Anonymous on Article XXXV: Of the Homilies

I. The Worth of these Homilies or Sermons set out by Authority is considerable, as may be found in their Perusal: For they treat of the chief Heads of Christianity, such as may inform the Under- standing, influence the Will, move the Affections, and lead the Man

(a) Hom. 12. to Heaven. (a) Such as treat of the Nativity of Christ, and disco-

ver how the Son of God was born of the Virgin Mary, was * * under

Thirty Nine ARTICLES. 236

• under the Law, to redeem us that were under the Law, that we Article t might receive the Adoption of Sons: (6) Of his meritorious Death XXXV. and Passion, and show how he died for our Sins, and bore our Iniqui- Fo ties ; how the Chastisement of our Peace was upon him, and through ers his Stripes we are healed : (c) Of his glorious Resurrection; how (0 Hom. 14. the Third Day after he was dead and buried, he rose again, was seen | often by many, and known to be the same iron that was crucified ; and after he had given good Proof of his being Alive, how he a- scended into Heaven, there to interceed in the Presence of God for us. By them we are instructed, (d) how to prepare for the Sacra- (4) Hom. 15. ment of his Body and Blood; how to be worthy Communicants, and to set forth our Lord’s Death, till he come to Judgment: (e) How () Hom. 19. we ought to repent of our Sins, to amend our Lives, and to bring forth Fruits worthy of Repentance, that our Light may shine be- fore Men, that they may see our good Works, and glorify our Father i « in Heaven”. (f) How we ought to fast sometimes, and abstain (J) Hom. 4. 10 from Food, that we may bring down the Body, and make it subje& to Wi the Spirit: (g) That we may be the more Intent upon Prayer, and () Hom. 7, 8. 1 mind the Things that belong to our Eternal Peace: And because nothing either dishonours or destroys Religion so much as an idle, vain, profane Life, these advise us (Y) against Idleness and Sloth, . and would have all Men be diligent in their Callings, that they may provide Things honest before all Men; serve God acceptably, and have wherewith to give unto others. (i) And that Christians may tt discover Decency in their Garments,and Prudence in their Behaviour, () Hom. 6, 11 these admonish us to adorn our selves with Modesty, as becometh | JW those that profess Godliness , and warn us against all Excess of Ap- Wl! parel, and Vanity in Garments ; that we may be cloathed with Hu- 1 mility, and not look upon Garments more than upon the Soul ; and that we may be sober, and watch unto Prayer: („ We are by them (0 Hom. s. cautioned against all Gluttony and Drunkenness, that we may not eat to Excess, or drink to Excess, but eat with Moderation to satisfy Hunger, and drink to asswage Thirst , and be so temperate and so- ber, as to keep the Mind serene, and the Body in good Health and Strength to serve the Lord. Such Sermons as treat of these Subjects, with an unaffected Stile and Christian Simplicity, may well be re- puted worthy of your Learning, and valuable for their Godly and Wholsome Doctrine; especially considering, that the Time will come, 2 Tim. 4. 3. when they will not endure sound Doctrine, but after their own Lists shall they beap to themselves Teachers, having itching Ears.

II. The Seasonableness of these Homilies appears, in that they were fitted to the Times, when they were first published, and ac- knowledged to be necessary for them. I shall therefore consider those Times, and what our Times are at present, that ye may see how sea- sonable they were, when first made, and how fit they are to be con- tinued.

Hh 2 1. When

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Article XXXV. a ae

(1) Hom. 10.

(m) Hom, 1.

(n) Hom. 2.

(%% Hom. 9.

