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
thereby and giving him hearty thankes therefore he doth eate and drinke the body and blood of our Saviour Christ profitably to his soules health although he doe not receive the Sacrament with his mouth Our Mother the Church who according to her godly wisedome was the first causer of Temples to be built in this Land and the first appointer of the Parishes unto them hath ordained the Temples to be the ordinary places for receiving the holy Sacrament But in cases of necessitie when people cannot with any conveniency come or be brought into the Temple her Divine Wisdome hath appointed such to receive in their private house The Passeover which was even of like signification as the Communion is was kept in q Exod. 12.3 4. Mat. 26.18 private houses So in the Primitive Church it is said The Disciples came together into a r Act. 20.7 8 9. Jta Syrus interpretatus est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At Arabs optime ad frangen dum vel distribuendum corpus Messiae house for to breake bread that is to * celebrate the Communion Christ saith ſ Mat. 18.20 Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them Saint Paul said to the Romanes Greet the Church which is in the t Rom. 16.5 house of Aquila and Priscilla These Scriptures are here alleaged for to illustrate the lawfulnesse of receiving the Communion in private house according as the law of the Church alloweth but not in any otherwise And that Christs body and blood is profitably unto the soules health received sometimes without the Sacrament whē as the Sacrament cannot conveniently bee received that delivery of Christ declareth where he saith Except ye u Ioh. 6.53 54 55 56 57 47. eate the flesh of the Sonne of man and drinke his blood ye have no life in you Who so eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternall life c. He that beleeveth on me hath everlasting life Behold saith Christ I stand at the doore and knocke If any man heare my voyce and open the doore I will come into him and will sup with him and w Rev. 3.20 he with me But the holy Sacrament is in no wise to be neglected but with all due reverence to be received when as it may conveniently and lawfully bee ministred because it is Gods ordinary meanes whereby his people spiritually eate the flesh of Christ and drinke his blood CHAP. 67. Of Buriall of the dead IN the Rubricke before the Service thereof it is said The Priest meeting the corpes at the Church stile shall say or else the Priest and Clerkes shall sing and so goe either into the Church or towards the grave I am the x Iohn 11.25 26. resurrection and the life saith the Lord He that c. Vpon Christs words concerning Mary the sister of Lazarus that she was come afore hand to annoynt his body to the burying Tremellius a Iew by Nation but a Christian by profession in religion and famous in the Church of God for his translation of the Scriptures forth of Hebrew Chaldean and Syriacke relateth out of * Vide Tremellianam Annotationem ad Mar. 14.6 Iudaicall Antiquity That it was the manner of the Iewes among sundry Ceremonies and Services used about the dead as annoynting washing wrapping in linnen laying it on a Beere c. before they committed the body to the ground first to utter certaine sentences written by their Ancestors or Elders to bee said at this occasion in which funerall Service Gods Iustice is commended and mans sinnes aggravated by which they deserved death and God is beseeched so to exercise his Iustice that he would not forget that he is Mercy also And the Corpes being interred some things also are said as unto the Mourners for their consolation This saith hee was a custome in Israel which in time past was the peculiar people of God and a godly custome not much unlike is now in Englād used at a buriall unto the magnifying of Gods Iustice the condemning of mans sinne the meeke beseeching of Gods mercy through Iesus Christ and the comforting of the sorrowfull upon the occasion And to performe such funerall Service is it not onely proper to the Ministery which is the ordinary y Ios 9.14 mouth of God unto the people and of the people unto God Christ saith It becommeth us to fulfill all z Mat. 3.1 5. righteousnesse The Apostle saith a Phil. 4.8 Whatsoever things are of good report if they be of any vertue or praise they are to be thought upon and observed b 1 Cor. 14.40 All things are to be done decently and in order Ancient orders and customes ordained by the weighty deliberation of forefathers which may be used without any superstition and doe tend onely unto piety and humanity are according as the Church concerning them prescribeth with all conscionable care to be retained performed Yea the Church now greatly esteemeth deliveries of Antiquity as it may appeare where it is said in the Service for Consecration of Bishops That the Archbishop sitting in a Chair shal say this to him that is to be Consecrated Brother forasmuch as holy Scripture A Prayer of Chrysostome is a part of the Letany In the Homilies there are sayings of all the Fathers alleaged with much respect and the old Canons commandeth c. S. Ambrose his song is a part of the Morning Divine Service the Confession of faith composed by Athanasius and the Nicene Creed are therein likewise Read the 34. Article of Religion CHAP. 68. Of the reverence to bee done unto Almighty God in his Worship HOly Church in her Prayer for the whole state of Christs Church militant here in earth prescribeth unto us for to say And to all thy people give thine heavenly grace and specially to this congregation here present that with meeke heart and due reverence they may heare and receive thy holy word In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 1. Homily concerning the right use of the Church or Temple of God and of the reverence due unto the same it is said Where there appeareth at these dayes great slacknesse and negligence of a great sort of people in resorting to the Church there to serve God their heavenly Father according to their most bounden duty as also much uncomely and unreverent behaviour of many persons in the same when they bee there assembled and thereby may just feare arise of the wrath of God and his dreadfull plagues hanging over our heads for our grievous offences in this behalfe among other many and great sinnes which wee daily and hourely commit before the Lord. In the second part of the said * P. 8. Homily the Church saith And indeed concerning the people and multitude the Temple is prepared for them to be hearers rather than speakers considering that aswell the word of God is there read or taught whereunto they are bound
