Booke of the Wisdome of Solomon where it is said That in her is an z Wis 7.22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29. understanding Spirit Holy one onely manifold subtill lively cleare undefiled plaine not subject to hurt loving the thing that is good quicke which cannot bee letted ready to doe good kinde to man stedfast sure free from care having all power overseeing all things and going through all understanding pure and most subtill spirits For Wisdome is more moving than any motion she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her purenesse For she is the breath of the power of God and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty Therefore can no defiled thing fall into her For the is the brightnesse of the everlasting light the unspotted mirrour of the power of God and the Image of his goodnesse And being but one shee can doe all things and remaining in her selfe she maketh all things new and in all ages entring into holy soules shee maketh them friends of God and Prophets For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with Wisdome For she is more beautiful than the Sunne and above all the order of the Starres being compared with the light shee is found before it There are two Holy Scriptures which tell us what is wisdome and understanding In the Booke of Iob it is said Behold the feare of the Lord that is a Iob. 28.28 wisdome and to depart from evill is understanding Moses sheweth the same also saying Behold I have taught you statutes and judgements c. Keepe therefore and doe them for this is your b Deut. 4.6 wisdome and your understanding in the sight of the nations which shall heare all these statutes and say Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 230. Homily for Rogation weeke the Church very divinely hereto saith Let us with so good an heart pray as Solomon did and wee shall not faile but to have the spirit of Wisdomes assistance For he is soone c Wis 1.2 Wis 6.12.13.14 seene of them that love him hee will be found of them that seeke him for very liberall and gentle is the spirit of Wisdome In his power shall we have sufficient ability to d Ioh. 16.13 know our duty to God in him shall wee be e Acts. 9.31 Ioh. 14.16 comforted and couraged to walke in our duty in him shall wee bee meete vessels to receive the grace of Almighty God for it is hee that purgeth and * 1 Pet. 1.22 purifieth the minde by his secret working And he onely is present every where by his invisible power and containeth all things in his dominion Hee lightneth the heart to conceive worthy thoughts to Almighty God shee sitteth in the tongue of man to stirre him to speake his honour no language is hid from him for he hath the knowledge of all speech he onely ministreth spirituall f Eph. 3.16 strength to the powers of our soule and body Of the spirit of Counsell Concerning the spirit of Counsell it is such an ability in some measure as Paul had whereof he speaketh to the Corinthians saying That we may be able to g 2 Cor. 1.4 comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God Solomon saith A wise man will heare and will increase learning and a man of understanding shall attaine unto wise h Prov. 1.5 counsels Iethro was not onely wise for himselfe but had ability to give some good i Exod. 18.19 counsell unto Moses also Of ghostly strength Concerning ghostly strength or strength in the spirit Paul prayeth for it to be given to the Ephesians saying That God would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be k Eph. 3.16 17 18 19. strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that yee being rooted and grounded in love may bee able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that yee may be filled with all the fulnesse of God Some are but l Rom. 14. ◠weake in the faith but Abraham was m Rom. 4.19.20 strong in faith Paul for the Colossians having prayed that they might bee filled with the knowledge of Gods will in all wisdome and spirituall understanding desireth also that they may be n Col. 1.9 10 11. strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse Of the spirit of Knowledge Concerning the spirit of knowledge it is to bee considered that more is meant than a meere Historicall knowledge of truth namely an experimentall knowledge whereof Saint Iohn saith Hereby doe we o 1 Ioh. 2.3 know that wee know him if wee keepe his commandements God saith by Ieremiah Did not thy father eate and drinke and doe judgement and justice and then it was well with him Hee judged the cause of the poore and needy then it was well with him Was not this to p Ier. 22.15.16 know mee saith the Lord Hereto pertaineth that knowledge which is promised to be given to the cōprehended in the new covenant whereof the Lord by the same Prophet saith I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and they shall all q Ier. 31.33.34 know mee from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord. Of the spirit of true godlinesse Concerning the spirit of true godlinesse thereby is meant the inward worshipping of God within the spirit principally wherewith God is r Ioh. 4.23 most delighted Saint Paul saith Bodily exercise profiteth little but s 1 Tim. 4.8 godlinesse is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come The outward worshipping of God in every particular manner is with all care to be performed and preserved But withall the walking with God and the inward * Micah 6.8 as in the margent humbling of ones selfe thereto is to be zealously endevoured by the which we draw t Heb. 7.19 Ps 148.14 Iam. 4.8.9.10 Of the spirit of the Holy feare of the Lord. nigh unto God Lastly Concerning the spirit of the Holy feare of the Lord that is hereto considerable which is written That Christ in the dayes of his flesh when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that hee u Heb. 5.7 feared Great was the w Ioh. 8.49 reverence which Iesus Christ did continually beare towards God his Father Wee are required to x Eph. 5.1.2 1 Pet. 2.21 Ioh. 13.15 imitate him in all things written of him for our example
the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost without any difference or inequality CHAP. 3. Of God the Father IN the third part of the * 2 To. p. 40. Homily against perill of Idolatry it is sayd Deus est spiritus â—aturà simplex lux in accessibilis c Augustinus initio lib. quaest vet Noui Test ad Quaest quid sit Deus How can God a most pure Spirit whom neuer man saw be expressed by a grosse bodily and visible similitude How can the infinite Maiestie and greatnesse of God incomprehensible to mans minde much more not able to be compassed with the sense be expressed in a small and litle image That God in his Essence is Spirit Christ hath witnessed saying x Iohn 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth In the Nicene Creede it being sayd concerning God the Sonne That he is Light of Light we are taught that God the Father is the Light Eternall Saint Iohn sayth y 1 Iohn 1.5 God is Light and in him is no darkenesse at all In the first * 2 Tom. p. 179 Homily concerning the passion of Christ it is sayd Christ delighteth to enter and dwell in that soule where loue and charity ruleth and where peace and concord is seene For thus wrighteth Saint Iohn z 1 Iohn 4.8.16 God is Charity he that abideth in charity abideth in God and God in him Which to be spoken of God the Father also it appeareth out of the Words afore that Text where Saint Iohn sayth We haue seene and do testifie that the a 1 Iohn 4.14.15 Father sent the Sonne to bee the Sauiour of the World And we haue knowne and beleeued the loue that God hath vnto vs c. Also of b Rom. 11.36 Not si quis roget quodnaÌ„ sit quod colamus atque adoremus promptam est respondere quod sit Charitas Etenim vt à Spiritu Sancto pronunciatum est Deus noster Charitas est coque nomine magis quà m quovis alio delectatur Nazianzen Orat. 14. him and through him and to him are all things To whom be glory for euer Amen CHAP. 4. Of God the Sonne IN the Nicene Creed it is sayd I beleeue in one Lord IESVS CHRIST the onely begotten Sonne of God begotten of his Father before all worlds God of God Tertul libro contra Praxean capite octauo pretulit Deus Sermonent sicut radix fruticem et sol radium Et mox Quia omnis origo parent est et omne quod ex origine profertur progenies est Multo magis sermo Dei qui etiam proprie nomen silij accipit Nec frutex tameÌ„ à radice Nec fluvius à fonte nec radius a sole discernitur Sieut nec à Deo Sermo Light of Light very God of very God begotten not made being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made The which Saint Iohn testifieth saying c Iohn 1.1.9.3 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God He was the true Light which lighteth euery man that commeth into the world All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made In the third part of the * T. 2. pa. 228.229 Homily for Rogation weeke it is sayd concerning God the Sonne d Heb. 1.3 That he is the brightnesse of his Fathers glory and a very cleere Image and patterne of his substance It is there also sayd That Christ is the euerlasting Wisedome as in the booke of the Prouerbs it so of it selfe speakes saying I e Pâ—o. 8.12.22.23.30 Wisedome dwell with Prudence The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his workes of old I was set vp from euerlasting from the beginning or euer the earth was Then was I by him as one brought vp with him and I was dayly his delight rejoycing alwayes before him The eternall Sonne of God is signified in Genesis where it is sayd f Gen 19.24 The Lord rained upon Sodome and vpon Gomorrah Brimstone and fire from the Lord out of Heauen And likewise in the Psalme where Dauid sayth The g Psal 110.1 Lord sayd vnto my Lord sit thou at my right hand vntill I make thine enemies thy foote-stoole A saying of Iesus the sonne of Syrach is memorable hereto who in his prayer vttered these words h Eccles 51.10 I called vpon the Lord the Father of my Lord that he would not leaue me in the dayes of my trouble and in the time of the proud when there was no helpe Vnto God the Sonne it is sayd in the Scripture i Heb. 1.8.9 Thy throne O God is for euer and euer a Scepter of righteousnesse is the Scepter of thy Kingdome Thou hast loued righteousnesse and hated iniquity We are taught in the sacred Lyturgie most piously to say vnto God the Father k In Saint Ambrose his song The holy Church throughout all the World doth acknowledge thine honorable true and onely Sonne And vnto God the Sonne for to say Thou art the King of Glory O Christ Thou art the euerlasting Sonne of the Father CHAP. 5. Of God the Holy Ghost IN the first part of the * 2. To p. 207. Homily concerning the comming downe of the Holy Ghost it is sayd The Holy Ghost is a spirituall and diuine substance Opus est spiritu sancto ut piè dexterè loquamur de Trinitate per quem folum Deus intelligitur exponitur auditur Divus Nazianzenus oratione prima de fugae sua in Pontum the third person in the Deity distinct from the Father and the Sonne and yet proceeding from them both As for his proper nature and substance it is altogether one with God the Father and God the Sonne that is to say Spirituall Eternall Vncreated Incomprehensible Almighty he is God and Lord euerlasting Concerning the Holy Ghost Christ hath sayd to his Disciples l Ioh. 15.26 When the comforter is come whom I will send vnto you from the Father euen the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie of me That the Holy Ghost is God it is manifest out of St. Peters words vnto Ananias saying m Acts 5.3.4 Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lye vnto the Holy Ghost Thou hast not lyed vnto men but vnto God So where Saint Paul saith n 1. Cor. 12.4.5.6 Now there are diuersities of gifts but the same spirit And there are differences of administrations Spiritus Sanctus à patre procedit Qui quatenus ab illo procedit Creatura non est quatenus rursuÌ„ genitus non est filius non est quatenus autem inter ingenitum et genitum medius est Deus est D. Nazianzenus oratione 37. but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations but it is the same God which worketh all
