able to make the like vnlesse by some measure of speciall illumination from Gods Holy Spirit as many vnderstanding ones do now thinke yea and affirme And if the Heauen mentioned in the Booke of the Reuelation which is commaunded or exhorted to q Acts 18.20 reioyce ouer Babylon fallen be the reformed Church of Christ as some do expound it Is it not probable that the Apostles which are there willed to reioyce with that Heauen are the Archbishops and Bishops therein and * By putting part or the chiefe for the whole or all figuratiuely the rest of the Clergie thereof And that the Prophets there willed also to reioyce are all such as then receiued a speciall enlightening from Almighty God vnto the setting forward of the reformation and among them more especially such as were composers of the aforenamed bookes of the sacred Liturgy of the Church of England CHAP. 39. Of Lordship which Archbishops and Bishops haue IT is written that Å¿ Heb. 7.1.2 Melchisedec Priest of the high God was withall King of Salem or Ierusalem Abraham was a t Gen. 20.7 Prophet and withall a man of great u Gen. 14.14 15 temporall power Moses was a w Deut. 34.10 prophet and withall the supreme x Acts 7 35. Num. 26.16.17 Gouernour of the people of Israel vnder Almighty God He is called a King Deut. 33.5 Iethro was y Exod. 3.1 Priest of Midian and according to some interpretation he was z Exod. 2.16 in the Margent Sicautem Caldaeus Paraphrastes vertit viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prince of Midian Eli was Priest and also a 1. Sam. 4.18 Iudge ouer Israel Samuel was a b Acts 13.20 Prophet and also c 1 Sam. 7.6 Iudge ouer Israel Dauid was a d Mat 27 35. Prophet and King also Solomon was a e Eccles 1.1 Preacher and a King also Simon was f Ecclus. 50.1 high Priest and g 1. Mac. 13.42 1. Mac. 14.47 Captaine and Gouernour of the Priests and Iewes and defender of them all If then some of the Ministery haue bin the supreme Gouernours in Nations may they not now be Gouernours if the Royall Maiestie so ordaine them Saint Iude calleth those persons h Iude 18. filthy dreamers which doe despise dominion and speake euill of dignities CHAP. 24. Of the Liturgie or Diuine Seruice of the Church in generall IN the second part of the * Tom. 2. p. 6. Homily concerning the right vse of the Church the publike Seruice of the Lord is sayd to be The teaching and hearing of his Holy Word the calling vpon his holy Name the giuing thankes vnto him for his great and innumerable benefits and the due ministring of the Sacraments In the * T. 2. p. 138. Homily of Common Prayer and Sacraments it is sayd That Basilius Magnus and Iohannes Chrysostomus did in their time prescribe publike orders of publike administration which they call Liturgies and in them they appointed the people to answere vnto the prayer of the Minister sometime Amen sometime Lord haue mercy vpon vs sometime And with thy Spirit and We haue our hearts lifted vp vnto the Lord c. In the same * To. 2. p. 134. Homily it is also sayd By the histories of the Bible it appeareth that publike and common Prayer is most auaileable before God and therefore is much to be lamented that it is no better * Euen shortly after that the Diuine Seruice was set foorth the Diuell wrought in many people a more and more neglecting of it esteemed among vs which professe to be but one body in Christ It is said in the Preface before the Common Prayer That the first original and ground of the diuine Seruice of a man would search out by the ancient Fathers he shall finde that the same was not ordained but of a good purpose and for a great aduancement of godlinesse c. Saint Paul sayd vnto Timothy i 1. Tim. 2.1.2.3 I exhort that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giuing of thankes be made for all men for Kings and for all that are in authority that we may leade a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Sauiour Moses from the Lord prescribed vnto Aaron and vnto his sonnes a forme of blessing the people saying k Num. 6.23.24.25.26 On this wise yee shall blesse the children of Israel saying vnto them The Lord blesse thee and keepe the The Lord make his face shine vpon thee and be gracious vnto thee The Lord lift vp his countenance vpon thee and giue thee peace It is very considerable hereto that which is written of King Hezekiah in the booke of Chronicles That he and the Princes commanded the Leuites to sing praise vnto the Lord l 2. Chro. 29.30 with the words of Dauid and of * With the wordes also which Asaph deliuered which were as a Forme of praise or of praising God Asaph the Seer My sonne sayth m Pro. 1.8.9 Solomon heare the instruction of thy Father and forsake not the lawe of thy Mother For they shall be an ornament of grace vnto thine head and chaines about thy necke Solomon repeateth this precept of God to the ende wee may take it all vnto heart as a matter most greatly concerning vs. n Pro 6.21 22.23 My sonne keepe thy Fathers commandement and forsake not the law of thy Mother Binde them continually vpon thine heart and tye them about thy necke For the commandement is a Lampe and the law is light o Haeresi septua gesima qâ—inta contra Aâ—â—â—um de quâ—busâ—am traditionibus loquens Ecclesia inquit necessariò hoc persâ—eâ—â— traditione à patribus accepta Quis autem poterit statutum nâ—atâ—â—s dissoluâ—re aut legem patris velut Solomon dicit Audi fili sermonem patris tui ne repud es statuta matris tuae ostendens per hoc quòd in scriptis sine scripto dacuit pater hoc est Deus vnigenâ—tus spiritus sancius Mater autem nosira Ecclesia babet statuta in se posita indissolâ—â—bil a quae dâ—solui non possunt Epiphanius an ancient holy Father vnderstandeth by the word mother in this Scripture to be meant the Church who hath besides the holy Scriptures the Commandement of God our Father a distinct law teaching or instruction the which all her members are bound to obserue most diligently by vertue of this charge thereto giuen by God through the ministery of Solomon The Christian Church is our mother if God bee our Father as it is written Ierusalem which is aboue is free which is the p Gal. 4.26 mother of vs all God ordinarily begetteth none without his Church but in the q Psal 110.3 wombe of his Church they are conceiued thence they come to the r Isa 66.8.9 birth they Å¿ Isa 66.11.12
