vnderstood by the people is profitable for them and fit to further them in the knowledge faith and obedience of God and as honorable to God by making knowne his goodnesse mercy Iustice greatnesse and peâ—fection in all respects vnto his Church and people This is confirmed also at large by the Apostle Paul in his former Epistle to the Corinthians Chap. 14 as it hath beened clared Hereunto may bee added that it appeareth by the 33 and 36. verses that the Apostle ordayned thus in all other Churches that were taught by him and that the Church of Corinth in that disorder differed both from the Church of Ierusalem and from all other Churches that at that time had receiued the Gospell Further also it appeareth that in all ages before the true Church serued God with knowledge and vnderstanding of that was taught them and yeelded to God their Seruice in such sort as they knew what duty it was which they performed vnto him For first almighty God himselfe deliâ—ered the two tables of the tenne commandements in that speach which the people vnderstood After also by his commandement often times repeated both Moyses and the Priests Exo. 19 9. Exo. 20.18.19 Deut. 5 10 11 28 29.30 c. are charged to teach the people to heare and know learne and obserue the low of God Particularly the law commanded that the King should write the coppy of the law in a booke coppied out of that booke which was kept by the leuitical Priests Deut. 6.1 2 3. c. wherein he is charged to reade all the dayes of his life chap. 17.18 19. Deut. 12.1.27.1 c. 29.1 c. that he may learne to feare the Lord his God and to obserue and doe all his commandements In many places of the bookes of Moyses and especially in the booke of Deut. it is sayd that Moyses taught all the people the commandements and statutes which the Lord had deliuered vnto him Ios 1.10 11. c. Iosuah in like manner dealt with all the people instructing and exhorting them to the obseruation of the statutes which God had deliuered vnto them In the like manner did Dauid 1 Chron. 16.2 4 7 35 36 37. and all the Prophets deliuering Psalmes and other bookes of Scriptures in the Hebrew tongue for the publique vse of the Church of Israell which they had indited in the Hebrew tongue the common speech of all the people Likewise Solomon 1 Chton 25.2 5 28.2 8. c. 1 Kings â—â— 55 57 58 61 62. Dauids son at the dedication of the Temple which hee had builded made his solemne prayers and publique supplications vnto God in the hearing of all the people in their owne Hebrew tongue which they best vnderstood And of Iosias it is also particularly recorded 2 Kings 22.11 23.2 3. c. that hee read in the hearing of all the people from the greatest to the least of them all the words of Gods Couenant which had beene found in the house of the Lord. After the captiuity also wee reade Ezra 8.21 9.5 â— 10.1 that Ezra at a publique feast once or twice made his earnest supplication vnto God for all the people they hearing and so vnderstanding him that men women and children wept and lamented exceedingly And in the booke of Nehemiah it is written Ezra did reade the booke of the law of God from morning to mid-day before all the people men women and all that for vnderstanding were fit to heare and that all the people was attentiue to the booke of the law and when Ezra blessed all the people said Amen Nehe. 8.2 3 4 7 8 9 10 c. Amen with lifting vp their hands and bowing downe their heads they worshipped God with their faces towards the ground In the time of our Sauiour Christ the Apostle Iames sayth Moyses was read and preached euery Sabbath in the Synagogues Acts 15.21 13.15 of which custome wee reade an example in the 13 of the Asts where it is said that after the reading of the law and the Prophets Paul and Barnabas were willed to exhort the 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 Prophet Esay had beene deliuered to him hee opened it and read that which is written in the begining of the 61 Chap. of that Prophecy And further that hauing deliuered againe the booke hee sate downe and the eyes of all that were in the Synogogue were bent vpon him To whom hauing sayd that that Scripture was fulfiled that day in their hearing they all bare 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 publique 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 desirous 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 desite in him And of others Augustine writeth that the Latine translations were not to be numâ—red The Liturgies that go vnder the name of Basil and 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 them And in the East Church it continued so â—â—long time as appâ—areth by many exhortations of Chrysostome and other of the Greeke Teachers to the reading of the Scriptures and by some parts of the Liturgie whereof mention is made in their writings So did it like wise long continue in the West Church euen till almost all things were corrupted and that darkenesse had ouer cast the face of the heauens and taken the light thereof from these parts of the earth namely in the Church of Romeâ— 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 beene 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 thanksiguing is to be referred For thus are performed whatsoeuer the Ministers are to declare vnto the Church in Gods behalfe and what duty and feruice the Church offereth vnto God on theâ— part Wherefore all Diuine Seruice consisting in these two principall partes and the former hereof being 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 first 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 thus to serue God that