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
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
appereth Ephes 5. where he sayth that Christ hath loued his Church and that he hath giuen himselfe for it to the intent hée might sanctifie the same The state of the euangelicall history by him written Ihon himselfe declareth in his owne sense Cap. 20. namely that Iesus is Christ the sonne of God by whome the beléeuers obteyne euerlasting lyfe Now euery man may easely iudge that these thrée states of entier bookes are to bée referred to the kynde didascalick as those that conteyne the chiefe principles of Christian religion But when a parte of any one booke is explayned it is of no greate difficulty to fynde out the state For one while by consideringe the order of the argumentes consequently followinge one an other and tendinge to one the same scope it is soone and easely inough to bée picked out other whiles agayne the diuine writers themselues doe in apte and perspicuous woordes set forth the same Steuen Act. 7. hath a Sermon very sharpe and vehemeÌ„t the state whereof is That true relygion doth not consist in the Temple or ceremonies but in fayth to God warde and his sonne Iesus Christ For to this scope doe concurre as well those things that were spoken of the accusers of Sainct Steuen as also the actes which hee calleth to memory in all that time wherin there was no Temple amonge the Iewes consecrate vnto GOD lykewyse the prophesies of Moyses touching the cumminge of Christ also the woordes added by him lastly concerninge the same matter It appeareth therefore euidently that the holy Sermon of Steuen is of the kynde redargutiue inasmuch as the false perswasion of the sanctitie of Hierusalem and the temple is subuerted theirein Where Paule the Apostle exhorteth the Bishops or elders to prouide for themselues and the flocke lest any hurte or detriment shoulde be ministred on the sodeyne by false Teachers the discourse of his Oration doth not obscurely demonstrate that his wholle Sermon is of the kynde instructiue In that parte of the Epistle to the Romaynes whih consisteth in the 9.10 and 11. Chapiters howe it is affirmed of the Apostle that the Iewes ought by the iustice of GOD to bee reiected and the Gintiles to bee called by gods mercy to the knowledge of the truth the argumentes in due order placed doo more apparantly signifie then that it may be dissembled Therefore we conclude the all that tractation also is of the kynde didascalick Moreouer those men that render the state of their Oration themselues doe it sometymes in the beginninge sometymes in the later ende Examples of the state rendred in the entry of the disputation are these The Gospell is the power of God to saluation to euery one that beleeueth The rightuousnesse of God by it is reuealed from fayth to fayth The same state or generall proposition is repeated more apparauntly cap. 3. we suppose sayth he that man is iustified by fayth with out the workes of the lawe Therefore is that state of the kynde didascalick Moyses Deuteronomy 11. admonisheth all the Israelites in the beginninge to obeye the commaundementes of God wyth their whole harte which likewyse he inculketh in the ende wherefore all that Sermon is of the kinde Institutiue or instructiue Esay Cap. 40. beginneth in this sorte Comforte O yee prophetes O comforte my people and in the wordes followinge each one maketh to consolatioÌ„ By meanes whereof it appeareth sufficiently that his Sermon there is instituted in the kynde consolatory Agayne Peter Act. 10. beinge in the house of Cornelius addeth to the state of his Sermon in the very ende saying Whosoeuer beleeueth in the name of Iesu shal receyue through him remission of his sinnes In lyke maner S. Paule in the later ende of his SermoÌ„ By hym sayth hee is declared vnto you forgiuenes of sins from the which yee coulde not bee iustified by the lawe of Moyses It is requisite therefore that we reduce these two Sermons to the kynde didascalik Againe the same S. Paule reasoninge of them that were fallen a sléepe in Christ in the beginning of the same place sayth Be not sorowfull and in the ende he addeth Comforte your selues one an other with these wordes Who therefore perceyueth not that parte to be conteined in the kinde Consolatory And certes if any man be determyned to expounde in his Sermon some certaine place or senteÌ„ce out of the scriptures he after his owner arbitrement choseth out such a one as he supposeth to bee most méete and conuenient for his purpose for which cause it is very necessary that the state of his Sermon be knoweÌ„ vnto him before he taketh the same place in hande The like iudgement is worthily to be taken of those men that are prepared to speake of busines offred by occasion or of a Theame either simple or compound For in asmuch as it behoueth theÌ„ to prefixe to themselues a certaine state or generall proposition truely it can not bee chosen but that they muste be verye well instructed as touchynge the kynde of Sermon vnto which their dicourse followinge doth apperteyne But these thinges touching the maner of findynge out the kynde whervnto all sacred sermons are refâ—rredâ— we suppose to be sufficient ¶ That there ought in euery kinde of Sermon certayne thinges to be obserued as proper to the same kinde and fyrste how that may bee accomplished in the kinde didascalick or doctrinall cap. II. IN our former Booke entreating of all and singuler the partes of diuine sermons we haue shewed certayne briefe and ordynary formes of exhordiums propositions diuisions and conclusions But when we were come to confirmation wee admonisshed that there was no small diuersitie to be séene in this and no little study and dilygence required