A Booke of the forme of common prayers, administration of the sacraments, &c. agreeable to Gods Worde, and the vse of the reformed churches. To this fourth editiŏ is added the maner of ordination and admission of a pastor to his charge, according to the maner of the reformed churches. The contents of this booke, are conteyned in the page following..

A CONFES∣sion of the faith of the Churches of Englande.

I Beleeuea & con∣fesse,b my Lorde God, eternall, in∣finite, vnmeasu∣rable, incompre∣hensible, inuisi∣ble,c and almigh∣tie, most mercifull, most iust, and only wise: one substance andd three per∣sons, the Father, the Sonne, and the holie ghost.

I beleeue also, that the Father, by his almightiee power and wisedome, hath not onlie off nothing created heauen, earth, & all things therein cō∣tained, & man after his owng image, that he might in him beeh glorified: but also by hisi fatherlie prouidence gouerneth, maintaineth, and prefer∣ueth the same, according to thek pur∣pose of his will.

I Beleeue also and confessea IESVS Christ the onely Sauiour & Messi∣as: who being equall withb God, made him selfe of no reputation, but tooke on him the shape of a seruant, and be∣camec man in all things like vnto vs, sinne excepted, tod assure vs of mercie and forgiuenes. For whē through our fathere Adams transgression, we were become children of perdition, there was no meanes to bring vs from that yoke of sinne and damnation,f but only Iesus Christ our Lorde: who gi∣uing vs that byg grace, which was his by nature, made vs, through faith theh children of God. For when thei ful∣nes of time was come, he was concei∣ued by the power of thek holy Ghost, borne of the Virgine Marie (accor∣ding to the fleshe) andl preached in earth the Gospell of saluation, till at length, by the enuie of them Priestes, he was guiltles cōdemned vnder Pon∣tius Pilate, then President of Iurie, & most reprochfullie hanged and nay∣led on the Crosse betwixt two theeues, as a notorious trespasser: where, ta∣king vpon him then punishment of our sinnes, hee deliuered vs from the curse of the Law.

And forasmuch as he, being onely God, could not feele death, neither beeing onely man, could ouercome death, being both God and man, hee suffred in his humanitie, most cruell death, feeling in him self the anger & seuere iudgment of God, euen the ex∣treemea torments of hell, and there∣fore cried with a loude voice,b My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me! And so died, and was buried, re∣maining vnder the power of death three dayes.

Thus of hisc free mercie without compulsion, he offered vp him self as the onely sacrifice to purge the sinnes of all the worlde: so that all other sa∣crifices for sinne are blasphemous & derogate frō the sufficiencie thereof. The which death, albeit it did suffici∣entlied recōcile vs to God, yet the scri∣ptures commonlie doe attribute our regeneration to hise resurrection. For as byf rising againe frō the graue the third day, heg conquered death, euen so, the victorie of our faith standeth in his resurrection: and therfore with∣out the one, we can not fele the bene∣fite of the other. For as by deathh sin was taken away, so he rose againe for our righteousnes.

And because he woulda accomplish all things, & take possession for vs in his kingdom, heb ascended into hea∣uen, to enlarge his kingdome by the aboundant giftes and power of hisc spirit: by whom we are most assured of his continualld intercession to God the Father for vs. And although he be ine heauen, as touching his cor∣poral presence, where the Father hath now set him at hisf right hand, com∣mitting vnto him the administration of allg things, as well in heauē aboue, as in the earth beneath, yet is heh pre∣sent with vs his members, euen to the end of the world, in preseruing & go∣uerning vs with his effectuall power and grace, who (when all things arei fulfilled, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his Prophetes since the worlde began) will come in thek same visible forme, in the which hee ascended, with an vnspeakablel Ma∣jestie, power, & companie, to separate the Lambes from the goates, the elect from the reprobate: So thatm none, whether he be aliue then, or dead be∣fore, shall escape his iudgement.

MOreouer, I beleeue and confesse the holie Ghost,n God equall

with the Father, and the Sonne, who regenerateth & sanctifieth vs, ruleth and guideth vs into all trueth, persua∣ding most assuredlie in oura con∣sciences, that we bee the children of God, brethren to IESVS Christ, and fellow-heires with him of life euer∣lasting. Notwithstanding it is not suf∣ficient to beleeue that God is omni∣potent, & mercifull: that Christ hath made satisfaction: or that the holie Ghost hath his power and effect, ex∣cept we doe (‡) applie the same bene∣fites to our selues whiche are Godsb elect by the Spirit.

I Beleeue therefore and confesse one holie vniuersallc Church, which, isd the bodie of Iesus Christ thee on∣lie head thereof,f consenteth in faith, hope, and charitie, vsing the giftes of God,g whether they be temporall, or spirituall, to the profite and furthe∣rance of the same. Which Church is noth seene to mans eye, but onelie knowne to God, who hath ordained some asi as vessels of wrath to damnati∣on, to the praise of his iustice: & hath chosen others,k as vessels of honour to be saued, to the praise of the glorie of his grace: the which also in due

time he calleth to faith, toa integritie of life & godlie cōuersation, to make them a glorious Church to him self.

