99. Of sundry of Gods blessings upon obedient people in this present life IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 5. Homily concerning the right use of the Church it is said If we would with diligence resort to the house of the Lord together to serve the Lord with one accord and u Zeph. 3.9 consent in all holinesse and righteousnesse before him wee have promises of benefits both heavenly and worldly Wheresoever two or three be gathered in my name saith our Saviour Christ there am I in the w Mat. 18.20 middest of them And what can bee more blessed than to have our Saviour Christ x Psal 16.11.6.5 Ezech. 48.35 among us In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 93.94 Homily of Fasting it is said Godwhich heard y 1 King 21.29 Ahab and the z Ionah 3.10 Ninevites and spared them will also heare our prayers and spare us so that we after their example will unfainedly turne unto him yea he will blesse us with his heavenly benedictions the time that we have to tary in this world and after the race of this mortall life he will bring us to his a Mat. 7.21 heavenly Kingdome In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 212. Homily for Whitsunday it is said Our Saviour Christ departing out of the world unto his Father promised his disciples to send downe another Comforter that should b Iohn 14.16 continue with them for ever and direct them into c Iohn 16.13 all truth The blessing pronounced at the end of Evening-Service namely d 2 Cor. 13.14 The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with us all evermore Is it not a great comfort to a soule for to enjoy all the same Saint Iohn accounted the fellowship with Gods Spirit the Sūmum bonum the supreame happinesse in this world where hee saith z Pet. 1.11 to the little children in Christ That which we have seene and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truely our e 1 Ioh. 1.1 2 3 fellowship is with the Father and with his Sonne Iesus Christ And these things write wee unto you that your joy may be full In the * T. 2. p. 193. Homily of the Resurrection it is signified That untill the generall resurrection in the last day whiles wee now are in this world Gods holy spirit may be had within our hearts as a f 2 Cor. 1.22 seale and g Eph. 1.13.14 Rom 8.15 16.23 pledge of our everlasting inheritance Yea saith that sacred * T. 2. p. 192 Homily unto every true member of Christ Thou hast received Christs body to have within thee the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost for to h Ioh. 14.23 2 Cor. 6.16 dwell with thee for to endow thee with grace to strength thee against thine enemies and to comfort thee with their presence And againe Christ now entred within us how dare we be so bold to renounce the presence of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost for where one is there is God i Col. 3.11 Ephes 4.6 1 Cor. 3.16 17. and 6.19 all whole in Majesty together with all his power wisdome and goodnesse and feare not I say the danger and perill of so traiterous a defiance and departure In the first * T. 2. p. 180. Homily of the Passion it is said God give us all grace to follow Christs k 1 Pet. 2.21 1 Iohn 2.6 examples in peace in charity in patience and sufferance that wee now may have him our ghest to enter and dwell within us so as we may be in full surety having such a pledge of our salvation If we have him and his favour we may be sure that we have the favour of God l Mat. 3.17 by his meanes In the third Exhortation afore the Communion it is said If with a true penitent heart and lively faith wee receive that holy Sacrament then we m Iohn 6.63.36 spiritually eate the flesh of Christ and drink his blood then we dwell in Christ and Christ in us we be n 1 Cor. 6.17 one with Christ and Christ with us In the * T. 2. p. 195. Homily of the Resurrection it is said Apply your selves good friends to live in Christ that Christ may still live o Gal. 2. 2 Cor. 4.10.11 in you whose favour and assistance if ye have then p Iohn 3.36 and 6.47 1 Iohn 5.20 have you everlasting life already within you then can nothing q Rom. 8.31 hurt you Whatsoever is hitherto done and committed Christ ye see hath offered you pardon and clearly received you to his favour againe in full surety whereof yee have him now inhabiting and r Rom. 8.9 10 11. Gal 4.6 1 Iohn 3.24 dwelling within you In the first part of Whitsunday * T. 2 p. 209. Homily it is said The Holy Ghost doth not thinke it sufficient inwardly to work the spirituall and new birth of man unlesse he doe also ſ 1 Cor. 3.16 dwell and abide in him In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 60. Homily against the feare of Death it is signified That a true Christian is the very t Ephes 5.30 member of Christ the u 1 Cor. 3.17 Temple of the Holy Ghost the w Rom. 8.14 15 16. Sonne of God and the very x Rom. 8.17 Iam. 2.5 inheritour of the everlasting Kingdome of Heaven Most memorable is that sentence of the Holy Ghost delivered by Saint Paul unto Timothy Godlinesse is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that y 1 Tim. 4.8 now is and of that which is to come David saith The Lord will give strength unto his people The Lord will blesse his people with z Psal 29.11 peace Wisedome saith in the booke of the Proverbs Whoso hearkeneth unto me shal dwell a Prov. 1.33 safely and shall be quiet from feare of evill And Solomon also saith b Prov. 3.16 17 18. Length of dayes is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and honour She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her Isaiah saith Since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the eare neither hath the eye seene O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him Thou c Isa 64.4 5. meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousnesse those that remember thee in thy wayes Peter saith The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his eares are d 1 Pet. 3.12 open unto their prayers Hanani the Seer said The eyes of the Lord runne too and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himselfe strong in the e 2 Chro. 16.9 behalfe of him whose heart is perfect towards him David saith The Lord is
feare him and his righteousnesse unto childrens children To such as keepe his Covenant and to those that remember his Commandements to doe them Iesus the sonne of Syrach saith They that f Ecclus. 2.15.16 17. feare the Lord will not disobey his Word and they that love him will keepe his wayes They that feare the Lord will seeke that which is well pleasing unto him and they that love him shall bee filled with the Law They that feare the Lord will prepare their hearts and humble their soules in his sight They g Isa 66.5 tremble at Gods Word they dread to transgresse h Iam. 2.10 any part of it David saith Serve the Lord with feare and rejoyce with i Ps 2.11 trembling Paul saith to the Romanes Bee not high minded but k Rom. 11.20 21. feare For if God spared not the naturall branches take heed lest hee also spare not thee To the Philippians he saith Work out your owne salvation with l Phil. 2.12 The third Duty To love God feare and trembling The third is To love God with all our heart with all our minde with all our soule and with all our strength To love God is to love that which God is as namely heavenly m 1 Iohn 1.5 light n 1 Iohn 4.7.8.16 charity o Pro. 8.12 14. Wisd 7.25 26. with Heb. 1.3 wisdome for God is in Scripture said to be Light Charity Wisedome Hence Christ saith Yee are my p Ioh. 15.14 friends or lovers if yee doe whatsoever I command you This is the q 2 Ioh. 5.3 love of God saith Iohn that wee keepe his Commandements and his Commandements are not grievous Againe he saith This is r 2 Ich. 6. love that wee walke after his Commandements Wherefore Christ saith If yee s Ioh. 14.15.21 23.24 love me keepe my commandements He that hath my commandements and keepeth them he it is that loveth mee If a man love me he will keepe my words He that is of God t Ioh. 8.47 heareth Gods words The entrance of Gods words giveth u Ps 119.130 light God is a w Ioh. 4.24 spirit of light a spirit of love and a spirit of eternall wisdome They therefore that love this Holy Spirit blessed for ever cannot but love his nature and propertie They delight to have heavenly x Ps 43.3 light come more and more into their understanding they delight to y Eph. 5.2 1 Cor. 16.14 walke in love They unfainedly desire to doe all things in z 1 Sam. 18.5 Prov. 13.16 Wis 7.8 Col. 1.9 godly wisdome God requireth that we a Prov. 23.26 Luke 10.27 give him our whole heart minde soule strength and that the b Iam. 4.7 1 Ioh. 5.18 ill spirit have no part nor portion of us David a man after Gods owne heart said to God With my c Ps 119.10 whole heart have I sought thee The Lord saith by Ieremiah Yee shal seeke me and find me when yee shall search for me with your d Ier. 29.13 whole heart The Lord Iesus saith If any man come to me and e Luk. 14.26 hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters yea and his owne life also hee cannot be my