ben hitherto holden captiue in darknes and ignorance for lacke of the knowledge of thy gospell may through the preaching thereof and the cleare light of thy holy spirit bee brought into the right way of saluation These words the booke of reformed churches of Midleburgh aboue specified somewhat changeth saying Moreouer we make our praiers vnto thee O Lord God most mercifull father for All men that as thou wouldst haue all sorts of men saued and come to the knowledge of the truth so it may please thee that such as haue ben hetherto holden captiue in darkenes and ignorance for lacke of the knowledge of thy gospell may through the preaching thereof c. As aboue so haue we here the example of other reformed churches also all which we see keepe the Apostles rule pray for All men for al such as be yet ignorant for all men in generall for such as are captiue in darkenes and ignorance And sometime end the same their praiers with the Lords praier also So doe we behold praier for all men and euen the very Apostles rule in the church of God continued from time to time and thus much for the practise of the church The fift part The Obiections against it answered NOw we come to the fift and last place which is concerning the obiectioÌ„s against this ancient publike charitable and religious praier of the church for vniuersall mankind which whosoeuer backbiteh or speaketh against he backbiteth and speaketh against the word of God and against the ancient order of praier of Gods church as sufficiently hath ben declared The first Obiection WE ought not to pray for all because All shall not bee saued The Answere We haue no such rule in scripture that saith wee ought not to pray for all but we haue a rule of S. Pauls that saith Pray for al men But a rule that saith Pray not for all men I find none such Him therefore that flatly inferreth a contradictioÌ„ against the scriptures of God the church of God ought to suspect For Christ wee know and Paule wee know but who is this That hee should set downe a rule against the Lord his God We may say vnto him as Moises said sometime to the presumptuous Ye take too much vpon you ye sons of Leui. Secondly the proposition here inferred hath his foundation in calling and in the outward seruice due vnto God in praier in his congregation vpon earth the conclusion or reason is drawen from the purpose of God in election and applied ioined therunto which ought not to be For from outward calling to secret election we may not reason Thirdly the Apostle preuenting all such cauelling teacheth vs to reason far better saieng Pray for all men For God will haue all men to bee saued The second Obiection IN mankind there are reprobates and we ought not to pray for reprobates The Answere The Lord in his Câ—mmission saith not Goe preach to elect and â—â—probate buâ— Pâ—each the Gospell to â—uery creature he doth not â—â—stinguish thâ—m to our hands but looketh for increase Againe We pray for the saluation of All whom wâ— know to be created to the image of God and vnto whom tâ—ere is the same nature with vs on the other side we leane the dâ—struction of those to Gods iudgemâ—nt whom hâ—e himselfe knoweth to be reprobatâ—s Lastly we say as maister Caluin saith Hunc illum sâ—ngulos optare debemus saluos esse atque ita complecti totum humanum genus quià nen dum distinguere licet electos à reprobis Wee ought to wish this man and the other man and so euery man to be saued and so comprehend All mankind For as yet we may not distinguish or seperate the elect from the reprobate The third Obiection OVr sauiour Christ saith I pray not for the world c. He would not pray for the wicked ones in the world Wee should do so to c. The Answere This praier of the Lord was particular vnto himselfe as the great shepheard of our soules and therefore not to be drawne into example of vs whereof is inough spoken before Againe as one noteth vpon the words Chrâ—stus vt deus homo nouit distinctè plenè qui quot essent saluandi qui etiam quot essent damnaÌ„di c. Christ as God and man both distinctly and fully knoweth who and how many should be saued who also and how manie should be damned Wee prostrate before his maiestie dare not speake or presume any such thing But let vs see how Christ hath praied and how he teacheth â—o pray for in the same Chapter he saieth I pray not for these alone but for them also which shall beleeue in me through their worde He praied not only for them which were prâ—sent as in the ninth verse but also for them which were to come and should beleeue in him Also according to the prophesie long before of him he prayed for the transgressours So as we read in the Gospell hee fulfilled it saying Father forgiue them for they know not what they doe Vpon which words a learned Father saith Oblitus suorum malorum prò suis crucifixoribus id