the uniformity of Common prayer set in the beginning thereof testifieth Also every one which entreth into the Ministery of the Church of England first subscribeth That the booke of Common prayer containeth in it nothing contrary to the Word of God and that it may lawfully so bee used and that hee himselfe will use the forme in the said booke prescribed in Publike prayer and administration of the Sacraments and none other As it is in Canon 36. That the booke of ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons is likewise ratified the six and thirtieth Article of the Religion established declareth saying The Book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops and ordering of Priests and Deacons lately set forth in the time of Edward the sixt and confirmed at the same time by Authority of Parliament doth containe all things necessarie to such Consecration and ordering neither hath it any thing that of it selfe is superstitious and ungodly And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to the Rites of that booke since the second yeare of the aforenamed King Edward unto this time or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same Rites we decree all such to be rightly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered That both the bookes of Homilies now printed in one Volume and distinguished into two Tomes are approved by the whole Clergy it is manifest by every ones subscription unto the third Article to be subscribed unto afore receiving any order or degree in the ministery whereof the words are That he alloweth the book of Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Archbishops In Canon 36. and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergie in the Convocation holden at London in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand five hundred sixtie and two and that he acknowledgeth all and every the Articles therein contained being in number nine and thirty besides the Ratification to be agreeable to the Word of God And in the five and thirtieth Article therof it is said The second booke of Homilies the severall titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth containe a godly and wholesome Doctrine and necessary for these times as doth the former booke of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the sixt and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may bee understanded of the people The Eleventh Article concerning the justification of man referreth unto the Homily of Iustification wherein the most wholesome Doctrine thereof and very full of comfort is more largly expressed In the booke of Common Prayer in the Rubrick after the Nicene Creed the Homilies are mentioned It is required that the booke of Homilies be in every Church Canon 80. And Canon 49 requireth Ministers not allowed Preachers to reade the said Homilies For the confirmation of be true saith and for thâ—â—â—â—d â—â—strâ—â—lâ—â— and 〈◊〉 disication of the people The great authority of the Homilies may also appeare out of the Titles of both Tomes of them The Title of the first Tome is Certaine Sermons or Homilies appointed to bee read in Churches in the time of the late Queene Elizabeth of famous memory And now thought fit to be reprinted by Authority from the Kings most Excellent Majesty The Title of the second is The second Tome of Homilies of such matters as were promised and entituled in the former part of Homilies set out by the Authority of the late Queenes Majesty and to be read in every Parish Church agreeably There are no writings of any Author whatsoever whereunto the Church ascribeth so much authority as to the Bookes of Divine Service having ordained them only together with the holy Scriptures to bee publikely read in every congregation of the Land Now some will say It appeareth by these relatings that great is the respect which we owe unto the said bookes of the Church but yet we are to receive no delivery in them but what we know agreeth with the Word of God In which saying of many of these times there is contained a greater defect than all doe observe therein For first by so saying they attribute not such authority as is due unto the Church their Mother they duely acknowledge not her loyalty unto Christ her Head S. Paul propoundeth the Church her fidelity or faithfull obeience to be a patterne for imitation where he saith As the Church is subject unto Christ Eph. 5.24 so let the wives bee to their owne husbands in every thing Put case that in that her fundamentall Doctrine there were some deliveries not in all respects so perfect as are the Scriptures of God our Father yet it is against her loving nature and prudence to propound unto us any matter for our hurt Yea what we suppose to be imperfect wee may make that use thereof for which it was by her intended and be much benefited thereby Secondly by that their limitation they imply that they have an ability to judge the understanding and wisdome of their mother And if they bee demanded whence they have received so great an extraordinary abilitie as to judge of their mother the Church her knowledge and Doctrine The common answer is by their reading the holy Scriptures They not seriously considering what is written in them also Acts 8.30 31. That how can one reading the holy Scriptures understand them except some man guide him Malachi 2.7 And that the Priests lips is to keepe knowledge and the people is to seeke the Law at his mouth The Clergie of the Church is to teach the common people of the same The lay people in their understanding and applying the Scriptures are to be guided by the Priesthood or Clergy And before it hath beene declared that the universall Clergy with one mouth and consent have borne witnesse That there is not any thing in the Booke of Common Prayer which is contrary to the Word of God And that the booke of Homilies doth containe a godly and wholesome Doctrine and necessary for these times to bee understanded of the people Seeing then all the guides in the Church all the ordained keepers of knowledge all such from whom the people are appointed to seeke the Law or spirituall instruction and teaching doe testifie together the truth and profitablenesse of the bookes of the Divine Service can any one justly accept against any deliverie in them unlesse he doe assume unto himselfe for to outsee the whole Clergy of the Church of England The Lord Iesus Christ hath so greatly confirmed the authority of his Church that he hath said Mat. 18.17 Whoso neglecteth to heare the Church let him or her be unto his people as an Heathen and a Publicane Wherefore it is our bounden duty most diligently to heare read and meditate on every particular delivery in those fundamentall bookes composed by the perfectest wisdome of the Church our mother and to frame our mindes and lives according to every prescription
THE CHRISTIAN DIVINITIE Contained in the Divine Service of The Church of ENGLAND Summarily and for the most part inâ—â—â—â—â—â— according as point on point dependeth conâ—â—â—ded and with the holy Scriptures plainly and plentifully confirmed Written for the furtherance of the Peoples understanding in the true Religion established by publike Authoritie And for the increase of Vnitie in that godly truth eternall BY EDMVND REEVE Bachelour in Divinitie and Vicar of the Parish of Hayes in Middlesex IER 6.16 Thus saith the Lord Stand yee in the wayes and see and aske for the old paths where is the good way and walke therein and yee shall finde rest for your soules AVGVSTINVS Vtile est de iisdem quaestionibus plures à pluribus fieri libros diverso style non diversa fide LONDON Printed for Nicolas Fussell and Humphrey Mosley at the signe of the Ball in Pauls Church-yard 1631. TO THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCE CHARLES By the Grace of God King of Great Britaine France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. MOST dread Soveraigne The holy Fathers of the Church out of their due consideration of the defects of these times having in the liturgie for the late Fast taught to pray O Eternall God and most gratious Father wee confesse that by our manifold transgressions we have deserved whatsoever thy Law hath threatned against sinners Our contempt of thy Divine Service is great and wee heare thy word but obey it not Our charity to our neighbour is cold and our devotion to thee is frozen ReligioÌ„ is with us as in too many places besides made but a pretence for other ends then thy Service and there hath beene little or no care among us to keepe truth and peace together for the preserving of our Church and State Forgive us O Lord forgive as these and all other our grievous sinnes c. Have thereby signified to all Pastours and Ministers of the Church that they should doe their part towards the repairing of those decayes in many peoples mindes conversations The which most necessary signification beeing proceeded from them who in the Clergie are endued with the amplest understanding in all matters of Religion hath incited me though the most unworthy amoÌ„g the labourers in the Lords harvest unto greater accuration in my function and therto through helpe of the Divine grace for to compile this worke The which now with all humility I present unto your most sacred Majestie And although it is for the most part but as it were a collection of sentences out of the Divine Service Bookes of the Church for to put the common people in more remembrance and consideration of what therein is delivered concerning the principall points of Christian Divinity and a quotation of Scriptures witnessing the same yet unto all which unfainedly endeavour to know the will of God for to live obediently unto it and will unpartially read through and seriously consider every delivery therein it will appeare to be a worke profitable for to make more knowne unto the laity the established Doctrine of the Church to further them in learning their duty towards God your Highnesse and their neighbours Yea it will awake many out of their sleepe of ignorance and cause all such as are upright of heart to say Surely the Lord is in this place and we knew it not The everlasting truth of the Eternall God is abundantly delivered in the publike prayers exhortations and Homilies of the Church of England and we tooke none or but little notice of it Notwithstanding there will not be wanting spirits of disobedience which will calumniate the work and me by reason of the same Wherefore I humbly crave of your most sacred Majesty that since things of this quality are subject to the censures of persons ill-meaning and wise in their owne eyes it may receive patronage from your most gracious Highnesse Your Majesties father a Prince of most worthy ever blessed memory all the time of his happy Reigne over us shewed most pious zeale towards maintaining the Divine Service of the Church and for confirmation thereof caused the Proclamation made for the authorizing and uniformitie of the Booke of CoÌ„mon Prayer to be used throughout the Realme to bee printed with the said booke and also the booke of Homilies to be reprinted The like most godly care to conserve maintaine the Church in the unity of true religion your Highnesse in that most divine and ever most memorable declaration afore the Articles of the Church of England hath unto the great comfort of all your Majesties loyall religious people manifested testified The Lord of heaven and earth blesse your Highnes with many happy yeares That as his heavenly hand hath enriched your Majesty with many singular extraordinary graces So your Highnes may be the mirrour of the world in this latter age as most truly it already is for the prudent and zealous defending of the true Catholike and Apostolike faith unto the honour of that great God and the good of his Church through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Saviour Your Majesties most humble and devoted subject EDMVND REEVE To the Reader HAving composed a summe of Divinitie out of the bookes of the Divine Service of the Church of England Whereas â—n tius work thore is often mention maâ—e of the Church therby wheresoever it is used for to signfiâ— those unto whom all people owe most faithfull obediencâ— is to be understood the Church representative where of the 139. Canon faith â—hosoever shall hereafter â—â—fâ—iâ— me that the sacred Synode of this Nation in the name of Châ—â—â—â— and by the Kings Authority assembâ—ed is not the true Church of England by representation let him bee excommunicated and not restored untill her repent and publikely revoke his wicked errour And Canon 140. saith Whosoever shall affirme that no manner of person either of the Clergy or Laity not being themselves particularly assembled in the said sacred synode are to be subject to the deâ—rces thereof in causes Ecclesiasticall made and ratified by the Kings Majesties Supreme Authority as not having given their voyces unto them let him be excommunicated and not restored untill hee repent and publikely revoke that his wicked errour it is necess for mee in some wise to declare their Authoritie that they with whom the said bookes are not in due account may have no just cause either of undervaluing the deliveries taken forth of them or of light esteeming this worke a collection of the same If all the authorized writings of a godly and learned Divine are much to be regarded then how much more are those writings to bee esteemed which are set forth by publike Authority as of the Royall Majesty of the Archbishops Bishops and the rest of the representative Church of England are assented unto by all the rest of the Clergy and are confirmed by Act of Parliament That the booke of Common prayer is thus established the Act for
