Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

AN EXPLANATION AND DEFENCE OF THE LITURGY OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

1 COR. xiv. 15.

-I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the Underftanding alfo: I will fing with the Spirit, and I will fing with the Understanding also.

I

HAVE hitherto explained and vindicated the daily fervice of our Church, as far as the creed; which is placed between the third part of it, the leffons; and the fourth, the petitions; that we may exprefs that faith in what we have heard, which is the ground of what we are about to ask. For as faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God; fo we must ask in faith, if we think to receive any thing of the Lordt. For how shall we call upon Him, in whom we bave not believed? But as all the doctrines of fcripture, though equally true, are not of equal importance; the more neceffary articles have been, from the beginning of Chriftianity, collected into one body, called in fcripture, the form of found words, the words of faith ||, the principles of the doctrine of Chrift; but in our common way of speaking at present, the creed, from the Latin word, credo, which fignifies, I believe. Now the ancient churches had many fuch creeds; fome longer, fome shorter; differing on feveral heads in phrafe, but a greeing in method and fenfe, of which, that called the apoftles creed, is one. And it deferves this name, not fo much from any certainty, or great likelihood, that the apoftles drew it up in thefe very expreffions, (though fome, pretty early,

[blocks in formation]

and many fince, have imagined they did), as because it contains the chief apoftolic doctrines; and was ufed by a Church, which, before it grew corrupt, was justly refpected as the chief apoftolic fettlement; I mean, the Roman

As with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, so with the mouth confeffion is made unto falvation*; of which confeffion, repeating our creed, though not a neceffary, is a rational and commendable act. We do not indeed find it to have made part of the oldest public offices; but furely it is full as proper for thefe, as for private devotions, in which the primitive Chriftians all faid it daily t. And as every one's profeffion of belief is his own separate act, so the creed is worded for every one feparately in the fingular number: and therefore unlefs we say it along with the minister, he alone teftifies his faith; not we, ours. Nor should it by any means be with negligence and indifference, that we profefs our faith. For what we believe is the only just foundation of what we do, or hope, or fear. On this account, we stand at the repeating of the creed, to exprefs our steadfastness in it, and our readiness to contend earnestly, in every proper method, for the faith once delivered to the faints . Turning at the fame time towards the east, as many do, is an ancient cuftom; as indeed, in most religions, men have directed their worship fome particular way. And this practice being intended only to honour Chrift, the fun of righteoufnefs, who hath rifen upon us, to enlighten us with that doctrine of falvation, to which we then declare our adherence; it ought not to be condemned as fuperftition; and yet, being neither obligatory in itself, nor the commanded by authority, on of it ought not to be cenfured as irreverence or difobedience. Another thing, yet more ufual in saying the creed, is to bow, when the name of Jefus is mentioned. And fome have thought that to be their duty, whenever it is mentioned, at least in divine fervice; becaufe they find in their bibles the words

Rom. x. 10.

+ Symbolum quoque fpecialiter debemus-antelucanis Horis quotidie recenfere. Ambrof. de Virg. 1. 3. p, 115. ap. BINGH. l. 10. c. 4. § 17. Quis non quotidic recitat ore, Credo, &c. Lib. de duplici Martyrio, Cypriano falfo afcript. 'n fine.

Jude ver. 3.

« AnteriorContinuar »