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
and not earthly an invisible meat and not bodily a ghostly substance and not carnall c. By the advice of the * p. 201. Councill of Nicene wee ought to lift up our minds by faith and leaving these inferior and earthly things there seeke it where the Sunne of righteousnesse ever shineth Take then this lesson O thou that art desirous of this table of Emissenus a godly father that when thou goest up to the reverend Communion to bee satisfied with spirituall meats thou looke up with faith upon the holy body and blood of thy God thou marvell with reverence thou touch it with the mind thou receive it with the hand of thy heart and thou take it fully with thy inward man What the use is which we are to make of the Sacrament Concerning the use which we are to make of receiving the Sacrament it is signified in the prayer to bee read after the Prefaces in the Communion-service where it is said Grant us therefore gracious Lord so to eate the flesh of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ and to drinke his blood that our sinfull bodies may bee made cleane by his body and our soules washed through his most precious blood and that we may evermore w Iohn 6.56 Iohn 14.23 dwell in him and he in us And it is also signified in the second prayer after the receiving where it is said We now most humbly beseech thee O heavenly Father so to assist us with thy grace that we may continue in that holy x Act. 2.42.46 Heb. 10.25 Col. 2.19 Eph. 2.19 fellowship and doe all such good workes as thou hast y Eph. 2.10 That the Sacrament is to be received often-times prepared for us to walke in through Iesus Christ our Lord. Concerning the oftennesse of the receiving of the Sacrament it is said in the rubricke afore the Service for the Communion of the sicke That Curats are to exhort their parishioners to the oft receiving in the Church of the holy Communion of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ which if they doe they shall have no cause in their sudden visitation to bee unquiet for lacke of the same It is said in the rubricke at the end of the Matrimony-service The new maried persons the same day of their mariage must receive the holy Communion And in the end of the Churching-service it is said in the rubricke The woman that commeth to give her thankes must offer accustomed offerings and if there be a Communion it is convenient that she receive the holy Communion It is said in the rubricke at the end of the Communion-Service That in Cathedrall and Collegiat Churches where be many Priests and Deacons they shall all receive the Communion with the Minister every z Acts 10.7 Sunday at the least except they have a reasonable cause to the contrary And in the end of that rubricke it is said Every Parishioner shall communicate at the least three times in the yeare of which Easter to bee one c. Also when any receive any order of the Ministery they are then to communicate as it is prescribed in the booke of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons It is written in Genesis a Gen. 14.18 19. That Melchisedec King of Salem brought forth bread and wine and hee was the Priest of the most high God And hee blessed Abraham c. Saint Paul saith to the Corinthians b 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 4. Our Fathers were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea And did all eate the same spirituall meat and did all drinke the same spirituall drinke For they dranke of that spirituall rocke that followed them and that rocke was Christ Wisedome saith in the Proverbes c Pro. 9.5 Come eate of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mingled Saint Matthew recordeth that as Iesus and his Disciples were eating the Passeover Iesus tooke d Matth. 26.26 27 28. bread and blessed it and brake it gave it to the disciples and said Take eate this is my body And he tooke the cup and gave thankes and gave it to them saying Drinke ye all of it for this is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Saint Iohn writeth that Iesus afore had said unto the Iewes c Ioh. 6.53 54 55 56.63 Verily verily I say unto you Except ye eate the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you Who so eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternall life and I will raise him up at the last day For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in mee and I in him It is the spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing the words that I speake unto you they are spirit and they are life It is written in the Acts f Acts 2.42 That the disciples continued stedfast in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers Saint Paul saith to the Corinthians g 1 Cor. 10.16 17. The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the Communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of one bread Also he saith h 1 Cor. 12.13 We have all been made to drinke into one spirit And further he delivereth i 1 Cor. 11.26 As often as ye eate this bread and drinke this cup ye doe shew the Lords death till he come CHAP. 56. Of preparing ones selfe for to receive worthily the holy Sacrament IT is said in the third Exhortation to be read afore the Communion The danger is great if we receive the holy Sacrament unworthily for then we bee guilty of the body and blood of Christ our Saviour wee eate and drinke our owne damnation not considering the Lords body we kindle Gods wrath against us wee provoke him to k 1 Cor. 11.30 plague us with diuers diseases and sundry kindes of death Therefore if any of you be a blasphemer of God an hinderer or l 1 Cor. 5.11 slanderer of his Word an adulterer or be in m 1 Iohn 3.15 Mat. 5.23 24 25. malice or envy or in any other griveous crime bewaile your sinnes c. Iudge therefore your selves brethren that ye be not judged of the Lord. Repent you truly for your sinnes past have a lively and stedfast faith in Christ our Saviour Amend your lives and be in perfect charitie with all men so shall yee be meet partakers of those holy mysteries Therefore it is to be said unto them that come to receive the holy Communion in the last words of exhortation afore the generall Confession be made You that doe truly and earnestly repent you or your sinnes and be in love and
charity with your neighbours and intend to lead a new life following the Commandements of God and walking from henceforth in his holy wayes draw neare and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort In the Catechisme it is said There is required of them which come to the Lords Supper to examine themselves whether they repent thē truly of their former sins stedfastly purposing to lead a new life have a lively faith in Gods mercy through Christ with a thankefull remembrance of his death and bee in charity with all men In the first part of the * T. 2 p. 198. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is said We must addresse our selves to frequent this Table in reverent and comely manner lest as physicke provided for the body being misused more hurteth then profiteth so this comfortable medicine of the soule undecently received tendeth to our greater harm and sorrow We must certainly know that three things be requisite in him which would seemely as becommeth such high mysteries resort to the Lords table That is first a right and worthy estimation and understanding of this mysterie Secondly to come in a sure faith And thirdly to have newnesse or purenesse of life to succeed the receiving of the same In the second part of the * P. 202. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is said We may learne by eating of the typicall Lambe whereunto no man was admitted but he that was a Iew that was n Ex. 12.48 circumcised that was before sanctified Yea Saint Paul testifieth that although the people were partakers of the Sacraments under Moses yet for that some of them were still worshippers of Images Whoremongers Tempters of Christ murmurers and coveting after evill things God o 1 Cor. 10.5 6 11. overthrew those in the wildernesse and that for our example that is that we Christians should take heed we resort unto our Sacraments with holinesse of life not trusting in the p Mat 15.8.9 Ier. 7.3 4 5 9 10 c. Mat. 3.8 9 10. outward receiving of them and infected with corrupt and uncharitable manners For this sentence of God must alwayes bee justified q Mat. 12.7 Hos 6.7 1 Sam. 15.22 23. I will have mercy and not sacrifice Wherefore saith Basil it behooveth him that commeth to the body and blood of Christ in commemoration of him that dyed and rose againe not onely to be pure from all r 2 Cor. 7.1 filthinesse of the flesh and spirit lest hee eate and drinke his owne condemnation but also to ſ 1 Cor. 11.26.24 shew out evidently a memory of him that died and rose againe for us in this point that yee be t Rom. 6.11.8 mortified to sinne and the world to live now unto God in Christ Iesu our Lord. It is * P. 203. afterward delivered most divinely also Furthermore for newnesse of life it is to bee noted that S. Paul writeth that we being many are one u 1 Cor. 10.17 bread and one body for all be partakers of one bread Declaring thereby not onely our communion with Christ but that w Eph. 4.16 unity also wherein they that eate at this Table should be knit together For by dissention vaine glorie ambition strife envying contempt hatred or malice they should not be x 1 Cor. 11.18 dissevered but so y Eph. 2.21 22. 