There is no first nor last for they are all three one in truth in power in goodness and mercy IX All this we know from the Testimonies of the Holy Scriptures as also from the Operations of them and chiefly by those which we feel in ourselves The Testimonies of the Holy Scriptures that teach us to believe this holy Trinity are held forth in many places of the Old Testament which is needless to sum up onely to select them distinctly and judicially In Genes 1 26. God saith Let us make man in our image after our likeness c. and vs. 27. So God created man in his own image male and female created he them And Gen. 3 22. Behold the man is become as one of us From thence it appeares that there is more then one Person in the Godhead when he saith Let US make Man in our Image and he points at the singleness when he saith God created It is very true he doth not say how many persones there are but that which seemes obscure unto us in the Old Testament is very plain in the New for when our Lord was baptised in Jordan the voice of the Father was heard saying This is my beloved Son the Son was seen in the water and the holy Ghost made himself manifest in the shape of a Dove Likewise in the Baptism of Believers this form is instituted by Christ Baptize all Nations in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost In the Gospel of St Luke the Angel Gabriel speakes to Mary the Mother of our Lord after this manner The holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall over shadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. At another place it is said The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with you There are three that bear record in heaven the Father the Word and the holy Ghost and these three are one In all these places we are fully taught that there are three Persons in one sole Divine Beeing and thô this Doctrine farr surpasses the understanding of man we nevertheless now believe the same through the Word waiting untill we shall enjoy the compleat knowledge and the fruits thereof in Heaven Further more we must consider the particular Offices and operations of these three Persons towards us The Father is called our Creator by his Power the Son is our Saviour and Redeemer by his Blood the Holy Ghost is our Sanctifier by his dwelling in our hearts This Doctrine of the holy Trinity hath alwayes been assented and maintained by the true Church eversince the times of the Apostles hitherto against the Jewes Mahumetans and some false Christians and Hereticks as Marcion Manes Praxeas Sabellius Samosatenus Arrius and some others who have justly been condemned by the holy Fathers Therefore in this point we do willingly receive the three Symbols of the Faith viz that of the Apostles of Nicea and of Athanasius and also that which conformable there unto is agreed upon by the Ancients X. We beleeve that Jesus Christ according to his divine Nature is the onely begotten Son of God born from eternity not made nor created for then he should be a Creature but coessential with the Father also coeternall the express image of his Fathers substance and the brightness of his Glory equal with him in all things Who is the Son of God not onely from the time that he hath taken upon him our nature but from all eternity as these Testimonies teach us when compared together Moses saith that God hath created the World and St. John saith that all things are created by that Word which he calles God the Apostle saith that God has made the times by his Son also that God created all things through Jesus Christ then consequently he that is called God the Word the Son and Jesus Christ must needs have been before if so be that all things are created by him And therefore saith the Prophet Micah His goings forth have been from of old from everlasting and the Apostle That he hath neither beginning of dayes nor end of life Then he is the true everlasting God the omnipotent whom we adore worship and serve XI We believe and confess also that the holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son from everlasting not being made nor created nor born but onely proceeding from both who is in order the third Person of the Trinity coessential and equal in Majesty and glory with the Father and the Son being true and eternal God as the holy Scriptures do teach us XII We believe that the Father by his Word that is by his Son hath created out of nothing the Heaven the Earth and all Creatures when it seemed good unto him giving unto every Creature its beeing shape and form and severall offices to serve his Creator that he doth also up hold and govern them according to his eternal providence and infinite power for the service of mankind that so Man may serve his God. He hath also created the Angels good for to be his Messengers and Ministers unto his elected some of which are fallen from that Excellency in which God created them into everlasting destruction and others have kept steadfast by the Grace of God in their primitive state The Devils and evil spirits are so farr corrupted that they are become enemies unto God and every good thing laying in wait to the utmost off their power like robbers and murtherers for the Church and every member thereof for to spoil and destroy all by their deceit And so they are condemned by their own wickedness unto eternal damnation daily expecting their horrible torments Therefore we reject and abhor the error of the Sadducees who denied the existency of Spirits and Angels as also the error of the Manichees who affirm that the original of the Devils is out of them selves inasmuch that they are evil by their own nature