The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 3 · Subpart 7 – Subpart 8
OF CEREMONIES.
The ſpeciall Queſtions.
1 What Ceremonies are.
2 Howe the Ceremoniall Lawes differ from the Morall Lawes.
3 How manie ſortes of Ceremonies there are.
4 Whether the Church maie ordaine Ceremonies.
1 WHAT CEREMONIES ARE.
CEremonies are external & ſolemne actions ordained in the Miniſterie of the Church, either for order ſake or for ſignification.
2 How the ceremoniall Lawes differ from the Morall.
1 CEremonies are temporarie, the Morall are perpetuall.
2 The Ceremonies are done all alike; The Morall are not doone alwaies alike. 3 The Ceremonies ſignifie; The Morall are ſignified. 4 The Morall are as the generall: The Ceremoniall are reſtrained in ſpeciall. 5 The Ceremoniall ſerue for the Morall; The Morall are the end or ſcope of the Ceremoniall.
3 How manie ſorts of Ceremonies there are.
CEremonies are of two ſorts; ſome commaunded by God; ſome ordained by men. Thoſe that are commanded by god, cannot be changed but by God only; and thoſe are either ſacrifices or Sacraments: A ſacrifice is an obedience, which wee performe to God. A Sacrament is a token, whereby God teſtifieth ſomewhat to vsus. Thoſe ceremonies which are ordained by mē, may be changed by the aduiſe of the church, if there bee good cauſes for the changing and alteration of them.
4 Whether the church may ordaine ceremonies.
THE church maie and ought to ordaine ceremonies; becauſe without defining and determining of circumſtaunces the Moral cannot be kept. There are notwithſtanding certaine conditions to bee obſerued by the Church in ordaining ceremonies, namely, They muſt bee ſuch ceremonies as are not impious, but agreeable to the word of the Lord. Secondly, they muſt not be ſuperſtitious, ſo that wee muſt not thinke them neceſſarie to be done: nether muſt they be done with offence. Thirdly, they muſt not be too many. 4. They muſt not be idle and vnprofitable, but muſt al tend to edifieng.
OF THE MINISTERIE. The chiefe Queſtions.
1 What the Miniſterie is.
2 What are the degrees of Miniſters.
3 For what end and purpoſe the Miniſterie was inſtituted.
4 VntoUnto whom the Miniſterie is committed.
5 What are the duties and functions of Miniſters.
1 WHAT THE MINISTERY IS.
THE Miniſterie is a function by God ordained, of teaching Gods word and adminiſtring his Sacraments according to his diuine ordinaunce. The partes then of the Miniſterie of the Church are two. 1 To preach Gods woord. 2 Rightlie to adminiſter the Sacraments.
2 What are the degrees of Miniſters.
OF Ministers ſome are immediatelie called of God, ſome mediatelie by the Church. Jmmediatelie were called the Prophets and Apoſtles. The Prophets were Miniſters immediatelie called of God to teach and open the doctrine of Moſes and of the promiſe the Meſſias to come, as alſo to correct their maners in the Church and common-wealth of Moſes, and to vtter prophecies of euentes in and without the Church, hauing a teſtimonie and warraunt that they could not erre in doctrine. The Apoſtles were Miniſters immediatelie called by Chriſt to preach the doctrine concerning the Meſſias nowe exhibited, and to ſpreade it throughout the whole world, hauing a teſtimonie & warrant that they could not erre in doctrine. Mediatelie were called, 1. The Euangeliſts, who were helpers of the Apoſtles in their labour, and were ſent of the Apoſtles to teach diuerſe Churches. 2. Biſhops or Paſtours, which are miniſters called by the Church to teach the woorde of God, and to adminiſter the Sacraments in ſome one certaine Church. 3. Doctors, who are miniſters called by the church to teach in ſome certaine church. 4. Gouernors, who are miniſters choſen by the iudgement of the church to adminiſter diſcipline, and to ordaine thinges neceſſarie. 5. Deacons, who are miniſters choſen by the church to take care for the poore, and to diſtribute Almes.
