31.12 13. Neh. 8.2 sermons and that they learne the d Heb. 5.12 13. Creed the Lords prayer and the ten Commandements in the English tongue and all other things which Christians ought to know and beleeve to their soules health In the Service of Matrimony it is signified That they are to be brought up in the feare and nurture of the Lord. And the * T. 2. p. 239. Homily of the state of Matrimony addeth also That they be brought up by the parents godly in the knowledge of Gods Word that thus the knowledge of God and true religion might be delivered by e Psal 78.4 5 6 7. succession from one to another that finally many might enjoy that everlasting immortality * T. 1. p. 88. In the third part of the Homily against Adultery it is said As man and wife are bound to f 1 Cor. 7.5 live together in all godlinesse and honesty so likewise is it their duty vertuously to bring up their children and provide that they fall not into g Ecclus. 7.23 24 25. Sathans snare nor into any uncleannesse but that they come pure and honest unto holy wedlocke when time requireth In the * T. 2. p. 253. Homily against Idlenesse it is said Let all parents and others which have the care and governance of youth so bring them up either in good learning labour or some honest h Tit. 3.14.25 in the margent occupation or trade whereby they may be able in time to come not only to sustaine themselves competently but also to releeve and i Ephe. 4.28 supply the necessity and want of others In the * T. 2. p. 103. Homily against Excesse of Apparell it is said God utterly condemneth and disalloweth whatsoever draweth us from our duty towards God or diminisheth our charity towards our neighbours and children whom we ought to love as our selves Saint Paul saith Ye fathers k Eph. 6.4 provoke not your children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And to the Colossians hee saith Fathers provoke not your children to anger lest they be l Col. 3.21 discouraged Parents are not to expect from m 1 Thes 2.7 1 Cor. 3.1 and 13.11 children and youths the gravity of men nor manly understanding That is to be desired which every age is capable of Whatsoever is upright naturall in children is not to be checked Children oftentimes being unnaturally used have beene so discouraged as that with griefe their spirits have bin so daunted as that either they have become ever after stupide and without the common understanding or else have had their hearts broken and have perished yea sometimes have beene so provoked as to depart from their parents or to destroy their owne selves Honest n Zechar. 8.5 recreations are not to bee denied unto youth but often to be granted at convenient times The Church requireth that every sonne and daughter so soone as they be able to learne be taught to say by heart readily all the Catechisme called the A. B. C. The Scripture saith o Prov. 22.6 Traine up a child in the way he should goe and when he is old he will not depart from it All parents if possibly they can ought to have their children taught to reade to write and to cast account and if it may be to understand the Latine Grammar because of such a measure of skill or of almost so much every housholder may have sometimes occasion Saint Paul also saith Parents ought to p 2 Cor. 12.14 lay up for their children And Solomon saith A good man leaveth his q Pro. 13.22 inheritance to his childrens children If any r 1 Tim. 5.8 provide not for his owne and especially for those of his owne house he hath denied the faith and is worse than an Infidell Of Childrens duty to their Parents Concerning the duty of children to their parents it is signified in the second part of the * T. 1. p. 35. Homily of good Workes where it is spoken against the Pharisies For that they taught the people such a devotion that they offred their goods into the treasure house of the Temple under the pretence of Gods honour leaving their fathers and mothers to whom they were chiefly bound Å¿ Mat. 5.12 13. Ecclus. 3.12 14 15 16. 1 Tim. 5.4 unholpen and so they brake the Commandements of God to keepe their owne traditions In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 125. Homily concerning the place and time of prayer it is said Good naturall children will not onely become obedient to the commandement of their parents but also have a diligent eye to their doings and gladly follow the same The Apostle saith to the Colossians t Col. 3.20 Children obey your parents in all things for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. To the Ephesians he saith Children obey your parents in the u Eph. 6.1 2 3. Lord for this is right So long as parents require nothing contrary to Gods Word they are in every thing to be obeyed That counsell in Ecclesiasticus is ever memorable The Lord hath given the w Ecclus. 3.2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 father honour over the children and hath confirmed the authority of the mother over the sonnes Who so honoreth his father maketh at onement for his sinnes And he that honoreth his mother is as one that layeth up treasure Whoso honoureth his father shall have joy of his owne children and when he maketh his prayer he shall be heard He that honoreth his father shall have a long life and he that is obedient unto the Lord shall be a comfort to his mother He that feareth the Lord will honour his father and will doe service unto his parents as to his masters Honour thy father and mother both in word and deed that a blessing may come upon thee from them For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children but the curse of the mother rooteth out foundations More counsailes hereto follow on in the same chapter very profitable to bee observed Of Masters and Dames duties to their Servants Concerning the duty of Masters and Dames to their servants it is said in the rubricke at the end of the Confirmation-Service That they shall cause their servants and prentices which haue not learned their Catechisme to come to the Church at the time appointed and obediently to heare and bee ordered by the Curate untill such time that they have learned all that is here appointed for them to learne In the third part of the * T. 1. p. 88. Homily against Adultery it is delivered That all Masters and Rulers ought to provide that no whoredome nor any point of uncleannesse bee used among their servants In the * T. 2. p. 254. Homily against Idlenesse it is said God of his mercy put it into the hearts and minds of all them that have
