the uniformity of Common prayer set in the beginning thereof testifieth Also every one which entreth into the Ministery of the Church of England first subscribeth That the booke of Common prayer containeth in it nothing contrary to the Word of God and that it may lawfully so bee used and that hee himselfe will use the forme in the said booke prescribed in Publike prayer and administration of the Sacraments and none other As it is in Canon 36. That the booke of ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons is likewise ratified the six and thirtieth Article of the Religion established declareth saying The Book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops and ordering of Priests and Deacons lately set forth in the time of Edward the sixt and confirmed at the same time by Authority of Parliament doth containe all things necessarie to such Consecration and ordering neither hath it any thing that of it selfe is superstitious and ungodly And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to the Rites of that booke since the second yeare of the aforenamed King Edward unto this time or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same Rites we decree all such to be rightly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered That both the bookes of Homilies now printed in one Volume and distinguished into two Tomes are approved by the whole Clergy it is manifest by every ones subscription unto the third Article to be subscribed unto afore receiving any order or degree in the ministery whereof the words are That he alloweth the book of Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Archbishops In Canon 36. and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergie in the Convocation holden at London in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand five hundred sixtie and two and that he acknowledgeth all and every the Articles therein contained being in number nine and thirty besides the Ratification to be agreeable to the Word of God And in the five and thirtieth Article therof it is said The second booke of Homilies the severall titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth containe a godly and wholesome Doctrine and necessary for these times as doth the former booke of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the sixt and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may bee understanded of the people The Eleventh Article concerning the justification of man referreth unto the Homily of Iustification wherein the most wholesome Doctrine thereof and very full of comfort is more largly expressed In the booke of Common Prayer in the Rubrick after the Nicene Creed the Homilies are mentioned It is required that the booke of Homilies be in every Church Canon 80. And Canon 49 requireth Ministers not allowed Preachers to reade the said Homilies For the confirmation of be true saith and for thâ—â—â—â—d â—â—strâ—â—lâ—â— and 〈◊〉 disication of the people The great authority of the Homilies may also appeare out of the Titles of both Tomes of them The Title of the first Tome is Certaine Sermons or Homilies appointed to bee read in Churches in the time of the late Queene Elizabeth of famous memory And now thought fit to be reprinted by Authority from the Kings most Excellent Majesty The Title of the second is The second Tome of Homilies of such matters as were promised and entituled in the former part of Homilies set out by the Authority of the late Queenes Majesty and to be read in every Parish Church agreeably There are no writings of any Author whatsoever whereunto the Church ascribeth so much authority as to the Bookes of Divine Service having ordained them only together with the holy Scriptures to bee publikely read in every congregation of the Land Now some will say It appeareth by these relatings that great is the respect which we owe unto the said bookes of the Church but yet we are to receive no delivery in them but what we know agreeth with the Word of God In which saying of many of these times there is contained a greater defect than all doe observe therein For first by so saying they attribute not such authority as is due unto the Church their Mother they duely acknowledge not her loyalty unto Christ her Head S. Paul propoundeth the Church her fidelity or faithfull obeience to be a patterne for imitation where he saith As the Church is subject unto Christ Eph. 5.24 so let the wives bee to their owne husbands in every thing Put case that in that her fundamentall Doctrine there were some deliveries not in all respects so perfect as are the Scriptures of God our Father yet it is against her loving nature and prudence to propound unto us any matter for our hurt Yea what we suppose to be imperfect wee may make that use thereof for which it was by her intended and be much benefited thereby Secondly by that their limitation they imply that they have an ability to judge the understanding and wisdome of their mother And if they bee demanded whence they have received so great an extraordinary abilitie as to judge of their mother the Church her knowledge and Doctrine The common answer is by their reading the holy Scriptures They not seriously considering what is written in them also Acts 8.30 31. That how can one reading the holy Scriptures understand them except some man guide him Malachi 2.7 And that the Priests lips is to keepe knowledge and the people is to seeke the Law at his mouth The Clergie of the Church is to teach the common people of the same The lay people in their understanding and applying the Scriptures are to be guided by the Priesthood or Clergy And before it hath beene declared that the universall Clergy with one mouth and consent have borne witnesse That there is not any thing in the Booke of Common Prayer which is contrary to the Word of God And that the booke of Homilies doth containe a godly and wholesome Doctrine and necessary for these times to bee understanded of the people Seeing then all the guides in the Church all the ordained keepers of knowledge all such from whom the people are appointed to seeke the Law or spirituall instruction and teaching doe testifie together the truth and profitablenesse of the bookes of the Divine Service can any one justly accept against any deliverie in them unlesse he doe assume unto himselfe for to outsee the whole Clergy of the Church of England The Lord Iesus Christ hath so greatly confirmed the authority of his Church that he hath said Mat. 18.17 Whoso neglecteth to heare the Church let him or her be unto his people as an Heathen and a Publicane Wherefore it is our bounden duty most diligently to heare read and meditate on every particular delivery in those fundamentall bookes composed by the perfectest wisdome of the Church our mother and to frame our mindes and lives according to every prescription
in the same which doth in any wise concerne us And we thus honouring the Church our spirituall Mother God our heavenly Father will give us his blessing Hee will send us light in our understanding readinesse and obedience in our will discretion in our words and actions true serious and loyall indeavours As wee are taught to pray for in the latter part of the Prayet next after the Letany in the late Fast Booke for the peace and prosperity of Ierusalem the unity and glory of this Church State That so we may love it and prosper in it full of grace in this life and be filled with glorie in the life to come through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An Advertisement SInce the a 2 Tim. 3.1.2.3.4 time that b Isa 5.21 Wisedome in ones owne eyes and prudence in ones owne sight hath so much abounded it is familiar with very many when they see or heare any thing delivered concerning religion if it be a matter which they affect not presently to passe an hard censure thereon though the deliverie be the very established doctrine or discipline of the Apostolicall Church of England by Law established under the Kings Majesty The c Rom. 3.13.14 Ps 140.3 poyson of aspes is under the lips of many Who say with our d Ps 14.4.3 tongue will we prevaile our lips are our owne who is Lord over us The holy Prophet saith The Lord shall cut off the tongue that speaketh proud things The holy Apostle saith e 1 Tim. 3.16 Without controversie great is the mysterie of godlinesse And though the men of God have signified that the Holy Scriptures divinity is partly f Heb. 5.12 milke for babes or little children in g 1 Cor. 1.3 Christ partly h Heb. 5.14 strong meate for the i 1 Ioh. 2.13.14 young men and partly hidden k Rev. 2.17 Manna for the fathers in God also that naturall ones l 1 Cor. 2.14 cannot know the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned yet notwithstanding so outragious is the pride and arrogancie of many who since they came to the yeares of discretion have made no progresse in regeneration or the new birth unto the m Rom. 2.2 renewing of their mind and the amendment of their n Philip. 1.27 1 Pet. 2.12 1 Pet. 1.15 Eph. 4.22 conversation according to Gods Holy word that rashly they o 2 Pet. 2.12 will speake evill of the things which they understand not and as the Apostle saith p 1 Tim. 1.7 desire to be teachers understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirme Moreover how contrary minded soever each is to other yea how greatly different they are from the minde and life prescribed in the Divine Service of the Church whom some of them sometimes will acknowledge to be their Mother Yet each one taketh for granted that the grounds in his q Prov. 21.2 Prov. 12.15 owne minde are the right and that the grounds in all r Philip. 