enclined to evil so that the flesh lusteth alwayes contrary to the spirit and therefore in every person born into this world it deserveth Gods wrath and damnation And this infection of nature doth remain yea in them that are regenerated whereby the lust of the flesh called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some do expound the wisdome some sensuality some the affection some the desire of the flesh is not subject to the law of God And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized yet the Apostle doth confess that concupiscence and lust hath of it self the nature of sin X. Of free-will THe condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and good works to faith and calling upon God wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God without the grace of God by Christ preventing us that we may have a good will and working with us when we have that good will XI Of the Jâ—stification of man WE are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith and not for our own works or deservings Wherefore that we are justified by faith only is a most wholsome doctrine and very full of comfort as more largely is expressed in the Homily of Justification XII Of good works ALbeit that good works which are the fruits of faith and follow after Justification cannot put away our sins and endure the severity of Gods judgement yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith in so much that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned by the fruit XIII Of works before Justification WOrks done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of his Spirit are not pleasant to God forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Jesus Christ neither do they make men meet to receive grace or as the School-authors say deserve grace of congruity yea rather for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done we doubt not but they have the nature of sin XIV Of works of supererogation VOluntary works besides over and above Gods commandments which they call works of supererogation cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety For by them men do declare that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do but that they do more for his sake then of bounden duty is required whereas Christ saith plainly when ye have done all that are commanded to you say we are unprofitable servants XV. Of Christ alone without sin CHrist in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things sin only except from which he was clearly void both in his flesh and in his spirit He came to be a Lamb without spot who by sacrifice of himself once made should take away the sins of the world and sin as St. John saith was not in him But all we the rest although baptized and born again in Christ yet offend in many things and if we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us XVI Of sin after Baptisme NOw every deadly sin willingly committed after Baptisme is sin against the Holy Ghost and unpardonable Wherefore the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after Baptisme After we have received the Holy Ghost we may depart from grace given and fall into sin and by the grace of God we may arise again and amend our lives And therefore they are to be condemned which say they can no more sin as long as they live here to deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent XVII Of Predestination and Election PRedestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God whereby before the foundations of the world were laid he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankinde and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation as vessels made to honour Wherefore they which be indued with so excellent a benefit of God be called according to Gods purpose by his Spirit working in due season they through grace obey the calling they be justified freely they be made sons of God by adoption they be made like the Image of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ they walk religiously in good works and at length by Gods mercy they attain to everlasting felicity As the godly consideration of Predestination and our Election in Christ is full of sweet pleasant and unspeakable comfort to godly persons and such as feel in themselves the working of the spirit of Christ mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members and drawing up their minde to high and heavenly things as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation to be enjoyed through Christ as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God so for curious and carnal persons lacking the spirit of Christ to have continually before their eyes the sentence of Gods predestination is a most dangerous downfall whereby the Devil doth thrust them either into desperation or into wretchlesness of most unclean living no less perillous then desperation Furthermore we must receive Gods promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture and in our doings that will of God is to be followed which we have expresly declared unto us in the word of God XVIII Of obtaining eternal salvation only by the Name of Christ THey also are to be had accursed that presume to say that every man shall be saved by the law or sect which he professeth so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that law and the light of nature For holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the name of Jesus Christ whereby men must be saved XIX Of the Church THe visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men in the which the pure word of God is preached and the Sacraments be duly ministred according to Christs ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same As the Church of Jerusalem Alexandria and Antioch have erred so also the Church of Rome hath erred not only in their living and manner of ceremonies but also in matters of faith XX. Of the authority of the Church THe Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies and authority in controversies of faith and yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods word written neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another Wherefore although the Church be a witness and a keeper of holy Writ yet as it ought not to decree any
Articles of the Christian Faith And thirdly that I should keep Gods holy will and Commandements and walk in the same all the dayes of my life Question Dost thou not think thou art bound to believe and do what was promised for thee Answer Yes verily and with Gods help so I will and I pray God give me his grace that I may continue in the same unto my lives end Question Rehearse the Articles of thy belief Answer I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord which was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into hell the third day he rose again from the dead he ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead I believe in the Holy Ghost the holy Catholick Church the communion of Saints the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting Amen Question What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy belief Answer First I learn to believe in God the Father who hath made me and all the world Secondly in God the Son who hath redeemed me and all mankinde Thirdly in God the Holy Ghost who sanctifieth me and all the Elect people of God Question How many Commandements be there Answer Ten. Question Which be they Answer THe same which God spake in the twenty Chapter of Exodus saying I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Aegypt out of the house of bondage I. Thou shalt have none other Gods but me II. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven image nor the likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the water under the earth thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shew mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandements III. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain IV. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day Six dayes shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt do no manner of work thou and thy son and thy daughter thy man-servant and thy maid-servant thy cattle and the stranger that is within thy gates for in six dayes the Lord made Heaven and earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it V. Honour thy father and thy mother that thy dayes may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee VI. Thou shalt do no murther VII Thou shalt not commit adultery VIII Thou shalt not steal IX Thou shalt not beare false witness against thy neighbour X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife nor his servant nor his Maid nor his Ox nor his Ass nor any thing that is his Question What dost thou chiefly learne by these commandements Answer I learne two things my duty towards God and my duty towards my neighbour Question What is thy duty towards God Answer My duty towards God is to believe in him to feare him and to love him with all my heart with all my mind with all my soule and with all my strength To worship him to give him thanks to put my whole trust in him to call upon him to honour his holy name and his word and to serve him truely all the dayes of my life Question What is thy duty towards thy neighbour Answer My duty towards my neighbour is to love him as my self and to do to all men as I would they should do unto me To love honour and succour my father and Mother To honour and obey the King or supream Magistrate and his Ministers To submit my self to all my Governours teachers spirituall pastours and Masters To order my self lowly and reverently to all my betters to hurt no body by word nor deed To be true and just in all my dealing To beare no malice nor hatred in my heart To keepe my hands from stealing and my tongue from evill speaking lying and slandering To keepe my body in temperance sobernesse and chastity Not to covet or desire other mens goods but to learn and labour truely to get mine own living and to do my duty in that state of life unto the which it shall please God to call me Question My good childe know this that thou art not able to do these things of thy self nor to walke in the commandements of God and to serve him without his speciall grace which thou must learne at all times to call for by diligent prayer Let me heare therefore if thou canst say the Lords Prayer Answer OUr Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdome come thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our dayly bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us And leade us not into temptation But deliver us from evill For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for ever Amen Question What desirest thou of God in this prayer Answer I desire my Lord God our heavenly Father who is the giver of all good to send his grace unto me and to all people that we may worship him serve him and obey him as we ought to do And that he would send us all things that be needefull both for our soules and bodyes And that he will forgive us our sinns and save and defend us in all dangers ghostly and bodily and that he will keepe us from all sinne and wickedness and from our ghostly enemy and from everlasting death And this I trust he will do of his mercy and goodness through our Lord Jesus Christ And therefore I say Amen So be it Question How many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his Church Answer Two onely as generally necessary to salvation that is to say Baptisme and the supper of the Lord. Question What meanest thou by this word Sacrament Answer I meane an outward and visible signe of an inward and spirituall grace given unto us ordeined by Christ himself as a meanes whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure us thereof Question How many parts be there in a Sacrament Answer Two the outward visible signe and the inward spirituall grace Question What is the outward visible signe or forme in Baptisme Answer Water wherein the person baptized is dipped or sprinkled with it In the Name of the Father and
DEVOTIONS Of the ANCIENT CHVRCH In Seaven Pious PRAYERS with Seaven ADMINISTRATIONS Collected for a private use and now at the desire of some judicious persons made publick Luke 5. 39. No man having drunk old wine straightway desires new for he saith the Old is better LONDON Printed for R. Royston at the Angel in Ivy-lane 1660. The PREFACE THat there may be good use of a set form of Prayer cannot be gainsaid without the censure of the Ancient and present reformed Churches condemning the judgement and practice of the most eminent Divines not only the Episcopal but Mr. Rogers Mr. Egerton Mr. Heldersham Dr. Gouge Dr. Preston Dr. Sibbs with others which also appears by that book conceived to be of Mr Cartwrights penning entituled The form of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments agreeable to Gods word and the use of the reformed Churches wherein is enjoyned a constant use of the Lords Prayer both after the Ministers prayer before Sermon â—â—d in each other service Bapâ—isme Communion c. and 〈◊〉 title of Common Prayer now slighted is there often â—â—â—ned such as have been and are reputed otherwise And if so why not the old being taken out of the most Ancient Liturgies unless that must be its reproach which with Jeremiah cap. 6. 6. is its reputation The matter is granted by all to be holy and good and if a formality be the only barre to its reassuming why might not each party for unitysake hearken to some accommodation to suppress the whole is to blur the compilers of it some of whom suffered Martyrdome by the Sea of Rome but a review in the exchange of some few expressions for the better reception of it in an after age may be a friendly office Such as observe no form do frequently in sacred administrations fall into impertinencies where each Minister takes his own there cannot but be an inequality of those performances in several congregations and the refusing to submit to any but our own argues a too much valuing of our selves and too little of that humility and lowliness of minde which best becomes the Ministers of the Gospel The framing of a new Liturgy which some of both parties have been attempting will not attain its desired end by the present much lamented disaffection between them that what the one shall commend the other will dislike and an equal mixture of a new composure with the old will be but as the putting of a new piece to an old Garment whereby the rent will be the worse so that there can be no such probable way of healing up the breach among us in this particular as by some prudent consideration of that which was framed by our fore-fathers and with which most of us have been educated for which submitting one to another in circumstantials we have the examples of St. Paul and other of the Apostles And it is some evidence such are the stronger in knowledge on either side who upon this exigency are the most apt to yield in them and those the weaker that stand most upon them rather hazarding the shipwrack of the whole then permit the casting over-board some goods of the least value zeal is an excellent vertue but without a bridle may run the person headlong upon dangerous inconveniences as there extremity is to be condemned who will have none of the old at all so is theirs not justifiable who will have all i. e. every particular rite and circumstance or none a moderation between both is the more prudential In this book is the matter of the whole only with some diversity in the form method and dispensing with a few causelesly offensive passages Many short prayers found in the same service or administration for which St. Augustine commends the Aethiopick Liturgies and others prudently appointed for some special dayes and annual commemorations