pertaine unto every circumstance in Gods worship Let all things bee done m 1 Cor. 14.40 decently and in order CHAP. 43. Of the due Celebration of Sundayes and other times required by the Church to be kept holy IN the first part of the a T. 2. p. 124 125 126. Homily concerning the place and time of prayer the Church saith It appeareth to be Gods good will and pleasure that we should as speciall times and in speciall places gather our selves together to the intent his name might be renowned and his glory set forth in the congregation and assembly of his Saints As concerning the time which Almighty God hath appointed his people to assemble together solemnly it doth appeare by the fourth Commandement of God Remember saith God that thou keepe holy the Sabbath day Vpon the which day as is plaine in the b Act. 13.14.44 Act. 15.21 Acts of the Apostles the people accustomably resorted together and heard diligently the Law and the Prophets read among them And albeit this Commandement of God doth not binde Christian people so straitly to observe and keepe the utter Ceremonies of the Sabbath day as it was given unto the Iewes as touching the forbearing of worke and labour in time of great necessitie and as touching the precise keeping of the seventh day after the manner of of the Iewes For we keepe now the c Act. 20. l. 1 Cor. 16.2 Non inep è colligitur jam tum consuevisse Christianos hoc die solennes agere conventus Annol ad Act. 20.7 in Jun. Bibl. vide 1 Cor. 11.20 in Syriaco Teslamento nâ—c non in Arabiâ—o in utroque mentio fit de die Domini nostri Syrus legit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arabs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quiâ—n nev 1.10 pro eo quod in Graecis exemplaribus legitur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 habet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in â—â—e â—llo primo first day which is our Sunday and make that our Sabbath that is our day of rest in the honour of our Saviour Christ who as upon that day d Mar. 16.6.1.2 rose from death conquering the same most triumphantly yet notwithstanding whatsoever is found in the commandement appertaining to the law of nature as a thing most godly most just and needfull for the setting forth of Gods glory it ought to bee retained and kept of all good Christian people But alasse it is lamentable table to see the wicked boldnesse of those that will bee counted Gods people who e Ezek 20.12 13. passe nothing at all of keeping and hallowing the Sunday And these people are of two sorts The one sort if they have any businesse to doe though there be no extreame neede they must not spare for the Sunday they must ride and journey on the Sunday they must drive and f Neh. 13.15 16 17 18 19 20. Ier. 17.21.22 carry on the Sunday they must row and ferry on the Sunday they must buy and sell on the Sunday they must keepe markets and faires on the Sunday Finally they use all dayes alike worke-dayes and holi-dayes all are one The other sort is worse For although they will not travell nor labour on the Sunday as they doe on the weeke day yet they will not g Isa 58.13 14. rest in holinesse as God commandeth but they rest in ungodlinesse and filthinesse prancing in their pride pranking and pricking poynting and painting themselves to be gorgeous and gay they rest in excesse and superfluity in gluttony and drunkennesse like Rats and swine they rest in brawling and rayling in quarrelling and fighting they rest in wantonnesse in toyish talking in filthy fleshlinesse so that it doth too evidently appeare that God is more dishonoured and the Devill better served on the Sunday than upon all the dayes in the weeke besides As soone as God had finished heaven and earth and all the same and had made man he rested the seventh day and blessed it and h Gen. 2.2 3. sanctified it for man therein to rest also as Christ saith i Mar. 2.27 The Sabbath was made for man The Lord saith by Isaiah k Isa 58.13 14. If thou turne away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine owne wayes nor finding thine owne pleasure nor speaking thine owne words Then shalt thou delight thy selfe in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth and feed thee with the heritage of Iacob thy father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it The sacred l Canon 13. constitution of the Church concerning the due celebration of Sundayes and Holy-dayes is ever memorable viz. All manner of persons within the Church of England shall from henceforth celebrate and keepe the Lords day commonly called Sunday and other holy-holy-dayes according to Gods holy will and pleasure and the Orders of the Church of England prescibed in that behalfe that is in hearing the Word of God read and taught in private and publike prayers in acknowledging their offences to God and amendment of the same in reconciling themselves charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath beene in oftentimes receiving the Communion of the body and blood of Christ in visiting of the poore and sicke using all godly and sober conversation Concerning other times enjoyned by the Church to be observed for holydayes Of the celebration of holydayes as Christmas day c. it is to be remembred that because it is the Law of the Church our mother we ought so to observe them as she requireth And that the Church hath power to appoint holydayes it may appeare out of the m T. 2. p. 82 83. Homily of fasting where it is said We doe not read that Moses ordained by order of Law any dayes of publike fast throughout the whole yeare more than that one day The Iewes notwithstanding had more times of common fasting which the Prophet n Zechar. 7.5 Zachary reciteth to bee the fast of the fourth the fast of the fifth the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth moneth But for that it appeareth not in the Law when they were instituted it is to bee judged that those other times of fasting more than the fast of the seventh moneth were ordained among the Iewes by the appointment of their governours rather of devotion than by any expresse Commandement given from God Vpon the ordinance of this general fast good men tooke occasion to appoint to themselves private fasts at such times as they did either earnestly lament bewaile their sinfull lives or addict theÌ„selves to more fervent prayer c. And the Prophet doth not disallow their sequestring of dayes for fasting but for that they neglected o Zech. 7.9.10.11.12 judgement mercy and humilitie of heart and as it seemed accounted true religion for to consist onely
or most chiefely in observing Ceremonies It is written in the booke of Ester that the Church of God then p Esther 9.21 celebrated two dayes in memorie of the Lords most wonderfull protection of them and deliverance of them from the plot of Haman It is not written that they had any law of God requiring it neither that they received any speciall revelation for to signifie unto them that they ought so to doe but that they did it from the Common q Prov. 8.14 15 16. wisedome with which God endueth his Church at all times There is also mention of a seast in the Gospell according to S. Iohn called The feast of the r 1 Mac. 4.59 dedication which the Church of God then the people of the Iewes had along time observed in ſ Ioh. 10.22.23 celebration whereof it seemeth that Christ was present which was not ordained by divine Law nor by Revelation but by the common devotion of the Church as it is recorded in the Book of Maccabees Moreover the people of God on such holy dayes were not onely to abstaine from their ordinary t Lev. 23.7 vocation or worke but also they were to assemble unto the place of Gods publike worship and there to perfome such religious duties as God and his Church had appointed The which may appeare out of the booke of Chronicles where it is delivered that David ordained of the ministerie to stand every morning to to thanke and praise the Lord and likewise at even and to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the Lord in the Sabbaths in the new moones and on the u 1 Chron. 23.30 31. set feasts by number according to the order commanded unto them continually before the Lord. Of the place wherein holy duties are to be performed by people or a cōgregation Now concerning the place where holy duties upon Sundaies and other Holy dayes are to bee performed the first part of the x T. 2. p. 126 127 128. homily concerning the place and time of prayer declareth to bee the materiall temple or the parish-Church unto which the people are by the Law required for to repaire and duly frequent where Christ hath promised to bee y Mat. 18.20 present and where he will heare the prayers of thē that call upon him Our godly predecessours and the ancient fathers of the primitive Church saith that Homily spared not their goods to build Churches no they spared not their lives in time of persecution and to hazard their blood that they might assemble themselves together in Churches And shall we spare a little labour to come to Churches Shall neither their example nor our duty nor the Commodities that thereby should come unto us move us If we will declare our selves to have the feare of God if wee will shew our selves true Christians if wee will be the followers of Christ our master and of those godly fathers which have lived before us and have now received the reward of true and faithfull Christians wee must both willingly earnestly reverently come unto the materiall Churches and Temples to pray as unto fit places appointed for that use and that upon the Sabbath day as at most convenient time for Gods people to cease from bodily and worldly businesse to give themselves to holy rest and godly contemplation pertaining to the service of Almighty God Whereby wee may reconcile our selves to God be partakers of his holy Sacraments and bee devout hearers of his holy word so to bee established in faith to Godward in hope against all adversity and in charity toward our neighbours * T. 2. p. 131. Also to have our poore and needy neighbours in remembrance and from the Church to depart better and more godly than wee came thither The Lord hath said p Exod. 16.29 Abide yee every man in his place Let no man goe out of his place on the seventh or Sabbath day Yet there was prescribed a Sabbath dayes q Act. 1.12 journey and that appeareth