2. Man that is borne of a woman hath but a short time to live and is full of misery He commeth up and is cut downe like a flowre hee fleeth as it were a shadow and never continueth in one stay In the midst of life we be in death In the second part of the * T. 1. p. 58. Homily of falling from God it is said Sinners that continue in their wicked living ought to thinke that the promises of Gods mercy and the c Isa 61.1 2 3. Gospell pertaine not unto them being in that state but onely the d Gal. 3.23.24 law and those Scriptures which containe the wrath and indignation of God and his threatnings which should certifie them that as they doe over boldly presume of Gods mercy and live dissolutely So doth God still more and more withdraw his mercy from them he is so provoked therby to e Rom. 2.4 5 6 8. wrath at length that he destroyeth such presumers many times suddenly For of such S. Paul f 1 Thes 5 2 3. said thus When they shall say it is peace there is no danger then shall sudden destruction come up on them Let us g Heb. 12.15 and 3.12 beware therefore of such naughty boldnesse to sinne For God which hath promised his mercy to them that be truely repentant although it be at the latter end hath not promised to the presumptuous sinner either that hee shall have long life or that he shall have true repentance at the last end But for that purpose hath he made every mans death uncertaine that hee should not put his hope in the end and in the meane season to Gods high displeasure live ungodly Wherefore let us follow the counsell of the Wise man h Ecclus. 5.7 Let us make no tarrying to turne unto the Lord Let us not put off from day to day for suddenly shall his wrath come and in time of vengeance he will destroy the wicked In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 273. Homily of repentance it is said Which words I desire you to marke diligently because they doe most lively put before our eyes the fondnesse of many men who i Rom. 2.4 5 6. Ps 10.3 4 5 6. abusing the long suffering and goodnesse of God doe never thinke on repentance or amendment of life * Ecclus. 5.2 3 4 5 6. Follow not saith he thine owne minde and thy strength to walke in the wayes of thy heart neither say thou who will bring me under for my workes For God the revenger will revenge the wrong done by thee And say not I have sinned and what evill hath come unto me For the Almighty is a patient rewarder but he will not leave thee unpunished Because thy sinnes are forgiven thee be not without feare to heape sinne upon sinne Say not neither The Mercy of God is great he will forgive my manifold sinnes For mercy and wrath come from him and his indignation commeth upon unrepentant sinners As if he should say Art thou strong and mighty Art thou lusty and young Hast thou the wealth and riches of the world Or when thou hast sinned hast thou received no punishment for it Let none of all these things make thee to be the slower to repent to returne with speed unto the Lord. For in the day of punishment of his sudden vengeance they shall not be able to helpe thee And specially when thou art either by the preaching of Gods Word or by some inward motion of his Holy Spirit or else by some other meanes called unto repentance neglect not the good occasion that is ministred unto thee lest when thou wouldest repent thou hast not the grace for to doe it For to repent is a good k 2 Tim. 2.25 Act. 11.18 gift of God which he will never grant unto them who living in carnall security doe make a mocke of his threatnings or seeke to rule his Spirit as they list as though his working and gifts were l Ps 135. 5 6. Isa 40.12 13 14 15 17. tyed unto their will It is greatly considerable that almost every such person as is afore mentioned which deferreth repentance till towards his end being asked a little afore his death whether he thinketh that he hath lived as he ought as he might have lived in obedience unto Christs Lawes and the Ordinances of Christs holy Church if he would have used the prescribed meanes thereunto he will then from an opened conscience not justifie himselfe but confesse much truth as experience even in all places from time to time confirmeth Many there are which never all their life long have any regard to conferre with any godly Minister concerning what be the m Mat. 7.13 14 Psal 25.4 5 9 10. and 143.8 strait wayes of the Lord wherein all of yeeres of discretion are bound to walke conscionably and more and more obediently that would come unto n Mat. 19.16 17. life eternall but when they are in feare of dying their conscience then being awaked and accusing them and telling them they must o 2 Cor. 5.10 Heb. 9.27 appeare before Christs judgment seat to receive everlasting judgement according as they have beleeved and lived they will acknowledge some use of the ministery and of the Church-Prayers to be used in the Visitation of the sicke It it is become and old Proverbe with very many * A saying too common namely that if they can afore they dye have but time to aske God mercy they shall doe as well as the best of thē who have p Luk. 1.74 75. served God in holines righteousnes before him even all the daies of their life But how greatly such desperate and dissolute persons doe q Mal. 3.13 14 15 16 17 18. mistake the proceeding of Almighty God they may see if they will beleeve what is written in the first chapter of the Proverbs from the 20. verse unto that chapters end Also they may perceive that they are in a damnable errour if they wil observe what is delivered in that most Divine * Whose beginning is Now seeing all they be accursed c. Exhortation in the Service of Commination Saint Paul saith Be not deceived God is not mocked for r Gal. 6.7 8. whatsoever a man soweth that shall he reape For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reape life everlasting And againe he saith We then as workers together with God beseech you also that yee receive not the grace of God in vaine For he saith I have heard thee in a time accepted and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee behold ſ 2 Cor. 6.1 2. now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation Whiles it is said t Heb. 3.15 to day if yee will heare his voyce harden not your hearts as in the provocation CHAP.
The o Zeph. 3.5 iust Lord is in the midst of Ierusalem He will doe none iniquity Euery morning doth he bring his iudgement to light he fayeth not but the vniust know no shame The Lord saith Hosea hath a controuersie with Iudah Hosea 12. â— and will punish l Psal 145.17 Iacob according to his wayes according to his doings will he recompence him God also is often in the Diuine Seruice mentioned to be Mercifull Of Gods Mercifullnesse as in the third Collect to be read on good Friday it is sayd Mercifull God who hast made all men and hatest * Some obiect against this Divine Doctrine of the Church the saying in the Scripture I haue hated Esau The Scripture sayth not that God hated Esau vnto euerlasting damnation afore hee was borne but signifieth that hee loued him lesse than hee loued Iacob in that for a time he was to serue Iacob That the word hâ—te doth in Scripture signifie to Loue lesse See Iunius on Genes 29.31 Deut 21.15 See Math. 6.24 Luk. 14.26 And that Esau was to be vnder Iacob foratime See Genes 27.40 Saint Paules Doctrine hereabout is one of his sayings hard to be vnderstood 2. Peter 3.16 There is in it an Allegory as in Gal. 4.24 See 2. Esaras 6.8.9 Also in Genes 25.23 mentioned By Saint Paul in Rom. 9. Iacob and Esau are called two Nations and two manner of people And that Esau was sayd to be hated was not expressed in those words vntill many ages after Namely in the dayes of the Prophet Malachy 1.3 See Ezech. 33.11 and 2. Peter 3.9 Math. 23.37 Acts 7.51 See Pro. 1. from verse 20. vnto the Chapters end All Ezechiel 18. Eccles 15.11 to the end nothing that thou hast made nor wouldest the death of a Sinner but rather that he should be conuerted liue haue mercy vpon all Iewes Turks Infidels and Hereticks c. So in the last Prayer sauing one of the Commination it is sayd Oh most mighty God and Mercifull Father which hast compassion of all men and hatest nothing that thou hast made which wouldest not the death of a sinner but that he should rather turne from sinne and be saued c. Dauid sayth The q Psal 145.9 Lord is good to all and his tender Mercies are ouer all his workes Likewise Saint Paul witnesseth God hath concluded all men in vnbeleefe that he might haue Mercy vpon r Rom. 11.32 all In the Booke of Wisedome it is sayd Thou Å¿ Wisedome 11.23 24. haste Mercy vpon all for thou canst do all things and winkest at the sinnes of men because they should amende For thou louest all the things that are and abhorrest nothing which thou hast made for neuer wouldest thou haue made any thing if thou hadst hated it Vnto the which Eternall Incomprehensible Almighty Wise Good Iust and Mercifull God be glore through Iesus Christ for euer Amen CHAP. 7. Of the Creation of the World and of the Angels in speciall IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 67. Homily an Exhortation concerning good order and obedience to Rulers and Magistrates it is sayd Almighty God hath created and appointed all things in Heauen Earth and Waters in a most excellent and perfect order In Heauen hee hath appointed distinct and seuerall orders and states of Archangels and Angells In the beginning sayth the Scripture God t Genesis 1.1 and 2 1. Created heauen and earth and all the Host of them Also that by the u Col. 1.16 Sonne of God were all things Created that are in Heauen and that are in Earth Visible and Inuisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were Created by him and for