otherwise it is of no strength at all whilest the Testatour liueth Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without bloud It was therefore necessary that the patternes of things in the heauens should be purified with these but the heauenly things themselues with better sacrifices than these And in another place the same Apostle sayth m Heb. 2.9.10 We see Iesus who was made a little lower than the Angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour that he by the grace of God should taste death for euery man For it became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sonnes vnto glory to make the Captaine of their saluation perfect through sufferings For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and bloud he also himselfe likewise tooke part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the diuell And Christ signified the same vnto the two men going to Emmaus saying n Luke 24 26. Ought not Christ to haue suffered these things and to enter into his glory The Prophets o Psal 2â— Dauid p Isa 53. Isaiah and q Dan. 9.24.25.26 Daniel foretold expresly of his death And r 2. Esdras 7.29 Esdras hath mentioned the same CHAP. 23. Of the resurrection and ascension of Iesus Christ IN the * T. 2. p. 189. Homily of the Resurrection of our Sauior Iesus Christ it is sayd So great surely is the matter of this Article and of so great waight and importance that it was thought worthy to keepe our Sauior still on earth forty dayes after he was risen from death to life to the confirmation and establishment thereof in the hearts of his Disciples Saint Paul sayth to the Corinthians Å¿ 1. Cor 15 14.1â— If Christ be not risen then is our preaching vaine and your faith is also vaine yea and wee are found false witnesses of God because we haue testified of God that he hath raised vp Christ And if Christ be not raised your faith is vaine yee are yet in your sinnes The Church deliuereth also in the aforesayd * P. 191. 192. Homily It had not beene enough to be deliuered by his death from sinne except by his Resurrection wee had bene t Rom. 4.25 endowed with righteousnesse And it should not auaile vs to be deliuered from death except he had risen againe to open for vs the gates of Heauen to enter into life euerlasting He died to destroy the rule of the Diuell in vs and he rose againe to send downe his holy Spirit to rule in our hearts to endow vs with perfect righteousnesse The second Antheme to be sayd on Easter day is u 1. Cor. 15.20.21 Christ is risen againe the first fruites of them that sleepe For seeing that by man came death by man also commeth the resurrection of the dead For as by Adam all men doe dye so by Christ all men shall bee restored to life Therefore sayth the Church in the Preface to be read on Easter day Chiefly are we bound to praise thee for the glorious Resurrection of thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord for he is the very w 1. Cor. 5.7 Paschall Lambe which was offered for vs and hath x Ioh. 1.29 taken away the sinne of the world who by his y 1. Cor. 15.54.55 death hath destroyed death and by his rising to life againe hath restored to vs life z 1. Thes 4.14 Iohn 5 24.28.29 Rom. 8.11 Ioh. 6.33 1. Cor. 15.23 euerlasting Also by his rising againe he was manifested to be God as it is written And declared to be the Sonne of God with power according to the Spirit of Holinesse a Rom. 1.4 by the Resurrection from the dead Reade diligently the Homily of the Resurrection wherein the Doctrine thereof and the vse which we are to make of it is in most Diuine manner deliuered Now concerning Christs Ascension it is signified in the * T. 2. p. 189. Homily of the Resurrection That he ascended vp to his Father into the heauens there to receiue the b Ioh. 20.17 Iohn 17.5 1. Iâ—eâ— 3.22 glory of his most triumphant conquest and victory And in the Preface to be read vpon the Ascension day it is sayd that Iesus Christ our Lord after his most glorious Resurrection manifestly appeared to all his Apostles and in their c Acts 1.9.10.11 sight ascended vp into Heauen to prepare a place for vs that where he is thither might we also ascend and reigne with him in glory That Christ was glorified being ascended into Heauen Dauid declareth saying d Psal 68.18 Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led captiuity captiue thou hast receiued gifts for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord might dwell among them Saint Paul sayth e Heb. 12.2 That Christ for the ioy which was set before him endured the Crosse despising the shame and is set downe at the right hand of the Throne of God That hee also ascended to f Iohn 14.2.3 prepare in Heauen a place for his true Disciples hee testifieth by his VVordes saying In my Fathers House are many Mansions if it were not so I would haue told you I goe to prepare a place for you And if I goe and prepare a place for you I will come againe and receiue you vnto my selfe that where I g Iohn 17.24 Iohn 12.26 am there yee may bee also The Apostle to the Hebrewes writting concerning the Ascension sayth also h Hebr. 9.24 Christ is not entred into the Holy places made with hands which are figures of the true but into Heauen it selfe now to appeare in the presence of God for vs. And to the Ephesians hee sayth i Ephe. 4.10 Hee that descended is the same also that ascended vp farre aboue all Heauens that he might fill all things CHAP. 24. Of the comming downe of the Holy Ghost HOly Church in most Diuine manner in the Sacred Letany mentioneth together all the great things done and suffered by Christ for Mankinde teaching vs to pray that by all and euery of them we in particular may be deliuered saying By the Mystery of thy Holy Incarnation by the Holy Natiuity and Circumcision by the Baptisme Fasting and Temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine Agony and Bloody Sweate by thy Crosse and passion by thy precious death and buriall by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension and by the comming of the Holy Ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. Wherein we are taught to consider that the comming of the Holy Ghost is a matter pertaining to our deliuerance or saluation and now here to be meditated on In the Preface to be read on Whitsunday it is sayd That according to the most true promise of Iesus Christ our Lord the Holy Ghost came downe this day from Heauen with a suddaine great sound as it had beene a mightie wind in
all things I will bee his God and he shall be my sonne But the fearefull and unbeleeving c. shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Who so would read the lawfull use of the signe of the crosse made after baptisme explaned may see in the thirtieth Canon of the Church the same with much godly wisedome delivered And there it is said Among some other very ancient Ceremonies the signe of the Crosse in baptisme hath beene retained in this Church by the judgement and practise of those reverend fathers and great Divines in the dayes of King Edward the sixth c. CHAP. 54. Of Comfirmation commonly called Bishopping THe order of confirmation set afore the Catechisme in the divine service giveth us to understand the reason of the same in the three considerations delivered for the which unto none confirmation is to be ministred save only unto such as can say that Catechisme viz. First because that when children come to the yeares of discretion and have learned what their Godfathers and Godmothers promised for them in Baptisme they may then themselves with their owne mouth and with their owne consent openly before the Church ratisie and confirme the same And also promise by the grace of God they will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to observe and keepe such things as they by their owne mouth and confession have assented unto Secondly forasmuch as Confirmation is ministred to them that be baptized that by imposition of hands and prayer they may receive strength and defence against all temptations to sinne and the assaults of the world and the Devill it is most meet to bee ministred when children come to that age that partly by the frailty of their owne flesh partly by the assaults of the world and the Devill they begin to bee in danger to fall into sundry kindes of sinne Thirdly for that it is agreeable with the usage of the Church in times past Whereby it was ordained that confirmation should bee ministred to them that were of perfect age that they being instructed in Christs religion should openly professe their owne faith and promise to bee obedient to the will of God In the prayer to be said afore the act of confirmation there are mentioned together the sundry * See Chap. 24. graces wherein we are to desire for to be confirmed where it is said strengthen them wee beseech thee O Lord with the holy Ghost the comforter and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace the spirit of wisedom and understanding the spirit of Counsell and ghostly strength the spirit of knowledge and true godlinesse and fulsill them O Lord with the spirit of thy holy feare And the words of the confirmation firmation or Bishopping it selfe are pronuonced by the Bishop laying his hand upon every child severally saying Defend O Lord this child with thy heauenly grace that hee may continue thine for ever and daily increase in thy holy spirit more and more untill hee come unto thine everlasting kingdome And the reason of the laying the hands is delivered in the prayer to bee said when Confirmation is done where it is said Wee make our humble supplications unto thee for these children upon whom after the example of the holy Apostles wee have laid our hands to certifie them by this signe of thy favour and