no Hierarchie and so consequently deny the order of Bishops must not admit of confirmation nor of those receiued interpretations of Scripture which make for confirmation Quibus enim suit propositum alâ—â—er docendi Tertull de praeser c. 38. eos necessitas coegitaliter disponendi instrumenta doctrinae they that were resolued not to admit of Bishops were of necessitie to interpret those places otherwise which make for confirmation because it is a seruice performable by Bishops onely and therefore these new Doctors labor and striue to elude the testimonies practises of the blessed Apostles by false and friuoulous expositions such as were neuer heard of till these latter times Tertull. Ibid. Sed illic et Scripturarum et expositionum adulteratio deputanda est vbi diuersitas inuenitur doctrinae but for certaine there is the adulterating both of Scripture and the expositions of Scripture where there is a diuers doctrine from the Apostles and the primitiue times 43 Behold here a late doctrine a strange exposition of holy writ These expositors tell vs that this Imposition of hands was extraordinary and giuen onely to the Apostles as a gift proper and peculiars to those times not for the encrease of grace or strength of faith no but for the gift of tongues prophesiying and such like strange miracles which were then requisit for the propagation of the Gospel in the beginning but soone after ceased and so the effect of Imposition of hands it seems by them was onely gratia gratis data and not gratia gratum faciens a glorious not a gracious gift For if these two gifts be well considered the former will appeare to be chiefly giuen for the good of others in gloriam gratiae to set forth the glory of that grace which came by Christ into the world he that hath this gift may be a tinckling Cymball and no more but the latter 1. Cor. 13.1 that same gratia gratum faciens that excellent gift is infused into vs for our own good in gratiam gloriae that so being partakers of grace in this life we may be heyres of glory in the life to come for by this grace the Spirit beareth witnesse with out spirit Ro. 8.6 that we are the sonnes of God 44 But this euasion is repugnant to the true genuine sence of holy Scripture for that of Christ to his Apostles Luc. 24.49 Luke 24. Sedete in ciuitate donec induamini virtute ex alto Tarry in the citie of Ierusalem vntill ye be indued with power from aboue did not onely imply those externall and glorious gifts of miracles tongs prophesiyng and the like which they had ad incrementum Euangelti for the increase of the Gospell but other internall comfortable graces also of the holy Ghost which they had infused into them ad incrementum fidei sanctitatis for their owne peculiar sanctification Otherwise those externall gifts might haue bene but fallacious fruitlesse symboles glorious showes vanishing shadowes and the truth is had little or nothing avayled themselues 45 But if we looke well into the text we shall find there that on the day of Pentecost when the Apostles receiued those goodly miraculous gifts simulinduebantur virtute ex alto they were also endued with power from aboue not onely that they might speake with tongs sed vt loquerentur linguis magnalia Dei but that they might speake the wonderfull workes of God Act. 2 11. nor that only to edifie others to be as bels to tole others to Church and be nere the better themselues but so to confirme and strengthen them in their own particulars vt cum fiducia loquerentur verbuÌ„ Dei Act 4.31 33. vt virtute magna redderent testimonium resurrectionis Christi that they might speake the word of God boldly and with great power beare witnes of the resurrection of Christ Before they were orphani as our Sauior terms them orphans comfortlesse fearefull orphans Ioh. 14.18 Mat. 26.70 S. Peter denyed his master to silly mayde but being once confimed by this Comforter hauing receiued the holy Ghost they become potentes ad praelium mighty in the battels of the Lord the worthies of Christ 1. Cor. 4.9 the wonder of the world men Angels stand amazed at their constancy and courage So then they receiued not only outward but inward gifts and graces also by the descent of the holy Ghost vpon them 46 As for those external gifts of the H. Ghost though they haue long since ceased are not now conferd by imposition of hands yet they continued in Irenaeus time Iren. 12 c 5. as himself witnesses he liued 178 years after Christ and we find not any where Bucol Chron. that those miraculous gifts were conferred by any saue onely Bishops the Apostles successors for a time euen in that power Aug. cont Donat l. 3. c. 16. 