Disciple To hate in this place signifieth to love lesse as it is observed to signifie so in sundry f Gen. 29.31 Deut. 21.15 Mat. 6.24 other places The holy Prophets and Apostles which for the Lords sake left not onely their earthly substance but their friends wives and children yea and their owne bodily lives they in some measure loved God as the commandement requireth So such as unfainedly strive to be more and more dead unto g Rom. 6.11 sinne to bee more and more buried with Christ in his h Rom. 6.4 Col. 2.12 1 Cor. 15.31 death to i Rom. 6.6 crucifie the old man and utterly to abolish the whole body of sinne as it is prescribed in the Baptisme-service to the end that the k 2 Cor. 4.10.11 life of Iesus may be manifest in their mortall flesh and that his kingdome of grace may l Zach. 14.9 Obad. 21. Luk. 17.21 onely and wholy be administred in their soules they in some measure love God as his Law requireth The fourth duty is to worship God Christ saith God is a spirit to be worshipped in m Ioh. 4.23.24 spirit and in truth The fourth duty To worship God Paul saith Glorifie God in your n 1 Cor. 6.20 body and in your spirit which are Gods As I live saith the Lord every knee shall o Rom. 14.11 bow to mee and every tongue shall confesse to God Of the outward worships due to God read the 68. Chapter afore There are also other bodily worshippings of God mentioned in the Holy Scriptures besides those as to p Gen. 17.3 fall downe on ones face to the earth unto the Lord c. The receiving of the Sacraments is said to bee a part of Gods worship yea and the due observation of all his other outward ordinances as r Mat. 15.9 See concerning Gods inward worship or worship in spirit in the end of T. 2. p. 75 teaching c. is worship to God also The inward worshipping of God is the doing of all such duties within the spirit as thēce are to be performed unto God immediately as to ſ Micah 6.8 humble ones selfe so as to walke with God to do our parts towards the t Iam. 4.8 purifying of our hearts to u Ioel. 2.13 Ezech. 36.31 beare sorrow for our sinnes committed to rent our hearts to do our parts towards the w Ezech. 18.31 making of a new heart and a new spirit c. The fift duty is to give thankes unto God The fift duty to thanke God And this duty is to bee done within the spirit in bearing a gratefull minde x Eph. 5.20 continually unto God for all his mercies So did the Virgin Mary when she said My soule doth y Luk. 1.46.47 magnifie the Lord and my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour So did David when hee said Blesse the Lord O my soule and al that is within me blesse his Holy name z Ps 104.1.2 Blesse the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefits Concerning thanking God outwardly see Chapter 44. The sixt duty To trust wholy in God The sixt duty is to put our whole trust in him We are said to trust wholy in God when wee a Ps 37.7 rest on him and b Ps 37.5 depend totally upon him with hope of receiving his promises wee faithfully doing our parts in keeping the c 2 Kings 18.4.5.6 conditions wherewith his promises are made Trust or confidence in God proceedeth partly out of knowledge of Gods Attributes or properties as it is written They that know thy d Ps 9.10 Name will put their trust in thee
preached unto others I my selfe should bee a cast away Hereto Saint Peters counsell is to be remembred Dearly beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims c 1 Pet. 2.11 abstaine from fleshly lusts which warre against the soule Of Patience Furthermore Saint Peter saith Adde to Temperance Patience Saint Paul saith unto Timothy Thou therefore d 2 Tim. 2.3 4 5 12. endure hardnesse as a good souldier of Iesus Christ No man that warreth intangleth himselfe with the affaires of this life that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a souldier And if a man also strive for masteries yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully If wee suffer with Christ we shall also raigne with him Much considerable hereto is the holy delivery of the Church in the sacred * T. 2. p. 195 196. Homily of the resurrection Truth it is that sin is strong and affections are unruly Hard it is to subdue and resist our nature so corrupt and leavened with the sower bitternesse of the poyson which wee received by the inheritance of our old father Adam But yet take good courage saith our Saviour Christ for I have e Iohn 16.33 overcome the world and all other f Col. 2.14 15. enemies for you g Rom. 6.14 Sinne shall not have power over you for ye be now under grace saith Saint Paul Though your power be weake yet Christ is risen againe to h Phil. 3.10 strengthen you in your battaile his holy Spirit shall i Rom. 8.26 27 helpe your infirmities In trust of his mercy take you in hand to k 1 Cor. 5.7 8 6. purge this old leaven of sinne that crrupteth and sowreth the sweetnesse of our life before God that yee may bee as new and fresh Dow voide of all sower leaven of wickednesse so shall ye shew your selves to be sweet bread unto God that hee may have his delight in you And in the same * T. 2. p 193. Homily it is said By the assistance of Christs holy Spirit we be replenished with all righteousnesse by whose power we shall be able to l Rom. 6.12 Rom. 8 1◠2 Cor. 10.4 5 6 subdue all our evill affections rising against the pleasure of God When the Iewes returned from their captivity in Babylon unto Ierusalem and went about reparing the Temple of the Lord which was ruinated and laid wast they were sorely vexed and hindered by the m Ezra 4.1 4 5 c. Chaldeans under which Nation they had beene in captivity afore yet they n Neh. 4.15 16 17. patiently endured and tooke their times and best occasions to set the worke forward and were not discouraged as utterly to leave off the enterprised businesse but constantly persevered untill it was o 1 Esd 7.5 finished We may make use of the Sacred Story applying it unto the p 1 Pet. 2 5. Eph. 2.21 22. spirituall worke which Christ requireth at our hands Of Godlinesse Saint Peter further saith Adde to Patience Godlinesse Whereas the inward warre of the flesh q Gal. 5.17 against the spirit is very great and our warre is not onely against flesh and blood and visible enemies in this outward world but also against enemies working within our soule and spirit namely against r Eph. 6.12 principalities against powers against the Rulers of the darknesse of this world against spirituall wickednesse or * wicked spirits in high or * heavenly places and so our sufferings sorrowes agonies and the like spirituall miseries are greater ** As in the margent of the last translation than our ſ Ps 143.3 4 7. naturall strength is able to abide therefore we are to betake our selves as Saint Paul saith to t Eph. 6.18 pray alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance that God would u Ps 144.1 2. teach our hands to warre and our fingers to fight that he would be our fortresse and high tower and our deliverer our shield wherin to trust also to w Ps 18.31 34 39. gird us with strength unto the battell and to subdue under us those that rise up against us And thus to be devoted unto prayer is Godlinesse whereunto wee are exhorted in the most Sacred Catechisme where it is said My good Child know this that thou art not able to doe these things of thy selfe nor to walke in the Commandements of God and to serve him without his speciall x 1 Cor. 12.9 Rom. 5.20 21. grace which thou must learne at all times to call for by diligent prayer And then in the answere concerning what wee desire in the Lords Prayer we are taught to pray unto God That it will please him to save and defend us in all dangers ghostly and bodily and that he will y 2 Tim. 4.18 keepe us from all sinne and wickednesse and from our ghostly z Ioh. 1.10 enemy and from everlasting death Of Brotherly kindnesse Saint Peter also saith Adde to Godlinesse Brotherly kindnesse And because when wee through the grace of God in Iesus Christ by prayer have obtained our requests and for every benefit received of God are bound to render most hearty a Ps 116.1 2 12 17. thankes unto him and to expresse our love unto him not in word onely but in b 1 Iohn 3.18 deed also For that the Lord hath no need of our goods seeing the whole world is his and c Ps 24 1. all therein therefore saith David O my soule thou hast said unto the Lord thou art my Lord my goodnes d Ps 16.2 3 4. extendeth not to thee but to the Saints that are in the earth to the excellēt in whom is all my delight Their sorrowes shall bee mutiplied that hasten after another god or * As it is also rendred in the margent there give gifts to another It is our duty to love e Iam. 2.14 15 16. 1 Iohn 3.17 1 Iohn 5.1 really those whom God loveth namely our brethrē whom the Spirit with the f Iam. 1.18 word of truth hath begat as well as us into some measure of Gods Image which is g Eph. 4.24 Col. 3 10. righteousnesse and true holinesse Vnto them we are to h Rom 12.13 impart of our goods and for them to doe all good Offices we can and to performe unto them all other duties according as it is prescribed unto us in the Gospell of Iesus Christ Yea and as we have i Gal. 6.10 opportunity wee are also for the Lords sake to doe good unto all other people though especially to them that are of the houshold of faith Of Charity Lastly Saint Peter saith Adde to Brotherly kindness Charity Forasmuch as our aforesaid love towards God and towards others for Gods sake is k 1 Iohn 4.18 imperfect whiles it hath joyned with it the love of our selves that is whereas we
