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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	bishop_n	ordination_n	presbyter_n	9,874	5	10.5221	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A03279	The dignitie of preaching in a sermon vpon 1. Thessal. 5.20. By Sam. Hieron.	Hieron, Samuel, 1576?-1617.	1615 (1615)	STC 13396; ESTC S120671	20,449	30

is the expresse will and ordinance of God that there should be in his Church a certaine calling of men set apart to this worke and seruice of making the holy Scriptures vsefull to the people by the act of preaching 2. That this act of preaching is so ordained by God that wee haue no assurance in the world to attaine saluation but by it These two poynts well cleered will take away all doubt touching this doctines truth For if preaching be Gods ordinance shall it not be honoured and if we haue without it no hope of being saued shall it not deserue esteeme If then I shall be able to double these two two poynts I shall hope to procure an easie passage for the maine doctrine into the heart and soule of euery one that heares me So that you wil not crie when I haue done as they did against Paul Away with such a fellow from the earth b Act. 22.22 but rather breake out into some such note as theirs that followed Christ Lord euermore giue vs this preaching c Ioh. 6.34 My first taske must be this to make it to appeare that God neuer purposed to leaue his holy word to be no more but read either priuatly in mens houses or publikely in our Churches but appointed there should be men ordained to expound the same by voyce and applie it to the occasions and necessities of the people for their edifying For this is the soule of prophecying and the very life of preaching It openeth the Scripture to shew what it meaneth it fits it to the particular vses and cases of the hearers Now that there hath been from the beginning a Calling of men to deale betwixt God and man in the things of God the course of the holy storie makes it plaine In the daies before the flood besides that the first borne of euery familie was an officer of this kinde we reade particularly of Enoch and of Noah the one a Prophet by the testimonie of S. Iude d Iude vers 14. the other a Preacher of righteousnes by the witnes of S. Peter e 2. Pet. 2.5 In the following times notwithstanding the smalnes of Gods Church for diuers yeeres yet that which is said of Melchizedech that he was a Priest of the most high God f Gen. 14.18 is an argument of some such ranke and condition of men as I now speake of As the people of God multiplied and began to put on the shape of a Body politique so this course became more euident and more ordinary Then the Tribe of Leui was deputed to a speciall attendance vpon this function g Deut. 33.10 and from thence there was a continuall succession of men sitting in Moses chaire vntill our Sauiours time Christ when hee came did not ouerthrow this course but establish it He appoynted Apostles first h Luke 6.13 they being by him instructed in the things which pertaine to the kingdome of God i Act. 1.3 and precise to ordaine nothing but that which thēselues had receiued k 1. Cor. 11.23 as they were diligent in respect of their personall industrie so they appoynted such as themselues in regard of the substance of their office and gaue order for the perpetuating of this course to make choyce of faithfull men still to be employed in this seruice m 2. Tim. 2.2 and Paul saith expresly that Christ ascended on high to giue gifts vnto men euen that there might be such for the gathering together of the Saints to the end of the world n Eph. 4.11 c. Now as such a Calling was of old and must continue till time shall be no more so the speciall intendment was to teach See for proofe in the old Testament Deut. 33.10 2. Chro. 15.3 and in the new Mat. 28.19 2. Tim. 2.2 Therefore as we gather by our Sauiours speech to Nicodemus they of this profession were called Masters in Israel o Ioh. 3 10. and after in the same sort Teachers p Eph. 4.11 The matter of their teaching was in the old Testament termed the Iudgement and Law of God q Deut. 33.10 and in the new it is said to be whatsoeuer Christ hath commanded r Matth. 28.20 and more briefly the Word ſ 2. Tim. 4.2 The manner of their teaching in the old Testament is reported to be reading in the booke of the Law distinctly giuing the sense and causing the people to vnderstand the reading t Neh. 8.8 in the new a publishing of the secret of the Gospell u Ephes 6.19 a dealing vnto the people the Gospell of God x 1. Thes 2.8 Now in teaching it is manifest that there is a further matter then the publishing to the people by reading from out of the booke the words and tenour of the Scripture Euery ordinary man will quickly conceiue so much out of the nature of the word Teach Doth a Schoolmaster teach his scholler in reading to him his Rule vnlesse he doe also cause him to vnderstand it and shew him how he may practise that which is the purpose of it Doth a man of occupation teach his apprentise his trade by propounding certaine generall precepts if hee doe not discouer to him that which wee terme the Mysterie of his profession in particulars Thus farre we are come in the proofe of this first branch It is the ordinance of God that there should be a Calling of men to deale betwixt him and man and that euery one called to this calling should be apt to teach y 1. Tim. 3.2 He that wants this knowledge is no Priest for me said the Lord of old z Hos 4.6 Agreeing hereto is the wholesome order of our English Church in which no man is admitted Presbyter See the booke of ordination of Bishops Priests and Deacons but he is first exhorted by the Bishop to consider that his office is of great excellencie and of great difficultie such as he cannot by any other meanes compasse but with Doctrine and exhortation taken out of the Scripture and then after he is asked whether hee is determined to instruct the people committed to his charge with the Scriptures in the end a Bible being deliuered into his hand he is willed to take authoritie to preach the word of God And by the booke of Common Prayer it is manifest that none ought to administer the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to the people but he who may boldly say to the people If there be any of you which cannot quiet his conscience See the Booke of Common Prayer in one of the Exhortations to be somtimes vsed at the discretion of the Minister but requireth further counsell or comfort let him come to me or some other discreete and learned Minister of Gods word and open his griefe that he may receiue such ghostly counsell aduice and comfort as his conscience may be relieued It is meant that hee should haue somewhat in him who must