to the apt conuenient pertractation therof That thing how true it is it is time that I declare and that by discoursing orderly through all the kindes of Sermons For truely as ther is great difference of the things which are handled in euery kinde so is it verye requisyte and néedefull that diuers and sondry kindes of furniture be prouided For who séeth not the great variaunce and contraryetie that is betwixte a true opinion and a false opinion Agayne what diuersitie there is in defending the one and impugning the other Furthermore great is the difference betwéene vertue and vice and in stirring vp to the one and disswading from the other Moreouer of the perils which coÌ„tinually oppresse vs on euery side beset vs wonderfull is the varietie Whosoeuer therfore is endued but with a meane iudgement perceyueth that in all these thinges confyrmations â—ught diuersly to be framed manifold places of inuentioÌ„ together with sondry and distinct caÌ„tions to be sought for Wherfore this diuersitie of coÌ„firmatioÌ„s we wil first take in hand to declare in the kinde didascalick in whiche if we shall bestow somwhat the more dilligence it shall be lawfull for vs to vse fewer woordes heereafter in the other kindes Thrée thinges
wherevpon also it pleased Chrysostom to touch them only in few words and as it were beside the purpose These thinges therfore being duly considered it wyll be very easy to giue a right iudgement as touchinge the interpretations which wee haue vsed in this present Chapter First is briefely playnly expounded in passing through all the partes whatsoeuer belongeth to the sacred narration Then to euery parte is ioyned an interpretation in which appéereth nothing hard wrested or farre fet but out of the aduised consideration of the words and senteÌ„ces are those thinges deduced which ingender holesome institutions or instructions of lyfe And to make the matter more cléere and lightsom euery thing is in such sort disposed that all thinges are directed to the nature and true vse of one common place In which respect no doubt the hearers capacitie is better prouided for then if many thinges and the same diuers and not euident should be obtruded Who therefore will deny this maner of interpretinge with great fruit to be exercised and to be both godly and profytably produced to the people in the Church And as I admonished in the beginninge to those that in the partes of the historycall narration can not by obseruing a certayne course and order of causes effectes contingents and suche lyke places it is no harde matter to make and adorne these kindes of interpretations But from allegories such inespecially as very necessitie it selfe doth not extort in those places of Scripture which of themselues sygnifye otherwise some inconuenience euery man shall by mine aduice so far forth as may be absteine We sée in so great a worke of the propheticall and apostolycall bookes how fewe are vsed It is playne that they are more apt to delight with then to teach and that none but very slender proofes are deriued out of them therfore that place is to be giuen vnto them onelye after other arguments whiche haue in them more pithe and strength They haue very litle or no graâ—e at all if they be diffused through all the partes of an oration yea the sacred SermoÌ„ which is on euery side powdred with allegories is iudged verye slender and barren And in a matter little fruitfull to tâ—uet to séeme witty and to spend much time no man will iudge it to be the part of a wise man and of one that séeketh the profyt of his hearers Wherefore I purpose not to adioyne vnto this our work any Chapter at al touching allegorycall sermons These thinges that we should in this maner somwhat more proâ—ixly theÌ„ we thought for prosecute and discourse we were by the temeritie that we speake nothing more bitterly of some mens iudgement vehemently compelled That somtime the whole reading of the sacred Scripture is briefely runne ouer to the intente some one common place may afterwarde more at large be declared Cap. VI. WE finde commonly in the sacred Sarmons of the holy fathers had vnto the people the whole reading of scripture euen so muche as had bene recited to be discoursed with a compendious paraphrase or some other lyke apte forme of enarration and that parte which remaineth whole and principal to be consumed in the explication of one common place And that commeth to passe not onely when an historycall narration but also when a tretise of doctrine taken out of the holy scriptures is in hand Examples almost infinit are extant in Iohn Chrisostom especially in his expositions vppon the sacred bookes as Genesis the Gospel of Mathew Iohn and the epistles of S. Paule For in his homilie 3. vpon Genesis whilest his intent is briefly to reproue y Gentiles which supposed that al things created were gouerned by chaunce fortune he handeleth a common place at large as touching the reducinge of those that erre into the right way whence lastlye he falleth to the commendation of almes Againe in his homiles 7. 