his consecration receiueth a greater measure of the Holy Ghost than a Priest doth in his ordering Which may appeare out of the Diuine Seruice for consecrating a Bishop where it is sayd The Archbishop and Bishops present shall lay their hands vpon the head of the elected Bishop the Archbishop saying x 2. Tim. 1.6.7 Take the Holy Ghost and remember that thou stirre vp the grace of God which is in thee by imposition of hands For God hath not giuen vs the spirite of feare but of power and loue and sobernesse For euen so Saint Paul after a peculiar manner expressed vnto Timothy Bishop of Ephesus as it is deliuered in his second Epistle vnto him CHAP. 37. Of the distinction or disparity among Bishops or of Archbishopricke IN the Preface afore the Common Prayer it is sayd For as much as nothing can almost be so plainely set forth but doubts may rise in the vse and practising of the same To appease all such diuersity if any arise and for the resolution of all doubts concerning the manner how to vnderstand doe and execute the things contained in this booke The parties that so doubt or diuersly take any thing shall alwayes resort to the Bishop of the Diocesse who by his discretion shall take order for the quieting and appeasing of the same so that the same order be not contrary to any thing contained in this booke And if the Bishop of the Diocesse be in doubt then he may send for the resolution thereof vnto the y 1. Pet. 5.5 Archbishop An Archbishop therefore in the seruice of consecrating is called Most Reuerend Father in God vnto whom euery Bishop consecrated to Diocesse within his Prouince professeth and promiseth by oath all due reuerence and obedience like as euery Priest doth vnto the Bishop within whose Diocesse he is Pastour Now that such an order among the Bishops is of Diuine ordinance it is euident from that the first persons named Bishops in the Primitiue Christian Church * 2. Tim. 1.6 Timothy and * Tit. 1.4.5 Titus were ordered or ordained by their superiour in God the Apostle which degree was the highest in the Christian Clergie according as Paul saith z 1. Cor. 12.28 God hath set in the Church first Apostles c. And the Apostleship is callâ—d Bishopricke where it is sayd And his a Acts 1.20 Bishopricke let another take It being therefore a Bishopricke aboue that which Timothy and Titus had properly it is named in respect thereof an Archbishopricke But some there are which say that such distinction was not by Christ or dained to continue in his Church but onely was appointed in the primitiue state thereof whiles Churches were in planting and is now long agoe quite ceased The which affirmation is no where deliuered in Holy Scripture nor intimated neither from any sentence therein can be truly concluded But the direct contrary Doctrine is deliuered by Saint Paul to the Ephesians and that in most expresse manner Let Saint Pauls whole deliuery or the most part thereof hereto bee vnpartially considered His words are b Ephes 4.7.8.11.12.13 14.15 Vnto euery one of vs is giuen grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Wherefore he sayth When he ascended vp on high he led captiuity captiue and gaue gifts vnto men And hee gaue some Apostles and some Prophets and some Euangelists and some Pastours and Teachers For the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the vnity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with euery winde of Doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lye in waite to deceiue but speaking the truth in loue may grow vp into him in all things which is the head euen Christ c. The which deliuery of the Apostle declareth most plainely that Christ gaue such different and distinct measures of grace vnto his Church not for a worke then onely necessary but now also needfull viz. For the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ Also he gaue the sayd measures of grace to continue not onely during the first age of the Primitiue Church but till we all come in the vnity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ And the cause or ende of Christs such giuing doth continually concerne his Church Namely That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with euery wind of doctrine by the â—light of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they â—ye in waite to deceiue but speaking the truth in loue may grow vp into him in all things which is the head euen Christ Moreouer Christ doth not giue lesse measure of grace to his Church in these times than in former times Isaiah sayth c Isa 59.1 The Lords hand is not shortned And the Lord himselfe sayd Loe d Math. 28. â—0 I am with you alway euen vnto the end of the world Furthermore let be considered what the Apostolicall worke was and the Archiepiscopall now will appeare to be the same in substance Timothy had for his Diocesse but the Church of the Ephesians and Titus the Church of the Cretians but Paul had for his Prouince or charge the care of all the Churches of the f Gâ—l 2 7.8 Gentiles Paul preached the Gospell he Baptised he g 2. Tim. 1.6.7 1. Tim. 1.3 Tit. 1.5 consecrated Bishops h Acts 14.23 with Tit. 1.5 1. Pet. 5.1.2.3 4. Acts 20.17.28 he ordered Priests and instituted them to e 2. Cor 11.28 be Pastours he Bishopped or k Act. 19.6 with Acts 8 17. confirmed beleeuers he m 1. Tim. 1.20 excommunicated he sate in n Acts 15.12 councell about Church matters c. And euen as the Tabernacle of God was all one as concerning the substance and spirituall vse thereof when it was o 1. Kin. 8.6.13 seated in Solomons Temple as it was when it remoued from place to place so the supreme p Eph 4.7 8.11 with 1. Cor. 12 28. grace and gift of Christ to his Church the Apostolicall gift or grace was all one for the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ when it is setled in a country as it was when the q 2. Cor. 4.7 vessell which beared it remoued from country to country as he had commission thereto from the Spirit of the Lord. Also there is not expresse mention that euery Apostle trauailed from country to country whom Christ ordained or gaue to his Church Did not Saint Iames r
Moses Moses is preached What is it to preach though the terme be now by an excellency commonly used for to make a sermon of about an houre long in the Pulpit is it not openly to make knowne the Doctrine of Christian faith and life And is not then the heavenly trueth e In Luke 8.39 the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is many times translated preaching is rendred published published or preached in the reading of the lessons the Epistle and the Gospell Is not Gods truth as concerning godlinesse f So in Luke 12.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which sometimes is rendred shall be treached as in Mat. 24 14. is there rendred shall bee proclaimed published in the reading of the common prayer in the reading of the Homilies in the explaining of the Catechisme in the Divine service and by instructing the ignorant in the same Let such as so sleight contemne or neglect the Divine service-deliveries examine themselves if they be not of like minde to those of whom it is written in Ezechiel g Ezek. 33.30 31 32. that will speake one to another every one to his brother saying Come I pray you and heare what is the word that cōmeth forth from the Lord And they come unto thee as the people commeth and they sit before thee as my people and they heare thy words but they will not doe them for with their mouth they shew much love but their heart goeth after their covetousnesse And loe thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voyce and can play well on an Instrument for they heare thy words but they doe them not Or rather if they be not such as Saint Paul foretold would be in the last dayes h 2 Tim. 4.3.4 who will not endure sound Doctrine but after their owne lusts will heape to themselves teachers having itching eares and they will turne away their eares from the trueth and will be turned unto fables Being also lovers i 2 Tim. 3.2 4 5. of their owne selves boasters proud disobedient to parents unthankfull unholy without naturall affection false accusers fierce despisers of those that are good heady high minded c. having a forme of godlinesse but denying the power thereof Were it the righteousnesse of faith and life which they k Mat. 5.6 hungred and thirsted after and as the sacred Letany saith to have the grace of Gods holy Spirit for to amend their lives according to his holy Word also for to have an heart to love and dread God and diligently to live