CONSECTARY
All the Romish dreams of church union arise from ignorance of the true state and interest of the church, and the true and necessary terms of union.
And all the plots also of the moderating papists, that talk of a political church catholic having a visible constitutive or governing head; whether monarchical, (the pope,) or aristocratical, or democratical (the patriarchs, or a general council): and that talk of universal laws of this church, made by such a universal head, besides the universal laws of Christ; and falsely feign the councils called general, in a particular empire, called or ruled by one emperor only, in his own dominions, to have been universal, as to all the catholic churches on earth; and that feign these councils to have been infallible, which so often erred, and crossed each other; and that set the world upon the undeterminable controversy, Which were true general councils; and, How many we must receive and conform to: whether only four, or six, or eight; and till what age. And that would persuade the christian world, that whatever diversity of canons, customs, or church laws, or ceremonies, are allowed among them, it must all be done or held by this same authority of the pope or council, or both: to which (though foreign) kings and bishops must all be subject; and from which they must receive their christianity; and by which all their reformations must be tried: and that none must be taken as catholics, nor any churches tolerated, that hold not such a factious union, under such a usurping head, personal or collective: but as Tertullian speaketh, rather than endure such wiser and better societies, Solitudinem facerent, et vocarent pacem: and as a worldly clergy, whose church and kingdom is only of and in this world, would banish from it all (save a lifeless image) which hath any kin to heaven; and suffers none to live in this world among them but themselves.
I say, all this is, 1. From ignorance of the true nature of the christian religion, church state, and terms of unity and concord; which I have lately opened in a book, entitled, "The True and only Terms of the Concord of all the Churches."
2. And from contention about ambiguous words, and self-conceitedness in their controversies, ignorantly thence raised; which I have sought to end in a book, called, "Catholic Theology."
3. And from vicious passions and partiality; which I have sought to heal in a book, called, "The Cure of Church Divisions."
All written long since the writing of this foregoing Prognostication.
THE REFORMED LITURGY
THE ORDINARY PUBLIC WORSHIP ON THE LORD'S DAY
The Congregation being reverently composed, let the Minister first crave God's assistance and acceptance of the Worship, to be performed in these or the like words.
Eternal, incomprehensible, and invisible God, infinite in power, wisdom, and goodness, dwelling in the light which no man can approach, where thousand thousands minister unto thee, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before thee, yet dwelling with the humble and contrite, and taking pleasure in thy people: Thou hast consecrated for us a new and living way, that with boldness we may enter into the holiest, by the blood of Jesus, and hast bid us seek thee while thou mayst be found: We come to thee at thy call, and worship at thy footstool. Behold us in thy tender mercies. Despise us not, though unworthy. Thou art greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all that are about thee. Put thy fear into our hearts, that with reverence we may serve thee; sanctify us, that thou mayst be sanctified of us, when we draw nigh thee. Give us the Spirit of grace and supplication to help our infirmities, that our prayers may be faithful, fervent, and effectual. Let the desire of our souls be to thee: let us draw near thee with our hearts, and not only with our lips, and worship thee, who art a Spirit, in spirit and truth. Let thy word be spoken and heard by us as the word of God. Give us attentive, hearing ears, and opened, believing, understanding hearts, that we may no more refuse thy calls, nor disregard thy merciful, outstretched hand, nor slight thy counsels and reproofs; but be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools. Put thy laws into our hearts, and write them in our minds, and let us be all taught of God. Let thy word be unto us quick and powerful; a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart; mighty to pull down strong-holds, casting down imaginations and reasonings, and every high thing that advanceth itself against the knowledge of God; and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Let us magnify thee with thanksgiving, and triumph in thy praise. Let us rejoice in thy salvation, and glory in thy holy name. Open thou our lips, O Lord, and let our mouths show forth thy praise. And let the words of our mouths, and the meditation of our hearts, be acceptable in thy sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour.176 Amen.
Or thus, when brevity is necessary.