without having been corrupted XIII We believe that the same good God after having created all things hath not dismist them nor given them up to Chance or Fortune but governs and rules them according to his holy will not suffering any thing to fall out in this World without his direction nevertheless God is neither Author nor guilty of any sin that is committed For his Power and goodness is so large and incomprehensible that he operates and acts all his works justly even then when the Devils and the wicked do act injustly And as to his acting of any thing which surpasses the understanding of men we will not be to nice in searching any further then our capacity will admit but we do humbly adore with all due respect and humility the righteous Judgements of God which are hid from us contenting our selves that we are Disciples of Christ onely for to learn those things which
the Apostle Peter testifieth Act. 2. in these words For the promise belongs to you and to your children and to as many as are afarre off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Hence it is that God hath of ould commanded that Infants should bee circumcised which circumcision was a seale of this Covenant and the righteousnesse of faith and therefore also Christ received the little Children layd his hands upon them and blessed them Marc. 10. Seeing then Baptisme is put in the place of circumcision therefore Infants are to bee Baptized as heyrs of the Kingdome of God and of the Covenant and Parents are admonished to instruct their Children in these things when they are come to yeares of discretion That therefore this holy ordinance of God may at this time bee administred to the glory of God to our comfort and the edification of his Church let us call upon the name of our God. O Almighty and Eternall God who according to thy severe judgment didst punish with the Flood the impenitent and unbeleeving World and according to thine infinite mercy didst save Noah with his family who didst drowne hard-hearted Pharao with all his people in the Red Sea and didst safely leade thy people Israell through the same by which Baptisme was signified unto us wee beseech thee that thou wilt bee pleased out of thy infinite mercy graciously to looke upon these Infants this Infant and incorporate them it by thy holy spirit into thy Son Jesus Christ that so they it may bee buryed with him into his death and also rise with him to newenesse of life that they it may take upon them it daily their his Crosse follow him and cleave unto him with a true faith firme hope and fervent love and willingly leave this life which is nothing else but a continuall death and at the last day may appeare without feare before the tribunall seat of Christ thy Son through Jesus Christ our Lord who with thee and the Holy Ghost one God lives and reigns for ever An Exhortation to the Parents and those that come with them to Baptisme Beloved in the Lord yee have heard that Baptisme is an ordinance of God to seale unto us and unto our seed his Covenant therefore wee must use the same to this end and not out of custome or superstition That it may then bee manifest that ye are thus minded you are to answer sincerely upon these questions First Whether you doe not acknowledge that however our children are conceived and borne in sinne and therefore are subject to all manner of miseries yea to condemnation it selfe yet that they are sanctified in Christ and therefore as members of his Church ought to bee baptized Secondly Whether you do not acknowledge the Doctrine contained in the Ould and Newe Testament and in the Articles of the Christian Faith which is also taught in these Christian Churches here to bee the true and perfect Doctrine of Salvation Thirdly Whether you do not promise and intend to see your children when they come to yeares of discretion every one whereof hee is either Father or Witnesse to bee brought up in the foresaid Doctrine to the uttermost of your power Answer Yea. After in baptizing the Minister of the Word of God shall say N. I baptize thee in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost A Thankesgiving O Almighty and most mercifull God and Father wee blesse and praise thee that thou hast forgiven all our sinnes to us and our children through the blood of thy beloved Sonne Jesus Christ and through thy Spirit received us as members of thy Son and adopted us to bee thy children and confirmed the same by this holy Baptisme wee beseech thee through the same Son of thy love to rule alwayes these baptized Infants Infant that they it may bee educated in true piety and Christianity and growe up in the Lord Jesus Christ acknowledging thy Fatherly goodnesse and loving kindnesse shewen to them it and to us and live in all righteousnesse under our Onely Teacher King and Priest Jesus Christ fighting manfully against sinne Satan and his whole Kingdome to land and praise thee and thy Son Jesus Christ with the Holy Ghost the one and eternall God to all eternity Amen FORME For the administration of Holy Baptisme to persons of yeares HOwever children of Christian Parents notwithstanding they understand not this mystery must be baptized by vertue of the Covenant yet it is not lawfull to baptize those who are come to yeares of discretion except they first bee sensible of their sinnes and make confession both of their repentance and faith in Christ For for this cause hath not onely John the Baptist preached according to the Commandement of God the baptisme of Repentance for the remission of sins to those who confessed their sinnes Marc. 1. Luc. 3. But our Lord Jesus Christ hath also commanded his Disciples to teach all Nations and then to baptize them in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Math. 28. Marc. 16. adding this promise Hee that beleeveth and is baptized shall bee saved According to which rule the Apostles as appeareth out of Act. 2. 