Sacrament we reject together with the consequentiall Idolatry of worshiping the bread Also the sacrilege of detaining the Cup of the Lord from the people we cannot allow as being contrary both to the primitive practise of the Church and to the express command of Christ in the Institution which was after also revealed to St. Paul by Christ himself Yet still we use and observe the Sacramentall Elements with the same high estimation and veneration which pious and purest antiquity ever did bear to that Sacred mysterie how ever we forbear to use some of their expressions whose Oratory occasioned in part the after error which mistook that as spoken of the Bread in its nature which magnified it only in the Sacramentall use and mysterie which is indeed very high retaining both the Elements words and holy form which Christ instituted and Christians alwayes used not so much disputing and determining the manner of Sacramentall union as endevouring after those graces which may make us worthy Communicants and reall partakers of the Body and Bâ—ood of Jesus Christ when we do receive that dreadfull yet most desirable seal of our Faith which consigns fuller to us and confirms in us those comforts which as sinners we want and may have most really and only from Christ not by eating his flesh in a bodily and gross way with our mouths but by receiving him by a true and lively faith into our souls as he is set forth to us in the Scriptures to be God incarnate the only Saviour of the world of whose merit death passion body and blood we are by the same faith though in less degrees of strength really partakers and nourished to eternall life before we receive him in that Sacrament of the Lords Supper yea though we never should have opportunity so to receive him which is but the same object received by the same faith to the same end though in a different manner and with different degrees So for Baptism Baptism we retain the substance of that holy Sacrament as we find it in the Scriptures rejecting only those superfluous dresses of Salt Spittle Oyl Insufflation and the like which cumber and deform that duty and Ordinance but they do not destroy it nor do ever any Protestants that are of any name or honour for Religion re-baptise those who were baptised in the Roman Church Concil Laodicenum omits only the Apocal. Apocrypha Books Hieron in Prolog Galaten Josephus l. 1. cont Appio we i. e. the Jews have not infinite and diffâ—rent Books but only 22. which are justly called Divine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mosis 5. Prophet 13. Psal 4. The rest from Artaxereâ— to these times have not the like credit because not a certain succession of Prophets The Apocryphall additions of the Romish Church to the Canon of the Scriptures we reject from being rules of faith however we approve their excellent morals And this we do upon the same grounds that the Jewish Church of old and the Primitive Christian for the most part ever did yet we retain those books as oracles of God which we have received with and from the Romish Church as of divine inspiration according to that testimony which both the Jewish and Christian Churches fidelity have given us of them The eâ—une dull and spiritless and formall devotions Prayers in a language not vulgar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Nis de Placilla orat Funcb Delinquens soli Deo cognitus de reatis nudare apud homines verecunda conscientia non cogitur Ser. 34. Chrysol So Ber. s 42. Non expedit omnibus omnia inâ—â—tescere quae scimus de nobis in Cant. Liturgies and prayers used by the Romanists in any tongue unknown to the most and with so many vain repetitions we refuse yet still we retain the holy custom of Christians assembling in publike and worshipping God by publike Liturgies prayers and praises In somethings we hold nothing common with them either in opinion or practise as in the profitable fancy of purgatory the popular fashion of worshipping Images or adoring God in and by Images of oblations and prayers for the dead of praying to Saints and Angels of Auricular confession of dispensing by Indulgences the merits or supperogating righteousness of some Christians to others Since in these and the like matters which I only touch it being not my work now to handle those controversies which have been so fully discussed by many learned men of this Church of Engand whose works praise them We find no Scripture ground either for precept or permission So likewise in the ambitious claim of the Popes Infallible judgement His universall jurisdiction and Supreme Authority over all Churches and Councils We deny it as un usurpation gotten by indulgences of some times and Princes also by the flatteries frauds cruelties power and policies of severall Popes in their successions but not grounded on any Law or right either humane or divine neither by the Institution of God nor by the consent of all Churches Yet we deny not to the Pope such a primacy of place or priority of order and precedency as is reasonable and just either in the Roman Diocess as a Bishop or in a Councill as Bishop of that famous City In like manner for the sacred order and function of the Ministry we reject what ever imaginary power or will-worship is annexed to the office by humane superstition but we approve the antient form of Commission and Divine Authority derived by them to Presbyters and Bishops for Preaching the word celebrating the Sacraments reconciling penitents use of the