liuing and deedes sheweth the cortrary For how can a man haue this true faith this sure trust and confidence in God that by the merits of Christ his sinnes be forgiuen and he reconciled to the fauour of God and to be partaker of the Kingdome of Heauen by Christ when he liueth vngodly and * Tit. 1.16 Mat. 10 33. denieth Christ in his deeds Surely no such vngodly man can haue this faith and trust in God For as they know Christ to bee the onely Sauiour of the World so they know also that Wicked men shall * 1 Cor. 6.9.10 not enioy the Kingdome of God They know that God * Psal 5.4.5.6 hateth vnrighteousnesse that he will destroy all those that speake vntruely that those which haue done * Iohn 5.29 good workes which cannot bee done without * Iohn 15.5 a liuely faith in Christ shall come foorth into the Resurrection of life and those that haue done euill shall come vnto the Resurrection of iudgement Very well they know also that to them that be Contentious and full of strife and to them that will not be obedient vnto the truth but will obey vnrighteousnesse shall come * Rom. 2.8.9 indignation wrath and affliction c. The great and mercifull benefits of God if they be well considered do neyther minister vnto vs occasion to be idle and to liue without doing any good workes neyther yet stirre vs vp by any meanes to doe euill things But contrariwise if we be not desperate persons and our Hearts harder than stones they mooue vs to render our selues vnto God wholy with all our Wils Heartes Might and Power to serue him in all good deedes obeying his Commaundements during our liues to seeke in all things his glory and honour not our sensuall pleasures and vaine glory euermore dreading willingly to offend such a mercifull God and louing Redeemer in Word Thought or Deede And the sayd benefits of God deepely considered mooue vs for his sake to bee euer ready to giue our selues to our neighbours and as much as lyeth in vs to study with all our endeauour to doe good vnto euery man these be the fruites of true faith In the Collect for Innocents day we are Divinely taught to pray That in our Conuersation our life may expresse the Faith in God which with our tongues we do confesse Whence we may also learne that the true Christian faith is not a matter meerely holden in the mind but which hath its operation outwardly And so Saint Paul sayth k Gala. 5.6 In Iesus Christ neyther Circumcision availeth any thing nor vncircumcision but Faith which worketh by loue Saint Iames sayth l Iames 2.14.26 What doth it profite my brethren though a man say he hath faith and hath not workes can faith saue him As the body without the spirit is dead so faith without workes is dead also And Iesus the sonne of Sirach sayth m Eccles 32.24 Hee that beleeueth in the Lord taketh heed vnto the Commandement Reade all three parts of the Homily of faith for in them the true Christian faith is described in a wonderfull Divine manner CHAP. 13. Of the Faith in the people of God which liued afore the Incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ euer since the fall IT is sayde in the second part of the * T. 1. p. 25. Homily of Faith All the Fathers Martyres and other Holy men whom Saint Saul spake of had their Faith surely fixed in God when all the World was agaynst them They did not onely know God to bee the Lord Maker and Gouernour of all men in the World but also they had a speciall confidence and trust Idem enim omnino erat etiam tli Deus idem Spiritus idem Christus eadem fides eadem doctrina eadem Spes eadem haereditas idem soedus eadem vis verbi dei Et Eusebius ait Omnes fideles vsque ab Adamo re quidem ipsa Christianos fuissè quāvis non ita dicerentur c. Apologia Ecclesiae Anglicanae excusa Londini Anno 1626. p. 97.98 that hee was and would be their God their Comforter Ayder Helper Maintainer and Defender This is the Christian faith which these Holy men had and wee also ought to haue And although they were not named Christian men yet was it a Christian faith that they had for they looked for all the benefits of God the Father through the merits of his Sonne Iesus Christ as wee now doe This difference is betweene them and vs that they looked when Christ should come and we be in the time when hee is come Therefore sayth Saint Augustine the time is altered and changed but not the Faith For wee haue both one faith in one CHRIST The same Holy Ghost also that wee haue had they sayth Saint Paul For as the Holy Ghost doeth teach vs to trust in God and to call vppon him as our Father So did hee likewise instruct and teach them to say as it is Written * Esay 63.16 Thou Lord art our Father and redeemer and thy name is without beginning and euerlasting God gaue them grace to bee his Children as hee doth vs now But now by the comming of our Sauior Christ wee haue receiued more aboundantly the Spirit of God in our hearts whereby we may conceiue a greater faith and surer trust than many of them had But in effect they and wee be all one Wee haue the same faith that they had in God and they the same that we haue And Saint Paul so much extolleth their faith because we should no lesse but rather more giue our selues wholly vnto Christ both in profession and liuing now when Christ is come than the olde Fathers did before his comming And by all the declaration of Saint Paul it is euident that the true liuely and Christian faith is no dead vaine or vnfruitfull thing but a thing of perfect vertue of wonderfull Operation or working and strength bringing foorth all good motions and good Workes Saint Stephen in his last Sermon to the Iewes making mention of the Faith that was concerning Christ many Ages afore his Incarnation relateth what Moses sayd vnto the Children of Israel A Prophet n Acts 7.37 shall the Lord your God rayse vp vnto you of your brethren like vnto me him shall yee heare And afterward hee sayd Which o Acts 7.52 of the Prophets haue not your Fathers persecuted And they haue slayne them which shewed before of the comming of the Iust one of whom yee haue beene now the betrayers and murtherers Christ told the Iewes Your p Iohn 8.56 Father Abraham reioyced to see my day and he saw it and was glad He also sayd before q Iohn 8.55 Abraham was I am Afore the dayes of Moses and the Prophets God had his Priesthood on earth after the order of r Genesis 14.18 Melchizedec The which Priesthood did ſ Psal 110.4 figure foorth Christs euer-lasting Priest-hood like
euery yeare did seruice in the most Holy The house of the Lord which Solomon built consisted likewise of three parts The k 1. Kings 6.3 Porch answering to the Court of the Tabernacle The l 1. Kings 6.5 Temple answering to the holy Place and the Oracle answering vnto the most holy Place Concerning the signification of the Temple it is deliuered in the first part of the Homily of the right vse of the Church and also in the first part of the * T. 2. p. 127 T. 2. p. 2. P. 209. Homily concerning the place and time of Prayer Indeed the chiefe and speciall Temples of God wherein he hath greatest pleasure and most delighteth to continue and dwell in are the bodies and minds of true Christians and the chosen people of God according to the doctrine of the holy Scripture declared in the first Epistle to the Corinthians m 1. Cor. 3.16 17. Knowe yee not saith Saint Paul that yee bee the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you If any man defile the Temple of God him will God destroy for the Temple of God is Holy which yee are And againe in the same Epistle n 1 Cor. 6.19.20 Know yee not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost dwelling in you whom yee haue giuen you of God In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 68. Homily against the perill of Idolatry there is cited a memorable Sentence of Saint Ierome That it is the Temple of the Lord wherein dwelleth true Faith godly conuersation and the company of all vertues Reade there also his interpretation of the goodly ornaments of the Temple built by Salomon which Exposition is very remarkable To Conclude this point Although God would haue our inward man to bee a Tabernacle or Temple for the o Pro. 23.26 Ephe. 3.17 1 Peter 3.4 2 Cor. 6.16 dwelling of his holy Spirit Yet all this notwithstanding as it is sayd in the first part of the * Tom. 2. p. 2. Homily concerning the right vse of the Church The materiall Church or Temple is a place p 1 Chron. 28.11.12 Psal 74 8. Luke 4.16 appoynted aswel by the vsage and continuall examples expressed in the old Testament as in the New for the people of God to resort together vnto c. CHAP. 20. Of Saint Iohn Baptists Preaching IN the Collect for Saint Iohn Baptists day it is said That by Gods prouidence he was wonderfully borne and sent to prepare the way of Iesus Christ our Sauiour by Preaching of Pennance That the Birth of Iohn the Baptist was wonderfull it may appeare by the Words of Zacharias to the Angell fore-telling of Iohns birth saying q Luke 1.18 Whereby shall I know this for I am an old man and my Wife well stricken in yeares That hee was sent to prepare the way of the Lord may appeare also from the Angels Words saying r Luke 1.15.16.17 Hee shall be filled with the Holy Ghost euen from his mothers Wombe And many of the children of Israel shall hee turne to the Lord their God And hee shall goe before him in the spirit and power of Elias to turne the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the Disobedient to the wisdome of the iust for to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. And that this preparing was by Preaching of Pennance or Repentance it is testified by St. Luke who sayth Å¿ Luke 3.3.4.5.6 Iohn came into all the Countrey about Iordan Preaching the Baptisme of Repentance for the remission of sinnes As it is written in the Booke of Esaias the Prophet saying t Esay 40.3.4.5 According it is read in the Epistle for St. Iohn Baptists day Hoc ita distinguendum esse ostendit Hebraea distincti comparatio sequentis membri Iunâ—us in annot ad Esay 40 30. MysteriuÌ„ in hac Historia à Propheta Esaia olim praedicta et tanto studio à sanctis Euangelistis ad notata latere aliquiâ— majus suspicor quam aut capere ipse satis aâ—t satis queaÌ„ admirari Causa bonus in Annal Bar. A voyce cryed in the Wildernesse Prepare the way of the Lord in the Wildernesse make straight the pathe of our God in the Desart Let all Vallies bee exalted and euery Mountaine and Hill bee layd low VVhat so euer is crooked let it be made straight and let the rough bee made plaine fields For the glory of the Lord shall plainely appeare and all flesh shall at once see and behold it The which Doctrine is called by Saint Marke the u Marke 1.1 beginning of the Gospell of Iesus Christ And the Prophet Malachy thus Preached it w Mal 3.1 Behold I will send my Messenger and hee shall prepare the way before me and the Lord whom yee seeke shall suddainly come to his Temple euen the Messenger of the Couenant whom yee delight in behold hee shall come sayth the Lord of Hosts Great was the Ministery of Iohn the Baptist as it may appeare out of the words of Zacharias his Father who Prophesied of him saying x Luke 1.76.77.78.79 And thou childe shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest for thou shalt goe before the face of the Lord to prepare his wayes to giue knowledge of Saluation vnto his people by the remission of their sinnes To giue Light to them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of Death and to guide our feet into the way of peace Christ himselfe testified of him that y Mat. 11.11 among them which are borne of Woemen there hath not risen a greater than Iohn the Baptist And that all the Prophets and the Law were z Luke 16.16 Mat. 11.13 vntill Iohn So great a one hee was that hee had a Luke 11.1 Disciples after a speciall manner differing from the Clergy of Iewry in his time Hee was not onely the b Mat 3.1 first Minister of the Sacrament of Baptisme but also hee that c Math. 3.13.14 15.16 Baptized the Lord IESVS CHRIST And therefore hee is in an especiall manner more than any other Minister as it were surnamed the Baptist or the Baptizer CHAP. 21. Of the Holy Incarnation and Natiuity of our Lord Iesus Christ IN the Preface to be Read vpon Christmas day it is sayd That God did giue Iesus Christ his only Son to be borne as this day d Esay 9.6 for vs who by the operation of the e Math. 1.20 Holy Ghost was made very man of the substance of the Virgin Mary his mother and that without spotte of sinne io make vs f Ephe. 5.25.26.27 cleane from all sinne And in the * T. 2. p. 173. Homily of the Nativity it is deliuered That hee made all them which would g Iohn 1.12 receiue him truely and beleeue his Word good h Esay 61.3 trees and i Esay 32.15 16 and 51.3 good ground fruitfull and pleasant k