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
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
wherefore the earthly Prince should loath and abhorre the sight of us what paines would we take to remove and put it away How much more ought we with all diligence and speed that may be to put away that uncleane o 2 Cor. 7.1 filthinesse that doth p Isa 59.1 separate and maken division betwixt us and our God and that hideth his face from us that he will not heare us The Apostle to the Hebrewes saith Wee desire that every one of you doe shew the same q Heb. 6.11 12. diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end that yee be not sloathfull but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises To the Clergy Saint Paul saith Preach the Word be r 2 Tim. 4.2 instant in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine Solomon saith Be thou ſ Prov. 27.23 diligent to know the estate of thy flockes and looke well to thy heards In another place he saith Seest thou a man t Prov. 22.29 diligent in his businesse he shall stand before Kings he shall not stand before meane men Of Watchfulnesse IN the * T. 2. p. 252. Homily against Idlenesse it is said Let us u Iam. 4.7 1 Pet. 5.8 9. resist the Devill with our diligent watching in labour and in w 1 Pet. 4.19 well doing For he that diligently exerciseth himselfe in honest * See Mat. 12.44 where the originall of the word empty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also signifieth being idle businesse is not easily catched in the Devils snare Saint Paul saith unto Timothy x 2 Tim. 4 5. Watch thou in all things Christ saith y Mat. 26 41. Watch ye and pray lest ye enter in temptation What I say unto you I say unto all z Mar. 13.37 Watch. Of Contentednesse IN the * T. 2 p. 106. Homily against the excesse of Apparell it is said Let us content our selves quietly with that which God sendeth be it never so little And if it please him to send us plenty let us not waxe a Prov. 30.9 1 Tim. 6.17 18. proud thereof but let us use it moderately aswell to our owne comfort as to the reliefe of such as stand in necessity Afterward it is said Every Christian ought to content himselfe in our Saviour Christ thinking himselfe sufficiently * A most considerable sentence garnished with his heavenly vertues Saint Paul saith Godlinesse with b 1 Tim 6.6 7 8. contentment is great gaine For wee brought nothing into this world and it is certaine we can cary nothing out and having food and rayment let us be therewith content Let your c Heb. 13.5 conversation be without covetousnesse and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Saint Paul said concerning himselfe I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be d Phil. 4.11 content Of Simplicity IN the * T. 2. p. 106. Homily against the excesse of Apparell it is said Let us take unto us simplicity chastity and comelinesse submitting our necks to the sweet e Mat. 11.30 yoke of Christ The Lord Iesus said to his Apostles Behold I send you forth as sheepe in the midst of Wolves be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmlesse or f Mat 10.16 simple as doves Saint Paul said to the Corinthians I feare lest by any meanes as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the g 2 Cor. 11.3 simplicity that is in Christ In another Epistle he saith He that giveth let him doe h Rom. 12 8. it with simplicity And I would have you wise unto that which is good and i Rom. 19.19 simple concerning evill Concerning himselfe he said Our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in k 2 Cor. 1.12 simplicty and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisedome but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world and more abundantly to you wards Singlenesse of minde is one of the heavenly vertues Let us heare what David saith of the contrary nature They speake vanitie every one with his neighbour with flattering lips and with a l Psal 12.2 3. double heart doe they speak The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaketh proud things Of Zealousnesse IN the second part of the * T. 2. p. 131 132. Homily concerning the place and time of prayer it is said But now forasmuch as ye perceive it is Gods determinate pleasure ye should resort unto your Churches upon the day of holy rest seeing yee heare what displeasure God conceiveth what plagues he powreth upon his disobedient people seeing ye understand what blessings of God are given what heavenly commodities come to such people as desirously and zealously use to resort unto their Churches seeing also ye are now friendly bidden and joyntly called beware that ye slacke not your duty take heed that you suffer nothing to let you hereafter to come to the Church at such times as you are ordinarily appointed and commanded Ever memorable is that which the Lord said to the Angell of the Church of the Laodiceans I know thy workes that thou art neither cold nor hot I would thou were cold or hot So then because thou art lukewarme and neither cold nor hot I will spue thee out of my mouth As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be m Rev. 3.15 16 17 18.19 Ier. 48.10 as in the margent zealous therefore and repent Paul signified of some that had a n Rom. 10.2 zeale of God but not according to knowledge Hee telleth Titus therefore whereof all should be o Tit. 2.14 zealous namely of good workes Great also ought to be the zeale of every Christian concerning Gods house his Temple and every part of his publike worship and concerning every circumstance thereto ordained by the Church that nothing thereof be profaned but every particular with all due reverence used or performed according to the example of Iesus Christ of whom it is said that the p Iohn 2.17 zeale of his fathers house had eaten them up Of Modestie IN the * T. 2. p. 94. Homily against Gluttony and Drunkennesse it is said Almighty God to the end that wee might keepe our selves undefiled and serve him in holinesse and righteousnesse according to his word hath charged in his Scriptures so many as looke for the glorious appearing of our Saviour Christ to lead their lives in all q Tit. 3.12 13. sobriety modesty and temperance whereby wee may learne how necessary it is for every Christian that will not be found unready at the comming of our Saviour Christ to live sober minded in this present world forasmuch as otherwise being unready he r Mat. 25.10 11 12. cannot enter with Christ into glory And being
