depth of Hell CHAP. 95. Of sundry other sinnes Of Slandering IN the second part of the * 7.1 p. 95. Homily against ConteÌ„tion it is said He that is ready to speak evill against other men first let him examine himselfe whether hee be faultlesse and cleare of the e Rom. 2.1 3.21 22 23. fault which he findeth in another For it is a shame when hee that blameth another for any fault is guilty himselfe either in the same fault or in a greater It is a shame for him that is blinde to call another man blind and it is more shame for him that is whole blinde to call him blinkard that is but purblinde For this is to see a f Mat. 7.1 2 3 4 5. straw in another mans eye when a man hath a blocke in his owne eye In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 203. Homily coÌ„cerning the Sacrament it is most truely most necessarily coÌ„plained O wretched creatures that we be at these dayes who be g 1 Iohn 2.11 without reconciliation of our brethren whom wee have offended c. h Iam. 4.11 Without any conscience of slander disdaine misreport division rancor or inward bitternesse It is even a wonder to consider unto what a licentiousnesse of slanderous speech very many of men women and children are come unto in these times they respect neither civill Superioritie nor the Clergy nor the Nobilitie Yea there are some which regard not how i 1 Pet. 2.17 Eccles. 10.23 unbeseemingly they speake of the Royall Majesty It may now be most truly said The very Devill of Hell is k Rev. 20.3 7. let loose in many peoples mouthes Such might consider the saying of the Holy Ghost by Saint Iames If any one seeme religious and l Iam. 1.26 bridleth not his tongue his religion is vaine God accepteth not his religion Saint Paul saith Bee not deceived the m 1 Cor. 6.10 revilers shall not inherit the Kingdome of God The Lord Iesus saith O generation of vipers how can ye being evill n Mat. 12.34 35 36 37 speake good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evill man out of the evill treasure bringeth forth evill things But I say unto you that every idle word much more every detracting and slanderous word that men shall speake they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement For by thy words thou shalt bee justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned David in the 15. Psalme asking who should bee saved answereth from Gods Spirit Hee that o Ps 15.3 backbiteth not with his tongue nor doth evill to his neighbour nor taketh up or * As in the Mâ—rgent receiveth or endureth a reproach against his neighbour Such as are prone unto evill speaking should often reade through the Epistle of Saint Iames also the whole Homily against strife and contention Moreover they should bee much conversant in Solomons Proverbs in Ecclesiastes in the Booke intituled The Wisedome of Solomon and in the Booke Ecclesiasticus Of Vnjustnesse IN the fourth part of the * T. 2. p. 236. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said Love equitie and righteousnesse ensue mercy and charity which God most p Micah 6.8 Mat. 23.23 Ier. 9.24 requireth at our hands And a little afore it is amply discoursed against unjustnesse saying God is the God of all equity and righteousnesse and therefore forbiddeth all deceit and subtilty in his Law by these words ye shall not deale q Leu. 19.35 36 unjustly in judgement in line in weight or measure Yee shall have just ballances true weights and true measures r Prov. 11.1 False ballances saith Solomon are an abomination to the Lord. Remember what Saint Paul saith God is the Å¿ 1 Thes 4.6 revenger of all wrong and injustice as we see by daily experience how ever it thriveth ungratiously which is gotten by falshood and craft Saint Paul saith Know yee not that the t 1 Cor. 6.9 10 unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God The Lord saith to all that are in Authority Yee shall doe no unrighteousnesse thou shalt not respect the person of the poore nor honour the person of the mighty but in u Leu. 19.15 righteousnesse shalt thou judge thy neighbour One envouring faithfully to make the rule which Christ gave the rule of all actions shall walke in much justnesse viz. w Luke 6.31 As ye would that men should doe to you doe ye also to them likewise Of Vncharitablenesse IN the Sacred Letany we are taught to pray From all uncharitablenesse good Lord deliver us In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 132. Homily of the place and time of Prayer it is said Consider that all thy doings x 1 Cor. 13.2 3. Isa 1.13 15 16 17 18. and Isa 65.2 3 4 5 6 66.3 4. Prov. 15.8 and 21.27 stinke before the face of God if thou bee not in charity with thy neighbour Saint Paul saith Let all your things be done with y 1 Cor. 16.14 charity Isaiah saith The meeke shall increase their joy in the Lord and the poore among men shall rejoyce in the holy one of Israel For the terrible one is brought to nought and the scorner is consumed and all that watch for iniquity are cut off That make a man an z Isa 29.19 20 21. offender for a word and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate and turne aside the just for a thing of nought Of Vncomelinesse IN the * T. 2. p. 106. Homily against excesse of Apparell it is said Let us take unto us simplicity chastity and comelinesse submitting our neckes to the sweet yoke of Christ Saint Paul saith to the Ephesians But fornication and all uncleannes or covetousnesse let it not bee once named among you as becommeth Saints neither a Eph. 5.3 4 5 6 7. filthinesse nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks Let no b Eph. 4.29 corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers Let all things bee done c 1 Cor. 14.40 decently and in order As uncomely words and actions are sinne so for a man or woman to goe uncomely in their apparell or to be of any uncomely behaviour is a sinne also for the Gospell commandeth That whatsoever things are d Phil. 4.8 lovely or of good report if there bee any vertue and if there be any praise thinke on these things and doe them Of contempt of Gods Word IN the Letany we pray From contempt of thy Word and Commandement good Lord deliver us In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 53. Homily of falling from God it is said All they that may
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
