Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	abraham_n	affirm_v	apostle_n	18	3	5.1110	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A68093	The practise of preaching, otherwise called the Pathway to the pulpet conteyning an excellent method how to frame diuine sermons, & to interpret the holy Scriptures according to the capacitie of the vulgar people. First written in Latin by the learned pastor of Christes Church, D. Andreas Hyperius: and now lately (to the profit of the same Church) Englished by Iohn Ludham, vicar of Wethersfeld. 1577.; De formandis concionibus sacris. English	Hyperius, Andreas, 1511-1564.; Ludham, John, d. 1613.; Orth, Wigand, 1537-1566.	1577 (1577)	STC 11758.5; ESTC S122044	265,657	396

alwaies an entier booke not alwaies a parte of a booke is offered to be declared but ofte times it behoueth the Sermon to bée framed to the people of one onely sentence or of one place of Scripture and the same also not very largely stretchinge But that the same order of gatheringe diuers common places shoulde héere bée vsurped which we haue shewed to be profitable in the premisses it can by no meanes bée What then will some man saye remaineth to bée done In what maner and method shal one place or one certain sentence bée fruitfully declared Wée so far forth as we maye will set forth a most syt and absolute forme which excepte any shall deuise a better it shall bée expedient for him to folowe and as well for breuities sake as also that it may become the more clere and euident we will comprehende the same in certaine obseruations I. Before all thinges it is conuenient very carefully to consider and to declare vnto the people vppon what occasion or to what ende the author of the sacred booke out of which the place or sentence is taken spake and pronounced those wordes And that for this cause that whilest wée declare of what matter wée will speake and what our purpose is we may credibly auouche that we will in no wise abuse an other mans sayinge neither transfer it vnto other purposes thē is méete but vsurpe it altogeher in the same or at leaste in the like cause for which the author himselfe did so speak After this maner we may sée Peter Act. 2. intendinge to interprete certayne wordes taken out of the Psalme 16. as touchinge Christe risynge againe from death prudently to add some thinges of Dauid and of his meaninge and iudgemente in those wordes And truely it standeth vs very much vppon to deale faithfully and vprightly in this behalfe For it is a greuous offence yea and the holy Ghost is moued with vnspeakeable reproch in cace a man doth force or wreste any sentence out of the scriptures to any other ende or purpose then becommeth him He that shall be founde to haue done this but once doth quickly loose all his authoritie with the hearers and afterwarde yea euen then when he alledgeth the Scriptures aright he shall hardely bee credited To apply aptely and properly the Scriptures to present busines and affaires is the principall vertue that belongeth to a preacher II. Where it is nowe discouered of what matter wée minde to entreate and declared that the sentence taken out of the holy scripture accordeth to our purpose the next poynt is that we diligently consider whether that very sentence as it standeth in the sacred writer doth minister any proofes at all of causes circumstaunces signes or discriptions agréeable to the busines of which entreaty is made As many as are founde to be such shall worthily before any other be brought forth and as those that be of greate weight and importaunce forasmuch as they answer to the minde and method of the author from whiche it is not lawfull vnaduisedly to depart and doe in all pointes agrée with our matters shall studiously be digested adorned and inculked Neither is it a hard matter to drawe forth such kinde of proofes or argumentes partly out of the thinges that lye hid and are included in the sentence it selfe and partely out of those things that either goe before or folowe after the same Of this kinde I would affyrme it to be tht Peter Act. 2. in that Sermon whereof mention is made before to the intent he might shew the he rightely vsurpeth the sayinge of Dauid reduceth into memory howe Dauid in that he was a prophet knewe before hand that Christe after the flesh should take his beginning out of his posteritye and therfore also by the inspiration of the holy Ghost prophesied before of Christes rising againe And whosoeuer is but meanely exercised in the holy scriptures may easely perceyue that in the same Psalme as of the death and great deiection of Christ so also certaine thinges are ioyntly spoken of his resurrection It is not much vnlyke that the Apostle Galat. 