Timothy and Titus whom he had ordayned bishops and teachers in the Churches of of God inculketh euery where the same and with lyke diligence vndoubtedly commandeth them to be vrged and inculked of others And to Titus 3. he willeth generallye all foolish and vnprofitable questions by all meanes to bee auoyded and eschewed Thus much therefore concerning the profit and vtylitie of matter We saide in the seconde place that an easye matter ought to be chosen And that for these causes Amonge the multitude the greatest parte is rude and vnlearned or if there be any in place that are learned in déede yet where is one amongst them all that is expert in divine matters or how many shalt thou finde in the multitude that be diuines and such diuines as can rightly attaine to matters hard and difficult which thing syth it is so in vaine shall those thinges be proposed in a Sermon that either none at al or els very few may vnderstand He must remember what soeuer he be that teacheth in the church that he serueth the turne of the multitude and that he ought to prouide rather for many then a few And what if by handling of hard and difficult places some perill commeth rather to be feared then profit and commoditie to be looked for for in déede when some curious hearers begin once to cast in their minds how with study and dilygence they may perceiue the misteries of diuine matters this commonlye commeth in vre that by long and much searching they fal into errours and whilst they call to remembraunce diuers and sundry interpretations they conceiue straunge and phantasticall opinions whiche immediatelye after they obstinatly holde and defende and to the great hurt and disturbance both of them selues also of others yea of the whole church they delight to dispearce them amonge the vnlearned For this cause therfore the apostle oft times warneth vs to auoyde all kinde of doctrine that conduceth not to godlynesse that maketh men proude and hye minded yea curious and supertitious rather then godly disposed that stirreth vp strif brawling and debate and that edifieth few or none at all And the Apostle Peter in his last epistle Cap. 3. In the epistles saieth he of our brother Paule are some thinges harde to bee vnderstoode which the ignoraunt and vnconstant doe wreste like as other also of the Scriptures to their owne destructiō Eunomius byshop of Cyzicene by the report of Sozomenus whilst he discussed on a tune hard places to the people of the substāce of god of the knowledge of god adhibiting also captious and intrycate reasons of Logick ministred occasion of an vprore in which he was expelled both from the citie and also from his byshoprick And we in our time haue harde how some mouing diuers darke and perplexed questions haue giuen occasion of much euill inconuenience but of very little or no good at al. Where if peraduenture in the booke or part of the booke which is expounded some difficult place do offer it selfe that can not conuenientlye be pretermitted then my counsell is that this moderation be vsed The place shall in deede be opened but soberly and in few wordes then simply and plainely lastly with an exhortation added concerninge the true and right vse of the same doctrine By these thrée meanes it is forséene and prouided that no scrupulus and superfluous questions and disceptations shall arise and remaine among the people Which trade of teaching we may ascribe to the apostle who hath shewed the same vnto vs Among the Thessalonians were some that with many words verye curyously and diuersly disputed of the comminge of our Lorde Iesus Christ to the last iudgement which controuersy the Apostle being desyrous to dissolue and breake vp fyrste briefly vseth in maner of a preface and admonisheth them that they would not immoderatly be terrified or mooued with the words of false teachers moreouer mindinge to signifi that the time of Christs second comming was not yet to be looked for he heapeth not togither many arguments or prophesies out of the Prophets but with one onely reson deriued of the signe or token he proueth them to erre that went about to vphold the contrary For before the Lorde come that wicked man Antichriste must be reuealed wherefore séeing he is not yet in sighte it is not to be beléeued that the comming of the Lorde is at hande Then fortwith as pertaining to the demonstration of the right vse of the same doctrine he exhorteth them that they would be of good comfort and giue thanks vnto God that vouched safe to elect them to saluation neither would suffer them to be of their number that shoulde be seduced by Antichrist howbeit that this one thing remained namly that they would abide constant in faith and with all their endeuour flye and eschew false teachers The same Apostle where to the Romaines 9. in his disputation of the reiection of the Iewes and callinge of the Gentiles he falleth into a very hard place concerning predestination and frée election coueting to declare that God whether he electeth or reiecteth dealeth alwayes iustelye and vprightly first veryly inferreth one or two examples of Iacob and Esau then of Pharao and forth with a similitude of the Potter for these are proofes very fit to teach the rude and ignoraunt people afterwarde as one terryfied with the difficulty of the cause he breaketh off as yée would say the continuaunce of his tale Either of whiche his dooyngs no doubt is very wel to be lyked for the one was profitable to the plainnes and perspicuitie of the matter the other very necessary for breuities sake and the avoyding of errour Finally in the cap. 11. shettinge vp his whole disputation he teacheth very learnedly to the Gentiles the true vse of his whole doctrine when as he putteth them in minde that they shoulde not be proude for this cause that being taken out of the wilde Oliue trée thou hast yet an other similitude they are grafted into the true Oliue for that it might come to passe that they should againe be cut off And at the length as though he had waded further then he would he endeth with an exclamation O the deepenesse saieth he of the riches and wisdome and knowledge of God. So I say he is wise and the same also worthy the name of an Apostle that is well exercised in the interpretation of the sriptures wherfore let it not repent vs to folow and imitate the example of so worthy ◠doctor in hard and difficult places Last of all the Preacher ought to choose matter necessarie and as the Apostle willeth omit superfluous I vnderstand that to be necessary which is most agréeable to the time and place and whiche the present multitude can not wel be without There be in deede a nūber of diuine places very profitable but yet not al méete to be expoūded in euery place time Some people haue their
