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A10958 The faith, doctrine, and religion, professed, & protected in the realme of England, and dominions of the same expressed in 39 articles, concordablie agreed vpon by the reuerend bishops, and clergie of this kingdome, at two seuerall meetings, or conuocations of theirs, in the yeares of our Lord, 1562, and 1604: the said articles analised into propositions, and the propositions prooued to be agreeable both to the written word of God, and to the extant confessions of all the neighbour churches, Christianlie reformed: the aduersaries also of note, and name, which from the apostles daies, and primitiue Church hetherto, haue crossed, or contradicted the said articles in generall, or any particle, or proposition arising from anie of them in particular, heereby are discouered, laid open, and so confuted. Perused, and by the lawfull authoritie of the Church of England, allowed to be publique. Rogers, Thomas, d. 1616.; Rogers, Thomas, d. 1616. English creede. 1607 (1607) STC 21228; ESTC S116041 208,079 284

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not be the seruants of men and that none humane constitution in the Church doth binde any man to breake the least commaundement of God The consideration heereof hath caused other Churches also with a sweete consent to condemne such wicked ceremonies and traditions of men Errors Adversaries to this truth Such vngodly traditions ceremonies are all the ceremonies and traditions in a manner of the Antichristian synagogue of Rome Such also be the Sabbatarian traditions and ceremonies lately broached because they be imposed vpon the Church Necessarilie and perpetually to be obserued of all and euerie Christian vnder paine of damnation both of soule and body For say they speaking yet of their priuate and Classicall Iniunction about the Sabboth day The Lord hath commaunded so praecise a Rest vnto all sorts of men that it may not by any fraude deceipt or circumvention whatsoeuer be broken but that he will most seuerely require it at our hands vnder the paine of his euerlasting displeasure This viz. the manner of keeping the Sabboth praescribed by themselues the Lord requireth of all and euery one continually from the beginning to the end of our liues without any interruption Vnder the paine of euerlasting condemnation Another sort of people there is among vs which will obserue and vse all Ceremonies whatsoeuer as the temporizing Familistes who at Rome and such like places of Superstition will goe vnto idolatrous seruices and doe adoration vnto Idols and no where will they striue or varie with any one about Religion but keepe all externall orders albeit in their hearts they scorne all professions and Seruices but their owne tearming all Temples and Churches in derision Common houses and all Gods seruices or religions besids their owne Foolishnes To the Christian Reader Christian and beloued Reader let me request thee to obserue well the first section of the proofe of this present proposition and therein howe I speake of ceremonies and traditions apparently impious among which I doe reckon papisticall Crosses whereunto the Romanistes doe attribute diuine adoration as elsewhere in this booke and subscription of mine I haue declared and could more copiouslie but the reliques of a Libell of theirs left in the parrish church of Euborne in Barkshire an 1604 sufficiently shal expresse the thoughts of Papists touching their Crosse and Crossing whose words be these Nowe Ma. Parson for your welcome home Read these fewe lines you knowe not from whom You hold Crosse for an outward token and signe And remembrance only in religion thine And of the profession the people doe make For more then this comes to thou dost is not take Yet holy Church tells vs of holy Crosse much more Of power and virtue to heale sicke and sore Of holinesse to blesse vs and keepe vs from euill From fowle feend to fend vs and saue vs from Deuill And of many miracles which holy Crosse hath wrought All which by tradition to light Church hath brought Wherefore holy worship holy Church doth it giue And surely so will we so long as we liue Though thou saist Idolatrie and vilde superstition Yet we knowe it is holy Churches tradition Holy Crosse then disgrace not but bring it in renowne For vp shall the Crosse goe and you shall goe downe Of this Crosse I spake and mean● and of none other when I number it among things meerely impious and vnlawfull And therefore haue I not a little woundred at those my Brethren which drawe these words of mine in this section vnto the Crosse vsed in our church at Baptisme which I neuer thought nor take to be either papisticall or impious because none adoration not so much as ciuill much lesse diuine is giuen thereunto either by our church in generall or of any minister or member thereof in particular If they haue no other Patrons for their not vsing or refusing the ceremonie of the Crosse then my selfe they are in an ill case For both in my iudgement and practise I doe allowe thereof This their peruerting of my words contrarie to their sence and my meaning telleth mee that other mens wordes and names are but too much abused by them in that booke to the backing of schisme and faction in the Church and State which from our soules we doe abhorre 4. Proposition Euery particular or nationall Church may ordaine change abolish ceremonies or rites ordained onely by mans authoritie so that all things be done to edifying It hath pleased our most mercifull Lord and Sauiour Christ for the maintenance of his Church militant that two sorts of rites or ceremonies should be vsed whereof Some God his most excellent maiestie hath himselfe ordained as the ceremonie of Baptisme and the Lords Supper which are till the end of the world without all addition diminution and alteration with all zeale and religion to be obserued Others be ordained by the authoritie of each prouintiall or nationall Church that partely for comelinesse that is to say that by those helpes the people of God the better may be inflamed with a godly zeale and that sobernes and grauitie may appeare in the handling of ecclesiastical matters and partly for order sake euen that gouernors may haue rules and directions how to gouerne by Auditors and inferiors may know how to prepare and behaue themselues in sacred assemblies and a ioyfull peace may be continued by the well ordering of Church affaires We haue already prooued that these latter sort of ceremonies may be made and changed augmented or diminished as fit opportunitie and occasions shall be ministred and that by particular or nationall Churches which thing is also affirmed by our neighbours Adversaries vnto this truth This manifesteth to the world the intolerable both arrogancie of the Romish church which dare take vpon her to alter and applie to wrong vses the very Sacraments instituted euen by Christ himselfe and to prescribe ceremonies and rites not to some particular but to all Churches in al times and places It sheweth also the boldnesse of our home-adversaries the Puritane dominicanes which say that the Church nor no man can take away the libertie of working sixe daies in the weeke from men and driue them to a necessarie rest of the body vpon any day sauing the seuenth Againe say these men the Church hath none authoritie ordinarily and perpetually to sanctifie any day but the seuenth day which the Lord hath sanctified nor to set vp any day like to the Sabboth day The latter sort what in them is quench the peoples deuotion and hinder them from frequenting of Churches vpon all holydaies falling on the weeke daies and ordained by the lawfull authoritie of the Church 35. Article Of Homilies The second booke of Homilies the seuerall titles wherof we haue ioyned vnder this Article doth containe a godly and wholesome doctrine and necessarie for these times as doth the former booke of Homilies which were set foorth in the
yet these faithfull Brethren either through forgetfulnes or frailtie or which I rather thinke forced thereunto by the power of truth doe plainly confesse that those verie decrees of our Bishops and Articles of the conuocation house euen that little litle part of the Gospel which the said Bishops and Martyrs brough to light and hath enlightned the whole realme containeth the very fundamentall points of Christianity Whereof I still gather that had their newly reuealed tearmed learned Discourses and doctrines touching Discipline their Presbyteries howsoeuer with goodly glorious titles to rauish poore heartes with the desire thereof brandished and set out neuer bin diuulged or preached we may be saued but without knowing and beleeuing the Articles or doctrine of our Church which yet is not ours but Gods there is no saluation ordinarily to be looked for of any man so true and of such necessitie is this so impertinent and vnneedefull the other 18. Octogesimus octauus mirabilis annus it was prophecied to be a wonderfull yeare long afore it came and will neuer be forgotten now it is past Among the things for which the yeare 88. is famous one and not of least regard is that afore it expired these bookes of the brethren by a Proclamation from Q. Elizabeth were denounced Schismaticall and seditious and the doctrine in them contained erroneous tending to perswade and bring in a monstrous and apparent dangerous Innouation within her dominions and countries and to make a change euen a dangerous change of the forme of doctrine then in vse And therefore the said bookes were commanded to be brought in and deliuered into the hands of authoritie and speciall charge giuen that no moe of that nature should come abroad or be printed Wherby so much as in that blessed Queene whose name with eternall honour shall be recorded these newe fancies of the brethren were hissed and exploded out of this Christian kingdome and the articles or publike doctrine of our Church confirmed countenanced and by the royall prerogatiue of that peerelesse Prince more strongly ratified and commended to her awefull and good subiects then afore 19 The zeale of learned and godly