the sword of punishment in their hands or have families under their governance to labour for to redresse this great enormity of all such as live x 2. Th. 3.10.11 Ecclus. 33.24 25 26 27 28 29. idlely and unprofitably in the Common weale to the great dishonour of God and the grievous plague of his seely people To leave sinne unpunished and to neglect the good bringing up of youth is nothing else but to kindle the Lords wrath against us and to heape plagues upon our owne heads As long as the adulterous people were suffered to live licenciously without reformation so long did the plague continue and increase in Israel as ye may see in the booke of Numbers But when due correction was done upon them the Lords anger was straight-way pacified and the plague y Num. 25.3 c. Psal 106.30 ceased All Masters are to remember the example of Abraham written for their learning of whom the Lord testified saying I know him that he will command his children and his z Gen. 18.19 houshold after him and they shall keepe the way of the Lord to doe justice and judgement that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him Saint Paul saith to the Colossians Masters a Col. 4.1 give unto your servants that which is just and equall knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven And to the Ephesians he saith b Ephes 6.9 Forbeare yee threatning Iesus the sonne of Syrach saith Whereas thy servant worketh truly c Ecclus. 33.30 31. entreat him not evill nor the hireling that bestoweth himselfe wholy for thee Let thy soule love a good servant and defraud him not of liberty Many are the good counsailes for masters towards their servants in the book of Ecclesiasticus and throughout the whole Bible which they may observe as they reade through all the same Of Servants duties towards their Masters and Dames Concerning servants duties towards their masters and dames and other their duty besides it is said in the * T. 2. p. 253 254. Homily against Idlenesse Here ought artificers and labouring men who be at wages for their worke and labour to consider their conscience to God and their dutie to their neighbours lest they abuse their time in idlenesse so defrauding them which bee at charge both with great wages and deare commons They bee worse then idle men indeed for that they seeke to have wages for their loytering It is lesse danger to God to be idle for no gaine than by idlenesse to win out of their neighbours purses wages for that which is not deserved It is true that Almighty God is angry with such as do defraud the hired man of his d Iam. 5.4 Ier. 22.13 wages the cry of that injury ascendeth up to Gods eare for vengeance And as true it is that the hired man who useth e Tit. 2.9.10 deceit in his labour is a theefe before God Let no man saith Saint Paul to the Thessalonians subtilly f 1 Thes 4.6 beguile his brother let him not defraud him in his businesse for the Lord is a revenger of such deceits And afterward the sacred * p. 254. Homily saith Here might be charged the Serving-men of this Realme who g Eph. 5 15 16 17. spend their time in much idlenesse of life nothing regarding the opportunity of their time forgetting how service is no heritage how age will creepe upon them Where wisedome were they should expend their idle time in some good h Pro. 14.23 businesse whereby they might increase in knowledge and so the more worthy to bee ready for every mans service It is a great rebuke to them that they studie not either to write faire to keepe a booke of account to study the i 1 Cor. 14.1 5. tongues and so to get wisdome and knowledge in such bookes and workes as be now plentifully set out in print of all manner of Languages Sundry times doth the Holy Ghost by the Apostles deliver commandements unto servants concerning their duties Saint Paul saith to the Ephesians k Ephes 6.5.6 7 8. Servants be obedient unto them that are your masters according the flesh with feare and trembling in singlenesse of your heart as unto Christ Not with eye-service as men-pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart With good will doing service as to the Lord and not to men knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall hee receive of the Lord Col. 3.22 whether he be bond or free To the Colossians he saith l Servants obey in all things your Masters according to the flesh Vnto Timothy hee saith Let as many m 1 Tim. 6.1 2. servants as are under the yoke count their owne masters worthy of all honour that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed Vnto Titus he saith Exhort n Tit. 2.9 10. servants to bee obedient unto their owne Masters and to please them well in all things not answering againe not purloyning but shewing all good fidelity that they may adorne the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things And Saint Peter saith o 1 Pet. 2.18 19.20 Servants be subject to your masters with all feare not onely to the good and gentle but also to the froward For this is thanke-worthy if a man for conscience toward God endure griefe suffering wrongfully For what glory is it if when yee bee buffetted for your faults ye shall take it patiently but if when ye doe well and suffer for it yee take it patiently this is acceptable with God CHAP. 83. Of the foure principall Vertues IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 31. Homily concerning good Workes it is said There is one worke in the which be all good workes that is Faith which p Gal. 5.6 worketh by charity If thou have it thou hast the ground of all good workes For the vertues of strength wisedome temperance and justice be all referred