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
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
his consecration receiueth a greater measure of the Holy Ghost than a Priest doth in his ordering Which may appeare out of the Diuine Seruice for consecrating a Bishop where it is sayd The Archbishop and Bishops present shall lay their hands vpon the head of the elected Bishop the Archbishop saying x 2. Tim. 1.6.7 Take the Holy Ghost and remember that thou stirre vp the grace of God which is in thee by imposition of hands For God hath not giuen vs the spirite of feare but of power and loue and sobernesse For euen so Saint Paul after a peculiar manner expressed vnto Timothy Bishop of Ephesus as it is deliuered in his second Epistle vnto him CHAP. 37. Of the distinction or disparity among Bishops or of Archbishopricke IN the Preface afore the Common Prayer it is sayd For as much as nothing can almost be so plainely set forth but doubts may rise in the vse and practising of the same To appease all such diuersity if any arise and for the resolution of all doubts concerning the manner how to vnderstand doe and execute the things contained in this booke The parties that so doubt or diuersly take any thing shall alwayes resort to the Bishop of the Diocesse who by his discretion shall take order for the quieting and appeasing of the same so that the same order be not contrary to any thing contained in this booke And if the Bishop of the Diocesse be in doubt then he may send for the resolution thereof vnto the y 1. Pet. 5.5 Archbishop An Archbishop therefore in the seruice of consecrating is called Most Reuerend Father in God vnto whom euery Bishop consecrated to Diocesse within his Prouince professeth and promiseth by oath all due reuerence and obedience like as euery Priest doth vnto the Bishop within whose Diocesse he is Pastour Now that such an order among the Bishops is of Diuine ordinance it is euident from that the first persons named Bishops in the Primitiue Christian Church * 2. Tim. 1.6 Timothy and * Tit. 1.4.5 Titus were ordered or ordained by their superiour in God the Apostle which degree was the highest in the Christian Clergie according as Paul saith z 1. Cor. 12.28 God hath set in the Church first Apostles c. And the Apostleship is callâ—d Bishopricke where it is sayd And his a Acts 1.20 Bishopricke let another take It being therefore a Bishopricke aboue that which Timothy and Titus had properly it is named in respect thereof an Archbishopricke But some there are which say that such distinction was not by Christ or dained to continue in his Church but onely was appointed in the primitiue state thereof whiles Churches were in planting and is now long agoe quite ceased The which affirmation is no where deliuered in Holy Scripture nor intimated neither from any sentence therein can be truly concluded But the direct contrary Doctrine is deliuered by Saint Paul to the Ephesians and that in most expresse manner Let Saint Pauls whole deliuery or the most part thereof hereto bee vnpartially considered His words are b Ephes 4.7.8.11.12.13 14.15 Vnto euery one of vs is giuen grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Wherefore he sayth When he ascended vp on high he led captiuity captiue and gaue gifts vnto men And hee gaue some Apostles and some Prophets and some Euangelists and some Pastours and Teachers For the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the vnity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with euery winde of Doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lye in waite to deceiue but speaking the truth in loue may grow vp into him in all things which is the head euen Christ c. The which deliuery of the Apostle declareth most plainely that Christ gaue such different and distinct measures of grace vnto his Church not for a worke then onely necessary but now also needfull viz. For the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ Also he gaue the sayd measures of grace to continue not onely during the first age of the Primitiue Church but till we all come in the vnity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ And the cause or ende of Christs such giuing doth continually concerne his Church Namely That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with euery wind of doctrine by the â—light of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they â—ye in waite to deceiue but speaking the truth in loue may grow vp into him in all things which is the head euen Christ Moreouer Christ doth not giue lesse measure of grace to his Church in these times than in former times Isaiah sayth c Isa 59.1 The Lords hand is not shortned And the Lord himselfe sayd Loe d Math. 28. â—0 I am with you alway euen vnto the end of the world Furthermore let be considered what the Apostolicall worke was and the Archiepiscopall now will appeare to be the same in substance Timothy had for his Diocesse but the Church of the Ephesians and Titus the Church of the Cretians but Paul had for his Prouince or charge the care of all the Churches of the f Gâ—l 2 7.8 Gentiles Paul preached the Gospell he Baptised he g 2. Tim. 1.6.7 1. Tim. 1.3 Tit. 1.5 consecrated Bishops h Acts 14.23 with Tit. 1.5 1. Pet. 5.1.2.3 4. Acts 20.17.28 he ordered Priests and instituted them to e 2. Cor 11.28 be Pastours he Bishopped or k Act. 19.6 with Acts 8 17. confirmed beleeuers he m 1. Tim. 1.20 excommunicated he sate in n Acts 15.12 councell about Church matters c. And euen as the Tabernacle of God was all one as concerning the substance and spirituall vse thereof when it was o 1. Kin. 8.6.13 seated in Solomons Temple as it was when it remoued from place to place so the supreme p Eph 4.7 8.11 with 1. Cor. 12 28. grace and gift of Christ to his Church the Apostolicall gift or grace was all one for the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ when it is setled in a country as it was when the q 2. Cor. 4.7 vessell which beared it remoued from country to country as he had commission thereto from the Spirit of the Lord. Also there is not expresse mention that euery Apostle trauailed from country to country whom Christ ordained or gaue to his Church Did not Saint Iames r
