of Christ and his triumphant Ascension For God Almighty did so direct the mind of the Prophets that that which was spoken by them of other persons and actions is oft-times more exactly fulfilled in and by Christ. Osee 11. 1. Out of Egypt have I called my Son was there spoken of the deliverance of the people of Israel out of Egypt fulfilled in Christ S. Matth 2. 15. What David sayes of himself I will open my mouth in a payable was fulfilled by Christ S. Matth. 13. 35. The 72. Psalm was written for Solomon as the title shews but more exactly fulfilled of Christ. Davids complaint or his own nâ—sery Psal. 35. 19. verified in Christ. S. Iohn 15 25. Nay more which is worth our observation some things David speaâ—s of himself which do not agree to him but in a figure which agree to Christ in the letter as They parted my garments among them and cast lots upon my vesture Psalm 22. 17 18. Nay in the same Psalm and sometimes in the same verse some words will not agree to Christ as Psal. 69. 5. My faults are not hid from thee These cannot be spoken of Christ who knew no sin Some words again most properly belong to Christ as verse 22. They gave me gall to eat and when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink Thus holy Church hath in the Lessons and Gospel preached to us the Ascension of Christ in the type and antitype In the Epistle she teaches us our duty not to stand gazing up to Heaven wondring at the strangeness of the sight but to take heed to demean our selves so as that we may with comfort behold him at his second coming his coming to judgment Act. 1. 11. Why stand ye gazing up into heaven there is other business to be done fit your selves for another coming for this same Iesus which was taken up from you into heaven shall so come even as ye have seen him go into heaven In the Collect we are taught to pray that we as far as may be may conform to our Lord in his Ascension that like as we believe him to have ascended into the Heavens so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend and with him continually dwell In the special Psal. and Hymn we adore and bless God for our Saviours glorious Ascension It is pleasant to behold the rare beauty of the Churches offices as on others so on this day how each part suits the other The Gospel to the Lessons the Epistle to the Gospel the Collect and Psalms and Hymns all fitted to the same and all to the day For the Antiquity of this day See S. Aug. Epist. 118. cited upon Easter day Epiphanâ— and Chrys. upon the day Sunday after Ascen This is called Expectationsweek for now the Apostles were earnestly expecting the fulfilling of that promise of our Lord. If I go away I will send the Comforter to you S. Iohn 16. 7. The Epistle exhorts to earnest prayer for the Comforter promised in the Gospel which the Church performs in the Collect. WHIT SVNDAY THis day the HOLY GHOST came down from heaven upon his Church as the Epistle tells according to the promise of the Gospel As in a long war it happens when the war is ended and peace concluded Pledges and Hostages are mutually sent both as tokens of and securities for the mutual agreement and peace so was it betwixt God and Man After our Lord Jesus had ended the long war betwixt God and Man and finished the reconciliation he sent up or rather he carried up himself our Hostage our flesh and nature ennobled by the union with his Divine Person as a royal pledge to his Father on the other side God sent this day his royal Hostage his holy Spirit a security for our future peace 1. S. Iohn 4. 12 13. Chrys. Hom. 1. in Pentecost Edit Savil. tom 5. The Devil had taken us captive our Lord Christ undertakes the quarrel his death was his battel but then he seem'd to be overcome but up he got again at his Resurrection that was his victory his Ascension was his triumph and as the ancient custome was for Conquerours to scatter gifts amongst the beholders especially on the last and great day of the triumph so does our Lord in this last day of the Feast the Conclusion of his triumph he doth as it were make the Conduits run with Wine he poured out his Spirit so upon all flesh that some mockers said they were full of new wine Acts 2. 12. He casts abroad his new wine new gifts and graces of the world giving to some the word of wisdome to others the gift of knowledge to others faith to others the gift of healing to others the working of miracles to others prophesie to others discerning of spirits to others divers kinds of tongue to others the interpretations of tongues all these worketh one and the same spirit the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12. 4. whom the Lord Christ as he promised sent down this day with these gifts in honour of whom and his gifts we keep this day holy This time was also appointed of old for solemn baptism The reason was 1. Because this day the Apostles were baptized with the holy Ghost and fire Acts 2. 3. 2. Because this day three thousand were baptized by the Apostle Acts 2. 40. In memory of which the Church ever after held a solemn custome of baptizing at this Feast Gratian. de Consec Dis. 3. c. 13. This day is called Pentecost because it is fifty days betwixt the true Passeover and Whitsunday As there were fifty days from the Jews Passeover to the giving of the Law to Moses in Mount Sina which Law was written with the finger of God for from the 14. day of the first month the day of the Passeover to the third day of the third month the day of the Laws giving Exod. 19. are fifty days so from the true Passeover which was celebrated when Christ was offered up for us are fifty days to this time when the Holy Ghost came down upon the Church to write the new Lawâ— of Charity in their hearts Upon this meditation S. Aug. breaks out thus Who would not prefer the joy and pleasure of these mysteries before all Empires of the world Do you not see that as the two Seraphins cry one to another holy holy holy Esay 6. 3. So the two Testaments Old and New faithfully agreeing convince the sacred truth of God S. Aug. Ep. 119. Note that we must not count the fifty days from the very day of the Passeover but from the Sunday following and so God directed the Jews Lev. 23. 15. speaking of their Pentecost or Feasts of Weeks And ye shall count from the morrow after the Sabbath from that day seven weeks shall be compleat It is also called Whitsunday from the glorious Light of Heaven which was then sent down upon the Earth from the Father of Lights so many tongues so many Lights which kindled such
