Babylon to which he was carried Captive Daniel This Book is Historical to the Seventh Chapter and Prophetical in the rest Daniel lived at the End of the Babylonish Captivity Hosea Hosea a Prophet sent to the Ten Tribes chiefly composed this Prophecy Joel Joel Prophesied about the same time with Hosea to the Two Tribes chiefly Amos. Amos Prophesied at the same time with Hosea and to the same Persons viz. To the Ten Tribes chiefly Obadiah Obadiah foretelleth the Destruction of the Idumeans who came of Esau Jacob's Brother Jonah Jonah was a Prophet in Israel in the days of Jeroboam the Second but was sent to Nineveh the chief City of the Assyrians Micah Micah Prophesied at the same time with Isaiah and are alike in the Subject Matter and Stile he declares the Destruction of Israel and Judah by the Assyrians and by the Chaldaeans Nahum Nahum Prophesied of the Destruction of the Assyrians by the Chaldaeans and Medes Habakkuk Habakkuk Prophesied of the Destruction of Israel and Judah by the Chaldaeans as also of the Punishment on the Chaldaeans or Babylonians Zephaniah Zephaniah Prophesied but a few Years before the Captivity of Babylon and threatneth Jerusalem and Judah with utter Desolation Haggai Haggai Prophesied after the 70 Years Captivity of the Jews return from Babylon and exhorts them to Rebuild the Temple Zechariah Zechariah was sent to confirm the Doctrine of Haggai and to help on the Work of the Building the Temple but his Style is more Sublime and Mysterious He Prophesied in the Reign of Darius in whose Sixth Year the Temple was finished Malachy Malachy Prophesied after the Re-edifying of the Temple and endeth the Prophets Apochryphal Books The word Apocryphal signifies that which is hidden unknown or doubtful Those Books which carry that Title and are bound up in our Bibles are so called because it is doubted whether they be True Scripture or not certainly known to be so for so the word in the Greek signifies They are not in the Hebrew yet most of them are of much worth containing many worthy Documents and especially the History of the Maccabees is of singular Use for the Interpretation of the two last Chapters of Daniel and part of the Second Seventh and Eighth Chapters of that Prophet The New Testament or Covenant THE word in Greek which is translated Testament signifies both a Covenant and a Testament a Covenant as may appear by the Adjunct New which notes the opposition of This to the Old so that this Book is what the Old was not a Testament to which Death is supposed necessary but a Covenant or Stipulation betwixt God and his People the Jews promising Mercies and requiring Duties of them The Gospel according to St. Matthew THE Word Gospel comes from a Saxon word which is compounded of God and Spell and is in English good Tidings and by Euphony that is for better Sound sake we pronounce it Gospel delivered here in History of the Birth Life Actions Precepts Promises Death Resurrection and Ascension of Christ The Writers of this History are commonly called Evangelists which may in general signifie any Preacher of the Gospel but is more peculiarly applied to those that wrote the History of Christ's Life and Death c. viz. St. Matthew St. Mark St. Luke St. John The meaning of that Phrase according to St. Matthew is no more than that He compiled and set down that Gospel or good and Gladsom Word St. Mark St. Mark 's Gospel was dictated by St. Peter whose Disciple Amanuensis or Scribe St. Mark was St. Luke St. Luke was the Disciple and Follower of St. Paul who wrote this Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles St. John St. John the beloved Apostle wrote this Gospel The Epistles The Epistles were written by those that bear their Name viz. St. Paul St. Peter St. James St. Jude and St. John the Apostle by whom the Apocalypse or the Revelation was wrote also Epistle to the Hebrews Whether the Epistle to the Hebrews was written by St. Paul hath not only of Late but Anciently been doubted And as the Title which is in our Copy pretending not to be a part of the Epistle is not sufficient to conclude any more Than that it was in that time when this Title was prefix'd believed to be St. Paul's So there is no doubt but that it went without any Superscription or Known Author more Anciently and so has left some place to Variety of Conjectures who the Author should be Some Father it on St. Barnabas some on Clemens Romanus others on St. Luke the latter very Learned Men contend for from the Observation of the Stile and Idiom But all that can be said can amount to no higher than to Probable or Conjectural And 't is not Matter of any weight or Necessity that it be defined who the Author was whether St. Paul or St. Luke a constant Companion of his for many Years and the Author of two other Books of the Sacred Canon FINIS
