Justification of the Religion Now Professed in England, Chapter 5 – Chapter 7
CHAP. V. Of Preaching.
IN England as wee hauehave the word of God publiquely read in the Church, and not any tales and follies; ſo hath it beene alwayes the endeauour of our Church, that the ſame word of God might bee alſo expounded vntounto the people, that ſo they might bee taught to know the Articles of true Chriſtian Religion, with the grounds thereof deliuered in the holy Scriptures, and hauehave it applied to their inſtruction in godlineſſe, to the reproofe of the diſobedient, to the comfort of the comfortleſſe, and to eueryevery good vſe for which God hath ordained it. To this end, at the ordination of Miniſters, they are earneſtly exhorted to the performance of this duty, and there are many bountifull allowances in diuers parts of the Realme aſſigned for Preachers to attend vponupon that Seruice.
In performance whereof there are alſo required two things. The one is that the Doctrine be ſound,Tit. 2.8. 2 Tim. 3, 4. 2 Tim. 4.12▪ that is, holy, and grounded vponupon the Scriptures; The other, that this duty bee performed with all faithfulneſſe and diligence. Now in all theſe points alſo, our Religion is the ſame which was taught by our Sauiour Ch…iſt and by his Apoſtles. For our Sauiour leauing his commiſſion with his Apoſtles for publiſhing of his Goſpell, ſaid,Math. 28.19.20. Teach yee all nations, and Teach them to obſerue whatſoeuer I hauehave giuen you in charge.
Likewiſe before that time, he had ſaid vntounto them, who is a faithfull and prudent ſteward, whom the Lord ſhall ſet ouer his houshold that hee may giuegive them their portion in due ſeaſon:Luke. 12.42.43, 44. Bleſſed ſhall that ſeruant bee whom the Lord at his comming ſhall finde ſo doing, I tell you truely hee will let him ouer all his goods.
This appeareth alſo in the earneſt charge thrice giuen and repeated at one time to Peter, that as hee loued the Lord,Ioſh. 21.15, 16.17. Tit. 2.8. Tit. 2.7. hee ſhould feede his ſheepe. Likewiſe the Apoſtle Paul chargeth Titus to preach the wholeſome word that cannot bee condemned, and to ſee that there bee integrity and incorruption in his Doctrine.
And writing to Timothy he exhorteth him with a moſt earneſt conteſtation before God,2 Tim. 4.1, 2. and the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that is to iudge both the quicke and the dead at his illuſtrous comming, and in his kingdome, that hee preach the word, bee inſtant ſeaſonably and vnſeaſonably, and ſo forth. So the Apoſtle Peter with a like conteſtation exhorteth the Elders of the diſperſed Iewes to feede the flocke of God that was with them,1 Pet. 5.1, 2.4. willingly and with a ready and cheerefull minde, and promiſing them ſo doing to receiue at the appearing of the Arch-Paſtor a Garland that ſhall not wither, or of Flower-gentle whoſe beauty and colour doth not fade nor wither away. Thus it is proued that our Sauiour Chriſt and his Apoſtles hauehave taught▪ that the word of God ſhould bee preached to the people, and that the Doctrine deliuered out of it, ſhould bee ſound, holy, and warranted by the Scripture, and that the ſame ought to bee p eached with al faithfull care, and diligence. Therefore what godly care and endeauor is amongſt vsus in theſe reſpects, is according to the Doctrine taught by Chriſt himſelfe and his Apoſtles.
And of ſuch care, many Iniunctions, Conſtitutions, Canons, Statutes, and Acts of Parlament, made both for the aduancement of preaching of Gods word, and alſo for the faithfull diligence of the Miniſters therein, doe plentifully teſtifie. But eſpecially thoſe are moſt worthy honor, which prouide for the ſincerity and ſoundneſſe of the Doctrine of faith, and of the Sacraments, ſet downe in the booke of Articles, agreed vponupon in the Conuocation, in the yeere of our Lord 1562. and in the 13 yeere of the reigne of our late gracious Queene, ordained to bee acknowledged ſound and holy, as it is by ſuch as ſhall take ordinary care and charge of ſoules within the Church of England. All which Articles hauehave beene often Iuſtified by many learned Treatiſes ioyntly and ſeuerally concerning them. For which cauſe it ſeemeth not needfull vponupon occaſion to enter into the debating and prouing of them (which would aske a long time) eſpecially of the errors of the Sea of Rome which are very many, & were withall to bee confuted.
