Ameâ— An Exhortation Brethren let every oâ— of you present himself before the Lord heartiâ—â— confessing his sins anâ— saying after me The Confession Lord God Almighty and everlasting Father we sincerely confess and câ—knowledge before thy holy Majesâ—y that we are miserable sinners conceived and born in iniquity and Corruption inclined to do evil and averse to do good and that by our sins we continually transgress thy holy Commandments whereby we justly incur thy Divine Vengeance But O Lord we are truly sorrowful for our offences we condemn our selves and are sincerely penitent for our sins imploring the assistance of thy Grace in this our miserable condition Grant us therefore thy pity O God most gracious and merciful Father in the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Bloâ— out our sins and iniquities bestow and daily increase in us the gifts of thy holy Spirit that we heartily acknowledging our unrighteousness may be deeply affected with sorrow which begets a true repentance in us whereby being dead to sin we may bring forth such Fruits oâ— Righteousness and Holiness that may be accept able unto thee by the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Vhis being done the Minister saith Let us sing to the honour and glory of God and for the consolation of our souls and giveth out part of some Psalm which is sung Afterward he begins again to pray and to desire of God the grace of his holy Spirit that his word may be faithfully expounded to the honour of his Name and to the Edification of the Church and that it may be received with such humility and obedience as is meet The Form of this prayer is left to the discretion of the Minister At the end of which hâ— repeats the Lords Prayer and after that these following preparatory words The word of God thaâ— we are to explain you shall find anâ— nameth the Text. At the end of the Sermon the Minister having read the Bills for the sick and made some Exhortations to prayer he begins in this manner Almighty God and Heavenly Father thoâ— hast promised to granâ— our Requests that we shall make unto thee in the name of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord and we are also taught by him and his Apostles to assemble our selves together in his Name promising he will be in the midst of us and that he will be our Intercessor towards thee for the obtaining all those things that are needful for us which we shall agree to pray for upon Earth We are first commanded to pray for those whom thou hast set over us as Superiors and Governors likewise in the behalf of all thy people in necessity and for all mankind therefore trusting in thy holy Doctrine and Promises for as much as we are here assembled in thy presence and in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ we heartily beseech thee good God and Father in the name of thy Son our only Saviour and Mediator to grant us thro' thy infinite mercy the free pardon of all our sins and be pleased so to draw and raise our thoughts and desires towards thee that we may make our supplications with all our hearts according to thy will and which is only most just and good Then the Minister prays for the King and the Royal Family by name We pray thee therefore O heavenly Father for all Kings Princes and Governours thy Servants unto whom thou hast committed the dispensation of thy Justice particularly for W. c. that it may please thee to endue them all with thy holy Spirit which alone is the truly principal good Increase those gifts daily in them that they acknowledging with a true Faith Jesus Chrisâ— thy Son our Lord to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords as thou hasâ— given him all power iâ— Heaven and on Earth they may seek to serve him and to exat hiâ— Kingdom in their Dominions governing their Subjects who are the works of thy hands and the Sheep of thy Pasture according to thy will so that we here and all men through the whole Earth being maintained in peace and delivered from the fear of our Enemies may praise thee all the Days of our Lives A Prayer for the Ministry We also pray thee O Father and Saviour for all those whom thou hast appointed Pastors over thy faithful Flock and unto whom thou hast committed the Charge of Souls and the dispensation of thy holy Gospel that it may please thee to guide them by thy holy Spirit that they may be found true and faithful Ministers of thy Gospel always endeavouring that all thy poor dispersed Flock may be gathered and brought unto the Lord Jesus Christ the principal Pastor and chief Bishop that through him they may daily improve in all Righteousness and Holiness Moreover we beseech thee to deliver all thy Churches from the mouths of Ravening Wolves and from all mercenary men who do only seek after their owâ— profit and to gratifiâ— their ambition and have no regard to the advancement of thy holy Name nor to the salvation oâ— thy Flock We also pray thee most gracious and merciful Father for all mankind