styling the one Canonical the other Apocryphal As for the second Lessons the Church in them goes on in her ordinary course The HYMNS Te Deum c. AFter the Lessons are appointed Hymns The Church observing S. Pauls Rule Singing to the Lord in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs every way expressing her thanks to God The antiquity of Hymns in the Christian Church doth sufficiently appear by that of our Saviour S. Matth 26. When they had sung an Hymn they went out upon which place S. Chrys. sayes They sung an Hymn to teach us to do the like Concerning singing of Psalms and Hymns in the Church we have both the Precepts and Examples of Christ and his Apostles S. Aug. Ep. 119. S. Paul ordered it in the Church of Coloss. Singing to your selves in Psalms and Hymns Col. 3. Which we find presently after practised in the Church of Alexandria founded by S. Mark Eus. Hist l. 2. c. 17. where Philo reports that the Christians had in every place Monasteries wherein they sang Hymns to God in several kinds of Meeter and Verse S. Ambrose brought them into Millaine to ease the peoples sad minds and to keep them from weariness who were praying night and day for their persecuted Bishop and from hence came all Hymns almost to be called Ambrosiani because that by him they were spread over the Latin Church With the Morning and Evening Hymns God is delighted saies S. Hierome and Possidius in the life of S. Augustine tells us c. 28. that towards the time of his dissolution S. Augustine wept abundantly because he saw the Cities destroyed the Bishops and Priests sequestred the Churches prophaned the holy Service and Sacraments neglected either because few or none desired them or else because there were scarce any Priests left to administer to them that did desire them lastly because the Hymns and Lauds of God were lost out of the Church These Hymns are to be said or sung but most properly to be sung else they are not so strictly and truly called Hymns that is Songs of praise and not only by the Church of England but by all Christian Churches of old was it so practised and so holy David directs Psal. 47. 6. O sing praises sing praises unto our God O sing praises sing praises unto our King The profit of which singing Hymns is much many wayes especially in this that they inkindle an holy flame in the minds and affections of the hearers O how I wept sayes S. Aug. in the Hymns and holy Canticles being enforc'd thereunto by the sweet voices of thy Melodious Church by reason of the proneness of our affections to that which delights it pleas'd the wisdom of the Spirit to borrow from melody that pleasure which mingled with heavenly mysteries causes the smoothness and softness of that which touches the ear to conveigh as it were by stealth the treasure of good things into mens minds to this purpose were those harmonious tunes of Psalms devised And S. Basil. in Psal. By pleasing thus the affections and delighting the mind of man Musick makes the service of God more easie When we sing or say these Hymns we stand which is the proper posture for Thanksgivings and Lauds Psal. 134. Praise the Name of the Lord standing in the Courts of the Lord. And 2 Chron. 7. 6. The Priests waited on their office the Levites also with instruments of musick of the Lord which David the King had made to praise the Lord with the 136. Psalm because his mercy endureth for ever when David praised by their ministery and the Priest sounded Trumpets before them and all Israel STOOD The erection of the body fitly expresses the lifting up of the heart in joy whence it is that rejoycing in Scripture is called the lifting up of the head S. Luke 21. 28. Lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh So then joy being a lifting up of the soul and praise and Thanksgiving being effects of joy cannot be more fitly expressed then by erection and lifting up of the body Standing in the Courts of the Lord when we sing praise unto him After the Morning first Lesson follows Te Deum We praise thee O God or O all ye works of the Lord c. called Benedicite The first of which We praise thee O God c. was as is credibly reported framed miraculously by â— Ambrose and S. Augustine at his Baptism and hath been in much esteem in the Church ever since as it deserves being both a Creed containing all the mysteries of Faith and a most solemn Form of Thanksgiving Praise Adoration and what not and so hath that other Canticle O all ye works of the Lord in the which the whole Creation praises God together been received and esteemed universally in the Church Concil Toletan 4. c. 13. After the Second Lesson at Morning Prayer is appointed Blessed be the Lord God of Israel called Benedictus or O be Ioyful in the Lord called Iubilate After the Evening Lessons are appointed Magnificat or My soul doth magnifie the Lord and Nunc dimittis Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace or else two Psalms And very fitly doth the Church appoint sacred Hymns after Lessons For who is there that hearing God speak from Heaven to him for his fouls health can do less than rise up and praise him and what Hymns can be fitter to praise God with for our salvation than those which were the first gratulations wherewith our Saviour was entertained into the world And such are these Yet as fit as they are some have quarrell'd them especially at Magnificat My soul doth magnifie the Lord and Nunc dimittis or Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace The Objections are these That the first of these was the Virgin Maries Hymn for bearing Christ in her womb The latter old Simeons for seeing and holding in his arms the blessed Babe neither of which can be done by us now and therefore neither can we say properly these Hymns The answer may be that bearing Christ in the womb suckling him holding him in our arms is not so great a blessing as the laying up his holy word in our hearts S. Luke 11. 27. by which Christ is formed in us Gal. 4. 19. and so there is as much thanks to be returned to God for this as for that He that does the will of God taught in his word may as well say My soul doth magnifie the Lord as the holy Virgin for Christ is formed in him as well as in the Virgins womb S. Matth. 12. 50. Whosoever doth the will of my Father which is in heaven the same is my brother and sister and mother And why may not we after the reading of a part of the new Testament say Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace as well as old Simeon for in that Scripture by the eye of Faith we see that salvation which he then saw and more clearly reveal'd We have then
shalt return This gift went far beyond the loss Paradise was the place from which we fell but we were this day carried up to heaven and mansions are there provided for us Chrys. in diem Christ ascended up into heaven in the sight of his Disciples that they and we might assuredly believe that we should follow and not deem it impossible for us body and soul to be translated thither Cypr. in diem This day hath proper Lessons and Psalms The First Lesson at Morning Service is Deut. 10. Wherein is recorded Moses going up into the Mount to receive the Law from God to deliver it to the Jews a type of Christs ascension into Heaven to send down the new Law the Law of Faith For when he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men Apostles Evangelists Pastors and Teachers to publish the new Law to the world Ephes. 4. 8. The First Lesson at Even is 2 Kings 2. Wherein Elias his ascending into Heaven was a type of Christs Ascension but Christ went far beyond his type in many particulars Elias went up with a single Chariot but Christ was attended with thousands Psal. 68. 17. The Chariots of God are twenty thousand even thousands of Angels and the Lord ascending is among them Elias upon his ascension doubles his Spirit upon Elisha But Christ gave such an abundance of the holy Spirit to his Disciples upon his Ascension that they not only were filled with it themselves but it ran over upon others from them by laying on of hands they imparted it to others Acts 8. 17. We have no proper Second Lessons appointed but in Edw. 6. Liturgy were appointed S. Iohn 14. Ephes. 4. both very fit for the day Psalms for the Morâ— are 8. 15. 