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
or most chiefely in observing Ceremonies It is written in the booke of Ester that the Church of God then p Esther 9.21 celebrated two dayes in memorie of the Lords most wonderfull protection of them and deliverance of them from the plot of Haman It is not written that they had any law of God requiring it neither that they received any speciall revelation for to signifie unto them that they ought so to doe but that they did it from the Common q Prov. 8.14 15 16. wisedome with which God endueth his Church at all times There is also mention of a seast in the Gospell according to S. Iohn called The feast of the r 1 Mac. 4.59 dedication which the Church of God then the people of the Iewes had along time observed in ſ Ioh. 10.22.23 celebration whereof it seemeth that Christ was present which was not ordained by divine Law nor by Revelation but by the common devotion of the Church as it is recorded in the Book of Maccabees Moreover the people of God on such holy dayes were not onely to abstaine from their ordinary t Lev. 23.7 vocation or worke but also they were to assemble unto the place of Gods publike worship and there to perfome such religious duties as God and his Church had appointed The which may appeare out of the booke of Chronicles where it is delivered that David ordained of the ministerie to stand every morning to to thanke and praise the Lord and likewise at even and to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the Lord in the Sabbaths in the new moones and on the u 1 Chron. 23.30 31. set feasts by number according to the order commanded unto them continually before the Lord. Of the place wherein holy duties are to be performed by people or a cōgregation Now concerning the place where holy duties upon Sundaies and other Holy dayes are to bee performed the first part of the x T. 2. p. 126 127 128. homily concerning the place and time of prayer declareth to bee the materiall temple or the parish-Church unto which the people are by the Law required for to repaire and duly frequent where Christ hath promised to bee y Mat. 18.20 present and where he will heare the prayers of thē that call upon him Our godly predecessours and the ancient fathers of the primitive Church saith that Homily spared not their goods to build Churches no they spared not their lives in time of persecution and to hazard their blood that they might assemble themselves together in Churches And shall we spare a little labour to come to Churches Shall neither their example nor our duty nor the Commodities that thereby should come unto us move us If we will declare our selves to have the feare of God if wee will shew our selves true Christians if wee will be the followers of Christ our master and of those godly fathers which have lived before us and have now received the reward of true and faithfull Christians wee must both willingly earnestly reverently come unto the materiall Churches and Temples to pray as unto fit places appointed for that use and that upon the Sabbath day as at most convenient time for Gods people to cease from bodily and worldly businesse to give themselves to holy rest and godly contemplation pertaining to the service of Almighty God Whereby wee may reconcile our selves to God be partakers of his holy Sacraments and bee devout hearers of his holy word so to bee established in faith to Godward in hope against all adversity and in charity toward our neighbours * T. 2. p. 131. Also to have our poore and needy neighbours in remembrance and from the Church to depart better and more godly than wee came thither The Lord hath said p Exod. 16.29 Abide yee every man in his place Let no man goe out of his place on the seventh or Sabbath day Yet there was prescribed a Sabbath dayes q Act. 1.12 journey and that appeareth to be but as unto ones owne parish Church ordinarily The aforesaid * T. 2. p. 127. Homily saith That the Tabernacle was as it were the parish Church of the Iewes being in the Wildernesse Vide Tremel annot ad Iam. 2. A Chaldee Paraphrase upon Ruth saith and the Chaldean Paraphrases are the most ancient interpretations of Moses and the Prophets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which are now common to the Church of God That we are commanded to observe the Sabbath good dayes not to walke unlesse 2000 cubits which distance appeareth to bee the space between the place of the Camp and the place where the Arke was as Ioshua said r Ios 3.3 4. There shal be a space between you it above 2000 cubits by measure And such a distance the suburbs belonging to Cities were to be from them round about as it is written in the booke of f Num. 35.5 Numbers Lastly concerning the due celebration of the Sabbath day it is also said in the first part of the * T. 2. p. 2. Homily concerning the right use of the Church That unto the house or Temple of God at all times by common order appointed are all people that bee godly indeed bound with all diligence to resort unlesse by sicknes or other most urgent causes they be letted therefro And all the same so resorting thither ought with all quietnesse and reverence there to behave themselves in doing their bounden duty and service to Almighty God in the Congregation of the Saints In the said part of that * P. 4. Homily it is further delivered That Iesus came t Ioh. 8.2 early in the morning into the Temple and all people came unto him and hee sate downe and taught them And in S. Luke it is said v Luke 21.38 Iesus taught in the Temple and all the people came early in the morning unto him that they might heare him in the Temple Here yee see as well the diligence of our Saviour in teaching the word of God in the Temple daily and specially on the Sabbath dayes as also the readinesse of the people resorting all together and that early in the morning into the Temple to heare him The Lord commāded the people of Israel to w Num. 28.9.10 offer more on the Sabbath day then on any other day And was it not for our x 2 Tim. 3.16 instruction in righteousnesse that wee ought on that day to spend more time in every religious exercise than on any other day cōmonly The * In Canon 90. and Article 30. of our Church-discipline also Law of the Church is that We be present in the Temple at the beginning of the divine Service and that unlesse through some urgent occasion we depart not untill every part of the divine Service be ended Also all persons of every Family that are able in any wise to understand any part of the publike worship unles such