our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles haue taught may appeare by their doctrine and practise Our Sauiour Christ saith by Abraham Luke 16.29 31. They haue Moyses and the Prophets heare they them And againe If they heare not Moyses and the Prophets they would not bee perswaded no although one should rise from the dead Iohn 5.39 Math. 22.29 Math. 12.3.7 21.16 41. Againe hee sayth Search ye the Scriptures Ye are deceiued because ye know not the Seriptures 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 Scriptures 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 Luke 4.16 31 and not any fables of the Iewes 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 reported 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 all that were in the Synagogue were fastned vpon him verse 20. By which place it is manifest that our Sauiour Christ by this example and custome of his did reade and expound the word of God the writings of the holy Scriptures giuen by diuine inspiration which are the bookes that ought to be read and expounded and preached vpon in all Christian Churches and not vaine discourses such as the Apostle calleth old wiues tales This also was the doctrine and vse of the Apostles For being followers of Christ all their Doctrine was out of the Scriptures as it appeareth by that is sayd Acts 2.42 That the Church continued in the Doctrine of the Apostles And in the same Chap. the Apostle Peter is shewed to haue taught the Doctrine of the resurrection of Christ out of the Psalmes Likewise the same Apostle writing to the dispersed Iewes 2 Pet. 1.19 doth commend them for attending to the words of the Prophets Ephe. 2.20 Likewise by the Apostle Paul it is written that the Church is builded vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ being the low corner-stone which is spoken in respect of their Doctrine preached by them in their time and after for the substance of it set downe in writing by the will of God for the vse of the Church for euer This appeareth also in that the Scripture giuen by the inspitation of God Rom. 15.4 is sayd to bee that which is written 2 Tim. 3.16 17. to teach vs to comfort to reforme to rebuke and to instruct in all righteousnesse to make a man wise to Saluation by faith in Christ and to make the man of God perfect fully furnished for any good worke Therefore according to the auncient ordinance of God Moyses that is Act. 15.21 the Law and bookes written by Moyses were vsed to bee read as the Apostle Iames testifieth euery Sabbath day in the Synagogues The writings of the Prophets also were so read amongst them as it appeareth by that is written Acts 13. that after the reading of the Law and of the Prophets the Apostle Paul preached in the Synagogue at Antioche And of the same Apostle it is sayd that he confirmed Iesus to bee Christ that is the Messias promised of God Act. 26.12 by proofes taken out of the Scriptures and as hee testifieth of him selfe hee taught nothing besides that which had bin taught before in the Law and in the Prophets Thus by all these enidences it is manifest that our Religion in England concerning this part of the Seruice of God is the same which was taught by our Sauiour Christ and by his Apostles viz. in that the holy Scriptures are publiquely read vnto the people and also the people is taught Christian Religion by the expounding and preaching of the same vnto them and that no foolish
21.8 Likewise in the Reuelation it is said that Idolaters together with dogges Iâ— chanters Harlots and Lyers shall not enter into the City of God the heauenly Ierusalem Moreouer our Sauiour Christ teacheth concerning the worship of God agreeably to the Law saying it is written Math. 4. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serue By which words he declareth it to be vtterly vnlawfull to worship any creature with the worship that is due vnto God and further that all religious kneeling adoration is to be yeelded to God onely Which is agreeable to the ancient commandement that so commandeth God to be worshipped Exod. 20.4 as it forbiddeth by way of Religion to worship with religious worship the likenes of any creature either in heauen or in earth or in the waters vnder the earth against the transgressors of which commandement the Lord declareth himselfe most prouoked to vengeance in comparing his anger to the anger of aiealous man that will not bee pacified by any meanes but will be aâ—enged vpon the adulterer Likewise in that he addeth further a terrible commination against Idolaters whom he there declareth to hold for his enemies and such as hate him in threatning to visite that is to punish their sinnes in their children and also in their childrens children to the third and fourth generation For which cause the Apostle Iohn exhorteth all Christians to beware of Idols saying 1 Iohn 5.21 Little children keepe your selues from Idols or take ye heede and beware of Images 1 Cor. 10.14 So the Apostle Paul writeth to the Corinthians saying My beloued fly from Idolatry 1 Thes 1.9 Likewise the same Apostle in al his ministry sought to withdraw as the Corinthians and the Thessalonians so all other gentiles from the seruice of Idols to serue the true God Acts 17.16 For which cause also being at Athens and greiued in spirit to see their City wholy addicted to the seruice of Idols did most zealously endeauour both in the Synogogues of the Iewes and in the market place vpon all occasions and in the highest Court of Iustice to disswade them from those vaine and impious seruices and exhort them to worship onely the true God the creator of heauen and earth