are here with the several Exhortatives in satisfaction of a very weak objection drawn into one body And if the Lords Prayer do appear once in each I suppose it will be judged very convenient by which with the Creed and Ten Commandements in the old form constantly repeated the fundamentals of religion were preserved in the memories of the vulgar which by these late years neglect have been almost worn out of them and in the younger sort who have never or very rarely heard of them there is found a grosser ignorance then in the elder This caveat is only entred that if the Reader do sometimes meet with an exchange or omission of any rite or clause in either let him not conclude them to be removed by a writ of errour but be looked upon as innocent honourable persons offering themselves to die for the peace of their Country And as the aime of all our endeavours ought to be for the restauration of that Primitive union when the Church was of one heart and one soul so it will be the prudence of us notwithstanding our judgements are still firm for the old form without the least alteration to shew it in our meekness of compliance accordingly for that end It being one of the best evidences of a true son of the Church of England to be willing to bear with somewhat cross to his own opinion for the peace of his Mother In a word most of these particulars following were drawn up by the Author long agoe for a private use and though they be now printed which was desired by such whose judgements are sufficiently known to be for the Liturgy of the Church of England yet in regard the principal Administrations are stil too frequently so confin'd it is possible they may not transgress that intended limit of them and the experimental acceptation which they found then with the moderate sort of both parties in the hearing gives the like probability now in the reading Howsoever being thus barely presented without any presumptuous proposal for the publick use as a copy for others to write after I know no cause of censure it can incur in the publishing unless it be for observing that advice of St. Paul Let your moderation be known unto all men The Contents of the Book Diverse brief prayers used by the Church at each are here drawn into one 1. A Prayer for the Morning page 1. 2. A Prayer for the Evening pag. 6. Consisting of the ancient Collects or prayers appointed for each Sunday in the year 3. A prayer for the Morning pag. 9. 4. A prayer for the Evening pag. 13. Composed of the like used upon the Festivals of the Apostles and Evangelists 5. A most profitable prayer pag. 19. Meditations upon our Saviours Incarnation Birth circumcision passion resurrection ascension c. used by the Church upon those and the like Festivities 6. A heavenly prayer pag. 23. Full of faith containing the articles of it and full of Charity in praying for all degrees of men and all sorts of blessings for them called heretofore the Letany drawn without the responds into one continued Prayer 7. An
the Kingdome the power and the glory for ever Amen A Prayer for the Evening II. ALmighty God from whom all holy desires all good Counsells and all just works do proceed give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandements and also that by thee we being defended from the feare of our enemies may passe our time in rest and quietnes And we beseech thee O Lord to lighten our darknes and by thy great mercy defend us from all perills and dangers of this night following and grant that by thy preventing us in all our doings with thy most gratious favour and furthering us with thy continuall helpe we may in all our works begun continued ended in thee glorifie thy holy name and finally by thy mercy attaine everlasting life And seeing thou hast by thy holy Apostle taught us to make prayers and supplications and give thanks for all men Wee humbly beseech thee most mercifully to receive these our prayers which we offer unto thy divine Majesty beseeching thee to inspire continually the universall Church with the Spirit of truth unity and concord And grant that all they that do confesse thy holy name may agree in the truth of thy holy word and live in unity and godly love We beseech thee for such as are in authority over us that under them we may be godly and quietly governed And grant to the Magistrates that they may truely and indifferently minister justice to the punishment of wickednes and vice and to the maintenance of Gods true religion and vertue Give grace O heavenly Father to all Bishops Pastors and Ministers of thy word that they may both by their life and doctrine set forth thy true and lively word and rightly and duely administer thy holy Sacraments and to all thy people give thy heavenly grace and specially to us here present that with meeke heart and due reverence we may heare and receive thy holy word truely serving thee in holiness and righteousnes all the dayes of our lives And we most humbly beseech thee of thy goodness O Lord to comfort and succour all them which in this transitory life be in trouble sorrow need sicknes or any other adversity And thou O Lord who hast promised to heare the petitions of them that aske in thy Sons name we beseech thee mercifully to encline thine eare to us that have made now our prayers and supplications unto thee and grant those things which we have faithfully asked according to thy will may effectually be obtained to the relief of our necessities and to the setting forth of thy glory through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose name and words we further pray OUr Father which art in heaven hallowed by thy name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasse as wee forgive them that trespasse against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evill Amen A Prayer for the Morning III. ALmighty and Everlasting God which hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning grant that we may in such wise heare read marke learne and inwardly digest them that by patience and comfort of thy holy word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which thou hast given us in our blessed Saviour And give us grace that we may cast away the workes of darkenes and put on the armour of light now in the time of this mortall life when the true light thy Son Christ Jesus hath come to visit us in great humility that in the last day when he shall come in his glorious Majesty to judge both the quick and the dead we may through him rise to immortall life And we beseech thee to lighten our hearts by thy gratious visitation to raise up thy power and come among us and with thy great might succour us that whereas through our sins and wickednes we be sore let and hindered thy bountifull grace and mercy through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord may speedily deliver us And mercifully receive the prayers of thy people which call upon thee and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do and also may have grace and power from thee to fulfill the same that so under thy governance who rulest all things in heaven and earth they may have peace continued to them all dayes of their lives And seeing O Lord thou knowest our infirmities looke favourably upon us and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to helpe and defend us Thou seest how we are set in the midst of many and great perills that for mans frailnes we cannot alway stand uprightly Grant us the health both of body and soule that all those things which we suffer for sin by thy helpe we may overcome And we beseech thee to keepe thy Church and household continually in thy true religion that they which do leane only upon hope of thy heavenly grace may evermore be defended by thy mighty power and though we be justly punished for our offences yet we may mercifully be delivered by thy goodnes to the glory of thy name And O Lord which seest that we put not our trust in any thing we do