c. and Communication of all Temporal things and a fellow-feeling of one anothers condition by all the Members of the Body Of St. Athanasius 's Creed commonly so called IT 's an Explanation of the great Mysteries of the Trinity and of Christ's Incarnation against the Arrians and other Hereticks and hath been received with great Veneration by the Greek and Latin Churches and many of the Reformed as well as the Romanist do hold that Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria was the Author and all agree that nothing in this or the Nicene Creed materially different from that which the Apostles Creed had contained nor nothing really superadded to it but were designed by the Compilers to fence the Catholick Orthodox Faith against the Corruptions and Depravations or else from the Doubtings and Contradictions of Hereticks and is the Quintessence of ancient Orthodox Divinity Q. Why are those Censures affix'd in the beginning middle and end of the Athanasian Creed A. They must be interpreted by their Opposition to those Heresies that had invaded the Church which were Acts of Carnality in them that broached and maintained them against the Apostolick Doctrine and contradictory to that Foundation which had been resolved on and were therefore to be anathematized after this manner and with Detestation banished out of the Church 2. If any scruple at the positive denying Salvation to such as do not believe these Articles let them remember such as hold any fundamental Heresies are condemned in Scripture and the Doctrines are called Damnable Heresies Let us therefore firmly believe and devoutly use this Form blessing God for these clear Explications of the sublime Mysteries of the Trinity and Christ's Incarnation in which we must strive to understand as much as we can and supply the Rest with Silence Submission and Adoration Of the Versicles and Responsals or short Verses and Answers Quest WHY after we have repeated the Creed do we begin with the Form of Salutation viz. The Lord be with you Answ Such mutual Salutations are excellent Expressions of the Communion of Saints and Incentives and Provocations to Charity and Love one of another since we cannot pray without God's Help therefore the Minister prays That the Lord may be with them to assist them and since the Minister prays for all the People they desire he may heartily and devoutly offer up these Prayers in their Behalf saying The Lord be with thy Spirit Q. Why are those Words Let us pray often repeated A. It is a kind of Watch-Word or Signal of Battel to summon us all with united Forces to besiege Heaven it self with our Holy Importunities And 2. It 's a Warning to every one to lay aside all vain Thoughts and only to mind this great Work we have in Hand Q. Why are those Versicles Lord have Mercy upon us Three times repeated A. Because it is a most Pathetick Petition of Mercy to the Blessed Trinity called by the Ancients a Short Litany and is a Preparation to the Lord's Prayer Q. Why is the Lord's Prayer again repeated A. Because it consecrates all the rest of our Prayers and makes way for them and if we did not put up any Petition with Fervency enough before we may now make amends for it by asking that with a double Earnestness Q. Why are those short Versicles and Responsals used A. It was the Primitive Way of Praying and they contain the Sum of all the following Collects 1. The First O Lord shew thy Mercy c. being a Petition for Mercy and Salvation answers to the Sunday Collect. 2. The Second O Lord save the King answers to the Collects for the King and his Family 3. The Third Endue thy Ministers c. and the Fourth O Lord save thy People c. answer the Collect for the Clergy and People 5. The Fifth Give Peace in our Time c. answers the Morning and Evening Collects for Peace and Safety 6. The Sixth O God make clean c. answers the Morning and Evening Collects for Grace And thus by this Alternate Way of Responses or answering and speaking by turns one after another first the Minister then the People we fit our selves the better for the following Collects Q. Are there any other Reasons for the Vse of these Versicles and Responsals A. They refresh the Peoples Attention and teach them their Part at Publick Prayers and unite the Affection of them all together and help to keep them in a League of perpetual Amity Q. Why doth the Priest sometimes kneel and sometimes stand A. The Minister as a Sinner kneels with the People in all Confessions and Penitential Prayers but stands in other Offices to signifie his Office and Authority Q. Why do we turn to the East in our Prayers and Creed A. Because it 's accounted the most worthy Part of the World by being first visited by the rising Sun which may mind us of the great Honour and Majesty of the Person we speak to 2. Because the Altar or Holy Table is placed there where God affords his most Gracious and Mysterious presence and the Priest or Minister used to officiate there and it was look'd upon as unseemly to turn their Backs upon one or the other in their Prayers or Postures 3. From Adam to Abraham's Time the whole World worshipped toward the East and the Christians from the beginning built their Churches and worshipped themselves toward the East not only in opposition to the Jews who worshipped towards the West but because they expected our Saviour who is call'd Oriens ex alto or the day-spring from on high to come from thence according to his promise Matth. 