8. he entreateth of reclayminge the Gentiles from their error albeit in the later some thinges are added as concerning fasting In his 4. homilie after the partes of scripture before read declared he toucheth the right vse maner of fastinge and the restraynt of wicked lusts A good part of his 26. homilie is spent in stirring vp the hearers to render thanks vnto God for hys benefits receyued Homilie 27. hee reasoneth al large touching the remitting of wrongs and that not coueting of reuâ—gment In the greater part of his homilie 30. he intreateth of fasting and praier Vpon the Gospell of Math. homilie 4. ChrisostoÌ„ declareth in many words what maner of people that people of god is that should be deliuered from their sins 〈◊〉 Christ withal admonisheth euery man to study â—o shew hiÌ„selfe faithfull to be one of the nuÌ„ber of Gods people We might out of the gospel of Math. which conceiueth hystorycall narrations out of Paules epistles in which is plainly exhibited the handling of manifold doctrine produce and bring forth no few example 〈◊〉 séeing euery man sufficiently perceiueth vnto what ende our discourse tendeth no man will think it needful Onely therfore héere we wil admonishe how it commeth to passe two maner of waies that a commoÌ„ place after the scriptures expounded may be declared at large I Somtime occasion is taken of those things that in the in self text of the scriptures read are spoken or touched In the homilie vpon Gene. 26. to speak of thanks to be giuen vnto God after his benefyts receiued he is moued by the example of the gratitude which he saw in Noe. Homilie 4. vpon Mathew is in good time prosecuted the long discourse touching the people of God forasmuche as the angell had sayd that Christ should saue his people from theyr sinnes Homilie 67. vppon Mathewe it is reported in the texte that the disciples put their clothes vpon the beast whereon their Lorde shoulde be caried Herevppon therefore taketh Chrisostome occasyon to speake at large of clothing and reléeuing euery way the poore II Again somtimes a common place is handeled in the seconde parte of the Sermon not for that in the Scripture read beefore there happeneth any mencion thereof but bycause the order of time and the state of the Churche doe greatly require it Wherfore when Chrisostome in the time of a publyke fast tooke in hande the interpretation of the booke of Genesis hee diuers times with verye good cause breaketh forth into a common place of fasting So in an other place also in the chiefe and greatest part of his Oration he reproueth certayne vices or doth some other thinge not vnlyke But howsoeuer it shall séeme good to deale it behoueth wise deliberation to be had at all times as touchinge the choice of the places that are in this sorte to be handeled For other thinges serue for other times places persons which also is a thing commonlye knowen Howe and after what sorte one place of Scripture or some certaine sentence ought conueniently to be handeled Cap. VII NOt
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
sure and certaine hope both of a place to teach in and also of liberall entertainement Therefore when Iohn Ficinus Chauncelor to our most noble prince a man for his notable vertue worthy of eternal memory was returned from the CommissioÌ„ or parliament of Rentzburgh Nouiomagus labored with him as touchinge Hyperius Nouiomagus affyrmed that since the méeting was at Henaulde Anno 40 â–ª where he beinge sent froÌ„ our prince was present he could neuer haue his health neither was he able to endure those paines in teachinge which before he had suffered And therfore required that Hyperius might be appointed in his roome who for somuch as he through his infyrmitie was not of power sufficient might take vpon him to reade Ficinus mislyked not the good counsell of Nouiomagus but incontinently calleth Hyperius vnto him exhorteth him to abide still at Marpurge and to shewe forth some token and triall of his learninge For it would come to passe that in case he gaue foorth any notable testimony of his learninge an honest stripend should be appoynted him for his paines Hyperius being with these other such like reasons perswaded abode stil at Marpurge within a smal time after dieth master Nouiomagus the x. of Ianuarie in the yere following in whose place next by thauthority of the masters of the profissioÌ„ succeeded Hyperius and looke what Epistles of S. Paule Nouiomagus had vsed before to interprete the same began he also to expounde And when he had by the space of two yeres and more single as he was trauayled in this trade and function of teachinge he resolued with himselfe to marrye for somuch as he suppose that 〈◊〉 coulde not conueniently pâ—sse his dayes without a wife and the rather bycause he was not greatly sounde as touchinge bodily health Hée tooke to wise therfore in the yere 1544. the xxvii daye of Februarye Katherine Orthia Daughter of Lodowick Orthius somtimes Treasorer of Marpurge whom Iohn Happelius an honest Citizen had left a widowe with two children Of this his wife whom hée alwayes loued most derely he begat sixe sonnes and sower daughters whereof onely two sonnes and thrée daughters doe still remaine aliue But how and in what order he hath nowe by the space of these xxii yeres behaued himselfe amoÌ„gest vs as wel in teaching publikely the holy Scriptures as also priuately the liberall Sciences wée haue now next of all to consider In which office and function of teachinge there séeme vnto mée these fower thinges chiefely to be required First a singuler learninge ioyned with much readinge and experience of thinges next a substanciall power and faculty of teachinge then fidelitie and diligence and last of all grauitie and constancye of life and conuersation And that learninge is required in a Teacher and the vse of many thinges there is no man that doubteth For who is he that euer could well bée taught and reape any fruite of learning of an vnlearned man No more truely can a man perceyue anye thinge that good is of one that is vnlearned than of a stone he can learne to flye But as learning is very requisite and necessary so it is in no wise alone sufficient for a man that is occupied in the Scoles vnlesse the power also of teachinge be ioyned with it Thou maist finde many men very well learned and cunning in the knowledge of thinges which neuerthelesse forsomuch as they are destitute of this power in teaching