Forms of prayer used in the reformed churches in France before their persecution and destruction. With an account of their manner of batizing, celebrating the Holy Supper, marrying and burying; with some additional remarks. Translated into English, for the use of such of the French nation as do desire to learn English; and may be serviceable to those English who are willing to improve themselues in the French language; and for the information of all of the reformed religion, and others. Unto which is also annexed the names of several learned French ministers, to evidence the truth of this translation.

THE Translator TO THE READER.

HAving perused the Li∣turgy of the reformed Churches in France, fram∣ed in the beginning of the Reformation by Mr. Cal∣vin, about the same time that the Prayers of the Church of England were

made, by her Reverend Bi∣shops and Divines, to lead Men from Tautologies and Superstitions, to the true worship of Almighty God, and in their known Tongues, to the end that all Men might understand them, and they might be useful, and conduce to draw the minds and affections of Men, from Temporal to Hea∣venly things, and that the Minister, and whole Con∣gregation might joyn toge∣ther with their Heart and Voice, to crave Gods Gra∣cious Pardon for all their daily wants, and to render thanks and praise to his most Holy Name for their

receiving of the same; and also observing the Do∣ctrine and Ceremonies of the reformed Churches in France; and seeing the un∣happy Differences and Mis∣understandings, that are between the Church of England and some other Protestants, and that ma∣ny of her Members, and others, believed that the reformed French Church had a nearer Affinity to the English Presbyteri∣ans, then to the Church of England, (as I my self did, till by my fre∣quenting and often hearing of the French Ministers, I found the contrary) I

thought it my Duty by this Translation, to undeceive all those who thro' igno∣rance or prejudice labour under that Error.

'Tis true, there are alrea∣dy many Books Written by very Pious and Learned Men, to shew the misery and unreasonableness of separation, and Divisions in Religion, and the ad∣vantage of a general Conformity in the same. The Titles of some of them, as of other Books that may be very useful on this occasion, are hereaf∣ter inserted; that all such Persons as are Piously in∣clined, and desirous of Ʋ∣nion

in the Church; may with more ease find out such necessary Subjects, which I hope, may tend to their satisfaction, and Ʋ∣nity in Faith, Doctrine and Prayers.

The excellency and use∣fulness of our Liturgy, is explained by the Learned Doctor Cumber, and also by Doctor Beveridge in his Sermon upon that point.

I thought fit likewise, to direct you unto Mr. Hookers Ecclesiastical Po∣lity, and unto the Case of a doubting Conscience, written by the most Reve∣rend Father in God, John

Sharp, the present Lord Arch-Bish••p of York.

And the London Di∣vines of the Church of England, as established by Law, did with great Lear∣ning, Ingenuity and Can∣dor, in several Discourses defend that Glori••us and Pious Church, of which they have the honour and happiness to be members, against the several ob∣jections that are usually raised by Dissenters a∣gainst her.

But what need I Name more of the Ep••scopal Clergy.

Mr. Baxter himself hath in several of his Treatises

well set forth the great mischief of Divisions and Separations; in his Chri∣stian Directory, p. 741. he saith, that Schism is a sin against so many clear and vehement words of the Holy Ghost, that it is ut∣terly without excuse; he proceeds and declares that even Whoredom, Treason and Perjury, are not oftener forbidden in the Gospel then this, and that it is contrary to the design of Christ in our redemption, to the Spirit of Grace, and to the Nature of Christia∣nity it self, &c. That Church Dividers are the ••ost successful Servants of

the Devil, and Enemies to Christ in his Family and Livery, that they serve the Devil more effectually then open Enemies, and much more on this head he hath said, in the pages above-cited. And you will find him quoting above forty places of Scripture against separations, in his Cure of Church Divisions, Direct. 7. and in his de∣fence of the said Book, pag. 3. and saith, that the World, the Flesh and the Devil, are the Causes whence Divisions arise, all which you may see more al•• large in the Books them∣selves.

If any reply, that Mr. Baxter was a Dissenter. I Answer, he is the more to be regarded by Dissenters; But withal, it is very well known that he often heard the Divine Service, and received the Communion from the hands of the Right Reverend Doctor Sharp, then Minister of St. Giles in the Fields.

To conclude, he that de∣sires further information of the inexpressible dangers which accompany Divisi∣ons, let him peruse the Learned Mr. Edwards Book, called, Gangrena, unto which Tract I refer you; some, if not most of

these Books herein Named may be had of Samuel Ke••∣ble, at the Turks Head in Fleet-street, or Walte•• Kettleby, at the Bishop Head in St. Pauls Church-Yard, or of other Booksellers in London.

