The Faith of the Church of England, Chapter 7 – Chapter 8
CHAP. VII. Of the internall effect of grace.
THE books attribute the internall effects of grace to God alſo. For howſoever that grace that is given us in regeneration have ſome power to produce ſpirituall thoughts; yet becauſe our ſpirituall life is not ſo compleat, as our naturall life, and is much hindred from good inclinations by the corruptions of our fleſh remaining, ſo that it cannot do that good it would without a freſh ſupply of Gods aſsiſting grace, therefore the help of God is ſtill implored, and the praiſe of the effect given to him. Now if in a man regenerate there be need of more grace to help that act, which he hath already, then certainly the firſt work of grace, whereby a dead man is made alive ſpiritually, muſt needs be the only effectuall work of Gods Spirit. For if he cannot thinke what he would, now he hath grace, at all times without further help, then certainly before he had grace, he could do nothing pleaſing to God. This head of the internall effects of grace is the largeſt of all the reſt. We will therefore divide it into two parts. Firſt, we will treat of the internall effect of Gods grace in generall in the regenerate. Secondly, of the particular effects of it.
For the Firſt.
The effect of grace in generall is ſet down in theſe places.
O God from whom all holy deſires, Collect. 2. Even. Pray.all good counſels and all juſt works do proceed.
That it may pleaſe thee to endue the Lords of the Counſell, Letany.and all the Nobilitie with grace.
That it may pleaſe thee to give to all thy people increaſe of grace, Letany.to heare meekly thy word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit.
O God from whom all good things do proceed.Coll. Sund. 5. after Eaſter. Sund. 7. after Trin. Sunday 13. after Trin. Coll. Sund. 23. after Trin. Prayer 1. in Matrim. Veni Creator.
O God the Authour and giver of all good things.
Almightie and mercifull God, of whoſe onelyonly gift it cometh, that thy faithfull people do unto thee true and laudable ſervice.
God our refuge and ſtrength, which art the authour of all godlineſſe.
O eternall God giver of all ſpirituall grace, the authour of everlaſting life.
Thou in thy gifts art manifold,
whereby Chriſts Church doth ſtand:
In faithfull hearts writing the law,
the finger of Gods hand.
Thine holy Ghoſt into us poure,Lords pray. by D. Coxe.
with all his gifts moſt plenteouſly.
Whatſoever is good proceedeth from God as from the principall fountain, Rogat. Ser. Part. 1.and the only authour. All good things come down to us from above from the Father of light.
The Title of the Sermon is,
That all good things cometh from God.
In Chriſt God the Father doth bleſſe us with all ſpirituall and heavenly gifts.Part. 3.
God is the giver of all good things.Now. Cat. queſt. 249.
The particular effects of grace are ſeene either in mortifying of vice, or exerciſing of vertue in the heart. I will begin with thoſe places that ſpeake of mortifying of vice.
Almightie God mortifie and kill all vices in us.Coll. Innoc. day. Cat. in the Common Prayer book queſt. 15.18 Complaint of a ſinner.
A Sacrament is an externall and viſible ſign, of an internall and ſpirituall grace given unto us. This grace in Baptiſme is a dying unto ſinne, and living unto righteouſneſſe.
Now let thoſe drops moſt ſweet
So moiſt my heart moſt dry,
That I with finne replete
May live and ſinne may dye,
That being mortifide
This ſinne of mine in mee,
I may be ſanctifide
By grace of thine in thee,
So that I never fall
Into ſuch mortall ſinne,
That my foes infernall
Rejoyce my death therein:
But vouchſafe me to keep
From thoſe infernall foes,
And from that lake ſo deep,
Whereas no mercy growes.
Make us to follow the doctrin of Iohn the Baptiſt, Coll. on S. Iohn Bapt. day. Prayer 1. added to Set. Faſt. 1625. Prayer. 4. Thanksg. for ceaſing plague, 1604.that we may truly repent according to his preaching.
Give us thy heavenly grace, that we may truly and earneſtly repent.
