as to think a good thought We are all by originall corruption of our nature Now. Cat. quest 69. of such blindnesse wickednesse and frowardnesse that we can neither understand nor are able or willing to do our dutie required by the law We by nature are so unwary to foresee Now. Cat. quest 224. and so weak to resist temptations that we cannot but be overcome unlesse God do assist us with his grace and arme us with his strength The corrupt inclination of man was so much given to follow his own fantasie Sermon of good works Part. 2. that all the admonitions exhortations benefits and threatnings of God could not keep him from his inventions Neither could the notablenesse of the place being the beginning of Gods law make us to marke it Hom. against perill of idolatry Part. 1. nor the plain declaration by recounting of all kinde of similitudes cause us to understand it nor the oft repeating and reporting of it in divers and sundry places the oft reading and hearing of it could cause us to remember it nor the dread of the horrible penaltie to our selves our children and posteritie after us feare us from transgressing of it nor the greatnesse of the reward to us and our children after us move us any thing to obedience and the observing of the Lords great Law against idolatry So that if either the multitude or plainnesse of the places might make us to understand In the same Hom. or Gods earnest charge that God giveth in them move us to regard or the horrible plagues threatned to idolaters might ingender any feare in our hearts we would forsake this wickednesse When God leaveth us to our own wit will Sermon of falling from God Part. 1. Part. 2. and strength then he begins to forsake us When God gives us over he suffers us to bring forth such fruits as we will all naughtinesse and vice and that so abundantly that they shall cleane overgrow us choke strangle and utterly destroy us They that live not after God perceive not this great wrath of God towards them Part. 2. that he doth let them alone to themselves When thou art called to repentance Hom. of Repentance Part. 3. neglect not the good occasion that is ministred to thee least when thou wouldst repent thou hast not the grace to do it Sermon for Rogat week Part. 1. Hom. of information of them that take offence at some places of Script Part. 2. For to repent is a good gift of God In the power and vertue of the holy Ghost we are made meet and able to receive Gods gifts and graces Godly men when they fall into sin through Gods great grace and infinite mercy rise again and fight against sinne CHAP. II. Of Gods Omnipotency shewed in our Conversion THis Argument is one of the strongest for if God use his omnipotency in converting of a sinner then there is no question but God doth more then perswade and that the work must needs be effectuall unlesse any mans will can resist Gods omnipotency Let us therefore heare the books pronounce sentence and agree to it God which declarest thy Almightie power most chiefly in shewing mercy and pitie Collect. 11. Sunday after Trinity give unto us abundantly thy grace that we returning to thy promises may be made partakers of thy heavenly treasure through Jesus Christ our Lord. From Satans rage and filthy band Lords prayer By D. Coxe Serm. of Sacrament Part. 1. Hom. for Whitsunday Part. 1. In the same place Defend us with thy mightie hand We are marvellously incorporated into Christ by the operation of the holy Ghost It is the office of the holy Ghost to sanctifie and regenerate Which work the more it is hid from our understanding the more it ought to move all men to wonder at the secret and mighty working of Gods holy Spirit which is within us Did not Gods Spirit miraculously work in David Matthew Peter and Paul Such is the power of the holy Ghost to regenerate men and as it were to bring them forth a new so that they shall be nothing like the men that they were before The Apostles rejoyced In the same place that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ This was the mighty worke of the Holy Ghost who because he giveth patience and joyfulnesse of heart in temptation and affliction hath therefore worthily obtained this name in holy Scripture to be called a Comforter Let us humbly beseech God so to worke in our hearts by the power of his holy Spirit In the same place that we being regenerate and newly borne againe in all goodnes righteousnesse sobriety and truth may in the end obtaine eternall life To new create a man from a wicked person to a righteous man is a greater act saith S. Augustin then to make such a new Heaven and Earth Serm. for Rogat week Part. 1. as is already made God is able to doe abundantly beyond our desires and thoughts according to the power working in us Part. 3. Almighty God give us grace that we may cast away the works of darknesse Coll. 1. Sunday in Advent and put upon us the armour of light Lord of all power and might graffe in our hearts the love of thy name Coll. 7. Sunday after Trin. Coll. on All Saints day Song before Even prayer Almighty God which hast knit together thy elect in one communion and fellowship in the mysticall body of thy Sonne Christ our Lord. Praise