reduced to the kynde comfortatiue vnlesse some had lyuer haue it of the kynde instructiue Howebeit to a SermoÌ„ of mixt kinde no one certain state may bée assigned but accordinge to the varietie of partes it is requisite that diuers states also bée alotted out Moreouer the sentence wherein the State of euery Sermon is expressed they haue accustomed to call the Theme Where if the State be rendred in one worde then is it called a simple Theme as if thou determinest to speake of Faith of works of death of patience these will be simple Themes Faith workes death patience But if the State do consist of many wordes and euen of a iust propositioÌ„ they call that Theme compound as when it is sayde that Faith doth iustify good workes doe obteyne with God the benefit and rewarde as well of the lyfe present as of the lyfe to come the death of the godly is not to be bewayled patience for rigtuousnes sake or coÌ„fession of the truth maketh men happy And when as either a booke of holy Scripture or a part or some place out of the boke is taken in hand to be declared openly it is no harde matter after the words be recited to expresse the State by some Theme especially compound Hitherto concerning the diuers kinds of Sermons States and Themes ¶ That Sermons of euerye kinde ought to be deuided into certian parts and how many those are then of readinge of the sacred Scripture Cap. viii NOw in what kinde soeuer a Sermon shal be instituted it is firste of all to be prouyded that like as it is sayde when we entreated of the forme of diuine sermons it be deuided into certayn parts The parts commonly receiued are in nuÌ„ber seuen that is to say reding of the sacred scripture InuocatioÌ„ ExordiuÌ„ propositioÌ„ or diuisioÌ„ Confirmation Confutation coÌ„clusioÌ„ But when after what sort these ought to be applied and generally to be haÌ„deleâ— we wil in oâ—der oftsoones declare As touching therfore the reading of holy scripture we finde that this was the custome of the auncient Churche Some one to whom the office was appoynted â—â—citod 〈◊〉 â—â—lye and distinctly some parcell out of the holy Scripture and by and by some other learned mâ—n wâ—nt vp into the pulpit to declare those thinges that were read We read Actes 13 when Paule with his companyons were entred into the sinagoge on the sabboth day at Antioche in Pisidia that after the reading of the 〈◊〉 and the prophetes the Rulers of the Sinagoge sent vnto them saying Men and brethren if there be any among you that can speake wordes of exhortation to the people say on Christ Luke 4. went vp hymselfe and reade and then sitting downe interpreted the same to the great admiration of all men Of this laudable custom therfore of the synagog our forefathers learned to appoynt Readers in euery church which should publikely rehearce the bookes of the sacred scripture Socrates lib. 10. cap. 3. of his Tripartite history witnesseth that Iohn Chrysostom dyd for a certayne time supply the office of a reader Epiphanius also in his Summary of the catholike faith maketh mencion of the same order and the maner of ordeyning them is read in the eight cannon of the fourth counsell of Carthage Further out of Augustine touching the words of the Lord in the Gospell of Iohn Sermon 45. may be gathered that the scriptures were first recited of the Reader and then that the elder or Byshop folowed immediatly to expounde them But now for the most part he in the beginninge of the Sermon readeth the Scriptures that declareth them also more at large which thing verily is theÌ„ most conuenieÌ„t to be done when a man taketh in hand to explane some entire booke of the olde or new Testament Albeit thou maist oft times sée also one to reade the scriptures and an other to interprete the same But we suppose it to make no matter at all Howbeit whereas vpon occasion offered the sermon is ordayned there the readinge of the scripture is not accustomed to go before but he that teacheth either choseth out a few woordes onely or some shorte sentence freely out of the scriptures which namly he iudgeth to be most agréeable to his purpose or els making no mention at all of any place out of the Scriptures he beginneth forthwith to speake whereof that very séeldome this very often hath bene frequented of the fathers Examples of the former kinde are these Nazianzenus in his Sermon to the subiectes stricken with feare by reson of the wrath of the Emperour Theodosius the firste vsurpeth the wordes out of Ieremy 4. Ah my belly ah my bowels and the inwarde partes of my body I am sore greued my hart panteth within mee The same Author framing his oration of the holy feast of Easter premiseth the words of Habacuc 2. I will stande vpon my watch Chrysostome entreatinge of the troubled common wealth of Antioche and of his returne out of exile doth ofte tymes inculke in the beginning of hys Sermon that sayinge of Iob Blessed be god Basill beynge desyrous to perswade the people to pacifye the wrath of GOD alledgeth these words out of Amos. 3. The Lyon hath roared who wyll not be afrayde the Lorde God hath spoken and who will not prophesy Agayne where he exhorteth them to fast Blow vp the Trumpet in Sion vpon our solemne feaste day out of the 81. Psalme and Ioel. 2. Of the later kinde that is so say where no words of the sacred Scripture are put before there be examples in them very frequente and common Now let vs ad herevnto this also Namely that no other bookes ought to be read and expouÌ„ded in sacred assemblies but those onely that are accounted to be canonicall concerning which thinge we may reade it established by the 59. canon of the counsell of Laodicia The Preacher must also take héede in any wyfe that when he reciteth the holy scripture out of the Pulpet in hys Countrye language hâ—â— vseth the best and most allowable translation that may be and such a one as is knowne and common to the people For truely a proper and exact translation bringeth so great light vnto thinges that it deserueth to be estéemed in stéede of a commentary Neither shal the preacher vnaduisedly alter or innouate any thing therin least that whilest he is thought of the learned to speake affectiuely and curiouslye of the vnlearned fondly and folshly he so prouoke the offence of many against himsefe Spiridion Byshoppe of Cypres in thassembly of many byshops and in the presence of all the people durst openly rebuke Tryphillus bishop of Ledres who being puffed vp in pryde with the visor of his eloquence when he came to these words of the euangelycall hystory Take vp thy bedde and walke for the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he planted in an other to wit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth a course or simple bed Then saith
two bookes Of framing of Diuine Sermons as the fower bookes touching a Diuine as the two bookes Of reading and daily meditation of the holy Scriptures as that Cathechisme or Shorte Instruction which he last put foorth Many other bookes of his are witnesses also penned and written by him with great laboures and watchinges which we are sory could not of him be ouerséene and recognized that so which would haue turned to the great profit of all studious Diuines they might haue come abrode For he had written as well in Philosophye some thinges as Touching the order of Studye Of Logicke Rhetoricke Arithmetick Geometry Cosmography The ScieÌ„ce perspectiue some things of Astronomy and likewise of Naturall causes and Scolies to the ten bookes of Aristotles Ethickes as also in Diuinitie many notable matters as touching The not forsaking of the studies of holy Scripture thrée bookes Of Diuine places fower bookes ObseruatioÌ„s of places vpon those parcels of the Gospels which are vsually read in Churches euery Sonday Againe Of the life and maners of students Of publicke liberalitie towards the poore Of ecclesiasticall Scholes Of the mariage of Ministers of the Church How a man ought to proue himselfe Of the prouidence of God Moreouer vppon all the Epistles of Saint Paule certaine peculiar formes of speaking and the Method of Diuinitie of which hauing appointed six bookes he had not yet finished thrée He had beguÌ„ likewise to write 12. bookes entituled of Scolasticall vacations as touching the Ordering of the Church 6. bookes Which bookes if he him selfe might haue corrected fully accomplished then should haue appered sufficiently out of them his diuine wit theÌ„ should haue shined foorth sufficiently his notable learning theÌ„ would haue bene séene sufficiently his wonderfull knowledge of the auncient histories of the Church theÌ„ would haue bene apparant sufficiently his grounded practise experience of manifolde things togither with his déepe excellent wisdom But euen out of those notwithstanding which he hath already put foorth may all these thinges also be sufficiently perceyued though I should holde my peace We haue maruayled forsooth often times whensoeuer any thinge was propounded in familiar talke as touching Ecclesiasticall matters to heare that he had alwaies in a readines out of auncieÌ„t histories some thing that made for the mater in questioÌ„ how he did so promptly illustrate determine the same But there was no lesse power in the man of teaching and arguing then ther was furniture of learning and erudition With what force and facilitye be taught the selfe same can testify that are witnesses before of his other gifts what dexteritie in disputing what sharpenes of witte he alwayes vsed his bearers doe remember He would not as many are wont to do dally and scoffe at the argumentes proposed neyther handeled he the matter with clamoures and outcryes whereby no profit could redound to the hearers but hée so openly and grauely discussed all thinges that the diligent hearers might receyue thereby most ample fruite And in this his maner as well of teaching as of reasoning he was alwaies from time to time of so great modestye and of so great constancye that neyther woulde he vnaduisedly moue idle questions neyther alter or interrupt the order of teaching that he had once with iudgement taken in hande As touching which thing you remember I am sure right learned Master Chunrade Mathew my very worshipfull kinseman what he sayd the selfe same daye he let his lyfe either of vs both you and I being present with him I sayeth he haue alwayes bene carefull of this in the Schole that I might propound profitable doctrine to my hearers and auoyde idle and superfluous questions I haue taken diligent heede leaste I should giue anye occasion of contentions and haue euermore reteyned one vniforme order of teaching and so long as I liue will reteyne These in a maner were his wordes which when we had heard not without teares we affirmed that we were witnesses of that matter and how that we lykewise had alwaies hitherto kept the fame order of teaching and would kéepe also hereafter But as touching that which perteyneth to his fidelitie and diligence in the office of teaching there is no cause why I shoulde saye much I appeale to the felfe same to testifie of his diligence that were witnesses euen now of his learning and abilitye in teaching This is certaine he was rauished with so great zeale and feruencie in promoting the studies of holy Scriptures that ouer and besides the laboures the were enioyned him he would also ofteÌ„ times â—hoose to himselfe vacant houres wherin he might teach something extraordinarily He diligeÌ„ly procured and set forward the exercises of disputations and declamations wherein as he alone by the space of certaine yeres was alwaies with great trauayle the chiefe so afterward when other of vs also his coÌ„panions kept our course in the order he was both willingly and commonly present As for the forme maner of preaching in the Schole with what great laboure I pray you with what great paynfulnes did he order it He prescribed common places which he thought most néedeful to be handeled he corrected the Sermons written by Studentes before they were recited he hearde also them that were appoynted to preach before they should openly come into the Church to the intent that if any thinge were amisse either in their voyce or in their gestures that also might be ameÌ„ded He praised those that had wel behaued themselues in these exercises he reproued and pricked forwarde the negligent and slouthfull vnto diligence He had adioyned to these kindes of exercises besides an Examining in matters of Diuinitie which he appointed once commonly in two yeres a certain order also of Diuine Consultation where some question béeing propofided either of Doctrine or of rites and matters Ecclesiasticall he would bid euery one in order to put foorth his opinion in a full continewed forme of speaking to the intent that so by diuers sundrye sentences on either side giuen it might be perceyued out of many what was true what false what made for the pourpose and what might be sayd against it All which labours be so willingly tooke vpon him that hauing also no rewarde appointed for his paynes he neuerthelesse most diligently prosecuted the same I omit his priuate studies of which I will now say nothing more then that which I may truely auouch namely that he was neuer at home alone but that he either wrote something or read something or meditated something so far foorth that bée séemed vnto me euen to weaken and debilitate the strength of his body and eueÌ„ to consume him selfe with ouer great studies and laboures There was in him besides all these thinges a most diligent meditation touching the reforming of Churches wherein he was occupied day and night For he coueted greatly to reuoke the people of our Nation to the paterne of the primityue Church he coueted to remoue many
Spiridion vnto hym art thou better then he that sayde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in as muche as thou art ashamed to vse his words It is not much vnlyke vnto this that Augustine in his 10. epistle writinge to Ierom telleth how a certaine bishop in Aphrica when as he recited a place in Ionas the prophet otherwise then was contayned in the vulgar translation of that time was in great peril thorow the rage of the people offended with the strangenes of the phrase and had almost bene thrust from his Sea if he had not promised eftsoones to render an account of his doing Albeit that Preacher shat doe very well who at such time as he premeditateth at home by himselfe those thinges that he shall afterwarde vtter a brode hath alwayes at hand most perfect sounde exemplars which agayne let hym confer one with an other and the matter so requiringe compare the Latin with the Greeke and Hebrew and out of all these together drawe forth apte and peculiar sentences to be proponed in the vulger speach to the multitude in the time of his sermon This diligence this honest and gentle curiositie is so farre absent from incurringe reprehension that it is reputed worthy to be prosecuted of all men with prayse and commendation ¶ Of Inuocation Cap. ix THe maner of Inuocation vsed in the beginning of sermons is shewed also vnto vs of the Apostles Actes 4. where they pray vnto God that he would giue them vtterance to speake the word with all boldnes Lykewise where the Apostle Paule willeth and beséecheth that prayer be made vnto God for hym and for the course of the Gospell For verely as well in the whole busynes of syncere religion as also most specially in doctrine the ministers doe in déede plant and water but god giueth the increase And certes the auncient fathers made theyr prayers before the Exordium or beginninge of their Sermons as Augustine playnely testifieth lib. 4. Cap. 1 of christian doctrine The Preacher prayed which Augustine doth not obscurely signify that the spirit of God might be giuen hym to teache fréely and sincerely then that his hearers might conceyue all thinges aright and conuert them to the institution of a spirituall life The auditors they agayne praied both for the Preacher and for themselues to the same effect But now in some Churches we sée that prayer is put immediately after the Exordium There be Churches also where prayer is made before the place of scripture be recited And agayne in some place the whole multitude maketh inuocation with a song and Psalme and some other wher euery one praieth in silence by himselfe But whatsoeuer the custome of Churches and congregations is it behoueth inuocation to be briefe pure and dyrected to th'attainment of the ayde of the holy ghost that he would vouchsafe to informe and enstructe the minde as wel of the teacher as also of the hearers ¶ Of Exordium Cap. x. EXordiums in all kindes of Sermons are very frée and at lybertye Wherefore the apte maner of exordinge may rather bée shewed in th'examples of the Sermons which the Prophetes Christe Th'appostles and holy fathers haue set forth then comprehended in preceptes and rules Neither is it alwayes néedefull that the beginnings of sacred Sermons be so instituted as that we shoulde make our hearers attentiue apte to be taught and beneuolent For the matters of which we entreate may and ought of themselues to cause the hearers to be so enclyned Neither dothe any man for the most part set his foote toward the church but that he is already perswaded that he shal heare those thinges that hee ought worthilye and gréedely to learne yea and beare away to his owne profyte and commodytie Therefore the verye circumstaunces and causes incident of thinges doe minister now one now another matter of Exordium In the meane time wee wyll note certaine poyntes accordinge to the diuersite of the argumentes whiche are handeled to be obserued in generall When as a whole booke is expounded to the people ofte times Exordimus are taken of transition Chrysostom vpon Genesis homilie 16. I suppose saith he that we haue sufficiently yester day to our power interpreted and explaned the place touching the trée For we haue taught vnto your patience wherfore the diuine Scripture calleth it the trée of knowledge of good and euill therefore thys day we intend to procéede to the matters folowing to th' intent ye may learne the vnspeakable mercye of God and how great moderation of speache he hath vsed hauynge regarde and foresight of our nature homilie 17 he beginneth with rehersall or repetition of those thinges which the day before were expressed and admonisheth his auditors that they shoulde conuert them to spirituall fruite Oftentymes hée vseth similitudes touchinge deynties or delicates of feastes to bée prepared touching disseases of bodies to bée expelled and many moe of lyke sorte declaringe in the meane tyme that in spirituall affayres and in refection and care of the soule all those thinges are to bée considered and obserued which are accustomed to bée done in corporall matters or in conseruation of the body Homily .5 and .6 hée by and by in the beginninge reproueth and sharpely rebuketh those that vsed to gadde to the beholdinge of combates in the Theater and cared not for comminge to diuine Sermons Agayne the ninth homily hée beginneth with chidinge bicause hée sawe very fewe or none resorte to the scacred assembly Moreouer in his .12 and 14. homily hee prayseth them yea in the later hee thanketh them also for that they came chéerefully to heare the interpretation of the holy Scriptures For hée hoped that no small spiritual fruite should ensue therevppon These thinges bée therefore of vs remembred to thintent all men should vnderstande that when an entier booke is expounded it is in our lybertie to prepare Exordiums of sundry sortes accordinge to the maner of circumstaūces and causes incident It is a very familiar thinge with Chrysostom eftsoons to approue or declare the propositiō of his Exordium or else to illustrate the same with some similitude or comparison and then to ad to some thinges whereby hée may make his hearers either attentiue or beneuolent For verily in trayninge and excitinge the myndes of his auditors he is both a dilygent and wonderfull artificer But in cace the liberty of Exordiums be so great in thexplication of a whole booke It is an easy matter to iudge that they may no lesse franckely order the matter which take in hande to expounde onely a part or fragment of the booke or any one place whatsoeuer takē out of the Scriptures But most commonly in those Sermons which are framed of a parcel or some certaine place of a booke Exordium are deriued of the commendation of the Author out of whome the Reading was recited Nowe and then of the vtilitie of the doctrine which shineth principally in the same lesson