men herevpon was inflamed and their courage so encreased as whereas afore this time but one or two or a very few the first whereof was your L. imediate Predecessor whose memorie be alwaies honourable among the Saints did encounter the Brethren and oppugned their fancies now an Armie of most valourous and resolute Champions and Challengers rose vp which then and diuers yeares ensuing among whome as your Grace was the first in time which gaue the onset so are you to be reckoned with the first and best for zeale wisedome and learning did conflict with these Brethren defended the Prelacie stood for the Prince and State put the newe Doctors to the foile profligated the Elders set vpon the Presbyterie and so battered the new Discipline as hitherto they could neuer nor hereafter shall euer fortifie and repaire the decaies thereof 20. Notwithstanding what the brethrē wanted in strength and learning they had in wilynes and though they lost much one way in the generall maine point of their discipline yet recouered they not a litle aduantage another way by an odde and a newe deuise of theirs in a speciall article of their classicall instructions For while these Worthies of our Church were employing their engins forces partly in defending the present gouernment Ecclesiasticall partly in assaulting the Presbytery and newe Discipline euen at that verie instant the Brethren knowing themselues too weake either to ouerthrowe our holds and that which we hold or to maintaine their owne they abandoned quite the Bulwarkes which they had raised and gaue out were impregnable suffering vs to beate them downe without any or very small resistance and yet not carelesse of their affaires left not the warres for all that but from an odd corner and after a newe fashion which wee little thought of such was their cunning set vpon vs a fresh againe by dispersing in printed bookes which for tenne yeares space before they had bin in hammering among themselues to make them complete their Sabbath speculations Presbyterian that is more then either Kingly or Popely directions for the obseruation of the Lords day This Stratageme of theirs was not obserued then neither I feare me is regarded as it should be yet and yet did since hath and doubtlesse in time to come if it be not timely seene vnto with vnsound opinions and paradoxes will so poison many as the whole Church and Common-weale will find the danger and inconuenience of them so plausible are they to men either popularlie religious or preposterouslie and iniudiciouslie zealous 21. In this their fallie as I said before they set not vpon the Bishops and their calling their Chancelars c. as Popish and Antichristian they let them alone seeing and knowing they are too well backt for them to subuert but which are of great all and almost of the same antiquitie with Bishops diuers of thē and I had almost said as necessarie they ruinate and at one blowe beate downe all Times and daies by iust authoritie destined to religious and holy vses besides the Lords day saying plainely and in peremptorie words that the Church hath none authoritie ordinarily or from yeare to yeare perpetually to sanctifie any other day to those vses but only the Lordes daie They builde not Presbyteries expressedly though vnder hand if it be well marked they doe erect them in their exercises of the Sabbath but they set vp a newe Idoll their Saint Sabbath earst in the daies of Popish blindnes S. Sunday in the middes and mindes of Gods people By the former they haue opened not a gap but a wide gate vnto all licentiousnes libertie and prophanes on the Holie daies which is readily and greedily apprehended of all sorts of people euerie where especially of their fauorites to the hie dishonor of God decay of deuotion hinderance of Christian knowledge and wisedome in all sorts especially in the vulgar multitude and poore seruants aduantage of the common enimies and grosse contempt of the necessarie and laudable orders of our Church By the latter they haue introduced a newe and more then either Iewish or Popish superstition into the land to no small blemish of our Christian profession and scandall of the true seruants of God and therewith doctrine most erroneous dangerous and Antichristian 22. Their doctrine summarilie may be reduced vnto these two heads whereof the one is that the Lords day euen as the old Sabbath was of the Iewes must necessarily be kept and solemnized of all and euerie Christian vnder the paine of eternall condemnation both of bodie and soule The other that vnder the same penaltie it must bee kept from the highest to the lowest both of King and people in sort and manner as these Brethren among themselues haue deuised decreed and prescribed The former
of these is like that of the false Apostles which came from Iudea vnto Antioch and taught the Brethren that vnlesse they were Circumcised after the manner of Moses they could not be saued Whome the Apostles Paul and Barnabas first and afterwards Peter Iames and the rest at Ierusalem both zealously did resist and in their first Synod or conuocation powerfully suppresse The latter as bad as that hath bin the mother of many hereticall assertions and horrible conclusions I haue read and many there be aliue which will iustifie it how it was preached in a Mercate towne in Oxfordshire that to doe any seruile worke or businesse on the Lords day is as great a sinne as to kill a man or to committe adultery It was preached in Sommersetshire that to throw a bowle on the Sabboth day is as great a sinne as to kill a man It was preached in Norfolke that to make a Feast or wedding dinner on the Lords day is as great a sinne as for a Father to take a knife and cutte his childes throate It was preached in Suffolke I can name the man and I was present when hee was conuented before his ordinary for preaching the same that to ring moe Bels then one vpon the Lords day to call the people vnto Church is as great a sinne as to commit murder When these things I read and heard mine heart was strucken with an horror and so is it still when I doe but thinke of them and calling into minde the Sabboth doctrine at London printed for I. Porter and T. Man an 95 which I had read afore wherein very many things are to this effect I presently smelt both whose disciples all those preachers are and that the said doctrine had taken deepe impression in mens hearts and was dispersed while our watchmen were otherwise busied if not asleepe ouer the whole kingdome 23. It is a comfort vnto my soule and will be till my dying houre that I haue beene the man and the meanes that these Sabbatarian errors and impieties are brought into light and knowledge of the State whereby whatsoeuer else sure I am this good hath ensued namely that the said bookes of the Sabbath comprehending the aboue mentioned and many moe such fearefull and haereticall assertions haue beene both called in and forbidden any more to be printed and made common Your Graces predecessor Archb. Whitegift by his letters and Officers at Synods and visitations an 99. did the one and Sir Iohn Popham L. chiefe Iustice of England at Burie S. Edmonds in Suff. an 1600. did the other And both these most reuerend sage and honorable Personages by their censures haue declared if men will take admonition that this Sabbath doctrine of the Brethren agreeth neither with the doctrine of our Church nor with the lawes and orders of this kingdome disturbeth the peace both of the Common-weale and Church and tendeth vnto Schisme in the one and Sedition in the other and therefore neither to be backt nor bolsterd by any good Subiect whether hee bee Church or Common-weale man 24. Thus haue errors and noisome doctrines like boiles and Botches euer and anone risen vp to the ouerthrowe of our Churches health and salfety if it might be but yet such hath beene the Phisicke of our discipline as what by launcing purging and other good meanes vsed the Bodie still hath beene vpholden and preserued from time to time And well may errors like grosse humors and tumors continue among vs as neuer Church was or will be quite without them while it is militant heere vpon earth yet are they not of the substance at all of our Religion or any part of our Churches doctrine no more then ill humors which bee in are of the Bodie or dregs in a Vessell of wine bee any part either of the Vessell or Wine which remaneth as at the first most sound and vncorrupted and so continued euen vntill the dying day of that most illustrious religious Princesse Queene Elizabeth The verie Brethren themselues doe write that In regard of the common grounds of Religion and of the Ministerie We are all one We are all of one Faith one Baptisme one Bodie one spirit haue all one Father one Lord and be all of one Heart against all wickednes superstition idolatrie haeresie and we seeke with one Christian desire the aduancement of the pure Religion worshippe and honor of God We are Ministers of the word by one order we administer prayers and Sacraments by one forme we preach one Faith and substance of doctrine And wee praise God heartily that the true Faith by which we may be saued and the true Doctrine of the Sacraments and the pure Worshipe of God is truly taught and that by publike authoritie and retained in the booke of Articles Hitherto the said Brethren And this was their verdict of our Churches doctrine in the last yeare saue one of Q. Elizabeths raigne then which nothing was euer more truely said or written And this Vnitie and puritie of doctrine shee left with vs when shee departed this world 25. Nowe After Elizabeth raigned Noble Iames. Who found this our Church as all the world knoweth in respect of the groundes of true Religion at Vnitie and that Vnitie in Veritie and that Veritie confirmed by publike and regall approbation These ecclesiasticall ministers therefore though a thousand for number who at his Maiesties first comming into this kingdome either cōplained vnto his Highnes of I know not what errors imperfections in our Church euē in points of doctrine as if shee erred in matters of Faith or desired that an Vniformity of doctrine might be prescribed as if the same had not alreadie bin done to his hands or as weary belike of the old by Queene Elizabeth countenaunced and continued desired his Maiestie to take them out a newe Lesson as did the the 71. Brethren of Suffolk are not to be liked Neither can we extoll the goodnes of our God sufficiently toward our King and vs all for inspiring his royall heart with holy wisedome to discerne these vnstaied and troublesome spirits and in abling his Highnes with power and graces from aboue to decree orders and directions for the generall benefit and peace of the whole Church neither suffered hee his eies to sleepe nor his eie-lids to slumber nor the temples of his head to take any rest till he had set them downe afore all other though neuer so important and waightie affaires of the Crowne and Kingdome 26. My selfe haue read and thousand thousands with an hundred thousand of his Subiects besides haue either read or heard of Proclamations after Proclamations to the number of sixe or seauen at the least of bookes and open speeches of his Maiestie vttered in the Parliament house and all of them made vulgar within a yeare and little more after his happie ingresse into this kingdome taking the administration of this most famous flourishing Empire vpon himself
