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
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
do receive by Faith in his blood forgivenesse of sinnes and that you are a member of Christ and his Church through the power of the Holy Ghost Answer Yea. Fourthly Whether you acknowledge all the Articles of the Christian Religion as they are taught in these Christian Churches out of the word of God and do purpose constantly to persist in the same Doctrine to the end of your life and also reject all heresies and errors which are repugnant to this Doctrine and promise to persevere in the fellowship and Communion of this Church not onely in the hearing of the Word but using of the Supper of the Lord Answer Yea. Fifthly Whether you have purposed from your heart to lead alwayes a Christian life to forsake the world and all the evill lusts thereof according as it becommeth a member of Christ and his Church and submit your selves to all our Christian admonition Answer Yea. The good and great God out of his bounty give his grace and blessing to this your purpose through Jesus Christ. AMEN FORME For the administration of the Supper of the Lord. BEloved in the Lord Jesus Christ Hearken to the words of the Institution of the Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ so as they are delivered by the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 11. vers 23. I receyved of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night in which heewas betrayed tooke Bread and when hee had given thankes hee brake it and said Take eate this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me after the same manner also hee tooke the Cup when hee had supped saying This Cup is the Newe Testament in my blood this do yee as often as ye drinke it in remembrance of mee For as often as ye eate this Bread and drinke this Cup yee do shew the Lords death till hee come wherefore whosoever shall eate this Bread and drinke this Cup of the Lord unworthily shall bee guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of that Bread and drinke of that Cup for hee that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the Lords body That wee may now to our comfort celebrate the Supper of the Lord it is above all things necessary that wee first trye our selves aright and secondly that wee direct it to that end for which Christ hath instituted and ordained the same namely to his remembrance First Every one consider by himselfe his sins and the curses of God due unto him for the same to the end that hee may abhorre and humble himselfe before God considering that the wrath of God is such against sinnes that rather then they should goe unpunished hee hath punished the same in his beloved Sonne Jesus Christ with the shamefull and bitter death of the Crosse Secondly Every one trye his owne heart whether hee doe beleeve this faithfull promise of God that all his sins are forgiven him onely for the Passion and death of Christ and that the perfect righteousnesse of Christ bee imputed and freely given to him as his owne yea so perfectly as if hee himselfe in his owne person hath satisfyed for all his sinnes and consummated all righteousnesse Thirdly Every one examine his owne Conscience whether hee purposeth with himselfe to shew true thankfulnesse to God heereafter in his whole life and to walke uprightly before the face of God as also whether hee have layd aside unfeignedly all enmity hatred envy and doe resolve to walke in true love and peace with his neighbour All those that are thus minded God will certainly receive to mercy and account them worthy Communicants at the Table of his Sonne Jesus Christ On the contrary those who have not this witnesse in their hearts they eat and drinke to themselves judgement Wherefore wee according to the commandement of Christ and the Apostle Paul admonish all those who are defiled with these following crimes to keepe themselves from the Table of the Lord and do declare unto them that they have no part in the Kingdome of Christ to wit All Idolaters all who invocate saints deceased and Angels and other creatures all who worship Images all enchanters diviners charmers and those who give credit to such enchantements All despisers of God and his Worde and his holy Sacraments all blasphemers all those who are given to make strife sedition and mutiny in Church and Commonwealth all perjured persons all disobedient to Parents or Magistrates all murtherers contentious persons who live in hatred and envy against their neighbour all adulterers whoremongers drunkards thieves usurers gamesters covetous and all who live a scandalous life All these so long as they continue in such sins are to abstain from this meat which Christ hath ordained only for the faithfull least their judgement and condemnation bee made the heavier and encreased But Beloved in the Lord this is not to cast downe or to deject the contrite hearts of the faithfull as if none might come to the Table of the Lord but such as are freed from all sinne For wee come not to this Supper to testify that wee in our selves are perfect and just but on the contrary considering that wee must seeke our life out of our selves in Christ wee acknowledge heerewith that wee lye in death therefore notwithstanding wee feele many infirmities and weakenesses in us namely that wee have not such a perfect