Keys in doctrine or jurisdiction and Government In the Roman Pontificall The Bishop to be consecraâ—ed is charged after many Ceremonâ—es and pompous modes with this as his office and duty To judge to interpret to consecrate to confer holy orders to offer to Baptize aâ—d to confirm after that the Consecratorâ— laying the Bible on his shoulder and their hands on his head say these words Receive the holy Spirit i. e. the gifts and power to be a Bishop or chief Pastor to teach and rule in the Church So the Presbyter is by the Bishop ordeyning and otheâ—s with him imposing their hands on the head enjoyned To offer to bless to govern to Preach and to Baptise as becomes his place and Office Mar. 13.25 Also of the continued power of Ordination for a succession of Ministers in the Church In all these and the like what ever we find to be spurious issues of meer humane invention of Scripture-less opinions of groundless traditions obtruded as matters of Religion upon the consciences of Christians we use that just severity which we think the Apostles and Primitive fathers would have done to dash these Babylonish brats against the stones yet still we redeem and preserve alive the legitimate succession the Sons of Sion the Israel of God and justify the Children of true wisdom and of the Heavenly Jerusalem that is the divine and truly religious
or some other remarkable judgement fell upon them as on King Uzzah So long as Gods love to the Jews was seconded with his jealousie for their good When indeed their Apostacies and Rebellions had alienated Gods love from them he then suffered those sad and unsanctified levellings to come among them consecrating the meanest of the people and who ever would relieve his worldly necessities by being a Priest to those Talismanick Calves under which new modes and figurations the Israelites were for some wicked reason of State perswaded by Jeroboam to worship their God So Herod when he had got the Kingdom over the Jews ex ima infima â—lâ—be constituit sacerdotes made of the basest people Priests c. Euseb Hist l. 1. c. 7. Which severe indulgence of God to them in suffering them to have such sorry and unsanctified Priests was no other but a fearful presaging of those desolations which soon after befel that people of Israel for the sins of Jeroboam who by his policy of new fashioned Priests and levelled that is abolished and profaned Religion is for ever branded with that mark of making Israel to sin 1 King 13.34 and was the occasion of cutting off his name and destroying his posterity from off the face of the earth Certainly in times when the Jews feared God if all the Priests and Levites whom God had appointed to minister before him had failed by death or defection the Ark in the Wilderness must have stood still or the service of the Temple have ceased till by some new Commission or Authority the Lord had signified his pleasure to his Church and people Nor would the devout and zealous Jews have thought presently every stout Porter or lusty Butcher would well enough supply the room of the Priests and Levites much less would they have beat and crouded the true Priests yet living and serving in their offices and courses out of their places onely because those others had naturally shouldâ—rs which could bear the Ark and the holy Vessels or hands which had skill to slay a beast and dress a sacrifice I see no reason why the Evangelical Ministry should be less sacred or inviolable since it hath as much of reason order usefulness and necessity also no less express authority from Christ and divine Institution 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Is Pel. l. â— together with many hundreds of years holy and constant succession in all Churches That to invade this or violate and abrogate it seems no less to any true Christian than to croud Christ out of his throne to justle him out of his Priestly Prophetick and Kingly Offices It is like Julian the Apostate loudly to blaspheme or proudly to resist and insolently to do despight too that holy Spirit of truth power and order by which these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gifts of power and authority Ministerial have always been and are still given and dispenced to his Church in the way which Christ appointed which the holy Apostles practised and the Christian Churches have always imitated 5. I might yet adde the common notions and universal dictates of all mankinde who by the light of nature 10. Light of Nature in the Heathens Diu proximi sunt Deâ—â—um sacerdotes Tul. and that innate veneration of some Deity which they esteemed the inventer and institutor of their Religion agreed always in this That whatever Gods or Religions they owned their holy Rites and Mysteries were always publickâ—y taught celebrated and maintained by such as were solemnlâ— invest d with and reverenced under the peculiar name and honor of that sacrâ—d Office and sâ—cerdotal Function which they held divine as Herâ—d tus tells us which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 none not initiated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Herod Euterp or not consecrated by the wonted Ceremonies might profanely usurp Plutarch Plutarch Moral p. 778. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tac. Ann. l. 3. A. Gellius l. 3. c. 15. Sacerdotes è rudibus indoctis impolitis sacrandi non sunt quibus non datum est intelligere civilia multo magis denegatum est disserere divina Min. Fael Sacerdotes Egyptii constituebant ex optimatibus tum genere tum scientia Clem. Alex. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Julian Imp. epist Sacerdotalis vita politicae Praestantier 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plato Phedo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In bello victores cum sint solent omnes gentes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Al. 2 Tim. 3.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Unthankful unholy without natural affections disobedient c. 2 Cor. 4.7 11 12. Earthen vessels Death worketh in us c. tells us both among Romans and Greeks they generally in all Cities paid great honor and respect to their Priests and holy men because those obtained of the gods good things not onely for themselves and their families but for the whole Cities where they lived Tacitus tells us That the cheif Priests were also by the Divine Munificence esteemed the chiefest of men least subject to anger envy or other mean affections from any men So Aul. Gellius setâ— down at large the solemnities and honors for vestments and other regards which among the Romans was used toward the Flamines Diales or chief Priests whom they esteemed next their gods whose word was always to be taken without any oath they thought all holy things profaned if any men unsacred presumed to meddle with them or partake of them much more if such an one officiated in them It cannot be any thing of true Christian piety or holiness which makes any men in the Church of Christ degenerate from the very principles of nature whose light is never despised by any but those that are without natural affections among other their black Characters which are proper to those who have a fâ—rm of godliness but deny the power of it The strangest prodigies that ever were indeed of so profane a wantonness under pretences of enlarged piety striving to remove all bounds of duty and respect to God or man nor did ever sober men think themselves absolved from that honor and respect which is due to God and his holy Service or Ministry because of the personal infirmities which may be seen in those that are his Ministers to us We shall neither as men nor Christians have any to serve God or man in the way of true Christian Religion if we will allow none with their failings The Divine is to be distinguished from the Man there may be the power of God with the weakness of man as in Saint Paul Nor need we be more choise and curious than God himself is 11. A peculiar Office of Ministry necessary for the Church 6. Nor is there a greater benefit and conveniency to the Church than a necessity of having a special calling and divine institution of the Ministers of the Gospel For we may not in this trust to the good natures and good wills of Christians in common if personal
to the glory of God whose infinite and inestimable mercy is hereby set forth to mankinde or more conducing to the honor of Christ in his wisdom love and care for his Church than it is every way most necessary for the common good of those whom the Lord is pleased to call to be his people at any time in any Nation 1 Cor. 1.21 whatsoever whose interest and benefit the Lord Jesus Christ far more considered and so should all good Ministers do in their work than any particular ends or advantages of their own Alas the divinest advancement of true Ministers in this World is their faithful labor their honor must be their cares and studies and fears 2 Cor. 1.23 c. Princeps in praedicando princeps in perpetiendo Bern. their crowns their sufferings and sorrows persecutions and perils contempts crosses and deaths for Christs sake and the Churches welfare But the peculiar benefit and advantage of the Christian flock the faithful people of all sorts is that which is most to be regarded over whom the Lord hath made Ministers overseers not onely at the first plantation of the Gospel as the Socinians say but also in a constant and clear succession of Publick Ministerial Authority for this very purpose That poor people may never be left as sheep without a shepherd Mark 6.24 that they may not either wander up and down in the wildernesses or mountains of their own fancies or be led away by others seductions or be beguiled by the devils wiles and temptations That they may hear and believe and persevere stedfast in the Faith that they may neither be ignorant nor erroneous nor scattered and divided that they may be preserved from rustical simplicity hypocritical formality heretical pravity and schismatical novelty in matters of Religion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prov. 29.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Perire denudare feriari dissipare rebellari retrocedere Buxtorf Isai 30.20 Thy Teachers shall not be removed into a corner any more but thine eyes shall see thy Teachers that they may not perish or be left naked separated scattered idle and rebellious for want of vision thereby sinning against God and their own souls The pregnant significancy of that one word which Solomons wisdom useth hath these swarms or spawnings of several senses All which variety shews That the state of common people is never more desperate than when their Seers fail when their Teachers are removed into corners when God sends them no Preachers or Prophets after his own heart when people are not onely without light but put it out quenching the Lamps of the Sanctuary and loving darkness more than light when they are given up to their