serve in the wars XXXVIII Of Christian mens goods which are not common THe riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right title and possession of the same as certain Anabaptists do falsly boast Notwithstanding every man ought of such things as he possesseth liberally to give almes to the poor according to his ability XXXIX Of a Christian mans oath AS we confesse that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ and Iames his Apostle So we judge that Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may swear when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of faith and charity so it be done according to the Prophets teaching in justice judgment and truth LX. The Ratification THis Book of Articles before rehearsed is again approved and allowed to be holden and executed within the Realm by the assent and consent of our Soueraign Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith c. Which Articles were deliberately read and confirmed again by the subscription of the hand of the Archbishop and Bishops of the upper House and by the subscription of the whole Clergy in the neither House in their Convocation in the yeer of our Lord God 1571. THE END Books Newly Printed Ecclesiae Anglicanae Suspiria The teares sighs complaints and prayers of the Church of England in four Books by J. Gauden D. D. Folio The Refuter Refuted or Dr. Hammonds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 defended by a third person 4.
may receive the crown of righteousnesse laid up by the Lord the righteous Judge who liveth and reigneth one God with the Father and the holy Ghost world without end Amen Whereby it is evident if there were any negligence in the Bishop in preaching or other labours in the work of the Ministry the constitution was not defective in the exhortations of him and prayers for him accordingly nay it rather laies more upon him then it doth upon the Presbyâ—ers To conclude let the Reader take a view of the thirty sixt Article of religion of the Church of England and let him judge if they had not very good cause to approve as they there do this book of ordination and to declare that all such as have been or shall be ordered accordingly to be rightly and lawfully ordered and whether it had not been much better upon the disputes concerning it to have had some moderate accommodation then a totall suppression of it The Lord give us moderate spirits and a right understanding in all things ARTICLES AGREED UPON By the ARCH-BISHOPS and BISHOPS of both Provinces and the whole CLERGIE In the Convocation holden at LONDON in the yeer 1562. For the avoiding of diversities of opinions and for the establishing of Consent touching true RELIGION THE TABLE 1 OF faith in the Trinity 2 Of Christ the Son of God 3 Of his going down into hell 4 Of his Resurrection 5 Of the Holy Ghost 6 Of the sufficiency of the Scripture 7 Of the old Testament 8 Of the three Creeds 9 Of the Original sin 10 Of free-will 11 Of Iustification 12 Of good works 13 Of works before justification 14 Of works of supererogation 15 Of Christ alone without sin 16 Of sin after Baptism 17 Of Predestination and Election 18 Of obtaining salvation by Christ 19 Of the Church 20 Of the authority of the Church 21 Of the authority of the general councels 22 Of Purgatory 23 Of ministring in the congregation 24 Of speaking in the congregation 25 Of the Sacraments 26 Of the unworthiness of the Ministers 27 Of Baptisme 28 Of the Lords Supper 29 Of the wicked which eat not the body of Christ 30 Of both kindes 31 Of Christs one oblation 32 Of the marriage of Priests 33 Of excommunicate persons 34 Of Traditions of the Church 35 Of Homilies 36 Of consecration of Ministers 37 Of civil Magistrates 38 Of Christian mens goods 39 Of a Christian mans oath 40 Of the Ratification ARTICLES OF RELIGION I. Of Faith in the holy Trinity THere is but one living and true God everlasting without body parts or passions of infinit power wisdom and goodness the maker and preserver of all things both visible and invisible And in unity of this Godhead there be three persons of one substance power and eternity the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost II. Of the Word or Son of God which was made very man THe Son which is the Word of the Father begotten from everlasting of the Father the very and eternal God of one substance with the Father took mans nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin of her substance so that two whole and perfect natures that is to say the Godhead and manhâ—â—d were joyned together in one person neveâ— to be divided whereof is one Christ very God and very man who truly suffered was crucified dead and buried to reconcile his Father to us and to be a sacrifice not only for original guilt but also for actual sins of men III. Of the going down of Christ into Hell AS Christ died for us and was buried so also is it to be believed that he went down into Hell IV. Of the Resurâ—â—ction of Christ. CHrist did truly rise again from death and took again his body with flesh bones and all things appertaining to the perfection of mans nature wherewith he ascended into Heaven and there sitteth untill he return to judge all men at the last day V. Of the Holy Ghost THe Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son is of one substance Majesty and Glory with the Father and the Son very and eternal God VI. Of the sufficientcy of the holy Scriptures for salvation HOly Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation so that whatsoever is not read therein nor may be proved thereby is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an Article of the faith or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation In the name of the holy Scripture we do understand those Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church Of the names and numbers of the Canonical BOOKS GEnesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomium Joshue Judges Ruth The 1. Book of Samuel The 2. Book of Samuel The 1. Book of Kings The 2. Book of Kings The 1. Book of Chronicles The 2. Book of Chronicles The 1. Book of Esdras The 2. Book of Esdras The Book of Hester The Book of Job The Psalms The Proverbs Ecclesiastes or Preacher Cantica or songs of Solo. 4. Prophets the greater 12. Prophets the less And the other Books as Hierome saith the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine such are these following The 3. Book of Esdras The 4. Book of Esdras The Book of Tobias The Book of Judeth The rest of the Book of Hester The Book of Wisdome Jesus the son of Sirach Baruch the Prophet The song of the three Children The Story of Susanna Of Bell and the Dragon The prayer of Manasses The 1. book of Maccabees The 2. book of Maccahees All the books of the New Testament as they are commonly received we do receive and account them Canonical VI. Of the Old Testament THe old Testament is not contrary to the new for both in the old and new Testament everlasting life is offered to mankinde by Christ who is the only Mediator between God and man being both God and man Wherefore they are not to be heard which feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises Although the law given from God by Moses as touching Ceremonies and Rites do not binde Christian men nor the civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any Common wealth yet notwithstanding no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral VIII Of the three Creeds THe three Creeds Nice Creed Athanasius Creed and that which is commonly called the Apostles Creed ought thorowly to be received and believed for they may be proved by most certain warrants of holy Scripture IX Of original birth or sin ORiginal sin standeth not in the following of Adam as the Pelagians do vainly talk but it is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is ingendred of the off-spring of Adam whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness and is of his own nature