gratious goodnesse toward them Let thy fatherly hand we beseech thee ever bee over them Let thy holy spirit ever bee with them and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy word that in the end they may obtaine the everlasting life throughour Lord Iesus Christ Also in the rubricke at the end of the Catechisme it is said every Child shall bee brought to the Bishop by one that shall be his Godfather or Godmother that every child may have a witnesse of his Confirmation Holy Church in her Lawes called Constitutions Canons Ecclesiasticall hath two Canons concerning Confirmation the * Canon 60. one that it is to bee performed once in three yeares the * Canon 61. other that ministers are to prepare Children for Confirmation In the sixtieth Canon it is said Forasmuch as it hath beene a solemne ancient and laudable custom in the Church of God continued from the Apostles times that all Bishops should lay their hands upon children baptized and instructed in the Catechisme of Christian Religion praying over them and blessing them which wee commonly call Confirmation and that this holy action hath beene accustomed in the Church in the former ages to be performed in the Bishops visitation every third yeere c. Confirmation or laying on of hands is an ordinance of the Gospel of so great importance as that by the Apostle to the Hebrewes it is set as the fourth principle of the doctrine of Christ where he reckoneth up together the sixe principles of the Oracles of God saying d Heb. 6 1 2. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ let us goe on unto perfection not laying againe the foundation of repentance from dead workes and of faith towards God of the doctrine of baptismes and of laying on of hands and of the resurrection of the dead and of the eternall judgement It is written in the Acts that sundry whom the Deacon Philip had baptized and instructed in the Christian faith had Confirmation or e Act. 8.17 laying on of hands from the Apostles Peter and Iohn and so received the holy Ghost It is also recorded that Paul f Act. 19.6 laid his hands upon some persons afore baptized and they received the holy Ghost The Apostles are said to have g Act. 14.22 confirmed the soules of the Disciples and to have h Act. 18.23 strengthened them after they had beene converted Laying on of hands for to blesse c. is often mentioned in the booke of God and to have beene used from the dayes of i Gen. 48.14 Iacob CHAP. 55. Of the holy Communion or the Sacrament of the body and blood of Iesus Christ IN the holy Catechisme it is delivered concerning the Sacrament of Lords Supper That it was ordained for the continuall remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ and the benefits which we receive therby The outward part or signe of the Lords supper is bread and wine which the Lord hath commanded to bee received The inward part or thing signified is the body and blood of Christ which are verily and indeed taken and received of the faithfull in the Lords Supper The benefits whereof we are partakers thereby is the strengthening and refreshing of our soules by the body and blood of Christ as our bodies are by the bread and wine The mystery of this Sacrament is most divinely declared in the service for the Communion In the second Exhortation there it is said Our heavenly Father hath given his Sonne our Saviour Iesus Christ not only to dye for us but also
The o Zeph. 3.5 iust Lord is in the midst of Ierusalem He will doe none iniquity Euery morning doth he bring his iudgement to light he fayeth not but the vniust know no shame The Lord saith Hosea hath a controuersie with Iudah Hosea 12. â— and will punish l Psal 145.17 Iacob according to his wayes according to his doings will he recompence him God also is often in the Diuine Seruice mentioned to be Mercifull Of Gods Mercifullnesse as in the third Collect to be read on good Friday it is sayd Mercifull God who hast made all men and hatest * Some obiect against this Divine Doctrine of the Church the saying in the Scripture I haue hated Esau The Scripture sayth not that God hated Esau vnto euerlasting damnation afore hee was borne but signifieth that hee loued him lesse than hee loued Iacob in that for a time he was to serue Iacob That the word hâ—te doth in Scripture signifie to Loue lesse See Iunius on Genes 29.31 Deut 21.15 See Math. 6.24 Luk. 14.26 And that Esau was to be vnder Iacob foratime See Genes 27.40 Saint Paules Doctrine hereabout is one of his sayings hard to be vnderstood 2. Peter 3.16 There is in it an Allegory as in Gal. 4.24 See 2. Esaras 6.8.9 Also in Genes 25.23 mentioned By Saint Paul in Rom. 9. Iacob and Esau are called two Nations and two manner of people And that Esau was sayd to be hated was not expressed in those words vntill many ages after Namely in the dayes of the Prophet Malachy 1.3 See Ezech. 33.11 and 2. Peter 3.9 Math. 23.37 Acts 7.51 See Pro. 1. from verse 20. vnto the Chapters end All Ezechiel 18. Eccles 15.11 to the end nothing that thou hast made nor wouldest the death of a Sinner but rather that he should be conuerted liue haue mercy vpon all Iewes Turks Infidels and Hereticks c. So in the last Prayer sauing one of the Commination it is sayd Oh most mighty God and Mercifull Father which hast compassion of all men and hatest nothing that thou hast made which wouldest not the death of a sinner but that he should rather turne from sinne and be saued c. Dauid sayth The q Psal 145.9 Lord is good to all and his tender Mercies are ouer all his workes Likewise Saint Paul witnesseth God hath concluded all men in vnbeleefe that he might haue Mercy vpon r Rom. 11.32 all In the Booke of Wisedome it is sayd Thou Å¿ Wisedome 11.23 24. haste Mercy vpon all for thou canst do all things and winkest at the sinnes of men because they should amende For thou louest all the things that are and abhorrest nothing which thou hast made for neuer wouldest thou haue made any thing if thou hadst hated it Vnto the which Eternall Incomprehensible Almighty Wise Good Iust and Mercifull God be glore through Iesus Christ for euer Amen CHAP. 7. Of the Creation of the World and of the Angels in speciall IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 67. Homily an Exhortation concerning good order and obedience to Rulers and Magistrates it is sayd Almighty God hath created and appointed all things in Heauen Earth and Waters in a most excellent and perfect order In Heauen hee hath appointed distinct and seuerall orders and states of Archangels and Angells In the beginning sayth the Scripture God t Genesis 1.1 and 2 1. Created heauen and earth and all the Host of them Also that by the u Col. 1.16 Sonne of God were all things Created that are in Heauen and that are in Earth Visible and Inuisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were Created by him and for him That there are Archangels aswell as Angels it appeareth out of Daniel where it is Written that Michael one of w Dan. 10.13 the chiefe Princes came to helpe him Michael is called an Archangell in the x Iude 9. Epistle of Iude. There is mention of another Archangell in y 2. Esdras 4.36 Esdras namely Vriel In Saint Ambrose his Song it is sayde vnto God To thee all Angels crye aloud the Heauens and all the powers therein To thee Cherubin and Seraphin continually do crye Holy holy holy Lord God of * Or Hosts Sabaoth That there are Powers in heauenly places and also Principalities among them not only the text aboue cited out of the Epistle to the Colossians prooueth but also Saint Paules words to the Ephesians saying To z Eph. 3.10 the intent that now vnto the Principalities and Powers in heauenly places might be knowne by the Church the manifold VVisedome of God Of Cherubins Novem Angelorum est cordâ—nes testante sacro eloquio scimus scilicet Angelos Archangelâ—s virtutes potestates principatut dominatiâ—nes thâ—onos Cherubin aeque Seraphim Greg. in Hâ—mil there is often mention in the tenth Chapter of Ezechiel And of Seraphins it is mentioned in the sixt Chapter of Isaiah In the Collect to be read on the day of the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel the Church sayth Euerlasting-God which hast o dayned and constituted the Services of all Angels and Men in wonderfull order Mercifully grant that they which alway do thee seruice in Heauen may by thine appoyntment succour and defend vs in Earth through Iesus Christ our Lord. Heb. 1.14 Are a they not all ministring Spirits as the Apostle sayth sent foorth to minister for them who shall be Heires of Saluation Dauid sayth Because b Psal 91.9.10.11.12 thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge euen the most High thine Habitation there shal no euill befall thee neyther shal any Plague come nigh thy dwelling For he shal giue his Angels charge ouer thee to keepe thee in all thy wayes They shal beare thee vp in their hands least thou dash thy foot agaynst a stone Some of the Angels sinned in not c 2 Pet. 2 4. Iude 6. keeping their first estate but left their owne habitation and are cast downe to Hell reserued in euerlasting Chaines vnder darknesse vnto the iudgement of the great day It is our duty as the Church d In the Communion Service exhorteth with the holy Angels and Archangels and with all the Company of Heauen to laud and magnifie the e Deut. 28.58 glorious name euermore praysing him and saying f Reue. 4.8 Esay 6.3 Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts Heauen and Earth are full of thy glory Glory be to thee O Lord most high CHAP. 8. Of the Creation of Man and of his estate in his innocency IN the * To 2. p. 167. Homily concerning the Nativity of our Saviour Iesus Christ it is sayd That among all the Creatures which God made in the beginning of the World most excellent and wonderfull in their kinde there was none as the Scripture beareth VVitnesse to be compared almost in any point vnto man who as well in Body and Soule
