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
many times in a yeere so is it exceeding furthersome for all younger people to have it all in perfect memory and at least once a weeke to examine themselves by the same CHAP. 62. Of Excommunication IT is said in the second part of the * T. 2. p. 213. Homily concerning the Holy Ghost or in the Homily for Whitsunday Christ ordained the authority of the keyes to excommunicate notorious sinners and to absolve theÌ„ which are truly penitent In the second part of the * Homily concerning the right use of the Church T. 2. p. 9.10 it is said In the primitive Church which was most holy and godly and in the which due discipline with severitie was used against the wicked due discipline with severitie suffered once to enter into the house of the Lord nor admitted to Common Prayer and the use of the holy SacrameÌ„ts with other true Christians untill they had done opeÌ„penance before the whole Church And they that were so justly exempted and banished as it were from the house of the Lord were taken as they be indeed for men divided and separated from Christs Church and in most dangerous estate yea as Saint Paul saith even given unto Satan the Devill for a time and their company was shunned and avoided of all godly men and women untill such time as they by repentance and publike penance were reconciled Iesus Christ said unto Peter To thee I will give the c Mat. 16.19 keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven The same d Mat 18.18 19 20. authority hee afterward pronounced unto the rest of his Apostles Also when after his resurrection hee breathed on them and said Receive ye the Holy Ghost he gave the keyes of the Kingdome of heaven unto them all saying e Ioh. 20.22 23. Whose soever sins yee remit they are remitted unto theÌ„ whose soever sinnes ye retaine they are retained Saint Paul saith to the Corinthians concerning excommunicating the incestuous person In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ when ye are gathered together and my Spirit with the power of our Lord Iesus Christ To f 1 Cor. 5.4 5. deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may bee saved in the day of the Lord Iesus He said of Hymenaeus and Alexander that he had g 1 Tim. 1.20 delivered them unto Satan that they might learne not to blaspheeme Concerning what persons are to be excommunicated if otherwise they will not be reformed it is observed that the Apostle signifieth where he saith If any man that is called a brother be a fornicatour or covetous or an Idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner with h 1 Cor. 5.11 such a one no not to eate Vnto the Thessalonians he saith And if any man obey not our word by this Epistle note that man and have i 2 Thes 3.14 no company with him that he may be ashamed The Apostle speaketh of disorderly living and living out of a vocation by the sweat of other mens browes or eating other mens bread for nought The Apostle also faith If any man love not the Lord Iesus Christ let him be k 1 Cor. 16.22 anathema Maran atha The speech here l Sunt enim haeâ— dicendi genera Haebraeis non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inquit Buxtorfiuâ— in Gram. Heb. pag. 548. excusâ anno 1620. love not is observed to signifie hateth Anathema is interpreted a curse a cursed thing or one accursed Maran signifieth our Lord and atha signifieth commeth The excommunication which was called anathema maranatha is accounted to be the greatest kinde thereof and so the very last namely when as one for his persevering wilfull hatred against Iesus Christ is quite forsaken by the Church and left unto the just judgement of Christ of whom Enoch said m Iude 14.15 Arabs juxta sensum reddidit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apud Rabbinos est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 contractè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Videt ur dicià syriacâ— verbo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nominare quòd hâ—c sit nominatissima excommunicatio Vulgò taâ—en volunt esse nomen compositum ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est Deus venit Alij ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. ibi mors Behold the Lord commeth with ten thousands of his Saints to execute judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him The holy scriptures deliver other causes also for which there may be excommunication the which the Church of England hath partly mentioned in the Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall as also when any being summoned to appeare before ecclesiasticall authority will contemptuously refuse c. The Lord Christ Iesus hath in his Gospell given an everlasting generall rule If any one neglect to heare the Church let him be unto thee as an n Mat. 18.17 Heathen man and a Publicane CHAP. 63. Of Confession and Absolution in particular manner BEsides the generall Confession and Absolution to be said and pronounced in the beginning of the Divine Service and afore receiving the holy Communion holy Church hath ordained that a private may be made In the second Exhortation to be read afore the Communion it is said Because it is requisite that no man shold come to the holy Communion but with a full trust in Gods mercy and with a quiet conscience therefore if there be any of you which by the meanes aforesaid cannot quiet his owne conscience but requireth further comfort or counsell then let him come to me or some other discreet and learned Minister of Gods Word and open his griefe that he may receive such ghostly counsell advice and comfort as his conscience may be relieved and that by the ministery of Gods Word he may receive comfort and the benefit of absolution to the quieting of his conscience and avoyding of all scruple and doubtfulnesse In the Rubricke of the Service for the Visitation of the Sicke it is said The sicke person shall make a speciall confession if he feele his conscience troubled with any weighty matter After which confession the Priest shall absolve him after this sort * The forme of absolution used to one in particular Our Lord Iesus Christ who hath left power to his Church to absolve all sinners which truely repent and beleeve in him of his great mercy forgive thee thine offences and by his authority committed to me I absolve thee from all thy finnes In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen Concerning Confession the Church in the 113. Canon delivereth That if any man confesse his secret and hidden sinnes to the Minister for the
to afflict his soule is it to bow downe his head as a Bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him wilt thou call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord Is not this the fast that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickednesse to undoe the heavie burdens and to let the oppressed goe free and that yee beake every yoake is it not to deale thy bread to the hungry and that thou bring the poore that are cast out to thy house when thou seest the naked that thou cover him and that thou hide not thy selfe from thine owne flesh Moreover that there ought to be made fervent prayer in the fasting dayes of the foure Ember-weekes it is signified in an Exhortation at the consecrating of an Elected Bishop where the Archbishop saith Brethren it is written in the Gospell of Saint Luke that our Saviour Christ continued the b Luke 6.12 13. whole night in the prayer or ever that hee did choose and send forth his twelve Apostles It is written also in the Acts of the Apostles that the Disciples which were at Antioch did c Act. 13.1 2 3. In every solemne fast wee ought to give some almes fast and pray or ever that laid hands upon or sent forth Paul and Barnabas Whereas Isaiah signifieth that the use which is to be made of fasting is charitablenesse some observe that when one fasteth hee is to give somewhat to the poore what hee hath spared from his owne selfe to let some poore member or members of Christ to bee comforted therewith CHAP. 78. Of Conversion Repentance and Regeneration IN the * T. 1. p. 53. Homily concerning Falling from God it is said out of Saint Origen He that with minde with study with deeds with thought and care applieth and giveth himselfe to Gods Word and thinketh upon his Lawes day and night giveth himselfe wholly to God and in his Precepts and Commandements is exercised this is he that is turned to God or one converted Conversion is the charge of the streame of minde and life of meditation and conversation from following ones d Isa 55.7 8 9. owne will or the lusts of e 1 Pet. 4.2 others unto an unfeined indeavour for to know all the Commandements of f Mat. 28.20 Iohn 15.14 Christ and his g 1 Cor. 11.2 Icr. 35.18 19. Church and to live obediently unto every particular of the same Then saith David shall I not be ashamed when I have a h Ps 119.6 respect unto all thy Commandements If I i Ps 66.18 regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not heare me Ezekiel saith If the wicked k Ezek. 18.21 22. will turne from all his sinnes that he hath committed and keepe all my Statutes and doe that wâ—â—ch is lawfull and right he shall surely live he shall not dye Christ charged his Ministers to teach all Nations to observe l Mat. 28.20 all things whatsoever he hath commanded them He also saith Yee are my m Iohn 15.14 friends if yee doe whatsoever I command you And concerning the duty that all owe unto his n Luke 10 16. Church hee saith Who so heareth you heareth me and he that desoiseth you despiseth me and hee that despiseth mee despiseth him that sent me If any neglect to heare the o Mat. 18.17 Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen man and a Publicane When one is in converting or turning unto God he is said in holy Scripture p Luke 15.17 to come to himselfe to q Psal 22.27 remember himselfe to take his owne estate into r Ezech. 