1 Pet 2.5 Col. 2.2.5.19 joyned by the bond of love in one mysticall body as the Cornes of that bread in one Loafe In respect of which strait knot of Charity the true Christians in the Primitive Church called this Supper Love As if they should say none ought to sit downe there that were out of love and charity who bare grudge and vengeance in his heart who also did not professe his kind affectiō by some charitable z Acts 20.7 with 1 Cor 16 2. reliefe for some part of the congregation And this was their practice O heavenly banquet then so used O godly ghests who so esteemed this feast And so along unto the end of the Homily the preparation required unto the receiving of the Communion is declared in most Heavenly manner Read the whole second Exhortation which is appointed to bee read afore the Communion and therein the preparation is most plainly expressed also Read also the Thanksgiving which is appointed to bee sung after receiving the Lords Supper set after the Psalmes in meeter and therein the preparing is withall signified Saint Paul saith Whosoever shall eate this bread and drinke this cup of the Lord a 1 Cor. 11.27 28 29 30 31. unworthily shall bee guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of that bread and drinke of that Cup. For hee that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the Lords body For this cause many are weake and sickly among you and many sleepe For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged CHAP. 57. Of kneeling in the act of receiving the Sacrament IN the Rubricke afore the words used in ministring the Communion it is signified That both Ministers and people are to take the Sacrament kneeling The reason is because it is now received in prayer The minister delivering the Sacrament saith The body of our Lord Iesus Christ which was given for thee preserve thy body and soule into everlasting life The blood of our Lord Iesus Christ which was shed for thee preserve thy body and soule into everlasting life Are not these sayings words of prayer And ought not the b 1 Cor. 11 4 5 1 Kings 8.62 1 Cor. 14.16 heart of the receiver to pray with the Minister praying And is not c Ps 95.6 See Chap. 68. kneeling the fittest gesture for prayer It is said in the last Exhortation to be read before the Communion Make your humble confession to Almighty God meekely kneeling upon your knees And in no Rubrick of the Communion-Service are people required to change that gesture but rather to continue it untill they bee let depart with the blessing Charity saith S. Paul doth not behave it selfe d 1 Cor. 13.5 unseemely Againe hee saith e 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done decently in order Is it seemly decent or orderly that people both before and after the receiving of the Sacrament should continue kneeling and in the very act of receiving should stand or sit especially whereas it is now taken with and in Prayer Christ first gave the Sacrament after Supper and so Christians in the Primitive Church celebrated it in the evening and f 1 Cor. 11.20 21 22 33 34. after Supper but now the Church for many ages hath changed the time and hath ordained it to be taken in the morning If the Church our Mother hath so great power and authority as to change the time of taking and to ordaine it to bee taken not after meat but afore dinner and in praying hath she
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
liuing and deedes sheweth the cortrary For how can a man haue this true faith this sure trust and confidence in God that by the merits of Christ his sinnes be forgiuen and he reconciled to the fauour of God and to be partaker of the Kingdome of Heauen by Christ when he liueth vngodly and * Tit. 1.16 Mat. 10 33. denieth Christ in his deeds Surely no such vngodly man can haue this faith and trust in God For as they know Christ to bee the onely Sauiour of the World so they know also that Wicked men shall * 1 Cor. 6.9.10 not enioy the Kingdome of God They know that God * Psal 5.4.5.6 hateth vnrighteousnesse that he will destroy all those that speake vntruely that those which haue done * Iohn 5.29 good workes which cannot bee done without * Iohn 15.5 a liuely faith in Christ shall come foorth into the Resurrection of life and those that haue done euill shall come vnto the Resurrection of iudgement Very well they know also that to them that be Contentious and full of strife and to them that will not be obedient vnto the truth but will obey vnrighteousnesse shall come * Rom. 2.8.9 indignation wrath and affliction c. The great and mercifull benefits of God if they be well considered do neyther minister vnto vs occasion to be idle and to liue without doing any good workes neyther yet stirre vs vp by any meanes to doe euill things But contrariwise if we be not desperate persons and our Hearts harder than stones they mooue vs to render our selues vnto God wholy with all our Wils Heartes Might and Power to serue him in all good deedes obeying his Commaundements during our liues to seeke in all things his glory and honour not our sensuall pleasures and vaine glory euermore dreading willingly to offend such a mercifull God and louing Redeemer in Word Thought or Deede And the sayd benefits of God deepely considered mooue vs for his sake to bee euer ready to giue our selues to our neighbours and as much as lyeth in vs to study with all our endeauour to doe good vnto euery man these be the fruites of true faith In the Collect for Innocents day we are Divinely taught to pray That in our Conuersation our life may expresse the Faith in God which with our tongues we do confesse Whence we may also learne that the true Christian faith is not a matter meerely holden in the mind but which hath its operation outwardly And so Saint Paul sayth k Gala. 5.6 In Iesus Christ neyther Circumcision availeth any thing nor vncircumcision but Faith which worketh by loue Saint Iames sayth l Iames 2.14.26 What doth it profite my brethren though a man say he hath faith and hath not workes can faith saue him As the body without the spirit is dead so faith without workes is dead also And Iesus the sonne of Sirach sayth m Eccles 32.24 Hee that beleeueth in the Lord taketh heed vnto the Commandement Reade all three parts of the Homily of faith for in them the true Christian faith is described in a wonderfull Divine manner CHAP. 13. Of the Faith in the people of God which liued afore the Incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ euer since the fall IT is sayde in the second part of the * T. 1. p. 25. Homily of Faith All the Fathers Martyres and other Holy men whom Saint Saul spake of had their Faith surely fixed in God when all the World was agaynst them They did not onely know God to bee the Lord Maker and Gouernour of all men in the World but also they had a speciall confidence and trust Idem enim omnino erat etiam tli Deus idem Spiritus idem Christus eadem fides eadem doctrina eadem Spes eadem haereditas idem soedus eadem vis verbi dei Et Eusebius ait Omnes fideles vsque ab Adamo re quidem ipsa Christianos fuissè quāvis non ita dicerentur c. Apologia Ecclesiae Anglicanae excusa Londini Anno 1626. p. 97.98 that hee was and would be their God their Comforter Ayder Helper Maintainer and Defender This is the Christian faith which these Holy men had and wee also ought to haue And although they were not named Christian men yet was it a Christian faith that they had for they looked for all the benefits of God the Father through the merits of his Sonne Iesus Christ as wee now doe This difference is betweene them and vs that they looked when Christ should come and we be in the time when hee is come Therefore sayth Saint Augustine the time is altered and changed but not the Faith For wee haue both one faith in one CHRIST The same Holy Ghost also that wee haue had they sayth Saint Paul For as the Holy Ghost doeth teach vs to trust in God and to call vppon him as our Father So did hee likewise instruct and teach them to say as it is Written * Esay 63.16 Thou Lord art our Father and redeemer and thy name is without beginning and euerlasting God gaue them grace to bee his Children as hee doth vs now But now by the comming of our Sauior Christ wee haue receiued more aboundantly the Spirit of God in our hearts whereby we may conceiue a greater faith and surer trust than many of them had But in effect they and wee be all one Wee haue the same faith that they had in God and they the same that we haue And Saint Paul so much extolleth their faith because we should no lesse but rather more giue our selues wholly vnto Christ both in profession and liuing now when Christ is come than the olde Fathers did before his comming And by all the declaration of Saint Paul it is euident that the true liuely and Christian faith is no dead vaine or vnfruitfull thing but a thing of perfect vertue of wonderfull Operation or working and strength bringing foorth all good motions and good Workes Saint Stephen in his last Sermon to the Iewes making mention of the Faith that was concerning Christ many Ages afore his Incarnation relateth what Moses sayd vnto the Children of Israel A Prophet n Acts 7.37 shall the Lord your God rayse vp vnto you of your brethren like vnto me him shall yee heare And afterward hee sayd Which o Acts 7.52 of the Prophets haue not your Fathers persecuted And they haue slayne them which shewed before of the comming of the Iust one of whom yee haue beene now the betrayers and murtherers Christ told the Iewes Your p Iohn 8.56 Father Abraham reioyced to see my day and he saw it and was glad He also sayd before q Iohn 8.55 Abraham was I am Afore the dayes of Moses and the Prophets God had his Priesthood on earth after the order of r Genesis 14.18 Melchizedec The which Priesthood did ſ Psal 110.4 figure foorth Christs euer-lasting Priest-hood like
