so called are properly but one Church in regard they are all subject to one and the same Governour they are all built upon the same Rock all profess the same Faith all receive the same Sacralments all perform the same Devotions which although divers congregations yet may they very aptly be reputed members of the same Church Q. But besides these several Churches we also read of a Church Militant and a Church Triumphant how say you then there is but one Church A. These are but the different state and conditions of the Holy Catholick Church and not two Churches In this world it is the Church Militant and it is so termed because alwayes in a posture of War continually fighting against the World the Flesh and the Devil And in the world to come it shall be Triumphant for then it shall take possession of that heavenly Kingdome which the Lord Christ Jesus hath purchased for it where it's warfare shall be ended and it shall gloriously triumph over all its enemies Q. How long shall this Church continue A. To the end of the world Christ from the beginning had and the end shall have a Church against which all the powers of Hell shall not be able to prevail in regard he hath promised to be with them always even unto the end of the world and then he shall receive the true members of it up into glory to reign with him in his everlasting kingdom to eternal Ages Q. Why do you call this a Holy Church A. For divers reasons as first because it is called by Christ Jesus and therefore seperated from the rest of the world by a Holy calling Secondly in regard all her offices administrations and powers are ordained to produce holiness the Religion she professeth is Holy the laws by which she is governed are holy and good the offices she performs are Divine Thirdly because whosoever is called to profess the Faith in Christ is hereby ingaged to holiness of life Fourthly in regard the end of constituting a Church was for the purchasing an holy and peculiar people to God zealous of good works Q. Why do you call this Church Catholick A. Catholick signifies universal or whole under which term the largeness of the Church is comprehended it being extended to all places and to all persons In former time the Jews only were the Church of God but now the partition-wall is broken down and all Nations and all Persons in all Nations have a capacity to be of the Church of Christ Q. What benefits do those receive who are members of his Holy Cathotholick Church A. There are four mentioned in this confession of Faith the communion of Saints the forgiveness of Sins the resurrection of the Body and the life Everlasting Q. Who do you mean by these Saints A. By the Saints I mean such persons as are called by a holy calling and are obedient to it such as are endowed with a holy Faith and purified there by such as are sanctified by the Spirit of God and by vertue thereof do lead an holy and unblameable life such persons are truly and indeed Saints Q. What is that Communion or wherein doth it consist that these holy Persons enjoy A. The Saints on Earth enjoy Communion either with those who are not of the same nature with them as men or with those that are of the same nature with them Q. What persons are those that are not of the same nature with whom the Saints have Communion and wherein doth that Communion consist A. First they have Communion with God the Father they are of his Family they are his Servants his Sons and therefore they may with boldness sue to him for his favours who is as dear and tender over them as a Father is over the fruits of his own Loins Secondly that Saints living in the Church of God have Communion with the Son of God he is our elder Brother our Intercessor and Advocate all our requests are put up to the Father in his Name who by presenting of them before the Throne of Grace makes them available for such things as we beg Thirdly the Saints in the Church of Christ have Communion with the Holy Ghost they become Saints and holy men by partaking of this Divine Spirit of life and by being sanctifyed by him he inhabits in them enlivens and actuates them to the performance of every good and Religious Duty Fourthly The Saints in the Church of Christ have Communion with the blessed Angels these are those Ministring Spirits who are sent abroad to Minister for their sakes who are heirs of Salvation yea the holy Jesus hath assur'd us that they have a particular sense of our condition enforming of us that there is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth Q. What Persons are those that are of the same nature with the Saints with whom they enjoy fellowship and what Communion is it A. These are of two sorts Q. which is the first sort with whom they Communicate A. With those who partake not of the same holiness with them There was a Judas amongst the holy Apostles and there ever was and will be to the end of the World some Hypocrites in the Church of God the Tares must must grow up with the Wheat least by plucking up the one they destroy the other Q. What Communion have they with these A. They communicate in the same Water being both externally baptized they communicate in the same Creed both making the same open confession of Faith both agree in the acknowledgement of the same Principles of Religion both communicate in the same word both hear the same Doctrine preached they communicate at the same Table both eat the same Bread and drink of the same Cup which Christ hath appointed to be received Q. If then the Saint and the Hypocrite communicate