workes of the spirit namely the fruits of faith charitable and godly motions if we have any at all in him they proceed onely of the Holy Ghost who is the x onely worker of our sanctification and maketh us new men in Christ Iesus as David of a poore shepheard to become a Princely Prophet Matthew of a proud Publicane to become an humble and lowly Euangelist Peter of a simple fisher to become a chiefe and mighty Apostle Paul of a cruell and bloody persecutor to become a faithfull disciple of Christ and a teacher of the Gentiles Such is the power of the Holy Ghost to x 1 Cor. 6.11 regenerate men and as it were to bring them forth anew so that they shall bee y 2 Cor. 5.17 nothing like the men that they were before Regeneration is begun in Baptisme as the Service thereof expresly delivereth and it is increased afterward in all such as are z Rom. 8.14 Gal. 5.18 Eph. 4.15 16. led by the spirit of Iesus Christ Concerning conversion repentance and regeneration the holy Scriptures doe thus deliver Iesus Christ saith Verily I say unto you a Mat. 18.3 Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the Kingdome of heaven Except ye b Luke 13.3 repent yee shall all likewise perish Verily verily I say unto thee c Iohn 3.5.3 Except a man be borne againe he cannot see the kingdome of God Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be borne of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Moses saith d Deut. 10.16 Circumcise the fore-skin of your heart and be no more stiffe-necked The Lord saith by Ieremiah e Ier. 4 3 4 Break up your fallow ground and sow not among thornes Circumcise your selves to the Lord and take away the fore-skins of your heart lest my fury come forth like fire and burne that none can quench it because of the evill of your doings Hosea saith f Hos 10.22 Sow to your selves in righteousnesse reape in mercie breake up your fallow ground for it is time to seeke the Lord till he come and raine righteousnes upon you Christ said to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus Remember from whence thou art fallen and g Rev. 2.5 repent and doe the first workes or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlesticke out of his place except thou repent Saint Paul mentioneth to the Corinthians seven fruits of such repentance saying Godly sorrow worketh h 2 Cor. 7.10.11 repentance to salvation not to be repented of but the sorrow of the world worketh death For behold this selfe same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulnesse it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what feare yea what vehement desire yea what zeale yea what revenge c. CHAP. 79. Of our duty towards God as it is delivered in the most sacred Catechisme MY duty towards God is to beleeve in him to feare him and to love him with all my heart with all my minde with all my soule and with all my strength To worship him to give him thanks to put my whole trust in him to call upon him to honour his holy name and his word and to serve him truely all the dayes of my life Here are mentioned ten sundry matters of our duty towards God and each hath a large extent Now onely there shall bee delivered some briefe exposition of them The first of the duties reckoned up The first duty is to beleeve in God The i Iam. 2.19 Devils saith Saint Iames doe beleeve that there is one God and they tremble also But true Christians doe more they k Iohn 14.1 beleeve in that one eternall God In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 22. Homily of Faith it is said And this is not onely the common beleefe of the Articles of our Faith but it is also a true trust and confidence of the mercy of God l Act 15.11 Rom. 5.1.11 through our Lord Iesus Christ and a stedfast m Eph. 1.18 hope of all good things to be received at Gods hand and that although we through infirmity or temptation of our ghostly enemy doe n Rev. 2.5 fall from him by sinne yet if we o Deut. 30.2 and 4.29.30 returne againe unto him by true repentance that he will forgive and forget our offences for his Sonnes p Dan. 9.17 sake our Saviour Iesus Christ and will make us inheritors with him of his everlasting Kingdome and that in the meane time untill that Kingdome come he will bee our q Psal 91.1 2 4.9.10.11.12 protector and defender in all perills and dangers whatsoever doe chance and that though sometime he doth send us sharpe r Psal 44.19 adversitie yet that evermore he will be a loving father unto us correcting us for our sinne but not Å¿ Psa 89.28 29 30 31 32 33. and 99.8 withdrawing his mercie finally from us if we trust in him and t 1 Pet. 4.19 Psal 37.3.4.5 commit our selves wholy unto him u 1 Pet. 5.7 hang only upon him and call upon him ready to w Heb. 5.9 obey and serve him Read the whole Homily of Faith for therein in wonderfull divine manner is declared what it is to beleeve in God Abrahams beleefe in God is set forth unto us for an example who as Saint Paul saith x Rom. 4.18 against hope beleeved in hope that he might become the father of many Nations according to that which was spoken so shall thy seed be It is the property of Christian faith to be y Rom. 4.19 20 21. fully perswaded that what God hath promised hee is able also to performe though the matter farre exceed our naturall comprehension how it can bee The Apostle saith z Heb. 11.1 faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seene The second duty The second duty is to feare God The feare of the Lord saith Solomon is to a Prov. 8.13 hate evill And he there reckoneth up the foure chiefe evills which are to be hated namely pride and arrogancie and the evill way and a froward mouth David saith Let all the earth b Ps 33.8 feare the Lord let all the Inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him Peter intimateth unto professors of Christianitie why they should feare God saying Forasmuch as yee call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work passe the time of your sojourning here in c 1 Pet. 1.17 feare David declareth who truly feareth God saying Blessed is the man that d Ps 112.1 as it is in the Divine Service translation feareth the Lord hee delighteth greatly in his Commandements The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that e Ps 103.17.18