faith that wee do not give our selves to serve God with that zeale as wee are bound but must fight daily against the weakenesse of our faith and the lusts of our flesh yet seeing by the grace of God wee are sorry for these weakenesses therefore wee rest assured that no sinne or infirmity which against our will yet remaineth in us can hinder us from being received of God in mercy and from being partakers of this heavenly meat and drincke Let us now also consider to what end Christ hath instituted his Supper namely that wee do it in remembrance of him Now after this manner are wee to remember him by it First That wee are confidently persuaded in our hearts that our Lord Jesus Christ according to the promise made to our Forefathers in the old Testament was sent of the Father in the world and hath taken upon him our flesh and blood and borne for us the wrath of God under which wee should have perished everlastingly from the beginning of his Incarnation to the end of his life upon earth and hath fulfilled for us all obedience to the Law of God and all righteousnesse chiefly when the burden of our sinnes and the wrath of God prest out of him that bloody sweat in the Garden where hee was bound that wee might bee freed from our sinnes and afterwards sustained innumerable injuries that wee might never be confounded was innocently condemned to death that wee might bee absolved before the judgment seat of God yea
say Beloved in the Lord Because the Lord hath fed our souls at his Table let us all with thanckesgiving praise his Name and every one say in his heart thus Blesse the Lord o my soule and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Blesse the Lord o my soule and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and tender mercies who satisfied thee with good things The Lord is mercifull and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy Hee doth not deale with us after our sinnes nor rewarde us according to our iniquities for as the Heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy towards them that feare him as farre as the East is from the West so farre hath hee remooved our transgressions from us like as a Father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that feare him who also hath not spared his owne Sonne but hath given him for us all and hath given us with him all things there fore doth God shew his love towards us thereby that Christ dyed for us when wee were yet sinners therefore shall wee be the more saved by him from his wrath after wee are justified through his blood For if wee be reconciled through the death of his Sonne when wee were yet enemyes much more shall wee bee saved through his life after wee are reconciled with him therefore shall my heart and mouth praise the Lord from this time forth and evermore Amen Let every one therefore say with an attentive heart ALmighty and most mercifull God and Father wee render thankes to thee with all our hearts that thou hast given unto us out of thy infinite mercy thine onely begotten Sonne to bee our Mediator and a Saerifice for our sinnes yea to bee our food to everlasting life and hast also given unto us a true and lively Faith whereby wee are made partakers of all his benefits and that thou hast caused thy Son to institute this Holy Supper for the confirmation of our Faith Graunt wee beseech thee most faithfull God and Father that through the operation of thy Holy Spirit this commemoration of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ may tend to the encrease of our saith and saving fellowship with him through Jesus Christ thy Sonne our Saviour in whose name wee conclude our Prayers saying Our Father c. FORME Of Excommunication BEloved in the Lord Jesus Christ It is knowen unto you how that at severall times by severall degrees wee have propounded unto you what a haynous sinne hath beene committed by our fellow-member N. and what great offence thereby is given to the end that hee through the helpe of your prayers and Christian admonition might be brought to repentance and so bee freed from the bonds of Sathan where in hee is kept and awake to the will of the Lord Now wee can not conceale from you with great heavinesse that there is no body yet come to us who hath in the least measure given us to understand that hee through the manifold admonitions which have beene given to him both apart by himselfe alone and before witnesse in the presence of many is come to any sorrow or remorse for his sinne or to the manifestation of the least token of repentance Seeing therefore that hee doth aggravate his sinne which yet in it selfe is no small one by his stifnesse and hardheartednesse and seeing wee have signifyed unto you the last time that in case hee after such patience shewed towards him by the Church do not repent that wee should bee forced yet further to bee grieved for him and to come to the last remedy therefore wee are necessitated for the present to proceed to his excommunication according to the power and commandement given unto us in the Worde of God to the end that hee by this meanes if it bee possible might bee brought to shame and remorse for his sinne and that the whole body of the Church may not bee put in danger by this rotten and as yet incurable member and that the name of the Lord may not bee blasphemed Therefore wee Ministers and Elders of the