2.3 others mindes in any manner differing from his are the wrong and withall every one for the most part of the aforesaid unhumbled heart by his owne imagined-right groundes without any feare of the Eternall Almighty God and without any reverence unto the Supreame divine Wisedome of Christs holy Church contained in the bookes of her publike worship will s 2 Pet 2.10 presume to be able to judge of yea will assume confidence and boldnesse or rather most damnable audaciousnesse to condemne deliveries in the aforesaid bookes which the Soveraigne Majesty hath ratified and the most reverend Fathers the Archbishops and all the right reverend fathers the Bishops and the rest of the whole Clergie not any one excepted Quod medicorâ—m est promittunt â—ediâ—â— tractant Faâ—â—ilia fabri Sola Scripturarum ars est quam siâ—i passâ—â— omnes vendicant Hanc garrula anus hanc delirus seneâ— have Sophisia verâ—â—sus haâ— universi praesumant laceraâ—â— docent antequam discant Hierâ—nymus in epissola aâ—â— Pauâ—aum presbyterum de omâ—bus divine hâ—storia libris which hath entred into holy orders according to such manner and sort as by the Ecclesiasticall Law it is appointed have allowed and by subscription have witnessed the same But let the unpartiall reader of this treatise following where doubt about any matter may arise throughly consider the Holy Scriptures which either are expressed or in the margent but quoted for the confirmation of the point mentioned And let none except here against because the deliveries are in no Philosophicall method but in the most vulgar plainnes for all hereof is written for the furtherance of the laity and aswell in termes as in forme and manner accommodated unto the meanest capacity All teachers which study to edifie their auditory doe well know that it is farre easier to expresse their mindes in divine matters so as the learned may comprehend than as the unlearned may but a litle apprehend It is written concerning Christ for our example that t Mark 4.33 hee spake the word unto the people as they were able to heare it There are now extant in English sundry bookes very profitable which few of the common people doe make use of for that their style and words for the most or a great part are for Schollers reading onely Great was the divine Wisedome of the Church in setting forth her Homilies in so familiar a manner And by those most sacred Sermons all Pastours and teachers should take u 2 Tim. 1.13 example how to frame their meditations unto their auditories easiest and speediest edification Furthermore let none expect to finde any common place of divinity here fully handled but let this worke be accounted only an introduction into the bookes of the divine Service where as in an Ocean of divine truth there may bee had a great abundance of information both touching he matters ensuing and also concerning many more This book may be used as a finger of one that pointeth us unto such places as we have not throughly taken notice of afore Also the godly reader shall perceive that every one which w Mat. 5.6 hungreth and thristeth after righteousnesse to have within him more and more the x Phil. 2.5 1 Cor. 2.16 minde of Christ and to have the life of Iesus more and more made y 2 Cor. 4.10 11. manifest in his body may forth of every Chapter following receive some light unto the apprehending of everlasting truth in the matter there treated on Lastly Seeing that in the bookes of divine Service there are such heavenly sentences and speeches even as the learned are delighted in reciting the sayings of the Fathers of the Greeke Latine Churches so should wee unto z Exod. 20.12 1 Cor. 4.15 Ecclus. or Ecclesiasticus 8.8.9 due honouring of the Fathers of our owne English Church enable our selves to say on every point of divinity that which they have with one
sucke at the breasts they are borne on her sides and dandled vpon her knees Shee feedeth them with t 1. Cor 3.2 milke first afterward with stronger meate she nourisheth cherisheth and bringeth them vp vntill they become to be u Col. 1.28 perfect in Iesus Christ The Church of England our mother hath in her Booke of Common Prayer as Iohn the Baptist w Luke 11.1 taught his Disciples to pray set foorth vnto vs formes of prayer and thankes giuing for vs to vse and for our better information how to speake vnto the great God of heauen and earth And in her booke of Homilies she hath deliuered a x 2. Tim. 1.13 2. Tim. 2.2 forme of wholesome Doctrine in faith and loue to be publikely read vnto her members And saith Paul to Timothy Hold fast the forme of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and loue which which is in Christ Iesus Most memorable is that saying of his vnto the Philippians Finally brethren y Phil. 4.8 whatsoeuer things are true whatsoeuer things are honest whatsoeuer things are iust whatsoeuer things are pure whatsoeuer things are louely whatsoeuer things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there bee any praise thinke on these things And what he sayth to the Romanes is considerable Yee haue obeyed from the heart that * Rom 6.17 forme of doctrine which was deliuered you CHAP. 41. Of the Ceremonies of the Church of England in generall IN the Treatise of Ceremonies why some be abolished and some retained set afore the Common Prayer it is said Of such Ceremonies as bee used in the Church and have had their beginning by the institution of man some at the first were of Godly intent and purpose devised c. Other there bee which although they have beene devised by man yet it is thought good to reserve them still as wel for a decent order in the Church for the which they were first devised as because they appertaine unto z 1 Cor. 10.31 and 14.12 Rom. 14.19 edification whereunto all things done in the Church as the Apostle teacheth ought to bee referred And although the keeping or omitting of a Ceremonie in it selfe considered is but a small thing Yet the wilfull and contemptuous transgression and breaking of a common order and discipline is no small offence before God a 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done among you saith Saint Paul in a seemely and due order The appointment of the which order pertaineth not to b Hag. 1.14 2 King 18.4 2 Chron. 34.3 4 5 6 7. 17.6 private men therefore no man ought to take in hand nor to presume to appoint or alter any publike or common order in Christs Church except hee be lawfully called and authorized thereunto In the said Preface it is afterward said Christs Religion is content onely with those Ceremonies which doe serve to a decent order and Godly discipline and such as bee apt to stirre up the dull minde of man to the c Num. 15.38.39.40 remembrance of his dutie to God by some notable speciall signification whereby hee might be edified c. But now as concerning those persons which peradventure will bee offended for that some of the old Ceremonies are retained still If they consider that without some Ceremonies it is not possible to keepe any order or quiet discipline in the Church they shall easily perceive just cause to reforme their judgements And if they thinke much that any of the old remaine and would rather have all devised anew then such men granting some Ceremonies convenient to bee had surely where the old may bee well used there they cannot reasonably reproove the old onely for their age without bewraying their owne folly For in such a case they ought rather to have reverence unto them for their antiquity if they will declare themselves to be more studious of d Eph 4.3 unity and concord than of innovations and new fanglenesse which as much as may be with the true setting forth of Christs Religion is alwayes to be eschewed And saith the Church afterward in these our doings wee e Rom. 14.4.13 Luke 6.17 condemne no other Nations nor prescribe any thing but to our owne People onely For wee thinke it convenient that every Country should use such Ceremonies as they shall thinke best to the setting forth of Gods honour and glory and to the reducing of the People to a most * The end why the Apostolical Church of England useth Ceremoniâ—â— perfect and Godly living without errour or superstition Also in the Act for the uniformity of Common Prayer set afore the beginning thereof it is said If there shall happen any contempt or irreverence to be used in the Ceremonies or Rites of the Church by the misusing of the orders appointed in this Booke the Q. Majestie may by the like advise of the said Commissioners or Metropolitane ordaine publish such further ceremonies or rites as may be most for the advancement of Gods glory the edifying of his Church and the due reverence of Christs holy Mysteries and Sacraments That the Church hath power to ordaine Ceremonies signifying good things not onely that saying of Salomon f Prov. 6.20.23 Forsake not the Law of thy mother for her Law is a light prooveth it but the example of the Reubenites Gadites and the halfe Tribe of Manasseh in their building an Altar whereunto they had no precept in the Law of Moses who when they were accused by others of the children of Israel to have committed a trespasse against the God of Israel to have turned away from following the Lord in building an Altar which hee had not commanded in Moses law answered g Ios 12. â—2 c. We have not built it in rebellion nor in transgression against the Lord to turne from following the lord or to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering or peace offerings but rather have done it for feare of this thing saying In time to come your children might speake unto our children saying what have you to doe with the Lord God of Israel For the Lord hath made Iordan a border betweene us and you c. Wee have built it that it may be a witnes betweene us and you and our generations after us that wee might doe the service of the Lord c. Which answer when Phinehas the Priest heard hee said h Ios 22.30 31 32 33 34. This day wee perceive that the Lord is among us because yee have not committed this trespasse against the Lord. And the children of Reuben and Gad called the Altar Ed For it shall bee a witnesse betweene us that the Lord is God Had not Ionadab the sonne of Rechab power to command his sonnes to i Ier. 35.6 7 8 9 10. drinke no wine to build no house nor sow seed nor plant Vineyard nor have any but all their dayes to dwell in tents And was