Iesus concerning you And Isaiah signifieth that thankesgiving acceptable to God consisteth not in words onely where he saith u Isa 5.16 God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousnes In another place he saith w Isa 66.5 Heare ye the word of the Lord yee that tremble at his word your brethren that hated you that cast you out for my names sake said Let the Lord be glorified but he shall appeare to your joy and they shall bee ashamed Memorably saith the Church in the Communion service It is very meet right and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places give thankes unto thee O Lord Holy Father Almighty Everlasting God Of confession to God Concerning publike confession of our sinnes unto God the Divine Service beginneth with one that is generall and likewise there is a generall confession to be made afore receiving of the holy Communion The Prophet Daniel made a solemne x Dan. 9.4 confession unto God in the behalfe of the Iewes in generall that were with him in captivity in Babylon And Baruch wrote a long y Bar. 1.14.15 c. confession for the Iewes at Ierusalem to make reading it in the House of the Lord upon the feasts and solemne dayes There is also private confession of our sins to be made unto God whereof it is said in the second part of the * T. 2. Homily of repentance that it is the second part of repentance And the Homily saith If we will with a sorrowfull and contrite heart make an unfeined confession of our sinnes unto God hee will freely and frankly forgive them and so put all our wickednesse out of remembrance before the sight of his Majestie that they shall no more be z Heb. 8.12 thought upon Hereunto doth pertaine the golden saying of David where he saith on this manner a Ps 32.5 Then I acknowledged my sinne unto thee neither did I hide mine iniquitie I said I will confesse against my selfe my wickednesse unto the Lord and thou forgavest the ungodlinesse of my sinne These are also the words of Iohn the Evangelist b 1 Iohn 1.9 10. If wee confesse our sinnes God is faithfull and righteous to forgive us our sinnes and to make us cleane from all our wickednesse Which ought to be understood of the confession made unto God This is then the chiefest and most principall confession that in the Scriptures and Word of God wee are bidden to make and without the which wee shall never obtaine pardon and forgivenesse of our sinnes The Prodigall sonne made such a confession saying c Luke 15.21 Father I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy sonne Salomon saith d Prov. 28.13 Hee that hideth his sinnes shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsakes them shall finde mercy CHAP. 45. Of singing Psalmes and spirituall songs in publike and in private and also of singing with musicke IN the title of the Psalmes in meeter in the Booke of Common prayer it is thus said The whole booke of Psalmes collected into English meeter by c. Conferred with the Hebrew with apt notes to sing them withall Set forth and allowed to bee sung in all Churches of all people together before and after morning and evening prayer as also before and after sermons and moreover in private houses for their godly solace and comfort laying apart all ungodly songs and Ballads which tend onely to the nourishing of vice and corrupting of youth Iames 5.13 If any be afflicted let him pray and if any be merry let him sing Psalmes And then in the Common prayer booke of that forme which is appointed for Churches there is added a Treatise made by Athanasius the great cōcerning the use and vertue of the Psalmes whose beginning is thus and a delivery most memorable All holy Scripture is certainly the teacher of all vertue and of true faith but the booke of Psalmes doth expresse after a certaine manner the very state and condition of the soule For as he which intendeth to present himselfe to a King first will compound with himselfe to set in good order both his gesture and his speech lest else he might be reputed rude and ignorant even so doth this godly booke informe all such as be desirous to lead their life in vertue and to know the life of our Saviour which hee ledd in his conversation putting them in minde in the reading thereof of all their affections and passions whereto their soule is inclined c. And then doe follow 99. signifyings of what Psalmes may be sung even upon most occasions that come to passe in this present life And both before and also after the Psalmes in meeter there are sundry spirituall songs which may be sung upon sundry occasions unto the great comfort of the minde * Of singing with musicke Concerning singing in publike it is said in the booke of Ezra e Ezra 3.10 11. When the builders laid the foundation of the Temple of the Lord they set the Priests in their apparell with Trumpets and the Levites the sonnes of Asaph with Cymbals to praise the Lord after the Ordinance of Dauid King of Israel And they sang together by course in praising and giving thankes unto the Lord because hee is good for his mercy indureth for ever towards Israel And in the booke of Chronicles it is said f 1 Chron. 16.7 David delivered a Psalme to thanke the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brethren The which holy Prophet hath said g Ps 148.11 12 13 14. Kings of the earth and all people Princes and all Iudges of the earth both young men and maydens old men and Children let them praise the name of the Lord. h Ps 149.1 3. Sing unto the Lord a new song and his praise in the congregation of Saints let them sing praises unto him with Timbrell and Harpe i Ps 150.1 Praise yee God in his Sanctuary k Ps 95.1 2. O come let us sing unto the Lord let us make a joyfull noyse to the rocke of our salvation Let us come before his presence with thankesgiving and make a ioyfull noyse unto him with Psalmes l Ps 100.1 Serve the Lord with gladnesse come before his presence with singing Saint Paul said to the Church of Ephesus Be m Eph. 5.18 19 filled with the spirit speaking to your selves in Psalmes and hymnes and spirituall songs singing and making melodie in your heart to the Lord. n Ps 150.3 4 5. Praise the Lord saith David with the sound of the Trumpet praise him with the Psaltery and Harpe Praise him with the Timbrell and daunce praise him with stringed instruments and Organs Praise him upon the loud Cymbals praise him upon the high sounding Cymbals It is written that Moses and the Children of Israel o Exod. 15.1 sang a song unto the Lord. And that p