or * Is 52.15 sprinkled with it in the w Mat. 28.19 name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost And that the inward and spirituall grace thereof is a death unto sinne and a new birth unto righteousnesse for being by nature x Ps 51.5 Iob 14.4 borne in sinne and the Children of y Eph. 2.3 wrath we are hereby made the z Gal. 3.26 27. Children of grace The necessity of this Sacrament is shewed in the beginning of the service thereof where it is said For as much as all men bee conceived and borne in sinne and that our Saviour Christ saith None can enter into the Kingdome of God except he be regenerate and borne anew of a Iohn 3.5 water and of the holy Ghost I beseech you to call upon God the Father through our Lord Iesus Christ that of his bounteous mercy he will grant to these children that thing which by nature they cannot have that they may be baptized with water and the holy b Mat. 3.11 Mar. 10.14 15 16. Ghost and received into Christs holy Church and be made lively members of the same The benefits of baptisme are in the Service thereof by many speeches signified It is said to be a Christning as in the Rubricke of private baptisme where it is said The Minister shall not Christen the child againe but c. In Baptisme a child receiveth Christendome and being baptized is pronounced to be a Christian as we are taught to say in our Catechisme In my baptisme wherein I was made a member of Christ the Child of God and an c Gal. 3.29 inheritour of the kingdome of heaven In the Service of private baptisme the Minister is to pronounce concerning a child lawfully and sufficiently baptized That he being borne in Originall sin and in the wrath of God is now by the d Tit. 3.9 Eph. 5.26 Laver of regeneration in baptisme received into the number of the children of GOD and heires of everlasting life And then afterward he is to say Doubt ye not therefore but earnestly beleeve that he that favourably received this present infant that he hath embraced him with the armes of his mercy that he hath given him the e Mar. 10.16 14. blessing of eternall life and made him partaker of his f Heb. 12.28 everlasting kingdome The Service saith of a Child baptized That he is regenerate by Gods holy Spirit and graffed into the g 1 Cor. 12.13 body of Christs congregation and received for Gods owne Childe by adoption In the first prayer of confirmation it is signified that in baptisme is received the h Col. 2.12 13 14. forgivenesse of all sinnes And in the Rubricke next afore the Catechisme it is said That it is certaine by Gods Word that children being baptized have all things necessary for their salvation and be undoubtedly i Rom. 8.1 Gal. 3.27 saved The first part of the Homily of salvation addeth * â— 1. p. 13. And dying in their k Mar. 10.14 Act. 2.39 Gen. 17.7 infancy The Divine Service also delivereth That baptisme doth represent unto us our profession namely when we come to discretion which is to follow the l Pet. 2.21 Epâ— â— 1 2. Iohn 3.15 1 â—oâ— 11.1 example of our Saviour Christ and to be made m 〈◊〉 â— â— 29 like unto him that as he dyed and rose againe for u Roâ— 25. us so should we which are baptized o Rom. 6.3 4 5 6 7 8 11 13. die from sinne and rise againe unto righteousnesse continually p Col. 3.5 mortifying all our evill and corrupt affections and dayly q 2 Cor. 4.16 2 Thes 1.3 1 Pet. 1.15 proceeding in all vertue and godlinesse of living Saint Paul saith to the Romanes r Rom 6.3 c. Know yee not that so many of us as were baptized into Iesus Christ were baptized into his death Therefore we are buried with him by baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by glory of the Father even so wee also should walke in newnesse of life For if wee have beene planted together in the likenesse of his death we shall bee also in the likenesse of his resurrection And to the Galatians hee saith Å¿ Gal. 3.27 As many of you as have beene baptized into Christ have put on Christ Wherefore to the Romanes he saith t Rom 8.1 There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit And to the baptized Corinthians hee saith u 1 Cor. 6.11 yee are washed yee are sanctified yee are justified in the Name of the Lord Iesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God Also to Titus hee saith w Tit. 3.5 Not by workes of righteousnesse which we have done but according to his mercie hee hath saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost And againe to the Corinthians he saith x 1 Cor. 12.13 By one spirit are wee all baptized into one body To the Colossians he saith y Col. 2.12 13 14. Ye are buried with Christ in Baptisme wherein also yee are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead And you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh hath he quickned together with him having forgiven you all trespasses CHAP. 52. Of Godfathers and Godmothers IN the most sacred Catechisme a question is Why are infants baptized when by reason of their tender age they cannot performe repentance and faith The answere is Yes they doe performe them by their sureties who promise and vow them both in their names which when they come to age themselves are bound to performe In the Service of publike Baptisme the Priest having signified to the Godfathers Godmothers what promise Christ for his part will most surely keepe and performe saith withall Wherefore after this promise made by Christ these infants must also faithfully for their part promise by you that bee their sureties that they will forsake the Devill and all his workes and constantly beleeve Gods holy Word and obediently keepe his Commandements In the Service of private Baptisme The Priest is to say unto the Sureties z Gen. 17.11 Gen. 18.19 Doest thou in the name of this Childe for sake the Devill and all his workes the vaine pompe and glory of the world with all the covetous desires of the same the carnall desires of the flesh and not to follow and be led by them And doest thou in the name of this child professe this faith to beleeve in God the Father Almighty c. And in the Exhortation to the sureties we may see most cleerely to what a godly purpose holy Church hath ordained them where it is said You must remember that it is your part and duty to see that this infant be taught so
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
Iesus Christ our Lord. And to the Thessalonians he sayth b 1 Thes 2.12 That yee would walke worthy of God who hath called you vnto his Kingdome and glory And Saint Peter sayth c 1 Peter 2.9 That yee should shew foorth the prayses of him who hath called you out of darknes into his maruailous light And againe d 1 Pet. 5.10.11 The God of all grace who hath called vs into his eternall glory by Iesus Christ after that yee haue suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you To him be glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen CHAP. 11. Of Iustification IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 13. Homily of Saluation it is sayd Because all men be sinners and offenders against God and breakers of his Law and Commandements therefore can no man by his owne acts workes and deedes seeme they neuer so good be iustified and made righteous before God But euery man of necessity is constrayned to seeke for another righteousnesse or iustification to be receiued at Gods owne hands that is to say the forgiuenesse of his sins and trespasses in such things as hee hath offended And this iustification or righteousnesse which we so receiue of Gods mercy and Christs merits embraced by faith is taken accepted and allowed of God for our perfect and full iustification Three things therefore must goe together in our iustification The three things which must go together in our iustification To 1. p. 14.15 Vppon Gods part his great mercy and grace Vppon Christs part Iustice that is the satisfaction of Gods iustice or the price of our redemption by the offering of his body and shedding of his blood with fulfilling of the Law perfectly and throughly And vppon our part true and liuely Faith in the Merits of Iesus