But yet considering tha•• in other Treatises ther•• are so many points dis∣cussed; as make most 〈◊〉〈◊〉 those Books so dear, tha•• all Persons are not enclin∣ed to buy them.

I have thought fit t•• present unto the world this small Specimen of th•• Prayers of the reforme•• Churches in France, whic••

shew their Concurrence and Harmony with the Church of England, in read∣ing the Holy Scriptures in their Publick Assemblys, and in most substantial points, as Confessions of Faith contained in the A∣postles, Nicene & Athana∣sian Creeds, and likewise in their Methods of VVor∣ship, and Rules of Pra∣ctice; by which you may see how near Divine Pro∣vidence and the Holy Spi∣rit, hath brought these Churches together.

And I am perswaded, that if all Men would im∣partially observe the same, it might prevail with con∣sidering

Christians, and make them sincerely uni∣ted together. This Li∣turgy being Composed in a small Tract, I was the more induced to Translate it into English, for the in∣formation of all such who can neither spare so much. Money or time, as the ob∣taining and perusing those larger Volumes do require. By which all may see the Prayers and Service, which were and are used in the reformed French Chur∣ches; and that this, or some such form is used i•• all the reformed Churches throughout Holland, Hun∣gary, Brandenburg, and

in other Parts of Germa∣ny, Switzerland, and Pi∣edmont, and in all those Places; where the Persecu∣tion hath not taken away the Exercise of the refor∣med Religion, used by Cal∣vin and his followers.

There are also peculiar Forms of Publick Prayers in the Tigurian Chur∣ches, which are the Pro∣testant Churches of the City, and Government of Zurick in Switzerland, as you may see in a Book lately Printed, and called Liturgia, Tigurina, or the Book of Common Prayers and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Ec∣clesiastical

Rites and Cere∣monies, used in the Church∣es and Chappels of Zurick.

And the aforesaid People as I have been well inform∣ed, do endeavour to liv•• up to the strict Rules o•• Justice and Piety; whic•• their Lord and Master hat•• enjoyned and required fro•• them.

And it is to be remark∣ed that there were and sti•••• are other Forms of Public•• Prayers used in the Refor∣med Churches, where th•• Doctrine and Discipline Luther hath prevailed.

Which are sufficient prove, and to convinc•• People that set Forms 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Prayer, were, and are used in other Ancient Churches, besides those of England, or Rome, and to demon∣strate that such as reject Forms, are in that respect Dissenters from Luther and Calvin, as well as from that of England, and also to shew the unannimous a∣greement of the Churches before recited, and of the French Reformed with the Church of England; be∣sides, these Prayers will in∣fallibly point out to us the frequent use of the Lords Prayer, the Apostles Creed and the Ten Command∣ments, which were placed in their Churches, and still

are the main subjects of their Catechism, which wa•• taught every Lords Day and the two former are re∣peated when ever they as∣semble for the Publick Ser∣vice.

At Baptizing an Infan•• the Minister doth sprinkl•• water on its Forehead, whe•• the Name is given, an•• that Church makes use of God-Fathers and God-Mo∣thers, who do undertak•• most of the same charge o•• those in the Church of Eng∣land.

The French Protestant•• have also a particular Form of Prayer for Baptizing ••uch Persons of riper years

as desire and duely prepare themselves to receive it.

The time and manner of their receiving the Holy Sacrament, is generally af∣ter the Morning Sermon; which is performed with much decency and r••spect, but for the most part they did receive it standing in France, partly because their Flocks being large, and their opportunities of receiving not frequent, they might the sooner give place one to another: And partly, because they would not fol∣low the manner of the Pa∣pists among whom they li∣ved, and who kneel∣ed at the Communion, in

order to adore their Host•• or a Wafer, yet they do ne∣ver oppose kneeling whe•• it doth not tend to Idola∣try. But supposing the•• lookt upon kneeling as on•• extreame, they took to b•• sure sitting for the other••

But as to the sence of it they do agree with th•• Church of England, a•• you may more plainly s•• towards the latter end o•• their Catechism, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 often annexed to their Form of Prayers after th•• Singing Psalms, at th•• latter end of the French New Testament.

