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
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
the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost without any difference or inequality CHAP. 3. Of God the Father IN the third part of the * 2 To. p. 40. Homily against perill of Idolatry it is sayd Deus est spiritus â—aturà simplex lux in accessibilis c Augustinus initio lib. quaest vet Noui Test ad Quaest quid sit Deus How can God a most pure Spirit whom neuer man saw be expressed by a grosse bodily and visible similitude How can the infinite Maiestie and greatnesse of God incomprehensible to mans minde much more not able to be compassed with the sense be expressed in a small and litle image That God in his Essence is Spirit Christ hath witnessed saying x Iohn 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth In the Nicene Creede it being sayd concerning God the Sonne That he is Light of Light we are taught that God the Father is the Light Eternall Saint Iohn sayth y 1 Iohn 1.5 God is Light and in him is no darkenesse at all In the first * 2 Tom. p. 179 Homily concerning the passion of Christ it is sayd Christ delighteth to enter and dwell in that soule where loue and charity ruleth and where peace and concord is seene For thus wrighteth Saint Iohn z 1 Iohn 4.8.16 God is Charity he that abideth in charity abideth in God and God in him Which to be spoken of God the Father also it appeareth out of the Words afore that Text where Saint Iohn sayth We haue seene and do testifie that the a 1 Iohn 4.14.15 Father sent the Sonne to bee the Sauiour of the World And we haue knowne and beleeued the loue that God hath vnto vs c. Also of b Rom. 11.36 Not si quis roget quodnaÌ„ sit quod colamus atque adoremus promptam est respondere quod sit Charitas Etenim vt à Spiritu Sancto pronunciatum est Deus noster Charitas est coque nomine magis quà m quovis alio delectatur Nazianzen Orat. 14. him and through him and to him are all things To whom be glory for euer Amen CHAP. 4. Of God the Sonne IN the Nicene Creed it is sayd I beleeue in one Lord IESVS CHRIST the onely begotten Sonne of God begotten of his Father before all worlds God of God Tertul libro contra Praxean capite octauo pretulit Deus Sermonent sicut radix fruticem et sol radium Et mox Quia omnis origo parent est et omne quod ex origine profertur progenies est Multo magis sermo Dei qui etiam proprie nomen silij accipit Nec frutex tameÌ„ à radice Nec fluvius à fonte nec radius a sole discernitur Sieut nec à Deo Sermo Light of Light very God of very God begotten not made being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made The which Saint Iohn testifieth saying c Iohn 1.1.9.3 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God He was the true Light which lighteth euery man that commeth into the world All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made In the third part of the * T. 2. pa. 228.229 Homily for Rogation weeke it is sayd concerning God the Sonne d Heb. 1.3 That he is the brightnesse of his Fathers glory and a very cleere Image and patterne of his substance It is there also sayd That Christ is the euerlasting Wisedome as in the booke of the Prouerbs it so of it selfe speakes saying I e Pâ—o. 8.12.22.23.30 Wisedome dwell with Prudence The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his workes of old I was set vp from euerlasting from the beginning or euer the earth was Then was I by him as one brought vp with him and I was dayly his delight rejoycing alwayes before him The eternall Sonne of God is signified in Genesis where it is sayd f Gen 19.24 The Lord rained upon Sodome and vpon Gomorrah Brimstone and fire from the Lord out of Heauen And likewise in the Psalme where Dauid sayth The g Psal 110.1 Lord sayd vnto my Lord sit thou at my right hand vntill I make thine enemies thy foote-stoole A saying of Iesus the sonne of Syrach is memorable hereto who in his prayer vttered these words h Eccles 51.10 I called vpon the Lord the Father of my Lord that he would not leaue me in the dayes of my trouble and in the time of the proud when there was no helpe Vnto God the Sonne it is sayd in the Scripture i Heb. 1.8.9 Thy throne O God is for euer and euer a Scepter of righteousnesse is the Scepter of thy Kingdome Thou hast loued righteousnesse and hated iniquity We are taught in the sacred Lyturgie most piously to say vnto God the Father k In Saint Ambrose his song The holy Church throughout all the World doth acknowledge thine honorable true and onely Sonne And vnto God the Sonne for to say Thou art the King of Glory O Christ Thou art the euerlasting Sonne of the Father CHAP. 5. Of God the Holy Ghost IN the first part of the * 2. To p. 207. Homily concerning the comming downe of the Holy Ghost it is sayd The Holy Ghost is a spirituall and diuine substance Opus est spiritu sancto ut piè dexterè loquamur de Trinitate per quem folum Deus intelligitur exponitur auditur Divus Nazianzenus oratione prima de fugae sua in Pontum the third person in the Deity distinct from the Father and the Sonne and yet proceeding from them both As for his proper nature and substance it is altogether one with God the Father and God the Sonne that is to say Spirituall Eternall Vncreated Incomprehensible Almighty he is God and Lord euerlasting Concerning the Holy Ghost Christ hath sayd to his Disciples l Ioh. 15.26 When the comforter is come whom I will send vnto you from the Father euen the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie of me That the Holy Ghost is God it is manifest out of St. Peters words vnto Ananias saying m Acts 5.3.4 Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lye vnto the Holy Ghost Thou hast not lyed vnto men but vnto God So where Saint Paul saith n 1. Cor. 12.4.5.6 Now there are diuersities of gifts but the same spirit And there are differences of administrations Spiritus Sanctus à patre procedit Qui quatenus ab illo procedit Creatura non est quatenus rursuÌ„ genitus non est filius non est quatenus autem inter ingenitum et genitum medius est Deus est D. Nazianzenus oratione 37. but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations but it is the same God which worketh all
