Church
Government - John Calvin
Puritan
Hard Drive - Still Waters
Revival Books
The Form of Prayers and
Ministration of the Sacraments, etc.
Used in the English Congregation
at Geneva (1556)
Contents
Of Ministers and Their Election
Of Elders, and as Touching
Their Office and Election
Of Deacons, and Their Office and Election
The Weekly Assembly of the
Ministers, Elders, and Deacons
Interpretation of the Scriptures
A Confession of Our Sins
Framed to Our Time,
out of the 9th Chapter of Daniel
Another Confession for
All States and Times
A Prayer for the Whole Estate
of Christ's Church
The Manner of the Lord's Supper
The Order of Ecclesiastical Discipline
A Form of Prayers to be Used in
Private Houses, Every Morning and Evening
Of
Ministers and Their Election
First, let the church diligently consider that the minister which is to be
chosen[a] be not found culpable of any
such faults which St. Paul reprehends in a man of that vocation,[b] but contrariwise endowed with such virtues, that he
may be able to undertake his charge, and diligently execute the same. Secondly,
that he distribute faithfully the word of God, and minister the sacraments
sincerely,[c] ever careful not
only to teach his flock publicly, but also privately to admonish them;[d] remembering always, that if any thing perish
through his default, the Lord will require it at his hands.[e]
a. Acts 1:21-23; 13:2-3; 14:23
b. 1 Tim. 3:2-7; 2 Tim. 2:5-6; 4:5; Ezek. 33:7; Jer. 3:15; John 21:17; Isa.
62:6; 1 Cor. 9:16, 19-23
c. 2 Tim. 2:2, 14-16, 23-25; 2 Cor. 4:1-2,17; Matt. 26:26; 28:19-20; 1 Cor.
1:17-18, 21-24
d. Acts 20:28,31; 2 Tim. 4:2
e. Ezek. 3:18-21; Ezek. 2; 1 Cor. 9:16
Because the charge of the word of God is of greater importance than that any
man is able to dispense therewith;[a]
and St. Paul exhorts to esteem them as ministers of Christ, and disposers of
God's mysteries;[b] not lords or
rulers, as St. Peter says, over the flock;[c] therefore the pastor's or minister's chief office
stands in preaching the word of God, and ministering the sacraments.[d] So that in consultations, judgments, elections, and
other political affairs, his counsel,[e] rather than authority, takes place.
And if so be the congregation, upon just cause, agrees to excommunicate,
then it belongs to the minister, according to their general determination, to
pronounce the sentence,[f] to the end
that all things may be done orderly, and without confusion.[g]
a. 1 Cor. 9:16; Acts 6:2, 4; Luke 12:14
b. 1 Cor. 4:1; 2 Cor. 4:1-2, 5,7,10
c. 1 Pet. 5:2-8; 2 Cor. 1:24; Matt. 20:25-26
d. Matt. 26:26ff.; 28:19-20; Mal. 2:6-7; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Acts 3:2-3, 5;
16:10, 17; 1 Cor. 1:17ff.
e. Acts 20:28; 2 Cor. 4:2, 5
f. 1 Cor. 5:1ff.
g. 1 Cor. 14:33, 40
The ministers and elders at such time as there wants a minister, assemble
the whole congregation,[a] exhorting
them to advise and consider who may best serve in that room and office. And if
there be choice, the church appoints two or three, upon some certain day, to be
examined by the ministers and elders.
First, as touching their doctrine,[b]
whether he that should be minister have good and sound knowledge in the holy
scriptures, and fit and apt gifts to communicate the same to the edification of
the people. For the trial whereof, they propose [to] him a theme or text to be
treated privately, whereby his ability may the more manifestly appear unto
them.
Secondly, they inquire of his life and conversation, if he has in times past
lived without slander [scandal], and governed himself in such sort, as the word
of God has not heard evil, or been slandered through his occasion.[c] Which being severally done, they signify unto the
congregation, whose gifts they find most excellent and profitable for that ministry:
appointing by a general consent, eight days at the least, that every man may
diligently inquire of his life and manners.
At the which time also, the minister exhorts them to humble themselves to
God by fasting and prayer,[d] that both
their election may be agreeable to his will, and also profitable to the church.
And if in the mean season anything be brought against him whereby he may be
found unworthy by lawful probations, then is he dismissed and some other
presented. If nothing be alleged upon some certain day, one of the ministers,
at the morning sermon, presents him again to the church, framing his sermon, or
some part thereof, to the setting forth of his duty.
Then at afternoon, the sermon ended, the minister exhorts them to the
election, with the invocation of God's name,[e] directing his prayer as God shall move his heart. In like manner,
after the election, the minister gives thanks to God,[f] with request of such things as shall be necessary
for his office.
After that he is appointed minister, the people sing a psalm and depart.
a. Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; Acts 1:15-26
b. 1 Tim. 3:2,6; Titus 1:9
c. Rom. 2:19-24; Jam. 1:26-27; 1Sam.2:17,24; 1 Tim. 5:17
d. Acts 13:3; 14:23; Luke 2:37
e. 1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17; Matt. 9:37-38
f. 1 Thess. 5:18; Col. 4:2; Eph. 5:20; Phil 1:3
The elders must be men of good life and godly conversation,[a] without blame and all suspicion; careful for the
flock, wise, and, above all things, fearing God: whose office stands in
governing with the rest of the ministers, in consulting, admonishing,
correcting, and ordering all things appertaining to the state of the
congregation. And they differ from the ministers, in that they preach not the
word, nor minister the sacraments. In assembling the people, neither they
without the ministers, nor the ministers without them, may attempt anything.
And if any of the just number want, the minister, by the consent of the rest,
warns the people thereof, and finally admonishes them to observe the same order
which was used in choosing the ministers.
a. Num. 11:16ff.; Acts 14:23; 16:4;20:17ff.; Rom. 12:8; Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Cor.
12:28; Jam. 5:14; 1 Pet. 5:1-3
Of
the Deacons, and
Their Office and Election
The deacons must be men of good estimation and report,[a] discreet, of good conscience; charitable, wise, and
finally adorned with such virtues as St. Paul requires in them. Their office is
to gather the alms diligently, and faithfully to distribute them,[b] with the consent of the ministers and elders; also
to provide for the sick and impotent persons; having ever a diligent care, that
the charity of godly men be not wasted upon loiterers and idle vagabonds.[c] Their election is, as has been before rehearsed in
the ministers and elders.
a. Acts 6:1-6; 1 Tim. 3:8-13
b. Rom. 12:7-8
c. 2 Thess. 3:10-12
We are not ignorant that the scriptures make mention of a forth kind of
ministers left to the church of Christ, which also are very profitable, where
time and place do permit. But for lack of opportunity, in this our dispersion
and exile, we cannot well have the use thereof; and would to God it were not
neglected where better occasion serves.
These ministers are called teachers or doctors,[a] whose office is to instruct and teach the faithful
in sound doctrine, providing with all diligence that the purity of the gospel
be not corrupted, either through ignorance, or evil opinions. Notwithstanding,
considering the present state of things, we comprehend under this title such
means as God has in his church, that it should not be left desolate, nor yet
his doctrine decay for default of ministers thereof.
Therefore to term it by a word more usual in these our days, we may call it
the order of schools, wherein the highest degree, and most annexed to the
ministry and government of the church, is the exposition of God's word, which
is contained in the Old and New Testaments.
But because men cannot so well profit in that knowledge, except they be
first instructed in the tongues and human sciences (for now God works not
commonly by miracles), it is necessary that seed be sown for the time to come,
to the intent that the church be not left barren and wasted to our posterity;
and that schools also be erected, and colleges maintained, with just and
sufficient stipends, wherein youth may be trained in the knowledge and fear of
God, that in their ripe age they may prove worthy members of our Lord Jesus
Christ, whether it be to rule in civil policy, or to serve in the spiritual
ministry, or else to live in godly reverence and subjection.
a. Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:28
The
Weekly Assembly of the
Ministers, Elders, and Deacons
To the intent that the ministry of God's
word may be had in reverence, and not brought to contempt through the evil
conversation of such as are called thereunto,[a] and also that
faults and vices may not by long sufferance grow at length to extreme
inconveniences;[b] it is ordained that every Thursday the ministers
and elders, in their assembly or consistory, diligently examine all such faults
and suspicions as may be espied,[c] not only amongst others, but chiefly
amongst themselves, lest they seem to be culpable of that which our Saviour
Christ reproved in the Pharisees,[d] who could espy a mote in another man's
eye, and could not see a beam in their own.
And because the eye ought to be more clear
than the rest of the body,[e] the minister may not be spotted with any vice, but
to the great slander of God's word, whose message he bears: therefore it is to
be understood that there are certain faults, which if they be deprehended in a
minister, he ought to be deposed: as heresy, Papistry, schism, blasphemy,
perjury, fornication, theft, drunkenness, usury, fighting, unlawful games, with
suchlike.