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
Moses Moses is preached What is it to preach though the terme be now by an excellency commonly used for to make a sermon of about an houre long in the Pulpit is it not openly to make knowne the Doctrine of Christian faith and life And is not then the heavenly trueth e In Luke 8.39 the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is many times translated preaching is rendred published published or preached in the reading of the lessons the Epistle and the Gospell Is not Gods truth as concerning godlinesse f So in Luke 12.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which sometimes is rendred shall be treached as in Mat. 24 14. is there rendred shall bee proclaimed published in the reading of the common prayer in the reading of the Homilies in the explaining of the Catechisme in the Divine service and by instructing the ignorant in the same Let such as so sleight contemne or neglect the Divine service-deliveries examine themselves if they be not of like minde to those of whom it is written in Ezechiel g Ezek. 33.30 31 32. that will speake one to another every one to his brother saying Come I pray you and heare what is the word that cōmeth forth from the Lord And they come unto thee as the people commeth and they sit before thee as my people and they heare thy words but they will not doe them for with their mouth they shew much love but their heart goeth after their covetousnesse And loe thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voyce and can play well on an Instrument for they heare thy words but they doe them not Or rather if they be not such as Saint Paul foretold would be in the last dayes h 2 Tim. 4.3.4 who will not endure sound Doctrine but after their owne lusts will heape to themselves teachers having itching eares and they will turne away their eares from the trueth and will be turned unto fables Being also lovers i 2 Tim. 3.2 4 5. of their owne selves boasters proud disobedient to parents unthankfull unholy without naturall affection false accusers fierce despisers of those that are good heady high minded c. having a forme of godlinesse but denying the power thereof Were it the righteousnesse of faith and life which they k Mat. 5.6 hungred and thirsted after and as the sacred Letany saith to have the grace of Gods holy Spirit for to amend their lives according to his holy Word also for to have an heart to love and dread God and diligently to live after his Commandements They by the grace of Christ should perceive in the books of Divine service frō the publike hearing of the same a plentifull helpe to bee towards attaining that l Phil. 3.14 make as also by the reading of the holy Scriptures which the Church hath translated for them into the English tongue Who now a dayes attaineth unto that soundnesse of faith and unto that measure of holinesse and righteousnesse of life as is prescribed and taught plainly in the bookes of the Divine service Is it any godlinesse or true devotion or any property of the Christian profession for people having most wholesome food by the greatest wisedome and care of the Church prepared and so disposed as it may bee profitably received and inwardly digested unto the great increase of holy understanding and upright living in their owne Parish for to goe out thence ordinarily for food abroad with violating the established order of the Church giving offence to the Minister and a great m 1 Cor. 10.32.24.33 Rom. 14.13.19 1 Cor. 8.13 scandall to the people of the congregation CHAP. 48. Of peoples reading the holy Scriptures in private and of meanes helping unto the understanding of them THE very first of all the sacred sermons or * T. 1. p. 1. Homilies of the Church is titled a fruit full exhortation to the reading and knowledge of holy Scripture and it saith Vnto a Christian man there can bee nothing either more necessary or profitable than the knowledge of holy Scripture forasmuch as in it is contained Gods true Word setting forth his glory and also mans n 2 Tim. 3.16 17. duty And there is no truth nor doctrine o Isa 8.20 necessary for our justification and everlasting salvation but that is or may be drawne out of that Fountaine and Well of truth Therefore as many as bee desirous to enter into the right and perfect way unto God must apply their mindes to know holy Scripture without the which they can neither p Mat. 22.29 Ier. 8.9 sufficiently know God and his will neither their office and duty And as drinke is pleasant to them that be dry and meat to them that be hungry So is the reading hearing searching and studying of holy Scripture to them that be desirous to know God or themselves and to q Ps 19.10 and 119.103 Iohn 7.17 Ps 103.18 Mat. 7.21 doe his will And their stomacks onely doe r Mat. 7.6 2 Pet. 2.22 Phil. 3.19 loath and abhorre the heavenly knowledge and food of Gods Word that be so drowned in worldly f Eph. 4.17 Ier. 2.5 vanities that they neither t Rom. 8.5 savour God nor any godlinesse For that is the cause why they desire such vanities rather than the true knowledge of God And so along forward the said Homily delivereth sentences worthy to bee printed in letters of gold yea to be laid up in the secret of our hearts In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 143. Homily an information for them which take offence at certaine places of the holy Scripture it is said The great utility and profit that Christian men and women may take if they will by hearing and reading the holy Scriptures dearely beloved no heart can sufficiently conceive much lesse is my tongue able with words to expresse Wherefore Satan our enemy seeing the Scriptures to bee the very meane and right way to bring people to the true knowledge of God and that Christian religion is greatly furthered by diligent hearing and reading of them hee also perceiving what an hinderance and lett they bee to him and his kingdome doth what he can to drive the reading of them out of Gods Church And so forward it treateth in a wonderfull Divine manner In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 230. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said No where can we more certainly search for the knowledge of the will of God by the which we must direct all our workes and deeds but in the holy Scriptures for they be they that u Iohn 5.39 testifie of him saith our Saviour Christ We see with what vanity the schoole doctrine is mixed for that in this Word they sought not the w Eph. 5.17 Rom. 12.2 will of God but rather the will of reason the trade of custome the path of the fathers the practice of the Church Let