sure and certaine hope both of a place to teach in and also of liberall entertainement Therefore when Iohn Ficinus Chauncelor to our most noble prince a man for his notable vertue worthy of eternal memory was returned from the CommissioÌ„ or parliament of Rentzburgh Nouiomagus labored with him as touchinge Hyperius Nouiomagus affyrmed that since the méeting was at Henaulde Anno 40 â–ª where he beinge sent froÌ„ our prince was present he could neuer haue his health neither was he able to endure those paines in teachinge which before he had suffered And therfore required that Hyperius might be appointed in his roome who for somuch as he through his infyrmitie was not of power sufficient might take vpon him to reade Ficinus mislyked not the good counsell of Nouiomagus but incontinently calleth Hyperius vnto him exhorteth him to abide still at Marpurge and to shewe forth some token and triall of his learninge For it would come to passe that in case he gaue foorth any notable testimony of his learninge an honest stripend should be appoynted him for his paines Hyperius being with these other such like reasons perswaded abode stil at Marpurge within a smal time after dieth master Nouiomagus the x. of Ianuarie in the yere following in whose place next by thauthority of the masters of the profissioÌ„ succeeded Hyperius and looke what Epistles of S. Paule Nouiomagus had vsed before to interprete the same began he also to expounde And when he had by the space of two yeres and more single as he was trauayled in this trade and function of teachinge he resolued with himselfe to marrye for somuch as he suppose that 〈◊〉 coulde not conueniently pâ—sse his dayes without a wife and the rather bycause he was not greatly sounde as touchinge bodily health Hée tooke to wise therfore in the yere 1544. the xxvii daye of Februarye Katherine Orthia Daughter of Lodowick Orthius somtimes Treasorer of Marpurge whom Iohn Happelius an honest Citizen had left a widowe with two children Of this his wife whom hée alwayes loued most derely he begat sixe sonnes and sower daughters whereof onely two sonnes and thrée daughters doe still remaine aliue But how and in what order he hath nowe by the space of these xxii yeres behaued himselfe amoÌ„gest vs as wel in teaching publikely the holy Scriptures as also priuately the liberall Sciences wée haue now next of all to consider In which office and function of teachinge there séeme vnto mée these fower thinges chiefely to be required First a singuler learninge ioyned with much readinge and experience of thinges next a substanciall power and faculty of teachinge then fidelitie and diligence and last of all grauitie and constancye of life and conuersation And that learninge is required in a Teacher and the vse of many thinges there is no man that doubteth For who is he that euer could well bée taught and reape any fruite of learning of an vnlearned man No more truely can a man perceyue anye thinge that good is of one that is vnlearned than of a stone he can learne to flye But as learning is very requisite and necessary so it is in no wise alone sufficient for a man that is occupied in the Scoles vnlesse the power also of teachinge be ioyned with it Thou maist finde many men very well learned and cunning in the knowledge of thinges which neuerthelesse forsomuch as they are destitute of this power in teaching yeelde no fruit at all neither to Scholes nor Churches Wherevpon the Apostle also requireth such a one to be the Bishop of a Church as is Didacticos that is to say indued with the gift and faculty of Teachinge Neither must fidelitie and diligence bée sundered from these twayne which if it bée absent neither then also wil any fruite redounde to the hearers though the man bée otherwise both learned and eloquent And in him especially that wil professe the holy Scriptures is this faithfulnes which wée speake off of necessitie required Wherevpon likewise Thapostle to the Corinthians as touching the ministers of the worde speaketh in this wise Let a man so esteeme of vs as of the ministers of Christ and disposers of the misteries of God amonge whom this especially is required that they bee founde faithful But no lesse necessary also is this last poynte namely that to doctrine and erudition the life and maners may bée agréeable A fowle shame it is For him that doth teach When the thing he findes fault with Against himselfe doth preach And our beloued Paule requireth a Bishop to bée vnreproueable not stubborne not wrathful not giuen to wine no fighter not giuen to filthy lucre but a keeper of hospitalitie a louer of vertue modest vpright holy sober For what doe those Teachers profyte their herers that do pluck down by their naughty liuing that which they builded vp by their wel teaching that by their liues dayly maners shewe theÌ„ selues to dislike greatly of those things which they prescribe vnto others to bée folowed With what I wil not say authoritie but with what face can the teacher reproue vices in the Schole as dronkennes riotousnes couetousnes incontinency such like which is himselfe I will not say oft times drâ—nke but alwayes druncke not onely giuen to riot but also lyues so wickedly in all superfluitie that he supposeth gods maiestie to be of no power at all which is so couetous that of euery fylthy occasion he gapeth after vnsatiable gaine who finally hath so wallowed in scurrilitie and vncleanes al his life long that he doubteth also whither he may account these heinous sinnes and enormities for sinnes and vices or no All the pointed therefore which we haue spoken off are required in a Teacher which if we shall diligeÌ„tly consider in what measure they haue bene in this our Hyperius we shall find to haue bene very great And first verily as touchinge the singular learning of this man what shall I saye I may speake the more fréely most excellent fathers of the dead forsomuch as I shall not now séeme to flatter him béeing dead that I neuer fawned vppon béeinge aliue Great was the knowledge that this man had of the tongues more great of the liberall artes and of philosophy but of the holy Scriptures and Ecclesiasticall histories and of all the olde and auncient Church most great of all That which I speake to be true you your selues know most learned fathers and can very well testifye who haue heard him publikely teachinge who haue heard him disputinge with great commendation who haue heard him familiarly talkinge with his friendes Many other witnesses there be thoroughout all Germanye and other nations men famously learned which either resorted to his Scoles or other wise were more familiarly acquainted with him His bookes are witnesses that he wrote and published which are of great learned men esteemed and read amonge the workes of the best learned writers as those short Scolies vppon the Epistle to the Romaynes as the
