thine heart unto understanding Yea if thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures Then shalt thou understand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God Also that saying of the Lord by the Prophet Malachy is ever to be remembred q Mal. 2.5.6.7 My covenant was with Levi of life and peace and I gave them to him for the feare wherewith he feared me and was afraid before my name The law of truth was in his mouth and iniquity was not found in his lips hee walked with me in peace and equity and did turne many away from iniquity For the Priests lips should keepe knowledge and they should seeke the law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts People are to read the holy Scriptures which the r 1. Tim. 3.15 Church according to her wisedome and the t Rom. 3.2 Hebrew u Rev. 9.11 Greeke and faithfulnesse hath Å¿ 1 Cor. 12.10.28.30 interpreted into English out of w Dan. 2.4 Chaldean texts wherein they were * See all along the margent of Gen. 1. c. and of Mat. 5.11 c. and of Ezra 4.9 c. Soc also the title page of the old Testament and also of the new Read all the Translators Preface set afore the Bibles in quarto and in solio first written by the Prophets and Apostles And as people are to be thankfull unto God and unto the Royall Majestie and unto the Fathers and Doctors of the Church for that delivery of the holy Scriptures so are they to remember it is the x Acts 8.30 31 32 33 34 35. office of the Philips of the Church for to interpret places of the Scripture hard to be understood And the Philips are the y Mal. 2.7 Deut. 17.8 9. c. Acts 15.6 Eph. 4.11 12. Clergie and therein the z 1 Cor. 12.28 See afore in Chap. 35 36 37. of degrees in the ministery principall are the most reverend Fathers in God the Archbishops and the right reverend Fathers in God the Bishops the next are the Doctors and all Pastors and all authorized Preachers whose conscionable and religious care is both by their life and doctrine to set forth Gods true and lively Word and to keepe the unity of the spirit the most holy faith and the true godly life prescribed in the bookes of the Divine Service and in the other bookes of the established doctrine of the Church of England And hereunto may be considered that memorable and very remarkeable delivery of the most Reverend Father in God Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury out of Saint Gregory Nazianzene in the latter end of his Prologue afore the Church-bible of the former translation I marvell much saith he to recount whereof commeth all this desire of vaine-glory whereof commeth all this tongue-itch that we have so much delight to talke and clatter And wherein is our communication not in the commendation of vertuous and good deeds of hospitality of love between Christian brother and brother of love betweene man and wife of virginity and chastity and of Almes toward the poore Not in Psalmes and godly songs not in lamenting for our sinnes not in repressing the affections of the body not in prayers to God We talke of Scripture but in the meane time we subdue not our flesh by fasting waking and weeping wee make not this life a meditation of death we doe not strive to be lords ouer our appetites and affections We goe not about to pull downe our proud and high minds to abate our fumish and rancorous stomackes to restraine our lusts and bodily delectations our undiscreet sorrowes our lascivious mirth ovr inordinate looking our unsatiable hearing of vanities our speaking without measure our inconvenient thoughts and briefly to reforme our life and manners but all our holinesse consisteth in talking And we pardon each other from all good living so that we may sticke fast together in argumentation as though there were no more wayes to heaven but this alone the way of speculation and knowledge as they take it But in very deed it is rather the way of superfluous contention and sophistication The same Author saith also in another place That the learning of a Christian man ought to begin of the feare of God and to end in matters of high speculation and not contrarily to begin with speculation and to end in feare For speculation saith he either high cunning or knowledge if it be not stayed with the bridle of feare to offend God is dangerous and enough to tumble a man headlong downe the hill Therefore saith he The feare of God must be the first beginning and as it were an A. B. C. or an introduction to all them that shall enter into the very true and most fruitfull knowledge of holy Scriptures Where as is the feare of God there is saith he the keeping of the Commandements and where as is the keeping of the Commandements there is the cleansing of the flesh which flesh is a cloud before the soules eye and suffereth it not purely to see the beame of the heavenly light Where as is the cleansing of the flesh there is the illumination of the holy Ghost the end of all our desires and the very light whereby the verity of Scriptures is seene and perceived CHAP. 49. Of reading the bookes in the Bible which are called writings Apocrypha IN the Table of proper Lessons to be read both at morning and evening prayer on the sundayes throughout the yeere and on the holy dayes there are appointed sundry Lessons to be read of the bookes in the Bible which are called Apocrypha as on Whitsunday there is ordained to be read the first Chapter of the Wisedome of Solomon for the first Lesson at evening prayer And upon the feast day of Saint Peter and of Saint Iames and of Saint Bartholomew and of Saint Matthew and of Saint Luke and of Saint Michael the Archangell the first Lesson is prescribed out of the booke called Ecclesiasticus or the Wisedome of Iesus the sonne of Syrach And for the first Lesson to bee read on many weeke dayes in the yeare it is appointed out of more of those bookes as out of the booke of Iudith of Baruch of Tobias and out of both bookes of Esdras as it may bee seene in the Kalender set in the beginning of the booke of Common Prayer The Church hath not appointed Lessons to be read publikely in Churches forth of any other bookes of how great authority soever excepting the Canonicall Scriptures Among the holy Scriptures which are in the common prayer appointed to be read for to stir up people to remember the poore there are inserted three verses out of the booke of Tobias In both Tomes of Homilies the Church with great respect hath alledged very many sayings out of the bookes called Apocrypha ascribing
THE CHRISTIAN DIVINITIE Contained in the Divine Service of The Church of ENGLAND Summarily and for the most part inâ—â—â—â—â—â— according as point on point dependeth conâ—â—â—ded and with the holy Scriptures plainly and plentifully confirmed Written for the furtherance of the Peoples understanding in the true Religion established by publike Authoritie And for the increase of Vnitie in that godly truth eternall BY EDMVND REEVE Bachelour in Divinitie and Vicar of the Parish of Hayes in Middlesex IER 6.16 Thus saith the Lord Stand yee in the wayes and see and aske for the old paths where is the good way and walke therein and yee shall finde rest for your soules AVGVSTINVS Vtile est de iisdem quaestionibus plures à pluribus fieri libros diverso style non diversa fide LONDON Printed for Nicolas Fussell and Humphrey Mosley at the signe of the Ball in Pauls Church-yard 1631. TO THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCE CHARLES By the Grace of God King of Great Britaine France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. MOST dread Soveraigne The holy Fathers of the Church out of their due consideration of the defects of these times having in the liturgie for the late Fast taught to pray O Eternall God and most gratious Father wee confesse that by our manifold transgressions we have deserved whatsoever thy Law hath threatned against sinners Our contempt of thy Divine Service is great and wee heare thy word but obey it not Our charity to our neighbour is cold and our devotion to thee is frozen ReligioÌ„ is with us as in too many places besides made but a pretence for other ends then thy Service and there hath beene little or no care among us to keepe truth and peace together for the preserving of our Church and State Forgive us O Lord forgive as these and all other our grievous sinnes c. Have thereby signified to all Pastours and Ministers of the Church that they should doe their part towards the repairing of those decayes in many peoples mindes conversations The which most necessary signification beeing proceeded from them who in the Clergie are endued with the amplest understanding in all matters of Religion hath incited me though the most unworthy amoÌ„g the labourers in the Lords harvest unto greater accuration in my function and therto through helpe of the Divine grace for to compile this worke The which now with all humility I present unto your most sacred Majestie And although it is for the most part but as it were a collection of sentences out of the Divine Service Bookes of the Church for to put the common people in more remembrance and consideration of what therein is delivered concerning the principall points of Christian Divinity and a quotation of Scriptures witnessing the same yet unto all which unfainedly endeavour to know the will of God for to live obediently unto it and will unpartially read through and seriously consider every delivery therein it will appeare to be a worke profitable for to make more knowne unto the laity the established Doctrine of the Church to further them in learning their duty towards God your Highnesse and their neighbours Yea it will awake many out of their sleepe of ignorance and cause all such as are upright of heart to say Surely the Lord is in this place and we knew it not The everlasting truth of the Eternall God is abundantly delivered in the publike prayers exhortations and Homilies of the Church of England and we tooke none or but little notice of it Notwithstanding there will not be wanting spirits of disobedience which will calumniate the work and me by reason of the same Wherefore I humbly crave of your most sacred Majesty that since things of this quality are subject to the censures of persons ill-meaning and wise in their owne eyes it may receive patronage from your most gracious Highnesse Your Majesties father a Prince of most worthy ever blessed memory all the time of his happy Reigne over us shewed most pious zeale towards maintaining the Divine Service of the Church and for confirmation thereof caused the Proclamation made for the authorizing and uniformitie of the Booke of CoÌ„mon Prayer to be used throughout the Realme to bee printed with the said booke and also the booke of Homilies to be reprinted The like most godly care to conserve maintaine the Church in the unity of true religion your Highnesse in that most divine and ever most memorable declaration afore the Articles of the Church of England hath unto the great comfort of all your Majesties loyall religious people manifested testified The Lord of heaven and earth blesse your Highnes with many happy yeares That as his heavenly hand hath enriched your Majesty with many singular extraordinary graces So your Highnes may be the mirrour of the world in this latter age as most truly it already is for the prudent and zealous defending of the true Catholike and Apostolike faith unto the honour of that great God and the good of his Church through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Saviour Your Majesties most humble and devoted subject EDMVND REEVE To the Reader HAving composed a summe of Divinitie out of the bookes of the Divine Service of the Church of England Whereas â—n tius work thore is often mention maâ—e of the Church therby wheresoever it is used for to signfiâ— those unto whom all people owe most faithfull obediencâ— is to be understood the Church representative where of the 139. Canon faith â—hosoever shall hereafter â—â—fâ—iâ— me that the sacred Synode of this Nation in the name of Châ—â—â—â— and by the Kings Authority assembâ—ed is not the true Church of England by representation let him bee excommunicated and not restored untill her repent and publikely revoke his wicked errour And Canon 140. saith Whosoever shall affirme that no manner of person either of the Clergy or Laity not being themselves particularly assembled in the said sacred synode are to be subject to the deâ—rces thereof in causes Ecclesiasticall made and ratified by the Kings Majesties Supreme Authority as not having given their voyces unto them let him be excommunicated and not restored untill hee repent and publikely revoke that his wicked errour it is necess for mee in some wise to declare their Authoritie that they with whom the said bookes are not in due account may have no just cause either of undervaluing the deliveries taken forth of them or of light esteeming this worke a collection of the same If all the authorized writings of a godly and learned Divine are much to be regarded then how much more are those writings to bee esteemed which are set forth by publike Authority as of the Royall Majesty of the Archbishops Bishops and the rest of the representative Church of England are assented unto by all the rest of the Clergy and are confirmed by Act of Parliament That the booke of Common prayer is thus established the Act for
the uniformity of Common prayer set in the beginning thereof testifieth Also every one which entreth into the Ministery of the Church of England first subscribeth That the booke of Common prayer containeth in it nothing contrary to the Word of God and that it may lawfully so bee used and that hee himselfe will use the forme in the said booke prescribed in Publike prayer and administration of the Sacraments and none other As it is in Canon 36. That the booke of ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons is likewise ratified the six and thirtieth Article of the Religion established declareth saying The Book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops and ordering of Priests and Deacons lately set forth in the time of Edward the sixt and confirmed at the same time by Authority of Parliament doth containe all things necessarie to such Consecration and ordering neither hath it any thing that of it selfe is superstitious and ungodly And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to the Rites of that booke since the second yeare of the aforenamed King Edward unto this time or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same Rites we decree all such to be rightly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered That both the bookes of Homilies now printed in one Volume and distinguished into two Tomes are approved by the whole Clergy it is manifest by every ones subscription unto the third Article to be subscribed unto afore receiving any order or degree in the ministery whereof the words are That he alloweth the book of Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Archbishops In Canon 36. and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergie in the Convocation holden at London in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand five hundred sixtie and two and that he acknowledgeth all and every the Articles therein contained being in number nine and thirty besides the Ratification to be agreeable to the Word of God And in the five and thirtieth Article therof it is said The second booke of Homilies the severall titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth containe a godly and wholesome Doctrine and necessary for these times as doth the former booke of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the sixt and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may bee understanded of the people The Eleventh Article concerning the justification of man referreth unto the Homily of Iustification wherein the most wholesome Doctrine thereof and very full of comfort is more largly expressed In the booke of Common Prayer in the Rubrick after the Nicene Creed the Homilies are mentioned It is required that the booke of Homilies be in every Church Canon 80. And Canon 49 requireth Ministers not allowed Preachers to reade the said Homilies For the confirmation of be true saith and for thâ—â—â—â—d â—â—strâ—â—lâ—â— and 〈◊〉 disication of the people The great authority of the Homilies may also appeare out of the Titles of both Tomes of them The Title of the first Tome is Certaine Sermons or Homilies appointed to bee read in Churches in the time of the late Queene Elizabeth of famous memory And now thought fit to be reprinted by Authority from the Kings most Excellent Majesty The Title of the second is The second Tome of Homilies of such matters as were promised and entituled in the former part of Homilies set out by the Authority of the late Queenes Majesty and to be read in every Parish Church agreeably There are no writings of any Author whatsoever whereunto the Church ascribeth so much authority as to the Bookes of Divine Service having ordained them only together with the holy Scriptures to bee publikely read in every congregation of the Land Now some will say It appeareth by these relatings that great is the respect which we owe unto the said bookes of the Church but yet we are to receive no delivery in them but what we know agreeth with the Word of God In which saying of many of these times there is contained a greater defect than all doe observe therein For first by so saying they attribute not such authority as is due unto the Church their Mother they duely acknowledge not her loyalty unto Christ her Head S. Paul propoundeth the Church her fidelity or faithfull obeience to be a patterne for imitation where he saith As the Church is subject unto Christ Eph. 5.24 so let the wives bee to their owne husbands in every thing Put case that in that her fundamentall Doctrine there were some deliveries not in all respects so perfect as are the Scriptures of God our Father yet it is against her loving nature and prudence to propound unto us any matter for our hurt Yea what we suppose to be imperfect wee may make that use thereof for which it was by her intended and be much benefited thereby Secondly by that their limitation they imply that they have an ability to judge the understanding and wisdome of their mother And if they bee demanded whence they have received so great an extraordinary abilitie as to judge of their mother the Church her knowledge and Doctrine The common answer is by their reading the holy Scriptures They not seriously considering what is written in them also Acts 8.30 31. That how can one reading the holy Scriptures understand them except some man guide him Malachi 2.7 And that the Priests lips is to keepe knowledge and the people is to seeke the Law at his mouth The Clergie of the Church is to teach the common people of the same The lay people in their understanding and applying the Scriptures are to be guided by the Priesthood or Clergy And before it hath beene declared that the universall Clergy with one mouth and consent have borne witnesse That there is not any thing in the Booke of Common Prayer which is contrary to the Word of God And that the booke of Homilies doth containe a godly and wholesome Doctrine and necessary for these times to bee understanded of the people Seeing then all the guides in the Church all the ordained keepers of knowledge all such from whom the people are appointed to seeke the Law or spirituall instruction and teaching doe testifie together the truth and profitablenesse of the bookes of the Divine Service can any one justly accept against any deliverie in them unlesse he doe assume unto himselfe for to outsee the whole Clergy of the Church of England The Lord Iesus Christ hath so greatly confirmed the authority of his Church that he hath said Mat. 18.17 Whoso neglecteth to heare the Church let him or her be unto his people as an Heathen and a Publicane Wherefore it is our bounden duty most diligently to heare read and meditate on every particular delivery in those fundamentall bookes composed by the perfectest wisdome of the Church our mother and to frame our mindes and lives according to every prescription