yeelde no fruit at all neither to Scholes nor Churches Wherevpon the Apostle also requireth such a one to be the Bishop of a Church as is Didacticos that is to say indued with the gift and faculty of Teachinge Neither must fidelitie and diligence bée sundered from these twayne which if it bée absent neither then also wil any fruite redounde to the hearers though the man bée otherwise both learned and eloquent And in him especially that wil professe the holy Scriptures is this faithfulnes which wée speake off of necessitie required Wherevpon likewise Thapostle to the Corinthians as touching the ministers of the worde speaketh in this wise Let a man so esteeme of vs as of the ministers of Christ and disposers of the misteries of God amonge whom this especially is required that they bee founde faithful But no lesse necessary also is this last poynte namely that to doctrine and erudition the life and maners may bée agréeable A fowle shame it is For him that doth teach When the thing he findes fault with Against himselfe doth preach And our beloued Paule requireth a Bishop to bée vnreproueable not stubborne not wrathful not giuen to wine no fighter not giuen to filthy lucre but a keeper of hospitalitie a louer of vertue modest vpright holy sober For what doe those Teachers profyte their herers that do pluck down by their naughty liuing that which they builded vp by their wel teaching that by their liues dayly maners shewe theÌ„ selues to dislike greatly of those things which they prescribe vnto others to bée folowed With what I wil not say authoritie but with what face can the teacher reproue vices in the Schole as dronkennes riotousnes couetousnes incontinency such like which is himselfe I will not say oft times drâ—nke but alwayes druncke not onely giuen to riot but also lyues so wickedly in all superfluitie that he supposeth gods maiestie to be of no power at all which is so couetous that of euery fylthy occasion he gapeth after vnsatiable gaine who finally hath so wallowed in scurrilitie and vncleanes al his life long that he doubteth also whither he may account these heinous sinnes and enormities for sinnes and vices or no All the pointed therefore which we haue spoken off are required in a Teacher which if we shall diligeÌ„tly consider in what measure they haue bene in this our Hyperius we shall find to haue bene very great And first verily as touchinge the singular learning of this man what shall I saye I may speake the more fréely most excellent fathers of the dead forsomuch as I shall not now séeme to flatter him béeing dead that I neuer fawned vppon béeinge aliue Great was the knowledge that this man had of the tongues more great of the liberall artes and of philosophy but of the holy Scriptures and Ecclesiasticall histories and of all the olde and auncient Church most great of all That which I speake to be true you your selues know most learned fathers and can very well testifye who haue heard him publikely teachinge who haue heard him disputinge with great commendation who haue heard him familiarly talkinge with his friendes Many other witnesses there be thoroughout all Germanye and other nations men famously learned which either resorted to his Scoles or other wise were more familiarly acquainted with him His bookes are witnesses that he wrote and published which are of great learned men esteemed and read amonge the workes of the best learned writers as those short Scolies vppon the Epistle to the Romaynes as the
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
to whether kind of interpretation ech sentence treatise of diuine matters ought to be referred Howbeit since we haue already spokeÌ„ of Scolastical interpretatioÌ„ of the scriptures wheÌ„ as we intreted of the order of diuine study so much as the matter theÌ„ séemed to suffer require now it semeth good to put forth som things more large forsomuch as we haue diuers suÌ„dry times 〈◊〉 earnestly moued by a number of men therevnto concerning Popular interpretation or that is all one of framing of diuine sermons to the people Which if they shall séeme scarce absolute in learning as truely I must néedes confesse them to be Yet haue we bestowed some trauayle and paynes at the least that they shoulde be apte and correspodent to the time preseÌ„t to the capacities of yong beginners such as be vnskilful whoÌ„ we haue takeÌ„ in hand to instruct which also our hope is we shal by some meanes obteyne Nowe my purpose is to deuyde thys worke into two bookes Whereof in the former I entend to declare and touch all those thinges that are common in generall to all Sermons In the later such things as be peculiar seuerally to euery kind of sermon and ought exactly to be noted and obserued in the same But in very good season euen in the firste entry as ye woulde say of this booke shall we call to memory how excellent their function is that declare vnto the people the diuine oracles The prophet Malachy Cap. 2. termeth him the teacheth in the Church the angell of the Lorde of hostes Which woorde sithe it properly signifieth the office of hym that bringeth the commaundementes of God vnto men each mannes mynde hearing the same maye forthwith of necessitie conceyue some thinge then man more high and excelent and approchinge more néere to the heauenly nature Moreouer the prechers are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of god himselfe as though God vouched safe to admytte them as hys fellowes and companions in the worke of buyldinge and establishing his church For by like reason in a maner the apostle Paule termeth his frnd Epaphroditus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say fellow labourer or as other lyste to turne it companyon and fellowe Souldiour