unto this same faith It is written in the booke of the Wisdome of Solomon q Wised 8.7 If a man love righteousnesse Wisedomes labors are vertues for she teacheth temperance and prudence justice and fortitude which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in their life And these foure Vertues are by some called the principall Vertues because they are fountaines of others and foure maine matters wherein the due administration of mans affaires doth consist Of Prudence And to begin with r Prov. 1.2 3. and 8.11.15 16 2 Chro. 2.12 Prudence first It is observed to be a vertue which according to the rule of honesty prescribeth unto man what is to be sought after and what is to be shunned Hereunto Christ exhorted his disciples saying Behold I send you forth as sheepe in the middest of Wolves bee ye therefore Å¿ Mat. 10.16 wise as Serpents and harmles as Doves Saint Paul
the likenesse of fiery k Acts 2.2.3.4 tongues lighting vpon the Apostles to teach them and to leade them to all l Ioh. 16.13 Truth giuing them both the gift of diuerse Languages and also boldnesse with feruent Zeale constantly to preach the Gospell vnto all m Mar. 16.15 Nations whereby wee are brought out of darknesse and errour into the cleere n 1. Pet. 2 9. Math. 4.16 light and true knowledge of God the Father and his Sonne Iesus Christ It is sayd in the first part of the * Tom. 2. p. 208.209 Homily for Whitsunday As there are three seuerall and sundry persons in the Deity so haue they three seuerall and sundry offices proper vnto each of them The Father to create the Sonne to redeeme the Holy Ghost to sanctifie and regenerate Whereof the last the more it is o Ioh. 3 4. hidde from our vnderstanding the more it ought to moue all men to wonder at the secret and mighty working of Gods Holy Spirit which is within vs. For it is the Holy Ghost and no other thing that doth p Ioh. 6.63 quicken the mindes of men stirring vp good and godly motions in their heartes which are agreeable to the will and Commaundement of God such as otherwise of their owne crooked and peruerse nature they should neuer haue The power of the Holy Ghost is to regenerate men and as it were to bring them foorth anewe so that they shall bee q 2. Cor. 5.17 nothing like the men that they were before Neither doth hee thinke it sufficient inwardly to worke the spirituall and new birth of man vnlesse hee doe also dwell and abide in him r 1. Cor. 3.16 and 6.19 Knowe yee not sayth Saint Paul that yee are the Temple of God and that his Spirit dwelleth in you Knowe yee not that your bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost which is within you Againe he sayth Å¿ Rom. 8.9 You are not in the flesh but in the spirite For why The Spirite of God dwelleth in you To this agreeth the Doctrine of Saint Iohn writing in this wise The t 1. Ioh. 2.27 Annoynting which yee haue receiued hee meaneth the Holy Ghost dwelleth in you And the Doctrine of Saint Peter sayth the same who hath these wordes The Spirite u 1. Pet. 4.14 of glory and of God resteth vpon you O what comfort is this to the heart of a true Christian to thinke that the Holy Ghost w Rom. 8.9.10 11. dwelleth within him In the second part of the aforesayd * P. 212. Homily it is also sayd That our Sauiour Iesus Christ departing out of the world vnto his Father promised his Disciples to send downe x Ioh. 14.16 another Comforter which should continue with them for euer and direct them into all truth Neither must we thinke that this Comforter was either promised or else giuen only to the Apostles but also to the * 1. Cor. 12.3.13 Vniuersall Church of Christ dispersed through the world for vnles the Holy Ghost had bin alwayes present gouerning and preseruing the Church from the beginning it could neuer haue sustained so many and so great brunts of affliction and persecution with so little damage and harme as it hath Saint Paul sayth y Rom. 8.9 If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ the same is none of his Hereby then it is euident and plaine to all men that the Holy Ghost was giuen not onely to the Apostles but also to the whole body of Christs Congregation although not in like forme and Maiestie as he came downe at the Feast of Pentecost The Lord hath sayd by his Prophet Isaiah z Isa 59.20.21 The Redeemer shall come to Sion and vnto them that turne from transgression in Iacob As for me this is my couenant with them sayth the Lord My Spirit that is vpon thee and my words which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seede nor out of the mouth of thy seedes seede sayth the Lord from henceforth and for euer The need we haue of Gods holy Spirit is signified in the Collect to be read on the fift Sunday after Easter where it is sayd Lord from whom all good things doe come graunt vs thy humble seruants that by thy holy inspiration we may a â—hil 2.13 thinke those things which be good and by thy mercifull b Psal 143.10 Psal 25.5.9 guiding may performe the same through Iesus Christ our Lord. Likewise in the Collect to bee read afore the ten Commandements Almighty God vnto whom all hearts be c Acts 1.24 open all desires knowne and from whom no secrets are hid cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit that we may perfectly loue thee and worthily magnifie thy holy Name through Christ our Lord. The holy Ghost commeth downe into the spirite of Gods people in sundry measures and degrees It is in some measure receiued in Baptisme and therefore in the Seruice for Baptisme it is prayed that the party to be baptized may be baptized with water and the d Mat. 3 11. Holy Ghost c. It is also