and that thou hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth send thy holy Ghost and poure into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity the very bond of peace and all vertue without the which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee And seeing we heare thou wilt forgive the sinnes of all them that be penitent Create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we worthily lamenting our sinnes and acknowledging our wretchednes may obtaine of thee the God of all mercy a present remission and forgivenes And may through thy grace continually use such abstinence that our corrupt flesh being subdued to the Spirit we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness and true holines to thy honor and glory And O Lord which doest see that we have no power of our selves to helpe our selves keepe thou us this day both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our soules that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body and from all evill thoughts which may assault and hurt the soule We beseech the thus to looke upon the heartie desires of thy humble servants and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty in the defence of us against all our enemies that we which for our evill deeds are worthily punished by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved and by thy great goodness may be governed and preserved ever more both in body and Soule unto thy eternall kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose name and words we call upon thee saying Our Father which art in
his vocation and Ministery may truly and godly serve thee And O Lord who hast made all men nor wouldest the death of a sinner but rather that he should be converted and live have mercy upon al Jews Turks Infidels and Hereticks and take from them all ignorance and hardness of heart and contempt of thy word and so fetch them home blessed Lord to thy flock that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites and be made one fold under one shepherd Jesus Christ And merciful God which through thy only begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death and by his resurrection Resurrection opened unto us the gate of everlasting life We humbly beseech thee that as by thy special grace preventing us thou doest put into our mindes good desires so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect And as thou didst give him not only to die for our sins but to rise again for our justification grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth And as thou didst give him both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of godly life give us the grace that we may alwayes most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit and also dayly endeavour our selves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life And like as we do believe thy only begotten Son our Lord to have ascended with Ascension great glory into the Heaven so we beseech thee grant us that we may also in heart and mind thither ascend also and with him continually dwell who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost And do not leave us comfortless but according to thy promise send us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour is gone before And as thou didst after our Saviours Ascention teach the hearts of thy faithful people by thy sending them the light of thy Holy Spirit Sending the holy Spirit Grant us by the same spirit to have a right judgement in all things and evermore to rejoyce in his holy comfort through the merits of Christ Jesus And seeing thou hast given us grace thus by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternall Trinity and in the power of Trinity the Divine Majesty to worship the unity We beseech thee that through the stedfastnes of this faith wee may evermore be defended from all adversities through Jesus Christ our Saviour who liveth and reigneth with the in the unity of the selfe same Spirit one God world without end Amen An Excellent Prayer VII O Almighty and Everliving Lord God God the Father God the Son God the holy Ghost holy blessed and glorious Trinity three persons and one God have mercy upon us Remember not our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neither take thou vengeance of our sins but spare us good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most pretious blood and be not angry with us for ever Preserve us from all evill and mischief from sin from the crafts and assaults of the Divell from thy wrath and from everlasting damnation Deliver us from all blindnes of heart from pride vaine glory and hypocrisie from envy hatred and malice and all uncharitablenes from fornication and all other sins the wages of which is death and from all the deceits of the world the flesh and the Divell keep us from any hurt by lightning and tempest from the plague pestilence and famine from battels and murder and from sudden death deliver us from all sedition and privy conspiracy all false doctrine and heresie hardnes of heart and contempt of thy word and commandements And these things wee beseech of thee for and through the mystery of thy holy incarnation thy holy nativity and circumcision thy baptisme fasting and temptation through thine agony and bloody swet thy crosse and passion thy pretious death and buriall thy glorious resurrection and ascension and the comeing of the holy Ghost And O Lord God we do beseech thee that it would please the to rule and governe thy holy Church universall in the right way Illuminate all Bishops Pastors and Ministers of the Church with true knowledge and understanding of thy word and that both by preaching and living they may set it forth and shew it accordingly Be pleased to blesse and keepe the Magistrates giving them grace to execute justice and to maintaine truth And Blesse and keepe all thy people give us all hearts to love and dread thee and diligently to live after thy commandements That we may have increase of grace to heare meekely thy word and receive it with pure affection and bring forth the fruits of the Spirit Wee beseech thee to give unto all Nations unity peace and concord bring into the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived strengthen such as do stand comfort and helpe the weake-hearted raise up them that fall and finally beate down Satan under our feete Be pleased O Lord to succour helpe and comfort all that be in danger necessity and tribulation preserve all that in their lawfull affaires travell by land or water all women labouring with child all sick persons and young children and to shew thy pitty upon all prisoners and captives defend and provide for the fatherlesse children and widdowes and all that are desolate and oppressed and let it please thee to have mercy upon all men Forgive our enemies persecutors and slanderers and turne their hearts And we beseech the to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth so as in due time we may enjoy them and deale not with us after our sins nor reward us after our iniquities but give us true repentance forgive us all our sins negligences and ignorances indue us with the graces of thy holy Spirit to amend our lives according to thy holy word And O mercifull father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desires of such as be sorrowfull mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in all our troubles and adversities whensoever they oppresse us and gratiously heare us that those evils which the craft and subtilty of the divell or man worketh against us be brought to nought and by the providence of thy goodnes they may be dispersed that we thy servants being hurt by no persecutions may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church And seeing we have heard with our eares and our fathers have declared unto us the noble works that thou didst in their dayes and in the old time before them We beseech thee in the midst of these our divisions and distractions to arise and helpe us by thy power and deliver us for the honour of thy name defend us from all our enemies and let thy mercy be shewed upon us as we do put our trust in thee