THE FAITH DOCTRINE and religion professed protected in the Realme of England and dominions of the same Expressed in 39 Articles concordablie agreed vpon by the reuerend Bishops and Clergie of this Kingdome at two seuerall meetings or Conuocations of theirs in the yeares of our Lord 1562 and 1604 THE SAID ARTICLES ANALISED INTO Propositions and the Propositions prooued to be agreeable both to the written word of God and to the extant Confessions of all the neighbour Churches Christianlie reformed THE ADVERSARIES ALSO OF NOTE AND name which from the Apostles daies and primitiue Church hetherto haue crossed or contradicted the said Articles in generall or any particle or proposition arising from anie of them in particular heereby are discouered laid open and so confuted Perused and by the lawfull authoritie of the Church of England allowed to be publique Rom. 16.17 I beseech you bretheren Marke them diligently which cause diuisions and offences contrarie to the doctrine which yee haue receaued and auoide them PRINTED BY IOHN LEGATT PRINTER to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge 1607. TO THE MOST REVErend Father in God his right honorable good Lord Richard by the diuine prouidence Archb. of Canterburie and Primate of England and Counselar to the most high mighty Prince Iames King of great Brittaine France Ireland MOst reuerend Father in God there is no one thing in this world that of men truly zealous Christian in these latter daies of the world with greater earnestnes hath bin desired then that by a ioynt common consent of all the Churches rightly according to the canons of the sacred Scriptures reformed there might be a draught made and diuulged containing and expressing the summe substance of that Religion which they doe all both concordablie teach vniformely maintaine That holy man of happie remembrance D. Cranmer who sometime enioyed that roome in our Church which your Grace nowe worthily possesseth in the daies of that most godly young Prince King Edward the sixt employed a great part of his time and studie for the effecting of that worke and imparted his thoughts with the most principall persons and of rarest note in those daies for their wisdome pietie and credit among the people of God throughout Christendome M. Caluin vnderstanding of his intent addressed his letters vnto the sayd Archbishop and offered his seruice saying that might his labours stand the Church in steede ne decem quidem maria it would not grieue him to saile ouer ten Seas to such a purpose 2. But this proouing a worke of much difficultie if not altogether vnpossible in mans eies especially in those daies to be brought about the next course and resolution was that euerie Kingdome and free state or principalitie which had abandoned the superstitious and Antichristian religion of the Church of Rome and embraced the Gospell of Christ should diuulge a Briefe of that religion which among themselues was taught and beleeued and whereby through the mercie of God in Christ they did hope to be saued Which to God his great glorie the singular benefit comfort of all Churches both present and to come as the extant Harmonie of all their confessions doth most sweetely record with no great labor was notablie performed This worke of theirs tolde the Churches in those daies and doth vs and will enforme our posteritie that not only in euery particular State Kingdome but also throughout Christendome where the Gospell was entertained the primitiue and Apostolicall daies of the Church were againe restored For the multitudes of them that did beleeue I speake both ioyntly of all and seuerally of each reformed people not of euery particular person fantastique False-apostles and peruerse teachers or professors in any Church who were not wanting euen in the Apostles daies touching the maine and fundamentall points of true religion were then of one hart and of one soule and did thinke and speake one thing and liue in peace 3. The said Archbishop for vnto whom better after God and the King can we ascribe the glorie of this worthy act hee wrought this Vnitie and Vniformitie of doctrine in this kingdome in the Halcyon daies of our English Iosias K. Edward the sixt of that name and the same doctrine so by his meanes established in the time of peace a notable worke of peace like a manly haeroicall and heauenly Capitane vnder our Generall Iesus Christ he resolutely euen with his heart blood in the fierie torments afterwards confirmed in the daies of persecution A certaine learned man speaking of the Religion heere then professed and wrighting vnto the Lords of our late Queenes Counsell doth say he meaning the Papist his aduersarie who charged our Church with discord and disagreements about matters of religion He ought saith he if hee had bin able to haue brought out the publike Confession and Articles of faith agreed in K. Edwards time and haue shewed any in England that professing the Gospell dissenteth from the same So esteemed hee and with him many thousands of learned and iudicous men of the doctrine then ratified by authoritie and professed in this kingdome But those daies of our Churches peace continued not long through our vnthankefulnesse and sinnes neither on the other side was our persecution permanent through the goodnes of god though for the time exceeding vehemt violent For nubecula fuit cito transiit it vanished away quickely as do many raging stormes euen vpon the suddaine yet not through the power of Gunpowder and treasons but through the force of ardent praiers vnto the Almightie For arma ecclesiae preces 4. Wee finde that M. Latimer that sacred and reuerend Father addicted himselfe very seriously in those daies vnto the exercise of prayer and his principall and most vsuall praiers were first for himselfe next for the afflicted church of England and lastly for Lady Elizabeth the deceassed K. Edwards and Q. Maries sister For himselfe hee praied that as God had made him a minister and Preacher of his truth so hee might constantly beare witnesse vnto the same haue the grace and power to maintain it in the face of the world euen till the hower of his death For the church of Enlād hee praied that God would be pleased once againe to restore the free Preaching of the Gospell to this realme and this withall possible feruencie of Spirit hee craued at the hands of God And for Lady Elizabeth that hee would preserue and make her a comfort to his then comfortlesse people in England And the almightie and our heauenly Father both heard and granted all and euery of his petitions M. Gualter that learned painfull excellent diuine at Tigure dedicating his holy and Christian comments vpon the lesser Prophets vnto D. Parkhurst Bishop of Norwich who in the daies of the forementioned Q. Mary voluntarily had exiled himselfe so farre as Switzerland for his preseruation if it might be vnto better times
see at all or Ouersee and what likewise the points of doctrine newly now reuealed their aeternum Euangelium which without great danger may not be preached in England no more then the doctrine and Articles of the Church of England may bee preached at Rome and for defence wherof they ought to afford euen their very liues weare they so many as the haires of euery of their heads is and bee they demonstrate themselues to be most childishly vaine and idle in their imaginations which they take yet to be illuminations of the spirit 13. For all their doings and discourses to say the best of them are but to erect a newe which they tearme a true ministerie and their Discipline among vs. Themselues doe say The controuersie betwixt them and vs is not as the Bishopes and their welwillers they would beare the world in hand for a Cap a Tippet or a Surplesse but for greater matters concerning a true ministerie and regiment of the Church according to the word the one whereof that is a true ministery they shall neuer haue till Archbishops and Bishops be put downe and all Ministers made equall the other also will neuer be brought to passe till Kings Queenes doe subiect themselues vnto the Church and submit their scepters and throwe downe their Crowes before the Church and lick vp the dust of the feete of the Church and willingly abide the censures of the Church that is of the Presbyterie For as the Church is subiect vnto the ciuill magistrate in respect of his ciuill authoritie so must the magistrate the King and Queene subiect themselues and bee obedient to the iust and lawfull authoritie of the Church The ciuill magistrate is none officer at all of the Church For Church officers bee non Magnates aut Tetrarchae not gracious or honorable Lords but Ministers of the Church The Presbyterie is the Church and euerie Congregation or Church should and must in it haue a Presbyterie This is the Light which indeede the Martyrs neuer sawe the Religion