O Eternal, almighty, and most gracious God, heaven is thy throne, and earth is thy footstool, holy and reverend is thy name; thou art praised by the heavenly hosts, and in the congregation of thy saints on earth, and wilt be sanctified in all that come nigh unto thee. We are sinful and unworthy dust, but being invited by thee, are bold, through our blessed Mediator, to present ourselves and our supplications before thee. Receive us graciously, help us by thy Spirit; let thy fear be upon us; let thy word come unto us in power, and be received in love, with attentive, reverent, and obedient minds. Make it to us the savour of life unto life. Cause us to be fervent in prayer, and joyful in thy praises, and to serve thee this day without distraction, that we may find that a day in thy courts is better than a thousand, and that it is good for us to draw near to God; through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.177 Amen.
Next, let one of the Creeds be read by the Minister, saying,
In the profession of this christian faith we are here assembled.
I believe in God the Father, &c.
I believe in one God, &c.
And sometimes Athanasius' Creed.
The Ten Commandments
God spake these words, and said, &c.
For the right informing and affecting the People, and moving them to a penitent, believing Confession, some of these Sentences may be read.
God created man in his image.178
By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.179
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.180
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.181
He that believeth on him shall not be condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.182
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.183
For every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.184
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.185
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.186
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.187
Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.188
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?189
I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over a sinner that repenteth.190
I will arise and go to my father, and say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.191
The Confession of Sin, and Prayer for Pardon and Sanctification
O Most holy, righteous, and gracious God, who hatest all the workers of iniquity, and hast appointed death to be the wages of sin, but yet for the glory of thy mercy hast sent thy Son to be the Saviour of the world, and hast promised forgiveness of sin through his blood, to all that believe in him, and by true repentance turn unto thee, and that whosoever confesseth and forsaketh his sin, shall have mercy; we confess that we are vile and miserable sinners, being conceived in sin; by nature children of wrath, and transgressors from the womb. All we like sheep have gone astray, and turned every one to his own way. Thou madest us, and not we ourselves. Thou boughtest us with a price, and we are not our own; therefore we should have wholly given up ourselves unto thee, and have glorified thee with our souls and bodies as being thine. Whatever we did should have been done to thy glory, and to please thee, in the obeying of thy will. But we have displeased and dishonoured thee, and turned from thee, exalting, seeking, and pleasing ourselves. Thou art the King of all the world, and thy laws are holy, just, and good. But we have denied thee our due subjection and obedience, being unruly and self-willed, minding the things of the flesh, and making provision for its lusts. We have staggered at thy word through unbelief, and have not fully placed our trust and hope in thee. We have rather feared man that is dust, and can but kill the body, than thee, that canst destroy both soul and body in hell. Thou art infinitely good, and love itself, yet have we not fully taken thee for our portion, nor loved thee with all our heart, and soul, and might, nor made thee our full desire and delight. But we have inordinately loved ourselves, and the world, and the things of the world, and lived by sense when we should have lived by faith, and cared and laboured for the food that perisheth, when we should have laboured for the one thing needful, and that which endureth to everlasting life. We have been slothful servants, yielding to temptations, ashamed of our duty, losing our precious time, when we should have been fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, cleaving to thee with full resolution, redeeming the time, and with diligence making sure our calling and election. We have not with due holiness and reverence drawn near thee, and used thy holy name, thy worship, and thy day. We have dishonoured and disobeyed our superiors, and neglected our inferiors. We have been guilty of not loving our neighbours as ourselves, and not doing to others as we would they should do to us; but have sought our own against their welfare, not forbearing and forgiving, not loving our enemies