be b Ps 25.12 13 Isa 50.10 left without helpe For either God Almighty will c Acts 8.29 send him some godly Doctour to teach him as he did to instruct the Eunuch or else if wee lacke a learned man to instruct and teach us yet God himselfe from above will give d 2 Sam. 22.29 See the Collect for the third Sunday after Easter light unto our mindes and teach us those things which are necessary for us and wherein we bee ignorant And in another place Chrysostome saith That mans humane and e 1 Cor. 1.19 20 21. Rom. 1.22 Col. 2.8 1 Cor. 2.14 3.19 20. worldly wisdome or science needeth not to the understanding of Scripture but the f Mat. 11.27 Ioh. 14 26. 16.13 revelation of the holy Ghost who inspireth the true meaning unto them that with humility and diligence doe search therefore c. In the second part of the * T. 2 p. 149 150. Homily an information concerning certaine places of Scripture It is said If ye will be profitable hearers and readers of the holy Scriptures yee must first g Mat. 16.24 1 Cor. 4.18 deny your selves and keepe under your h 1 Cor. 2.14 Isay 55.7.8 Rom. 8.5 6 7. carnall senses taken by the outward words and search the inward meaning i Rom. 4.18 19 20 21 22. reason must give place to Gods holy Spirit you must submit your worldly wisedome and judgement unto his diuine wisedome and judgement Consider that the Scripture in what strange forme soeuer it be pronounced is the word of the living God It cannot therefore bee but k Tit. 1.2 Pro. 8.6 7 8 9. truth which proceedeth from the God of all truth it cannot be but wisely and prudently commanded what Almighty God hath devised how vainly soever through want of grace we miserable wretches doe imagine and judge of his most holy Word In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 231. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said l Wisd 7.14 Wisedome is an infinite treasure unto men which who so use become partakers of the love of God I might with many words move some of this audience to search for this wisedome to sequester their reason to follow Gods Commandement to cast from them the wits of their braines to savour this wisedome to renounce the wisedome and policy of this fond world to taste and savour that whereunto the favour and will of God hath called them and willeth us finally to enjoy by his favour if we m Prov. 1.33 2.1 2 3 4 5. 8.34 35. would give eare The elect as they can search n Iob 28.12.20.23.28 where to finde this wisedome and know of whom to o Iam. 1.5 Ephes 17. aske it So know they againe that in time it is found and can therefore attemper themselves to the occasion of the time to suffer no time to p Eph. 5.15 16 17. Prov. 14.23 passe away wherein they may labour for this q Ecclus. 51.30 See all c. Ecclus. 24. wisedome And to encrease therein they know how God of his infinite mercy and lenitie giveth all men here time and place of r Rom. 2.4 Rev. 2.21 repentance The naturall man saith Saint Paul receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither Å¿ 1 Cor. 2.14 can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Wherefore the Lord Christ said verily verily except a man be borne againe he t Iohn 3.3 cannot see the kingdome of God The Prophet David saith u Psal 25.12 13 14.9 What man is hee that feareth the Lord him will hee teach the way that he shall choose His soule shall dwell at ease and his seed shall inherite the earth The secret of the Lord is with them that feare him and he will shew them his covenant The meeke will hee guide in judgement and the meeke will hee teach his way Saint Paul also saith Let no man deceive himselfe If any man among you seemeth to bee wise in this world let him become a w 1 Cor. 3.18 19 20. foole that hee may bee wise For the wisedome of this world is foolishnes with God We are to beleeve that every word syllable and x Mat. 5.18 Gal. 3.16 1 Cor. 15.27 Heb. 2.8 letter of the holy Scriptures is truth though the matter be farre y Rom 4.18.20 21 22. See in Homily in T. 2. p. 149. aboue our comprehension or * Some words are to bee understood not naturally but spiritually as in Rev. 11.8 and some figuratively as John 15.8 Luke 22.20 Psalme 6.6 Matth. 