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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A03639 A sermon preached before the Kinges Maiestie, by I. Hopkins, one of his highnesse chaplaines Hopkins, John, fl. 1604-1609. 1604 (1604) STC 13767; ESTC S116562 17,384 47

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separated from Christ if that might haue gained the conuertion of the Iewes his brethren But surely this care for the Church is now so rare that we may iustly complaine with the Apostle Phil. 2.21 All men seeke their owne no man that which is Iesus Christes How many are there that could well be content that Churches were turned to rubbish so as out of them they might builde them selues glorious houses that they might fatte the bodyes of their posteritie though with the staruing of thousand of soules But the time will not suffer me to dwell vpon this poynt The beautie of the Church generally considered is twofold the first is inward and that is perfect beautie of which Saint Paul speaketh in the first Chapter to the Ephesians Christ hath sanctified and clensed it by the washing of water through the worde that he might make it to himselfe a glorious Church not hauing spotte or blemish c. Of this beautie mention is made in the 45. Psalm The Kinges daughter is all glorious within And this is the beautie spoken of in the 16. of Ezechiel Thou wast perfect through my beautie that I had put vpon thee Also the Church saith Cant. 1. though externally shee seeme many times like the tentes of Kedar shee is in deede meaning inwardly like Salomons Tapistrie The other beautie of the Church is externall and this was figured by the glory of the Tabernacle first and of the Temple afterwarde where all those Ceremoniall ordinances were set out to the eye in most glorious show the Mercie-seate the Arke the Table with Shew-bread the Candlestickes with lightes the Lauer the siluer Trumpets the Alters for Incense and Sacrifices themselues the glorious garmentes of Aaron and such like by which thinges were then represented in figure that which afterward was really performed as the sacrifice righteousnesse and mediation of Christ the perpetuall vse of the ministerie in the Church for the preseruation of sound droctrine and administration of the Sacramentes the dayly vse of publique prayer with a perpetual conseruation of these orders by a godly religious gouernment This externall beautie among other places is most excellently set out in the 4. Chap. of Salomons song where the eyes of the Church signifying her knowledge in heauenly thinges are compared to Doues eyes fayre for their excellencie chaste for their puritie being not corrupted with vncleannesse of mens traditions her haire like a flocke of Goates on mount Gilead signifying the populous assemblies of the faythfull to the worship of God Her teeth like a flocke of Sheepe in good order comming from the washing euery one bringing twins meaning the Ministers and Pastors of the church likened to the teeth because they breake the bread of life to the Church orderly in the course of their ministerie washed in godlines of conuersation and fruitfull in winning soules vnto Christ Her lippes like a threed of Scarlet meaning thereby the publique profession of religion by the Church when the mouth confesseth vnto saluation speaking such things as may minister grace to the hearers Her neeke as the Tower of Dauid a thousand Shildes hanging in it meaning the gouernment of the Church by which those excellent thinges of the ministerie profession are supported and preserued in puritie And lastly her two breasts meaning thereby the sound doctrine of trueth gathered out of the two Testamentes the olde and the new But what shall we need to seeke further then this decree of Artashashte vnto which this thankesgiuing hath relation to vnderstand what is the adorning beautifying of the Church Wherein is first contained libertie for Gods people to professe true religion in his Church next gouernours stablished for the Church thirdly maintenance for the Church fourthly the sacrifices according to the law Then all ornaments for the ceremoniall worship and whatsoeuer by the commaundement of God ought to be established Freedome of taxation for the Priestes and Leuites A speciall commaundement for the teaching and instruction of the people So that nothing can be desired for the beautifying of the Church but is here either generally comprehended or particularly expressed And this is that that maketh the Church beautifull as Tirza faire as the Moone cleere as the Sunne and tirrible as an Armie with Banners when these holy orders are thus established This is that holy beautie of the publique assemblies mentioned in the 110. Psalme This is that beautie which Dauid calleth the beautie of the Lord Psal 27. where he sayth One thing haue I desired of the Lord that I will require euen that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the Beautie of the Lord and to visit the Temple For it was not the outward ornamentes of the Tabernacle that drew his affection but those things that were by them represented and figured So that the beautie of the Church is then most cleere and glorious when the reuerend Bishops gouerne carefully and preach faythfully who are therefore worthy of double honoure the Pastors vigilant to watch ouer their flocke teaching in season out of season Actes 20. publice et per singulas domos openly and through euery house When the Saboathes are sanctifyed with the morning and euening sacrifyce of prayer and preaching where the whole congregations as one man assemble to worship the Lord where the Sacramentes are duely ministred and the people prepared to them by Catechizing and exhortations so that holy thinges are not giuen to dogges and where a carefull gouernment keepes all these in good order Vnto all which the example of Christain Princes being added is as a rich iewell in the attire of Christes spouse when like Dauid they thinke it no disgrace themselues to entertaine the Lordes Arke to keepe his Sabaoths and frequent holy assemblies as to our great comfort we see at this day who in deed as they haue receiued most of God should be most forwarde to doe him seruice This giues honour to God comfort to his children encouragement to his ministers and iust disgrace to all contemners There are many otherwise affected touching this poynt of beautifying the Church as if these things before mentioned were not sufficient to adorne the same For the Schismaticall separation of the Brownists is so farre from beeing content heerewith that they accompt all christian congregations prophane Synagogues because they be not framed by the modell of their fancies Another sort vnder pretence of reformation would haue the dignities in the Church taken away spoyling her of all such endowmentes and patrimonies as haue been bestowed vpon her by deuout progenitors that they might sacriligiously diuide amongst them her spoyles as the Souldiers did the garments of Christ A third sort pretending the faire colour of quiet and contentment affirme that it would adde much to the beautie of the Church if a tolleration of a false worship of God were allowed then which nothing could more pollute the Sanctuarie of the Lord. 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