() Hom. 4. () Hom. 11»

2 Tim. 4. 4.

An EXPOSITION of the

1. When these Homilies were first penn’d and publisn’d, the Na. tion was just delivered from Popery, and freed from the Tyranny of Rome, and it was judged very necessary, that all People should be instructed out of the Word of God, and understand the Danger of Popery. Whereupon (J) one Homily gives an Account of the: re- verent Estimation of God’s Word, that it might be preferr’d before the Inventions and Superstitions of Men, and received as the only certain Rule of Faith and Manners : And because the Church of Rome pretended to be the only Catholick Church, () another Ho- mily tells you, what the Church of Christ is, and the right Use of the Church; that 3s it is the Pillar and Ground of Truth, it 6ught to preserve the Truth, and not suppress it in an unknown Tongue And as it 1s God’s Truth, it ought to be imparted to all Christians ; and because that Church sets up Idolatry, and encourages it in the Worshipping of the Host and Images, (u) Another Homily sets forth the Danger and Peril of Idolatry, warns People against wor- shipping of Images, Saints, or any other; and calls upon them to turn their Adorations to God, and to worship him only, as the only and proper Object of their Adorations. And whereas all the Roman Service was perform’d in an unknown Tongue, (o) another Homily shews in direct Terms, that Common Prayer and Sacraments ought to be administer’d in a known Tongue; in a Language that every one understands, that the whole Congregation may know what 1s done, and join their Hearts and Affections with their Devotions. And since Rome valued it self so much for Works of Supererogation and Merit, (y) Another Homily sets forth the true Nature of good Works and Fasting. And (9) another the true Intent of Almsdoing, that the People may know, that whatsoever they do, or can do, is

but their Duty ; that when they have brought down their Body by

Fasting, and repeated their Prayers with the most fervent Devotion ; when they have denied themselves, and abounded in their Duty, they may see they are but unprofitable Servants, can merit nothing, or deserve nothing; for they have but done that which was their

Duty to do. So that if ye can look back, and behold the Nation

just delivered from Roman Servitude and Bondage, ye must confess

these Homilies to be very seasonable, and excellently fitted to the

Exigencies of those Times, to secure the People in the Profession of the Truth; and to prevent them from relapsing into the Mire a— gain: All Precaution is proper, when that comes to pass ; they shall turn away their Ears from the Truth, and shall be turned unto Fa-

bles.

2. Our Times at present indeed are different from those, when these Homilies were penn’d. For we are freed from Popery, and at present in no great Danger. But may the Homilies for that Reason be spared, and laid aside as useless Lumber ? Can we spare them in this refined and polite Age, as old-fashioned Discourses, and. enter- tain the Ear with sweeter Cadencies , and better Sense 2 Or are not these Homilics as necessary for our Times, as for the Times of our

F ore-

Thirty Nine ARTICLES.

ä

—— —Znu—

Fore-Fathers, and as proper, and seasonable as ever? For is not Article

Rome. as ready to seize upon us as ever, were it in her Power? And XXXV. is it not fit our Flocks should understand the Idolatry, Superstitions, + —

and Dangers of it? And if Popery did not lie so much in wait for us, have we not many amongst us, that bring in dangerous Errors, who depart from the Faith, and preach up Divisions ? And is it not proper to consult the Sentiments of our Fore-Fathers, to advise with their Discourscs, that we may know the Danger of Innovation in Reli- gion, and the furious Zeal of Rebellion, and keep steddily to our Daties ? And is it not commendable for us, to keep to the Principles of the Reformation, to guide our selves by their Advice, who were martyr’d and burnt for our Religion? If this is proper and becoming us, the Homilies may be excellent Discourses, still of great Use, and necessary for these Times, and for the Times that may succeed ours: For they are standing Discourses to examine the Principles of our Church by, and ought to be preserved as her undoubted Monuments and Sense, to be consulted upon all Emergencies, and produc’d as her undoubted Principle. And as of late we have experienced this Advantage, in producing her Opinion in Cases of Rebellion from thence, who knows but after-Ages may make it as necessary to consult her Sentiments upon other Points, and to alledge her Homi-

lies, as a sufficient Bar against all the Fancies of Enthufiasm and In-

novation, and as good Proof of our own Conformity to her genuine Doctrine and Principles? For she would never judge it proper for us to read that Doctrine to the People, which the does not approve of and recommend as her own Sense and Judgment. She is part of

\

the Church of the Living Cod, the Pillar and Ground of the

Truth.

