that this was one of the wayes that were put in use to the purpose that the Congregation might joyn in the praises of God with most comlinesse according to the custome of the Apostles time Of the Lessons of the Scripture it must further be observed here that the Ancient and Primitive Order of the Church seemeth to have intended them so large that by hearing them read in the Church they might become familiar even to the unlearned of the people as Josephus said afore that the Jews by hearing Moses read in the Synagogues became as perfect in their Laws as a man is in telling his own name whereas among other Nations the simple never attain to know their own Laws For you see how many Lessons are directed to be read in the Constitutions of the Apostles two out of the Old Testament out of the Acts out of the Epistles out of the Gospels Last of all accordingly he reckoneth in particular the Books of the Old Testament to be read in the Church as doth also the said Councel of Laodicea in the last Canon upon this occasion repeat the list of holy Scriptures to be read in the Church and Dionysius expounding the order of the Church described by him afore reckoneth the subject of all the particular Books in the Scriptures which he saith are read after the Psalmes to inlarge with more ample declarations examples those things which in the Psalmes are but darkly and in brief pointed at All which I suppose intimates a great deal more then those short Lessons picked out of some parts of the Scriptures as well for the Romane Missall as other Liturgies extant In that which is intitled to S. James there is a remarkable Rubrick after the Angelicall Hymne and the Prayer that follows it which sayes thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 After is read very largely the holy Oracles of the Old Testament and the Prophets and the Incarnation of the Sonne of God is declared that is the Gospels are read For hereby he gives us suspicion enough to presume that the reading of the Scriptures was wont to be larger at the first then afterwards it became when in the declining degenerating times of the Church the increase of sensible Ceremonies and Observances began to crowd out the substantiall parts of the reasonable Service of God For so there is cause to conceive by that of the Sermon whereof it follows immediately there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is After the Lessons are read and the Sermon is done For in Justine Martyrs description of the Service in his time after the reading of the Scriptures follows immediately the Sermon to expound them and to exhort the people to follow the doctrine Tertullian speaketh not of the order or place which the Sermon had in the Service but remembreth it as a principall part of it In the Constitutions of the Apostles the place was produced afore wherein mention is made after the reading of the Scriptures of the Presbyters speaking to the people one after another and the Bishop after them according to the Custome derived from the Apostles time The 18. Canon of Laodicea is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That after the Sermons of the Bishops first the Prayer for the Hearers must be made apart In fine It is manifest by the Order of all Liturgies extant in which is described the Order of the solemn Service of the Church that is when the Eucharist was celebrated first that of all Lessons of the Scriptures those out of the Gospels were read in the last place as it is expressed in S. Augustine alledged before in the Constitutions of the Apostles and in divers others that might be produced were it questionable Then that after the reading of the Gospel followed the Sermon for the exposition of it or some other of the Lessons And yet in Dionysius there is no mention at all of the Sermon either in the description he makes of the Service or in the Exposition wherein he renders a reason of it but immediately after the reading of the Gospel the last in order of the New Testament the Hearers and Penitent and the like are dismissed and then follows the Creed Which to me is an argument of the Authours time and that when he writ the Sermon in some places began to be disused and also because he mentions the Creed in the order of Publick Service of which in Justine Tertullian the Constitutions of the Apostles the Canons of Laodicea wherein almost all the particulars of Publick Service are ordered in fine whereof in the most Ancient descriptions of the Service there is no remembrance It appeared afore by the words of S. Ambrose and so it doth by Dionysius that it was pronounced from the beginning of the use of it by the whole Congregation for the first expounded the words of the Apostle Every woman praying or prophesying of saying or singing the Creed and the second saith thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Catholick Hymne being acknowledged before by all the Congregation of the Church This is then the Order of that former part of Publick Service which from the beginning the Hearers and Penitents were to be present at to learn the doctrine of the Church and to profit in it so as to be thought fit for Baptisme and for the Communion of the Eucharist For the Latine Masse aswell as all other Liturgies extant though reduced to so small a model as was observed by the shortnesse of the Psalmes and Lessons and leaving out the Sermon alwayes principall ingredients of it representeth neverthelesse the Order and Course of that solemn Service which the Eucharist was celebrated with This difference of the first and second Service in the Liturgies extant is rather retained for fashions sake and in remembrance of the Ancient Order then according to the Originall purpose of it for it shall appear that some part of the Prayers which at the first were for believers alone and such as communicated not to come till the Hearers and Penitents were gone forth in all the Greek and Eastern Liturgies are now put into the first part of the Service But the end of the first Service and the beginning of that which onely believers were present at is manifest enough in it as it is in down-right terms expressed in all the Greek and Eastern Liturgies when the Hearers were to go forth not in the place where Durandus would have it iiii 1. after the Offering but as it is in the Constitutions of the Apostles in the 18 Canon of Laodicea in Dionysius in others after the Prayers for the Hearers Penitents which followed as soon as the Sermon was done immediately before the Creed Howsoever from hence it appeareth that the Lessons of the Epistles and Gospels are originally belonging to the former part of this Service The 18 Canon of Laodicea of these Prayers for the Hearers and Penitents speaketh thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That first after the Sermons of the
Churches in singing the Hymnes with Musick provided the Congregation may understand and go along in their devotions He that undertakes to do it shall be sure to run upon a rock from which he shall not come off without splitting that is the president of the publick Service of God in the Temple For let no man think that this is to be ranked with the figurative Service of God according to the Ceremoniall law That he must leave to the inner Court of Priests the praises of God are part of the perpetuall Service of God in spirit and truth to last under the Gospel instituted and indicted by the Prophets Ministers of that service frequented by the Apostles and a president for the Church according to the rule of edification of it I am ashamed to repeat here the needlesse quarrels with the old Translation of the Psalmes in use Men seem now to be wise enough to see the shamelesse partialitie which they contain in that men should be so quick as to see so many faults in that and passe by all the extreme barbarismes the spurious additions the false translations which the Psalmes in Meetre contain I suppose the Church intends not to averre all that is read in the Church to be truly translated If so God help the universall Church when it had no Scripture of the old Testament but the Greek and the Translations of it Let them that find fault imploy themselves and all they can make to translate but that one book of Psalmes if they put their work past a considerable number of just exceptions I am ready to forfeit for one It is sufficient to my understanding and alwayes was that what is read in the Church is more fit for the edification of