Christ which neuerthelesse is the gift of God and not mans onely worke without God Which sayd Faith doth not shut out Repentance Hope Loue Dread and the feare of God to be ioyned with Faith in euery man that is iustified but it shutteth them out from the office of iustifying Nor the faith also doth not sout out the iustice of our good workes necessarily to bee done afterwards of duty towards God For wee are most bounden to serue God in doing good Deedes commaunded by him in his Holy Scripture all the dayes of our life * Page 17. No man may iustly thinke that wee may by this Doctrine take any occasion of carnall liberty to follow the desires of the flesh or that thereby any kind of sinne may be committed or any vngodly liuing the more vsed Iustification is the office of God onely and is not a thing which wee render vnto him but which wee receiue of him Not which wee giue vnto him but which wee take of him by his free Mercy and by the onely Merits of his most dearely beloued Sonne our onely Redeemer Sauiour and iustifier IESVS CHRIST Saint Paul sayth e Rom. 3.23.24.25.26 All haue sinned and come short of the glory of God being iustified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Iesus Ghrist whom God hath set foorth to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood to declare his righteousnesse for the remission of sinnes that are past through the forbearance of God To declare I say at this time his righteousnesse that he may be iust and the iustifier of him which beleeueth in Iesus The same Apostle likewise sayth f Rom. 8.3 What the Law could not do in that it was weake through the flesh God sending his owne Sonne in the likenesse of sinnefull flesh and * Or by a sacrifice for sinne as in the margent Peccatum graecè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebraâ—cè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Et 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saepè exponitur expiatâ—o et piaculum seu sacrificium expiationis Leu. 4.34 Eze. 45.23 c. In textu etiam chaldaico vsurpatur vt in Esdr 6.17 for sinne condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousnesse of the Law migh be fulfilled in vs who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Now the * Page 19. office and duety of a Christian man vnto God what wee ought on our part to render vnto God againe for his great mercy and goodnesse is not to passe the time of this present life vnfruitfully and idlely after that wee are Baptized or iustified not caring how few good workes we do to the glory of God and profite of our neighbours Much lesse is it our Office after that wee bee once made Christs members to liue contrary to the same making our selues members of the Diuell walking after his inticements and after the suggestions of the World and the flesh whereby we know that we doe serue the World and the Diuell and not God The Lord sayth by his Prophet Micah g Mic 6.10.11.12 Shall I count them pure with the wicked Ballances and with the Bagge of deceitfull weights For the rich men thereof are full of Violence and the inhabitants thereof haue spoken lyes and their tongue is deceitfull in their mouth In the beginning of the Common Prayer it is sayd concerning iustification At what time so euer a sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart I will put all his wickednesse out of my remembrance sayth the Lord. These Words of the Lord spoken at large by his Prophet are If the h Ezech. 18.21 22. Wicked will turne from all his sinnes that he hath committed and keepe all my Statutes and do that which is lawfull and right hee shall surely liue he shall not dye All his transgressions that he hath committed they shall not be mentioned vnto him in his righteousnesse that hee hath done he shall liue And sayth the Apostle beeing iustified i Rom. 5.1.2 by faith we haue peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ By whom also wee haue accesse by faith into this grace wherein we stand and reioyce in hope of the glory of God CHAP. 12. Of the true and liuely Faith IN the third part of the * T. 1. p. 19.20 Homily of Saluation it is sayd The right and true Christian faith is not only to beleeue that holy Scripture and all the aforesaid Articles of our Faith are true which things the Diuels themselues do beleeue but also to haue a sure trust and confidence in Gods mercifull promises to be saued from euerlasting damnation by Christ Whereof doth follow a louing heart to obey his Commandements The * T. 1. P. 18. true and liuely faith in Christ bringeth foorth good workes and a life according to Gods Commandements And * P. 20. this true Christian faith neither any Diuell hath nor yet any man which in the outward profession of his mouth and in his outward receiuing of the Sacraments in comming to Church and in all other outward appearances seemeth to be a Christian man and yet in his
Wee are VVitnesses of these things and so is also the Holy Ghost whom God hath giuen to them that obey him Reade the third part of the * T. 2. p. 229. 230 Homily for Rogation VVeeke and there are expressed many operations of the Holy Ghost for and in the people of Almighty God CHAP. 25. Of the Merit of the Redemption wrought by Iesus Christ THE Church in her most Sacred Catechisme teacheth euery one of her Children to say I beleeue in God the Sonne who hath redeemed me and all Mankind And in the Prayer afore the Ministration of the Communion it is sayd Iesus Christ suffering Death vpon the Crosse for our Redemption made there by his owne Oblation of himselfe once offered a full perfect and sufficient Sacrifice Oblation and satisfaction for the sinnes of the whole World In the second * T. 2. p. 181. Homily of CHRISTS passion it is sayde Hee suffered Death vniuersally for all men And in the same * P. 185. Homily it is sayde God gaue Christ to the whole World that is to say to Adam and to all that should come after him And in the first part of the * T. 2. p. 200. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is sayd The Death of Christ is auaileable for the Redemption of all the World The holy Scriptures testifie the same greatnesse of the merit of the Redemption wrought by Iesus Christ Saint Iohn sayth He is the propitiation for our sinnes and not for ours onely but also for the sinnes of k 1 Iohn 2.2 the whole World Saint Paul sayth Christ gaue himselfe a ransome for l 1 Tim. 2.6 all And to the Hebrewes he sayth m Heb. 2.9 Iesus Christ tasted Death for euery man To the Corinthians hee sayth If one dyed for all then were all dead and hee dyed for n 2 Cor. 5.14.15 all c. And to the Romanes hee sayth o Rom. 5.18 1 Cor. 15.21.22 Iohn 12.32 As by the offence of one iudgement came vpon al men to condemnation Eue so by the righteousnesse of one the free gift came vpon all men vnto iustification of life In the second part of the * T. 1. p. 50. Homily concerning Swearing it is signified That not onely Christs death but his life also c. are meritorious where it is sayd Whosoeuer wilfully * Zechar. 