Others are more tolerable, if so be that
after brotherly admonition he amends his fault: as strange and unprofitable
fashion in preaching the scriptures; curiosity in seeking vain questions;
negligence, as well in his sermons, and in studying the scriptures, as in all
other things concerning his vocation; scurrility, flattering, lying,
backbiting, wanton words, deceit, covetousness, taunting, dissolution in
apparel, gesture, and his other doings; which vices, as they are odious in all
men, so in him that ought to be as an example to others of perfection,[f] in no wise are to
be suffered; especially, if [it] so be that, according to God's rule, being
brotherly advertised,[g] he acknowledge not his fault and amend.
a. Rom. 2:19-24; Ezek. 36:22-23; Isa. 52:5
b. 2 Tim. 2
c. 1 Cor. 5
d. Matt. 7:3; Luke 6:41; Rom. 2:17-24
e. Matt. 6:22-23; Luke 11:34
f. Matt. 5:13; Mark 9:50?
g. Matt. 18:15-17; Luke 17:3; Jam. 5:16,
19-20
Interpretation
of the Scriptures
Once every week, the congregation assembles to hear some place of the
scriptures orderly expounded.[a] At
which time, it is lawful for every man to speak or enquire, as God shall move
his heart, and the text minister occasion; so it be without pertinacity or
disdain, as one that rather seeks to profit than to contend. And if [it] so be
any contention arise, then such as are appointed moderators, either satisfy the
party, or else if he seems to evil, exhort him to keep silence, referring the
judgement thereof to the ministers and elders, to be determined in their
assembly or consistory before mentioned.
a. 1 Cor. 14:1ff.; 1 Thess. 5:20; Eph. 4:29; 1 Cor. 12:28-31
When the congregation is assembled at the hour appointed, the minister uses one of these two confessions, or like in effect, exhorting the people diligently to examine themselves, following in their hearts the tenor of his words.
A
Confession of Our Sins,
Framed to Our Time, out of
the 9th Chapter of Daniel
O Lord God, which art mighty and dreadful, thou that keepest covenant, and
shewest mercy to them that love thee and do thy commandments:[a] We have sinned; we have offended;[b] we have wickedly and stubbornly gone back from thy
laws and precepts.[c] We would
never obey thy servants the prophets that spake in thy name,[d] to our kings and princes, to our forefathers, and
to all the people of our land. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee;[e] unto us pertaineth nothing but open shame, as it is
come to pass this day unto our miserable country of England; yea unto all our
nations, whether they be far or near, through all lands, wherein they are
scattered for the offences that they and we have committed against thee,[f] so that the curses and punishments which are
written in thy law[g] are now
poured upon us; and thou hast performed those words wherewith thou didst menace
us and our rulers that governed us, in bringing the same plagues upon us which
before were threatened. And yet notwithstanding, both they and we proceed in
our iniquity, and cease not to heap sin upon sin. For they which once were well
instructed in the doctrine of thy gospel, are now gone back from the obedience
of thy truth,[1] and are turned again to that most
abominable idolatry,[h] from the
which they were once called by the lively preaching of thy word. And we, alas!
to this day, do not earnestly repent us of our former wicked ness, neither do
we rightly consider the heaviness of thy displeasure.[i] Such is thy just judgment, O Lord, that thou
punisheth sin by sin, and man by his own inventions,[k] so that there can be no end of iniquity, except
thou prevent us[l] with thy
undeserved grace.[m] Therefore
convert us, O Lord, and we shall converted;[n] for we do not offer up our prayers trusting in our
own righteousness,[o] but in thy
manifold mercies. And although thou hast once of thy especial grace delivered
us from the miserable thraldom of error and blindness, and called us many times
to the sweet liberty of thy gospel,[p] which we notwithstanding have most shamefully abused, in obeying
rather our own lusts and affections,[q] than the admonitions of thy prophets;[r] yet we beseech thee once again, for thy name's
sake,[s] to pour some comfortable
drop of thy accustomed mercies upon us; incline thine ears, and open thine
eyes,[t] to behold the grievous
plagues of our country, the continual sorrows of our afflicted brethren, and
our woeful banishment. And let our afflictions and just punishments be an
admonition and warning to other nations among whom we are scattered,[2] that with all reverence they may obey thy holy gospel;
lest for like contempt, in the end, like or worse plagues fall upon them.[u] Wherefore, O Lord, hear us! O Lord, forgive us! O
Lord, consider and tarry not over long! but for thy dear Son Jesus Christ's
sake, be merciful unto us, and deliver us.[x] So shall it be known to all the world, that thou
only art the selfsame God, that ever showeth mercy to all such as call upon thy
holy name.[y]
a. Neh. 1:5; Job 9, 38-40; Ps. 24, 76, 77:10ff., 139
b. Ex. 20:6; Luke 7:47
c. Gen. 3:6-19; Rom. 5:12ff.; 1 John 1:8-10; Ps. 32:5; 106:6ff.
d. Lev. 26; Deut. 28; Jer. 26:4-6, 29:19; Neh. 1:6-11
e. Ps. 11:7; Jam. 1:13; Job 4:17-19; 9:1ff.; 25:4-6
f. Ps. 89:10[?]; Jer. 26-27
g. Lev. 26:14ff.; Deut. 27-30
h. 2 Pet. 2:20-22; Prov. 26:11; Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-31
i. Ps. 19:12-13; Deut. 7:16ff.; 29:20; Ezek. 5:5-11
k. Rom. 1:18ff.
l. Isa. 65:1
m. Eph. 2:5
n. Ps. 85:4; Jer. 7:18
o. Titus 3:5; 2 Tim. 1:9
p. Gal.4 & 5:1ff.
q. Gal. 5:13-21
r. Zech. 7:8-14
s. Ps. 23:3; 25:11
t. Ps. 71:1ff.
u. Matt. 11:20-24; 12:41; Luke 10:13-16
x. John 16:23-24
y. Ps. 103; 108:4, 136
Another
Confession for
All States and Times
O eternal God and most merciful Father, we confess and acknowledge here,
before thy divine majesty, that we are miserable sinners,[a] conceived and born in sin and iniquity,[b] so that in us there is no goodness.[c] For the flesh evermore rebels against the spirit,[d] whereby we continually transgress thy holy precepts
and commandments, and so purchase to ourselves, through thy just judgment,
death and damnation.[e]
Notwithstanding, O heavenly Father, forasmuch as we are displeased with
ourselves for the sins that we have committed against thee, and
do unfeignedly repent us of the same, we most humbly beseech thee, for Jesus
Christ's sake, to show thy mercy upon us, to forgive us all our sins, and to
increase thy Holy Spirit in us: that we, acknowledging from the bottom of our
hearts our own unrighteousness, may from henceforth not only mortify our sinful
lusts and affections,[f] but also bring
forth such fruits as may be agreeable to thy most blessed will; not for the
worthiness thereof, but for the merits of thy dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ,[g] our only Saviour, whom thou hast already given [as]
an oblation and offering for our sins, and for whose sake we are certainly
persuaded that thou wilt deny us nothing that we shall ask in his name,
according to thy will.[h] For thy
Spirit does assure our consciences that thou art our merciful Father,[i] and so lovest us thy children through him, that
nothing is able to remove thy heavenly grace and favour from us. To thee,
therefore, O Father, with the Son and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory,
world without end. So be it.
a. Rom. 3:9ff.; Ps. 14:1-3
b. Ps. 51:5
c. Rom. 7:15-25
d. Gal. 5:17
e. Rom. 2:1ff.; Jer. 3:23-25; Isa. 40:7 [?]
f. Col. 3:5ff.; Rom. 6:1-7; Eph. 4:20-24; 5:3-5; 1 Pet. 2:11
g. Rom. 5:1ff.; Heb. 9:14; Eph. 2:16ff.
h. John 14:13-14; 16:23; Matt. 7:7-12; Jam. 1:5-7
i. 1 John 3:24; Rom. 8:9-17, 37-39
This done, the people sing a Psalm all together, in a plain tune; which ended, the minister prays for the assistance of God's Holy Spirit, as the same shall move his heart, and so proceeds to the sermon; using after the sermon this prayer following, or suchlike.
A
Prayer for the
Whole Estate of Christ's Church
Almighty God and most merciful Father, we humbly submit ourselves,[a] and fall down before thy Majesty,[b] beseeching thee from the bottom of our hearts, that
this seed of thy word,[c] now
sown amongst us, may take such deep root, that neither the burning heat of
persecution cause it to wither, neither the thorny cares of this life do choke
it, but that as seed sown in good ground, it may bring forth thirty, sixty, and
an hundred fold, as thy heavenly wisdom hath appointed. And because we have
need continually to crave many things at thy hands, we humbly beseech thee, O
heavenly Father, to grant us thy Holy Spirit[d] to direct our petitions, that they may proceed from
such a fervent mind as may be agreeable to thy most blessed will.[e]
And seeing that our infirmity is able to do nothing without thy help, and
that thou art not ignorant with how many and great temptations[f] we poor wretches are on every side enclosed and
compassed, let thy strength, O Lord, sustain our weakness, that we being
defended with the force of thy grace, may be safely preserved against all
assaults of Satan, who goeth about continually like a roaring lion, seeking to
devour us.[g] Increase our
faith,[h] O merciful Father, that
we do not swerve at any time from thy heavenly word, but augment in us hope and
love, with a careful keeping of all thy commandments, that no hardness of
heart,[i] no hypocrisy, no
concupiscence of the eyes,[k] nor
enticements of the world, do draw us away from thy obedience. And seeing we
live now in these most perilous times,[l] let thy Fatherly providence defend us against the violence of all our
enemies, which do everywhere pursue us; but chiefly against the wicked rage and
furious uproars of that Romish idol, enemy to thy Christ.[m]
Furthermore, forasmuch as by thy holy apostle we are taught to make our
prayers and supplications for all men,[n]
we pray not only for ourselves here present, but beseech thee also, to reduce
all such as be yet ignorant, from the miserable captivity of blindness and
error, to the pure understanding and knowledge of thy heavenly truth, that we
all, with one consent and unity of minds,[o] may worship thee our only God and Saviour; and that
all pastors, shepherds, and ministers, to whom thou hast committed the
dispensation of thy holy word,[p]
and charge of thy chosen people,[q]
may both in their life and doctrine be found faithful, setting only before
their eyes thy glory; and that by them, all poor sheep which wander and go
astray, may be gathered and brought home to thy fold.
