a Lyturgie or book of Common Prayer for the Church in his time St. Basil the like in his time St. Chrysostome the like in his time and so downwards untill Mr. John Calvins time 24. Whether I do not belâ—eve that Mr. John Calvin himself thought well of Common Prayers and particularly of our Common Prayer Book when he said Quod ad formam precum rituum Ecclesiae valdè probo ut certa illa extet à qua pastoribus in sua functione dâ—scedere non licet Concerning a Form of Prayer and Ecclesiastical Rites I very well like that there be a certain and constant one from which the Pastors of the Church may in no wise depart or vary 25. Whether I do not believe That every word in the Common Prayer Book is in the Bible either literally or rationally deduced thence v. g. for the Confession Almighty God Gen. 17.1 And most merciful Father Exod. 34.6 We have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep Psal 119.176 We have followed too much the devises and desires of our own hearts Jer. 18.12 We have offended against thy holy laws Mat. 7.8 We have left undone those things which we ought to have done 1 Sam. 15.24 And we have done those things which we ought not to have done 1 Sam. 24.5 2 Sam. 12.13 And there is no health in us Psa 38.3 But thou O Lord have mercy upon us miserable offenders Luke 18.13 Spare thou them O God which confess their faults Prov. 28.13 Restore thou them that be penitent Ez. 18.31 According to thy promise declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord Mat. 11 18. And grant O most merciful Father for his sake Joh. 16.23 That we may hereafter live a godly righteous and sober life Titus 2.12 To the glory of thy holy name 1 Tim. 6.16 26. Whether I do not believe the Absolution Almighty God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be grounded upon John 20.23 27. Whether I do not believe the Lords Prayer with the Doxology Thine is the Kingdom Power and Clory is verbatim in Mat. 6 and without that Doxology in Luke 11. 28. Whether I do not believe those Versicles O God make speed to save us be not in Psal 102.13 Open thou my lips O Lord. And my mouth shall shew forth thy praise Psal 51.15 I might be endless to answer therefore some of your Grand Objections I ask 29. Whether I do not believe Remember not Lord our offenses nor the offenses of our forefathers is a sincere prayer for the living and no sinful prayer for the dead viz. That God would not visit the offenses of our forefathers upon in their children and grounded upon Exo 20. and Ezek. 18. 30. Whether I do not believe From sudden death good Lord deliver us is a fervent ejaculation no idle desire that God would not take us away unpreparedly until we have made ready our Accounts 31. Whether I do not believe For all them that travel by land or by water all women labouring of child c. is a charitable prayer and answerable to the Apostles command Do good to all Gal. 6.10 Pray for all men 1 Tim 2.3 32. Whether I do not believe By thy holy Nativity Circumcision by thy Agony and bloudy sweat c. is obtestative and the sign of our Faith not affirmative and the sign of an Oath desiring God by these effectual means of the Actions and Passions of Jesus Christ to deliver us from those punishments which are due unto us for our sins 33. Whether I do not believe the first prayer in the Office of Matrimony That God would blesse this couple as Isaac and Rebecca proceeded rather from the holy Ghosts inspiration than from humane invention because if from man onely he would have gone upon reason and made the prayer thus blesse them as Abraham and Sarah or blesse them as Jacob and Rachel for Abraham was Gods first friend jacob was Gods great friend yet neither so nor so but as Isaac and Rebecca because Abraham had his Hagar one Concubine Jacob had his Zilkah and his Bilkah two at least Isaac never any but his Rebecca 34. Whether I do not believe That that prayer Prevent us O Lord in all our doings c. be not absolutely against those great points of Popery concerning works of preoperation and cooperation grounded upon that of St. Paul Eph. 2.8 and so no kin to the Mass Book 34. VVhether I do not believe the Creed of the Apostles is every word in the Scripture viz. I believe Mark 9 24. in God John 14 1. the Father 1 Cor. 1.3 Almighty Gen. 17.1 maker of heaven and earth Gen. 1.1 and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord Rom. 1.3 which was conceived by the holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary Luke 1.35 suffered under Pontius