in the meane time the poore Minister hath found the Text and preached it though it takes no successe and it is a Text to be taught all and his Text is Deut. 14.22 Deut. 14 22. Thou shalt truly tithe of all thy increase And he is bound to preach this for how can he preach vnlesse he be maintained and bound because hee heareth God curse where man denieth tithe Reade when you come home with horrour Mal. 3.8 Mal. 3.8 Will a man rob God yet yee haue robbed mee saith the Lord. But yee say Wherein haue wee robbed thee His answer is In tithes and offerings therefore yee are cursed with a curse But I forget my selfe Christs salutation in the resurrection was Peace be vnto you and I bring to you a Gospell of peace Arise therefore thou that sleepest if Christ shall giue thee life let not Adams apple Achans wedge Esaus broth Babylons cuppe Iudas soppe betray thee the snares of Sathan fetters of the flesh chambers of death workes of darknesse chaines of hell enthrall thee arise by Christ to Christ with Christ as if yee had embraced this Gospell of Christ seeing this Gospell is a preached Gospell My second passage Preaching is the ordinary meanes to worke beleeuing It is the Trumpet of Esay the Cymball of Dauid the sound of Aarons bels in the Sanctuarie the sauour of life vnto life vnto them that beleeue It is a speech to men to edification exhortation 1 Cor 14.3 comfort 1 Cor. 14.3 Preaching is the cesterne to conuay life and beleefe to the soule the knife to diuide the Scripture the key of the Kingdome of heauen Ier 23.29 Rom. 1.16 Ier. 23.29 Esay 55.11 Ephâ—s 6.17 Heb. 4.12 a fire Ier. 23.29 a power Rom. 1.16 a hammer Ier. 23.29 a shower Esay 55.11 a sword euen the sword of the spirit Ephes 6.17 A sword sharper then a two-edged sword Heb. 4.12 The Proclamation which the Lord hath vsed by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world beganne whereby God hath euer selected a vocation of men to deale betwixt God and man whose preaching in their ministerie is aboue all other Oratorie as the Schooles obserue Aquin. Allâ—rt Dicere infra Docere circa Predicare supra Wee speake of things beneath vs our teaching is of those things about vs but preaching is of things aboue vs. In the Primitiue world the first borne was the Priest and Preacher to the familie Before the Floud Enoch a Preacher of Righteousnesse Iude 14. At the Floud Noah a Preacher of Righteousnesse 2 Pet. 2.5 Before the Law Melchisedecke a King and Priest Gen. 14.18 In the Law Salomon a King a Preacher Eccles 1.1 The Lord neuer intended his word should be laid vp only as the Tables of Moses or the sword of Godliah or the Kings Treasurie in the Temple but ordained an Ecclâ—siasticall Hierarchie for his Church by a Tribe of his chusing to breake the bread of life to his chosen Aaron so honored with the Miter Censor Altar Crowne royall roabes Deut 33.10 and miraculous rod he and his Tribe were inioyned by God to teach Iacob his iudgements and Israel his Lawes Deut. 33.10 The very forme of our preaching was practised by the Leuites vnder the Law Nehemiah 8. verse 2. The meeting of the Congregation verse 3. Place in the street neere the water gate 4. Esra the Priest stood in a Pulpit made of wood 6. His Praier before Sermon the Prophets Amen 5. His opening the booke 8. His reading the Text opening the meaning giuing the sense causing them to vnderstand Thus preaching vnder the Law Vnder the Gospell it was the ministerie of reconciliation the promulgation of the glad tidings of the Gospell and the imploying of the Talent God bestoweth Talentum quod creditum non quod inuentum saith Lirinensis A Talent receiued not deuised Lirinens Then by preaching hearing by hearing faith obtained Neuer was there so large a Commission granted as the Commission of preaching Goe into all Nations Matt. 28.19 And as large was the execution for they preached in euery City Acts 15.21 in euery Church Acts 19.23 in euery place Mark 16.20 at euery time in season out of season 2 Tim. 4.2 to euery creature vnder heauen Mark 16.15 The Gospell was thus generally preached and to the end of the world must be preached From which word preached as out of a fountaine ariseth this streame of Doctrine The preaching of the Gospell is both the especiall ordinance and great blessing of God The reason because it is a light to them that sit in darknesse and a light that God hath appointed to bee carried before his people A light indeede to them that sate in darknesse where the Prince of darknesse and power of darknesse and workes of darknesse and shadow of death did ouerwhelme them There neuer was so great miserie in Israel as when no Prophet to teach them Three especiall remarkable wants all harbingers of woe to Israel No Smith in Israel 1 Sam. 13.19 No King in Israel Iudges 18.1 No Priest in Israel 2 Chron. 