consent out of their farre most profound judgements delivered unto us in an incomparable divine manner A Table of the CHAPTERS in generall CHAP. 1 THat there is a God PAG. 1 CHAP. 2 That there is a Trinity in the Godhead PAG. 3 CHAP. 3 Of God the Father PAG. 4 CHAP. 4 Of God the Sonne PAG. 5 CHAP. 5 Of God the Holy Ghost PAG. 7 CHAP. 6 Of certaine Attributes unto God PAG. 9 CHAP. 7 Of the Creation of the World and of the Angels in speciall PAG. 13 CHAP. 8 Of the Creation of Man and of his estate in Innocencie PAG. 15 CHAP. 9 Of Mans falling from God and of the Misery of mankinde thereby PAG. 16 CHAP. 10 Of Gods Calling Mankind PAG. 18 CHAP. 11 Of Iustification PAG. 19 CHAP. 12 Of the true and liuely Faith PAG. 22 CHAP. 13 Of the Faith in the People of God which lived afore the Incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ ever since the fall PAG. 25 CHAP. 14 Of the Arke which Noah built and of other things in the Storie of the Old Testament PAG. 27 CHAP. 15 Of Circumcision PAG. 29 CHAP. 16 Of the Calling of Moses PAG. 31 CHAP. 17 Of the Passeover PAG. 33 CHAP. 18 Of the Law given by Moses PAG. 35 CHAP. 19 Of the Tabernacle and Temple of the Iewes PAG. 38 CHAP. 20 Of St. Iohn Baptists Preaching PAG. 40 CHAP. 21 Of the Holy Incarnation and Nativitie of our Lord Iesus Christ PAG. 42 CHAP. 22 Of Christs death PAG. 45 CHAP. 23 Of the Resurrection and Ascension of Iesus Christ PAG. 47 CHAP. 24 Of the Comming downe of the Holy Ghost PAG. 49 CHAP. 25 Of the Merite of Redemption wrought by Christ PAG. 54 CHAP. 26 Of the end for which Iesus Christ Redeemed Mankinde and who of yeares of discretion of perfect age partake of the merit of the same Redemption PAG. 56 CHAP. 27 Of Christs Priest-hood PAG. 63 CHAP. 28 Of Christs Prophetship PAG. 64 CHAP. 29 Of Christs Kingdome PAG. 66 CHAP. 30 Of Christs Mediation for his People and of the Reconciliation PAG. 68 CHAP. 31 Of Christs Iudging Mankinde PAG. 70 CHAP. 32 Of the Church of Christ PAG. 74 CHAP. 33 Of the Ministerie which Christ appointed in his Church in generall PAG. 77 CHAP. 34 Of Deacons PAG. 78 CHAP. 35 Of Priests PAG. 80 CHAP. 36 Of the Bishopricke that it is a degree aboue the Priest-hood and so ordained to be by Iesus Christ PAG. 82 CHAP. 37 Of the Distinction or disparitie among Bishops or of Arch-Bishopricke PAG. 85 CHAP. 38 Of the Prophetship that every kinde thereof is not ceased PAG. 90 CHAP. 39 Of Lord-ship which Arch-Bishops Bishops have PAG. 93 CHAP. 40 Of the Lyturgie or Divine Service of the Church in generall PAG. 94 CHAP. 41 Of the Ceremonies of the Church of England in generall PAG. 97 CHAP. 42 Of Wearing a Surplesse PAG. 101 CHAP. 43 Of the due Celebration of Sundayes and other times required by the Church to be kept holy PAG. 104 CHAP. 44 Of Prayer Thanksgiving and Confession unto God in publike and in private PAG. 111 CHAP. 45 Of Singing Psalmes and Spirituall Songs in publike in private also of singing with Musicke PAG. 116 CHAP. 46 Of the publike reading of the Holy Scriptures as also of the Homilies and of making an Exhortation in publike PAG. 119 CHAP. 47 Of Expounding the Scriptures and of Preaching also of Peoples hearing Sermons PAG. 124 CHAP. 48 Of Peoples reading the Holy Scriptures in private and of meanes helping to the Vnderstanding of thē PAG. 132 CHAP. 49 Of Reading the Bookes in the Bible which are called writings Apocrypha PAG. 142 CHAP. 50 Of the Peoples learning the most Sacred Catechisme of the Church which is in the Booke of Common Prayer PAG. 144 CHAP. 51 Of Baptisme PAG. 147 CHAP. 52 Of Godfathers and Godmothers PAG. 150 CHAP. 53 Of the signe of the Crosse made on the fore-head of the Child having received Baptisme PAG. 152 CHAP. 54 Of Confirmation commonly called Bishopping PAG. 154 CHAP. 55 Of the Holy Communion or the Sacrament of the and Blood of Iesus Christ PAG. 158 CHAP. 56 Of preparing ones selfe for to receive worthily the Holy Sacrament PAG. 166 CHAP. 57 Of Kneeling in the Act of Receiving the Sacrament PAG. 168 CHAP. 58 Of Matrimonie PAG. 170 CHAP. 59 Of the Ring used in the Solemnization of Matrimonie PAG. l72 CHAP. 60 Of thankesgiving of women after Child-birth commonly called the Churching of Women PAG. 173 CHAP. 61 Of Combination or Denouncing Gods Curse due unto sinners which will not Repent or doe neglect the same PAG. 175 CHAP. 62 Of Excommunication PAG. 177 CHAP. 63 Of Confession and Absolution in particular manner PAG. 180 CHAP. 64 Of Penance PAG. 184 CHAP. 65 Of Visiting the Sicke PAG. 187 CHAP. 66 Of the Communion of the Sicke PAG. 189 CHAP. 67 Of the Buriall of the Dead PAG. 191 CHAP. 68 Of the Reverence to be done to Almighty God in his Worship PAG. 193 CHAP. 69 Of Good Workes in generall PAG. 202 CHAP. 70 Of the Kings Soveraigntie and of bearing faith and true Allegiance to his Majestie his Heires and Successors PAG. 207 CHAP. 71 Of Submission to all Powers inferiour to the Kings Majestie PAG. 214 CHAP. 72 Of Magestrates duties in generall PAG. 217 CHAP. 73 Of Swearing PAG. 220 CHAP. 74 Of Honouring the Ministerie PAG. 224 CHAP. 75 Of Vsing the Perambulation of the Circuit of the Parish called Going a Procession PAG. 226 CHAP. 76 Of Almes-deedes PAG. 230 CHAP. 77 Of Fasting PAG. 233 CHAP. 78 Of Conversion Repentance and Regeneration PAG. 239 CHAP. 79 Of our Duty towards God as it is delivered in the most sacred Catechisme PAG. 249 CHAP. 80 Of our Duty towards our Neighbour as it is expressed in most divine manner in the Catechisme also PAG. 260 CHAP. 81 Of the Duty of the Husband unto his wife and of the Duty of the wife unto her husband PAG. 266 CHAP. 82 Of the Duty of Parents toward their children and of children towards their Parents likewise of Masters and Dames to their servants and of servants to their Masters and Dames PAG. 272 CHAP. 83 of the foure Princiall vertues PAG. 279 CHAP. 84 Of the seeven gifts of Grace PAG. 282 CHAP. 85 Of Sundry fruits of the Holy Spirit PAG. 287 CHAP. 86 Of Sundry other Vertues prescribed in the Divine Service PAG. 294 CHAP. 87 Of Satisfaction for wrong done in word or deede PAG. 306 CHAP. 88 Of Forgiving others the wrongs which they have done to us in word or deede PAG. 309 CHAP. 89 Of Examining and judging our owne selves PAG. 313 CHAP. 90 Of Seeking Gods Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof PAG. 320 CHAP. 91 Of the Christian Vnite PAG. 326 CHAP. 92 Of Growing in the Christian faith and the Christian life PAG. 333 CHAP. 93 Of the Devill PAG. 343 CHAP. 94 Of the seven deadly Sinnes PAG. 350 CHAP. 95 Of Sundry other Sinns PAG. 360 CHAP. 96 Of the Sinne against
in all In all the Sacred Song of the Church which is to be sayd or Sung in the Ordering of Priests which also is commonly set afore the Psalmes in Meeter what the Holy Ghost is and what his gifts and workings are it is very Divinely deliuered and remarkablely it is sayd in the second Staue thereof Thou art the very o Iohn 14.16 Comforter in all woe and distresse The Heauenly p Luke 11.13 gift of God most high which no tongue can q 2 Cor. 12.4 as in margent expresse The fountaine and the liuely spring of r 1 Thes 1.6 ioy Celestiall The n = s Acts 2.3.4 fire so bright Omnes quod sumus ac vigemus inde est Regnat spiritus ille sempiturnus à Chriso simul et parente missus intrat pectora candidus pudica qua Templi vice consecrata videÌ„t Post quam combiberint deuÌ„ medullis Sed siquid vitij dolive nasci inter visceraiam dicata sensit ceu spurcum refugit â—eler satellum Et nonnullis interjectis Hic pastui anima est saporque verus Poâ—â—â— prâ—dentiâ—â— the t Rom. 5.5 loue so cleare and u 1 Ioh. 2.20.27 vnction Spirituall And now concluded be these Collections concerning the Holy Blessed and Glorious Trinity with that of the Prayer to the Holy Ghost to be sung before the Sermon All glory to the Trinity that is of mighties most The liuing father and the Sonne and eke the holy Ghost As it hath beene in all the time that hath beene heretofore As it is now and so shall be henceforth for euermore CHAP. 6. Of certaine Attributes vnto God IN the beginning of sundry Prayers and in other places of the Divine Service Of Gods Eternity for the more expressing of the glory of God there are added vnto his name sundry Attributes As it is sayd oftentimes O euerlasting God O euerliuing God And in the Athanatian Creede hee is sayd to bee the One Eternall Moses in his Prayer which is in the Booke of the Psalmes doth in like manner confesse the Eternity of God saying Before w Psal 9â— 2 the Mountaynes were brought foorth or euer thou hadst formed the earth and the VVorld euen from euerlasting to euerlasting thou art God The Euerlasting is in the Booke of Baruch mentioned as one of Gods names where it is sayd Let them x Baruch 4 14. that dwell about Syon come and remember yee the Captivity of my Sonnes and Daughters which the Euerlasting hath brought vpon them God is also sayd to be Infinite or Incomprehensible Of Gods infinitenesse or immensity as in the first part of the * 2 T. p. 221. Homily for Rogation VVeeke where it is sayd He is y Iob 9.11 invisible euery where and x Acts 17.27.28 in enery Creature and a Ieremia 2 3.24 fulfilleth both Heauen and earth with his presence In considering whereof Dauid said Whether shall I goe from thy Spirit Or whether shall I flee from thy Presence if I goe vp into Heauen thou art there if I make my bed in Hell behold thou art there If I take the Wings of the morning and dwel in the vttermost parts of the Sea euen there shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand shall hold me b Psal 139.7.8.9.10.13 Thou hast possessed my Reines thou hast couered me in my mothers Wombe In the Booke of Wisedome it is sayd The c Wisd 1.7 Spirit of the Lord filleth the World and that which contayneth all things hath knowledge of the Voyce And d Wisd 12.1 thine incorruptible spirit is in all things Of Gods Almightinesse Moreouer God is often called Almighty as in the prayer to be sayd in the time of Warre O Almighty God King of all Kings and Gouernour of all things whose power no Creature is able to resist The Almighty power of God is liuely expressed in the end of the Visitation of the sicke where it is sayd The Almighty Lord which is a * Pro. 18.10 strong Tower to all them that put their trust in him to whom all things in Heauen in Earth and * Phil. 2 9.10 vnder the Earth doe bowe and obey be now and euermore thy defence and make thee know and feele that there is none other name vnder Heauen giuen vnto men in whom and through whom thou mayest receiue health and saluation but only the name * Act. 4.12 of our Lord Iesus Christ The Prophet Dauid sayth The c Psalm 103.19 Lord hath prepared his Throne in the Heauens and his Kingdome ruleth ouer all Esay sayth Behold f Esay 40.15.17 the Nations are as the drop of a Bucket and are counted as the small dust of the Ballance Behold he taketh vp the Iles as a very little thing All Nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him lesse than nothing and vanity Incomparable Wisdome is also ascribed vnto God as in the first part of the * 2. T. p. 219. Sermon for Rogation VVeeke Of Gods Wisdome where it is sayd I do not take vpon me to declare vnto you the excellent power or the incomparable Wisdome of Almighty God as though I would haue you beleeue that it might be expressed vnto you by Words And in the second part of that Homily it is sayd Page 224. His sight looketh through Heauen and Earth and seeth all things presently with his eyes Nothing is too darke or hidden from his Knowledge not the priuy thoughts of mens mindes Dauid sayth Great g Psal 147.5 is our Lord and of great power his vnderstanding is infinite The Apostle to the Hebrewes sayth there is not any h Heb. 4.13 Creature which is not manifest in his sight but all thinges are naked and opened vnto the eyes of him with whom we haue to do Againe concerning Gods Wisedome Dauid sayth O i Psal 104 24. Lord how manifold are thy Works in Wisedome hast thou made them all Of Gods goodnesse Goodnesse also is attributed vnto God euen through out all parts of the Divine Seruice In the first part of the * 2. Tom p. 217. Homily for Rogation Weeke there is amply declared the goodnesse of God towards mankind in sundry particulars Wherein Holy Church doth as the Scripture sayth aboundantly k Psal 145 7.9 vtter the memory of Gods great goodnesse The Lord is good to all Of Gods Ivstnesse Iustnesse also is ascribed vnto God as in the Prayer to be sayd in time of Warre where it is written To God it belongeth iustly to punish sinners and to be mercifull to them that truely Repent Dauid saith The O Lord is righteous in all his wayes And m Psal 62.12 thou rendrest vnto euery one according to his workes Nehemiah sayd vnto God Thou n Nehem. 9.33 art iust in all that is brought vpon vs for thou hast done right but we haue done wickedly Zephaniah sayth
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
breake bread that is to eare the i Acts 20.7 Lords Supper The Church of Christ also rightly vseth Ecclesiasticall discipline as the Church of Corinth k 1. Cor. 5.4 5 11. excommunicated the incestuous one according to the Law If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator c. with such a one no not to eate and afterward when he was l 2. Cor. 2.6.7.8 penitent the Church receiued him againe into her holy communion CHAP 33. Of the Ministerie which Christ appointed in his Church in generall IN the Booke of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons in the Prayer afore the consecration of a Bishop it is said That Christ being ascended into heauen powred downe his gifts abundantly vpon men m Eph. 4.11.12 making some Apostles some Prophets some Euangelists some Pastors and Doctors to the edifying and making perfect his congregation And in the prayer afore ordering Priests it is added By whose labour and Ministerie he gathered together a great flocke in all parts of the world to set forth the eternall praise of his holy Name It is there also added So that as â—ell by these thy Ministers as by them to whom they shall be appointed Ministers thy holy Name may be alwayes glorified and thy blessed kingdome enlarged The Apostle saith to the Hebrewes n Hebr. 5.1 â— 4.5 Euery high Priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sinnes who can haue compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way for that he himselfe also is compassed with infirmity And by reason hereof he ought as for the people so also for himselfe to offer for sinnes And no man taketh this honour vnto himselfe but he that is called of God as was Aaron The ground of Christs Ministery is signified in Saint Peters deliuery out of Amos by whom the Lord said o Acts 15.16.17 After this I will returne and will build againe the tabernacle of Dauid which is fallen downe and I will build againe the ruines thereof and I will set it vp that the residue of men might seeke after the Lord and all the Gentiles vpon whom my name is called saith the Lord who doth all these things Paul and Barnabas said vnto the Iewes p Act. 13.46.47 It was necessary that the word of God should first haue beene spoken vnto you but seeing yee put it from you and iudge your selues vnworthy of euerlasting life loe wee turne to the Gentiles For so hath the Lord commanded vs saying I haue set thee to be a light of the Gentiles that thou shouldest be for saluation vnto the ends of the earth Also it is signified thereof to the Hebrewes where it is said If perfection were by the Leuiticall Priesthood for vnder it the people receiued the Law what further neede was there that another Priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec and not be called after the order of Aaron For the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a * Cur ergo baptizas si tu â—on es Christus ille neque Elias neque Propheta illâ— Ioh. 1.25 Hinc doceri potest Iudaeos ipsos non ignorasse mutationem aliquam fore in religione sub Mesâ—ia inquit quidam in annot ad Ioh. 1.25 in bibl Iun. change also of the Law CHAP. 34. Of Deacons IN the sacred Seruice for the ordering of Deacons it is said It appertaineth to the office 〈◊〉 λ a Deacon in q Heb. 7.11.12 the Church where hee shall be appointed to assist the Priest in Diuine Seruice and specially when he ministreth the holy Communion and to helpe him in distribution thereof and to reade holy Scriptures and Homilies in the Congregation and to instruct the youth in the Catechisme to Baptize and to Preach if he be admitted thereto by the Bishop And furthermore it is his office where prouision is so made to search for the sicke poore and impotent people of the Parish and to intimate their estates names and places where they dwell to the Curate that by his exhortation they may be relieued by the Parish or other conuenient almes The Deacons saith Saint Paul vnto Timothy must be such as hold the r 1. Tim. 3.8.9.10 Mystery of the faith in a pure conscience Their ordination is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles where it is deliuered Å¿ Act. 6.2.3.4 5.6 that the Apostles said to the multitude of Disciples It is not reason that we should leaue the word of God to serue tables Wherefore said they looke out among you seuen men of honest report full of the Holy Ghost and wisdome whom we may appoint ouer this businesse and they choose Stephen Philip c. whom they set before the Apostles and when they had prayed they laide their hands on them t Act. 6.9.10 Steuen forthwith mightily defended the Christian faith by disputing against the aduersaries thereof and afterward made a diuine declaration recorded in the seuenth of the Acts. u Act. 8.5.12 Philip after Steuens death went downe vnto the Citie of Samaria and preached Christ vnto them and baptized both men and women CHAP. 35. Of Priests IN the Diuine Seruice of the ordering of Priests in the exhortation to be read vnto them afore hands be laid on them it is said And now we exhort you in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ to haue in remembrance into how high a d gnity and to how chargeable an office ye be called that is to say the w Mal. 3 1. Messengers the x Isa 56 10. Watchmen the y Ier. 3.15 Pastors and the z 1 Cor 4.1.2 Stewards of the Lord to teach to a Eze. 33.7.8.9 premonish to b Ioh. 21.15.16.17 feede and prouide for the Lords family to c Ezech. â—4 6. seeke for Christs sheepe that be dispersed abroad and for his children which be in the d Phil. 2.15 middest of this naughty world to be saued through Christ for euer Wherefore consider with your selues the end of your Ministery towards the childen of God towards the spouse and body of Christ and see that you neuer cease your labour your care and dilâ—gence vntill you haue done all that lyeth in you according to your bounden dutie to bring all such as are or shall be committed to your charge vnto that e Eph. 4.13 agreement in faith and knowledge of God and to that ripenesse and perfectnesse of age in Christ that there be no place left among you either of errour in religion or for viciousnesse of f Col. 1.28 life It is said vnto euery one receiuing the order of the Priesthood hee humbly kneeling vpon his knees by the Bishop when he with the Priests present lay hands on him g Ioh. 20.22.23 Receiue the Holy Ghost whose sinnes thou doest forgiue they are forgiuen and whose sinnes thou doest retaine they