him That there are Archangels aswell as Angels it appeareth out of Daniel where it is Written that Michael one of w Dan. 10.13 the chiefe Princes came to helpe him Michael is called an Archangell in the x Iude 9. Epistle of Iude. There is mention of another Archangell in y 2. Esdras 4.36 Esdras namely Vriel In Saint Ambrose his Song it is sayde vnto God To thee all Angels crye aloud the Heauens and all the powers therein To thee Cherubin and Seraphin continually do crye Holy holy holy Lord God of * Or Hosts Sabaoth That there are Powers in heauenly places and also Principalities among them not only the text aboue cited out of the Epistle to the Colossians prooueth but also Saint Paules words to the Ephesians saying To z Eph. 3.10 the intent that now vnto the Principalities and Powers in heauenly places might be knowne by the Church the manifold VVisedome of God Of Cherubins Novem Angelorum est cordâ—nes testante sacro eloquio scimus scilicet Angelos Archangelâ—s virtutes potestates principatut dominatiâ—nes thâ—onos Cherubin aeque Seraphim Greg. in Hâ—mil there is often mention in the tenth Chapter of Ezechiel And of Seraphins it is mentioned in the sixt Chapter of Isaiah In the Collect to be read on the day of the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel the Church sayth Euerlasting-God which hast o dayned and constituted the Services of all Angels and Men in wonderfull order Mercifully grant that they which alway do thee seruice in Heauen may by thine appoyntment succour and defend vs in Earth through Iesus Christ our Lord. Heb. 1.14 Are a they not all ministring Spirits as the Apostle sayth sent foorth to minister for them who shall be Heires of Saluation Dauid sayth Because b Psal 91.9.10.11.12 thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge euen the most High thine Habitation there shal no euill befall thee neyther shal any Plague come nigh thy dwelling For he shal giue his Angels charge ouer thee to keepe thee in all thy wayes They shal beare thee vp in their hands least thou dash thy foot agaynst a stone Some of the Angels sinned in not c 2 Pet. 2 4. Iude 6. keeping their first estate but left their owne habitation and are cast downe to Hell reserued in euerlasting Chaines vnder darknesse vnto the iudgement of the great day It is our duty as the Church d In the Communion Service exhorteth with the holy Angels and Archangels and with all the Company of Heauen to laud and magnifie the e Deut. 28.58 glorious name euermore praysing him and saying f Reue. 4.8 Esay 6.3 Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts Heauen and Earth are full of thy glory Glory be to thee O Lord most high CHAP. 8. Of the Creation of Man and of his estate in his innocency IN the * To 2. p. 167. Homily concerning the Nativity of our Saviour Iesus Christ it is sayd That among all the Creatures which God made in the beginning of the World most excellent and wonderfull in their kinde there was none as the Scripture beareth VVitnesse to be compared almost in any point vnto man who as well in Body and Soule
Iesus Christ our Lord. And to the Thessalonians he sayth b 1 Thes 2.12 That yee would walke worthy of God who hath called you vnto his Kingdome and glory And Saint Peter sayth c 1 Peter 2.9 That yee should shew foorth the prayses of him who hath called you out of darknes into his maruailous light And againe d 1 Pet. 5.10.11 The God of all grace who hath called vs into his eternall glory by Iesus Christ after that yee haue suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you To him be glory and dominion for euer and euer Amen CHAP. 11. Of Iustification IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 13. Homily of Saluation it is sayd Because all men be sinners and offenders against God and breakers of his Law and Commandements therefore can no man by his owne acts workes and deedes seeme they neuer so good be iustified and made righteous before God But euery man of necessity is constrayned to seeke for another righteousnesse or iustification to be receiued at Gods owne hands that is to say the forgiuenesse of his sins and trespasses in such things as hee hath offended And this iustification or righteousnesse which we so receiue of Gods mercy and Christs merits embraced by faith is taken accepted and allowed of God for our perfect and full iustification Three things therefore must goe together in our iustification The three things which must go together in our iustification To 1. p. 14.15 Vppon Gods part his great mercy and grace Vppon Christs part Iustice that is the satisfaction of Gods iustice or the price of our redemption by the offering of his body and shedding of his blood with fulfilling of the Law perfectly and throughly And vppon our part true and liuely Faith in the Merits of Iesus Christ which neuerthelesse is the gift of God and not mans onely worke without God Which sayd Faith doth not shut out Repentance Hope Loue Dread and the feare of God to be ioyned with Faith in euery man that is iustified but it shutteth them out from the office of iustifying Nor the faith also doth not sout out the iustice of our good workes necessarily to bee done afterwards of duty towards God For wee are most bounden to serue God in doing good Deedes commaunded by him in his Holy Scripture all the dayes of our life * Page 17. No man may iustly thinke that wee may by this Doctrine take any occasion of carnall liberty to follow the desires of the flesh or that thereby any kind of sinne may be committed or any vngodly liuing the more vsed Iustification is the office of God onely and is not a thing which wee render vnto him but which wee receiue of him Not which wee giue vnto him but which wee take of him by his free Mercy and by the onely Merits of his most dearely beloued Sonne our onely Redeemer Sauiour and iustifier IESVS CHRIST Saint Paul sayth e Rom. 3.23.24.25.26 All haue sinned and come short of the glory of God being iustified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Iesus Ghrist whom God hath set foorth to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood to declare his righteousnesse for the remission of sinnes that are past through the forbearance of God To declare I say at this time his righteousnesse that he may be iust and the iustifier of him which beleeueth in Iesus The same Apostle likewise sayth f Rom. 8.3 What the Law could not do in that it was weake through the flesh God sending his owne Sonne in the likenesse of sinnefull flesh and * Or by a sacrifice for sinne as in the margent Peccatum graecè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebraâ—cè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Et 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saepè exponitur expiatâ—o et piaculum seu sacrificium expiationis Leu. 4.34 Eze. 45.23 c. In textu etiam chaldaico vsurpatur vt in Esdr 6.17 for sinne condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousnesse of the Law migh be fulfilled in vs who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Now the * Page 19. office and duety of a Christian man vnto God what wee ought on our part to render vnto God againe for his great mercy and goodnesse is not to passe the time of this present life vnfruitfully and idlely after that wee are Baptized or iustified not caring how few good workes we do to the glory of God and profite of our neighbours Much lesse is it our Office after that wee bee once made Christs members to liue contrary to the same making our selues members of the Diuell walking after his inticements and after the suggestions of the World and the flesh whereby we know that we doe serue the World and the Diuell and not God The Lord sayth by his Prophet Micah g Mic 6.10.11.12 Shall I count them pure with the wicked Ballances and with the Bagge of deceitfull weights For the rich men thereof are full of Violence and the inhabitants thereof haue spoken lyes and their tongue is deceitfull in their mouth In the beginning of the Common Prayer it is sayd concerning iustification At what time so euer a sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart I will put all his wickednesse out of my remembrance sayth the Lord. These Words of the Lord spoken at large by his Prophet are If the h Ezech. 18.21 22. Wicked will turne from all his sinnes that he hath committed and keepe all my Statutes and do that which is lawfull and right hee shall surely liue he shall not dye All his transgressions that he hath committed they shall not be mentioned vnto him in his righteousnesse that hee hath done he shall liue And sayth the Apostle beeing iustified i Rom. 5.1.2 by faith we haue peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ By whom also wee haue accesse by faith into this grace wherein we stand and reioyce in hope of the glory of God CHAP. 12. Of the true and liuely Faith IN the third part of the * T. 1. p. 19.20 Homily of Saluation it is sayd The right and true Christian faith is not only to beleeue that holy Scripture and all the aforesaid Articles of our Faith are true which things the Diuels themselues do beleeue but also to haue a sure trust and confidence in Gods mercifull promises to be saued from euerlasting damnation by Christ Whereof doth follow a louing heart to obey his Commandements The * T. 1. P. 18. true and liuely faith in Christ bringeth foorth good workes and a life according to Gods Commandements And * P. 20. this true Christian faith neither any Diuell hath nor yet any man which in the outward profession of his mouth and in his outward receiuing of the Sacraments in comming to Church and in all other outward appearances seemeth to be a Christian man and yet in his