21. Psalms The 8. Psal. begins O Lord our Governour how excellent is thy name in all the world thou that hast set thy glory above the heavens This was fulfilled this day For this day he set his glory above the Heavens ascending from earthly humility to heavenly glory This made thy Name wonderful in all the world For hereby it appears that thou that didst before descend so low and wert for a time so vile reputed art greater than all Principalities and Powers in Heaven and Earth since some saw and all men now believe that thou didst ascend into Heaven whereby thou hast gotten A name above all names That at the Name of Iesus every knee should bow both of things in Hevven and earth Phil. 2. 9 10. Psal. 15. Who shall dwell in thy Tabernacle or who shall rest upon thy holy hill even he that hath clean hands c. shews both how just it was that Christ should ascend and rest upon the holy Hill the highest Heaven of which Mount Sion was a type for he of all others had clean hands and a pure heart and withal tells us the way which we must walk viz. the way of righteousness and holiness if we desire to follow Christ to heaven The 21. Psal. is to be understood of Christ. S. Aug. in loc Ver. 4. Thou gavest him a long life even for ever and ever his honour is great in thy salvation The raising him from death hath made his honour great and all the world to believe in him Glory and great worship shalt thou lay upon him by setting him at thy right hand in Heaven The rest of the Psalm is to the same purpose of Christs absolute triumph over his enemies which was this day fulfilled when he led captivity captive The Even Psalms are 24. 68. 108. Psalms The 24. was sung this day at Christs Ascension by a Quire of Angels some going before the Lord Christ knocking as it were at Heaven gates and singing Lift up your heads O ye gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in to whom other Angels in Heaven desirous to know who this King of glory was sing the next words Who is the King of glory The first Angels that waited upon our Lord in his Ascension answer The Lord strong and mighty even the Lord mighty in battel as ye may see by the prisoners that he leads captive in his triumph Therefore Lift up your heads O ye gates that never were yet opened to humane nature where never man yet entred S. Iohn 3. 13. Acts 2. 24. Heb. 10. 20. The other Angels as yet as it were amazed at the glory of the triumph ask again Who is the King of glory what Lord is it that is so mighty His heavenly Guard answer again The Lord of hosts he is the King of glory Theodor. in Psal. Then Heaven gates were opened and our dear Lord entred and took possession for us and prepared places for us S. Iohn 14. 2. The 68. Psal. at the 18. ver is by the Apostle applyed to the Ascension of Christ Ephes. 4. 8. Thou hast ascended up on high and led captivity captive It is not to be denied but that it may be applyed to others also for the Scripture is full of sense as to Moses For he from the bottom of the Red Sea went up to the top of Sinai leading with him the people of Israel that long had been captive to Pharaoh and there received gifts the Law the Priesthood but above all the Ark of the Covenant to be the pledge of Gods presence amongst them this is the literal sense This of Moses by analogy doth King David apply to himself to his going up to mount Sion and carrying up the Ark thither For all agree this Psalm was set upon that occasion The very beginning of it Let God arise shews as much the acclamation ever to be used at the Arks removing Num. 10. 35. This was done immediately upon his conquest of the Iohnsites whom he had taken captives what time for the honour of the solemnity he dealt gifts bread and wine to the people 1 Chron. 15. But in the prophetical sense this Psalm belongs to Christ to the Testimony of Iesus which is the Spirit of all prophesie Rev. 19. 10. For that was the greatest captivity that ever was led captive his the highest up-going higher than Sion or Sinai far that the most gracious and glorious triumph when Christ made a shew of Principalities and Powers of Hell triumphing over them in his own person Col. 2. 19. which was this days triumph Bishop Andrews Serm 7. in Pentecost In the 108. Psal. The Prophet awakes himself and his Instruments of Musick to give thanks to God among the people and among the Nations for setting himself above the heavens and his glory above all the earth which was most litterally fulfilled in his Ascension into Heaven and sitting down at the right hand of God It is true this Psalm is thought to be set upon another occasion viz. Gods promise of subduing the Ammonites and Idumeans under David for which he here vowes his best thanks yet for all this it may be and that principally meant
effectual as if God did pronounce it from Heaven So sayes the Confession of Saxony and Bohemia and so sayes the Augustan Confession and which is more so says S. Chrys. in his fifth Hom. upon Esay Heaven waits and expects the Priests sentence here on Earth the Lord follows the servant and what the servant rightly binds or looses here on Earth that the Lord confirms in Heaven The same sayes S. Gregory Hom. 26. upon the Gospels The Apostles and in them all Priests were made Gods Viâ—egerents here on earth in his Name and stead to retain or remit sins S. Augustine and Cyprian and generally Antiquity sayes the same so does our Church in many places particularly in the form Absolution for the sick but above all holy Scripture is clear S. Iohn 20. 23. Whosesoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them Which power of remitting sins was not to end with the Apostles but is a part of the Ministry of Reconciliation as necessary now as it was then and therefore to continue as long as the Ministery of Reconciliation that is to the end of the world Ep. 4. 12 13. When therefore the Priest absolves God absolves if we be truly penitent Now this remission of sins granted here to the Priest to which God hath promised a confirmation in heaven is not the act of Preaching or Baptizing or admitting men to the holy Communion For all these powers were given before this grant was made As you may see S. Mat. 10. 7. As ye go preach saying c. And S. Iohn 4. 2. Though Jesus baptized not but his disciples And 1 Cor. 11. In the same night that he was betrayed he instituted and delivered the Eucharist and gave his Apostles authority to do the like Do this that I have done bless the Elements and distribute them Which is plainly a power of admitting men to the holy Eucharist And all these powers were granted before our Saviours Resurrection But this power of remitting sins mentioned S. Iohnâ— 20. was not granted though promised S. Matt. 16. 