a loud voice by the Priest And in the next Canon it is ordained that none dissolve the Fast children aged and sick persons excepted ante peractas Indulgentiae preces before the absolution office be over Why it is called Good Friday needs slender elucidation every ordinary pretender to Christianity is able to say because it was the completory of our eternal Redemption Upon this day the Gospel is taken out of St. John probably as the Rationalists inform us because he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an eye witness of what he relateth In the African Church St. Augustine tells us it was taken out of St. Matthew Passio quia uno die legitur non solet leg i nisi secundum Mattheum Because the Gospel appointed for the Passion is read but one day it is wont to be taken out of St. Matthew Easter Eve This was stiled Sabbatum magnum the great Sabbath upon this day were the Competents Baptised and this day with the next sabbath ensuing called Clausum Paschae the close of Easter and all the dayes within that enclosure were called octo dies Neophytorum the eight dayes of the Neophytes or new-made Christians which wore white vestments all that time There was a tradition amongst the Jews that Christ should come again upon Easter-day at midnight about the hour of his Resurrection upon which ground St. Hierom conceived the tradition continued ut in die vigiliarum Paschae ante noctis medium Populos dimittere non liceat expectantes adventum Christi That on Easter-Eve the people should not be dismissed before midnight as waiting for Christs coming The like is attested by Theodorus Balsamon limiting the practise to those onely who were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the devoutest sort A Relick of which custom remained in this Church until the first reformation implyed in that ceremony of setting up the Sepulture of Christ and watching of the Sepulchre frequently mentioned in the Ritual monuments of those times Upon this day it was the custom for the Bishop in imitation of our Saviour to wash the feet of the new baptised persons Ascendisti de fonte quid secutum est succinctus est Sacerdos licet enim Presbyteri fecerint tamen exordium ministerii est à summo Sacerdote pedes tibi lavat saith St. Ambrose Thou didst arise out of the font what was next the chief Priest being girt washt thy feet for though the Presbyter officiateth yet the derivation of his power is from the chief Priest where he seemeth to make this ceremony proper onely to the Bishop as indeed so was all relating to Baptisme according to the sense of Antiquity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Ignatius it is not lawfull to Baptise without licence from the Bishop Dandi Baptismum ius habet summus Sacerdos dein Presbyteri Diaconi non tamen sine Episcopi authoritate so Tertullian The Chief Priest hath power to administer Baptisme so also have Presbyters and Deacons but not without authority derived from the Bishop Easter-Day This was the Birth-day of our Saviour in his state of Glory and exaltation as his first nativity was the Birth-day to his state of humiliation It was anciently called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the great day By Gregory Nazianzen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Feast of Feasts How could it be lesse it being the day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of eminence which the Lord hath made Psal. 118. 24. for of this day do the Fathers unanimously expound that place and therefore with them as it is with us that Psalm was alwayes part of the office of this day For the antiquity of the observation of this day innumerable Authors might be produced but in a matter not at all controverted it would edifie little I shall therefore supersede from others and content my self with a Reference to that known contest betwixt the Churches of the East and West about it whether it should be observed on the 14. of the first New-moon in March as they of the East pretended or on the Lords-day as the Western custom was wherein both pleaded and justly too as I conceive Apostolical tradition The Quarta decimani or they who kept the fourteenth day derived their practise from St. John the other from St. Peter The matter being adiaphorous they of the Levant the East might in this as they did in other things condescend to the customs of the Jews their cohabitants on designe to win upon them in higher matters And the Western Churches more conversant with Gentiles having not the same occasion might rather make choice of the Lords day it being the very day of Christs Resurrection in memory whereof that feast was observed That the celebration of this day was Apostolical is a truth as radient as if it were written with the beams of the Sun and needs no further demonstration then the consideration how early this Question invaded the Church The first news we hear of it is from Polycarpus his journey to the Roman Bishop Anicetus Propter quasdam super die Paschae quaestiones by reason of some questions raised about Easter-day So Hierom and Eusebius Polycarpus was St. Johns disciple and when Anicetus endeavoured to gain him to the western usage his answer was he would never desert that custom which he had received from St. John So that though Polycarpus and Anicetus argued the question yet like stout Champions both kept their ground and which is most laudable like good Christians kept also the peace of the Church So did not Victor Bishop of Rome a while after for being a man composed of fire and tow and inflamed with an Epistle of Policrates then Bishop of Ephesus to him he grew so cholerick that he renounced Communion with all Asia upon that sole account for which Ireneus of Victors perswasion not of his Spirit sent him a sound rattle Let this suffice for the Antiquity of this grand festival This day with Christs Nativity Epiphany and Pentecost were dayes of so high solemnity as all the Clergy were bound upon pain of excommunication for three years not to be absent from their Cures at any of them And that such was the Practise for Easter St. Cyprian giveth us early account for being desired by Fortunatus and others to consult with his confraternity about the receptions of Persons lapsed through torture he referreth them for his answer to another time because saith he Nunc omnes inter Paschae prima solemnia apud se cum fratribus demorantur Now all my Collegues are tied to their proper Cures until the Easter holy-dayes be over The Anthymnes appointed by our Church are pure Canonical Scripture wherof the last beginning thus Christ is risen again being taken out of 1 Cor. 15. 20. seemeth to be an Imitation of the Ancient practise of the Primitive Christians who were accustomed to greet one another every Easter morning one saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the
that their offerings should be accepted of neither at the Altar nor in the Church treasury Now although the elements of bread and wine are provided by an establishment of our Church differing from the ancient custome yet can there be no reason shewed why we should prescribe and cast away that most necessary sacrifice of Almes which though at first introduced as concomitant with the former yet hath sufficient interest in Religion to entitle it self to a place in the course of the grand sacrifice and the Church hath very fitly assigned it this place as Preambulatory to the Prayers ensuing it being properly stiled by St. Chrysostom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wing of prayer upon which wing the prayers of Cornelius ascended up into Heaven Acts 10 2. As to the sentences of this Offertory they which differ in the Scottish service from ours are taken out of Bishop Andrews his notes upon the Book of Common prayer Who goeth a warfare This with the four succeeding sentences 7 8 9 10. have a peculiar reference to the ministery by which plain it is that our Church intended a double Offering one Elemosynary Almes for the poor Another Oblatory for the maintenance of the Clergy In the earliest times of Christianity such spontaneous oblations were the onely income of the Church with no other alimony did the ministry subsist This collection was first weekly 1 Cor. 16. 2. next in flux of time and in the African Church menstrua die once a moneth The depositary and Trustee of these Offerings was in chief the Bishop who had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the power over affaires of the Church to dispose them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the consent of the Presbyters and Deacons The imployment of these mensurna divisiones or monthly dividends was quadrupartite One portion to the Bishop whence St. Cyprian speaketh often de quantitate sua propria of his own proper share Another to the inferiour Clergy who not the people who offered as Mr. Selden hath mistaken were therefore called Sportulantes fratres Bretheren of the Dole The third was for sacred utensils and reparation of Gods house And the last for the relief of the poor strangers prisoners and the like as hath been said before And though Christian Princes restored in after-times to God his own and indowed the Church with Tithes yet did not these oblations cease thereupon that had been a favour with a mischief these Offerings advancing an Ecclesiastical intrade far exceeding the Decimal availes as appeareth by St. Cyprian No all along Oblations both spontaneous and such as custom had established continued together with tithes even unto our dayes which some of the Reverend Clergy finde to be a woful truth Is it not so when having lost the benefit by a long disuse they still groan under the burthen it hath laid upon them For upon this very account consideration being anciently had to the great harvest such Oblations did then in some parts annually import some livings were estimated in the Kings Books at a rate so high as now those wonted oblations are withdrawn amount to the utmost value of them to the great grievance of the incumbent who is to answer his first fruits and other payments to the Exchequer at that great proportion Again to manifest that the Clergy hath not totally lost their interest in these oblations insignificant it is not that when a Personage is demised intire the Lessee even in these our dayes doth covenant to receive all Obventions Oblations c. The Church-Wardens or some other The ancient mode was an exact pursuance of the text deliverd by our Saviour Matth. 5. 