in general and as thou wilt be acknowledged Saviour of the whole world by the Redemption thereof purchased by thy Son Jesus Christ grant that such as are still strangers to him being in Darkness Error and Ignorance may by the illumination of thy holy Spirit and by the preaching of thy Gospel be brought to the true way of salvation which is to know thee the only true God and him whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ that those whom thou hast already visited with thy grace and enlightneâ— by the knowledge of thy word may daily increase in goodness and being enriched with thy spiritual blessing we may adore thee altogether with one heart and one mouth and give honour and obedience unto thy Christ our Master King and Legislator We likewise recommend unto thee O God of all Comfort all those whom thou visits and chastisest by Crosses or Tribulations and also those people whom thou dost afflict by War Pestilence or Famine and all such who do suffer by Want Imprisonment Sickness Banishment or any other Calamity in Body or Mind and especially all those for whom our prayers are desired be pleased to make them sensible of thy Fatherly Affection which is to visit them in order to their amendment that they may be heartily converted unto thee and being converted may receive perfect consolation and be delivered from all evil We more especially recommend unto thee all our poor Brethren who are dispersed under the Tyranny of Antichrist being destitute of the Food of Life and deprived of the liberty of thy publick Service and all those who are detained Prisoners or persecuted by the Enemies of thy Gospel that it may please thee O gracious Father to strengthen them by the assistance of thy holy Spirit so that they may never fall from thy word but may constantly persevere in thy holy
Religion help and assist them according to their several necessities comfort them in their afflictions preserve them from the rage of Wolves and increase in them all the gifts of thy Spirit to the end that they may glorifie thee both in Life and Death Finally O God and Father grant also to us who are here assembled in the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ for the sake of his word and of his holy Communion that we may sincerely and without hypocrisie acknowledge how miserable we are by Nature and what Condemnations we deserve and daily draw down upon our selves by our wicked and disorderly Lives that we seeing there is no good thing in us and that our Flesh and Blood are not capable of inheriting thy Kingdom we may with all affection and steadfast confidence intirely surrender up ouâ— selves unto thy dear Son Jesus Christ our only Saviour and Redeemer that he dwelling in us may mortifie our old Adam and renew in us better Life whereby thy holy and glorious Name may be exalted and glorified by all and in all places Then he proceeds thus Hear us O merciful Fathâ—r for Jesus Christs sake in whose Name and words we further call upon thee Our Father c. The Minister having said the Lords Prayer and the Apostles Creed he gives some part of the Psalms which is sung and before the Congregations gâ— forth of the Church he gives the following Bâ—nâ—diction which is according to what our Lord commanded in the sixth Chapter of Numbers The Lord bless you and keep you the Lord make his Face to shine upoâ— you and be gracious unto you the Lord lift up his countenance upon yoâ— and give you peace Ameâ— A further Blessing thâ— Minister says to the people Go in Peace and foâ— the Love of God remember the Poor This following Prayâ— is added to the former iâ— time of great danger anâ— distress And also as thou haâ— the Dominion and Government over us all grant that we may daily learn more and more to submit and humble our selves before thy Majesty and as thou art King and Ruler every where we beseech thee to guide thy People by thy Word and by the Efficacy of thy Spirit confounding thy Enemies by the power of thy Truth and Justice that so all Power and Dominion contrary to thy Glory may be daily destroyed and brought to nought until thy Kingdom be perfected and fully established when thou shalt appear in Judgment in the Person of thy Son Grant that we and all Creatures may render thee true and perfect Obedience even as thâ— Heavenly Angels waiâ— only to execute thy Commands so that thy Wilâ— may be intirely fullfilled and that all may devotâ— themselves to thy Service and Pleasure and renounce their own Wills and all the desires of theiâ— flesh Grant that we may walk in the love and feaâ— of thy Name and be nourished by thy bountifuâ— goodness that thou giving us all things which are needful and expedienâ— for us we may eat ouâ— Bread in peace and seeing that thou carest for us we may the better acknowledge thee to be our Father and expect all good things from thy hand and by withdrawing our confidence from all Creatures may place it wholly in thee and in thy goodness because in as much as during this