47 But howeuer those wonderfull gifts and miraculous graces are now abolished yet the inward gifts of sanctification of fortitude of loue and charitie are at this day continued in the Church by the ministery of Bishops in Confirmation So Saint Austine Ber ser 1. in Pentecost 48 And a long time after him Saint Bernard speaking of those two distinct graces of the holy Ghost tells vs concerning the former that Nobis illa manifestatio potius quam Apostolis facta est the gift of tongues prophesing c. was rather for our good then the Apostles benefit they tooke the paynes wee reape the profit but there was sayth he another manifestation of the spirit in cis in them which concerned themselues most et haec vsque bodiè fit in nobis and this latter at these dayes is wrought in vs. 49 Some there are I know that make question whether by Imposition of hands wee receiue the holy Ghost seeing wee receiue not those externall gifts of the holy Ghost But Saint Austine takes vp such questionists very roundly Aug. tract 6. in Epist Ioh. Numquid sayth he quia miracula non edunt what because they worke no miracles because they speak not with tongs because they prophesie not ita peruerso corde aliquis vestruÌ„fuit is any maÌ„ amongst you of so peruerse a disposition so froward a spirit so incredulous that he dare affirme that these confirmed christians haue not receiu'd the holy Ghost Wilt thou know certainely whether thou hast receiued the holy Ghost or no Aug. Ib. Interroga cor tuum saith that worthy Father look into thy heart aske thy soule and conscience and that will tell thee if perchance thou hast receiued Confirmation and not the benefit of Confirmation for it is in this holy rite as in the blessed Eucharist Recipitur ad modum recipientis it is receiued as the receiuer is disposed whether well or ill Receiue it therefore cheerefully reuerently and thankfully and without all doubt you shall be endued with power froÌ„ aboue which shal helpe you forward
Imposition of hands For there is no reason why the holy ancient Ecclesiasticall Apostolical constitutions should vtterly be abolished for some abuses crept in By this heady preposterous course the Church would rather become deformed then reformed by this meanes we should not haue so much as a Sacrament left vs. 98 When therefore some one or other of the Reformed Churches who haue pulled downe the Aristocracie of Bishops and haue erected the Anarchie of a confused lay-presbyterie and so consequently cast off the sacred vse of Confirmation which cannot stand without a Bishop shal resolutely tell vs whom in this point and many other they esteeme no better then Papists etiamsi vetustissimam hanc esse obseruationem multorum saeculorum consensu firmatam ostendatis nihil tamen efficitis though this obseruation and practise be neuer so ancient though it be confirmed by the consent and continuance of neuer so many ages it is to little or no purpose then cauete take heed I pray you Aug. tract 6. in Euang. Iohannis excipite verba contradicentium respuenda non transglutienda et visceribus danda and entertaine these speeches of contradicting Spirits as words to be reiected not to be chewed much lesse to be disgested Do as Christ did when they offered him the bitter potion He tasted it and spit it out so do you Heare these words loath them and thus it seemes hath the Reformed Church of Bohemia done For in that Church after Baptisme gratiam Harmon Confess p. 94. quam Baptismus complectitur impositione manuum in ipsis testatam faciunt the Gouernours of the Church testifie vnto the world by Imposition of hands the grace which is giuen in Baptisme ad militiaÌ„ fidei eos confirmant marke I beseech you they confirme strengthen and arme them for the warfare of faith and so in a conuenient and holy manner by the vse of pure and significant ceremonies ad Sacramentum coenae domini adducunt they bring them to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper which is one and the same practise with the Church of England as you may see it expresly set downe by way of Canon or Constitution in the Booke of Common Prayer where wee reade that None shall bee admitted to the holy Communion Common prayer booke vntil such time as he can say the Catechisme and be confirmed This