3.5 namely when as the naturall or proper sense of them cannot stand consonant either with the context or with other Scriptures The letter is to be retained alwaies in every understanding for let any jot or title passe and where is the Scripture then understanding The Lord saith Till heaven and earth passe one z Mat. 5.18 jot or one title shall in no wise passe from the Law till all be fulfilled The Scripture cannot be a Iohn 10.35 broken Yee shall not b Deut. 4.2 adde unto the word which I command you neither shall ye diminish ought from it that yee may keepe the commandements of the Lord your God which I command you c Pro. 30.6 Adde not thou unto his words lest he reproue thee and thou be found a lier Saint Peter saith that in Saint Pauls Epistles are some things d 2 Pet. 3.16 hard to bee understood which they that are unlearned and unstable doe wrest as they doe also the other Scriptures unto their owne destruction Againe the Lord Christ saith If ye e Iohn 8.31.32 continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed And ye shall c know the truth and the truth shall make you free Againe hee said unto the Iewes If any man will doe the f Iohn 7.17 will of God my Father he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speake of my selfe Saint Iames saith If any want wisedome let him g Iames 1.5 aske of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be giuen him Christ saith your heauenly Father will h Luke 11.13 give the holy Spirit to them that aske him and which also i Acts 5.32 obey him which holy Spirit teacheth k 2. Pet. 1.3 all things that pertaine unto life and godlines and l Iohn 16.13 Psal 25.5 leadeth the obedient into all truth unto m Eph. 4.3 Ioh. 17.21 221 unity n Iam. 3.17.18 Gal. 5.22 23. peace and o Act. 1.14 Act. 2.46 and 4.32 Col. 2.2.5 1 Cor. 1.10 Phil. 2.2 concord Solomon most memorably saith p Prov. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. My sonne if thou wilt receive my words and hide my Commandements with thee so that thou encline thine eare unto wisedome and apply
all things I will bee his God and he shall be my sonne But the fearefull and unbeleeving c. shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Who so would read the lawfull use of the signe of the crosse made after baptisme explaned may see in the thirtieth Canon of the Church the same with much godly wisedome delivered And there it is said Among some other very ancient Ceremonies the signe of the Crosse in baptisme hath beene retained in this Church by the judgement and practise of those reverend fathers and great Divines in the dayes of King Edward the sixth c. CHAP. 54. Of Comfirmation commonly called Bishopping THe order of confirmation set afore the Catechisme in the divine service giveth us to understand the reason of the same in the three considerations delivered for the which unto none confirmation is to be ministred save only unto such as can say that Catechisme viz. First because that when children come to the yeares of discretion and have learned what their Godfathers and Godmothers promised for them in Baptisme they may then themselves with their owne mouth and with their owne consent openly before the Church ratisie and confirme the same And also promise by the grace of God they will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to observe and keepe such things as they by their owne mouth and confession have assented unto Secondly forasmuch as Confirmation is ministred to them that be baptized that by imposition of hands and prayer they may receive strength and defence against all temptations to sinne and the assaults of the world and the Devill it is most meet to bee ministred when children come to that age that partly by the frailty of their owne flesh partly by the assaults of the world and the Devill they begin to bee in danger to fall into sundry kindes of sinne Thirdly for that it is agreeable with the usage of the Church in times past Whereby it was ordained that confirmation should bee ministred to them that were of perfect age that they being instructed in Christs religion should openly professe their owne faith and promise to bee obedient to the will of God In the prayer to be said afore the act of confirmation there are mentioned together the sundry * See Chap. 24. graces wherein we are to desire for to be confirmed where it is said strengthen them wee beseech thee O Lord with the holy Ghost the comforter and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace the spirit of wisedom and understanding the spirit of Counsell and ghostly strength the spirit of knowledge and true godlinesse and fulsill them O Lord with the spirit of thy holy feare And the words of the confirmation firmation or Bishopping it selfe are pronuonced by the Bishop laying his hand upon every child severally saying Defend O Lord this child with thy heauenly grace that hee may continue thine for ever and daily increase in thy holy spirit more and more untill hee come unto thine everlasting kingdome And the reason of the laying the hands is delivered in the prayer to bee said when Confirmation is done where it is said Wee make our humble supplications unto thee for these children upon whom after the example of the holy Apostles wee have laid our hands to certifie them by this signe of thy favour and gratious goodnesse toward them Let thy fatherly hand we beseech thee ever bee over them Let thy holy spirit ever bee with them and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy word that in the end they may obtaine the everlasting life throughour Lord Iesus Christ Also in the rubricke at the end of the Catechisme it is said every Child shall bee brought to the Bishop by one that shall be his Godfather or Godmother that every child may have a witnesse of his Confirmation Holy Church in her Lawes called Constitutions Canons Ecclesiasticall hath two Canons concerning Confirmation the * Canon 60. one that it is to bee performed once in three yeares the * Canon 61. other that ministers are to prepare Children for Confirmation In the sixtieth Canon it is said Forasmuch as it hath beene a solemne ancient and laudable custom in the Church of God continued from the Apostles times that all Bishops should lay their hands upon children baptized and instructed in the Catechisme of Christian Religion praying over them and blessing them which wee commonly call Confirmation and that this holy action hath beene accustomed in the Church in the former ages to be performed in the Bishops visitation every third yeere c. Confirmation or laying on of hands is an ordinance of the Gospel of so great importance as that by the Apostle to the Hebrewes it is set as the fourth principle of the doctrine of Christ where he reckoneth up together the sixe principles of the Oracles of God saying d Heb. 6 1 2. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ let us goe on unto perfection not laying againe the foundation of repentance from dead workes and of faith towards God of the doctrine of baptismes and of laying on of hands and of the resurrection of the dead and of the eternall judgement It is written in the Acts that sundry whom the Deacon Philip had baptized and instructed in the Christian faith had Confirmation or e Act. 8.17 laying on of hands from the Apostles Peter and Iohn and so received the holy Ghost It is also recorded that Paul f Act. 19.6 laid his hands upon some persons afore baptized and they received the holy Ghost The Apostles are said to have g Act. 14.22 confirmed the soules of the Disciples and to have h Act. 18.23 strengthened them after they had beene converted Laying on of hands for to blesse c. is often mentioned in the booke of God and to have beene used from the dayes of i Gen. 48.14 Iacob CHAP. 55. Of the holy Communion or the Sacrament of the body and blood of Iesus Christ IN the holy Catechisme it is delivered concerning the Sacrament of Lords Supper That it was ordained for the continuall remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ and the benefits which we receive therby The outward part or signe of the Lords supper is bread and wine which the Lord hath commanded to bee received The inward part or thing signified is the body and blood of Christ which are verily and indeed taken and received of the faithfull in the Lords Supper The benefits whereof we are partakers thereby is the strengthening and refreshing of our soules by the body and blood of Christ as our bodies are by the bread and wine The mystery of this Sacrament is most divinely declared in the service for the Communion In the second Exhortation there it is said Our heavenly Father hath given his Sonne our Saviour Iesus Christ not only to dye for us but also
not power to change the gesture of taking and to require such a gesture as is beseeming Prayer Such as grant that the Church hath power as to change the time though it bee by the Holy Ghost called the Lords Supper and to change other circumstances about the receiving of it cannot without committing the great sinne of g Iam. 3.17 partiality deny that the Church hath the authority and power of changing that one circumstance the gesture used in receiving CHAP. 58. Of Matrimony IN the Service for solemnization of Matrimony it is said That Matrimony is an honourable estate h Gen. 2.22 24 instituted of God in Paradise in the time of mans innocency signifying unto us the i Eph. 5.31 32.30 mysticall union that is betwixt Christ and his Church which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his k Iohn 2.1 presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee and is commended of Saint Paul to bee honourable among all men and therefore is not to be enterprized nor taken in hand unadvisedly lightly or wantonly to saticfie mens carnall lusts and appetites like bruite beasts that have no understanding but reverently discreetly advisedly soberly and in the l 1 Cor. 7.39 feare of God duely considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained one was the m Gen. 1.28 procreation of Children to be brought up in the feare and nurture of the Lord and praise of God Secondly it was ordained for a remedie against sinne and to avoid fornication that such persons as have not the gift of continency might marry and keepe themselves undefiled Members of Christs body Thirdly for the mutuall n Eph. 5.28 29. Gen. 2.8 Prov. 5.18 19. sooietie helpe and comfort that the one ought to have of the other both in prosperity and adversitie In the * T. 2. p. 239. Homily concerning the state of Matrimony it is said Furthermore it is also ordained that the Church of God and his Kingdome might by this kinde of life be conserved and enlarged not onely in that God giveth Children by his blessing but also in 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 bee delivered by o Ps 78.4.5.6 succession from one to another that finally many might enjoy that everlasting immortality p Heb. 13.4 Marriage saith the Apostle is honourable in all and the bed undefiled but Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge q 1 Cor. 7.2.6 To avoid fornication let every man have his owne wife and let every woman have her owne husband Tobias said r Tob. 4.12 1 Thes 4.3.4.5 Mal. 2.11.12 Beware of all whoredome my sonne and chiefly take a wife of the seed of thy fathers and take not a strange woman to wife which is not of thy fathers Tribe for wee are the children of the Prophets Noe Abraham Isaac and Iacob remember my sonne that our fathers from the beginning even that they all married wives of their owne kindred and were blessed in their children and their seed shall inherit the Land s Know yee not saith the Apostle that hee which is joyned to an harlot is one body For two saith hee shall bee one flesh Flee fornication every sinne that a man doth is without the body