greater authority to them than unto meere humane writings In the margent of the last translation of the Bible there is often reference made unto Chapter and verse of those bookes as in the margent of Heb. 1.3 Iohn 10.22 Matth. 6.7 Matth. 23.37 Heb. 11.35 and in more places There is no such reference made unto Chapter and verse of any other bookes excepting the canonicall Scriptures In the Concordance which is sometimes bound with bibles of the middle bignesse namely in quarto places out of all those bookes are often quoted and added unto the places cited out of the Canonicall Scriptures It is not so done out of any other bookes Even all the Fathers which have lived in the Church of Iesus Christ since first the Apostles dayes have with great reverence and respect alleaged sayings out of those books The true Apostolicall Church of England hath ordained those bookes onely and none other of what authoritie soever to be translated with the Canonicall Scriptures and to be set betweene the bookes of the old and new Testament Seeing then that the Church our mother so honoureth the said bookes called Apocrypha ought not wee her members to have them bound in our Bibles to reverence and respect them and diligently to read them for * The Church in the sixt Article of religion so delivereth example of life and instruction of manners and to account them for to be in all respects of so much a Phil. 4.8 1 Thes 5.21 1 Pet. 5.5 Mat. 18.17 1 Cor 16.16 authority as the Church of England now ascribeth unto them CHAP. 50. Of peoples learning the most sacred Catechisme of the Church which is in the booke of Common Prayer Every member of the true Apostolicall Church of England hath occasion greatly to praise the name of the Lord for stirring up our most gracious Soveraigne and the holy Fathers of the Church to take great care for this ordinance of the Gospell of Iesus Christ namely Catechizing that it may bee duely used according as it was prescribed by holy Church heretofore and the same ratified by our late Soveraigne Lord King Iames a Prince of ever blessed memory IN the end of the rubricke after the Service of Confirmation it is said None shall be admitted to the holy Communion untill such time as he can say the Catechisme namely that in the booke of Common Prayer the which being printed alone by it selfe is now commonly called the A. B. C. The said most sacred Catechisme consisteth of but about twenty questions whose answers require any labour of learning by heart And yet therein is contained the summe of the whole Christian faith and life in a most Divine delivery This holy b Ps 119.130 Catechisme should all people members of the Church of England have either in memory or else at least be able so to c 1 Pet. 3.13 answere unto each question therein as that they may declare themselves to have in effect such an d Phil. 3.16 1 Cor. 1.10 understanding of the matters therein contained as the Church hath in full words expressed in it Catechisme is an instructing of people in the e Heb. 5.12 principles of the Oracles of God It is a f Heb. 6.1 2. laying of the foundation of repentance from dead workes and of faith towards God of the Doctrine of Baptismes and of laying on of hands and of the resurrection of the dead and of the eternall judgment It is a ministring of the g 1 Pet. 2.2 sincere milke of the Word unto the h Heb. 5.13 unskilfull in the word of righteousnesse Even as a house cannot bee well built up and stand fast unlesse the foundations thereof be firmely laid so people who should bee built up a spirituall i 1 Pet. 2.4 house for an k Eph. 2.21 22. habitation of God through the spirit cannot be fitly framed together and grow unto an holy Temple in the Lord unlesse they bee l Luke 11.52 Mat. 14.11 rightly instructed in the principles of the Doctrine of Christ and withall grow up in all due m Rom. 1.5 and 16.26 obedience unto the same Not onely the Catechisme in the Divine Service doth deliver the Milke of the Gospell but also the whole Divine Service doth minister the same abundantly If one would know what is repentance and faith let him reade the Homilies thereof If hee would know what is the mysterie of baptisme and of laying on of hands let him reade the Services thereof If one would know the mysterie of the Communion let him read the Service and the Homily thereof It is a main part of the use of the Divine Service to lay firmly in peoples mindes the n 1 Cor. 3.10 grounds of Christianity All people therefore that would bee rightly grounded in the true Christian religion and grow more and more towards o Heb. 6.1 Col. 1.28 29. perfection in Iesus Christ ought to be much conversant in every part of the said Service and to enable themselves so to render a reason of every point of Christianity according as they finde it delivered in the said p Prov. 6.20 21 22 23. Luke 10.16 bookes and withall to q 2 Thes 1.3 Prov 4.18 increase in that godly conversation which is throughout the service prescribed And thereunto this present worke will much helpe every one that will make due use of all the same The Church hath ordained that not onely the youth but other ignorant persons also to be r Song 6.6 Ps 1.48 12. Deut. 31.12 Nehem. 