Moreover, because the hearts of rulers are in thy hands,[r] we beseech thee to direct and govern the hearts of
all kings, princes, and magistrates to whom thou hast committed the sword;[s] especially, O Lord, according to our bounden duty,
we beseech thee to maintain and increase the honourable estate of this city,[3] into whose defence we are received, the magistrates, the
council, and all the whole body of this commonwealth: Let thy Fatherly favour
so preserve them, and thy Holy Spirit so govern their hearts, that they may in
such sort execute their office, that thy religion may be purely maintained,
manners reformed, and sin punished according to the precise rule of thy holy
word.[t]
And for that we are all members of the mystical body of Christ Jesus,[u] we make our requests unto thee, O heavenly Father,
for all such as are afflicted with any kind of cross or tribulation,[x] as war, plague, famine, sickness, poverty,
imprisonment, persecution, banishment, or any other kind of thy rods, whether
it be calamity of body, or vexation of mind,[y] that it would please thee to give them patience and
constancy, till thou send them full deliverance of all their troubles. And as
we are bound to love and honour our parents, kinfolks, friends, and country,[z] so we most humbly beseech thee to show thy pity
upon our miserable country of England,[4] which once,
through thy mercy, was called to liberty, and now for their and our sins, is
brought unto most vile slavery and Babylonian bondage.
Root out from thence, O Lord, all ravening wolves,[a] which to fill their bellies destroy thy flock.[b] And show thy great mercies upon those our brethren
which are persecuted, cast in prison, and daily condemned to death for the
testimony of thy truth.[c] And
though they be utterly destitute of all men's aid,[d] yet let thy sweet comfort never depart from them, but
so inflame their hearts with thy Holy Spirit, that they may boldly and
cheerfully abide such trial[e] as
thy godly wisdom shall appoint.[f]
So that at length, as well by their death as by their life,[g] the kingdom of thy dear Son Jesus Christ may increase
and shine through all the world. In whose name we make our humble petitions
unto thee, as he hath taught us.
Our Father which art in heaven, etc.
Almighty and ever living God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to grant us
perfect continuance in thy lively faith, augmenting the same in us daily,[a] till we grow to the full measure of our perfection
in Christ,[b] whereof we make our
confession, saying,
"I believe in God," etc.
a. 1 Pet. 5:6
b. Num. 16:22; Deut. 9:18; Josh. 7:6
c. Matt. 13:3-8
d. Luke 11:13; Rom. 8:12-17; Jam. 5:16; 1 John 5:14; Rom. 12:11-12; Wisdom
9:17-18
e. 2 Cor. 3:5; John 15:5; Phil. 2:13
f. Ps. 40:12-13,17; 1 Pet. 1:6
g. 1 Pet. 5:8
h. Luke 17:5
i. Ps. 95:7-8; Heb. 3:7ff.; 4:7
k. 1 John 2:15-17
l. 1 Tim. 4:1ff.; 2 Pet. 3:3ff.; 2 Tim. 3:1ff.; Jude
m. 2 Thess. 2:1ff.; 1 John 2:18; Rev. 13, 17
n. 1 Tim. 2:1ff.
o. Rom. 15:6; 1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:3
p. John 21:15-17; Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 9:16ff.; Mark 16:15
q. 1 Pet. 5:1-3
r. Prov. 21:1
s. Rom. 13:4; John 19:11
t. 1 Tim. 1:3ff.; Jam. 1:18ff.
u. 1 Cor. 12:12-13; Rom. 12:4-5
x. Jam. 5:13-15
y. 2 Cor. 1:6ff.; Heb. 13:3
z. Ex. 20:12
a. Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29
b. Ezek. 34:1ff.; Rom. 16:17-18; Phil. 3:2,18-19
c. Heb. 13:3; Rom. 8:36; Ps. 44:22
d. John 16:33
e. 1 Pet. 1:7
f. Acts 2:23; Matt. 10:35ff.; Luke 21:12ff.
g. Rom. 14:7-8
a. Luke 17:5
b. Eph. 4:12-16
Then the people sing a Psalm, which ended, the minister pronounces one of these blessings, and so the congregation departs.
The Lord bless you and save you; the Lord make his face shine upon you, and
be merciful unto you; the Lord turn his countenance towards you, and grant you
his peace.[a]
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and communion of the
Holy Ghost, be with you all. So be it.[b]
a. Num. 6:24-26
b. 2 Cor. 13:14
It shall not be necessary for the minister daily to repeat all these things before mentioned, but beginning with some manner of confession, to proceed to the sermon; which ended, he either uses the prayer for all estates before mentioned, or else prays, as the Spirit of God shall move his heart, framing the same according to the time and matter which he hath entreated of. And if there shall be at any time any present plague, famine, pestilence, war, or suchlike,[c] which are evident tokens of God's wrath; as it is our part to acknowledge our sins to be the occasion thereof, so are we appointed by the scriptures to give ourselves to mourning, fasting, and prayer, as the means to turn away God's heavy displeasure. Therefore, it shall be convenient that the minister, at such time, not only admonish the people thereof, but also use some form of prayer, according as the present necessity requires, to the which he may appoint, by a common consent, some several day after the sermon, weekly to be observed.
c. Lev. 26:14ff.; Deut. 28:15ff.; 1 Kings 8:33-40; 2 Sam. 21[?]
First note, that forasmuch as it is not permitted by God's word, that women should preach or minister the sacraments; and it is evident that the sacraments are not ordained of God to be used in private corners as charms or sorceries, but left to the congregation, and necessarily annexed to God's word as seals of the same;[5] therefore the infant which is to be baptized shall be brought to the church, on the day appointed to common prayer and preaching, accompanied with the father and godfather. So that after the sermon, the child being presented to the minister, he demands this question:
Do you present this child to be baptized, earnestly desiring that he may be
engrafted in the mystical body of Jesus Christ?
The answer: Yes, we require the same.
The minister proceeds:
Then let us consider, dearly beloved, how Almighty God has not only made us
his children by adoption,[a] and
received us into the fellowship of his church; but also has promised that he
will be our God, and the God of our children, unto the thousandth generation.[b] Which thing, as he confirmed to his people of the
Old Testament by the sacrament of circumcision,[c] so has he also renewed the same to us in his New
Testament by the sacrament of baptism;[d] doing us thereby to wit, that our infants appertain to him by
covenant, and therefore ought not to be defrauded of those holy signs and
badges whereby his children are known from infidels and pagans.[e]
Neither is it requisite, that all those that receive this sacrament have the
use of understanding and faith; but chiefly that they be contained under the
name of God's people:[f] so that remission
of sins in the blood of Christ Jesus does appertain to them by God's promise.
Which thing is most evident by St. Paul,[g] who pronounces the children begotten and born, either of the parents
being faithful, to be clean and holy. Also our Saviour Christ admits children
to his presence, embracing and blessing them.[h] Which testimonies of the Holy Ghost assure us, that
infants are of the number of God's people; and that remission of sins does also
appertain to them in Christ. Therefore, without injury, they cannot be debarred
from the common sign of God's children. Neither yet is this outward action of
such necessity, that the lack thereof should be prejudicial to their
salvation,[i] if that prevented
by death, they may not conveniently be presented to the church. But we (having
respect to that obedience which Christians owe to the voice and ordinance of
Christ Jesus, who commanded to preach and baptize all without exception),[k] do judge them only unworthy of any fellowship with
him, who contemptuously refuse such ordinary means as his wisdom has appointed
to the instruction of our dull senses.
Furthermore, it is evident that baptism was ordained to be ministered in the
element of water,[l] to teach us, that
like as water outwardly does wash away the filth of the body, so inwardly does
the virtue of Christ's blood purge our souls from that corruption and deadly
poison wherewith by nature we were infected:[m] whose venomous dregs,[n] although they continue in this our flesh, yet by
the merits of his death are not imputed unto us,[o] because the justice of Jesus Christ is made ours by
baptism.[p] Not that we think any
such virtue or power to be included in the visible water or outward action (for
many have been baptized, and yet never inwardly purged),[6]
but that our Saviour Christ, who commanded baptism to be ministered, will, by
the power of his Holy Spirit, effectually work in the hearts of his elect[q] (in time convenient) all that is meant and
signified by the same. And this the scripture calls our regeneration,[r] which stands chiefly in these two points:[7] in mortification (that is to say, a resisting of the
rebellious lusts of the flesh), and newness of life, whereby we continually
strive to walk in that pureness and perfection wherewith we are clad in
baptism.
And although we in the journey of this life are encumbered with many
enemies,[s] which in the way assail us,
yet we fight not without fruit. For this continual battle which we fight
against sin, death, and hell,[t]
is a most infallible argument that God the Father, mindful of his promise made
unto us in Christ Jesus, does not only give us motions and courage to resist
them, but also assurance to overcome and obtain victory.[u]
Wherefore, dearly beloved, it is not only of necessity that we be once
baptized, but also it much profits oft to be present at the ministration
thereof; that we being put in mind of the league and covenant made betwixt God and us,[x] that he will be
our God, and we his people, he our Father, and we his children,[y] may have occasion as well to try our lives past as
our present conversation, and to prove ourselves, whether we stand fast in the
faith of God's elect, or contrariwise have strayed from him
through incredulity and ungodly living;[z]
whereof if our consciences do accuse us, yet by hearing the loving promises of
our heavenly Father (who calls all men to mercy by repentance),[a] we may from henceforth walk more warily in our
vocation.
