Part 4 — THE REFORMED LITURGY. (continued 2)

Let no children be privately baptized, nor any Minister forced to baptize them any where, besides in the public assembly, unless upon some special weighty cause. If there be occasion for baptizing the adult, let the minister accordingly suit his expressions.

OF CATECHISING, AND THE APPROBATION OF THOSE THAT ARE TO BE ADMITTED TO THE LORD'S SUPPER.

Seeing none can be saved at years of discretion, that do not actually believe, and personally give up themselves in covenant to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; therefore as parents must do their parts, so ministers must catechise the ignorant, and diligently labour to cause them both to learn the form of wholesome words, (even the Lord's prayer and the ten commandments, and some brief, yet full and sound catechism,) and to understand the meaning of them, and to engage their hearts into the love of God, and a holy obedience to his laws.

To this end, let the minister, either every Lord's day, before the evening prayers, or at some convenient hour, or on some other day of the week, as oft as he can, examine publicly such as are not admitted to the Lord's supper, and take an account of their learning, and understanding the creed, the ten commandments, the Lord's prayer, and the catechism. And let him by questioning and explication, help them to understand them. And let such of the several families of the parish come in their turns, when they are called by the minister to be thus catechised. Also let the minister either go to their houses, or rather appoint the persons aforesaid in their courses at a certain hour and place, (in the church or any other fit place,) to come to him for personal instructions, where he may confer with those that are unmeet to be catechised publicly, or unwilling to submit to it; and there with humble, prudent, serious instruction and exhortation, let him endeavour to acquaint them with the substance of christian faith and duty, and to help them to make sure their calling and election, and to prepare for death and judgment, and exhort them to love and to good works, and warn them lest they be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. But let him not in public or private meddle with impertinencies, or spend the time about smaller matters, or singular opinions, nor sift people to know things unfit or unnecessary to be disclosed, nor meddle with matters that do not concern him as a minister to inquire after; but help them to learn, and understand, and practise the christian religion expressed in the catechism.

The Catechism.

See the Rubric for Catechism and Confirmation in the Common Prayer, and also his Majesty's Declaration concerning ecclesiastical affairs.

Let none be admitted by the minister to the sacrament of the Lord's supper, till they have at years of discretion understood the meaning of their baptismal covenant, and with their own mouths, and their own consent openly before the church, ratified and confirmed, and also promised, that by the grace of God, they will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to observe and keep such things as by their mouth and confession they have assented to; and so being instructed in the christian religion, do openly make a credible profession of their own faith, and promise to be obedient to the will of God.

A profession is credible, when it is made understandingly, seriously, voluntarily, deliberately, and not nullified by contradiction in word or deed. And that profession is incredible, that is made ignorantly, ludicrously, forcedly, rashly, or that is nullified by verbal or practical contradiction. And it must be practice first, that must make words credible, when the person by perfidiousness hath forfeited his credit. It is not private persons only, but the pastors of the church that must approve of this profession. Therefore, before any are admitted to the Lord's supper, they shall give a good account of their knowledge, faith, and christian conversation conformable thereunto, unto the pastors of their respective congregations, or else shall produce a certificate, that they have been approved or admitted to the Lord's supper in another congregation, of which they were members, and that by an allowed minister, upon such approved profession as aforesaid.

If the person be able and willing, let him before the congregation give the aforesaid account at large, of his knowledge, faith, and obedience; but if through backwardness, or disability for public speech, he shall refuse it, let him make the same profession privately to the minister, and own it in the assembly, when the minister shall declare it, and ask him whether he owns it. But unless it be in case of some extraordinary natural imperfection, and disability of utterance, let him at least openly recite the creed, and profess his consent to the covenant with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Let the minister of every parish keep a double register: one of the names of all that are there baptized; another of the names of all that are approved upon their foresaid credible profession, and so admitted into the number of communicants, or that have a certificate of such approbation, regularly elsewhere performed.

And if confirmation be continued, let his Majesty's Declaration be observed, requiring, That confirmation be rightly and solemnly performed, by the information, and with the consent, of the minister of the place.

Let no minister be enforced to admit any himself to the Lord's supper, who hath been clancularly and irregularly approved.

Those that after this approbation prove scandalous offenders, shall not by the minister be suffered to partake of the Lord's table, until they have openly declared themselves to have truly repented, and amended their former naughty lives.

OF THE CELEBRATION OF MATRIMONY.

Before the solemnizing of marriage between any persons, their purpose of marriage shall be published by the minister, three several Lord's days in the congregation, at the place or places of their most usual abode respectively. And of this publication, the minister who is to join them in marriage shall have sufficient testimony, before he proceed to solemnize the marriage; the parents' consent being first sufficiently made known.

At the celebration, the minister shall either by a sermon, or other exhortation, open to them the institution, ends, and use of marriage, with the conjugal duties which they are faithfully to perform to each other. And then shall demand of them whether it be their desire and purpose to be joined together in the bond of the marriage covenant; and if they answer affirmatively, he shall say to them,

I require and charge you, as you will answer at the dreadful day of judgment, (when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed,) that if either of you do know any impediment by pre-contract or otherwise, why you may not lawfully be joined together in marriage, you discover it, and proceed not.

If no impediment be discovered by them or others, he shall proceed to pray.

Most merciful Father, who hast ordained marriage for mutual help, and for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and of the church with a holy seed, and for prevention of uncleanness; bless thy own ordinance to these persons, that entering this state of marriage in thy fear, they may there entirely devote themselves unto thee, and be faithful in all conjugal affections and duties unto each other;|If they be young, it may be said, Bless them with children, and let them be devoted, &c.| [and if thou bless them with children,] let them be devoted unto thee, and accepted as thine own, and blessed with thy grace, and educated in thy fear. Subdue those corruptions that would make their lives unholy or uncomfortable, and deliver them from temptations to impiety, worldliness, unquietness, discontent, or disaffection to each other, or to any unfaithfulness to thee or to each other. Make them meet helps to each other in thy fear, and in the lawful management of the affairs of this world. Let them not hinder, but provoke one another to love and to good works; and foreseeing the day of their separation by death, let them spend their days in a holy preparation, and live here together as the heirs of life that must rejoice at the great marriage day of the Lamb, and live for ever with Christ and all the holy angels and saints in the presence of thy glory.[268] Amen.

The woman if she be under Parents or Governors, being by one of them, or some deputed by them, given to be married, the man with his right hand shall take the woman by the right hand, and shall say,

I A. do take thee B. to be my married wife, and do promise and covenant in the presence of God, and before this congregation, to be a loving and faithful husband to thee, till God shall separate us by death.

Then the woman shall take the man by the right hand with her right hand, and say,

I B. do take thee A. to be my married husband, and I do promise and covenant in the presence of God, and before this congregation, to be a loving, obedient, and faithful wife unto thee, till God shall separate us by death.