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
the great indignation and curse of God against them in this life and the terrible wrath and judgement of our Saviour Christ at the great day of the last judgement when he shall justly judge both the quicke and the dead according to their workes For whosoever forsaketh the truth for love or displeasure of any man or for lucre and profit to himselfe doth forsake Christ and with Iudas betray him And although such perjured mens falshood be now kept secret yet it shall be opened at the last day when the secrets of all mens hearts shall be manifest to all the world And then the truth shall appeare and accuse them and their owne conscience with all the blessed company of heaven shall beare witnesse truely against them And Christ the righteous Iudge shall then justly condemne them to everlasting shame and death As in a great part of the booke intituled God and the King we may find much divine instruction concerning taking a lawful oath so where there is delivered the nature of an oath in generall it is much remarkeable It is * there said An oath is a most sacred bond and with a secret terrour imprinted by the immediate singer of God in the taking thereof doth so straitly oblige the inmost soule and conscience that although many men bee obdurate unto other grievous sinnes yet they will be tender and sensible of the violation of an oath Very often saith Saint Augustine men provoke their wives whom they suspect to bee adulterous to cleere themselves by an oath which they would not doe unlesse they did beleve that those which feare not adultery may feare perjurie For indeed saith hee some unchast women which have not feared to deceive their husbands by wantonnesse have beene afraid to use God unto them as a witnesse of their chastitie When one layeth his hands upon the Gospell booke and signifieth that according as he testifieth the truth so he expecteth and desireth helpe from God and the contents of that booke he sweareth by or taketh for witnesse the everlasting word of the Lord Iesus Christ in praying for benefit by that word according as then hee beareth witnesse unto the truth To sweare therefore by the everlasting word of God is an high oath For David saith Thou hast magnified thy word n Psal 138.2 above all thy name CHAP. 74. Of Honouring the Ministery IN the Preface afore the booke of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons it is said That from the Apostles time there hath beene these orders of Ministers in Christs Church which officers were evermore in p. 18. had in such reverent estimation that no man by his owne private authority might presume to execute any of them except he were first called c. In the rubricke afore the Service for the ordering of Deacons it is said First when the day appointed by the Bishop is come there shall be an exhortation declaring the duty and office of such as come to be admitted Ministers how necessarie such orders are in the Church of Christ and also how the people ought to esteeme them in their vocation Saint Paul said to the Thessalonians Wee beseech you brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteeme them very o 1 Thes 5.12 13. highly in love for their workes sake And unto Timothy he saith Let the Elders that rulewell be counted worthy of p 1 Tim. 5.17 double honour especially they who labour in the word and doctrine And unto the Corinthians hee saith Let a man so q 1 Cor. 4.1.2 account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the mysteries of God Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithfull Iesus the sonne of Syrach saith Feare the Lord with all thy soule and r Eccsus 7.29 30 31. reverence his Priests Love him that made thee with all thy strength and forsake not his Ministers Feare the Lord and honour the Priest and give him his portion as it is commanded thee c. The Lord saith in his Law Take heed to thy selfe that thou Å¿ Deut. 12.9 forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth Saint Paul saith to the Galathians Let him that is taught in the Word t Gal. 6.6 communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things And unto Timothy he saith The labourer is u 1 Tim. 5.17 18. worthy of his reward To the Corinthians he saith The Lord hath ordained that they which preach the Gospell should w 1 Cor. 9.14 live of the Gospell It is written that Melchisedek having ministred to Abraham bread and wine and having blessed him Abraham gave him x Gen. 14.20 Tithes of all It is recorded of certaine women whom Iesus had healed of evill spirits and infirmities Mary Magdalen and Ioanna the wife of Chuza Herods Steward and Susanna and many others to have ministred unto Christ of their y Luk. 8.2 3. substance It is also written that when people went to a man of God for to receive information they caried some z 1 Sam. 9.7 8. 1 Kings 14.3 2 Kings 8.8 present with them as a token of due thankfulnesse The Ministers of Almighty God are to be a Heb. 13.17 Deut. 17.12 obeyed to bee b Hag. 2.11 Mal. 2.7 consulted with diligently to bee c Neh. 8.3 Acts 10.33 Ecclus. 8.8 9. Psal 84.10 and 121.1 heard when they teach to be credited People may not d Hos 4.4 strive with them but ought so much as they may to e 1 Cor. 16.11 preserve them from being despised and from being put in feare Also the blessing with which the Priests of God doe f Num. 6.23.24 25 26 27. Ezech. 44.30 blesse people is much to be regarded CHAP. 75. Of using the Perambulation of the Circuit of the Parish called going a Procession IN the * T. 2. p. 234. Homily an exhortation to bee spoken to such Parishes where they use their Perambulation in Rogation weeke for the oversight of the bounds and limits of their Towne it is said Although we be now assembled together good Christian people most principally to laud and thanke Almighty God for his great benefits by beholding the fields replenished with all manner of fruit to the maintenance of our corporall necessities for our food and sustenance and partly also to make our humble suits in prayers to his fatherly providence to conserve the same fruits in sending us seasonable weather whereby we may gather in the said fruits to that end for which his fatherly goodnesse hath provided them yet have we occasion secondarily given us in our walkes on those dayes to consider the old ancient bounds limits belonging to our Township and to other our neighbours bordering about us to the intent that wee should be content with our owne and not contentiously strive for others to the breach of charity by any incroching