otherwise it is of no strength at all whilest the Testatour liueth Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without bloud It was therefore necessary that the patternes of things in the heauens should be purified with these but the heauenly things themselues with better sacrifices than these And in another place the same Apostle sayth m Heb. 2.9.10 We see Iesus who was made a little lower than the Angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour that he by the grace of God should taste death for euery man For it became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sonnes vnto glory to make the Captaine of their saluation perfect through sufferings For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and bloud he also himselfe likewise tooke part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the diuell And Christ signified the same vnto the two men going to Emmaus saying n Luke 24 26. Ought not Christ to haue suffered these things and to enter into his glory The Prophets o Psal 2â— Dauid p Isa 53. Isaiah and q Dan. 9.24.25.26 Daniel foretold expresly of his death And r 2. Esdras 7.29 Esdras hath mentioned the same CHAP. 23. Of the resurrection and ascension of Iesus Christ IN the * T. 2. p. 189. Homily of the Resurrection of our Sauior Iesus Christ it is sayd So great surely is the matter of this Article and of so great waight and importance that it was thought worthy to keepe our Sauior still on earth forty dayes after he was risen from death to life to the confirmation and establishment thereof in the hearts of his Disciples Saint Paul sayth to the Corinthians Å¿ 1. Cor 15 14.1â— If Christ be not risen then is our preaching vaine and your faith is also vaine yea and wee are found false witnesses of God because we haue testified of God that he hath raised vp Christ And if Christ be not raised your faith is vaine yee are yet in your sinnes The Church deliuereth also in the aforesayd * P. 191. 192. Homily It had not beene enough to be deliuered by his death from sinne except by his Resurrection wee had bene t Rom. 4.25 endowed with righteousnesse And it should not auaile vs to be deliuered from death except he had risen againe to open for vs the gates of Heauen to enter into life euerlasting He died to destroy the rule of the Diuell in vs and he rose againe to send downe his holy Spirit to rule in our hearts to endow vs with perfect righteousnesse The second Antheme to be sayd on Easter day is u 1. Cor. 15.20.21 Christ is risen againe the first fruites of them that sleepe For seeing that by man came death by man also commeth the resurrection of the dead For as by Adam all men doe dye so by Christ all men shall bee restored to life Therefore sayth the Church in the Preface to be read on Easter day Chiefly are we bound to praise thee for the glorious Resurrection of thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord for he is the very w 1. Cor. 5.7 Paschall Lambe which was offered for vs and hath x Ioh. 1.29 taken away the sinne of the world who by his y 1. Cor. 15.54.55 death hath destroyed death and by his rising to life againe hath restored to vs life z 1. Thes 4.14 Iohn 5 24.28.29 Rom. 8.11 Ioh. 6.33 1. Cor. 15.23 euerlasting Also by his rising againe he was manifested to be God as it is written And declared to be the Sonne of God with power according to the Spirit of Holinesse a Rom. 1.4 by the Resurrection from the dead Reade diligently the Homily of the Resurrection wherein the Doctrine thereof and the vse which we are to make of it is in most Diuine manner deliuered Now concerning Christs Ascension it is signified in the * T. 2. p. 189. Homily of the Resurrection That he ascended vp to his Father into the heauens there to receiue the b Ioh. 20.17 Iohn 17.5 1. Iâ—eâ— 3.22 glory of his most triumphant conquest and victory And in the Preface to be read vpon the Ascension day it is sayd that Iesus Christ our Lord after his most glorious Resurrection manifestly appeared to all his Apostles and in their c Acts 1.9.10.11 sight ascended vp into Heauen to prepare a place for vs that where he is thither might we also ascend and reigne with him in glory That Christ was glorified being ascended into Heauen Dauid declareth saying d Psal 68.18 Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led captiuity captiue thou hast receiued gifts for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord might dwell among them Saint Paul sayth e Heb. 12.2 That Christ for the ioy which was set before him endured the Crosse despising the shame and is set downe at the right hand of the Throne of God That hee also ascended to f Iohn 14.2.3 prepare in Heauen a place for his true Disciples hee testifieth by his VVordes saying In my Fathers House are many Mansions if it were not so I would haue told you I goe to prepare a place for you And if I goe and prepare a place for you I will come againe and receiue you vnto my selfe that where I g Iohn 17.24 Iohn 12.26 am there yee may bee also The Apostle to the Hebrewes writting concerning the Ascension sayth also h Hebr. 9.24 Christ is not entred into the Holy places made with hands which are figures of the true but into Heauen it selfe now to appeare in the presence of God for vs. And to the Ephesians hee sayth i Ephe. 4.10 Hee that descended is the same also that ascended vp farre aboue all Heauens that he might fill all things CHAP. 24. Of the comming downe of the Holy Ghost HOly Church in most Diuine manner in the Sacred Letany mentioneth together all the great things done and suffered by Christ for Mankinde teaching vs to pray that by all and euery of them we in particular may be deliuered saying By the Mystery of thy Holy Incarnation by the Holy Natiuity and Circumcision by the Baptisme Fasting and Temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine Agony and Bloody Sweate by thy Crosse and passion by thy precious death and buriall by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension and by the comming of the Holy Ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. Wherein we are taught to consider that the comming of the Holy Ghost is a matter pertaining to our deliuerance or saluation and now here to be meditated on In the Preface to be read on Whitsunday it is sayd That according to the most true promise of Iesus Christ our Lord the Holy Ghost came downe this day from Heauen with a suddaine great sound as it had beene a mightie wind in
the likenesse of fiery k Acts 2.2.3.4 tongues lighting vpon the Apostles to teach them and to leade them to all l Ioh. 16.13 Truth giuing them both the gift of diuerse Languages and also boldnesse with feruent Zeale constantly to preach the Gospell vnto all m Mar. 16.15 Nations whereby wee are brought out of darknesse and errour into the cleere n 1. Pet. 2 9. Math. 4.16 light and true knowledge of God the Father and his Sonne Iesus Christ It is sayd in the first part of the * Tom. 2. p. 208.209 Homily for Whitsunday As there are three seuerall and sundry persons in the Deity so haue they three seuerall and sundry offices proper vnto each of them The Father to create the Sonne to redeeme the Holy Ghost to sanctifie and regenerate Whereof the last the more it is o Ioh. 3 4. hidde from our vnderstanding the more it ought to moue all men to wonder at the secret and mighty working of Gods Holy Spirit which is within vs. For it is the Holy Ghost and no other thing that doth p Ioh. 6.63 quicken the mindes of men stirring vp good and godly motions in their heartes which are agreeable to the will and Commaundement of God such as otherwise of their owne crooked and peruerse nature they should neuer haue The power of the Holy Ghost is to regenerate men and as it were to bring them foorth anewe so that they shall bee q 2. Cor. 5.17 nothing like the men that they were before Neither doth hee thinke it sufficient inwardly to worke the spirituall and new birth of man vnlesse hee doe also dwell and abide in him r 1. Cor. 3.16 and 6.19 Knowe yee not sayth Saint Paul that yee are the Temple of God and that his Spirit dwelleth in you Knowe yee not that your bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost which is within you Againe he sayth Å¿ Rom. 8.9 You are not in the flesh but in the spirite For why The Spirite of God dwelleth in you To this agreeth the Doctrine of Saint Iohn writing in this wise The t 1. Ioh. 2.27 Annoynting which yee haue receiued hee meaneth the Holy Ghost dwelleth in you And the Doctrine of Saint Peter sayth the same who hath these wordes The Spirite u 1. Pet. 4.14 of glory and of God resteth vpon you O what comfort is this to the heart of a true Christian to thinke that the Holy Ghost w Rom. 8.9.10 11. dwelleth within him In the second part of the aforesayd * P. 212. Homily it is also sayd That our Sauiour Iesus Christ departing out of the world vnto his Father promised his Disciples to send downe x Ioh. 14.16 another Comforter which should continue with them for euer and direct them into all truth Neither must we thinke that this Comforter was either promised or else giuen only to the Apostles but also to the * 1. Cor. 12.3.13 Vniuersall Church of Christ dispersed through the world for vnles the Holy Ghost had bin alwayes present gouerning and preseruing the Church from the beginning it could neuer haue sustained so many and so great brunts of affliction and persecution with so little damage and harme as it hath Saint Paul sayth y Rom. 8.9 If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ the same is none of his Hereby then it is euident and plaine to all men that the Holy Ghost was giuen not onely to the Apostles but also to the whole body of Christs Congregation although not in like forme and Maiestie as he came downe at the Feast of Pentecost The Lord hath sayd by his Prophet Isaiah z Isa 59.20.21 The Redeemer shall come to Sion and vnto them that turne from transgression in Iacob As for me this is my couenant with them sayth the Lord My Spirit that is vpon thee and my words which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seede nor out of the mouth of thy seedes seede sayth the Lord from henceforth and for euer The need we haue of Gods holy Spirit is signified in the Collect to be read on the fift Sunday after Easter where it is sayd Lord from whom all good things doe come graunt vs thy humble seruants that by thy holy inspiration we may a â—hil 2.13 thinke those things which be good and by thy mercifull b Psal 143.10 Psal 25.5.9 guiding may performe the same through Iesus Christ our Lord. Likewise in the Collect to bee read afore the ten Commandements Almighty God vnto whom all hearts be c Acts 1.24 open all desires knowne and from whom no secrets are hid cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit that we may perfectly loue thee and worthily magnifie thy holy Name through Christ our Lord. The holy Ghost commeth downe into the spirite of Gods people in sundry measures and degrees It is in some measure receiued in Baptisme and therefore in the Seruice for Baptisme it is prayed that the party to be baptized may be baptized with water and the d Mat. 3 11. Holy Ghost c. It is also receiued in e Acts 8.15.16.17 Bishopping or Confirmation And therefore in the seruice thereof it is prayed Strengthen them we beseech thee O Lord with the Holy Ghost the comforter And in the act of Confirmation when the Bishop layeth his hand on the party to bee Confirmed it is sayd Defend O Lord this child with thy heauenly grace that hee may continue thine for euer and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more vntill he come to thine euerlasting Kingdome It is also receiued in the Communion as sayth the * Tom. 2. p. 192 Homily of the Resurrection Thou hast receiued Christs body to haue within thee the Father Sonne and Holy f 1. Cor. 12.13 Ghost for to dwell with thee and to endow thee with grace to strengthen thee against thine enemies and to comfort thee with their presence And in the same * Pag. 193. Homily it is sayd How can we find in our harts to shew such extreame vnkindnesse to Christ who hath now so gently called vs to mercy and offered himselfe vnto vs and he now g Ioh. 6.56 entred within vs Yea how dare we be so bold to renounce the presence of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost For where one is there is God all whole in Maiesty together with all his power wisedome and goodnesse By other ordinances of God the holy Ghost is more and more receiued as by Prayer c. according as Christ saith h Luke 11.13 Your heauenly Father will giue the Holy Spirit to them that aske him And likewise S. Peter with the other Holy Apostles hath declared to what conditioned people God doth send downe his Holy Spirit more and more where hee sayth i Acts 5.32