his consecration receiueth a greater measure of the Holy Ghost than a Priest doth in his ordering Which may appeare out of the Diuine Seruice for consecrating a Bishop where it is sayd The Archbishop and Bishops present shall lay their hands vpon the head of the elected Bishop the Archbishop saying x 2. Tim. 1.6.7 Take the Holy Ghost and remember that thou stirre vp the grace of God which is in thee by imposition of hands For God hath not giuen vs the spirite of feare but of power and loue and sobernesse For euen so Saint Paul after a peculiar manner expressed vnto Timothy Bishop of Ephesus as it is deliuered in his second Epistle vnto him CHAP. 37. Of the distinction or disparity among Bishops or of Archbishopricke IN the Preface afore the Common Prayer it is sayd For as much as nothing can almost be so plainely set forth but doubts may rise in the vse and practising of the same To appease all such diuersity if any arise and for the resolution of all doubts concerning the manner how to vnderstand doe and execute the things contained in this booke The parties that so doubt or diuersly take any thing shall alwayes resort to the Bishop of the Diocesse who by his discretion shall take order for the quieting and appeasing of the same so that the same order be not contrary to any thing contained in this booke And if the Bishop of the Diocesse be in doubt then he may send for the resolution thereof vnto the y 1. Pet. 5.5 Archbishop An Archbishop therefore in the seruice of consecrating is called Most Reuerend Father in God vnto whom euery Bishop consecrated to Diocesse within his Prouince professeth and promiseth by oath all due reuerence and obedience like as euery Priest doth vnto the Bishop within whose Diocesse he is Pastour Now that such an order among the Bishops is of Diuine ordinance it is euident from that the first persons named Bishops in the Primitiue Christian Church * 2. Tim. 1.6 Timothy and * Tit. 1.4.5 Titus were ordered or ordained by their superiour in God the Apostle which degree was the highest in the Christian Clergie according as Paul saith z 1. Cor. 12.28 God hath set in the Church first Apostles c. And the Apostleship is callâ—d Bishopricke where it is sayd And his a Acts 1.20 Bishopricke let another take It being therefore a Bishopricke aboue that which Timothy and Titus had properly it is named in respect thereof an Archbishopricke But some there are which say that such distinction was not by Christ or dained to continue in his Church but onely was appointed in the primitiue state thereof whiles Churches were in planting and is now long agoe quite ceased The which affirmation is no where deliuered in Holy Scripture nor intimated neither from any sentence therein can be truly concluded But the direct contrary Doctrine is deliuered by Saint Paul to the Ephesians and that in most expresse manner Let Saint Pauls whole deliuery or the most part thereof hereto bee vnpartially considered His words are b Ephes 4.7.8.11.12.13 14.15 Vnto euery one of vs is giuen grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Wherefore he sayth When he ascended vp on high he led captiuity captiue and gaue gifts vnto men And hee gaue some Apostles and some Prophets and some Euangelists and some Pastours and Teachers For the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the vnity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with euery winde of Doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lye in waite to deceiue but speaking the truth in loue may grow vp into him in all things which is the head euen Christ c. The which deliuery of the Apostle declareth most plainely that Christ gaue such different and distinct measures of grace vnto his Church not for a worke then onely necessary but now also needfull viz. For the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ Also he gaue the sayd measures of grace to continue not onely during the first age of the Primitiue Church but till we all come in the vnity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ And the cause or ende of Christs such giuing doth continually concerne his Church Namely That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with euery wind of doctrine by the â—light of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they â—ye in waite to deceiue but speaking the truth in loue may grow vp into him in all things which is the head euen Christ Moreouer Christ doth not giue lesse measure of grace to his Church in these times than in former times Isaiah sayth c Isa 59.1 The Lords hand is not shortned And the Lord himselfe sayd Loe d Math. 28. â—0 I am with you alway euen vnto the end of the world Furthermore let be considered what the Apostolicall worke was and the Archiepiscopall now will appeare to be the same in substance Timothy had for his Diocesse but the Church of the Ephesians and Titus the Church of the Cretians but Paul had for his Prouince or charge the care of all the Churches of the f Gâ—l 2 7.8 Gentiles Paul preached the Gospell he Baptised he g 2. Tim. 1.6.7 1. Tim. 1.3 Tit. 1.5 consecrated Bishops h Acts 14.23 with Tit. 1.5 1. Pet. 5.1.2.3 4. Acts 20.17.28 he ordered Priests and instituted them to e 2. Cor 11.28 be Pastours he Bishopped or k Act. 19.6 with Acts 8 17. confirmed beleeuers he m 1. Tim. 1.20 excommunicated he sate in n Acts 15.12 councell about Church matters c. And euen as the Tabernacle of God was all one as concerning the substance and spirituall vse thereof when it was o 1. Kin. 8.6.13 seated in Solomons Temple as it was when it remoued from place to place so the supreme p Eph 4.7 8.11 with 1. Cor. 12 28. grace and gift of Christ to his Church the Apostolicall gift or grace was all one for the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ when it is setled in a country as it was when the q 2. Cor. 4.7 vessell which beared it remoued from country to country as he had commission thereto from the Spirit of the Lord. Also there is not expresse mention that euery Apostle trauailed from country to country whom Christ ordained or gaue to his Church Did not Saint Iames r
able to make the like vnlesse by some measure of speciall illumination from Gods Holy Spirit as many vnderstanding ones do now thinke yea and affirme And if the Heauen mentioned in the Booke of the Reuelation which is commaunded or exhorted to q Acts 18.20 reioyce ouer Babylon fallen be the reformed Church of Christ as some do expound it Is it not probable that the Apostles which are there willed to reioyce with that Heauen are the Archbishops and Bishops therein and * By putting part or the chiefe for the whole or all figuratiuely the rest of the Clergie thereof And that the Prophets there willed also to reioyce are all such as then receiued a speciall enlightening from Almighty God vnto the setting forward of the reformation and among them more especially such as were composers of the aforenamed bookes of the sacred Liturgy of the Church of England CHAP. 39. Of Lordship which Archbishops and Bishops haue IT is written that Å¿ Heb. 7.1.2 Melchisedec Priest of the high God was withall King of Salem or Ierusalem Abraham was a t Gen. 20.7 Prophet and withall a man of great u Gen. 14.14 15 temporall power Moses was a w Deut. 34.10 prophet and withall the supreme x Acts 7 35. Num. 26.16.17 Gouernour of the people of Israel vnder Almighty God He is called a King Deut. 33.5 Iethro was y Exod. 3.1 Priest of Midian and according to some interpretation he was z Exod. 2.16 in the Margent Sicautem Caldaeus Paraphrastes vertit viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prince of Midian Eli was Priest and also a 1. Sam. 4.18 Iudge ouer Israel Samuel was a b Acts 13.20 Prophet and also c 1 Sam. 7.6 Iudge ouer Israel Dauid was a d Mat 27 35. Prophet and King also Solomon was a e Eccles 1.1 Preacher and a King also Simon was f Ecclus. 50.1 high Priest and g 1. Mac. 13.42 1. Mac. 14.47 Captaine and Gouernour of the Priests and Iewes and defender of them all If then some of the Ministery haue bin the supreme Gouernours in Nations may they not now be Gouernours if the Royall Maiestie so ordaine them Saint Iude calleth those persons h Iude 18. filthy dreamers which doe despise dominion and speake euill of dignities CHAP. 24. Of the Liturgie or Diuine Seruice of the Church in generall IN the second part of the * Tom. 2. p. 6. Homily concerning the right vse of the Church the publike Seruice of the Lord is sayd to be The teaching and hearing of his Holy Word the calling vpon his holy Name the giuing thankes vnto him for his great and innumerable benefits and the due ministring of the Sacraments In the * T. 2. p. 138. Homily of Common Prayer and Sacraments it is sayd That Basilius Magnus and Iohannes Chrysostomus did in their time prescribe publike orders of publike administration which they call Liturgies and in them they appointed the people to answere vnto the prayer of the Minister sometime Amen sometime Lord haue mercy vpon vs sometime And with thy Spirit and We haue our hearts lifted vp vnto the Lord c. In the same * To. 2. p. 134. Homily it is also sayd By the histories of the Bible it appeareth that publike and common Prayer is most auaileable before God and therefore is much to be lamented that it is no better * Euen shortly after that the Diuine Seruice was set foorth the Diuell wrought in many people a more and more neglecting of it esteemed among vs which professe to be but one body in Christ It is said in the Preface before the Common Prayer That the first original and ground of the diuine Seruice of a man would search out by the ancient Fathers he shall finde that the same was not ordained but of a good purpose and for a great aduancement of godlinesse c. Saint Paul sayd vnto Timothy i 1. Tim. 2.1.2.3 I exhort that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giuing of thankes be made for all men for Kings and for all that are in authority that we may leade a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Sauiour Moses from the Lord prescribed vnto Aaron and vnto his sonnes a forme of blessing the people saying k Num. 6.23.24.25.26 On this wise yee shall blesse the children of Israel saying vnto them The Lord blesse thee and keepe the The Lord make his face shine vpon thee and be gracious vnto thee The Lord lift vp his countenance vpon thee and giue thee peace It is very considerable hereto that which is written of King Hezekiah in the booke of Chronicles That he and the Princes commanded the Leuites to sing praise vnto the Lord l 2. Chro. 29.30 with the words of Dauid and of * With the wordes also which Asaph deliuered which were as a Forme of praise or of praising God Asaph the Seer My sonne sayth m Pro. 1.8.9 Solomon heare the instruction of thy Father and forsake not the lawe of thy Mother For they shall be an ornament of grace vnto thine head and chaines about thy necke Solomon repeateth this precept of God to the ende wee may take it all vnto heart as a matter most greatly concerning vs. n Pro 6.21 22.23 My sonne keepe thy Fathers commandement and forsake not the law of thy Mother Binde them continually vpon thine heart and tye them about thy necke For the commandement is a Lampe and the law is light o Haeresi septua gesima qâ—inta contra Aâ—â—â—um de quâ—busâ—am traditionibus loquens Ecclesia inquit necessariò hoc persâ—eâ—â— traditione à patribus accepta Quis autem poterit statutum nâ—atâ—â—s dissoluâ—re aut legem patris velut Solomon dicit Audi fili sermonem patris tui ne repud es statuta matris tuae ostendens per hoc quòd in scriptis sine scripto dacuit pater hoc est Deus vnigenâ—tus spiritus sancius Mater autem nosira Ecclesia babet statuta in se posita indissolâ—â—bil a quae dâ—solui non possunt Epiphanius an ancient holy Father vnderstandeth by the word mother in this Scripture to be meant the Church who hath besides the holy Scriptures the Commandement of God our Father a distinct law teaching or instruction the which all her members are bound to obserue most diligently by vertue of this charge thereto giuen by God through the ministery of Solomon The Christian Church is our mother if God bee our Father as it is written Ierusalem which is aboue is free which is the p Gal. 4.26 mother of vs all God ordinarily begetteth none without his Church but in the q Psal 110.3 wombe of his Church they are conceiued thence they come to the r Isa 66.8.9 birth they Å¿ Isa 66.11.12
not their obedience to their father commended by the Lord and their fathers making such lawes approved by God in that he said k Ier. 35.18 19. Because yee have obeyed the commandement of Ionadab your father and have kept all his precepts and done according to all that he hath commanded Therfore thus saith the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel Ionadab the sonne of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever And if all the commandements and precepts of a private father are to bee kept which God hath not forbidden Then how much more all the commandements precepts and ordinances of the fathers of the Church which God hath not forbidden ought to bee most conscionably observed S. Peter commanded the people of God to submit unto l 2 Pet 2.13 every ordinance of man for the Lords sake even of such governours as were not Christians How much more then to every ordinance of Christian powers ought wee to be obedient The Ceremonies now used by the Church of England are as * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dionysius said of the like in his time resemblances framed according to things spiritually understood whereunto they serve as a hand to lead and a way to direct God hath commanded his people to use Ceremonies for to put them in minde of their duties as it is written in the booke of Numbers m Num. â—â— 38 39 40. Speake unto the children of Israel and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations and that they put upon the fringe of the border a ribband of blue And it shall be unto you for a fringe that yee may looke upon it and remember all the Commandements of the Lord and doe them Such as oppose to the established Ceremonies of the Church of England say They would have nothing used in the worship of God but what the Scripture expresseth and with the word Scripture Scripture they triumph among the simple But when as the truely learned in the holy Scriptures do examine their deliveries they discerne that much which those spirits of disobedience do call Scripture is Scripture of their own framing For it is most usuâ—l with them when a Scripture is alleaged testifying expresly against them to put it off by saying wee must not cleave to the letter but to the meaning namely a meaning which they will devise contrary to the letter which is the Scripture Also the leaâ—â—eder among them pretending the originall Text to make for them against the sacred deliveries of holy Church doe either adde thereto or take there from or wrest the same and that ye seeke not after your owne heart and your owne eyes after which yee use to goe a whoring That yee may remember and doe all my commandements and be holy unto your God CHAP. 42. Of wearing a Surplisse IN the order where morning and evening prayer shall be used and said set before the beginning of the common prayer it is delivered That the Minister at the time of the Communion and at other times in his ministration shall use such Ornaments in the Church as were in use by Authoritie of Parliament in the second yeare of the Reigne of Edward the sixt according to the Act of Parliament set in the beginning of this a Namely of the bocke of Common Prayer booke Among which Ornaments the Surplisse is one In Canon 74. it is said The true ancient and flourishing Churches of Christ being ever desirous that their Prelacie and Clergie might bee had as well in outward reverence as otherwise regarded for the worthinesse of their Ministery did thinke it fit by a prescript forme of decent and comely apparell to have them knowne to the people and thereby to receive the honour and estimation due to the speciall Messengers and Ministers of Almighty God And towards the end thereof it is said In all which particulars concerning the apparell here prescribed our meaning is not to attribute any holinesse or speciall worthinesse to the said garments but for decencie gravity and order When Almightie God ordained his Leviticall Priesthood he commanded Moses saying b Exod 28.2 Thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty Whereof Iesus the sonne of Sirach saith c Ecclus. 45.7 8 9 10 11 12. God beautified Aaron with comely Ornaments and cloathed him with a robe of glory The Lord by Ezekiel in the restauration of his worship in the Temple giveth speciall charge how the Priests shall be clad in their ministration saying d Ezek. 44.17 18. And it shall come to passe that when they enter in at the gates of the inner Court they shall bee cloathed with linnen garments and no Wooll shall come upon them whiles they minister in the gates of the inner Court and within They shall have linnen Bonnets upon their heads and shall have linnen Breeches upon their loynes they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat In Exodus it is said e Exod. 39.27 There were made Coates of fine linnen of woven worke for Aaron and for his sonnes Is it any where forbidden in the new Testament to the Ministers of the Christian Religion for to weare garments in any manner like to the garments which God ordained his Ministers to weare afore the Incarnation of Iesus Christ Doth not rather the equitie and f Rom. 8.4 righteousnesse of Moses law concerning ministeriall garments now binde Gods Ministers whiles they are executing their Office in the Church to bee attired differently from lay men Wherefore have Angels since Christs death appeared in their service cloathed in long g Mar. 16.5 white raiment but to signifie that such manner garment best beseemeth Gods Ministers his h Mal. 3.1 Rev. 1.20 Augels whiles they are in performing the Divine service Why is it written in the Revelation that the seven Angels came out of the Temple cloathed in pure and i Rev. 15.6 white linnen but to signifie that pure white linnen is the fittest rayment for Angels or Ministers whiles they serve in any Temple And if it bee granted to the wife of the Lambe that shee should be arrayed in fine linnen cleane and k Rev. 19.8 Hieronymus contra Pelagian libro primo scribit Quae sunt rogâ— inimicitiae contra Deum si Episcopus Presbyter Diaconus reliquus ordo Ecclesiasticus in administratione sâ—c rificiorum câ—ndida veste processerint white for the fine linnen is the. righteousnesse of the Saints Why may it not bee granted to her more excellent Members to be so arrayed in presence of that Lambe and in his publike service with materiall fine linnen cleane and white in fignification of the righteousnes of Saints wherewithal they ought most conspicuously or eminently to be l Ps 132.9 arrayed The generall rule without all exception given by the Holy Ghost concerning matters in publike worship cannot but