in the same which doth in any wise concerne us And we thus honouring the Church our spirituall Mother God our heavenly Father will give us his blessing Hee will send us light in our understanding readinesse and obedience in our will discretion in our words and actions true serious and loyall indeavours As wee are taught to pray for in the latter part of the Prayet next after the Letany in the late Fast Booke for the peace and prosperity of Ierusalem the unity and glory of this Church State That so we may love it and prosper in it full of grace in this life and be filled with glorie in the life to come through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An Advertisement SInce the a 2 Tim. 3.1.2.3.4 time that b Isa 5.21 Wisedome in ones owne eyes and prudence in ones owne sight hath so much abounded it is familiar with very many when they see or heare any thing delivered concerning religion if it be a matter which they affect not presently to passe an hard censure thereon though the deliverie be the very established doctrine or discipline of the Apostolicall Church of England by Law established under the Kings Majesty The c Rom. 3.13.14 Ps 140.3 poyson of aspes is under the lips of many Who say with our d Ps 14.4.3 tongue will we prevaile our lips are our owne who is Lord over us The holy Prophet saith The Lord shall cut off the tongue that speaketh proud things The holy Apostle saith e 1 Tim. 3.16 Without controversie great is the mysterie of godlinesse And though the men of God have signified that the Holy Scriptures divinity is partly f Heb. 5.12 milke for babes or little children in g 1 Cor. 1.3 Christ partly h Heb. 5.14 strong meate for the i 1 Ioh. 2.13.14 young men and partly hidden k Rev. 2.17 Manna for the fathers in God also that naturall ones l 1 Cor. 2.14 cannot know the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned yet notwithstanding so outragious is the pride and arrogancie of many who since they came to the yeares of discretion have made no progresse in regeneration or the new birth unto the m Rom. 2.2 renewing of their mind and the amendment of their n Philip. 1.27 1 Pet. 2.12 1 Pet. 1.15 Eph. 4.22 conversation according to Gods Holy word that rashly they o 2 Pet. 2.12 will speake evill of the things which they understand not and as the Apostle saith p 1 Tim. 1.7 desire to be teachers understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirme Moreover how contrary minded soever each is to other yea how greatly different they are from the minde and life prescribed in the Divine Service of the Church whom some of them sometimes will acknowledge to be their Mother Yet each one taketh for granted that the grounds in his q Prov. 21.2 Prov. 12.15 owne minde are the right and that the grounds in all r Philip. 2.3 others mindes in any manner differing from his are the wrong and withall every one for the most part of the aforesaid unhumbled heart by his owne imagined-right groundes without any feare of the Eternall Almighty God and without any reverence unto the Supreame divine Wisedome of Christs holy Church contained in the bookes of her publike worship will s 2 Pet 2.10 presume to be able to judge of yea will assume confidence and boldnesse or rather most damnable audaciousnesse to condemne deliveries in the aforesaid bookes which the Soveraigne Majesty hath ratified and the most reverend Fathers the Archbishops and all the right reverend fathers the Bishops and the rest of the whole Clergie not any one excepted Quod medicorâ—m est promittunt â—ediâ—â— tractant Faâ—â—ilia fabri Sola Scripturarum ars est quam siâ—i passâ—â— omnes vendicant Hanc garrula anus hanc delirus seneâ— have Sophisia verâ—â—sus haâ— universi praesumant laceraâ—â— docent antequam discant Hierâ—nymus in epissola aâ—â— Pauâ—aum presbyterum de omâ—bus divine hâ—storia libris which hath entred into holy orders according to such manner and sort as by the Ecclesiasticall Law it is appointed have allowed and by subscription have witnessed the same But let the unpartiall reader of this treatise following where doubt about any matter may arise throughly consider the Holy Scriptures which either are expressed or in the margent but quoted for the confirmation of the point mentioned And let none except here against because the deliveries are in no Philosophicall method but in the most vulgar plainnes for all hereof is written for the furtherance of the laity and aswell in termes as in forme and manner accommodated unto the meanest capacity All teachers which study to edifie their auditory doe well know that it is farre easier to expresse their mindes in divine matters so as the learned may comprehend than as the unlearned may but a litle apprehend It is written concerning Christ for our example that t Mark 4.33 hee spake the word unto the people as they were able to heare it There are now extant in English sundry bookes very profitable which few of the common people doe make use of for that their style and words for the most or a great part are for Schollers reading onely Great was the divine Wisedome of the Church in setting forth her Homilies in so familiar a manner And by those most sacred Sermons all Pastours and teachers should take u 2 Tim. 1.13 example how to frame their meditations unto their auditories easiest and speediest edification Furthermore let none expect to finde any common place of divinity here fully handled but let this worke be accounted only an introduction into the bookes of the divine Service where as in an Ocean of divine truth there may bee had a great abundance of information both touching he matters ensuing and also concerning many more This book may be used as a finger of one that pointeth us unto such places as we have not throughly taken notice of afore Also the godly reader shall perceive that every one which w Mat. 5.6 hungreth and thristeth after righteousnesse to have within him more and more the x Phil. 2.5 1 Cor. 2.16 minde of Christ and to have the life of Iesus more and more made y 2 Cor. 4.10 11. manifest in his body may forth of every Chapter following receive some light unto the apprehending of everlasting truth in the matter there treated on Lastly Seeing that in the bookes of divine Service there are such heavenly sentences and speeches even as the learned are delighted in reciting the sayings of the Fathers of the Greeke Latine Churches so should wee unto z Exod. 20.12 1 Cor. 4.15 Ecclus. or Ecclesiasticus 8.8.9 due honouring of the Fathers of our owne English Church enable our selves to say on every point of divinity that which they have with one
thine heart unto understanding Yea if thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures Then shalt thou understand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God Also that saying of the Lord by the Prophet Malachy is ever to be remembred q Mal. 2.5.6.7 My covenant was with Levi of life and peace and I gave them to him for the feare wherewith he feared me and was afraid before my name The law of truth was in his mouth and iniquity was not found in his lips hee walked with me in peace and equity and did turne many away from iniquity For the Priests lips should keepe knowledge and they should seeke the law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts People are to read the holy Scriptures which the r 1. Tim. 3.15 Church according to her wisedome and the t Rom. 3.2 Hebrew u Rev. 9.11 Greeke and faithfulnesse hath Å¿ 1 Cor. 12.10.28.30 interpreted into English out of w Dan. 2.4 Chaldean texts wherein they were * See all along the margent of Gen. 1. c. and of Mat. 5.11 c. and of Ezra 4.9 c. Soc also the title page of the old Testament and also of the new Read all the Translators Preface set afore the Bibles in quarto and in solio first written by the Prophets and Apostles And as people are to be thankfull unto God and unto the Royall Majestie and unto the Fathers and Doctors of the Church for that delivery of the holy Scriptures so are they to remember it is the x Acts 8.30 31 32 33 34 35. office of the Philips of the Church for to interpret places of the Scripture hard to be understood And the Philips are the y Mal. 2.7 Deut. 17.8 9. c. Acts 15.6 Eph. 4.11 12. Clergie and therein the z 1 Cor. 12.28 See afore in Chap. 35 36 37. of degrees in the ministery principall are the most reverend Fathers in God the Archbishops and the right reverend Fathers in God the Bishops the next are the Doctors and all Pastors and all authorized Preachers whose conscionable and religious care is both by their life and doctrine to set forth Gods true and lively Word and to keepe the unity of the spirit the most holy faith and the true godly life prescribed in the bookes of the Divine Service and in the other bookes of the established doctrine of the Church of England And hereunto may be considered that memorable and very remarkeable delivery of the most Reverend Father in God Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury out of Saint Gregory Nazianzene in the latter end of his Prologue afore the Church-bible of the former translation I marvell much saith he to recount whereof commeth all this desire of vaine-glory whereof commeth all this tongue-itch that we have so much delight to talke and clatter And wherein is our communication not in the commendation of vertuous and good deeds of hospitality of love between Christian brother and brother of love betweene man and wife of virginity and chastity and of Almes toward the poore Not in Psalmes and godly songs not in lamenting for our sinnes not in repressing the affections of the body not in prayers to God We talke of Scripture but in the meane time we subdue not our flesh by fasting waking and weeping wee make not this life a meditation of death we doe not strive to be lords ouer our appetites and affections We goe not about to pull downe our proud and high minds to abate our fumish and rancorous stomackes to restraine our lusts and bodily delectations our undiscreet sorrowes our lascivious mirth ovr inordinate looking our unsatiable hearing of vanities our speaking without measure our inconvenient thoughts and briefly to reforme our life and manners but all our holinesse consisteth in talking And we pardon each other from all good living so that we may sticke fast together in argumentation as though there were no more wayes to heaven but this alone the way of speculation and knowledge as they take it But in very deed it is rather the way of superfluous contention and sophistication The same Author saith also in another place That the learning of a Christian man ought to begin of the feare of