the fire and they are burned Caiaphas prophesied that Christ should dye for that Nation and not for that nation only but that also he should gather together in h Iohn 11.52 one the Children of God that were scattered abroad The Lord by Ieremiah complaineth saying My people hath beene lost sheepe their shepheards have caused them to goe astray they have turned them away on the Mountaines they have gone from Mountaine to hill they have forgotten their i Ier. 50.6 resting * In Ps 26.13 the words His soule shall longe at ease are in the Hebrew His soule shall lodge in goodnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is rendred in the Margent place which is in the holy faith and godly life prescribed plentifully in the Divine Service of the Church of England Solomon saith k Pro. 13.10 Luke 1.51 1 Pet. 5.5 Onely by pride commeth contention God l A cause of the differences betweene many people scattereth the proud in the imagination of their hearts They never come into unity the life of Christianity which will not bow their understandings under the Doctrine of the Church and their lives under her lawes and prescriptions As all that despise to bee in minde and life conformed to the deliveries in the bookes of Divine Service doe live for the most part as a wilde people in many respects so such persevering in such wilfull disobedience unto holy Church doe commonly perish in the l Iude 11. Num. 16. gainsaying of Core Ever most memorable hereto is Christs prayer unto his Father that all his Disciples might here on earth live in unity and draw all m Iam. 4.8 nearer and nearer together into some likenesse of the unity of the holy blessed and glorious God the Father and God the Sonne saying Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall beleeve on me through their word That they may all be n Ioh. 17.20 21 21 23. one as thou Father art in mee and I in thee that they also may be one in us The most Sacred Majesty and the holy Fathers of the Church for the increase of Christian unity peace and concord in our Nation declare most godly care and that the Gospels Ordinance of Catechizing the laying of the foundation of the true Christian faith and life the unity of the holy Spirit is injoyned to bee more and more used according to the Sacred Constitution concerning the same that the world may beleeve that thou hast sent me And the glory which thou gavest mee I have given them that they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in mee that they may be made perfect in one c. Memorable also are the sacred words in His Majesties Declaration afore the Articles of Religion viz. Wee hold it is most agreeable to this Our Kingly Office and Our owne religious Zeale to conserve and maintaine the Church committed to Our charge in the unity of true Religion and in the bond of peace And therefore His Highnesse in that Divine declaration requireth all his loving subjects to continue in the uniforme profession of the said Articles and prohibiteth the least difference from them It is also the requiry of His Most Sacred Majesty that all his loving Subjects for a ground of uniforme profession of Christian faith and of Christian life should conforme to the universall prescription in the Bookes of the Divine Service according as they concerne every one in his place either in Clergy or in Laity CHAP. 92. Of Growing in the Christian faith and in the Christian life IN the generall Confession we are taught to pray Grant O most mercifull father for Iesus Christ his sake that wee may hereafter live a godly righteous and sober life to the glory of thy Holy name In the Absolution following it is said And that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy so that at the last wee may come to his eternall joy through Iesus Christ our Lord. In the Sacred Letanie it is said That it may please thee to give to all thy people increase of grace to heare meekely thy word and to receive it with pure affection and to o Mat. 3.10 Gal. 5.22.23 bring forth the fruits of the spirit Wee are taught in the end of the Service of Baptisme to be p 1 Cor. 15.58 Rom. 8.13 continually mortifying q 2 Cor. 5.17 Gal. 5.24 all our evill and corrupt affections and r 2 Cor. 4.16 daily proceeding in s Eph. 5.9,10 all vertue and godlinesse of living In the Collect for the foureteenth Sunday after Trinity it is said Almighty and everlasting God give unto us the increase of faith hope and charity and that wee may obtaine that which thou doest promise make us to love that which thou dost command through Iesus Christ our Lord. In the prayer to be said immediately afore the ordering of Priests it is said Grant unto us all that wee may daily encrease and goe forwards in the knowledge and faith of thee and thy Sonne by thy Holy Spirit In the third part of the * T. 1. p. 29. Homily of faith it is said As you professe the Name of Christ good Christian people let no phantasie and imagination of faith at any time beguile you but be sure of your faith t 2. Cor. 13.5 try it by your living looke upon the fruits that commeth of it marke the increase of u Gal. 5.6 Iam. 2.17.18.26 love and charity by it towards God and your neighbour and so shall you perceive it to bee a true lively faith If you feele and perceive such a faith in you rejoyce in it and bee diligent to maintaine it and keepe it still in you let it bee daily increasing and more more by well working so shall you be sure that you shall please God by this faith c. In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 3. Homily an exhortation to the reading of of Holy Scripture it is said * A delivery to be continually remembred in reading the holy Scripturer declareing unto what end they should be read In reading of Gods Holy word hee most profiteth not alwayes that is most ready in turning of the Booke or in saying of it without the Booke but he that is most turned into it that is most inspired with the Holy Ghost most in his heart and life altered and changed into that thing which he readeth He that is daily lesse and lesse proud lesse wrathfull lesse covetous and lesse desirous of worldly and vaine pleasures hee that daily forsaking his old vicious life increaseth in vertue more and more In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 144. Homily an Information of certaine places of Scripture it is said If some man will say I would have a true patterne and a perfect description of an upright life approved in the sight of God can wee finde thinke
the Holy Ghost PAG. 373 CHAP. 97 Of Sundry other Gods Curses upon disobedient people PAG. 377 CHAP. 98 Of deferring Repentance untill likelyhood of bodily death PAG. 382 CHAP. 99 Of sundry of Gods blessings upon obedient people in this present life PAG. 386 CHAP. 100 Against separating from the Church of England by law established under the Kings Majesty in any manner PAG. 390 THE CHRISTIAN DIVINITY OVT OF the Divine Service CHAP. I. That there is a GOD. IN the third part of the * In the second Tome in folio page 228. Homily for Rogation Weeke it is sayd That faith is the first entry into the Christian life according as the Scripture deliuereth He a Heb. 11.6 that commeth to God must beleeue that he is and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him The * Heb. 4.2 Mal. â— â—4â— want of which beleefe is the cause that mâ—â— in these dayes are so negligent in seeking thâ—â—ord some being cold in Religion others 〈…〉 warme Some there are that say in thâ—â— b Psal 14. â— hearts there is no God through c Psal 10. â— their priâ—â— they will not seeke after him God is not in all their thoughts Sundry others there are which though they doe d Titus 1.16 with their mouthes professe to know God in their Workes they deny him being abhominable and disobedient and vnto euery good Worke * Or voyde of Iudgement as the Margent hath it Reprobate That there is a God it needeth no demonstration for euery e Psalme 19.3 Nation on the face of the whole Earth doth acknowledge it There was neuer any one borne into the world Rom. 10.18 Nulla est gens tam barbara quae non fateatur esse aliquem Deum adeò quidem vt homines falsum Deum haebere inalint quà m nulluâ— omnino tam alte nimiruÌ„ sensus divinitatis indit incordibus nostris Ciceâ—o which at one time or another if he or she liued vnto ripe yeares testified f Rom. 2.15 Act. 14.7 not vnto it It is a principle or g Iohn 1.9 light which God hath set in euery Humane soule That sayth the Apostle which h Rom. 1.19.20 is naturally knowne of God is manifest in mankinde for God hath shewed it vnto them For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearely seene being vnderstood by the things that are made euen his eternall power and Godhead so that they are without excuse The i Psal 9 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thâ—â—yâ—â—â—des iudgments which euen in all ages come vpon wilfull breakers of Gods Lawes as on Traytors on such as breake their lawfull oathes or take false oathes Also the iudgments on wilfull murderers who being apprehended and examined commonly cannot but confesse their deed also on Blasphemers and the k 〈◊〉 5 9. like declare plainely that there is a Righteous most mighty power though in his Essence or being he is l 〈◊〉 â—1 27 vnseene to al eyes of flesh on Earth Also the m Heb. 〈…〉 horrours and terrours which come into the hearts of such as liue wilfully disobedient to Gods Lawes and especially when as 〈◊〉 haue n Mat 27.37 〈…〉 10. committed some great Wickednesse The o Acts 2.37 heaâ—â— and â—â—ings and the p Wisd 17.11 Conscience remorses the inward q Gen. 3.10 Rom. 6.21 â—â—â—me which followeth after transgressing of Gods euerlasting Law and the like Effects shew the r Colos 1.29 Iob 33.14.15.16.17.18.29.30 working of the infinite Godhead in the minds of Mankind Vnto this God blessed for euer the Church sayth Å¿ In Saint Ambrose his song All the earth doth worship thee the Father euerlasting To thee all Angels cry aloud the Heauens and all the powers therein To theâ— Cherubin and Seraphin continually do cry Holy holy holy Lord God of * Or hosts See Rom. 9 29. with Isa 1.9 Sabaoth Heauen and earth is full of the Maiesty of thy glory CHAP. 2. That there is a Trinity in the Godhead In Hebraico Bibliorum exemplari non rarò Trinitatis mysterium significatur vti in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iob. 35.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 149.2 vide Isa 54.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Eccles 12.1 IN the Athanasian Creed it is sayd The Catholike Faith is this That we worship one God in Trinitie and Trinitie in Vnitie Neither confounding the persons nor diuiding the substance For there is one person of the Father another of the Sonne and another of the Holy Ghost But the Godhead of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost is all one * Ioh. 10.30 Ioh. 17.22 the glory equall the Maiestie co-eternall Saint Iohn sayth t 1. Ioh. 5.7 There are three which beare record in Heauen the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one Saint Mathew sayth u Mat. 3.16.17 Tetragranimaton ut Author est Galatinus in Targum antiâ—â—itus scriptum erat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad Trinitatis divinae mysterium inunondum When Iesus was baptized of Iohn he went vp straight way out of the water And loe the Heauens were opened vnto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Doue and lighting vhon him And loe a voyce from Heauen saying This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased There was Iesus the Sonne in his humane nature baptized with water There was the Holy Ghost descending like a Doue and lighting vpon him There was the Father speaking from heauen and saying This is my beloued Sonne And in the name of each person of the Trinity Christ commaunded his Ministers to baptize saying * Mat. 28.19 Goe yee and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost The Church in the Preface to be read vpon the feast of the Trinity onely Singula sunt in singulis omnia in â—â—ngulis singula in omnibus omnia in omnibus unum omnia Qui videt hoc vel ex parte vel per speculum in aenigmate gaudeat cognoscens Deum sic ut Deum honoret gratias agat Qui autem non videt tendat per pietatem ad videndum non per caecitatem ad calumniandum quoniam unus est Deus sed tamen Trinitas nec confuse accipiendum est ex quo omnia per quem omnia in quo omnia nec dijs multis sed ipsi gloria in secula seculorum August lâ—bro sexto de Trinitate capite ultimo teacheth vs to say It is very meete right and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places giue thankes to thee O Lord Almighty and euerlasting God which art one God one Lord not one onely Person but three Persons in one substance For that which we beleeue of the glory of the Father the same we beleeue of
as the Leviticall had t Heb. 8.5 and 10.1 shaddowes of the same Melchizedec Priest of the most high God bringing foorth bread and Wine vnto Abraham ministred vnto him therein u Pro. 9.5 bread and Wine euen the Body and Blood of Iesus Christ The mystery whereof Melchizedec knew and all Priests that were of his Order if there were any thereof afore or after him Saint Paul sayd to the Corinthians That w 1 Cor. 10.2 3.4 the Fathers were all Baptized vnto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea And did all eate the same Spiritual meat and did all drinke the same Spirituall drinke For they dranke of that Spirituall Rocke which followeth them and that Rocke was Christ Also all the people of God that liued after the fall vntill the Incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ had their Faith in that Seed which was promised that it should bruise the Serpents head and x Rom. 16.20 bruise Sathan vnder their Feete y Heb. 13.8 Iesus Christ according to his eternall Divine nature the same yesterday and to day and for euer CHAP. 14. Of the Arke which Noah built and of other things in the Story of the olde Testament IN the first Prayer for publicke Baptisme the Church sayth Almighty and Euerlasting God which of thy great mercy diddest saue Noah and his Family in the * Genesis 7.23 Arke from perishing by Water and also diddest safely leade the children of Israel thy people through the red sea figuring thereby thy holy baptisme and by the baptisme of thy well beloued Sonne Iesus Christ diddest sanctifie the floud * Mar. 1.9 Iordan and all other waters to the mysticall washing away of sinne c. And in the first part of the * Tom. 1. p. 69. Homily concerning good order and obedience to Rulers and Magistrates it is sayd Where there is no right order there reigneth all abuse carnall liberty enormity sinne and Babylonicall confusion By which deliueries and sundry other of like nature in the Diuine Seruice Holy Church doth teach vs not onely to beleeue the truth of the histories in holy Writ but also to learne that spirituall matters were figured forth by them Saint Paul hauing mentioned to the Corinthians the Israelites Fathers passing through the sea out of Egypt into the Wildernesse towards the land of Chanaan and what befell sundry in the wildernesse addeth z 1. Cor. 10.11 Now all these things happened vnto them for * Or Types as in the margent In 1. Cor. 10.6 it is sayd Now these thinges were our examples or figures as in the margent ensamples and they are written for our admonition vpon whom the ends of the