The Church of Englands Antithesis to Arminianism, Part 6
Certaine Homilies appointed to be read in Churches, in the time of the late Queene ELIZABETH of famous memory. And since thought fit to be reprinted by Authoritie from the KINGS most Excellent Maiestie.
SAint Paul in many places painteth vsus out in our colours,London. 1623. Part. 1. Fol. 8. Ephes. 2. calling vsus the children of the wrath of God, when we be borne: saying also44 that we cannot thinke a good thought of our selues, much lesse can we say well,Folio 9. Mark. 10. Luke 18. Iohn 15. or doe well of our selues, &c. Our Sauiour Christ saith, There is none good but GOD: and that wee can doe nothing that is good without him, nor no man can come to the Father but by him, &c.
44For of our selues we are crabtrees,Folio 10. that can bring foorth no Apples. We bee of our selues of such earth, as can bring foorth but weedes,Galat. 5. nettles, brambles, briers, cockle, and darnell. Wee hauehave neither Faith, Charitie, Hope, Patience, Chastitie, nor any thing else that good is, but of God, and therefore these vertues bee called there the fruites of the holy Ghost, and not the fruites of man. Let vsus therefore acknowledge our selues before God (as wee bee indeede) miserable and wretched sinners.
44Of our selues, and by our selues, wee hauehave no goodnesse, helpe, nor saluation, but contrariwise sinne, Part. 1. Fol. 11.damnation, and death euerlasting: which if we deepely weigh and consider,2 Cor. 3. wee shall the better vnderstand the great mercy of God, and how our saluation commeth onelyonly by Christ.Psalm. 50. Wee are all become vncleane, but wee all are not able to cleanse our selues, nor to make one another of vsus cleane.Ephes… 2. Wee are by nature the Children of Gods wrath, but wee are not able to make our selues the children and inheritors of Gods glory.1 Pet. 2. Wee are sheepe that runne astray, but wee cannot of our owne power come againe to the sheepefold, so great is our imperfection and weakenesse. In our selues therefore may wee not glory, which (of our selues) are nothing but sinnefull. To GOD therefore must wee flee, or else shall we neuer finde peace,2 Cor. 1, rest and quietnesse of Conscience in our hearts.Psalm. 130. For he is the Father of mercies, and God of all consolation. Hee is the Lord, with whom is plenteous redemption:22 He is the God who of his owne mercy saueth vsus, and setteth out his charitie and exceeding louelove towards vsus, in that of his owne voluntary goodnesse, when we were perished, he saued vsus, and prouided an euerlasting Kingdome for vsus. And all these heauenly treasures are giuen vsus, not for our owne deserts, merits, or good deedes, (which of our selues wee hauehave none) but of his meere mercy freely.55 He is the high and euerlasting Priest,Iohn 8. which hath offered himselfe once for all vponupon the altar of the Crosse,Hebr. 7. and with that one oblation hath made perfect for euermore them that are sanctified.1 Iohn 2. Hee is the alone mediatour betweene GOD and man, which paid our ransome to GOD with his owne blood, and with that hath hee cleansed vsus all from sinne.Part. 1. Fol. 12 Ma…th. 1. He is the Physitian which healeth all our diseases; Hee is that Sauiour which saueth his people from all their sinnes: he is that flowing and most plenteous fountaine,Folio 13. of whose fulnesse all we hauehave receiued.
55A Sermon of the saluation of mankinde, by onelyonly Christ our Sauiour from sinne and death euerlasting.
55(All the world being wrapped in sinne by breaking of the Law) GOD sent his onelyonly sonne our Sauiour Christ into this world, to fulfill the Law for vsus, and by shedding of his most precious blood, to make a sacrifice and satisfaction, or (as it may bee called) amends to his Father for our sinnes,Folio 15. to asswage his wrath and indignation conceiued against vsus for the same.55 But our iustification doeth come freely by the meere mercy of GOD, and of so great and free mercy, that whereas all the world was not able of their selues to pay any part towards their ransome, it pleased our heauenly Father of his infinite mercy, without any our desert or deseruing, to prepare for vsus the most precious iewels of Christs body and blood, whereby our ransome might be fully paid, the law fulfilled, and his iustice fully satisfied. So that Christ is now the righteousnesse of all them that truely doe beleeue in him. Hee for them paid their ransome by his death. Hee for them fulfilled the Law in his life. So that now in him, and by him, eueryevery true Christian man may be called a fulfiller of the Law, forasmuch as that which their infirmity lacked, Christs iustice hath supplied.