to be but as unto ones owne parish Church ordinarily The aforesaid * T. 2. p. 127. Homily saith That the Tabernacle was as it were the parish Church of the Iewes being in the Wildernesse Vide Tremel annot ad Iam. 2. A Chaldee Paraphrase upon Ruth saith and the Chaldean Paraphrases are the most ancient interpretations of Moses and the Prophets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which are now common to the Church of God That we are commanded to observe the Sabbath good dayes not to walke unlesse 2000 cubits which distance appeareth to bee the space between the place of the Camp and the place where the Arke was as Ioshua said r Ios 3.3 4. There shal be a space between you it above 2000 cubits by measure And such a distance the suburbs belonging to Cities were to be from them round about as it is written in the booke of f Num. 35.5 Numbers Lastly concerning the due celebration of the Sabbath day it is also said in the first part of the * T. 2. p. 2. Homily concerning the right use of the Church That unto the house or Temple of God at all times by common order appointed are all people that bee godly indeed bound with all diligence to resort unlesse by sicknes or other most urgent causes they be letted therefro And all the same so resorting thither ought with all quietnesse and reverence there to behave themselves in doing their bounden duty and service to Almighty God in the Congregation of the Saints In the said part of that * P. 4. Homily it is further delivered That Iesus came t Ioh. 8.2 early in the morning into the Temple and all people came unto him and hee sate downe and taught them And in S. Luke it is said v Luke 21.38 Iesus taught in the Temple and all the people came early in the morning unto him that they might heare him in the Temple Here yee see as well the diligence of our Saviour in teaching the word of God in the Temple daily and specially on the Sabbath dayes as also the readinesse of the people resorting all together and that early in the morning into the Temple to heare him The Lord commāded the people of Israel to w Num. 28.9.10 offer more on the Sabbath day then on any other day And was it not for our x 2 Tim. 3.16 instruction in righteousnesse that wee ought on that day to spend more time in every religious exercise than on any other day cōmonly The * In Canon 90. and Article 30. of our Church-discipline also Law of the Church is that We be present in the Temple at the beginning of the divine Service and that unlesse through some urgent occasion we depart not untill every part of the divine Service be ended Also all persons of every Family that are able in any wise to understand any part of the publike worship unles such
that we may with sure trust desire and crave the salve of his mercy bought and purchased with the blood of his dearely beloved Sonne Iesus Christ to heale our deadly wounds withall For surely if we doe not with earnest repentance g 2 Cor. 7 1. 1 Iohn 3 3. Iam. 4.8.9 cleanse the filthy stomacke of our soule it must needes come to passe that as wholesome meat received into a raw stomacke corrupteth and marreth all and is the cause of further sicknesse so shall we eate this wholesome Bread and drinke this Cup to our eternall destruction Thus we and not other must throughly h Ier. 7.5 Ps 119.59.60 examine and not lightly looke over our selves not other men our owne conscience not i Mat. 7.1 2 3 4 5. Ecclus. 19.8 other mens lives which we ought to doe uprightly truly with just correction Let as take heed we come not with our sinnes unexamined into this presence of our Lord and judge If they be worthy blame which kisse the Princes hand with a filthy and uncleane mouth shalt thou be blamelesse which with a k Mat. 23 25 26 27.28 stinking soule full of covetousnesse fornication drunkennes pride full of wretched cogitations and l Mat. 15.18 19 20. thoughts doest breathe out iniquity and uncleannesse on the Bread and Cup of the Lord The Church therefore in the Communion-Service saith Iudge therefore your selves brethren that you bee not judged of the Lord. Greatly and ever observable is the Counsell of Ieremiah in his Booke of Lamentations Let us m Ier. 3.40 search and try our wayes and turne againe unto the Lord. The Apostle saith to the Corinthians n 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether you bee in the faith prove your owne selves To the Galatians hee saith If a man thinke himselfe to bee something when he is nothing he deceiveth himselfe But let every man o Gal. 6.3 4 5. prove his owne worke and then shall he have rejoycing in himselfe alone and not in another David saith Stand in awe and sinne not p Ps 4.4 Commune with your owne heart upon your bed and be still Ezekiel saith Then shall ye q Ezek. 36.31 remember your owne evill wayes and your doings that were not good and shall loathe your selves in your owne sight for your iniquities and for your abominations The cause of the licentiousnesse of these times The neglect of this duty of examining and judging our owne meditations speakings and doings is the cause of the licentiousnesse of these times whereof it is complained by the Church in her 113. Canon Some about Easter time when they receive thinke a little upon themselves whether they bee in open variance with their next Neighbour and it may be before they goe to the Communion will signifie some condiscending unto a reconciliation But it is the custome with many within few dayes after Easter all the yeare long untill Easter come againe for to make no conscience of living in discord envying True Christians do not only at Easter but all the year long oftentimes take an examination of their whole conversation how it agreeth to the Commandements of the Gopel of the Lord Iesus Christ bearing alwayes in remēbrance Christs words viz. r Iohn 12.48 The word that I have spoken the same shall judge you in the last day And that of every ſ Mat. 12.36 37 idle word that men shall speake they shall give account in the day of judgement For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Also true Christians doe beleeve and often thinke or Saint Pauls words to the Corinthians viz. We must all t 2 Cor. 5.10 11. appeare before the judgement seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Also Saint Peters words And if ye call on a Father who without respect of persons u 1 Pet. 1.17 judgeth according to every mans worke passe the time of your sojourning here in feare Davids practice is written for our imitation who in Ps 119. saith w Ps 119.59 60.120.15.63.66.148.97 I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy testimonies I made hast and delayed not to keepe thy Commandements My flesh trembleth for feare of thee and I am afraid of thy judgements I will meditate in thy Precepts and have a respect unto thy wayes I am a companion of all them that feare thee and of them that keepe thy Precepts I have remembred thy name O Lord in the night and have kept thy law Mine eyes prevent the night watches that I might meditate in thy Word O how I love thy Law it is my meditation all the day The neglect of examining and judging our owne mindes and lives by the rule of all the Commandements of Christs holy Gospell for to amend them according to his holy expresse word as wee are advertised in the last part of the most sacred Letany it is the cause of so much difference about religion now in the Christian world As many as have their eyes in their owne x Eccles. 2 14. heads and not in the corners of the earth onely upon others As many as obey Christs Commandement y Mat. 7.1 2 3 4 5. Iudge not that ye be not judged For with what judgement ye judge yee shall be judged and with what measure yee mete it shall be measured to you againe And why beholdest thou the Mote that is in thy brothers eye but considerest not the Beame that is in thine owne eye Or how wilt thou say to thy brother let me pull out the Mote out of thine eye and behold a Beame is in thine owne eye Thou Hypocrite first cast out the Beame out of thine owne eye and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy Brothers eye As many as doe not meerely talke of the strait gate and narrow way but also their owne selves with their whole heart z Luke 13.24 Mat. 7.13.14 strive to enter in at the same becomming a 1 Cor. 3.18 fooles that they may bee wise b Isa 55.7 forsaking all their imaginations and c Rev. 3.17 false riches and d Mat. 19.22 Ier. 4.14 possessions in spirit which they have received from the e 1 Cor. 2.12 spirit of the world not from the Spirit of God which are contrary to the testimony and approbation of Gods expresse Word and of the Divine Service of the Church of England As many as forsake their f Prov. 9.6 owne chosen way and onely walke in the g Ier. 6.16 Ps 139.24 old way according to the direction of the universall holy Scriptures and the prescription and instruction of our Mother the Church of England in her bookes of Divine Service who unfainedly strive to doe like David to h Ps 119.32 runne the way of Gods