we shall also liue with him If we suffer we shall also reigne with him If we deny him he also will deny vs. Saint Iohn sayth f 1. Iohn 1.7 If we walke in the light as he is in the light we haue fellowship one with another and the bloud of Iesus Christ his Sonne cleanseth vs from all sinne To the Hebrewes the Apostle sayth g Heb. 5.9 Christ is the Author of eternall saluation vnto all them that obey him And hereto may be added that saying of Dauid vnto Solomon h 1. Chro. 28.9 And thou Solomon my sonne know thou the God of thy father and serue him with a perfect heart and with a willing minde For the Lord searcheth all hearts and vnderstandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts if thou seeke him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for euer Of childrens partaking of Christs merits As concerning infants that they partake of the efficacie of Christs passion and oblation The Church in the first part of the * Tom. 1. p. 1â— Homily of saluation thus deliuereth Infants being baptized and dying in their infancie are by the sacrifice of Christ washed from their sinnes See chap. 51. following brought to Gods fauour and made his children and inheritors of his Kingdome of Heauen And now this point be concluded with the words of the Church in the second * T. 2 p. 168. Homily of the passion The Lord for his mercy sake graunt that we neuer forget the great benefit of our saluation in Iesus Christ but that we alwayes shew our selues thankfull for it abhorring all kind of wickednesse and sinne and applying our minds wholly to the seruice of God and the diligent keeping of his commandements CHAP. 27. Of Christs Priesthood IN the second part of the * T. 2. p. 116. Homily concerning Prayer it is sayd Christ sitting in heauen hath an euerlasting Priesthood and alwayes praieth vnto his Father for them that be penitent obtaining by vertue of his wounds which are euermore in the sight of God not onely perfect remission of our sinnes but also all other necessaries which we lacke in this world In the second part of the * To. 2. p. 162. Homily of Almes deedes it is sayd The godly do learne that when the Scriptures say that by good and mercifull workes we are reconciled to Gods fauour we are taught then to know what Christ by his intercession and mediation obtaineth for vs of his Father when we be obedient to his will Yea they learne in such manner of speaking a comfortable argument of Gods singular fauour and loue who attributeth that vnto vs and to our doings which he by his Spirit worketh in vs and through his grace procureth for vs. In the first * T. 2. p. 180. Homily of the Passion it is likewise sayd Christ sitteth on the right hand of God his Father as our Proctour and Atturney pleading and suing for vs in all our needs and necessities Wherefore if we want any gift of godly wisedome we may aske it of God for Christs his sake and we shall haue it The Prophet Dauid speaking of Christs euerlasting Priesthood sayth i Psal 110.4 The Lord hath sworne and will not repent thou art a Priest * Riblia vulgata habent in aeternum aeternitas omnium temporum complexu describitur vt quod suit est crit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pluraliter in Eccles. 1.10 tempus prateritum denotat for euer after the order of Melchisedee The Apostle sayth to the Hebrews k Heb. 2.17.18 In all things it behooued him to be made like vnto his brethren that he might be a mercifull and faithfull high Priest in things pertaining vnto God to make reconciliation for the sinnes of the people For in that he himselfe hath suffered being tempted hee is able to succour them that are tempred l Heb. 7.23 And they truely were many Priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death But this man because he continueth for euer hath an vnchangeable Priesthood Wherfore he is able to saue them to the vttermost that come vnto God by him seeing he euer liueth to make intercession for them m Heb. 10.11.12.13.14 And euery Priest standeth dayly ministring and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices which can neuer take away sinnes But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sinnes for euer sate downe on the right hand of God from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his foote-stoole For by one offering he hath perfected for euer them that are sanctified n Rom. 8.26.27 His Spirit saith the Apostle to the Romanes helpeth our infirmities for wee know not what wee should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it selfe maketh intercession for vs with groanings which cannot be vttered And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the minde of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Concerning the Priesthood of the Lord Iesus Christ reade Isaiah 53. CHAP. 28. Of Christs Prophetship IN the third part of the * T. 2. p. 228.229 Homily for Rogation weeke it is sayd By Iesus Christ our heauenly Mediatour do we know the fauour and mercy of God the Father by him know we his * Iohn 15.15 will and pleasure towards vs. For he is the * Heb. 1.3 brightnes of his Fathers glory and a very cleare image and patterne of his substance It is hee whom the Father in heauen delighteth to haue for his well beloued Sonne whom he authorized to be our teacher whom he charged vs to heare saying * Maâ— 17 5. Heare him Moses sayd vnto the Fathers as Peter relateth o â—euâ— 1â— 15 Acts 3.12.23 A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise vp vnto you of your brethren like vnto me him shall ye heare in all things whatsoeuer he shall say vnto you And it shall come to passe that euery soule which will not heare that Prophet shall be destroyed from among that people The first text whereon Christ preached declared his Propheticall office wherein it is sayd of him p Luke 4.18 The Spirit of the Lord is vpon me because he hath annointed me to preach the Gospell vnto the poore he hath sent me to heale the broken harted to preach deliuerance to the captiues and recouering of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised to preach the acceptable yeere of the Lord. S. Iohn said of him q Iohn 1. â— That he was the true light which lighteth euery man that commeth into the world He sheweth to all men that be in errour the light of the truth to the intent they may returne into the way of righteousnesse as it is deliuered in the Collect for the third Sunday after Easter He teacheth through his Ministers as Paul sayd r 2. Cor. 13.3 Since
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
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
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
returning first he will have us to returne unto him with our g Ioel 1.12 whole heart whereby he doth remove and put away all hypocrisie lest the same might justly be said unto us This people draweth neare unto me with their mouth and worship me with their lips but their h Mat. 15.8 heart is far off from me Secōdly he requireth a sincere and pure love of godlinesse and of the true worshipping and service of God that is to say that forsaking all maner of things that are repugnant contrary unto Gods will we do give our i Prov. 22.26 hearts unto him and the k Luke 10.27 whole strength of our bodies and soules Here therefore is nothing left unto us that wee may give unto the world and unto the lusts of the flesh For sith that the heart is the l Prov. 4.23 fountaine of all our workes as many as doe with whole heart turne unto the Lord doe m Rom. 14.7 3 live unto him onely In the second part of the * P. 264 265. Homily of Repentance it is said Now it shall be declared unto you what be the true parts of repentance and what things ought to move us to repent and to returne unto the Lord our GOD with all n Psa 119.60 speed Repentance as it is said before it is a true returning unto God wherby men * Prov. 28.13 Isa 55.7 Ezek. 14.4 5 6 Ezek. 18.21 30 31. forsaking utterly their idolatry and wickednesse doe with a lively faith embrace o 1 Iohn 4.7 8 16. love and worship the p Rev. 14.7 true living God onely and give themselves to all manner of q 1 Tim. 5.10 Tit. 2.14 Eph. 2.10 2 Tim. 3.17 Of the foure parts of Repentance good workes which by Gods Word they know to bee acceptable unto him Now there bee foure parts of repentance which being set together may be likened to an easie and short Ladder whereby we may climbe from the bottomlesse pit of perdition that wee cast our selves into by our dayly offences and grievous sinnes up into the Castle and Towre of eternall and endlesse salvation The first is the r Ioel. 2.13 Acts 2.37 condition of the heart For we must be earnestly sory for our sinnes and unfainedly lament and ſ Zechar. 12.10 Ezek. 36.31 bewaile that wee have by them so grievously offended our most bounteous and mercifull God who so tenderly loved us that he gave his onely begotten Sonne to dye a most bitter death and to shed his deare heart-blood for our redemption and deliverance And verily this inward sorrow and griefe being t Iam. 4.9 10. conceived in the heart for the heynoursnesse of sinne if it be earnest and unfeined is a sacrifice to God as the holy Prophet doth testifie saying u Ps 51.17 Isa 57.15 and 66.2 5. A meanes to unharden our hearts A sacrifice to God is a troubled spirit a contrite and broken heart O Lord thou wilt not despise But that this may take place in us we must bee diligent to read and heare the Scriptures and Word of God which most lively doe paint out before our eyes our naturall w Isa 64.6 Eph. 2.2 3 12. uncleannesse and the x Rem 7.7 Ps 1.7 8. 2 Tim. 3.16 17 Ps 119.104 105 130. Eph. 5.13 enormity of our sinfull life The second is an vnfained confession and acknowledging of our sinnes unto God whom by them wee have so grievously offended that if he should deale with us according to his y Ps 143.2 justice we doe deserve a thousand Hels if there could be so many Yet if we will with a sorrowfull and contrite heart make an unfained z 1 Iohn 1.7 9. Ps 32.5 Ezek 18.22 confession of them unto God he will freely and frankly forgive them and so put all our wickedness a Micah 7.18 19. out of remēbrance before the sight of his Majesty that they shall no more be thought upon The third part of Repentance is faith wherby we doe apprehend and take hold upon the promises of GOD touching free pardon and b Col. 2.13 Rom. 3.25 24. Eph. 4.32 Heb. 9.15 forgivenesse of our sins Which promises are sealed up unto us with the c Heb. 2.9 14 15. Heb. 9.16.17 22 23. Mat. 26.28 death and bloodshedding of his Sonne Iesus Christ The fourth in an amendment of life or a new life in bringing forth the d Mat 3.8 10. 2 Cor. 5.17 Gal. 5.24 fruits worthy of repentance For they that doe truly repent must be cleane altered e Rom. 12.1 2. 2 Cor. 3.18 Ier. 48.11 changed they must become new creatures they must be no more the f Ier. 50.4 5. Ezek. 18.31 Mar. 16.17 1 Cor. 6.11 same that they were before They that doe from the bottome of their hearts acknowledge their sins and are unfainedly sorry for their offences will cast off all hypocrisie and put on true humility and g Mat. 11.29 1 Pet. 5.5 Eph. 4.2 lowlinesse of heart They will not onely receive the Physitian of the soule but also with a most fervent desire h Ps 101.1 and 84.2 and 42.1 2 3. Song 3.1 2 3. and 5.8 long for him They will not onely i 1 Pet. 2.11.12 1 Pet. 4.1 2 3 4. abstaine from the sinnes of their former life and from all other filthy vices but also flee eschew and k 1 Thes 5.22 abhorre all the occasions of them and as before they did give themselves to uncleannesse of life so will they form henceforwards with all diligence give themselves to innocency l Rom. 6.13.29 purenesse of life and true godliness m Luke 19.8 Zacheus after his repentāce was no more the man that he was before but was cleane changed altered It is therfore our parts if at least we be desirous of the health salvatiō of our own selves most earnestly to pray unto our heavēly father to n Eph. 3.16 Luke 11.13 assist us with his holy Spirit that we may be able to o Iohn 10.27 hearken unto the voice of the true Shepheard and with due p Acts 3.22 1 Pet. 4.17 obedience to follow the same Let us hearken to the voyce of Almightie God when he q Pro. 1.23 24. calleth us to repentance let us not r Heb. 3.7 8 15. harden our hearts as such infidels doe who abuse the time ſ Rev. 2.21 given them of God to repent and turne it to continue their pride and contempt against God and man which know not how much they t Rom. 2.4 5. heape Gods wrath upon themselves for the hardnesse of their hearts which cannot u Luke 13.25 Mat. 25.8 9 10 11 12. repent at the day of vengeance In the third part of the * P. 271. Homily of Repentance there are declared some causes which should the rather move us unto repentance As first the Commandement of God who in