Church being met in the name and power of our Lord Jesus Christ declare before you all that for reasons above mentioned wee have excommunicated and by these do excommunicate N. from the Church of the Lord and from fellowship with Christ and his Sacraments and all spirituall blessings which God hath promised and doth fulfill to his Church so long as hee persists in his stubbornnesse and impenitency and therefore is to be esteemed of you as an heathen and publican according to the Commandement of God Mat. 18. who saith that is bound in Heaven what his Ministers binde heere on Earth Further wee do admonish you beloved Christians that you keepe no company with him that hee may bee ashamed yet holde him not as an enemy but admonish him sometimes as you do a brother meane while every one take to heart this and the like example to feare the Lord and if hee thinckes hee stands to bee carefull that hee may not fall but having true fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ as also with all true believing Christians persevere therein to the end and so partake of everlasting salvation You have seene Beloved Brethren and Sisters in what manner this our Excommunicated Brother hath begunne to fall and by little and little is come to ruine observe therefore how subtile Sathan is to bring people to destruction and to take them off from all wholesome meanes to salvation therefore take heed of the least beginning of evill and according to the admonition of the Apostle laying aside all weight and sinne which doth so easily beset us runne constantly the race which is set before us looking unto Jesus the beginner and finisher of our Faith bee sober watch and pray that you fall not into temptation to day if you heare the voyce of the Lord harden not your hearts but worke out your salvation with feare and trembling and every one repent of his sinnes that God do not againe humble us and wee bee forced to bee grieved over any of you but that you living godly with one accord may bee our joy and crowne in the Lord. But seeing God must worke in us both the will and the deed according to his good pleasure let us with confession of our sinnes call upon his name MOst righteous God and mercifull Father wee bewaile our sinnes before thy most high Majesty acknowledging that wee have deserved that sorrow and griefe which hath beene caused by the cutting off of this party once a member of us yea wee are worthy in regard of our great sinnes if thou shouldest enter into judgement with us to bee eternally separated from thee But thou O Lord art gracious unto us for Christ his sake Pardon unto us our sinnes for wee are
incumbent on all believers according to the Word of God to separate them selves from those that are not of the Church and to join to this Congregation in what place socever God hath constituted the same although it were contrary to the decrees of Magistrates and Princes even on pain of corporal punishment or death Wherefore all those who separate them selves from this Church or do not join with it act against the ordinance of God. XXIX Wee believe that it is requisite to search diligently and with a circumspect care to discerne from the Word of God which is the true Church since all Sects that are in the World now adayes do cover them selves with the name of the Church Wee do not speak of the company of Hypocrites who are mixed in the Church amongst the good ones without belonging to the Church thô outwardly they are in it but wee say that the body and Communion of the true Church ought to be distinguished from all Sects who call them selves the Church The marks to know the true Church by are these If in the Church there is a pure preaching of the Gospel If the pure administration of the Sacraments so as it is instituted by Christ him self is made use of If the Ecclesiastical censure is exercised for the punishment of sins In a word if the conversation is according to the pure Word of God rejecting all things contrary thereunto and holding Jesus Christ as the onely head By these tokens one may certainly know the true Church and none ought to separate themselves from the same And as for those that are of the Church they may be known by the marks of the Christians viz. by their Faith and when they have received the onely Saviour Jesus Christ avoiding sin and pursuing righteousness loving the true God and their neighbour not declining neither to the right nor to the left hand and crucifying their flesh with its deeds Nevertheless they may be attended with great weakness but they sight against it through the Spirit all the dayes of their life having continually recours to the blood death susterings and obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ in which they have remission of sins through Faith in him As for the false Church she ascribes unto her self and her ordinances more power and Authority then to the Word of God and will not submit unto the yoke of Christ she administers the Sacraments not after such a Manner as Christ hath instituted in his word but she adds and takes away according to her pleasure She relyeth more upon men then upon Christ she persecutes those who live a holy life according to the Word of God and who rebuke her faults coveteousness and Idolatry These two Churches may easily be known and distinguished XXX Wee believe that this true Church