God and to end in matters of high speculation and not contrarily to begin with speculation and to end in feare For speculation saith he either high cunning or knowledge if it be not stayed with the bridle of feare to offend God is dangerous and enough to tumble a man headlong downe the hill Therefore saith he The feare of God must be the first beginning and as it were an A. B. C. or an introduction to all them that shall enter into the very true and most fruitfull knowledge of holy Scriptures Where as is the feare of God there is saith he the keeping of the Commandements and where as is the keeping of the Commandements there is the cleansing of the flesh which flesh is a cloud before the soules eye and suffereth it not purely to see the beame of the heavenly light Where as is the cleansing of the flesh there is the illumination of the holy Ghost the end of all our desires and the very light whereby the verity of Scriptures is seene and perceived CHAP. 49. Of reading the bookes in the Bible which are called writings Apocrypha IN the Table of proper Lessons to be read both at morning and evening prayer on the sundayes throughout the yeere and on the holy dayes there are appointed sundry Lessons to be read of the bookes in the Bible which are called Apocrypha as on Whitsunday there is ordained to be read the first Chapter of the Wisedome of Solomon for the first Lesson at evening prayer And upon the feast day of Saint Peter and of Saint Iames and of Saint Bartholomew and of Saint Matthew and of Saint Luke and of Saint Michael the Archangell the first Lesson is prescribed out of the booke called Ecclesiasticus or the Wisedome of Iesus the sonne of Syrach And for the first Lesson to bee read on many weeke dayes in the yeare it is appointed out of more of those bookes as out of the booke of Iudith of Baruch of Tobias and out of both bookes of Esdras as it may bee seene in the Kalender set in the beginning of the booke of Common Prayer The Church hath not appointed Lessons to be read publikely in Churches forth of any other bookes of how great authority soever excepting the Canonicall Scriptures Among the holy Scriptures which are in the common prayer appointed to be read for to stir up people to remember the poore there are inserted three verses out of the booke of Tobias In both Tomes of Homilies the Church with great respect hath alledged very many sayings out of the bookes called Apocrypha ascribing
greater authority to them than unto meere humane writings In the margent of the last translation of the Bible there is often reference made unto Chapter and verse of those bookes as in the margent of Heb. 1.3 Iohn 10.22 Matth. 6.7 Matth. 23.37 Heb. 11.35 and in more places There is no such reference made unto Chapter and verse of any other bookes excepting the canonicall Scriptures In the Concordance which is sometimes bound with bibles of the middle bignesse namely in quarto places out of all those bookes are often quoted and added unto the places cited out of the Canonicall Scriptures It is not so done out of any other bookes Even all the Fathers which have lived in the Church of Iesus Christ since first the Apostles dayes have with great reverence and respect alleaged sayings out of those books The true Apostolicall Church of England hath ordained those bookes onely and none other of what authoritie soever to be translated with the Canonicall Scriptures and to be set betweene the bookes of the old and new Testament Seeing then that the Church our mother so honoureth the said bookes called Apocrypha ought not wee her members to have them bound in our Bibles to reverence and respect them and diligently to read them for * The Church in the sixt Article of religion so delivereth example of life and instruction of manners and to account them for to be in all respects of so much a Phil. 4.8 1 Thes 5.21 1 Pet. 5.5 Mat. 18.17 1 Cor 16.16 authority as the Church of England now ascribeth unto them CHAP. 50. Of peoples learning the most sacred Catechisme of the Church which is in the booke of Common Prayer Every member of the true Apostolicall Church of England hath occasion greatly to praise the name of the Lord for stirring up our most gracious Soveraigne and the holy Fathers of the Church to take great care for this ordinance of the Gospell of Iesus Christ namely Catechizing that it may bee duely used according as it was prescribed by holy Church heretofore and the same ratified by our late Soveraigne Lord King Iames a Prince of ever blessed memory IN the end of the rubricke after the Service of Confirmation it is said None shall be admitted to the holy Communion untill such time as he can say the Catechisme namely that in the booke of Common Prayer the which being printed alone by it selfe is now commonly called the A. B. C. The said most sacred Catechisme consisteth of but about twenty questions whose answers require any labour of learning by heart And yet therein is contained the summe of the whole Christian faith and life in a most Divine delivery This holy b Ps 119.130 Catechisme should all people members of the Church of England have either in memory or else at least be able so to c 1 Pet. 3.13 answere unto each question therein as that they may declare themselves to have in effect such an d Phil. 3.16 1 Cor. 1.10 understanding of the matters therein contained as the Church hath in full words expressed in it Catechisme is an instructing of people in the e Heb. 5.12 principles of the Oracles of God It is a f Heb. 6.1 2. laying of the foundation of repentance from dead workes and of faith towards God of the Doctrine of Baptismes and of laying on of hands and of the resurrection of the dead and of the eternall judgment It is a ministring of the g 1 Pet. 2.2 sincere milke of the Word unto the h Heb. 5.13 unskilfull in the word of righteousnesse Even as a house cannot bee well built up and stand fast unlesse the foundations thereof be firmely laid so people who should bee built up a spirituall i 1 Pet. 2.4 house for an k Eph. 2.21 22. habitation of God through the spirit cannot be fitly framed together and grow unto an holy Temple in the Lord unlesse they bee l Luke 11.52 Mat. 14.11 rightly instructed in the principles of the Doctrine of Christ and withall grow up in all due m Rom. 1.5 and 16.26 obedience unto the same Not onely the Catechisme in the Divine Service doth deliver the Milke of the Gospell but also the whole Divine Service doth minister the same abundantly If one would know what is repentance and faith let him reade the Homilies thereof If hee would know what is the mysterie of baptisme and of laying on of hands let him reade the Services thereof If one would know the mysterie of the Communion let him read the Service and the Homily thereof It is a main part of the use of the Divine Service to lay firmly in peoples mindes the n 1 Cor. 3.10 grounds of Christianity All people therefore that would bee rightly grounded in the true Christian religion and grow more and more towards o Heb. 6.1 Col. 1.28 29. perfection in Iesus Christ ought to be much conversant in every part of the said Service and to enable themselves so to render a reason of every point of Christianity according as they finde it delivered in the said p Prov. 6.20 21 22 23. Luke 10.16 bookes and withall to q 2 Thes 1.3 Prov 4.18 increase in that godly conversation which is throughout the service prescribed And thereunto this present worke will much helpe every one that will make due use of all the same The Church hath ordained that not onely the youth but other ignorant persons also to be r Song 6.6 Ps 1.48 12. Deut. 31.12 Nehem. 8.2 instructed in the Catechisme For thus is her sacred * Canon 59 This holy and necessary Ordinance of Christ and his Church is now by the great goodnesse of Almighty God observed and al true Christians hearts doe pray that so it may bee continued and more and more conscionably used unto Gods glory and the edification of all people constitution Every Parson Vicar or Curate upon every Sunday and holy day before evening prayer shall for halfe an houre or more examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his parish in the ten Commandements the Articles of the beliefe and in the Lords prayer and shall diligently heare instruct and teach them the Catechisme set forth in the booke of Common prayer c. Peoples Å¿ Prov. 19.2 neglect of learning that Catechisme and of obedience thereto and also their not regarding to have their Children and servants taught the same and instructed unto the observing of the duties therein prescribed is a maine cause that now so many are ignorant in minde and t Prov. 29.15 disorderly in conversation The Oracle of God saith u Prov. 22.6 Traine up a Child in the way he should goe and when he is old he will not depart from it CHAP. 51. Of Baptisme THE Catechisme in the Divine service delivereth That the outward visible signe or forme in baptisme is water wherein the person baptized is dipped
a Sunne and sheild the Lord will give grace and glory f Psal 84.11 no good thing will he with-hold from them that walke uprightly Saint Iohn saith Whatsoever we aske g 1 Ioh. 3.22 we receive of him because wee keepe his Commandement and doe those things which are pleasing in his sight And Isaiah saith unto Christs Church Behold the darknesse shall cover the earth and grosse darknesse the people but the Lord shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be seene upon h Isa 60.2 thee Saint Paul saith to the Ephesians In Christ also after that ye beleeved ye were i Ephes 1.13.14 sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory Yea Saint Peter signifieth that if faith vertue knowledge temperance patience godlinesse brotherly kindnes and charity be in us and abound we shall never k 2 Pet. 1.10 11. fall but so an entrance shall be ministred unto us abundantly into the everlasting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ Many more are the blessings which accompany Gods true Religion now in this life present which a devout soule may observe signified throughout all the Scriptures and the books of Divine Service Read Deuteronomy 28. Isaiah 60. and observe the 7. sundry blessings promised by Christ in Mat. 5. and to what conditioned people they are made likewise the 7. promises or blessings signified to the seven Churches of Asia in Rev. 2 3 CHAP. 100. Against separating from the Church of England by law established under the Kings Majesty in any manner IN the third part of the * T. 1. p. 36. Homily concerning good works it is signified That the world from the beginning untill Christs time was ever ready to l Exod. 32.1 7 8. fall from the Commandements of God and to seeke other meanes to honour and serve him m 1 Sam. 15.21 22 23. after a devotion found out of their owne heads and how they did set up their owne n Mat. 15.3 6 9. traditions as high or above Gods Commandements which hath happened also in our times the more it is to be lamented no lesse than it did among the Iewes and that by the corruption or at least by the o Mat. 13.25 26. negligence of them that chiefly ought to have preserved the pure and heavenly doctrine left by Christ What man having any judgement or learning joyned with a true zeale unto God doth not see and lament to have entred into Christs Religion such p 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. false doctrine superstition idolatry hypocrisie and other q 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5. enormities and abuses so as by little and little through the sowre leaven thereof the sweet r Rev 11 3 7 8. bread of Gods holy Word hath been much hindred and layed apart For the reforming of the which the like things amisse the holy Fathers of the Church of England by the assent and consent of the Royall Majesty set forth the book of common Prayer the book of Homilies and the booke of ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons for to declare the true worship of Almighty God and to be used in the publike performance of the same They also for the avoiding of diversities of opinions and for the stablishing of consent touching true Religion composed 39. Articles concerning