Christ For it is written As I liue saith the Lord euery knee shall bow to me and euery tongue shall confesse vnto God So then euery one of vs shall giue account of himselfe to God And to the Saints of Corinth he said c 2 Cor. 5.10 11. Wee must all appeare before the iudgement seat of Christ that euery one may receiue the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord wee perswade men And vnto Timothy Saint Paul said d 2. Tim. 4.1 I charge thee before God and the Lord Iesus Christ who shall iudge the quicke and the dead at his appearing and his kingdome c. Himselfe hath also said The Sonne of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels and then shall he e Mat. 16.27 reward euery man according to his workes Againe f Mat. 25.31 32.33.40 When the Sonne of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall hee sit vpon the throne of his glory And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepheard diuideth the Sheepe from the Goates and he shall set the Sheepe on his right hand but the Goates on the left c. And these shall goe away into euerlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternall Saint Paul saith to the Thessalonians g 2 Thâ— 1.7.8.9 The Lord Iesus shall be reuealed from heauen with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ who shall be punished with euerlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Wherefore sayth Saint Peter h 1 Pet. 1.17 If yee call on the Father who without respect of persons iudgeth according to euery mans worke passe the time of your soiourning here with feare And sayth the Apostle to the Hebrewes i Heb. 1228.29 wherefore we receiuing a kingdome which cannot bee moued let vs haue grace whereby we may serue God acceptably with reuerence and godly feare For our God is a consuming fire The which Apostle also sayd k Heb. 10.30.31 The Lord shall iudge his people And it is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God CHAP. 32. Of the Church of Christ IN the Nicene Creed we are taught to beleeue and confesse one Catholicke and Apostolike Church In the second part of the * Tom. 2. p. 213 Homily for Whitsunday the Church of Christ is thus described The true Church is an vniuersall congregation or fellowship of Gods faithfull and elect people l Eph. 2.20 built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe being the head corner stone And it hath alwayes three notes or markes whereby it is knowne Pure and sound doctrine The Sacraments ministred according to Christs holy institution and the right vse of Ecclesiasticall discipline This description of the Church is agreeable both to the Scriptures of God and also to the doctrine of the ancient Fathers so that none may iustly finde fault therewith Saint Paul sayth to the Romanes concerning the mysticall vnion of the Church m Rom. 12.4 5. As we haue many members in one body and all members haue not the same office so we being many are one body in Christ and euery one members one of another And to the Corinthians he sayth n 1. Cor. 12.12 As the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ That they are faithfull people or true beleeuers in Iesus Christ it appeareth in that they are called the o Gal 6.10 houshold of faith Also they are faithfull vnto God as it may appeare out of Saint Pauls words to the Ephesians saying Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ by the will of God to the Saints which are at Ephesus and to the p Eph. 1.1 faithfull in Iesus Christ Likewise to the Collossians hee sayth To the Saints and q Col. 1.2 faithfull brethren in Christ which are at Colosse They are also faithfull each to other and faithfull towards all people as it is sayd vnto seruants concerning maisters Let them not despise them because they are brethren but rather doe them seruice because they are r 1. Tim 6.2 faithfull c. Siluanus a member of the Church of Christ is sayd to be a Å¿ 1. Pet. 5.12 faithfull brother vnto those to whom Saint Peter wrote So Saint Iohn testified of Gaius saying Beloued thou doest t 3. Iohn 5. faithfully whatsoeuer thou doest to the brethren and vnto straungers So Saint Peter shewing the dealing of the true members of Christ and how they to whom he wrote were to behaue themselues among the vnbeleeuers sayth u 1. Pet. 2.12 Hauing your conuersation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speake against you as euill doers they may by your good workes which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation So Saint Paul to the Thessalonians prescribeth w 1 Thes 5.15 Euer follow that which is good both among your selues and to all men They are also elected of God as Saint Peter sayth x â— Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirite vnto obedience and sprinkling of the bloud of Iesus Christ Likewise Saint Paul to the Thessalonians signifieth saying y 2 Thes 2.13 God hath from the beginning chosen you to saluation through sanctification of the Spirit and beleefe of the truth And to the Ephesians he sayth z Eph. 1.4 He hath chosen vs in him from before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue The Church also professeth pure and sound doctrine as Christ signifieth saying a Ioh. 10.27 My sheepe heare my voyce and I know them and they follow me Againe b Ioh. 8.47 He that is of God heareth Gods word Saint Iohn sayth c 1 Ioh. 4.6 He that knoweth God heareth vs. Saint Luke recordeth of the Christians d Acts 2.42 That they continued stedfast in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers St. Paul sayth to Timothy e 1 Tim 3 15. That the house of God which is the Church of the liuing God is the pillar and ground of the truth Moreouer the Church of Christ hath the Sacraments ministred according to his holy institution as the Church of Corinth receiued f 1 Cor. 1.14.16 Baptisme and celebrated the g 1 Cor. 11.2.20 Lords Supper In the Acts of the Apostles it is sundry times mentioned that when any beleeued they were h Acts 8.12 Baptized Also it is recorded that the Disciples or Baptized ones j came together to
be b Ps 25.12 13 Isa 50.10 left without helpe For either God Almighty will c Acts 8.29 send him some godly Doctour to teach him as he did to instruct the Eunuch or else if wee lacke a learned man to instruct and teach us yet God himselfe from above will give d 2 Sam. 22.29 See the Collect for the third Sunday after Easter light unto our mindes and teach us those things which are necessary for us and wherein we bee ignorant And in another place Chrysostome saith That mans humane and e 1 Cor. 1.19 20 21. Rom. 1.22 Col. 2.8 1 Cor. 2.14 3.19 20. worldly wisdome or science needeth not to the understanding of Scripture but the f Mat. 11.27 Ioh. 14 26. 16.13 revelation of the holy Ghost who inspireth the true meaning unto them that with humility and diligence doe search therefore c. In the second part of the * T. 2 p. 149 150. Homily an information concerning certaine places of Scripture It is said If ye will be profitable hearers and readers of the holy Scriptures yee must first g Mat. 16.24 1 Cor. 4.18 deny your selves and keepe under your h 1 Cor. 2.14 Isay 55.7.8 Rom. 8.5 6 7. carnall senses taken by the outward words and search the inward meaning i Rom. 4.18 19 20 21 22. reason must give place to Gods holy Spirit you must submit your worldly wisedome and judgement unto his diuine wisedome and judgement Consider that the Scripture in what strange forme soeuer it be pronounced is the word of the living God It cannot therefore bee but k Tit. 1.2 Pro. 8.6 7 8 9. truth which proceedeth from the God of all truth it cannot be but wisely and prudently commanded what Almighty God hath devised how vainly soever through want of grace we miserable wretches doe imagine and judge of his most holy Word In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 231. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said l Wisd 7.14 Wisedome is an infinite treasure unto men which who so use become partakers of the love of God I might with many words move some of this audience to search for this wisedome to sequester their reason to follow Gods Commandement to cast from them the wits of their braines to savour this wisedome to renounce the wisedome and policy of this fond world to taste and savour that whereunto the favour and will of God hath called them and willeth us finally to enjoy by his favour if we m Prov. 1.33 2.1 2 3 4 5. 8.34 35. would give eare The elect as they can search n Iob 28.12.20.23.28 where to finde this wisedome and know of whom to o Iam. 1.5 Ephes 17. aske it So know they againe that in time it is found and can therefore attemper themselves to the occasion of the time to suffer no time to p Eph. 5.15 16 17. Prov. 14.23 passe away wherein they may labour for this q Ecclus. 51.30 See all c. Ecclus. 