satisfied and you feel a great deal of comfort in the way you take to worship God and have the testimony of your Conscience that you do act sincerely and as you think for the glory or God But how easily may Men flatter and deceive themselves with such pretences Do not Jews and Mahometans all Hereticks and Schismaticks pretend the same And are not many of them fully as Zealous and consident in their way and do they not as much condemn you in their thoughts as you can them Nay those that killed the Apostles thought they did God service So that to rely upon an inward satisfaction Joh. 16.2 the pretence of Conscience without solid reason and foundation in Gods word is the common mistake that deludes the greatest part of Mankind If ever then you hope to appear with comfort before God you must lay aside fancy and perswasion and examine both your Faith and your Lives according to the holy Scriptures If we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel in part or in whole or neglect any part of This let him be accursed Gal. 1.8 When our Saviour began to preach this was the Summ of his Doctrine Repent and relieve the Gospel Mar. 1.15 When he sent his Apostles into the world it was with this large Commission Preach the Gospel to every Creature he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Mark 16.15 16. St Paul afterwards speaking of the Day of Judgment Says God shall Judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel Rom. 2.16 Again Christ Jesus shall he revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his power The Gospel does not only contain promises but precepts duties as well as rewards And therefore our Saviour when he is asked what a man should do to be saved gives this answer If thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandments Again if ye love me keep my Commandments St James says whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all Jam. 2.10 This contains all articles of our Creed and all other Christian duties we must not think then our Zeal for one duty will excuse our neglect of another we must not so much regard what we have done but supply that we have not done If through errour or mistake any have lived in Schism Heresie Disobedience or breach of any other command he must repent and amend for no confidence and self conceit can justifie us before God while we live in neglect of our Duty Obedience to Governours and love and unity with our fellow Christians necessary Duties of the Gospel AS our Saviour came into the World to reform the errours and vices of corrupt Nature and teach Men the principles of Peace and Vertue so in his Gospel he has given most severe commands of mutual love and obedience to his Bishops and Governours because without it there would be nothing but ignorance and errour quarrels and confusion and as it was in the Jewish Nation when there was no King in Israel every one did what was right in his own eyes so it will be in the Church where there are no Governours or none that are hearkened to or regarded every man will follow the devices of his own heart Therefore when he founded his Church the first thing he does is to appoint Governours with power not only to shut out of his Church but out of Heaven all those that contemn their authority and will not be governed by them Matt. 16.18 19. Vpon this rock will I build my Church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it and I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdome of Heaven whatsoever thou shalt bind on Earth shalt be bound in Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven And though in this place it be promised to St Peter to shew that each single Bishop had that power in his respective charge whilst he lives in communion with and conformity to the Church yet Matt. 18. it is said whatsoever ye shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and when our Saviour actually bestows this power John 20.23 he gives it equally to all the Apostles whose soever sins ye remit they are remitted and whose soever sins ye retain they are retained Again he says he that receiveth you receiveth me he that rejecteth you rejecteth me and he that rejecteth me rejecteth him that sent me And when he was going into Heaven that he might fully provide for the order and government of his Church he gives his Apostles authority over the whole World to rule and to punish them as well as to teach and comfort them and this power is to last to the end of the World All power is given unto me in Heaven and Earth go ye therefore into all the World make Disciples all Nations and lo I am with you alwayes unto the end of the World Matt. 28. The Apostle Hebr. 13. bids Christians remember them that have the Rule over you who have spoken to you the word of God whose faith follow v. 7. again Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your Souls v. 17. And 't is our Saviours express command if he refuse to hear the Church let him be unto thee as a Heathen and a Publican and then he adds to shew whom he means by the Church that 't is the Bishops and Governours of his Church whatsoever ye shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven Matt. 18.17 18. So that it is beyond all possible doubt that there are Bishops and Governours sent by Christ to continue to the end of the World and there is a Church that must be hearkened unto under peril of being shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven There must be a method and order observed in appointing the Bishops and Governours of the Church that Men may know whom they ought to obey and whose punishments they ought to avoid ALL Men confess in general that Christ has left Bishops and Governours in his Church but they are not all agreed who are those who have this Authority committed to them Now there must be some orderly method for our direction in this as well as other matters or else the Authority will signifie nothing and not attain that end for which it was appointed For if every body be left to follow whom he please then all censures and excommunications will come to nothing assoon as Men are shut out from one Pastor they will run to another if one will not comply with their humour they will go to another that will and so the Christian society which ought to be the