but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his owne body What know yee not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you which yee have of God and yee are not your owne For yee are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which are Gods Be not deceived neither t 1 Cor. 6.9.10 fornicators nor Idolaters adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of thēselves with mankind nor theeves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdome of God Wherefore he also saith But u Eph. 5.3.5.6 See 1 Thes 4.3.4.5 fornication all uncleannes or covetousnes let it not be once named amongst you as becommeth Saints ſ 1 Cor. 6.15.16.17.18.19.20 CHAP. 59. Of the ring used in the Solemnization of Matrimony IN the rubrick of Matrimony-service it is said The man shall give unto the woman a Ring and put it upon the fourth finger of the womans left hand And the man taught by the priest shall say With this Ring I thee wed with my body I thee * There is some kind of worship which may be done unto man as 1 Chron. 29.20 worship with all my worldly goods I thee endow In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen In the prayer immediately after it is prayed That as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together so these persons may surely performe and keepe the vow and w Mal. 2.15.16.14 Prov. 2.17.18 covenant betwixt them made whereof the Ring given and received is a token and pledge and may ever remaine in x Eph. 5.25.28.29 perfect love and y 1 Cor. 7.5 1 Pet. 3.7 peace together and live according to thy Lawes And then it is said Forasmuch as they have consented together in holy wedlocke and have witnessed the same before God and this company and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring and by joyning of hands I c. From which words of Holy Church it is manifest that the Ring is used not for any vanity but for a godly z Exod. 13.9 Aurum nulla norat praeter unico digito quem sponsus oppignorasset pronubo annulo Tertull. Apologet. C. 6. signification for a token and pledge of sure performing and keeping the vow and covenant betwixt them made and of pledging their troth either to other The which Ring being after seene may put both parties in remembrance of what signification it was given and received And they may make good use of it as the children of Israel were to make of the a Num. 15.38.39.40 fringe in the borders of their garments having thereon a Ribband of blue to looke upon it and remember all the duties whereof to put them in minde it was ordained That Matrimony should bee solemnized with the Ceremonie of the Ring it is the Law of the Church our mother it is as the b Ios 22.27 Altar built by the Reubenites Gadites and halfe Tribe of Manasseh it is as one of the c Ier. 35.6.7.8.18.19 Commandements of Ionadab the sonne of Rechab a d Pro. 6.23.24 light signifying good things to keepe the man from the evill woman from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman Also it may serve unto the woman for a remembrance that shee e Prov. 2.17 See Chap. 41. afore forsake not the guide of her youth neither forget the covenant of her God Well consider the Church-her deliverie concerning Ceremonies why some be retained in
so many places of the holy and sacred Scriptures doth bid us returne unto him Therefore we must take good heed unto our selves lest whereas we have already by our manifold sinnes and transgressions provoked and kindled the wrath of God against us wee doe by breaking w Mat. 3.2 Mat. 4.17 Mar. 6.12 Luke 13.3 this his Commandement double our offences and so heape still damnation upon our owne heads by our daily offences and trespasses whereby we provoke the eyes of his Majestie we doe well deserve if he should deale with us according to his justice to be put away for ever from the x 2 Thes 1.8.9 fruition of his glory y Heb. 2.3 How much more then are we worthy of the endlesse torments of Hell if when we be so gently called againe after our rebellion and coÌ„manded to returne we will in no wise hearken unto the voyce of our heavenly Father but walke still after the z Deut. 29.19 20. stubbornnesse of our owne hearts The second cause that should move us to repent is the most comfortable and sweet promise that the Lord our God did of his mcere mercy and goodnesse joyne unto his Commandement For he doth not onely say Returne unto me O Israel but also a Ier. 4.1 if thou wilt returne and put away all thine abominations out of my sight thou shalt never be moved The third cause which should move us to repent is the filthinesse of sinne which in such that as long as wee doe abide in it God cannot but b Ps 5.4 5 6. Ps 66.18 detest and abhorre us neither can there be any hope that we shall enter into the heavenly Ierusalem except we be first made c Rev. 21.27 cleane and purged from it But this will never be unlesse d Pro. 9.6 Eph. 4.22 23 24. forsaking our former life we doe with our whole heart returne unto the Lord our God and with a full purpose of amendment of life flee unto his mercy taking sure hold thereupon through e Rom. 3.25 Gal. 5.6 faith in the blood of his Sonne Iesus Christ The fourth cause which should move us to repentance is the uncertainty and brittlenesse of our owne lives which is such that wee cannot assure our selves that wee shall live one houre or one halfe quarter of it Which by experience we doe finde daily to be true in them that being now merry and lusty and sometimes feasting and banquetting with their friends doe fall suddenly dead in the streetes and otherwhiles under the Board when they are at meate These daily examples as they are most dreadfull and terrible so ought they to move us to seeke for to bee at f 2 Cor. 5.20 1 Cor. 6.17 one with our heavenly Iudge that we may with a good g 2 Cor. 5 9 10 11. 