world are come Likewise he writing to the Galatians concerning Abraham Sarah Isaac Hagar and Ismael sayth a Gal. 4.24 Which things are an Allegory or whereby other things are also meant for these are the two * Or the two Testamenâ—s as it is read in the margent Couenants c. Saint Peter sayth b 1. Pet. 3.20.21 The long suffering of God waited in the dayes of Noah while the Arke was a preparing wherein a few that is eight soules were saued by water The like figure whereunto euen Baptisme doth also now saue vs not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answere of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ Saint Iohn sayd also of Gods two witnesses slaine That their c Reuel 11.8 dead bodies should lye in the streetes of the great Citty which spiritually is called Sodome and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified Yea and sundry of Moses Lawes besides the Leuiticall ceremonies had a further meaning than the grammaticall or literall sense onely as Paul sayd It is written in the law of Moses Thou shalt not d 1. Cor. 9.9.10.11 muzzle the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne Doth God take care for Oxen Or saith he it altogether for our sakes For our sakes no doubt this is written That he which ploweth should plow in hope and that he which thresheth in hope should be partaker of the hope If wee haue sowen vnto you spirituall things is it a great thing if we shall reape your carnall things In the aforesayd Prayer and Homily The words Arke Babylonicall Red sea sloud Iordan and Land are intimated to haue a spirituall signification Dauid in the Psalmes and euen all the Prophets doe in their writings often vse Moses his words in a mysticall sense as e Psal 143.10 Leade mee into the land of vprightnesse And f Psal 116.9 I will walke before the Lord in the land of the liuing And g Psal 89.15 With Num. 10.6 Whitherto the marginall quotation referreth See Num. 23.21 Blessed is the people that knoweth the ioyfull sound They shall walke O Lord in the light of thy countenance CHAP. 15. Of Circumcision IN the * T. 2. p. 134. Homily concerning Common Prayer and Sacraments it is sayd Circumcision was a Sacrament which preached vnto the outward senses the inward cutting away of the fore-skinne of the heart and sealed and made sure in the hearts of the circumcised the promise of God touching the promised seed that they looked for It was first prescribed vnto Abraham as it is written h Gen. 17.11.13 Ye shall circumcise the flesh of your fore-skinne and it shall be a token of the couenant betwixt you and me And my couenant shall be in your flesh for an euerlasting couenant The which Sacraments signification Moses taught the Iewes exhorting them saying i Deut. 10.16 Circumcise the fore-skinne of your heart and be no more stiffe necked Saint Paul sayth to the Romanes k Rom. 4.11 Abraham receiued the signe of circumcision a seale of the righteousnes of the faith which he had yet being vncircumcised Also he saith l Rom. 15.8 That Iesus Christ was a Minister of the circumcision for the truth of God to confirme the promise made vnto the Fathers And to the Colossians the Apostle further sayth m Col. 2.11 In Christ yee are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sinnes of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ To the Romans he declareth n Rom. 2.28 29 That he is not a Iew which is one outwardly neither is that circumcision which is outwardly in the flesh but he is a Iew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God There is a memorable sentence concerning circumcision in an ancient booke of the Iewes called Zohar wherein it is sayd * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We haue learned that at what time soeuer when any one shall be marked with this holy sealing or signing of this signe of circumcision from that time he hath a sight of God and the holy soule is vnited with him This
came to passe in some measure when as the Sacrament of circumcision according to Gods ordinance was receiued But now the grace is receiued in Baptisme and in the circumcision of the heart CHAP. 16. Of the calling of Moses IN the second part of the * T. 1. p. 33. Homily of good workes it is sayd Euer since the fall of Adam all that came of him haue beene so blinded through Originall sinne that they haue beene euer ready to fall from God and his Law and to inuent a new way vnto saluation by Workes of their owne deuising Insomuch that almost all the World forsaking the true honour of the onely eternall liuing God wandred about their owne fantasies Worshipping some the Sunne the Moone c. Such was the rudenesse of the people after they fell to their owne fantasies and left the eternall liuing God and his Commandements that they deuised innumerable images and Gods In which errour and blindnesse they did remaine vntill such time as Almighty God pittying the blindnesse of man sent his true Prophet Moses into the World for to reprooue and to rebuke this extreame madnesse and to teach the people to know the onely liuing God and his true honour and worship o 1 Iohn 3.11.12 Caine is mentioned the first man after Adam that brought foorth the fruites of the fall in that he fell from the loue which by the Law of nature hee owed vnto his Brother and hated him and slew him Caines posterity shewed a degenerated nature namely p Genesis 4.23 Lamech in taking two Wiues Whereas as Christ sayth From q Math. 19.8 the beginning it was not so For in the beginning it was sayd r Genesis 2.24 A man shall leaue Father and Mother and shall cleaue to his Wife and they twaine shall be one flesh Lamech also further manifested his corrupted nature saying I haue Å¿ Genesis 4.24 slayne a man in my Wounding and a young man to my hurt Great was the departure from Gods euerlasting Law vntill the dayes of Enos And t Genesis 4.26 then sayth the Text beganne men to call vpon the name of the Lord. Afterward Enoch the u Iude 14.15 seuenth from Adam prophecied saying Behold the Lord commeth with ten thousands of his Saints to execute iudgement vppon all and to conuince all that are vngodly among them of all their vngodly deedes which they haue vngodly committed and of all their hard speeches which vngodly sinners haue spoken against him But in the dayes of Noah iniquity agayne more exceedingly abounded though hee was a w 2 Pet. 2.5 Preacher of righteousnesse among the people And God brought in the Flood vpon the World of the Vngodly After the Flood the consideration whereof one might thinke would haue terrified mankinde from committing wickednesse people being multiplied especially the x Gene. 10.10 posterity of Ham fel to euill working againe to the building of a City and Tower whose y Gene. 11.4 top might reach vnto Heauen and to make themselues a name c. Yea not only the posterity of Ham but many also of the posterity of Shem degenerated so farre as that they serued z Ios 24.2 other Gods And as Achtor in the Booke of Iudith sayd Abraham with his would not follow the a Iudith 5.7 Gods of their Fathers which were in the Land of Chaldea but left the way of their Ancestours and worshipped the God of Heauen the God whom they knew In the dayes of Abraham there was in the World Gods Priest-hood after the order of b Genesis 14 18 Melchizedec whereof among the most there was little or no vse made but blindnesse of vnderstanding and iniquity of life most preuailed vntill that God raysed vp Moses as the Homily sayth who was c Heb. 3.5 faithfull in all Gods house who also witnessed against the abominations of the world and taught Gods d Ecclus 1.5 euerlasting Law with Gods Statutes e Deut 4.1 and iudgments CHAP. 17. Of the Passeouer IN the first part of the * T. 2 p. 197. Homily concerning receiuing the Sacrament it is sayd Of old time God decreed his wonderous benefits of the deliuerance of his people to be kept in memory by the eating of the Passeouer with his rites and Ceremonies In the second part of the * Page 202. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is sayd That newnesse of life as fruits of Faith is required in the partakers of the Lords table wee may learne by eating of the Typicall Lambe whereunto no man was admitted but hee that was a Iew that was circumcised that was before sanctified And in the * To. 2. p. 196. Transitus noster id est Phase ita eâ—lebratur siterrena et AegiptuÌ„ dimittenteâ— ad Coelestia festmemus Hieronimus in cap. 26. Math. Homily of the Resurrection it is sayd Christ our Easter Lambe is offered vp for vs to slay the power of sinne to deliuer vs from the danger thereof and to giue vs exampleÌ„ to dye vnto sinne in our liues And let vs passe ouer the affections of our old conuersation that wee may be deliuered from the bondage thereof and rise vp with Christ Moses from the Lord sayd vnto the people of Israel And f Exo. 12.26.27 it shall come to passe when your Children shall say vnto you what meane you by this seruice That yee shall say it is the sacrifice of the Lords Passeouer who passed ouer the houses of the Children of Israel in Egypt when hee smote the Egyptions and deliuered our houses Also sayth Moses g Exod. 12.48 when a stranger shall soiourne with thee and will keepe the Passeouer vnto the Lord let all his Males bee Circumcised and then let him come neere and keepe it And he shall be as one that is borne in the Land for no vncircumcised person shall eate thereof And concerning the Spirituall signification of the Passeouer it is manifest out of Saint Paules Words where he sayth h 1 Cor. 5.7.8 Purge out the old Leauen that yee may be a new Lumpe as yee are vnleauened for euen Christ our Passeouer is sacrificed for vs. Therefore let vs keepe the Feast not with olde Leauen neyther with the Leauen of malice and wickednesse but with the vnleauened bread of sincerity and truth The Passeouer was the second Sacrament celebrated in the Church of the Iewes the i Deut. 14.2 peculiar people of God in those times CHAP. 18. Of the Law giuen by Moses IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 275. Homily against Disobedience and wilfull Rebellion it is sayd As God the Creatour and Lord of all things appoynted his Angels and Heauenly Creatures in all obedience to serue and to honour his Maiesty So was it his will that man his chiefe Creature vpon the earth should liue vnder the obedience of his Creatour and Lord. And for that cause God as soone as hee had Created man gaue vnto him
are retained And be thou a faithfull h 2 Tim 2.15 1 Cor 9.17 dispenser of the word of God and of his holy Sacraments in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen The Lord by Ezechiel finding fault with the shepheards of Israel intimateth therein what their duety is saying i Ezech. 34.2.4 Zechar. 11.16 Woe be to the shepheards of Israel that doe feede themselues should not the shepheards feed the flockes The diseased haue ye not strengthened neither haue yee healed that which was sicke neither haue ye bound vp that which was broken neither haue yee brought againe that which was driuen away neither haue ye sought that which was lost Saint Paul testified of his diligence in the Ministery saying k Col. 1.28.29 Christ we preach warning euery man and teaching euery man in all wisedome that we may present euery man perfect in Christ Iesus Whereunto I also labour striuing according to his working which worketh in me mightily Such as were consecrated to the Ministery receiued the gift of the Holy Ghost by the l 2. Tim. 1.6 â— Tim. 4.14 Acts 13.23 Acts 26.17.18 laying on of the hands of the Presbyterie And by the receiuing of the sayd gift of God in some measure one becommeth to be a Minister of Iesus Christ to haue some ability in diuiding the word of truth aright as also some power in the vse of the m Mat. 16 19. Keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen Whereas also the Apostle sayth n Rom. 12.6.7.8 Hauing then gifis differing according to the grace that is giuen to vs whether prophesie let vs prophesie according to the proportion of Faith or Ministery let vs waite in our Ministring or he that teacheth on teaching or hee that exhorteth on exhortation * Ministers not hauing the faculty of preaching out of the Pulpit but preaching or publishing the truth which is after godlinesse in other manner according as the Church hath orceined are to bee accounted true Ministers of Christ though they can minister but the milke of the word of God It appeareth that such of the Priesthood which haue not the gift of prophesie or preaching without booke from the memory onely or from the most part forth of the Pulpit but doe reade the holy Scriptures the common Prayer and o Inferiour Ministers may teach with the Doctrine deliuered by the superiour Ministers 2. Tim 2.2 the Homilies vnto the people instructing them also in the Catechisme of the Church and obseruing all other prescriptions enioyned to vnpreaching Ministers faithfully endeauouring also to informe the people committed to their charge as occasion is offered and requireth with the Diuine Seruice deliueries the sincere milke of the Word are to be accounted true Ministers of God and such as haue the gift of teaching or exhorting though not the greater gift of prophecying or preaching Also that such their ministration may much edifie the people both in right vnderstanding the truth which is after godlinesse and also vnto the obeying of the same by holinesse and righteousnesse in all manner of conuersation CHAP. 36. Of the Bishopricke that it is a degree aboue the Priesthood and so ordained to be by Iesus Christ THe Preface afore the Diuine Seruice for ordering of the Ministerie saith It is euident vnto all men diligently reading Holy Scripture and ancient Authors that from the Apostles time there haue euer beene these orders of Ministers in Christs Church * Aug. in Psal 44.17 vt in Biblus vulgâ—tit Quid est pro pat tbus tuâ—s nâ—tisunt tibi silij Patres mâ—si sâ—nt Apostoli cro Apostolis silij nati sunt tibi constituti sunt Episcopi Hadie enim Episcâ—pt qui sunt per totum mundum vnde natisunt Ipsa Ecclesia patres illos appellat ipsa illos genuâ—t ipsa illâ—s constitu it insedibus patrum Anacletus Pontifex Martyr ep 2. ad vniuâ—rso Episcopos Italiae Cap. 2. Ipsis nempe Apost elis decedentibus in locum eorum successerunt Episcopi Et paucis interiectis Videntes autem Apostoli messem esse multam operarios paucos rogauerunt Dominum messis vt mitteret