Christ if thou follow not the steps of Christ In the first * Tom. 2. p. 180 Homily of the Passion most diuinely it is declared That it shall little auaile vs to haue in meditation the fruites and price of Christs passion to magnifie them and to delight or trust in them except we haue in minde his examples in passion to follow them If we thus therefore consider Christs death and will sticke thereto with fast faith for the merite and deseruing thereof and will also frame our selues in such wise to bestow our selues and all that we haue by charity to the behoofe of our neighbour as Christ spent himselfe wholly for our profit then doe wee truely remember Christs death and being thus followers of Christs steps we shall be sure to follow him thither where he now sitteth with the Father and the holy Ghost Likewise in the * Tom. 2. p. 196 Homily of the Resurrection it is sayd Let vs keepe our feast the whole terme of our life with eating the bread of purenesse of godly life and truth of Christs Doctrine Thus shall we declare that Christs gifts and graces haue their effect in vs and that we haue the right beleefe knowledg of his holy resurrection where truely if we apply our Faith to the vertue thereof in our life and conforme vs to the example and signification meant thereby we shall be sure to rise hereafter to euerlasting glory by the goodnesse and mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ And in the same * Pag. 191. Homily it is sayd Christ passed through death and hell to the intent to put vs in good hope that by his strength we shall doe the same In the Collect for Palme Sunday it is signified That Almighty God of his tender loue towards man sent our Sauiour Iesus Christ to take vpon him our flesh and to suffer death vpon the Crosse that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility In the Collect for the second Sunday after Easter it is sayd That Almighty God gaue his onely Sonne to be vnto vs both a sacrifice for sinne and an example of godly life In that most diuine exhortation in the commination Seruice it is sayd Let vs returne vnto our Lord God who is the mercifull receiuer of all true penitent sinners assuring our selues that he is ready to receiue vs and most willing to pardon vs if we come vnto him with faithfull repentance If we will submit our selues vnto him and from henceforth walke in his wayes If we will take his easie yoke and light burthen vpon vs to follow him in lowlinesse patience and charity and be ordered by the gouernance of his holy Spirit seeking alwayes his glory and seruing him duely in our vocation with thankesgiuing This if we doe Christ will deliuer vs from the curse of the Law and from the extreame malediction which shall light on them that shall bee set on his left hand c. The holy Apostle Paul in his Epistle to Titus sayth p Tit. 2.14 Iesus Christ gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquity and purisie vnto himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes Zacharias in his song sayd q That we being deliuered out of the hands of our enemies might serue him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life Saint Paul to the Romanes sayth r Rom. 8.3.4 What the Law could not doe in that it was weake through the flesh God sending his owne Sonne in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and * Or by a sacrifice for sinne as it is read in the margent for sinne condemned sinne in the flesh That the righteousnesse of the Lawe might bee fulfilled in vs who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit To the Corinthians he sayth Å¿ 2. Cor. 5.15 Christ died for all that they which liue should not hencefoorth liue vnto themselues but vnto him which died for them and rose againe To the Thessalonians he sayth t 1. Thes 5.9.10 God hath not appointed vs to wrath but to obtaine saluation by our Lord Iesus Christ who died for vs that whether we wake or sleepe we should liue together with him And Saint Peter sayth u 1. Pet. 1.24 Christ his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree that wee being dead vnto sinne should liue vnto righteousnesse Againe he sayth w 1. Pet. 2.21 Christ also suffered for vs leauing vs an example that we should follow his steps Further he sayth x 1. Pet. 4.1.2 Forasmuch as Christ hath suffered for vs in the flesh arme your selues likewise with the same minde for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sinne That he no longer should liue the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God p Luke 1.74.75 Who of ripe age partake of Christs merits Now who of ripe age partake of Christs merits these Scriptures following and sundry others doe declare y Iohn 14.15.21.23 If ye loue me sayth Christ keepe my Commaundements He that hath my Commaundements and keepeth them he it is that loueth me and he that loueth me shall be loued of my Father and I will loue him and will manifest my selfe vnto him Againe z Ioh 15.10 14. If yee keepe my Commaundements yee shall abide in my loue euen as I haue kept my Fathers commandements and abide in his loue And yee are my friends if yee doe whatsoeuer I commaund you Againe a Ioh. 8.31.32 