10. 16. have baptized none who were of yeares of discretion but such who made confession of their Faith and Repentance therefore is it not lawfull now a dayes to baptize those of yeares except they have learned out of the preaching of the Gospell the mysteries of holy Baptisme and are able to give an account of their Faith by a confession of the mouth Seeing therefore you are also desirous of holy Baptisme to the end it may be to you a seale of your ingrafting into the Church of God that it may appeare that you do not onely receive the Christian Religion in which you have beene privately examined by us and of which also you have made Confession before us but that you through the grace of God intend and purpose to lead a life according to the same you are sincerely to give answer before God and his Church First Whether you beleeve in the true God distinct in three Persons Father Son and Holy Ghost who hath made Heaven and Earth and all that is therein and that hee sustaineth and governeth the same in so much that nothing can come to passe in Heaven or in Earth without his will Answer Yea. Secondly Whether you beleeve that you are conceived and borne in sinne consequently that you are a child of wrath by nature unfit to any thing that is good and prone to all evill and that you in thoughts words and deeds have many times transgressed the Commandements of God and whether you bee heartily forry for your sinnes Answer Yea. Thirdly Whether you beleeve that Christ who is the true and eternall God and a true Man who hath taken his humane nature out of the flesh and blood of the Virgin Mary bee also given of God to you as your Saviour and that you
unto God for those good works which we do do and not he unto us since it is he that worketh in us both to will and to do according to his own good pleasure Let us therefore take notice of this saying which is left upon record When ye shall have done all these things which are commanded you say wee are unprofitable servants wee have done that which was our duty to do Yet wee do not deny that God rewards the good works but it is through his grace that he crownes his Gifts Moreover though wee act good works yet wee do not build our salvation thereon for wee can do nothing which is not defiled by our flesh and worthy of punishment and though it were otherwise yet the remembrance of one sin is sufficient to make God reject it So wee should always be doubtfull and floating to and fro without any certainty and our poor consciences be vexed continually if they did not rely on the merits of the sufferings and dying of our Saviour XXV Wee believe that the Ceremonies and Figures of the Law are ceased at the coming of Christ and that all shadows are finished wherefore the use and practise of them ought to be abrogated among the Christians yet the truth and substance of the same remaines with us in Christ Jesus in whom they are fulfilled in the mean while wee make use of the Testimonies of the Law and the Prophets to confirm us in the Gospel and to order our life and conversation in all honesty to the Glory of God according to his will. XXVI Wee believe that wee have no acces unto God but by the onely Mediator and Advocate Christ Jesus the righteous who for this cause is become man uniting together the divine and humane nature that so wee might have acces unto the divine Majesty for otherwise our acces would be barred up But this Mediator whom the Father hath given us to interceed between him and us must not deter us through his goodness and cause us to seek for another according to our fancy For there is none in heaven nor in earth among the Creatures who loveth us more then Jesus Christ who thô he was in the form of God yet made him self of no reputation and took upon him the form of a man and a servant for our sakes and is made like unto his Brethren in all things Now if wee were to seek for another Mediator that might be favourable unto us whom could wee find that would love us more then he who laid down his life for us even whilst wee were his Enemies And if wee look for one that is mighty and majestious who is more conspicuous then he that sits at the right hand of his Father having all power in heaven and earth Who shall bee sooner heard then the welbeloved Son of God Therefore it is onely by a mistrusting that this practice was introduced of dishonouring the Saints instead of honouring them doing that which they never have done nor required but constantly and according to their duty rejected as appeares from their writings And it ought not to be objected here that wee are not worthy for it is not intended that wee should offer up our prayers on the account of our worthiness but onely because of the Excellency and worthiness of our Lord Jesus Christ whose righteousness is become ours by Faith. The Apostle therefore to take away from us this foolish fear or rather mistrust tells us that Jesus Christ is made like unto his Bretheren in all things that he might be a Mercifull and faithfull High Priest to purify the sins of the people For in that he him self hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted And to give us more encouragement to go to him he tells us Seeing then that wee have a great High-priest that is passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession For wee have not an High-priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like