as the Leviticall had t Heb. 8.5 and 10.1 shaddowes of the same Melchizedec Priest of the most high God bringing foorth bread and Wine vnto Abraham ministred vnto him therein u Pro. 9.5 bread and Wine euen the Body and Blood of Iesus Christ The mystery whereof Melchizedec knew and all Priests that were of his Order if there were any thereof afore or after him Saint Paul sayd to the Corinthians That w 1 Cor. 10.2 3.4 the Fathers were all Baptized vnto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea And did all eate the same Spiritual meat and did all drinke the same Spirituall drinke For they dranke of that Spirituall Rocke which followeth them and that Rocke was Christ Also all the people of God that liued after the fall vntill the Incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ had their Faith in that Seed which was promised that it should bruise the Serpents head and x Rom. 16.20 bruise Sathan vnder their Feete y Heb. 13.8 Iesus Christ according to his eternall Divine nature the same yesterday and to day and for euer CHAP. 14. Of the Arke which Noah built and of other things in the Story of the olde Testament IN the first Prayer for publicke Baptisme the Church sayth Almighty and Euerlasting God which of thy great mercy diddest saue Noah and his Family in the * Genesis 7.23 Arke from perishing by Water and also diddest safely leade the children of Israel thy people through the red sea figuring thereby thy holy baptisme and by the baptisme of thy well beloued Sonne Iesus Christ diddest sanctifie the floud * Mar. 1.9 Iordan and all other waters to the mysticall washing away of sinne c. And in the first part of the * Tom. 1. p. 69. Homily concerning good order and obedience to Rulers and Magistrates it is sayd Where there is no right order there reigneth all abuse carnall liberty enormity sinne and Babylonicall confusion By which deliueries and sundry other of like nature in the Diuine Seruice Holy Church doth teach vs not onely to beleeue the truth of the histories in holy Writ but also to learne that spirituall matters were figured forth by them Saint Paul hauing mentioned to the Corinthians the Israelites Fathers passing through the sea out of Egypt into the Wildernesse towards the land of Chanaan and what befell sundry in the wildernesse addeth z 1. Cor. 10.11 Now all these things happened vnto them for * Or Types as in the margent In 1. Cor. 10.6 it is sayd Now these thinges were our examples or figures as in the margent ensamples and they are written for our admonition vpon whom the ends of the world are come Likewise he writing to the Galatians concerning Abraham Sarah Isaac Hagar and Ismael sayth a Gal. 4.24 Which things are an Allegory or whereby other things are also meant for these are the two * Or the two Testamenâ—s as it is read in the margent Couenants c. Saint Peter sayth b 1. Pet. 3.20.21 The long suffering of God waited in the dayes of Noah while the Arke was a preparing wherein a few that is eight soules were saued by water The like figure whereunto euen Baptisme doth also now saue vs not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answere of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ Saint Iohn sayd also of Gods two witnesses slaine That their c Reuel 11.8 dead bodies should lye in the streetes of the great Citty which spiritually is called Sodome and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified Yea and sundry of Moses Lawes besides the Leuiticall ceremonies had a further meaning than the grammaticall or literall sense onely as Paul sayd It is written in the law of Moses Thou shalt not d 1. Cor. 9.9.10.11 muzzle the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne Doth God take care for Oxen Or saith he it altogether for our sakes For our sakes no doubt this is written That he which ploweth should plow in hope and that he which thresheth in hope should be partaker of the hope If wee haue sowen vnto you spirituall things is it a great thing if we shall reape your carnall things In the aforesayd Prayer and Homily The words Arke Babylonicall Red sea sloud Iordan and Land are intimated to haue a spirituall signification Dauid in the Psalmes and euen all the Prophets doe in their writings often vse Moses his words in a mysticall sense as e Psal 143.10 Leade mee into the land of vprightnesse And f Psal 116.9 I will walke before the Lord in the land of the liuing And g Psal 89.15 With Num. 10.6 Whitherto the marginall quotation referreth See Num. 23.21 Blessed is the people that knoweth the ioyfull sound They shall walke O Lord in the light of thy countenance CHAP. 15. Of Circumcision IN the * T. 2. p. 134. Homily concerning Common Prayer and Sacraments it is sayd Circumcision was a Sacrament which preached vnto the outward senses the inward cutting away of the fore-skinne of the heart and sealed and made sure in the hearts of the circumcised the promise of God touching the promised seed that they looked for It was first prescribed vnto Abraham as it is written h Gen. 17.11.13 Ye shall circumcise the flesh of your fore-skinne and it shall be a token of the couenant betwixt you and me And my couenant shall be in your flesh for an euerlasting couenant The which Sacraments signification Moses taught the Iewes exhorting them saying i Deut. 10.16 Circumcise the fore-skinne of your heart and be no more stiffe necked Saint Paul sayth to the Romanes k Rom. 4.11 Abraham receiued the signe of circumcision a seale of the righteousnes of the faith which he had yet being vncircumcised Also he saith l Rom. 15.8 That Iesus Christ was a Minister of the circumcision for the truth of God to confirme the promise made vnto the Fathers And to the Colossians the Apostle further sayth m Col. 2.11 In Christ yee are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sinnes of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ To the Romans he declareth n Rom. 2.28 29 That he is not a Iew which is one outwardly neither is that circumcision which is outwardly in the flesh but he is a Iew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God There is a memorable sentence concerning circumcision in an ancient booke of the Iewes called Zohar wherein it is sayd * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We haue learned that at what time soeuer when any one shall be marked with this holy sealing or signing of this signe of circumcision from that time he hath a sight of God and the holy soule is vnited with him This
a certaine Precept and Law which hee being yet in the state of innocency and remayning in Paradize should obserue as a pledge and token of his due and bounden obedience c. In the third part of the * T. 1. p. 85. Homily against Adultery it is signified That before the Law was giuen by Moses the Law of nature onely reigned in the hearts of men In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 18.19 Homily against perill of Idolatry it is sayde If wee bee the people of God how can the Word and Law of God not appertayne vnto vs Saint Paul alleadging one Text out of the Olde Testament concludeth generally for other Scriptures of the old Testament as well as that saying Whatsoeuer is Written before meaning in the old Testament is Written for our instruction Which sentence is most specially true of such Writings of the olde Testament as contayne the immutable Lawe and Ordinances of God in no Age or time to bee altered nor of any persons of any Nations or Age whatsoeuer to bee disobeyed c. And in the first part of the * T. 2. p. 125. Homily concerning the place and time of Prayer it is sayd Whatsoeuer is found in the Commandement appertayning to the Law of nature as a thing most godly most iust and needfull for the setting forth of Gods glory it ought to bee retayned and kept of all good Christian people Moses diuided the Law which hee from God gaue to the people of Israel into k Deut. 6.1 Deut. 6.20 three kindes saying Now these are the Commandements the Statutes and the iudgements which the Lord your God commaunded to teach you that yee might doe them in the Land c. By the Commandements are meant the l Deut. 4.13.14 ten Commandements called commonly the Morall Law By m Deut. 16.12 See in Psal 119.8 according to the Diuine Service Translatiō and compare therewith the last translation Statutes are meant the ceremonies or the ceremoniall Law And by Iudgments are meant the n Exod. 21.1 iudiciall Law Concerning the Morall Law whereof the tenne Commandements are a summe or ten generall deliueries there Christ in his Gospell hath confirmed the euerlasting continuance of the same the farre greatest part of his new Testaments Precepts beeing Morall commanding and saying o Mathew 3.12 Whatsoeuer yee would that men should do vnto you do yee euen so vnto them for this is the Law and the Prophets And Paul signifieth the euerlastingnesse of that Law saying p Ephe. 6.2 Honor thy father and thy mother which is the first Commandement with promise that it may bee well with thee and thou mayst liue long on the earth The Ceremoniall Lawes as of Circumcision in the q Gal. 5.2 flesh of r Heb. 1◠5.8 offering for Sacrifices the bodies of Beasts and the like endured but vntill the time of ſ Heb. 9.10 Reformation and the time of the t Acts 21.25 Establishing of the Ordinances of Messias