have enlarged my discourse in this particular because the use of it is generally omitted by divers Persons in their gathered Congregations to whom I commend the opinion of Calvin Inst. l. 2. c. 16. § 18. viz. that by great consent of the Fathers it was attributed to the Apostles and made the pulick confession of the Churches from the Apostles age And so Beza On Rom. 12.6 That from the first preaching of the Gospel it was received as an Epitome thereof I conclude this with the resolution of our late martyr'd Soveraign In his Papers to Henders I shall believe that the Apostles Creed was made by them such reverence do I bear to the traditions of the Church until more certain Authors can be found Now that the Church of England hath Communion with the Apostles in this part of their Doctrine appears first In requiring the profession thereof at Baptism viva voce from them that are of competent age and from the Sureties of Infants in their behalf who are charged to teach it them as soon as they are able to learn and it is plainly expounded in the Church-Catechism and to be said both by Minister and People in the daily service of God and that this Creed together with that of the Councel of Nice and that of Athanasius Artic. 8. are to be received and believed for they may be proved from most certain testimonies of Scripture You see now how the Church of England doth hold Communion with the Apostles in Doctrine viz. in all and nothing else not in Fathers Councils or Creeds but what is included in or by good consequence is concluded from the Scriptures agreeable to the Analogy of Faith Jewels Apol. Proemium Dr. Hammond contra Blond and Judgment of the primitive Fathers and Councils to whose Institutions our Church directed as nigh as possibly she could not only heâ— Doctrine but publick Prayers and administration of Sacraments We do not reject the Scriptures as the Enthusiasts do nor confront their Authority by Traditions as the Papists nor by Private Reason as the Socinians nor by pretended Revelations as the Anabaptists we do not keep those Treasures from the people under the Lock of a strange Language as if the Key of Knowledg were given us rather to shut them up from the people than open them unto them or as if we were of the opinion of Cardinal * Hoâ—us that it would be better with the Church Tilenus contra Bell. De Verbo Dei l. 2. c. 14. Laicis sufficit pictura pro Doctrinâ Gratian Decret if the Scriptures had never been extant nor are we of Bellarmine's judgment That if the Pope should command Vice and forbid Virtue we ought to obey contrary to what the Apostle says If I or an Angel from heaven preach any other doctrine c. â—or doth our Church take authority to â—mpose new Articles of Faith as the Council of Trent did a whole dozen at once teaching for Doctrines the commandments of men such as the Supremacy and Infallibility of the Pope of worshipping Angels and Images Prayers for the dead Invocation of Saints and Angels the Doctrines of Merits Purgatory and Pardons Col. 2.19 these â—old not the Head as the Apostle says And we equally abhor the Doctrine of the Socinians against the Godhead of our Saviour and of the Holy Ghost The Doctrine of the Anabaptists against Magistrates and Ministers such as the Doctrine of Resistance which John Goodwin said was reserved to be made known in this last generation Sic amplecti oportet ut nobis in sacris literis generaliter propositae sunt All these and whatever else are contrary to the Analogy of Faith the Wisdom Justice Goodness and Holiness of God his Precepts or Promises such as represent him less Merciful or Holy than he hath revealed of himself Artic. 8. all these we reject because the Apostles heard them not from Christ nor any Primitive persons from the Apostles we declare them not unto you And after all this to object the Sentiments of private Doctors contrary to the publick Edicts of the Church is but a vexatious and impertinent quarrel of such as have nothing else to object as indeed they have not for it is generally acknowledged That the Articles of our Church as to matters of Faith are agreeable to the Scriptures instead therefore of heaping up concessions I shall make this one observation that after our late Reformers had covenanted to reform our Church in Doctrine the House of Lords who had then the power of admitting all Incumbents to their Benefices permitted none to be legally invested who had not first read and subscribed the Book of Articles which the Church doth declare were set forth for avoiding of diversity of Opinions and establishing of Consent touching true Religion they were never intended to contain all Points of Doctrine as neither doth the Confession of any other Church and yet this is made the only objection against them for as to that pretence of the doubtfulness of them because some words may have divers significations it may as well be objected against the Scriptures in which are some things hard to be understood 2 Pet. 3.16 And here it