Christ For it is written As I liue saith the Lord euery knee shall bow to me and euery tongue shall confesse vnto God So then euery one of vs shall giue account of himselfe to God And to the Saints of Corinth he said c 2 Cor. 5.10 11. Wee must all appeare before the iudgement seat of Christ that euery one may receiue the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord wee perswade men And vnto Timothy Saint Paul said d 2. Tim. 4.1 I charge thee before God and the Lord Iesus Christ who shall iudge the quicke and the dead at his appearing and his kingdome c. Himselfe hath also said The Sonne of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels and then shall he e Mat. 16.27 reward euery man according to his workes Againe f Mat. 25.31 32.33.40 When the Sonne of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall hee sit vpon the throne of his glory And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepheard diuideth the Sheepe from the Goates and he shall set the Sheepe on his right hand but the Goates on the left c. And these shall goe away into euerlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternall Saint Paul saith to the Thessalonians g 2 Thâ— 1.7.8.9 The Lord Iesus shall be reuealed from heauen with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ who shall be punished with euerlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Wherefore sayth Saint Peter h 1 Pet. 1.17 If yee call on the Father who without respect of persons iudgeth according to euery mans worke passe the time of your soiourning here with feare And sayth the Apostle to the Hebrewes i Heb. 1228.29 wherefore we receiuing a kingdome which cannot bee moued let vs haue grace whereby we may serue God acceptably with reuerence and godly feare For our God is a consuming fire The which Apostle also sayd k Heb. 10.30.31 The Lord shall iudge his people And it is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God CHAP. 32. Of the Church of Christ IN the Nicene Creed we are taught to beleeue and confesse one Catholicke and Apostolike Church In the second part of the * Tom. 2. p. 213 Homily for Whitsunday the Church of Christ is thus described The true Church is an vniuersall congregation or fellowship of Gods faithfull and elect people l Eph. 2.20 built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe being the head corner stone And it hath alwayes three notes or markes whereby it is knowne Pure and sound doctrine The Sacraments ministred according to Christs holy institution and the right vse of Ecclesiasticall discipline This description of the Church is agreeable both to the Scriptures of God and also to the doctrine of the ancient Fathers so that none may iustly finde fault therewith Saint Paul sayth to the Romanes concerning the mysticall vnion of the Church m Rom. 12.4 5. As we haue many members in one body and all members haue not the same office so we being many are one body in Christ and euery one members one of another And to the Corinthians he sayth n 1. Cor. 12.12 As the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ That they are faithfull people or true beleeuers in Iesus Christ it appeareth in that they are called the o Gal 6.10 houshold of faith Also they are faithfull vnto God as it may appeare out of Saint Pauls words to the Ephesians saying Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ by the will of God to the Saints which are at Ephesus and to the p Eph. 1.1 faithfull in Iesus Christ Likewise to the Collossians hee sayth To the Saints and q Col. 1.2 faithfull brethren in Christ which are at Colosse They are also faithfull each to other and faithfull towards all people as it is sayd vnto seruants concerning maisters Let them not despise them because they are brethren but rather doe them seruice because they are r 1. Tim 6.2 faithfull c. Siluanus a member of the Church of Christ is sayd to be a Å¿ 1. Pet. 5.12 faithfull brother vnto those to whom Saint Peter wrote So Saint Iohn testified of Gaius saying Beloued thou doest t 3. Iohn 5. faithfully whatsoeuer thou doest to the brethren and vnto straungers So Saint Peter shewing the dealing of the true members of Christ and how they to whom he wrote were to behaue themselues among the vnbeleeuers sayth u 1. Pet. 2.12 Hauing your conuersation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speake against you as euill doers they may by your good workes which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation So Saint Paul to the Thessalonians prescribeth w 1 Thes 5.15 Euer follow that which is good both among your selues and to all men They are also elected of God as Saint Peter sayth x â— Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirite vnto obedience and sprinkling of the bloud of Iesus Christ Likewise Saint Paul to the Thessalonians signifieth saying y 2 Thes 2.13 God hath from the beginning chosen you to saluation through sanctification of the Spirit and beleefe of the truth And to the Ephesians he sayth z Eph. 1.4 He hath chosen vs in him from before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue The Church also professeth pure and sound doctrine as Christ signifieth saying a Ioh. 10.27 My sheepe heare my voyce and I know them and they follow me Againe b Ioh. 8.47 He that is of God heareth Gods word Saint Iohn sayth c 1 Ioh. 4.6 He that knoweth God heareth vs. Saint Luke recordeth of the Christians d Acts 2.42 That they continued stedfast in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers St. Paul sayth to Timothy e 1 Tim 3 15. That the house of God which is the Church of the liuing God is the pillar and ground of the truth Moreouer the Church of Christ hath the Sacraments ministred according to his holy institution as the Church of Corinth receiued f 1 Cor. 1.14.16 Baptisme and celebrated the g 1 Cor. 11.2.20 Lords Supper In the Acts of the Apostles it is sundry times mentioned that when any beleeued they were h Acts 8.12 Baptized Also it is recorded that the Disciples or Baptized ones j came together to
able to make the like vnlesse by some measure of speciall illumination from Gods Holy Spirit as many vnderstanding ones do now thinke yea and affirme And if the Heauen mentioned in the Booke of the Reuelation which is commaunded or exhorted to q Acts 18.20 reioyce ouer Babylon fallen be the reformed Church of Christ as some do expound it Is it not probable that the Apostles which are there willed to reioyce with that Heauen are the Archbishops and Bishops therein and * By putting part or the chiefe for the whole or all figuratiuely the rest of the Clergie thereof And that the Prophets there willed also to reioyce are all such as then receiued a speciall enlightening from Almighty God vnto the setting forward of the reformation and among them more especially such as were composers of the aforenamed bookes of the sacred Liturgy of the Church of England CHAP. 39. Of Lordship which Archbishops and Bishops haue IT is written that Å¿ Heb. 7.1.2 Melchisedec Priest of the high God was withall King of Salem or Ierusalem Abraham was a t Gen. 20.7 Prophet and withall a man of great u Gen. 14.14 15 temporall power Moses was a w Deut. 34.10 prophet and withall the supreme x Acts 7 35. Num. 26.16.17 Gouernour of the people of Israel vnder Almighty God He is called a King Deut. 33.5 Iethro was y Exod. 3.1 Priest of Midian and according to some interpretation he was z Exod. 2.16 in the Margent Sicautem Caldaeus Paraphrastes vertit viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prince of Midian Eli was Priest and also a 1. Sam. 4.18 Iudge ouer Israel Samuel was a b Acts 13.20 Prophet and also c 1 Sam. 7.6 Iudge ouer Israel Dauid was a d Mat 27 35. Prophet and King also Solomon was a e Eccles 1.1 Preacher and a King also Simon was f Ecclus. 50.1 high Priest and g 1. Mac. 13.42 1. Mac. 14.47 Captaine and Gouernour of the Priests and Iewes and defender of them all If then some of the Ministery haue bin the supreme Gouernours in Nations may they not now be Gouernours if the Royall Maiestie so ordaine them Saint Iude calleth those persons h Iude 18. filthy dreamers which doe despise dominion and speake euill of dignities CHAP. 24. Of the Liturgie or Diuine Seruice of the Church in generall IN the second part of the * Tom. 2. p. 6. Homily concerning the right vse of the Church the publike Seruice of the Lord is sayd to be The teaching and hearing of his Holy Word the calling vpon his holy Name the giuing thankes vnto him for his great and innumerable benefits and the due ministring of the Sacraments In the * T. 2. p. 138. Homily of Common Prayer and Sacraments it is sayd That Basilius Magnus and Iohannes Chrysostomus did in their time prescribe publike orders of publike administration which they call Liturgies and in them they appointed the people to answere vnto the prayer of the Minister sometime Amen sometime Lord haue mercy vpon vs sometime And with thy Spirit and We haue our hearts lifted vp vnto the Lord c. In the same * To. 2. p. 134. Homily it is also sayd By the histories of the Bible it appeareth that publike and common Prayer is most auaileable before God and therefore is much to be lamented that it is no better * Euen shortly after that the Diuine Seruice was set foorth the Diuell wrought in many people a more and more neglecting of it esteemed among vs which professe to be but one body in Christ It is said in the Preface before the Common Prayer That the first original and ground of the diuine Seruice of a man would search out by the ancient Fathers he shall finde that the same was not ordained but of a good purpose and for a great aduancement of godlinesse c. Saint Paul sayd vnto Timothy i 1. Tim. 2.1.2.3 I exhort that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giuing of thankes be made for all men for Kings and for all that are in authority that we may leade a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Sauiour Moses from the Lord prescribed vnto Aaron and vnto his sonnes a forme of blessing the people saying k Num. 6.23.24.25.26 On this wise yee shall blesse the children of Israel saying vnto them The Lord blesse thee and keepe the The Lord make his face shine vpon thee and be gracious vnto thee The Lord lift vp his countenance vpon thee and giue thee peace It is very considerable hereto that which is written of King Hezekiah in the booke of Chronicles That he and the Princes commanded the Leuites to sing praise vnto the Lord l 2. Chro. 29.30 with the words of Dauid and of * With the wordes also which Asaph deliuered which were as a Forme of praise or of praising God Asaph the Seer My sonne sayth m Pro. 1.8.9 Solomon heare the instruction of thy Father and forsake not the lawe of thy Mother For they shall be an ornament of grace vnto thine head and chaines about thy necke Solomon repeateth this precept of God to the ende wee may take it all vnto heart as a matter most greatly concerning vs. n Pro 6.21 22.23 My sonne keepe thy Fathers commandement and forsake not the law of thy Mother Binde them continually vpon thine heart and tye them about thy necke For the commandement is a Lampe and the law is light o Haeresi septua gesima qâ—inta contra Aâ—â—â—um de quâ—busâ—am traditionibus loquens Ecclesia inquit necessariò hoc persâ—eâ—â— traditione à patribus accepta Quis autem poterit statutum nâ—atâ—â—s dissoluâ—re aut legem patris velut Solomon dicit Audi fili sermonem patris tui ne repud es statuta matris tuae ostendens per hoc quòd in scriptis sine scripto dacuit pater hoc est Deus vnigenâ—tus spiritus sancius Mater autem nosira Ecclesia babet statuta in se posita indissolâ—â—bil a quae dâ—solui non possunt Epiphanius an ancient holy Father vnderstandeth by the word mother in this Scripture to be meant the Church who hath besides the holy Scriptures the Commandement of God our Father a distinct law teaching or instruction the which all her members are bound to obserue most diligently by vertue of this charge thereto giuen by God through the ministery of Solomon The Christian Church is our mother if God bee our Father as it is written Ierusalem which is aboue is free which is the p Gal. 4.26 mother of vs all God ordinarily begetteth none without his Church but in the q Psal 110.3 wombe of his Church they are conceiued thence they come to the r Isa 66.8.9 birth they Å¿ Isa 66.11.12