is the constitution of the Church of England I say and confirmed by Act of Parliament with the rest of the Booke and stands in full force still if it should please our Prelates to exact it If you require Antiquitie for it we shall finde this Canon as ancient as Saint Austine for hee tels vs that this was dogma Ecclesiasticum an Ecclesiasticall Canon in his time Manus impositione Aug. de Eccles dogmat 〈◊〉 Chrismate communiti Eucharistiae mysterijs admittantur Let those who are confirmed by Imposition of hands be admitted to receiue the blessed Eucharist And this Canon we haue seene approoued Concil Laod Can. 7. and confirmed by the Councell of Laodicea 99 So then neither we nor this Reformed Church of Bohemia borrow this practise of Confirmation as some falsely giue forth from the Papists or Popish decretalls no T. C. l. 1. p. 199 but as our Communion Booke truly sayes Common prayer Booke It is agreeable with the vsage of the Church in times past This was the custome of the olde the Primitiue Church Tertul aduers valent c. 4. Eâ—â—lesia authenticae regulae sic tenuit the Church of the ancient and authenticke rule held thus and thus hold we Tertullian thought this a sufficient answere to stoppe the mouth of Valentinus that grosse giddie Hereticke and the Church of Bohemia labouring to preuent all obiections giues this reason onely for her doings Harmon Confess p. 94. Huius rei in prima Ecclesia indicia atque exempla etiam extant manifesta there are manifold testimonies and examples of Confirmation yet extant in the Primitiue Church And whereas some say that the practise of the Primitiue Church is nothing to vs vnlesse we proue it out of Scripture the same Church of Bohemia auerres Ibid. that Prima Ecclesia est posterorum vera optima magistra et praecundo ducit nos the Primitiue Church is the true and most excellent Mistresse of all later Churches and leades vs the way and wee may fafely follow her for she followed the Apostles steppes and borrowed this practise from my Text as before I noted out of Saint Cyprian Saint Ierome and Saint Austine 100. If their authoritie be denyed and some new-fangled interpretations bee lately fancied framed and receiued by a few vaine-glorious nouelists to make voide the honour and priuiledge proper to the Bishops the Fathers and Gouernors of the Church whom they would shoulder out with them almost all good order the question must no longer be Whether Confirmation bee found in Scripture but Whether the ancient Fathers of the Primitiue Church were more likely to interpret the Scriptures truly or some late Nouelists who to maintaine some odde fancies of their owne braine haue forged new and strange glosses contrarie to Antiquitie the vnderstanding of Fathers and other Reformed Churches for those Churches that follow Luthers reformation vse Confirmation with so many of these circumstances as that Discipline can admit 101 Certainely our Church hath taken the safer course for we professe manente forma Confirmationis in suo ordine so long as that forme and order of Confirmation is obserued and no other then was vsed in the Apostles times and by the Apostles themselues quantumlibet quaerant Tertul. de Praescript c. 14. tractent omnem libidinem curiositatis effundant to vse Tertul. phrase let their braines work and their teeming wits bring forth some rare inuentions such as were neuer heard of neuer dreamed of before such as may discouer their various itching curiosities yet we hope the Church of England will as hitherto it hath euer continue constant in the same course wee doubt not but it will onely imitate the practise and embrace the enterpretations of those ancients who by the confession of the whole Church of God were gratia scientiae donati endowed with an extraordinary grace and gift of knowledge to vnderstand and interpret the will of God deliuered in the Scriptures 102. For as there was in the law before Christ liber Propheticus as Saint Ambrose cals it the booke of the Law and the Prophets Ambr. de Fide ad Gratianum l. 3. c. 7. which contained the types and prophesies of Christ which booke was signatus sealed vp so firmely at that time that neither Elders nor Powers nor Angels nor Archangels durst offer to vnfold it the prerogatiue of opening and explayning it being reserued onely to Christ himselfe so was there also in the primitiue times succeeding Christ Liber Sacerdotalis that is the Scriptures and the receiued sence of Scriptures penned by the Fathers Doctors
