Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	work_n	work_v	worthiness_n	117	3	11.6406	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A40655	The church-history of Britain from the birth of Jesus Christ until the year M.DC.XLVIII endeavoured by Thomas Fuller.	Fuller, Thomas, 1608-1661.; Fuller, Thomas, 1608-1661. History of the University of Cambridge snce the conquest.; Fuller, Thomas, 1608-1661. History of Waltham-Abby in Essex, founded by King Harold.	1655 (1655)	Wing F2416_PARTIAL; Wing F2443_PARTIAL; ESTC R14493	1,619,696	1,523

manner of speaking as the Articles of our Faith be already conceived and expressed in the said Creeds without altering in any wise or varying from the same Item That they ought and must utterly refuse and condemn all those opinions contrary to the said Articles which were of long time passed condemned in the four holy Councels that is to say in the Councel of Nice Constantinople Ephesus and Calcedon and all other since that time in any point consonant to the same The Sacrament of Baptism Secondly As touching the holy Sacrament of Baptism We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people committed by Us unto their spiritual charge that they ought and must of necessity believe certainly all those things which have been alwaies by the whole consent of the Church approved received and used in the Sacrament of Baptism that is to say that the Sacrament of Baptism was instituted and ordained in the New Testament by our Saviour JESUS CHRIST as a thing necessary for the attaining of everlasting life according to the saying of Christ d d Iohn 3. 5. No man can enter into the kingdome of heaven except he be born again of water and the Holy Ghost Item That is offered unto all men as well Infants as such as have the use of reason that by Baptism they shall have remission of sins and the grace and favour of God according to the saying of Christ e e Mark 16. 16. Whosesoever believeth and is baptized shall be saved Item That the promise of grace everlasting life which promise is adjoyned unto this Sacrament of Baptism pertaineth not onely unto such as have the use of reason but also to infants innocents and children and that they ought therefore and must needs be baptized and that by the Sacrament of Baptism they do also obtain remission of their sins the grace and favour of God and he made thereby the very sons and children of God Insomuch as infants and children dying in their infancy shall undoubtedly be saved thereby and else not Item That infants must needs be christened because they be born in original sin which sin must needs be remitted which cannot be done but by the Sacrament of Baptism whereby they receive the Holy Ghost which exerciseth his grace and efficacy in them and cleanseth and purifieth them from sin by his most secret virtue and operation Item That children or men once baptized can ne ought ever to be baptized again Item That they ought to repute and take all the Anabatists and the Pelagians their opinions contrary to the premisses and every other man's opinion agreeable unto the said Anabaptists or Pelagians opinions in this behalf for detestable heresies and utterly to be condemned Item That men or children having the use of reason and willing and desiring to be baptized shall by the vertue of that Holy Sacrament obtain the grace and remission of all their sins if they shall come thereunto perfectly and truly repentant and contri●e of all their sins before committed and also perfectly and constantly confessing and believing all the Articles of our Faith according as it was mentioned in the first Article And finally If they shall also have firm credence and trust in the promise of God adjoyned to the said Sacrament that is to say that in and by this said Sacrament which they shall receive God the Father giveth unto them for his son Jesus Christ's sake remission of all their sins and the grace of the Holy Ghost whereby they be newly regenerated and made the very children of God according to the saying of S. John and the Apostle S. Peter f f Acts 2. 38. Doe penance for your sins and be each of you baptized in the name of Jesu Christ and you shall obtain remission of your sins and shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost And according also to the saying of S. Paul g g Tit. 3. 5. God hath not saved us for the works of justice which we have done but of his mercy by baptism and renovations of the Holy Ghost Whom he hath powred out upon us most plentifully for the love of Jesu Christ our Saviour to the intent that we being justified by his grace should be made the inheritours of everlasting life according to our hope The Sacrament of Penance Thirdly concerning the Sacrament of Penance We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and reach Our people committed by Us unto their spiritual charge that they ought and must constantly believe that that Sacrament was institute of Christ in the New Testament as a thing so necessary for man's salvation that no man which after his baptisme is fallen again and hath committed deadly sin can without the same be saved or attain everlasting life Item That like as such men which after Baptism doe fall again into sin it they doe not penance in this life shall undoubtedly be damned even so whensoever the same men shall convert themselves from their naughty life and doe such penance for the same as Christ requireth of them they shall without doubt attain remission of their sins and shall be saved Item That the Sacrament of perfect Penance which Christ requireth of such manner persons consisteth of three parties that is to say Contritrition Confession and the Amendment of the former life and a new obedient reconciliation unto the laws and will of God that is to say exteriour acts in works of charity according as they be commanded of God which be called in Scripture b b Luke 3. 