as the Leviticall had t Heb. 8.5 and 10.1 shaddowes of the same Melchizedec Priest of the most high God bringing foorth bread and Wine vnto Abraham ministred vnto him therein u Pro. 9.5 bread and Wine euen the Body and Blood of Iesus Christ The mystery whereof Melchizedec knew and all Priests that were of his Order if there were any thereof afore or after him Saint Paul sayd to the Corinthians That w 1 Cor. 10.2 3.4 the Fathers were all Baptized vnto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea And did all eate the same Spiritual meat and did all drinke the same Spirituall drinke For they dranke of that Spirituall Rocke which followeth them and that Rocke was Christ Also all the people of God that liued after the fall vntill the Incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ had their Faith in that Seed which was promised that it should bruise the Serpents head and x Rom. 16.20 bruise Sathan vnder their Feete y Heb. 13.8 Iesus Christ according to his eternall Divine nature the same yesterday and to day and for euer CHAP. 14. Of the Arke which Noah built and of other things in the Story of the olde Testament IN the first Prayer for publicke Baptisme the Church sayth Almighty and Euerlasting God which of thy great mercy diddest saue Noah and his Family in the * Genesis 7.23 Arke from perishing by Water and also diddest safely leade the children of Israel thy people through the red sea figuring thereby thy holy baptisme and by the baptisme of thy well beloued Sonne Iesus Christ diddest sanctifie the floud * Mar. 1.9 Iordan and all other waters to the mysticall washing away of sinne c. And in the first part of the * Tom. 1. p. 69. Homily concerning good order and obedience to Rulers and Magistrates it is sayd Where there is no right order there reigneth all abuse carnall liberty enormity sinne and Babylonicall confusion By which deliueries and sundry other of like nature in the Diuine Seruice Holy Church doth teach vs not onely to beleeue the truth of the histories in holy Writ but also to learne that spirituall matters were figured forth by them Saint Paul hauing mentioned to the Corinthians the Israelites Fathers passing through the sea out of Egypt into the Wildernesse towards the land of Chanaan and what befell sundry in the wildernesse addeth z 1. Cor. 10.11 Now all these things happened vnto them for * Or Types as in the margent In 1. Cor. 10.6 it is sayd Now these thinges were our examples or figures as in the margent ensamples and they are written for our admonition vpon whom the ends of the world are come Likewise he writing to the Galatians concerning Abraham Sarah Isaac Hagar and Ismael sayth a Gal. 4.24 Which things are an Allegory or whereby other things are also meant for these are the two * Or the two Testamenâ—s as it is read in the margent Couenants c. Saint Peter sayth b 1. Pet. 3.20.21 The long suffering of God waited in the dayes of Noah while the Arke was a preparing wherein a few that is eight soules were saued by water The like figure whereunto euen Baptisme doth also now saue vs not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answere of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ Saint Iohn sayd also of Gods two witnesses slaine That their c Reuel 11.8 dead bodies should lye in the streetes of the great Citty which spiritually is called Sodome and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified Yea and sundry of Moses Lawes besides the Leuiticall ceremonies had a further meaning than the grammaticall or literall sense onely as Paul sayd It is written in the law of Moses Thou shalt not d 1. Cor. 9.9.10.11 muzzle the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne Doth God take care for Oxen Or saith he it altogether for our sakes For our sakes no doubt this is written That he which ploweth should plow in hope and that he which thresheth in hope should be partaker of the hope If wee haue sowen vnto you spirituall things is it a great thing if we shall reape your carnall things In the aforesayd Prayer and Homily The words Arke Babylonicall Red sea sloud Iordan and Land are intimated to haue a spirituall signification Dauid in the Psalmes and euen all the Prophets doe in their writings often vse Moses his words in a mysticall sense as e Psal 143.10 Leade mee into the land of vprightnesse And f Psal 116.9 I will walke before the Lord in the land of the liuing And g Psal 89.15 With Num. 10.6 Whitherto the marginall quotation referreth See Num. 23.21 Blessed is the people that knoweth the ioyfull sound They shall walke O Lord in the light of thy countenance CHAP. 15. Of Circumcision IN the * T. 2. p. 134. Homily concerning Common Prayer and Sacraments it is sayd Circumcision was a Sacrament which preached vnto the outward senses the inward cutting away of the fore-skinne of the heart and sealed and made sure in the hearts of the circumcised the promise of God touching the promised seed that they looked for It was first prescribed vnto Abraham as it is written h Gen. 17.11.13 Ye shall circumcise the flesh of your fore-skinne and it shall be a token of the couenant betwixt you and me And my couenant shall be in your flesh for an euerlasting couenant The which Sacraments signification Moses taught the Iewes exhorting them saying i Deut. 10.16 Circumcise the fore-skinne of your heart and be no more stiffe necked Saint Paul sayth to the Romanes k Rom. 4.11 Abraham receiued the signe of circumcision a seale of the righteousnes of the faith which he had yet being vncircumcised Also he saith l Rom. 15.8 That Iesus Christ was a Minister of the circumcision for the truth of God to confirme the promise made vnto the Fathers And to the Colossians the Apostle further sayth m Col. 2.11 In Christ yee are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sinnes of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ To the Romans he declareth n Rom. 2.28 29 That he is not a Iew which is one outwardly neither is that circumcision which is outwardly in the flesh but he is a Iew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God There is a memorable sentence concerning circumcision in an ancient booke of the Iewes called Zohar wherein it is sayd * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We haue learned that at what time soeuer when any one shall be marked with this holy sealing or signing of this signe of circumcision from that time he hath a sight of God and the holy soule is vnited with him This
Iohn 15.2 Branches Children of l 1 Thes 5.5 Light m Eph. 2.19 Hebr. 12.22.23.24 Phil 3.20 Citizens of Heauen sheepe of his n Iohn 10.16 Fold members of his o Ephe. 5.30 body p Rom. 8.17 Iames 2.5 Heires of his Kingdome his true q Iohn 15.14.15 friends and r Heb. 2.11.12 Brethren sweet and liuely Å¿ 1 Cor. 10.17 bread the t 1 Peter 21 10. Hosea 2.23 Elect and chosen people of God But for the better vnderstanding and consideration of this thing let vs behold the end of his comming so shal we perceiue what great commodity and profite his Natiuity hath brought vnto vs miserable and sinfull Creatures The end of his comming was to u Math. 1.21 saue and w Luke 1.74 deliuer his people x Math. 5.17 Iohn 15.10 to fulfill the Law for vs to y Iohn 18.37 beare Witnesse vnto the Truth * As in the second past of the Homily agaynst Adultery it is sayd See Math. 5.21 22.27.28 c. T. 1. P. 84. to restore the Law of his Heauenly Father vnto the right sense vnderstanding and meaning to teach and z Luke 4 18. Preach the words of his Father to giue a Iohn 12.46 Light vnto the World to b Luke 6.32 call sinners vnto repentance c Math. 11.28 Acts 3.19 Esay 40.29 to refresh them that labour and be heauy laden to d Iohn 12.31 east out the Prince of this World to e Col 1.21.22 reconcile vs in the body of his flesh to f 1 Iohn 3.8 dissolue the works of the Diuell last of all to become a g 1 Iohn 2.2 propitiation for our sinnes and not for ours onely but also for the sinnes of the whole World These were the chiefe endes wherefore Christ became man not for any profite that should come to himselfe thereby but only for our sakes that we might h Iohn 15.15 vnderstand the will of God be i Iohn 17.22 partakers of his Heauenly light be deliuered out of the k Math. 4.24 2 Tim. 2.26 Diuells clawes released from the l Hebrewes 12.1 Rom. 6.18.22 burthen of sinne m Rom. 3.24.25 iustified through faith in his blood and finally n Psalme 73.24 Colos 3 4. 