A Compend of the Controversies of Religion, Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII. OF THE CHVRCHES Right Worſhip.
§. I. That Prayers and all publicke wo…ſhip, ſhould bee in a language knowne to the people.
1. Authoritie of Scripture.
1. COrint. 14.7. And even things vvithout life, giving ſound, whether pipe or Harpe, except they giuegive a diſtinction in the ſoundes, how ſhall it bee knowne vvhat is piped or harped?
Verſe 9. So likewiſe you, except yee vtter by the tongue vvords eaſie to bee vnderſtood, how ſhall it bee knowne vvhat is ſpoken? for yee ſhall ſpeake into the Aire.
Verſe 11. Therefore, if I know not the meaning of the voyce, I ſhall be vn…o him that ſpeaketh a Barbarian; and hee that ſpeaketh, ſhall bee a Barbarian to mee.
Verſe 15. What is it then? I will pray vvith the ſpirit, and I will pray with the vnderſtanding alſo: I will ſing with the ſpirit, & I vvill ſing vvith the vnderstanding alſo.
Verſe 16. Els vvhen thou ſhalt bleſſe vvith the ſpirit, how ſhall hee that occupieth the rowme of the vnlearned, ſay, Amen, at thy giving of thankes, ſeeing hee vnderſtandeth not vvhat thou ſayest?
Verſe 18. I thanke GOD, I ſpeake more tongues than yee all, yet in the Church I had rather ſpeake fiue vvordes vvith vnderstanding, that by my voyce I might teach others alſo, than ten thouſand vvords in an vnknowne tongue.
Note then, That this doctrine & choiſe of P…ul's, is fure from the popiſh practiſe of their Matins, and Maſſe-mumbling, which they vſe in Latine.
2. Witneſsing of Antiquitie.
IF yee meete together (ſayeth Ambroſe) for the edifying of the Church, then thoſe things ſhould be ſ…ide which the hearers may vnderſtand: for what profiteth it that one ſhould ſpeake with a tongue which him-ſelfe onlie vnderſtandeth? and hee that heareth profiteth not there-by. Amb. in 1. Cor. 14. The ſame alſo doeth Chryſostome affirme, Hom. 18. in 2. ad Corinth: and Augustine, on Pſal. 18.
3. Confeſsion of Partie.
OVt of this doctrine of Paul's (ſayeth Cardinall Cajetan) it is collected, That it is better for the edifying of the Church, that publicke prayers, which are ſaide in the peoples hearing, be ſaid in a vulgar tongue, knowne to the people and clergie, rather than in Latine. Cajet. in 1. Cor. 14.
§. 2. That Christ is our onlie Mediator in Heaven: and that to Him, and by Him onlie, wee ſhould goe to GOD.
1. Authoritie of Scripture.
1. TIm. 2.3. For there is one GOD, one alſo Mediator betweene God and men; the Man CHRIST IESVS.
Note then, As hee maketh not two ſorts of gods, but one God; ſo hee admitteth not two ſorts of mediators in Heaven, but one Mediator onlie.
Eph. 2.18. For through Him, vvee both, hauehave an acceſſe by one Spirit vntounto the Father.
Heb. 7.25. Wherefore He is able alſo to ſaue them to the vttermost, that come vntounto God, by Him-ſelfe: ſeeing Hee ever liveth, to make interceſſion for them.
Note then, That by Him-ſelfe, and not by others, Hee will hauehave vsus come to GOD.
1. Iohn 2.1. If anie man ſinne, vvee hauehave an Advocate vvith the Father, Ieſus Christ the righteous; and Hee is the propitiation for our ſinnes.
Note then, That to bee our Advocates, the Saincts muſt alſo bee our propitiation: which ſeeing none is but Chriſt on…ie, therefore Hee onlie is alſo our advocate allanerlie.
2. Witneſsing of Antiquitie.
AS for all Chriſtian men (ſayeth Augustine) they commende each another in their prayers to Go… ▪ but hee for whom no man prayeth, but hee himſelfe for all men; this is the onelie and true Mediator, Chriſt Ieſus. Aug. lib. 2. contra epist. parmen. c. 8. Yea, what is ſo proper to Chriſt (ſayeth Ambroſe) as to bee the Advocate of his people, at the handes of God his Father?
§ 3. That the Saincts are not to bee invocated, but GOD onli….
1. Authoritie of Scripture.
ROm. 10.14. How then ſhall they invocate Him, in whom they hauehave not believed?
Note then, That ſeeing wee muſt belieue onlie in God, (therefore ſaith Chriſt Iohn 14.1. Yee belieue in God, belieue alſo in mee: ) therefore alſo we muſt only invocate or in-call vponupon God. For curſed are they vvho trusteth in the creature. Ier. 17.5.
Rom. 8.15. For yee hauehave not received the ſpirit of bondage againe to feare; but yee hauehave received the ſpirit of adoption, vvhereby vvee cry, Abba Father.