I]. The Usefulness of these Homilies is asserted, in that they are

judged fit to be read diligently and distinctly to the People, that they may be understood and consider’d by them. And this is to be done to shew the Sense of our Church, to supply the Want of Learning in those, that are not able to compose for themselves.

1. Upon Occasion, these Homilies are to be read in Churches by

1 Tim. 3. 13, latter Part.

Ministers, to shew the Sense of the Church, and how uniform and

agreeable her Principles are, in all her publick Exercises, in her Arti- des and Homilies, Prayers and Offices; for they do not contradi& one another, or establish contrary Principles; but harmonize or agree as they should. Our Articles are the same in Doctrine with our Catechism; our Homilies with our Articles; and were the Mi- nistry as advised as it should be, there would be no Diversity of Do- ctrine, or Variation of Principle amongst us; but they might preach the same Truths, which the Church professes, and in her Language {ct forward the Salvation of Souls. In this Respe& it is not below the Fathers of our Church, or the greatest and most learned Doctors in her Communion, to peruse her Principles, to look over her Ho- milies, and to read them distinctly to the People; that they may keep

| Antide XXXV.

1 Tim 4. 13.

keep to the same Rule, speak the same Words, and accustom the Peo- ple to the same necessary and wholsome Truths. They may indeed, as they are able, divide the Word of Truth aright, in their own Periods; but as they are Members of the Established Church, and have subscribed to her Principles, and promised solemnly to keep steddily to her Doctrine, they may not expatiate in their own wan- ton Fancies, varnish over old Bren, and, to establish their own Fame, publish that which the Church never taught, and never autho- rized them to maintain. And as much as some of them may despise | to read distintly a Homily to the People, they may know that it was not below the Primitive Christians, to read the Apostles Epistles in their Assemblies ; nor can it be a Dishonour to any, how big soe- ver, to read an Homily to the People. Till I come, give Attendance to Reading, to Exhortatibn, to Doctrine.

2. These Homilies may supply the Want of Learning in those that

are not able to compose for themselves: For thus they may safely

publish the Church’s Sense to the People, may exhort them to Re- pentance, and to lead a new Life; may invite them to the Sacra- ment, and conduct them in the Path to Happiness. And the Go- vernors of our Church think it much better for them, to itistruct the People in this Manner, than to leave it to the Choice of the Weak

and Unlearned, to entertain the Auditory with the trifling Inventi-

on of a filly Imagination. Our Words ought to be well weigh’d,

which we presume to speak in the Presence of God, and ought to be very exact and agreeable to his Holy Word, which we deliver in his Name, and repeat to carry on his Work. And therefore they that

are not able to compose with Gravity and Steddiness, according to Scripture, had much better read an Homily, and speak the undoubt-

ed Sense of the Church, than trouble their Hearers with their own

Weakness. Some think that this was the true Reason, why the Ho- milies were at first published. For just after the Reformation, there were but few Ministers, and in many Places they were glad if they could but enjoy a Minister, that could but read well, and distinctly tell them the Word of God. They were then more forward to in- form the Mind, than to please the Ear; and more willing to know

what was to be done to enter into Eternal Life , than how to gratify

the Fancy, with the Sweetness of Sounds : And therefore they were more willing to hear a Homily than return to Popery. This was looked upon as the prime and chief Reason, why our Homilies are to be read, when able and fit Ministers are not present to preach the

Word of God, and to serve the present Necessity, till fit and proper _ Pastors are provided. For in the Beginning of Queen Elizaberh’s

Church. Our Ministry hath praised St. Paul’s Advice to T7

Reign, Sermons were not so frequent as they are now ; and an Ho- mily was counted a comfortable Refreshment to those, whose thirst

Souls panted after the Word of God, the Waters of Life. Since that Time we have had a Learned Ministry, the Homilies have been disused, and remain amongst us, as the true Sense of our Reformed

mothy. Medi-

Thirty Nine ARTICLES.

Meditate upon these Things, give thy self wholly to them , that thy profiting may appear to all.

