frustrate But surelye these be those dayes that S. Paule prophecied of The time shall come fayth he wheÌ„ men shall not abide sound doctrine but hauing itching eares shall frame vnto theÌ„ selues preachers according to theire owne phantasyes and shall turne their eares from the truth For if we doe as these men would haue vs to doe leaue doctrine preach of manners so that it bee done in generalitie with some shew of eloquence and enterlacing of fyne short senteuces it is tollerablye thoughte of and vsed somewhat lyke as GOD speaketh of to Ezechiell As a iest and song of a pleasaunt Musitian But so soone as the sweete tune and note of the eloquence is out of their eares the Dittie and matter is cleane forgotten and they remayne the same persons that they were before bee the thinge neuer so good that was spoken But if wee speake of anye matter particularlye and come so nigh them that they feele their consciences nipped and touched then are they greued with this disease Noli me tangere Touche mee not Then the Preacher rayleth hee wanteth wisedome hee hath neede to go to a Schoole of Discretion hee medleth with those matters that he should not In deede I woulde not wishe eyther Preachers or any other Subiectes to enter into Councell Chambers and openly to deale in the consultation of Princes or controuersyes of the State so long as they bee consultations but if any matter breake oute in facte contrarye to the Lawe of God eyther in the fyrste or seconde Table which toucheth eyther religion and the true worshipping of god or the order of iustice and charitie among Christians I see not but that euery good Preacher maye and in duetye ought to speake agaynst them and to denounce the perill thereof euen to the face of the offendoures vnlesse wee will bee contented that the blood of them that perish without warning should be required at our hands which is too heauy for any mortall creature to beare Therefore seeing the mynde of men in these dayes bee so ouerthwarte and waywarde wee whome GOD hath placed for the Ministerye of his worde haue great cause to praye vnto him that hee will assiste vs not onely with that spirite of integritie as well in office as life whereof Christ here speaketh that with confidence of conscience wee maye bee able to saye for the iudgementes of men Quis ex vobis c. Which of you can rebuke me of sinne But also that he will indue vs with that spirituall strength which in like case he promiseth to his Prophets Ieremy and Ezechiell that is that he will make vs strong cities yron pillers and brasen walles agaynst them that oppugne in vs God and his truth and if they do make stiffe their neckes and harden their faces as stones agaynst the Lord his preaching to repentaunce that he wil make vs also to haue faces of flinte or Adamante that maye not blush or be abashed to let them vnderstande it For â—urteous talking and shame fast speaking will not serue Another crime that they lay agaynst vs and that with great daunger is that wee are seditious and contentious men in common weales daungerous to States and Principalities neuer contented but still seeking alterations and studying to bring al states to y â— Swizers coÌ„mon weale here with charge they not only vs that be Preachers but also all those y â— be true sincere professors of the Gaspell What the Swizers common weale is I partly vnderstand but I neuer yet hearde nor reade of any man that was of this opinion that all principalities ought to bee broughte either to the forme therof or any one other Or if there be anye such out of my knowledge I muste saye vnto him Anathema if hee were an Aungell in Heauen For the Doctrine of GOD teacheth no such thing but that all Christian Subiectes should content themselues with that forme of gouernemeÌ„t vnder which God hath placed them and by prayer and all other honest and Godlye meanes of obedience studie to preserue and maintain the same Therfore they that laye this to oure charge doe desyre maliciously to deface the word of God and his truth But this is the olde meanes where with the Serpent Sathan by his politique Instrumentes hath alwayes indeuoured to make odious to Princes and Magistrates the Prophets preachers and Ministers of Gods word So was it sayde of Helias and Micheas That they troubled Israell that they were enimies to the King neuer spake any thiÌ„g that was pleasaunt to him So was it sayde of Hieremias That he was a Traytor to his Countrey that he had conspired with the Babilonians and bare no good harte to the Prince So was it sayd of Amos That the earth might not abide the words that he had spoken to King Jeroboam So was it sayde of the Apostles and Fathers of the Primatiue Churche in so muche that the name of a Christyan in those dayes was in that state as nowe in some Countreyes the name of a Protestante or Gospeller is That is a sufficiente cause to drawe men in daunger of goodes Landes lyfe and al that hee hath though there bee no other matter in the worlde to charge them And these men studye to make their accusation probable by those sturres that of late yeares haue fallen out in Germany Flaunders Fraunce Scotland and as they saye here in Englande too But it is a wonderfull thing to see how affection blindeth men that either they cannot or will not see the truth Were there neuer sturres rebellions or vndutifull dealinges towarde Princes in Flaunders Fraunce and Scotlande before these late yeares of the reâ—â—ing of the Gospell If they thinke so they knowe nothing and erre of ignoraunce and by ignoraunce seeke to misleade other but if they know it to be otherwise as needes they muste if they haue reade anye thing then erre they of malice and purposely seeke to deface God his Ministers and his truth As for the Realme of Englande all men knowe that for the spare of these fyftie yeares or more there hath scante bene two Princes so happy as to scape w t one Rebellion in theyre tyme. To lette passe other and to speake of those thinges that are in oure rememberaunce Were they Protestantes that rebelled in the tyme of king Henrie Were they all Protestantes that rebelled in the time of that blessed Babe King Edwarde the sixte Were they Protestantes that rebelled in the Queenes Maiesties time that nowe is They cannot nor I thinke they will not say it for shame The Messengers and seditious Fyrebrandes that inflamed that styrre are well knowne to be Englishe Romanistes and Louanistes as euen nowe they doe indeuour the like Is it vnknowne to any man that it is a principle of their Doctrine that if a Prince be not a friend to the Sea of Roome be his Title otherwise neuer so good yet he is
is true in vs or at the least they haue no likely pretence in truth to saye the contrarye On the contrarye parte the Doctrines of the Churche of Roome are either manifestlye repugnaunte to this confession in sunderye thinges or greatly imparing or disgracing the same Therefore their Preachers are false Prophets and not of God for not only doth he denie Iesus to be Christe that grosely in flat wordes so sayth or he that playnly denieth christ to be the sonne of God as Cerinthius other auncient heretikes did but he also that couertly vndirectly by false doctrines worketh the same by teaching other men to seke other Sauiors Mediators Intercessors maisters and directours to saluatioÌ„ besyde him that sayth I am the way the truth the life or which by instructing them otherwise in Christs SacrameÌ„ts other ordinaÌ„ces theÌ„ he himself hath coÌ„maÌ„ded appointed For profe y t the church of Roome doth this first let this Doctrine bee examined whereby they teach that the very Reall and Naturall body of Christ is in a thousand places at once that is in so many places as there are Ostes consecrated This Doctrine impeacheth the principall Article of oure fayth that christ of y â— blessed Virgine tooke flesh and had a very true and naturall body as we haue Sinne onelye excepted It is the property of God only to be in manye places at once As Christes body is now after his asseÌ„tion glorifyed and is transformed to a greater bewty brightnesse so yet it remaineth a very true substantiall bodye And to teach that the body of Christ is in manye places or euery where as his Deitie is doeth make an open gappe to the Heresie of Abbot Eutiches which taught y t Christe his humanitie was swallowed vp with y t Maiestie of hys Godhead and so became a diuine thing Furthermore for y t proofe of their errors in this Article let their doctrine be examined of the Popes Suâ—remacie wherby it is taught that he is the vniuersall Bishop generall Lord Maister and Gouernour of the whole catholike church that he hath authoritie to pardon sinnes to deliuer Soules out of Purgatory to destribute the merites of Christ of his Saints to dispence w t the ordinances of Christ to alter y t institucioÌ„ and vse of his instruments to coyne newe Articles of oure Faith of necessitie to be beleeued cleane without any Authoritie of Gods word all which things are only in duetye and in truth to be attributed to Christe and to none other as before I haue declared The second Article of doctrine is why Christe came in fleshe and what benefite mankinde hath by it When as Gods iust wrath against sinne committed by our fyrst parentes was so greeuous that no Creature in Heauen or in earth was able in anye parte to appease the same by the vnestymable goodnesse of GOD his onlye and dearely beloued sonne became a sacrifice to appease his wrath and displeasure and to reconcile vs to his Father and by his death passion and resurrection procured for vs recoÌ„ciliatioÌ„ with his father remissioÌ„ of sinne righteousnes before god and eternall life in heauen These be the Fruites and benefites that we haue by Christs coÌ„ming in fleshe Here agayne we haue to call to our remembrance the note that is before spoken of touching the highnes and exellencie of the meane of our saluation For if the same in part or in all could haue bene wrought by any other creatures in Heauen or earth the wisedome of God would neuer haue giuen his sonne to death to procure the same benefites for vs. But that he might declare how odious and displeasaunt Sinne was to God he let vs by this meanes vnderstande that the offence thereof could not be taken away nor mankinde to him bee reconciled but onelye by the blood of the immaculate Lambe Christ Jesus his son Good Christians must then assuredly perswade themselues that they haue reconciliation with God remission of sinne iustification before God sanctification of the holy Ghost and the heritage of eternall life by the excellencye and fulnesse of Christ his death and passyon only only I say and by nothing else For as I haue sayde Christ is the only full and perfect meane of our saluation as the whole course of the Scripture teacheth vs. Esay the Prophet many yeares before Christ came in fleshe signified thus much and cryeth to all them that hunger and thyrst after saluation that they should come and receaue it plentifully and freelye of the mercy of God in Christe and blameth them for seeking for saluation and the satisfying of their hungry and thirstie soules by any other meanes then y â— O sayth he all ye that thyrst come to the waters and ye that haue no siluer come buy and eate come I say bie Wine Milke without money Wherefore do you lay out your siluer for that that is no bread bestow your labor for that which doth not satisfye you hearken dilligently vnto me and eate that which is good and let your soules delight in fatnesse incline your eares and come vnto me heare and your soule shall liue c. By these wordes I haue sayde the Prophet calleth vs to receaue the comfortable water and sustenaunce of the Gospell which offereth full saluation and satisfying of our hungry soules freelye by Christ and sharpely rebuketh them that leauing christ seeke after other meanes by which in deede their hungrie desyre of Remission and Saluation in anye parte cannot be satisfyed and for that cause hee sayeth Theire Syluer is bestowed and theire Laboure spente in vayne Christ himself may seeme to expounde this prophecye and apply vnto himselfe in playne wordes that whiche the prophet heare speaketh in a figuratiue borrowed speech for he sayth Whosoeuer thirsteth let him come to mee and drinke And agayne Al ye that trauaile be heauy loden come vnto me and I will refreshe you The Apostles do fully in their doctrine iustifye y â— same Peter sayth There is no saluation in any other c. Neyther is there any other name giueÌ„ vnder heaueÌ„ wherby you shalbe saued c. And S. Paule It pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwel and by him to reconcile all thinges to himselfe and to set at peace through the blood of his Crosse both the thinges in earth and the thinges in Heauen And again in the same Epist In whome are hidde all the Treasures of wisedome knowledge c. in him dwelleth all the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily you are complete in him which is the head of all pricipalitie Marke that he sayth We are complete in him and therfore neede we no other meanes of saluation And this our sweete Apostles S. John who teacheth vs this triall of spirits sayth The blood of Christe Iesus the sonne of God doth cleanse vs from all sinne The same Apostle maye seeme not onelye
