Administration of the Sacraments and other Ecclesiastical Rites and Ceremonies used in the Churches and Chappels of Zurick And the aforesaid People as I have been well informed do endeavour to livâ— up to the strict Rules oâ— Justice and Piety whicâ— their Lord and Master hatâ— enjoyned and required froâ— them And it is to be remarked that there were and stiâ—â— are other Forms of Publicâ— Prayers used in the Reformed Churches where thâ— Doctrine and Discipline Luther hath prevailed Which are sufficient prove and to convincâ— People that set Forms 〈◊〉 Prayer were and are used in other Ancient Churches besides those of England or Rome and to demonstrate that such as reject Forms are in that respect Dissenters from Luther and Calvin as well as from that of England and also to shew the unannimous agreement of the Churches before recited and of the French Reformed with the Church of England besides these Prayers will infallibly point out to us the frequent use of the Lords Prayer the Apostles Creed and the Ten Commandments which were placed in their Churches and still are the main subjects of their Catechism which waâ— taught every Lords Day and the two former are repeated when ever they assemble for the Publick Service At Baptizing an Infanâ— the Minister doth sprinklâ— water on its Forehead wheâ— the Name is given anâ— that Church makes use of God-Fathers and God-Mothers who do undertakâ— most of the same charge oâ— those in the Church of England The French Protestantâ— have also a particular Form of Prayer for Baptizing â—uch Persons of riper years as desire and duely prepare themselves to receive it The time and manner of their receiving the Holy Sacrament is generally after the Morning Sermon which is performed with much decency and râ—spect but for the most part they did receive it standing in France partly because their Flocks being large and their opportunities of receiving not frequent they might the sooner give place one to another And partly because they would not follow the manner of the Papists among whom they lived and who kneeled at the Communion in order to adore their Hostâ— or a Wafer yet they do never oppose kneeling wheâ— it doth not tend to Idolatry But supposing theâ— lookt upon kneeling as onâ— extreame they took to bâ— sure sitting for the otherâ— But as to the sence of it they do agree with thâ— Church of England aâ— you may more plainly sâ— towards the latter end oâ— their Catechism which 〈◊〉 often annexed to their Form of Prayers after thâ— Singing Psalms at thâ— latter end of the French New Testament In the time of Persecution before the general destruction of their Churches the Protestants in France had but one hour allowed them in the Morning and another hour in the Evening for the meeting of the thirty People to bury the Dead which was the greatest Number then permitted to attend the Corps unto the Grave unto which they were obliged to commit them without paying such decent respects which are usually done to the Corps of other Christians to make a difference between the Bodys of Deceased Christians and of such Animals as have nothing but meer sence tho' they are sometimes put into thâ— Earth yet never deservâ— a solemn interment This Ceremony which used's to Deceased Christians it also to put the living in mind of Mortality and therefore after the return of the People from the Grave to the Deceased's late House or to the place where they at first met the Minister did make an Exhortation to admonish the living and to comfort the afflicted for the loss of their Friend At first when they were allowed to bury publickly the Minister followed after the Dead and at the interment the Minister made such an Exhortation as before mentioned In this Book are also comprehended the Forms of Prayer used upon Fasting Days and at the Celebration of the Holy Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper and also at Marriage Altho' their Prayers are short they comprehend most things for most conditions of men so composed that the whole Congregation may joyn with the Minister in praying for all necessaries and for Gods Love and Mercy in Jesus Christ toward them and in giving thank for the same Their affinity to the Antient Catholick and noâ— reformed Church of England is further demonstrated by several reformed French Churches in and about London whosâ— Ministers have not only received the Ordination oâ— the Church of England but do also make use of he Liturgy and are conformable to her Orders anâ— Constitutions Moreover the Protestants of Geneva Swiâ—zerland Germany c Esteem her Doctrine anâ— Discipline to be Apostolical and Orthodox And the Characters which our Episcopal Divines bore in the Synod of Dort doth plainly shew the great veneration they had for the reformed Church of our Kingdom And especially Monsieur le Moines Letter written at Leyden in September in the Year of our Lord 1680 confirms the same He was at that time and in that Vniversity Professor of Divinity and the Letters of Monsieur de Langle one of the Ministers of the reformed French Church at Charenton and of Monsieur Claude another French Minister of the same Church both written at Paris do the like and the last was wrote by one of the most Illustrious Men of the reformed French Church in his time In which he mentions that he hath often explained his Opinion concerning the Government of the reformed Episcopal Church which appears from a larger Discourse upon it in the 336 Page of his defence of the Reformation Which Letters do likewise ascertain the giving oâ— their Pulpits and committing the charge of their Flocks to such Ministers as had received Episcopal