yee the Lord which gives all grace for he is a Lord of great might CHAP. III. Of Gods speciall grace THe doctrine of Gods speciall grace overthroweth the foolish conceit of some common grace wrought in all those that heare the Gospel whereby they may beleeve if they will yet often doe not It is a speciall and effectuall grace that workes in our regeneration that workes not in others that are not regenerate Heare therefore the words of the bookes BY thy speciall grace preventing us thou dost put into our hearts good desires Coll. on Easterday Exhort to such as come negligently to the Communion Article 10. These things if ye earnestly consider ye shall by Gods grace return to a better minde for the obtaining whereof we shall make our humble petitions while we shall receive the holy Communion The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turne and prepare himselfe by his owne naturall strength and good works to faith and calling upon God wherefore we have no power to doe good works pleasant acceptable to God without the grace of God preventing us that we may have a good will and working with us when we have that good will Adversaries unto this truth Mr. Rogers commentary on it Prop. 2. ere such as hold that men beleeve not but of their owne free-will and that it is in a mans free-will to beleeve or not to beleeve to obey or
the holy Ghost God grant that these words against adultery may not be spoken in vain God by his holy word indueth his people assembled in his Church Hom. of right use of Church with the effectuous presence of his heavenly grace God doth indue his people assembled in his Church Hom. against perill of idol Part. 1. with the effectuall presence of his grace by his word and promises to the attainment of worldly commodities and all heavenly gifts and life everlasting God vouchsafe to purifie our minds through faith in Christ Hom. of inform of such as take offence at some places of Script Part. 2. to instill the heavenly drops of his grace into our hard-stony hearts to supple the same that we be not contemners and deriders of his word but that with all humblenesse of minde and Christian reverence we may indeavour our selves to heare and to read his sacred Scriptures and inwardly so to digest them as shall be to the comfort of our soules and sanctification of his holy Name Man is first made good by the Spirit and grace of God that effectually worketh in him Hom. of Almsdeeds Part. 2. Hom. of Almsdeeds Part. 2. In the same place In the same place and afterwards bringeth forth good fruits The grace of God worketh all in all Whatsoever can be named good and profitable for body or soule comes only of Gods mercy and meere favour and not of our selves God attributes that unto us and to our doings that he by his Spirit worketh in us and through his grace procureth for us God grant that we may alwayes shew our selves thankfull for Christs death Passion Sermon 2. abhorring all kinde of wickednesse and applying our minds wholly to the service of God and the diligent keeping of his commandments It is Gods Spirit which ingendreth a burning zeale towards Gods word Hom. for Whitsunday Part. 1. In the same place In the same place Nicodemus knew not the power of the holy Ghost in this behalfe that it is he which inwardly worketh the Regeneration and new birth of mankinde It is the holy Ghost and no other thing that doth quicken the minds of men stirring up good and godly motions in their hearts which otherwise of their own crooked and perverse nature they should never have The fruits of faith In the same place charitable and godly motions if man have any at all in him they proceed onely of the holy Ghost who is the only worker of our sanctification and maketh us new men in Christ Jesus The Spirit of Jesus is a good Spirit Part. 2. an holy Spirit a lowly Spirit a mercifull Spirit If any man live uprightly he hath the holy Ghost within him If the Saints in heaven were asked Serm. for Rogat week Part. 1. who should be thanked for their regeneration justification and salvation they would answer with David Not to us Lord but to thy Name give all the thanks If they be asked In the same place whence came all their glorious works they would say with Esay O Lord it is thou of thy goodnesse that hast wrought all our works in us not we our selves They be justitiaries and hypocrites In the same place which rob Almightie God of this honour and ascribe it to themselves Let us confesse Serm. for Rogat week Part. 2. that all spirituall graces behoveable for our soule come from God without whose goodnesse no man is called to faith or stayed therein God grant us all grace so to heare his word that we may fulfill it In the same place God give us grace to know those things Part. 3. and to feele them in our hearts This knowledge and feeling is not in our selfe by our selfe it is not possible to come by it Let us therefore meekly call upon the Holy Ghost that he would assist us and inspire us with his presence that in him we may be able to heare our salvation For without his lively and secret inspiration we cannot so much as name Christ Much lesse should we be able to beleeve In Gods Spirit shall