5.4.5 See Chap. 73. forsweare themselues vppon Christs Holy Euangely they vtterly forsake Gods mercy goodnesse and truth the merits of our Sauiour Christs Natiuity Life Passion Death Resurrection and Ascension they refuse the forgiuenesse of sinnes promised to all penitent sinners the ioyes of Heauen the company with Angels and Saints for euer Also the aforesayde actions of Christ are meritorious because they were done for the sake of mankinde CHAP. 26. Of the end for the which Iesus Christ redeemed mankinde and who of yeares of discretion or of perfect age partake of the merit of the same redemption IT is sayd in the second part of the * T. 1. p. 82. Homily against adultery Christ that innocent Lambe of God hath bought vs from the seruitude of the Diuell not with corruptible gold and siluer but with his most precious and deare heart bloud To what intent That we should fall againe into our old vncleannesse and abhominable liuing Nay verily but that we should serue him all the dayes of our life in holinesse and righteousnesse that we should glorifie him in our bodies by purity and cleannesse of life And in the * T. 2. p. 179. Homily for good Friday it is sayd Christ hath not so redeemed vs from sinne that we may safely returne thereto againe but he hath redeemed vs that we should forsake the motions thereof and liue vnto righteousnesse Yea we be therefore washed in our Baptisme from the filthinesse of sinne that we should liue afterward in the purenesse of life In Baptisme we promised to renounce the Diuell and his suggestions wee promised to be as obedient children alwayes following Gods will and pleasure So in the * T. 2. p. 195. Homily of the Resurrection it is sayd Yee must consider that yee be therefore cleansed and renued that yee should from hencefoorth serue God in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of your liues that ye may reigne with him in euerlasting life If yee refuse so great grace whereto yee bee called what other thing doe yee than heape to your selues damnation more and more and so prouoke God to cast his displeasure vnto you and to reuenge this mockage of his Holy Sacramerits in so great abusing of them In the second * T. 2. p. 186. Homily of the Passion it is sayd Now it remaineth that I shewe vnto you how to apply Christs death and passion to our comfort as a medicine to our wounds so that it may worke the same effect in vs wherefore it was giuen namely the health and saluation of our soules For as it profiteth a man nothing to haue salue vnlesse it be well applied to the part infected so the death of Christ shall sland vs in no force vnlesse we apply it to our selues in such sort as God hath appointed Almighty God commonly worketh by meanes and in this thing he hath also ordained a certaine meane whereby we may take fruite and profite to our soules health and that is Faith Not an vnconstant or wauering faith but a sure stedfast grounded and vnfained faith * Pag. 188. For as all they which beheld stedfastly the brazen Serpent were healed and deliuered at the very sight thereof from their corporall diseases and bodily stings euen so all they which behold Christ crucified with a true and liuely faith shall vndoubtedly bee deliuered from the grieuous wounds of the soule be they neuer so deadly or many in number In the * Tom. 2. p. 173 Homily of the Natiuity it is sayd After that Christ was come downe from heauen and had taken our fraile nature vpon him he made all them that would receiue him truely and beleeue his holy Word good trees c. And to shew more plainely who partake of Christs merits the * Tom. 2. p. 179 Homily for good Friday declareth saying That we doe call for mercy in vaine if wee will not shew mercy to our neighbours For if we will not put wrath and displeasure forth of our hearts to our Christian brother no more will God forgiue the displeasure and wrath that our sinnes haue deserued afore him For vnder this condition doth God forgiue vs if we forgiue other God is to be obeyed which commaundeth vs to forgiue if we will haue any part of the pardon which our Sauiour Christ purchased once of God the Father by shedding of his precious bloud And in the second part of the * Tom. 1. p. 94. Homily against contention the Church sayth What crakest thou of thy head if thou labour not to be in the body Thou canst be no member of
Christ if thou follow not the steps of Christ In the first * Tom. 2. p. 180 Homily of the Passion most diuinely it is declared That it shall little auaile vs to haue in meditation the fruites and price of Christs passion to magnifie them and to delight or trust in them except we haue in minde his examples in passion to follow them If we thus therefore consider Christs death and will sticke thereto with fast faith for the merite and deseruing thereof and will also frame our selues in such wise to bestow our selues and all that we haue by charity to the behoofe of our neighbour as Christ spent himselfe wholly for our profit then doe wee truely remember Christs death and being thus followers of Christs steps we shall be sure to follow him thither where he now sitteth with the Father and the holy Ghost Likewise in the * Tom. 2. p. 196 Homily of the Resurrection it is sayd Let vs keepe our feast the whole terme of our life with eating the bread of purenesse of godly life and truth of Christs Doctrine Thus shall we declare that Christs gifts and graces haue their effect in vs and that we haue the right beleefe knowledg of his holy resurrection where truely if we apply our Faith to the vertue thereof in our life and conforme vs to the example and signification meant thereby we shall be sure to rise hereafter to euerlasting glory by the goodnesse and mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ And in the same * Pag. 191. Homily it is sayd Christ passed through death and hell to the intent to put vs in good hope that by his strength we shall doe the same In the Collect for Palme Sunday it is signified That Almighty God of his tender loue towards man sent our Sauiour Iesus Christ to take vpon him our flesh and to suffer death vpon the Crosse that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility In the Collect for the second Sunday after Easter it is sayd That Almighty God gaue his onely Sonne to be vnto vs both a sacrifice for sinne and an example of godly life In that most diuine exhortation in the commination Seruice it is sayd Let vs returne vnto our Lord God who is the mercifull receiuer of all true penitent sinners assuring our selues that he is ready to receiue vs and most willing to pardon vs if we come vnto him with faithfull repentance If we will submit our selues vnto him and from henceforth walke in his wayes If we will take his easie yoke and light burthen vpon vs to follow him in lowlinesse patience and charity and be ordered by the gouernance of his holy Spirit seeking alwayes his glory and seruing him duely in our vocation with thankesgiuing This if we doe Christ will deliuer vs from the curse of the Law and from the extreame malediction which shall light on them that shall bee set on his left hand c. The holy Apostle Paul in his Epistle to Titus sayth p Tit. 2.14 Iesus Christ gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquity and purisie vnto himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes Zacharias in his