wherefore David having experience of Gods goodnesse in his deliverance from the hand of Saul said I will love thee O Lord my strength The Lord is my rocke and my fortresse and my deliverer my God my strength in whom I will e Ps 18.1.2.3 trust my Buckler and the horne of my salvation and my high tower I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to bee praised so shall I bee saved from mine enimies It proceedeth also from beliefe in God and in his word which beliefe God graciously giveth unto those that feare him and diligently pray for the same as Saint Paul signifieth to the Ephesians saying In whom wee have boldnesse and accesse with f Eph. 3.12 confidence by the faith of him Ieremiah saith Cursed bee the man that g Ier. 17.5.6.7.8 trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme and whose heart departeth from the Lord. But blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is The seventh duty is to call upon God The seventh duty to call upon God And that is to pray unto him David saith offer unto God thankesgiving and pay thy vowes unto the most High and h Ps 50.14.15 call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me It proceedeth also out of beliefe as it is written How shall they i Rom. 10.14 call on him in whom they have not beleeved People obedient to Christ and his k Mat. 18.17 Church which humble themselves and faithfully endeavour to observe all the ordinances of Christs Church have the promise to be heard when they call on the Lord and doe in the name and mediation of Iesus Christ aske such things as bee agreeable to his will as Saint Iohn saith Whatsoever we l 1 Ioh. 3.22 aske wee receive of him because wee keepe his Commandement and doe those things that are pleasing in his sight The eight duty is to honour Gods Holy name The eight duty To honour Gods holy name And for the performance thereof wee pray when we say Hallowed be thy name They that make conscience of breaking the third Commandement of m Exod 20.7 taking his name in vaine are such as have a regard to honour his n Mal. 3.16.17.18 name By the Name of the Lord is not onely meant a word or words proper to the Creator whereby he is distinguished from all creatures in speaking of him or unto him but also sundry other things whereby the Lord becommeth knowne unto us The name of the Lord is observed sometimes to signifie God himselfe his holy being which is infinite almighty c as where it is said The o Prov. 18.10 Name of the Lord is a strong Tower the righteous runneth into it and is safe Where name may signifie also power and protection So in Moses where it is said If thou wilt not observe to doe all the words of this Law that are written in this Booke that thou maist feare his glorious and fearefull p Deut. 28.58 Name The Lord thy God then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderfull c. It signifieth also the will and Commandement of God as where it is said whosoever will not hearken unto my words which my Prophet shall speake in my q Deut. 18.19 Name I will require it of him Officers under the Royall Majestie use the word name in the like sense when they say I charge thee in the Kings name c. It also signifieth the religion or worship of God as where it is said in Micah All people will walke every one in the name of his god and wee will walke in the r Micah 4.5 name of the Lord our God for ever and ever Other significations it is observed to have It is our duty to honour to reverence both with soule and body with heart and mouth and with due respect for to esteem whatsoever Name God is called by or knowne The Lord said by Samuel unto Eli Them that s 1 Sam. 2.30 honour me I will honour And his Omnipotencie looketh for honour to be performed by us unto him signifying it by his Prophet Malachie saying A sonne honoureth his Father and a servant his Master If then I bee a Father where mine t Mal. 1.6 honour And if I be a Master where is my feare The ninth duty To honour Gods holy word saith the Lord of Hosts unto you O priests that despise my name and yet yee say wherein have we despised thy name The ninth duty is to honour Gods holy word David saith I will worship towards thy holy Temple and praise thy Name for thy loving kindnesse for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy u Ps 138.2 word above all thy name Christ saith to his Father Sanctifie them through the truth thy w Ioh. 17.17 word is truth And David saith unto the Lord Thy x Ps 119.142 Law is the truth Now for to make mention of any sentence in any deliverie by the Kings Majestie or by the Parliament or by the Convocation without due reverence thereto is justly a lightnesse or rather a lewdnesse Likewise for to mention any sentence of holy Scripture Gods holy word without due reverence thereto both with heart and voice honouring it as a word that y 1 Pet. 1.23.24 25. endureth for ever and as that whereby we shall every one without respect of persons bee z Iob. 12 48. judged in the last day lightly to alleage any divine deliverie is by all that truely feare God judged to proceed from a heart full of impiety and iniquity Isaiah signifieth that wee are to a Isa 66.5 tremble at Gods word and in no wise to make jests with any of it or rashly to utter any part of it but when wee speake any portion of holy Scripture to have a most serious care that it may tend directly to the glory of God and as much as may bee to the b Eph 4 2â— edification of the hearers Also we are not onely at all times with feare and honourable respect to recite holy Scripture when wee have occasion thereto but also to bee obedient or obediently enclined unto every document thereof which wee mention Else our honouring of Gods word is but a c Mat. 15.8.7 lip honour whereof Christ saith This people draw nigh to mee with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips but their heart is farre from me Which doing Christ in the verse afore signifieth to be but a kind of hypocrisie Herein saith Christ is my Father glorified or his word honoured that yee beare d Ioh. 13.8.16 much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples He is not accounted a true honourer of the Lawes of a Realme which meerely with due regard doth rehearse them but hee that also conscionably endeavoureth to live according to every of them The tenth duty to serve God truly all the dayes of