Iesus concerning you And Isaiah signifieth that thankesgiving acceptable to God consisteth not in words onely where he saith u Isa 5.16 God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousnes In another place he saith w Isa 66.5 Heare ye the word of the Lord yee that tremble at his word your brethren that hated you that cast you out for my names sake said Let the Lord be glorified but he shall appeare to your joy and they shall bee ashamed Memorably saith the Church in the Communion service It is very meet right and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places give thankes unto thee O Lord Holy Father Almighty Everlasting God Of confession to God Concerning publike confession of our sinnes unto God the Divine Service beginneth with one that is generall and likewise there is a generall confession to be made afore receiving of the holy Communion The Prophet Daniel made a solemne x Dan. 9.4 confession unto God in the behalfe of the Iewes in generall that were with him in captivity in Babylon And Baruch wrote a long y Bar. 1.14.15 c. confession for the Iewes at Ierusalem to make reading it in the House of the Lord upon the feasts and solemne dayes There is also private confession of our sins to be made unto God whereof it is said in the second part of the * T. 2. Homily of repentance that it is the second part of repentance And the Homily saith If we will with a sorrowfull and contrite heart make an unfeined confession of our sinnes unto God hee will freely and frankly forgive them and so put all our wickednesse out of remembrance before the sight of his Majestie that they shall no more be z Heb. 8.12 thought upon Hereunto doth pertaine the golden saying of David where he saith on this manner a Ps 32.5 Then I acknowledged my sinne unto thee neither did I hide mine iniquitie I said I will confesse against my selfe my wickednesse unto the Lord and thou forgavest the ungodlinesse of my sinne These are also the words of Iohn the Evangelist b 1 Iohn 1.9 10. If wee confesse our sinnes God is faithfull and righteous to forgive us our sinnes and to make us cleane from all our wickednesse Which ought to be understood of the confession made unto God This is then the chiefest and most principall confession that in the Scriptures and Word of God wee are bidden to make and without the which wee shall never obtaine pardon and forgivenesse of our sinnes The Prodigall sonne made such a confession saying c Luke 15.21 Father I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy sonne Salomon saith d Prov. 28.13 Hee that hideth his sinnes shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsakes them shall finde mercy CHAP. 45. Of singing Psalmes and spirituall songs in publike and in private and also of singing with musicke IN the title of the Psalmes in meeter in the Booke of Common prayer it is thus said The whole booke of Psalmes collected into English meeter by c. Conferred with the Hebrew with apt notes to sing them withall Set forth and allowed to bee sung in all Churches of all people together before and after morning and evening prayer as also before and after sermons and moreover in private houses for their godly solace and comfort laying apart all ungodly songs and Ballads which tend onely to the nourishing of vice and corrupting of youth Iames 5.13 If any be afflicted let him pray and if any be merry let him sing Psalmes And then in the Common prayer booke of that forme which is appointed for Churches there is added a Treatise made by Athanasius the great cōcerning the use and vertue of the Psalmes whose beginning is thus and a delivery most memorable All holy Scripture is certainly the teacher of all vertue and of true faith but the booke of Psalmes doth expresse after a certaine manner the very state and condition of the soule For as he which intendeth to present himselfe to a King first will compound with himselfe to set in good order both his gesture and his speech lest else he might be reputed rude and ignorant even so doth this godly booke informe all such as be desirous to lead their life in vertue and to know the life of our Saviour which hee ledd in his conversation putting them in minde in the reading thereof of all their affections and passions whereto their soule is inclined c. And then doe follow 99. signifyings of what Psalmes may be sung even upon most occasions that come to passe in this present life And both before and also after the Psalmes in meeter there are sundry spirituall songs which may be sung upon sundry occasions unto the great comfort of the minde * Of singing with musicke Concerning singing in publike it is said in the booke of Ezra e Ezra 3.10 11. When the builders laid the foundation of the Temple of the Lord they set the Priests in their apparell with Trumpets and the Levites the sonnes of Asaph with Cymbals to praise the Lord after the Ordinance of Dauid King of Israel And they sang together by course in praising and giving thankes unto the Lord because hee is good for his mercy indureth for ever towards Israel And in the booke of Chronicles it is said f 1 Chron. 16.7 David delivered a Psalme to thanke the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brethren The which holy Prophet hath said g Ps 148.11 12 13 14. Kings of the earth and all people Princes and all Iudges of the earth both young men and maydens old men and Children let them praise the name of the Lord. h Ps 149.1 3. Sing unto the Lord a new song and his praise in the congregation of Saints let them sing praises unto him with Timbrell and Harpe i Ps 150.1 Praise yee God in his Sanctuary k Ps 95.1 2. O come let us sing unto the Lord let us make a joyfull noyse to the rocke of our salvation Let us come before his presence with thankesgiving and make a ioyfull noyse unto him with Psalmes l Ps 100.1 Serve the Lord with gladnesse come before his presence with singing Saint Paul said to the Church of Ephesus Be m Eph. 5.18 19 filled with the spirit speaking to your selves in Psalmes and hymnes and spirituall songs singing and making melodie in your heart to the Lord. n Ps 150.3 4 5. Praise the Lord saith David with the sound of the Trumpet praise him with the Psaltery and Harpe Praise him with the Timbrell and daunce praise him with stringed instruments and Organs Praise him upon the loud Cymbals praise him upon the high sounding Cymbals It is written that Moses and the Children of Israel o Exod. 15.1 sang a song unto the Lord. And that p
Scriptures into our mother tongue to be faithfull and meet for vs both to heare and read yea and to settle our beliefe therein and ought we not also to ascribe great authoritie unto the spirit of the Church in her x 1 Thes 5.20 prophecying or sermon making her composing of the Homilies for our instruction in the Doctrine of the holy Scriptures Wee pray unto God as her wisedome hath prescribed we heare and read for holy Scripture as her wisedome hath translated and ought we not with like conscionable respect to heare and read the exhortations interpretations applications c. in her Homilies set forth for Doctrine refutation correction and instruction in righteousnesse as her wisdome hath delivered unto us The great authority of the deliveries in the Homilies may appeare unto us out of this consideration When wee heare a Pastour Curate or Lecturer preach wee heare deliveries which are but the wisdome of a private Minister But when wee heare a Homily read wee heare deliveries which are the wisdome of the Church or for approbation whereof the whole Churches Clergie have written their * See the Epistle to the Reader and the Advertisement afterward Of the Curates making a short exhortation to the people when iust occasion is thereunto assent Concerning exhortation in publike it is said in the Rubricke after the Nicene Creed After such sermon homily or exhortation the Curate shall declare unto the people whether there be any holy-dayes or fasting dayes the weeke following and earnestly exhort them to remember the poore saying one or moe of these sentences following as hee thinketh most convenient by his discretion In the * T. 2. p. 138. Homily of Common prayer and Sacraments a saying of Iustinus Martyr is related viz. Vpon the Sunday assemblies are made both of them that dwell in Cities and of them that dwell in the Countrey also Amongst whom as much as may bee the writings of the Apostles and Prophets are read Afterwards when the reader doth cease the chiefe Minister maketh an exhortation exhorting them to follow honest things In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 3. Homily concerning the right use of the Church there is mentioned what the Ruler of the Temple in Antiochia signified unto Paul and Barnabas after the lesson or reading of the Law and Prophets viz. If any of you have any exhortation to make unto the people y Acts 13.15 say it That exercise which now is cōmonly called preaching answereth much to the aforesaid exhortation yea exhortation is part of a preaching as Paul saith z 1 Cor. 14.3 He that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort But the exhortation here now meant is a short speech made unto the people which is allowed by authority yea required in sundry cases As when a briefe is read then to exhort the people unto a Rom. 12.13 2 Cor. 9 5. contribution by alleaging some Scriptures and reasons whereby the more to move them to the same When poore parties are to be married and doe desire an Offering then an b Heb. 10.24 Gal. 2.10 1 Tim. 6.17 18. exhortation may be made unto the Congregation for to stirre them unto liberality Sundry occasions doe sometimes come to passe needing some short exhortation for matters better administration CHAP. 47. Of expounding the Scriptures and of preaching also of peoples hearing sermons IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 4. Homily concerning the right use of the Church it is said That it is convenient that the Scriptures of God and specially the Gospell of our Saviour Christ should be read and expounded to us that be Christians in our Churches c. It is written in Nehemiah that the Priests read in the Law of God distinctly and gave the c Neh. 8.7 8. sense and caused the people to understand the reading Of Preaching Concerning preaching the aforesaid part of that Homily also delivereth In Luke ye reade how Iesus according to his accustomed use came into the Temple and how the booke of Isaias the Prophet was delivered him how hee read a Text therein and made a d Luke 4.16 17 18 19 20 21. sermon upon the same In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 54. Homily concerning falling from God it is said God doth send his Messengers the true preachers of his Word to e Isa 58.1 admonish and warne us of our duty The 45. constitution of the Church is Every beneficed man allowed to bee a preacher and residing on his benefice having no lawfull impediment shall in his owne Cure or in some other Church or Chappell where he may conveniently neare adjoyning where no preacher is preach one sermon every sunday of the yeare wherein he shall soberly and sincerely f 2 Tim. 2.15 divide the word of truth to the glory God and to the g 1 Cor. 14.12 Of the dignity of preaching according to holy Church her prescription best edification of the people Such a preaching of Gods Word is an exercise worthily had in high account It hath the operation of Gods Spirit commonly accompanying it into the hearts of the hearers The h Heb. 4.12 Word of God divided aright is quicke and powerfull and sharper then any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soule and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Saint Paul saith An i 1 Cor. 14.24 25. unbeleever comming in where prophesie or faithfull preaching is becommeth to be convinced in conscience The secrets of his heart are made manifest and so falling downe on his face hee will worship God and report that of a truth God is in the Preacher How k Act. 2.41 powerfull was the sermon of Peter which he made to the Iewes by the inspiration of Gods Spirit and the same Spirits operation in the hearts of his hearers The Lord said by Ieremiah concerning some Prophets If they had l Ier. 23.27 28 29. stood in my Counsell and had caused my people to heare my words then they should haue turned them from their evill wayes and from the evill of their doings He that hath my word let him speak my word faithfully Is not my word like as a fire saith the Lord and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces The Apostle saith If our Gospell be m 2 Cor. 4.3 4 hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the god of this world hath blinded the mindes of them that beleeve not lest the light of the glorious gospell of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them Of Peoples hearing of Sermons Now concerning peoples hearing of sermons it is said in the exhortation at the end of Baptisme-service That Children may know the better what their godfathers and godmothers promised and vowed in their names they shall be called upon to
Moses Moses is preached What is it to preach though the terme be now by an excellency commonly used for to make a sermon of about an houre long in the Pulpit is it not openly to make knowne the Doctrine of Christian faith and life And is not then the heavenly trueth e In Luke 8.39 the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is many times translated preaching is rendred published published or preached in the reading of the lessons the Epistle and the Gospell Is not Gods truth as concerning godlinesse f So in Luke 12.