No lesse notable is it that the same Apostle affyrmeth the faithful teachers to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is gouernours and stuardes of the housholde and secret affayres of god 〈◊〉 as it woulde be to recken vp the residewe of the titles 〈…〉 â—â—llations of lyke and greater dignitie as also the wise and sage sayings examples types and other ornamentes wherewith the Preachers of the Gospell aboue all that can be sayde are adorned and set forth Yea and amonge all ecclesiasticall functions I suppose there is no man that either can or wyll denye this one to excell farre away ther rest For it is euident that in it is placed the most excellent office of the whole ministery of the Gospel For why Christ departing from the earth gaue in charge to his disciples that before all thinges they shoulde stoutely applyâ— the office of teaching Goe sayeth he into the whole worlde and preache the Gospell to euery creature In whiche place the charge of teaching is preferred before Baptisme or administration of the Sacraments Like as also the hearing of the worde ought of necessitie to goe before the confession of faith Wherevppon it commeth to passe also that the Apostle chalengeth to hymselfe by his owne right the faculty of teachinge as the peculyer office of Thappâ—stolike order leauing to ' other all other kinde of actions Christe sent not mée sayeth hée to Baptise but that I shoulde preache the Gospell Neither is there any other more certayne and sure marke whereby the true Church may be discerned from the false then by sounde doctrine Sith euen heritickes also haue the Sacramentes in their méetinges and conuenticles but as for sounde doctrine they can in no wise boast or brag of Fynally if the seruice wherewith God is most chiefly delighted be sought for euen this vndoubtedly consisteth also in the publyke denunciation of the Gospell Whervpon the Apostle Paule agayne to the Romaines 1. doubted not to make his vaunt that he worshipped God in spyrit and trueth by preachinge the Gospell of Iesus Christe And in the 15. Chapter hée professeth that grace was for this cause giuen hym of God that hee shoulde be a minister of Christ Iesu to the Gentiles administringe the Gospell of God to thintent the oblation of the Gentiles might become acceptable sanctifyed by the holy Ghost For these consyderations the same Apostle both wisely and grauelye pronounced that all those that are desyrous to aspyre to this kynde of lyfe doe couet an honest callynge and agayne that all suche as are duly occupyed therein ought of al men to be loued and had in hygh estimation Hee that coueteth the office of a Bysshoppe sayeth hée desyreth an honeste woorke And The Elders that gouerne well are worthy of double honour those inespecyally that labour in the woorde and in teachynge For the Scripture sayeth Thou shalt not mosell the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the Corne. And the woorkman is worthy of his hyre Last of all what inestimable glorye remayneth also after this lyfe for the faithfull teachers the noble Prophet Daniel hath left in writinge They that teache others sayeth hée shall shyne as the brightnesse of the Firmament and those that turne many vnto righteousnesse shall be as the Starres for euer and euer Whiche wordes lyke as they may be an occasion to moue them to dilygence in their office so agayne doe they minister vnto them incomperable solace in theyr labours and trauailes And séeynge the Prophet entreteth there most chiefely of those things that shall come to passe about the ende of the worlde those vndoubtedly whosoeuer they be that in these dayes and in this declyning age of the worlde doe with all dylygence and fydelytie sustayne the troubles of teachinge in the Churche may worthylye interprete the same propheticall Oracle to appertayne vnto themselues ¶ With what thinges it behoueth hym to bee furnished that taketh vpon hym the office of teachinge in the Churche Cap. II. MOreouer whosoeuer taketh vpon hym the excellent office of teachinge the people in the church ought to be furnished inespecially with thrée thinges Learninge Puritie of maners and with a Spirite or power in teaching For wittily is it sayde of Gregory Nazianzene in hys Apology dâ— Fuga That it is the point of notorious mad meÌ„ to take vpon them to teache others before they themselues be sufficiently taught For that were according to the prouerbe Vltra crepidare and to meddle with diuine matters to the perill of the soule Those therefore that endeuour themselues to teache the people in sacred assemblies haue néede of a double doctrine and vnderstandinge The one of thinges diuine which they properlye
Timothy and Titus whom he had ordayned bishops and teachers in the Churches of of God inculketh euery where the same and with lyke diligence vndoubtedly commandeth them to be vrged and inculked of others And to Titus 3. he willeth generallye all foolish and vnprofitable questions by all meanes to bee auoyded and eschewed Thus much therefore concerning the profit and vtylitie of matter We saide in the seconde place that an easye matter ought to be chosen And that for these causes Amonge the multitude the greatest parte is rude and vnlearned or if there be any in place that are learned in déede yet where is one amongst them all that is expert in divine matters or how many shalt thou finde in the multitude that be diuines and such diuines as can rightly attaine to matters hard and difficult which thing syth it is so in vaine shall those thinges be proposed in a Sermon that either none at al or els very few may vnderstand He must remember what soeuer he be that teacheth in the church that he serueth the turne of the multitude and that he ought to prouide