Corinth 11.23 But wee find it not in the Scripture what it should bee Yea as I sayd before we finde no direction for the Sacrament it selfe nor for any circumstance that concernes the Celebration of it neither for time place nor manner And shall wee say therefore that Moses is more faithfull than Christ No sure for that I have proved to bee another thing before But it proves this rather that under the cleare light of the Gospell the truth and substance of things fore-spoken by the Patriarchs and Prophets are so evident and apparent that there needes no such particular directions and shadowes as the dimme and darke Ceremoniall Law required And that it is left unto the discretion of such as are in Authority rule and government to appoynt and regulate as may be most for the glory of God and best for the convenience of the place and people Hym What Rule then hath the Church of England for these Ordinances and all the rest wee have spoken of Silv. The Statute Law doth order particularly every thing as I have shewed you before of the Ministers Officers the time and the worship it selfe and of the name of the place so now I shall shew you that the Statutes appoynt the publike place it selfe and for the order and manner of the rest of the particulars and how all is agreeable with the word of God in the Statutes made in the second and third yeare of King Edward the sixth and the first Chapter the affection of this religious King is there recorded to be such that hee had an eye and respect to the most sincere and pure Christian Religion taught by the Scriptures as also to the usages of the Primitive Churâ—â—â— advising with his most learned and godly Ministâ—â— obâ—â—ving the prudent judgement of his beloved Vnclâ—â— the â—â—rd Protector the best assistance of his Privie and great Councell of Parliament with the ayd of the Holy Ghost and with one uniforme agreement is of them concluded set forth and delivered to his great comfort and satisfaction of minde a composer containing rules and orders for the regulating of the manner of Gods publick worship in a Booke intituled the Booke of the Common Prayer and administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church as in this so in other Acts the times and places are appoynted the Persons to officiate and administer in Praying praysing and reading and preaching Gods word the people to assemble on Sundayes and Holy-dayes upon penalty to bee inflicted by Officers Temporall or Ecclesiasticall and that none shall deprave that is speak ill of or condemne this Order 1 Elizabeth 2. Elizabeth 2.23 Iacob 4. And that the Congregation shall behave themselves quietly and with civill demeanor and orderly all the time of Gods publike worship Anno primo Marioe the third Chapter and also the rules and order for the particulars for Baptisme and the Lords Supper are contained in the Statutes that Children of beleeving Parents shall be baptized and that there shall be witnesses to testifie so much and also to promise a Christian endeavour for religious instruction and education the form of words that contained in the Commission given to the Apostles before mentioned the manner appoynted Dipping in or sprinkling with water And so also for the Supper of the Lord the Elements Bread and Wine to be provided by the Church-wardens at the charges of the Parishoners the time to be appoynted by the Minister and the people to have notice of it by his directions Anâ— as the former so this to bee blessed and administred by the Pastor or Minister in the words of our Lords first Institution and the people to receive in a praying gesture both Ordinances being communicated with prayer and thanksgiuing for the Vestments of the Ministers and gesture oâ— both Minister and People are ordered also Hymen But how can you prove to mee that those Acâ— and Ordinances are agreeable and warrantable by the Word 〈◊〉 God Silv. Such Ordinances of men that are not against thâ— Word of God I am warranted by the Word of God 〈◊〉 obey but the Traditions and Ordinances of the Churâ— are no wayes opposite or contrary to GODS Worâ— therefore GODS Word injoynes Christians obedieâ— thereunto The generall Rules in Scripture of Traditions for 〈◊〉 der and Decency in the Churches were onely for 〈◊〉 things as concerne the publick worship of God which rules are not found exprest and determined in the Scripture therefore the Apostle 2 Thes â— â— speakes to the Church of Thessalonica in words of Dignity and Authority saying Now wee command you brethren in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ that you withdraw your selves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after the Traditions which hee received of us Observe the holy Apostles extraordinary expressions and likewise how hee ingages the Lord Iesus Christ in the cause that Order should be observed according to Traditions given which Traditions were not written Scriptures but things of like nature as the Apostle to the Corinthians speakes of 1 Cor. 14. And although of much variety in the Church yet hee thus would have all â—hings regulated Let all things be done decently and in Order And the â—der and decency is exprest throughout the Chapter Aâ—â—eaching verse 3.4 which is declared by speaking by Revelation by