23. which implieth that the gifts should be brought to the Altar there were they presented by the people and there received by the Priest Gregory Nazianzen sets it down very expresly speaking of Valens the Emperours offering 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. when the time was come for him to bring his gifts to the holy table which he was to do himself none would as the custome was receive them The like hath Theodoret concerning Theâ—odsius but not so full and more conformable to this usage was the order in the beginning of the Reformation by which the Parishioners were enjoyned themselves to put their Almes into the poor mans chest which then was placed neer the High Altar Bishop Andrews faultâ—th the Church-wardens going up and down to receive the Almes Sapit hac collectio per singula capita Genevensem morem This collecting Almes by the poll savours of the Geneva mode whence it is that the Scottish Rubrick was rectified in this particular as in others conformable to his notes Offering dayes appointed Antiently offering dayes appointed were Quaelibet dies Dominica alii dies festi solemnes quorum vigiliae jejunantur every Lords-day and all high festivals whose Eves were fasted Such were those solemn dayes called lately in the Court Collar-dayes because then the Knights of the Garter attended the King in their St. Georges Collars when the fashion was for the King and his Nobles to offer But these are not the offering dayes intended by this Rubrick but those mentioned in the Statute 37. H. 8. c. 12. viz. The feasts of Easter of the nativity of Saint John Baptist the feast of St. Michael the Arch-Angel and the Nativity of our Lord. These feasts aforesaid being ordered by that Kings injunctions Anno 1536. To be taken for the four general offering dayes quarterly payment of such oblations I finde to have been in use long before for in a parchment M. S. of Constitutions made by a Synod held in Exeter by Peter Quivel Bishop of that Diocesse Anno 1287. it is thus decreed Statuimus quod omnis adult us viz. quatuordecim annorum quater in Anno scilicet Natali Domini Paschali festivitate festivitate Dedicationis suae Ecclesiae parochialis vel festivitate omnium Sanctorum Ecclesiam suam Parochialem suis oblationibus veneretur We ordain that every one of 14. years old shall quarterly viz. at the feasts of Christs Nativity of Easter of the Dedication of their Parish Church and of all Saints shall honour their Church with Oblations Nor is it impertinent here to minde you that the Reformation begun by Hermannus that pious but unfortunate Bishop of Colen commandeth that the four offering dayes in a year be kept But it is not expressed what they were The former statute of H. 8. declaring so explicitly what the offering dayes were it also helpeth us to understand the import of accustomed offerings for it commandeth all Citizens and inhabitants of London to pay their Tithes that is 16. d. ob for every 10. s. rent of their houses quarterly viz. at the feasts above specified and though the Statute seemeth to have a peculiar relation to London yet custom hath in other Cities established a not much different proportion If to any the word offerings may seem to import other dues
Respectiveness of Gods Decrees points 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. inscrutable to the most illuminate Doctor of the Gentiles and which put him to his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. O the depth of the Wisdom of God Rom. 11. 33. nor of any thing less then fundamental being there taken notice of Happy were we did all Practitioners in Theology they especially who pretend on high honor to our Church conform to her example Or laying on of hands As the Tongue is to the Heart such is the Hand to the Tongue an Interpreter Caeterae partes saith the excellent Orator loquentem adjuvant haec prope est ut dicam ipsae loquuntur In demonstrandis personis atque locis adverbiorum atque pronominum obtinent vicem Other members do help the Speaker but the Hands I almost say speak themselves In demonstrating Places and Persons they serve instead of Adverbs and Pronouns Adverbs for Place and Pronouns for Persons So according to the ancient mode of Renuntiation in Baptism the party to be Baptized was commanded protensâ manu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Satanae renunciare to renounce Satan by stretching out his hand as to one present where the protending of the Hand towards the West that Quarter of the Heaven whence darkness begins the Prince of Darkness by this Prosopopâ—ea was indigitated So also according to the universal mode of all Nations the Hands in Prayer are lifted up towards Heaven the place whether our Prayers tend So when our Prayers are limited and restrained to any one peculiar thing or person the maner is to lay the hand upon that Object relative to the Invocation So the Paternal Benediction given by Jacob to the Children of Joseph was performed by laying his hands upon their heads Gen. 48. 14. After the same maner also did persons of remarkable Sanctity bless such Infants as were upon that account brought to them as our Savior Mark 10 16. And in Analogy or resemblance of that practice is the Ceremony of Imposition of hands in this office of Confirmation whereby the Church using the ministration of the venerable Fathers the Bishops Invocateth the Divine Benediction upon her Children now entring their adult state and riper years Then the Bishop shall lay his hands upon c. Our Savior being near his Ascension having given his last Charge and Commission to the Apostles tells them what should be the sequence of that Faith which should result from their Predication and Doctrine In my Name they shall cast out Devils they shall speak with tongues they shall take up Serpents and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover Mark 16. 17 18. Which Miracles though Believers did afterward perform yet were not those operations the meer results of Faith nor did they do them as Beleevers but the Power enabling them thereto was conveyed to them by the Gift of the Holy Ghost which Gift not onely imported an extraordinary Collation upon new regenerated Converts of the invisible Graces of Gods Spirit confirming their Faiths daily more and more and assisting them in the exercise of an holy and sanctified Life and Conversation But also in outward Qualifications suitable to the exigent of those times for the working of Miracles Nor were those Believers to expect or receive those Gifts by any other Prayers or any other Hands then of the Apostles that the World might know God had a more then ordinary value for their Function and consequently would require the highest Honor deferr'd to it upon this very account the Apostles hearing that Samaria had received the word of God and were Baptized by Philip the Evangelist they sent Peter and John from Jerusalem to them to pray for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost implying thereby that though Philip had commission to Baptise and Preach yet could he not give the Holy Ghost And when Simon Magus perceived what strange feats were done by those Beleevers after such prayer and Imposition of hands of those Apostles he thinking it would prove a money matter bad liberally for it till he understood he was in the wrong And though in tract of time and by degrees whole Nations being converted to the Christian Faith the main cause of those Miracles ceasing they themselves began to abate both in number and quality and so Confirmation was not practised much upon that pretence yet it being an Apostolical usage and instituted also for another end viz. An Invocation of Gods inward sanctifying the Person new Baptized by the Grace of his holy Spirit a Petition necessary at all times The Bishops succeeding the Apostles in the Government of the Church thought fit to continue it still retaining it as the Apostles did to themselves alone and not communicating it to any of the inferior Clergy Qui in Ecclesia Baptisantur Praepositis Ecclesiae offeruntur saith Cyprian They who are Baptized in the Church are straightways presented to the Presidents of the Church Ut per nostramorationem ac manus impositionem Spiritum Sanctum consequantur That by our Prayers and Imposition of Hands they may obtain the Holy Ghost The reason whereof is this that whereas the Bishop had condescended and delegated the Power of Baptizing to Presbyters which was originally resident in himself as hath been said already yet seeing requisite it was that Gods Blessing should be implored upon those Neophites by them and Blessing is an Act of Paternal Authority it was convenient it should be reserved to himself ad honorem sacerdotii as St. Hierome saith in honor of his Priestly Superiority Other Imposition of hands have been performed some by Presbyters and Bishops indifferently as that in receiving Penetents to the peace of the church as that in consecrating of Marriage some by Presbyters with Bishops joyntly as that of Ordination But never any meer Presbyter assumed this of Confirmation nor was it ever in the Primitive Church permitted to any but to the Bishop alone To the contrary whereof never was there produced any Testimony Authentick Authentick I say for that Ambrose upon the Ephesians whom some urge against it is by the men who cite him confesled supposititious and a counterfeit But be he who they please what says the man Apud Aegyptum Presbyteri consignant si praesens non sit Episcopus In Aegypt the Presbyters consign if the Bishop be not present Now if consignant here should prove not to import confirming this shadow of a Father will stand them in little stead And who dares positively say it not Blundellus I am certain and yet he would as gladly have it so as another for he is put to his sive's either Confirmation or blessing of Penetents or consecrating Persons by Ordination not knowing in which to fix So that this they know not who speaks they know not what And of all these sive's which stand in competition that of Confirmation is least like
to prevail for the words are Apud Aegyptum in Aegypt Now in Aegypt and the Patriarchdom of Alexandria of all places in the World Presbyters were for their fellow-Presbyter Arius his sake in most disgrace so as it was not allow'd them in Alexandria so much as to Preach and therefore they there the most unlikely to be indulged so great a favor as Confirmation whence we may conclude Confirmation is not to be understood by Consignation and if not no matter to this dispute which of the other two carry it and if it were yet is there odds against them too for a Learned Doctor is positive that neither Blessing of Penetents nor Consecration of Persons to be Ordained can rationally be meant in this place but that Consignant is equivalent to Consecrant and so hath reference to consecrating of the Elements which even Blundellus himself doth also elsewhere admit as probable and the Doctor proves it by a parallel place of the same supposed Author In Alexandria pro totam Aegyptum si desit Episcopus consecrat Prâ—sbyter In Alexandria and all over Aegypt the Presbyter consecrates in want of a Bishop wher 's Consignant in the former passage is changed into Consecrant And if both these pieces hath one Father be he Hillary as some conjecture or any other the Doctors sence is passable enough But if they were the issues of several persons then this Author might intend somewhat more then hath hitherto been apprehended and what the word consignare in its native and genuine sense imports viz. Chrismation not Confirmation For though Unction was more anciently annext to as a continued Act with Confirmation yet at that moment of time when Ambrose or Hillary wrote if this piece be theirs it was abstracted and separated from imposition of Hands and upon what account shall be seen anon