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which sometimes is rendred shall be treached as in Mat. 24 14. is there rendred shall bee proclaimed published in the reading of the common prayer in the reading of the Homilies in the explaining of the Catechisme in the Divine service and by instructing the ignorant in the same Let such as so sleight contemne or neglect the Divine service-deliveries examine themselves if they be not of like minde to those of whom it is written in Ezechiel g Ezek. 33.30 31 32. that will speake one to another every one to his brother saying Come I pray you and heare what is the word that cōmeth forth from the Lord And they come unto thee as the people commeth and they sit before thee as my people and they heare thy words but they will not doe them for with their mouth they shew much love but their heart goeth after their covetousnesse And loe thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voyce and can play well on an Instrument for they heare thy words but they doe them not Or rather if they be not such as Saint Paul foretold would be in the last dayes h 2 Tim. 4.3.4 who will not endure sound Doctrine but after their owne lusts will heape to themselves teachers having itching eares and they will turne away their eares from the trueth and will be turned unto fables Being also lovers i 2 Tim. 3.2 4 5. of their owne selves boasters proud disobedient to parents unthankfull unholy without naturall affection false accusers fierce despisers of those that are good heady high minded c. having a forme of godlinesse but denying the power thereof Were it the righteousnesse of faith and life which they k Mat. 5.6 hungred and thirsted after and as the sacred Letany saith to have the grace of Gods holy Spirit for to amend their lives according to his holy Word also for to have an heart to love and dread God and diligently to live after his Commandements They by the grace of Christ should perceive in the books of Divine service frō the publike hearing of the same a plentifull helpe to bee towards attaining that l Phil. 3.14 make as also by the reading of the holy Scriptures which the Church hath translated for them into the English tongue Who now a dayes attaineth unto that soundnesse of faith and unto that measure of holinesse and righteousnesse of life as is prescribed and taught plainly in the bookes of the Divine service Is it any godlinesse or true devotion or any property of the Christian profession for people having most wholesome food by the greatest wisedome and care of the Church prepared and so disposed as it may bee profitably received and inwardly digested unto the great increase of holy understanding and upright living in their owne Parish for to goe out thence ordinarily for food abroad with violating the established order of the Church giving offence to the Minister and a great m 1 Cor. 10.32.24.33 Rom. 14.13.19 1 Cor. 8.13 scandall to the people of the congregation CHAP. 48. Of peoples reading the holy Scriptures in private and of meanes helping unto the understanding of them THE very first of all the sacred sermons or * T. 1. p. 1. Homilies of the Church is titled a fruit full exhortation to the reading and knowledge of holy Scripture and it saith Vnto a Christian man there can bee nothing either more necessary or profitable than the knowledge of holy Scripture forasmuch as in it is contained Gods true Word setting forth his glory and also mans n 2 Tim. 3.16 17. duty And there is no truth nor doctrine o Isa 8.20 necessary for our justification and everlasting salvation but that is or may be drawne out of that Fountaine and Well of truth Therefore as many as bee desirous to enter into the right and perfect way unto God must apply their mindes to know holy Scripture without the which they can neither p Mat. 22.29 Ier. 8.9 sufficiently know God and his will neither their office and duty And as drinke is pleasant to them that be dry and meat to them that be hungry So is the reading hearing searching and studying of holy Scripture to them that be desirous to know God or themselves and to q Ps 19.10 and 119.103 Iohn 7.17 Ps 103.18 Mat. 7.21 doe his will And their stomacks onely doe r Mat. 7.6 2 Pet. 2.22 Phil. 3.19 loath and abhorre the heavenly knowledge and food of Gods Word that be so drowned in worldly f Eph. 4.17 Ier. 2.5 vanities that they neither t Rom. 8.5 savour God nor any godlinesse For that is the cause why they desire such vanities rather than the true knowledge of God And so along forward the said Homily delivereth sentences worthy to bee printed in letters of gold yea to be laid up in the secret of our hearts In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 143. Homily an information for them which take offence at certaine places of the holy Scripture it is said The great utility and profit that Christian men and women may take if they will by hearing and reading the holy Scriptures dearely beloved no heart can sufficiently conceive much lesse is my tongue able with words to expresse Wherefore Satan our enemy seeing the Scriptures to bee the very meane and right way to bring people to the true knowledge of God and that Christian religion is greatly furthered by diligent hearing and reading of them hee also perceiving what an hinderance and lett they bee to him and his kingdome doth what he can to drive the reading of them out of Gods Church And so forward it treateth in a wonderfull Divine manner In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 230. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said No where can we more certainly search for the knowledge of the will of God by the which we must direct all our workes and deeds but in the holy Scriptures for they be they that u Iohn 5.39 testifie of him saith our Saviour Christ We see with what vanity the schoole doctrine is mixed for that in this Word they sought not the w Eph. 5.17 Rom. 12.2 will of God but rather the will of reason the trade of custome the path of the fathers the practice of the Church Let
soone as hee shall be able to learne what a solemne vow promise and profession he hath made by you And that hee may know these things the better ye shall call upon him to a Neh. 8.2 Deut 31.12 heare sermons and chiefly you shall provide that he may learne the b 2 Tim. 1.13 Creed the c Luke 11.1 Lords prayer and the d Deut. 11.19 20 21 22. Exod 34.28 ten Commandements in the English tongue and e Prov. 22.6 all other things which a Christian man ought to know and beleeve to his soules health and that this Child may be f Eph. 5.4 vertuously brought up to lead a godly and a g Gen. 18 Christian life c. The Prophet Isaiah hath written h Isa 8.1 2 3. The Lord said unto me Take thee a great Roule and write in it with a mans Pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz And I tooke unto me faithfull witnesses to record Vriah the Priest and Zechariah the sonne of Ieberechiah And I went unto the Prophetesse and shee conceived and bare a sonne then said the Lord to mee call his name Mahor-shalal-hash-baz Hence it is * Atque ex hoc ritu profectum esse illum nostruÌ„ conslat quo certi homines speciatim maximè verò calamitosis temporibus ut ista futura erant adbibentur iestes accessus ad Christum et ad ecclesiam per baptismum nominis baptismo inditi ex quo ritu Propheta occasionem sumpsit ut testes filijsui ad alterâ—â— hoc singulare testimonium adhiberet Hos vulgus compatres commatres Graeci olim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appellarunt Iunius in Annot. ad Is 8.2 observed that Isaiah tooke unto him Vriah and Zechariah for witnesses of the Childes naming the Prophet would not name the Child but before some of the Church Also childrens names were given at their circumcision as it is testified of Iohn the Baptists i Luke 1.59 60 63. naming Yea also when our Lord Christ had the k Luke 2.21 name Iesus by Ioseph pronounced on him Moreover from the holy Prophets example of taking of witnesses unto the Childes naming and from that the Children were named in their circumcision the ancieÌ„t holy fathers ordained that there should be witnesses of childrens names given at their baptisme as also of their baptizing and withall they should l Phil. 2.4 1 Cor. 12.25 Ecclus. 4.10 Iam. 1.27 undertake to doe unto them that good Christian Office as afore was related out of the Exhortation in the Baptisme Service said unto the God fathers and God mothers CHAP. 53. Of the signe of the Crosse made on the forehead of the child having received Baptisme IT is said in the rubricke set after the words of the act of baptizing concerning the child baptized that then the priest shall make a crosse upon the childes forehead saying Wee receive this child into the congregation of Christs flocke and doe signe him with the signe of the crosse in token that hereafter hee shall not be ashamed to confesse the faith of Christ crucified and manfully to fight under his banner against sinne the World and the Devill and to continue Christs faithfull souldier and servant unto his lives end Even as those of the children of Israel which built an Altar for which they had no commandement in the Law of Moses transgressed not for that they did it for a m Ios 22.22 c. good signification So the Church our mother who hath power to make n Pro. 6.20 See Chap. 41. afore See the twentieth Article of the religion established law teaching or instruction besides what is expressed in the holy Scriptures so that nothing be done contrary to the everlasting precepts of the Gospell of Iesus Christ shee in using this ancient godly Ceremonie though to use the which there is no expresse commandement in the Bible in no wise transgresseth for that shee doth it for a good signification and to informe her members of a maine duety which all of yeares of discretion are bound to endeavour faithfully to performe under o Rom. 8.13 Rev. 21.7.8 Ps 78.8.9.10 paine of perishing everlastingly Our mother doth by that signe made on our foreheads put us in remembrance of the Christian warfare that every one baptized is to enter into and to p Mat. 10 22. Rev. 2.10.11 1 Tim. 5.12 continue in unto the end that will be saved Wee are not signed with the signe of the Crosse in token of any superstitious matter but of a matter most necessary required by the Gospell that all must confesse namely the faith of Christ q Gal. 6.14 Gal. 3.13.14 Cal. 2 14.15 crucified and also of manfull fighting under Christs banner against sinne the world and the Devill and also of continuing Christs faithfull souldiers and servants unto our lives end These maine Christian duties who so unfainedly endeavoureth to performe is in no wise offended at the signe used for to put people in mind of them but thanketh God that hee is borne in a Church where not onely the true Christian life is taught by tongue and penne but also is signified by some Ceremonie for ones r Num. 16 38 39 40. more remembrance of the same S. Paul said s God forbid that I should glory save in the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world He saith unto Timothy t 1 Tim. 6.12 fight the good fight of faith v 2 Tim. 2 3 4 5. Thou therefore endure hardnesse as a good souldier of Iesus Christ w 2 Tim. 4.7 I have fought the good fight To the Corinthians hee saith The x 2 Cor. 10.3 4 5 6. weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds To the Ephesians he lively declareth the spirituall enemies and with what weapons y Eph. 6.10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17. wee are to fight against them saying Finally my brethren bee 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 Devill For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against Principalities against powers against the Å¿ Gal 6.14 rulers of the darkenes of this world against spirituall wickednesse in high places wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that yee may be able to withstand in the evill day and having done all to stand c. In the booke of the Revelation the spirituall blessings or promises which are made to the seven Churches in Asia are propounded unto each Church to that person which z Rev 2.7.11.17.26 Rev. 3.5.12.21 overcommeth also it is added a Rev. 2.26 which keepeth my workes unto the end and bee thou faithfull unto the b Rev. 2.10 death It is said in another place He that c Rev. 21.7.8 overcommeth shall inherit
thereby and giving him hearty thankes therefore he doth eate and drinke the body and blood of our Saviour Christ profitably to his soules health although he doe not receive the Sacrament with his mouth Our Mother the Church who according to her godly wisedome was the first causer of Temples to be built in this Land and the first appointer of the Parishes unto them hath ordained the Temples to be the ordinary places for receiving the holy Sacrament But in cases of necessitie when people cannot with any conveniency come or be brought into the Temple her Divine Wisdome hath appointed such to receive in their private house The Passeover which was even of like signification as the Communion is was kept in q Exod. 12.3 4. Mat. 26.18 private houses So in the Primitive Church it is said The Disciples came together into a r Act. 20.7 8 9. Jta Syrus interpretatus est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At Arabs optime ad frangen dum vel distribuendum corpus Messiae house for to breake bread that is to * celebrate the Communion Christ saith ſ Mat. 18.20 Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them Saint Paul said to the Romanes Greet the Church which is in the t Rom. 16.5 house of Aquila and Priscilla These Scriptures are here alleaged for to illustrate the lawfulnesse of receiving the Communion in private house according as the law of the Church alloweth but not in any otherwise And that Christs body and blood is profitably unto the soules health received sometimes without the Sacrament whē as the Sacrament cannot conveniently bee received that delivery of Christ declareth where he saith Except ye u Ioh. 6.53 54 55 56 57 47. eate the flesh of the Sonne of man and drinke his blood ye have no life in you Who so eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternall life c. He that beleeveth on me hath everlasting life Behold saith Christ I stand at the doore and knocke If any man heare my voyce and open the doore I will come into him and will sup with him and w Rev. 3.20 he with me But the holy Sacrament is in no wise to be neglected but with all due reverence to be received when as it may conveniently and lawfully bee ministred because it is Gods ordinary meanes whereby his people spiritually eate the flesh of Christ and drinke his blood CHAP. 67. Of Buriall of the dead IN the Rubricke before the Service thereof it is said The Priest meeting the corpes at the Church stile shall say or else the Priest and Clerkes shall sing and so goe either into the Church or towards the grave I am the x Iohn 11.25 26. resurrection and the life saith the Lord He that c. Vpon Christs words concerning Mary the sister of Lazarus that she was come afore hand to annoynt his body to the burying Tremellius a Iew by Nation but a Christian by profession in religion and famous in the Church of God for his translation of the Scriptures forth of Hebrew Chaldean and Syriacke relateth out of * Vide Tremellianam Annotationem ad Mar. 14.6 Iudaicall Antiquity That it was the manner of the Iewes among sundry Ceremonies and Services used about the dead as annoynting washing wrapping in linnen laying it on a Beere c. before they committed the body to the ground first to utter certaine sentences written by their Ancestors or Elders to bee said at this occasion in which funerall Service Gods Iustice is commended and mans sinnes aggravated by which they deserved death and God is beseeched so to exercise his Iustice that he would not forget that he is Mercy also And the Corpes being interred some things also are said as unto the Mourners for their consolation This saith hee was a custome in Israel which in time past was the peculiar people of God and a godly custome not much unlike is now in Englād used at a buriall unto the magnifying of Gods Iustice the condemning of mans sinne the meeke beseeching of Gods mercy through Iesus Christ and the comforting of the sorrowfull upon the occasion And to performe such funerall Service is it not onely proper to the Ministery which is the ordinary y Ios 9.14 mouth of God unto the people and of the people unto God Christ saith It becommeth us to fulfill all z Mat. 3.1 5. righteousnesse The Apostle saith a Phil. 4.8 Whatsoever things are of good report if they be of any vertue or praise they are to be thought upon and observed b 1 Cor. 14.40 All things are to be done decently and in order Ancient orders and customes ordained by the weighty deliberation of forefathers which may be used without any superstition and doe tend onely unto piety and humanity are according as the Church concerning them prescribeth with all conscionable care to be retained performed Yea the Church now greatly esteemeth deliveries of Antiquity as it may appeare where it is said in the Service for Consecration of Bishops That the Archbishop sitting in a Chair shal say this to him that is to be Consecrated Brother forasmuch as holy Scripture A Prayer of Chrysostome is a part of the Letany In the Homilies there are sayings of all the Fathers alleaged with much respect and the old Canons commandeth c. S. Ambrose his song is a part of the Morning Divine Service the Confession of faith composed by Athanasius and the Nicene Creed are therein likewise Read the 34. Article of Religion CHAP. 68. Of the reverence to bee done unto Almighty God in his Worship HOly Church in her Prayer for the whole state of Christs Church militant here in earth prescribeth unto us for to say And to all thy people give thine heavenly grace and specially to this congregation here present that with meeke heart and due reverence they may heare and receive thy holy word In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 1. Homily concerning the right use of the Church or Temple of God and of the reverence due unto the same it is said Where there appeareth at these dayes great slacknesse and negligence of a great sort of people in resorting to the Church there to serve God their heavenly Father according to their most bounden duty as also much uncomely and unreverent behaviour of many persons in the same when they bee there assembled and thereby may just feare arise of the wrath of God and his dreadfull plagues hanging over our heads for our grievous offences in this behalfe among other many and great sinnes which wee daily and hourely commit before the Lord. In the second part of the said * P. 8. Homily the Church saith And indeed concerning the people and multitude the Temple is prepared for them to be hearers rather than speakers considering that aswell the word of God is there read or taught whereunto they are bound
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