own delusions and others seductions who blindly follow the visions of their own hearts and the Prophets of their own sending or the Ministers of their own ordaining whom they shall have no cause to credit esteem love or obey as finding no competent gifts Ministerial in them no Characters of divine Authority or holy Succession upon them Ezek. 3.17 Heb. 13.17 They watch for their souls c. People will easily be surprised when they have no watchmen to foresee give warning prevent and encounter any dangers of sins errors and temptations which easily surprise the generality even of Christians who are for the most part so busied and incumbred or so pleased and ensnared or so burthened and oppressed with the secular and sensible things of this world that they can hardly watch one hour with Christ no not in his agony if they had not some Ministers divinely appointed to put them in remembrance to stir up their affections to provoke them to piety to prepare them for eternity both instructing them in the Faith and praying for them that their Faith may not fail Nothing indeed is more deplorable and desperate than the condition of mankinde yea and of any part of the Church of Christ would be if the Lord had not commanded and by a special providence continued an holy constant succession of the Ministers of the Word and Sacraments who may be always either planting or watering or pruning and so according to the several proportions of Christians still preserving the truth life and power of Religion so as it may descend to after ages For there is no doubt 1 Cor. 1.21 It pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe but without this holy and happy Succession of Ministers either people would ever persist in their original ignorance and heathenish sottery or although once planted with piety yet they will soon relapse to barbarity Atheism and unbelief or at best content themselves with idle formalities spiritless superstitions empty notions mouldy traditions lying legends plausible fancies novel inventions vain imaginations or most desperate errors and damnable doctrines which is evident by the experience as of former so of these times where few of those that have cast off and despised the lawful and true Ministry of this Church but either give over all Religion or else think themselves capable every night to dream a new and better way of serving God and saving mens souls than ever yet was used This natural tendency to Apostatize from truth 18. As all Christians subject to Errors and Apostacies so none more than here in England Anglorum ingenia sunt aut varia mobilia superstitionibus vaticiniis dedita aut feroci quadam pertinacia aspera contumaciter superba Bodin Lansius Phil. Com. to relapse to profaneness to rest in hypocrisie to run out to extravagancies or to persist in errors no people under Heaven are more subject to than those of this Nation England whom as God hath blest with a land flowing with milk and honey so they have much of the iron sinew and stiffneckedness of the Jews for being full fed they are also full of high and quick spirits various and vehement fancies finding out and running after many fashions and inventions Don Gundamor who had much studied the English temper and knew how their pulse beat both in Church and State was wont to say He despaired not of those violent changes here in England which in no other Nation could be expected who are generally content with their customs and constant to their principles whereas the English are always given to change to admire novelties and with most inconsiderate violence to pursue them So that no Nation or Church under Heaven have more need then of constant learned able and honest Ministers who may shew them guide and keep them in the good right and safe way of true Religion From which none are more easily seduced than those that have either a sequacious softness and credulity toward other men as divers of us have or an high conceit and confidence of themselves which people much at ease rich and high fed as many in England are most subject to Insomuch that we see the greatest disâ—ase as to Religion now
many to live well which is the work of true Ministers whose labours are great their burdens many their incouragement small and those greatly envyed * 2 Tim. 4.16 Verè magnum est habere fragilitatem hominis securitatem Dei Seneca their enemies encreased on every side their comforters few their defense little or none unlesse God be on their side Which he will not fail to be though all men forsake them as they did St. Paul And he alone is able to bear them up amidst the rough encounters of these times with that Christian patience courage and constancy that becomes learned and religious men who know whom they have served in whom they have beleived and may conclude there are more with them then can be against them whose upright soules and generous consciences are like Elishas mountain 2 King 6.17 full of fiery charets and horsemen that is devout flames of judicious zeal which have upon them the harnesse of wisedome and are managed with the reins of Christian meeknesse and discretion farre from those politick presumptions and enormous confidences of some Phaetons who never think they enlighten the Church enough unlesse they set Kingdomes and States on fire with wild and extravagant furies who are far from being the charets and horsemen of Israel for these though they are fiery yet they are orderly and are patient of government though