which our Brethren striue for the Truth which they may not preach not Childish doctrine like the Bishops Articles but the wise Gospell the maine and materiall points of religion nowe in these last daies last of all yea after the eight Thorowe breaking of H. N. his Euangelium regni reuealed and for furtherance whereof they are to lend and spend euen all their liues if occasion be ministred 14. Strange and strong delusions First to take these and other such assertions for Truths and heauenly mysteries which are but the fancies of troubled braines not grounded nor truly gathered from Gods word Next to teach one another and al their fauorers howe they should be as readie and prepared euen for these matters to giue ouer their liuings and to giue their liues were they as many as the haires of all their heades as Cranmer Ridley Latimer did and Parker Grindall and all other Preachess would and euery Christian man and woman should if they bee called thereunto for the Apostolicall and Catholique doctrine of our Church which all Gods people doe knowe and the Brethren themselues as afore hath bin noted doe confesse is originally from God and his written word These and many moe too many heere to be recapitulate such phantasies of theirs or phrenesies rather this first subscription brought first to light and yet happie had it bin for Gods Church and people they had neuer bin broached 15. Semblablie the next Subscription called for by the last Archb. your L. predecessor an 84. discouered euen the verie thoughts and desires of those Brethren before but nowe stiled faithfull Brethren which haue and doe seeke for the Discipline and reformation of the Church Many Treatises afore but nowe and diuers yeares ensuing they flewe about and abroad like Atomies and by them the same things which afore but in a differing sort and in other words they publish For touching Church officers they name who and howe many sorts they be of them viz. Doctors Pastors Gouernors Deacons and Widdowes no moe no fewer They say Euerie Church must be furnished with a Teacher and a Pastor as with two Eies with Elders as with Feete with Deacons as with Hands Euerie Congregation must haue Eies Hands and Feete and yet neither all nor at all any Congregation is to haue an Head answerable to those Feete Hands and Eies The doctor by their doctrine must be a distinct minister from the pastor and onely teach true doctrine and neither exhort nor apply his doctrine according to the times and his auditorie nor minister the Sacraments For these things the pastor is to performe Which pastor also whensoeuer he administreth the Sacraments must necessarily make a Sermon or els he cōmitteth Sacriledge And concerning discipline by their doctrine euery Congregation must haue absolute authoritie to admonish to censure to excommunicate and to anathematize all offending persons yea euen Kings and Princes if they be of the Congregation And no Prince but must be of some parish and vnder one Presbytery or other alwaies Where this power is not in their iudgements one of the tokens of a true Church is wanting For this Discipline with them is a Marke of the Church and numbred among the Articles of their Faith 16. This say they is the great cause the holy cause which they will neuer leaue suing for though they should be a thousand Parliaments in their daies vntill either ther obtaine it or bring the Lord in vengeance and blood against the Stare and the whole land for repelling the same The Discipline is Gods holy yoke Gods sceptre the kingdome and throne of Christ. Our controuersie say they is whether Iesus Christ shall be King or no. Againe the end of all our trauaile is to build vp the walles of Ierusalem in to set vp the Throne of Iesus Christ our heauenly King the middes thereof the aduauncing whereof is a testimonie vnto vs that wee shall haue part in that glorie which shall be reuealed heereafter So learne we nowe from their said bookes learned and demonstratiue discourses which the Fathers and our fore fathers neuer sawe nor had learned both that their Discipline established and exercised is a visible marke of a true Church and to desire the aduauncement of the same an inuisible token of an elect childe of God so as neither is that a Church at least no true Church where their Discipline is not neither they but titular christians no true christians indeede which either sigh or seeke not to haue it established and Presbyteries in euerie parish to be aduaunced 17. The Articles of our religion concluded vpon by the reuerend Clergie of our Church with these learned and all seeing Brethren are but the Bishops decrees the Articles of the Conuocation house and reueale some little truth but these wise Brethren so faithfull haue they bin betweene God and his Church they haue not failed to shewe vs the whole counsaile of God And
the Manichies the Basilidians the Valentinians the Messalian heretikes the Gentiles and heathen people whereof some in place of God worshipped Beastes vnreasonable as the Aegyptians did a Calfe an Oxe Cats Vulturs and Crocodils The Syrians a Fish and Pigeons the Persians a Dragon some as Gods haue adored men vnder the names of Iupiter Mars Mercurie and such like and some euen at this day for God doe worship Kine the Sunne and what they thinke good so doe inhabitants of Baly in the East Indies Of the Anthropomorphites which ascribed the forme and lineamentes of man vnto God thinking God to be like vnto man Of such as put their trust and confidence to be reposed in God alone either in men liuing as doe both the Persians in their Soldan and the Papists in their Pope who with them is God their Lord and God of infinite power or in Saints departed this life as doe the same Papists both in their S. Francis whome they tearme The glorie of God prefigured by Esay when he said Holy Holy Holy c. and in their Thomas Becket whom they say God hath set ouer the workes of his hands or in Beastes vnreasonable as doth the Mordwite Tartar or finally in riches and other senslesse creatures as doe the Atheists and irreligious worldlings 2. Proposition God is the maker and preseruer of all things The proofe from Gods word THat the world and all things both visible and invisible therein both were made and are preserved by the almightie and onely power of God are truthes grounded vpon the holy Scripture and agreeable to the confessions of Gods people For touching the creation of the world we read that in the beginning God created the heauen and the earth c. He made heauen and earth by him were all things created which are in heauen and which are in earth things visible and invisible whether Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him by his Sonne he made the worldes and all these acknowledged by the Churches primitiue and reformed at this day And touching the preseruation of all things by him created My soule praise thou the Lord c. saith the Psalmist which couereth himselfe with light as with a garment spreadeth the heauens like a curtaine which laieth the beames of his chambers in the waters and maketh the cloudes his chariot and walketh vpon the wings of the winde which maketh the spirits his messengers and flaming fire his ministers c. Are not two sparrowes sold for a farthing and one of them shal not fal on the ground without your Father yea and al the haires of your head are numbred saith our S. Christ God that made the world and all things that are therein he is Lord of heauen and earth he giueth life and breath and all things and hath made of one blood all mankinde to dwel on all the face of the earth and hath assigned the times which were ordained before and the bonds of their habitation saith S. Paul The Sonne is the brightnes of the glorie and the ingraued forme of his person and beareth vp all things by his mightie word The Churches of God in Heluetia Basil France and Flanders testifie the verie same Errors and aduersaries vnto these truths Hereby are condemned all Heretikes and errors impugning either the creation of the world by God or his providence in the continuing and preseruation of the same Of the former sort was First Aristotle and his followers which said the world was eternal and without beginning Next the Marcionites that held how God made not the world as being too base a thing for him to create 3. Simon Magus Saturnius Meander Carpocrates Corinthus who ascribed the worldes creation vnto Angels 4. The Manichies who gaue the creation of all things vnto two Gods or Beginnings the one good whereof came good things the other euill whence proceeded euill things 5. The same Manichies and Priscillianists which did affirme man to haue bin the workemanship not of God but of the Deuill 6. The Familie of Loue who deliuer that God by them made heauen and earth 7. The Papists who giue out how sacrificing Priests are the Creators of Christ Of the latter sort were The Stoike Philosophers and the Manichies who are the great patrones of Destinie Fate and Fortune The Familie of Loue which may not say God saue any thing for they affirme that all things be ruled by nature and not ordered by God The old Philosophers who thought that inferior things were too base for God to be carefull of And lastly the Epicures who thinke God is idle and gouerneth not the same Of which minde was Cyprian who held that God hauing created the world did commit the gouerment thereof vnto certaine celestial powers 3. Proposition In the Vnitie of the Godhead there is a Trinitie of persons The proofe from Gods word THe Scripture saith In the beginning God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost created the heauen and the earth By 1 the word of the 2 Lord were the heauens made and all the host of them by the 3 Breath of his mouth Loe the heauens were opened vnto 1 him and Iohn sawe 2 the Spirit of God descending like a Doue and lighting vpon him and loe a voice from heauen saying This is 3 my beloued Sonne in whome I am well pleased Because yee are sonnes 1 God hath sent forth 2 the Spirit of his 3 Sonne into your heartes which crieth Abba Father saith the Apostle and againe The grace of 1 our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue 2 of God and the communion of the 3 holy Ghost be with you all And S. Iohn There are three which beare record in heauen 1 The Father 2 the word and 3 the holy Ghost and these three are one This truth hath alwaies bin and serously is confessed in the church of Christ. Errors adversaries vnto this truth Then cursed are all opinions of men contrarie herevnto whereof Some denied the Trinitie affirming there is one God but not three persons in the Godhead so did the Montanists and Marcellians and so doe the Iewes and Turkes Some as the Gnostikes Marcionites and Valentinians affirme there be moe Gods then one and yet not three persons nor of one and the same nature but of a diuers and contrarie disposition Some thinke there be three Gods or spirits not distinguished onely but diuided also as did the Ennomeans and Trethectes Some feare not to say that in worshiping the Trinitie Christians doe adore three Deuils worse then all the idols of the Papists such blasphemers were the Heretikes Blandrat and Alciat Some will