1 Iohn 2.28 conscience appeare before him whensoever it shall please him for to call us whether it be h Mat. 24.42 43 44 46. suddenly or otherwise for we have no more Charter of our life then they have But as wee are most certaine that we shall dye so are we most uncertaine when we shall dye For our life doth lye in the hand of God who will take it away when it i Ps 31.15 pleaseth him And verily when the highest Summer of all which is Death shall come he will not be said nay but we must bee packing to be present before the k Heb. 9.27 1 Pet. 1.17 Ier. 17.10 judgement Seat of God as hee doth finde us according as it is written Where as the l Eccles. 11.3 Luke 16.22 â—3 tree falleth whether it be toward the South or toward the North there it shall lye Whereunto agreeth the saying of the holy Martyr of God Saint Cyprian saying As God doth finde thee when he doth call so doth he judge thee Let us therfore follow the counsell of the Wise man where he saith m Ecclus. 5.7 Ps 119.60 Make no tarrying to turne unto the Lord and put on off from day to day For suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord breake forth and in thy security shalt thou be destroyed and shalt perish in the time of vengeance And afterward it is said Specially when thou art either by the preaching of Gods Word or by some inward motion of his holy n Eph. 4.30 Spirit or else by some other means called unto repentance neglect not the good occasion that is ministred unto thee lest when thou wouldest repent thou o Mat. 17.4 5. hast not the grace for to doe it For to repent is a good p Acts 11.18 2 Tim. 2.25 gift of God which he will never grant unto them who living in carnall security doe make a q 2 Pet. 3.3 Gal. 6.7 mocke of his threatnings or seeke to r Act. 7.51 rule his Spirit as they list as though his working and gifts were tyed unto their will The fift cause that should move us to repent is the avoyding of the plagues of God and the utter destruction that by his righteous judgement doth hang over the heads of them all that will in no wise returne unto the Lord whereof read the 28. Chapter of Deuteronomie and the Exhortation in the service of Commination Of Regeneration Concerning Regeneration or birth spirituall it is signified in the end of the first part of the * T. 2. p. 211. Homily for Whiltsunday to bee a Å¿ 1 Pet. 1.22.23 Iohn 1.13 new birth in all goodnesse righteousnesse sobriety and truth It is also said in that part of that * p. 109. Homily It is the Holy Ghost and no other thing that doth t Psal 80.18 Ephes 2.1.5 quicken the minds of men stirring up good and godly motions in their hearts which are agreeable to the will and Commandement of God such as otherwise of their owne crooked and perverse nature they should u 2 Cor. 3.5 Gen. 6.5 never have That which is borne of the w Iohn 3.6 spirit is spirit As who should say Man of his owne nature is fleshly and carnall corrupt and naught sinfull and disobedient to God Whereas it is said in 1 Iohn 4.7 8. Every one that loveth is borne of God and knoweth God and he that loveth not knoweth not God we may prove our sâ—lves whether wee grow in regeneration after we be come to the yeeres of discretion if we unfainedly strive to increase in the 16. vertues of charity or godly love reckoned up together by the holy Apostle Saint Paul in 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6 7 8. Many now a dayes doe frame to themselves a new birth or regeneration not duely attending what the holy Scripture and the divine Service of the Church declareth new birth or regeneration to be and so they come short of the comforts of the same without any sparke of goodnesse in him without any vertuous or godly motion onely given to evill thoughts and wicked deeds As for the
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
p. 77. Homily of Obedience it is said So shall we please God and have the exceeding benefit Peace of conscience rest and quietnesse in this world c. In the second part of the * T. 1. p. 6. Homily an Exhortation to holy Scripture it is said Let us pray to God the onely Author of these heavenly studies that we may speake thinke beleeve live and depart hence according to the wholesome Doctrine and verities of the holy Scriptures And by that meanes in this world we shall have Gods defence favour and grace with the unspeakeable solace of Peace and quietnesse of conscience and after this miserable life we shall enjoy the endlesse g Luke 16.25 and 23.43 blisse and glory of heaven Saint Paul saith to the Romanes Therefore being justified by faith we have h Rom. 5.1 2. Peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ Great i Ps 119.165 Peace saith David have they that love thy Law and nothing shall offend them Isaiah saith Thou wilt keepe him in perfect k Isa 26.3 Peace whose minde is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee In another place he saith And the worke of righteousnesse shall bee Peace and the effect of righteousnesse l Isa 32.17 18. quietnesse and assurance for ever And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places David saith The meeke shall inherit the earth and shall m Ps 37.11 Of Long suffering delight themselves in the abundance of Peace The fourth fruit of the Spirit is Long suffering which is signified to the Ephesians where it is said With all