Justification of the Religion Now Professed in England, Chapter 2
CHAP. II. The particulars of our Religion profeſſed in England.
NOw for further ſatisfaction in the particular points of our Religion now profeſſed in England, it is to be vnderſtood that there are two bookes eſtabliſhed by publique and higheſt authority amongſt vsus, wherein are declared the particular points of Chriſtian Religion, as they now are receiued and profeſſed in England; the one of theſe is intituled the booke of Articles of Chriſtian Religion agreed in the Conuocation, in the yeere of our Lord 1562. In which booke is declared ſhortly in ſeuerall Articles, the whole doctrine of Faith, and of the Sacraments which we profeſſe.
The other is the booke of diuine Seruice and common Prayer, wherein is ſet downe the whole order whereby we ſerue God publiquely in our Churches. In theſe two, or in either of them (for ſubſtance) is contained the declaration of our Religion: wherefore if the Religion deliuered in either of theſe bee prooued to bee the ſame which Chriſt and his Apoſtles taught, and that which for any part whereof true Martyrs of ancient time hauehave ſuffered, then is that prooued which is here deſired, which proofe at this time it ſeemeth moſt conuenient to be made, eſpecially of the booke of diuine Seruice. For the Law with vsus requireth eſpecially to ſerue God, according to ſuch forme as is eſtabliſhed by Authority, and ſet downe in the booke of diuine Seruice and common Prayer. Therefore to yeeld ſatisfaction to ſuch Romane Catholique Recuſants as are offended at ſuch parts thereof as differ from the Liturgy of the Church of Rome, ſuch principall parts of the ſaid diuine Seruice are here to bee iuſtified to bee eſtabliſhed amongſt vsus according to that Doctrine which our Sauiour Chriſt and his Apoſtles hauehave deliuered.
For performance whereof, it is to be vnderſtood, that there are ſundry points of Religion ſet downe in the ſaid booke, whereof no pretended Catholique is ſuppoſed to make any doubt: Of this ſort it is that the ſaid Booke appointeth the reading of the holy Scriptures of both the Teſtaments, and particularly out of the old Teſtament, of the Law of the two Tables contayning the ten Commandements of Almighty God; and out of the new Teſtament, of the Lords Prayer. Of like kinde alſo it is that in the ſame, our faith in many of the higheſt and moſt ſacred myſteries of Chriſtian Religion, is declared and profeſſed in three of the moſt ancient and notable Confeſſions of Chriſtian faith that hauehave beene gathered out of the Scriptures in any former ages: Of which Confeſſions or Creedes as they are commonly called, the firſt and moſt ancient is that which vſually is called the Apoſtles Creede, becauſe it containeth many principall points of the Doctrine of the Apoſtles, and in a great part, followeth from one degree to another the Story of the Goſpell, concerning the ſundry degrees of the humiliation and glory of our Sauiour Chriſt.
The other two, are ſomewhat larger declarations of the ſame points of doctrine that are in the former; of which Confeſſions or Creedes, the one is of Athanaſius, that reſolute & conſtant Profeſſor of Chriſt, worthy in honour to be immortall in the Church according to his name.
The other, the Creede ſet forth by the firſt and moſt famous oecumenicall Councell of Nice: Beſides theſe, though not expreſſed in this booke, the Lawes of England ſo receiue the holy determinations of all the firſt foure generall Councels, in that they agreeably to the Scriptures determined of the doctrine concerning Chriſts two natures, of God and Man; and of the Vnity of his Perſon, and of the Godhead of the holy Ghoſt; againſt the damnable Hereſies of Arius, Neſtorius, Eutyches, and Macedonius, as they ordaine puniſhment by death vponupon any that ſhall obſtinately maintaine the foreſaid Hereſies.