Moreover, you that are fathers and mothers may take hereby most singular
comfort, to see your children thus received into the bosom of Christ's
congregation, whereby you are daily admonished that you nourish and bring up
the children of God's favour and mercy, over whom his fatherly providence
watches continually.[b] Which thing, as
it ought greatly to rejoice you (knowing that nothing can chance unto them
without his good pleasure),[c] so
ought it to make you diligent and careful to nurture and instruct them in the
true knowledge and fear of God.[d]
Wherein if you are negligent,[8] you do not only injury to
your own children,[e] hiding from
them the good will and pleasure of Almighty God their Father, but also heap
damnation upon yourselves, in suffering his children bought with the blood of
his dear Son, so traitorously (for lack of knowledge) to turn back from him.
Therefore it is your duty, with all diligence, to provide that your children,
in time convenient, be instructed in all doctrine necessary for a true
Christian,[f] chiefly that they
be taught to rest upon the justice of Christ Jesus alone, and to abhor and flee
all superstition, Papistry, and idolatry.[9] Finally, to
the intent that we may be assured, that you the father and the surety consent
to the performance hereof, declare here before God and the face of his
congregation, the sum of that faith wherein you believe, and will instruct this
child.
Then the father, or in his absence the god-father, shall rehearse the articles of his faith; which done, the minister exhorting the people to prayer says in this manner, or suchlike, kneeling:[10]
Almighty and everlasting God, which of thy infinite mercy and goodness hast
promised unto us that thou wilt not only be our God, but also the God and
Father of our children: we beseech thee, that as thou hast vouchsafed to call
us to be partakers of this thy great mercy in the fellowship of faith,[a] so it may please thee to sanctify with thy Spirit,[b] and to receive into the number of thy children this
infant, whom we shall baptize according to thy word,[c] to the end that he coming to perfect age, may
confess thee only the true God,[d]
and whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ, and so serve him, and be profitable unto
his church in the whole course of his life;[e] that afterthis life is ended, he may be brought as
a lively member of his body unto the full fruition ofthy joys in the heavens,[f] where thy Son our Christ reigneth, world without
end. In whose name we pray as he hath taught us:
Our Father, etc.
a. Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 4:4-7; Eph. 1:5; 2:18-19
b. Gen. 17:7; Ex. 20:6; Deut. 7:9; Isa. 59:21
c. Gen. 17:7ff.; Rom. 4:11
d. Col. 2:11-12; Gal. 3:27; Acts 2:38-39
e. Acts 10:47-48
f. Acts 2:38-39; 1 Cor. 7:4
g. 1 Cor. 7:14
h. Mark; 10:13-16; Matt.; 19:13-15; Luke 18:15-16; Ps. 22:9-10
i. Rom. 4:10; Gal. 3:1fff.; Gen. 15:6; 17:12
k. Mark 16:15-16; Matt. 28:19
l. Matt. 3:11; 1 Pet. 3:21; 1 John 5:6,8; 1 Cor. 10:1-4
m. Eph. 2:1ff.
n. Rom. 7:5ff.
o. Rom. 4:1ff.; Gal. 3:1ff.; Ps. 32:1-2
p. Rom. 6:3-6; Gal. 3:27
q. Acts 2:41-42; 13:48
r. Eph. 2:1ff.; 1 Cor. 12:9-11; Rom. 6:3-6; Col. 2:12-13[?]
s. 1 Pet. 5:8; Luke 22:31; Job 7[?]
t. Rom. 5:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:5-7; Jam. 1:2-4; Eph. 6:10-18
u. 1 Cor.; 15:57-58; Hos. 13:14; Heb. 2:14-15; Job 19:25ff.[?]
x. Deut 6:1ff.; Josh. 1:8
y. Jer. 7:33; Heb. 8:8-12
z. Eph. 4:22ff[?]; Col. 3:8ff.; Heb. 13:9[?]
a. Ezek.; 18:21-22; Acts 11:18; 2 Pet. 3:9; Deut.; 4:29-31; 6:1ff.
b. Matt. 18:12-14
c. Matt. 6:25-34; Luke 12:6-7
d. Deut. 4:9; 6:7; 11:19; Eph. 6:4
e. 1 Sam.; 2:22-25; 2 Kings; 2:23-24
f. Gen. 18:19; Deut. 32:46
a. Gal. 3:26-29; 1 Pet. 1:5; Phil. 3:9; Rom. 3:22; 4:11-17
b. 2 Cor.; 5:17ff.[?]; Rom. 8:14-17; Eph. 2:18-22; 3[?]
c. Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38-41
d. Rom. 10:9-10; John 17:3
e. Rom. 12:1; 1 Cor. 12[?]; 2 Thess.; 5:11[?]
f. 1 Cor. 2:9; Rom. 6:22; Titus 3:7
When they have prayed in this sort, the minister requires the child's name, which known, he says:
N., I baptize you in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost.[a]
a. Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-41
And as he speaks these words, he takes water in his hand and lays it upon the child's forehead: which done, he gives thanks as follows:
Forasmuch, most holy and merciful Father, as thou dost not only beautify and
bless us with common benefits, like unto the rest of mankind, but also heapest
upon us most abundantly rare and wonderful gifts,[a] of duty we lift up our eyes and minds unto thee, and
give thee most humble thanks for thy infinite goodness, which hast not only
numbered us amongst thy saints,[b]
but also of thy free mercy dost call our children unto thee, marking them with
this sacrament as a singular token and badge of thy love. Wherefore most loving
Father, though we are not able to deserve this so great a benefit, (yea, if
thou wouldst handle us according to our merits,[c] we should suffer the punishment of eternal death
and damnation), yet for Christ's sake we beseech thee, that thou wilt confirm
this thy favour more and more towards us, and take this infant into thy tuition
and defence, whom we offer and present unto thee with common supplications, and
never suffer him to fall to such unkindness, whereby he should lose the force
of this baptism,[d] but that he
may perceive thee continually to be his merciful Father, through the Holy
Spirit working in his heart, by whose divine power he may so prevail against
Satan, that in the end, obtaining the victory, he may be exalted into the liberty
of thy kingdom.
a. Eph. 2:1ff.; 1 Pet. 2:9-10; Hos. 2:23; 2 Pet. 3:13-14
b. 1 Pet. 2:9-10; Eph. 2:19-22
c. Rom. 2:1ff.; Jer. 3:24-25; Isa. 40:6-7; Luke 17:10
d. 2 Cor. 6:16-18[?]
The
Manner of the Lord's Supper
The day when the Lord's Supper is ministered, which commonly is used once a month, or so oft as the congregation shall think expedient, the minister uses to say as follows:
Let us mark, dear brethren, and consider how Jesus Christ did ordain unto us
his Holy Supper, according as St. Paul makes rehearsal in the 11th chapter of
the First Epistle to the Corinthians:
I have, says he, received of the Lord that which I have delivered unto you,
(to wit) that the Lord Jesus, the same night he was betrayed, took bread, and
when he had given thanks, he brake it, saying, Take ye, eat ye, this is my body
which is broken for you; do ye this in remembrance of me. Likewise after
supper, he took the cup, saying, This cup is the new Testament or covenant in
my blood, do ye this so oft as ye shall drink thereof, in remembrance of me.
For so oft as ye shall eat this bread and drink of this cup, ye shall declare
the Lord's death until his coming. Therefore, whosoever shall eat this bread,
and drink the cup of the Lord unworthily, he shall be guilty of the body and
blood of the Lord. Then see that every man prove and try himself, and so let
him eat of this bread and drink of this cup; for whosoever eateth or drinketh
unworthily, he eateth and drinketh his own damnation, for not having due regard
and consideration of the Lord's body.
This done, the minister proceeds to the exhortation.
Dearly beloved in the Lord, forasmuch as we are now assembled to celebrate
the holy communion of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ, let us consider
these words of St. Paul, how he exhorts all persons diligently to try and
examine themselves before they presume to eat of that bread and drink of that
cup. For as the benefit is great, if with a truly penitent heart and lively
faith we receive that holy sacrament (for then we spiritually eat the flesh of
Christ and drink his blood,[a] then we
dwell in Christ and Christ in us, we are one with Christ and Christ with us),
so is the danger great if we receive the same unworthily, for then we are guilty
of the body and blood of Christ our Saviour, we eat and drink our own
damnation, not considering the Lord's body; we kindle God's wrath against us,
and provoke him to plague us with diverse diseases and sundry kinds of death.
Therefore if any of you be a blasphemer of God,[b] hinderer or slanderer of his word, an adulterer, or
be in malice or envy, or in any other grievous crime: bewail your sins, and
come not to this holy table, lest after the taking of this holy sacrament, the
Devil enter into you as he entered into Judas,[c] and fill you full of all iniquities, and bring you
to destruction both of body and soul.
Judge therefore yourselves, brethren, that you be not judged of the Lord;
repent yourselves truly for your sins past,[d] and have a lively and steadfast faith in Christ our Saviour, seeking
only your salvation in the merits of his death and passion,[e] from henceforth refusing and forgetting all malice
and debate,[f] with full purpose
to live in brotherly amity and godly conversation all the days of your life.