song sayd q That we being deliuered out of the hands of our enemies might serue him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life Saint Paul to the Romanes sayth r Rom. 8.3.4 What the Law could not doe in that it was weake through the flesh God sending his owne Sonne in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and * Or by a sacrifice for sinne as it is read in the margent for sinne condemned sinne in the flesh That the righteousnesse of the Lawe might bee fulfilled in vs who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit To the Corinthians he sayth Å¿ 2. Cor. 5.15 Christ died for all that they which liue should not hencefoorth liue vnto themselues but vnto him which died for them and rose againe To the Thessalonians he sayth t 1. Thes 5.9.10 God hath not appointed vs to wrath but to obtaine saluation by our Lord Iesus Christ who died for vs that whether we wake or sleepe we should liue together with him And Saint Peter sayth u 1. Pet. 1.24 Christ his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree that wee being dead vnto sinne should liue vnto righteousnesse Againe he sayth w 1. Pet. 2.21 Christ also suffered for vs leauing vs an example that we should follow his steps Further he sayth x 1. Pet. 4.1.2 Forasmuch as Christ hath suffered for vs in the flesh arme your selues likewise with the same minde for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sinne That he no longer should liue the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God p Luke 1.74.75 Who of ripe age partake of Christs merits Now who of ripe age partake of Christs merits these Scriptures following and sundry others doe declare y Iohn 14.15.21.23 If ye loue me sayth Christ keepe my Commaundements He that hath my Commaundements and keepeth them he it is that loueth me and he that loueth me shall be loued of my Father and I will loue him and will manifest my selfe vnto him Againe z Ioh 15.10 14. If yee keepe my Commaundements yee shall abide in my loue euen as I haue kept my Fathers commandements and abide in his loue And yee are my friends if yee doe whatsoeuer I commaund you Againe a Ioh. 8.31.32 If ye continue in my word then are yee my Disciples indeed and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free And to the Hebrewes the Apostle sayth b Heb. 3.14 We are made partakers of Christ If we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast vnto the end To the Romanes he sayth c Rom 6.5.8 If we haue bene planted together in the likenesse of his death we shall be also in the likenesse of his resurrection If we be dead with Christ we beleeue that we shall also liue with him Againe d Rom 8.11.13.14.17 If the Spirit of him that raysed vp Iesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised vp Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodies * Or because of his spirit that dwelleth in you as in the margent by the Spirit that dwelleth in you If ye liue after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall liue For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sonnes of God And if children then heires heires of God and ioynt heires with Christ If so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together In like manner sayth the Apostle to Timothy e 2. Tim. 2.11.12.13 It is a faithfull saying for if we be dead with him
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
many times in a yeere so is it exceeding furthersome for all younger people to have it all in perfect memory and at least once a weeke to examine themselves by the same CHAP. 62. Of Excommunication IT is said in the second part of the * T. 2. p. 213. Homily concerning the Holy Ghost or in the Homily for Whitsunday Christ ordained the authority of the keyes to excommunicate notorious sinners and to absolve theÌ„ which are truly penitent In the second part of the * Homily concerning the right use of the Church T. 2. p. 9.10 it is said In the primitive Church which was most holy and godly and in the which due discipline with severitie was used against the wicked due discipline with severitie suffered once to enter into the house of the Lord nor admitted to Common Prayer and the use of the holy SacrameÌ„ts with other true Christians untill they had done opeÌ„penance before the whole Church And they that were so justly exempted and banished as it were from the house of the Lord were taken as they be indeed for men divided and separated from Christs Church and in most dangerous estate yea as Saint Paul saith even given unto Satan the Devill for a time and their company was shunned and avoided of all godly men and women untill such time as they by repentance and publike penance were reconciled Iesus Christ said unto Peter To thee I will give the c Mat. 16.19 keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven The same d Mat 18.18 19 20. authority hee afterward pronounced unto the rest of his Apostles Also when after his resurrection hee breathed on them and said Receive ye the Holy Ghost he gave the keyes of the Kingdome of heaven unto them all saying e Ioh. 20.22 23. Whose soever sins yee remit they are remitted unto theÌ„ whose soever sinnes ye retaine they are retained Saint Paul saith to the Corinthians concerning excommunicating the incestuous person In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ when ye are gathered together and my Spirit with the power of our Lord Iesus Christ To f 1 Cor. 5.4 5. deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may bee saved in the day of the Lord Iesus He said of Hymenaeus and Alexander that he had g 1 Tim. 1.20 delivered them unto Satan that they might learne not to blaspheeme Concerning what persons are to be excommunicated if otherwise they will not be reformed it is observed that the Apostle signifieth where he saith If any man that is called a brother be a fornicatour or covetous or an Idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner with h 1 Cor. 5.11 such a one no not to eate Vnto the Thessalonians he saith And if any man obey not our word by this Epistle note that man and have i 2 Thes 3.14 no company with him that he may be ashamed The Apostle speaketh of disorderly living and living out of a vocation by the sweat of other mens browes or eating other mens bread for nought The Apostle also faith If any man love not the Lord Iesus Christ let him be k 1 Cor. 16.22 anathema Maran atha The speech here l Sunt enim haeâ— dicendi genera Haebraeis non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inquit Buxtorfiuâ— in Gram. Heb. pag. 548. excusâ anno 1620. love not is observed to signifie hateth Anathema is interpreted a curse a cursed thing or one accursed Maran signifieth our Lord and atha signifieth commeth The excommunication which was called anathema maranatha is accounted to be the greatest kinde thereof and so the very last namely when as one for his persevering wilfull hatred against Iesus Christ is quite forsaken by the Church and left unto the just judgement of Christ of whom Enoch said m Iude 14.15 Arabs juxta sensum reddidit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apud Rabbinos est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 