to be our spirituall food k Ioh. 6.32 33 35 48 50 51. and sustenance In the third Exhortation it is said The benefit is great if with a true penitent heart and lively faith we receive that holy Sacrament for then wee l Iohn 6.63 56. spiritually eate the flesh of Christ and drinke his blood then we dwell in Christ and Christ m Iohn 14.23 2 Cor. 6.16 in us we bee n 1 Cor. 6.17 1 Cor. 10.16 17 1 Cor. 12 13. one with Christ and Christ with us And afterward it is said Above all things ye must give most humble and hearty thankes to God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost for the redemption of the world by the death and passion of our Saviour Christ both God and man who did humble himselfe even to the death upon the Crosse for us miserable sinners which lay in darkenesse and shadow of death that hee might make us the children of God and exalt us to everlasting life And to the end that we should alway remember the exceeding great love of our Master and onely Saviour Iesus Christ thus dying for us and the innumerable benefits which by his precious blood-shedding hee hath obtained to us hee hath instituted and ordained holy mysteries as pledges of his love and continuall o 1 Cor. 11.24 25 26. remembrance of his death to our great and endlesse comfort And in the Prayer to be read afore the receiving it is said Almighty God our heavenly Father which of thy tender mercy didst give thy onely Son Iesus Christ to suffer death vpon the Crosse for our redemption who made there by his one oblation of himselfe once offered a full perfect and sufficient sacrifice oblation and satisfaction for the sinnes of the whole world and did institute and in his holy Gospell command us to continue a perpetuall memory of that his precious death untill his comming againe c. And in the second Prayer after the receiving it is said Thou dost assure us thereby of thy favour and goodnesse towards us and that wee bee very members incorporate in thy mysticall p Eph. 1. 22 23. 1 Cor. 12.12.27 body which is the blessed company of all faithfull people and be also heires through hope of thy everlasting Kingdome by the merits of the most precious death and passion of thy deare Sonne In the * T. 2. p. 192. Homily of the resurrection it is said Thou hast received him if in true faith and repentance of heart thou hast received him If in purpose of amendment thou hast received him for an everlasting gage or pledge of thy salvation Thou hast received his body which was once broken and his blood which was shed for the remission of thy sinne Thou hast received his body to have within thee the Father the Son and the holy Ghost for to dwell with thee to endow thee with grace to strengthen thee against thine enemies and to comfort thee with their presence Thou hast received his body to endow thee with everlasting righteousnes to assure thee with everlasting blisse and life of thy soule For with Christ by true faith art thou quickned againe saith Saint Paul from death of sin to life of grace and in hope translated from corporall and everlasting death to the everlasting life of glory in heaven q Phil. 3.20 where now thy conversation should be and thy heart and desire set In the * T. 2. p. 197. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is most divinely delivered That our Lord and Saviour thought it not sufficient to purchase for us his Fathers favour againe which is that deepe fountaine of all goodnesse and eternall life but also invented the wayes most wisely whereby they might redound to our commodity and profit Amongst the which meanes is the publike celebration of the memory of his precious death at the Lords Table Which although it seeme of small vertue to some yet being rightly done by the faithfull it doth not onely helpe their weaknesse who be by their poisoned nature readier to remember injuries than benefits but strengtheneth and comforteth their inward man with peace and gladnesse and maketh them thankfull to their Redeemer with diligent care and godly conversation And as of old time God decreed his wondrous benefits of the deliverance of his people to be kept in memory by the eating of the Passeover See chap. 17. with his rites and ceremonies so our loving Saviour hath ordained and established the remembrance of his great mercy expressed in his Passion in the institution of his heavenly supper In the same * p. 199. Homily it is also said We must be sure to hold that in the supper of the Lord there is no vaine ceremony no bare signe no untrue figure of a thing absent but as the Scripture saith the r 1 Cor. 10.21 table of the Lord the bread cup of the Lord the memory of Christ the ſ 1 Cor. 11.25 26. annuntiation of his death yea the communion of the body and blood of the Lord in a marveilous incorporation which by the operation of the Holy Ghost the very t 1 Iohn 3.24 bond of our conjunctiō with Christ is through faith wrought in the soules of the faithfull whereby not onely their soules live to eternall life but they surely trust to win their bodies a resurrection to immortality The true understanding of this fruition union which is betwixt the body the head betwixt the true beleevers and Christ the ancient Catholike Fathers both perceiving themselves and commending to their people were not afraid to call this supper some of them the salve of immortality and soveraigne preservative against death Other a deificall communion other the u Rev. 3.20 sweet dainties of our Saviour the pledge of eternall health the defence of faith the hope of the resurrection Other the food of immortality the healthfull grace and the conservatorie to everlasting life And in the same first part of the * p. 200. Homily it is also said Thus much more the faithfull see heare and know the favourable mercies of God sealed the satisfaction by Christ towards us confirmed and the remission of sinne established Here they may feele wrought the tranquility of conscience the increase of faith the strengthening of hope the large spreading abroad of brotherly kindnesse with many other sundry graces of God The tast whereof they cannot attaine unto who be drowned in the deepe durty lake of blindnesse and ignorance From the which O beloved u Ier. 4.14 Isay 1.16 Psal 119.9 Psal 26.6 wash your selves with the living waters of Gods Word whence you may perceive and know both the spirituall food of this costly supper and the happy trustings and effects that the same doth bring with it And then after it is said It is well knowne that the meate we seeke for in this supper is spirituall food the nourishment of our soule a heavenly reflection
ye seeke a proofe of Christ speaking in me He also inwardly instructeth his people as it is testified of Lydia That the Lord Å¿ Acts 16.14 opened her heart that she attended vnto the things which were spoken by Paul Also he is the foreceller of things to come as it is written t Reuel 1.1 The Reuelation of Iesus Christ which God gaue vnto him to shew vnto his seruants things which must shortly come to passe u Heb. 1.1 God saith the Apostle to the Hebrews who at sundry times and in diuerse manners spake in times past to the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last dayes spoken vnto vs by his Sonne who hath sayd w Heb 2.12 I will declare thy name vnto my brethren CHAP. 29. Of Christs Kingdome IN the third part of the * Tom. 2 p. 227. Homily for Rogation weeke it is sayd To Iesus Christ our Sauiour and Mediatour hath God the Father giuen the power of heauen and earth and the whole iurisdiction and authority to distribute his goods and gifts committed vnto him For so writeth the Apostle x Ephes 4.7 To euery one of vs is grace giuen according to the measure of Christs giuing And thereupon to execute his authority committed after that he had brought sinne and the diuell to captiuity to be no more hurtfull to his members he ascended vp to his Father againe and from thence sent liberall gifts to his well beloued seruants and hath still the power to the worlds end for to distribute his Fathers gifts continually in his Church to the establishment and comfort thereof In the first part of the * Tom. 1â— 54 Homily concerning falling from God it is sayd Whereas God hath shewed to all them that truly beleeue his Gospel his face of mercy in Iesus Christ which doth so lighten their hearts that they if they behold it as they ought to doe be transformed to his image be made partakers of the heauenly light and of his Holy Spirit and be fashioned to him in all goodnesse requisite to the children of God So if they after doe neglect the same if they be vnthankefull vnto him if they order not their liues according to his example and doctrine and to the setting forth of his glory he will take away from them his Kingdome his Holy Word whereby he should reigne in them because they bring not forth the fruite thereof that he looketh for Saint Paul sayth to the Romanes y Rom 5.20.21 The law entred that the offence might abound but where sinne abounded grace did much more abound That as sinne hath reigned vnto death euen so might grace reigne through righteousnesse vnto eternall life by Iesus Christ our Lord. z Math. 28.18 All power sayth Christ is giuen to me both in heauen and in earth Concerning his Kingdome Isaiah thus writeth a Isa 9.6.7 Vnto vs a childe is borne vnto vs a Sonne is giuen and the gouernment shall be vpon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderfull Counseller the mighty God the euerlasting Father the Prince of peace of the increase of his gouernement and