(1.) To the directing and counselling of one another, in matters

doubtful; especially of discipline.

(2.) To edify each other by conference, prayer, and disputations.

(3.) That the younger may be educated under the grave advice and

counsels of the elder.

(4.) That the concord of themselves, and the churches under them, may

be preserved.

But if they would grow imperious, tyrannical, heretical, or

contentious, the magistrate shall hinder their stated, ordinary

meetings; that it be not accounted a thing simply necessary, nor used

to the disturbance of the church or state. And all provincial,

national, and larger councils, shall be held by the magistrate's

consent.

26. He that taketh himself to be wrongfully excommunicated in one

church, shall have a treble remedy:

(1.) To have his cause heard by the associated pastors of the

neighbour churches; though not as rulers of the bishop or pastor of

that particular church, yet as counsellors, and such whose judgment

bindeth to concord in lawful things.

(2.) To be admitted by another church, if it appear that he is

wronged. And,

(3.) To appeal to the magistrate, as the preserver of justice and

order in all societies.

27. The magistrate shall appoint some of the most grave, and wise, and

godly, and moderate of the ministers, to have a general inspection

over many churches; and to see that they be well taught and ordered,

and that pastors and people do their duty: who shall therefore oft

visit them, and shall instruct and exhort the younger ministers; and

with the countenance of the magistrate, and their own seniority and

ability, shall rebuke the slothful and faulty ministers; and persuade

them to diligence and fidelity: but shall exercise no outward force by

the sword; nor any excommunication by themselves alone, or otherwise

than in the aforesaid regular way.

28. All ordinations shall be performed, (except in case of necessity,)

either in the assembly of the associated pastors, with their

president; or in the vacant church, by some of them, appointed by the

rest; or by the general visitor, last mentioned, with a competent

number of assistants. But still, an ordination to the ministry in

general, shall not be taken to be formally the same as the affixing

him to this or that church in particular; nor more than the licensing

of a physician is the same with the affixing him to a particular

hospital.

29. A catalogue shall be drawn up of some of the greatest verities,

which are not expressly found in the creed, Lord's prayer, or

decalogue; which, as the articles of confession of the associated

churches of the nation, shall serve for these three uses:--

(1.) To satisfy all foreign churches, against any accusation, that

they are orthodox.

(2.) To examine the knowledge of such as are admitted to the ministry

by (but not to be subscribed, unless only as to a general

acknowledgment of the soundness of their doctrine; without saying

that, There is nothing faulty in them).

(3.) To be a rule of restraint to ministers, in their preaching; that

none be allowed publicly, after admonition, to preach against any

doctrine contained in them.

30. The usurped ecclesiastical power of bishops, and presbyteries, and

councils, (which were coercive, or imitated secular courts, or bound

the magistrate to execute their decrees,) being cast out, and all

pastors restrained from playing the bishops in other churches, out of

their own charge, the magistrate shall exercise all coercive church

government himself; and no more trust the sword directly, or

indirectly, in the hands of the clergy, who have long used it so

unhappily, to the disturbance of the christian world, and the shedding

of so much innocent blood. Where it may be had, there shall be a

church justice, or magistrate, in every considerable parish; who,

being present, shall himself hear how ministers preach, and behave

themselves among their people. And all ministers and churches shall be

responsible to the magistrate, for all abuses, and mal-administration.

If any minister preach or pray seditiously, abusively, factiously,

railingly, against tolerable dissenters, to the destroying of

christian love and unity; or heretically, to the danger of the

people's souls; or shall exercise tyranny over the people, or live a

vicious life; or be negligent in his office of teaching, worship, or

discipline, or otherwise grossly misbehave himself; he shall be

responsible both (as aforesaid) to the associated pastors and visitor,

(or archbishop,) and also to the magistrate; who shall rebuke and

correct him, according to the measure of his offence. And it shall

appear, that the magistrate is sufficient for all coercive church

government, without all the clergy's usurpations; which uphold the

Roman and other tyrannical societies.

31. The question, Who shall be judge of heresy, schism, or church

sins? shall be thus decided.

(1.) The bishops or pastors of the particular churches shall be the

judges, who is to be denied communion in their churches as heretics,

schismatics, &c.

(2.) The associated churches shall be judges, (in their synods, or by

other correspondence,) who is to be commonly denied communion in all

their churches; and what pastors and churches shall have the

_dextram communionis_, and who not.

(3.) The magistrate shall be the only judge, who is to be punished for

heresy or schism, &c. with fines, or any outward, corporal penalty.

And no one shall usurp the other's right.

32. The magistrate shall silence all preachers that, after due

admonition, so grossly misbehave themselves in doctrine, worship, or

conversation, as to be the plagues of the churches, and to do

apparently more hurt than good. But as to all worthy and able

ministers, if they commit any fault, they shall be punished as other

subjects, only with such penalties as shall not, by silencing or

restraint, be a punishment to the innocent people's souls, nor hinder

the preaching of the gospel of salvation: even as if the common

bakers, brewers, butchers, carpenters, perform their work

perniciously, (poisoning their beer, bread, and meat,) they shall be

forbid the trade; but for other faults, they shall be so punished,

that the people be not left without bread, beer, meat, houses, for

their faults.

33. If any heretics (as Arians, Socinians, &c.) would creep into the

ministry, there shall not be new forms of subscription made to keep

them out; (which it is likely, with their vicious consciences, would

be ineffectual, and would open a gap to the old church tyrannies and

divisions;) nor an uncertain evil be ineffectually resisted by a

certain greater mischief. But while he keepeth his error to himself,

he is no heretic as to the church (_non apparere_ being equal to _non

esse_): and when he venteth his heresy, he is responsible all the ways

aforesaid, and may be by the magistrate punished for his crime, and by

the churches be branded as none of their communion; which is the

regular way of reforming crimes, viz. By judgment and execution, and

not by making new rules and laws, as fast as men break the old; as

though laws could be made which no man can break.

34. The magistrate shall countenance or tolerate no sin or error, so

far as he can cure it by just remedies, which will not do more harm

than good: but he shall unwillingly tolerate many tolerable errors and

faults; because it is not in his power to remedy them, but by such

means. But,

(1.) The sound and concordant ministry only shall have his countenance

and maintenance.

(2.) Smaller errors and disorder shall be best cured by gentle

rebukes, and discountenance, and denial of maintenance; together with

the disgrace that will be cast upon them, by the judgment and dissent

of all the united, concordant ministers and churches (which together

will do more and better, than exasperating cruelties will do).

(3.) The publishing of pernicious principles shall be restrained more

severely.

But though men may be restrained from venting pernicious falsehoods,

they cannot be constrained to believe the truth; (we are not so

happy;) nor shall they be constrained to lie, and say that they

believe it when they do not.

35. All matters of quarrels, division, and cruel usage of each other,

being thus cut off and gone, bitterness and revengeful thoughts will

cease, and love will revive in all men's breasts, and unity and peace

will follow of its own accord. And if any heretical or contentious

sect arise, the hearts of all united people will so rise against them,

that desertion and shame will quickly kill them.

36. Then will the hearts of the people cleave to their pastors: and

they will be no more put on the great difficulties of loving the

bishops that hurt them, or of loving them in gaols; but it will be as

easy to love them, when they feel the love to their souls in the

labours and kindness of their pastors, as to love their dearest and

nearest friends. And then love will open the people's ears to the

teacher's doctrine, and it will do them good: and then the labours and

lives of faithful ministers will be sweet and easy, when the love, and

the unity, and faithfulness of the people, is their daily

encouragement. Oh how good, and how happy, will it be for pastors and

people thus to live in love and unity! It will not only remind us of

Aaron's perfume, but of the Spirit of love that dwelt in our Redeemer,

and which he promised should be his seal and mark upon all his true

disciples; yea, and of the celestial society, and life of perfect

love.

37. Then shall neighbours exercise their charity, for the help of the

ignorant about them, without the suspicions of venting heresies, or

sedition, or encroaching on the pastor's office. And neighbours, when

they come together, shall not take praying together, or holy

conference, or singing God's praise, or reading good books, or

repeating their teachers' sermons, or counselling each other, to be a

bad or dangerous work: but the ignorant, that cannot spend the Lord's

day in holy exercises at home, (because they cannot read or remember

much,) shall join with the families of their more understanding

neighbours, who can help them; (as they met, Acts xii. 12, for prayer;

and as neighbour families were to join in eating the passover with the

family that had not enough to eat it;) for love and unity shall end

these jealousies. And all shall be done under the guidance and

oversight of their pastors; and not in enmity of opposition to them,

or to the concordant church assemblies. And oh what helps and comfort

will this be to all faithful pastors, when all the work lieth not on

them alone; but every one sets his hand to build, in his proper place;

and when they that converse together all the week, are seconding that

which he more seldom teacheth them in public!

38. The younger sort of ministers, that are now bred up in Vulcan's

forge, shall be then trained up under grave and peaceable men; where

uniting and peace-making principles shall be the rudiments of their

literature.

39. And the younger sort of the people shall be no more tempted into

envious heats against their afflicters; nor into contentious sects,

because of controversies; but shall be fed with the milk of peaceable

principles, and be educated in the love of love itself. And the names

of sects, and church divisions, and proud pretendings, shall, by use,

be made as disgraceful, as now the names of swearing, drunkenness, and

whoredom are.

40. And oh how dear, how amiable, how honourable will their governors

be, to such a people (especially that blessed prince, that shall first

perform this work)! How heartily will they pray for them, plead for

them, and fight for them! and how freely will they contribute any

thing in their power to their aid! and how impatient will they be

against every word that would dishonour them! How blessed will the

people be under such a prince! and how sweet and easy will the life of

that prince be, that is to govern such a people!

GRANT, O LORD, THAT THIS GREAT HONOUR AND COMFORT MAY FALL INTO THE

HANDS OF THE KING OF ENGLAND, BEFORE ALL OTHERS IN THE WORLD. Kings

will then see, that it is their interest, their honour, and their

greatest happiness on earth, to be the wise, pious, righteous

governors, of a wise, pious, just, united people; that love them so

much, that still they would fain serve them better than they are able.

41. The ignorant, vulgar, and ruder sort, observing this amiable

concord, and all the blessed fruits thereof, will admire religion, and

fall in love with it: and multitudes that shall be saved, will be

daily added to the seriously religious, and the house of Christ will

be filled with guests.