transmitted to Presbyters And because it was constantly apply'd with the sign of the Cross the joynt Act of both Ceremonies was very properly called Consigning answering what the Greeks called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to seal with Unction And so this nameless Author will be interpreted thus In Aegypt if the Bishop be absent the Presbyters aâ—oint the person Baptized signing him with the Cross which was not onely true in Aegypt but elsewhere also as shall presently be made manifest which notwithstanding the essential and perficient Act of Confirmation viz. Imposition of hands was reserved as a peculiar of Episcopacy Confirm them with the inward Unction of thy Holy Ghost This Prayer looks like the Ruines of a famous Structure whose super-Edifice is demolisht any one may see it was formed in relation to Confirmatory Chrism and Unction which kept in the Primitive times here its proper station and was apply'd with this or the like Prayer as St. Ambrose will inform you The Unction is fled and the Prayer left behinde onely to demonstrate whence her Companion removed But what caused this divorce that is in truth worth our inquiry and I hope 't is our hap to have found it Confirmation was in conformity to Apostolical usage to follow Baptism close at the heels Egressi de Lavacro perungimur Benedict a Unctione de pristina disciplina dehinc manus imponitur As soon as we come out of the Water we are anointed with the consecrated Unguent according to the ancient Order then hands are imposed upon us To this end Easter and Whitsuntide were set apart for this Ordinance that the Bishops might attend it But Christianity beginning to spread it self into larger Precincts and the persons Baptized growing very numerous that such as were sick or lay in extreamis and therefore could not resort to the Bishop nor he to them in convenient time might not totally be deprived of all Spiritual Fortifications which Confirmation was conceived to afford an expedient was contrived for their solace and satisfaction viz. That the Presbyter or Minister who was qualified by the Bishop to Baptize should have liberty to anoint the Neophite but with these two Cautions First That the Chrismal Unguent should be first consecrated as was the use of those times by the Bishop Secondly that he should anoint without Imposition of hands By this course the Bishop parted from the shell and kept the kernel reserving to himself the true Apostolical Ceremony of Imposing of hands and also the sole power of consecrating the Unguent to teach Presbyters their distance and eminence of their Order This course thus setled the Bishops kept their wonted usage of confirming at Easter and Pentecost in their Cathedral Cities and for such as were Baptized abroad in the Countrey their maner was to give notice of their intentions of being at some convenient place upon a day prefixt and to summon all persons whom it concerned to resort to them there to be Confirm'd Now to make proof of what I have delivered I shall need no more then the first Canon of the first Arausican Synod Nullum Ministrorum qui Baptisands recepit officium sine Chrismate usquam debere progredi quia inter nos placuit semel Chrismari That no Minister who hath taken the office of Baptizing ought to go abroad without Chrism for we have agreed it should be used once This Chrism the Minister was to have of the Bishop of his Diocess Presbyters being interdicted themselves to consecrate it by the sixth Canon of the Councel of Carthage decreeing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. That Chrism be not made by a Presbyter In case of necessity if the party Baptized was not anointed then the Bishop at Confirmation was to be warned of it as it followeth in the same Canon De eo autem qui in Baptismate quacunque necessitate faciente non Chrismatus fuerit sacerdos commonebitnr But concerning him who shall happen not to be anointed in Baptism in regard of some necessity the Bishop must be put in minde of it But why so That he may sorbear confirming him as Aurelius supposeth No but that he may anoint him which else he would not for the Bishops fashion was onely to impose hands without Unction unless he was told the party was not anointed before True it is Aurelius contends for two Unctions one Baptismal the other Confirmatory that by the Presbyter this by the Bishop this he endeavors to prove first by the last sentence of this Canon Ut necessaria habeatur Chrismatio repetita i. e. That repeted Unction be held necessary Secondly By a Decretal of Innocent the first Presbyteris seu extra Episcopuni seu presente Episcopo Baptisant Chrismate Baptisatos ungere licet non tamen frontem ex eodem oleo signare quod solis debetur Episcopis cum tradunt sanctum Paracletum i. c. Presbyters be the Bishop absent or present when they Baptize may anoint whom they have Baptized but not their fore-heads with the same Unguent which onely belongs to Bishops when they give the Holy Ghost The words of both are express
these in the time of Edward the sixth and the three last in the time of c Queen Elizabeth This being thus it will be worth the inquiry what it was that did first dictate to us the necessity of the Reading-desk The satisfying of which doubt will reside in reminding you of what I discoursed upon the Rubrique before Morning Prayer viz. that the service was to be said in the Accustomed place of the Church or Chancel That this place regularly was the Quire or Chorus now because in some Churches a belfery interposing or over great distance impeding the voice the People would bear too slender a part in those Orations it was therefore in such cases left to the Ordinaries discretion to vary from the former course and to assign such a place as he should think meet for the largeness and straightness of the Church and Quire for so are the words of the Advertisements Now this liberty was as readily taken as freely indulged The Ordinaries flexible at the sollicitations of their subordinate Ministres allowing them in several places to supersead their former practice setling the Morning and Evening Service in the Church as a place more edifying and in order to it tolerating the frame of a Reading-desk which dispensation begun at first by some few Ordinaries became in process of time to be recommended from one to another untill it amounted to a general and universal practice In the stead This Office being erected in default of publique and solemn Pennance it may here seem pertinent to give an account of the ancient practice and the most material concernments thereof viz. by declaring what it was upon whom by whom imposed how long by what degrees and with what ceremonies persons in that state were restored to the Communion of Believers and received absolution First it was an Ecclesiastical censure by which some persons were ordered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be cast out of the Church that is interdicted not onely the participation of the Lords Supper but all sociable converse in Divine Offices being not admitted to Common Prayers Imposed it was upon such as Apostatized in the times of persecution were convicted of heresy schism contumacy adultery drunkenss or such notorious crimes They who inflicted this censure were the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in St. Paul 1 Tim. 5. 7. The Ruling Elders the Probati seniores in Tertullian the majores natu in St. Cyprian not Lay-Elders as some most erroneously suppose but those Elders qui baptizandi manuum imponendi ordinandi habuerunt potestatem who had power to baptize to confirm to ordein as the same Father assureth us no one whereof was ever pretended to by Lay-Elders Nor were they meer Presbyters as distinct from Bishops but both Bishops and Presbyters Bishops in chief and Presbyters in a fraternal consociation for though some words in St. Cyprian sound in favour of his acting alone and exercising a sole power in Excommunication yet when I hear him profess to his Presbyters A primordio Episcopatus mei statui nihil sine consilio vestro privata sententia genere I resolved from my first instalment in Episcopacy never to act any thing of mine own head without your advice I cannot but conceive that his Presbyters were admitted joynt Commissioners with him though the definitive sentence passed it is like in his name when he was present As for the time how long this Pennance was to continue as the Greek and Latine differed each from other so was neither at unity without it self but varied with the times in an arbitrary course protending and contracting it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the rate and assise of the Office as the Constitutions have it In the Greek Church at first the party censured was separated from the Congregation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 three five or seaven weeks according to the nature of the Office A very gentle and mild procedure if the severity of after times be considered which in stead of those weeks appointed years nay and more then so extending the censure sometimes even to twelve years as shall be seen anon The time once perfixt and determined the Bishop or his Penetentiary upon evident tokens of sincere contrition had power notwithstanding to abbreviate and shorten it at pleasure So the Councel of Ancyra decreed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That Bishops examining the demeanour of Penitents shall have power to use more clemency towards such as shall deserve it So in the Nicene Councel liberty is given likewise to the Bishop where he observes men truly penitent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to deal more favourably with them Persons lapsed lying under the censure of the Church thus and so long it will not be amiss to enquire how they spent their time in this interim and by what degrees they were repristinated and rendred in their former state The most clear and most satisfactory account whereof is given us by Gregorius Neocaesariensis commonly called Thaumatergus Upon their first expulsion saith he they were assigned their stations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without in the Churcb-yard where they were enjoined as saith S. Basil also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to beseech the prayers of the Faithfull as they entred This place therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from their weeping mourning and howling there most commonly they spent three years Their next step was into the Porch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this place was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because there they stood amongst the Audients to hear the Sermon preached and holy Scriptures read where they tarried three years more Their third remove was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into the very nave and body of the Church close up to the Catechumenium This place was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Substration because there they did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 throw themselves down to receive the Priests blessing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 casting thenselves all along prostrate and even knocking the floor with their foreheads whilest the Priest prayed and holding his hand over them gave them his benediction And from this very familiar custome of Prostration or Penitential incurvation at length the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 came after to be usually applied to Adoration as in the Liturgy ascribed to S. Chrysostome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports the doing of Reverence by Adoration He who was in this Classis S. Gregory tells us was to go out with the Catechumens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by which there seems an evident difference betwixtt he practice of this time being about 260 and that of the times succeeding the Councel of Laodicea For by that Councel it was expresly ordered that the Catechumens and Penitents should be dismis'd apart for the words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the Catechumens are dismissed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The prayer of the Penitents must succeed And here give me leave to note further to you that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
