A Plea for the Non-Conformists, Treatise · Part 2 – Part 4
Thirdly, In Rites and Ceremonies.
Do they kneel at Confeſſion and Abſolution? So we.
3dly, In Rites and Ceremonies.Do they Repeat the Pater-noſter, kneeling, after the Prieſt? So we.
Do they ſtand at Gloria Patri? So we.
Do they ſtand up and repeat the Apoſtl's Creed? So we.
Do they repeat after the Miniſter the Kiryeelyſon, Chriſteelyſon, kneeling? So we.
Do they upon the reading or ſinging Quicunque vult, or Athanaſius Creed, ſtand? So we.
Do they upon ſaying or ſinging Letanies, make Reſponſes by the People? So we.
Do they kneel at the Altar when they partake of the Euchariſt, or Lords Supper? So we.
Do they upon the Reherſal of the Ten Commandments kneel, asking mercy and grace after every Command? So we.
Do the Prieſt and People read the Pſalms alternately, verſe by verſe? So we.
Do they ſit at reading the Leſſons? So we.
Do they uncover themſelves in the Churches? So we.
Do they ſing their Anthems, and Canticles, and Pſalms, and Prayers with Muſick, Vocal and Inſtrumental, as Organs, Flutes, Viols, &c. So we in our Cathedrals.
Do they bow to the Eaſt, and Name of Jeſus? So we. Of all which not one word in all the New-Teſtament.
4thly, As to the places of Worſhip.Fourthly, Is there not a ſymbolizing with Popery in the Places of Worſhip?
The Places of our Worſhip are either ſuch as were built and conſecrated by the Papiſts, which we took from them, retaining the Saints Names they were dedicated to, as St. Mary, St. Peter, St. Paul, All-Saints, or ſuch places as we have built by their Example, poſited Eaſt and Weſt. Conſecrated and dedicated to ſome Saint or Angel, and which we take to be more Holy than any other place, as they did, and give great Reverence by uncovering the Head, and bending the Knee, and upon entrance into it, bowing to the Eaſt and Altar placed therein. And keep the annual Feaſt of Dedication, Wake or Paganalia, as the Papiſts and the Heathen before them did. Of all which, not one word in all the New Teſtament.
5thly, In the Prieſthood.Fifthly, Do we not alſo ſymbolize with them in the Prieſthood, who are principally to miniſter in thoſe places of Worſhip?
1. Orders.Have they ſuperior Prieſts, viz. Biſhops and Arch-Biſhops, in the room of the Heathen-Flamins and Arch-Flamins for Sacerdotal Service in Provinces and Dioceſſes? So have we.
2. Diſtinctions.Have they Inferior Prieſts, diſtinguiſht by Dignities, Names and Services, as Deans, Chapters, Prebends, Arch-Deacons, to miniſter in Cathedrals; and Parſons, Vicars and Curates to officiate in Pariſhes? So we.
3. Habits.Have they proper diſtinguiſhing Habits for their Clergy, and particular Veſtments for their holy Miniſtrations, as Albs, Surplices, Chaſubles, Amicts, Gowns, Copes, Maniples, Zones, &c.? So we.
Of all which, not one word in all the New-Teſtament.
That we do Symbolize with them in the Ordination of the Prieſthood, take a brief Parallel of the Pontificials, viz. the Romiſh and the Engliſh.
Romiſh Pontificial.
1. 4. Ordination.Tempora Ordinationum ſunt, &c. The times of Ordination are the Sabbaths, in omnibus quatuor temporibus, Rom. Pontif. de Ordinibus conferendis.
2. Ordinationes ſacrorum Ordinum, the Ordination of holy Orders ſhall be in the times appointed, and in the Cathedral Church, with the Canons of the ſaid Church being preſent thereat, ſhall be publickly celebrated in the time of Divine Service, Ibid.
3. They are taken to the Order of Preſbyters who have continued in the Office of a Deacon …t leaſt a whole year, except for the profit and neceſſity of the Church it ſhall otherwiſe ſeem good unto the Biſhop, Ibid.
4. Epiſcopus autem Sacerdotibus. But the Biſhop, Prieſts being adjoyn'd to him, and other prudent men, skilful in the divine, Law, and exercis'd in Eccleſiaſtical Functions; ſhall diligently examine the Perſon's Age—of him that is to be ordained.
5. Nullus dd Ordinem—None ſhall be admitted to the Order of a Deacon before he be 23 years old, nor to the Order of Presbytery before the 25th year of his Age.