42. Hereupon the scandalous and flagitious lives of common protestants

will be much cured; for the number of the flagitious will grow small,

and crimes will be under common disgrace. Besides that, they will be

punished by the magistrate; so that gross sin will be a marvel.

43. The books of plain doctrine and holy living, with the pacificatory

treatises of reconcilers, will then be most in esteem and use; which

now are so disrelished by turbulent, discontented, siding persons. And

abundance of controversial writings, about church government,

liturgies, ceremonies, and many other matters, will be forgotten and

cast aside as useless things; for the swords shall be made into

plough-shares and pruning-hooks.

44. The happy example of that happy prince and country, that shall

begin and first accomplish this work, will be famous through all the

protestant churches; and will inflame such desires of imitation in

them all, and be such a ready direction in the way, that it will

greatly expedite their answerable reformation. And the famous felicity

of that prince, in the reformation and concord of his subjects, will

kindle in the hearts of other protestant princes and states an earnest

desire of the same felicity. And so, as upon the invention of

printing, and of guns, the world was presently possessed of guns and

of printed books, that never before attained any such thing; so here,

they that see the happiness of one kingdom brought about, and see how

it was done, will have matter enough before their eyes, both to excite

their desires and guide their endeavours in the means to bring all

this to pass.

45. The protestant kingdoms and states, being thus reformed and united

in themselves, will be inflamed with an earnest desire of the good of

all other churches, and of all the world: and therefore, as divines

have held something called general councils for the union of all those

churches; so these princes will by their agents hold assemblies for

maintaining correspondence, to the carrying on of the common good of

the world, by the advantage of their united counsels and strength; and

then no enemy can stand long before them. For they that love and serve

them zealously at home, will venture their lives for them zealously

abroad, if there be cause.

46. The excellent and successful use of the magistrate's government of

the churches in their dominions, will quite shame all the usurping

claims of the pope and general councils, and their mongrel

ecclesiastic courts, and all the train of artifices and offices, by

which their government of the world is managed. And the world, and

especially princes, will plainly see how much they were abused by

their usurpations, and that there is no need of pope or cardinal, nor

any of those officers or acts at all; but that these are the mere

contrivances of carnal policy, to keep up an earthly kingdom under the

name of the catholic church. And also the purity and unity of the

reformed churches, where the vulgar have more religion and union than

their monasteries, will dazzle the eyes of the popish princes, states,

and people; and when they see better, and especially the happiness of

the princes, they will forsake the usurper that had captivated them by

fraud, and will assume their freedom and felicity; and so the Roman

church kingdom will fall.

47. The deluded Mahometans seeing the unity and glory of christendom,

as they were before kept from Christ by the wicked lives and the

divisions of christians (thinking that we are far worse than they); so

now they will be brought to admire and honour the christian name, and

fear the power of the christian princes. And one part of them will

turn christians; and the rest, even the Turkish power, the christian's

force, by the power of God, will easily break. And so the Eastern

churches will be delivered and reformed, and the Mahometans come into

the faith of Christ.

48. The poor scattered Jews also, when they see the glory and concord

of christians, will be convinced that Christ is indeed the true

Messias: and being converted, perhaps, shall by the christian powers

be some of them re-established in their own land; but not to their

ancient peculiarity, or policy and law.

49. And then the christian zeal will work to the conversion of the

poor idolatrous, heathen world; and part of them will yield to reason

and faith, and the rest by just victories be subdued. And so the

kingdoms of the world will become the kingdoms of the Lord and his

Christ; and the gospel shall be preached in all the world.

50. And when the kingdom of grace is perfected, and hath had its time,

the kingdom of glory shall appear, upon the glorious appearing of

Christ our King; and the dead shall arise, and they that have

overcome, shall reign with Christ, and sit with him upon the throne,

even as he overcame, and is set down with the Father on his throne.

Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also, which shall

believe on me through their word; that they all may be one, as thou,

Father, art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us,

that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which

thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one, even as we

are one. I in them, and thou in me; that they may be made perfect in

one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast

loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also whom

thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my

glory which thou hast given me," John xvii. 20-24.

_Object._ But if this world should ever become so happy, it would

be more amiable, and so be a greater snare to our affections, and make

us willing to stay from heaven.

_Answ._ No amiableness or pleasantness stealeth the heart from

God, or keepeth it from heaven, but that which hideth the glory and

goodness of God and heaven from our minds, or corrupteth and diverteth

the will and affections by some inconsistency or contrariety; but the

spiritual excellency of the reformed concordant church on earth, will

so much more clearly represent heaven to our conceptions, and give our

hearts so pleasant a foretaste of it, that above all things it will

excite our desires of that fuller glory, and call us most powerfully

to a heavenly mind and life: as the first-fruits and earnest do make

us desire the harvest, and the full possession; and as now those that

live in the most heavenly society, and under the most excellent helps

and means, have usually more heavenly minds and lives, than they that

in more tempting and distracting company never enjoy such heavenly

beams.

CONSECTARY.

All the Romish dreams of church union arise from ignorance of the true

state and interest of the church, and the true and necessary terms of

union.

And all the plots also of the moderating papists, that talk of a

political church catholic having a visible constitutive or governing

head; whether monarchical, (the pope,) or aristocratical, or

democratical (the patriarchs, or a general council): and that talk of

universal laws of this church, made by such a universal head, besides

the universal laws of Christ; and falsely feign the councils called

general, in a particular empire, called or ruled by one emperor only,

in his own dominions, to have been universal, as to all the catholic

churches on earth; and that feign these councils to have been

infallible, which so often erred, and crossed each other; and that set

the world upon the undeterminable controversy, Which were true general

councils; and, How many we must receive and conform to: whether only

four, or six, or eight; and till what age. And that would persuade

the christian world, that whatever diversity of canons, customs, or

church laws, or ceremonies, are allowed among them, it must all be

done or held by this same authority of the pope or council, or both:

to which (though foreign) kings and bishops must all be subject; and

from which they must receive their christianity; and by which all

their reformations must be tried: and that none must be taken as

catholics, nor any churches tolerated, that hold not such a factious

union, under such a usurping head, personal or collective: but as

Tertullian speaketh, rather than endure such wiser and better

societies, _Solitudinem facerent, et vocarent pacem_: and as a WORLDLY

CLERGY, whose church and kingdom is only of and in this world, would

banish from it all (save a lifeless image) which hath any kin to

heaven; and suffers none to live in this world among them but

themselves.

* * * * *

I say, all this is, 1. From ignorance of the true nature of the

christian religion, church state, and terms of unity and concord;

which I have lately opened in a book, entitled, "The True and only

Terms of the Concord of all the Churches."

2. And from contention about ambiguous words, and self-conceitedness

in their controversies, ignorantly thence raised; which I have sought

to end in a book, called, "Catholic Theology."

3. And from vicious passions and partiality; which I have sought to

heal in a book, called, "The Cure of Church Divisions."

All written long since the writing of this foregoing Prognostication.

THE REFORMED LITURGY.

THE ORDINARY PUBLIC WORSHIP ON THE LORD'S DAY.

_The Congregation being reverently composed, let the Minister first

crave God's assistance and acceptance of the Worship, to be performed

in these or the like words._

Eternal, incomprehensible, and invisible God, infinite in power,

wisdom, and goodness, dwelling in the light which no man can approach,

where thousand thousands minister unto thee, and ten thousand times

ten thousand stand before thee, yet dwelling with the humble and

contrite, and taking pleasure in thy people: Thou hast consecrated for

us a new and living way, that with boldness we may enter into the

holiest, by the blood of Jesus, and hast bid us seek thee while thou

mayst be found: We come to thee at thy call, and worship at thy

footstool. Behold us in thy tender mercies. Despise us not, though

unworthy. Thou art greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints,

and to be had in reverence of all that are about thee. Put thy fear

into our hearts, that with reverence we may serve thee; sanctify us,

that thou mayst be sanctified of us, when we draw nigh thee. Give us

the Spirit of grace and supplication to help our infirmities, that our

prayers may be faithful, fervent, and effectual. Let the desire of our

souls be to thee: let us draw near thee with our hearts, and not only

with our lips, and worship thee, who art a Spirit, in spirit and

truth. Let thy word be spoken and heard by us as the word of God. Give

us attentive, hearing ears, and opened, believing, understanding

hearts, that we may no more refuse thy calls, nor disregard thy

merciful, outstretched hand, nor slight thy counsels and reproofs; but

be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools. Put thy

laws into our hearts, and write them in our minds, and let us be all

taught of God. Let thy word be unto us quick and powerful; a discerner

of the thoughts and intents of the heart; mighty to pull down

strong-holds, casting down imaginations and reasonings, and every

high thing that advanceth itself against the knowledge of God; and

bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Let

us magnify thee with thanksgiving, and triumph in thy praise. Let us

rejoice in thy salvation, and glory in thy holy name. Open thou our

lips, O Lord, and let our mouths show forth thy praise. And let the

words of our mouths, and the meditation of our hearts, be acceptable

in thy sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour.[176]

Amen.

_Or thus, when brevity is necessary._

O eternal, almighty, and most gracious God, heaven is thy throne, and

earth is thy footstool, holy and reverend is thy name; thou art

praised by the heavenly hosts, and in the congregation of thy saints

on earth, and wilt be sanctified in all that come nigh unto thee. We

are sinful and unworthy dust, but being invited by thee, are bold,

through our blessed Mediator, to present ourselves and our

supplications before thee. Receive us graciously, help us by thy

Spirit; let thy fear be upon us; let thy word come unto us in power,

and be received in love, with attentive, reverent, and obedient minds.

Make it to us the savour of life unto life. Cause us to be fervent in

prayer, and joyful in thy praises, and to serve thee this day without

distraction, that we may find that a day in thy courts is better than

a thousand, and that it is good for us to draw near to God; through

Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.[177] Amen.

_Next, let one of the Creeds be read by the Minister, saying,_

In the profession of this christian faith we are here assembled.

I believe in God the Father, &c.

I believe in one God, &c.

_And sometimes Athanasius' Creed._

_The Ten Commandments._

God spake these words, and said, &c.