est prò nobis orat qui nostris peccatis illum crucifiximus Ignosce illis qui à nesciunt quid faciunt Hee forgetting his owne iniuries prayed for his Tormentors or crucifiers That is for vs who with our sinnes haue crucified him saying Father forgiue them for they know not what they doe And in this we are to follow the Lord in the other to know the Lord and in both to honour him The fourth Obiection IF it be lawfull to pray for the saluation of Reprobates Then is it lawfull to pray for Iudas and Saul and Esau of whom the Scriptures doe testifie That they bee reiected of the Lord. Iudas is called the lost child of perdition and a diuel Iohn 6. Esau is said to find no place to repentance Though he sought the blessing with teares Heb. 12. And of Saul the Lord himselfe in expresse words said that he had reiected him 2. Sam. 7. The Answere Let vs suppose that Esau Saul and Iudas were aliue and so first let vs speake of them Secondly of the Reprobates Of Esau first For yer the children were borne and when they had done neither good nor euill c. It was said vnto her The elder shall serue the yonger Now after this voice of the Lord concerning the children Let vs see whether the Church cast him off also as reiected of the Lord and vnworthie of his house vnworthie of their praier vnworthie of their companie First it is said And the boies grew Then it is said And Isaac loued Esau Then it is said Make me sauory meat that my soule may blesse thee or I die Surely master Caluin giueth this iudgement Consortes externa vocationis peraequè fuisse Esau Iacob vndè patet arcano dei consilio
vnto me take heed I say and your soule shall liue For I will make an euerlasting couenant with you euen the sure mercies of Dauid Yea a better heritage and name then if they had beene called sonnes and daughters I will giue them an euerlasting name that shall not perish Thus saith he Behold I am here I am here That if we shall seeke for him he wil be found of vs. Let vs with readie and willing mindes follow this caller let vs heare when he speaketh let vs answere when he calleth let vs be obedient when hee commaundeth in all humblenes submitting our selues vnder his mightie hand that he may exalt vs vnto glorie for with the Lord there is mercie and with him there is plenteous redemption as in the Scriptures aforesaid set downe is most amplie shewed This mercifull father according to his accustomed goodnes not for any thing that he saw in mankind looked vpon him to make him his child but euen when they were weake vngodly vncleane sinners and the enemies of God dead in sinnes and offences euen for his own sake wheÌ„ he saw thee in thy bloud euen when no eie pitied thee to doe any of these things vnto thee for to haue compassion vpon thee I saw thee saith the Lord polluted in thine owne bloud and I said vnto thee when thou wast in thy bloud Thou shalt liue euen when thou wast in thy bloud I said vnto thee thou shalt liue And moued through loue wherewith hee most fatherly loued the world he gaue his onlie begotten sonne that we might liue through him For herein God setteth out his loue towards vs seeing that while we were yet sinners christ died for vs. Wel saith S. Iohn Behold what loue the Father hath giuen to vs that we should be called the sons of God Now then if God be on our side who can be against vs who spared not his own son but gaue him for vs all to death Let vs therefore reioice in this his loue not as the Lord reproued the Iewes that for a space they wold reioice in the light which Iohn the Baptist brought but so let vs reioyce in the same that we way enioy the benefite of the same in the sauing health thereof And that we may be changed into the same image from glorie to glorie as by the spirit of the Lord. So shall wee also loue not in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth The meanes whereby he calleth is first the preaching of the Gospel the certaintie whereof is such That as the Apostle saith though that wee or an Angell from heauen preach vnto you any otherwise then that which we haue preached vnto you let him be accursed Yea doubtlesse I thinke saith he all things but losse for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus my Lord. For whom I haue counted all things losse and do iudge them to bee dungue that I might winne Christ. This is that which the Angell said Bee not afraid for behold I bring you glad tidings of great ioy that shall bee vnto all people This is a doctrine and knowledge that passeth all knowledge not giuen vs by nature but reuealed from aboue containing that most wonderfull message concerning our Sauiour Christ Iesus and the benefite where withall we are blessed and inriched by him who of God is made vnto vs wisedome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption being vnto them which