which is prepared for the Devil and his Angels Therefore brethren take we 2 Cor. 6. 2. heed betime while the day of salvation lasteth for the night cometh when none can work let Joh. 9. 4. Joh. 12 35. us while we have the light believe in the light and walk as the children of the light that we be not cast into the utter darkness where is weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 25 30. Let us not abuse the goodness of God which calleth us mercifully to amendment and of his endless pity promiseth us forgiveness of what is past if with a whole minde and true heart we turn unto him For though our sins be as red as scarlet Isa 1. 18. they shall be as white as snow and though they be like purple yet shall they be as white as wooll Turn you saith the Lord from all your wickedness and your sins shall Ezek. 18. 30. not be your destruction Cast away from you all your ungodliness that ye have done make you new hearts and a new spirit Wherefore will ye die O ye house of Israel seeing that I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth Saith the Lord God Turn ye then and ye shall live Although we have sinned yet have 1 John 2. 1 2. we an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he it is that obtaineth grace and pardon for our sins For he was wounded for our offences and smitten for our wickedness Isa 53. 5 Let us therefore return unto him who is the merciful receiver of all true penitent sinners assuring our selves that he is ready to receive us and most willing to pardon us if we come to him with faithful repentance if we will submit our selves unto him and from henceforth walk in his wayes if we will take his easie yoke and light Mat. 11 29. burden upon us to follow him in lowliness patience and charitie and be ordered by the governance of his holy spirit seeking alwayes his glory and serving him duly in our vocation with thanksgiving This if we do Christ will deliver us from the curse of the law and from the extream malediction which shall light upon them that shall be set on the left hand and he will set us on his right hand Mat. 25 33. and give us the blessed benediction of his Father commanding us to take possession of his glorious Kingdome unto the which he vouchsafe to bring us all for his infinite mercy Amen This Psalm being the fifty-first may be also fitly read Miserere mei Deus HAve mercy upon me O God after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences Wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin For I acknowledge my faults and my sin is ever before me Against thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight that thou mightest be justified in thy saying and clear when thou art judged Behold I was shapen in wickedness and in sin hath my mother conceived me But lo thou requirest truth in the inward parts and shalt make me to understand wisdome secretly Thou shalt purge me with Hysop and I shall be clean thou shalt wash me and I shall be whiter then snow Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce Turn thy face from my sins and put out all my misdeeds Make me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit from me O give me the comfort of thy help again and stablish me with thy free spirit Then shall I teach thy wayes unto the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee Deliver me from blood-guiltiness O God thou that art the God of my health and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness Thou shalt open my lips O Lord my mouth shall shew forth thy praise For thou desirest no sacrifice else would I give it thee but thou delightest not in burnt offering The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit a broken and contrite heart O God shalt thou not despise O be favourable and gracious unto Sion build thou the walls of Jerusalem Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness with the burnt offerings and oblations then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar A PRAYER TUrn us O good Lord and so shall we be turned be favourable O Lord be favourable to thy people which turn unto thee with weeping and fasting and praying for thou art a merciful God full of compassion long suffering as also of great pity Thou sparest when we deserve punishment and in thy wrath thinkest of mercy Spare thy people good Lord spare them and let not thine heritage be brought to confusion but after the multitude of thy mercies so look upon us We beseech thee to hear our prayers and to have mercy on such as do penitently confess their sins unto thee that they whose consciences by sin are accused by thy merciful pardon may be absolved And O Lord which hast compassion of all men and wouldest not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turn from sin and be saved mercifully forgive us our trespasses receive and comfort us which be grieved and wearied with the burden of our sins Thy property is to have mercy to thee only it appertaineth to forgive sins Spare us therefore good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed enter not into judgement with thy servants which be vile earth and miserable sinners but so turn thine ire from us which meekly acknowledge our vileness and truly repent us of our faults So make haste to help us in this world that we may ever live with thee in the world to come through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and thy holy spirit be all honour and glory now and ever Amen MATRIMONY Welbeloved the ancient laudable order of our Church was that as often as there was a marriage there should be a Sermon wherein ordinarily the duties of man and wife should be declared according to holy Scripture but if there were no Sermon it was left to the Minister to make this or some short exhortation I shall therefore accordingly first let you know what the holy Scripture doth say as touching the duties of husbands towards their wives and wives towards their husbands SAint Paul in his Epistle to the Ephesians the fifth Chapter Ephes 5. 25. doth give this commandment to all married men Ye husbands love your wives even as Christ loved the Church and hath given himself for it that he might so sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word that he might present it unto himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish So ought men to love their wives
the man may give unto the woman a Ring and put it upon the fourth finger of her left hand saying With this Ring I thee wed with my body I thee * i. e. I give thee my personal honours worship with all my worldly goods I thee endow In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen Then may the Minister joyn their right hands together and say Those whom God hath joyned together let no man put asunder Forasmuch as N. and N. have consented together in holy wedlock and have witnessed the same before God and this company and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring and by joyning of hands I pronounce them to be man and wife together In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen Let us pray O Eternal God Creator and preserver of all mankind giver of all spiritual grace the author of everlasting life send thy blessing upon these thy servants this man and this woman whom we bless in thy name that as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant between them made and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together and live according to thy laws And O Lord seeing it is by thy gracious gift mankinde is encreased give that thy blessing of children to these two persons and grant them to live so long together in godly love and unity that they may see their childrens children and