mortal Life we are poor sinners so full of frailty that we continually fall and go astray from the right way be pleased to pardon all our sins whereby we are liable to thy Judgment and to deliver us by thy pardon from the Eternal Death in which we are that may please thee not tâ— impute to us our Iniquâ—ties as we according tâ— thy Commandment paâ—don all the Injuries wâ— have received from â—thers and instead of seeâ—ing Vengeance do gooâ— to our Enemies Finally we pray thaâ— it may please thee to support us henceforth by thâ— power that we may nâ—â— fall through the infirmitâ— of our flesh and for 〈◊〉 much as we are so weaâ— of our selves that we can not continue steadfast on moment and on the otheâ— side so continually surrounded and assaulted by so many Enemies as the Devil the World Sin and our Flesh not ceasing to war against us grant we may be strengthned with thy holy Spirit and so armed with thy grace that we may constantly resist all Temptations and persevere in that spiritual Warfare until we shall obtain a full Victory and Triumph at length in thy Kingdom with our Captain and Protector our Lord Jesus Christ Amen Vpon such days as they celebrate the Lords Supper they add to the former this following Prayer As our Lord Jesus Chrisâ— hath not only once offer'd his Body and Blood unto thee upon the Cross foâ— the remission of our sins but also communicate them unto us for our nourishment to eternal life grant that we may with true sincerity of heart and ardent Zeal receivâ— such benefits by a truâ— Faith that we may parâ— take of his Body anâ— Blood yea and enjoy theâ—â— entirely he being truâ— God and true Man 〈◊〉 truly the holy Celestiâ— Bread to quicken us tâ— the end that we may livâ— no more to our selves according to our vicious and corrupt nature but that he may live in us and bring us to an holy blessed and eternal life grant therefore that we may be made true partakers of the new and everlasting Covenant of Grace being fully assur'd that thou wilt ever be to us a gracious Father in not imputing our sins unto us and as to thy beloved Children and Heirs wilt provide for us all things necessary as well for our Bodies as Souls that we may continually give thee thanks and glorifie thy holy Name by Words and Works Therefore heavenly Father give us grace this day to celebrate the blessed memory oâ— thy Dear Son in this manner and to set forth the benefit of his Death so that we receiving new increase and strength in Faith and in all goodness may with the greater confidence call thee Our Father and glory in thee Amen After the holy Sacrament is ended they use this following Thanksgiving or the like Heavenly Father we give thee Eternal Praise and Thanks in that thou hast bestowed upon us poor sinners so great a blessing and brought us to the Communion of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord having delivered him unto Death for us and given him for our spiritual nourishment unto life everlasting Grant that we may never forget thy mercies but having them engrafted in our hearts we may continually grow and increase in good works and in so doing we may order all our lives to the advancement of thy glory and to the Edification of our Neighbours by the same Jesus Christ thy Son who in the Unity oâ— the holy Spirit liveth and reigneth with thee God eternally blessed Amen For as much as the Scripture teaches That Wars Pestilence and other such Adversities are Visitations sent from God by which he punisheth us for our sins when
Naming the Bridegroom and the Bride N. N. knowing that God hath ordained it thus will you live in the Holy State of Matrimony which God hath so greatly honoured have you such an intention as you do here declare before this holy assembly desiring that it should be confirmed They Answer Yes The Minister I take you all that are here present as Witnesses desiring you to remember it yet if there be any who know any impediment in it or that either of them be Married to any other let him declare the same If no Person opposes it the Minister says thus Since there is no Person that opposes it and that there is no impediment Our Lord God confirm that holy design which he hath given you let your begining be in the Name of God who hath made Heaven and Earth Amen The Minister speaking to the Bridegroom says thus N. Do you confess here before God and this holy Assembly that you have taken and do take M. here present for your Wedded Wife and do you promise to keep her in Loving and faithfully maintaining her as the duty of a Loving Husband towards his VVife requireth Living Holily with Her keeping Faith and Loyalty in all things according to the word of God and of his Holy Gospel Answer Yes After speaking to the Bride the Minister says M. Do you confess here before God and this holy assembly that you have taken and do take N. here present for your Lawful Husband do you promise to obey him serving and being subject unto him living a holy life Keeping saith