3. speakinge of the Gentiles that should be blessed in the séede of Abraham affirmeth those that are of faith to be the sonnes of Abraham and howe it was longe before tould vnto Abraham that it would please God to iustifie the Gentiles by fayth againe where he addeth that the inheritaunce was giuen vnto Abraham by promise III. Moreouer it is very profitable to make as it were a certaine resolution of the whole sacred sentence and to examine in a iust balaunce euery words therein and diligently to ensearche the significatiō force and vse of them And that to thint●nt out of euery of them may be gathered certaine argumentes or proofes agreable to the state of th appointed Sermon and may afterward be oportunely applied to teache and instruct the hearers Of which craft and diligence I meane in drawing foorth of proofes out of euery worde well nighe of any one sentence we haue the holye Scripture it selfe as a moste expert maistres and most faithfull teacher Which thing we will straight wayes make playne and euident III. After the wordes wisely weighed and considered it is requisite that we procéede with like industrye to a more exacte contemplation of the matters themselues or affayres which in euery sentence are signified For it is not very lykely that there shoulde any where happen thinges of them selues so barren that a man may not out of thē if at least he be not altogither endued with a blount and blockishe witte deuise and excogitate some profes profitable to teach He that hath once throughlye sifted and examined the thinges whereof he entreath may easely finde the meanes to make his oration become both frutefull plentious and delectable We see in this behalfe the Apostle Paule after arguments drawē out of euery worde of one peculiar sentence to heape vp still a plentifull matter of other proofes and the same flowing out of the nature of the thinges themselues The examples which we will a litell after touche shall plainely testifie this thinge to he true V. Last of all to him that feareth and suspecteth that he shall want sufficient matter of speaking we giue this aduice namely that he put before his eyes the places of inuencion which he knoweth to be attributed vnto that kinde of Sermons to which the sentence of the sacred author appertayneth For euery kinde of sermon as is afore sayde hath certayne proper and peculiar places of inuention the order whereof beinge attentiuely considered we are eftsones admonished of many thinges which maye aptely be spoken of eche kinde of busines taken in hande Therefore him that shall speake of a sentence or state of the kinde didascalick we remitte to the places of inuentiō as well diuine as other not diuine that he may so longe exercyse himselfe in them as that he maye procure for his true méete and sufficient furniture therby Of which

of faith or the principall poyntes and common places of christian doctrine And it is no straunge matter in one and the selfe same sentence to fynde things couched and bestowed that doe belong to many and diuers common places of chirstian religion Where if to be short we would goe about to confirme the sentence there noted and perceiued with one or two testiemonies of Scripture it is incredible how trimly the matter woulde goe forwarde in asmuch as our oration should become not onely more cleere and lightsome but also more riche and plenteous II Redargution ministreth vnto our mindes how that the confutation of false assertions is dilligentlye to bee sought out For so much is signifyed by the name of Redargution He that will goe about to prepare redargution shall firste seriously consider whether the very wordes of Scripture simply taken doe apparauntly confute and false opinion or no. Where if it be so in déede then is redargution plaine of it selfe neither is it néedefull to procéede any further for the serching out therof But if there be extant no open redargution but rather a doctrine and assertion of some true opinion it behoueth thée to recoūt studiously with thy selfe whether in these daies or in times past any hereticks or philosophers or wise men of this world haue at any time mayntayned the contrary sentence Such a sentence false and contrary being founde it is to be déemed that the same is confuted with those verye wordes of Scripture with which the true assertion was confirmed For it is out of al question that a true sentence or opinion being offered whatsoeuer is inferred repugnaunte thervnto is to be counted amonge false and erronious opinions By meanes wherof it commeth to passe that euery false sentence is by the same reason impugned and subuerted by which the true was before defended and mayntayned As for example Rom. ● it is sayde that through sy●n●●ame death In these wordes is contayned a true sentence namelye touching the effect of sinne And certes very aptly is added eftsoones a redargution where a man out of them gathereth and reasoneth their opinion to be false and vntrue which following that subtil serpent go about to perswade men that death is in no wise to be feared by reason of sin and by that meanes doe blinde the miserable mindes of men and