Ordination and particularly to Monsieur du Plessis and Monsieur Wicart who were ordained by the Right Reverend the Bishops of London and Lincoln the former was afterward received Minister of a reformed French Church in the Province of Paris and the latter also Preached afterwards in the Protestant Church of Charenton in the same Province and is now Dean of Winchester These Letters were all sent to the Right Reverend Henry present Lord Bishop of London in which you may not only see the particular sentiments of those Reverend Ministers but also the general Opinion of the reformed Churches then in France concerning the Government and Discipline of the English Church and of the Divisions that were then between her and the Presbyterians and others Which Letters were written in French and from the Originals Translated into English and Printed in the life time of the Authors they being Annexed unto the Treatise of the unreasonableness of separation or an Impartial account of the History of the Nature and Pleas of the present separation from the Communion of the Church of England written by the Reverend Doctor Stillingfleet now Lord Bishop of Worcester one of these Books was sent by the Lord Bishop of London unto Monsieur Claude in 1681 with the said Letters
Forms of Prayer Used in the Reformed Churches in France before their Persecution and Destruction With an Account of their manner of Baptizing Celebrating the Holy Supper Marrying and Burying with some Addiâ—ional Remarks Translated into English for the use of such of the French Nation as do desire to learn English and may be serviceable to those English who are willing to improve themselues in the French Language and for the Information of All of the Reformed Religion and others Unto which is also Annexed the Names of several Learned French Ministers to Evidence the truth of this Translation London Printed for E. Tracy at the 3 Bibles on London-bridge and are to be sold by M. Baldwin near the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-Lane 1699. THE Translator TO THE READER HAving perused the Liturgy of the reformed Churches in France framed in the beginning of the Reformation by Mr. Calvin about the same time that the Prayers of the Church of England were made by her Reverend Bishops and Divines to lead Men from Tautologies and Superstitions to the true worship of Almighty God and in their known Tongues to the end that all Men might understand them and they might be useful and conduce to draw the minds and affections of Men from Temporal to Heavenly things and that the Minister and whole Congregation might joyn together with their Heart and Voice to crave Gods Gracious Pardon for all their daily wants and to render thanks and praise to his most Holy Name for their receiving of the same and also observing the Doctrine and Ceremonies of the reformed Churches in France and seeing the unhappy Differences and Misunderstandings that are between the Church of England and some other Protestants and that many of her Members and others believed that the reformed French Church had a nearer Affinity to the English Presbyterians then to the Church of England as I my self did till by my frequenting and often hearing of the French Ministers I found the contrary I thought it my Duty by this Translation to undeceive all those who thro' ignorance or prejudice labour under that Error 'T is true there are already many Books Written by very Pious and Learned Men to shew the misery and unreasonableness of separation and Divisions in Religion and the advantage of a general Conformity in the same The Titles of some of them as of other Books that may be very useful on this occasion are hereafter inserted that all such Persons as are Piously inclined and desirous of Vnion in the Church may with more ease find out such necessary Subjects which I hope may tend to their satisfaction and Vnity in Faith Doctrine and Prayers The excellency and usefulness of our Liturgy is explained by the Learned Doctor Cumber and also by Doctor Beveridge in his Sermon upon that point I thought fit likewise to direct you unto Mr. Hookers Ecclesiastical Polity and unto the Case of a doubting Conscience written by the most Reverend Father in God John Sharp the present Lord Arch-Bishâ—p of York And the London Divines of the Church of England as established by Law did with great Learning Ingenuity and Candor in several Discourses defend that Gloriâ—us and Pious Church of which they have the honour and happiness to be members against the several objections that are usually raised by Dissenters against her But what need I Name more of the Epâ—scopal Clergy Mr. Baxter himself hath in several of his Treatises well set forth the great mischief of Divisions and Separations in his Christian Directory p. 741. he saith that Schism is a sin against so many clear and vehement words of the Holy Ghost that it is utterly without excuse he proceeds and declares that even Whoredom Treason and Perjury are not oftener forbidden in the Gospel then this and that it is contrary to the design of Christ in our redemption to the Spirit of Grace and to the Nature of Christianity it self c. That Church Dividers are the â—ost successful Servants of the Devil and Enemies to Christ in his Family and Livery that they serve the Devil more effectually then open Enemies and much more on this head he hath said in the pages above-cited And you will find him quoting above forty places of Scripture against separations in his Cure of Church Divisions Direct 7. and in his defence of the said Book pag. 3. and saith that the World the Flesh and the Devil are the Causes whence