they excell in gifts 12. Pathetick to true Ministers To such Ministers I here crave leave as Elihu did to make my addresse with all humility and charity as to my reverend Fathers and beloved Brethren You who have upon you the marks and characters of right Ordination and true Ministeriall power accompanyed with competent gifts * Iob 32. sanctified learning devout industry holy zeal unblameable lives and good consciences toward God and toward all men whose grand designe is to give full proof of those Ministeriall gifts and endowments which you were upon due triall found to have and to exercise that divine authority which you solemnly and rightly received to discharge that holy duty which in the Name of Christ and by the power of his Spirit was enjoyned you in the day of your Ordination by those through whose hand the succession of that Ministeriall authority is derived from the Apostles By all which you were qualified and disposed not to get a good living or two but to cast into the Sea of the world the net of the Gospell at Christs word to gain soules to God and Disciples to Jesus Christ to teach and guide by sound doctrine and holy discipline the flocks committed to you in your severall places and proportions Your earthly entertainment is from the munificence and devotion of men but your heavenly calling and authority to be Ministers is from Christ in whose Name you doe all as Ministers and not in the peoples whom some have taught to grow tumultuous against you and imperious upon you Neither your work nor your chiefe reward depends upon men Minimum sit mercedis quod a seculo expectamus Chrysol 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys It is the least of your comfort or incouragement that can from thence be expected as nothing of your authority is from thence derived Levell not your selves by popular crowchings and base compliances in this high point of your Ministeriall power It matters not much how you be levelled as to your maintenance for which you chiefly do depend not upon envious men but upon a bounteous God who will either give you liberally to enjoy all things or contentedly to want them 1 King 13. The withered hands of these Jeroboams which are stretched out against you may at your prayers be restored to the ancient fulnesse and favour used toward the Prophets of the Lord in this land If bonds and imprisonment poverty and contempt attend you in this world yet be of good comfort Christ your great Master hath gone before you and both by word and example by his life and death hath called you out of the world armed you against it and set you above it while insolent dust flies in your faces and proud wormes fight against God in you remember the battail is the Lords Ephes 6.12 The weapons of your warfare are spirituall and of greatest proofe in sharpest affliction If you are to contend with principalities and powers it must be not by ill language by railing and Satyrick invectives by secret plottings and practise but by the primitive Ammunition of Patience and Prayers by holy perseverance in your Ministry such as becomes the spirit of the Gospell in wisdom learning gravity between the extreams of fear and flattery with humble love and charity to all men Sueton. Vespas Vit. Imperatorem stantem moâ—i oportere moriens dixit inter manus sublevantium extinctus It becomes you as Vespasian said of Emperours to dye upright in your spirituall armes and harnesse intent to your duty fighting the good fight of faith till you have finished your course with joy In the midst of crosses comforts grow best as Lilies among thornes The clouds of your enemies darts poysonous opinions corrupt doctrines fraudulent dealings sharp arrows of bitter speeches fiery trials of persecuting menaces your adversaries cruell mockings and insultings your friends prevaricatings with you withdrawings from you and forsakings of you all these must onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stir up the more to quicker flames of study prayer meditation devotion and holy resolution those many gifts and graces that learning eloquence and sufficiency which are in you as Christians and as Ministers wherein to the praise of God you are not behind even the chiefest Ministers in the Christian world You are not now to expect Prebendaries and Deaneries and Bishopricks as the honorary rewards and incouragements of your studies pains and piety This age could not bear your enjoying of them though you used them never so well It is your part to know as well to want them as to have them Honoribus divitiis carere posse magni est animi at recte uti posse est maximi and in stead of those to prepare for poverty contempt and imprisonment you may be then at your best when the evill world thinks you deserve no better Never study by any mean ways to merit better of sacrilegious spirits Be sure your treasure be out of these mens reach It is your part to doe well and worthy of your high calling Leave it to God how well you shall be rewarded here and hereafter Paul never preached with greater authority than in his chaines Act 26 29. Phil. 1. nor wrote with greater eloquence and majesty then when he styled himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ well doing will be reward enough and a good conscience will be good chear at all times You cannot but observe that your great enemy the divell hath commanded as the King of Syria did his Legions of Hereticks Schismaticks Fanaticks erroneous superstitious idle