peace there shall bee no ende vpon the Throne of Dauid and vpon his Kingdome to order it and to establish it with iudgement and with iustice from hencefoorth euen for euer b Rom. 14.17 The Kingdome of God saith Paul is righteousnesse peace and ioy in the Holy Ghost c Luk. 17.20.21 The Kingdome of God saith Iesus Christ commeth not with obseruation neither shall they say Loe here or Loe there for behold the Kingdome of God is within you d Psal 145.13 Thy Kingdome saith Dauid is an * Or a kingdome of all ages as in the Margent euerlasting Kingdome and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations Christ must e 1. Cor. 15.24.25 reigne saith Paul till he hath put all his enemies vnder his feete Then commeth the end when he shall haue deliuered vp the Kingdome to God euen the Father when he shall haue put downe all rule and all authority and power CHAP. 30. Of Christs mediation for his people and of the reconciliation IN the third part of the * Tom. 2. p. 228 Homily for Rogation weeke it is said God the Father of all mercy wrought the high benefit vnto vs of reconciliation not by his owne person but by a meane by no lesse meane than his onely beloued Sonne whom he spared not from any paine and trauaile that might doe vs good And in the said part of the * Page 228. Homily it is further deliuered That as by him being the euerlasting Wisedome he wrought all the world and that is contained therein so by him onely and wholy would he haue all things restored againe in heauen and in earth In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 118. Homily concerning Prayer it is sayd Whereas we must needes vse the helpe of some mediatour and intercessour let vs content our selues with him that is the true and only f Heb. 9.15 Mediatour of the new Testament namely the Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ For as Saint Iohn sayth g 1. Ioh 2.1.2 If any man sinne we haue an Aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous who is the propitiation for our sinnes And Saint Paul in his first Epistle to Timothy sayth h 1 Tim. 2.5.6 There is one God and one Mediatour betweene God and man euen the man Iesus Christ who gaue himselfe a ransome for all men to be a testimony in due time The Prophet Isaiah declaring the state of man fallen saith i Isa 59.2 Your iniquities haue separated betweene you and your God and your sinnes haue hid his face from you that he will not heare Saint Paul sheweth the Saints of Ephesus what Christs mediation had wrought for them saying k Eph. 2.13.14.15.16 But now in Christ Iesus Yee who sometimes were farre off are made nigh by the bloud of Christ For he is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken downe the middle wall of partition betweene vs hauing abolished in his flesh the enmity euen the law of commandements conteined in ordinances for to make in himselfe of twaine one new man so making peace Likewise he sayth to the Saints of Colosse l Colos 1.18 19.20 21.22.23 It pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell And hauing made peace through the bloud of his crosse by him to reconcile all things vnto himselfe by him I say whether they bee things in earth or things in heauen And you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your minde by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and vnblameable and vnreproueable in his sight If yee continue in the faith grounded and setled and be not moued away from the hope of the Gospell c. And for as much as Christ is for his people an
high Priest vnto God his Father to make intercession for them also a Prophet to his people or a declarer vnto them of his Fathers will and is the m Reuel 15.3 King of Saints or administreth the kingome of n Rom. 5.21 grace vnto and within his people Whereas also he is the appointed o Heb. 1.2 heire of all things and all things were created p Col. 1.16.17.18 by him and for him Also he is before all things and by him all things consist And he is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first borne from the dead that in all things he may haue the preheminence and no good thing commeth from God the Father vnto the Church on earth but through the q Acts 4.12 Iohn 20 31. Iohn 15.16 Name and for the r Dan. 9.17 sake of Iesus Christ Therefore the Church concludeth euen euerie of her prayers with these or the like wordes Through Iesus Christ for the honor of our Aduocate and Mediatour Iesus Christ Through the merits of thy onely Sonne c. For conclusion therefore of the mediatorie workes of Iesus Christ let S. Pauls words to the Saints that were at Rome be here for our meditation Å¿ Rom 5.8.9.10.11 God commendeth his loue towards vs in that whiles we were yet sinners Christ died for vs. Much more then being now iustified by his bloud we shall bee saued from wrath through him For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled we shall be saued by his life And not onely so but we also ioy in God through our Lord Iesus Christ by whom wee haue now receiued the attonement Let vs therefore saith the Church in the second part of the * Tom. 1. p. 82. Homily against Adultery consider first the glory of Christ then our estate our dignity and freedome wherein God hath set vs by giuing vs his Holy Spirit and let vs valiantly defend the same against Sathan and all his crafty assaults that Christ may bee honoured and that we loose not our liberty or freedome but still remaine in * 1 Cor. 6.17 Eph. 4.3.4 one Spirit with him CHAP. 31. Of Christs iudging Mankind IT is sayd in the Athanasian Creed Iesus Christ shall come from the right hand of the Father God Almighty for to iudge the quicke and the dead At whose comming all men shall rise againe with their bodies and shall giue account for their owne workes And they that haue done good shall goe into life euerlasting and they that haue done euill into euerlasting fire So the Church sayth in Saynt Ambrose Song We beleeue that thou shalt come to be our Iudge In the Seruice for the buriall of the dead it is sayd Thou most worthy Iudge Eternall In the exhortation for the visitation of the sicke it is sayd Forasmuch as after this life there is an account to be giuen vnto the righteous Iudge of whom all must be iudged without respect of persons I require you to examine your selfe and your state both toward God and man so that accusing and condemning your selfe for your owne faults you may find mercy at our heauenly Fathers hand for Christs sake and not bee accused and condemned in that fearefull Iudgement In the * It is set in the beginning of the Psalmes in Meeter in the booke of Common Prayer in Folio Athanasian Treatise concerning the vse and vertue of the Psalmes it is sayd The Psalmes informe and teach euery man with diuerse instructions whereby he may not onely espie the affections and state of his soule and winne a good patterne and discipline how hee may please God but also with what forme of wordes he may amend himselfe and how to giue God due thankes least if he should speake otherwise than were conuenient he should fall into impiety by his vnreuerent estimation of God For we must all make an account to the Iudge as well of our t Math. 12.36 idle words as of our euill deedes In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 273. Homily of Repentance it is sayd Verily when the highest Sumner of all which is death shall come he will not be sayd nay but we must forthwith be packing to be present before the Iudgement Seate of God as he doth finde vs according as it is written u Eccles 11.3 Where as the tree falleth whether it be toward the South or toward the North there it shall lye Whereunto agreeth the saying of the holy Martyr of God Saint Cyprian saying As God doth finde thee when he doth call so doth he iudge thee In the second part of the * T. 1. p. 63. Homily against the feare of death it is said That Iesus Christ shall be openly shewed to be iudge of all the world In the * T. 2. p. 109. Homily against excesse of apparrell it is said Vnto God we shall render accounts for all his benefits at the glorious appearing of our Sauiour Christ In the third part of the * To. 2. p. 123. Homily concerning prayer it is said Wee must take heede that wee call vpon this aduocate Christ whiles we haue space giuen vs in this life least when we are once dead there be no hope of saluation left vnto vs. For as euery man sleepeth with his owne cause so euery man shall w Rom. 14.12 rise againe with his owne cause And looke in what state he dyeth in the same state he shall also be iudged whether it be to saluation or damnation In the third part of the * Tom. 2. p. 229. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said By Christ hath almighty God decreed to dissolue the world to call all before him to iudge both the quicke and the dead and finally by x Mat. 25.34.41 him shall he condemne the wicked to eternall fire in hell and giue the good eternall life and set them assuredly in presence with him in heauen for euermore And in the first part of the * Tom. 1. p. 3. Homily which is an Exhortation to the reading and knowledge of holy Scripture it is said By this word of God we shall be iudged For the word that I speake saith Christ is it that shall y Ioh. 12.48 iudge in the last day Iesus Christ himselfe hath also said The z Ioh. 5.22 23 27. Father iudgeth no man but hath committed all iudgement vnto the Sonne that all men should honour the Sonne euen as they honour the Father And hee hath giuen him authority to execute iudgement because he is the Sonne of man Saint Peter saith a Acts 10 4â— God hath commanded vs to preach vnto the people and to testifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the iudge of quicke and dead Saint Paul saith to the Romans Wee shall all stand before the b Rom. 14.10 11 12. iudgement seat of