Then let the Minister say,

These two persons, A. and B. being lawfully married according to God's ordinance, I do pronounce them husband and wife. And those whom God hath conjoined, let no man put asunder.

Next he may read the duty of Husbands and Wives out of Eph. v. 2; Col. iv. 2; 1 Pet. iii.; and Psalm cxxviii. or some other pertinent Psalm, may be said or sung: and let the minister exhort them to their several duties, and then pray:

Most merciful Father, let thy blessings rest upon these persons now joined in lawful marriage; sanctify them and their conversations, their family, estates, and affairs, unto thy glory. Furnish them with love to thee and to each other, with meekness, patience, and contentedness. Let them not live unto the flesh, but unto the Spirit, that of the Spirit they may reap everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.[269] Amen.

Then let him conclude with a Benediction.

God Almighty, the Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, bless you in your souls and bodies, families and affairs, and preserve you to his heavenly kingdom. Amen.

THE VISITATION OF THE SICK, AND THEIR COMMUNION.

The visitation of the sick being a private duty, and no part of the public Liturgy of the church, and the case of the sick being so exceeding various, as to soul and body; and it being requisite that ministers be able to suit their exhortations and prayers to the condition of the sick, but the words of such exhortations and prayers be left to their prudence.

So urgent is the necessity of the sick, and so seasonable and advantageous the opportunity, that ministers may not negligently overpass them, but in love and tenderness instruct them according to their several conditions; endeavouring the conversion of the ungodly, the strengthening of the weak, and comforting such as need consolation; directing them how to improve their afflictions, and helping them to be sensible of the evil of sin, the negligences and miscarriages of their lives, the vanity of the world, their necessity of a Saviour, the sufficiency of Christ, the certainty and excellency of the everlasting glory; exhorting them to repentance and to faith in Christ, and to set their affections on the things above; and (if they are penitent believers) comfortably to hope for the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him, committing their souls to their Redeemer, and quietly resting in the will, and love, and promises of God; resolving if God shall recover them to health, to redeem the time, and live the rest of their lives unto his glory; and being willing, if it be their appointed time, to depart and be with Christ. And they must be exhorted to forgive such as have wronged them, and to be reconciled to those with whom they have been at variance, and to make a pious, just, and charitable disposal of their worldly estates.

THE ORDER OF SOLEMNIZING THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD.

It is agreeable to nature and religion, that the burial of christians be solemnly and decently performed. As to the cases, Whether the corpse shall be carried first into the church, that is to be buried in the church-yard; and whether it shall be buried before the sermon, reading, or prayer, or after, or in the midst of the reading, or whether any prayer shall be made at the grave, for the living; let no christians uncharitably judge one another about these things. Let no people keep up groundless usages, that being suspicious grieve their minister and offend their brethren. Let no minister that scrupleth the satisfying of people's ungrounded desires in such things, be forced to do it against his conscience; and let ministers that do use any of these customs or ceremonies, have liberty, when they suspect that the people desire them upon some error, to profess against that error, and teach the people better.

Whether the minister come with the company that brings the corpse from the house, or whether he meet them, or receive them at the burial-place, is to be left to his own discretion. But while he is with them, let him gravely discourse of man's mortality, and the useful truths and duties thence to be inferred: and either at the grave, or in the reading place, or pulpit, by way of sermon, according to his discretion, let him (at least if it be desired) instruct and exhort the people concerning death, and the life to come, and their necessary preparation; seeing the spectacle of mortality, and the season of mourning, do tend to prepare men for a sober, considerate entertainment of such instructions: and he may read such scriptures as may mind them of death, resurrection, and eternal life, as 1 Cor. xv. or from verse 10 to the end, and Job i. 21; xix. 25, 26, 27; John xi. 25, 26; v. 28, 29. And his prayer shall be suited to the occasion.

Whenever the rain, snow, or coldness of the season, make it unhealthful to the minister or people to stand out of doors, at least then let the reading, exhortation, and prayers, be used within the church.

OF EXTRAORDINARY DAYS OF HUMILIATION AND THANKSGIVING, AND ANNIVERSARY FESTIVALS.

When great afflictions lie upon the church, or any special part or members of it, or when any great sins have been committed among them, it is meet that in public, by fasting and prayer, we humble ourselves before the Lord, for the averting of his displeasure; and on such occasions it is the pastor's duty to confess his own and the people's sins, with penitence, and tenderness of heart, and by his doctrine and exhortation, to endeavour effectually to bring the people to the sight and sense of their sin, and the deserts of it, and to a firm resolution of better obedience for the time to come, being importunate with God in prayer for pardon and renewed grace.

Upon the receipt of great and extraordinary mercies, the church (having opportunity) is to assemble for public thanksgiving unto God, and the minister to stir up the people to a lively sense of the greatness of those mercies, and joyfully to celebrate the praises of God, the author of them. And it is not unmeet on these days to express our joy in feasting and outward signs of mirth, provided they be used moderately, spiritually, and inoffensively, and not to gratify our sensual desires, and that we relieve the poor in their necessities (which also on days of humiliation and other seasons we must not forget). The occasions of such days of humiliation and thanksgiving being so various, as cannot be well suited by any standing forms, the minister is to apply himself to the respective duties, suitable to the particular occasions.

Though it be not unlawful or unmeet to keep anniversary commemoration by festivals, of some great and notable mercies to the church or state, the memory whereof should be transmitted to posterity; nor to give any persons their due honour who have been the instruments thereof: yet because the festivals of the church's institution now observed, are much abused, and many sober, godly persons, ministers, and others, are unsatisfied of the lawfulness of the celebrating them as holidays, let the abuse be restrained; and let not the religious observation of those days by public worship, be forced upon any that are thus unsatisfied, provided they forbear all offensive behaviour thereupon.

OF PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING FOR PARTICULAR MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH.

Besides the petitions that are put up for all in such distresses, in the general prayer, it is meet that persons in dangerous sickness, or other great affliction of body or mind, and women that are near the time of child-bearing, when they desire it, shall be particularly recommended to God in the public prayers of the church. Because all the members constitute one body, and must have the same care one for another, as suffering all with one that suffereth, and rejoicing all with one that is honoured. And the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous, especially of the whole congregation, availeth much with God. But because diseases, distresses, and grief of mind, are so various that no forms that are particular can suit them all; and because every minister should be able to suit his prayers to such various necessities of the people; we desire that it may be left to his discretion to pray for such according to their several cases, before or after sermon. But we desire that except in case of sudden necessity, they may send in their bills of request to him the night before, that he may consider of their cases, and may publish only such, and in such expressions, as in prudence he shall judge meet for the ears of the assembly.

In the more ordinary cases of persons in sickness, danger, and distress, and that are delivered from them; these following prayers may be used, or such like.