24. wisedome And to encrease therein they know how God of his infinite mercy and lenitie giveth all men here time and place of r Rom. 2.4 Rev. 2.21 repentance The naturall man saith Saint Paul receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither Å¿ 1 Cor. 2.14 can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Wherefore the Lord Christ said verily verily except a man be borne againe he t Iohn 3.3 cannot see the kingdome of God The Prophet David saith u Psal 25.12 13 14.9 What man is hee that feareth the Lord him will hee teach the way that he shall choose His soule shall dwell at ease and his seed shall inherite the earth The secret of the Lord is with them that feare him and he will shew them his covenant The meeke will hee guide in judgement and the meeke will hee teach his way Saint Paul also saith Let no man deceive himselfe If any man among you seemeth to bee wise in this world let him become a w 1 Cor. 3.18 19 20. foole that hee may bee wise For the wisedome of this world is foolishnes with God We are to beleeve that every word syllable and x Mat. 5.18 Gal. 3.16 1 Cor. 15.27 Heb. 2.8 letter of the holy Scriptures is truth though the matter be farre y Rom 4.18.20 21 22. See in Homily in T. 2. p. 149. aboue our comprehension or * Some words are to bee understood not naturally but spiritually as in Rev. 11.8 and some figuratively as John 15.8 Luke 22.20 Psalme 6.6 Matth. 3.5 namely when as the naturall or proper sense of them cannot stand consonant either with the context or with other Scriptures The letter is to be retained alwaies in every understanding for let any jot or title passe and where is the Scripture then understanding The Lord saith Till heaven and earth passe one z Mat. 5.18 jot or one title shall in no wise passe from the Law till all be fulfilled The Scripture cannot be a Iohn 10.35 broken Yee shall not b Deut. 4.2 adde unto the word which I command you neither shall ye diminish ought from it that yee may keepe the commandements of the Lord your God which I command you c Pro. 30.6 Adde not thou unto his words lest he reproue thee and thou be found a lier Saint Peter saith that in Saint Pauls Epistles are some things d 2 Pet. 3.16 hard to bee understood which they that are unlearned and unstable doe wrest as they doe also the other Scriptures unto their owne destruction Againe the Lord Christ saith If ye e Iohn 8.31.32 continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed And ye shall c know the truth and the truth shall make you free Againe hee said unto the Iewes If any man will doe the f Iohn 7.17 will of God my Father he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speake of my selfe Saint Iames saith If any want wisedome let him g Iames 1.5 aske of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be giuen him Christ saith your heauenly Father will h Luke 11.13 give the holy Spirit to them that aske him and which also i Acts 5.32 obey him which holy Spirit teacheth k 2. Pet. 1.3 all things that pertaine unto life and godlines and l Iohn 16.13 Psal 25.5 leadeth the obedient into all truth unto m Eph. 4.3 Ioh. 17.21 221 unity n Iam. 3.17.18 Gal. 5.22 23. peace and o Act. 1.14 Act. 2.46 and 4.32 Col. 2.2.5 1 Cor. 1.10 Phil. 2.2 concord Solomon most memorably saith p Prov. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. My sonne if thou wilt receive my words and hide my Commandements with thee so that thou encline thine eare unto wisedome and apply
the sword of punishment in their hands or have families under their governance to labour for to redresse this great enormity of all such as live x 2. Th. 3.10.11 Ecclus. 33.24 25 26 27 28 29. idlely and unprofitably in the Common weale to the great dishonour of God and the grievous plague of his seely people To leave sinne unpunished and to neglect the good bringing up of youth is nothing else but to kindle the Lords wrath against us and to heape plagues upon our owne heads As long as the adulterous people were suffered to live licenciously without reformation so long did the plague continue and increase in Israel as ye may see in the booke of Numbers But when due correction was done upon them the Lords anger was straight-way pacified and the plague y Num. 25.3 c. Psal 106.30 ceased All Masters are to remember the example of Abraham written for their learning of whom the Lord testified saying I know him that he will command his children and his z Gen. 18.19 houshold after him and they shall keepe the way of the Lord to doe justice and judgement that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him Saint Paul saith to the Colossians Masters a Col. 4.1 give unto your servants that which is just and equall knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven And to the Ephesians he saith b Ephes 6.9 Forbeare yee threatning Iesus the sonne of Syrach saith Whereas thy servant worketh truly c Ecclus. 33.30 31. entreat him not evill nor the hireling that bestoweth himselfe wholy for thee Let thy soule love a good servant and defraud him not of liberty Many are the good counsailes for masters towards their servants in the book of Ecclesiasticus and throughout the whole Bible which they may observe as they reade through all the same Of Servants duties towards their Masters and Dames Concerning servants duties towards their masters and dames and other their duty besides it is said in the * T. 2. p. 253 254. Homily against Idlenesse Here ought artificers and labouring men who be at wages for their worke and labour to consider their conscience to God and their dutie to their neighbours lest they abuse their time in idlenesse so defrauding them which bee at charge both with great wages and deare commons They bee worse then idle men indeed for that they seeke to have wages for their loytering It is lesse danger to God to be idle for no gaine than by idlenesse to win out of their neighbours purses wages for that which is not deserved It is true that Almighty God is angry with such as do defraud the hired man of his d Iam. 5.4 Ier. 22.13 wages the cry of that injury ascendeth up to Gods eare for vengeance And as true it is that the hired man who useth e Tit. 2.9.10 deceit in his labour is a theefe before God Let no man saith Saint Paul to the Thessalonians subtilly f 1 Thes 4.6 beguile his brother let him not defraud him in his businesse for the Lord is a revenger of such deceits And afterward the sacred * p. 254. Homily saith Here might be charged the Serving-men of this Realme who g Eph. 5 15 16 17. spend their time in much idlenesse of life nothing regarding the opportunity of their time forgetting how service is no heritage how age will creepe upon them Where wisedome were they should expend their idle time in some good h Pro. 14.23 businesse whereby they might increase in knowledge and so the more worthy to bee ready for every mans service It is a great rebuke to them that they studie not either to write faire to keepe a booke of account to study the i 1 Cor. 14.1 5. tongues and so to get wisdome and knowledge in such bookes and workes as be now plentifully set out in print of all manner of Languages Sundry times doth the Holy Ghost by the Apostles deliver commandements unto servants concerning their duties Saint Paul saith to the Ephesians k Ephes 6.5.6 7 8. Servants be obedient unto them that are your masters according the flesh with feare and trembling in singlenesse of your heart as unto Christ Not with eye-service as men-pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart With good will doing service as to the Lord and not to men knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall hee receive of the Lord Col. 3.22 whether he be bond or free To the Colossians he saith l Servants obey in all things your Masters according to the flesh Vnto Timothy hee saith Let as many m 1 Tim. 6.1 2. servants as are under the yoke count their owne masters worthy of all honour that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed Vnto Titus he saith Exhort n Tit. 2.9 10. servants to bee obedient unto their owne Masters and to please them well in all things not answering againe not purloyning but shewing all good fidelity that they may adorne the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things And Saint Peter saith o 1 Pet. 2.18 19.20 Servants be subject to your masters with all feare not onely to the good and gentle but also to the froward For this is thanke-worthy if a man for conscience toward God endure griefe suffering wrongfully For what glory is it if when yee bee buffetted for your faults ye shall take it patiently but if when ye doe well and suffer for it yee take it patiently this is acceptable with God CHAP. 83. Of the foure principall Vertues IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 31. Homily concerning good Workes it is said There is one worke in the which be all good workes that is Faith which p Gal. 5.6 worketh by charity If thou have it thou hast the ground of all good workes For the vertues of strength wisedome temperance and justice be all referred unto this same faith It is written in the booke of the Wisdome of Solomon q Wised 8.7 If a man love righteousnesse Wisedomes labors are vertues for she teacheth temperance and prudence justice and fortitude which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in their life And these foure Vertues are by some called the principall Vertues because they are fountaines of others and foure maine matters wherein the due administration of mans affaires doth consist Of Prudence And to begin with r Prov. 1.2 3. and 8.11.15 16 2 Chro. 2.12 Prudence first It is observed to be a vertue which according to the rule of honesty prescribeth unto man what is to be sought after and what is to be shunned Hereunto Christ exhorted his disciples saying Behold I send you forth as sheepe in the middest of Wolves bee ye therefore Å¿ Mat. 10.16 wise as Serpents and harmles as Doves Saint Paul