15.3 the last of all the rest most miserable As dolefull as fearfull is Dauids complaint of that time Wee see no tokens there is no Prophet more no man of God in the Land no man that vnderstandeth any more no teaching no Law no peace no God among them because no Priest among them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hâ—mer Iliâ— l. â— All things ouerthwart declining crooked nay cursed The word therefore is a light vnto our feet and a lampe to our paths and the preaching of this word so necessary that as without hearing no beleeuing Rom 10.14 so no hearing without preaching Rom. 10 14. And where no preaching the people perish Pro. 29.18 I denie not that reading is a blessed exercise Reu. 1.3 and blessed is he that readeth Reuel 1.3 A great part of S. Austins conuersion is imputed to his reading of a place of Scripture but sure I am that the Promise is annexed to preaching and S. Austin confesseth Aâ—stin Câ—â—fâ—s that by S. Ambrose preaching he was especially conuerted So in his confession to God may be collected Ad cum Deus per te ducebar nescius vt ad te per cum sciens ducerer Austin It was preaching rather then baptizing wherein our Sauiour was exercised Iohn 4.2 Fecit mira dixit multa saith Bernard hee wrought miracles hee spake Oracles Bern. But as if hee had onely come to the world to preach he proclaimes himselfe Luk. 4.18.19 The spirit of the Lord is vpon mee Luk. 4.18 and hath anointed mee to preach to preach the Gospell to the poore to preach deliuerance to the captiues to preach the acceptable yeere of the Lord. In the Primitiue Church they traueld thirsted hungered laboured sweat and bled and died and compassed sea and land for the obtaining of this Iewell and in that Infancie of the Church hauing found preaching
her greene figges and the Vines with their tender grapes yeeld a good smell Arise my Loue my Doue my Faire one Austin and come away Exultet vniuersus mundus Let the world reioyce and all that are therein The righteous branch of the root of Iesse hath reflourished the Lion of the Tribe of Iudah is awakened our Phenix is risen from his owne ashes our Eagle renewed his bill our Ioseph is brought out of prison our Sampson hath carried away the gates of Assah our Mordecai is exalted our Daniel deliuered from the denne our Ionas is cast vp by the whale our Lazarus restored to life our Glory our Gospell our Glad tidings our Christ is risen from the dead Let vs then aboue all other meditations reioyce in the knowledge of the Gospell of Christ Vse and especially in the remembrance of the resurrection of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ seeing that as the Gospell is the power of God to saluation so the resurrection of all other parts hath manifested the power of our redemption from the graue from sinne from death from the Deuill Let vs reioyce in the resurrection of our Lord and Sauiur seeing by this hee shall raise our vile bodies to bee like his glorious body Let vs with all care embrace this faith seeing the bright morning starre which was darkned by death hath recouered light let vs be sure he will bring vs out of darknesse into the light of his countenance Abraham saw the day of Christs birth Gâ—eg Mor. Esay fore saw the day of Christs death Iob saw the day his dunghill Let vs beginne the first resurrection from sinne to grace that wee may be raised from nature to glory Of all the Feasts of the whole Church in the whole yeere wee haue none like this the Church inioyneth the rest Scripture commands this S. Paul giues an iniunction for celebrating of Easter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ our Passeouer is offered for vs 1 Cor. 5.7 let vs keepe the Feast our Passeouer for vs let vs Nostrum Nobis Nos Christ the Passeouer indeed as hee was offered and our Passeouer as he was raised passing from death to life Let vs then keepe this Feast Pauls iniunction is an Epistle for this Gospell of this Feast All the Saints on earth through the Christian world keepe this Feast as their ioy and Iubile All the Angels in heauen saith Cyprian obserue the same Cyprian Ipsi Angeli eius gaudia Paschata