or * Is 52.15 sprinkled with it in the w Mat. 28.19 name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost And that the inward and spirituall grace thereof is a death unto sinne and a new birth unto righteousnesse for being by nature x Ps 51.5 Iob 14.4 borne in sinne and the Children of y Eph. 2.3 wrath we are hereby made the z Gal. 3.26 27. Children of grace The necessity of this Sacrament is shewed in the beginning of the service thereof where it is said For as much as all men bee conceived and borne in sinne and that our Saviour Christ saith None can enter into the Kingdome of God except he be regenerate and borne anew of a Iohn 3.5 water and of the holy Ghost I beseech you to call upon God the Father through our Lord Iesus Christ that of his bounteous mercy he will grant to these children that thing which by nature they cannot have that they may be baptized with water and the holy b Mat. 3.11 Mar. 10.14 15 16. Ghost and received into Christs holy Church and be made lively members of the same The benefits of baptisme are in the Service thereof by many speeches signified It is said to be a Christning as in the Rubricke of private baptisme where it is said The Minister shall not Christen the child againe but c. In Baptisme a child receiveth Christendome and being baptized is pronounced to be a Christian as we are taught to say in our Catechisme In my baptisme wherein I was made a member of Christ the Child of God and an c Gal. 3.29 inheritour of the kingdome of heaven In the Service of private baptisme the Minister is to pronounce concerning a child lawfully and sufficiently baptized That he being borne in Originall sin and in the wrath of God is now by the d Tit. 3.9 Eph. 5.26 Laver of regeneration in baptisme received into the number of the children of GOD and heires of everlasting life And then afterward he is to say Doubt ye not therefore but earnestly beleeve that he that favourably received this present infant that he hath embraced him with the armes of his mercy that he hath given him the e Mar. 10.16 14. blessing of eternall life and made him partaker of his f Heb. 12.28 everlasting kingdome The Service saith of a Child baptized That he is regenerate by Gods holy Spirit and graffed into the g 1 Cor. 12.13 body of Christs congregation and received for Gods owne Childe by adoption In the first prayer of confirmation it is signified that in baptisme is received the h Col. 2.12 13 14. forgivenesse of all sinnes And in the Rubricke next afore the Catechisme it is said That it is certaine by Gods Word that children being baptized have all things necessary for their salvation and be undoubtedly i Rom. 8.1 Gal. 3.27 saved The first part of the Homily of salvation addeth * â— 1. p. 13. And dying in their k Mar. 10.14 Act. 2.39 Gen. 17.7 infancy The Divine Service also delivereth That baptisme doth represent unto us our profession namely when we come to discretion which is to follow the l Pet. 2.21 Epâ— â— 1 2. Iohn 3.15 1 â—oâ— 11.1 example of our Saviour Christ and to be made m 〈◊〉 â— â— 29 like unto him that as he dyed and rose againe for u Roâ— 25. us so should we which are baptized o Rom. 6.3 4 5 6 7 8 11 13. die from sinne and rise againe unto righteousnesse continually p Col. 3.5 mortifying all our evill and corrupt affections and dayly q 2 Cor. 4.16 2 Thes 1.3 1 Pet. 1.15 proceeding in all vertue and godlinesse of living Saint Paul saith to the Romanes r Rom 6.3 c. Know yee not that so many of us as were baptized into Iesus Christ were baptized into his death Therefore we are buried with him by baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by glory of the Father even so wee also should walke in newnesse of life For if wee have beene planted together in the likenesse of his death we shall bee also in the likenesse of his resurrection And to the Galatians hee saith Å¿ Gal. 3.27 As many of you as have beene baptized into Christ have put on Christ Wherefore to the Romanes he saith t Rom 8.1 There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit And to the baptized Corinthians hee saith u 1 Cor. 6.11 yee are washed yee are sanctified yee are justified in the Name of the Lord Iesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God Also to Titus hee saith w Tit. 3.5 Not by workes of righteousnesse which we have done but according to his mercie hee hath saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost And againe to the Corinthians he saith x 1 Cor. 12.13 By one spirit are wee all baptized into one body To the Colossians he saith y Col. 2.12 13 14. Ye are buried with Christ in Baptisme wherein also yee are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead And you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh hath he quickned together with him having forgiven you all trespasses CHAP. 52. Of Godfathers and Godmothers IN the most sacred Catechisme a question is Why are infants baptized when by reason of their tender age they cannot performe repentance and faith The answere is Yes they doe performe them by their sureties who promise and vow them both in their names which when they come to age themselves are bound to performe In the Service of publike Baptisme the Priest having signified to the Godfathers Godmothers what promise Christ for his part will most surely keepe and performe saith withall Wherefore after this promise made by Christ these infants must also faithfully for their part promise by you that bee their sureties that they will forsake the Devill and all his workes and constantly beleeve Gods holy Word and obediently keepe his Commandements In the Service of private Baptisme The Priest is to say unto the Sureties z Gen. 17.11 Gen. 18.19 Doest thou in the name of this Childe for sake the Devill and all his workes the vaine pompe and glory of the world with all the covetous desires of the same the carnall desires of the flesh and not to follow and be led by them And doest thou in the name of this child professe this faith to beleeve in God the Father Almighty c. And in the Exhortation to the sureties we may see most cleerely to what a godly purpose holy Church hath ordained them where it is said You must remember that it is your part and duty to see that this infant be taught so
not power to change the gesture of taking and to require such a gesture as is beseeming Prayer Such as grant that the Church hath power as to change the time though it bee by the Holy Ghost called the Lords Supper and to change other circumstances about the receiving of it cannot without committing the great sinne of g Iam. 3.17 partiality deny that the Church hath the authority and power of changing that one circumstance the gesture used in receiving CHAP. 58. Of Matrimony IN the Service for solemnization of Matrimony it is said That Matrimony is an honourable estate h Gen. 2.22 24 instituted of God in Paradise in the time of mans innocency signifying unto us the i Eph. 5.31 32.30 mysticall union that is betwixt Christ and his Church which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his k Iohn 2.1 presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee and is commended of Saint Paul to bee honourable among all men and therefore is not to be enterprized nor taken in hand unadvisedly lightly or wantonly to saticfie mens carnall lusts and appetites like bruite beasts that have no understanding but reverently discreetly advisedly soberly and in the l 1 Cor. 7.39 feare of God duely considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained one was the m Gen. 1.28 procreation of Children to be brought up in the feare and nurture of the Lord and praise of God Secondly it was ordained for a remedie against sinne and to avoid fornication that such persons as have not the gift of continency might marry and keepe themselves undefiled Members of Christs body Thirdly for the mutuall n Eph. 5.28 29. Gen. 2.8 Prov. 5.18 19. sooietie helpe and comfort that the one ought to have of the other both in prosperity and adversitie In the * T. 2. p. 