8.2 instructed in the Catechisme For thus is her sacred * Canon 59 This holy and necessary Ordinance of Christ and his Church is now by the great goodnesse of Almighty God observed and al true Christians hearts doe pray that so it may bee continued and more and more conscionably used unto Gods glory and the edification of all people constitution Every Parson Vicar or Curate upon every Sunday and holy day before evening prayer shall for halfe an houre or more examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his parish in the ten Commandements the Articles of the beliefe and in the Lords prayer and shall diligently heare instruct and teach them the Catechisme set forth in the booke of Common prayer c. Peoples Å¿ Prov. 19.2 neglect of learning that Catechisme and of obedience thereto and also their not regarding to have their Children and servants taught the same and instructed unto the observing of the duties therein prescribed is a maine cause that now so many are ignorant in minde and t Prov. 29.15 disorderly in conversation The Oracle of God saith u Prov. 22.6 Traine up a Child in the way he should goe and when he is old he will not depart from it CHAP. 51. Of Baptisme THE Catechisme in the Divine service delivereth That the outward visible signe or forme in baptisme is water wherein the person baptized is dipped
the great indignation and curse of God against them in this life and the terrible wrath and judgement of our Saviour Christ at the great day of the last judgement when he shall justly judge both the quicke and the dead according to their workes For whosoever forsaketh the truth for love or displeasure of any man or for lucre and profit to himselfe doth forsake Christ and with Iudas betray him And although such perjured mens falshood be now kept secret yet it shall be opened at the last day when the secrets of all mens hearts shall be manifest to all the world And then the truth shall appeare and accuse them and their owne conscience with all the blessed company of heaven shall beare witnesse truely against them And Christ the righteous Iudge shall then justly condemne them to everlasting shame and death As in a great part of the booke intituled God and the King we may find much divine instruction concerning taking a lawful oath so where there is delivered the nature of an oath in generall it is much remarkeable It is * there said An oath is a most sacred bond and with a secret terrour imprinted by the immediate singer of God in the taking thereof doth so straitly oblige the inmost soule and conscience that although many men bee obdurate unto other grievous sinnes yet they will be tender and sensible of the violation of an oath Very often saith Saint Augustine men provoke their wives whom they suspect to bee adulterous to cleere themselves by an oath which they would not doe unlesse they did beleve that those which feare not adultery may feare perjurie For indeed saith hee some unchast women which have not feared to deceive their husbands by wantonnesse have beene afraid to use God unto them as a witnesse of their chastitie When one layeth his hands upon the Gospell booke and signifieth that according as he testifieth the truth so he expecteth and desireth helpe from God and the contents of that booke he sweareth by or taketh for witnesse the everlasting word of the Lord Iesus Christ in praying for benefit by that word according as then hee beareth witnesse unto the truth To sweare therefore by the everlasting word of God is an high oath For David saith Thou hast magnified thy word n Psal 138.2 above all thy name CHAP. 74. Of Honouring the Ministery IN the Preface afore the booke of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons it is said That from the Apostles time there hath beene these orders of Ministers in Christs Church which officers were evermore in p. 18. had in such reverent estimation that no man by his owne private authority might presume to execute any of them except he were first called c. In the rubricke afore the Service for the ordering of Deacons it is said First when the day appointed by the Bishop is come there shall be an exhortation declaring the duty and office of such as come to be admitted Ministers how necessarie such orders are in the Church of Christ and also how the people ought to esteeme them in their vocation Saint Paul said to the Thessalonians Wee beseech you brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteeme them very o 1 Thes 5.12 13. highly in love for their workes sake And unto Timothy he saith Let the Elders that rulewell be counted worthy of p 1 Tim. 5.17 double honour especially they who labour in the word and doctrine And unto the Corinthians hee saith Let a man so q 1 Cor. 4.1.2 account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the mysteries of God Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithfull Iesus the sonne of Syrach saith Feare the Lord with all thy soule and r Eccsus 7.29 30 31. reverence his Priests Love him that made thee with all thy strength and forsake not his Ministers Feare the Lord and honour the Priest and give him his portion as it is commanded thee c. The Lord saith in his Law Take heed to thy selfe that thou Å¿ Deut. 12.9 forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth Saint Paul saith to the Galathians Let him that is taught in the Word t Gal. 6.6 communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things And unto Timothy he saith The labourer is u 1 Tim. 5.17 18. worthy of his reward To the Corinthians he saith The Lord hath ordained that they which preach the Gospell should w 1 Cor. 9.14 live of the Gospell It is written that Melchisedek having ministred to Abraham bread and wine and having blessed him Abraham gave him x Gen. 14.20 Tithes of all It is recorded of certaine women whom Iesus had healed of evill spirits and infirmities Mary Magdalen and Ioanna the wife of Chuza Herods Steward and Susanna and many others to have ministred unto Christ of their y Luk. 8.2 3. substance It is also written that when people went to a man of God for to receive information they caried some z 1 Sam. 9.7 8. 