g Ezech. 18.15 exceeded all other no lesse than the Sunne in brightnesse and light exceedeth euery small and little Starre in the firmament He was made h Genesis 1.27 according to the image and similitude of God he was endued with all kind of Heauenly gifts he had no spotte of vncleannesse in him he was sound and perfect in all parts both outwardly and inwardly his reason was vncorrupt his vnderstanding was Pure and Good his Will was obedient and godly he was made altogether like vnto God in i Ephe. 4.241 righteousnesse and holinesse c. And it is sayd in the first part of the * T. 2. p. 261. Homily of Repentance Therefore did God create and make men that he might haue whom he should do good vnto and k Psal 8.6 Col. 1 make partakers of his heauenly Riches In the like manner Dauid sayth thou l Psal 8.5 hast made man a little lower than the Angels and hast Crowned him with glory and Honour c. God sayth Moses created man in his owne image which Paul expresseth to be in righteousnesse and true holinesse Concerning mans partaking of Gods heauenly riches Paul signified to the Ephesians that m Eph. 3.8 vnto him grace was giuen for to Preach among the Gentiles the vnsearchable riches of Christ And hee sayth vnto them I cease not to n Eph 1.16 17.18 giue thankes for you making mention of you in my Prayers that the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glory may giue vnto you the spirit of Wisdome and Reuelation in the knowledge of him the eyes of your vnderstanding beeing enlightned that yee may know what is the hope of his Calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints is In the booke of Wisdome it is sayd God o Wisd 2.23 created man to be immortall and made him to be an image of his owne Eternity Hee p Wisd 1.14 created all things that they might haue their beeing and the generations of the World were healthfull and there is no poyson of destruction in them nor the Kingdome of Death vpon the earth CHAP. 9. Of Mans falling from God and of the Misery of Mankind thereby IN the second part of the * T. 1. p. 33. Homily of good Workes it is sayd That Adam notwithstanding Gods Commaundement gaue credit vnto the Woman seduced by the subtile perswasion of the Serpent and so followed his owne will and left Gods Commaundement Whereby it came to passe as it is deliuered in the * T. 2. p. 168. Homily of the Nativity of Christ that as before he was blessed so now he was accursed as before hee was loued so now he was abhorred as before he was most beautifull and precious so now hee was most vile and Wretched in the sight of his Lord and Maker c. Which misery fell not onely on him but also on his posterity and Children for euer So that the whole Brood of Adams flesh should sustaine the selfe same fall and punishment which their fore-father by his offence most iustly had deserued Saint Paul sayth q Rom. 5.12.14.18 By one man sinne entred into the World and death by sin and so death passed vpon all men for that all haue sinned And death reigned from Adam to Moses euen ouer them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adams transgression who is the figure of him that was to come And as by the offence of one iudgment came vpon all men to condemnation Euen so by the righteousnesse of one the free gift came vpon all men vnto iustification of life Accordingly Esdras hath testified saying r 2 Esdras 3.21 The first Adam bearing a wicked heart transgressed and was ouercome and so bee all they that are borne of him And againe sayth he Å¿ 2 Esd 7.48 O thou Adam what hast thou done for though it was thou that sinned thou art not falne alone but wee all that come of thee Esay declaring the state of man falne sayth t Esay 59.2.3.4 Your iniquities haue separated betweene you and your God and your sinnes haue hid his face from you that hee will not heare For your hands are defiled with Blood and your fingers with iniquity Your Lippes haue spoken lyes your Tongue hath muttered peruersnesse None calleth for Iustice nor any pleadeth for the truth c. Vnto the end of the 15. Verse And Esay sayth also u Esay 64.6 VVe are all as an vncleane thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags Saint Paule to the Ephesians likewise telleth them what was their estate afore they were conuerted vnto the obedience of the Gospell Namely that they were w Eph. 5.8 darknesse x Eph. 2.12.2.3 without Christ being Aliens from the common wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenant of Promise hauing no hope and without God in the World Also that they were dead in trespasses and sinnes wherein they Walked according to the course of this World according to the Prince of the power of the Ayre the spirit that now worketh in the Children of disobedience Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the minde and were by nature Children of Wrath euen as others Reade the whole Homily of the misery of Man CHAP. 10. Of Gods calling of Mankinde IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 219.220 Homily for Rogation Weeke it is sayd That it is the goodnesse of God which moueth him to say in Scripture It is my delight to be with the children of men It is his goodnesse that mooueth him to call vs vnto him to offer vs his friendship and presence It is his goodnesse that patiently suffereth our straying from him and suffereth vs long to winne vs vnto repentance And what other thing doth his louing and gentle voyce spoken in his Word where he calleth vs to his presence and friendship but delare his goodnesse only without regard of our Worthinesse It is sayd in the * In the Service appoynted to be read on Ash-wensday Comminations Exhortation The wrath of God shall appeare in the day of vengeance which obstinate sinners through the stubbornnesse of their heart haue heaped vnto themselues which despised the goodnesse patience and long sufferance of God when hee * Rom. 2.4 called them continually to Repentance From which places it is taught That Gods call of fallen man is vnto repentance and his friendship and presence according as it is written in S. Peter The y 2 Peter 3.9 Lord is long suffering to vs-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance z Mat. 9.13 I came saith Christ for to cal sinners to repentance And Saint Paul sayth to the Corinthians God a 1 Cor. 1.9 is faithfull by whom yee were called vnto the fellowship of his sonne