Moreouer, the ſaid booke appointeth the order for the adminiſtration of both the Sacraments, inſtituted by our Sauiour Chriſt, as ſignes and ſeales of the Goſpell of Chriſt and of the righteouſnes that is by Faith; viz. Baptiſme, the Sacrament of our new birth; and the Lords Supper, the Sacrament of our continuall nouriſhment by him to life euerlaſting. Finally the ſame booke containeth (beſides the Lords prayer, the true rule and direction whereby all other are framed) many other godly prayers for all eſtates and degrees, and applied to the confeſſion of our ſins, to the adminiſtration of the Sacramen…s, and other like occaſions of the Church. Thus farre of ſuch particulars as it is to be thought no Chriſtian doubteth but that th…y are from God. Wherefore the proofe to bee made ſeemeth ne d…ull only in ſuch points as our Church hath reformed in the Religion and Liturgie profeſſed and vſed in the Church of Rome.
Now therefore the principall things of difference betweene our diuine Seruice and the Liturgie of the Church of Rome, follow to be conſidered in the principall parts thereof, after that two points hauehave beene debated, which are to be regarded in them all; whereof the former is, the ſubiect or perſon, that is to ſay, who it is that with Seruice of Religion ought to be ſerued and worſhiped by vsus:*In the Church of England, God only is worſhipped with diuine ſ ruice; not any creature or dead things, as Images, reliques, & ſuch like. in England by publique Authority, with Diuine ſeruice, the law intendeth that onelyonly the true eternall God the Almighty creatour of heauen and earth, and the Father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, is to be religiouſly ſerued and honored by vsus. For which cauſe it is ordained that the word of God be read and expounded, that his Sacraments bee adminiſtred, and that all our prayers be made to God, and to God alone: And by like Authority there are learned Homilies ſet out declaring and prouing that to worſhip creatures in themſelues or in their Images, and to hauehave them in Churches, is not lawfull. Now in ſome former time by the authority of the Sea of Rome our Churches & Temples in England were wont to bee full of Images, ſome repreſenting God, & the ſacred Myſtery of the Perſons in the Godhead, and ſome repreſenting Ieſus Chriſt, both otherwiſe, and ſpecially as hee was crucified; beſides theſe, there was alſo almoſt an innumerable multitude of Images repreſenting the Saints departed out of this life, beſides many other, of whoſe Chriſtian vertues there appeared little proofe.
And as theſe Images were brought into the Churches, ſo they were by like authority ſerued and worſhiped, with garments, ornaments, kiſſing, kneeling, creeping, candlelight, cenſing, reading their Legends, ſinging Anthemes, and making prayers to them, and to their honour, or at leaſt to their honour that were repreſented by them.
Which being ſo, it is to bee conſidered what our Sauiour Chriſt and his Apoſtles taught concerning the ſubiect of diuine Seruice, that ſo it might appeare that our R…ligion and manner of ſeruing God in England, is the ſame in this reſpect that was taught by them, and that the other of the Sea of Rome is directly contrary to their Doctrine.
Ioh. 4.23, 24.Our Sauiour Chiſt taught that God is a Spirit, and that whoſoeuer will worſhip him aright, muſt worſhip him in ſpirit and truth: whereby it is plaine that the Godhead or any perſon of the Godhead, cannot be repreſented by an Image. For if no Art of a man, can truely repreſent the ſoule of a man, becauſe it is a ſpirituall ſubſtance which no bodily thing can truly repreſent, much leſſe can the ſpirituall ſubſtance of God be repreſented, which without all compariſon is more ſimple.Rom. 1. verſe 18. to 24, 25. For which cauſe the Apoſtle ſaith that the Gentiles repreſenting God by creatures, were guilty of lying, and turned that which God truely is into a falſe reſemblance. In which reſpect alſo the Prophets call ſuch Images teachers of lyes,Hab. 1.18.19 Ier. 10.8. which is manifeſt ſo to be; becauſe it is a falſe repreſ…ntation to repreſent Eternity by that which had a beginning, incorruption by that which is corruptible, the creator by the creature; and that more falſe, then if a man would repreſent the day by the night, light by darkeneſſe, and life by death.
Rom. 1.24. to the end.Moreouer, the Apoſtle there teacheth, that God held himſelfe ſo highly diſhonoured thereby, as for that cauſe, he gaue them ouer to their owne luſts to diſhonour themſelues with all kinde of ſhamefull diſhonour and abhominable iniquities.
