A profitable and necessarye doctrine with certayne homelyes adioyned therunto / set forth by the reuerend father in God, Edmunde Byshop of London ...

〈◊〉〈◊〉 An Homelie of the church, what it is, and of the commoditie thereof.

WHosoeuer (good people) wyll call to hys remembraūce, y^t inestimable good nes of almyghtye God, and his inesti mable mercye, to∣wards vs nothing deseruing the same yf there be any spot of heuenly grace in that person, he shall be ashamed of hys owne vnthankfulnes, and diso∣bediens, and be compelled to fall downe in body & soule, before our Lorde, to aske pardon for his trās∣gression. Of the which goodnes, and mercy of god, you haue a sufficiente, and moste euident declarati on, in these godly, and deuout homelies, that are set fourth to you, of the creation, & redemption, of man Neuerthelesse, for your further instruction, & gost∣lye comfort in this behalfe, I haue thought good to lett you vnderstand, an other hye benefytte, geuen to vs, by our sauioure, and redemer, Iesus Chryste, that we, hauyng perfyt knowledge of God, maye euermore prayse, and magnifye hym, accordynge to our moost bounden duetye. And this hye, and hea∣uenly benefyte, is the holye catholyke churche, whi che our deare, and dreadefull Sauiour, both before

and after his paynefull deathe, dyd ordeyne, and ap poynt, to be for euer to vs, a moost louinge, & tender mother, a perpetual preseruation for our soule helth and a pyller of truth, in all our doutefull daungers Which churche, forsomuch as he hath bene latelye assaulted, by sundry sectes, and heresies, and so sore shaken, that manye (more is the pitie) had separate them selues from the same, and wylfully haue rune astray, beynge ledde, and caried with euerye waue and wynde of newe lerning, I purpose, by Godes grace, to open shortly to you, what this churche is, what maner of church it is, and what commoditie we haue by it.

Fyrst, the churche is a conuocation of all people throughout the whole worlde, professyng one faith of God, and one vse of all the holy sacraments, whi che churche, because it is purchased, and sanctified, by the death of oure Sauioure Iesus Christe, it is most derely beloued to God the father, and is cal∣led in holy Scripture, by most hie, and excellent na mes, as Corpus Christi, Sponsa Christi, Regnum celorum. &c. that is to say. The body misticall of Chryste, the spouse of Chryst, the kyngdome of heauen.* 1.1 For S. Paule, speakyng of Chryste, sayeth, That he hath appointed sundry officers, to main∣taine the holy ones, into the worke of mini∣stration, to the edifieng of the bodi of Christ. And kyng Salomon, taught by the holy ghost dyd forsee the dignitie, and beutye of his holye Churche and sayde in the name of GOD thereby.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 est 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mea, perfectamea. That is to saye: One is my doue, and my perfyte one. Wyth many* 1.2 other such louing words: as my sister, my spouse, &c.

And Saynt Paule byddeth husbandes to loue theyr wyues, euen as Chryst loued the church. Lykewyse in the holy Ghospell, our sauiour Chryst* 1.3 doth compare the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thinges, vnder the name of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as vnto a kyng whych made o mariage for his sonne: somtimes to tenne Uyrgynes, and many such other by al which* 1.4 names, & callings, we may learne that the churche is a high and excellent thing, and derely beloued to almyghty God, who for his churche sake, did gyue* 1.5 hys onely sonne, to most vyle death, & for y^t whiche also he hath prepared the kingdome of heauen.

Nowe forasmuch as we rede of an other church in the holy scrypture, which is called. Ecclesia malignanti um. The churche of the malignaunt & nough* 1.6 tye people. And yet of late, a great number of scis∣maticall persones, being in very dede members of thys malygnaunt church, haue vsurped to thē selus the name of the true churche: I intende to gyue you sufficient instructiō, to dyscerne and know the true churche of Chryst, from all hereticall and scys∣maticall congregations. Fyrst this holye and true churche of Chryst, is called in our Crede, as it is in dede, the catholyke churche. That is to saye, the vniuersall church, bycause it is not lurkynge in any corner, or anye one country, but is in all countryes dyspersed, neyther is thys catholyke churche, hyd

〈◊〉〈◊〉 vs, or inuisible, or vnknowen, but we maye ease ly dyscerne, and know the same. For christ doth cal it. Ciuitatem supra montem. A citie vpon an hyll. And* 1.7 in the Gospell of Saynt Mathewe also, teachyng the order of brotherly reconciliation, he sayeth. Yf thy brother trespasse agaynst the, go and tel him his faute, betwene hym, and the alone,* 1.8 but yf he hear not the, yet take with the one or two, yf he heare not them, than tell the churche. Oh Lorde, howe shall he tell y^t churche yf it be not knowen, as the euyll doo contende Lykewyse Saynt Paule speakyng, to the preystes and elders at Ephesus, doth warne thē to take hed to them selues, and to all the flocke, amonge whom* 1.9 the holy ghost (sayth he) hath placed you to rule the churche of God. Thus playnely the scripture decla∣reth that the catholyke churche is and ought to be, manyfestly 〈◊〉〈◊〉, yet lest you should any thyng doute of the vnderstandynge of these scryptures, heare I besech you, how playnely, Saynt August* 1.10 〈◊〉〈◊〉, doth wryte hereof. Sicut per 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 nonimus ubi sit plā∣tatus paradisis, sic per uerbi 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ubi 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 didicimus.