1 Pet. 5.10 receiued vp into euerlasting glory there to o Rom. 8.17 2 Tim. 2.11.12 reigne with him for euer Therefore sayth the Church in the conclusion of the sayd * P. 174. Homily Dearely beloued let vs not forget this loue of our Lord and Sauiour let vs not shew our selues vnmindfull or vnthankefull towards him but let vs loue him feare him obey him and serue him Let vs confesse him with our mouthes prayse him with our tongues beleeue on him with our hearts and p Iohn 15.8 glorifie him with our good workes q Iohn 1.9 Christ is the Light let vs receiue the Light Christ is the r Reue. 3.14 Truth let vs beleeue the Truth Christ is the Å¿ Iohn 14.6 way let vs follow the way Happy are they sayth the Scripture t Mat. 24.13 which continue vnto the end Be u Reue. 2.10 faithfull sayth God vntill Death and I will giue thee a Crowne of Life Againe he sayth in another place Hee that putteth his hand vnto the w Luke 9.62 Plough and looketh backe is not meete for the Kingdome of God Therefore let vs bee strong stedfast and vnmooueable x 1 Cor. 15.58 abounding alwayes in the workes of the Lord. Iesus Christ sayth y Iohn 3.16.17 God so loued the world that hee gaue his only begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life For God sent not his Sonne into the world to condemne the world but that the world through him might be saued It is written in the Booke of Baruch This z Baruch 3.35 36.37 is our God and there shall none other bee accounted of in comparison of him Hee hath found out all the way of knowledge and hath giuen it vnto Iacob his seruant and to Israel his beloued Afterward did hee shew himselfe vpon earth and conuersed with men CHAP. 22. Of Christs death IN the beginning of the second * Tom. 2. p. 181 Homily concerning the death and passion of our Sauiour Christ it is sayd That we may the better conceiue the great mercy and goodnesse of our Sauiour Christ in suffering death a Heb. 2.9 2. Cor. 5.14.15 See chapter 25 of the merit of Christs death vniuersally for all men it behooueth vs to descend into the bottome of our conscience and deeply to consider the first and principall causes wherefore hee was compelled so to doe When our great Grand-father Adam had broken Gods commaundement in eating the apple forbidden him in Paradise at the b Gen. 3.6 motion and suggestion of his wife he purchased thereby not onely to himselfe but also to his c 1. Cor 15.22 posterity for euer the iust wrath and indignation of God c. He became d Rom. 5.12.14 mortall he lost the fauour of God He was e Gen. 3.23.24 cast out of Paradise he was no longer a Citizen of Heauen but a fire-brand of Hell and a bond-slaue to the Diuell To this doth our Sauiour beare witnesse in the Gospell calling vs f Mat. 18.11 lost sheepe which haue gone g 1. Pet. 2.25 astray and wandered from the true Shepheard of our soules To this also doth Saint Paul beare witnesse saying h Rom. 5.18 That by the offence of only Adam death came vpon all men vnto condemnation And it is sayd in the * T. 2. p. 169. Homily of the Natiuity of Christ When the i Gal. 4.4 fulnesse of time was come that is the perfection and course of yeares appointed from the beginning then God according to his former couenant and promise sent a Messias otherwise called a Mediatour into the world not such a one as Moses was not such a one as Ioshua Saul or Dauid was but such a one as should deliuer mankind from the bitter curse of the Law and make perfect satisfaction by his death for the sinnes of all people namely he sent his deere and onely Sonne Iesus Christ borne as the Apostle saith of a woman and made vnder the law that he might k Gal. 4.5 redeeme them that were in bondage of the law and make them the children of God by adoption Concerning the necessity of Christs death the Apostle declareth to the Hebrewes saying l Heb. 9.15.16.17.18 23. And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Testament that by meanes of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were vnder the first Testament they which are called might receiue the promise of eternall inheritance For where a Testament is there must also of necessity be the death of the Testatour For a Testament is of force after men be dead
Wee are VVitnesses of these things and so is also the Holy Ghost whom God hath giuen to them that obey him Reade the third part of the * T. 2. p. 229. 230 Homily for Rogation VVeeke and there are expressed many operations of the Holy Ghost for and in the people of Almighty God CHAP. 25. Of the Merit of the Redemption wrought by Iesus Christ THE Church in her most Sacred Catechisme teacheth euery one of her Children to say I beleeue in God the Sonne who hath redeemed me and all Mankind And in the Prayer afore the Ministration of the Communion it is sayd Iesus Christ suffering Death vpon the Crosse for our Redemption made there by his owne Oblation of himselfe once offered a full perfect and sufficient Sacrifice Oblation and satisfaction for the sinnes of the whole World In the second * T. 2. p. 181. Homily of CHRISTS passion it is sayde Hee suffered Death vniuersally for all men And in the same * P. 185. Homily it is sayde God gaue Christ to the whole World that is to say to Adam and to all that should come after him And in the first part of the * T. 2. p. 200. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is sayd The Death of Christ is auaileable for the Redemption of all the World The holy Scriptures testifie the same greatnesse of the merit of the Redemption wrought by Iesus Christ Saint Iohn sayth He is the propitiation for our sinnes and not for ours onely but also for the sinnes of k 1 Iohn 2.2 the whole World Saint Paul sayth Christ gaue himselfe a ransome for l 1 Tim. 2.6 all And to the Hebrewes he sayth m Heb. 2.9 Iesus Christ tasted Death for euery man To the Corinthians hee sayth If one dyed for all then were all dead and hee dyed for n 2 Cor. 5.14.15 all c. And to the Romanes hee sayth o Rom. 5.18 1 Cor. 15.21.22 Iohn 12.32 As by the offence of one iudgement came vpon al men to condemnation Eue so by the righteousnesse of one the free gift came vpon all men vnto iustification of life In the second part of the * T. 1. p. 50. Homily concerning Swearing it is signified That not onely Christs death but his life also c. are meritorious where it is sayd Whosoeuer wilfully * Zechar. 5.4.5 See Chap. 73. forsweare themselues vppon Christs Holy Euangely they vtterly forsake Gods mercy goodnesse and truth the merits of our Sauiour Christs Natiuity Life Passion Death Resurrection and Ascension they refuse the forgiuenesse of sinnes promised to all penitent sinners the ioyes of Heauen the company with Angels and Saints for euer Also the aforesayde actions of Christ are meritorious because they were done for the sake of mankinde CHAP. 26. Of the end for the which Iesus Christ redeemed mankinde and who of yeares of discretion or of perfect age partake of the merit of the same redemption IT is sayd in the second part of the * T. 1. p. 82. Homily against adultery Christ that innocent Lambe of God hath bought vs from the seruitude of the Diuell not with corruptible gold and siluer but with his most precious and deare heart bloud To what intent That we should fall againe into our old vncleannesse and abhominable liuing Nay verily but that we should serue him all the dayes of our life in holinesse and righteousnesse that we should glorifie him in our bodies by purity and cleannesse of life And in the * T. 2. p. 179. Homily for good Friday it is sayd Christ hath not so redeemed vs from sinne that we may safely returne thereto againe but he hath redeemed vs that we should forsake the motions thereof and liue vnto righteousnesse Yea we be therefore washed in our Baptisme from the filthinesse of sinne that we should liue afterward in the purenesse of life In Baptisme we promised to renounce the Diuell and his suggestions wee promised to be as obedient children alwayes following Gods will and pleasure So in the * T. 2. p. 195. Homily of the Resurrection it is sayd Yee must consider that yee be therefore cleansed and renued that yee should from hencefoorth serue God in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of your liues that ye may reigne with him in euerlasting life If yee refuse so great grace whereto yee bee called what other thing doe yee than heape to your selues damnation more and more and so prouoke God to cast his displeasure vnto you and to reuenge this mockage of his Holy Sacramerits in so great abusing of them In the second * T. 2. p. 186. Homily of the Passion it is sayd Now it remaineth that I shewe vnto you how to apply Christs death and passion to our comfort as a medicine to our wounds so that it may worke the same effect in vs wherefore it was giuen namely the health and saluation of our soules For as it profiteth a man nothing to haue salue vnlesse it be well applied to the part infected so the death of Christ shall sland vs in no force vnlesse we apply it to our selues in such sort as God hath appointed Almighty God commonly worketh by meanes and in this thing he hath also ordained a certaine meane whereby we may take fruite and profite to our soules health and that is Faith Not an vnconstant or wauering faith but a sure stedfast grounded and vnfained faith * Pag. 188. For as all they which beheld stedfastly the brazen Serpent were healed and deliuered at the very sight thereof from their corporall diseases and bodily stings euen so all they which behold Christ crucified with a true and liuely faith shall vndoubtedly bee deliuered from the grieuous wounds of the soule be they neuer so deadly or many in number In the * Tom. 2. p. 173 Homily of the Natiuity it is sayd After that Christ was come downe from heauen and had taken our fraile nature vpon him he made all them that would receiue him truely and beleeue his holy Word good trees c. And to shew more plainely who partake of Christs merits the * Tom. 2. p. 179 Homily for good Friday declareth saying That we doe call for mercy in vaine if wee will not shew mercy to our neighbours For if we will not put wrath and displeasure forth of our hearts to our Christian brother no more will God forgiue the displeasure and wrath that our sinnes haue deserued afore him For vnder this condition doth God forgiue vs if we forgiue other God is to be obeyed which commaundeth vs to forgiue if we will haue any part of the pardon which our Sauiour Christ purchased once of God the Father by shedding of his precious bloud And in the second part of the * Tom. 1. p. 94. Homily against contention the Church sayth What crakest thou of thy head if thou labour not to be in the body Thou canst be no member of