peace upon Israel O Lord bless them and sow the seed of eternal life in their mindes that whatsoever in thy holy word they shall profitably learn they may indeed fulfil the same Look O Lord mercifully from Heaven upon this thy servant and thy handmaid which do put their trust in thee send them help from thy holy place and evermore defend them be unto them a tower of strength from the face of their enemies And as thou didst send thy blessing upon Abraham and Sarah to their great comfort so vouchsafe to send thy blessing upon these thy servants that they obeying thy will and alway being in safety under thy protection may abide in thy love unto their lives end And O God which by thy mighty power hast made all things of nought which also after other things set in order didst appoint that out of man created after thine own image and similitude woman should take her beginning and knitting them together didst teach that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by Matrimony hast made one O Lord which hast consecrated the state of Matrimony to such an excellent mystery that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church look mercifully upon these thy servants that both this man may love his wife according to thy word as Christ did love his Spouse the Church who gave himself for it loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh and also that this woman may be loving and amiable to her husband as Rachel wise as Rebecca faithful and obedient as Sarah and in all quietness sobriety and peace be a follower of holy and godly matrones O Lord bless them both and grant them to inherit thy everlasting Kingdome through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose name and words we conclude our imperfect prayers saying Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy name thy Kingdome come thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven give us this day our dayly bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil For thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory for ever Amen The Blessing ALmighty God which at the beginning did create our first Parents Adam Eve and did sanctifie and joyn them together in marriage poure upon you the riches of his grace sanctifie and bless you that you may please him both in body and soul and live together in holy love to your lives end God the Father God the Son God the Holy Ghost bless preserve and keep you The Lord mercifully look upon you and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace that you may so live together in this life that in the life to come you may have life everlasting Amen AN EXHORTATION AT THE BURIAL FOr asmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himself the soul of our dear brother here departed we therefore commit his body to the ground earth to earth ashes to ashes dust to dust in sure and certain hope of a resurrection by our Lord Jesus Christ who shall change their vile bodies who do sleep in him that they may be like unto his glorious body according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself And now while the body is interring it will be seasonable and profitable for us to hear some portions out of Scripture which may put us in minde of our mortalitie and of the resurrection 'T is the speech of Job Man that Job 14. 1 2. is born of a woman is of few dayes and full of trouble He cometh forth like a flower and is cut down he flieth also as a shadow and continueth not I know that my redeemer liveth and Job 19. 25 26. that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth And though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and my eyes shall behold and not anothers though my reins be consumed within me The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away blessed be the name of the Lord. The speech of our Saviour I am John 11 25 26. the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die The speech of Saint Paul We 1 Tim. 6. 2. brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out Saint John saith I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me write Rom. 14. 23. blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they rest from their labours But no place is more seasonable to be read now unto you then that of Saint Paul 1 Cor. 15. 20. which chiefly concerneth the resurrection Christ is risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept 20 For since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead 21 For as in Adam all died even so in Christ shall all be made alive But every 22 man in his own order Christ the 23 first fruits afterwards they that are Christs at his coming Then cometh the end when he
the entrance into each the people were asked if any of them knew any impediment or notable crime in any of them now presented for the which they ought not to be admitted and were desired in the name of God to come forth and declare it and if any were objected the person accused was not to be ordained until such time as he had fully cleared himself of it The place where it was to be done was in the face of the Church or congregation on the Lords day or some other day of publick meeting the manner of the Ordination as followeth First for the Deacons THey were first commended unto God by the prayer of the whole congregation then some fitting portions out of holy Scripture were read before them containing their duties viz. 1 Tim. 3. from the 8. ver to the end of the Chapter Acts 6. from the 2. to the 8. After this the office of a Deacon was declared unto them many serious questions asked them some in matter of belief as whether they did believe they had an inward call by the motion of the Holy Ghost to take upon them that office and ministration and that their outward was according to the will of Christ that they did believe all the Canonical books of holy Scripture Some in matter of practice as whether they would frame their own lives and the lives of their families as examples unto others and would reverently obey their Governours and superiours hearkning to their admonitions c. To these there were solemn engagements for them accordingly in the presence of the congregation The manner of Ordaining was thus The Deacons being upon their knees the Bishop laid his hands severally upon the head of each of them saying Take thou Authority to execute the office of a Deacon in the Church of God committed unto thee In the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Amen Then was delivered to each of them the New Testament saying Take thou authority to read the Gospel in the Church of God and to preach the same if thou be thereto ordinarily commanded And as an initiation of them one of them by appointment did read a portion out of the Gospel that day The oath of Supremacy administred unto each and the seasonable and sitting prayers both before imposition of hands and after and that they were that day to receive the Communion may be found in the book it self of which is here intended only a summary thus much for the inferiour office of the Deacon upon the experience and trial of whom in it for the space of a year except for reasonable causes it should be thought otherwise and being found faithful and diligent they might be admitted unto the higher ministries in the Church viz. unto the order of Priesthood or Presbyters which followeth The ordination of Presbyters NOw secondly for the manner of ordering of those admitted into the Ministry of Priesthood or Presbyters it was thus after the Sermon or exhortation wherein their office and duty was to be shewen unto them they were solemnly presented by a principal person for that end the consent and approbatition of the people was asked in these words following Good people these be they whom we purpose God willing to receive this day unto the holy office of Priesthood and after due examination we finde not to the contrary but that they be lawfully called to their function and ministrie and that they be persons meet for the same but yet if there be any of you which knoweth any impediment or notable crime of any of them for the which he ought not to be received into this holy ministrie now in the name of God declare the same c. And if any were objected the person was not to be ordained till he had cleared himself of it Those that were to be ordained were first commended as before unto God by the prayers of the whole congregation of which this was one viz. That God who is the giver of all good things and by his holy spirit had appointed diverse orders of Ministers in his Church would be pleased mercifully to behold these his servants now called to that office that he would replenish them so with the truth of doctrine and innocency of life that both by word and good example they might faithfully serve him in this office to the glory of his name and profit of his Church or congregation c. After Prayer some select portions out of holy Scripture containing their duties were read before them viz. Acts 20. 