pertaine unto every circumstance in Gods worship Let all things bee done m 1 Cor. 14.40 decently and in order CHAP. 43. Of the due Celebration of Sundayes and other times required by the Church to be kept holy IN the first part of the a T. 2. p. 124 125 126. Homily concerning the place and time of prayer the Church saith It appeareth to be Gods good will and pleasure that we should as speciall times and in speciall places gather our selves together to the intent his name might be renowned and his glory set forth in the congregation and assembly of his Saints As concerning the time which Almighty God hath appointed his people to assemble together solemnly it doth appeare by the fourth Commandement of God Remember saith God that thou keepe holy the Sabbath day Vpon the which day as is plaine in the b Act. 13.14.44 Act. 15.21 Acts of the Apostles the people accustomably resorted together and heard diligently the Law and the Prophets read among them And albeit this Commandement of God doth not binde Christian people so straitly to observe and keepe the utter Ceremonies of the Sabbath day as it was given unto the Iewes as touching the forbearing of worke and labour in time of great necessitie and as touching the precise keeping of the seventh day after the manner of of the Iewes For we keepe now the c Act. 20. l. 1 Cor. 16.2 Non inep è colligitur jam tum consuevisse Christianos hoc die solennes agere conventus Annol ad Act. 20.7 in Jun. Bibl. vide 1 Cor. 11.20 in Syriaco Teslamento nâ—c non in Arabiâ—o in utroque mentio fit de die Domini nostri Syrus legit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arabs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quiâ—n nev 1.10 pro eo quod in Graecis exemplaribus legitur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 habet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in â—â—e â—llo primo first day which is our Sunday and make that our Sabbath that is our day of rest in the honour of our Saviour Christ who as upon that day d Mar. 16.6.1.2 rose from death conquering the same most triumphantly yet notwithstanding whatsoever is found in the commandement appertaining to the law of nature as a thing most godly most just and needfull for the setting forth of Gods glory it ought to bee retained and kept of all good Christian people But alasse it is lamentable table to see the wicked boldnesse of those that will bee counted Gods people who e Ezek 20.12 13. passe nothing at all of keeping and hallowing the Sunday And these people are of two sorts The one sort if they have any businesse to doe though there be no extreame neede they must not spare for the Sunday they must ride and journey on the Sunday they must drive and f Neh. 13.15 16 17 18 19 20. Ier. 17.21.22 carry on the Sunday they must row and ferry on the Sunday they must buy and sell on the Sunday they must keepe markets and faires on the Sunday Finally they use all dayes alike worke-dayes and holi-dayes all are one The other sort is worse For although they will not travell nor labour on the Sunday as they doe on the weeke day yet they will not g Isa 58.13 14. rest in holinesse as God commandeth but they rest in ungodlinesse and filthinesse prancing in their pride pranking and pricking poynting and painting themselves to be gorgeous and gay they rest in excesse and superfluity in gluttony and drunkennesse like Rats and swine they rest in brawling and rayling in quarrelling and fighting they rest in wantonnesse in toyish talking in filthy fleshlinesse so that it doth too evidently appeare that God is more dishonoured and the Devill better served on the Sunday than upon all the dayes in the weeke besides As soone as God had finished heaven and earth and all the same and had made man he rested the seventh day and blessed it and h Gen. 2.2 3. sanctified it for man therein to rest also as Christ saith i Mar. 2.27 The Sabbath was made for man The Lord saith by Isaiah k Isa 58.13 14. If thou turne away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine owne wayes nor finding thine owne pleasure nor speaking thine owne words Then shalt thou delight thy selfe in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth and feed thee with the heritage of Iacob thy father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it The sacred l Canon 13. constitution of the Church concerning the due celebration of Sundayes and Holy-dayes is ever memorable viz. All manner of persons within the Church of England shall from henceforth celebrate and keepe the Lords day commonly called Sunday and other holy-dayes according to Gods holy will and pleasure and the Orders of the Church of England prescibed in that behalfe that is in hearing the Word of God read and taught in private and publike prayers in acknowledging their offences to God and amendment of the same in reconciling themselves charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath beene in oftentimes receiving the Communion of the body and blood of Christ in visiting of the poore and sicke using all godly and sober conversation Concerning other times enjoyned by the Church to be observed for holydayes Of the celebration of holydayes as Christmas day c. it is to be remembred that because it is the Law of the Church our mother we ought so to observe them as she requireth And that the Church hath power to appoint holydayes it may appeare out of the m T. 2. p. 82 83. Homily of fasting where it is said We doe not read that Moses ordained by order of Law any dayes of publike fast throughout the whole yeare more than that one day The Iewes notwithstanding had more times of common fasting which the Prophet n Zechar. 7.5 Zachary reciteth to bee the fast of the fourth the fast of the fifth the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth moneth But for that it appeareth not in the Law when they were instituted it is to bee judged that those other times of fasting more than the fast of the seventh moneth were ordained among the Iewes by the appointment of their governours rather of devotion than by any expresse Commandement given from God Vpon the ordinance of this general fast good men tooke occasion to appoint to themselves private fasts at such times as they did either earnestly lament bewaile their sinfull lives or addict theÌ„selves to more fervent prayer c. And the Prophet doth not disallow their sequestring of dayes for fasting but for that they neglected o Zech. 7.9.10.11.12 judgement mercy and humilitie of heart and as it seemed accounted true religion for to consist onely
thine heart unto understanding Yea if thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures Then shalt thou understand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God Also that saying of the Lord by the Prophet Malachy is ever to be remembred q Mal. 2.5.6.7 My covenant was with Levi of life and peace and I gave them to him for the feare wherewith he feared me and was afraid before my name The law of truth was in his mouth and iniquity was not found in his lips hee walked with me in peace and equity and did turne many away from iniquity For the Priests lips should keepe knowledge and they should seeke the law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts People are to read the holy Scriptures which the r 1. Tim. 3.15 Church according to her wisedome and the t Rom. 3.2 Hebrew u Rev. 9.11 Greeke and faithfulnesse hath Å¿ 1 Cor. 12.10.28.30 interpreted into English out of w Dan. 2.4 Chaldean texts wherein they were * See all along the margent of Gen. 1. c. and of Mat. 5.11 c. and of Ezra 4.9 c. Soc also the title page of the old Testament and also of the new Read all the Translators Preface set afore the Bibles in quarto and in solio first written by the Prophets and Apostles And as people are to be thankfull unto God and unto the Royall Majestie and unto the Fathers and Doctors of the Church for that delivery of the holy Scriptures so are they to remember it is the x Acts 8.30 31 32 33 34 35. office of the Philips of the Church for to interpret places of the Scripture hard to be understood And the Philips are the y Mal. 2.7 Deut. 17.8 9. c. Acts 15.6 Eph. 4.11 12. Clergie and therein the z 1 Cor. 12.28 See afore in Chap. 35 36 37. of degrees in the ministery principall are the most reverend Fathers in God the Archbishops and the right reverend Fathers in God the Bishops the next are the Doctors and all Pastors and all authorized Preachers whose conscionable and religious care is both by their life and doctrine to set forth Gods true and lively Word and to keepe the unity of the spirit the most holy faith and the true godly life prescribed in the bookes of the Divine Service and in the other bookes of the established doctrine of the Church of England And hereunto may be considered that memorable and very remarkeable delivery of the most Reverend Father in God Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury out of Saint Gregory Nazianzene in the latter end of his Prologue afore the Church-bible of the former translation I marvell much saith he to recount whereof commeth all this desire of vaine-glory whereof commeth all this tongue-itch that we have so much delight to talke and clatter And wherein is our communication not in the commendation of vertuous and good deeds of hospitality of love between Christian brother and brother of love betweene man and wife of virginity and chastity and of Almes toward the poore Not in Psalmes and godly songs not in lamenting for our sinnes not in repressing the affections of the body not in prayers to God We talke of Scripture but in the meane time we subdue