A Prayer for the Sick, that is in hopes of Recovery.

Most merciful Father, though our sin doth find us out, and we are justly afflicted for our transgressions, yet are we not consumed in thy wrath; but thou punishest us less than our iniquities do deserve: though thou causest grief, yet wilt thou have compassion according to the multitude of thy mercies, for thou dost not willingly afflict and grieve the children of men. Thou revivest the spirit of the humble, and the heart of the contrite ones, for thou wilt not contend for ever, neither wilt thou be always wroth, for the spirit would fail before thee, and the soul which thou hast made. Look down in tender mercy on the affliction of this thy servant. O Lord, rebuke him not in thy wrath; neither chasten him in thy hot displeasure. All his desire is before thee, and his groaning is not hid from thee; have mercy upon him, O Lord, for he is weak. O Lord, heal him, whose bones and soul is vexed. In death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? Remember that we are but flesh; a wind that passeth away and cometh not again. Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? Remember not the iniquities of his youth, or his transgressions: look upon his affliction, and his pain, and forgive all his sins. Though the sorrows of death do compass him about, yet if it be for thy glory and his good, recover him, and let him live and praise thy name. Rebuke his sickness; direct unto such means as thou wilt bless. In the time of his trouble we call upon thee, do thou deliver him, and let him glorify thee: however, show him the sin that doth offend thee; let him search and try his ways, and confess and turn from his iniquity, and let it be good for him that he was afflicted. Let this be the fruit of it, to purge and take away his sin, that being chastened of the Lord, he may not be condemned with the world. And though chastisement for the present seemeth not to be joyous, but grievous, yet afterwards let it yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness to this thy servant, that is exercised therein. In the mean time, O Lord, be thou his portion, who art good to the soul that seeketh thee, and waiteth for thee. Let him patiently and silently bear thy yoke; let him hope and quietly wait for thy salvation: considering that thou wilt not cast off for ever; that thy anger is but for a moment, but in thy favour is life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning: and that whom thou lovest, thou chastenest, and scourgest every son whom thou receivest; and that if he endure chastening, thou dealest with him as a son. If he be recovered, let him devote himself entirely to they glory: that when thou hast put off his sackcloth and mourning, and girded him with gladness, he may speak thy praise, and give thee thanks. If he receive the sentence of death in himself, let it cause him to trust in thee that raisest the dead, knowing that as thou didst raise up the Lord Jesus, thou wilt raise him up also by Jesus: therefore suffer not his hope to faint; but though his outward man perish, yet let his inner man be renewed from day to day; and let him live by faith, and look at the things which are not seen, ever at the exceeding eternal weight of glory. Let him be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness, but that which is of God by faith. Restrain the tempter, and deliver thy servant from the sinful fears of death, by Christ, who, through death destroyed the devil that had the power of death; that he may find that death hath lost its sting, and triumph over it by faith in him, through whom we are made more than conquerors. That, by faith and love, his soul may now ascend unto his Father and our Father, and to his God and our God; and is gone to prepare a place for us; and hath promised, that where he is, there his servants shall be also, that they may behold the glory which thou hast given him. Magnify thyself in his body, whether by life or death, and safely bring him into thy glorious presence, where is fulness of joy, and everlasting pleasures, through Jesus Christ our Life and Righteousness.[270] Amen.

A Prayer for Women drawing near the time of Child-bearing.

Most merciful Father, who hast justly sentenced woman, that was first in the transgression, to great and multiplied sorrows, and particularly in sorrow to bring forth children; yet grantest preservation and relief, for the propagation of mankind. Be merciful to this thy servant; be near her with thy present help, in the needful time of trouble; and though in travail she hath sorrow, give her strength to bring forth. Being delivered, let her remember no more the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world. Bless her in the fruit of her body; and being safely delivered, let her return thee hearty thanks, and devote it and the rest of her life to thy service, through Jesus Christ our Saviour.[271] Amen.

A Thanksgiving for those that are restored from Dangerous Sickness.

We thank thee, O most gracious God, that thou hast heard us when we cried unto thee, for thy servant in his weakness and distress; that thou hast not turned away our prayer nor thy mercy from him. We cried to thee, and thou hast delivered and healed him, thou hast brought him from the grave, thou hast kept him alive, that he should not go down into the pit, thou hast forgiven his iniquity, and healed his diseases, thou hast redeemed his life from destruction, and hast crowned him with loving-kindness and tender mercies, thou hast not deprived him of the residue of his years, thou hast repented thee of the evil. His age is not departed; thou hast renewed his youth, and given him to see man, with the inhabitants of the world; and to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Day and night thy hand was heavy upon him, but thou hast turned away thy wrath, and hast forgiven the iniquity of his sin: for this every one that is godly shall pray unto thee in a time of trouble. Thou art a hiding-place, thou preservest us from trouble: when our flesh and our heart faileth us, thou art the strength of our heart, and our portion for ever; indeed, Lord, thou art good unto thine Israel; even to such as are clean of heart. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but thou deliverest them out of all: though all the day long they be afflicted, and chastened every morning, yet are they continually with thee; thou holdest them by thy right hand; thou art a present help in trouble, when all the help of man is vain. Let thy servant love thee, because thou hast heard his voice and supplication. Let him offer unto thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving; and pay his vows to the Most High; and take the cup of salvation, and call upon thee all his days. Let him be wholly devoted to thy praise, and glorify thee in soul and body, as being thine, and seasonably depart in peace unto thy glory; through Jesus Christ, our Life and Righteousness.[272] Amen.

A Thanksgiving for the Deliverance of Women in Child-bearing.

We return thee thanks, most gracious God, that thou hast heard our prayers for this thy handmaid; and hast been her help in the time of her necessity, and delivered her from her fears and sorrows. Death and life are in thy power; thou killest, and thou makest alive; thou bringest down to the grave, and thou bringest up; thou makest the barren to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. We thank thee, that thou hast given thy servant to see the fruit of her womb, and that thou hast brought her again to thy holy assembly, to go with the multitude to thy house, and worship thee with the voice of joy and praise, that she may enter into thy gates with thanksgiving, and into thy courts with praise, and we may all be thankful to thee on her behalf, and speak good of thy name. Thou art good, O Lord, to all, and thy tender mercies are over all thy works; thou preservest them that love thee; thou raisest up them that are bowed down; thou fulfillest the desire of them that fear thee; thou also dost hear their cry, and save them. Command thy blessing yet upon thy servant and her offspring; let her not forget thee and thy mercies, but let her devote the life which thou hast given her to thy service, and educate her offspring, as a holy seed, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And as thou hast said, that thy curse is in the house of the wicked, but thou blessest the habitation of the just; let her and her house serve thee, and let holiness to the Lord be written upon all wherewith thou blessest her: let her make thee her refuge and habitation. Give her the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which in thy sight is of great price. Let her not love the world, nor mind earthly things, but use the world as not abusing of it; seeing the time is short, and the fashion of this world passeth away. Restore her soul, and lead her in the paths of righteousness: though she must walk through the valley of the shadow of death, let her fear no evil. Let thy goodness and mercy follow her all the days of her life, and let her dwell for ever in thy glorious presence, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.[273] Amen.

