The churches resurrection, or, The creating of the new heavens written by an unworthy gospel-minister, John Bryan.

Clem. Alex. Lib. 7, pag. 834.

Num ergo si quis pacta conventa non observaverit, & transgressus fuerit eam quae fit apud nos confessionem, propter eum qui non stetit suae professioni abstinebimus nos quo{que} à veritate? sed ut oportet virum probum minimè esse mendacem & nihil infirmare eorum quae est polli∣citus, etiamsi aliqui alia pacta conventa transiliant, ita nos quo{que} nullo modo convenit transilire regulam ecclesiasticam, & maximè eam quae fit de rebus maximis professionem.

Tertul. de Spectaculis: Cum aquam ingressi Christianam fidem in legis suae verba profitemur, renunciasse nos diabolo & pompae ejus & Angelis ejus ore nostro contestamur.

Dionisius cap. 2. de Hierar. sets it out thus, He that is taken with the love and desire of sublime and celestial benefits, comes to one of the number of the faithful, and desires him to bring him to the Priest, promising he would observe all that should be required of him with his whole heart; desiring him he would also take the care of the

ordering of his remaining life. Now although the believer be in∣flamed with a sacred love of the salvation of his soul, yet consider∣ing the height of the thing, and humane infirmity, forthwith horror and distress invade him: At length he bountifully promiseth him to do what is desired, and taking the man, brings him to the high Priest (or Evangelist) who with great joy receives the man no otherways then as a lost sheep on his shoulders; then he (that is, the high Priest) gathers all the sacred Orders, that they may co-operate with him (which is the Pastor and Teacher, admitting him for a Member) and that they may rejoyce together for the man, and as the holy Church (that is, the society of the Saints) they give thanks to the Divine Clemency, and in the beginning singeth some Hymn, inserted in the sacred Books, together with all the Orders of the Church, post haec deosculatis Sanctis altaribus: After this, the Priest comes to the man standing by, and demands of him, What moved him to come there; he accusing himself (as he was taught by him that took the charge of him) of ungodliness, and ignorance of the true God, and sighing for that he hath been so long destitute of the work of the divine life; and praying, That by his most sacred Office and Prayer, he may be permitted to enjoy God and the Divine Mysteries. Now on this it is witnessed unto him by the Priest, that he ought to come to God with his whole heart, and in all things to be perfect and unblame∣able. Then the Priest opening the nature of a divine Conversation and life, it is demanded of him, if he will live so, yea or no; which when he hath promised, he puts his hand on his head, Consignans{que} illum, he commits him to the Priests, they Record the man, and him that undertook for him. Other Ceremonies are by the perverters of Antiquity added after, which I pass by as spurious things, and then the Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher proceed to the Baptizing of him.