agunt in coelestibus Let vs then obserue these solemnities in the meditation of this Gospell with all reuerence to this glad tidings of Christs resurrection Let vs keepe the feast not with old leauen not with the old leauen of malice and wickednesse but with the vnleauened bread of sinceritie and truth Let the dead burie their dead let vs bring forth some fruits of the Gospell to arise from dead workes to serue the liuing God Epicures Basilidians Sadduces Saturnians denie the truth of Christs resurrection let not vs denie the power Which we doe if wee bring not forth the fruits of the Gospell if we cast not off the workes of death and darknesse Christ appeared first to Mary Magdalen and sent her to be the first messenger to Peter Christ to Magdalen Magdalen to Peter Magdalen the greatest sinner among women Peter the greatest sinner among men Magdalen to Peter Magdalen cleansed of seuen Deuils sent to Peter pardoned of three denials Let Magdalen and Peter preach this to you or rather Christ himselfe and this day if ye will heare his voice Psal 95.7 harden not your hearts Beloued hee that is risen from the graue is not risen in all your hearts with the Pharisies yee haue laid a stone and the Deuill he hath laid the watch and that heauy graue stone of sinne sealed downe presseth downe soules few will be raised few shall bee saued The hypocrite dares not rise hee hath so many shapes he feareth God will not know him if he meet him The harlot cannot rise shee is a dead soule in a painted Sepulchre The drunkard would rise but hath neither hand nor foot to help himselfe the earths monster and his owne murtherer The Gallant like Lazarus in the graue is fast bound is close prisoner to his owne clothes The Vsurer is Iaylor to other mens bonds and bondslaue to his owne money The Courtier of all other is most carefull to rise yet no man sleepes longer either fettered with hopes or ensnared by fancie or bewitched by fauâ—ur but beginning with false footing fals and lies by it The plaine Country man riseth vp early goeth late to bed eateth the bread of carefulnesse obserueth how dearth ariseth but for other rising he beleeues it is enough if hee shall rise at the last day The Citizen of all other is most likely to arise the Citie being the Sea into which all the fresh riuers runne though many ships here suffer shipwracke The Citizen is willing to rise for it is impossible how he should sleepe and as worthy to rise as any he is the States Treasurer and the Lands Pillar and sure the Citizens rising would be blessed if hiâ— staires were not crooked We our selues that preach the resurrection cannot rise because we will not heare our selues The Church as well as Church-yard is full of dead bodies willingly would many of vs rise though by Simon Magus acquaintance others would rise but they haue no Angels to put them into the Poole others are risen and worse then Magdalen neuer preached since their resurrection Beloued these are not the fruits of the Gospell not the fruits of the resurrection I am no Satyre nor this place a Pasquill I acknowledge many and many blessed seruants of God to be fruitfull in this doctrine in Church Court Citie Countrey yet be there not in this Auditorie that would be more heartily inflamed with some other Gospell then this Gospell some other doctrine then this of the Resurrection Som◠〈◊〉 Caâ—iz 〈…〉 would willingly heare this Texâ— praâ—â—ised Owe nothâ—â—â— to any man but loue and some pooâ—e Creditors this Tâ—xâ— vrged The good man is mâ—rcifull and lendeth Some greaâ— Lawyers desire to heare this Text pressed The Law is good if a man vse it lawfully 1. Tim. 1.8 but some poore Clients this Text opened Brethren there is vtterly a fault among you that yee goe to law one with another 1. Cor 6.7 The Glutton would no Text but this Goe eat of the fat and drinke of the sweet Nehemiah 8.10 The I surer none but this Text A wise man put out his Talents to vse Mat. 25.14 The Country man would heare the Citie and Countrey compared to Pharaohs fat and leane kine the one deuouring the other The Citizen and Countrey man would heare that Christ was first persecuted by the Court at his birth by Herod and his Court at his death by Pâ—late and his Court. Of all Texts there is one tedious to all in Countrey and City Yet
