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
many times in a yeere so is it exceeding furthersome for all younger people to have it all in perfect memory and at least once a weeke to examine themselves by the same CHAP. 62. Of Excommunication IT is said in the second part of the * T. 2. p. 213. Homily concerning the Holy Ghost or in the Homily for Whitsunday Christ ordained the authority of the keyes to excommunicate notorious sinners and to absolve theÌ„ which are truly penitent In the second part of the * Homily concerning the right use of the Church T. 2. p. 9.10 it is said In the primitive Church which was most holy and godly and in the which due discipline with severitie was used against the wicked due discipline with severitie suffered once to enter into the house of the Lord nor admitted to Common Prayer and the use of the holy SacrameÌ„ts with other true Christians untill they had done opeÌ„penance before the whole Church And they that were so justly exempted and banished as it were from the house of the Lord were taken as they be indeed for men divided and separated from Christs Church and in most dangerous estate yea as Saint Paul saith even given unto Satan the Devill for a time and their company was shunned and avoided of all godly men and women untill such time as they by repentance and publike penance were reconciled Iesus Christ said unto Peter To thee I will give the c Mat. 16.19 keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven The same d Mat 18.18 19 20. authority hee afterward pronounced unto the rest of his Apostles Also when after his resurrection hee breathed on them and said Receive ye the Holy Ghost he gave the keyes of the Kingdome of heaven unto them all saying e Ioh. 20.22 23. Whose soever sins yee remit they are remitted unto theÌ„ whose soever sinnes ye retaine they are retained Saint Paul saith to the Corinthians concerning excommunicating the incestuous person In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ when ye are gathered together and my Spirit with the power of our Lord Iesus Christ To f 1 Cor. 5.4 5. deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may bee saved in the day of the Lord Iesus He said of Hymenaeus and Alexander that he had g 1 Tim. 1.20 delivered them unto Satan that they might learne not to blaspheeme Concerning what persons are to be excommunicated if otherwise they will not be reformed it is observed that the Apostle signifieth where he saith If any man that is called a brother be a fornicatour or covetous or an Idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner with h 1 Cor. 5.11 such a one no not to eate Vnto the Thessalonians he saith And if any man obey not our word by this Epistle note that man and have i 2 Thes 3.14 no company with him that he may be ashamed The Apostle speaketh of disorderly living and living out of a vocation by the sweat of other mens browes or eating other mens bread for nought The Apostle also faith If any man love not the Lord Iesus Christ let him be k 1 Cor. 16.22 anathema Maran atha The speech here l Sunt enim haeâ— dicendi genera Haebraeis non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inquit Buxtorfiuâ— in Gram. Heb. pag. 548. excusâ anno 1620. love not is observed to signifie hateth Anathema is interpreted a curse a cursed thing or one accursed Maran signifieth our Lord and atha signifieth commeth The excommunication which was called anathema maranatha is accounted to be the greatest kinde thereof and so the very last namely when as one for his persevering wilfull hatred against Iesus Christ is quite forsaken by the Church and left unto the just judgement of Christ of whom Enoch said m Iude 14.15 Arabs juxta sensum reddidit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apud Rabbinos est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 contractè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Videt ur dicià syriacâ— verbo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nominare quòd hâ—c sit nominatissima excommunicatio Vulgò taâ—en volunt esse nomen compositum ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est Deus venit Alij ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. ibi mors Behold the Lord commeth with ten thousands of his Saints to execute judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him The holy scriptures deliver other causes also for which there may be excommunication the which the Church of England hath partly mentioned in the Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall as also when any being summoned to appeare before ecclesiasticall authority will contemptuously refuse c. The Lord Christ Iesus hath in his Gospell given an everlasting generall rule If any one neglect to heare the Church let him be unto thee as an n Mat. 18.17 Heathen man and a Publicane CHAP. 63. Of Confession and Absolution in particular manner BEsides the generall Confession and Absolution to be said and pronounced in the beginning of the Divine Service and afore receiving the holy Communion holy Church hath ordained that a private may be made In the second Exhortation to be read afore the Communion it is said Because it is requisite that no man shold come to the holy Communion but with a full trust in Gods mercy and with a quiet conscience therefore if there be any of you which by the meanes aforesaid cannot quiet his owne conscience but requireth further comfort or counsell then let him come to me or some other discreet and learned Minister of Gods Word and open his griefe that he may receive such ghostly counsell advice and comfort as his conscience may be relieved and that by the ministery of Gods Word he may receive comfort and the benefit of absolution to the quieting of his conscience and avoyding of all scruple and doubtfulnesse In the Rubricke of the Service for the Visitation of the Sicke it is said The sicke person shall make a speciall confession if he feele his conscience troubled with any weighty matter After which confession the Priest shall absolve him after this sort * The forme of absolution used to one in particular Our Lord Iesus Christ who hath left power to his Church to absolve all sinners which truely repent and beleeve in him of his great mercy forgive thee thine offences and by his authority committed to me I absolve thee from all thy finnes In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen Concerning Confession the Church in the 113. Canon delivereth That if any man confesse his secret and hidden sinnes to the Minister for the