in the same benefits how then doth the Saint differ from a Hypocrite or what priviledges doth the one enjoy more that the other A. Although the Hypocrite doth communicate in the same externals with the Saint yet he doth not communicate with him in the same saving Grace nor in the same Faith working by love nor in the same renovation of mind and spirit Q. Are there no other matters wherein they do not communicate A. They do not communicate with the Hypocrite in the same sins in the same accursed infidelity in the same barrenness under the means of Grace in the same false pretence and empty form of Godliness Q. What are the other sort of persons of the same nature with whom they communicate A. The Saints of God living in the Church have communion one with another Q. Wherein doth this Communion consist A. They all communicate of the same Ordinances all partake of the same promises are all endowed with the Graces of the same mutual love and affection keeping the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace all engrafted into the same Stock and all receive
was no other person that could bring to pass this great work of mans Redemption Q. Could none of the glorious Angels or blessed Saints have come down from Heaven to mannage this charitable design A. It was not in the power of any Angel or Saint nay not of all the Saints and Angels to Redeem lost Man Q. Why what was the reason A. In regard none of them was able to sustain so great a burden as the sins of the whole world He who was infinite in power as the Son of God was was only able to bear up under so heavy a load besides man by reason of sin was condemned to infinite torments and therefore no less than an infinite God could rescue man from those eternal torments Q. If none but the Son of God could effect this work why did he not bring it to pass by vertue of that Almighty power which appertained to his Godhead without taking any other nature A. The Godhead is of that infinite perfection that it cannot possibly be subject to any passion he therefore that had no other nature but the Godhead could not pay such a debt as this the discharge whereof consisted in suffering and dying Q. Why did he not then take some more excellent nature than that of mans A. Because it was fit that God's justice should be satisfied in the same nature that had offended Man onely had sinned and therefore it was but just that the same nature which had offended should suffer before it could be restored Q. Did not the fallen Angels Sin A. Yes they sinned but for them Christ died not and therefore they are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness Q. How comes it to pass that they an exempted from receiving benefit by his gracious sufferings A. In regard they beheld the utmost of their own blessedness but notwithstanding they fell from that glory and happiness into a rebellion against their Creator without the least provocation or temptation either from any outward assault or inward frailty Q. What was it that moved God 〈◊〉 send and his Son so willingly to come from Heaven for the sake of lost undone ma◠A. It was their infinite love an◠never failing mercies God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to dye for it and Christ Jesus had such a tender compassion for the sinful off-spring of Adam that he came down from his everlasting habitation of glory to open the eyes of the blind to call them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan into his own most blessed kingdome Q. Did man contribute nothing towards the deserving so great a favour A. No far otherwise he was then in an open rebellion against the King of Heaven and instead of meriting his favour in strict justice he deserveb the utmost of his fury and displeasure Q. How did Christ bring to pass this great designe A. By suffering the punishment that was due unto us for sin and by conquering and subduing all our spiritual enemies Q. How did he undergoe this punishment A. By his humiliation He took upon him our nature was born of a pure Virgin suffered under Pontius Pilate by being crucified on a Cross where his hands and his feet were pierced with Nailes and his side with a Spear And by this his infinite condescention and humiliation he offered himself a Sacrifice for the sins of the whole world Q. How did he conquer all our spiritual enemies A. By his exaltation he arose again the third day a compleat conquerour over Hell and Death and all the powers of the grave and ascended into the highest Heavens where he ever liveth to make intercession for us Q. Do you believe then that Christ dyed for the whole world A. Yes I do believe that the eternal Son of God hath redeemed me and all mankind Q. How comes it to pass then that the greatest part of mankind shall perish A. Because they are preverse and obstinate they will not go unto him that they may have life nor embrace those conditions that he offers in his Holy Gospel Q. In which Articles do you learn to believe in God the Holy Ghost who sanctifieth you and all the elect people of God A. In this Article I believe in the Holy Ghost Q. What do you believe that the holy Ghost is A. I believe that he is very God the Third Person in the holy Trinity proceeding from the Father and the Son Q. What is the office of the Holy Ghost A. It is to sanctifie all the elect people of God Q. Why is he stiled the sanctifyer of all the elect people of God A. In regard he is the Author of all holiness and purity in them all our inward gifts and embellishments proceed from