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 an 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 ChurchDivisions." All written long since the writing of this foregoing Prognostication. END OF THE MORAL 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. Psal. 149. 4. 1 James 5. 16; 1. ETERNAL, incomprehensible, and invisible God, 1 Tim. 1. 15. infinite in power, wisdom and goodness, dwelling in Matt. 19. 17. the light which no man can approach, where thousand 1 Tim. 6. 16. thousands minister unto thee, and ten thousand times Dan. 7. 10. ten thousand stand before thee, yet dwelling with Isa. 57.15. the humble and contrite, and taking pleasure in thy Heb. 10. 19, 20. people: Thou hast consecrated for us a new and Isa. 55. 6. Psal. living way, that with boldness we may enter into the 95.6; 12. 2; 99.5; 51.1.17; holiest, by the blood of Jesus, and hast bid us seek 89. 7; Jer. 32. thee while thou mayest be found: We come to thee 40. Heb. 12. 28. at thy call, and worship at thy footstool. Behold Thes. 5. 23. us in thy tender mercies. Despise us not, though Zech. 12. 10. unworthy. Thou art greatly to be feared in the as- Rom. 8. 26. sembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of 6. Isa. 26. 8. all that are about thee. Put thy fear into our hearts, Matt. 15. 18. that with reverence we may serve thee; sanctify us, John 4. 23, 24. that thou mayest 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 John 6. 45. hearts, and not only with our lips, and worship thee, Heb. 4. 22. 13. who art a spirit, in spirit and truth. Let thy word 2 Cor. 10. 4. 6. be spoken and heard by us as the word of God: Give 106. 46; 9. 14; us attentive, hearing ears, and opened, believing, un- 105. 3; 51. 15; derstanding hearts, that we may no more refuse thy Heb. 13. 21. 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 1 Thes. 2. 13. Acts 16. 14. Mark 4. 12. Phil. 1. 29. Psal. 69. 30; 19.14. Isa. 66. 1. Luke 2. 13. Heb. 1. 6. Psal. 149. 1. 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 shew 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. Amen. Or thus, when Brevity is necessary. O ETERNAL, almighty, and most gracious God, heaven is thy throne, and earth is thy footstool, holy Psal. 103. 20. 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 2. 16. James 5. it to us the savour of life unto life. Cause us to be 16. Psal. 63. 5. 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. Amen. Isa. 1. 19. 2 Cor. I Cor. 7. 35. Psal. 84. 10; 73.28. Next, let one of the Creeds be read by the Minister, saying, In the profession of this Christian Faith we are here assembled. |