As thou gaveſt the Ninivites repentance through thy grace, ſo now viſit the hearts of thy people in this land with thine heavenly grace and holy Spirit, that they may ſpeedily and ſoundly return unto thee from all their wicked wayes, in true repentance and a living faith in Jeſus Chriſt.
See the like in the Evening prayers ſet forth in the rainy weather, 1613. Homily of falling from God. Part. 2. Homily againſt wilfull rebellion. Part. 1. Collect. 1. in Thankſgiving. Novemb. 5. and the next prayer there:
Grant us the true circumciſion of the Spirit, Collect. on Circumciſ. of Chriſt.that our hearts and all our members being mortified from all worldly and carnall luſts, may in all things obey thy bleſſed will.
Grant us ſo to put away the leaven of malice and wickedneſſe, Coll. on Eaſter tueſday.that we may alwayes ſerve thee in pureneſſe of living and truth.
Grant that we forſaking all worldly and carnall affections, Coll. on S. Iames day.may be evermore ready to follow thy commandments.
To withſtand Satans invaſion
Give power and ſtrength to every age.Lords Pr. by D. Cox. Prayer to the holy Ghoſt before the Serm. Coll. before Epiſ. Faſt. 1625. Thanksgiving following. Coll. 1. Prayer. 2. There after the Goſpel. Prayer againſt rebel. in the Hom. Cain Com. Pray. book. queſt. 24.
O holy Ghoſt viſit our coaſt,
Defend us with thy ſhield:
Againſt all ſinne and wickedneſſe,
Lord help us win the field.
Create and make new hearts within us O Lord.
Give unto us ſuch effectuall grace, that every one of us beholding the plague of his own heart, we may abhorre our corruptions, and turn our ſelves away from our evill wayes.
Give us grace that we may not any more provoke thine indignation againſt us by our tranſgreſſions.
Make ſoft and tender the ſtony hearts of all thoſe that exalt themſelves againſt thy truth.
Our ſoules are ſtrengthened and refreſhed with the body and bloud of Chriſt, as our bodies are with bread and wine.
By the ſtrength of the holy Ghoſt ſinfull fleſh is ſubdued and tamed, Now. Cat. queſt. 144.and corrupt deſires are brideled and reſtrained.
We pray that God will with the moving of his holy Spirit, Queſt. 208.ſo change and faſhion all the wils of us all to the will of his Majeſtie, that we may will or wiſh nothing, that his divine will miſliketh.
Thus much for the effects of grace in mortifying of vice, now follow thoſe that belong to the executing vertue in the ſoul.
That it may pleaſe thee to give us an heart to love and dread thee, Letany.and diligently to live after thy commandments.
By thy ſpeciall grace preventing us, Collect. on Eaſter day. Sund. 4. after Eaſter.thou doſt put into our hearts good deſires.
Almightie God which doſt make the minds of all faithfull men to be of one will, grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing, which thou commandeſt, and deſire that which thou doſt promiſe.
Grant us thy humble ſervants, Coll. Sund. 5. after Eaſter. Sund. 3. after Trinity. Sund. 6. after Trinity.that by thy holy inſpiration we may think thoſe things that be good.
Lord to whom thou haſt given an hearty deſire to pray.
O God poure into our hearts ſuch love toward thee, that we loving thee in all things may obtaine thy promiſes.
That thy ſervants may obtaine their petitions, Sund. 10. after Trinity.make them to aske ſuch things as ſhall pleaſe thee.
Grant we beſeech thee, Sunday 13.that we may ſo run to thy heavenly promiſes, that we raile not finally to attain the ſame.
That we may obtaine that which thou doſt promiſe, Sunday 14.make us to love that which thou doſt command.
Grant thy people grace with pure heart and minde to follow thee the onelyonly God.Sund. 18.
Grant we beſeech thee unto thy Church to love that he beleeved.Coll. on S. Barthol. day. Coll. on Sim and Iudes day. Prayer at begin. of Commandements. Prayer after each command. After the laſt commandement. Prayer of the Prieſt in the name of the communicants. Prayer. 2. after receiving the communion. Prayer. 2. in the ſhort ones after the communion. Prayer. 3.