rather for many then a few And what if by handling of hard and difficult places some perill commeth rather to be feared then profit and commoditie to be looked for for in déede when some curious hearers begin once to cast in their minds how with study and dilygence they may perceiue the misteries of diuine matters this commonlye commeth in vre that by long and much searching they fal into errours and whilst they call to remembraunce diuers and sundry interpretations they conceiue straunge and phantasticall opinions whiche immediatelye after they obstinatly holde and defende and to the great hurt and disturbance both of them selues also of others yea of the whole church they delight to dispearce them amonge the vnlearned For this cause therfore the apostle oft times warneth vs to auoyde all kinde of doctrine that conduceth not to godlynesse that maketh men proude and hye minded yea curious and supertitious rather then godly disposed that stirreth vp strif brawling and debate and that edifieth few or none at all And the Apostle Peter in his last epistle Cap. 3. In the epistles saieth he of our brother Paule are some thinges harde to bee vnderstoode which the ignoraunt and vnconstant doe wreste like as other also of the Scriptures to their owne destructiō Eunomius byshop of Cyzicene by the report of Sozomenus whilst he discussed on a tune hard places to the people of the substāce of god of the knowledge of god adhibiting also captious and intrycate reasons of Logick ministred occasion of an vprore in which he was expelled both from the citie and also from his byshoprick And we in our time haue harde how some mouing diuers darke and perplexed questions haue giuen occasion of much euill inconuenience but of very little or no good at al. Where if peraduenture in the booke or part of the booke which is expounded some difficult place do offer it selfe that can not conuenientlye be pretermitted then my counsell is that this moderation be vsed The place shall in deede be opened but soberly and in few wordes then simply and plainely lastly with an exhortation added concerninge the true and right vse of the same doctrine By these thrée meanes it is forséene and prouided that no scrupulus and superfluous questions and disceptations shall arise and remaine among the people Which trade of teaching we may ascribe to the apostle who hath shewed the same vnto vs Among the Thessalonians were some that with many words verye curyously and diuersly disputed of the comminge of our Lorde Iesus Christ to the last iudgement which controuersy the Apostle being desyrous to dissolue and breake vp fyrste briefly vseth in maner of a preface and admonisheth them that they would not immoderatly be terrified or mooued with the words of false teachers moreouer mindinge to signifi that the time of Christs second comming was not yet to be looked for he heapeth not togither many arguments or prophesies out of the Prophets but with one onely reson deriued of the signe or token he proueth them to erre that went about to vphold the contrary For before the Lorde come that wicked man Antichriste must be reuealed wherefore séeing he is not yet in sighte it is not to be beléeued that the comming of the Lorde is at hande Then fortwith as pertaining to the demonstration of the right vse of the same doctrine he exhorteth them that they would be of good comfort and giue thanks vnto God that vouched safe to elect them to saluation neither would suffer them to be of their number that shoulde be seduced by Antichrist howbeit that this one thing remained namly that they would abide constant in faith and with all their endeuour flye and eschew false teachers The same Apostle where to the Romaines 9. in his disputation of the reiection of the Iewes and callinge of the Gentiles he falleth into a very hard place concerning predestination and frée election coueting to declare that God whether he electeth or reiecteth dealeth alwayes iustelye and vprightly first veryly inferreth one or two examples of Iacob and Esau then of Pharao and forth with a similitude of the Potter for these are proofes very fit to teach the rude and ignoraunt people afterwarde as one terryfied with the difficulty of the cause he breaketh off as yée would say the continuaunce of his tale Either of whiche his dooyngs no doubt is very wel to be lyked for the one was profitable to the plainnes and perspicuitie of the matter the other very necessary for breuities sake and the avoyding of errour Finally in the cap. 11. shettinge vp his whole disputation he teacheth very learnedly to the Gentiles the true vse of his whole doctrine when as he putteth them in minde that they shoulde not be proude for this cause that being taken out of the wilde Oliue trée thou hast yet an other similitude they are grafted into the true Oliue for that it might come to passe that they should againe be cut off And at the length as though he had waded further then he would he endeth with an exclamation O the deepenesse saieth he of the riches and wisdome and knowledge of God. So I say he is wise and the same also worthy the name of an Apostle that is well exercised in the interpretation of the sriptures wherfore let it not repent vs to folow and imitate the example of so worthy ◠doctor in hard and difficult places Last of all the Preacher ought to choose matter necessarie and as the Apostle willeth omit superfluous I vnderstand that to be necessary which is most agréeable to the time and place and whiche the present multitude can not wel be without There be in deede a nūber of diuine places very profitable but yet not al méete to be expoūded in euery place time Some people haue their
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.