as we ought, not following peace, nor studying to do good to all according to our power. We have sinned secretly and openly, in thought, word, and deed, ignorantly and presumptuously, in passion and upon deliberation, against thy precepts, promises, and threats; against thy mercies and thy judgments, under thy patience and in thy sight; against our consciences, our purposes, and our covenants. When we were hastening to death and judgment, for which through all our lives we should have prepared, thou hast commended thy wonderful love towards us in giving thy Son to die for sinners, to reconcile us to thee, while we were enemies; and all things being made ready, thou hast sent thy messengers to invite us to come in, preaching to us the glad tidings of salvation, and freely offering us pardon and life in Jesus Christ; but we have made light of it, and neglected this great salvation, and made excuses or too long delays; undervaluing our Redeemer, his blood and merits, his offered grace and endless glory, rejecting his holy doctrine and example, resisting his Spirit, ministers, and word. We have sinned, O Lord, against thee, and against our own souls, and are not worthy to be called thy children. We have deserved everlasting wrath; to us belongeth confusion, but mercy and forgiveness to thee. Have mercy upon us, O God, according to the multitude of thy mercies. Heal our souls that have sinned against thee, and enter not into judgment with thy servants. Hide thy face from our sins, and blot out all our iniquities. Cast us not away from thy presence, and avenge not upon us the quarrel of thy covenant. Wash us in the blood of the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. Accept us in thy beloved Son, who was made a curse for us, and was wounded for our transgressions, that we might be healed by his stripes. Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thy face to shine upon us. Give us repentance unto life: cause us to loathe ourselves for all the evils that we have committed. Give us that broken, contrite spirit which thou wilt not despise. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Take out of us the old and stony heart, and give us a new and tender heart. Give us the Spirit of thy Son, and be our God, and let us be thy people. Enlighten our understandings to know the wonderful things of thy law, the dimensions of thy love in Christ, the mysteries of thy kingdom, and the riches of the glory of thy inheritance in the saints, and that we may approve the things that are excellent, and may escape the snares of the devil, and may hate every false way. Shed abroad thy love in our hearts by thy Holy Spirit, and cause us so to love thee, that nothing may separate us from thy love. Put thy fear into our hearts, that we may never depart from thee. Cause us to seek first thy kingdom, and its righteousness, and (as those that are risen with Christ) to seek the things that are above, and to lay up a treasure in heaven, and let our hearts and conversations be there. Mortify our earthly inclinations and desires. Crucify the world to us, and us unto the world by the cross of Christ. Cause us to live by faith, and look at the things that are unseen; and use the world as not over-using it, seeing the fashion of it passeth away; striving to enter in at the strait gate, and running so as to obtain. Let us no longer live the rest of our time to the lust of men, but the will of God, studying in all things to please thee, and to be accepted of thee. Let us not seek our own wills, but the will of him that called us; yea, let us delight to do thy will, O God; let our delight be in thy law, and let us meditate therein day and night. Cause us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, and righteously, and godly in this present world, as obedient children, not fashioning ourselves to the former lusts of our ignorance; but as he that hath called us is holy, let us be holy in all manner of conversation. Cause us to love one another with a pure heart, forbearing and forgiving one another, if any have a quarrel against another, even as Christ forgave us. Give us the wisdom which is first pure, and then peaceable. In our eyes let a vile person be contemned, but let us honour them that fear the Lord. Cause us to walk circumspectly without offence, and to be zealous of good works; to love our enemies, and not to give place to wrath; and in patience to possess our souls. Help us to deny ourselves, and take up our cross, and follow Christ; esteeming his reproach to be greater riches than the treasures of the world; that having suffered with him, we may also be glorified with him. Though we must be tempted, help us to overcome, and be faithful unto the death; and then let us receive that crown of life, through the merits and intercession of Christ Jesus our Lord and only Saviour; in whose comprehensive words we sum up our requests, saying as he hath taught us, Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, &c.192
Or thus, when brevity is necessary.