18.28 Of repentance consideration Concerning repentance it is said in the first part of the * T. 2. p. 256. Homily thereof There is nothing that the Holy Ghost doth so much labour in all the Scriptures to beate into mens heads as Å¿ Acts 17.30 repentance amendment of life and speedy returning unto the Lord God of hostes * p. 258. Afterward there is signified That repentance is a returning againe of the whole man unto God from whom wee bee t Rom. 3.23 fallen away by sinne But that the whole discourse therof may be the better born away wee shall first consider in order foure principall points that is from what we must returne to whom wee must returne by whom we may be able to convert and the manner how to turne unto God First from whence or from what things we must returne Truly we must returne from those things whereby wee have beene withdrawne pluckt and led away from God and these generally are our sinnes which as the holy Prophet Isaiah doth testifie doe u Isa 59.2 separate God and us and hide his face that he will not heare us But unâ—â—â— the name of sinne not onely those grosse words and deeds which by the common judgement of men are counted to be filthy and unlawfull and so consequently abominable sinnes but also the filthy lusts and inward concupiscences of the flesh which as Saint Paul testifieth doe w Gal 5.16 17. 1 Pet. 2.11 Rom. 7.23 resist the will and Spirit of God and therefore ought earnestly to be bridled and x Gal. 5.24 kept under We must repent of the y Isa 44.20 Isa 59.13 false and erroneous opinions that we have had of God and the wicked superstition that doth breed of the same the z Rev. 9.20 unlawfull worshipping and service of God and other like All these things must they forsake that will truely turne unto the Lord and repent aright For sith that for such things the a Eph. 4.6 wrath of God commeth upon the children disobedience no end of punishment ought to be looked for as long as we continue in such things Secondly we must see unto whom we ought to returne The Lord saith Returne as farre as unto mee We must labour that we doe returne as farre as unto him and that we doe never cease nor rest till we have b Phil. 3.12.13 14. Act. 17.27 apprehended and taken hold upon him But this must be done by c Eph. 3.17 faith For sith that God is a Spirit he can by no other meanes be apprehended and taken hold upon Therefore thirdly we are to consider by whom we must returne unto God because we have of our owne selves nothing to present us to God and doe no lesse flee from him after our fal then our first Parent Adam did who when he had sinned did seeke to d Gen. 3.8 hide himselfe from the sight of God Wee have therefore neede of a Mediatour to bring and reconcile us unto him who from our sinnes is angry with us The same is e Col. 1.22 Iesus Christ And hee himselfe in his Gospell doth cry out and say I am the f Iohn 14.6 way the truth and the life no man commeth to the Father but by mee * P. 259. Fourthly as concerning the manner of our
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
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
or most chiefely in observing Ceremonies It is written in the booke of Ester that the Church of God then p Esther 9.21 celebrated two dayes in memorie of the Lords most wonderfull protection of them and deliverance of them from the plot of Haman It is not written that they had any law of God requiring it neither that they received any speciall revelation for to signifie unto them that they ought so to doe but that they did it from the Common q Prov. 8.14 15 16. wisedome with which God endueth his Church at all times There is also mention of a seast in the Gospell according to S. Iohn called The feast of the r 1 Mac. 4.59 dedication which the Church of God then the people of the Iewes had along time observed in ſ Ioh. 10.22.23 celebration whereof it seemeth that Christ was present which was not ordained by divine Law nor by Revelation but by the common devotion of the Church as it is recorded in the Book of Maccabees Moreover the people of God on such holy dayes were not onely to abstaine from their ordinary t Lev. 23.7 vocation or worke but also they were to assemble unto the place of Gods publike worship and there to perfome such religious duties as God and his Church had appointed The which may appeare out of the booke of Chronicles where it is delivered that David ordained of the ministerie to stand every morning to to thanke and praise the Lord and likewise at even and to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the Lord in the Sabbaths in the new moones and on the u 1 Chron. 23.30 31. set feasts by number according to the order commanded unto them continually before the Lord. Of the place wherein holy duties are to be performed by people or a cōgregation Now concerning the place where holy duties upon Sundaies and other Holy dayes are to bee performed the first part of the x T. 2. p. 126 127 128. homily concerning the place and time of prayer declareth to bee the materiall temple or the parish-Church unto which the people are by the Law required for to repaire and duly frequent where Christ hath promised to bee y Mat. 18.20 present and where he will heare the prayers of thē that call upon him Our godly predecessours and the ancient fathers of the primitive Church saith that Homily spared not their goods to build Churches no they spared not their lives in time of persecution and to hazard their blood that they might assemble themselves together in Churches And shall we spare a little labour to come to Churches Shall neither their example nor our duty nor the Commodities that thereby should come unto us move us If we will declare our selves to have the feare of God if wee will shew our selves true Christians if wee will be the followers of Christ our master and of those godly fathers which have lived before us and have now received the reward of true and faithfull Christians wee must both willingly earnestly reverently come unto the materiall Churches and Temples to pray as unto fit places appointed for that use and that upon the Sabbath day as at most convenient time for Gods people to cease from bodily and worldly businesse to give themselves to holy rest and godly contemplation pertaining to the service of Almighty God Whereby wee may reconcile our selves to God be partakers of his holy Sacraments and bee devout hearers of his holy word so to bee established in faith to Godward in hope against all adversity and in charity toward our neighbours * T. 2. p. 131. Also to have our poore and needy neighbours in remembrance and from the Church to depart better and more godly than wee came thither The Lord hath said p Exod. 16.29 Abide yee every man in his place Let no man goe out of his place on the seventh or Sabbath day Yet there was prescribed a Sabbath dayes q Act. 1.12 journey and that appeareth to be but as unto ones owne parish Church ordinarily The aforesaid * T. 2. p. 127. Homily saith That the Tabernacle was as it were the parish Church of the Iewes being in the Wildernesse Vide Tremel annot ad Iam. 2. A Chaldee Paraphrase upon Ruth saith and the Chaldean Paraphrases are the most ancient interpretations of Moses and the Prophets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which are now common to the Church of God That we are commanded to observe the Sabbath good dayes not to walke unlesse 2000 cubits which distance appeareth to bee the space between the place of the Camp and the place where the Arke was as Ioshua said r Ios 3.3 4. There shal be a space between you it above 2000 cubits by measure And such a distance the suburbs belonging to Cities were to be from them round about as it is written in the booke of f Num. 35.5 Numbers Lastly concerning the due celebration of the Sabbath day it is also said in the first part of the * T. 2. p. 2. Homily concerning the right use of the Church That unto the house or Temple of God at all times by common order appointed are all people that bee godly indeed bound with all diligence to resort unlesse by sicknes or other most urgent causes they be letted therefro And all the same so resorting thither ought with all quietnesse and reverence there to behave themselves in doing their bounden duty and service to Almighty God in the Congregation of the Saints In the said part of that * P. 4. Homily it is further delivered That Iesus came t Ioh. 8.2 early in the morning into the Temple and all people came unto him and hee sate downe and taught them And in S. Luke it is said v Luke 21.38 Iesus taught in the Temple and all the people came early in the morning unto him that they might heare him in the Temple Here yee see as well the diligence of our Saviour in teaching the word of God in the Temple daily and specially on the Sabbath dayes as also the readinesse of the people resorting all together and that early in the morning into the Temple to heare him The Lord commāded the people of Israel to w Num. 28.9.10 offer more on the Sabbath day then on any other day And was it not for our x 2 Tim. 3.16 instruction in righteousnesse that wee ought on that day to spend more time in every religious exercise than on any other day cōmonly The * In Canon 90. and Article 30. of our Church-discipline also Law of the Church is that We be present in the Temple at the beginning of the divine Service and that unlesse through some urgent occasion we depart not untill every part of the divine Service be ended Also all persons of every Family that are able in any wise to understand any part of the publike worship unles such
