Causes over to the Provinces to be finally decided by them CHAP. XX. General Matters Article 1. IT having been reported in this Assembly that the Magistrates in divers Places have commanded the Professors of our Religion to hang their Houses and light out Candles on that Festival that goes by the Name of the Holy Sacrament and that several Persons thrô a deplorable Infirmity have so much forgotten themselves as to observe an Ordinance which obliges their Consciences to yield unto the Creature that self-same Honour which is due unto the Creator This Assembly wanting Words with which it may express its just Grief and Resentment for such an inexcusable Cowardliness doth adjure the Consciences of those Persons who have fallen into Sins so repugnant unto true Piety by the Fear of the Living God by the Zeal of his Glory by the Bowels of his Mercy in the Son of his dearest Love and by that special Care the Faithful ought to have of their Salvation that they would revive their Zeal and shew themselves Loyal Followers of the Faith and Constancy of their Fathers and testify by their Perseverance in Well-doing the Sincerity and Soundness of their Repentance and of their Affection to the Service of God Moreover the Consistory of those Places where such Scandals do fall out is injoined to rebuke them with an holy Vigour who give such an evil Example and all Synods are to proceed against them with all Ecclesiastical Censures and if they be Pastors and Elders who by their Connivance and Dissimulation have or for the future may favour such Offenders they shall not only be suspended but deposed also from their Offices CHAP. XXI An Act for a Publick National Fast 2. FOrasmuch as after a most desolating Drought which hath reduced the greatest part of the Provinces of this Kingdom to an extream Famine the Hand of God lifted up against us is not yet called back but continueth to visit his People by contagious and mortal Diseases which have overspread the whole Land and are every day more and more growing upon us This National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France assembled by his Majesty's Permission at Charenton acknowledging that the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven and poured but upon the Face of the Earth because of the Ungodliness of Men and of the Impenitency and Hardness of their Hearts to prevent the dreadful Judgment of this great and righteous Judg who resisteth the Proud and giveth Grace unto the Humble and to turn away the Floods of his Vengeance and to excite the Bowels of his fatherly Compassions and to impetrate from his Divine Bounty the continuance of his gracious Favours for the Prosperity and Repose both of Church and State doth exhort all the Faithful to bring forth Fruits worthy of Repentance and to cast off the unfruitful Works of Darkness and to return unto the Lord with broken humble and contrite Hearts And to this purpose it ordaineth That a Fart shall be celebrated in all the Churches of this Kingdom the first Day of January next following which shall be signified by the publick reading of this present Act. 3. Forasmuch as divers Provinces have craved Advice how we shall proceed against those Persons who occasion scandalous Reports prejudicial to the Peace of the Church and may hereafter propound Terms of Accommodation by mingling and blending of both Religions into one This Assembly recommendeth unto all the Churches the observation of that Canon which was made two and thirty Years ago in the National Synod of Montpellier whose Tenour followeth Syn. Montpel gen mat v. Forasmuch as 't is the Duty of all the Faithful heartily to desire the Reunion of all the Subjects of this Kingdom into the Vnity of Paith for the greater Glory of God for the Salvation of millions Souls and the singular Repose of the Common-wealth yet because of our Sins this being a Matter rather of our Desires than Hopes and that under this Pretext divers profane Persons do openly attempt to blend and mingle both Religions together All Ministers shall admonish seriously their Flocks not in the least to hearken unto any such Notions it being utterly impossible that the Temple of God should hold Communion with Idols as also for that such Wretches design only by this Trick to debauch easy credulous Souls from the Belief and Profession of the Gospel And whoever attempts such a Reconciliation be it either by Word or Writing shall be most severely censured CHAP. XXII An Act in favour of the Lutheran Brethren 4. THE Province of Burgundy demanding Whether the Faithful of the Augustane Confession might be permitted to contract Marriages in our Churches and to present Children in our Churches unto Baptism without a precedaneous abjuration of those Opinions held by them contrary to the Belief of our Churches This Synod declareth That inasmuch as the Churches of the Confession of Ausbourg do agree with the other Reformed Churches in the principal and fundamental Points of the True Religion and that there is neither Superstition nor Idolatry in their Worship the Faithful of the said Confession who with a Spirit of Love and Peaceableness do join themselves to the Communion of our Churches in this Kingdom may be without any abjuration at all made by them admitted unto the Lord's Table with us and as Sureties may present Children unto Baptism they promising the Consistory that they will never sollicit them either directly or indirectly to transgress the Doctrine believed and professed in our Churches but will be content to instruct and educate them in those Points and Articles which are in common between us and them and wherein both the Lutherans and we are unanimously agreed 5. If any Persons shall be hereafter deputed unto the Court by the National Synods during their sitting they shall be accountable for all Monies received by them for the defraying their Expenses whether those Sums do arise from their respective Churches or from his Majesty's Liberality that so whatever good Monies come in clearly unto the Churches being remitted into their common Stock may be disbursed to their common Profit and Advantage by Order of these Synods 6. Whereas contrary to his Majesty's Royal Word given unto the Deputies of the National Synod of Charenton in the Year 1623 That Strangers employed in the Service of the Churches of this Kingdom should be continued those Reverend and Learned Pastors Mr. Martinius and S. Sharpius are commanded to depart the Province of Dolphiny The Lord Commissioner is intreated immediately to issue out Letters Patents that may effectually hinder the execution of those new Orders and that all Foreigners received into the Ministry among us both before that time and since may not in any wise be molested or obstructed in performance of the Duties of their Charge and Calling 7. The Lord Commissioner declaring that it was his Maiesty's Intention that for the future our National Synods should beheld in this Place and nowhere else This Assembly in
you will protect you under the shadow of his Wings he will follow you in your goings out and comings in all and every one of you in general and particular with his chiefest and choicest Benedictions My Reverend Colleagues here present do concur with me in these Prayers and what my weakness could not their more excellent Gifts will contribute most effectually on this occasion to promote your Peace CHAP. XXI A Letter written by an Unknown Person to Mr. Martin upon his Apostacy from the Reformed Religion Friend IT is nois'd abroad and I hear it from all parts that thou hast been at Tours and renounced the true Religion and took up that of the Romanists for the Sum of Eight Hundred Livres whereof thou hast already received Four and that thou bearest the Arms and wearest the mark of the Beast and hast sworn thy self a Champion against all his Enemies What hast thou done Man What is the Party thou hast abandonned What Complaints canst thou form against them Of what Crimes wilt thou accuse them Is it true that thou hast left us Canst thou think on what thou hast done without terrour and horrour Thou hast quitted the Party of God thou hast forsaken his Inheritance thou art gone out of his way the way of Life The bare knowledge of this must cause the Sinner to turn Quaker for 't is his utter ruin his total destruction Adam had no sooner sinned but he was struck with horrour and confusion but thou declarest thy self as the shameless Whoremongers who boast impudently of their Sin and hold up their Heads audaciously when they come out of the Stews Saint Peter having denied his Master was confounded muffled his Face went out and wept bitterly but thou as I am informed and it toucheth me to the quick art more Joyous than ever the World can read an extraordinary Mirth and Gayety in thy Countenance Friend do not take any thing amiss that I shall tell thee for I can swear it that what I do it is if possible to regain and save thee Thou knowest it was a Judas who betrayed the Son of God his Lord and Master and he betrayed him for Thirty Pieces of Silver No sooner had he receiv'd the Mony but he betray'd his Master yet he confessed his Treason I have saith he betrayed Innocent Blood yea and he