O Most great, most just, and gracious God, thou art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, thou condemnest the ungodly, impenitent, and unbelievers; but hast promised mercy through Jesus Christ to all that repent and believe in him. We confess that we were conceived in sin, and are by nature children of wrath; and have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. In our baptism thou tookest us into the bond of the holy covenant, but we remembered not our Creator in the days of our youth, with the fear, and love, and obedience which we owed thee: not pleasing and glorifying thee in all things, nor walking with thee by faith in a heavenly conversation, nor serving thee fervently with all our might; but fulfilled the desires of the flesh, and of the carnal mind. We have neglected and abused thy holy worship, thy holy name, and thy holy day. We have dishonoured our superiors, and neglected our inferiors. We have dealt unjustly and uncharitably with our neighbours, not loving them as ourselves, nor doing to others as we would they should do to us. We have not sought first thy kingdom and righteousness, and been contented with our daily bread, but have been careful and troubled about many things, neglecting the one thing necessary. Thou hast revealed thy wonderful love to us in Christ, and offered us pardon and salvation in him; but we made light of it, and neglected so great salvation, and resisted thy Spirit, word, and ministers, and turned not at thy reproof. We have run into temptations; and the sin which we should have hated, we have committed in thy sight, both secretly and openly, ignorantly and carelessly, rashly and presumptuously, against thy precepts, thy promises, and threats, thy mercies and thy judgments. Our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us. If thou deal with us as we deserve, thou wilt cast us away from thy presence into hell, where the worm never dieth, and the fire is not quenched. But in thy mercy, thy Son, and thy promise, is our hope. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. Be reconciled to us, and let the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse us from all our sins. Take us for thy children, and give us the Spirit of thy Son. Sanctify us wholly, shed abroad thy love in our hearts, and cause us to love thee with all our hearts. O make thy face to shine upon thy servants; save us from our sins, and from the wrath to come; make us a peculiar people to thee, zealous of good works, that we may please thee, and show forth thy praise. Help us to redeem the time, and give all diligence to make our calling and election sure. Give us things necessary for thy service, and keep us from sinful discontent and cares. And seeing all these things must be dissolved, let us consider what manner of persons we ought to be, in all holy conversation and godliness. Help us to watch against temptations, and resist and overcome the flesh, the devil, and the world; and being delivered out of the hand of all our enemies, let us serve thee without fear, in holiness and righteousness before thee all the days of our life. Guide us by thy counsel, and after receive us into thy glory, through Jesus Christ our only Saviour.193 Amen.
[Here use the Lord's Prayer as before.]
For the strengthening of Faith, and raising the Penitent, some of these Sentences of the Gospel may be here read.
Hear what the Lord saith to the absolution and comfort of penitent believers.
The Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.194
If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.195
Be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses.196
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.197
If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.198
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.199
Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.200
All that the Father hath given me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in nowise cast out.201
I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more.202
Hear also what you must be and do for the time to come, if you would be saved.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.203
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.204
There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.205
For to be carnally-minded is death, but to be spiritually-minded is life and peace.206
For the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.207
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.208
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if through the Spirit ye mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.209
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.210
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.211
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.212
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.213
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the path, that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.214
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, and righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.215
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.216
The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.217
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire.218
Seeing then that these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be, in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting to the coming of the day of God?219
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.220
Then may be said the ninety-fifth or the hundredth Psalm, or the eighty-fourth.