Knowledge or by Doctrine And that preaching and praying singing and giving thanks are to be in a knowne tongue to the edifying of the Church verse 12.15 17. That also the Prophets doe beake one by one that all may learne and all may be comâ—orted verse 31. And just so it was with the Church at Ieâ—usalem Acts 15.7 The Church being met together it is â—yd Peter rose up and spake unto them as in the 8 9 10 â—1 Verses And in the twelfth Verse it is sayd the multiâ—de kept silence and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul â—nd after they had held their peace Iames answered saying Men and Brethren hearken unto me v. 13. so that 4. Apostles â—one meeting prophecyes but in order one after another â—d to this the Apostle speakes fully to the Church of Coâ—h for God is not the Author of confusion or tumults or unquietnesse but of peace as in all Churches of the Saints 1 Cor. 13.33 So also in the next Chapter he gives generall rules to all Churches Let your women keep silence in the Churches for it is not permitted to them to speake And in another place directions are given for womens habits that their heads be covered 1 Cor. 11.6 So in the Chapter following he gives many rules about preparation before the sacrament as concerning our carriage in communicating where you come together saith he to eate tarry one for another So hee requires knowledge to discerne the Lords body So Temperance and modesty of behaviour that the Communion may be answerable to the thing Communicated in and thus concludes And the rest will I set in order when I
come as doing it by that place and seniority he had in the Church And therefore he speaks in the singular number I will and not in the plurall and so in another place he speaks as if the care of all the Churches lay upon him 2 Cor 11.28 And as the care was specially in gathering and edifying the Churches by Doctrine so also in ordering therefore he saith as he had given order to the Church of Galatia about things that had not beene ordered by the Scriptures even so doe yee saith hee to the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 16.1 And he rejoyceth in the holy Order that was in the Church of Collossia being much comforted in the order as well as in the grace it self in these words for though I be absent in the flesh yet am I with you in the spirit joying and beholding your Order and the stedfastnesse of your faith in Christ Col. 2.5 And this was not Saint Pauls practice alone but generall in all Churches by other Apostles Elders and Evangelists as appeares by his Epistle to Titus saying For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordaine Elders in every City as I had appoynted thee Titus 1.5 All which in totall in what hath beene said the Apostle to the Thessalonians makes a conclusion without any exception in these words Therefore Brethren stand stast and hold the traditions which yee have beene tâ—ught whether by word or by our Epistle 2 Thes 2.15 Hym. These Scriptures doe clearly shew that the Church hath power to prescribe Order and make rules for such things as Gods word doth not particularize so that the traditions be consonant thereunto Sil. That the rule for reading the Scriptures is agreeable to the Word I have sufficiently proved before but that you may beyond all exception be satisfied here what the Apostle saith to 〈◊〉 â—hurches of Collosse and and Laodicea And when th◠〈◊〉 is read amongst you cause that it be also read in the Church of the Laodiceans Col. 4.16 And the command of our Lord Christ to search the Scriptures is to read the Scriptures Iohn 5.39 According to that Matthew 29. Let him that readeth consider as also blessed is hee that readeth and they that here the words of this prophesie and keep those things that are written therein Rom. 1. Hym. But what warrant is there for the reading of those parts of the Scriptures appoynted of the Psalmes the Chapters the Epistles and Gospels Sil. If you grant it is warrantable to read them Order and conveniency calls to authority to appoynt which and how much for all the Scriptures cannot be read at one time therefore it was well done of the Church to divide the Prophesies of each Prophet that are long and the History of the Evangelists and the Epistles of the Apostles into severall parts or Chapters and in the use we find it profitable and therefore warrantable though there be no rule for it in Scripture but meerely of humane Order And for the Epistles and Gospells they are but parts of the Chapters for the most part of them but such portions of Scriptures as doe most fit the occasion and the time of solemne Feasts and dayes of humiliation According to our Saviour Christs example Luke 4.17 It is said there was given unto him the Book of the Prophet Esayas And when he had opened the book hee found the place wherein it was written The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath aunoynted me to preach the Gospell to the poore he hath sent me to heale the broken hearted c. to preach the acceptable yeare of the Lord. And when he had read this portion of Scripture hee closed the book and gave it againe to the Minister By which it is plaine our Saviour Christ sought in the Prophesie for that part and such a part it was that fitted the