_For the right informing and affecting the People, and moving them

to a penitent, believing Confession, some of these Sentences may be

read._

God created man in his image.[178]

By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death

passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.[179]

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.[180]

God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that

whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting

life.[181]

He that believeth on him shall not be condemned: but he that believeth

not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of

the only begotten Son of God.[182]

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and

men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were

evil.[183]

For every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the

light, lest his deeds should be reproved.[184]

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse

for us.[185]

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into

the kingdom of God.[186]

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of

the Spirit is spirit.[187]

Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little

children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.[188]

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in

the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and

live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O

house of Israel?[189]

I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over

a sinner that repenteth.[190]

I will arise and go to my father, and say unto him, Father, I have

sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be

called thy son.[191]

_The Confession of Sin, and Prayer for Pardon and

Sanctification._

O Most holy, righteous, and gracious God, who hatest all the workers

of iniquity, and hast appointed death to be the wages of sin, but yet

for the glory of thy mercy hast sent thy Son to be the Saviour of the

world, and hast promised forgiveness of sin through his blood, to all

that believe in him, and by true repentance turn unto thee, and that

whosoever confesseth and forsaketh his sin, shall have mercy; we

confess that we are vile and miserable sinners, being conceived in

sin; by nature children of wrath, and transgressors from the womb. All

we like sheep have gone astray, and turned every one to his own way.

Thou madest us, and not we ourselves. Thou boughtest us with a price,

and we are not our own; therefore we should have wholly given up

ourselves unto thee, and have glorified thee with our souls and bodies

as being thine. Whatever we did should have been done to thy glory,

and to please thee, in the obeying of thy will. But we have displeased

and dishonoured thee, and turned from thee, exalting, seeking, and

pleasing ourselves. Thou art the King of all the world, and thy laws

are holy, just, and good. But we have denied thee our due subjection

and obedience, being unruly and self-willed, minding the things of the

flesh, and making provision for its lusts. We have staggered at thy

word through unbelief, and have not fully placed our trust and hope in

thee. We have rather feared man that is dust, and can but kill the

body, than thee, that canst destroy both soul and body in hell. Thou

art infinitely good, and love itself, yet have we not fully taken thee

for our portion, nor loved thee with all our heart, and soul, and

might, nor made thee our full desire and delight. But we have

inordinately loved ourselves, and the world, and the things of the

world, and lived by sense when we should have lived by faith, and

cared and laboured for the food that perisheth, when we should have

laboured for the one thing needful, and that which endureth to

everlasting life. We have been slothful servants, yielding to

temptations, ashamed of our duty, losing our precious time, when we

should have been fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, cleaving to thee

with full resolution, redeeming the time, and with diligence making

sure our calling and election. We have not with due holiness and

reverence drawn near thee, and used thy holy name, thy worship, and

thy day. We have dishonoured and disobeyed our superiors, and

neglected our inferiors. We have been guilty of not loving our

neighbours as ourselves, and not doing to others as we would they

should do to us; but have sought our own against their welfare, not

forbearing and forgiving, not loving our enemies as we ought, not

following peace, nor studying to do good to all according to our

power. We have sinned secretly and openly, in thought, word, and deed,

ignorantly and presumptuously, in passion and upon deliberation,

against thy precepts, promises, and threats; against thy mercies and

thy judgments, under thy patience and in thy sight; against our

consciences, our purposes, and our covenants. When we were hastening

to death and judgment, for which through all our lives we should have

prepared, thou hast commended thy wonderful love towards us in giving

thy Son to die for sinners, to reconcile us to thee, while we were

enemies; and all things being made ready, thou hast sent thy

messengers to invite us to come in, preaching to us the glad tidings

of salvation, and freely offering us pardon and life in Jesus Christ;

but we have made light of it, and neglected this great salvation, and

made excuses or too long delays; undervaluing our Redeemer, his blood

and merits, his offered grace and endless glory, rejecting his holy

doctrine and example, resisting his Spirit, ministers, and word. We

have sinned, O Lord, against thee, and against our own souls, and are

not worthy to be called thy children. We have deserved everlasting

wrath; to us belongeth confusion, but mercy and forgiveness to thee.

Have mercy upon us, O God, according to the multitude of thy mercies.

Heal our souls that have sinned against thee, and enter not into

judgment with thy servants. Hide thy face from our sins, and blot out

all our iniquities. Cast us not away from thy presence, and avenge not

upon us the quarrel of thy covenant. Wash us in the blood of the Lamb

of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. Accept us in thy beloved

Son, who was made a curse for us, and was wounded for our

transgressions, that we might be healed by his stripes. Turn us, O God

of our salvation, and cause thy face to shine upon us. Give us

repentance unto life: cause us to loathe ourselves for all the evils

that we have committed. Give us that broken, contrite spirit which

thou wilt not despise. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a

right spirit within us. Take out of us the old and stony heart, and

give us a new and tender heart. Give us the Spirit of thy Son, and be

our God, and let us be thy people. Enlighten our understandings to

know the wonderful things of thy law, the dimensions of thy love in

Christ, the mysteries of thy kingdom, and the riches of the glory of

thy inheritance in the saints, and that we may approve the things that

are excellent, and may escape the snares of the devil, and may hate

every false way. Shed abroad thy love in our hearts by thy Holy

Spirit, and cause us so to love thee, that nothing may separate us

from thy love. Put thy fear into our hearts, that we may never depart

from thee. Cause us to seek first thy kingdom, and its righteousness,

and (as those that are risen with Christ) to seek the things that are

above, and to lay up a treasure in heaven, and let our hearts and

conversations be there. Mortify our earthly inclinations and desires.

Crucify the world to us, and us unto the world by the cross of Christ.

Cause us to live by faith, and look at the things that are unseen; and

use the world as not over-using it, seeing the fashion of it passeth

away; striving to enter in at the strait gate, and running so as to

obtain. Let us no longer live the rest of our time to the lust of men,

but the will of God, studying in all things to please thee, and to be

accepted of thee. Let us not seek our own wills, but the will of him

that called us; yea, let us delight to do thy will, O God; let our

delight be in thy law, and let us meditate therein day and night.

Cause us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly,

and righteously, and godly in this present world, as obedient

children, not fashioning ourselves to the former lusts of our

ignorance; but as he that hath called us is holy, let us be holy in

all manner of conversation. Cause us to love one another with a pure

heart, forbearing and forgiving one another, if any have a quarrel

against another, even as Christ forgave us. Give us the wisdom which

is first pure, and then peaceable. In our eyes let a vile person be

contemned, but let us honour them that fear the Lord. Cause us to walk

circumspectly without offence, and to be zealous of good works; to

love our enemies, and not to give place to wrath; and in patience to

possess our souls. Help us to deny ourselves, and take up our cross,

and follow Christ; esteeming his reproach to be greater riches than

the treasures of the world; that having suffered with him, we may

also be glorified with him. Though we must be tempted, help us to

overcome, and be faithful unto the death; and then let us receive that

crown of life, through the merits and intercession of Christ Jesus our

Lord and only Saviour; in whose comprehensive words we sum up our

requests, saying as he hath taught us, Our Father which art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, &c.[192]

_Or thus, when brevity is necessary._

O Most great, most just, and gracious God, thou art of purer eyes than

to behold iniquity, thou condemnest the ungodly, impenitent, and

unbelievers; but hast promised mercy through Jesus Christ to all that

repent and believe in him. We confess that we were conceived in sin,

and are by nature children of wrath; and have all sinned and come

short of the glory of God. In our baptism thou tookest us into the

bond of the holy covenant, but we remembered not our Creator in the

days of our youth, with the fear, and love, and obedience which we

owed thee: not pleasing and glorifying thee in all things, nor walking

with thee by faith in a heavenly conversation, nor serving thee

fervently with all our might; but fulfilled the desires of the flesh,

and of the carnal mind. We have neglected and abused thy holy worship,

thy holy name, and thy holy day. We have dishonoured our superiors,

and neglected our inferiors. We have dealt unjustly and uncharitably

with our neighbours, not loving them as ourselves, nor doing to others

as we would they should do to us. We have not sought first thy kingdom

and righteousness, and been contented with our daily bread, but have

been careful and troubled about many things, neglecting the one thing

necessary. Thou hast revealed thy wonderful love to us in Christ, and

offered us pardon and salvation in him; but we made light of it, and

neglected so great salvation, and resisted thy Spirit, word, and

ministers, and turned not at thy reproof. We have run into

temptations; and the sin which we should have hated, we have committed

in thy sight, both secretly and openly, ignorantly and carelessly,

rashly and presumptuously, against thy precepts, thy promises, and

threats, thy mercies and thy judgments. Our transgressions are

multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us. If thou deal

with us as we deserve, thou wilt cast us away from thy presence into

hell, where the worm never dieth, and the fire is not quenched. But in

thy mercy, thy Son, and thy promise, is our hope. Have mercy upon us,

most merciful Father. Be reconciled to us, and let the blood of Jesus

Christ cleanse us from all our sins. Take us for thy children, and

give us the Spirit of thy Son. Sanctify us wholly, shed abroad thy

love in our hearts, and cause us to love thee with all our hearts. O

make thy face to shine upon thy servants; save us from our sins, and

from the wrath to come; make us a peculiar people to thee, zealous of

good works, that we may please thee, and show forth thy praise. Help

us to redeem the time, and give all diligence to make our calling and

election sure. Give us things necessary for thy service, and keep us

from sinful discontent and cares. And seeing all these things must be

dissolved, let us consider what manner of persons we ought to be, in

all holy conversation and godliness. Help us to watch against

temptations, and resist and overcome the flesh, the devil, and the

world; and being delivered out of the hand of all our enemies, let us

serve thee without fear, in holiness and righteousness before thee all

the days of our life. Guide us by thy counsel, and after receive us

into thy glory, through Jesus Christ our only Saviour. Amen.[193]

[Here use the Lord's Prayer as before.]

_For the strengthening of Faith, and raising the Penitent, some of

these Sentences of the Gospel may be here read._

Hear what the Lord saith to the absolution and comfort of penitent

believers.

The Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his

face from you, if ye return unto him.[194]

If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the

righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours

only, but also for the sins of the whole world.[195]

Be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through this man is

preached to you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe

are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified

by the law of Moses.[196]

Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin reigned

unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto

eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.[197]

If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one

with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from

all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the

truth is not in us. If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to

forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.[198]

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give

you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and

lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is

easy, and my burden is light.[199]

Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.[200]

All that the Father hath given me shall come to me; and him that

cometh to me I will in nowise cast out.[201]

I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and

iniquities I will remember no more.[202]

Hear also what you must be and do for the time to come, if you would

be saved.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.[203]

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed

away; behold, all things are become new.[204]

There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk

not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the

flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the

Spirit the things of the Spirit.[205]

For to be carnally-minded is death, but to be spiritually-minded is

life and peace.[206]

For the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to

the law of God, neither indeed can be.[207]

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.[208]

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if through the

Spirit ye mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.[209]

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,

fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft,

hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the

which I tell you before, as I have told you in time past, that they

which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.[210]

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering,

gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there

is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with

the affections and lusts.[211]

Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness,

not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put

ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to

fulfil the lusts thereof.[212]

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any

man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that

is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the

pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.[213]

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the

way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in

thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the path, that

leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.[214]

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all

men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we

should live soberly, and righteously, and godly, in this present

world; looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the

great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that

he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar

people, zealous of good works.[215]

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor

standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the

scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law

doth he meditate day and night.[216]

The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the

congregation of the righteous.[217]

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have

grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly

fear: for our God is a consuming fire.[218]

Seeing then that these things shall be dissolved, what manner of

persons ought ye to be, in all holy conversation and godliness,

looking for and hasting to the coming of the day of God?[219]

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always

abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your

labour is not in vain in the Lord.[220]

_Then may be said the ninety-fifth or the hundredth Psalm, or the

eighty-fourth._

_And next the Psalms in order for the day; and next shall be read a

chapter of the Old Testament, such as the Minister findeth most

seasonable; or with the liberty expressed in the admonition before

the second book of Homilies._[221]

_After which may be sung a Psalm, or the Te Deum said; then shall

be read a chapter of the New Testament, and then the Prayer for the

King and Magistrates. And after that, the sixty-seventh, or

ninety-eighth, or some other Psalm, may be sung or said, or the

Benedictus, or Magnificat. And the same order to be observed at the

Evening Worship, if time allow it._[222]

Next after the psalm the minister shall (in the pulpit) first

reverently, prudently, and fervently pray, according to the state and

necessities of the church, and those especially that are present, and

according to the subject that he is to preach on. And after prayer,

he shall preach upon some text of holy Scripture, suiting his matter

to the necessities of the hearers, and the manner of delivery to

their quality and benefit. Always speaking from faith and holy

experience in himself, with plainness and perspicuity, with reverence

and gravity, with convincing evidence and authority, with prudence,

caution, faithfulness, and impartiality, with tender love and melting

compassion, with fervent zeal and persuading importunity, and with

frequency and unwearied patience, waiting on God for the success.

After sermon he shall pray for a blessing on the word of instruction

and exhortation, which was delivered; and in his prayers (before or

after sermon) ordinarily he shall pray for the conversion of

heathens, Jews, and other infidels; the subversion of idolatry,

infidelity, Mahometanism, heresy, papal tyranny and superstition,

schism and profaneness, and for the free progress of the gospel, and

the increase of faith and godliness, the honouring of God's name, the

enlargement of the kingdom of Christ, and the obedience of his saints

through the nations of the earth. And in special for these nations;

for the king's Majesty, and the rest of the royal family; for the

lords of his Majesty's council, the judges, and other magistrates of

the land; for the pastors of the church, and all congregations

committed to their care and government. Always taking heed that no

mixtures of imprudent, disorderly expressions, of private discontent

and passion, of unreverent, disobedient, seditious, or factious

intimations, tending to corrupt, and not to edify, the people's

minds, do turn either prayer or preaching into sin. And ordinarily in

church communion, especially on the Lord's day, (which is purposely

separated for the joyful commemoration of the blessed work of man's

redemption,) a considerable proportion of the public worship must

consist of thanksgiving and praises to God, especially for Jesus

Christ, and his benefits; still leaving it to the minister's

discretion to abbreviate some parts of worship, when he seeth it

needful to be longer on some other.[223]

_The Sermon and Prayer being ended, let the Minister dismiss the

Congregation with a benediction, in these or the like words._

Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.[224]

The Lord bless you, and keep you: the Lord make his face to shine upon

you, and be gracious unto you: the Lord lift up his countenance upon

you, and give you peace.[225]

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father,

and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.[226]

_Except there be a Communion in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper

to be celebrated, or any further Worship to be performed, and then

the Minister may delay the Benediction till the End._

_And because, when there is leisure, the Prayers of the Church

should be as full as the Rule and our Necessities require; let the

following General Prayer be used, when the Minister findeth it

convenient, instead of the Litany and Collects._

Here are also adjoined a Thanksgiving for Christ and his benefits,

and a Hymn to be used at the discretion of the minister, either after

sermon, or at the communion, or on other days.

_A Prayer for the King, the Royal Family, and Magistrates._

Almighty God, by whom kings reign, and princes decree justice, who

rulest in all the kingdoms of men, and givest them to whomsoever thou

wilt, who by thy special providence hast set over us thy servant,

Charles, our king; crown him with thy blessings, and satisfy him with

thy goodness. Save him by thy right hand, and defend him against such

as rise up against him; prolong his life in peace and righteousness;

grant him the spirit of wisdom and counsel, the spirit of holiness,

and the fear of the Lord, that he may know how to go in and out before

this great people over whom thou hast set him. Let not thy law depart

out of his mind, or mouth, but let him meditate in it day and night.

Make him as an angel of God to discern between good and evil, that in

his eyes a vile person may be contemned, but he may honour them that

fear the Lord; that his eyes may be upon the faithful of the land,

that they may dwell with him, and they that are perfect in the way

serve him. Remove the wicked from before him, that his throne may be

established in righteousness; and grant that under him we may lead a

quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. And when he

hath finished his course on earth, let him inherit a crown of

righteousness, and reign with Christ for ever. Bless the queen mother,

the illustrious prince, James, duke of York, and the rest of the royal

family; endue them with thy Holy Spirit, enrich them with thy heavenly

grace, and make them blessings in their generation. Endue the lords of

his Majesty's council, and all the nobility, the judges, and all the

magistrates of the land, with wisdom from above, that they may rule as

in thy fear, and judge righteous judgment, and may take heed what they

do, as judging not for man, but for the Lord, that justice may run

down as water, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Let all his

Majesty's subjects duly submit to him and obey him, not only for

wrath, but for conscience' sake. Let all his kingdoms be the kingdoms

of the Lord, and of his Son Christ, that God may dwell amongst us, and

that it may be said of them, The Lord bless thee, O habitation of

Justice, and mountain of Holiness: for thine, O Father, with the Son

and Holy Ghost, is the kingdom, and power, and glory for ever.

Amen.[227]

_The General Prayer._

O most holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy

Ghost, Three Persons and One God, our Creator, Redeemer, and

Sanctifier, our Lord, our Governor and Father, hear us, and have mercy

upon us, miserable sinners.

O Lord our Saviour, God and man! who, having assumed our nature, by

thy sufferings, and death, and burial, wast made a ransom to take away

the sins of the world; who being raised from the dead, ascended and

glorified, art made head over all things to the church, which thou

gatherest, justifiest, sanctifiest, rulest, and preservest, and which

at thy coming thou wilt raise and judge to endless glory; we beseech

thee to hear us, miserable sinners: make sure to us our calling and

election, our unfeigned faith and repentance; that being justified,

and made the sons of God, we may have peace with him, as our

reconciled God and Father.[228]

Let thy Holy spirit sanctify us, and dwell in us, and cause us to deny

ourselves, and to give up ourselves entirely to thee, as being not our

own, but thine.

As the world was created for thy glory, let thy name be glorified

throughout the world; let self-love, and pride, and vain-glory be

destroyed; cause us to love thee, fear thee, and trust in thee with

all our hearts, and to live to thee.[229]

Let all the earth subject themselves to thee, their King. Let the

kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of the Lord, and of his

Christ. Let the atheists, idolaters, Mahometans, Jews, and other

infidels, and ungodly people, be converted. Send forth meet labourers

into the harvest, and let the gospel be preached throughout all the

world. Preserve and bless them in thy work. Sustain in patience, and

seasonably deliver, the churches that are oppressed by idolaters,

infidels, Mahometans, or other enemies, or by the Roman papal

usurpations.[230]

Unite all christians in Jesus Christ, the true and only universal

Head, in the true christian and catholic faith and love; cast out

heresies and corruptions, heal divisions, let the strong receive the

weak, and bear their infirmities; restrain the spirit of pride and

cruelty, and let nothing be done in strife or vain-glory.[231]

Keep us from atheism, idolatry, and rebellion against thee; from

infidelity, ungodliness, and sensuality; from security, presumption,

and despair. Let us delight to please thee, and let thy word be the

rule of our faith and lives; let us love it, and understand it, and

meditate in it day and night.[232]

Let us not corrupt or neglect thy worship; nor take thy holy name in

vain. Keep us from blasphemy, perjury, profane swearing, lying,

contempt of thy ordinances, and from false, unworthy, and unreverent

thoughts and speeches of God, or holy things; and from the neglect and

profanation of thy holy day.[233]

Put it into the hearts of the kings and rulers of the world to submit

to Christ, and rule for him as nursing-fathers to his church: and save

them from the temptations that would drown them in sensuality; or

would break them upon Christ as a rock of offence, by engaging them

against his holy doctrine, ways, and servants.[234]

Have mercy on thy servant Charles, our king, protect his person,

illuminate and sanctify him by thy Spirit, that above all things he

may seek thine honour, the increase of faith, and holy obedience to

thy laws; and may govern us as thy minister, appointed by thee for the

terror of evil-doers, and the praise of them that do well, that under

him we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and

honesty.[235]

Have mercy upon all the royal family, upon the lords of the council,

and all the nobility, the judges, and other magistrates of these

lands. Let them fear thee, and be ensamples of piety and temperance,

haters of injustice, covetousness, and pride, and defenders of the

innocent: in their eyes let a vile person be contemned, but let them

honour them that fear the Lord.[236]

Let every soul be subject to the higher powers, and not resist; let

them obey the king, and all in authority, not only for wrath, but for

conscience' sake.[237]

Give all the churches able, holy, faithful pastors, that may soundly

and diligently preach thy word, and guide the flocks in ways of

holiness and peace; overseeing and ruling them not by constraint, but

willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; not as being

lords over thy heritage, but the servants of all, and ensamples to the

flock; that when the chief Pastor shall appear, they may receive the

crown of glory.[238]

Let the people know those that are over them in the Lord, and labour

among them, preaching to them the word of God; let them highly esteem

them in love for their work's sake, account them worthy of double

honour, and obey them in the Lord.[239]

Let parents bring up their children in holy nurture, that they may

remember their Creator in the days of their youth; and let children

love, honour, and obey them. Let husbands love their wives, and guide

them in knowledge and holiness; and let wives love and obey their

husbands. Let masters rule their servants in thy fear, and servants

obey their masters in the Lord.[240]

Keep us from murders and violence, and injurious passionate words and

actions.[241]

Keep us from fornication and all uncleanness, from chambering and

wantonness, from lustful thoughts and filthy communications, and all

unchaste behaviour.[242]

Keep us from stealing or wronging our neighbour in his property, from

perverting justice, from false witnessing and deceit, from

slandering, backbiting, uncharitable censuring or other wrong to the

reputation of our neighbours.[243]

Keep us from coveting any thing that is our neighbour's. Let us love

our neighbours as ourselves, and do to others as we would they should

do to us.[244]

Cause us to love Christ in his members with a pure and fervent love,

and to love our enemies, and do good to all, as we are able; but

especially to the household of faith.[245]

Give us our necessary sustentation and provision for thy service and

contentedness therewith. Bless our labours, and the fruits of the

earth in their season, and give us such temperate weather as tendeth

hereunto. Deliver us and all thy servants from such sickness, wants,

and other distresses, as may unseasonably take us off thy service.