place of sobryatie in meate drynke and clothynge in this wise But yet is all our talke of the excellency of chastytie spent in vaine except also wee adde some thinges against superfluitie in meate drinke and clothing Or thus But now be attentiue and giue good eare vnto those things that remaine to be spoken against excesse in meate drinke and apparel Agayne Séeing we haue hitherto sufficiently inough spoken of the feare of God I doe not doubte but that it wyll be very acceptable vnto you my déere brethren if we shal entreat also of patience in aduersitie What néede many wordes In the Sermons of the Prophets in certayne of Paules Epistles in most of the homilies of Chrysostom and of other holy fathers it is no difficult matter to obserue a number of such lyke formes of Translitions as these Yea and the Preachers themselues doe sometymes by a certaine silence or pause put betwéene or by some other like reason signifie that they will procéede and passe ouer to an other place Somtimes agayne but especiallye when an entier booke is with continual â—â—aâ—ration expounded to the people neither any proposition or diuision at all is premised but ThexordiuÌ„ being ended some few words are recited touching the contentes of the sacred booke out of which eftsoones some spirituall doctrine is picked and the same briefely declared according to the capacitie of the hearers But afterwarde immediately progression is made to the sacred words folowinge where likewise one or two places are noted with an exhortation added to the multitude that they woulde commende them to their memory and that euery one priuately would endeuour themselues to conuert them to the instruction and reformatioÌ„ of their liues In ChrisostoÌ„ thou maist finde diuers examples homily 13. vpoÌ„ Gene. after the Exordium Let vs now therfore sée saieth he what we are taught by blessed Moyses speaking these words not of him self but enspired of the holy 〈◊〉 And the Lorde God tooke man whom hee had made Where oâ—t of those two wordes Lorde and God he featly gather 〈◊〉 â—unfutation of the hereticks which contended that the sonne was lesse then the fater Which doctrin at that time by reason of the Arrians was in very good season set forth but now séeing the heresie is extiÌ„ct it taketh not so good place neither is it very necessary Then forthwith he prosecuteth the text And he placed him in the Garden of pleasure In which words he admonisheth to be obserued how great the mercy care and prouidence of God is towardes mankinde Afterward bicause it foloweth in the text To thintent he should husband it and keepe it he hrieflly giueth vs to vnderstand how perilous a thing idlenesse is and therefore the man ought alwayes to be occupyed about some good exercise In the same maner he procéedeth orderly as wel in that as also in many other of his sermoÌ„s Which order is founde oftentimes obserued in those sermons also that are occupied in the explication of a part oâ— any booke but chiefly when Sermons are made to the multitude wherin are mixed diuers learned men or that haue bene accustomed to heare diligently the scriptures expounded Which thing euery man may perceiue that will not negligently reade ouer the homilies of the holy fathers Chrysostom Augustine Gregory Leo Maximus c. by whom diuers and sundry euangelicall historyes accustomablye recited in sacred assemblies are explaned But as touchinge this whole maner of collecting many and diuers places which as distinct parts ought orderly to be expounded and some truely brieflye and other some more at large shall be entreated more conueniently in the seconde Booke where what thinges are proper and peculiar to euery kinde of sermon we will seuerally endeuour our selues to declare ¶ Of Confirmation Cap. XII COnfirmation foloweth next after proposition or diuision is in very déed the most worthy part of all the Sermon therfore requireth more labor dilligence and industry then the other partes And sythe the chiefe treasurie of argumentes consisteth in this one the mindes of all the hearers are wonte to be intentiuely fixed therevppon and euery man priuately gathereth and committeth to memory that which he supposeth to be most fruitfull But yet the handelyng therof of can not be conueighed in any one and simple forme For lyke as the kindes of Sermons are deuided euen so ConfirmatioÌ„s in euery kynde be supported with peculiar places of arguments Wherfore what places they bene that are chiefly congruent to euery kinde of Sermon shall both more largely and exactly be shewed of vs hearafter Now at this present it séemeth good onely to note as it were by the way certaine poyntes worthy to be obserued generally in all confirmations Which we in certaine chapters or obseruations orderlye digested will briefely and perspiciously comprise I We haue admonished in the procéeding chapter that often times in one and the selfe same Sermon diuers and sundry places are handeled and that passage is made froÌ„ one place to another But how and after what sorte these ought to be found out gathered togither and explaned in euery kinde it is not now requisit to be declared Therefore here in this first place is this to be obserued that whether it shall be thought good to prosecute one coÌ„mon place or two or thrée of the chiefesâ— thorow out the whole sermon we must principally remember that euery one ought to be expounded in a certaine peculyar method yea and a certaine peculyar order of confirmation applyed vnto euery of them For verely it is a playne cace of it selfe that other arguments must be sought and the same also otherwise digested when we entend to infer consolation other when we purpose to confirme or coÌ„uince an opinioÌ„ other when we exhort our hearers to any thing and other when we rebuke sinne and wickednesse Therfore to one the selfe same Sermon according to the diuersitie of places or parts it is necessary that a diuers practise and cunning be applyed and annexed II Now what place soeuer thou takest in hand beware that thou so handle the same as that for the present state of things it nay in thy iudgement be most expedient For vndoubtedly common custom and daily maners the tranquilytie or preturbation of the church vices euery where growing and increasing the forme and state of the coÌ„mon wealth the constitution of the whole citie doe oftentimes require that thou vse a new forme and maner of speakinge For of cities thou shalt sée one florishe with the Princes Courte an other illustrated with the high Senate house and chiefe counsayle of the whole Region in an other a noble and famous Schoole an other notable thorowe some Marte or Market in an other â— companye of noble and ritche menne an other to be inhabited with a great number of artificers an other to nourysh and sustaine many souldiours such as are placed for continuall garrisons in the borders of kingdomes and prouinces
sayinge Goe to the Ante and the Bee thou sluggard This therfore will I now say vnto you Remember the Gentile Philosophers and then shall yée knowe of howe great punyshement wée are worthy that despise and contemne the lawes of God. This hée And to this ende and purpose also the Apostle séemeth to speake of the Cretensians A certaine Prophet of their owne Countrie saide That the Cretes are alwaies liers euil beastes and slowe bellies This testimony is true wherefore rebuke them sharpely XII Sometimes thou shalt see in the middest of the discourse a certaine briefe digression to bée made wherein either vices are reproued or exhortation is framed vnto vertue Which Digressions very opportunely and wyth a certaine grace also are accustomed oftentymes to slyppe from those that haue not premedicated afore what to speake XIII Lastly that which remayneth is bestowed in mouinge of affections to the entent all men maye the more willingly and cherâ—fully imbrace the suÌ„me and effect of the argument or common place of vs handeled and that béeinge drawen after a sorte to consent vnto vs they may cary aboute the same perpetually imprinted in their myndes This therefore is a certayne common and simple forme of findinge out collectinge and disposinge of proufes aâ—te to expounde and declare common places in sacred Sermons howsoeuer it bée of vs set forth which wee perceyue to haue bene oftentymes vsed not onely of the auncient fathers of great oâ—â—imation but also of the holy prophetes and Apostleâ— lyke as wáe haue alâ—eady shewed It fauoreth of no running at all there is nothinge in it artificially deuised yet neuerthelesse to the coÌ„mon course of nature and the playne simplicitie of the multitude it serueth inespecially agréeth more the any other Wherfore it is not to bée contemned or neglected chiefely séeinge as an Orator euen so it becommeth also a Preacher alwayes to auoyde so much as in him lyeth the suspicion of ouer much cunninge and curiositie Nowe there be two thinges to the intent I may addde this also by the way where with a man shal bée furthered very much to thatteyninge of this easye order of popular Teaching The former is that after the Sermons of the Prophetes Christ and Thapostles wherevnto alwayes the first place and dignitie is due hée accustom diligently and with sharpe dyindication of the partes thereof to peruse 〈◊〉 the Homilies of certayne of the fathers but chiefly about the rest oâ— Iohn Chrysostom Yet can wee not dissemble but that the doinges of Chrysostom so often of vs commended are to bee reade with great discretion warely and not saue of those that haue afore bene well exercised in the principall common places of Christian doctrine Which thinge also is mée to to bée vnderstood of the Commentaries of other holy Fathers lyke as S. Augustine also in his workes wisheth the readerse to vse their censure and iudgement as maye be séene in his Epistle 7. to Marcellinus 19. to Hieronimus 3. to Fortunatianus The later is whosoeuer coueteth at any tyme to preach readily and to the purpose him it behoueth to gather togither and to note in paper bookes as many both sentences and examples out of the holy canonicall Scriptures as is possible touchinge all the common places belonginge to the whole course of Diuintie which may at all tymes and vnto euery argumente proposed stande him in steade and be in a readinesse Hée verily must dilligently trauayle in both these poyntes that desyreth at any tyme with plentifull fruite of the spirite to enstruct the people vnto godlynesse in the Church of Christ ¶ Of Confutation Cap. XIII WHere if at any tyme the cace so requireth that some thinges alledged of aduersaries agaynst our opinion be confuted that shall in déede bée accomplished rather after an Oratoriall maner then Logicall but yet compendiously and with perspicuous reasons agréeable to the capacitie of the hearers Example hereof bée these Chrysostome in his Homilie 78. entituled That it is better to suffer wrong then doo wronge after he had sayd Therefore God commanndeth vs to suffer iniury and doth all things that he might withdrawe vs from worldly things make vs to vnderstaÌ„d what glory is what dishonor what los what gain he addeth this obiection with a solution also adioyned therevnto But it is a grieuous thinge thou wilte saye to suffer iniury and reproche It is not gréeuous no it is not I saye O man Howe longe wilt thou sticke astonyed about thinges present and transitory for neyther woulde GOD haue instituted that if it had beue to gréeuous or burthenous But marke what I shall saye hée that doth iniury goeth his way hauinge in déede money but yet a wounded conscience Hee that suffâ—eth iniury is depriued of his money but hath trust to GOD warde a possession verily more worth then innnumerable treasures Therfore the Obiection is solued by settinge agaynst a lytell corporall losse of him that suffreth wronge a greater spirituall detriment of him that doth the wronge And a litell after in the same place What Sayest thou I am depriued of all my goods and biddest thou me holde my peace I haue suffred reproch and wouldest thou haue mee take it paciently But howe can I Forsooth very eaâ—ely if thou wouldest looke onely vp into heauen if thou wouldest be holde the pleasaunte bewty thereof and consider howe GOD hath promysed to take thée vp thither after thou hast manfully suffred wronge and iniury This doe therefore and lookinge towarde heauen suppose that thou arte made lyke vnto him that sitteth there vppon Cherubins For hee was both vexed with reproch and iniury and yet hee suffred paciently He endured in reuilmentes yet sought no reuengment hée was stricken and strak not agayne But contrariwyse hée gaue them innumerable benefites that committed suth thinges and commaunded vs to bee followers of him This solution is taken of the hope of reward promised of thexample of Christ him else and of God and lykewise of his commaundement Nowe it is in no wyse necessary that those thinges that néede confutation shoulde bée heaped vp togither into one place to the intente all thinges shoulde be dissolueed at once but it is lawfull to disperse them through diuers and sondry partes of the whole Sermon that whersoeuer any thinge by occasion commeth to mynde which we suppose may bee obiected to our sentence and opinion ther wée may confute the same without any further delaye Examples of which obseruation may euery where bée séene in the Sermons of the Prophetes Apostles and holy fathers For certes it is not the fasshion that iust confutations and such as wée sée vsed in Courtelyke cases amonge the Rethoritians shoulde bée instituted in euangelicall Sermons For why hee prouideth not well for the people that will séeme to pester them with the hearinge of ouer many aunswers and solutions of obiections in one Sermon Neuerthelesse if it happen at any tyme th affayres of the Church so requiringe
of faith or the principall poyntes and common places of christian doctrine And it is no straunge matter in one and the selfe same sentence to fynde things couched and bestowed that doe belong to many and diuers common places of chirstian religion Where if to be short we would goe about to confirme the sentence there noted and perceiued with one or two testiemonies of Scripture it is incredible how trimly the matter woulde goe forwarde in asmuch as our oration should become not onely more cleere and lightsome but also more riche and plenteous II Redargution ministreth vnto our mindes how that the confutation of false assertions is dilligentlye to bee sought out For so much is signifyed by the name of Redargution He that will goe about to prepare redargution shall firste seriously consider whether the very wordes of Scripture simply taken doe apparauntly confute and false opinion or no. Where if it be so in déede then is redargution plaine of it selfe neither is it néedefull to procéede any further for the serching out therof But if there be extant no open redargution but rather a doctrine and assertion of some true opinion it behoueth thée to recouÌ„t studiously with thy selfe whether in these daies or in times past any hereticks or philosophers or wise men of this world haue at any time mayntayned the contrary sentence Such a sentence false and contrary being founde it is to be déemed that the same is confuted with those verye wordes of Scripture with which the true assertion was confirmed For it is out of al question that a true sentence or opinion being offered whatsoeuer is inferred repugnaunte thervnto is to be counted amonge false and erronious opinions By meanes wherof it commeth to passe that euery false sentence is by the same reason impugned and subuerted by which the true was before defended and mayntayned As for example Rom. â— it is sayde that through syâ—nâ—â—ame death In these wordes is contayned a true sentence namelye touching the effect of sinne And certes very aptly is added eftsoones a redargution where a man out of them gathereth and reasoneth their opinion to be false and vntrue which following that subtil serpent go about to perswade men that death is in no wise to be feared by reason of sin and by that meanes doe blinde the miserable mindes of men and thruste them headlonge into eternall destruction III Institution wherevnto are reduced all places touchyng the good and godly framing of lyfe and maners it is no very hard matter to fynde Oft times the sentence which occurreth in holy scripture comprehendeth a notable exhortation vnto vertue or els sheweth how the lyfe maners of a Christian man ought to be without all sinne and offence The sentences therfore that are of themselues such it is méete they be accepted for holsom admonitions Examples not a few are to be founde in the later partes of the epistles of Sainct Paule in whiche the Apostle alwayes for the most part contendeth that it behoueth those that are once iustifyed by faith to passe all their whole liues in godly conuersation and honesty That thing is witnessed in the epistle to the Romanes Cap. 12.13 c. Likewise in the epistle to the Galat. in part of the cap. 5. and cap. 6. the whole to the Ephesians cap 4.5.6 But where as be not such apparaunt exhortations but haply some senteÌ„ces are declared there may neuerthelesse rasely be gathered out of the same those thinges that conduce to the right