wee are yet without sin Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of grace that wee may obtaine Mercy and find grace to help in time of need The same Apostle saith that wee have liberty to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus Let us draw near saith he in full assurance of saith c. Item Christ hath an unchangeable Priesthood wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them What do wee then want more since Christ him self sayes I am the way and the truth and the life no man cometh to the Father but by me Why should wee look for another Advocate seeing it hath pleased God to give us his Son for an Advocate Let us not leave him for to take another or rather to seek for another without ever sinding him for when God did give him unto us he knew very well that wee were Sinners Therefore according to Christs commandment wee call upon our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our onely Mediator as wee are taught in the Lords prayer being assured that what ever wee pray for to the Father in his name it shall be given us XXVII Wee believe and profess one onely Catholick or universal Church which is a holy Congregation of true Christian believers who expect their salvation altogether in Christ Jesus being washed by his blood and Sanctifyed and sealed by the holy Ghost This Church hath been from the beginning of the World and will continue to the end of it as doth appear by Christ his being an everlasting King who cannot be without subjects And this holy Church is kept and preserved by God against the rage of the whole World although somtimes she may become very small and almost vanished in the eyes of men as when the Lord during the dangerous Reign of Achab had kept seven thousand men who had not bowed their knees before Baal Moreover this Holy Church is not situated in or bound or limited to a certain place or to certain persons but she is spread and seattered through the whole World being neve theless joined together and united with heart will and the same Spirit by the power of Faith. XXVIII Wee believe seeing this holy Congregation is an Assembly of those that are saved and that without it there is no salvation that none of what condition or quality soever ought to keep him self separate or to rely upon his own person but that it is the duty of all men to join and comply with it preserving the unity of the Church submitting them selves to the Instruction and Censure thereof bowing their neeks under the yoke of Christ Jesus and serving to the edification of the Brethren according to the gift which God hath assorded them as mutual members of the same body and to the better compassing of these ends it is a duty
a Gracious Father unto us for ever Therefore hee has given a Charge to Baptize all that are his in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost onely with pure water giving us thereby to understand that as the water cleanses the filth of the body when it is powred upon us which may be seen upon the body of him who receives the Baptisme being sprinkeled thereby so the blood of Christ performeth the same within in the souls by the holy Ghost sprinkling and cleansing them from their sins and regenerating us from Children of wrath unto Children of God. However this is not done by the outward water but by the Sprinkling of the precious blood of the Son of God who is our red Sea through which wee must pass for to escape the Tyranny of Pharao which is the Devil and to enter in to the Spiritual Land of Canaan Likewise the Ministers give us on their part the Sacrament and that which is visible but our Lord gives that which is signifyed by the Sacrament viz. the invisible gifts and graces washing cleansing and purifying our Souls from all filthiness and iniquities and renewing our hearts and silling them with all comfort giving us a true assurance of his Fatherly Kindness enduing us with the new man and putting away the ould man with all his deeds Therefore wee believe that whosoever intends to enter into life eternal he must be Baptised but once with the onely Baptism without ever repeating the same for wee cannot be born twice And this Baptism is not onely usefull whilst the water is upon us and that wee receive the same but also through all our life time therefore wee reject the error of the Anabaptists who are not content with the one onely Baptism which once they have received but condemn also the Baptism of the Infants of Believers which wee believe ought to be baptized and sealed with the mark of the Covenant as the Infants in Israel were circumcised on the same promise which is made to our Children And indeed Christ has shed his bloud no less for the washing of the Children of the faithfull as he hath done for adulted persons And therefore they ought to receive the sign and the Sacrament of that which Christ has done for them as under the Law the Lord commanded to participate unto them the Sacrament of the sufferings and dying of Christ shortly after their birth offering for them a Lambe which was a Sacrament of Jesus Christ Besides what the Circumcision did unto the Jewes the same is done by the Baptisme unto our Children which is the cause why St. Paul call's the Baptisme the Circumcision of Christ XXXV Wee believe and confess that our Saviour Jesus Christ has instituted and ordained the Sacrament of the holy Supper to nourish and sustain those which hee hath already regenerated and incorporated into his Family which is his Church those now who are regenerated have two sorts of lives in them the one corporal and temporal which hath accompanied them