mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself I commend this soul to God the Father Almighty and thy Body to the ground c. Then shall be said or sung I Heard a voyce from Heaven saying unto me Write from henceforth Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord Even so saith the Spirit that they rest from their labors 1 B. of Edw. 6. Let us pray WE commend into thy hands of mercy most merciful Father the soul of this our Brother departed N. And his body we commit to the Earth beseeching thine infinite goodness to give us grace to live in thy fear and love and to die in thy favor that when the Judgement shall come which thou hast committed to thy well-beloved Son both this our Brother and we may be found acceptable in thy sight and receive that blessing which thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear thee saying Come ye blessed Children of my Father Receive the Kingdom prepared for you before the beginning of the world Grant this merciful Eather for the Honor of Jesus Christ our onely Saviour Mediator and Advocate Amen This Prayer shall also be added ALmighty God we give thee hearty thanks for this thy servant whom thou hast delivered from the miseries of this wretched world from the body of death and all temptation And as we trust hast brought his soul which he committed into thy holy hands into sure consolation and rest Grant we beseech thee that at the day of Judgement his soul and all the souls of the elect departed out of this life may with us and we with them fully receive thy promises and be made perfect altogether through the glorious resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. These Psalms with other suffrages following are to be said in the Church either before or after the burial of the Corps I am well pleased that the Lord c. Psal. 116. Glory to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Praise the Lord O my soul c. Psalm 146. Glory to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. omitted by Bucer O Lord thou hast searched me out c. Psalm 139. Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Then shall follow this Lesson taken out of the 15 Chapter to the Corinthians the first Epistle CHrist is risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept For by a man came death and by a man came the resurrection of the dead For as by Adam all die even so by Christ shall all be made alive but every man in his own order The first is Christ then they that are Christs at his coming Then cometh the end when he hath delivered up the kingdom to God the Father when he hath put down all rule and all authority and power For he must reign till he have put all his enemies under his feet The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death For he hath put all things under his feet But when he saith All things are put under him it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him When all things are subdued unto him then shall the son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him that God may be all in all Else what do they which are baptized over the dead if the dead rise not at all Why are they then baptized over them yea and why stand we alway then in jeopardy By our rejoycing which I have in Christ Jesu our Lord I die daily That I have fought with beasts at Ephesus after the maner of men what advantageth it me if the dead rise not again Let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die Be not ye deceived evil words corrupt good maners Awake truly out of sleep and sin not For some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame But some man will say How arise the dead With what body shall they come Thou fool that which thou sowest is not quickned except it die And what sowest thou thou sowest not that body that shall be but bare corn as of wheat or some other But God giveth it a body at his pleasure to every seed his own body All flesh is not one maner of flesh but there is one maner of flesh of men another maner of flesh of beasts another of fishes another of birds There are also celestial bodies and there are bodies terrestrial But the glory of the celestial is one and the glory of the terrestrial is another There is one maner glory of the sun another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars For one star differeth from another in glory So is the resurrection of the dead It is sown in corruption it riseth again in incorruption it is sown in dishonor it riseth again in honor it is sown in weakness it riseth again in power it is sown a natural body it riseth again a spiritual body There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body as it is also written The first man Adam was made a liâ—ing soul and the last Adam was made a quickning spirit Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual but that which is natural and then that which is spiritual The first man is of the earth earthy The second man is the Lord from Heaven heavenly As is the earthy such are they that be earthy And as is the heavenly such are they that are heavenly And as we have born the image of the earthy so shall we bear the image of the heavenly This say I brethren that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God neither doth corruption inherit incorruption Behold I shew you a mystery We shall not all sleep but we shall be changed and that in a moment in the twinckling of an eye by the last trump For the trump shall blow and the dead shall rise incorruptible and we shall be changed For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality When this corruptible hath put on incorruption and this mortal hath put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowen up Into victory Death where is thy sting Hell where is thy victory The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law but thanks be unto God which hath given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore my dear brethren be ye stedfast and unmoveable always rich in the work of the Lord forasmuch as ye know how that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. The Lesson ended the Minister shall say Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Our Father c. And leav us not c. Answer But deliver us from evil Amen 1 B. of Edw. 6. Priest Enter
his Ministers to declare and pronounce to his people being penitent the absolution and remission of their sins he pardoneth and absolveth all them which truely repent and unfeignedly beleeve his holy Gospel Wherefore we beseech him to grant us true repentance and his holy spirit Scot. Lit. That we may receive from his absolution from all our sins that those things may please him which we â—o at this present and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy through Jesus Christ our Lord. The people shall answer Amen Common prayer 1. B. of Edw. 6. Then shall the Minister begin the Lords Prayer with a loud voice Scot. Lit. And in this and in all other places of the Lit. where the last words for thine is the kingdom are expressed the Presbyter shall read them But in all places where they are not expressed he shall end at these words But deliver us from evil Amen The Priest being in the Quire shall begin with a loud voice the Lords Prayer called the Pater noster OUR father which are in heaven hallowed be thy â—ame Thy kingdom 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 lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil Scot. Lit. for thine is the kingdome the power and the glory for ever and ever K Amen Then likewise he shall say O Lord open thou our lips Answer And our mouth shall shew forth thy praise Priest O God make speed to save us Answer O Lord make hast to help us Priest Scotch Liturgy then all of them standing up the Presbyter shall say or sing Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. As it was in the beginning is now c. Praise ye the Lord. 1. B. of Edw. 6. O Scot. Lit. Answer The Lord be praised N And from Easter to Trinity Sunday Allelujah COMMON PRAYER Then shall be said or sung this Psalm following O Come let us sing unto the Lord c. Psal. 95. Then shall follow certain Psalmes in order as they be appointed in a Table made for that purpose except there be proper Psalmes appointed for that day And at the end of every Psalm through the year and likewise in the end of Renedictus Benedicite Magnificat and Nunâ— dimittis shall be repeated Glory be to the Father c. Scot. Lit. And the people shall answer As it was in the beginning c. every one standing up at the same Then shall be read two Lessons distinctly with a loud voice that the people may hear The first of the old Testament the Second of rhe new like as they be appointed by the Kalender except there be proper Lessons assigned for that day the priest that readeth the Lesson standing and turning him so as he may best be heard of all such as be present R And before every Lesson the Priest shall say thus The first second third or fourth Chapter of Genesis or Exodus Matthew Mark or other like as is appointed in the Kalender And in the end of every Chapter he shall say Here endeth such a Chapter of such a book And to the end the people may the better hear in such places where they do sing there shall the Lessons be sung in a plain tune after the manner of distinct reading and likewise the Epistle and Gospel Common Prayer 1 B. of Edw. 6. After the first Lesson shall follow T Te deum Laudamus in English dayly through the whole year And after the first Lesson shall follow Te Deum Laudamus in English dayly throughout the year except in â—ent all the which time in the place of te Deum shall be used Benedicite omnia opera Domini Domino in English as followeth WE praise thee O God we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee the Father everlasting To thee all Angels cry aloud the heavens and all the powers therein To thee Cherubin and Seraphin continually do cry Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabbath Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy Glory The glorious company of the Apostles praise thee The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee The noble Army of Martyrs praise thee The holy Church throughout all the world both knowledge thee The Father of an infinit majestie Thy honorable true and onely Son Also the holy Ghost the comforter Thou art the King of Glory O Christ. Thou art the everlasting son of the Father When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man thou didst not abhor the Uirgins womb When thou hadst overcome the sharpnesse of death thou diddest open the Kingdome of heaven unto all beleevers Thou sittest on the right hand of God in the glory of thy Father We beleeve that thou shalt come to be our judge We therefore pray thee help thy servants whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious blood Make them to be numbred with thy Saints in glory everlasting O Lord save thy people and blesse thine heritage Govern them and lift them up for ever Day by day we magnifie thee And we worship thy name ever world without end Uouchsafe O Lord to keep us this day without sin O Lord have mercy upon us have mercy upon us O Lord let thy mercy lighten upon us as our trust is in thee O Lord in thee have I trusted let me never be confounded Or this Canticle V Benedicite omnia orpra domini domino O All ye works of the Lord blesse ye the Lord praise him and magniffe him forever O ye Angels of the Lord blesse ye the Lord. praise him and magnifie him forever O ye heavens blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnfie him for ever O ye waters that be above the fitmament blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him forever O all ye powers of the Lord blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O ye Sun and Moon bless ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for ever O ye stars of heaven blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for ever O ye showers and dew blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for ever O ye winds of God blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O ye fire and heat blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O ye winter and summer bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O ye dews and frosts blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O ye frosts and cold blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O ye 〈◊〉 snow blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify for ever O ye nights and dayes blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O ye