we be meet vessels to receive the grace of Almighty God In the same place for it is he that purgeth and purifieth the minde by his secret working He sitteth in the tongue of man to stirre him to speake his honour He onely ministreth spirituall strength to the powers of our soule and body It is Gods Spirit that maketh us to hold the way which God hath prepared for us and to pray boldly to God If any gift we have whereby we may worke to the glory of God and profit of our neighbour all is wrought by this Spirit The holy Spirit will confirme us in all things In the same place Hom. of Matrim Married persons must crave continually of God the helpe of his holy Spirit so to rule their hearts and to knit their minds together that they be not dissevered by any division of discord It is God that worketh in us both the will Serm. of Repen Part. 1. and the deed Phil. 2. For this cause although Ieremy had said before If thou returne O Israel returne unto me saith the Lord yet afterwards he saith Turne thou me O Lord I shall be turned for thou art the Lord try God Ier. 6. And therefore that holy writer and ancient Father Ambrose doth plainely affirme that the turning of the heart to God is of God Ambros de vocat gent. lib. 8. cap. 9. As the Lord himselfe doth testifie by his Prophet saying And I will give thee an heart to know me that I am the Lord and they shall be my people and I will be their God for they shall returne unto me with their whole heart God vouchsafe by his holy Spirit to worke a true and unfained repentance in us In the same place If we repent Hom. against wilfull rebell Part. 1. Next pray after Coll. Nove. 5. Now. Cat. quest 43. quest 128. God will either take away evill Princes or of evill make them good Make us now and alwayes truly thankfull in heart word and deed for all thy gracious mercies and this our speciall deliverance We must on the Sabbath rest from our own works and yeeld our selves wholly to Gods governance that he may doe his workes in us From Christs resurrection cometh unto us an endeavour vertue and strength to live well and holily Christ indueth us with strength by the vertue and power of his resurrection to rise from the deadly workes of sinne quest 129. and live to righteousnesse The Spirit of God is called holy quest 142. for that by him the elect of God and the members of Christ are made holy for which cause the scriptures have called him the spirit of sanctification It is onely God which strengthneth man and by whose grace the sinner conceiveth this hope quest 164. minde and will Christ with the inspiration and vertue of the Holy
Ghost doth regenerate and newly forme us to the endeavour of innocency and holinesse quest 173. which we call newnesse of life Faith is the gift of God quest 180. and a singular and excellent gift The Holy Ghost hath wrought faith in my heart by the preaching of the Gospel quest 249. CHAP. VIII Of the purification of the heart MOrall perswasion goes before any intent in man to purifie his owne heart If then this latter act of purifying the heart which must necessarily follow the intention of purging be attributed to God then must he needs doc more in the cenversion of a sinner then morally to perswade him to purge his owne heart Now that this act is ascribed to God the bookes can witnesse O God make cleane our hearts within us Short prayers after the Creed Letany From all blindnesse of heart from pride vaine-glory and hypocrisy from envy hatred and malice Good Lord deliver us Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit Coll. on circumcision of Christ that our hearts being mortified from all worldly and carnall lusts c. Create and make in us new and contrite hearts Coll. 1. day of Lent Coll. 3. on good Friday Coll. on Tuesday in Easter Have mercy upon all Jews Turkes Infidels and Hereticks and take from them all ignorance hardnesse of heart and contempt of thy word Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickednesse that we may c. Grant that we may be presented to thee with pure and cleane mindes Collect. on the Purif of the virgin S. Mary Coll. on S. Matthews day Coll. on S. Lukes day Hom. of Inform of them which take offence c. Part. 2. end Serm. for Rogat week Part. 3. Grant us grace to forsake all covetous desires and inordinate love of riches May it please thee by the wholesome medicines of Lukes doctrine to heale all the diseases of our soules God therefore for his mercies sake vouchsafe to purifie our mindes through faith in his Sonne Jesus Christ and to instill the heavenly drops of his grace into our hard stony hearts to supple the same that we be not contemners and deriders of his infallible word In Gods Spirit shall we be meet vessels to receive the grace of Almighty God For it is he that purgeth and purifieth the minde by his secret working CHAP. IX Of the externall effect of grace IF the externall effects of grace come not altogether from the spirituall power put into us at the first nor from the perswasions of the Ministers but God is said to worke in us the deed as well as the will to doe well and we taught to pray to God for such effectuall grace as may produce good effects outwardly then