17. to the 36. From Mileto Paul sent messengers to Ephesus and called the Elders of the Church c. or 2 Tim. 3. 1. to the 8. If a man desire the office of a Bishop he desires a worthy work a Bishop must be blameless c. Mat. 28. 18 19 20. containing the Apostles commission from our Saviour or John 10. 11. to 17. chap. 20. 19. to 24. And then an Ancient Hymn said or sung as may be seen more at large in the book of Ordination These things premised then followed the Ordination it self first a grave solid exhortation and admonition directed to the persons to be ordained with divers serious questions and solemn engagements taken of them and I conceive 't is more profitable to have things of this nature punctually set down without any variation whereby all come to be a like obliged and each may have an often serious review of what was charged upon him and engaged by him then to have them left to the ordainers sudden transient expressions which cannot be well called to minde by either and for the same causes a set form of Prayer at these solemnities is the most prudent The Exhortation given by the Bishop to the persons ordained YOu have heard brethren as well in your private examination as in the exhortation and in the holy lessons taken out of the Gospel and of the writings of the Apostles of what dignity and of how great importance this office is whereunto ye be called And now we exhort you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ to have in remembrance into how high a dignity and to how chargeable an office ye be called that is to say the messengers the watchmen the pastours and the stewards of the Lord to teach to premonish to feed and provide for the Lords family to seek for Christs sheep that be dispersed abroad and for his children which be in the middest of this naughty world to be saved through Christ for ever Have alwayes therefore printed in your remembrance how great a treasure is committed to your charge for they be the sheep of Christ which he bought with his death and for whom he shed his blood The Church and congregation whom you must serve is his spouse and his body And if it shall chance the same Church or any member thereof to take any hurt or hinderance by reason of your negligence ye know the greatness of the fault and also
thing against the same so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of salvation XXI Of the authority of general Councels GEneral Councels may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of princes And when they be gathered together forasmuch as they be an assembly of men whereof all be not governed with the spirit and word of God they may erre and sometime have erred even in things pertaining unto God wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation have neither strength nor authority unless it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scripture XXII Of Purgatory THe Romish doctrine concerning Purgatory Pardons worshipping and adoration as well of Jmages as of Reliques and also invocation of Saints is a fond thing vainly invented and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture but rather repugnant to the word of God XXIII Of ministring in the congregation It is not lawfull for any man to take upon him the office of publike preaching or ministring the Sacraments in the Congregation before he be lawfully called and sent to execute the same And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent which be chosen and called to this work by men who have publike authority given unto them in the Congregation to call and send Ministers into the Lords vineyard XXIV Of speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understandeth IT is a thing plainly repugnant to the word of God and the custome of the Primitive Church to have publique prayer in the Church or to minister the Sacraments in a tongue not understanded of the people XXV Of the Sacraments SAcraments ordained of Christ be not onely badges or tokens of Christian mens profession but rather they be certain sure witnesses and effectuall signes of grace and Gods good will towards us by the which he doth work invisibly in us and doth not only quicken but also strengthen and confirm our faith in him There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel that is to say Baptisme and the supper of the Lord. Those five commonly called Sacraments that is to say Confirmation Penance Orders Matrimony and extream Unction are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel being such as have grown partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptisme and the Lords Supper for that they have not any visible signe or ceremony ordained of God The Sacraments were not oâ—dained of Christ to be gazed upon or to be carried about but that we should duely use them And in such onely as worthily receive the same they have a wholsome effect or operation but they that receive them unworthily purchase to themselves damnation as S. Paul saith XXVI Of the unworthinesse of the Ministers which hinder not the effect of the Sacraments ALthough in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good and sometime the evil have chief authority in the ministration of the word and Sacraments yet forasmuch as they do not the same in their own name but in Christs and do minister by his commission and authority we may use their ministery both in hearing the word of God and in the receiving of the Sacraments Neither is the effect of Christs ordinance taken away by their wickednesse nor the grace of Gods gifts diminished from such as by faith and rightly do receive the Sacraments ministred unto them which be effectuall because of Christs institution and promise although they be ministred by evill men Neverthelesse it appertaineth to the discipline of the Church that enquiry be made of evil Ministers and that they be accused by those that have knowledge of their offences and finally being found guilty by just judgement be deposed XXVII Of Baptisme BAptisme is not onely a signe of profession and mark of difference whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not Christned but it is also a signe of Regeneration or new birth whereby as by an instrument they that receive Baptisme rightly are grafted into the Church the promises of the forgivenesse of sin and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the holy Ghost are visibly signed and sealed faith is confirmed and grace increased by vertue of prayer unto God The Baptisme of young children is in any wise to be retained in the Church as most agreeable with the institution of Christ XXVIII Of the Lords Supper THe Supper of the Lord is not onely a signe of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another but rather it is a Sacrament of our redemption by Christs death Insomuch that to such as rightly worthily