openly in the congregation make such an offer Our learned men doe in their writings deride that of the Popish Decretals Decret p. 1. dist 28. c. 5. Homilias per Circuitum anni Dominicis diebus festiuitatibus aptas which require little more of a Priest then to fetch out according to the rule of his Rubricke the appointed seruice for the day I must yet adioyne one thing more before I quit this branch namely that this is also Gods ordinance that of this sort there should bee some in euery Towne and that the same should performe this Teaching-seruice euery Sabbath The ordinance for euery towne may bee probably collected out of the ancient scattering of the tribe of Leui through all the land out of that which is said that they viz. the Leuits taught all Israel b 2. Chro. 35.3 and by that which is reported that when Christ was teaching there sate by Doctors of the Law which were come out of euery towne of Galile and Iudea c. c Luke 5.17 More directly by that that Moses was preached in euery citie d Act. 15.21 and the Apostles ordained Elders in euery Church e Act. 14.23 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according whereunto was Pauls Iniunction to Titus to constitute such in each citie f Tit. 1.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hereupon came the terme of charges in the old Testament g 2. Chro. 35.3 and of flocks in the new h 1. Pet. 5.2 Then the ordinance for euery Sabbath is iustly gatherable out of the former saying Moses was preached in the Sinagogues euery Sabbath day i Act. 15.21 and it may be without violence concluded out of that cōmandement of the Apostle to preach in season k 2. Tim. 4 2. what better season then when the people rest from all other seruices and meet together in one place for holy duties This course was held in the daies next following the Apostles It is the report of Iustin Martyr that in his time Iust Martyr Apol 2. Tertul. Ap. c. 3. Reading and opening the word lasted an houre long euery Sabbath and Tertullian that there was not a meeting of the Christians wherin their soules were not fed with holy Sermons before they departed It was a decree of the Councell of Mentz vnder Charles the great that there should be a course taken that there should not bee one wanting who should vpon the Lords daies preach the word of God Iuxta quod vulgus intelligere possit Babing on the Lords Prayer to the vnderstanding of the people With this consents that opinion of Reuerend Bishop Babington of respectiue memorie namely that a Minister can no more enter the Church vpon a Sabbath day without preaching and not be guiltie of a damnable sinne then Aaron could goe into the congregation without death in case that at his entrance in he did not sound his bels And againe Idem vpon the Command he sinneth the sinne of a dumbe dogge who passeth ouer the Sabbath day without preaching and therein maketh the people guiltie of the prophanation of Gods holy day Vpon this ground the Canons of our Church haue ordained that euery beneficed man allowed a Preacher shall preach one Sermon euery Sunday in the yeere and againe Can. 45. that euery Incumbent shall euery Sunday before Euening Prayer examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of the parish in the tenne Commandements Can. 59. the Articles of the beleefe and the Lords Prayer These things I note to preuent a conceit which some may haue that I come hither to open a packe of Puritanicall ware and to vent some priuate humorous opinions you may see that that which I auouch touching the ordinance of God in this poynt is the iudgement of our Church And thus haue I finished the first part of my proofe that preaching is Gods ordinance It is his will that the ability for it should be in euery Minister and the execution of it in euery Congregation euery Sabbath The next part of my proofe is that without dependance vpon preaching we haue no assurance of saluation To make this manifest I demaund whether we beleeue the Scripture that without faith it is impossible to please God l Heb. 11.6 and whether any other meanes be sanctified by God to beget Faith besides the hearing of a Preacher that I am sure is ordained to that end m Rom. 10.14.17 as for any other mainly deputed thereto without this I am sure there is no in●● euidence in all Gods book The Lord hauing Saints to gather and to translate out of the kingdome of darknesse hath appointed and gifted Pastors and Teachers to that end n Eph. 4.11 so much is apparant And whereas the promise of saluation is limited only to so many as God shall call o Act. 2.39 whereupon they which shall be saued are termed a called companie p Iude vers 1. faine would I know whereto calling hath reference but to a voyce What voyce shall wee thinke it to be but that which soundeth in the publike Ministerie Christs voyce wee will all yeeld it to be and so we may well for his sheepe heare his voyce q Ioh. 10.27 and where is Christs voyce now but in those who by their calling are in Christs stead r 2. Cor. 5.20 and of whom hee hath said plainly He that heareth you heareth me ſ Luke 10.16 As we can haue no certaintie of our Election vnlesse wee giue diligence to make our calling sure t 2. Pet. 1.10 so what warrant hath any man to thinke hee is called but by that meanes which God ordained to call the Gentiles and what meanes finde we that to be other then this Goe teach u Matth. 28.19 Preach the Gospell to euery creature x Mar. 16.15 What can be plainer then this God hath reconciled vs vnto himselfe by Christ and hath giuen vnto men a ministrie of Reconciliation y 2. Cor. 5.18 We will soone yeeld that by this place it is proued that there is no comming vnto God the Father but by Christ shall it not be as strongly proued thence that there is no ordinary accesse to Christ but by the ministrie What moued our Sauiour to pitie the multitude being without a shepheard a laborer in the Lords haruest z Matth. 9.36 was it not because they were in apparant hazard of saluation being so destitute Why is the land of Zebulim and Nepthalim said to sit in Darknes and in the Region of the shadow of death vntill the light of preaching shone among them a Mat. 4.15.16 but because the inhabitants were in the high way to hell without ministeriall instruction Note that speech Israel a long time without God and without a Priest to teach b 2. Chro. 15.3 No Priest to teach no interest in God There is no Logick in the world to conclude otherwise I am faine to