Iesus Christ our Lord. And to the Thessalonians he sayth b 1 Thes 2.12 That yee would walke worthy of God who hath called you vnto his Kingdome and glory And Saint Peter sayth c 1 Peter 2.9 That yee should shew foorth the prayses of him who hath called you out of darknes into his maruailous light And againe d 1 Pet. 5.10.11 The God of all grace who hath called vs into his eternall glory by Iesus Christ after that yee haue suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you To him be glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen CHAP. 11. Of Iustification IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 13. Homily of Saluation it is sayd Because all men be sinners and offenders against God and breakers of his Law and Commandements therefore can no man by his owne acts workes and deedes seeme they neuer so good be iustified and made righteous before God But euery man of necessity is constrayned to seeke for another righteousnesse or iustification to be receiued at Gods owne hands that is to say the forgiuenesse of his sins and trespasses in such things as hee hath offended And this iustification or righteousnesse which we so receiue of Gods mercy and Christs merits embraced by faith is taken accepted and allowed of God for our perfect and full iustification Three things therefore must goe together in our iustification The three things which must go together in our iustification To 1. p. 14.15 Vppon Gods part his great mercy and grace Vppon Christs part Iustice that is the satisfaction of Gods iustice or the price of our redemption by the offering of his body and shedding of his blood with fulfilling of the Law perfectly and throughly And vppon our part true and liuely Faith in the Merits of Iesus Christ which neuerthelesse is the gift of God and not mans onely worke without God Which sayd Faith doth not shut out Repentance Hope Loue Dread and the feare of God to be ioyned with Faith in euery man that is iustified but it shutteth them out from the office of iustifying Nor the faith also doth not sout out the iustice of our good workes necessarily to bee done afterwards of duty towards God For wee are most bounden to serue God in doing good Deedes commaunded by him in his Holy Scripture all the dayes of our life * Page 17. No man may iustly thinke that wee may by this Doctrine take any occasion of carnall liberty to follow the desires of the flesh or that thereby any kind of sinne may be committed or any vngodly liuing the more vsed Iustification is the office of God onely and is not a thing which wee render vnto him but which wee receiue of him Not which wee giue vnto him but which wee take of him by his free Mercy and by the onely Merits of his most dearely beloued Sonne our onely Redeemer Sauiour and iustifier IESVS CHRIST Saint Paul sayth e Rom. 3.23.24.25.26 All haue sinned and come short of the glory of God being iustified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Iesus Ghrist whom God hath set foorth to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood to declare his righteousnesse for the remission of sinnes that are past through the forbearance of God To declare I say at this time his righteousnesse that he may be iust and the iustifier of him which beleeueth in Iesus The same Apostle likewise sayth f Rom. 8.3 What the Law could not do in that it was weake through the flesh God sending his owne Sonne in the likenesse of sinnefull flesh and * Or by a sacrifice for sinne as in the margent Peccatum graecè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebraâ—cè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Et 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saepè exponitur expiatâ—o et piaculum seu sacrificium expiationis Leu. 4.34 Eze. 45.23 c. In textu etiam chaldaico vsurpatur vt in Esdr 6.17 for sinne condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousnesse of the Law migh be fulfilled in vs who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Now the * Page 19. office and duety of a Christian man vnto God what wee ought on our part to render vnto God againe for his great mercy and goodnesse is not to passe the time of this present life vnfruitfully and idlely after that wee are Baptized or iustified not caring how few good workes we do to the glory of God and profite of our neighbours Much lesse is it our Office after that wee bee once made Christs members to liue contrary to the same making our selues members of the Diuell walking after his inticements and after the suggestions of the World and the flesh whereby we know that we doe serue the World and the Diuell and not God The Lord sayth by his Prophet Micah g Mic 6.10.11.12 Shall I count them pure with the wicked Ballances and with the Bagge of deceitfull weights For the rich men thereof are full of Violence and the inhabitants thereof haue spoken lyes and their tongue is deceitfull in their mouth In the beginning of the Common Prayer it is sayd concerning iustification At what time so euer a sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart I will put all his wickednesse out of my remembrance sayth the Lord. These Words of the Lord spoken at large by his Prophet are If the h Ezech. 18.21 22. Wicked will turne from all his sinnes that he hath committed and keepe all my Statutes and do that which is lawfull and right hee shall surely liue he shall not dye All his transgressions that he hath committed they shall not be mentioned vnto him in his righteousnesse that hee hath done he shall liue And sayth the Apostle beeing iustified i Rom. 5.1.2 by faith we haue peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ By whom also wee haue accesse by faith into this grace wherein we stand and reioyce in hope of the glory of God CHAP. 12. Of the true and liuely Faith IN the third part of the * T. 1. p. 19.20 Homily of Saluation it is sayd The right and true Christian faith is not only to beleeue that holy Scripture and all the aforesaid Articles of our Faith are true which things the Diuels themselues do beleeue but also to haue a sure trust and confidence in Gods mercifull promises to be saued from euerlasting damnation by Christ Whereof doth follow a louing heart to obey his Commandements The * T. 1. P. 18. true and liuely faith in Christ bringeth foorth good workes and a life according to Gods Commandements And * P. 20. this true Christian faith neither any Diuell hath nor yet any man which in the outward profession of his mouth and in his outward receiuing of the Sacraments in comming to Church and in all other outward appearances seemeth to be a Christian man and yet in his