239. Homily concerning the state of Matrimony it is said Furthermore it is also ordained that the Church of God and his Kingdome might by this kinde of life be conserved and enlarged not onely in that God giveth Children by his blessing but also in that they be brought up by the Parents godly in the knowledge of Gods Word that thus the knowledge of God and true Religion might bee delivered by o Ps 78.4.5.6 succession from one to another that finally many might enjoy that everlasting immortality p Heb. 13.4 Marriage saith the Apostle is honourable in all and the bed undefiled but Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge q 1 Cor. 7.2.6 To avoid fornication let every man have his owne wife and let every woman have her owne husband Tobias said r Tob. 4.12 1 Thes 4.3.4.5 Mal. 2.11.12 Beware of all whoredome my sonne and chiefly take a wife of the seed of thy fathers and take not a strange woman to wife which is not of thy fathers Tribe for wee are the children of the Prophets Noe Abraham Isaac and Iacob remember my sonne that our fathers from the beginning even that they all married wives of their owne kindred and were blessed in their children and their seed shall inherit the Land s Know yee not saith the Apostle that hee which is joyned to an harlot is one body For two saith hee shall bee one flesh Flee fornication every sinne that a man doth is without the body but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his owne body What know yee not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you which yee have of God and yee are not your owne For yee are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which are Gods Be not deceived neither t 1 Cor. 6.9.10 fornicators nor Idolaters adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of thēselves with mankind nor theeves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdome of God Wherefore he also saith But u Eph. 5.3.5.6 See 1 Thes 4.3.4.5 fornication all uncleannes or covetousnes let it not be once named amongst you as becommeth Saints ſ 1 Cor. 6.15.16.17.18.19.20 CHAP. 59. Of the ring used in the Solemnization of Matrimony IN the rubrick of Matrimony-service it is said The man shall give unto the woman a Ring and put it upon the fourth finger of the womans left hand And the man taught by the priest shall say With this Ring I thee wed with my body I thee * There is some kind of worship which may be done unto man as 1 Chron. 29.20 worship with all my worldly goods I thee endow In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen In the prayer immediately after it is prayed That as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together so these persons may surely performe and keepe the vow and w Mal. 2.15.16.14 Prov. 2.17.18 covenant betwixt them made whereof the Ring given and received is a token and pledge and may ever remaine in x Eph. 5.25.28.29 perfect love and y 1 Cor. 7.5 1 Pet. 3.7 peace together and live according to thy Lawes And then it is said Forasmuch as they have consented together in holy wedlocke and have witnessed the same before God and this company and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring and by joyning of hands I c. From which words of Holy Church it is manifest that the Ring is used not for any vanity but for a godly z Exod. 13.9 Aurum nulla norat praeter unico digito quem sponsus oppignorasset pronubo annulo Tertull. Apologet. C. 6. signification for a token and pledge of sure performing and keeping the vow and covenant betwixt them made and of pledging their troth either to other The which Ring being after seene may put both parties in remembrance of what signification it was given and received And they may make good use of it as the children of Israel were to make of the a Num. 15.38.39.40 fringe in the borders of their garments having thereon a Ribband of blue to looke upon it and remember all the duties whereof to put them in minde it was ordained That Matrimony should bee solemnized with the Ceremonie of the Ring it is the Law of the Church our mother it is as the b Ios 22.27 Altar built by the Reubenites Gadites and halfe Tribe of Manasseh it is as one of the c Ier. 35.6.7.8.18.19 Commandements of Ionadab the sonne of Rechab a d Pro. 6.23.24 light signifying good things to keepe the man from the evill woman from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman Also it may serve unto the woman for a remembrance that shee e Prov. 2.17 See Chap. 41. afore forsake not the guide of her youth neither forget the covenant of her God Well consider the Church-her deliverie concerning Ceremonies why some be retained in
from the priesthood That they shoud not eate of the most holy things till there stood up a priest with d Ezra 2.63 Vrim and * In the service of Consecration of Bishops in the Prayer after the Letanie then road the true signification of the words Vrim and Thummim is delivered namely truth of Doctrine and innocencie of life See 1 Esdras 5.40 Thummim Saint Peter saith e 1 Pet. 2.13.14 Submit your selves unto every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it bee to the King as Supreme or unto governours as unto them that are sent by him c. Samuel told Saul that God had made him the f 1 Sam. 15.17 See the 37. Article of Religion Head of the Tribes of Israel Therefore our King is Head of the Tribe of Levi the supreme governour over all degrees and orders of the Clergie in his Majesties Realmes Dominions aswell as over all other persons Concerning bearing faith and true allegiance to the Kings Highnesse his heirs and successors according as it is prescribed in the oath of allegiance it may first bee considered that in the whole Bible there is no mention of any of Gods people at any time to have done contrary unto such allegiance but ever to have borne faith and true allegiance unto to their Soveraigne the supreme Magistrate over them The Lord Iesus Christ both by g Mat. 12.20.21 precept and also by example taught loyalty to bee performed unto Caesar by all professed Christians all others The Apostle Paul enjoyned Titus to put all professours of Christianity in minde to be h Tit. 3.1.2 subject to Principalities and powers to obey magistrates to bee ready unto every good worke to speake evill of no man to bee no brawlers but gentle shewing all meekenesse unto all men Almost the whole 13. chapter of the Epistle to the Romanes is a declaration how subject and faithfull every soule not excepting any Ecclesiastical person ought to bee unto his Prince which beareth the sword which receiveth tribute and custome The higher powers unto whom Saint Paul commanded Christians to bee subject for Conscience sake and to render all their dues to owe nothing but love and honour and hee for to exclude universall ill attempts against ones Soveraigne saith Loveworketh no ill to ones neighbour were not defenders of the Christian faith neither were they favorers of the Gospell the highest powers over i 1. Pet. 1.1 Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia unto whom Saint Peter required those to whom hee wrote for to bee loyally subject If people were not in Conscience bound to bee universally faithfull unto their Soveraigne the society of mankinde could not consist together but the