from their very birth and is common to all men the other is spiritual and heavenly which is given them in the second birth proceeding from the Word of the Gospel in the fellowship of the body of Christ and this life is not universal but belongs onely to the Elect of God. Thus God hath afforded us to the nourishing of the corporal and earthly life earthly and ordinary bread which is serviceable thereunto and common to every one as life is But to the sustaining of the spiritual and heavenly life which the Believers enjoy he hath sent the living Bread which comes down from Heaven to wit Christ Jesus who feeds and nourishes the spiritual life of the Believers when he is eaten that is assumed and received by faith in the Spirit And for to represent unto us this Spiritual and Celestial Bread Christ hath ordained an earthly and visible Bread which is a Sacrament of his Body and the Wine for a Sacrament of his Blood to testify unto us that as really as wee receive and have in our hands the Sacraments and do eat and drink the same with our mouth by which our life is afterwards sustained so likewise by faith which is the hand and mouth of our Souls the true Body and Blood of Christ our onely Saviour is received in our soules for our spiritual life And it is certain and without all doubt that Jesus Christ has not commanded us the use of his Sacraments invain Therefore he worketh in us whatever he represents unto us by these holy Signs although his method surpasseth our understanding and is incomprehensible to us even as the operations of the holy Ghost are hidden and incomprehensible In the mean while wee do not err in saying that which wee have eaten and drunk is the natural Body and true Blood of Christ but the manner of our partaking of the same is not the mouth but the Spirit through Faith. Wherefore then Christ Jesus sits alwayes at the righthand of God his Father in the Heavens and nevertheless he makes us partakers of him by Faith. This Feast is a Spiritual table at which Christ distributes him self unto us with all his goods and he causes us to enjoy both him self and the merits of his sufferings and Death nourishing strengthening and comforting our poor distressed Souls by the eating of his flesh and refreshing and cherishing the same by the drinking of his Blood. Further thô the Sacraments are joined with the things signified yet they are not received with these two things by every one for the wicked receives the Sacrament to his condemnation but he doth not receive the truth of the Sacrament so Judas and Simon the sorcerer both did receive the Sacrament but not Christ who was signified by it for onely the Believers are made Partakers of him Lastly wee receive the holy Sacrament in the Congregation of the people of God with humility and reverence solemnizing the holy remembrance of the death of Christ our Saviour with thanksgivings making there Confession of our Faith and the Christian Religion None therefore ought to apply him selfe thereunto without a foregoing trial least eating of the bread and drinking of the cup he eats and drinks him self a condemnation To be short through the using of this holy Sacrament wee are stirred up to fervent Love to God and our neighbour Therefore wee reject all mixings and damnable inventions which men have added unto the Sacraments accounting them but profanations of the same and say that wee ought to be content with the ordinance delivered unto us by Christ and his Apostles and that wee ought to speak in the same Termes as they did XXXVI Wee believe that our Gracious God because of the corruption of Mankind hath ordained Kings Princes and Magistrates intending that the World should be governed by Laws and Policy that so the dissolution of mankind might bee refrained and all things proceed orderly among men To that purpose
suffered his blessed body to be nayled to the Crosse that hee might fasten upon it the handwriting of our sinnes and hath also taken upon himselfe the cursse due to us that hee might fill us with his blessing and hath humbled himselfe into the deepest pangs of Hell with soule and body on the tree of the Crosse where hee cryed out with a loud voyce My God my God Why hast thou forsaken mee that wee might bee received of God and never forsaken of him and finally confirmed with his death and bloodshedding the new and everlasting Covenant of grace and reconciliation when hee sayd It is finished And that wee might firmly believe that wee belong to this Covenant of grace the Lord Jesus Christ in his last Supper tooke Bread gave thankes brake it and gave it to his Disciples and sayd Take eate this is my Body which is given for you do this in remembrance of mee In like maner also after Supper hee tooke the Cup gave thankes and sayd Drinke yee all of this This Cup is the new Testament in my blood which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sinnes do this so often as yee drincke of it in remembrance of mee That is as often as yee eate of this Bread and drincke of this Cup yee shall thereby as by a certaine pledge and remembrance bee admonished and assured of this my hearty love and faithfulnesse towards you that whereas yee should have suffered eternall death I have given my body into the death of the Crosse and shed my blood for you and as certainely as you see this Bread broken before your eyes and this Cup given to you and yee with your mouth do eate and drincke the same to my remembrance so do I feed and refresh your hungry and thirsty soules with my body and blood to everlasting life Out of this Institution of the Supper of the Lord Jesus Christ wee do see that hee