But if particular queſtions be moued of any one of them, no neceſſary duty ſhall bee wanting, to proue the truth and ſoundneſſe of that may bee doubted of, and to diſproue any error that may bee maintained againſt it. For this time, & the poynt that is in hand, it may ſuffice heere to hauehave mentioned the care of our Church in England, that the word of God bee not onelyonly read, but alſo expounded vntounto the people, and that by warrant of the ſame, they may bee taught the truth of Chriſtian Religion, and that with all faithfullneſſe and diligence, and that herein our Religion is the ſame which Chriſt and his Apopoſtles taught and deliuered vntounto vsus.
On the contrary part, exceeding great is the corruption of the Church of Rome in this behalfe. Firſt, in that there hauehave beene of many ages ſo many errours as hauehave beene diſcouered in their Doctrine, & yet they hauehave confirmed the ſame by their laſt Councell holden at Trent, and doe ſtill maintaine the ſame, both by their continuall writings, and alſo at ſuch times as they pretend to preach the Goſpell of Chriſt vntounto the people; Further alſo, how violently ſoeuer they contend that all their Doctrine is true, yet hauehave they little care to inſtruct the people in it. This appeareth, in that it is a Doctrine which they teach and hold, that ignorance is the mother of deuotion. Likewiſe, in that they neither reade the word of God publiquely to the people in a knowne Language, nor ſuffer them priuately ſo to reade it. This appeareth alſo by that their pariſh Prieſts are generally ſo ignorant, as hardly one Preacher can bee found amongſt them in a great Country. Finally their diſpenſations for nonreſidency, and for multiplying of benefices, and for attendance vponupon other perſons, and matters, are ſo ordinary, that it manifeſtly declareth, as experience alſo hath taught, & yet doth in moſt places, that it is one of the leaſt cares that they hauehave by Preaching to inſtruct the people.
Whereby it is plaine, that heerein they are departed from the doctrine & practiſe, inſtitution & ordinance of Chriſt & his Apoſtles.Luk 21.37, 38. and ….15. For of their continuall attendance vponupon this duty, their earneſt charges to all Miniſters of the Goſpell,Act. 10.18.19, …0.21.26, 27, 28, 29.30, 31.32. 1, Pet. 5.2.3, 4. 2, Tim. 4.1.2. Ioh. 21.15, 16.17. there are manifeſt teſtimonies in the Scriptures, from whoſe examples and commandements they ſwaruing ſo farre, declare that they little remember or regard the earneſt obteſtation of the Apoſtle made before God and the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and with mention of his glorious Kingdome with comming to iudge the quick and the dead. They little regard the great charge giuen by our Sauiour Chriſt to the Apoſtle Peter, that as he loued him he ſhould feed his ſheepe. Finally they ſmally regard either the promiſe of the Garland that neuer withereth, or the threatning of the puniſhment of the vnfaithful ſeruant, that is to bee cut in two, and to receiue his portion with Hypocrits and Infidels. Thus as theſe enormities are iuſtly reprooued, ſo our contrary proceedings in England are iuſtified in the care that is held, that the doctrine preached ſhould bee holy and true, and that the preachers ſhould faithfully and diligently inſtruct the people in the ſame. And thus much of the word of God both read and preached in our Churches in England.
CHAP. VI. Of Sacraments.
IT followeth to conſider of the Sacraments and of prayer. Concerning the Sacraments, our Church in England doth profeſſe, that they are in nature holy ſignes and ſeales of the doctrine of the Goſpell, and of the righteouſneſſe that is by faith thereof. In number alſo wee profeſſe that there are two: viZ. Baptiſme and the Lords Supper. And that our Religion herein is that which Chriſt and his Apoſtles taught, is thus proued. That Ieſus Chriſt ordayned theſe two Sacraments, is moſt manifeſt in the Goſpell, wherein is declared, both that Chriſt ordained theſe two, and in what manner hee appoynted them to bee adminiſtred. We reade alſo in the Goſpell,Math 28.19, 20. & 26.26 and in other bookes of the new Teſtament, that the Apoſtles accordingly did adminiſter them both.
