reduced to the kynde comfortatiue vnlesse some had lyuer haue it of the kynde instructiue Howebeit to a SermoÌ„ of mixt kinde no one certain state may bée assigned but accordinge to the varietie of partes it is requisite that diuers states also bée alotted out Moreouer the sentence wherein the State of euery Sermon is expressed they haue accustomed to call the Theme Where if the State be rendred in one worde then is it called a simple Theme as if thou determinest to speake of Faith of works of death of patience these will be simple Themes Faith workes death patience But if the State do consist of many wordes and euen of a iust propositioÌ„ they call that Theme compound as when it is sayde that Faith doth iustify good workes doe obteyne with God the benefit and rewarde as well of the lyfe present as of the lyfe to come the death of the godly is not to be bewayled patience for rigtuousnes sake or coÌ„fession of the truth maketh men happy And when as either a booke of holy Scripture or a part or some place out of the boke is taken in hand to be declared openly it is no harde matter after the words be recited to expresse the State by some Theme especially compound Hitherto concerning the diuers kinds of Sermons States and Themes ¶ That Sermons of euerye kinde ought to be deuided into certian parts and how many those are then of readinge of the sacred Scripture Cap. viii NOw in what kinde soeuer a Sermon shal be instituted it is firste of all to be prouyded that like as it is sayde when we entreated of the forme of diuine sermons it be deuided into certayn parts The parts commonly receiued are in nuÌ„ber seuen that is to say reding of the sacred scripture InuocatioÌ„ ExordiuÌ„ propositioÌ„ or diuisioÌ„ Confirmation Confutation coÌ„clusioÌ„ But when after what sort these ought to be applied and generally to be haÌ„deleâ— we wil in oâ—der oftsoones declare As touching therfore the reading of holy scripture we finde that this was the custome of the auncient Churche Some one to whom the office was appoynted â—â—citod 〈◊〉 â—â—lye and distinctly some parcell out of the holy Scripture and by and by some other learned mâ—n wâ—nt vp into the pulpit to declare those thinges that were read We read Actes 13 when Paule with his companyons were entred into the sinagoge on the sabboth day at Antioche in Pisidia that after the reading of the 〈◊〉 and the prophetes the Rulers of the Sinagoge sent vnto them saying Men and brethren if there be any among you that can speake wordes of exhortation to the people say on Christ Luke 4. went vp hymselfe and reade and then sitting downe interpreted the same to the great admiration of all men Of this laudable custom therfore of the synagog our forefathers learned to appoynt Readers in euery church which should publikely rehearce the bookes of the sacred scripture Socrates lib. 10. cap. 3. of his Tripartite history witnesseth that Iohn Chrysostom dyd for a certayne time supply the office of a reader Epiphanius also in his Summary of the catholike faith maketh mencion of the same order and the maner of ordeyning them is read in the eight cannon of the fourth counsell of Carthage Further out of Augustine touching the words of the Lord in the Gospell of Iohn Sermon 45. may be gathered that the scriptures were first recited of the Reader and then that the elder or Byshop folowed immediatly to expounde them But now for the most part he in the beginninge of the Sermon readeth the Scriptures that declareth them also more at large which thing verily is theÌ„ most conuenieÌ„t to be done when a man taketh in hand to explane some entire booke of the olde or new Testament Albeit thou maist oft times sée also one to reade the scriptures and an other to interprete the same But we suppose it to make no matter at all Howbeit whereas vpon occasion offered the sermon is ordayned there the readinge of the scripture is not accustomed to go before but he that teacheth either choseth out a few woordes onely or some shorte sentence freely out of the scriptures which namly he iudgeth to be most agréeable to his purpose or els making no mention at all of any place out of the Scriptures he beginneth forthwith to speake whereof that very séeldome this very often hath bene frequented of the fathers Examples of the former kinde are these Nazianzenus in his Sermon to the subiectes stricken with feare by reson of the wrath of the Emperour Theodosius the firste vsurpeth the wordes out of Ieremy 4. Ah my belly ah my bowels and the inwarde partes of my body I am sore greued my hart panteth within mee The same Author framing his oration of the holy feast of Easter premiseth the words of Habacuc 2. I will stande vpon my watch Chrysostome entreatinge of the troubled common wealth of Antioche and of his returne out of exile doth ofte tymes inculke in the beginning of hys Sermon that sayinge of Iob Blessed be god Basill beynge desyrous to perswade the people to pacifye the wrath of GOD alledgeth these words out