But that Churchb whiche is visible in the seuerall congregations, & seene to the eye, hath three tokens or marks whereby it may be knowen. First the“ Word of God conteined in the olde and new Testament: which as it isc a∣boue the autoritie of y^e same church, and onelyd sufficient to instruct vs in all things concerning saluation: so is it left fore all degrees of men, to read & vnderstand: for without thisf Word neither Church, Councell, or Decree, can establish anie point touching sal∣uation.

The seconde is, the holyg Sacra∣ments, to wit, of Baptisme & the Lords Supper, whiche Sacramentes Christ hath left vnto vs as holy signes, and seales of Gods promises in him. For as by Baptisme, once receyued, is signi∣fied that we, as well infantes as others of age and discretion, beingh straun∣gers from God by originall sinne, are receyued into his familie and Con∣gregation, with full assurance that al∣though this roote of sinne lye hydde in vs, yet to the electe it shall not bee

a imputed: so theb Supper declareth, that God, as a most prouident Father, doeth of his great goodnes spiritually nourish our soules,c making vs par∣takers of his Sonne & all good things in him by faith: which the Scripture calleth eating of his flesh, & drinking of his bloud. Neither must wee in the administration of these Sacramentes, follow mans phantasie, but as Christ him self hath ordayned, so must they be ministred, and by such as byd ordi∣narie vocation are therevnto called. Therefore, whosoeuer worshippeth these Sacraments, or cōtrariwise con∣temneth them, or without lawfull calling shall administer them, procu∣reth to him selfe damnation.

The third marke of this Church ise Ecclesiasticall Discipline, which stā∣deth in admonitiō, separation, excom∣munication, and the curse called A∣nathema, in some speciall cases.

Concerning the ciuillf Magistrates, ordained of God to minister to euerie man iustice, defending the good, and punishing the euil, I acknowledge we must render vnto them honour & o∣bedience in all things, whiche are a∣greeable to the worde of God.

And asa Moses, Ezechias, Iosias, and other godly rulers purged the church of God from superstition and idola∣trie: so, where such are, the reforma∣tion and defence of Christes Church appertaineth to the Christian Magi∣strates, against all idolaters and here∣tiks, as Papists, Anabaptists, familie of Loue, with such like members of An∣tichrist, to roote out allb doctrine of diuels and men, as the Masse, Purga∣torie, Limbus patrū, prayer to saints, and for the dead, free-will, superstiti∣ous distinction of meates, apparell, & dayes, vowes of single life, presence at idol seruice, mans merits, with such like: which drawe vs from the socie∣tie of Christes Church, whereinc on∣lie is remission of sinnes, purchased by Christs bloud, to all them that be∣leeue, whether they bee Iewes or Gen∣tils, and lead vs to vaine confidence in creatures, & trust in our owne ima∣ginations. The punishment whereof, although God oftentimesd deferreth in this life, yet after the generalle re∣surrection, when the bodies shall rise againe to bee ioyned to their soules in immortalitie, they shall bef damned to vnquencheable fire: and then wee

which haue forsaken all mans wise∣dome, to cleaue vnto Christ, shall heare that ioyfull voyce:a Come yee blessed of my Father, inherite yee the kingdome prepared for you, from the beginning of the world: and so shall goe triumphing with him, inb bodie and soule, to remaine euer∣lastinglie in glorie, where we shall see God ^c face to face, and shall no more neede one to instruct another: for we shall alld know him from the highest to the lowest. To which true God, the Father, the Sonne, and the holie Ghost, be all praise, honour and glo∣rie, now and euer. So be it.

Notes

• a

  Rom. 1
• b

  Gen. 1 Psalm. 6 139.
• c

  Gen. 1 Ephe. 4
• d

  Gen. 2 1 Iohn: Mat: 3.
• I beleeue in GOD the Fa∣ther Al∣mightie, maker of heauen & earth
• e

  Hebr. •• Prouer.
• f

  Genes. •• Iere. 32 Psal. 33
• g

  Gene. •• Ephe. 4.
• h

  1. Cor. Iohn. 17.
• i

  Matth. 6 Luke. 17
• k

  Ephe. 1
• a

  Matt. 1. Actes 4. 1 Tim. 1.
• b

  Iohn 1. Phil. 2. 1 Tim. 3. 1 Iohn 5 Rom. 9
• And in IESVS Christ his only Sōne our Lord.
• c