contractè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Videt ur dicià syriacâ— verbo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nominare quòd hâ—c sit nominatissima excommunicatio Vulgò taâ—en volunt esse nomen compositum ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est Deus venit Alij ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. ibi mors Behold the Lord commeth with ten thousands of his Saints to execute judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him The holy scriptures deliver other causes also for which there may be excommunication the which the Church of England hath partly mentioned in the Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall as also when any being summoned to appeare before ecclesiasticall authority will contemptuously refuse c. The Lord Christ Iesus hath in his Gospell given an everlasting generall rule If any one neglect to heare the Church let him be unto thee as an n Mat. 18.17 Heathen man and a Publicane CHAP. 63. Of Confession and Absolution in particular manner BEsides the generall Confession and Absolution to be said and pronounced in the beginning of the Divine Service and afore receiving the holy Communion holy Church hath ordained that a private may be made In the second Exhortation to be read afore the Communion it is said Because it is requisite that no man shold come to the holy Communion but with a full trust in Gods mercy and with a quiet conscience therefore if there be any of you which by the meanes aforesaid cannot quiet his owne conscience but requireth further comfort or counsell then let him come to me or some other discreet and learned Minister of Gods Word and open his griefe that he may receive such ghostly counsell advice and comfort as his conscience may be relieved and that by the ministery of Gods Word he may receive comfort and the benefit of absolution to the quieting of his conscience and avoyding of all scruple and doubtfulnesse In the Rubricke of the Service for the Visitation of the Sicke it is said The sicke person shall make a speciall confession if he feele his conscience troubled with any weighty matter After which confession the Priest shall absolve him after this sort * The forme of absolution used to one in particular Our Lord Iesus Christ who hath left power to his Church to absolve all sinners which truely repent and beleeve in him of his great mercy forgive thee thine offences and by his authority committed to me I absolve thee from all thy finnes In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen Concerning Confession the Church in the 113. Canon delivereth That if any man confesse his secret and hidden sinnes to the Minister for the
p. 77. Homily of Obedience it is said So shall we please God and have the exceeding benefit Peace of conscience rest and quietnesse in this world c. In the second part of the * T. 1. p. 6. Homily an Exhortation to holy Scripture it is said Let us pray to God the onely Author of these heavenly studies that we may speake thinke beleeve live and depart hence according to the wholesome Doctrine and verities of the holy Scriptures And by that meanes in this world we shall have Gods defence favour and grace with the unspeakeable solace of Peace and quietnesse of conscience and after this miserable life we shall enjoy the endlesse g Luke 16.25 and 23.43 blisse and glory of heaven Saint Paul saith to the Romanes Therefore being justified by faith we have h Rom. 5.1 2. Peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ Great i Ps 119.165 Peace saith David have they that love thy Law and nothing shall offend them Isaiah saith Thou wilt keepe him in perfect k Isa 26.3 Peace whose minde is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee In another place he saith And the worke of righteousnesse shall bee Peace and the effect of righteousnesse l Isa 32.17 18. quietnesse and assurance for ever And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places David saith The meeke shall inherit the earth and shall m Ps 37.11 Of Long suffering delight themselves in the abundance of Peace The fourth fruit of the Spirit is Long suffering which is signified to the Ephesians where it is said With all lowlinesse and meeknesse with n Eph. 4.2 Long suffering forbearing one another in love So in the Epistle to the Colossians where it is said Put on therefore as the Elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercy kindnesse humblenesse of minde meeknesse o Col. 3.12 13. Long suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrell against any even as Christ forgave you so also doe yee The servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach p 2 Tim. 2.24 25 26. patient in meeknesse instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devill who are taken captive by him at his will Paul unto Titus signifieth that wee should speake evill of no man be no brawlers but gentle shewing all q Tit. 3.2 3. meeknesse unto all men For wee our selves were sometimes foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts and pleasures c. Of Gentlenes The fift fruit of the Spirit is Gentlenesse The which property may be knowne out of the Apostles words where it is said to the Thessalonians Not of of men sought we glory neither of you nor yet of others when we might have beene burdensome as the Apostles of Christ But wee were r 1 Thes 2.6 7. gentle among you even as a Nurse cherisheth her Children c. In the third part of the * T. 1. p. 98. Homily against Contention it is said If you be provoked with evill speaking * 1 Per. 4.1 arme your selfe with patience lenity and silence either speaking nothing or else being very ſ Prov. 15.1 soft meeke and gentle in answering t Rom. 12.19 20 21. Overcome thine adversary with benefits and Gentlenesse Of Goodnesse The sixt fruit of the Spirit is Goodnesse which as one saith burceth none but willeth well to all The fruit of the spirit saith Saint Paul to the Ephesians is in all u Eph. 5.9.10 Goodnesse and righteousnesse and trum Ioseph of Arimathea is said to be a w Luke 3.50 51 52.53 Good man He consented not to the counsell and deed of the Iewes against Christ Hee waited for the Kingdome of God He performed all the honour he could unto the body of Iesus The seventh fruit of the Spirit is Faithfulnesse Of Faithfullnes faith or trust as in promises and in bargaines or contracts yea in all businesses and matters both Ecclesiasticall and temporall Moses was x Heb. 3.5 faithfull in all Gods house Solomon saith Most men will proclaime every one his owne goodnesse but a y Prov. 20.6 Faithfull man who can finde Yet such as are endued with the spirit of Iesus Christ are Faithfull in a good measure Concerning Faithfulnesse Christ saith He that is z Luke 16.10 11 12. Faithfull in that which is least is Faithfull also in much and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much If therefore ye have not beene Faithfull in the unrighteous Mammon who will commit to your trust the true riches And if yee have not beene faithfull in that which is another mans who shall give you that which is your owne Of Meeknesse The eighth fruit of the Spirit is Meekenesse In the * T. 2. p. 247 248. Homily concerning the state of Matrimony it is said to married persons the Husband and Wife Doe the best ye can of your parts to custome your selves to softnesse and Meeknesse and beare well in worth such over sights as chance and thus shall your conversation be most pleasant and comfortable S. Peter saith A a Pet. 3.4 Meeke and a quiet spirit is in the sight of God of great price The ninth fruit of the Spirit is Temperance Of Temperance And of it there is some delivery in the 80. Chapter afore CHAP. 86. Of sundry other Vertues prescribed in the Divine Service Of Honesty IN the * T. 2. p. 108. Homily against excesse of apparell it is said It is not the goodlinesse of apparell nor the excellency of beauty nor the abundance of Gold that maketh a woman to bee esteemed but modesty and diligence to live b 1 Tim. 2.2 Honestly in all things In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 119. Homily concerning Praier it is signified That it behooveth one that cōmeth to a King to speake and aske onely those things which are rightfull and honest Saint Paul commandeth all Professors of Christianity to walke c 1 Thes 4.12 Honestly toward them that are without and to have lacke of nothing To the Romanes he saith Provide things d Rom. 12.17 Honest in the sight of all men To the Hebrewes he saith Pray for us for wee trust we have a good Conscience in all things willing to live e Heb. 13 18. Honestly To the Philippians he saith Whatsoever things are f Phil. 4.8 Honest thinke on the same To the Thessalonians he saith See that none render evill for evill unto any man but ever follow that which is g 1 Thes 5.15 good both among your selves and to all men Saint Peter saith Dearely beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstaine from fleshly
preached unto others I my selfe should bee a cast away Hereto Saint Peters counsell is to be remembred Dearly beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims c 1 Pet. 2.11 abstaine from fleshly lusts which warre against the soule Of Patience Furthermore Saint Peter saith Adde to Temperance Patience Saint Paul saith unto Timothy Thou therefore d 2 Tim. 2.3 4 5 12. endure hardnesse as a good souldier of Iesus Christ No man that warreth intangleth himselfe with the affaires of this life that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a souldier And if a man also strive for masteries yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully If wee suffer with Christ we shall also raigne with him Much considerable hereto is the holy delivery of the Church in the sacred * T. 2. p. 195 196. Homily of the resurrection Truth it is that sin is strong and affections are unruly Hard it is to subdue and resist our nature so corrupt and leavened with the sower bitternesse of the poyson which wee received by the inheritance of our old father Adam But yet take good courage saith our Saviour Christ for I have e Iohn 16.33 overcome the world and all other f Col. 2.14 15. enemies for you g Rom. 6.14 Sinne shall not have power over you for ye be now under grace saith Saint Paul Though your power be weake yet Christ is risen againe to h Phil. 3.10 strengthen you in your battaile his holy Spirit shall i Rom. 8.26 27 helpe your infirmities In trust of his mercy take you in hand to k 1 Cor. 5.7 8 6. purge this old leaven of sinne that crrupteth and sowreth the sweetnesse of our life before God that yee may bee as new and fresh Dow voide of all sower leaven of wickednesse so shall ye shew your selves to be sweet bread unto God that hee may have his delight in you And in the same * T. 2. p 193. Homily it is said By the assistance of Christs holy Spirit we be replenished with all righteousnesse by whose power we shall be able to l Rom. 6.12 Rom. 8 1◠2 Cor. 10.4 5 6 subdue all our evill affections rising against the pleasure of God When the Iewes returned from their captivity in Babylon unto Ierusalem and went about reparing the Temple of the Lord which was ruinated and laid wast they were sorely vexed and hindered by the m Ezra 4.1 4 5 c. Chaldeans under which Nation they had beene in captivity afore yet they n Neh. 4.15 16 17. patiently endured and tooke their times and best occasions to set the worke forward and were not discouraged as utterly to leave off the enterprised businesse but constantly persevered untill it was o 1 Esd 7.5 finished We may make use of the Sacred Story applying it unto the p 1 Pet. 2 5. Eph. 2.21 22. spirituall worke which Christ requireth at our hands Of Godlinesse Saint Peter further saith Adde to Patience Godlinesse Whereas the inward warre of the flesh q Gal. 5.17 against the spirit is very great and our warre is not onely against flesh and blood and visible enemies in this outward world but also against enemies working within our soule and spirit namely against r Eph. 6.12 principalities against powers against the Rulers of the darknesse of this world against spirituall wickednesse or * wicked spirits in high or * heavenly places and so our sufferings sorrowes agonies and the like spirituall miseries are greater ** As in the margent of the last translation than our ſ Ps 143.3 4 7. naturall strength is able to abide therefore we are to betake our selves as Saint Paul saith to t Eph. 6.18 pray alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance that God would u Ps 144.1 2. teach our hands to warre and our fingers to fight that he would be our fortresse and high tower and our deliverer our shield wherin to trust also to w Ps 18.31 34 39. gird us with strength unto the battell and to subdue under us those that rise up against us And thus to be devoted unto prayer is Godlinesse whereunto wee are exhorted in the most Sacred Catechisme where it is said My good Child know this that thou art not able to doe these things of thy selfe nor to walke in the Commandements of God and to serve him without his speciall x 1 Cor. 12.9 Rom. 5.20 21. grace which thou must learne at all times to call for by diligent prayer And then in the answere concerning what wee desire in the Lords Prayer we are taught to pray unto God That it will please him to save and defend us in all dangers ghostly and bodily and that he will y 2 Tim. 4.18 keepe us from all sinne and wickednesse and from our ghostly z Ioh. 1.10 enemy and from everlasting death Of Brotherly kindnesse Saint Peter also saith Adde to Godlinesse Brotherly kindnesse And because when wee through the grace of God in Iesus Christ by prayer have obtained our requests and for every benefit received of God are bound to render most hearty a Ps 116.1 2 12 17. thankes unto him and to expresse our love unto him not in word onely but in b 1 Iohn 3.18 deed also For that the Lord hath no need of our goods seeing the whole world is his and c Ps 24 1. all therein therefore saith David O my soule thou hast said unto the Lord thou art my Lord my goodnes d Ps 16.2 3 4. extendeth not to thee but to the Saints that are in the earth to the excellēt in whom is all my delight Their sorrowes shall bee mutiplied that hasten after another god or * As it is also rendred in the margent there give gifts to another It is our duty to love e Iam. 2.14 15 16. 1 Iohn 3.17 1 Iohn 5.1 really those whom God loveth namely our brethrē whom the Spirit with the f Iam. 1.18 word of truth hath begat as well as us into some measure of Gods Image which is g Eph. 4.24 Col. 3 10. righteousnesse and true holinesse Vnto them we are to h Rom 12.13 impart of our goods and for them to doe all good Offices we can and to performe unto them all other duties according as it is prescribed unto us in the Gospell of Iesus Christ Yea and as we have i Gal. 6.10 opportunity wee are also for the Lords sake to doe good unto all other people though especially to them that are of the houshold of faith Of Charity Lastly Saint Peter saith Adde to Brotherly kindness Charity Forasmuch as our aforesaid love towards God and towards others for Gods sake is k 1 Iohn 4.18 imperfect whiles it hath joyned with it the love of our selves that is whereas we