Iesus concerning you And Isaiah signifieth that thankesgiving acceptable to God consisteth not in words onely where he saith u Isa 5.16 God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousnes In another place he saith w Isa 66.5 Heare ye the word of the Lord yee that tremble at his word your brethren that hated you that cast you out for my names sake said Let the Lord be glorified but he shall appeare to your joy and they shall bee ashamed Memorably saith the Church in the Communion service It is very meet right and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places give thankes unto thee O Lord Holy Father Almighty Everlasting God Of confession to God Concerning publike confession of our sinnes unto God the Divine Service beginneth with one that is generall and likewise there is a generall confession to be made afore receiving of the holy Communion The Prophet Daniel made a solemne x Dan. 9.4 confession unto God in the behalfe of the Iewes in generall that were with him in captivity in Babylon And Baruch wrote a long y Bar. 1.14.15 c. confession for the Iewes at Ierusalem to make reading it in the House of the Lord upon the feasts and solemne dayes There is also private confession of our sins to be made unto God whereof it is said in the second part of the * T. 2. Homily of repentance that it is the second part of repentance And the Homily saith If we will with a sorrowfull and contrite heart make an unfeined confession of our sinnes unto God hee will freely and frankly forgive them and so put all our wickednesse out of remembrance before the sight of his Majestie that they shall no more be z Heb. 8.12 thought upon Hereunto doth pertaine the golden saying of David where he saith on this manner a Ps 32.5 Then I acknowledged my sinne unto thee neither did I hide mine iniquitie I said I will confesse against my selfe my wickednesse unto the Lord and thou forgavest the ungodlinesse of my sinne These are also the words of Iohn the Evangelist b 1 Iohn 1.9 10. If wee confesse our sinnes God is faithfull and righteous to forgive us our sinnes and to make us cleane from all our wickednesse Which ought to be understood of the confession made unto God This is then the chiefest and most principall confession that in the Scriptures and Word of God wee are bidden to make and without the which wee shall never obtaine pardon and forgivenesse of our sinnes The Prodigall sonne made such a confession saying c Luke 15.21 Father I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy sonne Salomon saith d Prov. 28.13 Hee that hideth his sinnes shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsakes them shall finde mercy CHAP. 45. Of singing Psalmes and spirituall songs in publike and in private and also of singing with musicke IN the title of the Psalmes in meeter in the Booke of Common prayer it is thus said The whole booke of Psalmes collected into English meeter by c. Conferred with the Hebrew with apt notes to sing them withall Set forth and allowed to bee sung in all Churches of all people together before and after morning and evening prayer as also before and after sermons and moreover in private houses for their godly solace and comfort laying apart all ungodly songs and Ballads which tend onely to the nourishing of vice and corrupting of youth Iames 5.13 If any be afflicted let him pray and if any be merry let him sing Psalmes And then in the Common prayer booke of that forme which is appointed for Churches there is added a Treatise made by Athanasius the great cōcerning the use and vertue of the Psalmes whose beginning is thus and a delivery most memorable All holy Scripture is certainly the teacher of all vertue and of true faith but the booke of Psalmes doth expresse after a certaine manner the very state and condition of the soule For as he which intendeth to present himselfe to a King first will compound with himselfe to set in good order both his gesture and his speech lest else he might be reputed rude and ignorant even so doth this godly booke informe all such as be desirous to lead their life in vertue and to know the life of our Saviour which hee ledd in his conversation putting them in minde in the reading thereof of all their affections and passions whereto their soule is inclined c. And then doe follow 99. signifyings of what Psalmes may be sung even upon most occasions that come to passe in this present life And both before and also after the Psalmes in meeter there are sundry spirituall songs which may be sung upon sundry occasions unto the great comfort of the minde * Of singing with musicke Concerning singing in publike it is said in the booke of Ezra e Ezra 3.10 11. When the builders laid the foundation of the Temple of the Lord they set the Priests in their apparell with Trumpets and the Levites the sonnes of Asaph with Cymbals to praise the Lord after the Ordinance of Dauid King of Israel And they sang together by course in praising and giving thankes unto the Lord because hee is good for his mercy indureth for ever towards Israel And in the booke of Chronicles it is said f 1 Chron. 16.7 David delivered a Psalme to thanke the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brethren The which holy Prophet hath said g Ps 148.11 12 13 14. Kings of the earth and all people Princes and all Iudges of the earth both young men and maydens old men and Children let them praise the name of the Lord. h Ps 149.1 3. Sing unto the Lord a new song and his praise in the congregation of Saints let them sing praises unto him with Timbrell and Harpe i Ps 150.1 Praise yee God in his Sanctuary k Ps 95.1 2. O come let us sing unto the Lord let us make a joyfull noyse to the rocke of our salvation Let us come before his presence with thankesgiving and make a ioyfull noyse unto him with Psalmes l Ps 100.1 Serve the Lord with gladnesse come before his presence with singing Saint Paul said to the Church of Ephesus Be m Eph. 5.18 19 filled with the spirit speaking to your selves in Psalmes and hymnes and spirituall songs singing and making melodie in your heart to the Lord. n Ps 150.3 4 5. Praise the Lord saith David with the sound of the Trumpet praise him with the Psaltery and Harpe Praise him with the Timbrell and daunce praise him with stringed instruments and Organs Praise him upon the loud Cymbals praise him upon the high sounding Cymbals It is written that Moses and the Children of Israel o Exod. 15.1 sang a song unto the Lord. And that p
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
Scriptures into our mother tongue to be faithfull and meet for vs both to heare and read yea and to settle our beliefe therein and ought we not also to ascribe great authoritie unto the spirit of the Church in her x 1 Thes 5.20 prophecying or sermon making her composing of the Homilies for our instruction in the Doctrine of the holy Scriptures Wee pray unto God as her wisedome hath prescribed we heare and read for holy Scripture as her wisedome hath translated and ought we not with like conscionable respect to heare and read the exhortations interpretations applications c. in her Homilies set forth for Doctrine refutation correction and instruction in righteousnesse as her wisdome hath delivered unto us The great authority of the deliveries in the Homilies may appeare unto us out of this consideration When wee heare a Pastour Curate or Lecturer preach wee heare deliveries which are but the wisdome of a private Minister But when wee heare a Homily read wee heare deliveries which are the wisdome of the Church or for approbation whereof the whole Churches Clergie have written their * See the Epistle to the Reader and the Advertisement afterward Of the Curates making a short exhortation to the people when iust occasion is thereunto assent Concerning exhortation in publike it is said in the Rubricke after the Nicene Creed After such sermon homily or exhortation the Curate shall declare unto the people whether there be any holy-dayes or fasting dayes the weeke following and earnestly exhort them to remember the poore saying one or moe of these sentences following as hee thinketh most convenient by his discretion In the * T. 2. p. 138. Homily of Common prayer and Sacraments a saying of Iustinus Martyr is related viz. Vpon the Sunday assemblies are made both of them that dwell in Cities and of them that dwell in the Countrey also Amongst whom as much as may bee the writings of the Apostles and Prophets are read Afterwards when the reader doth cease the chiefe Minister maketh an exhortation exhorting them to follow honest things In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 3. Homily concerning the right use of the Church there is mentioned what the Ruler of the Temple in Antiochia signified unto Paul and Barnabas after the lesson or reading of the Law and Prophets viz. If any of you have any exhortation to make unto the people y Acts 13.15 say it That exercise which now is cōmonly called preaching answereth much to the aforesaid exhortation yea exhortation is part of a preaching as Paul saith z 1 Cor. 14.3 He that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort But the exhortation here now meant is a short speech made unto the people which is allowed by authority yea required in sundry cases As when a briefe is read then to exhort the people unto a Rom. 12.13 2 Cor. 9 5. contribution by alleaging some Scriptures and reasons whereby the more to move them to the same When poore parties are to be married and doe desire an Offering then an b Heb. 10.24 Gal. 2.10 1 Tim. 6.17 18. exhortation may be made unto the Congregation for to stirre them unto liberality Sundry occasions doe sometimes come to passe needing some short exhortation for matters better administration CHAP. 47. Of expounding the Scriptures and of preaching also of peoples hearing sermons IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 4. Homily concerning the right use of the Church it is said That it is convenient that the Scriptures of God and specially the Gospell of our Saviour Christ should be read and expounded to us that be Christians in our Churches c. It is written in Nehemiah that the Priests read in the Law of God distinctly and gave the c Neh. 8.7 8. sense and caused the people to understand the reading Of Preaching Concerning preaching the aforesaid part of that Homily also delivereth In Luke ye reade how Iesus according to his accustomed use came into the Temple and how the booke of Isaias the Prophet was delivered him how hee read a Text therein and made a d Luke 4.16 17 18 19 20 21. sermon upon the same In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 54. Homily concerning falling from God it is said God doth send his Messengers the true preachers of his Word to e Isa 58.1 admonish and warne us of our duty The 45. constitution of the Church is Every beneficed man allowed to bee a preacher and residing on his benefice having no lawfull impediment shall in his owne Cure or in some other Church or Chappell where he may conveniently neare adjoyning where no preacher is preach one sermon every sunday of the yeare wherein he shall soberly and sincerely f 2 Tim. 2.15 divide the word of truth to the glory God and to the g 1 Cor. 14.12 Of the dignity of preaching according to holy Church her prescription best edification of the people Such a preaching of Gods Word is an exercise worthily had in high account It hath the operation of Gods Spirit commonly accompanying it into the hearts of the hearers The h Heb. 4.12 Word of God divided aright is quicke and powerfull and sharper then any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soule and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Saint Paul saith An i 1 Cor. 14.24 25. unbeleever comming in where prophesie or faithfull preaching is becommeth to be convinced in conscience The secrets of his heart are made manifest and so falling downe on his face hee will worship God and report that of a truth God is in the Preacher How k Act. 2.41 powerfull was the sermon of Peter which he made to the Iewes by the inspiration of Gods Spirit and the same Spirits operation in the hearts of his hearers The Lord said by Ieremiah concerning some Prophets If they had l Ier. 23.27 28 29. stood in my Counsell and had caused my people to heare my words then they should haue turned them from their evill wayes and from the evill of their doings He that hath my word let him speak my word faithfully Is not my word like as a fire saith the Lord and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces The Apostle saith If our Gospell be m 2 Cor. 4.3 4 hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the god of this world hath blinded the mindes of them that beleeve not lest the light of the glorious gospell of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them Of Peoples hearing of Sermons Now concerning peoples hearing of sermons it is said in the exhortation at the end of Baptisme-service That Children may know the better what their godfathers and godmothers promised and vowed in their names they shall be called upon to