him he is the Lord and giver of life namely of that spiritual life which is requisite to actuate and enform every Christian Q. How doth he perform this his Office A. Both outwardly and inwardly Q. How doth he perform it outwardly A. By revealing the Will of God to the Prophets Evangelists and Apostles who by his assistance and inspiration have made it known to the world wherein is contained all things appertaining both to life and Godliness Q. How doth he perform it inwardly A. By renewing of us in all the parts and faculties of our soules working heavenly dispositions in them whereas before they were enclined to all manner of sin and wickedness As also by fearing directing and governing of us in our actions and conversations so that we may actually perform those things that are acceptable in the sight of our heavenly Father Q. Is there nothing else which the Creed propounds to you as the subject of your belief A. It also teacheth me to believe something concerning those persons that with true Faith and obedience worship the undivided Trinity Q. What doth it teach you to believe concerning these A. It teacheth me first to believe that there is a Church Holy and Catholick Q. What do you believe this Holy Catholick Church to be A. By the Holy Catholick Church I mean the whole congregation of Christian people professing one and the same Faith far and wide dispersed over the face of the whole earth Q. Who is the supream head and governour of this Church A. Christ Jesus the eternal Son of God he is the governour thereof the Rock whereupon it is built his holy Spirit is the preserver and sanctifier of it and his blessed Apostles and Evangelists together with those Bishops and Pastors that succeed them do keep and maintain it in the profession of the true Christian faith and religion Q. What number is there of these Churches A. There is but one holy Catholick Church Q. How 〈◊〉 that he when as in the Scripture we read of several Churches as the Church of Rome the Church of Corinth the Church of Ephesus with divers others A. These several congregations every one of which is in some sense a Church and may be
of it we have then great need to be confirmed in those holy resolutions and good purposes and also strengthened against those fierce batteries and desperate assaults that will be made upon us We are now actually to renounce the Devil the VVorld and the Flesh to bid a bold and open defiance to all the works of Hell and Satan and therefore we must receive the assistance of the good Spirit of God which is the design and proper work of Confirmation And this doth evidently manifest not only the lawfulness but likewise the necessity of this Divine Rite in imitation of the excellent pattern of our Saviour Christ who is the head of the Church he entred this way upon his Duty and Work not being thereto urg'd by necessity but only to point out to us which is the most proper and compendious way to gain a competency of strength and power to enable us to perform our Christian duty him whom we are strictly charged to follow as dear Children was over shadowed with the Holy Ghost just when he was entring upon the performance of that weighty work about which he came down from Heaven Neither is this useful ministry only warranted unto us by the president of the Holy Jesus the great exemplar to all succeeding ages but also we find it diligently observed and duly practised in the first and purest ages of Christianity The blessed Apostles in imitation of their great Lord and Master and by vertue of that Authority they received from him confirm their converts after that by Baptism they are admited into the number of Christs Flock After the Disciples were endowed with power from on high by being miraculously inspired with the gifts of the Holy Ghost they communicate of the same Spirit to their Proselytes to help their imperfections and for this we have the plain express words of Scripture the relation whereof is recorded Acts 8.14 15 16 17. when the Disciples that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God they sent unto them Peter and John who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost for as yet he was fallen upon none of them only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost Now if we do but duly observe these words they give us a clear and full account of the whole order of this Divine Ritual 1. Here are the Persons that are capable of this ministry those that are baptized and it is to such only that the great blessing of the Holy Spirit doth belong it is only those that through the Gate of Baptism are received into the number of Christs flock upon whom he will power down the gifts and graces of his holy Spirit by the ministration of his Embassadors 2. Here is the time when this Apostolick Rite is administred after Baptism When by this holy Sacrament they had engaged themselves in the practise of the true Christian Religion then was the season that the holy Apostles by the laying on of hands communicated unto them a larger measure of the holy Spirit to strengthen them in the performance of those Solemn engagements they then made 3. Here was the manner how Confirmation was by these devout Persons administred it was by Prayer and laying on of hands 4. Here are the only Ministers of this Rite two of the select Apostles Peter and John Philip the Evangelist who converted and baptized them gave not the Holy Ghost for he had not power so to do for this gift was proper only to the Apostles to none of the inferiour