whole world would in short time bee turned into a wildernesse To release any from their duty to their superiours was the k ◠Marke 7.7.8 9 10 11 12 13. Doctrine of the Scribes and Pharises the mortall enemies to Christianity who taught that one having offered a certaine gift though hee honoured not his father or his mother should bee free making thereby the fifth Commandement of God of non effect by that their damnable traditiō And are not Kings l Isa 49.23 fathers Queenes mothers according to the language of the Holy Scriptures Saint Peter saith Feare God and m 1 Pet. 2.17 honour the King Salomon also saith n Eccles 10.20 Curse not the King no not in thy thought How zealous was David that hee would neither do nor o 1 Sam. 24.6.7 and 26.9 suffer to bee done any manner of annoyance towards the Lords annoynted though he were disobedient unto the Law of the Lord Let any search the whole Scripture and more especially all the new Testament and let him observe what manner of innocent life the life of the Christian Religion is prescribed for to bee or is described there and he shall plainely see that it is contrary to the universall Christian p Mat. 20.16 Rom. 16.19 Rom. 13.10 1 Thes 5.15 1 Cor. 13.4.5.6.7 nature for any people not to beare such faith and such true allegiance unto their Soveraigne as is expressed in the oath of allegiance and expounded or delivered in the Booke intituled God and the King What it is to be defective in duty towards ones Soveraigne the Church hath also most divinely declared in the Homily an Exhortation cōcerning good order obedience to Rulers and Magistrates and amply in the Homily against disobedience and wilfull Rebellion the which deliverie of holy Church all persons should often read or heare read unto them CHAP. 71. Of submission to all Powers inferiour to the Kings Majesty IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 69.70 Homily of obedience it is said Take away Kings Princes Rulers Magistrates Iudges and such estates of Gods order no man shall ride or goe by the high way unrobbed no man shall sleepe in his owne house or bed unkilled no man shall keepe his wife children and possession in quietnesse all things shall be common and there must needs follow all mischiefe and utter destruction both of soules bodies goods and Common wealths But blessed be God that we in this Realme of England feele not the horrible calamities miseries and wretchednesse which all they undoubtedly feele and suffer that lacke this godly order and praised be God that we know the great excellent benefit of God shewed towards us in this behalfe God hath sent us his high gift our most deare Soveraigne Lord king Charles with a godly wise and honourable Counsell with other superiours and inferiours in a beautifull order and godly Wherefore let us subjects doe our bounden duties giving hearty thankes to God and praying for the preservation of this godly order Let us all obey even from the bottome of our hearts all their godly proceedings Lawes Statutes Proclamations and Injunctions with all other godly orders Let us consider the Scriptures of the Holy Ghost which perswade and command us all obediently to be subject first and chiefly to the King Majestie Supreme Governour over all and the next to his Honourable Counsell and to all other Noblemen Magistrates and Officers which by Gods goodnesse be placed and ordered In the second part of the * T. 2. p. Homily of fasting but it is said Positive lawes made by Princes for conservation of their Policie not repugnant unto Gods Law ought of all Christian subjects with reverence of the Magistrate to bee obeyed not onely for feare of punishment but also as the Apostle saith for q Rom. 13.5 Conscience sake Conscience I say not of the thing which of it owne nature is indifferent but of our obedience which by the Law of God we owe unto the Magistrate as unto Gods minister That saying of the holy Ghost by Saint Peter confirmeth all Submit your selves to ever ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it bee to the King as supreme or unto r 1 Pet.
our life The tenth and last duty unto God according as the sacred Catechisme hath expressed it is that wee serve him truly all the dayes of our life God requireth us to serve him not as wee * 1 Sâ—m 15.22.23 conceive best but according to his will written in his word For so the Church teacheth us most divinely in the last part of her Article concerning Predestination and Election saying Furthermore we must receive Gods promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scriptures and in our doings that will of God is to be followed which we have expresly declared unto us in the word of God To that end hath Christ redeemed us saith Zacharias that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without feare in e Luk. 1.74.75 holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life The Lord is nigh saith David unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in f Ps 145.18 truth And what is truly or truth hath beene declared out of Scripture a little before The people of God in Ioshua his dayes signified what it is to serve God truly saying The Lord our God will wee serve and his g Ios 24.24 voice will we obey Through whom did people then heare the voice of God ordinarily in those dayes Through whom doe people heare the voice of God ordinarily in these dayes Is not the Ministery of God his mouth from whence his voice is ordinarily heard Doth not the Prophet Malachi presse this point saying The priests h Mal. 2.6.7 lips should keepe knowledge and they should seeke the Law at his mouth for hee is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts to declare the Lords will unto people In the Booke of Ioshua some are found fault withall that they asked not counsell at the i Ios 9.14 mouth of the Lord. Where was the mouth of the Lord at which they asked counsell In Exodus it is expressed The Lord said I will k Exod. 25.22 commune with thee from above the Mercy-seate from betweene the two Cherubims which are upon the Arke of the Testimony of all things which I will give thee in commandement unto the children of Israel And the Apostle to the Hebrewes sheweth that this was done in the Tabernacle which is called the l Heb. 9.3 4 5 6 7 8. holiest of all the second into which the high Priest went onely The which is written to teach us for to attend with all Christian Conscience and due reverence unto that doctrine which Christs high Priest-hood now holdeth forth unto us and that to the people is the doctrine of the Bookes of Divine Service wherein wee are plainely and plentifully taught how to serve God truly all the dayes of our life Also not to m 1 Thes 5.20.21 neglect what the inferiour priest-hood doth preach and teach but to have all due regard unto whatsoever they deliver consonant with the Divine Service and the rest of established Doctrine of the Church The Catechism most divinely addeth also the time when and how long we are to serve God truly namely all the daies of our life In the service of Baptisme it is said unto the sureties that the Infants are to bee taught so soone as they shall be able to learne what a solemne vow promise and profession they have made by you c. Signifying that God requireth a