that the church of Rome neither hath nor can erre Erraverunt aliae ecclesiae saith Di. Stella other churches as of Antioch Alexandria Constantinople c. haue erred sed nunquam ecclesia Romana but the church of Rome neuer yet erred Id constanter negamus saith Costerus the Iesuit we constantly deny that christ his Vicars Peters successors the Bishops of Rome haue either taught heresies or can propound errors God preserueth the truth of christian religion in the Apostolike sea of Rome and It is not possible that the church meaning the church of Rome can erre or hath erred at any time in any point say the Rhemists 20. Article Of the authoritie of the Church 1 The Church hath power to decree rites or ceremonies 2 and authoritie in controuersies of faith And yet it is not lawfull for the Church 3 to ordaine any thing that is contrarie to Gods word 4 neither may it so expound one place of Scripture 5 that it be repugnant to another VVherefore although 6 the Church be a witnesse and a keeper of holy writ yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same so 7 besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be beleeued for necessitie of saluation The propositions 1. The church hath power to decree rites or ceremonies 2. The church may not ordaine what rites or ceremonies shee will 3. The church hath authoritie to iudge and determine in controuersies of faith 4. The church hath power to interpret and expound the word of God 5. The Analogie of faith must be respected in the exposition of the Scripture 6. The church is the witnesse and keeper of Gods written word 7. The church may not enforce any thing to be beleeued as necessarie vnto saluation that is either contrarie or besides the word of God 1. Proposition The church hath power to decree rites or ceremonies The proofe from the word of God THe churches authoritie to decree rites or ceremonies is warranted in the word of God first by the example of the Apostles who did ordaine rites and ceremonies among other things that In the church men should not be couered Women should keepe silence and be couered A knowen tongue vnderstood of the common auditorie should be vsed with other things Next by the generall and binding commandement of God himselfe who at all times will haue euery thing in the church to be done vnto edifying honestie and by order as beeing not the author of confusion but of peace All churches protestant confesse the same Errors adversaries vnto this truth This power being giuen by the Supreame authoritie vnto the Church they doe greatly offend which doe condemne either generally all or particularly some rites and ceremonies orderly and lawfully established of the former sort are 1. The Familie of Loue who say of themselues how they are a free people in bondage vnto no creature nor to any created thing they haue no seuerall distenting or variable religions either ceremonies 2. The Brownists who teach that euery Christian is to ioyn himselfe vnto that people among whome the Lords worship is free and not bound or withholden with any iurisdiction of this world 3. The Puritanes whereof some would haue all matters of ceremonies to be left in christian libertie vnto euery man Others would haue both temples to be left without seruice Sermons and Sacraments and Princes to be scared with the feare of vproares and sedition and all because they would be freed from the obedience vnto ceremonies not impious of themseluees imposed by the Church the Father of these men was Illyricus of whome Melancton writeth Of the latter kinde be 1. The Familie of Loue againe who vtterly dislike our Churches or Temples also our Liturgies formes of seruing our God and finally our designed times of meeting together for the worshippe of God Our Churches there blasphemously tearme Common houses and so we tearme Brothell houses or the stewes Our Lyturgies and manner of seruing of God they call Foolishnes of taken on seruices false and seducing Gods seruices of no man to be ordained nor to be obeied or vsed when they are established with these ioyne the Barrowists who doe write that to haue Leiturgies and formes of common praier is to haue another Gospell and another Testament Our Sabboths they contemne yea they condemne for they say There ought to be no Sabboth day Our Sabbatarians goe not so farre yet come they neere unto these Familists when they divulge that The Church hath no authoritie ordinarily and perpetually to sanctifie any day but the seuenth day which the Lord himselfe had sanctified The church cannot take away this libertie of working sixe daies in the weeke These assertions are against all holy daies lawfully established Barrow yet goeth further then doe these men for he saith how the obseruing of times as it is in our church is an error fundamentall They also be alike culpable who approouing some rites and ceremonies do yet tie the church or people of God to the obseruation of the ceremonies either Mosaicall as many haue donne and doe or of the Romish Church as doe the Papists and the halfe papists the Familie of Loue Finally they are out of the way which thinke that either one man as the Pope or any certaine calling of men as the clergie hath power to decree and appoint rites or ceremonies though of themselues good vnto the whole church of God dipersed ouer the vniuersall world 2. Proposition The Church may not ordaine what rites and ceremonies shee will The proofe from Gods word As it is a cleere truth that the church may ordaine ceremonies so true is it also that the church hath no power to appoint what rites or ceremonies shee will For shee must decree none which be Either for their owe nature impious like the ordinances manners and Idols of our forefathers teachers of vanitie and of lies Or for vse superstitious like the brazen Serpent which king Ezekiah brake in peices Or for their weight ouer heauie and greiuous to be borne like the Iewish constitutions Or for their worthines in the eies of the ordainers either of equall price or of more account then the very ordinances of God so as for the performance of them the lawes of God must be left vndone such were many of the Pharisaicall tires and traditions Or against the libertie of christians and to the entangling of them againe with the yoake of seruile bondage Or last of all any way contrary to the commandements word and will of God But the rites ceremonies and constitutions of the church they must make altogether and tend both to the nourishing and encrease of loue friedship and quietnes among christians and also to the retaining of Gods people in the holy seruice worship
pretiosissimo sanguine dignetur vos à paenis liberare inter choros suorum sanctorum angelorum collocare ibique nostri memores suppliciter exorare vt vobis associemur vobiscum in coelis coronemur Innocentius Papa 2. concessit cuilibet qui hanc orationē sequentem deuotè dixerit 4000. millia annorum indulgentiarum Aue vulnus lateris nostri saluatoris c. Quicunque deuote dixerit istam orationem habebit 3000. dierum indulgentiarum criminalium peccatorum 20000. millia dierum venialium à Domino Iohanne papa 22. concessarum vt in Autidatorio an●●ae habetur Quicunque orationem sequentem deuotè d●●cerit premerebitur 11000. annorum indulgentiarum c. Aue Domina sancta Maria mater dei regina coeli porta paridisi Domina mundi lux sempiterna imperatrix inferni c. Ora pro me Iesum Christum dilectum filium t●●um lib●ra me ab omnibus malis ora pro peccatis meis Amen Whosoeuer being in the state of grace shall deuoutly say the seuen prayers ensuing with seauen Our Fathers and as many Haile Maries afore the image of Pietie shall thereby merit 56. thousand yeares of Pardons Pope Iohn the 12. hath granted to all persons which going through the churchyard doe say the prayer following so many yeeares of pardons as there haue bin bodies buried since it was a Churchyard The prayer for the dead Haile all faithfull soules whose bodies here and euery where doe rest in the dust The Lord Iesus who hath redeemed you and vs with his most pretious blood vouchsafe to deliuer you from paines and to place you in the companie of his holy Angells and there beeing mindefull of vs meekely to pray that wee may both be ioyned vnto you and crowned with you in the heauens Pope Innocent the 2. hath granted to euery one which deuoutly shall say this prayer following 4000. yeares of pardons Haile wound of our Sauiours side c. Whosoeuer deuoutly shall say this praier shall haue 3000. daies pardons of criminall sinnes and 20000. daies of veniall offenses granted by the Lord Pope Iohn the 22. as it is to be read in the Antidatorie of the soule Whosoeuer deuotly wil say the praier following shal merit thereby 11000. yeares of pardons Haile Lady saint Mary mother of God Queene of heauen the Gate of paradise the Lady of the world the Light eternall the Empresse of hell c. Pray vnto thy belooued sonne Iesus Christ for mee and deliuer mee from all euils pray for my sinnes Amen 3. Proposition The Romish doctrine concerning Images is fonde and not warranted