Keep us from gluttony and drunkenness, slothfulness, unlawful gain,

and from making provision for the flesh to satisfy its lusts.[246]

When we sin, restore us by true repentance and faith in Christ. Let us

loathe ourselves for our transgressions; forgive them all, and accept

us in thy well-beloved Son; save us from the curse and punishment

which they deserve, and teach us heartily to forgive others. Convert

our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and forgive them.[247]

Cause us to watch against temptations, to resist and overcome the

flesh, the devil, and the world; and by no allurements of pleasure,

profit, or honour, to be drawn from thee to sin. Let us patiently

suffer with Christ that we may reign with him.[248]

Deliver us and all thy people from the enmity and rage of Satan, and

all his wicked instruments; and preserve us to thy heavenly

kingdom.[249]

For thou only art the universal King; all power is thine in heaven and

earth: of thee, and through thee, and to thee are all things, and the

glory shall be thine for ever. Amen.[250]

Concerning the Psalms for public use.

_We desire that instead of the imperfect version of the Psalms in

metre now in use, Mr. William Barton's Version, and that perused and

approved by the Church of Scotland there in use, (being the best that

we have seen,) may be received and corrected by some skilful men, and

both allowed (for grateful variety) to be printed together on several

columns or pages, and publicly used; at least until a better than

either of them shall be made._

_A Thanksgiving for Christ, and his gracious Benefits._

Most glorious God, accept, through thy beloved Son, though from the

hands of sinners, of thanksgiving, which thy unspeakable love and

mercies, as well as thy command, do bind us to offer up unto thee.

Thou art the Father of mercies, and the God of all consolation, full

of compassion, gracious, long-suffering, plenteous in goodness and

truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression,

and sin. For thy glory thou didst create us after thine image; thou

madest us a little lower than the angels, and crownedst us with glory

and honour, giving us dominion over the works of thy hands, and

putting all these things under our feet. And when we forsook thee, and

broke thy covenant, and rebelled against thee, and corrupted

ourselves, and turned our glory into shame thou didst not leave us in

the hands of death, nor cast us out into utter desperation; but thou

didst so love the sinful world, as to give thy Son to be our Saviour.

He took not upon him the nature of angels, but of man; the Word was

made flesh and dwelt among us. This is the unsearchable mystery of

love which the angels desire to pry into: he was tempted, that he

might succour them that are tempted, and conquered the tempter, that

had conquered us. He became poor that was Lord of all, to make us

rich. He did not sin, but fulfilled all righteousness, to save us from

our unrighteousness. He made himself of no reputation, but was

reviled, scorned, and spit upon, enduring the cross, and despising the

shame to cover our shame, and to bring us unto glory; thou laidst upon

him the iniquity of us all. He was bruised and wounded for our

transgressions, that we might be healed by his stripes. He gave

himself a ransom for us, and died for our sins, and rose again for our

justification. We thank thee for his death that saveth us from death,

and that he bore the curse to redeem us from the curse, and for his

life which opened to us the way to life. Thou hast given him to be

Head over all things to the church, and hast given the heathen to be

his inheritance, and given him a name above every name, and given all

power and judgment unto him. We thank thee for the new and better

covenant, for thy great and precious promises; that thou hast given us

eternal life in Christ. That we have the clear and sure revelation of

thy will in the holy Scriptures. That thou foundest thy church upon

apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head

corner-stone. And hast committed to thy ministers the word of

reconciliation, that as ambassadors speaking in the stead of Christ,

they might beseech us to be reconciled unto thee. We thank thee that

by them thou hast opened our eyes, and turned us from darkness unto

light, and from the power of Satan unto God. We were sometimes

foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures,

taken captive by Satan at his will; but thy mercy saved us by the

washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Thou mightest

justly have left us to the blindness of our minds, and to the hardness

of our hearts, to seared consciences, to be past feeling, to our own

hearts' lusts, to walk in our own counsels, and to work uncleanness

with greediness, when we so oft refused to come to Christ that we

might have life, and would not have him to reign over us. But thy

patience waited on us in our sin; and all the day long didst thou

stretch forth thy hand to a disobedient and gainsaying people. When we

turned from thee, thou calledst after us, to turn and live. Thou

drewest us to thy Son, and openedst our hearts to attend to thy call.

Thou lovedst us first, and was found of them that sought thee not.

Thou hast pardoned our great and manifold transgressions, and

justified us by faith in Christ, and given us repentance unto life.

Thou hast adopted us to be thy sons, and joint heirs with Christ; and

made us his members, and given us his Spirit: we are no more

strangers, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of thy household.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who of his

abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the

resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance

incorruptible, undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for

us. Thou keepest us by thy mighty power through faith unto salvation:

ready at last to be revealed, though (when they are needful) we must

for a season be in heaviness under tribulations. Thou hast promised,

that all things shall work together for our good; in all our straits

thou grantest us access to the throne of grace, bidding us call upon

thee in the time of trouble, and promising to deliver us, that we may

glorify thee: every where we have leave to lift up unto thee holy

hands, especially in the house of prayer, and the assembly of the

saints. Thou hast heard the voice of our supplications when we have

cried unto thee; great is thy mercy towards us. O Lord, thou hast

delivered our souls from the lowest hell; thou hast sent forth from

heaven thy mercy and truth; and saved us from the reproach of him that

would swallow us up. Thou art our hiding-place: in the secrets of thy

presence thou preservest us from trouble, from the pride of men, and

from the strife of tongues. Thou dost compass us about with songs of

deliverance. O love the Lord, all ye his saints! for the Lord

preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. He

dealeth not with us after our sins; his anger is but for a moment, but

in his favour is life. In his wrath he remembereth mercy: all thy

paths, O Lord, are mercy and truth to such as keep thy covenant. We

come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercies; O give thanks

unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever. Glory

ye in his holy name; let the hearts of them rejoice that seek him.

Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O

Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name they shall rejoice

all the day, and in thy righteousness and favour shall they be

exalted. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, they will be still

praising thee. O satisfy us early with thy mercy, that we may rejoice

and be glad in thee all our days. Guide us by thy counsel, and

afterwards receive us unto thy glory; where with all the blessed host

of heaven, we may behold, admire, and perfectly and joyfully praise

thee, our most glorious Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, for ever

and for ever.[251] Amen.

_The Hymn._

The First Part.

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy

name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who

forgiveth all thine iniquities, and healeth all thy diseases; who

redeemed thy life from destruction, and crowneth thee with

loving-kindness and tender mercies. As far as the east is from the

west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Behold, what

love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons

of God. Because thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall

praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live; I will lift up my

hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and

fatness, and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips. Whom have I

in heaven but thee? and there is none on earth that I desire besides

thee. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my

heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, all that are far from thee

shall perish; but it is good for me to draw near to God. I am

continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. In the

multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul. Thou

shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to

glory.[252]

The Second Part.

How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore do the sons of

men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be

abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt

make them drink of the rivers of thy pleasures: for with thee is the

fountain of life. In thy light we shall see light. Therefore my heart

is glad, and my glory rejoiceth. My flesh also shall rest in hope.

Thou wilt show me the path of life. In thy presence is fulness of joy,

and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore. Surely goodness and

mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in

the house of the Lord for ever. O continue thy loving-kindness to them

that know thee, and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. To the

end that my glory may sing praise unto thee, and not be silent. O Lord

my God, I give thanks to thee for ever.[253]

The Third Part.

Glory to God in the highest: on earth peace, good will towards men.

Praise ye the Lord: sing to the Lord a new song; his praise is in the

congregation of saints. For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people; he

will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in

glory. Let the high praises of God be in their mouths. All thy works

praise thee, O Lord, and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak

of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; to make known to

the sons of men thy mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of thy

kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion is

through all generations. The elders and saints about thy throne, rest

not day nor night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which

was, and is, and is to come. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive

glory, and honour, and power; for thou hast created all things, and

for thy pleasure they are and were created. They sing unto thee the

song of Moses, and of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy

works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of

saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name; for

thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before

thee, for thy judgments are made manifest. Worthy is the Lamb that was

slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and

honour, and glory. For thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, and

made us kings and priests to God.[254]

The Fourth Part.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his

wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the

sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. Sing

unto the Lord, bless his name; show forth his salvation from day to

day. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all

the earth. Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be glad before the

Lord; for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth. With

righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his

commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord,

all ye his hosts, ye ministers of his that do his pleasure. Bless the

Lord, all his works in all places of his dominions. Bless the Lord, O

my soul. My mouth shall speak the praises of the Lord; and let all

flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever. Let every thing that hath

breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.[255]

THE ORDER OF CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENT OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST.