fundamental matter in religion And for to keepe decency order and uniformity of Christian life throughout the whole Church there are made Constitutions Canons Ecclesiasticall 141. Moreover for the instruction of scholers in schooles and likewise for the use of all other people there is set forth by publike authority a Catechisme of a larger and of a shorter forme which is commonly called Nowels Catechisme And it expoundeth the 10. Commandements the 12. Articles of the Creed the 6. Petitions of the Lords Prayer and the Sacraments Baptisme the Supper of the Lord There is also the booke called God and the King which every subject ought to have for to be minded most constātly resolved according to the information of the same booke These aforesaid books are the bookes of the established doctrine discipline of the Church of England Now besides those books the law instruction or teaching of the Church our ſ Prov. 6.20 21 22 23. mother There is also the whole holy Bible by the appointmēt of the royal Majesty the ministery of learned Doctors in the Church t 1 Cor. 14.12.19 Hab. 22. Psal 67.2 set forth into our mother tongue and so published as that every man woman child may enjoy it for to u Ps 119.9 conforme their minds lives according to all the everlasting commandements of the same Seeing then that the Church of England doth thus w Phil. 2.16 hold forth the word of life eternall cherisheth nourisheth up her members therin even from their very infancie for so it is her ordinance that every particular person should be educated how greatly doe they sinne which doe in any manner x Iude 19. separate from her But some will say That shee her selfe is separated from other Christian Churches with which shee was at unity in times past Let us heare the words of the Church her selfe concerning this matter written in her 30 Canon where it is said So farre was it from the purpose of the Church of England to forsake and reject the Churches of Italy France Spaine Germany or any such like Churches in all things which they held and practised that as the Apologie of the Church of England confesseth it doth with reverence retaine those Ceremonies which doe neither endamage the Church of God nor offend the mindes of sober men and onely departed from them in those particular points wherein they were fallen both from themselves in their ancient integrity and from the Apostolicall Churches which were their first Founders There are others of sundry kinds which say we separate not from the Church but from her errors and from her superstitions or from her imperfections If any one will unpartially by all Gods expresse word examine what those wise ones in their owne eyes doe finde fault withall in any of the aforementioned bookes of the Church and what they doe y Isa 50.11 Ier. 16.20 setup to themselves for to follow hee cannot but by the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ which at length z Psal 25.12 13 14. Iohn 7.17 Mat. 7.7 8. bringeth every one into the way of truth which unfeinedly seeketh it for to walke faithfully therein unto his lives end plainly perceive that such have no more cause to separate in regard of any particular than others have in regard of the generall deliveries by the aforesaid Church of England in the bookes above named To God onely wise bee glory through Iesus Christ for ever Amen FINIS
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
are retained And be thou a faithfull h 2 Tim 2.15 1 Cor 9.17 dispenser of the word of God and of his holy Sacraments in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen The Lord by Ezechiel finding fault with the shepheards of Israel intimateth therein what their duety is saying i Ezech. 34.2.4 Zechar. 11.16 Woe be to the shepheards of Israel that doe feede themselues should not the shepheards feed the flockes The diseased haue ye not strengthened neither haue yee healed that which was sicke neither haue ye bound vp that which was broken neither haue yee brought againe that which was driuen away neither haue ye sought that which was lost Saint Paul testified of his diligence in the Ministery saying k Col. 1.28.29 Christ we preach warning euery man and teaching euery man in all wisedome that we may present euery man perfect in Christ Iesus Whereunto I also labour striuing according to his working which worketh in me mightily Such as were consecrated to the Ministery receiued the gift of the Holy Ghost by the l 2. Tim. 1.6 â— Tim. 4.14 Acts 13.23 Acts 26.17.18 laying on of the hands of the Presbyterie And by the receiuing of the sayd gift of God in some measure one becommeth to be a Minister of Iesus Christ to haue some ability in diuiding the word of truth aright as also some power in the vse of the m Mat. 16 19. Keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen Whereas also the Apostle sayth n Rom. 12.6.7.8 Hauing then gifis differing according to the grace that is giuen to vs whether prophesie let vs prophesie according to the proportion of Faith or Ministery let vs waite in our Ministring or he that teacheth on teaching or hee that exhorteth on exhortation * Ministers not hauing the faculty of preaching out of the Pulpit but preaching or publishing the truth which is after godlinesse in other manner according as the Church hath orceined are to bee accounted true Ministers of Christ though they can minister but the milke of the word of God It appeareth that such of the Priesthood which haue not the gift of prophesie or preaching without booke from the memory onely or from the most part forth of the Pulpit but doe reade the holy Scriptures the common Prayer and o Inferiour Ministers may teach with the Doctrine deliuered by the superiour Ministers 2. Tim 2.2 the Homilies vnto the people instructing them also in the Catechisme of the Church and obseruing all other prescriptions enioyned to vnpreaching Ministers faithfully endeauouring also to informe the people committed to their charge as occasion is offered and requireth with the Diuine Seruice deliueries the sincere milke of the Word are to be accounted true Ministers of God and such as haue the gift of teaching or exhorting though not the greater gift of prophecying or preaching Also that such their ministration may much edifie the people both in right vnderstanding the truth which is after godlinesse and also vnto the obeying of the same by holinesse and righteousnesse in all manner of conuersation CHAP. 36. Of the Bishopricke that it is a degree aboue the Priesthood and so ordained to be by Iesus Christ THe Preface afore the Diuine Seruice for ordering of the Ministerie saith It is euident vnto all men diligently reading Holy Scripture and ancient Authors that from the Apostles time there haue euer beene these orders of Ministers in Christs Church * Aug. in Psal 44.17 vt in Biblus vulgâ—tit Quid est pro pat tbus tuâ—s nâ—tisunt tibi silij Patres mâ—si sâ—nt Apostoli cro Apostolis silij nati sunt tibi constituti sunt Episcopi Hadie enim Episcâ—pt qui sunt per totum mundum vnde natisunt Ipsa Ecclesia patres illos appellat ipsa illos genuâ—t ipsa illâ—s constitu it insedibus patrum Anacletus Pontifex Martyr ep 2. ad vniuâ—rso Episcopos Italiae Cap. 2. Ipsis nempe Apost elis decedentibus in locum eorum successerunt Episcopi Et paucis interiectis Videntes autem Apostoli messem esse multam operarios paucos rogauerunt Dominum messis vt mitteret operarios in messem suam Inde clecti sunt ab tjs septuarinta duo Discipuli quorum typum gèrunt Presbyteri atque in corum locum sunt consatuti in Ecclâ—sia Bishops Priests and Deacons The Apostle Paul ordeined Timothy Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians as it is expresly deliuered in the end of the second Epistle vnto him where it is sayd The second Epistle vnto Timotheus ordeined the first Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians was written from Rome c. So Titus was Bishop of the Church in Creet as it is also deliuered in the end of the Epistle vnto him where it is sayd It was written to Titus ordeiued the first Bishop of the Church of the Cretians from Nicopolis of Macedonia These Bishops Timothy and Titus had authority of ordaining Priests and of ruling ouer them as it is most manifest out of Saint Pauls sayings vnto them Vnto Timothy he sayd p 1. Tim. 1.3.4 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other Doctrine neither giue heed to fables and endlesse Genealogies which minister questions rather than edifying which is in faith So do What Timothy was to doe concerning such as were to be ordered Deacons Paul sayth q 1. Tim. 3.10 And let these also first bee proued then let them vse the office of a Deacon being found blamelesse Againe concerning Priests or Elders hee sayth r 1. Tim. 5.17.19.20.22 Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine Against an Elder receiue not an accusation but before two or three witnesses Them that sinne rebuke before all that others also may feare Lay hands suddenly on no man Also he sayd Å¿ 2 Tim. 2.2.14 The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses the same commit thou to faithfull men who shall be able to teach others also Of these things put them in remembrance charging them before the Lord that they striue not about words to no profit but to the subuerting of the hearers Saint Paul vnto Titus sayth t Tit. 1.5.6 For this cause left I thee in Creet that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordaine Elders in euery City as I had appointed thee If any be blamelesse c. And it is written That u Heb 7.7 without all contradiction the lesse is blessed of the better As Melch sedec w Heb. 7.6 Gen. 14.19 blessing Abraham was the superiour in God So is euery Bishop his superiour in God whom he blesseth and ordereth to be a Priest They are therefore in the seruice of ordering iustly stiled Reuerend Fathers in God Moreouer a Bishop in
his consecration receiueth a greater measure of the Holy Ghost than a Priest doth in his ordering Which may appeare out of the Diuine Seruice for consecrating a Bishop where it is sayd The Archbishop and Bishops present shall lay their hands vpon the head of the elected Bishop the Archbishop saying x 2. Tim. 1.6.7 Take the Holy Ghost and remember that thou stirre vp the grace of God which is in thee by imposition of hands For God hath not giuen vs the spirite of feare but of power and loue and sobernesse For euen so Saint Paul after a peculiar manner expressed vnto Timothy Bishop of Ephesus as it is deliuered in his second Epistle vnto him CHAP. 37. Of the distinction or disparity among Bishops or of Archbishopricke IN the Preface afore the Common Prayer it is sayd For as much as nothing can almost be so plainely set forth but doubts may rise in the vse and practising of the same To appease all such diuersity if any arise and for the resolution of all doubts concerning the manner how to vnderstand doe and execute the things contained in this booke The parties that so doubt or diuersly take any thing shall alwayes resort to the Bishop of the Diocesse who by his discretion shall take order for the quieting and appeasing of the same so that the same order be not contrary to any thing contained in this booke And if the Bishop of the Diocesse be in doubt then he may send for the resolution thereof vnto the y 1. Pet. 5.5 Archbishop An Archbishop therefore in the seruice of consecrating is called Most Reuerend Father in God vnto whom euery Bishop consecrated to Diocesse within his Prouince professeth and promiseth by oath all due reuerence and obedience like as euery Priest doth vnto the Bishop within whose Diocesse he is Pastour Now that such an order among the Bishops is of Diuine ordinance it is euident from that the first persons named Bishops in the Primitiue Christian Church * 2. Tim. 1.6 Timothy and * Tit. 1.4.5 Titus were ordered or ordained by their superiour in God the Apostle which degree was the highest in the Christian Clergie according as Paul saith z 1. Cor. 12.28 God hath set in the Church first Apostles c. And the Apostleship is callâ—d Bishopricke where it is sayd And his a Acts 1.20 Bishopricke let another take It being therefore a Bishopricke aboue that which