came to passe in some measure when as the Sacrament of circumcision according to Gods ordinance was receiued But now the grace is receiued in Baptisme and in the circumcision of the heart CHAP. 16. Of the calling of Moses IN the second part of the * T. 1. p. 33. Homily of good workes it is sayd Euer since the fall of Adam all that came of him haue beene so blinded through Originall sinne that they haue beene euer ready to fall from God and his Law and to inuent a new way vnto saluation by Workes of their owne deuising Insomuch that almost all the World forsaking the true honour of the onely eternall liuing God wandred about their owne fantasies Worshipping some the Sunne the Moone c. Such was the rudenesse of the people after they fell to their owne fantasies and left the eternall liuing God and his Commandements that they deuised innumerable images and Gods In which errour and blindnesse they did remaine vntill such time as Almighty God pittying the blindnesse of man sent his true Prophet Moses into the World for to reprooue and to rebuke this extreame madnesse and to teach the people to know the onely liuing God and his true honour and worship o 1 Iohn 3.11.12 Caine is mentioned the first man after Adam that brought foorth the fruites of the fall in that he fell from the loue which by the Law of nature hee owed vnto his Brother and hated him and slew him Caines posterity shewed a degenerated nature namely p Genesis 4.23 Lamech in taking two Wiues Whereas as Christ sayth From q Math. 19.8 the beginning it was not so For in the beginning it was sayd r Genesis 2.24 A man shall leaue Father and Mother and shall cleaue to his Wife and they twaine shall be one flesh Lamech also further manifested his corrupted nature saying I haue Å¿ Genesis 4.24 slayne a man in my Wounding and a young man to my hurt Great was the departure from Gods euerlasting Law vntill the dayes of Enos And t Genesis 4.26 then sayth the Text beganne men to call vpon the name of the Lord. Afterward Enoch the u Iude 14.15 seuenth from Adam prophecied saying Behold the Lord commeth with ten thousands of his Saints to execute iudgement vppon all and to conuince all that are vngodly among them of all their vngodly deedes which they haue vngodly committed and of all their hard speeches which vngodly sinners haue spoken against him But in the dayes of Noah iniquity agayne more exceedingly abounded though hee was a w 2 Pet. 2.5 Preacher of righteousnesse among the people And God brought in the Flood vpon the World of the Vngodly After the Flood the consideration whereof one might thinke would haue terrified mankinde from committing wickednesse people being multiplied especially the x Gene. 10.10 posterity of Ham fel to euill working againe to the building of a City and Tower whose y Gene. 11.4 top might reach vnto Heauen and to make themselues a name c. Yea not only the posterity of Ham but many also of the posterity of Shem degenerated so farre as that they serued z Ios 24.2 other Gods And as Achtor in the Booke of Iudith sayd Abraham with his would not follow the a Iudith 5.7 Gods of their Fathers which were in the Land of Chaldea but left the way of their Ancestours and worshipped the God of Heauen the God whom they knew In the dayes of Abraham there was in the World Gods Priest-hood after the order of b Genesis 14 18 Melchizedec whereof among the most there was little or no vse made but blindnesse of vnderstanding and iniquity of life most preuailed vntill that God raysed vp Moses as the Homily sayth who was c Heb. 3.5 faithfull in all Gods house who also witnessed against the abominations of the world and taught Gods d Ecclus 1.5 euerlasting Law with Gods Statutes e Deut 4.1 and iudgments CHAP. 17. Of the Passeouer IN the first part of the * T. 2 p. 197. Homily concerning receiuing the Sacrament it is sayd Of old time God decreed his wonderous benefits of the deliuerance of his people to be kept in memory by the eating of the Passeouer with his rites and Ceremonies In the second part of the * Page 202. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is sayd That newnesse of life as fruits of Faith is required in the partakers of the Lords table wee may learne by eating of the Typicall Lambe whereunto no man was admitted but hee that was a Iew that was circumcised that was before sanctified And in the * To. 2. p. 196. Transitus noster id est Phase ita eâ—lebratur siterrena et AegiptuÌ„ dimittenteâ— ad Coelestia festmemus Hieronimus in cap. 26. Math. Homily of the Resurrection it is sayd Christ our Easter Lambe is offered vp for vs to slay the power of sinne to deliuer vs from the danger thereof and to giue vs exampleÌ„ to dye vnto sinne in our liues And let vs passe ouer the affections of our old conuersation that wee may be deliuered from the bondage thereof and rise vp with Christ Moses from the Lord sayd vnto the people of Israel And f Exo. 12.26.27 it shall come to passe when your Children shall say vnto you what meane you by this seruice That yee shall say it is the sacrifice of the Lords Passeouer who passed ouer the houses of the Children of Israel in Egypt when hee smote the Egyptions and deliuered our houses Also sayth Moses g Exod. 12.48 when a stranger shall soiourne with thee and will keepe the Passeouer vnto the Lord let all his Males bee Circumcised and then let him come neere and keepe it And he shall be as one that is borne in the Land for no vncircumcised person shall eate thereof And concerning the Spirituall signification of the Passeouer it is manifest out of Saint Paules Words where he sayth h 1 Cor. 5.7.8 Purge out the old Leauen that yee may be a new Lumpe as yee are vnleauened for euen Christ our Passeouer is sacrificed for vs. Therefore let vs keepe the Feast not with olde Leauen neyther with the Leauen of malice and wickednesse but with the vnleauened bread of sincerity and truth The Passeouer was the second Sacrament celebrated in the Church of the Iewes the i Deut. 14.2 peculiar people of God in those times CHAP. 18. Of the Law giuen by Moses IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 275. Homily against Disobedience and wilfull Rebellion it is sayd As God the Creatour and Lord of all things appoynted his Angels and Heauenly Creatures in all obedience to serue and to honour his Maiesty So was it his will that man his chiefe Creature vpon the earth should liue vnder the obedience of his Creatour and Lord. And for that cause God as soone as hee had Created man gaue vnto him