As by the wordes of God, we know wher paradyse was planted, so by the wordes of Chryst, we haue learned, where the churche is. Marke here (good people) that Saynt Austen in this place, doth write, agaynst an heretike beyng one of the donatyste secte, who denying the catho∣lyke churche, dyd ascribe the fayth, of Chryst, and al

saluation, to them selues onely, beyng a smale part of Aphrica, lyke as al scismatical congregations, in thys late tyme, haue done: some saying in germany here is Chryst, here is the church, some in Heluctia, here is christ, here is the churche: other in Bohem, here is Chryst, here is the churche, and we in Eng∣lande, here is chryst, and here is the churche. Wher of euery one dyssentyng, from an other, and that in matters of great weyght, doth declare, that the spi∣ryte of God, which is the spirite of truth, and vnitie promysed by Christ, to the catholyke churche, dothe not leade nor gouerne such sectes, neyther oughte they to mayntayne, and set furth, false 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to the people, vnder the name of the churche, yet saynt* 1.11 Austen in y^e same place, addeth hys, or rather gods threatnyng saying. Ab isto uniuerso, ad partem, quamlibit, quis quis separat hominem ille diaboli filius, & homicida conuincitur, whosoeuer doth separate one man, frō this whole, to any parte, he is proued to be the sonne of the deuyl, and a very manqueller. Alas than in what heauye case, are those, that haue separate from the catholyke churche, not one man onely, but many thousandes? surelye in heauye and miserable case: vnlesse, they doo speadelye and in due tyme repent, and do penance. Moreouer to knowe more manyfestly, the catholyke churche of Chryst, we ought to consyder what Saynt Paule wryteth, of the foundation thereof. For all scismati call congregations, though they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 themsel∣ues, apparantly, vpon the holye scrypture, yet haue

they there profession, seuerally, taken, of some noug hty man, as saynt Augustyne sayth. They ar cal∣led euery one by proper names, which they dare not denye. But the catholyke churche thou∣gh* 1.12 heretikes haue named it papystycall, yet recey∣ued it neuer any other name, but catholyke, and christian, but al mē that rede, may se how gloriously some haue vsed the name of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Ebion, Arrianus Manicheus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Donatus, and in our tyme lykewise the name of Luther, Zwinglius, Carolstadius, with thousandes such other,, which heretical fashion S. Paule doth rebuke, in his epystle to the Corinthy∣ans, who were euen in lyke case, and bostyng vpon men sayd. Ego Pauli, Ego apollo. I hold of Paule, and* 1.13 I of Apollo. But the holy apostle rebuketh them saying, As long as there is amonge you, en∣uying and stryfe, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉, are you not car∣nall? So that euerye christen man, and woman, may playnely se by the scrypture, that these hauing such diuision, and sundrye sectes amonge them sel∣ues, are by S. Paule, accompted altogether carnal and farre vnworthy to vse the name of the churche which is the onely, and chast spouse, of Chryst. But* 1.14 of the catholyke church, saynt Paule sayth. Now therfore, ye are not 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and foreyners but you are citisens with the sainctes, and of the housholde of God, and are builded vpon the foundation of the Apostles, & prophetes

Iesus Chryst hym selfe being the heade cor∣ner stone. And further, bycause saynt Paule thro∣ughe the holy Ghost in hym did forsee, that all he∣retykes would callenge to them selfes the aucthori∣tie of the Apostles, & prophetes, & that they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 without aucthoritie or knowledge, wrast theyr wri tinges, euery one to there owne sense, therfore thys* 1.15 holy apostle, in the same epystle, telleth vs the order whych Chryst hath apoynted to be obserued in his churche, for he saith, that Chryst ascendyng 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, dyd gyue gyftes to men, and that he made some apostles, some prophetes, some Euangelystes, some shepardes, and teachers, declarynge thereby, that in the catholyke churche, there are orders, and offycers some hyer, some lower, whome the reste ought both diligently to heare, and humbly to obey* 1.16 So did the same S. Paule, before his death, apoint* 1.17 Timothe, to the offyce of a Bishoppe, and also 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he dyd leaue in Creta, that he shoulde ordeyne pre∣stes in euery citie, whiche preistes, and Byshoppes should not be disdained, or litle regarded (as in this tyme of manye they are) but they shoulde (doynge there duetye) haue double honoure, and faythfully* 1.18 gouerne the church, as S. Paule 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And wri∣tinge* 1.19 to Tite, he byddeth him exhorte, and rebuke with al seruentnes of commaūding, by these places of the holy scrypture, you maye easely se, and vnder stand, that in the catholyke churche, there are and ought to be degrees and orders, & that whosoeuer doth breake, contemne, or deny the same he denieth and forsaketh the verye truthe, and ordinaunce of

Chryste, and his Apostles.