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
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
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
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
or maners of the people doe require the same For at what time certaine vices and enormities begin to infect the multitude the ecclesiasticall Teacher shall in repressing of them duly and seasonably be altogether occupied First the sore is to be healed before it groweth to an incurable canker For To late is medicine sought When mischieues once by long delaies past all recure are brought And verily the Phisition of the soule shall first of all endeuoure himselfe to cut away the greater maladies then shall hée take in hande those that bée of lesser daunger IIII. And it is not to be passed ouer that Chrysostom sayde in his 4. homilie vppon the Epistle of S. Paule to the Philippians That then the Preacher ought to keepe silence when hee holdinge his peace and findinge fault with nothinge that is done there is sure and certaine hope that the euills which are committed may bee turned away but if the contrary commeth to passe so that he keepinge silence enormities are not onely not rooted vp but all thinges also become worse and worse then it is necessary that hee goe forwarde in reprouinge so much as hee may doe For hee that sharpely rebuketh sinners albeit he doth nothing els yet thus much bringeth he to passe that he suffereth not the mischiefe to growe any further And no lesse worthy to bée noted is that which Augustistine hath left writē in his booke 1. cap. 9. de ciuitate dei If therefore any man forbeareth to reproue and finde fault with wicked doers for that he awayteth a more conuenient time or feareth least by that meanes they should become worse or that other weaklinges which ought rather to bee enformed to a good and godly life should bee hindered and oppressed and turned from the faith this seemeth not to rise of any corrupte desire that hee hath but rather of the rule and aduice of charitie And after a fewe wordes in the same chapter They that are placed in the higher degrees of life prouiding for the most part for their fame safety whilest they feare the wiles inuasions of wicked men doe refraine themselues from reprouinge of them And although they stand not so greatly in doubt of them that they yelde through any their threateninges and impieties to perpetrate the like euils yet neuerthelesse the very same thinges which they commit not with them they will not commonly finde fault with when as peraduenture they might by reprouing correcte amend some least if they coulde not their owne safety and renoume should come into harsarde and decaye And this they doe not vppon that consideration whereby they see their credite and safety to be necessary for the profit of men to bee ēstructed but father thorough that infirmity wherby they are delighted with a fawninge and flattering tongue with a faire and calme day and whereby they feare the iudgement of the common sorte and vexation or destruction of the fleshe that is by reason of certaine bandes of couetousenes wherewith they are enwrapped and not for their duties sake of loue Thus much S. Augustine Wherefore by these thinges when and how far foorth it is lawful to intermit the reprehension of vices euery man may easely iudge Nowe what thinges remaine chiefely to be reproued V. There is no kinde of sinnes in which the Preacher ought to wincke and be tongue tied or that may be pretermitted without reproofe Therefore it is not inought egerly to inueigh and abandon such vices as are very great and heynous but euen those also shal be brought to the iudgement of the Church and called into question which the common people estéeme to be but trifles in respecte neither doe account them so great as in déede they are Prouided that those euills be spoken against with more diligence and vehemeny which are growne to be of greatest force with the multitude and by reason whereof greater inconuenyences are feared VI. In the meane time the godly Preacher must take heede least that beinge moued with the false reportes and surmises of some men hee fall to carpinge and comtrolling of certaine vices It is ouer often tried by experyence and that truely with the great offence of the whole Church but with the greatest perill of the estimation and good name of the preachers thmselues what masses of mischiefe the ouer hastines of some in beleeuinge euery one that commeth especially women and light persons haue brought in And AEneas Syluius reporteth in his booke de aulicorum miserijs that is touchinge the miseries of Courtiers how a certaine mā of Millaine in times past made a grieuous complaint to one Bernardinus a Preacher of all those that lent their money vppon vsury and that verely to this ende that when other shoulde ceasse and leaue off so to doe hee alone might reape huge gaines prayes by that trade Therefore neither those thinges that are noysed of the simple and ignorant nor those that be reported of subtill and craftye men shall the minister of the Gospell rashly admit forthwith to be declared out of the pulpit to the people The surest and saffest way is where at least be had lawefull méeting and consultations of the Elders of the Church to rebuke those crimes and enormities as touching which it shall be determined before in the selfe same assembly that they should openly be reproued and spoken against Now followe diuers thinges touching the maner of reproouing VII Whensoeuer it séemeth good to rebuke viees before all thinges it is necessary to premise certaine doctrine and reasons where out men though blunt and rude maye learne that those things which are of thée reprooued be very grieuous sinnes and such as deserue eternall damnation For very weake and slender is that reproofe or rebuke which is not grounded vppon Gods word and taketh strength therefrom And that is it that the apostle meaneth when after he had sayd improue rebuke exhort he wisely addeth that it must be don by applying of doctrine VIII And that all corrections ought not to be framed a like but one more bitter and vehement an other more milde and moderate is a things well knowen of it selfe partly by the kinde of crimes committed and partly by the state and condition of those men that are snarled and entangeled with the same crimes To the intent I saye not howe in the Sermons of the prophets and of Christ we may obserue the lyke trade looke what prudence and circumspection is requisite in driuing awaye the disseases of the body the same truely is required in expellinge the maladies of the minde And as touching this difference wisely to be made Chrisostom hath somwhat in the beginning of his Enarration of the Epistle of Saint Paule to the Galathians But it behoueth vs notwithstanding to declare where it shall be conuenient to giue place to the milder and where to the sharper sorte of rebukes First therefore of the milder sort IX There be certaine offences touching the amendement wherof it shall be
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.