institution of life That thing is most conueniently brought to passe when the vse of euery sentence or assertion is brought to light so farre forth as it is applied to the common course of mans life The Apostle Romans 6. teacheth vs this sentence saying We ought not to abuse the grace of God to the lilbertie of sinne He addeth a reason on the contrary part Because we are dead vnto sinne The proofe of the same reason followeth of the effect and ende of Baptisme In Baptisme we renownce and dye vnto sinne By and by he annexeth an exhortation or institution deriued out of the proper vse of the same assertions Euen so we also saieth he ought to walke in newnesse of lyfe Agayne the Apostle confirminge the ende or effect of Baptisme by a reason taken of the efficatie of Christes death saith that death was vtterly vanquished of Christ that it hath no more power ouer hym Which truely ought to bee taken for a principle Then forth with the Apostle herevppon sorteth out an institution meruaylously to the purpose Let not sinne saith hée raigne in your mortall bodye To the same effecte when one hath explaned the doctrine touchinge the will of man and the weakenes of our owne strenght he shall w good right and this that we are to bée instructed and admonished by that generall sentence howe wee ought acknowledging our so great infirmitie to bee humble and méeke not to stande high in our owne conceytes to attribute nothinge vnto our selues to depende wholly vppon God onely which gouerneth our will and actions and finally to looke for all good thinges of him alone In whiche behalfe wée maye sée some thinges heaped together of the Apostle Rom. 7. These things vndoubtedly bée of great importaunce to the information of life in rightuousnes as euery man may perceyue IIII Correction or Reprehension is contrary to Institution as that which sharply controlleth the vices and corruptions of maners Therfore after the collection of Instytutions Corrections may without difficulty be excogitate For he that speaking of the effecte and ende of Babtisme had added to a notable institution saying Those that are baptised ought to walke in newnesse of lyfe He also in very good season inferreth a grieuous Correction blaminge those namely with a vehement and sharpe Oration which albeit they delight to be called Christians yet neuertheles liue a lyfe nothinge aunswerable to their most holy profession and doe so behaue themselues in all their dealinges as though they had quight forgotten that they were once baptysed into the name of Christ But hée that can wysely discerne vnto what vertues godly actions what vices are directly contrary he will sone call to minde howe after institutions put forth touchinge any maner of cause hée may adioyne also Corrections congruent both to the persones tyme and businesse V Consolations according to the frequency greatnesse of thaduersities and discommodities that trouble vs are dilligently to bée sought for of euery man But of those inespecially that are somwhat exercised in the bookes of holy Scripture they maye easely hée drawen forth at all tymes And that not onely bicause in theÌ„ aswel seÌ„tences as examples doo euery wher offer themselues yeldinge most plentifull matter of consolations agaynst all calamities and misfortunes but also for somuch as they may very welbe selected out of the assertions which a lytell before were declared For why may not seinge somewhat nowe is already spoken touching the effect of Baytisme
Yee were called into libertie my brethren onely that yee should not giue libertie by occasion to the fleshe but serue yee one an other through loue XI Neither is this truely to be pretermitted It falleth out somtimes that the teacher of the people in the explication of some one sentence doth erre somwhat from the scope of truth and exhibiteth for things certayne and true things vncertayne and false For what if he that entreth the sacred Pulpit be not as yet sufficioutlye exercised hymselfe in the contemplation and tractation of diuine affayrers Or followeth peraduenturs some one onely writer which he hath redd hauing not heard the iudgemeÌ„tes of other or to be short whiles certayne questions sometyme in the Church especially such as are called in controuersy be in processe of tyme more fully manifestly discussed then to fore they were what if he coulde not as yet come to the sight of the later and sounder opinions And who is able to rehearce al the causes and occasions of error Therefore let not him whome it shall fortune by any meanes to fayle in his teachinge be ashamed to confesse and acknowledge in tyme conuenient that hée was of late intangeled in error and the offence which he committed by not teachinge of sounde doctrine or by vnaduised speakinge hée will nowe make amendes for by bringinge a more sounde interpretation That hee hath since that tyme somdeale profited as one daye teacheth an other and the later cogitations accordinge to the prouerbe are wonte to be wiser then the first Hée that became a guyde vnto others whereby they fell into the ditche the same shall worthily shewe the waye howe they may againe recouer and escape Neither ought the hearers to bée offended greatly in this behalfe For it behoueth all men to remember that they are men which are placed in the ecclesiasticall function therefore that nothinge humayne is estraunged from them And it is the propertie of mannes nature to errre Of malyce or madnesse to persist in error but of the singuler goodnesse and grace of God after the fall to be againe erected Wherefore if any of the hearers doe stomacke the matter and disdayne that they were a littell before seduced it is méete the same doe now againe reioyce and as ye woulde say congratulate both with themselues and their teacher and especially to giue vnto God most harty thankes wheÌ„ they perceyue themselues to bée brought agayne out of the darkenesse of error into the lighte of truth As touchinge this Cantion Augusine hath somwhat in his boke de Catechizandis Rudibus cap. 11. in his boke de verbis Apostoli sermon 22. But many moe thinges that may make the Preachers wise circumspect in this behalfe erperieÌ„ce it selfe will teach and the longe exercise of preachinge Neither is it possible that all thinges shoulde bée comprehended in rules and preceptes And at all tymes lightly there chaunceth some thinge vnloked for which compelleth digression to bée made from the order of preceptes and purposed aduertisementes Nowe it is requisite that wée put forth some examples of Sermons of the kynde didascalick It is alwayes méete and in déede for many causes expedient that all men with sharpe and intentiue mynde looke vppon the notable examples of Sermons which the Prophetes Christ and Apostles haue had For to followe and imitate these in all poyntes so far as may bée as it is a thing most semely so is it also most sure Next whome it may bée lawfull to commende the more famous Preachers and especially the auncient fathers which to haue excelled in the giftes of the holy Ghoste there is no man that knoweth not Wherfore that all good things doe happen vnto men by the onely goodnesse of God Moyses teacheth in a iuste Sermon Deut. 9. and 10. almoste throughout Esay Cap. 1. briefely declareth that eternall worshipping without the affectioÌ„ of the hart integritie of lyfe is vnprofitable The sane Cap. 25.26.27 preacheth of the rewardes of the godly and of the punishement of the wicked Agayne Cap. 66. of the true worshippinge of god Christ Math. 5. preacheth of the true blessednes of the right vse of the lawe Cap. 6. of confidence in God or if thou wilt of the prouidence of GOD cap. 11. of the punishement of those the dispise the gospell cap. 13. of the dilligent hearinge of the worde of God of theffectes of the worde cap. 16. of the confession of fayth and of the knowen truth Cap. 17 of obedience and honor due vnto Magistrates Cap. 19. hée teacheth what greate rewarde remayneth for them that constantely cleaue vnto the Gospell Cap. 20. how it commeth to passe by the frée mercy of God alone that the beléeuers are called iustified and glorified Cap. 24. and 25. of the ende and consummation of the worlde and of the comminge of Christ vnto iudgement Ioan. 14.15.16 of fortitude and pacience in persecution for religious sake of Charitie and perfect loue c. Act. 13. Sainct Paule declareth what the gospell is In his epistle to the Ro. the one disputatioÌ„ touching iustificatioÌ„ by faith without the workes of the law the other likewise cap. 9.10.11 as coÌ„cerning the reiection of the Iewes and callinge of the Gentiles mighte bée propounded in steade of examples but that they are written rather after the Scolasticall maner of teachinge then after the popular albeit the laste doe approch most néere vnto the popular The same is to bée iudged of the disputation to the Galath 3. which in all poyntes agréeth with the former to the Romaynes aforesayde excepte that it serueth more for the people But moste fitte and proper to this presente busynesse is the assertion of the reâ—urrection of the dead 1. Corinth 15 Also to the Heb. 1. and 2. touchinge the two natures in Christ Againe cap. 5.6.7.8.9.10 of the abrogatioÌ„ of the Leuiticall priesthood legal sacrifices and of the succession of ths eternall priesthod and the onely sacrifice of Christe In Chrisostome are extant many Sermons of this kinde especially in his enarratioÌ„ of the Gospels of Mathew and Iohn Notable is the Homily 60. vpon Mathew where hée disputeth of the cause of sinne Likewyse in his fift Tome Homilye 48 touchinge the fearefull iudgenent of god Homilye 71. that fastinge profiteth nothinge if innocency of lyfe bee away Homily 77. that a sinner after his fall ougthe not to dispayre Lastely his 6. Sermons and 3. bookes of the prouidence of GOD For these also to bee written popularly no man denieth ¶ Whensoeuer any parte of the holy Scripture is to be expounded in the Kinde didascalik that many and diuerse common places may be noted therein out of which it shall bee conuenient ot chose and declare some more exactely and at large Cap. III. ALbeit ther cannot a more absolute order of Preachinge be set forth to be followed then that which shyneth in the examples of Sermons which partely the Prophetes Apostles and Christe himselfe and partely certayne of the
thinge we then also made mention when as we heaped together some thinges as touchinge the places of the kinde didascalick in the seconde Chapter of this present booke But to come to examples where a full furnyshed explanatioÌ„ of one place or sentence is to be seene we haue none uâ—ore famous in the whole bodye of the holy Scriptures then in the Epistles and Thapostle Paule Which albeit they be rather writen in a scolasticall then in a popular kinde of speaking yet doe they import vnto vs no small helpe to the due framinge of Sermons to the people The first example very notable thou shalt finde in the fourth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans where this short sentence or place out of Genesis 15. Abraham beleeued god and it was imputed vnto him for rightuousnes is with wonderfull prudence and dexteritye expounded at large The wordes truely are very fewe if thou respectest the nomber but if thou lookest into the sense thou shalt perceyue in them to be most strongely proued that men are iustified by fayth and that great plentye of argumentes are ingendered therein The state of the whole disputation the Aposte had prefixed before in the 3. Chapter saying We suppose that a man is iustified by faith without the workes of the lawe To the confirmatioÌ„ therfore of this state he iudgeth the noble example of the iustification of Abraham to bée most fitte and conuenient to the intent he might gather by order of reasoninge that all other men also are in like maner iustified by fayth Which his pourpose he himselfe doth not obscurly declare when a litell after he sayth that it is not so written for him onely that it was imputed vnto him for rightuousnes but also for vs to whom it shal be imputed if we beleeue in him that raysed vp our Lorde Iesus from the deade c. Howbeit not contented to haue showed in this wise that the said sentence agreeth wondrously well to his enterprised busines he deuideth it into partes and out of euery parte draweth forth newe argumentes Wherefore forasmuch as in that sentence wherein it is sayde that Abraham beléeued and in beleeuinge was iustified by and by out of the worde beleeue is this argumente subtelly contriued If Abraham be iustified for that he beléeued it followeth of necessitie the he was not iustified by workes In asmuch as faith and workes are after a sorte repugaunte the one to the other Now the Apostle rendreth this argument thus If Abraham were iustified by workes he hath wherein to glory but not with god For what saith the scripture Abraham beleeued God and it was conuted vnto him for rightuousnes From hence the Apostle bendeth the ernest contemplation of his minde to the signification of the word Impute out of which he produceth the seconde proofe to this effect To him also that worketh not but beleeueth in God that iustifieth his faith is by grace counted for rightuousnes But it shoulde not bee sayde to bee counted by grace for rightuousnes if he had deserued it by workes for then it shoulde rather bee called wages or debte Iustification therfore coÌ„meth not by workes but freely by grace Like as in the former argument consideration is had of the antithetons to worke and beleeue so here wages or debte is set against imputation Thirdly the Apostle exactly noteth the forme of speaking To count or impute for rightuousnes For it commeth to his remembraunce howe in the Psal. 31. that man is called blessed holy and rightuous to whom the lorde impueth not sinne Wherefore he determineth that to impute vnto rightuousnes is euen all one with not to impute sins For to remit or not to impute sinnes is as much as frely to pardon theÌ„ or to iudge one eightuous without desert Iustification therefore commeth by grace and not by workes And this is it that the apostle so studiously saith That God imputeth vnto man rightuousnes without workes Wherefore out of euery worde we sée notable reasons to be drawen Howbeit the apostle procéedeth yet further and as we admonished in the 2. obseruation he diligently enquireth what time faith was imputed vnto Abraham for rightuousnes Nowe he findeth that thinge to be done about fourtene yeres before Circumcision Of this circumstance therefore of time he gathereth in the fourth place well néere after this maner If Abraham had bene iustified by workes then chiefely by circumcision But by this he was not iustified forasmuch as rightuousnes was imputed vnto him longe time before he was circumcised Therfore in no wise commeth rightuousnes by workes The wordes of the Apostle as they stande in the text are playne Furthermore Thapostle interlaceth foorth with the fifte argument taken of the vse and signification of circumcision Abraham receyued the signe of circumcision as a seale of the rightuousnes of the saith which he had when he was vnsircumcised Which we maye take euen as if he had sayde Circumcision is not therefore receyued to the intent any man shoulde be iustified thereby but that it might be a seale of the assuraunce of rightuousnes nowe before receyued by fayth For a man must alwayes first beleeue and confesse his faith or euer he can rightly vse any sacrament instituted of god and vnlesse a man alredye indued with faith doe receyue the sacramentes there is no cause whye he should hope that they will become holesome vnto him There is no man that knoweth not the sacramentes to be signs of the couenaunt made before with God and that they are added as seales of our reconciliatioÌ„ with God like as after the bargainers are agreed betwixt them selues writings and seales are accustomed to be made The sixt argument followeth of that the we shewed to be digested in the fourth place Seeing nowe it appereth that faith was imputed vnto Abraham for rightuousnes before he was circumcised whilest he was yet vncircuÌ„cised it is a plaine cace that the Gentiles also which are not as yet circumcised neyther dare chalendge to themselues any good worke may be iustified by fayth and generally that vnto all men whether they be circumcised or vncircumcised rightuousnes shal be imputed so that by the example of Abraham which is indifferently the common parent and prince of all beléeuers as well of the circumcised as hauing vncircumcision they repose their faith and confidence in God. Hee receiued saith he he scale of the rightuousnes of the fayth which he had when he was vncircumcised that hee shoulde bee the father of all them that beleeue not beinge circumcised that rightuousnes might bee imputed to them also And the father of circumcision not vnto them onely which are of the circumcision but vnto them also that walk in the steppes of the fayth of our father Abraham which he had when hee was vncircumcised Moreouer in the seauenth argumente he declareth that rightuousnes before god happeneth by faith forasmuch as it can not be that rightuousnes shoulde be