reap the greatest advantage by our Disorders As you therefore love God love your Country love your Childrens Souls keep them from Conventicles and be carefull in training them up in the constant Communion of the Church of England God does particularly commend Abraham because he did command his Children after him that they should keep the way of the Lord. Gen. 18 19. And Joshua does not only take care for himself but says As for Me and my House we will serve the Lord. Josh 24.15 And it is the Command of God in the New Testament Ephes 6.4 That you should bring up your Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord And what that is I have here set before you to prevent your falling into the Errours and Confusions of the times And how can you better spend your Dayes then in promoting the Glory of God and Peace and Love round about you and obtaining happiness for your Selves and Families to all Eternity God be thanked the Pious Zeal of the Sons of the Church has had so good effect in the City of London that daily Morning and Evening Prayers Weekly and Monthly Communions are Reverently and Devoutly celebrated and frequented in many Churches and Chappels I hope their good example will stir up People in the Countrey to change their careless behaviour to be reverent and constant in doing their Duty and attending the Prayers and Sacraments of the Church Calvin de necess Reform Eccles LET them give us such an Hierarchy in which Bishops have such a preheminency that they do not refuse to be subject to Christ wherein they depend upon him as their only Head and are referred unto him in which let them maintain Brotherly Charity one with another and be united together with no other Bond than of his Truth Then I will confess there is no Anathema that they are not guilty of if there be any such that do not observe it Reverently and with the highest Obedience Calv. de vera Reformand Ration That no Man may raise a Calumny against us that we are too morose and froward concerning external things and do so precisely take away all Liberty I do here testifie that I do not contend about Ceremonies which serve for Order and Decency or else are Simbols and Incitements of that Reverence which we pay to God Calv. Ep. 87. Protect Angl. I do highly approve that there should be a certain Form of Prayer and Ecclesiastical Rites from which it should not be Lawfull for Pastors themselves to discede or vary 1. That provision may be made for some Peoples ignorance and unskilfullness 2. That the consent of all Churches amongst themselves may more plainly appear 3. That Order may be taken against the desultory lightness of such who delight in innovations Thus there ought to be an established Catechism an established Administration of Sacraments and also a Publick Form of Prayer THE Necessity of adhering TO The Church of ENGLAND as by Law established c. I Hope I have made it evident to you that I have a tender regard for the glory of God and the good of your Souls by the great pains and the charge I was at to send you Books to stir you up and direct you to the serious practice of the duty of Godliness for t is not hearing all the Sermons and melting discourses in the world can bring you to Heaven unless you do truly Love God with all your heart Deut. 6.5 Matt. 22.37 with all your soul with all your mind and with all your strength which is not done by running now and then into a Conventicle and sighing and groaning at a passionate expression of the Preacher but by a constant and steady doing of your Duty There are in the world many errours in opinion destructive of salvation and there are more in practice But of late years since my coming to this Office our Churches have been much more filled and the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper better frequented and the generality of the People seemed to be very well satisfied with the Doctrine and discipline of the Church of England as by Law established and there need nothing but a hearty conformity to the rules and order of it to make us all instruments of Gods glory here on earth and happy to all eternity in the kingdom of Heaven And that I might more effectually perswade you to live in all Christian obedience to the will of God I thought some motives to the duty of Godliness with short directions and prayers would be a means to make you more ready and willing to lead a holy and Religious life This was my real design and intention in sending that little Book amongst you which if you would often and carefully read over and observe the directions contained in it you would and more solid comsort and satisfaction upon your death bed or when you come to examine into the hopes you have of Salvation then in all the passionate Sermons that ever you heard in a Conventicle for then you would do your duty as God hath commanded you whereas now most men content themselves with hearing only and that not as they ought to doe neither and so deceive their own selves Jam. 1.22 Since the coming abroad of that little Book when I thought I had little else to do but to call upon you to do your duty which you did already own and profess I am how put upon another care by the change of affairs in the State in order to the faithful discharge of my Office that is to endeavour to recall some and secure others in the unity and communion of the Church now when you are ready to hear every new Man that sets up in a Conventicle and read erroneous books to lead you to destruction I hope you will read and consider what your Spiritual Governours who have as great a concern for your good as They have a blind Zeal for your hurt have to say for the truth and your obedience to the Laws of the Gospel And 't is from the earnest desire I have of your peace and welfare and the salvation of your Souls that I do now again apply my self to you and require you as you will answer it at the Day of judgement when I must give an account how I have done my duty to was do you seriously to consider how you that run into schism will answer this Charge which I now draw up against you when the scoffs and jears of your Leaders the all I urements and threatnings of your companions and of your friends in errour will stand you in no stead but you must each stand by your selves to be Judged at the day of your death according to the word of God which I now offer to your consideration The pretence of Conscience and being satisfied in their way without assurance from the Scriptures is an unsafe foundation I Know it is the temper of many of you to say we are
