comprehended by us, as the operations of the Holy Ghost are hidden and incomprehensible. In the mean time we err not, when we say, that what is eaten and drunk by us is the proper and natural body, and the proper blood of Christ. But the manner of our partaking of the same, is not by the mouth, but by the spirit through faith. Thus then, though Christ always sits at the right hand of his Father in the heavens, yet doth he not therefore cease to make us partakers of himself by faith. This feast is a spiritual table, at which Christ communicates himself with all his benefits to us, and gives us there to enjoy both himself, and the merits of his sufferings and death, nourishing, strengthening and comforting our poor comfortless souls, by the eating of his flesh, quickening and refreshing them by the drinking of his blood. Further, though the sacraments are connected with the thing signified, nevertheless both are not received by all men: the ungodly indeed receives the sacrament to his condemnation, but he doth not receive the truth of the sacrament. As Judas and Simon the sorcerer, both indeed received the sacrament, but not Christ, who was signified by it, of whom believers only are made partakers. Lastly, we receive this holy sacrament in the assembly of the people of God, with humility and reverence, keeping up amongst us a holy remembrance of the death of Christ our Saviour, with thanksgiving: making there confession of our faith, and of the Christian religion. Therefore no one ought to come to this table, without having previously rightly examined himself; lest by eating of this bread and drinking of this cup, he eat and drink judgment to himself. In a word, we are excited by the use of this holy sacrament, to a fervent love towards God, and our neighbour. Therefore we reject all mixtures and damnable inventions, which men have added unto, and blended with the sacraments, as profanations of them: and affirm that we ought to rest satisfied with the ordinance, which Christ and his apostles have taught us, and that we must speak of them in the same manner as they have spoken.

XXXVI. Of Magistrates.

We believe that our gracious God, because of the depravity of mankind, hath appointed kings, princes, and magistrates, willing that the world should be governed by

certain laws and policies; to the end that the dissolute ness of men might be restrained, and all things carried on among them with good order and decency. For this purpose he hath invested the magistracy with the sword, for the punishment of evil doers, and for the protection of them that do well. And their office is, not only to have regard unto, and watch for the welfare of the civil state; but also that they protect the sacred ministry; and thus may remove and prevent all idolatry and false worship; that the kingdom of antichrist may be thus destroyed, and the kingdom of Christ promoted. They must therefore countenance the preaching of the word of the gospel every where, that God may be honoured and worshipped by every one, as he commands in his word. Moreover, it is the bounden duty of every one, of what state, quality, or condition soever he may be, to subject himself to the ma gistrates; to pay tribute, to show due honour and respect to them, and to obey them in all things which are not repugnant to the word of God; to supplicate for them in their prayers, that God may rule and guide them in all their ways, and that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Wherefore we detest the anabaptists and other seditious people, and in general all those, who reject the higher powers and magistrates, and would subvert justice, introduce a community of goods, and confound that decency and good order, which God hath established among men.›

XXXVII. Of the Last Judgment.

Finally we believe, according to the word of God, when the time appointed by the Lord (which is unknown to all creatures) is come, and the number of the elect complete, that our Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven, corporally and visibly, as he ascended, with great glory and ma jesty to declare himself judge of the quick and the dead; burning this old world with fire and flame, to cleanse it. And then all men will personally appear before this great judge, both men and women and children, that have been from the beginning of the world to the end thereof, being summoned by the voice of the archangel, and by the sound of the trumpet of God. For all the dead shall be raised out of the earth, and their souls joined and united with their proper bodies, in which they formerly lived. As for

shall then be living, they shall not die as the be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and cible, become incorruptible. Then the bookss Say the consciences shall be tpened, and the acording to what they shall have done in this ther it be good or evil. Nay, all men shali give of every idle word they have spoken, which dly counts amusement and jest: and then the irpocrisy of men shall be disclosed and leid

And therefore the consideration of this is justly terrible and dreadful to the wicked IT. but most desirable and comfortable to the nd the elect: because then their full delivere perfected, and there they shall receive the

labour and trouble, which they have bame... ence shall be known toall, and they shall see vengeance which God shall execute on the most cruelly persecuted, oppressed, and tor

in this world; and who shall be convicted many of their own consciences, and being inbe tormented in that everlasting fre, which for the devil had his angels. But on the conthful and elect shall be crowned with glory and the Son of God will confess their names His Father, and his elect angels; all tears shall

their eyes; and their canse, which is now by many judges and magistrates, as heretical will then be known to be the cause of the And for a gracious reward, the Lord will to possess such a glory, as never entered into sam to conceive. Therefore we expect that a most andent desire, to the end that we the promises of God in Christ Jesus cur

Lord Jesus.

