Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	law_n	moses_n	people_n	3,133	5	5.0838	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A15765	A summons for sleepers Wherein most grieuous and notorious offenders are cited to bring forth true frutes of repentance, before the day of the Lord now at hand. Hereunto is annexed, a patterne for pastors, deciphering briefly the dueties pertaining to that function, by Leonard Wright.	Wright, Leonard, b. 1555 or 6.	1589 (1589)	STC 26034.3; ESTC S121115	49,627	64

and discretion to gouern are men onely fit and méet for such a reuerend function chargeable office as a publike Preacher is It were much better for the yonger sort of Ministers to forbeare the Pulpet and giue themselues to distinct reading of the holy Scriptures godly homilies and vse catechising which is a verie profitable kinde of teaching til age bring discretion and learne to prate lesse and liue better But they are so greatly delighted in hearing themselues speake that they disdaine publike reading of the holy Scriptures and condemne it as a thing intollerable as though it belongs not to the preaching of the gospel which is nothing else but to teach and instruct the people in faith and good maners and whether it be done by writing reading or speaking without booke so they be taught the spirite of God dooeth woorke effectually as well by the one as the other though not in like measure When S. Paul did write vnto the Romaines no doubt he preached vnto them when Esdras read Moses law vnto the people no doubt he preached vnto them when Barucke read Ieremies sermons vnto the Israelites no doubt he preached vnto them when Iosua read the whole law before the congregation no doubt he preached vnto them Moyses had in euery Citie those that preached him sayth the Euangelist séeing he was read in the Sinagogue euery Sabboth day the Apostle S. Paule exhorted Timothy to giue attendance as well to reading as exhortation and doctrine charged the Thessalonians that his Epistle should be read vnto all the brethren the saintes taught the Ephesians that by reading of his Epistle they might knowe his vnderstanding in the ministerie of Christ. Tertullian calleth the reading of the Scriptures the féeding of our fayth the Euangelist saith they were written for our learning that we might beléeue and liue and are so plaine and easie sayth the Psalmist that they giue light and vnderstanding euen to the simple wherein our Sauiour Christ hath plainly reuealed vnto vs his fathers will and made h●s name manifest vnto men happie is he that readeth sayth hee and those that heare kéepe the prophecie of this booke and if the holy scripures séeme darke or hidden to any saith the Apostle it is only to those that are lost whō the God of this world hath blinded and I thinke verely that a mans conscience is more mooued better edified and soundlier satisfied by the onely words of the text distinctly read then by long tedious discourses of mens inuentions and more profited by reading of one godly homely wherein the truth is plainely opened and prooued and false doctrine confuted being wel penned in good Method and order to helpe the memorie then by a dozen of such verball vnlearned and contentious sermons as dayly procéede from our young fantastical vpstarts which by wreasti●● 〈◊〉 and diminishing at their pleasure doe rather 〈…〉 malice and sedition in the heartes of the hearers then worke any good effect The word doth not edifie the lesse because the eie of the speaker is turned downe to the booke but rather the booke is a meane to kéepe his tongue within compasse of trueth and sure it were much better for the people to be but meanely fed with good holesome dyet then puft vp fatte with meat infected with poyson course houshold bread is more healthfull then fine manchet mixt with grauell as of sound and godly knowledge with méekenesse charity and true deuotion I wish they had more then they haue so were it better that of such knowledge as makes these hoat talkers and contenders to swell so bigge and seeme so wise in their owne conceites they had lesse then they haue they starue not for too little but rather surfet with too much Touching our women preachers I blush in their behalfe in calling to mind the vnshamefast boldnes of that sexe in this our crooked age women are taught in the holy scriptures not to imitate their grandmother Eue in vsurping the office of teaching neither the exāple of their sister Miriam in grudging against Moses neither such proud Iesabels as boldly dare vsurpe the name of a Prophetisse to deceiue the seruantes of God neither such Idle tatlers and busie bodies as wander about from house to house speking things which are not comely whose eares itching for nouelties doo get them a heape of teachers after their owne lustes euer learning and neuer able to come to the truth hauing a similitude of godlinesse but haue denied the power thereof neither to prompe themselues in gorgious attire like proud lecherous Venus or Helen of Troy who were more honored for their beautie then their honestie but in the feare of God to learne in silence with all submission and if they doubt of any thing to aske their husbandes at home to decke themselues with the modest sobriety of Anna the humble obedience of Sara and the shamefast chastitie of Susanna not boldnesse in women but blushing is the right colour of vertue Finally the Apostle exhorteth to auoide strife and contention and studie to be quiet and agrée together because we are brethren Brethren by nature brethren by calling and brethren by religion hauing all one God to our Father one Catholik Church to our mother and one Iesus Christ to our redeemer all branches of one vine shéepe of one fold and fellow seruants of one house all partakers of one baptisme one faith and one hope of saluation Let vs therfore say one to another as Abraham sayd to Lot I pray thée let there be no strife betwéene thée and mée neither betwéene thy heardmen nor mine for we are brethren O how good pleasant a thing it is saith Dauid for brethren to dwell together in vnitie by this shall all men know you to be my disciples sayth our sauiour that you loue together as brethren It is written how the mother of Seneca séeing two of her sonnes hauing theyr daggers drawen in theyr hands the one ready to slay the other caught them both in her armes and shewed them her breasts my déere children quoth she what do you behold my breasts that nurst you both you are brethren Euen so the Church of God which hath nursed you with her breasts and brought you vp in the knowledge of the truth most earnestly doth desire and beséech you with her teares that as you wyll haue her continue your louing mother you will bée kind and gentle one to another and liue together as brethren agrée together as children of one family ioine together as stones of one building grow vp togethe as imps of one stock hold together as members of one body and one help to beare anothers burthen as fellow labourers of one work that with one hart one will and one voyce we may together praise honor and glorify our louing redéemer for euer Amen FINIS Gen. 3. 2. Tim. 2.3 1. Tim. 4.2 Iud.

