HOMILY ON REPAIRING AND KEEPING CLEAN THE CHURCH
from Short-Title Catalogue 13675.
Renaissance Electronic Texts 1.2.
© 1994, 1997 Ian Lancashire (ed.)
University of Toronto
AN HOMILIE FOR RE
payring and keeping cleane, and comely
adorning of Churches.
[II.3.1-1] IT is a common custome vsed of all men,
[II.3.1-2] when they intend to haue their friends
[II.3.1-3] or neighbours to come to their houses to
[II.3.1-4] eat or drinke with them, or to haue any
[II.3.1-5] solemne assemblie to treat and talke of
[II.3.1-6] any matter, they will haue their houses,
[II.3.1-7] which they keepe in continuall reparati
[II.3.1-8] ons, to be cleane and fine, lest they should
[II.3.1-9] bee counted sluttish, or little to regard
[II.3.1-10] their friendes and neighbours. How
[II.3.1-11] much more then ought the house of
[II.3.1-12] GOD, which wee commonly call the
[II.3.1-13] Church, to be sufficiently repayred in all
[II.3.1-14] places, and to bee honourably adorned
[II.3.1-15] and garnished, and to be kept cleane and sweete, to the comfort of the peo
[II.3.1-16] ple that shall resort thereunto.
[II.3.1-17] It appeareth in the holy Scripture, how GODS house, which
[II.3.1-18] was called his holy Temple, and was the mother Church of all Iewrie,
[II.3.1-19] fell sometimes into decay, and was oftentimes prophaned and defiled,
[II.3.1-20] through the negligence and vngodlinesse of such as had the charge there
[II.3.1-21] of. But when godly Kings and gouernours were in place, then com
[II.3.1-22] mandement was giuen foorthwith, that the Church and Temple of
[II.3.1-23] GOD should be repayred, and the deuotion of the people to bee gathe
[II.3.1-24] red, for the reparation of the same. We reade in the fourth Booke of the
[margin]
4.King.12.
[margin]
[II.3.1-25] Kings, how that king Ioas , being a godly Prince, gaue commandement
[II.3.1-26] to the Priests, to conuert certaine offerings of the people, towards the re
[II.3.1-27] paration and amendment of GODS Temple.
[II.3.1-28] Like commandement gaue that most godly King Iosias , concerning
[margin]
4.King.22.
[margin]
[II.3.1-29] the reparation and reedification of GODS Temple, which in his time
[II.3.1-30] he found in sore decay. It hath pleased Almightie GOD, that these Hi
[II.3.1-31] stories touching the reedifying and repayring of his holy Temple, should
[II.3.1-32] be written at large, to the end wee should be taught thereby: First, that
[II.3.1-33] GOD is well pleased that his people should haue a conuenient place to
[II.3.1-34] resort vnto, and to come together, to praise and magnifie GODS holy
[II.3.1-35] Name. And secondly, hee is highly pleased with all those, which dili
[II.3.1-36] gently and zealously goe about to amend and restore such places as are
[II.3.1-37] appointed for the Congregation of GODS people to resort vnto, and
[II.3.1-38] wherein they humbly and ioyntly render thankes to GOD for his bene
[II.3.1-39] fits, and with one heart and voice praise his holy Name. Thirdly, GOD
[II.3.1-40] was sore displeased with his people, because they builded, decked, and
[II.3.1-41] trimmed vp their owne houses, and suffered GODS house to bee in
[II.3.1-42] ruine and decay, to lye vncomely and fulsomely. Wherefore GOD was
[II.3.1-43] sore grieued with them, and plagued them, as appeareth in the Prophet
[II.3.1-44] Aggeus . Thus saith the Lord: Is it time for you to dwell in your seeled
[margin]
Agge.1.