Pastors or Teachers And this very order doth the Church of England punctually observe in the administration of this Primitive Discipline she confirms none but those that are baptized and the time when she administers it is after baptisme and here indeed she something varies from the primitive practise who confirmed their converts presently after Baptism but she not until a considerable time afterwards until the baptized are grown to years of discretion to understand their Baptismal vow but there is very good reason for it in regard those Heathens which in the beginning were converted to the Christian Faith were at age when baptized to understand that promise they then made and so were in a fit capacity to be confirmed at that very instant She likewise administers this Rite by prayer and the laying on of hands as also the Administers hereof are the Bishops who succeed in the place and ordinary office of the Apostles So that the same thing that is now done in imposition of hands is no other than what was done by the first publishers of the Gospel such as were inspired and miraculously assisted by an infallible Spirit all deriving from the very same Authority Our Church doth no more than what was practised in the first and purest ages of Christianity even by those whose president is a very good Authority in this case And now I am not able to conjecture what can be said against the lawfulness of confirmation unless it should be objected that it was only ordained for a time viz. for the Apostles time and after it was to expire But if I can prove that this ministry was not temporary and relative only to the Apostles time but was to descend to the Church and to continue with it for ever and hereby to become a perpetual and never-ceasing Ministry I cannot then conceive what there is farther to be objected against the justness and lawfulness of this Rite And first in order to this performance let it be observed that confirmation is established and passed by St. Paul if he may be supposed to be the Author or the Epistle to the Hebrewes into a Christian doctrine in that very Epistle we shall find the Apostle to make imposition of hands namely that which is the Ceremony in Confirmation by which it was usually known a fundamental point Heb. 6.1 2. I shall set downe the very words as tending very much to my present purpose Therefore leaving the principles of the Doctrine of Christ let us go on unto perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of Faith towards God of the Doctrine of Baptism and of laying on of hands and of the Resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment Here are six fundamental points of St. Pauls Catechism which he laid as the foundation or beginning of the institution of Christianity and amongst these imposition of hands is reckoned as a part of the foundation and it appears very plaine to me that the Apostle intends the very same imposition of hands as was used in confirming the baptized in regard it is placed immediately after baptism as being a discipline which was to follow upon it in order to the building up of a Christian now this being a ground work of Christianity it must of necessity follow that it must have
And we shall find these such prevailing temptations as flesh and blood cannot easily resist But when we are endowed with vertue from on high it will enable us both to discover his delusions and to resist his greatest force and fury That infinite power which at the first threw the Prince of darkness from his primitive estate of happiness and perfection is able to guard us from all his assaults that we may pass on cheerfully in the performance of what the Lord requires of us And indeed this is the principal blessing of Confirmation our spiritual strength hereby is augmented that new life which we receive at Baptism is now so heightned and improved that we are able to live the lives of good Christians and in a very good measure to perform what our Sureties promised for us So that Confirmation is the consummation and perfection the corroboration and strength of Baptism and baptismal grace for in baptism we undertake to do our duty but in confirmation we receive a new supply of strength for the doing of it in baptism others promise for us in confirmation we undertake for our selves we ease our Godfathers and Godmothers of their burden and taken it upon our own shoulders In Babtisme we give up our names to Christ but in confirmation we put our seal to the profession and God puts his Seal to the promise we enter then upon the actual performance of our Baptismal vow which includes the whole of our Christian duty and then it is that God poures down his holy Spirit upon us to direct and guide us in those weighty things that relate to our eternal peace so that in confirmation we receive an encrease of the Spirit of grace whereby we are strengthned unto battel prepared to recieve the desperate assaults and fierce encounters of our mercyless adversaries to which I shall only add what St. Cyrill argues from the descension of the holy Ghost upon Christ after his baptism whose words I shall set down as I find them quoted by the Bishop of Down When he was baptized in the River Jordan he ascended out of the Waters and the holy Ghost substantially descended upon him like resting upon like And so you also in like manner after ye have ascended from the waters of baptism the unction is given which bears the image or similitude of him by whom Christ was anointed that as Christ after Baptism and the