true service from us unto him from our very n Eph. 6.4 Dut. 31.12 Luk. 1.75 2 Tim. 3.15 read Chap. 98. following Child-hood so long as we live in this present world They therefore which consider not seriously upon serving God truly till either old age or sicknesse or some other great calamity befall them doe cleane contrary to the counsell of holy Church in her Catechisme as also in all the rest of her Divine Service-Doctrine CHAP. 80. Of our Dutie towards our Neighbour as it is expressed in most Divine manner in the Catechisme also MY duty towards my Neighbour is to love him as my selfe and to doe to all men as I would they should doe unto me To love honour and succour my father and mother To honour obey the King and his Ministers To submit my selfe to all my governours teachers spirituall pastours and masters To order my selfe lowly and reverently to all my betters To hurt no body by word or deed To be true and just in all my dealing To beare no malice nor hatred in my heart To keepe my hands from picking and stealing and my tongue from evill speaking lying and slandering To keep my body in temperance sobernesse and chastity Not to covet nor desire other mens goods but to learne and labour truly to get mine owne living and to doe my duty in that state of life unto the which it shall please God to call me Hence may be observed fifteene duties in particular that we owe unto Man or our neighbour for the Lords sake or by reason of Gods Commandement The first duty to love our neighbours as our selfe The first is that we ought to love our neighbours as our o Mat. 22 29. selves Herein is prescribed what manner of heart minde or affection wee are to beare towards others wee are to wish all the same good unto all others as wee doe wish unto our owne selves or as we ought to desire for our selves This is to be understood concerning good common to the bodies and soules of all Christians This love wee are not onely taught throughout all the most Sacred Letanie but also in most expresse manner in the third Collect or Prayer appointed to bee read on Good-Friday The which Holy prayer declaring the love of God towards all mankinde and the love in heart which wee should beare towards all our brethren and sisters the whole posterity of Adam it is profitable here to be rehearsed that it may be duly considered the better remembred Mercifull God who hast p Act. 17.26.27 made all men and hatest q Ps 145.9 Wis 11.23.24.26 Ezech. 33.11 nothing that thou hast made nor wouldest the r Ezech. 18.23 32. death of a sinner but rather that he should be s Prov. 1.22.23 converted and t Mat. 23.37 live have mercy upon all u Rom. 9.3.4.5 Rom. 11.12.15.25.26 Ps 14.7 and 122.6 Iewes w Ps 67.2 3 5. Turkes x 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6. Infidels and Heretikes and take from them all ignorance hardnesse of heart and contempt of thy word and so fetch them home Blessed Lord to thy flocke that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites and be made y Ezech. 37.24.25 one fold under one Shepheard Iesus Christ our Lord. By this prayer we are informed to wish that spirituall happinesse to all others as we wish to our selves The word neighbour and brother have in Moses oftentimes the same signification And the word
brother in Malachi seemeth to signifie every one of Adams posterity where it is said Have wee not z Mal. 2.10 all one Father hath not one God created us we are cōmanded to e Mat. 5.44 love our enemies and to pray for them which despitefully use us and persecute us The second duty to doe unto all others as we would they should do unto us The second duty mentioned is that wee doe to all men as we would they should doe unto us And so taught Iesus Christ in his f Mat. 7.12 Gospell and likewise the Law and the Prophets They that alwaies keepe this Duty in remembrance and make it a rule for their thoughts words and deeds are thereby with the g Phil. 4.13 helpe of Christs Spirit moved to h Isa 1.16.17 Ps 34 14. cease from much evill and to endeavour much good The delivery is also in a manner an explanation of the sentence immediately afore namely of loving ones neighbour as ones selfe For who so i Rom. 13.10 loveth his neighbour as himselfe doth nothing unto him in word or deed but what hee would his neighbour should doe unto him The third duty to love honour and succour our Parents The third Duty is that we love honour and succour our Parents That every one should love the Father which begat him and the Mother which bare him in her wombe nature or common reason teacheth That they are to be * Mat. 15.4 5 6 Ecclus. 3.8.12.14.16 Lev. 19 3. honoured the fift Commandement requireth That they are to be succoured Saint Paul instructeth saying Let them learne first to shew piety at home and to k 1. Tim. 5.4 requite their parents For that is good and acceptable before God The fourth duty to honour and obey the King and his Ministers The fift duty to submit to all our superiours The fourth Duty is that we honour and obey the King and his Ministers or officers And that is amply declared afore in the Chapters 70. and 71. The fift Duty is to submit ones selfe to all his governours teachers spirituall Pastors and masters And so the Holy Ghost cōmandeth saying l Heb. 13.17 1 Pet 5.5 Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves And ye younger submit your selves unto the Elders And ye m 1 Pet. 2.18 The sixt Duty To order ones selfe lowly and reverently to all one 's betters servants be yee subject to your Masters with all feare not onely to the good and gentle but also to the froward The sixt Duty is That we order our selves lowly and reverently to all our betters as it is written n Rom. 13.7 Render to al their dues honour to whom honour is due Bee kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love in honour o Rom. 12.10 preferring one another Thou shalt p Lev. 19.32 rise before the hoary head and honour the face of the old man and feare thy God q Eph. 5.21 The seventh Duty To hurt no body by word nor deed Submit your selves one to another in the feare of God The seventh Duty is To hurt no body by word or deed So Saint Paul signifieth that we speake r Tit. 3 2. evill of no man and that we worke ſ Rom. 13.10 1 Thes 5.15 The eight Duty To be true and just in all our dealing ill to none The eighth Dutie is That wee bee true and just in all our dealing So saith the Apostle That no man t 1 Thes 4.6 Zechar. 