light and darknesse blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O ye lightnings and 〈◊〉 blesse ye the Lâ—â—d praise him and magnify him for ever O let the 〈◊〉 â—â—esse the Lord yea let it praise him and magnify him for ever O ye mountains and hils â—lesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O all ye green things upon the earth blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O ye wells blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O ye seas and floods blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O ye Whales and all that move in the waters blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O all ye fouls of the aire blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O all ye beasts and cattle blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O ye children of men bless ye Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O let Israel bless the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O ye priests of the Lord bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O ye servants of the Lord bleâ—e ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O ye spirits and souls of the righteous blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O ye holy and humble men of heart blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever O Ananias Azarias and Misael bless ye the Lord praise him and magnify him for ever Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now c. And after the second Lesson shall be used and said V Benedictus in English as followeth BLessed be the Lord God of Israel c. Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. As it was in the beginning is now c. Or else this Psalm O Be joyfull in the Lord all ye lands c. Psalm 100. Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. As it was in the beginning is now c. 1. B. of Edw. 6. Then shall be said dayly throughout the year the Prayers follwing as well at Evensong as at Mattens all devoutly kneeling Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us The Common Prayer 1. B. of Edw. 6. Then shall be said Scot. Lit. or sung the creed by the Priest and the people standing The shall the minister say the Greed and the Lords prayer in English with a loud voice 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 Uirgin Mary suffered under Ponce 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 on the right hand of God the father almighty from thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead I beleeve in the holy Ghost the holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints the forgivenesse of sins the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting Amed And after that these prayers following as well at Evening Prayer as at Morning Prayer all devoutly kneeling the Priest first pronouncing with a loud voice The Lord be with you This salutation and answer do enter between the Versicles and the Collect for the day in the first Book of Edward the sixt Answer  And with thy spirit  The Priest Let us pray Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Then the Priest Clarks and people shall say the Lord Prayer in English with a loud voice Our father which are in heaven c. 1. B. of Edw. 6. Answer But deliver us from evil Then the Priest standing up shall say O Lord shew thy mercy upon us Answer And grant us thy salvation Priest O Lord save the King Answer And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee Priest Indue thy ministers with righteousnesse Answer And make thy chosen people joyful Priest O Lord save thy people Answer And blesse thine inheritance Priest Give peace in our time O Lord. Answer Because there is none other that fighteth for us but onely thou O God Priest O God make clean our hearts within us Answer And take not thy holy Spirit from us Then shall follow 1. B. of Edw. 6. dayly Three Collects The first of the day which shall be the same that is appointed at the Communion The second for Peace The third for Grace to live well And the two last Collects shall never alter but dayly be said at morning Prayer throughout all the year as followeth 1 B. of Edw. 6. the Priest standing up and saying Let us pray then the Collect for the day The second Collect for peace O God which art the author of peace and lover of concord in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life whose service is perfect freedom defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies that we surely trusting in thy defence may not fear the power of any adversaries through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Third Collect for Grace O Lord our heavenly father Almighty and everlasting God which hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day defend us in the same with thy mighty power and grant that this day we fall into no sin neither run into any kinde of danger but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance to do alwayes that is righteous in thy sight through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Scot. Lit. After this Collect ended followeth the Letany and if the Letany be not appointed to be said or sung that morning then shall be next said the prayer for the Kings Majesty with the rest of the Prayers following at the end of the Letany and the Benediction Annotations upon CHAP. III. A Morning and Evening Prayer agreeable to the Jewish and Christian practice The three houres of Prayer in the Temple The 6. of Private devotion B Where Morning and Evening prayer are to be said Why the place left arbitrary to the Bishop C what meant by Chancels shall stand as as they have done D Ornaments in Cathedrals E the Surplice defended and Primitive practise set down F A discourse concerning the Translations of the Bible where the obstacle was that our Liturgy was not reformed in this particular G To begin with confession ancient H What meant by the word alone in the Rubrick of absolution I The Lords Prayer why pronounced in a loud voice K The Primitive practise concerning Amen L The versicles and Responds Canonical Scripture approved by Bucer M The original of the Decalogy its antiquity N Hallelujah at what times to be used O The Invitatory what and why devised P The Number of Lessons in the Romish
20. unto verse 29. Saint Bartholomew the Apostle 1 B. of Edw. 6. Not unto us O Lord not unto us c. Psalm 115. Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Collect. O Almighty and everlasting God which hast given grace to thine Apostle Bartholomew truely to beleeve and to preach thy word grant we beseech thee unto thy Church both to love that he beleeved and to preach that he taught through Christ our Lord. The Epistle By the hands of the Apostles Acts 5. verse 12. unto ver 17. The Gospel And there was a strife among them Luk. 22. verse 24 unto ver 31 Saint Matthew apostle 1. B. of Edw. 6. O praise the Lord all ye heathen c. Psal. 117. Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Collect. ALmighty god which by thy blessed son didst call Matthew from the receit of custom to be an apostle Evangelist Grant us grace to forsake all covetous desires and inordinate love of riches and to follow thy said son Jesus Christ who liveth and raigneth c. The Epistle Sering that we have such an office 2 Cor. 4. verse 1. unto verse 7. The Gospel And as Jesus passed forth Mat 9. verse 9. unto ver 14. Saint Michael and all angels 1 B. of Edw. 6. Praise the Lord ye servants c. Psal. 113. Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Collect. Euerlasting God which hast ordained and constituted the services of all angels and men in a wonderful order mercifully grant that they which alway do thee service in heaven may by thy appointment succour and defend us in earth through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Epistle There was a great battle in heaven Apoc. 12. verse 7. unto ver 13. The Gospel At the same time came Matth. 18. verse 1. unto ver 11. Saint Luke Evangelist 1 B. of Edw 6. By the waters of Babylon c. Psal. 137. Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Collect. ALmighty God which calledst Luke the Phisycian whose praise is in the Gospel to be a Phisycian of the soul it may please thee by the wholesom medicines of his doctrine to heal all the diseases of our souls through thy son Jesus Christ our Lord. The Epistle Watch thou in all things 2 Tim. 4. verse 5. unto ver 16. The Gospel The Lord appointed other Luk. 10 verse 1. unto verse 7. Simon and Jude Apostles 1 B. of Edw. 6. O praise Gd in his holinesse c. Psal. 150. Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Collect. ALmighty God which hast builded thy congregation upon the fundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesu Christ himself being the head corner stone grant us so to be joyned together in unity of spirit by their doctrine that we may be made an holy temple acceptable to thee through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Epistle Judas the servant of Jud. verse 1. unto ver 9. The Gospel This command I you John xv verse 17. unto the end All-Saints 1 B. of Edw. 6t Proper Lessons at Mattens The first Lesson Sapi. 3. unto Blessed rather is the. The second Lesson Heb. 11. ver 12. unto If ye endure O sing unto the Lord a new Song c. Psal. 118. Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Collect. A Amighty God which hast knit together thy elect in one Communion and fellowship in the mystical body of thy son Christ our Lord grant us grace so to follow thy holy saints in all vertuous and godly living that we may come to those unspeakable joyes which thou hast prepared for them that unfeinedly love thee through Jesus Christ our Lord. Behold I John saw Apoc. 7. verse 2. unto verse 13. The Gospel Jesus seeing the people c. Matth. 1. verse 1. unto ver 13. 