thruste them headlonge into eternall destruction III Institution wherevnto are reduced all places touchyng the good and godly framing of lyfe and maners it is no very hard matter to fynde Oft times the sentence which occurreth in holy scripture comprehendeth a notable exhortation vnto vertue or els sheweth how the lyfe maners of a Christian man ought to be without all sinne and offence The sentences therfore that are of themselues such it is méete they be accepted for holsom admonitions Examples not a few are to be founde in the later partes of the epistles of Sainct Paule in whiche the Apostle alwayes for the most part contendeth that it behoueth those that are once iustifyed by faith to passe all their whole liues in godly conuersation and honesty That thing is witnessed in the epistle to the Romanes Cap. 12.13 c. Likewise in the epistle to the Galat. in part of the cap. 5. and cap. 6. the whole to the Ephesians cap 4.5.6 But where as be not such apparaunt exhortations but haply some sentēces are declared there may neuerthelesse rasely be gathered out of the same those thinges that conduce to the right institution of life That thing is most conueniently brought to passe when the vse of euery sentence or assertion is brought to light so farre forth as it is applied to the common course of mans life The Apostle Romans 6. teacheth vs this sentence saying We ought not to abuse the grace of God to the lilbertie of sinne He addeth a reason on the contrary part Because we are dead vnto sinne The proofe of the same reason followeth of the effect and ende of Baptisme In Baptisme we renownce and dye vnto sinne By and by he annexeth an exhortation or institution deriued out of the proper vse of the same assertions Euen so we also saieth he ought to walke in newnesse of lyfe Agayne the Apostle confirminge the ende or effect of Baptisme by a reason taken of the efficatie of Christes death saith that death was vtterly vanquished of Christ that it hath no more power ouer hym Which truely ought to bee taken for a principle Then forth with the Apostle herevppon sorteth out an institution meruaylously to the purpose Let not sinne saith hée raigne in your mortall bodye To the same effecte when one hath explaned the doctrine touchinge the will of man and the weakenes of our owne strenght he shall w good right and this that we are to bée instructed and admonished by that generall sentence howe wee ought acknowledging our so great infirmitie to bee humble and méeke not to stande high in our owne conceytes to attribute nothinge vnto our selues to depende wholly vppon God onely which gouerneth our will and actions and finally to looke for all good thinges of him alone In whiche behalfe wée maye sée some thinges heaped together of the Apostle Rom. 7. These things vndoubtedly bée of great importaunce to the information of life in rightuousnes as euery man may perceyue IIII Correction or Reprehension is contrary to Institution as that which sharply controlleth the vices and corruptions of maners Therfore after the collection of Instytutions Corrections may without difficulty be excogitate For he that speaking of the effecte and ende of Babtisme had added to a notable institution saying Those that are baptised ought to walke in newnesse of lyfe He also in very good season inferreth a grieuous Correction blaminge those namely with a vehement and sharpe Oration which albeit they delight to be called Christians yet neuertheles liue a lyfe nothinge aunswerable to their most holy profession and doe so behaue themselues in all their dealinges as though they had quight forgotten that they were once baptysed into the name of Christ But hée that can wysely discerne vnto what vertues godly actions what vices are directly contrary he will sone call to minde howe after institutions put forth touchinge any maner of cause hée may adioyne also Corrections congruent both to the persones tyme and businesse V Consolations according to the frequency greatnesse of thaduersities and discommodities that trouble vs are dilligently to bée sought for of euery man But of those inespecially that are somwhat exercised in the bookes of holy Scripture they maye easely hée drawen forth at all tymes And that not onely bicause in thē aswel sētences as examples doo euery wher offer themselues yeldinge most plentifull matter of consolations agaynst all calamities and misfortunes but also for somuch as they may very welbe selected out of the assertions which a lytell before were declared For why may not seinge somewhat nowe is already spoken touching the effect of Baytisme