one upon another for claiming one of the other further than that in ancient right and custome our forefathers have peaceably laid out unto us for our commodity and comfort * p 235. Thou shalt not commandeth Almighty God in his Law remove thy neighbours g Deut. 19.14 marke which they of old time have set in their inheritance Thou shalt not saith h Pro. 22.28 Prov. 23.10.11 Solomon remove the ancient bounds which thy fathers have laid And lest wee should esteeme it to be but a light offence so to doe we shall understand that it is reckoned among the curses of God pronounced upon sinners Accursed be he saith Almighty God by Moses who i Deut. 27 17. removeth his neighbours doles and markes and all the people shall say answering Amen thereto as ratifying that curse upon whom it doth light They doe much provoke the wrath of God upon themselves which use to grinde upon the doles and markes which of ancient time were laid for the division of meeres and balkes in the fields to bring the owners to their right They doe wickedly which doe turne up the ancient terries of the fields that old men before times with great paines did tread out whereby the Lords records which be the tenants Evidences be perverted and translated sometime to the disheriting of the right owner to the oppression of the poore fat herlesse or the poore widow The * p 237. Homily also delivereth that men should not plough and grate upon their neighbours land that lyeth next them that they should not plough up so nigh the common balkes and walks which good men before time made the greater and broader partly for the commodious walke of his neighbour partly for the better shacke in harvest time to the more comfort of his poore neighbours cattell And that beere balkes wherin the corps should be caried to the Christian sepulture should not be pinched at but inviolably kept unto that purpose Also that all such encroachments should be looked on and considered in the dayes of Perambulation The high wayes then are also to be considered in your walkes to understand where to bestow your dayes workes according to the good statutes provided for the same Whereas it is a custome at certaine places in the Procession to reade a Gospell that peoples minds may receive instruction and their soules have food in their going is it not done for the k 1 Cor. 10.31 glory of God and the edification of the company It is written in the booke of Nehemiah that the congregation of Israel made l Neh. 8.14 15 16 17 18. boothes abroad in the ayre and sate under the boothes And day by day from the first day unto the last day of the boothes feast hee read in the booke of the Law of God It is not a sinne to read some portion of scripture unto people in the fields neither is it a transgression for Christian people to say some prayer there alwayes provided that nothing be done contrary to the law Ecclesiasticall or temporall of the Realme wherein we live and that what we doe be by common authority an allowed custome It is written in the Acts that by a m Acts. 16.13 rivers side prayer was sometimes made and that people there received some instruction In the booke of Canticles the Church of Christ saith thus concerning Iesus Christ I am my beloveds and his desire is towards me Come my beloved let us goe forth into the n Song 7.10 11 12. field let us lodge in the villages Let us get up earely to the vineyards let us see if the vine flourish whether the tender grape appeare and the pomegranats bud forth there will I give thee my loves That is there will I say O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in o Psal 8.3.6 7.8 9. all the earth there will I give thanks unto thee and p Psal 92.1.4 sing praises unto thy name O most High I will there triumph in the workes of thy hands Concerning peoples making the signe of the Crosse at such places where it is to be knowne that their parish bounds doe end what marke or signe is so fit to be made It is the Christian signe It is the marke wherewith wee were signed when we were baptized The Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ is that wherein wee should all q Gal. 6.14 glory And why may we not use the signe therof in such occasiōs as Publike Authority alloweth In the thirtieth Canon of the Church it is said That the honour and dignity of the name of the Crosse begat a reverend estimation even in the Apostles time for ought that is knowne to the contrary of the signe of the Crosse which the Christians shortly after used in all their actions thereby making an outward shew and profession even to the astonishment of the Iewes that they were not ashamed to acknowledge him for their Lord and Saviour who died for them upon the Crosse Reade hereto the Chapter concerning Ceremonies why some bee abolished and some reteined that is set in the beginning of the Common Prayer booke CHAP. 76. Of Almes deeds IN first part of the * T. 2. p. 154. Homily of Almes-deeds it is said Amongst the manifold duties that Almighty God requireth of his faithfull servants the true Christians by the which he would that both his name should bee r Ioh. 15.8 glorified and the ſ 2 Pet. 1.10.5 6 7. certainty of their vocation declared there is none that is either more acceptable unto him or more profitable for them then are the t Mic. 6.8 workes of mercy and pity shewed upon the poore which be afflicted with any kind of misery In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 74. Homily against perill of Idolatry there is alleaged a saying out of Clemens an ancient godly Writer viz. If you will truely honour the Image of God you should by doing well to man honour the true Image of God in him For the Image of God is in every man but the likenesse of God is not in every one but in those onely which have a godly heart and pure minde If you will therefore truely honour the Image of God wee doe declare to you the truth that ye doe well to man who is made after the Image of God that you give u 1 Pet. 2.17 honour and reverence unto him and refresh the hungry with meat the thirstie with drinke the naked with clothes the sicke with attendance the stranger harbourlesse with lodging the w Mat. 25.42 43 44 45. prisoners with necessaries and this shall bee accounted as truly bestowed upon God And these things are so directly appertaining to Gods honor that whosoever doth not this shall seeme to have x Prov. 14 31. reproached and done villany to the Image of God In the third part of the * T. 1. p. 67. Homily against the feare of death it