19. till Now that is after the Resurrection As appears first by the ceremony of Breathing signifying that then it was given And secondly by the word Receive used in that place Verse 22. which he could not properly have used if they had been endued with this power before Therefore the power of Remitting which here God authorizes and promises certain assistance to is neither Preaching nor Baptizing but some other way of Remitting namely that which the Church calls Absolution And if it be so then to doubt of the effect of it supposing we be truly penitent and such as God will pardon is to question the truth of God and he that under pretence of reverence to God denies or despises this power does injury to God in slighting his Commission and is no better than a Novatian saies S. Ambrose l. 1. de Poenit. cap. 2. After the Priest hath pronounced the Absolution the Church seasonably prayes Wherefore we beseech him to grant us true repentance and his holy spirit c. For as repentance is a necessary disposition to pardon so as that neither God will nor man can absolve those that are impenitent So is it in some parts of it a necessary consequent of pardon and he that is pardoned ought still to repent as he that seeks a pardon Repentance say Divines out to be continual For whereas Repentance consists of three parts as the Church teaches us in the Commination 1. Contrition or lamenting of our sinful lives 2. Knowledging and confessing our sins 3. An endeavour to bring forth fruits worthy of penance which the Ancients call satisfaction Two of these Contrition and Satisfaction are requisite after pardon The remembrance of sin though pardoned must always be grievous to us For to be pleased with the remembrance of it would be sin to us and for Satisfaction or amendment of life and bringing forth fruits worthy of penance that is not only necessary after pardon but it is the more necessary because of pardon for divers reasons as first because immediately after pardon the Devil is most busie to tempt us to sin that we may thereby lose our pardon and he may so recover us again to his captivity from which by pardon we are freed And therefore in our Lords prayer assoon as we have begg'd pardon and prayed Forgive us our trespasses We are taught to pray And lead us not into temptation suffer us not to fall into sin again which very method holy Church here wisely intimates immediately after pardon pronounced directing us to pray for that part of repentance which consists in amendment of life and for the grace of Gods holy Spirit enabling us thereunto Again Repentance in this part of it viz. an endeavour of amendment of life is the more necessary upon pardon granted because the grace of pardon is a new obligation to live well and makes the sin of him that relapsed after pardon the greater and therefore the pardoned had need to pray for that part of repentance and the grace of Gods holy Spirit that both his present service and future life may please God that is that he may observe our Saviours rule given to him that was newly cured and pardoned by him that he may go away and sin no more lest a worse thing happen to â—im S. Iohn 5. 14. There be three several forms of Absolution in the Service The first is that which is used at Morning Prayer Almighty God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ c. And hath given power and commandment to his Ministers to declare and pronounce to his people being penitent the Absolution and Remission of their sins He pardoneth and Absolveth The second is used at the Visitation of the Sick Our Lord Iesus Christ who hath left power to his Church to absolve all sinners which truly repent of his great mercy forgive thée and by his Authority committed to me I absolve thée c. The Third is at the Communion Almighty God our heavenly Father who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn to him Have mercy upon you pardon and forgive you c. All these several Forms in sence and virtue are the same For as when a Prince hath granted a Commission to any servant of his to release out oâ— Prison all penitent offenders whatsoever it were all one in effect as to the Prisoners discharge whether this servant sayes by virtue of a Commission granted to me under the Princeâ— hand and seal which here I shew I release this prisoner Or thus The Prince who hath given me this Commission He pardons you Or lastly The Prince pardon and deliver you the Prince then standing by and confirming the word of his Servant So is it here all one as to the remission of sins in the penitent whether the Priest Absolves him after this form Almighty God who hath given me and all
the Father c. which is the Christians both Hymn and shorter Creed For what is the summ of the Christians faith but the mystery of the holy Trinity God the Father Son and Holy Ghost which neither Jew nor Pagan but only the Christian believes and in this Doxology professes against all Hereticks old and new and as it is a short Creed so it is also a most excel-Hymn for the glory of God is the end of our Creation and should be the aim of all our services whatsoever we do should be done to the glory of that God the Father Son and Holy Ghost and this is all that we can either either by word or deed give to God namely GLORY Therefore this Hymn fitly serves to close any of our Religious services our Praises Prayers Thanksgivings Confessions of Sins or Faith Since all these we do to Glorifie God it cannot be unfitting to close with Glory be to God the Father Son and Holy Ghost It cannot easily be expressed how useful this Divine Hymn is upon all occasions If God Almighty send us prosperity what can we better return him than Glory If he sends Adversity it still befits us to say Glory be to c. Whether we receive good or whether we receive evil at the hands of God we cannot say a better Grace than Glory be the Father c. In a word we cannot better begin the day when we awake nor conclude the day when we go to sleep than by Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost Then the Hallelujah or Praise ye the Lord of which S. Augustine sayes There is nothing that more soundly delights than the praise of God and a continual Hallelujah The VENITE O come let us sing unto the Lord. THis is an Invitatory Psalm For herein we do mutually invite and call upon one another being come before His presence to sing to the Lord to set forth His praises to hear His voice as with joy and chearfulness so with that reverence that becomes His infinite Majesty worshipping falling down and kneeling before Him using all humble behaviour in each part of His service and worship prescribed to us by His Church And needful it is that the Church should call upon us for this duty for most of us forget the Psalmists counsel Psal. 69. 7. To ascribe unto the Lord the honour due unto his Name into his Courts we come before the presence of the Lord of the whole Earth and forget to worship him in the beauty of holiness The PSALMS THe PSALMS follow which the Church appoints to be read over every Month oftner than any other part of holy Scripture So was it of old ordained saith S. Chrys. Hom. 6. de poenit All Christians exercise themselves in Davids Psalms oftner than in any other part of the Old or New Testament Moses the great Lawgiver that saw God face to face and wrote a Book of the Creation of the World is scarcâ— read over once a year The holy Gospels where the Miracles of Christ are preached where God converses with Man where Death is destroyed the Devils cast out the Lepers cleansed the blind restored to sight where the Thief is placed in Paradise and the Harlot made purer than the Stars where the waters of Iordan to the sanctification of Souls where is the food of immortality the holy Eucharist and the words of life holy precepts and precious promises those we read over once or twice a Week What shall I say oâ— blessed Paul Christs Oratour the Fisher of World who by his 14. Epistles those spiritual Nets hath caught Men to salvation who was wrapt into the third Heaven and heard and saw such Mysteries as are not to be uttered him we read twice in the week We get not his Epistles by heart but only attend to them while they are reading But for holy