must be governed according to the Spirituall policy which our Lord hath taught us in his word viz. That there must be Ministers or Pastors for to preach the Word of God and to administer the Sacraments as also Overseers and Deacons to make up together with the Pastors an Ecclesiastical Councel and by this means to maintain the true Religion and to procure a free course for the true Doctrine likewise that the Transgressors be punished and restrained by Spirituall means that the poor and distressed be also relieved and comforted according to what they stand in need of Through these means all things will proceed well and orderly in the Church when such persons are chosen who are faithfull and according to the rule which St. Paul preseribes in his Epistle to Timothy XXXI Wee believe that the Ministers of the Word of God and the Elders and Deacons ought to be chosen to their respective offices by a lawfull Election with invocation of the Name of the Lord and in good order as the Word of God teacheth Every one therefore must take care of intruding him self by undecent means but ought to stay untill he be call'd by God that so he may have a testimony of his calling and be certain and assured that it is of the Lord And as for the Ministers of the Word where ever they-are they have an equal power and Authority being all Ministers of Jesus Christ the one general Bishop and onely head of the Church Moreoever least the holy ordinance of God be violated or despised wee say that every one ought te have a speciall respect unto the Ministers of the Word and the Elders of the Church for their works sake and to live in peace with them without murmuring strife or dissention as much as possibly can be XXXII In the mean while wee believe although it may be serviceable and good that those who govern the Church do institute among them selves certain ordinances for the maintenance and supporting the body of the Church yet that they ought to take heed of departing from any thing which Christ our onely master hath ordered And therefore wee reject all manner of humane inventions and Laws which any might introduce in the Worship of God thereby to bind and compell the consciences Admitting of nothing but what may serve to the nourishing and preservation of Concord and Unity and to keep all in the obedience of God unto which the Excommunication is required according to the Word of God and the circumstances belonging thereunto XXXIII Wee believe that our gracious God having regard on our meanness and infirmity hath assorded us the Sacraments for to be seales of his promises and pledges of the kindness and grace of God unto us and thereby to nourish and sustain our faith having joyned them with the Word of the Gospel that so he might propound to our outward senses both that which he signifies unto us by his Word and that which he workes inwardly in our hearts assuring us of the salvation which he doth impart us For they are visible signs and Seals of an inward and invisible thing by which means God worketh in us through the power of the holy Ghost Therefore the signs are not invain or empty to be deceived thereby for Christ Jesus is the truth thereof without whom they would signify nothing at all Moreover wee are content with the number of the Sacraments which Christ our Master hath instituted being but two to wit the Sacrament of Baptism and that of the holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ XXXIV Wee believe and confess that Jesus Christ who is the end of the Law hath made an end by the shedding of his blood of all other sheddings of blood that might be made for the propitiation and satisfaction of sin and that having abrogated the circumcision which was done with blood hath instituted instead thereof the Sacrament of Baptisme by which wee are received in the Church of God and become separated from all other people and strange Religions that so wee may be fully addicted to him and bear his Mark and Ensign And it serves us for a testimony that hee will be our God and
heartily sorry for the same worke in us a greater measure of sorrow that wee fearing thy judgements which thou executest against stubborne and impenitent sinners may labour so much the more to please thee Graunt that wee may keepe our selves from all pollutions and defilements of the world and of all those who are cut off from the communion of the Church that wee may not make our selves partakers of their sinnes and that those who are cut off may bee brought to shame for their sinnes And seeing thou takest no pleasure in the death of sinners but that they returne and live and settest alwayes open the bosome of thy Church to receive penitent sinners bee pleased to kindle in us a right zeale that both by our admonitions and examples wee may labour to reduce againe this excommunicated person and all such who through infidelity and wickednesse of life are going astray blesse our admonitions that wee may have cause to rejoyce over him for whose sake wee are now in heavinesse that thy holy name may bee glorified through the Lord Jesus Christ who hath taught us to pray Our Father c. FORME For the receiving and admitting againe of excommunicated persons BEloved in the Lord it is knowne unto you that sometimes past our fellow member N. hath beene Excommunicated and cut off from the Church of Christ Now wee can not