it then to go about to change it And what interesse hath any man not to desire change in that point but S. Augustines experience alledged afore audierunt homines quod non consueverunt perturbati sunt What will any man say now to the Order of reading the Scriptures once a yeare in the Church Shall this be the thanks of the Church of England for renewing that religious Order of the Ancient Church and providing a publick course for the people to become acquainted with the Scripture to say that it is out of the Breviarie or Masse The offense is because some of the Apocrypha are read before that offense had been taken it should have been shewed that nothing but that which is inspired by the H. Ghost should be heard in the Church What then would a number of good Sermons become which how good soever no man dare say are inspired Sure they that will advise with reason and conscience not with prejudice must enquire whether the reading of them promote or hinder the edification of the Church In that respect so farre is it from me to put out some Apocrypha that I would rather put in the first of Maccabees as describing the fulfilling of some of Daniels prophesies and the then state of Gods people But is it from the Masse that the Church of England learned to restore the Sermon into the due place at solemn Service I should have thought it one of the abuses of the Masse that whereas by the universall custome of the Church the place of it appeared there the use of it was for the most part silenced The good Order of this Church and the successe God hath lent it hath prevailed so farre that this Apostolical Order may be said to have recovered the ancient place and rank As for the Afternoon Sermon I am yet to learn what place it had in the publick Service of the Church by what Command of Scripture what rule or custome of the Ancient Church it is pressed Timothie is commanded to be instant in season and out of season but to what purpose to publish the Word to do the office of an Evangelist to winne strangers to the Faith How can that be importune So Paul preached at Troas till midnight If that be our president let us celebrate the Eucharist as those of the Church of Rome do on Christmasse eve There are examples of preaching as well Evening as Morning in the ancient Church but at particular times and on particular occasions my question is to shew me the place of the Sermon in the Afternoon Service as it hath been shewed in the Morning Service otherwise not satisfied of any rule or custome of the Church Not because mens laws are not a fense to Gods law and that it is not for the good of the Church the more it is frequented as it ought especially to the purpose that the people may sufficiently understand their profession and the grounds of it but because it is reason that the offices of the Church be practised with respect to opportunities and abilities not in such sort as may neither advance the Honour of God nor of the Profession which we make We heare no news of new reasons against the Creed for part of the Service It was a great work to settle such forms as might conclude and confine and bring to light the malice of Hereticks The next work to that was to bring it into the Service So was it best commended to the knowledge to the respect of Gods people which respect had it been preserved this new varnish of old Heresies which prevaileth so farre abroad is not like to have taken with the people What shall I say of the Collects or Prayers which the daily Service concludes with My Proposition allows me not to dispute the particular conceptions or terms in which they are expressed But I must commend the Order of answers of the people in all places of the Service where it stands It refreshes their attention it teacheth them their part at Publick Prayers not to stand by and censure how well the Minister playes the mouth of the Congregation If they be to act their part in it the part assigned them in our Service conducts them in doing their office As for the subject of them the occasions of severall seasons and solemnities protection against bodily and ghostly enemies conduct of Gods grace and providence successe of the rule of the Common-wealth and guidance of the Church and the like it is unknown to me that any thing is more fit and requisite then these to be remembred at all publick Assemblies It hath been shewed that those prayers for all states and conditions of persons in the Church which since have been called Litanies were from the beginning frequented at the solemn Service of the Church before the celebration of the Eucharist and that it is like so to have been even under the Apostles Now though the condition of the Church be not for the present capable of so good and so excellent a custome as the continuall Celebration of the Eucharist on Lords-dayes yet was there great reason that the Litanies should be prescribed on these dayes neverthelesse as the next member of the Publick
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the spirituall Crown of their Presbytery because sitting in a half Round in the head place of the Church they very well resembled the fashion of a Crown and are therefore called in the Constitutions of the Apostles ii 28. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Crown of the Church There order is taken that the Presbyters at the Feasts of Love then practiced shall receive a double share to that of the widows in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As for the Presbyters that they may take pains about the word of Doctrine let there be a double part set aside for them also for the Apostles of our Lords sake whose place they possesse as Counsellours to the Bishop and the Crown of the Church We are not to conceive that it must needs be a full Round that is called a Crown that Constellation of starres that is so called wanteth a great deal of a Circle I suppose because we must allow room to tye it behind the head to avoid Tertullians objection That the hinder parts of the head swell not If then the Bishop and Presbyters sate in that figure of a half Round which we saw practiced in the Jews Consistories and that in the head of the Congregation it is for no other reason that they are called the Crown of the Church Now this fashion of their sitting is thus described in the same book ii 58. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the Bishops Chur stand in the midst and let the Presbytery sit on both sides of him and the Deacons stand by lightned of too much apparel for they are in the ship of the Church like Mariners and Rulers of sides by their direction let the people sit on the other side with all quietnesse and good order and let the women also sit apart keeping silence then let the Reader stand on high and reade It is plain that he setteth here the Bishops Chair in the midst of the upper end of the Church because he called them afore the Crown of the Church and because if the Deacons order the sides then is the Bishop Master at the stern In the mean time he sitting in the midst and the Presbyters on both hands the Deacons must needs be conceived to stand beside them behind the Compasse of that Round in which they sate And thus sitting they are said in the Constitutions as you had it even now To possesse the place of our Lords Apostles And in Ignatius Epist ad Magnes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Bishop sitting highest in place of God that is of Christ and the Presbyters in place of the Bench of Apostles And Gregory Nazianzen setting down the dream wherein he saw himself sitting as he was wont to do in the Church describeth himself sitting in the midst and the Presbyters in Chairs on this hand and on that to shew in what posture there they sate This will be all still more clear if we compare it with the posture of the Clergie at celebrating the Eucharist described in the same Constitutions and in him that calleth himself Dionysius the Areopagite Eccles Hierarch c. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Bishop standeth at the midst of the Divine Altar and onely the chief of the Deacons stand about him with the Priests Constit Apost viii 12. more in particular 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Andlet the Presbyters stand on his right hand on his left like Scholars that stand beside their Master and let two Deacons on either side the Altar hold fans of thin skins or Peacocks feathers or linen to drive away the little creatures that flie about that they light not in the Cups The posture of the Presbyters on each hand the Bishop and of the two Deacons at the points of the Communion-Table describeth that Round whereof we speak in which the Bishop and Presbyters sate with their faces to the people ready to rise speak to them when time required ready to celebrate the Eucharist in the like posture behind the Communion-Table which therefore seemeth to have been the most ancient custome of the Church as out of Jewell against Harding is noted in the last Chapter of the Holy Table and is like to have been the Originall reason of all that is observed there of compassing the Altar in the Greek Liturgies This is that which Tertullian calleth Ordinem Consessum Ecclesiae Ignatius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Order or the Bench of the Church consiting of the Bishop and his Presbyters in allusion and correspondence to the Commonalties of the Romane Empire governed by their annuall Magistrates and a Bench of their Counsellours called Ordo Reipublicae The Order or the Bench of such Commonalties The consideration hereof is very forcible to convince common sense of the Succession of Bishops from the Apostles as the Heads of these Presbyteries granting that which men of learning cannot refuse for Historicall truth It is found in Tertullians words De Praescript Haeret. C. xxxvi Age jam qui voles curiositatem meliùs exercere in negotio Salutis tuae percurre Ecclesias Apostolicas apud quas ipsae adhuc cathedrae Apostolorum suis locis praesident apud quas ipsae authenticae eorum literae recitantur sonantes vocem repraesentantes faciem uniuscujusque Thou that shalt have a mind to exercise thy curiosity better in the businesse of thy salvation go to now runne over the Apostolick Churches in which the very Chairs of the Apostles govern in their places in which their authentick writings are read sounding the voice and representing the visage of each He that should have denied the Books kept and used by those Churches to have been the Authenticks of the Apostles would have been thought to disadvantage the Faith What shall we imagine of him that denieth the very Chairs wherein the Apostles sate in the Head of those Churches to be possessed by their Successours as was pretended there from whence Tertullian argueth For when he saith that they sounded their voice and represented their visage doth he not affirm that their Epistles written to those Churches preached in their absence as themselves did out of those Chairs in presence I have shewed out of the Scriptures that the Apostles exercised the Government in chief of those Churches which they had planted Presbyteries to govern as occasion required The Chairs whereof Tertullian speaketh were the seats of that Government as well as Doctrine when they were there The Apostles had divers companions which were both their Disciples in the Doctrine and their Coadjutours in the work of the Gospel Of these S. Paul speaketh Phil. iv 3. With Clement also and the rest of my work-fellows These or some of these which sometimes gave personall attendance upon the Apostles not moving in their office but at their disposing became afterwards settled by them upon particular Churches which they found they could not attend so well themselves for the government of those
which were converted and the conversion of those which were not Thus were Timotheus and Titus placed over the Churches of Asia and Crete just upon the time when he made account to see them no more Thus was Mark attendant on Peter at writing his first Epistle v. 13. who was afterward as all agree seated by him at Alexandria and did the office of an Evangelist there Clemens and Linus companions of the Apostles All Antiquity agreeth were placed by them over the Church at Rome though in what rank and condition it agreeth not The words of Theodoret are remarkable where he answereth the question Why S. Paul writ Epistles to Timotheus and Titus none to Silas or the rest of his fellows 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And we say saith he that he had already pâ—â— Churches in the hands of these the rest he had with him What meaneth the Apostles instructions concerning the perpetuall government of those Churches if they had nothing to do but to plant Presbyteries there and away S. Paul sendeth for Timotheus to Rome 2. Tim. iiii 9. as for Titus to Nicopolis iii. 12. who was also with him at Rome and went thence to Dalmatia 2. Tim. iiii 10. But did he mean that his instructions should be void thenceforth or be practiced at Ephesus and in Crete afterwards We cannot discredit Antiquity that maketh them Bishops there without offering violence to the tenour of the Scriptures that inforceth it But how is Titus counted Bishop of a Church that is instructed to plant Presbyteries through the cities of Crete i. 3. all under his own government and oversight or how is Timotheus Bishop of one Church of Ephesus that is instructed to govern as well as to plant all the Presbyteries whereof the Apostle writeth for all those Presbyteries import Episcopall Churches No otherwise then the Apostle had his Chair in all the Churches of his planting according to Tertullian The Apostles could not settle all things in the intended form at the beginning So farre there is no fault in Epiphanius his words Not because they knew not what to do but for reasons best known to themselves because perhaps they might find it more to the purpose to put into the hands of their own Disciples those Churches on which depended the planting and government of many more then to set men untried over the Presbyteries of particular Churches Is S. Mark Bishop of Alexandria the lesse because he preached the Gospel through the Countrey under it because he planted the government of Churches perhaps under his own oversight for the time Or what inconvenience is it that S. James an Apostle should be deputed by consent of the Apostles to exercise that office in the parts of Palestine and Arabia alwayes with resort to his residence at the Mother Church of Jerusalem or that he should therefore be counted Bishop of it In due time even during the age of the Apostles severall Churches had their severall Bishops as appeareth by the Angels of the seven Churches of Asia which from the beginning were in the compasse of Timothies charge At first all Presbyters were Angels of Churches according to the Apostle 1. Cor. xi For this cause ought a woman to have power upon her head because of the Angels That seemeth the most naturall meaning of his words for Tertullian in divers places of his book De Velandis Virginibus intimateth one reason of vailing womens faces in the Church from the scandall of their countenances when Bishops came over them no marvel if they alone were called the Angels of those Churches For it is acknowledged that all Presbyters are called Bishops under the Apostles But when severall Heads were set over severall Churches then Heads of Presbyteries were onely Bishops thenceforth Those that would have us take those Angels of Churches for the Churches of those Angels rather then believe that Epistles concerning those Churches were fit to be addressed to their Bishops might have corrected their mistake out of the Scripture that saith Revel i. 20. The seven Starres are the Angels of the seven Churches and the seven Candlesticks are the seven Churches S. Ambrose or whosoever writ those Commentaries upon 1. Cor. xii 28. saith two things First the Apostles spoken of there are Bishops to wit in the then state of the Church Then having compared the Apostles with Prophets he concludeth Et quia ab uno Deo Patre sunt omnia idcirco singulos Episcopos singulis Ecclesiis praeesse decrevit And because all things are from one Father God therefore he decreed that severall Bishops should be over severall Churches In these two particulars he speaketh my whole meaning The Apostles were Bishops but not severall ones of severall Churches But as there is one God over all so he decreed saith he that afterwards severall Bishops should be over severall Churches In the mean time the rights reserved to great Churches over the lesse which now we see derived with so much learning from the times of the Apostles is the print which remaineth of that Government and oversight of them which at the first rested in those great Churches from which they were propagated by the Apostles or by their companions Walo Messalinus standeth