_This, or the like Explication of the Nature, Use, and Benefits of

this Sacrament, may be used at the Discretion of the Minister, when

he seeth it needful to the Instruction of the Communicants._

That you may discern the Lord's body, and understand the nature, use,

and benefits of this sacrament; you must know that God created man in

his own image, to know, and love, and serve his Maker; that man fell

under the guilt of sin and condemnation, and left his holy fitness for

the work for which he was created. That hereupon the wonderful love

and wisdom of God provided us a remedy in our Redeemer, to the end he

might not lose the glory of his creation, that he might pardon and

save us upon terms; securing the honour of his justice, and attaining

the ends of his law and government, and recover us to his love and

service, by appearing to the world, in the greatest demonstrations of

goodness, love, and mercy. By the greatest miracle of condescension,

he first promised, and then gave his only Son, the Eternal Word, to

take man's nature into personal union with his Godhead; that being God

and man, he might be a fit Mediator between God and man, to restore

us, and reconcile us to himself. Thus Jesus Christ, conceived by the

Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary, became the Second Adam, the

Physician and Saviour of undone sinners, the Captain of our salvation,

to be the glorious King and Head of all that are sanctified and saved.

He revealed the holiness, the goodness, and the love of God, by the

perfect holiness, goodness, and love of his blessed person, doctrine,

and conversation, and by suffering for us all the afflictions of this

life, and at last the cursed death of the cross, as a sacrifice and

ransom for us. That all this might be effectual to our recovery, he

made for us a new and better covenant, and preached it himself,

undertaking the pardon, justification, and sanctification of all that

by unfeigned faith do take him for their Saviour, repenting of their

sins, and consenting to be sanctified by his word and Spirit (by which

also he inviteth and draweth men to himself, and giveth them to

believe): into this blessed, pardoning, saving covenant, we are first

solemnly entered by baptism. And when Christ was ready to leave the

world, and to give up himself a sacrifice for us, and intercede and

exercise the fulness of his kingly power, and the church's Head; and

by his grace to draw men to himself, and prepare them for his glory;

he did himself institute this sacrament of his body and blood at his

last supper, to be a continued representation and remembrance of his

death, and therein of his own and his Father's love, until his coming;

appointing his ministers, by the preaching of the gospel, and

administration of these sacraments, to be his agents without, and his

Spirit within, effectually to communicate his grace.

[The Lord's supper, then, is a holy sacrament instituted by Christ,

wherein bread and wine being first by consecration made sacramentally,

or representatively, the body and blood of Christ, are used by

breaking and pouring out to represent, and commemorate, the sacrifice

of Christ's body and blood, upon the cross once offered up to God for

sin; and are given in the name of Christ unto the church, to signify

and solemnize the renewal of his holy covenant with them, and giving

of himself unto them, to expiate their sins by his sacrifice, and

sanctify them further by his Spirit, and confirm their right to

everlasting life: and they are received, eaten, and drunk by the

church, to profess that they willingly receive Christ himself to the

ends aforesaid, (their justification, sanctification, and

glorification,) and to signify and solemnize the renewal of their

covenant with him, and their holy communion with him, and with one

another.]

It being the renewing of a mutual covenant that is here solemnized, as

we commemorate Christ's sacrifice, and receive him and his saving

benefits, so we offer and deliver to him ourselves, as his redeemed,

sanctified people, to be a living acceptable sacrifice, thankfully and

obediently to live unto his praise.

Before the receiving of his holy sacrament, we must examine ourselves,

and come preparedly; in the receiving of it, we must exercise holy

affections suited to the work; and after the receiving of it, we must,

by consideration of it, endeavour to revive the same affections, and

perform our covenant there renewed.

The holy qualifications to be before provided, and in receiving

exercised, and after receiving, are these. 1. A true belief of the

articles of the christian faith concerning Father, Son, and Holy

Ghost; the person, offices, works, sufferings, and benefits of Christ.

2. The sense of our sinful and undone condition, as in ourselves, and

of our need of Christ: so as humbly to loathe ourselves for our

transgressions, with the sense of our present weaknesses to be

strengthened, and sins to be forgiven. 3. A true desire after Christ

for pardon, and spiritual nourishment and salvation. 4. A thankful

sense of the wonderful love of God, declared in our redemption, and in

the present offers of Christ, and life. 5. The exercise of holy love

and joy in the sense of this unspeakable love. (If these two be not

felt before we come, yet in and after the sacrament we must strive to

exercise them.) 6. A love to one another, and forgiving wrongs to one

another, with a desire after the communion of saints. 7. The giving up

ourselves in covenant to God, with resolution for renewed obedience.

8. A patient hope for the coming of Christ himself, and of the

everlasting kingdom, where we shall be perfectly united in him, and

glorified with him.

Those only are to be invited to the Lord's table, and to come, that

truly repent and believe, and unfeignedly consent to the terms of the

covenant (though all are not to be invited thus to believe and repent,

and so to come). But those are to be admitted, by the pastors, if they

come, who, having the use of reason to understand what they do, and

examine themselves, have made a personal profession of faith,

repentance, and obedience; and are members of the church, and not

justly for heresy or scandalous sin, removed from its present

communion.

The benefit of the sacrament is not to be judged of only by present

experience and feeling, but by faith. God having appointed us to use

it, and promised his blessing, we may and must believe, that he will

make good his promise; and whatever we feel at present, that we

sincerely wait not on him in vain.

_The Exhortation._

You are invited hither, dear brethren, to be guests at this holy

table, by the Lord's command, to receive the greatest mercy, and to

perform the greatest duty. On Christ's part, all things are made

ready. The feast is prepared for you, even for you that by sin have

deserved to be cast out of the presence of the Lord; for you that have

so oft neglected and abused mercy. A feast of the body and blood of

Christ, free to you, but dear to him. You were lost, and in the way to

be lost for ever, when by the greatest miracle of condescending love,

he sought and saved you. You were dead in sin, condemned by the law,

the slaves of Satan; there wanted nothing but the executing stroke of

justice to have sent you into endless misery; when our dear Redeemer

pitied you in your blood, and shed his own to wash and heal you. He

suffered that was offended, that the offender might not suffer. He

cried out on the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

that we who had deserved it, might not be everlastingly forsaken. He

died that we might live. Oh how would the mercy of redemption have

affected you, if you had first lain one year, or month, or day in

hell! Had you but seen your dying Lord, or seen the damned in their

misery, how do you think you should have valued the salvation that is

now revealed and tendered to you? See here Christ dying in this holy

representation. Behold the sacrificed Lamb of God, that taketh away

the sins of the world. It is his will to be thus frequently crucified

before your eyes. Oh how should we be covered with shame, and loathe

ourselves, that have both procured the death of Christ by sin, and

sinned against it! And how should we all be filled with joy, that have

such mysteries of mercy opened, and so great salvation freely offered

to us! O hate sin, O love this Saviour: see that you come not hither

without a desire to be more holy, nor with a purpose to go on in

wilful sin. Be not deceived, God is not mocked; but if you heartily

repent, and consent to the covenant, come and welcome; we have

commission from Christ to tell you, that you are welcome. Let no

trembling, contrite soul draw back, that is willing to be Christ's

upon his covenant terms, but believe that Christ is much more willing

to be yours. He was first willing, and therefore died for you, and

made the covenant of grace, and sent to invite and importune you to

consent, and stayed for you so long, and gave you your repentance,

your willingness, and desire. Question not then his willingness, if

you are willing. It is Satan and unbelief that would have you question

it, to the injury both of Christ and you. Come near, observe, believe,

and wonder at the riches of his love and grace; for he hath himself

invited you to see and taste, that you may wonder. You are sinners,

but he inviteth you to receive a renewed, sealed pardon of your sins,

and to give you more of his Spirit to overcome them. See here his

broken body and his blood, the testimonies of his willingness. Thus

hath he sealed the covenant, which pardoneth all your sins, and

secureth you of your reconciliation with God, and your adoption, and

your right to everlasting blessedness. Deny not your consent, but

heartily give up yourselves to Christ, and then doubt not but your

scarlet, crimson sins shall be made as white as wool or snow. Object

not the number or greatness of them against his grace. There is none

too great for him to pardon to penitent believers. Great sins shall

bring great glory to his blood and grace. But strive you then for

great loathing of your sins, and greater love to such a God, and

greater thanks to such a Saviour. Unfeignedly say, I am willing, Lord,

to be wholly thine, and then believingly take Christ, and pardon, and

life, as given you by his own appointment in the sealed covenant. And

remember that he is coming. He is coming with thousands of his mighty

angels, to execute judgment on the ungodly, but to be glorified in his

saints, and admired in all that do believe. And then we shall have

greater things than these. Then shall you see all the promises

fulfilled, which now are sealed to you, on which he causeth you to

trust. Revive now your love to one another, and forgive those that

have wronged you, and delight in the communion of the saints; and then

you shall be admitted into the church triumphant, where with perfect

saints you shall perfectly rejoice, and love and praise the Lord for

ever. Receive now a crucified Christ here represented, and be

contented to take up your cross, and follow him. And then you shall

reign with a glorified Christ, in the blessed vision and fruition of

that God, to whom by Christ you are now reconciled. Let faith and love

be working upon these things, while you are at this holy table.

_Then shall the Minister use this or the like Prayer._

Most holy God, we are as stubble before thee, the consuming fire. How

shall we stand before thy holiness, for we are a sinful people, laden

with iniquity, that have gone backward and provoked the Holy One of

Israel. When we were lost, thy Son did seek and save us; when we were

dead in sin, thou madest us alive. Thou sawest us polluted in our

blood, and saidst unto us, Live. In that time of love thou coveredst

our nakedness, and enteredst into a covenant with us, and we became

thine own. Thou didst deliver us from the power of darkness, and

translate us into the kingdom of thy dear Son; and gavest us remission

of sin, through his blood. But we are grievous revolters, we have

forgotten the covenant of the Lord our God. We were engaged to love

thee with all our hearts, and to hate iniquity, and serve thee

diligently, and thankfully to set forth thy praise. But we have

departed from thee, and corrupted ourselves by self-love, and by

loving the world, and the things that are in the world, and have

fulfilled the desires of the flesh, which we should have crucified. We

have neglected our duty to thee, and to our neighbour, and the

necessary care of our own salvation. We have been unprofitable

servants, and have hid thy talents, and have dishonoured thee, whom in

all things we should have pleased and glorified. We have been

negligent in hearing and reading thy holy word, and in meditating and

conferring of it, in public and private prayer, and thanksgiving, and

in our preparation to this holy sacrament, in the examining of

ourselves, and repenting of our sins, and stirring up our hearts to a

believing and thankful receiving of thy grace, and to love and

joyfulness, in our communion with thee and with one another. We have

not duly discerned the Lord's body, but have profaned thy holy name

and ordinance, as if the table of the Lord had been contemptible. And

when thou hast spoken peace to us, we returned again to folly. We have

deserved, O Lord, to be cast out of thy presence, and to be forsaken,

as we have forsaken thee, and to hear our confusion, Depart from me, I

know you not, ye workers of iniquity. Thou mayst justly tell us, thou

hast no pleasure in us, nor wilt receive an offering at our hand. But

with thee there is abundant mercy. And our advocate Jesus Christ the

righteous, is the propitiation for our sins; who bare them in his body

on the cross, and made himself an offering for them, that he might put

them away by the sacrifice of himself: have mercy upon us, and wash us

in his blood, clothe us with his righteousness, take away our

iniquities, and let them not be our ruin; forgive them and remember

them no more. O thou that delightest not in the death of sinners, heal

our backslidings, love us freely, and say unto our souls, that thou

art our salvation. Thou wilt in nowise cast out them that come unto

thee; receive us graciously to the feast thou hast prepared for us;