necessitie be drawen and made apte of God to euery kinde of callinge Let vs take in hande an other example not historycall out of the epistle to the Romains the sixte Chapter As many of vs as are baptized into Iesus Christe are baptized into his death Wee are buryed then with him by baptisme into his death that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father euen so wee also should walke in newnes of lyfe For if wee be grafte together in him by the likenes of his death wee shall in like maner be partakers of the resurrection Knowinge this that our olde man is crucifyed with him also that the bodye of sinne might vtterly bee destroyed that henceforth we should not serue sin For he that is deade is iustified from sinne And if we bee deade with Christ wee beleeue that wee shall also liue with him knowinge that Christ beynge raysed from the deade dyeth no more death hath no more power ouer him For as touchinge that he died he died concerninge sin once And as touching that hee liueth hee liueth vnto god Likewise reken your selues to be deade to sinne but aliue vnto God thorough Iesus Christ our Lorde The state is That those which are once iustifyed thorough faith and baptized into Christ ought alwayes after to liue godly and Christianly Which thinge the apostle also els where very often and with pithy reasons auoucheth This readinge therefore is ascribed to the kinde didascalick I. Here before all things is commended vnto vs baptisme as beinge instituted of Christ our Lord takinge effectes of his most pretious bloude and death and as that which is necessary to all beleuers forasmuch as by it they are engraffed into the Churche of God and by reason of it are named Christians II. The effectes of baptisme ough● exactely to be obserued especially that by baptisme we are made pertakers of the death of Christ and of all the benefites deriued therefrom to the beléeuers of which sorte are remission of sinnes passed lyfe euerlasting saluation c. Moreouer that it behoueth all those that are baptized to dye vnto sinne and liue only vnto rightuousnes For thus the Apostle reasoneth All we which are baptized are made pertakers of the death of Christ But Christ dying dyed vnto sinne Therefore are we also by baptisme deade vnto sinne And if we be deads vnto sin it were very conuenient for vs to couet to liue againe therevnto And certes it is true that we in baptisme do dye vnto sinne and sinne dyeth vnto vs forasmuche as in baptisme all our sinnes are washed awaye and the holy Ghost is giuen vnto vs by whom bothe the force of sinne and concupiscence is restrained and repressed and we not onely are induced to well dooing but also are vehemently holpen forward For this cause also all afore they be baptized doe openly before the church of God forsake the world and the diuel that brought sinne into the worlde to the intent they might therby declare that they will hereafter haue no maner of thinge to doe with them but will institute a newe and holy kinde of life III. they that are once babtized into Christ ought highly to estéeme all thinges that are put forth as touchinge Christ forasmuch as Christ is giuen vnto vs not onely to paye the price of our redemption out of the power of the diuell and also to be an example and whom wée should with al our endeuoure imitate and folowe in those thinges specially which may be conuenient for vs. Hitherto perteyne the two reasons whereby the Apostle plainly proueth that we for that we are baptized ought to be dead vnto sinne The one is taken of the effect and finall cause of the death of Christ You knowe saith he that this is the proper effect and ende of Christes death that sinne is abolished that to thintent we should not serue it any more But this effect of Christes death he séemeth to despise whosoeuer after remission of sinnes once receiued wyll returne againe vnto sinne Wherefore it is necessary● that we remayne styll dead vnto sinne The other reason is deriued of a similitude as touchinge ciuill seruitude which by the comminge of death taketh an ende As he that ciuilly is a bondeman so soone as he dyeth is deliuered from his power to whome hée was bounde Euen so we which were the bondeslaues of sinne séeinge in baptisme we dye once with Christ ought by no meanes to serue sinne any more Here therefore is set forth vnto vs the example of Christ himselfe whom both in dyinge once vnto sinne and liuinge againe vnto roghtuousenes we ought to imitate and folowe By this dilygent imitation we shall both be called and be in very deade perfect Christians These examples thus to haue propounded be it sufficient Further amongest the auncient writers of homilies very many thinges the same also right learned may of euery man be noted Chrisostom deuided his homily 60. vppon Mathewe entreating vppon those wordes of the. 18. chapter woe be vnto the worlde bycause of offences it must needes be that offences come c. Into two partes whereof in the former he argueth very grauely certes and yet popularly and with great cunning as touchinge the cause of sinne in the later by reason of those wordes Take heede that ye despise not one of these litell ones he entreateth of the not contemning of our bretheren whence at the length he slippeth to a