Booke of the Wisdome of Solomon where it is said That in her is an z Wis 7.22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29. understanding Spirit Holy one onely manifold subtill lively cleare undefiled plaine not subject to hurt loving the thing that is good quicke which cannot bee letted ready to doe good kinde to man stedfast sure free from care having all power overseeing all things and going through all understanding pure and most subtill spirits For Wisdome is more moving than any motion she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her purenesse For she is the breath of the power of God and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty Therefore can no defiled thing fall into her For the is the brightnesse of the everlasting light the unspotted mirrour of the power of God and the Image of his goodnesse And being but one shee can doe all things and remaining in her selfe she maketh all things new and in all ages entring into holy soules shee maketh them friends of God and Prophets For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with Wisdome For she is more beautiful than the Sunne and above all the order of the Starres being compared with the light shee is found before it There are two Holy Scriptures which tell us what is wisdome and understanding In the Booke of Iob it is said Behold the feare of the Lord that is a Iob. 28.28 wisdome and to depart from evill is understanding Moses sheweth the same also saying Behold I have taught you statutes and judgements c. Keepe therefore and doe them for this is your b Deut. 4.6 wisdome and your understanding in the sight of the nations which shall heare all these statutes and say Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 230. Homily for Rogation weeke the Church very divinely hereto saith Let us with so good an heart pray as Solomon did and wee shall not faile but to have the spirit of Wisdomes assistance For he is soone c Wis 1.2 Wis 6.12.13.14 seene of them that love him hee will be found of them that seeke him for very liberall and gentle is the spirit of Wisdome In his power shall we have sufficient ability to d Ioh. 16.13 know our duty to God in him shall wee be e Acts. 9.31 Ioh. 14.16 comforted and couraged to walke in our duty in him shall wee bee meete vessels to receive the grace of Almighty God for it is hee that purgeth and * 1 Pet. 1.22 purifieth the minde by his secret working And he onely is present every where by his invisible power and containeth all things in his dominion Hee lightneth the heart to conceive worthy thoughts to Almighty God shee sitteth in the tongue of man to stirre him to speake his honour no language is hid from him for he hath the knowledge of all speech he onely ministreth spirituall f Eph. 3.16 strength to the powers of our soule and body Of the spirit of Counsell Concerning the spirit of Counsell it is such an ability in some measure as Paul had whereof he speaketh to the Corinthians saying That we may be able to g 2 Cor. 1.4 comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God Solomon saith A wise man will heare and will increase learning and a man of understanding shall attaine unto wise h Prov. 1.5 counsels Iethro was not onely wise for himselfe but had ability to give some good i Exod. 18.19 counsell unto Moses also Of ghostly strength Concerning ghostly strength or strength in the spirit Paul prayeth for it to be given to the Ephesians saying That God would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be k Eph. 3.16 17 18 19. strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that yee being rooted and grounded in love may bee able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that yee may be filled with all the fulnesse of God Some are but l Rom. 14. ◠weake in the faith but Abraham was m Rom. 4.19.20 strong in faith Paul for the Colossians having prayed that they might bee filled with the knowledge of Gods will in all wisdome and spirituall understanding desireth also that they may be n Col. 1.9 10 11. strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse Of the spirit of Knowledge Concerning the spirit of knowledge it is to bee considered that more is meant than a meere Historicall knowledge of truth namely an experimentall knowledge whereof Saint Iohn saith Hereby doe we o 1 Ioh. 2.3 know that wee know him if wee keepe his commandements God saith by Ieremiah Did not thy father eate and drinke and doe judgement and justice and then it was well with him Hee judged the cause of the poore and needy then it was well with him Was not this to p Ier. 22.15.16 know mee saith the Lord Hereto pertaineth that knowledge which is promised to be given to the cōprehended in the new covenant whereof the Lord by the same Prophet saith I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and they shall all q Ier. 31.33.34 know mee from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord. Of the spirit of true godlinesse Concerning the spirit of true godlinesse thereby is meant the inward worshipping of God within the spirit principally wherewith God is r Ioh. 4.23 most delighted Saint Paul saith Bodily exercise profiteth little but s 1 Tim. 4.8 godlinesse is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come The outward worshipping of God in every particular manner is with all care to be performed and preserved But withall the walking with God and the inward * Micah 6.8 as in the margent humbling of ones selfe thereto is to be zealously endevoured by the which we draw t Heb. 7.19 Ps 148.14 Iam. 4.8.9.10 Of the spirit of the Holy feare of the Lord. nigh unto God Lastly Concerning the spirit of the Holy feare of the Lord that is hereto considerable which is written That Christ in the dayes of his flesh when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that hee u Heb. 5.7 feared Great was the w Ioh. 8.49 reverence which Iesus Christ did continually beare towards God his Father Wee are required to x Eph. 5.1.2 1 Pet. 2.21 Ioh. 13.15 imitate him in all things written of him for our example
g Ezech. 18.15 exceeded all other no lesse than the Sunne in brightnesse and light exceedeth euery small and little Starre in the firmament He was made h Genesis 1.27 according to the image and similitude of God he was endued with all kind of Heauenly gifts he had no spotte of vncleannesse in him he was sound and perfect in all parts both outwardly and inwardly his reason was vncorrupt his vnderstanding was Pure and Good his Will was obedient and godly he was made altogether like vnto God in i Ephe. 4.241 righteousnesse and holinesse c. And it is sayd in the first part of the * T. 2. p. 261. Homily of Repentance Therefore did God create and make men that he might haue whom he should do good vnto and k Psal 8.6 Col. 1 make partakers of his heauenly Riches In the like manner Dauid sayth thou l Psal 8.5 hast made man a little lower than the Angels and hast Crowned him with glory and Honour c. God sayth Moses created man in his owne image which Paul expresseth to be in righteousnesse and true holinesse Concerning mans partaking of Gods heauenly riches Paul signified to the Ephesians that m Eph. 3.8 vnto him grace was giuen for to Preach among the Gentiles the vnsearchable riches of Christ And hee sayth vnto them I cease not to n Eph 1.16 17.18 giue thankes for you making mention of you in my Prayers that the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glory may giue vnto you the spirit of Wisdome and Reuelation in the knowledge of him the eyes of your vnderstanding beeing enlightned that yee may know what is the hope of his Calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints is In the booke of Wisdome it is sayd God o Wisd 2.23 created man to be immortall and made him to be an image of his owne Eternity Hee p Wisd 1.14 created all things that they might haue their beeing and the generations of the World were healthfull and there is no poyson of