77For the very sure and liuely Christian faith is not onelyonly to beleeue all things of GOD,Folio 23. which are contained in holy Scripture, but also is an earnest trust, and confidence in God, that hee doeth regard vsus, and that hee is carefull ouer vsus, as the Father is ouer the Childe whom hee doeth louelove, and that hee will be mercifull vntounto vsus for his onelyonly sonnes sake, and that wee hauehave our Sauiour Christ our perpetuall aduocate, and Priest, in whose onelyonly merits, oblation and suffering, we doe trust that our offences bee continually washed and purged,Part. 1. Fol 23 whensoeuer wee (repenting truely) doe returne to him, with our whole heart, stedfastly determining with our selues, through his grace, to obey and serue him in keeping his Commandements, and neuer turne backe againe to sinne. Such is the true faith, that the Scripture doeth so much commend, the which when it seeth and con…idereth what GOD hath done for vsus, is also mooued through continuall assistance of the Spirit of GOD, to serue and please him, to keepe his fauour, to feare his displeasure, to continue his obedient children, shewing thankefulnesse againe by obserui…g or keeping his commandements, and that freely, for true louelove chiefly, and not for dread of punishment, or louelove of temporall reward, considering how clearely, without deseruings wee hauehave receiued his mercy and pardon freely.Folio. 25. 26.
44For as the holy Ghost doeth teach vsus to trust in GOD, and to call vponupon him as our Father: so did hee teach them to say, as it is written,Esay 43. Thou Lord art our Father and Redeemer, and thy Name is without beginning and euerlasting. GOD gaue them then grace to bee his children, as he doth vsus now.77 It is euident, that the true, liuely, and Christian faith, is no dead, vaine, or vnfruitful thing, but thing of a perfect vertue, of wonderful operation or working, and strength, bringing forth al good motions and good workes,77 Of faith, he saith, Hee that beleeueth in the Son, hath euerlasting life,Iohn 3. but he that beleeueth not in the Son, shall not see that life, but the wrath of GOD remaineth vponupon him.Iohn 6. And the same hee confirmeth with a double othe, saying, Verily, verily, I say vntounto you, Hee that beleeueth in me,1 Iohn. 5. hath euerlasting life. Now forasmuch as hee that beleeueth in Christ, hath euerlasting life: it must needes consequently follow, that he that hath this faith, must hauehave also good workes, and bee studious to obserue Gods commandements obediently. For to them that hauehave euill workes, and leade their life in disobedience, and transgression or breaking of Gods commandements, without repentance… pertaineth not euerlasting life,Part. 1. Folio 28. 29. but euerlasting death?
77Therefore let vsus set our whole faith and trust in GOD, and neither the world, the deuill, nor all the power of them shall preuaile against vsus.11 Let vsus by such vertues as ought to spring out of faith, shew our election to be sure and stable, as S. Peter 2 Peter 1.teacheth, Endeuour your selues to make your calling and election certaine by good workes.77 If you feele and perceiue such a faith in you, reioyce in it: and be diligent to maintaine it, and keepe it still in you, let it bee daily increasing, and more and more by well working, and so shall you be sure that you shall please GOD by this faith, and at the length (as other faithfull men hauehave done before) so shall you (when his will is) come to him, and receiue the end and finall reward of your faith (as. S. Peter 1 Peter 1.nameth it) the saluation of our soules:77 But (euerlasting… thankes bee to Almighty GOD for euer) there is neuer a one of all these causes,Folio. 60. no nor yet them altogether,1 Cor. 3. that can make a true Christian man afraid to die (who is the very member of Christ, the Temple of the holy Ghost, the Sonne of God, and the very inheritour of the euerlasting kingdome of heauen:) but plainely contrary, he concieueth great and many causes vndoubtedly grounded vponupon the infallible and euerlasting trueth of the word of GOD which mooueth him not onelyonly to put away the feare of bodily death, but also for the manifold benefits and singular commodities which ensue vntounto eueryevery faithfull person by reason of the same, to wish, desire, and long heartily for it. For death shall bee to him no death at all, but a very deliuerance from death, from all paines, cares, and sorrowes, miseries, and wretchednesse of this world, and the very entry into rest.77 Why then shall wee f…ere to die, considering the manifold and comfortable promises of the Gospel, and of holy Scriptures? GOD the Father hath giuen vsus euerlasting life (saith. S. Iohn) 1 Iohn 5.and this life is in his Sonne. Hee that hath Sonne, hath life, and he that hath not the Sonne, hath not life.Part 1. Fol. 16 And this I write (saith S. Iohn) 1 Iohn. 5.to you that beleeue in the Name of the Sonne of GOD,1 Iohn 5. that you may know that you hauehave euerlasting life, and that you doe beleeue vponupon the Name of the Sonne of GOD. And our Sauiour Christ saith, Hee that beleeueth in me hath life euerlasting, and I will raise him from death to life at the last day.Folio 62.