by the holy Scriptures nor consonant but contrarie vnto the same The proofe from the word of God Images are such an abomination to the Lord as to make them among all men odious he describeth the vanitie of them by his Prophets as that they are the doctrine of vanitie The worke of Errors the teachers of lies siluer and gold the worke of mens hands Vanitie they haue a mouth and speake not eies and see not eares and heare not hands and touch not feete and walke not 2. Hee giueth a strait commandement Not to bow downe to them nor worship them nor to make them to flie from them yea to destroy both the images themselues the Idolaters and the Enticers vnto Idolattie 3. Hee commendeth greatly and praiseth such men as haue destroyed Images and not bowed vnto Idols 4. Hee finally curseth the Images the Image makers and the Image seruers or worshippers Hereunto with vs the Protestant Churches euery where doe subscribe The adversaries vnto this truth The Romish church most fondly and contrary to the word of God doth allow and not onely allow but publikely erect not onely erect but adore not onely adore Images but doth accurse and more then so condemne to the fire yea to hell fire as heretikes such persons as will not worshippe Images and the Images to which is most abhominable Of God himselfe euen of God the Father and that in the likenes of an old man with a long white Beard of the Sonne in the Similitude of a man hanging on rhe Crosse of the holy Ghost in the shape of a Doue of the wholy holy and incomprehensible Trinitie with three Faces in one head Also of God his creatures as of Angels alwaies with wings sometimes with a paire of ballance as S. Michael of men as of Moses as it were with hornes the Apostles with round orbes on their heades like Trenchers the blessed virgin with frisled haire and costly garments And of other base things as Agnus deis of waxe wafer cakes of flower Crosses of gold siluer stone wood paper copper c. 4. Proposition The Romish doctrine concerning Reliques is fond and not warranted by the holy Scriptures nor consonant but contrary vnto the same The proofe from Gods word Of all the erroneous opinions among the Papists which are infinite none is more to the illusion of wel meaning Christians then their doctrine concerning worshipping and adoratiō of the reliques of Saints A doctrine which is so farre from being found as it is forbidden in the holy Scripture and a doctrine in the purer times and writers of the Chureh no where to be found and in all the best Churches at this day vtterly condemned Adversaries vnto this truth Such notwithstanding is the Satanicall boldnes of the Antichristian synagogue of Rome that as they will delude men with the reliques of Saints which are not such so likewise they teach the people which is most offensiue and execrable to giue diuine adoration and honour vnto them Hence is it that some doe pray vnto S. Benet whose Reliques they had stolne O Benedict after God our onely hope leaue vs not orphanes who art come hither not through our merits but for the saluation of many soules Others haue published that the Bodies of Saints and specially the Reliques of the blessed Martyrs are with all sincerity to be honoured as the members of Christ c. If any denie this conclusion hee is to be thought not a christian but an Eunomian and Vigilantian The Councell of Trent also hath decreed that they are to be taken for damned which affirme how worship and honour is not to be giuen vnto the Reliques of Saints Of this preposterous deuotion they haue appointed a certaine and common seruice for the holy Crosse whereon Christ was hanged they haue made a feast for the speare and Nailes wherewith Christ was fastened to the Crosse they haue canonized for a Saint the chaines which bound S. Peters To say nothing of the adoration they giue vnto the Haire Milke Smocke of the blessed virgin vnto the Head Haire Thombe Coate of S. Ihon Baptist vnto the breeches of Ioseph the sword and Handkercheife of S. Paul the Keies of S. Peter and vnto many other things
which of modestie I will not mention but doe ouer passe 5. Proposition Invocation of Saints is a fonde thing not warranted by the holy Scriptures nor consonant but contrarie vnto the same The proofe from Gods word The Christian exercise of Prayer is a dutie which may not be either securely omitted or vainly abused And though many things in prayer be necessarily to be obserued yet a speciall point is it that in our supplications and prayers we doe call onely vpon God For so to doe we are both commanded euen by God himselfe and thereunto also allured by manifold as well promises of large blessings as by the examples of godly men in all ages Patriarkes Abraham Isaac Iaakob Prophets as Daniel Elias Ieremie Centurions Publicans Apostles as Paul Peter c. yea of all the Elect of God in this world On the other side to pray vnto any creature that is out of this world besides Iesus Christ there is in the Scripture neither Law to command nor promise of blessing nor any example of godly men or women to prouoke Finally as all Gods people in the purer and former times haue so in these daies the Protestant Churches vtterly condemne the inuocating of or praying vnto creatures whatsoeuer The Adversaries vnto this truth Therefore the Romish doctrine that Saints are to be praied vnto and their daily praying as occasion serueth vnto S Agatha that haue sore breasts vnto S. Benedict that either be or feare to be poisoned vnto S. Clare for them that haue sore eies S. Damian that be sicke for health S. Erasmus for helpe in the intrals S. Feriol for Geese S. Giles for women that would haue children S Hubberts for dogges S. Iob for them which haue the poxe S. Katherine for knowledge S. Loys for horses S. Margaret for women in trauaile S. Nicholas for little children S. Otilia for the headach S. Petronil for the Ague S. Quintin for the cough S. Ruffin for lunacie or madnes S. Sebastian for the plague S. Thomas Becker for sinners S. Valentine for the falling sicknes S. Winefield for virginitie S. ✚ or Crosse for all things it is vaine not warrantable by Gods word but altogether repugnant to the holy scriptures The vanitie and idolatrie of the Popish Invocation further demonstrated from that booke of theirs entituled Horae beatissimae virginis c. Oremus Maiestatem tuam Domine suppliciter exoramus vt sicut Ecclesiae tuae beatus Andraeas Apostolus tuus extitit praedicator rector ita apud●● sit pro nobis perpotuus intercestor per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum Oremus Deus pro cuius Ecclesia gloriosus martyr Rontifex Thomas gladiis impiorum occubuit praesta quae sumus 〈◊〉 omnes quiaius impl●rant auxilium prae petitionis eius salutarèm cause quantur effectum per Dominum nostrum Versus Ora pro nobis beata Katherina Resp. Vt digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi Versus Ora pro nobis beate Martyr Sebastiana Resp. Vt mereamur pestem epidimiae illaesi transire promissionem Christi obtinere Virgo Christi egregia pro nobis Apollonia Funde preces ad Dominum vt tollat omne noxium Ne proreatu criminum morbo vexemur dentium Let vs pray O Lord we humbly beseech thy Maiestie that as thy blessed Apostle Andreas was a preacher and ruler of thy Church so he may be a perpetuall intercessor for vs through Iesus Christ our Lord. Let vs pray O God for whose Churches sake the glorious Martyr and Bishop Thomas was slaine by the sword of the vngodly graunt we beseech thee that such as call vnto him for helpe may obtaine a good effect of his godly praier through our Lord. The vers O blessed Katharine pray for vs. Thans That wee may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. The vers O blessed Martyr Sebastian pray for vs. The Ans. That wee deserue to escape the plague without hurt and obtaine the promises of Christ. Christ his noble virgin Apollonia pray vnto the Lord to remoue whatsoeur is hurtfull least for the guiltines of our sinns wee be vexed with the tooth ach Whosoeuer saith this prayer following in the worship of God and S. Roche the very words in the said booke shall not die of the pestilence by the grace of God c. Oremus Omnipotens sempiterne Deus qui precibus meritis beatissimi Rochi confessoris tui quondam pestem generalem reuocasti presta supplicibus tuis qui pro simili peste reuocanda sub tua confidunt fiducia ipsius gloriesi Confessoris tui pr●camine ab ipsa peste epidi●●ae ab omni perturbatione liberemur per Christum Dominum nostrum Oratio ad tres Reges Rex Iasper rex Melchior rex Balthasar rogo vos per singula nomina rogo vos per sanctam Trinitatem rogo vos per regem regum quem vagiente●● in cunis vider● meruistis compatiamini tribulationum mearum hodiè intercedatis pro me ad dominum cuius desiderio exules factiestis Crux Christi protege me Crux Christi salua me Crux Christi defende me ab omni malo Let vs pray O almightie and euerlasting God who by the prayers and merits of thy most blessed Confessour Roche didest reuoke a certaine generall plague grant vnto thy suppliants who for the reuocatiō of the like plague doe trust in thy faithfullnes by the prayer of that thy glorious Confessour wee may be deliuered from the plague and from all aduersity through Christ our Lord. A prayer vnto the 3. kings O King Iaspar king Melchior king Balthasar I beseech you by euery of yournames I beseech you by the holy Trinitie I beseech you by the king of kings whom yee deserued to see euen in his swadling cloathes that you would take pittie on my troubles this day and make intercession for mee vnto the Lord for whose desire yee made your selues exiles O Christs crosse protect me ô Christs crosse saue me ô Christs crosse defend mee from all euill 23. Article Of ministring in the Congregation 1 It is not lawfull for any man to take vpon him the office of publike preaching 2 or ministring the Sacraments in the congregation 3 before he be lawfully called and sent to execute the same 4 And those wee ought to iudge lawfully called and sent which be 5 chosen and called to this worke 6 by men who haue publike authoritie giuen vnto them in the congregation to call and send ministers into the Lords vineyard The propositions 1. None publikely may preach but such as thereunto are authorized 2. They must not be silent who by office are bound to preach 3. The Sacraments may not be administred in the Congregation but by a lawfull Minister 4. There is a lawfull Ministery in the Church 5. They are lawfull Ministers which be ordained by men lawfully appointed to the calling and sending forth of Ministers 6. Before