and with faith receive the same the bread which we break is a partaking of the body of Christ and likewise the Cup of blessing is a partaking of thâ— blood of Christ Transubstantiation or the change of the substance of Bread and wine in the Supper of the Lord cannot be proved by holy writ but it is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament and hath given occasion to many superstitions The body of Christ is given taken and eaten in the Supper onely after an heavenly and spirituall manner And the mean whereby the body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is Faith The Sacrament of the Lords Supper was not by Christs ordinance reserved carried about lifted up or worshipped XXIX Of the wicked which eat not the body of Christ in the use of the Lords Supper THe wicked and such as be void of a lively faith although they do carnally and visibly presse with their teeth as S. Augustine saith the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ yet in no wise are they partakers of Christ but rather to their condemnation do eat and drink the signe or Sacrament of so great a thing XXX Of both kindes THe Cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the Lay-people For both the parts of the Lords Sacrament by Christs ordinance and commandment ought to be ministred to all Christian men alike XXXI Of the one oblation of Christ finished upon the Crosse THe offering of Christ once made is that perfect redemption propitiation and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world both originall and actuall and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone Wherefore the sacrifices of Masses in the which it was commonly said that the Priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead to have remission of pain or guilt were blasphemous fables and dangerous deceits XXXII Of the marriage of Priests BIshops Priests and Deacons are not commanded by Gods law either to vow the estate of single life or to abstain from marriage Therefore it is lawfull also for them as for all other Christian men to marry at their own discretion as they shall judge
the same to serve better to godlinesse XXXIII Of excommunicate persons how they are to be avoided THat person which by open denunciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the unity of the Church and excommunicated ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithfull as an Heathen and Publicane untill he be openly reconciled by Penance and received into the Church by a Judge that hath authority thereto XXXIV Of the traditions of the Church IT is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one or utterly like for at all times they have been divers and may be changed according to the diversity of countries times and mens manners so that nothing be ordained against Gods word Whosoever through his private judgment willingly and purposely doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church which be not repugnant to the word of God and be ordained and approved by common authority ought to be rebuked openly that other may fear to do the like as he that offendeth against the common order of the Church and hurteth the authority of the Magistrate and woundeth the consciences of the weak brethren Every particular or nationall Church hath authority to ordain change and abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the Church ordained onely by mans authority so that all things be done to edifying XXXV Of Homilies THe second Book of Homilies the severall titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth contain a godly and wholesome Doctrine and necessary for these times as doth the former book of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the sixth and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may be understanded of the people ¶ Of the names of the Homilies 1 OF the right use of the Church 2 Against perill of Idolatry 3 Of the repairing and keeping clean of Churches 4 Of good works first of Fasting 5 Against gluttony and drunkennesse 6 Against excesse of apparell 7 Of prayer 8 Of the place and time of Prayer 9 That common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministred in a known tongue 10 Of the reverent estimation of Gods word 11 Of alms-doing 12 Of the Nativity of Christ 13 Of the Passion of Christ 14 Of the Resurrection of Christ 15 Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ 16 Of the gifts of the holy Ghost 17 For the Rogation dayes 18 Of the state of Matrimony 19 Of Repentance 20 Against Idlenesse 21 Against rebellion XXXVI Of consecration of Bishops and Ministers THe book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops and ordering of Priests and Deacons lately set forth in the time of Edward the sixt and confirmed at the same time by authority of Parliament doth contain all things necessary to such Consecration and ordering neither hath it any thing that of it self is superstitious and ungodly And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to the Rites of that book since the second yeer of the afore-named King Edward unto this time or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same Rites we decree all such to be rightly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered XXXVII Of the civill Magistrates THe Queens Majesty hath the chief power in this Realm of England and other her Dominions unto whom the chief government of all estates of this Realm whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Civill in all causes doth appertain and is not nor ought to be subject to any forreign Iurisdiction Where we attribute to the Queens Majesty the chief goverment by which Titles we understand the mindes of some slanderous folks to be offended we give not to our Princes the ministring either of Gods word or of the Sacraments the which thing the Injunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth our Queen do most plainly testifie but that onely prerogative which we see to have been given alwayes to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself that is that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Temporall and restrain with the civill sword the stubborn and evil doers The Bishop of Rome hath no Iurisdiction in this Realm of England The Lawes of the Realm may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences It is lawfull for Christian men at the commandment of the Magistrate to wear weapons and serve in the wars XXXVIII Of Christian mens goods which are not common THe riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right title and possession of the same as certain Anabaptists do falsly boast Notwithstanding every man ought of such things as he possesseth liberally to give almes to the poor according to his ability XXXIX Of a Christian mans oath AS we confesse that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ and Iames his Apostle So we judge that Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may swear when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of faith and charity so it be done according to the Prophets teaching in justice judgment and truth LX. The Ratification THis Book of Articles before rehearsed is again approved and allowed to be holden and executed within the Realm by the assent and consent of our Soueraign Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith c. Which Articles were deliberately read and confirmed again by the subscription of the hand of the Archbishop and Bishops of the upper House and by the subscription of the whole Clergy in the neither House in their Convocation in the yeer of our Lord God 1571. THE END Books Newly Printed Ecclesiae Anglicanae Suspiria The teares sighs complaints and prayers of the Church of England in four Books by J. Gauden D. D. Folio The Refuter Refuted or Dr. Hammonds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 defended by a third person 4.