particular occasion as himselfe saith verse 21. This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your eares Hym. I must confesse this is cleare to me But pray shew how the Statutes and the Scriptures agree in appointing set formes for prayer and prayses in the Congregation Sil. Authority in appoynting a forme for prayer and prayses doth not require nothing but set formes for the publick for before and after Sermons their prayers are left to their owne ordering and each man is free in regard of any forme imposed But the Church for the better direction of the Minister and edification of the many doth appoynt and command some to be used but they are such as are both for matter and manner without just exception 〈◊〉 onely observing there in words of Truth to the onely truâ— God to which we adding our spirituall affections make up the true Worship of God in every part of it as our Lord hath taught us God is is a spirit and hee that worships God must worship him in Spirit and Truth Iohn 4.29 T The brevity shortnesse and exactnesse of these formes â—f prayer following are agreeable to the wisedome of Soâ—omon his Order for Gods publike worship When thou goest saith he into the house of God bee not rash with thy mouth c. for God is in heaven therefore let thy words be few Eccles 5.1 2. And such is the councell of the King of Kings the wisedome of wisedome Matth. 6.7 When yee pray use no vaine repetition as the heathen doe c. for your father knoweth what things you have need of before you aske him According to which see and read the generall Confession of sinnes and that O God which art the Author of peace and lover of concord c. As also O Lord our heavenly Father Almighty and everlasting God which hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day c. with the rest examine and see how plain and full the expressions are so briefe pithy and pertinent as words can possibly bee thought of termes of such excellent yet plaine meaning that the lowest and meanest capacity may joyne in affection that a sweet harmony may be made by the supplication of the whole Congregation in truth to the God of Truth Now to prove that such set-formes of words are lawfull to pray and invocate God by the Scriptures are plentifull both in the Old and new Testament as Luke 11.2 The Disciples desiring the Lord to teach them to pray as Iohn taught his Disciples our Lord saith unto them when yee pray say Our Father which art in Heaven c. And he gives them a perfect forme of words And the example of our Blessed Lord himselfe is left written for our example Matthew 26.44 that he prayed the third time the same words Marke it here is a large consideration in a short Petition excellent in brevity pertinency fervencie and importunity all the men in the world cannot answer this command and example of our Saviour Christ which gives warrant without controule that God may be worshipped truely
in a set-form of words I make a generall demand to all opposites whosoever If there be any thing alike authentick to the precept and example of our Blessed God Oh how are those men therefore to bee reproved even withstood to their faces that have and doe preach that all set-formes of Prayer are from the Devill and first invented and found out by him when that holy man Moses being led by the Holy Ghost every day morning and evening when the Congregation journyed used these very words constantly when they took up the Arke in the morning thus hee prayed Num. 10.35 36. Rise up Lord and let thine enemies bee scattered and let them that hate thee flye before thee And every evening when they set downe the Arke or rested he said Returne ô Lord to the many thousands of Israel and the very words of Moses the Prophet David writes downe for a forme to be used and sung in the Temple many a hundred yeares afterwards Psalme 68.1 And the Lord Iehovah commands Moses even his servant Moses to give to Aaron and his Sonnes a set forme of words to blesse the Congregation with Num. 6.22 And the Lord spake to Moses saying speak unto Aaron and to his sonnes saying you shall blesse the Children of Israel saying unto them The Lord blesse thee and keep thee the Lord Lord make his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and grant thee peace Here the Lords Name is three times used in one forme of blessing And yet I hope none is so ignorant as to say it is vaine repitition So in 150. Psalme Prayse God and Praise him is used thirteene times in sixe verses so in 126. Psalme to the praise of God these words For his mercy endureth for ever are used or repeated twenty and six times so in 107. Psalme O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull workes for the Children of men where the Prophet in this Psalme repeats the same words foure times And the Apostle for the Romans prayes thus The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ bee with you Rom. 16.23 and so for the Corinthians 1 Cor. 16.23 2 Cor. 13.14 and so for the Galatians Gal. 6.18 and so for the Philippians Phil. 4.13 and so for the Thessalonians 1 Thes 5.28 2 Thes 3.18 And also for the Church in Philemons house Phil. 25. using the same words of prayer and blessing eight times for six severall Churches Thus even thus the Old and New Testament agree together in this one truth as the holy Prophet gives direction 1 Chron. 