and loyalty with him in all things as a faithful and loyal wife ought to do towards her husband according to the Word of God and of his holy Gospel Answer Yes Then the Minister doth say The Father of all mercy who hath called you by his Grace to this holy State for the love of his Son Jesus Christ who did sanctify Marriage by his holy presence and whereâ—t he wrought his first Miracle before his Apostles give you his holy Spirit to serve and honour him together with one accord Amen Hear the Gospel in which our Lord shews how he would have holy Matrimony to be kept and how it is firm and indissolvable as it is written in the 19th of St. Matthew The Pharisees also came unto him tempting him and saying unto him Is it lawful for a man to put away his Wife for every cause and he answerâ—â— and said unto them have ye not read that he which made them at the beginning made them Male and Female and said for this cause shall a man leave Father and Mother and cleave unto his Wife and they twain shall be one Flesh wherefore they are no more twain but one Flesh what therefore God hath Joyned together let no man put asunder Believe these Holy Words which our Lord hath spoken as they are contained in the holy Gospel be assured that our Lord God hath joined you in holy Matrimony Therefore live holily together in Love Peace and Unity keeping true Charity Faith and Loyalty one toward another according to the Word of God Let us all pray to our Father with one accord God Almighty who art good and wise and hast foreseen from the begining that it was not good for Man to be alone and therefore didst create an help meet for him like unto himself and hast ordained that two should be one We most humbly pray and beseech thee since it hath pleased thee to call these here present unto the holy State of Matrimony that thou would be pleased of thy bountiful grace to give them thy holy Spirit that they may live in true and stedfast faith according to thy good will that they may overcome all Evil Affections and edify others in all Honesty and Chastity give them thy Blessings as thou didst to thy Faithful Servants Abraham Isaac and Jacob That they having an Holy Seed may praise and serve thee instructing and nourishing them up to thy Praise and Glory and to the Edification of our Neighbours and the advancement of thy Holy Gospel Hear us most merciful Father through our Lord Jesus Christ thy most Dear Son Amen Our Lord replenish you with his Grace and Goodness and grant you a long and holy life together Amen FINIS POSTSCRIPT AS I have mentioned the differences between the Protestant Dissenters and the Church of England and the great respect paid her by the reformed Forreign Churches So I think fit to conclude by hinting to the Romanists Quakers c. That the Differences between Reform'd Forreign Churches and the Church of England are not so material and great as some have maliciously reported The present Controversies of Papists with Papists and of Quakers among themselves are considerably greater in my Opinion and the Breach between our English Presbyterians and Independents I take to be wider As for that amazing Point of Absolute Predestination it is not so much disputed amongst the Reformed as the Roman Churches One Order of Monks hath hotly engaged another The Jesuists and Jansenists have written so many hectoring and swelling Volumes upon that knotty Subject that a small Library will scarcely contain them Whereas in my poor Apprehension it would be much better to practice the Doctrines we profess than to quarrel about them and to use the words of the Learned Let us confessing that nothing can be done without the Providence of God Adore in humility the Secrets which are hid from us without our enquiry beyond our measure and rather apply to our use that which is shewn us in the holy Scriptures for to be in repose and security The World had been much happier if all who follow that Judicious Divine Mr. Calvin as well as others had embraced this sound this useful and pious instruction As for the Government of the Church by Bishops the Learned Calvin had neither a seasonable time or opportunity to use it It was not feasible or practicable for him to maintain it for how could he establish Protestant Bishops where Popish Bishops were setled But I Appeal to the world if the Calvinian Clergy hath not generally shewn a great Veneration both for the Orders and Persons of our Bishops whether they have not admired their Books and received holy Orders from them And for a further Demonstration of their entire Agreement few of them if any have ever refused a Prebendary a Deanery or any Episcopal Preferment But were there a real Disagreement in any point with what Forehead could a Romanist object it The Arch-Bishop of Paris uncharitably Damns the Arch-Bishop of Cambray the Bishop of Meaux and others joyn with him whilst the Prelate of Cambray doth not want a Party who adhere to him The Pope and his Cardinals are stunn'd atit and