wicked impes Amongst eight persons in the arke with Noah was one naughtie packe Amongst the twelue chosen Apostles with Christ himself was one Iudas and therefore as if in Sodom there had béene found but tenne good men the whole citie had béene saued for their sakes so though some of their fellow ministers lacke grace to liue as they ought yet would charitie rather beare with some badde because of the good then openly to deface discredite their brethren because of some bad The spirit of wisdome is louing gentle The Apostle S. Paul would not haue those that are endued with greater giftes to disdaine their brethren hauing lesser neither an elder rebuked rigorously nor accusation receiued against him vnder 2 or 3 witnesses But forasmuch as we are all fellow seruants none of vs without his imperfections hee would haue one to suffer and beare the weakenesse of another one to helpe and comfort another that nothing be done through strife or vaineglory but in méekenes of mind euery one to estéeme another better than himselfe and whereas we haue diuersitie of gifts and difference of administrations as euery one hath receiued the gift so one to minister to another euery one to meddle with his owne businesse knowing that euery one shall beare his owne burthen and receyue his rewarde according to his owne labour hée that stands to take héed least he fall as for his brother whether he stand or fal that perteineth to his owne master who bestoweth not his gifts alike vnto all men neither will he require ten talents where he gaue but one to whom much is giuen of him shall much be required Some are indued with wisdom knowledge iudgement to discerne truth from falshood home with vtterance memorie and boldnesse to instruct with stongue some with godly deuotion christian charitie and honest disposition to teach by example of life and conuersation hée that carryeth bricke and morter may be a mason though not so expert as the maister of the building hée that diggeth ground may be a good gardener though not so cunning as he that draweth the knot hee that cutteth the timber may bée a good Carpenter though not equall to him that contriueth the house Euen so the meaner sort of ministers béeing honest men working in the Lordes vineyard in some measure whether it be by writing reading or speaking without booke may be good Preachers though not so fitte for the Pulpet as those which are indued with greater gifts and no doubt their diligence in doing their best shall be accepted with the poore widowes oblation Though the Fletcher want strength to draw the bow yet is hée a speciall meane to further shooting though the Smith want skill to holde the plough yet is he a necessarie instrument to helpe forwarde the worke though the whetstone can not cut of it selfe yet is it néedfull to make sharpe the Sithe so though some want the gift of memorie and boldnesse to instruct by preaching with tongue yet may hée bee a profitable member in the Church by teaching with penne Our God is louing and gentle and taketh in good part the good will euen of the poorest and simplest of his children pardoneth their imperfections accepteth their obedience and rewardeth them as liberally as the greater A good Preacher also must be carefull to kéepe in credit the authoritie of his office not to vary in doctrine from his fellowe labourers neither to minister any matter amongst the ignorant people that may bréede contention or discord Finally he must be a man of honest life and conuersation for none can effectually teach the waie to die well except himselfe bée such a one as liueth well The Priestes of the olde Lawe were chosen without blemishe to signifie theyr liues without blame The Apostle woulde haue them well tried to bée honest men and of good reporte before they be admitted into that reuerend function He that will profite in teaching must labor with both hands or els as fast as the one doth gather the other doth scatter as the one doth build vp the other doth pull downe hée must haue both Vrim and Thumim knowledge and vertue persuasion in words and example in déeds to thunder in doctrine and shine in life and manners True Christian religiō consisteth not onely in bare preaching dumbe hearing but rather in deuout praying vertuous liuing charitable working It is naturally grafted in man to speak holily praise good sayings and desire rather to know much that liue well Knowledge no doubt is a goodly gift and a great blessing of God yet knowledge without vertue or learning without good liuing are nothing els but as trées without fruit At the last day we shal not be demanded how much we haue knowen but how well we haue liued What auayleth it a man to be able to define what faith and repentance is not féelyng Gods holy spirite working faith and repentance in his heart or to tell a faire smooth tale in words yet stammer in his déeds or to haue al the Scriptures witty sayings of Philosophers at your fingers ends yet want grace to liue accordingly or how is he able to gouern others that hath no power to gouerne himselfe Vnto the vngodly said God Why doest thou preach my laws or takest my Testament in thy mouth whereas thou hatest to be reformed he that imploieth his tongue vnto vertue his déeds vnto vice 〈…〉 carrieth treacle in one hand to resist death and poyson in the other to take away life A wicked liuer though his tongue be neuer so plausible yet the infamy of his life decayeth all his doctrine and other gifts whatsoeuer for if one praise that he saith a number will blame that he doth A teacher without vertue is compared to a painted fire without heate or a faire vizor put on a deformed face or the ship wrights that made Noahes Arke to saue others yet perished in the floud themselues or an Idiot standing by the sea side and séeing straungers passe by in daunger of the tide crying vnto them away away the tide cometh who looking back and séeing the foole stand still begin to say one to another surely this fellow doth but ieast for if it were so dangerous as he saith he would certainly make more hast away himselfe S. Ierom saith Maius est voluntatem Domini facere quàm nôsse A vertuous liver though he say litle yet is he a good preacher a good piller of Gods Church and a right Lay mans booke whose honest life is a seale to confirme his doctrine Gods building is compared to a stone wall the Magistrates ministers vnto squared stones framed on each side and the people vnto litle ones filling vp in the midst and if any of the squared stones chaunce to slip down a number of the litle ones will follow euen so if the Magistrate or teacher