The Christian divinitie, contained in the divine service of the Church of England summarily, and for the most part in order, according as point on point dependeth, composed; and with the holy Scriptures plainly and plentifully confirmed: written for the furtherance of the peoples understanding in the true religion established by publike authoritie, and for the increase of vnitie in that godly truth eternall. By Edmund Reeve Bachelour in Divinitie, and vicar of the parish of Hayes in Middlesex.

CHAP. 13. Of the Faith in the people of God, which liued afore the Incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ, euer since the fall.

IT is sayde in the second part of the Homily of Faith: All the Fathers, Martyres, and other Holy men (whom Saint Saul spake of) had their Faith surely fixed in God, when all the World was agaynst them. They did not onely know God to bee the Lord, Maker, and Gouernour of all men in the World: but al∣so they had a speciall confidence and trust, that hee was and would be their God, their Comforter, Ayder, Helper, Maintainer and Defender. This is the Christian faith, which these Holy men had, and wee also ought to haue. And although they were not named Christian men, yet was it a Christian faith that they had, for they looked for all the benefits of God the Father, through the me∣rits of his Sonne Iesus Christ, as wee now doe. This difference is betweene them and vs, that they looked when Christ should come, and we be in the time when hee is come.

Therefore sayth Saint Augustine, the time is altered and changed, but not the Faith. For wee haue both one faith in one CHRIST. The same Holy Ghost also that wee haue, had they, sayth Saint Paul. For as the Holy Ghost doeth teach vs to trust in God, and to call vppon him as our Father: So did hee likewise instruct and teach them to say, as it is Written, Thou Lord art our Father and redeemer, and thy name is without beginning, and euerlasting.

God gaue them grace to bee his Children, as hee doth vs now. But now by the comming of our Sauior Christ, wee haue receiued more aboundantly the Spirit of God in our hearts, whereby we may conceiue a greater faith and surer trust, than many of them had. But in ef∣fect they and wee be all one: Wee haue the same faith that they had in God, and they the same that we haue. And Saint Paul so much extolleth their faith, because we should no lesse, but rather more, giue our selues wholly vnto Christ, both in profession and liuing, now when Christ is come, than the olde Fathers did before his comming.

And by all the declaration of Saint Paul, it is e∣uident, that the true, liuely, and Christian faith, is no dead, vaine, or vnfruitfull thing, but a thing of per∣fect vertue, of wonderfull Operation or working, and strength, bringing foorth all good motions, and good Workes.

Saint Stephen in his last Sermon to the Iewes, ma∣king mention of the Faith, that was concerning Christ, many Ages afore his Incarnation, relateth what Moses sayd vnto the Children of Israel: A Prophetn shall the Lord your God rayse vp vnto you of your brethren, like vnto me, him shall yee heare. And afterward hee sayd: Whicho of the Prophets haue not your Fathers persecuted? And they haue slayne them, which shewed before of the comming of the Iust one, of whom yee haue beene now the betrayers and murtherers.

Christ told the Iewes: Yourp Father Abraham reioyced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad. He also sayd: beforeq Abraham was, I am. Afore the dayes of Moses and the Prophets, God had his Priest∣hood

on earth after the order ofr Melchizedec. The which Priesthood dids figure foorth Christs euer-la∣sting Priest-hood, like as the Leviticall hadt shad∣dowes of the same. Melchizedec Priest of the most high God bringing foorth bread and Wine vnto Abra∣ham, ministred vnto him thereinu bread and Wine, euen the Body and Blood of Iesus Christ: The myste∣ry whereof Melchizedec knew, and all Priests that were of his Order, (if there were any thereof afore or after him.)

Saint Paul sayd to the Corinthians: Thatw the Fa∣thers were all Baptized vnto Moses in the Cloud, and in the Sea. And did all eate the same Spiritual meat, and did all drinke the same Spirituall drinke. For they dranke of that Spirituall Rocke which followeth them; and that Rocke was Christ.

Also all the people of God, that liued after the fall, vntill the Incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ, had their Faith in that Seed, which was promised; that it should bruise the Serpents head, andx bruise Sa∣than vnder their Feete.y Iesus Christ (according to his eternall Divine nature) the same yesterday, and to day, and for euer.

Notes

• T. 1. p. 25.
• Idem enim omni∣no erat etiam tli Deus, idem Spi∣ritus, idem Chri∣stus, eadem fides, eadem doctrina, eadem Spes, ea∣dem haereditas, idem soedus, ea∣dem vis verbi dei. Et Eusebi∣us ait: Omnes fideles vsque ab. Adamo, re qui∣dem ipsa Christi∣anos fuissè (quā∣vis non ita dice∣rentur, &c.) A∣pologia Eccle∣siae Anglicanae excusa Londini Anno 1626. p. 97.98.
• Esay 63.16.
• n

  Acts 7.37.
• o

  Acts 7.52.
• p

  Iohn 8.56
• q

  Iohn 8.55
• r

  Genesis 14.18
• s

  Psal. 110.4.
• t

  Heb. 8.5. and 10.1.
• u

  Pro. 9.5
• w

  1 Cor. 10.2▪ 3.4.
• x

  Rom. 16.20
• y

  Heb. 13.8.