Whereunto the ſame Apoſtle doth adde in another place,1 Cor. 6.9. that Idolaters ſhall not inherit the Kingdome of God: Reuel. 21.8.Likewiſe in the Reuelation it is ſaid, that Idolaters, together with dogges, Inchanters, Harlots, and Lyers, ſhall not enter into the City of God, the heauenly Ieruſalem. Moreouer, our Sauiour Chriſt teacheth concerning the worſhip of God agreeably to the Law, ſaying, it is written. Thou ſhalt worſhip the Lord thy God, and him onelyonly ſhalt thou ſerue. Math. 4.By which words he declareth it to be vtterly vnlawfull to worſhip any creature with the worſhip that is due vntounto God; and further that all religious kneeling & adoration is to be yeelded to God onelyonly. Which is agreeable to the ancient commandement that ſo commandeth God to be worſhipped,Exod. 20.4. as it forbiddeth by way of Religion & to wo…ſhip with religious worſhip, the likenes of any creature either in heauen or in earth, or in the waters vnderunder the earth; againſt the tranſgreſſors of which commandement the Lord declareth himſelfe moſt prouoked to vengeance in comparing his anger to the anger of a iealous man, that will not bee pacified by any meanes, but will be auenged vponupon the adulterer. Likewiſe in that he addeth further a terrible commination againſt Idolaters, whom he there declareth to hold for his enemies and ſuch as hate him, in threatning to viſite, that is, to puniſh their ſinnes in their children, and alſo in their childrens children to the third and fourth generation.
For which cauſe the Apoſtle Iohn exhorteth all Chriſtians to beware of Idols, ſaying,1 Iohn 5.21. Little children keepe your ſelues from Idols, or take ye heede and beware of Images.1 Cor. 10.14 So the Apoſtle Paul writeth to the Corinthians, ſaying, My beloued fly from Idolatry. Likewiſe the ſame Apoſtle in al his miniſtry ſought to withdraw as the Corinthians and the Theſſalonians, 1 Theſ. 1.9.ſo all other gentiles from the ſeruice of Idols to ſerue the true God.Acts 17.16. For which cauſe alſo being at Athens and greiued in ſpirit to ſee their City wholy addicted to the ſeruice of Idols, did moſt zealouſly endeauour both in the Synogogues of the Iewes, and in the market place vponupon all occaſions, and in the higheſt Court of Iuſtice, to diſſwade them from thoſe vaine and impious ſeruices, and exhort them to worſhip onelyonly the true God the creator of heauen and earth.
To which end alſo in another place he ſhewing that true Chriſtians (becauſe they are the Temples of God) ought to hauehave nothing to doe with Idols, ſaith, What participation hath Iuſtice with iniquitie, 2 Cor. 6.14.15.or what communion hath light with darkneſſe, or what communion can Chriſt hauehave with Belial, or what part can a faithfull man hauehave with an Infidell, or what agreement can the Temple of God hauehave with Idols? Wherefore goe yee out from the middeſt of them, and ſeparate your ſelues ſaith the Lord, and touch no vncleane thing, and then I will receiue you, and I will bee your father and you ſhall be my ſonnes and daughters; ſayth the Lord God Almighty. This is that our Sauiour Chriſt and his Apoſtles taught concerning the worſhiping of God only, and the auoyding with all zealous deteſtation the ſeruice of Idols, and Images, and reliques, and of any creature.
Now in times paſt, contrary to this doctrine, our Churches were full of Idols and Images, and ſuch religious adoration and ſeruice was yeelded and done vntounto them, adoration in bodily geſtures of vncouering the head vntounto them, of kiſſing them, and bowing the body and the knee vntounto them, and ſuch like ſeruice; in couering them with garments, adorning them with ornaments, incenſing of them, burning candles before them, beſtowing gifts vponupon them, making vowes, and going of Pilgrimages vntounto them, with other ſuch like ſeruices.