is dressed receiveth blessings from God But that which beareth thornes and briers is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned And againe where hee saith If wee sinne g Heb. 10.26 27 28 29. wilfully after that wee have received the knowledge of truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes but a certaine fearfull looking for of judgement and fiery indignation which shall devoure the adversaries Hee that despised Moses Law dyed without mercy under two or three witnesses Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath troden under foote the Sonne of God and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despite unto the spirit of Grace Or else sinne against the Holy Ghost is committed by such who will not at all bee made partakers of that holy Spirit but doe as did many Iewes to whom Saint Stephen said Ye stiffe-necked and uncircumcised in heart and eares Yee doe h Acts. 7.51 alway resist the Holy Ghost as your fathers did so doe ye They also of whom Solomon mentioneth are not much differing where it is said I Wisedome will powre out my i Prov. 1.23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32. spirit unto you I will make knowne my words unto you Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out mine hand and no man regarded but yee have set at nought all my Counsell and would none of my reproofe I also will laugh at your calamity I will mocke when your feare commeth When your feare commeth as desolation and your destruction commeth as a Whirlewinde when distresse and anguish commeth upon you Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seeke me early but they shall not finde me for that they hated knowledge and did not chuse the feare of the Lord. They would none of my Counsell they despised all my reproofe Many of the Pharisees among the Iewes were of such a condition who of set malice against Christ k Ioh. 7 7. witnessing unto them that their workes wee evill against the common light of reasō with which Gods holy Spirit endueth l Ioh. 1.9 Rom. 2.14.15 mankind even universally said that Iesus Christ did cast out Devils by m Mat. 12.24 Beelzebub the prince of the Devils when as they and their n Mat 12.27 children had received it as an infallible principle that Satan did not cast out Satan but that onely in o Mat. 7.22 Mat. 9.38.39.40 Gods name and by Gods power the evill spirit was cast out And therefore unto them thus wilfully and spitefully speaking contrary to their very consciences the Lord said p Mat. 12.31.32 All manner of sinne and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men And whosoever speaketh a word against the Sonne of man it shall bee forgiven him but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost it shall not bee forgiven him neither in this world neither in the world to come It most greatly therefore concerneth all which would in life death and for ever have Gods mercy in Iesus Christ to take heed that they at no time speake or doe against the true light of conscience remembring that it is a fearefull thing to fall into the q Heb. 10.31.30 avenging hands of the living Gods CHAP. 97. Of sundry of Gods Curses upon disobedient people IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 54. Homily of falling from God it is said The displeasure of God towards us is commonly expressed in the Scripture by these two things by shewing his r Ps 34.16 Ps 6.1 fearefull countenance upon us and by turning away his face or by ſ Lam. 3.44 Isa 59.2 hiding it from us By shewing his dreadfull countenance is signified his great wrath but by turning his face or hiding thereof is many times more signified that is to say that hee clearly t Deut. 31.17 18. Ier. 33.5 forsaketh us and giveth us over When God doth shew his dreadfull countenance towards us that is to say doth send dreadfull plagues of sword famine or pestilence upon us it appeareth that he is greatly wroth with us But when he withdraweth from us his Word the * A delivery what the true Word preached is right Doctrine of Christ his gracious assistance and aid which is ever u Ier. 23.22 joyned to his Word and w 1 Sam. 28.15 leaveth us to our owne wit our owne will and strength he declareth then that he beginneth to forsake us In the second part of the said * T. 2. p. 57. Homily it is said What deadly griefe may a man suppose it is to be under the wrath of God to be forsaken of him to have his holie Spirit the Authour of goodnesse to bee taken from him to be brought to so vile a condition that hee shall bee left meet for no better purpose than to be for ever condemned in hell That place of x Isa 5.5 c. Isaiah sheweth that God at length doth so forsake his unfruitfull Vineyard that hee will not onely suffer it to bring forth weedes bryars and thornes but also further to punish the unfruitfulnesse of it He saith he will not cut it he will not delve it and hee will command the Clouds that they shall not raine upon it whereby is signified the teaching of his holy Word which Saint Paul after a like manner expressed by y 1 Cor. 3.6 planting watering meaning that hee will take that away from them so that they shall be no longer of his Kingdome they shall bee no longer governed by his holy Spirit they shall be put from the grace and benefits that they had and ever z Luke 19.42 44 Mat. 23.37 38. Ps 81.12 13 14 15 16. Isa 48.18 19. might have enjoyed through Christ they shall be deprived of the heavenly light life which they had in Christ a Iohn 15.4.6.5.7 Rom. 11.17 20 22 23. whiles they abode in him they shall be as they were once as men without God in this world or rather in worse taking And to bee short they shall bee given into the power of the Devill which beareth the rule in all them that be cast away from God as hee did in Saul and Iudas and generally in all such as worke after their owne wils the Children of mistrust and b Eph. 2.2 unbeliefe In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 5. Homily concerning the right use of the Church it is said We shall not in this life escape his heavy hand and vengeance for this contempt of the house of the Lord and his due service in the same according as the Lord himselfe threatneth in the first Chapter of the Prophet Aggeus after this sort c Hag. 1.9 10 11. Because ye have left my house desert and without company