8. The worthy fruits of penance Furthermore As touching Contrition which is the first part We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people committed by Us unto their spirtiual charge that the said Contrition consisteth in two special parts which must alwaies be conjoyned together and cannot be dissevered that is to say The penitent and contrite man must first knowledge the filthiness and abomination of his own sin unto which knowledge he is brought by hearing and considering of the will of God declared in his laws and feeling and perceiving in his own conscience that God is angry and displeased with him for the same He must also conceive not onely great sorrow and inward shame that he hath so grievously offended God but also great fear of Gods displeasure towards him considering he hath no works or merits of his own which he may worthily lay before God as sufficient satisfaction for his sins Which done then afterward with this fear shame and sorrow must needs succeed and be conjoyned the second part that is to wit a certain faith trust and confidence of the mercy and goodnesse of God whereby the penitent must conveive certain hope and faith that God will forgive him his sins and repute him justified and of the number of his elect children not for the worthinesse of any merit or work done by the penitent but for the onely

merits of the blood and passion of our Saviour JESU CHRIST Item That this certain faith and hope is gotten and also confirmed and made more strong by the applying of Christs words and promises of his grace and favour contained in his Gospel the Sacraments instituted by him in the New Testament And therefore to attain this certain faith the second part of Penance is necessary that is to say Confession to a Priest if it may be had for the asolution given by the Priest was institute of Christ to apply the promises of God's grace and favour to the penitent Wherefore as touching Confession We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people committed by Us to their spiritual charge that they ought and must certainly believe that the words of absolution pronounced by the Priest be spoken by the authority given to him by Christ in the Gospel Item That they ought and must give no lesse faith and credence to the same words of absolution so pronounced by the Ministers of the Church than they would give unto the very words and voice of God himself if he should speak unto us out of heaven according to the saying of Christ i i Iohn 20. 23. Whose sins soever ya doe forgive shall be forgiven whose sins soever ye doe retain shall be retained And again in another place Christ saith k k Luke 10. 16. Whosoever heareth you heareth me Item That in no wise they doe contemn this Auricular Confession which is made unto the Ministers of the Church but that they ought to repute the same as a very expedient and necessary mean whereby they may require and ask this absolution at the Priest's hands at such time as they shall finde their conscience grieved with mortal sin and have occasion so to doe to the intent they may thereby attain certain comfort and consolation of their consciences As touching to the third part of Penance We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people committed by Us to their spiritual charge that although Christ his death be the sufficient oblation sacrifice satisfaction and recompense for the which God the Father forgive and remitteth to all sinners not only their sin but also eternal pain one for the same yet all men truly penitent contrite and confessed must needs also bring forth the fruits of penance that is to say Prayer Fasting Alms deeds and must make restitution or satisfaction in will and deed to their neighbours in such things as they have done them wrong and injury in and also must doe all other good works of mercy and charity and expresse their obedient will in the executing and fulfilling of Gods commandements outwardly when time power and occasion shall be ministred unto them or else they shall never be saved For this is the expresse precept and commandement of God l l Luke 3. 8. Doe you the worthy fruits of penance And S. Paul saith m m Rom. 6. 19. Like as in times past you have given and applied your selves and all the members of your body to all filthy living and wickednesse continually excreasing the same in like manner now you must give and apply your selves wholly to justice excreasing continuoslly in purity and cleannesse of life And in another place he saith n n 1 Cor. 9. 27. I chastise and subd●e my carnal body and the affections of the same and make them obedient unto the spirit Item That these precepts and works of charity be necessary works to our salvation and God necessarily requireth that every penitent man shall perform the same whensoever time power and occasion shall be ministred unto them so to doe Item That by penance and such good works of the same we shall not onely obtain everlasting life but also we shall deserve remission or mitigation of these present pains and afflictions in this world according to the saying of Saint Paul o o 1 Cor. 11. 