Somtymes agayne after the lessen read some one place in fewe wordes is repeated in the beginninge of the Sermon that inespecially of which the Preacher hath determined more at large to entreate We will adde to some examples Chrysostom in a certayne homily to the people of Antioche taking in hand to expound the place of Sainct Paule vnto Timothy Vse a littel wine for thy stomacke and thy often infirmities Beginneth with the dignitie of the Apostle and compareth him to a Trumpet and Harpe The same interpretinge the Psalme 127. immediately after the beginninge of the Psalme recited vnto thee haue I lifted vp myne eyes beginneth his Sermon with that that it is good to bée strycken with aduersitie Agayne homily 68. he repeateth in the entry thereof these wordes out of the first to the Thessalonians Cap. 5. Deere brethrne saieth Sainct Paule reioyce alwayes pray without ceassing giue thankes in all thinges For this is the will of God. And forthwith hée addeth Alwayes to be thankefull is the point of a howse wisely instructed Thou hast suffred some distresse but if thou wilte thy selfe it is no distresse Giue thankes to God and thine euill shal be turned into good It is a custome also commonly receyued to take and driue beginninges of circumstaunces of causes of similitudes or of other places So Chrisostom expoundinge the euanglicall history of the woman of Canaan beginneth with the prayse of the dilligence and constancy of the hearers In the history of Elias conueied into heauen in a fyrie Chariot he beginneth with a similitude taken of the maner whereby kinges are accustomed to rewarde those that hazarde themselues in battayle with a Chariot or else to granish theÌ„ with some other princely 〈◊〉 whervppon he gâ—thereth that God would also in liâ—â—e maner adorne his faithfull minister Elias with a Chariot and so drawe him vp into heauen Nazianzenus at the Gospell which is read in the 18. Chap. of Mathew beginneth his Sermon with the labor dilligence of Christ in trayning of men to the truth But that which we haue already sayd may suffice in this place WheÌ„ a SermoÌ„ is framed of an argument offred by occasion of tyme it is lawfull to deriue an Exordium out of diuers sondri things places But neuerthelesse the most apte and vsuall order of all other is this namely wherein at the beginninge is by by opened of what matter or businesse we purpose to intreate As néere as is possible the first wordes of Thexordium ought to be aunswerable to the matter it selfe which thou haste taken vppon thée to handle yea and the very same either taken out of some place of Scripture or simply expressinge the kynde and maner of the busynesse Out of the Scriptures are taken these beginninges Nazianzenus in his Sermon to the subiectes strickeÌ„ with feare by reasoÌ„ of the displeasure of the Emperour vseth the wordes of Ieremy 4â— Oh my bowells and the inner partes of my body I am sore grieued c. And Basill when he taketh in hande to entreate of fastinge boroweth the wordes of Ioell Blowe vp the Trumpet in Sion vppon the notable day of your solemnitie c. As we haue littell before remembred when an argument or proposition is expressed in simple wordes without any place of Scripture â—â—nexed therevnto a man may fynde diuers and sundry Exordiums in Chrisostom Nazianzenus and other moe Nazianzenus beginneth his Sermon which hée made to those that came by water out of AEgipt in this sort To them that are of AEgipt will I speake Albeit hee doth not yet there open what maner of argument hée will handle Neuerthelesse hée entreateth afterward of the mistery of the Trinitie But when hée sayde that hée woulde speake to those that came from the Church of Alexandria which Athanasius and after him Peter bishops there had rightly enstructed in sounde doctrine of the Trinitie and they comminge to Constantinople were nowe approched to the Church where Gregory Nazianzene a stout defendour of the Trinity and of one substaunce in the same then taught the hearers might easely perceyue that Gregory vppon that occasion woulde speake of their faithfull consent in the confession of the Trinitie Touchinge which thinge somewhat there is Tripart Histo lib. 9. Cap. 13. The same takinge in hande to speake hys minde concerninge prouision and care to bée had for the poore beginneth thus Men and brethrne yea and as I may say fellowe beggars for wée are all the sort of vs poore and néedinge the grace and goodnesse of god although one may séeme to goe before an other if yée haue measured with small measures receyue and imbrace these wordes touchinge the loue and good will which ye ought to beare towardes the poore Thexorgiums in this kinde of Sermons are otherwise as wée haue sayde very large and frée Esay Cap. 1. reprouinge the enormities of his owne nation especially the sinne of hipocrisy and contempt of the true seruice God beginneth with an exclamation or contestation of all creatures and therewithall introduceth God himselfe gréeuously expostulatinge the matter For his whole oration from the beginning forth on is very vehement and ardent Peter willing to rebuke the peruerse iudgement of the people touching the miracle of the tongues vseth a place of attentiuenesse then wisely remoueth the cryme of dronkennesse obiected vnto them and so procéedeth to the cause of Christ our sauiour Steuen and Paule desyrous to expounde the businesse of the Gospell take the beginninge of their Sermons of the callinge of Abraham By these thinges it is manyfest after what sorte Exordiums ought to bée framed and ioyned togither when the matter so requireth that a Sermon be made of a Theme simple For the lyke reason is in this that was in the other before But as for Exordiums discrepante from the cause and such as are far fetched or also very tedyous and prolixe no wise man will allowe And yet notwithstandinge sometymes they are to bee borne with all in sacred Sermons vppon this condition that they tende to some edifyinge of the congregation and bée applyed to the commoditie of tymes and persons and bée aptely and conueniently handled But then most chiefly are they to be admytted when some thinges bée propounded to the people that may not conueniently bée enterlaced in the enarration folowing or else are iudged expedieÌ„t for some other cause and consideration Some such Exordiums are extante in the homilyes of Chrisostom vppon the booke of Genesis in the which Exordiums hée exhorteth chydeth or dooth some lyke thynge a yée woulde saye on the sodayne Such an Exordium also Paule séemeth to vsurpe Acts. 17. Where hee beginneth with reprehension of the supersticion of Thathenienses and with the Aulter of the vnknowen god Afterward hée goeth on to declare Christe to bée true GOD and to make hym knowen vnto all men Neither is this to bée passed ouer that the Exordium sometymes may bée omytted and the proposition or diuision eftesoones produced