cause us to hunger and thirst after Christ and his righteousness, that

we may be satisfied. Let his flesh and blood be to us meat and drink

indeed; and his Spirit be in us a well of living water, springing up

to everlasting life. Give us to know thy love in Christ, which passeth

knowledge. Though we have not seen him, let us love him; and though

now we see him not, yet believing let us rejoice with joy unspeakable,

and full of glory. Though we are unworthy of the crumbs that fall from

thy table, yet feed us with the bread of life, and speak and seal up

peace to our sinful, wounded souls. Soften our hearts that are

hardened by the deceitfulness of sin: mortify the flesh, and

strengthen us with might in the inner man; that we may live and

glorify thy grace, though Jesus Christ our only Saviour.[256] Amen.

_Here let the Bread be brought to the Minister, and received by

him, and set upon the Table, and then the Wine in like manner, (or if

they be set there before,) however, let him bless them, praying in

these or the like words._

Almighty God, thou art the Creator and the Lord of all things. Thou

art the Sovereign Majesty whom we have offended; thou art our most

loving and merciful Father, who hast given thy Son to reconcile us to

thyself, who hath ratified the new testament and the covenant of grace

with his most precious blood; and hath instituted this holy sacrament

to be celebrated in remembrance of him till his coming. Sanctify these

thy creatures of bread and wine, which according to thy institution

and command, we set apart to this holy use, that they may be

sacramentally the body and blood of thy Son Jesus Christ.[257] Amen.

_Then (or immediately before this Prayer) let the Minister read the

words of the Institution, saying,_

Hear what the apostle Paul saith: "For I have received of the Lord,

that which also I deliver unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same

night in which he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given

thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat, this is my body which is

broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner

also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new

testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in

remembrance of me; for as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this

cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come."[258]

_Then let the Minister say,_

This bread and wine being set apart, and consecrated to this holy use

by God's appointment, are now no common bread and wine, but

sacramentally the body and blood of Christ.

_Then let him thus pray:_

Most merciful Saviour, as thou hast loved us to the death, and

suffered for our sins, the just for the unjust, and hast instituted

this holy sacrament to be used in remembrance of thee till thy coming;

we beseech thee, by thine intercession with the Father, through the

sacrifice of thy body and blood, give us the pardon of our sins, and

thy quickening Spirit, without which the flesh will profit us nothing.

Reconcile us to the Father; nourish us as thy members to everlasting

life.[259] Amen.

_Then let the Minister take the Bread, and break it in the sight of

the people, saying,_

The body of Christ was broken for us, and offered once for all to

sanctify us. Behold the sacrificed Lamb of God, that taketh away the

sins of the world.

_In like manner let him take the Cup, and pour out the Wine in the

sight of the Congregation, saying,_

We were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb

without blemish, and without spot.

_Then let him thus pray:_

Most Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, by whom

Christ was conceived, by whom the prophets and apostles were inspired,

and the ministers of Christ are qualified and called, that dwellest

and workest in all the members of Christ, whom thou sanctifiest to the

image and for the service of their Head, and comfortest them that they

may show forth his praise; illuminate us, that by faith we may see him

that is here represented to us. Soften our hearts, and humble us for

our sins. Sanctify and quicken us, that we may relish the spiritual

food, and feed on it to our nourishment and growth in grace. Shed

abroad the love of God upon our hearts, and draw them out in love to

him. Fill us with thankfulness and holy joy, and with love to one

another: comfort us by witnessing that we are the children of God.

Confirm us for new obedience. Be the earnest of our inheritance, and

seal us up to everlasting life.[260] Amen.

_Then let the Minister deliver the Bread thus consecrated and

broken to the Communicants, first taking and eating it himself as one

of them, when he hath said,_

Take ye, eat ye; This is the body of Christ which is broken for you;

do this in remembrance of him.[261]

_In like manner he shall deliver them the Cup, first drinking of it

himself, when he hath said,_

This cup is the new testament in Christ's blood, [or Christ's blood of

the new testament,] which is shed for you for the remission of sins;

drink ye all of it in remembrance of him.[262]

Let it be left to the Minister's choice, whether he will consecrate

the bread and wine together, and break the bread and pour out the

wine immediately; or whether he will consecrate and pour out the

wine, when the Communicants have eaten the bread. If he do the

latter, he must use the foregoing Prayers and expressions twice

accordingly. And let it be left to his discretion, whether he will

use any words at the breaking of the bread, and pouring out the wine,

or not; and if the Minister choose to pray but once, at the

consecration, commemoration, and delivery; let him pray as followeth,

or to this sense:

Almighty God, thou art the Creator and the Lord of all. Thou art the

Sovereign Majesty whom we have offended. Thou art our merciful Father,

who hast given us thy Son to reconcile us to thyself; who hath

ratified the new testament and covenant of grace with his most

precious blood, and hath instituted this holy sacrament to be

celebrated in memorial of him, till his coming. Sanctify these thy

creatures of bread and wine, which, according to thy will, we set

apart to this holy use, that they may be sacramentally the body and

blood of thy Son Jesus Christ. And through his sacrifice and

intercession, give us the pardon of all our sins, and be reconciled to

us, and nourish us by the body and blood of Christ to everlasting

life. And to that end, give us thy quickening Spirit to show Christ to

our believing souls, that is here represented to our senses. Let him

soften our hearts, and humble us for our sins, and cause us to feed on

Christ by faith. Let him shed abroad thy love upon our hearts, and

draw them on in love to thee, and fill us with holy joy and

thankfulness, and fervent love to one another. Let him comfort us by

witnessing that we are thy children, and confirm us for new obedience,

and be the earnest of our inheritance, and seal us up to life

everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Let it be left to the Minister's discretion, whether to deliver the

bread and wine to the people (at the table) only in general, each one

taking it, and applying it to themselves; or to deliver it in general

to so many as are in each particular form; or to put it into every

person's hand: as also at what season to take the contribution for

the poor. And let none of the people be forced to sit, stand, or

kneel, in the act of receiving, whose judgment is against it.

_The Participation being ended, let the Minister pray thus, or to

this sense._

Most glorious God, how wonderful is thy power and wisdom, thy holiness

and justice, thy love and mercy in this work of our redemption, by the

incarnation, life, death, resurrection, intercession, and dominion of

thy Son! No power or wisdom in heaven or earth could have delivered us

but thine. The angels desire to pry into this mystery, the heavenly

host do celebrate it with praises, saying, Glory be to God in the

highest; on earth peace, good-will towards men. The whole creation

shall proclaim thy praises. Blessing, honour, glory, and power be unto

him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and honour, and

glory; for he hath redeemed us to God by his blood, and made us kings

and priests unto our God. Where sin abounded, grace hath abounded much

more. And hast thou indeed forgiven us so great a debt, by so precious

a ransom? Wilt thou indeed give us to reign with Christ in glory, and

see my race, and love thee, and be beloved of thee for ever? Yea,

Lord, thou hast forgiven us, and thou wilt glorify us, for thou art

faithful that hast promised. With the blood of thy Son, with the

sacrament, and with thy Spirit, thou hast sealed up to us these

precious promises. And shall we not love thee, that hast thus loved

us? Shall we not love thy servants, and forgive our neighbours their

little debt? After all this shall we again forsake thee, and deal

falsely in thy covenant? God forbid! O set our affections on the

things above, where Christ sitteth at thy right hand. Let us no more

mind earthly things, but let our conversation be in heaven, from

whence we expect our Saviour to come and change us into the likeness

of his glory. Teach us to do thy will, O God, and to follow him, who

is the author of eternal salvation to all them that do obey him. Order

our steps by thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over us.

Let us not henceforth live unto ourselves, but unto him who died for

us and rose again. Let us have no fellowship with the unfruitful works

of darkness, but reprove them. And let our light so shine before men,

that they may glorify thee. In simplicity, and godly sincerity, and

not in fleshly wisdom, let us have our conversation in the world. Oh

that our ways were so directed that we might keep thy statutes! Though

Satan will be desirous again to sift us, and seek as a roaring lion to

devour, strengthen us to stand against his wiles, and shortly bruise

him under our feet. Accept us, O Lord, who resign ourselves unto thee,

as thine own; and with our thanks and praise, present ourselves a

living sacrifice to be acceptable through Christ, useful for thine

honour: being made free from sin, and become thy servants, let us have

our fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life, through Jesus

Christ our Lord and Saviour.[263] Amen.

_Next add this, or some such Exhortation, if there be time._

Dear brethren, we have been here feasted with the Son of God at his

table, upon his flesh and blood, in preparation for the feast of

endless glory. You have seen here represented, what sin deserveth,

what Christ suffered, what wonderful love the God of infinite goodness

hath expressed to us. You have had communion with the saints; you have

renewed your covenant of faith, and thankful obedience unto Christ;

you have received his renewed covenant of pardon, grace, and glory

unto you. O carry hence the lively sense of these great and excellent

things upon your hearts: you came not only to receive the mercy of an

hour, but that which may spring up to endless joy: you came not only

to do the duty of an hour, but to promise that which you must perform

while you live on earth. Remember daily, especially when temptations

to unbelief and sinful heaviness assault you, what pledges of love you

here received; remember daily, especially when the flesh, the devil,

or the world, would draw your hearts again from God, and temptations

to sin are laid before you, what bonds God and your own consent have

laid upon you. If you are penitent believers, you are now forgiven,

and washed in the blood of Christ. O go your way, and sin no more: no

more through wilfulness; and strive against your sins of weakness.