77All those therefore hauehave great cause to bee full of ioy that bee ioyned to Christ with true Faith, stedfast Hope, and perfect Charitie, and not to feare death nor euerlasting damnation. For death cannot depriue them of Iesus Christ, nor any sinne can condemne them that are graffed surely in him, which is their onelyonly ioy, treasure and life. Let vsus repent our sinnes, amend our liues, trust in his mercy and satisfaction, and death can neither take him from vsus, nor vsus from him.
22For it is of the free grace and mercy of GOD,Part. 2. Folio 81. by the mediation of the blood of his Sonne Iesus Christ, without merite or deseruing on our part, that our sinnes are forgiuen vsus; that we are reconciled and brought againe into his fauour, and are made heires of his heauenly kingdome. Grace (saith S. Augustine) August. de diuers…quaestio. ad Simpl. lib. 1. Q…aest. 28.belonging to GOD, who doth call vsus, and then hath he good workes, whosoeuer receiued grace: Good workes then bring not foorth grace, but are brought foorth by grace. The wheele (saith he) turneth round, not to the end that it may be made round: but because it is first made round, therefore it turneth round. So, no man doth good works, to receiue grace by his good workes: but because he… hath first receiued grace, therefore consequently he doth good workes.
For11 the Scripture doeth acknowledge but two places after this life.Folio …. Luke 16. The one proper to the elect and blessed of GOD; the other to the reprobate and damned soules.Folio. 1…. The onelyonly Purgatory wherein wee must trust to be saued, is the death and blood of Christ, which if wee apprehend with a true and stedfast faith, it purgeth and cleanseth vsus from all our sinnes, euen as well as if hee were now hanging vponupon the Crosse.Part. 2. Fol. 122 The blood of Christ saith Saint Iohn, 1 Iohn 1.hath cleansed vsus from all sinne. The blood of Christ,Hebr. 9. saith Saint Paul, hath purged our consciences from dead workes,Hebr. 10. to serue the liuing GOD, Also in another place hee saith, Wee bee sanctified and made holy by the offering vp of the body of Iesus Christ done once for all. Yea hee addeth more, saying, With the one oblation of his blessed body and precious blood, he hath made perfect for euer and euer all them that are sanctified.Folio 148.