If the Child be dead, those passages which imply its living must be omitted; and if the Woman be such as the Church hath cause to judge ungodly, the Thanksgiving must be in words more agreeable to her condition, if any be used.

OF PASTORAL DISCIPLINE, PUBLIC CONFESSION, ABSOLUTION, AND EXCLUSION FROM THE HOLY COMMUNION OF THE CHURCH.

The recital of the curses are said in the book of Common Prayer, to be instead of the godly discipline of the primitive church, till it can be restored again, which is much to be wished, which is the putting of notorious sinners to open penitence. His Majesty's Declaration concerning ecclesiastical affairs, determineth that all public diligence be used for the instruction and reformation of scandalous offenders, whom the minister shall not suffer to partake of the Lord's table, until they have openly declared themselves to have truly repented and amended their former naughty lives, provided there be place for due appeals to superior powers.

And the law of Christ commandeth, that if thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his faults between him and thee alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother, but if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may be established; and if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he shall neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man, or as a publican. And it is the office of the pastors of the several congregations, not only to teach the people in general, and guide them in the celebration of the public worship, but also to oversee them, and watch over each member of their flock particularly; to preserve them from errors, heresies, divisions, and other sins, defending the truth, confuting gainsayers and seducers, instructing the ignorant, exciting the negligent, encouraging the despondent, comforting the afflicted, confirming the weak, rebuking and admonishing the disorderly and scandalous, and directing all according to their needs in the matters of their salvation; and the people in such needs should have ordinary recourse to them, as the officers of Christ, for guidance, and resolution of their doubts; and for assistance in making their salvation sure; and in proving, maintaining, or restoring the peace of their consciences, and spiritual comfort.[274]

If therefore any member of the church be a scandalous sinner, and the crime be either notorious or fully proved, let the pastor admonish him, and set before him the particular command of God which he transgresseth, the supreme authority of God which he despiseth, the promises and mercies which he treadeth under foot, and the curse and dreadful condemnation which he draweth upon himself. Let this be done with great compassion and tender love to the offender's soul, and with gravity, reverent and serious importunity, as beseemeth men employed on the behalf of God, for the saving of a soul; and yet with judgment, and cautelous prudence, not taking that for sin which is no sin, nor that for a gross and scandalous sin, which is but an ordinary human frailty; not dealing as unreverently with a superior as with an inferior; not making that public which should be concealed; nor reproving before others when it should be done more secretly; nor unreasonably speaking to those who through drink or passion are incapable of the benefit; nor yet offending by bashfulness, or the fear of man, or lukewarmness, negligence, or slighting over great offences, on the other extreme.

Prudence also requireth them to be cautelous of over-meddling, where the magistrate's honour or concernment, or the church's unity or peace, or the reputation of others, or the interest of their ministry, requireth them to forbear.

These cautions observed, if the scandalous offender continue impenitent, or unreformed, after due admonitions and patience, let the pastor in the congregation, when he is present, rebuke him before all, that the church may sufficiently disown the crime, and others may see the odiousness and danger of the sin. But let this also be with the love and prudence before mentioned.

If the offender in obstinacy will not be there, the pastor may open the crime before the congregation: and present or absent, (in case he remain impenitent,) if the case will bear so long a delay, it is convenient, that the pastor publicly pray for his conviction and repentance, that he may be saved.

And this he may do one, or two, or three, or more days, as the nature of the case and prudence shall direct him.

If during these means for his recovery (after the proof of the crime) there be a communion of the church in the Lord's supper, let the pastor require him to forbear, and not suffer him to partake of the Lord's table.

If yet the offender remain impenitent, let the pastor openly declare him unmeet for the communion of the church, and require him to abstain from it, and require the church to avoid communion with him. And let him bind him by the denunciations of the threatenings of God against the impenitent.

But before this is done, let no necessary consultation with other pastors, or concurrence of the church, be neglected: and after let there be place for due appeals, and let ministers consent to give account when they are accused of mal-administration.

But if, after private admonition, (while the offence is such as requireth not public confession,) the sinner be penitent, let the minister privately apply to his consolation the promises of the gospel, with such cautelous prudence, as is most suitable to his condition.

And if he repent not till after public admonition, or that the scandal be so great and notorious, as that a public confession is necessary, let him, at a seasonable time appointed by the pastor, with remorse of conscience, and true contrition, confess his sin before the congregation, and heartily lament it, and clear the honour of his christian profession which he had stained, and crave the prayers of the church to God for pardon and reconciliation through Christ, and also crave the ministerial absolution and restoration to the communion of the church, and profess his resolution to do so no more; but to live in new obedience to God, desiring also their prayers for corroborating and preserving grace.

It is only a credible profession of repentance, that is to be accepted by the church.

The foregoing cautions must be carefully observed in such confessions, that they be not made to the injuring of the magistrate, or of the church, or of the reputation of others, or of the life, estate, or liberty of the offender, or to any other shame than is necessary to the manifesting of his repentance, and the clearing of his profession, and the righting of any that he hath wronged, and the honour and preservation of the church.

When he hath made a credible profession of repentance, it is the pastor's duty, ministerially to declare him pardoned by Christ, but in conditional terms. [If his repentance be sincere.] And to absolve him from the censure of non-communion with the church, if he was under such a censure before his penitence, and to declare him meet for their communion, and to encourage him to come, and require the church to entertain him into their communion with gladness, and not upbraid him with his fall, but rejoice in his recovery, and endeavour his confirmation and preservation for the time to come: and it is his duty accordingly to admit him to communion, and theirs to have loving communion with him: all which the penitent person must believingly, lovingly, and joyfully receive. But if any by notorious perfidiousness, or frequent covenant-breaking, have forfeited the credit of their words, or have long continued in the sin which they do confess, so that their forsaking it hath no proof; the church then must have testimony of the actual reformation of such as these, before they may take their professions and promises as credible: yet here the difference of persons and offences is so great, that this is to be much left to the prudence of pastors that are present, and acquainted with the persons and circumstances of the case. In the transacting of all this, these following forms, to be varied as the variety of cases do require, may be made use of.

A Form of Public Admonition to the Impenitent.

The sin may be named and aggravated when it is convenient.