euery yeare did seruice in the most Holy The house of the Lord which Solomon built consisted likewise of three parts The k 1. Kings 6.3 Porch answering to the Court of the Tabernacle The l 1. Kings 6.5 Temple answering to the holy Place and the Oracle answering vnto the most holy Place Concerning the signification of the Temple it is deliuered in the first part of the Homily of the right vse of the Church and also in the first part of the * T. 2. p. 127 T. 2. p. 2. P. 209. Homily concerning the place and time of Prayer Indeed the chiefe and speciall Temples of God wherein he hath greatest pleasure and most delighteth to continue and dwell in are the bodies and minds of true Christians and the chosen people of God according to the doctrine of the holy Scripture declared in the first Epistle to the Corinthians m 1. Cor. 3.16 17. Knowe yee not saith Saint Paul that yee bee the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you If any man defile the Temple of God him will God destroy for the Temple of God is Holy which yee are And againe in the same Epistle n 1 Cor. 6.19.20 Know yee not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost dwelling in you whom yee haue giuen you of God In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 68. Homily against the perill of Idolatry there is cited a memorable Sentence of Saint Ierome That it is the Temple of the Lord wherein dwelleth true Faith godly conuersation and the company of all vertues Reade there also his interpretation of the goodly ornaments of the Temple built by Salomon which Exposition is very remarkable To Conclude this point Although God would haue our inward man to bee a Tabernacle or Temple for the o Pro. 23.26 Ephe. 3.17 1 Peter 3.4 2 Cor. 6.16 dwelling of his holy Spirit Yet all this notwithstanding as it is sayd in the first part of the * Tom. 2. p. 2. Homily concerning the right vse of the Church The materiall Church or Temple is a place p 1 Chron. 28.11.12 Psal 74 8. Luke 4.16 appoynted aswel by the vsage and continuall examples expressed in the old Testament as in the New for the people of God to resort together vnto c. CHAP. 20. Of Saint Iohn Baptists Preaching IN the Collect for Saint Iohn Baptists day it is said That by Gods prouidence he was wonderfully borne and sent to prepare the way of Iesus Christ our Sauiour by Preaching of Pennance That the Birth of Iohn the Baptist was wonderfull it may appeare by the Words of Zacharias to the Angell fore-telling of Iohns birth saying q Luke 1.18 Whereby shall I know this for I am an old man and my Wife well stricken in yeares That hee was sent to prepare the way of the Lord may appeare also from the Angels Words saying r Luke 1.15.16.17 Hee shall be filled with the Holy Ghost euen from his mothers Wombe And many of the children of Israel shall hee turne to the Lord their God And hee shall goe before him in the spirit and power of Elias to turne the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the Disobedient to the wisdome of the iust for to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. And that this preparing was by Preaching of Pennance or Repentance it is testified by St. Luke who sayth Å¿ Luke 3.3.4.5.6 Iohn came into all the Countrey about Iordan Preaching the Baptisme of Repentance for the remission of sinnes As it is written in the Booke of Esaias the Prophet saying t Esay 40.3.4.5 According it is read in the Epistle for St. Iohn Baptists day Hoc ita distinguendum esse ostendit Hebraea distincti comparatio sequentis membri Iunâ—us in annot ad Esay 40 30. MysteriuÌ„ in hac Historia à Propheta Esaia olim praedicta et tanto studio à sanctis Euangelistis ad notata latere aliquiâ— majus suspicor quam aut capere ipse satis aâ—t satis queaÌ„ admirari Causa bonus in Annal Bar. A voyce cryed in the Wildernesse Prepare the way of the Lord in the Wildernesse make straight the pathe of our God in the Desart Let all Vallies bee exalted and euery Mountaine and Hill bee layd low VVhat so euer is crooked let it be made straight and let the rough bee made plaine fields For the glory of the Lord shall plainely appeare and all flesh shall at once see and behold it The which Doctrine is called by Saint Marke the u Marke 1.1 beginning of the Gospell of Iesus Christ And the Prophet Malachy thus Preached it w Mal 3.1 Behold I will send my Messenger and hee shall prepare the way before me and the Lord whom yee seeke shall suddainly come to his Temple euen the Messenger of the Couenant whom yee delight in behold hee shall come sayth the Lord of Hosts Great was the Ministery of Iohn the Baptist as it may appeare out of the words of Zacharias his Father who Prophesied of him saying x Luke 1.76.77.78.79 And thou childe shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest for thou shalt goe before the face of the Lord to prepare his wayes to giue knowledge of Saluation vnto his people by the remission of their sinnes To giue Light to them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of Death and to guide our feet into the way of peace Christ himselfe testified of him that y Mat. 11.11 among them which are borne of Woemen there hath not risen a greater than Iohn the Baptist And that all the Prophets and the Law were z Luke 16.16 Mat. 11.13 vntill Iohn So great a one hee was that hee had a Luke 11.1 Disciples after a speciall manner differing from the Clergy of Iewry in his time Hee was not onely the b Mat 3.1 first Minister of the Sacrament of Baptisme but also hee that c Math. 3.13.14 15.16 Baptized the Lord IESVS CHRIST And therefore hee is in an especiall manner more than any other Minister as it were surnamed the Baptist or the Baptizer CHAP. 21. Of the Holy Incarnation and Natiuity of our Lord Iesus Christ IN the Preface to be Read vpon Christmas day it is sayd That God did giue Iesus Christ his only Son to be borne as this day d Esay 9.6 for vs who by the operation of the e Math. 1.20 Holy Ghost was made very man of the substance of the Virgin Mary his mother and that without spotte of sinne io make vs f Ephe. 5.25.26.27 cleane from all sinne And in the * T. 2. p. 173. Homily of the Nativity it is deliuered That hee made all them which would g Iohn 1.12 receiue him truely and beleeue his Word good h Esay 61.3 trees and i Esay 32.15 16 and 51.3 good ground fruitfull and pleasant k
Acts 15.13 In the second part of the Homily of Repentance it is sâ—gnified that Iames was only Bishop of the Church â—â—erusalem See Act. 12.17 Acts 21.18 Gal. 2.9 Tom. 2. p. 266. abide in the land of Iewry ouer-seeing and looking to the Church there which Iesus Christ the first Å¿ Heb. 3 1. Apostle from God his Father had planted If he or some other Apostle or Apostles did then the Apostolicall gift or grace was also to be employed in a Church already planted and not to cease when Churches were planted It is also here to be noted that the name Apostle vsed in the new Testament doth imply two degrees Whence it is thought meete to translate it sometimes by the word t Phil. 2.25 2. Cor 8.23.1 2. Cor. 11.5 Gal. 2.9 messenger And whereas there is in Scripture mention of the chiefest Apostles it implyeth that there was some disparity among the Apostles And what degree or order is that inferiour if it be not that w 2. Tim. 4.5 Euangelistship which is aboue the Pastorship which Timothy had who was also called Bishop yea * Phil. 1.1 Bishop not onely ouer lay people but ouer y 1. Tim. 1.3 Ministers Priests Elders or Pastours also Truely therefore and properly in the Diuine Seruice are Bishops signified to be the Apostles of Christs Church as where it is sayd in the Seruice of Confirmation We make our humble supplications vnto thee for these children vpon whom after the example of the holy Apostles we haue laide our hands to certifie them by this signe of thy fauour and gracious goodnesse toward them So in the Diuine Seruice for the consecration of Bishops where it is sayd by the Archbishop Brethren it is written in the Gospell of Saint Luke that our Sauiour Christ continued the z Luke 6.12.13 whole night in prayer or euer that hee did choose and send foorth his twelue Apostles It is written also in the Acts of the Apostles that the Disciples which were at Antioch did a Acts 13.2.3.4 fast and pray or euer they laide hands vpon or sent forth Paul and Barnabas Let vs therefore b 1. Cor. 11.1 following the example of our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles first fall to prayer or that wee admit and send forth this person presented vnto vs to the worke whereunto wee trust the Holy Ghost hath called him CHAP. 38. Of Prophetship that euery kind thereof is not for euer ceased WHereas the Church both in the prayer afore the ordering of Priests and also in the prayer afore the consecrating of Bishops mentioneth That Christ hath giuen Prophets to his Church together with the diuerse orders of the constant Ministery it is necessary to consider what kind of prophetship that is Saint Paul sayth to the Corinthians c 1. Cor. 14.3 He that prophesieth speaketh vnto men to edification and exhortation and comfort Insteed of which prophesying then ordinarily vsed in the Church of Corinth there is now vsed the exercise called Preaching And therefore because preaching now is to the same effect as the ordinary prophecying then in the congregation was therefore the word for prophecying is somtimes rendred * As in the margent of the Geneua TranslatioÌ„ of 1. Cor. 11.3 preaching But the Prophetship mentioned in the aforesayd prayers appeareth to be a greater gift in that it standeth in the second place Yea Paul himselfe in an other place sayth d 1. Cor. 12.28 God hath set in the Church first Apostles secondly Prophets thirdly Teachers c. As e Ephes 4.11 Christ gaue some to be Apostles some to be Prophetsâ— some to be Euangelists some to be Pastors and some to be Teachers So in the Church of the Iewes afore Christs Incarnation there was an high Priest f Math. 2.4 chiefe Priests Priests of the g 1 Châ—or 24. second Order and Leuites and also Prophets And of such as were called Prophets some were of greater gifts than other In the new Testament after Christs Ascension some are named Prophets as h Act. 11.27 28 Agabus i Acts 21.10.11 Iudas Silas c. Agabus foretold there should be a great dearth throughout all the would which came to passe in the dayes of Claudius Caesar He foretold also to Saint Paul that the Iewes should deliuer him into the hands of the Gentiles Iudas and k Act. 15.32 Silas are sayd to haue exhorted the brethren in Antioch with many words and to haue confimed them l Act. 17.10 Silas afterward accompanied Paul and laboured with him in publishing the Gospell In the writings of the Euangelists and Apostles there is nomention that Prophets were made by ordination but all whom it is sayd the Church did ordaine were either to serue as Apostles or Euangelists or Elders or as Deacons It is written that there hath beene times when no Prophet was in the Church As in the Booke of the Psalmes it is sayd m Psal 74.9 We see not our signes there is no more any Prophet neither is there among vs any that knoweth how long It appeareth to be so in the dayes of the Maccabees when as it was sayd n 1. Mac. 4.46 1. Mac. 14 41. The stones of the Altar were layd vp in the mountaine of the Temple in a conuenient place vntill there should come a Prophet to shew what should bee done with them The principall Prophets or such as were endued with the measure of grace which for the dignity thereof obtained the greatest account next vnto those of the highest degree in the Ministery of the Church seeme to be men of a singular diuine vnderstanding o Ier. 1.9 10. raised vp of God for p Hag. 1.1.2 spirituall occasions in speciall times And this may be obserued not only out of the beginning euen of euery Prophets Booke in the Bible but also out of many places in Scripture where mention is of Prophets and their Prophesying For this present there shall be no mention of what Prophets Christ hath giuen to his Church since the first Apostles dayes but onely of the * The Church in her 30. CanoÌ„ termeth them Great Diuines Fathers in the Apostolicall Church of England who liued when the Reformation was well forwarded Were not those holy men endued with a certaine measure of propheticall grace or of the Holy Ghost or of heauenly light in the knowledge of the true Christianity more than were the Fathers of the Church generally which liued for many ages afore them in that they obserued a spirituall darknesse to haue couered most people whereof former times tooke none or very little notice and in that also they composed three bookes for Diuine Seruice wherein there is so glorious and so plenteous a deliuery of the true Apostolicall Diuinity and of the true Christian Religion as the like no Fathers in any Church of Christendome euer afore set forth And if the sayd bookes were now to be composed none were