in the externall signes respect of time In Ps 73. CoÌ„ Faust. lib. 19. cap 14. De doct Christ. in Jo. in psal Note August Tract in Joh. 26. The faythfull Jewes did eate and drinke spiritually the body blood of Christ before his reall comming in the flesh and soe doe we that ar borne beleeue since his incarnation the conclsion thereupon Christ the food of our soules Esay 55. 1. Joh. 7. 37. Io. 6. 26. c. Ioh. 6. 32. c. Ioh. 6. 35. Ioh. 6. 48. c. Io. 6. 53. â— Ioh. 6. 63. How the body and blood of Christ are said to hes meate and drinke Acomparison betwixte the body and the soule What the soule is to the body that is God to the soule 1. Io. 5. 12. How Christ was prepared to be the food of our soules Io. 6. 35. Why Christ of necessitie was to be both god and man firste why he shold be god 1. Jo. 5. 20. 1. Jo. 3. 5. Joh. 1. 12. Heb. 7. Ro. 8. 34. Why Christ world necessarily be man Joh. 12. 26. Heb. 4. 15. Now Christ his body and blood is truly rightlye to be eaten drunken as well in the Sacraments as without them Against the carnal eating drinking of Christs body and blood Mat. 15. 11 Rom. 8. 11. Iac. 1. 17. Fayth the mouth of the soule whereby Christe is eaten Ioh. 6. 29. 33. 35. What to eate Christ is what to drinke his blood is Ver. 4â— Tract in Ioh. 26. Trast 25 De coenae Domini The force of fayth Ioh. 6. 54. The eating of Christ by fayth is no derogation to the dignity of the Sacramente and profite theâ— of Luc. 23. 4â— Acts. 10. In the vse of the Sacrament is a double eating to be noted Our senses in the vse of the Sacrament are helpers to our better receauing of the same Hearinge Ma. 26. 26 Ro. 10. 17. Luc. 22. 19. Seeing Feeling Tasting Sacraments are badges by which we Christians are knowne from idolaters Sacraments are the seales wherby gods promises are confirmed vnto vs. Sacraments vnite vs to Christe Sacraments are to linke vs togeather in brotherly vnitie Blasphemus doctriue of wicked mens eating of the body of christ â—efelled Joh. 6. 56. Joh. 6. 54. In Mat. 15. De Trini lib. 4. Tract 59. PaneÌ„ dnÌ„â— PaneÌ„ dnÌ„i Tract 26. How we ought to prepare our selues to the worthy receauing of the lords supper 1. Co. 11. 18. How we are to make trial of our selues before we come to the lords table Deut. 6. 5. Deu. 27. 26 1 2 3 Obiection Answeare Psal 103. 14. A breife praier for communicants Mar. 9. 24 Ma. 26. 33. Mar. 9. 33. Heb. 1â— 22. Mat. 7. 21. It is not sufficient to saluation to be idle professors of god but also doers of godly deedes Iam. 1. 22. c. Luc. 11. 28. Mat. 7. 24. Maâ— 11. 13. Wicked mâ—n are plagued of god for their owne sinnes to our â—â—â—ngle Nothing beâ—â—ideth man by fortune but al thingâ— by gods direction Joh. 5. 17. Act. 17. 28. Psal 104. 29. Nature what it is Gen. 7. 3. Reg. 17. Retract Fortune what it is Mat. 10. 29 God the Creatour disposer and preserner of all The absurd opinion of theÌ„ confuted that imagined god to gouerne great thinges and matters only without prouiding any whitt for things of leue value God is not the author of sinne Euerie act is to be measured good or bad by the intent of the actor Jer. 7. 13. Esai 10. 5. God vseth naughtie instruments to the working of good What the causes ate that moue god to plague men The punishment of sin Leu. 26. 40 Jos 24. 20. Deutro 21. Leu. 26. 14. c. punishmenes sent from god for examâ—ples sake Luc. 13. 2. Psal 543. 2. â—um 11. 4. Num. 25. â—â— Num. 16. 3. Esai 36. 37. Afflictions are laid vpon the righteous to trie them withal Eccl. 27. 5. Prou. 17. 3. Judi 8. 21. Job 1. 21. Heb. 12. 6. Rom. 5. 3. 1 2 3 4 Christ compareth the church to husbandry especially in pasturing vintage and tillage Psal 23. 1â— Psal 95. â— Joh. 10. 11 Joh. 15. 1. Esa 5. 1. c. Mat. 21. 33 Joh. 4. 35. Mat. 9. 37 Why the Spirit of god doth compare the church to husbandrie as beforesaide Interpretation of this parable of the seede sower Preachers are authoriâ—ed by god in their calling 1. Cor. 4. 1. What â—â—â—matâ—â—â— ought to be had of prechers 1. The. 2. 13. Gal. 4. 14. 2. The. 4. 8 Luc. 10. 16. How those are to be thought of who lightlie regard-either preachinge or preachers 1. Pet. 1. 23. That the worde of god is resembled to seede and why Esa 40. 6. The power of the words of god in it selfe and in the estimation of the worlde Rom. 1. 16. What gods worde woorketh in the hearâ—â—s 1. Cor. 1. 23. Verse 27. How gods worde preuaileth euen against mans wisdome and cunning Example of the Apostles time Example of later and of these present times Pâ—â—â— â— â— The imaginations praâ—tises meanes of the wicked to withstand gods worde Psal 2. 4. The increase of the church by Martâ—rdom 〈…〉 d in a similitude What increase only coâ—â—â—â—eth by Marâ—â—â—dom 2. The. 2. 8. An obiection made against the credit of the gospell and the preachers of it because it is likened to seede Esa 55. 10. Answere Some preachers had but barren successe and yet was theire doctrine â—â—â—â—he The like to be saide of Christ and his Apostles The cause of barren successe is all one to the present preachers as was to the prophets Christ and his apostles and yet is not their successe the lesse How greeuous it is for preachers to offende Why preachers offences are not to be made more greeuous then they are The true cause why the worde preached doth not allway bringe forth fruite The godly do alway take pro 〈…〉 of the preaching of the worde The first kinde of grounde Three sorts of foules vvhich doe eate vp the seede of gods vvorde in the heigh â—vaies Of worldly securitie The inconuenience of pre achingiâ— generalitie Luc. 1. 74. 75. Rom. 6. 3. 1. Pet. 3. 7. Rom. 8. 17. Eph. 2. 19. Mat. 23. 37 How god calleth Engto repentance and without repentance what is like to befall it Of heathenish Gentilitie and the mischiffe by it Sap. 2. 5. c. How they are to be accounted of that deride preachers 2. Pet. 3. 1. c. Mocâ—es against god his iudgmentes Ier. 5. 1â— How to trie crulye who do beleauâ— there is a god and who not Contempt of godlinesse of life can nor stand with the acknowledging of a god We cannot acknowledg a god but that with all he must punishâ— sinne Against those that denie god altogeather Rom. 1. 20. Meanes to make those acknowledge a god which â—â— altogetheâ— deny him The saying of the Heathens that al things stand according to the course of Nature is to be vnderstod of god
good Husbandman hath sowed in his Land pure and good seede the enemye commeth in the nighte and soweth among it Cockell and Darnell And yet is not the Husbandman to bee blamed for that which the mallice of the enemye hath wroughte Euen so nowe in this tyme when GOD hath restored the true and pure Seede of his Worde and cast it into the worlde by his Preachers the Deuill hath raysed vp diuerse sectes and wicked Heresies of purpose to discredite the truth and yet is neyther GOD nor his Ministers to be blamed for it If any of them of that sort haue professed the Gospell we may comfort our selues as Saint Iohn did in the like matter A nobis sayth he Exicrunt sed non erant ex nobis si enim fuissent ex nobis permansissent vtique nobiscum That is They wente out from vs but they were not of vs for if they had bene of vs they had vndoubtedlye remayned with vs. Happily some of these came from vs but they were not of vs they be departed from our Churche they doe more hate vs than the Papistes Al the fautors of the sea of Roome haue not written halfe so much to impugne the wicked Doctrine of the Anabaptistes Libertines Stenkefeldians Osiandrists and suche other as the Protestantes haue done Yea if a man looke thorowlye into those Sects he shall see theÌ„ farre better to agree with the church of Rome then with vs. Wherfore how iustly they do vpbraid vs defame the Gospel with y â— reproch of their names let the Godly consciences be Judge But happily they will say that euen wee that chalenge moste of all to haue the Gospell and truth of Gods word do foullye disagree among our selues For I pray you hath not the controuersie of the Sacramente a long time with bitter conteution distracted the two churches of Wittenberge and Tigure Doth not the same contention at this day remain amonge vs heere in Englande Doe wee not euen nowe striue for the matter of Apparell I woulde to GOD if it were his holye will I mighte in this poynte saye as I haue before that it were not so I would I might say that all were false and that they doe therein slaunder vs. But it is true I confesse it and with sorrowfull hart I doe confesse it But yet neuerthelesse God be thanked there is no iust cause why either I or other should be greatly dismayed at it or for that cause to be ashamed of the Gospel It is stil the power of God to saluation though by this little spotte in countenaunce of the world it may seeme to be somewhat blemished As for the controuersy of the Sacrament among vs it is not great the parties of the one syde are but fewe and yet I confesse they are to many But where the contention is greatest the matter is not so heynous nor the dissencion so diuerse as Staphilus and such other of very malice would haue it seeme to be Both parties in the right vse of the Sacramentes doe well agree both parts grant that they be Seales to confirme in our harts the promises of God and benefite of our saluation by Christ Jesu both partes graunt that they be Testimonies and Pleadges of his Diuine grace and fauour both partes graunte that they be badges and Cognizaunces of Christian societie to erecte and confyrme our Fayth and to bynde vs to the studie of honestie charitie and concorde both partes graunt that the body of Christ is present yea and that truely and in dede so y t they be not bare signes but such as effectualy doe bring to the faithfull harte the very thinges that are signifyed both partes graunt that the cheefe effecte and benefit of a SacrameÌ„t is takeÌ„ by the spiritual eating so y t the bodily eating without y t is nothing Only the contentioÌ„ is about the Maner of y â— presence eating while y e one part affirmeth with the Church of Rome that it is Reall and Carnall the other to be only Spiritual and by Fayth How this controuersie may be agreede and of what force this carnall presence and eating is for whiche onelye they contende if I should now stande