Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n
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A33491
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A plain and rational vindication of the liturgy of the Church of England collected out of the discourses of some of the reverend bishops and doctors of the same church, by way of question and answer / by J. Clvtterbvck, Gent.
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Clutterbuck, J. (John)
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1699
(1699)
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Wing C4743; ESTC R35618
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52,978
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73
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in the Temple and though we cannot see our Saviour with our bodily Eyes as he did yet he 's by the Writings of the Apostles daily presented to the Eyes of our Faith and if we were as much concern'd for Heaven and as loose from the Love of the World as old Simeon was and as we ought to be we might upon the View of Christ in his holy Word by Faith be daily ready to sing this Hymn Of the LXVII Psalm THIS Psalm is parallel to the former Evangelical Hymn David prayed for that saving Health which old Simeon rejoiced to see and both of them praised God upon the Foresight they had that it would be made known to us as it is this day by the Voices of the Apostles Of the Apostles Creed Quest WHY is it called the Apostles Creed A. It is called a Creed from the Latin word Credo to believe because it contains such Points of Christian Doctrine as are most necessary to be believed 2. It 's called the Apostles Creed partly because of the Apostolical Doctrine contained in it but rather because it was composed by the Apostles or at least in or near the Apostolical Times and it consists also of Twelve Articles according to the number of the Twelve Apostles Q. Why did the ancient Councils make new ones A. They declare they did not make new ones only largely expound such Articles as Hereticks disputed against Q. If this be a genuine and true Composure then is it not of equal Authority with the holy Scriptures A. 'T is the same thing in a Compendium or short Way and differs only in Form not in Sense Q. Why is the Creed placed after the Lessons and before the Prayers A. We confess that Faith which the Lessons teach 2. It 's the Foundation of all our Petitions for we cannot call on him on whom we have not believed Q. Why is the Creed often repeated A. Because we had need look well to our Faith and be careful to keep that intire by often rehearsing we guard our Souls with it 2. It 's a plighting our Faith and Fidelity to God and Confession is as necessary to Salvation as believing Q. Why must we repeat it with an audible Voice A. Because by so doing every one gives his positive and particular Assent and by it evidenceth to the Church his sound Belief Q. Why is it repeated standing A. By this Gesture we signifie our readiness to profess and our resolution to adhere and stand to this Faith and earnestly contend for it And in our daily use of this Sacred Form let us devoutly apply every Article to be both a ground for our Prayer and a guide to our Lives Q. Why do we Bow at the Name of Jesus A. The mentioning of the Name of Jesus puts us in Mind of him we owe all manner of Reverence to which we express by Bowing Bishop Stillingfleet Q. Why do we say Amen after the rehearsing of it A. To testify our stedfast belief of it and our desire to live as those that heartily believe it Q. What is meant by the word I Believe A. As with a certain and full perswasion I assent so with a fix'd and undaunted resolution I profess and with this Faith in my Heart and Confession in my Mouth in respect of the whole Body of the Creed and every Article I sincerely readily and resolvedly say I Believe Q. How may we know when we rightly believe in God the Father A. When we love him fear him and serve him as our great Creator and merciful Preserver Q. How may we know when we rightly believe in God the Son A. When we submit to him trust in him and obey him as our only Lord and Saviour Q. How may we know when we rightly believe in God the Holy Ghost A. When we follow his Directions and make use of his Assistance as our Guide Sanctifier and Comforter Q. Why is God the Son said in the Catechism to redeem me and all Mankind when the greatest part perish without the benefit of his Redemption A. The price of his Blood which he paid was sufficient for the Ransom of the whole World and is available to as many as God in his abundant Goodness and Mercy shall judge worthy to be Partakers of the Inheritance with the Saints in Life but to none of those that do profess to be the Disciples of the Holy Jesus but such as observe the Conditions viz. Faith and Repentance required in his Blessed Gospel Q. How is the Holy Ghost said to Sanctify all the Elect People of God A. By calling them out and separating them from the rest of the World which is properly to Sanctify as well as by putting good Motions and Affections in them and inspiring them with Holiness by which they become God's choice and peculiar People Q. What may we mean when we say Christ descended into Hell A. The word Hell is a Saxon word which is as much as covered or hidden and in the Original Propriety both of the Greek and English it signifies no more than the place which is unseen or removed from Men's sight so that the meaning may be When all the Sufferings of Christ were finish'd upon the Cross and his Soul separated from his Body altho' his Body was dead his Soul dy'd not but underwent the condition of the Souls of such as die being he dy'd in the Similitude of a Sinner his Soul went to the place where the Souls of Men are kept who die for their Sins and so did wholly undergo the Law of Death contenting himself during his three days of Humiliation with the imperfect Happiness which the Souls of Holy Men are under till the general Resurrection from the Dead Bishop Pearson Q. Why is the Church call'd Holy and Catholick A. It is call'd Holy because it is joined to God in Covenant and the true Members of it are sanctified by the Spirit of Holiness 2. And it is call'd Catholick or Universal because it is spread over all the World and not confined as it was among the Jews to one particular place Q. What may we understand by the Communion of Saints A. That such Persons as are truly sanctified in the Church of Christ have fellowship with God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost as dwelling with them and taking up their Habitations in them that they partake of the Care and Kindness of the blessed Angels that beside the external fellowship which they have in the Word and Sacraments with all the Members of the Church they have an intimate Union and Conjunction with all the Saints on Earth as living Members of Christ and have fellowship likewise with all the Saints departed in the true Faith and Fear of God Bishop Pearson 2. If this Answer be too mystical and obscure embrace this pithy and plain one The Christian Church or Society of Believers as one Body is United by a participation of all Spiritual things as Word Sacraments
