be b Ps 25.12 13 Isa 50.10 left without helpe For either God Almighty will c Acts 8.29 send him some godly Doctour to teach him as he did to instruct the Eunuch or else if wee lacke a learned man to instruct and teach us yet God himselfe from above will give d 2 Sam. 22.29 See the Collect for the third Sunday after Easter light unto our mindes and teach us those things which are necessary for us and wherein we bee ignorant And in another place Chrysostome saith That mans humane and e 1 Cor. 1.19 20 21. Rom. 1.22 Col. 2.8 1 Cor. 2.14 3.19 20. worldly wisdome or science needeth not to the understanding of Scripture but the f Mat. 11.27 Ioh. 14 26. 16.13 revelation of the holy Ghost who inspireth the true meaning unto them that with humility and diligence doe search therefore c. In the second part of the * T. 2 p. 149 150. Homily an information concerning certaine places of Scripture It is said If ye will be profitable hearers and readers of the holy Scriptures yee must first g Mat. 16.24 1 Cor. 4.18 deny your selves and keepe under your h 1 Cor. 2.14 Isay 55.7.8 Rom. 8.5 6 7. carnall senses taken by the outward words and search the inward meaning i Rom. 4.18 19 20 21 22. reason must give place to Gods holy Spirit you must submit your worldly wisedome and judgement unto his diuine wisedome and judgement Consider that the Scripture in what strange forme soeuer it be pronounced is the word of the living God It cannot therefore bee but k Tit. 1.2 Pro. 8.6 7 8 9. truth which proceedeth from the God of all truth it cannot be but wisely and prudently commanded what Almighty God hath devised how vainly soever through want of grace we miserable wretches doe imagine and judge of his most holy Word In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 231. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said l Wisd 7.14 Wisedome is an infinite treasure unto men which who so use become partakers of the love of God I might with many words move some of this audience to search for this wisedome to sequester their reason to follow Gods Commandement to cast from them the wits of their braines to savour this wisedome to renounce the wisedome and policy of this fond world to taste and savour that whereunto the favour and will of God hath called them and willeth us finally to enjoy by his favour if we m Prov. 1.33 2.1 2 3 4 5. 8.34 35. would give eare The elect as they can search n Iob 28.12.20.23.28 where to finde this wisedome and know of whom to o Iam. 1.5 Ephes 17. aske it So know they againe that in time it is found and can therefore attemper themselves to the occasion of the time to suffer no time to p Eph. 5.15 16 17. Prov. 14.23 passe away wherein they may labour for this q Ecclus. 51.30 See all c. Ecclus. 24. wisedome And to encrease therein they know how God of his infinite mercy and lenitie giveth all men here time and place of r Rom. 2.4 Rev. 2.21 repentance The naturall man saith Saint Paul receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither Å¿ 1 Cor. 2.14 can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Wherefore the Lord Christ said verily verily except a man be borne againe he t Iohn 3.3 cannot see the kingdome of God The Prophet David saith u Psal 25.12 13 14.9 What man is hee that feareth the Lord him will hee teach the way that he shall choose His soule shall dwell at ease and his seed shall inherite the earth The secret of the Lord is with them that feare him and he will shew them his covenant The meeke will hee guide in judgement and the meeke will hee teach his way Saint Paul also saith Let no man deceive himselfe If any man among you seemeth to bee wise in this world let him become a w 1 Cor. 3.18 19 20. foole that hee may bee wise For the wisedome of this world is foolishnes with God We are to beleeve that every word syllable and x Mat. 5.18 Gal. 3.16 1 Cor. 15.27 Heb. 2.8 letter of the holy Scriptures is truth though the matter be farre y Rom 4.18.20 21 22. See in Homily in T. 2. p. 149. aboue our comprehension or * Some words are to bee understood not naturally but spiritually as in Rev. 11.8 and some figuratively as John 15.8 Luke 22.20 Psalme 6.6 Matth. 