If ye continue in my word then are yee my Disciples indeed and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free And to the Hebrewes the Apostle sayth b Heb. 3.14 We are made partakers of Christ If we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast vnto the end To the Romanes he sayth c Rom 6.5.8 If we haue bene planted together in the likenesse of his death we shall be also in the likenesse of his resurrection If we be dead with Christ we beleeue that we shall also liue with him Againe d Rom 8.11.13.14.17 If the Spirit of him that raysed vp Iesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised vp Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodies * Or because of his spirit that dwelleth in you as in the margent by the Spirit that dwelleth in you If ye liue after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall liue For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sonnes of God And if children then heires heires of God and ioynt heires with Christ If so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together In like manner sayth the Apostle to Timothy e 2. Tim. 2.11.12.13 It is a faithfull saying for if we be dead with him
brother in Malachi seemeth to signifie every one of Adams posterity where it is said Have wee not z Mal. 2.10 all one Father hath not one God created us we are cōmanded to e Mat. 5.44 love our enemies and to pray for them which despitefully use us and persecute us The second duty to doe unto all others as we would they should do unto us The second duty mentioned is that wee doe to all men as we would they should doe unto us And so taught Iesus Christ in his f Mat. 7.12 Gospell and likewise the Law and the Prophets They that alwaies keepe this Duty in remembrance and make it a rule for their thoughts words and deeds are thereby with the g Phil. 4.13 helpe of Christs Spirit moved to h Isa 1.16.17 Ps 34 14. cease from much evill and to endeavour much good The delivery is also in a manner an explanation of the sentence immediately afore namely of loving ones neighbour as ones selfe For who so i Rom. 13.10 loveth his neighbour as himselfe doth nothing unto him in word or deed but what hee would his neighbour should doe unto him The third duty to love honour and succour our Parents The third Duty is that we love honour and succour our Parents That every one should love the Father which begat him and the Mother which bare him in her wombe nature or common reason teacheth That they are to be * Mat. 15.4 5 6 Ecclus. 3.8.12.14.16 Lev. 19 3. honoured the fift Commandement requireth That they are to be succoured Saint Paul instructeth saying Let them learne first to shew piety at home and to k 1. Tim. 5.4 requite their parents For that is good and acceptable before God The fourth duty to honour and obey the King and his Ministers The fift duty to submit to all our superiours The fourth Duty is that we honour and obey the King and his Ministers or officers And that is amply declared afore in the Chapters 70. and 71. The fift Duty is to submit ones selfe to all his governours teachers spirituall Pastors and masters And so the Holy Ghost cōmandeth saying l Heb. 13.17 1 Pet 5.5 Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves And ye younger submit your selves unto the Elders And ye m 1 Pet. 2.18 The sixt Duty To order ones selfe lowly and reverently to all one 's betters servants be yee subject to your Masters with all feare not onely to the good and gentle but also to the froward The sixt Duty is That we order our selves lowly and reverently to all our betters as it is written n Rom. 13.7 Render to al their dues honour to whom honour is due Bee kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love in honour o Rom. 12.10 preferring one another Thou shalt p Lev. 19.32 rise before the hoary head and honour the face of the old man and feare thy God q Eph. 5.21 The seventh Duty To hurt no body by word nor deed Submit your selves one to another in the feare of God The seventh Duty is To hurt no body by word or deed So Saint Paul signifieth that we speake r Tit. 3 2. evill of no man and that we worke ſ Rom. 13.10 1 Thes 5.15 The eight Duty To be true and just in all our dealing ill to none The eighth Dutie is That wee bee true and just in all our dealing So saith the Apostle That no man t 1 Thes 4.6 Zechar. 7.9 10. The ninth Duty To beare no malice nor hatred in our heart goe beyond and defraud his brother in any matter because that the Lord is the avenger of all such The ninth Duty is That we beare no malice nor hatred in our heart The Apostle Peter signifieth That we should lay aside all u 1 Pet. 2.1 Eph. 4.31 1 Iohn 3.15 1 Cor. 14 20. The tenth Duty To keepe our hands from picking and stealing malice And Saint Iohn saith Who so hateth his brother is a murtherer The tenth Duty is That we keepe our hands from picking and stealing as Saint Paul saith Let him that hath stolne w Eph. 4.28 steale no more And Titus he willeth to teach that there should bee no x Tit. 2.10 The Eleventh Duty To keep ones tongue from evil speaking lying and slandering purloyning but a shewing of all good fidelity or