The Lords Prayer alwayes part of the Communion Office F The ten Commandments with their Responces a laudable part of our Service G Epistles their ground H Glory be to thee O Lord is ancient use I standing up at the Gospel very ancient why appointed what posture antiently used at the Lessons read and Word preached Africa differed from other Churches K The Nicene Creed Creeds enlarged in Articles as Heresies sprung up The Ancients observed no strict formula's The Hierosolymitan Creed compared with other parcels of Antiquity No Creed in the ancient Service of the Eastern Church till Anno 511. nor till after that in the Service of the Western L Postils why so called Bidding of Prayers before the Sermon The original ground of them An ancient form thereof Preachers varied therein Bidding and Praying all one in effect Prayer before the Sermon in the Primitive Church St. Ambrose his form The people also prayed for the Preacher In the first times many preached one after another in one Forenoon The ancient Homilies avoid thorny subtilties and nice questions King James his Order recommended to present practice M A discourse upon the 18 Canon of the Council of Laodicea The order of Divine Service then The Prayer for the Caâ—echumens begun the Service It s formula out of Chrysostome The Communion did not begin in the Eastern Church upon the dismission of the Catechumens The several dismissions of that Church All comprehended in the Missa Catachumenon of the Western Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 N Four offerings at the Communion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alms a constant concomitant not accepted from all Differences in the Offertory Sentences betwixt the Scotch Service and ours whence derived O Two offerings intended by our Church Oblations how distributed in the Primitive Church Sportulantes fratres who Mr. Seldens mistake Oblations ceased not upon the payment of Tythes P Oblations anciently brought to the Altar The Chest for Alms where placed in the beginning of the Reformation Q Offering-dayes what Collar-dayes at Court Hermanus R Prayer for the whole state of Christs Church Many ancient Formula's thereof S Dypticks Rolls not Tables T Commemoration of the Dead Innocent at first but after abused V Two sorts of Dead commemorated The commemoration anciently used after the Elements were consecrated Why the Order transposed by our Reformers pag. 171 172. CHAP. VII A The Eucharist whence derived 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 different things and had different forms B Men and women sate separate one from another C Mixing of water with wine Ancient The reasons for it Dy Draw neer when to be said Chancels anciently peculiar to the Clergy The Emperor onely priviledged Laique Communion what Why Chancels allotted to the Clergy onely The people usually received at the Chancel door E Confession why necessary before the Communion The Priests posture at the Altar standing and why F Sursum corda Ancient G So also the Responces H Proper Prefaces I Trisagium Ancient Two Hymns so called K Consecration not performed by the words of Primitive Institution The sense of the Fathers The Ancient custom of saying Amen to the consecration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what in Justin Martyr L Remembrance of Christs Passion at the Eucharist Ought to be as well by verbal commemoration as by mental meditation The ancient formes M The bread anciently delivered into the Communicants hands N Kneeling in the act of receiving commended sometime used in Antiquity where practised since the Reformation O The various forms of delivering the Elements That of our Church justly preferred before the rest P The Scotch order for saying Amen by the party â—â—â—â—â—ing commended Singing of Psalms during the Communicating ancient Q The Roman order defective in the most proper Sacrifice R The Angelical Hymn Difference betwixt an Hymn and a Psalm The Hymn mis-placed in the Masse-book Our order more consonant to Antiquity The Council of Carthage cleared S The Benediction by whom to be given The custom of bowing at it T The second service when to be read V A Rubrick unhappily omitted W The remains of the Consecrated Elements how anciently disposed X To receive thrice in the year an ancient practice CHAP. VIII A Baptism how called in Antiquity why 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Illumination Barnabas his Epistle corrected Why the Laver of Regeneration a dissent from Mr. Selden and Dr. Hamond about its derivation B Sacrament what whence derived Sacramentum and Jusjurandum differ Baptism most properly a Sacrament why the office in order of place after the Communion C Easter and Whitsuntide why anciently times allotted for Baptism D Rivers the first Foâ—ts Baptisteries when erected the Directory felo de se. E Sanctifying of water what it meaneth F Two signings with the Cross anciently relating to Baptism one before and the other after why the Cross used in our Church after Baptism G The form of ancient Exorcism H Interrâ—gatories moved to Infants vindicated by the Primitive practice and parallel with the civil usages of others I Abrenunciation ancient several modes observed therein K Imposition of names why used at Baptism L Dipping not necessary England noted of singularity in that particular inconveniences thereof Many baptized in the same Baptisteries Women and men had several rooms in one Baptistery Diaconisses their office at the Baptising of women M Triple mersion ancient why ordained single mersion or aspersion the rule of our Church N White vestments ancient O Two Unctions anciently distinguished four several wayes P The Rubrique explained concerning the Cross. The first original ground of that Ceremony Miracles wrought with it Why miracles ceased why Timotheus and Epaphroditus cured without them Dr. Reinolds a friend to the Cross after the explanation of it The Cross not operative demonstrated by K. James his â—nâ—itting it in the Charismal office Q Private Baptism proved lawful by several Authorities R The former Rubrique allowed of womens Baptising S Necessity dispenceth with accidental formalities T Water a necessary element Beza his errour V What are the essential words of Baptism W Children to be baptized where the testimony is doubtful p. 237. CHAP. IX A Confirmation in what sense a Sacrament The closing ceremony of Baptisme Why very expedient at this time The Directory defective towards her own Principles B Confirmation by what names anciently called C The necessity of Catechising What Catechists were a dissent from Learned men Catechists not Presbyters Usually lay-men Women Catechised by women and why an especial reason for it in the Greek Church Sanctimonial Catechumens what not the same with Audientes as is commonly supposed in what sense sometimes called Audientes Lent set apart for Catechising Competents what The excellency of our Catechisme K. James his most judicious direction D The language of the hand what Imposition of hands denoteth E Confirmation peculiar to the Apostles and their Successors Bishops VVhy so Never performed by Presbyters VVhat
that at the day of the general Resurrection we and all they which are of the Mystical body of thy Son may be set on his right hand and hear that his most joyful voice Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world Grant this O father for Jesus Christs sake our onely Mediator and Advocate Amen Annotations upon CHAP. VI. A. Immediately after what meant by it a Bell usually rang betwixt Morning Prayer and the Sermon so also in Scotland B. Notorium what who notorious Offenders in the sence of our Church the 109 Canon the Committee 1641. the Ordinance of Parliament Octo. 20. 1645. the Imperial Law Primitive practice our Saviors president in admitting Judas The main reason for free admission C. Charity how necessary to a Communicant One loaf in the Primitive Church Agapae the holy Kiss D. The Table where to stand in Communion time E. The Lords Prayer always part of the Communion Office F. The ten Commandments with their Responces a laudable part of our Service G. Epistles their ground H. Clory be to thee O Lord It s ancient use I. Standing up at the Gospel very ancient why appointed what posture anciently used at the Lessons read and word preached Affrica differed from other Churches K. The Nicene Creed Creeds enlarged in Articles as Heresies sprung up The Ancients observed no strict formula's The Hierosolymitan Creed compared with other parcels of Antiquity No Creed in the ancient Service of the Eastern Church till Anno 511. nor till after that in the Service of the Western L. Postils why so called Bidding of Prayers before the Sermon The original ground of them An ancient form thereof Preachers varyed therein Bidding and Praying all one in effect Prayer before the Sermon in the Primitive Church St. Ambrose his Form The People also prayed for the Preacher In the first times many-preached one after another in one Forenoon The ancient Homilies avoid thorny subtilties and nice questions King James his Order recommended to present practice M. A discourse upon the 18 Canon of the Councel of Laodicea The order of Divine Service then The Prayer for the Catechumens begun the Service It s formula out of Chrysostome The Communion did not begin in the Eastern Church upon the dismission of the Catechumens The several dismissions of that Church All comprehended in the Missa Catachumenon of the Western Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 N. Four offerings at the Communinion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alms a constant concomitant not accepted from all Difference in the Offertory Sentences betwixt the Scotch Service and ours whence derived O. Two Offerings intended by our Church Oblations how distributed in the Primitive Church Sportulantes fratres who Mr. Seldens mistake Oblations ceased not upon the payment of Tythes P. Oblations anciently brought to the Altar The Chest for Alms where placed in the beginning of the Reformation Q. Offering-days what Collar-days at Court Hermanus R. Prayer for the whole state of Christs Church Many ancient Formula's thereof S. Dypticks Rolls not Tables T. Commemoration of the Dead Innocent at first but after abused V. Two sorts of Dead commemorated The Commemoration anciently used after the Elements were consecrated Why the Order transposed by our Reformers OR immediately after A great question there hath been of late about the alliance of this word After and to what it should relate one would have it applyed to the beginning of Morning Prayer as if it had been said Immediately after the beginning of Morning Prayer and videtur quod sic because the Latine Translator hath in this particular assumed the Office of an Interpreter rendring it Immediate post principium Matutinarum precum This notwithstanding I approve rather of their sence who make it relative to Morning Prayer and suppose as if the structure were immediately after Morning Prayer that is when it is ended and this I take it is plainly inferrible from the very scope of this Rubrick which was not as some may think to allot some space of time to make provision according to the number of the Communicants for the interstitium between the beginning of Morning Prayer and the time of the Communion is so slender a space for the provision of those Elements as should there be a want not half the Countrey Villages in this Kingdom can be timely supplyed therewith No it is clearly otherways and that the design was that the Curate might have timely notice of the several persons offering themselves to the Communion and consequently might peâ—swade notorious Offenders or malicious persons to abstain and if obstinate absolutely reject them according to the purport of the two Rubricks following for that those two Rubricks are of the same Syntax and cohaerence with this the Relative pronoun those infallibly implyeth for what those but they who were ordered before to give in their names over night or else in the morning before the beginning of Morning Prayer or immediately after Now how could the Curate possibly confer with such notorious evil livers or malicious persons between the beginning of Morning Prayer which imployd him wholly and the Communion unless there were some vacation allowed him between those two offices and that such a convenient space was allotted to intervene is evident by the practice of those times For the Morning Prayer and Communion were not continued as one intire Service but abrupt broken off and distinct each office from the other by these words Thus endeth the Order of Morning and Evening Prayer This was done that the Holy-day Service might be separated from the Weekly Whether or not the Congregation departed hence upon Sundays and Holy-days after the end of Morning Prayer and returned again to the Communion Service I will not positively determine I rather think not Because the Authors of the Admonition whose captious curiosity nothing could escape which seemed to promove their beloved quarrel have these words We speak not of ringing when Mattins is done which could not administer the least shew of blame had it been done in absence of the Assembly or had not the Congregation been then religiously imployed For this Bell was usually rung in the time of the second service viz. the Litany to give notice to the People not that the Communion Service as hath been supposed but that the Sermon was then coming on All Ringing and Knowling of Bells in the time of the Letany high Mass c. was interdicted by the Injunctions of Edward the sixth and Queen Elizabeth Except one Bell in convenient time to be rung before the Sermon In reference to the Sermon onely it was rung called therefore the Sermon Bell so that when there was to be no Sermon the Bell was not rung and Sermons were rare very rare in those days in some places but once a quarter and perhaps not then had not Authority strictly enjoyned them which usage of Sermon Bells hath been practiced and
Jesus Christ. Of the Epiphanie Scotch Lit. of the Conversion of S. Paul Of the Purification of the blessed virgin Of Saint Mathie the Apostle Of the Innuntiation of the blessed Uirgin Of Saint Mark the Evangelist Of Saint Philip and Jacob the Apostles Of the Assention of our Lord Jesus Christ. Scotch Lit. of Saint Barnabas Of S Peter the Apostle Of S. Bartholomew apostle Of S Michael the Archangel Of S. Simon Jude Apostles Of Saint Andrew the apostle Of the Nativitie of our Lord. Of S. John the Evangelist Mun. Tuesday in East week Of the Nativity of S. John Baptist. Of Saint James the Apostle Of S. Matthew the apostle Of S. Luke Evangelist Of all Saints Of S. Thomas the apostle Of S. Steven the Martir Of the holy Innocents Munday Tuesday in whitsun week Annotations upon CHAP. II. A The division of the Psalmes very discreet The ancient manner of singing them various in Antiquity The 15. Cannon of the Councel of Laodicea Expounded B Bookes and Chapters of Canonical Scripture least edifying omitted C The Rubrick for proper Lessons cleared D A necessary Cave at to ministers E Differences between the former Kalendars and ours Why several saints are added now more then formerly F Feasts instrumental to piety The Jews fasted on high festivalls till noon Whence our Fasts before some Holy-dayes Why not before All. G Holy dayes why fit to be established by Parliament Why instituted The Churches power to ordain them The Judgement of foreign Church and Divines Zanchy cleared a demur upon the best reformed Churches Our Holy-dayes not derived from the Pagans yet warrantable if they were THE Psalter shall be read through once every moneth In the Preface we are told that the Psalter was anciently divided into seven Portious called Nocturnes so as it was read over every week as may be collected out of Hierom. But this custom was onely peculiar to the Latine Church as for the Syriak and Greek Churches which as Mr Brerewood assures us conformed much in their rites they divided it so as it was not read over but every twenty dayes Our Church being loath that hir service should seem over-prolix allottteth to it one moneth or thirty dayes the very Tearm the Turks assign for their Alcoran a wonder she hath not forthat very reason been suspected as inclining to Mahumetism Though the Psalter be here appointed to be read yet must it be interpreted according to the ancient practise that is by way of responce the Priest one verse and the people another as Moses and Miriam sang their triumphant hymn Exod. 15. 1 21. The people alwayes bare a part in these psalms else the Venite were to little purpose though the mode did sometimes vary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one while ecchoing all together with the Priest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 another while returning by way of Antiphones as Philo of his Essenes Sometimes answering 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the same Philo calls them or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Clemens the Acrosticks extremities or feet of the verses oe else repeating the same again as it is supposed by Musculus and Calvin the Apostles did to our Saviour at his last hymn if so then we have an earlier president upon whom to fix it then either Platina's Damasus or Theodoret's Flavian and Dioscorus or Socrates ' his Ignatius But not to enqure into its first original which is uncertain let us rest and acquiesce in what is and must be granted that it was of Catholick practise in the primitive times St. Basil speaks for the East and St. Ambrose for the West In duas partes divisi alternatim sibi invicem canunt saith the first of the Christians of his age Disposed into two divisions they sing by course one to another Ecclesia stridet responsoriis Psalmorum saith the second The Temple roares and rings again with the responsories of the Psalms Now whereas counter to this the 15. Canon of a great Councel may be opposed which ordaineth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That none but the Canons or singing men of the Church which ascend up into the Pulpit and sing out of the Parchment should presume to sing in the Church Balsamon the great Canonist interpreteth the minde of the Fathers to be onely this that none of the people as it seemeth some had done before should undertake to begin or set the Psalmes but that it should be left to singers alone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for to sing in consort with the rest of the Quire the people are not interdicted by the Church This is Balsamons sense of this Canon I am rather prone to conceive that the Councel did intend a restreint upon the people from singing in consort that none should sing the body of the Psalm but the Canonical singers and that the people should onely return 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the extremities and ends of the verses as is said before for so doth Balsamons own Chrysostome represent the practise of his times 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. he who singeth singeth alone and though all the Congregation Eccho out the close of the verse the voice and sound seemeth to proceed as from one mouth Somewhat correspondent hereunto was that which Antiquity called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which answered the Hebrew Selah For where in the Psalmist there occurreth Selah in the original there the Septuagint Theodotion and Symmachus constantly render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word importing as St. Hierom conceiveth a connexion of antecedent and subsequent matter together the mode whereof St. Augustine tells us was for the Reader to bear his part and the people theirs Aliquando saith the Father in Psalmo 142. versus ipse in Diapsalmate ponitur qui praeeatur à lectore respondeatur à populo Sometimes in the 142. Psa. the verse it self is set after the fashion of a Dia-Psalm so that it may be begun by the Reader and returned by the people By the way take notice that here instead of Praeeatur the Froben edition that of Paris and others also as I conceive read Praebeatur which signifieth nothing and destroyes St. Augustines sense Praeeatur it must certainly be according to that usual form so often mentioned in Livy Agedum Pontifex publicus praei verba solemnia But to return to my former matter The truth is no uniform usage can be concluded out of the Primitive Fathers in this particular St. Hierom observing that there were Tot pene psallentium chori quot gentium diversitates As many different modes of singing as there were variety of Nations Except the Books and Chapters which be least edifying The Books omitted are the Chronicles Canticles Revelation and almost all Leviticus whereof two Chapters onely are reteined The Chapters are too numerous to set down if any please to examine them they will appear such as are as little edifying as the Bookes omitted and to omit what is in edifying