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
thereby and giving him hearty thankes therefore he doth eate and drinke the body and blood of our Saviour Christ profitably to his soules health although he doe not receive the Sacrament with his mouth Our Mother the Church who according to her godly wisedome was the first causer of Temples to be built in this Land and the first appointer of the Parishes unto them hath ordained the Temples to be the ordinary places for receiving the holy Sacrament But in cases of necessitie when people cannot with any conveniency come or be brought into the Temple her Divine Wisdome hath appointed such to receive in their private house The Passeover which was even of like signification as the Communion is was kept in q Exod. 12.3 4. Mat. 26.18 private houses So in the Primitive Church it is said The Disciples came together into a r Act. 20.7 8 9. Jta Syrus interpretatus est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At Arabs optime ad frangen dum vel distribuendum corpus Messiae house for to breake bread that is to * celebrate the Communion Christ saith ſ Mat. 18.20 Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them Saint Paul said to the Romanes Greet the Church which is in the t Rom. 16.5 house of Aquila and Priscilla These Scriptures are here alleaged for to illustrate the lawfulnesse of receiving the Communion in private house according as the law of the Church alloweth but not in any otherwise And that Christs body and blood is profitably unto the soules health received sometimes without the Sacrament whē as the Sacrament cannot conveniently bee received that delivery of Christ declareth where he saith Except ye u Ioh. 6.53 54 55 56 57 47. eate the flesh of the Sonne of man and drinke his blood ye have no life in you Who so eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternall life c. He that beleeveth on me hath everlasting life Behold saith Christ I stand at the doore and knocke If any man heare my voyce and open the doore I will come into him and will sup with him and w Rev. 3.20 he with me But the holy Sacrament is in no wise to be neglected but with all due reverence to be received when as it may conveniently and lawfully bee ministred because it is Gods ordinary meanes whereby his people spiritually eate the flesh of Christ and drinke his blood CHAP. 67. Of Buriall of the dead IN the Rubricke before the Service thereof it is said The Priest meeting the corpes at the Church stile shall say or else the Priest and Clerkes shall sing and so goe either into the Church or towards the grave I am the x Iohn 11.25 26. resurrection and the life saith the Lord He that c. Vpon Christs words concerning Mary the sister of Lazarus that she was come afore hand to annoynt his body to the burying Tremellius a Iew by Nation but a Christian by profession in religion and famous in the Church of God for his translation of the Scriptures forth of Hebrew Chaldean and Syriacke relateth out of * Vide Tremellianam Annotationem ad Mar. 14.6 Iudaicall Antiquity That it was the manner of the Iewes among sundry Ceremonies and Services used about the dead as annoynting washing wrapping in linnen laying it on a Beere c. before they committed the body to the ground first to utter certaine sentences written by their Ancestors or Elders to bee said at this occasion in which funerall Service Gods Iustice is commended and mans sinnes aggravated by which they deserved death and God is beseeched so to exercise his Iustice that he would not forget that he is Mercy also And the Corpes being interred some things also are said as unto the Mourners for their consolation This saith hee was a custome in Israel which in time past was the peculiar people of God and a godly custome not much unlike is now in Englād used at a buriall unto the magnifying of Gods Iustice the condemning of mans sinne the meeke beseeching of Gods mercy through Iesus Christ and the comforting of the sorrowfull upon the occasion And to performe such funerall Service is it not onely proper to the Ministery which is the ordinary y Ios 9.14 mouth of God unto the people and of the people unto God Christ saith It becommeth us to fulfill all z Mat. 3.1 5. righteousnesse The Apostle saith a Phil. 4.8 Whatsoever things are of good report if they be of any vertue or praise they are to be thought upon and observed b 1 Cor. 14.40 All things are to be done decently and in order Ancient orders and customes ordained by the weighty deliberation of forefathers which may be used without any superstition and doe tend onely unto piety and humanity are according as the Church concerning them prescribeth with all conscionable care to be retained performed Yea the Church now greatly esteemeth deliveries of Antiquity as it may appeare where it is said in the Service for Consecration of Bishops That the Archbishop sitting in a Chair shal say this to him that is to be Consecrated Brother forasmuch as holy Scripture A Prayer of Chrysostome is a part of the Letany In the Homilies there are sayings of all the Fathers alleaged with much respect and the old Canons commandeth c. S. Ambrose his song is a part of the Morning Divine Service the Confession of faith composed by Athanasius and the Nicene Creed are therein likewise Read the 34. Article of Religion CHAP. 68. Of the reverence to bee done unto Almighty God in his Worship HOly Church in her Prayer for the whole state of Christs Church militant here in earth prescribeth unto us for to say And to all thy people give thine heavenly grace and specially to this congregation here present that with meeke heart and due reverence they may heare and receive thy holy word In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 1. Homily concerning the right use of the Church or Temple of God and of the reverence due unto the same it is said Where there appeareth at these dayes great slacknesse and negligence of a great sort of people in resorting to the Church there to serve God their heavenly Father according to their most bounden duty as also much uncomely and unreverent behaviour of many persons in the same when they bee there assembled and thereby may just feare arise of the wrath of God and his dreadfull plagues hanging over our heads for our grievous offences in this behalfe among other many and great sinnes which wee daily and hourely commit before the Lord. In the second part of the said * P. 8. Homily the Church saith And indeed concerning the people and multitude the Temple is prepared for them to be hearers rather than speakers considering that aswell the word of God is there read or taught whereunto they are bound
Booke of the Wisdome of Solomon where it is said That in her is an z Wis 7.22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29. understanding Spirit Holy one onely manifold subtill lively cleare undefiled plaine not subject to hurt loving the thing that is good quicke which cannot bee letted ready to doe good kinde to man stedfast sure free from care having all power overseeing all things and going through all understanding pure and most subtill spirits For Wisdome is more moving than any motion she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her purenesse For she is the breath of the power of God and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty Therefore can no defiled thing fall into her For the is the brightnesse of the everlasting light the unspotted mirrour of the power of God and the Image of his goodnesse And being but one shee can doe all things and remaining in her selfe she maketh all things new and in all ages entring into holy soules shee maketh them friends of God and Prophets For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with Wisdome For she is more beautiful than the Sunne and above all the order of the Starres being compared with the light shee is found before it There are two Holy Scriptures which tell us what is wisdome and understanding In the Booke of Iob it is said Behold the feare of the Lord that is a Iob. 28.28 wisdome and to depart from evill is understanding Moses sheweth the same also saying Behold I have taught you statutes and judgements c. Keepe therefore and doe them for this is your b Deut. 4.6 wisdome and your understanding in the sight of the nations which shall heare all these statutes and say Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 230. Homily for Rogation weeke the Church very divinely hereto saith Let us with so good an heart pray as Solomon did and wee shall not faile but to have the spirit of Wisdomes assistance For he is soone c Wis 1.2 Wis 6.12.13.14 seene of them that love him hee will be found of them that seeke him for very liberall and gentle is the spirit of Wisdome In his power shall we have sufficient ability to d Ioh. 16.13 know our duty to God in him shall wee be e Acts. 9.31 Ioh. 14.16 comforted and couraged to walke in our duty in him shall wee bee meete vessels to receive the grace of Almighty God for it is hee that purgeth and * 1 Pet. 1.22 purifieth the minde by his secret working And he onely is present every where by his invisible power and containeth