as it is required of vs that we should expound a parte of an holy boke or also some certaine place taken out of the holy Scripture it is by all meanes very requisite that we expresse the state or summe of those thinges whereof wée will entreate in one theame compounde And that the like thinge happeneth somtimes when entreatie is made of an entier booke of Scripture wée haue already by examples brought as touchinge Ecclesiastes Cantica Salomonis and the Gospell after Iohn aboue declared Besides when any thinge falleth out by occasion to be talked off in the pulpit it is necessary that the same be propounded in a theame compounde Of this sorte it is if I say Honger or drouth is paciently and quietly of vs to be endured God by his iust iudgement sent the calamitie that fell through haile Of the one Theame Basilius Magnus most grauely entreateth of the other Gregorius Nazianzenus Now hereby it maye plainely appeare that the vse of those thinges which are to bée touched in this Chapter is of very great importance in the Church of god In the meane time it shall be lawfull briefely to absolue these thinges forasmuch as very many pointes doe accorde herevnto which are sufficiently at large discussed in the former Chapters I. Where if so bée therefore thou be determined to handle a theame compounde when a whole booke is taken in hande to be declared or a part out of any booke of scripture is proposed to the multitude there is no man that seeth not the very text of the diuine wordes which are recited in the sacred assembly to minister and suggest by it selfe many and diuers things which may both godly and relygiousely be vttered and through euery part thereof be aptly dilated and amplified It shall then therefore be best to imitate followe some one of those orders of expoūding which we haue comprised in the 3.4.5.6 chapters of this present boke II. But where as no reading or lecture of holy Scripture ouer longe shall goe before but onely either a briefe sentence or a place out of some sacred booke shall be taken in hande or els no wordes at all be premised out of the scriptures thē truely it shall be expedient thoroughly and exactly to consider all those thinges in order which we haue in certaine obseruations comprehended noted in the seauenth Chapter as touchinge the maner of handelinge one place or sentence of scripture For it is conuenient that the same consideration be had as well of a sentence as of a theame compounde A proufe hereof is this that oftentimes those that are purposed to declare a theame compound doe gladly borrowe some sentence out of the scriptures which may be agreable to their purpose doe prefixe it before their Sermon or in any wise insert it The Apostle to the Romaynes 4. intendinge to proue that man is iustified by faith taketh that sentence out of Gene. 15. Abrahā beleeued god it was imputed vnto him for rightuousnes In the Epistle to the Galathians handeling the same matter he produceth out of Geneses 22 the promise of god made vnto Abraham In thee or in thy seede shal al the nations of the earth be blessed Moreouer in the two sayd Epistles in that to the Hebrues is prefixed a theame compounde or briefe sentence out of the prophet Abacuc 2. The iust man shall liue by fayth That the same craft or cunning therfore is aptly to be applied to the tractatiō of a theame cōpound which a litell before we shewed to be requisit to the discussing of a sētence or place of holy scripture ther is no cause why any man should doubte III. And forasmuch as wée then also admonished that it is somtime very necessary in case a resolution of a sentence or place taken out of the Scriptures be had and all the partes therof examined a parte it shall be profitable also to vse the like experience in the tractation of a theame compounde When this thinge is to be done it shall be conuenient not onely to goe that waye to worke which we haue shewed to bee open vnto vs in the holy Scriptures and that truely very excellent but also wée shall gette furniture of teachinge both substanciall and plentious out of those thinges whiche in the former Chapter bée of vs declared as touchinge the explanation of simple theames For certes the places which deuided into two formes or orders we shewd to be attributed to the kinde didascalicke doe giue occasion of deuising and finding out great and weightie thinges of euery theame that is offered Wherfore wee shall not without cause require ayde and succoure of them As touching all which thinges here to repeate againe with many wordes that which hath bene already sayd would bée very superfluous IIII. And surely séeinge the multitude and varyetie of thinges is infinite that are treated off in the Church so ofte as the vse and order of time doe require there can no better counsaile or aduice be giuen then that euery man haue a speciall regarde vnto their Sermons which haue most aptely and holily handeled theames compound and that he endeuour so far forth as lieth in him to render and expresse in his sermons that which he perceyueth to haue most force and grace in them Such Sermons are with great care and exacte iudgement to be pervsed to the intente thou maist examaine euery thinge occurrent in them and that which is best to bee liked choycely digest and put in order as things to be adioyned to thy household stuffe to be vsurped as thine owne when time and occasion shall serue To make any futher declaration it is not necessary But examples wherein theames compounde of the kinde didascalick are most learnedly explaned these inespecially be commended in the sacred Scriptures In the Epistle to the Romaynes the Apostle declareth at large that men are iustified by faith without the workes of the lawe Againe cap. 9.10.11 That the Iewes are reiected of god and the Gentiles called to be the people or Church of god In the first Epistle to the Corinthes cap. 15. it is proued by stronge argumentes that the deade doe all rise or reuiue againe In the Epistle to the Galathyans it is againe confirmed that men are iustified by fayth without the workes of the lawe in the last part of the second Chapter and also in the 3.4 and some parte of the 5. Chapters In the Epistle to the Ephesians Thapostle teacheth in thrée Chapters that men by the onely grace of God in Christ are elected called iustified and glorified The author of the Epistle to the Hebrues in two Chapters declareth with wonderfull perspicuitye that Christ is true God and true man. In the same Epistle cap. 7.8.9.10 out of one sentence of scripture are drawen fower distinct theames compounde and euery one of thē is with certaine and assured reasons established and explaned whereof the first is that Christ is a preist after the order of Melchisedec
there is appoynted a certaine mixt kinde of Sermons framed and compacted indifferently out of diuers kinds by partes Further it is no harde matter in the first entrye and euen in the premeditation of the sermon ensuing to discerne vnto what kinde euery place or euery part doth belong that is to say whether it be of the kinde Didascalick or of the kinde Reprehensiue or Redargutiue or of the kinde Instructiue or of the kinde Correctiue or lastly of the kynde Consolatory And when the very kinde of the sermon is once known it will be an easy thinge to collect a certaine order of expoundinge out of those thinges which in the Chapters afore going are seuerally declared touching euery kinde As for examples of mixt or meint Sermons there be extant not a few in the Euangelistes For Christe doth ofte times in one continuall Oration discusse diuers and sundry places and therof truely some pertayninge to the doctrine of faith othersome to the information of life or consolation It is no hard case to deuide the parts and to distinguishe one from an other The first Epistle to the Corinthes how plentifull is it in this behalfe how diuer matters doth it contayne yea thou shalt finde almost neuer an Epistle put foorth by the Apostles which is not distributed into diuers places Chrisostome as well other where as also inespecialye where he popularly interpreteth the bookes of holy Scripture as Genesis the Gospell of Mathew Iohn c. Lykewise Origen that longe before him laboured in the lyke calling doe exhibit infinit examples of this matter and the same also very fitte and conuenient But these thinges touchinge the mixt kinde thus compendiously to haue admonished shall suffice ¶ That three thinges are alwaies to be regarded of the Preacher the profit of the hearers comelynes in gesture and pronounciation and the studye of concord Cap. XVI VErily I suppose we haue sufficiently expressed all thinges which are requisite to be knowne to the framing of all kynde of sermons wherfore it is méete now that our discourse draw to an ende Onely I entend héere in this place friendly to admonish euery Preacher that he would inespecially remeÌ„ber thrée thinges and so long as hee shall sustayne the excellent function of teaching the people endeuour with al diligence and enforcement to practise and obserue them The first is that hée continually set before his eyes the profit and vtilitie of his hearers The seconde that he be a very careful and diligent obseruer of decorum in the vniuersall order and grace of speaking The third and last that he become not in any wise the author of any discords in the Church that is to saye neyther vary from his fellow labourers in doctrine or opinions nor minister any matter to the ignoraunt people of brawlings or contentions Touching these three poyntes truely he shall at all times be very solitious yea and bende héere vnto all his whole care and cogitation whosoeuer to the aduauncement of Gods glory vppon earth is desyrous in the Church faithfully to deliuer to the flock committed to his charge the doctrine of sincere religion I But he declareth himselfe ernestly to seeke the profit of his auditors which as well sheweth aparaunt signification of some notable good wyl towards them as also choseth such matters to entreate off as out of which he trusteth most fruite and commodytye wyll redounde to his hearers Certes how desyrously and with what â—urninge affection Christ coueted the profit and vtilytie of his owne nation he hymselfe expressed where he sayth that he would often times haue gathered together the inhabitauntes of Hierusalem euen as a Henne gathereth hir chickhens vnder hir winges Where I pray you is any creature to be founde that so muche tendereth the safety of hir younge ones as the Henne Againe Paule the apostle how euidentlye with what exquisyte woordes and how often doeth hee declare the incredible loue wherewith hée imbraced those most tenderly from time to time which hée had once instructed in the principles of religion There bee innumerable places in his Epistles demonstratinge the same But as touchinge the iudgement and dexteritie requisite in choosinge of fit and conuenient matters forsomuch as wée haue already spoken in the first booke wée will not héere make any newe repetition II. Howbeit as concerninge comlines in gesture and pronunciation briefely and truly to speake what I thinke looke how great care is to bée imployed in orderinge of the life and dayly conuersation euen so great also ought worthily to bée taken to the due gouernment and moderation of the speach For doubtlesse the spéech is a certaine portion of the life and that truely not the least And ofte times by the spéech is a great ghesse and iudgement giuen touchinge the whole inclynation and disposition of a man. For it is playne and euident that puritie and simplicitie ioyned with prudence and discretion like as in life so also in spéech or communication is commended of all men Wherefore the Preacher must at all times but then chiefely when hee beginneth first to exercise himselfe in Teachinge the multitude take diligent héede least hée vsurpe any thinge in wordes in pronunciation or also in gesture which may bréede and ingender contempt of his person with the people Wee haue séene them sometimes that haue so to often and in euery Sermon repeated some one worde or sentence wee haue seene them that haue mingeled euen to the lothsomnes of the hearers tropes or figures nothing fitte and correspondent to the diuine matters which they had in hande agayne wee haue seene them that in the hart of their matter haue vttered diuers times scarce honest and comely motions And these thinges ministered occasion to curious carpers and controllers of other mens doinges to scoffers and iesters amonge the rude sorte that when they were disposed to procure sport and laughter in their iunkettinges and tipling feastes they thought there could be no utter thing for theyr turne then cunningly and pleasauntly to represent the wordes the voyce the gesture of the Preacher Yea and moreouer they accustomed through the sames occasions to miscall the Preacher himselfe by some ridiculous name as oft as in their talke they made any mention of him What should I say more By reason of their vndisereete and vnseemely gesture some are made the common talking stocke and publicke pastime of the people But to the anoyding of these inconuenieÌ„ces which through vnskilfull dealing in wordes and behauiour be incurred and falne into two remedies séeme good vnto me for this present time to be considered The one is that whosoeuer taketh in hand the function of preachinge doe foorthwith set before him some one excellent Ecclesiasticall Teacher whose name is famous and renowmed and who with singuler grace and dexteritye expoundeth the sacred Scriptures in all respectes so far as may bée to be imitated and folowed For most commonly it commeth so to passe that what all men doe iudge worthy of
Preacher and vvhat I. Learning Vltera crepidare is a vvord taken prouerbially vvhwere a man vvyll take vpoÌ„ him further then his knovvlege vvyll serue Lucke 4. 1. Timoth 3. Tit. 1. Phellipp 1. 1. Timoth 5. III. Povver in teachinge Math. 7. Marc. 1. Luke 4. Ieremy 1. 2. Timoth. 1. Spirite or povver in teachinge vvhence it commeth and hovv it is encreased That God giueth the spirit in teching Ioan. 16. Math. 10. 2. Cor. 30. That the increasement of the spirite is obteined of God vvith 〈◊〉 prayer Ephe. 6. That the godly and earnest teachers shall haue good happy succes in their doctrine Esay 55 Luke 8 1. Timoth 4. The studye affection of a true Preacher by the discription of Sainct Pauleâ— The effect of S. Paules Sermons Act. â—0 Conclusioâ—â— The cause of the premisses hitherto touchinge those thinges that are necessarye to a preacher Ieremye 2â— â— Timo. 5. In vvhat thinges the Preacher ought to bestowe his labor The Gospell what â— Cor. 5. The ende limited to a Preacher â— Timo. 3. The markes of a true preacher That manye thinges are common to the preacher vvith the orator vvhat I. II. III. IIII Rhetorick 〈…〉 That the rhetoricall precepts of Pronounciation pertaine not to a Preacher That the preacher differeth in many thinges from the Orator and that chiefelye in Inuention Math. 13. 1. Cor. 4. What matter the Preacher shall chose I. Profitable Of matter ê“fitable three special places and vvhiche 2. Places of Loue. 3. Places of Hope II. Easye vvhy one easi matter ought to be chosen 1. Timo 1.6 2. Timo 2.3 Tit. 1.3 Trip. histor Lib. 7. Cap. 1â— Occupation Hovv a harde place is to be expounded 2. Thessal 2. A place of Paule touchinge the last comminge of Christ An other place of the same touching the reicetion of the Ievves callinge of the Gentiles III. Necessary Tit. 3. Necessarye matter vvhat Diuine places though profitable yet not al fit for euery place time Esay 56. The preacher must somtime vary his oration The order maner of the auncient doctors of the churche in their teching The pastor vvith the other ministers ought to consult as touching the matter of the Sermon accordinge to the manner and condicion of the time One and the same matter diuers times handeled of all the ministers to the people What fathers expounded to the people vvhole books Who they vvere that explaned certen partes or percels of the holy bookes to the people Sermons framed to the expositioÌ„ of soÌ„e one place out of the scriptures Sermons of thinges offered by occasion Orations made of vertues and-gainst vices A Cantion to be vsed in sermons Transition Sermon hovv and after what sorte it ought to bee I. Briefe II. Perspicious III. CoÌ„sisting of lavvfull partes The care and diligence of the auncient Doctors before the Sermon Marc. 16. 1. Timoth 4. The kyndes of Rhetorical cases not agreeing to diuine Sermons I. The signification of the vvorde doctrine II. Of Redargution III. Of Institution IIII. Of Correction V. Of consolation That all Sermons ought to be referred to these fiue kindes That al thinges are referred eyther vnto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or vnto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philipp 1. Coloss 1 The seedplots of these fiue chapters That the Rhetorical kyndes of cases also are conteyned vnder these fiue orders of Sermons but not contraryvvise He passeth to the explicatioÌ„ of the kyndes of Sermons The names of the kyndes 1. Didascalick 2. redargutiue 3. Instructiue iiii correctiue v. Comfortatiue 2. Timoth 3. Rom. 15. PreoccupatioÌ„ An other particion of the â—â—des vi Mixt kinde Transition State vhat That the title of Sermons doe oftetimes conteyne the â—â—ate Theme what and hovv manyfolde That SermoÌ„s of euery kind are to be deuided into parts The partes of a Sermon I. Reading The maner of reading in the old churche That reading somtime goeth not before the Sermon What bookâ— ought to be read That the precher ought not rashlye to innouate any thing in the sacred scriptures Sozomenus Tripart histo lib. 1. cap. 10. The order of inuocation in the begining of Sermons of vvhoÌ„ firste set forth 1. Cor. 3 Diuers maners of prayinge I. Of the â—athers What the precher vvhat the people ought to prai for II. III. IIII. Inuocation vvhat it ought to be The maner of Exordinge moste conueniently shevved in examples Whether Exordiums be aâ—lvaries needfull The matter of exordium vvhence it is to be taken Obseruations of Exordium â—â—n thapplication of a vvhole booke 2. In thexplication of a part of the booke III The first wordes of Thexordium must as neere as may bee aunsvver to the matter Act. 2. Act. 7. 13. Exordium sometyme omitted Proposition vvhen it is to be vsed Diuision vvhen Proposition vvhere it is to be placed An example of Diuision Diuision vvhat and after vvhat sorte it ought to be Diuision vvhen needfull That all the members of Diuision are not alvvayes declared That many and diuers places are handled somtymes without any diuision goinge before Transitions exortacions other such lyke figures in diuision do oftetimes betoken a nevv argument That proposition diuision both are novv then neglected The place of ConfirmatioÌ„ ConfirmatioÌ„ can not one vvay be handeled The order of thinges to be said touching confirmation Chapters of obseruations A prayse of the said forme of deriuing collecting disposinge of proufes The maner of popular Teaching vvheÌ„ce it is deriued I. II Confutation hovv after what sorte it ought to bee Confutations vvhere to bee placed put Diuers formes of confutation Confutation must be voide of sophystry CoÌ„tumelious chidinges to be auoyded Conclusion Conclusion double of the parte and of the vvhole Oration which is called peroratioÌ„ What is to be repeated in the Conclusion Affections to be moued also in a peroration Exhorte Reproue Simply to pray and beeseech The herers to be admonished of the matter of the next Sermon Certayne meanes of finishinge sacred Sermons I II III What thinges the Preacher shall get to himselfe Of amplification what he vvill speake vvhy the Preacher must vse amplification AmplificatioÌ„ vvhen to be vsed Hebr 3.4 Whence the Preacher may take orders of amplyfiynge I. Out of the facultie of Orators II. Out of diuinitie it selfe Examples I III IIII 1. Reg. 14 What maner of arguments ought to bee ministred vnto children for thexercise of their stile Thar the maner of mouing of affections ought to bee knovven of the Preacher The order diuision of the thinges to be spoken touching mouing of affections I When affections are to be moued Diuision of affections 〈◊〉 affectiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉 of the â—â—â—â—â—er Hovve to knovve vvhen affections are to be moued II Where or in vvhat parte of the Sermon affections are to be moued III With what skill cunning the affection are to be moued I. Meane Hovv we may stir vp affections in our selues Psal. 119. II. Meane De ciuita deâ— Lib. 15. Cap. 6 III.