to afflict his soule is it to bow downe his head as a Bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him wilt thou call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord Is not this the fast that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickednesse to undoe the heavie burdens and to let the oppressed goe free and that yee beake every yoake is it not to deale thy bread to the hungry and that thou bring the poore that are cast out to thy house when thou seest the naked that thou cover him and that thou hide not thy selfe from thine owne flesh Moreover that there ought to be made fervent prayer in the fasting dayes of the foure Ember-weekes it is signified in an Exhortation at the consecrating of an Elected Bishop where the Archbishop saith Brethren it is written in the Gospell of Saint Luke that our Saviour Christ continued the b Luke 6.12 13. whole night in the prayer or ever that hee did choose and send forth his twelve Apostles It is written also in the Acts of the Apostles that the Disciples which were at Antioch did c Act. 13.1 2 3. In every solemne fast wee ought to give some almes fast and pray or ever that laid hands upon or sent forth Paul and Barnabas Whereas Isaiah signifieth that the use which is to be made of fasting is charitablenesse some observe that when one fasteth hee is to give somewhat to the poore what hee hath spared from his owne selfe to let some poore member or members of Christ to bee comforted therewith CHAP. 78. Of Conversion Repentance and Regeneration IN the * T. 1. p. 53. Homily concerning Falling from God it is said out of Saint Origen He that with minde with study with deeds with thought and care applieth and giveth himselfe to Gods Word and thinketh upon his Lawes day and night giveth himselfe wholly to God and in his Precepts and Commandements is exercised this is he that is turned to God or one converted Conversion is the charge of the streame of minde and life of meditation and conversation from following ones d Isa 55.7 8 9. owne will or the lusts of e 1 Pet. 4.2 others unto an unfeined indeavour for to know all the Commandements of f Mat. 28.20 Iohn 15.14 Christ and his g 1 Cor. 11.2 Icr. 35.18 19. Church and to live obediently unto every particular of the same Then saith David shall I not be ashamed when I have a h Ps 119.6 respect unto all thy Commandements If I i Ps 66.18 regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not heare me Ezekiel saith If the wicked k Ezek. 18.21 22. will turne from all his sinnes that he hath committed and keepe all my Statutes and doe that wâ—â—ch is lawfull and right he shall surely live he shall not dye Christ charged his Ministers to teach all Nations to observe l Mat. 28.20 all things whatsoever he hath commanded them He also saith Yee are my m Iohn 15.14 friends if yee doe whatsoever I command you And concerning the duty that all owe unto his n Luke 10 16. Church hee saith Who so heareth you heareth me and he that desoiseth you despiseth me and hee that despiseth mee despiseth him that sent me If any neglect to heare the o Mat. 18.17 Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen man and a Publicane When one is in converting or turning unto God he is said in holy Scripture p Luke 15.17 to come to himselfe to q Psal 22.27 remember himselfe to take his owne estate into r Ezech. 18.28 Of repentance consideration Concerning repentance it is said in the first part of the * T. 2. p. 256. Homily thereof There is nothing that the Holy Ghost doth so much labour in all the Scriptures to beate into mens heads as Å¿ Acts 17.30 repentance amendment of life and speedy returning unto the Lord God of hostes * p. 258. Afterward there is signified That repentance is a returning againe of the whole man unto God from whom wee bee t Rom. 3.23 fallen away by sinne But that the whole discourse therof may be the better born away wee shall first consider in order foure principall points that is from what we must returne to whom wee must returne by whom we may be able to convert and the manner how to turne unto God First from whence or from what things we must returne Truly we must returne from those things whereby wee have beene withdrawne pluckt and led away from God and these generally are our sinnes which as the holy Prophet Isaiah doth testifie doe u Isa 59.2 separate God and us and hide his face that he will not heare us But unâ—â—â— the name of sinne not onely those grosse words and deeds which by the common judgement of men are counted to be filthy and unlawfull and so consequently abominable sinnes but also the filthy lusts and inward concupiscences of the flesh which as Saint Paul testifieth doe w Gal 5.16 17. 1 Pet. 2.11 Rom. 7.23 resist the will and Spirit of God and therefore ought earnestly to be bridled and x Gal. 5.24 kept under We must repent of the y Isa 44.20 Isa 59.13 false and erroneous opinions that we have had of God and the wicked superstition that doth breed of the same the z Rev. 9.20 unlawfull worshipping and service of God and other like All these things must they forsake that will truely turne unto the Lord and repent aright For sith that for such things the a Eph. 4.6 wrath of God commeth upon the children disobedience no end of punishment ought to be looked for as long as we continue in such things Secondly we must see unto whom we ought to returne The Lord saith Returne as farre as unto mee We must labour that we doe returne as farre as unto him and that we doe never cease nor rest till we have b Phil. 3.12.13 14. Act. 17.27 apprehended and taken hold upon him But this must be done by c Eph. 3.17 faith For sith that God is a Spirit he can by no other meanes be apprehended and taken hold upon Therefore thirdly we are to consider by whom we must returne unto God because we have of our owne selves nothing to present us to God and doe no lesse flee from him after our fal then our first Parent Adam did who when he had sinned did seeke to d Gen. 3.8 hide himselfe from the sight of God Wee have therefore neede of a Mediatour to bring and reconcile us unto him who from our sinnes is angry with us The same is e Col. 1.22 Iesus Christ And hee himselfe in his Gospell doth cry out and say I am the f Iohn 14.6 way the truth and the life no man commeth to the Father but by mee * P. 259. Fourthly as concerning the manner of our