prayers of God would take up much more of the Lords day then in most places they do as Master Baxter saith very well As for this Doxology so often repeated in the service of our Church cause there is to think it very ancient and of much elder standing then the Councel of Nice St. Basil derives it very high citeth Irenaeus for the use thereof calleth it antiquam vocem a phraâ—e of great antiquity And doubtlesse so it is for Justine mentions it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Glorifying the Father the Son and the holy Ghost without a sound Confession of the Trinity is not enough to save us So also Clemens Alexandinus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Glorifying the Father onely and the Son with the holy Ghost And in all probability to this had Tertullian regard where interpreting that of the prophet Malachi Incense shall be offered and a pure offering he gives his sense of it thus by id est Gloriae relatio Benedictio Hymni the giving Glory to God the blessings and Hymnes Truth it is there might in the former times be some small syllabical difference in the rehearsing of it some thus Glory be to the Father by the Son in the holy Ghost some thus Glory be to the Father and the Son with the holy Ghost as Irenaeus in St. Basil others as we use it now in which diversity there was certainly nothing either intended ill towards the truth or which could be directly drawn into ill construction but when about the time of the Nicene Councel the Arrians began to sow their seeds of heresie touching the inequality of the three Persons and the better to colour their pretences sheltered themselves under the protection of the Doxology the Father by the Son in the holy Ghost formerly used to which they constantly adhered hereupon the Councel of Nice to avoid all occasion of future question held her self to that form which came nighest to the form of Baptisme composed by our Saviour and the Doctrine of Christian faith prescribing it to be punctually observed by all such as were of the Orthodox party So that the Church being then split into two divisions the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and form of Doxology used by ether side because the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and note of distinction from the other Now whereas it may be urged out of Philostorgius that Flavianus first brought it into use if the Author may not be questioned as partial being an Arrian yet may he be interpreted to speak in reference to Antioch onely And whereas St. Hierom hath been currantly delivered to be the Author and composer of the second verse As it was in the beginning c. the story of Leontius his cunning pronouncing of onely the end of that versicle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. world without end in an audible tone is evidence to the contrary that Leontius being contemporary with Athanasius and both long before Jerom. And from Easter to Whitsunday Hallelujah The fifty dayes between Easter and Whitsunday were dayes of excessive joy in the primitive Church in honour of our Saviours Resurrection and were in some particulars observed with equal solemnity to the Lords day as in not fasting not kneeling chanting this Angelical Hallelujah upon these dayes which last was retained by our first Reformers as a mark of honour fixt upon them In the Scotch Liturgy by way of responce is added The Lords name be praised more in compliance to exemplary usage then in advantage of the sense which is compleat enough without it for the Allocution of praise ye the Lord hath no implied reference to any such return from the people but onely regardeth the subsequent Psalm for as let us pray is usually premised to incite intention to an ensuing prayer with the same congruity is praise ye the Lord assigned as an impressive invitatory to a following Hymn calling upon the people to joyn not not onely mentally but vocally by way of alternate response after the Priest Then shall be said or sung this Psalm Such also was the mode in St. Basils time Ab oratione surgentes ad Psalmodiam instituuntur i. e. Rising from prayers they the Assembly fall to singing of Psalmes O come let us sing c. This is not to say properly the Invitatory but the Invitatory Psalm so called because it comprehends the Invitatory for the Invitatory it self is onely the verse O come let us worship and fall down and kneel before the Lord our maker which was in the Church of Rome often no lesse then six times repeated by the Priest at certain closes and Periods of this Psalm and as oft returned by the people which our Reformers judging to be a vain Tautology thought fit to omit it appointing the venite to be without the Invitatory The Original of this Invitatory was at first of valuable consideration For you must know that anciently as appeareth out of Chrysostome before the Congregation was compleat and fully assembled the usage was to entertain the time with singing of Psalms where of this was the chief And Durandus who lived about the 400 years since tells us it was then the fashion in some Churches for the people who lay in expectation of the morning Service as soon as they heard this Psalm once began presently they all hasted into the Church Then shall follow certain Psalmes Concerning the dividing of the Psalmes into certain portions for every day I have spoke before Then shall be read two Lessons In the Romish Church there are usually appointed nine Lessons whereof the three first are commonly out of the Epistles the three next are short extracts out of the Homilies and Sermons of the Fathers the seventh is almost constantly out of the Gospel next which followeth ashred of a homily out of the Fathers which supplieth the place of the Sermon in more ancient times and is a short exposition upon the Gospel then two Lessons taken out of some antient writer Therefore in the first injunctions of Edw. the 6. elder by a year then the first Liturgy it is appointed that in order to the reading of the Epistles and Gospels and one Chapter in the New Testament in English when nine Lessons should be read in the Church three of them shall be omitted and left out with their Responds The reading of Lessons out of the Old as also out of the New-Testament is in a punctual imitation of the Ancient Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Justine Martyr i. e. the Commentaries of the Apostles and writings of the Prophets are read as the time permits These Lessons except before excepted are not left arbitrary but either to be appointed by the Kalendar or by the Table of proper Lessons the first for Ordinary and work-dayes the second for Festivals And such also was the Primitive Custom Audistis Librum legi Job saith Ambrose qui solemni munere est decursus tempore you have
gifts with the Wismen applying the most remarkable occurrents of that day as inciâ—ements to rejoyce upon it Consonant is that of St. Basil who reckoning the special events on Christs Nativity saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The stars from heaven came to behold him the Magicians among the Gentiles made hast to adore him Ash-Wednesday and Lent Ash-Wednesday hath in antiquity two names First it is called Dies cinorum in reference to the Penitents whereof more under the title of Commination who were this day sprinckled with Dust and Ashes Secondly Caput jejunii the top of the Fast or first day of Lent Instituted it was by Gregory the Great the occasion this Lent commencing according to the former mode on the Sunday after Quinquagessima lasted six weeks or forty dayes from these substract six Sundayes which were never to be fasted there remained thirty six Lenten dayes the just tenth of the year abating the fraction of five dayes for multiply 360 by 10 the quotient will be 36. so then God by this observation received from the Christians a tenth as well of their time as of their fruits this was one designe of Lents original Now St. Gregory that the Churches practise might be more agreeable to the great exemplar of our Saviours 40. dayes the quotient observed by Moses and Elias abstinence in the wildernesse added these four dayes to compleat the number of 40. dayes But though by this rule the Church conformed nigher to the pattern of our Saviour as to the Number of 40. yet in the appointment of that time she varied from his copy Christ fasting immediatly after his baptisme she fasting before Baptisme and great reason had she so to do there were in those dayes many persons adult of full growth who became converts to Christianity and had besides original many actual sins to account for these could not be cleansed by the water of Baptisme unlesse they were first rinsed in the water of contrition therefore to these repentance was as necessary a requisite before baptisme as faith for as St. Basil saith exellently 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Repentance must lâ—ad the way to Faith whereas our Saviour being without sin had no need of Repentance to precede his baptisme in this respect this Quadragesimal fast whose chief end is humiliation and Repentance was very aptly premised before Easter the grand time designed for that Sacrament as a preparation to it And not in this respect alone but in several others for at that great solemnity Penitents were to be restored to a neerer Communion with the faithful did they shew any evident signes of Godly sorrow or contrition which the Scleragogy and hard treatment of so long a time of fasting and humiliation was most like to create And as Penitents were at that time to be reconciled to the faithful so were the faithful then also more then ordinarily to be reconciled to God Easter being the most solemn time alloted for the celebration of the Lords supper whereof the Jewish Passeover was a Type As for the first Institution uncertain it is from whom to derive it St. Hierom ascends to Apostolical Tradition Nos unam Quadragesimam toto Anno jejunamus secundum traditionem Apostolicam We observe in the whole year one Quadragesimal Fast according to Apostolical tradition Not strictly so I conceive but according to the latitude of the Language or conception of those times wherein the same Hierom tells us Unaquaeque Provintia praecepta majorum lâ—ges Apostolicas arbitratur every Province accounts the Precepts of their Ancestors as Apostolical Ordinances But though its derivation possibly will not reach so far yet considering that Origen Tertullian and the Councel of Laodicea mention it it must be allowed for very ancient For the manner how it was in general observed leaving particular dayes to be spoken to in their proper order the Councel of Laodicea informs us of these four particulars First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That no consecration of the Sacrament be made in Lent but onely on the Sabbath and Lords-day This was done upon this account The consecration of the Bread and Wine was as those Fathers supposed an action more properly ally'd to the nature of a Festival then of a Past and it being the custom at that time to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper every day that there might be wherewith to supply the concernments of that Service and also for a Viaticum to Penitents and others in theâ—r fatal last it was thought meet that upon the Sabbaths and Lords Dayes there should be consecrated such a surplusage to be reserved as might be sufficient for those intents which consecrated Elements so received were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 foreconsecrated By this Canon the different nay contâ—ary customs of the East and West may be observed the first keeping the Sabbath as a Festival the second as a Fast yea the Trullan Councel magisterially enough decreeth that the 66. Canon of the Apostles which is penal to all such as fast on the Sabbath day shall be of force 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the very Church of Rome her self For which cause saith Balsamon that Church doth disclaim this for an Oecumenical Councel The second particular is Canon 50. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That it is meet to fast all Lent eating dry-meats These dry-meats we may safely presume were Bread water and Salt for so Epiphanius deciphereth them at the end of his Panarium If so it may be positively concluded that Wine Whit-meats Oyl and Fish as well as Flesh were within the interdict of the ancient Abstinence The third is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That the Birth dayes of the holy Martyrs be not celebrated in Lent But that their commemoration be transferred to the Sabbaths and Lords dayes whether this was extended to all other Festivals as well as the Birth-dayes of Martyrs I cannot say sure I am the day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Annuntiation which alwayes falls in Lent was observed under the sixth General Counsel The last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That there must no Marriages nor Birth-dayes be celebrated during the time of Lent At what hour this Fast was to determine and when the people were to take their repast this Synod hath no decree in which point I observe in the Primitive Church a diversity betwen the Quadragesimal the Lent Fast and that of Wednesdayes and Fridays The Lent as all extraordinary and high Fasts were protended and reached to the evening thereof Expectas vesperam ut cibum oapias saith Basil of Lent Fast thou waitest for the Evening that thou maist refresh thy self The weekly Fast determined at the ninth hour or three in the afternoon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Epiphanius All the year long and Wednesdays and Fridayes they brake not their fasts until three in the afternoon But this distinction was not entertained in the Catholik Church until after
not to whole Congregations as in the former instances where the confession is too general to be conceived in all real and a confession at large can at most pretend but to an Absolution at large effectual only to such as truly and sincerely repent If the rich person desire to be anointed Constat hunc ritum nec vetustum esse nec ullo praecepto Dei vel laudato Sanctorum exemplo commendatum saith Buâ—er It is clear this Rite is neither ancient nor commended to the Churches practice by any either precept of God or example of the Primitive Fathers Most true Confest it is as to matter of Fact Apostolical those holy men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 anointed many infirm persons Marc. 6. 13. So also as to matter of precept that St. James appointed the Elders to anoint the sick person but both the one and the other was in order to a miraculous operation in the cure of the diseased and therefore not practicable in these times which pretend to no such gifts Nor was it interpreted then to be a rite so necessary but that the miracle of healing could proceed otherwayes and without it as may be instanced in several cures mentioned in the Acts. And for times succeeding the Apostles no one example occurreth in any genuine Father of any so cured but only of Severus the Emperour by Proculus the Toparch related by Tertullian And were that command of Saint James obligatory to succeeding ages yet can it no wayes authorise the unction of the Church of Rome which is designed for other ends viz. to be a viaticum in the moment of expiration The Communion of the sick The administration of this Sacrament to Christians in extremis and their fatal farewel was reputed by the Primitive Fathers so necessary a dispensation as they indulged it even to such as were excommunicated by the censures of the Church and were not no not in case they recovered admitted to communicate until their full time was elapsed So the first Council of Nice decreed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concerning Lapsed persons and Penitents 〈◊〉 out of the world let the ancient and Caâ—onical rule be observed that if any â—e in that extremity let him by no meant be deprived of his last most necessary viatieum and provision for a better world As to this Office of our Church Scripta est ad Divinarum Scripturarum regulam quam 〈◊〉 saith Bucer It is framed most agreeable to the rule of holy Scripture The Argentine or Strasburgh exiles had in their Liturgy an Office entituled De Eucharistia ministranda aegrotis Of administring the Eucharist to sick persons Yea Calvin himself pleads much for it Cur caenam Aegrotis non arbitror negandam esse mulâ—ae graves causae me impellunt Many and weighty causes move me to think the Communion should not be denied to sick persons True it is he tells Olivian scis frater alium esse apud nos morem Our usage here at Geneva is otherwise but then adds withall fero quia non est utile centendere I endure it because I know not how to hâ—â—p it So that Geneva her self by Calvins confession was not so well ordred in all things as he wished Then shall the Priest reserve Though circumstances of time place persons and the like add no real grandure to the things themselves to which they relate yet considering the potent influence they have in operating upon human affections they have so much weight as the things themselves for a great part of the honour and respect is deferred to them stand obliged to the rites wherewith they are ceremoniated whence it is that in all religious transactions they make the deepest impression upon our souls which are invested with greatest solemnity Upon this account the Primitive Fathers though passionately indulgent towards and tender of their sick brethren in granting them their spiritual viaticum yet alwayes took a care that the Elements should be consecrated in the Church And indeed if Consecration be of any import if with God it prevaileth any thing effectual towards the making those Elements the body and blood of Christ if in us it createth any greater reverence to those dreadful mysteries then certainly that Consecration must needs excel all others which is made in the full Congregation g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where there is 〈◊〉 â—oâ—course of Reverend Saints plying the Throne of Grace so ardently and so unanimously for a blessing upon those Elements This Rubrique therefore being so consenant to antiquity and passing the censure of Buâ—er without the least reproof had a fair plea for its continuation had not the Eucharist so reserved been abused by superstitious carrying it about in solemn procession and the habitual adoration frequented in the Romish practice moved our Reformers to expunge it This notwithstanding I observe in a Latin Translation of our Liturgy Anno 2. Elâ—â— this Rubrique exactly set down according to the first Liturgy of Edward 6. enjoining the Minister to reserve tâ—ntum quantum sufficit â—groto sufficient for the sick person The wonder iâ— not great if consideration be had of the Primary Relatives of that Translation This is clearly exhibited in the Proclamation prefixt to it for it was set forth by Supreme Authority Constituimus per praesâ—ntes licitum esse c perâ—â—ssum 〈◊〉 authorâ—tate privilegio regali tam Decano sodalitio Ecclesiae Christi in Academia nostra Oxoniae quam Praesidibus Custodibus Rectoribus Magistris Sodaliratibus omnium singulorum Collegiorum Cantaâ—riâ—â—ae Oxoniae Wintâ—niae Etoniae noc modo precandi Latine uti publicâ— in Ecclesiis farellis suis. We ordain by these presents that it shall be lawful and 〈◊〉 â—or Authority and Princely Privilege as well for the 〈…〉 Christ in our University of Oxford as for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Master and Fellows of all and singular the Colleges of Cambridge Oxford Winchester and Eaton to use this form of Latine 〈◊〉 publickly in their Churches and Chapels Whereby it is most eviaâ—nt the Translation was made peculiarly for the service of the Universities and two Colleges of Winchester and Eaton And this is the reason that the Matrimonial Office â— as also the other two of Baptism and Churching of Women 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it are totally omitted in that Translation the state of Matrimony being 〈◊〉 consistent with the fundamental Statutes of those Societies Now this Translation being framed particularly for those Learned Societies they might be the better trusted with the Elements reserved upon a rational presumption that the greateâ— light they enjoyed the less prone and disposed would they be to errour and superstition The Priest 〈◊〉 the Corps The rites of funeral exportation appear in antiquity so various as it is not easie by literal interpretation to determine of them that they are not contradictory By the fourth Council of Carthage it was decreed Ut mortous Ecclesiae Paenitentes efferant That the