is very seasonable to mind the people also to continue their communion with the Church in her Apostolical Doctrine in that sense which some learned Expositors give of it on Act. 4.42 viz. in the exercise of that Doctrine Sanctius in locum or in hearing the Apostles preach for if it be the Churches Precept and the Preachers Practise not to teach any thing Dr. Hammond but what is agreeable to the Doctrine of the Old and New Testament and what the ancient Fathers and Bishops have gathered from that Catholick Doctrine and if the Ministers of our Church do frequently plainly and solidly dispense that food of our Souls and I may confidently say it is not done better in any part of the Catholick Church Artic. Rel. Anno. 1571. Clerus Anglicanus stupor mundi Joh. 6.68 I may well demand as St. Peter did Master whither shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life Did we not prefer the advantages of this life beyond the means of a better and make religious duties an engine to promote temporal designs having mens petsons in admiration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jude 16. for lucres sake could we be content with Manna and not long for the rank Onions and Flesh-Pots of Aegypt and with the Prodigal leave our Fathers house where is Bread enough to feed with Swine in exotick and strange Modes of Worship we need not move out of our Tents to have all our necessities supplied to our comfort and salvation 2 Cor. 2.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for as the Apostles says we are not as many that corrupt the word of God mixing the waters of Siloam that run softly with the waters of Marah strife and bitterness nor as those Sophisters in
so the Scriptures is best expounded by Scripture 'T is St. Pauls rule Ro. 12.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let him that prophesieth i.e. interpreteth the Scripture prophesie according to the proportion of Faith Now the Analogy of Faith is observed when those truths which are evident and undoubted like the first Principles in other Sciences be made the rule for resolving of what is less evident Institution of a Christian man Bishop Jewels Apology and the Scripture is what is less evident and the Scripture is â—â—st seen as the Sun by its own light Yet because there is no truth so clear but some unhappy men may perplex and controvert it in case the wisdom of God in the Scripture be not thought sufficient to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men the Church of England declared at the beginning of the Reformation her readiness to submit to the decrees of the four first * Council of Nice consisting of 318 Bishops Of Constinople 150. Of Ephesus 200. Of Calcedon 630. The universal practise of the primitive Church is the most authentic interpreter of Scripture K.C. his Papers to Hender General Councels and the judgment of the Fathers of the four first Centuries And doubtless they who were neerest to the lights of the world could best discern their Doctrines many of whom could say of the Apostle as they of Christ That which we have seen and heard from their own mouths and writings declare we unto you Nevertheless we give not the Councils a power to make new Articles of Faith but only to explain and inforce the Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures which is all that those primitive Councels did pretend to which power is indeed very requisite for the unity of the Church because there never was Heretick or Schismatick but did alledg the Scriptures in defence of his opinions Artic. 6. Oâ—â— Church therefore declares First Concerning the holy Scriptures viz. All the Books of the Old and New Testament which are now commonly received by us that they contain all things necessary to Salvation so that whatsoever is not read in them nor can be proved out of them is not required of any one to be believed as an Article of Faith or to be thought necessary to Salvation Artic. 20 Secondly Concerning the Authority of the Church That it may not institute any thing that is contrary to the written Word of God nor may so expound one place of Scripture that it be made to contradict another and that it obtrude nothing else to be believed as necessary to Salvation Artic. 21 Thirdly As to the Authority of Councils it declares That whatever they decree as necessary to Salvation hath neither strength nor authority unless it may be shewn that it is taken out of the Word of God Thus far I make no doubt but we are agreed There is yet another Summary of Christian Faith wherein we hold Communion with the Apostles viz. The Apostles Creed of the Original whereof I think fit to give you this brief account Our Saviour injoined his Apostles to go and disciple all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son Mat. 28.19 20. and of the Holy Ghost and to teach them to observe all things that he should command them Now the Apostles baptizing for the most part such as were of years of discretion did teach them also