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HOM. XII. Against Contention and Brawling.

wicked generation.' Also he rebuketh Peter eagerly, saying, 'Go behind me, Satan.' Likewise St. Paul reproveth Elymas, saying, 'O thou full of all craft and guile, enemy to all justice, thou ceasest not to destroy the right ways of God: and now, lo, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, and not see for a time.' And St. Peter reprehendeth Ananias very sharply, saying, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan hath filled thine heart, that thou shouldst lie unto the Holy Ghost? This zeal hath been so fervent in many good men, that it hath stirred them not only to speak bitter and eager words, but also to do things, which might seem to some to be cruel; but indeed they be very just, charitable, and godly, because they were not done of ire, malice, or contentious mind, but of a fervent mind, to the glory of God, and the correction of sin, executed by men called to that office. For in this zeal our Lord Jesus Christ did drive with a whip the buyers and sellers out of the temple. In this zeal Moses brake the two Tables, which he had received at God's hand, when he saw the Israelites dancing about the calf, and caused to be killed twenty-four thousand of his own people. In this zeal Phineas, the son of Eleazer, did thrust through with his sword Zimri and Cozbi, whom he found together joined in the act of uncleanness. Wherefore now to return again to contentious words, and specially in matters of religion and God's word, (which should be used with all modesty, soberness, and chastity,) the words of St. James ought to be well marked and borne in memory, where he saith, that ' of contention riseth all evil.' And the wise King Solomon saith, 'Honour is due to a man that keepeth himself from contention; and all that mingle themselves therewith be fools.' And because this vice

Matt. xxiii. xvi. Acts xiii. v.

John ii. Exod. xxxii. Numb. xxv. Prov. xx.

HOM. XII.

Against Contention and Brawling.

is so much hurtful to the society of a commonwealth, in all well-ordered cities, these common brawlers and scolders be punished with a notable kind of pain, as to be set on the ducking-stool, pillory, or such like. And they be unworthy to live in a commonwealth, who do as much as lieth in them, with brawling and scolding, to disturb the quietness and peace of the same. And whereof cometh this contention, strife, and variance, but of pride and vain-glory? Let us therefore 'humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, which hath promised to rest upon them that be humble and low in spirit.' If we be good and quiet Christian men, let it appear in our speech and tongues. If we have forsaken the devil, let us use no more devilish tongues. He that hath been a railing scolder, now let him be a sober counsellor. He that hath been a a malicious slanderer, now let him be a loving comforter. He that hath been a vain railer, now let him be a ghostly teacher. He that hath abused his tongue in cursing, now let him use it in blessing. He that hath abused his tongue in evil-speaking, now let him use it in speaking well. Let all bitterness, anger, railing, and blasphemy, be avoided by you. If you may, and if it be possible, in no wise be angry. But if you may not be clean void of this passion, yet then so temper and bridle it, that it stir you not to contention and brawling. If you be provoked with evil-speaking, arm yourself with patience, lenity, and silence, either speaking nothing, or else being very soft, meek, and gentle in answering. Overcome thine adversary with benefits and gentleness; and, above all things, keep peace and unity. Be no peacebreakers, but peace-makers: and then there is no doubt, but that God, the Author of comfort and peace, will grant us peace of conscience, and such

1 Pet. v. Luke i.

HOM. XII. Against Contention and Brawling.

concord and agreement, that with one mouth and mind we may glorify God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom be all glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Each part of this Homily shews that one man ought not to invade another's prerogative. A private man should not presume to act the part of a prince or statesman, nor to pass censure about political affairs: a laymen should not obtrude himself into the sacred functions of the ministry, of authoritative teaching, of dispensing the sacraments, and of exercising spiritual censures, which are committed to the guides and pastors of the church; lest he encroach upon God, and assume to himself powers which he has not derived from Christ's order, and to which no man is bound to submit.

Hereafter shall follow Homilies on Fasting, Prayer, Alms-deed, on the Nativity, Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of our Saviour Christ: on the due receiving of his Blessed Body and Blood, under the form of Bread and Wine: against Idleness, against Gluttony and Drunkenness, against Covetousness, against Envy, Ire and Malice, with many other matters, as well fruitful as necessary to the edifying of christian people, and the increase of godly living.

HOM. XIII.

On the right Use of the Church.

HOMILY XIII.

On the right Use of the Church or Temple of God, and of the Reverence due unto the same.

WHEREAS there appeareth in these days great slackness 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 be there assembled, and thereby may just fear arise of the wrath of God, and his dreadful plagues hanging over our heads for our grievous offences in this behalf, amongst other many and great sins which we daily and hourly commit before the Lord: therefore, for the discharge of all our consciences, and for the avoiding of the common peril and plague hanging over us, let us consider what may be said out of God's holy Book concerning this matter, whereunto I pray you give good audience, for that it is of great weight, and concerneth you all. Although the eternal and incomprehensible Majesty of God, the Lord of heaven and earth, whose seat is heaven, and the earth his footstool, cannot be inclosed in temples or houses made with man's hand, as in dwelling-places able to receive or contain his Majesty, according as is evidently declared by the Prophet Isaiah, and by the doctrine of St. Stephen and St. Paul in the Acts of the Apostles. And where king Solomon (who built unto the Lord the most glorious temple that ever was made) saith,

Isa. lxvi. Acts vii. xvii.

HOM. XIII. On the right Use of the Church.

"Who shall be able to build a meet or worthy house for him? If heaven, and the heaven above all heavens, cannot contain hian, how much less can that which I have built?' And further coufesseth. What am I, that I should be able to build thee an house, O Lord? But yet for this purpose only it is made, that thou mayest regard the prayer of thy servant, and his humble supplication.' Much less then be our churches meet dwelling-places to receive the incomprehensible Majesty of God. And indeed the chief and special temples of God, wherein he hath greatest pleasure, and most delightest to dwell and continue in, are the bodies and minds of true Christians, and the chosen people of God, according to the doctrine of the holy Scripture, declared in the first Epistle to the Corinthians: Know ye not,' saith St. Paul, "that ye be the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him will God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which ye are.' And again in the same Epistle: Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost dwelling in you, which ye have given you of God, and that ye be not your own? For ye are dearly bought. Glorify ye now therefore God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.' And therefore, as our Saviour Christ teacheth in the Gospel of St. John, they that worship God the Father in spirit and truth, in what place soever they do it, worship him aright: for such worshippers doth God the Father look for. For God is a spirit: and those that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth,' saith our Saviour Christ. Yet all this notwithstanding, the material church or temple is a place appointed, as well by the usage and continual examples expressed in the Old Testament, as. in the New: for the people of God to resort

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1 Kings viii. 2 Chron. ii. vi. NO. 6.

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1 Cor. iii. vi. John iv.

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