the Alterations H Antiently Bishops visited in person An uniformity of Articles commended I The Canons 1603. not repugnant to the Act for uniformity The power of the civil Magistrate in Ecclesiastical matters K The occasion of the conference at Hampton-court L The Proclamation of King James obligatory to Obedience M Our service not taken out of the Masse-book N The Pye Several acceptations of the word O Apocryphal Lessons lawful to be read The Minister hath Liberty to exchange them for Canonical Scripture They are more edifying then many Chapters of the Canon appointed by the Directory P The Bishops to interpret in doubtful cases Q The several degrees of the first Reformation R What meant by the Minister saying daily prayer either privately or openly S Ceremonies of humane Institution lawful Proved by the several confessions of Reformed Churches T Order in the Church of Divine institution Orders to be obeyed not disputed where they are not simply unlawful V The Churches prudence and moderation in her first Reformation W Significant Ceremonies lawful X Superstition defined Y Our Ceremonies elder then the Masse-Book Directory a Popish word Z Scandal no just exception against our Liturgy by the confession of Geneva herself More scandalized and more justly by the Directory then our Common Prayer pag. 17. CHAP. II. A The division of the Psalmes very discreet The ancient manner of singing them various in Antiquity The 15. Cannon of the Council of Laodicea Expounded B Bookes and Chapters of Canonical Scripture least edifying omitted C The Rubrick for proper Lessons cleared D A necessary Caveat to Ministers E Differences between the former Kalendars and ours Why several Saints are added now more then formerly F Feasts instrumental to piety The Jews fasted on high festivals till noon Whence our Fasts before some Holy-dayes Why not before All. G Holy-dayes why fit to be established by Parliament Why instituted The Churches power to ordain them The judgment of forein Churches and Divines Zanchy cleared a demur upon the best Reformed Churches Our Holy-dayes not derived from the Pagans yet warrantable if they were pag. 55. CHAP. III. A Morning and Evening Prayer agreeable to the Jewish and Christian practice The three houres of Prayer in the Temple The 6. of private devotion B Where Morning and Evening Prayer are to be said Why the place left arbitrary to the Bishop C What meant by Chancels shall stand as they have done D Ornaments in Cathedrals E The Surplice defended and primitive practice set down F A discourse concerning the Translations of the Bible where the obstacle was that our Liturgy was not reformed in this particular G To begin with confession ancient H What meant by the word alone in the Rubrick of absolution I The Lords Prayer why pronounced in a loud voice K The primitive practice concerning Amen L The Versicles and Responds Canonical Scripture approved by Bucer M The original of the Doxology its antiquity N Hallelujah at what time to be used O The Invitatory what and why devised P The Number of Lessons in the Romish Church Our manner of reading them most conformable to antiquity The Contents of the Chapters of what use Q The primitive custome before every Lesson R The benefit of mixing Psalmes or Hymnes with Lessons S Te Deum how ancient T Benedicite ancient V Benedictus and other Hymns vindicated used by the Dutch Church W The Creed anciently no part of the Liturgy how imployed why called the Apostles the Catholick Church a phrase as ancient as Ignatius Reason why so called The variety of Symbols whence derived why the Creed pronounced standing X The Lord be with you whence derived Difference betwixt it and Peace be to you Y Let us pray an ancient formula Z Lord have mercy upon us c. called the lesser Litany A A O Lord shew thy mercy upon us c. are canonical Scripture B B Collects why so called p. 71. CHAP. IIII. A Catechising part of the Evening Office The want thereof the cause of heresie Judgement of the Synod of Dort Sermons where in the Primitive Church part of the Evening Office B Evening Prayer why so called An ancient Evening Hymn C The Doxology of the Pater Noster why omitted in our service D A necessary Rubrick added by the Scotch Liturgy E Athanasius his Creed falsly so called yet ancient and extant in Anno 600. after Christ. F Litanies Ancient in the Western Church long before Mamercus Reformed by Gregory the Great ours whence derived the Gesture proper for it G Wednesdaies and Fridaies why dayes of fastings Stations what and why so called Tertullian cleared H Forgiving our Enemies a peculiar of Christianity The Jewish and Romish practice contrary to it I Repeated Prayers most powerful K The Thanksgiving for Rain c. a necessary Reformation p. 97 CHAP. V. A The Introit what B Epistles and Gospels very necessary why Epistles when all are not so The reason and defence of that denomination C Advent what and why observed D Christmas day It s antiquity variously observed in the primitive times The precise day dubious and unnecessary to be known Calvin passionately for it Observed by the Synod of Dort and the Belgick Church A main argument for it E Two Communions anciently in one fore-mâ—n F Why the Feasts of St. Stephen St. John and Innocents are celebrated neer Christmas day G Antiquity of the Circumcision feast H Epiphany what Ancient I Ashwednesday and Lent the original and various observation of them K Palm Suâ—day how observed L The holy week why so called M Maunday Thursday a day of great note N Good-Friday anciently a very high day a day of general Absolution O Easter-Eve the great day of Baptising competents Watching the Sepulchre whence derived P Easter-day of Apostolical institution Q Easter-Mnoday and Easter-Tuesday very anciently observed R Dominica in Albis S Rogation dayes why instituted T Ascension day why rarely mentioned in Antiquity Pentecost what Synods anciently summoned about this time V Whitsunday why so called a private conjecture W St. Andrews day why the first festival X Conversion of St. Paul why not observed Paul and Peter one intire festival anciently and of late years Y The Purification of Mary anciently how called why Candlemass-day Z The Annuntiation of the Virgin Mary how Ancient A St. Philip and Jacob and All-Saints B St. Peter hath no single day C The Festival of Mary Magdalen why discontinued p. 133. CHAP. VI. A Immediately after what meant by it a Bell usually rang betwixt morning Prayer and the Sermon so also in Scotland B Notorium what who notorious Offenders in the sense of our Church the 109 Canon the Committee 1641. the Ordinance of Parliament Octob. 20. 1645. the Imperial Law Primitive practice our Saviours president in admitting Judas The main reason for free admission C Charity how necessary to a Communicant One loaf in the primitive Church Agapae the holy Kiss D The Table where to stand in Communion time E
meant by Presbyteri consignant in the counterfeit Ambrose F Vnction or Chrism an ancient ceremony belonging to Confirmation why separated at length from it and indulged to Presbyters The Arausican Council diversity of readings Sirmundus his Edition defended Whence two Chrismations in the Church of Rome G Signing with the Cross a companion of unctson H Children when anciently confirmed I Communication of the Eucharist to succeed presently upon Confirmation p. 261. CHAP. X. A. The Matrimonial Office very necessary Marriage ought to be blessed by a Minister Our Saviour and the Primitive Fathers did it Set forms anciently used B. Times prohibited for Marriage upon what Law founded The Directory as guilty of Popery therein as our Church C. Marriage anciently celebrated ad ostium Ecclesiae D Mutual consent of both Parties necessary Espousals what E The giving of the Woman ancient F. The excellence of the English mode in receiving the Wife from the Priest G. The right hand a Symbole of fidelity H. A Ring why given by the man The ancient use of Rings I. Why the Ring is laid upon the Book K. Why the Ring is put upon the 4th singer the usual reason rejected L With my Body I thee worship what meant by it M. The blessing ought to be by imposition of hands N. Why the married couple to communicate O. The visitation of the sick a necessary Office P. A sound faith how necessary Q. Charity very necessary to a dying man R. So also Almes-giving S. Absolution how commendable and comfortable The several kinds of absolution T. Extreme unction why laid aside V. Communion of the sick vindicated Calvin foâ— it W. Reservation of the consecrated Elements anciently very laudable X. The various customs of bearing the Corps to Church Copiatae what Why Hymns sung all along as the corps was born Y. The Resurrection of our bodies ought to be the chief of our Meditations upon funeral occasions Z In sure and certain hopes c. What meant by it AA Prayer for the Dead in the Romish Church implyeth not Purgatory The mind of the Breviary opened Trentals what BB. Communion at Burials ancient why now laid aside The Original of Oblations Doles at Funerals and Mortuaries p. 291 CHAP. XI A The grounds of Thanksgiving after Child-birth why rather for this than other deliverances B Our Church doth not Judaize Difference betwixt our practice and Jewish Purification C What meant by the word Church into which the woman is to come D The woman not enjoined a veil F The 121 Psalm not abused E But deliver us from evil why returned by way of response F Commination how often used in the year G Why read in the Pulpit A discourse of reading-Desks none setled by Rule before the Canons 1603. upon what occasion devised H A Discourse of publick Pennance By whom it was imposed and how long to continue The several motions of it in the Greek Church What meant by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what and what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Errours noted in the Editions of Zonaras and Balsamon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what Penitential customs in the Western Church Africa most severe and why The ancient mode of Excommunicating of notorious offenders out of Gratian Discourse upon it Adgeniculari charis Dei in Tertullian Penitents when reconciled in the Latine Church The Ancient Discipline commended and Vote for its restauration I What meant by the word Curate in our Liturgy K Homilies whether part of our Churches Service And whether the Doctrine of our Church L Calvins Epistle to the Protector mis-dated in all Editions p. 315 FINIS THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER AND Administration of the SACRAMENTS AND Other RITES and CEREMONIES OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND CHAP. I. An Act for the uniformity of Common-Prayer and service in the Church and administration of the Sacraments WHere at the death of our late soveraign Lord King Edward the sixt there remained one uniform order of common service and prayer and of the administration of Sacraments Rites and Ceremonies in the Church of England which was set forth in one book entituled the book of Common-prayer and administration of the sacraments and other rights and ceremonies in the Church of England authorized by act of Parliament holden in the lift and sixt years of our said late soveraign Lord king Edward the sixt entituled an Act for the uniformity of Common-prayer and administration of the Sacraments the which was repealed and taken away by act of Parliament in the first yeer of the raign of our late soveraign Lady Queen Marie to the great decay of the due honour of God and discomfort to the professours of the truth of Christs religion Be it therfore enacted by the authority of this present Parliament that the said statute of repeal and every thing therein contained onely concerning the said book and the service administration of Sacraments rites and ceremonies contained or appointed in or by the said book shall be void and of none effect from and after the feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist next coming And that the said book with the order of service and of the administration of Sacraments rites and ceremonies with the alteration and additions therein added and appointed by this statute shall stand and be from and after the said feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist in full force and effect according to the tenour and effect of this statute any thing in the aforesaid statute of repeal to the contrary notwithstanding And further be it enacted by the Queens highnesse with the assent of the Lords and Commons of this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same that all and singular ministers in any Cathedral or parish Church or other place within this realm of England Walâ—s and the marches of the same or other the Queens dominions shall from and after the feast of the Nativity of saint John Baptist next coming be bounden to say and use the Mattins Even-song celebration of the Lords Supper and administration of each of the sacraments and all other common and open prayer in such order and form as is mentioned in the said book so authorized by Parliament in the said fift and sixt year of the raign of king Edward the sixt with one alteration or addition of certain Lessons to be used on every Sunday in the year and the form of the Letanie altered and corrected and two sentences onely added in the delivery of the Sacrament to the Communicants and none other or otherwise And that if any manner of Parson Uicar or other whatsoever minister that ought or should sing or say common prayer mentioned in the said book or minister the sacraments from and after the feast of the â—ativity of saint John Baptist next coming refuse to use the said common prayers or to minister the sacraments in such Cathedral or parish Church or other places as he should use to minister the same in such order and form as
is not a ceremonial law as much of Moses law was but it is a religion to serve God not in bondage of the figure or shadow but in the freedom of the spirit being content onely with those ceremonies which do serve to a decent order and godly discipline and such as be apt to stir up the dull minde of man to the remembrance of his duty to God by some notable and special signification whereby he might be edified Furthermore the most waighty cause of the abolishment of certain ceremonies was that they were so far abused partly by the superstitious blindnesse of the rude and unlearned and partly by the unsaciable avarice of such as sought more their own lucre then the glory of God that the abuses could not well be taken away the thing remaining still But now as concerning those persons which peradventure will be offended for that some of the old ceremonies are retained still if they consider that without some ceremonies it is not posible to keep any order or quiet discipline in the Church they shall easily perceive just cause to reform their judgements And if they think much that any of the old do remain and would rather have all devised anew Then such men granting some ceremonies convenient to be had surely where the old may be well used there they cannot reasonably reprove the old onely for their age without bewraying of their own folly For in such a case they ought rather to have reverence unto them for their antiquity if they will declare themselves to be more studious of unity and concord then of innobations and new-fanglenesse which as much as may be with the true setting forth of Christs religion is alwayes to be eschewed Furthermore such shall have no just cause with the ceremonies reserved to be offended For as those be taken away which were most abused and did burden mens consciences without any cause so the other that remain are retained for a discipline and order which upon just causes may be altered and changed and therefore are not to be esteemed equall with Gods law And moreover they be neither dark nor dumb ceremonies but are so set forth that every man may understand what they do mean and to what use they do serve So that it is not like that they in time to come should be abused as the other have been And in these our doings we condemne no other nations nor prescribe any thing but to our own people onely For we think it convenient that every countrey should use such ceremonies as they shall think best to the setting forth of Gods honour and glory and to the reducing of the people to a most perfect and Godly living without errour or superstition And that they should put away other things which from time to time they perceave to be most abused as in mens ordinances it often chanceth diversly in divers countries Annotations upon CHAP. I. A The necessity of Common Prayer And of a Book of Common Prayer â—b Arguments for set forms Proved to have been used in the three first centuries after Christ. And approved by Reformed Churches B. Set forms of Administring the Sacraments Proved by Primitive practise C. Rites and Ceremonies fit to be prescribed D. Every Particular Church hath authority to prescribe set forms and Rites The main ground of uniformity E. A necessity of an Act for uniformity F. The present Act a revivor of a former G. The Parliament did onely ratify not make the Alterations H. Antiently Bishops visited in person An uniformity of Articles commended I. The Canons 1603. not repugnant to the Act for uniformity The power of the civil Magistrate in Ecclesiastical matters K. The occasion of the conference at Hampton Court. L. The Proclamation Of King James obligatory to Obedience M. Our service not taken out of the Masse-Book N. The Pye several acceptations of the word O. Apocryphal Lessons lawful to be read The Minister hath Liberty to exchange them for Canonical Scripture They are more edifying then many Chapters of the Canon appointed by the Directory P. The Bishops to interpret in doubtful cases Q. The several degrees of the first Reformation R. What meant by the Minister saying daily prayer either privately or openly S. Ceremonies of humane Institution lawful Proved by the several confessions of Reformed Churches T. Order in the Church of Divine institution Orders to be obeyed not disputed where they are not simply unlawful V. The Churches prudence and moderation in her first Reformation W. significant Ceremonies lawful X. Superstition defined Y Our Ceremonies elder then the Masse-Book Directory a Popish word Z. Scandal no just exception against our Liâ—urgy by the confession of Geneva her self More scandalized and more justly by the Directory then our Common Prayer THE Book of Common Prayer As God is the first principle and Prime efficient of our being so that very being of so supereminent a quality is obligation of the highest importance for us to defer to him the greatest Honour we possibly can That which hath the ordering and disposal of this Honour to him is Religion the most noble the most proper act of Religion is Prayer an act by which we turn Tenants to God and own him as the Donor of every good and perfect gift A duty enforced by our Saviours expresse command Pray alwayes so he Luke 18. 1. Continually so his blessed Apostle 1 Thes. 5. 17. that is Levant and couchant morning and evening sutable to the Diurnal sacrifices in the Temple that at least A duty dignified with the gift of miracles exemplified in Elias Joshua and many more Now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i e. if the solitary prayer of one single supplicant be so operative what would it do in a full Assembly who combining together besiege and beset God with their prayers such a storming of and forceable entry into heaven being most acceptable to him as Tertullian elegantly Such an advantage hath the Publick above the Private the Church above the Closet and hence a necessity of Common Prayer But there may be a necessity of Common Prayer yet no necessity of a Book of Common Prayer that is of a set form The prayers of the Minister in the Congregation for the Congregation are Common Prayers which are Prayers conceived and without book Answer Confest such Prayers may in some sort be called Common Prayers but not so properly as set forms because the Minister who officiateth Publickly is but the Agent the representative of the people in their resort to God Now in arbitrary Prayer he cannot so well be called the mouth of the Assembly or said to send up his prayers on their errand when they are not privy to one syllable he will deliver when he speaks alwayes his own not alwayes their sence in which case the peoples Amen should be as Arbitrary as is his Prayer and if upon some dislike at the either matter or form the people think fit to suspend their