destruction in them nor the Kingdome of Death vpon the earth CHAP. 9. Of Mans falling from God and of the Misery of Mankind thereby IN the second part of the * T. 1. p. 33. Homily of good Workes it is sayd That Adam notwithstanding Gods Commaundement gaue credit vnto the Woman seduced by the subtile perswasion of the Serpent and so followed his owne will and left Gods Commaundement Whereby it came to passe as it is deliuered in the * T. 2. p. 168. Homily of the Nativity of Christ that as before he was blessed so now he was accursed as before hee was loued so now he was abhorred as before he was most beautifull and precious so now hee was most vile and Wretched in the sight of his Lord and Maker c. Which misery fell not onely on him but also on his posterity and Children for euer So that the whole Brood of Adams flesh should sustaine the selfe same fall and punishment which their fore-father by his offence most iustly had deserued Saint Paul sayth q Rom. 5.12.14.18 By one man sinne entred into the World and death by sin and so death passed vpon all men for that all haue sinned And death reigned from Adam to Moses euen ouer them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adams transgression who is the figure of him that was to come And as by the offence of one iudgment came vpon all men to condemnation Euen so by the righteousnesse of one the free gift came vpon all men vnto iustification of life Accordingly Esdras hath testified saying r 2 Esdras 3.21 The first Adam bearing a wicked heart transgressed and was ouercome and so bee all they that are borne of him And againe sayth he Å¿ 2 Esd 7.48 O thou Adam what hast thou done for though it was thou that sinned thou art not falne alone but wee all that come of thee Esay declaring the state of man falne sayth t Esay 59.2.3.4 Your iniquities haue separated betweene you and your God and your sinnes haue hid his face from you that hee will not heare For your hands are defiled with Blood and your fingers with iniquity Your Lippes haue spoken lyes your Tongue hath muttered peruersnesse None calleth for Iustice nor any pleadeth for the truth c. Vnto the end of the 15. Verse And Esay sayth also u Esay 64.6 VVe are all as an vncleane thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags Saint Paule to the Ephesians likewise telleth them what was their estate afore they were conuerted vnto the obedience of the Gospell Namely that they were w Eph. 5.8 darknesse x Eph. 2.12.2.3 without Christ being Aliens from the common wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenant of Promise hauing no hope and without God in the World Also that they were dead in trespasses and sinnes wherein they Walked according to the course of this World according to the Prince of the power of the Ayre the spirit that now worketh in the Children of disobedience Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the minde and were by nature Children of Wrath euen as others Reade the whole Homily of the misery of Man CHAP. 10. Of Gods calling of Mankinde IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 219.220 Homily for Rogation Weeke it is sayd That it is the goodnesse of God which moueth him to say in Scripture It is my delight to be with the children of men It is his goodnesse that mooueth him to call vs vnto him to offer vs his friendship and presence It is his goodnesse that patiently suffereth our straying from him and suffereth vs long to winne vs vnto repentance And what other thing doth his louing and gentle voyce spoken in his Word where he calleth vs to his presence and friendship but delare his goodnesse only without regard of our Worthinesse It is sayd in the * In the Service appoynted to be read on Ash-wensday Comminations Exhortation The wrath of God shall appeare in the day of vengeance which obstinate sinners through the stubbornnesse of their heart haue heaped vnto themselues which despised the goodnesse patience and long sufferance of God when hee * Rom. 2.4 called them continually to Repentance From which places it is taught That Gods call of fallen man is vnto repentance and his friendship and presence according as it is written in S. Peter The y 2 Peter 3.9 Lord is long suffering to vs-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance z Mat. 9.13 I came saith Christ for to cal sinners to repentance And Saint Paul sayth to the Corinthians God a 1 Cor. 1.9 is faithfull by whom yee were called vnto the fellowship of his sonne
a certaine Precept and Law which hee being yet in the state of innocency and remayning in Paradize should obserue as a pledge and token of his due and bounden obedience c. In the third part of the * T. 1. p. 85. Homily against Adultery it is signified That before the Law was giuen by Moses the Law of nature onely reigned in the hearts of men In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 18.19 Homily against perill of Idolatry it is sayde If wee bee the people of God how can the Word and Law of God not appertayne vnto vs Saint Paul alleadging one Text out of the Olde Testament concludeth generally for other Scriptures of the old Testament as well as that saying Whatsoeuer is Written before meaning in the old Testament is Written for our instruction Which sentence is most specially true of such Writings of the olde Testament as contayne the immutable Lawe and Ordinances of God in no Age or time to bee altered nor of any persons of any Nations or Age whatsoeuer to bee disobeyed c. And in the first part of the * T. 2. p. 125. Homily concerning the place and time of Prayer it is sayd Whatsoeuer is found in the Commandement appertayning to the Law of nature as a thing most godly most iust and needfull for the setting forth of Gods glory it ought to bee retayned and kept of all good Christian people Moses diuided the Law which hee from God gaue to the people of Israel into k Deut. 6.1 Deut. 6.20 three kindes saying Now these are the Commandements the Statutes and the iudgements which the Lord your God commaunded to teach you that yee might doe them in the Land c. By the Commandements are meant the l Deut. 4.13.14 ten Commandements called commonly the Morall Law By m Deut. 16.12 See in Psal 119.8 according to the Diuine Service Translatiō and compare therewith the last translation Statutes are meant the ceremonies or the ceremoniall Law And by Iudgments are meant the n Exod. 21.1 iudiciall Law Concerning the Morall Law whereof the tenne Commandements are a summe or ten generall deliueries there Christ in his Gospell hath confirmed the euerlasting continuance of the same the farre greatest part of his new Testaments Precepts beeing Morall commanding and saying o Mathew 3.12 Whatsoeuer yee would that men should do vnto you do yee euen so vnto them for this is the Law and the Prophets And Paul signifieth the euerlastingnesse of that Law saying p Ephe. 6.2 Honor thy father and thy mother which is the first Commandement with promise that it may bee well with thee and thou mayst liue long on the earth The Ceremoniall Lawes as of Circumcision in the q Gal. 5.2 flesh of r Heb. 1◠5.8 offering for Sacrifices the bodies of Beasts and the like endured but vntill the time of ſ Heb. 9.10 Reformation and the time of the t Acts 21.25 Establishing of