31. if we would correct and take punishment of our selves we should not be so grievously corrected of God And Zecharias the Prophet saith p p Zech. 1. 3. Turn your selves unto me and I will turn again unto you And the Prophet Esay saith q q Isa 58. 7 8 9 c. Break and deal thy bread unto the hungry bring into they house the poor man and such as want harbour When thou seest a naked man give him clothes to cover him with and refuse not succour and help the poor and needy for he is thine own flesh And if thou wilt thus doe then shall thy light glister out as bright as the sun in the morning and thy health shall sooner arise unto thee and thy justice shall goe before thy face and the glory of God shall gather thee up that thou shalt not fall And whensoever thou shalt call upon God God shall hear thee and whensoever thou shalt crie unto God God shall say Loe here I am ready to help thee then shall thy light overcome all darknesse and thy darknesse shall be as bright as the sun at noon-daies and then God shall give unto thee continuall rest and shall fulfill thy soul with brightnesse and shall deliver thy body from adversity and then thou shalt be like a garden that most plentifully bringeth forth all kinde of fruits and like the well-spring that never shall want water These things and such other should be continually taught and inculked into the ears of Our people to the intent to stirre and provoke them unto good works and by the self-same good works to exercise and confirm their faith and hope and look for to receive at God's hand mitigation and remission of the miseries calamities and grievous punishments which God sendeth to men in this world for their sins The Sacrament of the Altar Fourthly As touching the Sacrament of the Altar We will that all Bishops Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people committed by Us unto their spiritual charge that they ought and must constantly believe that under the form figure of bread wine which We there presently do see perceive by outwards senses is verily substantially really contained and comprehended the very self-same body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ which was born of the Virgin Mary and suffered upon the Crosse for our redemption And that under the same form and figure of Bread and Wine the very self-same body and blood of Christ is corporally really and in the very substance exhibited distributed and received unto and of all them which receive the said Sacrament And that therefore the said Sacrament is to be used with all due reverence and honour and that every man ought first to prove and examine himself and religiously to trie and search his own conscience before he shall receive the same according to the saying of S. Paul Whosoever eateth r r 1 Cor. 11. 27. this body of Christ unworthily or drinketh of this

blood of Christ unworthily shall be guilty of the very body and blood of Christ Vers 28 c. Wherefore let every man first prove himself and so let him eat of this bread and drink of this drink for whosoever eateth or drinketh it unworthily he eateth and drinketh to his own damnation because he putteth no difference between the very body of Christ and other kindes of meat Justification Fiftly As touching the order and cause of our Justification We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach our people committed by Us to their spiritual charge that this word Justification signifieth remission of our sins and our acceptation or reconciliation into the grace and favour of God that is to say our perfect renovation in Christ Item That sinners attain this justification by contrition and faith joyned with charity after such sort and manner as we before mentioned and declared Not as though our contrition or faith or any works proceeding thereof can worthily merit or deserve to attain the said justification for the onely mercy and grace for the Father promised freely unto us for his Sons sake Jesus Christ and the merits of his blood and passion be the onely sufficient and worthy causes thereof And yet that notwithstanding to the attaining of the same justification God requireth to be in us not onely inward contrition perfect faith and charity certain hope and confidence with all other spiritual graces and motions which as we said before must necessarily concurre in remission of our sins that is to say our justification but also he requireth and commandeth us that after we be justified we must also have good works of charity and obedience towards God in the observing and fulfilling outwardly of his laws and commandements For although acceptation to everlasting life be conjoyned with justification yet our good works be necessarily required to the attaining of everlasting life And we being justified be necessarily bound and it is our necessary duty to doe good works according to the saying of S. Paul s s Rom. 8. 12 c. We be bound not to live according to the flesh and to fleshly appetites for if we live so we shall undoubtedly be damned And contrary if we will mortifie the deeds of our flesh and live according to the spirit we shall be saved For whosoever be led by the spirit of God they be the children of God And Christ saith t t Mat. 19. 17. If you will come to heaven keep the commandements And Saint Paul speaking of evil works saith u u Gal. 5. 