doers and for the praise of them that doe well If such as are seditiously inclined would sometimes reade through the whole Homily of obedience and the whole Homily against disobedience and wilfull rebellion and also would call to minde the end of all seditious ones and of all privie conspiratours in former times even in all privie conspiratours in former times even in all ages and almost in all places they by the grace of Christ might be of a cleane contrary disposition Saint Paul from God Almighty denounceth that hatred variance emulations wrath strife z Gal. 5.20.21 seditions heresies or sects or factions envyings c. Are workes of the flesh and that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdome of God And now for conclusion about mentioning particular sins referring every devout soule unto a diligent reading or hearing of the whole Bible and to observe thereout what the spirit of God hath delivered and prescribed for every one in his severall vocation and state either to doe or to leave undone and to shunne and also to a most serious search of the whole divine Service of the Church of England for to performe every particular duty mentioned therein which concerneth him and to shunne whatsoever it is there dehorted from let us heare what holy Church delivereth unto us in the first Homily * T. 2. p. 176. of the Passion concerning the detestation which we ought to have within us continuall against all sinne No man can love sinne which God a Ps 5.4.5.6 hateth so much and be in his favour No man can say that hee b Ioh. 14.23.24 loveth Christ truly and have his great enemy sinne I meane aut hour of his death familiar and in friendship with him So much doe we love God and Christ as wee hate sinne Wee ought therfore to take great heed that wee be not favourers thereof lest wee be found enemies to God and traitours to Christ We can no otherwise live to God but by c 1 Cor. 15.31 Rom. 6.8.11 dying to sin If Christ bee d Rom. 8.10.11 in us then is sinne dead in us and if the spirit of God be in us which raised Christ from death to life so shall the same spirit raise us to the Resurrection of everlasting life e Rom. 6.16 But if sinne rule and raigne in us then is God which is the fountaine of all grace and vertue f Ier. 6.8 departed from us then hath the Devill and his vngratious spirit g 2 Pet 2.19 rule and dominion in us And surely if in such miserable h Eccles. 11. â—â— Heb. 9.27 state wee dye we shall not rise to life but fall downe to death and damnation and that without end David therefore saith Ye that love the Lord i Ps 97.10 Ps 119.104 hate evill CHAP. 96. Of the sinne against the Holy Ghost IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 261. Homily of repentance it is said But of the finall falling away from Christ his Gospell which is a sinne against the Holy Ghost that shall never bee forgiven because that they doe k Heb. 10.26 utterly forsake the knowne truth doe l Cor. 16.22 hate Christ and his m Ioh. 8.47 word they doe n Heb. 6.6 crucifie and o Heb. 10.29 mocke him but to their utter destruction and therefore fall into desperation and cannot repent In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 150. Homily of certaine places of Scripture it is said concerning three sorts of people whose company the Prophet David would to be shunned by every one that would be blessed The third sort the Prophet calls p Ps 1.1 scorners that is a sort of men whose hearts are so stuffed with malice that they are not contented to dwell in sinne and to lead their lives in all kind of wickednesse but also they doe q 2 Tim. 3.3 Prov. 29.27 contemne and scorne in other all godlinesse true religion all honesty and vertue Of this sort I thinke I may without danger of Gods judgemeÌ„t pronounce that never any yet converted unto God by repentance but continued still in their abominable wickednesse r Rom. 2.5 2 Tim. 3.8.13 heaping up to themselves damnation against the day of Gods inevitable judgements What sinne against the Holy Ghost is it may the better appeare by considering first what is sinne against God the Father and what is sinne against God the Sonne Sinne against God the Father is all transgression committed whiles one is in the first s Luk. 15.18.24 Eph. 2.1 death of trespasses and sinnes and in minde is t Eph. 5.14 asleepe not attending unto the gracious call of God the Father nor following his profered u Ioh. 6.44 Hos 11.4 Ier. 31.3 drawing or leading unto repentance Sinne also is said to be against God the Father which is coÌ„mitted through humane w 1. Ioh. 2.12 weakenesse and frailty And sinne against God the Sonne is the speaking of a word against the x Mat. 12.31.32 sonne of man Iesus Christ which sinne Saul afterward called Paul committed y 1 Tim. 1.13.16 ignorantly in unbeleife Yea and Peters z Luke 22.56 c. deniall of Christ for a time appeareth to bee a sinne of that nature Also when one is a disciple of Christs Gospell and through meere ignorance or the like infirmity offendeth against Christ as Peter did when hee said unto Christ Bee it a Mat 16.22 farre from thee Lord This shall not bee unto thee meaning the suffering which Christ signified that hee should endure All sinne committed against God the Father is b Rom. 3.25 forgiven through his great mercy in Iesus Christ c Ezech. 18.21 22. when one repenteth for the sinne All sinne committed against God the Sonne is forgiven for his d 1 Ioh. 2.12 Eph 4 32. names sake unto such as e 1 Tim. 6.12 Rev. 2.10.11 fight the good fight of faith and truly endeavour to lay hold on eternall life Now concerning sinne against the Holy Ghost it is either committed by such as have beene made partakers of the Holy Ghost of whom S. Paul saith to the Hebrewes That it is impossible for those who where once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made f Heb. 6.4.5.6.7.8 partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come being * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hieronymus vertit Prolapsi sunt Syrus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui rursum peccaverunt id est a justitia deficientes certamalitia in omne peccatum projecti sunt c Iunius fallen away to renew them againe to repentance seeing they crucifie to themselves the Sonne of God afresh and put him to an open shame For the earth which drinketh in the raine that commeth oft upon it and bringeth forth hearbes meete for them by whom it
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