Divisions arise all which you may see more alâ— large in the Books themselves If any reply that Mr. Baxter was a Dissenter I Answer he is the more to be regarded by Dissenters But withal it is very well known that he often heard the Divine Service and received the Communion from the hands of the Right Reverend Doctor Sharp then Minister of St. Giles in the Fields To conclude he that desires further information of the inexpressible dangers which accompany Divisions let him peruse the Learned Mr. Edwards Book called Gangrena unto which Tract I refer you some if not most of these Books herein Named may be had of Samuel Keâ—ble at the Turks Head in Fleet-street or Walteâ— Kettleby at the Bishop Head in St. Pauls Church-Yard or of other Booksellers in London But yet considering thaâ— in other Treatises therâ— are so many points discussed as make most 〈◊〉 those Books so dear thaâ— all Persons are not enclined to buy them I have thought fit tâ— present unto the world this small Specimen of thâ— Prayers of the reformeâ— Churches in France whicâ— shew their Concurrence and Harmony with the Church of England in reading the Holy Scriptures in their Publick Assemblys and in most substantial points as Confessions of Faith contained in the Apostles Nicene Athanasian Creeds and likewise in their Methods of VVorship and Rules of Practice by which you may see how near Divine Providence and the Holy Spirit hath brought these Churches together And I am perswaded that if all Men would impartially observe the same it might prevail with considering Christians and make them sincerely united together This Liturgy being Composed in a small Tract I was the more induced to Translate it into English for the information of all such who can neither spare so much Money or time as the obtaining and perusing those larger Volumes do require By which all may see the Prayers and Service which were and are used in the reformed French Churches and that this or some such form is used iâ— all the reformed Churches throughout Holland Hungary Brandenburg and in other Parts of Germany Switzerland and Piedmont and in all those Places where the Persecution hath not taken away the Exercise of the reformed Religion used by Calvin and his followers There are also peculiar Forms of Publick Prayers in the Tigurian Churches which are the Protestant Churches of the City and Government of Zurick in Switzerland as you may see in a Book lately Printed and called Liturgia Tigurina or the Book of Common Prayers and
his Covenant of Salvation through all the world which was before limited to the people of the Jews there is no doubt but our Children are heirs of that Life which he hath promised unto us and therefore St. Paul saith the Children of the Faithful are holy to distinguish them from the Children of Pagans and Infidels for this Reason our Saviour received the Children which they presented unto him as it is written in the 19th Chapter of St. Matthew the 13th and 14th verses Then were there brought unto him little Children that he should put his hands on them and pray and the Disciples rebuked them but Jesus said Suffer little Children and forbid them not to come unto me for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven Now seeing he declares that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them and that he layeth his hands on them and recommendeth them to God his Father he fufficiently teacheth us that we ought not to exclude them from his Church therefore according to this Rule we will receive this Child into his Church that he may be made partaker of those benefits which God hath promised to his Faithful and we will first humbly present him unto God by our Prayers saying with all our heart Lord God Eternal and Everlasting Father since it hath pleased thee by thy infinite goodness to promise us that thou wilt be a God to us and to our Children we pray that it may please thee to confirm thy Grace in this Child here present begotten of parents whom thou hast called into thy Church and as he is offered and consecrated unto thee by us receive him into thy holy protection declaring thy self to be his God and Saviour by pardoning the Original sins which the whole Race of Adam are guilty of Sanctify him also by thy Spirit that when he shall come to the use of Knowledge he may own and adore thee as his only God in glorifying thee all his Days that he may obtain of thee the remission of his sins and to the end that he may obtain such grace be pleased to incorporate him into the Communion of our Lord Jesus Christ and make him partaker of all his Benefits as one of the Members of his Body Hear us merciful Father that the Baptism we are to communicate unto him according to thy Ordinance may produce such Fruits and Vertues in him as are declared to us in thy Gospel Our Father which art in Heaven c. Seeing we are about to receive this Child into the Congregation of the Christian Church do you promise when he shall come to years of discretion to instruct him in the Doctrine which is received by the People of God as it is briefly comprehended in the Confession of Faith which we all profess I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven c. Do you promise to take pains to instruct him in all this Doctrine and generally in all that is contained in the holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments that he may receive it as the true Word of God come from Heaven You must also exhort him to live according to the Rule which our Lord hath given us in his Law which doth briefly consist in these Two Points That we should love God with all our minds and with all our heart and with all