21. Whosoever commit sinfull deeds shall never come to heaven Wherefore We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct teach Our people committed by Us unto their spiritual charge that God necessarily requireth of us to doe good works commanded by him and that not onely outward and civil works but also the inward spiritual motions and graces of the Holy Ghost that is to say to dread and fear God to love God to have firm confidence and trust in God to invocate and call upon God to have patience in all adversities to have sin and to have certain purpose and will not to sin again and such other like motions and virtues For Christ saith w w Mat. 5. 20. Except your righteousnesse shall exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the kingdome of heaven that is to say We must not only do outward civil good works but also we must have these foresaid inward spiritual motions consenting and agreeable to the law of God Articles concerning the laudable Ceremonies used in the Church of Christ and first of Images As touching Images truth it is that the same have been used in the Old Testament and also for the great abuses of them sometime destroyed and put down And in the New Testament they have been also allowed as good Authors doe declare Wherefore We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people committed by Us to their spiritual charge how they ought and may use them And first that there be attributed unto them that they be representers of virtue and good example And that they also be by occasion the kindlers and stirrers of mens mindes and make men oft to remember and lament their sins and offences especially the images of Christ and our Lady And that therefore it is meet that they should stand in the Churches and none otherwise to be esteemed And to the intent that rude people should not from henceforth take such superstition as in time past it is thought that the same hath used to doe We will that Our Bishops and Preachers diligently shall teach them and according to this doctrine reform their abuses for else there might fortune idolatry to ensue which God forbid And as for sensing of them and kneeling and offering unto them with other like worshippings although the same hath entered by devotion and falne to custome yet the people ought to be diligently taught that they in no wise doe it nor think it meet to be done to the same images but onely to be done to God and in his honour although it be done before the images whether it be of Christ of the Crosse of our Lady or of any other Saint beside Of honouring of Saints At touching the honouring of Saints We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people committed by Us unto their spiritual charges that Saints now being with Christ in heaven be to be honoured of Christian people in earth but not with that confidence and honour which are onely due unto God trusting to attain at their hands that which must be had onely of God But that they be thus to be honoured because they be known the elect persons of Christ because they be passed in godly life out of this transitory world because they already doe reigne in glory with Christ and most speically to laud and praise Christ in them for their excellent virtues which he planted in them for example of and by them to such as yet are in this world to live in virtue and goodnesse and also not to fear to die for Christ and his cause as some of them did And finally to take them in that they may to be the advancers of our prayers and demands unto Christ By these waies and such like be Saints to be honoured and had in reverence and by none other Of Praying to Saints As touching Praying to Saints We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people committed by Us unto their spiritual charge that albeit grace remission of sin and salvation cannot be obtained but of God onely by the mediation of our Saviour CHRIST which is onely sufficient Mediatour for our sins yet it is very laudable to pray to Saints in heaven everlastingly living whose charity is ever permanent to be Intercxessors and to pray for

antient amongst the Barons to the degree and dignity of Viscounts wherein that it may long flourish in plenty and happinesse is the daily prayer of Your Honours most obliged Servant THOMAS FVLLER THE Church-History OF BRITAIN KING HENRY the eighth Jan. 28. though dying excommunicate in the Church of Rome The hopefull beginning of King Edward had notwithstanding His Obsequies solemnly performed at Paris in France 1546. 7. by the command of Francis the French a Godwin in Edvardo ●exto pag. 158. King presuming so much on His own power and the Pope's patience otherwise such courtesie to His friend might have cost Him a curse to Himself Then began King Edward His Son Ann. Reg. Ed. 6. 