i.e. did catechize and instruct them in the mysteries of that Faith into which they were baptized Thus we find them teaching that Jesus was the Christ that he was God manifested in the flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 that he died for our Sins and rose again for our Justification that he ascended to Heaven and that he shall come again to judg both the quick and dead 2 Tim. 4.1 1 Joh. 5.7 so likewise the Trinity of Persons in the unity of the Godhead Of this Faith it was required that they which were of discretion should make profession before their admission to Baptism This was that good Profession which Timothy made before many witnesses yea 1 Tim. 6.12 and Titus whom St. Paul calls his own Son according to the common Faith is supposed by Bishop Davenant to have made the like Profession See Bishop Davenant's Opinion p. 16. And Calvin on Heb. 6.2 asks the question what is Baptismal Doctrine but that of Faith in God of Repentance and of Judgment So that the Apostles having planted many Churches before the Scriptures were written and being shortly after the day of Pentecost according to their commission to depart into several Countries they did then Tradunâ— majorâ— nostri c. Ruffirius in Syâ—bol as the Ancients affirm sum up the Articles of Christian Faith and left them as a depositum in all the Churches which they had planted to be the standard of incorrupt Doctrine by which young and old should be instructed Of this we have memorials in most of their Epistles which all know were not written till after the plantation of those Churches to whom they were written Thus St. Paul mentioneth Rom. 6.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 3.10 11. the Form of Doctrine delivered to the Church at Rome The Foundation laid by him in the Church of Corinth The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the measure of the Rule which he used in preaching of the Gospel which by an Emphasis he calls * Gal. 6.16 Eph. 2.20 1 Tim. 6.20 2 Tim. 1.13 Tit. 1.4 2 Pet. 2.21 Jude v. 3. the Canon commended to the Galatians And to the Ephesians the Foundation And to the Philippians the same Rule i. e the one immutable Rule as Tertullian calls the Creed the Depositum or Form of sound words the common Faith which places with others like them many ancient and modern Divines do understand of the Apostles Creed And 't is observed that the most primitive Fathers mentioning the Rule of Faith do mean generally the Apostles Creed for if they had a Rule of Faith before the Canon of the Scriptures was sealed which was not till St. Johns death what can we suppose to have been that Rule beside the Apostles Creed St. Ignatius gives us the Substance of it in three of his Epistles commending the constancy of those Churches in the unalterable Faith Irenaeus says Ad Smyrn Philip. Thrall The Church that is planted throughout the whole World did receive from the Apostles and their Disciples that Faith which is in One God the Father Almighty Tertullian tells us De velandis Virg. contra Prax. of â—â—tres tractatores that had commented on it before himself The very use of Catechising which is from the Apostles days doth evince that there were grounds of Christian Religion by which they were to be instructed And in one word whereas the Niceue and Athanasian Creeds are but expositions of the Apostles in those Articles that were opposed in their days we may conclude that it was more ancient than they I
be a Member of Christ which the good Emperor Theodosius preferred above his being Head of the Empire For if there be a Heaven upon Earth it must needs consist as our eternal happiness hereafter in a Communion with God and his Son Jesus Christ and to this the Text guides even to Mount Sion Heb 12.22 and to the City of the Living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the General Assembly and Church of the First-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judg of all and to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant To confirm you in this Society is the end of all our preaching and your hearing for when our Saviour ascended up on high he gave some Apostles Eph. 4.11 14. some Prophets some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers that we should be no more Children tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine but for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ This our Apostle intimates to be the end of all the Scriptures but more especially of the Text That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye may have fellowship with us c. Church-Communion is my present Subject concerning which I observe these three parts in the Text. I. The ground and foundation of Apostolical Communion That which we have seen and heard II. Wherein this Communion consists from the divers notions of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Scripture That ye may have fellowship with us i.e. the Apostles III. The excellency of this Communion And truly our