From hence | must request you not to despise Homilies; To contider how cautious our Church hath been, and careful to save Souls; And how happy we might be, would we keep steddily to her Principles, and hve up to them, |

1. When we hear our Homilies, let us not despise them, or

Attidle, XXXV.

1 Tun.. 15.

count them unfit for our curious Ears; for they contain sound and

wholsome Doctrine, agreeable to the Principles of our Reformation, and worthy of your serious Consideration. And however of late they have been lighted, as contemptible, and the Dissenters refuse to subscribe them, as below their Attaintments : Yet as they con-

tain the Doctrine of Christianity, and are the true Remains of our

Church ; as they were never yet accus’d as counterfeit, or disprov’d as erroneous, we ought to pay them that Deference, which 1s due to such reverend Monuments, and receive them as the early First Fruits of our Reformers. Setting aside the Language, that in those Times was proper and intelligible, plain and fit for a com- mon Auditory, they contain those necessary Christian Truths, which may build us up in our most Holy Faith, and put us upon that Ho- ly Life, which, through the Merits of Christ, may timely prepare us for Heaven. Our Church hath consider’d the Capacities of all, and endeavours to suit her Sense to all, that they may be saved. Eben as I please all Men in all Things, not seeking mine own Profit , but the Profit of many, that they may be saved. |

2. Our Church hath been very Cautious in her Reformation, and prudent in providing for the Instruction and Editication of her Peo- ple; her Wariness hath been so great, that she hath not only kept to the Word of God, and the Explication of it, which the Primitive Times afford ; but hath caused her Articles and Homilies, her Ca- techism and Offices, to agree with great Exactness, to contain the | fame Doctrine, and explain the same Faith. So that all speak the same Sense, and appear to be one and the same Truth. And as her Wariness hath been thus commendable, she hath provided that every Person may be duly inform’d what to believe, and instructed and ex- | Horted what to practise, that the Salvation of all may be set forward and secur’d. And it were to be wished that all her Sons, and some of them of the largest Size, would imitate her Care and Prudence, and not vary from what she hath established ; that we may profess the same Faith, act from the same Principle, and as we go up to the House of God as Friends, may agree in Principle . Ne- wvertheless wherety we have already attained, let us walk by the same Rule, let us mind the same Thang. | 3. How happy might we be. would we keep steddily to our Church’s Principles, and live up to them ! For our Faith would then be secure, our Lives holy, our Prayers acceptable, and our Ends happy Fa We

| shou

Cor. 10. 13:

phil. 3 16.

240 An EXPOSITION of the

Article should then hate all Innovations in Doctrine or Discipline, shun all

XXXV. erroneous Pretenders to, and Guides in Religion, and keep steddily

to the Principles and Interest of the Reformation; all designing Men

amongst us would be oppos’d, all novel Doctrines rejected, and the

good old Way to Heaven would be trodden in, and recommended.

Our Church hath done what lies in her, to entitle us to this Happi-

ness, and nothing but our own hearty Concurrence is neceslary to

establish it amongst us, Would we but live as we profess, we might

Phil. 3. 1, the be the Care of Heaven, and a Praise upon the Earth. To write the

latter Par same Things to you, to me indeed is not grievous , but for you it it safe. 1 FF xs

Thirty Nine ARTICLES.

Arier XXXVI. Tit: I. 5.

Foz this Cause left J thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in Oꝛder the Things that are

wanting, and o2dain Elders in every City,

as J had appointed thee, 7

T F we look backwards, and trace the Government of the Church I down to the Apostles, we shall find from Century to Century,

that all along Bishops have been chief and eminent in it; and that immediately after the Apostles decease, they succeeded them in their Care and Ministry, St. Paul left Timothy at Ephesus, and Ti- tus in Crete for this very Purpose ; and the rest of the Apostles or- dained others to supply their Stead in other Places, and to govern the Church in their Absence, and after their Death. St. Paul is ve- ry express in his Directions to Titus. Foz this Cause left J thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in Oꝛder the Things that

are wanting, and oꝛdain Elders in every City, as J had appointed the. NY

Wich may lead us to the Thirty Sixth Article, which lays,