place as concerninge the care that parentes oughte to haue least their children be idely and filthily brought vp The same in his homilie 62. declaring out of the sayd Chapter of Mathewe the parable of the man that was a kinge which would take accountes of his seruauntes chooseth these pomtes most chiefely to discusse at large first that sinnes are not alike Seconde where as wée which offende against God deseruinge most excellently well at our handes and against men do couet notwithstanding to haue all our offences forgiuen vs that it is very good reason why we should in like maner forbeare others that haue by any meanes hurt or endammaged vs Third that it is better to suffer wrong whereby an other mollesteth thée then to offer or inferre iniury to an other But in these dayes specially thou shalt sé all the most notable preachers for the most part to deuide their Sermons which they haue vnto the people into thrée or fower chapters partes or common places I suppose therfore that those whom we haue taken in hand to instruct can not iustly complaine that they want any excelent authors whose counsayles and steppes they may followe But to procéede the partes after they be in this sorte once noted and disposed they are accustomed ofte times to explane more at large namely by inferringe as well proofes and sentences as also apte historyes out of the store house of the holy Scriptures Moreouer by applying similitudes comparisons and whatsoeuer els is of

iudgement when as wretched man is so many wayes euery where beset with perils and for the causes that he least supposeth found giltie of sinne For by this meanes the whole worlde is in daungered to God and God concludeth al men vnder vnbeléefe which neuerthelesse we may not so interpret to be done that he shoulde destroy all men and damne them for euer but rather that he shoulde haue compassion vpon all men and by that meanes set forth and make knowne his goodnesse euery where Howbeit these thinges doe admonishe all the sorte of vs that we should be sober vigilant ware circumspect and that we should studiously avoyde not onely open and manifest but also priuy and secret sinnes yea all occasion of sinne and euen suspition also We are lilke vnto Pilgrimes or to those that trauaile in a straunge and vnknowne country by waies in which we are euery moment in daunger of théeues wilde and venemous beasts waters downe falles such lyke hurtful and perillous things The diuell the worlde and our flesh doe neuer cease to lye in awayt for vs they séeke by a thousand wiles to draw vs into their nets and snares But we must resist valiantly striue against thē by faith prayers fastings by the word of God and other spiritual weapons which Christe the inuincible confounder of all vices and wicked spirites hath prepared hath vouched safe to shew vs how we should vse them 1. Pet. 5. Ephe. 5. Math. 4.17 c. Thou séest what great plenty of things doe offer themselues and how large fields are opened vnto him that wyll procéede after this maner Wherfore we will make an ende In asmuch as the other questions may be reserued tyll an other time namely that touching the causes of sinne and another touchinge the effectes of which sort in the scriptures are handeled no smal number and alas wretches that we be in so many troubles and calamities of our times great store may dayly be obserued But forasmuch as death also is numbred amonge the effects of sinne we will adde lykewise an example but briefely handeled as thouching this He that will speake therfore of death may aptly prefixe two questions out of which he shall finde sufficient plenty of matters that he may declare to the commodytie of his hearers Let them therfore be these What death is and what the effects of death For a description or definition of death this may be had Death is the penalty of sinne iustly inflicted of god vnto al men like as al men also are sinners It is deriued of the causes and aboundantly proued by the testimonies of the scriptures God threateneth the payne of death vnto sinners The reward of sinne is death Through one man sinne entred into the world and through sinne death and so death came vpō al men inasmuch as al we haue sinned In which place are touched the chiefe causes of death man I say sinne whervnto may be added out of Gene. 2. the the Serpent also or the diuell is the author of death which to the Hebrues 2. is sayd to holde the empier of death Heb 9 it is saide This is appointed to all men that they shall once dye and after that commeth the iudgement Out of which places diuers and sundry things may be drawen to demonstrate more amply what Death is And by like industrye may the godly be excited to true humilitie of minde to the contempt of carthly thinges to passe theyr lyfe in the feare of God to call vpon Gods mercy for the intigation of the paynes whiche we through our sinnes haue deserued c. When he shall come to the question of