the Ordinances of Messias the Lord Iesus Christ Paul sayth If yee be u Gala. 5.2 Circumcised Christ shall profite you nothing And the Apostle speaking of Christs comming into the world deliuereth Wherefore when hee commeth into the World hee sayth Sacrifice w Heb. 10.5.6.7 8.9 and offering thou wouldest not but a body hast thou prepared me In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sinne thou hast had no pleasure Then sayde he Loe I come to doe thy wil O God Hee taketh away the first that hee may establish the second Yet of no Ceremoniall Law is the righteousnesse or morall signification ceased which is to bee obserued of vs but it endureth for euer as it may very plainely appeare out of Saint Paules VVordes to the Romanes where hee sayth x Rom. 8.4 That the righteousnesse of the Lawe might bee fulfilled in vs who VValke not after the flesh but after the Spirit The iudgements or the Iudiciall Lawes though the righteousnesse intended by them all is euerlasting are not in euery y See the seauenth Article of the Religion established particular of them now in force in any Christian Common VVealth as the Law of punishing Adultery with Death VVhich may appeare by Christs dismissing the z Iohn 8.11 Woman taken in Adultery and by his permitting a man to a Mat. 5.32 put away his Wife for Fornication Which putting away neede not be if the b Leu. 20.10 Law of Moses concerning punishing Adultery with Death stood still in Vniuersall force or vertue For so soone as the married party had committed Adultery hee or shee should bee taken away by suffering Death according to Moses Law No lawe or ordinance of what kinde so euer which hath proceeded foorth of the Wisedome of the Eternall God for the vse of Mankinde is to be neglected as concerning the equity or morality thereof though the ceremony of it or such like circumstance be ceased as it is written c 2. Tim. 3.16.17 All Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is prositable for Doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse That the man of God may bee perfect throughly Furnished vnto all good workes And againe the Apostle sayth to the Romanes d Rom. 15.4 Whatsoeuer things were written afore time were written for our learning c. CHAP. 19. Of the Tabernacle and Temple of the Iewes IN the first part of the * Tom. 2. p. 126.127 Homily concerning the place and time of Prayer it is sayd So soone as God had deliuered his people from their enemies and set them in some liberty in the Wildernesse he set them vp a costly and a curious Tabernacle which was as it were the Parish Church a place to resort vnto of the whole multitude a place to haue Sacrifices made in and other obseruances and rites to be vsed in Furthermore after that God according to the truth of his promise had placed and quietly setled his people in the land of Canaan now called Iewrie he commaunded a great and magnificent Temple to be builded by King Solomon as seldome the like hath beene seene a Temple so decked and adorned so gorgeously garnished as was meete and expedient for people of that time which would be allured and stirred with nothing so much as with such outward goodly gay things This was now the Temple of God endued also with many gifts and sundry promises This was the publike Church and the mother Church of all Iewrie Here was God honored and serued Hither was the whole Realme of all the Israelites bound to come at three solemne feastes in the yeare to serue their Lord God here The Tabernacle consisted of three partes e Exod. 27.9 the Court the f Exod. 26.33 Holy and the most Holy The g Num. 1.50.51.53 Leuites did seruice in and about the Court The h Heb. 9.6 Priests did seruice in the Holy And the i Heb. 9 7. high Priest alone once
Wee are VVitnesses of these things and so is also the Holy Ghost whom God hath giuen to them that obey him Reade the third part of the * T. 2. p. 229. 230 Homily for Rogation VVeeke and there are expressed many operations of the Holy Ghost for and in the people of Almighty God CHAP. 25. Of the Merit of the Redemption wrought by Iesus Christ THE Church in her most Sacred Catechisme teacheth euery one of her Children to say I beleeue in God the Sonne who hath redeemed me and all Mankind And in the Prayer afore the Ministration of the Communion it is sayd Iesus Christ suffering Death vpon the Crosse for our Redemption made there by his owne Oblation of himselfe once offered a full perfect and sufficient Sacrifice Oblation and satisfaction for the sinnes of the whole World In the second * T. 2. p. 181. Homily of CHRISTS passion it is sayde Hee suffered Death vniuersally for all men And in the same * P. 185. Homily it is sayde God gaue Christ to the whole World that is to say to Adam and to all that should come after him And in the first part of the * T. 2. p. 200. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is sayd The Death of Christ is auaileable for the Redemption of all the World The holy Scriptures testifie the same greatnesse of the merit of the Redemption wrought by Iesus Christ Saint Iohn sayth He is the propitiation for our sinnes and not for ours onely but also for the sinnes of k 1 Iohn 2.2 the whole World Saint Paul sayth Christ gaue himselfe a ransome for l 1 Tim. 2.6 all And to the Hebrewes he sayth m Heb. 2.9 Iesus Christ tasted Death for euery man To the Corinthians hee sayth If one dyed for all then were all dead and hee dyed for n 2 Cor. 5.14.15 all c. And to the Romanes hee sayth o Rom. 5.18 1 Cor. 15.21.22 Iohn 12.32 As by the offence of one iudgement came vpon al men to condemnation Eue so by the righteousnesse of one the free gift came vpon all men vnto iustification of life In the second part of the * T. 1. p. 50. Homily concerning Swearing it is signified That not onely Christs death but his life also c. are meritorious where it is sayd Whosoeuer wilfully * Zechar. 5.4.5 See Chap. 73. forsweare themselues vppon Christs Holy Euangely they vtterly forsake Gods mercy goodnesse and truth the merits of our Sauiour Christs Natiuity Life Passion Death Resurrection and Ascension they refuse the forgiuenesse of sinnes promised to all penitent sinners the ioyes of Heauen the company with Angels and Saints for euer Also the aforesayde actions of Christ are meritorious because they were done for the sake of mankinde CHAP. 26. Of the end for the which Iesus Christ redeemed mankinde and who of yeares of discretion or of perfect age partake of the merit of the same redemption IT is sayd in the second part of the * T. 1. p. 82. Homily against adultery Christ that innocent Lambe of God hath bought vs from the seruitude of the Diuell not with corruptible gold and siluer but with his most precious and deare heart bloud To what intent That we should fall againe into our old vncleannesse and abhominable liuing Nay verily but that we should serue him all the dayes of our life in holinesse and righteousnesse that we should glorifie him in our bodies by purity and cleannesse of life And in the * T. 2. p. 179. Homily for good Friday it is sayd Christ hath not so redeemed vs from sinne that we may safely returne thereto againe but he hath redeemed vs that we should forsake the motions thereof and liue vnto righteousnesse Yea we be therefore washed in