Pray vnto our heauenly father that he would vouchsasafe to preserue his Church amongest vs that he would gouerne it and sanctifie it by his holy Spirite praye ye that in stead of this our Hyperius now taken from vs he would giue vnto vs many godly Teachers learned peasible constant For your partes also giue your diligent attendaunce vnto the holy Scriptures read them study theÌ„ meditate vpon them learne out of them a cartaine forme of Christian doctrine and to this ende alone apply all the force of your wittes that many of you may come foorth so furnished with knowledg and vnderstanding that you may one day he placed in the roomes of those notable Capitaines called foorth of their stations to the Lord to the great profit coÌ„moditie of the Church And we all praye thée O almightie Father which in so short a space takest out of the vnthanckfull world so many famous Teachers and leauest behind many troublers of the peace and enimies of the Church rayse vp in the steads of these notable ministers of CHRIST many other which may teach and gouerne thy Church Nourish and defend the studies of good men which laboure to this ende that they may serue thy Church Furnish our minds O father we beséech thée with the loue of true religion and vertue that when thy sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ shall come at the last day to Iudgement be may at the least finde some remnantes of faith and sinceritie amongest vs. FINIS ¶ Of framing of Diuine Sermons or popular interpretation of the Scriptures the first Booke ¶ What the common and popular order of interpreting the Scriptures is and howe excellent a function they haue that teach the people in the Churche Cap. I. NO man doubteth but that there bee two maner of wayes of interpreting the scriptures vsed of skilfull diuines the one Scholastical peculyer to the scholes the other Popular pertayning to the people That one is apt for the assembles of learned men and young studients some deale profited in good letters This other is altogether applied to instructe the confused multitude wherin are very many rude ignoraunt and vnlearned The first is exercised within the narrowe compasse of the Scholes The seconde taketh place in the large and spacious temples The one strict and straight laced sauoring Philosophicall solytarinesse and seueritie The other stretched forth franck and at lybertie yea and delightinge in the light and as ye would say in the court of Orators In that are mani things exacted after the rule of Logical breuitie and simplicitie In this Rhetoricall bountie and furniture ministreth much grace and decencie Wherefore if a place out of the holy Scriptures bee offered at any time to a teacher in the scholes to be explaned and interpreted hee by and by sticketh wholy therein as one shut vp in a streight prison vinfolde enclosure and not only discusseth dilygently the thinges themselues in general and al the partes of them but also in a maner euery worde and sillable thinkinge it vnlawfull to omit any thinge or so much as a litle to wrench aside But he that instructeâ— the people sercheth and selecteth out of an argument â—â—â—posed some certaine common places and such as he perceiueth aboue the residew to be most congruent to the time place and persons in discoursing whereof at large hée bestoweth his time and to the intent the more large and ample a scope may be opened vnto hym now and then he ouerskippeth some thinges in the text of the holye Scripture or toucheth only eche thing slightly by the way as it were mindinge some other matter Agayne he that readeth in the Schoole heapeth together proofes and foundations with as great iudgement and dexterity as he can and coueteth to vse those in especiall in whiche he perceyueth most pithe and strength to remaine But he that vndertaketh to speake vnto the people is not so carefull or anxious but scrapeth together argumentes of all sortes and armeth himselfe with probable reasons euen such as are heard commonly among the meaner sort of men as he that directeth all thinges to the capacitie of his common auditory He that teacheth in the schole wittingly willingly neglecteth those thinges that pertaine to the procuring of beneuolence to the mouing of affections moreouer digressions tedious descriptions whiche the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hypotyposes amplificatioÌ„s artificial elegancye of wordes many and diuers figuers to be shorte all the furniture and ornamentes of an oration and affecteth not so much as to séeme once studious of bountifulnesse in speakynge but as one astricted to that lawe whereby the cryer proclaymed in Areopagus to speake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is without proeme and affections he is contented with a simple yet pure and perspicious kynde of speach On the other side he to whom it appertaineth to speake before the multitude séeketh and prouideth dilygently with wonderfull circumspection al the said stuffe furniture so far forth as it auayleth to teach refel exhort reprooue comfort of nothing maketh more account then that he may draw and stir vp the mindes of his auditors â—nto what part he will after the maner quality of things 〈◊〉 â—ident Neither were it hard to bring forth examples in which the selfe fame argumentes or â—heames out of the scriptures are handled one way after the maner of Scholastical interpretation an other way after the coÌ„mon or Popular And surely out of the writinges of the auncient fathers may be taken not a few and those most learnedlye explaned and set forth For after the Popular interpretatioÌ„ al the Sermons for the most part of the prophetes and of Christ are expounded and many also of the exhortations corrections consolations of the apostle Paule Furthermore those thinges that are read vnder the titles of Homelies Sermons or OratioÌ„s in the holy fathers Origen Chrisostom Basyl Nazianzene Augustine Maximus Leo after these Gregory Beda Bernard and such like Whervnto may be added the explanations of Augustine vpon the Gospell of Iohn some certaine of the Psalmes But to Scholasticall interpretation doe appertaine certaine more graue and subtile disputations of S. Paule namely that touching mans iustification in his epistle to the Romaynes in whiche yet notwithstanding the apostle breketh foorth successiuely into exhortations and consolations peculier to another kind of interpreting and to the Galathyans with some in the fyrst to the Corinthyans twaine also in the Epistle to the Hebrues the one of the two natures in Christe the other concerning the abrogation of the Leuiticall priesthood and the euerlasting priesthoode of Christ To the same order may iustly be ascribed all the commentaries of Sainct Ierom vppon the prophets of Sainct Ambrose vppon the Epistles of S. Paule also the epistles and disputations of S. August Bréefelye whosoeuer is indued with any iudgement at al being furthered with those things that we haue alreadye touched may esely discerne
peculiar vices in some one citie reigne diuers enormities which to an other citie are scarce lye knowen Moreouer among some be stirred vp contencions and varieties touching the doctrine of religion againe amongst other some all thinges are quiet Therfore in â—ace thou speakest of crimes and errours to the people in whom those crimes or errours are not to be founde truly thou doest not wisely For it is to be feared least thy sharpe and tedious reprehension bréede offence amonge those that be weake whiche will now beginne to learne some euill of thée that before they were ignoraunt off They that minister medicines to the whole doe rather hurt them then confirme thei health But on the other side if in any place sinnes or straunge heresies doe budde forth thou doest not eftsoones and before they take déepe roote méete with them and endeuour to roote them out all the blame of the euill shall be imputed vnto thée and if wher it behooued thée stoutly to speake thou filthily holdest thy peace thou shalt worthily be reported off according to the sayiÌ„g of the prophet Esay A dumbe dog not daring to barke Furthermore it so chaunceth oft times that diuers and sondrye affaires happen of which it standeth the preacher vppon to frame Orations of diuers kindes as when the common wealth is oppressed with famine pestilence or warre when the fruits of the field lie beaten downe with hayle or intemperature of the ayre when sedition tumults or other daungers are to be feared Againe it is the part of a teacher to comforte the dismayed multitude to induce them to the knowledge of their sinnes to stir them vp to implore and call vpon the mercy of God. To be short how many and sundry soeuer the euentes in humane matters be so many and sundrye Sermons may and ought to be had yea and necessitie it selfe doeth from time to time teach vs to vse now one forme of speaking and now and then another By these thinges therfore it may appeare vnto all men what kinde of matter ought openly to be handled of the ministers of the church Neyther is it to be doubled but the the holy fathers as many as were euer occupied in this most excellent function of preaching had a right dilygent care consideration of these things For vndoubtedly to thintent the auncient Doctors of the Church might at all times propose the like matter that we haue spoken of to the people in sacred assemblies they one while explaned the holy canonicall bookes entirely from the beginning to the ende an other while some parte of the holy Bible nowe and then some certaine chapter or place excerpted out of the same againe somtime they framed their oration of any matter offred and insident by occasion And lest they should be thought not to haue so dilligent regarde and consideration of the publique vtilytie edifying of the whole congregation as was méete and expedient their custome was which custom in many places dothe yet still endure and where it is abolished ought woorthily to bee restored agayne that in euery Churche the pastor with the residewe of the priestes or elders labouryng together as well in the word as in gouernment should méete and assemble themselues and then maturely delyberate and define accordyng to the state of the churche and maner of the time present what books or what parts thereof what places out of the same fynally what matter or what chapters were most expedyent to be handled and illustrated to the people Therefore the ministers of the worde like as the affayres of the faithfull required in euery place after the aduice and determination of the Colledge of Elders were eyther occupied in the interpretation of certen of the scriptures or dyd inculke more exactly frequently then they were accustomed some certayne sounde principles of religion or by reason of rauening wolues that is to say hereticks and hipocrits they impugned and subuerted their absurde opinions or reproued the vices of certain brethrne lyuing rather after the flesh then after the spirit and excited them to diuers and sundry vertues or els they vsed apt consolations for some publique calamitie that had lately happened Neither thought they yt sufficient if an argument proposed were once or twice of one onely speaker entreated off but as many as were there placed in the ministrie prosecuted in many sermoÌ„s the selfe same cause with great and wonderfull consent And of this custome of the more ancient and purer church we finde written by Tertulian Cap. 39. Apologetici Wee came together sayth he to commemorate the diuine scriptures if the qualiti of the times preseÌ„t doth compel vs ether to premonish or to reknowlege any thing certes with holy communication we feede our faith we arest our hope wee fix our affiaunce and with ofte repetitions and suggestions we confirme the discipline of precepts More cleare is that which S. August explaninge the 34 and 139. Psal as he hymselfe counteth them also in his second Sermon vpon the 36. Psalme about the beginning sayth that he was commaunded of his brethrne and companions to interpret those Psalmes Moreouer as touching entier whole bokes of scripture expounded to the people examples ther be nothing obscure Origen opened and interpreted to the people certaine bookes of the olde testament as well out of the law as out of the prophets namly Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers Iosua c. albeit some parcelles thereof are wanting But Chrisostom hath more grace in his homylies vpon Gensis vpon the gospell of Mathew Iohn and on the Epistles of S. Puele S. August also in the beginninge of his exposition of S. Iohns epistle sheweth that he had explaned in order at the whole gospel of S. Iohn when as by reson of feastful daies falling in the meane time necessitie requâ—rod certaine readings out of the gospel to be recited declared he would procéede those daies being past in the traâ—tation of the sayd epistle of S. Iohn Neither want their sermons wherein are opened and expounded certaine partes of the sacred scriptures Basill in eleuen homilies vttered apparauntly the beginning of Genesis touching the creation of thinges and some certayne Psalmes There be extant also certayne percels of Esay Ieremy and Ezechiel in lyke order illustred of Origen We may reade in like maner the most learned homilies of Chrisostom vpon some of the Psalmes If a man require Sermons compacted and applyed to the explication of some one place out of the Scriptures he shall finde euery where inowe In Chrisostom thou shalt sée homilies coÌ„cerning those wordes in Genesis I will put enmitie discord betwixt thee the womaÌ„ also touching the faith of Abraham and offeringe vp of Isaac of Ioseph solde by hys bretherne of the continency of Ioseph of that whiche is written Iudicum 1. Iephthe went forth to battell vowed a vow c. of Anna Elcano of the education of Samuel 4.
that the whole Sermon beâ— applyed to the reprouinge of a false opinion or to the correction and abolishinge of superstitions or of some euill inueterate custome then doubtelesse it is both seemely also very requisite that all thinges bée dissolued in order that are produced of obstinat men for the defence of their errors For great labor and dilligence is néedefull to the extirpinge and rooting out of peruerse opinions wherwith the myndes of men haue any longe tyme bene infected séeinge they alwayes subtilly and craftely goe about to imagine and contriue a number of thinges to establish and confirme their noysom opinions withall For after this sorte wee may sée confuted in the booke of Salomon which is entituled Ecclesiastes the false and erroneous opinions of many touchinge the soueraigne felicitie And the Apostle Paule in his Epistle to the Romaynes Cap. 5.6 and 7. wysely infringeth and dissolueeth no fewe thinges which the aduersaries obiected against the doctrine of iustificatioÌ„ by faith without workes Moreouer the Preacher shall vse all the order and conâ—ing in confutation which wée sée to be prescribed to the Orators and he shall franckely vse negation eleuation translation excusation digression regestion inuersion distinction absolution conquestion inuestigation of the matter and forme of argumentes after the maner of Logicke and whatsoeuer else is of this kynde For of all these thinges examples may be shewed in the Sermons of Christ the Prophetes and Apostles Notwithstandinge he must take dilligent héede of this that his Confutation bée vtterly voyde of all subtill sophistry that it bee without ostentation of the deceytfull drinkes of Logicke and lawelyke craftinesse to be short that it bee without any desyre of cauillinge And that verily for this cause least any man shoulds suspect hym either to trifle or else to bee desirous to circumuent and begyle his auditors Whereof the one is the poynt of shamefull vanitie and the other of malitious subteltie Full well goeth the ecclesiasticall discourse forward that is séene to bee decked and adorned with veritie and simplicitie Some there bee that in confutinge now and then become so hote and vehement that as men enraged wyth ire they brast forth into contumelious reproches yea and somtimes into Thiestes execratioÌ„s which whilest they doo they excéede all measure and mediocritie These men wee wishe to be admonished that they woulde endeuour themselues to restrayne with the bridell of charitie the excursion of their vehement and hasty Oration For it lesse offendeth albeit it bee a sharpe reprehension if it may bee vnderstood to procéede of charitie These thinges touchinge the maner of Confutinge applied to the Popular vnderstanding and congruent to euery kinde of Sermons whither it be a whole booke or a parte of the booke or some certaine place that is expounded or whither we entreat of affayres offred by occasion of tyme may suffise For the thinges that ought besides to be accommodate as proper to the kinde râ—dargutiue or correctiue those things we will with more dilligence declare when we shall seuerally entreat of the same kindes ¶ Of Conclusion Cap. XIII IN euery sacred Sermon eche parte or common place doth craue a briefe conclusion but besides that a certaine apte and conuenient peroration must be added to the whole oration Now it this if many notable places out of a whole booke or a part of a booke haue ben examined a short repetitioÌ„ is rightely made of some principal points Chapters therof If two or thrée places haue bene expouÌ„ded then of euery one in order may be called into memory some certayne proufes such as séeme to be most emineÌ„t probable nowe and then the Preacher strayeth onely in those thinges that pertayne to the last place the doctrine and vtilitie whereof he alonely studiously commendeth But in cace some one certaine place of Scripture or a Theame simple or compound shall thorow out the whole Sermon be declared at large or that the Sermon be taken in hande touchinge businesse which the state of the Church requireth to be handeled then for the most parte a peroration is accustomably bestowed in mouing of affectioÌ„s to the inteÌ„t meÌ„ may be stirred to desire or eschew to alow or dissalowe that whereof entreaty hath bene made Somtyme to Sermons of euery kinde are annexed exhortation or obiurgations vtterly deuided from those places that are before expounded Which then truely rightely commeth to passe when certayne affayres doe happen whereof it behoueth the people to bee admonished So Chrisostom in a place in the ende of his Sermon rebuketh those that neglectinge diuine Sermons vsed to gadd to the Theatre to beholde there the games on horsebacke called Ludi equestres The same in his Hoâ—â—lie 19. vppon Genesis after the Scriptures declared wyth a briefe conclusion hee passeth to an exhortation wherein he detesteth couetousnesse and requireth all men that they woulde endeuoure themselues to helpe the poore and to giue almose vnto them In his Homilie 15. after hee had besought his hearers that they would commende vnto their memory the thinges that had bene spoken touchinge the incomnparable mercy of GOD he admonisheth them that they woulds laboure to passe the residewe of the Lente fruitefully and studye not onely to absteyne from meates but also much more from sinne and wycked attemptes But most commonly he concludeth simply in prayinge and beseacute echinge his audientes that they woulde haue dilligent consideration of the holsome doctrine propounded vnto them that they woulde repeate it after they were returned home somtymes also declare it vnto others which we may sée him to haue done Homilie 2.14 and 20. vppon Genesis and else where and finally conuert it wholely to the amendement of their lyues Moreouer nowe and then the Preachers doe admonish in the conclusion of what matter they are determined to entreate in their Sermon followinge Out of Chrysostom Homilie 4. vppon Genesis also 4. vppon the first Epistle to the Corinth Item his 5. Tome Homilie 28. agaynst Swearinge some gather that the custome was in the church in tymes past that the people after the ende of the Sermon shoulde clappe their handes and make acclamations but so asmuch as this custome séemeth to haue folowed from the Theatre or market place it is worthely obsolete and growen out of vre Much better it is verely to ende all sacred Sermons with prayer or that wee certaynely knowe to bee done in some place wyth the confession of fayth that is to saye with the repetition of the Symboll Apostolyke or Nicaene ¶ Of Amplification Cap. XV. WHatsoeuer thinge is profitable either to teache perspicuousely or also to moue perswade withall all that shall the Preacher purchase to himselfe as most requisite and necessary furniture Therefore let him knowe that argumentations tripartite quinquepartite Enthymemata also Schemes and Tropes further the crafte of amplifying and mouing of affections and finally whatsoeuer else of this order is