are called both of the Iewes and Gentiles Christ the power of God and the wisedome of God In whom God hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in heauenly things in Christ and according to his abundant mercie hath begotten vs againe vnto a liuely hope by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance immortall and vndefiled c. The summe whereof is to beleeue That Iesus Christ is the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world For hee that beleeueth in him and shall be baptised shall be saued Vnto this diuine and heauenly message of the preaching of the gospel concerning health and deliuerance in Christ Iesus to bee receiued and beleeued of vs for the further strengthning and increase of our faith commeth also the Lords institution in the ministration of the sacraments which were ordeined for the gathering together of the saints and for the worke of the ministerie And these sacraments haue such affinity and agreement with the word as that whatsoeuer is giuen promised vnto vs in the word concerning our libertie freedom health and saluation in Christ to be obtained enioied and receiued Euen that doe the sacraments as signes and seales applied to the word to releeue and strengthen our infirmitie confirme and make sure vnto vs and to this end they are called holy signes and seals in the sight and eies of men instituted of God that by them he may more declare and seale vnto vs the good things and mercifull promises reuealed in the gospell Also they are a â—estimonie of Gods fauour towards vs confirmed by an outward signe with a mutuall testifiing of our godlines towards him For sacraments are nothing els then the promises of the gospell set foorth and adorned with outwatd action and ceremony And therfore in baptisme we are washed with water in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy ghost to signifie that wee are receiued into grace and fauour for the blood of Christ Iesus shead for vs and are regenerate by his spirit And we on our parts doe hereby testifie and are bound that wee will hereafter in our liues and conuersation witnesse and shew forth all newnes of life and the good increase of the fruits of the spirit of the Lord. And therefore being the church of Christ we are gathered together by baptisme and the word that first by that marke we may be discerned from other sects and people secondlie that thereby our faith may be confirmed when as thereby Christ witnesseth that he washeth vs with his blood conferreth and bestoweth vpon vs remission of sins iustification and regeneration Thirdly as it teacheth the vnitie of the church whereby we say I beleeue the holy catholike church so also it sheweth that baptisme is a knot or band whereby the members of Christ are bound or knit in mutuall loue one towards another that as we haue many members in one bodie and al members haue not one office so we being many are one bodie in Christ and euerie one one anothers members And concerning this our washing and regeneration most aptly saith one Nostrae tum purgationis tum regenerationis in patre causam in filie materiam in spiritu effectum consequimur quodammodo distincte cernimus We get and obtaine and as it were after a sort doe see very distinctly In the Father the cause in the Sonne the matter and in the Spirit the effect of our clensing and regeneration For
such to worship him Again Ye know not of what spirit ye are The reason For the son of man is not come to destroy mens liues but to saue them c. Againe But there are some of you that beleeue not The reason For Iesus knew from the beginning which they were that beleeued not and who should betray him Wee see in these few as in many how notablie the spirit of the Lord doth suggest a reason proper to the thing that is handled for the further instruction comfort and edifying of his children As if he should say in plaine words search the scriptures For in them ye think to haue eternall life and they are they that testifie of me A reason most notably encouraging the seruants of the Lord to seeke for eternall life and to seeke to know Christ in the scriptures So here in hand at this time Pray for all men For it is acceptable to God who wil haue all men to be saued and to come to the knowledge of the truth A reason setting forth the pleasure of God that before him such a praier is accepted that he will the same too that they pray that is All men to be saued and to know the truth Then wee see euen from the instruction of the spirit of the Lord That these words yeeld a reason pâ—oper vnto the proposition which they confirme And therefore haue therein their owne proper sence which what it is I wil by the grace of God search forth after the mind of the best writers Neither will I goe to the right hand or to the left but will declare the truth