the uniformity of Common prayer set in the beginning thereof testifieth Also every one which entreth into the Ministery of the Church of England first subscribeth That the booke of Common prayer containeth in it nothing contrary to the Word of God and that it may lawfully so bee used and that hee himselfe will use the forme in the said booke prescribed in Publike prayer and administration of the Sacraments and none other As it is in Canon 36. That the booke of ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons is likewise ratified the six and thirtieth Article of the Religion established declareth saying The Book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops and ordering of Priests and Deacons lately set forth in the time of Edward the sixt and confirmed at the same time by Authority of Parliament doth containe all things necessarie to such Consecration and ordering neither hath it any thing that of it selfe is superstitious and ungodly And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to the Rites of that booke since the second yeare of the aforenamed King Edward unto this time or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same Rites we decree all such to be rightly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered That both the bookes of Homilies now printed in one Volume and distinguished into two Tomes are approved by the whole Clergy it is manifest by every ones subscription unto the third Article to be subscribed unto afore receiving any order or degree in the ministery whereof the words are That he alloweth the book of Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Archbishops In Canon 36. and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergie in the Convocation holden at London in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand five hundred sixtie and two and that he acknowledgeth all and every the Articles therein contained being in number nine and thirty besides the Ratification to be agreeable to the Word of God And in the five and thirtieth Article therof it is said The second booke of Homilies the severall titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth containe a godly and wholesome Doctrine and necessary for these times as doth the former booke of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the sixt and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may bee understanded of the people The Eleventh Article concerning the justification of man referreth unto the Homily of Iustification wherein the most wholesome Doctrine thereof and very full of comfort is more largly expressed In the booke of Common Prayer in the Rubrick after the Nicene Creed the Homilies are mentioned It is required that the booke of Homilies be in every Church Canon 80. And Canon 49 requireth Ministers not allowed Preachers to reade the said Homilies For the confirmation of be true saith and for thâ—â—â—â—d â—â—strâ—â—lâ—â— and 〈◊〉 disication of the people The great authority of the Homilies may also appeare out of the Titles of both Tomes of them The Title of the first Tome is Certaine Sermons or Homilies appointed to bee read in Churches in the time of the late Queene Elizabeth of famous memory And now thought fit to be reprinted by Authority from the Kings most Excellent Majesty The Title of the second is The second Tome of Homilies of such matters as were promised and entituled in the former part of Homilies set out by the Authority of the late Queenes Majesty and to be read in every Parish Church agreeably There are no writings of any Author whatsoever whereunto the Church ascribeth so much authority as to the Bookes of Divine Service having ordained them only together with the holy Scriptures to bee publikely read in every congregation of the Land Now some will say It appeareth by these relatings that great is the respect which we owe unto the said bookes of the Church but yet we are to receive no delivery in them but what we know agreeth with the Word of God In which saying of many of these times there is contained a greater defect than all doe observe therein For first by so saying they attribute not such authority as is due unto the Church their Mother they duely acknowledge not her loyalty unto Christ her Head S. Paul propoundeth the Church her fidelity or faithfull obeience to be a patterne for imitation where he saith As the Church is subject unto Christ Eph. 5.24 so let the wives bee to their owne husbands in every thing Put case that in that her fundamentall Doctrine there were some deliveries not in all respects so perfect as are the Scriptures of God our Father yet it is against her loving nature and prudence to propound unto us any matter for our hurt Yea what we suppose to be imperfect wee may make that use thereof for which it was by her intended and be much benefited thereby Secondly by that their limitation they imply that they have an ability to judge the understanding and wisdome of their mother And if they bee demanded whence they have received so great an extraordinary abilitie as to judge of their mother the Church her knowledge and Doctrine The common answer is by their reading the holy Scriptures They not seriously considering what is written in them also Acts 8.30 31. That how can one reading the holy Scriptures understand them except some man guide him Malachi 2.7 And that the Priests lips is to keepe knowledge and the people is to seeke the Law at his mouth The Clergie of the Church is to teach the common people of the same The lay people in their understanding and applying the Scriptures are to be guided by the Priesthood or Clergy And before it hath beene declared that the universall Clergy with one mouth and consent have borne witnesse That there is not any thing in the Booke of Common Prayer which is contrary to the Word of God And that the booke of Homilies doth containe a godly and wholesome Doctrine and necessary for these times to bee understanded of the people Seeing then all the guides in the Church all the ordained keepers of knowledge all such from whom the people are appointed to seeke the Law or spirituall instruction and teaching doe testifie together the truth and profitablenesse of the bookes of the Divine Service can any one justly accept against any deliverie in them unlesse he doe assume unto himselfe for to outsee the whole Clergy of the Church of England The Lord Iesus Christ hath so greatly confirmed the authority of his Church that he hath said Mat. 18.17 Whoso neglecteth to heare the Church let him or her be unto his people as an Heathen and a Publicane Wherefore it is our bounden duty most diligently to heare read and meditate on every particular delivery in those fundamentall bookes composed by the perfectest wisdome of the Church our mother and to frame our mindes and lives according to every prescription
in the same which doth in any wise concerne us And we thus honouring the Church our spirituall Mother God our heavenly Father will give us his blessing Hee will send us light in our understanding readinesse and obedience in our will discretion in our words and actions true serious and loyall indeavours As wee are taught to pray for in the latter part of the Prayet next after the Letany in the late Fast Booke for the peace and prosperity of Ierusalem the unity and glory of this Church State That so we may love it and prosper in it full of grace in this life and be filled with glorie in the life to come through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An Advertisement SInce the a 2 Tim. 3.1.2.3.4 time that b Isa 5.21 Wisedome in ones owne eyes and prudence in ones owne sight hath so much abounded it is familiar with very many when they see or heare any thing delivered concerning religion if it be a matter which they affect not presently to passe an hard censure thereon though the deliverie be the very established doctrine or discipline of the Apostolicall Church of England by Law established under the Kings Majesty The c Rom. 3.13.14 Ps 140.3 poyson of aspes is under the lips of many Who say with our d Ps 14.4.3 tongue will we prevaile our lips are our owne who is Lord over us The holy Prophet saith The Lord shall cut off the tongue that speaketh proud things The holy Apostle saith e 1 Tim. 3.16 Without controversie great is the mysterie of godlinesse And though the men of God have signified that the Holy Scriptures divinity is partly f Heb. 5.12 milke for babes or little children in g 1 Cor. 1.3 Christ partly h Heb. 5.14 strong meate for the i 1 Ioh. 2.13.14 young men and partly hidden k Rev. 2.17 Manna for the fathers in God also that naturall ones l 1 Cor. 2.14 cannot know the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned yet notwithstanding so outragious is the pride and arrogancie of many who since they came to the yeares of discretion have made no progresse in regeneration or the new birth unto the m Rom. 2.2 renewing of their mind and the amendment of their n Philip. 1.27 1 Pet. 2.12 1 Pet. 1.15 Eph. 4.22 conversation according to Gods Holy word that rashly they o 2 Pet. 2.12 will speake evill of the things which they understand not and as the Apostle saith p 1 Tim. 1.7 desire to be teachers understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirme Moreover how contrary minded soever each is to other yea how greatly different they are from the minde and life prescribed in the Divine Service of the Church whom some of them sometimes will acknowledge to be their Mother Yet each one taketh for granted that the grounds in his q Prov. 21.2 Prov. 12.15 owne minde are the right and that the grounds in all r Philip. 