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many tooke in hand to write this Gospell And Theophilact vpon those words b Theoph. in 1. Luke saith attentarunt quidem Psetâ—doapostols non perfecerunt Clemens Alexandrinus tells vs the Tatiani had a Gospell secundum Egiptios and Epiphanius that some had a Gospell secundum Hebraeos Gnostickes had the Gospell of Philip and the Maniches the Gospell of Thomas and others the Gospell of Matthias But Basilides of all others as Saint Hierome obserues was the most bold and blasphemous that durst write a booke and entitle it his Gospell But as all the Fathers confuted those heresies and stopped the mouthes of these blasphemies so especially Irenaeus by the foure windes Saint Hierome out of Zacharies vision c Zach. 6.1 by the foure Chariots and Saint Austin out of Ezekiels vision d Ezek. 1.6 by the foure Cherubins shew there be no more but foure Euangelists and these foure to concurre to one quatuor Euangelia esse vnum Euangelium et si aliud atque aliud ob personaruÌ„ differentiam vnum tamen ob eorum quae loquuntur consonantiam saith Chrysostome the Gospell is therefore the glad-tidings of God to saluation Chrysost tom 4. in Epist ad Gal. bringing the ioyfull message that Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners the Law was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f 2 Cor. 3.7 but the Gospell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Law of death was turned into the Gospell of life and therefore was Moses in the transfiguration with Christ because the Law of Moses was transfigured by the Gospell of Christ Now the Gospell doth consider Christ especially either as hee was corpus carnis in his incarnation in the veile of flesh or as corpus mortis in his Passion as hee was in the shaddow of death or as primitiae resurrectionis in his resurrection and triumph ouer death and as in all other of Christ his passages so especially in these the Gospell is the glad-tidings it was glad-tiding in his birth when the Messenger was an Angell the message a Gospell but when the Sauiour of men and Angells deliuers a Gospell much more it is glad-tidings So is it here where our Sauiour the Authour of the Gospell deliuers a Gospell This Gospell and what this Gospell is is expressed in the second verse it is the crucifying of Christ in the twelfth verse the buriall and resurrection of Christ and indeed these of all other are the glad-tidings of the Gospell for the Passion and resurrection of Christ are the lines that the Patriarches and Prophets beheld by the perspectiue of faith in the beautifull peeces of Gods promises these aboue all bee the glad-tidings euen this Gospell of Christs death and triumph ouer death the Angells in Christs resurrection told the women Luk. 20.6 Remember how he spake vnto you in Galile the sonne of man shall be deliuered into the hands of sinnefull men Luk. 24.6 and be crucified and the third day rise againe Indeed this was the Gospell and this Gospell he especially taught his Disciples and hee taught his Gospell especially in Galile when he came into Galile hee taught his Disciples the sonne of man shall bee deliuered and killed and rise the third day Mark 9.31 Math. 9.31 while they abode in Galile he taught his Disciples the sonne of man shall be betraied into the hands of men they shall kill him and be shall be raised againe the third day Math. 17.22 Math. 17.22 when he came towards Ierusalem from Galile he taught them this the Sauiour of man shall bee deliuered to the Gentiles shall bee crucified and the third day shall rise againe Math. 20.19 going to Galile Math. 20.19 in Galile throughout Galile comming out of Galile hee taught his Disciples his Passion and resurrection Galile as Ierome and others signifieth transmigrationem Ierom. interp Nom. Heb. a departure a transmigration It was the Gospell of Galile of his transmigration he did teach this Gospell of transmigration in the Land of transmigration it was transmigration from life to death by his Passion from death to life by his resurrection The whole Gospell is an Epistle sent from God saith Austin Euangelium Dei epistola de caelo missa Austin And it representeth Christ vnto vs spirantem docentem mira patrantem dira patientem preaching teaching accomplishing wonderfull suffering sorrowfull things Basill as Basill speakes this death the ministery of our life the life of man but death of sinne death of Sathan in the death of our Sauiour This is a Gospell of glad-tidings and is it glad tidings to heare that such a person as the sonne of God Math. 13.99 Mark 15.39 suffered such a Passion as the curse of the Law Gal. 3.15 