and Bishops in their seuerall ages of so great authority in the Church that Saint Ambrose speaking of them sayth Quis nostrum resignare audeat What man amongst vs is so hardy as to offer violence vnto them Who dares breake open those Seales or infringe the credite and authority of this Sacerdotall booke seeing it was signatus à confessoribus multorum iam martyrio consecratus signed by the reuerend confessors of Christianity and sealed vp with the blood of many a worthy Martyr 103. And yet after so many hundred yeares behold there was one of late amongst vs who aduentured himselfe so farre as to confront the Fathers in this doctrine T. C. l. 1. p. 119. l. 3. p. 232. to oppose his fancie against the iudgement of the Church to call the practise of the Apostles into question to set a new construction a strange glosse vpon a manifest text that so he might rase out a fundamentall point of religion wherein both Fathers and Church and Apostles and Scriptures haue agreed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with one ioynt consent for fifteen or sixteen hundreth yeares together If any man be left amongst vs of his temper or rather of his distemper I will onely say to this new-bred doctrine Tertul. adâ—â— Valent. â—8 what Tertullian sayes to Valentinus new brood of Gods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whether it be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I know not well my selfe for I am much in doubt whether I should more wonder at their pride or laugh at their folly 2. Cor. 11.16 104 Sure I am Non habemus talem consuetudinem nec Ecclesiae Dei We haue no such custome nor the Chuches of God nor may we I pray God euer grow to that height of madnesse as to preferre our owne fond conceits before the practise of the Apostles the consent of Fathers and custome of the Church We desire to be of no new cut but with the Fathers of the First Nicene Councell Concil Nicen Can. 7. our prayers are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the old custome may stand that it may euer preuaile 105 Seeing then Confirmation is of such Antiquity in the Church of God that it hath the vniuersall Catholicke Church Fathers Councels Apostles and Scripture text it selfe to grace to vphold to settle it in the Church let vs honor Confirmation and the Ministers of Confirmation let vs haue them in that reuerence which we owe and they deserue and desire of God that they may euer continue of full force to the glory of God and the good of his Church 106 I should passe on to the parts eusuing but I feare I haue beene too too troublesome already and I shall haue diuers occasions to speake of the other parts euery one of them being sufficient to yeeld matter for a seuerall Sermon but lest I should seeme to leaue vnperfect what in my diuision I proposed may it please you to perfect the other circumstances out of that whieh hath beene spoke for from thence may be deduced sufficient proofe for the remainder of my text 107 The next point I obserued were the Ministers of Confirmation Apostoli Apostles they were 2. part and their successors the Bishops and no other So you heard from Clement Epist 3. Saint Cyprian Epist 73. Cornelius apud Euseb hist Eccles l. 6. c. 42. Melchiades Can 2. de Consecr Dist 5. Concil Eleber Can. 38 Saint Ambros in Heb. 6. Saint Ierome aduer Lucifer c. 4. Saint Chrysost Homil. 18. in Act. Apost Saint Aust de Trin. l. 15. c. 26. And Quaest 42. in Non. Test Leo Epist 37. c. 2 Caluin instit l. 4. c. 19. § 4. 108 And S. Ierome giues a good reason Hieron aduers Lucifer c. 4. Bucer in Eph. 4 Tract Quid fit Eccles why the Bishops are the only Ministers of this blessed action The power of this blessing saith he is giuen to the Bishops only in honoreÌ„ sacerdotii for the honor of their Prelacy fitly saith Bucer do the Bishops only confirm vs in our Faith since vnto the Bishops is committed the chiefe care of the Church and so consequently the mayne charge of our soules And if Confirmation be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who so fit to confer it as the chiefe of Priests 109 The third circumstance was the Persons that were Confirmed 3. part super illos vpon them And who are these that are capable of Confirmation surely such onely as are baptised This was the custome you heard of the Apostles Act. 8. and Act. 19. to confirme thoe onely that were baptised and the whole Church hath euer since carefully obserued the same practise as you haue seene sufficiently manifested by Saint Clem. Epist 3. Tertul. de Baptismo cap. 6. 