Note then, That being Gods adopted ſonnes, wee are exhorted not to feare to goe to Him, as to a loving Father: and that the ſpirit of grace in our hearts, teacheth vsus to cry, or in-call vponupon none other, but vponupon God, who is our Father.
Luke 11.2. And Hee ſaide to them, When yee pray, ſay, Our Father, vvhichwhich art in Heaven, &c.
Remarke then, That Chriſt directeth vsus, onlie to pray to God.
Pſal. 50.15. Call vponupon Mee in the day of troubles I vvill d…liver thee, and thou ſhalt glorifie mee.
Loe, Gods owne precept to in-call vponupon Him, w th His gracious promiſe of granting our Prayer, to encowrage vsus: and that to H…m o…ie belongeth the religious worſhip, both of Prayer and Prayſe.
2 Wi…n…ſsing of Antiquitie.
IT is cleare then, (ſayeth Athanaſius) that the Patriarch Iacob coupled none other in his praye…s with God, than this VVord, which hee therefore calleth the Ang…ll, becauſe hee onelie revealeth his Fathers will. Ath…n. contra Arrianos, oratione 4. So lykewyſe ſayeth Augustine, the names of the Sainctes are in their owne order rehearſed amongſt vsus, but not invocated by vsus. Aug. lib. 22. de civit. Dei, cap. 10.
§. 4. That the Saincts know not our hearts, nor our particular neceſsities; and therefore are not to bee prayed vntounto.
1. Authoritie of Scripture.
1. KIngs, 8.39. Then heare thou in heaven, thy dwelling place, and forgiue, and giuegive to everie man according to his wayes, whoſe heart thou knowest: (for thou, even thou onelie, knowest the hearts of all the children of men.)
Note then, That hee who heareth in heaven, muſt know the heartes, and the ſinceritie there-of: which ſeeing the Sainctes doe not, but God, even God onelie; therefore they heare not, nor can not receiue our prayers.
Rom. 8.27. And hee that ſearcheth the hearts, knoweth vvhat is the minde of the ſpirit, &c.
Note then, That hee muſt know the heart, and the ſinceritie of prayer flowing there-fra. on whom wee muſt call; (ſeeing manie tymes ne…ther is our diſtreſſe viſible, nor our prayers vocall) but God onelie knoweth the heart, 2. Chron. 6.30. For thou o…elie knowest the heartes of the children of men, ſayeth the Scripture: therefore God onlie is to be in-called vponupon.
2. King. 22.19. Becauſe thine heart was tender, & thou humbledſt thy ſelfe before the Lord, when thou heardest what I ſpake against this Place, &c. therefore I hauehave alſo heard thee (ſayeth the Lord.)
Loe then, In Prayer that the LORD looketh to the diſpoſition of the heart: which diſpoſition ſeeing Hee onelie ſeeth, and heareth vsus accordinglie; To Him therefore onelie muſt bee put vp our prayers.
Iſai. 63.16. Doubtleſſe, Lord, thou art our Father, tho Abraham bee ignorant of vsus, and Iſaac acknowledge vsus not, &c.
Note then: If Abraham, the Father of all the Faythfull, bee ignorant of the neceſſities of his children on earth; how much more are other Saincts, of the effayres of their fellow-brethren heere?
Iob, 14.21. His ſonnes come to honour, and hee knoweth it not: (ſpeaking of the dead) and they are brought low, but hee perceiveth it not.
Eccleſiaſtes, 9.5. The living know, that they ſhall die; but the dead know not any thing: (to wit, of the worl…e, or worldlie effaires, as the popiſh Doctors, L… and Ferus, expound.) Where-vponupon it followeth, that they are not to bee invocated.
2. Witneſsing of Antiquitie.
THERE are the ſoules of the dead (ſayeth Augustine) where they ſee not what things are done or befalleth in this lyfe to men. And againe, the Prophet ſaith, Thou art our Father, for Abraham hath not knowne vsus, and Iſrael hath bene ignorant of vsus. If ſo great Patriarchs then (ſayth hee) knew not what befell this people, begotten of themſelues, &c. How are the dead mixed in now to know the effairs and actions of the living, to helpe them there-in? Aug. de cura pro mortuis.
3 Confeſsion of Partie.
NOthing of th s w…s delivered or taught (ſ…y h E…kius) in the Scriptures of the Olde Testament: and in the New Testament alſo, the Apoſtl…s nor Evang…liſts n…ther by word nor writ, tradition …or Scripture, l…fe anie ſuch thing behinde them, th… the Sainct…s ſhould b…e prayed vntounto. Eckius in enc…irt…o. de v…er … ſ…n…s. So that for An …, from the beginning it was not ſo, (Matth. 19.8) for Au…oritie. it is not requyred by God at our handes▪ (Iſ i. 1.12) and for S…uritie, it is not of fa…th, as is preſery…ed, Iames 1.6.