returns the Mony Take it saith he take this accursed Thing from me 't is the price of Blood of the Blood of the Son of God But it was too late for thou very well knowest that the Miserable Wretch tortur'd with the furies of his Conscience utterly despairing of Mercy went and Hang'd himself Now inasmuch as thou hast been Partner with him in his Treason though thou hast betrayed thy Master for a greater Sum than Judas did yet I beseech thee be not Partner with him in his Despair But go and return thy Mony and throw it at their Feet who have seduced thee Tell them I have sinned I have betrayed my Saviour I have left the way of Eternal Life but I do now from my very Soul utterly renounce these matters I abhor this my Sin O look you unto it and then come weeping and mourning for thy Sin and give glory unto God in his House in his holy Temple and resolve with David that thou wilt dwell in it for ever more For the God of Glory is a God of Mercy and he will upon thy sincere Repentance and humble ardent Prayers extend his Mercy to thee Age igitur poenitentiam prima opera fac I pray thee Dear Friend have compassion upon thy self pity thy precious Soul never be ashamed of Repentance sith thou wast never ashamed of Sin That Royal Prophet David is a fair Copy for thee to write after a most excellent example every way worthy thy imitation For having fallen shamefully he was not ashamed to confess it unto God nor to beg his Pardon and rich Grace restored him Tell God I have sinned acknowledge thine Offence own it to him with Compunction and Confusion with Remorse and Godly Sorrow and thou shalt be forgiven 'T is true indeed thy Crime is heinous thou hast left the Fountain of Living Waters to hew out unto thee Cisterns yea broken Cisterns that can hold no Waters Thou hast quitted God that thou maist follow Men thou hast quitted Life to embrace Death Thou hast falsified thy Promises and broken that Allegiance which thou hadst sworn in the most solemn manner unto God thou hast violated that Sacred Vow which thou hast made to the God and Father of Spirits Yet let not this fright thee into Despair for thou canst not but know unless thou hast forgoten it that where Sin abounds there the Grace of God doth much more abound for he superabounds in loving-kindnesses and multitudes of tender Mercies Consider then from whence thou art fallen be Zealous and Repent Thou hast not kept the word of Gods Patience and therefore he hath not kept but left thee in the Hour of Temptation which cometh upon the Inhabiters of this Earth to try them Thou hast forsaken the true Riches to take up with those that perish Thou knowest not thy own Poverty and Misery Time hath not as yet discovered it unto thee I counsel thee my dear Friend to buy of the Heir of all things Gold tryed in the Fire that thou may'st be rich Thou hast forsaken the glorious Son of Righteousness who thou knowest hath healing in his Wings Thus hast thou lost both Health Sight and Sense The Lord quicken thee When the Sun sets the Night draws on apace Darkness deprives us of Light The Decays of thy Health are Evidences of the groowth of thy Disease one follows ordinarily the other unless Death intervene I speak this as to temporal matters But as to spiritual he that is blind abideth so and he that hath lost his Health can never recover it without Sovereign Mercy unless the great Physician do open his Eyes do anoint them with his Heavenly Collyrium that he may see and do purge away his Sins that he may recover his former Health Consider then what thou once wast and from whence thou art fallen and O my dear Friend Repent Repent or else God will come unto thee in his Wrath and thy last Estate will be worse than thy first and my Affliction for thine everlasting Perdition greater O Friend rouze up thy drowsy Soul and from the bottom of thy Heart and from the depths of that Dungeon into which thou art fallen cry aloud unto him who hath the Keys of Death and Hell for Mercy cry aloud unto him for there is yet some hope Hope yet in God for he that is hopeless is helpless Thou needest Divine Wisdom ask it of God who giveth liberally and upbraideth none Call upon him and he will redeem thee he will restore thee and thou shalt refresh my Bowels Though Simoniacal Persons who believe the Gift of God may be had for Gold and Silver will perish
its authority And forasmuch as it is the Rule of all Truth containing all Matters necessarily required for the Worship of God and our Salvation it is in no wise lawful for Men nor Angels to add unto or to take from this Doctrine or to change it And hereupon it followeth That it is not lawful to oppose either Antiquity or Custom or Multitude or Humane Wisdom Judgments Edicts or any Decrees or Councils or Visions or Miracles unto this Holy Scripture but rather that all things ought to be examined and tried by the Rule and Square thereof Wherefore we do for this cause also allow of those three Creeds namely the Apostles the Nicene and Athanasius his Creed because they be agreeable to the Word of God ARTICLE VI. The Holy Scripture teacheth us That in that one and simple Divine Being there be three Persons subsisting the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost The Father to wit the first Cause in order and the Beginning of all things The Son his Wisdom and Everlasting Word The Holy Ghost his Vertue Power and Efficacy The Son begotten of the Father from everlasting the Holy Ghost from everlasting proceeding from the Father and the Son these three Persons are not confounded but distinct and yet not divided but of one and the same Essence Eternity Power and Equality And to conclude in this Mystery we allow of that which those four ancient Councils have determined and we detest all Sects and Heresies condemned by those holy ancient Doctors St. Athanasius St. Hilary St. Cyril and St. Ambrose ARTICLE VII We believe that God in Three Persons working together by his Power Wisdom and incomprehensible Goodness hath made all things not only Heaven and Earth and all things in them contained but also the invisible Spirits of which some fell head-long into Destruction and some continued in Obedience That the fallen Angels being corrupted by their Malice are become Enemies of all good and consequently of the whole Church That the holy Angels having persevered by the Grace of God are Ministers to glorifie his Name and serve his Elect in order to Salvation ARTICLE VIII We believe that God hath not only made all things but also ruleth and governeth them as he who according to his will disposeth and ordaineth whatsoever cometh to pass in the World Yet we deny that he is the Author of Sin or that the blame of things done amiss can be laid upon him seeing his Will is the soveraign and infallible Rule of all Righteousness and Equity but this we confess That he hath those admirable Means as whereby he maketh the Devils and the Ungodly as his Instruments to serve him and to turn the Evil which they do and whereof they are guilty into good So that when we acknowledge that nothing can be done without the Providence of God we do most humbly adore his Secrets which he hath hidden from us nor do we enquire into those which are above our reach and Capacity Nay rather we apply unto our own use that which the Holy Scripture teacheth us for our Peace and Comfort to wit that God to whom all things are subject doth watch over us with a Fatherly Care so that not so much as an Hair of our Head falleth to the ground without his Will and that he hath the Devils and all our Adversaries fast bound in Chains that they cannot without leave first given them do us any harm ARTICLE IX We believe that Man being created pure and upright and conformable to the Image of God through his own fault fell from that Grace which he had received and thereby did so estrange himself from God the Fountain of all Righteousness and of all good things that his Nature is become altogether defiled and being blind in his Understanding and corrupt in his Heart he hath utterly lost that Integrity and although he can somewhat discern between Good and Evil yet we do affirm That whatsoever Light he hath it straightway becometh Darkness when the Question is of seeking after God so that by his Understanding and Reason he can never come to God And although he be indued with Will whereby he is moved to do this or that yet forasmuch as that also is in bondage to Sin that he hath no freedom to desire that which is good but if he have any 't is the gracious Gift of God ARTICLE X. We believe that all the Off-spring of Adam are infected with the Contagion of Original Sin which is a Vice hereditary to us by Propagation and not only by Imitation as the Pelagians asserted whose Errors are detested by us Nor do we think it necessary to inquire how this Sin cometh to be derived from one unto another For it is sufficient that those things which God gave to Adam were not given to him alone but also to all his Posterity and therefore we in his Person being deprived of all those good Gifts are fallen into this Poverty and Malediction ARTICLE XI We believe that this stain of Original Sin is Sin indeed for it hath that mischievous Power in it as to condemn