to forsweare themselues But I cease to make any further annotations vppon that place furnyshed with all kynde of conninge and conueigâ—aunce By these thinges it may sufficientlye bee perceyued that amplyfications are ofte times gathered out of those places whiche Diuinitye challengeth as proper to it selfe The same Chrysostom in his homilie 46. vpon Genesis with wonderfull prudence and dexteritye amplyfieth like as did Origen also before him the fayth of Abraham and his obedience deriued of faith being readye to offer vp his onely sonne Isaac the discourse wherof whosoeuer will attentiuely reade he shall hardly I am sure refrayne hym selfe from teares Agayne in his homilie 14. touching the temerarious othe of Saule wherein he swore that who so euer dyd taste any bread before the euening should dye the death it is an easy matter to obserue many mo amplifications deriued out of diuers and sondry places of Diuinitie I cannot choose but that I must néedes adde this also by the way and as ye would say minding of some other matter Some there be that propounde vnto the youth in Scholes arguments in which thei may exercise their stile and make a tryall of the towardnes of their wit but those for the most parte are taken out of fables or certes things vayne and friuolous that I say not somtimes filthy or otherwise huâ—â—fillâ— But how muche better should the Scolemasters doe if they woulde oftentymes prescribe vnto their Scollers committed to their charge to those inespecially that are enformed to the study of diuine letters argumentes taken out of the holy Scriptures and woulde commande them to explicate and in explicating to adorne the same one while by amplifications an other while by other formes of exercises accordinge to the imitation of Chrysostom or some other excellent diuines Of mouinge of affections Cap. XVI THe Preacher shall not employe his least care in mouinge of affections forsomuch as all the learned sorte doe confesse that he staÌ„deth of no one thing more in néede then he doth of this one onely faculty They that teache no otherwyse in the temple then professors are accustomed in the Scoles it cannot be that they shoulde be the authors of any greate spirituall fruites and very fewe or none are séene to bee induced with such Sermons to repentaunce and amendement of lyfe Wherefore whosoeuer he be that hath once taken vppon him the office of teaching in the church must with great industry apply himself vnto this that he may at the lengthe féele himselfe able to performe somewhat worthy of commendation in this behalfe Wée in the meane tyme will add to some thinges that serue vnto this ende and firste verily wee will declare when and what tyme it is conuenient to moue affections then next where or in what parte of the Sermon lastly in what places or with what practise it may be done It is well knowen out of the bookes of the Rhetoritians that the common affections are accounted to be fower Gladnesse Hope Feare Griefe And vnder gladnesse are ordinarily placed deletation vaunting or bosting vnder hope desire indigeÌ„ce or néede Vnder feare slouthfulnesse shamfastnes terrour timorousnes trembling preturbatioÌ„ Vnder griefe are enuy ire euill will hatred emulatioÌ„ pitie sorrowe lamentation carefulnesse paynefulnesse desperation c. Now the Preachers doe not accustomably vse to excite the myndes of their hearers to euery of the kyndes of affections nowe reherced but vnto those moste chiefely which euery man at the first sight may knowe distinctly to be most conuenient and as it were destinate to diuine affayres that is to say to thinges perteyninge to the eternall saluation of mankinde They induce therfore their hearers most specially to the care of obteyning saluation to sorrowe or indignation for offences committed to the lothsomnesse and hatred of sinnes to the loue of vertue to the feare of gods iudgement and of punishment to the hope of mercy to be obteyned with God to compassion and loue towardes our neighbour and vnto those affections besides that are vnto these moste semblable but scarcely to any other Wherefore the mener of mouinge of affections assigned vnto Preachers in the Church is not altogither lyke vnto that that the Orators vse in their Forum or Consistory To the intent therefore thou mayest knowe when and at what tyme it is méete and conuenient that affections be moued of the Preacher before all thinges the partes of the whole Sermon and the principall places which are specially to be touched therein ought effectually to be comprised in the mynde and reduced to a perfect order For the tractation of what place soeuer thou shalt iudge to be most profitable and necessary either to the state of the Church or to the tyme and causes incident in the illustration thereof chiefely beyonde the rest thou shalt employ thy dilligent labour and also endeuour thy selfe to moue the affections of the hearers The effecte of our meaninge is this Thou expoundest some entier booke of Scripture or some parte of a booke in the wordes that come nexte to hande are founde peraduenture touched diuers and sondry profitable places wherof some doe conteyne manifold doctrine othersome redargutions other institucions other corrections or consolations And in these one there is most apte to styrre vpp the myndes of menne vnto vertue verye requisite in the lyfe of man and chiefely in respecte of present considerations therefore thou shalte vnderstande that this same place is in suche sorte to bée declared of thée that thou mayste endeuoure thy selfe to moue the affections either more vehement or moderate according as thou shalte sée it expedient At what tyme therefore thou shalte perceyue men to be giuen to drounkennesse and excesse if there happen any wher in the Sermon a place of sobrietie and temperance or agaynst superfluitie in this verily thou shalte longest tary and through exhortation or reprehension so styrre vp the affections of the hearers that they may both couet sobrietie and abandon excesse Moreouer wher many of the common sort are oppressed with pouerty and that there is euery where greate scarcitie of vittayle and yet in the meane tyme charitie very colde and vnneath any where to bée founde if then a conuenient place offer it selfe touchinge liberalitie thou shalte wyth all thy power goe aboute to explayne it at large and wyth as greate industry as thou canst induce the myndes of the hearers to bountifulnesse and compassion towardes the poore Furthermore there happeneth peraduenture a place wherby it is signified that God woulde haue littell children to come vnto him Héere very fitly shall bee entreated of the loue of parentes towardes their childrne yea and with some vehemence also and prouocation of myndes shall the parentes bee vrged to sende their childrne to Scole in tyme conuenient and prouide that they maye rightely bee enstructed in the principles of godlynesse To be short if at any tyme an history or precepte or sentence be purposed
3. of the Actes where hee fyrst of all proueth that they ought to haue acknowledged Christ to be very God and forthwith imbraydeth theÌ„ with their insatiable crueltie which they practised towardes the same Christ Loue or beneuolence the Apostle Paule vehemently exciteth Actes 20. and 1. thess. 2. Of which Sermons mention is made aboue where wée entreated of the spirite or power in teachinge The feare of gods iudgemeÌ„t Esay stricketh into the myndes of his hearers Cap. 1. likewyse where hee describeth the miserable desolation of the prouince of Iuda saying Euery heade is pearced with pensiuenesse c. Also where hée desirous to exaggerate their sinnes as the causes of the desolation calleth the princes of the Iewes the princes of Sodome and the people the people of Emor c. Of the same kynde of Sermons there bée certayne partes Cap. 3.10.13 Also Heb. 3. and. 4. To the hope of mercy Esay induceth and the rest of the prophetes in which places after sharp controlmentes they descende to coÌ„solations doo prophesy and promise remission of sinnes to be obteyned through Christ Notable is that Sermon touching the deliueraunce of the Church by Christ and that through the frée mercy of god Cap. 52.53 In like maner of the effectes of iustifycation to be receiued after this lyfe Rom 8. For we suffer togither with him sayth he that we may togither with him also be glorified and so forth to the ende of the Chapiter Among the Sermons of Chrysostome thou shalt fynde very fewe or none wherein he handeleth any one commoÌ„ place and either prouoketh vnto vertue or disswadeth deterreth from vice or else entreateth of some businesse offced by occasion of time but that in them he vehemently moueth affectioÌ„s and that truly one while by the weight and dignitie of the thinges themselues an other while by his singuler eloquence grace in speaking wherein he surmounteth a greate number of his order and callinge Reade inespecially the 20. homily of his fifte Tome touching the returne of Bishop Flauianus who was sent forth to pacifie the Emperour where he introduceth an ancient reuereÌ„d Bishop with incredible endeuoure swéetnes of spéech turning the mind of the wrathfull prince vnto mercy compassion Reade also in the same Tome the Sermon which he made when coÌ„sultation was had touching his banishment a Sermon in déede very briefe but to the stirring vp of loue affectioÌ„ both in mater wordes excellently well furnished and appoynted Finally let the Sermons be read entituled against the cursed and detestable custome of swearing and periury agaynst ire agaynst enuy backbitinge detraction ryotte couetousnesse and other of the same kynde And hitherto as touchinge those thinges which are common to all kyndes of Sermons and maye bée taken as generall Rules and preceptes of the whole faculty of Preachinge It remayneth that wée compendiously declare what poyntes are proper to euery kynde that is to saye howe and by what meanes it maye bée discerned vnto what kynde euery Sermon is to bée referred then what speciall places of argumentes ought to be in a readinesse to the apte preparation of Confirmations agayne what Cantions are to bée obserued in euery of the kyndes for the auoyding of inconueniences and whatsoeuer els is semblable herevnto FINIS ¶ Of framing of Diuine Sermons or popular interpretation of the Scriptures the Seconde Booke ¶ How and by what meanes a man maye perceyue vnto what kynde of Sermon euery sacred Sermon ought to bee referred Cap. I. LIke as those men that intende to make any sumptuous buyldinge or to pitche their Tentes before all thinges are very circumspect where they may haue a fitte and conuenieÌ„t place for their purpose and of this one thing alone are carefull aboue measure as beinge certaynly perswaded if they here chaunce to erre and goe amisse that it will bee vnprofitable whatsoeuer they shall afterwarde take in hande Euen so it standeth hym greatly vppon that hath determyned to Preach in thassemblye of Christian people eftesones to obserue vnto what kynd of Sermon the matter which he will chose to entreate off ought to be referred for vnlesse he be assured at the beginning touching the kynde of his Sermon he shal neuer atteyne to an apt and perfect order of inuention and disposition of his argumeÌ„ts but of necessitye they will appere confused inconuenient vnordered and as it is sayd in the prouerbe Loose shreddes and sand without morter whatsoeur shal be heaped togither Neither truely can any man fruitfully speake of any matter vnto others neyther shall the hearers perceyue what his meaning is except he first of all prefixe to himselfe a certain scope acording to the which al his reasons may be directed That the cace standeth thus least we should staye any longer herein experience it selfe doth teach Therfore he that deuiseth to entreate of religion to the people let this be his firste care euen to finde out the kinde of his sermon following That is brought to passe in this wise If thou takest in hande any parte of the sacred Scripture to expounde it is verilye thy dutye to bestowe somtime in readinge and perusing it ouer oftner then once or twise attentiuely weighing and considering euerye part and parsell thereof with all the causes and circumstances of the same Then thou shalt dilligently recount and gather with thy selfe what the authors meaninge is in the whole and so far forth as may be thou shalte in a briefe senteÌ„ce comprise the summe and effect therof This sentence shal be the state of the whole Sermon Againe when thou hast once expressed the state it is an easye matter to be seene whither in it bee commended any true doctine or any false doctrine confuted whither menne bée excited to the doinge of good actions or reproued for their euill déedes to bée shorte whither there bée any thinge therein prepared for consolation Therefore when thou perceyâ—est true doctryne to bee established thou shalte pronounce the Sermon to bee of the kinde Didascalick when any false doctrine is refelled thou shalt affirme it to perteyne to the kinde Redargutiue But if men be induced to those thinges that doo set forth sanctimony of life and integritie of manners the SermoÌ„ shall then be of the kinde Instructiue If the corrupt state of lyfe be founde faulte with and condemned it shabe reduced to the kinde Correctiue Againe if in the state it self there happen to be founde matter of consolation the Sermon may be auouched to be instituted in the kinde comfortatiue or Consolatory Howbeit to collect the state of an intire booke of scripture it is a thinge very difficulte séeinge fewe or none are to be founde whereof the summe may be reduced in one sentence The state of the booke which is entituled Ecclesiastes is that the souereigne felicitie is the coniunction with God and the perpetuall fruition of the dietie The state of the Songes of Salomon Sainct Paule hath expressed as it
therefore are prudently to be consydered of hym that will preache and compose his Sermon in the kinde didascalick so soone as hauing ended the exordium hee shall come to the pithe and effecte of the matter I First he shall mark whether it be expedient that a certayne forme of confirmatiō be vsed or altogether cōmitted II Secondlye it is necessarye that he haue at hande places of inuencion congruent and correspondent to this kynd by the direction wherof he shall excogitate and vtter those thinges that may holsomelye be put foorth to the multytude III Thirdly he shal haue in a readinesse certayne cautions wherewith being furthered he shall prouide and foresée lest any thing rashly vnsauourily friuolously lest any thing vaine superstuous defectiue or redundant doe escape hym in the sacred assembly Of these thrée poyntes so far forth as they are peculiar to the Didascalick kynde we will orderly entreat It is not without cause that we affirme it expedyent vnto hym that will speake to the people to delibrate whether confirmation ought to be instituted or no. For often times al the order of confyrming is omitted and the preacher can in no case vse the fame though he woulde neuer so feine For when it standeth him vpon simply to interpret the text of the holy Scriptures as it lyeth he is compelled to follow the order in his enarration and to vsurp such kinde of argumentes and proofes agayne to examine those common places which and what maner as well the words as the matters placed in the texte doe apparauntly minister And it were a great offence to passe ouer those reasons and common places vndiscussed whiche are openly touched in the scriptures read before Herevnto is added that this same faithfull explanation of the scriptures is not alwaies conueighed a lyke after one rate in the company of Christian hearers For somtimes many diuers cōmon places are noted in the scripture recited conteyning very godly and profitable matter but amongst them all onely a few supposed to bee most fruitfull are with as great industrye as may be expounded Somtime the whole explanation of Scripture is aptly distributed into two or thrée chapters or partes or common places it maketh no great matter how we tearme them Yea now and then also thou maist sée the whole diuine redynge with all the parts thereof to be directed to a more ample explication of one only common place Moreouer some whiles all and euery member of the scripture is briefely and precisely run ouer to the intent afterwarde some one common place by it selfe may more franckly and abundantlye be declared Which things whilest they are in this wise accomplished certes there is no kinde of thinge héere that may séeme to beare the forme or countenaunce of a iust confirmation Agayne on the other side there is special consideration where lawfull confirmation may seasonably be admitted For whensoeuer any one place or sentence out of the scriptures is openly explaned or a man vndertaketh to handle a Theame simple or compound then worthely is iust confirmation to be adorned furnished with all kynde of preparation and withall are to be heaped together arguments deduced out of those places of Inuention whiche we see to be attributed to the kinde didascalick And that I may speake briefely if the matter so requyreth that a Booke of Scripture or any parte thereof be opened to the people there is no place left vnto confirmatiō but if a place or sentence taken out of the scriptures or a Theame simple or compounde and peraduēture choyce be made of some common place or affaires incydent by occasion of time to bee intreated off then there is no let but that a iust Confirmation may bee vsed Let vs nowe procéede to speake of the places of Inuention Whensoeuer it shall bee thought good to handle a diuine Sermon certaine places ought alwayes to be in a retines by the order and direction whereof thou mayst finde out and as it were drawe out of couerte into light as well the thinges that are conuenient to the explycation illustratinge of thy purpose as also those thinges that are knowne to bée auayleable to the edification of the hearers All the places which wée vse in this behalfe it is requisite that wée deuide into two formes or orders far otherwise truely then the Logicians or Phylosophers haue bene accustomed The fyrst forme compriseth those that admonyshe and showe vnto vs howe and after what sorte wée may gather out of the Scriptures whiche wée haue read the cheife common places touchinge all the doctrine of pietye of faith and touchinge the dutyes of charytye and hope II. The later forme conteyneth those places of Inuention out of whiche are deryued apte argumentes to discribe and set forth the nature and forte of that thinge of whiche wée purpose to intreate The fyrst forme sheweth playnely Theologicall or diuine places and such as are vsurped in no other disciplynes the last comprehendeth places Philosophicall albeit some also Theologicall Of the former order are accounted fyue that is to say I Doctrine II Redargution III Institution IIII Correction V Consolation Which places whence we haue taken them and how it behoueth vs to vse them arighte vnto the ende whiche we talke off it is easy to be knowne by the woordes of the Apostle 2. Timoth. 3. and Rom. 15. All scripture sayeth he is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable to doctrine to reproue to correction to instruction which is in rightuousnesse that the man of God may be perfect instructed vnto all good woorkes And what soeuer things haue bene written afore time were writen for our learning that we through patience and comforte of the Scriptures might haue hope Lyke as therefore we may briefely learne out of these wordes how and by what meanes the kinds of diuine sermons ought conueniently to be deuided euen so the Apostle in the same wordes playnly sheweth how and after what sort we may pick not out of the scriptures which we shal fortune to reade fruitfull plentious matter of speaking whereby faith hope loue and al the duties of sincere godlynesse may amonge true christian hearers be aduaunced and promoted Which thinge to the intente all men may the more easely vnderstand I will not let somewhat more exactly to speake of euery of them in order I Doctrine which compriseth an assertion and comprobation of true opinions admonisheth vs that we should diligently ensearche whether in the wordes of Scripture which we haue in hande any thing be either openly affirmed or couertly signifyed that ought to be referred to some article as they tearme it of fayth or to a principle of christian religion For it can not be but that when we haue some space together stirred vp the powers of our minde in musing and consideringe of things some such matter will come to remembraunce if in the meane tyme we beare about fixed in our memory all the articles