[margin]
[II.3.1-45] houses, and the Lords house not regarded? Yee haue sowed much,
[II.3.1-46] and gathered in but little, your meat and your clothes haue neither filled
[II.3.1-47] you, nor made you warme, and hee that had his wages, put it in a bot
[II.3.1-48] tomelesse purse. By these plagues which GOD laid vpon his people for
[II.3.1-49] neglecting of his Temple, it may euidently appeare & that; GOD will haue
[II.3.1-50] his Temple, his Church, the place where his Congregation shall resort
[II.3.1-51] to magnifie him, well edified, well repaired, and well maintained. Some
[II.3.1-52] neither regarding godlinesse, nor the place of godly exercise, will say, The
[II.3.1-53] Temple in the old Law was commaunded to bee built and repaired by
[II.3.1-54] GOD himselfe, because it had great promises annexed vnto it, and be
[II.3.1-55] cause it was a figure, a Sacrament, or a signification of Christ , and also
[II.3.1-56] of his Church. To this may bee easily answered: First, that our Chur
[II.3.1-57] ches are not destitute of promises, forasmuch as our Sauiour Christ
[II.3.1-58] saith, Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am
[II.3.1-59] I in the middest among them. A great number therefore comming to
[II.3.1-60] Church together in the Name of Christ , haue there, that is to say in the
[II.3.1-61] Church, their GOD and Sauiour Christ Iesus present among the Con
[II.3.1-62] gregation of his faithfull people, by his grace, by his fauour and godly
[II.3.1-63] assistance, according to his most assured and comfortable promises. Why
[II.3.1-64] then ought not Christian people to build them Temples and Churches,
[II.3.1-65] hauing as great promises of the presence of GOD, as euer had Salomon
[II.3.1-66] for the materiall Temple which hee did build? As touching the other
[II.3.1-67] point, that Salomons Temple was a figure of Christ : we know that now
[II.3.1-68] in the time of the cleare light of Christ Iesus the Sonne of GOD, all
[II.3.1-69] shadowes, figures, and significations are vtterly gone, all vaine and vn
[II.3.1-70] profitable ceremonies, both Iewish and Heathenish, fully abolished. And
[II.3.1-71] therefore our Churches are not set vp for figures, and significations of
[II.3.1-72] Messias and Christ to come, but for other godly and necessary purposes,
[II.3.1-73] that is to say, That like as euery man hath his owne house to abide in,
[II.3.1-74] to refresh himselfe in, to rest in, with such like commodities: So Almigh
[II.3.1-75] tie GOD will haue his house and place whither the whole Parish and
[II.3.1-76] Congregation shall resort, which is called the Church and Temple of
[II.3.1-77] GOD, for that the Church, which is the company of GODS people,
[II.3.1-78] doth there assemble and come together to serue him. Not meaning here
[II.3.1-79] by, that the Lord whom the heauen of heauens is not able to holde or
[II.3.1-80] comprise, doth dwell in the Church of lime and stone, made with mans
[II.3.1-81] hands, as wholly and onely conteined there within, and no where els,
[II.3.1-82] for so he neuer dwelt in Salomons Temple. Moreouer, the Church or
[II.3.1-83] Temple is counted and called holy, yet not of it selfe, but because GODS
[II.3.1-84] people resorting thereunto, are holy, and exercise themselues in holy and
[II.3.1-85] heauenly things. And to the intent yee may vnderstand further, why
[II.3.1-86] Churches were built among Christian people, this was the greatest con
[II.3.1-87] sideration: that GOD might haue his place, and that GOD might haue
[II.3.1-88] his time, duely to be honoured and serued of the whole multitude in the
[II.3.1-89] parish. First there to heare and learne the blessed word and will of the
[II.3.1-90] euerlasting GOD. Secondly, that there the blessed Sacraments,
[II.3.1-91] which our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus hath ordained and appoin
[II.3.1-92] ted, should be duely, reuerently, and decently ministred. Thirdly, that
[II.3.1-93] there the whole multitude of GODS people in the Parish, should with
[II.3.1-94] one voice and heart call vpon the Name of GOD, magnifie and praise
[II.3.1-95] the Name of GOD, render earnest and heartie thankes to our heauen
[II.3.1-96] ly Father for his heape of benefits dayly and plentifully powred vpon vs,