so many places of the holy and sacred Scriptures doth bid us returne unto him Therefore we must take good heed unto our selves lest whereas we have already by our manifold sinnes and transgressions provoked and kindled the wrath of God against us wee doe by breaking w Mat. 3.2 Mat. 4.17 Mar. 6.12 Luke 13.3 this his Commandement double our offences and so heape still damnation upon our owne heads by our daily offences and trespasses whereby we provoke the eyes of his Majestie we doe well deserve if he should deale with us according to his justice to be put away for ever from the x 2 Thes 1.8.9 fruition of his glory y Heb. 2.3 How much more then are we worthy of the endlesse torments of Hell if when we be so gently called againe after our rebellion and coÌ„manded to returne we will in no wise hearken unto the voyce of our heavenly Father but walke still after the z Deut. 29.19 20. stubbornnesse of our owne hearts The second cause that should move us to repent is the most comfortable and sweet promise that the Lord our God did of his mcere mercy and goodnesse joyne unto his Commandement For he doth not onely say Returne unto me O Israel but also a Ier. 4.1 if thou wilt returne and put away all thine abominations out of my sight thou shalt never be moved The third cause which should move us to repent is the filthinesse of sinne which in such that as long as wee doe abide in it God cannot but b Ps 5.4 5 6. Ps 66.18 detest and abhorre us neither can there be any hope that we shall enter into the heavenly Ierusalem except we be first made c Rev. 21.27 cleane and purged from it But this will never be unlesse d Pro. 9.6 Eph. 4.22 23 24. forsaking our former life we doe with our whole heart returne unto the Lord our God and with a full purpose of amendment of life flee unto his mercy taking sure hold thereupon through e Rom. 3.25 Gal. 5.6 faith in the blood of his Sonne Iesus Christ The fourth cause which should move us to repentance is the uncertainty and brittlenesse of our owne lives which is such that wee cannot assure our selves that wee shall live one houre or one halfe quarter of it Which by experience we doe finde daily to be true in them that being now merry and lusty and sometimes feasting and banquetting with their friends doe fall suddenly dead in the streetes and otherwhiles under the Board when they are at meate These daily examples as they are most dreadfull and terrible so ought they to move us to seeke for to bee at f 2 Cor. 5.20 1 Cor. 6.17 one with our heavenly Iudge that we may with a good g 2 Cor. 5 9 10 11. 1 Iohn 2.28 conscience appeare before him whensoever it shall please him for to call us whether it be h Mat. 24.42 43 44 46. suddenly or otherwise for we have no more Charter of our life then they have But as wee are most certaine that we shall dye so are we most uncertaine when we shall dye For our life doth lye in the hand of God who will take it away when it i Ps 31.15 pleaseth him And verily when the highest Summer of all which is Death shall come he will not be said nay but we must bee packing to be present before the k Heb. 9.27 1 Pet. 1.17 Ier. 17.10 judgement Seat of God as hee doth finde us according as it is written Where as the l Eccles. 11.3 Luke 16.22 â—3 tree falleth whether it be toward the South or toward the North there it shall lye Whereunto agreeth the saying of the holy Martyr of God Saint Cyprian saying As God doth finde thee when he doth call so doth he judge thee Let us therfore follow the counsell of the Wise man where he saith m Ecclus. 5.7 Ps 119.60 Make no tarrying to turne unto the Lord and put on off from day to day For suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord breake forth and in thy security shalt thou be destroyed and shalt perish in the time of vengeance And afterward it is said Specially when thou art either by the preaching of Gods Word or by some inward motion of his holy n Eph. 4.30 Spirit or else by some other means called unto repentance neglect not the good occasion that is ministred unto thee lest when thou wouldest repent thou o Mat. 17.4 5. hast not the grace for to doe it For to repent is a good p Acts 11.18 2 Tim. 2.25 gift of God which he will never grant unto them who living in carnall security doe make a q 2 Pet. 3.3 Gal. 6.7 mocke of his threatnings or seeke to r Act. 7.51 rule his Spirit as they list as though his working and gifts were tyed unto their will The fift cause that should move us to repent is the avoyding of the plagues of God and the utter destruction that by his righteous judgement doth hang over the heads of them all that will in no wise returne unto the Lord whereof read the 28. Chapter of Deuteronomie and the Exhortation in the service of Commination Of Regeneration Concerning Regeneration or birth spirituall it is signified in the end of the first part of the * T. 2. p. 211. Homily for Whiltsunday to bee a Å¿ 1 Pet. 1.22.23 Iohn 1.13 new birth in all goodnesse righteousnesse sobriety and truth It is also said in that part of that * p. 109. Homily It is the Holy Ghost and no other thing that doth t Psal 80.18 Ephes 2.1.5 quicken the minds of men stirring up good and godly motions in their hearts which are agreeable to the will and Commandement of God such as otherwise of their owne crooked and perverse nature they should u 2 Cor. 3.5 Gen. 6.5 never have That which is borne of the w Iohn 3.6 spirit is spirit As who should say Man of his owne nature is fleshly and carnall corrupt and naught sinfull and disobedient to God Whereas it is said in 1 Iohn 4.7 8. Every one that loveth is borne of God and knoweth God and he that loveth not knoweth not God we may prove our sâ—lves whether wee grow in regeneration after we be come to the yeeres of discretion if we unfainedly strive to increase in the 16. vertues of charity or godly love reckoned up together by the holy Apostle Saint Paul in 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6 7 8. Many now a dayes doe frame to themselves a new birth or regeneration not duely attending what the holy Scripture and the divine Service of the Church declareth new birth or regeneration to be and so they come short of the comforts of the same without any sparke of goodnesse in him without any vertuous or godly motion onely given to evill thoughts and wicked deeds As for the