heare sermons And if they duely hearken unto the Homilies read in their Parish Church they in part doe their duty concerning hearing sermons For the Homilies are nothing else but * And so are often named in the booke of Homilies sermons And yet they are such sermons as are not made by any private spirit but by the publike spirit of the Church and are allowed by the whole Clergy of the same In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 265. Homily of repentance it is said Wee must bee diligent to read and heare the Scriptures and the Word of God which most lively doe paint out before our eyes our naturall uncleannesse and the enormity of our sinfull life For unlesse wee have a through feeling of our sinnes how can it bee that we should earnestly be sory for them Afore n 2 Sam. 12.7 c. David did heare the word of the Lord by the mouth of the Prophet Nathan what heavinesse I pray you was in him for the adultery and the murder that he had committed So that it might be said right wel that he slept in his owne sin We read in the Acts of the Apostles that when the people had heard the sermon of Peter they were compunct o Act. 2.37 pricked in their hearts Which thing would never have been if they had not heard that wholesome sermon of Peter They therfore that have no p Ier. 5.9 and 2.13 mind at all neither to read nor yet to heare Gods Word there is but small hope of them that they will as much as once set their feet or take hold upon the first staffe or step of this Ladder of repentance but rather will sinke deeper and deeper into the bottomlesse pit of perdition Besides the Sermons the Homilies the Church willeth us to heare other also such as are made by Preachers lawfully licensed and are preached according to the Law of the Church also The constitutions and * Canons Ecclesiasticall require Every beneficed man Canon 46. that is not allowed to bee a Preacher to procure sermons to be preached in his Cure once in every moneth at the least by Preachers lawfully licensed if his living in the judgement of the Ordinary will be able to beare it And upon every Sunday when there shall not bee a sermon preached in his Cure he or his Curate shall reade some one of the Homilies prescribed As the Ordinary disposeth unto every Parish concerning preaching so is every Parishioner to rest contented therewith The true Christian religion doth not totally consist in the q Iam. 1.22 23 24 25. Mat. 7.24 25 26 27. hearing of sermons preached every Sunday Christs Kingdome of grace as the Apostle Paul hath delivered is not in r 1 Cor. 4.20 word but in power It is Å¿ Rom. 14.17 18 19. righteousnesse and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace things wherwith one may edifie another That Counsell given by Iesus the sonne of Syrach is in no wise to bee neglected t Ecclus. 8.9 When a sermoÌ„ is made every person of that Parish ought to be present at it if he may Misse not the discourse of the Elders for they also learned of their fathers and of them thou shalt learne understanding to give answer as need requireth but as the Apostle saith u 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done decently and according to order A devout person may heare as many sermons preached as hee can but so as he transgresseth no law of the Church therby For if he doth transgresse the Ecclesiasticall law by his going abroad to heare sermons preached if he offendeth the Pastour or Curate over him if he by absenting himselfe from his Parish Church be a scandall to those of his Parish then is his hearing of sermons preached in other Parish Churches but as Sauls sacrifice unto whom Samuels saying is worthy of perpetuall memory w 1 Sam. 15.22 23. Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt Offerings and Sacrifices as in obeying the voyce of the Lord behold to obey is better than Sacrifice and to hearken then the fat of Rammes For rebellion is as the sinne of Witchcraft and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Symmacbus vertit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stubborne ones are Idolaters in that they worship or follow their owne minde and will and refuse to follow the minde and will of Christ and his Church See Ezek. 14.4 5 6. stubbornnesse is as iniquity and Idolatry The Gospell of Iesus Christ commandeth thus x 1 Pet. 2.13 Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake y Rom. 13.1 2. Let every soule be subject unto the higher powers for there is no power but of God The powers that be are ordained of God Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Wherefore Paul said unto Titus Bishop of the Church of the Cretians z Tit. 3.1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers to obey Magistrates to bee ready to every good worke Saint Paul also said to the Christians a Phil. 3.17 Brethren bee followers together of me and marke them which walke so as ye have us for an ensample Who said most remarkeably b 1 Cor. 9.19.20 21 22 23. Though I be free from all men yet have I made my selfe servant unto all that I might gaine the more And unto the Iewes I became as a Iew that I might gaine the Iewes To them that are under the law as under the law that I might gaine them that are under the law To them that are without law as without law being not without law to God but under the law to Christ that I might gaine them that are without law To the weake became I as weake that I might gaine the weake I am made all things to all men that I might by all meanes save some And this I doe for the Gospels sake or as Saint Peter saith for the c 1 Pet. 2 1â—1 Lords sake who hath commanded all that would be his people for to obey every Ordinance of man that is not contrary to the everlasting OrdinaÌ„ces of his holy Gospell Such as breake the order of the Church where they live in contemning or neglecting the Divine service there under pretence of conscience unto hearing of the Word preached would they conscionably but consider of matters they might by the grace of God see their aberration It is preaching that they cry out for Let them marke what is said in the Acts Moses of old time hath in every Citie them that preach him being d Act. 15.1 read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day Doth not the Apostle signifie in those his words that in reading of
us therefore read and revolve the holy Scripture both day and night for blessed is he that hath his whole x Ps 1.2 Ios 1.8 ecclus 50.18 meditation therein c. In the last of all the * T. 2.318 Homilies in the sixt part thereof and in the last part of the same the necessitie of knowing the Scriptures is most lively declared where it is said The holy Scriptures doe teach that the people which y Acts 28.27 will not see with their eyes nor heare with their eares to learne and to understand with their hearts cannot be converted and saved And the wicked themselves being damned in Hell shall confesse ignorance in Gods Word to have brought them thereunto saying z Wisd 5.6 7. We have erred from the way of the truth and the light of righteousnesse hath not shined unto us the sun of understāding hath not risen unto us we have wearied our selves in the way of wickednesse and perdition have walked cumberous and crooked wayes but the way of the Lord we have not knowne And as well our Saviour himselfe as his Apostle S. Paul doth teach that the ignorance of Gods Word a Luke 8.12 2 Cor. 4.4 commeth of the Devill and is the cause of all b Ps 95.10 as in the Divine service translation errour and misiudging as falleth out with ignorant subjects who can rather espie a little Mote in the eye of the Prince or a Counsellour than a great Beame in their owne and universally it is the cause of all evill and finally of eternall c Ioh. 3.19 20 21. damnation Gods judgement being severe toward those who when the light of Christs Gospell is come into the world doe delight more in darknesse of ignorance than in the light of knowledge in Gods Word For all are commanded to d Rev. 1.3 read or heare to search and study the holy Scriptures and are promised c Pro. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6. understanding to be given them from God if they so doe all are charged not to beleeve either any f Isa 8.19 20. dead man nor if an g Gal. 1.8 9. Angell should speake from heaven much lesse if the Pope doe speake from Rome against or contrary to the Word of God frō the which we may not h Deut. 5.32 decline neither to the right hand nor to the left In Gods Word Princes must i Deut. 17.18 19 20. learne how to obey God and to governe men In Gods Word subjects must learne obedience both to God and their Princes Old men and young rich and poore all men and women all estates sexes and ages are taught their severall duties in the Word of God For the Word of God is bright k Ps 19.7 8. giving light unto all mens eyes the shining l Ps 119.105 Prov. 6.23 Lampe directing all mens paths and steps In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 91. Homily against contention it is said Let us read Scripture that by reading thereof we may be made the better m Iam. 1.22 23 24 25. livers rather than the more n 1 Tim. 1.5 6 7. and 6.3 4 5 20 21. contentious disputers And saith the first part of the first * T. 1. p. 3. Homily of all In reading of Gods Word he 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 o Ier. 48.11 Rom. 12.2 2 Cor. 3.18 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 He that daily for saking his old vicious life * increaseth in vertue more and more See Chap. 92. The Bereans as it seemeth by the last translation were accounted more noble then those in Thessalonica p Acts 17.