stiff upon S. Hieromes opinion that there were no Bishops till they were appointed by the Church to extinguish the schismes of Presbyteries But Tertullians words inforce more That the Bishops of his time sate in those Chairs which the Apostles possessed for theirs And afore C. xxxii Sicut Smyrnaeorum Ecclesia Polycarpum ab Joanne CONLOCATUM refert As the Church at Smyrna relateth that John PLACED Polycarpus or Installed him to wit in the Bishops Chair there He thinketh that all this importeth that Polycarpus took place of the rest of the Presbyters and no more But indifferent reason will require him to grant no more superiority of Bishops then the Chair of the Apostles importeth However S. Hierome reconcile his opinion with his own words concerning the Presbyters of Alexandria that from S. Marks time were wont to take one of their number and place him on a higher step and call him Bishop of Alexandria common sense will inforce the high rank in which he sate to import the superiority and eminence of his office even during the Apostles time The consideration of this Order or this Bench of the Church shall give me further occasion to resume and averre two particulars of good consequence in this businesse The first the Extent of the Office common to the Bishop and Presbyters as for preaching and celebrating the Sacraments so for the oversight and government of the Church in those Spirituall matters wherein as members of the Church men communicate expressed in all places of the Scripture wherein there is any remembrance of their Charge Survaying those passages of the Acts and Epistles of the Apostles in which the office of Presbyters is remembred we find it every where described as well by the oversight or
because the speech of the Apostle proceedeth concerning the use of spirituall Graces which he directeth to that purpose As you see vers 3. it is expressely differenced from matter of exhortation and comfort when he saith He that Prophesieth speaketh to men to EDIFICATION and exhortation and comfort Neverthelesse it must be something else that he meaneth there vers 17. For thou verily givest thanks well but the other is not edified that is because he understandeth not what thou sayest he is not guided and directed to go along with the Thanksgiving wherein thou goest afore in an unknown Language And in this Epistle afore viii 10. Shall not the conscience of him that is weak be edified to eat those things which be offered to Idoles Where you see a man is said to be EDIFIED by whatsoever it is that advanceth his intentions towards any work And therefore though the reason of EDIFYING may sometimes tend to the particular sense of Teaching yet it is not so to be confined but that whatsoever is a fit means to train and guide us in the wayes of godlinesse must be said to tend towards the edification of Gods people And thus the Rules which the Apostle afterwards qualifieth all that is to be done in the Church with when he saith Let all things be done decently and in order are clearly subordinate to this main reason of the Edification of the Church and derived from it For without doubt there is nothing so powerfull to Edification that is to guide and train the body of the Church in the exercise of godlinesse as a good Order for the particular practice of those Offices thereof which are generally commanded in the Scriptures Well might the Apostles say here vers 33. God is not the Authour of confusion but of Order as in all Churches of the Saints Whosoever withdraweth himself from the publick Order of the Church out of opinion that a better might be established will hinder the Edification thereof more in that neglect of the course in force which he procureth then it is possible he should advance it in the practice of those whom he thinketh to direct in a better course For on the one side his own followers out of heat of contention shall alwayes spend their zeal upon matters of small consequence which ought to be conversant about the great things of the Gospel On the other side those that are not affected with his singularities are disquieted in their own course of Gods Service The other part of the Apostles Rule seemeth to extend further then the term of Decencie in which it is translated containeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Apostle honestè saith the Old Latine and in S. Pauls Epistles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is rendered there honestè ambulare and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Acts honestae mulieres all these expresse more then Decencie For that is seen in the least matters where all things are fit and sutable but that which in Latine is called honestas in none but those that carry an appearance that deserveth respect Which if the property of the word will not inforce as to them that rellish it right without fail it will do the nature and kind of that whereof the Apostle speaketh will constrain it to import no lesse then that which beareth an appearance of respect and account Because in matter of so high a nature as the exercise of Religion nothing can be decent nothing can become but that which preserveth the respect which actions of that rank are to be performed with So much common sense telleth us that the outward appearance of all kind of proceedings is a means to maintain the inward esteem which men ought to hold of those things that are done there Let no man blame me that appeal to common sense to judge what becometh in matters of Religion which must neither stand nor fall by the judgement of common sense being so farre beyond it The Apostle here hath done it afore me vers 23. If the Church be met and all speak with tongues and there come in those that are unlearned or unbelievers will they not say that ye are mad For what is this but to condemne that which they did in the exercise of Religion by the verdict of common sense which though unable to judge of the Religion of Christians neverthelesse is able to discern what is sutable to the end which the Assemblies of Christians professe And do we not all see with what kind of reasons in another place 1. Cor. xi 13. he argueth another point of this nature to settle a custome for men to be bare women to be veiled at their Assemblies It is first to be known that the women of those times and of the Jews in particular as Tertullian in one place witnesseth were carefull to keep their faces veiled from the sight of men when they came in publick which was in them a profession of bashfulnesse and that modesty which they desired to preserve On the other side in men it was a mark of confusion and disgrace to have the face covered the custome was to go bare in publick and that in token of the freedome and boldnesse which they professed And it is plain that the Covering whereof the Apostle speaketh was such an one as the face was veiled with for therefore he saith vers 4. The man dishonoureth his head in covering it when he prayeth or prophesieth disclaiming the freedome and dignity of his sexe The woman in discovering her head not professing the modesty and subjection of her sexe therefore he saith afterwards that the womans hair is given her for a veil that is to cover the face with which if it be not done she had as good be shaven saith he vers 5. In Tertullians time those that professed Virginity took upon them to sit with their faces unveiled in the Church taking it for a priviledge of their rank to disclaim the subjection of the sexe and professe freedome This is the occasion of his book De Virginibus velandis What opinion it was upon which the custome which the Apostle writeth against at Corinth proceeded is not known How the Apostle argueth we see 1. Cor. xi 13. Judge in your selves saith he is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered doth not even nature it self teach you c To shew us the reason whereupon he proceedeth that the custome then practised for men to go bare-head in signe of freedome and profession of boldnesse and chearfulnesse of heart women veiled in signe of modesty and bashfulnesse as it was agreeable to revealed truth as the Apostle disputeth before vers 3 7. which teacheth that the woman was created of the man and must not forget the subjection she oweth him from whom she first came so is it to the light of nature that teacheth women to keep their hair to veil themselves with if there be nothing else to do it with men to part with theirs that