depth of Hell CHAP. 95. Of sundry other sinnes Of Slandering IN the second part of the * 7.1 p. 95. Homily against ConteÌ„tion it is said He that is ready to speak evill against other men first let him examine himselfe whether hee be faultlesse and cleare of the e Rom. 2.1 3.21 22 23. fault which he findeth in another For it is a shame when hee that blameth another for any fault is guilty himselfe either in the same fault or in a greater It is a shame for him that is blinde to call another man blind and it is more shame for him that is whole blinde to call him blinkard that is but purblinde For this is to see a f Mat. 7.1 2 3 4 5. straw in another mans eye when a man hath a blocke in his owne eye In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 203. Homily coÌ„cerning the Sacrament it is most truely most necessarily coÌ„plained O wretched creatures that we be at these dayes who be g 1 Iohn 2.11 without reconciliation of our brethren whom wee have offended c. h Iam. 4.11 Without any conscience of slander disdaine misreport division rancor or inward bitternesse It is even a wonder to consider unto what a licentiousnesse of slanderous speech very many of men women and children are come unto in these times they respect neither civill Superioritie nor the Clergy nor the Nobilitie Yea there are some which regard not how i 1 Pet. 2.17 Eccles. 10.23 unbeseemingly they speake of the Royall Majesty It may now be most truly said The very Devill of Hell is k Rev. 20.3 7. let loose in many peoples mouthes Such might consider the saying of the Holy Ghost by Saint Iames If any one seeme religious and l Iam. 1.26 bridleth not his tongue his religion is vaine God accepteth not his religion Saint Paul saith Bee not deceived the m 1 Cor. 6.10 revilers shall not inherit the Kingdome of God The Lord Iesus saith O generation of vipers how can ye being evill n Mat. 12.34 35 36 37 speake good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evill man out of the evill treasure bringeth forth evill things But I say unto you that every idle word much more every detracting and slanderous word that men shall speake they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement For by thy words thou shalt bee justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned David in the 15. Psalme asking who should bee saved answereth from Gods Spirit Hee that o Ps 15.3 backbiteth not with his tongue nor doth evill to his neighbour nor taketh up or * As in the Mâ—rgent receiveth or endureth a reproach against his neighbour Such as are prone unto evill speaking should often reade through the Epistle of Saint Iames also the whole Homily against strife and contention Moreover they should bee much conversant in Solomons Proverbs in Ecclesiastes in the Booke intituled The Wisedome of Solomon and in the Booke Ecclesiasticus Of Vnjustnesse IN the fourth part of the * T. 2. p. 236. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said Love equitie and righteousnesse ensue mercy and charity which God most p Micah 6.8 Mat. 23.23 Ier. 9.24 requireth at our hands And a little afore it is amply discoursed against unjustnesse saying God is the God of all equity and righteousnesse and therefore forbiddeth all deceit and subtilty in his Law by these words ye shall not deale q Leu. 19.35 36 unjustly in judgement in line in weight or measure Yee shall have just ballances true weights and true measures r Prov. 11.1 False ballances saith Solomon are an abomination to the Lord. Remember what Saint Paul saith God is the Å¿ 1 Thes 4.6 revenger of all wrong and injustice as we see by daily experience how ever it thriveth ungratiously which is gotten by falshood and craft Saint Paul saith Know yee not that the t 1 Cor. 6.9 10 unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God The Lord saith to all that are in Authority Yee shall doe no unrighteousnesse thou shalt not respect the person of the poore nor honour the person of the mighty but in u Leu. 19.15 righteousnesse shalt thou judge thy neighbour One envouring faithfully to make the rule which Christ gave the rule of all actions shall walke in much justnesse viz. w Luke 6.31 As ye would that men should doe to you doe ye also to them likewise Of Vncharitablenesse IN the Sacred Letany we are taught to pray From all uncharitablenesse good Lord deliver us In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 132. Homily of the place and time of Prayer it is said Consider that all thy doings x 1 Cor. 13.2 3. Isa 1.13 15 16 17 18. and Isa 65.2 3 4 5 6 66.3 4. Prov. 15.8 and 21.27 stinke before the face of God if thou bee not in charity with thy neighbour Saint Paul saith Let all your things be done with y 1 Cor. 16.14 charity Isaiah saith The meeke shall increase their joy in the Lord and the poore among men shall rejoyce in the holy one of Israel For the terrible one is brought to nought and the scorner is consumed and all that watch for iniquity are cut off That make a man an z Isa 29.19 20 21. offender for a word and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate and turne aside the just for a thing of nought Of Vncomelinesse IN the * T. 2. p. 106. Homily against excesse of Apparell it is said Let us take unto us simplicity chastity and comelinesse submitting our neckes to the sweet yoke of Christ Saint Paul saith to the Ephesians But fornication and all uncleannes or covetousnesse let it not bee once named among you as becommeth Saints neither a Eph. 5.3 4 5 6 7. filthinesse nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks Let no b Eph. 4.29 corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers Let all things bee done c 1 Cor. 14.40 decently and in order As uncomely words and actions are sinne so for a man or woman to goe uncomely in their apparell or to be of any uncomely behaviour is a sinne also for the Gospell commandeth That whatsoever things are d Phil. 4.8 lovely or of good report if there bee any vertue and if there be any praise thinke on these things and doe them Of contempt of Gods Word IN the Letany we pray From contempt of thy Word and Commandement good Lord deliver us In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 53. Homily of falling from God it is said All they that may
came to passe in some measure when as the Sacrament of circumcision according to Gods ordinance was receiued But now the grace is receiued in Baptisme and in the circumcision of the heart CHAP. 16. Of the calling of Moses IN the second part of the * T. 1. p. 33. Homily of good workes it is sayd Euer since the fall of Adam all that came of him haue beene so blinded through Originall sinne that they haue beene euer ready to fall from God and his Law and to inuent a new way vnto saluation by Workes of their owne deuising Insomuch that almost all the World forsaking the true honour of the onely eternall liuing God wandred about their owne fantasies Worshipping some the Sunne the Moone c. Such was the rudenesse of the people after they fell to their owne fantasies and left the eternall liuing God and his Commandements that they deuised innumerable images and Gods In which errour and blindnesse they did remaine vntill such time as Almighty God pittying the blindnesse of man sent his true Prophet Moses into the World for to reprooue and to rebuke this extreame madnesse and to teach the people to know the onely liuing God and his true honour and worship o 1 Iohn 3.11.12 Caine is mentioned the first man after Adam that brought foorth the fruites of the fall in that he fell from the loue which by the Law of nature hee owed vnto his Brother and hated him and slew him Caines posterity shewed a degenerated nature namely p Genesis 4.23 Lamech in taking two Wiues Whereas as Christ sayth From q Math. 19.8 the beginning it was not so For in the beginning it was sayd r Genesis 2.24 A man shall leaue Father and Mother and shall cleaue to his Wife and they twaine shall be one flesh Lamech also further manifested his corrupted nature saying I haue Å¿ Genesis 4.24 slayne a man in my Wounding and a young man to my hurt Great was the departure from Gods euerlasting Law vntill the dayes of Enos And t Genesis 4.26 then sayth the Text beganne men to call vpon the name of the Lord. Afterward Enoch the u Iude 14.15 seuenth from Adam prophecied saying Behold the Lord commeth with ten thousands of his Saints to execute iudgement vppon all and to conuince all that are vngodly among them of all their vngodly deedes which they haue vngodly committed and of all their hard speeches which vngodly sinners haue spoken against him But in the dayes of Noah iniquity agayne more exceedingly abounded though hee was a w 2 Pet. 2.5 Preacher of righteousnesse among the people And God brought in the Flood vpon the World of the Vngodly After the Flood the consideration whereof one might thinke would haue terrified mankinde from committing wickednesse people being multiplied especially the x Gene. 10.10 posterity of Ham fel to euill working againe to the building of a City and Tower whose y Gene. 11.4 top might reach vnto Heauen and to make themselues a name c. Yea not only the posterity of Ham but many also of the posterity of Shem degenerated so farre as that they serued z Ios 24.2 other Gods And as Achtor in the Booke of Iudith sayd Abraham with his would not follow the a Iudith 5.7 Gods of their Fathers which were in the Land of Chaldea but left the way of their Ancestours and worshipped the God of Heauen the God whom they knew In the dayes of Abraham there was in the World Gods Priest-hood after the order of b Genesis 14 18 Melchizedec whereof among the most there was little or no vse made but blindnesse of vnderstanding and iniquity of life most preuailed vntill that God raysed vp Moses as the Homily sayth who was c Heb. 3.5 faithfull in all Gods house who also witnessed against the abominations of the world and taught Gods d Ecclus 1.5 euerlasting Law with Gods Statutes e Deut 4.1 and iudgments CHAP. 17. Of the Passeouer IN the first part of the * T. 2 p. 197. Homily concerning receiuing the Sacrament it is sayd Of old time God decreed his wonderous benefits of the deliuerance of his people to be kept in memory by the eating of the Passeouer with his rites and Ceremonies In the second part of the * Page 202. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is sayd That newnesse of life as fruits of Faith is required in the partakers of the Lords table wee may learne by eating of the Typicall Lambe whereunto no man was admitted but hee that was a Iew that was circumcised that was before sanctified And in the * To. 2. p. 196. Transitus noster id est Phase ita eâ—lebratur siterrena et AegiptuÌ„ dimittenteâ— ad Coelestia festmemus Hieronimus in cap. 26. Math. Homily of the Resurrection it is sayd Christ our Easter Lambe is offered vp for vs to slay the power of sinne to deliuer vs from the danger thereof and to giue vs exampleÌ„ to dye vnto sinne in our liues And let vs passe ouer the affections of our old conuersation that wee may be deliuered from the bondage thereof and rise vp with Christ Moses from the Lord sayd vnto the people of Israel And f Exo. 12.26.27 it shall come to passe when your Children shall say vnto you what meane you by this seruice That yee shall say it is the sacrifice of the Lords Passeouer who passed ouer the houses of the Children of Israel in Egypt when hee smote the Egyptions and deliuered our houses Also sayth Moses g Exod. 12.48 when a stranger shall soiourne with thee and will keepe the Passeouer vnto the Lord let all his Males bee Circumcised and then let him come neere and keepe it And he shall be as one that is borne in the Land for no vncircumcised person shall eate thereof And concerning the Spirituall signification of the Passeouer it is manifest out of Saint Paules Words where he sayth h 1 Cor. 5.7.8 Purge out the old Leauen that yee may be a new Lumpe as yee are vnleauened for euen Christ our Passeouer is sacrificed for vs. Therefore let vs keepe the Feast not with olde Leauen neyther with the Leauen of malice and wickednesse but with the vnleauened bread of sincerity and truth The Passeouer was the second Sacrament celebrated in the Church of the Iewes the i Deut. 14.2 peculiar people of God in those times CHAP. 18. Of the Law giuen by Moses IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 275. Homily against Disobedience and wilfull Rebellion it is sayd As God the Creatour and Lord of all things appoynted his Angels and Heauenly Creatures in all obedience to serue and to honour his Maiesty So was it his will that man his chiefe Creature vpon the earth should liue vnder the obedience of his Creatour and Lord. And for that cause God as soone as hee had Created man gaue vnto him
high Priest vnto God his Father to make intercession for them also a Prophet to his people or a declarer vnto them of his Fathers will and is the m Reuel 15.3 King of Saints or administreth the kingome of n Rom. 5.21 grace vnto and within his people Whereas also he is the appointed o Heb. 1.2 heire of all things and all things were created p Col. 1.16.17.18 by him and for him Also he is before all things and by him all things consist And he is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first borne from the dead that in all things he may haue the preheminence and no good thing commeth from God the Father vnto the Church on earth but through the q Acts 4.12 Iohn 20 31. Iohn 15.16 Name and for the r Dan. 9.17 sake of Iesus Christ Therefore the Church concludeth euen euerie of her prayers with these or the like wordes Through Iesus Christ for the honor of our Aduocate and Mediatour Iesus Christ Through the merits of thy onely Sonne c. For conclusion therefore of the mediatorie workes of Iesus Christ let S. Pauls words to the Saints that were at Rome be here for our meditation Å¿ Rom 5.8.9.10.11 God commendeth his loue towards vs in that whiles we were yet sinners Christ died for vs. Much more then being now iustified by his bloud we shall bee saued from wrath through him For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled we shall be saued by his life And not onely so but we also ioy in God through our Lord Iesus Christ by whom wee haue now receiued the attonement Let vs therefore saith the Church in the second part of the * Tom. 1. p. 82. Homily against Adultery consider first the glory of Christ then our estate our dignity and freedome wherein God hath set vs by giuing vs his Holy Spirit and let vs valiantly defend the same against Sathan and all his crafty assaults that Christ may bee honoured and that we loose not our liberty or freedome but still remaine in * 1 Cor. 6.17 Eph. 4.3.4 one Spirit with him CHAP. 31. Of Christs iudging Mankind IT is sayd in the Athanasian Creed Iesus Christ shall come from the right hand of the Father God Almighty for to iudge the quicke and the dead At whose comming all men shall rise againe with their bodies and shall giue account for their owne workes And they that haue done good shall goe into life euerlasting and they that haue done euill into euerlasting fire So the Church sayth in Saynt Ambrose Song We beleeue that thou shalt come to be our Iudge In the Seruice for the buriall of the dead it is sayd Thou most worthy Iudge Eternall In the exhortation for the visitation of the sicke it is sayd Forasmuch as after this life there is an account to be giuen vnto the righteous Iudge of whom all must be iudged without respect of persons I require you to examine your selfe and your state both toward God and man so that accusing and condemning your selfe for your owne faults you may find mercy at our heauenly Fathers hand for Christs sake and not bee accused and condemned in that fearefull Iudgement In the * It is set in the beginning of the Psalmes in Meeter in the booke of Common Prayer in Folio Athanasian Treatise concerning the vse and vertue of the Psalmes it is sayd The Psalmes informe and teach euery man with diuerse instructions whereby he may not onely espie the affections and state of his soule and winne a good patterne and discipline how hee may please God but also with what forme of wordes he may amend himselfe and how to giue God due thankes least if he should speake otherwise than were conuenient he should fall into impiety by his vnreuerent estimation of God For we must all make an account to the Iudge as well of our t Math. 12.36 idle words as of our euill deedes In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 273. Homily of Repentance it is sayd Verily when the highest Sumner of all which is death shall come he will not be sayd nay but we must forthwith be packing to be present before the Iudgement Seate of God as he doth finde vs according as it is written u Eccles 11.3 Where as the tree falleth whether it be toward the South or toward the North there it shall lye Whereunto agreeth the saying of the holy Martyr of God Saint Cyprian saying As God doth finde thee when he doth call so doth he iudge thee In the second part of the * T. 1. p. 63. Homily against the feare of death it is said That Iesus Christ shall be openly shewed to be iudge of all the world In the * T. 2. p. 109. Homily against excesse of apparrell it is said Vnto God we shall render accounts for all his benefits at the glorious appearing of our Sauiour Christ In the third part of the * To. 2. p. 123. Homily concerning prayer it is said Wee must take heede that wee call vpon this aduocate Christ whiles we haue space giuen vs in this life least when we are once dead there be no hope of saluation left vnto vs. For as euery man sleepeth with his owne cause so euery man shall w Rom. 14.12 rise againe with his owne cause And looke in what state he dyeth in the same state he shall also be iudged whether it be to saluation or damnation In the third part of the * Tom. 2. p. 229. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said By Christ hath almighty God decreed to dissolue the world to call all before him to iudge both the quicke and the dead and finally by x Mat. 25.34.41 him shall he condemne the wicked to eternall fire in hell and giue the good eternall life and set them assuredly in presence with him in heauen for euermore And in the first part of the * Tom. 1. p. 3. Homily which is an Exhortation to the reading and knowledge of holy Scripture it is said By this word of God we shall be iudged For the word that I speake saith Christ is it that shall y Ioh. 12.48 iudge in the last day Iesus Christ himselfe hath also said The z Ioh. 5.22 23 27. Father iudgeth no man but hath committed all iudgement vnto the Sonne that all men should honour the Sonne euen as they honour the Father And hee hath giuen him authority to execute iudgement because he is the Sonne of man Saint Peter saith a Acts 10 4â— God hath commanded vs to preach vnto the people and to testifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the iudge of quicke and dead Saint Paul saith to the Romans Wee shall all stand before the b Rom. 14.10 11 12. iudgement seat of
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