And albeit we feel in ourselves much frailty and wretchedness, as that we
have not our faith so perfect and constant as we ought, being many times ready
to distrust God's goodness through our corrupt nature,[g] and also that we are not so thoroughly given to
serve God, neither have so fervent a zeal to set forth his glory as our duty
requires, feeling still such rebellion in ourselves, that we have need daily to
fight against the lusts of our flesh;[h] yet, nevertheless, seeing that our
Lord has dealt thus mercifully with us, that he has printed his gospel in our
hearts,[i] so that we are
preserved from falling into desperation and misbelief; and seeing also he has
endued us with a will and desire to renounce and withstand our own affections,[k] with a longing for his righteousness and the
keeping of his commandments, we may be now right well assured, that those
defaults and manifold imperfections in us shall be no hindrance at all against
us, to cause him not to accept and impute us as worthy to come to his spiritual
table. For the end of our coming thither is not to make protestation that we
are upright and just in our lives,[l]
but contrariwise, we come to seek our life and perfection in Jesus Christ,
acknowledging in the meantime, that we of ourselves are the children of wrath
and damnation.[m]
Let us consider, then, that this sacrament is a singular medicine for all
poor sick creatures, a comfortable help to weak souls, and that our Lord
requires no other worthiness on our part, but that we unfeignedly acknowledge
our naughtiness and imperfection. Then to the end that we may be worthy
partakers of his merits and most comfortable benefits (which is the true eating
of his flesh, and drinking of his blood),[n]
let us not suffer our minds to wander about the consideration of these earthly
and corruptible things (which we see present to our eyes, and feel with our
hands) to seek Christ bodily present in them, as if he were enclosed in the
bread or wine, or as if these elements were turned and changed into the
substance of his flesh and blood.[11] For the only way to
dispose our souls to receive nourishment, relief, and quickening of his
substance, is to lift up our minds by faith above all things worldly and
sensible,[12] and thereby to enter into heaven, that we may
find and receive Christ, where he dwells undoubtedly very God and very man,[o] in the incomprehensible glory of his Father, to
whom be all praise, honour, and glory, now and ever. Amen.
a. John 6:56-57
b. Gal. 5:19-21
c. John 13:27
d. Matt. 3:10-12; Titus 2:11-14
e. Acts 4:12; Gal. 2:16-21
f. 1 Pet. 2:1; 1 Cor. 14:20; Eph. 4:1-3,; 25-32
g. Rom. 7:15-25
h. Gal. 5:17
i. Heb. 8:10-12; Jer. 7:33-34; Isa. 59:21
k. Rom. 7:15,; 19-20; Phil. 1:6
l. Luke 18:9-14
m. Eph. 2:3; Luke; 5:31-32[?]
n. John 6:55-58
o. 1 Tim. 6:14-16
The exhortation ended, the
minister comes down from the pulpit, and sits at the table, every man and woman
in likewise taking their place as occasion best serves: then he takes bread,
and gives thanks,p either in these words following, or like in effect:
O Father of mercy, and God of all consolation, seeing all creatures do
knowledge and confess thee as Governor and Lord,[a] it becometh us, the workmanship of thine own hands,
at all times to reverence and magnify thy Godly Majesty: first, for that thou
hast created us to thine own image and similitude;[b] but chiefly that thou hast delivered us from that
everlasting death and damnation,[c]
into the which Satan drew mankind by the means of sin, from the bondage
whereof, neither man nor angel was able to make us free;[d] but thou, O Lord, rich in mercy and infinite in
goodness, hast provided our redemption to stand in thy only and well -beloved
Son, whom of very love thou didst give to be made man,[e] like unto us is all things[f] (sin excepted),[g] that in his body he might receive the punishments
of our transgression,[h] by his
death to make satisfaction to thy justice,[i] and by his resurrection to destroy him that was
author of death;[k] and so to
reduce and bring again life to the world,[l] from which the whole offspring of Adam most justly
was exiled.[m]
O Lord, we acknowledge that no creature is able to comprehend the length and
breadth, the depth and height, of that thy most excellent love,[n] which moved thee to show mercy where none was
deserved;[o] to promise and give
life where death had gotten victory;[p] to receive us into thy grace when we could do nothing but rebel
against thy justice.[q] O Lord,
the blind dullness of our corrupt nature will not suffer us sufficiently to
weigh these thy most ample benefits;[r] yet, nevertheless, at the commandment of Jesus Christ our Lord,[s] we present ourselves to this his table, (which he
hath left to be used in remembrance of his death until his coming again),[t] to declare and witness before the world that by him
alone we have received liberty and life;[u] that by him alone thou dost acknowledge us thy children and heirs;[x] that by him alone we have entrance to the throne of
thy grace;[y] that by him alone
we are possessed in our spiritual kingdom,[z] to eat and drink at his table;[a] with whom we have our conversation presently in
heaven;[b] and by whom our bodies
shall be raised up again from the dust, and shall be placed with him in that
endless joy, which thou, O Father of mercy, hast prepared for thine elect,
before the foundation of the world was laid.[c] And these most inestimable benefits, we acknowledge
and confess to have received of thy free mercy and grace, by thy only beloved
Son Jesus Christ:[d] for the
which therefore, we thy congregation, moved by thy Holy Spirit,[e] render thee all thanks, praise, and glory, for ever
and ever.
p. Matt. 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-29
a. Rev. 5:13
b. Gen. 1:27
c. Eph. 2:8-12; Gal. 1:4; Gen. 3:15
d. Acts 4:12; Heb. 1:4-5; Rev. 5:1-4
e. John 3:16
f. Heb. 2:17
g. Heb. 4:15; 7:26-28
h. 1 Pet. 2:24; Isa. 43:25[?]; Isa. 53
i. Matt. 3:17; 17:5; Rom. 5:8-10
k. Heb. 2:14
l. John 6:50-51
m. Gen. 3:22-24; Rom. 5:12
n. Eph 3:18-19
o. Eph. 2:8-12
p. John 6:33; 17:2-3; Eph. 2:1-7
q. Gen. 6:5; Rom. 3:9-18; Isa. 64:6; Ps. 5:9; 14:1-3; Rom. 7:14
r. Matt. 16:13-17; 1 Cor. 2:14; Luke; 11:33ff.[?]; Matt. 10[?]
s. Matt. 26:26-28; Luke 22:17-20
t. 1 Cor. 11:23-26
u. John 8:32,36; Gal. 5:13
x. Rom. 8:14-17; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; Eph. 1:5
y. Eph. 2:18; Heb. 4:15-16
z. Matt. 25; John 14:1ff.; Luke 12:32
a. Luke 22:14-20; Rev. 2:7,17
b. Phil. 3:20; Eph. 2:6[?]
c. Eph. 1:4; Rev. 13:7-8
d. Rom. 3:20[?]; Eph. 2:8-12; Titus 3:4-7
e. Rom. 8:15[?]
This done, the minister breaks the bread, and delivers it to the people,[a] who distribute and divide the same amongst themselves,[b] according to our Saviour Christ's commandment, and in likewise gives the cup.[c] During the which time, some place of the scriptures is read, which does lively set forth the death of Christ, to the intent that our eyes and senses may not only be occupied in these outward signs of bread and wine, which are called the visible word; but that our hearts and minds also may be fully fixed in the contemplations of the Lord's death, which is by this holy sacrament represented. And after the action is done, he gives thanks, saying:
Most merciful Father, we render to thee all praise, thanks, and glory, for
that thou hast vouchsafed to grant unto us miserable sinners so excellent a
gift and treasure, as to receive us into the fellowship and company of thy dear
Son Jesus Christ our Lord;[a] whom thou
delivered to death for us,[b] and
hast given him unto us as a necessary food and nourishment unto everlasting
life.[c]
And now we beseech thee also, O heavenly Father, to grant us this request;
that thou never suffer us to become so unkind as to forget so worthy benefits;
but rather imprint and fasten them sure in our hearts, that we may grow and
increase daily more and more in true faith,[d] which continually is exercised in all manner of good works,[e] and so much the rather, O Lord, confirm us in these
perilous days and rages of Satan,[f]
that we may constantly stand and continue in the confession of the same to the
advancement of thy glory,[g]
which art God over all things blessed for ever. So be it.
The action thus ended, the people
sing the 103rd Psalm, "My soul, give laud," etc, or some other of
thanksgiving: which ended, one of the blessings before mentioned is recited,
and so they rise from the table, and depart.