sunt quos dirigit amor i. e. they are the best natured whom love perswades so plures sunt quos corrigit timor they are more numerous whom awe constrains upon which very score necessary it was to call in aid of the civil power which was done here by act of Parliament So that no one order had reason to except against this established form the Clergy were imployed as contrivers of the model The laity from the highest to the lowest all Kings Lords and Commons were interested in the ratification wherby a coercive power in order to conformity was constituted And that the said book with the order of service c. This act is not introductory of a now Liturgy but a reviver of the old that of the fift and sixth of Edward the 6 the remains of which structure are so considerable notwithstanding it hath gone twice to the mending as may worthily give it the denomination of Edward the 6 his Liturgy With one alteration c. It must not be imagined that either the Queen or the Parliament made those alterations for the review of the Liturgy was commited by the Queen to certain Commissioners viz to Mr. Whitehead Doctor Parker after Arch-Byshop of Canterbury Doctor Grindal after Bishop of London Doctor Cox after Bishop of Ely Doctor Pilkinton after Bishop of Durham Doctor May Dean of St. Pauls Doctor Bill Provost of Eaton and Sr. Thomas Smith These adding and expunging where they thought meet presented it to the Parliament who onely established what they had concluded upon As for the several changes Alterations and differences betwixt this Liturgy of ours and that of the 2 of Edward 6. this statute takes not notice of them all but what is defective herein Smectymnuâ—s hath supplyed as shall be observed at their several occurrences To inquire in their visitation c. Diocesan visitations were alwayes of very eminent use in the Ecclesiastical Polity and peculiar of the Episcopal function Indeed none â—o fit to make the scrutiny and lustration as he who is to pronounce the censure upon this account Primitive Bishops held themselves obliged as no disparagement to their Grandure to perform the office in their own persons St. Augustine plead it in bar to Celer's action of unkindnesse against him for not writing sooner Quâ—niam visitandarum Ecclesiarum ad meam Curam pertinentium necessitate profectus sum i. e. Because saith he I was gone a broad upon abusinesse of necessity the visiting of such Churches as were within my cure So the Mareotick Clergy in the defence of Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria against a calumny of his adversaries make mention of his visitation in person and not onely so but also that they themselves were of his train when he went upon that service In after times their work encreasing so as they could not well attend it themselves they had their Periodeutae and Itinerary Vicars to go the circuit for them these acting still agreeable to a series of Articles enjoyned by their Bishops In the beginning of the Reformation when it much concerned the Civil power to act as we say of natural agents ad extremum Potentiae to the utmost of its politick hability King Henry the eighth and Edward the sixt and Queen Elizabeth though I presume upon consultation had with the Clergy assumed and exercised the Authority of framing and imposing a body of Articles for Episcopal visitations which had certainly this very commendable property that they preserved uniformity whereas the leaving them to every arbitrary fancy and the exercise of that liberty by some Bishops of later memoray was in my opinion a probable way of erecting Altar against Altar and creating Schisme in the Church The Queens Majesty may by the like advice c. There was in the Act premised a prohibition with a penalty annext to it that no Parson Vicar or other whatsoever Minister shall use any other rite ceremony order form c. then is mentioned in the Book of Common prayer against this constitution a caveat is entred here whereby the Queen may by the advice of her Commissioners or metropolitan ordain and publish such farther Ceremonies or Rites as may be most for the advancement of Gods glory c. So that upon the entertainment of this exception the rule is corroborated as to all particulars not so exempted and consequently that none might innovate any Rite not expressly enjoyned in the book of Common Prayer then established or Book of Canons legally to be framed afterwards Which clause of reserve was no impowring nor enabling the Queen with any new and upstart authority but onely a declaration of what was resident in her before as inseparably incident to the supream Dominion vested in the Crown Agreeable to which She Anno. 1597. authorised the Clergy then met in Convocation to make and publish certain Canons which she after confirmed under the great Seal of England Other Canons there were made Anno 1571. But being not ratified with royal Authority I suppose they were not obligatory enough to constrain obedience and as concerning these of 1597. the formal words of her heires and successors being omitted in those Ratifications they were supposed onely obligatory during her Reign and that they together with her self breathed their last Whereupon King James in the first year of his reign issued forth a new Commission by his letters Patents to the Convocation then assembled therein giving them full power and Authority to consult and agree upon such Canons c. as they should think necessary which being concluded upon by the Clergy and presented to his Majesty He did for himself his heires and lawful successors confirm them with his royal assent as may be seen more at large in that Ratification Indeed the supremacy of the Civil Magistrate as to confirmation and a cogency of external obedience in Religious and Ecclesiastical affaires is no usurpation upon the Churches right as the Romish party contend against us but hath been approved of in the purest times and therefore whereas they seem to presse us with the objection That our Religion is Parliamentary because some concernments thereof have been Ratified by Act of Parliament Our answer is that Parliaments Enact not without the Royal assent This is onely this that vital spirit which regularly animates those establishments and from such assent the two first general Councels not to insist upon Nationals received their confirmation Eminent is that of Socrates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. I therefore so often mention the Emperours in the series of my History though Ecclesiastical because that from the very first of their becoming Christians all Church matters depended upon their pleasure so as the greatest and Oecumenical Councels were then and are still convented by their order and summons As concerning these Canons of our Church Regal assent it was alone which firmed them the Parliament though then sitting not being resorted to nor interposing their Authority an unhappy disjunctive
heard the book of Job read unto you at its solemn office and peculiar time And a little after sequente die speaking of good-Fryday Lectus est de more liber Joniae the next day according to the old wont was read the book of Jonas his convert St. Aust. to the same purpose Nunc interposita est solemnitas sanctarum dierum quibus certas ex Evangelio lectiones oportet in Ecclesia tractari quae ita sunt annuae ut aliae esse non possunt Now is the Solemnity of the holydayes meaning Easter wherein set Lessons out of the Gospel are ordered to be read which are so determined and limited as they can be no other And elsewhere intercesserunt ut omitteremus textum hujus Epistolae quaedam pro diebus festis solemnia lectionum quae non potuerunt nisi legi Solemn Lessons appointed for festival dayes which must not be left unread interposed and caused me to omit a while the text of this Epistle The Contents of the Chapters were devised as helpful indexes to facilitate the more speedy finding out of the most remarkable passages being onely serviceable for private use For which reason from the tenth Chapter of the Prov. to the twenty fift there are no contents prefixt these Chapters being not as the other written in method or upon a set subject but occasionally uttered at several times and observed by Solomons Courtiers who committed them to writing as they occurred to their memories And before every Lesson the Minister shall say thus The Primitive Custome in this particular was surpassing edifying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Deacon stood up proclaiming aloud Listen my Brethren 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then the Reader begins to read first inviting his audience to attention by saying these words Thus saith the Lord. After the first Lesson shall follow Te Deum This order of intermixing Hymnes and Psalmes with Lessons is made in pursuance of that excellent Canon of Laodicea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is not meet to sing the Psalmes in a continued course in the Church but to interpose a Lesson between evey Psalm So ordered saith Balsamon that this might be as a rest in musick and after that the congregation to sing again that the service might not be thought tedious and therefore he Con's that Councel many thanks for so discreet a Canon Indeed Breve videbitur tempus quod tantis operum varietatibus occupatur The variety of such changes is an excellent disposing of the time in such imployments Nothing is certainly more delightful not onely to the outward senses of the Body but even to the very soul it self then variety this it is which calls up in her her former vigor and vivacity this that makes her shake off her former lassitude embracing every new object with a most greedy desire every change is as it were an unbending of the minde the very heathen Orator found it so Stilus lectione requiescit ipsius lectionis taedium vicibus levatur The stile is refresht by reading and reading it self is much relieved by interchanges The observation of this Rule in other relations hath been motive all sufficient to Gods people in all ages to frame their Divine service so Mosaick of so many peeces so commodiously disposed to rescue each other from tediousnesse as upon every transition and passage from one Duty to another the spirit may still reserve an appetite whence it is that Consessions prayers Doxologies Psalms Lessons c. are assigned their proper vicissitudes and divide the time alloted for such sacred perfomances so as the soul may attend every motion of them Te Deum laudamus This hymn passeth up and down as the Composition of St Ambrose and St. Augustine joyntly upon occasion of St. Augustines conversion and Baptisme by St. Ambrose But the very learned Primate of Armagh produceth two very ancient M. S. S. wherein it is ascribed to Nicetius and from Monardus proveth that it is not mentioned by any ancient Author before St. Bennet betook himself to a monastick life which was about the year 500 who speaks of it in his Canonical Rules or Benedictine Office in whose time one Nicetius a Bishop lived and perhaps the same to whom it is ascribed But be he the Author or be he not the frame is so excellently modelled as the Church of human structure could not enjoyn a better and indeed the structure 't is alone that is human the materials being divine and of sacred derivation as for the avoiding of prolixity I have noted in the Margin Or Benedicite This is called the Hymne of the three children the first mention I finde of it in antiquity is in the fourth councel of Toledo Anno 634. which saith Ecclesia Catholica per totum Orbem diffusa celebrat the Catholick Church spread over all the Earth doth sing it and that juxta antiquam consuetudinem agreeable to the ancient custom Benedictus This hymn with Nunc dimittis and Magnificat are faulted because being made upon occasion of particular benefits they are not applicable to all To which it is answered that these hymns are not absolutely commanded but being joyned with others the rule of our Church is precisely this or that leaving in the minister a power to make his own election Again this Argument hath the same force and edge against Davids Psalms many of which were composed upon private emergences and seem as incommodious for publick concernments which yet we dare not upon that account proscribe out of the service of the Church Nor may I pretermit the Canon of the Belgick Church established by the Synod of Dort Hymni Mariae Zachariae Simeonis cantabuntur the Hymns of Mary Zachary Sime on shall be sung Then shall be said the Creed The Creed neither this nor any other was never any part of the Liturgy or publick office either in the Greek or in the Latine Church until nigh upon 600. years after Christ the onely and constant use thereof in publick was the prescribing it as the great Lesson for the Catechumens to learn and rehearse in Publick in order to their Baptisme So for this Creed Ruffinus tells us it was the Roman mode qui gratiam Baptismi suscepturi sunt fidelium populo audiente symbolum reddunt They who are about to receive the grace of Baptism rehearse the Creed in the hearing of all the faithful And being himself about to expound upon it he first premiseth that he intends to tie himself to the order and form quem in Aquileiensi Ecclesia per lavacri gratiam suscâ—pimus which in the Church of Aquileia we received when we were admitted to the laver of Regeneration So for the Hiero solymitan Creed Cyril his Catecheses are explications upon it for the instruction of the Carechumens so for the Nicene or rather the Constantinopolitan Creed Epiphanius tells us that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every Catechumen who intended
of his own designation wherein he dispenseth with the Churches liberty to vary necessity or just occasion inviting The celebration of the blessed Eucharist is by universal usage mis-timed from its first institution now in the morning then at night So is the Lords-day beginning in the Apostles times at the Evening preceeding with us at one in the morning why may not then the memorial of our Saviours Nativity be celebrated on a day varying from its true original especially considering that it is not yet infallibly discovered which it is And if so why may we not conforming to the practise of the Catholick Church observe the 25. of December as our Church enjoyneth To stand upon such niceties is but a peevish kinde of Devotion meer superstition and the next way to bring the great mystery of our Saviours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and incarnation first into contempt and next into oblivion And whereas we are upbraided with the practise of Reformed Churches which have discontinued the solemnization of this day not to repeat what I have instanced before out of the Churches of Helvetia and Bohemia out of Bucer and Zanchy and to reach the very vitals of this objection I must tell the opponents that for Geneva the place so urged against us Mr. Calvin himself blusheth at her Reformation and is so concerned so moved with the blemishes of it in this point as he passionately apologizeth thus Sancte testari possum me inscio ac ne optante quidem hanc rem fuisse transactum I can solemly protest that the Abrogation of this festival was transacted without my knowledge nay against my wish And again Ex quo revocatus sum hoc temperamentum quaesivi ut Christi Natalis celebraretur vestro more From the very first of my return to this place I endeavoured this moderation that Christs Birth-day should be observed after your custom If Calvins judgement because single will not be listened to what say they to the very remarkable practise of the Synod of Dort for which in other relations they have so high a friendship Festum natalis Domini nostri Jesu Christi instabat propter cujus celebrationem actiones Synodi per aliquot jam dies interrumpendae essent The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ was now at hand in order to whose celebration the actions of the Synod were for some few dayes to be interrupted which was actually done the Sesson being intermitted from Dec. the 22. to the 28. as appeareth by the acts of that Synod And lest it should be thought this was done onely to complement our British Divines I shall produce the warrant it self of its establishment from the very Canons of that Church Ecclesiae observabunt praeter Diem Dominicum etiam diem Nativitatis Domini Pascha item Pentechosten cum die insequente Et quoniam in plerisque urbibus ac regionibus Belgiae insuper observantur festa Circumcisionis ac Ascensionis Christi allaborabunt ministri quibuscunque locis id nondum est usu receptum ut volente Magistratu hac in parte reliquis accedant The several Churches shall observe over and besides the Lords-day the day also of Christs Nativity Easter also and Whitsunday with the day following And because in many places and Cities of Belgia moreover the feasts of Christs Circumcision and Ascersion are celebrated also The Minister shall use his best endeavour that the Magistrats consent first obtained they in such places where these dayes are not yet received into use would conform to the practise of others So this Canon confirmed with the rest by the Synodical Act of Dort Anno 1619. confirmed I say by a ratification superinducted to a former establishment as is evident by the Greek and Latine edition of those Canons set forth by Jacobus Revius To be short let our Adversaries be in their declamations against other festivals as obstreperous and loud as they please such clamours we can both hear and pitty but when they de-cry with so much noise this grand Festival together with that of our Saviours Resurrection and Ascension and the descent of the holy Ghost to our Christian charity they stand obliged if we do not justly suspect in good earnest some designe dangerous even to Christianity it self considering that the main fundamentals of our faith have such direct and immediat reference to those feasts and that the yearly celebration of them is but a tacite Anniversary rehearsal of the chief Articles of our Creed At the second Communion Some festival dayes in the Primitive Church were of higher repute then others In the Greek Church the Nativity of Christ the Epiphany Easter Ascension and Pentecost the Latine instead of the Epiphany advanced the passion day or good Friday These dayes were called most commonly by the Eastern Fathers X 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Christian Panegyries as a note of distinction from dayes of Lesser account alluding to the custome of the Hea then Greeks who called their Olympick Isthmiack Pythick and Nemean games 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because the whole nation resorted to those solemnities as at these feasts the whole Diocesse did assemble and this is the reason that in the Homilies of the ancient Fathers and Bishops who usually preached at their Cathedrals on these dayes the Church is so often said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 throng'd with the concourse of the people This confluence of the multitude being so great when Christianity had once possest whole nations few Churches could afford room convenient for so many to communicate at once whereupon it was directed ut cum solemnior festivitas conventum populi numerosioris indixerit quem simul recipere un a basilica non possit sacrificii oblatio indubitanter iteretur That when some high Festival summoneth too many for one Church at once to receive then the celebration of the Sacrament to be without further scruple repeated whic practise continuing down to the reformation and still preserved in the first Liturgy of Edw. 6. was discreetly omitted in the second upon consideration that it was formerly the turn-key to let in the multitude of Masses so frequent in the Romish Church St. Stephen St John St. Innocents 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Proclus upon St. Stephen Here 's on s Festival upon the neck of another the servants honour attends his masters Birth-day and this is the onely account we have from Antiquity of his waiting upon Christs Nativity in his own solemnity The constitutions called Apostolical reckon St. Stephens in the catalogue of holydayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let them cease from labour upon St. Stephans day but when that his Anniversary was to be celebrated onely Proclus informeth us As for St. John though there be no clear and expresse mention of his Festival in elder times yet considering that all the Apostles had their set dayes assigned he is in all reason to be supposed to have had his share of honour equal to