Pilate John 19.1 was Crucified John 19.18 Dead John 19.30 and Buried John 19.42 He descended into Hell Act 2.27 the third day he rose again from the dead 1 Cor. 15.4 He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right-hand of God Mar. 10.19 From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead Act 10.42 And in the holy Ghost Mat. 28.19 The holy Catholick Church the communion of Saints Ephes 5.27 the forgiveness of sins Col. 1.14 The Resurrection of the Body 1 Cor. 15.35 and life everlasting John 10.28 36. VVhether I do believe the Feasts of Christmass Easter and whitsuntide have been observed by the purest and Primitive Churches and commanded upon as to observe the same Clem. ep decret Telesph p. 117. Cyprian de Nativ Christi Nazian Orat. 38. Chrysost hom in Nativ Christi The Church of Helvetias confess c. 24. The Church of Bohemia c. 15. The Church of Bremen Regist 2. fine the Church of Auspurge confess act 4. 37. Whether I do not believe The Lord bâ— with thee and with thy Spirit equivalent to â—â—uth 2.4 38. Whether I do not believe St. Paul spake Scripture when he said and bid us pray with the spirt aâ—d with the understanding and whether I do not sometimes pray without the understanding when I think I pray by the spirit 39. VVhether I do not believe That therefore I have done very ill to excommunicate the English Common Prayer Book which by most Divines hath been cal ed optimum Breviarium and so instead of it have set up a Directory which speaks nothing so much as the sixth sence and hath no better Derivation than from the Directarii But I am in earnest and earnestly desire of Almighty God that if the Presbyterian be determined to go on in his opinion yet that we may joyn together in all Christian affection and so meet in heaven in everlasting Union for till I am convinced upon the former Queries I am resolved never to be of their communion upon earth though I wish them increase of sanctity while they live and eternity of happinesse when they dye through Iesus Chriâ—t Amen III. Whether Romane I Am
A Catholicks Resolution Or a Serious ENQUIRY Whether it be Better To turn Independent Presbyterian Romane Or continue What I am Catholick In Matter of RELIGION London Printed Anno Dom. MDCLXVIII I. Whether Independent OF all Religions I think I could make somewhat among Them for what Learning I have will help maintain their Ignorance and my being a Proselyte will promote their Confidence It 's probable I could frame as plausible a Discourse of the Reasons inducing me to be of that Persuasion as some they have admitted But before I joyn with them I shall wait a resolution of the following Queries And 1. Whether I can easily joyn with such as would Paganize and make Antichristian all the Churches of Christ in the whole world except themselves 2. Whether that be a false Church that converts their Members before they come to be of their Party 3. Or that which would propound a better way for Ministers maintenance than God who hath ordained That they that serve at the Altar should live by the Altar 4. And that set up such to be Preachers as have no art nor knowledg in the Tongues 5. That make the whole essence of the Ministerial Call to consist in Election of the people without Ordination 6. That cry down Bishops because they cannot preach to all their Flock at once and yet themselves gather Churches from York to London so that many do not see the face of their Pastor once in a year 7. Whether under that Notion all Heresies have not crept into the Church 8. Whether I shall joyn to that Party who never yet could set bounds to themselves but do still expect some new Discoveries for Modification and whether my consent go that not be more dangerous than the Oath of c 9. Whether I shall submit to that Party that hitherto neither the most Religious the most Learned nor the major part of any Nation ever yet submitted to 10. Whether the first and best of our Reformers ever thought of or practised such a way 11. Whether were I now to die I could take comfort in their Absolution seeing not one of them is authorized thereunto And 12. That would persuade us that all our Martyrs for the Protestant Cause did worship God in a wrong way and therein condemn the Generation of the Just Could Answer be brought in to this Jury of Questions That they are Not guilty I could then better believe them and relieve my self For the present my Conscience not being satisfied I shall with them Catholick Charity and pray That as they would shun