a. Matt. 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26
b. Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor. 10:16
c. 1 Cor. 11:23-26; John 13, 14
a. 1 Cor.; 10:16-17
b. Rom. 4:25
c. John 6:55-58
d. Luke 17:5
e. Gal. 5:6
f. 1 Tim. 4:1-3; Eph. 6:12[?]; 2 Pet. 3:3
g. Matt. 5:13-16; 1 Pet. 2:9, 12
If perchance any would marvel why we follow rather this order than any other in the administration of this sacrament,[13] let him diligently consider, that, first of all, we utterly renounce the error of the Papists; secondly, we restore unto the sacraments their own substance, and to Christ his proper place. And as for the words of the Lord's Supper, we rehearse them not because they should change the substance of the bread or wine, or that the repetition thereof, with the intent of the sacrificer, should make the sacrament (as the Papists falsely believe), but they are read and pronounced, to teach us how to behave ourselves in this action, and that Christ might witness unto our faith, as it were with his own mouth, that he has ordained these signs for our spiritual use and comfort. We do first, therefore, examine ourselves, according to St. Paul's rule, and prepare our minds that we may be worthy partakers of so high mysteries. Then taking bread, we give thanks, break, and distribute it,[a] as Christ our Saviour has taught us. Finally, the minis tration ended, we give thanks again, according to his example. So that without his word and warrant, there is nothing in this holy action attempted.[14]
a. Matt. 26:26-30; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Luke 22:19-20
After the banns or contract has been published three several days in the congregation (to the intent that if any persons have interest or title to either of the parties, they may have suffi cient time to make their challenge), the parties assemble at the beginning of the sermon, and the minister, at time convenient, says as follows:
Dearly beloved brethren, we are here gathered together in the sight of God,
and in the face of his congregation to knit and join these parties together in
the honourable estate of matrimony,[a]
which was instituted and authorized by God himself in paradise,[b] man being then in the state of innocence. For what
time God made heaven earth, and all that is in them, and had created and
fashioned man also after his own similitude and likeness, unto whom he gave
rule and lordship over all the beasts of the earth, fishes of the sea, and
fowls of the air; he said, It is not good that man live alone; let us make him
an helper like unto himself. And God brought a fast sleep upon him and took one
of his ribs and shaped Eve thereof; giving us thereby to understand, that man
and wife are one body, one flesh, and one blood.[15]
Signifying also unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his
church;[c] for the which cause
man leaves his father and mother and takes him to his wife,[d] to keep company with her; the which also he ought
to love, even as our Saviour loves his church: that is to say, his elect and
faithful congregation, for the which he gave his life.[e]
And similarly also, it is the wife's duty to study to please and obey her
husband,[f] serving him in all things
that are godly and honest; for she is in subjection, and under the governance
of her husband, so long as they continue both alive.[g] And this holy marriage, being a thing most
honourable, is of such virtue and force, that thereby the husband has no more
right or power over his own body, but the wife; and likewise the wife has no
power over her own body, but the husband;[h] forasmuch as God has so knit them together in this
mutual society to the procreation of children, that they should bring them up
in the fear of the Lord, and to the increase of Christ's kingdom.[i]
Wherefore, they that are thus coupled together by God, can not be severed or
put apart, unless it be for a season, with the assent of both parties,[k] to the end to give themselves the more fervently to
fasting and prayer; giving diligent heed, in the meantime, that their long
being apart be not a snare to bring them into the danger of Satan through
incontinence. And therefore to avoid fornication, every man ought to have his
own wife, and every woman her own husband: so that so many as cannot live chaste,
are bound by the commandment of God to marry,[l] that thereby the holy temple of God, which is our
bodies, may be kept pure and undefiled.[m] For since our bodies are now become the very members of Jesus Christ,
how horrible and detestable a thing is it to make them the members of an
harlot! Everyone ought therefore to keep his vessel in all purity and
holiness;[n] for whosoever
pollutes and defiles the temple of God, him will God destroy.[o]
a. Heb. 13:4; Prov. 18:22
b. Gen. 2:18-24
c. Eph. 5:32
d. Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:5; Mark 10:7-8; 1 Cor. 6:16
e. John 17:6-10; Rom. 5:1ff.; Heb. 9:12ff.; 1 Pet. 3:18
f. Eph. 5:22-24; Col. 3:18; 1 Pet. 3:1-6; 1 Cor. 11:3ff.; 1 Tim. 2:9ff.
g. Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:39; Matt. 19:9
h. 1 Cor. 7:2ff.
i. Eph. 6:4; 2 Tim.; 3:14-15 [?]
k. 1 Cor. 7:5
l. Matt. 19:10-12; 1 Cor. 7:9
m. 1 Cor. 3:16-17; 1 Cor. 6:18-20; 2 Cor. 6:14-18 ; Lev. 19:2[?]; 1 Pet.;
1:15-16[?]
n. 1 Thess. 4:3-5; Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 5:24-33[?]
o. 1 Cor. 3:16-17
Here the minister speaks to the parties that shall be married, in this wise:
I require and charge you, as you will answer at the day of judgment, when
the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed,[a] that if either of you do know any impedement why you may not be
lawfully joined together in matrimony, that you confess it; for be you well
assured, that so many as are coupled otherwise than God's word does allow, are
not joined together by God; neither is their matrimony lawful.
a. 1 Cor. 4:5; Matt. 7:1ff.[?]; Rom. 2:16
If no impediment is known, then the minister says:
I take you to witness that are here present, beseeching you all to have good
remembrance hereof; and moreover, if there be any of you which knows that
either of these parties is contracted to any other, or knows any other lawful
impedement, let them now make declaration thereof.
If no cause is alleged, the minister proceeds, saying:
Forasmuch as no man speaks against this thing, you, N., shall protest here
before God and his holy congregation, that you have taken, and are now contended
to have N., here present, for your lawful wife and spouse; promising to keep
her, to love and treat her in all things according to the duty of a faithful
husband,[a] forsaking all others during
her life; and briefly, to live in a holy conversation with her, keeping faith
and truth in all points, according as the word of God and his holy gospel do
command.
a. Col. 3:19; 1 Pet. 3:7; Matt. 19:5; 1 Cor. 7:3-5, 10-11 [?]; Mal. 2:15-16
The answer:
Even so I take her before God, and in presence of this his congregation.
The minister to the spouse also says:
You, N., shall protest here before the face of God, in the presence of this
holy congregation, that you have taken, and are now contented to have, N., here
present, for your lawful husband; promising to him subjection and obedience,[a] forsaking all others during his life; and finally,
to live in a holy conversation with him, keeping faith and truth in all points,
as God's word does prescribe.
a. 1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 5:22-24, 5:33; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:19-15; 1 Pet. 3:1-6;
Esther 1:20[?]
The answer:
Even so I take him before God, and in the presence of this his congregation.
The minister then says:
Give diligent care to the [words of the] gospel, that you may understand how
our Lord would have this holy contract kept and observed; and how sure and fast
a knot it is, which may in no wise be loosed, according as we are taught in the
19th chapter of St. Matthew's gospel:
The Pharisees came unto Christ to tempt him and to grope his mind, saying,
Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every light cause? He answered,
saying, Have ye not read, that He which created man at the beginning, made them
male and female? saying, For this thing shall man leave father and mother, and
cleave unto his wife, and they twain shall be one flesh; so that they are no
more two, but are one flesh. Let no man therefore put asunder that which God
hath coupled together."[a]
a. 1 Matt. 19:3-6
If you believe assuredly these words which our Lord and Saviour did speak
(according as you have heard them now rehearsed out of the holy gospel), then
may you be certain, that God has even so knit you together in this holy state
of wedlock. Wherefore apply yourselves to live a chaste and holy life together,
in godly love, in Christian peace, and good example; ever holding fast the band
of charity without any breach, keeping faith and truth the one to the other,
even as God's word does appoint.
Then the minister commends them to God, in this or suchlike sort:
The Lord sanctify and bless you; the Lord pour the riches of his grace upon
you, that you may please him, and live together in holy love to your lives'
end. So be it.
Then is sung the 128th Psalm, "Blessed are they that fear the Lord," etc, or some other, pertaining to the same purpose.
Because the visitation of the sick is a thing very necessary, and yet
notwithstanding, it is hard to prescribe all rules pertaining thereunto, we
refer it to the discretion of the godly and prudent minister: who, according as
he sees the patient affected, either may lift him up with the sweet promises of
God's mercy through Christ, if he perceives him much afraid of God's
threatenings; or contrariwise, if he is not touched with the feeling of his sins,
may beat him down with God's justice; evermore like a skillful physician,
framing his medicine according as the disease requires. And if he perceives him
to want any necessaries, he not only relieves him according to ability, but
also provides by others that he may be furnished sufficiently. Moreover, the
party that is visited may, at all times, for his comfort, send for the
minister; who does not only make prayers for him there presently, but also, if
it so requires, commends him in the public prayers to the congrega tion.
The corpse is reverently brought to the grave, accompanied with the
congregation, without any further ceremonies; which being buried, the minister
goes to the church, if it is not far off, and makes some comfortable exhortation
to the people, touching death and resurrection.
The
Order of
Ecclesiaistical Discipline
As no city, town, house, or family can maintain their estate and prosper
without policy and governance, so the church of God, which requires more purely
to be governed than any city or family, cannot without spiritual policy and
ecclesiastical discipline continue, increase, and flourish.[16]
And as the word of God is the life and soul of this church,[a] so this godly order and discipline is as it were
sinews in the body, which knit and join the members together with decent order
and comeliness.[17] It is a bridle to stay the wicked from
their mischiefs. It is a spur to prick forward such as are slow and negligent;
yea and for all men it is the Father's rod ever in a readiness to chastise
gently the faults committed, and to cause them afterward to live in more godly
fear and reverence. Finally, it is an order left by God unto his church,
whereby men learn to frame their wills, and doings, according to the law of
God, by instructing and admonishing one another, yea, and by correcting and
punishing all obstinate rebels, and contemners of the same.
There are three causes chiefly which move the church of God to the executing
of discipline.[18] First, that men of evil conversation be
not numbered amongst of God's children to their Father's reproach,[b] as if the church of God were a sanctuary for
naughty and vile persons. The second respect is, that the good be not infected
with companying the evil; which thing St. Paul foresaw when he commanded the
Corinthians to banish from amongst them the incestuous adulterer, saying, A
little leaven maketh sour the whole lump of dough.[c] The third cause is, that a man thus corrected, or
excommunicated, might be ashamed of his fault,[d] and so through repentance come to amendment; the
which thing the apostle calls, delivering to Satan, that his soul may be saved
in the day of the Lord; meaning that he might be punished with excommunication,
to the intent his soul should not perish for ever.
First, therefore, it is to be noted, that this censure, correction, or
discipline, is either private or public: private, as if a man commits either in
manners or doctrine against you,[e] to
admonish him brotherly betwixt him and you.[19] If
perchance he stubbornly resists your charitable advertisements, or else by
continuance in his fault declares that he amends not; then, after he has been
the second time warned in presence of two or three witnesses, and continues
obstinately in his error, he ought, as our Saviour Christ commands, to be
disclosed and uttered to the church,[20] so that according
to public discipline, he either may be received through repentance, or else be
punished as his fault requires.