herein And howsoeuer men haue iudged of me herein I esteeme not the cause is Gods Who will haue all men to be saued and to come to the knowledge of the truth In speaking concerning the will of God S. Augustine hath a good saying for vs to consider Neâ— iniquè aliquid facit nèc nisi volens quicquam facit omnia quaecunque vult facit That is neither doth God any thing vniustly neither doth he any thing but of his good will and all things whatsoeuer he will that he doth And againe Omnipotentis voluntas dei semper inuicta est quae mala esse nunquam potest The wil of the almightie God is alwaies inuincible which neuer can bee amisse or euill To which purpose Caluin noteth vpon this place After that saith he the Apostle had taught that that thing was profitable which he commanded now he setteth downe a more forcible argument that is that it is pleasing vnto God Nam vbi constat de eius voluntate instar omnium rationum nobis esse debet That is For where the matter is knowne to be the certaine will of God that ought to be vnto vs in stead of all other reasons whatsoeuer Quia autem dei voluntas regula est ad quam exigenda sunt officianostra omnia Because indeed The will of God is a rule by which all our duties and doings are to be squared and tried God therefore doth nothing vniustly he doth what he will That his will is alwaies iust and true It is the rule of our actions It is in stead of all other reasons vnto vs that may be giuen Thus much being spoken of the constant will of God we will goe forward and come more neare vnto the matter First therefore Chrysostome vpon these wordes of Timothie thus writeth Hoc enim bonum acceptum est inquit coram saluatore nostro Deo Quid illud est orare prò omnibus hoc suscepit deus hoc iubet Qui omnes homines vult saluos fieri ad agnitionem veritatis venire Imitare Deum tuum Si omnes ille vult saluos fieri merito prò omnibus oportet orare Si omnes ipse saluos fieri cupit illius tu concorda voluntati c. For this is good and acceptable saith hee before our Sauiour God What is that To pray for all men This God warranteth This God commandeth who will haue all men to be saued and to come to the knowledge of the truth Imitate thou thy God If hee will All men to bee saued of right wee must pray for all men If he desire all men to be saued vnto his will also be thou conformable Thus he saith Imitate thy God desire as he desieth If he will haue all men to be saued pray thou for it This holy father seeketh not out anie strange sense anie other way He biddeth thee doe as God willeth Saint Ambrose thus writeth Si Deus vtique qui omnipotens dicitur omnes homines saluos vult fieri cur non impletur eius voluntas Sed in omni loqâ—utione sensus est Conditio latet vnde dicit Petrus Apostolus omnis scriptura indiget interpretatione vult enim Deus omnes saluos fieri sed si accedant ad eum Non enim sic vult vt nolentes saluentur sed vult illos saluari si ipsi velint Nam vtique qui legem omnibus dedit nullum excepit à salute Nunquid non Medicus idcircò proponit in publico vt omnes se ostendat velle saluare si tamen ab aegris requiratur c. If surely God who is called omnipotent will haue all men to be saued why is not his will fulfilled But in euerie speech there is his owne proper sense The condition lieth hid Wherevpon saith the Apostle Saint Peter Euerie Scripture hath need of his interpretation For God will haue all men to be saued but so that they draw neare vnto him For he so wil not That ill-willing and refusers be saued but will them to be saued if they themselues bee willing For sure hee that gaue a law for all hath excepted no man froÌ„ health and saluation Doth not the Phisition therefore make shew in publique place as that hee sheweth hee will heale all commers yet so as if he be sought for of the diseased c. This holy father respecteth the outward ministerie and the voice of the Gospell he derogateth nothing from the will of God God hath giuen health for all if they will come he is a Phisition for all if they will seeke him Saint Augustine hereof thus writeth Praeceperat enim Apostolus vt oraretur prò singulis hominibus specialiter addiderat prò regibus ijs qui in sublimitate sunt qui putari poterant fastu superbia seculari à fidei Christianae humilitate abhorrêre Proindè dicens Hoc enim bonum est coram saluatore nostro deo id est vt etiam prò talibus oretur statim vt desperationem tolleret addidit Qui omnes homines vuls saluos fieri in agnitionem veritatis venire Hoc quippe Deus bonum iudicauit vt orationibus humilium dignaretur salutem praestare sublimium For the Apostle had commanded that praier should bee made for euerie man and especially he added for Kings and such as