all things in his dominion Hee lightneth the heart to conceive worthy thoughts to Almighty God shee sitteth in the tongue of man to stirre him to speake his honour no language is hid from him for he hath the knowledge of all speech he onely ministreth spirituall f Eph. 3.16 strength to the powers of our soule and body Of the spirit of Counsell Concerning the spirit of Counsell it is such an ability in some measure as Paul had whereof he speaketh to the Corinthians saying That we may be able to g 2 Cor. 1.4 comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God Solomon saith A wise man will heare and will increase learning and a man of understanding shall attaine unto wise h Prov. 1.5 counsels Iethro was not onely wise for himselfe but had ability to give some good i Exod. 18.19 counsell unto Moses also Of ghostly strength Concerning ghostly strength or strength in the spirit Paul prayeth for it to be given to the Ephesians saying That God would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be k Eph. 3.16 17 18 19. strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that yee being rooted and grounded in love may bee able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that yee may be filled with all the fulnesse of God Some are but l Rom. 14. ◠weake in the faith but Abraham was m Rom. 4.19.20 strong in faith Paul for the Colossians having prayed that they might bee filled with the knowledge of Gods will in all wisdome and spirituall understanding desireth also that they may be n Col. 1.9 10 11. strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse Of the spirit of Knowledge Concerning the spirit of knowledge it is to bee considered that more is meant than a meere Historicall knowledge of truth namely an experimentall knowledge whereof Saint Iohn saith Hereby doe we o 1 Ioh. 2.3 know that wee know him if wee keepe his commandements God saith by Ieremiah Did not thy father eate and drinke and doe judgement and justice and then it was well with him Hee judged the cause of the poore and needy then it was well with him Was not this to p Ier. 22.15.16 know mee saith the Lord Hereto pertaineth that knowledge which is promised to be given to the cōprehended in the new covenant whereof the Lord by the same Prophet saith I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and they shall all q Ier. 31.33.34 know mee from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord. Of the spirit of true godlinesse Concerning the spirit of true godlinesse thereby is meant the inward worshipping of God within the spirit principally wherewith God is r Ioh. 4.23 most delighted Saint Paul saith Bodily exercise profiteth little but s 1 Tim. 4.8 godlinesse is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come The outward worshipping of God in every particular manner is with all care to be performed and preserved But withall the walking with God and the inward * Micah 6.8 as in the margent humbling of ones selfe thereto is to be zealously endevoured by the which we draw t Heb. 7.19 Ps 148.14 Iam. 4.8.9.10 Of the spirit of the Holy feare of the Lord. nigh unto God Lastly Concerning the spirit of the Holy feare of the Lord that is hereto considerable which is written That Christ in the dayes of his flesh when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that hee u Heb. 5.7 feared Great was the w Ioh. 8.49 reverence which Iesus Christ did continually beare towards God his Father Wee are required to x Eph. 5.1.2 1 Pet. 2.21 Ioh. 13.15 imitate him in all things written of him for our example
wherefore the earthly Prince should loath and abhorre the sight of us what paines would we take to remove and put it away How much more ought we with all diligence and speed that may be to put away that uncleane o 2 Cor. 7.1 filthinesse that doth p Isa 59.1 separate and maken division betwixt us and our God and that hideth his face from us that he will not heare us The Apostle to the Hebrewes saith Wee desire that every one of you doe shew the same q Heb. 6.11 12. diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end that yee be not sloathfull but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises To the Clergy Saint Paul saith Preach the Word be r 2 Tim. 4.2 instant in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine Solomon saith Be thou ſ Prov. 27.23 diligent to know the estate of thy flockes and looke well to thy heards In another place he saith Seest thou a man t Prov. 22.29 diligent in his businesse he shall stand before Kings he shall not stand before meane men Of Watchfulnesse IN the * T. 2. p. 252. Homily against Idlenesse it is said Let us u Iam. 4.7 1 Pet. 5.8 9. resist the Devill with our diligent watching in labour and in w 1 Pet. 4.19 well doing For he that diligently exerciseth himselfe in honest * See Mat. 12.44 where the originall of the word empty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also signifieth being idle businesse is not easily catched in the Devils snare Saint Paul saith unto Timothy x 2 Tim. 4 5. Watch thou in all things Christ saith y Mat. 26 41. Watch ye and pray lest ye enter in temptation What I say unto you I say unto all z Mar. 13.37 Watch. Of Contentednesse IN the * T. 2 p. 106. Homily against the excesse of Apparell it is said Let us content our selves quietly with that which God sendeth be it never so little And if it please him to send us plenty let us not waxe a Prov. 30.9 1 Tim. 6.17 18. proud thereof but let us use it moderately aswell to our owne comfort as to the reliefe of such as stand in necessity Afterward it is said Every Christian ought to content himselfe in our Saviour Christ thinking himselfe sufficiently * A most considerable sentence garnished with his heavenly vertues Saint Paul saith Godlinesse with b 1 Tim 6.6 7 8. contentment is great gaine For wee brought nothing into this world and it is certaine we can cary nothing out and having food and rayment let us be therewith content Let your c Heb. 13.5 conversation be without covetousnesse and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Saint Paul said concerning himselfe I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be d Phil. 4.11 content Of Simplicity IN the * T. 2. p. 106. Homily against the excesse of Apparell it is said Let us take unto us simplicity chastity and comelinesse submitting our necks to the sweet e Mat. 11.30 yoke of Christ The Lord Iesus said to his Apostles Behold I send you forth as sheepe in the midst of Wolves be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmlesse or f Mat 10.16 simple as doves Saint Paul said to the Corinthians I feare lest by any meanes as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the g 2 Cor. 11.3 simplicity that is in Christ In another Epistle he saith He that giveth let him doe h Rom. 12 8. it with simplicity And I would have you wise unto that which is good and i Rom. 19.19 simple concerning evill Concerning himselfe he said Our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in k 2 Cor. 1.12 simplicty and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisedome but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world and more abundantly to you wards Singlenesse of minde is one of the heavenly vertues Let us heare what David saith of the contrary nature They speake vanitie every one with his neighbour with flattering lips and with a l Psal 12.2 3. double heart doe they speak The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaketh proud things Of Zealousnesse IN the second part of the * T. 2. p. 131 132. Homily concerning the place and time of prayer it is said But now forasmuch as ye perceive it is Gods determinate pleasure ye should resort unto your Churches upon the day of holy rest seeing yee heare what displeasure God conceiveth what plagues he powreth upon his disobedient people seeing ye understand what blessings of God are given what heavenly commodities come to such people as desirously and zealously use to resort unto their Churches seeing also ye are now friendly bidden and joyntly called beware that ye slacke not your duty take heed that you suffer nothing to let you hereafter to come to the Church at such times as you are ordinarily appointed and commanded Ever memorable is that which the Lord said to the Angell of the Church of the Laodiceans I know thy workes that thou art neither cold nor hot I would thou were cold or hot So then because thou art lukewarme and neither cold nor hot I will spue thee out of my mouth As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be m Rev. 3.15 16 17 18.19 Ier. 48.10 as in the margent zealous therefore and repent Paul signified of some that had a n Rom. 10.2 zeale of God but not according to knowledge Hee telleth Titus therefore whereof all should be o Tit. 2.14 zealous namely of good workes Great also ought to be the zeale of every Christian concerning Gods house his Temple and every part of his publike worship and concerning every circumstance thereto ordained by the Church that nothing thereof be profaned but every particular with all due reverence used or performed according to the example of Iesus Christ of whom it is said that the p Iohn 2.17 zeale of his fathers house had eaten them up Of Modestie IN the * T. 2. p. 94. Homily against Gluttony and Drunkennesse it is said Almighty God to the end that wee might keepe our selves undefiled and serve him in holinesse and righteousnesse according to his word hath charged in his Scriptures so many as looke for the glorious appearing of our Saviour Christ to lead their lives in all q Tit. 3.12 13. sobriety modesty and temperance whereby wee may learne how necessary it is for every Christian that will not be found unready at the comming of our Saviour Christ to live sober minded in this present world forasmuch as otherwise being unready he r Mat. 25.10 11 12. cannot enter with Christ into glory And being