2.3 others mindes in any manner differing from his are the wrong and withall every one for the most part of the aforesaid unhumbled heart by his owne imagined-right groundes without any feare of the Eternall Almighty God and without any reverence unto the Supreame divine Wisedome of Christs holy Church contained in the bookes of her publike worship will s 2 Pet 2.10 presume to be able to judge of yea will assume confidence and boldnesse or rather most damnable audaciousnesse to condemne deliveries in the aforesaid bookes which the Soveraigne Majesty hath ratified and the most reverend Fathers the Archbishops and all the right reverend fathers the Bishops and the rest of the whole Clergie not any one excepted Quod medicorâ—m est promittunt â—ediâ—â— tractant Faâ—â—ilia fabri Sola Scripturarum ars est quam siâ—i passâ—â— omnes vendicant Hanc garrula anus hanc delirus seneâ— have Sophisia verâ—â—sus haâ— universi praesumant laceraâ—â— docent antequam discant Hierâ—nymus in epissola aâ—â— Pauâ—aum presbyterum de omâ—bus divine hâ—storia libris which hath entred into holy orders according to such manner and sort as by the Ecclesiasticall Law it is appointed have allowed and by subscription have witnessed the same But let the unpartiall reader of this treatise following where doubt about any matter may arise throughly consider the Holy Scriptures which either are expressed or in the margent but quoted for the confirmation of the point mentioned And let none except here against because the deliveries are in no Philosophicall method but in the most vulgar plainnes for all hereof is written for the furtherance of the laity and aswell in termes as in forme and manner accommodated unto the meanest capacity All teachers which study to edifie their auditory doe well know that it is farre easier to expresse their mindes in divine matters so as the learned may comprehend than as the unlearned may but a litle apprehend It is written concerning Christ for our example that t Mark 4.33 hee spake the word unto the people as they were able to heare it There are now extant in English sundry bookes very profitable which few of the common people doe make use of for that their style and words for the most or a great part are for Schollers reading onely Great was the divine Wisedome of the Church in setting forth her Homilies in so familiar a manner And by those most sacred Sermons all Pastours and teachers should take u 2 Tim. 1.13 example how to frame their meditations unto their auditories easiest and speediest edification Furthermore let none expect to finde any common place of divinity here fully handled but let this worke be accounted only an introduction into the bookes of the divine Service where as in an Ocean of divine truth there may bee had a great abundance of information both touching he matters ensuing and also concerning many more This book may be used as a finger of one that pointeth us unto such places as we have not throughly taken notice of afore Also the godly reader shall perceive that every one which w Mat. 5.6 hungreth and thristeth after righteousnesse to have within him more and more the x Phil. 2.5 1 Cor. 2.16 minde of Christ and to have the life of Iesus more and more made y 2 Cor. 4.10 11. manifest in his body may forth of every Chapter following receive some light unto the apprehending of everlasting truth in the matter there treated on Lastly Seeing that in the bookes of divine Service there are such heavenly sentences and speeches even as the learned are delighted in reciting the sayings of the Fathers of the Greeke Latine Churches so should wee unto z Exod. 20.12 1 Cor. 4.15 Ecclus. or Ecclesiasticus 8.8.9 due honouring of the Fathers of our owne English Church enable our selves to say on every point of divinity that which they have with one
the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost without any difference or inequality CHAP. 3. Of God the Father IN the third part of the * 2 To. p. 40. Homily against perill of Idolatry it is sayd Deus est spiritus â—aturà simplex lux in accessibilis c Augustinus initio lib. quaest vet Noui Test ad Quaest quid sit Deus How can God a most pure Spirit whom neuer man saw be expressed by a grosse bodily and visible similitude How can the infinite Maiestie and greatnesse of God incomprehensible to mans minde much more not able to be compassed with the sense be expressed in a small and litle image That God in his Essence is Spirit Christ hath witnessed saying x Iohn 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth In the Nicene Creede it being sayd concerning God the Sonne That he is Light of Light we are taught that God the Father is the Light Eternall Saint Iohn sayth y 1 Iohn 1.5 God is Light and in him is no darkenesse at all In the first * 2 Tom. p. 179 Homily concerning the passion of Christ it is sayd Christ delighteth to enter and dwell in that soule where loue and charity ruleth and where peace and concord is seene For thus wrighteth Saint Iohn z 1 Iohn 4.8.16 God is Charity he that abideth in charity abideth in God and God in him Which to be spoken of God the Father also it appeareth out of the Words afore that Text where Saint Iohn sayth We haue seene and do testifie that the a 1 Iohn 4.14.15 Father sent the Sonne to bee the Sauiour of the World And we haue knowne and beleeued the loue that God hath vnto vs c. Also of b Rom. 11.36 Not si quis roget quodnaÌ„ sit quod colamus atque adoremus promptam est respondere quod sit Charitas Etenim vt à Spiritu Sancto pronunciatum est Deus noster Charitas est coque nomine magis quà m quovis alio delectatur Nazianzen Orat. 14. him and through him and to him are all things To whom be glory for euer Amen CHAP. 4. Of God the Sonne IN the Nicene Creed it is sayd I beleeue in one Lord IESVS CHRIST the onely begotten Sonne of God begotten of his Father before all worlds God of God Tertul libro contra Praxean capite octauo pretulit Deus Sermonent sicut radix fruticem et sol radium Et mox Quia omnis origo parent est et omne quod ex origine profertur progenies est Multo magis sermo Dei qui etiam proprie nomen silij accipit Nec frutex tameÌ„ à radice Nec fluvius à fonte nec radius a sole discernitur Sieut nec à Deo Sermo Light of Light very God of very God begotten not made being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made The which Saint Iohn testifieth saying c Iohn 1.1.9.3 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God He was the true Light which lighteth euery man that commeth into the world All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made In the third part of the * T. 2. pa. 228.229 Homily for Rogation weeke it is sayd concerning God the Sonne d Heb. 1.3 That he is the brightnesse of his Fathers glory and a very cleere Image and patterne of his substance It is there also sayd That Christ is the euerlasting Wisedome as in the booke of the Prouerbs it so of it selfe speakes saying I e Pâ—o. 8.12.22.23.30 Wisedome dwell with Prudence The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his workes of old I was set vp from euerlasting from the beginning or euer the earth was Then was I by him as one brought vp with him and I was dayly his delight rejoycing alwayes before him The eternall Sonne of God is signified in Genesis where it is sayd f Gen 19.24 The Lord rained upon Sodome and vpon Gomorrah Brimstone and fire from the Lord out of Heauen And likewise in the Psalme where Dauid sayth The g Psal 110.1 Lord sayd vnto my Lord sit thou at my right hand vntill I make thine enemies thy foote-stoole A saying of Iesus the sonne of Syrach is memorable hereto who in his prayer vttered these words h Eccles 51.10 I called vpon the Lord the Father of my Lord that he would not leaue me in the dayes of my trouble and in the time of the proud when there was no helpe Vnto God the Sonne it is sayd in the Scripture i Heb. 1.8.9 Thy throne O God is for euer and euer a Scepter of righteousnesse is the Scepter of thy Kingdome Thou hast loued righteousnesse and hated iniquity We are taught in the sacred Lyturgie most piously to say vnto God the Father k In Saint Ambrose his song The holy Church throughout all the World doth acknowledge thine honorable true and onely Sonne And vnto God the Sonne for to say Thou art the King of Glory O Christ Thou art the euerlasting Sonne of the Father CHAP. 5. Of God the Holy Ghost IN the first part of the * 2. To p. 207. Homily concerning the comming downe of the Holy Ghost it is sayd The Holy Ghost is a spirituall and diuine substance Opus est spiritu sancto ut piè dexterè loquamur de Trinitate per quem folum Deus intelligitur exponitur auditur Divus Nazianzenus oratione prima de fugae sua in Pontum the third person in the Deity distinct from the Father and the Sonne and yet proceeding from them both As for his proper nature and substance it is altogether one with God the Father and God the Sonne that is to say Spirituall Eternall Vncreated Incomprehensible Almighty he is God and Lord euerlasting Concerning the Holy Ghost Christ hath sayd to his Disciples l Ioh. 15.26 When the comforter is come whom I will send vnto you from the Father euen the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie of me That the Holy Ghost is God it is manifest out of St. Peters words vnto Ananias saying m Acts 5.3.4 Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lye vnto the Holy Ghost Thou hast not lyed vnto men but vnto God So where Saint Paul saith n 1. Cor. 12.4.5.6 Now there are diuersities of gifts but the same spirit And there are differences of administrations Spiritus Sanctus à patre procedit Qui quatenus ab illo procedit Creatura non est quatenus rursuÌ„ genitus non est filius non est quatenus autem inter ingenitum et genitum medius est Deus est D. Nazianzenus oratione 37. but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations but it is the same God which worketh all
Christ if thou follow not the steps of Christ In the first * Tom. 2. p. 180 Homily of the Passion most diuinely it is declared That it shall little auaile vs to haue in meditation the fruites and price of Christs passion to magnifie them and to delight or trust in them except we haue in minde his examples in passion to follow them If we thus therefore consider Christs death and will sticke thereto with fast faith for the merite and deseruing thereof and will also frame our selues in such wise to bestow our selues and all that we haue by charity to the behoofe of our neighbour as Christ spent himselfe wholly for our profit then doe wee truely remember Christs death and being thus followers of Christs steps we shall be sure to follow him thither where he now sitteth with the Father and the holy Ghost Likewise in the * Tom. 2. p. 196 Homily of the Resurrection it is sayd Let vs keepe our feast the whole terme of our life with eating the bread of purenesse of godly life and truth of Christs Doctrine Thus shall we declare that Christs gifts and graces haue their effect in vs and that we haue the right beleefe knowledg of his holy resurrection where truely if we apply our Faith to the vertue thereof in our life and conforme vs to the example and signification meant thereby we shall be sure to rise hereafter to euerlasting glory by the goodnesse and mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ And in the same * Pag. 191. Homily it is sayd Christ passed through death and hell to the intent to put vs in good hope that by his strength we shall doe the same In the Collect for Palme Sunday it is signified That Almighty God of his tender loue towards man sent our Sauiour Iesus Christ to take vpon him our flesh and to suffer death vpon the Crosse that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility In the Collect for the second Sunday after Easter it is sayd That Almighty God gaue his