But the Lord vouchſaſing vsus mercy, ſtirred vp the ſpirit of our renowned Princes, to reforme ſuch enormities, as many vertuous Kings of Iudah had done the like before them; and hauing cauſed the Temples and Churches to bee cleanſed from all ſuch Idols and Idolatry, ſtraightly charged and commanded all their Subiects, abandoning alltheſe vaine and moſt impious ſeruices to Idols, to worſhip the true and liuing God, and to yeeld religious adoration and ſeruice to him onelyonly.
On the contrary, in all places yet ſubiect to the Sea of Rome, the Temples are full of Images, yea priuate houſes, publique ſtreets, and high-wayes, and nothing either ſo priuate or ſo publique, where theſe Idols are not. By which compariſon it manifeſtly appeareth that our Religion in England, for this point of the ſubiect of diuine Seruice, is that which was taught by Chriſt and his Apoſtles; and the ſeruice of the Sea of Rome is directly contrary to it, and full of Idolatry. But ſome thinke to avoid all that the Scriptures ſpeak againſt Idols and Idolatry by a diſtinction or two; for which end diſtinguiſhing betweene foreign and foreign, they ſay that this latter only, that is, foreign, is forbidden to bee giuen to creatures; but the former, that is, foreign, may be giuen to ſome creatures, yea & to ſome alſo a higher worſhip which they call foreign. But this diſtinction cannot ſerue to excuſe the worſhip & ſeruice done to Images by ſuch as are ſubiect to the Sea of Rome: For the people ignorant of this diſtinction (if there were any ſuch in the Scriptures) could not poſſibly be kept from Idolatry by it, but would be in continuall danger to paſſe the bounds of worſhip preſcribed, and to giuegive to their Images the honor of Almighty God. But the Scriptures make no ſuch diſtinction at all, but indifferently vſe both theſe alike, to note the ſeruice and ſervants of God. Our Sauiour ſayth,foreign Ye cannot ſerue God and mammon. Likewiſe the Apoſtle Paul calleth himſelfe, The Seruant of Chriſt.Rom 1.1. Gal 1.10. foreign.
Likewiſe in the Acts of the Apoſtles, all the Apoſtles call themſelues by the ſame word, the Seruants of God. Of the Theſſalonians it is ſayd that they had beene turned to God from Idols, Acts 1.29. 1 Theſ. 1.9. foreignto ſerue the true and liuing God; and in like manner in diuers other places, whereby it is plaine, that this diſtinction hath no ground in the word of God.
Moreouer, by the ſame word it appeareth that ſuch ſeruices as the Sea of Rome ordaineth to be done to their Images, are ſuch as are due to God only, and for yeelding whereof to Images, theyr worſhippers are charged with Idolatry. This is proued by that the law ſpeaking of all ſimilitudes of things ſayeth, Thou ſhalt not bow downe to them nor ſerue them, And in the firſt booke of the Kings. 19. ver. 18. it is ſayd,1 King. 19.18 I hauehave left 7000. in Iſrael which hauehave not bowed the knee to Baal, and whoſe mouth hath not kiſſed him.Ro. 11.4.
Further in the ſecond booke of Kings, chap. 18. ver. 14. it is written of the vertuous and zealous King Ezekias, that he tooke away the high places, brake downe the Images, cut downe the grou…s, and that he beat into powder the braſen Serpent which Moyſus had made, becauſe the Iſraelits to that day had offered incenſe to it, and called it Nehuſtan, that is, a peece of braſſe. By which places it appeareth, that for the ſeruices of bowing the knee to the Image of Baal, and of kiſſing his Image, and of cenſing the braſen Serpent, ſuch worſhippers are reproued as Idolaters. And theſe with many other like are the ſeruices that by the ordinances and practiſe of the Sea of Rome are dayly done to Images, by thoſe which cleaue ſtill to that Sea; whereof it followeth, that for the ſame cauſes they are iuſtly charged with Idolatry. On the contrary part it appeareth, that our Religion yeelding all religious Seruice onelyonly to the true eternall God, and giuing no ſuch ſeruice to any Image or creature whatſoeuer, is the ſame that was taught by our Sauiour Chriſt and by his Apoſtles.