not abide the word of God but following the perswasions and stubbornnesse of their owne hearts goe backward and not forward as it is said in e Ier. 7. 24. Ieremy they goe and turne away from God Many now a daies by their neglect to have the holy Bible in their houses by their neglect to search it by their neglect to live according to it by their neglect to amend according to it what by the ministery they are informed of to be amisse by their neglect to heare it duly according to the Law of the Church by their neglect even all the yeare to conferre on it and by their neglect to meditate thereon they shew plainly that they have it in contempt and were it not for feare of being punished by the Magistrate they would expresse what is in their hearts against it And so some Machavillians will adventure sometimes to utter without any feare of God or man Moreover the contemners of the Divine Service-doctrine of the Church and of the Ministers which conscionably endeavour to live and teach according to all the same are to be reckoned among the g 1 Thes 4.8 contemners of Gods Word as it may appeare out of Christs words where hee saith unto his Ministers He that heareth you heareth me and he that h Luke 10.16 despiseth you despiseth me If they have kept my saying they will keepe yours also Ieremiah saith The wise men are ashamed they are dismayed and taken loe they have i Ier. 5.9 rejected the Word of the Lord and what wisedome is in them Of halting on both sides IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 259. Homily of Repentance it is said God requireth a sincere and pure love of godlinesse and of the true worshipping and service of God that is to say that for saking all manner of things that are repugnant pugnant and contrary unto Gods will wee doe give our hearts unto him and the whole strength of our bodies and soules according to that which is written in the Law Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with k Deut. 6.5 all thy heart with all thy soule and with all thy strength Here therefore nothing is left unto us that we may give unto the world and unto the l Rom. 13.14 lusts of the flesh For sith that the heart is the fountaine of all our workes as many as doe with whole heart turne unto the Lord doe m Rom. 14.7 8 9. 1 Thes 5.10 live unto him onely Neither doe they yet repent truely that halting on both sides doe otherwhiles obey God but by and by doe thinke that laying him aside it is lawfull for them to serve the world and the n Rom. 8.8.4 5.12 Gal. 5.16 17.24 flesh Elijah said How long halt ye betweene two opinions or thoughts If the Lord be God o 1 Kings 18.21 follow him but if Baal then follow him The Lord Iesus hath said p Mat. 6.24 No man can serve two Masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else hee will hold to the one and despise the other Yee cannot serve God and Mammon Of Vaine glory IT is signified in the second part of the * T. 2. p. 203. Homily concerning the Sacrament That by vaine-glory ambition c. people are q Prov. 13.10 dissevered which should be joyned together in unity and godly love And therefore in the sacred Letany we are taught to pray for to bee delivered from it Saint Paul saith Let us not be desirous of vaine-glory r Gal. 5.26 provoking one another envying one another Christ said to the disobedient Iewes Å¿ Rom. 5.44 How can ye beleeve which receive honour one of another and seeke not the honour which commeth from God onely Againe the Lord saith t Iohn 7.18 Hee that speaketh of himselfe seeketh his owne glory but he that seeketh his glory that sent him the same is true and no unrighteousnesse is in him Saint Paul saith O Timothy keepe that which is committed to thy trust avoiding prophane and vaine bablings and u 1 Tim. 6.20 21. oppositions of science falsely so called which some professing have erred concerning the faith Saint Iohn saith Among the chiefe Rulers many beleeved on Christ and because of the Pharisees they did not confesse him lest they should bee put out of the Synagogue For they w Ioh. 12.42 43. loved the praise of men more than the praise of God Of Hypocrisie IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 10. Homily of the misery of man it is said Few of the proud just learned wise perfect and holy Pharisees were saved by Christ because they justified themselves by their counterfeit holinesse before men Wherefore good people let us beware of such hypocrisie vaine glory and justifying of our selves The Lord said unto his disciples Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees which is x Luk 12.1 hypocrisie The Lord signifieth that the Hypocrites doe their Almes for to y Mat. 6.2.5 have glory of men They love to pray standing c. that they may bee seene of men They make long z Mat. 23.14 prayer thinking to be heard for their a Mat. 6.7 much speaking They outwardly b Mat. 23.28 appeare righteous unto men but within are full of hypocrisie and iniquitie All their workes they doe for to be c Mat. 23.5 seene of men They justifie d Mat. 16 15. themselves before men Saint Paul saith not he that c 2 Cor. 10.18 commendeth himselfe is approved but whom the Lord commendeth Christ hath very plainly displayed the nature of hypocrisie in the 23. Chapter of Saint Matthew Of Heresie IN the Letany we are taught to pray To be delivered from all false doctrine and heresie Saint Paul saith unto Titus A man that is an f Tit. 3.10.11 Heretike after the first and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inverto id quod interius eratextrà verto seu resuâ—ino An Heretike is as a dogge returned to his owne vomit againe 2 Pet. 2.22.21 second admonition reject knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being coÌ„demned of himselfe Whence it may appeare that 3. things are to be considered concerning heresie First that it is a departing out of the narrow way that leadeth unto life eternall both with minde and life or a turning cleane contrary to the right forme Secondly it is returning unto an habit of sinning And thirdly it is a condition or estate without peace of conscience but having an inward condemnation They of the Church of Rome which call heretikes the members of the Apostolicall Church of England namely that Church in England which is by Law established under the Kings Majestie doe greatly and damnably slander them For the true meÌ„bers of the said Apostolicall Church of England are not in minde and life departed forth of the narrow way
doers and for the praise of them that doe well If such as are seditiously inclined would sometimes reade through the whole Homily of obedience and the whole Homily against disobedience and wilfull rebellion and also would call to minde the end of all seditious ones and of all privie conspiratours in former times even in all privie conspiratours in former times even in all ages and almost in all places they by the grace of Christ might be of a cleane contrary disposition Saint Paul from God Almighty denounceth that hatred variance emulations wrath strife z Gal. 5.20.21 seditions heresies or sects or factions envyings c. Are workes of the flesh and that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdome of God And now for conclusion about mentioning particular sins referring every devout soule unto a diligent reading or hearing of the whole Bible and to observe thereout what the spirit of God hath delivered and prescribed for every one in his severall vocation and state either to doe or to leave undone and to shunne and also to a most serious search of the whole divine Service of the Church of England for to performe every particular duty mentioned therein which concerneth him and to shunne whatsoever it is there dehorted from let us heare what holy Church delivereth unto us in the first Homily * T. 2. p. 176. of the Passion concerning the detestation which we ought to have within us continuall against all sinne No man can love sinne which God a Ps 5.4.5.6 hateth so much and be in his favour No man can say that hee b Ioh. 14.23.24 loveth Christ truly and have his great enemy sinne I meane aut hour of his death familiar and in friendship with him So much doe we love God and Christ as wee hate sinne Wee ought therfore to take great heed that wee be not favourers thereof lest wee be found enemies to God and traitours to Christ We can no otherwise live to God but by c 1 Cor. 15.31 Rom. 6.8.11 dying to sin If Christ bee d Rom. 8.10.11 in us then is sinne dead in us and if the spirit of God be in us which raised Christ from death to life so shall the same spirit raise us to the Resurrection of everlasting life e Rom. 6.16 But if sinne rule and raigne in us then is God which is the fountaine of all grace and vertue f Ier. 6.8 departed from us then hath the Devill and his vngratious spirit g 2 Pet 2.19 rule and dominion in us And surely if in such miserable h Eccles. 11. â—â— Heb. 9.27 state wee dye we shall not rise to life but fall downe to death and damnation and that without end David therefore saith Ye that love the Lord i Ps 97.10 Ps 119.104 hate evill CHAP. 96. Of the sinne against the Holy Ghost IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 261. Homily of repentance it is said But of the finall falling away from Christ his Gospell which is a sinne against the Holy Ghost that shall never bee forgiven because that they doe k Heb. 10.26 utterly forsake the knowne truth doe l Cor. 16.22 hate Christ and his m Ioh. 8.47 word they doe n Heb. 6.6 crucifie and o Heb. 10.29 mocke him but to their utter destruction and therefore fall into desperation and cannot repent In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 150. Homily of certaine places of Scripture it is said concerning three sorts of people whose company the Prophet David would to be shunned by every one that would be blessed The third sort the Prophet calls p Ps 1.1 scorners that is a sort of men whose hearts are so stuffed with malice that they are not contented to dwell in sinne and to lead their lives in all kind of wickednesse but also they doe q 2 Tim. 3.3 Prov. 29.27 contemne and scorne in other all godlinesse true religion all honesty and vertue Of this sort I thinke I may without danger of Gods judgemeÌ„t pronounce that never any yet converted unto God by repentance but continued still in their abominable wickednesse r Rom. 2.5 2 Tim. 3.8.13 heaping up to themselves damnation against the day of Gods inevitable judgements What sinne against the Holy Ghost is it may the better appeare by considering first what is sinne against God the Father and what is sinne against God the Sonne Sinne against God the Father is all transgression committed whiles one is in the first s Luk. 15.18.24 Eph. 2.1 death of trespasses and sinnes and in minde is t Eph. 5.14 asleepe not attending unto the gracious call of God the Father nor following his profered u Ioh. 6.44 Hos 11.4 Ier. 31.3 drawing or leading unto repentance Sinne also is said to be against God the Father which is coÌ„mitted through humane w 1. Ioh. 2.12 weakenesse and frailty And sinne against God the Sonne is the speaking of a word against the x Mat. 12.31.32 sonne of man Iesus Christ which sinne Saul afterward called Paul committed y 1 Tim. 1.13.16 ignorantly in unbeleife Yea and Peters z Luke 22.56 c. deniall of Christ for a time appeareth to bee a sinne of that nature Also when one is a disciple of Christs Gospell and through meere ignorance or the like infirmity offendeth against Christ as Peter did when hee said unto Christ Bee it a Mat 16.22 farre from thee Lord This shall not bee unto thee meaning the suffering which Christ signified that hee should endure All sinne committed against God the Father is b Rom. 3.25 forgiven through his great mercy in Iesus Christ c Ezech. 