meer Ecclesiastical audience and which were not punishable by the Civil Law as perjury fornication usury c. But in process of time the accumulation of Canons creating daily a multitude of questions too intricate for the Bishop to determine Placuit ut petant ex nomine Provinciarum omnium Legati porrecturi Vincentius Fortunatianus à gloriosissimis Imperatoribus ut dent facultatem defensores constituendi Scholasticos qui in actu sunt vel in munere defensionis causarum ut more Sacerdotum Provinciae iidem ipsi quidem legendum qui Defensionem Ecclesiarum susceperint habeant facultatem pro negotiis Ecclesiarum quoties necessitas flagitaverit vel ad obsistendum Obrepentibus vel ad necessaria suggerenda ingredi judicum secretaria It is decreed saith the Councel of Carthage that Vincentius and Fortunatianus the Legates which are to be sent in the name of all the Provinces petition the most Glorious Emperours that they would give way for the choice of Scholastical Advocates who are profess'd pleaders of causes that after the manner of the Principalls of Provinces these who shall undertake the Protection of the Churches may have leave in affairs of the Churches as necessity shall require to enter the seats of Judicature either to oppose evils creeping in or to represent things necessary From these Defensores Ecclesiastici or as the Greeks called them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 learned men think the Chancellors or Officialls Ecclesiastical took their beginning and probably so it might be in the African Church but elsewhere Socrates seems to set forth a worse Reason speaking of Sylvanus Bishop of Troas Cum clericos ex litigantium controversiis quaestum facere videret deinceps neminem ex clero judicem esse permisit sed unum ex fidelibus laicis causarum cognitioni praefecit When he once perceived the Clergy made an advantage to themselves from others quarrels he suffered no Clergy-man to be Judge but appointed a Lay-man selected out of the Faithfull to preside in hearing causes Take both or which you like and assign another as probable as any viz. the not diversion of the Bishops and Chergy-men from sacred duties more proper to their calling the Institution speaks reason enough to vindicate it against all exceptions Ibid. Ordinaries Ordinaries saith Lindwood are those quibus competit jurisdictio Ordinaria de jure Privilegii vel consuetudine who of Right either by Priviledg or Prescription have ordinary Jurisdiction and therefore Chancellors Commissioners Officials and arch-Arch-Deacons are Ordinaries as well as Bishops Page 25. line 3. Begin another division thus Some following Salisbury use upon inquiry into the ancient Practice of this Church of England I find it most apparent that every Bishop in his Dlocesan or Episcopal Synod had full power to constitute such Canons to make such Ecclesiastical Orders to frame such services for the respective Diocess as he and his Clergy should think most convenient And from hence arose those varieties of uses mentioned in this Preface In truth such was the custom of the Primitive Church unusquisque Episcoporum quod putat facit Every Bishop in his own Diocess doth what he judgeth meet And S. Ambrose under the Popes nose at Millain compiled an Office not onely differing from but standing in competition with that of Rome But though here are many uses mentioned yet for the Province of Canterbury that of Salisbury in estimation so far surpast the rest as it became almost of universal observation Compiled and digested it was by Osmund Bishop of Salisbury about the year 1099. The reason given by Harpsfeild is quoniam singulae fere Dioceses in statis precariis horis dicendis variabant ad hanc varietatem tollendam ut quasi absolutum quoddam precandi quo omnes uti possent exemplar extaret That because almost almost all Dioceses had their seveal waies and uses in their services and Canonical houres to take away that diversity this should be as a standing form for all to follow But this reason I cannot assent unto for what had Osmund to do to give the rule to other Dioceses Nothing certainly Nor did he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mind or regard what others did No he had the same designe neither more nor less which was incident to the power of the Bishop Evidently this In a Counsel held at London Anno 1075. decreed it was according to ancient Canons that Bishops Seas should no longer be held in Villages but removed to Citties Thereupon Hermanus translated his chair from Shirburn to Salisbury where he began to edify a Cathedral but died before he finisht it Next him succeeded this Osmund who having compleated the structure Clergy-men most eminent for learning from all parts were invited by a liberal allowance there to reside The Church being built and furnished thus with so gallant a Colledge of Prebendaries Osmund took it into his next care that Divine Service might there be performed with equal splendor Hereupon he contrived the Office called the Course of Salisbury and provided such a set of excellent Singing-men to officiate it that Emicabat so are the words of my Author ibi magis quam alias canonicorum claritas cantibus nobilium The Canons thereof could nowhere else be matched for their Art in Musick This Service of Salisbury being now cryd up as a most noble model The rest of the Bishops of the Province of Canterbury especially not haveing learning enough for pene omnes tunc temporis illiterati they were then almost all arrant dunces to frame a better conformed their Dioceses in it So that what Osmund intended peculiarly for his own use became exemplary to others And perhaps upon this very score his Sea obtained from posterity as a mark of honour that preeminence whereof Lindwood gives this account Episcopus Sarum in Collegio Episcoporum est praecentor tomporibus quibus Archi-Episcopus Cantuariensis solemniter celebrat Divina praesente Collegio Episcoporum Chorum in Divinis Officiis regere debet de Observantia consuetudine antiqua The Bishop of Salisbury in the College of Bishops is to be the Praecentor and at such times as the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury officiateth all the College of Bishops being present he ought to govern and direct the Quire insacred Offices And this he is to do by ancient custome and observation And perhaps upon this very score if it be true as some Romanists affirm the Bishop of Salisbury was before the Reformation constantly and of course Dean of the King's Chappel and chief appointer of the Rites and Ceremonies Page 79. line 26. At these words The first mention Add is in Proclus he declaring it to be a daily Hymn saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All the world over every day is re-sounded All the works of the Lord bless the Lord. Page 98. line 47. Begin another Paragraph thus The Priest shall say But when At the beginning of Evening Prayer I confess I have known
the Alterations H Antiently Bishops visited in person An uniformity of Articles commended I The Canons 1603. not repugnant to the Act for uniformity The power of the civil Magistrate in Ecclesiastical matters K The occasion of the conference at Hampton-court L The Proclamation of King James obligatory to Obedience M Our service not taken out of the Masse-book N The Pye Several acceptations of the word O Apocryphal Lessons lawful to be read The Minister hath Liberty to exchange them for Canonical Scripture They are more edifying then many Chapters of the Canon appointed by the Directory P The Bishops to interpret in doubtful cases Q The several degrees of the first Reformation R What meant by the Minister saying daily prayer either privately or openly S Ceremonies of humane Institution lawful Proved by the several confessions of Reformed Churches T Order in the Church of Divine institution Orders to be obeyed not disputed where they are not simply unlawful V The Churches prudence and moderation in her first Reformation W Significant Ceremonies lawful X Superstition defined Y Our Ceremonies elder then the Masse-Book Directory a Popish word Z Scandal no just exception against our Liturgy by the confession of Geneva herself More scandalized and more justly by the Directory then our Common Prayer pag. 17. CHAP. II. A The division of the Psalmes very discreet The ancient manner of singing them various in Antiquity The 15. Cannon of the Council of Laodicea Expounded B Bookes and Chapters of Canonical Scripture least edifying omitted C The Rubrick for proper Lessons cleared D A necessary Caveat to Ministers E Differences between the former Kalendars and ours Why several Saints are added now more then formerly F Feasts instrumental to piety The Jews fasted on high festivals till noon Whence our Fasts before some Holy-dayes Why not before All. G Holy-dayes why fit to be established by Parliament Why instituted The Churches power to ordain them The judgment of forein Churches and Divines Zanchy cleared a demur upon the best Reformed Churches Our Holy-dayes not derived from the Pagans yet warrantable if they were pag. 55. CHAP. III. A Morning and Evening Prayer agreeable to the Jewish and Christian practice The three houres of Prayer in the Temple The 6. of private devotion B Where Morning and Evening Prayer are to be said Why the place left arbitrary to the Bishop C What meant by Chancels shall stand as they have done D Ornaments in Cathedrals E The Surplice defended and primitive practice set down F A discourse concerning the Translations of the Bible where the obstacle was that our Liturgy was not reformed in this particular G To begin with confession ancient H What meant by the word alone in the Rubrick of absolution I The Lords Prayer why pronounced in a loud voice K The primitive practice concerning Amen L The Versicles and Responds Canonical Scripture approved by Bucer M The original of the Doxology its antiquity N Hallelujah at what time to be used O The Invitatory what and