heare sermons And if they duely hearken unto the Homilies read in their Parish Church they in part doe their duty concerning hearing sermons For the Homilies are nothing else but * And so are often named in the booke of Homilies sermons And yet they are such sermons as are not made by any private spirit but by the publike spirit of the Church and are allowed by the whole Clergy of the same In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 265. Homily of repentance it is said Wee must bee diligent to read and heare the Scriptures and the Word of God which most lively doe paint out before our eyes our naturall uncleannesse and the enormity of our sinfull life For unlesse wee have a through feeling of our sinnes how can it bee that we should earnestly be sory for them Afore n 2 Sam. 12.7 c. David did heare the word of the Lord by the mouth of the Prophet Nathan what heavinesse I pray you was in him for the adultery and the murder that he had committed So that it might be said right wel that he slept in his owne sin We read in the Acts of the Apostles that when the people had heard the sermon of Peter they were compunct o Act. 2.37 pricked in their hearts Which thing would never have been if they had not heard that wholesome sermon of Peter They therfore that have no p Ier. 5.9 and 2.13 mind at all neither to read nor yet to heare Gods Word there is but small hope of them that they will as much as once set their feet or take hold upon the first staffe or step of this Ladder of repentance but rather will sinke deeper and deeper into the bottomlesse pit of perdition Besides the Sermons the Homilies the Church willeth us to heare other also such as are made by Preachers lawfully licensed and are preached according to the Law of the Church also The constitutions and * Canons Ecclesiasticall require Every beneficed man Canon 46. that is not allowed to bee a Preacher to procure sermons to be preached in his Cure once in every moneth at the least by Preachers lawfully licensed if his living in the judgement of the Ordinary will be able to beare it And upon every Sunday when there shall not bee a sermon preached in his Cure he or his Curate shall reade some one of the Homilies prescribed As the Ordinary disposeth unto every Parish concerning preaching so is every Parishioner to rest contented therewith The true Christian religion doth not totally consist in the q Iam. 1.22 23 24 25. Mat. 7.24 25 26 27. hearing of sermons preached every Sunday Christs Kingdome of grace as the Apostle Paul hath delivered is not in r 1 Cor. 4.20 word but in power It is Å¿ Rom. 14.17 18 19. righteousnesse and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace things wherwith one may edifie another That Counsell given by Iesus the sonne of Syrach is in no wise to bee neglected t Ecclus. 8.9 When a sermoÌ„ is made every person of that Parish ought to be present at it if he may Misse not the discourse of the Elders for they also learned of their fathers and of them thou shalt learne understanding to give answer as need requireth but as the Apostle saith u 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done decently and according to order A devout person may heare as many sermons preached as hee can but so as he transgresseth no law of the Church therby For if he doth transgresse the Ecclesiasticall law by his going abroad to heare sermons preached if he offendeth the Pastour or Curate over him if he by absenting himselfe from his Parish Church be a scandall to those of his Parish then is his hearing of sermons preached in other Parish Churches but as Sauls sacrifice unto whom Samuels saying is worthy of perpetuall memory w 1 Sam. 15.22 23. Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt Offerings and Sacrifices as in obeying the voyce of the Lord behold to obey is better than Sacrifice and to hearken then the fat of Rammes For rebellion is as the sinne of Witchcraft and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Symmacbus vertit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stubborne ones are Idolaters in that they worship or follow their owne minde and will and refuse to follow the minde and will of Christ and his Church See Ezek. 14.4 5 6. stubbornnesse is as iniquity and Idolatry The Gospell of Iesus Christ commandeth thus x 1 Pet. 2.13 Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake y Rom. 13.1 2. Let every soule be subject unto the higher powers for there is no power but of God The powers that be are ordained of God Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Wherefore Paul said unto Titus Bishop of the Church of the Cretians z Tit. 3.1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers to obey Magistrates to bee ready to every good worke Saint Paul also said to the Christians a Phil. 3.17 Brethren bee followers together of me and marke them which walke so as ye have us for an ensample Who said most remarkeably b 1 Cor. 9.19.20 21 22 23. Though I be free from all men yet have I made my selfe servant unto all that I might gaine the more And unto the Iewes I became as a Iew that I might gaine the Iewes To them that are under the law as under the law that I might gaine them that are under the law To them that are without law as without law being not without law to God but under the law to Christ that I might gaine them that are without law To the weake became I as weake that I might gaine the weake I am made all things to all men that I might by all meanes save some And this I doe for the Gospels sake or as Saint Peter saith for the c 1 Pet. 2 1â—1 Lords sake who hath commanded all that would be his people for to obey every Ordinance of man that is not contrary to the everlasting OrdinaÌ„ces of his holy Gospell Such as breake the order of the Church where they live in contemning or neglecting the Divine service there under pretence of conscience unto hearing of the Word preached would they conscionably but consider of matters they might by the grace of God see their aberration It is preaching that they cry out for Let them marke what is said in the Acts Moses of old time hath in every Citie them that preach him being d Act. 15.1 read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day Doth not the Apostle signifie in those his words that in reading of
consent out of their farre most profound judgements delivered unto us in an incomparable divine manner A Table of the CHAPTERS in generall CHAP. 1 THat there is a God PAG. 1 CHAP. 2 That there is a Trinity in the Godhead PAG. 3 CHAP. 3 Of God the Father PAG. 4 CHAP. 4 Of God the Sonne PAG. 5 CHAP. 5 Of God the Holy Ghost PAG. 7 CHAP. 6 Of certaine Attributes unto God PAG. 9 CHAP. 7 Of the Creation of the World and of the Angels in speciall PAG. 13 CHAP. 8 Of the Creation of Man and of his estate in Innocencie PAG. 15 CHAP. 9 Of Mans falling from God and of the Misery of mankinde thereby PAG. 16 CHAP. 10 Of Gods Calling Mankind PAG. 18 CHAP. 11 Of Iustification PAG. 19 CHAP. 12 Of the true and liuely Faith PAG. 22 CHAP. 13 Of the Faith in the People of God which lived afore the Incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ ever since the fall PAG. 25 CHAP. 14 Of the Arke which Noah built and of other things in the Storie of the Old Testament PAG. 27 CHAP. 15 Of Circumcision PAG. 29 CHAP. 16 Of the Calling of Moses PAG. 31 CHAP. 17 Of the Passeover PAG. 33 CHAP. 18 Of the Law given by Moses PAG. 35 CHAP. 19 Of the Tabernacle and Temple of the Iewes PAG. 38 CHAP. 20 Of St. Iohn Baptists Preaching PAG. 40 CHAP. 21 Of the Holy Incarnation and Nativitie of our Lord Iesus Christ PAG. 42 CHAP. 22 Of Christs death PAG. 45 CHAP. 23 Of the Resurrection and Ascension of Iesus Christ PAG. 47 CHAP. 24 Of the Comming downe of the Holy Ghost PAG. 49 CHAP. 25 Of the Merite of Redemption wrought by Christ PAG. 54 CHAP. 26 Of the end for which Iesus Christ Redeemed Mankinde and who of yeares of discretion of perfect age partake of the merit of the same Redemption PAG. 56 CHAP. 27 Of Christs Priest-hood PAG. 63 CHAP. 28 Of Christs Prophetship PAG. 64 CHAP. 29 Of Christs Kingdome PAG. 66 CHAP. 30 Of Christs Mediation for his People and of the Reconciliation PAG. 68 CHAP. 31 Of Christs Iudging Mankinde PAG. 70 CHAP. 32 Of the Church of Christ PAG. 74 CHAP. 33 Of the Ministerie which Christ appointed in his Church in generall PAG. 77 CHAP. 34 Of Deacons PAG. 78 CHAP. 35 Of Priests PAG. 80 CHAP. 36 Of the Bishopricke that it is a degree aboue the Priest-hood and so ordained to be by Iesus Christ PAG. 82 CHAP. 37 Of the Distinction or disparitie among Bishops or of Arch-Bishopricke PAG. 85 CHAP. 38 Of the Prophetship that every kinde thereof is not ceased PAG. 90 CHAP. 39 Of Lord-ship which Arch-Bishops Bishops have PAG. 93 CHAP. 40 Of the Lyturgie or Divine Service of the Church in generall PAG. 94 CHAP. 41 Of the Ceremonies of the Church of England in generall PAG. 97 CHAP. 42 Of Wearing a Surplesse PAG. 101 CHAP. 43 Of the due Celebration of Sundayes and other times required by the Church to be kept holy PAG. 104 CHAP. 44 Of Prayer Thanksgiving and Confession unto God in publike and in private PAG. 111 CHAP. 45 Of Singing Psalmes and Spirituall Songs in publike in private also of singing with Musicke PAG. 116 CHAP. 46 Of the publike reading of the Holy Scriptures as also of the Homilies and of making an Exhortation in publike PAG. 119 CHAP. 47 Of Expounding the Scriptures and of Preaching also of Peoples hearing Sermons PAG. 124 CHAP. 48 Of Peoples reading the Holy Scriptures in private and of meanes helping to the Vnderstanding of thē PAG. 132 CHAP. 49 Of Reading the Bookes in the Bible which are called writings Apocrypha PAG. 142 CHAP. 50 Of the Peoples learning the most Sacred Catechisme of the Church which is in the Booke of Common Prayer PAG. 144 CHAP. 51 Of Baptisme PAG. 147 CHAP. 52 Of Godfathers and Godmothers PAG. 150 CHAP. 53 Of the signe of the Crosse made on the fore-head of the Child having received Baptisme PAG. 152 CHAP. 54 Of Confirmation commonly called Bishopping PAG. 154 CHAP. 55 Of the Holy Communion or the Sacrament of the and Blood of Iesus Christ PAG. 158 CHAP. 56 Of preparing ones selfe for to receive worthily the Holy Sacrament PAG. 166 CHAP. 57 Of Kneeling in the Act of Receiving the Sacrament PAG. 168 CHAP. 58 Of Matrimonie PAG. 170 CHAP. 59 Of the Ring used in the Solemnization of Matrimonie PAG. l72 CHAP. 60 Of thankesgiving of women after Child-birth commonly called the Churching of Women PAG. 173 CHAP. 61 Of Combination or Denouncing Gods Curse due unto sinners which will not Repent or doe neglect the same PAG. 175 CHAP. 62 Of Excommunication PAG. 177 CHAP. 63 Of Confession and Absolution in particular manner PAG. 180 CHAP. 64 Of Penance PAG. 184 CHAP. 65 Of Visiting the Sicke PAG. 187 CHAP. 66 Of the Communion of the Sicke PAG. 189 CHAP. 67 Of the Buriall of the Dead PAG. 191 CHAP. 68 Of the Reverence to be done to Almighty God in his Worship PAG. 193 CHAP. 69 Of Good Workes in generall PAG. 202 CHAP. 70 Of the Kings Soveraigntie and of bearing faith and true Allegiance to his Majestie his Heires and Successors PAG. 207 CHAP. 71 Of Submission to all Powers inferiour to the Kings Majestie PAG. 214 CHAP. 72 Of Magestrates duties in generall PAG. 217 CHAP. 73 Of Swearing PAG. 220 CHAP. 74 Of Honouring the Ministerie PAG. 224 CHAP. 75 Of Vsing the Perambulation of the Circuit of the Parish called Going a Procession PAG. 226 CHAP. 76 Of Almes-deedes PAG. 230 CHAP. 77 Of Fasting PAG. 233 CHAP. 78 Of Conversion Repentance and Regeneration PAG. 239 CHAP. 79 Of our Duty towards God as it is delivered in the most sacred Catechisme PAG. 249 CHAP. 80 Of our Duty towards our Neighbour as it is expressed in most divine manner in the Catechisme also PAG. 260 CHAP. 81 Of the Duty of the Husband unto his wife and of the Duty of the wife unto her husband PAG. 266 CHAP. 82 Of the Duty of Parents toward their children and of children towards their Parents likewise of Masters and Dames to their servants and of servants to their Masters and Dames PAG. 272 CHAP. 83 of the foure Princiall vertues PAG. 279 CHAP. 84 Of the seeven gifts of Grace PAG. 282 CHAP. 85 Of Sundry fruits of the Holy Spirit PAG. 287 CHAP. 86 Of Sundry other Vertues prescribed in the Divine Service PAG. 294 CHAP. 87 Of Satisfaction for wrong done in word or deede PAG. 306 CHAP. 88 Of Forgiving others the wrongs which they have done to us in word or deede PAG. 309 CHAP. 89 Of Examining and judging our owne selves PAG. 313 CHAP. 90 Of Seeking Gods Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof PAG. 320 CHAP. 91 Of the Christian Vnite PAG. 326 CHAP. 92 Of Growing in the Christian faith and the Christian life PAG. 333 CHAP. 93 Of the Devill PAG. 343 CHAP. 94 Of the seven deadly Sinnes PAG. 350 CHAP. 95 Of Sundry other Sinns PAG. 360 CHAP. 96 Of the Sinne against