Grant us ſo to be joyned together in unity of Spirit by their doctrine, that we may be an holy Temple acceptable to thee.
Cleanſe our hearts that we may perfectly love thee and worthily magnify thy holy name.
Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keepe this law.
Lord write all theſe thy lawes in our hearts we beſeech thee.
Grant us therefore gracious Lord ſo to eate the fleſh of thy deare Sonne Jeſus Chriſt, and to drinke his bloud, that our ſinfull bodies may be made clean by his body, and our ſoules waſhed through his moſt precious bloud.
We moſt humbly beſech thee O heavenly Father ſo to aſſiſt us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowſhip.
O Almighty Lord and everliving God, vouchſafe, we beſeech thee to direct, ſanctifie, and govern, both our hearts and bodies in the wayes of thy lawes, and in the works of thy Commandements.
Grant we beſeech thee Almighty God, that, the words which we have heard this day with our outward eares, may through thy grace be ſo graffed inwardly in our hearts, that they may bring forth in us the fruit of good living.
Sanctify and waſh theſe children with the Holy Ghoſt, Prayer. 1. in Baptiſme.that they being delivered from thy wrath may be received into the Arke of Chriſts Church, & being ſtedfaſt in faith, joyfull through hope, and rooted in charity, may ſo paſſe the waves of this troubleſome world, that finally they may come to the land of everlaſting life.
I deſire my Lord God our heavenly Father, Cat in common prayer booke queſt. 13.who is the giver of all goodnes, to ſend his grace unto me, and to all people that we may worſhip him, ſerve him, and obey him, as we ought to doe.
Daily increaſe in theſe thy ſervants, Prayer. 1. in confirm.thy manifold gifts of grace, the ſpirit of wiſdome and underſtanding, the ſpirit of counſaile, and ghoſtly ſtrength, the ſpirit of knowledge and true godlineſſe, and fulfill them, O Lord, with the ſpirit of thy holy feare.
Almighty and everliving God, Prayer. 3.which makeſt us both to will and to doe thoſe things, that be good and acceptable unto thy Majeſty.
The Lord ſo fill you with all ſpirituall benediction and grace, that you may ſo live together in this life, The Bleſſing in marriage.that in the world to come, you may have life everlaſting.
Send thy bleſſing upon theſe thy ſervants, Prayer. 2. in Matrim.that they obeying thy will, and alwayes being in ſafety, under thy protection, may abide in thy love to their lives end.
Grant that this man may love his wife according to thy word, Prayer. 4.and alſo that this woman may be a follower of holy and godly Matrons.
Almighty God poure upon you the riches of his grace, ſanctifie and bleſſe you, Prayer. 5. in Matrim.that ye may pleaſe him both in body and ſoule, and live together in holy love unto your lives end.
Give this thy ſervant grace ſo to take thy viſitation, Prayer 2. in viſita. of the ſicke. Prayer 3.that after this painfull life ended, he may dwell with thee in life everlaſting.
Renew in this thy ſervant (moſt loving Father) whatſoever hath been decayed by the fraud and malice of the Devill, or by his owne carnall will and fraileneſſe.
Thou moſt worthy Judge eternall, Sentence. 4. in the buriall. Laſt prayer in buriall.ſuffer us not at our laſt houre for any paines of death to fall from thee.
We meekly beſeech thee (O Father) to raiſe us from the death of ſin unto the life of righteouſneſſe.
O Holy Ghoſt
Viſit our mindes and unto us,Veni Creator Spiritus.
thy heavenly grace inſpire:
That in all truth, and godlineſſe,
we may have true deſire.
To us ſuch plenty of thy grace,In the ſame bymne.
good Lord grant we thee pray:
That thou mayſt be our comforter,
at the laſt dreadfull day.
Grant we pray not with lips alone,Lords pray. by D. Coxe. Prayer laſt in order Deacons.
But with the hearts deepe ſigh and grove.
Make theſe Deacons to be modeſt, humble, and conſtant in their miniſtration, to have a ready will to obſerve all ſpirituall diſcipline, that they continuing ever ſtable and ſtrong in thy Sonne Chriſt, may well uſe themſelves in this office.