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Syrus vertit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 utireddidit Arabs for that they received the Word with all readinesse of minde and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so David saith q Ps 1.2 The delight of the blessed man and woman is in the Law of the Lord and therein will meditate day and night Iob said Hee r Iob 23.12 esteemed the words of Gods mouth more then his necessary food Now concerning * Of the means whereby people may be holpen in understanding of the holy Scriptures meanes which may helpe peoples understanding of the Scripture it is most Divinely delivered in the second part of the first of all the * T. 1. p. 5 6. Homilies where it is said Read it humbly with a meek lowly heart to the intent you may ſ 1 Cor. 10.31 glorifie God and your selves with the knowledge of it and read it not without daily praying unto God that hee would direct your reading unto good effect and take upon you to expound it no further than you can plainely understand it For as Saint Augustine saith the knowledge of holy Scripture is a great large and a high place but the doore is very low so that the high and t Mat. 11.25 26. Dan. 12.10 Ps 25.9 Mat. 13.10 11. arrogant man cannot runne in but he must stoope low and u 1 Pet. 5.5 6. Ecclus 3.19 humble himselfe that shall enter into it Presumption and arrogancy is the mother of all errour and humilitie needeth to feare no error For humility will only search to know the truth it will search and bring together one place with another and where it cannot finde out the meaning it will pray it will w Acts 8.34 aske of other that know and will not presumptuously and rashly define any thing which it knoweth not If one bee ignorant hee ought the more to read and to search holy Scripture for to x Pro. 1.1 2 3 4 5 6. bring him out of ignorance I say not nay but a man may prosper with onely hearing but he may much more prosper with both hearing and y 2 Cor. 1.13 Rev. 1.3 reading And concerning the hardnesse of the Scripture he that is so weake that he is not able to brooke strong z Heb. 5.12 13 14. 1 Cor. 3.1 2 3. meat yet he may sucke the sweete and tender milke and deferre the rest untill he waxe stronger and come to more knowledge For God receiveth the learned and the unlearned and casteth away none but is a Iam. 1.5 Wisd 6.7 Rom. 2.11 indifferent unto all And the Scripture is full as well of low valleyes plaine wayes and easie for every man to use and to walke in as also of high hits and mountaines which few men can climbe unto And whosoever giveth his minde to holy Scriptures with diligent study and burning desire it cannot bee saith Saint Chrysostome that he should
and not earthly an invisible meat and not bodily a ghostly substance and not carnall c. By the advice of the * p. 201. Councill of Nicene wee ought to lift up our minds by faith and leaving these inferior and earthly things there seeke it where the Sunne of righteousnesse ever shineth Take then this lesson O thou that art desirous of this table of Emissenus a godly father that when thou goest up to the reverend Communion to bee satisfied with spirituall meats thou looke up with faith upon the holy body and blood of thy God thou marvell with reverence thou touch it with the mind thou receive it with the hand of thy heart and thou take it fully with thy inward man What the use is which we are to make of the Sacrament Concerning the use which we are to make of receiving the Sacrament it is signified in the prayer to bee read after the Prefaces in the Communion-service where it is said Grant us therefore gracious Lord so to eate the flesh of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ and to drinke his blood that our sinfull bodies may bee made cleane by his body and our soules washed through his most precious blood and that we may evermore w Iohn 6.56 Iohn 14.23 dwell in him and he in us And it is also signified in the second prayer after the receiving where it is said We now most humbly beseech thee O heavenly Father so to assist us with thy grace that we may continue in that holy x Act. 2.42.46 Heb. 10.25 Col. 2.19 Eph. 2.19 fellowship and doe all such good workes as thou hast y Eph. 2.10 That the Sacrament is to be received often-times prepared for us to walke in through Iesus Christ our Lord. Concerning the oftennesse of the receiving of the Sacrament it is said in the rubricke afore the Service for the Communion of the sicke That Curats are to exhort their parishioners to the oft receiving in the Church of the holy Communion of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ which if they doe they shall have no cause in their sudden visitation to bee unquiet for lacke of the same It is said in the rubricke at the end of the Matrimony-service The new maried persons the same day of their mariage must receive the holy Communion And in the end of the Churching-service it is said in the rubricke The woman that commeth to give her thankes must offer accustomed offerings and if there be a Communion it is convenient that she receive the holy Communion It is said in the rubricke at the end of the Communion-Service That in Cathedrall and Collegiat Churches where be many Priests and Deacons they shall all receive the Communion with the Minister every z Acts 10.7 Sunday at the least except they have a reasonable cause to the contrary And in the end of that rubricke it is said Every Parishioner shall communicate at the least three times in the yeare of which Easter to bee one c. Also when any receive any order of the Ministery they are then to communicate as it is prescribed in the booke of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons It is written in Genesis a Gen. 14.18 19. That Melchisedec King of Salem brought forth bread and wine and hee was the Priest of the most high God And hee blessed Abraham c. Saint Paul saith to the Corinthians b 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 4. Our Fathers were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea And did all eate the same spirituall meat and did all drinke the same spirituall drinke For they dranke of that spirituall rocke that followed them and that rocke was Christ Wisedome saith in the Proverbes c Pro. 9.5 Come eate of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mingled Saint Matthew recordeth that as Iesus and his Disciples were eating the Passeover Iesus tooke d Matth. 26.26 27 28. bread and blessed it and brake it gave it to the disciples and said Take eate this is my body And he tooke the cup and gave thankes and gave it to them saying Drinke ye all of it for this is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Saint Iohn writeth that Iesus afore had said unto the Iewes c Ioh. 6.53 54 55 56.63 Verily verily I say unto you Except ye eate the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you Who so eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternall life and I will raise him up at the last day For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in mee and I in him It is the spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing the words that I speake unto you they are spirit and they are life It is written in the Acts f Acts 2.42 That the disciples continued stedfast in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers Saint Paul saith to the Corinthians g 1 Cor. 10.16 17. The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the Communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of one bread Also he saith h 1 Cor. 12.13 We have all been made to drinke into one spirit And further he delivereth i 1 Cor. 11.26 As often as ye eate this bread and drinke this cup ye doe shew the Lords death till he come CHAP. 56. Of preparing ones selfe for to receive worthily the holy Sacrament IT is said in the third Exhortation to be read afore the Communion The danger is great if we receive the holy Sacrament unworthily for then we bee guilty of the body and blood of Christ our Saviour wee eate and drinke our owne damnation not considering the Lords body we kindle Gods wrath against us wee provoke him to k 1 Cor. 11.30 plague us with diuers diseases and sundry kindes of death Therefore if any of you be a blasphemer of God an hinderer or l 1 Cor. 5.11 slanderer of his Word an adulterer or be in m 1 Iohn 3.15 Mat. 5.23 24 25. malice or envy or in any other griveous crime bewaile your sinnes c. Iudge therefore your selves brethren that ye be not judged of the Lord. Repent you truly for your sinnes past have a lively and stedfast faith in Christ our Saviour Amend your lives and be in perfect charitie with all men so shall yee be meet partakers of those holy mysteries Therefore it is to be said unto them that come to receive the holy Communion in the last words of exhortation afore the generall Confession be made You that doe truly and earnestly repent you or your sinnes and be in love and