it follows that the grace it self cannot be wrought in us onely by morall perswasion but must be wrought in us by divine operation Now whither the outward effects of grace be wrought by Gods assisting spirit or no let the authentick records of our Church speak O Lord open thou our lips Short prayers after the Lords Pr. Letany and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise That all Bishops Pastours and Ministers of the Church may both by their preaching and living set forth and shew true knowledge and understanding That it may please thee to give the Magistrates grace to execute Justice and to maintain truth Letany That it may please thee to give us an heart diligently to live after thy commandements Letany That it may please thee to give to all thy people increase of grace to heare meekly thy word Letany and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit That it may please thee to endue us with the grace of thy holy Spirit Letany to amend our lives according to thy holy word Grant that we evermore serve thee in holinesse and purenesse of living Prayer in the Letany before the prayer for the King Prayer for the King Prayer for the Bishops Coll. on 1. Sund. after Epiph. Coll. on 5. Sund. after Epiph. Coll. on 1. Sunday in Lent Coll. on Sun before East So replenish the King with the grace of thy holy Spirit that he may alway walk in thy way That Bishops and Curats and all Congregations committed to their charge may truly please thee poure upon them the continuall dew of thy blessing Grant that thy people which call upon thee may have grace and power faithfully to fulfill what they know they ought to do Lord we beseech thee to keep thy Church continually in the true Religion Give us grace to use such abstinence that our flesh being subdued to the spirit we may ever obey thy godly motions Mercifully grant that we both follow the example of Christs patience Receive our prayers 2. Coll. on good Friday that every member of thy holy Congregation in his vocation and ministry may truly and godly serve thee As by thy speciall grace preventing us Collect. on Easter day thou didst put in our minde good desires So we beseech that by thy continuall help we may bring the same to good effect Grant that we may daily endeavour our selves Coll. on 2. Sund. after Easter Coll. on 3. Sund. after Easter Coll. on 1. Sunday after Trinity to follow the blessed steps of Christs most holy life Grant unto all them that be admitted into the fellowship of Christs religion that they may follow all such things as be agreeable to their profession Because the weaknes of our mortall nature can do no good thing without thee grant us the help of thy grace that in keeping of thy commandments we may please thee both in will and deed Grant us Lord we beseech thee Coll. on 9. Sund. after Trinity the Spirit to think and do alwayes such things as be rightfull that we which cannot be without thee may by thee be able to live according to thy will Almightie and mercifull God of whose onely gift it cometh Coll. on 13. Sund. after Trinitie that thy faithfull people do unto thee true and laudable service Because the frailtie of man without thee cannot but fall Coll. on 15. Sund. after Trinity Coll. on 17. Sund. after Trinity lead us to all things profitable to our salvation Lord we pray thee that thy grace may alwayes prevent and follow us and make us continually to be given to all goods works Lord we beseech thee to keep the Church in continuall godlinesse Coll. on 22. Sund. after Trinity that it may be devoutly given to serve thee in good works Grant unto us all Coll. on S. Andr. day that we being called by thy holy word may forthwith give over our selves obediently to fulfill thy holy commandements Grant that we may follow thy holy doctrin that Saint Paul taught Coll. on Convers of S. Paul Coll. on S. Barn Let us not be destitute of thy manifold gifts nor yet of grace to use them alway to
certaine event of spirituall power given them by God as appeares by those frequent expressions of the end of their desires in such phrases as these That we loving that thou requirest may obtain that thou promisest That we may continue thy servants and attain thy promises That they may so please thee in this world that in the world to come they may have life everlasting And many such like Their prayers do seek more for the furtherance of the will then for the illumination of the understanding And of such a will as is made good already They must needs then aime at a greater power of the will to good and a more effectuall direction of good thoughts to good actions because they seek for a certain effect which they aske in faith and God gives in mercy If they then yet pray for effectual grace then could they not be converted at the first without it What they pray for let us now observe HOwbeit ye cannot have a minde and a will thereto of your selves Order of Priests Exhort for that power and ability is given of God alone Therfore ye see how ye ought and have need earnestly to pray for his holy Spirit Let us earnestly call for grace Hom. of Swearing Part. 2. that all vaine swearing and perjury set apart we may onely use such