3.5 namely when as the naturall or proper sense of them cannot stand consonant either with the context or with other Scriptures The letter is to be retained alwaies in every understanding for let any jot or title passe and where is the Scripture then understanding The Lord saith Till heaven and earth passe one z Mat. 5.18 jot or one title shall in no wise passe from the Law till all be fulfilled The Scripture cannot be a Iohn 10.35 broken Yee shall not b Deut. 4.2 adde unto the word which I command you neither shall ye diminish ought from it that yee may keepe the commandements of the Lord your God which I command you c Pro. 30.6 Adde not thou unto his words lest he reproue thee and thou be found a lier Saint Peter saith that in Saint Pauls Epistles are some things d 2 Pet. 3.16 hard to bee understood which they that are unlearned and unstable doe wrest as they doe also the other Scriptures unto their owne destruction Againe the Lord Christ saith If ye e Iohn 8.31.32 continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed And ye shall c know the truth and the truth shall make you free Againe hee said unto the Iewes If any man will doe the f Iohn 7.17 will of God my Father he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speake of my selfe Saint Iames saith If any want wisedome let him g Iames 1.5 aske of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be giuen him Christ saith your heauenly Father will h Luke 11.13 give the holy Spirit to them that aske him and which also i Acts 5.32 obey him which holy Spirit teacheth k 2. Pet. 1.3 all things that pertaine unto life and godlines and l Iohn 16.13 Psal 25.5 leadeth the obedient into all truth unto m Eph. 4.3 Ioh. 17.21 221 unity n Iam. 3.17.18 Gal. 5.22 23. peace and o Act. 1.14 Act. 2.46 and 4.32 Col. 2.2.5 1 Cor. 1.10 Phil. 2.2 concord Solomon most memorably saith p Prov. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. My sonne if thou wilt receive my words and hide my Commandements with thee so that thou encline thine eare unto wisedome and apply
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
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
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
and unfainedly to y Rom. 8.29 Phil 3.13.14.15 strive to come neerer and neerer unto that marke Wee that are but z Wis 2.2 sparkes of spirit in small lumpes of clay if the Angels and Arch-Angels of heaven doe stand in a Iude. 9. awe of God ought to serve him acceptably with reverence and godly b Heb. 12.28.29 feare For our God is a consuming fire CHAP. 85. Of sundry fruits of the Holy Spirit IN the third part of the * T. 2. p. 119. Homily concerning Prayer it is said Because the soule is much more precious and excellent than the body therefore we ought first of all to crave such things as properly belong to the salvation thereof as the gift of Repentante the gift of Faith the gift of Charity and good Workes remission and forgivenesse of sinnes patience in adversitie lowlinesse in prosperitie and such other like fruites of the Spirit as Hope Love Ioy Peace Long-suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Meekenesse and Temperance which things God requireth of all them that professe themselves to be his children Saint Paul in his Epistle to the Galatians saith The c Gal. 5.22 23. fruit of the spirit is Love Ioy Peace Long-suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Faith or Faithfulnesse Meeknesse Temperance And on some of these nine there shall be now some briefe observation because they are matters necessary for our consideration in that if they be in any measure in us they are testimonies that we have the Spirit of God and are d Rom. 8.9 his In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 209 210. Homily for Whitsunday it is said O but how shall I know that the holy Ghost is within me some man perchance will say Forsooth as the e Mat. 7.16 17 18 19 20. tree is knowne by his fruit so is also the Holy Ghost The fruits of the Holy Ghost according to the minde of Saint Paul are these Love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faithfulnesse meeknesse temperance c. If thou see that thy workes be vertuous and good consonant to the prescript rule of Gods Word savouring and tasting not of the flesh but of the spirit then f 1 Iohn 3.18 19 20 21 24. assure thy selfe that thou art indued with the Holy Ghost otherwise in thinking well of thy selfe thou doest nothing else but g Iam. 1.26 Gal. 6.7 8 9. deceive thy selfe Of Love The first mentioned fruit of the Spirit is Love Saint Iohn saith Every one that h 1 Iohn 4.7 8. loveth is borne of God and knoweth God He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is Love By this shall all men know saith Christ that ye are my Disciples if ye have i Iohn 13.35 Love one to another In the fourth part of the * T. 2. p. 235. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said Love and charity is the onely k 1 Iohn 3.10 Livery of a Christian man Saint Paul unto the Corinthians reckoneth up sixteene properties of Love saying l 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6 7 8. Charitie suffereth long and is kinde Charity envieth not Charity vaunteth not it selfe is not puffed up doth not behave it selfe unseemely seeketh not her owne is not easily provoked thinketh no evill rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the truth beareth all things beleeveth all things hopeth all things endureth all things Charity never faileth The necessitie of Charitie is declared in many places of the Divine Service but in a most Divine manner in the whole Homily thereof The prayer therefore for it the Collect to be reade on Shrovesunday called Quinquagesima is profitable to be said often by us O Lord which doest teach vs that all our doings without Charity are m 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3. nothing worth send thy Holy Ghost and power into our hearts that most n 1 Cor. 12.31 excellent gift of Charity the very o Col. 3.14 bond of peace and all vertues without the which whosoever liveth is counted p Iam. 2.20 26 1 Tim. 5.6 Luke 15.32 Of Ioy. dead before thee The next fruit of the Spirit is Ioy. In the * T. 2. p. 210. Homily for Whitsunday the first part thereof it is said Who will not marvell at that which is written in the Acts of the Apostles to heare their bold confession before the Countill at Ierusalem and to consider that they went away with Ioy and gladnesse q Acts 5.41 rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebukes and checkes for the name and faith of Christ Iesus This was the mighty worke of the Holy Ghost who because hee giveth patience and joyfulnesse of heart in temptation and affliction hath therefore worthily obtained this name in holy Scriptures to bee called a r Iohn 14.16 Comforter The Lord saith Isaiah will comfort Zion he will comfort all her wast places and hee will make her wildernesse like Eden and her Desert like the Garden of the Lord ſ Isa 51.3 Ioy and gladnesse shall bee found therein thanksgiving and the voyce of melody The redeemed of the Lord shall returne and come with singing unto Zion and everlasting t Isa 35.10 and. 51.11 joy shall bee upon their head they shall obtaine gladnesse and joy and forrow and mourning shall flee away The third fruit of the Spirit is Peace Of Peace Peace in conscience is so precious a matter in this present world as that congregations are not to depart from Church untill the u Phil. 4.7 Peace of God which passeth all understanding or the like blessing bee said which the Church hath appointed For with the like manner of blessing did God in former times ordaine his Priests to w Numb 6.23 24 25 26 27. blesse his people the Iewes saying The Lord blesse thee and keepe thee the Lord make his face shine upon thee and bee gracious unto thee the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee Peace Sundry times doth the Divine Service most divinely informe us hereof saying O God which art Author of x 1 Cor. 141 33. Peace lover of y Ps 133.1 2 3 Eph. 4.16 cōcord c. And give unto thy servants that Peace which the world z Iohn 14.27 cannot give that both our hearts may be a Ps 108.1 set to b Mat. 228.20 obey thy commandements and also that by thee wee being defended from the feare of our enemies may passe our time in c Ier. 6.16 Ps 116.7 8 9. rest and d Isa 30.15 1 Pet. 3.4 Ps 31.2 quietnesse Most memorable is that Collect appointed to be read on the 21. Sunday after Trinity viz. Grant wee beseech thee mercifull Lord to thy faithfull people pardon and Peace that they may be e 1 Iohn 1.7 9. Ps 31.2 Ps 73.1.13 Iam. 4.8 cleansed from all their sinnes and serve thee with a f 1 Pet. 3.4 quiet minde In the third part of the * T. 1.