by so great a compassion as to doe it for his enemies Rom. 5. That in his birth he was placed among beasts then tempted by Deuills then persecuted by Tyrants then condemned by murtherers then crucified among theeues and thus he did liue thus he did die To heare him contemned for his progeny a Carpenters sonne for his Prouince a Galilean for his profession a Samaritan his Disciples Law breakers his doctrine treason seducing the people his miracles impostures casting out Deuils by Beelsebub his company Publicans and sinners for his whole life breaking the Sabbaoth a bibber of wine working by the Deuill possessed with the Deuill Therfore hee must die If it bee glad-tidings to heare of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nazianz. as Nazianzene collects them of the stripes and scoffings and spittings and thornes and crosse and nailes and speare and sweate and bloud and wounds and distresfull crie and horrid death to heare and see this prodigious Tragedy in a theatre of dead mens bones couered ouer with ruthfull darkenesse Angells Diuells rockes graues the whole vniuers and Creature concurring to this spectacle onely the sunne absenting abhorring to see such a death Alleâ—tus Supplicium quo nullum maius opprobrium quo nulluÌ„ vilius the graue and hell yelling out their griefe for the wonder of our redemption by this wofull passion If this be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 glad tidings as who dare deny it to be for if Appian writing of the murther of Tully endorsed his letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Carrying good newes to Anthory then how glad how good those tidings of the death of Christ If it bee glad-tidings as who can deny it to be vnlesse they bee enemies to the crosse of Christ and seeke to euacuate the crosse of Christ 1 Cor. 1.17 whereas Christ hath reconciled all things by his crosse Coloss 1.20 and shine enmity by his body on the crosse Ephes 2.16 and the power of God is the preaching of the crosse 1 Cor. 1.18 The crosse being non patibutum Patientis sed tribunal Trium phantiss as Ierome calles it If in the stormy winter of his death Hiâ—â—onâ— such life then what lustre what glory what beautie
asked a signe Christ answers no signe but the signe of the Prophet Ionas Mark 8.11 At the same time Saduces came and haue the same answere Math. 16.4 no signe but of the Prophet Ionas Iewes Scribes Pharises Saduces no signe but of the resurrection Aboue all other duties Act. 1.8 he required his Apostles should in Hierusalem Iudea Samaria and vnto the vttermost parts of the earth bee witnesses to him of all other points witnesses of his resurrection Therefore Peter first Act. 1.22 Act. 2.32 in his first Sermon in Ierusalem witnesseth that God hath raised vp Iesus Peter and Iohn preach this to the Sadduces The resurrection of Iesus Acts 4.2 Paul and Silas testifie this to the deuout Greekes Christ that hath suffered is risen Acts 17.3 And of all other Apostles Paul as if he had beene the Apostle of the resurrection is most plentifull No Prophet no Apoctle euer more abundant in any point then he in the resurrection To the Romans Christ rose againe for our righteousnesse Rom. 4.25 To the Corinthians Christ died and rose againe 2 Cor. 5.15 To the Thessalonians Christ died and rose againe 1 Thess 4.14 To the Philippians The power of Christs resurrection Phil. 3.10 To Timothie The resurrection of Christ who abolished death 2 Tim. 1. In a word he preached no other Doctrine to the Grecians of Thessalonica to the Stoicks at Athens to the Scribes and Pharises in Ierusalem to Festus and Agrippa at Caesarea In euery Court where he was questioned he crieth out I stand for the resurrection of the dead as if ready to preach through the world that this Gospell is to be preached to all Nations The vse of which point Vse of the generall preaching of the resurrection of Christ through the world should stirre vs vp to a thankfull acknowledgement of the plentifull enioying of this mercy It is the manifold grace of God 1 Pet. 4.10 The exceeding grace of God Rom. 5.15 1 Pet. 4.10 Rom. 5.15 1 Tim 1.14 Psal 130.7 The superabundant grace of God 1 Tim. 1.14 The plenteous Redemption of the Lord Psal 130.7 That wee that sate in darknesse and in the shadow of death haue seene this great light that wee haue euen from the beginning of the faith receiued this faith I know our Aduersaries doe claime the honour of conuerting our Nation Were it so we might complaine