receiued in e Acts 8.15.16.17 Bishopping or Confirmation And therefore in the seruice thereof it is prayed Strengthen them we beseech thee O Lord with the Holy Ghost the comforter And in the act of Confirmation when the Bishop layeth his hand on the party to bee Confirmed it is sayd Defend O Lord this child with thy heauenly grace that hee may continue thine for euer and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more vntill he come to thine euerlasting Kingdome It is also receiued in the Communion as sayth the * Tom. 2. p. 192 Homily of the Resurrection Thou hast receiued Christs body to haue within thee the Father Sonne and Holy f 1. Cor. 12.13 Ghost for to dwell with thee and to endow thee with grace to strengthen thee against thine enemies and to comfort thee with their presence And in the same * Pag. 193. Homily it is sayd How can we find in our harts to shew such extreame vnkindnesse to Christ who hath now so gently called vs to mercy and offered himselfe vnto vs and he now g Ioh. 6.56 entred within vs Yea how dare we be so bold to renounce the presence of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost For where one is there is God all whole in Maiesty together with all his power wisedome and goodnesse By other ordinances of God the holy Ghost is more and more receiued as by Prayer c. according as Christ saith h Luke 11.13 Your heauenly Father will giue the Holy Spirit to them that aske him And likewise S. Peter with the other Holy Apostles hath declared to what conditioned people God doth send downe his Holy Spirit more and more where hee sayth i Acts 5.32
is Christ and the head of woman is the man and the head of Christ is God Every man praying or prophecying having his head k 1 Cor. 11.2.3.4.7 Turpia vitiosaque legi debent bonesta contrà et vitio carentia detegiac ostendi Quod si vir operto capite preces agit ostendit suum caput esse vitiosum et preinde tegendum Atqui viri caput Christus est qui vitij est expers Itaque debet viri caput detegi quò Christum qui viri caput est vitij expertem esse indicetur Mulâ—eris verò caput vir est qui cuÌ„ sit nocens et vitiosus debet mulier suuÌ„ caput tegere Haec quidam anonymus Of the gesture to be used in prayer covered dishonoureth his head But every woman that prayeth or prophecieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head For man indeed ought not to cover his head forasmuch as hee is the Image and glory of God But the woman is the glory of the man It is written that the Lord Iesus l Luke 22.41 kneeled downe and prayed So m Acts. 7.60 did Saint Stephen when hee prayed though stones then were throwne against him where through hee presently died c. Peter n Acts. 9.40 kneeled downe and prayed c. Paul o Acts. 20.36 and 21.5 kneeled downe and prayed c. And Davids saying is which is appointed to bee read on every Sunday morning O come let us worship and fall downe and p Psal 95.6 Of the gesture to be used wheÌ„ the confession of Faith and the Gospel for the day is read kneele before the Lord our maker Moreover concerning the reverence done by standing up when we make confession of our Faith it is to be considered that then to sit is altogether unseemely because it is as it were a speaking unto God And sitting is no gesture of reverence When any civill person goeth unto his superiour and declareth any matter unto him hee will doe it standing And thus to demeane our selves in speaking to our superiours wee are taught even by the very light of q 1 Cor. 11.14 Thereout Balaam willed Balak to rise up Therupon Eglon arose up out of his seate nature Ought wee not then when wee make confession of our faith unto our God to stand up reverently We read not in Scripture of any that spake unto God sitting but either kneeling or standing or fallen downe on the face as * Gen. 17.17 18. Abraham did Kneeling commonly when they prayed and standing in making confession or profession It is recorded of King Salomon that hee and all the Congregation r 1 King 8.14.22.55 stood whiles hee confessed or made acknowledgement of the goodnesse of God towards them and blessed the name of the Lord. And afterward when he fell to prayer it appeareth hee s 1 King 8.54 kneeled on his knees It is also written that Abraham t Gen. 18.22 Gen. 19.27 stood before the Lord whiles he spake unto him Very many are the Scriptures which mention the gesture of standing before the Lord in speaking unto his Omnipotent Majestie Whereas also the Church prescribeth That when the Lord Iesus shall bee mentioned due and lowly reverence shall bee done by all persons present as it hath beene accustomed testifying by these outward Ceremonies and gestures their inward humility c. It is to bee understood that not onely all are to bow the knee when the Lord Iesus is mentioned in saying the Beleefe but also in the reading of the holy Gospell when as the the Lord Iesus is mentioned therein For which cause that people may then performe that reverence unto the Lord Iesus is it not requisite that all stand up whiles the Gospell which is in the divine Service is in reading And that people are to stand up in hearing the speciall messages from Almighty God not a few Scriptures doe teach Of standing up when the Gospel for the day is read When Ehud came to king Eglon as he was sitting in a Summer Parlour Ehud said I have a message from God unto thee And the King u Iudg. 3.20 arose out of his seat Why is it written that he rose up but for our learning that when we heare the Gospell which the Church hath upon specical consideration for the day appointed to be read we should stand up and then may make