for all the Infalibility they pretend to they cannot easily tell on which side to determine The great God compose all Divisions amongst Christians of what Denomination soever let us humbly beseech him to inspire continually the Universal Church with the Spirit of Truth Unity and Concord and grant that all those who confess his Holy Name may agree in the truth of his holy word and live in Unity and Godly Love grant this O Father for Jesus Christ's sake our only Mediator and Advocate Amen FINIS FOR the satisfaction of all such persons that doubt of the Truth of this preceeding Translation they may please to observe that it hath been Examined by us and found to be faithfully translated from the French Form of Prayers which was in use in the Reformed Churches in France among our Ancestors and in our days whose Names are here subscribed Ministers of the French Church in the Savoy T. Satur P. Larriviere C. G. Lamothe Ministers of the Old French Church in London C. Piozet Ch. Bertheau Dubourdieu Minister of the Old Frnnch Church in Soho A. Gilbert Minister of the French Chappel at the Palace of St. James C. Pegorie Minister of the French Church near Leicester Fields La Place Minister of the French Church in Newport-Market Soho Blanc Minister of the Old Patant French Church in Soho Gally Degaujac A French Minister of an English Church J. Lions Minister to several French Churches in and about London Ministers of the New French Churches in London and in Hungerford-Market J. Doules J. Lombard Peter Degaleniere John Graverol P. Roussilions De Milly Melin Minister and Reader of the New French Church in London This Translation hath been carefully compared with the Original and Corrected by S. Lyons a French Minister
Printed at the latter end thereof which Treatise doth also shew the Government of the African Helvetian c. Churches unto which I refer you for your better Information and Satisfaction Moreover I thought fit to shew you the great aversion which the reformed French Churches had to separation as it appears by an Article made in 1644 and is Printed in the seventh Chapter and the 205 and 366 Pages of the Discipline of the reformed Churches of France and in the 72 73 and 74 Pages of this Treatise it is declared that all such as do make different Sects and others are Excommunicated from receiving the Holy Sacrament until they do repent and unite You cannot well suppose that what the Persons before mentioned have written was done out of fear or interest for if you will truely consider the stile of their Letters you will find them to be Men of Learning and Piety and void of all manner of Hypocrisie and Dissimulation I know there are other French Churches whose Ministers do use their own constitution more because they were brought up therein then out of any motive of aversion to the English Liturgy for they go very often to Prayers and to hear the Sermons and do receive the Communion in the Church of England 'T is an amazing wonder that any sort of Men should so much value their own mode of Praying as to slight that comprehensive Prayer which our Lord both made and commanded and it grieves me that most of our English Separatists contrary to the practice of the Church and to the instruction given by our Blessed Saviour to his Disciples as it is written in the Gospel of St. Mat. in the sixth Chapter and the ninth verse and in that of St. Luk. in the 11th and 2d do too often refrain not only the use of the Apostles Creed and the Ten Commandments But also of the Lords Prayer which I fear is not only a shame to such as profess the Christian Religion but is also a great offence unto our Lord who hath expressly taught and enjoyned us when we pray to say Our Father which art in Heaven c. But as Charity Commands us to forgive one another I leave such to the mercy of Almighty God who is able to Pardon the greatest offenders This being premised together with the exemplary lives Sincere and Charitable endeavours of our English Ministry in shewing the true ground of the Antient and now reformed Catholick and. Apostolick Religion professed and taught in the Church of England may by Gods assistance be the best means of bringing over the remaining part of the English Dissenters who do not yet use the English Service nor observe its Canons and invite them by mutual love to conform and joyn with the Church of England for the obtaining of Gods Blessings of Grace Peace and Christian Charity among us or at least prove them to be inexcusable for their separating from the reformed National Church which never excludes Prayers in private Good Lord be pleased to open our Eyes that we may see what Triumph it occasions to our adversaries to behold the many divisions and bitter contentions among us upon the account of Religion and that they take more advantage from discords among our selves then from all their own Strength and Policy Wherefore because we are beset by Satan on one side and by our Popish adversaries on