to declare I should make to large a digression from my purpose and holde you to long This only I trust for this time you maye see that the matter is not so greeuous as it is pretended to be As for the controuersie of Apparell as there is in it some diuersitie of Judgementes so is there no separation of christian fayth and charitie For sure I am y â— neither they that do refuse the appointed apparell do condemne vs that weare it I speake of them that be learned neither we y t at y â— Princes order receiue it do hate theÌ„ that of coÌ„science for certayne consideracions thinke they may not safely vse it Although in this matter we wishe that they would doe as we doe As for al other pâ—intes of Doctrine I wil protest my conscience for my self as many other as I knowe I thinke very well of them and iudge that for their singuler gifts there may some of them be very good instrumeÌ„ts in the church and we are perswaded they think euen so of vs. Wherfore although there be some misliking of iudgemeÌ„ts in these trisles that it pleaseth the Magistrates and rulers for certaine causes by their authoritie rather to iustifie the opinion of the one than of the other yet assure your selues the iarre in the matter it selfe is not so great as the enimies of the truth would haue it seeme to be But be it that the iarre were great hath not God I pray you in the most pure state of his Churche for causes to his wisdome known suffered such misliking diuersitie of iudgements among his holy blessed Apostles Preachers perhaps to this end that they might therby learne to remember know their own infirmity What controuersy was betwene Peter Paule for the eating or not eating in the coÌ„pany of the Gentiles wherein albeit Peter were a cheefe Apostle yet God suffered him to be so caried away with error y â— Paule opeÌ„ly blamed him as not rightly prâ—â—eding in the Gospel Was there not much misliking betwene Paule Barnabas for the coÌ„pany of Marke that they in displeasure parted companies Were there not so great sects contentiâ—ns among the Cor. that the Lordes supper â—â—â— by theÌ„ very â—ull abused through the same and yet 〈◊〉 nâ—â— their whole doctrine for that be condemned Did not the Emulation betweene the Jewes the Gentiles a great while trouble the primatiue church Did it not cause a couÌ„saile to be gathered of the Apostles for quieting of the same Immediately after the Apostles time it is euident in Eusebius and other histories that the controuersie for the obseruatioÌ„ of Easter day did cause great styr betweene the East and West Church And yet
countenaunce of holinesse miraculous working and great shewe of godlinesse and yet in deede be hypocrites and rauening Wolues But at thys time it is necessarie more particularly to laye downe what those sheepes skinnes are wherw t these rauening Wolues do couer themselues to deceaue the people of God S. Aug. writing vpoÌ„ this SermoÌ„ of Christ doth diligeÌ„tly and carefully giue warning that men in any wise shoulde learne to distinguishe the sheepes cloathing from those fruites that Christ heare speaketh of Least sayth he the sheepes cloathing be taken for the fruites and so men be deceaued for many account as fruites those things that in deede doe appertayne to the sheepes clothing And among sheepes cloathing he there reckoneth fasting praying almes deedes and outward holynesse of life For when such thinges are done sincerely by Gods true Ministers then are they the right clothing of his sheepe But when false teachers doe put on the same they are counterfayte clokes to deceiue the Simple Whreby you may perceiue that outward holynesse of life is no sure token of true teachers For if false teachers might not vse the same to winne the estimation of the people Christ a little before woulde neuer haue blamed the Pharisies for declaring their Fasting theire Praying theire Almes deedes and other Righteousnesse beefore men that they might be seene of them and therefore he sayth they haue theire rewarde But what shall we say Because false teachers and the wicked seruantes of Sathan doe vse this outward shewe of holinesse and godlye excercises to induce men to their corrupt Doctrine shall the true Ministers of Christ and preachers of his Gospell cast away the same and shew in their life a dissolute and loose behauioure God forbid Sheepe you know doe not hate their skinnes nor will cast them of because Wolues and Lyons sometime are wrapped in the like but they will for that cause bee more warye and take better heede that by the shew and resemblaunce of their skinnes they bee not deceaued and offer themselues to be deuoured of the Wolues that be couered with them Euen so the true Ministers of Gods holy word wil not therefore deteste or caste from them honest conuersation of life and holy Christian excercises because false Prophets abuse the same to deceaue men and leade them into errour but rather they will take the more heede themselues and call vpon other to doe the like that they bee not miscaryed to anye false Doctrine with the fayre countenaunce of their seuere and holy life Although the Ministers of Gods word and Preachers of his Gospell beeing the cheefe and principall sheepe of his folde ought alwaye to haue on them the right cloathing of honest and Godlye conuersation yet that is no certayne or sure Token to prooue eyther the Doctrine to be good or the Preachers to be true messengers of Christ seeing that the false Prophets and Teachers most commonly make greater shewe thereof in the face of the Worlde then the true Preachers do For Christ sayth of the Pharisies whiche were Wolues in sheepes Skinnes They doe all that they maye be seene and praysed of men Albeit a Wolfe bee wrapped in a Lambes skinne yet if a manne looke circumspectly vpon him he shall easily perceiue him to bee a Counterfeyte There is a prouerbe in y â— Latine tongue y â— maketh much to this purpose Ex vnguibus LeoneÌ„ i. By the clawes you shall espie a Lion what garment soeuer he haue vpoÌ„ him So these spirituall Wolues that Christ heare speaketh of though they be couered with the cloathing of Christs true shepe yet if you looke vpon their clawes you shal quickly espye them what they are One of their clawes is Confidence and Trust in the holynesse of their lyfe so that they doe thereby not only aduance themselues as iust before God and the worlde but also in coÌ„parison of themselues contemne all other Suche a claw had the Pharisie that Christe speaketh of Luke 18. Who in disdayne of the poore sinfull but yet repentante Publicane maketh his vaunte in this manner I thanke thee O Lorde that I am not as other men are extorcioners vniust adulterers nor as this Publicane is c. Such bee those holy religious men which in these dayes make their vauntes that they are not onelye able so farre to fulfill the Law of God that they may be accounted righteous themselues but also that they moreouer haue works of Supererogation and merits which may bee solde and applied to the benefite of other This is knowne to bee the common Doctrine of the Church of Rome at this daye But contrariwise the right Preacher that hath in deede the cloathing of the true sheepe of God hath euer humblenesse before God and the world ioyned withal and is so farre from disdaigne of other that hee charitablye considereth theire weakenenesse and infirmitie Iohn the Baptist a right and a true preacher led a more Godly and seuere life than any of the Pharisies and yet was he so farre from their confident and proude Spirite that he estemed himself not worthy to vnloose the Latchet of Christes shoe and wyth his Fynger poynted to the Lambe that taketh awaye the sinne of the world Another Clawe of these counterfayted Woolues is a certayne peculier Holynesse consisting in the obseruation of mens TraditioÌ„s of which commonly they make greater accoumpte then they doe of the Commaundments of God Such they were whom Christ sharpely reproueth Mat. 15. saying You cast asyde the commaundement of God to establish your own ordinaunces as he in the same place largely proueth agaynst them Such they are which accoumpt themselues â—â—lier then other and aboue all other take to themselues the goodly cloake of Religious meÌ„ because they liue after the rule of Benedict Francis Dominick Brigit c. or because they weare this or that fashion of Apparell abstayne from this or that kinde of meates obseruing the choyse of days vow of single life a thousand other like Traditions of men in comparison whereof Gods commaundments are finally amongest them esteemed The thyrd Claw whereby these spiritual Wolues may be known howsoeuer they be couered with goodly shew of holye life is the Ende thereof that is that they doe not exercise the same to the glorye of God but to procure their owne benefite to fill their owne bellies to deuoure the soules and goods of Gods people And of this deuouring are they by Christ iustly called rauening Wolues Of this doeth Christ speake Woe be to you scribes and Pharisies Hipocrites that deuour widdowes howses and that vnder the pretence of long prayers For this shall you be the more greeuously punished Such clawes of false Prophets are largelye described by the prophet Ezec. Of the same speaketh Saint Peter There shall bee sayth hee false Teachers among you which priuily shal bring in damnable heresies c. and through couetousnes shal they with fained
â—raâ— word his right doctrine of the Gospel as it is pretended vndoubtedly it wold worke in mens haâ—tes alter their minds and bring foorthe fruit accordingly â—â—r as the Propher sayth As the sweet dâ—â— and â—hower â—â—raine returneth not baâ—ke in vayne â—â—â—â—â—yâ—â—eneth and seasonethâ— the earth so gods true worde returneth not in vayâ—eâ— but effectually doth that for which it was sent Or if this bee the true gospell and right word of God surelye the faulte is in the Ministers that bee not such persons nor doe not deliuer it so zealously so sincerely as they should do therfore their preaching preuayleth not in the harts of men And thorow this perswasion their groweth in them an odyous and vnchristyan contempte and despising of Ministers and Preachers so that forgetting themselues they caste faulte of all euill in these Dayes vpon the Ministers and Preachers But with as good right might they condemn and contemne the Prophets Christ himself and his Apostles Esay preached among the people of God aboue 60 yeares or 〈…〉 some accoumpte 80. Ieremy taught 41 yeres and other Prophets proportionablâ—ly and I trust they will not say that either their doctrine was not right or good or else that they were euill men Yet with how final fruite they preached in comparison of the multitudâ— of euill the whole course of their writings their lameâ—table complaints declareth and y â— euent of Gods iust iudgemeÌ„t in punishing the Jewes euidently proueth For that only cause that they contemned his worde and retourned not to him by repentaunce hee brought vpon them the King of Babilon who in the ninth yeare of Zedechia King of Juda came and all his Hoste agaynste Hierusalem and Beseeged it And in the leuenth yeare of Zedechiah in the 4 moneth toke it and ransacked the Citie And al y â— Princes of the King of BabiloÌ„ came in sate in the middle gate the cheefe gate of the Citie euen Nâ—â—egall Sarâ—ser â—amgaâ—nâ—â—â— Sarsâ—â—him Rabsariâ— Rabâ—â—ag with all the resiâ—â—â— of the Princes of the King of 〈…〉 God thus plaguing the prophane contempte of his worde when after so long Preaching no fruite woulde followe And yet was not leremie in fault nor the true Prophets of God for the iuâ—â—sion of those straungers for the ouerthrow of this noble Ciâ—e or for the greeuous captiuitie of this wofull people Nay the loosenesse of their owne liues the