Almighty God our heavenly Father, Prayer. 2. in Conſecr. of Biſhops.who hath given you a good-will to doe all theſe things, &c.
Governe us by thy holy Spirit to frame in us a newneſſe of life therein to laud and magnifie thy bleſſed name, for ever, Prayers in the faſt. 1625. Coll. 1.and to live every one of us according to the ſeverall ſtate of life, whereunto thou Lord haſt ordained us in godly feare, and trembling before thee.
Grant us grace, and true repentance, ſtedfaſt faith, Prayers in the faſt. 1625. Coll. 1.and conſtant patience, that whither we live or die, we may alwayes continue thine, and ever praiſe thy holy name, and by thy great mercy be pertakers of grace in this life, & eternall glory in the life to come.
Grant us a due care and conſcience in our ſelves to uſe all good meanes of recovery: Prayer. 6. added to the Letany.that neither we tempt thy Majeſty by preſumption in contemning of the contagion; or neglecting of the meanes of avoiding, removing and repreſſing the ſame: neither deſpaire of thy goodneſſe, or murmure againſt the providence (if we be not ſo ſoone eaſed and delivered as we deſire) but that we may (ſubmitting our ſelves, in all things to thy good will and pleaſure) ſeeke thy mercifull favour for our releaſe and ſuccour, by true faith and repentance: uſe the meanes for eaſe, which thou giveſt us with care and diligence: helpe the afflicted and preſerve the whole with compaſſionate pitty and charity: and finally depend upon thy providence, and waite for thy gracious deliverance with conſtant hope and patience.
Send us light in our underſtanding, Prayers in the faſt. 1626. Pray. 1. added to Letany. Art. 10.readineſſe and obedience in our will.
We can doe nothing pleaſing to God without Gods grace through Chriſt preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have a good will.
In the man that is born again the underſtanding is inlightned, Rogers on that Art. Prop. 3.and the minde wholly changed, and the body is made able to produce good works.
They that are predeſtinated are both juſtified by faith, Prop. 7. on Art. 17.and ſanctified by the Spirit, and ſhall be glorified in the life to come.
Grant that the King may through thy grace in all honour, Prayer for March 27.1. Pr. added to Letany. Laſt prayer ſave one.vertue, and godlineſſe, continue his glorious reigne over us many yeers.
Bleſſe the Kings royall allyance with the dew of thy heavenly Spirit, that they ever truſting in thy goodneſſe, and protected by thy power, may after death obtain eternall glory.
The Scriptures have power to turn through Gods promiſe, Hom. of exhort. to read Script. Part. 1. In the ſame place. Part. 2.and be effectuall through Gods aſſiſtance.
In reading Gods word he profits moſt, that is moſt turned into it, that is moſt inſpired with the holy Ghoſt.
Read not the Scriptures without daily praying to God, that he would direct your reading to good effect.In the ſame place. Ser. of Salu. Part. 1. In the ſame place. Serm. of Truth. Part. 1. Sermon againſt adultery. In the ſame place.
Let us pray to God, that we may ſpeak, think, beleeve, live, and depart hence according to the wholſome doctrin of the Scriptures.
True faith is not ours, but by Gods working in us.
A true and lively faith is the gift of God.
God gave the Fathers then grace to be his children, as he doth us now.
We are ſanctified and made holy by the blood of Chriſt through the holy Ghoſt.
God grant that theſe words againſt adultery may not be ſpoken in vain.
God by his holy word indueth his people aſſembled in his Church, Hom. of right uſe of Church.with the effectuous preſence of his heavenly grace.
God doth indue his people aſſembled in his Church, Hom. againſt perill of idol. Part. 1.with the effectuall preſence of his grace by his word and promiſes to the attainment of worldly commodities, and all heavenly gifts, and life everlaſting.
God vouchſafe to purifie our minds through faith in Chriſt, Hom. of inform of ſuch as take offence at ſome places of Script. Part. 2.& to inſtill the heavenly drops of his grace into our hard-ſtony hearts to ſupple the ſame, that we be not contemners and deriders of his word, but that with all humbleneſſe of minde and Chriſtian reverence, we may indeavour our ſelves to heare and to read his ſacred Scriptures, and inwardly, ſo to digeſt them, as ſhall be to the comfort of our ſoules, and ſanctification of his holy Name.