the Fâ—ock of Superstition on the one hand they would likewise avoid the Shelve of Separation on the other And O thou that alone art an Independent Being teach all thine to depend upon thee for counsel and direction and not to despise the Churches Communion II. Whether Presbyterian IT is a Thriving way and I am poor the tentation therefore is strong but better enjoy peace of Conscience than the spoils of violence I shall yet propose some cases of conscience and upon their true Resolves I shall either shake hands with him or continue what I am 1. Whether I do not believe That Christ taught his Apostles to pray and say Our Father which art in heaven 2. Whether I do not believe That the Apostles did pray and say as Christ taught them Our Father which art in heaven 3. Whether I have done well to expunge and obliterate that Prayer Our Father which art in heaven 4. Whether I do not believe That Christ sent his Apostles as his Father sent him Joh. 20.21 5. Whether I do not believe That the Father sent Christ to be the chief Bishop of our Souls 1 Pet. 2.25 6. Whether I do not believe both these missions to be jure divino 7. Whether I do not therefore believe Episcopacy to be jure Divino 8. Whether I do not believe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be a different word from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 9. Whether I do not believe Bishop to be the name of office and dignity Presbyter to be a name of order and duty 10. Whether I do not believe Bishops are sometimes called Presbyters because they were Presbyters before they were Bishops 11. Whether I do not believe Presbyters qua Presbyters are never called Bishops 12. Whether I do not believe that St. Paul spake and did divinely when he constituted Timothy Bishop of Ephesus and Titus Bishop of Creet to oversee and if need were to rebuke the Presbyters there 13. Whether I do not believe St. Jerome spake piously when he said Nisi exors quaedam ab omnibus eminens potestas Episcopo ducetur tot essent Schismata quot Sacerdotes That unless an extraordinary and peerless preheminence were given to the Bishop there would be as many Schisms as Priests 14. Whether I do not believe King James spake politickly and prudently when be said No Bishop no King 15. Whether I do not believe the Primitive Church and so the Church successively untill of very late years one century and less than an half was governed by Episcopacy 16. Whether therefore I do not believe I have done very ill to shoulder out Episcopacy that I might get into his Chair 17. Whether I do not believe that Thebulis and Aërius were therefore called Hereticks because they would have had an ecclesiastical parity Bishop and Presbyter all one 18. Whether I do not believe The Canon of the Apostles distinguished the three degrees of Bishops Presbyters and Deacons and gave the superiority to Bishops Can. 4 6 7 19. Whether I do not believe Thebulis and Aërius did therefore phansie an ecclesiastical parity because they could not be made Bishops which they earnestly affected Epiphan Haeres 75. 20. Whether I do not believe the Church of Jerusalem was called a Virgin Church and never corrupted until by Thebulis because he was not made a Bishop Eus l. 4 c. 22. 21. Whether I do not believe Ignatius lived in the Apostles days and saw Christ in the flesh and being yet a Bresbyter writ to the Antiochians to remember Evodius their Bishop who first from the Apostles received the superiority above the Presbyters and after being Bishop himself and going to suffer under Trajan writ to the Clergy and Presbyters there That they would be diligent in feeding their floâ—k untill God did show unto them Him that should rule over them after his death And in another Epistle ad Sard. thus Presbyters be obedient to your Bishops Deacons be obedient to your Presbyters Laymen be obedient to all And after all concludes thus My soul for theirs that observe this order The Lord be with them 22. Whether I do not believe Aërius was the first that voted down all Fasts Vigilantius the first that voted down all Feasts appointed by the Church both Hereticks and therefore whether I may not fear I am something Heretical in following their steps 23. Whether I do not believe that S. James set out