after his Commandements They by the grace of Christ should perceive in the books of Divine service frō the publike hearing of the same a plentifull helpe to bee towards attaining that l Phil. 3.14 make as also by the reading of the holy Scriptures which the Church hath translated for them into the English tongue Who now a dayes attaineth unto that soundnesse of faith and unto that measure of holinesse and righteousnesse of life as is prescribed and taught plainly in the bookes of the Divine service Is it any godlinesse or true devotion or any property of the Christian profession for people having most wholesome food by the greatest wisedome and care of the Church prepared and so disposed as it may bee profitably received and inwardly digested unto the great increase of holy understanding and upright living in their owne Parish for to goe out thence ordinarily for food abroad with violating the established order of the Church giving offence to the Minister and a great m 1 Cor. 10.32.24.33 Rom. 14.13.19 1 Cor. 8.13 scandall to the people of the congregation CHAP. 48. Of peoples reading the holy Scriptures in private and of meanes helping unto the understanding of them THE very first of all the sacred sermons or * T. 1. p. 1. Homilies of the Church is titled a fruit full exhortation to the reading and knowledge of holy Scripture and it saith Vnto a Christian man there can bee nothing either more necessary or profitable than the knowledge of holy Scripture forasmuch as in it is contained Gods true Word setting forth his glory and also mans n 2 Tim. 3.16 17. duty And there is no truth nor doctrine o Isa 8.20 necessary for our justification and everlasting salvation but that is or may be drawne out of that Fountaine and Well of truth Therefore as many as bee desirous to enter into the right and perfect way unto God must apply their mindes to know holy Scripture without the which they can neither p Mat. 22.29 Ier. 8.9 sufficiently know God and his will neither their office and duty And as drinke is pleasant to them that be dry and meat to them that be hungry So is the reading hearing searching and studying of holy Scripture to them that be desirous to know God or themselves and to q Ps 19.10 and 119.103 Iohn 7.17 Ps 103.18 Mat. 7.21 doe his will And their stomacks onely doe r Mat. 7.6 2 Pet. 2.22 Phil. 3.19 loath and abhorre the heavenly knowledge and food of Gods Word that be so drowned in worldly f Eph. 4.17 Ier. 2.5 vanities that they neither t Rom. 8.5 savour God nor any godlinesse For that is the cause why they desire such vanities rather than the true knowledge of God And so along forward the said Homily delivereth sentences worthy to bee printed in letters of gold yea to be laid up in the secret of our hearts In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 143. Homily an information for them which take offence at certaine places of the holy Scripture it is said The great utility and profit that Christian men and women may take if they will by hearing and reading the holy Scriptures dearely beloved no heart can sufficiently conceive much lesse is my tongue able with words to expresse Wherefore Satan our enemy seeing the Scriptures to bee the very meane and right way to bring people to the true knowledge of God and that Christian religion is greatly furthered by diligent hearing and reading of them hee also perceiving what an hinderance and lett they bee to him and his kingdome doth what he can to drive the reading of them out of Gods Church And so forward it treateth in a wonderfull Divine manner In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 230. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said No where can we more certainly search for the knowledge of the will of God by the which we must direct all our workes and deeds but in the holy Scriptures for they be they that u Iohn 5.39 testifie of him saith our Saviour Christ We see with what vanity the schoole doctrine is mixed for that in this Word they sought not the w Eph. 5.17 Rom. 12.2 will of God but rather the will of reason the trade of custome the path of the fathers the practice of the Church Let
to any To the Ephesians he signifieth that people should m Eph. 4.28 worke with their hands the thing which is good And to Titus he saith Let ours also learne to n Tit. 3.14 professe honest * See the Margent there trades for necessary uses that they be not unfruitfull The fifteenth To doe our Duty in that state of life unto the which it shall please God to call us And the fifteenth is That we doe our Duty in that state of life unto the which it shall please God to call us In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 52. Homily concerning falling from God it is said Sometime men goe from God by the neglecting of his Commandements concerning their Neighbours which commandeth them to expresse hearty love towards every man as Zechary said to the people in Gods behalfe o Zech. 7.9 10. Give true judgment shew mercy and compassion every one to his brother imagine no deceit towards widowes or children fatherlesse or motherlesse toward strangers or the poore Let no man forge evill in his heart against his Brother The p Rom. 12.4 5 6 7 8. Apostle saith Having gifts differing according to the grace that is given us whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith or Ministery let us waite on our ministring or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation he that giveth let him doe it with simplicity he that ruleth with diligence he that sheweth mercy with cheerfulnesse CHAP. 81. Of the Duty of the Husband unto his Wife and of the Duty of the Wife unto her Husband IN the Service of Matrimony the Duties of married persons are very Divinely delivered The Husbands duty briefly is comprehended in these words Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded Wife to live together after Gods Ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony Wilt thou love her comfort her honour and keepe her in sicknesse and in health and forsaking all other keepe thee onely unto her so long as you both shall live And in the last prayer of Matrimony where it is said That this man may q Eph. 5.25 26 27 28. love his Wife according to thy Word as Christ did love his Spouse the Church who gave himselfe for it loving and cherishing it even as his owne flesh In the * T. 2. p. 240 241. Homily concerning the state of Matrimony it is said unto the Husband Learne thou therefore if thou desirest to be voide of all these miseries if thou desirest to live peaceably and comfortably in wedlocke how to make thy earnest prayer to God that hee would governe both your hearts by the Holy Spirit to restraine the Devils power whereby your concord may remaine perpetually But to this prayer must be joyned a singular diligence whereof Saint Peter giveth this precept saying You r 1 Pet. 3.7 Husbands deale with your Wives according to knowledge giving honour to the Wife as to the weaker Vessel as unto them that are heires also of the grace of life that your prayers be not hindered This precept doth particularly pertaine to the Husband for he ought to be the leader and author of love in cherishing and encreasing concord which then shall take place if he will use moderation and not tyranny and if he ſ 1 Cor. 7.3 Eph. 5.21 1 Pet. 3.7 Rom. 12.6 yeeld something to the woman For the woman is a weake creature not indued with like strength constancy of minde therfore they be the sooner disquieted and they be the more prone to all weake affections and dispositions of minde more than men bee and lighter they be and more vaine in their fantasies and opinions These things must bee considered of the man that he be not too t Col. 3.19 stiffe so that hee ought to u Prov. 19.11 winke at some things and most gently expound w 1 Cor. 13.7 all things and to x Eph. 4.2 3. forbeare In the said * P. 245. Homily it is also delivered God forbid that a man should y Eph. 5.28.29 Mal. 2.14 Col 3.19 Prov. 5.18 19. 