the father giueth the son laieth downe his life for the sins of the world and the holy spirit of God sanctifieth our hearts For he performeth that washing inwardly in the soul which the water is said to do outwardly to the body Now after that our good and gracious God hath thus into his peculiar and family receiued vs as his children and sonnes as a louing father most carefull of his people and chosen ones he forsaketh vs not but cherisheth and feedeth vs in the whole and continual course of our life And therfore vnto his church he hath giuen by the hand of his only begotten son a spirituall and heauenly banket where our Sauiour Christ is vnto vs that bread of life wherewithal our soules should be fed to the true and blessed immortallitie and to haue the end euerlasting life And therfore at this holy supper being so called of the first institution thereof the Lord Christ promiseth and sealeth vnto the faithful That his bodie was broken and offered on the crosse and his bloud so surely and truly shead as with my eies I beheld the bread of the Lord to bee broken and the cup to be destributed and therefore so surely is the child of God fed to life euerlasting by his bodie crucified and his precious blood shead as my bodie is outwardlie fed by the hand of the minister by the bread and cup which are giuen vnto me as sure pledges of the same To this end saith the Apostle The cup of blessing which wee blesse is it not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we breake is it not the communion of the bodie of Christ For we that are many are one bread and one bodie because we all are partakers of one bread For as often as ye shal eat this bread and drinke this cup yee shew the Lords death till hee come In this holy institution of the Lord therefore we seeke the confirmation of our faith our vniting vnto Christ the testification of our obedience to the church of God our desire and loue that we haue to dwell togither in vnitie our gladnes when they come together to eat that we may confirme the peace vnitie and loue of brethren For that holy supper sheweth foorth vnto vs that vnder one head we are all made the members of Christ Iesus because we are all made partakers of one bread But herein I may say woe to the world because of offences yea the offences I say against this holy institution of the Lord who are desirous hereof to be partakers who applieth and vseth it as the remembrance of the death of Christ Iesus for his sinnes who doth oft resort thereunto to confirme the band of loue amongst brethren Or rather is it not in most places set downe for an ordinarie worke at Easter only and neuer thought vpon all the yeare following So that holy band of Christian vnitie of setting forth of the Lords death is reiected and contemned we desire the world and looke vpon the earth the things of God and the things that are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God we seeke not for nor hearken after them If we would iudge our selues wee should not be iudged of the Lord but hee iudgeth vs and calleth for a plague and it deuoureth hee iudgeth vs and calleth for a famine and that famine together with the adamant brassie and flintie hard hearts rangeth and ragâ—th ouer the poore of the land to eat vp my people as they would eat bread And lastly hee will call for a sword to make an end of vs if wee repent not O consider this ye that forget God least I plucke you away and there be none to deliuer you O let not the earth be your reioicing Christ calleth vs vp into heauen vnto the table of the great king Ascendamus cum domino in caenaculum magnum stratum atque mundatum accipiamus ab eo sursum calicem noui testamenti Let vs ascend vp with our Lord into that great dining chamber adorned and made cleane and there aboue let vs receiue the cup of the new testament Againe Vt terra nobis coelum sit facit hoc misterium Ascende igitur ad coeli portas diligentèr attende Imò non coeli sed coeli coelorum tunc quod dicimus iutueberis This mysterie causeth that vnto vs the earth is heauen Ascend vp therefore vnto the gates of heauen and marke diligently Nay I say not vnto the gates of heauen but vnto the gates of the heauen of heauens and so shalt thou see the things that I tell thee To conclude therefore this part which containeth the means whereby we are called that is the preaching of repentance and forgiuenesse of sinnes in the sweet promises of the Gospel and the ministration of the holie Sacraments it is set downe before in this effect That we feele our burthen that wee taste of his feast that we sit at his Supper that we be partakers of the Sacraments that hee stretcheth forth his mercie vnto all that wee might beleeue in him that wee might liue through him and enioy euerlasting life Now then it followeth by order that we shew whom he calleth vnder the name of Iew and Gentile is comprehended All mankind Now when it is said Goe into the High wayes and as many as ye find