our life The tenth and last duty unto God according as the sacred Catechisme hath expressed it is that wee serve him truly all the dayes of our life God requireth us to serve him not as wee * 1 Sâ—m 15.22.23 conceive best but according to his will written in his word For so the Church teacheth us most divinely in the last part of her Article concerning Predestination and Election saying Furthermore we must receive Gods promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scriptures and in our doings that will of God is to be followed which we have expresly declared unto us in the word of God To that end hath Christ redeemed us saith Zacharias that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without feare in e Luk. 1.74.75 holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life The Lord is nigh saith David unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in f Ps 145.18 truth And what is truly or truth hath beene declared out of Scripture a little before The people of God in Ioshua his dayes signified what it is to serve God truly saying The Lord our God will wee serve and his g Ios 24.24 voice will we obey Through whom did people then heare the voice of God ordinarily in those dayes Through whom doe people heare the voice of God ordinarily in these dayes Is not the Ministery of God his mouth from whence his voice is ordinarily heard Doth not the Prophet Malachi presse this point saying The priests h Mal. 2.6.7 lips should keepe knowledge and they should seeke the Law at his mouth for hee is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts to declare the Lords will unto people In the Booke of Ioshua some are found fault withall that they asked not counsell at the i Ios 9.14 mouth of the Lord. Where was the mouth of the Lord at which they asked counsell In Exodus it is expressed The Lord said I will k Exod. 25.22 commune with thee from above the Mercy-seate from betweene the two Cherubims which are upon the Arke of the Testimony of all things which I will give thee in commandement unto the children of Israel And the Apostle to the Hebrewes sheweth that this was done in the Tabernacle which is called the l Heb. 9.3 4 5 6 7 8. holiest of all the second into which the high Priest went onely The which is written to teach us for to attend with all Christian Conscience and due reverence unto that doctrine which Christs high Priest-hood now holdeth forth unto us and that to the people is the doctrine of the Bookes of Divine Service wherein wee are plainely and plentifully taught how to serve God truly all the dayes of our life Also not to m 1 Thes 5.20.21 neglect what the inferiour priest-hood doth preach and teach but to have all due regard unto whatsoever they deliver consonant with the Divine Service and the rest of established Doctrine of the Church The Catechism most divinely addeth also the time when and how long we are to serve God truly namely all the daies of our life In the service of Baptisme it is said unto the sureties that the Infants are to bee taught so soone as they shall be able to learne what a solemne vow promise and profession they have made by you c. Signifying that God requireth a true service from us unto him from our very n Eph. 6.4 Dut. 31.12 Luk. 1.75 2 Tim. 3.15 read Chap. 98. following Child-hood so long as we live in this present world They therefore which consider not seriously upon serving God truly till either old age or sicknesse or some other great calamity befall them doe cleane contrary to the counsell of holy Church in her Catechisme as also in all the rest of her Divine Service-Doctrine CHAP. 80. Of our Dutie towards our Neighbour as it is expressed in most Divine manner in the Catechisme also MY duty towards my Neighbour is to love him as my selfe and to doe to all men as I would they should doe unto me To love honour and succour my father and mother To honour obey the King and his Ministers To submit my selfe to all my governours teachers spirituall pastours and masters To order my selfe lowly and reverently to all my betters To hurt no body by word or deed To be true and just in all my dealing To beare no malice nor hatred in my heart To keepe my hands from picking and stealing and my tongue from evill speaking lying and slandering To keep my body in temperance sobernesse and chastity Not to covet nor desire other mens goods but to learne and labour truly to get mine owne living and to doe my duty in that state of life unto the which it shall please God to call me Hence may be observed fifteene duties in particular that we owe unto Man or our neighbour for the Lords sake or by reason of Gods Commandement The first duty to love our neighbours as our selfe The first is that we ought to love our neighbours as our o Mat. 22 29. selves Herein is prescribed what manner of heart minde or affection wee are to beare towards others wee are to wish all the same good unto all others as wee doe wish unto our owne selves or as we ought to desire for our selves This is to be understood concerning good common to the bodies and soules of all Christians This love wee are not onely taught throughout all the most Sacred Letanie but also in most expresse manner in the third Collect or Prayer appointed to bee read on Good-Friday The which Holy prayer declaring the love of God towards all mankinde and the love in heart which wee should beare towards all our brethren and sisters the whole posterity of Adam it is profitable here to be rehearsed that it may be duly considered the better remembred Mercifull God who hast p Act. 17.26.27 made all men and hatest q Ps 145.9 Wis 11.23.24.26 Ezech. 33.11 nothing that thou hast made nor wouldest the r Ezech. 18.23 32. death of a sinner but rather that he should be s Prov. 1.22.23 converted and t Mat. 23.37 live have mercy upon all u Rom. 9.3.4.5 Rom. 11.12.15.25.26 Ps 14.7 and 122.6 Iewes w Ps 67.2 3 5. Turkes x 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6. Infidels and Heretikes and take from them all ignorance hardnesse of heart and contempt of thy word and so fetch them home Blessed Lord to thy flocke that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites and be made y Ezech. 37.24.25 one fold under one Shepheard Iesus Christ our Lord. By this prayer we are informed to wish that spirituall happinesse to all others as we wish to our selves The word neighbour and brother have in Moses oftentimes the same signification And the word
lusts which warre against the soule having your conversation h 1 Pet. 2.11 12. honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speake against you as evill doers they may by your good workes which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of Visitation Whence it may appeare that that is Honesty which is not onely expresly approved by the holy Scriptures but also whatsoever is accounted honourable or worthy of praise according to the light of true reason S. Paul saith For when the Gentiles which have not the law doe by nature the things contained in the law these having not the law are a law to themselves which shew the i Rom. 2.24 15 worke of the law written in their hearts their conscience also bearing witnesse and their thoughts the meane while accusing or else excusing one another c. Also nothing ought to be supplicated unto a King but what is rightfull and Honest For Solomon saith Righteous lips are the delight of Kings and they love him that speaketh k Prov. 16.13 right Of Courtesie IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 157. Homily concerning Almes-deeds it is said Be courteous unto the poore Saint Peter saith Finally be ye all of one minde having compassion one of another love as brethren be pitifull be l 1 Pet. 3.8 9. Courteous not rendring evill for evill or railing for railing but contrariwise blessing King Rehoboam for giving m 1 King 12 13 14 16. uncourteous answeres to his subjects when they came unto him lost the most part of his Kingdome thereby Solomon signifieth that a Superiour should not without just cause answere his inferiour discourteously saying He that n Prov. 14.21 despiseth his neighbour sinneth but he that hath mercy on the poore happy is hee He that o Prov. 14.31 oppresseth the poore reproacheth his Maker In Ecclesiasticus wholesome counsaile is given hereto Turne not away thine eye from the needy and give him none occasion to curse thee for if he curse thee in the bitternesse of his soule his prayer shall be heard of him that made him Let it not grieve thee to bow downe thine eare to the poore and give him a p Ecclus. 4.5 6 8. friendly answer with meeknesse We ought not to despise any for any bodily deformity or infirmity The Apostle saith q 1 Pet. 2.17 Honour all men Bee gentle shewing all r Tit. 3.2 meeknesse unto all men Of retaining the memory of Saints IN the Kalender set afore the Common Prayer the names of sundry men and women which in their life time here on earth were famous for piety and vertue are inserted for perpetuall memory as Cyprian Benedict Anne Katherine c. Wherein holy Church doth according to the Scripture which saith The Prov. 10.7 memory of the just is blessed but the name of the wicked shall rot The righteous shall be had in everlasting t Psal 112.6 remembrance In the third part of the * T. 1. p. 65. Homily concerning the feare of death there is a Saints saying mentioned namely Saint Martin who said Good Lord if I be necessary for thy people to doe good unto them I will refuse no u Phil. 1.24 labour but else for mine owne selfe I beseech thee to take my soule In the eleventh Chapter to the Hebrewes the memoriall of many Saints is blessed so in Ecclesiasticus Chap. 44.45 46 47 48 49 50. Of Veracity or True Speaking IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 47 48. Homily concerning Swearing it is said Every Christian mans word saith Saint Hierome should be so true that it should bee regarded as an oath And Chrysostome witnessing the same saith It is not convenient to sweare for what needeth us to sweare when it is not lawfull for one of us to make a w Col. 3 9. Isa 63.8 lye unto another Hee that useth truth and plainnesse in his bargaining and communication hee shall have no need by such vaine swearing to bring himselfe in credence with his neighbours nor his neighbours will not mistrust his sayings The Prophet Ieremiah saith Take ye heed every one of his neighbour and trust ye not in any brother for every brother will utterly supplant and every neighbour will walke with slanders and they will deceive every one his neighbour and will not speak the truth they have taught their tongue to speake x Ier. 9.4 5. lies and weary themselves to commit iniquity David saith Lord who shall abide in thy Tabernacle who shall dwell in thy holy hill He that walketh uprightly worketh righteousnesse and y Psal 15.1 2 3. speaketh the truth in his heart Of Diligence IN the admonition to all Ministers Ecclesiasticall set afore the second Tome of Homilies it is said It shall be necessary that yee z 1 Tim. 4.12 1 Pet. 5.3 above all other doe behave your selves most faithfully and diligently in your so high a function After it is said It shall be well done to spend your time to consider well of such Chapters before hand whereby your a Eccles. 12 9 10 11. prudence and diligence in your office may appeare c. In the first part of the * T. 2 p. 115. Homily concerning the place and time of prayer it is signified That by the fourth Commandement it appeareth no man in the sixe dayes ought to be sloathfull or idle but b Exod. 20.9 Rom. 12.11 diligently to labour in that state wherein God hath set him Most divinely doth the Church counsell us unto diligence in the third part of the * T. 2. p. 232. Homily for Rogation weeke saying Brethren howsoever the c 1 Cor. 11.32 world in generality is d Hos 4.6 forgetfull of God let us particularly attend to our time and e Eph. 5.15.16 Col 4.5 winne the time with diligence and apply our selves to that light and f 2 Cor. 6.1 2. grace that is g Tit. 2.11.12 offered us let us if Gods favour and judgements which he worketh in our time cannot stir us to call home to our selfe to h Phil. 2.12 doe that belonging to our salvation At the least way let the malice of the devill the naughtinesse of the world which wee see exercised in these i 1 Tim. 4.1 2 Tim. 3.1 c. perilous and last times wherein we see our daies so dangerously set provoke us to k Mar. 13.33 34 35 36 37. Ephes 4.1 watch diligently to our l 1 Cor. 1.9 vocation to walke and goe m Phil. 3.13 14. 2 Pet. 1.3.10 Prov. 4.18 forward therein In the * T. 2. p. 241. Homily concerning the state of Matrimony it is said But to this prayer must bee joyned a n 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8. singular diligence c. In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 272. Homily of Repentance it is said If we should suspect any uncleannes to be in us
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
saith the Lord and yee have made hast every man to his owne house for this cause are the heavens stayed over you that they should give no deaw and the earth is forbidden that it shall bring forth her fruit and I have called drought upon the earth and upon the Mountaines and upon corne and upon wine and upon Oyle and upon all things that the earth bringeth forth and upon men and upon beasts and upon all things that mens hands labour for In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 91 92. Homily of fasting it is said God sometime striketh private men privately with sundry adversities as d Deut. 28.65 66 67. trouble of minde losse of friends e Zeph. 1.13 losse of goods long and f Deut. 28.22 27 c. dangerous sicknesses c. In the fourth part of the * T. 2. p. 236. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said That God in his ire doth g 1 King 14.15 Zeph. 2.3 4. roote up whole kingdomes for wrongs and oppressions and doth translate kingdomes from one nation to another for unrighteous dealing for wrongs and riches gotten by deceit This is the practice of the Holy One saith h Dan. 4.30 31 32. Daniel to the intent that living men may know that the most High hath power over the Kingdomes of men and giveth them to whomsoever he will Furthermore what is the cause of penury and scarcenesse of dearth and famine Is it any other thing but a token of Gods ire i Ezech. 5.6 7 8 15 16. revenging our wrongs and injuries done one to another Ye have sowne much upbraideth God by his Prophet Aggai and yet bring in little yee eate but ye be not satisfied ye drinke but ye be not filled ye cloath your selves but yee bee not warme he that earneth his wages putteth it in a k Hag. 1.5 6. bottomlesse purse ye looked for much increase but loe it came to little and when yee brought it home into you Barnes I did blow it away saith the Lord. The Lord saith by Moses It shall come to passe if thou wilt not hearken unto the voyce of the Lord thy God to observe to doe all his Commandements and his Statutes which I command thee this day that all these curses shall come upon thee overtake thee Cursed shalt thou be in the City and cursed shalt thou be in the field c. Reade from verse 16. unto the Chapters end it is of all Chapters in the Bible amplest in reckoning up Gods sundry curses in this life upon disobedient people Reade also the 26. Chapter of Leviticus The Lord in these dayes much inwardly punisheth people of unbeliefe and disobedience The Lord doth unto many now as he did to the Israelites He giveth them their request as concerning many outward blessings but sendeth l Ps 106.15 leannesse into their soule Isaiah saith The wicked are like the m Isa 57.20 21. troubled Sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt There is no peace to the wicked In the Revelation it is said They have no n Rev. 14.11 rest day nor night who worship the Beast and his Image and whosoever receiveth the marke of his name Isaiah concludeth his prophecie with declaring what is the inward estate and condition of all such as continue in sinne willingly yea whiles they live here on earth saying also concerning obedient people That they shall goe forth and o Isa 66.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 looke upon the Carkeises of the * transgressing ones against God for their worme shall not dye neither shall their fire be quenched and they shall bee an abhorring unto all flesh In all people which will not humble themselves to live according to all the commandements of Christ and according to all the Ordinances of his Church but resolve to persist in their owne-chosen wayes and to follow the imagination of their owne mindes there at length breedeth in such people a worme within their conscience which more and more * Abben Esrain Ps 1.1 sâ—ribit Improbos esse dictos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi inquietos qui nunquam in eadem constitutione permanent gnaweth them so that if the said worme like as the Woolfe which breedeth in some peoples bodies be not fed with what liketh him he gnaweth the conscience exceedingly Such a worme was bred in the Conscience of many of the Iewes through their wilfull disobedience when as Christ and his Ministers preached amongst them Nothing could those disobedient people p Iohn 8.43 45.51 learne from Christ and his Ministery which could comfort them or appease their troubled mindes whiles they endeavoured not to obey his Gospell Also within disobedient peoples breasts there becommeth a q Heb. 10.27 Ps 11.6 fire kindled wherethrough they are in a spiritual fire any spiritual person which had the spirit of discerning might insee into them and perceive them inflamed with a great Å¿ Rom. 10.2 3. zeale but not towards obedieÌ„ce of al the CoÌ„mandements of Christs Gospell nor towards obedience of al the OrdinaÌ„ces of Christs Apostolical Church of EnglaÌ„d There is a proverbe The which are in hell know of none other heaveÌ„ Wilfull disobedient people being themselves without t Isa 48.22 Rom. 3.17 peace of conscience conclude contrary to the Doctrine of the universall holy Scriptures of the whole Divine Service of the Church that no body else hath that u Phil. 4.7 peace of God which passeth all understanding and keepeth our hearts and mindes in the knowledge and love of God and of his Sonne Iesus r 1 Cor. 2.13 Christ our Lord with the which blessed peace holy Church from Sabbath to Sabbath w Numb 6.23 c. blesseth her obedient Members and every one of them x 2 Thes 3.16 Isa 66.12 Isa 14.27 Phil. 1.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in all sense or feeling as it is rendred in the Margent feeleth it within themselves more and more CHAP. 98. Of deferring repentance untill likelihood of bodilie death IN the Collect for the first Sunday in Advent we are taught to pray Almighty God give us grace that we may cast away the workes of darknesse and put upon us the armour of light y Rom. 13.11 12 13 14. now in the time of this mortall life in the which thy Sonne Iesus Christ came to visit us in great humility c. In the Rubricke afore the Communion of the sicke it is said Forasmuch as all mortall men be subject to many sudden perils diseases and sicknesses z Ps 31.15 and ever uncertaine what time they shall depart out of this life therefore to the intent they may be alway in a a Iob. 14.14 1 Cor. 5.9 Mat. 25.10 Rev. 19.7 readinesse to dye whensoever it shall please God to call them the Curate shall diligently from time to time c. In the Service for Buriall it is said b Iob 14.1