faithfulnesse The eleventh Duty is That every one keepe his tongue from evill speaking lying and slandering S. Iames saith y Iam. 1.26 if any one brideleth not his tongue his religion is in vaine S. Paul saith Let all z Eph. 4.31 32 bitternesse and wrath and anger and clamour and evill speaking be put away from you with all malice To the Colossians he saith a Col. 3.9 Lye not one to another And David saith Lord who shall abide in thy Tabernacle who shall dwell in thy holy hill Hee that b Ps 15.1 2 3. backbiteth not with his tongue nor doth evill to his Neighbour nor taketh up or receiveth a reproach against his Neighbour The twelfth Duty To keepe ones body in temperance sobernesse and chastity The twelfth Duty is That every one keepe his body in temperance sobernesse and chastity S. Paul said that he did c 1 Cor. 9.27 25. keepe under his body and bring it into subjection And that every one which striveth for a mastery is temperate in all things now they doe it to obtaine a corruptible Crowne but we an incorruptible Saint Peter saith Adde to your knowledge d 2 Pet. 1.6 temperance Saint Paul saith to the Thessalonians Let us who are of the day be e 1 Thes 5.8 sober Sobernesse or sobriety is often times commanded in the Gospel and he willeth Titus to teach f Tit. 2.5 Chastity To the Corinthians hee saith Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all g 2 Cor. 7.1 filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of God To the Colossians he saith Mortifie your Members which are upon the earth h Col. 3.5 The thirteenth Duty Not to covet nor desire other mens goods fornication uncleannesse inordinate affection evill concupiscence c. The thirteenth Duty is That we should not covet nor desire other mens goods And so the i Exod. 20.17 last of the ten Commandements requireth The Apostle saith Let your conversation be without k Heb. 13.15 covetousnesse and be content with such things as yee have For God hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee The fourteenth Duty To learn to labour truly for to get our owne living The fourteenth Duty is That we learne and labour truely to get our owne living The Apostle saith We did not eate any mans bread for nought but l 2 Thes 3.8 wrought with labour and travell night and day that we might not be chargeable
charity with your neighbours and intend to lead a new life following the Commandements of God and walking from henceforth in his holy wayes draw neare and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort In the Catechisme it is said There is required of them which come to the Lords Supper to examine themselves whether they repent thē truly of their former sins stedfastly purposing to lead a new life have a lively faith in Gods mercy through Christ with a thankefull remembrance of his death and bee in charity with all men In the first part of the * T. 2 p. 198. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is said We must addresse our selves to frequent this Table in reverent and comely manner lest as physicke provided for the body being misused more hurteth then profiteth so this comfortable medicine of the soule undecently received tendeth to our greater harm and sorrow We must certainly know that three things be requisite in him which would seemely as becommeth such high mysteries resort to the Lords table That is first a right and worthy estimation and understanding of this mysterie Secondly to come in a sure faith And thirdly to have newnesse or purenesse of life to succeed the receiving of the same In the second part of the * P. 202. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is said We may learne by eating of the typicall Lambe whereunto no man was admitted but he that was a Iew that was n Ex. 12.48 circumcised that was before sanctified Yea Saint Paul testifieth that although the people were partakers of the Sacraments under Moses yet for that some of them were still worshippers of Images Whoremongers Tempters of Christ murmurers and coveting after evill things God o 1 Cor. 10.5 6 11. overthrew those in the wildernesse and that for our example that is that we Christians should take heed we resort unto our Sacraments with holinesse of life not trusting in the p Mat 15.8.9 Ier. 7.3 4 5 9 10 c. Mat. 3.8 9 10. outward receiving of them and infected with corrupt and uncharitable manners For this sentence of God must alwayes bee justified q Mat. 12.7 Hos 6.7 1 Sam. 15.22 23. I will have mercy and not sacrifice Wherefore saith Basil it behooveth him that commeth to the body and blood of Christ in commemoration of him that dyed and rose againe not onely to be pure from all r 2 Cor. 7.1 filthinesse of the flesh and spirit lest hee eate and drinke his owne condemnation but also to ſ 1 Cor. 11.26.24 shew out evidently a memory of him that died and rose againe for us in this point that yee be t Rom. 6.11.8 mortified to sinne and the world to live now unto God in Christ Iesu our Lord. It is * P. 203. afterward delivered most divinely also Furthermore for newnesse of life it is to bee noted that S. Paul writeth that we being many are one u 1 Cor. 10.17 bread and one body for all be partakers of one bread Declaring thereby not onely our communion with Christ but that w Eph. 4.16 unity also wherein they that eate at this Table should be knit together For by dissention vaine glorie ambition strife envying contempt hatred or malice they should not be x 1 Cor. 11.18 dissevered but so y Eph. 2.21 22. 