is said While wee have time as Saint Paul exhorteth let us doe good unto y Gal. 6.10 all men and not z Mat 6.19 lay up our treasures in earth where rust and mothes corrupt it which rust as Saint Iames saith shall beare a Iam. 5.3 witnesse against us at the great day condemne us and shall like most burning fire torment our flesh Let us beware therefore as we tender our owne wealth that we be not in the number of those miserable covetous and wretched men which Saint Iames biddeth b Iam. 5.1 mourne and lament for their greedy gathering and ungodly keeping of goods Let us be wise in time and learne to follow the wise c Luke 16.8 example of the wicked Steward Let us study daily and diligently to shew our selves to be the true honourers and lovers of God by d Ioh. 14.15.21.23.24 keeping of his Commandements by doing of e 1 Thes 5.15 good deeds unto our needy neighbours f Rom. 12.13 Relieving by all meanes that we can their poverty with our abundance and plenty their g 1 Pet. 4.10 Iam. 5.19.20 Isa 30.4 Ignorance with our wisedome and learning and h 1 Thes 5.14 Isa 1.17 comfort their weakenesse with our strength and authority calling all men backe from evill doing by i Lev. 19.17 godly counsell and good k Phil. 2.15.16 Mat. 5.16 1 Tim. 4.12 example l Gal. 6.9 Rev. 2.10 persevering still in well doing so long as we live In the fourth part of the * T. 2. p. 237. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said Love equitie and m Prov. 15.9 Ier. 8.24 Wis 1.1 Micah 6.8 Mat. 23.23 righteousnesse ensue mercie and charity which God most n Lev. 19.9.10 Lev. 23.22 Dout. 24.19.20.21.22 requireth at our hands Which Almighty God respecting chiefly in making his Civill Lawes for his people the Israelites in charging the owners not to gather up their Corne too nigh at harvest season nor the Grapes and Olives in gathering time but to leave behind some eares of Corne for the n Lev. 19.9.10 Lev. 23.22 Dout. 24.19.20.21.22 poore Gleaners By this hee meant to induce them to pitty the Poore to relieve the needy to shew mercie and kindnesse It cannot bee o Prov. 19.17 lost which for his sake is distributed to the Poore For hee which p 2 Cor. 9.10 ministreth seed to the sower and bread to the hungry which sendeth downe the early and latter q Iam. 5.7 raine upon your fields so to r Prov. 3.10 fill up the Barnes with Corne and the Wine-presses with Wine and Oyle he I say who ſ Luk. 14.13.14 recompenceth all kinde of benefits in the resurrection of the just he will assuredly recompence t Mat. 10.42 all mercifull deeds shewed to the needy howsoever unable the poore is upon whom it is bestowed Iesus Christ said to the Pharises But rather give u Luke 11.41 Almes of such things as you have And behold all things are cleane unto you The Prophet Daniel said unto Nebuchadnezzar Breake off thy sinnes by righteousnesse and thine iniquities by w Dan. 4.27 shewing mercy to the poore if it may be a lengthning of thy tranquillity The Church hath gathered most memorable sentences out of the Scripture concerning Almes-giving and inserted them betweene the Nicene Creed the prayer for the whole estate of Christs Church Militant here on earth and in the rubricke immediately following it addeth Thē shall the Church-wardens or some other by them appointed gather the devotion of the people and put the same into the Poore mans Boxe c. Where Almes-giving is said to bee devotion because it is a maine duty in the Christian Religion as S. Iames saith Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this To x Iam. 1.27 visit the Fatherlesse and Widows in their affliction and to keepe ones selfe unspotted from the world The praise of Cornelius is That he was a devout man and one that feared God with all his house which gave much y Acts. 10.24 Almes to the people and prayed to God alway The praise of Dorcas is that shee was full of good workes and z Acts 9.36 Almes deeds which shee did Cast thy a Eccles. 11.12 bread saith Salomon upon the waters For after many dayes thou shalt finde it A good man saith David hath dispersed hee hath given to the poore his righteousnesse endureth for ever Saint Iohn saith c 1 Ioh. 3 17. Whoso hath this worlds good and seeth his brother hath need shutteth up his bowles of compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him Tobias saith Give d Tob. 4.7.8 c. Almes of thy substance and when thou givest Almes let not thine eyes be envious neither turne thy face from any poore and the face of God shall not be turned away from thee If thou hast abundance give Almes accordingly if thou have but a little bee not afraid to give according to that little c. For the farthing which the poore widdow gave was greatly e Mark 12.42.43.44 accepted as testifieth Iesus Christ the truth eternall Let every true Christian diligently often reade through the whole Homily of Almes-deeds CHAP. 77. Of Fasting IN the first part of the * T. 2 p 81. Homily of Fasting it is said The life which we live in this world is of the free benefit of God f Rev. 2 2◠2 Cor. 5.15 lent us yet not to use it at our pleasure after our owne fleshly will but to trade over the same in those workes which are beseeming them that are become g 2 Cor. 5.17 new creatures in Christ And * P. 82. There are two sorts so Fasting afterward it is said Fasting which is found in the Scriptures is of two sorts The one outward pertaining to the body the other inward in the heart and minde This outward Fast is an abstinence from meate drinke and all naturall b Ps 112.6 2 Cor. 9.9 food yea from all delitious h Isa 58.3 pleasures and * Leu. 23.29 delectations worldly When this outward Fast pertaineth to one particular man or to a few and not the whole number of the people for causes which hereafter shall be declared then it is called a private Fast But when the whole multitude of men women and children in a towne-ship City yea though a whole country do fast it is called a publike Fast Such was that Fast which the whole Multitude of the children of Israel were cōmanded to keep the i Leu. 23.27.28.29.30.31.32 tenth day of the seventh moneth because Almighty God appointed that day to be a cleansing day a day of atonement a time of reconciliation a day wherein people were cleansed from their sinnes The order and manner how it was done is written in 16. and 23 Chapters of Leviticus That day the people did lament
to afflict his soule is it to bow downe his head as a Bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him wilt thou call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord Is not this the fast that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickednesse to undoe the heavie burdens and to let the oppressed goe free and that yee beake every yoake is it not to deale thy bread to the hungry and that thou bring the poore that are cast out to thy house when thou seest the naked that thou cover him and that thou hide not thy selfe from thine owne flesh Moreover that there ought to be made fervent prayer in the fasting dayes of the foure Ember-weekes it is signified in an Exhortation at the consecrating of an Elected Bishop where the Archbishop saith Brethren it is written in the Gospell of Saint Luke that our Saviour Christ continued the b Luke 6.12 13. whole night in the prayer or ever that hee did choose and send forth his twelve Apostles It is written also in the Acts of the Apostles that the Disciples which were at Antioch did c Act. 13.1 2 3. In every solemne fast wee ought to give some almes fast and pray or ever that laid hands upon or sent forth Paul and Barnabas Whereas Isaiah signifieth that the use which is to be made of fasting is charitablenesse some observe that when one fasteth hee is to give somewhat to the poore what hee hath spared from his owne selfe to let some poore member or members of Christ to bee comforted therewith CHAP. 78. Of Conversion Repentance and Regeneration IN the * T. 1. p. 53. Homily concerning Falling from God it is said out of Saint Origen He that with minde with study with deeds with thought and care applieth and giveth himselfe to Gods Word and thinketh upon his Lawes day and night giveth himselfe wholly to God and in his Precepts and Commandements is exercised this is he that is turned to God or one converted Conversion is the charge of the streame of minde and life of meditation and conversation from following ones d Isa 55.7 8 9. owne will or the lusts of e 1 Pet. 4.2 others unto an unfeined indeavour for to know all the Commandements of f Mat. 28.20 Iohn 15.14 Christ and his g 1 Cor. 11.2 Icr. 35.18 19. Church and to live obediently unto every particular of the same Then saith David shall I not be ashamed when I have a h Ps 119.6 respect unto all thy Commandements If I i Ps 66.18 regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not heare me Ezekiel saith If the wicked k Ezek. 18.21 22. will turne from all his sinnes that he hath committed and keepe all my Statutes and doe that wâ—â—ch is lawfull and right he shall surely live he shall not dye Christ charged his Ministers to teach all Nations to observe l Mat. 28.20 all things whatsoever he hath commanded them He also saith Yee are my m Iohn 15.14 friends if yee doe whatsoever I command you And concerning the duty that all owe unto his n Luke 10 16. Church hee saith Who so heareth you heareth me and he that desoiseth you despiseth me and hee that despiseth mee despiseth him that sent me If any neglect to heare the o Mat. 18.17 Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen man and a Publicane When one is in converting or turning unto God he is said in holy Scripture p Luke 15.17 to come to himselfe to q Psal 22.27 remember himselfe to take his owne estate into r Ezech. 