conceale from you how that hee through the forenamed remedy as also through good admonishions and your prayers is come so farre that hee is ashamed of his sinnes and desireth to bee received againe into the fellowship of the Church Therefore wee being bound to receive such with joy and yet to keepe also good orders therefore wee give you heere to understand that wee are resolved to loose againe the forenamed excommunicated person from the bond of excommunication at the next time when by the grace of God wee shall celebrate the Supper of the Lord and to receive him againe into fellowship with the Church except there bee some who meane while shall shew any lawfull cause wherefore this ought not to bee done which you are to signify to us betime In the meane time every one of you is to praise the Lord for his mercy manifested to this poor sinner and to intreat him to perfect his worke in him to his everlasting salvation If no impediment bee brought the Minister is to proceed to the receiving of the excommunicated person againe after this following manner Beloved in the Lord wee have the last time acquainted you with the repentance of our fellowe member N. that he with your consent may bee received againe into the Church of Christ seeing therefore no body hath brought any thing whereby his admission againe should bee differred therefore wee intend at this time to proceed to the same The Lord Jesus Christ having confirmed the sentence of the Church in the excommunication of an impenitent sinner declareth thereupon presently that whatsoever the Minister shall loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven whereby hee gives to understand that when any body is cut off from the Church that thereby hee is not bereaved of all hope of salvation but that hee can bee loosed againe from the bond of his condemnation Therefore seeing God doth declare in his Word that hee hath no pleasure in the death of a sinner but that hee bee converted and live the Church in like maner hath hope of the conversion of the excommunicated sinner and keepes her bosome open to receive againe the penitent therefore doth the Apostle exhort 1 Cor. 5. that the Corinthian whom hee had declared should have beene cut off from the Church bee received comforted againe seeing that after hee had beene reprooved by many hee was come to the knowledge of his sinne least hee bee swallowed up by overmuch heavinesse 2 Cor. 2. Secondly Christ in the forenamed place doth teach that the sentence of absolution which is pronounced to such a penitent sinner according to the Word of God is accounted stedfast and firme with the Lord therefore ought no body who doth uprightly repent make any question but that hee is received of God as Christ sayth Joh. 2. Whose sinnes yee remit to those they are remitted To come therfore to the businesse in hand I afke you N. whether you declare heere before God and his Church from your heart that you are truely sorry for your sinnes and obstinacy for which you have most justly beene cut off from the Church and whether you doe unfeignedly beleeve that God hath forgiven and doth forgive your sinnes for Christ his sake and therefore are desirous to bee received againe into the Church to carry your selfe from henceforth in all piety according to the Word of God Answer Yea. Heereupon shall the Minister say further Wee in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ being met heere declare you N. to bee loosed from the bonds of Excommunication and pronounce you to stand againe in the fellowship of the Church the holy Sacraments and all other spirituall blessings and benesits which God hath promised and makes good to his Church in which the eternall God preserve you through his onely begotten Sonne Jesus Christ Amen Rest therefore assured beloved Brother that the Lord hath received you againe in mercy bee carefull to take heed of the subtile temptations of Sathan and the wickednesse of the world that you fall not againe into sinne Love the Lord Jesus Christ for many sinnes are forgiven you And yee beloved Christians receive this Brother with hearthy affection rejoyce that hee who was dead is made alive againe who was lost is found againe rejoyce with the Angels in Heaven over this sinner who repenteth holde him no longer as one who is a stranger but a fellow Citizen of the Saints and of the houshoulde of God. And whereas we can have no good thing from our selves letus blesse the Lord for this his mercy and further call upon his name GRacious God and Father wee blesse thee through Jesus Christ that thou hast given to this our fellow brother repentance to life and us cause to rejoyce in his conversion wee pray thee assure him more and more of the forgivenesse of his sinnes that hee may receive fulnesse of joy and greater willingnesse to serve thee And whereas hee hath offended many hy his sinne graunt that hee may edify many by his conversion and that hee may walke in thy wayes stedfastly to the end and let us learne by his example that there is mercy with thee that thou mayest bee feared and esteeming him our fellow brother and coheyre of eternall life may serve thee togetherwith a child ike seare and obedience all the dayes of our life through our Lord Jesus Christ in whose name wee conclude our Prayers saying Our Father c. FORME For the Confirmation of the Ministers of the Word After Sermon and Prayers ended the Minister shall say thus to the people BEloved Brethren It is knowen to you