mourne weepe and bewaile their former sinnes And whosoever upon that day did not humble his soule bewailing his sinnes as is said abstaining from all bodily food untill the evening that soule saith Almighty God should be destroyed from among his People And then * P. 83. afterward the ground of Fasting is delivered where it is said upon the ordinance of this generall Fast good men tooke occasion to appoint to themselves private Fasts at such times as they did either earnestly lament and bewaile their sinfull lives or did addict themselves to more fervent Prayer that it might please God to turne his wrath from them when either they were admonished and brought to the consideration thereof by the Preaching of the Prophets or otherwise when they saw k Iohn 3.5.6.7 8.9 present danger to hang over their heads This sorrowfulnesse of heart joyned to Fasting they uttered sometime by their outward behaviour and gesture of body putting on l Neh. 9.1 sackcloth sprinkling themselves with m Est 4.3 ashes and n Ios 7.6 dust and sitting or lying upon the o z 2 Sam. 12.16 earth For when good men feele in themselves the heavie burden of sinne see damnation to be the reward of it and behold with the eye of their minde the horrour of hell they p Ps 119.120 Ps 143. ◠◠7 tremble they quake and are inwardly touched with sorrowfulnesse of heart for their offences and cannot but accuse themselves and open this their griefe unto Almighty God call unto him for q Ps 51.1 c. mercy This being done seriously their minde is so occupied partly with sorrow and heavinesse partly with an earnest desire to be delivered from this danger of hell and damnation that all desire of meate and drinke is laid apart and lothsomnesse of all worldly things and pleasures commeth in place so that nothing then liketh them more than to weepe to lament to mourne and both with words and behaviour of body to shew thēselves weary of this life And * P. 86.87 There are three ends ' whereto Fasting should bee directed afterward it is delivered That there be three ends whereunto if our Fast be directed it is then a worke profitable to us and accepted of God The first is to chastise the flesh that it be not too wanton but tamed and brought into subjection to the spirit This respect had Paul in his Fast when he said I r 1 Cor. 9.27 chastise my body and bring it into subjection lest by any meanes it commeth to passe that when I have preached to other I my selfe be found a cast-away The second that the spirit may be more earnest and fervent to prayer To this end fasted the s Acts. 13.3 Prophets and Teachers that were at Antioch before they sent forth Paul and Barnabas to preach the Gospell The same Apostles fasted for the like purpose when they t Acts. 14.23 commended to God by their earnest prayers the congregation which were at Antioch Pysidia Iconium and Lystra as we read it in the Acts of the Apostles The third that our Fast be a testimony and witnesse with us before God of our humble submission to his High Majesty when we confesse acknowledge our sinns unto him and are inwardly touched with sorrowfulnes of heart bewailing the same in the affliction of our bodies The Church of England hath appointed sundry times for Fasting more or lesse We are willed to fast at least from one meale every Eeve of such Saints dayes as the Kalender set afore the Common Prayer sheweth Wee are to Fast the whole day Of times when we ought to fast when a general publike Fast is enjoyned to continue all the day without meate and drinke till after Evening Prayer even untill night In the common Almanacke it is delivered that upon the Wednesday Friday and Saturday of every Ember weeke a Fast is to be observed And some say that upon the Munday in every such weeke also And the 31 Canō rendreth a reasō why fasting is to be in the foure Ember weekes namely because then prayer is to be made unto God after an especiall manner for to send downe his Holy Spirit into those which receive holy orders on the Sunday next following For the foure solemne times appointed for the making of Ministers are the foure Sundaies immediately following the Ember weekes It is also a custome to Fast on Ash wensday and likewise on good Friday And the Epistle and Gospell appointed for the first day of Lent doe make mention of Fasting and from thence we may learne to begin Lent with Fasting at least from one meale on that day The Collect for the Sunday of Lent doth very divinely informe us concerning Fasting saying O Lord which for our sake didst fast u Mat 4.2 forty dayes and forty nights give us grace to use such w 1 Pet. 2.11 1 Pet. 4.1.2.3 abstinence that our flesh being subdued to the Spirit wee may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousnesse and true holinesse The fasting prescribed to bee observed all the Lent is an abstinence from flesh an usual abstaining from that which doth cherish blood with blood according as Daniel signifieth to have abstained saying I x Dan. 10.2 3. Daniel was mourning three full weekes I ate no pleasant bread neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth It is observed also that in ancient times in keeping a publike or private fast people tooke an austere repast some coorse fare in the Evening after abstinence the whole day * As some doe in these times For to forfeit a Noones meale and then to recompence themselves at night was not their use Now concerning other fastings at other times read the whole Homily of the same The Lord saith by his Prophet Ioel y Ioel 2.12 13 15. Turne ye even to me with all your heart and with fasting c. Gather the people sanctifie the congregation assemble the Elders gather the Children and those that sucke the breasts let the Bridgroome goe forth of his Chamber and the Bride out of her Closet The z Ionah 3.7 8. fast of the Ninevites is thus proclaimed to bee Let neither man nor beast herd nor flocke taste any thing let them not feed nor drinke water But let man and Beast be covered with Sackcloth and cry mightily unto God yea let them turne every one from his evill way and from the violence that is in their hands The Lord by Isaiah signifieth the true use of fasting by a Isa 58.3 4 5 6 7. reproving the Iewes for their neglect of the same saying Behold in the day of your fast you finde pleasure and exact all your labours Behold yee fast for strife and debate and to smite with the fist of wickednes ye shall not fast as ye doe this day to make your voyce to be heard on high Is it such a fast that I have chosen a day for a man
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