1 Pet 2.5 Col. 2.2.5.19 joyned by the bond of love in one mysticall body as the Cornes of that bread in one Loafe In respect of which strait knot of Charity the true Christians in the Primitive Church called this Supper Love As if they should say none ought to sit downe there that were out of love and charity who bare grudge and vengeance in his heart who also did not professe his kind affectiō by some charitable z Acts 20.7 with 1 Cor 16 2. reliefe for some part of the congregation And this was their practice O heavenly banquet then so used O godly ghests who so esteemed this feast And so along unto the end of the Homily the preparation required unto the receiving of the Communion is declared in most Heavenly manner Read the whole second Exhortation which is appointed to bee read afore the Communion and therein the preparation is most plainly expressed also Read also the Thanksgiving which is appointed to bee sung after receiving the Lords Supper set after the Psalmes in meeter and therein the preparing is withall signified Saint Paul saith Whosoever shall eate this bread and drinke this cup of the Lord a 1 Cor. 11.27 28 29 30 31. unworthily shall bee guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of that bread and drinke of that Cup. For hee that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the Lords body For this cause many are weake and sickly among you and many sleepe For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged CHAP. 57. Of kneeling in the act of receiving the Sacrament IN the Rubricke afore the words used in ministring the Communion it is signified That both Ministers and people are to take the Sacrament kneeling The reason is because it is now received in prayer The minister delivering the Sacrament saith The body of our Lord Iesus Christ which was given for thee preserve thy body and soule into everlasting life The blood of our Lord Iesus Christ which was shed for thee preserve thy body and soule into everlasting life Are not these sayings words of prayer And ought not the b 1 Cor. 11 4 5 1 Kings 8.62 1 Cor. 14.16 heart of the receiver to pray with the Minister praying And is not c Ps 95.6 See Chap. 68. kneeling the fittest gesture for prayer It is said in the last Exhortation to be read before the Communion Make your humble confession to Almighty God meekely kneeling upon your knees And in no Rubrick of the Communion-Service are people required to change that gesture but rather to continue it untill they bee let depart with the blessing Charity saith S. Paul doth not behave it selfe d 1 Cor. 13.5 unseemely Againe hee saith e 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done decently in order Is it seemly decent or orderly that people both before and after the receiving of the Sacrament should continue kneeling and in the very act of receiving should stand or sit especially whereas it is now taken with and in Prayer Christ first gave the Sacrament after Supper and so Christians in the Primitive Church celebrated it in the evening and f 1 Cor. 11.20 21 22 33 34. after Supper but now the Church for many ages hath changed the time and hath ordained it to be taken in the morning If the Church our Mother hath so great power and authority as to change the time of taking and to ordaine it to bee taken not after meat but afore dinner and in praying hath she
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
the fire and they are burned Caiaphas prophesied that Christ should dye for that Nation and not for that nation only but that also he should gather together in h Iohn 11.52 one the Children of God that were scattered abroad The Lord by Ieremiah complaineth saying My people hath beene lost sheepe their shepheards have caused them to goe astray they have turned them away on the Mountaines they have gone from Mountaine to hill they have forgotten their i Ier. 50.6 resting * In Ps 26.13 the words His soule shall longe at ease are in the Hebrew His soule shall lodge in goodnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is rendred in the Margent place which is in the holy faith and godly life prescribed plentifully in the Divine Service of the Church of England Solomon saith k Pro. 13.10 Luke 1.51 1 Pet. 5.5 Onely by pride commeth contention God l A cause of the differences betweene many people scattereth the proud in the imagination of their hearts They never come into unity the life of Christianity which will not bow their understandings under the Doctrine of the Church and their lives under her lawes and prescriptions As all that despise to bee in minde and life conformed to the deliveries in the bookes of Divine Service doe live for the most part as a wilde people in many respects so such persevering in such wilfull disobedience unto holy Church doe commonly perish in the l Iude 11. Num. 16. gainsaying