operarios in messem suam Inde clecti sunt ab tjs septuarinta duo Discipuli quorum typum gèrunt Presbyteri atque in corum locum sunt consatuti in Ecclâ—sia Bishops Priests and Deacons The Apostle Paul ordeined Timothy Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians as it is expresly deliuered in the end of the second Epistle vnto him where it is sayd The second Epistle vnto Timotheus ordeined the first Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians was written from Rome c. So Titus was Bishop of the Church in Creet as it is also deliuered in the end of the Epistle vnto him where it is sayd It was written to Titus ordeiued the first Bishop of the Church of the Cretians from Nicopolis of Macedonia These Bishops Timothy and Titus had authority of ordaining Priests and of ruling ouer them as it is most manifest out of Saint Pauls sayings vnto them Vnto Timothy he sayd p 1. Tim. 1.3.4 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other Doctrine neither giue heed to fables and endlesse Genealogies which minister questions rather than edifying which is in faith So do What Timothy was to doe concerning such as were to be ordered Deacons Paul sayth q 1. Tim. 3.10 And let these also first bee proued then let them vse the office of a Deacon being found blamelesse Againe concerning Priests or Elders hee sayth r 1. Tim. 5.17.19.20.22 Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine Against an Elder receiue not an accusation but before two or three witnesses Them that sinne rebuke before all that others also may feare Lay hands suddenly on no man Also he sayd Å¿ 2 Tim. 2.2.14 The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses the same commit thou to faithfull men who shall be able to teach others also Of these things put them in remembrance charging them before the Lord that they striue not about words to no profit but to the subuerting of the hearers Saint Paul vnto Titus sayth t Tit. 1.5.6 For this cause left I thee in Creet that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordaine Elders in euery City as I had appointed thee If any be blamelesse c. And it is written That u Heb 7.7 without all contradiction the lesse is blessed of the better As Melch sedec w Heb. 7.6 Gen. 14.19 blessing Abraham was the superiour in God So is euery Bishop his superiour in God whom he blesseth and ordereth to be a Priest They are therefore in the seruice of ordering iustly stiled Reuerend Fathers in God Moreouer a Bishop in
and not earthly an invisible meat and not bodily a ghostly substance and not carnall c. By the advice of the * p. 201. Councill of Nicene wee ought to lift up our minds by faith and leaving these inferior and earthly things there seeke it where the Sunne of righteousnesse ever shineth Take then this lesson O thou that art desirous of this table of Emissenus a godly father that when thou goest up to the reverend Communion to bee satisfied with spirituall meats thou looke up with faith upon the holy body and blood of thy God thou marvell with reverence thou touch it with the mind thou receive it with the hand of thy heart and thou take it fully with thy inward man What the use is which we are to make of the Sacrament Concerning the use which we are to make of receiving the Sacrament it is signified in the prayer to bee read after the Prefaces in the Communion-service where it is said Grant us therefore gracious Lord so to eate the flesh of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ and to drinke his blood that our sinfull bodies may bee made cleane by his body and our soules washed through his most precious blood and that we may evermore w Iohn 6.56 Iohn 14.23 dwell in him and he in us And it is also signified in the second prayer after the receiving where it is said We now most humbly beseech thee O heavenly Father so to assist us with thy grace that we may continue in that holy x Act. 2.42.46 Heb. 10.25 Col. 2.19 Eph. 2.19 fellowship and doe all such good workes as thou hast y Eph. 2.10 That the Sacrament is to be received often-times prepared for us to walke in through Iesus Christ our Lord. Concerning the oftennesse of the receiving of the Sacrament it is said in the rubricke afore the Service for the Communion of the sicke That Curats are to exhort their parishioners to the oft receiving in the Church of the holy Communion of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ which if they doe they shall have no cause in their sudden visitation to bee unquiet for lacke of the same It is said in the rubricke at the end of the Matrimony-service The new maried persons the same day of their mariage must receive the holy Communion And in the end of the Churching-service it is said in the rubricke The woman that commeth to give her thankes must offer accustomed offerings and if there be a Communion it is convenient that she receive the holy Communion It is said in the rubricke at the end of the Communion-Service That in Cathedrall and Collegiat Churches where be many Priests and Deacons they shall all receive the Communion with the Minister every z Acts 10.7 Sunday at the least except they have a reasonable cause to the contrary And in the end of that rubricke it is said Every Parishioner shall communicate at the least three times in the yeare of which Easter to bee one c. Also when any receive any order of the Ministery they are then to communicate as it is prescribed in the booke of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons It is written in Genesis a Gen. 14.18 19. That Melchisedec King of Salem brought forth bread and wine and hee was the Priest of the most high God And hee blessed Abraham c. Saint Paul saith to the Corinthians b 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 4. Our Fathers were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea And did all eate the same spirituall meat and did all drinke the same spirituall drinke For they dranke of that spirituall rocke that followed them and that rocke was Christ Wisedome saith in the Proverbes c Pro. 9.5 Come eate of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mingled Saint Matthew recordeth that as Iesus and his Disciples were eating the Passeover Iesus tooke d Matth. 