to be our spirituall food k Ioh. 6.32 33 35 48 50 51. and sustenance In the third Exhortation it is said The benefit is great if with a true penitent heart and lively faith we receive that holy Sacrament for then wee l Iohn 6.63 56. spiritually eate the flesh of Christ and drinke his blood then we dwell in Christ and Christ m Iohn 14.23 2 Cor. 6.16 in us we bee n 1 Cor. 6.17 1 Cor. 10.16 17 1 Cor. 12 13. one with Christ and Christ with us And afterward it is said Above all things ye must give most humble and hearty thankes to God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost for the redemption of the world by the death and passion of our Saviour Christ both God and man who did humble himselfe even to the death upon the Crosse for us miserable sinners which lay in darkenesse and shadow of death that hee might make us the children of God and exalt us to everlasting life And to the end that we should alway remember the exceeding great love of our Master and onely Saviour Iesus Christ thus dying for us and the innumerable benefits which by his precious blood-shedding hee hath obtained to us hee hath instituted and ordained holy mysteries as pledges of his love and continuall o 1 Cor. 11.24 25 26. remembrance of his death to our great and endlesse comfort And in the Prayer to be read afore the receiving it is said Almighty God our heavenly Father which of thy tender mercy didst give thy onely Son Iesus Christ to suffer death vpon the Crosse for our redemption who made there by his one oblation of himselfe once offered a full perfect and sufficient sacrifice oblation and satisfaction for the sinnes of the whole world and did institute and in his holy Gospell command us to continue a perpetuall memory of that his precious death untill his comming againe c. And in the second Prayer after the receiving it is said Thou dost assure us thereby of thy favour and goodnesse towards us and that wee bee very members incorporate in thy mysticall p Eph. 1. 22 23. 1 Cor. 12.12.27 body which is the blessed company of all faithfull people and be also heires through hope of thy everlasting Kingdome by the merits of the most precious death and passion of thy deare Sonne In the * T. 2. p. 192. Homily of the resurrection it is said Thou hast received him if in true faith and repentance of heart thou hast received him If in purpose of amendment thou hast received him for an everlasting gage or pledge of thy salvation Thou hast received his body which was once broken and his blood which was shed for the remission of thy sinne Thou hast received his body to have within thee the Father the Son and the holy Ghost for to dwell with thee to endow thee with grace to strengthen thee against thine enemies and to comfort thee with their presence Thou hast received his body to endow thee with everlasting righteousnes to assure thee with everlasting blisse and life of thy soule For with Christ by true faith art thou quickned againe saith Saint Paul from death of sin to life of grace and in hope translated from corporall and everlasting death to the everlasting life of glory in heaven q Phil. 3.20 where now thy conversation should be and thy heart and desire set In the * T. 2. p. 197. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is most divinely delivered That our Lord and Saviour thought it not sufficient to purchase for us his Fathers favour againe which is that deepe fountaine of all goodnesse and eternall life but also invented the wayes most wisely whereby they might redound to our commodity and profit Amongst the which meanes is the publike celebration of the memory of his precious death at the Lords Table Which although it seeme of small vertue to some yet being rightly done by the faithfull it doth not onely helpe their weaknesse who be by their poisoned nature readier to remember injuries than benefits but strengtheneth and comforteth their inward man with peace and gladnesse and maketh them thankfull to their Redeemer with diligent care and godly conversation And as of old time God decreed his wondrous benefits of the deliverance of his people to be kept in memory by the eating of the Passeover See chap. 17. with his rites and ceremonies so our loving Saviour hath ordained and established the remembrance of his great mercy expressed in his Passion in the institution of his heavenly supper In the same * p. 199. Homily it is also said We must be sure to hold that in the supper of the Lord there is no vaine ceremony no bare signe no untrue figure of a thing absent but as the Scripture saith the r 1 Cor. 10.21 table of the Lord the bread cup of the Lord the memory of Christ the ſ 1 Cor. 11.25 26. annuntiation of his death yea the communion of the body and blood of the Lord in a marveilous incorporation which by the operation of the Holy Ghost the very t 1 Iohn 3.24 bond of our conjunctiō with Christ is through faith wrought in the soules of the faithfull whereby not onely their soules live to eternall life but they surely trust to win their bodies a resurrection to immortality The true understanding of this fruition union which is betwixt the body the head betwixt the true beleevers and Christ the ancient Catholike Fathers both perceiving themselves and commending to their people were not afraid to call this supper some of them the salve of immortality and soveraigne preservative against death Other a deificall communion other the u Rev. 3.20 sweet dainties of our Saviour the pledge of eternall health the defence of faith the hope of the resurrection Other the food of immortality the healthfull grace and the conservatorie to everlasting life And in the same first part of the * p. 200. Homily it is also said Thus much more the faithfull see heare and know the favourable mercies of God sealed the satisfaction by Christ towards us confirmed and the remission of sinne established Here they may feele wrought the tranquility of conscience the increase of faith the strengthening of hope the large spreading abroad of brotherly kindnesse with many other sundry graces of God The tast whereof they cannot attaine unto who be drowned in the deepe durty lake of blindnesse and ignorance From the which O beloved u Ier. 4.14 Isay 1.16 Psal 119.9 Psal 26.6 wash your selves with the living waters of Gods Word whence you may perceive and know both the spirituall food of this costly supper and the happy trustings and effects that the same doth bring with it And then after it is said It is well knowne that the meate we seeke for in this supper is spirituall food the nourishment of our soule a heavenly reflection
many times in a yeere so is it exceeding furthersome for all younger people to have it all in perfect memory and at least once a weeke to examine themselves by the same CHAP. 62. Of Excommunication IT is said in the second part of the * T. 2. p. 213. Homily concerning the Holy Ghost or in the Homily for Whitsunday Christ ordained the authority of the keyes to excommunicate notorious sinners and to absolve theÌ„ which are truly penitent In the second part of the * Homily concerning the right use of the Church T. 2. p. 9.10 it is said In the primitive Church which was most holy and godly and in the which due discipline with severitie was used against the wicked due discipline with severitie suffered once to enter into the house of the Lord nor admitted to Common Prayer and the use of the holy SacrameÌ„ts with other true Christians untill they had done opeÌ„penance before the whole Church And they that were so justly exempted and banished as it were from the house of the Lord were taken as they be indeed for men divided and separated from Christs Church and in most dangerous estate yea as Saint Paul saith even given unto Satan the Devill for a time and their company was shunned and avoided of all godly men and women untill such time as they by repentance and publike penance were reconciled Iesus Christ said unto Peter To thee I will give the c Mat. 16.19 keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven The same d Mat 18.18 19 20. authority hee afterward pronounced unto the rest of his Apostles Also when after his resurrection hee breathed on them and said Receive ye the Holy Ghost he gave the keyes of the Kingdome of heaven unto them all saying e Ioh. 20.22 23. Whose soever sins yee remit they are remitted unto theÌ„ whose soever sinnes ye retaine they are retained Saint Paul saith to the Corinthians concerning excommunicating the incestuous person In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ when ye are gathered together and my Spirit with the power of our Lord Iesus Christ To f 1 Cor. 5.4 5. deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may bee saved in the day of the Lord Iesus He said of Hymenaeus and Alexander that he had g 1 Tim. 1.20 delivered them unto Satan that they might learne not to blaspheeme Concerning what persons are to be excommunicated if otherwise they will not be reformed it is observed that the Apostle signifieth where he saith If any man that is called a brother be a fornicatour or covetous or an Idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner with h 1 Cor. 5.11 such a one no not to eate Vnto the Thessalonians he saith And if any man obey not our word by this Epistle note that man and have i 2 Thes 3.14 no company with him that he may be ashamed The Apostle speaketh of disorderly living and living out of a vocation by the sweat of other mens browes or eating other mens bread for nought The Apostle also faith If any man love not the Lord Iesus Christ let him be k 1 Cor. 16.22 anathema Maran atha The speech here l Sunt enim haeâ— dicendi genera Haebraeis non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inquit Buxtorfiuâ— in Gram. Heb. pag. 548. excusâ anno 1620. love not is observed to signifie hateth Anathema is interpreted a curse a cursed thing or one accursed Maran signifieth our Lord and atha signifieth commeth The excommunication which was called