all Mankind even Infants that are unborn as yet in their Mothers Womb and God himself doth account it such yea and that even after Baptism as to the Filth thereof it is always Sin Howbeit they who are the Children of God shall never be condemned for it because that God of his rich Grace and soveraign Mercy doth not impute it to them Moreover we say that it is such a Depravedness as doth continually produce the Fruits of Malice and Rebellion against God so that even the choicest of God's Saints although they do resist it yet are they defiled with very many Infirmities and Offences so long as they live in this World ARTICLE XII We believe That out of this general Corruption and Condemnation in which all Men are plunged God doth deliver them whom he hath in his eternal and unchangeable Counsel chosen of his meer Goodness and Mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ without any consideration of their Works leaving the rest in their Sins and damnable Estate that he may show forth in them his Justice as in the elect he doth most illustriously declare the Riches of his Mercy For One is not better than another until such time as God doth make the difference according to his unchangeable purpose which he hath determin'd in Jesus Christ before the Creation of the World Nor can any one by his own power procure unto himself so great a Blessing because we cannot by Nature nor of our selves excite in our selves any one good Motion Thought or Affection until such time as God does prevent and incline us to it by his Grace ARTICLE XIII We believe That whatsoever is requisite to our Salvation is offer'd and communicated to us now in the Lord Jesus Christ who is made of God unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption so that whosoever leaveth Christ doth renounce all interest in and
in presence of these Witnesses whose names are hereunto subscribed this day of the Month of _____ and in the year of our Lord SECT XLVII When these poor Wretches had signed this Abjuration and hoped thereby to be at rest they were far enough from it for their Consciences flew in their Faces and many of them were driven unto despair Yet their Persecutors never ceased tormenting them they must own and attest it before the World that they embraced the Roman Religion freely voluntarily and of their own accord and that no Violence was offer'd them to move or induce them to turn from the Reformed Religion And if after this they scrupled to go to Mass to communicate after the Popish way to tell over their Chaplet of Beads or if a Sigh escaped from them indicating their Grief and Sorrow for their great Sin in forsaking the Truth immediately there were great Fines laid upon them and their old Guests the Dragoons are sent back again to beat up their quarters and they must entertain afresh those old Guests who had wearied them out of their Faith and Life I have by me a Letter from Mets giving an account of the state of the poor Protestants upon their Abjuration which may not be unacceptable to the Reader My Dear F. YOUR's of the Thirteenth of September is come to my hands by which I perceive you are well informed of all things relating to those Holy Missionaries our Dragoons You cannot for all that imagine what it is to fall into the hands of such Apostles Of all the Families of * * * * * * There were in that Church 10000 Communicants Mets there are left but two Persons which have not subscribed viz. Madamoiselle Goffin who is a Prisoner in the Nunnery of the Female Preachers and Madamoiselle Ferry Sister to Monsieur Le Bachelier the Counsellour who is also clapt up in the Nunnery of St. Clare These are the only two Persons who have refused Subscription yet do not persuade your self into that Opinion that because they have subscribed therefore they must needs be of the Roman Religion nay the very contrary is true for we were never more estranged from it I shall deal plainly with you we ought not to be blamed for our weakness in subscribing for had all the Ministers of France now exiled the Kingdom been resident in it and lain as we have at the cruel mercy of Dragoons I am certainly persuaded that not five in an hundred could have stood it out but must have subscribed as well as we Do not then believe that such as have subscribed have changed their Religion I can give you full evidence that they were never more zealous for the Reformed Religion than now I know we have too too much neglected your Advices but the most eminent among us were too secure even our Ministers themselves who because of the profound peace in which we lived had made Purchaces and richly furnished their houses with the best of Goods And if after all this we have had the Misfortune to expect that ill Hour and Lot of Subscription 't was because there was no means left of saving our selves and whereas we be condemned for our foolish confidence in those golden Promises That neither by word or deed we should be in the least hurt upon the score of Conscience I must reply it was because the Passages on the Frontiers being so strictly guarded we could not possibly escape for on this side of the Kingdom all were so narrowly watched that a poor Cat could not meet with an Hole by which to creep out You writ to me concerning Monsieur N. pray when you see him tell him that Madam N. his Sister-in-law lodgeth at my house with her Family and that already three of her Sons are departed the Kingdom She is one of the sweetest Gentlewomen that may be the Lord bless and assist her in all her designs She ran the same risk with the rest but is little concerned for it There be daily brought into the Prisons of this City Persons of Vitry Chalons and Sedan who are Condemned unto the Gallies or to perpetual Duress Finally on our side we have no means left us of escaping so that we must absolutely resign our selves to the will of our God 'till he open a Door for us Yet I beseech you do not believe that Worldly considerations as of goods and estates do detain us here No no could we but have had liberty of departure we had long e'r this gone away though only with our Shifts about us yea tho' we had left our Children behind us But it is not God's will that we should yet quit this place nay 't is his will that we be patient and that we hinder our Childrens falling into such hands as would educate them in Idolatry in a false Religion and in an aversion for our selves also I must add that we had no preservative from subscribing it was wholly impossible to avoid that Subscription against the Protestant Reformed Religion tho' as yet we are not obliged to go to Mass but expect once more the Dragoons with their Swords in their hands to drive us to it We know we have subscribed but we know also we have not changed our Religion and through Grace we shall never change it I may assure you that so great were our Oppressions that they might have oblig'd us to have been Turks as well as Papists and to have wore a Turban had it been as high again as the Triple Crown Our wisest Catholicks for these last six Months have told us That we should shortly be of one Religion but never be of one belief And they had reason for what they said For we were never more fixed in our Religion than now Sometimes for fashions sake we go unto their Sermons but return extreamly dissatisfied with those Discourses and more confirmed in our first Faith than before Poor Monsieur de Chevenix lies very ill the Curate of his Parish was with him to oblige him to Confession but he positively told him he would not confess himself to any but God who alone could forgive him his sins and not to any mortal creature who was as much a sinner as himself Afterwards he was visited by the Archbishop who would have obliged him to communicate before death which he also as stiffly refused The Archbishop acquainted him with the King's Orders concerning such who being sick refuse to communicate e'er they die He replied that he cared not a Rush for them and that he would never communicate after the Popish manner I know not what may happen hereafter but at present he is mending and I believe he will perfectly recover But the Ordinances of the King or rather of the Clergy are That the sick shall communicate before death and in case they do not their dead Carkasses shall be drawn upon the Hurdle and then thrown into the Common Jakes and all their Goods confiscated and if they