26.26 27 28. bread and blessed it and brake it gave it to the disciples and said Take eate this is my body And he tooke the cup and gave thankes and gave it to them saying Drinke ye all of it for this is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Saint Iohn writeth that Iesus afore had said unto the Iewes c Ioh. 6.53 54 55 56.63 Verily verily I say unto you Except ye eate the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you Who so eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternall life and I will raise him up at the last day For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in mee and I in him It is the spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing the words that I speake unto you they are spirit and they are life It is written in the Acts f Acts 2.42 That the disciples continued stedfast in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers Saint Paul saith to the Corinthians g 1 Cor. 10.16 17. The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the Communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of one bread Also he saith h 1 Cor. 12.13 We have all been made to drinke into one spirit And further he delivereth i 1 Cor. 11.26 As often as ye eate this bread and drinke this cup ye doe shew the Lords death till he come CHAP. 56. Of preparing ones selfe for to receive worthily the holy Sacrament IT is said in the third Exhortation to be read afore the Communion The danger is great if we receive the holy Sacrament unworthily for then we bee guilty of the body and blood of Christ our Saviour wee eate and drinke our owne damnation not considering the Lords body we kindle Gods wrath against us wee provoke him to k 1 Cor. 11.30 plague us with diuers diseases and sundry kindes of death Therefore if any of you be a blasphemer of God an hinderer or l 1 Cor. 5.11 slanderer of his Word an adulterer or be in m 1 Iohn 3.15 Mat. 5.23 24 25. malice or envy or in any other griveous crime bewaile your sinnes c. Iudge therefore your selves brethren that ye be not judged of the Lord. Repent you truly for your sinnes past have a lively and stedfast faith in Christ our Saviour Amend your lives and be in perfect charitie with all men so shall yee be meet partakers of those holy mysteries Therefore it is to be said unto them that come to receive the holy Communion in the last words of exhortation afore the generall Confession be made You that doe truly and earnestly repent you or your sinnes and be in love and
not power to change the gesture of taking and to require such a gesture as is beseeming Prayer Such as grant that the Church hath power as to change the time though it bee by the Holy Ghost called the Lords Supper and to change other circumstances about the receiving of it cannot without committing the great sinne of g Iam. 3.17 partiality deny that the Church hath the authority and power of changing that one circumstance the gesture used in receiving CHAP. 58. Of Matrimony IN the Service for solemnization of Matrimony it is said That Matrimony is an honourable estate h Gen. 2.22 24 instituted of God in Paradise in the time of mans innocency signifying unto us the i Eph. 5.31 32.30 mysticall union that is betwixt Christ and his Church which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his k Iohn 2.1 presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee and is commended of Saint Paul to bee honourable among all men and therefore is not to be enterprized nor taken in hand unadvisedly lightly or wantonly to saticfie mens carnall lusts and appetites like bruite beasts that have no understanding but reverently discreetly advisedly soberly and in the l 1 Cor. 7.39 feare of God duely considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained one was the m Gen. 1.28 procreation of Children to be brought up in the feare and nurture of the Lord and praise of God Secondly it was ordained for a remedie against sinne and to avoid fornication that such persons as have not the gift of continency might marry and keepe themselves undefiled Members of Christs body Thirdly for the mutuall n Eph. 5.28 29. Gen. 2.8 Prov. 5.18 19. sooietie helpe and comfort that the one ought to have of the other both in prosperity and adversitie In the * T. 2. p. 239. Homily concerning the state of Matrimony it is said Furthermore it is also ordained that the Church of God and his Kingdome might by this kinde of life be conserved and enlarged not onely in that God giveth Children by his blessing but also in that they be brought up by the Parents godly in the knowledge of Gods Word that thus the knowledge of God and true Religion might bee delivered by o Ps 78.4.5.6 succession from one to another that finally many might enjoy that everlasting immortality p Heb. 13.4 Marriage saith the Apostle is honourable in all and the bed undefiled but Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge q 1 Cor. 7.2.6 To avoid fornication let every man have his owne wife and let every woman have her owne husband Tobias said r Tob. 4.12 1 Thes 4.3.4.5 Mal. 2.11.12 Beware of all whoredome my sonne and chiefly take a wife of the seed of thy fathers and take not a strange woman to wife which is not of thy fathers Tribe for wee are the children of the Prophets Noe Abraham Isaac and Iacob remember my sonne that our fathers from the beginning even that they all married wives of their owne kindred and were blessed in their children and their seed shall inherit the Land s Know yee not saith the Apostle that hee which is joyned to an harlot is one body For two saith hee shall bee one flesh Flee fornication every sinne that a man doth is without the body but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his owne body What know yee not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you which yee have of God and yee are not your owne For yee are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which are Gods Be not deceived neither t 1 Cor. 6.9.10 fornicators nor Idolaters adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of thēselves with mankind nor theeves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdome of God Wherefore he also saith But u Eph. 5.3.5.6 See 1 Thes 4.3.4.5 fornication all uncleannes or covetousnes let it not be once named amongst you as becommeth Saints ſ 1 Cor. 6.15.16.17.18.19.20 CHAP. 59. Of the ring used in the Solemnization of Matrimony IN the rubrick of Matrimony-service it is said The man shall give unto the woman a Ring and put it upon the fourth finger of the womans left hand And the man taught by the priest shall say With this Ring I thee wed with my body I thee * There is some kind of worship which may be done unto man as 1 Chron. 29.20 worship with all my worldly goods I thee endow In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen In the prayer immediately after it is prayed That as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together so these persons may surely performe and keepe the vow and w Mal. 2.15.16.14 Prov. 2.17.18 covenant betwixt them made whereof the Ring given and received is a token and pledge and may ever remaine in x Eph. 5.25.28.29 perfect love and y 1 Cor. 7.5 1 Pet. 3.7 peace together and live according to thy Lawes And then it is said Forasmuch as they have consented together in holy wedlocke and have witnessed the same before God and this company and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring and by joyning of hands I c. From which words of Holy Church it is manifest that the Ring is used not for any vanity but for a godly z Exod. 13.9 Aurum nulla norat praeter unico digito quem sponsus oppignorasset pronubo annulo Tertull. Apologet. C. 6. signification for a token and pledge of sure performing and keeping the vow and covenant betwixt them made and of pledging their troth either to other The which Ring being after seene may put both parties in remembrance of what signification it was given and received And they may make good use of it as the children of Israel were to make of the a Num. 15.38.39.40 fringe in the borders of their garments having thereon a Ribband of blue to looke upon it and remember all the duties whereof to put them in minde it was ordained That Matrimony should bee solemnized with the Ceremonie of the Ring it is the Law of the Church our mother it is as the b Ios 22.27 Altar built by the Reubenites Gadites and halfe Tribe of Manasseh it is as one of the c Ier. 35.6.7.8.18.19 Commandements of Ionadab the sonne of Rechab a d Pro. 6.23.24 light signifying good things to keepe the man from the evill woman from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman Also it may serve unto the woman for a remembrance that shee e Prov. 2.17 See Chap. 41. afore forsake not the guide of her youth neither forget the covenant of her God Well consider the Church-her deliverie concerning Ceremonies why some be retained in