anathema maranatha is accounted to be the greatest kinde thereof and so the very last namely when as one for his persevering wilfull hatred against Iesus Christ is quite forsaken by the Church and left unto the just judgement of Christ of whom Enoch said m Iude 14.15 Arabs juxta sensum reddidit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apud Rabbinos est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 contractè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Videt ur dicià syriacâ— verbo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nominare quòd hâ—c sit nominatissima excommunicatio Vulgò taâ—en volunt esse nomen compositum ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est Deus venit Alij ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. ibi mors Behold the Lord commeth with ten thousands of his Saints to execute judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him The holy scriptures deliver other causes also for which there may be excommunication the which the Church of England hath partly mentioned in the Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall as also when any being summoned to appeare before ecclesiasticall authority will contemptuously refuse c. The Lord Christ Iesus hath in his Gospell given an everlasting generall rule If any one neglect to heare the Church let him be unto thee as an n Mat. 18.17 Heathen man and a Publicane CHAP. 63. Of Confession and Absolution in particular manner BEsides the generall Confession and Absolution to be said and pronounced in the beginning of the Divine Service and afore receiving the holy Communion holy Church hath ordained that a private may be made In the second Exhortation to be read afore the Communion it is said Because it is requisite that no man shold come to the holy Communion but with a full trust in Gods mercy and with a quiet conscience therefore if there be any of you which by the meanes aforesaid cannot quiet his owne conscience but requireth further comfort or counsell then let him come to me or some other discreet and learned Minister of Gods Word and open his griefe that he may receive such ghostly counsell advice and comfort as his conscience may be relieved and that by the ministery of Gods Word he may receive comfort and the benefit of absolution to the quieting of his conscience and avoyding of all scruple and doubtfulnesse In the Rubricke of the Service for the Visitation of the Sicke it is said The sicke person shall make a speciall confession if he feele his conscience troubled with any weighty matter After which confession the Priest shall absolve him after this sort * The forme of absolution used to one in particular Our Lord Iesus Christ who hath left power to his Church to absolve all sinners which truely repent and beleeve in him of his great mercy forgive thee thine offences and by his authority committed to me I absolve thee from all thy finnes In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen Concerning Confession the Church in the 113. Canon delivereth That if any man confesse his secret and hidden sinnes to the Minister for the
and fall like one of the Princes In the booke of Wisdome it is said unto Rulers d Wisd 6.4 5 6 Because being Ministers of his Kingdome you have not judged aright nor kept the Law nor walked after the Counsell of God horribly and speedily shall hee come upon you For a sharpe judgement shall bee to them that bee in high places For mercy will soone pardon the meanest mighty men shall bee mightily tormented It is recorded of Mordicai the Iew being advanced next unto King Ahasuerus that he sought the e Est 10.3 wealth of his people and spake peace unto all his Seed Blessed are they that keepe judgement and hee that doth f Ps 106.3 righteousnesse at all times saith David But saith Isaiah Woe unto them that g Isa 10.1 2. decree unrighteous Decrees and that write grievousnesse which they have prescribed to turne aside the needy from judgment and to take away the right from the poore of the people that widowes may be their prey and that they may rob the fatherlesse The Lord saith by Moses h Exod. 23.2 3 8. Deut. 16.18 19.20 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to doe evill neither shalt thou speake in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgement Neither shalt thou countenance a poore man in his cause The Iudges and Officers shall judge the people with just judgement Thou shalt not wrest judgement thou shalt not respect persons neither take a gift for a gift doth blinde the eyes of the wise and pervert the words of the righteous That which is altogether just shalt thou follow Paul saith to the Thessalonians Wee command you brethren in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ That yee with-draw your selves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after the tradition which he received of us For even when we were with you this we commanded you That if any man would not worke i 2 Thes 3.10 neither should hee eate It is a saying and observed out of Moses Law There should be no k Deut. 15.4 begger in Israel CHAP. 73. Of Swearing IN the * T. 1. p. 45. Homily against Swearing and perjury it is said When Iudges require oaths of the people for declaration or opening of the truth or for execution of Iustice Swearing is lawfull Also when men make faithfull promises with calling to witnesse of the name of God to keepe covenants honest promises statutes lawes good customes as Christian Princes doe in their conclusions of peace for conservation of Common-wealths and private persons promise their fidelity in Matrimony or one to another in honesty and true friendship and all men when they doe sweare to keepe common lawes and locall statutes and good customes for due order to bee had and continued among men when subjects doe sweare to bee true and faithfull to their King and Soveraigne Lord and when Iudges Magistrates and Officers sweare truly to execute their Offices and when a man would affirme the truth to the setting forth of Gods glory for the salvation of the people in open preaching of the Gospell or in giving of good Counsell privately for their soules health All these manners of swearing for causes necessarie and honest be lawfull But when men doe sweare of custome in reasoning buying and selling or other dayly communications as many be common and great swearers such kinde of swearing is ungodly unlawfull and forbidden by the Commandement of God For such swearing is nothing else but taking of Gods name in vaine * P. 46 47. Afterward it is said Whosoever sweareth when he is required of a Iudge let him be sure in his conscience that his oath have three conditions and hee shall never need to be afraid of perjury First hee that sweareth must sweare truly that is he must setting apart all favour and affection to the parties have the truth onely before his eyes and for love thereof say and speake that which he knoweth to be truth and no further The second is he that taketh an oath must doe it with judgement not rashly and unadvisedly but soberly considering what an oath is The third is he that sweareth must sweare in righteousnesse that is for the very zeale and love which he beareth to the defence of innocency to the maintenance of the truth and of the righteousnesse of the matter or cause all profit disposits all love and favour unto the person for friendship or kindred laid apart That in communication wee ought not to sweare Christs words doe declare where he saith l Mat. 5.34 35 36 37. Sweare not at all neither by heaven c. by no creature But let your communication be yea yea nay nay for whatsoever is more then these commeth of evill The which Scripture as it forbiddeth all manner of swearing in communication so it forbiddeth to sweare at any time by any thing excepting the name of God onely The Lord saith to the Israelites by Ieremiah How shall I pardon thee for this thy Children have forsaken me and m Ier. 5.7 sworne by them that are no gods In the second part of the * P. 50. Homily of swearing it is most memorably said To the intent you should know how great and grievous an offence against God wilfull perjury is I will shew you what it is to take an oath before a Iudge upon a booke First when they laying their hands upon the Gospell booke doe sweare truly to enquire and to make a true presentment of things wherewith they be charged and not to let from saying the truth and doing truly for favour love dread or malice of any person as God may helpe them and the holy Contents of that booke They must consider that in that booke is contained Gods everlasting truth his most holy and eternall Word whereby we have forgivenesse of our sinnes and be made inheritours of heaven to live for ever with Gods Angels and Saints in joy and gladnesse In the Gospell booke is contained also Gods terrible threats to obstinate sinners that will not amend their lives nor beleeve the truth of Gods holy Word and the everlasting pain prepared in hell for Idolaters Hypocrites for false and vaine swearers for perjured men for false witnesse barers for false condemners of innocent and guiltlesse men and for them which for favour hide the crimes of evill doers that they should not be punished So that whosoever wilfully for sweare themselves upon Christs holy Evangely or Gospell they utterly forsake Gods mercy goodnesse and truth the merits of our Saviour Christs Nativity Life Passion Death Resurrection and Ascension they refuse the forgivenesse of sinnes promised to all penitent sinners the joyes of heaven the companie with Angels and Saints for ever All which benefits and comforts are promised unto true Christian persons in the Gospell And they so being forsworne upon the Gospell doe betake themselves to the devills service the master of all lies falshood deceit and perjurie provoking