16.3 5. Say yee Save us O God of our salvation and gather us together and deliver us from the Heathen that wee may give thanks to thy holy name and glory in thy praise Hym. That a forme may bee lawfully used in Gods publicke worship of prayer and prayse is a truth so fully proved by you that men nor Angels cannot gain-say to disprove But I have heard a Minister preach it is unlawfull to use the Lords prayer because we find no example for it in any of the Apostles Sil. We doe not read that any of the Apostles in the act of Baptisme repeated all the words commanded by our Lord in the forme of Baptisme which are these Baptizing them in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost is it therefore unlawfull for Ministers to use the words or the Church to enjoyne them and is it therefore unlawfull for the Minister to use the words of our Lord which he used at the institution of the Lords Supper because wee doe not read the Apostles did use them at the administration thereof They doe no lesse than the Pharisees their Fathers in denying the lawfull use of the Lords Prayer to make the Commandment of God of none effect by their contrary Traditions Matth. 15.6 And these are the last dayes and perillous men and times the Apostle fore speaks of 2 Tim. 3. and Saint Iude in his generall Epistle Hym. Pray let me see how the Ordinances for the Sacraments appoynted by authority agree with the Scriptures Silv. The Traditions and Order that the Church hath prescribed for the manner of celebrating the Sacraments are very agreeable to the Scripture as I have before shewed in the manner of the celebration of both and that there is no circumstance added the Scripture omits neither in the admonitions and exhortations appoynted to bee read before the Communion or Baptisme nor any thing that concernes Ministers nor people in the communicating of one or either nor the blessing in dismissing the Assemblies as in particular before instanced but what stands with the holy honour and dignity of the ordinances themselves and the glory of God And therefore our Obedience thereto falls in with this generall rule of the Apostle whether therefore yee eate or drink or whatsoever you doe do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 Hym. Some Ministers will not administer the Lords Supper to any but such as are regenerated that so by faith they may eate Christs body and drinke his bloud Sil. For any man to preach that none ought to commucate of the communion of the signes of the Lords body but such as have justifying faith by which they are incorporated into his body they erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God as the Anabaptists doe in poynt of Baptisme for our Saviour himself gave it to Iudas that never had the faith that justifieth so the Apostles never denyed the preaching the Word nor the participation of the Sacraments to any that received the common faith as Circumcision and the Passeover was not to be denyed to any that became Proselites nor to the Children of such as did believe Now I have shewed before that the Passeover was the same in signification to the Iewes as the Lords Supper is to the Christians and it is as lawfull for Christians to receive the Sacrament as to heare the Word for as by the Word preached the eare is instructed in the Gospell way of Life so by the Lords Supper Christ Crucified is taught visibly to the eye Now a the Word and Sacrament have a teaching faculty or operation so also they have a nourishing strenthening and confirming faculty or operation to teach grace where it is not and to confirme and increase it where it is And there is no rule in all the Scripture to exclude a common Christian from these common Ordinances but in such cases as concerne the censure of excommunication within which a true beleever through weaknesse may fall aswell as an ordinary or common beleever and he doth discerne the Lords body that rightly understands the Sacrament in one sence thereby to bee brought to Christ as hee that by faith eates Christs flesh and drinks his bloud in a saving and spirituall sense and the word preached to the disobedient is the savour of death unto death
Our Gracious KING with You His greatest and best Councell And give unto You all the spirits of zeale and feare of the LORD so to Decree and Enact that the Truth the power and Sincerity of the Gospell may bee the honour and glory of this Kingdome with the Ordinances of GOD in the purity thereof all mis-understanding betweene His Royall MAIESTIE and Your selves reconciled and all evill Councellors on both sides removed all dissentions discords and disaffections amongst us people composed And all of Vs againe KING Parliament and people made one as the Truth and Our GOD thereof is one Finally my humble prayer is that Your Wisdomes would pardon my boldnesse And that You would be pleased to construe all that I have done or said to be entiâ—ely and sincerely from the bottome of my heart for the glory of GOD the Honour of KING and Parliament and the dutie of love I owe unto my Christian Neighbours in the fellowship and unitie of the Truth And I shall ever remaine praying for you J. G. To the Reader Christian Friend AS Gods love