* T. 1. p. 48. Homily concerning Charity it is said Charitie hath two Offices the one contrary to the other and yet both necessary to be used upon men of contrary sort and disposition The one Office of Charitie is to cherish good and harmelesse men c. The other Office of Charity is to rebuke correct and punish vice without regard of persons and is to be used against them onely that be evill men and malefactours or evill doers And that it is as well the Office of Charity to rebuke punish and correct them that be evill as it is to cherish and reward them that be good and harmelesse Saint Paul declareth writing to the Romanes saying That the high powers are ordained of God not to bee dreadfull to them that doe well but unto Malefactors to draw the sword to take * Rom. 13.4 vengeance of him that committeth the sin The Lord saith by Ezekiel that his Priests in controversie shall stand in judgement and they shall b Ezech 44.24 judge it according to my judgements The power of Gods Ministery in a Nation where the King is a c Isa 49.23 nourishing father of the Church and the people all professing to be Christians is of a different manner from where it is without such love of the supreame power towards it and where but a few are Professors of Christianity This may bee observed in the state of the Church of God the Nation of the Iewes from the time of Moses his rule over them untill they were carried away captive to Babylon That Gods Ministery had then another manner of outward power than it had under the Romane Empire untill the dayes of Constantine the great Moreover the Ministery of God after the Ascension of Christ not having the Magistrates helpe in their administration had from God d Mar. 16.20 Heb. 2.4 extraordinary power to cause fear in peoples hearts as Peter had concerning Ananias and Saphira his wife that they were both smote with sudden death which caused e Acts 3.11 great fear to come upon all the Churches Paul had power to cause Elimas the Sorcerer to be f Act 13.11 smitten with blindnesse Herod the Persecutor of the Christians was smitten with a g Act. 12.23 24 dreadfull death where after the Word of God grew and multiplied The Lord then wrought with his Ministers extraordinarily and confirmed the Word with signes following as the Apostle to the Hebrewes saith h Heb. 2.4 God also bearing them witnesse both with signes and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost according to his owne will CHAP. 65. Of visiting the sicke IN the Order for the Visitation of the sicke at the beginning of the Service thereto it is said The Priest entring into the sicke persons house shall say i Mat. 10.12 13. Luke 10.5 6 9. Peace be to this house and to all that dwell in it And that when he commeth into the sicke mans presence hee shall say kneeling down Remēber not Lord our iniquities c. Then there is prescribed a very Divine Exhortation divided into two parts wherewith the Minister is to exhort the sicke person the which is most profitable for all people to meditate on when they feele themselves ill at ease or in any adversitie And the Exhortation being read the Minister is to examine whether he continueth in beliefe of all the Articles of the Christian faith and whether he be in charity with all the world c. And to exhort him for to set his state in order whereto men when they be in health should be oft admonished and earnestly to move him to liberalitie toward the poore because it is the last Almes that ever hee shall give The Church hath ordained an Homily an Exhortation against the feare of death to be read unto the people And if the sicke person can well indure to heare the reading of it he may be much comforted by the same The visitation of the sicke is one of the k Mat. 25.35.26 sixe duties of Charitie whereof Iesus Christ will speake when he sitteth to judge all Nations That it is also a worke l Iam. 5.14 with Heb. 5.1.2 3 4 5. Ministeriall S. Iames in his Epistle plainely expresseth It is the last kindnesse that one can shew unto another whiles being is in earthly Tabernacle Man being in that misery desireth to be visited And one reason is that thereby hee hopeth either bodily or ghostly to receive the more comfort Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this to m Iam. 1.27 visite the fatherlesse and widowes in their affliction and to keepe himselfe unspotted from the world It is written for our learning That when Iobs three friends heard of his calamitie they made an appointment together to come for to n Iob 2.11 Rom. 12.15 mourne with him and to comfort him Saint Paul saith blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of mercies and God of all comfort who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to o 2 Cor. 1.3.4 comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith wee our selves are comforted of God Iesus the sonne of Sirach saith Bee not slow to p Ecclus. 7.34 35. visite the sicke for that shall make thee to bee beloved It is the duty of the sick to send for their Minister as Saint Iames saith Let him * Iam. 5.14 send for the Elders of the Church And therefore it is said in Articles of our Church discipline Whether doth your Minister visite the sicke when he is thereunto desired to comfort and instruct them CHAP. 66. Of the Communion of the sicke VVHereas in the * T. 2. p. 199. Homily concerning the Sacrament the Communion is said To bee a salve of immortality and soveraigne preservative against death and in the Catechisme it is called a refreshing therefore not without cause doth the conscience of the sicke sometimes desire it Wherefore holy Church in the Rubricke afore that Service saith If the sicke person be not able to come unto the Church and yet is desirous to receive the Communion in his house then he must give knowledge over-night or else early in the morning to the Curate signifying also how many be appointed to Communicate with him c. In the Rubricke of the same Service the Church delivereth also most comfortable counsell saying But if any man either by reason of extremitie of sicknesse or for want of warning in due time to the Curate or for lacke of company to receive with him or by any other just impediment doe not receive the Sacrament of Christs body and blood then the Curate shall instruct him that if he doe truly repent him of his sinne and stedfastly beleeve that Iesus Christ hath suffered death upon the Crosse for him and shed his blood for his Redemption earnestly remembring the benefits he hath