retourned home or whersoeuer els they wyl repeate the principall partes and Chapters by hart Truly there is nothyng more vnséemely nothing more perilous then if a man presume to teach in the Church ex tempore and without premeditatioÌ„ or rather rashly without choice to powre out euery thing Wherefore also the most excellent Doctors of the church furnished thorowlye as well with the knowledge of the diuine Scriptures as also with the vse and experience of very many thinges had a customeâ— in times past to write out their whole Sermons made and digested with great diligence before they shoulde come to the sacred assembly That they dyd not onelye bicause they were oft times present in the multitude of hearers learned men and such as were expert in the holy scriptures which marked obserued euery lytle thing that was spoken and in caâ—e any trippe were committed coulde by and by note it and put it vp but also for so muche as all thinges were with great fidelitie diligence receiued of the Notaries by reason of aduersaries namely either ethnicks or hereticks which afterwarde hatefully and disdaynefully reasoned of those thinges that were spoken of the Preachers Some againe declared in writing certayn chapters or els vsing the help of Notaries or Clerkes expounded those things that they had premeditated before Such a Notary had Cyprian being a very stripeling named Paulus Concordiensis such to the number of seuen more were giuen to Origen by Ambrose a learned welthy man as witnesseth Ierom in his worke of Ecclesiasticall writers Augustine declareth in his preface to the .118 Psalme that he had expounded for the most parte all the Psalmes partly by preaching partely by rehercinge to the people There is no doubte therefore but that he committed to remembraunce at home those thinges by wryting that be minded afterward opeÌ„lâ— to vtter Certes we may gather out of the words of Gregory in a certayne homily had vpon the holy day of Easter touching the women that came to the Sepulchre of Christe that euen in that age it was a common matter with most Preachers to wryte their interpretations for good orders sake and the helping of their memoryeâ— and then oute of wrytinge to recite them openly before the multitude of the faithfull Let all Preachers therefore vnderstande that it is theyr partes after the example of these most famous men studiously to digest into papers what soeuer things they haue determined to speake in sacred assemblies to the profyte and furtheraunce of their hearers and at all times let them repute with themselues that in euery frequent audytory are alwayes some present that be more redy to reproue then to allow or follow and that will many times call into question Censorlike euen those things that are welt and most warely spoken Whervpon as the Apostle chargeth Timothy being notablye exrcised in the affayres of the Church to giue attendaunce to readyng exhortation and doctrine Euen so the Byshops of our tyme shall worthyly giue in charge to all those that they preferre to the sacred function of teaching that they also apply themselues to wrytinge that is to saye that they with serious meditation excogitate and searche out those thinges that pertaine vnto Sermons to be hard before the people when they haue found them out reduce them into order and lastly hauynge aptlye disposed them comprehende them in wryting Whiche thing then wyll these men dilygentlye do and accomplish when as the Byshoppes at such time as they yéerely visyte and surueye theyr seuerall Churches shall some what sharpely chastice all those that they perceiue to be negligeÌ„t in this behalfe This dilygence and industrye of the Byshoppes wyll styrre vp and procure diligence in the Preachers whiche will successiuely bring forth incredible profite and vtilyty to all churches ¶ How many kindes of diuine Sermons there bee howe manyfolde the state is and of two sortes of theames Cap. VII THose thinges that haue hytherto bene spoken euery man may perceiue to be agréeable and concordaunt indifferently to all sacred Sermons Now it is requisyte that we distinguishe and poynte oute certayne kindes of Sermons to thintent we may further note what oughte chiefly so be marked and obserued in euery one of them and that wee gather together so farre as may be apt and meete precepts of each of them seuerally apart Sith therfore the action of a Preacher in the Churche of God is much discrepant from the action of a Rhetoritian in the guyld hall I fréely confesse that I can in no wise fancy theyr iudgement that endeuour to bringe those thrée kindes of cases I meane Demonstratiue Delibratiue and Iudiciall oute of the prophane market place into the sacred and reuerend Churche and set them forth vnto preachers to be immitated and folowed Who knoweth not that both the name and action of cases as they are deuided into those kyndes are properly as well of all Orators as also of Lawyers referred to the place of common plea called Forum and that of those very cases sprange the name of Casepleaders But as vnfytting as the name of Casepleader is to hym that deliuereth publykelye vnto the chosen people of God the doctrine of Christian religion euen so absurde and inconuenient a thinge it were that Sermons of diuine matters holden in â—acred assemblies shoulde be called cases We sée moreouer how greatly some labour and toyle and what euill successe they haue whilest they go aboute to wrest and after a sorte to ioyne all the formes of diuine Sermons to the thrée kindes of cases afore rehearced Neither can wee any otherwise iudge then that Diuinitie of all other disciplines the chiefe is moste grieuouslye iniured of those men that suppose hir faculties to be so slender and bare as though she had not furniture and implements sufficient especially for th'ecclesiasticall function in hir owne proper house at home With most soueraigne right therefore shall we endeuour our selues to draw out of the entrailes of the scriptures both what and howe many kindes of diuine Sermons there bée The Apostle Paule of all Preachers the Lode star affyrmeth that al the holy scripture is most chiefly profitable to fyue thinges that is to say to doctrine to redargution to correction to institution and to consolation For thus we reade 2. Timothy 3. All scripture inspired of God is profitable to learning to reprouing to correction to instruction which is in rightuousnesse that the man of God may be perfecte prepared to euery good worke Moreouer to the Rom. 15. What soeuer thinges are written before are writteÌ„ for our learning that thorow patience consolatioÌ„ of the scriptures we might haue hope Doctrine or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth the tractation and confirmation of all true principles and opinions as when with arguments taken out of the writinges of the Prophets and Apostles it is proued that there is but one GOD omnipotent eternall iust mercyfull that God made all thinges