solemnly vowed to keep them and at every Communion we renew that Vow therefore it is very fit we should have the Commandments repeated now when we are going to make a fresh engagement to observe them 2. And since we are to confess all our Sins before we come to the blessed Sacrament of Pardon the Church holds out this Glass unto us by which we may discover our Offences Q. Hath God given us no more than Ten Rules of Obedience A. There are no more requisite than these in reference to all Moral Actions as being the Summary and general Heads under which are comprehended all the Duties we are to do in particular and all the Sins we are to avoid but there are other Positive Precepts to which our Obedience is required God himself first divided this Law into Two Tables The first Four contain our Duty to God and the six Last our Duty to our Neighbour Q. What are the Duties required and the Sins forbidden in each Commandment A. In the First Commandment we are taught to have a right object of our Worship to take the true God for our only God and to Worship and Glorifie him accordingly And we are forbidden Apostacy Deifying the Creatures and Distrust of the true God 2. In the Second Commandment we learn the right Means or Matter of our Worship and it requires that we should worship God with such Worship as he has appointed in his Word suitable to his Nature And it forbids Idolatry Superstition and all carnal and careless Worship 3. In the Third Commandment we learn the right Manner of our Worship and it requires us devoutly to perform every part of Divine Worship and reverently to use every thing which nearly relates to God It forbids Blasphemy Vain and false Oaths Cursing Profaning holy Things and Sacrilege 4. In the Fourth Commandment we are taught the Solemn time of our Worship and it enjoins us to keep holy the Seventh Day call'd by Christians the Lord's-Day and observed by us in memory of Christ's Resurrection for as the learned Archbishop Bramhal remarks If the Memory of the old Creation and God's resting upon the Seventh Day had such an Influence upon the first Patriarchs that it is piously believed by some that they did freely without any Commandment observe that Day of Rest according to the Example of God Why should not Christians hallow the Day of Christ's Resurrection in Memory of Man's Redemption or the New Creation compleated upon that Day by Christ by spending it in worshipping God both in Publick and in Private or in Works of Necessity and Mercy And it forbids Neglect of the Publick Service on Sunday and other Holy Days and spending those times in Sin and Vanity and gives us the Reasons why we should obey this Commandment viz. God's allowing Six Days for our own Employment and his Challenging a Special Propriety in the Seventh and his own Examples and his Blessing and Sanctifying the Seventh Day 5. In the Fifth Commandment we are taught our Duty to our Neighbour with respect to their Persons in all our Relations Natural as Parents and Children Civil as Kings and Subjects Religious as Ministers and People Domestick as Masters and Servants as likewise of Inferiours to their Superiours And it forbids Superiours Pride Negligence and Evil Example and Inferiours Disobedience Contempt and Resisting 6. The Sixth Commandment requires all lawful Endeavours to preserve our own and our Neighbours Life and Health And forbids Killing others Challenging Anger Cruelty and Revenge 7. The Seventh Commandment enjoins us Chastity in Heart Speech and Behaviour And forbids actual Defiling of those that are Married or Single and wanton Thoughts Words Gestures and the occasion of these viz. Gluttony and Drunkenness 8. The Eighth Commandment requires the lawful furthering of our own and our Neighbours Wealth and outward Estate And forbids Thieving Cheating Unjust Detaining Oppression and the occasions of these viz. Idleness and Prodigality 9. The Ninth Commandment enjoins the Speaking of Truth and the promoting our own and others good Name And forbids all false Evidence Lying Slandering Tale-bearing and Flattery 10. The Tenth Commandment requires our being content with our own Condition and rejoicing at our Neighbours Welfare And it forbids an inordinate or unlawful Desire of any thing that is our Neighbours Envy or grieving at others Good and discontent with our own Condition But because I understand it will be more acceptable to some whose Judgment I