fellowship is with the Father c. That I may the better fix your meditations on my discourse and that upon the Text I shall give you the Substance of both in this short Argument That Church which holds Communion with Christ and his Apostles in Doctrine Omnis Doctrina quae cum Ecclesiis Apostolicis Matricibus Originalibus fidei conspirat veritati deputanda Tertul. de praescript Government and Worship is a true Member of Christs Church in which Salvation may be had But the Church of England holds Communion with Christ and his Apostles in Doctrine Government and Worship Therefore the Church of England is is a true Member of Christs Church in which salvation may be had My first Proposition I shall prove from Act. 2.42 where it is recorded of the Primitive Christians That they continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of Bread and in Prayers and it follows v. 47. The Lord added daily to the Church such as should be saved whence I observe 1. That by reason of this Communion they are expresly denominated the Church Plebs sacerdoti adunata as Saint Cyprian 2. And that to this Church Salvation is appropriated God daily added to the Church such as should be saved The Proposition being sufficiently proved I shall for the greater perspicuity prove the Assumption gradually according to the parts into which I divided the Text And shew 1. That the Church of England holds Communion with Christ and his Apostles in Doctrine Anno 1660. Those dissenting Ministers that presented to the Parliament their Reasons for Reformation of the publick Doctrine c. did assure us in the first words that it was far from their thoughts to oppose or disparage orthodox Doctrine a well composed Liturgy Rites for decency and order Ordination of Ministers Apostolical Episcopacy and due Rules of Discipline I wish that as we have heard the voice of Jacob so we had not felt the hands of Esau for though the truth of all that they desired hath been proved by many Worthies in our Israel yet as St. Chrysostome says though we bring the Sun-beams in our hands men will not be perswaded there doth not want light to convince but they resist the Spirit of Truth that should convert them Pray we therefore That he who promised the holy Spirit to them that ask it Luk. 11.13 would pour down such plentiful measures and operations of it into the hearts of this people that as we all profess his holy Name so we may agree together in the truth of his holy Word and live in unity and godly love And so I begin with the first part of the Text viz. The ground and foundation of Apostolical Communion which is the Doctrine delivered in the Scriptures of the New Testament wherein the Church of England doth hold Communion with Christ and his Apostles The things of which the Apostles were eye and ear-witnesses from the beginning of the Gospel that word of life 1 Joh. 1.1 that was spoken by the wisdom of God attested by a voice from Heaven accompanied by the power of God in such variety of Miracles is the only infallible foundation of our Faith and Communion beside which we in vain expect any other either guide or ground Luk. 16.31 Non opus est revelatione post Evangelium Tort. of equal certainty for as our Saviour determined concerning Moses and the Prophets the same may be said of Christ and his Apostles If we believe not them neither will we be perswaded thought one should come from the dead Yet is it no disparagement to our preaching or your hearing that we cannot preface our Sermons as the Apostles did That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you seeing our Saviour hath pronounced them blessed Joh. 20.29 with an Emphasis that have not seen and yet have believed The spirit of perversness did not dye with Pharaoh and the Jews of old There have been little less than Miracles wrought in our generation but if as our Saviour intimates there should be Miracles indeed done in the midst of us there are a sort of Pharisaical persons that would oppose still I shall therefore take it as granted that we do believe those things which Christ and his Apostles have declared unto us in the books of the New Testament In iis quae apertè in SS posita sunt inveniuntur omnia quae continent fidem moresque vivendi S. August de Doct. Christ. 2.9 2 Pet. 3.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 St. Chrys in 2 Thes Hom. 3. and that in them we have the will of God declared unto us concerning all such things as are necessary to our Salvation that they are a most certain and safe rule of Faith able to make the man of God perfect throughly furnished to every good work 2 Tim. 2.13 And whereas it may be objected from St. Peter that in them are some things hard to be understood I answer that the things that are necessary to be known are but few and those are obvious to ordinary capacities and such as are obscure and difficult are not necessary or if there be some difficulties that may be thought necessary to be explained then as Diamonds are best formed by Diamonds