workes of the spirit namely the fruits of faith charitable and godly motions if we have any at all in him they proceed onely of the Holy Ghost who is the x onely worker of our sanctification and maketh us new men in Christ Iesus as David of a poore shepheard to become a Princely Prophet Matthew of a proud Publicane to become an humble and lowly Euangelist Peter of a simple fisher to become a chiefe and mighty Apostle Paul of a cruell and bloody persecutor to become a faithfull disciple of Christ and a teacher of the Gentiles Such is the power of the Holy Ghost to x 1 Cor. 6.11 regenerate men and as it were to bring them forth anew so that they shall bee y 2 Cor. 5.17 nothing like the men that they were before Regeneration is begun in Baptisme as the Service thereof expresly delivereth and it is increased afterward in all such as are z Rom. 8.14 Gal. 5.18 Eph. 4.15 16. led by the spirit of Iesus Christ Concerning conversion repentance and regeneration the holy Scriptures doe thus deliver Iesus Christ saith Verily I say unto you a Mat. 18.3 Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the Kingdome of heaven Except ye b Luke 13.3 repent yee shall all likewise perish Verily verily I say unto thee c Iohn 3.5.3 Except a man be borne againe he cannot see the kingdome of God Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be borne of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Moses saith d Deut. 10.16 Circumcise the fore-skin of your heart and be no more stiffe-necked The Lord saith by Ieremiah e Ier. 4 3 4 Break up your fallow ground and sow not among thornes Circumcise your selves to the Lord and take away the fore-skins of your heart lest my fury come forth like fire and burne that none can quench it because of the evill of your doings Hosea saith f Hos 10.22 Sow to your selves in righteousnesse reape in mercie breake up your fallow ground for it is time to seeke the Lord till he come and raine righteousnes upon you Christ said to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus Remember from whence thou art fallen and g Rev. 2.5 repent and doe the first workes or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlesticke out of his place except thou repent Saint Paul mentioneth to the Corinthians seven fruits of such repentance saying Godly sorrow worketh h 2 Cor. 7.10.11 repentance to salvation not to be repented of but the sorrow of the world worketh death For behold this selfe same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulnesse it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what feare yea what vehement desire yea what zeale yea what revenge c. CHAP. 79. Of our duty towards God as it is delivered in the most sacred Catechisme MY duty towards God is to beleeve in him to feare him and to love him with all my heart with all my minde with all my soule and with all my strength To worship him to give him thanks to put my whole trust in him to call upon him to honour his holy name and his word and to serve him truely all the dayes of my life Here are mentioned ten sundry matters of our duty towards God and each hath a large extent Now onely there shall bee delivered some briefe exposition of them The first of the duties reckoned up The first duty is to beleeve in God The i Iam. 2.19 Devils saith Saint Iames doe beleeve that there is one God and they tremble also But true Christians doe more they k Iohn 14.1 beleeve in that one eternall God In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 22. Homily of Faith it is said And this is not onely the common beleefe of the Articles of our Faith but it is also a true trust and confidence of the mercy of God l Act 15.11 Rom. 5.1.11 through our Lord Iesus Christ and a stedfast m Eph. 1.18 hope of all good things to be received at Gods hand and that although we through infirmity or temptation of our ghostly enemy doe n Rev. 2.5 fall from him by sinne yet if we o Deut. 30.2 and 4.29.30 returne againe unto him by true repentance that he will forgive and forget our offences for his Sonnes p Dan. 9.17 sake our Saviour Iesus Christ and will make us inheritors with him of his everlasting Kingdome and that in the meane time untill that Kingdome come he will bee our q Psal 91.1 2 4.9.10.11.12 protector and defender in all perills and dangers whatsoever doe chance and that though sometime he doth send us sharpe r Psal 44.19 adversitie yet that evermore he will be a loving father unto us correcting us for our sinne but not Å¿ Psa 89.28 29 30 31 32 33. and 99.8 withdrawing his mercie finally from us if we trust in him and t 1 Pet. 4.19 Psal 37.3.4.5 commit our selves wholy unto him u 1 Pet. 5.7 hang only upon him and call upon him ready to w Heb. 5.9 obey and serve him Read the whole Homily of Faith for therein in wonderfull divine manner is declared what it is to beleeve in God Abrahams beleefe in God is set forth unto us for an example who as Saint Paul saith x Rom. 4.18 against hope beleeved in hope that he might become the father of many Nations according to that which was spoken so shall thy seed be It is the property of Christian faith to be y Rom. 4.19 20 21. fully perswaded that what God hath promised hee is able also to performe though the matter farre exceed our naturall comprehension how it can bee The Apostle saith z Heb. 11.1 faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seene The second duty The second duty is to feare God The feare of the Lord saith Solomon is to a Prov. 8.13 hate evill And he there reckoneth up the foure chiefe evills which are to be hated namely pride and arrogancie and the evill way and a froward mouth David saith Let all the earth b Ps 33.8 feare the Lord let all the Inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him Peter intimateth unto professors of Christianitie why they should feare God saying Forasmuch as yee call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work passe the time of your sojourning here in c 1 Pet. 1.17 feare David declareth who truly feareth God saying Blessed is the man that d Ps 112.1 as it is in the Divine Service translation feareth the Lord hee delighteth greatly in his Commandements The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that e Ps 103.17.18
feare him and his righteousnesse unto childrens children To such as keepe his Covenant and to those that remember his Commandements to doe them Iesus the sonne of Syrach saith They that f Ecclus. 2.15.16 17. feare the Lord will not disobey his Word and they that love him will keepe his wayes They that feare the Lord will seeke that which is well pleasing unto him and they that love him shall bee filled with the Law They that feare the Lord will prepare their hearts and humble their soules in his sight They g Isa 66.5 tremble at Gods Word they dread to transgresse h Iam. 2.10 any part of it David saith Serve the Lord with feare and rejoyce with i Ps 2.11 trembling Paul saith to the Romanes Bee not high minded but k Rom. 11.20 21. feare For if God spared not the naturall branches take heed lest hee also spare not thee To the Philippians he saith Work out your owne salvation with l Phil. 2.12 The third Duty To love God feare and trembling The third is To love God with all our heart with all our minde with all our soule and with all our strength To love God is to love that which God is as namely heavenly m 1 Iohn 1.5 light n 1 Iohn 4.7.8.16 charity o Pro. 8.12 14. Wisd 7.25 26. with Heb. 1.3 wisdome for God is in Scripture said to be Light Charity Wisedome Hence Christ saith Yee are my p Ioh. 15.14 friends or lovers if yee doe whatsoever I command you This is the q 2 Ioh. 5.3 love of God saith Iohn that wee keepe his Commandements and his Commandements are not grievous Againe he saith This is r 2 Ich. 6. love that wee walke after his Commandements Wherefore Christ saith If yee s Ioh. 14.15.21 23.24 love me keepe my commandements He that hath my commandements and keepeth them he it is that loveth mee If a man love me he will keepe my words He that is of God t Ioh. 8.47 heareth Gods words The entrance of Gods words giveth u Ps 119.130 light God is a w Ioh. 4.24 spirit of light a spirit of love and a spirit of eternall wisdome They therefore that love this Holy Spirit blessed for ever cannot but love his nature and propertie They delight to have heavenly x Ps 43.3 light come more and more into their understanding they delight to y Eph. 5.2 1 Cor. 16.14 walke in love They unfainedly desire to doe all things in z 1 Sam. 18.5 Prov. 13.16 Wis 7.8 Col. 1.9 godly wisdome God requireth that we a Prov. 23.26 Luke 10.27 give him our whole heart minde soule strength and that the b Iam. 4.7 1 Ioh. 5.18 ill spirit have no part nor portion of us David a man after Gods owne heart said to God With my c Ps 119.10 whole heart have I sought thee The Lord saith by Ieremiah Yee shal seeke me and find me when yee shall search for me with your d Ier. 29.13 whole heart The Lord Iesus saith If any man come to me and e Luk. 14.26 hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters yea and his owne life also hee cannot be my Disciple To hate in this place signifieth to love lesse as it is observed to signifie so in sundry f Gen. 29.31 Deut. 21.15 Mat. 6.24 other places The holy Prophets and Apostles which for the Lords sake left not onely their earthly substance but their friends wives and children yea and their owne bodily lives they in some measure loved God as the commandement requireth So such as unfainedly strive to be more and more dead unto g Rom. 6.11 sinne to bee more and more buried with Christ in his h Rom. 6.4 Col. 2.12 1 Cor. 15.31 death to i Rom. 6.6 crucifie the old man and utterly to abolish the whole body of sinne as it is prescribed in the Baptisme-service to the end that the k 2 Cor. 4.10.11 life of Iesus may be manifest in their mortall flesh and that his kingdome of grace may l Zach. 14.9 Obad. 21. Luk. 17.21 onely and wholy be administred in their soules they in some measure love God as his Law requireth The fourth duty is to worship God Christ saith God is a spirit to be worshipped in m Ioh. 4.23.24 spirit and in truth The fourth duty To worship God Paul saith Glorifie God in your n 1 Cor. 6.20 body and in your spirit which are Gods As I live saith the Lord every knee shall o Rom. 14.11 bow to mee and every tongue shall confesse to God Of the outward worships due to God read the 68. Chapter afore There are also other bodily worshippings of God mentioned in the Holy Scriptures besides those as to p Gen. 17.3 fall downe on ones face to the earth unto the Lord c. The receiving of the Sacraments is said to bee a part of Gods worship yea and the due observation of all his other outward ordinances as r Mat. 15.9 See concerning Gods inward worship or worship in spirit in the end of T. 2. p. 75 teaching c. is worship to God also The inward worshipping of God is the doing of all such duties within the spirit as thēce are to be performed unto God immediately as to ſ Micah 6.8 humble ones selfe so as to walke with God to do our parts towards the t Iam. 4.8 purifying of our hearts to u Ioel. 2.13 Ezech. 36.31 beare sorrow for our sinnes committed to rent our hearts to do our parts towards the w Ezech. 18.31 making of a new heart and a new spirit c. The fift duty is to give thankes unto God The fift duty to thanke God And this duty is to bee done within the spirit in bearing a gratefull minde x Eph. 5.20 continually unto God for all his mercies So did the Virgin Mary when she said My soule doth y Luk. 1.46.47 magnifie the Lord and my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour So did David when hee said Blesse the Lord O my soule and al that is within me blesse his Holy name z Ps 104.1.2 Blesse the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefits Concerning thanking God outwardly see Chapter 44. The sixt duty To trust wholy in God The sixt duty is to put our whole trust in him We are said to trust wholy in God when wee a Ps 37.7 rest on him and b Ps 37.5 depend totally upon him with hope of receiving his promises wee faithfully doing our parts in keeping the c 2 Kings 18.4.5.6 conditions wherewith his promises are made Trust or confidence in God proceedeth partly out of knowledge of Gods Attributes or properties as it is written They that know thy d Ps 9.10 Name will put their trust in thee
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