the chapter thereof set in the beginning of the Booke of Common Prayer CHAP. 60. Of the thankesgiving of women after Childbirth commonly called the Churching of Women IN the beginning of the Service for the Churching of women it is said Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God of his goodnesse to give you safe deliliverance and hath preserved you in the great danger of Childbirth Yee shall therefore giue hearty thankes unto God and pray The Law of God was that a woman when the dayes of her purifying were fulfilled for a sonne or for a daughter should bring an f Lev. 12.6.7.1 offering into the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation unto the priest who was to offer it before the Lord and to make an atonement for her c. And it is recorded by Saint Luke that the blessed Virgn Mary observed this g Luke 2.24 Law of the Lord after shee had brought forth her sonne the Saviour of the world Although that Law as concerning the ceremony be ceased yet the h Rom. 8.4 righteousnesse thereof is to be fulfilled in those which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit For which cause our Mother the Church whose godly wisedome wee ought to obey in i Eph. 5.24 every particular matter knowing that the new Law commandeth Christians in every thing to k 1 Thes 5.18 give thankes hath accounted it righteous before God that women for so great a deliverance as from the danger of child-birth should so soone as is convenient come to the Temple of the Lord and there with him who is to bee her mouth unto the Lord l Heb. 13.15 offer the sacrifice of praise unto God the fruit of her lips giving thankes unto his name Saint Paul said I will that women adorne themselves in m 1 Tim. 2.9.10 modest apparell with shamefastnesse and sobriety as becommeth women professing godlinesse And saith hee in another place Whatsoever things are honest just pure lovely or of n Phil. 4.8 good report if there bee any vertue or praise therein thinke on those things Let all things be done o 1 Cor. 14.40 decently in order Is it not therefore more seemly more signifying modesty of minde that women when they goe to be Churched or are Churched at home bee so covered on their heads according as in former times rather than bee so attired like as those bee which goe to a market or a faire or to a wedding or the like CHAP. 61. Of Commination or denouncing Gods curses due unto sinners which will not repent or doe neglect the same IN the beginning of the service of Commination the Church saith It is though good that at this time meaning in the beginning of Lent on Ashwensday in your presence should bee read the generall sentences of Gods cursing against impenitent sinners gathered out of Deut. 27. and other places of scripture And that yee should answer to every sentence Amen to the intent that you being admonished of the great indignation of God against sinners may the p Prov. 1.7 16.6 rather bee called to earnest and true repentance and may walke more warily in these q 2 Tim. 3.1 Mat. 24.21.22 dangerous dayes fleeing from such vices for the which yee affirme with your owne mouthes the curse of God to bee due The Lord saith by Moses r Deut. 29.19.20.21 If when one heareth the words of this curse hee blesse himselfe in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walke in the imagination of mine heart to adde drunkennesse to thirst the Lord will not spare him but then the anger of the Lord and his Iealousie shall smoake against that man and all the curses that are written in this booke shall lye upon him and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven Saint Paul saith s Rom. 2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10 Thinkest thou this O man that judgest them which doe such things as are abominable and dost the same that thou shalt escape the judgement of God or despisest thou the riches of his goodnesse and forbearance and long suffering not knowing that the goodnesse of God leadeth thee to repentance But after thy hardnesse and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath and Revelation of the righteous judgement of God who will render to every man according to his deeds To them who by patient continuance in well doing seeke for glory and honour and immortality eternall life But unto them that are contentious and doe not obey the truth but obey unrighteousnesse indignation and wrath Tribulation and anguish upon every soule of man that doth evill of the Iew first and also of the Gentile But glory honour and peace to every man that worketh good to the Iew first and also to the Gentile The Church our mother declareth her faithfulnesse unto her t Isa 54 5. husband the Lord of Hosts her maker unto her redeemer the Holy one of Israel the God of the whole earth in this very thing most apparantly namely that she doth not like as the false Prophets and false Prophetesses doe who doe say u Ier. 8.9.10 11. Ezech. 13.9.10 Peace and there was no peace and one built up a wall and loe others dawbed it with untempered morter Shee doth not with w Ezech. 13.22 lies make sad the heart of the righteous whom God hath not made sad neither doth shee strengthen the hands of the wicked that he should not returne from his wicked way by promising him life But shee x 2 Cor. 4.2 renouncing the hidden things of dishonestie not walking in craftinesse nor handling the word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the truth commendeth her selfe to every mans conscience in the sight of God In her Exhortation which followeth immediately after the curses doth she not in a most wonderfull divine manner declare as it were the summe of the everlasting doctrine of Iesus Christ Is not that her exhortation the beginning therof is Now seeing that all they bee accursed as the Prophet y Psal 119.21 David beareth witnesse which doe erre and goe astray from the commandements of God let us c. so divine a delivery as the like in briefe can scarce be shewed in the writings of any Church or of any Writer Is it not worthy to bee most often read of every man woman and child And is there not a power in it through the blessing of God to worke the feare of the Lord in the heart of the diligent Reader thereof And is not the said exhortation very greatly profitable to bee often read of such as have in their minds Gods feare for to helpe keepe them in the same and to preserve them from pride of spirit z Pro. 8.13 arrogancy a Isay 46.12 stoutnesse and b Zachar. 7.11 hardnesse of heart As it is good for all ancient people to reade or heare it in private read