and 15.20 21. Miriam the Prophetesse the sister of Aaron tooke a Timbrell in her hand and all the women went out after her with Timbrels and with daunces And Miriam answered them Sing yee to the Lord c. Singing the same song as did Moses and the Children of Israel And Saint Iohn in the Revelation foretelling the actions of Christs Church to come to passe saith q Rev. 15.2 3. I saw as it were a Sea of glasse mingled with fire and them that had gotten the victory over the Beast and over his Image and over his marke and over the number of his name stand on the sea of glasse having the Harpes of God And they sung the song of Moses c. see Revel 14 2 3 4 5. and 5.8 and 1 Cor. 14.7.26 and from thence and other Scriptures it is manifest that Christian people have used musicke in praising the name of the Lord and there is not in the whole Bible any manner of mention concerning abolishing of the same CHAP. 46. Of the publike reading of the holy Scriptures as also the Homilies and of making an Exhortation in publike IN the Preface afore the Common prayer it is said The ancient fathers for a great advancement of godlinesse so ordered the matter that all the whole Bible or the greatest part thereof should be read over once every yeare intending thereby that the Clergy and especially such as were Ministers of the Congregation should by often reading and meditation of Gods Word be stirred up to godlinesse themselves and be more able to exhort others by wholesome doctrine and to confute them that were adversaries to the truth And further that the people by dayly hearing of holy Scripture read in the Church should continually profit more and more in the knowledge of God and be the more inflamed with the love of his true religion What care hereto our fathers have had may appeare out of the sacred Kalender and out of the order how the Psalter is appointed to be read and out of the order how the rest of the holy Scripture beside the Psalter is appointed to be read all which are set before the Common prayer It is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles that at Antioch in Pisidia in the Synagogue on the Sabbath day there was the Å¿ Act. 13.15 reading of the Law and the Prophets In another place it is said Moses of old time hath in every City them that preach him being t Act. 15. â—1 read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day Saint Paul saith to the Colossians When this Epistle is read amongst you cause that it be u Col. 4.16 read also in the Church of the Laodiceans and that yee likewise read the Epistle from Laodicea Of reading the Homilies Concerning reading the Homilies the Sermons set forth by the publike authoritie of the Church in the Preface published afore them it is said Considering how necessary it is that the Word of God which is the onely food of the soule and that most excellent light that we must walke by in this our most dangerous pilgrimage at all convenient times be preached unto the people that thereby they may both learne their duty towards God their Prince and their neighbours according to the minde of the Holy Ghost expressed in the Scriptures and also to avoide the manifold enormities which heretofore by false doctrine have crept into the Church of God and how that all they which are appointed Ministers have not the gift of preaching sufficiently to instruct the people which is committed unto them whereof great inconveniences might rise and ignorance still be maintained if some honest remedy be not speedily found and provided The Queenes most excellent Majestie tendering the sole health of her loving subjects the quieting of their coÌ„sciences in the chiefe principall points of Christian religion and willing also by the true setting forth and pure declaring of Gods Word which is the principal guide leader runto all godlines and vertue to expell drive away as well all corrupt vicious and ungodly living as also erroneous and poysoned doctrines tending to superstition and Idolatry hath by the advise of her most honourable Counsellors for her discharge in this behalfe caused a booke of Homilies which heretofore was set forth by her most loving brother a Prince of most worthy memorie Edward the sixt to bee printed anew wherein are contained certaine wholesome and godly exhortations to move the people to honour and worship Almighty God and diligently to serve him every one according to their degree state vocation And in the latter part of the Preface it is said That all her people of what degree or condition soever they be may learne how to invocate and call upon the name of God and know what duty they owe both to God and man so that they may pray beleeve and worke according to knowledge while they shall live here and after this life bee with him that with his blood hath bought us all And at the end of the first Tome of the Homilies it is said concerning the Homilies of the second Tome Hereafter shall follow sermons of fasting praying almesdeeds c. with many other matters as well fruitfull as necèssarie to the edifying of Christian people and the increase of godly living From al which aforesaid delivery it is most manifest that the one only end why the reverend Fathers and the most learned Doctors of the Church composed the sermons commonly called Homilies was for the edification of the congregations in holinesse and righteousnesse and for a helpe unto Ministers that with the said sacred sermons the people committed to their charge might be the more instructed in the faith and life of the true Christian religion As therefore we have received from our fathers the CommoÌ„ prayer as a forme of prayer thanksgiving and confession so ought wee not to receive from our fathers hands their booke of Sermons the Homilies as a forme of wholesome words in faith and love which is in Christ Iesus Saint Paul charged Timothy to hold fast the w 2 Tim. 1.13 Rom. 6.17 forme of sound words which he had heard of him in faith and love which is in Christ Iesus Let any one unpartially weigh every particular sentence in the booke of Homilies and there will appeare nothing but Christian faith and godly love intended and held forth therein Moreover ought wee reverently to heare the Sermons of such as bee but young Students in Divinity and ought we not with great reverence to attend unto the Homilies the Sermons set forth by the chiefest Divines in the whole Church of our Land We ought not to be partiall towards the established Doctrine of our Church We commonly ascribe great authoritie unto the spirit of the Church accounting her Common prayer profitable for us to pray with unto Almighty God We ascribe great authoritie unto the spirit of the Church accounting her translation of the
is Christ and the head of woman is the man and the head of Christ is God Every man praying or prophecying having his head k 1 Cor. 11.2.3.4.7 Turpia vitiosaque legi debent bonesta contrà et vitio carentia detegiac ostendi Quod si vir operto capite preces agit ostendit suum caput esse vitiosum et preinde tegendum Atqui viri caput Christus est qui vitij est expers Itaque debet viri caput detegi quò Christum qui viri caput est vitij expertem esse indicetur Mulâ—eris verò caput vir est qui cuÌ„ sit nocens et vitiosus debet mulier suuÌ„ caput tegere Haec quidam anonymus Of the gesture to be used in prayer covered dishonoureth his head But every woman that prayeth or prophecieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head For man indeed ought not to cover his head forasmuch as hee is the Image and glory of God But the woman is the glory of the man It is written that the Lord Iesus l Luke 22.41 kneeled downe and prayed So m Acts. 7.60 did Saint Stephen when hee prayed though stones then were throwne against him where through hee presently died c. Peter n Acts. 9.40 kneeled downe and prayed c. Paul o Acts. 20.36 and 21.5 kneeled downe and prayed c. And Davids saying is which is appointed to bee read on every Sunday morning O come let us worship and fall downe and p Psal 95.6 Of the gesture to be used wheÌ„ the confession of Faith and the Gospel for the day is read kneele before the Lord our maker Moreover concerning the reverence done by standing up when we make confession of our Faith it is to be considered that then to sit is altogether unseemely because it is as it were a speaking unto God And sitting is no gesture of reverence When any civill person goeth unto his superiour and declareth any matter unto him hee will doe it standing And thus to demeane our selves in speaking to our superiours wee are taught even by the very light of q 1 Cor. 11.14 Thereout Balaam willed Balak to rise up Therupon Eglon arose up out of his seate nature Ought wee not then when wee make confession of our faith unto our God to stand up reverently We read not in Scripture of any that spake unto God sitting but either kneeling or standing or fallen downe on the face as * Gen. 17.17 18. Abraham did Kneeling commonly when they prayed and standing in making confession or profession It is recorded of King Salomon that hee and all the Congregation r 1 King 8.14.22.55 stood whiles hee confessed or made acknowledgement of the goodnesse of God towards them and blessed the name of the Lord. And afterward when he fell to prayer it appeareth hee s 1 King 8.54 kneeled on his knees It is also written that Abraham t Gen. 18.22 Gen. 19.27 stood before the Lord whiles he spake unto him Very many are the Scriptures which mention the gesture of standing before the Lord in speaking unto his Omnipotent Majestie Whereas also the Church prescribeth That when the Lord Iesus shall bee mentioned due and lowly reverence shall bee done by all persons present as it hath beene