1 B. of Edw. 6. Proper Lessons at Evensong The first Lesson Sapi. 5. unto his jealousy also The second Lesson Apoc. 19. unto And Jesus saw an Angel stand Annotations upon CHAP. V. A. The Introit what B. Epistles and Gospels very necessary why Epistles when all are not so The reason and defence of that denomination C. Advent what and why observed D. Christmas day Its antiquity variously observed in the Primitive times The Precise day dubious and unnecessary to be known Calvin passionately for it Observed by the Synod of Dort and the Belgick Church A main argument for it E. Two Communions anciently in one fore-noon F. Why the Feasts of St. Stephen St. John and Innocents are celebrated neer Christmas day G. Antiquity of the Circumcision feast H. Epiphany what Ancient I. Ashwednesday and Lent the original and various observation of them K. Palm Sunday how observed L. The holy week why so called M. Maunday Thursday a day of great note N. Good-Friday anciently a very high day a day of general Absolution O. Easter-Eve the great day of Baptising competents watching the Sepulchre whence derived P. Easter-day of Apostolical institution Q. Easter-Munday and Easter-Tuesday very anciently observed R. Dominica in Albis S. Rogation dayes why instituted T. Ascension day why rarely mentioned in Antiquity Pentecost what Synods anciently summoned about this time V. Whitsunday why so called a private conjecture W. St. Andrews day why the first festival X. Conversion of St. Paul why not observed Paul and Peter one intire festival and anciently and of late years Y. The Purification of Mary anciently how called why Candlemass-day Z The Annuntiation of the virgin Mary how Ancient A St. Philip and Jacob and All-Saints B. St. Peter hath no single day C. The Festival of Mary Magdalen why discontinued THE Introites The Introites were certain Psalms appointed for certain dayes and were at first devised as decent imployments for the people whilest the Priest was ascending up to the high Altar They did somewhat resemble those Psalms of degrees appointed in the service of the Temple Epistles and Gospels The Epistles and Gospels need no advocate to plead for them it not being imaginable that Christians assembling for sacred exercises should omit the main fundamentals of Christianity or that the Jews should have the Law and the Prophets read in their Synagogues every Sabbath-day as it is clear they had and that the Christians should debar themselves of having the Epistles and Gospels the great evidences of their faith rehearsed in their Assembly places in their Churches Having had occasion before to deliver the Practise of the Primitive Church in this particular and to evidence that those leading Fathers did not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at peradventure and casually read these Lessons but were studious to fit and dispose them to the concernment of every Festival I shall not actum agere but onely adde that without those Lessons the Festivals would signifie little for what can
of Scot. Lit. at the verse and then the people all standing up shall say Glory be to thee O Lord. At the end of the Gospel the Presbyter shall say so endeth the holy Gospel And the people shall answer Thanks be to thee O Lord. And the Epistle and the Gospel being ended shall be said Scot. Lit. or sung this â—reed Scot. Lit. All still reverently H standing up The Collects ended the Priest or he that is appointed shall read the Epistle in a place assigned for the purpose saying The Epistle of St. Paul written in the Chapter of to the The Minister then shall read the Epistle Immediately after the Epistle ended the Priest or one appointed to read the Gospel shall say The holy Gospel written in the Chapter of The Clerks and people shall answer I. Glory be to thee O Lord. The Priest or Deacon then shal read the Gospel after the Gospel ended the Priest shall begin   I beleve in one God   The Clerks shall sing the Rest. Omitted in Bucer I Beleeve in one God the father almighty maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible and in one Lord Jesu Christ the onely begotten son of God begotten of his father before all worlds God of God light of light very God of very God begotten not made being of one substance with the father by whom all things were made who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the holy Ghost of the virgin Mary and was made man and was crucified also for us under Poncius Pilate He suffered and was buryed and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of the Father And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead whose kingdom shall have none end and I believe in the holy Ghost the Lord and giver of life who proceedeth from the Father and the Son who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets And I believe one Catholick and Apostolick Church I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins And I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come After the Creed if there be no Sermon shall follow one of the Homilies already set forth or hereafter to be set forth by common Authority Common Prayer 1 B. of Edw. 6.  After such Sermon Homily or Exhortation the Curate shall declare unto the People whether there be any holy days or fasting days the Week following and earnestly to exhort them to remember the Poor saying Scot. lit for the Offertory one or more of these Sentences following as he thinketh most convenient by his discretion Scot. according to the length or shortness of time that the people are offering Then shall follow for the Offertory one or more of these Sentences of Scripture to be sung whiles the People do offer or else one of them to be said by the Minister immediately after the offering The Offertory and Sentences follow after the two Exhortations to the Communion and the last clause is omitted by Bucer Scotch Lit. And in process of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord and Abel he also brought of the firstlings of his Flock and of the fat thereof And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect Speak unto the children of Israel that they bring me an offering of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering Ye shall not appear before the Lord empty every man shall give as he is able according to the blessing of the Lord your God which he hath given you David blessed the Lord before all the Congregation and said Blessed be thou O Lord God for ever and ever Thine O Lord is the Greatness and the Glory and the Victory and the Majesty for all that is in the Heaven and in the Earth is thine thine is the Kingdom O Lord and thou art exalted as head above all Both riches and honour come of thee and of thine own do we give unto thee I know also my God that thou tryest the heart and hast pleasure in uprightness As for me in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things And now have seen with joy thy people which are present here to offer willingly unto thee Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name bring an offering and come into his Courts Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in Heaven Lay not up for your selves treasure upon the Earth where the rust and moth doth corrupt and where Thieves break through and steal But lay up for your selves treasures in Heaven where neither rust nor moth doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through and steal Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you even so do unto them for this is the Law and the Prophets Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven Zacheus stood forth and said unto the Lord Behold Lord the half of my goods I give to the Poor and if I have done any wrong to any man I restore fourfold Scotch Lit. Jesus sate over against the Treasury and beheld how the People cast money into it and many that were rich cast in much And there came a certain poor Widow and she threw in two Mites which make a farthing And he called unto him his Disciples and saith unto them Verify I say unto you that this poor Widow hath cast in more then all they which have cast into the Treasury for all they did cast in of their abundance but she of her want did cast in all that she had even all her living Who goeth a warfare at any time of his own cost who planteth a vineyard and eateth not of the fruit thereof Or who feedeth a flock and eateth not of the milk of the Flock If we have sown unto you spiritual things is it a great matter if we shall reap your worldly things Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the sacrifice They which wait of the Altar are partakers with the Altar Even so hath the Lord also ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel He which soweth little shall reap little and he that soweth plenteously shall reap plenteously Let every man do according as he is disposed in his heart not grudging or of necessity for God loveth a chearful giver Let him that is taught in the word minister unto him that teacheth
distinction being observed lawful it was for them to superadde some characteristical notes more graphically explaining them so was this word Christ annext to the second Person in the Apostles times so in Justin Martyr the form is this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the name of the Father of all things the Lord God and of Jesus Christ who was crucified under Pontius Pilate and of the holy Ghost who foretold by the Prophets all things concerning Christ. But if they which bring the Infants c. This is a very prudent and Christian Injunction derived as I conceive from the fift Councel of Carthage Placuit de infantibus quoties non inveniuntur firmi testes qui eos sine coninversia Baptisatos esse dicant sine ulla offensione posse eos Baptisari it is decreed concerning infants whensoever there want witnesses to assure that they were before baptised that without further scruple they shall be baptised CHAP. IX Common Prayer A The order of Confirmation or laying on of hands upon children baptised and able to render an account of their faith according to the Catechisme following 1 2 B. of Edvv. 6. Lit. of Q. Eliz. Confirmation wherein is contained a Catechism for Children TO the end that Confirmation may be ministred to the more â—defying of such as shall receive it according onto St. Pauls doctrine who teacheth that all things should be done in the Church to the edification of the same it is thought good that none hereafter shall be confirmed but such as can say in their mother tonge the Articles of the faith the Lords prayer and the ten Commandments and can also answer to such questions of this short Catechisme as the Bishop or such as he shall appoint shall by his discretion appose them in And this order is most convenient to be observed for divers considerations First because that when children come to the years of discretion and have learned what their Godfathers and Godmothers promised for them in Baptisme they may then themselves with their own mouth and with their own consent openly before the Church ratifie and confirm the same and also promise that by the grace of God they will evermore endevour themselves faithfully to observe and keep such things as they by their own mouth and confeâ—sion have assented