hath beene free to me so my hearty desire is to manifest my love to all that are his And as in all things I have received of him so especially of the best blessings that we may all prosper even as our soules prosper And therefore the first thing I communicated to the publick was a briefe description of the Kingdome of God and the Children thereof their spirituall conditions and holy persons their estate of suffering and that of triumphing And although therein I have shewed and set it forth yet briefly the great things of Gods Law or Covenant yet some have accounted it a vaine thing so that there was some cause to have spoken no more Yet the generall breach of conformitie and uniforme walking in the publick Ordinances of the Church of England hath so grieved my spirit that I am constrained through the love I beare to Gods people therein I say to make this briefe discourse following Wherein I have kept my selfe close to the Ordinances themselves examining them by such rules in Scriptures as do apparently warrant them so that if all things bee considered there is nothing imposed in the publick by Authoritie that doth any way hinder or prejudice the spirituall sinceritie of the true and pure worshipp of God therefore beloved let us studie to give God thankes for these reformations in the outward wee doe injoy already and that the same God would direct the same power of King and Parliament to goe on to a full perfection of what is begun And in the meane while wee to demeane our selves in obeying praying and studying to shew our selves approved unto God and men giving no offend in any thing that our profession be not blamed And as there 〈◊〉 more truth in the Doctrine of the Church of England then in an other professâ—on of Religion I know of so let our Uniformity anâ— agreements in all other outward Ordinances of publicke communâ— on exceed theirs And let us endeavour to manifest our holy inward and spirituall communion by our external union so shall 〈◊〉 ever be yours that is the Lords I. G. THE CHVRCHES PVBLICK ORDER Wherein the Ordinances of the Church of England for Gods publick worship are proved to bee agreeable to Gods Word argued and opened at a second conference between Silvanus and Hymeneus Hymeneus WEll met friend SILVANUS I have often thought of our discourse when we were last together Sil. Sir I am glad if it have given you occasion for your better meditations that Truth and the God thereof may have any glory by my poore endeavours Hym. I must confesse that I have reviewed it since it hatâ— beene published and I am perswaded your discription both of 〈◊〉 Christian in particular and the true Church in generall is agreeable to Gods Word and that the promises to the Patriarch Prophets and Apostles are truly expounded of which I desire 〈◊〉 have further conference hereafter Silv. It is but a breviation of those many particulars mentioned but if the Scriptures be examined it will make the truth more manifested Hym. You have spoken nothing of the outward condition of the Church neither of Minister nor people which are things I would faine have your judgment in Sil. The true and inward Christian onely knowes how rightly and truely to order state and dispose of ouâ—ward things and the Christian without or outwardly knowes not how to order one or other as Saint Paul saith the spirituall man or he that is spirituall discerneth all things 1 Cor. â—2 15 Hym. I would pray you to resolve me of those foure particulars that concerne the outward estate of the Church First of the Ministers Officers and people of each Congregation or Paâ—rish Secondly of the time or times of Gods publick worship Thirdly the place or places for their meetings Fourthly the worship it selfe both for the matter and manner Sil. Expresse your meaning in the first question Hym. For as much as you deny that the people are to call their Minister shew me how they should be called by the Scriptures Sil. It seemes by calling of Ministers you meane ordination of Ministers and so I understood you the last time we spake of your new fashion in New England Hym. Yes that is my meaning Sil. We finde it written that our Lord Himselfe Marke 3.14 Ordained that is sent his Twelve Apostles and Saint Luke saith he gave them power and authoritie c. and sent them to preach the kingdome of God Luke 9.1 2. And this Evangelist saâ—â—h the Lord appointed or sent other seventy also and further teacheth us to pray therefore the Lord of the Harvest that he would send forth labourers into his harvest ver 2. So likewise after Christ Assension the Apostles that were sent by himselfe sent others And so this same Evangelist witnesses in the Acts that the Apostles prayed and laid their hands on Stepheâ— and Philip and others and did thereby ordaine and senâ— them into the ministery as well as into the Deaconshiâ— Acts 6.6 And indeed wonderfull and powerfull they werâ— in their Ministerie as he afterwards sheweth so the Apostle Paul affirmeth that Timothie received the gift and authoritie to preach thorow the laying on the hands of tâ—â— Ministers which he there calls the Presbyterie 1 Timoâ—â— 4.14 15. And so also himselfe the same Apostle in parâ—â—cular speakes to Timothy 1 Tim. 1.6 Wherefore Iâ—â— put thee in remembrance that thou stirre up the gift of Gâ— that is in thee by the putting in of my hands and so 〈◊〉 Apostle gives him direction also for his ordayning otâ—â— Ministers 1 Timothy 5.22 Lay thy hands suddenly onâ— man neither bee partaker of other mens sinnes keepe thy 〈◊〉 pure According to these Scriptures the Church of Engâ—â—â—â— hath ordained and appointed that none but such meâ— are ordained Ministers shall have power and authoritâ— the ordination of Ministers Hym. These Scriptures you alleadge now and