accustomed testifying by these outward Ceremonies and gestures their inward humility c. It is to bee understood that not onely all are to bow the knee when the Lord Iesus is mentioned in saying the Beleefe but also in the reading of the holy Gospell when as the the Lord Iesus is mentioned therein For which cause that people may then performe that reverence unto the Lord Iesus is it not requisite that all stand up whiles the Gospell which is in the divine Service is in reading And that people are to stand up in hearing the speciall messages from Almighty God not a few Scriptures doe teach Of standing up when the Gospel for the day is read When Ehud came to king Eglon as he was sitting in a Summer Parlour Ehud said I have a message from God unto thee And the King u Iudg. 3.20 arose out of his seat Why is it written that he rose up but for our learning that when we heare the Gospell which the Church hath upon specical consideration for the day appointed to be read we should stand up and then may make due and lowly reverence Of bowing the knee when the Lord Iesus is mentioned when the w Phil. 2.9 10 11. Rom 14.11 Isa 45.23 Ephes 3.14 Ioh. 5.22.23 Psal 72.9 and 95.6 Lord Iesus shall be mentioned as it hath beene accustomed The word Gospell in the originall signifieth a good or joyfull message It is written in the booke of Samuel That as Samuel and Saul were going downe to the end of the City Samuel said unto Saul Bid the servant passe on before us and he passed on but x 1 Sam. 9.27 stand thou still a while that I may shew thee the Word of God Hee doth not bid him sit still a while whiles he delivered to him the speciall message The Prophet Isaiah saith unto women when they were to heare his speciall delivery unto them from the Lord y Isa 32.9 Rise up ye women that are at ease heare my voice ye carelesse daughters give eare unto my speech Rising up in the hearing of a matter published is a token of the more carefull attention thereunto It is recorded that when Ezra opened the booke for to read all the people z Neh. 8.5 stood up Even very nature taught the heathen when any message was said to bee published unto them as from God that they were to stand up in hearing of it Wherupon Balaam said unto King Balak a Num. 23.18 Rise up Balak and heare hearken unto me thou sonne of Zippor Against sleeping in the Church in time of Gods publike worship Furthermore people ought not to sleepe whiles the publike worship of God is in performing no not in hearing an Homily or Sermon It is recorded by Saint Luke for our learning that when Christ preached the eyes of all that were in the Synagogue were b Luke 4.20 fastned on him And the judgement that befell c Act. 20.7 8 9 10. Entychus sleeping whiles Paul preached is written also for our admonition It is also remarkable what is said in the first part of the * T. 1. p. 53. Homily How dangerous a thing it is to fall from God Whosoever is occupied with fables and tales when the Word of God rehearsed Of attentive harkening to the publike worship he is turned from God Whosoever in time of reading Gods Word is carefull in his minde of worldly businesse of mony or of lucre he is turned from God whosoever is intangled with the cares of possessions filled with the covetousnesse of riches whosoever studieth for the glory and honour of this world he is turned from God So that
able to make the like vnlesse by some measure of speciall illumination from Gods Holy Spirit as many vnderstanding ones do now thinke yea and affirme And if the Heauen mentioned in the Booke of the Reuelation which is commaunded or exhorted to q Acts 18.20 reioyce ouer Babylon fallen be the reformed Church of Christ as some do expound it Is it not probable that the Apostles which are there willed to reioyce with that Heauen are the Archbishops and Bishops therein and * By putting part or the chiefe for the whole or all figuratiuely the rest of the Clergie thereof And that the Prophets there willed also to reioyce are all such as then receiued a speciall enlightening from Almighty God vnto the setting forward of the reformation and among them more especially such as were composers of the aforenamed bookes of the sacred Liturgy of the Church of England CHAP. 39. Of Lordship which Archbishops and Bishops haue IT is written that Å¿ Heb. 7.1.2 Melchisedec Priest of the high God was withall King of Salem or Ierusalem Abraham was a t Gen. 20.7 Prophet and withall a man of great u Gen. 14.14 15 temporall power Moses was a w Deut. 34.10 prophet and withall the supreme x Acts 7 35. Num. 26.16.17 Gouernour of the people of Israel vnder Almighty God He is called a King Deut. 33.5 Iethro was y Exod. 3.1 Priest of Midian and according to some interpretation he was z Exod. 2.16 in the Margent Sicautem Caldaeus Paraphrastes vertit viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prince of Midian Eli was Priest and also a 1. Sam. 4.18 Iudge ouer Israel Samuel was a b Acts 13.20 Prophet and also c 1 Sam. 7.6 Iudge ouer Israel Dauid was a d Mat 27 35. Prophet and King also Solomon was a e Eccles 1.1 Preacher and a King also Simon was f Ecclus. 50.1 high Priest and g 1. Mac. 13.42 1. Mac. 14.47 Captaine and Gouernour of the Priests and Iewes and defender of them all If then some of the Ministery haue bin the supreme Gouernours in Nations may they not now be Gouernours if the Royall Maiestie so ordaine them Saint Iude calleth those persons h Iude 18. filthy dreamers which doe despise dominion and speake euill of dignities CHAP. 24. Of the Liturgie or Diuine Seruice of the Church in generall IN the second part of the * Tom. 2. p. 6. Homily concerning the right vse of the Church the publike Seruice of the Lord is sayd to be The teaching and hearing of his Holy Word the calling vpon his holy Name the giuing thankes vnto him for his great and innumerable benefits and the due ministring of the Sacraments In the * T. 2. p. 138. Homily of Common Prayer and Sacraments it is sayd That Basilius Magnus and Iohannes Chrysostomus did in their time prescribe publike orders of publike administration which they call Liturgies and in them they appointed the people to answere vnto the prayer of the Minister sometime Amen sometime Lord haue mercy vpon vs sometime And with thy Spirit and We haue our hearts lifted vp vnto the Lord c. In the same * To. 2. p. 134. Homily it is also sayd By the histories of the Bible it appeareth that publike and common Prayer is most auaileable before God and therefore is much to be lamented that it is no better * Euen shortly after that the Diuine Seruice was set foorth the Diuell wrought in many people a more and more neglecting of it esteemed among vs which professe to be but one body in Christ It is said in the Preface before the Common Prayer That the first original and ground of the diuine Seruice of a man would search out by the ancient Fathers he shall finde that the same was not ordained but of a good purpose and for a great aduancement of godlinesse c. Saint Paul sayd vnto Timothy i 1. Tim. 2.1.2.3 I exhort that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giuing of thankes be made for all men for Kings and for all that are in authority that we may leade a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Sauiour Moses from the Lord prescribed vnto Aaron and vnto his sonnes a forme of blessing the people saying k Num. 6.23.24.25.26 On this wise yee shall blesse the children of Israel saying vnto them The Lord blesse thee and keepe the The Lord make his face shine vpon thee and be gracious vnto thee The Lord lift vp his countenance vpon thee and giue thee peace It is very considerable hereto that which is written of King Hezekiah in the booke of Chronicles That he and the Princes commanded the Leuites to sing praise vnto the Lord l 2. Chro. 29.30 with the words of Dauid and of * With the wordes also which Asaph deliuered which were as a Forme of praise or of praising God Asaph the Seer My sonne sayth m Pro. 1.8.9 Solomon heare the instruction of thy Father and forsake not the lawe of thy Mother For they shall be an ornament of grace vnto thine head and chaines about thy necke Solomon repeateth this precept of God to the ende wee may take it all vnto heart as a matter most greatly concerning vs. n Pro 6.21 22.23 My sonne keepe thy Fathers commandement and forsake not the law of thy Mother Binde them continually vpon thine heart and tye them about thy necke For the commandement is a Lampe and the law is light o Haeresi septua gesima qâ—inta contra Aâ—â—â—um de quâ—busâ—am traditionibus loquens Ecclesia inquit necessariò hoc persâ—eâ—â— traditione à patribus accepta Quis autem poterit statutum nâ—atâ—â—s dissoluâ—re aut legem patris velut Solomon dicit Audi fili sermonem patris tui ne repud es statuta matris tuae ostendens per hoc quòd in scriptis sine scripto dacuit pater hoc est Deus vnigenâ—tus spiritus sancius Mater autem nosira Ecclesia babet statuta in se posita indissolâ—â—bil a quae dâ—solui non possunt Epiphanius an ancient holy Father vnderstandeth by the word mother in this Scripture to be meant the Church who hath besides the holy Scriptures the Commandement of God our Father a distinct law teaching or instruction the which all her members are bound to obserue most diligently by vertue of this charge thereto giuen by God through the ministery of Solomon The Christian Church is our mother if God bee our Father as it is written Ierusalem which is aboue is free which is the p Gal. 4.26 mother of vs all God ordinarily begetteth none without his Church but in the q Psal 110.3 wombe of his Church they are conceiued thence they come to the r Isa 66.8.9 birth they Å¿ Isa 66.11.12
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