77Noe in his drunkennesse offended GOD highly. Lot lying with his daughters, committed horrible incest. Wee ought then to learne by them this profitable lesson, that if so godly men as they were, which otherwise felt inwarldly GOD sholy Spirit inflaming in their hearts, with the feare and louelove of GOD, could not by their owne strength keepe themselues from committing horrible sinne, but did so grieuously fall, that without GODS great mercy they had perished euerlastingly: How much more ought we then, miserable wretches, which hauehave no feeling of GOD within vsus at all, continually to feare, not onelyonly that wee may fall as they did, but also be ouercome and drowned in sinne, which they were not? though through infirmity w…e chance at any time to fall, yet wee may by hearty repentance, and true faith, speedily rise againe, and not sleepe and continue in sinne,Fol. 151. 152. as the wicked doeth11 All men hauehave not faith. This therefore shall not satisfie and content all mens mindes: but as some are carnall, so they will still continue, and abuse the Scriptures carnally, to their greater damnation.2 Peter 3. 1 Cor. 1… The vnl…arned and vnstable (saith Saint Peter) peruert the holy Scriptures to their owne destruction. Iesus Christ (as S. Paul saith) is to the Iewes an offence, to the Gentiles foolishnesse:66 But to Gods children, aswell of the Iewes as of the Gentiles he is the power and wisedome of GOD.55 The holy man Simeon saith, that hee is set foorth for the fall and rising againe of many in Israel.Part. 2. Folio 152. Luke 2. As Christ Iesus is a fall to the reprobate, which yet perish through their owne default: so is his word, yea the whole booke of GOD, a cause of damnation vntounto them, through their incredulitie. And as he is a rising vp to none other then those which are GODS children by adoption: so is his word, yea the whole Scripture, the power of GOD to saluation to them onelyonly that doe beleeue it. Christ himselfe, the Prophets before him, the Apostles after him, all the true Ministers of GODS holy word, yea eueryevery word in GODS Booke, is vntounto the reprobate, the33 fauour of death vntounto death,
Christ Iesus, the Prophets, the Apostles, and all the true Ministers of his word, yea eueryevery iot and tittle in the holy Scripture, hauehave beene, is, and shall bee for euermore, the fauour of life vntounto eternall life,Folio 160. vntounto all those whose hearts GOD hath purified by true faith.22 GOD of his mercy and speciall fauour towards them whom he hath appointed to euerlasting saluation, hath so offered his grace44 especially, and they hauehave so receiued it fruitfully, that although by reason of their sinfull liuing outwardly, they seemed before to hauehave beene the children of wrath and perdition, yet now the66 Spirit of GOD mightily working in them, vntounto obedience to GODS will and commandements, they declare by their outward deedes and life,Folio 161. in the shewing of mercy, and charitie (which44 cannot come but of the Spirit of GOD, and his especiall grace that they are the vndoubted children of GOD, appointed to euerlasting life. And so as by their wickednes and vngodly liuing, they shewed themselues according to the iudgement of men, which follow the outward appearance, to bee reprobates and castawayes: So now by their obedience vntounto GODS holy will, and by their mercifulnesse and tender pity (wherein they shew themselues to bee like vntounto GOD, who is the fountaine and spring of all mercy) they declare openly and manifestly vntounto the sight of men,Part. 2. Folio 161. that they are the sonnes of GOD, and elect of him vntounto saluation. 22For as the good fruit is not the cause that the tree is good, but the tree must first be good before it can bring foorth good fruite: so the good deedes of men are not the cause that maketh men good, but hee is first made good, by the spirit and grace of GOD that66 effectually worketh in him, and afterward he bringeth foorth good fruites.
22The reasonable and godly, as they most certainely know and perswade themselues, that all goodnesse, all bounty, all mercy, all benefites, all forgiuenesse of sinnes, and whatsoeuer can bee named good and profitable, either for the body or for the soule, doe come onelyonly of GODS mercy and meere fauour,Folio 172. and not of themselues: 77Moreouer, hee came in flesh and in the selfe same flesh ascended into heauen, to declare and testifie vntounto vsus, that55 all faithfull people which stedfastly beleeue in him, shall likewise come vntounto the same mansion place,Folio 177. whereunto he being our chiefe Captaine is gone before. 55Christ openly declared his obedience to his Father, which (as Saint Paul writeth) was obedient euen to the very death, the death of the Crosse.Philip. 2. And this hee did for vsus all that beleeue in him.55 So pleasant was this facrifice and oblation of his Sonnes death, which hee so obediently and innocently suffered, that wee should take it for the onelyonly and full amends for all the sinnes of the world. And such fauour did he purchase by his death, of his heauenly Father for vsus, that for the merit thereof (if wee be true Christians indeede, and not in word onelyonly) we be now fully in GODS grace againe, and clearely discharged from our sinne.Folio 187. The onelyonly meane and instrument of saluation required of our parts, is faith, that is to say a sure trust and confidence22 in the mercies of God: whereby wee perswade our selues, that God, hoth hath, and will forgiue our sinnes, that he hath accepted vsus againe into his fauour, that he hath released vsus from the bonds of damnation,Part. 2. Folio. 187. 191. and receiued vsus againe into the 11number of his elect people,22 not for our merits or deserts, but onelyonly and solely for the merits of Christs death and passion.55 Christ died for our sinnes, and rose againe for our iustification: Why may not we, that bee his members by true faith, reioyce and boldly say with the Prophet Osee, and the Apostle Paul, Where is thy dart, O death? where is thy victory, O hell? 77Thankes bee vntounto God, say they, which hath giuen vsus the victory by our Lord Christ Iesus.