Nowe further, we oughte to consider, that as S. Paule 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ordeyne Timothe, and Tyte, yea and other byshoppes, and Preistes, in his tyme, or∣deyne other, delyuringe also to them, the doctryne which they haue receaued of Paule, and by conty∣nual discurse of tyme euerye one hath deliuered the fayth, that they from the Apostles haue receaued, and so euen from Chryste, to this presente daye, one fayth hath euer stande stedfaste. Whiche thoughe it hath sundry tymes bene assayde, and sore pynched, yet euer hath it preuailed at the last and had the vp per hande, accordynge to Christes promise, neyther* 1.20 ought anye man lesse to credyt the catholike church because there are in the same, dyuers euyll, & wic∣ked synners. For Christ him selfe, doth compare the* 1.21 churche to a nette, cast into the sea, whiche taketh both good and bad fyshes, but at thende, the good shalbe reserued, and the euyll cast awaye. Was not twelue chosen by Christe, yet one of them, he calleth a deuyll: Doth not Christe allo saye, that Scribes* 1.22 and Phariseis, doo syt in Moyses chayre, neuerthe∣lesse, he wuld the people should obey theyr lessones? Euen so though some members of Christes catho∣lyke churche, doo not lyue accordynge to theyr vo∣catyon, yet ought no man therefore the lesse to re∣garde the fayth and doctryne of the same churche. These thynges, good people, thoughe they are suffi cient, to declare the holye Churche, what it is

and how it may be knowen, yet I besech you most diligently, to note, and cary awaye one rule, which shall neuer deceaue you, but is a sure tryall of the ca tholyke churche, and the fayth thereof. This rule is not myne, but taken out of a learned, auncient, and ryght godly father in Chrystes Churche. He sayeth.* 1.23 There are thre meanes to trye a churche, or* 1.24 doctrine the first is antiquitie, the second, is vniuersalitie, the third, is vnitie. By the fyrste we are taught, that a true doctrine must be knowē by that it is not lately spronge vp, or rysen, but com∣meth from Chryst, and his apostles, and hath cōty∣nued styll in the churche. By the seconde, we maye vnderstande, that a true faythe, or doctryne, of the churche is that onelye, whiche vniuersallye, in all countryes hath ben taught, & beleued. By y^e thyrde we ought to learne, that a true doctryne, or faith of the church, doth always agree, and is alwaies one Nowe those three thinges wel noted, may instruct and teach any Christian man, to knowe the catho∣lyke churche, whiche euersynce the Apostles tyme and in all countryes, with one consent (in al things concerning our faith) hath shewed her selfe the wor thy spouse of Chryst. Contrary wise, false doctryne and heresye, euerhath doone, and shall doo to the worldes ende, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 arise, & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in priuate cor ners & neuer agre with it selfe. Which thyngs I myghte easely at large proue, and open to you by playne and manifest demonstratiō. But because 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the next homelie, I intende to speake of the auctho

citie of the churche, and also of the commoditie, and profite that we haue by the same, here I wil make an ende, besechyng al you (good and godly people)* 1.25 to geue your bodyes, and soules, an humble & ho∣ly sacrifyce to almyghtye God, prayinge euermore that we maye be altogether lyuely members, of our sauioure Iesus Chryst, and of hys catholike church here vpon earth, and after this life partakers of the ioyfull kyngdome of heauen, through the same our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iesus Christ, to whom with the father, and the holy ghost, be all honour and glo∣ry world without ende.

Amen.

H Pendilton sacrae theologiae professoris.

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Notes

• * 1.1

  Ephes. 4.
• * 1.2

  Cantic. 4
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 5.
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 20
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 25
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 25
• * 1.7

  Math. 5,
• * 1.8

  Math. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.10

  Contra 〈◊〉〈◊〉 til lib. 20 Cap. 13.
• * 1.11

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.12

  Aug. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 utilitate. cred. Co 7.
• * 1.13

  1 Cor. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.14

  Ephes. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.15

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 4.
• * 1.16

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Timo. 4
• * 1.17

  Tit. 1.
• * 1.18

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, 20
• * 1.19

  Tit, 2.
• * 1.20

  Math. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.21

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.22

  Math. 23
• * 1.23

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.24

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.25

  Roma. 13.