our Baptisme from the filthinesse of sinne that we should liue afterward in the purenesse of life In Baptisme we promised to renounce the Diuell and his suggestions wee promised to be as obedient children alwayes following Gods will and pleasure So in the * T. 2. p. 195. Homily of the Resurrection it is sayd Yee must consider that yee be therefore cleansed and renued that yee should from hencefoorth serue God in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of your liues that ye may reigne with him in euerlasting life If yee refuse so great grace whereto yee bee called what other thing doe yee than heape to your selues damnation more and more and so prouoke God to cast his displeasure vnto you and to reuenge this mockage of his Holy Sacramerits in so great abusing of them In the second * T. 2. p. 186. Homily of the Passion it is sayd Now it remaineth that I shewe vnto you how to apply Christs death and passion to our comfort as a medicine to our wounds so that it may worke the same effect in vs wherefore it was giuen namely the health and saluation of our soules For as it profiteth a man nothing to haue salue vnlesse it be well applied to the part infected so the death of Christ shall sland vs in no force vnlesse we apply it to our selues in such sort as God hath appointed Almighty God commonly worketh by meanes and in this thing he hath also ordained a certaine meane whereby we may take fruite and profite to our soules health and that is Faith Not an vnconstant or wauering faith but a sure stedfast grounded and vnfained faith * Pag. 188. For as all they which beheld stedfastly the brazen Serpent were healed and deliuered at the very sight thereof from their corporall diseases and bodily stings euen so all they which behold Christ crucified with a true and liuely faith shall vndoubtedly bee deliuered from the grieuous wounds of the soule be they neuer so deadly or many in number In the * Tom. 2. p. 173 Homily of the Natiuity it is sayd After that Christ was come downe from heauen and had taken our fraile nature vpon him he made all them that would receiue him truely and beleeue his holy Word good trees c. And to shew more plainely who partake of Christs merits the * Tom. 2. p. 179 Homily for good Friday declareth saying That we doe call for mercy in vaine if wee will not shew mercy to our neighbours For if we will not put wrath and displeasure forth of our hearts to our Christian brother no more will God forgiue the displeasure and wrath that our sinnes haue deserued afore him For vnder this condition doth God forgiue vs if we forgiue other God is to be obeyed which commaundeth vs to forgiue if we will haue any part of the pardon which our Sauiour Christ purchased once of God the Father by shedding of his precious bloud And in the second part of the * Tom. 1. p. 94. Homily against contention the Church sayth What crakest thou of thy head if thou labour not to be in the body Thou canst be no member of
ye seeke a proofe of Christ speaking in me He also inwardly instructeth his people as it is testified of Lydia That the Lord Å¿ Acts 16.14 opened her heart that she attended vnto the things which were spoken by Paul Also he is the foreceller of things to come as it is written t Reuel 1.1 The Reuelation of Iesus Christ which God gaue vnto him to shew vnto his seruants things which must shortly come to passe u Heb. 1.1 God saith the Apostle to the Hebrews who at sundry times and in diuerse manners spake in times past to the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last dayes spoken vnto vs by his Sonne who hath sayd w Heb 2.12 I will declare thy name vnto my brethren CHAP. 29. Of Christs Kingdome IN the third part of the * Tom. 2 p. 227. Homily for Rogation weeke it is sayd To Iesus Christ our Sauiour and Mediatour hath God the Father giuen the power of heauen and earth and the whole iurisdiction and authority to distribute his goods and gifts committed vnto him For so writeth the Apostle x Ephes 4.7 To euery one of vs is grace giuen according to the measure of Christs giuing And thereupon to execute his authority committed after that he had brought sinne and the diuell to captiuity to be no more hurtfull to his members he ascended vp to his Father againe and from thence sent liberall gifts to his well beloued seruants and hath still the power to the worlds end for to distribute his Fathers gifts continually in his Church to the establishment and comfort thereof In the first part of the * Tom. 1â— 54 Homily concerning falling from God it is sayd Whereas God hath shewed to all them that truly beleeue his Gospel his face of mercy in Iesus Christ which doth so lighten their hearts that they if they behold it as they ought to doe be transformed to his image be made partakers of the heauenly light and of his Holy Spirit and be fashioned to him in all goodnesse requisite to the children of God So if they after doe neglect the same if they be vnthankefull vnto him if they order not their liues according to his example and doctrine and to the setting forth of his glory he will take away from them his Kingdome his Holy Word whereby he should reigne in them because they bring not forth the fruite thereof that he looketh for Saint Paul sayth to the Romanes y Rom 5.20.21 The law entred that the offence might abound but where sinne abounded grace did much more abound That as sinne hath reigned vnto death euen so might grace reigne through righteousnesse vnto eternall life by Iesus Christ our Lord. z Math. 28.18 All power sayth Christ is giuen to me both in heauen and in earth Concerning his Kingdome Isaiah thus writeth a Isa 9.6.7 Vnto vs a childe is borne vnto vs a Sonne is giuen and the gouernment shall be vpon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderfull Counseller the mighty God the euerlasting Father the Prince of peace of the increase of his gouernement and peace there shall bee no ende vpon the Throne of Dauid and vpon his Kingdome to order it and to establish it with iudgement and with iustice from hencefoorth euen for euer b Rom. 14.17 The Kingdome of God saith Paul is righteousnesse peace and ioy in the Holy Ghost c Luk. 17.20.21 The Kingdome of God saith Iesus Christ commeth not with obseruation neither shall they say Loe here or Loe there for behold the Kingdome of God is within you d Psal 145.13 Thy Kingdome saith Dauid is an * Or a kingdome of all ages as in the Margent euerlasting Kingdome and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations Christ must e 1. Cor. 15.24.25 reigne saith Paul till he hath put all his enemies vnder his feete Then commeth the end when he shall haue deliuered vp the Kingdome to God euen the Father when he shall haue put downe all rule and all authority and power CHAP. 30. Of Christs mediation for his people and of the reconciliation IN the third part of the * Tom. 2. p. 228 Homily for Rogation weeke it is said God the Father of all mercy wrought the high benefit vnto vs of reconciliation not by his owne person but by a meane by no lesse meane than his onely beloued Sonne whom he spared not from any paine and trauaile that might doe vs good And in the said part of the * Page 228. Homily it is further deliuered That as by him being the euerlasting Wisedome