unto Secondly for as much as Confirmation is ministred to them that be baptised that by imposition of hands and prayer they may receive strength and defence against all temptations to sin and the assaults of the world and the devil it is most meet to be ministred when children come to that age that partly by the frailty of their own flesh partly by the assaults of the world and the devil they begin to be in danger to fall into sundry kindes of sin Thirdly for that it is agreeable with the usage of the Church in times past whereby it was ordeined that Confirmation should be Ministred to them that were of perfect age that they being instructed in Christs religion should openly professe their own faith and promise to be obedient unto the will of God B And that no man shall think that any detriment shall come to the children by deferring of their Confirmation he shall know for truth that it is certain by Gods word that children being baptised 1 B. of Edw. 6. if they depart out of this life in their infancy have all things necessary for their salvation and be undoubtedly saved C A Catechisme that is to say An instruction to be learned of every childe before he be brought to be confirmed of the Bishop Question What is your name Answer N. â—r M. Question Who gave you this name Answer My Godfathers and godmothers in my baptisme wherein I was made a member of Christ the childe of God and an inhertour of the kingdom of heaven Question What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you Answer They did promise and â—ow three things in my name First that I should forsake the devil and all his works the pomps and vanities of the wicked world and all the sinful Justs of of the flesh Secondly that I should beleeve all the 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 Doest thou not think that thou art bound to beleeve and do to as they have promised for thee Answer Yes verily And by Gods help so I will And I heartily thank our heavenly father that he hath called me to this state of salvation through Jesus Christ our Saviour and I pray God to give me his Grace that I may continue in the same unto my lives end Question Râ—hearse the Articles of thy belief Answer I Beleeve in God the father almighty maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ his onely son our Lord which was conceived by the holy ghost born of the virgin Mary suffered under Ponce 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 beleeve in the holy ghost The holy Catholick Church The Communion of Saints The forgivenesse of sins The resurrection of the body And the life everlasting Amen Question What doest thou chiefly learn in these articles of thy belief Answer First I learn to beleeve 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 You said that your Godfathers and Godmothers did promise for you that you should keep Gods Commandments Tell me how many there be Answer Ten. Question Which be they Answer THE same which God spak in the xx Chapter of Exodus saying I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt 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 likenesse of any thing that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath nor in the water under the earth Thou shalt not â—ow down to them nor worship them For I the Lord my 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 in them that love me and keep my Commandments iii. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vain iiii Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day Sir 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 and the sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day Wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and halowedit 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 murder vii Thou shalt not commit adultry viii Thou shalt not steal ix Thou shalt not bear false witnesse against thy neighbour x. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbous house thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife nor his servant nor his maid nor his Ox nor his Asse nor any thing that is his Question What doest thou chiefly learn by these Commandments Answer I learn 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 beleeve in him to fear him and to love him with all my heart with all my minde with all my soul 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 truly 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 and his Ministers To submit my self to all my governours teachers spiritual 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 bear no malice nor hatred in my heart To keep my hands from picking and stealing and my tongue from evil speaking lying and slaudring To keep my body in temperance sobernesse and chastity Not to cover nor desire other mens goods But learn and labour truely to get mine own living and to do my duty in that state of life unto 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 walk in the commandments of God and to serve him without his special grace which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent prayer Let me hear therefore if thou canst say the Lords prayer Answer OUr Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom 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 lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil 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 goodnesse 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 I pray unto God that he will send us all things that be needful both for our souls and bodies And that he will be merciful unto us and forgive us our sins and that it will please him to save and defend us in all dangers ghostly and bodily And that he will keep us from sin and wickednesse and from our ghostly enemy and from everlasting death And this I trust he will do of his mercy and goodnesse through our Lord Jesu Christ. And therefore I say Amen So â—e it Question HOw many Sacraments hath Christ ordeined 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 mean an outward and visible signe of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us ordeined by Christ himself as a means whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure us thereof Question How many parts are there in a Sacrament Answer Two the Outward visible signe and the inward Spiritual Grace Question What is the Outward visible signe or form in baptisme Answer Water wherein the person baptised is dipped or sprinkled with it in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Question What is the inward and spiritual Grace Answer A death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousnesse For being by Nature born in sin and the children of wrath we are hereby made the children of Grace Question What is required of persons to be baptised Answer Repentance whereby they forsake sin and faith whereby they stedfastly beleeve the promises of God made to them in that Sacrament Question Why then are Infants baptised when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them Answer Yes they do perform them by their Suerties who promise and vow them both in their names which when they come to age themselves are bound to perform Question Why was the Sacrament of the Lords supper ordeined Answer For the Continual remembrance of the Sacrifice of the death of Christ and the benefits which we receive thereby Question What is the outward part or signe of the Lords Supper Answer Bread and Wine which the Lord hath commanded to be received Question What is the inward part or thing signified Answer The body and Blood of Christ which are verily and indeed taken and received of the faithful in the Lords Supper Question What are the benefits whereof we are partakers thereby Answer The strengthening and refreshing of our souls by the body and blood of Christ as our bodies are by the bread and wine Question What is required of them which come to the Lords Supper Answer To examine themselves whether they repent them truely of their former sins stedfastly purposing to lead a new life have a lively faith in Gods mercy through Christ with a thankful remembrance of his death and be in Charity with all men So soon as the children can say in their mother tongue the articles of the faith the Lords prayer the ten Commandments and also can answer to such questions of this short Catechisme as the Bishop or such as he shall appoint shall by his discretion appose them in then shall they be brought to the Byshop by one that shall be his Godfather or Godmother that every childe may have a witnesse of his Confirmation And the Bishop shall confirm them on this wise Confirmation Or D laying on of hands Our help is in the name of the Lord.  Answer  Which hath made both heaven and earth  Minister  Blessed is the name of the Lord.  Answer  Henceforth world without end 1 B. of Edw. 6. Minster Minister Lord hear our prayer The Lord be with you Answer Answer And let our cry come unto thee
his executors These words before rehearsed may be said before the Minister begin his Prayer as he shall see cause R The Minister may not forget nor omit to move the sick person and that most instantly to liberality toward the poor S Here shall the sick person make a special confession if he feel his conscience troubled with any weighty matter After which confession the Minister shall absolve him after this sort 1 B. of Edw. 6. and the same form of Absolution shall be used in all private confessions OUr Lord Jesus Christ who hath left power to his Church to absolve all sinners which truly repent and believe in him of his great mercy forgive thee thine offences and by his authority committed to me I absolve thee from all thy sins In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Amen And then the Minister shall say the Collect following Let us pray O Most merciful God which according to the multitude of thy mercies doest so put away the sins of those which truly repent that thou remembrest them no more open thine eye of mercy upon this thy servant who most earnestly desireth pardon and forgiveness Renue in him most loving Father whatsoever hath been decayed by the fraud and malice of the devil or by his own carnal will and frailness preserve and continue this sick member in the unity of thy Church consider his contrition accept his tears asswage his pain as shal be seen to thee most expedient for him And forasmuch as he putteth his full trust onely in thy mercy impute not to him his former sins but take him unto thy favor through the merits of thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ Amen Then the Minister shall say this Psalm In thee O Lord have I put my trust Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. As it was in the beginning is now c. Adding this 1 B of Edw. 6. Adding this Anthem O Saviour of the World save us which by thy crosse and pretious blood hast redeemed us help us we beseech thee O God Then shall the Minister say THE almighty Lord which is a most strong tower to all them that put their trust in him to whom all things in heaven in earth and under the earth do bow and obey be now and evermore thy defence and make thee know and feel that there is none other name under heaven given to man in whom and through whom thou mapest receive health and salvation but onely the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Amen 1 B. of Edw. 6. If the sick person desire to be T anointed then shall the Priest anoint him upon the fore head or brest onely making the signe of the crosse saying thus As with this visible oyl thy body outwardly is anointed so our heavenly father Almighty God grant of his infinite goodnesse that thy soul inwardly may be anointed with the holy ghost who is the spirit of all strength comfort reliefe and gladnesse And vouchsafe for his great mercy if it be his blessed will to restore unto thee thy bodily health and strength to serve him and send thee release of all thy pains troubles and diseases both in body and minde And howloever his goodnesse by his divine and unsearchable providence shall dispose of thee we his unworthy Ministers and servants humbly beseech the eternal Majesty to do with thee according to the multitude of his innumerable mercies and to pardon thee all thy sins and offences committed by all thy bodily sences passions and carnal affections who also vouchsafe mercifully to grant unto thee ghostly strength by his holy spirit to withstand and overcome all temptations and assaults of thine adversary that in no wise he prevail against thee but that thou mayest have perfect victory and triumph against the Devil sin and death through Christ our Lord who by his death hath overcome the Prince of death and with the Father and the holy Ghost evermore liveth and reigneth God world without end Amen How long wilt thou forget me Lord. c. Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Edition Lat. Buceri Si videtur commodum dicatur etiam hic Psalmus pro usitata ante haec tempora unctione usque quâ— Domine c. V The Communion of the sick FOR as much as all mortal men be subject to many sodain perils diseases and sicknesses and ever uncertain what time they shall depart out of this life Therefore to the intent they may be alwayes in a readinesse to dye whensoever it shall please almighty God to call them the Curates shall diligently from time to time but specially in the plague time exhort their Parishioners to the oft receiving in the Church of the holy Communion of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ which if they do they shall have no cause in their sodain visitation to be unquiet for lack of the same But if the sick person be not able to come to the Church and yet is desirous to receive the Communion in his house then he must give knowledge over night or else early in the morning to the Curate signifying also how many be appointed to Communicate with him 1 B. of Edw. 6. And if the same day there be a celebration of the holy Communion in the Church W then shall the Priest reserve at the open Communion so much of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood as shall serve the sick person and so many as shall Communicate with him if there be any And so soon as conveniently he may after the Communion ended in the Church shall go and Minister the same first to those that are appointed to Communicate with the sick if there be any and last of all to the sick person himself But before the Curate distribute the holy Communion the appointed general Confession must be made in the name of the Communicants the Curate adding the Absolution with the Comfortable sentences of Scripture following in the open Communion and after the Communion ended the Collect. Almighty and and everliving God we most hartily thank thee c. But if the day be not appointed for the open Communion in the Church then upon convenient warning given the Curate shall come and visit the sick Person afore-noon Common Prayer 1 B. of Edw. 6. And having a convenient Place in the sick mans house where the Curate may reverently Minister and a good number to receive the Communion with the sick person with all things necessary for the same he shall there minister the holy Communion And having a convenient place in the sick mans house where he may reverently celebrate with all things necessary for the same and not being otherwise letted with the Bublick service or any other just impediment he shall there celebrate the holy Communion after such form and sort as hereafter is appointed The celebration of the holy Communion for the sick
others appropriated to dayes of solemn celebration or dispersed abroad in the several offices of our Church are for the greater part borrowed from the Sacramentary of Gregory the great and where others are omitted it is upon this account because they conteined something edifying towards the invocation of Saints CHAP. IIII. An order for Evening prayer Throughout the Year Scotch Lit. After the sentences Exhortation Confession and Absolution as is appointed at Morning Prayer the Presbyter shall say or sing The priest shall say OUR father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom 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 lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil Scot. Lit. for thine is the kingdome the power and the glory for ever and ever Amen Then likewise he shall say O Lord open thou our lips Answer And our mouth shall shew forth thy praise Priest O God make speed to save us Answer O Lord make hast to help us Priest Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. As it was in the beginning is now c. Praise ye the Lord. Answer Scot. Lit. The Lord be praised Then Psalms in order as they be appointed in the Table for Psalmes except there be proper Psalms appointed for that day Then a Lesson of the old Testament as is appointed likewise in the Kalender except there be proper Lessons appointed for that day After that Magnificat in English as followeth MY soul doth magnifie the Lord c. Luke 1. Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. As it was in the beginning is now c. Or else this Psalm OSing unto the Lord a new song Psalm 98. Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. As it was in the beginning is now c. Then a Lesson of the new Testament And after that Nunc dimittis in English as followeth LOrd now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word c. Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. As it was in the beginning is now c. Or else this Psalm GOd be merciful unto us c. Psalm 47. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen The Common Prayer 1. B. of Edw. 6. Then shall follow the Creed with other Prayers as is before appointed at Morning Prayer after Benedictus And with three Collects First of the day The second of peace Third for aid against all perils as hereafter followeth Which two last Collects shall be dayly said at Evening prayer without alteration Then the suffrages before assigned at Mattins the Clerk kneeling likewise with three Collects c. The second Collect at Evening Prayer O God from whom all holy desires all good counsels 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 commandments and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies may passe our time in rest and quietnesse through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour Amen The third Collect for aid against all perils LIghten our darkness we beseech thee O Lord and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night for the love of thy onely Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen Scot. Lit. Then shall follow the prayer for the Kings Majesty with the rest of the Prayers at the end of the Letany to the Benediction Common Prayer 1 B. of Edw. 6. In the Feasts of Christmas the Epiphany St. Mathy Easter the Ascension Pentecost St. John Baptist. St. James St. Bartholomew St. Matthew St. Simon and Jude St. Andrew and Trinity Sunday shall be sung or said immediately after Benedictus this confession of our Christian faith Scot. Lit. the Presbyter and all the people standing In the Feasts of Christmas the Epiphany Easter Ascension Penrecost and upon Trinity Sunday shall be sung or said immediately after Benedictus this confession of our Christian faith WHosoever will be saved before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholick faith Which faith except every one do keep holy and undefiled without doubt he shall perish everlastingly And the Catholick faith is this that we worship one God in trinity and Trinity in unity Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance For there is one person of the Father another of the Son and another of the holy Ghost But the Godhead of the Father of the Son and of the holy Ghost is all one the glory equal the majesty coeternal Such as the Father is such is the Son and such is the holy Ghost The Father uncreate the Son uncreate and the holy Ghost uncreate The Father incomprehensible the son incomprehensible and the holy Ghost incomprehensible The Father eternal the son eternal and the holy Ghost eternal And yet they are not three eternals but one eternal As also there be not three incomprehensibles not three uncreated but one uncreated and one incomprehensible So likewise the Father is almighty the son almighty and the Holy Ghost almighty And yet they are not three almighties but one almighty So the Father is God the son is God and the holy Ghost is God And yet are they not three Gods but one God So likewise the father is Lord the son Lord the holy ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords but one Lord. For like as we be compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every person by himself to be God and Lord So are we forbidden by the Catholick Religion to say there be three Gods or three Lords The Father is made of none neither created nor begotten The son is of the Father alone not made nor created but begotten The holy Ghost is of the father and of the son neither made nor created nor begotten but proceeding So there is one father not three fathers one son not three sons one holy Ghost not three holy Ghosts And in this Trinity none is afore or after other none is greater or lesse then other But the whole three persons be coeternal together and coequal So that in all things as is aforesaid the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinitie Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also beleeve rightly in the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right faith is that we beleeve and confesse that our Lord Jesus Christ the son of God is God and man God of the substance of the father begotten before the worlds and man of the substance of his mother born in the world Perfect God and perfect man of a