of the Lord Iesus Christ should onely live walke dwell rule and raigne Saint Paul unto Timothy signifieth that people till they bee penitent for their sinfull life and doe bring forth fruits meet for repentance are in the snare of the n 2 Tim. 2.26 Devill taken captive of him at his will Saint Iohn foretold how that o Rev. 20.2 7 8 9. Satan should bee bound a thousand yeares and after that he must bee loosed a little season when the thousand yeares were expired Satan should be loosed out of prison and should goe out to deceive the Nations which are in the foure quarters of the earth Gog and Magog to gather them together to battell the number of whom is as the sand of the sea And that they would goe up on the breadth of the earth and compasse the campe of the Saints about and the beloved City but fire should come downe from God out of heaven and devoure them Saint Paul likewise foreknowing how that in the time when Satan was let loose out of the prison wherein hee had beene bound a thousand yeeres p Mat. 24.12 iniquity would abound and the love of many would waxe cold foretelleth what sinnes would raigne then yea in the professours of the name of Christianity saying This know also that in the q 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5. last dayes perillous times shall come For men will be lovers of their owne selves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankfull unholy without naturall affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good traitors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God having a forme of godlinesse but denying the power thereof How mighty soever the Devill is and that he is like a roaring Lyon yet if the obedient people of God doe resist him Saint Iames saith that he will r Iam. 4.7 flee from them Saint Iohn saith He that is begotten of God keepeth himselfe and that ſ 1 Ioh. 5.18 wicked one toucheth him not Such as doe t Iam. 4.8 9 10. draw nigh unto God cleansing their hands and purifying their hearts submitting themselves unto God humbling themselves in the sight of the Lord unto such as Iames saith God draweth nigh he giveth grace he lifteth them up into u Ephes 1.3 and 2.6 heavenly places in Christ Iesus Iob the obedient child of God witnessed by God himselfe to be a perfect and upright man a fearer of God and an eschewer of evill was by Gods Almighty power and wisdome w Iob 1.1 10. hedged in round about so that the Devils hand could not reach him untill for a time and with x Iob 1.12 limitation there was permission Wonderfull is the providence of God for such as y Psal 34.7 9 18. feare him and have a religious and conscionable z Psal 119.6 respect unto all his Commandements It is ever remarkably signified in the prayer towards the end of the most sacred Letany That such in whom is the sighing of a contrite heart and of a spirit sorrowfull for committing sinnes are graciously heard so that those evills which the craft and subtiltie of the Devillor man worketh against them be brought to nought and by the providence of Gods goodnesse be dispersed that the obedient servants of Christ being hurt by no persecution according as the Eternall Wisdome seeth it most requisite to dispose may evermore give thanks unto God in his holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. CHAP. 94. Of the Seven deadly Sinnes SAint Paul a 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5. reckoneth up seventeene deadly sins that among many professours of the name of Christianity would raigne in these latter times And holy Church according to the delivery of godly antiquity in the third part of the * T. 2. p. 293 294. Homily against disobedience and wilfull rebellion saith Thus you see that all good Lawes are by rebels violated and broken and that all sinnes possible to bee committed against God or man be contained in rebellion which sins if a man list to name by the accustomed names of the seven capitall or deadly sinnes as Pride Envie Wrath Covetousnesse Sloth Gluttony and Lecherie he shall find them all in rebellion and among rebells c. We are taught to pray in the sacred Letany From fornication and all other deadly sinne and from all the deceits of the world the flesh and the Devill Good Lord deliver us Of Pride IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 7. Homily of the misery of man it is said The holy Ghost in writing the holy Scriptures is in nothing more diligent than to pull down mans vaine glory and pride which of all vices is most universally grafted in all mankinde even from the first infection of our first father Adam And therefore wee read in many places of Scripture many notable Lessons against this old rooted vice to teach us the most commendable vertue of b 1 Pet. 5.5 humility how to know our selves and to remember what we be of our selves In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 52. Homily of falling from God it is said Of our going from God the wise man saith That c Ecclus. 10.12 13. Pride was the first beginning for by it mans heart was turned from God his maker For Pride saith he is the fountaine of all sin He that hath it shall be full of cursings and at the end it shall overthrow him And as by pride and sinne wee goe from God so shall God and all goodnesse with him goe from us In the * T. 2. p. 109. Homily against excesse of apparell it is said That people in hell too late repenting themselves shall openly complaine with these words d Wis 5.8.9.13 What hath our pride profited us or what profit hath the Pompe of riches brought us all these things are passed away like a shadow As for vertue wee did never shew any signe thereof and thus we are consumed in our wickednesse In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 214. Homily for Whitsunday it is said Saint Gregory saith Pride is the roote of all mischiefe And Saint Austines judgement is this that it maketh men devils And * T. 2. p. 216. afterward it is said Wheresoever ye finde the spirit of arrogancie and pride c. Assure your selves that there is the spirit of the devill not of God albeit they pretend outwardly to the world never so much holines For the spirit of Iesus is a e Mat. 11.29 a lowly spirit c. Habbakkuk saith Behold his soule which is f Hab. 2.4 lifted up is not upright in him but the just shall live by his faith Whereby the Prophet giveth us to understand that faith whereby Gods people doe live is a property quite cōtrary to loftinesse of minde Also God g Iam. 4.6 resisteth the proud but giveth grace to