and by his prouidence gouerneth the same when also the doctrine is expounded concerning the thrée persons the properties of euery person of the church of the law of sin of the gospell of repentaunce of faith of charytie of hope of the sacraments of the resurrection of the dead of eternall lyfe c. These and such lyke places are frequentlye founde in the Scriptures explaned in a iust method and after the popular mener of teaching Redargution or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is no other thinge then a destruction or confutation of false and eronious opinions which are obtruded of the enimies of truthe to deceue the ignoraunt and vnlearned For it is necessary that theyr mouthes be stopped by thautority of gods word for which cause the Apostle would haue him to be a Byshoppe or teacher of the church that coulde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say reproue and conuince the gaynâ—speakers Thou shalt sée not seeldome times in the Sermons of the Prophetes of Christ and thapostles the phantasticall surmises of the Gentiles of the false prophets Pharisies and such lyke grieuously assaulted and vtterly ouerthrowne Furthermore Institution 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnderstand to be that whereby the lyfe and maners are informed vnto Godlines The holy Scriptures doe abounde with precepts and exhortations of this kinde into whiche sufficiently tedyous and prolixe euery man slippeth euen without occasion and intending some other matter Correction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is after a contrary order occupyed in reprouing of corrupt maners and of those crimes where vnto many men are perceiued to be giuen The Prophets Apostles in their Sermons are in nothyng more busye then inueyinge against their sinnes and wickednesse whom they couet to traine to repentaunce and to haue them become honest and vertuous Last of all vnder the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Consolation what oughte to be vnderstoode there is no man that can be ignoraunt seeing euery one of vs beynge daily conuicted of our owne iniquitie doe feele by experyence how greatly we stand in neede of consolations prepared for all euents And surely of comfortes and consolations which may assuredly stay erect vp afflicted mindes the sacred scripture is a most plentifull storehouse If therefore we will heare S. Paule what soeuer thinges may profitably be spoken out of the scriptures it is requisite that they be referred to these fiue ends or chapters Why then may we not say that accordinge to these same chapters all kindes of sermons ought to be distincted and deuided Herevnto is added that there is no treaty that hapeneth any where in the sacred scriptures which may not be placed vnder some one of these chapters as vnder a certayne captayne and guide It were no long work to demonstrate in the volumes of the Prophetes and Apostles iust Sermons the arguments and titles wherof might most aptly be prefixed after the sayde Chapters a proofe of which matter we wyll bringe in the sequell hereof and especially in the second Booke where shal be noted diuers and sundry examples And what if all thinges necessary to be knowne to a man carefull of his saluation are founde to be layde vp aboundantly in the same chapters for what things soeuer pertayne to sincere religion and christian piety are referred either vnto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say knowledge or science or els vnto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is action or doyng The author of this particion least any maÌ„ should finde fault therwith we haue the Apostle Paule which prayeth vnto God that all the godly may be filled as well with the knowledge of the misteries and will of God as also that after the measure of knowledge which fell vnto them they might fructifie in all good workes And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verely is then made perfect when as those things are perceiued and allowed which bene true and agreeable to the first truthe manifested by the holy ghost and agayne those thinges be reiected which are false and vntrue Here then are eftsoones perceiued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doctrine and râ—dargution But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 leaning vpon actitons or works is altogither in this continually that it may shew forth worthy examples of honesty and vnfeigned holynes and as for thinges filthy and reprochefull shonne them with all indeuour In the meane while in that one poynt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or institution bewrayeth it selfe In this other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or correction Where as if againe it chaunceth any man eyther in these thinges which are referred vnto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or in those that perteyne vnto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to doubt wauer or feare in such sort that some great daunger of falling séemeth to hange ouer his head then must seasonable remedy bée applyed by ministringe apte consolations It is playne therefore that the order of comfortinge in the fift place ought in this wyse of necessitie to bée adioyned vnto the premisses Moreouer thrée thinges by the consent of all men are determined to be of themselues most worthy in which the spirituall lyfe of man doth wholely consist namely Fayth Charitie and Hope For when these things be in any man the diuine oracles testify that he shal neuer perishe And surely Fayth stickinge fast to the certeyne rules of the holy Ghost is susteyned and fortefied with doctrin and redargution Charitie busily applying to good workes is furthered and holpen forward with Institution and Correction Lastly Hope is nourished and cherished with swéet consolation and comfort Yea in thorder of these Chapters may al those thinges bée disposed also which the Rhetoricians doe comprehende in the thrée sayde common kyndes of Cases But on the other side not all the thinges agayne that are comprised in those Chapters can haue place vnder those kyndes of cases For those thinges that amonge the Oracles are ascribed to the kynde Iuditiall may conueniently bee handeled in redargution or correction Of which that one is applied to the state definit and this other to the state of qualytie But those thinges which are attributed to the kyndes delyberatiue and demonstratiue bée very aptelie placed vnder institution touching which matter we shall haue an other place agayne else where to entreate of But if thou shouldest requyre of the Rhetoritians a kynde of case to the which doctrin or consolation might be referred they coulde giue none at all as those that haue euermore set ouer the whole practise of Teachinge and comfortynge to the Philosophers of Vniuersities and thin-habitauntes of Scoles giuinge themselues to ouer muche ease and idlenesse in the meane tyme But hée that will followe the course and direction of those fiue Chapiters or fountaynes shall pretermit no order of Teaching which maye serue any thinge at all to the furtheraunce and information of the myndes of wretched men Which thinges séeinge they bée so it is very méete and