24. 27. Of Collects Quest WHY are these short Forms of Prayer used Answ Because our Saviour himself taught and commended the frequent use of brief Forms of Prayer and the Primitive Christians were wont to pray in that manner from whom the Collects were derived Q. Why are they called Collects A. Because they are Collected generally out of the Epistles and Gospels and are a brief Collection of all things necessary for Soul and Body 2. Or because they are repeated in Publick when the People are collected and gathered together Q. How long have they been used in the Church A. Most of them are above a Thousand Years old having been used in the Western Church from the Time of St. Gregory the Great and are Forms for any Blessing or any Grace that we would ask for our selves or others Q. Pray direct us where we may find among them Prayers on every Occasion A. If we would pray for things spiritual for our own Souls viz. for the Gifts of the Spirit See the Prayer for St. Barnabas 's Day 2. If we would pray for Pardon See the 12 the 21 24. Sunday after Trinity 3. If for the Benefit of Christ's Death and Acceptance through him See Annunciation and Purification and 2. Sunday after Epiphany 4. If for the Comfort Direction and Illumination of the Spirit See 1. after Ascension Whitsunday
Offices A. Since St. Luke leaves it out it is omitted some time when the Office is not matter of Praise If you desire a further Explanation it is already excellently performed in this Method by several Learned and Reverend Persons to which I referr you viz. The Oxford Explanation of the Church Catechism Dr. William's Exposition of the same And once for all so is the Creed and the Ten Commandments and the whole Church Catechism And if you have Skill and Leisure you will do well in reading the Reverend and Learned Dr. Hammond's Practical Catechism a Tract never to be highly enough valued and the Right Reverend Bishop Pearson on the Creed and the Reverend Dr. Comber with many other Worthies Of the Responses Quest WHY are they so called Answ Because the People answer the Priest Q. What Reason for this Custom A. In conformity to the Primitive Practice 2. Hereby the Consent of the Congregation is declared to what we pray for and it is the Unity of Mind and Voice and this Agreement in Prayer which hath the Promise of prevailing 3. This grateful Variety and different manner of Address serves to quicken the People's Devotion 4. It engageth their Attention and since they have their share of Duty they must expect till their Turn come and give heed to do it right and prepare for their next Response Whereas when the Minister doth all the People naturally grow sleepy and heedless as if wholly unconcern'd let us therefore gratefully embrace this Privilege and make our Responses gravely and with an audible Voice which we shall find to be a great Help to our Devotion Q. What do these Responses consist of A. The two first of Prayers taken out of David's Psalms the great Storehouse of Primitive Devotion Q. Why are they placed here A. The First O Lord open thou our c. is fitly placed here with respect to those Sins we lately confessed and if we be fully sensible of our guilt as we ought to be it will be needful for us to beg such Evidences of our Pardon as may free us from the Terrors which seal up our Lips and then we shall be fit to praise God heartily in the Psalms which follow The Second O God make speed c. is the Paraphrase of that remarkable Supplication viz. Hosannah which signifies Save now Lord we beseech thee When we look back to those innumerable Evils that have taken hold on us we cry to God to save us speedily from them by his Mercy and when we look forward to the Duties we are about to do we pray that he will make hast to help us by his Grace without which we cannot do any acceptable Service Q What do the other two Responses consist of A. Of Praises First Glory be to the Father c. Q. Why do we rise up at Glory be to the Father c. A. Upon Supposition that our Pardon is granted we rise up with joy to sing Glory be to the c. which is a Paraphrase upon the Song of the Seraphims Holy Holy Holy and gives equal Glory to every Person of the Trinity because each Person is Very God 2. We rise up to shew how resolved we are to stand fast in the Faith of the Holy Trinity Q. Why is it added As it was in the Beginning A. To shew that this was the Primitive Faith against the Arrians who had introduced a new Form of Doxology so that now it serves for two Uses First as a shorter Creed and Secondly for a Hymn of Praise And to quicken us herein we declare it was so in the Beginning For the Angels sung the Praises of the Trinity in the Morning of the Creation Job 38. 