8. Cypr. Epist 73. Ambros in Heb. 6. Ierom. aduer Lucifer cap. 4. Aust quaest 42. in N. Test Emiss Homil. in Pentecost Coucil Laod. Can. 48. Bohem. Confess p. 94 4 part 110 My fourth obseruation was the forme and that is Prayer and Imposition of hands my text tels you so much and the practise of the Church hath euer retained this forme No blessing is bestowed at any time in by the church without prayer neither is the H. ghost giuen ad robur to confirme vs I speake of the ordinary meanes without Imposition of hands For this you haue had good euidence Act. 8. and Act. 19. Heb. 6. Clem. Ep. 3. Tertul. de Bapt. cap. 8. Cypr. Epist 73. Melchiad Can. 2. de Consecr Dist 5. Concil Eleber Can. 38. Ierome aduer Lucifer c. 4. Aust quaest 42. in Nou. Testament And Aust or Gennadius de Eccle. dogmat c. 52. Leo Epist 37. Confes Bohem. p. 94. Caluin Instit l. 4. c. 19. § 4 Comment in Heb. 6.2 111. The effect which is my last part is the receiuing the holy Ghost in obsignatorem 5. Part. Eras Sancer apud Marlor in Act. Apost 8.17 confirmatorem as Erasmus Sarcerius saith to seale our religion and to strengthen vs in the true faith and feare of Christ besides many other gifts and graces as he affirmeth of the holy Ghost which we receiue in Confirmation 112 This the Fathers it seemes considered Tertul. de Bap. c. 8. and therfore they had this blessing in so high and reuerent estimation that Tertullian saith that by this blessing the hand doth inuite and call downe the holy Ghost and this being done sanctissimus spiritus super emundata et benedicta corpora libens descendit the holy ghost descends willingly vpon those cleansed and blessed bodies cleansed by baptisme and blessed by Confirmation and in his book de Praescriptionibus he tels vs Tertul. de Prae. c. 36. that the Church by this meanes doth cloth vs with the holy Spirit as before you heard Neither is this to be vnderstood of an outward clothing no Infunditur saith Saint Cyprian hee is powred into vs Cypr. Epist 73. ad Iubai and hee is powred
superstitiously abused for they fained it to be a Sacrament 35 These Articles mentioned Heb. 6. or some such like Heb. 6 2. were no doubt that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that forme of doctrine that manner of Catechising In quam saith S. Paul to the Romans traditi estis whereunto you were deliuered or as we reade which was deliuered to you Rom. 6.17 It is not I confesse so proper a phrase in English or Latin to say To this forme of doctrine or Catechising you were deliuered as This forme of doctrine was deliuered to you but yet the Apostle expresseth it so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in quam traditi estis and Catetan obserues well that the Apostle changed the ordinary phrase ratione mysterij because of the mysterie for hereby saith he is signified Caiet in Rom. 6 quod non tam Euangelicae doctrinae forma tradita èst hominibus quà m quòd homines traditi sunt formae doctrinae Euangelicae that not so much the forme of religion was deliuered to men as that men were deliuered to the forme of religion that so by this meanes religion might be knowen to haue authority and power ouer man but not man ouer religion 36 Now that Confirmation was reckoned inter initia fidei amongst the rudiments grounds of faith in the Apostles times and so held and practised in the next succeeding ages we neede not seeke farre for proofe the practise may be gathered from my Text the doctrine whereon we may settle our faith is clearely taught in that Catechisme Heb. 6.2 Heb. 6. which it seemes was very early on foot and in vse amongst Christians There in the Apostles Catechisme it is called fundamentum impositionis manuum and he knew what he spoke the foundation of Imposition of hands as being a fundamentall point of religion Heb. 6.2 The phrase of the holy Spirit is well worth the marking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the foundation of Imposition of hands He then that takes away Confirmation shakes a foundation of religion he remoues one of the ground-stones of our saith 37 In S. Pauls iudgement then it is a fundamentall point of faith English marg notes and as the marginall notes say one of the first rudiments of our religion and it might well bee deliuered in that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Romans