forth our most earnest Prayers to that Divine Goodness for this intent and purpose The rest you shall understand from our venerable Brother Angelo Archbishop of Genua In the mean time we greet you most kindly with our Apostolical Benediction Given at Rome the 13 th of November in the 10 th Year of our Pontificate SECT LVI Whil'st the Ministers are in exile their Eyes and Hearts are towards France There is many a Loadstone that draws their Affections thitherward They left behind them many dear Relations many Christian Friends under great Temptations and very sore Tryals And tho' they cannot visit them in person and converse with them mouth to mouth for their edification and mutual comfort yet they do it by Ink and Paper Many Pastoral Letters have been transmitted But if I am not mistaken this was either the first or one of the first which was written tho' a multitude of them have since followed An Epistle to our Brethren groaning under the Captivity of Babylon For whom we wish the Mercy and Peace of our God WE have heard with extream Grief most Dear Brethren in our Lord that great temptation to which you have been exposed and those grievous Calamities it hath pleased God you should undergo We have also understood but to our far greater Grief the sad news of your Weakness in yielding to the Temptation We beseech you seriously to reflect upon your selves and to consider what you have to answer unto him who hath commanded that you should confess him before Men if you would obtain that honour of his Confessing and owning you before God and Angels How will you be able to stand before his Judgment Seat who hath injoined you to forsake Goods Possessions Wives Parents and Children for his Names sake promising you an hundred fold recompence Can you tell him that you have resisted unto Blood striving against Sin Pray what are your Sufferings if compared with those of our Saviour Christ Jesus Did he start back when he saw Death stare him in the Face when he was to be Scourged with Rods to be Crown'd with Thorns to be affronted with Spittle to be pierc'd with Nails and to be hang'd upon the Cross What think you at your reading those words Blessed are those who are persecuted for Righteousness sake You have no share in that Blessedness For to avoid Persecution you have renounced that Righteousness What answer will you make those holy Apostles who with Tears Preached the Gospel of the Cross unto the World and who all Suffered Martyrdom by the hands of Hangmen and who prepared all their Disciples for Persecution by telling them Whosoever will embrace the truth and live godly in Christ Jesus must cast up his accounts of suffering Persecution What answer will you make our Reformers who spared neither Watches nor Sweats nor Blood to draw us out of Idolatry and Superstition What will you say unto those blessed Martyrs whose Children you are and who for this very Cause abandon'd by you endur'd Fires Prisons Racks and the most cruel Torments They were for divers years together buried alive in deep Dungeons full of Ordures Toads and Serpents and drawn thence they were driven into the Fire their Hands and Feet burnt and being half dead they were yet pluckt out of those Flames but it was to increase their Tortures Whilst they were alive they saw their Bellies burning and their own Bowels gushing out In the midst of those Torments instead of renouncing the Truth of God they blessed his holy Name and sang his Praises What will you say unto those great Workmen who with such great travel have erected this glorious Fabrick of Reformation and which in a moments time you have suffered totally to be ruin'd How can you indure the Reproaches of your glorified Ancestors whose goods were plunder'd who were outragiously persecuted and who notwithstanding have handed down unto you their Children the purity and verity of the Gospel For God's sake Dear Brethren Consider sadly your offence with all its aggravations and cry out in the bitterness of the Spirit Men and Brethren what shall we do Undoubtedly your Consciences under this hard Bondage crave our advice and we freely give it you And first of all Beware of that great danger in which your are you have denied God with your Mouth do not forsalte him with your Heart For it oft-times so happens that God delivers them up to a Reprobate sense who had perfidiously betray'd their own Consciences And they are such as once seemed to love the Truth but afterwards proceeded to hate it yea and at last to persecute it Two things may produce this Cursed effect The first is Despair For the Mercy of God being despaired of by any Person he doth incontinently hate the truth yea and at last abhors it Do not precipitate yourselves into this Condition Seriously consider your Sin but never despair of the pardoning grace of God Your Sin indeed is great But the Mercy of our Saviour is Infinite The Lord preserveth his Elect every where Yea sometimes there be such as belong to Zion even in Babylon provided they do their endeavour to come out of it and not to participate in her Sins and Idolatries lest they participate in her Plagues Bestir your selves then to get out of this Sodom where your Salvation is in so great Jeopardy and till you can do it have nothing to do with her Idolatries How these may be avoided we shall anon direct you A second thing which will render your condition irrecoverable is a customary contempt of the Truth At first it may seem difficult to you to be present at a worship so contrary unto yours To see brutish and Superstitious Wretches prostrate themselves before Images will create trouble to you You will scarce brook that barbarous Language in which you shall hear Litanies sung to the honour of Creatures and the great dishonour of your Creator You will yet suffer more when you must be prefent at that which they call the Sacrifice of the Mass and where they will force you to give religious adoration to a piece of Bread However it s to be feared that by degrees you may be inured unto all this though at present you may say For my part I believe nothing of all this and that 's enough Yet in process of time you may come to find this not very evil and may count gross Idolatries but harmless Superstitions which do neither good nor evil This way will infallibly lead you to a despising and hatred of the Truth and thence infallibly to Hell And this is that Sin against the Holy Ghost which is not pardoned in this nor shall be in the World to come Our advice upon the whole is this Maintain in your Souls as it well deserves a due horrour of Popery The methods used by them to bring you back again unto it do abundantly contribute hereunto It must needs be the Devils own Religion that serves it self of such kind
which he hath prepared that we should use and walk in CANON IX This self-same Election was not done out of fore-seen Faith and Obedience of Faith Holyness or any other good Quality and Disposition as a Cause or Condition prae-required in Man that is to be Elected but that God might give him Faith and Obedience of Faith and true Holyness And therefore Election is the Spring and Fountain of all saving Good from which flow out Faith Holyness and all other saving Gifts yea Everlasting Life it self as the Fruits and Effects thereof according to that saying of the Apostle Ephes 1.4 He hath chosen us not because we were but that we might be Holy and Unblameable before him in Love CANON X. Now the Cause of this free Election is the only good pleasure of God which doth not stand in this that he hath chosen as a Condition of Salvation some certain Humane Qualities or Actions which are possible to be done but in this that he hath took unto himself some certain select Persons from among the vast Multitude and Community of Sinners to be his peculiar Inheritance Even as it is written Rom. 9.11 12 13. Before the Children were born and before they had done good or evil c. It was said unto her viz. Rebecca the Elder shall serve the younger as it is written Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated And Acts 13.48 And all those who were ordained unto Eternal Life they believed CANON XI And forasmuch as God is most wise unchangeable knowing all things and Almighty therefore his Decree of Election can never be broken off nor changed nor revoked nor disanulled nor can the Elect be reprobated nor their number impaired and diminished CANON XII The Elect are in due time assured of their Everlasting and Unchangeable Election unto Salvation though it be done gradually and in a very unequal measure Nor do they get it by a curious diving into the Depths and Secrets of God but upon an exact scrutiny into their own hearts they meet with Spiritual Joys and Holy Heavenly Rejoycings and with those infallible Fruits of their Election noted and recorded in the Word of God such as Faith unfeigned in the Lord Jesus a Filial Fear of God Godly Sorrow for Sin and hungring and thirsting after Righteousness CANON XIII From this assurance and inward Sence and feeling of their Election Children of God do dayly take occasion for greater Abasement and deeper Humiliation of themselves before God and to adore the unfathomable depths of his Mercy and purge themselves from all filthiness both of Flesh and Spirit and also to love God most ardently and transcendently who hath first loved them with such a potent and unparallel'd Affection So far are they by this Doctrine from growing slothful careless carnally secure or negligent of Duty and of keeping the Commandments of God that they ordinarily through the just judgment of God are guilty of these sins who rashly and unwarrantably presuming of their Election do riot it at Noon day and turn the Grace of God into lasciviousness and refuse to walk in the good ways of Gods Elect. CANON XIV And as this Doctrine of Divine Election according to the Infinite wise Council of God was preached by the Prophets of old by our Lord Jesus Christ and by his Apostles under both Testaments and after recorded in the Holy