Phenix 24. Vindiciæ Judæorum: or, a Letter in an- wer to certain Questions propounded by a Noble and Learned Gentleman, touching the Reproaches caft on the Nation of the Jews; wherein all Objections are candidly, and yet fully clear'd. By Rabbi Manaffeh Ben If- rael, a Divine and a Phyfician. Printed in 25. Of the Torments of Hell: The Foundation and Pillars thereof difcover'd, fearch'd, Sha- ken, and remov'd. With infallible Proofs, That there is not to be a Punishment after this Life, for any to endure, that shall never 26. The Refurrection rescued from the Sol- diers Calumnies: In two Sermons preach'd at St. Mary's in Oxford, about the Year 1619. By Robert Jones, D. D. 476. 27. A Brief Account of the new Sect of La- titude Men: Together with fome Reflections upon the new Philofophy. By S. P. of Cam- 28. A fhort Difcourfe upon the Reasonableness of Mens having a Religion, or Worship of God. 29. The Duke of Buckingham his Grace's Let- ter to the unknown Author of a Paper, enti- tled, A Short Answer to his Grace the Duke of Buckingham's Paper, concerning Religion, Toleration, and Liberty of Con- 35. A Treatife of Human Reafon. By Mat. Phenix Phenix XVII. VOL. II. A Sermon of Conforming and Reforming, made to the Convocation at St. Paul's Church in London, by JOHN COLET, D. D. Dean of the faid Church, in the Tear 1511. To which is added, The Life of Dr. COLET, writ by Erafmus Roterodamus. Y E are this day come together (Fathers and right wife Brethren) to enter into Council: in which, what ye will do, and what matters ye will handle, we do not yet underftand. But we wish, that once remembring your Name and Profeffion, ye would mind the Reformation of Ecclefiaftical Affairs: for affure your felves there never was more need of it, the ftate of the Vol. II, B Church 1 Church did never more defire your Endeavours. The Spouse of Chrift (whom ye would fhould be without fpot or wrinkle) is made deform'd and ill-favour'd; as faith Efaias, The faithful City is become an Harlot, Chap. 1. ver. 21. She hath play'd the Whore with many Lovers, Jer. 3.1. whereby the hath conceiv'd many Seeds of Wickedness, and daily bringeth forth very foul Fruit. Wherefore I come hither to Fathers) to warn you, that in this your Council ye beftow your whole thoughts upon the Reformation of the Church But indeed I came not willingly, being fufficiently conscious of my own Unworthiness; and foreseeing how hard it will be to please the precife judgment of fo many men, I esteem'd it very unmeet (almoft too malapert) that I a Servant should counfel my Lords, that I a Son fhould teach you my Fathers. Truly this had been more fit for fome one of the Fathers themselves; that is to fay, You Prelates might have done it with far more grave Authority and greater Wisdom: But the Command of the moft Reverend Father and Lord the Archbishop (Prefident of this Council) must be obey'd, who laid upon me this burden (which is in truth too heavy for my fhoulders) for I remember that the Prophet Samuel faid, Obe dience is better than Sacrifice. Wherefore I pray and befeech you to fuftain my weakness with your Goodness and Patience: in the first place to help me with your good Prayers; and before all things, Let us pray to God the Father Almighty, first remembring our oft boly Father the Pope, and all Spiritual Paftours, with all Chriftian People; furthermore the most Reverend Father and Lord the Archbishop, Prefident of this Council, and all Bishops, and all the Clergy, and all the People of England; remembring finally this your Congregation; defiring God to inspire your Minds fo accordingly to agree, to the benefit and fruit of the Church, that ye may not feem, when the Council is finish'd, to have been gather'd together in vain, and without cause. Let us all fay, Pater nofter, &c.. To exhort you, Reverend Fathers, to endeavour Reforma tion, because nothing hath fo disfigur'd the face of the Church, as hath the fashion of fecular and worldly living in Clerks and Priests; I know not where more conveniently to begin my Difcourfe, than from the Apoftle Paul (in whofe Temple ye are gather'd together) for he writing to the Romans (and under their name to you) faith, ROM. ROM. xii. 2. Be not conform'd to this World, but be ye reform'd by the renewing of your mind; that ye may prove what is that good Will of God, well pleafing and perfect. TH HIS the Apoftle writ to all Chriftian Men, but moft chiefly to Priefts and Bishops. Priefts and Bifhops are the Light of the World; for he faid unto them, Te are the Light of the World; and he faid alfo, If the Light that is in you be Darkness, how great is that Darkness? that is, if Priefts and Bishops (who fhould be as Lights) run in the dark way of the World, how dark then fhall the fecular People be? Wherefore St. Paul faid chiefly to Priefts and Bishops, Be ye not conform'd to this World, but be ye reform'd. In which words the Apoftle doth two things. 