as is the Ordinance of the Supper of the Lord to them that never attaine to eate by faith aswell as by sence And thus I conclude that no believing man is to be denyed communication in the Supper of the Lord except in such cases as the Scripture and so also the Traditions of the Church hath made exception according to the exhortation before the Communion Hymen I am fully satisfied hitherto I pray let me crave youâ— opinion but in one thing more at this time and that is concerning singing of Psalmes as it is used in the Church of England Sil. This part of Gods publick worship as it is used iâ— our Church is the most corrupt of all other for althougâ— the Church allowes Psalmes to be sung yet the Statute-Laâ— doth not justifie and warrant the Meeter of Thomas Sternâ— hold and Iohn Hopkins and others for they are very corruptly done and very false and contrary to the prose if you compare one with another as Psalme 103. verse 19. wherâ— the Meeter saith The heavens are the Lords foot-stoole buâ— the Prose saith not so and other Scriptures saith The heavens are his Throne and the earth his foot-stoole Not only falâ—â—fying the text but also that wherein it doth agree in maâ— places the phrases expressions in the Meeter are impertinent not proper And yet I have heard many Ministeâ— after they have in their Sermons for an houre together eâ—veighed against all formes of prayers and condemned it Hell that they themselves have called for a Psalme to bâ— sung which is no other than presently to do the same thiâ— themselves they did condemne others for an houre together And in this case the Apostle speaks expressely thâ— art inexcusable O man whosoever thou art it matters noâ— whether thou art a Preacher or a Hearer yong or old ricâ— or poore that judgest for wherein thou judgest anotheâ— thou condemnest thy selfe for thou that judgest dost tâ—â— same things Rom. 2.1 For a Psalme is a prayer or a pray 〈◊〉 and he that condemnes others in praying a form condemâ— himselfe in singing a forme Hym. I pray shew me how the Scriptures speak of this part Gods worship Sil. The Scriptures declare it to bee a speciall part of â—ods worship both publick and private the Apostle admonisheth the Church of the Ephesians to bee filled with 〈◊〉 spirit speaking to your selves saith he in Psalmes and â—…nes and spirituall songs singing and making melody in your 〈◊〉 to the Lord Ephes 5.18 19. And David that holy Prophet made Psalmes for the prasse and glory of God in sundry respects and occasions of prayers and prayses and gave â—â—mes to the sonnes of Korah to sing in the Temple and â—â—ngs of degrees Psalme 123. and Psal 84. It is a spirituall service and the Apostle to the Corinthians seems to speak of it as of other ministeriall gifts for the â—â—ifying of the Church 1 Cor. 13.26 when yee come togeâ—â—er every one of you hath a Psalme a Doctrine hath a â—ongue hath a Revelation hath an interpretation let all â—ings be done to edifying by which it appears that Psalms 〈◊〉 spiritual songs are of continuall study practice and use the Churches and that such as have gifts therein may impose formes even for the publike use of the Churches 〈◊〉 Gods worship Paul and Sylas prayed at mid-night and â—â—g Psalmes and prayses unto God in Prison Acts 16.25 â—nd Saint Iames his generall rule is is any among you afflictâ—â— let him pray is any merry let him sing Psalmes Iames 5. 〈◊〉 must for this time take my leave friend Hymeneus the Lord blesse unto us the consideration of these things and all other truthes to whom be glory world without end AMEN FINIS
of most or all reformed Churches p. 473 and pag. 499. And it is an Act and Statute Law in our Church of England Anno 5. 6. of Edw 6th Chap. the third in these very words Neither is it to be thought that there is any certaine time or definite number of days prescribed in holy Scripture but that the appointment both of the time and also of the number of days is left by the authority of Gods Word to the liberty of Christs Church to be determined and assigned orderly in every Country by the discretion of the Ministers and Rulers thereof or as they shall judge most expedient in the true setting forth of Gods glory and the edification of the people And it followes be it therfore enacted by the King our Soveraign Lord with the asseÌ„t of the Lords c. and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same that all the dayes hereafter mentioned shall bee kept and commanded to be kept Holy-dayes and none other that is to say all Sundaies in the yeare c. and so nameth all the rest particularly Hym. But you have not a Scripture for this day nor any of the rest Sil. For the first day of the weeke called Sunday wee have Apostolicall and Primitive example for it Acts 24.7 Hym. You know examples