Davids Psalms the grace of the holy Spirit hath so ordered it that they should be said or sung night and day In the Churches Vigils the first the midst and the last are Davids Psalms in the Morning Davids Psalms are sought for and the first the midst and the last is David And Funeral Solemnities the first the midst and the last is David In private houses where the Virgins spin the first the midst and the last is David Many that know not a letter can say Davids Psalms by heart In the Monasteries the quires of Heavenly Hosts the first the midst and the last is David In the Deserts where Men that have crucified the world to themselvs converse with God the first the midst and the last is David In the Night when Men are asleep David awakes them up to sing and gathering the Servants of God into Angelical troops turns Earth into Heaven and makes Angels of Men singing Davids Psalms The holy Gospels and Epistles contain indeed the words of eternal life words by which we must be saved and therefore should be sweeter to us than Honey or the Honey-comb more precious than Gold yea than much fine Gold but they are not of so continual use as Davids Psalms which are digested forms of Prayers Thanksgivings Praises Confessions and Adorations fit for every temper and every time Here the penitent hath a form of confession he that hath received a benefit hath a Thanksgiving he that is in any kind of need bodily or ghostly hath a prayer all have Lauds and all may adore the several excellencies of Almighty God in Davids forms and these a Man may safely use being compos'd by the Spirit of God which cannot erre whereas other Books of Prayers and Devotions are for the most part compos'd by private men subject to error and mistake whose fancies sometimes wild ones are commended to us for matter of devotion and we may be taught to blaspheme while we intend to adore or at least to abuse our devotion when we approach to the throne of grace and offer up an unclean Beast instead of an holy Sacrifice May we not think that this amongst others hath been a cause of the decay of right and true devotion in these latter dayes namely the neglect of this excellent Book and preferring Mens fancies before it I deny not but that Collects and other parts of Devotion which the consentient Testimony and constant practice of the Church have commended to us may and especially the most divine Prayer of our LORD ought to be used by us in our private devotion but I would not have Davids Psalms disused but used frequently and made as they were by Athanasius and S. Ierome a great if not the greatest part of our private devotions which we may offer up to God as with more safety so with more confidence of acceptation being the inspiration of that holy Spirit of God who when we know not what to say helps our infirmities both with words and affections Rom. 8. 26. If any man thinks these Psalms too hard for him to understand and apply
called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 illumination and the baptized the Enlightened to grant them that be admitted into the fellowship of Christs religion namely by baptism that they may eschew those things that be contrary to their profession or vow in baptism c. Though this custome of general baptism at Easter be not in use now yet this Collect is still seasonable as a general anniversary Commemoration of the great blessings received from God by our baptism and our solemn vow and profession made to him therein The Ancients were wont to observe Pasâ—ha annotinum an anniversary commemoâ—ation of their baptism they that were baptized at Easter the year before came the year following the same day to the Church and solemnly with obâ—ations and other religious offices commemorated the anniversary day of their new birth Though our Church does not in every particular observe the same custome yet she draws near to the ancient practice in this solemn though general Anniversary Commemoration of baptism this day minding us all this day of our baptism and our vow made therein and praying to God to enable us all to keep it And for this very reason does she appoint children to be baptized upon Sundays and other Holy-days when most people are present that they may be put in remembrance of their own profession made to God in baptism Preface before Baptism and happy were it for us if we would made good use of this care of the Church and be often remembring that solemn vow by which we have dedicated our selves to God to be an holy people the wilful breach of which vow is horrid Sacriledge In the Gospel our Saviour tells his Disciples that though they should weep and lament by reason of his death their sorrow should be turned into joy which no man should take from them namely after his Resurrection And such joy belongs to this time and to us in it if we be also his true Disciples and followers which how we may be the Epistle shews by minding us of what we promised and vowed when admitted into Christs School and gave up our names to him the abstaining from fleshly lusts and having honest conversation in all our Relations And this is the main drift of the whole Epistle the first of S. Peter out of which this is taken to perswade them that were born again and lately become Christians to walk suitably to such an holy profession and that chiefly in regard of the lively hope unto which they were begotten again by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead and so is most agreeable to the Churches meditations this day and season 4. Sunday after Easter This Collect is fit for this Paschal time from Easter to Pentecost a time of greatest joy the Church therefore prays that we may rightly observe the time be full of joy in a joyful time withal that our joy may be a true and real joy that our hearts may surely there be fixt where true joyes are to be found Such joyes as Christs Resurrection and the promised Comforter affords And one or both of these two grand occasions of Joy and Exultation to wit Christs Resurrection and the promise of a Comforter are the principal Subject of the Gospels from Easter to Whitsuntide but lest our joy should grow presumptious and luxuriant as joy is apt to exceed the Epistles for the same time admonish us of duties answerable as to believe in Christ to rise from the grave of sin to be patient loving meek charitable c. having our Lord for an example and the promise of his Spirit for our guide strength and comfort 5. Sunday after Easter The Gospel before promised a Comforter The Epistle and Gospel this day direct us what to do to obtain that promise Two conditions are required on our parts for the receiving of that promised Comforter First prayers or Rogations this the Gospel teaches Ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full Secondly to love God and keep his Comandments S. Iohn 14. 