The o Zeph. 3.5 iust Lord is in the midst of Ierusalem He will doe none iniquity Euery morning doth he bring his iudgement to light he fayeth not but the vniust know no shame The Lord saith Hosea hath a controuersie with Iudah Hosea 12. â— and will punish l Psal 145.17 Iacob according to his wayes according to his doings will he recompence him God also is often in the Diuine Seruice mentioned to be Mercifull Of Gods Mercifullnesse as in the third Collect to be read on good Friday it is sayd Mercifull God who hast made all men and hatest * Some obiect against this Divine Doctrine of the Church the saying in the Scripture I haue hated Esau The Scripture sayth not that God hated Esau vnto euerlasting damnation afore hee was borne but signifieth that hee loued him lesse than hee loued Iacob in that for a time he was to serue Iacob That the word hâ—te doth in Scripture signifie to Loue lesse See Iunius on Genes 29.31 Deut 21.15 See Math. 6.24 Luk. 14.26 And that Esau was to be vnder Iacob foratime See Genes 27.40 Saint Paules Doctrine hereabout is one of his sayings hard to be vnderstood 2. Peter 3.16 There is in it an Allegory as in Gal. 4.24 See 2. Esaras 6.8.9 Also in Genes 25.23 mentioned By Saint Paul in Rom. 9. Iacob and Esau are called two Nations and two manner of people And that Esau was sayd to be hated was not expressed in those words vntill many ages after Namely in the dayes of the Prophet Malachy 1.3 See Ezech. 33.11 and 2. Peter 3.9 Math. 23.37 Acts 7.51 See Pro. 1. from verse 20. vnto the Chapters end All Ezechiel 18. Eccles 15.11 to the end nothing that thou hast made nor wouldest the death of a Sinner but rather that he should be conuerted liue haue mercy vpon all Iewes Turks Infidels and Hereticks c. So in the last Prayer sauing one of the Commination it is sayd Oh most mighty God and Mercifull Father which hast compassion of all men and hatest nothing that thou hast made which wouldest not the death of a sinner but that he should rather turne from sinne and be saued c. Dauid sayth The q Psal 145.9 Lord is good to all and his tender Mercies are ouer all his workes Likewise Saint Paul witnesseth God hath concluded all men in vnbeleefe that he might haue Mercy vpon r Rom. 11.32 all In the Booke of Wisedome it is sayd Thou Å¿ Wisedome 11.23 24. haste Mercy vpon all for thou canst do all things and winkest at the sinnes of men because they should amende For thou louest all the things that are and abhorrest nothing which thou hast made for neuer wouldest thou haue made any thing if thou hadst hated it Vnto the which Eternall Incomprehensible Almighty Wise Good Iust and Mercifull God be glore through Iesus Christ for euer Amen CHAP. 7. Of the Creation of the World and of the Angels in speciall IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 67. Homily an Exhortation concerning good order and obedience to Rulers and Magistrates it is sayd Almighty God hath created and appointed all things in Heauen Earth and Waters in a most excellent and perfect order In Heauen hee hath appointed distinct and seuerall orders and states of Archangels and Angells In the beginning sayth the Scripture God t Genesis 1.1 and 2 1. Created heauen and earth and all the Host of them Also that by the u Col. 1.16 Sonne of God were all things Created that are in Heauen and that are in Earth Visible and Inuisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were Created by him and for him That there are Archangels aswell as Angels it appeareth out of Daniel where it is Written that Michael one of w Dan. 10.13 the chiefe Princes came to helpe him Michael is called an Archangell in the x Iude 9. Epistle of Iude. There is mention of another Archangell in y 2. Esdras 4.36 Esdras namely Vriel In Saint Ambrose his Song it is sayde vnto God To thee all Angels crye aloud the Heauens and all the powers therein To thee Cherubin and Seraphin continually do crye Holy holy holy Lord God of * Or Hosts Sabaoth That there are Powers in heauenly places and also Principalities among them not only the text aboue cited out of the Epistle to the Colossians prooueth but also Saint Paules words to the Ephesians saying To z Eph. 3.10 the intent that now vnto the Principalities and Powers in heauenly places might be knowne by the Church the manifold VVisedome of God Of Cherubins Novem Angelorum est cordâ—nes testante sacro eloquio scimus scilicet Angelos Archangelâ—s virtutes potestates principatut dominatiâ—nes thâ—onos Cherubin aeque Seraphim Greg. in Hâ—mil there is often mention in the tenth Chapter of Ezechiel And of Seraphins it is mentioned in the sixt Chapter of Isaiah In the Collect to be read on the day of the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel the Church sayth Euerlasting-God which hast o dayned and constituted the Services of all Angels and Men in wonderfull order Mercifully grant that they which alway do thee seruice in Heauen may by thine appoyntment succour and defend vs in Earth through Iesus Christ our Lord. Heb. 1.14 Are a they not all ministring Spirits as the Apostle sayth sent foorth to minister for them who shall be Heires of Saluation Dauid sayth Because b Psal 91.9.10.11.12 thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge euen the most High thine Habitation there shal no euill befall thee neyther shal any Plague come nigh thy dwelling For he shal giue his Angels charge ouer thee to keepe thee in all thy wayes They shal beare thee vp in their hands least thou dash thy foot agaynst a stone Some of the Angels sinned in not c 2 Pet. 2 4. Iude 6. keeping their first estate but left their owne habitation and are cast downe to Hell reserued in euerlasting Chaines vnder darknesse vnto the iudgement of the great day It is our duty as the Church d In the Communion Service exhorteth with the holy Angels and Archangels and with all the Company of Heauen to laud and magnifie the e Deut. 28.58 glorious name euermore praysing him and saying f Reue. 4.8 Esay 6.3 Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts Heauen and Earth are full of thy glory Glory be to thee O Lord most high CHAP. 8. Of the Creation of Man and of his estate in his innocency IN the * To 2. p. 167. Homily concerning the Nativity of our Saviour Iesus Christ it is sayd That among all the Creatures which God made in the beginning of the World most excellent and wonderfull in their kinde there was none as the Scripture beareth VVitnesse to be compared almost in any point vnto man who as well in Body and Soule
heare sermons And if they duely hearken unto the Homilies read in their Parish Church they in part doe their duty concerning hearing sermons For the Homilies are nothing else but * And so are often named in the booke of Homilies sermons And yet they are such sermons as are not made by any private spirit but by the publike spirit of the Church and are allowed by the whole Clergy of the same In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 265. Homily of repentance it is said Wee must bee diligent to read and heare the Scriptures and the Word of God which most lively doe paint out before our eyes our naturall uncleannesse and the enormity of our sinfull life For unlesse wee have a through feeling of our sinnes how can it bee that we should earnestly be sory for them Afore n 2 Sam. 12.7 c. David did heare the word of the Lord by the mouth of the Prophet Nathan what heavinesse I pray you was in him for the adultery and the murder that he had committed So that it might be said right wel that he slept in his owne sin We read in the Acts of the Apostles that when the people had heard the sermon of Peter they were compunct o Act. 2.37 pricked in their hearts Which thing would never have been if they had not heard that wholesome sermon of Peter They therfore that have no p Ier. 5.9 and 2.13 mind at all neither to read nor yet to heare Gods Word there is but small hope of them that they will as much as once set their feet or take hold upon the first staffe or step of this Ladder of repentance but rather will sinke deeper and deeper into the bottomlesse pit of perdition Besides the Sermons the Homilies the Church willeth us to heare other also such as are made by Preachers lawfully licensed and are preached according to the Law of the Church also The constitutions and * Canons Ecclesiasticall require Every beneficed man Canon 46. that is not allowed to bee a Preacher to procure sermons to be preached in his Cure once in every moneth at the least by Preachers lawfully licensed if his living in the judgement of the Ordinary will be able to beare it And upon every Sunday when there shall not bee a sermon preached in his Cure he or his Curate shall reade some one of the Homilies prescribed As the Ordinary disposeth unto every Parish concerning preaching so is every Parishioner to rest contented therewith The true Christian religion doth not totally consist in the q Iam. 1.22 23 24 25. Mat. 7.24 25 26 27. hearing of sermons preached every Sunday Christs Kingdome of grace as the Apostle Paul hath delivered is not in r 1 Cor. 4.20 word but in power It is Å¿ Rom. 14.17 18 19. righteousnesse and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace things wherwith one may edifie another That Counsell given by Iesus the sonne of Syrach is in no wise to bee neglected t Ecclus. 8.9 When a sermoÌ„ is made every person of that Parish ought to be present at it if he may Misse not the discourse of the Elders for they also learned of their fathers and of them thou shalt learne understanding to give answer as need requireth but as the Apostle saith u 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done decently and according to order A devout person may heare as many sermons preached as hee can but so as he transgresseth no law of the Church therby For if he doth transgresse the Ecclesiasticall law by his going abroad to heare sermons preached if he offendeth the Pastour or Curate over him if he by absenting himselfe from his Parish Church be a scandall to those of his Parish then is his hearing of sermons preached in other Parish Churches but as Sauls sacrifice unto whom Samuels saying is worthy of perpetuall memory w 1 Sam. 15.22 23. Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt Offerings and Sacrifices as in obeying the voyce of the Lord behold to obey is better than Sacrifice and to hearken then the fat of Rammes For rebellion is as the sinne of Witchcraft and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Symmacbus vertit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stubborne ones are Idolaters in that they worship or follow their owne minde and will and refuse to follow the minde and will of Christ and his Church See Ezek. 14.4 5 6. stubbornnesse is as iniquity and Idolatry The Gospell of Iesus Christ commandeth thus x 1 Pet. 2.13 Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake y Rom. 13.1 2. Let every soule be subject unto the higher powers for there is no power but of God The powers that be are ordained of God Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Wherefore Paul said unto Titus Bishop of the Church of the Cretians z Tit. 3.1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers to obey Magistrates to bee ready to every good worke Saint Paul also said to the Christians a Phil. 3.17 Brethren bee followers together of me and marke them which walke so as ye have us for an ensample Who said most remarkeably b 1 Cor. 9.19.20 21 22 23. Though I be free from all men yet have I made my selfe servant unto all that I might gaine the more And unto the Iewes I became as a Iew that I might gaine the Iewes To them that are under the law as under the law that I might gaine them that are under the law To them that are without law as without law being not without law to God but under the law to Christ that I might gaine them that are without law To the weake became I as weake that I might gaine the weake I am made all things to all men that I might by all meanes save some And this I doe for the Gospels sake or as Saint Peter saith for the c 1 Pet. 2 1â—1 Lords sake who hath commanded all that would be his people for to obey every Ordinance of man that is not contrary to the everlasting OrdinaÌ„ces of his holy Gospell Such as breake the order of the Church where they live in contemning or neglecting the Divine service there under pretence of conscience unto hearing of the Word preached would they conscionably but consider of matters they might by the grace of God see their aberration It is preaching that they cry out for Let them marke what is said in the Acts Moses of old time hath in every Citie them that preach him being d Act. 15.1 read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day Doth not the Apostle signifie in those his words that in reading of
us therefore read and revolve the holy Scripture both day and night for blessed is he that hath his whole x Ps 1.2 Ios 1.8 ecclus 50.18 meditation therein c. In the last of all the * T. 2.318 Homilies in the sixt part thereof and in the last part of the same the necessitie of knowing the Scriptures is most lively declared where it is said The holy Scriptures doe teach that the people which y Acts 28.27 will not see with their eyes nor heare with their eares to learne and to understand with their hearts cannot be converted and saved And the wicked themselves being damned in Hell shall confesse ignorance in Gods Word to have brought them thereunto saying z Wisd 5.6 7. We have erred from the way of the truth and the light of righteousnesse hath not shined unto us the sun of understāding hath not risen unto us we have wearied our selves in the way of wickednesse and perdition have walked cumberous and crooked wayes but the way of the Lord we have not knowne And as well our Saviour himselfe as his Apostle S. Paul doth teach that the ignorance of Gods Word a Luke 8.12 2 Cor. 4.4 commeth of the Devill and is the cause of all b Ps 95.10 as in the Divine service translation errour and misiudging as falleth out with ignorant subjects who can rather espie a little Mote in the eye of the Prince or a Counsellour than a great Beame in their owne and universally it is the cause of all evill and finally of eternall c Ioh. 3.19 20 21. damnation Gods judgement being severe toward those who when the light of Christs Gospell is come into the world doe delight more in darknesse of ignorance than in the light of knowledge in Gods Word For all are commanded to d Rev. 1.3 read or heare to search and study the holy Scriptures and are promised c Pro. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6. understanding to be given them from God if they so doe all are charged not to beleeve either any f Isa 8.19 20. dead man nor if an g Gal. 1.8 9. Angell should speake from heaven much lesse if the Pope doe speake from Rome against or contrary to the Word of God frō the which we may not h Deut. 5.32 decline neither to the right hand nor to the left In Gods Word Princes must i Deut. 17.18 19 20. learne how to obey God and to governe men In Gods Word subjects must learne obedience both to God and their Princes Old men and young rich and poore all men and women all estates sexes and ages are taught their severall duties in the Word of God For the Word of God is bright k Ps 19.7 8. giving light unto all mens eyes the shining l Ps 119.105 Prov. 6.23 Lampe directing all mens paths and steps In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 91. Homily against contention it is said Let us read Scripture that by reading thereof we may be made the better m Iam. 1.22 23 24 25. livers rather than the more n 1 Tim. 1.5 6 7. and 6.3 4 5 20 21. contentious disputers And saith the first part of the first * T. 1. p. 3. Homily of all In reading of Gods Word he most profiteth not alwayes that is most ready in turning of the booke or in saying of it without the booke but he that is most turned into it that is most inspired with the holy Ghost most in his heart and life altered and o Ier. 48.11 Rom. 12.2 2 Cor. 3.18 changed into that thing which he readeth He that is daily lesse and lesse proud lesse wrathfull lesse covetous and lesse desirous of worldly and vaine pleasures He that daily for saking his old vicious life * increaseth in vertue more and more See Chap. 92. The Bereans as it seemeth by the last translation were accounted more noble then those in Thessalonica p Acts 17.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Syrus vertit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 utireddidit Arabs for that they received the Word with all readinesse of minde and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so David saith q Ps 1.2 The delight of the blessed man and woman is in the Law of the Lord and therein will meditate day and night Iob said Hee r Iob 23.12 esteemed the words of Gods mouth more then his necessary food Now concerning * Of the means whereby people may be holpen in understanding of the holy Scriptures meanes which may helpe peoples understanding of the Scripture it is most Divinely delivered in the second part of the first of all the * T. 1. p. 5 6. Homilies where it is said Read it humbly with a meek lowly heart to the intent you may ſ 1 Cor. 10.31 glorifie God and your selves with the knowledge of it and read it not without daily praying unto God that hee would direct your reading unto good effect and take upon you to expound it no further than you can plainely understand it For as Saint Augustine saith the knowledge of holy Scripture is a great large and a high place but the doore is very low so that the high and t Mat. 11.25 26. Dan. 12.10 Ps 25.9 Mat. 13.10 11. arrogant man cannot runne in but he must stoope low and u 1 Pet. 5.5 6. Ecclus 3.19 humble himselfe that shall enter into it Presumption and arrogancy is the mother of all errour and humilitie needeth to feare no error For humility will only search to know the truth it will search and bring together one place with another and where it cannot finde out the meaning it will pray it will w Acts 8.34 aske of other that know and will not presumptuously and rashly define any thing which it knoweth not If one bee ignorant hee ought the more to read and to search holy Scripture for to x Pro. 1.1 2 3 4 5 6. bring him out of ignorance I say not nay but a man may prosper with onely hearing but he may much more prosper with both hearing and y 2 Cor. 1.13 Rev. 1.3 reading And concerning the hardnesse of the Scripture he that is so weake that he is not able to brooke strong z Heb. 5.12 13 14. 1 Cor. 3.1 2 3. meat yet he may sucke the sweete and tender milke and deferre the rest untill he waxe stronger and come to more knowledge For God receiveth the learned and the unlearned and casteth away none but is a Iam. 1.5 Wisd 6.7 Rom. 2.11 indifferent unto all And the Scripture is full as well of low valleyes plaine wayes and easie for every man to use and to walke in as also of high hits and mountaines which few men can climbe unto And whosoever giveth his minde to holy Scriptures with diligent study and burning desire it cannot bee saith Saint Chrysostome that he should