of Amos. 3. The Lyon hath roared who wyll not be afrayde the Lorde God hath spoken and who will not prophesy Agayne where he exhorteth them to fast Blow vp the Trumpet in Sion vpon our solemne feaste day out of the 81. Psalme and Ioel. 2. Of the later kinde that is so say where no words of the sacred Scripture are put before there be examples in them very frequente and common Now let vs ad herevnto this also Namely that no other bookes ought to be read and expouÌ„ded in sacred assemblies but those onely that are accounted to be canonicall concerning which thinge we may reade it established by the 59. canon of the counsell of Laodicia The Preacher must also take héede in any wyfe that when he reciteth the holy scripture out of the Pulpet in hys Countrye language hâ—â— vseth the best and most allowable translation that may be and such a one as is knowne and common to the people For truely a proper and exact translation bringeth so great light vnto thinges that it deserueth to be estéemed in stéede of a commentary Neither shal the preacher vnaduisedly alter or innouate any thing therin least that whilest he is thought of the learned to speake affectiuely and curiouslye of the vnlearned fondly and folshly he so prouoke the offence of many against himsefe Spiridion Byshoppe of Cypres in thassembly of many byshops and in the presence of all the people durst openly rebuke Tryphillus bishop of Ledres who being puffed vp in pryde with the visor of his eloquence when he came to these words of the euangelycall hystory Take vp thy bedde and walke for the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he planted in an other to wit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth a course or simple bed Then saith
An Oration as touching the lyfe and death of the famous and worthy man D. Andrewe Hyperius penned and pronounced 〈…〉 assemblie of all the States of the Citie of Marpurge by Wygandus Orthius And done into English by Iohn LVDâ—Aâ— 1577. ¶ Hominis vita varijs fortune vicibus assidue rotatur ¶ To the right worshipfull Master Alexander Nowell Deane of the Cathedrall Church of Sainct Paule in London Continuance of health all things prosperous in Christ Iesus HAuing accomplished gone through with all things apperteyning to the edition of this former Booke right worshipful It was my hap to light vpon this OratioÌ„ pÌ„ened in good pure Latine by Wigandus Orthius as concerning the life death of the famous and worthy man D. Andrew Hyperius author coÌ„poser of the same Booke Which wheÌ„ I had once reade ouer and finding it to be both pleasaunt profitable by reason as wel of the varietie of mater as also of the aptnes of the phrase holesoÌ„nes of the argumeÌ„t perceyuing againe that it might minister no small occasion to the Reader whereby the better to like not onely of this but of all other the workes of this most excelleÌ„t writer I could by no meanes satisfie my selfe till such time as I had turned the same into our English tongue and placed it as a thing seuerall by it selfe in the later ende of this volume The thing it selfe I grauÌ„t is smal but if the substance of the mater be considered it may seeme peraduenture to be I will not say great but such as neither the Reader shall haue cause to repent him off in reading nor I cause to forethincke mee off in writing Sed vino vendibili non est opus suspensa haedera Howbeit why I haue bene so bolde to put it foorth vnder the title of your name as you purchaÌ„ce may maruaile so haue I to render some reason First I was moued vnto it by the example of the penner of this Oration who causing it to be fixed in the later ende of a worke begon not finished by the Author thereof D. Andrewe Hyperius entituled The Method of Diuinitie dedicateth the same to his very friende and Scholemaster Master Iohn Princierus Secondly I was induced so to do by the likenes resemblaÌ„ce of the persons that is to say of D. Andrew Hyperius and D. Alexander Nowell the one a famous Superintendente in Marpurge a Citie of high Almayne the other a most worthy Deane of the Cathedrall Church of S. Paule in LondoÌ„ the one renowmed after his death for his rare gifts of learning godlines of life the other yet liuing with no lesse commedatioÌ„ as well as for his manifold knowledge in thinges diuine and humayne as also for his singuler ornaments of Curtesye Affabilitie Modesty c. The one a Mirrour of his time for his notable frugalitie sobriety the other a spectacle of our age for his bouÌ„tifulnes and good hospitalitie But I cannot prosecute this point so far as I iustly might considering thaâ— neither is it any part of my purpose to set foorth your praises otherwise then by occasion neither I am sure conceyue you any pleasure at all in hearinge of them seeing you are wont to ascribe al praise glory vnto god alone vnto maÌ„ nothing but shame confusion The third thing that alured me to the doing of it was the consideration of the neere friendship familiaritie that remaineth betwene