call them to the marriage Herein is described the calling of the Gentiles which might haue stirred vp the Iewes vnto zeale as we reade They haue prouoked me in them which are no gods I therefore will prouoke them to iealosie in them which are no people yea in a foolish nation will I prouoke them to anger The Iewes because they were chosen by God in the former place flattred themselues as though the grace of God should be addicted and onely shut vp in them euen as though God himself could not want or be without them by any means Nay saith God Seeke in the high waies in the lanes and streets of the cittie For the place for the degree for the person make no regard bee they halt lame blind maimed poore rich All which generality of places and persons sheweth the franck and free bountifull and liberall louing and vniuersall inuiting and calling of the Lord our God For the word witnesseth accordinglie The seruants went forth into the waies gathered all as many as they found both good and bad together so the wedding was furnished with guests both good and bad together these they gathered without making choise no man being shut out for the kingdom of heauen is like vnto a draw net cast into the sea that gathereth of all sorts Also to his feast in mount Sion hee inuiteth all people he sendeth his word the Gospell to be preached the Sacraments to be ministred to all nations to all the world to euery creature Amongst them he will not the death of a sinner vpon his sonne he hath laid
all the world to euery creature shall the word be thy power to saluation to all that beleeue of the Iew first and also of the Gentile Shall the Apostles then goe into all the world and shall I be an Apostle of the Gentiles to set forth these glad tidings amongst them surely then shal I teach the vnrighteous thy waies and sinners shall be conuerted vnto thee And then let the Gentiles praise God for his mercie as it is writen For this cause I will confesse thee among the Gentiles and sing vnto thy name And again he saith Reioice yee Gentiles with his people And again Praise the Lord All ye Gentiles and laud ye him all ye people together And againe Esaias saith There shall be the root of Iesse and he that shall rise to raigne ouer the Gentiles in him shall the Gentils trust Then O Lord shew thy seruants thy worke and their children thy glorie And the glorious maiestie of the Lord our God be vpon vs prosper thou the worke of our hands vpon vs O prosper thou our handy work Let me care for all congregations let mee learne in what estate so euer I am to be content let me be made all thinges to all men that I might by all meanes saue some And first then I giue in precept vnto thy church concerning the truth of thy word and doctrine and I say vnto Timothie So doe that thou warne some that they teach none other doctrine neither that they giue heed vnto fables and genealogies which are endles which breed questions rather then godly edifieng which is by faith For the end of the commandement is loue out of a pure heart and a good conscience and of faith vnfeined c. Then after ye haue had a special care for the soundnes of the truth and wholsome doctrine I exhort that first of all supplications praiers intercessions and giuing of thanks be made for al men For kings and for all that are in authoritie c. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our sauiour who will that all men shall be saued and come vnto the acknowledging of the truth Thus the Apostle according to the instruction giuen vnto him establisheth not only in the church of Ephesus but in the same in the whole church of Christ that there be not only sound doctrine established but also publike praier for all estates and all mankind vniuersally For God inuiteth them and calleth them to bee partakers of his sauing health And great reason it should be according to the patterne set downe and will of the Lord the maine ground and foundation whereof is this To whomsoeuer the word and sacraments doe belong for them we ought to pray But the word and sacraments doe belong to all the world to all nations to all creatures Therefore wee ought to pray for all the world for all nations for all creatures The Apostle in this calling counteth it not a time to desseuer them whom God in the participation of his promises of his word and sacraments and in the preaching of the acceptable yeare of the Lord hath ioined and knit together and therefore would that all might be praied for vnto whom this mercie of the Lord is offered He doubteth not but the foundation of God remaineth sure and hath this seale Tâ—e Lord knoweth who are his but in this charge that is laid vpon him who is offended and S. Paul burne not and therefore according to the will of the Lord he would haue all know him and come vnto the truth Againe the