Ministers are to be ordained they are to be chosen and called 1. Proposition None publikely may preach but such as thereunto are authorized The proofe from Gods word THis truth in the holy Scripture is euident For there we finde how ● The godly men were both called by God and commanded to preach before they would or durst so doe So was Samuel Ieremie Iohn Baptist Christ Iesus himselfe who also to preach did send the twelue Apostles and the seuentie Disciples 2 The wicked and false Prophets for preaching afore their time are blamed 3 A commandement is giuen vs to pray the Lord of the haruest that hee would send forth labourers into his harvest 4 Lastly wee doe read that God hath ordained in the Church some to be Apostles some Prophets some teachers some to be workers of miracles and Christ beeing ascended into heauen gaue some to be Apostles some Prophets some Euangelists and some Pastors and teachers And all this is acknowledged by the reformed Churches Errors Adversaries to this truth And so are wee against them Which to their power doe seeke the abolishment of publike preaching in the reformed Churches as doe first the Papists who phrase the Preachers to be vncircūcised Philistins sacrilegious ministers Hieroboams priests inordinate and vnordered Apostataes and next the Barrowists who say how the said Preachers are sent of God in his anger to deceiue the people with lies Who publish how the word is not taught by the Sermons of ministers but onely by the Reuelation of the Spirit so did Muncer the Anabaptist and so doth H. N. and his Familie of Loue Who runne afore they be sent as doe many both Anabaptists and Puritanes as Penrie Greenewood Barrow c. or which hold how they which are able to teach and instruct the people may and must so doe and that not priuately onely but publikely too though they be not ordinarily sent and authorized thereunto which was the doctrine of R.H. Who teach that Lay-men may teach to get faith and that euery particular member of the Church hath power yea and ought to examine the manner of administring the Sacraments c. and to call the people to repentance so teacheth Barrow 2. Proposition They must not be silent who by office are bound to preach The proofe from Gods word As publikely to preach before men are sent is a grieuous fault so not to preach being sent is a great sinne Hereunto beare witnesse 1. Our S. Christ whose words are these Surely I must also preach the Kingdome of God For therefore am I sent 2. Peter and Iohn who being charged to speake no more in the Name of Iesus said Wee cannot but speake that which wee haue heard and seene 3. S. Paul For hee writeth Necessitie is laid vpon mee and woe is mee if I preach not the Gospell 4. The apostles of Christ. For though they were beaten for so doing yet ceased they not to teach and preach Iesus Christ 5. All the Churches of God which be purged from superstion and errors Errors adversaries vnto this truth Then as in glasse they may see their faults Who maintaine how there ought to be no publike preaching at all as doe the Anabaptists Which depraue the office of Preaching as doe the Libertines saying that preaching is none ordinarie meanes to come vnto the knowledge of the word and especially the Familie of Loue who tearme the publike preachers in derision Scripture learned Licentious scripture learned good-thinking-wise Ceremoniall and letter Doctors Teaching masters and further say It is a great presumption that any man out of the learnednesse of the letter taketh vpon him to be a Teacher or Preacher Againe It becometh not any man to busie himselfe about preaching of the word so and more too the Familie Which take vpon them the office of publike preaching without performance of their duty either through ignorance that they cannot worldly emploiments that they may not negligence that they will not or feare of troubles that they dare not preach the word of God Yet thinke wee not which our Sabbatatians let not to publish that Euery minister necessarily and vnder paine of damnation is to preach at least once euery Sunday and Vnlesse a minister preach euery Sunday he doth not hallow the Sabboth day in the least measure of that which the Lord requireth of vs. 3. Proposition The Sacraments may not be administred in the Congregation but by a lawfull minister The proofe from Gods word In the holy Scripture wee read that the publike ministers of the word are to be the Administers of the Sacraments For both our S. Christ commanded his disciples as to preach so to Baptize and celebrate the supper of the Lord and the Apostles and other ministers in the purest times whom the godly Ministers and Preachers in these daies doe succeede not onely did preach but also Baptize and Minister the Lords Supper And hereunto doe the Churches of God subscribe In saying that none may administer the Sacraments in the Congregation afore hee be lawfully called and sent thereunto wee thinke not as some doe that the very beeing of the Sacraments dependeth vpon this point viz. whether the Baptizer or giuer of the Bread and wine be a minister or no. Neither is it the meaning of this article that priuately in houses either lawfull ministers vpon iust occasion may not or others not of the ministerie vpon any occasion in the peace of the Church may administer the Sacraments The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Hereby wee declare our selues not to fauour the opinion that publikely Some may minister the Sacraments which are not meerely and full ministers of the word and Sacraments and so thinke both the Anabaptists among whome their king when it was after Supper tooke bread and reaching it among the Communicants did say Take eate shew forth the Lords death their Queene also reaching the Cuppe said Drinke yee and shew forth the Lords death and the Presbyterians at Geneua where the Elder a Laie man ministereth the Cup ordinarily at the Communion Some ministers and namely the Puritane Doctors may not minister the Sacraments For say the disciplinarians the office of Doctors is onely to teach true doctrine but in our Church of England the Doctor encroacheth vpon the office of the Pastor For both indifferently doth teach exhort and minister the Sacraments None though a lawfull Minister may administer the Sacraments which either is no preacher or when hee ministreth them doth not preach which be the errors of the Disciplinarians or Puritanes Publiquely and priuately too the Sacrament of Baptisme may be administred by any man yea by women if necessitie doe vrge So hold the Papist For saith Iauell in the time of
otherside too highly as if the dignitie of their calling were cause good enough that what they doe or say ex opere operato take happy effects These things from the Scriptures are manifest which teach vs that wicked ministers euen the Scribes and Pharisies sitting in Moses chaire and preaching Christ though through enuie strife and contention are to be heard and may administer the Sacraments as did the ordinarie Priests among the Iewes whereof very many both afore and after that our Sauiour came into the world were most wicked men and the best which be are the ministers of God and Gods labourers Also the purer Churches beare witnesse hereunto Neither is hee whosoeuer that planteth any thing neither hee that watereth but God that giueth the encrease saith S Paul And a signe of a good Spirit is it to regard not so much who speaketh or ministreth as what is vttered and offered from God Errors Adversaries to this truth The due consideration of the praemises will both settle vs the more firmely in the truth and make vs the more carefully to abhorre all adversaries thereof as in old time were the donatists and the Petilians who taught that the Sacraments are holy when they be administred by holy men but not els also the Apostolikes or Henricans who had a fancie that he was no Bishop which was a wicked man Among the Fathers also Cyprian and Origen were not ●ound in this point For Cyprian published that no minister could rightly baptize who was not himselfe endued with the holy Ghost hee further deliuered that whosoeuer doe communicate with a wicked minister doe sinne Origen held that in vaine did any minister either binde or lose who was himselfe bound with the chaines of ●inne and wickednes Such adversaries in our time be the Anabaptists the Family of Loue the disciplinarians vsually tearmed Puritants the Sabbatarians the Brownists and the Papists For The Anabaptists will not haue the people to vse the ministerie of euill ministers and thinke the seruice of wicked Ministers vnprofitable and not effectuall affirming that no man who is himselfe faultie can preach the truth to others The Familie of Loue doe say that no man can minister the vpright seruice or ceremonies of Christ but the regenerate also that wicked men cannot teach the truth The disciplinarian Puritans doe bring all ministers which cannot preach and their seruices into detestation For their doctrine is that Where there is no Preacher there ought to be no minister of the Sacraments None must minister the Sacraments which doe not preach The Sacrament is not a Sacrament if it be not ioyned to the word of God preached It is sacriledge to seperate the ministration of the word preached from the Sacraments Of these mens opinions be the Sabbatarians among vs. For their doctrine is to the common people that vnlesse they leaue their vnpreaching ministers euery Sabboth day and goe to some place where the word is preached they doe prophane the Sabboth and subiect themselues vnto the curse of God So the Brownists No man is to communicate say they where there is a blinde or dumme ministerie