A. B. you are convict of a gross and scandalous sin; you have been admonished and entreated to repent. The promises of mercies to the penitent, and the threatenings of God against the impenitent, have not been concealed from you. We have waited in hope of your repentance, as having compassion on your soul, and desiring your salvation; but we must say with grief, you have hitherto disappointed us. We are certain from the word of God, that you must be penitent, if ever you will be pardoned, and that except you repent, you shall everlastingly perish. To acquaint you publicly with this, and yet here to offer you mercy from the Lord, is the next duty laid upon us for your recovery. Oh! blame us not, if, knowing the terrors of the Lord, we thus persuade you, and are loth to leave you in the power of Satan, and loth to see you cast out into perdition, and that your blood should be required at our hands, as not having discharged our duty to prevent it.[275]

Be it known unto you therefore, that it is the God of heaven and earth, the great, the jealous, and the terrible God, whose laws you have broken, and whose authority you despise. You refuse his government, who is coming with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly of their ungodly deeds and speeches; who hath told us that "evil shall not dwell with him." "The foolish shall not stand in his sight." "He hateth all workers of iniquity." "The ungodly shall not stand in judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous." God hath not his laws in vain. "Though the wicked contemn God, and say in their hearts he will not require it;" "yet their damnation slumbereth not, they are reserved to the day of judgment, to be punished." "And he seeth that their day is coming." If men cut off the lives of those that break their laws, will God be outfaced by the pride and stubbornness of sinners? He will not; you shall know he will not; he threateneth not in jest. "Who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?" "Are you not as chaff and stubble? and is not our God a consuming fire?" "If briers and thorns be set against him in battle, will he not go through them, and burn them up together?" "Can your heart endure, or your hands be strong, in the day when God shall deal with you? It is the Lord that hath spoken it, and he will do it." What will you do, when you must bear with the pains of hell from God, that now can scarce endure to be thus openly and plainly warned of it? If we to please you should be silent and betray you, do you think the God of heaven will fear or flatter you to please a worm? "Do you provoke the Lord to jealousy? are you stronger than he?" O man! for your soul's sake, let not Satan abuse your understanding, and sin befool you. Must you not die? And doth not judgment follow, when all secrets shall be opened, and God will no more entreat you to confess. "Behold, the Judge standeth at the door." Will sin go then with you for as light a matter as it doth now? Will you then deny it, or will you stand to all the reasonings, or excuses, by which you would now extenuate or cover it? Will you defend it as your friend; and be angry with ministers and reprovers as your enemies? Or will you not mourn at last, (with weeping and gnashing of teeth,) and say, "How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!" "Oh that you were wise, that you understood this, and that you would consider your latter end!" Believe God's wrath before you feel it: be convinced by the word and servants of the Lord, before you are confounded by the dreadfulness of his majesty. Yet there is hope; but shortly there will be none, if you neglect it. Yet "if you confess and forsake your sins, you shall have mercy; but if you cover them, you shall not prosper. And if, being oft reproved, you harden your neck, you shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." "Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Whatsoever you sow, that shall you also reap." O man! you know not what it is to deal with an offended and revenging God. Nor what it is to hear Christ say, "Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity; I never knew you: depart from me, ye wicked, into everlasting fire." You know not what it is to be shut out of heaven, and concluded under utter desperation; and in hell to look back upon this obstinate impenitence, and rejecting of the mercy that would have saved you; and there to have conscience telling you for ever, what it is that you have done. Did you know what this is, could you, think a penitent confessing and forsaking your sin to be a condition too hard for the preventing of such a doleful state? O no! You know not what a case you are casting your immortal soul into. The Lord give you repentance, that you may never know it by experience. To prevent this, is our business with you: we delight not to displease or shame you. But God hath told us, "That if any do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know, that he which converteth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." I do therefore by the command, and in the name of Jesus Christ, require and beseech you, that you do, without any more delay, confess your sins and heartily bewail them; and beg pardon of them, and resolve and promise by the help of God to do so no more. And bless God that you have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, whose blood will cleanse you from your sins, if you penitently confess them; and that mercy may be yet had on so easy terms. If you had any sense of your sin and misery, or any sense of the dishonour done to God, or of the wrong that you have done to others, and of the usefulness of your penitent confession, and amendment, to the reparation of all these, you would cast yourself in the dust, in shame and grief before the Lord, and before the church. "To-day, therefore, if you will hear his voice, harden not your heart, lest God forsake you, and give you over unto your own heart's lust, to walk in your own counsels, and resolve in his wrath, you shall never enter into his rest." And then God and this congregation will be witnesses that you were warned; and your blood will be upon your own head. But if, in penitent confession, you fly to Christ, and loathe yourself for your iniquities, and heartily forsake them, I have authority to promise you free forgiveness, and that your iniquity shall not be your ruin.[276]

A Form of Confession, to be made before the Congregation.

* Here the sin must be named and aggravated, when by the pastor it is judged requisite.

I do confess before God and this congregation, that I have greatly sinned. * I have offended and dishonoured God, wronged the church, and the souls of others. I have deserved to be forsaken of the Lord, and cast out of his presence and communion of saints, into desperation, and remediless misery in hell. I am no more worthy to be called thy son, or to have a name or place among thy servants. I do here declare mine iniquity, and am sorry for my sins; they are gone over my head as a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me, they take hold upon me. I am ashamed, as unworthy to look up towards heaven, but my hope is in the blood and grace of Christ, who made his life a sacrifice for sin, and came to seek and save that which was lost; whose grace aboundeth where sin hath abounded. The Lord be merciful to me a sinner. I humbly beg of the congregation that they will earnestly pray, that God will wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sins; that he will forgive them, and blot them out, and hide his face from them, and remember them no more; that he will not cast me away from his presence, nor forsake me as I have forsaken him, nor deal with me according to my deserts: but that he will create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit in me, and grant me the joy of his salvation. And I beg pardon of the church, and all that I have wronged; and resolve by the grace of God to do so no more; but to walk more watchfully as before the Lord. And I desire all that are ungodly, that they think never the worse of the laws, or ways, or servants of the Lord for my misdoings; for if I had been ruled by God, and by his servants, I had never done as I have done. There is nothing in religion that befriendeth sin; there is nothing so contrary to it, as God and his holy laws, which I should have obeyed. Rather let all take warning by me, and avoid temptations, and live not carelessly, and hearken not to the inclinations or reasonings of the flesh, nor trust their weak and sinful hearts; but live in godly fear and watchfulness, and keep under the flesh, and keep close to God, and hearken to the faithful counsel of his servants. And I entreat your prayers to God, that I may be strengthened by his grace, that I may sin thus no more, lest worse befall me.[277]

A form of Prayer for a Sinner impenitent, after Public Admonition.