Timothy and Titus had properly it is named in respect thereof an Archbishopricke But some there are which say that such distinction was not by Christ or dained to continue in his Church but onely was appointed in the primitiue state thereof whiles Churches were in planting and is now long agoe quite ceased The which affirmation is no where deliuered in Holy Scripture nor intimated neither from any sentence therein can be truly concluded But the direct contrary Doctrine is deliuered by Saint Paul to the Ephesians and that in most expresse manner Let Saint Pauls whole deliuery or the most part thereof hereto bee vnpartially considered His words are b Ephes 4.7.8.11.12.13 14.15 Vnto euery one of vs is giuen grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Wherefore he sayth When he ascended vp on high he led captiuity captiue and gaue gifts vnto men And hee gaue some Apostles and some Prophets and some Euangelists and some Pastours and Teachers For the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the vnity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with euery winde of Doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lye in waite to deceiue but speaking the truth in loue may grow vp into him in all things which is the head euen Christ c. The which deliuery of the Apostle declareth most plainely that Christ gaue such different and distinct measures of grace vnto his Church not for a worke then onely necessary but now also needfull viz. For the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ Also he gaue the sayd measures of grace to continue not onely during the first age of the Primitiue Church but till we all come in the vnity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ And the cause or ende of Christs such giuing doth continually concerne his Church Namely That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with euery wind of doctrine by the â—light of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they â—ye in waite to deceiue but speaking the truth in loue may grow vp into him in all things which is the head euen Christ Moreouer Christ doth not giue lesse measure of grace to his Church in these times than in former times Isaiah sayth c Isa 59.1 The Lords hand is not shortned And the Lord himselfe sayd Loe d Math. 28. â—0 I am with you alway euen vnto the end of the world Furthermore let be considered what the Apostolicall worke was and the Archiepiscopall now will appeare to be the same in substance Timothy had for his Diocesse but the Church of the Ephesians and Titus the Church of the Cretians but Paul had for his Prouince or charge the care of all the Churches of the f Gâ—l 2 7.8 Gentiles Paul preached the Gospell he Baptised he g 2. Tim. 1.6.7 1. Tim. 1.3 Tit. 1.5 consecrated Bishops h Acts 14.23 with Tit. 1.5 1. Pet. 5.1.2.3 4. Acts 20.17.28 he ordered Priests and instituted them to e 2. Cor 11.28 be Pastours he Bishopped or k Act. 19.6 with Acts 8 17. confirmed beleeuers he m 1. Tim. 1.20 excommunicated he sate in n Acts 15.12 councell about Church matters c. And euen as the Tabernacle of God was all one as concerning the substance and spirituall vse thereof when it was o 1. Kin. 8.6.13 seated in Solomons Temple as it was when it remoued from place to place so the supreme p Eph 4.7 8.11 with 1. Cor. 12 28. grace and gift of Christ to his Church the Apostolicall gift or grace was all one for the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ when it is setled in a country as it was when the q 2. Cor. 4.7 vessell which beared it remoued from country to country as he had commission thereto from the Spirit of the Lord. Also there is not expresse mention that euery Apostle trauailed from country to country whom Christ ordained or gaue to his Church Did not Saint Iames r
sucke at the breasts they are borne on her sides and dandled vpon her knees Shee feedeth them with t 1. Cor 3.2 milke first afterward with stronger meate she nourisheth cherisheth and bringeth them vp vntill they become to be u Col. 1.28 perfect in Iesus Christ The Church of England our mother hath in her Booke of Common Prayer as Iohn the Baptist w Luke 11.1 taught his Disciples to pray set foorth vnto vs formes of prayer and thankes giuing for vs to vse and for our better information how to speake vnto the great God of heauen and earth And in her booke of Homilies she hath deliuered a x 2. Tim. 1.13 2. Tim. 2.2 forme of wholesome Doctrine in faith and loue to be publikely read vnto her members And saith Paul to Timothy Hold fast the forme of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and loue which which is in Christ Iesus Most memorable is that saying of his vnto the Philippians Finally brethren y Phil. 4.8 whatsoeuer things are true whatsoeuer things are honest whatsoeuer things are iust whatsoeuer things are pure whatsoeuer things are louely whatsoeuer things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there bee any praise thinke on these things And what he sayth to the Romanes is considerable Yee haue obeyed from the heart that * Rom 6.17 forme of doctrine which was deliuered you CHAP. 41. Of the Ceremonies of the Church of England in generall IN the Treatise of Ceremonies why some be abolished and some retained set afore the Common Prayer it is said Of such Ceremonies as bee used in the Church and have had their beginning by the institution of man some at the first were of Godly intent and purpose devised c. Other there bee which although they have beene devised by man yet it is thought good to reserve them still as wel for a decent order in the Church for the which they were first devised as because they appertaine unto z 1 Cor. 10.31 and 14.12 Rom. 14.19 edification whereunto all things done in the Church as the Apostle teacheth ought to bee referred And although the keeping or omitting of a Ceremonie in it selfe considered is but a small thing Yet the wilfull and contemptuous transgression and breaking of a common order and discipline is no small offence before God a 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done among you saith Saint Paul in a seemely and due order The appointment of the which order pertaineth not to b Hag. 1.14 2 King 18.4 2 Chron. 34.3 4 5 6 7. 17.6 private men therefore no man ought to take in hand nor to presume to appoint or alter any publike or common order in Christs Church except hee be lawfully called and authorized thereunto In the said Preface it is afterward said Christs Religion is content onely with those Ceremonies which doe serve to a decent order and Godly discipline and such as bee apt to stirre up the dull minde of man to the c Num. 15.38.39.40 remembrance of his dutie to God by some notable speciall signification whereby hee might be edified c. But now as concerning those persons which peradventure will bee offended for that some of the old Ceremonies are retained still If they consider that without some Ceremonies it is not possible to keepe any order or quiet discipline in the Church they shall easily perceive just cause to reforme their judgements And if they thinke much that any of the old remaine and would rather have all devised anew then such men granting some Ceremonies convenient to bee had surely where the old may bee well used there they cannot reasonably reproove the old onely for their age without bewraying their owne folly For in such a case they ought rather to have reverence unto them for their antiquity if they will declare themselves to be more studious of d Eph 4.3 unity and concord than of innovations and new fanglenesse which as much as may be with the true setting forth of Christs Religion is alwayes to be eschewed And saith the Church afterward in these our doings wee e Rom. 14.4.13 Luke 6.17 condemne no other Nations nor prescribe any thing but to our owne People onely For wee thinke it convenient that every Country should use such Ceremonies as they shall thinke best to the setting forth of Gods honour and glory and to the reducing of the People to a most * The end why the Apostolical Church of England useth Ceremoniâ—â— perfect and Godly living without errour or superstition Also in the Act for the uniformity of Common Prayer set afore the beginning thereof it is said If there shall happen any contempt or irreverence to be used in the Ceremonies or Rites of the Church by the misusing of the orders appointed in this Booke the Q. Majestie may by the like advise of the said Commissioners or Metropolitane ordaine publish such further ceremonies or rites as may be most for the advancement of Gods glory the edifying of his Church and the due reverence of Christs holy Mysteries and Sacraments That the Church hath power to ordaine Ceremonies signifying good things not onely that saying of Salomon f Prov. 6.20.23 Forsake not the Law of thy mother for her Law is a light prooveth it but the example of the Reubenites Gadites and the halfe Tribe of Manasseh in their building an Altar whereunto they had no precept in the Law of Moses who when they were accused by others of the children of Israel to have committed a trespasse against the God of Israel to have turned away from following the Lord in building an Altar which hee had not commanded in Moses law answered g Ios 12. â—2 c. We have not built it in rebellion nor in transgression against the Lord to turne from following the lord or to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering or peace offerings but rather have done it for feare of this thing saying In time to come your children might speake unto our children saying what have you to doe with the Lord God of Israel For the Lord hath made Iordan a border betweene us and you c. Wee have built it that it may be a witnes betweene us and you and our generations after us that wee might doe the service of the Lord c. Which answer when Phinehas the Priest heard hee said h Ios 22.30 31 32 33 34. This day wee perceive that the Lord is among us because yee have not committed this trespasse against the Lord. And the children of Reuben and Gad called the Altar Ed For it shall bee a witnesse betweene us that the Lord is God Had not Ionadab the sonne of Rechab power to command his sonnes to i Ier. 35.6 7 8 9 10. drinke no wine to build no house nor sow seed nor plant Vineyard nor have any but all their dayes to dwell in tents And was
Scriptures into our mother tongue to be faithfull and meet for vs both to heare and read yea and to settle our beliefe therein and ought we not also to ascribe great authoritie unto the spirit of the Church in her x 1 Thes 5.20 prophecying or sermon making her composing of the Homilies for our instruction in the Doctrine of the holy Scriptures Wee pray unto God as her wisedome hath prescribed we heare and read for holy Scripture as her wisedome hath translated and ought we not with like conscionable respect to heare and read the exhortations interpretations applications c. in her Homilies set forth for Doctrine refutation correction and instruction in righteousnesse as her wisdome hath delivered unto us The great authority of the deliveries in the Homilies may appeare unto us out of this consideration When wee heare a Pastour Curate or Lecturer preach wee heare deliveries which are but the wisdome of a private Minister But when wee heare a Homily read wee heare deliveries which are the wisdome of the Church or for approbation whereof the whole Churches Clergie have written their * See the Epistle to the Reader and the Advertisement afterward Of the Curates making a short exhortation to the people when iust occasion is thereunto assent Concerning exhortation in publike it is said in the Rubricke after the Nicene Creed After such sermon homily or exhortation the Curate shall declare unto the people whether there be any holy-dayes or fasting dayes the weeke following and earnestly exhort them to remember the poore saying one or moe of these sentences following as hee thinketh most convenient by his discretion In the * T. 2. p. 138. Homily of Common prayer and Sacraments a saying of Iustinus Martyr is related viz. Vpon the Sunday assemblies are made both of them that dwell in Cities and of them that dwell in the