onely Sonne to be vnto vs both a sacrifice for sinne and an example of godly life In that most diuine exhortation in the commination Seruice it is sayd Let vs returne vnto our Lord God who is the mercifull receiuer of all true penitent sinners assuring our selues that he is ready to receiue vs and most willing to pardon vs if we come vnto him with faithfull repentance If we will submit our selues vnto him and from henceforth walke in his wayes If we will take his easie yoke and light burthen vpon vs to follow him in lowlinesse patience and charity and be ordered by the gouernance of his holy Spirit seeking alwayes his glory and seruing him duely in our vocation with thankesgiuing This if we doe Christ will deliuer vs from the curse of the Law and from the extreame malediction which shall light on them that shall bee set on his left hand c. The holy Apostle Paul in his Epistle to Titus sayth p Tit. 2.14 Iesus Christ gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquity and purisie vnto himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes Zacharias in his song sayd q That we being deliuered out of the hands of our enemies might serue him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life Saint Paul to the Romanes sayth r Rom. 8.3.4 What the Law could not doe in that it was weake through the flesh God sending his owne Sonne in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and * Or by a sacrifice for sinne as it is read in the margent for sinne condemned sinne in the flesh That the righteousnesse of the Lawe might bee fulfilled in vs who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit To the Corinthians he sayth Å¿ 2. Cor. 5.15 Christ died for all that they which liue should not hencefoorth liue vnto themselues but vnto him which died for them and rose againe To the Thessalonians he sayth t 1. Thes 5.9.10 God hath not appointed vs to wrath but to obtaine saluation by our Lord Iesus Christ who died for vs that whether we wake or sleepe we should liue together with him And Saint Peter sayth u 1. Pet. 1.24 Christ his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree that wee being dead vnto sinne should liue vnto righteousnesse Againe he sayth w 1. Pet. 2.21 Christ also suffered for vs leauing vs an example that we should follow his steps Further he sayth x 1. Pet. 4.1.2 Forasmuch as Christ hath suffered for vs in the flesh arme your selues likewise with the same minde for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sinne That he no longer should liue the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God p Luke 1.74.75 Who of ripe age partake of Christs merits Now who of ripe age partake of Christs merits these Scriptures following and sundry others doe declare y Iohn 14.15.21.23 If ye loue me sayth Christ keepe my Commaundements He that hath my Commaundements and keepeth them he it is that loueth me and he that loueth me shall be loued of my Father and I will loue him and will manifest my selfe vnto him Againe z Ioh 15.10 14. If yee keepe my Commaundements yee shall abide in my loue euen as I haue kept my Fathers commandements and abide in his loue And yee are my friends if yee doe whatsoeuer I commaund you Againe a Ioh. 8.31.32 If ye continue in my word then are yee my Disciples indeed and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free And to the Hebrewes the Apostle sayth b Heb. 3.14 We are made partakers of Christ If we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast vnto the end To the Romanes he sayth c Rom 6.5.8 If we haue bene planted together in the likenesse of his death we shall be also in the likenesse of his resurrection If we be dead with Christ we beleeue that we shall also liue with him Againe d Rom 8.11.13.14.17 If the Spirit of him that raysed vp Iesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised vp Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodies * Or because of his spirit that dwelleth in you as in the margent by the Spirit that dwelleth in you If ye liue after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall liue For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sonnes of God And if children then heires heires of God and ioynt heires with Christ If so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together In like manner sayth the Apostle to Timothy e 2. Tim. 2.11.12.13 It is a faithfull saying for if we be dead with him
we shall also liue with him If we suffer we shall also reigne with him If we deny him he also will deny vs. Saint Iohn sayth f 1. Iohn 1.7 If we walke in the light as he is in the light we haue fellowship one with another and the bloud of Iesus Christ his Sonne cleanseth vs from all sinne To the Hebrewes the Apostle sayth g Heb. 5.9 Christ is the Author of eternall saluation vnto all them that obey him And hereto may be added that saying of Dauid vnto Solomon h 1. Chro. 28.9 And thou Solomon my sonne know thou the God of thy father and serue him with a perfect heart and with a willing minde For the Lord searcheth all hearts and vnderstandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts if thou seeke him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for euer Of childrens partaking of Christs merits As concerning infants that they partake of the efficacie of Christs passion and oblation The Church in the first part of the * Tom. 1. p. 1â— Homily of saluation thus deliuereth Infants being baptized and dying in their infancie are by the sacrifice of Christ washed from their sinnes See chap. 51. following brought to Gods fauour and made his children and inheritors of his Kingdome of Heauen And now this point be concluded with the words of the Church in the second * T. 2 p. 168. Homily of the passion The Lord for his mercy sake graunt that we neuer forget the great benefit of our saluation in Iesus Christ but that we alwayes shew our selues thankfull for it abhorring all kind of wickednesse and sinne and applying our minds wholly to the seruice of God and the diligent keeping of his commandements CHAP. 27. Of Christs Priesthood IN the second part of the * T. 2. p. 116. Homily concerning Prayer it is sayd Christ sitting in heauen hath an euerlasting Priesthood and alwayes praieth vnto his Father for them that be penitent obtaining by vertue of his wounds which are euermore in the sight of God not onely perfect remission of our sinnes but also all other necessaries which we lacke in this world In the second part of the * To. 2. p. 162. Homily of Almes deedes it is sayd The godly do learne that when the Scriptures say that by good and mercifull workes we are reconciled to Gods fauour we are taught then to know what Christ by his intercession and mediation obtaineth for vs of his Father when we be obedient to his will Yea they learne in such manner of speaking a comfortable argument of Gods singular fauour and loue who attributeth that vnto vs and to our doings which he by his Spirit worketh in vs and through his grace procureth for vs. In the first * T. 2. p. 180. Homily of the Passion it is likewise sayd Christ sitteth on the right hand of God his Father as our Proctour and Atturney pleading and suing for vs in all our needs and necessities Wherefore if we want any gift of godly wisedome we may aske it of God for Christs his sake and we shall haue it The Prophet Dauid speaking of Christs euerlasting Priesthood sayth i Psal 110.4 The Lord hath sworne and will not repent thou art a Priest * Riblia vulgata habent in aeternum aeternitas omnium temporum complexu describitur vt quod suit est crit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pluraliter in Eccles. 1.10 tempus prateritum denotat for euer after the order of Melchisedee The Apostle sayth to the Hebrews k Heb. 2.17.18 In all things it behooued him to be made like vnto his brethren that he might be a mercifull and faithfull high Priest in things pertaining vnto God to make reconciliation for the sinnes of the people For in that he himselfe hath suffered being tempted hee is able to succour them that are tempred l Heb. 7.23 And they truely were many Priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death But this man because he continueth for euer hath an vnchangeable Priesthood Wherfore he is able to saue them to the vttermost that come vnto God by him seeing he euer liueth to make intercession for them m Heb. 10.11.12.13.14 And euery Priest standeth dayly ministring and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices which can neuer take away sinnes But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sinnes for euer sate downe on the right hand of God from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his foote-stoole For by one offering he hath perfected for euer them that are sanctified n Rom. 8.26.27 His Spirit saith the Apostle to the Romanes helpeth our infirmities for wee know not what wee should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it selfe maketh intercession for vs with groanings which cannot be vttered And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the minde of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Concerning the Priesthood of the Lord Iesus Christ reade Isaiah 53. CHAP. 28. Of Christs Prophetship IN the third part of the * T. 2. p. 228.229 Homily for Rogation weeke it is sayd By Iesus Christ our heauenly Mediatour do we know the fauour and mercy of God the Father by him know we his * Iohn 15.15 will and pleasure towards vs. For he is the * Heb. 1.3 brightnes of his Fathers glory and a very cleare image and patterne of his substance It is hee whom the Father in heauen delighteth to haue for his well beloued Sonne whom he authorized to be our teacher whom he charged vs to heare saying * Maâ— 17 5. Heare him Moses sayd vnto the Fathers as Peter relateth o â—euâ— 1â— 15 Acts 3.12.23 A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise vp vnto you of your brethren like vnto me him shall ye heare in all things whatsoeuer he shall say vnto you And it shall come to passe that euery soule which will not heare that Prophet shall be destroyed from among that people The first text whereon Christ preached declared his Propheticall office wherein it is sayd of him p Luke 4.18 The Spirit of the Lord is vpon me because he hath annointed me to preach the Gospell vnto the poore he hath sent me to heale the broken harted to preach deliuerance to the captiues and recouering of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised to preach the acceptable yeere of the Lord. S. Iohn said of him q Iohn 1. â— That he was the true light which lighteth euery man that commeth into the world He sheweth to all men that be in errour the light of the truth to the intent they may returne into the way of righteousnesse as it is deliuered in the Collect for the third Sunday after Easter He teacheth through his Ministers as Paul sayd r 2. Cor. 13.3 Since