greater authority to them than unto meere humane writings In the margent of the last translation of the Bible there is often reference made unto Chapter and verse of those bookes as in the margent of Heb. 1.3 Iohn 10.22 Matth. 6.7 Matth. 23.37 Heb. 11.35 and in more places There is no such reference made unto Chapter and verse of any other bookes excepting the canonicall Scriptures In the Concordance which is sometimes bound with bibles of the middle bignesse namely in quarto places out of all those bookes are often quoted and added unto the places cited out of the Canonicall Scriptures It is not so done out of any other bookes Even all the Fathers which have lived in the Church of Iesus Christ since first the Apostles dayes have with great reverence and respect alleaged sayings out of those books The true Apostolicall Church of England hath ordained those bookes onely and none other of what authoritie soever to be translated with the Canonicall Scriptures and to be set betweene the bookes of the old and new Testament Seeing then that the Church our mother so honoureth the said bookes called Apocrypha ought not wee her members to have them bound in our Bibles to reverence and respect them and diligently to read them for * The Church in the sixt Article of religion so delivereth example of life and instruction of manners and to account them for to be in all respects of so much a Phil. 4.8 1 Thes 5.21 1 Pet. 5.5 Mat. 18.17 1 Cor 16.16 authority as the Church of England now ascribeth unto them CHAP. 50. Of peoples learning the most sacred Catechisme of the Church which is in the booke of Common Prayer Every member of the true Apostolicall Church of England hath occasion greatly to praise the name of the Lord for stirring up our most gracious Soveraigne and the holy Fathers of the Church to take great care for this ordinance of the Gospell of Iesus Christ namely Catechizing that it may bee duely used according as it was prescribed by holy Church heretofore and the same ratified by our late Soveraigne Lord King Iames a Prince of ever blessed memory IN the end of the rubricke after the Service of Confirmation it is said None shall be admitted to the holy Communion untill such time as he can say the Catechisme namely that in the booke of Common Prayer the which being printed alone by it selfe is now commonly called the A. B. C. The said most sacred Catechisme consisteth of but about twenty questions whose answers require any labour of learning by heart And yet therein is contained the summe of the whole Christian faith and life in a most Divine delivery This holy b Ps 119.130 Catechisme should all people members of the Church of England have either in memory or else at least be able so to c 1 Pet. 3.13 answere unto each question therein as that they may declare themselves to have in effect such an d Phil. 3.16 1 Cor. 1.10 understanding of the matters therein contained as the Church hath in full words expressed in it Catechisme is an instructing of people in the e Heb. 5.12 principles of the Oracles of God It is a f Heb. 6.1 2. laying of the foundation of repentance from dead workes and of faith towards God of the Doctrine of Baptismes and of laying on of hands and of the resurrection of the dead and of the eternall judgment It is a ministring of the g 1 Pet. 2.2 sincere milke of the Word unto the h Heb. 5.13 unskilfull in the word of righteousnesse Even as a house cannot bee well built up and stand fast unlesse the foundations thereof be firmely laid so people who should bee built up a spirituall i 1 Pet. 2.4 house for an k Eph. 2.21 22. habitation of God through the spirit cannot be fitly framed together and grow unto an holy Temple in the Lord unlesse they bee l Luke 11.52 Mat. 14.11 rightly instructed in the principles of the Doctrine of Christ and withall grow up in all due m Rom. 1.5 and 16.26 obedience unto the same Not onely the Catechisme in the Divine Service doth deliver the Milke of the Gospell but also the whole Divine Service doth minister the same abundantly If one would know what is repentance and faith let him reade the Homilies thereof If hee would know what is the mysterie of baptisme and of laying on of hands let him reade the Services thereof If one would know the mysterie of the Communion let him read the Service and the Homily thereof It is a main part of the use of the Divine Service to lay firmly in peoples mindes the n 1 Cor. 3.10 grounds of Christianity All people therefore that would bee rightly grounded in the true Christian religion and grow more and more towards o Heb. 6.1 Col. 1.28 29. perfection in Iesus Christ ought to be much conversant in every part of the said Service and to enable themselves so to render a reason of every point of Christianity according as they finde it delivered in the said p Prov. 6.20 21 22 23. Luke 10.16 bookes and withall to q 2 Thes 1.3 Prov 4.18 increase in that godly conversation which is throughout the service prescribed And thereunto this present worke will much helpe every one that will make due use of all the same The Church hath ordained that not onely the youth but other ignorant persons also to be r Song 6.6 Ps 1.48 12. Deut. 31.12 Nehem. 8.2 instructed in the Catechisme For thus is her sacred * Canon 59 This holy and necessary Ordinance of Christ and his Church is now by the great goodnesse of Almighty God observed and al true Christians hearts doe pray that so it may bee continued and more and more conscionably used unto Gods glory and the edification of all people constitution Every Parson Vicar or Curate upon every Sunday and holy day before evening prayer shall for halfe an houre or more examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his parish in the ten Commandements the Articles of the beliefe and in the Lords prayer and shall diligently heare instruct and teach them the Catechisme set forth in the booke of Common prayer c. Peoples Å¿ Prov. 19.2 neglect of learning that Catechisme and of obedience thereto and also their not regarding to have their Children and servants taught the same and instructed unto the observing of the duties therein prescribed is a maine cause that now so many are ignorant in minde and t Prov. 29.15 disorderly in conversation The Oracle of God saith u Prov. 22.6 Traine up a Child in the way he should goe and when he is old he will not depart from it CHAP. 51. Of Baptisme THE Catechisme in the Divine service delivereth That the outward visible signe or forme in baptisme is water wherein the person baptized is dipped
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
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
31.12 13. Neh. 8.2 sermons and that they learne the d Heb. 5.12 13. Creed the Lords prayer and the ten Commandements in the English tongue and all other things which Christians ought to know and beleeve to their soules health In the Service of Matrimony it is signified That they are to be brought up in the feare and nurture of the Lord. And the * T. 2. p. 239. Homily of the state of Matrimony addeth also That they be brought up by the parents godly in the knowledge of Gods Word that thus the knowledge of God and true religion might be delivered by e Psal 78.4 5 6 7. succession from one to another that finally many might enjoy that everlasting immortality * T. 1. p. 88. In the third part of the Homily against Adultery it is said As man and wife are bound to f 1 Cor. 7.5 live together in all godlinesse and honesty so likewise is it their duty vertuously to bring up their children and provide that they fall not into g Ecclus. 7.23 24 25. Sathans snare nor into any uncleannesse but that they come pure and honest unto holy wedlocke when time requireth In the * T. 2. p. 253. Homily against Idlenesse it is said Let all parents and others which have the care and governance of youth so bring them up either in good learning labour or some honest h Tit. 3.14.25 in the margent occupation or trade whereby they may be able in time to come not only to sustaine themselves competently but also to releeve and i Ephe. 4.28 supply the necessity and want of others In the * T. 2. p. 103. Homily against Excesse of Apparell it is said God utterly condemneth and disalloweth whatsoever draweth us from our duty towards God or diminisheth our charity towards our neighbours and children whom we ought to love as our selves Saint Paul saith Ye fathers k Eph. 6.4 provoke not your children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And to the Colossians hee saith Fathers provoke not your children to anger lest they be l Col. 3.21 discouraged Parents are not to expect from m 1 Thes 2.7 1 Cor. 3.1 and 13.11 children and youths the gravity of men nor manly understanding That is to be desired which every age is capable of Whatsoever is upright naturall in children is not to be checked Children oftentimes being unnaturally used have beene so discouraged as that with griefe their spirits have bin so daunted as that either they have become ever after stupide and without the common understanding or else have had their hearts broken and have perished yea sometimes have beene so provoked as to depart from their parents or to destroy their owne selves Honest n Zechar. 8.5 recreations are not to bee denied unto youth but often to be granted at convenient times The Church requireth that every sonne and daughter so soone as they be able to learne be taught to say by heart readily all the Catechisme called the A. B. C. The Scripture saith o Prov. 22.6 Traine up a child in the way he should goe and when he is old he will not depart from it All parents if possibly they can ought to have their children taught to reade to write and to cast account and if it may be to understand the Latine Grammar because of such a measure of skill or of almost so much every housholder may have sometimes occasion Saint Paul also saith Parents ought to p 2 Cor. 12.14 lay up for their children And Solomon saith A good man leaveth his q Pro. 13.22 inheritance to his childrens children If any r 1 Tim. 5.8 provide not for his owne and especially for those of his owne house he hath denied the faith and is worse than an Infidell Of Childrens duty to their Parents Concerning the duty of children to their parents it is signified in the second part of the * T. 1. p. 35. Homily of good Workes where it is spoken against the Pharisies For that they taught the people such a devotion that they offred their goods into the treasure house of the Temple under the pretence of Gods honour leaving their fathers and mothers to whom they were chiefly bound Å¿ Mat. 5.12 13. Ecclus. 3.12 14 15 16. 1 Tim. 5.4 unholpen and so they brake the Commandements of God to keepe their owne traditions In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 125. Homily concerning the place and time of prayer it is said Good naturall children will not onely become obedient to the commandement of their parents but also have a diligent eye to their doings and gladly follow the same The Apostle saith to the Colossians t Col. 3.20 Children obey your parents in all things for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. To the Ephesians he saith Children obey your parents in the u Eph. 6.1 2 3. Lord for this is right So long as parents require nothing contrary to Gods Word they are in every thing to be obeyed That counsell in Ecclesiasticus is ever memorable The Lord hath given the w Ecclus. 3.2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 father honour over the children and hath confirmed the authority of the mother over the sonnes Who so honoreth his father maketh at onement for his sinnes And he that honoreth his mother is as one that layeth up treasure Whoso honoureth his father shall have joy of his owne children and when he maketh his prayer he shall be heard He that honoreth his father shall have a long life and he that is obedient unto the Lord shall be a comfort to his mother He that feareth the Lord will honour his father and will doe service unto his parents as to his masters Honour thy father and mother both in word and deed that a blessing may come upon thee from them For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children but the curse of the mother rooteth out foundations More counsailes hereto follow on in the same chapter very profitable to bee observed Of Masters and Dames duties to their Servants Concerning the duty of Masters and Dames to their servants it is said in the rubricke at the end of the Confirmation-Service That they shall cause their servants and prentices which haue not learned their Catechisme to come to the Church at the time appointed and obediently to heare and bee ordered by the Curate untill such time that they have learned all that is here appointed for them to learne In the third part of the * T. 1. p. 88. Homily against Adultery it is delivered That all Masters and Rulers ought to provide that no whoredome nor any point of uncleannesse bee used among their servants In the * T. 2. p. 254. Homily against Idlenesse it is said God of his mercy put it into the hearts and minds of all them that have
and 15.20 21. Miriam the Prophetesse the sister of Aaron tooke a Timbrell in her hand and all the women went out after her with Timbrels and with daunces And Miriam answered them Sing yee to the Lord c. Singing the same song as did Moses and the Children of Israel And Saint Iohn in the Revelation foretelling the actions of Christs Church to come to passe saith q Rev. 15.2 3. I saw as it were a Sea of glasse mingled with fire and them that had gotten the victory over the Beast and over his Image and over his marke and over the number of his name stand on the sea of glasse having the Harpes of God And they sung the song of Moses c. see Revel 14 2 3 4 5. and 5.8 and 1 Cor. 14.7.26 and from thence and other Scriptures it is manifest that Christian people have used musicke in praising the name of the Lord and there is not in the whole Bible any manner of mention concerning abolishing of the same CHAP. 46. Of the publike reading of the holy Scriptures as also the Homilies and of making an Exhortation in publike IN the Preface afore the Common prayer it is said The ancient fathers for a great advancement of godlinesse so ordered the matter that all the whole Bible or the greatest part thereof should be read over once every yeare intending thereby that the Clergy and especially such as were Ministers of the Congregation should by often reading and meditation of Gods Word be stirred up to godlinesse themselves and be more able to exhort others by wholesome doctrine and to confute them that were adversaries to the truth And further that the people by dayly hearing of holy Scripture read in the Church should continually profit more and more in the knowledge of God and be the more inflamed with the love of his true religion What care hereto our fathers have had may appeare out of the sacred Kalender and out of the order how the Psalter is appointed to be read and out of the order how the rest of the holy Scripture beside the Psalter is appointed to be read all which are set before the Common prayer It is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles that at Antioch in Pisidia in the Synagogue on the Sabbath day there was the Å¿ Act. 13.15 reading of the Law and the Prophets In another place it is said Moses of old time hath in every City them that preach him being t Act. 15. â—1 read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day Saint Paul saith to the Colossians When this Epistle is read amongst you cause that it be u Col. 4.16 read also in the Church of the Laodiceans and that yee likewise read the Epistle from Laodicea Of reading the Homilies Concerning reading the Homilies the Sermons set forth by the publike authoritie of the Church in the Preface published afore them it is said Considering how necessary it is that the Word of God which is the onely food of the soule and that most excellent light that we must walke by in this our most dangerous pilgrimage at all convenient times be preached unto the people that thereby they may both learne their duty towards God their Prince and their neighbours according to the minde of the Holy Ghost expressed in the Scriptures and also to avoide the manifold enormities which heretofore by false doctrine have crept into the Church of God and how that all they which are appointed Ministers have not the gift of preaching sufficiently to instruct the people which is committed unto them whereof great inconveniences might rise and ignorance still be maintained if some honest remedy be not speedily found and provided The Queenes most excellent Majestie tendering the sole health of her loving subjects the quieting of their coÌ„sciences in the chiefe principall points of Christian religion and willing also by the true setting forth and pure declaring of Gods Word which is the principal guide leader runto all godlines and vertue to expell drive away as well all corrupt vicious and ungodly living as also erroneous and poysoned doctrines tending to superstition and Idolatry hath by the advise of her most honourable Counsellors for her discharge in this behalfe caused a booke of Homilies which heretofore was set forth by her most loving brother a Prince of most worthy memorie Edward the sixt to bee printed anew wherein are contained certaine wholesome and godly exhortations to move the people to honour and worship Almighty God and diligently to serve him every one according to their degree state vocation And in the latter part of the Preface it is said That all her people of what degree or condition soever they be may learne how to invocate and call upon the name of God and know what duty they owe both to God and man so that they may pray beleeve and worke according to knowledge while they shall live here and after this life bee with him that with his blood hath bought us all And at the end of the first Tome of the Homilies it is said concerning the Homilies of the second Tome Hereafter shall follow sermons of fasting praying almesdeeds c. with many other matters as well fruitfull as necèssarie to the edifying of Christian people and the increase of godly living From al which aforesaid delivery it is most manifest that the one only end why the reverend Fathers and the most learned Doctors of the Church composed the sermons commonly called Homilies was for the edification of the congregations in holinesse and righteousnesse and for a helpe unto Ministers that with the said sacred sermons the people committed to their charge might be the more instructed in the faith and life of the true Christian religion As therefore we have received from our fathers the CommoÌ„ prayer as a forme of prayer thanksgiving and confession so ought wee not to receive from our fathers hands their booke of Sermons the Homilies as a forme of wholesome words in faith and love which is in Christ Iesus Saint Paul charged Timothy to hold fast the w 2 Tim. 1.13 Rom. 6.17 forme of sound words which he had heard of him in faith and love which is in Christ Iesus Let any one unpartially weigh every particular sentence in the booke of Homilies and there will appeare nothing but Christian faith and godly love intended and held forth therein Moreover ought wee reverently to heare the Sermons of such as bee but young Students in Divinity and ought we not with great reverence to attend unto the Homilies the Sermons set forth by the chiefest Divines in the whole Church of our Land We ought not to be partiall towards the established Doctrine of our Church We commonly ascribe great authoritie unto the spirit of the Church accounting her Common prayer profitable for us to pray with unto Almighty God We ascribe great authoritie unto the spirit of the Church accounting her translation of the