To which end also in another place he shewing that true Christians because they are the Temples of God ought to haue nothing to doe with Idols saith What participation hath Iustice with iniquitie 2 Cor. 6.14.15 or what communion hath light with darknesse or what communion can Christ haue with Belial or what part can a faithfull man haue with an Infidell or what agreement can the Temple of God haue with Idols Wherefore goe yee out from the middest of them and separate your selues saith the Lord and touch no vncleanc thing and then I will receiue you and I will bee your father and you shall be my sonnes and daughters sayth the Lord God Almighty This is that our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles taught concerning the worshiping of God only and the auoyding with all zealous detestation the seruice of Idols and Images and reliques and of any creature Now in times past contrary to this doctrine our Churches were full of Idols and Images and such religious adoration and seruice was yeelded and done vnto them adoration in bodily gestures of vncouering the head vnto them of kissing them and bowing the body and the knee vnto them and such like seruice in couering them with garments adorning them with ornaments incensing of them burning candles before them bestowing gifts vpon them making vowes and going of Pilgrimages vnto them with other such like seruices But the Lord vouchsafing vs mercy stirred vp the spirit of our renowned Princes to reforme such enormities as many vertuous Kings of Iudah had done the like before them and hauing caused the Temples and Churches to bee cleansed from all such Idols and Idolatry straightly charged and commanded all their Subiects abandoning all these vaine and most impious seruices to Idols to worship the true and liuing God and to yeeld religious adoration and seruice to him onely On the contrary in all places yet subiect to the Sea of Rome the Temples are full of Images yea priuate houses publique streets and high-wayes and nothing either so priuate or so publique where these Idols are not By which comparison it manifestly appeareth that our Religion in England for this point of the subiect of diuine Seruice is that which was taught by Christ and his Apostles and the seruice of the Sea of Rome is directly contrary to it and full of Idolatry But some thinke to avoid all that the Scriptures speak against Idols and Idolatry by a distinction or two for which end distinguishing betweene 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they say that this latter only that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is forbidden to bee giuen to creatures but the former that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be giuen to some creatures yea to some also a higher worship which they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But this distinction cannot serue to excuse the worship seruice done to Images by such as are subiect to the Sea of Rome For the people ignorant of this distinction if there were any such in the Scriptures could not possibly be kept from Idolatry by it but would be in continuall danger to passe the bounds of worship prescribed and to giue to their Images the honor of Almighty God But the Scriptures make no such distinction at all but indifferently vse both these alike to note the sernice and servants of God Our Sauiour sayth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ye cannot serue God and mammon Likewise the Apostle Paul calleth himselfe The Seruant of Christ Rom. 1.1 Gal. 1.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Likewise in the Acts of the Apostles all the Apostles call themselues by the same word the Seruants of God Of the Thessalonians it is sayd that they had beene turned to God from Idols Acts 2.29 1 Thes 1.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to serue the true and liuing God and in like manner in diuers other places whereby it is plaine that this distinction hath no ground in the word of God Moreouer by the same word it appeareth that such seruices as the Sea of Rome ordaineth to be done to their Images are such as are due to God only and for yeelding whereof to Images theyr worshippers are charged with Idolatry This is proued by that the law speaking of all similitudes of things sayeth Thou shalt not bow downe to them nor serue them And in the first booke of the Kings 1 King 19.18 19. ver 18. it is sayd I haue left 7000. in Israel which haue not bowed the knee to Baal and whose mouth hath not kissed him Ro. 11.4 Further in the second booke of Kings chap. 18. ver 14. it is written of the vertuous and zealous King Ezekias
fables nor old wiues tales are read vnto them as they are read vnto the people vnder the Popes gouernement which ought not to bee Of this sort are the Legends of Saints and namely Legenda aurea that is the golden Legend containing a report of the Liues and miracles of Saints But howsoeuer they haue named it a golden booke yet some of their owne writers of best iudgement as Ludouicus Vines censure it for a booke written by a man of a leaden heart which is for the basenesse of the reports that are without wit or reason and of a brasen forehead which is for the shamelesse and impudent boldnesse reporting things so fabulous and incredible It needeth not to proue this by sundry particulars This is playne by strange deuises and reports concerning persons that neuer were for any thing that appeareth by any story of credit as of St. George St. Christopher St. Catherine and such like fictions deuices for instructions of life as Esops Fables were for morals It is likewise