the other which are enslaving the Souls and destroying the Bodys of our Poor Brethren and subverting the Fundamentals of our Religion let us all joyn with one heart and render most humble thanks unto God that he hath been pleased by many eminent deliverances which he hath shewn to the Churches and Kingdoms of England and Ireland in preserving us from the Power of our Enemies And let us most humbly beseech God to be pleased of his Infinite Mercy and Goodness to prevent all their wicked designs against our distressed brethren and our selves by defeating alâ— their Malicious attempts and the works and power of the Devil and to convert all our Enemies and to turn their and our hearts unto him And the Lord grant that we may put away all hatred and malice evil speaking lying and slandering and pray with true and contrite hearts for the remission of all our sins and heinous offences and for the delivery of all our Persecuted Brethren from the undermining designs of their Enemies and for the Preservation of the true Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church and more especially for the Church of England and for our most Gracious Soveraign Lord King William and the Royal Family c. That he will be pleased to lead us by his Holy Spirit and enrich us with his Heavenly Grace that we may follow the good Examples of the Primitive Christians praying one for another in the same Words and Churches and helping each other in Love Charity Justice and Truth and that we may lay aside all worldly interests and set our affections on things above and that by our leading Holy and Peaceable lives we may promote the Honour and Olory of God and of his Son Jesus Christ by ouâ— Words and Actions and induce the Papists and all other divided Christians to do the same Finally let us beg of God that he will bring over the Turksâ— Jews and Infidels to acknowledge our Lord and to receive his Faith and Doctrine and to call upon and Praise his Holy Name and by his assistance and merits we may be instrumental in obtaining the salvation 〈◊〉 their and our own Immortal Souls which is the humble and chief aim of Your Faithful Servant J. T. The FORM OF Church-Prayers On the Week-days the Minister makes such an Exhortation as seemeth good to him accommodating it to the time and to the subject which he treats of in his Sermon On the Lords-day before the Reader comes into the Church the People usually sing some part of the Psalms until he see it a fit time to begin in this manner OUR help is in thâ— Name of God whâ— hath made Heaven and Earth Amen And after says these following words Let us give attention with reverence and fear to the holy Word of God contained in the Chapter which he readâ— and sometimes one or two more which are takeâ— out of the Old or New Testament Then he says these Preparatory words Let us sing to the praise and glory of God for the Edification and to the Consolation of our souls And upon that he gives out a Psalm which is sung by him and the Congregation That being ended he reads one or two Chapters more Thus reading and singing alternately till the Church be full and the Minister come into the Pulpit then the Reader repeats these following words Hearken with reverence and faithful obedience unto the holy Commandments of God contained in the 20th Chapter Exodus which he reads Then the Minister begiâ— by this following Prayer Our help is in the namâ— of God who hath maâ—â— Heaven and Earth
which may regenerate us into a better life by which thy Name may be hallowed thy Kingdom come thy Will be done c. And altho we are not worthy to open our mouths unto thee for our selves and to call upon thee in our necessities yet since it hath pleased thee to command us to pray one for another we pray thee for all our poor Brethren and Fellow-members whom thou dost visit with the Rod of thy correction beseeching thee to turn thine Anger from them and more especially for N. N. that it may please thee Lord to remember they are thy Children as we are and altho they have offended thee yet cease not to extend thy wonted goodness and mercy towards them which thou hast promised should continue for ever to all thy faithful Look down with pity we beseech thee upon thy whole Church and People at this time afflicted by War Pestilence or Famine and also upon all persons which do suffer by Sickness Imprisonment or Poverty comfort them all according to their several Necessities make them to profit by thy Correction endue them with patience and let not thy whole Displeasure arise against them but in the end deliver them and cause them fully to rejoice in thy goodness and to bless thy Name Especially that it may please thee to look down upon all and every one of those who do labour in the defence of thy Truth strengthen them with invincible constancy protect and assist them however dispersed or distressed defeat all the Plots Practices of their thy Enemies restrain their fury and confound all their wicked attempts against