the chapter thereof set in the beginning of the Booke of Common Prayer CHAP. 60. Of the thankesgiving of women after Childbirth commonly called the Churching of Women IN the beginning of the Service for the Churching of women it is said Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God of his goodnesse to give you safe deliliverance and hath preserved you in the great danger of Childbirth Yee shall therefore giue hearty thankes unto God and pray The Law of God was that a woman when the dayes of her purifying were fulfilled for a sonne or for a daughter should bring an f Lev. 12.6.7.1 offering into the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation unto the priest who was to offer it before the Lord and to make an atonement for her c. And it is recorded by Saint Luke that the blessed Virgn Mary observed this g Luke 2.24 Law of the Lord after shee had brought forth her sonne the Saviour of the world Although that Law as concerning the ceremony be ceased yet the h Rom. 8.4 righteousnesse thereof is to be fulfilled in those which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit For which cause our Mother the Church whose godly wisedome wee ought to obey in i Eph. 5.24 every particular matter knowing that the new Law commandeth Christians in every thing to k 1 Thes 5.18 give thankes hath accounted it righteous before God that women for so great a deliverance as from the danger of child-birth should so soone as is convenient come to the Temple of the Lord and there with him who is to bee her mouth unto the Lord l Heb. 13.15 offer the sacrifice of praise unto God the fruit of her lips giving thankes unto his name Saint Paul said I will that women adorne themselves in m 1 Tim. 2.9.10 modest apparell with shamefastnesse and sobriety as becommeth women professing godlinesse And saith hee in another place Whatsoever things are honest just pure lovely or of n Phil. 4.8 good report if there bee any vertue or praise therein thinke on those things Let all things be done o 1 Cor. 14.40 decently in order Is it not therefore more seemly more signifying modesty of minde that women when they goe to be Churched or are Churched at home bee so covered on their heads according as in former times rather than bee so attired like as those bee which goe to a market or a faire or to a wedding or the like CHAP. 61. Of Commination or denouncing Gods curses due unto sinners which will not repent or doe neglect the same IN the beginning of the service of Commination the Church saith It is though good that at this time meaning in the beginning of Lent on Ashwensday in your presence should bee read the generall sentences of Gods cursing against impenitent sinners gathered out of Deut. 27. and other places of scripture And that yee should answer to every sentence Amen to the intent that you being admonished of the great indignation of God against sinners may the p Prov. 1.7 16.6 rather bee called to earnest and true repentance and may walke more warily in these q 2 Tim. 3.1 Mat. 24.21.22 dangerous dayes fleeing from such vices for the which yee affirme with your owne mouthes the curse of God to bee due The Lord saith by Moses r Deut. 29.19.20.21 If when one heareth the words of this curse hee blesse himselfe in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walke in the imagination of mine heart to adde drunkennesse to thirst the Lord will not spare him but then the anger of the Lord and his Iealousie shall smoake against that man and all the curses that are written in this booke shall lye upon him and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven Saint Paul saith s Rom. 2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10 Thinkest thou this O man that judgest them which doe such things as are abominable and dost the same that thou shalt escape the judgement of God or despisest thou the riches of his goodnesse and forbearance and long suffering not knowing that the goodnesse of God leadeth thee to repentance But after thy hardnesse and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath and Revelation of the righteous judgement of God who will render to every man according to his deeds To them who by patient continuance in well doing seeke for glory and honour and immortality eternall life But unto them that are contentious and doe not obey the truth but obey unrighteousnesse indignation and wrath Tribulation and anguish upon every soule of man that doth evill of the Iew first and also of the Gentile But glory honour and peace to every man that worketh good to the Iew first and also to the Gentile The Church our mother declareth her faithfulnesse unto her t Isa 54 5. husband the Lord of Hosts her maker unto her redeemer the Holy one of Israel the God of the whole earth in this very thing most apparantly namely that she doth not like as the false Prophets and false Prophetesses doe who doe say u Ier. 8.9.10 11. Ezech. 13.9.10 Peace and there was no peace and one built up a wall and loe others dawbed it with untempered morter Shee doth not with w Ezech. 13.22 lies make sad the heart of the righteous whom God hath not made sad neither doth shee strengthen the hands of the wicked that he should not returne from his wicked way by promising him life But shee x 2 Cor. 4.2 renouncing the hidden things of dishonestie not walking in craftinesse nor handling the word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the truth commendeth her selfe to every mans conscience in the sight of God In her Exhortation which followeth immediately after the curses doth she not in a most wonderfull divine manner declare as it were the summe of the everlasting doctrine of Iesus Christ Is not that her exhortation the beginning therof is Now seeing that all they bee accursed as the Prophet y Psal 119.21 David beareth witnesse which doe erre and goe astray from the commandements of God let us c. so divine a delivery as the like in briefe can scarce be shewed in the writings of any Church or of any Writer Is it not worthy to bee most often read of every man woman and child And is there not a power in it through the blessing of God to worke the feare of the Lord in the heart of the diligent Reader thereof And is not the said exhortation very greatly profitable to bee often read of such as have in their minds Gods feare for to helpe keepe them in the same and to preserve them from pride of spirit z Pro. 8.13 arrogancy a Isay 46.12 stoutnesse and b Zachar. 7.11 hardnesse of heart As it is good for all ancient people to reade or heare it in private read
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
wherefore David having experience of Gods goodnesse in his deliverance from the hand of Saul said I will love thee O Lord my strength The Lord is my rocke and my fortresse and my deliverer my God my strength in whom I will e Ps 18.1.2.3 trust my Buckler and the horne of my salvation and my high tower I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to bee praised so shall I bee saved from mine enimies It proceedeth also from beliefe in God and in his word which beliefe God graciously giveth unto those that feare him and diligently pray for the same as Saint Paul signifieth to the Ephesians saying In whom wee have boldnesse and accesse with f Eph. 3.12 confidence by the faith of him Ieremiah saith Cursed bee the man that g Ier. 17.5.6.7.8 trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme and whose heart departeth from the Lord. But blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is The seventh duty is to call upon God The seventh duty to call upon God And that is to pray unto him David saith offer unto God thankesgiving and pay thy vowes unto the most High and h Ps 50.14.15 call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me It proceedeth also out of beliefe as it is written How shall they i Rom. 10.14 call on him in whom they have not beleeved People obedient to Christ and his k Mat. 18.17 Church which humble themselves and faithfully endeavour to observe all the ordinances of Christs Church have the promise to be heard when they call on the Lord and doe in the name and mediation of Iesus Christ aske such things as bee agreeable to his will as Saint Iohn saith Whatsoever we l 1 Ioh. 3.22 aske wee receive of him because wee keepe his Commandement and doe those things that are pleasing in his sight The eight duty is to honour Gods Holy name The eight duty To honour Gods holy name And for the performance thereof wee pray when we say Hallowed be thy name They that make conscience of breaking the third Commandement of m Exod 20.7 taking his name in vaine are such as have a regard to honour his n Mal. 3.16.17.18 name By the Name of the Lord is not onely meant a word or words proper to the Creator whereby he is distinguished from all creatures in speaking of him or unto him but also sundry other things whereby the Lord becommeth knowne unto us The name of the Lord is observed sometimes to signifie God himselfe his holy being which is infinite almighty c as where it is said The o Prov. 18.10 Name of the Lord is a strong Tower the righteous runneth into it and is safe Where name may signifie also power and protection So in Moses where it is said If thou wilt not observe to doe all the words of this Law that are written in this Booke that thou maist feare his glorious and fearefull p Deut. 28.58 Name The Lord thy God then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderfull c. It signifieth also the will and Commandement of God as where it is said whosoever will not hearken unto my words which my Prophet shall speake in my q Deut. 18.19 Name I will require it of him Officers under the Royall Majestie use the word name in the like sense when they say I charge thee in the Kings name c. It also signifieth the religion or worship of God as where it is said in Micah All people will walke every one in the name of his god and wee will walke in the r Micah 4.5 name of the Lord our God for ever and ever Other significations it is observed to have It is our duty to honour to reverence both with soule and body with heart and mouth and with due respect for to esteem whatsoever Name God is called by or knowne The Lord said by Samuel unto Eli Them that s 1 Sam. 2.30 honour me I will honour And his Omnipotencie looketh for honour to be performed by us unto him signifying it by his Prophet Malachie saying A sonne honoureth his Father and a servant his Master If then I bee a Father where mine t Mal. 1.6 honour And if I be a Master where is my feare The ninth duty To honour Gods holy word saith the Lord of Hosts unto you O priests that despise my name and yet yee say wherein have we despised thy name The ninth duty is to honour Gods holy word David saith I will worship towards thy holy Temple and praise thy Name for thy loving kindnesse for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy u Ps 138.2 word above all thy name Christ saith to his Father Sanctifie them through the truth thy w Ioh. 17.17 word is truth And David saith unto the Lord Thy x Ps 119.142 Law is the truth Now for to make mention of any sentence in any deliverie by the Kings Majestie or by the Parliament or by the Convocation without due