due and lowly reverence Of bowing the knee when the Lord Iesus is mentioned when the w Phil. 2.9 10 11. Rom 14.11 Isa 45.23 Ephes 3.14 Ioh. 5.22.23 Psal 72.9 and 95.6 Lord Iesus shall be mentioned as it hath beene accustomed The word Gospell in the originall signifieth a good or joyfull message It is written in the booke of Samuel That as Samuel and Saul were going downe to the end of the City Samuel said unto Saul Bid the servant passe on before us and he passed on but x 1 Sam. 9.27 stand thou still a while that I may shew thee the Word of God Hee doth not bid him sit still a while whiles he delivered to him the speciall message The Prophet Isaiah saith unto women when they were to heare his speciall delivery unto them from the Lord y Isa 32.9 Rise up ye women that are at ease heare my voice ye carelesse daughters give eare unto my speech Rising up in the hearing of a matter published is a token of the more carefull attention thereunto It is recorded that when Ezra opened the booke for to read all the people z Neh. 8.5 stood up Even very nature taught the heathen when any message was said to bee published unto them as from God that they were to stand up in hearing of it Wherupon Balaam said unto King Balak a Num. 23.18 Rise up Balak and heare hearken unto me thou sonne of Zippor Against sleeping in the Church in time of Gods publike worship Furthermore people ought not to sleepe whiles the publike worship of God is in performing no not in hearing an Homily or Sermon It is recorded by Saint Luke for our learning that when Christ preached the eyes of all that were in the Synagogue were b Luke 4.20 fastned on him And the judgement that befell c Act. 20.7 8 9 10. Entychus sleeping whiles Paul preached is written also for our admonition It is also remarkable what is said in the first part of the * T. 1. p. 53. Homily How dangerous a thing it is to fall from God Whosoever is occupied with fables and tales when the Word of God rehearsed Of attentive harkening to the publike worship he is turned from God Whosoever in time of reading Gods Word is carefull in his minde of worldly businesse of mony or of lucre he is turned from God whosoever is intangled with the cares of possessions filled with the covetousnesse of riches whosoever studieth for the glory and honour of this world he is turned from God So that
Prov. 14.1 Ecclus. 42.6 upside downe No surely For that is farre repugnant against Gods Commandement For thus doth Saint Peter preach to them Ye wives be ye h 1 Pet. 3.1 2. Gen. 3.16 Tit. 2.4.5 Eph. 5.24 in subjection to your owne husbands To obey is another thing than to controule and command which yet they may doe to their Children and family but as for their husbands them must they obey and cease from commanding and performe subjection For this surely doth nourish concord very much when the wife is ready at hand at her husbands commandement when shee will apply her selfe to his will when shee endeavoureth her selfe to seeke his i 1 Cor. 7.3.34 contentation and to doe him pleasure when shee will eschew all things what might offend him For thus will most truely be verified the saying of the Poet A good wife by obeying her husband shall beare the rule so that he shall have a delight and a gladnesse the sooner at all times to returne home unto her But on the contrary part when the wives be stubborne froward malapert their husbands are compelled thereby to abhorre and flee from their owne houses even as they should have battaile with their enemies And * P. 242. afterward it is signified That when wives through frailty and infirmitie have done amisse they beware that they stand not in their faults and wilfulnesse but rather let them acknowledge their follies and say My husband so it is that by my anger I was compelled to doe this or that forgive it mee and hereafter I will take better heed Thus ought the woman more readily to doe the more they be ready to offend And they shall not onely doe this to avoid strife and debate but rather in the respect of the Commandement of God as Saint Paul expresseth it in this forme of words Let women be subject to their owne k Eph. 5.22 23 24. 1 Cor. 11.3 husbands as to the Lord for the husband is the head of the woman as Christ is the head of the Church Here you understand that God hath commanded that ye should acknowledge the authority of the husband and referre to him the honour of obedience And S. Peter saith in that place before rehearsed that holy l 1 Pet. 3.5.6 Matrons did in former time decke themselves not with Gold and Silver but in putting their whole hope in God and in obeying their husbands as Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him Lord whose daughters yee bee saith he if yee follow her example This sentence is very meet for women to print in their remembrance And * p. 243. afterward it is also delivered Obey thy husband take regard of his requests and give heede unto him to perceive what he requireth of thee and so shalt thou honour God and live peaceably in thy house And beyond all this God shall follow thee with his benediction that all things shall well prosper both to thee and to thy Husband as the m Psal 128. Psalme saith This let the wife have ever in minde the rather admonished thereto by the apparell of her n 1 Cor. 11.5 7 8. head whereby is signified that she is under covert or obedience of her husband And as that apparell is of nature so appointed to declare her subjection So biddeth Saint Paul that all other of her rayment should expresse both o 1 Tim. 2.9 shamefastnesse and sobriety For if it bee not lawfull for the woman to