1 Pet. 3.7 1 Cor. 13.4.5 beate his wife for that is the greatest shame that can be not so much to her that is beaten as to him that doth the deed Let there be none so grievous fault to compell you to beate your Wives But what say I your Wives No it is not to bee borne with that an honest man should lay hands on his z Gen. 16.6 maidservant to beate her Wherefore if it be a great shame for a man to beate his bondservant much more a Phil. 4.8 rebuke it is to lay violent hands upon his free woman And this thing may be well understood by the lawes which the Panims have made which doth discharge her any longer to dwell with such an Husband as unworthy to have any further company with her that doth smite her For it is an extreame point thus so vilely to intreat her like a slave that is fellow to thee of thy life and so joyned unto thee before time in the necessary matters of thy living And therefore a man may well liken such a man if he may bee called a man rather then a wilde beast to a killer of his father or his Mother c. Reade the remaining delivery wherin is declared how monstrous and horrible a wickednesse it is for a man to use any manner of violence or roughnesse to the person of his Wife and also sundry more duties are Divinely prescribed for the Husbands observation Of the Duty of the Wife unto her Husband Now cōcerning the Duty of the wife unto her husband who oftentimes by her neglect of the duties which she is bound to performe unto her Husband pulleth upon and against her selfe many unkindnesses which would in no wise come to passe if shee had conscience and care to doe her duties And the wives dutie is briefly comprised where it is said I take thee to my wedded husband to have and to hold from this day forward for better for worse for richer for poorer in sicknesse and in health to love cherish and to obey till death us depart according to Gods holy ordinance And in the last prayer of Matrimony her duty is divinely signified where it is prayed for saying And also that this woman may be b Gen. 29.11 12 17. and 30.1 and 26.8 loving and amiable to her husband as Rachel wise as c Gen. 27.9 c Rebecca faithfull and d 1 Pet. 3.5 6. obedient as Sarah and in all e and 3 4. quietnesse f 1 Tim. 2.15.11.12 sobriety and g 1 Cor. 14.33 34 35. peace bee a follower of all holy and godly Matrons In the * P. 242. Homily concerning the state of Matrimony it is said Shall the wife abuse the gentlenesse and humanity of her husband and at her pleasure turne all things *
endure Ye have heard of the patience of Iob and have seene the end of the Lord that the Lord is very pittifull and of tender mercy Of Peace-making IN the third part of the * T. 1. p. 98. Homily against Contention it is said Above all things keepe peace and i Eph. 4.3 unity be no Peace breakers but k Mat 5.9 Peace-makers And then there is no doubt but that God the Authour of comfort and peace will grant us l 2 Thes 3.16 peace of Conscience and such concord and agreement that with m Rom. 15.5.6 one mouth and minde we may glorifie God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ As all true Christian people doe receive by the spirit of Christ the peace of God into their consciences n Isa 48.18 and 66.12 more and more so are they more and more peaceable toward others Saint Iames saith The Wisedome that is from above is first pure then o Iam. 3.17.18 peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated full of mercy and good fruits without partiality and without hypocrisie 2 Esdros 13.12.39 And the fruit of righteousnesse is sowne in Peace of them that make peace Blessed saith Christ Iesus are the p Mat. 5.2 1 Pet. 3.11 Peace-makers for they shall bee called the Children of God CHAP. 87. Of Satisfaction for wrong done in word or deed IN the second Exhortation to be said sometime at the discretion of the Curate afore receiving the Communion it is said If yee shall perceive your offences to bee such as be not onely against God but also against your neighbours then yee shall reconcile your selves unto them ready to make restitution and Satisfaction according to the uttermost of your powers for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other and likewise being ready to forgive others that have offended you as you would have forgivenesse of your offences at Gods hand for otherwise the receiving of the Holy Communion doth nothing else but increase your damnation In the Rubricke of the Visitation of the sicke afore the particular Absolution it is said The Minister shall examine the sicke party whether he bee in charity with all the world exhorting him to forgive from the bottom of his heart all persons that have offended him and if he have offended other to aske them forgivenesse and where hee hath done injury or wrong to any man that he make amends to the uttermost of his power In the * T. 2. p. 195. Homily of the Resurrection it is said As ye have hurt the name of your neighbour or otherwise hindred him so now intend to restore it unto him againe For without restitution God accepteth not your confession nor yet your repentance It is not enough to forsake evill except you set your courage to doe good By what occasion soever you have offended turne now the occasion to the honouring of God and profit of your neighbour In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 203. 204. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is said O wretched creatures that we bee at these dayes who bee without reconciliation of our brethren whom we have offended without satisfying them whom we have caused to fall without any kinde of thought or compassion toward them whom we might easily relieve without any conscience of slander misreport division rancor or inward bitternesse c. Wherefore O man tender thine owne salvation examine and try thy good will and love towards the children of God the members of Chirst the heires of the heavenly heritage yea towords the Image of God the excellent creature thine owne soule If thou hast beene offended now bee reconciled If thou hast caused any to stumble in the way of God now set them up againe If thou hast disquieted thy brother now pacifie him If thou hast wronged him no relieve him If thou hast defrauded him now restore unto him If thou hast nourished spite now embrace friendship If thou hast fostered hatred and malice now openly shew thy love and charity yea bee prest and ready to procure thy neighbours health of soule wealth commodity and pleasures as thine owne Deserve not the heavie and dreadfull burden of Gods displeasure for thine evill will towards thy neighbour so unreverently to approach unto this table of the Lord. In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 269. Homily of repentance it is said Wee doe learne what is the satisfaction that God doth require of us which is that we q Isa 1.16.17 cease from evill and do good and if we have done any man wrong to endeavour our selves to make him true amends to the uttermost of our power following in this the example of r Luk. 19.8 Zacheus and of this sinfull s Luk 7.38.39 woman and also that godly lesson which Iohn Baptist Zacharies sonne did give unto them that came to aske t Luk. 3.11.12.13 14. counsell of them The Lord Iesus saith If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee leave there thy gift before the Altar and goe thy way first bee u Mat. 5.23.24.25.26 reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift Agree with thine adversary quickly whiles thou art in the way with him lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the Iudge the Iudge deliver thee to the officer and thou be cast into prison Verily I say unto thee thou shalt be no meanes come out thence till thou hast payed the uttermost farthing The Law of the Lord saith The guilty shall restore that which hee tooke violently away or the thing which hee hath deceitfully gotten or that which was delivered him to keepe or the lost thing which he found Read the sixt Chapter of Leviticus and the 7. first verses In the last whereof it is signified that forgivenesse for such transgressions cannot be hope for from God untill restitution bee made or at least unfainedly intended desired resolved on and set forward according to the very uttermost of one ability Read the Lawes concerning restitution in Exodus 22 c. If wee finde any of our neighbours substance be it of what kinde soever wee are bound to restore it unto him againe Deut. 22.1.2.3 See Iob. 20.18 CHAP. 88. Of forgiving others the wrongs which they have dene to us in word or deed IN the Service afore the Communion and in the Rubricke afore the speciall Absolution it is declared that we are bound to be in Charity with every body of mankind as we would that God should be mercifull unto us For so wee may observe forth of the collections in the * Chap. 87. Chapter afore In the first * T. 2. p. 179. Homily of the Passion it is said It is not meete that we should crave forgivenesse of our great offences at Gods hands and yet will not forgive the small trespasses of our neighbour against us We doe call