Yet for excuſe of ſuch Idolatry as hath beene mentioned, there is yet further alleaged, that the Images of the heathen men onelyonly are Idols, and not the Images of Chriſtians and holy men ſet vp in the Churches ſubiect to the Sea of Rome. But this is plainely confuted by that the Prohibition of the law forbiddeth bowing down of the body, or any manner of religious ſeruice to bee done to the likenes of any thing is heauen, in the earth, Exod. 20.or in the waters vnderunder the earth. Now the Images ſet vp in all the Popiſh Churches, are ſimilitudes of ſome ſuch things, therefore they are by that law forbidden. Beſides, the law commanding God onelyonly to be adored, ſerued, and worſhiped religiouſly, excludeth alike from that honor all creatures whatſoeuer, according as it is ſaid I will not giuegive my honor to any other: Eſay 42.8.In regard hereof the Lord making m…ntion of his Iealouſey,Exod 20.5. compareth with adultery that offence done to him in communicating ſuch adoration and ſeruice with any other. Therefore as the wife is no leſſe an adultereſſe, that communicateth the honor and beneuolence due to her husband alone, with the chiefe ſeruant he hath, as the wife of Potiphar would hauehave done with Ioſeph, then if ſhe yeeld the ſame to a ſtranger: So the Idolatry is no leſſe that is done in communicating theſe honors with the chi…fe ſeruants of God, then was the Idolatry of the heathen in yeelding of the ſame to the Lords of the Gentiles. Sometime the Lord in this reſpect compareth himſelfe alſo to a King. Now in like manner they are no leſſe guilty of high treaſon againſt a lawfull King …hat yeeld his proper regalities and honors to any of his owne ſubiects, then if they did it to ſtrangers. For the alleagiance being communicated with any other, high treaſon is commited, whatſoeuer the party be to whom it is yeelded, whether it be an enemie or a friend, a ſtranger or a ſubiect, one that is farre off, or of the neareſt about him, and of cheefeſt dignity in his Court.
For theſe are duties that will not admit of any participation and fellowſhip with any other, but are to be yeelded wholly and onelyonly to the ſoueraigne King and lawfull Husband. And as whatſoeuer is otherwiſe is adultery and high treaſon; ſo in the caſe of religious adoring and worſhipping, whatſoeuer is yeelded to any creature, or to the Image and likeneſſe of any creature, is the ſinne of Idolatry. Therefore the difference betwixt the parties repreſented by the Images, cannot excuſe the matter. Moreouer, that ſuch adoration and ſeruice is not to be excuſed may appeare, in that often times the people of Iſrael and others, are reprooued for worſhipping the Sunne, the Moone, the Starres, and all the hoſte of heauen. Likewiſe in that the cenſing of the braſen Serpent is accounted Idolatry, notwithſtanding that at the beginning it had beene ſet vp by Gods expreſſe commandement for another purpoſe, and that it in a ſort repreſented Chriſt Crucified, and lifted vp on high by the preaching of the Goſpell, that all which ſhould looke vponupon him and behold him with the eye of Faith, might be ſaued from the power and ſting of Sathan the old Serpent.
The ſame may be alſo prooued by that the Apoſtle Paul, when they would hauehave ſacrificed to him (which was no more then offering incenſe to this effect) rent his clothes, and with great zeale deteſted it,Act. 14.14. that any ſuch thing ſhould be done vntounto him. The Apoſtle Peter alſo being reſpected and reuerenced by Cornelius, Acts 10.25.26.with ſo much reuerence as ſeemed to him might be dangerous to prooue offenſiue to God, withdrew him earneſtly from it, and acknowledged himſelfe to be his fellow ſeruant.