And here, as touching private discipline, three things are to be noted:[21] first, that our admonitions proceed of a godly zeal and
conscience, rather seeking to win our brother than to slander him; next, that
we be assured that his fault is reprovable by God's word; and finally, that we
use such modesty and wisdom, that if we somewhat doubt of the matter whereof we
admonish him, yet with godly exhortations he may be brought to the knowledge of
his fault; or if the fault pertains to many, or is known of diverse, that our
admonition be done in presence of them.
Briefly, if it concerns the whole church, in such sort that the concealing
thereof might procure some danger to the same, that then it be uttered to the
ministers and seniors [elders], to whom
the policy of the church does pertain.
Also in public discipline, it is to be observed that the ministry pretermit
nothing at any time unchastised with one kind of punishment or other.[22] If they perceive anything in the congregation, either
evil in example, slanderous [scandalous]
in manners, or not beseeming their profession; as if there be any covetous
person, any adulterer, or fornicator, forsworn, thief, briber, false
witness-bearer, blasphemer, drunkard, slanderer, usurer; any person
disobedient, seditious, or dissolute; any heresy or sect, as papistical,
anabaptistical, and such like: briefly, whatsoever it is that might spot the
Christian congregation,[f] yea,
rather whatsoever is not to edification, ought not to escape either admonition
punishment.
And because it happens sometimes in the church of Christ, that when other
remedies assayed profit nothing, they must proceed to the apostolical rod and
correction as unto excommunication (which is the greatest and last punishment
belonging to the spiritual ministry);[23] it is ordained
that nothing be attempted in that behalf without the determination of the whole
church: wherein also they must beware and take good heed, that they seem not
more ready to expel from the congregation than to receive again those in whom
they perceive fruits worthy of repentance to appear;[24]
neither yet to forbid him the hearing of sermons, which is excluded from the
sacraments, and other duties of the church, that he may have liberty and
occasion to repent. Finally, that all punishments, correction, censures, and
admonitions, stretch no further than God's word,[25] with
mercy, may lawfully bear.
a. Eph. 5:26
b. Eph. 5:7-11; 5:27[?]
c. 1 Cor. 5:6-7; Gal. 5:9
d. 2 Thess. 3:6,14[?]; 1 Cor. 5:5
e. Matt. 18:15-17; Luke 17:3; Jam. 5:16-20; Lev. 19:17; 2 Thess. 3:12-15
f. Eph. 5:27
They worship me
in vain, teaching doctrine
which is men's traditions.
Matt.15:9
Come forth
of Babylon my people,
that ye be not partakers of her sins,
nor receive of her plagues,for her sins
are gone up to heaven, and God hath
remembered her wickedness.
Rev. 18:4-5
A
Form of Prayers to be
Used in Private Houses,
Every Morning and Evening
Almighty God and most merciful Father, we do not present ourselves here
before thy Majesty trusting in our own merits or worthiness, but in thy
manifold mercies,[a] which hast promised
to hear our prayers, and grant our requests which we shall make to thee in the
name of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord:[b] who hath also commanded us to assemble ourselves
together in his name,[c] with
full assurance that he will not only be amongst us, but also be our Mediator
and Advocate towards thy Majesty,[d]
that we may obtain all things which shall seem expedient to thy blessed will
for our necessities.[e] Therefore
we beseech thee, most merciful Father, to turn thy loving countenance towards
us, and impute not unto us our manifold sins and offences,[f] whereby we justly deserve thy wrath and sharp
punishment, but rather receive us to thy mercy for Jesus Christ's sake,
accepting his death and passion as a just recompence for all our offences,[g] in whom only thou art pleased, and through whom
thou canst not be offended with us. And seeing that of thy great mercies we
have quietly passed this night, grant, O heavenly Father, that we may spend and
bestow this day wholly in thy service, so that all our thoughts, words, and
deeds may redound to the glory of thy name,[h] and good example to all men, who seeing our good
works may glorify thee our heavenly Father. And forasmuch as of thy mere
benevolence and love thou hast not only created us to thine own similitude and
likeness,[i] but also hast chosen
us to be heirs with thy dear Son Jesus Christ of that immortal kingdom which
thou prepared for us before the beginning of world: we beseech thee to increase
our faith and knowledge,[k] and
to lighten our hearts with thy Holy Spirit, that we may in the meantime live in
godly conversation and integrity of life; knowing that idolaters, adulterers,
covetous men, contentious persons, drunkards, gluttons, and such like, shall
not inherit the kingdom of God.[l]
And because thou hast commanded us to pray one for another, we do not only
make request, O Lord, for ourselves and them that thou hast already called to
the true understanding of thy heavenly will, but for all people and nations of
the world,[m] who as they know by thy
wonderful works that thou art God over all, so they may be instructed by thy
Holy Spirit to believe in thee their only Saviour and Redeemer. But forasmuch
as they cannot believe except they hear,[n] nor cannot hear but by preaching, and none can preach except they be
sent; therefore, O Lord, raise up faithful distributors of thy mysteries, who
setting apart all worldly respects, may both in their life and doctrine only
seek thy glory. Contrarily confound Satan, Antichrist,[o] with all hirelings and Papists, whom thou hast
already cast off into a reprobate sense, that they may not by sects, schisms,
heresies, and errors, disquiet thy little flock.
And because, O Lord, we have fallen into the latter days and dangerous
times, wherein ignorance hath got the upper hand,[p] and Satan with his ministers seek by all means to
quench the light of thy gospel, we beseech thee to maintain thy cause against
those ravening wolves,[q] and
strengthen all thy servants, whom they keep in prison and bondage. Let not thy
long-suffering be an occasion either to increase their tyranny or to discourage
thy children; neither yet let our sins and wickedness be a hindrance to thy
mercies, but with speed, O Lord, consider these great miseries; and chiefly the
afflictions of our country, which once florished through thy mercies, and now
for contempt of thy word is plagued according to thy judgment.[r] Alas, Lord, mayest thou not be entreated? Shall we
thus be left in despair? Shall all the world laugh at our shame for ever?[s] Truth it is, Lord, that we were more than
sufficiently warned of this thy vengeance to come, both by thy word and
examples of others. For thy people Israel many times by their sins provoked
thine anger,[t] and thou punished
them by thy just judgment; yet though their sins were never so grievous, if
they once returned from their iniquity, thou received them to mercy.[u] We therefore, most wretched sinners, bewail our
manifold sins, and earnestly repent us for our former wickedness and ungodly
behaviour towards thee; and whereas we cannot of ourselves purchase thy
pardon,[x] yet we humbly beseech
thee, for Jesus Christ's sake, to show thy mercies upon us, and restore us
again to thy favour. Grant us, dear Father, these our requests, and all other
things necessary for us, and thy whole church, according to thy promise in
Jesus Christ our Lord: in whose name we beseech thee as he hath taught us
saying:
Our Father, etc.
a. Dan. 9:18
b. John 16:23-24
c. Matt. 18:20
d. 1 Tim. 2:5
e. 1 John 3:22
f. Ps. 32:1-2
g. 1 John 2:1-2
h. Col. 3:17
i. Gen. 1:27
k. Luke 17:5
l. Gal. 5:19-21
m. Acts 10:35; 1 Tim. 2:4
n. Rom. 10:14-15
o. Rom. 16:20
p. 2 Tim. 3:1ff.
q. Matt. 7:15
r. Amos 8; Matt. 11:20ff.[?]
s. Ps. 77:7-9[?]
t. Ex. 32:1ff.
u. Isa. 37:1ff.
x. Rom. 7:14ff.[?]; 2 Cor. 3:5; Luke; 18:13-14[?]
All things depend upon thy providence, O Lord, to receive at thy hands due
sustenance in time convenient. Thou givest to them, and they gather it; thou
openest thy hand, and they are satisfied with all good things.[a]
O heavenly Father, which art the fountain and full treasure of all goodness,
we beseech thee to show thy mercies upon us thy children, and sanctify these
gifts which we receive of thy merciful liberality,[b] granting us grace to use them soberly and purely
according to thy blessed will;[c]
so that hereby we may acknowledge thee to be the Author and Giver of all good
things; and above all, that we may remember continually to seek the spiritual
food of thy word,[d] wherewith
our souls may be nourished everlastingly through our Saviour Christ; who is the
true bread of life which came down from heaven,[e] of whom whosoever eateth shall live for ever, and
reign with him in glory, world without end. So be it.
a. Ps. 104:27-28
b. Tim. 4:4-5
c. Titus 2:12
d. John 6:27
e. John 6:50-51
A Thanksgiving After Meals
Let all nations magnify the Lord; let all people rejoice in praising and
extolling his great mercies. For his fatherly kindness is plentifully shewed
forth upon us, and the truth of his promise endureth forever.[a]
We render thanks unto thee, O Lord God, for the manifold benefits which we
continually receive at thy bountiful hand,[b] not only for that it hath pleased thee to feed us in this present
life, giving unto us all things necessary for the same, but especially because
thou hast of thy free mercies fashioned us anew into an assured hope of a far
better life,[c] the which thou
hast declared unto us by thy holy gospel.[d] Therefore we humbly beseech thee, O heavenly
Father, that thou wilt not suffer our affections to be so entangled or rooted
in these earthly and corruptible things,[e] but that we may always have our minds directed to thee on high,[f] continually watching for the coming of our Lord and
Saviour Christ,[g] what time he
shall appear for our full redemption:[h] To whom, with thee, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, for
ever and ever. So be it.