Somtymes agayne after the lessen read some one place in fewe wordes is repeated in the beginninge of the Sermon that inespecially of which the Preacher hath determined more at large to entreate We will adde to some examples Chrysostom in a certayne homily to the people of Antioche taking in hand to expound the place of Sainct Paule vnto Timothy Vse a littel wine for thy stomacke and thy often infirmities Beginneth with the dignitie of the Apostle and compareth him to a Trumpet and Harpe The same interpretinge the Psalme 127. immediately after the beginninge of the Psalme recited vnto thee haue I lifted vp myne eyes beginneth his Sermon with that that it is good to bée strycken with aduersitie Agayne homily 68. he repeateth in the entry thereof these wordes out of the first to the Thessalonians Cap. 5. Deere brethrne saieth Sainct Paule reioyce alwayes pray without ceassing giue thankes in all thinges For this is the will of God. And forthwith hée addeth Alwayes to be thankefull is the point of a howse wisely instructed Thou hast suffred some distresse but if thou wilte thy selfe it is no distresse Giue thankes to God and thine euill shal be turned into good It is a custome also commonly receyued to take and driue beginninges of circumstaunces of causes of similitudes or of other places So Chrisostom expoundinge the euanglicall history of the woman of Canaan beginneth with the prayse of the dilligence and constancy of the hearers In the history of Elias conueied into heauen in a fyrie Chariot he beginneth with a similitude taken of the maner whereby kinges are accustomed to rewarde those that hazarde themselues in battayle with a Chariot or else to granish theÌ„ with some other princely 〈◊〉 whervppon he gâ—thereth that God would also in liâ—â—e maner adorne his faithfull minister Elias with a Chariot and so drawe him vp into heauen Nazianzenus at the Gospell which is read in the 18. Chap. of Mathew beginneth his Sermon with the labor dilligence of Christ in trayning of men to the truth But that which we haue already sayd may suffice in this place WheÌ„ a SermoÌ„ is framed of an argument offred by occasion of tyme it is lawfull to deriue an Exordium out of diuers sondri things places But neuerthelesse the most apte and vsuall order of all other is this namely wherein at the beginninge is by by opened of what matter or businesse we purpose to intreate As néere as is possible the first wordes of Thexordium ought to be aunswerable to the matter it selfe which thou haste taken vppon thée to handle yea and the very same either taken out of some place of Scripture or simply expressinge the kynde and maner of the busynesse Out of the Scriptures are taken these beginninges Nazianzenus in his Sermon to the subiectes strickeÌ„ with feare by reasoÌ„ of the displeasure of the Emperour vseth the wordes of Ieremy 4â— Oh my bowells and the inner partes of my body I am sore grieued c. And Basill when he taketh in hande to entreate of fastinge boroweth the wordes of Ioell Blowe vp the Trumpet in Sion vppon the notable day of your solemnitie c. As we haue littell before remembred when an argument or proposition is expressed in simple wordes without any place of Scripture â—â—nexed therevnto a man may fynde diuers and sundry Exordiums in Chrisostom Nazianzenus and other moe Nazianzenus beginneth his Sermon which hée made to those that came by water out of AEgipt in this sort To them that are of AEgipt will I speake Albeit hee doth not yet there open what maner of argument hée will handle Neuerthelesse hée entreateth afterward of the mistery of the Trinitie But when hée sayde that hée woulde speake to those that came from the Church of Alexandria which Athanasius and after him Peter bishops there had rightly enstructed in sounde doctrine of the Trinitie and they comminge to Constantinople were nowe approched to the Church where Gregory Nazianzene a stout defendour of the Trinity and of one substaunce in the same then taught the hearers might easely perceyue that Gregory vppon that occasion woulde speake of their faithfull consent in the confession of the Trinitie Touchinge which thinge somewhat there is Tripart Histo lib. 9. Cap. 13. The same takinge in hande to speake hys minde concerninge prouision and care to bée had for the poore beginneth thus Men and brethrne yea and as I may say fellowe beggars for wée are all the sort of vs poore and néedinge the grace and goodnesse of god although one may séeme to goe before an other if yée haue measured with small measures receyue and imbrace these wordes touchinge the loue and good will which ye ought to beare towardes the poore Thexorgiums in this kinde of Sermons are otherwise as wée haue sayde very large and frée Esay Cap. 1. reprouinge the enormities of his owne nation especially the sinne of hipocrisy and contempt of the true seruice God beginneth with an exclamation or contestation of all creatures and therewithall introduceth God himselfe gréeuously expostulatinge the matter For his whole oration from the beginning forth on is very vehement and ardent Peter willing to rebuke the peruerse iudgement of the people touching the miracle of the tongues vseth a place of attentiuenesse then wisely remoueth the cryme of dronkennesse obiected vnto them and so procéedeth to the cause of Christ our sauiour Steuen and Paule desyrous to expounde the businesse of the Gospell take the beginninge of their Sermons of the callinge of Abraham By these thinges it is manyfest after what sorte Exordiums ought to bée framed and ioyned togither when the matter so requireth that a Sermon be made of a Theme simple For the lyke reason is in this that was in the other before But as for Exordiums discrepante from the cause and such as are far fetched or also very tedyous and prolixe no wise man will allowe And yet notwithstandinge sometymes they are to bee borne with all in sacred Sermons vppon this condition that they tende to some edifyinge of the congregation and bée applyed to the commoditie of tymes and persons and bée aptely and conueniently handled But then most chiefly are they to be admytted when some thinges bée propounded to the people that may not conueniently bée enterlaced in the enarration folowing or else are iudged expedieÌ„t for some other cause and consideration Some such Exordiums are extante in the homilyes of Chrisostom vppon the booke of Genesis in the which Exordiums hée exhorteth chydeth or dooth some lyke thynge a yée woulde saye on the sodayne Such an Exordium also Paule séemeth to vsurpe Acts. 17. Where hee beginneth with reprehension of the supersticion of Thathenienses and with the Aulter of the vnknowen god Afterward hée goeth on to declare Christe to bée true GOD and to make hym knowen vnto all men Neither is this to bée passed ouer that the Exordium sometymes may bée omytted and the proposition or diuision eftesoones produced