And next the Psalms in order for the day; and next shall be read a chapter of the Old Testament, such as the Minister findeth most seasonable; or with the liberty expressed in the admonition before the second book of Homilies. 221
After which may be sung a Psalm, or the Te Deum said; then shall be read a chapter of the New Testament, and then the Prayer for the King and Magistrates. And after that, the sixty-seventh, or ninety-eighth, or some other Psalm, may be sung or said, or the Benedictus, or Magnificat. And the same order to be observed at the Evening Worship, if time allow it. 222
Next after the psalm the minister shall (in the pulpit) first reverently, prudently, and fervently pray, according to the state and necessities of the church, and those especially that are present, and according to the subject that he is to preach on. And after prayer, he shall preach upon some text of holy Scripture, suiting his matter to the necessities of the hearers, and the manner of delivery to their quality and benefit. Always speaking from faith and holy experience in himself, with plainness and perspicuity, with reverence and gravity, with convincing evidence and authority, with prudence, caution, faithfulness, and impartiality, with tender love and melting compassion, with fervent zeal and persuading importunity, and with frequency and unwearied patience, waiting on God for the success. After sermon he shall pray for a blessing on the word of instruction and exhortation, which was delivered; and in his prayers (before or after sermon) ordinarily he shall pray for the conversion of heathens, Jews, and other infidels; the subversion of idolatry, infidelity, Mahometanism, heresy, papal tyranny and superstition, schism and profaneness, and for the free progress of the gospel, and the increase of faith and godliness, the honouring of God's name, the enlargement of the kingdom of Christ, and the obedience of his saints through the nations of the earth. And in special for these nations; for the king's Majesty, and the rest of the royal family; for the lords of his Majesty's council, the judges, and other magistrates of the land; for the pastors of the church, and all congregations committed to their care and government. Always taking heed that no mixtures of imprudent, disorderly expressions, of private discontent and passion, of unreverent, disobedient, seditious, or factious intimations, tending to corrupt, and not to edify, the people's minds, do turn either prayer or preaching into sin. And ordinarily in church communion, especially on the Lord's day, (which is purposely separated for the joyful commemoration of the blessed work of man's redemption,) a considerable proportion of the public worship must consist of thanksgiving and praises to God, especially for Jesus Christ, and his benefits; still leaving it to the minister's discretion to abbreviate some parts of worship, when he seeth it needful to be longer on some other. 223
The Sermon and Prayer being ended, let the Minister dismiss the Congregation with a benediction, in these or the like words.
Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.224
The Lord bless you, and keep you: the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.225
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.226 Amen.
Except there be a Communion in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to be celebrated, or any further Worship to be performed, and then the Minister may delay the Benediction till the End.
And because, when there is leisure, the Prayers of the Church should be as full as the Rule and our Necessities require; let the following General Prayer be used, when the Minister findeth it convenient, instead of the Litany and Collects.
Here are also adjoined a Thanksgiving for Christ and his benefits, and a Hymn to be used at the discretion of the minister, either after sermon, or at the communion, or on other days.
A Prayer for the King, the Royal Family, and Magistrates
Amighty God, by whom kings reign, and princes decree justice, who rulest in all the kingdoms of men, and givest them to whomsoever thou wilt, who by thy special providence hast set over us thy servant, Charles, our king; crown him with thy blessings, and satisfy him with thy goodness. Save him by thy right hand, and defend him against such as rise up against him; prolong his life in peace and righteousness; grant him the spirit of wisdom and counsel, the spirit of holiness, and the fear of the Lord, that he may know how to go in and out before this great people over whom thou hast set him. Let not thy law depart out of his mind, or mouth, but let him meditate in it day and night. Make him as an angel of God to discern between good and evil, that in his eyes a vile person may be contemned, but he may honour them that fear the Lord; that his eyes may be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with him, and they that are perfect in the way serve him. Remove the wicked from before him, that his throne may be established in righteousness; and grant that under him we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. And when he hath finished his course on earth, let him inherit a crown of righteousness, and reign with Christ for ever. Bless the queen mother, the illustrious prince, James, duke of York, and the rest of the royal family; endue them with thy Holy Spirit, enrich them with thy heavenly grace, and make them blessings in their generation. Endue the lords of his Majesty's council, and all the nobility, the judges, and all the magistrates of the land, with wisdom from above, that they may rule as in thy fear, and judge righteous judgment, and may take heed what they do, as judging not for man, but for the Lord, that justice may run down as water, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Let all his Majesty's subjects duly submit to him and obey him, not only for wrath, but for conscience' sake. Let all his kingdoms be the kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Son Christ, that God may dwell amongst us, and that it may be said of them, The Lord bless thee, O habitation of Justice, and mountain of Holiness: for thine, O Father, with the Son and Holy Ghost, is the kingdom, and power, and glory for ever.227 Amen.