the effectes it shal be necessary to discerne the effects of death in the Godly from the effects of death in the vngodly and that partlye by this meanes first The godly are perswaded that death shal in no wise happen vnto thē to their condemnation destruction but rather to their health and saluation inasmuch as the sentence of dampnation now long since pronounced agaynst vs is by the death of Christe vtterlye cancelled and rased out The law of the spirite of lyfe through Christe Iesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and death Christe by his death hath abolished the power of death Christe hath once suffered for our sinnes the iust for the vniust that he might bring vs to god We know that if our earthly māsion of this tabernacle bee destroyed wee haue an other building of God a mansion not made with handes but eternal in heauen But as touching the vngodly● they know that death is appointed to them as a moste bitter paine doe féele vndoubtedly the heauy iudgement of damnation by reason whereof it commeth to passe also that in temptations but chiefely in their extreame conflictes they are vehemently troubled afflicted and doe miserably faint and giue ouer I will not say for the most parte vtterly dispayre For what can they els doe in whom remayneth no hope or confidence at all touching the remission of their sinnes Euill shall slea the vngodly and they that hate the rightuous shall be desolate Secondly The godly forasmuch as they suffer continually many aduersities and so long as they liue in this worlde are vexed of the vngodly doe willingly longe after death and with ioyfull mindes imbrace it as they that are not ignoraūt that by it is giuen vnto them an entraunce to a happy blessed life I desyre saith Saint Paule to be dissolued and be with Christ We mourne inwardly in our selues for the adoption looking for the redemption of our body We grone in this our tabernacle longing to be translated into that which is from heauen And after a few words Wee truste and doe better lyke to be farre away absent from the body and to be present with God. And 2. Pet. 1. Death is called the putting off of this tabernacle On the other side the vngodlye for that they enioy héere in this life wealth prosperitie and all thinges happen vnto them for the moste part after their hartes desyre are plucked away sore against their willes and doe take it very grieuouslye if a man doth but once make mention of death vnto them But what followeth When they flatter themselues most of all and thinke to settle themselues heere most sure sayinge O soule thou haste great aboundance of wealth enioye it at thy pleasure Not long after yea the very same time when they least do suspect they héere it sayde Thou foole this night shall they fetch thy soule from thee And generally both of the godly and vngodly we reade 2. Thes 1. It is a rightuous thing with God to render vnto those that persecute you afflictiō vnto you that are persecuted peace tranquilitie with vs when our lord Iesus shall be reuealed from heauen And moreouer Abrahā saieth vnto the ritch man Luk. 16. Sonne remēber that thou in thy life time receiuedst

thy pleasure and Lazarus in like maner receyued paine but now is he comforted and thou art punished Thirdly when death is now to be entred into the godlye are not afrayde they remayne constant and inuincible they pray and call vpon GOD they desyre to haue their sinnes pardoned through Christe they prayse and extoll their most mercifull and heauenly father they giue hym thankes they wholly dedicate and commend all that euer they haue vnto hym They say w the apostle I am fully perswaded that neither death neither lyfe can separate vs from the loue of God whiche is in Christ Iesu our lorde And agayne Rom. xiiii whether we liue or die we are the Lords But the wicked vngodly are altogether troubled they tremble for feare their harts faile them they are angry with God they cursse they blaspheme An example of such great diuersitie we may behold in the two théeues that were hanged on the crosse with Christ of whō both the actions endes are described to be very diuers Luke 23. Fourthly The godly being now dead do rise again to euerlastīg life but to the wicked remaineth a second death to be suffered after the death of their body This difference moreouer is expressed Luk. 16 by a manyfest document as touching the ritch man and Lazerus These things be of no small force and moment to admonish and warne all estates of men The vngodly may in good time be admonished to bethink them of conuersion and amendement of lyfe To the auoydinge of sinnes it wyll profyt greatly if they oft times be mindefull of death and of those thinges that follow after death The godly againe may learne out of al these thinges how they ought to behaue themselues as well in their lyfe as also in death it selfe they may learne that deathe is in no wise to be feared of them they may learne