1. He forbids, that we be not conform'd to this World and made carnal. And then, 2. He commands, that we be reform'd in the Spirit of God, and become fpiritual. Intending to follow this Order, I fhall speak, I. Of Conformation. And then, II. Of Reformation: Be not conform'd to this World. By the word World, the Apoftle meaneth the ways and manner of fecular living, which chiefly confifts in four Evils of this World that is, in devilish Pride, carnal Luft, worldly Covetoufnefs, and fecular Bufinefs: Thefe are in the World, as St. John witneffeth, 1 Ep. 2. 16. for he faith, All that is in the World is either the Luft of the Flesh, the Luft of the Eyes, or the Pride of Life. These fame things now are and reign in the Church and Ecclefiaftical Perfons; fo that we may feem truly to fay, All that is in the Church is either the Luft of the Flefh, the Luft of the Eyes, or Pride of Life. 1. And firft to speak of Pride of Life. How much Greedinefs and Appetite of Honour and Dignity is feen now-a-days in Clergymen? How run they (yea almoft out of breath) from one Benefice to another, from the lefs to the greater, from the lower to the higher? Who feeth not this? And who feeing, forroweth not? And moft of thofe who are in these Dignitys carry their Heads fo high, and are fo ftately, that they seem not to be put in the humble Bishoprick of Chrift, but rather in the high Lordship and Power of the World; not knowing, or not minding, what Chrift the Mafter of all Meeknefs faid B 2 unto unto his Difciples (whom he call'd to be Bishops and Priests) The Princes of the Gentiles exercife Dominion over them, and thofe that be in Authority have Power; but do ye not fo. Whosoever will be chief amongst you (highest in Dignity) let him be your Servant. The Son of Man came not to be miniftred unto, but to minifter, Mat. 20. 25, c. By which words our Saviour doth plainly teach, that a Prelacy in the Church is nothing elfe but a Miniftration, that an high Dignity in an Ecclefiaftical Person ought to be nothing but a meek Service. 2. The fecond fecular Evil is carnal Concupifcence. And hath not this Vice grown and encreas'd in the Church so far, that in this moft bufy Age, the far greater number of Priefts mind nothing but what doth delight and please their Senses? They give themselves to Feafts and Banqueting, fpend their time in vain babling, are addicted to Hunting and Hawking, and in a word, drown'd in the Delights of this World, diligent only in progging for thofe Lufts they fet by. Againft which fort of Men St. Jude exclaims in his Epiftle, faying, Wo unto them which have gone the way of Cain; they are foul and beaftly, feafting in their Meats, without Fear feeding themselves, Flouds of the wild Sea, foaming out their own fhame; unto whom the form of Darkness is referv'd for everlasting. 3. Covetousness is the third fecular Evil, which St. John calls the Luft of the Eyes, and St. Paul, Idolatry. This abominable Peftilence hath fo enter'd into the Minds of almoft all Priefts, hath fo blinded the Eyes of their Underftanding, that we fee nothing but that which feems to bring unto us fome gain. What other thing feek we now-a-days in the Church, except fat Benefices and high Promotions? And it were well if we minded the Duty of thofe when we have them; but he that hath many great Benefices, minds not the Office of one fmall one. And in these high Promotions, what other thing do we pafs upon, but only our Tythes and Rents? We care not how vaft our Charge of Souls be, how many or how great Benefices we take, fo they be of large value. Oh Covetoufness! Covetousness! St. Paul juftly call'd thee the Root of all Evil: Of thee cometh this heaping of Benefices upon Benefices: Of thee fo great Penfions affign'd, from many Benefices refign'd: Of thee so much fuing for Tythes, for Offerings, for Mortuaries, for Delapidations, by the Right and Title of the Church; for which things we contend as eagerly as for our Lives. Oh Covetoufnefs! Of thee it comes that these Visitations of Bishops are fo chargeable: Of thee the corruptnefs of Courts, and thefe daily new Inventions, wherewith the poor filly People are fo vex'd: Of thee cometh the Besyte and Wantonnefs of Officials. O Covetoufnefs! Mother of all Ini |