c. and Communication of all Temporal things and a fellow-feeling of one anothers condition by all the Members of the Body Of St. Athanasius 's Creed commonly so called IT 's an Explanation of the great Mysteries of the Trinity and of Christ's Incarnation against the Arrians and other Hereticks and hath been received with great Veneration by the Greek and Latin Churches and many of the Reformed as well as the Romanist do hold that Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria was the Author and all agree that nothing in this or the Nicene Creed materially different from that which the Apostles Creed had contained nor nothing really superadded to it but were designed by the Compilers to fence the Catholick Orthodox Faith against the Corruptions and Depravations or else from the Doubtings and Contradictions of Hereticks and is the Quintessence of ancient Orthodox Divinity Q. Why are those Censures affix'd in the beginning middle and end of the Athanasian Creed A. They must be interpreted by their Opposition to those Heresies that had invaded the Church which were Acts of Carnality in them that broached and maintained them against the Apostolick Doctrine and contradictory to that Foundation which had been resolved on and were therefore to be anathematized after this manner and with Detestation banished out of the Church 2. If any scruple at the positive denying Salvation to such as do not believe these Articles let them remember such as hold any fundamental Heresies are condemned in Scripture and the Doctrines are called Damnable Heresies Let us therefore firmly believe and devoutly use this Form blessing God for these clear Explications of the sublime Mysteries of the Trinity and Christ's Incarnation in which we must strive to understand as much as we can and supply the Rest with Silence Submission and Adoration Of the Versicles and Responsals or short Verses and Answers Quest WHY after we have repeated the Creed do we begin with the Form of Salutation viz. The Lord be with you Answ Such mutual Salutations are excellent Expressions of the Communion of Saints and Incentives and Provocations to Charity and Love one of another since we cannot pray without God's Help therefore the Minister prays That the Lord may be with them to assist them and since the Minister prays for all the People they desire he may heartily and devoutly offer up these Prayers in their Behalf saying The Lord be with thy Spirit Q. Why are those Words Let us pray often repeated A. It is a kind of Watch-Word or Signal of Battel to summon us all with united Forces to besiege Heaven it self with our Holy Importunities And 2. It 's a Warning to every one to lay aside all vain Thoughts and only to mind this great Work we have in Hand Q. Why are those Versicles Lord have Mercy upon us Three times repeated A. Because it is a most Pathetick Petition of Mercy to the Blessed Trinity called by the Ancients a Short Litany and is a Preparation to the Lord's Prayer Q. Why is the Lord's Prayer again repeated A. Because it consecrates all the rest of our Prayers and makes way for them and if we did not put up any Petition with Fervency enough before we may now make amends for it by asking that with a double Earnestness Q. Why are those short Versicles and Responsals used A. It was the Primitive Way of Praying and they contain the Sum of all the following Collects 1. The First O Lord shew thy Mercy c. being a Petition for Mercy and Salvation answers to the Sunday Collect. 2. The Second O Lord save the King answers to the Collects for the King and his Family 3. The Third Endue thy Ministers c. and the Fourth O Lord save thy People c. answer the Collect for the Clergy and People 5. The Fifth Give Peace in our Time c. answers the Morning and Evening Collects for Peace and Safety 6. The Sixth O God make clean c. answers the Morning and Evening Collects for Grace And thus by this Alternate Way of Responses or answering and speaking by turns one after another first the Minister then the People we fit our selves the better for the following Collects Q. Are there any other Reasons for the Vse of these Versicles and Responsals A. They refresh the Peoples Attention and teach them their Part at Publick Prayers and unite the Affection of them all together and help to keep them in a League of perpetual Amity Q. Why doth the Priest sometimes kneel and sometimes stand A. The Minister as a Sinner kneels with the People in all Confessions and Penitential Prayers but stands in other Offices to signifie his Office and Authority Q. Why do we turn to the East in our Prayers and Creed A. Because it 's accounted the most worthy Part of the World by being first visited by the rising Sun which may mind us of the great Honour and Majesty of the Person we speak to 2. Because the Altar or Holy Table is placed there where God affords his most Gracious and Mysterious presence and the Priest or Minister used to officiate there and it was look'd upon as unseemly to turn their Backs upon one or the other in their Prayers or Postures 3. From Adam to Abraham's Time the whole World worshipped toward the East and the Christians from the beginning built their Churches and worshipped themselves toward the East not only in opposition to the Jews who worshipped towards the West but because they expected our Saviour who is call'd Oriens ex alto or the day-spring from on high to come from thence according to his promise Matth. 24. 27. Of Collects Quest WHY are these short Forms of Prayer used Answ Because our Saviour himself taught and commended the frequent use of brief Forms of Prayer and the Primitive Christians were wont to pray in that manner from whom the Collects were derived Q. Why are they called Collects A. Because they are Collected generally out of the Epistles and Gospels and are a brief Collection of all things necessary for Soul and Body 2. Or because they are repeated in Publick when the People are collected and gathered together Q. How long have they been used in the Church A. Most of them are above a Thousand Years old having been used in the Western Church from the Time of St. Gregory the Great and are Forms for any Blessing or any Grace that we would ask for our selves or others Q. Pray direct us where we may find among them Prayers on every Occasion A. If we would pray for things spiritual for our own Souls viz. for the Gifts of the Spirit See the Prayer for St. Barnabas 's Day 2. If we would pray for Pardon See the 12 the 21 24. Sunday after Trinity 3. If for the Benefit of Christ's Death and Acceptance through him See Annunciation and Purification and 2. Sunday after Epiphany 4. If for the Comfort Direction and Illumination of the Spirit See 1. after Ascension Whitsunday