Winter through in the Evening Service were then laid aside according to the Proverb On Candlemas day lay Candles away But more properly from the former custom of bearing Tapers lighted in Procession upon this day in imitation of the five wise Virgins represented in the parable Matth. 25. as St. Bernard delivereth or to put Christians in remembrance of Christ the spiritual Light of whom Simeon did Prophesie as is read in the Church that day The Annunciation of the Virgin Mary There pass two Homilies the one under the name of Gregorius Neocaesariensis the other of Athanasius which were Preached on this Day But in regard they are both Impostures the yongest being at least 600 years after Christ as the Ora pro nobis sufficiently demonstrateth I shall not urge them Nor indeed could the celebration of this Day consist with the Canons of the Church at that time because it fell in Lent a time of Fasting and Humiliation wherein the Councel of Laodicea decreed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the Birth-days or Passions of the Martyrs and consequently other Festivals be not celebrated nor do I finde any mention of this Festival in any piece I dare confide in before the sixth general Councel in Trullo where the fifty second Canon stands thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. that in all the days of the Lenten Fast unleâ—s it be on the Sabbaths Lords-Days or on the holy Annunciation Day the service of the Elements beforeconsecrated be performed Philip and Jacob. In ancient Martyrologies this day was stiled the Feast of Philip and Jacob and All Saints All Saints was indeed its first and most genuine appellation upon which account as the Western Church observed this very day so also did the Eastern or at least some other in temporality and point of time very near it for St. Basil preaching upon this or the like day saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. for the most part we celebrate the memory of the Martyrs Martyrs not of one Martyr this day Now what this day was at the end of that Homily he is more explicite 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This very day determineth the year past and commenceth that which is to come evidently denoting New-years day Now the Primitive Christians of the East began their year in April which they called Hecatombaeon in honor of their Easter and so the distance of time could not be much As to the original of its Institution it was this The Apostles Evangelists and Martyrs Luminaries of the greatest Magnitude being honored with days of single appropriation it was withal considered that very many others though of inferior note had yet sacrificed their Lives in defence of the Catholick Faith and it was requisite their Honor should in some competency be provided for to gratifie it with the assignation of a particular day to every one being so numerous was impossible therefore the best expedient was to celebrate their memories by one day allotted to all whereby God might be glorified for them as comprehended under one Constellation why this Feast was translated to the Calends of November Ritualists give a probable though earthy and sensual account viz. Because of the scarcity of Victuals in the Spring and plenty at the time of defoliation or fall of the leaf so Durandus Biel and others As to the persons now commemorated on this day the first is Philip not the Evangelist neither the Collect second Lesson nor Gospel of our Church speaks him so but the Apostle and not he because he suffered on that day as Chronologers and Ritualists of the Romish Church assert late Tradition I confess hath crucified him and so Johannes Euchaitensis delivers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philip came to the same end with Peter But neither Eusebius nor Hierome who followed him knew of any such thing and Clemens Alexandrinus who lived near up to the Apostles times is positive in the contrary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matthew Philip Thomas and Levi did not suffer as Christian Confessors The next is James not he the son of Alpheus nor he the son of Zebedee but James the brother of our Lord though the Greek Menology fixeth this day upon the second St. Peters Day This day was not dedicated to Peter alone but to Peter and Paul joyntly and in the Romish Church June the 13 is allotted intirely for the Commemoration of St. Paul the coupling of these two Apostles together in one Festival is no late invention for Theodorus Lector mentioning a Petition of one Festus a Roman Senator to Anastatius the Emperor for the celebration of the memory of these two Champions of the Church Peter and Paul he saith It was never kept with such splendid solemnity as then an Argument of its existence before St. Mary Magdalene Upon stricter scrutiny and inquiry to our second Reformers it did appear dubious as it doth still to Grotius and other learned men whether the Woman mentioned in the Gospel applyed to this day was Mary Magdalene or not nay they rather inclined to think she was Mary the sister of Lazarus upon which account the Festival came to be discontinued in our Chruch CHAP. VI. Common Prayer The Order for the Administration of the Lords Supper or holy Communion 1 B. of Edw. 6. The Supper of the Lord and the holy Communion Commonly called the Masse SO many as intend to be partakers of the holy Communion shall signifie their names to the Curate over night or else in the morning before the beginning of Morning prayer or immediately after And if any of those be an open and notorious evil liver so that the congregation by him is offended or have done any wrong to his neighbours by word or deed The Curate having knowledge thereof shall call him and advertise him in any wise not to presume to come to the Lords table untill he have openly declared himself to have truely repented and amended his former naughty life that the congregation may thereby be satisfied which afore were offended and that he have recompensed the parties whom he hath done wrong unto or at the least declare himself to be in full purpose so to do as soon as he conveniently may The same order shall the Curate use with those betwixt whom he perceiveth malice and hatred to raign not suffering them to be partakers of the Lords table untill he know them to be reconciled And if one of the parties so at variance be content to forgive from the bottom of his heart all that the other hath trespassed against him and to make amends for that he himself hath offended and the other party will not be perswaded to a godly unity but remain still in his frowardnesse and malice The Minister in that case ought to admit the penitent person to the holy Communion and not him that is obstinate 1 B. of Edw. 6. Upon the day and at the time appointed for the ministration of the holy Communion the Priest that
is still if I mistake not in some parts of Germany in Scotland I am sure or the Reverend Bishop of Galloway deceives me Having persued his Narrative through all the divisions of that Churches first Service at length he adds You hear the third Bell ringing and in this space the Reader ceaseth and at the end of the Bell ringing the Preacher will come There being then as I have said so apparent and visible a breach between the first and second Service the Morning Office and the Letany it is very probable though the Assembly did not dissolve yet was there such a ceasing and rest from sacred Imployments as might give the Curat◠time in that Interval both to receive the names of such as intended to communicate as also to admonish and in case of obstinacy to repel scandalous persons from that Ordinance sure I am he was then more at leisure then he could be at any other time after Morning Prayer begun and before it were ended And if any of them be an open and notorious evil liver c. Notorium amongst the Civilians and Canonists is threefold First there is Notorium Praesumptionis a notoriousness of Presumption where Evidentia rei est evidenter à Jure praesumta The evidence of the thing is taken for evident by presumption of Law As where it presumeth one to be the Son of such a man because he was born in Wedlock Secondly There is Notorium Juris a notoriousness of Law when the offence is proved either per confessionem factam in Jure by confession made in open Court or per Sententiam Judicis by the Sentence of the Judge Lastly There is Notorium facti a notoriousness of Fact when per evidentiam rei nulla potest tergiversations celari The evidence is so clear as the Accusation can by no shifts be avoided Now to which of these three the term Notorious in this Rubrick relateth is a great question The learned Prelate Bishop Andrews restraineth it positively to the second Our Law of England saith he will not suffer the Minister to judge any Man a notorious Offender but him who is so convinced by some legal Sentence The Law of England will not suffer it so that should the Ecclesiastical permit it the Municipal Law would not and if it comes to an Antinomy a justle between the Canon Laws of our Church and the Law of the Land this it is must over-rule But doth our Canon Law give any such toleration doth it impower any Minister to exclude his Parishioner claiming his Christian priviledge in those blessed Mysteries from the Sacrament or to make his private discretion the supream Judge of the Notoriousness here mentioned certainly no. As for the 26 and 27 Canons which are produced to the contrary they neither speak explicitly enough nor do they sufficiently direct in this Affair The Canon wherein our Church declareth her minde more articulately is the 109. If any offend their Brethren either by Adultery Whoredom Incest or Drunkenness or by Swearing Ribaldry Usury or any other uncleanness and wickedness of life the Church Wardens or Quest-men and Side-men in their next Presentment to their Ordinaries shall faithfully present all and every of the said Offenders to the intent that they and every of them may be punished by the severity of the Laws according to their deserts and such notorious Offenders shall not be admitted to the Communion till they be reformed where I note First the Crime must be scandalous an Offence to the Brethren Secondly it must be presented to the Ordinary Thirdly That such scandalous Offenders so presented to the Ordinary are not to be admitted to the Communion But some perhaps will say this was one of the failings of an ill regulated State and Church which justly called for a Reformation and so indeed it was pretended by Dr. Burgess and Mr. White of Dorchester at a Committee sitting in the Lords House in March 1641. But upon a full debate it was determined at that Committee to the very conviction of the Opponents that open and notorious evil-livers were none but such as the Laws had adjudged to be so Agreeable to this determination did the Parliament afterwards ordain That no person be suspended from the Communion for any matter of scandal but either upon his confession before the Eldership to have committed such an offence or upon the testimony of two Witnesses at least and those examined upon oath So was it ordained by this Parliament sufficiently Presbyterian against the liking of an Assembly of Presbyters which did Enixins Dogmatis Argumentis in contrarium nec semel sed frustra contendere vehemently though all to little purpose more then once oppose it with all the Arguments they could as Mr. Selden assures us Having opened the minde of our both Church and State as to this particular it will not be amiss to represent the conformity it beareth with the Imperial Edict and practice of the Primitive Church As for the Emperial Law it speaks loud enough Omnibus Episcopis Presbyteris interdicimus segregare aliquem à sacra communione antequam causa monstretur propter quam Sanctae regulae hoc fieri jubent We prohibit all both Bishops and Presbyters from shutting out any one from the Communion before just cause be shewn that the holy Canons warrant them so to proceed As for the primitive usage St. Augustine fully Nos à Communione quenquam prohibere non possumus nisi aut sponte confessum aut in aliquo Judicio Ecclesiastico vel seculari nominatum at que convictum We cannot repel any man from the Communion unless he hath freely confest his offence or hath been accused and convicted in some secular Court or Ecclesiastical consistory Indeed so was the Legislative patern of our Saviour in the first institution of his Supper Never was there a more detestable Crime then Judas his Treason never was Delinquent convicted upon Evidence so infallible as his Masters Omniscience But though he had already projected the conspiracy and our Saviour already knew it yet did he not interdict him from participating with his elect Apostles recommending thereby to his Church this Lesson that no outward communion of the wicked with us in those sacred Ordinances can possibly render them ineffectual to his holy Ones 'T is true I grant some learned men depart from this sence and because St. John saith that Judas having received the sop went immediately out thence infer his absence at the time of Christs instituting his last Supper But our Church is positive in the contrary nor can St. John be otherwise reconciled to the rest of the Evangelists To conclude the result of all the premises is That none are to be suspended from this Sacrament but the notorious Delinquents and that none are notorious but they whom the Sentence of the Law or their own confessions have stated so to be All reason it should be so My temporal Estate no
Elizabeth her first Injunctions and succeeding Orders In the Canon the Order is that the Table shall stand where it is placed viz at the east end of the Chancel Saving when the holy Communion is to be administred At which time the same shall be placed in so good sort as thereby the Minister may be more conveniently heard of the Communicants and the Communicants also may more conveniently and in more number communicate with the Minister Which words are almost verbatim transcribed out of the Queens injunctions these only superadding And after the Communion done from time to time the same holy table to be placed where it stood before Nothing can be more expresse and demonstrative that the table placed where the Altar stood was but supposed set out of the way during onely the Time of Non-communication and that at the time of the Communion it was to be removed as the word Saving mentioned both in the Canon and in the injunctions and the cited member of the Injunctions infallibly implieth if these instances afford not satiety to quiet all scruples the Orders of that Queen speak shril enough And if in any Church the steps be transposed that they be not erected again but that the place be decently paved where the Comnunion Table shall stand Out of the time of receiving of the holy Communion Order Oct. 10. 3. Eliz. So that out of Communion time the Table is to stand Altarwise as we and onely we do phrase it for Altarwise is an idiome peculiar to us English not known abroad in forreign parts and they who can finde Popery in that position have better eyes then ordinary Altars with them do not observe one regular position some are placed in the middle of the Quire some at the upper part end-wayes north and south and if eye witnesses may be trusted the chief Altar in St. Peters Church at Rome stands in the midst of the Chancel As for the Priest standing at the north side of the Table this seemeth to avoid the fashion of the Priests standing with his face towards the East as is the Popish practise So the M. S. collections of a learned man Shall say the Lords prayer The Lords Prayer hath been ever since Christianity a considerable portion of the Communion service and instituted so to be by Christ himself if credit may be given to St. Hierom Docuit Apostolos ut quotidie in corporis illius sacrificio credentes audeant loqui Pater Noster c. i. e. Christ taught his Apostles the boldnesse to addresse themselves to God in his own words in the daily sacrifice of his body The like is affirmed by St. Augustine Epist. 59. and Gregory Lib. 7. Epist. 63. Then shall the Priest rehearse the ten Commandments The recital of the Decalogue with the Pater Noster and Creed were enjoyned by Henry the 8. and his Son Edward in his first in junctions but the rehearsal of them after this sort that is before the Epistle and Gospel and with these Responses was not introduced untill the second Liturgy of Edward the 6. An order it is of as high prudence as can be devised in such a Christian affair Here is God speaking by the Priest another Moses to the people so it should be speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall say unto thee and we will hear thee Deut. 5. 27. he stands delivering Gods message to us while we ly prostrate in the lowest posture we can stricken down with terrour at those dreadful Laws the violation of the least of which were enough in Gods strict eye eternally to condemn us Laws which never any man without Gods preventing and assisting grace did or can observe and therefore we are directed by the Church to invoke Gods grace for our performance of his will to every Precept we are taught to apply St. Augustines Da quod jubes grant me to do what thou commandest The sum of this Petitionary Responce is derived from Deut. 5. 29. Oh that there were such an heart in them that they would keep all my Commandments And as we crave such an heart from God so we implore his mercy for our violation of them The Priest shall read the Epistle The Epistle or as the ancients sometimes called it the Apostle was instituted to personate and represent the Law preceding the Gospel and therefore for the most part is formed of such parcels of the Apostolical writings as are more eminent for moral instructions Glory be to thee O Lord. This Doxology is omitted in our Reformed Liturgy not out of any particular disgust against it but because our Church was studious of reducing her sacred rites to a lesse onerous model Antiquity did own it with an high regard and it deserved no lesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. The Deacon going about to open the Gospel consisting of four parts we all fix our eyes upon him as still as may be and when he begins to read the Gospel by declaring whence it is taken we presently all rise up acclaiming Glory be to thee O Lord Alcuin gives a satisfactory reason for it Quasi dicat Quia verba salutem conferentia mox audituri estis laudate Dominum cujus benâ—ficio hanc gratiam percipere meruistis Because you expect to hear the words of the Gospel which brings salvation to all true beleevers therefore praise that God who hath graciously dispenced to you so great a blessing Standing up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when the Gospel is read let all Prosbyters Deacons and all the people stand up with much silence and attention Clem. Const. l 2. c. 57. so also the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mentioned in the foregoing place of Chrysostome imports a custom anciently observed with that punctual strictnesse as none of what quality soever was exempted from it as the same Father assures us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i e. while the holy Gospel is reading we do not attend in a carelesse posture but standing up with much gravity we so receive the message c. yea the greatest potentate on earth stands upalso with awful reverence takes not the liberty to cover his head with his imperial Diedem but in all submissive manner behaves himself in the presence of God who speaks in those sacred Gospels standing is in truth the most proper posture of attention and if any part of Scripture requireth attention the Gospel doth it in an eminent degree the reading whereof is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the setting of heaven gates wide open not with the Psalmist for the King of Glory to enter in but for the King of Glory to come forth Nor shall it passe without a note that this passage of Chrysostom presents the Emperor himself not onely standing but also standing bare at the reading of the Gospel such honour was then deferred to those Evangelical tidings But here it will be demanded what assurance I can give that those early
relate to the holy Ghost were added by the Constantinopolitan fathers and some say framed by Gregory Nyssen but I see no full evidence for it As for the Publick use of this Creed in the dayly offices of the Church Durandus Polydor Virgil and some late Authors fixt the first original upon Marcus and Damasus Bishops of Rome But Walfridus Strabo who flourished 850. and therefore likelier to know the truth then his juniors delivereth no such thing referring us to the third Concel of Toledo celebrated Anno 589. And this Councel tells us whence she had it decreeing ut per omnes Ecclesias Hispaniae Galliciae secundùm forman Orient alium Ecclesiarum Concilii Constantinopolitani Symbolum recitetur that throughout all Churches of Spain and Gallicea according to the mode of whom of the Western No but of the Eastern Churches the Constantinopolitan Creed should be rehearsed Certainly had the use thereof been in the Church of Rome at this time the Councel would not have rambled unto the East for a president And confest it is by all Romanists generally that from the Greeks they had not onely the Creed it self but also the first hint of making it an Auctory to the Liturgy If so then it will be taken tardè to enter very late and very short of Damasus his time For Vossius from Theodorus Lector proveth evidently the Greeks themselves had it not very many years before this Councel Macedonius an Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople being violently expelled by Anastasius the Emperour to make way for Timotheus an heritick of the Eutychian Sect no soonor was Timotheus settled in his See but presently at the entreaty of his friends he ordered that the Constantinopolitan Creed should be said at every Church meeting or time of publick Prayer to the discredit of Macedonius as if he were disaffected to it whereas until that time it was onely rehearsed once a year when the Bishop Catechised on Maundy Thursday Thus Theodorus and this was about the year 511. which being the first hint we have in all antiquity of this or any other symbol represented as Parcel of the publick Liturgy we will give those Ritualists leave to say their pleasure and we will have the like liberry to think what we list But though the Church Primitive was â—low in imploying it as we now do they having designed it for other very Religious intents yet can that be no competent bar to us but we may both this and others dispose as we do to the best improvement of our faith and edification of the Common interest of the Church After the Creed if there be no Sermon In the Primitive service no Creed interposing the Sermon immediatly followed the Gospel and was an usual explication upon it whence I conceive the name Postil is derived quasi post illa Evangelia Postil being nothing but a discourse upon and subsequent to the Gospel These Popular discourses had in Antiquity various appcllations in the earliest times 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was the most usual so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word of exhortation Acts 13 14. So in Clemens his constitutions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 next let the Presbyters exhort the people then they called them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 homilies then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sermons Among the Latines St Cyprian especially Tractatus a tract is most familiar in Augustine and Ambrose disputatio a disputation frequently occurreth because therein they usually undertook the confutation of either Heathens Jews or hereticks Lastly Sermo a Sermon was then also in use Regularly and of courses the ancient form of bidding of prayers will here fall under cognisance and the rather because some thing like it is established by the Canons of our Church It s original extraction claiming precedency of consideration I shall begin with that The Agenda of Religion in our Church before the Reformation were performed it is well known in Latin a Language very inâ—difying to a non-intelligent people That so many so much interested and concerned in those sacred offices should not be totally excluded as idle spectators or fit for nothing but now and then to return an Amen to they knew not what this expedient was devised The people were exhorted to joyn in prayers according to certain heads dictated to them by the Minister in the English tongue observing the method and materials of the then Prayer for all States so that of all the service then used this onely could properly be called Common-Prayer as being the onely form wherein the whole Congregation did joyn in consort and therefore the title of it in the Injunctions of Edw. 6. Anno 1547. is The form of bidding the Common-prayers Now because it was made by Allocution or speaking to the people agreeing with what the Primitive Church called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it was called Bidding of prayers Thus in short as to the ground of this ancient form will you now see the form it self behold it here After a laudable custom of our Mother holy Church ye shall kneel down moving your hearts unto Almighty God and making your special prayers for the three Estates concerning all Christian people i. e. for the Spiritually the Temporalty and the soules being in the paines of Purgatory First for our holy Father the Pope with all his Cardinals for all Arch-Bishops and Bishops and in special for my Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury your Metropolitan and also for my Lord Bishop of this Diocesse and in general for all Parsons Vicars and Parish Priests having cure of souls with the Ministers of Christs Church as well Religious as not Religious Secondly ye shall pray for the unity and peace of all Christian Realms and especially for the Noble Realm of England for our Sovereign Lord the King c. and for all the Lords of the Councel and all other of the Nobility which dwell in the Countries having protection and governance of the same That Almighty God may send them grace so to govern and rule the Land that it may be pleasing unto Almighty God wealth and profit to the Land and salvation to their souls Also ye shall pray for all those that have honoured the Church with light lamp vestment or Bell or with any other ornaments by which the service of Almighty God is the better maintained and kept Furthermore ye shall pray for all true travellers and tillers of the earth that truely and duely done their duty to God and holy Church as they be bound to do Also ye shall pray for all manner of fruits that be done upon the ground or shall be that Almighty God of his great pitty and mercy may send such wedderings that they may come to the sustenance of man Ye shall pray also for all those that be in debt or deadly sin that Almighty God may give them grace to come out thereof and the sooner by our prayer Also ye shall pray for all those that be sick or diseased either in