1 Kings 14.3 2 Kings 8.8 present with them as a token of due thankfulnesse The Ministers of Almighty God are to be a Heb. 13.17 Deut. 17.12 obeyed to bee b Hag. 2.11 Mal. 2.7 consulted with diligently to bee c Neh. 8.3 Acts 10.33 Ecclus. 8.8 9. Psal 84.10 and 121.1 heard when they teach to be credited People may not d Hos 4.4 strive with them but ought so much as they may to e 1 Cor. 16.11 preserve them from being despised and from being put in feare Also the blessing with which the Priests of God doe f Num. 6.23.24 25 26 27. Ezech. 44.30 blesse people is much to be regarded CHAP. 75. Of using the Perambulation of the Circuit of the Parish called going a Procession IN the * T. 2. p. 234. Homily an exhortation to bee spoken to such Parishes where they use their Perambulation in Rogation weeke for the oversight of the bounds and limits of their Towne it is said Although we be now assembled together good Christian people most principally to laud and thanke Almighty God for his great benefits by beholding the fields replenished with all manner of fruit to the maintenance of our corporall necessities for our food and sustenance and partly also to make our humble suits in prayers to his fatherly providence to conserve the same fruits in sending us seasonable weather whereby we may gather in the said fruits to that end for which his fatherly goodnesse hath provided them yet have we occasion secondarily given us in our walkes on those dayes to consider the old ancient bounds limits belonging to our Township and to other our neighbours bordering about us to the intent that wee should be content with our owne and not contentiously strive for others to the breach of charity by any incroching
ye seeke a proofe of Christ speaking in me He also inwardly instructeth his people as it is testified of Lydia That the Lord Å¿ Acts 16.14 opened her heart that she attended vnto the things which were spoken by Paul Also he is the foreceller of things to come as it is written t Reuel 1.1 The Reuelation of Iesus Christ which God gaue vnto him to shew vnto his seruants things which must shortly come to passe u Heb. 1.1 God saith the Apostle to the Hebrews who at sundry times and in diuerse manners spake in times past to the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last dayes spoken vnto vs by his Sonne who hath sayd w Heb 2.12 I will declare thy name vnto my brethren CHAP. 29. Of Christs Kingdome IN the third part of the * Tom. 2 p. 227. Homily for Rogation weeke it is sayd To Iesus Christ our Sauiour and Mediatour hath God the Father giuen the power of heauen and earth and the whole iurisdiction and authority to distribute his goods and gifts committed vnto him For so writeth the Apostle x Ephes 4.7 To euery one of vs is grace giuen according to the measure of Christs giuing And thereupon to execute his authority committed after that he had brought sinne and the diuell to captiuity to be no more hurtfull to his members he ascended vp to his Father againe and from thence sent liberall gifts to his well beloued seruants and hath still the power to the worlds end for to distribute his Fathers gifts continually in his Church to the establishment and comfort thereof In the first part of the * Tom. 1â— 54 Homily concerning falling from God it is sayd Whereas God hath shewed to all them that truly beleeue his Gospel his face of mercy in Iesus Christ which doth so lighten their hearts that they if they behold it as they ought to doe be transformed to his image be made partakers of the heauenly light and of his Holy Spirit and be fashioned to him in all goodnesse requisite to the children of God So if they after doe neglect the same if they be vnthankefull vnto him if they order not their liues according to his example and doctrine and to the setting forth of his glory he will take away from them his Kingdome his Holy Word whereby he should reigne in them because they bring not forth the fruite thereof that he looketh for Saint Paul sayth to the Romanes y Rom 5.20.21 The law entred that the offence might abound but where sinne abounded grace did much more abound That as sinne hath reigned vnto death euen so might grace reigne through righteousnesse vnto eternall life by Iesus Christ our Lord. z Math. 28.18 All power sayth Christ is giuen to me both in heauen and in earth Concerning his Kingdome Isaiah thus writeth a Isa 9.6.7 Vnto vs a childe is borne vnto vs a Sonne is giuen and the gouernment shall be vpon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderfull Counseller