preached unto others I my selfe should bee a cast away Hereto Saint Peters counsell is to be remembred Dearly beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims c 1 Pet. 2.11 abstaine from fleshly lusts which warre against the soule Of Patience Furthermore Saint Peter saith Adde to Temperance Patience Saint Paul saith unto Timothy Thou therefore d 2 Tim. 2.3 4 5 12. endure hardnesse as a good souldier of Iesus Christ No man that warreth intangleth himselfe with the affaires of this life that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a souldier And if a man also strive for masteries yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully If wee suffer with Christ we shall also raigne with him Much considerable hereto is the holy delivery of the Church in the sacred * T. 2. p. 195 196. Homily of the resurrection Truth it is that sin is strong and affections are unruly Hard it is to subdue and resist our nature so corrupt and leavened with the sower bitternesse of the poyson which wee received by the inheritance of our old father Adam But yet take good courage saith our Saviour Christ for I have e Iohn 16.33 overcome the world and all other f Col. 2.14 15. enemies for you g Rom. 6.14 Sinne shall not have power over you for ye be now under grace saith Saint Paul Though your power be weake yet Christ is risen againe to h Phil. 3.10 strengthen you in your battaile his holy Spirit shall i Rom. 8.26 27 helpe your infirmities In trust of his mercy take you in hand to k 1 Cor. 5.7 8 6. purge this old leaven of sinne that crrupteth and sowreth the sweetnesse of our life before God that yee may bee as new and fresh Dow voide of all sower leaven of wickednesse so shall ye shew your selves to be sweet bread unto God that hee may have his delight in you And in the same * T. 2. p 193. Homily it is said By the assistance of Christs holy Spirit we be replenished with all righteousnesse by whose power we shall be able to l Rom. 6.12 Rom. 8 1◠2 Cor. 10.4 5 6 subdue all our evill affections rising against the pleasure of God When the Iewes returned from their captivity in Babylon unto Ierusalem and went about reparing the Temple of the Lord which was ruinated and laid wast they were sorely vexed and hindered by the m Ezra 4.1 4 5 c. Chaldeans under which Nation they had beene in captivity afore yet they n Neh. 4.15 16 17. patiently endured and tooke their times and best occasions to set the worke forward and were not discouraged as utterly to leave off the enterprised businesse but constantly persevered untill it was o 1 Esd 7.5 finished We may make use of the Sacred Story applying it unto the p 1 Pet. 2 5. Eph. 2.21 22. spirituall worke which Christ requireth at our hands Of Godlinesse Saint Peter further saith Adde to Patience Godlinesse Whereas the inward warre of the flesh q Gal. 5.17 against the spirit is very great and our warre is not onely against flesh and blood and visible enemies in this outward world but also against enemies working within our soule and spirit namely against r Eph. 6.12 principalities against powers against the Rulers of the darknesse of this world against spirituall wickednesse or * wicked spirits in high or * heavenly places and so our sufferings sorrowes agonies and the like spirituall miseries are greater ** As in the margent of the last translation than our ſ Ps 143.3 4 7. naturall strength is able to abide therefore we are to betake our selves as Saint Paul saith to t Eph. 6.18 pray alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance that God would u Ps 144.1 2. teach our hands to warre and our fingers to fight that he would be our fortresse and high tower and our deliverer our shield wherin to trust also to w Ps 18.31 34 39. gird us with strength unto the battell and to subdue under us those that rise up against us And thus to be devoted unto prayer is Godlinesse whereunto wee are exhorted in the most Sacred Catechisme where it is said My good Child know this that thou art not able to doe these things of thy selfe nor to walke in the Commandements of God and to serve him without his speciall x 1 Cor. 12.9 Rom. 5.20 21. grace which thou must learne at all times to call for by diligent prayer And then in the answere concerning what wee desire in the Lords Prayer we are taught to pray unto God That it will please him to save and defend us in all dangers ghostly and bodily and that he will y 2 Tim. 4.18 keepe us from all sinne and wickednesse and from our ghostly z Ioh. 1.10 enemy and from everlasting death Of Brotherly kindnesse Saint Peter also saith Adde to Godlinesse Brotherly kindnesse And because when wee through the grace of God in Iesus Christ by prayer have obtained our requests and for every benefit received of God are bound to render most hearty a Ps 116.1 2 12 17. thankes unto him and to expresse our love unto him not in word onely but in b 1 Iohn 3.18 deed also For that the Lord hath no need of our goods seeing the whole world is his and c Ps 24 1. all therein therefore saith David O my soule thou hast said unto the Lord thou art my Lord my goodnes d Ps 16.2 3 4. extendeth not to thee but to the Saints that are in the earth to the excellēt in whom is all my delight Their sorrowes shall bee mutiplied that hasten after another god or * As it is also rendred in the margent there give gifts to another It is our duty to love e Iam. 2.14 15 16. 1 Iohn 3.17 1 Iohn 5.1 really those whom God loveth namely our brethrē whom the Spirit with the f Iam. 1.18 word of truth hath begat as well as us into some measure of Gods Image which is g Eph. 4.24 Col. 3 10. righteousnesse and true holinesse Vnto them we are to h Rom 12.13 impart of our goods and for them to doe all good Offices we can and to performe unto them all other duties according as it is prescribed unto us in the Gospell of Iesus Christ Yea and as we have i Gal. 6.10 opportunity wee are also for the Lords sake to doe good unto all other people though especially to them that are of the houshold of faith Of Charity Lastly Saint Peter saith Adde to Brotherly kindness Charity Forasmuch as our aforesaid love towards God and towards others for Gods sake is k 1 Iohn 4.18 imperfect whiles it hath joyned with it the love of our selves that is whereas we