which leadeth unto life eternall neither doe they give themselves unto sinning neither are they without Gods peace in their consciences Every true member of the said Church of England endevoureth to beleeve and live according to the divine Servince-doctrine and the rest of the doctrine and discipline which is established by publike or common Authority All which said doctrine discipline as this present worke abundantly declareth serveth to further people in the g Ier. 6.16 old pathes where is the good way as the Prophet Ieremiah speaketh and every one that faithfully walketh therein according to the established doctrine and discipline findeth more and more rest for his minde or soule Of hardnesse of heart IN the second part of the * T. 2. p. 269 270. Homily of Repentance it is said Let us hearken unto the voyce of Almighty God h Prov. 1.23 24 28. when he calleth us to repentance let us not i Iob 9.4 Prov. 21.29 and 29.1 harden our hearts as such k Exod. 8.15 Infidels doe who abuse the time l Rev. 2.2 given them of God to repent and turne it to continue their pride and contempt against God and man which know not how much they m Rom. 2.5 Iam. 5.3 heape Gods wrath upon themselves for the hardnesse of their hearts which cannot repent at the n Luke 13.25 26 27. day of vengeance With great godly wisedome hath holy Church ordained to be read at morning Prayer the Psalme wherein God saith unto us by his servant David To day if ye will heare my voice o Ps 95.8 harden not your hearts Wherefore Saint Paul saith Take heed brethren lest there bee in any of you an evill hart of unbeliefe in departing from the living God But exhort one another daily while it is called to day lest any of you bee p Heb. 3.12.13.14.15 hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne For wee are made partakers of Christ if wee hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end A meanes to unharden ones owne heart is to beleeve aswell Christs q Mat. 5.20 Matt. 18.3 Luk. 13.3 Rom. 8.13 Luk. 14.26.33 Ioh. 15.6 threatnings as his promises And al that do beleeve what is said in the Gospell concerning his unpartiall judging of mankind have not hearts so hard as they have which beleeve not those divine Oracles concerning Christs righteous judging See Zechariah 7.9.10.11.12.13 and Acts. 28.23.24.25.26.27 Of Desperation IN the second part of the * T. 2. p. 57.58 Homily of falling from God it is said Let us beware good Christian people lest that wee rejecting or casting away Gods word by the which we obtaine and retaine true faith in God be not at length cast off so farre that wee become as the childrē of unbeleefe which be of two sorts far diverse yea almost cleane contrary and yet both be very farre from returning to God the one sort onely weighing their sinfull and detestable living with the right judgement and straitnesse of Gods righteousnesse be so without counsell and be so comfortlesse as they all must needs bee from whom the Spirit of counsell and comfort is gone that they will not bee perswaded in their hearts but that either God cannot or else that hee will not take them againe to his favour and mercie The other hearing the loving and large promises of Gods mercy and so not conceiving a right faith thereof make those promises larger than ever God did trusting that although they continue in their sinfull and detestable living never so long yet that God at the end of their life will shew his mercy upon them and that then they will returne And both these two sorts of men be in a damnable state and yet neverthelesse God who willeth not the death of the wicked hath shewed meanes whereby both the same if they take heed in r Heb. 3.7.13 2 Cor. 6.1.2 Ioh. 9.5.4 Ioh. 12.36 Luk. 13.25.26.27 Mat. 25.10.11.12.13 season may escape The first as they doe dread Gods rightfull justice in punishing sinners whereby they should bee dismayed should despaire indeed as touching any hope that may be in themselves so if they would constantly or stedfastly beleeve that Gods mercy is the remedy appointed against such despaire and distrust not onely for them but generally for all that be sory and truly repentant and will therewithall sticke to Gods mercy they may bee sure they shall obtaine mercy and enter into the Port or haven of safegard into the which whosoever doth come be they before time never so wicked they shall be out of danger of everlasting damnation as God by Ezechiel saith s Ezech. 18.21.22.23.27.28 What time soever a sinner doth returne and take earnest and true repentance I will forget all his wickednesse The other as they bee ready to beleeve Gods promises so they should be as ready to beleeve the t Rev. 21.8 1 Cor. 6.9.10 Gal. 6. threatnings of God aswell they should beleeve the Law as the Gospell aswell that there is an hell and everlasting fire as that there is an heauen and everlasting joy aswell they should beleeve damnation to be threatned to the wicked and evill doers as salvation to be promised to the faithfull in word and workes aswell they should beleeve God to be true in the one as in the other And so along the Church delivereth Gods truth in a wonderfull divine manner Christ saith u Mat. 11.28.29.30 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden with the burden of your sinnes and with griefe for them and I will give you rest Take my yoke upon you and learne of me for I am meeke and lowly in heart and ye shall finde rest unto your soules But as Saint Paul saith The Lord Iesus shall bee revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that w 2 Thes 1.7.8.9 obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ who shall be the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power c. Of Sedition and privie conspiracie THough wee heare it or at least should often heare it read in the sacred Letaine From all Sedition and privie conspiracie good Lord deliver us yet how prone are many in the world thereunto Such consider not what the Gospell saith There is no x Rom. 13.1.2 power but of God The powers that bee are ordained of God Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Such consider not that other most memorable oracle of God delivered by S. Peter Submit your selves to y 1 Pet. 2.13.14 every ordinance of man for the Lords sakes whether it be to the King as Supreame or unto governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evill
doers and for the praise of them that doe well If such as are seditiously inclined would sometimes reade through the whole Homily of obedience and the whole Homily against disobedience and wilfull rebellion and also would call to minde the end of all seditious ones and of all privie conspiratours in former times even in all privie conspiratours in former times even in all ages and almost in all places they by the grace of Christ might be of a cleane contrary disposition Saint Paul from God Almighty denounceth that hatred variance emulations wrath strife z Gal. 5.20.21 seditions heresies or sects or factions envyings c. Are workes of the flesh and that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdome of God And now for conclusion about mentioning particular sins referring every devout soule unto a diligent reading or hearing of the whole Bible and to observe thereout what the spirit of God hath delivered and prescribed for every one in his severall vocation and state either to doe or to leave undone and to shunne and also to a most serious search of the whole divine Service of the Church of England for to performe every particular duty mentioned therein which concerneth him and to shunne whatsoever it is there dehorted from let us heare what holy Church delivereth unto us in the first Homily * T. 2. p. 176. of the Passion concerning the detestation which we ought to have within us continuall against all sinne No man can love sinne which God a Ps 5.4.5.6 hateth so much and be in his favour No man can say that hee b Ioh. 14.23.24 loveth Christ truly and have his great enemy sinne I meane aut hour of his death familiar and in friendship with him So much doe we love God and Christ as wee hate sinne Wee ought therfore to take great heed that wee be not favourers thereof lest wee be found enemies to God and traitours to Christ We can no otherwise live to God but by c 1 Cor. 15.31 Rom. 6.8.11 dying to sin If Christ bee d Rom. 8.10.11 in us then is sinne dead in us and if the spirit of God be in us which raised Christ from death to life so shall the same spirit raise us to the Resurrection of everlasting life e Rom. 6.16 But if sinne rule and raigne in us then is God which is the fountaine of all grace and vertue f Ier. 6.8 departed from us then hath the Devill and his vngratious spirit g 2 Pet 2.19 rule and dominion in us And surely if in such miserable h Eccles. 