Lord is risen and the other answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he is risen indeed and in the now Greek Church some memorial of that custom remaines in their solemn hymn beginning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ is risen from the dead triumphing over and trampling one death with another Easter Munday and Tuesday All this week which we call Easter week was anciently kept holy but above others these two dayes were of highest remark so that Artificers who made bold with the other four did not exercise their Mechanical crafts upon either of these as Theodorus Balsamon noteth therefore Gregorius Thaumatergus stileth the Easter Festivals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the three holy-dayes ordained by the Church St. Augustine also mentions terâ—ium Festi diem the third day of the Feast and to ascend higher St. Cyprian in all probability meant no lesse where he spake of prima solemnia Paschae the first solemn dayes of Easter In some particulars the whole interval betwixt Easter and Pentechost was honoured with an esteem adaequate to the Lords-Day and the principal of them Easter it self That is in not fasting and Praying standing I shall only content my self with urging two of very many Authorities For the Western Church Tertullian Die dominico jejunium nefas ducimus vel de geniculis adornare Eadem immunitate à die Paschae in Pentechosten usque gaudiamus we count it a great offence either to Fast or kneel at Prayer on the Lords-Day And the same custom do we observe from Easter to Pentechost for the East The Councel of Nice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the holy Synod decreeth that on the Lords day and from Easter to Pentechost Prayers be made standing where also learned men suppose an interdict from fasting also to be implied The ground of this practise was the suddain transition of the Church from one contrary Passion to another that is from grief to joy which operated contrary motions in the body All Lent-long Lords dayes excepted not onely the Penitents which were under the Churches censures but the very faithful themselves were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cast upon their knees as in a state of humiliation But the Resurrection day the day of Jubile once come the visage of the Church was changed and nothing to be seen but what signified excesse of joy St. Basil no man better unfolds the mystery 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By our kneeling and rising upright we signifie that we are cast down to the earth by our sins and that we are raised again to heaven by the Clemency of our maker So that the posture of standing was not onely a ceremony significant of our Saviours Resurrection but also an embleme of the Churches rising with him which was most graphically described in their stationary mode which Tertullian represents thus in coelum suspicientes manibus expansis Looking up to heaven with their armes extended at length St. Chrysostom more fully and like what I formerly observed out of Clemens Alexandrinus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. I have known my self many men almost elevated quite from the earth stretching out their hands as wide as possibly they could and as if they were male-contents that they could not fly even up to heaven and in that posture of ardent devotion to behave them selves at Prayer First Sunday after Easter This Sunday had several appellations in Antiquity the Latines called it Dominica in Albis in relation to the white vestments of the Neophytes or new-made Christians But why in Albis and not rather post Albas the Sunday after white vestments as Alcuin more truely calleth it considering that they deposited and laid aside those whites upon the Eve of this day called clausum Paschae the close of Easter as the same Alcuin testifieth elsewhere and is comfirmed by St. Augustine Paschalis solemnitas hodierna festivitate concluditur ideo Neophytorum habitus mutatur The Paschal solemnity is this day speaking of the Easter Octave determined and therefore the new Christians change their habits this day The Greek called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the reason is given by Gregory Nazianzen because it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the birthday of that salvation which had its commencement the Sunday before By us it is vulgarly called Low-Sunday probably as our Rationilist hath observed as it succeeds and stands in relation to Easter-day which was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an high day The fift Sunday after Easter This Sunday is called Rogation Sunday because it precedeth the three dayes of Rogation before Ascension day These three fast-dayes were first instituted by Mamercus Bishop of Vienna upon occasion of a great earth-quake and incursion of wolves and wilde beasts to the extream tetrour of the people He knowing no better expedient to divert so severe a chastisment then fasting and humiliation ordered these dayes for that intent and contrived a Litany apt and sutable for such humble addresses This pious course taking good effect succeeding times continued that Fast in their Anniversary practise so as the Councel of Aurelia established it by a decree Which custom having had so long footing in the Church our Reformers were loth to be singular in rescinding it and the rather because she observed it fell casually and beyond its first intention upon such a season as might be very agreable to the service of those dayes For this being that critical time of the year when all the fruits of the earth are in greatest hazard of miscarrying by frosts and unseasonable weather it is therefore exceeding proper to supplicate God for the withholding of his judgments and to implore his blessing upon the labours of the husband-man And although our Liturgy hath no set office yet hath our Church set homilies for it And in the injunctions Anno 1559. and Advertisments Anno 7. Eliz. it was ordered that in the Rogation dayes of procession the Curat sing or say in English the two Psalms beginning Benedic Anima mea c. with the Litany and Suffrages thereunto belonging Ascension Day I do not meet in any of the Fathers before St. Augustines time mention of this as of an Holy day yet doubtless it was of as ancient standing as the other four Dominical Days for Augustine reckons it amongst those days which toto terrarum orbe observantur now observed all over the world and which are supposed to have been instituted by the Apostles themselves or General Councels A little after St. Augustine Proclus Arch-Bishop of Constantinople enumerating the five grand Festivals maketh this the 4th 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The fourth saith he declares the ascent into Heaven of him who was our first fruit And after all addes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These are the solemnities which the Lord hath made Now to take off the wonder why there is so little news of it before St. Augustine it must be considered that anciently all the interim
Church at the end of this commemoration there was added a clause of Invocation to God That he would receive the Prayers of the Church by the intercession of those blessed Souls departed as Cyril tells us in the place before quoted and this is the first notice given of the Intercession of Saints in any Liturgy or publick Service and all this time not a syllable of Invocation of or address to them Yea St. Augustine who lived much about the same time is express to the contrary assuring us that though those holy men suo loco ordine nominantur non tamen a sacerdote qui sacrificat invocantur are named in their proper course and order in the Communion Service yet are they not invocated or prayed to by the Priest who officiateth This passage of this Father informing us that those Saints departed were named in their course and order leads us to the other Dyptick-Roll which was a Nomenclator framed on purpose as a dictamen for the officiating Priest some resemblance whereof is still extant in the Canon of the Mass called by Ritualists Litania Sanctorum nominum The Litany of the Saints names This nominal recital Walfridus Strabo saith came into practice soon after St. Jerome had composed his Martyrology General Intercession being thus admitted as what could hinder it into the Church the next step was that of singular Saints for single persons and occasions yet this not all at once neither for before any other were thought qualifi'd for the purpose the Virgin Mary was enstalled a Mediatrix and she call'd into ayd in several Prayers of the Church which Nicephorus ascribeth to Petrus Gnapheus as the first Author thereof about the year 500. She once thus admitted did not onely her self keep possession to the very almost justling out of her Son and Saviour but did let in all the train of the blessed Apostles Martyrs and others who by Pope Gregory about Anno 600. were dis-honored with an Ora pro nobis in that his otherwise gallant model of the Litany We commend unto thy mercy all other thy Servants The Commemorations of the dead Epiphanius divideth into two ranks or Classes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Just-men and Sinners understanding thereby less perfect Christians The order of the Just was that of the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Evangelists Martyrs and Confessors mentioned before these were supposed directly to go to Heaven without calling in at Purgatory or any other withdrawing room and therefore thought it a vanity to pray for such who were conceived already arrived at a perfect state of bliss nay more then a vanity a wrong Injuriam facit Martyri qui orat pro Martyre he doth injure the Martyr who prayeth for him The other Classis that of Sinners were conceived by the Antients to be disposed of in some base Court as I may so say or inferiour appurtenance of heaven which for want of a better name they called Paradise there they conceived these souls did abide whilst they were in mora resurrectionis expecting the general Resurrection did pant and thirst for the beatifical vision of God and for these they prayed that God would give them some comfortable refreshment to slack that thirst This is the uttermost of their opinion fo far as their own records informes us and this scarce came to opinion neither not a man of them for the first five hundred years delivering himself positively but very staggeringly touching this point This and the former commemoration our second Reformers very judiciously omitted being loth to retain any thing liable to so just exceptions This prayer according to the primitive mode was made after the later consecration For the Sacramental elements were twice consecrated First when they were in the general masse of all oblations which were consecrated at large by thansgiving to God for all those benefits and invocation of his blessing upon them as they were provided for bodily refreshment and again when they were separated from the residue and by a particular Benediction deputed for the Symboles of the Eucharist which being thus consecrated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Cyril we invocate God over that propitiatory host for the Common peace c. and what he calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we entreat others usually say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we offer unto thee All intending thereby that they offered up their Prayers to God for those particulars by and through the intercession of Jesus Christ represented in the signes of that holy mystery certainly an edifying and innocent rite But the Church of Rome foysting in under the disguise of this excellent custome private Masses and in them a pretence of Christ really not mystically sacrificed