high Priest vnto God his Father to make intercession for them also a Prophet to his people or a declarer vnto them of his Fathers will and is the m Reuel 15.3 King of Saints or administreth the kingome of n Rom. 5.21 grace vnto and within his people Whereas also he is the appointed o Heb. 1.2 heire of all things and all things were created p Col. 1.16.17.18 by him and for him Also he is before all things and by him all things consist And he is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first borne from the dead that in all things he may haue the preheminence and no good thing commeth from God the Father vnto the Church on earth but through the q Acts 4.12 Iohn 20 31. Iohn 15.16 Name and for the r Dan. 9.17 sake of Iesus Christ Therefore the Church concludeth euen euerie of her prayers with these or the like wordes Through Iesus Christ for the honor of our Aduocate and Mediatour Iesus Christ Through the merits of thy onely Sonne c. For conclusion therefore of the mediatorie workes of Iesus Christ let S. Pauls words to the Saints that were at Rome be here for our meditation Å¿ Rom 5.8.9.10.11 God commendeth his loue towards vs in that whiles we were yet sinners Christ died for vs. Much more then being now iustified by his bloud we shall bee saued from wrath through him For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled we shall be saued by his life And not onely so but we also ioy in God through our Lord Iesus Christ by whom wee haue now receiued the attonement Let vs therefore saith the Church in the second part of the * Tom. 1. p. 82. Homily against Adultery consider first the glory of Christ then our estate our dignity and freedome wherein God hath set vs by giuing vs his Holy Spirit and let vs valiantly defend the same against Sathan and all his crafty assaults that Christ may bee honoured and that we loose not our liberty or freedome but still remaine in * 1 Cor. 6.17 Eph. 4.3.4 one Spirit with him CHAP. 31. Of Christs iudging Mankind IT is sayd in the Athanasian Creed Iesus Christ shall come from the right hand of the Father God Almighty for to iudge the quicke and the dead At whose comming all men shall rise againe with their bodies and shall giue account for their owne workes And they that haue done good shall goe into life euerlasting and they that haue done euill into euerlasting fire So the Church sayth in Saynt Ambrose Song We beleeue that thou shalt come to be our Iudge In the Seruice for the buriall of the dead it is sayd Thou most worthy Iudge Eternall In the exhortation for the visitation of the sicke it is sayd Forasmuch as after this life there is an account to be giuen vnto the righteous Iudge of whom all must be iudged 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 owne faults you may find mercy at our heauenly Fathers hand for Christs sake and not bee accused and condemned in that fearefull Iudgement In the * It is set in the beginning of the Psalmes in Meeter in the booke of Common Prayer in Folio Athanasian Treatise concerning the vse and vertue of the Psalmes it is sayd The Psalmes informe and teach euery man with diuerse instructions whereby he may not onely espie the affections and state of his soule and winne a good patterne and discipline how hee may please God but also with what forme of wordes he may amend himselfe and how to giue God due thankes least if he should speake otherwise than were conuenient he should fall into impiety by his vnreuerent estimation of God For we must all make an account to the Iudge as well of our t Math. 12.36 idle words as of our euill deedes In the third part of the * T. 2. p. 273. Homily of Repentance it is sayd Verily when the highest Sumner of all which is death shall come he will not be sayd nay but we must forthwith be packing to be present before the Iudgement Seate of God as he doth finde vs according as it is written u Eccles 11.3 Where as the tree falleth whether it be toward the South or toward the North there it shall lye Whereunto agreeth the saying of the holy Martyr of God Saint Cyprian saying As God doth finde thee when he doth call so doth he iudge thee In the second part of the * T. 1. p. 63. Homily against the feare of death it is said That Iesus Christ shall be openly shewed to be iudge of all the world In the * T. 2. p. 109. Homily against excesse of apparrell it is said Vnto God we shall render accounts for all his benefits at the glorious appearing of our Sauiour Christ In the third part of the * To. 2. p. 123. Homily concerning prayer it is said Wee must take heede that wee call vpon this aduocate Christ whiles we haue space giuen vs in this life least when we are once dead there be no hope of saluation left vnto vs. For as euery man sleepeth with his owne cause so euery man shall w Rom. 14.12 rise againe with his owne cause And looke in what state he dyeth in the same state he shall also be iudged whether it be to saluation or damnation In the third part of the * Tom. 2. p. 229. Homily for Rogation weeke it is said By Christ hath almighty God decreed to dissolue the world to call all before him to iudge both the quicke and the dead and finally by x Mat. 25.34.41 him shall he condemne the wicked to eternall fire in hell and giue the good eternall life and set them assuredly in presence with him in heauen for euermore And in the first part of the * Tom. 1. p. 3. Homily which is an Exhortation to the reading and knowledge of holy Scripture it is said By this word of God we shall be iudged For the word that I speake saith Christ is it that shall y Ioh. 12.48 iudge in the last day Iesus Christ himselfe hath also said The z Ioh. 5.22 23 27. Father iudgeth no man but hath committed all iudgement vnto the Sonne that all men should honour the Sonne euen as they honour the Father And hee hath giuen him authority to execute iudgement because he is the Sonne of man Saint Peter saith a Acts 10 4â— God hath commanded vs to preach vnto the people and to testifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the iudge of quicke and dead Saint Paul saith to the Romans Wee shall all stand before the b Rom. 14.10 11 12. iudgement seat of
Acts 15.13 In the second part of the Homily of Repentance it is sâ—gnified that Iames was only Bishop of the Church â—â—erusalem See Act. 12.17 Acts 21.18 Gal. 2.9 Tom. 2. p. 266. abide in the land of Iewry ouer-seeing and looking to the Church there which Iesus Christ the first Å¿ Heb. 3 1. Apostle from God his Father had planted If he or some other Apostle or Apostles did then the Apostolicall gift or grace was also to be employed in a Church already planted and not to cease when Churches were planted It is also here to be noted that the name Apostle vsed in the new Testament doth imply two degrees Whence it is thought meete to translate it sometimes by the word t Phil. 2.25 2. Cor 8.23.1 2. Cor. 11.5 Gal. 2.9 messenger And whereas there is in Scripture mention of the chiefest Apostles it implyeth that there was some disparity among the Apostles And what degree or order is that inferiour if it be not that w 2. Tim. 4.5 Euangelistship which is aboue the Pastorship which Timothy had who was also called Bishop yea * Phil. 1.1 Bishop not onely ouer lay people but ouer y 1. Tim. 1.3 Ministers Priests Elders or Pastours also Truely therefore and properly in the Diuine Seruice are Bishops signified to be the Apostles of Christs Church as where it is sayd in the Seruice of Confirmation We make our humble supplications vnto thee for these children vpon whom after the example of the holy Apostles we haue laide our hands to certifie them by this signe of thy fauour and gracious goodnesse toward them So in the Diuine Seruice for the consecration of Bishops where it is sayd by the Archbishop Brethren it is written in the Gospell of Saint Luke that our Sauiour Christ continued the z Luke 6.12.13 whole night in prayer or euer that hee did choose and send foorth his twelue Apostles It is written also in the Acts of the Apostles that the Disciples which were at Antioch did a Acts 13.2.3.4 fast and pray or euer they laide hands vpon or sent forth Paul and Barnabas Let vs therefore b 1. Cor. 11.1 following the example of our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles first fall to prayer or that wee admit and send forth this person presented vnto vs to the worke whereunto wee trust the Holy Ghost hath called him CHAP. 38. Of Prophetship that euery kind thereof is not for euer ceased WHereas the Church both in the prayer afore the ordering of Priests and also in the prayer afore the consecrating of Bishops mentioneth That Christ hath giuen Prophets to his Church together with the diuerse orders of the constant Ministery it is necessary to consider what kind of prophetship that is Saint Paul sayth to the Corinthians c 1. Cor. 14.3 He that prophesieth speaketh vnto men to edification and exhortation and comfort Insteed of which prophesying then ordinarily vsed in the Church of Corinth there is now vsed the exercise called Preaching And therefore because preaching now is to the same effect as the ordinary prophecying then in the congregation was therefore the word for prophecying is somtimes rendred * As in the margent of the Geneua TranslatioÌ„ of 1. Cor. 11.3 preaching But the Prophetship mentioned in the aforesayd prayers appeareth to be a greater gift in that it standeth in the second place Yea Paul himselfe in an other place sayth d 1. Cor. 12.28 God hath set in the Church first Apostles secondly Prophets thirdly Teachers c. As e Ephes 4.11 Christ gaue some to be Apostles some to be Prophetsâ— some to be Euangelists some to be Pastors and some to be Teachers So in the Church of the Iewes afore Christs Incarnation there was an high Priest f Math. 2.4 chiefe Priests Priests of the g 1 Châ—or 24. second Order and Leuites and also Prophets And of such as were called Prophets some were of greater gifts than other In the new Testament after Christs Ascension some are named Prophets as h Act. 11.27 28 Agabus i Acts 21.10.11 Iudas Silas c. Agabus foretold there should be a great dearth throughout all the would which came to passe in the dayes of Claudius Caesar He foretold also to Saint Paul that the Iewes should deliuer him into the hands of the Gentiles Iudas and k Act. 15.32 Silas are sayd to haue exhorted the brethren in Antioch with many words and to haue confimed them l Act. 17.10 Silas afterward accompanied Paul and laboured with him in publishing the Gospell In the writings of the Euangelists and Apostles there is nomention that Prophets were made by ordination but all whom it is sayd the Church did ordaine were either to serue as Apostles or Euangelists or Elders or as Deacons It is written that there hath beene times when no Prophet was in the Church As in the Booke of the Psalmes it is sayd m Psal 74.9 We see not our signes there is no more any Prophet neither is there among vs any that knoweth how long It appeareth to be so in the dayes of the Maccabees when as it was sayd n 1. Mac. 4.46 1. Mac. 14 41. The stones of the Altar were layd vp in the mountaine of the Temple in a conuenient place vntill there should come a Prophet to shew what should bee done with them The principall Prophets or such as were endued with the measure of grace which for the dignity thereof obtained the greatest account next vnto those of the highest degree in the Ministery of the Church seeme to be men of a singular diuine vnderstanding o Ier. 1.9 10. raised vp of God for p Hag. 1.1.2 spirituall occasions in speciall times And this may be obserued not only out of the beginning euen of euery Prophets Booke in the Bible but also out of many places in Scripture where mention is of Prophets and their Prophesying For this present there shall be no mention of what Prophets Christ hath giuen to his Church since the first Apostles dayes but onely of the * The Church in her 30. CanoÌ„ termeth them Great Diuines Fathers in the Apostolicall Church of England who liued when the Reformation was well forwarded Were not those holy men endued with a certaine measure of propheticall grace or of the Holy Ghost or of heauenly light in the knowledge of the true Christianity more than were the Fathers of the Church generally which liued for many ages afore them in that they obserued a spirituall darknesse to haue couered most people whereof former times tooke none or very little notice and in that also they composed three bookes for Diuine Seruice wherein there is so glorious and so plenteous a deliuery of the true Apostolicall Diuinity and of the true Christian Religion as the like no Fathers in any Church of Christendome euer afore set forth And if the sayd bookes were now to be composed none were