without precepts binde not in Divine things Sil. Therefore I have shewed you before the Act of Parliament the command of the Church And where Mans Ordinance is not against Gods command there St. Peter commends subjection in these words Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sike 1 Peter 2.13 There is no word in Scripture to command you to fast the last Wednesday of every moneth yet your practice shâ—wes you thinke you ought so to doe it being commanded Hym. You have fully satisfied mee by Scripture And the Churches Ordinance for the time and times commanded for Gods publick worship Now pray resolve my next question and shew me what warrant there is for commanding a place where to meet Sil. Authority commanding one for the publick doth not forbid any for the private And therefore there 's much cause and reason for it for if there be no place there can be no meeting Hym. I thinke the Scripture speakes against the appointment of a place Iohn 4.21 You shall neither in this mountaine nor at Ierusalem worship the Father Sil. Although our Lord did know and fore-tell to the woman the destruction of Ierusalem and the dispersion of both Iewes and Samaritants and that it should be done by Gods enemies and Idoll worshippers so that there should be no true worshippers to worship in those places which were the usuall places of their publick worship intimated in these words verse 21. Woman beleeve me the houre commeth when yee shall neither in this mountaine nor yet at Ierusalem worship the Father Yet it doth not follow but that in other places the true worshippers might and should worship God in spirit and in truth for so much our Lord saith ver 23. The houre commeth and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him we reade that Our Lord came often to the Temple daily teaching the people often worshipping in the Mount of Olives Hee appointed an upper roome for the celebration of the Passeover with his Disciples so it is said when the Eleven were together Christ cmae amongst them And also that they were altogether in the Mount of Olives at our Lords Assension into Heaven and they were not to depart from Ierusalem but there to waite for the promise of the Father And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place Peter Iohn went up together into the Temple at the houre of prayer wee finde Paul often in the Synagogue and abundance more instances to prove the publick places that Gods people met into worship Hym. But wee have no command for any in the New Testament Sil. No more you have for the time as before is shewed nor for the Femall Sex or Children of either Sex to be baptized it is warrant sufficient that authority commands them all Hym. I pray what reason is there to call the place appointed for publick worship the Church for you have proved before in our firâ—â—â—nference Peter 5. That the Elect of God called and sanctified are the Church of God And I am sure that is true but that wood and stone should be so called it seems strange to me Silv. It is strange â—mee that you should be such a stranger to the Scriptures â—r the Scriptures often give the name of the thing signified to the signification of it so our Lord calls the signification of his body His body it selfe in the words Take eate this is my body Matth. 26.21 So Moses and Abraham both call the signe of the Covenant Circumcision the Covenant it selfe Genesis 17.10 11. this is my covenant c. Salomon also calls the house hee built for Gods publick worship the Temple 2 King 11. And the Temple of the Lord 2 Chro. 26.16 when it is not so properly but by way of allusion and resemblance only For the regenerated ones the truly faithful men are Gods house his habitation and dwelling place as the Scripture speakes Yee are the Temple of God 1 Cor. 3.16 and againe for the Temple of God is holy which Temple yee are ver 17. So likewise the materiall house is called the Church or the Temple of God also because it is appoynted and set apart onely for the holy services of this spirituall Temple there to converse with God in his holy Ordinances of praying and preaching and all other his holy services and in this respect hath beene and may be called a holy place And such Vessells and Vestments holy in regard of the holy use they are sanctified or set apart for Not that stones wood mettalls or cloathes are capable of holinesse but they are in Scripture called holy in regard they are assigned to serve about Gods holy worship Now as the Temple and all Vessells and Vestments are called holy in regard of their holy imployment so also they are called holy in regard of Gods holy presence who is more manifested present in the place of the administration of his Ordinances than in any other place and so the place is called holy Exodus 31. 1. and Vestments likewise And so is the ground also Exodus 3.5 The place where thou standest is holy ground And therefore we ought to have them in a reverent esteeme and respect Pull off thy shoes saith the Angel to Moses Those places and things therefore are not to be common as other things and places wherefore our Ministers are to be blamed that they doe not informe the people with the truth of this Doctrine our Lords owne practice that onely and alone act of corporall punishment