1. to reign scarce ten years old Ann. Dom. full of as much worth as the model of His age could hold No pen passeth by Him without praising Him though none praising Him to His full deserts Yea Sanders himself having the stinch of his railing tongue over-sented with the fragrant ointment of this Prince's memory though jeering His for His want of age which was God's pleasure and not King Edward's fault and mocking Him for His Religion the others highest honour alloweth Him in other respects large commendations 2. No sooner was He come to the Crown Peace and prosperity to the Protestants in England but a peaceable dew refreshed Gods inheritance in England formerly patched with persecution and this good Angel struck off the fetters from many Peters in prison preserving those who were appointed to die Onely Thomas Dobbie Fellow of S. Johns in Cambridge committed to the Counter in Bread street and condemned for speaking against the Masse died of a natural death in respect of any publick punishment by Law inflicted on him but whether or no any private impression of violence hastened his end God alone knoweth His speedy death prevented the b Fox Acts Mon. Vol. 2. pag. 655. pardon which the Lord Protectour intended to send him Divine Providence so ordering it that he should touch not enter see not taste behold not reap benefit on earth of this Reformation Other Confessours which had fled beyond sea as John Hooper Miles c Senders de Schis Anglic. lib. 2. pag. 230. Coverdale c. returned with joy into their Countrey and all Protestants which formerly for fear had dissembled their religion now publickly professed the same Of these Archbishop Cranmer was the chiefest who though willingly he had done no ill and privately many good offices for the Protestants yet his cowardly compliance hitherto with Poperie against his conscience cannot not be excused Ann. Dom. 1546-47 serving the times present in his practice Ann Reg. Ed. 6 1. and waiting on a future alteration in his hopes and desires 3. Edward Semaure Commissionners sent into several Counties with Instructions to reform the King's Uncle lately made Lord Protectour Jan. 28. and Duke of Somerset ordered all in Church and State He by the King's power or if you please the King in his protection took speedy order for Reformation of Religion And being loth that the people of the Land should live so long in errour and ignorance till a Parliament should be solemnly summoned which for some Reasons of State could not so quickly be call'd in the mean time by His own Regall power and authority and the advise of His wise and honourable Counsell chose Commissioners and sent them with Instructions into severall parts of the Kingdome for the rooting out of superstition the substance whereof thirty six in number we have here presented The King's Injunctions 1. That all Ecclesiasticall persons observe the Lawes for the abolishing the pretended and usurped power of the Bishop of Rome and confirmation of the Kings authority and supremacie 2. That once a Quarter at least they sincerely declare the Word of God disswading their people from superstitious fancies of Pilgrimages praying to Images c. exhorting them to the works of faith mercy and charitie 3. That Images abused with Pilgrimages and offerings thereunto be forthwith taken down and destroyed and that no more wax-Candles or Tapers be burnt before any Image but onely two lights upon the high Altar before the Sacrament shall remain still to signifie that Christ is the very light of the world 4. That every Holy day when they have no Sermon the Pater noster Credo and Ten Commandements shall be plainly recited in the Pulpit to the Parishioners 5. That Parents and Masters bestow their Children and Servants either to learning or some honest occupation 6. That such who in Cases exprest in the Statute are absent from their Benefices leave learned and expert Curates 7. That within three Months after this Visitation the Bible of the larger volume in English and within twelve Months Erasmus his Paraphrase on the Gospel be provided and conveniently placed in the Church for people to read therein 8. That no Ecclesiasticall persons haunt Ale-houses or Taverns or any place of unlawfull gameing 9. That they examine such who come to confession to them in Lent whether they can recite their Creed Pater noster and ten Commandements in English before they receive the blessed Sacrament of the Altar or else they ought not to presume to come to Gods board 10. That none be admitted to preach except sufficiently licensed 11. That if they have heretofore extolled Pilgrimages Reliques worshipping of Images c. they now openly recant and reprove the same as a common errour groundlesse in Scripture 12. That they detect and present such who are Letters of the Word of God in English and Fautours of the Bishop of Rome his pretended power 13. That a Register-Book be carefully kept in every Parish for Weddings Christnings and Burialls 14. That all Ecclestasticall persons not resident upon their Benefices and able to dispend yearly twenty pounds and above shall in the presence of the Church-Wardens or some other honest men distribute the fourtieth part of their revenues amongst the poor of the Parish 15. That every Ecclesiasticall person shall give competent exhibition to so many Schollers in one of the Universities as he hath hundred pounds a year in Church promotions 16. That the fift part of their Benefices be bestowed on their Mansion-houses or Chancells till they be fully repaired 17. That he readeth these Injunctions once a Quarter 18. That none bound to pay Tithes detain them by colour of Duty omitted by their Curates and so redoub one wrong with another 19. That no person henceforth shall alter any Fasting-day that is commanded or manner of Common Prayer or Divine Service otherwise then specified in these Injunctions untill otherwise ordered by the Kings authority 20. That every Ecclesiasticall person under the degree of Batchelour of Divinity shall within three Months after this Visitation provide of his own the New Testament in Latine and English with Erasmus his Paraphrase thereon And that Bishops by themselves and their Officers shall examine