doers and for the praise of them that doe well If such as are seditiously inclined would sometimes reade through the whole Homily of obedience and the whole Homily against disobedience and wilfull rebellion and also would call to minde the end of all seditious ones and of all privie conspiratours in former times even in all privie conspiratours in former times even in all ages and almost in all places they by the grace of Christ might be of a cleane contrary disposition Saint Paul from God Almighty denounceth that hatred variance emulations wrath strife z Gal. 5.20.21 seditions heresies or sects or factions envyings c. Are workes of the flesh and that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdome of God And now for conclusion about mentioning particular sins referring every devout soule unto a diligent reading or hearing of the whole Bible and to observe thereout what the spirit of God hath delivered and prescribed for every one in his severall vocation and state either to doe or to leave undone and to shunne and also to a most serious search of the whole divine Service of the Church of England for to performe every particular duty mentioned therein which concerneth him and to shunne whatsoever it is there dehorted from let us heare what holy Church delivereth unto us in the first Homily * T. 2. p. 176. of the Passion concerning the detestation which we ought to have within us continuall against all sinne No man can love sinne which God a Ps 5.4.5.6 hateth so much and be in his favour No man can say that hee b Ioh. 14.23.24 loveth Christ truly and have his great enemy sinne I meane aut hour of his death familiar and in friendship with him So much doe we love God and Christ as wee hate sinne Wee ought therfore to take great heed that wee be not favourers thereof lest wee be found enemies to God and traitours to Christ We can no otherwise live to God but by c 1 Cor. 15.31 Rom. 6.8.11 dying to sin If Christ bee d Rom. 8.10.11 in us then is sinne dead in us and if the spirit of God be in us which raised Christ from death to life so shall the same spirit raise us to the Resurrection of everlasting life e Rom. 6.16 But if sinne rule and raigne in us then is God which is the fountaine of all grace and vertue f Ier. 6.8 departed from us then hath the Devill and his vngratious spirit g 2 Pet 2.19 rule and dominion in us And surely if in such miserable h Eccles. 11. â—â— Heb. 9.27 state wee dye we shall not rise to life but fall downe to death and damnation and that without end David therefore saith Ye that love the Lord i Ps 97.10 Ps 119.104 hate evill CHAP. 96. Of the sinne against the Holy Ghost IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 261. Homily of repentance it is said But of the finall falling away from Christ his Gospell which is a sinne against the Holy Ghost that shall never bee forgiven because that they doe k Heb. 10.26 utterly forsake the knowne truth doe l Cor. 16.22 hate Christ and his m Ioh. 8.47 word they doe n Heb. 6.6 crucifie and o Heb. 10.29 mocke him but to their utter destruction and therefore fall into desperation and cannot repent In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 150. Homily of certaine places of Scripture it is said concerning three sorts of people whose company the Prophet David would to be shunned by every one that would be blessed The third sort the Prophet calls p Ps 1.1 scorners that is a sort of men whose hearts are so stuffed with malice that they are not contented to dwell in sinne and to lead their lives in all kind of wickednesse but also they doe q 2 Tim. 3.3 Prov. 29.27 contemne and scorne in other all godlinesse true religion all honesty and vertue Of this sort I thinke I may without danger of Gods judgemeÌ„t pronounce that never any yet converted unto God by repentance but continued still in their abominable wickednesse r Rom. 2.5 2 Tim. 3.8.13 heaping up to themselves damnation against the day of Gods inevitable judgements What sinne against the Holy Ghost is it may the better appeare by considering first what is sinne against God the Father and what is sinne against God the Sonne Sinne against God the Father is all transgression committed whiles one is in the first s Luk. 15.18.24 Eph. 2.1 death of trespasses and sinnes and in minde is t Eph. 5.14 asleepe not attending unto the gracious call of God the Father nor following his profered u Ioh. 6.44 Hos 11.4 Ier. 31.3 drawing or leading unto repentance Sinne also is said to be against God the Father which is coÌ„mitted through humane w 1. Ioh. 2.12 weakenesse and frailty And sinne against God the Sonne is the speaking of a word against the x Mat. 12.31.32 sonne of man Iesus Christ which sinne Saul afterward called Paul committed y 1 Tim. 1.13.16 ignorantly in unbeleife Yea and Peters z Luke 22.56 c. deniall of Christ for a time appeareth to bee a sinne of that nature Also when one is a disciple of Christs Gospell and through meere ignorance or the like infirmity offendeth against Christ as Peter did when hee said unto Christ Bee it a Mat 16.22 farre from thee Lord This shall not bee unto thee meaning the suffering which Christ signified that hee should endure All sinne committed against God the Father is b Rom. 3.25 forgiven through his great mercy in Iesus Christ c Ezech. 18.21 22. when one repenteth for the sinne All sinne committed against God the Sonne is forgiven for his d 1 Ioh. 2.12 Eph 4 32. names sake unto such as e 1 Tim. 6.12 Rev. 2.10.11 fight the good fight of faith and truly endeavour to lay hold on eternall life Now concerning sinne against the Holy Ghost it is either committed by such as have beene made partakers of the Holy Ghost of whom S. Paul saith to the Hebrewes That it is impossible for those who where once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made f Heb. 6.4.5.6.7.8 partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come being * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hieronymus vertit Prolapsi sunt Syrus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui rursum peccaverunt id est a justitia deficientes certamalitia in omne peccatum projecti sunt c Iunius fallen away to renew them againe to repentance seeing they crucifie to themselves the Sonne of God afresh and put him to an open shame For the earth which drinketh in the raine that commeth oft upon it and bringeth forth hearbes meete for them by whom it