your worship that Reuerend father my Lord of LondoÌ„ wherby I thought it not amisse coÌ„sidering my dutie to both to ioyne and lincke you together as in one bande of amitie so in one littell volume Fourthly and lastly I was stirred or rather coÌ„pelled herevnto as well by the certaine report of your rare benignitie towardes all men and especially poore Scollers ministers of the Church as also by infallible experience of that bountifull Curtesy which naturally is ingenerate in you floweth as a man would say euen vnto those with whom you are smally acquainted For which causes as you cannot be but greatly beloued of all in general of mee in speciall so couet I againe by some meanes to testifie the gratefull signification of my good meaning in this behalfe which I cannot otherwise doe then by this simple demonstration of my good will and ready obseruance toward you This only remayneth that you according to the goodnes of your nature accept my doinges in good part esteeming rather by this litle what a great deale more meaneth then by the smalnes of the gift to misconstrue the mind of the giuer Vale Integerime vir et Deus opt Max. Dominationem tuam quam dintissime incolumem seruet domisque suis eximijs eandem indies augea locupletet diteseat From Wethersselde the .xxviii. of May. 1577. ¶ Your worships alwayes most humble in the Lorde Iohn Ludham ¶ An Oration as touchinge the lyfe and death of the famous and worthy man Andrew Hyperius penned and pronounced by Wygandus Orthius professor of Diuinitie in the citie of Marpurge the xxvii of Februarij 1564. IF I should euen in the very fyrst beginninge of my Oration breake forth into teares and fall to wéeping right honorable Lord Gouernour right worshipful graue Fathers I suppose there is none that would not willingly pardoÌ„ my dolour and griefe so iustly conceyued For why we haue lost as you sée the most graue Diuine â–ª D. Andrew Hyperius Wée haue all forgone a most worthy coÌ„panion many are depriued of a most excellent Scholemaster But I for my part haue lost not onely a companioÌ„ scholemaster but also a most swéete and comfortable kinseman who was fyrst vnto me the author and beginner of my study in Diuinitie who became alwayes afterwarde a helper and furtherer in it whom I vsed as a councellor in all my affairs and dealinges without whose counsayle and aduice I attempted nothing priuately at home nothing publickely in the schole with whom I was accustomed to conferre my studyes by reason as ye knowe of the domesticall acquaintaunce and familiaritie betwixt vs. Such a maÌ„ such a coÌ„panion such a master such a friend such a kinseman haue I lost Therefore amiddest the publicke and common mournynge and lamentation of all good men there is also happened vnto mée a priuate and peculiar cause of sorowing For neither can I now looke vpon mine Aunt bereft of a most excelleÌ„t husbande nor vpon my Cousyns depriued of a most worthy parent in the middest of their so great heauines griefe without the sheadding of my teares But yet as for this my priuate sorow either time might mitigate it or the consideratioÌ„ of our common mortality might asswage it if so be a greater that is to say an vniuersal and publick calamitie encresed not our heuines which through the deth of this most excelleÌ„t man is come not onely to our schole and to the Churches of Hassia but also to all Germany and euen to all the
nations in Christendome besides For why beléeue mée wée haue not lost an obscure person wée haue not lost a common or countrey Diuine but wée haue lost euen the light of our Schole wée haue lost euen the chiefe and principall Diuine of our Churches whose matches our Countrey of Germany hath sewe liuinge at this daye but his betters at any time whither euer it had any in matters of Diuinitie I can not tell Which thinge bothe procureth vnto mée most wofull heauines and this also causeth no lesse griefe that many there be the more is the pitie men no doubt wicked and vngodly that neither sée nor vnderstande what a great treasure wée haue lost but as those that are altogither without sense or féeling suppose the often deathes of so famous and worthy men to belonge nothinge at all vnto them Which truely whether they bée so pronlyke and flyntie that they can nothinge bée moued with the common calamities of Churches and Scholes or whither they bée so folishe and brainesicke that they perceiue not what inconuenience happeneth by the death of so worthy personages they séeme vnto mée rather worthy to bée hissed at than to bée winked at without controlment But let vs bée wayle the death of our Hyperius not suffer our selues to become wickedly vnkinde to him for so great benefites of his And yet truely as for mée bothe my incredible sorowe and also the slendernesse of my maner of speach might séeme worthily to excuse me from this function of speaking if as well the greatnes of this mannes benefyts bestowed vpon mée as also the consideration of our College of brethren did not