§. 5. That no reli…ious ſervic…, (which the Papiſts c…ll Duli…,) ſhould …e gi… to …, …h…r Sainct or A…g…ll, but to God only.
1. Authoritie of Scripture.
1. SAMUEL, 7.3. Prepare your heartes vntounto the Lord, and ſerue Him onlie.
Note then, That all religious ſervice is proper to God onelie, as His prerogatiue Royall, and due to no …reature.
Rom. 7.6. But now wee are d livered from the Law, that being dead wherein we were held, that wee ſhould ſerue Him in newneſſe of ſpirit.
Note heere, That our whole worſhip of God, and du…tie to H…m, is called Service, or a Religious Dulia, due onelie to the holie Trinitie.
Coloſſ. 2.18. Let no man beguile you of your rewarde, in a voluntarie humilitie, and worſhipping of Angels; intruding in thoſe thinges which hee hath not ſeene, vaynlie puft vp with his fleſhlie mynde.
Note then, That anie worſhipping of Angels, is expreſſelie forbidden, as an idolatrous practize, able to depryue vsus of our rewarde of eternall lyfe; and where-of there is neyther example to be ſeene in the godlie, nor warrand in God's worde: but which is a doctrine proceeding from a vayne, and puft vp fleſhlie mynde; that thinketh everie thing good in God's worſhip, that it ſelfe devyſeth, having a ſhow of wiſedome and humilitie.
Revel. 22.8. And I Iohn ſaw theſe thinges, and heard them: and when I had heard and ſeene, I fell downe, to worſhip before the feete of the Angell, which ſhewed mee theſe things.
Verſ. 9. Then ſayeth hee vntounto mee, Doe it not, for I am thy fellow-ſervant, and of thy Brethren the Prophets, and of them which keepe the ſayinges of this Booke: Worſhip God.
Note then, That the Angell refuſeth all religious ſervice, and worſhip, becauſe ſuch is not due to bee given by one ſervant to another: but by all the fellow-ſervantes, to their common Maſter: to whom therefore the Angell directeth it, ſaying, VVorſhip GOD.
2. Witneſsing of Antiquitie.
WEE honour the Saincts with LoueLove, but not with Service, ſayeth Aug. de vera relig. c. 55. therfore he truely keepes the truth, who worſhippeth not the creature, but the Creator (ſayeth Cyrillus) and ſerveth Him onlie. Cyrill. Alex. lib. 1. 2. Theſſ. c. 1. & lib. 2. c. 1.
3. Confeſsion of Partie.
MAnie Chriſtians (ſayeth L. Vives) worſhip no otherwiſe the hee and ſhee Saincts, than they doe Go… himſelfe: neither ſee I (ſayth he) in manie things what difference there is betweene their opinion of the Saincts, & that which the verie Heathen had of their gods. Vives i… August. de civit. Dei, li…. 8. c. vlt.
§. 6. That no religious worſ…ip is d… to the Virgine Marie, which the Papiſtes call Hyperdul…a.
1. Authoritie of Sc…ipture.
IErem. 44.17. But wee will doe certaynlie what-ſo-ever goeth foorth of our owne mouth, to burne Incenſe to the Queene of Heaven, and to po…re out drinke offeringes to her, as wee hauehave done, wee and our Fathers, &c. For then wee had plentie of Victuals, and were well, and ſaw no evill.
Remarke then: If this o…de idolatrous faſhion bee not the verie alyke as the practize of Poperie, and their pr…tence now: who cont…rie to God's worde, will worſhip the V…rg…ne M…ie, as Queene of H…av…n, and make offeringes to her, be…auſe heir fore-fathers …nd ſo, and that then it was a good worlde w…th them: and therefore are guiltie of alyke Idolatrie.
Matth. 2.11. And when they were come into the houſe, they ſaw the Chylde, with Marie his Mother, and fell downe, and worſhipped him.
Note then, That no word is that thoſe wiſe men worſhipped her lykewyſe, being moved by the Spirit of God, to doe what they did; and by the ſame Spirit, to omit, what they omitted.
2. Witneſsing of Antiquitie.
IF God will hauehave the Angels not to bee worſhipped, how much leſſe her that was borne of Anna? &c. And againe, Al-bee-it the tree bee pleaſant to the fight (ſay…h the ſame Epiphanius) yet it is not for meat: and al-be-it Marie be moſt faire, and pleaſant, and holie, and honoured, yet not to bee worſhipped: therefore let her bee had in honour, but let the Lord onlie be worſhipped, Epiph. lib. 3. hereſ 79.
3. Confeſsion of Partie.
IT is come to that [ſayeth Caſſander] that Chr…ſt now reig…ing in heaven, is made ſubject to the Virgine Marie, as it is ſung in ſome Churches, O happie Mother who expiateth our ſinnes; by the authoritie of a Mother, command thy Sonne. Caſſand. conſult. art. 21.