he wrought all the world and that is contained therein so by him onely and wholy would he haue all things restored againe in heauen and in earth In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 118. Homily concerning Prayer it is sayd Whereas we must needes vse the helpe of some mediatour and intercessour let vs content our selues with him that is the true and only f Heb. 9.15 Mediatour of the new Testament namely the Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ For as Saint Iohn sayth g 1. Ioh 2.1.2 If any man sinne we haue an Aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous who is the propitiation for our sinnes And Saint Paul in his first Epistle to Timothy sayth h 1 Tim. 2.5.6 There is one God and one Mediatour betweene God and man euen the man Iesus Christ who gaue himselfe a ransome for all men to be a testimony in due time The Prophet Isaiah declaring the state of man fallen saith i Isa 59.2 Your iniquities haue separated betweene you and your God and your sinnes haue hid his face from you that he will not heare Saint Paul sheweth the Saints of Ephesus what Christs mediation had wrought for them saying k Eph. 2.13.14.15.16 But now in Christ Iesus Yee who sometimes were farre off are made nigh by the bloud of Christ For he is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken downe the middle wall of partition betweene vs hauing abolished in his flesh the enmity euen the law of commandements conteined in ordinances for to make in himselfe of twaine one new man so making peace Likewise he sayth to the Saints of Colosse l Colos 1.18 19.20 21.22.23 It pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell And hauing made peace through the bloud of his crosse by him to reconcile all things vnto himselfe by him I say whether they bee things in earth or things in heauen And you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your minde by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and vnblameable and vnreproueable in his sight If yee continue in the faith grounded and setled and be not moued away from the hope of the Gospell c. And for as much as Christ is for his people an
greater authority to them than unto meere humane writings In the margent of the last translation of the Bible there is often reference made unto Chapter and verse of those bookes as in the margent of Heb. 1.3 Iohn 10.22 Matth. 6.7 Matth. 23.37 Heb. 11.35 and in more places There is no such reference made unto Chapter and verse of any other bookes excepting the canonicall Scriptures In the Concordance which is sometimes bound with bibles of the middle bignesse namely in quarto places out of all those bookes are often quoted and added unto the places cited out of the Canonicall Scriptures It is not so done out of any other bookes Even all the Fathers which have lived in the Church of Iesus Christ since first the Apostles dayes have with great reverence and respect alleaged sayings out of those books The true Apostolicall Church of England hath ordained those bookes onely and none other of what authoritie soever to be translated with the Canonicall Scriptures and to be set betweene the bookes of the old and new Testament Seeing then that the Church our mother so honoureth the said bookes called Apocrypha ought not wee her members to have them bound in our Bibles to reverence and respect them and diligently to read them for * The Church in the sixt Article of religion so delivereth example of life and instruction of manners and to account them for to be in all respects of so much a Phil. 4.8 1 Thes 5.21 1 Pet. 5.5 Mat. 18.17 1 Cor 16.16 authority as the Church of England now ascribeth unto them CHAP. 50. Of peoples learning the most sacred Catechisme of the Church which is in the booke of Common Prayer Every member of the true Apostolicall Church of England hath occasion greatly to praise the name of the Lord for stirring up our most gracious Soveraigne and the holy Fathers of the Church to take great care for this ordinance of the Gospell of Iesus Christ namely Catechizing that it may bee duely used according as it was prescribed by holy Church heretofore and the same ratified by our late Soveraigne Lord King Iames a Prince of ever blessed memory IN the end of the rubricke after the Service of Confirmation it is said None shall be admitted to the holy Communion untill such time as he can say the Catechisme namely that in the booke of Common Prayer the which being printed alone by it selfe is now commonly called the A. B. C. The said most sacred Catechisme consisteth of but about twenty questions whose answers require any labour of learning by heart And yet therein is contained the summe of the whole Christian faith and life in a most Divine delivery This holy b Ps 119.130 Catechisme should all people members of the Church of England have either in memory or else at least be able so to c 1 Pet. 3.13 answere unto each question therein as that they may declare themselves to have in effect such an d Phil. 3.16 1 Cor. 1.10 understanding of the matters therein contained as the Church hath in full words expressed in it Catechisme is an instructing of people in the e Heb. 5.12 principles of the Oracles of God It is a f Heb. 6.1 2. laying of the foundation of repentance from dead workes and of faith towards God of the Doctrine of Baptismes and of laying on of hands and of the resurrection of the dead and of the eternall judgment It is a ministring of the g 1 Pet. 2.2 sincere milke of the Word unto the h Heb. 5.13 unskilfull in the word of righteousnesse Even as a house cannot bee well built up and stand fast unlesse the foundations thereof be firmely laid so people who should bee built up a spirituall i 1 Pet. 2.4 house for an k Eph. 2.21 22. habitation of God through the spirit cannot be fitly framed together and grow unto an holy Temple in the Lord unlesse they bee l Luke 11.52 Mat. 14.11 rightly instructed in the principles of the Doctrine of Christ and withall grow up in all due m Rom. 1.5 and 16.26 obedience unto the same Not onely the Catechisme in the Divine Service doth deliver the Milke of the Gospell but also the whole Divine Service doth minister the same abundantly If one would know what is repentance and faith let him reade the Homilies thereof If hee would know what is the mysterie of baptisme and of laying on of hands let him reade the Services thereof If one would know the mysterie of the Communion let him read the Service and the Homily thereof It is a main part of the use of the Divine Service to lay firmly in peoples mindes the n 1 Cor. 3.10 grounds of Christianity All people therefore that would bee rightly grounded in the true Christian religion and grow more and more towards o Heb. 6.1 Col. 1.28 29. perfection in Iesus Christ ought to be much conversant in every part of the said Service and to enable themselves so to render a reason of every point of Christianity according as they finde it delivered in the said p Prov. 6.20 21 22 23. Luke 10.16 bookes and withall to q 2 Thes 1.3 Prov 4.18 increase in that godly conversation which is throughout the service prescribed And thereunto this present worke will much helpe every one that will make due use of all the same The Church hath ordained that not onely the youth but other ignorant persons also to be r Song 6.6 Ps 1.48 12. Deut. 31.12 Nehem. 