lowlinesse and meeknesse with n Eph. 4.2 Long suffering forbearing one another in love So in the Epistle to the Colossians where it is said Put on therefore as the Elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercy kindnesse humblenesse of minde meeknesse o Col. 3.12 13. Long suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrell against any even as Christ forgave you so also doe yee The servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach p 2 Tim. 2.24 25 26. patient in meeknesse instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devill who are taken captive by him at his will Paul unto Titus signifieth that wee should speake evill of no man be no brawlers but gentle shewing all q Tit. 3.2 3. meeknesse unto all men For wee our selves were sometimes foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts and pleasures c. Of Gentlenes The fift fruit of the Spirit is Gentlenesse The which property may be knowne out of the Apostles words where it is said to the Thessalonians Not of of men sought we glory neither of you nor yet of others when we might have beene burdensome as the Apostles of Christ But wee were r 1 Thes 2.6 7. gentle among you even as a Nurse cherisheth her Children c. In the third part of the * T. 1. p. 98. Homily against Contention it is said If you be provoked with evill speaking * 1 Per. 4.1 arme your selfe with patience lenity and silence either speaking nothing or else being very ſ Prov. 15.1 soft meeke and gentle in answering t Rom. 12.19 20 21. Overcome thine adversary with benefits and Gentlenesse Of Goodnesse The sixt fruit of the Spirit is Goodnesse which as one saith burceth none but willeth well to all The fruit of the spirit saith Saint Paul to the Ephesians is in all u Eph. 5.9.10 Goodnesse and righteousnesse and trum Ioseph of Arimathea is said to be a w Luke 3.50 51 52.53 Good man He consented not to the counsell and deed of the Iewes against Christ Hee waited for the Kingdome of God He performed all the honour he could unto the body of Iesus The seventh fruit of the Spirit is Faithfulnesse Of Faithfullnes faith or trust as in promises and in bargaines or contracts yea in all businesses and matters both Ecclesiasticall and temporall Moses was x Heb. 3.5 faithfull in all Gods house Solomon saith Most men will proclaime every one his owne goodnesse but a y Prov. 20.6 Faithfull man who can finde Yet such as are endued with the spirit of Iesus Christ are Faithfull in a good measure Concerning Faithfulnesse Christ saith He that is z Luke 16.10 11 12. Faithfull in that which is least is Faithfull also in much and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much If therefore ye have not beene Faithfull in the unrighteous Mammon who will commit to your trust the true riches And if yee have not beene faithfull in that which is another mans who shall give you that which is your owne Of Meeknesse The eighth fruit of the Spirit is Meekenesse In the * T. 2. p. 247 248. Homily concerning the state of Matrimony it is said to married persons the Husband and Wife Doe the best ye can of your parts to custome your selves to softnesse and Meeknesse and beare well in worth such over sights as chance and thus shall your conversation be most pleasant and comfortable S. Peter saith A a Pet. 3.4 Meeke and a quiet spirit is in the sight of God of great price The ninth fruit of the Spirit is Temperance Of Temperance And of it there is some delivery in the 80. Chapter afore CHAP. 86. Of sundry other Vertues prescribed in the Divine Service Of Honesty IN the * T. 2. p. 108. Homily against excesse of apparell it is said It is not the goodlinesse of apparell nor the excellency of beauty nor the abundance of Gold that maketh a woman to bee esteemed but modesty and diligence to live b 1 Tim. 2.2 Honestly in all things In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 119. Homily concerning Praier it is signified That it behooveth one that cōmeth to a King to speake and aske onely those things which are rightfull and honest Saint Paul commandeth all Professors of Christianity to walke c 1 Thes 4.12 Honestly toward them that are without and to have lacke of nothing To the Romanes he saith Provide things d Rom. 12.17 Honest in the sight of all men To the Hebrewes he saith Pray for us for wee trust we have a good Conscience in all things willing to live e Heb. 13 18. Honestly To the Philippians he saith Whatsoever things are f Phil. 4.8 Honest thinke on the same To the Thessalonians he saith See that none render evill for evill unto any man but ever follow that which is g 1 Thes 5.15 good both among your selves and to all men Saint Peter saith Dearely beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstaine from fleshly