why devised P The Number of Lessons in the Romish Church Our manner of reading them most conformable to antiquity The Contents of the Chapters of what use Q The primitive custome before every Lesson R The benefit of mixing Psalmes or Hymnes with Lessons S Te Deum how ancient T Benedicite ancient V Benedictus and other Hymns vindicated used by the Dutch Church W The Creed anciently no part of the Liturgy how imployed why called the Apostles the Catholick Church a phrase as ancient as Ignatius Reason why so called The variety of Symbols whence derived why the Creed pronounced standing X The Lord be with you whence derived Difference betwixt it and Peace be to you Y Let us pray an ancient formula Z Lord have mercy upon us c. called the lesser Litany A A O Lord shew thy mercy upon us c. are canonical Scripture B B Collects why so called p. 71. CHAP. IIII. A Catechising part of the Evening Office The want thereof the cause of heresie Judgement of the Synod of Dort Sermons where in the Primitive Church part of the Evening Office B Evening Prayer why so called An ancient Evening Hymn C The Doxology of the Pater Noster why omitted in our service D A necessary Rubrick added by the Scotch Liturgy E Athanasius his Creed falsly so called yet ancient and extant in Anno 600. after Christ. F Litanies Ancient in the Western Church long before Mamercus Reformed by Gregory the Great ours whence derived the Gesture proper for it G Wednesdaies and Fridaies why dayes of fastings Stations what and why so called Tertullian cleared H Forgiving our Enemies a peculiar of Christianity The Jewish and Romish practice contrary to it I Repeated Prayers most powerful K The Thanksgiving for Rain c. a necessary Reformation p. 97 CHAP. V. A The Introit what B Epistles and Gospels very necessary why Epistles when all are not so The reason and defence of that denomination C Advent what and why observed D Christmas day It s antiquity variously observed in the primitive times The precise day dubious and unnecessary to be known Calvin passionately for it Observed by the Synod of Dort and the Belgick Church A main argument for it E Two Communions anciently in one fore-mâ—n F Why the Feasts of St. Stephen St. John and Innocents are celebrated neer Christmas day G Antiquity of the Circumcision feast H Epiphany what Ancient I Ashwednesday and Lent the original and various observation of them K Palm Suâ—day how observed L The holy week why so called M Maunday Thursday a day of great note N Good-Friday anciently a very high day a day of general Absolution O Easter-Eve the great day of Baptising competents Watching the Sepulchre whence derived P Easter-day of Apostolical institution Q Easter-Mnoday and Easter-Tuesday very anciently observed R Dominica in Albis S Rogation dayes why instituted T Ascension day why rarely mentioned in Antiquity Pentecost what Synods anciently summoned about this time V Whitsunday why so called a private conjecture W St. Andrews day why the first festival X Conversion of St. Paul why not observed Paul and Peter one intire festival anciently and of late years Y The Purification of Mary anciently how called why Candlemass-day Z The Annuntiation of the Virgin Mary how Ancient A St. Philip and Jacob and All-Saints B St. Peter hath no single day C The Festival of Mary Magdalen why discontinued p. 133. CHAP. VI. A Immediately after what meant by it a Bell usually rang betwixt morning Prayer and the Sermon so also in Scotland B Notorium what who notorious Offenders in the sense of our Church the 109 Canon the Committee 1641. the Ordinance of Parliament Octob. 20. 1645. the Imperial Law Primitive practice our Saviours president in admitting Judas The main reason for free admission C Charity how necessary to a Communicant One loaf in the primitive Church Agapae the holy Kiss D The Table where to stand in Communion time E
execution hereof the Queens most excellent Majesty the Lords Temporal and all the Commons in this present Parliament assembled doth in Gods name earnestly require and charge all the Arch-Bishops Bishops and other Ordinaries that they shall ende about themselves to the uttermost of their knowledges that the due and true execution hereof may be had throughout their Diocesse and charges as they will answere before God for such evils and plagues wherewith Almighty God may justly punish his people for neglecting his good and wholsome Law And for their authority in this behalf be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid that all and singular the same arch-Arch-Bishops Bishops and all other their officers exercising Ecclestastical iurisdiction as well in place exepmt as not exempt within their Diocesse shall have full power and authority by this act to reform correct and punish by Censures of the Church all and singular persons which shall offend within any their jurisdictions or Diocesse after the said feast of the Nativity of saint John Baptist next comming against this act and statute Any other law statute priviledge liberty or provision heretofore made had or suffered to the contrary notwithstanding And it is ordeined and enacted by the authority aforsaid that all and every Justices of Oyer and Determiner or Justices of Assise shall have full power and authority in every of their open and general Sessions to enquire heare and determine all and all manner of offences that shall be committed or done contrary to any article conteined in this present act within the limits of the Commission to them directed and to make processe for the execution of the same as they may do against any person being indited before them of trespasse or lawfully convicted thereof Provided alwayes and be it enacted by the authority aforesaid that all and every Arch-Bishop and Bishop shall or may at all time and times at his liberty and pleasure joyn and associate himself by vertue of this act to the said Justices of Oyer and Determiner or to the said Justices of Assise at every of the said open and said general Sessions to be holden in any place within his Diocesse for and to the inquiry hearing and determining of the offences aforsaid Provided also and be it enacted by the authority aforesaid that the books concerning the said services shall at the costs and charges of the Parishioners of every Parish and Cathedral Church be attained and gotten before the said feast of the Nativty of saint John Baptist next following and that all such Parishes and Cathedral Churches or other places where the said books shall be attained and gotten before the said feast of the Nativity of saint John Baptist shall within three weekes next after the said books so atteined and gotten use the said service and put the same in ure according to this act And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid that no person or persons shall be at any time hereafter impeached or otherwise molested of or for any of the offences above-mentioned hereafter to be committed or done contrary to this Act unlesse he or they so offending be thereof indited at the next general Sessions to be holden before any such Justices of Oyer and Determiner or Justices of assise next after any offence committed or done contrary to the tenour of this act Provided alwayes and be it ordeined and enacted by the authority aforesaid that all and singular Lords of the Parliament for the third offence above-mentioned shall be tried by their Peeres Provided also that and be it ordeined and enacted by the authority aforesaid that the Major of London and all other Majors Bayliffes and other head officers of all and singular cities boroughs and towns corporate within this Relam Wales and the Matches of the same to the which Justices of Assise do not commonly repaire shall have full power and authority by vertue of this act to enquire heare and determine the offences bobe-said and every of them yeerly within xv dayes ofter the feasts of Easter and saint Michael the archangel in like manuer and form as Justices of Assise and Dyer and Determiner may do Provided alwayes and be it ordeined and enacted by the authority aforesaid that all and singular arch-Arch-Bishops and Bishops and every of their Chancellours Commissaries Archdeacons and other Ordinaries having any peculiar Ecclesiastical jurisoiction shall have full power and authority by vertue of this act as well to enquire in their visitation synods and else where within their jurisoiction at any other time and place to take accusations and informations of all and every the things above mentioned done committed or perpetrated within the limits of their iurisdictions and authority and to punish the same by admonition excommunication sequestration or deprivation and other Censures and processe in like form as heretofore hath been used in like cases by the Queens Ecclesiastical laws Provided alwayes and be it enacted that whatsoever person offending in the premisses shall for the offence first receive punishment of the Ordinary having a testimonial thereof under the said Ordinaries seal shall not for the same offence eftsoones be condicted before the Justices And likewise receiving the said first offence punishment by the Justices be shall not for the same offence estsoones ceive punishment of the Ordinary any thing contained in this act to the contrary notwithstanding Provided alwayes and be it enacted that such ornaments of the Church and of the Ministers thereof shall be reteined and be in use as was in this Church of England by the authority of Parliament in the second year of the raign of King Edward the sixt until other order shall be therein taken by authority of the Queens Majesty with the advise of her Commissioners appointed and authorised under the great seal of England for causes Ecclesiastical or of the Metropolitans of this realnt And also that if there shall happen any contempt or irreverence to be used in the Ceremonies or Rites of the Church by the misusing of the orders appointed in this book the Queens majesty may by the like advice of the said Commissioners or Metropolitans ordein and publish such farther Ceremonies or Rites as may be most for the advancement of Gods glory the edifying of his Church and the due reverence of Christs holy mysteries and Sacraments And ve it further enacted by the authority aforsaid that all laws statutes and ordinances wherein or whereby any other service administration of Sacraments or Common prayer is limited established or set forth to be used within this Realm or any other the Queens domiuions and contreyes shall from henceforth be utterly void and of noue effect By the King A proclamation for the authorizing an uniformity of the Book of Common Prayer to be used throughout the Realm ALthough it cannot be unknown to our Subjects by the former Declarations we have published what Our purposes and proceedings have been in matters of Religion since our coming to this Crown Yet