and that sacrifice applied and determined to the souls of such persons as the Priest shall by his memento's limit Our Reformers endeavouring to a-move all occasion of abetting that wicked practise transposed and inverted the Order of this prayer to the Place you see CHAP. VII THE COMMUNION Then shall follow this exhortation at certain times when the Curate shall see the people negligent to come to the holy Communion WE be come together at this time dearly beloved brethren to feed at the Lords supper unto the which in Gods behalf I bid you all that be here present and beseech you for the Lord Jesus Christs sake that ye will not refuse to come thereto being so lovingly called and biddeâ— of God himself Ye know how grievous and unkinde a thing it is when a man hath prepared a rich feast decked his table with all kinde of provision so that there lacketh nothing but the guests to sit down and yet they which be called without any cause most unthankfuly refuse to come Which of you in such a case would not be moved Who would not think a great injury and wrong done unto him Wherefore most dearly beloved in Christ take ye good hâ—ed lest ye withdrawing your selves from this holy supper provoke Gods indignation against you It is an easie matter for a man to say I will not communicate because I am otherwise letted with worldly businesse but such excuses be not so easily accepted and allowed before God It any man say I am a grâ—evous sinner and therefore am afraid to come Wherefore then do you not repent and amend When God calleth you be you not ashamed to say you will not come When you should return to God will you excuse your self and say that you be not ready Consider earnestly with your selves how little such feigned excuses shall avail before God They that refused the feast in the Gospel because they had bought a farm or would try their yokes of Oreâ— or because they were married were not so excused but counted unworthy of the heavenly feast I for my part am here present and according to mine office I bid you in the name of God I call you in Christs behalf I exhort you as you love your own salvation that ye will be
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because the understandings of ihose who are chatcchised antecedent to it are enlightened Secondly because it is our first entrance into Christianity for as many as are baptised into Christ do put on Christ Gal. 2. v. 27. And Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that supereminent light which lighteneth every man that cometh into the world those especially which are born again by Baptisme he being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same to the intellect that the sun is to the sense Thirdly because Satan the Prince of darknesse was then usually by exorcisme driven out of the party baptized to make room for Christ for as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the egresse of vice is virtues ingresse So the expelling of Satan is the admittance of Christ. Now all such as were Idolaters and worshipt false gods were supposed to be under the dominion of Satan and in a qualified sense as energumeni possest with unclean spirits and therefore it was expedient thought they should be dispossest by Exorcism 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rather as Clemens Alexandrinus more correctly omitting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Before we believed in the true God the Tabernacles of our hearts were impure and weak in truth the very habitation of devils saith Barnabas Much to the same purpose St. Augustine Exorcizatus es ut a potestate erutus tenebrarum transferreris in regnum Christi Therefore art thou exorcised that thou maist be translated from the power of darkness into the Kingdom of Christ Again as Satan by this matriculation and admission into the pale of Christs Church was expelled so was he by excommunication let in again such as lost their interest in that holy Society either through Doctrinal or Moral Apostacy being said to be delivered up to Satan Why it is called the Laver of Regeneration may seem a great Question Mr. Selden and Dr. Hamond build the whole fabrick of Baptism on the customary Baptism among the Jews as upon a Basis. This Jewish Baptism they make parallel with that of Christians in three particulars First it was say they a rite of initiating both Originall natural Jews and Proselites in the Covenant so is ours a Ceremony of admission into Christianity Secondly It was never to be iterated so is ours Thirdly That the Jews had their Triumviri which did promise and profess for Infants and we have our Sponsores answering them Now all this admitted for truth speaks pertinently to the Laver not so fully to the regeneration as something else whereof I shall take notice by and by I say this admitted for truth whereof just doubt may be made My reason is because the authorities these learned men rest upon are onely the Talmud and Talmudical Doctors But the eldest of the Talmuds being accounted near five hundred years junior to our Saviours birth and the other above and both being stuft with matters so palpably fabulous as Josephus in the account of a learned Bishop is preferred before them all these things considered and withall that in Josephus there is not the least sillable taking notice of any such Baptism which so faithfull an Historian would certainly not have omitted had it existed in his time As also that as profound a silence is there in his contemporary Philo who hath so often and unavoidable occasion to mention it Now these two eminent Authors Jews both and of the same Saeculum with our Saviour standing thus mute in a matter of so univetsall practice as is pretended and so considerable remarque make it a very disputable case whether there was any such custom in our Saviour's time And though for matter of fact it be urged by those Learned men that it was so commonly taken notice of among the Jews that John 3. v. 10. Christ wonders at Nicodemus his ignorance that he understood it not To this it may be replied that Christ might well enough wonder at Nicodemus his ignorance without the hypothesis or supposition of any such rite considering that the Prophets Isajah Jeremiah and Ezekiel had declared what regeneration there should be in the daies of the Messias whereof so great a Doctor as Nicodemus should not have been ignorant This with the famous Grotius I take to be the meaning of Christ's Expostulation But prove the custom as it may or as they would have it that there really was such a custom amongst the Jews yet may it still be questioned whether Baptism were founded upon it by our Saviour in its primary institution Not that I doubt of his accomodation of his own practice to several usages of theirs But because I perceive the Learned Doctor acknowledgeth the Jewish custom it self to be founded upon another viz. that of washing of New-born babes Now if the Jewish custom was but derivative from that why might not our Saviour resort in this particular consideration to the fountain it self rather than follow a transcript of it especially considering that the Original Example would better sute his purpose than the after draught And to that custom of washing New-born babes Mr. Mead another very Learned man hath applied it Indeed the Analogy and conformity between Christian Baptism and that custom is more concinne and proper both in relation to the Laver and also to Regeneration In relation to the Laver because as the Laver or elemental water doth wash away and clense our bodies of filth contracted so doth the Mystical washing of the Holy Ghost purg our souls from all former pollution In relation to Regeneration for as it is at our Generation so is it in our Regeneration At our Generation or Birth when we were born men we were washed so are we when we are born Christians and washed from a pollution exactly agreeable also When we were born we were washed from the pollution we contracted from our Parents wombe when we are new-born we are washed by Baptism from that Original sin which is derived to us from our first Parents 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Our new birth by Baptism doth cut off that film of corruption we contract form our natural birth Nazianzen So that the case is clear as we are washed at our natural birth so are we at our spiritual In the first there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the putting of the filth of the flesh 1 Pet. 3. 21. So is there in the second 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the laying off the Old man Ephes. 4. 22. And a total clensing of the soul from all impurity contracted and derived from him And though this Analogy proceedeth most regularly in the Baptizing of Infants who are onely charged with onely Original sin yet doth it hold also in persons adult whom our Saviour directs the same way to heaven viz. by becomming as little children that is by purging our souls from the stain of actual transgressions and making our selues thereby as innocent as those tender babes and this is done by another Laver of Regeneration
O praise the Lord all ye nations laud him all ye people for his merciful kindnesse is confirmed towards us and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever Glory be to the Father c. Lord have mercy upon us without any more repetition Omitted by Bucer Christ have mercy upon us  Lord have mercy upon us  The Priest Omitted by Bucer The Lord be with you  Answer  And with thy Spirit   Mm Common-prayer The Colect 1 B. of Edw. 6. Let us pray ALmighty everliving God maker of mankinde which doest correct those whom thou doest love and chastisest every one whom thou doest receive we beseech thee to have mercy upon this thy servant visited with thy hand and to 〈◊〉 he may take his sicknesse patiently and recover his bodily health if it be thy gratious will and whensoever his soul shall depart from the body it may without spot be presented unto thee through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Epistle MY son despise not the correction of the Lord neither faint thou when thou art rebuked of him for whom the Lord loveth him he correcteth yea and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth The Gospel VErily verily I say unto you he that heareth my word and beleeveth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come unto damnation but he passeth from death unto life 1 B. of Edw. 6. The Preface The Lord be with you Answer And with thy spirit Lift up your hearts c. unto the end of the Canon Common-Prayer At the time of the distribution of the holy Sacrament the Priest shall first receive the Communion himself and after minister to them that be appointed to communicate with the sick 1 B. of Edw. 6. if there be any and then to the sick person and the sick person shall alwayes desire some either of his own house or else of his neighbours to receive the holy Communion with him for that shall be to him a singular great comfort and of their part a great token of charity And if there be moe sick persons to be visited the same day that the Curate doth celebrate in any sick mans house then shall the Curate there reserve so much