77Apply your selues (good friends) to liue in Christ,Folio 195. that Christ may still liue in you, whose fauour and assistance if yee hauehave, then hauehave yee euerlasting life already within you, then can nothing hurt you.Folio 209. 219. Whatsoeuer is hitherto done and committed.44 It is the holy Ghost, and no other thing, that doeth quicken the mindes of men, stirring vp good and godly motions in their hearts, which are agreeable to the will and commandement of God, such as otherwise of their owne crooked and peruerse nature they should neuer hauehave. That which is borne of the Spirit, is Spirit. As who should say: Man of his owne nature is fleshly and carnall, corrupt and naught, sinfull and disobedient to God, without any sparke of goodnesse in him, without any vertuous or godly motion, onelyonly giuen to euill thoughts and wicked deedes. As for the workes of the Spirit, the fruits of Faith, charitable and godly motions, if he hauehave any at all in him, they proceed onelyonly of the holy Ghost, who is the onelyonly worker of our Sanctification, and maketh vsus new men in Christ Iesus.
66His power and wisedome, compelleth vsus to take him for God omnipotent, inuisible, hauing rule in heauen & earth, hauing all things in his subiection, and will hauehave none in counsell with him, nor any to aske the reason of his doing.Dan. 11. For he may doe what liketh him, and none can resist him.22 For hee worketh all things in his secret iudgement to his owne pleasure,Prou. 16. yea euen the33 wicked to damnation saith Salomon. Part. 2. Foli. 228.All spirituall gifts and graces come specially from God: he sp…ed not from any paine and trauaile that might doe vsus good. To this our Saniour and Mediatour, hath God the Father giuen the power of heauen and earth, and the whole iurisdiction and authoritie, to distribute his goods and gifts committed to him: for so writeth the Apostle.Folio 229. Ephes. 4. To eueryevery one of vsus is grace giuen, according to the measure of Christs giuing. This knowledge and feeling is not in our selfe, by our selfe it is not possible to come by it, a great pitie it were that we should lose so profitable knowledge. Let vsus therefore meekely call vponupon that bountifull spirit the holy Ghost, which proceedeth from our Father of mercy, and from our Mediator Christ, that hee would assist vsus, and inspire vsus with his presence, that in him wee may bee able to heare the goodnesse of God declared vntounto vsus to our saluation.1 Cor. 12. For without his liuely and secret inspiration, can we not once so much as speake the Name of our Mediator, as Saint Paul plainely testifieth: No man can once name our Lord Iesus Christ, but in the holy Ghost. Much lesse should wee bee able to beleeue and know these great misteries that bee opened to vsus by Christ.1 Cor. 2. Saint Paul saith, that no man can know what is of God, but the Spirit of God. As for vsus (saith he) we hauehave receiued not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God, for this purpose: that in that holy spirit wee might know the things that bee giuen vsus by Christ. The wise man saith, that in the power and vertue of the holy Ghost, resteth all wisedome, and all abilitie to know God,Folio 263. and to please him.
44We must beware and take heed, that we doe in no wise thinke in our hearts, imagine,What wee must beware of. or beleeue that wee are able to repent aright, or to turne effectually vntounto the Lord by our owne might and strength. For this must be verified in all men.Iohn. 15. Without mee yee can doe nothing. Againe,2 Cor. 3. Of our selues wee are not able as much as to thinke a good thought. And in another place, It is God that worketh in vsus both the will and the deede.Part. 2. Foli. 263. lerem. 6. For this cause, although Hieremie had said before, If thou returne, O Israel, returne vntounto me, saith the Lord: Yet afterwards he saith, Turne thou mee, O Lord, and I shall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God. And therefore that holy writer and ancient father Ambrose Ambros. De Vocatione Gentium. lib… 2. cap. 9.doeth plainely affirme, that the turning of the heart vntounto God, is of God, as the Lord himselfe doeth testifie by his Prophet, saying, And I will giuegive thee an heart to knowe mee, that I am the Lord, and they shall bee my people, and I will bee their God, for they shall returne vntounto mee with their whole heart.