7.9 10. The ninth Duty To beare no malice nor hatred in our heart goe beyond and defraud his brother in any matter because that the Lord is the avenger of all such The ninth Duty is That we beare no malice nor hatred in our heart The Apostle Peter signifieth That we should lay aside all u 1 Pet. 2.1 Eph. 4.31 1 Iohn 3.15 1 Cor. 14 20. The tenth Duty To keepe our hands from picking and stealing malice And Saint Iohn saith Who so hateth his brother is a murtherer The tenth Duty is That we keepe our hands from picking and stealing as Saint Paul saith Let him that hath stolne w Eph. 4.28 steale no more And Titus he willeth to teach that there should bee no x Tit. 2.10 The Eleventh Duty To keep ones tongue from evil speaking lying and slandering purloyning but a shewing of all good fidelity or faithfulnesse The eleventh Duty is That every one keepe his tongue from evill speaking lying and slandering S. Iames saith y Iam. 1.26 if any one brideleth not his tongue his religion is in vaine S. Paul saith Let all z Eph. 4.31 32 bitternesse and wrath and anger and clamour and evill speaking be put away from you with all malice To the Colossians he saith a Col. 3.9 Lye not one to another And David saith Lord who shall abide in thy Tabernacle who shall dwell in thy holy hill Hee that b Ps 15.1 2 3. backbiteth not with his tongue nor doth evill to his Neighbour nor taketh up or receiveth a reproach against his Neighbour The twelfth Duty To keepe ones body in temperance sobernesse and chastity The twelfth Duty is That every one keepe his body in temperance sobernesse and chastity S. Paul said that he did c 1 Cor. 9.27 25. keepe under his body and bring it into subjection And that every one which striveth for a mastery is temperate in all things now they doe it to obtaine a corruptible Crowne but we an incorruptible Saint Peter saith Adde to your knowledge d 2 Pet. 1.6 temperance Saint Paul saith to the Thessalonians Let us who are of the day be e 1 Thes 5.8 sober Sobernesse or sobriety is often times commanded in the Gospel and he willeth Titus to teach f Tit. 2.5 Chastity To the Corinthians hee saith Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all g 2 Cor. 7.1 filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of God To the Colossians he saith Mortifie your Members which are upon the earth h Col. 3.5 The thirteenth Duty Not to covet nor desire other mens goods fornication uncleannesse inordinate affection evill concupiscence c. The thirteenth Duty is That we should not covet nor desire other mens goods And so the i Exod. 20.17 last of the ten Commandements requireth The Apostle saith Let your conversation be without k Heb. 13.15 covetousnesse and be content with such things as yee have For God hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee The fourteenth Duty To learn to labour truly for to get our owne living The fourteenth Duty is That we learne and labour truely to get our owne living The Apostle saith We did not eate any mans bread for nought but l 2 Thes 3.8 wrought with labour and travell night and day that we might not be chargeable
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
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
soone as hee shall be able to learne what a solemne vow promise and profession he hath made by you And that hee may know these things the better ye shall call upon him to a Neh. 8.2 Deut 31.12 heare sermons and chiefly you shall provide that he may learne the b 2 Tim. 1.13 Creed the c Luke 11.1 Lords prayer and the d Deut. 11.19 20 21 22. Exod 34.28 ten Commandements in the English tongue and e Prov. 22.6 all other things which a Christian man ought to know and beleeve to his soules health and that this Child may be f Eph. 5.4 vertuously brought up to lead a godly and a g Gen. 18 Christian life c. The Prophet Isaiah hath written h Isa 8.1 2 3. The Lord said unto me Take thee a great Roule and write in it with a mans Pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz And I tooke unto me faithfull witnesses to record Vriah the Priest and Zechariah the sonne of Ieberechiah And I went unto the Prophetesse and shee conceived and bare a sonne then said the Lord to mee call his name Mahor-shalal-hash-baz Hence it is * Atque ex hoc ritu profectum esse illum nostruÌ„ conslat quo certi homines speciatim maximè verò calamitosis temporibus ut ista futura erant adbibentur iestes accessus ad Christum et ad ecclesiam per baptismum nominis baptismo inditi ex quo ritu Propheta occasionem sumpsit ut testes filijsui ad alterâ—â— hoc singulare testimonium adhiberet Hos vulgus compatres commatres Graeci olim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appellarunt Iunius in Annot. ad Is 8.2 observed that Isaiah tooke unto him Vriah and Zechariah for witnesses of the Childes naming the Prophet would not name the Child but before some of the Church Also childrens names were given at their circumcision as it is testified of Iohn the Baptists i Luke 1.59 60 63. naming Yea also when our Lord Christ had the k Luke 2.21 name Iesus by Ioseph pronounced on him Moreover from the holy Prophets example of taking of witnesses unto the Childes naming and from that the Children were named in their circumcision the ancieÌ„t holy fathers ordained that there should be witnesses of childrens names given at their baptisme as also of their baptizing and withall they should l Phil. 2.4 1 Cor. 12.25 Ecclus. 4.10 Iam. 1.27 undertake to doe unto them that good Christian Office as afore was related out of the Exhortation in the Baptisme Service said unto the God fathers and God mothers CHAP. 53. Of the signe of the Crosse made on the forehead of the child having received Baptisme IT is said in the rubricke set after the words of the act of baptizing concerning the child baptized that then the priest shall make a crosse upon the childes forehead saying Wee receive this child into the congregation of Christs flocke and doe signe him with the signe of the crosse in token that hereafter hee shall not be ashamed to confesse the faith of Christ crucified and manfully to fight under his banner against sinne the World and the Devill and to continue Christs faithfull souldier and servant unto his lives end Even as those of the children of Israel which built an Altar for which they had no commandement in the Law of Moses transgressed not for that they did it for a m Ios 22.22 c. good signification So the Church our mother who hath power to make n Pro. 6.20 See Chap. 41. afore See the twentieth Article of the religion established law teaching or instruction besides what is expressed in the holy Scriptures so that nothing be done contrary to the everlasting precepts of the Gospell of Iesus Christ shee in using this ancient godly Ceremonie though to use the which there is no expresse commandement in the Bible in no wise transgresseth for that shee doth it for a good signification and to informe her members of a maine duety which all of yeares of discretion are bound to endeavour faithfully to performe under o Rom. 8.13 Rev. 21.7.8 Ps 78.8.9.10 paine of perishing everlastingly Our mother doth by that signe made on our foreheads put us in remembrance of the Christian warfare that every one baptized is to enter into and to p Mat. 10 22. Rev. 2.10.11 1 Tim. 5.12 continue in unto the end that will be saved Wee are not signed with the signe of the Crosse in token of any superstitious matter but of a matter most necessary required by the Gospell that all must confesse namely the faith of Christ q Gal. 6.14 Gal. 3.13.14 Cal. 2 14.15 crucified and also of manfull fighting under Christs banner against sinne the world and the Devill and also of continuing Christs faithfull souldiers and servants unto our lives end These maine Christian duties who so unfainedly endeavoureth to performe is in no wise offended at the signe used for to put people in mind of them but thanketh God that hee is borne in a Church where not onely the true Christian life is taught by tongue and penne but also is signified by some Ceremonie for ones r Num. 16 38 39 40. more