Scriptures So also ought it now in our days to be taught publickly in the Church of God for whom it is principally designed but with a Spirit of Discretion Religiously and Piously in time and place relinquishing all curious Inquiries into the wayes of the most High and all to the Glory of Gods Holy Name the Peace and Comfort the Everlasting Life and Happyness of his People CANON XV. Moreover the Sacred Scriptures do render this Everlasting Free Grace of God in our Election the more illustrious and recommend it to us by testifying that all Men are not Elected but that some in the Eternal Election of God are passed by to witt those whom God in his good pleasure which is alwayes most Free most Righteous Unblameable and Unchangeable Decreed to leave in that gulph of common Misery whereinto by their own sin they had flung themselves headlong and not to give them saving Faith nor the Grace of Conversion but having abandon'd them to their own ways and lusts he doth finally in his Righteous Judgment condemne and punish them Everlastingly not only for their unbelief but also for all their other sins for the manifestation of his Justice This is the Decree of Reprobation which doth not in any wise make God the Author of Sin the very thought whereof is horrid Blasphemy but on the contrary doth demonstrate him to be a most dreadful irreprehensible and Righteous Judge and Revenger of all Sin CANON XVI Such who do not as yet effectually feel in their own Souls a lively Faith in Christ Jesus or a particular confidence of Heart in God Peace of Conscience a diligent care and endeavour to yield Filial Obedience and to glorifie God through Jesus Christ and do yet nevertheless use the means by which God hath promised to work those Graces in us they should not be discouraged when as they here speak or Reprobation nor should they reckon themselves in the number of Reprobates but they ought carefully to continue in the use of means and ardently to petition for that happy hour when this Grace of God shall be abundantly poured down upon them and to wait for it in all Reverence and Humility much less should they be affrighted at the Doctrine of Reprobation who when as they desire to be sincere Converts and would please God intirely and be delivered from this Body of Death sin dwelling in them yet cannot make so great a progress in Piety and Faith as they would Because God who is full of Mercy hath promised that he will not quench the smoaking flax nor break the bruised reed But this Doctrine is indeed terrible unto them who forgetting God and Jesus Christ our Saviour are totally imbondaged unto the heart-piercing cares of this present World and the Concupiscencies of their fiesh during the whole time of their unregeneracy CANON XVII Wherefore since 't is our Duty to judge of Gods Will by his Word which testifieth for the Children of Believers that they be Holy not indeed by Nature but through the singular benefit of the Covenant of Grace in which they be included with their Parents Fathers and Mothers fearing God should not doubt of their Childrens Election and Salvation whom God takes unto himself in their Infancy CANON XVIII In case any Person murmur against the free Grace of God in Election and the Severity of Gods Justice in Reprobation we should oppose them with that of the Apostle Rom. 9.20 O! Man who art thou that contendest with God And with those words of our Saviour Matth. 20.15 Is it not lawful for me to do with my own as I please
not from the unchangeable Election unto Glory any other Benefit or Experience or Assurance than vvhat may flovv from a mutable and contingent Condition But besides that this is a most gross absurdity to suppose a Certainty vvhich is uncertain it is also repugnant to the common Sence and Experience of the faithful who together with the Holy Apostle rejoyce in the Sence and Feeling of their Election praising God for this Divine Benefit according to the Counsel of our Lord Jesus for that their Names be vvritten in the Book of Life Luke 10.20 vvhich is in Heaven In short they oppose the Sence of their Election to the fiery darts and temptations of the Devil challenging him thus Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect Rom. 8.32 CANON VIII Those vvho teach that God out of his Just and Soveraign vvill only hath not decreed to leave any one in fallen Adam and in that common Estate of Sin and Condemnation and to pass them by in the Communication of Grace necessary to vvork Faith and Conversion For this is firm and immutable Rom. 9.18 He vvill have Mercy on vvhom he vvill and vvhom he vvill he hardneth Item Matth. 13.11 To you it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven but unto them it is not given Item Matth. 11.25 26. I give thanks unto thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth for this that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes and little Children It is even so O Father for such is thy good pleasure CANON IX Those that teach that the cause wherefore God sendeth the Gospel rather to one Nation than to another is not the Sole and Soveraign good will and pleasure of God but because one Nation is better and more worthy than another to whom the Gospel is not communicated For Moses doth in plain words contradict it speaking thus unto the Children of Israel Deut. 10.14 15. Behold the Heavens and the Heaven of Heavens belong unto Jehovah thy God the Earth also and all that is in it but Jehovah delighted in thy Fathers only to love them and hath chosen their posterity after them to wit you from among all People as is evident this day And Jesus Christ Matth. 22.28 Woe unto thee Chorazin woe unto thee Bethsaida for if these Miracles had been done in Tyre and Sydon which have been done in the midst of you they would have repented in Sackcloth and Ashes CHAP. II. Of the Death of Jesus Christ and Mans Redemption by it CANON I. GOD is not only Soveraignly Merciful but also Soveraignly just And his Justice requireth as it is revealed to us in his Word that our Sins committed against his Infinite Majesty be not only punished with Temporal but also with Eternal Punishments in Soul and Body Nor can we avoid those dreadful punishments unless the Justice of God be fully satisfied CANON II. Now we being utterly unable of our selves to satisfie Divine Justice and to deliver our selves from the Wrath of God God out of his boundless Mercy hath given us his Onely Son to be a Surety for us who was made Sin and a Curse upon the Cross for us and in our stead that he might make satisfaction for us CANON III. This Death of the Son of God is the One Onely and most perfect Sacrifice and Satisfaction for our Sins whose worth and value is Infinite and which is abundantly sufficient to expiate the Sins of the whole World CANON IV. And this Death is of so great a Value and Dignity because the Person who suffered it is not only a True Man and perfectly Holy but is also the Onely Son of God of the self-same Eternal Essence with the Father and the Spirit For such a one must our Saviour needs be because he felt in his Death the Sence of Gods VVrath and Curse which we had deserved by our Sins CANON V. Moreover the Gospel-promise is that whosoever believeth in Jesus Christ crucified shall not perish but have Everlasting Life Which promise ought to be preached and tendered indifferently unto all Nations and Persons to whom God in his good pleasure shall send the Gospel and together with it the great Command of Faith and Repentance CANON VI. And whereas many who are called by the Gospel do not repent nor believe in Christ Jesus but perish in their Infidelity this cometh not from any defect or insufficiency in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ offered upon the Cross but the fault is in and from themselves CANON VII But all that truely Believe and are delivered and saved from their Sins and Everlasting destruction through Jesus Christ this singular benefit is derived to them from the mere Grace of God only which he oweth no Man and it was given them from all Eternity in Jesus Christ CANON VIII For such was the most free Counsel and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father that the quickning Power of God and the saving efficacious Vertue of his Sons most pretious Death should extend it self unto all the Elect to give them and them onely Justifying Faith and thereby infallibly to bring them unto Salvation That is to say God would that Jesus Christ by the Blood of his Cross wherewith he confirmed the Nevv Covenant should efficaciously redeem all those and none other out of every Nation Kingdom People and Language vvho from all Eternity vvere chosen unto Salvation and vvere given him by the Father that he should give them Faith vvhich as all other Gifts of the Holy Ghost he hath acquired for them by his Death and purge them by his Blood from all Sin both Original and Actual committed before and after Faith that he should keep them faithfully unto the end and finally present them before the Father glorious vvithout any spot or blemish CANON IX This Council proceeding from the Everlasting Love of God towards his Elect hath been powerfully accomplished from the beginning of the World unto this very day The Gates of Hell having in vain opposed it and it shall be also alwayes in succeeding Ages accomplished yea in such manner that the Elect shall be in their appointed time gathered into one and there shall be alwayes upon Earth in one place or other a Church of Believers founded in the Blood of Jesus Christ which will bear a constant Love unto its Saviour who as the Bridegroom for his Dearly Beloved Bride hath yielded up the Ghost upon his Cross which also shall persevere in his Service and shall praise and glorifie him now in time and to all Eternity Errors Rejected The Orthodox Doctrine having been Explained the Synod Rejecteth their Errors CANON I. WHO teach that God the Father destinated his Son unto the cursed Death of the Cross without any certain or determined Counsel to save any one particular Sinner so that the Necessity Utility and Dignity of the Impetration of Christ Jesus his Death might have been wholly saved and