  Heb. 2. Phil. 2. 1 Pet. 2
• d

  Rom. 8. 1 Iohn 2.
• e

  Gen. 3. Rom. 5 Ephe. 2. Galat. 3
• f

  Actes 4. •• Petr. 2. Isa. 28 Rom. 9
• Whiche was con∣ceyued by the holie Ghoste, borne of the vir∣gine Ma∣rie.
• g

  Iohn. 1. Heb. 1. Rom. 1
• h

  Galat. 3. Iohn 1.
• i

  Galat. 4 Actes 2.
• k

  Isa. 7. Luke. 1
• l

  Act. 10.
• m

  Iohn. 7. Matt. 12
• Suffe∣red vnder Pontius Pilate, was cru∣cified.
• n

  Gal. 3.
• Dead & buried.
• a

  Actes. 2 1 Petr. 2. Isa. 5 3.
• b

  Mat. 27
• He des∣cended into Hell.
• c

  Isa. 5 Heb. 9. Galat. 1. Rom. 4.
• d

  Colo. 2.
• e

  Rom. 1 1 Pet. 1.
• f

  Matt. 28. Actes 10. 1 Cor. 1
• The third day he rose a∣gaine frō death.
• g

  Ose. 1 1 Cor. 1 2 Cor. 1
• h

  Rom. 4.
• a

  Eph. 4 Iohn 14 Ephe. 2
• He ascen¦ded into heauen.
• b

  Mar. 16 Luke. 24. Actes 1.9
• c

  Luke. 24 Iohn. 14 Actes 2
• d

  Rom. 8 Hebr. 9 1 Iohn 2.
• And sit∣teth at the right hande of God the Father almigh∣tie.
• e

  Actes 1.
• f

  Colo. 3. Roma. 8. Heb. 3.
• g

  Ephe. 1. Philip. 2. Colo. 2
• h

  Mat. 28
• i

  Actes 3.
• From thence shall hee come to iudge the quicke & the dead.
• k

  Actes 1.
• l

  Mat. 25 Philip. 3.
• m

  Mat. 24. Actes 10. 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes. 4. 2 Tim. 4.
• I beleeue in the ho∣lie ghost.
• n

  Matth. 3. 1 Iohn. 5. 1 Petr. 1 1 Cor. 6 Actes 17.
• a

  Rom. ••.
• Abac. 8. Rom. 1. 1 Iohn. 3.
• b

  Iohn. 17
• The holy catholike Church. The com∣muniō of Saintes.
• c

  Matt. 26 Iohn. 10. Ephe. 5. Rom. 8. Cantic. 2
• d

  Ephe. 1. Coloss. 2. 1 Cor. 12.
• e

  Ephe. 4.
• f

  Ephe. 4. Philip. 3. Colos. 2.
• g

  Actes. 2 Roma. 12 1 Cor. 12.
• h

  Rō. 11.
• i

  Rom. 9.
• k

  Ephe. 1.
• a

  Rom. 8 Ephe. 5.
• b

  Matt. 18. 2 Cor. 15
• “

  Mat. 28. Rom. 10. Ephe. 2. Iohn 10. 2 Cor. 3.4 2 Tim. 3. 2 Per. 1.
• c

  Ephe. 2 Matth. 17 Iohn 10
• d

  Iohn. 26. 2 Tim. 3.
• e

  Ios. 1. Iohn. 5.
• f

  Ephe. 5. Mat. 15.
• g

  Matth. 26.28 Rom. 4. Ephe. 5.
• h

  Rom. 5. Ephe. 2. Tit. 3. Rom. 7. Rom. 4. Psalm. 31. 1 Cor. 11
• a

  Rom. 4. Psal. 32.
• b

  1 Co. 1••.
• c

  Iohn. 6
• d

  Hebr. 5. Iohn. 3.
• e

  Mat. •• Luke. 17. Leuit. 17. Prouerb. 5.
• f

  Rom. 1••. Tit. 3. 1 Pet. ••
• a

  Exo. 32. 2 King. 18 2 chro. 29
• b

  2 Tim. 4 Colos. 2. Matth. 25 Isa. 29. Hebr. 9 Actes 10. Rom. 7. Gal. 5. Col. 2. Rom. 14 Matth. 19 •• Cor. 7 •• Co. 8. Luke 17. Rom. 3 2 Cor. 3. Galat. 4.
• The for∣giuenesse of sinnes.
• c

  Isa. 33 Matth. 1 Iohn 20. 2 Cor. 5. Rom. 1. Ephe. 2.
• d

  Petr. 2. Iade 6. Rom. 9.
• e

  Actes 24 1 Co. 15 Phil. 3.
• The re∣surrectiō of the bo∣die.
• f

  2 Thes. 4 2 Iohn. 1. Isa. 30 Iohn 5.
• a

  Mat. 25.
• b

  1 The. 4. Iohn. 5. Isa. 1
• And life euerla∣sting.
• d

  Iere. 31 Hebr. 8.