Selected quad for the lemma: law_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A50109
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The spiritual house in its foundation, materials, officers, and discipline describ'd the nomothetical & coercive power of the King in ecclesiastical affairs asserted the episcopal office and dignity, together with the liturgy of the Church of England vindicated in some sermons preached at St. Clement Danes and St. Gregories neer St. Pauls, London / by Geo. Masterson.
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Masterson, Geo. (George)
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1661
(1661)
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Wing M1073; ESTC R30518
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52,267
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136
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an humble Affection of Heart and convenient Posture of Body as means to try examine themselves to humble themselves in a Sense of their several Failings thereupon to implore every one for himself and for others even for the whole Kingdom First God's Mercy for Pardon for every thing in which we have violated his Holy Commandments Lord have Mercy upon us Secondly Grace for the time to come to perform that which is acceptable to God And incline our Hearts to keep this Law Lastly For the Communion of the Sick It is of long standing in the Church we have an undeniable Evidence of it in the Canons of the Councels about the Lapsi excommunicati the Fallen into some scandalous Sin and Excommunicate which take Care that they should have the Peace of the Church at their Departure out of the World in extremis and if with Expressions of Penitence they desire it the Holy Sacrament No Person can be dissatistied with this who hath or shall read the famous Story of the dying Serapion in Eusebius lib. 6. cap. 36. And thus there is enough I suppose said to reconcile any sober Person who hath a better Esteem of Antiquity then Novelty to the Liturgie of our Church and to confirm those who are perswaded according to Saint Peter's Doctrine that they ow Obedience to the Reverend Bishops as Governours sent by the King in their Religious Observation of it and that strictly and precisely according to the Rubrick in every thing contained in and required by it at least till the same Authority that Established hath so often Confirmed it shall think fit in their great Wisdoms to reform it I mean with Soap to wash cleanse it from any pollutions that it may possibly have contracted not by Nitre to tear out the Bowels of it The Inconveniences of altering any thing in the Publick Established Liturgy of a Church are so visible and notorious that no Wise men will without Cogent Necessity rush upon it because as Cicero saith from Socrates Mutata Musica mutantur Mores A Change of Manners is consequent to a Change of Musick It is a thing justly to be feared if the Prince shall consent to the taking one or a few Bricks out of the Wall because they are not as is pretended well burnt that the Persons of that Perswasion and Importunity will take leave to pluck them out one by one till they leave no Wall at all But I hope the persons in Authority over us have learned by a dear bought Experience to take heed of Root and Branch men and not to consent to pull down the whole Fabrick because a Window or Chimney it may be a Tile onely is misplaced It is an unpardonable Errour in any to think that the Act of Reformation consists in the taking away things together with the abuse of them if any be for that cannot be said to be Reformed which is made New Reformation is properly Repetitio vel restitutio facti antique The Repetition or Restitution of an antient Custome Thus let our Liturgie if it stand in any need be reformed but God of his Mercy grant that neither our Liturgie nor the Administratours of it fall again under a Gunpowder-Reformation It is said of Rome that she never understood what Cato was aright till she had lost him Catonem non intellexit civitas nisi cum perdidit the loss we sustained through the abolishing our Liturgie by that Ordinance which was discharged against it will have I hope such an impression upon the Spirits of all those that have good will for the Church of England that it will not for the time to come be an easy matter for those that rise up against it to cast it down a second time To prevent which 1. Do not provoke God through your want of Diligence in assembling your selves together to deliver up the Liturgie into the hands of violent men skilful to destroy If the God of Heaven once perceive by your negligence in frequenting it that it is a matter of Indifferencie to you whether you enjoy it or enjoy it not he will have a just occasion Administred to take that from you upon which you set so little value 2 Let your Ardour and Fervency in performing this prescribed Service testifie to God Angels and Men that your Souls are delighted with it that it is not the labour of your Lips onely but the devout breathings of your pious Souls If you do thus God will delight to establish it and make it appear that it is a Plant of your Heavenly Father's Planting which no mortal hand shall be able to pluck up And if any person to conclude be offended at it because it is antient or solemn or sober or charitable you may be sorry for their weakness and labour to inform them but be sure you choose rather to displease one or a few peevish Servants in the Family then to offend the whole Hous-hold and incurr the displeasure of the great Master of the House God himself FINIS