secure contempt of Gods holy word brought all those plagues iustly vpon them that they like flocks of shepe were after great burly burly in their owne countrey caryed away captiues into theire enimies Laude And this successe through their owne ingratitude and other intollerable vices had the preaching of the Prophets among the people of the Iewes in those â—â—yes In like manner I might say of Christ and his Apostles and Disciples whiche preached among the Iewes a good time and in deede with small fruites in consideration of the puritye of the Doctrine the excellencie of the Teachers and the wonderfull workes and myracles that were by Gods power wrought for the confyrmation of the Gospell But in this answere I compare not the Persons which I cannot do withoute intollerable pryde and blasphemie but I compare the causes which are al one with them and with vs. The Gospell and Doctrine that we preach is the same y â— Christ the Prophets the Apostles taughte before vs and haue lefte vnto vs although wee in comparison of their worthinesse are sillie and sinful wormes of the earth And yet in the feare of God and himblenesse of harte I speake it I doubt not but we are farte from that wickednesse and foule blemishes that partlye open aduersaries partly politique and worldly professoures woulde haue to be noted in many preachers of these dayes They are not able to speake or deuise worse of vs then the Iewes didde thinke and speake of Christe himselfe of his blessed Apostles and of the holy Prophets of God Happylyeby oure infyrmities they may haue greater likelihoode but that in those dayes was and now is nothing but a coloure and pretence of reprobate mindes to feede themselues in the wicked contempte of Gods worde or to excuse and flatter themselues in not coÌ„forming their liues accordinglye I defende not the wickednesse of ministers God forbidde It were better a milstone were hanged about our neckes and we cast into the sea rather then our lyfe or euill dealinge should bee an offence to any or hinder but one man from the true imbracing of the Gospell But my meaning is to take from obstinate and vngodly myndes such excuses and pretences as they make to noosell themselues in wickednesse Christe by this parable teacheth them to iudge otherwise and to looke into their owne bosoomes and to examine themselues of the cause why his word taketh not place in them Though the seede sower be neuer so honest a man neuer so skilfull and cunning in his trade though hee haue made good choyse of his seede and purged it neuer so cleane yet if the ground be barrayne and noughte his laboure is loste and the seede prospereth not And on the contrary part if the sower bee an euill man and vnskilfull in sowing and that he doth it negligentlye and haue small desyre it should prosper yet if thee seede be cleane and the ground good the good Seede will prosper and come to some good fruite Yea we see seede salling by chaunce into good and batteling grounde to spring vp grow As the worde of God is the seede so is the grounde the hartes of them that heare it Wherefore lette not men flatter themselues and with the cloke of other mens faultes blemishes hide their own euil nature dispositioÌ„s The good mind though by chance onlye it heare the word of God or though he heare it red but of a child or any other person it doth him good it sinketh into his harte worketh to good effect The godlesse hart though he heare neuer so good a man preach though an Angell from Heauen do speake vnto him though Christ himselfe should teach him he woulde be neuer y â— better or at y â— least the sede wold not vnto good fruite prosper in him But this christ most euideÌ„tly declareth by y â— harietie of y e ground which next followeth to be spoken of Some sayth Christ fel vpoÌ„ the high way The high way resembleth the mindes of such as be continually occupied with the traÌ„pling of wicked cogitations perpetual vse of euil doing so y t they war hard haue no sence of repeÌ„tance nor remorse of coÌ„science whatsoeuer they heare or whatsoeuer is spoken vnto theÌ„ Therfore y â— sede of gods holy word wheÌ„ it is preached vnto theÌ„ it lieth in y e top as it were swimmeth in y e eare but it sincketh not into y e hart nor can take any roote of godly perswasion and therefore it lieth open
the proper necessarie vse of them all the fleakes of flesh called muscles the bones and the great varietie and the marueilous fashion and ioyning of them together the wonderfull course of the Veines the Arteries the sinewes disperkling themselues to notable vses into all partes of the body both inwarde and outwarde I will not put thee in minde of the substance the nature the power and strength of thy soule which in deede farre passeth all the other For if by consideration of thy body thou canst not learne that there is a God which in such wonderfull sorte did frame it thou shewest thy selfe not to haue the common vnderstanding of a mannes soule but art more dull than a brute beast By these things which I haue hitherto spoken a naturall man may vnderstand that there is a certaine deuine and spirituall power that gaue beginning to all these things and therfore is of himselfe Eternall And because he wrought them of nothing that he is also Omnipotent and Almightie and because they are framed in so goodly order and exceeding varietie that he is of Infinite Wisdome And for so much as he made them in the beginning and to this day preserueth them to the benefite of mankind that he is Exceeding good and bountifull and a louer of man And because he suffereth euen vnworthy persons to enioy the benefite of his creatures that he is with all very Mercifull And because with want of these his creatures he punisheth and plagueth the wicked hee sheweth himselfe Iust also Now this diuine and spirituall power that is eternall almightie wyse good mercifull and iust is that God which we speake of whom these Godlesse persons should learne thoughe they had no other booke but this of the frame of the world But seeyng they haue Gods booke of hys holy Scriptures besides this they shall be vnexcusable heape vnto themselues wrath in the day of wrath if they repent not and shake those wicked cogitations out of their harts that the seede of Gods worde may prosper with them The thirde euill birde and cruell Harpie that deuoureth the seede of Gods worde is Obstinate Papistrie And of this birde are three kindes The open Papist which dwelleth among vs and forsaketh our Communion in prayer vse of the Sacramentes manifestly protesting that wee be departed from the Catholike Church and therefore that they may not in conscience ioyne with vs. The second sort are fleeing Papistes which fling ouer the sea and returne againe secretly bringing with them pardons reconciliations sclaunderous and seditious bookes and libels w t other like things wherewith they indeuour not onely to feede other Papists in their obstinacie but with traiterous meanyng as much as they can to steale away the heartes of the subiectes from the Prince and Magistrate prepare the way to rebellion and alteration of the state so that thys Realme hath not in the world so deadly and perilous enimyes as these are to y â— vttermost of their power Their continuall trauaile is to beate into the heartes of English men that our doctrine our Church our Prince our lawe our whole state is schismaticall and hereticall that they ought not to obey either the Churche in doctrine or the Prince and state in gouernment but if they rebell â—â—they doe God good seruice To represse or chase awaye those two kindes of Romish Harpyes for so much as they wyll neither reade writing nor heare Preaching there is none other way but to claime ayde of the Magistrate that they wyll vse more seuere sharpe execution of the lawes deuise some streighter meanes than hitherto hath bene For the lenitie of these daies hath caused the multitude of these byrdes exceedyngly to increase with the perill bothe of Prince and state which if in tyme they take not heede of I feare it will be too late The thirde kinde of these sort of Harpyes is the Cunning Papist which can hyde hymselfe vnder the colour of loyaltie and obedience to y â— lawes and wyll needes be accompted a faithfull true and good subiect yet carieth in his boosome in effect the same perswasion that the other doe and for feare of daunger or discredite they are contented to obey the law in y â— meane tyme are perilous instrumentes to let the other vnderstand the secretes of all thyngs that be done or purposed wyth friendship and money to helpe them when any kinde of daunger is at hand These men as they can not by lawe be corrected so surely haue the gouernours verye great cause to haue a carefull eye vnto them and to take heede that they bee not brought into place of credite But for so much as all these three sortes of Romish Harpyes not onely deuour the seede of Gods worde and pull it out of those mindes that heare it but also by distainyng the same with their foule dung of sclaunderous reportes make it to sauour yll in the senses of many it behoueth such as feare God to be well armed with sufficient aunswere to y â— same Namely when they say that the doctrine that we preach is a new doctrine and that they wyll beleeue as their fathers haue done before them that they are the true Catholique Church and we are schismatikes and heretikes that we disagree among our selues and they consent in vnitie all which their pretences with diuerse other lyke you shall finde sufficiently aunswered in the Sermons vpon this Text Non me pudet Euangelij I am not ashamed of the Gospell c. Thus haue you heard me declare vnto you what those three principall birdes are which Sathan in these dayes hath bred in England to hinder and deuour the seede of Gods word which falleth on the high waye Nowe it remaineth to speake of the other diuersities of ground c. ¶ The seconde Sermon vppon this part of the Text. Mat. 13. 5. Some fell vpon stonie ground where it had not muche earth and by and by it sprang vp because it lacked deepenesse of earth but when the Sunne rose it was burned away BEforé whrist did speake of them which all 〈…〉 heare and receaue y â— â—ede of Gods holye worde yet their heartes bee so hardned that it sinketh not into their mindes therefore y e Diuell doth quickly by his birdes deuoure it that it neither coÌ„meth to good effect nor giueth any shew or token of likelihood to prooue well Nowe in these that followe he describeth them that receaue and admitte the word of God in such sorte as they giue great token at the beginning that it will prosper and doe good in their heartes but shortlye after some impediment growing the seede fayleth and bringeth forthe no fruite at all And first he speaketh of them whom he resembleth vnto stonie grounde that is such hartes mindes of men which because they be of disposition vehement and hoate they by and by