that kinde profitable to teach illustrat moue all which things so far forth as may bee they adioyne to the vnderstandinge of the hearers and to the present state of thinges As touchinge which diligence and industry somwhat we haue saide in our former booke what time we noted some thinges in generall of confyrmation Herevpon it commeth to passe that they déme this order of treatinge to bee easie and of no great laboure and like as to them that teach so also to the hearers whō it is best not to bee ouerated with ouer many places or partes very apte and accommodate That somtimes the whole sacred readinge is with all the partes thereof to bee directed to the explication of one common place Cap. V. IT happeneth somtimes that a sacred readinge is offered so subsistinge and linked together in partes that euery one may in order of discourse be aptely referred to one and the same common place By cōmon place I here vnderstand the state it selfe and the certaine preposition which is summarily excerpted out of the whole readinge and may profitably be prefixed to the intent a further entreatye may be made therof Howbeit he that coueteth to finde out this same state hath néede inespecially to bestowe some time in readinge reuoluinge the sacred lesson and to serch diligently with rype iudgemente whither and to what ende it wholly tendeth For take this by the waye let no man thinke that he can by interpretation apply the whole readinge to one common place excepte the very partes thereof be by a certaine propinquitie and consent ioyned together after a sorte betwene themselues Wherefore the profitablest waye is by glidinge eftesoones thorough all the partes to looke whether thou maist in them obserue any certain order and progression of causes effectes contingents connexes adiacents and such like places howsoeuer allied one with an other Where if thou findest such an order in déede then maye the whole order of partes bee easily deduced to one certaine common place Howbeit this maner of interpretinge is scarcely vsed any other where then in historycall narrations For where any thinge is simpely affirmed and manye argumentes prouinge the same thinge bee in a didascalick method orderly digested there no man shall deuise to excogitate any strange thinge neither induce any thing discordinge from the same In the first to the Corenthes cap. 15. is proued and established with most learned and weighty argumentes the chiefest principle of Christian religion namely touhinge the resurrection of the dead I praye theée therefore were it a pointe of wisdome either to serche out other argumentes as more fytte for the purpose or otherwise to interprete the selfe same then the simple and plaine sence of the wordes requireth Him that shoulde goe aboute to attempt this thinge all men vndoubtedly would accounte to be madd Therefore it shall bée best for vs to tarye and abide still in historycall narrations An example of an entier history as touchinge one common place explayned in the kinde didascalick amongest other very excellent and fytte occurreth in the epistle to the Hebrues cap. 7. where whatsoeuer is read in the olde Testamente of Melchisedick we may sée very aptely expounded to declare Iesus Christ to be the onely high and euerlastinge Bishop of gods Church And least we should any longer deteine the reader wée will euen forthwith make a proofe of the mater There is extante Luke 24. a very proper narration of the twoo disciples gooinge to Emaus Two of the disciples of Iesus went that same daye to a towne which was from Hierusalem about threescore furlonges called Emaus And they talked together of all these thinges that were done And it came to passe as they communed together and reasoned that Iesus himselfe drewe nere and wente with them But their eyes were holden that they coulde not knowe him And he sayde vnto them What maner of cōmunications are these that ye haue one to an other as yee walke and are sadde And the one named Cleopas answered and said vnto him Arte thou onely a straunger in Hierusalem and hast not knowen the thinges that are come to passe there in these dayes And he sayd vnto them what thinges And they saide vnto him of Iesus of Nazareth which was a prophet mightie in deede in word before God and all the people And how the high priestes and our rulers deliuered him to be condemned to death haue crucified him But we trusted that it had bene he which should haue redeemed Israel and as touching all these thinges to daye is the third day that they were done Yea and certaine women among vs made vs astonied which came earely to the sepulchre and when they found not his body they came saying that they had also seene a vision of angels whiche saide that he was aliue Therfore certaine of them which were with vs went to the sepulchre and founde it euen so as the women had said but him they sawe not Then he saide vnto them O fooles and slow of harte to beleeue al that the Prophets haue spoken Oughte not Christe to haue suffered these thinges and to enter into his glorye And he began at Moyses and at all the prophetes and interpretd vnto them in all the scriptures the thinges which were writen of him And they drewe neere to the towne which they went vnto but he made as though hee woulde haue gone further But they constrained him saying Abide with vs for it draweth towards night and the day is farre spent And so he went in to tary with them And it came to passe as he sate at the table with them he tooke breade and gaue thankes and brake it and gaue it vnto them Then their eyes were opened they knewe him but hee was taken out of their sight And they said betwene themselues Did not our harts burne within vs while he talked with vs by the way whē he opened to vs the scriptures And they rose vp the same howre and returned to Hierusalem found the eleuen gathered together them that were with thē which said The Lord is risen in deede and hath appeered to Simon Thē they told what things were done in the way how he was knowen of them in breaking of bread Whilest I somwhat briefely come ouer this readyng I perceiue that in it is most cléerely shewed how and by what meanes the disciples came to the knowledge of the trueth of Christ and how after many things it is sayde that their eyes were opened and that the Lorde was knowen of them Therfore I may séeme very aptely to gather the state of the whole reading namely how we may aspire to the knowledge of God and the trueth of his word Wherefore I doubt not to pronounce this readynge to be placed in the kinde didascalick Moreouer I sée the partes to be so disposed and so mutually followinge one an other that any man may verye well note and poynte out in them