15. This the Epistle exhorts to See that ye be doers of the Word c. The Collect prayes that we may feel the fruits and comforts of this holy Spirit in our hearts by good thoughts and abilities to perform them Of Rogation week This is called Rogation Sunday because upon the three following days Rogations and Litanies were used and Fasting for these two reasons 1. Because this time of the year the fruits of the earth are render and easily hurt therefore Litanies extraordinary are said to God to avert this judgement 2. Because our LORDS Ascension is the Thursday following therefore these three days before are to be spent in prayers and fasting Conc. Aurelian that so the flesh being tamed and the soul winged with fasting we may ascend with Christ. The Gospel is concerning Rogations teaching us how to ask of God so as we may obtain and withal foretels his approaching Ascension The Fast this week is voluntary for there is no Fast commanded betwixt Easter and Whitsunday as hath been observed before The Service formerly appointed in the Rogation days of Procession was the 103 and 104. Psal. with the Litany and Suffrages and the Homily of Thanksgiving Artic. Eliz. in the 7. year of her reign The 2. Psalms were to be said at convenient places in the common perambulation the people thus giving thanks to God in the beholding of Gods benefits the increase and abundance of his fruits upon the Earth At their return to the Church they were to say the rest of the Service mentioned Eliz. Injun 18 19. ASCENSION-Day THis day was Christs perfect triumph over the Devil Leading captivity captive Ephes. 4. 8. This day He opened the kingdom of Heaven to all believers as we say daily in the Te Deum See S. Iohn 3. 13. Acts 2. 24. Heb. 10. 23. His flesh opened that passage in that he deserved to enter there first For when he was taken up on high then he opened the Gates of Heaven Chrysost. upon that place of the Hebrews Therefore the Church appoints for this day the 24. Psalm Lift up your heads O ye gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in This day gives us hopes of Heaven in that our flesh in the first-fruits is thâ—ther ascended For if God had not intended some great good to our nature he would not have received the first-fruits up on high Christ taking the first-fruits of our nature this day carried it up to God and by those first-fruits hath made the whole stock to be sanctified And the Father highly esteemed the gift both for the worthiness of him that offered it up and for the purity of the offering so as to receive it with his own hands and to set it at his right hand To what Nature was it that God said Sit thou on my right hand To the same to which formerly he had said dust thou art and to dust thou
imitate the Heavenly singing this at the Sacrament of his Body which the Angels did at the Birth of his Body And good reason there is to sing this for Christs being made One with us in the Sacrament as for his being made One of us at his Birth And if ever we be fit to sing this Angels song it is then when we draw nearest to the estate of Angels namely at the receiving of the Sacrament After the receiving of the holy Sacrament we sing an Hymn in imitation of our Saviour who after his Supper sung an Hymn to teach us to do the like Chrys. Hom. 83. S. Matth. And when can a Psalm or Hymn of thanksgiving be more seasonable and necessary than after we have received this heavenly nourishment Is it possible to hear these words This is my Body take and eat it Drink ye all of this This is my Blood and not be filled as with a kind of fearful admiration so with a sea of joy and comfort for the Heaven which they see in themselves Can any man receive this Cup of Salvation and not praise and bless God with his utmost strength of soul and body The Ancients did express their joy at this time in the highest manner that they could Some were so ravished with joy that they immediately offered themselves to martyrdom impatient of being longer absent from their so gracious Lord unable to keep themselves from expressing their love to Christ by dying for him the highest expression of love All men then counted it a sin to fully the day of their receiving the Eucharist with any sorrow or fasting these days they called daies of mirth daies of remission daies of Immunity solemn days Festival daies This Angelical Hyman was made of old by Ecclesiastical Doctors and who refuses it let him be excommunicated Conc. Toleâ— 4. c. 4. The Hymn being ended we depart with a BLESSING Goar in Euch. pag. 154. tells us That of old when the Communion Service was ended and the Deacon had dismist the people they would not for all that depart till they had the Blessing by this Stay saying in effect the same to the Priest that Iacob did to the Angel We will not let thee go unless thou blessest us The Priest therefore departing from them as our Saviour from his Disciples with a Blessing but first he comes down from the Altar by this descending shewing his condescension to the people in affection as well as in Body and standing behind the Pulpit Retro Ambonem whence the Blessing was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the midst of the people in this also imitating our Saviour S. Iohn 20. 9. who there gave the Blesâ—ing or peace of God standing in the midst by the place shewing how equally he stood affected to all how he would have his Blessings spread upon all Of BAPTISM HOly Churches aim being in all her Services to make them Reasonable that according to S. Paul 1 Cor. 14. We may all joyn with her in her Offices both with our spirit and understanding she hath been careful not only to put them into a known tongue but also to instruct us in the nature of them making thus her Prayer-Book a sum of Divinity Therefore here in the beginning she instructs out of holy Scripture concerning the necessity and efficacy of Baptism as very briefly so very pithâ—ly and fully First laying down this for a rule That we are all born in sin as it is Rom. 5. 18 19. all guilty in Adams fall so the Catholick Church spread over the world always understood it CON. MILEVAN c. 2. and therefore by our first birth have no right to heaven into which no unclean thing shall enter Ephes. 5. 5. Secondly that therefore there is need of a second birth to give us right to that as it is S. Iohn 3. 3. Except a man be born again he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Thirdly that this second or new birth is by Water and the Holy Ghost S. Iohn 3 5. Except a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost he cannot enter into the kingdom of God By Water and the Holy Ghost is there meant holy Baptism For first this is the most literal interpretation of the words for what is Baptism but Water and the Holy Ghost and therefore the best for that is certainly the sense of the Holy Ghost who as we all believe was the Author of the letter of the Scriptures and therefore of the literal sense where that is not contrary to but agreeable with the other Scriptures Now this literal sense given is agreeable to other texts as namely to Acts 8. 38. and 10. 47. Where Water is declared to be the element of Baptism And expresly again Ephes. 5. 26. Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water And as this is the most literal so is it the most Catholick interpretation of the words and therefore also the best by S. Peters rule 2 S. Pet. 1. 20. Knowing this first that no prophesie of Scripture is of private interpretation That this is the most Catholick interpretation appears by S. August l. 1. de peccator mer. rem c. 30. Tertul. de Bapt. and all the ancient interpreters upon the place who expound it all of Baptism And indeed if it were lawful to expound it otherwise seeing no other Scripture contradicts this literal sense I know not how it can be avoided but that men may lose all their Creed by playing so with Scripture leaving the letter for figures Thus are we instructed in the nature necessity and efficacy of holy Baptism that it is the only ordinary means of our Regeneration or second birth which gives us a right and title to Heaven Then is prescribed a Prayer usually called the Benediction or Consecration of the Water which is used only for reverence and decency not for necessity as if the Water without this were not available to Baptism For as the Prayer hath it Iordan and all other maters are sanctified by Christ to the mystical washing away of sin So that there needs no Consecration here as in the other Sacraments there is where the Bread and Wine must be blessed by us saith S. Paul 1 Cor. 10. 