3 For what end and purpoſe the miniſterie was inſtituted.
GOD would that in all ages of the world there ſhould be publike aſſemblies of the church, in which the true doctrine concerning God and his will might bee heard, chieflie for theſe cauſes. 1. That God maie bee magnified and inuocated in this life by mankinde not onelie priuatelie, but alſo by the publique voice of the church. Pſal. 68. GiueGive thankes vntounto God in the congregations. 2. That the publique and ordinarie preaching of the doctrine, the pouring out of praiers, and giuing of thankes, and the vſe of the ſacramentes maie bee an exerciſe to ſtirre vp and cheriſh faith and godlines, as which without exerciſes doth eaſilie through our infirmitie waxe colde. Epheſ. 4. He gaue ſome Apoſtles, ſome Prophets, and ſome Euangeliſts, and ſome Paſtors, and Doctors for the gathering together of the Saints, for the worke of the miniſterie, and for the edification of the bodie of Chriſt. 3. That men maie prouoke one another by their example vntounto godlines and to the magnifieng and praiſe of God. Pſalm. 22.22. I wil declare thy name vntounto my brethren: in the middeſt of the congregation will J praiſe thee. 4. That there maie bee preſerued and maintained a conſent and agreement in the church in the doctrine and worſhip of God. Eph. 4. He gaue Paſtors and Doctors for the gathering together of the Saints, till we all meete together in the vnitie of faith. 5. That the church maie be ſeene and heard among men, and maie be diſcerned from the other blaſphemous & Idolatrous multitude of men. And he wil hauehave the church to be ſeen & beheld, that the elect may be gathered vntounto it, & that the reprobate may be made more excuſeles while they contemne, and endeuor to repreſſe the voice and calling of God which they hauehave heard. Rom. 10.18. But, hauehave they not heard? No doubt their ſound went out through all the earth, and their woordes into the ends of the world. 2. Cor. 2.14. Now thankes bee vntounto God, which alwaies maketh vsus to triumph in Chriſt, and maketh manifeſt the fauour of his knowledge by vsus in euerie place: for we are vntounto God the ſweete ſauour of Chriſt, in them that are ſaued, and in them that periſh: to the one we are the ſauour of death vntounto death, and to the other the ſauour of life vntounto life. 6. That God maie applie himſelfe vntounto our infirmitie, in teaching men by men. 7. That hee maie ſhewe his louelove towards man, in that he will hauehave men to be miniſters of that great worke, which alſo the ſonne of God did adminiſter. Nowe theſe cauſes belong not to any one certaine time, but to all times and ages of the Church and world. Wherefore god wil alwaies hauehave the miniſterie of his Church preſerued, and the vſe thereof frequented, and therefore the generall & ground of this commaundement, or the morall part thereof doth bind all men euen from the beginning of the woorld vntounto the end: namely, that ſome Sabboth be kept by them, that is, that ſome time be allotted vntounto publique ſermons, and praiers, and to the adminiſtration of the ſacraments.
4 VntoUnto whom the miniſterie is to be committed.
VNTOUNTO whom the miniſtery of the Church ought to be committed, Saint Paul plainly deliuereth in his Epiſtles to Timothy, and to Titus. And, briefly to compriſe them; The miniſterie of the Church is to bee committed, 1. VntoUnto men, 2. hauing a good teſtimonie in and without the church, 3. able to teach, that is, Rightly vnderſtanding the doctrine, and hauing giftes in ſome meaſure rightly to propound the ſame.
5 What are the duties and functions of Miniſters.
THE duties and functions of Miniſters are. 1. Faithfullie to propound and deliuer the true and ſound doctrine of God, that the church maie know & vnderſtand it. 2. Rightlie to adminiſter the ſacraments. 3. To go before and ſhine vntounto the church by their example of Chriſtian life and conuerſation. 4. To giuegive diligent attendaunce vntounto their flock. 5. To yeelde their ſeruice in ſuch iudgementes as are exerciſed by the church. 6. To take care that regard and reſpect be had of the poore.