But of any other Sacrament wee reade not, that either our Sauiour Chriſt miniſtred and ordained any, nor that the Apoſtles did adminiſter any other. As for thoſe fiue which the Sea of Rome addeth to the number of the Sacraments, ſome of them wee acknowledge to bee holy ordinances, and ſtates of life, allowed in the Scripture, but hauehave not like nature with Baptiſme and the Lords Supper; and ſome hauehave beene brought into the Church vponupon a corrupt following of examples not intended for Sacraments.
But becauſe this queſtion is at large debated in anſwer to another queſtion concerning this matter, it may ſuffice to hauehave ſaid thus much in generall touching the Sacraments.
Concerning the Sacraments as farre as we differ from the Sea of Rome and hauehave reformed the abuſes thereof in the adminiſtration of them, wee adminiſter them in the Engliſh ſpeech, with declaration of the chiefe doctrines ſigned by them, wherein our Religion and practiſe is according to the word of God. For it hath beene Gods good pleaſure alwayes, that the Sacraments ſhould not be as dumbe ſhewes and ſpectacles, but ſo adminiſtred as the people might bee taught to vnderſtand what were the Doctrines that were ſigned and confirmed by them.
This was alſo the Doctrine of our Sauiour Chriſt, as appeareth by this that giuing charge to his Apoſtles heereof, he ſaith, Teach all Nations, Math. 28.19.baptiſing them, declaring thereby that the meaning and Doctrine for confirmation whereof hee ordained Baptiſme, ſhould bee declared. And of the Sacrament of his Supper, ſaith, As oft as yee doe this, 1 Cor. 11.26.ſhew forth the Lords death till he come. And againe, Doe yee this in remembrance of me. Now Chriſt taught the Doctrine of that ordinance which hee there inſtituted and deliuered. Such was alſo the Doctrine of the Apoſtles in all places of the New Teſtament, that make mention of their Doctrine and adminiſtration of the Sacraments of Baptiſme,Act. 2.38.41 & 10.47, 48. Act, 20.7. and of the Lords Supper.
CHAP. VII. Of Baptiſme.
PArticularly concerning Baptiſme, wee adminiſter it without adding thereunto exorciſme, or adiuring the diuell to goe out of the child. Becauſe it is not written that our Sauiour Chriſt and his Apoſtles vſed any ſuch ceremony, or appointed any ſuch to be vſed in the adminiſtration of it. Further alſo becauſe it is a ſuperſtitious ceremony in ſundry reſpects and grounded vponupon a falſe ſuppoſition, that the infants that are to bee baptized are poſſeſſed with the diuell. For our Sauiour ſaith that Theirs is the kingdome of heauen. Math. 19.14. 1 Cor. ….14.And the Apoſtle Paul ſaith that The children of Chriſtian Parents are holy yea though but one of their Parents be a Chriſtian and faithfull.
And wee adminiſter Baptizme without exorciſme or adiurati…n; ſo doe wee likewiſe without ſalt, ſpittle, creame, honny, oyle, Chriſme, Candlelight &c. Which Ceremonies wee doe not vſe in the adminiſtration of Baptizme. 1. Becauſe there is neither commandement nor example of the vſe of any of them giuen in the Scriptures by our Sauiour Chriſt and his Apoſtles. 2. Becauſe wee hauehave ſufficient commandement in the Scriptures for the adminiſtration of it, that is, without any of theſe. 3. Becauſe wee hauehave many examples in the Scripture of ſuch as were lawfully and duly baptized without the vſe of any of theſe.Act. 2.41 and 10, 43. & …6 33. 4. Theſe are the deuices of men, added to the ordinances of Chriſt, and to the worſhip of God, according to which inuentions it is not lawfull to ſerue God. Thus it appe…reth that our Religion in this part alſo is according to the Doctrine and practice of our Sauiour Chriſt and his Apoſtles.