remembrance of the same S. Paul said s God forbid that I should glory save in the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world He saith unto Timothy t 1 Tim. 6.12 fight the good fight of faith v 2 Tim. 2 3 4 5. Thou therefore endure hardnesse as a good souldier of Iesus Christ w 2 Tim. 4.7 I have fought the good fight To the Corinthians hee saith The x 2 Cor. 10.3 4 5 6. weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds To the Ephesians he lively declareth the spirituall enemies and with what weapons y Eph. 6.10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17. wee are to fight against them saying Finally my brethren bee strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Put on the whole armour of God that yee may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devill For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against Principalities against powers against the Å¿ Gal 6.14 rulers of the darkenes of this world against spirituall wickednesse in high places wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that yee may be able to withstand in the evill day and having done all to stand c. In the booke of the Revelation the spirituall blessings or promises which are made to the seven Churches in Asia are propounded unto each Church to that person which z Rev 2.7.11.17.26 Rev. 3.5.12.21 overcommeth also it is added a Rev. 2.26 which keepeth my workes unto the end and bee thou faithfull unto the b Rev. 2.10 death It is said in another place He that c Rev. 21.7.8 overcommeth shall inherit
2.13.14.15 Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evill doers and for the praise of them that do well For so is the will of God that with well doing yee may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men Saint Paul exhorteth Timothy that first all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of thankes be made for all men For Kings and for Å¿ 1. Tim. 2.1.2.3 all that are in authority that wee may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty The Apostle saith to the Hebrewes t Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the rule over you The Lord hath commanded his people by Moses saying If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgement between blood and blood betweene plea and plea and between stroke and stroke betweene matters of controversie within thy gates Then shalt thou arise and get thee up into the place which the Lord thy God shall choose And thou shalt come unto the Priests the Levites and unto the u Deut. 17.8 c. Iudge that shall be in those dayes and enquire and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgement And thou shalt doe according to the sentence which they of that place which the Lord shall choose shall shew thee and thou shalt observe to doe according to all that they enforme thee c. In the Book of Ioshua there is recorded an example of profession of obedience where the people answered Ioshua saying w Ios 1.17.18 All that thou commandest us wee will doe and whithersoever thou sendest us wee will goe According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things so will wee hearken unto thee only the Lord thy God be with thee as he was with Moses Whosoever he be that doth rebell against thy commandement and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him hee shall bee put to death onely bee strong and of a good courage That which is afterward mentioned concerning the obedience of the Reubenites Gadites and the halfe Tribe of Manasseh is written for all professed Christians to marke for an example the which Ioshua spake and said unto them Yee have keept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you and have obeyed my voice in * Ios 22.1.2 all that I commanded you Salomons saying is hereto considerable I counsell thee to keepe the y Eccles. 8.1 Kings commandement and that in regard of the oath of God Yea for to maintaine peace and to avoide giving of any the least offence to such as are in office it is the duty of Christians to condiscend unto the performance of any indifferent matter though there be no expresse Law or statute requiring the same And this may appeare to bee a subjects duty from the precept of Christ who knowing that tribute was there properly to be paid by strangers and that the Children were free notwithstanding saith hee lest wee should z Mat. 17.24 25 26 27. offend them pay thou for mee and for thine owne selfe CHAP. 72. Of Magistrates duties in generall IN the Prayer for the whole estate of Christs Church militant here in earth the dutie of Magistrates is signified where it is said And grant unto his whole Counsell and to all that be put in Authoritie under him that they may truly and indifferently minister Iustice to the punishment of wickednesse and vice and to the maintenance of Gods true religion and vertue Likewise in the Letany where it is said That it may please thee to blesse and keepe the Magistrates giving them grace to execute justice and to maintaine truth In the second part of the * T. 1. p. 44 45. Homily of Charity it is said As every loving father correcteth his naturall sonne when he doth amisse or else hee loveth him not So all governours of Realmes Countries Townes and Houses should lovingly correct them which be offenders under their governance and cherish them which live innoceÌ„tly if they have any respect either unto God or their office or love unto them of whom they have governance And such rebukes and punishments of them that offend must be done in due time lest by delay the offenders fall headlong into all manner of mischiefe and not onely bee evill themselves but also doe hurt unto many men drawing other by their evill example to sinne and outrage after them As one Theefe may both robbe many men and also make many Theeves and one seditious person may allure many and annoy a whole Towne or Countrey And such evill persons that be so great offenders to God and the Common-weale charity requireth to bee cut from the body of the Common-weale lest they corrupt other good and honest persons like as a good Surgion cutteth away a rotten and festered member for love hee hath to the whole body lest it infect other members adioyning to it In the * T. 2. p. 254 255. Homily against idlenesse it is said God of his mercy put it into the hearts and mindes of all them that have the sword of punishment in their hands or have families under their governance to labour for to redresse this great enormitie of all such as love idlely and vnprofitably in the Common-weale to the great dishonour of God and the grievous plague of his silly people To leave siâ—â—e unpunished and to neglect the good bringing vp of youth is nothing else but to kindle the Lords wrath against us and to heape plagues upon our owne heads Let all Officers therefore looke straitly to their Charge Let none maintain vagabonds idle persons but deliver the Realme and their housholds from such noysome loyterers that idlenesse the mother of all mischiefe being cleane taken away Almighty God may turne his dreadfull anger away from us and confirme the covenant of peace upon us for ever a Exod. 18.21 Iethro signified to Moses of what affection Governours should be saying Thou shalt provide out of all the people able men such as feare God men of truth bating covetousnesse c. So King Iehoshaphat in saying to the Iudges b 2 Chron. 19.6 7 11. Take heed what you doe for yee judge not for man but for the Lord who is with you in the judgement wherefore now let the feare of the Lord bee upon you take heed and doe it for there is no iniquitie with the Lord our God nor respect of persons nor taking of gifts Deale couragiously and the Lord shall bee with the good The Prophet David saith c Ps 82.1 2 3 4 6 7. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty hee judgeth among the gods How long will ye judge unjustly and accept the persons of the wicked Defend the poore and fatherlesse doe justice to the afflicted and needy deliver the poore and needy rid them out of the hand of the wicked I have said Yee are gods and all of you are the Children of the most High but ye shall dye like men