Countrey also Amongst whom as much as may bee the writings of the Apostles and Prophets are read Afterwards when the reader doth cease the chiefe Minister maketh an exhortation exhorting them to follow honest things In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 3. Homily concerning the right use of the Church there is mentioned what the Ruler of the Temple in Antiochia signified unto Paul and Barnabas after the lesson or reading of the Law and Prophets viz. If any of you have any exhortation to make unto the people y Acts 13.15 say it That exercise which now is cōmonly called preaching answereth much to the aforesaid exhortation yea exhortation is part of a preaching as Paul saith z 1 Cor. 14.3 He that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort But the exhortation here now meant is a short speech made unto the people which is allowed by authority yea required in sundry cases As when a briefe is read then to exhort the people unto a Rom. 12.13 2 Cor. 9 5. contribution by alleaging some Scriptures and reasons whereby the more to move them to the same When poore parties are to be married and doe desire an Offering then an b Heb. 10.24 Gal. 2.10 1 Tim. 6.17 18. exhortation may be made unto the Congregation for to stirre them unto liberality Sundry occasions doe sometimes come to passe needing some short exhortation for matters better administration CHAP. 47. Of expounding the Scriptures and of preaching also of peoples hearing sermons IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 4. Homily concerning the right use of the Church it is said That it is convenient that the Scriptures of God and specially the Gospell of our Saviour Christ should be read and expounded to us that be Christians in our Churches c. It is written in Nehemiah that the Priests read in the Law of God distinctly and gave the c Neh. 8.7 8. sense and caused the people to understand the reading Of Preaching Concerning preaching the aforesaid part of that Homily also delivereth In Luke ye reade how Iesus according to his accustomed use came into the Temple and how the booke of Isaias the Prophet was delivered him how hee read a Text therein and made a d Luke 4.16 17 18 19 20 21. sermon upon the same In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 54. Homily concerning falling from God it is said God doth send his Messengers the true preachers of his Word to e Isa 58.1 admonish and warne us of our duty The 45. constitution of the Church is Every beneficed man allowed to bee a preacher and residing on his benefice having no lawfull impediment shall in his owne Cure or in some other Church or Chappell where he may conveniently neare adjoyning where no preacher is preach one sermon every sunday of the yeare wherein he shall soberly and sincerely f 2 Tim. 2.15 divide the word of truth to the glory God and to the g 1 Cor. 14.12 Of the dignity of preaching according to holy Church her prescription best edification of the people Such a preaching of Gods Word is an exercise worthily had in high account It hath the operation of Gods Spirit commonly accompanying it into the hearts of the hearers The h Heb. 4.12 Word of God divided aright is quicke and powerfull and sharper then any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soule and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Saint Paul saith An i 1 Cor. 14.24 25. unbeleever comming in where prophesie or faithfull preaching is becommeth to be convinced in conscience The secrets of his heart are made manifest and so falling downe on his face hee will worship God and report that of a truth God is in the Preacher How k Act. 2.41 powerfull was the sermon of Peter which he made to the Iewes by the inspiration of Gods Spirit and the same Spirits operation in the hearts of his hearers The Lord said by Ieremiah concerning some Prophets If they had l Ier. 23.27 28 29. stood in my Counsell and had caused my people to heare my words then they should haue turned them from their evill wayes and from the evill of their doings He that hath my word let him speak my word faithfully Is not my word like as a fire saith the Lord and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces The Apostle saith If our Gospell be m 2 Cor. 4.3 4 hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the god of this world hath blinded the mindes of them that beleeve not lest the light of the glorious gospell of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them Of Peoples hearing of Sermons Now concerning peoples hearing of sermons it is said in the exhortation at the end of Baptisme-service That Children may know the better what their godfathers and godmothers promised and vowed in their names they shall be called upon to
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
is Christ and the head of woman is the man and the head of Christ is God Every man praying or prophecying having his head k 1 Cor. 11.2.3.4.7 Turpia vitiosaque legi debent bonesta contrà et vitio carentia detegiac ostendi Quod si vir operto capite preces agit ostendit suum caput esse vitiosum et preinde tegendum Atqui viri caput Christus est qui vitij est expers Itaque debet viri caput detegi quò Christum qui viri caput est vitij expertem esse indicetur Mulâ—eris verò caput vir est qui cuÌ„ sit nocens et vitiosus debet mulier suuÌ„ caput tegere Haec quidam anonymus Of the gesture to be used in prayer covered dishonoureth his head But every woman that prayeth or prophecieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head For man indeed ought not to cover his head forasmuch as hee is the Image and glory of God But the woman is the glory of the man It is written that the Lord Iesus l Luke 22.41 kneeled downe and prayed So m Acts. 7.60 did Saint Stephen when hee prayed though stones then were throwne against him where through hee presently died c. Peter n Acts. 9.40 kneeled downe and prayed c. Paul o Acts. 20.36 and 21.5 kneeled downe and prayed c. And Davids saying is which is appointed to bee read on every Sunday morning O come let us worship and fall downe and p Psal 95.6 Of the gesture to be used wheÌ„ the confession of Faith and the Gospel for the day is read kneele before the Lord our maker Moreover concerning the reverence done by standing up when we make confession of our Faith it is to be considered that then to sit is altogether unseemely because it is as it were a speaking unto God And sitting is no gesture of reverence When any civill person goeth unto his superiour and declareth any matter unto him hee will doe it standing And thus to demeane our selves in speaking to our superiours wee are taught even by the very light of q 1 Cor. 11.14 Thereout Balaam willed Balak to rise up Therupon Eglon arose up out of his seate nature Ought wee not then when wee make confession of our faith unto our God to stand up reverently We read not in Scripture of any that spake unto God sitting but either kneeling or standing or fallen downe on the face as * Gen. 17.17 18. Abraham did Kneeling commonly when they prayed and standing in making confession or profession It is recorded of King Salomon that hee and all the Congregation r 1 King 8.14.22.55 stood whiles hee confessed or made acknowledgement of the goodnesse of God towards them and blessed the name of the Lord. And afterward when he fell to prayer it appeareth hee s 1 King 8.54 kneeled on his knees It is also written that Abraham t Gen. 18.22 Gen. 19.27 stood before the Lord whiles he spake unto him Very many are the Scriptures which mention the gesture of standing before the Lord in speaking unto his Omnipotent Majestie Whereas also the Church prescribeth That when the Lord Iesus shall bee mentioned due and lowly reverence shall bee done by all persons present as it hath beene accustomed testifying by these outward Ceremonies and gestures their inward humility c. It is to bee understood that not onely all are to bow the knee when the Lord Iesus is mentioned in saying the Beleefe but also in the reading of the holy Gospell when as the the Lord Iesus is mentioned therein For which cause that people may then performe that reverence unto the Lord Iesus is it not requisite that all stand up whiles the Gospell which is in the divine Service is in reading And that people are to stand up in hearing the speciall messages from Almighty God not a few Scriptures doe teach Of standing up when the Gospel for the day is read When Ehud came to king Eglon as he was sitting in a Summer Parlour Ehud said I have a message from God unto thee And the King u Iudg. 3.20 arose out of his seat Why is it written that he rose up but for our learning that when we heare the Gospell which the Church hath upon specical consideration for the day appointed to be read we should stand up and then may make due and lowly reverence Of bowing the knee when the Lord Iesus is mentioned when the w Phil. 2.9 10 11. Rom 14.11 Isa 45.23 Ephes 3.14 Ioh. 5.22.23 Psal 72.9 and 95.6 Lord Iesus shall be mentioned as it hath beene accustomed The word Gospell in the originall signifieth a good or joyfull message It is written in the booke of Samuel That as Samuel and Saul were going downe to the end of the City Samuel said unto Saul Bid the servant passe on before us and he passed on but x 1 Sam. 9.27 stand thou still a while that I may shew thee the Word of God Hee doth not bid him sit still a while whiles he delivered to him the speciall message The Prophet Isaiah saith unto women when they were to heare his speciall delivery unto them from the Lord y Isa 32.9 Rise up ye women that are at ease heare my voice ye carelesse daughters give eare unto my speech Rising up in the hearing of a matter published is a token of the more carefull attention thereunto It is recorded that when Ezra opened the booke for to read all the people z Neh. 8.5 stood up Even very nature taught the heathen when any message was said to bee published unto them as from God that they were to stand up in hearing of it Wherupon Balaam said unto King Balak a Num. 23.18 Rise up Balak and heare hearken unto me thou sonne of Zippor Against sleeping in the Church in time of Gods publike worship Furthermore people ought not to sleepe whiles the publike worship of God is in performing no not in hearing an Homily or Sermon It is recorded by Saint Luke for our learning that when Christ preached the eyes of all that were in the Synagogue were b Luke 4.20 fastned on him And the judgement that befell c Act. 20.7 8 9 10. Entychus sleeping whiles Paul preached is written also for our admonition It is also remarkable what is said in the first part of the * T. 1. p. 53. Homily How dangerous a thing it is to fall from God Whosoever is occupied with fables and tales when the Word of God rehearsed Of attentive harkening to the publike worship he is turned from God Whosoever in time of reading Gods Word is carefull in his minde of worldly businesse of mony or of lucre he is turned from God whosoever is intangled with the cares of possessions filled with the covetousnesse of riches whosoever studieth for the glory and honour of this world he is turned from God So that