after Saint Origens mind Whosoever hath not a d Luke 8.18 speciall mind to that thing that is commanded or taught of God he that doth not listen unto it embrace and print it in his heart to the intent that he may duly e Mat. 7.24 Iam. 1.22 23 24 25. fashion his life thereafter he is plainly turned from God although he doe other things of his owne devotion and minde which to him seeme better and more to Gods honour It is to be considered that teaching by Sermon or Homily is a part of Gods publike worship and therefore all are to demeane themselves with due reverence in hearing the same That publike teaching is a worship of God it may appeare out of Christs words saying They f Mat. 15.9 worship me in vaine teaching for doctrines the commandements of men In which words Christ signifieth that such doe worship him unto good purpose which teach for doctrines Gods Commandements Also that * Yea also it is plainely signified in the first part of the sacred Homily concerning the right use of the Church T. 2. p. 6. where it is said The Temple or Church is the house of the Lord for that the Service of the Lord as teaching and hearing of his holy Word calling upon his holy name giving thanks to him for his great and innumerable benefits and due ministring of his sacraments is there used preaching is a part of Gods publike worship and so to be accounted by all true Christians and to be heard with all due reverence it is manifest out of the Act of Parliament set in the beginning of the booke of Common Prayer where it is said All and every person and persons inhabiting within this Realme or any other the Kings Majesties dominions shall diligently and faithfully having no lawfull or reasonable excuse to be absent endeavour themselves to resort to their Parish Church or Chappell accustomed or upon reasonable let thereof to some usuall place where common Praier and such Service of God shal be used in such time of let upon every Sunday and other dayes ordained and used to bee kept as holy dayes and then and there to abide orderly and soberly during the time of Common Prayer Preachings or other Service of God there to be used and ministred upon paine of punishment by the censures of the Church CHAP. 69. Of good workes in generall IN the Collect appointed to bee read on the 17. Sunday after Trinity it is said Lord we pray thee That thy grace may alwayes prevent and follow us and make us continually to be given to all good works through Iesus Christ our Lord. In the second part of the * T. 1. p. 55. Homily concerning falling from God it is said By these threatnings meaning such as Isaiah mentioneth in his fift Chapter wee are monished and warned that if we which are the chosen vineyard of God bring not forth good grapes that is to say good works that may be delectable and pleasant in his sight when he looketh for them when he sendeth his messengers to call upon us for them but rather bring forth g Isa 5.1 2 3 4 5 6. wilde grapes that is to say sowre workes unsavory and unfruitfull then he will plucke away all defence c. In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 82. Homily concerning fasting it is said Saint Paul therefore teacheth that we must doe good workes for divers respects First to shew our selves obedient children unto our heavēly Father who hath h Ephes 2.10 ordained them that we should walke in them Secondly for that they are good i Iam. 2.18 20 26. declarations and testimonies of our justification Thirdly that others seeing our good workes may the rather by them be stirred up and excited to k Mat. 5.16 glorifie our Father which is in heaven Let us not therefore be slacke to doe good workes seeing it is the will of God that wee should walke in them assuring our selves that at the last day every man shall receive of God for his labour done in true faith a l Psal 19.11 greater reward than his works have deserved It is also in the said * p. 85. part delivered Good workes are not all of one sort For some are of themselves and of their owne proper nature alwayes good as to love God above all things to love thy neighbour as thy selfe to honour thy father and mother to honour the higher powers to give to every man that which is his due and such like Other workes there bee which considered in themselves without further respect are of their owne nature meerly indifferent that is neither good nor evill but take their denomination of the use and end whereto they serve which workes having a good end are called good workes and are so indeed but yet that commeth not of themselves but of the good end whereunto they are referred Of this sort of works is m Zechar. 7.5 6. fasting c. In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 30. Homily of good workes it is said Even as the picture graven or painted is but a dead representation of the thing it selfe and is without life or any manner of moving so be the workes of all n Isa 64.6 unfaithfull persons before God They doe appeare to bee lively workes and indeed they be but dead not availing to the everlasting life They be but shadowes and shewes of lively and good things and not good and lively things indeed * p. 31. Againe it is said There is one worke in the which be all good workes that is faith which o Gal. 5.6 worketh by charity If thou have it thou hast the ground of all good workes When the Iewes asked of Christ what they should doe not worke good workes he answered This is the p Ioh. 6.29 worke of God to beleeve in im whom he sent so that he called faith the worke of God And assoone as a man hath faith anon he shall flourish in good workes for faith of it selfe is full of good works and q Heb. 11.6 nothing is good without faith * p. 20. True faith doth give life to workes and out of such faith r Psal 116.10 2 Cor. 4.13 come good workes that be very good workes indeed and without faith no good worke is good before God as saith S. Augustine In the second part of the * p. 32. Homily concerning good works it is said Now to goe forward to the third part that is what manner of workes they be which spring out of true faith and lead faithfull men unto everlasting life This cannot be knowne so well as by our Saviour Christ himselfe who was asked of a certain great man the same question What ſ Mat. 19.16 17. workes shall I doe said a Prince to come to everlasting life To whom Iesus answered If thou wilt come to everlasting life keepe the Commandements So that
and fall like one of the Princes In the booke of Wisdome it is said unto Rulers d Wisd 6.4 5 6 Because being Ministers of his Kingdome you have not judged aright nor kept the Law nor walked after the Counsell of God horribly and speedily shall hee come upon you For a sharpe judgement shall bee to them that bee in high places For mercy will soone pardon the meanest mighty men shall bee mightily tormented It is recorded of Mordicai the Iew being advanced next unto King Ahasuerus that he sought the e Est 10.3 wealth of his people and spake peace unto all his Seed Blessed are they that keepe judgement and hee that doth f Ps 106.3 righteousnesse at all times saith David But saith Isaiah Woe unto them that g Isa 10.1 2. decree unrighteous Decrees and that write grievousnesse which they have prescribed to turne aside the needy from judgment and to take away the right from the poore of the people that widowes may be their prey and that they may rob the fatherlesse The Lord saith by Moses h Exod. 23.2 3 8. Deut. 16.18 19.20 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to doe evill neither shalt thou speake in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgement Neither shalt thou countenance a poore man in his cause The Iudges and Officers shall judge the people with just judgement Thou shalt not wrest judgement thou shalt not respect persons neither take a gift for a gift doth blinde the eyes of the wise and pervert the words of the righteous That which is altogether just shalt thou follow Paul saith to the Thessalonians Wee command you brethren in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ That yee with-draw your selves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after the tradition which he received of us For even when we were with you this we commanded you That if any man would not worke i 2 Thes 3.10 neither should hee eate It is a saying and observed out of Moses Law There should be no k Deut. 15.4 begger in Israel CHAP. 73. Of Swearing IN the * T. 1. p. 45. Homily against Swearing and perjury it is said When Iudges require oaths of the people for declaration or opening of the truth or for execution of Iustice Swearing is lawfull Also when men make faithfull promises with calling to witnesse of the name of God to keepe covenants honest promises statutes lawes good customes as Christian Princes doe in their conclusions of peace for conservation of Common-wealths and private persons promise their fidelity in Matrimony or one to another in honesty and true friendship and all men when they doe sweare to keepe common lawes and locall statutes and good customes for due order to bee had and continued among men when subjects doe sweare to bee true and faithfull to their King and Soveraigne Lord and when Iudges Magistrates and Officers sweare truly to execute their Offices and when a man would affirme the truth to the setting forth of Gods glory for the salvation of the people in open preaching of the Gospell or in giving of good Counsell privately for their soules health All these manners of swearing for causes necessarie and honest be lawfull But when men doe sweare of custome in reasoning buying and selling or other dayly communications as many be common and great swearers such kinde of swearing is ungodly unlawfull and forbidden by the Commandement of God For such swearing is nothing else but taking of Gods name in vaine * P. 46 47. Afterward it is said Whosoever sweareth when he is required of a Iudge let him be sure in his conscience that his oath have three conditions and hee shall never need to be afraid of perjury First hee that sweareth must sweare truly that is he must setting apart all favour and affection to the parties have the truth onely before his eyes and for love thereof say and speake that which he knoweth to be truth and no further The second is he that taketh an oath must doe it with judgement not rashly and unadvisedly but soberly considering what an oath is The third is he that sweareth must sweare in righteousnesse that is for the very zeale and love which he beareth to the defence of innocency to the maintenance of the truth and of the righteousnesse of the matter or cause all profit disposits all love and favour unto the person for friendship or kindred laid apart That in communication wee ought not to sweare Christs words doe declare where he saith l Mat. 5.34 35 36 37. Sweare not at all neither by heaven c. by no creature But let your communication be yea yea nay nay for whatsoever is more then these commeth of evill The which Scripture as it forbiddeth all manner of swearing in communication so it forbiddeth to sweare at any time by any thing excepting the name of God onely The Lord saith to the Israelites by Ieremiah How shall I pardon thee for this thy Children have forsaken me and m Ier. 5.7 sworne by them that are no gods In the second part of the * P. 50. Homily of swearing it is most memorably said To the intent you should know how great and grievous an offence against God wilfull perjury is I will shew you what it is to take an oath before a Iudge upon a booke First when they laying their hands upon the Gospell booke doe sweare truly to enquire and to make a true presentment of things wherewith they be charged and not to let from saying the truth and doing truly for favour love dread or malice of any person as God may helpe them and the holy Contents of that booke They must consider that in that booke is contained Gods everlasting truth his most holy and eternall Word whereby we have forgivenesse of our sinnes and be made inheritours of heaven to live for ever with Gods Angels and Saints in joy and gladnesse In the Gospell booke is contained also Gods terrible threats to obstinate sinners that will not amend their lives nor beleeve the truth of Gods holy Word and the everlasting pain prepared in hell for Idolaters Hypocrites for false and vaine swearers for perjured men for false witnesse barers for false condemners of innocent and guiltlesse men and for them which for favour hide the crimes of evill doers that they should not be punished So that whosoever wilfully for sweare themselves upon Christs holy Evangely or Gospell they utterly forsake Gods mercy goodnesse and truth the merits of our Saviour Christs Nativity Life Passion Death Resurrection and Ascension they refuse the forgivenesse of sinnes promised to all penitent sinners the joyes of heaven the companie with Angels and Saints for ever All which benefits and comforts are promised unto true Christian persons in the Gospell And they so being forsworne upon the Gospell doe betake themselves to the devills service the master of all lies falshood deceit and perjurie provoking