the praise of him that hath left this transitory lyfe X If there be any pointes beside in all these things to be obserued the due consideration of the causes and circumstaunces therof will easely prompt and minister the same Now let vs note some examples of this kinde of sermons Esaias cap. 49. laboureth to perswade all men that thei would embrace the Gospell and the sonne of GOD Iesus Christ and so be graffed into the Church There is extant in Ieremy xxvii a swasory Sermon where the prophet perswadeth the Iewes that if they will be saued they must yéelde themselues to the king of Babilon The same cap. 29. is a perswader of them that were in Babilon not to attempt any alteration of the state in the common weale i. Cor. xvi and 2. Cor. 8. Thapostle perswadeth the Corin. that they would make a collection of almes to be sent to HierusaleÌ„ Chrisostom in a certaine homilie in his fift tome perswadeth the the bishop Seuerianus is to be receiued againe the force of whose reason is expressed in the Tripartite history lib. x. cap. x. In an other homilie he perswadeth the people that they shoulde not be moued or disquieted in case it were his chaunce to be put away Hortatory or admonitory sermons are very rife plentifull in the sacred scriptures Moyses Deut. 6.11.28.29 warneth all men straightly to kéepe and fulfyll the law of god Looke Esay cap 40.55.56 Also Ieremy cap. 3.4.18.33.44 For in all these places are graue and weighty Sermons wherin they exhort their hearers to repentaunce to the loue of Gods word and amendement of lyfe c. Cap. 22. Ieremy exhorteth the king to imbrace iustice There is none of all the prophets in a maner in whom thou mayst not note a number of such lyke places Moreouer there be sundry sermoÌ„s of Christ pertaining to this effect Mark. 9. Christ exhorteth all men to beware least they giue offence to any Cap. x. he exciteth euery man to deny himselfe cap. 12. he admonisheth his hearers to shonne the Phariseis Saint Paule Act. 20. commaundeth byshops to take diligent héede to their flock Chrisostom in his v. tome in diuers and sundrye sermons exhorteth to repentance to humility to loue to concord to liberalitie towards the poore to the contempt of earthly things glory honour c. Whereof in some may be séene the order of handelinge theames simple in other some theames compounde The same Chrisostom explaneth a sentence or place of Scripture in this kinde with incredible skill and â—unninge in that his homily so well knowen touching the wordes of the apostle vnto Timothy Vse a litle wine for the weakenesse of thy stomack Gregorius Nazianzenus hath put foorth a notable oration as touching reléeuing of the poore The praise of a person is to be séene handled in Esay 42 where Cyrus king of the Persians is commended and that so much the more magnificently bycause he bare the type and figure of Christ Christ Luk. 7. prayseth Iohn Baptist Saint Paule in moe places then one greatly commendeth Timothy Chrisostome in his v. tome preacheth in commendation of Iob of Elias of the Macabees of the thrée children put into the firy furnace of Susanna of Inuentius and Maximius martirs Nazianzenus in lyke maner of Cyprian and the Machabees The praise of a déede how it is to be adorned and set foorth may be learned out of the epistle to the PhilippiaÌ„s and out of the first to the Thessalonians For these the Apostle praiseth forasmuch as they persâ—uered constant in the confession of the trueth and suffered not themselues to be withdrawen from the truth by any delusions or sophistications of the false apostles Chrisostom in his tome v. celebrateth in full sermons the hospitalitie of AbrahaÌ„ the patience of Iob and the notable déedes of other holy men beside To this order in lyke case may be ascribed out of tome v. his third homily touching bishop Flauianus supplying an ambassade for the citie of Antioche to the Emperour Theodosius where is extolled a like the déede both of the byshop and the Emperour In the 9. homilye are commended those that absteyned from the custome of swearing In the homily 10. those that after meales repayâ—ed imediately to the church to heare the diuine sermon Nazianzenus hath left to posterytie thrée exquisit sermons as touching peace making atonemeÌ„t of parties at varieÌ„ce Concerning the praise of a thinge be these thexamples Psalm 119. conteyneth a praise of the lawe and worde of god Psal. 78. a praise of the church Psal. 133. a praise of vnitie and concorde Paule i. Cor. xii xiii xiiii commendeth diuers giftes especially prophesye which is the facultie of interpreting the Scriptures and loue To the praise of faith perteine those things that are read Heb. xi ChrisostoÌ„ in his tome v. praiseth almes giuing in a certaine homilie wherin he proueth it to be an arte and that truely of all arts the most gainefull Tertulian and Cyprian commend patience in Sermons purposely writen thereof As touching funerall sermons we haue spoken sufficiently before Those may be counted for Doxologiae which are expressed Esay 12.25.42 Againe likewise many of the Psal. songen in the way of thanks giuing but aboue the residue those are most fit apt herevnto wherein the whole multitude is prouoked to giue thankes and prayse God of which sort are the Psalmes 81.92.93.95.96.98 99.100.103.104.105 Chrisostom in his tome v. homilie xi exciteth the people to giue God thankes for their deliueraunce out of the daungers that were feared by reason of discorde and sedition Homilie xii he exhorteth them to be thankfull for their lybertie obteined of the Emperour Theodosius Lykewise in the homilye whiche he made after his returne out of exile Herevnto may be adioyned also thrée other homilies whereof in the first hee teacheth that God is to be thanked forasmuch as he commaundeth no grieuous thinge to be done in the second that to acknowledge GODS benefytes is the greatest Sacrifyce that may be in the thirde that we ought to be thankful vnto God not onely in wordes but also in déedes Of the kinde Correctiue Cap. XIII AS in the kinde of Sermons Redargutiue are properly confuted and amended all errors contayned in assertions or principles of doctrine Euen so in the kynde Epanorthotick or Correctiue is reproued corrected whatsoeuer is founde vicious and offensiue either in maners or rites Therfore to this kinde pertaine all Sermons and Orations ordeined to reclayme men to a better trade of life or to suppresse vniust dealinges or to condemne vices which are rifely vsed whither they doo consist in perswasions or disswasions either in dehortations or rebukements For all these formes must we vse when we take in hand to correct the maners and conditions of men For why we perswade and exhort that men leauinge vice woulde embrace vertue we disswade and dehort from those thinges that are iustly to be reproued Moreouer we