injunction was ceased If then such Ordinances and Customes as are allowed and injoyned by the Apostles themselves are with right abolished because the reason of them is ceased much more those which were taken up at the beginning upon humane appointment of the Church may cease when the reason of that good appeareth not and must cease when evil consequences which they draw into the Church at their heels begin to appear This is that which justifieth the Reformation which we professe wherein some observances in the Church as ancient as there is remembrance in it of things used since the time of the Apostles are perhaps abolished by Law or disused by Custome the remembrance of the dead at the Celebration of the Eucharist for example The reason of edification of the Church by the comfort which it receiveth at the Communion professed with the deceased not being now required in particular by them which presume of it in all that dye in the Faith and the abuses which it hath trained in after it appearing unsufferable But all this being granted the consideration of the Primitive Church and the President of it to my understanding prescribeth two things The first is generall as it is a Church and all Churches make one Church by acknowledging and maintaining Union and Communion with the Churches that have been in other ages as well as with the Churches that are in other Countreys we are obliged not to disclaim not to renounce it but to maintain our selves alwayes of Communion with it without substantiall difference of belief or practice The Donatists in old time as S. Augustine chargeth fell foul upon the Article of the Catholick Church because they acknowledged no Church but their own but thought it had failed in all other Countreys by communicating with the Church of Africk from which they had separated themselves Much more foul must he needs fall upon that Article that thinketh the Church perished almost as soon as it was instituted and proceedeth in his practice as obliged to renounce that which was in the first ages To maintain this Communion it is not requisite we commend but it is necessary we tolerate all that was then in practice though we believe some things may be mended at this time we must not believe any thing was pernicious at that time This indeed in the height concerneth them which separate from this Church Let them advise upon what terms they renounce that Church which communicateth with the Primitive Church with which all Churches are bound to hold correspondence but in a lower degree concerneth all those that think they cannot detest the corruptions of the Church of Rome enough till they involve the Primitive Church and whatsoever is done upon the President of it in the same imputations which stick upon it which is out of indiscreet zeal to our own cause to prevaricate against it and for the blindnesse of the love we bear it to oversee the advantages of it For what greater pleasure can we do the Church of Rome then to quit them the Ancient Church as their clear advantage Or what greater scandall can we fasten upon the Reformation which we love then to make every thing we like not a mark of Antichrist for which we hold our selves bound to separate which if we should do upon no other matters then those which some men will have to be such then were we as true schismaticks as they of the Church of Rome would have us The second is an advantage more particular to the point we are in hand with As it was the Church Primitive near the fountain and resented that fire the Holy Ghost had inspired so late that which discourse of reason concludeth to be for the Edification of the Church in the Service of God must needs appear more reasonable if it were then in practice Were the question about matters difficult and obscure in the meaning of the Scriptures knowledge goeth along with gray hairs and it is to be believed that the Church may improve in it as in time But whereas it was said afore that we are to use our common reason in judging what is for the Edification of the Church in the Order of Publick Service it is not to be thought that these are matters that require so much depth of understanding as they do uprightnesse of disposition to give sentence without inclination or prejudice I say then that when the coast was clear of partialities the matters in hand not controverted on any side the Church bent more to act in the Service of God then to dispute about it the practice of that time may be a way too steep for us to tread but sure it is straight to direct us We must not slight those Orders which directed them to make the Service of God their earnest businesse because the Church of Rome hath made it a formall imployment to passe the time over with If in weeding this Garden of Gods Church we pluck up wholesome Ordinances with the abuses which have been pinned to them well may men devise Laws for a good fense but not to much purpose when Religion is not suffered to grow within the Pale That noble and learned Du Plessis thought it a great advantage to the cause he undertook against the Masse if he could demonstrate the Form of Service used in the Reformed Churches of France to be more agreeable to that of the Primitive Church then that of the masse-Masse-book of Rome This he thought worth his pains to undertake and if we regard the substance of Publick Service may well be thought to have performed it I am yet in a more generall point concerning the Order of Publick Service but I shall think it advantage enough to the cause in which I deal to shew the points questioned in this Order to be of more Ancient Practice in the Church then the corruptions of the Church of Rome for which we leave it And when I come anon to survay the particular Form of Service which this Church useth let men of learning judge what is nearer to the Primitive then both but thereupon I must take leave to conclude That this Church is not to forsake the Primitive to conform to other Reformed Churches where the Order in force hath both the President of so Ancient Practice and the reason of Edification to commend it Now the difference between this State of the Church incorporate into the bodies of Kingdomes and Common-wealths and the Primitive when it was either tolerated or persecuted under the Romane Empire is to be seen in the Apostles fishing after the Resurrection of Christ John xxii 11. Though there were taken 153. great fishes yet the Net brake not For the multitude of believers were of one heart and one soul Acts iiii 32. They came out of good will into the Net of the Apostles and out of good will they applied themselves to the Orders wherein they were directed by them and their successours not able to constrain
they prayed by heart For the words sine Monitore quia de pectore of Tertullian affected alwayes to imitate and expresse the Greek are to my best apprehension the translation of that which is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English to say by heart and so they could not have shewed a passage more pregnant with the sense they intended to destroy That they prayed by prescript forms The fairest proof we can make that the Church after the Apostles time and the use of extraordinary Graces betook thēselves to prescript forms of Prayer as well as other parts of Gods Service will be from the parts of it The Psalmes of David in the first place do mix Prayers with the praises of God and are no extemporary conceptions yet were alwayes one of the first parts of publick Service as shall appear in due time As for other Hymnes of private composure Conc. Laod. Canon 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That besides inrolled Singers that go up into the Desk and sing out of the Parchmine others ought not to sing in the Church Canon 59. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That Psalmes of private persons must not be said in the Church These Canons seem to make opposition between those that came from private persons and those that were entered in the church-Church-books These onely to be sung out of those books by Clergie Chanters inrolled in the list of the Church that other persons might take no occasion to bring any into use besides those that were prescribed and received I find that to meet with the poison of Arrius sicut in principio was added to Gloria Patri in the Church-Service And I have heard that to meet with the poison of Pelagius they took up the custome to put Dei Gratia in Titles and Inscriptions of Letters But that the custome of using such set forms was taken up first because the Arian and Pelagian heresies conveyed and spread themselves by that means is strange news to heare It might have been said with more reason of the hymns of Valentinus so long afore which Tertullian taxeth De carne Christi C. xvii And let unpartiall reason answer the question Whether it be more like if any such thing were that they should make that advantage because set forms were then in practice or Whether the Church should fall to use that course because it was first taken up by these heresies In reading and expounding the Scriptures the question is not made But that is the particular wherein I must yield something of private conception to have been used in the Primitive Church-Service It is believed that in the flourishing times of the Church Preachers were wont in the beginning of their Sermons to commend themselves and their labours to Gods blessing the form is extant which S. Ambrose used neither do we find that it was not at their own choice But after the Sermon the Catechumeni or Hearers those that were under Penance those that were vexed with unclean spirits were dismissed with the severall Prayers of the Congregation Benedictions of the Bishop or Presbyter on their severall behalves When that was done the Prayers which were used at the Eucharist by the Congregation that was admitted to it were of two sorts as shall be shewed afterwards when I come to compare the Service which this Church useth with that of the Primitive The first was of those which the Apostle calleth Supplications and Intercessions not onely for the generall and particular necessities both of the Congregation and the members of it but of all members of Church and Common-wealth together or in particular which are the same for substance which have since been called Litanies The second was that Thanksgiving from which that Sacrament is still called the Eucharist because it was alwayes consecrated with it wherein remembrance was made of all the blessings of Gods Providence in particular that of our Lord Christ which it pretendeth to commemorate with prayer that his Ordinance may be effectuall to the present I know there followed Thanksgiving after the Communion besides other pieces of that Service as shall be said which I regard not so much now because they seem not to have been of such consideration in the frame of their Service My intent is to show in due time that these were the prayers practised upon the Apostles order 1. Tim. ii 1. I exhort therefore before all that Prayers Supplications Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for all men For kings and all that are in Eminence That they are the same which the Apostle intimateth and specifieth to have been practised at that time when he saith 1. Cor. xiv 15. I will pray with the Spirit but I will pray also with the understanding I will sing with the Spirit but I will sing also with the understanding else when thou BLESSEST with the Spirit how shall he that filleth the place of the ignorant say Amen at thy GIVING OF THANKS seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest In fine that these Intercessions whereof the Apostle speaketh Rom. viii 26. when he saith The Spirit it self INTERCEDETH for us with groans not to be uttered are the same which in the Primitive Church were solemn perpetual before Celabrating the Eucharist according to S. Chrysostomes Exposition averred afore This must be done after we have showed what reason there is to think that the Eucharist was celebrated at these Assemblies whereof the Apostle writeth to the Corinthians chap. xiv In the mean time as concerning the Prayers for Hearers Penitents and possessed Persons as well as the said Supplications Intercessions that they were all done by prescript form let me argue as I did afore of the Prayers of the Synagogue because they were ministred by the Deacon as S. Chrysostome said and as it shall appear afterwards by the remembrance we shall find of the Custome of the Church For I suppose no reason will yield that the Church referred themselves to be directed in their Publick Service by that rank of Ministers As for the THANKSGIVING which the Sacrament was consecrated with I will here use no more then the words of S. Cyprian de Lapsis Serm. xiv Vbi verò SOLENNIBUS adimpletis dare calicem Diaconus praesentibus coepit c. and in another place where he calleth it Calicem SOLENNI benedictione sacratum And ask whether the Eucharist were consecrated with an Ex tempore Prayer in Justine or Tertullians time the form whereof by S. Cyprians time was become SOLEMN Of the Preface Sursum Corda remembred by the same S. Cyprian de orat Domini and yet extant in all ancient Liturgies as well as ours as well as of other particulars there will be occasion to speak afterwards From that which hath been said of a prescript form of Prayer at celebrating the Eucharist I will take upon me to presume no lesse of other Services at other Assemblies Conc. Laod. Can. xviii taketh Order 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That the
publick Service in the Church for reasons proper to that time The example of S. Basils Monks and their morning Service described by him Ep. lxiii seemeth more pertinent to be made the president of ours His words are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For the people with us riseth betimes after night to the house of prayer and making confession to God with pains and tribulation and distresse of tears at length rising from prayer fall to singing Psalmes For here he speaketh of Confession at Morning Service As also that Confession of sinnes which we spake of in the Breviary howsoever scandalous for the stuff seemeth to have been used to the same purpose with ours and that of other Reformed Churches for a preparation and entrance to Morning Service Now because it hath been shewed afore that this solemn Service of God consisted of Psalmes of Gods praises of reading the Scripture and expounding it of Common Prayers and the celebration of the Euchrist that which remaineth here to be declared is this in what Form and Order these materials were practised according to the eldest and most generall custome of the Church which we shall be able to discern The Order of reading the Scriptures is this according to the Constitutions of the Apostles ii 57. having reckoned the Scriptures of the Old Testament to be read in Churches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And two Lessons being read out of the Old Testament let some other sing the Psalmes of David and let the people answer the Acrostiches after that let our Acts be read and the Epistles of Paul our workfellow which he sent to the Churches by suggestion of the H. Ghost and after all this let a Deacon or a Presbyter reade the Gospels The 17. Canon of Laodicea is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That the Psalmes should not be continued in Assemblies but a Lesson to be interposed in the midst after every Psalme This is ordered saith Balsamon to take off the wearinesse of the people at these offices by this mixture He that calls himself Dionysius the Areopagite Eccl. Hierar C. V. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Being returned back to the Divine Altar he beginneth the holy melodie of the Psalmes all ranks of the Church singing with him those holy Psalmes after follows in consequence the reading of the holy Scriptures by the Ministers In this Form which he describes there is no interlacing of Psalmes and Lessons but the Psalmes first and afterwards the reading of the Scriptures Of the Churches of Africk and their custome we may presume from S. Augustine His Sermons make divers times mention of a Lesson first out of the Prophets then out of the Epistles and Gospels with a Psalme or Psalmes between them And in his Sermon he expounds them all sometimes In the Masse it self there remains something of this custome as brief and short as they have made it To compare it with the Form described afore in part out of the Constitutions and for the rest to be described it is strange to see to what a small modell they have reduced it Whether it were because it was framed for those times and places where Morning Service was used besides for which reason they thought good to abbridge it retaining neverthelesse the substantiall parts of publick Service Or whether out of a desire of multiplying private Masses it was so made on purpose