continued in its perfect being in all its parts complete and intire although the Redemption impetrated should never have been actually applyed either to or by any one particular Person But this Doctrine is injurious to the Wisdom of God the Father and to the merit of Jesus Christ and is contrary to the very Letter and express terms of the Scripture for doe but hear what our Lord speaketh John 10.15 17. I lay down my Life for my Sheep and I know them And the Prophet Esay saith of our Saviour Cap. 53.10 When as he shall have made his Soul an Offering for Sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his days and the good pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand In short this Doctrine subverts that Article of our Creed I believe the Holy Catholick Church CANON II. Who teach that the design of Christ Jesus in his Death was not effectually to ratifie the New Covenant of Grace by his Blood but only to acquire for his Father a right of contracting anew with Men another Covenant whether of Grace or Works it was not material But this is repugnant unto Scripture which teacheth Heb. 7.22 That Jesus Christ was a Surety and Mediator of a better that is to say of the New Covenant and Heb. 9.15 17. That a Testament is not in force till the Death of the Testator CANON III. Who teach that Jesus Christ by his satisfaction hath not merited for any one assuredly Salvation it self or that Faith whereby his satisfaction may be applyed effectually to Salvation But that he hath only acquired unto the Father the Power or plenary Will of treating anew with Men and prescribing to them new Conditions such as please him and whose accomplishment dependeth on the free Will of Man And so it might have fallen out that either no Man or all Men might have accomplisht them For these have too mean and abject thoughts of the Death of Christ Jesus not owning nor acknowledging the principal fruit or benefit acquired by it This Doctrine would redeem from Hell that Ancient and condemned Heresie of the Pelagians CANON IV. Who teach that this New Covenant of Grace which God the Father hath contracted with Men through the interposal of Christs Death doth not consist in this that we are justified before God and saved by Faith as it lays hold of Christs Death but in this that whereas the Law required perfect Obedience it is now abolished and God reckons Faith it self and the imperfect Obedience of Faith for a perfect and complete Obedience unto the Law and out of his mere and pure Grace doth esteem it worthy to be recompensed with Eternal Life For these Fellovvs contradict in express terms the Sacred Scripture Rom. 3.23 24. Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption which is in Jesus Christ vvhom God hath ordained before all time to be a Propitiation by Faith in his Blood And thus introduce vvith profane Socinus a Novel and unheard of Justification before God against the Unanimous and common Consent of the vvhole Church CANON V. Who teach that all Men are received into a State of Reconciliation and to the Grace of the Covenant so that none is obnoxious unto Condemnation nor shall be condemned for Original Sin but that they be exempted from all the guilt vvhich is in that Sin For this Opinion crosseth the Scripture vvhich affirmeth Ephes 2.3 That vve are by Nature Children of Wrath. CANON VI. Who serve themselves of that distinction of the Impetration and Application that they may instil into the minds of simple and ignorant Souls this Opinion That God would equally impart unto all Men the benefits purchased by the Death of Jesus Christ and whereas some are made Partakers sooner than others of the Remission of Sins and of Eternal Life that this difference came from and depends chiefly on their free Will applying unto themselves that Grace which is indifferently offered unto all But this hath no dependency at all upon the gift of special Mercy working efficaciously within them that they may apply it rather than others unto themselves For making semblance as if they propounded this Doctrine in a good Sence they indeavour slily to insinuate into Souls the most pernicious Poyson of Pelagianisme CANON VII Who teach that Jesus Christ needed not to have died nor indeed did he die for them who were the Objects of Gods Sovereign Love and Elected unto Everlasting Life as if these needed not the Death of our Lord Jesus Christ which is a notorious contradiction unto the Apostle Gal. 2.20 Christ hath loved me and given himself to the Death for me Rom. 8.32 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect God is he that justifieth who will condemne Christ is he that hath dyed for us They also contradict our very Saviour himself John 10.15 I lay down my Life for my Sheep and chap. 15.12 13. This is my Commandment that ye love one another even as I have loved you There is no greater love than this that one should lay down his Life for his Friends CHAP. III. Of the Corruption of Man his Conversion unto God and the manner how CANON I. MAN at first was created after Gods Image and adorned in his Understanding with the true and saving Knowledge of his Creator and of Spiritual things with Righteousness in his Will and Purity in his Heart and in all his Affections yea he was truly and throughly Holy but being turned away from God by the Instigation of the Devil and his own free Will he hath deprived himself of those Excellent Gifts and contrary wise instead of them he hath brought upon himself Blindness horrible Darkness Vanity and perverseness of Judgment in his Understanding Malice Rebellion and hardness in his Will and Heart and so in like manner impurity in all his Affections CANON II. And such as he is since the Fall such Children are there begotten of him he is the corrupted Father Of corrupted Children the Corruption through the Just Judgment of God being derived from Adam down upon all his Posterity Jesus Christ only excepted and this not only by imitation as the Pelagians of old asserted but by propagation of his Corrupted Nature CANON III. Therefore all Men are conceived in Sin and are born Children of Wrath utterly unable to perform any saving Duty enclined unto Evil dead in Sin and in Bondage to it and without the Regenerating Grace of Gods Spirit they neither will nor can return unto God nor reform their depraved Nature nor so much as dispose themselves to a Reformation of it CANON IV. 'T is true that since the Fall there remain in Man some Relicks of Natural Light by means whereof he yet retaineth some Knowledge of God and of Natural things he can discern between what is honest and dishonest and expresseth some kind of Care and Study for Vertue and Exteriour Discipline But he is so far from being able by this Light of Nature
since the fall that by his good usage of them he may by degrees obtain a far greater Grace to witt Evangelical and Saving Grace yea and Salvation it self and so by this means God is ready on his part to discover himself and to reveal Jesus Christ unto all because he doth sufficiently and efficaciously administer unto all those necessary means whereby they may attain the Knowledge of Jesus Christ and of Faith and Repentance But that this is notoriously false besides the Experience of all Ages it is evident also from Scripture Testimony Psal 147.19 20. He declared his words unto Jacob his Statutes and his Judgments unto Israel he hath not dealt so with every Nation and as for his Judgments they have not known them Acts. 14.16 And in times past God suffered all Nations to walk in their own wayes Acts 16.6 7. And they were forbidden viz. Paul and his Company by the Holy Ghost to declare or preach his Word i. e. the Gospel in Asia and when they were come into Mysia they essayed to go into Bithynia but the Spirit of our Lord Jesus suffered them not CANON VI. Who teach that when God doth truely and savingly convert Man it cannot be that he should put into his Will new Qualities Habits or Gifts and that therefore Faith by which we be first of all Converted and from which we be called Believers is not a quality or gift infused into us by God but an Action of Man only and that it cannot be called a gift unless it be upon this Account that Man can of himself attain it For