have her head p 1 Cor. 11.6 14 15. bare but to beare thereon the signe of her power or the power over her wheresoever she goeth more is it required that she declare the thing that is meant thereby In the prayer to be read after the wed with the Ring The dutie both of man and wife is delivered That as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together so these persons may surely performe and keepe the vow and covenant betwixt them made whereof this Ring given and received is a token and pledge and may ever remaine in perfect love and peace together and live according to thy Lawes In the third part of the * T. 1. p. 88. Homily against Whoredome it is said The maried are bound by the Law of God so purely to love one another that neither of them seeke any q Pro. 5.20 21. strange love The man must onely r Gen. 2.24 cleave to his wife and the wife againe onely to her husband they must so ſ Prov. 5.19 delight one in anothers company that none of them covet any other Saint Paul saith Let the husband render unto the wife due t 1 Cor. 7.3 4 5. benevolence and likewise also the wife unto the husband The wife hath not power over her owne body but the husband and likewise also the husband hath not power of his owne body but the wife Defraud not one the other except it be with consent for a time that ye may give your selves to fasting and prayer and come together againe that Sathan tempt you not for your incontinencie Solomon saith u Pro 5.18 19. Rejoyce with the wife of thy youth let her bee as the loving Hinde and pleasant Roe let her brests satisfie thee at all times and bee thou ravisht alwaies with her love Saint Paul willeth that young women be taught to be sober to love their w Tit. 2 4 5 6. husbands to love their children to be discreet chaste keepers at home good obedient to their owne husbands that the word of God be not blasphemed Yong mē likewise exhort to be sober minded Here such persons as professe the feare of God a conscionable x Psal 112.1 and 119.6 respect unto the observation of all Gods Commandements which are not maried and doe intend to enter into that estate may be admonished that seldome doth God leave unseverely punished those that professe his feare which will y Mal. 2.11.12 1 Cor. 7.39 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16. Gen. 27.46 mary with those that professe not his feare in their conversation As no woman knoweth the miserable life with an z Ecclus. 7.25 Ecclus. 4.30 ill husband but she that feeleth it so no man can throughly comprehend what are the sorrowes which a wicked a Prov. 19.13 and 27.15 wife causeth to her husbād but he that hath had the wofull experience of the same Solomon in his book of Proverbs Iesus the son of Syrach in his booke of Wisedome in the Chapters 25 and 26. doe make mention of some of them CHAP. 82. Of the duty of Parents towards their Children and of Children towards their Parents likewise of Masters and Dames to their Servants of Servants to their Masters and Dames IN the end of the Service of Baptisme it is signified That children should bee vertuously brought up to lead a godly and a Christian b Psal 148.12 13. Gen. 18.19 life That they are to be called upon for to heare c Deut.
and unfainedly to y Rom. 8.29 Phil 3.13.14.15 strive to come neerer and neerer unto that marke Wee that are but z Wis 2.2 sparkes of spirit in small lumpes of clay if the Angels and Arch-Angels of heaven doe stand in a Iude. 9. awe of God ought to serve him acceptably with reverence and godly b Heb. 12.28.29 feare For our God is a consuming fire CHAP. 85. Of sundry fruits of the Holy Spirit IN the third part of the * T. 2. p. 119. Homily concerning Prayer it is said Because the soule is much more precious and excellent than the body therefore we ought first of all to crave such things as properly belong to the salvation thereof as the gift of Repentante the gift of Faith the gift of Charity and good Workes remission and forgivenesse of sinnes patience in adversitie lowlinesse in prosperitie and such other like fruites of the Spirit as Hope Love Ioy Peace Long-suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Meekenesse and Temperance which things God requireth of all them that professe themselves to be his children Saint Paul in his Epistle to the Galatians saith The c Gal. 5.22 23. fruit of the spirit is Love Ioy Peace Long-suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Faith or Faithfulnesse Meeknesse Temperance And on some of these nine there shall be now some briefe observation because they are matters necessary for our consideration in that if they be in any measure in us they are testimonies that we have the Spirit of God and are d Rom. 8.9 his In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 209 210. Homily for Whitsunday it is said O but how shall I know that the holy Ghost is within me some man perchance will say Forsooth as the e Mat. 7.16 17 18 19 20. tree is knowne by his fruit so is also the Holy Ghost The fruits of the Holy Ghost according to the minde of Saint Paul are these Love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faithfulnesse meeknesse temperance c. If thou see that thy workes be vertuous and good consonant to the prescript rule of Gods Word savouring and tasting not of the flesh but of the spirit then f 1 Iohn 3.18 19 20 21 24. assure thy selfe that thou art indued with the Holy Ghost otherwise in thinking well of thy selfe thou doest nothing else but g Iam. 1.26 Gal. 6.7 8 9. deceive thy selfe Of Love The first mentioned fruit of the Spirit is Love Saint Iohn saith Every one that h 1 Iohn 4.7 8. loveth is borne of God and knoweth God He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is Love By this shall all men know saith Christ that ye are my Disciples if ye have i Iohn 13.35 Love one to another In the fourth part of the * T. 2. p. 235. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said Love and charity is the onely k 1 Iohn 3.10 Livery of a Christian man Saint Paul unto the Corinthians reckoneth up sixteene properties of Love saying l 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6 7 8. Charitie suffereth long and is kinde Charity envieth not Charity vaunteth not it selfe is not puffed up doth not behave it selfe unseemely seeketh not her owne is not easily provoked thinketh no evill rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the truth beareth all things beleeveth all things hopeth all things endureth all things Charity never faileth The necessitie of Charitie is declared in many places of the Divine Service but in a most Divine manner in the whole Homily thereof The prayer therefore for it the Collect to be reade on Shrovesunday called Quinquagesima is profitable to be said often by us O Lord which doest teach vs that all our doings without Charity are m 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3. nothing worth send thy Holy Ghost and power into our hearts that most n 1 Cor. 12.31 excellent gift of Charity the very o Col. 3.14 bond of peace and all vertues without the which whosoever liveth is counted p Iam. 2.20 26 1 Tim. 5.6 Luke 15.32 Of Ioy. dead before thee The next fruit of the Spirit is Ioy. In the * T. 2. p. 210. Homily for Whitsunday the first part thereof it is said Who will not marvell at that which is written in the Acts of the Apostles to heare their bold confession before the Countill at Ierusalem and to consider that they went away with Ioy and gladnesse q Acts 5.41 rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebukes and checkes for the name and faith of Christ Iesus This was the mighty worke of the Holy Ghost who because hee giveth patience and joyfulnesse of heart in temptation and affliction hath therefore worthily obtained this name in holy Scriptures to bee called a r Iohn 14.16 Comforter The Lord saith Isaiah will comfort Zion he will comfort all her wast places and hee will make her wildernesse like Eden and her Desert like the Garden of the Lord ſ Isa 51.3 Ioy and gladnesse shall bee found therein thanksgiving and the voyce of melody The redeemed of the Lord shall returne and come with singing unto Zion and everlasting t Isa 35.10 and. 51.11 joy shall bee upon their head they shall obtaine gladnesse and joy and forrow and mourning shall flee away The third fruit of the Spirit is Peace Of Peace Peace in conscience is so precious a matter in this present world as that congregations are not to depart from Church untill the u Phil. 4.7 Peace of God which passeth all understanding or the like blessing bee said which the Church hath appointed For with the like manner of blessing did God in former times ordaine his Priests to w Numb 6.23 24 25 26 27. blesse his people the Iewes saying The Lord blesse thee and keepe thee the Lord make his face shine upon thee and bee gracious unto thee the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee Peace Sundry times doth the Divine Service most divinely informe us hereof saying O God which art Author of x 1 Cor. 141 33. Peace lover of y Ps 133.1 2 3 Eph. 4.16 cōcord c. And give unto thy servants that Peace which the world z Iohn 14.27 cannot give that both our hearts may be a Ps 108.1 set to b Mat. 228.20 obey thy commandements and also that by thee wee being defended from the feare of our enemies may passe our time in c Ier. 6.16 Ps 116.7 8 9. rest and d Isa 30.15 1 Pet. 3.4 Ps 31.2 quietnesse Most memorable is that Collect appointed to be read on the 21. Sunday after Trinity viz. Grant wee beseech thee mercifull Lord to thy faithfull people pardon and Peace that they may be e 1 Iohn 1.7 9. Ps 31.2 Ps 73.1.13 Iam. 4.8 cleansed from all their sinnes and serve thee with a f 1 Pet. 3.4 quiet minde In the third part of the * T. 1.
house of the Rechabites for keeping all the precepts and for doing according to d Ier. 35.18 15. all that they were commanded by Ionadab their father much more doth he expect that people should doe according to every particular which e 1 Tim. 3.15 Isa 2.2 3. Micah 4.1 2. Zech. 8.23 Act. 15.2 4 6 22. holy Church prescribeth unto them We are also hereto for to remember the counsell given by Isaiah f Isa 55.6 7. Seeke ye the Lord while he may be found call upon him while he is neere We are to seeke afore the doore be g Mat. 25.10 11 12. shut against us and afore the master of the house be h Luke 13.25 26 27. risen up as Christ admonisheth The Lord by Hosea saith That it commeth to passe that there is a time when such as have dealt treacherously against the Lord which will not frame their doings to turne unto their God but retaine the spirit of Whoredome in the midst of them and not know the Lord but walke on in spirituall pride They shall goe with their flockes and with their heards to seeke the Lord but they shall not i Hos 5.6 find him he hath withdrawne himselfe from them Ieremiah signifieth of the manner of k Ier. 50.4 5. seeking the Lord where he saith In those daies and in that time saith the Lord the children of Israel shall come they and the children of Iudah together going and weeping they shall goe and seeke the Lord their God They shall aske the way to Zion with their faces thitherward saying Come and let us joyne our selves to the Lord in a perpetuall covenant that shall not be forgotten We are not to travell toward Canaan for to enjoy there the milke and honey retaining within our selves a lusting after the l Exod. 16.3 1 Cor. 10.6 fleshpots of Egypt Also unlesse we seeke the Lords kingdome with our m Ier. 29.13 whole heart we shall never finde it It is most memorable what is written in the booke of Chronicles That all Iudah had sworne with n 2 Chron. 