Rom. 6.17 For Tertul. relating the faith of the Church of Rome which in his time was statu foelix Ecclesia Tertul. de 〈◊〉 c. 36 as he cals it an happie and blessed Church tels vs how she beleeued in God the Father God the Sonne c and then hee addes Aquae signat Sancto Spiritu vestit Eucharistia pascit she signes with water in Baptisme clothes with the holy Spirit in Confirmation feeds with the blessed Eucharist in the Communion and then those that are thus armed thus well prouided martyrio exhortatur shee exhorts to Martyrdome aduersus hanc institutionem neminem recipit she receiues no man into the Church without these conditions 38 Neither was this the doctrine of the Church of Rome onely but it was common to her with other Churches Tertul. Ib. Cum Aphricanis quoque Ecclesijs saith Tertullian hanc fidem contessarauit all the Churches of Affricke ioyned with her in this faith and not onely Affricke but also Achaia Macedonia and Asia 39 For we may well suppose that in the Apostles times and practise wheresoeuer Baptisme went before Confirmation followed after and where mention is made of the conuersion of the Iewes or Gentiles and their faith in Christ Iesus the sonne of God there the whole 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the forme of doctrine the Apostles Creede and their Catechisme we spoke of were beleeued and entertained also For the Eunuch whom S. Philip baptised sayd no more for ought we reade but this I beleeue that Christ Iesus is the sonne of God Act. 1.37 and in that profession was presently baptised Num ergo placet saith S. Austine vt hoc solum homines respondeant August de Fide Operibus c. 9. continuo baptizentur Doth this therefore content please you Thinke you this sufficient that men should make this answer onely and be presently baptised and yet confesse nothing of the Catholicke Church nothing of remission of sinnes and those seuerall articles which are named in the Apostles Creed Well if this Eunuchs briefe answer were sufficient to procure present Baptisme and licence to depart why doe not wee take the same course sayth Saint Austine and in case of necessitie cum ad baptizandum vrget temporis augustia when the straitnesse of time vrgeth vs to baptise why doe not wee take away those questions and interrogations which we hold necessary to expresse at the time of baptisme Why certainly saith Saint Austine si Scriptura tacuit Aug. Ibid. atque intelligenda admisit caetera if the Scripture passed if ouer the rest in silence and left them to be vnderstood then surely when the Scripture tells that Saint Philip baptised the Eunucu in co intelligi voluit impleta omnia in that one word it would haue you vnderstand that all things were performed which are requisite to Baptisme 40 In like manner when we reade that the beleeuers were baptised in euery countrey where the Apostles came we must thinke that confirmation followed after Aug. Ib. and the holy Eucharist c. quae licet taceantur in Scripturis gratia breuitatis tamen serie traditionis scimus implenda which though they be omitted in Scripture for breuitie sake yet we know by the continuall practise of the Church of Rome Affricke Achaia Macedonia Tertull. de praeser c. 36. and Asia as Tertullian notes that they were to be performed Hoc est enim Euangelizare Christum non tantum dicere aut docere quae sunt credenda de Christo Augale Fide operibus c. 9 sed etiam quae obseruanda ei qui accedit ad compagem corporis Christi this is to preach Christ aright not onely to confesse or teach those things which are to be beleeued concerning Christ but those also which must be obserued and performed by euery man that is to be ingrafted into the body of Christ 41 Thus you see that wheresoeuer Saint Peter S. Iohn and Saint Paul came and consequently the rest of the Apostles there the doctrine of Confirmation passed for currant And which is worth the obseruation in all the Fathers writings Confirmation takes his place next to Baptisme as being euer to succeede Baptisme This course the Apostles beganne and the Fathers followed their steps as you haue heard out of Tertullian Cyprian and Saint Austine who euer giue confirmation the next place to Baptisme 42 This were sufficient to proue the Antiquitie of this Ceremonie or Mystery if we were fully perswaded that this were the true and natiue sense of those places which haue beene cited But some who in their church-gouernment admit