body or in soul that the Almighty would send them the thing that is most profitable as well bodily as ghostly Also ye shall pray for all Pilgrims and Palmers that have taken the way to Rome to saint James of Jerusalem or to any other place that Almighty God may give them grace to go safe and to come safe and give us grace to have part of their prayers and they part of ours Also ye shall pray for the holy Crosse that is in possession and hands of unrightful people that God Almighty may send it into the hands of Christian people when it pleaseth him Furthermore I commit unto your devout prayers all women that be in our Ladies bonds that Almighty God may send them grace the child to receive the Sacrament of Baptisme and the mother purification Also ye shall pray for the good man and woman that this day giveth bread to make the holy-loaf and for all those that first began it and them that longest continue For these and for all true Christian people every man and woman say a Pater Noster and an Ave c. After this followeth a Prayer for all Christian Souls reckoning first Arch-Bishops and Bishops and especially Bishops of the Diocess then for all Curates c. then for all Kings and Queens c. then for all Benefactors to the Church then for the Souls in Purgatory especially for the Soul of N. whose Anniversary then is kept This was the form preceding the Reformation of it made by King Henry the eighth This King having once ejected the Popes usurped Authority used all possible Artifice to keep possession of his new-gained Power That by the whole â—lergy in Convocation that by Act of Parliament he was recognized Supream Head of the Church of England he thought it not enough But further ordered the Popes name to be utterly rased out so are the words of the Proclamation of all Prayers Orisons Rubrioks Canons of Mass Books and all other Books in the Churches and his memory never more to be remembred except to his contumely and reproach Accordingly also he caused this Form to be amended by omitting the Popes name with all his Relations by annexing the title of Supream head to himself and by contracting it into a narrower model But though this King corrected so much as served his own turn yet all the Popery of this form he did not reform but left the Prayer of the Dead remaining As for King Edward the sixth the form enjoyned by him was the same precisely with that of Henry the eighth That of Queen Elizabeth varieth for the better from both these Praying for being changed into Praysing God for the dead and with her form agreeth that in the 55 Canon of our Church almost to a syllable Before all Sermons Lectures and Homilies Preachers and Ministers shall move the People to joyn with them in Prayer in this form or to this effect as briefly as conveniently they may Ye shall pray for Christs holy Catholick Church that is for the whole Congregation of Christian People dispersed throughout the whole world and especially for the Churches of England Scotland and Ireland And herein I require you most especially to pray for the Kings most excellent Majesty our Soveraign Lord James King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defendor of the Faith and Supreme Governour in these his Realms and all other his Dominions and Countries over all persons in all causes aswell Ecclesiastical as Temporal Ye shall also pray for our gracious Queen Anne the Noble Prince Charles Frederick Prince Elector Palatine and the Lady Elizabeth his wife Ye shall also pray for the Ministers of Gods holy word and Sacraments aswel Arch-Bishops and Bishops as other Pastours and Curates Ye shall also pray for the Kings most honourable Councel and for all the Nobility and Magistrates of this Realm that all and every of these in their several Callings may serve truely and painfully to the glory of God and the edifying and well governing of his people remembring the account that they must make Also ye shall pray for the whole Commons of this Realm that they may live in true Faith and Fear of God in humble obedience to the King and brotherly charity one to another Finally let us praise God for all those which are departed out of this life in the Faith of Christ and pray unto God that we may have grace to direct our lives after their good example that this life ended We may be made partakers with them of the glorious Resurrection in the life Everlasting Alwayes concluding with the Lords prayer Having beheld the Reformation of the form it will not be amisse to look into the practise This upon my best inquiry all along the dayes of Edward the 6. and Queen Elizabeth is exhibited by onely six Authors Two Arch-Bishops Parker and Sands Four Bishops Gardner Latimer Jewel and Andrews In all these I observe it interveneth betwixt the Text delivered and the Sermon Arch-Bishop Parker onely excepted who concludeth his Sermon with it I observe also in them all that it is terminated in the Lords Prayer or Pater Noster for which reason it was stiled Bidding of Beades Beads and Pater Nosters being then relatives Lastly I observe in every of them some variation more or lesse as occasion is administred not onely from the precise words but even contents of this form And from hence I infer that the Injunctions both of Edw. the 6. and Queen Elizabeth being framed before any reformed Liturgie was by Law established did not bind Preachers so strictly to the precise words of that form when the service was rendred in English as when in Latin for it is not presumable those eminent men would have assumed such a liberty to vary the expression and enlarge in some other matters had not they understood the Churches dispensation therein But there were afterward some overforward to abuse this Liberty and minding the interest of their owne Principles took the boldnesse to omit the main who could be content to pray for James King of England France and Ireland defender of the faith but as for supreme Governor in all causes and over all Persons as well Ecclesiastcal as Civil they passed that over in silence as that very King hath it who thereupon re-inforced the form by the Canon afore specified As for the late practical change of Exhortation Let us pray into Invocation we pray In my weak apprehension it is but the very same in effect and operation and neither to be justly quarrelled at especially when the Lords Prayer which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 summarily comprehendeth all we can ask is the close to both Having discoursed the practise of our own Church it will not be amisse to examine that of the Primitive Church and the rather because many have been of that opinion that no prayer before the Sermon was used in those times Counter to which several Authorities may be opposed
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. i e. The Deacon pronounceth Let us stand up with reverence Let us pray earnestly for the Catechumens That the most merciful God would hear their prayers would open the eyes of their hearts that they may hear such things as the eye never saw the ear never heard nor can it enter into the heart of man to conceive That he would instil into them the word of truth would sow his fear in them and establish his faith in their minds That he would reveal unto them the Gospel of righteousnesse and give them a minde divinely inspired a prudent understanding and a virtuous conversation alwayes to minde alwayes to regard what belongs to him and to mediate upon his Law day and night Let us pray yet more ardently for them That God would deliver them from whatsoever is vile or inconvenient from all diabolical works and the circumventions of the Adversary That he would at length in due time bring them to the Laver of Regeneration and remission of sins That he would all along their whole lives blesse their goings out and comings in their houses and families That he would adde increase to them and instruct them until they come to a perfect stature of wisdom And that he would direct all their purposes to their own benefit This said the Deacon commands them to rise having laid prostrate all along before and bids them also pray for themselves he dictating to them thus Pray to God ye Catechumens for his Angel of peace that all your purposes may have a peaceable effect that this day and all the rest of your lives may end in Peace Pray especially which is profitable and becoming and the chief of all blessings that you may be made perfect Christians and so commend your selves to the everlasting God and Jesus Christ. After this they are commanded to bow down their heads to receive the blessing all the Congregation crying aloud Amen These prayers being so declarative of the Antient formes in this particular I could not well contract into fewer words without prejudice to my present purpose Thirdly from this Canon for to that I must return I further collect that these Catechumens their prayers and blessings once past were to depart the Assembly But did the Communion service Commence upon their dispatch This Canon sayes clearly no for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after they were sent away the penitents turn was next and so the Communion service not to begin until they were dismist also wherein there is an evident diversity between the Greek Church as it was now and as it was in Gregory Neocaesariensis his time as shall be demonstrated when I come to the Office of Commination But a far greater between it and the Latine For with these two mentioned here I observe no lesse then three dismissions in the Greek Church before the celebration of the Eucharist whereas the Latines had but one The first was as I cited out of Clemens that of the Infidels and Hearers and I conceive it was consequent to their exclusion what Chrysostome tells us of the Deacon thundring out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. look well to your selves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Least any Infidels Jews or strangers to your Religion be among you now Catechumens were not properly either Hearers or Infidels not Hearers as shall be demonstrated afterwards not Infidels because they were Catechised and instructed in the principles of the true Religion and so were moving towards Christianity upon which very account in the Latine service they were considered single and apart from Infidels For infidels God was invocated ut eos convertat ad fidem for their conversion for Catechumens ut eis desiderium regenerationis inspiret that he would inspire them with a desire of Baptisme The second dismission was this of Catechumens The third that of the Penitents and at their sending away I conceive it was that the Deacon usually cryed out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 holy things for holy persons Probable also it is that the Energumeni persons distracted or possest with unclean spirits had their mittimus with these Penitents Learned Mr. Thorndike seemes to adde another dismission viz. of such Beleevers as were present at the prayers of the congregation for all states and did not intend to communicate This he inferreth out of a passage of the Constitutions the words these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you that pray the first prayer depart But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first prayer cannot in that place signifie that for all states For in that very Chapter after these words follow the Ancient order of the Communion service and towards the latter end of it the prayer for all states so that this dismission must be dispatched before the Prayer for all States Yet true it is according to the Primitive Rules no man of the faithful people might stay behinde and not communicate upon pain of Excommunication 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Apostolical Canon Let every Faithful man that comes into the Church and continueth not in prayer and participation of the blessed mysteries be excommunicated And to the same effect is the Second Canon of the Councel of Antioch This notwithstanding for matter of fact clear it is all did not conform St. Chrysostom reproving some upon that very score 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 why stayest thou behinde and dost not communicate But as for persons who were in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and serving out the last years of their Ecclesiastial censure these were permitted to remain with the faithful as shall be made evident when I come to discourse of them in the Commination office Now that I may declare the difference I mentioned before for those three dismissions the Latine Church had onely one called missa Catechumenorum The Dismission of the Catechumens not because she had not those several sorts of Hearers Penitents and Energumens but because the Catechumens were far more numerous and so their dismission gave denomination to all Fourthly it is to be noted that of these prayers the first was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 silently the other two 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by allocution that which was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was performed either 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as they usually called it in a lower voice or by the faithful praying to themselves and so Clemens gives the rule for this very Prayer The Hearer and unbeleevers being sent away 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And silence being made let the Deacon say Pray ye Catechumens and let all the faithful pray mentally for them thus Lord have mercy As for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or allocution it must be understood that antiently that part of the service which was most properly Common prayer was peculiarly assigned to the Deacon to dictate Communis oratio voce Diaconi indicitur Common prayer is dictated by the mouth of the Deacon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of the
Church at the end of this commemoration there was added a clause of Invocation to God That he would receive the Prayers of the Church by the intercession of those blessed Souls departed as Cyril tells us in the place before quoted and this is the first notice given of the Intercession of Saints in any Liturgy or publick Service and all this time not a syllable of Invocation of or address to them Yea St. Augustine who lived much about the same time is express to the contrary assuring us that though those holy men suo loco ordine nominantur non tamen a sacerdote qui sacrificat invocantur are named in their proper course and order in the Communion Service yet are they not invocated or prayed to by the Priest who officiateth This passage of this Father informing us that those Saints departed were named in their course and order leads us to the other Dyptick-Roll which was a Nomenclator framed on purpose as a dictamen for the officiating Priest some resemblance whereof is still extant in the Canon of the Mass called by Ritualists Litania Sanctorum nominum The Litany of the Saints names This nominal recital Walfridus Strabo saith came into practice soon after St. Jerome had composed his Martyrology General Intercession being thus admitted as what could hinder it into the Church the next step was that of singular Saints for single persons and occasions yet this not all at once neither for before any other were thought qualifi'd for the purpose the Virgin Mary was enstalled a Mediatrix and she call'd into ayd in several Prayers of the Church which Nicephorus ascribeth to Petrus Gnapheus as the first Author thereof about the year 500. She once thus admitted did not onely her self keep possession to the very almost justling out of her Son and Saviour but did let in all the train of the blessed Apostles Martyrs and others who by Pope Gregory about Anno 600. were dis-honored with an Ora pro nobis in that his otherwise gallant model of the Litany We commend unto thy mercy all other thy Servants The Commemorations of the dead Epiphanius divideth into two ranks or Classes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Just-men and Sinners understanding thereby less perfect Christians The order of the Just was that of the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Evangelists Martyrs and Confessors mentioned before these were supposed directly to go to Heaven without calling in at Purgatory or any other withdrawing room and therefore thought it a vanity to pray for such who were conceived already arrived at a perfect state of bliss nay more then a vanity a wrong Injuriam facit Martyri qui orat pro Martyre he doth injure the Martyr who prayeth for him The other Classis that of Sinners were conceived by the Antients to be disposed of in some base Court as I may so say or inferiour appurtenance of heaven which for want of a better name they called Paradise there they conceived these souls did abide whilst they were in mora resurrectionis expecting the general Resurrection did pant and thirst for the beatifical vision of God and for these they prayed that God would give them some comfortable refreshment to slack that thirst This is the uttermost of their opinion fo far as their own records informes us and this scarce came to opinion neither not a man of them for the first five hundred years delivering himself positively but very staggeringly touching this point This and the former commemoration our second Reformers very judiciously omitted being loth to retain any thing liable to so just exceptions This prayer according to the primitive mode was made after the later consecration For the Sacramental elements were twice consecrated First when they were in the general masse of all oblations which were consecrated at large by thansgiving to God for all those benefits and invocation of his blessing upon them as they were provided for bodily refreshment and again when they were separated from the residue and by a particular Benediction deputed for the Symboles of the Eucharist which being thus consecrated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Cyril we invocate God over that propitiatory host for the Common peace c. and what he calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we entreat others usually say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we offer unto thee All intending thereby that they offered up their Prayers to God for those particulars by and through the intercession of Jesus Christ represented in the signes of that holy mystery certainly an edifying and innocent rite But the Church of Rome foysting in under the disguise of this excellent custome private Masses and in them a pretence of Christ really not mystically sacrificed and that sacrifice applied and determined to the souls of such persons as the Priest shall by his memento's limit Our Reformers endeavouring to a-move all occasion of abetting that wicked practise transposed and inverted the Order of this prayer to the Place you see CHAP. VII THE COMMUNION Then shall follow this exhortation at certain times when the Curate shall see the people negligent to come to the holy Communion WE be come together at this time dearly beloved brethren to feed at the Lords supper unto the which in Gods behalf I bid you all that be here present and beseech you for the Lord Jesus Christs sake that ye will not refuse to come thereto being so lovingly called and biddeâ— of God himself Ye know how grievous and unkinde a thing it is when a man hath prepared a rich feast decked his table with all kinde of provision so that there lacketh nothing but the guests to sit down and yet they which be called without any cause most unthankfuly refuse to come Which of you in such a case would not be moved Who would not think a great injury and wrong done unto him Wherefore most dearly beloved in Christ take ye good hâ—ed lest ye withdrawing your selves from this holy supper provoke Gods indignation against you It is an easie matter for a man to say I will not communicate because I am otherwise letted with worldly businesse but such excuses be not so easily accepted and allowed before God It any man say I am a grâ—evous sinner and therefore am afraid to come Wherefore then do you not repent and amend When God calleth you be you not ashamed to say you will not come When you should return to God will you excuse your self and say that you be not ready Consider earnestly with your selves how little such feigned excuses shall avail before God They that refused the feast in the Gospel because they had bought a farm or would try their yokes of Oreâ— or because they were married were not so excused but counted unworthy of the heavenly feast I for my part am here present and according to mine office I bid you in the name of God I call you in Christs behalf I exhort you as you love your own salvation that ye will be