15.12 15. all their heart to seek the Lord and sought him with their whole desire and he was found of them and the Lord gave them rest round about There are some that seeke as they say after Christs kingdome but it is according to the imagination of their owne heart and not according to the prescriptions expressed in Gods word and declared in the Divine Service of the Church And it commeth to passe with them as Isaiah saith o Isa 29.8 9 10. It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth and behold he eateth but hee awaketh and his soule is empty or as when a thirsty man dreameth and behold he drinketh but he awaketh and behold he is faint and his soule hath appetite So shall the multitude of all Nations bee that fight against mount Zion Stay your selves and wonder cry ye out and cry they are drunken but not with wine they stagger but not with strong drinke For the Lord hath powred out upon you the spirit of deepe sleepe and hath closed your eyes c. CHAP. 91. Of the Christian unity IT is the last of the complaints which the holy Fathers of the Church have made in the sacred prayer after the Letany in the last Fast booke There hath beene little or no care among us to keepe truth and peace together for the preserving of our Church State In the Collect for Simon and Iudes day wee are taught to pray Grant us so to bee joyned together in unity of spirit by the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles that we may be made an holy p Ephes 2.19 20 21 22. Heb. 3.6 1 Pet. 2.5 See also the margent temple acceptable to thee through Iesus Christour Lord. In the Collect for All Saints it is said Almighty God which hast knit together thy Elect in one communion and fellowship in the mysticall q Eph. 2.22 23. and 4.15 16. body of thy Sonne Christ our Lord grant us grace so to r Phil. 3.17 Heb. 13.7 follow thy holy Saints in all vertuous and godly living that we may come to those unspeakable joyes which thou hast Å¿ Isa 64. 4 5. Psal 31.19 Mat. 25.21 prepared for them that unfainedly love thee through Iesus Christ our Lord. In the prayer for the whole state of Christs Church militant here in earth it is said We beseech thee to inspire continually the universall Church with the spirit of truth unitie and concord and grant that all they that doe confesse thy holy name may * 1 Cor. 1.10 agree in the truth of thy holy word and live in t 1 Cor. 12.13.25 Ioh. 17.21.22.23 unity and u Eph. 4.16 Col. 2.19 Eph. 5.2 Ioh. 13.35 godly love In the Collect to be read after private absolution it is said Preserve and continue this sicke member in the w Ps 122.3 Act. 1.4 Eph. 5.3 Ps 133.1.2.3 unitie of the Church In the second Collect for Peace it is said O God which art Authour of peace and lover of concord c. In the Collect to be read on the fourth Sunday after Easter it is said Almighty God which dost make the mindes of all faithfull men to bee of one x Phil. 2.1 3.2.5 and 3.16 will c. In the sacred Letanie it is said That it may please thee to give to y Ps 67. Zechar. 14.9 Eph. 1.10 Is 11.9 all Nations unity peace and concord In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 89.90 Ps 22.27.28.29 Ezech. 37.22 Homily against contention it is said Among all kinds of contention none is more hurtfull than is contention in matters of Religion Eschew saith Saint Paul foolish and unlearned z 2 Tim. 2.23.24 questions knowing that they breed strife It becommeth not the servant of God to fight or strive but to be meeke toward all men This contention and strife was in Saint Pauls time among the Corinthians and is at this time among us English-men For too many there bee which upon the Ale-benches or other places delight to set forth certaine questions not so much pertaining to edification as to vaine glorie and shewing forth of their a 1 Tim. 6.20 cunning and so unsoberly to reason and dispute that when neither part will give place to other they fall to chiding and b 1 Tim. 6.3.4.5 contention and sometime from hot words to further inconvenience Saint Paul could not abide to heare among the Corinthians these words of discord or dissention I hold of c 1 Cor. 3.3.4.5 Paul I of Cephas and I of Apollo What would he then say If he heard these words of contention which be now almost in every mans mouth d Iam. 4.11 Rom. 14.12.13 Hee is a Pharisee he is a Gospeller he is of the new sort he is of the old faith hee is a new broched brother he is a good Catholike father
