Although it be lawful for all men to read the holy scriptures 1privately at home, and to instruct or edify one an other in true religion, yet holy congregations and meetings together in churches is very necessary, to the end that gods words may be soundly preached to the people, that prayers & supplications may be made publicly, the Sacraments rightly ministered, and alms gathered for the poor and other necessary charges and expenses of the Church. For it is evident in the apostolic & primitive church, that there were such assemblies frequented of all the godly. Who soever despise these congregations 2& withhold them selves from them, contemn true religion, and ought to be compelled by the ministers and godly magistrates to sever them selves no more so stubbornly from faithful people assembled in the church. Let their meetings in the church be, not secret, but public, and oft, except persecution and the cruel enemies of the Christian congregation ⟨p. 81⟩will not suffer it. For we know, what manner of assemblies there were in time paste in the primitive 3church, in hidden and secret places, during the tyranny of the princes of Rome. Let also the places, where the faithful mete together, be honest and in all points convenient for the church of God. Let the Churches therefore be large, yet such as are cleansed from all those things, that become not the Church. Let all things be furnished comely, and as necessity and Godly honesty requireth. Let nothing be lacking, requisite for necessary uses of the Church. But as we believe, that God dwelleth not in Temples made with hands, so we are not ignorant that places dedicated to God, for the worshipping of him, are not profane but holy: & that they, which be therein ought to use them selves reverently 4and modestly, because they are in an holy place, before the sight of God, and all his blessed Angels. Wherefore all excess of apparel, all pride, and all 5things, which become not Christian ⟨image 127⟩humility, discipline, and modesty, ought far to be removed from the Church, and places of prayer. The true decking of Temples, consisteth not in Ivory, in Gold, and precious stones, but in the honest behaviour, godly love, and virtue of them, who are in the Temple. Let all things be done in the Church comely and orderly: to be short, to edify.
ALthoughe it be lawfull for all men to reade the holye scriptures 1priuatlye at home, and to instructe or edifie one an other in true religion, yet holy congregations and metings together in churches is very necessarie, to thende that gods words maye be soundly preached to the people, that prayers & supplications maie be made publikely, the Sacramentes rightlye ministred, and almes gathered for the poore and other necessarie charges and expenses of the Churche. For it is euidēt in the apostolike & primitiue church, that there were such assemblies frequented of all the godlye. Who soeuer dispise these congregations 2& witholde them selues frō them, contemne true religion, and ought to bee compelled by the ministers and godlie magistrates to seuer them selues no more so stubbernelye from faithfull people assembled in the churche. Let their metinges in the churche be, not secret, but publike, and ofte, excepte persecution and the cruell enemies of the Christian congregation ⟨p. 81⟩wyll not suffer it. For we knowe, what maner of assemblies there were in time paste in the primitiue 3churche, in hidden and secret places, during the tyranny of the princes of Rome. Let also the places, wher the faithful mete together, be honeste and in al pointes conuenient for the churche of God. Let the Churches therfore be large, yet suche as are clensed from all those thynges, that become not the Churche. Let all thinges be furnished comelie, and as necessitie and Godlie honestie requireth. Lette nothyng bee lacking, requisite for necessarie vses of the Churche. But as wée beleue, that God dwelleth not in Temples made with handes, so we are not ignoraunt that places dedicated to God, for the worshipping of him, are not prophane but holie: & that thei, whiche be therin ought to vse theim selues reuerentlie 4and modestly, bicause thei are in an holie place, before the sighte of God, and all his blessed Angels. Wherefore all excesse of apparell, all pride, and all 5thynges, whiche become not Christian ⟨image 127⟩humilitie, discipline, and modestie, oughte farre to bee remoued from the Churche, and places of praier. The true deckyng of Temples, consisteth not in Iuerie, in Golde, and precious stones, but in the honeste behauiour, godlie loue, and vertue of theim, who are in the Temple. Let all thynges bée dooen in the Churche comelie and orderlie: to bee shorte, to edifie.
- 1what ought to be done in holy assemblies.what ought to be done in holye assemblies.
- 2Refrainers from the church.Refrainers from the churche.
- 3The place of their assemblies.
- 4we should use our selves modestly in the Church.we shuld vse our selues modestly in the Churche.
- 5Decking of Temples.Deckinge of Temples.