this is to be taken for a most true lesson taught by Christs owne mouth that the workes of the morall Commandements of God be the very true workes of faith which lead unto the blessed life to come And of the third part of the aforesaid * p. 39. Observe well this exhortation homilie the conclusion is an Exhortation to the keeping of Gods Commandements containing a briefe rehearsall of them very divine and profitable to be read most oftentimes yea to be gotten into memory by all that are able And it is as followeth Wherefore as you have any zeale to the right and pure honouring of God as you have any regard to your owne soules and to the life that is to come which is both without paine and without end apply your selves chiefly above all things to t Ios 1.8 Rev. 1.3 read and n Ioh. 8.47 heare Gods Word marke diligently therein what his w Ephes 5.17 Rom. 12.2 1 Thes 4.3 4 6. will is you shall doe and with x Mat. 6.10 Psal 40.8 Col 4 12. Iohn 7.17 Ephes 6.6 Mark 3.35 all your indeavor apply your selves to follow the the same First you must have an assured y Heb. 11.6 and 10.22 23. faith in God and z Prov. 23.26 Rom. 12.1 2. give your selves wholy unto him love him in prosperity and a Iob 13.15 adversity and b Isa 66.2.5 Heb. 12.28 29. dread to offend him evermore Then for his c Ephes 4.32 Mat. 18.32.33 sake love all men friends and d Mat. 5.44 foes because they be his e Mal. 2.10 creation and f Iam. 3.9 image and g 1 Tim. 1.6 redeemed by Christ as ye are Cast in your minds how you may h Gal 6.10 doe good unto all men unto your i 2 Cor. 8.12 powers and k Rom. 13.10 hurt no man l 1 Pet. 2.13 Rom 13.1 Obey all your Superiours and m Heb. 13.17 Governours serve your Masters n Tit. 2.9.10 faithfully and diligently as well in their absence as in their presence not for dread of punishment onely but for conscience sake knowing that you are bound so to doe by Gods o Col. 3.22 23 24. Commandements p Col 3.20 Disobey not your fathers and mothers but honour them q 1 Tim. 5.4 helpe them and please them to your power r Isa 33.15 Oppresse not kill not Å¿ Tit. 3.2 beate not neither slaunder nor hate any man but t 1 Thes 5.15 Mat. 22.39 love all men u 1 Pet 2.17 speake well of all men helpe and w 1 Iohn 3.17 succour every man as you may yea even your x Rom. 12.20 enemies that hate you that speake evill of you and that do hurt you y Eph 4.28 Take no mans goods nor z Exod. 20.17 covet your neighbors goods wrongfully but a Heb. 5.13 content your selves with that which ye get truely and also bestow your own goods b 1 Tim. 6.18 2 Cor. 8.12 and 9.7 charitably as neede and case requireth Flee c 1 Iohn 5.21 Ezek. 14.4 1 Cor. 10.14 all Idolatry d Deut. 18.10 11 12. witchcraft and e Zech. 5.4 perjury commit no manner of Adultery f Eph. 5.3 4 5 6. Fornication or other unchastnesse in g Mat. 5.28 1 Cor. 6.15 16 18. will nor in deed with any other mans wife widow or maide or otherwise And travelling continually during this life thus in keeping the Commandements of God wherein h Iohn 15.8 Luke 6.46 standeth the pure principall and right honour of God and which wrought in faith God hath ordained to be the i Mat. 1â— 17. Mat. 7 1â— Ps 119.32 right trade and path way unto heaven you shall not faile as Christ hath promised to come to that blessed and everlasting life where you shall live in glory and k Mat. 25.21 Isa 51.11 joy with God for ever Saint Paul saith to the Ephesians We are Gods workmanship created in Christ Iesus unto good l Eph. 2.10 workes which God hath before ordained that we should walke in them And to Titus he s aith Christ gave himselfe for us that he might redeeme us from all iniquity and purifie unto himselfe a peculiar people m Tit. 2.14 zealous of good workes To the Hebrewes he saith Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and unto n Heb. 10.24 good workes Iohn the Baptist preached saying And now also the Axe is laid to the roote of the trees therfore every tree which bringeth not forth o Mat. 3.10 good fruit is hewen downe and cast into the fire Iesus Christ saith I am the Vine yee are the Branches hee that abideth in mee and I in him the same bringeth p Iohn 15.5 8 14 16. forth much fruit for without me you can doe nothing Herein is my Father glorified that yee beare much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples Ye are my friends if ye doe whatsoever I command you I have chosen you and ordained you that you should bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remaine Saint Iohn saith I heard a voyce from heaven saying unto me write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their q Rev. 14.13 workes doe follow them But without r Heb. 11.6 faith saith the Apostle it is unpossible to please God for hee that commeth to God must beleeve that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that seeke him diligently Saint Iames saith as the body without the spirit is dead so faith without Å¿ Iam. 2.26 workes is dead also Saint Paul saith to Titus This is a faithfull saying and these things I will that thou affirme constantly that they which have beleeved in God might bee carefull to maintaine t Tit. 3.8 good workes these things are good and profitable unto men Glorious saith Salomon is the fruit of u Wisd 3.15 good labours The Lord Christ Iesus hath said The houre is comming in the which all that are in the Graves shall heare his voyce And shall come forth they that have done w Iohn 5.29 good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation CHAP. 70. Of the Kings Soveraignty and of bearing faith and true Allegiance to his Majestie his Heires and Successors IN the booke containing the forme and manner of making and Consecrating Bishops Priests and Deacons in the Service for the ordering of Deacons and in the Rubricke set after the Epistle then to be read it is delivered That before the Gospell the Bishop sitting in a Chaire shall cause the Oath of the Kings Supremacy and against the power and authority of all forraigne Potentates to bee ministred unto every of them that are to be ordered The Oath of the Kings Soveraignty I A. B. doe
one upon another for claiming one of the other further than that in ancient right and custome our forefathers have peaceably laid out unto us for our commodity and comfort * p 235. Thou shalt not commandeth Almighty God in his Law remove thy neighbours g Deut. 19.14 marke which they of old time have set in their inheritance Thou shalt not saith h Pro. 22.28 Prov. 23.10.11 Solomon remove the ancient bounds which thy fathers have laid And lest wee should esteeme it to be but a light offence so to doe we shall understand that it is reckoned among the curses of God pronounced upon sinners Accursed be he saith Almighty God by Moses who i Deut. 27 17. removeth his neighbours doles and markes and all the people shall say answering Amen thereto as ratifying that curse upon whom it doth light They doe much provoke the wrath of God upon themselves which use to grinde upon the doles and markes which of ancient time were laid for the division of meeres and balkes in the fields to bring the owners to their right They doe wickedly which doe turne up the ancient terries of the fields that old men before times with great paines did tread out whereby the Lords records which be the tenants Evidences be perverted and translated sometime to the disheriting of the right owner to the oppression of the poore fat herlesse or the poore widow The * p 237. Homily also delivereth that men should not plough and grate upon their neighbours land that lyeth next them that they should not plough up so nigh the common balkes and walks which good men before time made the greater and broader partly for the commodious walke of his neighbour partly for the better shacke in harvest time to the more comfort of his poore neighbours cattell And that beere balkes wherin the corps should be caried to the Christian sepulture should not be pinched at but inviolably kept unto that purpose Also that all such encroachments should be looked on and considered in the dayes of Perambulation The high wayes then are also to be considered in your walkes to understand where to bestow your dayes workes according to the good statutes provided for the same Whereas it is a custome at certaine places in the Procession to reade a Gospell that peoples minds may receive instruction and their soules have food in their going is it not done for the k 1 Cor. 10.31 glory of God and the edification of the company It is written in the booke of Nehemiah that the congregation of Israel made l Neh. 8.14 15 16 17 18. boothes abroad in the ayre and sate under the boothes And day by day from the first day unto the last day of the boothes feast hee read in the booke of the Law of God It is not a sinne to read some portion of scripture unto people in the fields neither is it a transgression for Christian people to say some prayer there alwayes provided that nothing be done contrary to the law Ecclesiasticall or temporall of the Realme wherein we live and that what we doe be by common authority an allowed custome It is written in the Acts that by a m Acts. 16.13 rivers side prayer was sometimes made and that people there received some instruction In the booke of Canticles the Church of Christ saith thus concerning Iesus Christ I am my beloveds and his desire is towards me Come my beloved let us goe forth into the n Song 7.10 11 12. field let us lodge in the villages Let us get up earely to the vineyards let us see if the vine flourish whether the tender grape appeare and the pomegranats bud forth there will I give thee my loves That is there will I say O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in o Psal 8.3.6 7.8 9. all the earth there will I give thanks unto thee and p Psal 92.1.4 sing praises unto thy name O most High I will there triumph in the workes of thy hands Concerning peoples making the signe of the Crosse at such places where it is to be knowne that their parish bounds doe end what marke or signe is so fit to be made It is the Christian signe It is the marke wherewith wee were signed when we were baptized The Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ is that wherein wee should all q Gal. 6.14 glory And why may we not use the signe therof in such occasiōs as Publike Authority alloweth In the thirtieth Canon of the Church it is said That the honour and dignity of the name of the Crosse begat a reverend estimation even in the Apostles time for ought that is knowne to the contrary of the signe of the Crosse which the Christians shortly after used in all their actions thereby making an outward shew and profession even to the astonishment of the Iewes that they were not ashamed to acknowledge him for their Lord and Saviour who died for them upon the Crosse Reade hereto the Chapter concerning Ceremonies why some bee abolished and some reteined that is set in the beginning of the Common Prayer booke CHAP. 76. Of Almes deeds IN first part of the * T. 2. p. 154. Homily of Almes-deeds it is said Amongst the manifold duties that Almighty God requireth of his faithfull servants the true Christians by the which he would that both his name should bee r Ioh. 15.8 glorified and the ſ 2 Pet. 1.10.5 6 7. certainty of their vocation declared there is none that is either more acceptable unto him or more profitable for them then are the t Mic. 6.8 workes of mercy and pity shewed upon the poore which be afflicted with any kind of misery In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 74. Homily against perill of Idolatry there is alleaged a saying out of Clemens an ancient godly Writer viz. If you will truely honour the Image of God you should by doing well to man honour the true Image of God in him For the Image of God is in every man but the likenesse of God is not in every one but in those onely which have a godly heart and pure minde If you will therefore truely honour the Image of God wee doe declare to you the truth that ye doe well to man who is made after the Image of God that you give u 1 Pet. 2.17 honour and reverence unto him and refresh the hungry with meat the thirstie with drinke the naked with clothes the sicke with attendance the stranger harbourlesse with lodging the w Mat. 25.42 43 44 45. prisoners with necessaries and this shall bee accounted as truly bestowed upon God And these things are so directly appertaining to Gods honor that whosoever doth not this shall seeme to have x Prov. 14 31. reproached and done villany to the Image of God In the third part of the * T. 1. p. 67. Homily against the feare of death it