18.28 Of repentance consideration Concerning repentance it is said in the first part of the * T. 2. p. 256. Homily thereof There is nothing that the Holy Ghost doth so much labour in all the Scriptures to beate into mens heads as Å¿ Acts 17.30 repentance amendment of life and speedy returning unto the Lord God of hostes * p. 258. Afterward there is signified That repentance is a returning againe of the whole man unto God from whom wee bee t Rom. 3.23 fallen away by sinne But that the whole discourse therof may be the better born away wee shall first consider in order foure principall points that is from what we must returne to whom wee must returne by whom we may be able to convert and the manner how to turne unto God First from whence or from what things we must returne Truly we must returne from those things whereby wee have beene withdrawne pluckt and led away from God and these generally are our sinnes which as the holy Prophet Isaiah doth testifie doe u Isa 59.2 separate God and us and hide his face that he will not heare us But unâ—â—â— the name of sinne not onely those grosse words and deeds which by the common judgement of men are counted to be filthy and unlawfull and so consequently abominable sinnes but also the filthy lusts and inward concupiscences of the flesh which as Saint Paul testifieth doe w Gal 5.16 17. 1 Pet. 2.11 Rom. 7.23 resist the will and Spirit of God and therefore ought earnestly to be bridled and x Gal. 5.24 kept under We must repent of the y Isa 44.20 Isa 59.13 false and erroneous opinions that we have had of God and the wicked superstition that doth breed of the same the z Rev. 9.20 unlawfull worshipping and service of God and other like All these things must they forsake that will truely turne unto the Lord and repent aright For sith that for such things the a Eph. 4.6 wrath of God commeth upon the children disobedience no end of punishment ought to be looked for as long as we continue in such things Secondly we must see unto whom we ought to returne The Lord saith Returne as farre as unto mee We must labour that we doe returne as farre as unto him and that we doe never cease nor rest till we have b Phil. 3.12.13 14. Act. 17.27 apprehended and taken hold upon him But this must be done by c Eph. 3.17 faith For sith that God is a Spirit he can by no other meanes be apprehended and taken hold upon Therefore thirdly we are to consider by whom we must returne unto God because we have of our owne selves nothing to present us to God and doe no lesse flee from him after our fal then our first Parent Adam did who when he had sinned did seeke to d Gen. 3.8 hide himselfe from the sight of God Wee have therefore neede of a Mediatour to bring and reconcile us unto him who from our sinnes is angry with us The same is e Col. 1.22 Iesus Christ And hee himselfe in his Gospell doth cry out and say I am the f Iohn 14.6 way the truth and the life no man commeth to the Father but by mee * P. 259. Fourthly as concerning the manner of our
so many places of the holy and sacred Scriptures doth bid us returne unto him Therefore we must take good heed unto our selves lest whereas we have already by our manifold sinnes and transgressions provoked and kindled the wrath of God against us wee doe by breaking w Mat. 3.2 Mat. 4.17 Mar. 6.12 Luke 13.3 this his Commandement double our offences and so heape still damnation upon our owne heads by our daily offences and trespasses whereby we provoke the eyes of his Majestie we doe well deserve if he should deale with us according to his justice to be put away for ever from the x 2 Thes 1.8.9 fruition of his glory y Heb. 2.3 How much more then are we worthy of the endlesse torments of Hell if when we be so gently called againe after our rebellion and coÌ„manded to returne we will in no wise hearken unto the voyce of our heavenly Father but walke still after the z Deut. 29.19 20. stubbornnesse of our owne hearts The second cause that should move us to repent is the most comfortable and sweet promise that the Lord our God did of his mcere mercy and goodnesse joyne unto his Commandement For he doth not onely say Returne unto me O Israel but also a Ier. 4.1 if thou wilt returne and put away all thine abominations out of my sight thou shalt never be moved The third cause which should move us to repent is the filthinesse of sinne which in such that as long as wee doe abide in it God cannot but b Ps 5.4 5 6. Ps 66.18 detest and abhorre us neither can there be any hope that we shall enter into the heavenly Ierusalem except we be first made c Rev. 21.27 cleane and purged from it But this will never be unlesse d Pro. 9.6 Eph. 4.22 23 24. forsaking our former life we doe with our whole heart returne unto the Lord our God and with a full purpose of amendment of life flee unto his mercy taking sure hold thereupon through e Rom. 3.25 Gal. 5.6 faith in the blood of his Sonne Iesus Christ The fourth cause which should move us to repentance is the uncertainty and brittlenesse of our owne lives which is such that wee cannot assure our selves that wee shall live one houre or one halfe quarter of it Which by experience we doe finde daily to be true in them that being now merry and lusty and sometimes feasting and banquetting with their friends doe fall suddenly dead in the streetes and otherwhiles under the Board when they are at meate These daily examples as they are most dreadfull and terrible so ought they to move us to seeke for to bee at f 2 Cor. 5.20 1 Cor. 6.17 one with our heavenly Iudge that we may with a good g 2 Cor. 5 9 10 11. 1 Iohn 2.28 conscience appeare before him whensoever it shall please him for to call us whether it be h Mat. 24.42 43 44 46. suddenly or otherwise for we have no more Charter of our life then they have But as wee are most certaine that we shall dye so are we most uncertaine when we shall dye For our life doth lye in the hand of God who will take it away when it i Ps 31.15 pleaseth him And verily when the highest Summer of all which is Death shall come he will not be said nay but we must bee packing to be present before the k Heb. 9.27 1 Pet. 1.17 Ier. 17.10 judgement Seat of God as hee doth finde us according as it is written Where as the l Eccles. 11.3 Luke 16.22 â—3 tree falleth whether it be toward the South or toward the North there it shall lye Whereunto agreeth the saying of the holy Martyr of God Saint Cyprian saying As God doth finde thee when he doth call so doth he judge thee Let us therfore follow the counsell of the Wise man where he saith m Ecclus. 5.7 Ps 119.60 Make no tarrying to turne unto the Lord and put on off from day to day For suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord breake forth and in thy security shalt thou be destroyed and shalt perish in the time of vengeance And afterward it is said Specially when thou art either by the preaching of Gods Word or by some inward motion of his holy n Eph. 4.30 Spirit or else by some other means called unto repentance neglect not the good occasion that is ministred unto thee lest when thou wouldest repent thou o Mat. 17.4 5. hast not the grace for to doe it For to repent is a good p Acts 11.18 2 Tim. 2.25 gift of God which he will never grant unto them who living in carnall security doe make a q 2 Pet. 3.3 Gal. 6.7 mocke of his threatnings or seeke to r Act. 7.51 rule his Spirit as they list as though his working and gifts were tyed unto their will The fift cause that should move us to repent is the avoyding of the plagues of God and the utter destruction that by his righteous judgement doth hang over the heads of them all that will in no wise returne unto the Lord whereof read the 28. Chapter of Deuteronomie and the Exhortation in the service of Commination Of Regeneration Concerning Regeneration or birth spirituall it is signified in the end of the first part of the * T. 2. p. 211. Homily for Whiltsunday to bee a Å¿ 1 Pet. 1.22.23 Iohn 1.13 new birth in all goodnesse righteousnesse sobriety and truth It is also said in that part of that * p. 109. Homily It is the Holy Ghost and no other thing that doth t Psal 80.18 Ephes 2.1.5 quicken the minds of men stirring up good and godly motions in their hearts which are agreeable to the will and Commandement of God such as otherwise of their owne crooked and perverse nature they should u 2 Cor. 3.5 Gen. 6.5 never have That which is borne of the w Iohn 3.6 spirit is spirit As who should say Man of his owne nature is fleshly and carnall corrupt and naught sinfull and disobedient to God Whereas it is said in 1 Iohn 4.7 8. Every one that loveth is borne of God and knoweth God and he that loveth not knoweth not God we may prove our sâ—lves whether wee grow in regeneration after we be come to the yeeres of discretion if we unfainedly strive to increase in the 16. vertues of charity or godly love reckoned up together by the holy Apostle Saint Paul in 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6 7 8. Many now a dayes doe frame to themselves a new birth or regeneration not duely attending what the holy Scripture and the divine Service of the Church declareth new birth or regeneration to be and so they come short of the comforts of the same without any sparke of goodnesse in him without any vertuous or godly motion onely given to evill thoughts and wicked deeds As for the