The worſhip of Angels is likewiſe reprooued in the Epiſtle to the Coloſsians: and the Apoſtle Iohn, Col. 2.18.rauiſhed vponupon the ſuddaine with admiration of the Angel that had reuealed ſo great Myſteries vntounto him, and worſhipping him, was forbidden by the Angell,Reuel 19.10. acknowledging himſelfe to bee fellow ſeruant with Iohn, Reuel. 22.8, 9.and exhorted to yeeld that honour to God onelyonly. And if ſuch honour be not to be giuen to the Apoſtles of Chriſt, nor yet to the Angels in heauen; ſurely it is not to bee giuen to any other creature, much leſſe to their Images.
Hereunto may be added, that the Images of Chriſtians, are as well the workemanſhip of men, as thoſe of the Heathen were. Further alſo, that the Images euen of the Apoſtles and of Chriſt himſelfe, were for their matter like to the Images of the Heathen, being made of wood, ſtone, mettall, or ſuch like matters. The outward ſhape alſo is no other. Likewiſe it s to be ſaid as well of them as of the other, That they hauehave eyes to ſee, Pſal. 115.4, 5, 6, 7, 8.yet they ſee not; eares to heare, but they heare not; feete to goe, but walke not but ſtand in neede to be lifted vp to the place where they ſtand, and to be nailed to it leaſt they fall downe; Therefore no ſuch Images are to bee honoured, nor to bee ſuffered in Chriſtian Churches.
For theſe and ſuch like are the reaſons for which the worſhippers of Images are reprooued by the Sc…iptures as Idolaters: viz. becauſe they worſhip the workes of mens hands, they worſhip things that are dead, as ſtocks and ſtones, falſe repreſentations, and lying ſhapes, that hauehave likeneſſe of ſenſes and life, and yet are indued with no ſence nor power of life; and finally, ſuch things as can neither do good nor hurt to men, but need mens helpe to ſtand, and may be burnt or otherwiſe conſumed by them.
This is the doctrine of our Sauiour Chriſt and of his Apoſtles concerning this point, that God onelyonly is to be religiouſly worſhipped, and that no creatures or their Images are to be adored. After that alſo a long time, the ſame doctrine was acknowledged, and the worſhip of Images reprooued. For declaring whereof it may ſuffice here to ſet downe that which is reported by Epiphanius himſelfe, and is tranſlated by Ieruſalem. Epiphanius in his letter to Iohn the Biſhop of Ieruſalem, writeth he…eof in this manner: I found in a Church at Anablatha, a veile hanging in the doore of the Church, ſtained and painted, and hauing the Image as of Chriſt, or of ſome holy man; for I do not well remember whoſe Image it was: Therefore when I ſaw the Image of a man to hang in the Church of Chriſt, contrary to the authority of the Scriptures, I cut it in peeces, and gaue counſell to the Keepers of the place, rather to winde it vp, and carry out to buriall in it ſome poore man deceaſed. And a little after, I pray you command that ſuch veiles bee not hanged in the Church of Chriſt, which are againſt our Religion.
Here might bee ſhewed the ſtory, from what beginning and by what degrees this corruption entered and prevailed in the Church, till at length the ſecond councell of Nice directly againſt the word of God and all ancient practiſe of the Church, decreed the ſetting vp of Images in the Churches, and worſhipping of them
For that the Doctrine of our Sauiour Chriſt and of his Apoſtles was contrary hereunto, & the ſame which our Church in England doth teach and maintaine, whereof here is queſtion, hath bene already declared. Therefore touching the firſt point of our religion in diuine ſeruice, which concerneth the ſubiect, which is, that God onelyonly is to be religiouſly worſhipped, & not Images, or yet any creature whatſoeuer: Thus it hath bene proued which was diſired, that our Religion herein is that which the Lord Ieſus himſelfe & his moſt faithfull miniſters the Apoſtles taught and deliuered.
Now followeth the ſecond poynt of thoſe which are common to all diuine Seruices, that is, in what language or tongue it is to be performed: wherein the doctrine and practiſe of our Church in England is, that it be adminiſtred in a ſpeech knowne, and vnderſtood by all the people.
In which practiſe it is now to bee ſhewed that wee hauehave our Religion in this reſpect, in like manner from Chriſt and his Apoſtles, teaching and ordaining ſuch adminiſtration of it.