the Lord Iesus Christ Paul sayth If yee be u Gala. 5.2 Circumcised Christ shall profite you nothing And the Apostle speaking of Christs comming into the world deliuereth Wherefore when hee commeth into the World hee sayth Sacrifice w Heb. 10.5.6.7 8.9 and offering thou wouldest not but a body hast thou prepared me In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sinne thou hast had no pleasure Then sayde he Loe I come to doe thy wil O God Hee taketh away the first that hee may establish the second Yet of no Ceremoniall Law is the righteousnesse or morall signification ceased which is to bee obserued of vs but it endureth for euer as it may very plainely appeare out of Saint Paules VVordes to the Romanes where hee sayth x Rom. 8.4 That the righteousnesse of the Lawe might bee fulfilled in vs who VValke not after the flesh but after the Spirit The iudgements or the Iudiciall Lawes though the righteousnesse intended by them all is euerlasting are not in euery y See the seauenth Article of the Religion established particular of them now in force in any Christian Common VVealth as the Law of punishing Adultery with Death VVhich may appeare by Christs dismissing the z Iohn 8.11 Woman taken in Adultery and by his permitting a man to a Mat. 5.32 put away his Wife for Fornication Which putting away neede not be if the b Leu. 20.10 Law of Moses concerning punishing Adultery with Death stood still in Vniuersall force or vertue For so soone as the married party had committed Adultery hee or shee should bee taken away by suffering Death according to Moses Law No lawe or ordinance of what kinde so euer which hath proceeded foorth of the Wisedome of the Eternall God for the vse of Mankinde is to be neglected as concerning the equity or morality thereof though the ceremony of it or such like circumstance be ceased as it is written c 2. Tim. 3.16.17 All Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is prositable for Doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse That the man of God may bee perfect throughly Furnished vnto all good workes And againe the Apostle sayth to the Romanes d Rom. 15.4 Whatsoeuer things were written afore time were written for our learning c. CHAP. 19. Of the Tabernacle and Temple of the Iewes IN the first part of the * Tom. 2. p. 126.127 Homily concerning the place and time of Prayer it is sayd So soone as God had deliuered his people from their enemies and set them in some liberty in the Wildernesse he set them vp a costly and a curious Tabernacle which was as it were the Parish Church a place to resort vnto of the whole multitude a place to haue Sacrifices made in and other obseruances and rites to be vsed in Furthermore after that God according to the truth of his promise had placed and quietly setled his people in the land of Canaan now called Iewrie he commaunded a great and magnificent Temple to be builded by King Solomon as seldome the like hath beene seene a Temple so decked and adorned so gorgeously garnished as was meete and expedient for people of that time which would be allured and stirred with nothing so much as with such outward goodly gay things This was now the Temple of God endued also with many gifts and sundry promises This was the publike Church and the mother Church of all Iewrie Here was God honored and serued Hither was the whole Realme of all the Israelites bound to come at three solemne feastes in the yeare to serue their Lord God here The Tabernacle consisted of three partes e Exod. 27.9 the Court the f Exod. 26.33 Holy and the most Holy The g Num. 1.50.51.53 Leuites did seruice in and about the Court The h Heb. 9.6 Priests did seruice in the Holy And the i Heb. 9 7. high Priest alone once
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
Christ For it is written As I liue saith the Lord euery knee shall bow to me and euery tongue shall confesse vnto God So then euery one of vs shall giue account of himselfe to God And to the Saints of Corinth he said c 2 Cor. 5.10 11. Wee must all appeare before the iudgement seat of Christ that euery one may receiue the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord wee perswade men And vnto Timothy Saint Paul said d 2. Tim. 4.1 I charge thee before God and the Lord Iesus Christ who shall iudge the quicke and the dead at his appearing and his kingdome c. Himselfe hath also said The Sonne of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels and then shall he e Mat. 16.27 reward euery man according to his workes Againe f Mat. 25.31 32.33.40 When the Sonne of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall hee sit vpon the throne of his glory And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepheard diuideth the Sheepe from the Goates and he shall set the Sheepe on his right hand but the Goates on the left c. And these shall goe away into euerlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternall Saint Paul saith to the Thessalonians g 2 Thâ— 1.7.8.9 The Lord Iesus shall be reuealed from heauen with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ who shall be punished with euerlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Wherefore sayth Saint Peter h 1 Pet. 1.17 If yee call on the Father who without respect of persons iudgeth according to euery mans worke passe the time of your soiourning here with feare And sayth the Apostle to the Hebrewes i Heb. 1228.29 wherefore we receiuing a kingdome which cannot bee moued let vs haue grace whereby we may serue God acceptably with reuerence and godly feare For our God is a consuming fire The which Apostle also sayd k Heb. 10.30.31 The Lord shall iudge his people And it is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God CHAP. 32. Of the Church of Christ IN the Nicene Creed we are taught to beleeue and confesse one Catholicke and Apostolike Church In the second part of the * Tom. 2. p. 213 Homily for Whitsunday the Church of Christ is thus described The true Church is an vniuersall congregation or fellowship of Gods faithfull and elect people l Eph. 2.20 built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe being the head corner stone And it hath alwayes three notes or markes whereby it is knowne Pure and sound doctrine The Sacraments ministred according to Christs holy institution and the right vse of Ecclesiasticall discipline This description of the Church is agreeable both to the Scriptures of God and also to the doctrine of the ancient Fathers so that none may iustly finde fault therewith Saint Paul sayth to the Romanes concerning the mysticall vnion of the Church m Rom. 12.4 5. As we haue many members in one body and all members haue not the same office so we being many are one body in Christ and euery one members one of another And to the Corinthians he sayth n 1. Cor. 12.12 As the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ That they are faithfull people or true beleeuers in Iesus Christ it appeareth in that they are called the o Gal 6.10 houshold of faith Also they are faithfull vnto God as it may appeare out of Saint Pauls words to the Ephesians saying Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ by the will of God to the Saints which are at Ephesus and to the p Eph. 1.1 faithfull in Iesus Christ Likewise to the Collossians hee sayth To the Saints and q Col. 1.2 faithfull brethren in Christ which are at Colosse They are also faithfull each to other and faithfull towards all people as it is sayd vnto seruants concerning maisters Let them not despise them because they are brethren but rather doe them seruice because they are r 1. Tim 6.2 faithfull c. Siluanus a member of the Church of Christ is sayd to be a Å¿ 1. Pet. 5.12 faithfull brother vnto those to whom Saint Peter wrote So Saint Iohn testified of Gaius saying Beloued thou doest t 3. Iohn 5. faithfully whatsoeuer thou doest to the brethren and vnto straungers So Saint Peter shewing the dealing of the true members of Christ and how they to whom he wrote were to behaue themselues among the vnbeleeuers sayth u 1. Pet. 2.12 Hauing your conuersation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speake against you as euill doers they may by your good workes which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation So Saint Paul to the Thessalonians prescribeth w 1 Thes 5.15 Euer follow that which is good both among your selues and to all men They are also elected of God as Saint Peter sayth x â— Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirite vnto obedience and sprinkling of the bloud of Iesus Christ Likewise Saint Paul to the Thessalonians signifieth saying y 2 Thes 2.13 God hath from the beginning chosen you to saluation through sanctification of the Spirit and beleefe of the truth And to the Ephesians he sayth z Eph. 1.4 He hath chosen vs in him from before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue The Church also professeth pure and sound doctrine as Christ signifieth saying a Ioh. 10.27 My sheepe heare my voyce and I know them and they follow me Againe b Ioh. 8.47 He that is of God heareth Gods word Saint Iohn sayth c 1 Ioh. 4.6 He that knoweth God heareth vs. Saint Luke recordeth of the Christians d Acts 2.42 That they continued stedfast in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers St. Paul sayth to Timothy e 1 Tim 3 15. That the house of God which is the Church of the liuing God is the pillar and ground of the truth Moreouer the Church of Christ hath the Sacraments ministred according to his holy institution as the Church of Corinth receiued f 1 Cor. 1.14.16 Baptisme and celebrated the g 1 Cor. 11.2.20 Lords Supper In the Acts of the Apostles it is sundry times mentioned that when any beleeued they were h Acts 8.12 Baptized Also it is recorded that the Disciples or Baptized ones j came together to