of Core Ever most memorable hereto is Christs prayer unto his Father that all his Disciples might here on earth live in unity and draw all m Iam. 4.8 nearer and nearer together into some likenesse of the unity of the holy blessed and glorious God the Father and God the Sonne saying Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall beleeve on me through their word That they may all be n Ioh. 17.20 21 21 23. one as thou Father art in mee and I in thee that they also may be one in us The most Sacred Majesty and the holy Fathers of the Church for the increase of Christian unity peace and concord in our Nation declare most godly care and that the Gospels Ordinance of Catechizing the laying of the foundation of the true Christian faith and life the unity of the holy Spirit is injoyned to bee more and more used according to the Sacred Constitution concerning the same that the world may beleeve that thou hast sent me And the glory which thou gavest mee I have given them that they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in mee that they may be made perfect in one c. Memorable also are the sacred words in His Majesties Declaration afore the Articles of Religion viz. Wee hold it is most agreeable to this Our Kingly Office and Our owne religious Zeale to conserve and maintaine the Church committed to Our charge in the unity of true Religion and in the bond of peace And therefore His Highnesse in that Divine declaration requireth all his loving subjects to continue in the uniforme profession of the said Articles and prohibiteth the least difference from them It is also the requiry of His Most Sacred Majesty that all his loving Subjects for a ground of uniforme profession of Christian faith and of Christian life should conforme to the universall prescription in the Bookes of the Divine Service according as they concerne every one in his place either in Clergy or in Laity CHAP. 92. Of Growing in the Christian faith and in the Christian life IN the generall Confession we are taught to pray Grant O most mercifull father for Iesus Christ his sake that wee may hereafter live a godly righteous and sober life to the glory of thy Holy name In the Absolution following it is said And that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy so that at the last wee may come to his eternall joy through Iesus Christ our Lord. In the Sacred Letanie it is said That it may please thee to give to all thy people increase of grace to heare meekely thy word and to receive it with pure affection and to o Mat. 3.10 Gal. 5.22.23 bring forth the fruits of the spirit Wee are taught in the end of the Service of Baptisme to be p 1 Cor. 15.58 Rom. 8.13 continually mortifying q 2 Cor. 5.17 Gal. 5.24 all our evill and corrupt affections and r 2 Cor. 4.16 daily proceeding in s Eph. 5.9,10 all vertue and godlinesse of living In the Collect for the foureteenth Sunday after Trinity it is said Almighty and everlasting God give unto us the increase of faith hope and charity and that wee may obtaine that which thou doest promise make us to love that which thou dost command through Iesus Christ our Lord. In the prayer to be said immediately afore the ordering of Priests it is said Grant unto us all that wee may daily encrease and goe forwards in the knowledge and faith of thee and thy Sonne by thy Holy Spirit In the third part of the * T. 1. p. 29. Homily of faith it is said As you professe the Name of Christ good Christian people let no phantasie and imagination of faith at any time beguile you but be sure of your faith t 2. Cor. 13.5 try it by your living looke upon the fruits that commeth of it marke the increase of u Gal. 5.6 Iam. 2.17.18.26 love and charity by it towards God and your neighbour and so shall you perceive it to bee a true lively faith If you feele and perceive such a faith in you rejoyce in it and bee diligent to maintaine it and keepe it still in you let it bee daily increasing and more more by well working so shall you be sure that you shall please God by this faith c. In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 3. Homily an exhortation to the reading of of Holy Scripture it is said * A delivery to be continually remembred in reading the holy Scripturer declareing unto what end they should be read In reading of Gods Holy word hee most profiteth not alwayes that is most ready in turning of the Booke or in saying of it without the Booke but he that is most turned into it that is most inspired with the Holy Ghost most in his heart and life altered and changed into that thing which he readeth He that is daily lesse and lesse proud lesse wrathfull lesse covetous and lesse desirous of worldly and vaine pleasures hee that daily forsaking his old vicious life increaseth in vertue more and more In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 144. Homily an Information of certaine places of Scripture it is said If some man will say I would have a true patterne and a perfect description of an upright life approved in the sight of God can wee finde thinke
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
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