7. Q. What doth the Word Doxology signifie A. A Song of Praise Q. Which is the second Response of Praise A. Praise the Lord Which is no other than the English of Hallelujah Q. Why is this short Hymn placed here A. As a return to Glory be to the Father c. For as in that we worshipped the Trinity so in this we do the Unity 2. As a triumphant Hymn upon the joyful News of our Absolution and the overthrow of our spiritual Enemies for which saith the Priest Praise the Lord And the People readily obey him replying The Lord's name be praised 3. It is a proper Preface to the Psalms called in the Hebrew the Book of Praises Of the XCV Psalm Quest WHY do we begin with this Psalm A. It is a very proper Preparatory to the following Duties and is called the Invitatory Psalm and contains a threefold Exhortation 1. First To praise God shewing the Manner how externally and internally v. 1 2. And the Reason why v. 3 4 5. 2. The Second Exhortation is to pray to this mighty God for the Manner humbly giving the Reason v. 6 7. 3. The third Exhortation is to hear his Word directing us to the Manner speedily willingly v. 8. and warning us by the Example of the Jews and their Punishment that we may not destroy our Souls by despising and distrusting God's Word as they did Q. Why are the Psalms ordered to be read monthly A. In conformity to the ancient Practice 2. That they may be made the more familiar to the People being of all Scripture the fullest of Devotion so that without difficulty every Man may apply them to his own Case either directly or by way of Accommodation Q. Why are the Psalms read standing A. By the Erection of our Bodies we express the Elevation or lifting up our Souls to God and Standing is one of the Postures of Supplicants and the Psalms do chiefly consist of Prayer and Praise Q. That we may be devout in this holy Exercise pray inform us how we may sort every Psalm A. Some are of Instruction explaining the Creation Ps 8. 104 c. or the Providence Ps 37. 139 147. c. or the Passion Ps 22. 69. or the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ as Ps 2. 16. 90. c. or his last coming to judgment Ps 50. 97. 2. Some Psalms are of Exhortation stirring us up to some Acts of moral Vertues as Ps 15. 101. or Positive Religion viz. to study God's Law or call on his name Ps 1. 34. 119. c. or warning us against Sin Ps 7. 11. 58. 64. c. especially by Punishments inflicted on his own People Ps 78. 105. 106 c. 3. Others are Psalms of Supplication for Pardon Ps 25. 51. 143. c. for Peace Ps 4. 42. 63. for Patience Ps 10. 23. 39. c. and for Deliverance Ps 55. 59. 71. for others Ps 21. 72. c. for the King for the Church Ps 68. 79. 80. c. 4. Others are Psalms of Praise and Thanksgiving for God's Mercies Ps 103. 136. 145. for Health as Ps 116. 130. for Plenty and Wealth Ps 65. 144. Victory over our Enemies Ps 18. 149. for mercy to our Souls Ps 66. 111. 118. Q. Which are those Psalms that are call'd The Seven
such Petitions as these called by the Latins Obsecrationes A. Because we urge the party of whom we ask by all that is dear to him and in these we commemorate all that our dear Redeemer did for us in his Life at his Death and after his Death and by all the Love he shewed to us by all the Torments he endured for us by all the glorious Things he intends for us we beseech him to deliver us from these Evils Q. Is not this called Conjuration A. Yes Ignorant Malice hath so censured it when it is the most devout and moving Oratory in the World Q. What is the Cross here put for A. Not for the Wood which the Papists superstitiously adore but for the Torments he suffered thereon and his Cross comprehends the pains of his Body his Passion and the Anguish of his Mind All these Arguments devoutly urged have a mighty Force in them Q. When is the season that we pray for Deliverance A. It is expressed in that Petition In all Time of our Tribulation c. Q. Why is that part which we call Intercession used in the Litany A. Because it is commanded by God and in Christian Charity we ought to desire Blessings for all sorts of Men Q. Why do we begin in our Intercessions with the Holy Church Vniversal A. Because we ought to be more concern'd for the good of the Whole than of any particular Part. Q. Why do we beg of God to Rule and Govern All Churches in the right Way which is left out by the Romanists A. Because when these Petitions were first made it is not likely that the Doctrine of Infallibility was maintain'd either in the Roman Church or any other Part of the Christian World and that any particular