DEVOTIONS Of the ANCIENT CHVRCH In Seaven Pious PRAYERS with Seaven ADMINISTRATIONS Collected for a private use and now at the desire of some judicious persons made publick Luke 5. 39. No man having drunk old wine straightway desires new for he saith the Old is better LONDON Printed for R. Royston at the Angel in Ivy-lane 1660. The PREFACE THat there may be good use of a set form of Prayer cannot be gainsaid without the censure of the Ancient and present reformed Churches condemning the judgement and practice of the most eminent Divines not only the Episcopal but Mr. Rogers Mr. Egerton Mr. Heldersham Dr. Gouge Dr. Preston Dr. Sibbs with others which also appears by that book conceived to be of Mr Cartwrights penning entituled The form of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments agreeable to Gods word and the use of the reformed Churches wherein is enjoyned a constant use of the Lords Prayer both after the Ministers prayer before Sermon â—â—d in each other service Bapâ—isme Communion c. and 〈◊〉 title of Common Prayer now slighted is there often â—â—â—ned such as have been and are reputed otherwise And if so why not the old being taken out of the most Ancient Liturgies unless that must be its reproach which with Jeremiah cap. 6. 6. is its reputation The matter is granted by all to be holy and good and if a formality be the only barre to its reassuming why might not each party for unitysake hearken to some accommodation to suppress the whole is to blur the compilers of it some of whom suffered Martyrdome by the Sea of Rome but a review in the exchange of some few expressions for the better reception of it in an after age may be a friendly office Such as observe no form do frequently in sacred administrations fall into impertinencies where each Minister takes his own there cannot but be an inequality of those performances in several congregations and the refusing to submit to any but our own argues a too much valuing of our selves and too little of that humility and lowliness of minde which best becomes the Ministers of the Gospel The framing of a new Liturgy which some of both parties have been attempting will not attain its desired end by the present much lamented disaffection between them that what the one shall commend the other will dislike and an equal mixture of a new composure with the old will be but as the putting of a new piece to an old Garment whereby the rent will be the worse so that there can be no such probable way of healing up the breach among us in this particular as by some prudent consideration of that which was framed by our fore-fathers and with which most of us have been educated for which submitting one to another in circumstantials we have the examples of St. Paul and other of the Apostles And it is some evidence such are the stronger in knowledge on either side who upon this exigency are the most apt to yield in them and those the weaker that stand most upon them rather hazarding the shipwrack of the whole then permit the casting over-board some goods of the least value zeal is an excellent vertue but without a bridle may run the person headlong upon dangerous inconveniences as there extremity is to be condemned who will have none of the old at all so is theirs not justifiable who will have all i. e. every particular rite and circumstance or none a moderation between both is the more prudential In this book is the matter of the whole only with some diversity in the form method and dispensing with a few causelesly offensive passages Many short prayers found in the same service or administration for which St. Augustine commends the Aethiopick Liturgies and others prudently appointed for some special dayes and annual commemorations are here with the several Exhortatives in satisfaction of a very weak objection drawn into one body And if the Lords Prayer do appear once in each I suppose it will be judged very convenient by which with the Creed and Ten Commandements in the old form constantly repeated the fundamentals of religion were preserved in the memories of the vulgar which by these late years neglect have been almost worn out of them and in the younger sort who have never or very rarely heard of them there is found a grosser ignorance then in the elder This caveat is only entred that if the Reader do sometimes meet with an exchange or omission of any rite or clause in either let him not conclude them to be removed by a writ of errour but be looked upon as innocent honourable persons offering themselves to die for the peace of their Country And as the aime of all our endeavours ought to be for the restauration of that Primitive union when the Church was of one heart and one soul so it will be the prudence of us notwithstanding our judgements are still firm for the old form without the least alteration to shew it in our meekness of compliance accordingly for that end It being one of the best evidences of a true son of the Church of England to be willing to bear with somewhat cross to his own opinion for the peace of his Mother In a word most of these particulars following were drawn up by the Author long agoe for a private use and though they be now printed which was desired by such whose judgements are sufficiently known to be for the Liturgy of the Church of England yet in regard the principal Administrations are stil too frequently so confin'd it is possible they may not transgress that intended limit of them and the experimental acceptation which they found then with the moderate sort of both parties in the hearing gives the like probability now in the reading Howsoever being thus barely presented without any presumptuous proposal for the publick use as a copy for others to write after I know no cause of censure it can incur in the publishing unless it be for observing that advice of St. Paul Let your moderation be known unto all men The Contents of the Book Diverse brief prayers used by the Church at each are here drawn into one 1. A Prayer for the Morning page 1. 2. A Prayer for the Evening pag. 6. Consisting of the ancient Collects or prayers appointed for each Sunday in the year 3. A prayer for the Morning pag. 9. 4. A prayer for the Evening pag. 13. Composed of the like used upon the Festivals of the Apostles and Evangelists 5. A most profitable prayer pag. 19. Meditations upon our Saviours Incarnation Birth circumcision passion resurrection ascension c. used by the Church upon those and the like Festivities 6. A heavenly prayer pag. 23. Full of faith containing the articles of it and full of Charity in praying for all degrees of men and all sorts of blessings for them called heretofore the Letany drawn without the responds into one continued Prayer 7. An