In the time of Persecu∣tion, before the general

destruction of their Chur∣ches, the Protestants in France had but one hour allowed them in the Morn∣ing, and another hour in the Evening for the meet∣ing of the thirty People to bury the Dead, (which was the greatest Number then permitted to attend the Corps unto the Grave) unto which they were obliged to commit them, without paying such decent respects which are usually done to the Corps of other Christi∣ans, to make a difference be∣tween the Bodys of Decea∣sed Christians, and of such Animals as have nothing but meer sence, tho' they

are sometimes put into th•• Earth, yet never deserv•• a solemn interment.

This Ceremony which used's to Deceased Christi∣ans, it also, to put the liv∣ing in mind of Mortality and therefore after the re∣turn of the People from the Grave to the Decea∣sed's late House, or to the place where they at first met; the Minister did make an Exhortation to admonish the living, and to comfort the afflicted, for the loss of their Friend.

At first, when they were allowed to bury publickly, the Minister followed af∣ter

the Dead, and at the interment the Minister made such an Exhortati∣on as before mentioned.

In this Book are also comprehended the Forms of Prayer, used upon Fast∣ing Days, and at the Ce∣lebration of the Holy Sa∣craments of Baptism and the Lords Supper, and al∣so at Marriage.

Altho' their Prayers are short, they comprehend most things for most con∣ditions of men; so com∣posed, that the whole Con∣gregation may joyn with the Minister, in praying for all necessaries and for Gods Love and Mercy in

Jesus Christ, toward them, and in giving thank for the same.

Their affinity to the An∣tient Catholick, and no•• reformed Church of Eng∣land, is further demon∣strated by several reform∣ed French Churches, in and about London, whos•• Ministers have not only re∣ceived the Ordination o•• the Church of England but do also make use of he Liturgy, and are confor∣mable to her Orders an•• Constitutions.

Moreover, the Prote∣stants of Geneva, Swi••∣zerland, Germany, &c Esteem her Doctrine an••

Discipline to be Apostolical and Orthodox.

And the Characters which our Episcopal Di∣vines bore in the Synod of Dort, doth plainly shew the great veneration they had for the reformed Church of our Kingdom.

And especially Mon∣sieur le Moines Letter, written at Leyden in Sep∣tember, in the Year of our Lord 1680, confirms the same; He was at that time, and in that Ʋni∣versity Professor of Divi∣nity, and the Letters of Monsieur de Langle, one of the Ministers of the reformed French Church at

Charenton, and of Mon∣sieur Claude, another French Minister of the same Church, both written at Paris, do the like, and the last was wrote by one of the most Illustrious Men of the reformed French Church in his time.

In which he mentions, that he hath often explain∣ed his Opinion, concerning the Government of the re∣formed Episcopal Church which appears from a larger Discourse upon it in the 336 Page, of his defence of the Reformation.

Which Letters do like∣wise ascertain the giving o•• their Pulpits, and commit∣ting

the charge of their Flocks to such Ministers as had received Episcopal Or∣dination, and particularly to Monsieur du Plessis, and Monsieur Wicart, who were ordained by the Right Reverend the Bi∣shops of London and Lin∣coln, the former was af∣terward received Minister of a reformed French Church in the Province of Paris, and the latter also Preached afterwards in the Protestant Church of Cha∣renton in the same Pro∣vince, and is now Dean of Winchester.

These Letters were all sent to the Right Reve∣rend,

Henry, present Lord Bishop of London, in which you may not only see the particular sentiments of those Reverend Mini∣sters, but also the general Opinion of the reformed Churches then in France; concerning the Government and Discipline of the Eng∣lish Church, and of the Di∣visions that were then be∣tween her and the Presby∣terians and others. Which Letters were written in French, and from the Ori∣ginals Translated into English, and Printed in the life time of the Au∣thors, they being Annexed unto the Treatise of the

unreasonableness of separa∣tion, or an Impartial ac∣count of the History of the Nature and Pleas of the present separation from the Communion of the Church of England, written by the Reverend Doctor Stilling∣fleet, now Lord Bishop of Worcester; one of these Books was sent by the Lord Bishop of London, unto Monsieur Claude in 1681, with the said Letters Printed at the latter end thereof, which Treatise doth also shew the Government of the African, Helvetian, &c. Churches, unto which I refer you for your better Information

and Satisfaction.

Moreover, I thought fit to shew you the great aversion which the reformed French Churches had to separation, as it appears by an Article made in 1644, and is Printed in the seventh Chapter and the 205 and 366 Pages, of the Disci∣pline of the reformed Churches of France, and in the 72, 73, and 74 Pages of this Treatise; it is declared that all such as do make different Sects, and others, are Excom∣municated from receiving the Holy Sacrament, until they do repent and unite.