Iesus concerning you And Isaiah signifieth that thankesgiving acceptable to God consisteth not in words onely where he saith u Isa 5.16 God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousnes In another place he saith w Isa 66.5 Heare ye the word of the Lord yee that tremble at his word your brethren that hated you that cast you out for my names sake said Let the Lord be glorified but he shall appeare to your joy and they shall bee ashamed Memorably saith the Church in the Communion service It is very meet right and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places give thankes unto thee O Lord Holy Father Almighty Everlasting God Of confession to God Concerning publike confession of our sinnes unto God the Divine Service beginneth with one that is generall and likewise there is a generall confession to be made afore receiving of the holy Communion The Prophet Daniel made a solemne x Dan. 9.4 confession unto God in the behalfe of the Iewes in generall that were with him in captivity in Babylon And Baruch wrote a long y Bar. 1.14.15 c. confession for the Iewes at Ierusalem to make reading it in the House of the Lord upon the feasts and solemne dayes There is also private confession of our sins to be made unto God whereof it is said in the second part of the * T. 2. Homily of repentance that it is the second part of repentance And the Homily saith If we will with a sorrowfull and contrite heart make an unfeined confession of our sinnes unto God hee will freely and frankly forgive them and so put all our wickednesse out of remembrance before the sight of his Majestie that they shall no more be z Heb. 8.12 thought upon Hereunto doth pertaine the golden saying of David where he saith on this manner a Ps 32.5 Then I acknowledged my sinne unto thee neither did I hide mine iniquitie I said I will confesse against my selfe my wickednesse unto the Lord and thou forgavest the ungodlinesse of my sinne These are also the words of Iohn the Evangelist b 1 Iohn 1.9 10. If wee confesse our sinnes God is faithfull and righteous to forgive us our sinnes and to make us cleane from all our wickednesse Which ought to be understood of the confession made unto God This is then the chiefest and most principall confession that in the Scriptures and Word of God wee are bidden to make and without the which wee shall never obtaine pardon and forgivenesse of our sinnes The Prodigall sonne made such a confession saying c Luke 15.21 Father I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy sonne Salomon saith d Prov. 28.13 Hee that hideth his sinnes shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsakes them shall finde mercy CHAP. 45. Of singing Psalmes and spirituall songs in publike and in private and also of singing with musicke IN the title of the Psalmes in meeter in the Booke of Common prayer it is thus said The whole booke of Psalmes collected into English meeter by c. Conferred with the Hebrew with apt notes to sing them withall Set forth and allowed to bee sung in all Churches of all people together before and after morning and evening prayer as also before and after sermons and moreover in private houses for their godly solace and comfort laying apart all ungodly songs and Ballads which tend onely to the nourishing of vice and corrupting of youth Iames 5.13 If any be afflicted let him pray and if any be merry let him sing Psalmes And then in the Common prayer booke of that forme which is appointed for Churches there is added a Treatise made by Athanasius the great cōcerning the use and vertue of the Psalmes whose beginning is thus and a delivery most memorable All holy Scripture is certainly the teacher of all vertue and of true faith but the booke of Psalmes doth expresse after a certaine manner the very state and condition of the soule For as he which intendeth to present himselfe to a King first will compound with himselfe to set in good order both his gesture and his speech lest else he might be reputed rude and ignorant even so doth this godly booke informe all such as be desirous to lead their life in vertue and to know the life of our Saviour which hee ledd in his conversation putting them in minde in the reading thereof of all their affections and passions whereto their soule is inclined c. And then doe follow 99. signifyings of what Psalmes may be sung even upon most occasions that come to passe in this present life And both before and also after the Psalmes in meeter there are sundry spirituall songs which may be sung upon sundry occasions unto the great comfort of the minde * Of singing with musicke Concerning singing in publike it is said in the booke of Ezra e Ezra 3.10 11. When the builders laid the foundation of the Temple of the Lord they set the Priests in their apparell with Trumpets and the Levites the sonnes of Asaph with Cymbals to praise the Lord after the Ordinance of Dauid King of Israel And they sang together by course in praising and giving thankes unto the Lord because hee is good for his mercy indureth for ever towards Israel And in the booke of Chronicles it is said f 1 Chron. 16.7 David delivered a Psalme to thanke the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brethren The which holy Prophet hath said g Ps 148.11 12 13 14. Kings of the earth and all people Princes and all Iudges of the earth both young men and maydens old men and Children let them praise the name of the Lord. h Ps 149.1 3. Sing unto the Lord a new song and his praise in the congregation of Saints let them sing praises unto him with Timbrell and Harpe i Ps 150.1 Praise yee God in his Sanctuary k Ps 95.1 2. O come let us sing unto the Lord let us make a joyfull noyse to the rocke of our salvation Let us come before his presence with thankesgiving and make a ioyfull noyse unto him with Psalmes l Ps 100.1 Serve the Lord with gladnesse come before his presence with singing Saint Paul said to the Church of Ephesus Be m Eph. 5.18 19 filled with the spirit speaking to your selves in Psalmes and hymnes and spirituall songs singing and making melodie in your heart to the Lord. n Ps 150.3 4 5. Praise the Lord saith David with the sound of the Trumpet praise him with the Psaltery and Harpe Praise him with the Timbrell and daunce praise him with stringed instruments and Organs Praise him upon the loud Cymbals praise him upon the high sounding Cymbals It is written that Moses and the Children of Israel o Exod. 15.1 sang a song unto the Lord. And that p
and 15.20 21. Miriam the Prophetesse the sister of Aaron tooke a Timbrell in her hand and all the women went out after her with Timbrels and with daunces And Miriam answered them Sing yee to the Lord c. Singing the same song as did Moses and the Children of Israel And Saint Iohn in the Revelation foretelling the actions of Christs Church to come to passe saith q Rev. 15.2 3. I saw as it were a Sea of glasse mingled with fire and them that had gotten the victory over the Beast and over his Image and over his marke and over the number of his name stand on the sea of glasse having the Harpes of God And they sung the song of Moses c. see Revel 14 2 3 4 5. and 5.8 and 1 Cor. 14.7.26 and from thence and other Scriptures it is manifest that Christian people have used musicke in praising the name of the Lord and there is not in the whole Bible any manner of mention concerning abolishing of the same CHAP. 46. Of the publike reading of the holy Scriptures as also the Homilies and of making an Exhortation in publike IN the Preface afore the Common prayer it is said The ancient fathers for a great advancement of godlinesse so ordered the matter that all the whole Bible or the greatest part thereof should be read over once every yeare intending thereby that the Clergy and especially such as were Ministers of the Congregation should by often reading and meditation of Gods Word be stirred up to godlinesse themselves and be more able to exhort others by wholesome doctrine and to confute them that were adversaries to the truth And further that the people by dayly hearing of holy Scripture read in the Church should continually profit more and more in the knowledge of God and be the more inflamed with the love of his true religion What care hereto our fathers have had may appeare out of the sacred Kalender and out of the order how the Psalter is appointed to be read and out of the order how the rest of the holy Scripture beside the Psalter is appointed to be read all which are set before the Common prayer It is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles that at Antioch in Pisidia in the Synagogue on the Sabbath day there was the Å¿ Act. 13.15 reading of the Law and the Prophets In another place it is said Moses of old time hath in every City them that preach him being t Act. 15. â—1 read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day Saint Paul saith to the Colossians When this Epistle is read amongst you cause that it be u Col. 4.16 read also in the Church of the Laodiceans and that yee likewise read the Epistle from Laodicea Of reading the Homilies Concerning reading the Homilies the Sermons set forth by the publike authoritie of the Church in the Preface published afore them it is said Considering how necessary it is that the Word of God which is the onely food of the soule and that most excellent light that we must walke by in this our most dangerous pilgrimage at all convenient times be preached unto the people that thereby they may both learne their duty towards God their Prince and their neighbours according to the minde of the Holy Ghost expressed in the Scriptures and also to avoide the manifold enormities which heretofore by false doctrine have crept into the Church of God and how that all they which are appointed Ministers have not the gift of preaching sufficiently to instruct the people which is committed unto them whereof great inconveniences might rise and ignorance still be maintained if some honest remedy be not speedily found and provided The Queenes most excellent Majestie tendering the sole health of her loving subjects the quieting of their coÌ„sciences in the chiefe principall points of Christian religion and willing also by the true