18.21 22. when one repenteth for the sinne All sinne committed against God the Sonne is forgiven for his d 1 Ioh. 2.12 Eph 4 32. names sake unto such as e 1 Tim. 6.12 Rev. 2.10.11 fight the good fight of faith and truly endeavour to lay hold on eternall life Now concerning sinne against the Holy Ghost it is either committed by such as have beene made partakers of the Holy Ghost of whom S. Paul saith to the Hebrewes That it is impossible for those who where once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made f Heb. 6.4.5.6.7.8 partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come being * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hieronymus vertit Prolapsi sunt Syrus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui rursum peccaverunt id est a justitia deficientes certamalitia in omne peccatum projecti sunt c Iunius fallen away to renew them againe to repentance seeing they crucifie to themselves the Sonne of God afresh and put him to an open shame For the earth which drinketh in the raine that commeth oft upon it and bringeth forth hearbes meete for them by whom it
a Sunne and sheild the Lord will give grace and glory f Psal 84.11 no good thing will he with-hold from them that walke uprightly Saint Iohn saith Whatsoever we aske g 1 Ioh. 3.22 we receive of him because wee keepe his Commandement and doe those things which are pleasing in his sight And Isaiah saith unto Christs Church Behold the darknesse shall cover the earth and grosse darknesse the people but the Lord shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be seene upon h Isa 60.2 thee Saint Paul saith to the Ephesians In Christ also after that ye beleeved ye were i Ephes 1.13.14 sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory Yea Saint Peter signifieth that if faith vertue knowledge temperance patience godlinesse brotherly kindnes and charity be in us and abound we shall never k 2 Pet. 1.10 11. fall but so an entrance shall be ministred unto us abundantly into the everlasting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ Many more are the blessings which accompany Gods true Religion now in this life present which a devout soule may observe signified throughout all the Scriptures and the books of Divine Service Read Deuteronomy 28. Isaiah 60. and observe the 7. sundry blessings promised by Christ in Mat. 5. and to what conditioned people they are made likewise the 7. promises or blessings signified to the seven Churches of Asia in Rev. 2 3 CHAP. 100. Against separating from the Church of England by law established under the Kings Majesty in any manner IN the third part of the * T. 1. p. 36. Homily concerning good works it is signified That the world from the beginning untill Christs time was ever ready to l Exod. 32.1 7 8. fall from the Commandements of God and to seeke other meanes to honour and serve him m 1 Sam. 15.21 22 23. after a devotion found out of their owne heads and how they did set up their owne n Mat. 15.3 6 9. traditions as high or above Gods Commandements which hath happened also in our times the more it is to be lamented no lesse than it did among the Iewes and that by the corruption or at least by the o Mat. 13.25 26. negligence of them that chiefly ought to have preserved the pure and heavenly doctrine left by Christ What man having any judgement or learning joyned with a true zeale unto God doth not see and lament to have entred into Christs Religion such p 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. false doctrine superstition idolatry hypocrisie and other q 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5. enormities and abuses so as by little and little through the sowre leaven thereof the sweet r Rev 11 3 7 8. bread of Gods holy Word hath been much hindred and layed apart For the reforming of the which the like things amisse the holy Fathers of the Church of England by the assent and consent of the Royall Majesty set forth the book of common Prayer the book of Homilies and the booke of ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons for to declare the true worship of Almighty God and to be used in the publike performance of the same They also for the avoiding of diversities of opinions and for the stablishing of consent touching true Religion composed 39. Articles concerning fundamental matter in religion And for to keepe decency order and uniformity of Christian life throughout the whole Church there are made Constitutions Canons Ecclesiasticall 141. Moreover for the instruction of scholers in schooles and likewise for the use of all other people there is set forth by publike authority a Catechisme of a larger and of a shorter forme which is commonly called Nowels Catechisme And it expoundeth the 10. Commandements the 12. Articles of the Creed the 6. Petitions of the Lords Prayer and the Sacraments Baptisme the Supper of the Lord There is also the booke called God and the King which every subject ought to have for to be minded most constātly resolved according to the information of the same booke These aforesaid books are the bookes of the established doctrine discipline of the Church of England Now besides those books the law instruction or teaching of the Church our ſ Prov. 6.20 21 22 23. mother There is also the whole holy Bible by the appointmēt of the royal Majesty the ministery of learned Doctors in the Church t 1 Cor. 14.12.19 Hab. 22. Psal 67.2 set forth into our mother tongue and so published as that every man woman child may enjoy it for to u Ps 119.9 conforme their minds lives according to all the everlasting commandements of the same Seeing then that the Church of England doth thus w Phil. 2.16 hold forth the word of life eternall cherisheth nourisheth up her members therin even from their very infancie for so it is her ordinance that every particular person should be educated how greatly doe they sinne which doe in any manner x Iude 19. separate from her But some will say That shee her selfe is separated from other Christian Churches with which shee was at unity in times past Let us heare the words of the Church her selfe concerning this matter written in her 30 Canon where it is said So farre was it from the purpose of the Church of England to forsake and reject the Churches of Italy France Spaine Germany or any such like Churches in all things which they held and practised that as the Apologie of the Church of England confesseth it doth with reverence retaine those Ceremonies which doe neither endamage the Church of God nor offend the mindes of sober men and onely departed from them in those particular points wherein they were fallen both from themselves in their ancient integrity and from the Apostolicall Churches which were their first Founders There are others of sundry kinds which say we separate not from the Church but from her errors and from her superstitions or from her imperfections If any one will unpartially by all Gods expresse word examine what those wise ones in their owne eyes doe finde fault withall in any of the aforementioned bookes of the Church and what they doe y Isa 50.11 Ier. 16.20 setup to themselves for to follow hee cannot but by the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ which at length z Psal 25.12 13 14. Iohn 7.17 Mat. 7.7 8. bringeth every one into the way of truth which unfeinedly seeketh it for to walke faithfully therein unto his lives end plainly perceive that such have no more cause to separate in regard of any particular than others have in regard of the generall deliveries by the aforesaid Church of England in the bookes above named To God onely wise bee glory through Iesus Christ for ever Amen FINIS
2. Man that is borne of a woman hath but a short time to live and is full of misery He commeth up and is cut downe like a flowre hee fleeth as it were a shadow and never continueth in one stay In the midst of life we be in death In the second part of the * T. 1. p. 58. Homily of falling from God it is said Sinners that continue in their wicked living ought to thinke that the promises of Gods mercy and the c Isa 61.1 2 3. Gospell pertaine not unto them being in that state but onely the d Gal. 3.23.24 law and those Scriptures which containe the wrath and indignation of God and his threatnings which should certifie them that as they doe over boldly presume of Gods mercy and live dissolutely So doth God still more and more withdraw his mercy from them he is so provoked therby to e Rom. 2.4 5 6 8. wrath at length that he destroyeth such presumers many times suddenly For of such S. Paul f 1 Thes 5 2 3. said thus When they shall say it is peace there is no danger then shall sudden destruction come up on them Let us g Heb. 12.15 and 3.12 beware therefore of such naughty boldnesse to sinne For God which hath promised his mercy to them that be truely repentant although it be at the latter end hath not promised to the presumptuous sinner either that hee shall have long life or that he shall have true repentance at the last end But for that purpose hath he made every mans death uncertaine that hee should not put his hope in the end and in the meane season to Gods high displeasure live ungodly Wherefore let us follow the counsell of the Wise man h Ecclus. 5.7 Let us make no tarrying to turne unto the Lord Let us not put off from day to day for suddenly shall his wrath come and in time of vengeance he will destroy the wicked In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 273. Homily of repentance it is said Which words I desire you to marke diligently because they doe most lively put before our eyes the fondnesse of many men who i Rom. 2.4 5 6. Ps 10.3 4 5 6. abusing the long suffering and goodnesse of God doe never thinke on repentance or amendment of life * Ecclus. 