You cannot well suppose, that what the Persons be∣fore mentioned have writ∣ten was done out of fear or interest, for if you will truely consider the stile of their Letters, you will find them to be Men of Lear∣ning and Piety, and void of all manner of Hypo∣crisie and Dissimulation.

I know there are other French Churches whose Ministers do use their own constitution, more, because they were brought up there∣in, then out of any motive of aversion to the English Liturgy, for they go very often to Prayers, and to hear the Sermons, and do

receive the Communion in the Church of England.

'Tis an amazing wonder, that any sort of Men should so much value their own mode of Praying, as to slight that comprehensive Prayer which our Lord both made and command∣ed, and it grieves me, that most of our English Sepa∣ratists contrary to the pra∣ctice of the Church, and to the instruction given by our Blessed Saviour to his Disciples (as it is written in the Gospel of St. Mat. in the sixth Chapter and the ninth verse, and in that of St. Luk. in the 11th. and 2d.) do too of∣ten

refrain, not only the use of the Apostles. Creed and the Ten Com∣mandments: But also of the Lords Prayer, which I fear is not only a shame to such as profess the Christi∣an Religion, but is also a great offence unto our Lord, who hath expressly taught and enjoyned us when we pray, to say, Our Father which art in Heaven, &c.

But as Charity Commands us to forgive one another, I leave such to the mercy of Almighty God, who is able to Pardon the greatest offenders.

This being premised, to∣gether with the exemplary

lives, Sincere and Charita∣ble endeavours of our Eng∣lish Ministry, in shewing the true ground; of the An∣tient, and now reformed Catholick and. Apostolick Religion professed and taught in the Church of England; may by Gods assistance be the best means of bringing over the re∣maining part of the Eng∣lish Dissenters; who do not yet use the English Service, nor observe its Canons, and invite them by mutual love to conform and joyn with the Church of England, for the obtaining of Gods Blessings of Grace, Peace and Christian Charity a∣mong

us, or at least prove them to be inexcusable for their se∣parating from the reformed National Church, which never excludes Prayers in private.

Good Lord, be pleased to open our Eyes that we may see what Triumph it occasions to our ad∣versaries, to behold the many divisions and bitter contentions among us upon the account of Religion, and that they take more advantage from discords among our selves, then from all their own Strength and Policy.

Wherefore because we are beset by Satan on one side, and by our Popish adversaries on the other, which are enslaving the Souls and destroying the Bodys of our Poor Brethren, and sub∣verting the Fundamentals of our Religion; let us all joyn with one heart, and render most

humble thanks unto God, that he hath been pleased by many eminent deliverances which he hath shewn to the Churches and Kingdoms of England and Ire∣land, in preserving us from the Power of our Enemies.

And let us most humbly beseech God to be pleased of his Infinite Mercy and Goodness, to pre∣vent all their wicked designs a∣gainst our distressed brethren and our selves, by defeating al•• their Malicious attempts, and the works and power of the De∣vil, and to convert all our E∣nemies, and to turn their and our hearts unto him.

And the Lord grant that we may put away all hatred and malice, evil speaking, lying and slandering, and pray with true and contrite hearts for the re∣mission of all our sins and hei∣nous

offences, and for the deli∣very of all our Persecuted Bre∣thren, from the undermining designs of their Enemies, and for the Preservation of the true Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church, and more especially for the Church of England, and for our most Gracious Soveraign Lord King William, and the Royal Family, &c. That he will be pleased to lead us by his Holy Spirit, and enrich us with his Heavenly Grace, that we may follow the good Examples of the Primitive Christians, praying one for another in the same Words and Churches, and help∣ing each other in Love, Charity, Justice and Truth, and that we may lay aside all worldly interests, and set our affections on things above, and that by our leading Holy and Peaceable

lives, we may promote the Ho∣nour and Olory of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ, by ou•• Words and Actions, and in∣duce the Papists and all other divided Christians to do the same.

Finally, let us beg of God that he will bring over the Turks•• Jews and Infidels, to acknow∣ledge our Lord, and to receive his Faith and Doctrine, and to call upon and Praise his Holy Name, and by his assistance and merits, we may be instrumen∣tal in obtaining the salvation 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their and our own Immortal Souls, which is the humble and chief aim of,

Your Faithful Servant J. T.