Apostle by the spirit of the Lord saw the wonderfull effects that should grow and spring from the preaching of the gospell For thereby and by the preaching of the same the fierce lions shall be tamed and made meeke and humble the wolfe and the lambe shall feed together the people that dwell in darkenes shall behold the true light all nations shall see the saluation of our God For this wonderfull worke and building of the Lord hauing the foundation in the great loue of God towards vs is dispensed first by Preaching and Hearing whereby in the effectuall working of the spirit from aboue faith is fashioned in vs For without faith it is impossible to please God Then are we buried with Christ by Baptisme into his death that like as Christ was raised vp from the dead to the glory of the father So we also should walke in newnes of life For to walke in newnes of life is to be to the glorie of the father also according as it is said Let your light so shine before men c. Now then that the law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Iesus hath freed vs from the law of sin and death we must haue our Education in the word and sacraments that wee may grow from faith to faith That wee may ioine vertue with faith and with vertue knowledge and with knowledge temperance and with temperance patience and with patiâ—nce godlines and with godlines brotherly kindnes and with brotherly kindnes loue that we benot vnfruitfull that Christ Iesus may dwell in vs that we may auoid the danger of sinne that we may be sober and watch for the aduersary as a roaring lion goeth about seeking whom he may deuour him we must resist stedfast in the faith And therefore oft hereunto we must ioine the exercise of the faithfull the participation of the holie supper of the Lord to set forth the death of the Lord till his comming And especiallie herein the ministers of the Lord must not be straunge but to be oft with the people of God partakers and receiuers That the flocke by their example may be more stirred and moued highly to esteeme of the sacraments and the ordinance of God in his church And therfore as one saith Qui autem pastores raro communicant exemplo suo faciunt vt sacramenta veniant paulatium in comtemptum And those shepheards which seldome communicate by their example bring to passe that by little and little the sacraments grow into contempt Herein is also daily rising againe and comming to the Lord to say vnto him Forgiue vs our trespasses And O Lord though our sinnes testifie against vs deale with vs according to thy name for our rebellions are many we haue sinned against thee O the hope of Israel the Sauiour in the time of trouble why art thou as a stranger in the land as one that passeth by to tarrie for a night Why art thou as a man astonied and as a strong man that cannot helpe Yet thou Lord art in the midst of vs and thy name is called vpon forsake vs not c. And the most effectual power of the word preached vnto vs appeareth herein also For in it hope is confirmed and by hope wee are saued by the same worde faith is established and the victorie
authoritie that wee may lead a quiet life in all godlinesse and honestie Hitherto haue we spoken concerning the praiers of the Church Namely of the Lords praier and of the rule of the Apostle set vp vsed and followed and that they comprehend in them the hearty desires of the Church and Gods children for the propagation of the Gospell the conuersion of mankind That all nations may vnderstand and see the saluation of our God Now then these things being so and that the praier of the sonne of God was of such account as to bee repeated in the Church and the rule of the Apostle obserued alike with all fidelitie how dare some amongst vs say That the Lords praier is not to be said or not to be repeated The Lord saith Pray thus The Apostles did as he commaunded The Church of God customably praieth it and we in these latter daies come and disdaine the same On the other side Saint Paules rule to pray for all men A rule of publique praier in the Church of God from the Apostles And we in these latter dayes say All men are not to be praied for Thus wee fleete and are carried about with euerie blast of doctrine not searching the causes or foundations thereof Now therefore say After these examples thus shewed and practised by the Fathers how should the Church of England haue set downe her publique praiers Truely to answere vnto God learnedly for example vnto others faithfully for the edifying of simple ones How I say should they religiously haue set them downe for those purposes if they had not followed the example of Christ of the Apostles and of the Fathers walking in their steppes And therefore I do verily thinke that the holy and reuerend Fathers so setting them downe as in our common praier booke appeareth