saith to the Ephesians See then that yee walke circumspectly not as fooles but as t Eph. 5.5.16.17 wise redeeming the time because the dayes are evill Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is To the Romans he saith u Rom 12.2 Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good that acceptable and perfect will of God Iesus the sonne of Sirach saith Doe nothing without w Ecclus 32.19 advice and when thou hast once done repent not Solomon saith He that walketh with wise men shall bee x Prov. 13.20 wise but a companion of fooles shall be destroyed The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge and the eare of the y Prov. 18.15 Of Iustice wise seeketh knowledge Concerning Iustice that is said to be a vertue whereby to every one his own is rendred or given Hereunto the Apostle exhorteth saying z Rom. 13.7 Render to all their dues tribute to whom tribute is due custome to whom custome feare to whom feare honour to whom honour a Isa 56.1 Isaiah saith Thus saith the Lord keepe ye judgement and doe justice Christ saith b Mat. 22.21 Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesars and unto God the things which are Gods Isaiah complained saying c Isa 59.4.14.15 None calleth for justice nor any pleadeth for the truth Iudgement is turned away backward and justice standeth afarre off for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter Of Tempetāce Concerning Temperance it is defined to be the vertue which moderateth the pleasures of the flesh which are taken by tasting and touching Saint Paul saith d Rom. 13.14 Make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof The Lord Christ saith Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be e Luke 21.34 overcharged with surfetting and drunkennesse and cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares Every one saith Saint Paul that striveth for the masterie is f 1 Cor. 9.25 temperate in all things now they doe it to obtaine a corruptible crowne but we an incorruptible Iesus the Sonne of Sirach saith g Ecclus. 31.12 15 16 17 19 20 27 28 29. If thou sit at a bountifull Table be not greedy upon it and say not there is much meat on it Iudge of thy neighbour by thy selfe and be discreet in every point Eate as it becommeth a man those things which are set before thee and devoure not lest thou be hated Leave off first for manners sake and bee not unsatiable lest thou offend A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured Sound sleepe commeth of moderate eating Wine is as good as life to a man if it bee drunke moderately Wine measurably drunke and in season bringeth gladnesse of the heart and cheerfulnesse of the minde But wine drunken with excesse maketh bitternesse of the minde with brawling and quarrelling There are more profitable instructions concerning temperance in the said Booke called Ecclesiasticus and many in the Bookes of Solomon and the rest of the Holy Scripture Of Forritude Concerning Fortitude or strength the other vertue it is delivered to bee that whereby painfull labours yea and the perils of death are both undergone and also unto the very end endured Solomon saith The wicked flee when no man pursueth but the righteous are h Prov. 28.1 bold as a Lyon Saint Peter saith If you suffer for righteousnesse sake happy are yee and bee not i 1 Pet. 3.14.15 afraid of their terrour neither bee troubled Saint Paul saith My brethren bee k Eph. 6.10.11 strong in the Lord and in the power of his might put on the whole armour of God that yee may be able to stand against the wiles of the Divell And to the Corinthians hee saith Watch yee stand fast in the faith quit you like men be l 1 Cor. 16.13 strong David complaineth that some set not their heart aright and whose spirit was not m Ps 78.8 9 10 stedfast with God The children of Ephraim being armed and carrying bowes turned backe in the day of battell They kept not the Covenant of God refused to walke in his Law The n Rev. 21.8 fearefull and unbeleeving c. saith Saint Iohn shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death The duty of Souldiers Such as are sent forth unto warre ought to pray for to bee endued with the spirit of fortitude and * Ps 144.1 and 18.39 valour They are also to remember the Gospels Cōmandement o Luke 3.14 Doe violence to no man neither accuse any falsely and be content with your wages It is the duty of all Christians to live prudently justly temperately and couragiously So shall they keepe the golden meane to doe nothing too much nor nothing too little So shall they observe the Scriptures rule p Prov. 4.27 Turne not to the right hand nor to the left remove thy foot from evill CHAP. 84. Of the seven gifts of Grace IN the first part of the Service of Confirmatiō or Bishopping it is prayed for such as receive that Blessing of the Church saying Strengthen them wee beseech thee O Lord with the Holy Ghost the Comforter and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of Grace the spirit of wisdome and understanding the spirit of counsell and ghostly strength the spirit of knowledge and true godlinesse and fulfill them O Lord with the spirit of thy holy feare Sixe of these gifts of Grace are by the Prophet Isaiah reckoned up together and foretold should be in Iesus Christ where hee saith There shall come forth a rod out of the stemme of Iesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the q Isa 11.2 spirit of wisdome and understanding the spirit of counsel and might the spirit of knowledge and the feare of the Lord. In Iesus Christ dwelleth all the r Col 2.9 fulnesse of the Godhead bodily God gave not the spirit by ſ Ioh. 3.34 measure unto him And of his t Ioh. 1.16 fulnesse we all receive Hereby saith Saint Iohn wee know that we dwell in him and hee in us because he hath given us of his u 1 Ioh. 4.13 spirit And S. Paul saith If any one have not the w Rom. 8.9 Spirit of Christ the same is none of his He meaneth If one have it not in some measure In Baptisme some measure of Christs x 1 Cor. 12.13 Gal. 3.27 Spirit is received and in y Acts. 8.14.15.16.17 Bishopping an ampler measure thereof is obtained if one duly prepared according to the prescription of Holy Church doth submit to that Divine ordinance and receive the same Cōcerning Wisdome there is a memorable delivery of many sundry properties to bee therein in the
that we may with sure trust desire and crave the salve of his mercy bought and purchased with the blood of his dearely beloved Sonne Iesus Christ to heale our deadly wounds withall For surely if we doe not with earnest repentance g 2 Cor. 7 1. 1 Iohn 3 3. Iam. 4.8.9 cleanse the filthy stomacke of our soule it must needes come to passe that as wholesome meat received into a raw stomacke corrupteth and marreth all and is the cause of further sicknesse so shall we eate this wholesome Bread and drinke this Cup to our eternall destruction Thus we and not other must throughly h Ier. 7.5 Ps 119.59.60 examine and not lightly looke over our selves not other men our owne conscience not i Mat. 7.1 2 3 4 5. Ecclus. 19.8 other mens lives which we ought to doe uprightly truly with just correction Let as take heed we come not with our sinnes unexamined into this presence of our Lord and judge If they be worthy blame which kisse the Princes hand with a filthy and uncleane mouth shalt thou be blamelesse which with a k Mat. 23 25 26 27.28 stinking soule full of covetousnesse fornication drunkennes pride full of wretched cogitations and l Mat. 15.18 19 20. thoughts doest breathe out iniquity and uncleannesse on the Bread and Cup of the Lord The Church therefore in the Communion-Service saith Iudge therefore your selves brethren that you bee not judged of the Lord. Greatly and ever observable is the Counsell of Ieremiah in his Booke of Lamentations Let us m Ier. 3.40 search and try our wayes and turne againe unto the Lord. The Apostle saith to the Corinthians n 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether you bee in the faith prove your owne selves To the Galatians hee saith If a man thinke himselfe to bee something when he is nothing he deceiveth himselfe But let every man o Gal. 6.3 4 5. prove his owne worke and then shall he have rejoycing in himselfe alone and not in another David saith Stand in awe and sinne not p Ps 4.4 Commune with your owne heart upon your bed and be still Ezekiel saith Then shall ye q Ezek. 36.31 remember your owne evill wayes and your doings that were not good and shall loathe your selves in your owne sight for your iniquities and for your abominations The cause of the licentiousnesse of these times The neglect of this duty of examining and judging our owne meditations speakings and doings is the cause of the licentiousnesse of these times whereof it is complained by the Church in her 113. Canon Some about Easter time when they receive thinke a little upon themselves whether they bee in open variance with their next Neighbour and it may be before they goe to the Communion will signifie some condiscending unto a reconciliation But it is the custome with many within few dayes after Easter all the yeare long untill Easter come againe for to make no conscience of living in discord envying True Christians do not only at Easter but all the year long oftentimes take an examination of their whole conversation how it agreeth to the Commandements of the Gopel of the Lord Iesus Christ bearing alwayes in remēbrance Christs words viz. r Iohn 12.48 The word that I have spoken the same shall judge you in the last