darknesse and translated into the Kingdome of his deare Sonne For which cause he sendeth to us his Ministers for to open our eyes and to turne us from darknes to light and from the l Acts 26.18 power of Satan unto God that we may receive forgivenesse of sinnes and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Iesus Christ But to attaine hereunto we are required to do our parts also namely to m Mat. 6.33 seek for Gods Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof The Kingdome of God which now wee are to seeke is his Kingdome of n Rom. 5.21 grace and Christ saith Behold the Kingdome of God is o Luke 17.21 within you Holy Church hath authorized for our helpe in devotion a booke called The imitation of Christ wherein are very many most heavenly meditations and exhortations In the first Chapter of the second booke thereof there are very usefull observations hereto whereof wee may make good use in our seeking of Christs Kingdome And they are as followeth The Kingdome of God is within saith Christ p Ioel 2.12 Turne thee unto the Lord with all thine heart having q 1 Iohn 2.15 16 17. and 5.4 forsaken this wretched world and thou shalt r Mat. 11.29 finde rest for thy soule Learne to contemne Å¿ 2 Cor. 4.18 outward things and to addict thy selfe to t Col. 31.2 spirituall so shalt thou perceive the Kingdome of God to come unto thee For the u Rom. 14.17 Kingdome of God is righteousnes peace joy in the Holy Ghost which the wicked w Isa 57.20 21. enjoy not Christ will x Iohn 14.18 2 Cor. 6.16 come unto thee and comfort thee if thou make a y Luke 1.17 Isa 40.3 4 5. as in the Epistle for Saint John Baptists day sit resting place for him within thee For all his z Psal 45.13 glory and beauty is within there doth he gladly abide With the a Eph. 2.16 17. inner man doth he oftentimes walke and reason sweetly and b Prov. 8.31 delight himselfe pleasantly and agree notably and familiarly continue Goe too now O faithfull soule prepare thine heart for this Bridegroome that he may c Ps 101 â— c. Song 3.4 come unto thee and dwell within thee For thus he saith If any man love mee hee will keepe my word and my Father will love him and we will d Iohn 14.23 come unto him and will dwell with him The Preface afore the said booke which Preface is intituled A godly Preface made by him whosoever he was that translated this booke out of the Latine tongue into French is a most singular delivery of many foundations unto true devotion and very worthy every Christians often reading through Moreover as the Kingdome Rule Reigne Dominion sway and preheminence which God hath in his people is to be sought after within our inward man and to bee expected there to e 2 Pet. 1.19 arise begin and to be administred more and more by the f Rom. 8.14 Spirit of Iesus Christ so also the g Prov. 15.9 righteousnesse of that Kingdome is to bee seeked which the Spirit of Christ h Heb. 1.8 9. administreth not onely i Hos 10.12 inwardly within mans spirit but also so as it k Ps 15.2 Psal 119.1 2 3 4 5 6. worketh outwardly wherethrough every man woman which are subjects of Christs Kingdome of Grace are inflamed with fervent zeale and an unfained desire and striving to worke righteousnesse in every l Psal 106.3 Mat 7 23. Isa 33.15 Gen. 18.19 Mat. 7.12 particular matter of this present world And that therunto m Luk. 1.74 75 1 Iohn 2 29. and 3.10 tended Christs Kingdome of Grace it may appeare unto us out of the most holy delivery of the Church in the third collect for Grace where it is said Grant that this day we n Iude 2.4 fall into no sinne neither runne into any kinde of danger but that all our doings may bee ordered by thy governance or Kingdome to doe alwaies that which is righteous in thy sight through Iesus Christ our o Isa 32.1 and 61.1 2 3. Rom. 6 13 18 19. Phil. 4.13 1 Cor. 15.57 58. Lord. Amply and wonderfull gloriously have the Prophets and Apostles written of Christs Kingdome of Grace and the Lord Iesus Christ himselfe hath much expressed the mystery thereof by parables To be a subject of Christs Kingdome is the p Rev. 2.17 new name which none knoweth saving he that receiveth it Many are the q 1 Cor. 3.9 10 priviledges which the subjects thereof doe enjoy which are not thought of by such as sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death and have no desire to depart thereout and to seeke for to have the divine governance to bee Å¿ Eph. 4.15 16. 2 Pet. 3 18. more and more within them To conclude when by the enlightning of Christs holy Spirit we doe in see that the comming of his Kingdome of grace is to be attended for to be received inwardly in our spirits we must also remember what holy Church as it were inculcateth to us in the Gospell to bee read at Baptisme that wee for our parts are to receive it with such an humility of minde as is in a little child The Lord there saith Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for to such belongeth the Kingdome of God Verily I say unto you whosoever doth not receive the Kingdome of God as a t Mat. 10.15 little child hee shall not enter therein One must forsake u Mat. 16 2â— Luk. 14.26.33 himselfe and all that he hath w 2 Tim. 3.2 selfe-love x Prov. 3.7 selfe-wisedome y Ier. 4.14 vaine thoughts z 2 Thes 2.12 1 â— Isa 28.15 untrue beliefes whatsoever spirituall possession in his minde which hee enjoyeth which the Spirit of God hath not given to him and enstated him in Ones soule must be as a a Psal 131.2 weaned child as David saith his was Also Christs Kingdome is to bee seeked with obedience unto the universall ordinances of Christs Church of us with all conscionable zealous obedience unto every particular ordinance of the Apostolical Church of England For every particular ordinance thereof as wel the ceremonial as the other serve to prepare us to introduct us to plant us and to establish us in the said divine Kingdome It may be * Such as submit themselves to yeeld obedience to the universall ordinances of the Church observe aspiritual fire in the disobedient observed in all places concerning all persons which refuse to yeeld obedience unto the ordinances of the Church of England that they have not peace in their b Eph. 5.6 Rom. 2.8.9 consciences because of their c Mat. 18.17 Luke 10.16 disobeying the wife or Spouse of Iesus Christ If that Almighty God so commended the
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