by the death of Christ I gladly sticke in the same example why may not I say a man auouch that miserable men are well delte withall and that greate occasion is offred vnto them to hope for all good thinges at the handes of GOD when as they beholde God as well by his worde as by the sacramentes by him instituted to certifie and assure them of the remission of their sinnes by his sonne Iesus Christ And that there is no cause why they shoulde cast themselues hedlonge into the whirlpoole of desperation so longe as they fixe their mynde vppon the promysses of GOD and the couenaunte which hee hath made with vs. Hitherto touchinge the fiue principall Diuine places of â—â—â—ention wherevppon the mynde ought with all enforcement and dilligence to bee intentiuely sette so ofte as out of the Scriptures which are openly explaned we intende to excerpte certayne common places profitable for the Church Seing the Apostle himselfe so euidently affyrmeth that we ought to gather euery where out of the readinge of the Scriptures whatsoeuer is auayleable to doctrine to reproue to institution to correction to consolation whom may wee rather followe for our author then him And why shoulde nto wée I meane so many as are conuersante in the ministery employ our wholle laboures and studyes vppon this that wée maye drawe forth of the Scriptures these most holsome and profitable thinges Certes this inuention of common places is as ye woulde saye the grounde worke and foundation wherevppon the wholle frame of all Diuine Sermons doth consist For vnlesse thou shalt in this wyse note the common places accordinge to the diuersitie of the members of Scripture thou endeuourest in vayne to vtter any thing whereout any fruite may bée hoped for to redounde to the hearers But he that will followe this order and method of inuention after the fine places afore goinge shall neuer bée destitute of plenteous godly and profitable matter of speakinge Verely I suppose there bée some will say that this deuice is straung and very difficulte But forasmuch as we haue the Apostle Paule the ringeleader of all preachers as the teacher thereof who can worthily suspect it or lightely esteeme of it Moreouer I dare warraunt to those that shal be buâ— meanely furnished with the knowledge of common places perceyuinge to Christian religyon that it will euen forthwith béecome easye well lyked off and fruitefull There is no man I am sure will euer repent him of his paynes taken That which is attempted to the aduauncement of godlynesse commeth alwayes of necessitie vnto good successe And we a litell after will add some examples which shal open a way vnto all men and make it very playne and easy all impedimentes set a parte Neither in this didascalik kynde â—ons but also in the other kyndes of Sermons those thinges that are spoken touchinge these places may conueniently bée applyed to all and euery explication of Scripture lyke as so ofte as it shall bée requisite we will agayne admonishe Now let vs entreate of the places of inuention apperteyninge to the seconde forme or orded These declare vnto vs howe and after what sorte wee maye more néerely trye and axamine the nature of euery thinge of which at the least any thinge in Diuine Sermons may truly bée sayde or discâ—â—rsâ—d and heape togither proofes or argumentes meete to the accomplishement thereof For by them we easely learne what euery thinge is howe many partes or formes be thereof what the causes what the offectes or duties what thinges bée of alyaunce what Contrary therevnto as those that playnly appere to be destinate to the explication of these questions He that shall diligently discusse the sayde questions is supposed to haue amâ—ly and thorowly atteined whatsoeuer is worthy to be knowen as touching that thing Which thing is the cause why the Logicians and Philosophâ—â—s doâ— very highly esteme them and maruelously commend â—heÌ„ Théen both the 〈◊〉 vse 〈…〉 them to be agréeable to his treatise takeÌ„ in haâ—â— We wil therefore reherse them doo nothing else then â—eherse theÌ„ for hint that is desirous to know more we remit to the masteâ—s teachers of Logicâ—â— But 〈…〉 they profit to the 〈◊〉 indagatioÌ„ of diuine affayr 〈…〉 at large sufficieÌ„tly inough declared in our Theologicall Topicks At séemeth good héere onely to dispose them in such wyse as by the same dilligence I maye set forth vnto the eye to the explication of what questions euery of them may and ought to be applyed To the declaration of the question what the thinge is are referred I. Definition of the name II. Definition of the thinge III. Generall kinde IIII. Speciall kinde V. Difference VI. Propertie To the discussion of the question Howe many partes or how manyfolde the thinge is be annexed VII Diuision VIII Wholle IX Partes To the question of causes doe accorde X. Matter XI Forme XII Effect XIII Ende He that will explane the question what be the effectes or offices of the thinge must haue regarde to the XIIII Euentes XV. Effectes XVI Destinata XVII Adiacentia XVIII Actes XIX Subiecte For a man to finde out what be of alyaunce or aiffinitiâ— to the thinge he ought to respect XX. Coniugata XXI Contingentia XXII Signa or Signes wherein for the most parte Contingentia doe consist XXIII Circumstaunces XXIIII Pronunciata XXV Similia XXVI Comparata The question what be the contraries of the thing is absolued by searchinge out XXVII Opposita XXVIII Disparata The sayde places are taught of the Logicians who as it is méete and conuenient those artes to serue the turne of more worthy actes doe minister the same to the professors of other disciplines but especially of Diuinitie to be vsed Moreouer Theologie is accustomed to produce other places also to the explication of thinges in the kynde didascalik and in the bookes of the prophetes and Apostles we may perceiue no small number of probations deriued of the places followinge 1 Of the vsurpation of the voyce of any man in the sacred Scriptures Thapostle in that promise made of God vnto Abraham Genes 17. I haue appointed thee to be the father of many nations weighinge the worde Nations he reasoneth in this sorte Abraham is the father of many nations Ergo the Gentiles also séeinge they are the children of Abraham shall be pertakers of the spirituall benefites purchased by Christ which were promised to Abraham and to his séede 2 Of the certaine forme of speaking or of the phrase of holy Scripture Mans iustification or beatification the Apostle interpreteth to bee the remission of sinnes the not imputinge thereof which hee confirmeth by the wordes of the Psalmiste taken out of the 23. Psalme Blessed are they whose iniquities be remitted and whose sinnes are couered Blessed is that man to whome the Lorde will not impute sinne Christ affirmeth himself to be very God out of the wordes of Dauid Psalm 109 The
alwaies an entier booke not alwaies a parte of a booke is offered to be declared but ofte times it behoueth the Sermon to bée framed to the people of one onely sentence or of one place of Scripture and the same also not very largely stretchinge But that the same order of gatheringe diuers common places shoulde héere bée vsurped which we haue shewed to be profitable in the premisses it can by no meanes bée What then will some man saye remaineth to bée done In what maner and method shal one place or one certain sentence bée fruitfully declared Wée so far forth as we maye will set forth a most syt and absolute forme which excepte any shall deuise a better it shall bée expedient for him to folowe and as well for breuities sake as also that it may become the more clere and euident we will comprehende the same in certaine obseruations I. Before all thinges it is conuenient very carefully to consider and to declare vnto the people vppon what occasion or to what ende the author of the sacred booke out of which the place or sentence is taken spake and pronounced those wordes And that for this cause that whilest wée declare of what matter wée will speake and what our purpose is we may credibly auouche that we will in no wise abuse an other mans sayinge neither transfer it vnto other purposes theÌ„ is méete but vsurpe it altogeher in the same or at leaste in the like cause for which the author himselfe did so speak After this maner we may sée Peter Act. 2. intendinge to interprete certayne wordes taken out of the Psalme 16. as touchinge Christe risynge againe from death prudently to add some thinges of Dauid and of his meaninge and iudgemente in those wordes And truely it standeth vs very much vppon to deale faithfully and vprightly in this behalfe For it is a greuous offence yea and the holy Ghost is moued with vnspeakeable reproch in cace a man doth force or wreste any sentence out of the scriptures to any other ende or purpose then becommeth him He that shall be founde to haue done this but once doth quickly loose all his authoritie with the hearers and afterwarde yea euen then when he alledgeth the Scriptures aright he shall hardely bee credited To apply aptely and properly the Scriptures to present busines and affaires is the principall vertue that belongeth to a preacher II. Where it is nowe discouered of what matter wée minde to entreate and declared that the sentence taken out of the holy scripture accordeth to our purpose the next poynt is that we diligently consider whether that very sentence as it standeth in the sacred writer doth minister any proofes at all of causes circumstaunces signes or discriptions agréeable to the busines of which entreaty is made As many as are founde to be such shall worthily before any other be brought forth and as those that be of greate weight and importaunce forasmuch as they answer to the minde and method of the author from whiche it is not lawfull vnaduisedly to depart and doe in all pointes agrée with our matters shall studiously be digested adorned and inculked Neither is it a hard matter to drawe forth such kinde of proofes or argumentes partly out of the thinges that lye hid and are included in the sentence it selfe and partely out of those things that either goe before or folowe after the same Of this kinde I would affyrme it to be tht Peter Act. 2. in that Sermon whereof mention is made before to the intent he might shew the he rightely vsurpeth the sayinge of Dauid reduceth into memory howe Dauid in that he was a prophet knewe before hand that Christe after the flesh should take his beginning out of his posteritye and therfore also by the inspiration of the holy Ghost prophesied before of Christes rising againe And whosoeuer is but meanely exercised in the holy scriptures may easely perceyue that in the same Psalme as of the death and great deiection of Christ so also certaine thinges are ioyntly spoken of his resurrection It is not much vnlyke that the Apostle Galat. 3. speakinge of the Gentiles that should be blessed in the séede of Abraham affirmeth those that are of faith to be the sonnes of Abraham and howe it was longe before tould vnto Abraham that it would please God to iustifie the Gentiles by fayth againe where he addeth that the inheritaunce was giuen vnto Abraham by promise III. Moreouer it is very profitable to make as it were a certaine resolution of the whole sacred sentence and to examine in a iust balaunce euery words therein and diligently to ensearche the significatioÌ„ force and vse of them And that to thintâ—nt out of euery of them may be gathered certaine argumentes or proofes agreable to the state of th appointed Sermon and may afterward be oportunely applied to teache and instruct the hearers Of which craft and diligence I meane in drawing foorth of proofes out of euery worde well nighe of any one sentence we haue the holye Scripture it selfe as a moste expert maistres and most faithfull teacher Which thing we will straight wayes make playne and euident III. After the wordes wisely weighed and considered it is requisite that we procéede with like industrye to a more exacte contemplation of the matters themselues or affayres which in euery sentence are signified For it is not very lykely that there shoulde any where happen thinges of them selues so barren that a man may not out of theÌ„ if at least he be not altogither endued with a blount and blockishe witte deuise and excogitate some profes profitable to teach He that hath once throughlye sifted and examined the thinges whereof he entreath may easely finde the meanes to make his oration become both frutefull plentious and delectable We see in this behalfe the Apostle Paule after arguments draweÌ„ out of euery worde of one peculiar sentence to heape vp still a plentifull matter of other proofes and the same flowing out of the nature of the thinges themselues The examples which we will a litell after touche shall plainely testifie this thinge to he true V. Last of all to him that feareth and suspecteth that he shall want sufficient matter of speaking we giue this aduice namely that he put before his eyes the places of inuencion which he knoweth to be attributed vnto that kinde of Sermons to which the sentence of the sacred author appertayneth For euery kinde of sermon as is afore sayde hath certayne proper and peculiar places of inuention the order whereof beinge attentiuely considered we are eftsones admonished of many thinges which maye aptely be spoken of eche kinde of busines taken in hande Therefore him that shall speake of a sentence or state of the kinde didascalick we remitte to the places of inuentioÌ„ as well diuine as other not diuine that he may so longe exercyse himselfe in them as that he maye procure for his true méete and sufficient furniture therby Of which
lybertye and delighteth in mature deliberation and in sage aduice taking among many choseth not aboue two or thrée questions to be declared in the sacred assembly The Logician and Philosopher doe gladly trye what they are able to doe and doe take pleasure in vauntynge of their wit but the Preacher for his parte weigheth and considereth what is moste expedient to be done accordinge to the place and time for the godly enstruction and information of good men Where fynally if it bee greatelye for the behoofe of the Churche to haue many questions expounded yet shall it be the parte of a wise teacher to reserue some tyll an other time II After thou hast disposed and set in order the questions which thou iudgest will serue thy turne thou muste haue recourse to the places of the second forme those inespecially which the diuines receiue out of the schole of the Logicians to be vsed and according to their direction thou shalt excogitate whatsoeuer may conueniently be sayd of the purposed theme But in such sorte shal these thinges be gathered together that so farre forth as may be eache thinge may bee drawen out of the fountaines of the scriptures or at the least confyrmed by the testimonies of the same And albeit there occurre no where in the sacred Bookes common places explaned in that order whiche the questions and places to them attributed doe prescribe yet may it truely be affirmed that some diuine common places are to be founde of which so many and diuers thinges héere and there scattered in the Canonicall Scriptures are put in writinge that if the same were bounde together as ye woulde saye in one bundell and broughte forthe vndoubtedly we should sée those places handeled in a iust method For héere certes is founde that out of which maye be framed a definition there that conduceth to the furnishing of a diuision or partition elles where are distinguished certayne causes there is agayne where are shewed duties and effectes in some place occurreth that which is to bée counted for a contrary fynally there can scarcely anye thinge be required necessary to the openinge of the nature of a common place which a painefull man and one exercised in the holy Scriptures may not drawe out of them And by this meanes it is brought to passe that those thinges which are put in order and alledged as touchinge a common place all men may perceyue to be deriued out of the Scriptures and for that cause to bée of great weight and importaunce III. Moreouer the places which in the second forme we called diuine or Theological are in like maner to be cōsidred For euen these also doe minister vnto the minde very high and excellent things Neither truely can it bée chosen but that he that hath bene some deale envred in the readinge of the holy scriptures shall receyue of them great helpe and furtheraunce to apte teachinge And whatsoeuer thinges are deuised and inuented by the direction of these places ought to be referred vnto those questions which wee determined in the beginninge to goe thorough with and with rype iudgemente to bée placed in their order IIII. Furthermore he shall in no case thinke himselfe to haue sufficiently done his dutie that accordinge to the places reherced in the second forme hath found out those thinges which after the order and nature of the questions may bee saide except also hee endeuour further to illustrate the same thinges beinge founde out with diuers respectes as namely by producinge certaine groundes or testimonies certaine examples similitudes and other of the same kinde and that so much as in him lieth taken out of the holy scriptures or els out of the commentaries of the moste famous writers For truely ech man perceyueth that the proofes gathered together in such breuitie and straightenes as is vsed of the Logicians doe make the treatise to become bare slender and to breath foorth onely the ecliptick kinde of speakinge of the Scoles but if there be added further some certaine lightes and ornamentes of thinges together with a certaine cleannes at the leaste waye of speach then will the honour seemely for the Church and congruent to the mindes and eares of the frequent auditory appere For it is not méete that the teacher of the multitude should stand altogether vppon simple and bare inuention but he at his libertie breaketh through and interrupteth the order prescribed of the Lorgicians accordinge in déede as it is expedient yea and where all thinges are most chiefely instituted by arte there he studiously hideth and dissembleth arte And we maye sée euery where in the sacred Scriptures the wonderfull libertye that is vsed in orderinge the propositions of argumentations reasons confirmations of reasons exornations complexions and howe holy men bestowe greate laboure and diligence in this behalfe namely the their indifferent oration should not abhor from the popular coustome of reasoninge V. Last of all this diligence is also required that the manifolde spirituall vse of those thinges whch are duly collected to the explication of any question be added with out delaye For as many arguments as are handeled for the explaning of any question it is very méete to be declared and it is greatly for the behoofe of the godly to knowe what fruite they may reape out of them For certes which maketh maruelously to the prayse an dignitye of the holy Scriptures there is nothing occurrent in them neyther doe we attempte to discusse any thing out of them in which is not layed vp some notable doctrine very profitable to the confirmation of our faith hope charitye to the stirring vp of our mindes that we maye acknowledge the good will of God towarde vs that we maye gyue him thankes for his incomparable benefites that we maye be made prompt and chéerefull to render vnto euery man the duties of loue also that we maye priuatelye leade an holy and blamelesse lyfe that we maye timely and moderately correct those that erre either in Doctrine or maners and finally that we maye obteyne comfort and redresse in publicke or priuate calamities And this order of openinge the vse of those thinges which shall be explaned in the kinde didascalick as touchinge any common place we may finde euery where in the Sermons of the prophetes Christ and Thapostles yea and in the Epistles themselues Where truely vnlesse the lawfull vse be kept and all things transfered to the proofe of pietie and amendement of life the knowledge doubtlesse of most excellent thinges remaineth very barren and vnfruitefull Of this kinde it is that in the Epistle to the Romains the beginninge of the fift Chapter is discouered the spirituall vse of the doctrine touchinge the iustification of man by faith whilest many notable effectes are repeated which accompany iustification by fayth and doe wonderfully extoll the dignitie of Faith that also in the sixt Chapter after hee had spoken of Baptisme and the effectes thereof hée annexeth a graue exhortation that they should recken themselues
the second that the priesthode of Christ is farre more excellent then the priesthod of Aron or Leuiticus the thyrde that by the priesthod of Christ the Aaronicall priesthod is abolished the fourth that by the priesthod of Christ the olde ceremonies sacrifices and euen the lawe it selfe doe take an ende In déede I must nedes confesse that the sayde Epistles are not writen in the popular kinde of teaching but it is vndoubtedly to be graunted that in them maye be noted such a trade and maner of collectinge argumentes and proufes and likewise such a disposition of thinges as is to be founde in no other bookes of scripture beside Therfore euen for this cause do we here worthily coÌ„mend and set foorthe the examples conteyned in them where we haue appointed to entreate of inuention and disposition As for the Sermons of Christ and the prophetes we haue out of them shewed some examples already in the seconde Chapter of this present booke Out of Chrisostom Tome 5. may be added these sermons entituled thus that Christian ought to leade a holy and vertuous life That we must doe well in the least thinges That a Christian man ought with great endeuour to tender Gods glory That it behoueth euery man to be carefull for his owne saluation That their trespasses are to be remitted that haue offended vs That the remembraunce of sinnes past doth much profit How we should communicate the sacred misteries That we ought with all kinde of duties to giue thankes vnto god That loue doth direct and accomplishe all thinges That we ought to loue euen our enemies that persecute vs. But it behoueth not the younge beginners for whom we haue writen these thinges to be accombred and ouercharged with the multitude of examples Hitherto haue we procéeded touching the diuers formes of Sermons in one and the same kinde Didascalick in the tractation whereof like as with singuler fidelitye so also with great diligence and industrie haue we specified those thinges which we supposed were most profitable for our purpose We haue in déede bene the longer herein partely that we might make all thinges plaine and easye and partely least we shoulde of necessitie be compelled to our great griefe to repeate againe the same thinges in the discourses following For certes that in euery kinde of Sermons so ofte as the cace requireth one while the partes and manifold readinges of the sacred bookes an other while some sentence or certaine place out of the Scriptures moreouer somwhile simple theames somtimes theames compounde are expouÌ„ded declared there is no man that is ignorant And whosoeuer he be that hath now already rightly conceyued what ought to bée done in euery forme of sermon in the kinde didascalick he shall easely vnderstande what is likewise to be done in the other kindes of Sermons of which we will nowe take in hande to speake For in case thou doest except the palces of inuention and also the cantions proper to euery kinde the order and proportion of all the kindes will in a maner be all one ¶ With what great care and industry it is to be prouyded that those things which are alleadged in the sermon out of the fountaines of the scriptures or from any other place may skilfully accordingely be applied to the matters present cap. x. THat which shall now bée spoken off will profit much as well vnto the thinges that haue bene hitherto touched as also vnto those thinges that remaine may worthily be accounted amonge the chiefe and principall vertues of a faithfull teacher That is this that all those to whom it appertayneth to enstructe the multitude doe with great care and diligence endeuoure themselues cunningely and aptely to aplie those thinges which they in their Sermon produce out of the fountaines of the Scriptures or from anye other where either for proofe or illustratinge of their cause to the present state of things and matters incident For verily that it is by all meanes to be prouided and foreséene that nothinge harde wrested or in any wise far fet be alledged out of the scriptures when we intend to stablish the doctrine of faith or a principle of our religion I suppose there is no man that knoweth not And certes our desire is not onely to admonish the godly sorte of this but we aduertise theÌ„ also the a speciall diligence ought to be emploied in this the the testimony which is founde now fully â—o agrée with the busines in hande be with an apte forme of wordes declared to be as fitte and correspondent therevnto as if the diuine author out of whom it is borrowed had first purposely spoken of the very same matter And doubtles we sée some wheÌ„ as they vtter a prophesie a promise threatening graue sentence or a notable example out of the canonicall scriptures to expresse it with such comelines and decencye of speache and so to apply it to the present state of thinges and euen present it as ye would saye to the eyes and senses that the hearers are compelled to iudge and not vnwillingly to confesse that the same thing was longe agoe spoken or writen for their sakes and especially of their times neither can it be tolde how greatly good men are delighted in their mindes if at any time they chaunce to here some one excelling in this craft And in déed all Preachers for the most part doe after one and the same manar goe about to apply the places of scripture to the peculiar affaires of their owne church but they do it not in any cace w like successe Wherfore if we sée any in this behalfe to surmount the reside we we must needes interprete it to come to passe by the singuler gift of the holy ghost Which thing séeing it is so we with very good right exhort all the ministers of gods word that they would with all their power enforcement apply themselues vnto this point and craue of god their heauenly father that he would vouchsafe to giue theÌ„ his holy spirite which may enstruct theÌ„ in all thinges There are found in the sacred scriptures some formes of such applications if not described with many wordes yet right worthy to be of vs exactly obserued and studiously followed For they enforced me by their grauitye importauÌ„ce that I should thinke it expedient to put those that will teache in the church in remeÌ„braunce of them Our sauiour Christ the prince of all preachers entred accordinge to his custome on the sabboth day into the sinagog and stoode vp to reade And there was deliuered vnto him the boke of the prophet Esay And when he had vnfoulded the booke he found the place where it was writen The spirite of the Lorde is vppon me and therefore he hath annointed mee c. Wherevpon he began to say vnto them This day is this scripture fulfilled in your eares In which place Christ vndoubtedly did with manye wordes apply the oracle of the prophet vnto that time as