for speed Or whether so it were alwayes in the Latine Church and we are to believe those copies which they give us of the Ambrosian Service and that of the Mosarabe or Spanish to be of any great time indeed the Order of Lessons said to be composed by S. Hierome of Antiphones by S. Gregory and other Forms of the Latine Church are all very short This notwithstanding in the Introit we see the trace of that singing of Psalmes in the beginning of which Dionysius And the Graduall as they call it which is the shred of a Psalme between the Epistle and the Gospel is in the same place with that Psalme between those Lessons whereof S. Augustine speakes In the pattern of the Ambrosian Service for Christmasse day which we have out of the Missall of the Church of Millain there is first a Lesson out of the Prophets a second out of the Epistles and the last out of the Gospels with versicles of Psalmes or Hymns or Antiphones between each Here as concerning the Psalmes in the Church let me have leave to resume that which was proved afore out of S. Paul that the custome was from the times of the Apostles so to sing them that the whole Congregation might bear a part in the praises of God which the book of Psalmes from time to time inviteth them to do Accordingly in the pretended Dionysius the Bishop begins the Psalmes but all the ranks proceed to joyn in the same But in the Constitutions of the Apostles the people are to answer onely the Acrostichs What those were I cannot better conjecture then by the words of Philo de vita Contempl. where he relates the fashion of those Hymnes which the Essenes by Alexandria in Egypt used at their Common Feasts which he saith were sung first by the chief afterwards by the rest in their order 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All hearing with much silence but when the ends and burdens of the Hymnes are to be sung for them all the men and women sing out Some such thing I suppose it was which in the Constitutions there is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or end verses of the Psalmes as the Gloria Patri among us known to the people at those times when for some inconvenience found of indecorum in performing this Office the whole Congregation joyned no more in the Psalmes For though in the Custome of those Churches which Dionysius describeth the people joyned in them at those times whereof he speaketh though I doubt not but those Constitutions the Canons of the Councel of Laodicea be more ancient then the pretended Dionysius yet by them it appeareth that when the Constitutions direct the people to joyn in the closes and when that Councel ordereth Can. 15. that no more then the Canonicall singers that is inrolled in the list of the Church that went up into the desk sung out of the Parchmine should sing in the Church there was by that time and in those places of the Church inconvenience found in the Congregations joyning in it for which cause it was referred to the Church-singers Another course there was much used in divers parts of the Church of singing the Psalmes by Antiphones Of which it shall not be requisite here to repeat what is delivered of the first use of it in the East under Ignatius the coming of it into the West under S. Ambrose the relation of S. Basil and the practice of his Monks Epist lxiii the Order of Pope Celestine for the Psalmes to be sung before the Eucharist by way of Antiphones It shall suffice to take notice here
Thanks For example among the daily xviii Blessed be thou O Lord our God that removest sleep from our eyes and slumbring from our eye-lids And let it please thee O Lord our God and God of our Fathers to practise us in thy Law and to make us cleave to thy precepts and bring us not into sinne and transgression and temptation and contempt and so forth ending thus Blessed be thou O Lord that givest good graces The blessing of the Law that is the Thanksgiving to God for it is this Blessed art thou O Lord our God the King of the world that hath sanctified us with his precepts given us command concerning the matters of the Law And sweeten O God the words of the Law in our mouth and in the mouth of thy people the house of Israel And make us all and our children and our childrens children knowers of thy Name and learners of thy Law for it self Blessed art thou O Lord that teachest thy people Israel the Law So in the Blessing of wine so in the Blessing after meat And so for the resemblance of the Blessing of our Lord over the elements with these and the exigence of the businesse may we justly presume that it ran in the like form to the purpose of it And last of all herewith agreeth the practice of the ancient Church wherein for certain the Thanksgiving described afore was joyned with prayer for the effect of that which was done So saith Justine that the President sent forth PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS to God So in Tertullian de or at C. xiiii Sacrisiciorum orationes and in the next words Eucharistia stand both for the same So in the ciiii of the Africane Canons these Thanksgivings are called Prefaces to my thinking because this Thanksgiving was alwayes premised to the prayer which the Eucharist was consecrated with I will here propound that Form of Prayer which followeth after the rehearsall of the institution of this Sacrament in the place alledged of the Constitutions of the Apostles For a Prayer to the like effect is to be found in all the Eastern Liturgies Which if we compare with the Testimonies of Ecclesiasticall Writers which divers have produced to prove that the elements are not consecrated by the affirmative words of Christ as operative but by the prayers of the Church it will appear that it is the prayer whereof we now speak alwayes used in the Church to obtain of God the promise which the institution of Christ supposeth that the elements present might be deputed to the effect of becoming visible signes tendring exhibiting the invisible grace which they figure Which is that which in this matter is called Consecration as I suppose Having repeated the institution of this Sacrament out of the Gospels where we left afore it followeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore mindfull of his Passion and death and rising from the dead and ascension into heaven and of his second appearance at which he is to come with glory and power to judge the quick and dead and to render to every man according to his works we offer to thee our King and God according to his appointment this bread and this cup giving thanks to thee through him that thou hast vouchsafed us to stand before thee and to minister unto thee And beseech thee that thou wouldest look favourably upon these Oblations present before thee thou God that wantest nothing and accept them to the honour of thy Christ and send down the holy Spirit witnesse of the passions of the Lord Jesus upon this Sacrifice to exhibite this bread the body and this cup the bloud of thy Christ That they which pertake of it may be confirmed in godlinesse obtain remission of sinnes be delivered from the devil and his deceit be filled with the holy Ghost become worthy of thy Christ and obtain life everlasting thou being reconciled to them God Almighty It is clearly true in the sense and language of the ancient Church which S. Ambrose saith De iis qui myst init C. ix Ante consecrationem alia species nominatur post consecrationem corpus Christi significatur Before Consecration another species is named that is the bread after it the body of Christ is signified And de Sacr. v. 4. Dixi vobis quòd ante verba Christi quod offertur panis dicatur ubi Christi verba depromta fuerint jam non panis dicitur sed corpus appellatur I told you that before the words of Christ that which is offered is called bread after the words of Christ â—â—e produced it is no more called bread it is called his body Therefore whereas in this prayer the elements are named by their kind of bread and wine it is plain that all that while they are not conceived or intended to be consecrated And what doubt can there be in that when we see a prayer follow wherein is desired that the elements may become the body and bloud of Christ And he that shall turn over the Copies of Liturgies which we have extant from the Eastern Churches shall find them to agree in this That after the institution is rehearsed out of the Gospels professing that what is presently done is in obedience to the same prayer is made first that by