for mercie in vaine if we will not shew mercy to our neighbours For if wee will not put wrath and displeasure forth of our hearts to our Christian brother no more will God forgive the displeasure and wrath that our sinnes have deserved afore him For under this condition doth God forgive us if we forgive other It becommeth not Christian men to bee hard one to another nor yet to thinke their neighbour unworthy to be forgiven For howsoever unworthy he is yet is Christ worthy to have thee to do thus much for his sake he hath deserved it of thee that thou shouldest forgive thy neighbour And God is also to bee obeyed which commandeth us to forgive if we will have any part of the pardon which our Saviour Christ purchased once of God the Father by shedding of his precious blood And * P. 180. afterward it is said He which hateth his brother abideth in death even in the danger of everlasting death and is moreover the child of damnation and of the divell cursed of God and hated so long as hee so remaineth of God and all his heavenly company For as peace and charity doth make us the blessed children of Almighty God so doth hatred and envie make us the cursed children of the Divell In he second part of the * P. 216. Homile for Whitsunday it is said Ye shall briefly take this short lesson Wheresoever yee finde the spirit of arrogancie and pride the spirit of envie hatred contention cruellie murder extortion witchcraft necormaniec c. assure your selves that there is the spirit of the Devill and not of God albeit they pretend outwardly to the world never so much holinesse For as the Gospell teacheth us the spirit of the Iesus is a good spirit and Holy spirit a sweet spirit a lowly spirit a mercifull spirit full of charity and loue full of forgivenesse and pitty not rendring evill for evill extremity for extremity but overcomming evill with good and remitting all offence even from the heart According to which rule if a man live uprightly of him it may be safely pronounced that hee that the Holy Ghost with hin him If not then it is a plaine taken that he doth usurpe the name of the Holy Ghost in vaine Christ teacheth us thus to pray w Mat. 6.12 Forgive us our trespasses as wee forgive them that trespasse against us And he addeth For if ye x Mat 6.14 15 forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses In the Parable it is said O thou wicked servant I forgave thee all that debt because thou desiredst mee shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant even as I had pity on thee and his Lord was wroth and delivered him to the Tormentors till he should pay all that was due unto him So likewise shall my heavenly Father doe also unto you if ye from your hearts y Mat. 18.32 33 34 35. forgive not every one his brother their trespasses Saint Iames saith z Iam. 2.13 Hee shall have judgement without mercy that hath shewed no mercy The Lord also saith Take heed to your selves If thy brother trespasse against thee rebuke him if he repent forgiven him And if he trepasse against thee seven times in a day and seven times in a day turne againe to thee saying I repent thou shalt a Luke 17.3 4 forgive him Memorable is the instruction in Ecclesiasticus he that revengeth shall finde vengeance from the Lord and hee will surely keepe his sinne in remembrance b Ecclus. 28. â—â— 2 3 4 5 6 7. Forgive thy neighbor the hurt that he hath done unto thee so shall thy sinnes also be forgiven when thou prayest One man beareth hatred against another and doth he seeke pardon from the Lord He sheweth no mercy to a man which is like himselfe and doth he aske forgivenesse of his owne sinnes Remember thy end and let enmity cease remember corruption and death and abide in the Commandements Remember the Commandements and beare no malice to thy neighbour remember the Covenant of the Highest and winke at ignorance Some will say they can forgive but not forget But in so doing they doe not well Saint Paul saith be yee kinde one to another tender hearted c Eph. 4.32 forgiving one another even as God for Christs-sake hath forgiven you Be ye therefore d Eph. 5.1 sollowers of God as deare Children and walke in love Micah speaking of Gods mercy to his penitent and obedient people saith Thou wilt e Micah 7 18 19. cast all their sinnes into the depths of the Sea And that we like unto God ought to forget aswell as to forgive our neighbours trespasses against us it may appeare out of that doctrine in the Meeter of the Psalmes where it is said in Psal 103.8 9. The Lord is kinde and mercifull when sinners doe him grieve The slowest to conceive a wrath and readiest to forgive He chides not us continually though we be full of strife Nor keepes our faults in memory for all our sinfull life CHAP. 89. Of examining and judging our owne selves IN the Divine Service for the Communion it is to be said by the Curate unto the people namely in the second Exhortation My duty is to exhort you to consider the dignity of the holy mysterie and the great perill of the unworthy receiving thereof and to search and examine your owne consciences as you should come holy and cleane to a most godly and heavenly feast c. The way and meanes thereto is first to examine your lives and coÌ„versation by the rule of Gods Commandements and wherin soever ye shall perceive your selves to have offended either by will word or deed there to bewaile your owne sinfull lives and confesse your selves to Almighty God with full purpose of amendment of life In the Exhortation of the Visitation-Service it is said also unto us most Divinely to this matter Forasmuch as after this life there is account to be given unto the righteous Iudge of whom all must be judged without respect of persons I require you to examine your selfe and your state both toward God and man so that accusing and condemning your selfe for your own faults you may finde mercy at our heavenly Fathers hand for Christs sake and not be accused and condemned in that fearefull judgement In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 204 205. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is said Let us all universall and singular behold our owne manners and lives to amend them Yea now at the least let us call our selves to an accompt that it may grieve us of our former evill conversation that we may hate sinne that we may sorrow and mourne for our offences that wee may with f Zechar. 12.10 11. Ioel 2.12 Ps 126 5 6. teares powre them out before God
Commandements to be i Ps 119.29 30 removed from the way of lying and to have God grant them his law graciously who choose the way of truth and lay Gods judgements before them who pray to be k Ps 119.33 taught the way of Gods Statutes for to keepe that way unto the end thereof who l Ps 119.14 rejoyce in the way of Gods Testimonies as much as in all riches who pray to be made m Ps 119.27 understand the way of Gods Precepts who pray to bee quickned or made lively in the way of the Lord who pray to God for to n Ps 138. â—3 24 search them and know their hearts to try them and to know their thoughts and to see if there be any * Or way of paine or griefe as it is rendred in the Margent wicked way in them and to lead them in the way everlasting Such as are like David thus affectioned doe honour the godly wisdome of the Church of England their Mother o Phil. 2.16 held forth in the books of her Divine Service and doe at length by the grace of our Lord Iesus and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost come into the p Act. 4.32 Ier. 32.39 unity of the most holy faith and upright life prescribed in the said sacred Bookes and in the other bookes of her Doctrine discipline established by publike coÌ„mon Authoritie But it is now with some as it is mentioned in holy Writ There is a generation that are pure their owne eyes and yet is not q Pro. 30.12 13 14. washed from their owne filthinesse There is a generation O how lofty are their eyes and their eye lids are lifted up There is a generation whose teeth are as swords and their jaw-teeth as knives c. Of such also the same Divine Writer saith All the wayes of a man are r Prov. 16.2 cleane in his owne eyes but the Lord weigheth the spirits Every way of a man is Å¿ Prov. 21.2 right in his owne eyes but the Lord pondereth the hearts To neglect examining judging and amending ones own selfe and to be a censurer of others is the damnable Pharisaicall nature Saint Luke recordeth that the covetous Pharisees heard Christs sayings and derided him And he said unto them Yee are they which t Luke 16.15 14. justifie your selves before men but God knoweth your hearts for that which is highly esteemed amongst men is an abomination in the sight of God And he spake this Parable unto certaine which u Luke 18.9 10 11 12. trusted in the uselves that they were righteous and despised other Two men went up into the Temple to pray the one a Pharisee the other a Publicane The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himselfe God I thanke thee that I am not as other men are Extortioners unjust Adulterers or even as this Publicane I fast twice in the weeke I give tithes of all that I possesse c. Christ tels the Laodicean Angel what he thought of himselfe saying Thou sayest I am w Rev. 3.17 rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poore and blinde and naked c. Saint Paul foretold that wisedome in ones own eies or selfe wisdome good opinion of ones owne wayes and the like spirituall pride would be the disease of the last dayes And he reckoneth it up in the first place of the seventeene reigning sinnes of these times saying unto Timothy This know also that in the last dayes perilous times shall come for men shall be x 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5. lovers of their owne selves c. not y 2 Cor. 13.5 examiners z 1 Cor. 11.28.31 judgers and a Ezech. 36.31 condemners of themselves according to the requiry of the holy Gospell Much considerable hereto is that ever memorable sentence of the Holy Ghost delivered by Saint Iohn Every one that hath this hope in him namely to be like God in holinesse and righteousnesse and to see him as he is when hee shall appeare b 1 Iohn 3.3 purifieth himselfe even as hee is pure The meeter of the fift verse in the 4. Psalme is memorable Sinne not but stand in awe therefore examine well your heart And in your chambers quietly see you your selves convert CHAP. 90. Of seeking Gods Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof IN the prayer for raine it is said O God heavenly Father which by thy Sonne Iesus Christ hast promised to all that seeke thy Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof all things necessary for their bodily sustenance c. In the booke of the Wisedome of Solomon it is said c Wisd 1.12 13 14 15 16. Seeke not death in the errour of your life and pull not upon your selves destruction with the worke of your hands For God made not death neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the living For he created all things that they might have their being and the generations of the world were healthfull and there is no poison of destruction in them nor the Kingdome of death * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inferoruÌ„ juxta vulgatam versionem atque Innianam or hell upon the earth For righteousnesse is immortall But ungodly men with their words and workes called it to them for when they thought to have it their friend they consumed to nought and made a covenant with it because they are worthy to take part with it In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 275. Homily against Disobedience and wilfull Rebellion it is signified That as long as in the first Kingdome the subjects continued in due obedience to God their King so long did God embrace all his subjects with his love favour and grace which to enjoy is perfect felicity whereby it is evident that d 1 Sam. 15.22 23. Ier. 7.22.23 obedience is the principall vertue of all vertues and indeed the very root of all vertues and the cause of all felicity But as all felicity and blessednesse should haue continued with the continuance of obedience so with the breach of obedience and the breaking in of rebellion all vices and miseries did withall breake in and overwhelme the world We were e Psal 51.5 shapen in iniquity and in sinne did our mothers conceive us f Iob 14.4 uncleane have we beene borne into this world And growing up in the world commonly when wee come to the yeares of discretion more or lesse there seizeth on us the g Psal 143.3 4. power of darknesse Other Lords h Isa 26.13 besides the Lord God have had dominion over us Satan hath had his i 2 Tim. 2.26 Eph. 2.1 2 3. kingdome more or lesse upon us But God would that wee should bee as his people the Colossians were whiles they were here in this world delivered from the k Col. 1.13 1 Pet. 2.9 power of