these are palpable Contradictions to the Divinely inspired Scriptures which do in plain terms declare That God sheddeth abroad into our Hearts the new Qualities of Faith Obedience and the sence and feeling of his Love Jer. 31.3 I will put my Law in them and I will write it in their hearts Esaiah 44.3 I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed Rom. 5. ver 5. And the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost who is given to us And these Opinions be repugnant to the Prayers and Practice of Gods Church in all Ages who have ever cryed with Jeremy 31.18 Convert me O God and I shall be converted CANON VII Who teach that Converting Grace is no other than a sweet perswasion or as some others of them explain it that the most noble manner of working in Mans Conversion and most suitable to his Humane Nature is that which is done by swasion and that nothing can hinder but that the Grace which they call Moral that is to say Arguments simply perswasive may change the Natural Man into Spiritual yea that God doth not any way else induce the Will to consent but by this way and manner of perswasions and herein consisteth the efficaciousness of Gods operation by which he doth so much surmount the operation of Satan Sathan only promising temporal good things but God such as be Eternal For this is rank Pelagianisme and crosseth the whole tenour of Sacred Scriptures which besides this way of operation by Moral Swasion in the Conversion of Man doth yet acknowledge another to wit that of Gods Holy Spirit which is far more Divine and efficacious as in Ezek. 36.26 I will give unto them a new heart and a new spirit will I put within them and I will take away the heart of stone and give unto them an heart of Flesh CANON VIII Who teach that God doth not exert in the Conversion of Man all the Majesty of his Omnipotency so as thereby most powerfully and infallibly to bow his stubborn and rebellious Will to believe and convert but notwithstanding Gods exertion of all those operations of Grace which are used by him in Mans Conversion yet Man may resist God and the Holy Ghost even then when as God purposed and had resolved to convert him yea and that in very deed Man doth oftentimes resist God in such a manner as doth totally and intirely hinder his Regeneration yea that it is still in his own power whether he will be regenerated or not For this is nothing else but to rob God of the efficaciousness of his Grace in our Conversion and to subject the Action of God Almighty to the will of the weak Man which is contrary to the Apostolical Doctrine Ephes 1.19 learning us That we believe according to the efficacy of his Mighty Povver And 2 Thessalon 1.11 And God fulfilleth and accomplisheth in us all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of Faith with power 2 Pet. 1.3 And by his Divine power are given unto us all things appertaining to Life and Godlyness CANON IX Who teach that Grace and Free Will are Con-Causes and act though each his part yet jointly together in the first point of Conversion and that Grace as a Cause doth not in order precede the efficiency or motion of the Will that is in plain English God doth not efficaciously help the Will of Man to convert it self before the Will of it self doth first move and determine it self But Gods Ancient Church hath many Ages since anathematized this Doctrine of Pelagius by the words of the Apostle Rom. 9.16 'T is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth Mercy 1 Cor. 4.7 And who is it that maketh thee to differ from another And vvhat hast thou vvhich thou hast not received And Philip. 2.13 'T is God vvho vvorketh in us vvith Efficacy both to vvill and to do according to his ovvn good pleasure CHAP. IV. Concerning the Perseverance of SAINTS CANON I. THOSE whom God calleth according to his determinate purpose unto the Fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord and regenerateth by his Holy Spirit he delivers them from the Dominion and Slavery of Sin but not wholly from their Flesh and Body of Sin in this Life CANON II. Hence it is that we dayly see so many sins of Infirmity and that the best Works of Saints are not without their Spots which is a continual ground for their deep humiliation before God and of recourse unto a crucified Jesus and dayly more and more to mortifie the Flesh by the Spirit of Prayer and the Sacred exercises of Piety and to breath after perfection till that being rid of this Body of Sin they may for ever Reign in Heaven with the Lamb of God CANON III. By reason of the Remainders of Sin indwelling in them and of the Worlds and Satans Temptations those who be converted could not persist in this Grace if they were left unto their own Strength But God is faithful who through the Riches of his Mercy doth confirm them in that Grace which he hath once given them and will keep them by his power unto the end CANON IV. Now although this power of God strengthning and preserving true Believers in their Estate of Grace be so very great that it can never be surmounted by the Flesh yet so is it that
Face and called him to the Knowledg of thy self the only True God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent and animated him with a Spiritual Courage to make a publick Confession this Day of thy Holy Faith and that Hope which thou hast begotten in his Soul and granted him this Grace to offer himself in thy Presence unto this Holy Sacrament of Baptism the Seal of thy Covenant the Pledg of the Remission of our Sins and the Token of our Admission into thy House by a Supernatural New Birth So most blessed God we beseech thee to dart in upon him more and more the Beams of thy Mercy to forgive him all his Sins to purge his Conscience with the precious Blood of the Lamb without Spot who taketh away the Sins of the World O cause him Lord to feel the Almighty Vertue of his Propitiation Let thy Holy Spirit sanctifie him and make him a new Creature that he dying unto Sin may live unto Righteousness and putting off the Old Man with his Works he may put on the New Man who is renewed in Righteousness and true Holiness And as we are now pouring upon his Head the Waters of thy Sacrament so we beseech thee more especially to pour down upon him the Gifts and Graces of thy Holy Spirit Receive him into the Number of thy Domesticks and honour him with the Adoption of thy Children Give him Grace that during his whole Life he may devote himself entirely unto thy Service and yield that Obedience and Religious Worship to thee which is thy Due and his Duty And let him persevere faithfully in thy Holy Covenant for ever-more that as we do now receive him in thy Name into the Communion of thy Church Militant so thou mayest another Day exalt him into the Bosom of thy Church Triumphant and gather him at his Death unto that general Assembly of the First-born whose Names are written in Heaven Hear us O merciful Father that this Baptism which we do now administer to him according to thy Sacred Ordinance may produce its Fruit and Vertue in him as thou hast declared in thy Holy Gospel to us for the sake of thy dear Son in whom thou art well-pleased even our Lord Jesus Christ who hath commanded us to call upon thee saying Our Father which art in Heaven c. Then the Minister addressing himself to the Sureties who present the Catechumen shall say My Brethren As you have charitably employed your selves in the Instruction and Edification of this our Brother and are Witnesses of tha Baptism which he shall now receive through our Ministry so do you not promise before God and this Sacred Assembly to continue more and more to strengthen and confirm him in the Faith and to stir him up unto all good Works Answ Yes This done the Minister speaking unto the Catechumen who upon his Knees waiteth for Baptism shall say Forasmuch as we have received these Evidences of your Faith pouring Water upon him N. I Baptize thee in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen The Conclusion of the Form of Baptizing Strangers from the Covenant of God whether Pagans Jews Mahometans Anabaptists or any other Infidels who had not been before baptized 11. If in Churches served by divers Pastors any one of them be disabled either through Age or some other Infirmity from administring the Cup yet shall he always distribute the Bread in the Lord's Supper unto the Communicants and this Canon shall be observed in all the Provinces without exception 12. Whereas in many of the greater Churches of this Kingdom it hath been found requisite for their more general edifying to handle the Sunday's Catechisms by way of Common-Places in Divinity and not by familiar Questions and Answers And to promote their Instruction who are well grown in years they have substituted extraordinary Catechisings on certain Days immediately preceding the Lords Supper we approving their Practice do notwithstanding exhort the rest of the Churches to conform themselves unto the Order prescribed by the Discipline as much as possibly they can And in case they cannot every Lords Day Catechise their Children yet shall they chuse out some days of the Week peculiarly for this Exercise especially before the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is