Wallow no more in the mire, and return not to your vomit. Let the

exceeding love of Christ constrain you, having such promises, to

cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting

holiness in the fear of God; and as a chosen generation, a royal

priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, to be zealous of good

works, and show forth the praises of him that hath called you.

_Next sing part of the Hymn in metre, or some other fit Psalm of

praise (as the Twenty-third, One Hundred and Sixteenth, One Hundred

and Third, or One Hundredth, &c.) And conclude with this or the like

Blessing:_

Now the God of peace, which brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus

Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the

everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do his

will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through

Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

THE CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM.

Let no minister, that is therein unsatisfied, be forced against his

judgment, to baptize the child of open atheists, idolaters, or

infidels, or that are unbaptized themselves, or of such as do not

competently understand the essentials of christianity, (what it is to

be a christian,) and the essentials of baptism; nor of such as never,

since they were baptized, did personally own their baptismal

covenant, by a credible profession of faith and obedience, received

and approved by some pastor of the church, as before confirmation is

required, and in his Majesty's Declaration. Nor yet the child of

parents justly excommunicate, or that live in any notorious,

scandalous sin, or have lately committed such a sin, (as if the child

be gotten in adultery or fornication,) and being justly convicted of

it, refuseth penitently to confess it, and promise reformation. But

if either of the parents be duly qualified, and present the child to

be baptized, (or another for them in case they cannot be present,)

the child is to be received unto baptism.

And if both the natural parents are infidels, excommunicate, or

otherwise unqualified, yet if any become the pro-parents and owners

of the child, and undertake to educate it in the faith of Christ, and

fear of God, and so present it to be baptized, let it be done by a

minister whose judgment doth approve it, but let no minister be

forced to it against his judgment. Let the parents or owners come to

the minister at some convenient time the week before, and acquaint

him when they intend to offer their child to baptism, and give an

account of their foresaid capacity, and receive his further

ministerial assistance for the fuller understanding of the use and

benefits of the sacrament, and their own duty. The font is to be

placed to the greatest conveniency of the minister and people. The

child or children being there presented, the minister may begin with

this or the like speech directed to the parent or parents that

present it.

That you may perform this service to God with understanding, you must

know, that God having made man in his own image, to love and serve

him, our first parents wilfully corrupted themselves by sin, and

became the children of death, and the captives of Satan, who had

overcome them by his temptation. And as by one man sin entered into

the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all, for that all

have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. We are conceived in

sin, and are by nature children of wrath; for who can bring a clean

thing out of an unclean? By the offence of one, judgment came upon all

men to condemnation. But the infinite wisdom and love of the Father

hath sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. The Word was made

flesh, and dwelt on earth, and overcame the devil and the world;

fulfilled all righteousness, and suffered for our sins upon the cross,

and rose again, and reigneth in glory, and will come again, and judge

the world in righteousness. In him God hath made and offered to the

world a covenant of grace, and in it the pardon of sin to all true

penitent believers, and power to be the sons of God and heirs of

heaven. This covenant is extended to the seed also of the faithful, to

give them the benefits suitable to their age, the parents dedicating

them unto God, and entering them into the covenant, and so God in

Christ will be their God, and number them with his people.

This covenant is to be solemnly entered into by baptism, which is a

holy sacrament instituted by Christ, in which a person professing the

christian faith (or the infant of such) is baptized in water into the

name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in signification and

solemnization of the holy covenant; in which, as a penitent believer,

(or the seed of such,) he giveth up himself (or is by the parent given

up) to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, from henceforth (or from

the time of natural capacity) to believe in, love, and fear this

blessed Trinity, against the flesh, the devil, and the world; and this

especially on the account of redemption; and is solemnly entered a

visible member of Christ and his church, a child of God, and an heir

of heaven. How great now is the mercy, and how great the duty that is

before you! Is it a small mercy for this child to be accepted into the

covenant of God, and washed from its original sin in the blood of

Christ, which is signified and sealed by this sacramental washing in

water, to be accepted as a member of Christ and of his church, where

he vouchsafeth his protection and provision, and the means and Spirit

of grace, and the renewed pardon of sin upon repentance, and for you

to see this happiness of your child? The duty on your part is, first

to see that you are stedfast in the faith and covenant of Christ, that

you perish not yourself, and that your child is indeed the child of a

believer; and then you are believingly and thankfully to dedicate your

child to God, and to enter it into the covenant in which you stand.

And you must know, that your faith, and consent, and dedication will

suffice for your children no longer than till they come to age

themselves; and then they must own their baptismal covenant, and

personally renew it, and consent, and give up themselves to God, or

else they will not be owned by Christ. You must therefore acquaint

them with the doctrine of the gospel, as they grow up, and with the

covenant now made, and bring them up in the fear of the Lord. And when

they are actually penitent believers, they must present themselves to

the pastors of the church, to be approved and received into the

communion of the adult believers.

If the persons be before well instructed in the nature of Baptism,

and time require brevity, the Minister may omit the first part of

this Speech, and begin at the description of Baptism, or after it. If

there be need of satisfying the people of the duty of baptizing

infants, the Minister may here do it; otherwise let the questions

here immediately follow.

_The Minister shall here say to the Parent, and the Parent answer

as followeth._

It being the faithful and their seed to whom the promises are made;

and no man will sincerely dedicate his child to that God that he

believeth not in himself; I therefore require you to make profession

of your own faith.

_Quest._ Do you believe in God the Father Almighty, &c.?

_Answ._ All this I do unfeignedly believe.

_Quest._ Do you repent of your sins, and renounce the flesh, the

devil, and the world, and consent to the covenant of grace, giving up

yourself to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, as your Creator and

reconciled Father, your Redeemer and your Sanctifier?

_Answ._ I do.

[Or thus rather, if the parent be fit to utter his own faith.]

_Quest._ Do you remain stedfast in the covenant which you made in

baptism yourself?

_Answ._ Repenting of my sins, I do renounce the flesh, the devil,

and the world, and I give up myself to God the Father, Son, and Holy

Ghost, my Creator and reconciled Father, my Redeemer and my Sanctifier.

_Quest._ Do you present and dedicate this child unto God, to be

baptized into this faith, and solemnly engaged in this covenant unto

God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, against the flesh, the devil, and

the world?

_Answ._ It is my desire, (or,) I do present and dedicate him for

this end.

_Quest._ Do you here solemnly promise, that if God continue it

with you till it be capable of instructions, you will faithfully

endeavour to acquaint this child with the covenant in which he was

here by you engaged, and to instruct and exhort him to perform this

covenant, as ever he looks for the blessings of it, or to escape the

curses and wrath of God; that is, that he renounce the flesh, the

world, and the devil; and live not after them: and that he believe in

this one God, in three Persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, his

Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. That he resign himself to him as

his absolute Owner, and obey him as his supreme Governor, and love him

as his most gracious Father, hoping to enjoy him as his felicity in

endless glory?

_Answ._ I will faithfully endeavour it.

_Quest._ Will you to this end faithfully endeavour to cause him

to learn the articles of the christian faith, the Lord's prayer, and

the ten commandments, and to read or hear the holy Scriptures, and to

attend on the public preaching of God's word? Will you endeavour, by

your own teaching, and example, and restraint, to keep him from

wickedness, and train him up in a holy life?

_Answ._ I will faithfully endeavour it by the help of God.

_Then let the Minister pray thus, or to this sense:_

O most merciful Father, by the first Adam sin entered into the world,

and death by sin, and we are all by nature children of wrath; but thou

hast given thy only Son, to be the Seed or the woman, the Saviour of

the world, the Captain of our salvation, to put away sin by the

sacrifice of himself, and to wash us in his blood, and reconcile us

unto thee, and to renew us by the Holy Ghost, and to bruise Satan

under our feet. In him thou hast established the covenant of grace,

and hast appointed this holy sacrament of baptism for our solemn

entrance into the bonds of the covenant, and stating us in the

blessings of it, which thou extendest to the faithful and their seed.

We dedicate and offer this child to thee, to be received into thy

covenant and church. We beseech thee to accept him as a member of thy

Son, and wash him in his blood from the guilt of sin, as the flesh is

washed by this water. Be reconciled to him, and take him for thy

child, renew him to the image of thy Son, make him a fellow-citizen

with the saints, and one of thy household. Protect him and provide for

him as thy own, and finally preserve him to thy heavenly kingdom,

through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.[264] Amen.

Then the Minister shall ask of the Parent the name of the child to be

baptized, and naming him, shall either dip him under the water, or

else pour the water upon his face, if he cannot be safely or

conveniently dipt, and shall use these words without alteration.

I Baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the

Holy Ghost.

_And he shall thus declare:_

This child is now received by Christ's appointment into his church,

and solemnly entered into the holy covenant, and engaged, if he lives

to the use of reason, to rise with Christ to newness of life, as being

buried with him by baptism, and to bear his cross, and confess Christ

crucified, and faithfully to fight under his banner against the flesh,

the devil, and the world, and to continue his faithful soldier and

servant to the death, that he may receive the crown of life.

_Then he shall give thanks and pray._

We thank thee, most merciful Father, that when we had broken the law,

and were condemned by it, thou hadst given us a Saviour, and life in

him, and hast extended thy covenant of grace to believers, and to

their seed, and hast now received this child into thy covenant and

church, as a member of Christ by this sacrament of regeneration. We

beseech thee, let him grow up in holiness; and when he comes to years

of discretion, let thy Spirit reveal unto him the mysteries of the

gospel, and the riches of thy love in Jesus Christ; and cause him to

renew and perform the covenant that he hath now made, and to resign

himself, and all that he hath, entirely unto thee his Lord, to be

subject and obedient to thee his Governor, and to love thee his Father

with all his heart, and soul, and might; and adhere unto thee, and

delight in thee as the portion of his soul, desiring and hoping to

enjoy thee in everlasting glory. Save him from the lusts and

allurements of the flesh, the temptations of the devil, and the baits

of pleasure, profit, and honour of the world, and from all the

corruptions of his own heart, and all the hurtful violence of his

enemies. Keep him in communion with the saints, in the love and use of

thy word and worship. Let him deny himself, and take up his cross and

follow Christ the Captain of his salvation, and be faithful unto the

death, and then receive the crown of life, through Jesus Christ our

Saviour.[265]

_Then use this Exhortation or the like to the Parents._