Commandements to be i Ps 119.29 30 removed from the way of lying and to have God grant them his law graciously who choose the way of truth and lay Gods judgements before them who pray to be k Ps 119.33 taught the way of Gods Statutes for to keepe that way unto the end thereof who l Ps 119.14 rejoyce in the way of Gods Testimonies as much as in all riches who pray to be made m Ps 119.27 understand the way of Gods Precepts who pray to bee quickned or made lively in the way of the Lord who pray to God for to n Ps 138. â—3 24 search them and know their hearts to try them and to know their thoughts and to see if there be any * Or way of paine or griefe as it is rendred in the Margent wicked way in them and to lead them in the way everlasting Such as are like David thus affectioned doe honour the godly wisdome of the Church of England their Mother o Phil. 2.16 held forth in the books of her Divine Service and doe at length by the grace of our Lord Iesus and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost come into the p Act. 4.32 Ier. 32.39 unity of the most holy faith and upright life prescribed in the said sacred Bookes and in the other bookes of her Doctrine discipline established by publike coÌ„mon Authoritie But it is now with some as it is mentioned in holy Writ There is a generation that are pure their owne eyes and yet is not q Pro. 30.12 13 14. washed from their owne filthinesse There is a generation O how lofty are their eyes and their eye lids are lifted up There is a generation whose teeth are as swords and their jaw-teeth as knives c. Of such also the same Divine Writer saith All the wayes of a man are r Prov. 16.2 cleane in his owne eyes but the Lord weigheth the spirits Every way of a man is Å¿ Prov. 21.2 right in his owne eyes but the Lord pondereth the hearts To neglect examining judging and amending ones own selfe and to be a censurer of others is the damnable Pharisaicall nature Saint Luke recordeth that the covetous Pharisees heard Christs sayings and derided him And he said unto them Yee are they which t Luke 16.15 14. justifie your selves before men but God knoweth your hearts for that which is highly esteemed amongst men is an abomination in the sight of God And he spake this Parable unto certaine which u Luke 18.9 10 11 12. trusted in the uselves that they were righteous and despised other Two men went up into the Temple to pray the one a Pharisee the other a Publicane The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himselfe God I thanke thee that I am not as other men are Extortioners unjust Adulterers or even as this Publicane I fast twice in the weeke I give tithes of all that I possesse c. Christ tels the Laodicean Angel what he thought of himselfe saying Thou sayest I am w Rev. 3.17 rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poore and blinde and naked c. Saint Paul foretold that wisedome in ones own eies or selfe wisdome good opinion of ones owne wayes and the like spirituall pride would be the disease of the last dayes And he reckoneth it up in the first place of the seventeene reigning sinnes of these times saying unto Timothy This know also that in the last dayes perilous times shall come for men shall be x 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5. lovers of their owne selves c. not y 2 Cor. 13.5 examiners z 1 Cor. 11.28.31 judgers and a Ezech. 36.31 condemners of themselves according to the requiry of the holy Gospell Much considerable hereto is that ever memorable sentence of the Holy Ghost delivered by Saint Iohn Every one that hath this hope in him namely to be like God in holinesse and righteousnesse and to see him as he is when hee shall appeare b 1 Iohn 3.3 purifieth himselfe even as hee is pure The meeter of the fift verse in the 4. Psalme is memorable Sinne not but stand in awe therefore examine well your heart And in your chambers quietly see you your selves convert CHAP. 90. Of seeking Gods Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof IN the prayer for raine it is said O God heavenly Father which by thy Sonne Iesus Christ hast promised to all that seeke thy Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof all things necessary for their bodily sustenance c. In the booke of the Wisedome of Solomon it is said c Wisd 1.12 13 14 15 16. Seeke not death in the errour of your life and pull not upon your selves destruction with the worke of your hands For God made not death neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the living For he created all things that they might have their being and the generations of the world were healthfull and there is no poison of destruction in them nor the Kingdome of death * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inferoruÌ„ juxta vulgatam versionem atque Innianam or hell upon the earth For righteousnesse is immortall But ungodly men with their words and workes called it to them for when they thought to have it their friend they consumed to nought and made a covenant with it because they are worthy to take part with it In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 275. Homily against Disobedience and wilfull Rebellion it is signified That as long as in the first Kingdome the subjects continued in due obedience to God their King so long did God embrace all his subjects with his love favour and grace which to enjoy is perfect felicity whereby it is evident that d 1 Sam. 15.22 23. Ier. 7.22.23 obedience is the principall vertue of all vertues and indeed the very root of all vertues and the cause of all felicity But as all felicity and blessednesse should haue continued with the continuance of obedience so with the breach of obedience and the breaking in of rebellion all vices and miseries did withall breake in and overwhelme the world We were e Psal 51.5 shapen in iniquity and in sinne did our mothers conceive us f Iob 14.4 uncleane have we beene borne into this world And growing up in the world commonly when wee come to the yeares of discretion more or lesse there seizeth on us the g Psal 143.3 4. power of darknesse Other Lords h Isa 26.13 besides the Lord God have had dominion over us Satan hath had his i 2 Tim. 2.26 Eph. 2.1 2 3. kingdome more or lesse upon us But God would that wee should bee as his people the Colossians were whiles they were here in this world delivered from the k Col. 1.13 1 Pet. 2.9 power of
darknesse and translated into the Kingdome of his deare Sonne For which cause he sendeth to us his Ministers for to open our eyes and to turne us from darknes to light and from the l Acts 26.18 power of Satan unto God that we may receive forgivenesse of sinnes and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Iesus Christ But to attaine hereunto we are required to do our parts also namely to m Mat. 6.33 seek for Gods Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof The Kingdome of God which now wee are to seeke is his Kingdome of n Rom. 5.21 grace and Christ saith Behold the Kingdome of God is o Luke 17.21 within you Holy Church hath authorized for our helpe in devotion a booke called The imitation of Christ wherein are very many most heavenly meditations and exhortations In the first Chapter of the second booke thereof there are very usefull observations hereto whereof wee may make good use in our seeking of Christs Kingdome And they are as followeth The Kingdome of God is within saith Christ p Ioel 2.12 Turne thee unto the Lord with all thine heart having q 1 Iohn 2.15 16 17. and 5.4 forsaken this wretched world and thou shalt r Mat. 11.29 finde rest for thy soule Learne to contemne Å¿ 2 Cor. 4.18 outward things and to addict thy selfe to t Col. 31.2 spirituall so shalt thou perceive the Kingdome of God to come unto thee For the u Rom. 14.17 Kingdome of God is righteousnes peace joy in the Holy Ghost which the wicked w Isa 57.20 21. enjoy not Christ will x Iohn 14.18 2 Cor. 6.16 come unto thee and comfort thee if thou make a y Luke 1.17 Isa 40.3 4 5. as in the Epistle for Saint John Baptists day sit resting place for him within thee For all his z Psal 45.13 glory and beauty is within there doth he gladly abide With the a Eph. 2.16 17. inner man doth he oftentimes walke and reason sweetly and b Prov. 8.31 delight himselfe pleasantly and agree notably and familiarly continue Goe too now O faithfull soule prepare thine heart for this Bridegroome that he may c Ps 101 â— c. Song 3.4 come unto thee and dwell within thee For thus he saith If any man love mee hee will keepe my word and my Father will love him and we will d Iohn 14.23 come unto him and will dwell with him The Preface afore the said booke which Preface is intituled A godly Preface made by him whosoever he was that translated this booke out of the Latine tongue into French is a most singular delivery of many foundations unto true devotion and very worthy every Christians often reading through Moreover as the Kingdome Rule Reigne Dominion sway and preheminence which God hath in his people is to be sought after within our inward man and to bee expected there to e 2 Pet. 1.19 arise begin and to be administred more and more by the f Rom. 8.14 Spirit of Iesus Christ so also the g Prov. 15.9 righteousnesse of that Kingdome is to bee seeked which the Spirit of Christ h Heb. 1.8 9. administreth not onely i Hos 10.12 inwardly within mans spirit but also so as it k Ps 15.2 Psal 119.1 2 3 4 5 6. worketh outwardly wherethrough every man woman which are subjects of Christs Kingdome of Grace are inflamed with fervent zeale and an unfained desire and striving to worke righteousnesse in every l Psal 106.3 Mat 7 23. Isa 33.15 Gen. 18.19 Mat. 7.12 particular matter of this present world And that therunto m Luk. 1.74 75 1 Iohn 2 29. and 3.10 tended Christs Kingdome of Grace it may appeare unto us out of the most holy delivery of the Church in the third collect for Grace where it is said Grant that this day we n Iude 2.4 fall into no sinne neither runne into any kinde of danger but that all our doings may bee ordered by thy governance or Kingdome to doe alwaies that which is righteous in thy sight through Iesus Christ our o Isa 32.1 and 61.1 2 3. Rom. 6 13 18 19. Phil. 4.13 1 Cor. 15.57 58. Lord. Amply and wonderfull gloriously have the Prophets and Apostles written of Christs Kingdome of Grace and the Lord Iesus Christ himselfe hath much expressed the mystery thereof by parables To be a subject of Christs Kingdome is the p Rev. 2.17 new name which none knoweth saving he that receiveth it Many are the q 1 Cor. 3.9 10 priviledges which the subjects thereof doe enjoy which are not thought of by such as sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death and have no desire to depart thereout and to seeke for to have the divine governance to bee Å¿ Eph. 4.15 16. 