not our flesh by fasting waking and weeping wee make not this life a meditation of death we doe not strive to be lords ouer our appetites and affections We goe not about to pull downe our proud and high minds to abate our fumish and rancorous stomackes to restraine our lusts and bodily delectations our undiscreet sorrowes our lascivious mirth ovr inordinate looking our unsatiable hearing of vanities our speaking without measure our inconvenient thoughts and briefly to reforme our life and manners but all our holinesse consisteth in talking And we pardon each other from all good living so that we may sticke fast together in argumentation as though there were no more wayes to heaven but this alone the way of speculation and knowledge as they take it But in very deed it is rather the way of superfluous contention and sophistication The same Author saith also in another place That the learning of a Christian man ought to begin of the feare of God and to end in matters of high speculation and not contrarily to begin with speculation and to end in feare For speculation saith he either high cunning or knowledge if it be not stayed with the bridle of feare to offend God is dangerous and enough to tumble a man headlong downe the hill Therefore saith he The feare of God must be the first beginning and as it were an A. B. C. or an introduction to all them that shall enter into the very true and most fruitfull knowledge of holy Scriptures Where as is the feare of God there is saith he the keeping of the Commandements and where as is the keeping of the Commandements there is the cleansing of the flesh which flesh is a cloud before the soules eye and suffereth it not purely to see the beame of the heavenly light Where as is the cleansing of the flesh there is the illumination of the holy Ghost the end of all our desires and the very light whereby the verity of Scriptures is seene and perceived CHAP. 49. Of reading the bookes in the Bible which are called writings Apocrypha IN the Table of proper Lessons to be read both at morning and evening prayer on the sundayes throughout the yeere and on the holy dayes there are appointed sundry Lessons to be read of the bookes in the Bible which are called Apocrypha as on Whitsunday there is ordained to be read the first Chapter of the Wisedome of Solomon for the first Lesson at evening prayer And upon the feast day of Saint Peter and of Saint Iames and of Saint Bartholomew and of Saint Matthew and of Saint Luke and of Saint Michael the Archangell the first Lesson is prescribed out of the booke called Ecclesiasticus or the Wisedome of Iesus the sonne of Syrach And for the first Lesson to bee read on many weeke dayes in the yeare it is appointed out of more of those bookes as out of the booke of Iudith of Baruch of Tobias and out of both bookes of Esdras as it may bee seene in the Kalender set in the beginning of the booke of Common Prayer The Church hath not appointed Lessons to be read publikely in Churches forth of any other bookes of how great authority soever excepting the Canonicall Scriptures Among the holy Scriptures which are in the common prayer appointed to be read for to stir up people to remember the poore there are inserted three verses out of the booke of Tobias In both Tomes of Homilies the Church with great respect hath alledged very many sayings out of the bookes called Apocrypha ascribing
* T. 1. p. 48. Homily concerning Charity it is said Charitie hath two Offices the one contrary to the other and yet both necessary to be used upon men of contrary sort and disposition The one Office of Charitie is to cherish good and harmelesse men c. The other Office of Charity is to rebuke correct and punish vice without regard of persons and is to be used against them onely that be evill men and malefactours or evill doers And that it is as well the Office of Charity to rebuke punish and correct them that be evill as it is to cherish and reward them that be good and harmelesse Saint Paul declareth writing to the Romanes saying That the high powers are ordained of God not to bee dreadfull to them that doe well but unto Malefactors to draw the sword to take * Rom. 13.4 vengeance of him that committeth the sin The Lord saith by Ezekiel that his Priests in controversie shall stand in judgement and they shall b Ezech 44.24 judge it according to my judgements The power of Gods Ministery in a Nation where the King is a c Isa 49.23 nourishing father of the Church and the people all professing to be Christians is of a different manner from where it is without such love of the supreame power towards it and where but a few are Professors of Christianity This may bee observed in the state of the Church of God the Nation of the Iewes from the time of Moses his rule over them untill they were carried away captive to Babylon That Gods Ministery had then another manner of outward power than it had under the Romane Empire untill the dayes of Constantine the great Moreover the Ministery of God after the Ascension of Christ not having the Magistrates helpe in their administration had from God d Mar. 16.20 Heb. 2.4 extraordinary power to cause fear in peoples hearts as Peter had concerning Ananias and Saphira his wife that they were both smote with sudden death which caused e Acts 3.11 great fear to come upon all the Churches Paul had power to cause Elimas the Sorcerer to be f Act 13.11 smitten with blindnesse Herod the Persecutor of the Christians was smitten with a g Act. 12.23 24 dreadfull death where after the Word of God grew and multiplied The Lord then wrought with his Ministers extraordinarily and confirmed the Word with signes following as the Apostle to the Hebrewes saith h Heb. 2.4 God also bearing them witnesse both with signes and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost according to his owne will CHAP. 65. Of visiting the sicke IN the Order for the Visitation of the sicke at the beginning of the Service thereto it is said The Priest entring into the sicke persons house shall say i Mat. 10.12 13. Luke 10.5 6 9. Peace be to this house and to all that dwell in it And that when he commeth into the sicke mans presence hee shall say kneeling down Remēber not Lord our iniquities c. Then there is prescribed a very Divine Exhortation divided into two parts wherewith the Minister is to exhort the sicke person the which is most profitable for all people to meditate on when they feele themselves ill at ease or in any adversitie And the Exhortation being read the Minister is to examine whether he continueth in beliefe of all the Articles of the Christian faith and whether he be in charity with all the world c. And to exhort him for to set his state in order whereto men when they be in health should be oft admonished and earnestly to move him to liberalitie toward the poore because it is the last Almes that ever hee shall give The Church hath ordained an Homily an Exhortation against the feare of death to be read unto the people And if the sicke person can well indure to heare the reading of it he may be much comforted by the same The visitation of the sicke is one of the k Mat. 25.35.26 sixe duties of Charitie whereof Iesus Christ will speake when he sitteth to judge all Nations That it is also a worke l Iam. 5.14 with Heb. 5.1.2 3 4 5. Ministeriall S. Iames in his Epistle plainely expresseth It is the last kindnesse that one can shew unto another whiles being is in earthly Tabernacle Man being in that misery desireth to be visited And one reason is that thereby hee hopeth either bodily or ghostly to receive the more comfort Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this to m Iam. 1.27 visite the fatherlesse and widowes in their affliction and to keepe himselfe unspotted from the world It is written for our learning That when Iobs three friends heard of his calamitie they made an appointment together to come for to n Iob 2.11 Rom. 12.15 mourne with him and to comfort him Saint Paul saith blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of mercies and God of all comfort who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to o 2 Cor. 1.3.4 comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith wee our selves are comforted of God Iesus the sonne of Sirach saith Bee not slow to p Ecclus. 7.34 35. visite the sicke for that shall make thee to bee beloved It is the duty of the sick to send for their Minister as Saint Iames saith Let him * Iam. 5.14 send for the Elders of the Church And therefore it is said in Articles of our Church discipline Whether doth your Minister visite the sicke when he is thereunto desired to comfort and instruct them CHAP. 66. Of the Communion of the sicke VVHereas in the * T. 2. p. 199. Homily concerning the Sacrament the Communion is said To bee a salve of immortality and soveraigne preservative against death and in the Catechisme it is called a refreshing therefore not without cause doth the conscience of the sicke sometimes desire it Wherefore holy Church in the Rubricke afore that Service saith If the sicke person be not able to come unto the Church and yet is desirous to receive the Communion in his house then he must give knowledge over-night or else early in the morning to the Curate signifying also how many be appointed to Communicate with him c. In the Rubricke of the same Service the Church delivereth also most comfortable counsell saying But if any man either by reason of extremitie of sicknesse or for want of warning in due time to the Curate or for lacke of company to receive with him or by any other just impediment doe not receive the Sacrament of Christs body and blood then the Curate shall instruct him that if he doe truly repent him of his sinne and stedfastly beleeve that Iesus Christ hath suffered death upon the Crosse for him and shed his blood for his Redemption earnestly remembring the benefits he hath