Church may fall into wrong Ways the very Roman Church which boasts of its Infallibility has demonstrated and by sad Experience we find that no particular Church is free from the possibility of being deceived altho' we believe that God will not suffer the whole Universal Church at once to fall into any grievous Error Q. What do we pray for in those Petitions for the King A. Our first Requests are for the King 's spiritual Good that he may be throughly and sincerely pious from inward Principles which will never fail if he be of the right Faith then the Prayer is for his Confirmation in it and if he be perverted it 's a Prayer for his Conversion 2. We pray likewise that he may be supplied with all Temporal Blessings and kept from all kinds of Evil. And if any be so wicked as to rebel upon any Pretence whatsoever Religion Liberty Property or the like we must wish the Victory may fall always on the King's side Q. Why is the Prayer for the Clergy placed next to that for the Royal Family A. The Jews and Gentiles both reckoned their Chief Priests to be next in dignity to their Kings and so did our pious Ancestors account them next to the King the most considerable Members of the Catholick Church Q. Why are the Clergy distinguish'd here into those three Orders Bishops Priests and Deacons A. All ancient Offices do particularly pray for the Clergy so distinguished which have from the Beginning been ever in the Church Q. What is the Substance of the Prayer A. The Prayer we make for them is the same which Moses made for Levi Deut. 33. 8. Let thy Vrim and thy Thummim be with thy holy One That is Illumination or Enlightning and Perfection which is excellently Paraphras'd in this Prayer Q. What are those three Words in the Litany which comprehend all the Miseries that concern our Bodies A. Danger Necessity and Tribulation All Evils are either future and feared and these are implied in the Word Danger or else they are present and then they proceed from want of some good thing expressed by Necessity or from suffering some evil thing signified by Tribulation and each of these hath its proper Verb suted to it viz. Succour Help and Comfort So that in this one general Request we comprehend our selves and all other afflicted Persons in the whole World Q. There are some who condemn all Antiquity together with our Church as if They and We pray'd for Thieves and Pirates because the word is general for All that Travel c. A. It is a malicious Comment on an innocent Text for He is properly a Traveller who goes about his allowable or ordinary Occasions and it is evident that no other are here meant but Just and Honest Men. Q. Why after so many excellent Petitions presented to our Heavenly Father do we make our Addresses to our Mediatour viz. Son of God Lamb of God A. That he may recommend us and our Prayers at the Throne of Grace beseeching him by his Divinity and by his Sufferings for us to accept of our Petitions and to pardon our Sins and again as he 's our anointed Mediatour that he would procure a gracious Answer to them Q. Why are those Versicles added Lord have Mercy c A. That our Conclusion may be suitable to our Beginning we close up all with an Address to the whole Trinity for that Mercy which we have been begging in so many particulars and this one Word Mercy comprehends them all so that this is the Epitome of the whole Litany Q. When was this last part of the Litany called the Supplications first collected and put into this Form A. When the barbarous Nations began to over-run the Empire about 600 years after Christ Q. Why is the Lord's Prayer again repeated A. To shew the high esteem that pious Antiquity had of it and their mean Opinion of their own Inventions and Composures which receive Life and Value from this Divine Form Q. Why are those words Let us pray here used A. That the People may not think the Duty is ended as soon as the Responses or Answers cease but are admonished in their Heart not with their Voice to join with the Priest still Q. Why is not the Prayer against Persecution concluded with Amen A. To shew that the same Request is continued in another Form and what the Priest begg'd alone there all the People join with him to ask in these alternate Supplications or Prayers in turn Q. Is not the repeating that Petition twice O Lord arise c. a vain Repetition A. No But a Testimony that we are convinced we did wisely and well to ask of God now to arise and help us that so the honour he hath gotten by the wonders of his Mercy may be renewed and confirmed by this new Act of his Power and Goodness Q. Why is the Doxology placed here A. In imitation of Holy David Psal 6. 8. and Ps 22. 25. we having such a God to pray to in the midst of our mournful Supplications do both praise God for his ancient Mercies and also in assurance we shall obtain his Help praise him for his Help beforehand And as he was glorified for