our strength and our Neighbour as our selves likewise according to the Exhortations that the hath given by his Prophets and Apostles that this Child renouncing himself and all his Carnal Desires should dedicate himself unto the glory of the Name of God and of Jesus Christ and to the Edification of his Neighbour After the Promise is made the Godfather speaking to the Minister the Child hath his Name given him and then the Minister sprinkling water on the Forâ—head baptizing him saying with a loud voice N. I baptize thee in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost The whole being audibly performed in the vulgar Tongue that all they which are present may understand and be Witnesses to what is done and be edified in acknowledging and calling to mind what is the Fruit and Vse of their Baptism THE MANNER OF Celebrating the Holy Supper IT is to be observed that they declare to the People on the Lords day before the holy Sacrament is given First that every one may prepare himsâ—lf to receive it worthily and with such Reverence as it behoves him to do Secondly That they do not admit any children but such as are well instructed and have made profession of their Faith in the Church Thirdly if there come any Strangers that are yet ignoraut to present themselves they should come to be instructed first in private The day it is to be celebrated the Minister speaks of it at the end of his Sermon or if it be necessary makes his Sermon wholly upon it to explain to the people what our Lord did signify by this Mystery and in what manner we must receive it After the Prayers and Confession of Faith are made to testify in the Name of the People that all would live and die in the Christian Doctrine and Religion he says with a loud voice Let us hear my brethren how Jesus Christ hath instituted for us his holy Supper as St. Paul saith in the 11th chap. of the first Epist to the Corinthians I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me After the same manner he also took the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood This do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me For as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come Wherefore whosoever shall eat this Bread and drink this Cup of the Lord Vnworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup for he that eateth and drinketh Vnworthily eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself not discerning the Lords Body Brethte we have heard how our Lord made his Supper amongst his Disciples which shews us That Aliens and such that are not of the Number of his Faithful should not be admitted thereto Therefore according to that Rule in the Name and by the Authority of the Lord Jesus Christ I do Excommunicate all Idolaters Blasphemers and contemners of God Hereticks and all people that make separate Sects to break the Union of the Church all that are Perjured and all those who are Disobedient to Parents or to their Superiors all Seditious Mutinous Strikers Litigious Adulterers Whoremongers Thieves Covetous Usurers Extortioners Drunkards Gluttons all such as lead a wicked or scandalous
Naming the Bridegroom and the Bride N. N. knowing that God hath ordained it thus will you live in the Holy State of Matrimony which God hath so greatly honoured have you such an intention as you do here declare before this holy assembly desiring that it should be confirmed They Answer Yes The Minister I take you all that are here present as Witnesses desiring you to remember it yet if there be any who know any impediment in it or that either of them be Married to any other let him declare the same If no Person opposes it the Minister says thus Since there is no Person that opposes it and that there is no impediment Our Lord God confirm that holy design which he hath given you let your begining be in the Name of God who hath made Heaven and Earth Amen The Minister speaking to the Bridegroom says thus N. Do you confess here before God and this holy Assembly that you have taken and do take M. here present for your Wedded Wife and do you promise to keep her in Loving and faithfully maintaining her as the duty of a Loving Husband towards his VVife requireth Living Holily with Her keeping Faith and Loyalty in all things according to the word of God and of his Holy Gospel Answer Yes After speaking to the Bride the Minister says M. Do you confess here before God and this holy assembly that you have taken and do take N. here present for your Lawful Husband do you promise to obey him serving and being subject unto him living a holy life Keeping saith and loyalty with him in all things as a faithful and loyal wife ought to do towards her husband according to the Word of God and of his holy Gospel Answer Yes Then the Minister doth say The Father of all mercy who hath called you by his Grace to this holy State for the love of his Son Jesus Christ who did sanctify Marriage by his holy presence and whereâ—t he wrought his first Miracle before his Apostles give you his holy Spirit to serve and honour him together with one accord Amen Hear the Gospel in which our Lord shews how he would have holy Matrimony to be kept and how it is firm and indissolvable as it is written in the 19th of St. Matthew The Pharisees also came unto him tempting him and saying unto him Is it lawful for a man to put away his Wife for every cause and he answerâ—â— and said unto them have ye not read that he which made them at the beginning made them Male and Female and said for this cause shall a man leave Father and Mother and cleave unto his Wife and they twain shall be one Flesh wherefore they are no more twain