the mighty God the euerlasting Father the Prince of peace of the increase of his gouernement and peace there shall bee no ende vpon the Throne of Dauid and vpon his Kingdome to order it and to establish it with iudgement and with iustice from hencefoorth euen for euer b Rom. 14.17 The Kingdome of God saith Paul is righteousnesse peace and ioy in the Holy Ghost c Luk. 17.20.21 The Kingdome of God saith Iesus Christ commeth not with obseruation neither shall they say Loe here or Loe there for behold the Kingdome of God is within you d Psal 145.13 Thy Kingdome saith Dauid is an * Or a kingdome of all ages as in the Margent euerlasting Kingdome and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations Christ must e 1. Cor. 15.24.25 reigne saith Paul till he hath put all his enemies vnder his feete Then commeth the end when he shall haue deliuered vp the Kingdome to God euen the Father when he shall haue put downe all rule and all authority and power CHAP. 30. Of Christs mediation for his people and of the reconciliation IN the third part of the * Tom. 2. p. 228 Homily for Rogation weeke it is said God the Father of all mercy wrought the high benefit vnto vs of reconciliation not by his owne person but by a meane by no lesse meane than his onely beloued Sonne whom he spared not from any paine and trauaile that might doe vs good And in the said part of the * Page 228. Homily it is further deliuered That as by him being the euerlasting Wisedome he wrought all the world and that is contained therein so by him onely and wholy would he haue all things restored againe in heauen and in earth In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 118. Homily concerning Prayer it is sayd Whereas we must needes vse the helpe of some mediatour and intercessour let vs content our selues with him that is the true and only f Heb. 9.15 Mediatour of the new Testament namely the Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ For as Saint Iohn sayth g 1. Ioh 2.1.2 If any man sinne we haue an Aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous who is the propitiation for our sinnes And Saint Paul in his first Epistle to Timothy sayth h 1 Tim. 2.5.6 There is one God and one Mediatour betweene God and man euen the man Iesus Christ who gaue himselfe a ransome for all men to be a testimony in due time The Prophet Isaiah declaring the state of man fallen saith i Isa 59.2 Your iniquities haue separated betweene you and your God and your sinnes haue hid his face from you that he will not heare Saint Paul sheweth the Saints of Ephesus what Christs mediation had wrought for them saying k Eph. 2.13.14.15.16 But now in Christ Iesus Yee who sometimes were farre off are made nigh by the bloud of Christ For he is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken downe the middle wall of partition betweene vs hauing abolished in his flesh the enmity euen the law of commandements conteined in ordinances for to make in himselfe of twaine one new man so making peace Likewise he sayth to the Saints of Colosse l Colos 1.18 19.20 21.22.23 It pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell And hauing made peace through the bloud of his crosse by him to reconcile all things vnto himselfe by him I say whether they bee things in earth or things in heauen And you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your minde by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and vnblameable and vnreproueable in his sight If yee continue in the faith grounded and setled and be not moued away from the hope of the Gospell c. And for as much as Christ is for his people an
utterly testifie and declare in my conscience that the Kings Highnesse is the only Supreme Governour of this Realme and of all other his Highnesse Dominions and Countries as well in all spirituall or Ecclesiasticall things or causes as temporall and that no forraigne Prince person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Iurisdiction Power Superioritie Preheminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or spiritual within this Realme and therfore I doe utterly renounce forsake all forraigne Iurisdictions Powers Superiorities and Authorities and doe promise that from henceforth I shall beare faith and true allegiance to the Kings Highnesse his Heires and lawfull Successours and to my power shall assist and defend all Iurisdictions Priviledges Preheminencies and Authorities granted or belonging to the Kings Highnesse his Heires and Successors or united and annexed to the Imperiall Crowne of his Realme so helpe mee God and the Contents of this booke The Oath of Allegiance as it is expressed in the Booke intituled God and the King I A. B. doe truely and sincerely acknowledge professe testifie and declare in my conscience before God and the world that our Soveraigne Lord King Charles is lawfull and rightfull King of this Realme and of all other his Majesties Dominions and Countries and that the Pope neither of himselfe nor by any Authority by the Church and Sea of Rome or by any other meanes with any other hath any power or Authority to depose the King or to dispose any of his Majesties Kingdomes or Dominions and to authorize any forraigne Prince to invade or annoy him or his Countries or to discharge any of his Subjects of