exacte and require these present teares of my Oration I will endeuour therfore somwhat to resist my griefe and whose eyes dyinge I closed with many teares to him also if it be possible will I performe this dutie without teares I wil then by your pacience most learned fathers speake first of the life and death of Doctor Andrew Hyperius and next of the cause and maner of our heauines and mourning which two partes of my Oration after I haue once accomplished I wil so make an ende In the meane time I beséech you as you haue alwayes loued our Hyperius for his notable learninge and godlynesse of life so giue your diligent attendance Andrewe Gererdus Hyperius was borne at Hypiris a notable towne of Flanders It was the yeare of our Lord by computation 1911. in which yeare the xvi day of Maye immediatly after syxe of the clocke at night hée was deliuered into the worlde 〈◊〉 Hée had a Father of the same name Andrew Gererde a famous Lawyer amonge them at Hyperis his mothers name was Katherine Coets descended of the noble family of a house in Gaunte The parentes foorthwith deliuered their childe in the yere of his age 11 after hée had nowe already indifferently tasted the rules principles of Grammer to one Iames Papa a noble Poet of that time to be further traded in learninge who then taught a Schole in Vastine besides the riuer Lisa In whose Schole also the childe heard Iohn Sepanus a man as he was then counted exactly learned and not vnskilful in the Greeke and Hebrew tongues After in the yere of his age 13. he passed the borders of Flanders that togither with good letters he might learne also the French tongue where in the Scholes he heard teaching Iohn Lacteus from whose mouth were said to flow most swéete phrases of speach like vnto milke The yeare folowing he was sent to Tornaye where a Schole of thrée tongues was looked for to be opened the gouerner whereof was Nicholas Buscoducensis But when the Schole was planted and shoulde haue bene opened he without any longer tariaūce retourned into his Countrey The father coueted by all meanes that this his sonne as in good letters so shoulde he enstructed in good maners Therefore when he had no fancy to send him to Louayne bicause he saw the youth there to be corrupted with ouer much liberty neither could be also conueniently send him to Parise where he the father himselfe had liued a yonge man certaine yeres by reason of hotte and cōtinual warres that then were abroch betwene the Emperour Charles the fyft and Francys the French king he was constreigned for a time to kéepe his sonne at home where he occupyed himselfe in writing out of Actes as they call them with his fathers Clearkes And truely there wanted very litle but that he had euen then taken his leaue of the study of good letters wherein he was now méetely wel profited when in the meane time his father whom he loued very déerely the xii daye of Iune Anno. 1525 departed out of this life◠who lying on his death bedde had giuē to his mother very straight charge of this thinge especially that assoone as the sayd warres were broken vp she should sende hir sonne Andrew to Parise there to prosecute his learninge and study Truce therefore beinge taken betwene the Emperour Charles and king Francis Hyperius went first to Parise in the yere of our Lord 1528. the daye before the Calendes of Augusto He was commended by letters to Anthony Helhuck of Vastine who was at that time a Senator of the Parliament and to Iohn of Campis Curtesian a publicke professor of Diuinitie to the one that in the time of warre if neede were he should haue his necessary charges borne to the other that he might be séene too as touching the order of his studies Hyperius therefore first kéept a good space in this mans house while he learned the rules and preceptes of Logick in the College Caluiacum Then the yeare next following after hée was come to Parise hee grewe into greate familiaritie with Ioachime Ringelberge a man notably wel learned who in this College Caluiacum taught at that time both briefely and learnedly diuers and sundry thinges But in the third yeare he began now priuately to instruct others in the principles of Logicke and Rhetoricke when in the meane time he himselfe became a bearer of the bookes of Aristotles Phisickes that according to the custome of the Scoles he might with the residue of his companions atteyne to the degrée of Master of Art. Which three yeres being ended he retourned into his Countrey that he might both salute his friendes and also learne whither there were any patrimony leaft him or no. Wherevppon the yeare folowing which was the thousand fiue hundred and two and thirty when he perceyued a sufficient patrimony to be still remayning vnto him for the longer continuance of his studies he gate him againe to Parise of purpose now to bestow his time in the exercise of grauer studies He then first of all began to applye his minde to the study of Diuinitie of which facultye at that time the exercises were most famous in the Scole of Parise He resorted therefore diligently to the Scoles of Diuines somtimes also he would heare certaine Lectures in the Decrees out of