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
wherefore David having experience of Gods goodnesse in his deliverance from the hand of Saul said I will love thee O Lord my strength The Lord is my rocke and my fortresse and my deliverer my God my strength in whom I will e Ps 18.1.2.3 trust my Buckler and the horne of my salvation and my high tower I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to bee praised so shall I bee saved from mine enimies It proceedeth also from beliefe in God and in his word which beliefe God graciously giveth unto those that feare him and diligently pray for the same as Saint Paul signifieth to the Ephesians saying In whom wee have boldnesse and accesse with f Eph. 3.12 confidence by the faith of him Ieremiah saith Cursed bee the man that g Ier. 17.5.6.7.8 trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme and whose heart departeth from the Lord. But blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is The seventh duty is to call upon God The seventh duty to call upon God And that is to pray unto him David saith offer unto God thankesgiving and pay thy vowes unto the most High and h Ps 50.14.15 call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me It proceedeth also out of beliefe as it is written How shall they i Rom. 10.14 call on him in whom they have not beleeved People obedient to Christ and his k Mat. 18.17 Church which humble themselves and faithfully endeavour to observe all the ordinances of Christs Church have the promise to be heard when they call on the Lord and doe in the name and mediation of Iesus Christ aske such things as bee agreeable to his will as Saint Iohn saith Whatsoever we l 1 Ioh. 3.22 aske wee receive of him because wee keepe his Commandement and doe those things that are pleasing in his sight The eight duty is to honour Gods Holy name The eight duty To honour Gods holy name And for the performance thereof wee pray when we say Hallowed be thy name They that make conscience of breaking the third Commandement of m Exod 20.7 taking his name in vaine are such as have a regard to honour his n Mal. 3.16.17.18 name By the Name of the Lord is not onely meant a word or words proper to the Creator whereby he is distinguished from all creatures in speaking of him or unto him but also sundry other things whereby the Lord becommeth knowne unto us The name of the Lord is observed sometimes to signifie God himselfe his holy being which is infinite almighty c as where it is said The o Prov. 18.10 Name of the Lord is a strong Tower the righteous runneth into it and is safe Where name may signifie also power and protection So in Moses where it is said If thou wilt not observe to doe all the words of this Law that are written in this Booke that thou maist feare his glorious and fearefull p Deut. 28.58 Name The Lord thy God then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderfull c. It signifieth also the will and Commandement of God as where it is said whosoever will not hearken unto my words which my Prophet shall speake in my q Deut. 18.19 Name I will require it of him Officers under the Royall Majestie use the word name in the like sense when they say I charge thee in the Kings name c. It also signifieth the religion or worship of God as where it is said in Micah All people will walke every one in the name of his god and wee will walke in the r Micah 4.5 name of the Lord our God for ever and ever Other significations it is observed to have It is our duty to honour to reverence both with soule and body with heart and mouth and with due respect for to esteem whatsoever Name God is called by or knowne The Lord said by Samuel unto Eli Them that s 1 Sam. 2.30 honour me I will honour And his Omnipotencie looketh for honour to be performed by us unto him signifying it by his Prophet Malachie saying A sonne honoureth his Father and a servant his Master If then I bee a Father where mine t Mal. 1.6 honour And if I be a Master where is my feare The ninth duty To honour Gods holy word saith the Lord of Hosts unto you O priests that despise my name and yet yee say wherein have we despised thy name The ninth duty is to honour Gods holy word David saith I will worship towards thy holy Temple and praise thy Name for thy loving kindnesse for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy u Ps 138.2 word above all thy name Christ saith to his Father Sanctifie them through the truth thy w Ioh. 17.17 word is truth And David saith unto the Lord Thy x Ps 119.142 Law is the truth Now for to make mention of any sentence in any deliverie by the Kings Majestie or by the Parliament or by the Convocation without due reverence thereto is justly a lightnesse or rather a lewdnesse Likewise for to mention any sentence of holy Scripture Gods holy word without due reverence thereto both with heart and voice honouring it as a word that y 1 Pet. 1.23.24 25. endureth for ever and as that whereby we shall every one without respect of persons bee z Iob. 12 48. judged in the last day lightly to alleage any divine deliverie is by all that truely feare God judged to proceed from a heart full of impiety and iniquity Isaiah signifieth that wee are to a Isa 66.5 tremble at Gods word and in no wise to make jests with any of it or rashly to utter any part of it but when wee speake any portion of holy Scripture to have a most serious care that it may tend directly to the glory of God and as much as may bee to the b Eph 4 2â— edification of the hearers Also we are not onely at all times with feare and honourable respect to recite holy Scripture when wee have occasion thereto but also to bee obedient or obediently enclined unto every document thereof which wee mention Else our honouring of Gods word is but a c Mat. 15.8.7 lip honour whereof Christ saith This people draw nigh to mee with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips but their heart is farre from me Which doing Christ in the verse afore signifieth to be but a kind of hypocrisie Herein saith Christ is my Father glorified or his word honoured that yee beare d Ioh. 13.8.16 much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples He is not accounted a true honourer of the Lawes of a Realme which meerely with due regard doth rehearse them but hee that also conscionably endeavoureth to live according to every of them The tenth duty to serve God truly all the dayes of
our life The tenth and last duty unto God according as the sacred Catechisme hath expressed it is that wee serve him truly all the dayes of our life God requireth us to serve him not as wee * 1 Sâ—m 15.22.23 conceive best but according to his will written in his word For so the Church teacheth us most divinely in the last part of her Article concerning Predestination and Election saying Furthermore we must receive Gods promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scriptures and in our doings that will of God is to be followed which we have expresly declared unto us in the word of God To that end hath Christ redeemed us saith Zacharias that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without feare in e Luk. 1.74.75 holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life The Lord is nigh saith David unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in f Ps 145.18 truth And what is truly or truth hath beene declared out of Scripture a little before The people of God in Ioshua his dayes signified what it is to serve God truly saying The Lord our God will wee serve and his g Ios 24.24 voice will we obey Through whom did people then heare the voice of God ordinarily in those dayes Through whom doe people heare the voice of God ordinarily in these dayes Is not the Ministery of God his mouth from whence his voice is ordinarily heard Doth not the Prophet Malachi presse this point saying The priests h Mal. 2.6.7 lips should keepe knowledge and they should seeke the Law at his mouth for hee is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts to declare the Lords will unto people In the Booke of Ioshua some are found fault withall that they asked not counsell at the i Ios 9.14 mouth of the Lord. Where was the mouth of the Lord at which they asked counsell In Exodus it is expressed The Lord said I will k Exod. 25.22 commune with thee from above the Mercy-seate from betweene the two Cherubims which are upon the Arke of the Testimony of all things which I will give thee in commandement unto the children of Israel And the Apostle to the Hebrewes sheweth that this was done in the Tabernacle which is called the l Heb. 9.3 4 5 6 7 8. holiest of all the second into which the high Priest went onely The which is written to teach us for to attend with all Christian Conscience and due reverence unto that doctrine which Christs high Priest-hood now holdeth forth unto us and that to the people is the doctrine of the Bookes of Divine Service wherein wee are plainely and plentifully taught how to serve God truly all the dayes of our life Also not to m 1 Thes 5.20.21 neglect what the inferiour priest-hood doth preach and teach