2 Pet. 3 18. more and more within them To conclude when by the enlightning of Christs holy Spirit we doe in see that the comming of his Kingdome of grace is to be attended for to be received inwardly in our spirits we must also remember what holy Church as it were inculcateth to us in the Gospell to bee read at Baptisme that wee for our parts are to receive it with such an humility of minde as is in a little child The Lord there saith Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for to such belongeth the Kingdome of God Verily I say unto you whosoever doth not receive the Kingdome of God as a t Mat. 10.15 little child hee shall not enter therein One must forsake u Mat. 16 2â— Luk. 14.26.33 himselfe and all that he hath w 2 Tim. 3.2 self-selfe-love self-x Prov. 3.7 selfe-wisedome y Ier. 4.14 vaine thoughts z 2 Thes 2.12 1 â— Isa 28.15 untrue beliefes whatsoever spirituall possession in his minde which hee enjoyeth which the Spirit of God hath not given to him and enstated him in Ones soule must be as a a Psal 131.2 weaned child as David saith his was Also Christs Kingdome is to bee seeked with obedience unto the universall ordinances of Christs Church of us with all conscionable zealous obedience unto every particular ordinance of the Apostolical Church of England For every particular ordinance thereof as wel the ceremonial as the other serve to prepare us to introduct us to plant us and to establish us in the said divine Kingdome It may be * Such as submit themselves to yeeld obedience to the universall ordinances of the Church observe aspiritual fire in the disobedient observed in all places concerning all persons which refuse to yeeld obedience unto the ordinances of the Church of England that they have not peace in their b Eph. 5.6 Rom. 2.8.9 consciences because of their c Mat. 18.17 Luke 10.16 disobeying the wife or Spouse of Iesus Christ If that Almighty God so commended the
the lowly as the Scripture sundry times delivereth to the end we should take serious notice of it Of Envie VVEE are taught in the Letany to pray From Envie hatred and malice and all uncharitablenesse good Lord deliver us In the first * T. 2. p. 180. Homily of the Passion it is said As peace and charity make us the blessed children of Almighty God so doth hatred and Envie make us the cursed children of the Devill Concerning the great perill of living in Envie read the whole Homily against Contention Saint Iohn saith He that h 1 Ioh. 3.15 hateth his brotheer is a murtherer and ye know that no murtherer hath eternall life abiding in him The Revelation saith i Rev. 21.8 Murtherers shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Of Wrath. IN the second part of the * T. 1. p. 95. Homily against contention it is said That Pericles being provoked to anger with many villanous words by one answered not a word But wee stirred but with one little word what foule worke doe we make How doe wee fume rage stampe and stare like mad-men many men of every trifle will make a great watter and of the sparke of a little word will kindle a k Iam. 3.5 great fire taking all things in the worst part But how much better is it more like to the example Doctrine of Christ to make rather of a great fault in our neighbour a small fault reasoning with our selves after this l 1 Cor. 13.7 Prov. 10.12 sort He spake these words but it was in a sudden heate or the drinke spake them and not hee or hee spake them at the motion of some other or be spake them being ignorant of the truth hee spake them not against me but against him whom he thought mee to be And so along in most divine manner we are there counselled And afterward it is there signified That anger is a kinde of madnesse and that hee which is angry is as it were for a time in a Phrensie Wherefore let him beware lest in his fury he speake any thing whereof afterward he may have just cause to be sory And he that will defend that anger is not fury but that hee hath reason even when he is most angry then let him reason thus with himselfe when he is angry Now I am so moved and chafed that within a litle while after I shall bee otherwise minded Wherfore thē shold I now speake any thing in mine anger which hereafter when I would fainest cannot be changed Wherefore shall I doe any thing now being as it were out of my wit for the which when I shall come to my againe I shall bee very sad Why doth not reason why doth not godlinesse yea why doth not Christ obtaine that thing of me now which hereafter time shall obtaine of me Almighty God by Solomon saith Bee not hasty in thy spirit to bee angry for m Eccles. 7.9 anger resteth in the bosome of fooles That saying of the Lord Iesus might move us to take heed how we be angry Whosoever is n Mat. 5.22 angry with his brother without a cause shall bee in danger of the judgement and whosoever shall say unto his brother Racha shall be in danger of the counsell but whosoever shall say thou foole shall be in danger of hell sire Likewise that saying of Saint Paul The workes of the flesh are these Adultery c. o Gal. 5.19.20.21 Wrath strife c. They which doe such things shall not inherit the Kingdome of God Saint Paul therefore saith Be p Eph. 4.26 angry and sinne not Let not the Sunne goe down upon your wrath neither give place to the Devill Great is the power which the Devill hath in every man and woman which easily will be moved unto wrath Of Covetousnesse IN the third part of the * T. 2. p. 163. Homily of Almes-deeds it is signified That some seeke excuses to withhold themselves from the favour of God and chuse with pinching covetousnesse rather to leane unto the Devill than by charitable mercifulnesse either to come unto Christ or to suffer Christ to come unto them In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 205. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is said O saith Chrysostom let no Iudas resort to this table let no covetous person approach Saint Paul saith to the Ephesians No Whore monger nor uncleane persō nor q Eph. 5.5.6 covetous man who is an Idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdome of Christ and of God Let no man deceive you with vaine words for because of these things commeth the wrath of God upon the Children of disobedience The Lord Christ said Take heed and beware of r Luk. 12.15 covetousnesse for a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which hee possesseth And againe No man can serve two Masters Yee cannot serve God and s Mat. 6.24 Mammon Saint Paul saith to the Colossians Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth fornication uncleannesse inordinate affection evill concupiscence and t Col◠3.5 covetousnesse which is Idolatry And unto Timothy he saith They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into may foolish and hurtfull lusts with drowne men in destruction and perdition For the u 1 Tim. 6.9.10 love of mony is the roote of all evill c. In Eccesiasticus it is said There is not a more wicked thing than a w Ecclus. 10.9 covetous man for such a one setteth his owne soule to sale because while he liveth hee casteth away his bowels Read diligently the whole Homily of Almes Of Sloth IN the second Collect for Good-Friday it is said Receive our prayers and supplications which wee offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy Congregation that every member of the same in his vocation and x Rom. 12.4.5.6.7.8 ministery may truely and godly serve thee In the * T. 2. p. 254. Homily against idlenesse it is said Let young men consider the pretious value of their time and y Eph 5.16 P. ov 14.23 waste it not in idlenesse in jollity in gaming in banquetting in z Rom. 13.13 1 Pet. 4.3.4 ruffians company Youth is but vanity and must be accounted for before God How merry and glad soever thou be in thy youth O young man saith the Preacher how glad soever thy heart be in thy young dayes how fast and freely soever thou follow the wayes of thine own heart and the lust of thine owne eyes yet be thou sure that God shall bring thee unto judgement a Ecclus. 11.9.20 for all these things In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 166. Homily of Almes deeds it is signified that God is carefull to feed them who in any state or vocation doe unfeinedly serve him In the * T. 2. p. 249.