that the Euill man hath sowne Tares But as the field was sowne with seed by the husbandman before the Aduersarie sowed Tares so wee had Religion before they knew Superstition They attribute much to Austine their Monke who was as farre from the steps as time of blessed S. Austine For which Monk it is vpon record that neither his pride could stoope to such a labour Gildes Bâ—de Gen. 22.14 Iâ— Bâ—nger in Walâ—s one and twenty hundred Monkes 1. Archbishop and 7. â—eacâ—â—â—d â—â—â—â—ops in thoâ—e parts of 〈…〉 Saxon Chron of Peterborough Auâ—â—in the blacke bloudy proud anâ— lâ—ng Monke in his spleene to 〈◊〉 dâ—ew infinite bloud and dâ—stroyed more bâ—dâ—â—s then euer Poperie saued soules nor his learning deserued any such honour Gildas and Bede and our owne Chronicles tell vs that the ancient and noble Britaines first receiued the faith among vs as if Dominus iâ— monte the Lord would bee worshipped first in the mountaine Then Britaine was the fleece with the deaw and all the surrounding Countries as Gedeons fleece drie though now this as Gedeons fleece full of deaw and the mountainous parts as Gedeons floore now drie by the desolation of the Church there and by the negligence or ignorance or indulgence or all of those that should ouersee it But for that Mountebanke Austine the Monke hee supplanted Religion there neuer planted it here Beda mentioneth his prodigious insufferable pride which made the reuerend British Bishops refuse him If he were our Apostle or Euangelist as Hierome said to Iouinian Si Apostolus If he were our Apostle where did he preach If our Euangelist what did he write As Varus spake of Valerius He entred the Land poore and left our Church poore hee caused the death of many bodies and it is doubt he neuer gained soules It hath beene our Aduersaries generall claime as that madde man in Athenaeus who claimed all the ships came into the harbour or as the Deuill on the Pinnacle All the Kingdomes of the earth so they claime to bee the only conuerters of Nations and they the generall Preachers of the Gospell Whereas they neuer yet preached wheresoeuer they came but vpon one especiall Text and in all parts of the world where they haue beene they haue preached that so powerfully that their hearers haue wept and bled and died for learning that Doctrine Their Text is Matth. 10.34 I came not to send peace but a sword Looke but vpon the estate of India which as Vesputius testifieth was conuerted by S. Thomas where yee may finde more cursed Prodigies then euer the Sunne beheld in any Mappe of miserie where the Romish Apostles did exceed Cain or if possibly Iudas where they rauished and then murthered Queens tore infants in peeces cast men to mastiues cut children in collops to feed dogges Happy was his inuention most bloudy Men neuer did the like Deuils could doe no more Vessus Religion was there as Vesputius iustifieth long before the Gold-hungry bloud-thirsty Portugall or Pope was heard of Churches erected Bishops established whole Countries baptized Orosius and Lummius and Iunius and Baronius tell vs that S. Thomas who conuerted the Countrey lieth buried there and that from his time they haue had Patriarkes and Bishops and maried Priests and Sacraments among them The Romans descended from Edom say the Iewes Edom had a name of bloud Mount Seyr was their possession the Hill of bloud and Acheldama their purchase the Field of bloud The name of bloud and possession of bloud is in the Romish Religion Our English when once they grow Romish against the Nature of our Nation become bloudie which I impute to the * The Vineyards some parts of the English Colledge in Rome are seated in bloudy Neroes ruines situation of the English Colledge in Rome which is founded on the ruines of Neroes house But of all the stories of Christians or Heathens of all the Tragedies plotted in hell acted vnder heauen neuer any so horrid as the bloudy Baptisme of India by the vmbragious Iesuites They haue long intended the second part of that Tragedie to be acted here God grant their rods and scourges prouided in 88. be not growing Serpents and Scorpions to bring on Gods bitter seueritie to plague our base securitie The Gospell is not further gone into all the world then their crueltie is knowne Nulla posterit as taceat sed nulla probet Beloued Seneca wee enioy the Gospell in a more gracious manner then any part of the world wee enioyed it with the soonest yea and before many parts of the world When Brithwald the