is not a ceremonial law as much of Moses law was but it is a religion to serve God not in bondage of the figure or shadow but in the freedom of the spirit being content onely with those ceremonies which do serve to a decent order and godly discipline and such as be apt to stir up the dull minde of man to the remembrance of his duty to God by some notable and special signification whereby he might be edified Furthermore the most waighty cause of the abolishment of certain ceremonies was that they were so far abused partly by the superstitious blindnesse of the rude and unlearned and partly by the unsaciable avarice of such as sought more their own lucre then the glory of God that the abuses could not well be taken away the thing remaining still But now as concerning those persons which peradventure will be offended for that some of the old ceremonies are retained still if they consider that without some ceremonies it is not posible to keep any order or quiet discipline in the Church they shall easily perceive just cause to reform their judgements And if they think much that any of the old do remain and would rather have all devised anew Then such men granting some ceremonies convenient to be had surely where the old may be well used there they cannot reasonably reprove the old onely for their age without bewraying of their own folly For in such a case they ought rather to have reverence unto them for their antiquity if they will declare themselves to be more studious of unity and concord then of innobations and new-fanglenesse which as much as may be with the true setting forth of Christs religion is alwayes to be eschewed Furthermore such shall have no just cause with the ceremonies reserved to be offended For as those be taken away which were most abused and did burden mens consciences without any cause so the other that remain are retained for a discipline and order which upon just causes may be altered and changed and therefore are not to be esteemed equall with Gods law And moreover they be neither dark nor dumb ceremonies but are so set forth that every man may understand what they do mean and to what use they do serve So that it is not like that they in time to come should be abused as the other have been And in these our doings we condemne no other nations nor prescribe any thing but to our own people onely For we think it convenient that every countrey should use such ceremonies as they shall think best to the setting forth of Gods honour and glory and to the reducing of the people to a most perfect and Godly living without errour or superstition And that they should put away other things which from time to time they perceave to be most abused as in mens ordinances it often chanceth diversly in divers countries Annotations upon CHAP. I. A The necessity of Common Prayer And of a Book of Common Prayer â—b Arguments for set forms Proved to have been used in the three first centuries after Christ. And approved by Reformed Churches B. Set forms of Administring the Sacraments Proved by Primitive practise C. Rites and Ceremonies fit to be prescribed D. Every Particular Church hath authority to prescribe set forms and Rites The main ground of uniformity E. A necessity of an Act for uniformity F. The present Act a revivor of a former G. The Parliament did onely ratify not make the Alterations H. Antiently Bishops visited in person An uniformity of Articles commended I. The Canons 1603. not repugnant to the Act for uniformity The power of the civil Magistrate in Ecclesiastical matters K. The occasion of the conference at Hampton Court. L. The Proclamation Of King James obligatory to Obedience M. Our service not taken out of the Masse-Book N. The Pye several acceptations of the word O. Apocryphal Lessons lawful to be read The Minister hath Liberty to exchange them for Canonical Scripture They are more edifying then many Chapters of the Canon appointed by the Directory P. The Bishops to interpret in doubtful cases Q. The several degrees of the first Reformation R. What meant by the Minister saying daily prayer either privately or openly S. Ceremonies of humane Institution lawful Proved by the several confessions of Reformed Churches T. Order in the Church of Divine institution Orders to be obeyed not disputed where they are not simply unlawful V. The Churches prudence and moderation in her first Reformation W. significant Ceremonies lawful X. Superstition defined Y Our Ceremonies elder then the Masse-Book Directory a Popish word Z. Scandal no just exception against our Liâ—urgy by the confession of Geneva her self More scandalized and more justly by the Directory then our Common Prayer THE Book of Common Prayer As God is the first principle and Prime efficient of our being so that very being of so supereminent a quality is obligation of the highest importance for us to defer to him the greatest Honour we possibly can That which hath the ordering and disposal of this Honour to him is Religion the most noble the most proper act of Religion is Prayer an act by which we turn Tenants to God and own him as the Donor of every good and perfect gift A duty enforced by our Saviours expresse command Pray alwayes so he Luke 18. 1. Continually so his blessed Apostle 1 Thes. 5. 17. that is Levant and couchant morning and evening sutable to the Diurnal sacrifices in the Temple that at least A duty dignified with the gift of miracles exemplified in Elias Joshua and many more Now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i e. if the solitary prayer of one single supplicant be so operative what would it do in a full Assembly who combining together besiege and beset God with their prayers such a storming of and forceable entry into heaven being most acceptable to him as Tertullian elegantly Such an advantage hath the Publick above the Private the Church above the Closet and hence a necessity of Common Prayer But there may be a necessity of Common Prayer yet no necessity of a Book of Common Prayer that is of a set form The prayers of the Minister in the Congregation for the Congregation are Common Prayers which are Prayers conceived and without book Answer Confest such Prayers may in some sort be called Common Prayers but not so properly as set forms because the Minister who officiateth Publickly is but the Agent the representative of the people in their resort to God Now in arbitrary Prayer he cannot so well be called the mouth of the Assembly or said to send up his prayers on their errand when they are not privy to one syllable he will deliver when he speaks alwayes his own not alwayes their sence in which case the peoples Amen should be as Arbitrary as is his Prayer and if upon some dislike at the either matter or form the people think fit to suspend their
sunt quos dirigit amor i. e. they are the best natured whom love perswades so plures sunt quos corrigit timor they are more numerous whom awe constrains upon which very score necessary it was to call in aid of the civil power which was done here by act of Parliament So that no one order had reason to except against this established form the Clergy were imployed as contrivers of the model The laity from the highest to the lowest all Kings Lords and Commons were interested in the ratification wherby a coercive power in order to conformity was constituted And that the said book with the order of service c. This act is not introductory of a now Liturgy but a reviver of the old that of the fift and sixth of Edward the 6 the remains of which structure are so considerable notwithstanding it hath gone twice to the mending as may worthily give it the denomination of Edward the 6 his Liturgy With one alteration c. It must not be imagined that either the Queen or the Parliament made those alterations for the review of the Liturgy was commited by the Queen to certain Commissioners viz to Mr. Whitehead Doctor Parker after Arch-Byshop of Canterbury Doctor Grindal after Bishop of London Doctor Cox after Bishop of Ely Doctor Pilkinton after Bishop of Durham Doctor May Dean of St. Pauls Doctor Bill Provost of Eaton and Sr. Thomas Smith These adding and expunging where they thought meet presented it to the Parliament who onely established what they had concluded upon As for the several changes Alterations and differences betwixt this Liturgy of ours and that of the 2 of Edward 6. this statute takes not notice of them all but what is defective herein Smectymnuâ—s hath supplyed as shall be observed at their several occurrences To inquire in their visitation c. Diocesan visitations were alwayes of very eminent use in the Ecclesiastical Polity and peculiar of the Episcopal function Indeed none â—o fit to make the scrutiny and lustration as he who is to pronounce the censure upon this account Primitive Bishops held themselves obliged as no disparagement to their Grandure to perform the office in their own persons St. Augustine plead it in bar to Celer's action of unkindnesse against him for not writing sooner Quâ—niam visitandarum Ecclesiarum ad meam Curam pertinentium necessitate profectus sum i. e. Because saith he I was gone a broad upon abusinesse of necessity the visiting of such Churches as were within my cure So the Mareotick Clergy in the defence of Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria against a calumny of his adversaries make mention of his visitation in person and not onely so but also that they themselves were of his train when he went upon that service In after times their work encreasing so as they could not well attend it themselves they had their Periodeutae and Itinerary Vicars to go the circuit for them these acting still agreeable to a series of Articles enjoyned by their Bishops In the beginning of the Reformation when it much concerned the Civil power to act as we say of natural agents ad extremum Potentiae to the utmost of its politick hability King Henry the eighth and Edward the sixt and Queen Elizabeth though I presume upon consultation had with the Clergy assumed and exercised the Authority of framing and imposing a body of Articles for Episcopal visitations which had certainly this very commendable property that they preserved uniformity whereas the leaving them to every arbitrary fancy and the exercise of that liberty by some Bishops of later memoray was in my opinion a probable way of erecting Altar against Altar and creating Schisme in the Church The Queens Majesty may by the like advice c. There was in the Act premised a prohibition with a penalty annext to it that no Parson Vicar or other whatsoever Minister shall use any other rite ceremony order form c. then is mentioned in the Book of Common prayer against this constitution a caveat is entred here whereby the Queen may by the advice of her Commissioners or metropolitan ordain and publish such farther Ceremonies or Rites as may be most for the advancement of Gods glory c. So that upon the entertainment of this exception the rule is corroborated as to all particulars not so exempted and consequently that none might innovate any Rite not expressly enjoyned in the book of Common Prayer then established or Book of Canons legally to be framed afterwards Which clause of reserve was no impowring nor enabling the Queen with any new and upstart authority but onely a declaration of what was resident in her before as inseparably incident to the supream Dominion vested in the Crown Agreeable to which She