coming of the holy Spirit upon him went forth to battel in the wilderness and overcame the adversary so ye also after holy Baptism and the mystical unction or confirmation being vested with the armour of the holy Spirit are enabled to stand against the opposite powers so that certainly were this excellent favour duely considered that attends confirmation it would be strictly observed by all those who in any competent measure intend their own eternal good and happiness But besides all this many benefits will accrue to us by performing our parts in confirmation that is by publickly in our own persons undertaking those solemn engagements that was by others made on our behalf at Baptism It is the opinion of a very learned person That there could never be a well constituted Church without this practise nor can we tell that men are not Heathens and Pagans and have not revoked their word unless they will openly acknowledge that they understand what they then did and will not stir from it VVill any man be ashamed saith the same Author to make such a profession and to tread in the way of Christs Church because it hath been of late disused or turned into another thing VVhy shouldest thou blush to own holiness to say before Christ's Church thou art resolved to lead a Christian life and renounce the Devil and all the ways of wickedness why shouldest thou be ashamed of thy Religion as if it were fit to be professed only in a private corner where none should hear thee VVhy should it be accounted a strange thing to protest love to God it is an honour and glory unto us that we may be Christians and so should we esteem it we should be right glad of an opportunity wherein we may do our selves so much honour as to tell the world that we are and resolve to be the real disciples and faithful followers of the eternal King of Glory We shall also find divers great benefits to ensue upon the renewing of our vow in the presence of the Congregation 1. This will be a means to make us more strictly and conscientiously observe the rules and duties of Christianity when we consider that we have acquainted the world with our good resolutions that they know what a solemn profession we have made to lead a virtuous and a Christian life in all godliness and honesty then we cannot for shame but practice what we have so openly professed our own credit will make us afraid to commit a sin against which we have so solemnly and publickly professed and we shall easily believe that every one will upbraid us with the breach of promise when they see us to act contrary to what we once told the congregation we shall hereby force the world to believe us false and perfidious not our words Master neither can we imagine that any person that understands his own interest will take our word or trust to our promise in any matter that relates to these temporal affairs when as we dare break those solemn promises upon every slight occasion every inconsiderable temptation that is offered that we make in the presence of God and a whole congregation so that our credit will ingage us when we have once made a publick engagement to stand by it not to shrink from it but to be diligent in the observation of every part of it Secondly This renewing our Baptismal vow in the presence of the congregation will be a soveraign antidote against the allurements of Satan neither can we have a better preservative against his force and fury than to tell him what we told the congregation that now we are resolved having passed our word for it that we will renounce him and all that appertains unto him and be Gods faithful servants to our lives end When we are able confidently to tell this bold tempter that we have no room to entertain him having engaged our selves in the face of the world to wage a continual war against him and also vowed Loyalty Fidelity to our eternal Maker we need not doubt but that this will drive him away from us and also for the time to come discourage him from making such frequent attempts upon us Neither will this only be a means to preserve us from the daring onsets of the Prince of Darkness but also it will very much secure us from the insinuation of his agents the prophane sons of Belial Wicked men certainly cannot have the conâ—â—â—ence to ask us to sin when we have so publiquely professed against it evill company will shun and avoid us
we receive the Spirit of Obsignation and Confirmation we are but Babes in Christ in the meanest sense Infants that can do nothing that cannot speak that cannot resist any voilence exposed to every rudeness and perishing by every temptation But therefore as God at the first appointed us a Ministry of a new birth in Baptism so also hath he given to the Church the consequent Ministery of a new strength in Confirmation The spirit moved a little upon the waters in Baptism by vertue of which motion it is made the Laver of Regeneration so that by vertue of this Sacrament we receive the first Principles of life are adopted into Christ's family made his living members who before were dead in sins and trespasses But in Confirmation he makes us able to move our selves he so bountifully assists us and so powerfully supplies our manifold infirmities that we are able to work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling In the first he is the Spirit of life but in this he is the Spirit of strength and motion Baptisma est nativitas unguentum vero est actionis instra motus as a learned Author observes At the adminstration of Baptism we are born