not abide the word of God but following the perswasions and stubbornnesse of their owne hearts goe backward and not forward as it is said in e Ier. 7. 24. Ieremy they goe and turne away from God Many now a daies by their neglect to have the holy Bible in their houses by their neglect to search it by their neglect to live according to it by their neglect to amend according to it what by the ministery they are informed of to be amisse by their neglect to heare it duly according to the Law of the Church by their neglect even all the yeare to conferre on it and by their neglect to meditate thereon they shew plainly that they have it in contempt and were it not for feare of being punished by the Magistrate they would expresse what is in their hearts against it And so some Machavillians will adventure sometimes to utter without any feare of God or man Moreover the contemners of the Divine Service-doctrine of the Church and of the Ministers which conscionably endeavour to live and teach according to all the same are to be reckoned among the g 1 Thes 4.8 contemners of Gods Word as it may appeare out of Christs words where hee saith unto his Ministers He that heareth you heareth me and he that h Luke 10.16 despiseth you despiseth me If they have kept my saying they will keepe yours also Ieremiah saith The wise men are ashamed they are dismayed and taken loe they have i Ier. 5.9 rejected the Word of the Lord and what wisedome is in them Of halting on both sides IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 259. Homily of Repentance it is said God requireth a sincere and pure love of godlinesse and of the true worshipping and service of God that is to say that for saking all manner of things that are repugnant pugnant and contrary unto Gods will wee doe give our hearts unto him and the whole strength of our bodies and soules according to that which is written in the Law Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with k Deut. 6.5 all thy heart with all thy soule and with all thy strength Here therefore nothing is left unto us that we may give unto the world and unto the l Rom. 13.14 lusts of the flesh For sith that the heart is the fountaine of all our workes as many as doe with whole heart turne unto the Lord doe m Rom. 14.7 8 9. 1 Thes 5.10 live unto him onely Neither doe they yet repent truely that halting on both sides doe otherwhiles obey God but by and by doe thinke that laying him aside it is lawfull for them to serve the world and the n Rom. 8.8.4 5.12 Gal. 5.16 17.24 flesh Elijah said How long halt ye betweene two opinions or thoughts If the Lord be God o 1 Kings 18.21 follow him but if Baal then follow him The Lord Iesus hath said p Mat. 6.24 No man can serve two Masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else hee will hold to the one and despise the other Yee cannot serve God and Mammon Of Vaine glory IT is signified in the second part of the * T. 2. p. 203. Homily concerning the Sacrament That by vaine-glory ambition c. people are q Prov. 13.10 dissevered which should be joyned together in unity and godly love And therefore in the sacred Letany we are taught to pray for to bee delivered from it Saint Paul saith Let us not be desirous of vaine-glory r Gal. 5.26 provoking one another envying one another Christ said to the disobedient Iewes Å¿ Rom. 5.44 How can ye beleeve which receive honour one of another and seeke not the honour which commeth from God onely Againe the Lord saith t Iohn 7.18 Hee that speaketh of himselfe seeketh his owne glory but he that seeketh his glory that sent him the same is true and no unrighteousnesse is in him Saint Paul saith O Timothy keepe that which is committed to thy trust avoiding prophane and vaine bablings and u 1 Tim. 6.20 21. oppositions of science falsely so called which some professing have erred concerning the faith Saint Iohn saith Among the chiefe Rulers many beleeved on Christ and because of the Pharisees they did not confesse him lest they should bee put out of the Synagogue For they w Ioh. 12.42 43. loved the praise of men more than the praise of God Of Hypocrisie IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 10. Homily of the misery of man it is said Few of the proud just learned wise perfect and holy Pharisees were saved by Christ because they justified themselves by their counterfeit holinesse before men Wherefore good people let us beware of such hypocrisie vaine glory and justifying of our selves The Lord said unto his disciples Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees which is x Luk 12.1 hypocrisie The Lord signifieth that the Hypocrites doe their Almes for to y Mat. 6.2.5 have glory of men They love to pray standing c. that they may bee seene of men They make long z Mat. 23.14 prayer thinking to be heard for their a Mat. 6.7 much speaking They outwardly b Mat. 23.28 appeare righteous unto men but within are full of hypocrisie and iniquitie All their workes they doe for to be c Mat. 23.5 seene of men They justifie d Mat. 16 15. themselves before men Saint Paul saith not he that c 2 Cor. 10.18 commendeth himselfe is approved but whom the Lord commendeth Christ hath very plainly displayed the nature of hypocrisie in the 23. Chapter of Saint Matthew Of Heresie IN the Letany we are taught to pray To be delivered from all false doctrine and heresie Saint Paul saith unto Titus A man that is an f Tit. 3.10.11 Heretike after the first and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inverto id quod interius eratextrà verto seu resuâ—ino An Heretike is as a dogge returned to his owne vomit againe 2 Pet. 2.22.21 second admonition reject knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being coÌ„demned of himselfe Whence it may appeare that 3. things are to be considered concerning heresie First that it is a departing out of the narrow way that leadeth unto life eternall both with minde and life or a turning cleane contrary to the right forme Secondly it is returning unto an habit of sinning And thirdly it is a condition or estate without peace of conscience but having an inward condemnation They of the Church of Rome which call heretikes the members of the Apostolicall Church of England namely that Church in England which is by Law established under the Kings Majestie doe greatly and damnably slander them For the true meÌ„bers of the said Apostolicall Church of England are not in minde and life departed forth of the narrow way