Anno. 1597. authorised the Clergy then met in Convocation to make and publish certain Canons which she after confirmed under the great Seal of England Other Canons there were made Anno 1571. But being not ratified with royal Authority I suppose they were not obligatory enough to constrain obedience and as concerning these of 1597. the formal words of her heires and successors being omitted in those Ratifications they were supposed onely obligatory during her Reign and that they together with her self breathed their last Whereupon King James in the first year of his reign issued forth a new Commission by his letters Patents to the Convocation then assembled therein giving them full power and Authority to consult and agree upon such Canons c. as they should think necessary which being concluded upon by the Clergy and presented to his Majesty He did for himself his heires and lawful successors confirm them with his royal assent as may be seen more at large in that Ratification Indeed the supremacy of the Civil Magistrate as to confirmation and a cogency of external obedience in Religious and Ecclesiastical affaires is no usurpation upon the Churches right as the Romish party contend against us but hath been approved of in the purest times and therefore whereas they seem to presse us with the objection That our Religion is Parliamentary because some concernments thereof have been Ratified by Act of Parliament Our answer is that Parliaments Enact not without the Royal assent This is onely this that vital spirit which regularly animates those establishments and from such assent the two first general Councels not to insist upon Nationals received their confirmation Eminent is that of Socrates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. I therefore so often mention the Emperours in the series of my History though Ecclesiastical because that from the very first of their becoming Christians all Church matters depended upon their pleasure so as the greatest and Oecumenical Councels were then and are still convented by their order and summons As concerning these Canons of our Church Regal assent it was alone which firmed them the Parliament though then sitting not being resorted to nor interposing their Authority an unhappy disjunctive
the festivals of the Heathen scituated under the same parallel of legality may not also be converted into Christian Holy-dayes CHAP. III. The order where Morning and Evening prayer shall be used and said Common prayer 2. B. of Edw. 6. THE morning and Evening Prayer shall be used in the accustomed place of the Church Chappel or Chancel B except it shall be otherwise determined by the Ordinary of the Place C And the Chancels shall remain as they have done in times past The morning and Evening Prayer shall be used in such places of the Church Chappel or Chancel and the Minister shal so turn him as the people may best hear And if there be any controversie therein the matter shall be referred to the Ordinary and he or his deputy shall appoint the place And the Chancels shall remain as they have done in times past 1. B. of Edw. 6. The Common prayer 2. Book of Edw. 6. In the saying or singing of Mattens and Evensong Baptizing Burying the Minister in Parish Churches and Chappels annext to the same E shall use a Surplice And in all Cathedral Churches and Colledges the Arch-Deacons Deans Provosts Masters Prebendaries and fellows being Graduates may use in the quire besides their Surplices such hoods as pertaine to their several degrees which they have taken in any university within this Realm But in all other places every Minister shall be at liberty to use any Surplice or no. It is also seemly that Graduats when they do preach should use such hoods as pertaine to their several degrees And here is to be noted that the Minister at the time of the Communion and at all other times in his ministration shall use D such ornaments in the Church as were in use by Authority of Parliament in the 2. year of the reign of King Edw. the 6th according to the act of Parliament set in the beginning of the Book And here is to be noted that the Minister at the time of the Communion and at all other times in his ministration shall use neither All Vestment nor cope but being Arch-Bishop or Bishop he shall have and wear a Rochet and being a Priest or Deacon he shall have and wear a surplice only  Scotch Liturgy  And whensoever the Bishop shall celebrate the holy Communion in the Church or execute any other publick ministration he shall have upon him beside his Rochet a Surplice or Alb and a Cope or Vestment and also his Pastoral staffe in his hand or else born or holden by his Chaplain And here is to be noted that the presbyter or Minister at the time of the Communion and at other times of his ministration shall use such Ornaments in the Church as are prescribed or shall be by his Majesty or his successors according to the Act of Parliament provided in that behalf  The Common Prayer 1. B. of Edw. 6. An order for Morning Prayer dayly throughout the year An order for Mattens dayly throughout the year At the beginning both of Morning Prayer and likewise of Evening Prayer F the Priest shall read with a loud voice some one of these sentences of the Scriptures that follow And then he shall say that which is written after the said sentences AT what time soever a sinner doth repent him of his sin from the bottom of his heart I will put all his wickednesse out of my remembrance faith the Lord. I do know mine own wickednesse and my sin is alwaye against me Turn thy face away from our sins O Lord and blot out all our offences A sorrow til spirit is a sacrifice to God despise not O Lord humble and conâ—rite hearts Rent your hearts and not your garments and turn to the Lord your God because he is gentle and merciful he is patient and of much mercie and such a one that is sorry for your afflictions To thee O Lord God belongeth mercy and forgivenesse for we have gone away from thee and have not bearkened to thy voice whereby we might walk in thy laws which thou hast appointed for us Correct us O Lord and yet in thy judgement not in thy fury lest we should be consumed and brought to nothing Amend your lives for the kingdome of God is at hand I will go to my father and say to him Father I have sinned against heaven and against thee I am no more worthy to be called thy son Enter not into judgement with thy servants O Lord for no flesh is righteous in thy sight If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and there is no truth in us DEarly beloved brethren the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickednesse and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father but confesse them with an humble lowly penitent and obedient heart to the end that we may obtain forgivenesse of the same by his infinite goodnesse and mercy And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sinnes before God yet ought we most chiefly so to do when we assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits which we have received at his hands to set forth his most worthy praise to hear his most holy word and to ask those things which be requisite and necessary as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you as many as be here present to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voice unto the Throne of the heavenly grace saying after me A general confession to be said of the whole congregation after the Priest Scot. Liturgy all humbly kneeling ALmighty and most merciful father we have erred and strayed from thy wayes like lost sheep we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts we have offended against thy holy laws we have left undon those things which we ought to have done and we have done those things which we ought not to have done and there is no health in us but thou O Lord have mercy upon us miserable offenders spare thou them O God which confess their faults restore thou them that be penitent according to thy promises declared unto mankinde in Christ Jesu our Lord. And grant O most merciful Father for his sake that we may hereafter live a godly righteous and sover life to the glory of thy holy name Scotch Liturgy And the Salvation of our own souls Amen The absolution or remission of sins to be pronounced by the Priest alone Scot. Lit. he standing up and turning himself to the people but they still remaining humbly upon their knees Lmighty God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ which desireth not the death of a sinner but rather that he may turn from his wickednesse and live and hath given power and commandment to Scotch Lit. the Presbyters of his Church the ministers of his Gospel
preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth so as in due time we may enjoy them We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to give us true repentance to forgive us all our sins negligences and ignorances and to endue us with the grace of thy holy spirit to amend our lives according to thy holy word We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. Son of God we beseech thee to hear us Son of God we beseech thee to hear us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Grant us thy peace O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Have mercy upon us O Christ hear us O Christ hear us Lord have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Our father which art in heaven c. And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil Amen The Versicle O Lord deal not with us after our sins The Answer Neither reward us after our iniquities Let us pray O God merciful father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desire of such as be sorrowful mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in all our troubles and adversities whensoever they oppresse us And gratiously hear us that those evils which the craft and subtilty of the Devil or man worketh against us be brought to nought and by the providence of thy goodness they may be dispersed that we thy servants being hurt by no persecutions may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church though Jesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise help us and deliver for thy names sake O God we have heard with our ears and our fathers have declared unto us the noble works that thou didst in their dayes and in the old time before them O Lord arise help us and deliver us for thine honour Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. As it was in the beginning is now c. From our enemies defend us O Christ. Gratiously look upon afflictions Pitifully behold the sorrows of our hearts Mercifully forgive the sins of thy people Favourably with mercy hear our prayers O son of David have mercy upon us Both now and ever vouchsafe to hear us O Christ. Gratiously hear us O Christ Graciously hear us O Lord Christ. The Versicle O Lord let thy mercy be shewed upon us The Answer As we do put our trust in thee Let us pray WE humbly beseech thee O father mercifully to look upon our infirmities and for the glory of thy name sake turn from us all those evils that we most righteously have deserved