their Allegiance obedience to his Majesty or to give License or leave to any of them to beare armes raise tumults or to offer any violence or hurt to his Majesties Royall person State or Government or to any of his Majesties Subjects within his Majesties Dominions Also I doe sweare from my heart that notwithstanding any Declaration or sentence or Excommunication or deprivation made or granted or to bee made or granted by the Pope or his Successors or by any Authoritie derived or pretended to be derived from him or his Sea against the said King his Heires or Successors or any absolution of the said subjects from their obedience I will beare faith and true Allegiance to his Majesty his Heires and Successors and him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoever which shall be made against his or their persons their Crowne and dignity by reason or colour of any such sentence or declaration or otherwise and will doe my best indeavour to disclose and make knowne unto his Majesty his Heires and Successors all treasons or traiterous conspiracies which I shall know or heare of to be against him or any of them And I doe further sweare that I doe from my heart abhorre detest abjure as impious and haereticall this damnable Doctrine and position that Princes which bee excommunicated or deprived by the Pope may bee deposed or murthered by their subjects or any other whatsoever And I doe beleeve and in my conscience am resolved that neither the Pope nor any person whatsoever hath power to absolve me of this oath or any part thereof which I acknowledge by good and full authoritie to be lawfully ministred unto mee and doe renounce all pardons and dispensations to the contrary And all these things I doe plainely and sincerely acknowledge and sweare according to these expresse words by me spoken and according to the plaine and common sense and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mentall evasion or secret reservation whatsoever and I doe make this recognition and acknowledgement heartily willingly and truly upon the true faith of a Christian So helpe me God In the Collect to be read after the ten Commandements we are taught to pray That wee the subjects unto Gods chosen servant Charles our King Governour duely considering whose Authority hee hath may faithfully serve honour and humbly obey him in thee and for thee according to thy blessed word and ordinance In the second part of the * T. 1. p. 49. Homily concerning Swearing it is said Whereas Zedekias King of Hierusalem had promised fidelity to the King of Chaldea afterward when Zedekias contrary to his * 2 Chron. 36.13 Oath and Allegiance did rebell against King Nebuchodonosor This Heathen King by Gods permission and sufferance invading the Land of Iurie and besieging the City of Hierusalem compelled the said Zedekias to flee and in fleeing tooke him prisoner slew his sonnes before his face and put out both his eyes and binding him with Chains led him * 2 King 25.7 prisoner miserably into Babylon Thus doth God shew plainly how much he abhorreth breakers of honest promises bound by an Oath made in his name Concerning the Kings Soveraignty or Supremacy namely That our most dread Soveraigne Lord King Charles is the onely Supreame Governour of this Realme and of all other his Highnesse Dominions and Countries as well in all spirituall or Ecclesiasticall things or causes as temporall and that no forraigne Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any jurisdiction power superioritie preheminence or authority Ecclesiasticall or Spiritual within this Realme It is evident by considering the Prerogative of the Kings of Israel who were not subject to any forraigne jurisdiction but had the chiefe power in their Land and the chiefe government of all estates in it whether they were Ecclesiasticall or Civill and likewise in all things or causes as well Ecclesiasticall as Temporall That there was no person above or over them but God onely it is manifest by that which Salomon uttered saying x Eccles 8.4 Where the word of a King is there is power and who may say unto him what dost thou That they had power over the high priesthood yea the rule thereof Salomons y 1 King 2.26.27.55 deposing of Abiathar and the putting of Zadok in his roume is proofe sufficient For to shew the Soveraigntie of Kings over the highest degree in the ministerie or Clergie the holy Scriptures naming of a King or Prince alwaies afore the high priest is a plaine argument Moses is z Exod. 4.29 c. named afore Aaron a 1 Sam. 11.6.7 Saul afore Samuel when Saul was King b Hag. 1.14 Zerubbabel before Iosedec c. c Neh. 8.9 Nehemiah which is the * Or Governour as it is rendred in the margent Radix est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 et 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chaldaice ac Rabbinice Inde in Hiphil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 et 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 potestatemfecit concessit permisit Shindelerus refert ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 caput literà 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 omissâ Tirshatha is named afore Ezra the priest And that Tirshatha was hee that ruled matters Ecclesiasticall and said unto certaine whom likely hee had put