tryfles which béeing deriued from the Papaâ—ye do still remaine with vs and to reduce the simplicitye of the olde fathers in the practise of religion he coueted to restore the Ecclesiasticall discipline sore dâ—â—ayed to the great lossâ— and detriment of Churches In which his holy purpose how farfoorth he trauailed and how great fruite he ministred vnto all Churches we shall theÌ„ vnderstand wheÌ„ as he béeing now dead gon these meditations of which also we haue giueÌ„ some ynckeling before although vnperfect shall come into light Concerning which thinges much more might of one be sayde and that with great commendation but that I hasten to the other partes of my Oration In praysing therfore the lyfe and maners of this most famous and excellent man there is no cause why I should much stand especially before you and in your presence He was sufficiently knowen vnto you all euen straungers also knew sufficiently the state of his lyfe In dyet and apparell he was alwayes most temperate in feasting most sober in talke and dealing most friendly and iust As he detested from his hart those vnsatiable quaffinges and vncomely spéeches commonly practized of our Countrymen at the time of their bancquetinges so againe would he now then be willingly present at the moderate feastes and pleasaunt méetinges of his friendes Thus he neither allowed of the things that were vnséemely nor disallowed of the things that might be graunted to the honest recreation of the mynde To be short he so behaued himselfe in all places and towarde all men that his maner séemed not onely pleasaunt to the learned but also most swéete and delectable to the rude and ignoraunt By reason whereof how déere he was not onely to our Scole but also to the whole citie the manyfold teares of all sortes of people which your eyes haue séene shed at the solemnitie of his buriall doe sufficiently declare But when as by the space of 22. yeres and odde monethes he had in such order as wée haue said behaued him selfe as he was a man of no great health so when he had laboured certain wéekes before with coÌ„tinual rhewmes and coughes the xxiii day of Ianuarye he began to wax sore sicke and to kéepe his bedde He complayned most chiefely of the paynes of his head breast and sides and nowe and then all his members so burned that they séemed to be shaken with a certaine quiuering or trembling ague And verily all that wéeke when as yet we did not dispayre of his lyfe he talked conferred many things both with others also especially with mée who was of euer present with him as touching matters perteyning to the Scole as touching Diuine studies as touching the reformation of Churches He sayd amongest other thinges that there should order be taken if he liued for the pertition of certaine labours betwixt vs especially those of ordering of Sermons which for bicause he had hitherto susteined alone he thought that he had lost his health Now the 30. day of Ianuarie which was the Lordes day when the Lordes supper was celebrated in the sacred assembly he desired that the holy bread and cuppe might after the custome of the auncient church be brought also vnto him Of which after that he with his familie had tasted he grew now more sicker thaÌ„ before And then the day following he began diligently to giue in charge to his wife what he would haue done after his death and to commaunde his children that they should behaue themselues both towards God and their mother godlily and towardes all other vprightly and honestly Amongest the rest when a litle boye of his of thrée yeres old stoode by his beddes side Learne saith he my childe the commaundementes of the Lorde and hee shall take care of thee After much talke had he entreated diligently with those that for duties sake came to visit him as touching the professioÌ„ of his fayth and the constancy of that doctrine which he had taught And truely the very first day of Februarie wherein also he departed all his talke was altogether in this that he might testifie vnto those whome he sawe present that he remayned euento the last gaspe constant and inflexible in that profession of fayth doctrine which he so many yeres had professed in the Scole As touching which point I might now make a further discourse most excellent fathers but that the teares for remembraunce of these things breake foorth from mine eyes About the euening of the same day when hee had once againe spoken some things touching the coÌ„stantcy of his faith and perseuaraunce therein he began to take his leaue of vs and euen to labour for lyfe Yet knewe he still euery man and being required would make answere wyth broken wordes and dying speches till after 8. of the clocke at night when it was about halfe an houre to 9. hee gaue vp his spirit vnto God hauing not as yet fully fynished the 53. yeare of