a. Ps. 117
b. Col. 3:17
c. Rom. 8:18ff.[?]; Titus 3:4-7
d. 2 Tim. 1:10
e. 1 John 2:15
f. 1 Tim. 2[?]
g. 1 Cor. 1:7
h. Rom. 8:23
O Lord God, Father everlasting and full of pity, we acknowledge and confess
that we are not worthy to lift up our eyes to heaven,[a] much less to present ourselves before thy Majesty
with confidence that thou wilt hear our prayers and grant our requests, if we
consider our own deservings; for our consciences do accuse us, and our sins
witness against us, and we know that thou art an upright judge, who dost not
justify the sinners and wicked men, but punishes the faults of all such as
transgress thy commandments.[b]
Yet most merciful Father, since it hath pleased thee to command us to call on
thee in all our troubles and adversities,[c] promising even then to help us, when we feel
ourselves, as it were, swallowed up of death and desperation,[d] we utterly renounce all worldly confidence, and
flee to thy sovereign bounty as our only stay and refuge; beseeching thee not
to call to remembrance our manifold sins and wickedness,[e] whereby we continually provoke thy wrath and
indignation against us; neither our negligence and unkindness, which have
neither worthily esteemed, nor in our lives sufficiently expressed the sweet
comfort of thy gospel revealed unto us; but rather to accept the obedience and
death of thy Son Jesus Christ, who by offering up his body in sacrifice once
for all,[f] hath made a
sufficient recompence for all our sins. Have mercy therefore upon us, O Lord,
and forgive us our offences.[g]
Teach us by thy Holy Spirit that we may rightly weigh them, and earnestly
repent for the same. And so much the rather, O Lord, because that the
reprobate, and such as thou hast forsaken,[h] cannot praise thee, nor call upon thy name; but the
repenting heart, the sorrowful mind, the conscience oppressed,[i] hungering and thirsting for thy grace, shall ever
set forth thy praise and glory.[k]
And albeit we are but worms and dust,[l] yet thou art our Creator, and we are the work of thy hands; yea, thou
art our Father and we are thy children;[m] thou art our Shepherd and we thy flock; thou art our Redeemer and we
the people whom thou hast bought; thou art our God and we thine inheritance:
Correct us not therefore in thine anger,[n] O Lord; neither according to our deserts punish us. But mercifully
chastise us with a fatherly affection, that all the world may know that at
whatsoever time a sinner doth repent him of his sin from the bottom of his
heart,[o] thou wilt put away his
wickedness out of thy remembrance, as thou hast promised by thy holy prophet.[26]
Finally, forasmuch as it hath pleased thee to make the night for man to rest
in, as thou hast ordained him the day to travel, grant, O dear Father, that we
may so take our bodily rest, that our souls may continually watch for the time
that our Lord Jesus Christ shall appear for our deliverance out of this mortal
life;[p] and in the mean season, that
we, not overcome by any temptations, fantasies, dreams, or illusions,[q] may fully set our minds upon thee, love thee, fear
thee, and rest in thee. Furthermore, that our sleep be not excessive or
overmuch, after the insatiable desires of our flesh,[r] but only sufficient to content our weak nature,
that we may be better disposed to live in all godly conversation, to the glory
of thy holy name and profit of our brethren. So be it.
a. Luke 15:18-19; 18:13
b. Ex. 23:7[?]
c. Ps. 50:15
d. Ps. 18:4-6
e. Ps. 79:8
f. Heb. 9-10
g. Ps. 19:12[?]
h. Ps. 58:3-5
i. Ps. 51:17[?]
k. Ps. 107:9
l. Ps. 22:6
m. 2 Cor. 6:18
n. Jer. 10:24; Ps. 6:1
o. Ezek.18:21-22, 27-28
p. Luke 12:35ff.
q. Matt. 6:13
r. Luke; 21:34-36[?]
O Lord God Almighty, and Father most merciful, there is none like thee in
heaven nor in earth,[a] who workest all
things for the glory of thy name and the comfort of thine elect. Thou didst
once make man ruler over all thy creatures, and placed him in the garden of all
pleasures;[b] but how soon, alas,
did he in his felicity forget thy goodness?[c] Thy people Israel, also, in their wealth did
evermore run astray,[d] abusing
thy manifold mercies; like as all flesh continually rageth when it hath gotten
liberty and external prosperity. But such is thy wisdom adjoined to thy
mercies, dear Father, that thou seekest all means possible to bring thy
children to the sure sense and lively feeling of thy fatherly favour.[e] And therefore when prosperity will not serve, then
sendest thou adversity, graciously correcting all thy children whom thou
receivest into thy household.[f]
Wherefore we, wretched and miserable sinners, render unto thee most humble and
hearty thanks, that it hath pleased thee to call us home to thy fold by thy
fatherly correction at this present [time], whereas in our prosperity and
liberty we did neglect thy graces offered unto us. For the which negligence,
and many other grievous sins whereof we now accuse ourselves before thee, thou
mightest most justly have given us up to reprobate minds and induration of our
hearts,[g] as thou hast done
others. But such is thy goodness, O Lord, that thou seemest to forget all our
offences,[h] and hast called us
of thy good pleasure from all idolatries into this city [Geneva] most
Christianly reformed, to profess thy name, and to suffer some cross amongst thy
people for thy truth and gospel's sake;[i] and so to be thy witnesses with thy prophets and apostles,[k] yea, with thy dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our
Head, to whom thou dost begin here to fashion us like, that in his glory we may
also be like him when he shall appear.[l] O Lord God, what are we upon whom thou shouldest show this great
mercy?[m] O most loving Lord,
forgive us our unthankfulness, and all our sins for Jesus Christ's sake. O
heavenly Father, increase thy Holy Spirit in us; to teach our hearts to cry
Abba, dear Father![n] to assure
us of our eternal election in Christ; to reveal thy will more and more towards
us; to confirm us so in thy truth, that we may live and die therein; and that by
the power of the same Spirit, we may boldly give an account of our faith to all
men with humility and meekness, that whereas they backbite and slander us as
evil doers, they may be ashamed and once stop their mouths, seeing our good
conversation in Christ Jesus,[o]
for whose sake we beseech thee, O Lord God, to guide, govern, and prosper this
our enterprise in assembling our brethren to praise thy holy name; and not only
to be here present with us thy children according to thy promise,[p] but also mercifully to assist thy like persecuted
people, our brethren, gathered in all other places, that they and we,
consenting together in one spirit and truth,[q] may (all worldly respects set apart) seek only thy
honour and glory in all our and their assemblies. So be it.
a. 1 Kings 8:23
b. Gen. 1:28; 2:8-17
c. Gen. 3
d. Ex. 32
e. Ezek.; 18:23,32[?]
f. Heb. 12:6; Prov.; 3:11-12[?]
g. Rom. 1:28
h. Isa. 43:25[?]
i. Matt.5:11
k. Luke 24:44-48; Acts 1:8
l. 1 John 3:2
m. Ps. 8:4
n. Gal. 4:6
o. 1 Pet. 3:15-16
p. Matt. 18:20
q. Rom. 15:5-6
No man can lay any other foundation
than that which is laid, even Christ Jesus.
1 Cor. 3:11
Notes for the Form of Prayers and Ministration of the Sacraments
1. How miserable it is to return to the old vomit.
[marginal note]
2. Let all people take heed by our example. [marginal note]
3. For the prosperous estate of Geneva. [marginal note]
4. For England. [marginal note]
5. The transgression of God's ordinance is called iniquity
and idolatry, and is compared to witchcraft and sorcery. How dangerous also it
is to enterprise anything rashly, or without the warrant of God's word, the
examples of Saul, Uzzah, Uzziah, Nadab, and Abihu ought sufficiently to warn
us. [marginal note]
6. As Judas, Simon Magnus, Hymeneus, Alexander, Philetus.
[marginal note]
7. The fruit of baptism stands in two points: mortification
and regeneration. [marginal note]
8. What danger hangs over those parents which neglect the
bringing up of their children in godliness. [marginal note]
9. The true use of the catechism, to the execution whereof
the fathers and godfathers bind themselves. [marginal note]
10. In the edition of 1562, the word kneeling is omitted [
Ed.].
11. Transubstantiation, transelementation, and
transformation, as the Papists use them, are the doctrine of devils. [marginal
note]
12. The true eating of Christ in the sacrament. [marginal
note]
13. Why this order is observed rather than another.
[marginal note]
14. Nothing attempted herein without the express word or
example of Christ. [marginal note]
15. In Hebrew, man is called ish, and the woman ishah,
whereby is well expressed the natural affinity betwixt man and his wife.
[marginal note]
16. The necessity of discipline. [marginal note]
17. What discipline is. [marginal note]
18. For what causes it ought to be used. [marginal note]
19. The order of proceeding in private discipline.
[marginal note]
20. Public discipline. [marginal note]
21. What things are to be observed in private discipline.
[marginal note]
22. Of public discipline, and of the end thereof. [marginal
note]
23. Excommunication is the last remedy. [marginal note]
24. Rigor in punishment is to be avoided. [marginal note]
25. God's word is the only rule of discipline. [marginal
note]
26. At this point, readers are directed "to that part
of the Morning Prayer that is for the increase of the gospel, which may be said
here as time serves." See above, beginning with the words, "And
because thou hast commandedus to pray...." [Ed.]
Copyright ©1993 by Presbyterian Heritage Publications