inuentione entreatinge of reprehension and Fabius Quintilianus in his fifte booke cap. 13. touchinge confutation doe teach some thinges not to be refused In which notwithstanding the preacher must prudently disâ—earne what may rightly by introduced into the Church where all things ought to be accomplished with great reuerence and without the breach of charitie and what is to be left to the brabbelinge pleadinge place VIII Diuinitie sheweth also certaine formes of solutinge or assoylinge peculiar in a maner to it selfe and very much vsed and frequented Chiefely and principally the iudgement of God is oft times set against the iudgement of men or the sayinge of the superior against the sayinge of the inferior In which respecte verily Christ Math. 15. infringeth the opinion and tradition of the Pharises by opposinge against them the worde assertion of god him selfe when he proueth them guilty by reason they transgressed the commaundement of God through their owne traditions IX The true and natiue interpretation of the Scripture is alleadged against that which was of other peruorstly put forth Christ Math. 4. vnto that that the diuell saide If thou be the sonne of God cast thy selfe downe headlonge For it is writen he shall giue his Angels charge ouer thee and with their handes they shal beare thee vp least at any time thou hurt thy foote against a stone answereth eftesâ—nes by bringinge a true interpretation It is writen saith he Thou shalt not tempt the Lorde thy God. X. To the sentence by an other alleadged is sometime added or opposed that which in the same matter is chiefely to be considered When the diuell had sayd vnto Christ If thou be the sonne of God commaund that these stones be made bread Christ maketh aunswer Man liueth not by bread onely but by euery worde that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. As who sayth Christ addeth that wherevppon dependeth chiefely the sustentation and preseruation of our lyfe and opposeth and preferreth spirituall nourishment to that which is corporall XI Necessitie requireth often times the a concilement of the places outwardly repugnant be vsed made as touching which matter Augustine hath copiously entreated in his bookes de consensu EuaingelistaruÌ„ likewise against Adimantus the disciple of Maniches we also haue briefely touched some thinges in our second booke de Theologo coÌ„cerninge the order of diuine study XII And moreouer the same places may stand vs in great stead be oft times applied to redargution which in the preceeding chapter we recounted fit to the confirmation of true doctrine The diligent reading and examining of confutations which doe here there occurre in the sacred scriptures will euidently demonstrate many moe thinges perteyning to this effect XIII And like as to the solutions of argumentes and reasons are very opportunely and fitly added those thinges that may stirre vp and prouoke the mindes of men to assent euen so at the ende of that part or whole Sermon which is ordeyned to reproue shall not vnprofitably be heaped togither certen perswasiue or rather dehortatory reasons wehreby men may be deterred froÌ„ embracing false assertions premonished to take diligent héed of the infection of hipocrites Such are reasons deriued of the study scope of false teachers after which sort Christ and the Apostles doe oft times forewarne the belieuers lykewise of the unprofitablenes of the unrightuousnes of the perill and daunger of the thing c. Whereby are declared the dammages inconueniences which out of errors and dissentions doe redounde as well publikly to the Church as also priuately to euery mans conscience In which behalfe may some thinges lawefully be entermedled méete for the mouinge of affections But like as in the former kinde so in this also are certaine Cantions very requisite and necessary I. The preacher shall endeuour himselfe with all industry and diligence to bringe to light the subtill sophistry and fraudulent workinges of the aduersaries but with such pollicie and discretion that he againe be not thought to vse like sophisticall dealinge The talke of truth ought to be playne and simple For in case thou doest nothinge els then subtelly inueigh against subteltie thy tale will be as much suspected and disliked as their tale whom thou impugnest and the hearers will iudge none other but that there is come before them som noble payre of sophisters as if they behelde Protagoras and Euathlus on a day appointed brauling in the brabbelinge consistory II. Howbeit neither is it necessary nor expedient publikely to ensearch and narrowely to examaine all thinges which are produced of the authors of false assertions whither they bée Ethnickes or heretickes leaste verily whilest we goe about to withdrawe men from error wee minister occasion to some amonge the hearers especially to the curious to enquire more scrupulously after them and by this enquiry as it commonly commeth to passe to slide and fall into erroure Counsell not much vnlike to this giueth S. Augustine who in this booke de catechizandis rudibus cap. 7. hath these wordes Then is mannes infirmitie to be enstructed and encouraged against temptations and offences whither they be without or in the Church it selfe without against the Gentiles or Iewes or heretickes within against the chaffe of the Lordes floore Not that discourse shoulde bee made agaynst all kindes of frowarde and peruerse menne nor that all their crooked and fantasticall opinions should by questions propounded be refelled but it is to be declared according to the shortnesse of time that it was so sygnified before and what the profit of temptations is in teachinge of the faithfull and what holsome medicine there is in the example of Gods pacience who hath determined to suffer these things to the end That whiche Augustine therefore thought good to be done in teaching the elder sort that I suppose in consideration of our times wyll be profytable to the whole multitude in which no doubte a number may be founde more rude and ignoraunt then those rude and simple of whom he maketh mention III Moreouer the Preacher shall take diligent héede least he be thought to vtter and pronounce any thinge of a corrupt affection of which sort it is in case he immoderately flattereth himselfe or those that fauour his opinion if he commendeth all his owne stuffe more then is méete or if so bee hee inueigheth ouer bitterly against any of his aduersaries as though he were more incensed with hatred of the persons then with desyre of defendinge the trueth In déede he may touch the persons sometimes also sharpely after which sorte we sée the Pharisies to be handeled of Christ but â—e must in no wise pretermitte grauitie wherevnto it behoueth a godly zeale to be ioyned and that as the Apostles speaketh accordinge to knowledge finally thorough loue he ought to auoyde all offence giuinge IIII Againe in the whole Sermon behoueth great moderation to be vsed whereby all men may be giuen to vnderstande that their saluation and repentaunce is ernestly
therof Abraham staggered not at the promise of God through incredulitie but being made strong by faith gaue the glory to God conceiuing a certaine perswasion that he which had promised was able also to performe So is it read Rom. 4. we may therfore argue in this sorte God hath promised ergo hee will vndoubtedly performe Héere also must héede be taken whether any maner of condition be annexed to the promise 17 Of a prophesy or propheticall prediction The Euangelistes doe very frequently commend vnto vs this place of inuention so oft namely as they shew this or that thing to be therfore accomplished in or by Christ forsomuch as it was necessary those thinges shoulde be fulfilled which were spoken before of the Prophets touchynge the same 18 Of the truth of a diuine or propheticall determination The thinges that are once pronounced and decreed of God or of some notable Prophet by Gods commaundement those thinges must of necessitie be accounted certain and sure He that vnderstandeth how to argue conueniently of a generall sentence shall also well perceiue the vse of this place 19 Of the person of one good man to the person of all the godly So gathereth the Apostle Rom. 4 Abraham was iustified by faith therefore shall all that beléeue lykewise be iustifyed by faith It is not written saith he for his cause onely that it was imputed vnto him but also for our sakes to whom it shall be imputed if we beleeue c. 20 Of the person of one vngodly man to all The hardeninge of Pharao came of God therefore commeth the hardenyng of all other wicked persons of GOD likewise 21 Of a type or figure to the truethment thereby The bones of the lambe that was eaten at Easter might not be diminished ergo neither ought the legges of Christe hanging on the Crosse to be broken And the tipes of the prophet Ionas and of the brason serpent erected in the wildernesse Christ interpreteth of hymselfe So then we may elegantly gather they that behelde the serpent in the desart were healed ergo those also that beléeue and hope in CHRISTE shall obtayne saluation 22 Of an allegory to the thing signifyed The prophet Esay Cap. 54. by an allegorye and in many wordes teacheth how wonderfully the Churche encreaseth Reioyce thou baren saith he that bearest no Children breake foorth and cry thou that trauailest not for shee that is desolat hath many mo children then she which hath an husband And the Apostle intending to demonstrat that albeit the Iewes raged neuer so much yet it would come to passe that the churche collected of the Gentiles should be increased and amplyfyed yea euen then when by reason of troubles and contentioÌ„s if should be supposed to be vtterly destroyed applyeth the same allegâ—ry very fifly and saith If she that was baren despised as Sara doth yet bring forth children and hir posteritie encreaseth beyonde all mens expectation why shoulde we not beleeue that the Church though small and abiecte receiueth dayly encreasement also These places therefore if not alwaies all yet at the least a greate sorte of them and one while these an other while those doe they rightly vse that haue to speake in sacred assemblies And then verily do they vse them when as they shall entreate either of a certaine place or sentence of holy Scripture or of busines offred by occasion of time or else of a theame simple or compounde like as afterward we will once againe admonishe when wée shall come to the addinge to of some peculiar examples They haue néede vndoubtedly of a right iudgement and of some wisdome and experience in this behalfe gotten by the continuall readinge and â—earinge partly of the Scriptures partly of some faithfull and probable interpreters He truely shall beste prouide for himselfe and may at the length be able to performe some thinge worthy of prayse and commendation who so will dilligently obserue the profes and reasons extant in the didascalick Sermons of the prophetes Christ and Apostles and will enserch the places out of which they are taken and deduced and fynally beinge night and daye studious of imitation will endeuour after hys power and abilytie to practise the same Now vnto this kinde forsomuch as it is weighty and diffyculte and no small wisdome is required therein wée will worthely adioyne like as wée vndertooke to doe certayne Cantions whereby euery man may bée premonisshed to vse dilligent héede and circumspection in his procedings Which wée haue in lyke maner determined to doe in the other kindes followinge I In doctrines or princyples of relygion to bée taught before the people it is very requisite to be considered what maner of persons the hearers are how far forth traded in the knowledge of diuine matters For it is necessary that all the order of teaching so oft I saye as it is thought good to examine any sentence be tempered accordinge to their capacitie Christ himselfe that we should be circumspectâ— in this behalfe hath admonished vs when as he said to his Apostles I haue many thinges to saye vnto you but ye can not beare them away now And the apostle I could not speak vnto you brethren as vnto spirituall but as vnto carnal as vnto babes in Christ I haue nourished you with milke and not with meate For ye could not as yet away with it neither can yee as yet It is certayne therfore that the thinges whiche are true vndoubted and taken out of the worde of God are to be taught and set forth vnto all men And albeit a man taketh in hand one and the selfe same doctrine to handle and entreate off yet truly ought he to attempt all thinges far otherwise among the hearers and Citizens of an ample citie hauing now of long time ben accustomed to hare men excellinge in learninge and eloquence then in an obscure place where men of rude wits and maners can neuer attayne to any thing but that which shall very grosly be inculked and beaten into their heades To whiche effecte well nere S. August hath somewhat in his treatise 98. vpon the gospell of Iohn II What hearers soeuer shall betide let the tractation of those poyntes be eschewed and pretermitted whiche doe smally conduce vnto godlynesse and the inquifition and knowledge whereof doe make the hearers rather curious then godly disposed Whervnto pertayneth that whiche Thapostle writinge in diuers places vnto Timothye and Titus forbiddeth any place to be giuen in the church to doctrine which is not after godlynesse to foolishe and fantasticall questions to contencions and striuings about the law which are vnprofitable and superfluous and which do rather procure deuision then edifiyng III After thou hast chosen out suche a sentence or assertion as is holsomelye to bee handled and entreated off it is requisyte that thou dilligently enserche and perpende the doctrine contayned in the bookes of the prophetes and Apostles touching the same whiche onely is
the foundation of the truth and the rule that all men ought of necessity to follow Then shalt thou wisely examine also the sentences iudgements of other diuines which in their commentaries doe explane the scriptures and the assertions contayned in thē and shalt with iudgement accommodate and inserte into thy Sermons all the notable pointes comprised therein Which labour shall redounde to thy double commodytie For fyrst thou maist bebolde without bashement or feare of reprehension to determine and defyne vpon all matters albeit thou namest no authors openly Where if it lyketh thée afterward to name the authors themselues thou shalt declare by that meanes the consent of the churches and of the learned men in the same touchinge that assertion With which consent truely it can not be spoken how greatlye the hearers will be moued not so muche with folded armes as they saye to imbrace sounde doctrine as with stiffe and obstinate mindes to defende and mayntaine the same IIII Accordyng to the weight or vtilitie and dignyfie of the thinges digested as well out of the sacred scriptures as also out of the commentaries of learned writers thou shalt take aduice whether it be expedyent briefely to run ouer the sentence or to handle it at large But how soeuer it shall like thée to doe in this behalfe thou must bee sure and certaine of an apt method such a one as the nature of the sentence to be declared admitteth and such as most chiefly agréeth to the times places capacities of the hearers For an other sentence requireth to be handeled in an other method And this séemeth to be that which the Apostle meaneth saying vnto Timothye Study to yeelde thy selfe approued vnto God a woorkman not to be dispised duly deuiding the word of truthe V All good men doe consent that to the establishinge of a principle of christian religion reasons and foundations ought not to be required from any other place then out of those bookes which are ackowledged of all men to be canonicall As touching which matter looke Ireneus lib. 1. Cap. 1. Augustine against Faustus the Maniche Liber 11. cap. 5. De natura et gratia cap. 61. epist. 19. ad Hieronymum VI Dilligent heede must be taken lest any proofes or resons appeare to be hardly wrested or ouer farre fet For where as the hearers doe perceiue but euen one of these there they lesse estéeme of the rest and begin foorthwith to suspect the Preacher yea and to accuse him priuily eyther of deceit or ignoraunce VII That proofe shall alwayes be of most importaunce which is drawne out of the simple meaninge and singnyfycation of the wordes For the truth is delighted with playnnes and simplicitie and more simplicytie canne not be vsed then where all tropes and figures layd aparte wordes are taken in their natiue and proper sence By this meanes all thinges shall be sounde certayne and to the purpose wherwith the assertion shal be proued VIII Herevpon it followeth that similitudes oughte scarcely and sparingly tipes and allegories verye séeldome or neuer to be vsed in confirmation of assertions as out of which arguments are deriued by the opinion of all men scarce firme and effectuall Neither is it in déede méete for euery artificer to shape allegories wherefore to a younge practicioner that he should much comber himselfe in deuising hereof I would not become the author Of whiche thing we haue admonished the studious younge men in the second booke and fiue and thirtye Chapter of our worke de Theologo Where if thou thinkest good notwithstanding to practise any part of this kinde be it so trulye but with this condition whilest other argumentes hauinge more pith and strength in them doe procéede as wee may sée the Apostle Paule Galathians 4. at the ende of his disputation to vse an allegory or rather a type of two brethren whiche he sayth to signyfye two Testaments IX Moreouer due regarde must be had least we interlace any thing in any place that by reason of the difficultye or obscuritie therof or by reasō of the indirect maner of speaking may be drawen by the wicked sorte simple vnlearned or other what soeuer to the establishement of a false opinion or to the defence of mischife and impietie After which sort Saint Peter sayde there were some vnlearned and inconstant men that wrested certayne thinges to their owne perdicion whiche Paule the Apostle had faithfully and sincerely taught in his epistles So far forth doe men rauishe euen those thinges also that are very well spoken of most excellent and holy writers to an other ende then they wrote them for And surely it can not be denyed but that the Preachers themselues doe oft times giue occasion of euill speakinge How commonly I pray you are complaints heard in these dayes of a nūber which taught in déede doctrin both profitable necessary but that the hearers did not eft soones allow it and receiue it the Preachers themselues were the cause whilest they vsed suche formes of speakynge as all menne for the most parte abandoned as foolishe and prophane I was my selfe on a time present in a companye assembled at a sermon where one entreated in suche wise of good workes as if he had bene resolued to disswade his hearers from them hee coulde not haue done it more conueniently any other way Howbeit this inconuenience for the most parte may be remedied two maner of wayes The one is if thou endeuorest thy selfe to speake alwayes aduisedly and properlye and doest with dilligence premeditate euery thing at home But the surest waye when there is daunger in the formes of speakinge is to sticke faste in the phrases of holy scripture it selfe The other is that when thou priuily suspectest that any thing may maliciously be obiected the exhibit in time certaine preoccupations whereby the occasion of sinister interpretation and detraction may be preuented and taken away Which thing we may perceyue to be studioufly and euery where obserued of the Apostle Paule X After a sentence either briefely or more at large declared let admonitions neuer at any time be neglected touchinge the true vse therof as well publiekly perteyninge to the whole Church as also priuatly to bée referred to euery mannes conscience Of the doctrine whose vse lieth hidd the knowledge is vayne and in a manner superfluous For so S. Paule to the arguments wherby he had proued that all those which bée baptised are dead vnto sinne and ought afterward to liue onely vnto rightuousenes addeth an exhortation wherein he admonissheth that they would dilligently endeuoure to doe that thinge Let not sinne therfore sayeth he raigne in your mortall bodies c. In some part of the 4. chapter and also of the fyft to the Galathians the apostle techeth how they that are graffed in christ through baptisme are deliuered from the law neither ought they to looke to bee iustified thereby and by and by he addeth that whiche declareth the righte vse of the same doctrine saying