to be administred and the Provincial Synods are ordred to see this punctually observed in every Church of their Jurisdiction and to give an Account thereof unto the next National Synod 13. To explain that Canon of our Discipline which bindeth Pastors in their ordinary Course of Preaching to expound some one particular Book of Holy Scripture from the beginning to the end thereof this Assembly declareth that the Intention of the National Synod which decreed that Canon was not thereby to debar or hinder any Pastors from edifying their Churches by expounding of any Books or Texts of Scripture particularly chosen on extraordinary occasions as of the Lords Supper c. nor to impose upon them any necessity of prosecuting the Exposition of the same Book which was the Subject of their Lord's Day Sermon upon the Week Days in which the far greatest Part of the People are taken up with the Occupations of their Secular Callings and Families that they cannot attend upon such Sermons and so would be deprived of their chiefest Edification but in this respect to leave all Pastors to their Liberty 14. Henceforward the Moderators in Synodical Assemblies and the Deputies which shall be sent from the Provinces in their Name to assist in National Synods shall be chosen as the Canons of our Discipline have determined not by the Churches but by Plurality of Suffrages of the Provinces And in case any absent Person should be elected yet this shall not abridge the Pastors of their Liberty in Voting 15. For the better Understanding the Third Canon of the Ninth Chapter of the Discipline This Assembly declareth that the Memoirs wherewith every Province intrusteth their respective Deputies ought to be resolv'd in their Provincial Synods by plurality of Votes and signed in the said Assemblies by the Moderators and in case this be omitted there shall be no more regard had unto them than unto Motions made by Private Persons who had no Order nor Commission and propounded such matters of their own Head 16. Upon the Eighth Canon of the Ninth Chapter of the Discipline it was decreed that the Moderator of the Synod having propounded the Matters of Discipline which are to be debated shall defer the giving of his Suffrage till all the Deputies have given theirs and he having gathered their Votes shall then at last have the Casting Voice CHAP. X. Observations made on Reading the National Synod of Alenson held in the Year 1637. 1. IN compliance with that Petition of the Deputies of Vivaretz and of the Church of St. Stephen in Forest which had agreed in a particular Treaty made with the Church of Bonlieu and by Consent of the Province of Burgundy that the said Church
they and their Monies together yet this great Redeemer who bought his Inheritance neither with Silver nor Gold nor precious Stones but with his own most precious Blood hath no mind to lose thee he would not have thee to perish with thy Mony Thou knowest he hath not grudged thee any thing he denieth thee nothing he hath given his dearest Heart Blood for thee This is an Hour of Grace a Season of Mercy an opportunity wherein God may be found The Cock Crows run out of the High Priest's Hall flee out of Babylon and weep bitterly Tarry not a Moment longer in it Cry out mightily unto God I have sinned Lord I have sinned against Heaven and before thee Say unto thy Soul O my Soul 't is the Lord who hath redeemed thee 't is the Lord who hath redeemed thee and he will pluck thy Feet out of the Snare he will draw thee out of the horrible Pit out of the Miry Clay even he will redeem thee from thine Iniquity Thou knowest that it is natural for Man to sin and that he hath shut up all under unbelief under the guilt of their Rebellions that he might have Mercy upon all Thou art included in the number of this All thou art not excepted Call then upon God humbly and penitently fervently and fiducially and thou may'st yet obtain a Pardon Do not harden thy self in thy sin Remember the Words of David Abyssus abyssum vocat the abyss of thine Obdurateness will plunge thee into the bottomless abyss of Destruction Pray then unto God with thine whole heart that he would pour the Oyl of his Grace upon thy smoaking weik Cry unto him earnestly and importunately and tell him Lord I will give thee no rest Night nor Day 'till thou hast pardoned my great Iniquity Thou knowest that the Kingdom of Heaven is taken by Violence and that the Violent do take it by force Force thy Soul then to cry out unto God for Mercy Cry daily cry continually cry without intermission without interruption and God will be merciful But my Friend do not address thy Orisons and Devotions to He or She Saints that 's bootless that 's unprofitable The Scriptures of truth tell us those Divinely inspired Writings assure us yea and the Ancients also that the Dead know not the things which are done here below but God only who as thou well knowest doth pardon Sins for his own Names Sake Are thy Sins as red as Scarlet know it if thou dost not yet know it that if thou call upon him he will wash thee and cleanse thee and thou shalt be as white as Wooll But and if thou neglect this duty this thy bounden duty thy Sins shall remain in thee thy Guilt and Filth shall abide upon thee For he hath spoken it That he who is Filthy shall be Filthy still and because thou wouldst not be purged thine Iniquities shall never be purged O then do not live in thy Sin one moment longer sith God is well pleased with Repenting Sinners Say as David Lord I have gone astray like a lost Sheep O seek thy Servant and bring me back again unto thy Fold with the Fourscore and Nineteen Just Persons My Friend O my dear Friend I beseech thee come out of thy Spiritual Sodom Do not look behind thee lest thou shoul'st die there Be grieved as David that thou hast sojourned in Mesech and dwelt so long in the Tents of Kedar Thou knowest that without Christ thou canst do nothing Never object unto me that 't is in vain for thee now to return having made Shipwrack of thy Faith thou canst be no longer a Minister 'T is true thou hast none other Calling whereby to subsist to provide a Livelyhood for thy self and Family and among the Papists whose Party thou hast espoused thou maist possibly meet with Employment because they have promised thee and it may be as to this World an Employment much more advantagious and Beneficial But mayst not thou be cheated I am very much mistaken if thou hast not had already an Earnest of their Fraudulent dealing with thee Many Persons who like thee have left the Truth to be of their Religion being inticed with a multitude of Golden Promises can assure thee from their sorrowful experience how much they have been gull'd and choused by them But my dear Friend over-look these matters and lay by all human Considerations and say in this case as the Father of Believers Jehovah Jireh the Lord will provide Besides who ever saw the righteous forsaken or his Seed begging Bread Yea contrariwise they have been ever Lenders Thy Soul my Friend is a most precious Jewel of inestimable Value If thou losest it who can redeem it What Ransom wilt thou give unto God for it Get it in a state of Salvation I say again see that it be in a state of Salvation Fear not them who can kill the Body but rather fear that God who can cast both Soul and Body into Hell Fire for evermore Thou knowest Friend that the Church is God's Garden that God himself planted it and that every Plant which is not of his planting shall be grubbed up by the Roots This Consideration should make thee tremble thou hast plucked thy self up and cast thy self out of this Garden I advise thee that before thou hast taken root elsewhere thou intreat the Keeper of the Garden to new set thee that thou mayest bring forth better Fruits hereafter than heretofore that he would dress thee with his own Hand that he would water thee with the Dews and Showers of his Grace warm and quicken thee with the Eye and Beams of his Love Then I shall rejoyce at thy Recovery and glorifie God for his singular Mercies to thee Thou knowest also that he who having been once enlightned and hath tasted of the Heavenly Gift if he shall fall away 't will be impossible for him to be renewed unto Repentance O! Labour hard that thou mayst be restored Seek God whilst he may be found Or else there will a time come when thou shalt crie Lord Lord and he will not hear thee but as a Worker of Iniquity thou shalt be cast off Tug hard then at the Oar of Prayer chasten thy proud Flesh with Fasting give Alms of thy Substance unto the Poor and say unto God Convert me Lord and I shall be converted Rend thy Heart to pieces before it grow callous left God should swear in his Wrath that thou shalt never enter into his Rest The Sin against the Holy Ghost is never pardoned neither in this World nor in that to come Repent then and be not obstinate do not harden thy self against these wholsom Counsels of thy most Faithful Friend Be zealous and believe in God For whosoever believeth in him shall never be ashamed shall never be confounded Call upon him not upon He or She Saints but upon the Holy Name of Jesus and thou shalt be saved Come my Friend consider what thou hast done Thou are