highly value and esteem to give an Explication according to that made in our Church Catechism by applying severally to each Commandment what is there set down altogether I have therefore likewise here inserted it as well as I could in the Churches Words Q. What doth the first Commandment require A. To have the One only true God for our God and to believe in him and to fear him and to love him with all my Heart and all my Mind and all my Strength Q. What doth the second Commandment require A. Not to make any bodily Image or likeness of God or to worship any Image for God but to worship him only by calling upon his Holy Name in my Prayers and Praises and putting my whole trust in him Q. What doth the third Commandment require A. To honour God's Holy Name and his Word and not to abuse it by Swearing falsely or causelesly or speaking irreverently of either Q. What doth the fourth Commandment require A. To set apart the First Day of the Week to God's Worship and Service in memory of Christ's rising from the Dead to cease and rest from Sin and to serve God truly and faithfully all the days of my Life Q. What doth the fifth Commandment require A. To love honour and succour my Father and my Mother to honour and obey the King and all that are put in Authority under him to submit my self to all my Governours Teachers Spiritual Pastors and Masters and to order my self lowly and reverently to all my Betters Q. What doth the sixth Commandment require A. Not by Violence to take away my own or another's Life to bear no Malice or Hatred in my heart and to hurt nobody by ill Words or Deeds Q. What doth the seventh Commandment require A. Not to lie Carnally with any Woman without lawful Marriage but to keep my body in Soberness Temperance and Chastity Q. What doth the eighth Commandment require A. To be true and just in all my dealings and to keep my hands from picking and stealing Q. What doth the ninth Commandment require A. To keep my Tongue from evil speaking lying and slandering and to speak the truth from my Heart Q. What doth the tenth Commandment require A. Not to Covet nor desire other Mens Goods but to learn and labour truly to get my own Living and to do my Duty in that state of Life into which it shall please God to call me The General Rule for these Commandments is that where a Duty is commanded there the contrary Sin
A Plain and Rational VINDICATION and EXPLANATION OF THE LITURGY OF THE Church of England Collected out of the Discourses of some of the Reverend Bishops and Doctors of the same CHURCH by Way of QUESTION and ANSWER By J. CLVTTERBVCK Gent. The Second Edition with Improvements LONDON Printed for William Keblewhite at the Swan in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1699. To my Beloved Daughters SARAH LILLINGSTON AND MARY LEACH THE Church's aim in all her Services was to make them reasonable and therefore she hath not only put them in a known Tongue but also instructs us in the Nature of them making her Prayer-Book a Sum of Divinity but because we are fallen into an Age that many who call themselves Saints do actually mock and ridicule her sacred Offices It 's surely a Duty incumbent on all her Obedient Children to vindicate the Honour of their Holy Mother the Church I thought it therefore Time not ill spent having retired my self to a Private Life to collect such Reasons out of the Writings of the Reverend Bishops and Doctors of the Church of England as may justifie not only her Commands but enforce our Obedience to her Pious Edicts and to the Observance of her lawful Ceremonies And that my Affection may last longer than my Life I present ye with these my First-Fruits hoping that not only the Example and constant Practice of your Ancient Father but his Advice and Counsel may prevail with you to persevere to the End in the Doctrine and Discipline of that Church in which ye have been Baptized Educated and Instructed and let not Men deceive you with vain Words I only at First designed these Collections for my own private Satisfaction but I was prevailed upon by some Friends to make them Publick for this Reason because they assured me they would be of Use and Advantage to those of the meaner Understanding and not despised by others that knew them already which I chuse to say that I may prevent the Censure of those that may think this Publication proceeds from an itching Desire of Applause or at least from Vain-Glory Let not the Meanness of my Performances lessen your Reverence to the Holy Offices of our Church but live in the constant Use and Practice of them and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will bless you both in Soul and Body guiding ye by his Counsel here and bringing ye at last to his Glory which is the hearty Prayer of Your Affectionate Father J. CLUTTERBUCK April 16. 