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
heare sermons And if they duely hearken unto the Homilies read in their Parish Church they in part doe their duty concerning hearing sermons For the Homilies are nothing else but * And so are often named in the booke of Homilies sermons And yet they are such sermons as are not made by any private spirit but by the publike spirit of the Church and are allowed by the whole Clergy of the same In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 265. Homily of repentance it is said Wee must bee diligent to read and heare the Scriptures and the Word of God which most lively doe paint out before our eyes our naturall uncleannesse and the enormity of our sinfull life For unlesse wee have a through feeling of our sinnes how can it bee that we should earnestly be sory for them Afore n 2 Sam. 12.7 c. David did heare the word of the Lord by the mouth of the Prophet Nathan what heavinesse I pray you was in him for the adultery and the murder that he had committed So that it might be said right wel that he slept in his owne sin We read in the Acts of the Apostles that when the people had heard the sermon of Peter they were compunct o Act. 2.37 pricked in their hearts Which thing would never have been if they had not heard that wholesome sermon of Peter They therfore that have no p Ier. 5.9 and 2.13 mind at all neither to read nor yet to heare Gods Word there is but small hope of them that they will as much as once set their feet or take hold upon the first staffe or step of this Ladder of repentance but rather will sinke deeper and deeper into the bottomlesse pit of perdition Besides the Sermons the Homilies the Church willeth us to heare other also such as are made by Preachers lawfully licensed and are preached according to the Law of the Church also The constitutions and * Canons Ecclesiasticall require Every beneficed man Canon 46. that is not allowed to bee a Preacher to procure sermons to be preached in his Cure once in every moneth at the least by Preachers lawfully licensed if his living in the judgement of the Ordinary will be able to beare it And upon every Sunday when there shall not bee a sermon preached in his Cure he or his Curate shall reade some one of the Homilies prescribed As the Ordinary disposeth unto every Parish concerning preaching so is every Parishioner to rest contented therewith The true Christian religion doth not totally consist in the q Iam. 1.22 23 24 25. Mat. 7.24 25 26 27. hearing of sermons preached every Sunday Christs Kingdome of grace as the Apostle Paul hath delivered is not in r 1 Cor. 4.20 word but in power It is Å¿ Rom. 14.17 18 19. righteousnesse and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace things wherwith one may edifie another That Counsell given by Iesus the sonne of Syrach is in no wise to bee neglected t Ecclus. 8.9 When a sermoÌ„ is made every person of that Parish ought to be present at it if he may Misse not the discourse of the Elders for they also learned of their fathers and of them thou shalt learne understanding to give answer as need requireth but as the Apostle saith u 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done decently and according to order A devout person may heare as many sermons preached as hee can but so as he transgresseth no law of the Church therby For if he doth transgresse the Ecclesiasticall law by his going abroad to heare sermons preached if he offendeth the Pastour or Curate over him if he by absenting himselfe from his Parish Church be a scandall to those of his Parish then is his hearing of sermons preached in other Parish Churches but as Sauls sacrifice unto whom Samuels saying is worthy of perpetuall memory w 1 Sam. 15.22 23. Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt Offerings and Sacrifices as in obeying the voyce of the Lord behold to obey is better than Sacrifice and to hearken then the fat of Rammes For rebellion is as the sinne of Witchcraft and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Symmacbus vertit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stubborne ones are Idolaters in that they worship or follow their owne minde and will and refuse to follow the minde and will of Christ and his Church See Ezek. 14.4 5 6. stubbornnesse is as iniquity and Idolatry The Gospell of Iesus Christ commandeth thus x 1 Pet. 2.13 Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake y Rom. 13.1 2. Let every soule be subject unto the higher powers for there is no power but of God The powers that be are ordained of God Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Wherefore Paul said unto Titus Bishop of the Church of the Cretians z Tit. 3.1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers to obey Magistrates to bee ready to every good worke Saint Paul also said to the Christians a Phil. 3.17 Brethren bee followers together of me and marke them which walke so as ye have us for an ensample Who said most remarkeably b 1 Cor. 9.19.20 21 22 23. Though I be free from all men yet have I made my selfe servant unto all that I might gaine the more And unto the Iewes I became as a Iew that I might gaine the Iewes To them that are under the law as under the law that I might gaine them that are under the law To them that are without law as without law being not without law to God but under the law to Christ that I might gaine them that are without law To the weake became I as weake that I might gaine the weake I am made all things to all men that I might by all meanes save some And this I doe for the Gospels sake or as Saint Peter saith for the c 1 Pet. 2 1â—1 Lords sake who hath commanded all that would be his people for to obey every Ordinance of man that is not contrary to the everlasting OrdinaÌ„ces of his holy Gospell Such as breake the order of the Church where they live in contemning or neglecting the Divine service there under pretence of conscience unto hearing of the Word preached would they conscionably but consider of matters they might by the grace of God see their aberration It is preaching that they cry out for Let them marke what is said in the Acts Moses of old time hath in every Citie them that preach him being d Act. 15.1 read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day Doth not the Apostle signifie in those his words that in reading of