consist A sacramental verity of Christs body and blood there cannot be without the Commemoration of his death and Passion because Christ never promised his mysterious yet real presence but in reference to such Commemoration Nor can there be a true Commemoration without the body and blood exhibited and participated because Christ gave not those visible Elements but his body and blood to make that spiritual representation Here the party receiving shall say Amen This order is a peece of Reformation where in the Church of Scotland stands single and alone I call it a peece of Reformation because it is the reviving of a very ancient custome The same is the direction in the Constitutions ascribed to the Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the Bishop give the Oblation of bread saying The body of Christ and let him that receiveth it say Amen Then the Deacon having the cup and delivering it let him say The blood of Christ the cup of salvation and let him that drinketh say Amen By St. Augustine it should seem to have been of general usage saying Universa Ecclesia accepto sanguine Chirsti dicit Amen The universal Church at the Receiving of the blood of Christ answereth Amen Thus you see upon what tearmes of conformity the Scotch service in this particular stands with the ancient practise Though I have neither rule nor text in any one of the Liturgies I discourse upon engageing me to it yet is it no extravant vagary here to take into consideration the general fashion used in our Church of imploying the Congregation in singing during the time of Communicating whither that time can be better transacted and laid out then in Psalmes sutable to the subject of those blessed Mysteries not falling under dispute must passe in the negative this being so the onely concernment to which I am obliged is to shew that the custome floweth from the prescript of Primitive tradition whereof the ancient Liturgies are evidence enough that especially exhibited in the Constitutions above mentioned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the thirty third Psalm be said whilst the rest Communicate For the African practise speaks St Augustine Mos caeparat apud Carthagenem ut hymni ad Altare dicerentur de Psalmorum libro sive ante Oblationem sive cum distribueretur populo quod fuisset Oblatum Hunc morem Hilarius Laicus maledica reprehensione ubicunque poterat laterabat asserens fieri non oportere A custome was begun at Carthage that hymns out of Davids Psalms both before the Oblation and at the distribution of it should be sung This fashion one Hillary a lay-man wheresoever he could envied against affirming it ought not to be done And here we offer and present c. This high and eminent place looketh big upon all those false clamors that our service is extracted from the Masse challenging the Authors thereof to exhibit where it is to be found in the Canon of that Masse No to the utter shame of the Romish party our Church upbraideth them that whereas they contend so much for the propriety of the sacrifice of their Masse the whole Canon of that Masse hath not one syllable of this most proper sacrifice this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 indivisible Sacrifice of both bodies and souls a sacrifice enjoyned by Apostolical precept Romans 12. 1. and which did in the Primitive times constitute an illustrious part of the Eucharistical office Glory be to God on high Antiquity called this the Angelical hymn and in truth being Angelical it must be an hymn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Chrysostom Angels and the Celestial Quire send forth hymns they sing not Psalms And so Clemens Alexandrinus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let hymns be onely the prayses of God the reason is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psalmes contain all things both Divine and Moral Hymns onely the praises of God Called it is the Angelical hymn because the first part thereof is the Nativity-Carol mentioned Luke 2. 13. sung by the Angels the rest was composed by Ecclesiastical Doctors some think St. Hillary and the fourth Councel of Toledo seemeth to imply as much But the Constitutions of Clemens perswade me it was of earlier entrance it being there compleatly the same with ours in all materials but disposed in two several Prayers and is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that morning-hymn as I suppose to which Epiphanius a great follower of Clemens relateth in a place formerly cited Part it was of the Missa Catechumenorum in the Masse-book but worthily translated into the Communion service by our discreet Reformers it being formerly mis-laid this being its proper ubi or place for two reasons First because it is an hymn To sing an hymn after the distribution of the Elements is conformity to the mode of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. thou seeâ—t that the last prayer after the Eucharist is celebrated is made in imitation of our Saviours practise Again it is a compound peece made up partly of Donology partly of Prayer and of Prayer addrest to Jesus Christ the Lamb of God now it is improper to apply our selves to Christ before the action of participation is past the reason is because the blessed Eucharist is a sacrifice wherein our Saviour Christ is considered as an immaculate Lamb offered upon the Altar to God the Father for the Remission of our sins And this I take to be the meaning of the third Counsel of Carthage decreeing ut nemo in precibus vel Patrem pro Filio vel Filium prâ— Patre nominet cum altari assistitur semper ad Patrem airigatur oratio That no man name the Father for the Son nor the Son for the Father in publick prayers and when any officiate at the altar viz. before distribution of the Elements that the prayer be alwayes directed to the Father For which I can assigne no other reason but because Christ is then the great sacrifice and the Father is the person to be appeased The Peace of God This benediction is a peculiar of the Bishops office if present because the lesse is blessed of the greater Hebr. 7. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The principal Priest dismisseth the people with his blessing After this pronounced the Deacon usually said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Go in peace when the people received it they bowed down their heads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the Bishop give the benediction the people bowing down their heads This gesture imports a kinde of adoration Eccles. 50. 23. The Jewes are said to bow down themselves to worship the Lord. So in the Primitive Church the Energumenj were commanded to bow their heads and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in that fashion to perform their bodily reverence Upon the holidayes if there be no Communion Anciently upon holy-dayes Communions were constant and consequently oblations wherefore Proclus saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Festival is the poor mans harvest because he
particular Church may order which she will and judgeth best accomodated to the temper of her members As for ours a late Bishop of no mean note in his Articles of visitation positively asserts that the Child is thrice to be aspersed with water on the face An error certainly and to prove it so this very Rubrique of the first Book of Edward the sixt is argumentative enough For this Rubrique enjoyning triple sprinkling and being clearly omitted and outed by the second Reformers infallibly argueth they intended the discontinuace of the former practice And the sense of those Reformers must be the rule of our obedience His white vesture This was a relique of the Ancient custome taken up upon the same signification Accepisti vestimenta candida ut esset judicium quod exueris involucrum peccatorum indueris innocentiae casta velamina Thou hast taken thy white vestments as a sign that thou hast put off the old rags of thy sinnes and hast put on the chast robes of innocency These Robes they anciently wore for the space of eight daies inclusive beginning their account from Easter Eve the term of their investure and continuing to the ensuing Saturday or Sabbath when they were to leave them off As for the name Chrism it is but of late invention and so called because it was imployed to stay the defluxion of the hrism or confirming Oyntment from flowing away at first Then shall the Priest annoint the Infant There were in the Primitive times relating to this Sacrament two unctions distinguished four waies first in the time and secondly the manner of their application thirdly in their materials and lastly in the scope of their designation In the time of their application one preceding the other subsequent to Baptisme This in truth belongeth to the Confirmation as is evident by Tertullian Egressi de lavacro perungimur benedicta unctione de pristina disciplina debinc manus imponitur as we arise out of the water we are anointed according to the ancient Order with a consecrated unguent then hands are imposed upon us So also Cyprian Ungi necesse est eum qui baptizatus sit He who is baptized must presenly be anointed and Augustine speaking of children baptized Sic manus imposione chrismate communiti mysteriis Eucharistiae admittantur then with imposition of hand and unction let them be admitted to the mysteries of the Eucharist In the manner The first unction being alwaies applied many daies after the signing with the Cross and the later constantly with it In their materials they were severed The first being alwaies performed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Greeks cleo as the Latins with oyl the last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Greeks unguento as the Latins with unguent Clemens his order is conformable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. first you shall anoint him with oyle then you shall baptize him in water lastly you shall an in t him with the signe of the Cross. For such is the import of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the most general sense of Antiquity as is evident by St. Chrisostome in very many places one more remarkable where endeavouring to take the Christians off from Paganish amulets and charms he gives advice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 art thou a faithfull Believer instead of those charms sign thy self with the Cross Hom. 8. in Coloss. So the Author of these questions assuredly very ancient and as assuredly none of l Justin Martyrs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. First we anoint him over with oyle then we dispatch the other mysteries in the Laver Lastly we sign him with the holy unction Lastly distinguished they were in the scope of their designation The first unction alluded to the mode of wrastlers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. He is anoynted like a wrastler going to enter the list Unctus es ficut athleta Christi quasi luctamen hujus seculi luctaturns Thou art anoynted like the wrastler of Christ to struggle with the powers of this world The last unction was intended as a ceremony adjuvant to the collation of the Holy Ghost and a persuance of the literal sence of that Text 2 Cor. 1. vers 21. Now he who hath confirmed us with you in Christ and hath anoynted us is God who hath also washed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts Where there is first confirmation 2. Unction 3. Sealing or signing Lastly the giving of the Holy Ghost Wherefore it was anciently said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The worker of the Holy Ghost Spiritus signaculum the seal of the Spirit because it signified the invisible unction of the Spirit Unctio Invisibilis Spiritus Sanctus the invisible unction is the Holy Ghost To this ceremony confest very ancient the Romanists are beholding for the matter and external Symbol of their Sacrament of Confirmation which can neither be demonstrated to be Christs institution or Apostolical usage and were it so yet are they to seek for the Prescript form of words as shall be urged elsewhere Again this last unction being partial upon the head onely in imitation of that of our Saviour and the other being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all over the body createth another diversity not mentioned before But here will arise another question If this last unction be an associate of Confirmation how cometh it then to pass that it is here affixt to Baptism which should rather belong to the Office of Confirmation My answer is that this disposing of it in this place is no novelty although differing from the Original practice and upon what account it came to be divided from the Office of Confirmation I shall further declare when I come to take a survay of that Office Shall make a Cross. This Rubrique must be expounded by the thirtyeth Canon of our Church and by that which followeth for the signing is not immediatly to succeed the formal words of Baptism But the Minister is first to say We receive this Child into the Congregation of Christ's Flock And then to sign and so the words do sign in the present tence infallibly import For the Church studions to retain this ancient and universal ceremony of the purest Primitive times was also careful to decline all fear of superstitious intendment as if she thought the Sacrament imperfect without it Therefore whereas the Primitive mode made it to usher in Baptism our Church inverted the order and made it come after and so to follow it as she expresly first declareth the child to be received into the Congregation of Christ's Flock as a perfect Member thereof and not by any power ascribed to the sign of the Cross. And further to assure all distrustful minds that she maketh it not of the substance of the Sacrament she hath totally omitted it in the Office of private Baptism Having yeelded a Reason of this remove in the Service of our
Word of God and Prayer How can they answer it at the Bar of Reason which did proscribe from Matrimony the Paramount of all earthly concernments Divine Invocation and Saterdotal Benediction without which never was any initiation into that honourable State thought duly performed Upon this very account the place where it was celebrated amongst the Jews was stiled Beth-Hillulah The House of Praise and amongst the Heathen there were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prayers preparatory to Marriage The very score it was upon which our Saviour was bidden to the Marriage in Cana. if Epiphanius deceives us not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How honour able is wedlock when our Saviour was invited to a marâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bless the maried couple And as he did really blesse marriage 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a fruitful womb as the same father conceiveth so did he all Nuptials to come by honouring with his presence and shewing his first of Miracles in Cana of Galâ—lee at a Wedding Feast This opinion of Epiphanius will be the more passable if it be considered that Blessing being one of the choicest of Ministerial Acts was alwaies dispenced by the chief of Ministers or persons of the most eminent note for sanctity So Melchisedech the Priest of the most high God blessed Abraham Gen. 14. 19. Upon the same account the typified Melchisedech Christ was desired to bless little children Math. 19. 13. As the famous Grotius supposed And upon the same account in the Primitive times the Bishop and if present none but he was to bless the people in publique Assemblies who as he was for that very cause principal in the administration of Matrimonial Benâ—dâ—ction so was he also most concerned in the approbation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Ignatius it is â—â— that the married couple betroth themselves with the advice of the Bishop So a Virgin in Tertullian is said petere maritum ab Episcopo to ask an Husband of the Bishop Indeed as the condition of the times then was it could not in prudence be otherwise The inconveniences of an unequal yoak or marrying of a Christian with an infidel were innumerable the society and conversation could not be so mutual between them the Christian woman could not keep those correspondences which were of the interest of her Religion and possibly the secret meetings which with much adoe were then contrived might thereby be betraied or unhappily discovered to the ruin and destruction of the Professors of Christianity Seeing then no avoidance the solemnization of this Ordinance must be granted to have been performed by such a consecration it is also next in order to be supposed that in this consecration set forms were used considering withall that they were assigned to undergraduate concernmenrs and considering that such forms are still extant some and others are presumable to have been so by collateral implication Under the Law in the story of Ruth two forms occur First The Lord grant thee rest in the house of thy Husband Ch. 1. 9. 3. 1. Secondly all the People and Elders said The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah which two did build the house of Israel and do thou worthily in Ephrata and be thou famous in Bethlehem and let thy house be like the house of Pharez whom Tamar bare unto Judah of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young man Ch. 4. v. 12. The People and Elders could not certainly conspire so exactly in every syllable of this Benediction had it not been a known and usual form amongst them Under the Gospel in the Primitive times I mean told we are that such forms were though not what they were In the Council of Carthage decreed it is Ut preces vel Orationes seu missae quae probatae fuerint in Concilio sive Praefationes sive Commendationes sive Manuum Impositiones ab omnibus celebrentur That those formes of Prayers or Masses be they Prefaces or Offices for interments or of imposition of hands which have been allowed of by the Council shall be celebrated bâ— all Where Imposition of hands must undoubtedly denote all Sacerdotal Benediction whether in Ordaining of Priests or in absolving of penitents or in confirming of persons new baptized or in the solemnization of matrimony or whatever else was performed that ceremony applied At the day appointed c. The appointment of the day is left to the election of the persons to be married provided it be not from Advent Sunday until eight dayes after the Epiphaâ—y from Septuagesima Sunday until eight dayes after Easter from Rogation Sunday until Trinity Sunday These times being prohibited But by what Authority Not by the Common Prayer not by the Kalender not by any Homily not by any Article not by any Canon of our Church since the Reformation And therefore if there be any Popery as is pretended by Mr. Pryn in this restraint our Reformed Church is not to bear the blame By what Law then By a Canon certainly and of some General Council of this Nation for else all Manuals and Linwood our famous Canonist would not have agreed so punctually in all the dayes prefixt True it is this Canon is not to my reading extant but before the Reformation it was undoubtedly And this is the reason why our prohibition exceeds that of the Council of Trent in the last clause viz. from Rogation Sunday until Trinity Sunday that Council being confirmed by Pius 4th far up into the State of Reformation But were not former Canons all made null upon our Reformation No in the Statute 25. H. 8. c. 19. it is expresly provided That such Canons as were made before that Act which be not contrariant nor repugnant to the Kings Prerogative the Laws Statutes and Customs of the Realm should be still used and executed as they were before the making of the Act. Now of these Canons this I take it was one but whereas it is charged with Popery I consess I apprehend not where that Popery is resident Is it as the restraint relates to times of solemn Humiliation Then the Fathers of the Council of Laodicea a Council to which Popery is post-nated above three hundred years stands guilty of Popery as well as we for that Council interdicted marriages for the whole time of Lent as hath been shewed before Nay more the Directory it self is guilty of Popery too for this excepts from this Ordinance Dayes of publique Humiliation Is it as it relates to Festivals Mr. Pryn indeed saith Marriage is a Festival and joyful thing and so most seasonable and suitable for Festival and joyful times and seasons But the Directory sayes nay and therefore interdicts the celebration of it upon all Holy-dayes of the year in these words And we advice that marriage be not solemnized on the Lords day and the Lords day is the only Festival enjoyned by that Directory The result of all is this That the Assembly