directs our faith and confidence to his perfect sacrifice which was once offered on the Crosse as to the onely ground and foundation of our soules that hee is become to our hungry and thirsty soules the true food to eternall life For by his death he hath taken away the cause of our everlasting death and miseries namely sinne and hath merited for us the quickening spirit that wee by the same which dwelleth in Christ as the head and in us as his members might have true Communion and fellowship and be made partakers of all his blessings to everlasting life and glory Besides that wee by the same spirit may also be united together into brotherly love as members of the same mystecall body as the Scripture saith One Bread is it so are wee one Body because wee are all made partakers of one Bread For as out of many graines being grinded one Bread is made and out of many Berries being prest together one drincke floweth so shall wee all who by a true Faith are ingrafted into Christ bee one body through brotherly love for Christ his sake who hath so exceedingly loved us and manifested the same one towards another not onely in words but also in workes and deeds Heereto assist us the Almighty Father of our Lord Jesus Christ through his Holy Spirit Amen And that wee may obtaine this let us humble our selves before God and in true Faith call upon him for his grace O Most mercifull God and Father wee beseech thee that in this ordinance in which wee celebrate the blessed memory of the most bitter death and passion of thy Son Jesus Christ thou wilt bee pleased to worke in our hearts through the Holy Ghost that wee may give our selves more and more with true confidence to thy Son Jesus Christ that so our broken and burdened hearts may bee fed and comforted through the power of the Holy Spirit with his body and blood yea with him true God and Man the onely Bread of Heaven and that henceforth wee may not live any longer in our sinnes but hee in us and wee in him and bee also really partakers of that new and everlasting Covenant of Grace no wayes doubting but that thou wilt bee our eternall and Gracious God not imputing our sinnes unto us but filling us with all good things for body and soule as thy beloved Children and Heyres Graunt also unto us thy grace that wee may take upon us our crosse cheerefully deny our selves confesse our Saviour and in all tribulations expect our Lord Jesus Christ out of Heaven where hee will make our mortall bodies conformable to his most glorious body and take us to himselfe to bee with him in all eternity Ans OUr Father which art in heaven 1. Hallowed be thy Name 2. Thy Kingdome come 3. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven 4. Give us this day our daily bread 5. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us 6. And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evill For thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for ever and ever Amen Strengthen us also by this Holy Sacrament in the Articles of our Christian Faith of which wee make Confession saying with heart and mouth I Beleeve in God the Father almightie maker of heaven and earth ij And in Jesus Christ his onely begotten Sonne our Lord. iij. Which was conceived by the Holy Ghost borne of the virgine Marie iv Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into hel v. The third day he rose again from the dead vj. He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almightie vij From thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead viij I beleeve in the Holy Ghost ix I beleeve an Holy Catholike church the Communion of Saints x. The forgivenes of sinnes xj The resurrection of the body xij And life everlasting Amen That wee may now bee fed with the true heavenly Bread the Lord Jesus Christ so let not our hearts cleave to the outward elements of Bread and Wine but let us lift up the same into Heaven where Christ our Advocate is sitting on the right hand of his heavenly Father whether also wee are directed by the Articles of our Christian faith nothing doubting but wee shall bee fed and refreshed with his Body and Blood by the power of the Spirit so certainly as wee receive this holy Bread and Wine to his remembrance In breaking and distributing of the Bread the Minister shall say The Bread which wee breake is the Communion of the body of Christ. And when hee gives the Cup The Cup of blessing wherewith wee blesse is the Communion of the Blood of Christ. During the Communion there shall eyther bee sung some Psalm or some Chapter read which may serve to the remembring of the Passion of Christ as Esa Chap. 53. Joh. 13. and 14. and 15. and 16. and 18. or the like After the Communion the Minister shall
your selves respectfully towards those who provide for you be thankfull towards them and murmure not follow Christ for the food of your soules and not for the loaves Hee who hath stolen or beene burdensome to his neighbour steale no more but worke with his hands that hee may give to those who are in want If yee doe this every one that which belongs to him yee shall receive of the Lord the wages of righteousnesse But seeing wee are not able of our selves to doe this let us call upon the Name of our God. O Lord God Heavenly Father wee thanke thee that for the better edification of thy Church thou hast beene pleased to ordaine with the Ministers of the Word Rulers and Helpers by whom thy Church may bee kept in peace and prosperity and the poore bee maintained and that thou hast given us into this place men of good testimonies who are furnished with thy Spirit Wee beseech thee give unto them more and more such giftes as are