manifest in many other of such as haue beene and are mentioned by Historiographers but the reports there made of them are so incredible so fabulous so homely and so ridiculous as they are not tollerable to bee read in any most base company much lesse in the Eclesiasticall assemblies of a people professing to come together to learne to know the will of God and to offer vnto him their seruice and prayers Now that such things ought not to bee read in the Church is manifest because the Lord forbiddeth to adde to his word Deut. 4.2 and hee hath giuen no commandement of hearing any but his owne Sonne of whom it is said Math. 17.5 Heare yee him The Scriptures of Diuine inspiration are the onely light that God hath giuen vs to bee directed by in things concerning his Seruice Psal 19. For of them onely it is sayd That they are a Lanterne vnto our feet and a light vnto our steps That they are written for our learning Rom. 15.4 That by patience and consolation of the Scripture wee might haue hope 2 Tim. 3.15 Likewise wee are taught That the Scriptures are able to make a man wise to saluation by faith which is in Christ Iesus and finally that they are of vse for doctrine reproofe reformation and instruction in righteousnesse 2 Tim. 3.16 17. 1 Tim. 1.4 4.7 2 Tim. 4.3 4. Tit. ◠14 that the man of God may bee made perfect and fully accomplished for euery good worke and duty But on the contrary part there is expresse Charge giuen not to attend to fables which are also called prophane fables Iewish fables and old wiues tales whereof the Apostle giueth so much greater charge because hee did foresee and prophesie that such times would come in the Church that men would turne away their eares from hearing sound Doctrine and would turne them to the hearing of tales and fables And as this part of the mystery of iniquities was then foreshewed so after it mightily preuailed and yet doth in the Church of Rome but not of many ages after the Apostles time For Iustin Martyr reporting to the Emperour Antonirus the order of diuine Seruice vsed by the Churches of Christ in his time sayth that they read the writings of the Prophets and Apostles and after had exhortations made vnto them grounded vpon the same Likewise Tertullian declareth after his report of the Prayers of the Church Lib. apologet that they met together also to heare the reading of the Scriptures for saith hee with such holy voyces meaning the Scriptures wee feede our faith raise our hope fasten our confidence and strengthen good order by often mention of the precepts and further faith that they had also exhortation and reproofes and exercise of diuine Censures After when by processe of time such corruptiō entered as that other writings besides the holy Scriptures began to bee read in the Church 2. Coun. of Carthage ca. 47. a Councell held at Carthage for the reforming of such disorder ordained That nothing besides the holy Scriptures should bee read in the Churches vnder the name of the holy bookes Notwithstanding the mystery of iniquity so preuailed with time that in the Churches subiect to the Sea of Rome vnder pretence of the liues and miracles of Saints most sottish and foolish fables and tales were publiquely read in the Church vnto the people wherein it cannot bee vttered what wrong was done to God and to his Church What hath chaffe to doe with wheate saith the Prophet Ieremy Chap. Ier. 23.28 23. verse 28. For the Lord hath ordayned that his people should bee fedd with his holy word as with the finest wheate yea as with Manna the bread of heauen and they withholding it from the people of God and keeping it shut vp vnder a strange language feede the people with such fables and follies as with chaffe yea as with draffe more fit for swine The word of God is also a fountaine of liuing water at which the people of God may be refreshed with comfort but they filled vp those Springes of life Ier. 2.13 and sent them to drinke at pits of their owne diggings which could hold no water and as it were to the filthy channels of the streets to fetch their drinke there Should not a people aske counsel of their God should they goe for counsell from the liuing to the dead Consult they with the Law and the testimony sayth the Prophet Esay they which aduise otherwise Esay 8.19 20 is there any sparke of light in any of them Now to consult with the Scripture which is giuen by Gods inspiration is to consult with God neither is there now any other ordinary meanes to consult with God but by his holy word Therefore all other meanes to consult are forbidden and reputed as if a man that vsed them did aske counsell as Saul pretended of the dead I came vnto you sayth our Sauiour in my Fathers name and you did not receiue mee but if one come to you in his owne name Ioh. 5.43 you will receiue him And thus it is with those that receiue not the holy Scriptures that are the word of Christ except it bee in an vnknowne tongue but reade fables and tales to the people in a speech which they all vnderstand It is a maruaile that the Sea of Rome is not ashamed of this enormity vnto this day but that in stead of Gods holy word that conuerteth and comforteth the soule they reade to the people such ridiculous follies as peruert and destroy the soule But howsoeuer they doe thus highly dishonour God herein it is manifest by that which hath bin said that our Religion in England in this poynt also of reading Gods word and not ridiculous tales to the Church of God is the same which was taught by our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles CHAP. V. Of Preaching IN England as wee haue the word of God publiquely read in