of the Sacrament of the Body and blood as shall serve the other sick persons and such as be appointed to Communicate with them if there be any And shall immediatly carry it and minister it unto them But if any man either by reason of extremity of sicknese or for lack of warning in due time to the X Curate or for lack of company to receive with him or by any other just impediment do not receive the Sacrament of Christs body and blood then the Curate shall instruct him that if he do truely repent him of his sins and stedfastly beleeve that Jesus Christ hath suffered death upon the crosse for him and shed his blood for his redemption earnestly remembring the benefits he hath thereby and giving him hearty thanks therefore he doth eat and drink the body and blood of our Saviour Christ profitable to his souls health although he do not receive the Sacrament with his mouth Common Prayer 1 B. of Edw. 6. When the sick person is visited and receiveth the holy Communion all at one time then the Minister for more expidition shall cut of the form of the visitation at the Psalm In thee O Lord have I put my trust and go streight to the Communion When the sick person is visited and receiveth the holy Communion all at one time then the Priest for more expedition shall use this order at the visitation The Anthem Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Our Father which art in heaven c. And lead us not into temptation Answer But deliver us from evil Amen Let us pray O Lord Look down from heaven c. With the first part of the exhortation and all other things unto the Psalm In thee O Lord have I put my trust c. And if the sick person desire to be anointed then shall the Priest use the appointed prayer without any Psalm Common Prayer In the time of plage sweat or such other like contagious times of sicknesses or diseases when none of the Parish or neighbors can be gotten to Communicate with the sick in their houses for â—eaâ— of the infection upon special request of the diseased the Minister may aloâ—â— Communicate with him The order for the burial of the dead Y The Minister meeting the Corps at the Church stile shall say Or else the Ministers and Clarks shall sing And so go either unto the Church or toward the grave Z I Am the resurrection and the life saith the Lord He that beleeveth in me yea though he were dead yet shall he live And whosoever liveth and beleeveth in me shall not die for ever I Know that my redeemer liveth and that I shall rise out of the â—arth in the last day and shall be covered again with my skin 〈◊〉 shall see God in my flesh yea and I my self shall be hold him not with other but with these same eyes WE brought nothing into this world neither may we carry anything out of this world The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away Even as it pleaseth the Lord so cometh things to passe Blessed he the name of the Lord. When they come at the grave whiles the corps is made ready to be laid into the earth the Minister shall say or the Minister and Clerks shall sing MAn that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live and is full of misesery he cometh up and is cut down like a flour He fleeth as it were a shadow and never continueth in one stay In the midst of life we be in death Of whom may we seek for succor but of thee O Lord which for our sins justly are displeased Yet O Lord God most holy O Lord most mighty O holy and most merciful Saviour deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death Thou knowest Lord the secrets of our hearts shut not up thy merciful eyes to our prayers But spare us Lord most holy O God most mighty O holy and merciful Saviour thou most worthy Judge eternal suffer us not at our last hour for any pains of death to fall from thee Common Prayer 1 B. of Edw. 6. Then while the earth shall be cast upon the body by some standing by the Minister shall say Then the Priest casting earth upon the Corps shall say Forasmuch as it hath pleased almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himselfthe soulof our dear brother here departed we therefore commit his body to the ground earth to earth ashes to ashes dust to dust Z in sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile Body that it may be like to his glorious Body according to the
whereof the Communion bare its part is called in Novella Leonis 112. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Connubial Initiation In order to this Communion I conceive it is that the Office is restreined to the forenoon which in ancient times was performed in the evening for which service lights and torches were part of the solemnity as Learned Grotius hath noted Confess I do that between the Customary excess of riot and licentious dissoluteness frequently attending Nuptial solemnities and this most dreadful Mystery there seemes to be impar congressus a mis-becoming greeting that they are of very different complexions and suit not well together Yet why should the Church in her most solemn and decent establishment give place to or be justled out by accessary abuses Why not rather the abuses themselves reformed so far as they stand separate from the rules of sobriety and Religion Such I am certain was the discipline of the Antient Fathers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is not fit that Christians at weddings should use Balls and Dancing but to dine or sup temperately as becometh Christians The Order of the visitation of the sick The Method and Essentials of this Order is derived from St. James who directeth that in case of sicknesse the Presbyters should be sent for the intention of our Church is that they should come both sent for and unsent for and so was Polycharpus his Order 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the Presbyters visit all such persons A duty of all most necessary at that time when both body and soul cry aloud for help and present help too or both must perish everlastingly The Minister must help to ransack all the sluts-corners of his patients soul to search narrowly into all his sins which unrepented of defile and pollute that consecrated Temple of the Holy Ghost help him he must by making spiritual applications of exhortation reproof consolation congruous with and suitable to his particular necessities and no time fitter for those applications than this when the carnal lusts and unruly passions languishing with the body they have all advantages for operation upon the soul. Then the Minister shall rehearse the Articles of his Faith It is an excellent saying of St. Augustine Male vivitur si de Deo non recte creditur We live ill yea and dye so too if of God we believe amiss Against male-fidians as well as against nulli-fidians and soâ—i-fidians Heaven gates are certainly kept close barred A most sad speculation it is to cast a reflex upon many myriads of men in their exterior morals very splendid which pass away into eâ—ernity and miscarry for default of a true belief in the main fundamentals of their salvation Whether he be in Charity There is not any duty more enforced in the Gospel than that of Brotherly reconciliation Christs aphorism enforceth it If you forgive not men their trespasses no more will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses Where mercy and forgiveness are made the condition annext to Gods pardoning our sins Again Christ whose followers we must be his practice enforceth it Father forgive them Luke the 23. 34. So he to his very Persecuters and to Steven Lord lay not this sin to their charge what were his last and dying words should properly be ours Lastly The Parable of that servus nequam that unjust and implacable servant enforceth it his doom it was and will certainly be ours to be delivered to the tormenters the Devil and his Angels unless we totally and cordially forgive all that have wronged us The Minister may not forget c. Charity stands upon two legs forgiving and giving the Church having endeavoured by her Minister to raise the first part of this grace in the sick persons comes now to the second shewing mercy and compassion to the poor This is called doing good and they in whom this grace hath abounded are said to be Rich in good works 1 Tim. 6. 17. And the better to excite worldlings to it it is called laying up in store If then our deeds of Charity to the Poor are our goods works and good works are our only moveables which shall follow us to another world no time more seasonable for them than sickness when we are packing up to be gone Confession and Absolution Here the Church approveth of though she doth not command Auricular confession Many times poor soules lye labouring under the pangs of an horrid reflex upon the number or greatness of their sins and the dreadful wrath of God deservedly expected for them In this case no remedy comparable to an humble and sincere confession at large common to all and sometimes restreined to some one particular predominant sin of whose pressure he finds the greatest weight upon which confession mixt with a vehement and earnest plying the Throne of God for mercy it becomes the Minister instantly to interpose to lay before him the inexhaustible treasure of Gods infinite mercies to assure him of his interest therein and upon the hypothesis of his contrition to be serious and unfeigned to give him Absolution Not that at the moment of such Absolution and not before the sinners pardon is sealed in Heaven which is done at the very first minute of his repentance if to the great Critick of hearts as he calls himself the All-seeing God it appeareth cordial but that that Pardon be evidenced to him and manifested by unspeakable comforts usually flowing into a disconsolate soul upon the pronouncing of such Absolution God thereby countenancing and giving reputation both to his word and Ministery But there being two Absolutions mentioned in the former Offices one at Morning Prayer and the other in the Communion service it may be demanded why only this is in the first person I absolve thee The answer is there are three Opinions concerning Absolution The first entertained by a few conceive it Optative precarious or by petition only as praying for the pardon of the sins of the Penitent The second think it Declaratory only that is pronouncing the Penitent absolved by applying Gods promises to the signs of his contâ—ition Lastly some contend that it is Authoritative as deriving power and commission from God not to declare the party absolved but for the Priest to do it in words denoting the first Person All these three opinions our Church seemeth in part to favour the first under these words Almighty God have mercy on you pardon and deliver â—ou c. Absolution for the Communion The second under these words Hath given charge and command to his Ministers to declare and pronounce to his people being Penitent the Absolution and Remission of their sins The last by these words I absolve thee Which Authoritative Absolution is rather proper here because where the Priest absolves in his own person his Absolution is not fitly applicable to any but such as have given him evident tokens of hearty sorrow for their sins such as Divine chastisements usually causeth Extendible it is