16. before it be the Communion of the body and blood of Christ to us And that the Church does not think any Consecration of Water necessary appears in her office of PRIVATE BAPTISM where haste admitting no delays no such Prayer or blessing is used Then follows a Prayer for Gods merciful acceptance of the Infant that is brought that as he is to receive the Sacrament so he may receive all the benefits of it And lest any should doubt whether CHRIST will accept an Infant to Baptism and the Effects of it holy Church propounds to us the 10. chap. of S. Mark out of which she concludes CHRISTS love and good will to children in general For he
the rest of the Penitents were gone out and pray with the faithful but not receive the holy Sacrament 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Communicants they were received to the participation of Sacraments but were still to weare some marks of penance till by prayers and intreaties they had obtained the full Communion of the Churches favours and honours says Goar in Euch. Graec. These several degrees were poor penitents to go through in the Greek Church and as much affliction in the Latin unless the Bishop should think fit to remit any thing of it before they were fully admitted to the Churches favour but if any of these were desperately sick Holy Church took care that upon their desire they should have the Churches peace by Absolution 4. Carth. c. 78. and 77. and the holy Communion sayes the same Canon and Cypr. Epist. 54. lest they should want that great strengthening and refreshing of their souls in their last and greatest necessity Provided nevertheless that if they should recover then they should resume their several places and degrees of penance they were in before and go through and perfect their task of penance which having done they should receive Vltimam reconciliationem their last and highest reconciliation a favour which was denied to some that had been admitted to the Sacrament of the Eucharist as you may see Con. Vas. 2. c. 2. This last Reconciliation was a solemn Absolution from all the Churches censures and penances by the laying on of the hands of the Bishop and some of his Clergy says Cypr. l. 3. Ep. 14. A Declaration to all the Church that they were received not only to necessary Viatica and assisting such as the former Absolution mentioned 76. Can. 4. Carth. and the holy Sacrament of the Eucharist were which they were permitted to receive in case of necessity but also to all the honour and solemnities and priviledges of the faithful quite free from all brands and marks of penitents They were restored Legitimae Communioni to the Canonical and Legitimate Communion Orang c. 3. they might offer with the faithful and their offerings be received by the Church and they might receive the kiss of peace and all other favours of the Church This that hath been said may help us to understand the true meaning of the so much controverted Canon of Orange before mentioned together with the 78. Can. Carth. 4. Qui recedunt de corpore c. They that after penance received are ready to depart out of this life it hath pleased that they shall be received to the Communion without the Reconciliatory Imposition of hands that is they shall be admitted to the Communion without that last outward solemn Absolution in the Court of the Church which Balsamâ—n rightly calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the full reconciliation to the Churches honours and dignities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a loosening of the Churches censures which those penitents in case of extremity could not receive because as by the Canons appears they were if they recovered to return to their several tasks of penance again till they had fulfilled them It was enough for them to be reconciled to the Altar and Sacrament by the Absolution in foro Coli in Heavens Court The power of which was granted to the Apostles and their Successors S. Iohn 20. Whose sins ye remit c. Which Balsamon calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Absolution from sin and this they were to receive Can. 76. Carth. 4. and after that the holy Eucharist And this says the Canon of Orange was sufficient for a dying mans Reconciliation according to the definition of the Fathers And this the Church of England provides for all dying men that shall desire it And infinitely bound to their Mother for this her care are all true Sons of the Church For thrice happy souls are they who shall have the happiness at their last and greatest extremity worthily to receive the Reconciliation and the holy Communion the Bread of Heaven the Blood of God our Hope our Health our Light our Life For if we shall depart hence guarded with this Sacrifice we shall with much holy boldness ascend to the holy Heavens defended as it were with golden Arms says S. Chrys. We have seen the Churches care to provide all necessaries for sick persons salvation 'T were an happy thing to see in the people an answerable diligence in the use of these Ghostly Offices that they would when they are sick send for the Priest not verbally only to comfort them by rehearsing to them comfortable texts of Scripture whether they belong to them or not which is not to heal the sick but to tell them that they have no need of the spiritual Physician by which means precious souls perish for whom Christ died but to search and examine the state of their souls to shew them their sins to prepare them by ghostly counsel and exercises of penance for absolution and the holy Communion whereby they might indeed find comfort remission of sins and the holy Ghost the Comforter And this should be done while the sick person hath strength and ability to attend and joyn with him in these holy Services There is an excellent Canon to this purpose Decretal l. 5. tit 38. c. 13. By this present Decree we strictly charge and command all Physicians that when they shall be called to sick persons they first of all admonish and perswade them to send for the Physicians of souls that after provision hath been made for the spiritual health of the soul they may the more hopefully proceed to the use of corporal medicine For when the cause is taken away the effect may follow That which chiefly occasioned the making of this good Law was the supine carelesness of some sick persons who never used to call for the Physician of the soul till the Physician of the body had given them over And if the Physician did as his duty was timely admonish them to provide for their souls health they took it for a sentence of death and despair'd of remedy which hastned their end and hindred both the bodily Physician from working any cure upon their body and the ghostly Physician from applying any effectual means to their souls health It is good counsel that Eccles. gives c. 38 9. where we are advised not first to send for the Physician and when we despair of his help and are breathing our last then to send for the Priest when our weakness hath made him useless But first to make our peace with God by ghostly offices of the Priest and then give place to the Physician Which method our Saviour hath taught us also by his method of Cure who when any came to him for bodily cures first cured the soul of sin before he healed the bodily infirmity teaching us that sin is the cause of sickness and that cure first to be lookt after And by thus doing we may possibly save the body without the Physician S. Iames