he is a Papist he is an Heretike O how the Church is divided O how the Cities bee cut and mangled O how the Coat of Christ that was without seame is all to rent and torne O body mysticall of Christ where is that holy and happy Vnity e Iohn 15.5.6 Eph. 2.12 out of the which whosoever is hee is not in Christ * Marke well this sacred delivery concerning the Absolute necessity of being in Christian Vnity or of unfeined striving thereunto If one member be pulled from another where is the body If the body be drawne from the head where is the life of the body Wee cannot bee joyned to Christ our head except we be glued with concord and charite one towards another For he that is not of this Vnity is not of the Church of Christ which is a Congregation or Vnity together and not a division Saint Paul saith That as long as emulation or envying contention and Factions or Sects be among us we be f 1 Cor. 3.3 carnall and walke according to the fleshly man And Saint Iames saith g Iam. 3.14.15.16 If ye have bitter emulation or envying and contention in your hearts glory not of it for where as contention is there is unstedfastnesse and all evill deeds And why do we not heare Saint Paul which prayeth us whereas he might command us saying I beseech you in the name of our Lord Christ Iesus that you will speake all h 1 Cor. 1.10 one thing and that there be no dissention among you but that you will bee one whole body of one minde and of one opinion in the truth The same Apostle also saith i Eph. 4.1.2.3.4.5.6 I exhort you that you walke as it becommeth the vocation in which you be called with all submission and meekenesse with lenity and softnesse of minde bearing one another by charity studying to keepe the Vnity of the spirit by the bond of peace For there is one body one spirit one faith one baptisme There is saith he but one body of the which he can bee no lively member that is at variance with the other members There is one spirit k Eph. 2.22 1 Cor. 12.13 which joyneth and knitteth all things in one And how can this one spirit l 1 Kings 19.11.12.13 raigne in us when wee among our selves be divided There is but one faith and how can wee then say he is of the old faith and he is of the new faith There is but one baptisme and then shall not all they which be baptised be one m Prov. 13.10 Contention causeth division wherefore it n 1 Cor. 11.16.18 Rom. 16.17 Gal 5.19.20.21 ought not to be among Christians whom one faith and baptisme ioyneth in an Vnity Againe Saint Paul saith o Phil. 2.1.2.3 If there be any consolation in Christ if there bee any comfort of love If you have any fellowship of the spirit if you have any bowels of pitty and compassion fulfill my joy being all like affected having one charity being of one minde of one opinion that nothing be done by contention or vaine glory In the * T. 2. p. 179. Homily for Good-Friday it is said Christ delighteth to enter and dwell in that soule where p Ioh. 14.23 Act. 2.1.2.3.4 love and charity ruleth and where peace and concord is seene In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 203. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is said Saint Paul writeth that we being many are q 1 Cor. 10.17 one bread and one body for all bee partakers of one bread Declaring thereby not onely our communion with Christ but that Vnitie also wherein they that eate at this table should be r Col. 2.2.19 knit together For by dissention vaine glory ambition strife envying contempt hatred or malice they should not be dissevered but so joyned by the bond of love in one mysticall body as the cornes of that bread in one loafe In the fourth part of the * T. 2. p. 235. Homily for Rogation weeke it is signified that by love and charity which is the onely livery of a Christian man and by godly peace and quiet wee bee knit together in one generall fellowship of Christs ſ Eph. 3.15 family in one common t Eph. 2.19 1 Gal. 6.10 houshold of God And because that all true members of Christs Church doe live in unity of the most holy faith and in uniformity of godly life or unfeinedly endeavor thereunto they are therefore in the first Collect for Good Friday called Gods Family and in the Collect for the fift Sunday after the Epiphany are called God Houshold David saith u Ps 122.3 as in the Divine Service translation Ierusalem is builded as a City that is at unitie in it selfe Saint Paul very lively sheweth the unity of Christs Church saying From the head Christ the whole body fitly w Eph. 4.16 joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to the effectuall working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it selfe in love To the Colossians he saith From the head Iesus Christ all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and x Col. 2.19 knit together increaseth w th the increase of God S. Paul to the Corinthians speaking of himselfe and other servāts of Christ saith * An holy Scripture much considerable hereto Walked we not in the y 2 Cor. 12.18 same spirit walked we not in the same steps Were wee not of one minde and of one life The Lord by Ieremiah promiseth to all people obedient to his will that he will give them z Ier. 32.39 one heart and one way that they may feare him for ever for the good of them and of their Children after them Zechariah saith And the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day there shall bee one Lord and his a Zech. 14.9 name one Saint Paul saith to the Corinthians As the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are b 1 Cor. 12.12 13 14. one body so also is Christ For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body whether wee be Iewes or Gentiles whether we bee bond or free and have beene all made to drinke into one spirit For the body is not one member but many Saint Paul saith to the Ephesians Christ is the Saviour of his c Eph. 5.23 body of members indeavouring to keepe the unity of his spirit He will save his d Heb. 5.9 obedient e Mat. 1.21 people from their sinnes but will condemne to everlasting destruction f 2 Thes 1.8 9. such as willingly disobey the commandements of his Gospell If a man saith Christ g Iohn 15.6 abide not in mee he is cast forth as a branch and is withered and men gather them and cast them into
which leadeth unto life eternall neither doe they give themselves unto sinning neither are they without Gods peace in their consciences Every true member of the said Church of England endevoureth to beleeve and live according to the divine Servince-doctrine and the rest of the doctrine and discipline which is established by publike or common Authority All which said doctrine discipline as this present worke abundantly declareth serveth to further people in the g Ier. 6.16 old pathes where is the good way as the Prophet Ieremiah speaketh and every one that faithfully walketh therein according to the established doctrine and discipline findeth more and more rest for his minde or soule Of hardnesse of heart IN the second part of the * T. 2. p. 269 270. Homily of Repentance it is said Let us hearken unto the voyce of Almighty God h Prov. 1.23 24 28. when he calleth us to repentance let us not i Iob 9.4 Prov. 21.29 and 29.1 harden our hearts as such k Exod. 8.15 Infidels doe who abuse the time l Rev. 2.2 given them of God to repent and turne it to continue their pride and contempt against God and man which know not how much they m Rom. 2.5 Iam. 5.3 heape Gods wrath upon themselves for the hardnesse of their hearts which cannot repent at the n Luke 13.25 26 27. day of vengeance With great godly wisedome hath holy Church ordained to be read at morning Prayer the Psalme wherein God saith unto us by his servant David To day if ye will heare my voice o Ps 95.8 harden not your hearts Wherefore Saint Paul saith Take heed brethren lest there bee in any of you an evill hart of unbeliefe in departing from the living God But exhort one another daily while it is called to day lest any of you bee p Heb. 3.12.13.14.15 hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne For wee are made partakers of Christ if wee hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end A meanes to unharden ones owne heart is to beleeve aswell Christs q Mat. 5.20 Matt. 18.3 Luk. 13.3 Rom. 8.13 Luk. 14.26.33 Ioh. 15.6 threatnings as his promises And al that do beleeve what is said in the Gospell concerning his unpartiall judging of mankind have not hearts so hard as they have which beleeve not those divine Oracles concerning Christs righteous judging See Zechariah 7.9.10.11.12.13 and Acts. 28.23.24.25.26.27 Of Desperation IN the second part of the * T. 2. p. 57.58 Homily of falling from God it is said Let us beware good Christian people lest that wee rejecting or casting away Gods word by the which we obtaine and retaine true faith in God be not at length cast off so farre that wee become as the childrē of unbeleefe which be of two sorts far diverse yea almost cleane contrary and yet both be very farre from returning to God the one sort onely weighing their sinfull and detestable living with the right judgement and straitnesse of Gods righteousnesse be so without counsell and be so comfortlesse as they all must needs bee from whom the Spirit of counsell and comfort is gone that they will not bee perswaded in their hearts but that either God cannot or else that hee will not take them againe to his favour and mercie The other hearing the loving and large promises of Gods mercy and so not conceiving a right faith thereof make those promises larger than ever God did trusting that although they continue in their sinfull and detestable living never so long yet that God at the end of their life will shew his mercy upon them and that then they will returne And both these two sorts of men be in a damnable state and yet neverthelesse God who willeth not the death of the wicked hath shewed meanes whereby both the same if they take heed in r Heb. 3.7.13 2 Cor. 6.1.2 Ioh. 9.5.4 Ioh. 12.36 Luk. 13.25.26.27 Mat. 25.10.11.12.13 season may escape The first as they doe dread Gods rightfull justice in punishing sinners whereby they should bee dismayed should despaire indeed as touching any hope that may be in themselves so if they would constantly or stedfastly beleeve that Gods mercy is the remedy appointed against such despaire and distrust not onely for them but generally for all that be sory and truly repentant and will therewithall sticke to Gods mercy they may bee sure they shall obtaine mercy and enter into the Port or haven of safegard into the which whosoever doth come be they before time never so wicked they shall be out of danger of everlasting damnation as God by Ezechiel saith s Ezech. 18.21.22.23.27.28 What time soever a sinner doth returne and take earnest and true repentance I will forget all his wickednesse The other as they bee ready to beleeve Gods promises so they should be as ready to beleeve the t Rev. 21.8 1 Cor. 6.9.10 Gal. 6. threatnings of God aswell they should beleeve the Law as the Gospell aswell that there is an hell and everlasting fire as that there is an heauen and everlasting joy aswell they should beleeve damnation to be threatned to the wicked and evill doers as salvation to be promised to the faithfull in word and workes aswell they should beleeve God to be true in the one as in the other And so along the Church delivereth Gods truth in a wonderfull divine manner Christ saith u Mat. 11.28.29.30 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden with the burden of your sinnes and with griefe for them and I will give you rest Take my yoke upon you and learne of me for I am meeke and lowly in heart and ye shall finde rest unto your soules But as Saint Paul saith The Lord Iesus shall bee revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that w 2 Thes 1.7.8.9 obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ who shall be the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power c. Of Sedition and privie conspiracie THough wee heare it or at least should often heare it read in the sacred Letaine From all Sedition and privie conspiracie good Lord deliver us yet how prone are many in the world thereunto Such consider not what the Gospell saith There is no x Rom. 13.1.2 power but of God The powers that bee are ordained of God Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Such consider not that other most memorable oracle of God delivered by S. Peter Submit your selves to y 1 Pet. 2.13.14 every ordinance of man for the Lords sakes whether it be to the King as Supreame or unto governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evill