8.2 instructed in the Catechisme For thus is her sacred * Canon 59 This holy and necessary Ordinance of Christ and his Church is now by the great goodnesse of Almighty God observed and al true Christians hearts doe pray that so it may bee continued and more and more conscionably used unto Gods glory and the edification of all people constitution Every Parson Vicar or Curate upon every Sunday and holy day before evening prayer shall for halfe an houre or more examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his parish in the ten Commandements the Articles of the beliefe and in the Lords prayer and shall diligently heare instruct and teach them the Catechisme set forth in the booke of Common prayer c. Peoples Å¿ Prov. 19.2 neglect of learning that Catechisme and of obedience thereto and also their not regarding to have their Children and servants taught the same and instructed unto the observing of the duties therein prescribed is a maine cause that now so many are ignorant in minde and t Prov. 29.15 disorderly in conversation The Oracle of God saith u Prov. 22.6 Traine up a Child in the way he should goe and when he is old he will not depart from it CHAP. 51. Of Baptisme THE Catechisme in the Divine service delivereth That the outward visible signe or forme in baptisme is water wherein the person baptized is dipped
and fall like one of the Princes In the booke of Wisdome it is said unto Rulers d Wisd 6.4 5 6 Because being Ministers of his Kingdome you have not judged aright nor kept the Law nor walked after the Counsell of God horribly and speedily shall hee come upon you For a sharpe judgement shall bee to them that bee in high places For mercy will soone pardon the meanest mighty men shall bee mightily tormented It is recorded of Mordicai the Iew being advanced next unto King Ahasuerus that he sought the e Est 10.3 wealth of his people and spake peace unto all his Seed Blessed are they that keepe judgement and hee that doth f Ps 106.3 righteousnesse at all times saith David But saith Isaiah Woe unto them that g Isa 10.1 2. decree unrighteous Decrees and that write grievousnesse which they have prescribed to turne aside the needy from judgment and to take away the right from the poore of the people that widowes may be their prey and that they may rob the fatherlesse The Lord saith by Moses h Exod. 23.2 3 8. Deut. 16.18 19.20 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to doe evill neither shalt thou speake in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgement Neither shalt thou countenance a poore man in his cause The Iudges and Officers shall judge the people with just judgement Thou shalt not wrest judgement thou shalt not respect persons neither take a gift for a gift doth blinde the eyes of the wise and pervert the words of the righteous That which is altogether just shalt thou follow Paul saith to the Thessalonians Wee command you brethren in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ That yee with-draw your selves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after the tradition which he received of us For even when we were with you this we commanded you That if any man would not worke i 2 Thes 3.10 neither should hee eate It is a saying and observed out of Moses Law There should be no k Deut. 15.4 begger in Israel CHAP. 73. Of Swearing IN the * T. 1. p. 45. Homily against Swearing and perjury it is said When Iudges require oaths of the people for declaration or opening of the truth or for execution of Iustice Swearing is lawfull Also when men make faithfull promises with calling to witnesse of the name of God to keepe covenants honest promises statutes lawes good customes as Christian Princes doe in their conclusions of peace for conservation of Common-wealths and private persons promise their fidelity in Matrimony or one to another in honesty and true friendship and all men when they doe sweare to keepe common lawes and locall statutes and good customes for due order to bee had and continued among men when subjects doe sweare to bee true and faithfull to their King and Soveraigne Lord and when Iudges Magistrates and Officers sweare truly to execute their Offices and when a man would affirme the truth to the setting forth of Gods glory for the salvation of the people in open preaching of the Gospell or in giving of good Counsell privately for their soules health All these manners of swearing for causes necessarie and honest be lawfull But when men doe sweare of custome in reasoning buying and selling or other dayly communications as many be common and great swearers such kinde of swearing is ungodly unlawfull and forbidden by the Commandement of God For such swearing is nothing else but taking of Gods name in vaine * P. 46 47. Afterward it is said Whosoever sweareth when he is required of a Iudge let him be sure in his conscience that his oath have three conditions and hee shall never need to be afraid of perjury First hee that sweareth must sweare truly that is he must setting apart all favour and affection to the parties have the truth onely before his eyes and for love thereof say and speake that which he knoweth to be truth and no further The second is he that taketh an oath must doe it with judgement not rashly and unadvisedly but soberly considering what an oath is The third is he that sweareth must sweare in righteousnesse that is for the very zeale and love which he beareth to the defence of innocency to the maintenance of the truth and of the righteousnesse of the matter or cause all profit disposits all love and favour unto the person for friendship or kindred laid apart That in communication wee ought not to sweare Christs words doe declare where he saith l Mat. 5.34 35 36 37. Sweare not at all neither by heaven c. by no creature But let your communication be yea yea nay nay for whatsoever is more then these commeth of evill The which Scripture as it forbiddeth all manner of swearing in communication so it forbiddeth to sweare at any time by any thing excepting the name of God onely The Lord saith to the Israelites by Ieremiah How shall I pardon thee for this thy Children have forsaken me and m Ier. 5.7 sworne by them that are no gods In the second part of the * P. 50. Homily of swearing it is most memorably said To the intent you should know how great and grievous an offence against God wilfull perjury is I will shew you what it is to take an oath before a Iudge upon a booke First when they laying their hands upon the Gospell booke doe sweare truly to enquire and to make a true presentment of things wherewith they be charged and not to let from saying the truth and doing truly for favour love dread or malice of any person as God may helpe them and the holy Contents of that booke They must consider that in that booke is contained Gods everlasting truth his most holy and eternall Word whereby we have forgivenesse of our sinnes and be made inheritours of heaven to live for ever with Gods Angels and Saints in joy and gladnesse In the Gospell booke is contained also Gods terrible threats to obstinate sinners that will not amend their lives nor beleeve the truth of Gods holy Word and the everlasting pain prepared in hell for Idolaters Hypocrites for false and vaine swearers for perjured men for false witnesse barers for false condemners of innocent and guiltlesse men and for them which for favour hide the crimes of evill doers that they should not be punished So that whosoever wilfully for sweare themselves upon Christs holy Evangely or Gospell they utterly forsake Gods mercy goodnesse and truth the merits of our Saviour Christs Nativity Life Passion Death Resurrection and Ascension they refuse the forgivenesse of sinnes promised to all penitent sinners the joyes of heaven the companie with Angels and Saints for ever All which benefits and comforts are promised unto true Christian persons in the Gospell And they so being forsworne upon the Gospell doe betake themselves to the devills service the master of all lies falshood deceit and perjurie provoking