his consecration receiueth a greater measure of the Holy Ghost than a Priest doth in his ordering Which may appeare out of the Diuine Seruice for consecrating a Bishop where it is sayd The Archbishop and Bishops present shall lay their hands vpon the head of the elected Bishop the Archbishop saying x 2. Tim. 1.6.7 Take the Holy Ghost and remember that thou stirre vp the grace of God which is in thee by imposition of hands For God hath not giuen vs the spirite of feare but of power and loue and sobernesse For euen so Saint Paul after a peculiar manner expressed vnto Timothy Bishop of Ephesus as it is deliuered in his second Epistle vnto him CHAP. 37. Of the distinction or disparity among Bishops or of Archbishopricke IN the Preface afore the Common Prayer it is sayd For as much as nothing can almost be so plainely set forth but doubts may rise in the vse and practising of the same To appease all such diuersity if any arise and for the resolution of all doubts concerning the manner how to vnderstand doe and execute the things contained in this booke The parties that so doubt or diuersly take any thing shall alwayes resort to the Bishop of the Diocesse who by his discretion shall take order for the quieting and appeasing of the same so that the same order be not contrary to any thing contained in this booke And if the Bishop of the Diocesse be in doubt then he may send for the resolution thereof vnto the y 1. Pet. 5.5 Archbishop An Archbishop therefore in the seruice of consecrating is called Most Reuerend Father in God vnto whom euery Bishop consecrated to Diocesse within his Prouince professeth and promiseth by oath all due reuerence and obedience like as euery Priest doth vnto the Bishop within whose Diocesse he is Pastour Now that such an order among the Bishops is of Diuine ordinance it is euident from that the first persons named Bishops in the Primitiue Christian Church * 2. Tim. 1.6 Timothy and * Tit. 1.4.5 Titus were ordered or ordained by their superiour in God the Apostle which degree was the highest in the Christian Clergie according as Paul saith z 1. Cor. 12.28 God hath set in the Church first Apostles c. And the Apostleship is callâ—d Bishopricke where it is sayd And his a Acts 1.20 Bishopricke let another take It being therefore a Bishopricke aboue that which Timothy and Titus had properly it is named in respect thereof an Archbishopricke But some there are which say that such distinction was not by Christ or dained to continue in his Church but onely was appointed in the primitiue state thereof whiles Churches were in planting and is now long agoe quite ceased The which affirmation is no where deliuered in Holy Scripture nor intimated neither from any sentence therein can be truly concluded But the direct contrary Doctrine is deliuered by Saint Paul to the Ephesians and that in most expresse manner Let Saint Pauls whole deliuery or the most part thereof hereto bee vnpartially considered His words are b Ephes 4.7.8.11.12.13 14.15 Vnto euery one of vs is giuen grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Wherefore he sayth When he ascended vp on high he led captiuity captiue and gaue gifts vnto men And hee gaue some Apostles and some Prophets and some Euangelists and some Pastours and Teachers For the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the vnity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with euery winde of Doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lye in waite to deceiue but speaking the truth in loue may grow vp into him in all things which is the head euen Christ c. The which deliuery of the Apostle declareth most plainely that Christ gaue such different and distinct measures of grace vnto his Church not for a worke then onely necessary but now also needfull viz. For the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ Also he gaue the sayd measures of grace to continue not onely during the first age of the Primitiue Church but till we all come in the vnity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ And the cause or ende of Christs such giuing doth continually concerne his Church Namely That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with euery wind of doctrine by the â—light of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they â—ye in waite to deceiue but speaking the truth in loue may grow vp into him in all things which is the head euen Christ Moreouer Christ doth not giue lesse measure of grace to his Church in these times than in former times Isaiah sayth c Isa 59.1 The Lords hand is not shortned And the Lord himselfe sayd Loe d Math. 28. â—0 I am with you alway euen vnto the end of the world Furthermore let be considered what the Apostolicall worke was and the Archiepiscopall now will appeare to be the same in substance Timothy had for his Diocesse but the Church of the Ephesians and Titus the Church of the Cretians but Paul had for his Prouince or charge the care of all the Churches of the f Gâ—l 2 7.8 Gentiles Paul preached the Gospell he Baptised he g 2. Tim. 1.6.7 1. Tim. 1.3 Tit. 1.5 consecrated Bishops h Acts 14.23 with Tit. 1.5 1. Pet. 5.1.2.3 4. Acts 20.17.28 he ordered Priests and instituted them to e 2. Cor 11.28 be Pastours he Bishopped or k Act. 19.6 with Acts 8 17. confirmed beleeuers he m 1. Tim. 1.20 excommunicated he sate in n Acts 15.12 councell about Church matters c. And euen as the Tabernacle of God was all one as concerning the substance and spirituall vse thereof when it was o 1. Kin. 8.6.13 seated in Solomons Temple as it was when it remoued from place to place so the supreme p Eph 4.7 8.11 with 1. Cor. 12 28. grace and gift of Christ to his Church the Apostolicall gift or grace was all one for the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ when it is setled in a country as it was when the q 2. Cor. 4.7 vessell which beared it remoued from country to country as he had commission thereto from the Spirit of the Lord. Also there is not expresse mention that euery Apostle trauailed from country to country whom Christ ordained or gaue to his Church Did not Saint Iames r
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
returning first he will have us to returne unto him with our g Ioel 1.12 whole heart whereby he doth remove and put away all hypocrisie lest the same might justly be said unto us This people draweth neare unto me with their mouth and worship me with their lips but their h Mat. 15.8 heart is far off from me Secōdly he requireth a sincere and pure love of godlinesse and of the true worshipping and service of God that is to say that forsaking all maner of things that are repugnant contrary unto Gods will we do give our i Prov. 22.26 hearts unto him and the k Luke 10.27 whole strength of our bodies and soules Here therefore is nothing left unto us that wee may give unto the world and unto the lusts of the flesh For sith that the heart is the l Prov. 4.23 fountaine of all our workes as many as doe with whole heart turne unto the Lord doe m Rom. 14.7 3 live unto him onely In the second part of the * P. 264 265. Homily of Repentance it is said Now it shall be declared unto you what be the true parts of repentance and what things ought to move us to repent and to returne unto the Lord our GOD with all n Psa 119.60 speed Repentance as it is said before it is a true returning unto God wherby men * Prov. 28.13 Isa 55.7 Ezek. 14.4 5 6 Ezek. 18.21 30 31. forsaking utterly their idolatry and wickednesse doe with a lively faith embrace o 1 Iohn 4.7 8 16. love and worship the p Rev. 14.7 true living God onely and give themselves to all manner of q 1 Tim. 5.10 Tit. 2.14 Eph. 2.10 2 Tim. 3.17 Of the foure parts of Repentance good workes which by Gods Word they know to bee acceptable unto him Now there bee foure parts of repentance which being set together may be likened to an easie and short Ladder whereby we may climbe from the bottomlesse pit of perdition that wee cast our selves into by our dayly offences and grievous sinnes up into the Castle and Towre of eternall and endlesse salvation The first is the r Ioel. 2.13 Acts 2.37 condition of the heart For we must be earnestly sory for our sinnes and unfainedly lament and ſ Zechar. 12.10 Ezek. 36.31 bewaile that wee have by them so grievously offended our most bounteous and mercifull God who so tenderly loved us that he gave his onely begotten Sonne to dye a most bitter death and to shed his deare heart-blood for our redemption and deliverance And verily this inward sorrow and griefe being t Iam. 4.9 10. conceived in the heart for the heynoursnesse of sinne if it be earnest and unfeined is a sacrifice to God as the holy Prophet doth testifie saying u Ps 51.17 Isa 57.15 and 66.2 5. A meanes to unharden our hearts A sacrifice to God is a troubled spirit a contrite and broken heart O Lord thou wilt not despise But that this may take place in us we must bee diligent to read and heare the Scriptures and Word of God which most lively doe paint out before our eyes our naturall w Isa 64.6 Eph. 2.2 3 12. uncleannesse and the x Rem 7.7 Ps 1.7 8. 