5.2 3 4 5 6. Follow not saith he thine owne minde and thy strength to walke in the wayes of thy heart neither say thou who will bring me under for my workes For God the revenger will revenge the wrong done by thee And say not I have sinned and what evill hath come unto me For the Almighty is a patient rewarder but he will not leave thee unpunished Because thy sinnes are forgiven thee be not without feare to heape sinne upon sinne Say not neither The Mercy of God is great he will forgive my manifold sinnes For mercy and wrath come from him and his indignation commeth upon unrepentant sinners As if he should say Art thou strong and mighty Art thou lusty and young Hast thou the wealth and riches of the world Or when thou hast sinned hast thou received no punishment for it Let none of all these things make thee to be the slower to repent to returne with speed unto the Lord. For in the day of punishment of his sudden vengeance they shall not be able to helpe thee And specially when thou art either by the preaching of Gods Word or by some inward motion of his Holy Spirit or else by some other meanes called unto repentance neglect not the good occasion that is ministred unto thee lest when thou wouldest repent thou hast not the grace for to doe it For to repent is a good k 2 Tim. 2.25 Act. 11.18 gift of God which he will never grant unto them who living in carnall security doe make a mocke of his threatnings or seeke to rule his Spirit as they list as though his working and gifts were l Ps 135. 5 6. Isa 40.12 13 14 15 17. tyed unto their will It is greatly considerable that almost every such person as is afore mentioned which deferreth repentance till towards his end being asked a little afore his death whether he thinketh that he hath lived as he ought as he might have lived in obedience unto Christs Lawes and the Ordinances of Christs holy Church if he would have used the prescribed meanes thereunto he will then from an opened conscience not justifie himselfe but confesse much truth as experience even in all places from time to time confirmeth Many there are which never all their life long have any regard to conferre with any godly Minister concerning what be the m Mat. 7.13 14 Psal 25.4 5 9 10. and 143.8 strait wayes of the Lord wherein all of yeeres of discretion are bound to walke conscionably and more and more obediently that would come unto n Mat. 19.16 17. life eternall but when they are in feare of dying their conscience then being awaked and accusing them and telling them they must o 2 Cor. 5.10 Heb. 9.27 appeare before Christs judgment seat to receive everlasting judgement according as they have beleeved and lived they will acknowledge some use of the ministery and of the Church-Prayers to be used in the Visitation of the sicke It it is become and old Proverbe with very many * A saying too common namely that if they can afore they dye have but time to aske God mercy they shall doe as well as the best of thē who have p Luk. 1.74 75. served God in holines righteousnes before him even all the daies of their life But how greatly such desperate and dissolute persons doe q Mal. 3.13 14 15 16 17 18. mistake the proceeding of Almighty God they may see if they will beleeve what is written in the first chapter of the Proverbs from the 20. verse unto that chapters end Also they may perceive that they are in a damnable errour if they wil observe what is delivered in that most Divine * Whose beginning is Now seeing all they be accursed c. Exhortation in the Service of Commination Saint Paul saith Be not deceived God is not mocked for r Gal. 6.7 8. whatsoever a man soweth that shall he reape For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reape life everlasting And againe he saith We then as workers together with God beseech you also that yee receive not the grace of God in vaine For he saith I have heard thee in a time accepted and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee behold ſ 2 Cor. 6.1 2. now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation Whiles it is said t Heb. 3.15 to day if yee will heare his voyce harden not your hearts as in the provocation CHAP.
99. Of sundry of Gods blessings upon obedient people in this present life IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 5. Homily concerning the right use of the Church it is said If we would with diligence resort to the house of the Lord together to serve the Lord with one accord and u Zeph. 3.9 consent in all holinesse and righteousnesse before him wee have promises of benefits both heavenly and worldly Wheresoever two or three be gathered in my name saith our Saviour Christ there am I in the w Mat. 18.20 middest of them And what can bee more blessed than to have our Saviour Christ x Psal 16.11.6.5 Ezech. 48.35 among us In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 93.94 Homily of Fasting it is said Godwhich heard y 1 King 21.29 Ahab and the z Ionah 3.10 Ninevites and spared them will also heare our prayers and spare us so that we after their example will unfainedly turne unto him yea he will blesse us with his heavenly benedictions the time that we have to tary in this world and after the race of this mortall life he will bring us to his a Mat. 7.21 heavenly Kingdome In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 212. Homily for Whitsunday it is said Our Saviour Christ departing out of the world unto his Father promised his disciples to send downe another Comforter that should b Iohn 14.16 continue with them for ever and direct them into c Iohn 16.13 all truth The blessing pronounced at the end of Evening-Service namely d 2 Cor. 13.14 The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with us all evermore Is it not a great comfort to a soule for to enjoy all the same Saint Iohn accounted the fellowship with Gods Spirit the Sūmum bonum the supreame happinesse in this world where hee saith z Pet. 1.11 to the little children in Christ That which we have seene and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truely our e 1 Ioh. 1.1 2 3 fellowship is with the Father and with his Sonne Iesus Christ And these things write wee unto you that your joy may be full In the * T. 2. p. 193. Homily of the Resurrection it is signified That untill the generall resurrection in the last day whiles wee now are in this world Gods holy spirit may be had within our hearts as a f 2 Cor. 1.22 seale and g Eph. 1.13.14 Rom 8.15 16.23 pledge of our everlasting inheritance Yea saith that sacred * T. 2. p. 192 Homily unto every true member of Christ Thou hast received Christs body to have within thee the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost for to h Ioh. 14.23 2 Cor. 6.16 dwell with thee for to endow thee with grace to strength thee against thine enemies and to comfort thee with their presence And againe Christ now entred within us how dare we be so bold to renounce the presence of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost for where one is there is God i Col. 3.11 Ephes 4.6 1 Cor. 3.16 17. and 6.19 all whole in Majesty together with all his power wisdome and goodnesse and feare not I say the danger and perill of so traiterous a defiance and departure In the first * T. 2. p. 180. Homily of the Passion it is said God give us all grace to follow Christs k 1 Pet. 2.21 1 Iohn 2.6 examples in peace in charity in patience and sufferance that wee now may have him our ghest to enter and dwell within us so as we may be in full surety having such a pledge of our salvation If we have him and his favour we may be sure that we have the favour of God l Mat. 3.17 by his meanes In the third Exhortation afore the Communion it is said If with a true penitent heart and lively faith wee receive that holy Sacrament then we m Iohn 6.63.36 spiritually eate the flesh of Christ and drink his blood then we dwell in Christ and Christ in us we be n 1 Cor. 6.17 one with Christ and Christ with us In the * T. 2. p. 195. Homily of the Resurrection it is said Apply your selves good friends to live in Christ that Christ may still live o Gal. 2. 2 Cor. 4.10.11 in you whose favour and assistance if ye have then p Iohn 3.36 and 6.47 1 Iohn 5.20 have you everlasting life already within you then can nothing q Rom. 8.31 hurt you Whatsoever is hitherto done and committed Christ ye see hath offered you pardon and clearly received you to his favour againe in full surety whereof yee have him now inhabiting and r Rom. 8.9 10 11. Gal 4.6 1 Iohn 3.24 dwelling within you In the first part of Whitsunday * T. 2 p. 209. Homily it is said The Holy Ghost doth not thinke it sufficient inwardly to work the spirituall and new birth of man unlesse he doe also ſ 1 Cor. 3.16 dwell and abide in him In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 60. Homily against the feare of Death it is signified That a true Christian is the very t Ephes 5.30 member of Christ the u 1 Cor. 3.17 Temple of the Holy Ghost the w Rom. 8.14 15 16. Sonne of God and the very x Rom. 8.17 Iam. 2.5 inheritour of the everlasting Kingdome of Heaven Most memorable is that sentence of the Holy Ghost delivered by Saint Paul unto Timothy Godlinesse is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that y 1 Tim. 4.8 now is and of that which is to come David saith The Lord will give strength unto his people The Lord will blesse his people with z Psal 29.11 peace Wisedome saith in the booke of the Proverbs Whoso hearkeneth unto me shal dwell a Prov. 1.33 safely and shall be quiet from feare of evill And Solomon also saith b Prov. 3.16 17 18. Length of dayes is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and honour She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her Isaiah saith Since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the eare neither hath the eye seene O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him Thou c Isa 64.4 5. meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousnesse those that remember thee in thy wayes Peter saith The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his eares are d 1 Pet. 3.12 open unto their prayers Hanani the Seer said The eyes of the Lord runne too and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himselfe strong in the e 2 Chro. 16.9 behalfe of him whose heart is perfect towards him David saith The Lord is