Rev. x. A.

302

THE LITURGY

OF THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH;

OR, THE FORMS USED THEREIN.

1. Of Public Prayer.-II. Of the Administration of the Holy Sacraments.-III. Of the Exercise of Church Dis cipline.-IV. Of the Ordination of Church Officers.V. Of the Celebration of Marriage.-VI. Of Comforting the Sick.

Christian Prayers to be used in the Assembly of the Faithful, and on other occasions.

A Prayer on the Lord's Day, before Sermon.

O ETERNAL God, and most merciful Father, we humbly prostrate ourselves before thy high majesty, against which we have so often and grievously offended; and acknowledge, if thou shouldst enter into judgment with us, that we have deserved nothing but eternal death: for besides that we all are by original sin, unclean in thy sight and children of wrath, conceived in sin and brought forth in iniquity, whereby all manner of evil lusts, striving against thee and our neighbour, dwell within us; we have also indeed, frequently and without end, transgressed thy precepts, neglected what thou hast commanded us, and done what thou hast expressly forbidden us. We have strayed like sheep, and have greatly offended against thee, which we acknowledge, and are heartily sorry for; nay, we confess to our shame, and to the praise of thy mercy towards us, that our sins are more than the hairs of our head, and that we are indebted ten thousand talents, but not able to pay. Wherefore we are not worthy to be called thy children; nor to lift up our eyes towards heaven, to pour out our prayers before thee. Nevertheless, O Lord God, and merciful Father, knowing that thou dost not desire the death of a sinner, but that he may turn from his wickedness and live; and that thy mercy is infinite, which thou showest unto those, who return to thee; we heartily call upon thee, trusting in our Mediator Jesus Christ, who is that Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world, and we beseech thee, to commiserate our infirmity, forgiving us all our sins for Christ's sake. Wash us in the pure fountain of his blood, that we

may become clean and white as snow. Cover our nakedness with his innocence and righteousness, for the glory of thy name's sake: clear our understanding of all blindness, and our hearts of all hardness and pride. Open the mouth of thy servant at present, and replenish him with thy wisdom and knowledge, that he may purely and confidently set forth thy word; prepare also our hearts, that we may hear, understand, and keep the same: write thy laws (according to thy promise) in the tables of our hearts, and strengthen us to delight and walk in the same, to the praise and glory of thy name, and to the edification of thy church. O gracious Father, we ask for, and desire all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, who hath taught us thus to pray-OUR FATHER, &C.

.

A Prayer on the Lord's Day, after Sermon.

ALMIGHTY and merciful God, we acknowledge in ourselves, and confess before thee, as the truth is, that we are not worthy to lift up our eyes towards heaven, and to present our prayers before thee, if thou shouldst respect our merits and worthiness: for our consciences accuse us, and our sins bear witness against us; we also know, that thou art a righteous judge, punishing the sins of those, who transgress thy commandments. But, O Lord, since thou hast commanded us to call upon thee in all times of necessity, and hast of thine ineffable mercy promised to hear our prayers, not because of our merits (which are none) but for the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom thou hast appointed to be our Mediator and Advocate: wherefore we forsake all other help, and take our refuge to thy mercy alone.

Especially, O Lord, besides the innumerable benefits, which thou showest to all mankind in general on earth, thou hast in particular bestowed manifold favours on us, which we are not capable to comprehend or express: for thou hast delivered us from the woful slavery of the devil, and all idolatry, wherein we were held, and hast brought us to the light of thy truth, and to the knowledge of thy Holy Gospel. On the contrary, we have by our ingratitude been regardless of these thy benefits, we have departed from thee, and have followed our own devices, not honouring thee as was our bounden duty to do. Thus