2 Tim. 3.16 17 Ps 119.104 105 130. Eph. 5.13 enormity of our sinfull life The second is an vnfained confession and acknowledging of our sinnes unto God whom by them wee have so grievously offended that if he should deale with us according to his y Ps 143.2 justice we doe deserve a thousand Hels if there could be so many Yet if we will with a sorrowfull and contrite heart make an unfained z 1 Iohn 1.7 9. Ps 32.5 Ezek 18.22 confession of them unto God he will freely and frankly forgive them and so put all our wickedness a Micah 7.18 19. out of remēbrance before the sight of his Majesty that they shall no more be thought upon The third part of Repentance is faith wherby we doe apprehend and take hold upon the promises of GOD touching free pardon and b Col. 2.13 Rom. 3.25 24. Eph. 4.32 Heb. 9.15 forgivenesse of our sins Which promises are sealed up unto us with the c Heb. 2.9 14 15. Heb. 9.16.17 22 23. Mat. 26.28 death and bloodshedding of his Sonne Iesus Christ The fourth in an amendment of life or a new life in bringing forth the d Mat 3.8 10. 2 Cor. 5.17 Gal. 5.24 fruits worthy of repentance For they that doe truly repent must be cleane altered e Rom. 12.1 2. 2 Cor. 3.18 Ier. 48.11 changed they must become new creatures they must be no more the f Ier. 50.4 5. Ezek. 18.31 Mar. 16.17 1 Cor. 6.11 same that they were before They that doe from the bottome of their hearts acknowledge their sins and are unfainedly sorry for their offences will cast off all hypocrisie and put on true humility and g Mat. 11.29 1 Pet. 5.5 Eph. 4.2 lowlinesse of heart They will not onely receive the Physitian of the soule but also with a most fervent desire h Ps 101.1 and 84.2 and 42.1 2 3. Song 3.1 2 3. and 5.8 long for him They will not onely i 1 Pet. 2.11.12 1 Pet. 4.1 2 3 4. abstaine from the sinnes of their former life and from all other filthy vices but also flee eschew and k 1 Thes 5.22 abhorre all the occasions of them and as before they did give themselves to uncleannesse of life so will they form henceforwards with all diligence give themselves to innocency l Rom. 6.13.29 purenesse of life and true godliness m Luke 19.8 Zacheus after his repentāce was no more the man that he was before but was cleane changed altered It is therfore our parts if at least we be desirous of the health salvatiō of our own selves most earnestly to pray unto our heavēly father to n Eph. 3.16 Luke 11.13 assist us with his holy Spirit that we may be able to o Iohn 10.27 hearken unto the voice of the true Shepheard and with due p Acts 3.22 1 Pet. 4.17 obedience to follow the same Let us hearken to the voyce of Almightie God when he q Pro. 1.23 24. calleth us to repentance let us not r Heb. 3.7 8 15. harden our hearts as such infidels doe who abuse the time ſ Rev. 2.21 given them of God to repent and turne it to continue their pride and contempt against God and man which know not how much they t Rom. 2.4 5. heape Gods wrath upon themselves for the hardnesse of their hearts which cannot u Luke 13.25 Mat. 25.8 9 10 11 12. repent at the day of vengeance In the third part of the * P. 271. Homily of Repentance there are declared some causes which should the rather move us unto repentance As first the Commandement of God who in
feare him and his righteousnesse unto childrens children To such as keepe his Covenant and to those that remember his Commandements to doe them Iesus the sonne of Syrach saith They that f Ecclus. 2.15.16 17. feare the Lord will not disobey his Word and they that love him will keepe his wayes They that feare the Lord will seeke that which is well pleasing unto him and they that love him shall bee filled with the Law They that feare the Lord will prepare their hearts and humble their soules in his sight They g Isa 66.5 tremble at Gods Word they dread to transgresse h Iam. 2.10 any part of it David saith Serve the Lord with feare and rejoyce with i Ps 2.11 trembling Paul saith to the Romanes Bee not high minded but k Rom. 11.20 21. feare For if God spared not the naturall branches take heed lest hee also spare not thee To the Philippians he saith Work out your owne salvation with l Phil. 2.12 The third Duty To love God feare and trembling The third is To love God with all our heart with all our minde with all our soule and with all our strength To love God is to love that which God is as namely heavenly m 1 Iohn 1.5 light n 1 Iohn 4.7.8.16 charity o Pro. 8.12 14. Wisd 7.25 26. with Heb. 1.3 wisdome for God is in Scripture said to be Light Charity Wisedome Hence Christ saith Yee are my p Ioh. 15.14 friends or lovers if yee doe whatsoever I command you This is the q 2 Ioh. 5.3 love of God saith Iohn that wee keepe his Commandements and his Commandements are not grievous Againe he saith This is r 2 Ich. 6. love that wee walke after his Commandements Wherefore Christ saith If yee s Ioh. 14.15.21 23.24 love me keepe my commandements He that hath my commandements and keepeth them he it is that loveth mee If a man love me he will keepe my words He that is of God t Ioh. 8.47 heareth Gods words The entrance of Gods words giveth u Ps 119.130 light God is a w Ioh. 4.24 spirit of light a spirit of love and a spirit of eternall wisdome They therefore that love this Holy Spirit blessed for ever cannot but love his nature and propertie They delight to have heavenly x Ps 43.3 light come more and more into their understanding they delight to y Eph. 5.2 1 Cor. 16.14 walke in love They unfainedly desire to doe all things in z 1 Sam. 18.5 Prov. 13.16 Wis 7.8 Col. 1.9 godly wisdome God requireth that we a Prov. 23.26 Luke 10.27 give him our whole heart minde soule strength and that the b Iam. 4.7 1 Ioh. 5.18 ill spirit have no part nor portion of us David a man after Gods owne heart said to God With my c Ps 119.10 whole heart have I sought thee The Lord saith by Ieremiah Yee shal seeke me and find me when yee shall search for me with your d Ier. 29.13 whole heart The Lord Iesus saith If any man come to me and e Luk. 14.26 hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters yea and his owne life also hee cannot be my Disciple To hate in this place signifieth to love lesse as it is observed to signifie so in sundry f Gen. 29.31 Deut. 21.15 Mat. 6.24 other places The holy Prophets and Apostles which for the Lords sake left not onely their earthly substance but their friends wives and children yea and their owne bodily lives they in some measure loved God as the commandement requireth So such as unfainedly strive to be more and more dead unto g Rom. 6.11 sinne to bee more and more buried with Christ in his h Rom. 6.4 Col. 2.12 1 Cor. 15.31 death to i Rom. 6.6 crucifie the old man and utterly to abolish the whole body of sinne as it is prescribed in the Baptisme-service to the end that the k 2 Cor. 4.10.11 life of Iesus may be manifest in their mortall flesh and that his kingdome of grace may l Zach. 14.9 Obad. 21. Luk. 17.21 onely and wholy be administred in their soules they in some measure love God as his Law requireth The fourth duty is to worship God Christ saith God is a spirit to be worshipped in m Ioh. 4.23.24 spirit and in truth The fourth duty To worship God Paul saith Glorifie God in your n 1 Cor. 6.20 body and in your spirit which are Gods As I live saith the Lord every knee shall o Rom. 14.11 bow to mee and every tongue shall confesse to God Of the outward worships due to God read the 68. Chapter afore There are also other bodily worshippings of God mentioned in the Holy Scriptures besides those as to p Gen. 17.3 fall downe on ones face to the earth unto the Lord c. The receiving of the Sacraments is said to bee a part of Gods worship yea and the due observation of all his other outward ordinances as r Mat. 15.9 See concerning Gods inward worship or worship in spirit in the end of T. 2. p. 75 teaching c. is worship to God also The inward worshipping of God is the doing of all such duties within the spirit as thēce are to be performed unto God immediately as to ſ Micah 6.8 humble ones selfe so as to walke with God to do our parts towards the t Iam. 4.8 purifying of our hearts to u Ioel. 2.13 Ezech. 36.31 beare sorrow for our sinnes committed to rent our hearts to do our parts towards the w Ezech. 18.31 making of a new heart and a new spirit c. The fift duty is to give thankes unto God The fift duty to thanke God And this duty is to bee done within the spirit in bearing a gratefull minde x Eph. 5.20 continually unto God for all his mercies So did the Virgin Mary when she said My soule doth y Luk. 1.46.47 magnifie the Lord and my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour So did David when hee said Blesse the Lord O my soule and al that is within me blesse his Holy name z Ps 104.1.2 Blesse the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefits Concerning thanking God outwardly see Chapter 44. The sixt duty To trust wholy in God The sixt duty is to put our whole trust in him We are said to trust wholy in God when wee a Ps 37.7 rest on him and b Ps 37.5 depend totally upon him with hope of receiving his promises wee faithfully doing our parts in keeping the c 2 Kings 18.4.5.6 conditions wherewith his promises are made Trust or confidence in God proceedeth partly out of knowledge of Gods Attributes or properties as it is written They that know thy d Ps 9.10 Name will put their trust in thee