oathes as be lawfull and godly and that we may truely without all fraud keepe the same according to Gods will and pleasure Let us pray that Kings may ever in all things have God before their eyes Serm. of obedience that they may have zeale to Gods glory that they may rightly use their sword and authority that they may most faithfully follow the Kings in the Bible Let us pray for ourselves that we may live godly in holy and Christian conversation In the same Hom. Let us beseech God that we being warned by his holy word Hom. against perill of idolatry Part. 2. Hom. of Prayer Part. 3. forbiding all idolatry may flee from all idolatry It is needfull daily to pray for the ministers that they may effectually preach the Gospell to the people and bring forth the true fruits thereof to the example of all other The confessing that all grace of the soule is Gods gift onely Hom. for Rogat week Part. 2. will make us to have recourse to God for all grace as the wiseman did for chastity Wisd 10. saying After I knew that otherwise I could not be chast except God granted it I made hast to the Lord and earnestly besought him from the bottome of my heart to have it Now if the aide of prayer be taken away Hom. of Matrim by what meanes can marryed persons sustaine themselves in any comfort For they cannot otherwise either resist the devill or yet have their hearts staid in stable comfort in all perils and necessities but by prayer If thy wife be wicked In the same Hom. chafe not in anger but pray unto Almighty God for her By prayer we may obtaine Gods helpe In the same Hom. his grace and defence and protection to continue without discord in marriage to a better life to come Which grant us he that dyed for us all These things being considered let us earnestly pray unto the living God our heavenly Father Serm. of Repent Part. 1. that he will vouchsafe by his holy Spirit to worke a true and unfained repentance in us We pray that Gods name may be called upon with pure mind by men of all ages Now. Cat. quest 203. quest 209. c. We pray that whatsoever betides us we may receive it with contented and gladsome hearts and that we may in all things be serviceable and obedient to God and that we rebell not nor repine not against Gods will I being of my selfe most weake and unable thereunto quest 249. must continually and earnestly sue by hearty prayer to God the giver of all good things for increase of faith and grace to please God CHAP. XIIII Of Gods grants WHat God grants unto his people that he doth not permit them to doe or give leave that they doe it themselves by strength of nature or some former grace received without any further help of God for God not hinder us from doing any good but give us free leave in his word So that there needs no new grant of leave to do well or to use well the strength we have received But Gods granting is giving some new spirituall strength or grace to use well the grace we have received If such grace be yet effectually granted to good men then could they not at first be made good without Gods effectuall operation We shall be briefe in this last point because all the prayers we have cited before are but expressions of Gods peoples desires and of Gods satisfaction which he gives unto the same GRant O most mercifull Father Confession that we may hereafter live a godly righteous and sober life to the glory of thy holy name Amen Grant this day that we fall into no sin Coll. 3. Morning Pray Coll. Sund. in Advent neither run into any kinde of danger Blessed Lord God which hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning Grant us that we may in such wise heare them read marke learne and inwardly digest them that by patience and comfort of thy holy word we may imbrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ Lord we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people which call upon thee Coll. Sund. after Epiph and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to doe and also have grace and power faithfully to fulfill the same through Jesus Christ our Lord. Receive our supplications and prayers Coll. on good Frid. which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy congregation that every member of the same in his vocation and ministery may truely and godly serve thee through our Lord Jesus Christ Grant unto all them that be admitted into the fellowship of Christs religion Sund. 3. after Easter that they may eschew those things that be contrary to their profession and follow all such things as be agreable to the same Grant we beseech thee Almighty God Coll. on Ascens day that like as we doe beleeve thy onely begotten Sonne our Lord to have ascended into the heavens so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend and with him continually dwell Grant us by thy Spirit to have a right judgement in all things Coll. on Whitsunday and evermore to rejoyce in his holy Comfort Grant we beseech thee that we which have S. Coll. on convers of S. Paul Pauls wonderfull conversion in remembrance may follow and fulfill thy holy doctrine that he taught through Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant that we may with pure and cleane