the sword of punishment in their hands or have families under their governance to labour for to redresse this great enormity of all such as live x 2. Th. 3.10.11 Ecclus. 33.24 25 26 27 28 29. idlely and unprofitably in the Common weale to the great dishonour of God and the grievous plague of his seely people To leave sinne unpunished and to neglect the good bringing up of youth is nothing else but to kindle the Lords wrath against us and to heape plagues upon our owne heads As long as the adulterous people were suffered to live licenciously without reformation so long did the plague continue and increase in Israel as ye may see in the booke of Numbers But when due correction was done upon them the Lords anger was straight-way pacified and the plague y Num. 25.3 c. Psal 106.30 ceased All Masters are to remember the example of Abraham written for their learning of whom the Lord testified saying I know him that he will command his children and his z Gen. 18.19 houshold after him and they shall keepe the way of the Lord to doe justice and judgement that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him Saint Paul saith to the Colossians Masters a Col. 4.1 give unto your servants that which is just and equall knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven And to the Ephesians he saith b Ephes 6.9 Forbeare yee threatning Iesus the sonne of Syrach saith Whereas thy servant worketh truly c Ecclus. 33.30 31. entreat him not evill nor the hireling that bestoweth himselfe wholy for thee Let thy soule love a good servant and defraud him not of liberty Many are the good counsailes for masters towards their servants in the book of Ecclesiasticus and throughout the whole Bible which they may observe as they reade through all the same Of Servants duties towards their Masters and Dames Concerning servants duties towards their masters and dames and other their duty besides it is said in the * T. 2. p. 253 254. Homily against Idlenesse Here ought artificers and labouring men who be at wages for their worke and labour to consider their conscience to God and their dutie to their neighbours lest they abuse their time in idlenesse so defrauding them which bee at charge both with great wages and deare commons They bee worse then idle men indeed for that they seeke to have wages for their loytering It is lesse danger to God to be idle for no gaine than by idlenesse to win out of their neighbours purses wages for that which is not deserved It is true that Almighty God is angry with such as do defraud the hired man of his d Iam. 5.4 Ier. 22.13 wages the cry of that injury ascendeth up to Gods eare for vengeance And as true it is that the hired man who useth e Tit. 2.9.10 deceit in his labour is a theefe before God Let no man saith Saint Paul to the Thessalonians subtilly f 1 Thes 4.6 beguile his brother let him not defraud him in his businesse for the Lord is a revenger of such deceits And afterward the sacred * p. 254. Homily saith Here might be charged the Serving-men of this Realme who g Eph. 5 15 16 17. spend their time in much idlenesse of life nothing regarding the opportunity of their time forgetting how service is no heritage how age will creepe upon them Where wisedome were they should expend their idle time in some good h Pro. 14.23 businesse whereby they might increase in knowledge and so the more worthy to bee ready for every mans service It is a great rebuke to them that they studie not either to write faire to keepe a booke of account to study the i 1 Cor. 14.1 5. tongues and so to get wisdome and knowledge in such bookes and workes as be now plentifully set out in print of all manner of Languages Sundry times doth the Holy Ghost by the Apostles deliver commandements unto servants concerning their duties Saint Paul saith to the Ephesians k Ephes 6.5.6 7 8. Servants be obedient unto them that are your masters according the flesh with feare and trembling in singlenesse of your heart as unto Christ Not with eye-service as men-pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart With good will doing service as to the Lord and not to men knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall hee receive of the Lord Col. 3.22 whether he be bond or free To the Colossians he saith l Servants obey in all things your Masters according to the flesh Vnto Timothy hee saith Let as many m 1 Tim. 6.1 2. servants as are under the yoke count their owne masters worthy of all honour that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed Vnto Titus he saith Exhort n Tit. 2.9 10. servants to bee obedient unto their owne Masters and to please them well in all things not answering againe not purloyning but shewing all good fidelity that they may adorne the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things And Saint Peter saith o 1 Pet. 2.18 19.20 Servants be subject to your masters with all feare not onely to the good and gentle but also to the froward For this is thanke-worthy if a man for conscience toward God endure griefe suffering wrongfully For what glory is it if when yee bee buffetted for your faults ye shall take it patiently but if when ye doe well and suffer for it yee take it patiently this is acceptable with God CHAP. 83. Of the foure principall Vertues IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 31. Homily concerning good Workes it is said There is one worke in the which be all good workes that is Faith which p Gal. 5.6 worketh by charity If thou have it thou hast the ground of all good workes For the vertues of strength wisedome temperance and justice be all referred unto this same faith It is written in the booke of the Wisdome of Solomon q Wised 8.7 If a man love righteousnesse Wisedomes labors are vertues for she teacheth temperance and prudence justice and fortitude which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in their life And these foure Vertues are by some called the principall Vertues because they are fountaines of others and foure maine matters wherein the due administration of mans affaires doth consist Of Prudence And to begin with r Prov. 1.2 3. and 8.11.15 16 2 Chro. 2.12 Prudence first It is observed to be a vertue which according to the rule of honesty prescribeth unto man what is to be sought after and what is to be shunned Hereunto Christ exhorted his disciples saying Behold I send you forth as sheepe in the middest of Wolves bee ye therefore Å¿ Mat. 10.16 wise as Serpents and harmles as Doves Saint Paul
darknesse and translated into the Kingdome of his deare Sonne For which cause he sendeth to us his Ministers for to open our eyes and to turne us from darknes to light and from the l Acts 26.18 power of Satan unto God that we may receive forgivenesse of sinnes and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Iesus Christ But to attaine hereunto we are required to do our parts also namely to m Mat. 6.33 seek for Gods Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof The Kingdome of God which now wee are to seeke is his Kingdome of n Rom. 5.21 grace and Christ saith Behold the Kingdome of God is o Luke 17.21 within you Holy Church hath authorized for our helpe in devotion a booke called The imitation of Christ wherein are very many most heavenly meditations and exhortations In the first Chapter of the second booke thereof there are very usefull observations hereto whereof wee may make good use in our seeking of Christs Kingdome And they are as followeth The Kingdome of God is within saith Christ p Ioel 2.12 Turne thee unto the Lord with all thine heart having q 1 Iohn 2.15 16 17. and 5.4 forsaken this wretched world and thou shalt r Mat. 11.29 finde rest for thy soule Learne to contemne Å¿ 2 Cor. 4.18 outward things and to addict thy selfe to t Col. 31.2 spirituall so shalt thou perceive the Kingdome of God to come unto thee For the u Rom. 14.17 Kingdome of God is righteousnes peace joy in the Holy Ghost which the wicked w Isa 57.20 21. enjoy not Christ will x Iohn 14.18 2 Cor. 6.16 come unto thee and comfort thee if thou make a y Luke 1.17 Isa 40.3 4 5. as in the Epistle for Saint John Baptists day sit resting place for him within thee For all his z Psal 45.13 glory and beauty is within there doth he gladly abide With the a Eph. 2.16 17. inner man doth he oftentimes walke and reason sweetly and b Prov. 8.31 delight himselfe pleasantly and agree notably and familiarly continue Goe too now O faithfull soule prepare thine heart for this Bridegroome that he may c Ps 101 â— c. Song 3.4 come unto thee and dwell within thee For thus he saith If any man love mee hee will keepe my word and my Father will love him and we will d Iohn 14.23 come unto him and will dwell with him The Preface afore the said booke which Preface is intituled A godly Preface made by him whosoever he was that translated this booke out of the Latine tongue into French is a most singular delivery of many foundations unto true devotion and very worthy every Christians often reading through Moreover as the Kingdome Rule Reigne Dominion sway and preheminence which God hath in his people is to be sought after within our inward man and to bee expected there to e 2 Pet. 1.19 arise begin and to be administred more and more by the f Rom. 8.14 Spirit of Iesus Christ so also the g Prov. 15.9 righteousnesse of that Kingdome is to bee seeked which the Spirit of Christ h Heb. 1.8 9. administreth not onely i Hos 10.12 inwardly within mans spirit but also so as it k Ps 15.2 Psal 119.1 2 3 4 5 6. worketh outwardly wherethrough every man woman which are subjects of Christs Kingdome of Grace are inflamed with fervent zeale and an unfained desire and striving to worke righteousnesse in every l Psal 106.3 Mat 7 23. Isa 33.15 Gen. 18.19 Mat. 7.12 particular matter of this present world And that therunto m Luk. 1.74 75 1 Iohn 2 29. and 3.10 tended Christs Kingdome of Grace it may appeare unto us out of the most holy delivery of the Church in the third collect for Grace where it is said Grant that this day we n Iude 2.4 fall into no sinne neither runne into any kinde of danger but that all our doings may bee ordered by thy governance or Kingdome to doe alwaies that which is righteous in thy sight through Iesus Christ our o Isa 32.1 and 61.1 2 3. Rom. 6 13 18 19. Phil. 4.13 1 Cor. 15.57 58. Lord. Amply and wonderfull gloriously have the Prophets and Apostles written of Christs Kingdome of Grace and the Lord Iesus Christ himselfe hath much expressed the mystery thereof by parables To be a subject of Christs Kingdome is the p Rev. 2.17 new name which none knoweth saving he that receiveth it Many are the q 1 Cor. 3.9 10 priviledges which the subjects thereof doe enjoy which are not thought of by such as sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death and have no desire to depart thereout and to seeke for to have the divine governance to bee Å¿ Eph. 4.15 16. 2 Pet. 3 18. more and more within them To conclude when by the enlightning of Christs holy Spirit we doe in see that the comming of his Kingdome of grace is to be attended for to be received inwardly in our spirits we must also remember what holy Church as it were inculcateth to us in the Gospell to bee read at Baptisme that wee for our parts are to receive it with such an humility of minde as is in a little child The Lord there saith Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for to such belongeth the Kingdome of God Verily I say unto you whosoever doth not receive the Kingdome of God as a t Mat. 10.15 little child hee shall not enter therein One must forsake u Mat. 16 2â— Luk. 14.26.33 himselfe and all that he hath w 2 Tim. 3.2 selfe-love x Prov. 3.7 selfe-wisedome y Ier. 4.14 vaine thoughts z 2 Thes 2.12 1 â— Isa 28.15 untrue beliefes whatsoever spirituall possession in his minde which hee enjoyeth which the Spirit of God hath not given to him and enstated him in Ones soule must be as a a Psal 131.2 weaned child as David saith his was Also Christs Kingdome is to bee seeked with obedience unto the universall ordinances of Christs Church of us with all conscionable zealous obedience unto every particular ordinance of the Apostolical Church of England For every particular ordinance thereof as wel the ceremonial as the other serve to prepare us to introduct us to plant us and to establish us in the said divine Kingdome It may be * Such as submit themselves to yeeld obedience to the universall ordinances of the Church observe aspiritual fire in the disobedient observed in all places concerning all persons which refuse to yeeld obedience unto the ordinances of the Church of England that they have not peace in their b Eph. 5.6 Rom. 2.8.9 consciences because of their c Mat. 18.17 Luke 10.16 disobeying the wife or Spouse of Iesus Christ If that Almighty God so commended the
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