to any To the Ephesians he signifieth that people should m Eph. 4.28 worke with their hands the thing which is good And to Titus he saith Let ours also learne to n Tit. 3.14 professe honest * See the Margent there trades for necessary uses that they be not unfruitfull The fifteenth To doe our Duty in that state of life unto the which it shall please God to call us And the fifteenth is That we doe our Duty in that state of life unto the which it shall please God to call us In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 52. Homily concerning falling from God it is said Sometime men goe from God by the neglecting of his Commandements concerning their Neighbours which commandeth them to expresse hearty love towards every man as Zechary said to the people in Gods behalfe o Zech. 7.9 10. Give true judgment shew mercy and compassion every one to his brother imagine no deceit towards widowes or children fatherlesse or motherlesse toward strangers or the poore Let no man forge evill in his heart against his Brother The p Rom. 12.4 5 6 7 8. Apostle saith Having gifts differing according to the grace that is given us whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith or Ministery let us waite on our ministring or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation he that giveth let him doe it with simplicity he that ruleth with diligence he that sheweth mercy with cheerfulnesse CHAP. 81. Of the Duty of the Husband unto his Wife and of the Duty of the Wife unto her Husband IN the Service of Matrimony the Duties of married persons are very Divinely delivered The Husbands duty briefly is comprehended in these words Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded Wife to live together after Gods Ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony Wilt thou love her comfort her honour and keepe her in sicknesse and in health and forsaking all other keepe thee onely unto her so long as you both shall live And in the last prayer of Matrimony where it is said That this man may q Eph. 5.25 26 27 28. love his Wife according to thy Word as Christ did love his Spouse the Church who gave himselfe for it loving and cherishing it even as his owne flesh In the * T. 2. p. 240 241. Homily concerning the state of Matrimony it is said unto the Husband Learne thou therefore if thou desirest to be voide of all these miseries if thou desirest to live peaceably and comfortably in wedlocke how to make thy earnest prayer to God that hee would governe both your hearts by the Holy Spirit to restraine the Devils power whereby your concord may remaine perpetually But to this prayer must be joyned a singular diligence whereof Saint Peter giveth this precept saying You r 1 Pet. 3.7 Husbands deale with your Wives according to knowledge giving honour to the Wife as to the weaker Vessel as unto them that are heires also of the grace of life that your prayers be not hindered This precept doth particularly pertaine to the Husband for he ought to be the leader and author of love in cherishing and encreasing concord which then shall take place if he will use moderation and not tyranny and if he ſ 1 Cor. 7.3 Eph. 5.21 1 Pet. 3.7 Rom. 12.6 yeeld something to the woman For the woman is a weake creature not indued with like strength constancy of minde therfore they be the sooner disquieted and they be the more prone to all weake affections and dispositions of minde more than men bee and lighter they be and more vaine in their fantasies and opinions These things must bee considered of the man that he be not too t Col. 3.19 stiffe so that hee ought to u Prov. 19.11 winke at some things and most gently expound w 1 Cor. 13.7 all things and to x Eph. 4.2 3. forbeare In the said * P. 245. Homily it is also delivered God forbid that a man should y Eph. 5.28.29 Mal. 2.14 Col 3.19 Prov. 5.18 19. 1 Pet. 3.7 1 Cor. 13.4.5 beate his wife for that is the greatest shame that can be not so much to her that is beaten as to him that doth the deed Let there be none so grievous fault to compell you to beate your Wives But what say I your Wives No it is not to bee borne with that an honest man should lay hands on his z Gen. 16.6 maidservant to beate her Wherefore if it be a great shame for a man to beate his bondservant much more a Phil. 4.8 rebuke it is to lay violent hands upon his free woman And this thing may be well understood by the lawes which the Panims have made which doth discharge her any longer to dwell with such an Husband as unworthy to have any further company with her that doth smite her For it is an extreame point thus so vilely to intreat her like a slave that is fellow to thee of thy life and so joyned unto thee before time in the necessary matters of thy living And therefore a man may well liken such a man if he may bee called a man rather then a wilde beast to a killer of his father or his Mother c. Reade the remaining delivery wherin is declared how monstrous and horrible a wickednesse it is for a man to use any manner of violence or roughnesse to the person of his Wife and also sundry more duties are Divinely prescribed for the Husbands observation Of the Duty of the Wife unto her Husband Now cōcerning the Duty of the wife unto her husband who oftentimes by her neglect of the duties which she is bound to performe unto her Husband pulleth upon and against her selfe many unkindnesses which would in no wise come to passe if shee had conscience and care to doe her duties And the wives dutie is briefly comprised where it is said I take thee to my wedded husband to have and to hold from this day forward for better for worse for richer for poorer in sicknesse and in health to love cherish and to obey till death us depart according to Gods holy ordinance And in the last prayer of Matrimony her duty is divinely signified where it is prayed for saying And also that this woman may be b Gen. 29.11 12 17. and 30.1 and 26.8 loving and amiable to her husband as Rachel wise as c Gen. 27.9 c Rebecca faithfull and d 1 Pet. 3.5 6. obedient as Sarah and in all e and 3 4. quietnesse f 1 Tim. 2.15.11.12 sobriety and g 1 Cor. 14.33 34 35. peace bee a follower of all holy and godly Matrons In the * P. 242. Homily concerning the state of Matrimony it is said Shall the wife abuse the gentlenesse and humanity of her husband and at her pleasure turne all things *
saith to the Ephesians See then that yee walke circumspectly not as fooles but as t Eph. 5.5.16.17 wise redeeming the time because the dayes are evill Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is To the Romans he saith u Rom 12.2 Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good that acceptable and perfect will of God Iesus the sonne of Sirach saith Doe nothing without w Ecclus 32.19 advice and when thou hast once done repent not Solomon saith He that walketh with wise men shall bee x Prov. 13.20 wise but a companion of fooles shall be destroyed The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge and the eare of the y Prov. 18.15 Of Iustice wise seeketh knowledge Concerning Iustice that is said to be a vertue whereby to every one his own is rendred or given Hereunto the Apostle exhorteth saying z Rom. 13.7 Render to all their dues tribute to whom tribute is due custome to whom custome feare to whom feare honour to whom honour a Isa 56.1 Isaiah saith Thus saith the Lord keepe ye judgement and doe justice Christ saith b Mat. 22.21 Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesars and unto God the things which are Gods Isaiah complained saying c Isa 59.4.14.15 None calleth for justice nor any pleadeth for the truth Iudgement is turned away backward and justice standeth afarre off for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter Of Tempetāce Concerning Temperance it is defined to be the vertue which moderateth the pleasures of the flesh which are taken by tasting and touching Saint Paul saith d Rom. 13.14 Make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof The Lord Christ saith Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be e Luke 21.34 overcharged with surfetting and drunkennesse and cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares Every one saith Saint Paul that striveth for the masterie is f 1 Cor. 9.25 temperate in all things now they doe it to obtaine a corruptible crowne but we an incorruptible Iesus the Sonne of Sirach saith g Ecclus. 