a merciful God full of compassion long suffering and of great pity Thou sparest when we deserve punishment aâ—d in thy wrath thinkest upon mercy Spare thy people good Lord spare them and let not thine inheritage be brought to confusion hear us O Lord for thy mercy is great and after the multitude of thy mercies look upon us After this in the 1 B. of Edw. 6. followeth the Declaration concerning Ceremonies why some are abolished and some retained Then Certain notes for the more plain explication and decent Ministration of things contained in this book In the saying or singing of mattens c. as in the Rubrick before morning prayer And whensoever the Bishop shall celebrate c. Ibid ubi supra As touching kneeling Crossing holding up of hands knocking upon the breast and other gestures they may be used or left as every mans devotion serveth without blame Also upon Christmas-day Easter-day the Ascention day Whitsunday and the feast of the Trinity may be used any part of the holy Scripture hereafter to be certainly limitted appointed in the stead of the Litany if there be a Sermon or for other great cause the I Curate by his discretion may leave out the Litany Gloria in Excelsis the Creed K the Omely and the Exhortation to the Communion L Imprinted at London in Fleet-street at the signe of the Sun over against the Conduit by Edward Whitchurch the 7. day of March in the year of our Lord 1549. Annotations upon CHAP. XI A The grounds of Thanksgiving after Childebirth why rather for this than other deliverances B Our Church doth not Judaize Difference betwixt our practice and Jewish Purification C What meant by the word Church into which the woman is to come D The woman not enjoined a veil F The 121 Psalm not abused E But deliver us from evil why returned by way of response F Commination how often used in the year G Why read in the Pulpit A discourse of reading-Desks none settled by Rule before the Canons 1603. upon what occasion devised H A Discourse of publick Pennance By whom it was imposed and how long to continue The several motions of it in the Greek Church What meant by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what and what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Errours noted in the Editions of Zonaras and Balsamon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what Penitential customes in the Western Church Affrica most severe and why The ancient mode of Excommunicating of notorious offenders out of Gratian Discourse upon it Adgeniculi charis Dei in Tertullian Penitents when reconciled in the Latine Church The Ancient Discipline commended and Vote for its restauration I What meant by the word Curate in our Liturgy K Homilies whither part of our Churches Service And whither the Doctrine of our Church L Calvins Epistle to the Protector misdated in all Editions THE Thanksgiving of women after Childebirth when holy Scripture is concerned most graphically to describe sorrow superlative and at the height it assiimilateth it to that of a woman in travail If this sorrow be so excessive how great must the joy be to be delivered from that sorrow commensurate certainly and of adequate proportion and no less must the dues of thankfulness be to the Benefactour the Donor of that Recovery whence a necessity of Thanksgiving of women after chide-birth But cannot this as well be done in private at home in her family or in her closet without putting the Church to the cost of contriving a solemn Office for it considering there are other personal deliverances wherein the dispensations of Gods mercy are as manifest whereof she takes no notice I answer Other Deliverances present themselves in so many scheames some being from fire some from water some from the casual ruine of houses and other things endangering us some from our own precipitations some in warr some in peace c. as it is scarce possible to frame formes enough to suit all emergences and were they framed rarely would they be made use of in regard the occasions to which they relate so seldome occurr and then what would they prove but an unnecessary cumber whereas this Preservation out of Childe-bed pangs observeth one constant shape so as one form is applicable to all and almost dayly provoketh to the duty But it may be further opposed that Thousands are seased with corporal maladies which are accompanied with as great periclitation whom God sometimes even to miracle restoreth to their former strength that those demonstrations of his protection appear very frequent that one forme of Thanksgiving would commodiously enough agree with all yet hath the Church appointed no such Form I answer that our Church in this offer did not so much take measure of the peril as accomodate her self to that note of separation which God himself had put betwixt this and other maladies To conceive and bring forth in sorrow was signally inflicted upon Eve and in her upon all Mothers as a penalty for her first disobedience Multiplying I will multiply thy sorrowes and thy Conception the very breeding fits and nauseous qualmes constitute a part of this chastisement In sorrow shalt thou bring forth children i. e. the very fruit of thy womb which by an almighty Power thou shouldest otherwise have been delivered of without the least sense of pain shall henceforward in the very act of parturition put thee to extremity of Torment so that the sorrows of childe-birth have by Gods express determination a more direct and peculiar reference to Eves disobedience then any other disease whatsoever and though all maladies are the product of that first sin yet is the malediction fixed and apply'd in specification to this alone Now when that which was ordained primarily as a curse for the first sin is converted to so great a blessing God is certainly in that case more to be praised in a set and a solemn Office Churching of women The former word was Purification worthily expunged by our second Reformers this notwithstanding we are charged by some weak Opponents to Judaize in the office a slander certainly a great a sensless one and it will appear no less to any who shall compare the Jewish or Levitical and the English practice together First the Jewish woman was interdicted the Sanctuary forty dayes at least The English woman withdraweth but her moneth No Judaizing there Secondly The Jewish woman was forbidden because unclean expresly so the English woman abstaineth not upon any such account If she did First the customary circuit of the same cause would operate at every return the same effect sequestration from the Congregation in her as it did in the Jewish but our Church commands no such mensurnal forbearance Again the same pollution would as long debar her Infant also as it did the Jewish which must needs take part of the Mothers impurity but our Church not onely aâ—mitteth but commands all Infants where necessity interposeth not into the Church within a week at the farthest So
No Judaizing there Thirdly the Jewish woman was interdicted that is excluded by necessity of Law the English woman not so her separation is voluntary not constrained by any Law of our Reformed Church no nor by the Canon Law Nunc statim post partum Ecclesiam ingredi non prohibetur Now under the Gospel she may if she please there 's no prohibition to the contrary enter the Church as soon as she is delivered No Judaizing here Lastly the Jewish woman was bound to Legal offerings a Lamb Turtles or Pigcons The English woman is tied to none of these onely injoyned Evangelical Oblations poor pittances and inconsiderable retributions yet such as God graciously accepts by the hands of his Ministers as evidences of a grateful heart for so eminent a blessing This if any is all the resemblance this Office beareth to the Jewish rite which cannot certainly be blamed but upon a false Hypothesis that we are obliged not to be thankful to God for this mercy because the Jews were so Now if it be demanded upon what motives this months abstinence from Church is founded I answer upon Custome and uninterrupted Practice Practice that had strong inducements to it First Some reasons of conveniency latent and not so fit to be declared Secondly A provident regard to the womans personal safety The whole structure of her body suffereth a kind of luxation through her labour and therefore requireth no few daies to knit and reconsolidate she becomes feeble in her strength wasted in her spirits and such decayes of nature are not repaired on the suddain Thè pores of her skin by exsudations are relaxed and when so many wind-dores are open the cold air deaths usual harbinger is ready to enter So that her stay at home is of medical prescription Shall come into the Church If the woman come no further than into the Church how can she there kneel nigh unto the Table or the Priest stand by her when both Priest and Table are at the East end of the Chancel Therefore to reconcile this Rubrique with the constant practice of Churching the woman in the Chancel nigh unto the holy Table you must understand that in this place the word Church comprehendeth all the consecrated fabrique both the Body and Chancel no novel notion considering that Provincial in Lindwood where the Arch-Deacons are enjoyned in their visitations diligently to take into their care fabricam Ecclesia the fabrique of the Church upon which word Lindwood makes this gloss Ex hoc quod dicit Ecclesiae comprehendit Ecclesiam integram videlicet navem cum cancello where it is here said the Church the whole structure of the Church that is its Nave and Chancel are comprehended I have list up mine eyes c. The trifling objection of the abuse of this Psalm by the womans usual coming in a vail is easily answered by affirming that the Church as she doth not forbid so neither doth she command any such habit but leaveth it as an indifferent thing and if the woman who hath an arbitrary power in this concernment think fit to come forth vailed that is better armed against the cold her act cannot constitute a ceremony of the Church and so the Church not chargeable with the abuse Nor can this Psalm be truly said to be abused thus applied when the contents thereof are expresly thus This Psalm teacheth that the faithfull ought onely to look for help from God But deliver us from evil It hath been long inquired why all the residue of the Dominicall Prayer being rehearsed in one continued course in some parts of our Liturgy there is a break at this last petition which is returned by way of Response In satisfaction to which doubt the consideration of the Praxis of former times will contribute very much The manner you must understand was then for the Priest who did officiate to rehearse it as our Office directeth And this last Positition was not returned by the People but by the Quire or Chorus and that with an elevated voice The design whereof was to give notice to the People that the Lords Prayer was drawing on to an end that they might be the more ready to aford their Amen For the Service being all in Latin a tongue unknown to them all their business at Church was onely to joyn in the close of Amen and for this they had no other queve to direct them then the loud pronunciation of the forgoing member by the Chorus in the Lords Prayer But deliver us from evil was their Directory in other Prayers in saecula saeculorum or per omnia saecula saeculorum A Commination Cum primis salutaris est caeremonia saith Bucer a very wholesome ceremony it is Sed non video cur debeat exhiberi solum uno die non saepius But I see no reason why it should be restrained to one day for so it was by the first Liturgy of Edward the sixth and not exhibited oftner whereupon it was appointed to be used divers times in the year In our Church before the Reformation its Antecessor Excommunication or the great curse was pronounced four times in the year on the first Sunday in Advent the first Sunday in clean Lent on Trinity Sunday and the next Sunday after the assumption of our Lady The appointment of these divers times is not setled by any precise rule of our Church but in the visitation Articles of Arch-Bishop Grindal for his Province of Cantrebury Anno 1576 as a learned Collector informs me it seems there are three daies mentioned as relating to this Office 1. One of the three Sundaies next before Easter one of the two Sundaies next before Pentechost one of the two Sundaies next before Christmas These I take it were added to Ash-wednesday not exclusive of it by cause the following Preface seems to have a peculiar relation to it The Priest shall go into the Pulpit But why not rather into the Desk Answer Because at the beginning of the Reformation and establishment of our Liturgy there was no such thing as a Desk known in the Church not a sillable of this Reading-Pew in the Injunctions of either King Edward the sixth or Queen Elizabeth none in any Orders or Ad vertisements set forth by the supream Authority none in any Canons Ecclesiastical and to the best of my inquiry none in any visitation Article until the year 1603. when by the 82. Canon it is ordained that a convenient seat be made for the Minister to read Service in Indeed the Pulpit was at first designed not onely for preaching but also for other things tending to the edification of the People there even before our Liturgy established and while the Romish Mass stood intire in practice was the Epistle and Gospel and one Chapter of the New Testament in the forenoon and one Chapter of the Old Testament in the afternoon as also the Pater Noster the Creed and the Ten Commandements appointed to be read All
meer Ecclesiastical audience and which were not punishable by the Civil Law as perjury fornication usury c. But in process of time the accumulation of Canons creating daily a multitude of questions too intricate for the Bishop to determine Placuit ut petant ex nomine Provinciarum omnium Legati porrecturi Vincentius Fortunatianus à gloriosissimis Imperatoribus ut dent facultatem defensores constituendi Scholasticos qui in actu sunt vel in munere defensionis causarum ut more Sacerdotum Provinciae iidem ipsi quidem legendum qui Defensionem Ecclesiarum susceperint habeant facultatem pro negotiis Ecclesiarum quoties necessitas flagitaverit vel ad obsistendum Obrepentibus vel ad necessaria suggerenda ingredi judicum secretaria It is decreed saith the Councel of Carthage that Vincentius and Fortunatianus the Legates which are to be sent in the name of all the Provinces petition the most Glorious Emperours that they would give way for the choice of Scholastical Advocates who are profess'd pleaders of causes that after the manner of the Principalls of Provinces these who shall undertake the Protection of the Churches may have leave in affairs of the Churches as necessity shall require to enter the seats of Judicature either to oppose evils creeping in or to represent things necessary From these Defensores Ecclesiastici or as the Greeks called them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 learned men think the Chancellors or Officialls Ecclesiastical took their beginning and probably so it might be in the African Church but elsewhere Socrates seems to set forth a worse Reason speaking of Sylvanus Bishop of Troas Cum clericos ex litigantium controversiis quaestum facere videret deinceps neminem ex clero judicem esse permisit sed unum ex fidelibus laicis causarum cognitioni praefecit When he once perceived the Clergy made an advantage to themselves from others quarrels he suffered no Clergy-man to be Judge but appointed a Lay-man selected out of the Faithfull to preside in hearing causes Take both or which you like and assign another as probable as any viz. the not diversion of the Bishops and Chergy-men from sacred duties more proper to their calling the Institution speaks reason enough to vindicate it against all exceptions Ibid. Ordinaries Ordinaries saith Lindwood are those quibus competit jurisdictio Ordinaria de jure Privilegii vel consuetudine who of Right either by Priviledg or Prescription have ordinary Jurisdiction and therefore Chancellors Commissioners Officials and Arch-Deacons are Ordinaries as well as Bishops Page 25. line 3. Begin another division thus Some following Salisbury use upon inquiry into the ancient Practice of this Church of England I find it most apparent that every Bishop in his Dlocesan or Episcopal Synod had full power to constitute such Canons to make such Ecclesiastical Orders to frame such services for the respective Diocess as he and his Clergy should think most convenient And from hence arose those varieties of uses mentioned in this Preface In truth such was the custom of the Primitive Church unusquisque Episcoporum quod putat facit Every Bishop in his own Diocess doth what he judgeth meet And S. Ambrose under the Popes nose at Millain compiled an Office not onely differing from but standing in competition with that of Rome But though here are many uses mentioned yet for the Province of Canterbury that of Salisbury in estimation so far surpast the rest as it became almost of universal observation Compiled and digested it was by Osmund Bishop of Salisbury about the year 1099. The reason given by Harpsfeild is quoniam singulae fere Dioceses in statis precariis horis dicendis variabant ad hanc varietatem tollendam ut quasi absolutum quoddam precandi quo omnes uti possent exemplar extaret That because almost almost all Dioceses had their seveal waies and uses in their services and Canonical houres to take away that diversity this should be as a standing form for all to follow But this reason I cannot assent unto for what had Osmund to do to give the rule to other Dioceses Nothing certainly Nor did he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mind or regard what others did No he had the same designe neither more nor less which was incident to the power of the Bishop Evidently this In a Counsel held at London Anno 1075. decreed it was according to ancient Canons that Bishops Seas should no longer be held in Villages but removed to Citties Thereupon Hermanus translated his chair from Shirburn to Salisbury where he began to edify a Cathedral but died before he finisht it Next him succeeded this Osmund who having compleated the structure Clergy-men most eminent for learning from all parts were invited by a liberal allowance there to reside The Church being built and furnished thus with so gallant a Colledge of Prebendaries Osmund took it into his next care that Divine Service might there be performed with equal splendor Hereupon he contrived the Office called the Course of Salisbury and provided such a set of excellent Singing-men to officiate it that Emicabat so are the words of my Author ibi magis quam alias canonicorum claritas cantibus nobilium The Canons thereof could nowhere else be matched for their Art in Musick This Service of Salisbury being now cryd up as a most noble model The rest of the Bishops of the Province of Canterbury especially not haveing learning enough for pene omnes tunc temporis illiterati they were then almost all arrant dunces to frame a better conformed their Dioceses in it So that what Osmund intended peculiarly for his own use became exemplary to others And perhaps upon this very score his Sea obtained from posterity as a mark of honour that preeminence whereof Lindwood gives this account Episcopus Sarum in Collegio Episcoporum est praecentor tomporibus quibus Archi-Episcopus Cantuariensis solemniter celebrat Divina praesente Collegio Episcoporum Chorum in Divinis Officiis regere debet de Observantia consuetudine antiqua The Bishop of Salisbury in the College of Bishops is to be the Praecentor and at such times as the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury officiateth all the College of Bishops being present he ought to govern and direct the Quire insacred Offices And this he is to do by ancient custome and observation And perhaps upon this very score if it be true as some Romanists affirm the Bishop of Salisbury was before the Reformation constantly and of course Dean of the King's Chappel and chief appointer of the Rites and Ceremonies Page 79. line 26. At these words The first mention Add is in Proclus he declaring it to be a daily Hymn saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All the world over every day is re-sounded All the works of the Lord bless the Lord. Page 98. line 47. Begin another Paragraph thus The Priest shall say But when At the beginning of Evening Prayer I confess I have known