to bée true the excellent institution in the faculty of well speaking of the most famous men Cyprian Chrisostome Basilius Gregorius Nazianzenus and other doth aboundantly argue who being not a little furthered with the furniture of oratorycall arte became easely of all other the most notable Preachers But pronounciation for as much as it is now far otherwyse vsed then it was in times past and that all thinges ought with greater grauitie yea maiestie to bee done in the Temple then in the courte to the whiche onely the Rhetoritians somtime informed theyr Disciples agayne syth euery Prouince and euery language hath hys proper decorum and comelynesse both in Pronounciation and gesture which in an other place woulde not so well bee lyked off It shall be good for the Preacher not to searche the arte of Pronouncinge out of the Scholes of auncient Orators but to endeuour hymselfe rather to imitate those Maisters whom hee perceiueth aboue the residue to bee commended for their excellent grace and dexteritie in Pronounciation and behauiour especially in theyr owne natiue Countrye and region By all these thinges it may appeare that the Preacher hath many poyntes chiefely in Inuention wherein he differeth from the Orator Whiche thinge séeinge it is so it shall be our part in opening of Inuention to employ a specyall labour and dilygence Albeit in the meane time if wee shall perceiue any thing to happen by the way as touching disposition néedful to be marked we wyll in no wyse dissemble it ¶ What matter the Preacher shall choose to handle and entreate off Cap. V. CHriste in one place sayeth that the Ecclesiasticall teacher is lyke vnto an housholder which bringeth out of his treasury thinges both newe and olde And the Apostle calleth the same a faithfull and wyse stuarde or Dispensator in the house of GOD. Wherefore the Preacher shall with all dylygence and fydelytie applye hymselfe vnto this that as â—fte as he is purposed in his minde to teache and to exhybite some specyaltie of hys wysedome hee chose and selecte suche matter as may bée Profitable Easye and Necessarye Whiche how and after what sorte it ought to bée vnderstoode it is requisite that wee declare more at large The vniuersall doctrine of the Gospell is no doubt verye profitable but it falleth out how I knowe not that that is founde to engender most ample commodities especially with the rude people whereby Faith properly is nourished whereby men are prouoked to charytie and good woorkes and lastly whereby the hope as well of the true beléeuers as also of the good dooers is strengthened confirmed For the whole man as wel internell as externall hath néede to bee enstructed and taught not onelye as touching the duties of this lyfe present whereof some are towardes God and other some towards men but also as touching the expectation of the lyfe to come For thorowe the knowledge and righte vse of these thinges man fynallye is made perfect and procureth to himselfe an entryce to the true and euerlastinge felycitie And surely the doctrine of Faith and Loue or Charytie doth most duly teach and instruct this present lyfe when as faith agréeing to the inwarde man sheweth schiefelye what we owe vnto god loue enforming the outward maÌ„ teacheth what we owe not only vnto god but also to men But hope with the things that cleaue thervnto do certify vs of those benefits of the lyfe to come with the expectation whereof we ought to sustaine and proppe vp our languishing mindes weryed and laden with misery Wherfore the Preacher shall wholly be occupyed in handlyng and discoursing of these places most chiefly which are conteined vnder Faith Loue and Hope Now to Faith belong these places of the goodnes and power of God of the frée mercy of God towarde vs of the benefites purchased by Christ of the merit and effect of the death and of all the actions of Christe of the giftes of the holy ghost of repentaunce and true mortification of faith and spirituall viuification of the remission of sinnes of the iustification of man thorow faith in Iesus Christ of the right inuocation of the name of GOD of the daylye exercise of prayer of thankes giuinge of the sincere worshippinge of God as namely in what points it consisteth of the dignitie effect and the loue of the worde of God of the promises of God of confession of the knowne veritie of constancye in faith Lykewise against the abusers of the name of God against othes and swearing against sondry supersticions against rites of Idolatrie against new spronge vp heresies Also those first articles of relygion contayned in the Symboll of the apostles called the Creede are to be placed in this tribe or forme To the order of Loue perteine these places of the amendement of lyfe of the integritie of maners of chastitie of modestie of avoyding of offences of kyndnes and lyberalytie of almes and other good déedes of pacience of bearing the crosse of forgiuinge of those that hurte vs of praying for all men euen for our enimies of humilytie of obedience to magistarates Also of those thinges that become euery man in his callyng and trade of lyfe Moreouer against yâ—e against drounkennes against slaundryng and detraction against fornication against superfluitie in apparel other things against filthy idlenesse against vsurers against euill and noysome customes against al kinde of viâ—es which from time to time doe créepe in amongst vs Lastly to these ought to be added the declaration of the Decaloge especially the commaundements of the seconde table Now the doctrine of the churche of the communion of the Church of the authorytie of the Church of ecclesiastical discipline of the sacramentes of the institution and right vse of the same is wholy applyed to the exercise of faith and loue ioyntly together Last of all to Hope are these places to be referred of eternall life in the kingdome of heauen of the glory of the soules and bodyes after this lyfe with Christe sittinge at the right hand of God the father of the resurrection of the body of the last iudgement to be executed by Christe of the rewarde of good works in the world present and to come of the assured deliueraunce of the godly out of daungers of the paines and sondrye calamities of the wicked of the euerlasting condemnation of the vngodly But who is able to recken vp and rehearce all places in order These verely are the chiefe and principal which haue euery where in the sacred scriptures in the sermons of the Prophetes of Christ and the Apostles most plentifully expressed and that most holesomly are propounded and set foorth to the multitude in the Church and of which the teachers of the people shall neuer at any time sufficientlye neuer out of season entreate And that we haue rightlye and properlye recited and digested these said places this may be a proofe that the Apostle writinge to