but to have all due regard unto whatsoever they deliver consonant with the Divine Service and the rest of established Doctrine of the Church The Catechism most divinely addeth also the time when and how long we are to serve God truly namely all the daies of our life In the service of Baptisme it is said unto the sureties that the Infants are to bee taught so soone as they shall be able to learne what a solemne vow promise and profession they have made by you c. Signifying that God requireth a true service from us unto him from our very n Eph. 6.4 Dut. 31.12 Luk. 1.75 2 Tim. 3.15 read Chap. 98. following Child-hood so long as we live in this present world They therefore which consider not seriously upon serving God truly till either old age or sicknesse or some other great calamity befall them doe cleane contrary to the counsell of holy Church in her Catechisme as also in all the rest of her Divine Service-Doctrine CHAP. 80. Of our Dutie towards our Neighbour as it is expressed in most Divine manner in the Catechisme also MY duty towards my Neighbour is to love him as my selfe and to doe to all men as I would they should doe unto me To love honour and succour my father and mother To honour obey the King and his Ministers To submit my selfe to all my governours teachers spirituall pastours and masters To order my selfe lowly and reverently to all my betters To hurt no body by word or deed To be true and just in all my dealing To beare no malice nor hatred in my heart To keepe my hands from picking and stealing and my tongue from evill speaking lying and slandering To keep my body in temperance sobernesse and chastity Not to covet nor desire other mens goods but to learne and labour truly to get mine owne living and to doe my duty in that state of life unto the which it shall please God to call me Hence may be observed fifteene duties in particular that we owe unto Man or our neighbour for the Lords sake or by reason of Gods Commandement The first duty to love our neighbours as our selfe The first is that we ought to love our neighbours as our o Mat. 22 29. selves Herein is prescribed what manner of heart minde or affection wee are to beare towards others wee are to wish all the same good unto all others as wee doe wish unto our owne selves or as we ought to desire for our selves This is to be understood concerning good common to the bodies and soules of all Christians This love wee are not onely taught throughout all the most Sacred Letanie but also in most expresse manner in the third Collect or Prayer appointed to bee read on Good-Friday The which Holy prayer declaring the love of God towards all mankinde and the love in heart which wee should beare towards all our brethren and sisters the whole posterity of Adam it is profitable here to be rehearsed that it may be duly considered the better remembred Mercifull God who hast p Act. 17.26.27 made all men and hatest q Ps 145.9 Wis 11.23.24.26 Ezech. 33.11 nothing that thou hast made nor wouldest the r Ezech. 18.23 32. death of a sinner but rather that he should be s Prov. 1.22.23 converted and t Mat. 23.37 live have mercy upon all u Rom. 9.3.4.5 Rom. 11.12.15.25.26 Ps 14.7 and 122.6 Iewes w Ps 67.2 3 5. Turkes x 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6. Infidels and Heretikes and take from them all ignorance hardnesse of heart and contempt of thy word and so fetch them home Blessed Lord to thy flocke that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites and be made y Ezech. 37.24.25 one fold under one Shepheard Iesus Christ our Lord. By this prayer we are informed to wish that spirituall happinesse to all others as we wish to our selves The word neighbour and brother have in Moses oftentimes the same signification And the word
THE CHRISTIAN DIVINITIE Contained in the Divine Service of The Church of ENGLAND Summarily and for the most part inâ—â—â—â—â—â— according as point on point dependeth conâ—â—â—ded and with the holy Scriptures plainly and plentifully confirmed Written for the furtherance of the Peoples understanding in the true Religion established by publike Authoritie And for the increase of Vnitie in that godly truth eternall BY EDMVND REEVE Bachelour in Divinitie and Vicar of the Parish of Hayes in Middlesex IER 6.16 Thus saith the Lord Stand yee in the wayes and see and aske for the old paths where is the good way and walke therein and yee shall finde rest for your soules AVGVSTINVS Vtile est de iisdem quaestionibus plures à pluribus fieri libros diverso style non diversa fide LONDON Printed for Nicolas Fussell and Humphrey Mosley at the signe of the Ball in Pauls Church-yard 1631. TO THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCE CHARLES By the Grace of God King of Great Britaine France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. MOST dread Soveraigne The holy Fathers of the Church out of their due consideration of the defects of these times having in the liturgie for the late Fast taught to pray O Eternall God and most gratious Father wee confesse that by our manifold transgressions we have deserved whatsoever thy Law hath threatned against sinners Our contempt of thy Divine Service is great and wee heare thy word but obey it not Our charity to our neighbour is cold and our devotion to thee is frozen ReligioÌ„ is with us as in too many places besides made but a pretence for other ends then thy Service and there hath beene little or no care among us to keepe truth and peace together for the preserving of our Church and State Forgive us O Lord forgive as these and all other our grievous sinnes c. Have thereby signified to all Pastours and Ministers of the Church that they should doe their part towards the repairing of those decayes in many peoples mindes conversations The which most necessary signification beeing proceeded from them who in the Clergie are endued with the amplest understanding in all matters of Religion hath incited me though the most unworthy amoÌ„g the labourers in the Lords harvest unto greater accuration in my function and therto through helpe of the Divine grace for to compile this worke The which now with all humility I present unto your most sacred Majestie And although it is for the most part but as it were a collection of sentences out of the Divine Service Bookes of the Church for to put the common people in more remembrance and consideration of what therein is delivered concerning the principall points of Christian Divinity and a quotation of Scriptures witnessing the same yet unto all which unfainedly endeavour to know the will of God for to live obediently unto it and will unpartially read through and seriously consider every delivery therein it will appeare to be a worke profitable for to make more knowne unto the laity the established Doctrine of the Church to further them in learning their duty towards God your Highnesse and their neighbours Yea it will awake many out of their sleepe of ignorance and cause all such as are upright of heart to say Surely the Lord is in this place and we knew it not The everlasting truth of the Eternall God is abundantly delivered in the publike prayers exhortations and Homilies of the Church of England and we tooke none or but little notice of it Notwithstanding there will not be wanting spirits of disobedience which will calumniate the work and me by reason of the same Wherefore I humbly crave of your most sacred Majesty that since things of this quality are subject to the censures of persons ill-meaning and wise in their owne eyes it may receive patronage from your most gracious Highnesse Your Majesties father a Prince of most worthy ever blessed memory all the time of his happy Reigne over us shewed most pious zeale towards maintaining the Divine Service of the Church and for confirmation thereof caused the Proclamation made for the authorizing and uniformitie of the Booke of CoÌ„mon Prayer to be used throughout the Realme to bee printed with the said booke and also the booke of Homilies to be reprinted The like most godly care to conserve maintaine the Church in the unity of true religion your Highnesse in that most divine and ever most memorable declaration afore the Articles of the Church of England hath unto the great comfort of all your Majesties loyall religious people manifested testified The Lord of heaven and earth blesse your Highnes with many happy yeares That as his heavenly hand hath enriched your Majesty with many singular extraordinary graces So your Highnes may be the mirrour of the world in this latter age as most truly it already is for the prudent and zealous defending of the true Catholike and Apostolike faith unto the honour of that great God and the good of his Church through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Saviour Your Majesties most humble and devoted subject EDMVND REEVE To the Reader HAving composed a summe of Divinitie out of the bookes of the Divine Service of the Church of England Whereas â—n tius work thore is often mention maâ—e of the Church therby wheresoever it is used for to signfiâ— those unto whom all people owe most faithfull obediencâ— is to be understood the Church representative where of the 139. Canon faith â—hosoever shall hereafter â—â—fâ—iâ— me that the sacred Synode of this Nation in the name of Châ—â—â—â— and by the Kings Authority assembâ—ed is not the true Church of England by representation let him bee excommunicated and not restored untill her repent and publikely revoke his wicked errour And Canon 140. saith Whosoever shall affirme that no manner of person either of the Clergy or Laity not being themselves particularly assembled in the said sacred synode are to be subject to the deâ—rces thereof in causes Ecclesiasticall made and ratified by the Kings Majesties Supreme Authority as not having given their voyces unto them let him be excommunicated and not restored untill hee repent and publikely revoke that his wicked errour it is necess for mee in some wise to declare their Authoritie that they with whom the said bookes are not in due account may have no just cause either of undervaluing the deliveries taken forth of them or of light esteeming this worke a collection of the same If all the authorized writings of a godly and learned Divine are much to be regarded then how much more are those writings to bee esteemed which are set forth by publike Authority as of the Royall Majesty of the Archbishops Bishops and the rest of the representative Church of England are assented unto by all the rest of the Clergy and are confirmed by Act of Parliament That the booke of Common prayer is thus established the Act for