Man is firſt made good by the Spirit and grace of God, that effectually worketh in him, Hom. of Almſdeeds. Part. 2. Hom. of Almſdeeds. Part. 2. In the ſame place. In the ſame place.and afterwards bringeth forth good fruits.
The grace of God worketh all in all.
Whatſoever can be named good and profitable for body or ſoule, comes only of Gods mercy and meere favour, and not of our ſelves.
God attributes that unto us, and to our doings, that he by his Spirit worketh in us, and through his grace procureth for us.
God grant that we may alwayes ſhew our ſelves thankfull for Chriſts death, Paſsion. Sermon. 2.abhorring all kinde of wickedneſſe, and applying our minds wholly to the ſervice of God, and the diligent keeping of his commandments.
It is Gods Spirit which ingendreth a burning zeale towards Gods word.Hom. for Whitſunday. Part. 1. In the ſame place. In the ſame place.
Nicodemus knew not the power of the holy Ghoſt in this behalfe, that it is he which inwardly worketh the Regeneration, and new birth of mankinde.
It is the holy Ghoſt and no other thing that doth quicken the minds of men, ſtirring up good and godly motions in their hearts, which otherwiſe of their own crooked and perverſe nature they ſhould never have.
The fruits of faith, In the ſame place.charitable and godly motions, if man have any at all in him, they proceed onelyonly of the holy Ghoſt, who is the only worker of our ſanctification, and maketh us new men in Chriſt Jeſus.
The Spirit of Jeſus is a good Spirit, Part. 2.an holy Spirit, a lowly Spirit, a mercifull Spirit. If any man live uprightly, he hath the holy Ghoſt within him.
If the Saints in heaven were asked, Serm. for Rogat. week. Part. 1.who ſhould be thanked for their regeneration, juſtification, and ſalvation, they would anſwer with David. Not to us Lord, but to thy Name give all the thanks.
If they be asked, In the ſame place.whence came all their glorious works, they would ſay with Eſay, O Lord it is thou of thy goodneſſe, that haſt wrought all our works in us, not we our ſelves.
They be juſtitiaries and hypocrites, In the ſame place.which rob Almightie God of this honour, and aſcribe it to themſelves.
Let us confeſſe, Serm. for Rogat. week Part. 2.that all ſpirituall graces behoveable for our ſoule come from God, without whoſe goodneſſe no man is called to faith or ſtayed therein.
God grant us all grace ſo to heare his word that we may fulfill it.In the ſame place.
God give us grace to know thoſe things, Part. 3.and to feele them in our hearts. This knowledge and feeling is not in our ſelfe: by our ſelfe it is not poſſible to come by it. Let us therefore meekly call upon the Holy Ghoſt, that he would aſſiſt us and inſpire us with his preſence, that in him we may be able to heare our ſalvation. For without his lively and ſecret inſpiration we cannot ſo much as name Chriſt. Much leſſe ſhould we be able to beleeve.
In Gods Spirit ſhall we be meet veſſels to receive the grace of Almighty God: In the ſame place.for it is he that purgeth and purifieth the minde by his ſecret working. He ſitteth in the tongue of man to ſtirre him to ſpeake his honour. He onelyonly miniſtreth ſpirituall ſtrength to the powers of our ſoule and body. It is Gods Spirit, that maketh us to hold the way, which God hath prepared for us, and to pray boldly to God. If any gift we have, whereby we may worke to the glory of God, and profit of our neighbour, all is wrought by this Spirit.
The holy Spirit will confirme us in all things.In the ſame place. Hom. of Matrim.
Married perſons muſt crave continually of God, the helpe of his holy Spirit ſo to rule their hearts, and to knit their minds together, that they be not diſſevered by any diviſion of diſcord.