31.12 15 16 17 19 20 27 28 29. If thou sit at a bountifull Table be not greedy upon it and say not there is much meat on it Iudge of thy neighbour by thy selfe and be discreet in every point Eate as it becommeth a man those things which are set before thee and devoure not lest thou be hated Leave off first for manners sake and bee not unsatiable lest thou offend A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured Sound sleepe commeth of moderate eating Wine is as good as life to a man if it bee drunke moderately Wine measurably drunke and in season bringeth gladnesse of the heart and cheerfulnesse of the minde But wine drunken with excesse maketh bitternesse of the minde with brawling and quarrelling There are more profitable instructions concerning temperance in the said Booke called Ecclesiasticus and many in the Bookes of Solomon and the rest of the Holy Scripture Of Forritude Concerning Fortitude or strength the other vertue it is delivered to bee that whereby painfull labours yea and the perils of death are both undergone and also unto the very end endured Solomon saith The wicked flee when no man pursueth but the righteous are h Prov. 28.1 bold as a Lyon Saint Peter saith If you suffer for righteousnesse sake happy are yee and bee not i 1 Pet. 3.14.15 afraid of their terrour neither bee troubled Saint Paul saith My brethren bee k Eph. 6.10.11 strong in the Lord and in the power of his might put on the whole armour of God that yee may be able to stand against the wiles of the Divell And to the Corinthians hee saith Watch yee stand fast in the faith quit you like men be l 1 Cor. 16.13 strong David complaineth that some set not their heart aright and whose spirit was not m Ps 78.8 9 10 stedfast with God The children of Ephraim being armed and carrying bowes turned backe in the day of battell They kept not the Covenant of God refused to walke in his Law The n Rev. 21.8 fearefull and unbeleeving c. saith Saint Iohn shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death The duty of Souldiers Such as are sent forth unto warre ought to pray for to bee endued with the spirit of fortitude and * Ps 144.1 and 18.39 valour They are also to remember the Gospels Cōmandement o Luke 3.14 Doe violence to no man neither accuse any falsely and be content with your wages It is the duty of all Christians to live prudently justly temperately and couragiously So shall they keepe the golden meane to doe nothing too much nor nothing too little So shall they observe the Scriptures rule p Prov. 4.27 Turne not to the right hand nor to the left remove thy foot from evill CHAP. 84. Of the seven gifts of Grace IN the first part of the Service of Confirmatiō or Bishopping it is prayed for such as receive that Blessing of the Church saying Strengthen them wee beseech thee O Lord with the Holy Ghost the Comforter and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of Grace the spirit of wisdome and understanding the spirit of counsell and ghostly strength the spirit of knowledge and true godlinesse and fulfill them O Lord with the spirit of thy holy feare Sixe of these gifts of Grace are by the Prophet Isaiah reckoned up together and foretold should be in Iesus Christ where hee saith There shall come forth a rod out of the stemme of Iesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the q Isa 11.2 spirit of wisdome and understanding the spirit of counsel and might the spirit of knowledge and the feare of the Lord. In Iesus Christ dwelleth all the r Col 2.9 fulnesse of the Godhead bodily God gave not the spirit by ſ Ioh. 3.34 measure unto him And of his t Ioh. 1.16 fulnesse we all receive Hereby saith Saint Iohn wee know that we dwell in him and hee in us because he hath given us of his u 1 Ioh. 4.13 spirit And S. Paul saith If any one have not the w Rom. 8.9 Spirit of Christ the same is none of his He meaneth If one have it not in some measure In Baptisme some measure of Christs x 1 Cor. 12.13 Gal. 3.27 Spirit is received and in y Acts. 8.14.15.16.17 Bishopping an ampler measure thereof is obtained if one duly prepared according to the prescription of Holy Church doth submit to that Divine ordinance and receive the same Cōcerning Wisdome there is a memorable delivery of many sundry properties to bee therein in the
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
lusts which warre against the soule having your conversation h 1 Pet. 2.11 12. honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speake against you as evill doers they may by your good workes which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of Visitation Whence it may appeare that that is Honesty which is not onely expresly approved by the holy Scriptures but also whatsoever is accounted honourable or worthy of praise according to the light of true reason S. Paul saith For when the Gentiles which have not the law doe by nature the things contained in the law these having not the law are a law to themselves which shew the i Rom. 2.24 15 worke of the law written in their hearts their conscience also bearing witnesse and their thoughts the meane while accusing or else excusing one another c. Also nothing ought to be supplicated unto a King but what is rightfull and Honest For Solomon saith Righteous lips are the delight of Kings and they love him that speaketh k Prov. 16.13 right Of Courtesie IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 157. Homily concerning Almes-deeds it is said Be courteous unto the poore Saint Peter saith Finally be ye all of one minde having compassion one of another love as brethren be pitifull be l 1 Pet. 3.8 9. Courteous not rendring evill for evill or railing for railing but contrariwise blessing King Rehoboam for giving m 1 King 12 13 14 16. uncourteous answeres to his subjects when they came unto him lost the most part of his Kingdome thereby Solomon signifieth that a Superiour should not without just cause answere his inferiour discourteously saying He that n Prov. 14.21 despiseth his neighbour sinneth but he that hath mercy on the poore happy is hee He that o Prov. 14.31 oppresseth the poore reproacheth his Maker In Ecclesiasticus wholesome counsaile is given hereto Turne not away thine eye from the needy and give him none occasion to curse thee for if he curse thee in the bitternesse of his soule his prayer shall be heard of him that made him Let it not grieve thee to bow downe thine eare to the poore and give him a p Ecclus. 4.5 6 8. friendly answer with meeknesse We ought not to despise any for any bodily deformity or infirmity The Apostle saith q 1 Pet. 2.17 Honour all men Bee gentle shewing all r Tit. 3.2 meeknesse unto all men Of retaining the memory of Saints IN the Kalender set afore the Common Prayer the names of sundry men and women which in their life time here on earth were famous for piety and vertue are inserted for perpetuall memory as Cyprian Benedict Anne Katherine c. Wherein holy Church doth according to the Scripture which saith The Prov. 10.7 memory of the just is blessed but the name of the wicked shall rot The righteous shall be had in everlasting t Psal 112.6 remembrance In the third part of the * T. 1. p. 65. Homily concerning the feare of death there is a Saints saying mentioned namely Saint Martin who said Good Lord if I be necessary for thy people to doe good unto them I will refuse no u Phil. 1.24 labour but else for mine owne selfe I beseech thee to take my soule In the eleventh Chapter to the Hebrewes the memoriall of many Saints is blessed so in Ecclesiasticus Chap. 44.45 46 47 48 49 50. Of Veracity or True Speaking IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 47 48. Homily concerning Swearing it is said Every Christian mans word saith Saint Hierome should be so true that it should bee regarded as an oath And Chrysostome witnessing the same saith It is not convenient to sweare for what needeth us to sweare when it is not lawfull for one of us to make a w Col. 3 9. Isa 63.8 lye unto another Hee that useth truth and plainnesse in his bargaining and communication hee shall have no need by such vaine swearing to bring himselfe in credence with his neighbours nor his neighbours will not mistrust his sayings The Prophet Ieremiah saith Take ye heed every one of his neighbour and trust ye not in any brother for every brother will utterly supplant and every neighbour will walke with slanders and they will deceive every one his neighbour and will not speak the truth they have taught their tongue to speake x Ier. 9.4 5. lies and weary themselves to commit iniquity David saith Lord who shall abide in thy Tabernacle who shall dwell in thy holy hill He that walketh uprightly worketh righteousnesse and y Psal 15.1 2 3. speaketh the truth in his heart Of Diligence IN the admonition to all Ministers Ecclesiasticall set afore the second Tome of Homilies it is said It shall be necessary that yee z 1 Tim. 4.12 1 Pet. 5.3 above all other doe behave your selves most faithfully and diligently in your so high a function After it is said It shall be well done to spend your time to consider well of such Chapters before hand whereby your a Eccles. 12 9 10 11. prudence and diligence in your office may appeare c. In the first part of the * T. 2 p. 115. Homily concerning the place and time of prayer it is signified That by the fourth Commandement it appeareth no man in the sixe dayes ought to be sloathfull or idle but b Exod. 20.9 Rom. 12.11 diligently to labour in that state wherein God hath set him Most divinely doth the Church counsell us unto diligence in the third part of the * T. 2. p. 232. Homily for Rogation weeke saying Brethren howsoever the c 1 Cor. 11.32 world in generality is d Hos 4.6 forgetfull of God let us particularly attend to our time and e Eph. 5.15.16 Col 4.5 winne the time with diligence and apply our selves to that light and f 2 Cor. 6.1 2. grace that is g Tit. 2.11.12 offered us let us if Gods favour and judgements which he worketh in our time cannot stir us to call home to our selfe to h Phil. 2.12 doe that belonging to our salvation At the least way let the malice of the devill the naughtinesse of the world which wee see exercised in these i 1 Tim. 4.1 2 Tim. 3.1 c. perilous and last times wherein we see our daies so dangerously set provoke us to k Mar. 13.33 34 35 36 37. Ephes 4.1 watch diligently to our l 1 Cor. 1.9 vocation to walke and goe m Phil. 3.13 14. 2 Pet. 1.3.10 Prov. 4.18 forward therein In the * T. 2. p. 241. Homily concerning the state of Matrimony it is said But to this prayer must bee joyned a n 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8. singular diligence c. In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 272. Homily of Repentance it is said If we should suspect any uncleannes to be in us
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
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.