day And that of every ſ Mat. 12.36 37 idle word that men shall speake they shall give account in the day of judgement For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Also true Christians doe beleeve and often thinke or Saint Pauls words to the Corinthians viz. We must all t 2 Cor. 5.10 11. appeare before the judgement seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Also Saint Peters words And if ye call on a Father who without respect of persons u 1 Pet. 1.17 judgeth according to every mans worke passe the time of your sojourning here in feare Davids practice is written for our imitation who in Ps 119. saith w Ps 119.59 60.120.15.63.66.148.97 I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy testimonies I made hast and delayed not to keepe thy Commandements My flesh trembleth for feare of thee and I am afraid of thy judgements I will meditate in thy Precepts and have a respect unto thy wayes I am a companion of all them that feare thee and of them that keepe thy Precepts I have remembred thy name O Lord in the night and have kept thy law Mine eyes prevent the night watches that I might meditate in thy Word O how I love thy Law it is my meditation all the day The neglect of examining and judging our owne mindes and lives by the rule of all the Commandements of Christs holy Gospell for to amend them according to his holy expresse word as wee are advertised in the last part of the most sacred Letany it is the cause of so much difference about religion now in the Christian world As many as have their eyes in their owne x Eccles. 2 14. heads and not in the corners of the earth onely upon others As many as obey Christs Commandement y Mat. 7.1 2 3 4 5. Iudge not that ye be not judged For with what judgement ye judge yee shall be judged and with what measure yee mete it shall be measured to you againe And why beholdest thou the Mote that is in thy brothers eye but considerest not the Beame that is in thine owne eye Or how wilt thou say to thy brother let me pull out the Mote out of thine eye and behold a Beame is in thine owne eye Thou Hypocrite first cast out the Beame out of thine owne eye and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy Brothers eye As many as doe not meerely talke of the strait gate and narrow way but also their owne selves with their whole heart z Luke 13.24 Mat. 7.13.14 strive to enter in at the same becomming a 1 Cor. 3.18 fooles that they may bee wise b Isa 55.7 forsaking all their imaginations and c Rev. 3.17 false riches and d Mat. 19.22 Ier. 4.14 possessions in spirit which they have received from the e 1 Cor. 2.12 spirit of the world not from the Spirit of God which are contrary to the testimony and approbation of Gods expresse Word and of the Divine Service of the Church of England As many as forsake their f Prov. 9.6 owne chosen way and onely walke in the g Ier. 6.16 Ps 139.24 old way according to the direction of the universall holy Scriptures and the prescription and instruction of our Mother the Church of England in her bookes of Divine Service who unfainedly strive to doe like David to h Ps 119.32 runne the way of Gods
the lowly as the Scripture sundry times delivereth to the end we should take serious notice of it Of Envie VVEE are taught in the Letany to pray From Envie hatred and malice and all uncharitablenesse good Lord deliver us In the first * T. 2. p. 180. Homily of the Passion it is said As peace and charity make us the blessed children of Almighty God so doth hatred and Envie make us the cursed children of the Devill Concerning the great perill of living in Envie read the whole Homily against Contention Saint Iohn saith He that h 1 Ioh. 3.15 hateth his brotheer is a murtherer and ye know that no murtherer hath eternall life abiding in him The Revelation saith i Rev. 21.8 Murtherers shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Of Wrath. IN the second part of the * T. 1. p. 95. Homily against contention it is said That Pericles being provoked to anger with many villanous words by one answered not a word But wee stirred but with one little word what foule worke doe we make How doe wee fume rage stampe and stare like mad-men many men of every trifle will make a great watter and of the sparke of a little word will kindle a k Iam. 3.5 great fire taking all things in the worst part But how much better is it more like to the example Doctrine of Christ to make rather of a great fault in our neighbour a small fault reasoning with our selves after this l 1 Cor. 13.7 Prov. 10.12 sort He spake these words but it was in a sudden heate or the drinke spake them and not hee or hee spake them at the motion of some other or be spake them being ignorant of the truth hee spake them not against me but against him whom he thought mee to be And so along in most divine manner we are there counselled And afterward it is there signified That anger is a kinde of madnesse and that hee which is angry is as it were for a time in a Phrensie Wherefore let him beware lest in his fury he speake any thing whereof afterward he may have just cause to be sory And he that will defend that anger is not fury but that hee hath reason even when he is most angry then let him reason thus with himselfe when he is angry Now I am so moved and chafed that within a litle while after I shall bee otherwise minded Wherfore thē shold I now speake any thing in mine anger which hereafter when I would fainest cannot be changed Wherefore shall I doe any thing now being as it were out of my wit for the which when I shall come to my againe I shall bee very sad Why doth not reason why doth not godlinesse yea why doth not Christ obtaine that thing of me now which hereafter time shall obtaine of me Almighty God by Solomon saith Bee not hasty in thy spirit to bee angry for m Eccles. 7.9 anger resteth in the bosome of fooles That saying of the Lord Iesus might move us to take heed how we be angry Whosoever is n Mat. 5.22 angry with his brother without a cause shall bee in danger of the judgement and whosoever shall say unto his brother Racha shall be in danger of the counsell but whosoever shall say thou foole shall be in danger of hell sire Likewise that saying of Saint Paul The workes of the flesh are these Adultery c. o Gal. 5.19.20.21 Wrath strife c. They which doe such things shall not inherit the Kingdome of God Saint Paul therefore saith Be p Eph. 4.26 angry and sinne not Let not the Sunne goe down upon your wrath neither give place to the Devill Great is the power which the Devill hath in every man and woman which easily will be moved unto wrath Of Covetousnesse IN the third part of the * T. 2. p. 163. Homily of Almes-deeds it is signified That some seeke excuses to withhold themselves from the favour of God and chuse with pinching covetousnesse rather to leane unto the Devill than by charitable mercifulnesse either to come unto Christ or to suffer Christ to come unto them In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 205. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is said O saith Chrysostom let no Iudas resort to this table let no covetous person approach Saint Paul saith to the Ephesians No Whore monger nor uncleane persō nor q Eph. 5.5.6 covetous man who is an Idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdome of Christ and of God Let no man deceive you with vaine words for because of these things commeth the wrath of God upon the Children of disobedience The Lord Christ said Take heed and beware of r Luk. 12.15 covetousnesse for a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which hee possesseth And againe No man can serve two Masters Yee cannot serve God and s Mat. 6.24 Mammon Saint Paul saith to the Colossians Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth fornication uncleannesse inordinate affection evill concupiscence and t Col◠3.5 covetousnesse which is Idolatry And unto Timothy he saith They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into may foolish and hurtfull lusts with drowne men in destruction and perdition For the u 1 Tim. 6.9.10 love of mony is the roote of all evill c. In Eccesiasticus it is said There is not a more wicked thing than a w Ecclus. 10.9 covetous man for such a one setteth his owne soule to sale because while he liveth hee casteth away his bowels Read diligently the whole Homily of Almes Of Sloth IN the second Collect for Good-Friday it is said Receive our prayers and supplications which wee offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy Congregation that every member of the same in his vocation and x Rom. 12.4.5.6.7.8 ministery may truely and godly serve thee In the * T. 2. p. 254. Homily against idlenesse it is said Let young men consider the pretious value of their time and y Eph 5.16 P. ov 14.23 waste it not in idlenesse in jollity in gaming in banquetting in z Rom. 13.13 1 Pet. 4.3.4 ruffians company Youth is but vanity and must be accounted for before God How merry and glad soever thou be in thy youth O young man saith the Preacher how glad soever thy heart be in thy young dayes how fast and freely soever thou follow the wayes of thine own heart and the lust of thine owne eyes yet be thou sure that God shall bring thee unto judgement a Ecclus. 11.9.20 for all these things In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 166. Homily of Almes deeds it is signified that God is carefull to feed them who in any state or vocation doe unfeinedly serve him In the * T. 2. p. 249.