necessary for them in their ministrations the gift of Wisedome of Courage of Discretion and of Goodnesse that so each of them may carry himselfe aright in his Office the Elders in taking a carefull oversight of the doctrine of life in keeping out of the Sheepefold of Christ all wolves and in reprooving and admonishing all persons who are goeing astray In like manner the Deacons in a diligent receiving and free and prudent distributing of the almes to the poore and in comforting of the same with thy holy Word Give grace both to the Elders and Deacons that they may persevere in their faithfull labour and not shrincke or grow weary through any trouble or paine or love of the world Graunt also thy speciall grace to this people over whom they are set that they may submit themselves willingly to the good exhortations of the Elders counting them worthy of hounor for their Office sake graunt to the Rich liberall hearts towards the poore and to the poore thanckfull hearts towards those who are helpefull to them and serve them that so every one carrying himselfe aright in his Office thy holy Name may bee magnified and the Kingdome of thy Sonne Jesus Christ enlarged in whose name wee conclude our Prayer with that forme of Prayer which hee hath taught us Our Father c. FORME For the Confirmation of Marriage before the Church SEeing that married Persons are by reason of sinne subject to many miseries and crosses to the end that you N and you N who desire heere openly to have your marriage-bond confirmed in the Name of God before his Church may bee assured in your heart of the assistance of God in your crosses therefore hearken out of the Word of God how honourable the married estate is and that it is an ordinance of God which is pleasing to him therefore also will hee blesse and assist married persons according to his promise on the contrary punish the whoremongers and adulterers First therefore yee shall know that God our Father after hee had created the Heaven the Earth and all that is therein hath also created man after his Image that hee might be Lord over all the beasts of the Field the fishes in the Sea and the birds of the Aire and after hee had created man hee sayd It is not good that man should bee alone I will make him a helpe meet for him and the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam and hee slept and hee tooke one of his Ribbs and closed up the flesh instead thereof and the Ribb which the Lord God had taken from Man made hee a woman and brought her unto the Man. And Adam said This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh shee shall bee called Woman because shee was taken of Man therefore shall a man leave his Father and his Mother and shall cleave unto his Wyfe and they twaine shall be one flesh Therefore yee are not to doubt but the maried estate doth please the Lord God for he hath made Adam his wife brought her unto him and given her to him to be his wife thereby wittnessing that hee to this day doth bring as with his hands to every man his wife for this cause also the Lord Jesus Christ hath honoured this estate with his presence giftes and miracles in Cana of Galite shewing thereby that the married estate is to bee kept honourably and that hee will assist the maried persons yea then when they least of all are thinking upon it But that yee may live godly in this estate you must know the reasons wherefore God hath instituted the same The first Reason is that each other faithfully assist one another in all things that belong to this life and a better Secondly that they bring up the children which they shall get in the true knowledge and feare of God to his glory and their salvation Thirdly that each of them avoiding all uncleannesse and lusts may live with a good and quiet conscience For to avoyd fornication let every man have his owne wife and every wife her owne husband insomuch that all who are come to their yeares and have not the gift of continence are bound by the Command of God to enter into the married estate with knowledge and consent of Parents or Tutors and Friends that so the Temple of God which is our body may not bee defiled for whosoever defileth the Temple of God him shall God destroy Next you are to know how each is to carry himselfe towards the other according to the Word of God. First you who are the Husband shall know that God hath set you to bee the head of your wife that you according to your ability shall lead her with discretion instructing comforting protecting her as the head rules the body yea as Christ is the head wisedome consolation and assistence to his Church besides you are to love your wise as Christ hath loved his Church you shall not be bitter against her but dwell with her as a man of understanding giving honour to the wife as the weaker vessell considering that yee are joynt heires of the grace of life that your prayers bee not hindered And seeing it is Gods Command that the man shall eate his bread in the sweat of his face therefore you are to labour diligently and faithfully in the calling wherein God hath for you that you may maintaine your houshold honestly and likewise have some thing to give to the poore In like manner shall you who are the wife know how you are to carry your selfe towards your husband according to the Word of God You are to love your lawfull Husband to honour and feare him as also to be obedient unto him in all lawfull things as to your Lord as the body is obedient to the head and the Church to Christ You shall not exercise any dominion over your Husband but be silent for Adam was first created and then Eve to be an helpe to Adam and after the