11. â—â— Heb. 9.27 state wee dye we shall not rise to life but fall downe to death and damnation and that without end David therefore saith Ye that love the Lord i Ps 97.10 Ps 119.104 hate evill CHAP. 96. Of the sinne against the Holy Ghost IN the first part of the * T. 2. p. 261. Homily of repentance it is said But of the finall falling away from Christ his Gospell which is a sinne against the Holy Ghost that shall never bee forgiven because that they doe k Heb. 10.26 utterly forsake the knowne truth doe l Cor. 16.22 hate Christ and his m Ioh. 8.47 word they doe n Heb. 6.6 crucifie and o Heb. 10.29 mocke him but to their utter destruction and therefore fall into desperation and cannot repent In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 150. Homily of certaine places of Scripture it is said concerning three sorts of people whose company the Prophet David would to be shunned by every one that would be blessed The third sort the Prophet calls p Ps 1.1 scorners that is a sort of men whose hearts are so stuffed with malice that they are not contented to dwell in sinne and to lead their lives in all kind of wickednesse but also they doe q 2 Tim. 3.3 Prov. 29.27 contemne and scorne in other all godlinesse true religion all honesty and vertue Of this sort I thinke I may without danger of Gods judgemeÌ„t pronounce that never any yet converted unto God by repentance but continued still in their abominable wickednesse r Rom. 2.5 2 Tim. 3.8.13 heaping up to themselves damnation against the day of Gods inevitable judgements What sinne against the Holy Ghost is it may the better appeare by considering first what is sinne against God the Father and what is sinne against God the Sonne Sinne against God the Father is all transgression committed whiles one is in the first s Luk. 15.18.24 Eph. 2.1 death of trespasses and sinnes and in minde is t Eph. 5.14 asleepe not attending unto the gracious call of God the Father nor following his profered u Ioh. 6.44 Hos 11.4 Ier. 31.3 drawing or leading unto repentance Sinne also is said to be against God the Father which is coÌ„mitted through humane w 1. Ioh. 2.12 weakenesse and frailty And sinne against God the Sonne is the speaking of a word against the x Mat. 12.31.32 sonne of man Iesus Christ which sinne Saul afterward called Paul committed y 1 Tim. 1.13.16 ignorantly in unbeleife Yea and Peters z Luke 22.56 c. deniall of Christ for a time appeareth to bee a sinne of that nature Also when one is a disciple of Christs Gospell and through meere ignorance or the like infirmity offendeth against Christ as Peter did when hee said unto Christ Bee it a Mat 16.22 farre from thee Lord This shall not bee unto thee meaning the suffering which Christ signified that hee should endure All sinne committed against God the Father is b Rom. 3.25 forgiven through his great mercy in Iesus Christ c Ezech. 18.21 22. when one repenteth for the sinne All sinne committed against God the Sonne is forgiven for his d 1 Ioh. 2.12 Eph 4 32. names sake unto such as e 1 Tim. 6.12 Rev. 2.10.11 fight the good fight of faith and truly endeavour to lay hold on eternall life Now concerning sinne against the Holy Ghost it is either committed by such as have beene made partakers of the Holy Ghost of whom S. Paul saith to the Hebrewes That it is impossible for those who where once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made f Heb. 6.4.5.6.7.8 partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come being * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hieronymus vertit Prolapsi sunt Syrus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui rursum peccaverunt id est a justitia deficientes certamalitia in omne peccatum projecti sunt c Iunius fallen away to renew them againe to repentance seeing they crucifie to themselves the Sonne of God afresh and put him to an open shame For the earth which drinketh in the raine that commeth oft upon it and bringeth forth hearbes meete for them by whom it
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
for mercie in vaine if we will not shew mercy to our neighbours For if wee will not put wrath and displeasure forth of our hearts to our Christian brother no more will God forgive the displeasure and wrath that our sinnes have deserved afore him For under this condition doth God forgive us if we forgive other It becommeth not Christian men to bee hard one to another nor yet to thinke their neighbour unworthy to be forgiven For howsoever unworthy he is yet is Christ worthy to have thee to do thus much for his sake he hath deserved it of thee that thou shouldest forgive thy neighbour And God is also to bee obeyed which commandeth us to forgive if we will have any part of the pardon which our Saviour Christ purchased once of God the Father by shedding of his precious blood And * P. 180. afterward it is said He which hateth his brother abideth in death even in the danger of everlasting death and is moreover the child of damnation and of the divell cursed of God and hated so long as hee so remaineth of God and all his heavenly company For as peace and charity doth make us the blessed children of Almighty God so doth hatred and envie make us the cursed children of the Divell In he second part of the * P. 216. Homile for Whitsunday it is said Ye shall briefly take this short lesson Wheresoever yee finde the spirit of arrogancie and pride the spirit of envie hatred contention cruellie murder extortion witchcraft necormaniec c. assure your selves that there is the spirit of the Devill and not of God albeit they pretend outwardly to the world never so much holinesse For as the Gospell teacheth us the spirit of the Iesus is a good spirit and Holy spirit a sweet spirit a lowly spirit a mercifull spirit full of charity and loue full of forgivenesse and pitty not rendring evill for evill extremity for extremity but overcomming evill with good and remitting all offence even from the heart According to which rule if a man live uprightly of him it may be safely pronounced that hee that the Holy Ghost with hin him If not then it is a plaine taken that he doth usurpe the name of the Holy Ghost in vaine Christ teacheth us thus to pray w Mat. 6.12 Forgive us our trespasses as wee forgive them that trespasse against us And he addeth For if ye x Mat 6.14 15 forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses In the Parable it is said O thou wicked servant I forgave thee all that debt because thou desiredst mee shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant even as I had pity on thee and his Lord was wroth and delivered him to the Tormentors till he should pay all that was due unto him So likewise shall my heavenly Father doe also unto you if ye from your hearts y Mat. 18.32 33 34 35. forgive not every one his brother their trespasses Saint Iames saith z Iam. 2.13 Hee shall have judgement without mercy that hath shewed no mercy The Lord also saith Take heed to your selves If thy brother trespasse against thee rebuke him if he repent forgiven him And if he trepasse against thee seven times in a day and seven times in a day turne againe to thee saying I repent thou shalt a Luke 17.3 4 forgive him Memorable is the instruction in Ecclesiasticus he that revengeth shall finde vengeance from the Lord and hee will surely keepe his sinne in remembrance b Ecclus. 28. â—â— 2 3 4 5 6 7. Forgive thy neighbor the hurt that he hath done unto thee so shall thy sinnes also be forgiven when thou prayest One man beareth hatred against another and doth he seeke pardon from the Lord He sheweth no mercy to a man which is like himselfe and doth he aske forgivenesse of his owne sinnes Remember thy end and let enmity cease remember corruption and death and abide in the Commandements Remember the Commandements and beare no malice to thy neighbour remember the Covenant of the Highest and winke at ignorance Some will say they can forgive but not forget But in so doing they doe not well Saint Paul saith be yee kinde one to another tender hearted c Eph. 4.32 forgiving one another even as God for Christs-sake hath forgiven you Be ye therefore d Eph. 5.1 sollowers of God as deare Children and walke in love Micah speaking of Gods mercy to his penitent and obedient people saith Thou wilt e Micah 7 18 19. cast all their sinnes into the depths of the Sea And that we like unto God ought to forget aswell as to forgive our neighbours trespasses against us it may appeare out of that doctrine in the Meeter of the Psalmes where it is said in Psal 103.8 9. The Lord is kinde and mercifull when sinners doe him grieve The slowest to conceive a wrath and readiest to forgive He chides not us continually though we be full of strife Nor keepes our faults in memory for all our sinfull life CHAP. 89. Of examining and judging our owne selves IN the Divine Service for the Communion it is to be said by the Curate unto the people namely in the second Exhortation My duty is to exhort you to consider the dignity of the holy mysterie and the great perill of the unworthy receiving thereof and to search and examine your owne consciences as you should come holy and cleane to a most godly and heavenly feast c. The way and meanes thereto is first to examine your lives and coÌ„versation by the rule of Gods Commandements and wherin soever ye shall perceive your selves to have offended either by will word or deed there to bewaile your owne sinfull lives and confesse your selves to Almighty God with full purpose of amendment of life In the Exhortation of the Visitation-Service it is said also unto us most Divinely to this matter Forasmuch as after this life there is account to be given unto the righteous Iudge of whom all must be judged without respect of persons I require you to examine your selfe and your state both toward God and man so that accusing and condemning your selfe for your own faults you may finde mercy at our heavenly Fathers hand for Christs sake and not be accused and condemned in that fearefull judgement In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 204 205. Homily concerning the Sacrament it is said Let us all universall and singular behold our owne manners and lives to amend them Yea now at the least let us call our selves to an accompt that it may grieve us of our former evill conversation that we may hate sinne that we may sorrow and mourne for our offences that wee may with f Zechar. 12.10 11. Ioel 2.12 Ps 126 5 6. teares powre them out before God