is dressed receiveth blessings from God But that which beareth thornes and briers is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned And againe where hee saith If wee sinne g Heb. 10.26 27 28 29. wilfully after that wee have received the knowledge of truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes but a certaine fearfull looking for of judgement and fiery indignation which shall devoure the adversaries Hee that despised Moses Law dyed without mercy under two or three witnesses Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath troden under foote the Sonne of God and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despite unto the spirit of Grace Or else sinne against the Holy Ghost is committed by such who will not at all bee made partakers of that holy Spirit but doe as did many Iewes to whom Saint Stephen said Ye stiffe-necked and uncircumcised in heart and eares Yee doe h Acts. 7.51 alway resist the Holy Ghost as your fathers did so doe ye They also of whom Solomon mentioneth are not much differing where it is said I Wisedome will powre out my i Prov. 1.23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32. spirit unto you I will make knowne my words unto you Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out mine hand and no man regarded but yee have set at nought all my Counsell and would none of my reproofe I also will laugh at your calamity I will mocke when your feare commeth When your feare commeth as desolation and your destruction commeth as a Whirlewinde when distresse and anguish commeth upon you Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seeke me early but they shall not finde me for that they hated knowledge and did not chuse the feare of the Lord. They would none of my Counsell they despised all my reproofe Many of the Pharisees among the Iewes were of such a condition who of set malice against Christ k Ioh. 7 7. witnessing unto them that their workes wee evill against the common light of reasō with which Gods holy Spirit endueth l Ioh. 1.9 Rom. 2.14.15 mankind even universally said that Iesus Christ did cast out Devils by m Mat. 12.24 Beelzebub the prince of the Devils when as they and their n Mat 12.27 children had received it as an infallible principle that Satan did not cast out Satan but that onely in o Mat. 7.22 Mat. 9.38.39.40 Gods name and by Gods power the evill spirit was cast out And therefore unto them thus wilfully and spitefully speaking contrary to their very consciences the Lord said p Mat. 12.31.32 All manner of sinne and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men And whosoever speaketh a word against the Sonne of man it shall bee forgiven him but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost it shall not bee forgiven him neither in this world neither in the world to come It most greatly therefore concerneth all which would in life death and for ever have Gods mercy in Iesus Christ to take heed that they at no time speake or doe against the true light of conscience remembring that it is a fearefull thing to fall into the q Heb. 10.31.30 avenging hands of the living Gods CHAP. 97. Of sundry of Gods Curses upon disobedient people IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 54. Homily of falling from God it is said The displeasure of God towards us is commonly expressed in the Scripture by these two things by shewing his r Ps 34.16 Ps 6.1 fearefull countenance upon us and by turning away his face or by ſ Lam. 3.44 Isa 59.2 hiding it from us By shewing his dreadfull countenance is signified his great wrath but by turning his face or hiding thereof is many times more signified that is to say that hee clearly t Deut. 31.17 18. Ier. 33.5 forsaketh us and giveth us over When God doth shew his dreadfull countenance towards us that is to say doth send dreadfull plagues of sword famine or pestilence upon us it appeareth that he is greatly wroth with us But when he withdraweth from us his Word the * A delivery what the true Word preached is right Doctrine of Christ his gracious assistance and aid which is ever u Ier. 23.22 joyned to his Word and w 1 Sam. 28.15 leaveth us to our owne wit our owne will and strength he declareth then that he beginneth to forsake us In the second part of the said * T. 2. p. 57. Homily it is said What deadly griefe may a man suppose it is to be under the wrath of God to be forsaken of him to have his holie Spirit the Authour of goodnesse to bee taken from him to be brought to so vile a condition that hee shall bee left meet for no better purpose than to be for ever condemned in hell That place of x Isa 5.5 c. Isaiah sheweth that God at length doth so forsake his unfruitfull Vineyard that hee will not onely suffer it to bring forth weedes bryars and thornes but also further to punish the unfruitfulnesse of it He saith he will not cut it he will not delve it and hee will command the Clouds that they shall not raine upon it whereby is signified the teaching of his holy Word which Saint Paul after a like manner expressed by y 1 Cor. 3.6 planting watering meaning that hee will take that away from them so that they shall be no longer of his Kingdome they shall bee no longer governed by his holy Spirit they shall be put from the grace and benefits that they had and ever z Luke 19.42 44 Mat. 23.37 38. Ps 81.12 13 14 15 16. Isa 48.18 19. might have enjoyed through Christ they shall be deprived of the heavenly light life which they had in Christ a Iohn 15.4.6.5.7 Rom. 11.17 20 22 23. whiles they abode in him they shall be as they were once as men without God in this world or rather in worse taking And to bee short they shall bee given into the power of the Devill which beareth the rule in all them that be cast away from God as hee did in Saul and Iudas and generally in all such as worke after their owne wils the Children of mistrust and b Eph. 2.2 unbeliefe In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 5. Homily concerning the right use of the Church it is said We shall not in this life escape his heavy hand and vengeance for this contempt of the house of the Lord and his due service in the same according as the Lord himselfe threatneth in the first Chapter of the Prophet Aggeus after this sort c Hag. 1.9 10 11. Because ye have left my house desert and without company
99. Of sundry of Gods blessings upon obedient people in this present life IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 5. Homily concerning the right use of the Church it is said If we would with diligence resort to the house of the Lord together to serve the Lord with one accord and u Zeph. 3.9 consent in all holinesse and righteousnesse before him wee have promises of benefits both heavenly and worldly Wheresoever two or three be gathered in my name saith our Saviour Christ there am I in the w Mat. 18.20 middest of them And what can bee more blessed than to have our Saviour Christ x Psal 16.11.6.5 Ezech. 48.35 among us In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 93.94 Homily of Fasting it is said Godwhich heard y 1 King 21.29 Ahab and the z Ionah 3.10 Ninevites and spared them will also heare our prayers and spare us so that we after their example will unfainedly turne unto him yea he will blesse us with his heavenly benedictions the time that we have to tary in this world and after the race of this mortall life he will bring us to his a Mat. 7.21 heavenly Kingdome In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 212. Homily for Whitsunday it is said Our Saviour Christ departing out of the world unto his Father promised his disciples to send downe another Comforter that should b Iohn 14.16 continue with them for ever and direct them into c Iohn 16.13 all truth The blessing pronounced at the end of Evening-Service namely d 2 Cor. 13.14 The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with us all evermore Is it not a great comfort to a soule for to enjoy all the same Saint Iohn accounted the fellowship with Gods Spirit the Sūmum bonum the supreame happinesse in this world where hee saith z Pet. 1.11 to the little children in Christ That which we have seene and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truely our e 1 Ioh. 1.1 2 3 fellowship is with the Father and with his Sonne Iesus Christ And these things write wee unto you that your joy may be full In the * T. 2. p. 193. Homily of the Resurrection it is signified That untill the generall resurrection in the last day whiles wee now are in this world Gods holy spirit may be had within our hearts as a f 2 Cor. 1.22 seale and g Eph. 1.13.14 Rom 8.15 16.23 pledge of our everlasting inheritance Yea saith that sacred * T. 2. p. 192 Homily unto every true member of Christ Thou hast received Christs body to have within thee the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost for to h Ioh. 14.23 2 Cor. 6.16 dwell with thee for to endow thee with grace to strength thee against thine enemies and to comfort thee with their presence And againe Christ now entred within us how dare we be so bold to renounce the presence of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost for where one is there is God i Col. 3.11 Ephes 4.6 1 Cor. 3.16 17. and 6.19 all whole in Majesty together with all his power wisdome and goodnesse and feare not I say the danger and perill of so traiterous a defiance and departure In the first * T. 2. p. 180. Homily of the Passion it is said God give us all grace to follow Christs k 1 Pet. 2.21 1 Iohn 2.6 examples in peace in charity in patience and sufferance that wee now may have him our ghest to enter and dwell within us so as we may be in full surety having such a pledge of our salvation If we have him and his favour we may be sure that we have the favour of God l Mat. 3.17 by his meanes In the third Exhortation afore the Communion it is said If with a true penitent heart and lively faith wee receive that holy Sacrament then we m Iohn 6.63.36 spiritually eate the flesh of Christ and drink his blood then we dwell in Christ and Christ in us we be n 1 Cor. 6.17 one with Christ and Christ with us In the * T. 2. p. 195. Homily of the Resurrection it is said Apply your selves good friends to live in Christ that Christ may still live o Gal. 2. 2 Cor. 4.10.11 in you whose favour and assistance if ye have then p Iohn 3.36 and 6.47 1 Iohn 5.20 have you everlasting life already within you then can nothing q Rom. 8.31 hurt you Whatsoever is hitherto done and committed Christ ye see hath offered you pardon and clearly received you to his favour againe in full surety whereof yee have him now inhabiting and r Rom. 8.9 10 11. Gal 4.6 1 Iohn 3.24 dwelling within you In the first part of Whitsunday * T. 2 p. 209. Homily it is said The Holy Ghost doth not thinke it sufficient inwardly to work the spirituall and new birth of man unlesse he doe also ſ 1 Cor. 3.16 dwell and abide in him In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 60. Homily against the feare of Death it is signified That a true Christian is the very t Ephes 5.30 member of Christ the u 1 Cor. 3.17 Temple of the Holy Ghost the w Rom. 8.14 15 16. Sonne of God and the very x Rom. 8.17 Iam. 2.5 inheritour of the everlasting Kingdome of Heaven Most memorable is that sentence of the Holy Ghost delivered by Saint Paul unto Timothy Godlinesse is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that y 1 Tim. 4.8 now is and of that which is to come David saith The Lord will give strength unto his people The Lord will blesse his people with z Psal 29.11 peace Wisedome saith in the booke of the Proverbs Whoso hearkeneth unto me shal dwell a Prov. 1.33 safely and shall be quiet from feare of evill And Solomon also saith b Prov. 3.16 17 18. Length of dayes is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and honour She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her Isaiah saith Since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the eare neither hath the eye seene O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him Thou c Isa 64.4 5. meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousnesse those that remember thee in thy wayes Peter saith The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his eares are d 1 Pet. 3.12 open unto their prayers Hanani the Seer said The eyes of the Lord runne too and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himselfe strong in the e 2 Chro. 16.9 behalfe of him whose heart is perfect towards him David saith The Lord is