1694. To the READER IT is observed by a Reverend and Judicious Author Dr. Jo. Cockburn That Early Buds are wont to please the curious who are generally a little impatient But the Trees flourish best and are most fruitful which do not over-hastily put forth before their proper Season This Observation had I duly considered I should not to satisfie the importunity of some Friends so hastily have Published my First Thoughts However it appears that my Intentions to do good have been kindly received the First Edition being Sold off and being hereby encouraged to a Second Impression of this Book and desirous to have it more Correct and Useful I have made some Additions and Enlargements in giving a short Explication of the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments that all may understand what they Pray for and Read This I am sensible is very excellently perform'd by several Eminent Hands but I submit to the Judgment of some worthy Friends That I ought to consult the Reader 's Ease and Conveniency and not to referr him altogether to what Others have writ Several Remarks and Observations you will meet with in this Edition which escaped my first Consideration And lastly I have given some brief Hints of the Argument and Design of each Book of Holy Writ which may in some measure assist in Reading those Sacred Pages The Compilers of the English COMMON-PRAYER-BOOK were Dr. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Mart. Dr. Goodrick Bishop of Ely Dr. Skip Bishop of Hereford Dr. Thirlby Bishop of Westminster Dr. Day Bishop of Chichester Dr. Holbeck Bishop of Lincoln Dr. Ridley Bishop of Rochester after Bishop of London Mart. Dr. Cox King Edward 's Almoner Dr. Taylor Dean of Lincoln Mart. Dr. Heynes Dean of Exeter Dr. Redman Dean of Westminster Mr. Robinson Archdeacon of Leicester May 1549. Anno Reg. Edw. 6. Tertio The English Reformation is the most compleat and perfect in its Kind as retaining the most ancient Doctrine and soundest Confession of Faith founded upon the Holy Scriptures and agreeable to the first General Councils the most Primitive Church Government and a Liturgy the best accommodated to reconcile and unite Mens Devotions Such a Liturgy as Mr. Fox the Author of the Martyrology is not afraid to say was indited by the Holy Ghost but certainly had a great Testimony in the unspeakable Joy and Contentment holy Men took in it in K. Edward the Sixth's days their Zeal for the Maintenance of it longing for the Restitution of it and Sealed it with their Blood in Q. Maries days and the Universal Triumphs and Acclamations at the Restoring of it in Queen Elizabeth's Reign Dr. Goodman Comp. Inquiry OF THE CALENDAR AND THE Special USE thereof IN THE CHURCH of GOD. THE Calendar of the Church is as full of Benefit as Delight unto such as are given to the serious Study and due Contemplation thereof for besides the admirable Order and Disposition of Times which are necessary for the better transacting of all Ecclesiastical and Secular Affairs it hath in it a very Beautiful Distinction of the Days and Seasons whereof some are chosen out and sanctified and others are put among the Days of the Week to number But the chief Use of it in the Church of God is to preserve a solemn Memory and to continue in their due Season sometimes a weekly and sometimes an Annual Commemoration of those excellent and high Benefits which God hath bestowed upon Mankind for the Founding and Propagating of that Christian Religion which we now profess together with a Direction how to find the Lessons which the Church orders to be read every Day in the Week at Morning and Evening Prayer And because the Multitude of Holy Men and Women became so exceeding numerous that all the Days of the Year would not have been sufficient for a several Commemoration of them it was the great Wisdom and Moderation of those Religious Grave Prelates who did reform such things as were many ways amiss among us to chuse One Solemn Day alone wherein to magnifie God for the Generality of all his Saints together and to retain some few selected Days in every Month for the Special Memory of some Holy Persons and Actions hereby avoiding only the Burthen and the unnecessary Number of Festival Days Of the Golden Number and Dominical Letter THE Golden Number was anciently devised to find out the Ecclesiastical beginning of the Year which always happen'd between March the 7th and April the 6th And is