The Papist doe crosse this truth but after another sort For Pope Hildebrand decreed and commanded that no man should heare Masse from the mouth of a preist which hath a wife The Rhemists doe publish how The Sermons of heretikes and so tearme they all Protestant ministers must not be heard though they preach the truth Their praiers and Sacraments are not acceptable to God but are the howling of wolues 2. Proposition Euill ministers are to be searched out convicted and deposed but orderly and by the discipline of the Church The wicked and euill ministers must not alwaies be endured in the Church of God For they are the euill and vnprofitable seruants the Eies which doe offend the vnsauorie salt which are carefully to be seene vnto and if admonitions will not serue deposed yet orderly and by the discipline of the Churh For that God which appointed a gouernement for the ciuill state hath also giuen authoritie vnto his Church to punish offenders according to the qualitie of their transgressions And so may we read in the word of God Tell the Church saith our Sauiour Let such a one by the power of our Lord Iesus Christ be deliuered vnto Sathan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saued in the day of the Lord Iesus saith S. Paul So the neighbour Churches Adversaries vnto this truth Then deceiued and out of the way are the Brownists and Barrowists which are of minde that Priuate persons in themselues haue authoritie to depose vnmeete ministers and to punish malefactors Euery particular member of a Church in himselfe hath power to examine the manner of administring the Sacraments c. to call men vnto repentance c to reproue the faults of the church and to forsake that church which will not reforme her faults vpon any priuate admonition For want of the due execution of discipline against persons offending and malefactors both women may leaue their husbands as some haue done and husbands their wiues and goe where it is in force See more in Art 33. Prop. 1. 27. Article Of Baptisme 1 Baptisme is not only a signe of profession and marke of difference whereby christian men are discerned from other that be not Christened but 2 it is also a signe of regeneration or newe-birth whereby as by an instrument they that receiue Baptisme rightly are graffed into the Church the promises of the forgiuenes of sinne and of our adoption to be the Sonnes of God by the holy Ghost are visiblie signed and sealed Faith is confirmed and grace encreased by vertue of prayer vnto God 3 The Baptisme of young children is in any wise to be retained in the Church as most agreeable with the institution of Christ. The Propositions 1. Baptisme is a signe of Profession and marke of differēce whereby Christians are discerned from other men that be no Christians 2. Baptisme is a signe or seale of the regeneration or newe birth of Christians 3. Infants and young children by the word of God are to be baptized 1. Proposition Baptisme is a signe of Profession and marke of difference whereby Christians are discerned from other men that be no Christians The proofe from Gods word HOw the Sacraments are tokens and therefore that Baptisme is a signe of the true Church which be Christians it is apparent from Gods word in the 5. proposit of the 19. article afore going and the same doe the Churches of God acknowledge Errors adversaries vnto this truth This declareth vs to be sound Christians and. Not Nazarens who were with the Iewes circumcised and baptized with Christians and so as Hierome writeth of them were neither Iewes nor Christians Mot
world The spirituall was giuen vnto them afterward in their second birth through the word The life carnall and corporall is common to all men good and badde and is maintained and preserued by earthly and corruptible Bread common also to all and euery man The life spirituall is peculiar onely to Gods elect and is cherished by the bread of life which came downe from heauen which is Iesus Christ who norisheth and susteineth the spirituall life of Christians being receiued of them by Faith Which spirituall Bread that he might the better represent hee hath instituted earthly and visible Bread and wine for a Sacrament of his Body and Blood Whereby he doth testifie that as verily as wee receiue the Bread with the hands and chewe the same with the teeth and tongue to the nourishing of this life temporall euen so by faith which is in place of hands and mouth to the soule wee verily receiue the true Body and the true blood of Christ our onely Sauiour to the cherishing of the spirituall life in our soules And heerein there is a goodly consent with the most of the reformed Churches and vs The aduersaries vnto this truth Ioyntly we withstand the aduersaries thereof whosoeuer as The Capernaites which thought the flesh of our Lord might be eaten with corporall mouthes The Synusiastes or Vbiquitaries which thinke the Body of Christ so is present in the supper as his said Body with bread and Wine by one and the same mouth at one and the same time of all and euery communicant is eaten corporally and receaued into the Belly The Metusiastes and Papistes which beleeue the substance of bread and Wine is so changed into the substance of Christ his body as nothing remaineth but the reall Body of Christ besides the accidents of Bread and wine The Symbolists Figurists and Significatists who are of opinion that the faithfull at the Lords supper doe receiue nothing but naked and bare signes 5. Proposition To reserue carrie about lift vp or worship the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is contrarie to the ordinance of Christ. The proofe from Gods word The true and lawfull vse of this Sacrament hath bin afore set downe And there it may suffice vs to be remembred how the Lords Supper was ordained that the bread should not only be broken and eaten the cuppe should onely be giuen drunken and all this done in remembrance of Christ And so also testifie the Churches reformed Adversaries vnto this truth But contrarie to the institution of Christ the Papistes abuse this holy Sacrament For They reserue the same and not only so but take it to be a Catholike a pious and a necessarie custome so to reserue it and besides they thinke euery peece and particle of the Sacrament so reserued is the very Body of Christ They carrie it about both vnto sicke folkes Hence saith the Festiuall As often as any man seeth that Body at Masse or some other good praier in worship of his soueraigne Lord. And also thorough cities and townes For whensoeuer the Pope goeth any iourney the Sacramentall bread is carried before him on an ambling Iennet as the Persian kings haue before them carried their Orsmada or holy fire In Spaine euen at this day in the time of the peace between the two mightie Kings of great Brittaine and Spaine those English men as meeting the Sacrament in the streetes will neither doe reuerence therunto nor goe aside nor turne into some house doe fall into the danger of the not holy but bloody Inquisition They worship it and for the same haue ordained a certaine set and solemne Feast called corpus-christi-Corpus-Christi-day on which the Sacrament is borne about lifted vp and most idolatrously adored 29. Article Of the wicked which doe not eate the Body and blood of Christ in the vse of the Lords Supper The wicked and such as be voide of a liuely faith although they doe carnally and visibly presse with their teeth as S. Augustine saith the Sacrament of the body blood of Christ yet in no wise are they partakers of Christ but rather to their condemnation doe eate and drinke the siigne or Sacrament of so great a thing The proposition The wicked and such as be void of a liuely faith doe not eate the Body nor drinke the Blod of Iesus Christ in the vse of the Lords Supper The proofe from Gods word S. Paul doth shewe how the Supper of the Lord is receiued of some worthily which do examine and iudge themselues and discerne the Lords Body as also doe abstaine from the table of deuills How these doe participate of the Body and blood of Christ it hath alreadie bin shewen in the last mentioned article prop. 4. Againe of others the same is vnworthily receiued that is to say which themselues doe not examine nor iudge neither discerne the Lords body and doe communicate at the Table of the Lord and at the Table of deuils These may receiue the Sacrament but not the true Body of Christ. The reasons be for that They lacke the wedding garment which is Faith and the righteousnesse of Christ. They are no members of the true Church the Head whereof is Iesus Christ They haue no promise of heauenly refreshing because they are without a liuely faith Therefore they procure vnto themselues most heauie punishements as diseases death guiltines of the Body and Blood of Christ and therewith damnation Of this iudgement be other Churches Christian and reformed besides Errors adversaries vnto this truth The adversaries of this dorine are The Vbiquitaries both Lutheran and Popish they saing the very Body of Christ at the Lords Supper is eaten aswell of the wicked as of the godly these affirming that al Communicants badde and good doe eate the very and naturall Body of Christ Iesus they saying that the true and reall Body of Christ In With Vnder the bread and wine may be eaten chewed and digested euen of Turkes which neuer were of the Church these maintaining that vnder the forme of Bread the same true and reall body of Christ may be deuoured of Dogs Hogs Cats and Rats 30. Article Of both kinds The cuppe of the Lord is not to be denied to the lay people For both the parts of the Lords Sacrament by Christs ordinance and commandement ought to be ministred to al Christian men The Proposition The people must be partakers not only of the Bread but also of the Wine when they approach vnto the Lords Table The proofe from Gods word OVr Lord and Sauiour Christ hath instituted his Supper as he will haue not only the Bread but also the Cup to be deliuered vnto all Communicants So find wee in the word of God namely That the Bread must be giuen to All and eaten of All The Cup is to be giuen to All and to be