wherefore David having experience of Gods goodnesse in his deliverance from the hand of Saul said I will love thee O Lord my strength The Lord is my rocke and my fortresse and my deliverer my God my strength in whom I will e Ps 18.1.2.3 trust my Buckler and the horne of my salvation and my high tower I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to bee praised so shall I bee saved from mine enimies It proceedeth also from beliefe in God and in his word which beliefe God graciously giveth unto those that feare him and diligently pray for the same as Saint Paul signifieth to the Ephesians saying In whom wee have boldnesse and accesse with f Eph. 3.12 confidence by the faith of him Ieremiah saith Cursed bee the man that g Ier. 17.5.6.7.8 trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme and whose heart departeth from the Lord. But blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is The seventh duty is to call upon God The seventh duty to call upon God And that is to pray unto him David saith offer unto God thankesgiving and pay thy vowes unto the most High and h Ps 50.14.15 call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me It proceedeth also out of beliefe as it is written How shall they i Rom. 10.14 call on him in whom they have not beleeved People obedient to Christ and his k Mat. 18.17 Church which humble themselves and faithfully endeavour to observe all the ordinances of Christs Church have the promise to be heard when they call on the Lord and doe in the name and mediation of Iesus Christ aske such things as bee agreeable to his will as Saint Iohn saith Whatsoever we l 1 Ioh. 3.22 aske wee receive of him because wee keepe his Commandement and doe those things that are pleasing in his sight The eight duty is to honour Gods Holy name The eight duty To honour Gods holy name And for the performance thereof wee pray when we say Hallowed be thy name They that make conscience of breaking the third Commandement of m Exod 20.7 taking his name in vaine are such as have a regard to honour his n Mal. 3.16.17.18 name By the Name of the Lord is not onely meant a word or words proper to the Creator whereby he is distinguished from all creatures in speaking of him or unto him but also sundry other things whereby the Lord becommeth knowne unto us The name of the Lord is observed sometimes to signifie God himselfe his holy being which is infinite almighty c as where it is said The o Prov. 18.10 Name of the Lord is a strong Tower the righteous runneth into it and is safe Where name may signifie also power and protection So in Moses where it is said If thou wilt not observe to doe all the words of this Law that are written in this Booke that thou maist feare his glorious and fearefull p Deut. 28.58 Name The Lord thy God then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderfull c. It signifieth also the will and Commandement of God as where it is said whosoever will not hearken unto my words which my Prophet shall speake in my q Deut. 18.19 Name I will require it of him Officers under the Royall Majestie use the word name in the like sense when they say I charge thee in the Kings name c. It also signifieth the religion or worship of God as where it is said in Micah All people will walke every one in the name of his god and wee will walke in the r Micah 4.5 name of the Lord our God for ever and ever Other significations it is observed to have It is our duty to honour to reverence both with soule and body with heart and mouth and with due respect for to esteem whatsoever Name God is called by or knowne The Lord said by Samuel unto Eli Them that s 1 Sam. 2.30 honour me I will honour And his Omnipotencie looketh for honour to be performed by us unto him signifying it by his Prophet Malachie saying A sonne honoureth his Father and a servant his Master If then I bee a Father where mine t Mal. 1.6 honour And if I be a Master where is my feare The ninth duty To honour Gods holy word saith the Lord of Hosts unto you O priests that despise my name and yet yee say wherein have we despised thy name The ninth duty is to honour Gods holy word David saith I will worship towards thy holy Temple and praise thy Name for thy loving kindnesse for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy u Ps 138.2 word above all thy name Christ saith to his Father Sanctifie them through the truth thy w Ioh. 17.17 word is truth And David saith unto the Lord Thy x Ps 119.142 Law is the truth Now for to make mention of any sentence in any deliverie by the Kings Majestie or by the Parliament or by the Convocation without due reverence thereto is justly a lightnesse or rather a lewdnesse Likewise for to mention any sentence of holy Scripture Gods holy word without due reverence thereto both with heart and voice honouring it as a word that y 1 Pet. 1.23.24 25. endureth for ever and as that whereby we shall every one without respect of persons bee z Iob. 12 48. judged in the last day lightly to alleage any divine deliverie is by all that truely feare God judged to proceed from a heart full of impiety and iniquity Isaiah signifieth that wee are to a Isa 66.5 tremble at Gods word and in no wise to make jests with any of it or rashly to utter any part of it but when wee speake any portion of holy Scripture to have a most serious care that it may tend directly to the glory of God and as much as may bee to the b Eph 4 2â— edification of the hearers Also we are not onely at all times with feare and honourable respect to recite holy Scripture when wee have occasion thereto but also to bee obedient or obediently enclined unto every document thereof which wee mention Else our honouring of Gods word is but a c Mat. 15.8.7 lip honour whereof Christ saith This people draw nigh to mee with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips but their heart is farre from me Which doing Christ in the verse afore signifieth to be but a kind of hypocrisie Herein saith Christ is my Father glorified or his word honoured that yee beare d Ioh. 13.8.16 much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples He is not accounted a true honourer of the Lawes of a Realme which meerely with due regard doth rehearse them but hee that also conscionably endeavoureth to live according to every of them The tenth duty to serve God truly all the dayes of
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
not abide the word of God but following the perswasions and stubbornnesse of their owne hearts goe backward and not forward as it is said in e Ier. 7. 24. Ieremy they goe and turne away from God Many now a daies by their neglect to have the holy Bible in their houses by their neglect to search it by their neglect to live according to it by their neglect to amend according to it what by the ministery they are informed of to be amisse by their neglect to heare it duly according to the Law of the Church by their neglect even all the yeare to conferre on it and by their neglect to meditate thereon they shew plainly that they have it in contempt and were it not for feare of being punished by the Magistrate they would expresse what is in their hearts against it And so some Machavillians will adventure sometimes to utter without any feare of God or man Moreover the contemners of the Divine Service-doctrine of the Church and of the Ministers which conscionably endeavour to live and teach according to all the same are to be reckoned among the g 1 Thes 4.8 contemners of Gods Word as it may appeare out of Christs words where hee saith unto his Ministers He that heareth you heareth me and he that h Luke 10.16 despiseth you despiseth me If they have kept my saying they will keepe yours also Ieremiah saith The wise men are ashamed they are dismayed and taken loe they have i Ier. 5.9 rejected the Word of the Lord and what wisedome is in them Of halting on both sides IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 259. Homily of Repentance it is said God requireth a sincere and pure love of godlinesse and of the true worshipping and service of God that is to say that for saking all manner of things that are repugnant pugnant and contrary unto Gods will wee doe give our hearts unto him and the whole strength of our bodies and soules according to that which is written in the Law Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with k Deut. 6.5 all thy heart with all thy soule and with all thy strength Here therefore nothing is left unto us that we may give unto the world and unto the l Rom. 13.14 lusts of the flesh For sith that the heart is the fountaine of all our workes as many as doe with whole heart turne unto the Lord doe m Rom. 14.7 8 9. 