which leadeth unto life eternall neither doe they give themselves unto sinning neither are they without Gods peace in their consciences Every true member of the said Church of England endevoureth to beleeve and live according to the divine Servince-doctrine and the rest of the doctrine and discipline which is established by publike or common Authority All which said doctrine discipline as this present worke abundantly declareth serveth to further people in the g Ier. 6.16 old pathes where is the good way as the Prophet Ieremiah speaketh and every one that faithfully walketh therein according to the established doctrine and discipline findeth more and more rest for his minde or soule Of hardnesse of heart IN the second part of the * T. 2. p. 269 270. Homily of Repentance it is said Let us hearken unto the voyce of Almighty God h Prov. 1.23 24 28. when he calleth us to repentance let us not i Iob 9.4 Prov. 21.29 and 29.1 harden our hearts as such k Exod. 8.15 Infidels doe who abuse the time l Rev. 2.2 given them of God to repent and turne it to continue their pride and contempt against God and man which know not how much they m Rom. 2.5 Iam. 5.3 heape Gods wrath upon themselves for the hardnesse of their hearts which cannot repent at the n Luke 13.25 26 27. day of vengeance With great godly wisedome hath holy Church ordained to be read at morning Prayer the Psalme wherein God saith unto us by his servant David To day if ye will heare my voice o Ps 95.8 harden not your hearts Wherefore Saint Paul saith Take heed brethren lest there bee in any of you an evill hart of unbeliefe in departing from the living God But exhort one another daily while it is called to day lest any of you bee p Heb. 3.12.13.14.15 hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne For wee are made partakers of Christ if wee hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end A meanes to unharden ones owne heart is to beleeve aswell Christs q Mat. 5.20 Matt. 18.3 Luk. 13.3 Rom. 8.13 Luk. 14.26.33 Ioh. 15.6 threatnings as his promises And al that do beleeve what is said in the Gospell concerning his unpartiall judging of mankind have not hearts so hard as they have which beleeve not those divine Oracles concerning Christs righteous judging See Zechariah 7.9.10.11.12.13 and Acts. 28.23.24.25.26.27 Of Desperation IN the second part of the * T. 2. p. 57.58 Homily of falling from God it is said Let us beware good Christian people lest that wee rejecting or casting away Gods word by the which we obtaine and retaine true faith in God be not at length cast off so farre that wee become as the childrē of unbeleefe which be of two sorts far diverse yea almost cleane contrary and yet both be very farre from returning to God the one sort onely weighing their sinfull and detestable living with the right judgement and straitnesse of Gods righteousnesse be so without counsell and be so comfortlesse as they all must needs bee from whom the Spirit of counsell and comfort is gone that they will not bee perswaded in their hearts but that either God cannot or else that hee will not take them againe to his favour and mercie The other hearing the loving and large promises of Gods mercy and so not conceiving a right faith thereof make those promises larger than ever God did trusting that although they continue in their sinfull and detestable living never so long yet that God at the end of their life will shew his mercy upon them and that then they will returne And both these two sorts of men be in a damnable state and yet neverthelesse God who willeth not the death of the wicked hath shewed meanes whereby both the same if they take heed in r Heb. 3.7.13 2 Cor. 6.1.2 Ioh. 9.5.4 Ioh. 12.36 Luk. 13.25.26.27 Mat. 25.10.11.12.13 season may escape The first as they doe dread Gods rightfull justice in punishing sinners whereby they should bee dismayed should despaire indeed as touching any hope that may be in themselves so if they would constantly or stedfastly beleeve that Gods mercy is the remedy appointed against such despaire and distrust not onely for them but generally for all that be sory and truly repentant and will therewithall sticke to Gods mercy they may bee sure they shall obtaine mercy and enter into the Port or haven of safegard into the which whosoever doth come be they before time never so wicked they shall be out of danger of everlasting damnation as God by Ezechiel saith s Ezech. 18.21.22.23.27.28 What time soever a sinner doth returne and take earnest and true repentance I will forget all his wickednesse The other as they bee ready to beleeve Gods promises so they should be as ready to beleeve the t Rev. 21.8 1 Cor. 6.9.10 Gal. 6. threatnings of God aswell they should beleeve the Law as the Gospell aswell that there is an hell and everlasting fire as that there is an heauen and everlasting joy aswell they should beleeve damnation to be threatned to the wicked and evill doers as salvation to be promised to the faithfull in word and workes aswell they should beleeve God to be true in the one as in the other And so along the Church delivereth Gods truth in a wonderfull divine manner Christ saith u Mat. 11.28.29.30 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden with the burden of your sinnes and with griefe for them and I will give you rest Take my yoke upon you and learne of me for I am meeke and lowly in heart and ye shall finde rest unto your soules But as Saint Paul saith The Lord Iesus shall bee revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that w 2 Thes 1.7.8.9 obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ who shall be the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power c. Of Sedition and privie conspiracie THough wee heare it or at least should often heare it read in the sacred Letaine From all Sedition and privie conspiracie good Lord deliver us yet how prone are many in the world thereunto Such consider not what the Gospell saith There is no x Rom. 13.1.2 power but of God The powers that bee are ordained of God Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Such consider not that other most memorable oracle of God delivered by S. Peter Submit your selves to y 1 Pet. 2.13.14 every ordinance of man for the Lords sakes whether it be to the King as Supreame or unto governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evill