sawe farre more into the state of the primatiue Church and so successiuely in the church of God then many a one that reprehendeth or findeth fault in these dayes We end the ministration of the Sacrament of the holy Supper of our Lord and the Sacrament of holy Baptisme with the Lords praier Haue not the Fathers receiued it by practise Saith not Saint Augustine as it is before speaking of the Sacrament Quam totam petitionem ferè omnis ecclesia dominica oratione concludit All which petition the whole Church almost concludeth with the Lords praier And haue not they discharged themselues like good men in following the patterne of the ancient Church and of the Church of God Againe we pray in the Letâ—nie That it would please thee to haue mercie vpon All men Also we pray Haue mercie vpon All Iewes Turkes Infidels and heretikes c. Doth not the Lord so commaund to pray for our enemies to pray for them that persecute vs Saith not Saint Paul Pray for all men Shall not this bee a rule for Gods Church as long as we liue Nescieâ—tes quis ad numerum praedestinatorum quis ad sortem reproborum pertineat sic affici debemus charitatis affectu vt velimus omnes saluari ideo omnibus fraternae correptionis debemus affectum impâ—ndere sub spe diuini auxilij We not knowing who bâ—longeth to the number of the predestinate and who belongeth to the lot of the reprobate should so be touched with the affection of loue as that wee would Aâ—l men should bee saued and therefore we must bestow the affection of brotherly reproouing vpon all vnder hope of the heauenlie and diuine helpe of God And if we be to bestow the affection of brotherly reprouing or chasticement then our praier also and what so euer may further the good and amendment of our neighbours and brethren Also â—fter the reading of the Gospel we read thus For the whole state of Christs Church c. Almightie and euerliuing God which by thy holy Apostle hast taught vs to make praiers and supplications and to giue thanks for Al men c. Is not this after the rule of the Apostle and according to the example of S. Augustine in the place aboue cited how then are these things so much misliked that some when they minister the Sacraments or doe preach leaue out the Lords praier as vnworthy to stand there or too childiâ—h to be said Othersome by no meanes will pray for All men When Saul pursued Dauid and that Dauid now had pleaded his innocencie that Saul could not denie the same Then Daâ—id said After whom dost thou pursue After a dead dog and after a flee the Lord therefore be iudge and iudge betwixt thee and mee and see and plead my cause c. So it seemeth to me that this rule of the Apostle speakâ—th against them The Lord plead my cause betwixt you and me thâ—t haue brought in errors disquieted the church and abused the people infond opinions After the time of the fathers aboue mentioned the praiers of the church began to be corrupt and as I read Pontificiorum historiae narrant inuocationem sanctorum additam insertam esse litaniae à Gregorio Magno circà annum dom 600. The histories of the Popes doe shew that inuocation of the saints added and inserted to the Letanie by Gregorie the great about the yeare sixe hundâ—ed Tâ—erfore let vs looke into the practise of the reformâ—tion of our daies and let vâ— see how much vnlike vnto the church of England in this point they are or whether they agree in one or no. First therefore there is a booke whose title is thus The forme of praiers and ministration of the sacramenâ—s c. Vsed in the English church at Geneua approued and â—eceiued by the church of Scotland c. Printâ—d at Edenburâ—h 1565. In that booke there is a praier named For the whole state of Christs church and therein we read thus Furthermoâ—e for as much as by the holy Apostle wee bee taught to make our praiers and supplications for All men we pray not onâ—ly for our selues here present but beseech thee â—lso to reduce all such as be yet ignorant from the miserablâ— captiuitie of blindnes and error to the pure vnderstanding of thy heauenly truth That we all with one consent and vnitie of minds may worship thee our only God and sauiour The very same words ye read in the Geneua English with this title Approued by the famous and godly learned man M. Iohn Caluin Printed at Geneua 1556. The very same words ye read in a booke of the form of Common Praiers administration of the sacraments agreeable to Gods word and the vse of reformed churches Printed at Midleburgh 1587. Secondly the church of Scotland in a praier called Another manner of praier after the sermon yee â—ead thus Moreouer we make our praiers vnto thee O Lord most mercifull father for Al men in generall that as thou wilt be knowne to be the sauiour of all the world by the redemption purchased by thine only son Iesus Christ euen so that such as haue