farm must go se it I praie thee haue me excused The third sayd I haue maried a wife I cannot come By this feast is ment the CoÌ„munion of the gospel benefit of our saluatioÌ„ purchaced by Christ To this feast men are called by Gods messengers y t is his Preachers ministers of his worde The excuses made shewe what causes coÌ„monly they are y t w thold mens minds from obeying the word of God coÌ„ming to the gospell y â— is the cares of the world the study of riches and the pleasure and pompe of this life noted by these iii. kind of things whereof Christ there speaketh I wold to God these impedimeÌ„ts had choked the worde of God and hindered the hearing of the Gospel in Christes time only and were not of greater force in the hartes of men at this daye in Englande If a Preacher come into a Towne vppon a workingdaye it is a rare place wherein hee shall haue a tollerable Auditorye But if there be a fayre or a markeâ— though there be 5000 in the streates ye shal scarcely finde 50 in the church Yea they will murmure that the Preacher hath chosen such a time to trouble them and to hinder their market though it be of a Sabaoth daye or other vsuall daye appoynted for prayer And what can be the cause hereof but the care of the world loue of riches which maketh them to haue no regard of the word of God nor of their own saluation Justly therefore sayâ—h Saint Paule They that wil be rich fal into tentations snares into many folish noisome lustes which drowne men vtterly in perdition and destruction For the desyre of money is the roote of all euill which while men lusted after they haue erred froÌ„ the fayth and perced themselues through with manye sorrowes Seing therefore these bushes and thornes are so dangerous that they vtterly choke vp the Seede of Gods holye worde cast into the grounde of mens hartes it is necessarye that there bee prepared some Tooles and Instrumentes so much as possiblie maye bee to grubbe them out that the ground may be made more commendable and fruitfull Such Instrumentes Christe himselfe hath prepared in S. Mathewes Gospell The fyrste is the earnest consideration of the vanitie and vncertaintie of riches and worldly wealth and pleasure which passe from vs sodainly by many occasions It is vttered in these wordes Lay not vp for your selues treasures vppon the earth where the mothe canker corrupt where Theues dig through and steale but lay vp treasure for your selues in HeaueÌ„ where neither mothe nor canker corrupte nor Theefe breaketh through to steale c. By the corrupting of â—anker and moath and by the stealing of Theeues Christe noteth all those meanes whereby the brickle and frayle wealth and pompe of this world vpon the sodayne passeth from vs so that we can haue no assuraunce of them Therfore Christ iustly in those words admonisheth vs that wee should not set our minds vpon so vayn thinges for them to forsake the eternal riches in heaueÌ„ y t neuer shal faile vs. SalomoÌ„ who aboue all other had good trial of these things euidently declareth what vanitie is in them I haue sayth he builded me houses I haue planted vyneyards I haue gotten seruants maydes haue had children borne in the house also I had great possessions of Beeues and sheepe aboue all that were before mee in Hierusalem I haue gathered vnto me siluer and Gold and the cheefe treasure of Kings Prouinces c. And after it foloweth Then I loked on all my works that my hands had made and on the trauaile that I had laboured in and beholde all is extreme vanitie and vexation of spirit neither is there any profite vnder the Sunne Loe this is Salomons iudgement that vnder the Sunne all thinges are vaine vnprofitable All fleshe saith the Prophete is as grasse and all the glorie thereof like the floure of grasse the grasse is cut downe and withereth and the Houre falleth aud fadeth away Whereby wee are taught that as mans life it selfe is fraile and transitorie so are all those thinges wherin it glorieth and taketh delyght Honour Dignitie Friendship Riches Health Stength Beautie and such like which all may bee had and lost in an houre And therefore a great vanitie it were for these so vayne fraile and brickle things to sorsake the doctrine of eternall saluation and the vnestimable treasures of the kingdome of God An other instrument that Christ in the same place hath framed to grubb vp the cares of the world is confidence and trust in the prouidence of God wherevppon onely we ought to depend for all things pertaining to this lyfe and therfore to bend al our care and studie to seeke the kingdome of God and the glory thereof Be not carefull saith he for your life what ye shall eat or what ye shall drinke or for your bodies what apparell ye shal vse c. But first of all seeke the kingdome of God all things shall be aboundantly giuen vnto you This instrument is strengthened with sundry reasons as it were bondes to fasten the same in our heartes The first is that he which giueth vs the greater things and of more price will prouide for vs and bestowe vppon vs those things that bee of lesse value God hath giuen a lyfe and a bodye which in deede are precious giftes therefore he will not fayle to prouide meate drinke and cloth sufficient to maintayne the same if wee call vpon him and repose our trust in hym for the same The second reason is the example of most contemptible creatures if they bee compared to the worthynesse of mankinde fouies of the aire Rauens Sparâ—â—â—es flowers of the fielde which God feedeth maintaineth and preserueth without any carke care or labour of theirs for they neyther sowe nor reape nor spinne nor carde And shall not the same good and mercifull Lorde prouide for his most excellent creatures his owne people that depend vpon him put their trust in him The third reason is the vnsufficiencie of our labour carke and care in these things if God giue not good successe therevnto For what man with al his care and diligence can adde one cubite vnto his heigh c. The husbandman wyth great trouble and toyle may till the earth and sowe his seede but he is not able to make faire weather to giue seasonable showres to temper the grounde without which his labour is nothing worthe much lesse is he able to giue that strength and power to the seede to growe in the earth for that is the onely finger and mightie power of God y t worketh in his creatures Those things that we esteeme to be ordinarie workes of nature are in deede wonderfull and myraculous workes of Gods almightie power dayly shewed among vs and because they be dayly done wee
an vsurper or if any maÌ„ be ignoraunt thereof lette him looke into Saunders Monarchie and there beside shamefull and detestable treason towarde her Maiesties person and state he shall finde good ground of that opinyon layde and yet forsooth Protestants must be the daungerousts Subiects vnto Princes I pray you of what professioÌ„ are they that haue altered the title of al the principalities almoste in Europe of Arragon of Naâ—are of Italy of Naples of Sicyly of Fraunce of Germany of the Empyre both of the Weaste and of the Easte And what the Pope challengeth at this day for the principalitie of England Ireland euer since King Iohn his time euery man that hath read the English Chronicles knoweth Of what professyon are they that say they haue all temporall power immediatelye of God and all Princes to holde the same as feodaryes vnto them And therefore haue they exempted their annoynted Clergye from all secular power and authoritie and haue so tyed Christian Princes that they maye not drawe theire owne Sworde of Justice nor doe anye thing in theire owne Dominions but at the becke and appoyntment of the Sea of Roome and then mighte the Father drawe the Sworde againste the sonne and the sonne agaynste the Father and Brother against brother finally all subiects against their Prince Yea in all Countries they did set shackles and fetters vpon Princes to bridle them that they might do nothing but that was liking to them I meane they sette some of theire owne Court in euery region as it were to keepe vnder the Prince and to see euen into his secrete dealings such as Thomas Becket and Stephen Lancton were in this lande Which I doubt not but godly and wyse Princes and counsellers will consider and specially call to remembrance that the honorable state dignitie and Maiestie of Princes was continually troden vnder foote vntill it was within this 40. or 50. yeeres that it pleased God to restore into the world the light of his Gospel and by the Preachers therof out of his holy word did let the Princes vnderstand the right authoritie of their dignitie which before was kept from them Therefore great iniurie doe they in these dayes whosoeuer they bee that seeke to perswade Princes that the Preachers professors of the Gospell be the most daungerous subiects and the Papistes or at least the good indifferent men which passe not which way religion goeth but keepe themselues safe for all chauÌ„ges to be the best most quiet and assured faithfull subiectes But the euent wyll teach godly Princes and wyse counsellers the contrarie But whatsoeuer others shall doe I doubt not but that mightie and mercifull God that raised our gratious Soueraigne out of the dust of death and pulled hir out of the Lyons deune and out of y â— iawes of hir greedie enimies gaping for hir destruction to our vnestimable comforte and benefite set hir in the Royall throne of this lande to the ende that she might bee a noursing mother vnto the church of God and this land a noursery for the Gospell of Christ and a place of refuge for the afflicted saintes of God in these miserable dayes and for that ende and purpose hath myraculously defended preserued and maintained hir against all the deuises and pollicies of our enimyes and not onely sâ— but hath made hir being but a woman dreadfull to hir mightiest enimies and the especiall worldlye comforte that the Saintes of God and the true professors of his Gospell haue in these dayes against all the daungerous enimyes then which things greater honour could neuer be done vnto Prince And therefore I saye I doubte not but that the same God wyll also at thys time lighten hir mynde and direct and strengthen hir heart that by no colour of cunning or flattering counsell shee shall be caried away eyther to forsake hir gratious Lorde God as Salomon dyd or conceaue heauie displeasure against the Ministers of Gods trueth as vnkinde Joas dyd And that this may bee so wee haue all great cause most earnestly to desire it of God in our continuall prayers A third matter wherwith Preachers be vniustly burdened in these daies is y â— they ar charged not only with their owne sinnes and offences which god knoweth are too many but with the slacknesse wickednesse of al other For vpon vs only they lay al the whole fault of the smal fruite y â— the doctrine of the Gospell hath taken here in this land now for the space of this twentie yeares Oh saye they if we had good and zealous Bishops and godlye Preachers such as the Apostles were vndoubtly this doctrine of the Gospel would haue had better successe and more woulde haue preuayled in mens hartes For they are not zealous nor seeme themselues to be moued with the spirit of God therefore it cannot be that they shoulde moue other O dearely beloued though this reason seemeth plausible to some yet I aduertice all them that haue anye sparke of Gods feare in their hartes that they take heede of it beware that they be not caryed awaye with it For I neuer read that the people of God among whome true doctrine hath â—in preached as the Lord be thanked it hath bin with vs did euer vse such allegation for their owne defence It hath bene alwayes the pretence of the reprobate and wicked to excuse and colour their owne obstinacie and contempt of Gods word when they were offered the light of the Gospell and called to repentance But that these men may not flatter nor deceaue themselues I let them vnderstand that the Scriptures doe in no place teach them that the offences and faultes of the Ministers and Preachers are alwayes the onely cause why the worde of God doth not take place in mens heartes It is more commonly and almost alwayes imputed vnto the waywardnes vnthankfulnesse and obstinacie of the people that heare it Therefore it were good for all sortes of men of what calling soeuer to looke into their owne â—oosomes and carefully to consider whether the fault thereof bee not in themselues for they knowe the Maister may be learned and diligent and yet the scholler not thriue by reason of his owne dulnesse The Phisition may be honest skilfull the obstinate patient make light of hys wholsome Counsell The seede may bee good and the seede sower a painful honest person yet the fruite not to bee aunswerable to hys trauaile because of the naughtines barrennes of y t ground This our sauiour Christ teacheth vs in the parable of the seedesower Matth. 13. The sower saith he went out to sowe the seede and some fell in the high way that is into the harts of them that were continually trampled with wicked and naughtie cogitations so y t the seede could not sinke into their harts but by those birdes of y e Diuell was caried away w tout