to despise the world and all thinges that are in the worlde they may rightly prepare themselues vnto death throughout their whole life they may minister vnto others that are sicke and at the poynt of death apte consolations they may learne how to strengthen and sustaine themselues in their very last conflict with death He that shall both by good reasons and also by apte and plaine words declare and illustrate all these thinges or certaine other haply besides not disagréeing from his purpose shal be iudged to haue bestowed a very good and holsome labour in speaking But as I sayde there is left great libertie in the handeling of these kinde of theames to the teachers in the church forasmuche as it behoueth them ofte times to enterlace many thinges that conduce to reproue them that be of a sinister iudgement to exhort to rebuke to comfort by reason wherof it commeth to passe that the bounds of the Logicians be of necessitie transgressed Chrisostome ofte times compareth the ministers of the worde with those men that vse to furnishe their tables with deinty and delicate meates the better to entertaine many guestes of diuers and sondry dietes And very aptlye in my opinion For lyke as that feast maker is not thought to satisfy his guestes that setteth before thē one onely kinde of meate and that alwayes dressed after one the same maner but ought rather euer anon to alter the kindes of meate and then cause them to be brought vnto the bourd now dressed after this fashion now after that Euen so the Preacher except he vse somtimes chaunge and varietie of matter in the inuention and disposition of thinges the hearers will soone be weryed and yrked euen glutted as ye would say with a certaine fulnesse and lothsomnesse of stomack Wherfore it may truely be saide that it is a work moste harde and difficult to prescribe rules or perpetuall obseruations and suche as may be sufficient to the colledge of Preachers One most certayne rule there is and that can in no wise deceiue vs namely to imitate and followe with all dilygence and endeuour the examples of the holy Sermons which are extant as well in the sacred scriptures as also whiche are read in all the most allowed Doctors of the Church Albeit there is no doubt but that the holy Ghost also the Prince and a lonely maister of all true teachers what time he is in the beginning of the sacred Sermon with a feruent harte and perfect fayth called vpon wyll both liberally minister and suggest and also most wisely dispose and put in order what thinges so euer are to be spoken so farre foorth that the excellent preachers doe oft times perceyue far other matters to come into their mindes standing in the pulpit then they had premeditated at 〈◊〉 and that the same matters vttered ex tempore the 〈◊〉 to a better yssue and are more gredily and fruitfully receyued of the hearers then those which they had before exactely prepared and digested Howebeit examples of Sermons in which are to bée sene simple theames godly and profitably handeled thou maist finde in Chysostome in his fift Tome as touching praier fastinge repentaunce of which also he entreateth ther in many sermons Of his sermons touchinge gods prouidence we haue before mentioned There be besides in mennes handes certaine orations of Basilius magnus concerninge fastinge baptisme humilitie thankes giuing ire enuye And of Gregorius Nazianzenus touchinge peace touchinge baptisme I can not but that I must needes add by the waye for the better admonishemente of the reader that a simple theame is at some times in such wise declared that the whole tractation thereof doth passe to an other kinde of Sermon then to the kinde didascalick Some one promiseth peraduenture that he will entreate of almes but whilest hee goeth on his whole Oration is spent in exhorting and perswading that all men woulde giue gladly to the poore It is certaine that this Sermon shal more iustly be referred to the kinde Institutiue then to the kinde didascalick Agayne one taketh in hande to entreate of death but he teacheth in the meane time that it is not to be feared of the godly the the dead are not immoderatly to be lamēted May not a man say the he comforteth more rather then teacheth In lyke maner he the intendeth to speake of ire or enuy and reproueth those vices as vehementlye as hee can declaring that they are greatly to be abandoned of all men there is no man I suppose that will not graunt hym to be occupied in the kynde Correctiue ¶ What the way and maner is to declare a theame compound in the kinde didascalick Cap. IX A Theame compound is then offered to bée handeled when the state of the Sermon to bée had is declared in many wordes euen in a full proposition as the Logicians vse to speake as when we say Christ is very God and very man man is iustified by faith without workes they that are iustified ought to bée giuen to good workes the dead shall rise or reuiue againe But as oft