and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy and evermore serve thee in holinesse and purenesse of living to thy honour and glory through our onely mediator and advacate Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A prayer for the Kings majesty O Lord our heavenly father high and mighty King of Kings Lord of Lords the onely ruler of Princes which doest from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon the earth most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most gracious soveraign Lord and so replenish him with the grace of thy holy spirit that he may alway encline to thy will and walk in thy way endue him plentifully with heavenly gifts grant him in health and wealth long to live strengthen him that he may vanquish and overcome all his enemies and finally after this life he may attain everlasting joy and felicitie through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Scot. Lit. A prayer for the holy Clergy ALmighty and everlasting God which only workest great marvails send down upon our Bishops and Curates and all congregations committed to their charge the healthful spirit of thy grace and that they may truely please thee powre upon them the continual dew of thy blessing grant this O Lord for the honour of our advocate and mediator Jesus Christ Amen Scot. Lit. A prayer to be said in Ember weeks for those which are then to be admitted into holy orders and is to be read every day of the week beginning on the Sunday before the day of Ordination ALmighty God the giver of all good gifts who of thy divine providence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church give thy grace we humbly beseech thee to all those which are to be called to any office and administration in the same and so replenish them with the truth of thy Doctrine and innocency of life that they may faithfully serve before thee to the glory of thy great name and the benefit of thy holy Church through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer of Chrysostome ALmighty God which hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee and doest promise that when two or three be gathered together in thy name thou wilt grant their requests fulfil now O Lord the desires and petitioâ—s of thy servants as may be most expedient for them granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth and in the world to come life everlasting Amen THe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship 2 Cor. 13. of the holy Ghost be with us all evermore Amen Scot. Litnrgies For Rain if the time require O God Heavenly Father whose gift it is that the Rain doth fall the earth is fruitful beasts encrease and fishes do multiply send us we beseech thee in this our necessity such moderate Rain and showers that we may receive the fruits of the earth to our comfort and to thy honour through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen O God Heavenly Father which by thy son Jesus Christ hast promised to all them that seek thy kingdom and the righteousnesse thereof all things necessary to their bodily sustenance send us we beseech thee in this our necessity such moderate Rain and showers that we may receive the fruits of the earth to our comfort and to thy honour through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen For fair weather O Lord God which for the sin of man didst once drown all the world except eight persons and afterwards of thy great mercy didst promise never to destroy it so again we humbly beseech thee that although we for our iniquities have worthily deserved this plague of rain and waters yet upon our true repentance thou wilt send us such weather whereby we may receive the fruits of the earth in due season and learn both by thy punishment to amend our lives and for thy clemencie to give thee praise and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. In the time of dearth and famine O God heavenly father whose gift it is that the rain doth fall the earth is fruitful beasts increase and fishes do multiply behold we beseech thee the afflicuons of thy people and
at all appyable to catechizing Not this of Eusebius neither the act done nor the place where it was done will admit it Not the act being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is not in that place the making of profession as the Dr. renders it but confession of sinnes and the prayers there mentioned was the Absolution a consequent of that confession and which was always performed with Imposition of hands Not the place because it was in that destined for publick worship and so not proper for Catechizing Grant I do that the Catechumeni had their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dwellings annext and adjoyned to the temples which for that very cause were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 venerable houses perhaps some rooms in the Baptisteries as St. Ambrose in the Epistle forementioned But that they were actually catechized in the Church where the congregation of the faithful assembled I finde not one syllable in antiquity but much to the contrary as shall be seen anon To come to Clemens Alexandrinus I say that passage of his to Catechistical Benediction neither did nor could relate It did not because it is expresly restrained to a Presbyter but a Presbyter as Presbyter was never deputed to that office nor was it ever held necessary for a catechist to be a Presbyter I finde indeed the catechumens enjoyned by two several councels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to give an account of their faith to the Bishop or Presbyters on the fifth day of the week yet doth it not follow that therefore the Bishop or Presbyters were catechists 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly so called they being only appointed for that time to receive that account from them because it was great reason that they who regularly had the only power to baptize should be well assured that they should confer that seal upon none but persons qualified with knowledge sufficient for it Catechists were usually if not constantly lay-men In Scripture dialect I take them to be those which pass under the name of Doctors 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such were the Doctors amongst whom our Saviour was found in the Temple disputing that is questioning and answering like a Cateohumen Such was St. Paul who as I said before was a catechist calls himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 2. 7. 2 Tim. 1. 2. a teacher or catechist of the Gentiles so I am certain they were tearmed in the times succeeding The supposed Clemens discoursing of catechizing saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He that is a catechist though he be a lay-man yet if he be skilful and able for the place and of good behaviour let him teach the Novices where not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports a Catechist but also there is an impli'd toleration for him to be a Lay-man So St. Cyprian Optatum inter lectores doctorem audientium constiâ—â—imus Optatus one of the Readers I have constituted a Doctor there is doctor again of the Hearers This Optatâ—s was not then in the Clergy inter lectores one of the Readers and therefore the Father saith he was only clero proxinâ—us ad clerum paratus the next remove bexeath and ready to be ordained of the Clergy Indeed St. Augustine gives us an account of a Deacon who performed this Office Petis a me frater Deogratias ut aliquod ad te de Catechizandis rudibus quod tibi usui esset scriberem Dixisti enim quod apud carthaginem ubi Diaconuses adte saepe adducuntur qui fide Christiana primitus imbuendi sunt Thou didst desire of me Deogratias that I should write to thee something concerning the catechizing of novices For thou sayest that at Carthage where thou art Deacon many are brought to thee to be instructed in the principles of Christianity All this time no mention of any Presbyter-catechist in the Affrican Church But it might be otherwise at Alexandria Not at Alexandria to be sure where a Marco Evangelista semper Ecclesiastici fuere Doctores Even from the time of Mark the Evangelist there were always successively Ecclesi astical Doctors that is catechists where this very Clemens was one and so was Origen once his scholler at eighteen years of age as both Eusebius and St. Hierome witness too young to be ordained a Clergy man And for other parts St. Cyril Bishop of Hierusalem was there a Catechist and wrote his Catecheses in Adolescentia in his youth as St. Hierome tells us if so then probably he was no Presbyter at that time a Presbyter or Elder as the word imports and a youth being tearms contra-distinct But there is still behinde an other argument an infallible one that Clemens his Presbyter here mentioned could not be a Catechist For his question hath evident reference to women Inveighing against such women as wore false hair he frameth this expostulary argument 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Upon whom shall the Presbyter impose his hands whom shall he bless Not the adorned woman her self but her false hair and thereby anothers head Women being then the subject of his discourse the Presbyter cannot be a Catechist It is most undoubtedly true what the most famous Grotius hath delivered in this particular Foeminae per foeminas primi Christianismi cognitione imbui et sic ad Ecclesias pertrahi debebant Women were by women meaning Diaconisses and Sanctimonials to be taught the principles of Christianity and so to be brought into the Churches And though he quoteth no one Authority for it yet for Greece he yields a very perswading reason that it was so In Graecia clausa Gynaeconitis the fashion was in Greece for the Gyneceum or womens chamber to be kept private inaccessible to men To which known custome this very Clemens elsewhere referreth giving us an account what those women were which the Apostles made their synodites and companions in their journeys he calls them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fellow ministers with them towards women which kept close at home 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by whom viz. as Catechists christian instruction might freely without reproof enter the most retired chambers allotted for women Much to the same purpose the other supposed Clemens who shewing cause why Diaconisses must be chosen saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It hapeneth sometimes that for the speech of unbelievers you cannot send a Deacon to women and then you shall send a Diaconisse The Geneceum or womens room being so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and inaccessible to men no marvel if Diaconisses were appointed for the service Nay further clear it is even in other places where they were not so strictly mued up within the Latine jurisdiction the practice was the same as appeareth by the fourth councel of Carthage Sanctimoniales quae ad ministerium Baptisandarum mulierum eliguntur instructae sint ad officium ut possint apto et sano sermone docere imperit as et rusticas mâ—lieres tempere quo Baptisandae sint qualiter Baptisatori interrogatae respondeant