Sense of the Catholick Church in all Ages and of all particular Churches at this day for Men to set up Altar against Altar and separate from their lawfull Governours without just reason is that Schism condemned by the Gospel and that there is no reason to separate from the Church of England I have sufficiently shewed by taking off all the Objections against her Communion Mr Baxter's Apology pag. 8. I know how unable the Separatists were to answer the many Arguments of the Famous Arth. Hildersham J. Paget W. Bradshaw Brightman John Ball and other old Nonconformists for the lawfulness of Communicating with our Parish-Churches in the Sacraments and the Liturgy I was exceedingly moved against Separation truely so called by considering 1. How contrary it is to the Principle of Christian-love 2. And how directly and certainly pernicious to the interest of the cause of Christ and his Church and of the Souls of Men and how powerful a means it is to kill that little Love that is left in the World 4. I was greatly moved in thinking of the State of most Churches in the World if I travelled into Ahassia Armenia Russia or among the Greek Churches I durst not deny to hold communion with them When I go to God in Prayer I dare not go in a separate capacity but as a Member of the Universal Church nor would I part with my share in the Common-Poayers of all the Churches for all the World And having perused all the Forreign and Ancient Liturgies extant in Bibliotheca Patrum I doubt not but our own is incomparably better then any that is there And consider what Mr Calvin says in this Case who does also own Bishops Liturgies and Symbolical Ceremonies as ours are no just Cause of separating from the Church viz. Institut l. 4. c. 1. n. 10. I have set down the Preaching of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments for the signs whereby to know the Church For where the Preaching of the Gospel is reverently heard and the Sacraments are not neglected there for that time is a certain face of a true Church and 't is lawfull for no Man without punishment to despise her Authority reject her Admonitions be refractory against her Counsels or mock at her Corrections much less may he separate from her and break her unity For our Lord does so highly esteem the Communion of his Church that he does reckon him for a Renegado and desertor of Religion that does obstinately separate from any Christian Society that does hold the true Ministry of the Word and Sacraments from whence it does follow that to depare from the Church is to deny God and Christ but how much the more ought we to take heed of such a wicked Schism for while we go about as much as in us lyes to destroy the Truth of God we deserve that God should thunder against us with the greatest force of his Wrath to break as in pieces If some Men of better understanding by their diligence get to a knowledge of the principal parts of their Duty yet the generality of People Children and Servants will be exposed to all Ignorance Errour and Profaness IN the constitution of the Church the very Order of the Service and the solemn times set apart to bless God for the particular dispensations of the Gospel such as the Incarnation of our Lord at the Feast of Annunciation commonly called our Lady-day his Birth at Christinas and so his Passion Resurrection Asconsion sending down the Holy Ghost the Feast of the Holy Trinity with other particular Seasons are a standing Catechism and with a little help will easily bring even Children to understand and remember all parts of their Duty and for their fuller instruction and admonition the Minister is to Catechise in the Afternoons and to teach those that are ignorant of these things and to put all others in mind to think upon and observe what they do already understand So that Persons that live in the Obedience of the Church must be stupidly careless of themselves if they want any thing necessary for their edification in Faith and Love and finally to attain Salvation and if any generally are ignorant of these things they are such who run away from their Governours and either through sloth or faction would not give themselves the trouble to hear and receive the sober advice of their Ministers and commands of the Church Then under the Churches discipline the admonition of the Bishops the reproof of their Minister good Neighbours and fellow Christians did reform many of these abuses and stir up others to a diligent attendance upon the publick Service But now all sorts of temporal punishments are in a manner Suspended if you by running into Conventicles teach your Children and Servants your Neighbours and Acquaintance to despise the Authority of their Bishops and Ministers and all the Spiritual discipline of the Church you will be a means to encourage Ignorance and Profaness and in a short time our People will fall into Atheism and Infidelity For many from your example taught to contemn the reproofs and censures of their Governours will not only neglect the Communion of the Church but all sort of exercise of Religion and so turn Pagans if not live altogether like brute Beasts Others that have as yet some sparks of the Sense of Religion in generall left in them yet running up and down from Place to Place from one Sect to another will be far from receiving that firm and setled understanding of the Grounds and Principles of Religion which is necessary to keep them steady in their Duty and to bulld them up to an Holy and Heavenly conversation So that you that withdraw your selves from the Communion of your Bishops and Ministers of the Church of England besides the great Sins of Disobedience Schism and contempt of the Church and the danger you run of Heresie and damnable errour you do by your pernicious example expose your Children and Servants and multitudes of your fellow Subjects to Ignorance Profaness Infidelity Atheism and so instead of advancing purer Religion you will bring the greatest part to no Religion at all and these things we could in a great measure prevent if you by running into Conventicles and despising the directions of your Governours did not give them occasion and encourage them to run away from the sober instruction of the Church Let me therefore in the Name of God and as I have the generall care and charge of your Souls and shall be ready to give any assistance and direction you stand in need of in your passage to Heaven prevail upon you to take these things into your serious consideration Religion is not a politick Engine to be used at pleasure only to serve Mens turns upon occasion and gratine their humour and keep up the interest of a party but 't is the revealed and unchangeable Will of God concerning our Salvation and therefore must in all things be