Both the Priesthood and the Law being changed wee ought to acknowledge none other Priest for deliuerance from our sinnes,Folio 267. but our Sauiour Iesus Christ, who being soueraigne Bishoppe, doeth with the Sacrifice of his Body and Blood, offered once for euer vponupon the Altar of the Crosse, most55 effectually cleanse the spirituall leprosie, and wash away the sinnes of all those that with true confession of the same doe flee vntounto him.
These seuerall passages quoted out of our Homilies do aboundanty testifie: that ther is an eternal and immutable Praedestination of certaine men vntounto eternall life, out of meere grace and mercy; and likewise a praetermission or reprobation of others to eternall death, out of Gods meere pleasure. That there is no Free-will, or sufficient grace communicated vntounto all men, whereby they may conuert, and saue themselues if they will. And that man without the speciall assistance of Gods grace and Spirit, is so weake and impotent, that hee can neither doe nor thinke any thing that is good, or prepare his heart to seeke for grace: That Christ Iesus hath dyed sufficiently for all men, but effectually for none but the Elect, and such who are enabled through faith to apply his merits to their soules. That Gods grace and Spirit doe alwayes worke effectually in the hearts of his Elect, in the act of their conuersion, which they can neuer finally nor totally resist. And that the Elect and truely regenerate can neither fall finally nor totally from the state of grace which is firme and stable. If any man desire to know more of mans imbecillity, and misery since the fall, which is such; that he can neither will nor doe any thing that is good, without Gods speciall preuenting and assisting grace: (a point which ouerthrowes the whole Fabricke of Arminianisme, which is founded vponupon mans Free-will.) Let him read the*Part. 1. pag. 7. to 13. first and second part of the Homily of the Misery of man. The Homilies of *Part. 2. Pag. 167. to 234.Christs Natiuitie, Passion, and Resurrection: The first Homily on Whitsonday: The first, second, and third part of the Homily on Rogation weeke: And the first part of the Homily of Repentance, where this point is so copiously handled, and aboundantly confirmed, that it needes no more dispute. Hee that would further satisfie himselfe in the freenesse of our Election, Vocation, Iustification, Sanctification, and Saluation, out of meere grace and mercy, without any desire, merits, will, or workes of our owne, or any thing foreseene in vsus; Let him reade the foresaid Homilies: together with*Part. 1. pag. 13. to 29. the first, second, and third parts of the Homilies of Saluation and Faith: Hee that would bee further and more fully instructed in the point of the sufficiency, value, worth, and merit of Christs death, which was able and sufficient of it selfe to redeeme, not some, but all mankinde, though the effect and application of it belong not to all, but onelyonly to the Elect who alone hauehave Faith for to apply it: let him reade all these forementioned Homilies. For the point of Perseuerance, if any desire more copious euidences for to cleare it: let him peruse the second part of those Homilies, Pag. 148. 209. 261. 262. 263. and there hee shall finde it prooued: That the Spirit of God doth alwaies dwell in the hearts of the Regenerate: (and that Dauid, Solomon, Noah, Lot, and Peter though they fell into grosse and … sinn…, yet they did not fall finally, nor totally from the state of Grace. The cauils which hauehave bene raised against this point vponupon some passages in the Homilies, of falling from God. aPerpetuitic of a Regenerate mans estate. Edit. 2. p. 322. to 329.I my selfe, bMr. Wottons Dangerous plot discouered c. 11. sect. 8. 9. p. 45. to 49. Mr. Yates Ibis ad C…sarem. 2. Part. p. 133. to 140.with others, hauehave formerly answered them in other books; I therfore spare for to repeate them, since the now recited passages are sufficient for to cleere this point, & to euidence it to the world: that the Arminian Tenents are manifestly oppugned, yea, condemned; not warranted by our Homilies.
These Homilies were most of them penned and composed by the Learned Archbishop of Canterbury, Doctor Cranmer afterwards a Martyr.