Most gracious God, according to thy command we have warned this sinner, and told him of thy threatenings, and foretold him of thy certain terrible judgments, that he might flee from the wrath to come; but alas, we perceive not that he repenteth or relenteth, but hardeneth his heart against reproof; as if he were able to contend with thee, and overcome thy power. O let us prevail with thee for grace, that we may prevail with him for penitent confession and reformation. O pity a miserable sinner! so miserable, as that he layeth not to heart his misery, nor pitieth himself. O save him from the gall of bitterness, and from the bonds of his iniquity. Give him repentance unto life, that he may recover himself out of the snare of the devil, who is taken captive by him at his will. Give him not up to a blind mind, to a seared conscience, a heart that is past feeling, nor to walk in his own counsels, and after his own lusts. Let him no longer despise the riches of thy goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, nor with a hardened, impenitent heart, treasure up wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of thy righteous judgment; who wilt render to every man according to his deeds, even to them that are contentious and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil. Let him be sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them that commit such things; and let him not think in his impenitency to escape thy judgment. O suffer him not, when he heareth the threatenings of thy word, to bless himself in his heart, and say, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imaginations of my heart, and add sin to sin; lest thy anger and jealousy smoke against him, and thou wilt not spare him, but blot out his name from under heaven, and all thy curses lie upon him, and thou separate him to evil, even to the worm that dieth not, and to the fire that is not quenched. O save him from his sins, from his impenitency, and the pride and stubbornness of his heart. O save him from the everlasting flames, and from thy wrath, which he is the more in danger of, because he feeleth not, and feareth not his danger. Let him know how hard it is for him to kick against the pricks, and how woeful to strive against his Maker. Lay him at thy footstool in sackcloth and ashes, in tears and lamentation, crying out, Woe unto me that I have sinned; and humbling his soul in true contrition, and loathing himself, and begging thy pardoning and healing grace, and begging the prayers and communion of thy church, and resolving to sin wilfully no more, but to live before thee in uprightness and obedience all his days. O let us prevail with thee for the conversion of this impenitent sinner, and so for the saving of his soul from death, and the hiding and pardoning of his sins; that he that is lost may be found, and he that is dead may be alive, and the angels of heaven, and we thy unworthy servants here on earth, may rejoice at his repenting. Let us see him restored by thy grace, that we may joyfully receive him into our communion, and thou mayst receive him at last into thy heavenly kingdom, and Satan may be disappointed of his prey; for thy mercy' sake, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour.[278] Amen.

A Form of Rejection from the Communion of the Church.

Jesus Christ, the King and Lawgiver of the church, hath commanded, that, If a brother trespass against us, we go and tell him his fault between him and us alone; and if he will not hear us, we shall then take with us one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established; and if he shall neglect to hear them, that he tell it to the church; and if he neglect to hear the church, that he be to us as a heathen man, and a publican. And that we keep no company, if any that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such a one, no, not to eat. And that we withdraw ourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and note him, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. According to these laws of Christ, we have admonished this offending brother, who hath greatly sinned against God, and grieved and injured the church; we have earnestly prayed and patiently waited for his repentance, but we have not prevailed. But after all, he continueth impenitent, and will not be persuaded to confess and forsake his sin: we do therefore, according to these laws of Christ, declare him unmeet for the communion of the church, and reject him from it; requiring him to forbear it, and requiring you to avoid him; and we leave him bound to the judgment of the Lord, unless his true repentance shall prevent it.[279]

A Form of Absolution, and Reception of the Penitent.

Though you have greatly sinned against the Lord, and against his church, and your own soul, yet seeing you humble yourself before him, and penitently fly to Christ for mercy, resolving to do so no more; hear now the glad tidings of salvation, which I am commanded to declare unto you. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins. If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself lest thou also be tempted. According to this word of grace, |* This must be omitted if the person was not first rejected.|[* I do loose the bonds here laid upon you, and receive you again into the communion of the church,] requiring to receive you, and not upbraid you with your sin, but rejoice in your recovery. And I do declare to you the pardon of all your sins in the blood of Christ, if your repentance be sincere. And I exhort and charge you, that you believingly and thankfully accept this great, unspeakable mercy, and that you watch more carefully for the time to come, and avoid temptations, and subdue the flesh, and accept reproofs, and see that you return not to your vomit, or to wallow again in the mire, when you are washed; but obey the Spirit, and keep close to God in the means of your preservation.[280]

A Form of Thanksgiving, or Prayer, for the Restored Penitent.

O most merciful Father, we thank thee that thou hast brought as under so gracious a covenant, as not only to pardon the sins of our unregenerate state; but also upon our penitent confession, and return, to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness, and pardon our falls by the blood of Christ, and to restore our souls, and lead us again in the paths of righteousness, and command thy servants to receive us. We thank thee that thou hast thus restored this thy servant, giving him repentance and remission of sin, |* Leave out this if he was not rejected.|[* and returning him to the communion of thy church.] We beseech thee, comfort him with the believing apprehensions of thy forgiveness and reconciliation through Jesus Christ. Restore unto him the joy of thy salvation, and uphold him by thy free Spirit; stablish, strengthen, settle him, that with full purpose of heart he may cleave unto thee; and now thou hast spoken peace to him he may not return again to folly. As he nameth the name of Christ, let him depart from iniquity, and never more dishonour thee, thy church or truth, nor his holy profession, but save him from temptation. Let him watch and stand fast, and sin no more, lest worse befall him. Let him not receive this grace in vain, nor turn it into wantonness, nor continue in sin, that grace may abound. But let his old man be crucified with Christ, and the body of sin be destroyed; that henceforth he may no more serve sin, remembering what fruit he had in those things whereof he is now ashamed, and that the end and wages of sin is death: and let us all take warning by the falls of others, and be not high-minded, but fear; and let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Let us watch and pray that we enter not into temptation, remembering that the flesh is weak; and our adversary the devil walketh about seeking whom he may devour. And let none of us hate our brother in our hearts, but in any wise rebuke our neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him: and confirm us unto the end, that we may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom with thee, O Father, and thy Holy Spirit, be kingdom, and power, and glory for ever.[281] Amen.

APPENDIX.

A LARGER LITANY, OR GENERAL PRAYER, TO BE USED AT DISCRETION.

O most holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, three Persons and one God, infinite in power, wisdom, and goodness, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier; our Owner, Governor, and Father; hear our prayers, and have mercy upon us, miserable sinners.