1 Thes 5.10 live unto him onely Neither doe they yet repent truely that halting on both sides doe otherwhiles obey God but by and by doe thinke that laying him aside it is lawfull for them to serve the world and the n Rom. 8.8.4 5.12 Gal. 5.16 17.24 flesh Elijah said How long halt ye betweene two opinions or thoughts If the Lord be God o 1 Kings 18.21 follow him but if Baal then follow him The Lord Iesus hath said p Mat. 6.24 No man can serve two Masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else hee will hold to the one and despise the other Yee cannot serve God and Mammon Of Vaine glory IT is signified in the second part of the * T. 2. p. 203. Homily concerning the Sacrament That by vaine-glory ambition c. people are q Prov. 13.10 dissevered which should be joyned together in unity and godly love And therefore in the sacred Letany we are taught to pray for to bee delivered from it Saint Paul saith Let us not be desirous of vaine-glory r Gal. 5.26 provoking one another envying one another Christ said to the disobedient Iewes Å¿ Rom. 5.44 How can ye beleeve which receive honour one of another and seeke not the honour which commeth from God onely Againe the Lord saith t Iohn 7.18 Hee that speaketh of himselfe seeketh his owne glory but he that seeketh his glory that sent him the same is true and no unrighteousnesse is in him Saint Paul saith O Timothy keepe that which is committed to thy trust avoiding prophane and vaine bablings and u 1 Tim. 6.20 21. oppositions of science falsely so called which some professing have erred concerning the faith Saint Iohn saith Among the chiefe Rulers many beleeved on Christ and because of the Pharisees they did not confesse him lest they should bee put out of the Synagogue For they w Ioh. 12.42 43. loved the praise of men more than the praise of God Of Hypocrisie IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 10. Homily of the misery of man it is said Few of the proud just learned wise perfect and holy Pharisees were saved by Christ because they justified themselves by their counterfeit holinesse before men Wherefore good people let us beware of such hypocrisie vaine glory and justifying of our selves The Lord said unto his disciples Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees which is x Luk 12.1 hypocrisie The Lord signifieth that the Hypocrites doe their Almes for to y Mat. 6.2.5 have glory of men They love to pray standing c. that they may bee seene of men They make long z Mat. 23.14 prayer thinking to be heard for their a Mat. 6.7 much speaking They outwardly b Mat. 23.28 appeare righteous unto men but within are full of hypocrisie and iniquitie All their workes they doe for to be c Mat. 23.5 seene of men They justifie d Mat. 16 15. themselves before men Saint Paul saith not he that c 2 Cor. 10.18 commendeth himselfe is approved but whom the Lord commendeth Christ hath very plainly displayed the nature of hypocrisie in the 23. Chapter of Saint Matthew Of Heresie IN the Letany we are taught to pray To be delivered from all false doctrine and heresie Saint Paul saith unto Titus A man that is an f Tit. 3.10.11 Heretike after the first and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inverto id quod interius eratextrà verto seu resuâ—ino An Heretike is as a dogge returned to his owne vomit againe 2 Pet. 2.22.21 second admonition reject knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being coÌ„demned of himselfe Whence it may appeare that 3. things are to be considered concerning heresie First that it is a departing out of the narrow way that leadeth unto life eternall both with minde and life or a turning cleane contrary to the right forme Secondly it is returning unto an habit of sinning And thirdly it is a condition or estate without peace of conscience but having an inward condemnation They of the Church of Rome which call heretikes the members of the Apostolicall Church of England namely that Church in England which is by Law established under the Kings Majestie doe greatly and damnably slander them For the true meÌ„bers of the said Apostolicall Church of England are not in minde and life departed forth of the narrow way
saith the Lord and yee have made hast every man to his owne house for this cause are the heavens stayed over you that they should give no deaw and the earth is forbidden that it shall bring forth her fruit and I have called drought upon the earth and upon the Mountaines and upon corne and upon wine and upon Oyle and upon all things that the earth bringeth forth and upon men and upon beasts and upon all things that mens hands labour for In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 91 92. Homily of fasting it is said God sometime striketh private men privately with sundry adversities as d Deut. 28.65 66 67. trouble of minde losse of friends e Zeph. 1.13 losse of goods long and f Deut. 28.22 27 c. dangerous sicknesses c. In the fourth part of the * T. 2. p. 236. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said That God in his ire doth g 1 King 14.15 Zeph. 2.3 4. roote up whole kingdomes for wrongs and oppressions and doth translate kingdomes from one nation to another for unrighteous dealing for wrongs and riches gotten by deceit This is the practice of the Holy One saith h Dan. 4.30 31 32. Daniel to the intent that living men may know that the most High hath power over the Kingdomes of men and giveth them to whomsoever he will Furthermore what is the cause of penury and scarcenesse of dearth and famine Is it any other thing but a token of Gods ire i Ezech. 5.6 7 8 15 16. revenging our wrongs and injuries done one to another Ye have sowne much upbraideth God by his Prophet Aggai and yet bring in little yee eate but ye be not satisfied ye drinke but ye be not filled ye cloath your selves but yee bee not warme he that earneth his wages putteth it in a k Hag. 1.5 6. bottomlesse purse ye looked for much increase but loe it came to little and when yee brought it home into you Barnes I did blow it away saith the Lord. The Lord saith by Moses It shall come to passe if thou wilt not hearken unto the voyce of the Lord thy God to observe to doe all his Commandements and his Statutes which I command thee this day that all these curses shall come upon thee overtake thee Cursed shalt thou be in the City and cursed shalt thou be in the field c. Reade from verse 16. unto the Chapters end it is of all Chapters in the Bible amplest in reckoning up Gods sundry curses in this life upon disobedient people Reade also the 26. Chapter of Leviticus The Lord in these dayes much inwardly punisheth people of unbeliefe and disobedience The Lord doth unto many now as he did to the Israelites He giveth them their request as concerning many outward blessings but sendeth l Ps 106.15 leannesse into their soule Isaiah saith The wicked are like the m Isa 57.20 21. troubled Sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt There is no peace to the wicked In the Revelation it is said They have no n Rev. 14.11 rest day nor night who worship the Beast and his Image and whosoever receiveth the marke of his name Isaiah concludeth his prophecie with declaring what is the inward estate and condition of all such as continue in sinne willingly yea whiles they live here on earth saying also concerning obedient people That they shall goe forth and o Isa 66.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 looke upon the Carkeises of the * transgressing ones against God for their worme shall not dye neither shall their fire be quenched and they shall bee an abhorring unto all flesh In all people which will not humble themselves to live according to all the commandements of Christ and according to all the Ordinances of his Church but resolve to persist in their owne-chosen wayes and to follow the imagination of their owne mindes there at length breedeth in such people a worme within their conscience which more and more * Abben Esrain Ps 1.1 sâ—ribit Improbos esse dictos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi inquietos qui nunquam in eadem constitutione permanent gnaweth them so that if the said worme like as the Woolfe which breedeth in some peoples bodies be not fed with what liketh him he gnaweth the conscience exceedingly Such a worme was bred in the Conscience of many of the Iewes through their wilfull disobedience when as Christ and his Ministers preached amongst them Nothing could those disobedient people p Iohn 8.43 45.51 learne from Christ and his Ministery which could comfort them or appease their troubled mindes whiles they endeavoured not to obey his Gospell Also within disobedient peoples breasts there becommeth a q Heb. 10.27 Ps 11.6 fire kindled wherethrough they are in a spiritual fire any spiritual person which had the spirit of discerning might insee into them and perceive them inflamed with a great Å¿ Rom. 10.2 3. zeale but not towards obedieÌ„ce of al the CoÌ„mandements of Christs Gospell nor towards obedience of al the OrdinaÌ„ces of Christs Apostolical Church of EnglaÌ„d There is a proverbe The which are in hell know of none other heaveÌ„ Wilfull disobedient people being themselves without t Isa 48.22 Rom. 3.17 peace of conscience conclude contrary to the Doctrine of the universall holy Scriptures of the whole Divine Service of the Church that no body else hath that u Phil. 4.7 peace of God which passeth all understanding and keepeth our hearts and mindes in the knowledge and love of God and of his Sonne Iesus r 1 Cor. 2.13 Christ our Lord with the which blessed peace holy Church from Sabbath to Sabbath w Numb 6.23 c. blesseth her obedient Members and every one of them x 2 Thes 3.16 Isa 66.12 Isa 14.27 Phil. 1.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in all sense or feeling as it is rendred in the Margent feeleth it within themselves more and more CHAP. 98. Of deferring repentance untill likelihood of bodilie death IN the Collect for the first Sunday in Advent we are taught to pray Almighty God give us grace that we may cast away the workes of darknesse and put upon us the armour of light y Rom. 13.11 12 13 14. now in the time of this mortall life in the which thy Sonne Iesus Christ came to visit us in great humility c. In the Rubricke afore the Communion of the sicke it is said Forasmuch as all mortall men be subject to many sudden perils diseases and sicknesses z Ps 31.15 and ever uncertaine what time they shall depart out of this life therefore to the intent they may be alway in a a Iob. 14.14 1 Cor. 5.9 Mat. 25.10 Rev. 19.7 readinesse to dye whensoever it shall please God to call them the Curate shall diligently from time to time c. In the Service for Buriall it is said b Iob 14.1