from the face of the earth of his infinite goodnesse and wisedome he deuised the sonne of God the seconde person in Trinitie should descend from Heauen and take flesh of the blessed virgine that so being in one person both very God very man he might be a most fit Mediator to work recoÌ„ciliatioÌ„ betwene God and man The cause therefore why Christe came in flesh was to worke the saluation of mankinde For so saith S. Paule It is a sure saying worthie of all men to be beleeued that Christ came into the world to saue sinners And Christ himselfe sayth that he came to saue that which was lost The generall worke of our redemption hath certayne principall branches whiche are cheefe Articles of oure Fayth and groundes of all Christian religion Firste that he might be the reconciler and attonement maker betweene God and vs as S. Paule witnesseth 2. Cor. 5. All things are of God which reconciled vs vnto himself in Christ Iesus And immediately God was in Christ recoÌ„ciling the world to himselfe And to the Colosâ— It pleased him to reconcile all things vnto himselfe by Christ appeasing by the blood of his Crosse all thinges whiche are either in heauen or in earth God therefore appoynted him for euer to be our high Bishop our Mediator our Aduocate our Intercessor which should coÌ„tinualy appeare before the face of God for vs and make him fauourable to sinners that we might haue accesse to God by him by his intercession and merite obtayne mercy and grace in oure necessities these be the wordes of the scripture And hee is not onely our Mediatour and Aduocate but Our onelye Mediatour and Aduocate One God and one Mediatour of God and man the man Christ Iesus We haue an Aduocate with the father Iesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sinnes It is hee that ascended vp to heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Vt interpellat pro nobis That he may bee an Intercessour for vs. The 2. cause of Christs comming into flesh is that he might be our redeemer from the tyrannye of the Deuill and the purchazer of remission of sinnes The Sonne of god appeared to this ende to dissolue the workes of the Deuill And agayne Yee are redeemed not with golde and siluer but with the blood of the immaculate Lambe Christ Iesus And agayne Beholde the LaÌ„be of god that taketh away the sinnes of the world And S. Paule In whome wee haue redemption and by his blood remission of our sinnes We must not onlye beleeue that he is our Redeemer but our Only Redeemer and the Only Purchazer of the full remission of our sinnes For Non est aliud nomen c. That is There is no other name vnder Heaué wherin we shold be saued but only by the name of Christ Iesus And S. Iohn The blood of christ hath washed vs froÌ„ al sinne And S. Paule He gaue himself for vs. that he might redeme vs froÌ„ all iniquitie The 3. cause of Christes incarnatioÌ„ y â— 2. office of his eternal Priesthood is to offer a ful perfit sacrifice to appease y â— wrath of God to satisfie his iustice y t not according to y â— order of Aaron which by imperfectioÌ„ did nede a Succession but according to y â— order of Melchizedek y â— for euer Thou art a Priest sayth God for euer according to the order of Melchizedek Therefore it cannot bee borne â—â— christian religion that Christ should haue any succession in Priesthood to sacrifyce after him For by one oblation he made perfect all that be sanctified And agayne Christ was once offered for the extinguishing of the sinnes of many And agayne Hauing offered one Sacrifice for sinne he sitteth perpetually at the right hand of God And sundry times else where the Epistle to the Hebrues affirmeth Christ Semel That is to say once to haue sacrificed himselfe The fourth cause of his Incarnation and the thyrde office of his eternall Priesthood is that he might be the only Prophet Maister Teacher and instructer of his people fully to open to them the knowledge of God and the true way of Saluation God sayth Moyses shall raise from among you a Prophet like vnto me him do you heare according to all thinges that he shall say vnto you And God the father himself at the baptizing of Christ did with the visible presence of the holy Ghost consecrate him Maister and teacher of his church which only was to be heard This is my dearely beloued Sonne in whome I am well pleased him doe you heare The same Consecration was confyrmed in the Mounte at the transfiguration of Christ And Esay the Prophet in the 55. chapter or rather God by Esay sayth I haue giuen him as a witnesse vnto people preceptorem Gentibus And a Maister and instructour of all nations And therefore Christ himselfe forbiddeth his Apostles to be called Maisters for sayth hee Ye haue but one Maister which is Christ The fyfte cause of Christ his comming in flesh is that he might be the Lorde of Lordes and King of Kinges the onlye head ruler gouernour and defender of his vniuersall Church ouer al the partes of the worlde according to the Prophecie of Dauid Psal 2. Yet haue I annoynted my King vpon my holy hill of Syon to whome for his inheritance he gaue all the Nations of y â— world and for his possession the vttermost bounds of the earth And the Angell at his Conception sayde He shall raigne in the house of Iacob for euer and there shall be none ende of his kingdome And Ephesians 1. He hath put all thinges vnder his feete and hath appointed him aboue al things head of his Church And Coloss 1. He is the head of his body the Church which is the beginning the first of them that rise from death Vt sit in omnibus primas tenens i. That in all thinges hee might haue the preheminence And Ephe. 5. The Husband is the head of the wife as Christ is head of the Church But the wife may haue no more heades but her husband vnlesse she will be a wedlock breakeâ— and so the Church can haue no other heade But Christ vnlesse she doe in the face of the whole world forsake hir owne Spouse who hath betrothed her to him alone He is the only Sonne whiche alone gouerneth the house of GOD his father In all these Branches I adde this worde Onely because Christ onelye is alone that that he is oure onely Mediatour our onely redeemer and purchazer of remission of Sinnes our onelye high Prieste to sacrifice for vs oure onlye Maister and Teacher that instrueteth vs our onely head and gouernour that guideth and defendeth vs. And herevnto I am mooued not onelye with expresse wordes of the scriptures but also with consideration
this people euen the fruite of their owne imaginations because they haue not taken heede vnto my wordes nor vnto my law but haue cast it of And in the last Chap. of the. 7. of the Chronicles it is thus written The Lord God of their fathers hath sent vnto them by his Messengers rising vp earely and sending for he had compassion on his people and of his habitation but they mocked the Messengers of God and misused his Prophetes vntill the wrath of the Lord rose against his people and till there was no remedie for he brought vpon them the King of the Chaldees who slewe their yong men with the sworde c. God of his great goodnes hath sundry times sent into this land his Messengers and Preachers of his Gospell and principally these twentie yeeres last past in which time the sounde of Gods holy worde hath continually roong in the eares of men yet was the loue of the Gospell neuer so colde as euen at this day nor the hartes of English men so ready to reuolt from it It is lamentable to vnderstande howe in all partes of the Realme those Papistes whiche before time appeared to be somewhat afrayde and sought by all meanes to hyde themselues doe now openly shew themselues and desire to be knowne to be as they are What their hope or expectation is the Lord knoweth but surely it is full time that hir Maiestie and hir most Honourable Counsell as they feare God and loue his truth doe speedily looke vnto it otherwise vndoubtedly the inconuenience will be greater than by authoritie will be easily stayde The care hereof I leaue to them whome God hath sette in place of Gouernement only I thought it my duetye being appoynted a watchman in the Church of God to sounde the Trumpet in this place and to giue warning that the bloud of them that perish be not required at my hande and withall moste humbly and hartilye praye vnto almighty God that with the grace of his holy spirite he will so direct strengthen the minds of them whose principall charge this is that that may be done which moste tendeth to the glory of God and maintenance of his truth and to the good state and preseruation of this our naturall Countrey Amen ¶ The speciall contentes of this Booke of Sermons reduced into a necessarie Table of Common places A. Acknowledge THe way to acknowledge God in man Folio 192. Meanes to make those acknowlege a God which do altogither deny him Folio 191 Whoso can not acknowledge God in him selfe can not be sayd to be a man Folio 193 Properties which can not but be known in God if we doe acknowledge him but only in his creatures Folio 193 Afflictions ¶ That afflictions doe no whitte discredit the power of the Gospell Folio 7 Howe the godlie doe stay them selues in afflictions so that they may not fal froÌ„ Christ c. Folio 200 Afflictions are layde vpon the righteous to trie them withall Folio 174. 175. 176. B. Baptisme ¶ Fruitful doctrines of the Protestantes concerning Baptisme Folio 30. 31 Papisticall vntruthes and abuses concerning Baptisme Folio 31 Benefite ¶ How we are to apply the benefit of the comming of Christ in the flesh euery man to himselfe Folio 92. 93 The Church of Rome impugneth the doctrine of applying the benefites of Christs merits by faith c. Folio 94. 95. 96 C. Calling ¶ Ordinarie authoritie or calling is no iust proofe of true Doctrine Folio 74 The Prophetes extraordinarily set vp by God to reprooue the abuses of their ordinarie calling Folio 75 Vnder the clothing of ordinarie calling the wolfe is descried and how Folio 76 Christ. ¶ Christ only is our aduocate and mediatour Folio 231 Christ only is our redeemer Folio 231 Christ only is our priest to sacrifize for vs which he hath done once for all Folio 232 Christ is our only instructour Folio 232 Christ is the only hed of the Church Folio 233 Why Christ of necessitie was to be both God and Man c. Folio 140 Why Christ shoulde necessarily bee man 140. Folio 141 Christ hath no partakers in any of his offices Folio 233 Suche as doe but a little close with the worlde are and stande in daunger of treason to Christ. Folio 200. 201 The Papists wil haue Christ to be a demi Sauiour Folio 237. 238. 