O Lord our Saviour, whose incarnation, nativity, subjection, fasting, temptation, poverty, reproaches, agony and bloody sweat, scourging, desertion, crucifying, death, and burial, were all undergone to take away the sins of the world; who being risen, ascended, and glorified, art the great Priest, and Prophet, and King of thy universal church, for which thou makest intercession, which thou dost gather, teach, and guide by thy Spirit, word, and ministers, which thou dost justify and wilt glorify with thyself, who wilt come again, and raise the dead, and judge the world in righteousness; we beseech thee hear us, miserable sinners. Cast us not out that come unto thee. Make sure to us our calling and election, our unfeigned faith and repentance, that being justified, and made the sons of God, we may have peace with him as our reconciled God and Father.[282]

Let our hearts be right with thee our God, and stedfast in thy covenant. Cause us to deny ourselves, and give up ourselves entirely unto thee, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, as being not our own, but thine.[283]

Let thy Holy Spirit dwell in us, and sanctify us throughout, that we may be new creatures, and holy as thou art holy; let it be in us the Spirit of adoption and supplication, and the seal and earnest of our glorious inheritance; and let us know that we are thine, and thou abidest in us, by the Spirit which thou hast given us.[284]

As thy name, O Lord, is holy, and thy glory covereth the heavens, so let the earth be filled with thy praises. Let our souls ever magnify thee, O Lord, and our tongues extol thee. Let us speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, of thy greatness, thy power, thy glorious kingdom, thy wisdom, holiness, truth, and righteousness, thy goodness, thy mercy, and thy wondrous works. Let all flesh bless thy holy name.[285]

Let the desire of our souls be to thy name: cause us to love thee with all our hearts, to fear thee, trust in thee, and to delight in thee, and be satisfied in thee as our portion, and whatever we do to do it to thy glory.[286]

Keep us from inordinate self-love; from pride, and vain-glory, and self-seeking; and from dishonouring thee, thy word, or service in the world.[287]

Let the world acknowledge thee, the universal King. Give thy Son the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. Let the kingdoms of the world become his kingdoms. Convert the atheistical, idolatrous, infidel, Mahometan, and ungodly nations of the earth, that every knee may bow to Christ, and every tongue confess him the King of kings, and Lord of lords, to the glory of God the Father.[288]

Let the word of thy kingdom and salvation be preached to all the world; let it have free course and be glorified: and by the power of thy Spirit convert many unto Christ; and let him be thy salvation to the ends of the earth. Send forth more labourers into the harvest, which is great, and fit them for so great a work; and deliver them from unreasonable and wicked men, that (to fill up their sins) forbid them to speak to the people, that they might be saved.[289]

Deliver the churches that are oppressed by idolaters, Mahometans, or other infidels and enemies. Give all thy servants prudence, patience, and innocency, that, suffering as christians, and not as evil-doers, they may not be ashamed, but may glorify thee, and wait for thy salvation, committing the keeping of their souls unto thee, in hope of a reward in heaven.[290]

Deliver the church from the Roman papal usurpations and corruptions. Dispel the deceits of heresies, and false worship, by the light of thy prevailing truth. Unite all christians in Christ Jesus, the true and only universal Head; that by the true christian, catholic faith and love, they may grow up in him, and may keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; the strong receiving and bearing the infirmities of the weak. Heal the divisions that are among believers. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than himself; and let all men know that we are Christ's disciples, by our fervent love to one another.[291]

Let us be heartily and entirely thy subjects, believing that thou art just, and the rewarder of them that diligently seek thee. Keep us from atheism, idolatry, and disobedience; from infidelity, ungodliness, and sensuality; from security, presumption, and despair.[292]

Let us study to please thee in all things. Let thy law be written in our hearts; and let us delight to do thy will. Let our faith and lives be ruled by thy word, which is able to make us wise unto salvation; let us love it, search it, and understand it, and meditate in it day and night.[293]

Let us not please ourselves or other men against thee, nor be led by the wisdom or desires of the world and flesh, nor regard lying vanities, nor through carelessness, rashness, or presumption, offend thee.[294]

As all nations must be judged by thee, let them be ruled by thy laws, and not make them void by men's traditions, nor worship thee in vain, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men. But whatever thou commandest, let them take heed to do; let them add nothing thereto, nor take aught therefrom.[295]

Let us not take thy holy name in vain, but use it in truth and reverence. Keep us from all blasphemy, perjury, profane swearing; from lying before the God of truth; and from contempt and forgetfulness of thy presence; from false, unworthy, unreverent thoughts or speeches of God, and holy things; and from neglecting or abusing thy holy word and worship.[296]

Help us to keep holy thy day, in remembrance of the blessed work of our redemption, and reverently to attend thee in public worship; and obediently to receive thy word; and fervently to call upon thy name; and to delight ourselves in thanksgiving and joyful praises to thy holiness in the communion of thy saints: and let us carefully see that our households, and all within our gates, do serve thee, and not abuse thy holy day.[297]

Have mercy on the kings and rulers of the earth, that they may escape the temptations of worldly greatness, honours, and prosperity, which would captivate them to the flesh, and draw their hearts from thee, thy laws, and ways, and would engage them against thee and thy servants. And as they are thy ministers, and magistracy is thine ordinance, sanctify and dispose them to be nursing fathers to thy church, to own thy interest, and rule for thee.[298]

Especially have mercy on thy servant Charles, our king: illuminate and sanctify him by thy Holy Spirit, that above all things he may seek thy glory, the increase of faith and obedience to thy laws, and may rule us as being thy minister for good, not to be a terror to good works, but to evil; that under him we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.[299]

Have mercy upon all the royal family, the lords of the council, and all the nobility, the judges, and magistrates of these lands. Cause them to fear thee, and to be eminent in sobriety, righteousness, and godliness, to protect the innocent, and be a terror to the wicked, hating injustice, covetousness, and pride.[300]

Let every soul be subject to the higher powers, and not resist. Let them obey the king, and all that are in authority under him, not only for wrath, but for conscience' sake, as knowing that they rule by thee, and for thee.[301]

Give all the churches able, holy, faithful pastors; and cause them laboriously to preach, and rightly to divide the word of truth, to feed thy people with knowledge, and lead them in the way of faith and love, of holiness and peace, and to watch for their souls as those that must give account; overseeing and ruling them, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind, not as being lords over thy heritage, but as the servants of all, and ensamples to the flock; that when the chief Pastor shall appear, they may receive a crown of glory.[302]

Let the congregations know those that have the ruling of them, and are over them in the Lord, that labour among them, preaching to them the word of God. Let them submissively and obediently hear, and esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake, and account them worthy of double honour.[303]

Let parents bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, diligently teaching them thy word, talking of it when they are in their house, and when they walk by the way, when they lie down, and when they rise up, that they may know their Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, in the days of their youth: and cause children to hear, love, honour, and obey their parents, that they may have the blessing of thine especial promise unto such.[304]

Let husbands love their wives, and prudently guide them in knowledge and holiness; and let wives love, honour, and obey their husbands, as meet helpers to them.[305]

Let masters rule their servants in holiness and mercy, remembering they have a Master in heaven; and let servants reverently, singly, and willingly be obedient, and do service to their masters as to the Lord, from him expecting their reward.[306]

Keep us from murder, violence, and all injury to our neighbour's life or health; from malice, cursing, reviling, and unadvised anger. Let us not resist evil with evil, but forbear one another, and not give place to wrath.[307]