setting forth and pure declaring of Gods Word which is the principal guide leader runto all godlines and vertue to expell drive away as well all corrupt vicious and ungodly living as also erroneous and poysoned doctrines tending to superstition and Idolatry hath by the advise of her most honourable Counsellors for her discharge in this behalfe caused a booke of Homilies which heretofore was set forth by her most loving brother a Prince of most worthy memorie Edward the sixt to bee printed anew wherein are contained certaine wholesome and godly exhortations to move the people to honour and worship Almighty God and diligently to serve him every one according to their degree state vocation And in the latter part of the Preface it is said That all her people of what degree or condition soever they be may learne how to invocate and call upon the name of God and know what duty they owe both to God and man so that they may pray beleeve and worke according to knowledge while they shall live here and after this life bee with him that with his blood hath bought us all And at the end of the first Tome of the Homilies it is said concerning the Homilies of the second Tome Hereafter shall follow sermons of fasting praying almesdeeds c. with many other matters as well fruitfull as necèssarie to the edifying of Christian people and the increase of godly living From al which aforesaid delivery it is most manifest that the one only end why the reverend Fathers and the most learned Doctors of the Church composed the sermons commonly called Homilies was for the edification of the congregations in holinesse and righteousnesse and for a helpe unto Ministers that with the said sacred sermons the people committed to their charge might be the more instructed in the faith and life of the true Christian religion As therefore we have received from our fathers the CommoÌ„ prayer as a forme of prayer thanksgiving and confession so ought wee not to receive from our fathers hands their booke of Sermons the Homilies as a forme of wholesome words in faith and love which is in Christ Iesus Saint Paul charged Timothy to hold fast the w 2 Tim. 1.13 Rom. 6.17 forme of sound words which he had heard of him in faith and love which is in Christ Iesus Let any one unpartially weigh every particular sentence in the booke of Homilies and there will appeare nothing but Christian faith and godly love intended and held forth therein Moreover ought wee reverently to heare the Sermons of such as bee but young Students in Divinity and ought we not with great reverence to attend unto the Homilies the Sermons set forth by the chiefest Divines in the whole Church of our Land We ought not to be partiall towards the established Doctrine of our Church We commonly ascribe great authoritie unto the spirit of the Church accounting her Common prayer profitable for us to pray with unto Almighty God We ascribe great authoritie unto the spirit of the Church accounting her translation of the
greater authority to them than unto meere humane writings In the margent of the last translation of the Bible there is often reference made unto Chapter and verse of those bookes as in the margent of Heb. 1.3 Iohn 10.22 Matth. 6.7 Matth. 23.37 Heb. 11.35 and in more places There is no such reference made unto Chapter and verse of any other bookes excepting the canonicall Scriptures In the Concordance which is sometimes bound with bibles of the middle bignesse namely in quarto places out of all those bookes are often quoted and added unto the places cited out of the Canonicall Scriptures It is not so done out of any other bookes Even all the Fathers which have lived in the Church of Iesus Christ since first the Apostles dayes have with great reverence and respect alleaged sayings out of those books The true Apostolicall Church of England hath ordained those bookes onely and none other of what authoritie soever to be translated with the Canonicall Scriptures and to be set betweene the bookes of the old and new Testament Seeing then that the Church our mother so honoureth the said bookes called Apocrypha ought not wee her members to have them bound in our Bibles to reverence and respect them and diligently to read them for * The Church in the sixt Article of religion so delivereth example of life and instruction of manners and to account them for to be in all respects of so much a Phil. 4.8 1 Thes 5.21 1 Pet. 5.5 Mat. 18.17 1 Cor 16.16 authority as the Church of England now ascribeth unto them CHAP. 50. Of peoples learning the most sacred Catechisme of the Church which is in the booke of Common Prayer Every member of the true Apostolicall Church of England hath occasion greatly to praise the name of the Lord for stirring up our most gracious Soveraigne and the holy Fathers of the Church to take great care for this ordinance of the Gospell of Iesus Christ namely Catechizing that it may bee duely used according as it was prescribed by holy Church heretofore and the same ratified by our late Soveraigne Lord King Iames a Prince of ever blessed memory IN the end of the rubricke after the Service of Confirmation it is said None shall be admitted to the holy Communion untill such time as he can say the Catechisme namely that in the booke of Common Prayer the which being printed alone by it selfe is now commonly called the A. B. C. The said most sacred Catechisme consisteth of but about twenty questions whose answers require any labour of learning by heart And yet therein is contained the summe of the whole Christian faith and life in a most Divine delivery This holy b Ps 119.130 Catechisme should all people members of the Church of England have either in memory or else at least be able so to c 1 Pet. 3.13 answere unto each question therein as that they may declare themselves to have in effect such an d Phil. 3.16 1 Cor. 1.10 understanding of the matters therein contained as the Church hath in full words expressed in it Catechisme is an instructing of people in the e Heb. 5.12 principles of the Oracles of God It is a f Heb. 6.1 2. laying of the foundation of repentance from dead workes and of faith towards God of the Doctrine of Baptismes and of laying on of hands and of the resurrection of the dead and of the eternall judgment It is a ministring of the g 1 Pet. 2.2 sincere milke of the Word unto the h Heb. 5.13 unskilfull in the word of righteousnesse Even as a house cannot bee well built up and stand fast unlesse the foundations thereof be firmely laid so people who should bee built up a spirituall i 1 Pet. 2.4 house for an k Eph. 2.21 22. habitation of God through the spirit cannot be fitly framed together and grow unto an holy Temple in the Lord unlesse they bee l Luke 11.52 Mat. 14.11 rightly instructed in the principles of the Doctrine of Christ and withall grow up in all due m Rom. 1.5 and 16.26 obedience unto the same Not onely the Catechisme in the Divine Service doth deliver the Milke of the Gospell but also the whole Divine Service doth minister the same abundantly If one would know what is repentance and faith let him reade the Homilies thereof If hee would know what is the mysterie of baptisme and of laying on of hands let him reade the Services thereof If one would know the mysterie of the Communion let him read the Service and the Homily thereof It is a main part of the use of the Divine Service to lay firmly in peoples mindes the n 1 Cor. 3.10 grounds of Christianity All people therefore that would bee rightly grounded in the true Christian religion and grow more and more towards o Heb. 6.1 Col. 1.28 29. perfection in Iesus Christ ought to be much conversant in every part of the said Service and to enable themselves so to render a reason of every point of Christianity according as they finde it delivered in the said p Prov. 6.20 21 22 23. Luke 10.16 bookes and withall to q 2 Thes 1.3 Prov 4.18 increase in that godly conversation which is throughout the service prescribed And thereunto this present worke will much helpe every one that will make due use of all the same The Church hath ordained that not onely the youth but other ignorant persons also to be r Song 6.6 Ps 1.48 12. Deut. 31.12 Nehem. 8.2 instructed in the Catechisme For thus is her sacred * Canon 59 This holy and necessary Ordinance of Christ and his Church is now by the great goodnesse of Almighty God observed and al true Christians hearts doe pray that so it may bee continued and more and more conscionably used unto Gods glory and the edification of all people constitution Every Parson Vicar or Curate upon every Sunday and holy day before evening prayer shall for halfe an houre or more examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his parish in the ten Commandements the Articles of the beliefe and in the Lords prayer and shall diligently heare instruct and teach them the Catechisme set forth in the booke of Common prayer c. Peoples Å¿ Prov. 19.2 neglect of learning that Catechisme and of obedience thereto and also their not regarding to have their Children and servants taught the same and instructed unto the observing of the duties therein prescribed is a maine cause that now so many are ignorant in minde and t Prov. 29.15 disorderly in conversation The Oracle of God saith u Prov. 22.6 Traine up a Child in the way he should goe and when he is old he will not depart from it CHAP. 51. Of Baptisme THE Catechisme in the Divine service delivereth That the outward visible signe or forme in baptisme is water wherein the person baptized is dipped
thereby and giving him hearty thankes therefore he doth eate and drinke the body and blood of our Saviour Christ profitably to his soules health although he doe not receive the Sacrament with his mouth Our Mother the Church who according to her godly wisedome was the first causer of Temples to be built in this Land and the first appointer of the Parishes unto them hath ordained the Temples to be the ordinary places for receiving the holy Sacrament But in cases of necessitie when people cannot with any conveniency come or be brought into the Temple her Divine Wisdome hath appointed such to receive in their private house The Passeover which was even of like signification as the Communion is was kept in q Exod. 12.3 4. Mat. 26.18 private houses So in the Primitive Church it is said The Disciples came together into a r Act. 20.7 8 9. Jta Syrus interpretatus est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At Arabs optime ad frangen dum vel distribuendum corpus Messiae house for to breake bread that is to * celebrate the Communion Christ saith ſ Mat. 18.20 Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them Saint Paul said to the Romanes Greet the Church which is in the t Rom. 16.5 house of Aquila and Priscilla These Scriptures are here alleaged for to illustrate the lawfulnesse of receiving the Communion in private house according as the law of the Church alloweth but not in any otherwise And that Christs body and blood is profitably unto the soules health received sometimes without the Sacrament whē as the Sacrament cannot conveniently bee received that delivery of Christ declareth where he saith Except ye u Ioh. 6.53 54 55 56 57 47. eate the flesh of the Sonne of man and drinke his blood ye have no life in you Who so eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternall life c. He that beleeveth on me hath everlasting life Behold saith Christ I stand at the doore and knocke If any man heare my voyce and open the doore I will come into him and will sup with him and w Rev. 3.20 he with me But the holy Sacrament is in no wise to be neglected but with all due reverence to be received when as it may conveniently and lawfully bee ministred because it is Gods ordinary meanes whereby his people spiritually eate the flesh of Christ and drinke his blood CHAP. 67. Of Buriall of the dead IN the Rubricke before the Service thereof it is said The Priest meeting the corpes at the Church stile shall say or else the Priest and Clerkes shall sing and so goe either into the Church or towards the grave I am the x Iohn 11.25 26. resurrection and the life saith the Lord He that c. Vpon Christs words concerning Mary the sister of Lazarus that she was come afore hand to annoynt his body to the burying Tremellius a Iew by Nation but a Christian by profession in religion and famous in the Church of God for his translation of the Scriptures forth of Hebrew Chaldean and Syriacke relateth out of * Vide Tremellianam Annotationem ad Mar. 14.6 Iudaicall Antiquity That it was the manner of the Iewes among sundry Ceremonies and Services used about the dead as annoynting washing wrapping in linnen laying it on a Beere c. before they committed the body to the ground first to utter certaine sentences written by their Ancestors or Elders to bee said at this occasion in which funerall Service Gods Iustice is commended and mans sinnes aggravated by which they deserved death and God is beseeched so to exercise his Iustice that he would not forget that he is Mercy also And the Corpes being interred some things also are said as unto the Mourners for their consolation This saith hee was a custome in Israel which in time past was the peculiar people of God and a godly custome not much unlike is now in Englād used at a buriall unto the magnifying of Gods Iustice the condemning of mans sinne the meeke beseeching of Gods mercy through Iesus Christ and the comforting of the sorrowfull upon the occasion And to performe such funerall Service is it not onely proper to the Ministery which is the ordinary y Ios 9.14 mouth of God unto the people and of the people unto God Christ saith It becommeth us to fulfill all z Mat. 3.1 5. righteousnesse The Apostle saith a Phil. 4.8 Whatsoever things are of good report if they be of any vertue or praise they are to be thought upon and observed b 1 Cor. 14.40 All things are to be done decently and in order Ancient orders and customes ordained by the weighty deliberation of forefathers which may be used without any superstition and doe tend onely unto piety and humanity are according as the Church concerning them prescribeth with all conscionable care to be retained performed Yea the Church now greatly esteemeth deliveries of Antiquity as it may appeare where it is said in the Service for Consecration of Bishops That the Archbishop sitting in a Chair shal say this to him that is to be Consecrated Brother forasmuch as holy Scripture A Prayer of Chrysostome is a part of the Letany In the Homilies there are sayings of all the Fathers alleaged with much respect and the old Canons commandeth c. S. Ambrose his song is a part of the Morning Divine Service the Confession of faith composed by Athanasius and the Nicene Creed are therein likewise Read the 34. Article of Religion CHAP. 68. Of the reverence to bee done unto Almighty God in his Worship HOly Church in her Prayer for the whole state of Christs Church militant here in earth prescribeth unto us for to say And to all thy people give thine heavenly grace and specially to this congregation here present that with meeke heart and due reverence they may heare and receive thy holy word In the first part of the * T. 2. p. 1. Homily concerning the right use of the Church or Temple of God and of the reverence due unto the same it is said Where there appeareth at these dayes great slacknesse and negligence of a great sort of people in resorting to the Church there to serve God their heavenly Father according to their most bounden duty as also much uncomely and unreverent behaviour of many persons in the same when they bee there assembled and thereby may just feare arise of the wrath of God and his dreadfull plagues hanging over our heads for our grievous offences in this behalfe among other many and great sinnes which wee daily and hourely commit before the Lord. In the second part of the said * P. 8. Homily the Church saith And indeed concerning the people and multitude the Temple is prepared for them to be hearers rather than speakers considering that aswell the word of God is there read or taught whereunto they are bound
of the Lord Iesus Christ should onely live walke dwell rule and raigne Saint Paul unto Timothy signifieth that people till they bee penitent for their sinfull life and doe bring forth fruits meet for repentance are in the snare of the n 2 Tim. 2.26 Devill taken captive of him at his will Saint Iohn foretold how that o Rev. 20.2 7 8 9. Satan should bee bound a thousand yeares and after that he must bee loosed a little season when the thousand yeares were expired Satan should be loosed out of prison and should goe out to deceive the Nations which are in the foure quarters of the earth Gog and Magog to gather them together to battell the number of whom is as the sand of the sea And that they would goe up on the breadth of the earth and compasse the campe of the Saints about and the beloved City but fire should come downe from God out of heaven and devoure them Saint Paul likewise foreknowing how that in the time when Satan was let loose out of the prison wherein hee had beene bound a thousand yeeres p Mat. 24.12 iniquity would abound and the love of many would waxe cold foretelleth what sinnes would raigne then yea in the professours of the name of Christianity saying This know also that in the q 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5. last dayes perillous times shall come For men will be lovers of their owne selves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankfull unholy without naturall affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good traitors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God having a forme of godlinesse but denying the power thereof How mighty soever the Devill is and that he is like a roaring Lyon yet if the obedient people of God doe resist him Saint Iames saith that he will r Iam. 4.7 flee from them Saint Iohn saith He that is begotten of God keepeth himselfe and that ſ 1 Ioh. 5.18 wicked one toucheth him not Such as doe t Iam. 4.8 9 10. draw nigh unto God cleansing their hands and purifying their hearts submitting themselves unto God humbling themselves in the sight of the Lord unto such as Iames saith God draweth nigh he giveth grace he lifteth them up into u Ephes 1.3 and 2.6 heavenly places in Christ Iesus Iob the obedient child of God witnessed by God himselfe to be a perfect and upright man a fearer of God and an eschewer of evill was by Gods Almighty power and wisdome w Iob 1.1 10. hedged in round about so that the Devils hand could not reach him untill for a time and with x Iob 1.12 limitation there was permission Wonderfull is the providence of God for such as y Psal 34.7 9 18. feare him and have a religious and conscionable z Psal 119.6 respect unto all his Commandements It is ever remarkably signified in the prayer towards the end of the most sacred Letany That such in whom is the sighing of a contrite heart and of a spirit sorrowfull for committing sinnes are graciously heard so that those evills which the craft and subtiltie of the Devillor man worketh against them be brought to nought and by the providence of Gods goodnesse be dispersed that the obedient servants of Christ being hurt by no persecution according as the Eternall Wisdome seeth it most requisite to dispose may evermore give thanks unto God in his holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. CHAP. 94. Of the Seven deadly Sinnes SAint Paul a 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5. reckoneth up seventeene deadly sins that among many professours of the name of Christianity would raigne in these latter times And holy Church according to the delivery of godly antiquity in the third part of the * T. 2. p. 293 294. Homily against disobedience and wilfull rebellion saith Thus you see that all good Lawes are by rebels violated and broken and that all sinnes possible to bee committed against God or man be contained in rebellion which sins if a man list to name by the accustomed names of the seven capitall or deadly sinnes as Pride Envie Wrath Covetousnesse Sloth Gluttony and Lecherie he shall find them all in rebellion and among rebells c. We are taught to pray in the sacred Letany From fornication and all other deadly sinne and from all the deceits of the world the flesh and the Devill Good Lord deliver us Of Pride IN the first part of the * T. 1. p. 7. Homily of the misery of man it is said The holy Ghost in writing the holy Scriptures is in nothing more diligent than to pull down mans vaine glory and pride which of all vices is most universally grafted in all mankinde even from the first infection of our first father Adam And therefore wee read in many places of Scripture many notable Lessons against this old rooted vice to teach us the most commendable vertue of b 1 Pet. 5.5 humility how to know our selves and to remember what we be of our selves In the first part of the * T. 1. p. 52. Homily of falling from God it is said Of our going from God the wise man saith That c Ecclus. 10.12 13. Pride was the first beginning for by it mans heart was turned from God his maker For Pride saith he is the fountaine of all sin He that hath it shall be full of cursings and at the end it shall overthrow him And as by pride and sinne wee goe from God so shall God and all goodnesse with him goe from us In the * T. 2. p. 109. Homily against excesse of apparell it is said That people in hell too late repenting themselves shall openly complaine with these words d Wis 5.8.9.13 What hath our pride profited us or what profit hath the Pompe of riches brought us all these things are passed away like a shadow As for vertue wee did never shew any signe thereof and thus we are consumed in our wickednesse In the second part of the * T. 2. p. 214. Homily for Whitsunday it is said Saint Gregory saith Pride is the roote of all mischiefe And Saint Austines judgement is this that it maketh men devils And * T. 2. p. 216. afterward it is said Wheresoever ye finde the spirit of arrogancie and pride c. Assure your selves that there is the spirit of the devill not of God albeit they pretend outwardly to the world never so much holines For the spirit of Iesus is a e Mat. 11.29 a lowly spirit c. Habbakkuk saith Behold his soule which is f Hab. 2.4 lifted up is not upright in him but the just shall live by his faith Whereby the Prophet giveth us to understand that faith whereby Gods people doe live is a property quite cōtrary to loftinesse of minde Also God g Iam. 4.6 resisteth the proud but giveth grace to