thee and the Members of thy Church let not thy Inheritance be brought to desolation nor suffer the memory of thy Name to be abolished permit not those to perish who call upon thy Name nor the Turks Pagans or any other Infidels to rejoice in blaspheming of thee Then followeth a part of the Sundays Prayer wherein they pray for the King and the Royal Family c. The FORM of Administration of Baptism It is to be observed that those Children which are to be Baptized ought to be brought on the Lord's Day at the time of Catechising or on some other days of Preaching to the end tha◠Baptism being a solemn Reception into the Church i◠should be performed in the presence of the Congregation At the end of the Sermon they present the Children and then the Minister begins to say OUR help is in the Name of God who hath made Heaven and Earth Amen Do you present thi◠Child to be baptized Ans Yes The Minister Our Lord shews us what Poverty and Misery we are all born in telling us we must be born again for if our Nature must be renewed that we may have an entrance into the Kingdom of God it is a sign that it is wholly corrupt and evil in that he admonishes us to humble and dislike our selves and so he prepares us to desire and seek after his grace by which all the Depravity and Corruption of our Original state may be abolished for we are not able to receive it before we are void of all confidence in our own goodness Wisdom and Righteousness so as to disclaim all that is in us Now when he makes us sensible of our misery he likewise comforts us by his mercy promising to regenerate us by his holy Spirit into a New Life which may be to us a an entrance into his Kingdom This Regeneration consists in Two Points 〈◊〉 That we should deny ou◠selves and not follow ou◠own Reason Will an◠Pleasure but submit ou◠Understanding and Heart to the Justice and Wisdo◠of God and that we should mortify all that is in us and our Carnal Lusts 2. That we should follow the Light of God to please him and to obey his Will and good pleasure as he teacheth us by his word and leads us thereto by his Spirit The fullfilling of both these is in our Lord Jesus Christ whose Death and Passion hath such Vertue that in our partaking thereof we are dead to sin that our Carnal Lusts may be mortified likewise by the Vertue of his Resurrection we do rise from sin unto a new and godly life seeing his Spirit governs and leads us to do such works as are acceptable unto him Now the first and chief Point of our Salvation is that he by his mercy pardoneth all sins not imputing them unto us but blotting out the memory of them that they may not stand in judgment against us all these Graces he confers upon us when it pleaseth him to incorporate us into his Church by Baptism for in this Sacrament he declareth the Remission of our sins and therefore he ordained the sign of the Water to represent unto us that as by this Element our bodily filth and Pollutions are cleansed so he will wash and purifie our Souls that they may be without blemish Moreover he there represents to us our Regeneration which consists as before instanced in the Mortification of our flesh and in the Spiritual Life which he produceth in us Thus we receive a double benefit from God in Baptism if we do not make the vertue of this Sacrament of none effect by our Ingratitude First We have thereby a real assurance that God will be our gracious Father in not imputing our sins and offences to us And Secondly That he will assist us by his holy Spirit that we may be able to fight against the Devil Sin and the Lusts of our flesh until we obtain Victory over them that we may get Freedom in his Kingdom which is the Kingdom of Righteousness and Justice therefore seeing that these two things are thus wrought in us by the grace of Jesus Christ it followeth that the vertue and substance of Baptism is comprehended in ou◠Saviour and we indeed can no otherwise be cleansed than by his Blood nor renewed but by his Death and Resurrection but as he communicates his Riches and Blessings to us by his Word so he distributes them unto us by his Sacraments Now our good God hath not only been pleased to adopt us for his Children and receive us into the Communion of his Church but also hath more abundantly extended his goodness towards us in promising that he will be our God and the God of our Posterity unto a thousand Generations therefore tho the Children of the Faithful be of the corrupted Seed of Adam yet he receives them by the vertue of that Covenant into the Number of his own therefore he would heretofore that in his Church the Children should receive the sign of Circumcision figuring thereby the same as is now represented unto us in Baptism and as he did command that they should be Circumcised so he did also own them for his Children calling himself their God as he was the God of their Fathers Now therefore as our Lord Jesus did not come down from Heaven to lessen the Grace of God his Father but to enlarge