Keep us from adultery, fornication, and all uncleanness, and the occasions and appearances thereof. Let us take care as becometh saints, that they be not immodestly named among us, and that no corrupt communication proceed out of our mouths. Keep us from chambering and wantonness, from lustful thoughts, and all immodest attire, behaviour, looks, and actions.[308]

Keep us from theft and oppression, and any way wronging our neighbour in his property and estate.[309]

Keep us from false witness-bearing, lying, and deceiving; from slandering, backbiting, unjust, uncharitable censuring or reproaching; from all perverting of justice, and wronging the reputation of our neighbour; and from all consent or desire of such wrongs.[310]

Keep us from envy, and from coveting any thing that is our neighbour's, to his wrong, and from seeking our own, or drawing to ourselves, to the injury of his welfare; but let us love our neighbours as ourselves, and do to others as we would they should do to us.[311]

Teach us to love Christ and his holy image in his members, with a dear and special love, and to love our enemies, and pray for them that hate and persecute us, and to do good to all as we are able, but especially to them of the household of faith.[312]

Cause us with patience to submit to all the disposals of thy will, and wait thy end, and to love the demonstrations of thy holiness and justice, though grievous to the flesh; and keep us from impatient murmurings, and discontent, and arrogant reasoning against thy will.[313]

Give us our daily bread, our necessary sustentation and provision for thy service; and let us use it for thee, and not to satisfy the flesh. Let us depend on thee, and trust thee for it in the lawful use of the means. And bless thou our labours, and give us the fruits of the earth in season, and such temperate weather as tendeth thereunto.[314]

Deliver us and all thy servants from such wants, distresses, griefs, and sickness, as will unseasonably take us off thy service, and from untimely death; and teach us to value and redeem our time, and work while it is day.[315]

Keep us from gluttony, drunkenness, and all intemperance; from sloth and idleness; from inordinate desires of pleasures or abundance; but having food and raiment, let us be therewith contented.[316]

Of thy abundant mercy, through the sacrifice and merits of thy Son according to thy promise, forgive us all our sins, and save us from thy deserved wrath and condemnation. Remember not, O Lord, our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers; but though our iniquities testify against us, spare us and save us for thy mercy's sake. O let not our sin deprive us of thy Spirit, or of access unto thee, or communion with thee, or of thy favour or comfort, or the light of thy countenance, or of everlasting life.[317]

Cause us to forgive from our hearts, the injuries done against us, as we expect to be forgiven by thee the greatest debt. Keep us from all revengeful desires and attempts. And do thou convert and pardon our enemies, slanderers, oppressors, persecutors, and others that have done us wrong.[318]

Keep us from running upon temptations: suffer not the tempter by subtlety or importunity to corrupt our judgments, wills, affections, or conversations. Cause us to maintain a diligent and constant watch over our thoughts and hearts, our senses and appetites, our words and actions; and as faithful soldiers, by the conduct and strength of the Captain of our salvation, with the whole armour of God, to resist and overcome the world, the devil, and the flesh unto the end.[319]

Save us from the temptations of prosperity and adversity. Let us not be drawn from thee to sin by the pleasures, profits, or honours of the world. Strengthen us for sufferings. Let us not forsake thee, or fall in time of trial. Help us to deny ourselves, and take up our cross and follow Christ, accounting the sufferings of this present time unworthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed.[320]

Deliver us from the enmity and rage of Satan and his instruments; and give not up thy servants, their souls or bodies, their peace or liberties, estates or names, to their malicious wills; but save us and preserve us to thy heavenly kingdom.[321]

We ask all this of thee, O Lord; for thou art the universal King, holy and just, to whom it belongeth in righteousness to judge the world, and save thy people. All power is thine to execute wrath upon thine enemies, and to deliver and glorify thy flock; and none is able to resist thee. Of thee, and through thee, and to thee, are all things, and the glory shall be thine, for ever.[322] Amen.

THE CHURCH'S PRAISE FOR OUR REDEMPTION, TO BE USED AT DISCRETION.

Our souls do magnify thee, O Lord; our spirits rejoice in God our Saviour, who remembered us in our low and lost estates, for his mercy endureth for ever. By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin. We kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and judgment came upon all men to condemnation. But blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up a mighty salvation for us in the house of his servant David: as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began. A virgin hath conceived and brought forth: the Holy Ghost did come upon her; the power of the Highest did overshadow her; therefore the Holy One that is born of her, is called the Son of God: his name is called Jesus, for he saveth his people from their sins. To us is born a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord: he is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature; for by him all things were created that are in heaven and in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or principalities or powers, all things were created by him and for him, and he is before all things, and by him all things do consist. He is the power of God and the wisdom of God; the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and men beheld his glory as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth; for it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell. When the fulness of time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that are under the law. This is the beloved Son in whom the Father is well pleased. For such a High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners. He did no sin, neither was there any guile found in his mouth; when he was reviled, he reviled not again, leaving us an example: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree; for God laid on him the iniquity of us all, and by his stripes we are healed. When we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly, the just for the unjust: in this was manifest the love of God towards us, that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live by him. Forasmuch as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he himself likewise took part with them, that he might destroy through death him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver them, who through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in his cross. He was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures; for God raised him, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. He hath abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light by the gospel. O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory?[323]

All power is given him in heaven and earth. When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors, and some teachers, for the perfection of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man. He is set at God's right hand in the celestials, far above all principalities, and powers, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in that to come. God hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be Head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.[324]

Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. This is the record, that God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son hath not life. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came to his own, and his own received him not. This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. But as many as receive him, to them gives he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. He forgiveth our iniquities, and will remember our sins no more. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth: who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died; yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, the same is none of his. He that nameth the name of Christ must depart from iniquity. If we regard iniquity in our hearts, God will not hear our prayers. But we are washed, we are sanctified, we are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. And being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given us. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. He that spared not his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? He that is gone to prepare a place for us, will come again and receive us to himself, that where he is, there we may be also. It is his will that they that the Father hath given him be with him where he is, that they may behold the glory that is given him. Because he liveth we shall live also; for we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that do believe. Then shall men discern between the righteous and the wicked, between those that serve God, and those that serve him not. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that overcometh shall inherit all things. He shall enter into the joy of his Lord. He shall be a pillar in the temple of God, and shall go out no more. Christ will grant him to sit with him in his throne, even as he overcame and is set down with his Father in his throne. He will rejoice over us with joy, he will rest in his love, then, in the holy city, the new Jerusalem, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, where the tabernacle of God will be with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, their God, and shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, no crying, nor pain, for the former things are passed away. And the city needeth not the sun, or the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him, and shall see his face, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Of him, through him, and to him, are all things; to whom be glory for ever.[325] Amen.

END OF VOL. I. JOHN CHILDS AND SON, BUNGAY.