[II.3.1-97] not forgetting to bestow our almes vpon GODS poore, to the intent
[II.3.1-98] GOD may blesse vs the more richly. Thus yee may well perceiue and
[II.3.1-99] vnderstand wherefore Churches were built and set vp amongst Christian
[II.3.1-100] people, and dedicated & appointed to these godly vses, and wholly exemp
[II.3.1-101] ted from all filthy, prophane, & worldly vses. Wherefore all they that haue
[II.3.1-102] little mind or deuotion to repaire and build GODS Temple, are to be
[II.3.1-103] counted people of much vngodlinesse, spurning against good order in
[II.3.1-104] Christes Church, despising the true honour of GOD, with euill exam
[II.3.1-105] ple offending and hindering their neighbours otherwise well and godly
[II.3.1-106] disposed. The world thinketh it but a trifle to see their Church in ruine
[II.3.1-107] and decay. But who so doth not lay to their helping handes, they sinne
[II.3.1-108] against GOD & his holy congregation. For if it had not been sin to neg
[II.3.1-109] lect & slightly regard the reedifying and building vp againe of his Tem
[II.3.1-110] ple, GOD would not haue been so much grieued, and so soone haue
[II.3.1-111] plagued his people, because they builded and decked their owne houses so
[II.3.1-112] gorgeously, and despised the house of GOD their Lord. It is sinne and
[II.3.1-113] shame to see so many Churches, so ruinous, and so fouly decayed, almost
[II.3.1-114] in euery corner. If a mans priuate house wherein hee dwelleth, bee de
[II.3.1-115] cayed, he will neuer cease till it bee restored vp againe. Yea, if his barne
[II.3.1-116] where he keepeth his corne be out of reparations, what diligence vseth
[II.3.1-117] he to make it in perfect state againe? If his stable for his horse, yea, the
[II.3.1-118] stie for his swine, be not able to hold out water and wind, how carefull
[II.3.1-119] is he to doe cost thereon? And shall we be so mindfull of our common base
[II.3.1-120] houses, deputed to so vile employment, & be forgetfull toward that house
[II.3.1-121] of GOD, wherin be intreated the words of our eternall saluation, wher
[II.3.1-122] in be ministred the Sacraments and mysteries of our redemption? The
[II.3.1-123] fountaine of our regeneration is there presented vnto vs, the partaking
[II.3.1-124] of the Body and Blood of our Sauiour Christ , is there offered vnto vs:
[II.3.1-125] And shall we not esteeme the place where so heauenly things are hand
[II.3.1-126] led? Wherefore if ye haue any reuerence to the seruice of GOD, if ye haue
[II.3.1-127] any common honesty, if ye haue any conscience in keeping of necessary and
[II.3.1-128] godly ordinances, keepe your Churches in good repaire, whereby ye shall
[II.3.1-129] not onely please GOD, and deserue his manifold blessings, but also de
[II.3.1-130] serue the good report of all godly people.
[II.3.1-131] The second point, which appertaineth to the maintenance of GODS
[II.3.1-132] house, is, to haue it well adorned, & comely, and cleane kept. Which things
[II.3.1-133] may bee the more easily refourmed, when the Church is well repayred.
[II.3.1-134] For like as men are well refreshed and comforted, when they finde their
[II.3.1-135] houses hauing all things in good order, and all corners cleane and sweete:
[II.3.1-136] so when GODS house the Church is well adorned, with places con
[II.3.1-137] uenient to sit in, with the Pulpit for the preacher, with the Lords table,
[II.3.1-138] for the ministration of his holy supper, with the Font to Christen in, and
[II.3.1-139] also is kept cleane, comely, and sweetly, the people are more desirous, and
[II.3.1-140] the more comforted to resort thither, and to tarry there the whole time
[II.3.1-141] appointed them. With what earnestnesse, with what vehement zeale did
[margin]
Matt.21
[margin]
[II.3.1-142] our Sauiour Christ driue the buyers & sellers out of the temple of GOD,
[II.3.1-143] and hurled downe the tables of the changers of money, and the seates
[II.3.1-144] of the Doue-sellers, & could not abide any man to carry a vessell through
[II.3.1-145] the Temple? He told them that they had made his Fathers house a den
[II.3.1-146] of theeues, partly through their superstition, hypocrisie, false worship,