reverence thereto is justly a lightnesse or rather a lewdnesse Likewise for to mention any sentence of holy Scripture Gods holy word without due reverence thereto both with heart and voice honouring it as a word that y 1 Pet. 1.23.24 25. endureth for ever and as that whereby we shall every one without respect of persons bee z Iob. 12 48. judged in the last day lightly to alleage any divine deliverie is by all that truely feare God judged to proceed from a heart full of impiety and iniquity Isaiah signifieth that wee are to a Isa 66.5 tremble at Gods word and in no wise to make jests with any of it or rashly to utter any part of it but when wee speake any portion of holy Scripture to have a most serious care that it may tend directly to the glory of God and as much as may bee to the b Eph 4 2â— edification of the hearers Also we are not onely at all times with feare and honourable respect to recite holy Scripture when wee have occasion thereto but also to bee obedient or obediently enclined unto every document thereof which wee mention Else our honouring of Gods word is but a c Mat. 15.8.7 lip honour whereof Christ saith This people draw nigh to mee with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips but their heart is farre from me Which doing Christ in the verse afore signifieth to be but a kind of hypocrisie Herein saith Christ is my Father glorified or his word honoured that yee beare d Ioh. 13.8.16 much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples He is not accounted a true honourer of the Lawes of a Realme which meerely with due regard doth rehearse them but hee that also conscionably endeavoureth to live according to every of them The tenth duty to serve God truly all the dayes of
our life The tenth and last duty unto God according as the sacred Catechisme hath expressed it is that wee serve him truly all the dayes of our life God requireth us to serve him not as wee * 1 Sâ—m 15.22.23 conceive best but according to his will written in his word For so the Church teacheth us most divinely in the last part of her Article concerning Predestination and Election saying Furthermore we must receive Gods promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scriptures and in our doings that will of God is to be followed which we have expresly declared unto us in the word of God To that end hath Christ redeemed us saith Zacharias that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without feare in e Luk. 1.74.75 holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life The Lord is nigh saith David unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in f Ps 145.18 truth And what is truly or truth hath beene declared out of Scripture a little before The people of God in Ioshua his dayes signified what it is to serve God truly saying The Lord our God will wee serve and his g Ios 24.24 voice will we obey Through whom did people then heare the voice of God ordinarily in those dayes Through whom doe people heare the voice of God ordinarily in these dayes Is not the Ministery of God his mouth from whence his voice is ordinarily heard Doth not the Prophet Malachi presse this point saying The priests h Mal. 2.6.7 lips should keepe knowledge and they should seeke the Law at his mouth for hee is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts to declare the Lords will unto people In the Booke of Ioshua some are found fault withall that they asked not counsell at the i Ios 9.14 mouth of the Lord. Where was the mouth of the Lord at which they asked counsell In Exodus it is expressed The Lord said I will k Exod. 25.22 commune with thee from above the Mercy-seate from betweene the two Cherubims which are upon the Arke of the Testimony of all things which I will give thee in commandement unto the children of Israel And the Apostle to the Hebrewes sheweth that this was done in the Tabernacle which is called the l Heb. 9.3 4 5 6 7 8. holiest of all the second into which the high Priest went onely The which is written to teach us for to attend with all Christian Conscience and due reverence unto that doctrine which Christs high Priest-hood now holdeth forth unto us and that to the people is the doctrine of the Bookes of Divine Service wherein wee are plainely and plentifully taught how to serve God truly all the dayes of our life Also not to m 1 Thes 5.20.21 neglect what the inferiour priest-hood doth preach and teach but to have all due regard unto whatsoever they deliver consonant with the Divine Service and the rest of established Doctrine of the Church The Catechism most divinely addeth also the time when and how long we are to serve God truly namely all the daies of our life In the service of Baptisme it is said unto the sureties that the Infants are to bee taught so soone as they shall be able to learne what a solemne vow promise and profession they have made by you c. Signifying that God requireth a true service from us unto him from our very n Eph. 6.4 Dut. 31.12 Luk. 1.75 2 Tim. 3.15 read Chap. 98. following Child-hood so long as we live in this present world They therefore which consider not seriously upon serving God truly till either old age or sicknesse or some other great calamity befall them doe cleane contrary to the counsell of holy Church in her Catechisme as also in all the rest of her Divine Service-Doctrine CHAP. 80. Of our Dutie towards our Neighbour as it is expressed in most Divine manner in the Catechisme also MY duty towards my Neighbour is to love him as my selfe and to doe to all men as I would they should doe unto me To love honour and succour my father and mother To honour obey the King and his Ministers To submit my selfe to all my governours teachers spirituall pastours and masters To order my selfe lowly and reverently to all my betters To hurt no body by word or deed To be true and just in all my dealing To beare no malice nor hatred in my heart To keepe my hands from picking and stealing and my tongue from evill speaking lying and slandering To keep my body in temperance sobernesse and chastity Not to covet nor desire other mens goods but to learne and labour truly to get mine owne living and to doe my duty in that state of life unto the which it shall please God to call me Hence may be observed fifteene duties in particular that we owe unto Man or our neighbour for the Lords sake or by reason of Gods Commandement The first duty to love our neighbours as our selfe The first is that we ought to love our neighbours as our o Mat. 22 29. selves Herein is prescribed what manner of heart minde or affection wee are to beare towards others wee are to wish all the same good unto all others as wee doe wish unto our owne selves or as we ought to desire for our selves This is to be understood concerning good common to the bodies and soules of all Christians This love wee are not onely taught throughout all the most Sacred Letanie but also in most expresse manner in the third Collect or Prayer appointed to bee read on Good-Friday The which Holy prayer declaring the love of God towards all mankinde and the love in heart which wee should beare towards all our brethren and sisters the whole posterity of Adam it is profitable here to be rehearsed that it may be duly considered the better remembred Mercifull God who hast p Act. 17.26.27 made all men and hatest q Ps 145.9 Wis 11.23.24.26 Ezech. 33.11 nothing that thou hast made nor wouldest the r Ezech. 18.23 32. death of a sinner but rather that he should be s Prov. 1.22.23 converted and t Mat. 23.37 live have mercy upon all u Rom. 9.3.4.5 Rom. 11.12.15.25.26 Ps 14.7 and 122.6 Iewes w Ps 67.2 3 5. Turkes x 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6. Infidels and Heretikes and take from them all ignorance hardnesse of heart and contempt of thy word and so fetch them home Blessed Lord to thy flocke that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites and be made y Ezech. 37.24.25 one fold under one Shepheard Iesus Christ our Lord. By this prayer we are informed to wish that spirituall happinesse to all others as we wish to our selves The word neighbour and brother have in Moses oftentimes the same signification And the word
depth of Hell CHAP. 95. Of sundry other sinnes Of Slandering IN the second part of the * 7.1 p. 95. Homily against ConteÌ„tion it is said He that is ready to speak evill against other men first let him examine himselfe whether hee be faultlesse and cleare of the e Rom. 2.1 3.21 22 23. fault which he findeth in another For it is a shame when hee that blameth another for any fault is guilty himselfe either in the same fault or in a greater It is a shame for him that is blinde to call another man blind and it is more shame for him that is whole blinde to call him blinkard that is but purblinde For this is to see a f Mat. 7.1 2 3 4 5. straw in another mans eye when a man hath a blocke in his owne eye In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 203. Homily coÌ„cerning the Sacrament it is most truely most necessarily coÌ„plained O wretched creatures that we be at these dayes who be g 1 Iohn 2.11 without reconciliation of our brethren whom wee have offended c. h Iam. 4.11 Without any conscience of slander disdaine misreport division rancor or inward bitternesse It is even a wonder to consider unto what a licentiousnesse of slanderous speech very many of men women and children are come unto in these times they respect neither civill Superioritie nor the Clergy nor the Nobilitie Yea there are some which regard not how i 1 Pet. 2.17 Eccles. 10.23 unbeseemingly they speake of the Royall Majesty It may now be most truly said The very Devill of Hell is k Rev. 20.3 7. let loose in many peoples mouthes Such might consider the saying of the Holy Ghost by Saint Iames If any one seeme religious and l Iam. 1.26 bridleth not his tongue his religion is vaine God accepteth not his religion Saint Paul saith Bee not deceived the m 1 Cor. 6.10 revilers shall not inherit the Kingdome of God The Lord Iesus saith O generation of vipers how can ye being evill n Mat. 12.34 35 36 37 speake good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evill man out of the evill treasure bringeth forth evill things But I say unto you that every idle word much more every detracting and slanderous word that men shall speake they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement For by thy words thou shalt bee justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned David in the 15. Psalme asking who should bee saved answereth from Gods Spirit Hee that o Ps 15.3 backbiteth not with his tongue nor doth evill to his neighbour nor taketh up or * As in the Mâ—rgent receiveth or endureth a reproach against his neighbour Such as are prone unto evill speaking should often reade through the Epistle of Saint Iames also the whole Homily against strife and contention Moreover they should bee much conversant in Solomons Proverbs in Ecclesiastes in the Booke intituled The Wisedome of Solomon and in the Booke Ecclesiasticus Of Vnjustnesse IN the fourth part of the * T. 2. p. 236. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said Love equitie and righteousnesse ensue mercy and charity which God most p Micah 6.8 Mat. 23.23 Ier. 9.24 requireth at our hands And a little afore it is amply discoursed against unjustnesse saying God is the God of all equity and righteousnesse and therefore forbiddeth all deceit and subtilty in his Law by these words ye shall not deale q Leu. 19.35 36 unjustly in judgement in line in weight or measure Yee shall have just ballances true weights and true measures r Prov. 11.1 False ballances saith Solomon are an abomination to the Lord. Remember what Saint Paul saith God is the Å¿ 1 Thes 4.6 revenger of all wrong and injustice as we see by daily experience how ever it thriveth ungratiously which is gotten by falshood and craft Saint Paul saith Know yee not that the t 1 Cor. 6.9 10 unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God The Lord saith to all that are in Authority Yee shall doe no unrighteousnesse thou shalt not respect the person of the poore nor honour the person of the mighty but in u Leu. 19.15 righteousnesse shalt thou judge thy neighbour One envouring faithfully to make the rule which Christ gave the rule of all actions shall walke in much justnesse viz. w Luke 6.31 As ye would that men should doe to you doe ye also to them likewise Of Vncharitablenesse IN the Sacred Letany we are taught to pray From all uncharitablenesse good Lord deliver us In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 132. Homily of the place and time of Prayer it is said Consider that all thy doings x 1 Cor. 13.2 3. Isa 1.13 15 16 17 18. and Isa 65.2 3 4 5 6 66.3 4. Prov. 15.8 and 21.27 stinke before the face of God if thou bee not in charity with thy neighbour Saint Paul saith Let all your things be done with y 1 Cor. 16.14 charity Isaiah saith The meeke shall increase their joy in the Lord and the poore among men shall rejoyce in the holy one of Israel For the terrible one is brought to nought and the scorner is consumed and all that watch for iniquity are cut off That make a man an z Isa 29.19 20 21. offender for a word and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate and turne aside the just for a thing of nought Of Vncomelinesse IN the * T. 2. p. 106. Homily against excesse of Apparell it is said Let us take unto us simplicity chastity and comelinesse submitting our neckes to the sweet yoke of Christ Saint Paul saith to the Ephesians But fornication and all uncleannes or covetousnesse let it not bee once named among you as becommeth Saints neither a Eph. 5.3 4 5 6 7. filthinesse nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks Let no b Eph. 4.29 corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers Let all things bee done c 1 Cor. 14.40 decently and in order As uncomely words and actions are sinne so for a man or woman to goe uncomely in their apparell or to be of any uncomely behaviour is a sinne also for the Gospell commandeth That whatsoever things are d Phil. 4.8 lovely or of good report if there bee any vertue and if there be any praise thinke on these things and doe them Of contempt of Gods Word IN the Letany we pray From contempt of thy Word and Commandement good Lord deliver us In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 53. Homily of falling from God it is said All they that may
2. Man that is borne of a woman hath but a short time to live and is full of misery He commeth up and is cut downe like a flowre hee fleeth as it were a shadow and never continueth in one stay In the midst of life we be in death In the second part of the * T. 1. p. 58. Homily of falling from God it is said Sinners that continue in their wicked living ought to thinke that the promises of Gods mercy and the c Isa 61.1 2 3. Gospell pertaine not unto them being in that state but onely the d Gal. 3.23.24 law and those Scriptures which containe the wrath and indignation of God and his threatnings which should certifie them that as they doe over boldly presume of Gods mercy and live dissolutely So doth God still more and more withdraw his mercy from them he is so provoked therby to e Rom. 2.4 5 6 8. wrath at length that he destroyeth such presumers many times suddenly For of such S. Paul f 1 Thes 5 2 3. said thus When they shall say it is peace there is no danger then shall sudden destruction come up on them Let us g Heb. 12.15 and 3.12 beware therefore of such naughty boldnesse to sinne For God which hath promised his mercy to them that be truely repentant although it be at the latter end hath not promised to the presumptuous sinner either that hee shall have long life or that he shall have true repentance at the last end But for that purpose hath he made every mans death uncertaine that hee should not put his hope in the end and in the meane season to Gods high displeasure live ungodly Wherefore let us follow the counsell of the Wise man h Ecclus. 5.7 Let us make no tarrying to turne unto the Lord Let us not put off from day to day for suddenly shall his wrath come and in time of vengeance he will destroy the wicked In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 273. Homily of repentance it is said Which words I desire you to marke diligently because they doe most lively put before our eyes the fondnesse of many men who i Rom. 2.4 5 6. Ps 10.3 4 5 6. abusing the long suffering and goodnesse of God doe never thinke on repentance or amendment of life * Ecclus. 5.2 3 4 5 6. Follow not saith he thine owne minde and thy strength to walke in the wayes of thy heart neither say thou who will bring me under for my workes For God the revenger will revenge the wrong done by thee And say not I have sinned and what evill hath come unto me For the Almighty is a patient rewarder but he will not leave thee unpunished Because thy sinnes are forgiven thee be not without feare to heape sinne upon sinne Say not neither The Mercy of God is great he will forgive my manifold sinnes For mercy and wrath come from him and his indignation commeth upon unrepentant sinners As if he should say Art thou strong and mighty Art thou lusty and young Hast thou the wealth and riches of the world Or when thou hast sinned hast thou received no punishment for it Let none of all these things make thee to be the slower to repent to returne with speed unto the Lord. For in the day of punishment of his sudden vengeance they shall not be able to helpe thee And specially when thou art either by the preaching of Gods Word or by some inward motion of his Holy Spirit or else by some other meanes called unto repentance neglect not the good occasion that is ministred unto thee lest when thou wouldest repent thou hast not the grace for to doe it For to repent is a good k 2 Tim. 2.25 Act. 11.18 gift of God which he will never grant unto them who living in carnall security doe make a mocke of his threatnings or seeke to rule his Spirit as they list as though his working and gifts were l Ps 135. 5 6. Isa 40.12 13 14 15 17. tyed unto their will It is greatly considerable that almost every such person as is afore mentioned which deferreth repentance till towards his end being asked a little afore his death whether he thinketh that he hath lived as he ought as he might have lived in obedience unto Christs Lawes and the Ordinances of Christs holy Church if he would have used the prescribed meanes thereunto he will then from an opened conscience not justifie himselfe but confesse much truth as experience even in all places from time to time confirmeth Many there are which never all their life long have any regard to conferre with any godly Minister concerning what be the m Mat. 7.13 14 Psal 25.4 5 9 10. and 143.8 strait wayes of the Lord wherein all of yeeres of discretion are bound to walke conscionably and more and more obediently that would come unto n Mat. 19.16 17. life eternall but when they are in feare of dying their conscience then being awaked and accusing them and telling them they must o 2 Cor. 5.10 Heb. 9.27 appeare before Christs judgment seat to receive everlasting judgement according as they have beleeved and lived they will acknowledge some use of the ministery and of the Church-Prayers to be used in the Visitation of the sicke It it is become and old Proverbe with very many * A saying too common namely that if they can afore they dye have but time to aske God mercy they shall doe as well as the best of thē who have p Luk. 1.74 75. served God in holines righteousnes before him even all the daies of their life But how greatly such desperate and dissolute persons doe q Mal. 3.13 14 15 16 17 18. mistake the proceeding of Almighty God they may see if they will beleeve what is written in the first chapter of the Proverbs from the 20. verse unto that chapters end Also they may perceive that they are in a damnable errour if they wil observe what is delivered in that most Divine * Whose beginning is Now seeing all they be accursed c. Exhortation in the Service of Commination Saint Paul saith Be not deceived God is not mocked for r Gal. 6.7 8. whatsoever a man soweth that shall he reape For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reape life everlasting And againe he saith We then as workers together with God beseech you also that yee receive not the grace of God in vaine For he saith I have heard thee in a time accepted and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee behold ſ 2 Cor. 6.1 2. now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation Whiles it is said t Heb. 3.15 to day if yee will heare his voyce harden not your hearts as in the provocation CHAP.