but one Flesh what therefore God hath Joyned together let no man put asunder Believe these Holy Words which our Lord hath spoken as they are contained in the holy Gospel be assured that our Lord God hath joined you in holy Matrimony Therefore live holily together in Love Peace and Unity keeping true Charity Faith and Loyalty one toward another according to the Word of God Let us all pray to our Father with one accord God Almighty who art good and wise and hast foreseen from the begining that it was not good for Man to be alone and therefore didst create an help meet for him like unto himself and hast ordained that two should be one We most humbly pray and beseech thee since it hath pleased thee to call these here present unto the holy State of Matrimony that thou would be pleased of thy bountiful grace to give them thy holy Spirit that they may live in true and stedfast faith according to thy good will that they may overcome all Evil Affections and edify others in all Honesty and Chastity give them thy Blessings as thou didst to thy Faithful Servants Abraham Isaac and Jacob That they having an Holy Seed may praise and serve thee instructing and nourishing them up to thy Praise and Glory and to the Edification of our Neighbours and the advancement of thy Holy Gospel Hear us most merciful Father through our Lord Jesus Christ thy most Dear Son Amen Our Lord replenish you with his Grace and Goodness and grant you a long and holy life together Amen FINIS POSTSCRIPT AS I have mentioned the differences between the Protestant Dissenters and the Church of England and the great respect paid her by the reformed Forreign Churches So I think fit to conclude by hinting to the Romanists Quakers c. That the Differences between Reform'd Forreign Churches and the Church of England are not so material and great as some have maliciously reported The present Controversies of Papists with Papists and of Quakers among themselves are considerably greater in my Opinion and the Breach between our English Presbyterians and Independents I take to be wider As for that amazing Point of Absolute Predestination it is not so much disputed amongst the Reformed as the Roman Churches One Order of Monks hath hotly engaged another The Jesuists and Jansenists have written so many hectoring and swelling Volumes upon that knotty Subject that a small Library will scarcely contain them Whereas in my poor Apprehension it would be much better to practice the Doctrines we profess than to quarrel about them and to use the words of the Learned Let us confessing that nothing can be done without the Providence of God Adore in humility the Secrets which are hid from us without our enquiry beyond our measure and rather apply to our use that which is shewn us in the holy Scriptures for to be in repose and security The World had been much happier if all who follow that Judicious Divine Mr. Calvin as well as others had embraced this sound this useful and pious instruction As for the Government of the Church by Bishops the Learned Calvin had neither a seasonable time or opportunity to use it It was not feasible or practicable for him to maintain it for how could he establish Protestant Bishops where Popish Bishops were setled But I Appeal to the world if the Calvinian Clergy hath not generally shewn a great Veneration both for the Orders and Persons of our Bishops whether they have not admired their Books and received holy Orders from them And for a further Demonstration of their entire Agreement few of them if any have ever refused a Prebendary a Deanery or any Episcopal Preferment But were there a real Disagreement in any point with what Forehead could a Romanist object it The Arch-Bishop of Paris uncharitably Damns the Arch-Bishop of Cambray the Bishop of Meaux and others joyn with him whilst the Prelate of Cambray doth not want a Party who adhere to him The Pope and his Cardinals are stunn'd atit and for all the Infalibility they pretend to they cannot easily tell on which side to determine The great God compose all Divisions amongst Christians of what Denomination soever let us humbly beseech him to inspire continually the Universal Church with the Spirit of Truth Unity and Concord and grant that all those who confess his Holy Name may agree in the truth of his holy word and live in Unity and Godly Love grant this O Father for Jesus Christ's sake our only Mediator and Advocate Amen FINIS FOR the satisfaction of all such persons that doubt of the Truth of this preceeding Translation they may please to observe that it hath been Examined by us and found to be faithfully translated from the French Form of Prayers which was in use in the Reformed Churches in France among our Ancestors and in our days whose Names are here subscribed Ministers of the French Church in the Savoy T. Satur P. Larriviere C. G. Lamothe Ministers of the Old French Church in London C. Piozet Ch. Bertheau Dubourdieu Minister of the Old Frnnch Church in Soho A. Gilbert Minister of the French Chappel at the Palace of St. James C. Pegorie Minister of the French Church near Leicester Fields La Place Minister of the French Church in Newport-Market Soho Blanc Minister of the Old Patant French Church in Soho Gally Degaujac A French Minister of an English Church J. Lions Minister to several French Churches in and about London Ministers of the New French Churches in London and in Hungerford-Market J. Doules J. Lombard Peter Degaleniere John Graverol P. Roussilions De Milly Melin Minister and Reader of the New French Church in London This Translation hath been carefully compared with the Original and Corrected by S. Lyons a French Minister