fall God said to Eve and in her to all women Your will shall bee subject to your Husband you shall not resist this ordinance of God but bee obedient to the Word of God and follow the examples of Godly women who trusted in God and were subject to their Husbands as Sara was obedient to her Husband calling him her Lord You shall also bee an helpe to your Husband in all good and lawfull things looking to your family and walke in all honesty and vertue without worldly pride that you may give an example to others of modesty Wherefore you N. and you N. having now understood that God hath instituted Marriage and what hee commands you therein are yee willing thus to carry your selves in this holy estate as you heere doe confesse before this Christian assembly and are desirous that you be confirmed in the same Answer Yea. Whereupon the Minister shall say to the Assembly I take you all who are met heere to witnesses that there is brought no lawfull impediment Further to the married persons Seeing then it is fit that you be furthered in this your worke the Lord God confirme your purpose which hee hath given you and your beginning be in the Name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth Heereupon they shall joyne hands together and the Minister speake first to the Bridegroome N. Doe you acknowledge heere before God and this his holy Church that you have taken and doe take to your lawfull wife N. heere present promising her never to forsake her to love her faithfully to maintaine her as a faithfull and pious Husband is bound to doe to his lawfull wife that you will live holily with her keeping faith and trueth to her in all things according to the Holy Gospell Answer Yea. Afterwards to the Bride N. Doe you acknowledge heere before God and his holy Church that you have taken and doe take to your lawfull Husband N. promising to be obedient to him to serve and assist him never to forsake him to live holily with him keeping faith and trueth to him in all things as a pious and faithfull wife is bound to her Husband according to the Holy Gospell Answer Yea. Then the Minister shall say The Father of mercies who hath called you out of his mercy to this holy estate of Marriage knit you together with true love and faithfulnesse and give you his holy blessings Amen Hearken now how firme this bond of Marriage is as Matth. describes it Chap. 19. Vers 3.4.5.6.7.8.9 The Pharisees came unto Christ tempting him and saying unto him Is it lawfull for a man to put away his wife for every cause and Hee answered and said unto them Have yee not read that hee which made them at the beginning made them Male and Female and said For this cause shall a Man leave Father and Mother and shall cleave to his Wife and they twaine shall be one flesh wherefore they are no more twaine but one flesh What therefore God hath joyned together let no man put a sunder They sayd unto him Why did Moses then command to give a Writing of divorcement and to put her away Hee said unto them Moses because of the hardnesse of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives but from the beginning it was not so and I say unto you whosoever shall put away his wife except it bee for fornication and shall marry an other committeth adultery and who so marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery Afterwards shall the Minister command the married persons to kneele downe and exhort the Church to pray for them ALmighty God who shewest thy power and goodnesse in all thy workes and ordinances who hast sayd from the beginning that it is not good that Man should bee alone and for that cause hast made a helpe meet for him and hast ordained that these two should bee one who also doest punish all uncleanesse wee beseech thee seeing thou hast called these two persons to the State of Marriage and knit them together that thou wilt give unto them thy holy Spirit that they may live holily together with a true and firme faith according to thy holy Name and set themselves against all manner of sinne Blesse them O Lord as thou blessest those faithfull Fathers thy friends and Servants Abraham Isaack and Jacob that being partakers of that Covenant which thou confirmest to those thy Servants they may beget holy Children and educate them in a godly manner to the honour of thy holy Name to the edification of thy Church and propagation of the Gospell Heare us Father of all mercyes through Jesus Christ thy deare Sonne our Lord and Saviour in whose name wee pray further Our Father c. Hearken now unto the promise which God made in the 128 Psalm Blessed is hee who feareth the Lord and walketh in his wayes for thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands happy shalt thou be and it shall be wel with thee Thy wife shall be as a fruitfull Vine by the sides of thine house thy Children like olive-plants round about thy Table Behold thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord the Lord shall blesse thee out of Zion and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the dayes of thy life yea thou shalt see thy childrens children and peace upon Israël Our blessed Lord God fulfill your hearts with his grace and graunt that yee may live long together in all piety and holinesse AMEN