239. c. Church ¶ Christe compareth the Church to husbandrie Folio 177 Why the Spirite of God compareth the Church to husbandrie Folio 178 The name of the Church abused by the Wolues Folio 77 The inuisible Church consisting of the elect Folio 20 Of the visible Church and the descriptioÌ„ of the same Folio 20 The Church of Christ is tyed to no place Fol. Folio 21 The number of the Church may be smal Fol. Folio 21 None are openly of the Church but such as are called thereto by Gods worde Fol. Folio 21 The corrupt liues and foule vices of the fathers of the Church of Rome detected c. Folio 98 Faith doth ingraffe vs into the Church Fol. Folio 21 The Church of Rome a Monster hauing three heads at once Folio 102 The Church of Rome hath not in it the tokens of the true Church Folio 23 What Church is most likely to haue false interpretations Folio 39 The markes of the Church Folio 22 23 The increase of the Church by Martyrdome shewed in a similitude Folio 182 Of dissolutenesse of life in the Churche of Rome c. Folio 47 The Papistes obiect the visible state of their Churche to proue it the true Church Folio 42 Gods true Churche may bee and yet not appeare generally visible Folio 43 That may seeme to vs the true Churche which is not Folio 43 Examples prouing a Churche and yet not visible c. Folio 43. 44. 45 The inuisible state of the Churche since the Apostles dothe not prooue the Church to be no true Church Folio 45 Comming ¶ What it is to denie Christes Comming in the flesh and that in two sorts Folio 235 Papistes and not Protestants denye Christes Comming in the fleshe and how Folio 235 The causes of Christes Comming in the flesh Folio 230 The generall and particular causes of Christes Comming in the flesh Folio 230 The faithfull Iewes did eate and drinke spiritually the Body and Bloud of Christ before hys reall Comming in the flesh c. â—35 A place ymagined where the dead did rest before the Comming of Christ Folio 132 Common weales All Common weales are not to be tyed to one forme of gouernement Folio 218 To be disturbers of Common weales c. is no new slander nor now first obiected against gods true ministers Folio 219 Contempt Considerations concerning Christ which maketh mans carnall reason to haue him in Contempt Folio 2 The more excellent that meÌ„ are in carnall reason onely the more is theys Contempt of Christ Folio 2 Contempt of Godlynesse of life can not stande with the acknowledging of a God Folio 191 The Contempt of
is so hard a thing for him that aboundeth in Riches too bee saued Fol. Folio 202. 203 Two meanes to withstād the mischiefes of Riches and worldly wealth Folio 204 There is no assurance to bee had of worldly Riches Folio 204 The estimation that is to be had of all earthly things and consequently of Riches Folio 205 S. Sacrament ¶ What a Sacrament is Folio 118 How the body and bloud of Christ are sayde to be meate and drinke thys concerneth the Sacrament Folio 137. 138 Against the carnal eating and drinking of Christ body and bloud in the Sacrament Folio 142. 143 What to eate Christes bodie and to drinke his bloud as in the Sacrament Fol. Folio 144. 145. 146 The eating of Christ by faith is no derogation to the dignitie of the Sacrament and profit therof Folio 147 In the vse of the Sacrament is a double eating to be noted Folio 148 Our sences in the vse of the Sacrament are helpers to our better receyuing of the same Folio 148. 149. 150 The dissention of the Protestantes for the Sacrament is no such greate matter as the Papists make it Folio 56 The wickednesse of the minister doeth not derogate any thing from the effect of the Sacrament c. Folio 119 The faith of the receiuer not the life of the minister doth helpe or hinder in the effect of the Sacrament Folio 120 Fruiteful actions and doctrines concerning the Sacrament of the Lords supper Folio 33 Christ his body c. receiued in the Sacrament of the Lords supper Folio 34 The enemie of Christ in the Sacrament is not carnally to be vnderstoode Folio 35 Papisticall vntruthes and abuses concerning the Sacrament of the Lordes supper Folio 35 Blasphemous doctrine of wicked mens eating of the bodie of Christe in the Sacrament refelled Folio 152 153 How we ought to prepare our selues to the worthye receiuing of the Sacrament of Christs bodie and bloud Folio 154 How we are to make triall of our selues before we come to receiue the Sacrament of Christs bodie and bloud Folio 154. 155. 156. A briefe and pithie prayer for communicāts to say before they receiue the Sacrament of Christs bodie and bloud Fol. Folio 157. 158 The faithful togither with the outward signe receiue the inwarde thinges in the Sacrament Folio 128 Sacraments ¶ The difference betwixte the Iewes Sacrament and ours consisteth in externall signes respect of time Folio 133. 134 Sacramēts are badges by which we christians are knowne from Idolaters Folio 150 Sacraments are the seales whereby Gods promises are confirmed vnto vs. Folio 151 How Christes bodie and bloud is truely and rightly to be eaten and drunken as well in the Sacraments as without them Folio 142 What the internal part of Sacraments is Fol. Folio 122 Sacraments are seales whereby the letters patents of our saluation in Christ are confirmed vnto vs. Folio 123 Why Sacraments were ordayned Folio 125 Our infirmitie the first cause why Sacraments were ordayned Folio 125 The second cause why Sacraments were instituted is oure exercise in the remembraunce of Christs benefits Folio 126 The thirde ende wherevnto Sacramentes were appointed Folio 126 Sacraments consist of three parts Folio 120 The second part whereof Sacraments doe consist is the spiritual or inward thing Fol. Folio 122 The third part wherein Sacraments consist is the words of Christs institution and promise Folio 124 The fourth cause why Sacramentes were ordayned Folio 126 The last cause why Sacraments were appointed Folio 127 God the only author of Sacraments Folio 118 Sacraments vnite vs vnto Christ Folio 151 Sacraments are too linke vs togither in brotherly vnitie Folio 151 Papisticall Sacraments of their owne deuise Folio 32 Papistes cannot be knowne to be of the true Church by their Sacraments Folio 30 Papisticall number of sacraments Folio 30 Sacraments markes of Gods Church Folio 23 What diffeeence is to bee obserued betwixt the Sacramentes of the olde Iewes c. Folio 129 Saluation ¶ Christonly is al in al to Saluatiō Folio 85. 86 It is not sufficient to Saluation to be idle professours of God but also doers of godly deedes Folio 160. 161 Blasphemous derogation to the merits of Christs working our Saluation Folio 91 The letters patents and seales of our Saluation what they are Folio 123 The old Iewes vnder the law hadde the same hope of Saluation by Christ that we now haue Folio 129. 130. 131 Protestants doctrine of Saluation is the doctrine of the Scripture Folio 234 Scismes ¶ Christēdome torne by Popish Scismes Fol. Folio 103 Scismes in the East Church whiche were Christians Folio 58 Scismes between diuerse of the auntient fathers Folio 58. 59 The Papistes cannot without their own great shame obiect Scismes to Protestants Folio 59 Scriptures ¶ The learned aduersarie refuseth to be tryed by the Scriptures and why Folio 25 Why Papistes doe refuse tryall by the Scriptures Folio 26 Blasphemie of the Papistes againste the Scriptures Folio 26 The written Scriptures onely are and ought to bee sufficiente to trye all truth Folio 23 The Papistes refuse triall by the Scriptures Folio 24 Three poyntes shewing how the Papistes esteeme the Scriptures Folio 24. 25 How the Church may iudge or vse the Scriptures concerning their truth Folio 27 Greuous faults in the Church of Rome by taking hir authoritie ouer the Scriptures Folio 27. 28 Manifest false interpretations of Scriptures vsed by Papistes Folio 28 Doctrines of Papists againste the Scriptures in sixe perticulars Folio 28. 29 Sectes ¶ Protestantes are not to be blamed for the Sectes that happen in the time of the Gospell Folio 55 Sectes do more agree to Papistes than to Protestants Folio 55 Papisticall Schoolemen which diuided themselues into Sectes and how hurtfull that is to Christianitie Folio 6 Sinne. ¶ God is not the author of Sinne. Folio 166 The punishment of Sinne and what are the causes that moue God to plague men Folio 168 We cannot acknowledge a God but that withall he must punish sinne Folio 191 Wicked menne are plaged of God for their owne Sinnes to our example Folio 162 Soule ¶ Faith the mouth of the Soule whereby Christ is eaten Folio 144 A comparison betwixte the body and the Soule Folio 138 What the Soule is to the body that is God to the Soule Folio 138 How Christ was prepared to bee the foode of our Soules Folio 139 Christ the foode of our soules Folio 136. 137 Succession ¶ Papistes obiect Succession as a true note of their Church Folio 36 How the argumente of Succession hathe bin vsed by the fathers Folio 37 Succession is nothing without the doctrine of the Apostles Folio 38 The true Church better proued by doctrine than succession c. Folio 39 Personall Succession is no sure proofe that the Romish Churche is the true Church Folio 42 T. Transubstantiation ¶ The absurditie of Transubstantiation Fol. Folio 121 V. Vniuersities ¶ The cause of few Diuines in Vniuersities of the best sorte of wittes Folio 64 Diuersitie of opinions betwixt
the Vniuersities and the Friers Folio 62 Vnthankefulnesse ¶ OpinioÌ„ of fre will is VnthaÌ„kefulnesse Folio 13 W. Wealth ¶ The means wherby the Welth of England is wasted Folio 227 Wickednesse ¶ Of colouring Wickednesse with other mens faults Folio 224 What a mans flattering of himselfe in Wickednesse may come vnto Folio 224. 225 Word ¶ The true cause why the Word preched doth not alway bring forth fruite Folio 185 The godly alway take profit by the preching of the Word Folio 185 Three â—oâ—tes of foule whiche eate vp the seede of Gods Word in the high ways Fol. Folio 186 The inconuenience of preaching the Word in generalitie Folio 187 That the Word of God is resembled to seede and why Folio 179 The power of the Word of god in it self in the estimation of the world Folio 180 What Gods Word worketh in the hearers Folio 180 How gods Word preuaileth eueÌ„ against mans wisedome and cunning Folio 180 The imaginations practises and means of the wicked to withstand GODS Worde Folio 181 The Authoritie of the Worde of God is from it selfe c. Folio 26 Such are openlye of the Churche as are called therto by Gods Worde Folio 21 Gods word is a marke of his Church Folio 22 The causes which holde men from obedience to Gods Worde Folio 203 The negligence of our dayes in hearing the Worde Folio 203 Of the power of Christe appearing in himselfe and his Worde Folio 4 The gouernement direction by gods Worde preuaileth more than any deuise of men Folio 5 How the church of Christ must preserue Gods Word and deliuer the meaning of it Folio 27 Workes ¶ Papistical iustification by Workes Folio 29 The doctrine of iustification by Faythe only doth procure good Workes c. Fol. Folio 13. 14 That the Gospell doeth not discourage man from good Workes why Folio 15 FINIS 1. Cor. 1. 23. Hovv contemptible Christ and his Gospell vvere vnto the vvorld in the begynning Vayne opinion of gentilitie may be occasion of the eternall distruction of those which regarde it Considerations concerninge Christ which maketh mans carnal reason to contemne him The more excellent men are in carnall reason only the more they contemne Christe Hilar. 5. de trinit what estimation alway pertayned to Christ and his gospell VVhat povver is in the Gospell of Christ and hovv it appeareth tvvo vvayes 1. Cor. 15. 56. Rom. 6. 23. Luk. 1. 73. 74. Ephe. 4. 8. Psa 68. 18 1. Cor. 15. 55. Rom. 8. 33. 2 The power of Christ appeareth both in himselfe and also in his word Man in his eccellency of carnal wit is not able to giue any perpeâ—uiâ—ie to his diuice The gouernment and direction by Gods word preuaileth more than any deuise of man Example in the Apostles Tertul coÌ„tra Judâ—os Aug. de agone Christi Act. 17. 6. Aug. de ciuitate dei Lib. 22 Example of late and present tones 2. The. 2. 4 The power of the gospel doth most manifestly appeare in these latter dayes The mightye povver of the Gospell is no vvhyt to be discredyted by afflictions vvhych may follovv it VVâ—â—â— kinde of grounde mans policie is to common weales Hovv GOD câ—â— shevve himself vvhâ—n all mens deuyse fayleth yea and agaynst man also in his cheefest povver Psal 2. 