It is God that worketh in us both the will, Serm. of Repen. Part. 1.and the deed. Phil. 2. For this cauſe although Ieremy had ſaid before, If thou returne O Iſrael, returne unto me, ſaith the Lord, yet afterwards he ſaith, Turne thou me O Lord, & I ſhall be turned, for thou art the Lord try God. Ier. 6. And therefore that holy writer and ancient Father Ambroſe doth plainely affirme, that the turning of the heart to God is of God. Ambroſ. de vocat. gent. lib. 8. cap. 9. As the Lord himſelfe doth teſtifie by his Prophet, ſaying, And I will give thee an heart to know me, that I am the Lord, and they ſhall be my people, and I will be their God, for they ſhall returne unto me with their whole heart.
God vouchſafe by his holy Spirit to worke a true and unfained repentance in us.In the ſame place.
If we repent, Hom. againſt wilfull rebell. Part. 1. Next pray. after Coll. Nove. 5. Now. Cat. queſt. 43. queſt. 128.God will either take away evill Princes, or of evill make them good.
Make us now and alwayes truly thankfull in heart, word, and deed, for all thy gracious mercies, and this our ſpeciall deliverance.
We muſt on the Sabbath reſt from our own works, and yeeld our ſelves wholly to Gods governance, that he may doe his workes in us.
From Chriſts reſurrection cometh unto us an endeavour, vertue, and ſtrength to live well and holily.
Chriſt indueth us with ſtrength by the vertue and power of his reſurrection to riſe from the deadly workes of ſinne, queſt. 129.and live to righteouſneſſe.
The Spirit of God is called holy, queſt. 142.for that by him the elect of God and the members of Chriſt are made holy: for which cauſe the ſcriptures have called him the ſpirit of ſanctification.
It is onelyonly God which ſtrengthneth man and by whoſe grace the ſinner conceiveth this hope, queſt. 164.minde, and will.
Chriſt with the inſpiration and vertue of the Holy Ghoſt doth regenerate and newly forme us to the endeavour of innocency and holineſſe, queſt. 173.which we call newneſſe of life.
Faith is the gift of God, queſt. 180.and a ſingular and excellent gift.
The Holy Ghoſt hath wrought faith in my heart by the preaching of the Goſpel.queſt. 249.
CHAP. VIII. Of the purification of the heart.
MOrall perſwaſion goes before any intent in man to purifie his owne heart. If then this latter act of purifying the heart, which muſt neceſsarily follow the intention of purging be attributed to God, then muſt he needs doc more in the cenverſion of a ſinner then morally to perſwade him to purge his owne heart. Now that this act is aſcribed to God, the bookes can witneſſe.
O God make cleane our hearts within us.Short prayers after the Creed. Letany.
From all blindneſſe of heart, from pride, vaineglory, and hypocriſy, from envy hatred and malice, Good Lord deliver us.
Grant us the true circumciſion of the Spirit, Coll. on circumciſion of Chriſt.that our hearts being mortified from all worldly and carnall luſts, &c.
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts.Coll. 1. day of Lent. Coll. 3. on good Friday. Coll. on Tueſday in Eaſter.
Have mercy upon all Jews, Turkes, Infidels, and Hereticks, and take from them all ignorance, hardneſſe of heart, and contempt of thy word.
Grant us ſo to put away the leaven of malice and wickedneſſe, that we may, &c.
Grant that we may be preſented to thee with pure and cleane mindes.Collect. on the Purif. of the virgin S. Mary. Coll. on S. Matthews day. Coll. on S. Lukes day. Hom. of Inform. of them which take offence &c. Part. 2. end. Serm. for Rogat. week Part. 3.
Grant us grace to forſake all covetous deſires, and inordinate love of riches.
May it pleaſe thee by the wholeſome medicines of Lukes doctrine, to heale all the diſeaſes of our ſoules.
God therefore for his mercies ſake vouchſafe to purifie our mindes through faith in his Sonne Jeſus Chriſt, and to inſtill the heavenly drops of his grace into our hard ſtony hearts to ſupple the ſame, that we be not contemners and deriders of his infallible word.
In Gods Spirit ſhall we be meet veſſels to receive the grace of Almighty God. For it is he that purgeth and purifieth the minde by his ſecret working.