6. Archia-Diaconis offerens—The Arch-Deacon preſenting thoſe who are to be promoted to the Order of Deacons, (each of them being decently habited) unto the Biſhop, ſitting in his Seat before the Altar, ſaith, Reverend Father—
7. The Biſhop ſhall ask, Do you know them to be worthy? The Arch-Deacon ſhall anſwer, As much as humane Frailty ſuffers me to know, I know and teſ…ifie that they are worthy.
8. The Biſhop ſhall ſpeak to the Clergy and People, If any one hath ought againſt theſe Perſons, let him come forth, and with Confidence ſpeak for God and before God.
9. Laſtly, the Biſhop takes and delivers to them all the Book of the Goſpel, ſaying, Receive the power of reading the Goſpel in the Church of God.
10. The Biſhop ſhall ſay, the Miniſters and Chaplains anſwering, Lord have mercy upon us; O God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy upon us; O God, the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy upon us; that it may pleaſe thee to bleſs, ſanctifie and conſecrate theſe Elect. R. We beſeech thee to hear us, good Lord.
11. They ſing one and the ſame Hymn, only the one is in Latine, the other in Engliſh
Veni Creator Spiritus,
Mentes tuarum viſita, &c.
12. The Biſhop ſhall lay his hands upon the head of each of them, kneeling upon their knees before him, ſaying to every one, Receive the Holy Ghoſt, whoſe ſins thou doſt forgive, they are forgiven; and whoſe ſins thou doſt retain, they are retained.
13. The Peace of God be always with you, the Bleſſing of God Almighty, the Father, Son and holy Ghoſt deſcend upon you.
Engliſh Pontificial
1. WE daclare, That no Deacons or Miniſters be Ordained, but only upon the Sundays immediately following Jejuna quatuor temporum, commonly call'd, Ember-weeks, Co…ſti…. & Can. Eccl. Can. 31.
2. And this be done in the Cathedral or Pariſh-Church; where the Biſhop reſideth, and in the time of divine Service, in the preſence not only of the Arch-Deacon, but of the Dean. Ibid.
3. And here it muſt be declared unto the Deacon, that he muſt continue in that Office the ſpace of a whole year, except for reaſonable cauſes it ſhall otherwiſe ſeem good unto the Biſhop. The Book of Ordering Prieſts and Deacons.
4. The Biſhop, before he admit any Perſon to holy Orders, ſhall diligently examine him in the preſence of thoſe Miniſters that ſhall aſſiſt him at the Impoſition of hands, Can▪ 35.
5. None ſhall be admitted a Deacon, except he be 23 years of Age, and every man which is admitted a Prieſt ſhall be full 24 years old: The Preface to the manner and form of making Prieſts and Deacons.
6. The Arch-Deacon or his Deputy ſhall preſent unto the Biſhop (ſitting in his Chair, near to the holy Table) ſuch as deſire to be ordained Deacons (each of them being decently habited) ſaying theſe words, Reverend Father—
7. The Biſhop ſhall ſay—Take heed that the Perſons whom you preſent unto us be apt and meet for their Learning—The Arch-Deacon ſhall anſwer, I have enquired of them, and alſo examin'd them, and think them ſo to be.
8. Then the Biſhop ſhall ſay to the People—Brethren, if there be any of you who knoweth any Impediment or notable Crime in any of theſe Perſons, let him come forth in the Name of God, and ſhew what it is.
9. Then the Biſhop ſhall deliver to every one of them the New-Teſtament ſaying, Take thee Authority to read the Goſpel in the Church of God.
10. The Biſhop, with the Clergy and People, ſhall ſing or ſay the Letany; O God, the Father of Heaven have mercy on miſerable Sinners; O God the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us; that it may pleaſe thee to bleſs theſe thy Servants. Reſpon. We beſeech thee to hear us good Lord.
11. They ſing one and the ſame Hymn, only the one is in Latine, the other in Engliſh
Come Holy Ghoſt, our Souls inſpire,
And enlighten with Celeſtial fire.
12. The Biſhop ſhall lay his hands ſeverally upon the heads of every one that receive the Order of Prieſthood, the Receivers humbly kneeling upon their Knees, and the Biſhop ſaying, Receive the Holy Choſt, whoſe ſins thou doſt forgive, they are forgiven; and whoſe ſins thou doſt Retain, they are retained.
13. The Peace of God—And the bleſſing of God Almighty, the Father, Son and Holy Ghoſt, be amongſt you, and remain with you always.
Of all which Progreſs, not one word in all the New-Teſtament.