4. The seconde parte Diuerse sortes of ennimâ—es to the Gospell Epicures 2 Politikes 3 Hypocrites Sixe Obiections made agaynst the Gospell to bryng it into dyscrâ—d it and the ansvvers to them 2. Obiection against the Gospel that it doth not further but hinder good co 〈…〉 on Answere Rom. 6. â— Rom. 3. 23. 24. Rom. 5. 12. 14. Cor. 15. 22. Eph. 2. 3. Ioh. 3. 3. Iob. 14. 4. Psa 51. 5. Gen. 6. 5. Ioh. 15. 5. 2. Cor. 3. 5. August Aug. ser 2. de verbis Opinion of freewill is vnthankfullnes August How we had freewill And how we haue it not How profitable the doctrine is which is againste free-will The doctrine of iustification by faythe only doth procure good workes and noâ— hinder them Ioh. 14. 2â— Luk. 17. 10 â—it 2. 11. 12 Ephe. 2. 10. Luâ— 1. 73. 74. 75. Rom. 6. 4. Eph. 6. 5. c. Rom. 13. 12. â—an nedeth not by the Gâ—spell thinke himselfe so debased that he should thereby be any whit discoâ—â—aged from good works for he is also therby maruellously exalted by gods goodnes toward him 1. Pet. 3. â— Ioh. 15. 4. 5. Rom. 3. â—5 The second obiection against the Gospell that it doth make this lyfe lesse pleasant to vs then it should be The answere is anneâ—ed to euerie perticular part of the obiection Esay 3. 16. â—c Mat. 6. 19. 20. 1. Tim. 6. 7 Luc. 19. 8. Mat. 19. 22. Rom. 13. 13 Joh. 15. 19. 1. Pet. 2. 9. 1. Cor. 6. 9. 10. 〈◊〉 of the answere The thirde obiection against the Gospell â—â— That we the pretended professors of it are not of the catholike Churche Answere The inuisible church consisting of the electe Col. 1. 24. Rom. 11. 4. 1. Cor. 2. 11. The visible church The description of the church Mat. 28. 19. Mar. 16. 15. The church of Christ is tied to no one place The number of the church may be smale Luc. 12. 32. Mat 18. 20. None are openly of the Church but such as are called theris by the worde of God Io. 10. 17. 15. Faith doth in graffe vs into the Church Act. 37. The markes of the church Esa 59. â—1 Ioh. 8. 47. Io. 10. 27. The firste marke is Gods word August contra litteras petil The second marke is the sacraments 1. Cor. 12. â—â— 1. Cor. 10. 17. The Church of Roome hath not in it the tokens of the true Church The written Scriptures only are and ought to bee sufficient to trie all truth Psal 119. 105. Ioh. 5. 39. Act. 17. 11. Chrisost Deut. 4. 2. 31. 2. Tim. 3. 1â— Verse 16. Ambrose Papistes refuse triall by the Scriptures Three points shevving that Papistes vse not neyther esteeme the scriptures as they ought if they vvere the true churche The firste point The seconde poynte Matters of fayth maye better be preserued by meanes of writing then when they are only left to the bare memorie of man The learned Aduersarye refuseth to be tried by the Scriptures because they do manifestlye confound all such Why Papistes do refuse triall by the Scriptures Blasphemies of the Papistes agunst the scriptures The thirde poynt The authoritie of the word of God is from it selfe and not from the Church principally Howe the Churche maye iudge or vse the Scriptures concerning their truth Howe the Churche of Christ muste preserue Gods worde and deluer the meaning of it Greeuous Faultes in the Churche of Kome which haue come by their taking of authority ouer the Scriptures Manifest false interpretations of papistes 1 Mat. 26. 26. 2 Luc. 22. 19. 20. 3 1. Cor. 11. â—4 1. Cor. 11. 26. Doctrines of papistes against the scriptures iâ—â—â—â—â—aâ—â—i â—uleâ—â— Rom. 3. 28. verse 8. 9. 1 Papisticall iustification
and how it is so Seneca The way to acknowledge god in man Who so can not acknowledge god in him self can not be saide to be a man Properties which can not but be knowen in god if we doâ— acknowledge him but only in his creatures Eternall Omnipotent vvise infinitly Good exceedingly and liberall and louing Mercifull Iuste Who or what that God is which is taught to be beleeued Of obstinate PaPistrie in three sortes England in most daungerous perils by papistes The meanes to remedie some kinds of papistes Câ—use of care in what places of credite papistes are put Who those be which are the stonie ground which is the 2. kind of ill ground How it commeth to passe that many seame first to be glad of the gospell and yet afterward hate it and helpe to punish the professors of it The cause why many of the Jewes which semed to like of christ well did afterward crie crucifie him crucifie him Of some which now professe the gospell which peraduenture may dislike it hereafter those also that do preache it Meanes to remedie the professors last spoken of Of the kingdom of christ and what is by it to be loked for Gen. 3. 15. Mat. 10. 16. Of worldly inconueniences which commonly follow the professors of the gospell and why Joh. 15. 18. Mat. 7. 24. Why true professors of the gospell cannot by any afflictions be driuen from iâ— What the kingdome of god is In what forte true professors of christ must cleaue to christ and for him renounce al things els Such as doe but a little close with the world are and sâ—and in daâ—ger of treason to Christ How the godly do stay themselues in afflictions so that they may not fall from Christ by 2. considerations The first cause of stay Met. 10. 29. Tertul. Iob. 1. 10. e. Luc. 22. 32. Of gods speciall prouidence for euery thing The second cause of stay Mat. 5. 10. Mat. 19. 29. Luc. 6. 21. c. Ioh. 16. Mat. 10. 37. The third kind of ground Why riches pleasures aâ—e resembled to thorns How riches â—o hurte â—â— In getting In keping In loosing â—hy it is so hâ—â—d for a riche man to â—â— saued Mat. 19. 24. Mat. 22. â— c. Luc. 14. 16. Interpreâ—â—â—â—on of the parable of the guestes bidden vnto a feaste which came not The causes that with holde men from obedience to gods worde The negligence of â—â—â— daies in heaâ—inge the worde 1. Tim. 6. â— Tvvo meanes to vvithstand the mischifes of Riches and vvorldlye cares Mat. 6. 19. There is no assurance to be had of worldly Riches Eciesiastes 2. 4. c. The estimation that is to be had of all earthly things Esay 40. 6. Why we ought rather to estee me the gospel then al earth ly things That we must rest vpon gods prouidence in our desiring thinges of this life Mat. 6. 25. Fovver reasons Vvhy for things of this life vve shold euer content our selues in and vvith Gods prouidence Ordinarie course of things maketh vs not to regarde Gods wonderfull work in them The occasion and circumstances of this texte preached vpon The speciall purpose of Christ in this text here preached vpon What Ministers shold be able to do when their doctrine is discredited by their liues The diuision of this Sermon 1. Cor. 4. 1. 2. Tim. 3. 16. 17. The specialties of a preachers duetie Esay 40. 9 Preachers in deliuering gods will must do it openly without feare or negligence Esay 58. 1. Ezec. 3. 17. Ezec. 33. 6â— 2. Tim. 4. 2. â— Pet. 5. 3. 1. Tim. 4. 12 Tit. 2. 7. Preachers must giue good example of life answerable to their doctrine Jer. 23. 1. Ezec. 34. 2. Jer. 25. 34. What is to be thoughe of Ministers if they liue offensiuely and how they are to be spoken of and delt with Mat. 18. 6. There is more means amongest protestantes to reforme the ministery then amonge papistes It is an ordinarie way of Sathan to discredit true doctrine by the life of the â—â—eachers A very commendable example of concealing Ministers falts Gen. 9. 23. A good example admonishing princes to beware of secreat dealers against Ministers All Ministers aâ— not to be ill spoken of bicause some deserue it and yet though they shall be so ill delt with they haue to be patient 1. Pet. 1. 19. Joh. 1â— 12. The first faulâ— obiected against preachers and the ansvvere Godlinesse may bee by some preten ded who loth true doctrin None can haue good conuersation which at not sound in doctrine Heb. 11. 6. Rom. 14. 23 Faith foloweth doctrine Ro. 10. 17. No man can be saued for any good life when he hath not true faithe Rom. 3. 8. 2. Tim. 4. 3 Contemners of doctrine were foretolde of to come Eze. 33. 32. How little their owne methode would profite them of teachinge manners without doctrine How the enemies of truth dislike particuler reprehension The meanes now left to the ministers to redresse the curiositie and obiection of hearers for preaching either of doctrine or manners Ier. 1. 18. Eze. 3. 8. The second crime obiected against preachers to discredit their doctrine and the ansvvere to it All common weales are not to be tied to one forme of gouernement To be disâ—â—â— bers of common weales c. is no new slaunder noâ— now first obiected against gods true ministers 1. Reg. 18. 1. Reg. 22. 8. Jer. 38. 4. Amos. 7. 10 Contention and warres haue been in other nations before the renewing of the gospel England hath euer bene so farre from contentions and warres as since it hath â—â—â—â—ased the late renuing of the gospel and the wars that haue bene haue not bene by protestants A principle of papistrie against principalities and which can not but occasion wars Papists and not protestantes alter titles of principalities Papists and not protestants challenge all temporall power due to princes Most vnnatural and vndutifull warres lawfull by papists doctrine How papists do vnlawfully ouerrule and abuse princes The full right of authoritie is only by protestants graunted to princes and by them also only restored being taken away by papistes 3. Reg. 11. 2. Chro. 24. Good subiects haue to pray in this sorte for hir Maiestie The third matter obiected against Preachers and the ansvvere therof Gods people do neuer make the want of godlinesse in the preacher to be the cause that good doctrine shold not fructifie in the heaters What the Scriptures shâ—w to be the cause most commonly why true doctrine doth not fruâ—tifie The same shewed by similitudes Verse 3. Truth may be preached and yet three to one take no fruit by it Verse 18. Of colouring wickednesse with other mens faltes What a mans flattering of him selfe in wickednesse may come vnto Esay 5. 19. Verse 12 Psal 127. Math. 7. 3. Others must liue well howsoeuer Ministers do liue What perfection sholde be in the life of euery one and of the application of the text therein The meanes wherby the wealth of England is wasted Verse 1. Doctrine is to be receaued vpon triall Verse 17. How to perceaue protestants to haue truth and of what weight the matters are wherein they differ from papists 1. Ioh. 4. 1. 1. Ioh. 4. 2. c. The causes why Christ came in the fleshe The general cause 1. Tim. 1. â—â— Luc. 19. 10 The particuler causes Verse 18. Verse 1â— Col. 1. 20. Heb. 2. 4. 7. 9. cap. 1. Rom. 8. 37. Christ only â—â— our aduocate and mediatoure 1. Tim. 2. 5. 1. Ioh. 2. 1. 2. Rom. 8. 34 1. Ioh. â— 8. 1. Pet. 1. 18. Ioh. 1. 29. Eph. 1. 7. Christ only is our redeemer Act. 4. 1â— 1. Ioh. 1. verse 7. Heb. 6. 20. Christ only is our priest to sacrifice for vs which he hath done once for all Heb. 10. 14. Heb. 9. 28. Heb. 10. 12. Deu. 18. 15. Mat. 3. 17. Mat. 17. 5. Verse 4. Christ is our only Instructour Verse 6. c. Luc. 1. 33. Verse 22. Verse 18. Verse 23. Christ is the only head of the church Christ hath no partakers in any of his offices Protestants doctrine of Saluation is the doctrine of the Scripture Eph. 1. 4. Gen. 15. 3. Gen. 22. 18. Acte 3. 21. Acte 4. 12. Ioh. 1. 29. Ioh. 3. 16. The generall end of the protestants doctrine and what doctrine only they mislike What it is to deny christ to haue come in fleshe and that in two sortes Popistes and not protestants do deny Christ to haue come in the flesh and how Praier to Saintes is against christ his mediatourship and aduocatship Praier to Saints containeth besides it selfe two other wicked thinges Mat. 11. 28. Ioh. 16. 23. The papistes will haue Christ to be a deâ—nie Sauiour 1. Pet. 1. 18. Jer. 6. 16. Verse 19. 2. Chro. 36. 15.