the holy Ghost the elements may be sanctified to become the body and bloud of Christ and then that they may be to such effects of grace as are specified in the form rehearsed to them that communicate Onely in the Missall of the Maronites printed at Rome there be divers forms of Consecration which they call Anaphora under the Apostles names and other Eastern Doctours wherein this prayer seemeth to be wilfully changed to make them conformable to the doctrine of the now Church of Rome It was printed there for the use of that nation in the yeare MDXCIV In the ancient form of the Latine Church there seemeth not by the now Canon of the Masse but by the remembrance of it extant in ancient Church-writers to have been some difference from this and that difference seemeth to have occasioned the errour of the now Church of Rome concerning Consecration by operative words Neverthelesse the words of S. Ambrose or whosoever writ those books de Sacram. are these v. 4. Vis scire quia verbis coelestibus consecratur accipe quae sint verba Dicit Sacerdos Fac nobis hanc hostiam asscriptam rationabilem acceptabilem quod est figura corporis sanguinis Domini nostri Jesu Christi Qui pridie quà m pateretur Wilt thou know that it is consecrated by the heavenly words heare what be the words The Priest saith Make this Sacrifice imputable accountable acceptable for us which is the figure of the body and bloud of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who the night before he suffered so forth proceeding to rehearse the institution out of the Gospel In the Canon of the Masse is added ratam or ratified Fac nobis hanc hostiam asscriptam ratam rationabilem
according to the Apostle And if the question be further made concerning offering for the dead it shall seem to me nothing improbable that because the Apostle exhorteth that Supplications and Prayers and Intercessions and Thanksgivings be made for all men therefore the ancient Church inlarged the sense of that ALL MEN further then they needed to do to comprise the dead as well as the living and that thence came the commemoration of the dead at the Eucharist and the offering of the elements that it might be celebrated and that such commemoration might be made Though as concerning the particulars of the Prayers for the dead in the ancient Church how farre they came from the Scripture and how farre from humane opinions in that whole matter I referre my self to those things which have been declared with so much learning by that excellent learned Prelate in his Answer to the Jesuites challenge in Ireland As for the rest of the Service which the Eucharist is celebrated with after the Prayer hitherto described there follows in the Constitutions of the Apostles a brief repetition of the Litanies with a Prayer of the Bishop that the Congregation may worthily Communicate In the time of Communicating it is ordered there that the xxxiiii Psalme be sung in regard of the words O tast and see how gracious the Lord is in other of the Eastern Liturgies the xxiii xlii cxviii cxliv. are prescribed The Latine Liturgists call the verses of Psalmes that are sung during the time of Communicating Communions and the Prayer or Thanksgiving that follows after the same Postcommunions Such a form of Thanksgiving there is extant in all Liturgies The people is dismissed with the Benediction of the Bishop in the Constitutions which Benediction comes after the Consecration before the Communion in the most of other Liturgies I will here repeat that whole passage of S. Augustine the beginning whereof was produced afore for it containeth the whole Order of these remains whereof we speak Ep. lix Eligo in his verbis hoc intelligere quod omnis vel penè omnis frequentat Ecclesia ut Precationes accipiamus dictas quas facimus in celebratione Sacramentorum antequam illud quod est in Domini Mensa incipiat benedici Orationes cùm benedicitur sanctificatur ad distribuendum comminuitur quam totam petitionem ferè omnis Ecclesia Dominicâ oratione concludit Interpellationes autem sive ut vestri codices habent Postulationes fiunt cùm populus benedicitur Tunc enim Antistites velut Advocati susceptos suos per manuum impositionem misericordissimae offerunt potestati Quo facto participato tanto Sacramento Gratiarum actio cuncta concludit I choose to understand in these words that which all or almost all the Church frequenteth that we conceive those to be called Supplications which we make at celebrating the Mysteries before that which is on the Lords Board begin to be blessed Prayers when it is blessed and sanctified and broken to be distributed which Petition almost all the Church concludes with the Lords Prayer so it is in all forms that are extant and it is another mark that they were prescript But Intercessions or as your books have it Requests are made when the people is blessed for then the Bishops as Advocates receiving their people offer them to the most mercifull power with imposition of hands Which done and so great a Sacrament participated all concludes with Thanksgiving The Ciii of the Africane Canons related afore Placuit etiam illud ut preces quae probatae fuerint in Concilio sive Praefationes sive Commendationes seu manuum Impositiones ab omnibus celebrentur It seems that the benedictions of the Bishop or Presbyter that celebrated to whom this Office also belonged as S. Hierome contendeth whereof we speak are called here Commendations or Impositions of hands to say prayers to commend the people to God with imposition of hands unlesse by these Commendations we understand those prayers for all men according to the Apostle wherewith the severall estates of all men especially of the Church were commended to God which saith S. Augustine went before the sanctifying of the elements In the Anaphora of S. Basil published by Masius out of the Syriack there is this prayer at the beginning before the Consecration of the Eucharist Extende Domine manum tuam non asspectabilem benedic servis ancillis tuis mundatóque ipsos ab omni macula carnis spiritûs at que dignare ipsosfieri participes corporis unigeniti Filii tui The people bowed the head at receiving this blessing the Bishop holding his hands over them as a signe of Gods hand stretched out to blesse Therefore he saith Extend O Lord thy invisible hand and blesse thy servants and handmaids and cleanse them from all stain of flesh and spirit and daigne them to become partakers of the body of thy onely begotten Sonne Of Confession of sinnes at beginning of the Masse hath been said After the Consecration the Benediction is contained in these words Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum The Peace of God be with you alwayes You shall see how Luther understands it in his form of Communion of the yeare MDXXIII Quae est quaedam quasi publica absolutio à peccatis communicantium Vox planè Evangelica annuncians remissionem peccatorum unica illa ac dignissima ad mensam Domini praeparatio si fide apprehendatur non secus at que ex ore Christi prolata Which is saith he a kind of publick absolution of them that communicate from their sinnes The very voice of the Gospel pronouncing remission of sinnes the onely fittest preparation to the Lords Board if apprehended by faith as out of Christs mouth But it is plain that this is to be accounted a benediction because as hath been said Confession of sinnes and prayer for pardon upon the same is made at the beginning of the Masse In the Liturgy of S. Basil which we have translated out of the Arabick at the beginning prayer is made for remission of sinnes at large upon the promise of the Gospel Whose sinnes ye remit the like prayer is made there after receiving the Eucharist In the Ethiopick prayer is made before the Consecration of the Eucharist to like purpose though corrupted with that superstition which ignorance breedeth This seemeth most answerable to that Confession of sinnes which our Service useth before the Eucharist otherwise it is to be granted that in most Liturgies that which seemeth to keep most correspondence with it is rather a benediction then Confession with prayer for pardon of sinnes It remaineth that from that which hath been said we give account of that Form of Service which we use deriving it higher then the Masse from which it is charged to come as containing nothing but that which is found there though not all that is there and shewing where it shall be requisite that the corruptions of the Masse are laid aside in it