love God and others for Gods sake because God is good unto us therefore wee are to grow in Charitie untill wee truly love God because he is good in himselfe and to doe it beyond respect of benefit or punishment from God untill also wee love m Rom. 5.8 10 Mat. 5.44 45 46 47 48. whatsoever God himselfe loveth according as it is prescribed in the holy Scriptures Yea we are to n 2 Thes 1.3 grow in Charity untill we passe into that everlasting kingdome of heaven where all live in perfect Charity into all eternity And if any devout soule in the feare of God hath in some measure received the faith in Iesus Christ and according to the holy Gospels requiry by the delivery of Saint Peter is zealous in adding thereto the seven other things as being matters all o 2 Pet. 1.8 9 10 11. necessary together with faith to be had and exercised in the way unto everlasting salvation if hee be taken forth of this life afore all these things doe abound in him as S. Peter saith they ought he is to bee accounted to dye a true souldier of Iesus Christ one that hath made a faithfull entrance into his holy warfare And even as by the law of God a Virgin espoused to a man is his true q Mat. 1.18 19 20 25. wife although they be not married nor have come together as r Heb. 13.4 after marriage they lawfully may So a devout soule leaving this present world afore that high growth in the mysterie of godlinesse be attained by it which the Scriptures record that sundry of Gods people have heretofore attained unto that holy soule having not Å¿ Rev. 3.16 lukewarmly but t Rom. 10.2 Prov. 19.2 truly zealously pressed hard thereafter by faithfull using all u Mat. 25.23 Luke 12.48 2 Cor. 8.12 helpes vouchsafed unto it by God for the attaining nearer and nearer thereunto is through the mercy of God in Iesus Christ received as a true w Luk. 23.43 2 Cor. 11.2 member of his mysticall body into Paradise into Abrahams bosome to be with the Lord Iesus for evermore Saint Peter saith As new borne Babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that ye may x 1 Pet. 2.2 grow thereby Saint Iohn declareth the different ages in Christ or in the great mysterie of godlinesse from one whereof into the other the obedient people of GOD doe y Eph. 4.15 Col. 1.28 1 Cor. 13.11 grow where he saith I write unto you z 1 Iohn 2.12 13 14. little Children because your sinnes are forgiven you for his names sake I write unto you fathers because ye have knowne him that is from the beginning I write unto you young men because ye have overcome the wicked one I write unto you little Children because ye have knowne the Father I have written unto fathers because ye have knowne him that is from the beginning I have written unto you young men because ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you and yee have overcome the wicked one Out of which delivery it may appeare that in the Christian Religion there is a childhood a yong manhood and a fatherhood or old age also thereout may bee observed the different spirituall strength and understanding in each age CHAP. 93. Of the Devill THe first of the three things promised and vowed in our name at our Baptisme is That we should forsake the Devill and all his workes So by the signe of the Crosse which we had made on us we are to learne for to fight manfully under Christs banner against sinne the world and the a Eph. 6.11 12. Devill Even in every part of the divine service we are taught to pray for to be defended from the Devill In the Catechisme we are taught to pray for to be delivered from our ghostly enemy In the Baptisme-Service it is said Grant that they may have power and strength to have victory and to triumph against the b 1 Ioh 5.18 Devill the world and the flesh In the Communion-Service it is signified that wee should not come unto the Sacrament but with due preparation lest after the taking thereof the Devill enter into us as he entred into c Iohn 13.27 Iudas and sill us full of all iniquities and bring us to destruction both of body and soule In the Service of Matrimony it is said Be unto them a d Prov. 18.10 tower of strength from the face of their eenemy In the Service for the Visitation of the sicke it is said Let the e 1 Pet. 5.8 enemy have none advantage of him nor the wicked approch to hurt him And defend him from the danger of the enemy And renew in him whatsoever hath beene decayed by the fraud and malice of the Devill In the Collect for the eighteenth Sunday after Trinity it is said Grant thy people grace to avoid the infections of the f 2 Cor. 2.11 Devill and with pure heart and minde to follow thee the onely God In the holy Letany it is said Finally to beat downe Satan under our feete And Graciously heare us that those evills which the craft and g 2 Cor. 11.3 Rev. 20.2.11 subtilty of the Devill or man worketh against us he brought to nought and by the providence of thy goodnesse they may be dispersed In the second part of the * T. 1. p. 57. Homily of falling from God it is said They shall be given into the power of the Devill which beareth the rule in all them that be cast away from God as he did in h 1 Sam. 28.15 16. Saul and i Mat. 27.5 Iudas and generally in all such as worke after their owne wills the children of k Ephes 2.2 mistrust and unbeleefe In the third part of the * T. 1. p. 68. Homily against the feare of death it is said Considering also the innumerable assaults of our ghostly enemie the Devill with all his l Eph. 6.16 fierie darts of ambition pride lechery vaine glory envie malice detraction or backbiting with other his innumerable deceits engines and snares whereby he goeth busily about to catch all men under his dominion ever like a roaring Lyon by all means searching whom he may devoure In the third part of the * T. 1. p. 88. Homily against Adultery it is said Now to avoyd fornication adultery and all uncleannesse let us provide that above all things wee may m Prov. 4.23 keepe our hearts pure and n Iam. 4.8.7 Mat. 15.15 20. cleane from all evill thoughts and carnall lusts for if that bee once infected and corrupt we fall headlong into all kind of ungodlinesse This shall we easily doe if when we feele inwardly that Satan our old enemy tempteth us unto whoredome we by no meanes consent to his crafty suggestions but valiantly resist and withstand him by strong o 1 Pet. 5.9 faith in the Word of God alleaging against him