again we are received into the Congregation of Christ's Flock and are entitled to the glorious inheritance which he by his bloodsheding purchased for mankind but in Confirmation we are enabled to move and act as becometh those who are redeemed with so high a price As in our natural birth we are first Infants unable to help our selves and are assisted by Nurses or others who take the charge of us to feed us and to lead us and to assist us in every respect but after some years our strength encreases and we are able to move and help our selves Even so it is in our spiritual birth first we are Babes in Christ unable to move one step in the paths of holiness and therefore the Church in her wisdom provides Sureties who receive the charge of us to feed us with such food as is convenient for us to nourish us to assist and advise us in the weighty affairs of our souls but when we are at age to help our selves then we take their care and trust upon our own shoulders stand upon our own legs publickly promising to live the lives of Christians strictly performing our solemn engagements which in time past was covenanted on our behalf and to preserve us from slipping and falling the Spirit of God is given to assist our pious undertakings and to strengthen us in the encountring of those raging enemies which we must expect to be assaulted with and when good Christian people had this notion of Confirmation rightly understood the true nature of it they were then very zealous for it and flocked in great multitudes to receive this divine ministry from the hands of the Bishop And time was in England as Bishop Taylor relates even since the first beginnings of Reformation when Confirmation had been less carefully ministred for about six years when the people had the first opportunities of it restored they ran to it in so great numbers that Churches and Church-yards would not hold them insomuch that the Bishop of Chester was forced to impose hands on the people in the fields and was so oppressed with the multitudes that he had almost been trod to death by the people and had died with the throng if he had not been rescued by the civil Power And it might have been hoped that the disuse of it of late for so considerable a number of years might have made it more highly prized now that it is again restored but alas our own experience finds it far otherwise it continues still too much neglected not only for want of a right understanding of this holy Rite but also by entertaining a belief that it is unlawful many are deterred from desiring this ministry in regard that they are enformed that not one tittle of this is to be found in Gods word and hereupon supposing it hath no Divine Warrant they presently condemn it as an Innovation a piece of Will-worship and so consequently sinful VVherefore I shall in the next place prove the lawfulness of this Discipline it is a plant of our Heavenly Fathers planting and so no Innovation or VVill-worship it is a Primitive and Apostolick Rite and hath been continued in the Church in all Ages as a wholsom Discipline and so no upstart invention or new device to raise the Power or advance the Grandeur of proud Prelates and when I have cleared these two then the lawfulness of this Rite will appear as clear as the Sun at the Noon day This Divine Rite of Confirmation proceeds from above it is warranted unto us by no meaner a person than the Eternal Son of God who in his own person hath instituted and hallowed this Rite by submiting unto it no sooner came he out of the waters where he had been baptized by John but immediately he is confirmed by the Spirit which in the shape of a Dove descended upon him He is now to enter upon the stage of the world and to conflict with divers enemies he is forthwith to be led into the VVilderness to be assaulted by the Prince of darkness who now exercises all his cunning and malice to make a prey of this tender Lamb of God But before he undertakes these hard tasks the Spirit of the living God rests upon him not that he had any need of the descent of the Holy Ghost or of his powerful assistance in regard that infinite power that appertained to his Godhead was able to repel the greatest rage of the Devil and all his accursed instruments but all this was done for our sakes to instruct us in this solemnity of our Religion he submitted to this Rite that we might follow his example and work out our Salvation by the same graces in the like solemnities which St. Augustine hath very well expressed affirming Christi in Baptismo Columbam unctionem nostram presigurasse the Dove in Christ's Baptism did represent and prefigure out unction from above that is the descent of the Holy Ghost upon us in the Rite of Confirmation And therefore to this and other external ministrations we must believe our selves obliged to submit and make use of them in the working out our own Salvation being encouraged thereto by the president of this great Captain of our Salvation Christ was Baptized and so must we but after Baptism he had a new ministration for the reception of the Holy Ghost and because this was done upon our account therefore we must follow so good an example And this being done immediately before his combate with that proud infernal Spirit it plainly describes unto us both the time when it ought to be received as also that great advantage that attends the ministration of it After we are baptized when we are capable of understanding the solemn engagement of our Baptism and enter upon the personal performance