as far from Rome as I am from Geneva yet finding the Romane possest with more of the water the Presbyterian with more of the fire I hope some moderation may in time cement England and Rome into the Catholick so strongly as never hereafter to be dissolved or melted by the fury of zeal You and you only I confesse have the face of a Church and I hope you will not deny us the Form and Being of a Church since I believe there is so much ingenuity and wisdom in you as to distinguish betwixt a Church extinguished and eclipsed or persecuted The Church of England I acknowledge is under a cloud and eclipsed but the Candle is not quite out and extinguished Wheresoever two or three of the Catholick Church are gathered together there is Châ—ist in the midst of them so was his promise Matt. 18.20 And wheresoever a lawful Priest or Pastour of the English Church is with two or three of his Congregation I will not I dare not doubt of the performance If you have lesse charity either in the taking or mistaking of it I shall propose some few Queries in my own name as one of you though I thank God I am none of you not ever intend to be in opinion howsoever in affection because you are my next neighbour I therefore love you â—s my self 1. VVhether I do believe Romane and Catholick are Termini coâ—vertiblies 2. Whether I do believe I may be saved if I pray as the Catholick Church doth and was taught by Christ Our fatheâ— which art in heaven though I do not pray as the Roâ—â—n Church doth and teacheth O thou mother of God St. â—â—er St. Paul pray for me 3. Whether if I do believe as the Primitive and Catholick Church did and doth and hath taught the Apostles Creed though I do not believe as the Roman Church doth the Creed of the Councel of Trent I may be sav'd 4. VVhether if I endeavour to live after Gods Commandments and obey him though I do not endeavour to live after my superiors command I may be saved 5. Whether if I receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist as Christ Instituted and Commanded me to receive it in both kinds Bread and Wine Flesh and Blood though I do not receive it as the Church of Rome hath abrogated it and Commanded to receive in one kind only I may be saved 6. Whether my conscience can be satisfied by the device of concomitants that the Blood is given in the Body since in the Eucharist the Blood is to be given as shed not kept as poured out not contained in the Body 7. Whether if I be born again and made a Christian by true Baptism and afterward confirmed by a true Bishop though I am not annointed with oyl I may be saved 8. Whether if I believe the Scripture and frame my life according though I do not equally believe Tradition I may be saved 9. VVhether if I serve and worship God in Spirit and in Truth though I worship no images nor God by images I may be saved 10. VVhether I may not be saved if I believe in Gods mercies through Christs merits though I put no confidence in merits of my own works These Queries with a very few more by moderate and unbyassed men might be brought to a reconciliation and that they may be I pray you let us joyn in one Prayer till we joyn in all points O Most merciful God who hast made all Mankind of one O most merciful God who hast contracted all the Elect of Mankind into one Body thy Church and hast given the whole Church but one Soul thy Spirit and that Soul but one Life thy Faith and that Faith but one prop one Gospel one Baptism one Lords Supper and this one Body and one Soul but one Head thy self who art but one Lord and hast again dispersed this Body into several Assemblies and Societies and hast made each Society and Assembly but one thereby intimating to us that we should all have but one Heart and one Mind In mercy we beseech thee look upon thy Church and make her as thy Son did leave her One one in Opinion and one in affection that she may be no longer crucified betwixt Hereticks and Schismaticks Thieves of thy Truth betwixt profligates and hypocrites thieves of thy Grace betwixt Zelots and Superstitious thieves of thy Honor but by virtue of thy Sons Golgotha dry up Akeldama and for the merit of Calvary Deliver O deliver her from all her present misery Relieve her from Force without and Fury within both against her Rescue her from civil Enemies and crafty Children both which fall upon her Suffer not Reeds any longer to be thy Scepters nor Chairs thy Throne nor Tricks thy Order nor Rudeness in one part nor Superstition in another part thy Service nor Miscreants thy Wâ—â—shippers nor Confusion thy Religion nor Wild 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Zeal nor Lunacies thy Resolutions nor Deâ—… 〈…〉 Spirit but appear by her once more in 〈…〉 â—â—â—rit of Peace and Purity of Sanctity 〈…〉 Wisdome and Sobriety that all 〈…〉 Church by thy Livery which tho 〈…〉 〈…〉 Love Peace and Patience and 〈…〉 may be guided by thy One Church in the right way of Truth into Heaven through Jesus Christ Amen In whose blessed Name and words we further call upon thee as he hath taught us in his Holy Gospel saying Our Father which art in heaven Hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in Earth as c. Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as c. And lead us not into Tentation but c. For thine is the Kingdom Power and Glory c. Or IV. continue what I am Catholick I Desire so to continue though I starve for it For I have not took up this Religion upon Tradition or Education but upon Judgment and Deliberation And instead of Queries and Cases of Conscience I offer to my self these Irrefragable Propositions 1. If I pray aright according to the Patterâ— of Devotion sum'd up in the Lords Prayer I shall be heard 2. If I repent aright according to the Prophets and Apostles Direction with the Contrition of my Heart with the Confession of my Lips and the Endeavour of my Life I shall be forgiven Joel 2. 2 Cor. 7. 3. If I do right according to Gods will in his Word sum'd up in his Decalogue or Ten Commandments though not absolutely and enactly yet uprightly and Evangelically I shall be accepted 4. If I believe aright according to Gods Gospel sum'd up in the Apostles Creed without doubting without disâ—â—usâ—â—ng without desparing I shall be saved 5. If I receive Christs holy Sacraments as he did institute and appoint them not onely as Signs but means of Grace not onely as Assurances of Salvation but Conveyances of Sanctification I shall be glorified And my Religion being so good I desire not to change but to continue as I am and for that I praise Gods mercy and pray for Gods blessing My Religion is good for it is Gods my Calling is Lawful for it is of God my Service is honorable for it is for God and my Savior my message in which I am employed is honourable for it is of Peace and to be an Instrument of Reconciliation betwixt God and his People and my proceeding in it if it be as it ought to be in Love shall be acceptable Joyfully I may do it for God will reward it Freely I may do it for God will make it good Boldly I may do it for God will defend it and incessantly I should do it for first or last God will give a blessing to it But who who is worthy to do this weighty business not the best of men how much more unworthy am I the worst of men and chief of Sinners Truly of my self I am as unworthy as unable and unworthy to be enabled if thou enter in Judgment with me That thou mayest not I thus address my self to thy Throne of Grace Look upon me O my God in the face of Jesus Christ I beseech thee and for his sake assist me with thy Spirit That I may speak thy word lest I be guilty of carelesnes That I may not speak before I Learn lest I be guilty of Rashness That I may Learn and Speak lest I be guilty of idleness That I may not speak to the Ear lest I be guilty of Flattery That I may speak to the Heart and so be a means of other mens salvation and when I have preached to others That I may not be a Castaway my self Sanctifie me with thy Spirit I beseech Thee That I may aswell live as speak Divinity Let thy Glory be my chief Thy peoples and my own safety my next Aim That I may not bring a wo to thy Flock Give me Learning that I may not bring wo to my self Give me Diligence that I may not bring Dishonor to thee Give me Discretion Deliver me from the misery of Starving thy Flock for want of skill Deliver me from the Cruelty of starving thy Flock for want of will Deliver me from a fruitless industry in feeding thy Flock for want of Prudence make me painful in my Study powerful in my Pulpit Fervent in my Piety Holy in my Conversation Succesful in all That I may be discharged of the Bloud of all those Souls Committed to my Charge it is a precious People for thou hast purchased them at a dear Rate even with Bloud with thy Bloud with thy precious Bloud Let them be precious too in my Esteem That I may preach to them in Season and out of Season not onely by Speaking well but Living better help their understandings in my knowledg of Divinity better their Wills in my Practâ—se of Divinity Supply them and my self for thâ—s Life and the next out of thine own Fulness and Crown my Labours with the Conversion of such Souls as thou hast Ordained to Life Eternal Through Jesus Christ In whose most Blessed Name and Words I further call upon Thee as He hath Taught FINIS