bright Stars the circling roof the Firmament the Priests within the Quire beginning the divine Hymns represent the first order of Angels that stand before God the Deacons with the Readers and Singers orderly succeeding the middle order or quire of heaven the whole company of true believers joyning with the Priests and Deacons in heart and affection saying Amen to the divine Hymns and prayers and so inviting and alluring the mercy of God resemble the lowest rank of Angels with whom no prophane Heretick or unclean notorious sinner is suffered to assemble for what fellowship hath light with darkness thus the whole Church typifies heaven but the Chancel parted and separated from the Nave or body of the Church so as that it cannot be seen into by those that are there typifies the invisible heaven or things above the heaven not to be seen by the eye of flesh The Nave or body resembles the lowest visible heaven or Paradise and as man for sin was cast out of Edens Paradise into the earth accursed to briars and thorns there to eat his bread in sorrow and not suffered by the flaming sword to enter again Gen. 3. till after much affliction and sorrow in this troublesome world he shall be reconciled to God by repentance and so his peace being made be received as the thief upon the Cross was to our Lord Christ in Paradise so in like manner notorious sinners were by the sentence of excommunication cast out of that Paradise the body of the Church abroad into the Church porch which represents the earth not to be received in again to the society of the faâ—thful till after a wearisome attendance there in a place call'd of old Narthex or Ferula because those that stood there were under the Churches Ferula or censure begging the prayers entreating the tears hanging upon the knees of all that entred into the Church by much spiritual affliction and castigation they had made their peace and were reconciled In the Nave we shall mention but two things as observable here First the Doors called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the beautiful Doors or Gate Acts 3. 2. because those that had entred them might see the whole beauty of the Church and the Pulpit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which stood in the midst or side of the Nave Sym. Thess. This signifies the stone rolled away from the Sepulchre and because the Angel sitting upon it preacht the Gospel of the Resurrection of Christ to the women S. Matth. 28. 6. the Priests and Deacons imitating the Angels pattern from this Pulpit publish and proclaim the glad tidings of the Gospel The Chancel was divided from the Body of the Church Cancellis whence it is called the Chancel This was as was said peculiar to the Priests and sacred persons In it were at least in some principal Churches these divisions Chorus Cantorum the Quire where was an high Seat for the Bishop and other Stalls or Seats for the rest of the Quire yet perhaps this Chorus as also the next called Soleas might be more properly reckoned a part of the Nave and the Chancel properly that which of old was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sanctuary which was separated from the rest of the Church with rails and whither indeed none but sacred persons entered whereas the Laity entred into the other as will appear after but account it to which you please such a place there was and immediately beyond it divided from the Quire with boards on the one side and from the Sanctuary by the rails of the Altar on the other side was a place called Soleas from the Latine Solium or Throne because this was Christs lower Throne his higher or upper Throne was the Altar where the precious body and blood of Christ was consecrated and offered And this was his lower Throne where the Bishop or Priest in Christ his stead stood and distributed the holy Sacrament to the people Beyond this is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sanctuary rail'd in of old as you may see plainly Syn. Calc Acts 1. that it might not be prest upon by the multitude Euseb. Hist. l. 10. c. 4. At the upper end of this Sanctuary or Chancel is a large Arch or Absis within that a Seat called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Seat or Seats built for the Bishop and his assistent Priests in the Celebration the middle of which is the highest where the chief Bishop sate which S. Chrys. in his Liturgie calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of this Seat is the 56. Can. of Laodic to be understood The Priests ought not to go into the Church and sit in Tribunalibus before the Bishop be entred unless he be sick and cannot come The Bishop sitting in this Seat by the Altar having his assistent Priests sitting with him resembles Christ with his Apostles by him instituting the holy Sacrament and blessing the prayers offered up at the Altar by the Priest Right under this Seat stood the Altar or holy Table the Propitiatory Christs Monument and the Tabernacle of his glory The Shop of the great Sacrifice Sym. Thessal Now that no man take offence at the word Altar Let him know that anciently both these names Altar or holy Table were used for the same things though most frequently the Fathers and Councils use the word Altar And both are fit names for that holy thing For the holy Eucharist being considered as a Sacrifice in the representation of the breaking of the Bread and pouring forth the Cup doing that to the holy Symbols which was done to Christs Body and Blood and so shewing forth and commemorating the Lords death and offering upon it the same Sacrifice that was offered upon the Cross or rather the commemoration of that Sacrifice S. Chrys. in Heb. 10. 9. may fitly be call'd an Altar which again is as fitly call'd an holy Table the Eucharist being considered as a Sacrament which is nothing else but a distribution and application of the Sacrifice to the several receivers To put all out of doubt it is questionless lawful and safe to speak the language of the New Testament and to give this holy thing the name which is given it there now there it is called an Altar Heb. 13 10. we have an Altar S. Paul in the verse before had perswaded that they should not be carried away with strange doctrines of Jewish and carnal observances which are grown unprofitable to those that walk in them For we have an Altar now whereof they that serve at the Tabernacle the Jewish Priests have no right to eat unless they will receive the Faith of Christ our Altar is better than theirs and theirs was but a shadow of ours the Sacrifices of their Altar but types of ours theirs are vanished and ours only continue And for this reason do you leave strange doctrines of legal observances and Jewish Altars and continue in the grace of the Gospel whose Altar is to continue for we have an Altar Again S.