his age You haue the history of the life death of the most graue and reuerend Diuine D. Andrew Hyperius which as I coulde I haue both briefely and simply declared vnto you I come nowe to our mourning heauines right worshipfull fathers which as it is wonderfull great and incredible so can it not bée lawfull and iust vnlesse wée were moued with most weighty causes to the most bitter sense and sorrowe of our mindes Men are wont for two causes especially to mourne at Funerals First forsomuch as they suppose them to be euill dealt withall whom they bewayle being deade Secondly for bicause they recount with themselues what great incoÌ„modities doe redounde by their death either priuately to themselues or publickely to the commoÌ„ wealth The former cause taketh no place in our heauines the later ministreth vnto vs sadnes most sorrowfull For wée are not either entaÌ„geled with that error that we should suppose the minde to bée extinguished together with the body Or wée are not so vngodly as to doubt of the eternall felicitie which after this life all that haue lyued with faith and a good conscience shall enioye Naye verily wée are resolued by a most certaine and iust perswasion that our deare Hyperius as hée alwaies liued a godly and holy life so hath he now the full fruition of the most swéete and comfortable presence of Gods maiestie the company and fellowship of Angels and the societie of holy and blessed men Neither truely doe wée suppose that there was in him either any such likement or loue of this life as that wée should thinke him to dye with desire of a longer life He sawe well ynough with what great cares this miserable life was replenished he knewe well ynough that so long as we continew in this tabernacle wee are wanderers from the Lorde he was not ignoraunt that the godly being loosed from the bond of this flesh doe go vnto the lord Wherefore albeit he was in such wise conuersaunt in huge and mighty labours that
he was not in the meane time greatly grieued with the tediousnesse of this lyfe yet notwithstanding was he caryed continally with a longing desire of the immortall and euerlasting lyfe Hée was accustomed oftentimes in the Scole oftentimes in familiar talke to coÌ„memorate vnto vâ— as a man would say to laye before our eyes that wonderfull garboyle that was in these dayes abrâ—ch thoroughout the whole world to prognesticate in opinioÌ„ that there was yet a most lamentable confusion as wel of religion as also of Empires and kingdoms shortly to followe His coniectures he gathered not out of the constellations of the starres as they call them but out and from the consideration of the thinges themselues which were open and apparaunt in the sight of all men He sayd that kingdoms and Empires were neuer so ill established in the time of our auncestours as they were now for the most part For some were holden of Children some were gouerned by Women other some ruled by yonge men which were newly come to take vppon them the charge of the Common wealth Hée affyrmed that there were in déede some Princes remayning in gouernment but very fewe both graue in yeres and also expert in the vse of thinges which did as it were still euery way susteine with their shoulders the whole weight and burthen of the Empyre Hée remembered the Scoles scattered and torne in sunder throughout all Europe either by ciuill warres or by the wofull persecution of the Godly or by the death decay of famous and worthy Teachers He shewed the state of our Churches how miserably they were afflicted as well for that they were béereft of their notable Pastors Doctors whose like were not to be founde to succéede them as also bicause they were vexed with straunge and lamentable discordes and further that such were the times now and maners of men that it séemed that almighty God very shortly being prouoked with our manifold enormities would take away his kingdome from vs giue it vnto others that should bring foorth more worthy fruites These things did he vse as wel at other times often to recount to wish of God that he might first bée taken out of this life before he should fall into that perturbation confusion of all things which he in minde foresawe as also immediately after the first time when he began to kéepe his bedde he sayd thus vnto mée suspecting nothing as yet as touching his death There is nothing quoth he that may delight mee any more in this present lyfe Therefore I will moste willingly whensoeuer it shal please the Lorde giue ouer the same that I may goe vnto Christ Wherefore like as he wished not for any longer lyfe soo whither wée haue an eye to that which hée here lefte behinde him or consider what he hath obteined after his death who would not thincke that he is both very well prouided for and also in happy and blessed estate Hée hath escaped the troubles and calamities of this wretched lyfe he enioyeth nowe perpetuall and neuer chaunging delightes with Christ Hée hath put off that body of his subiect to corruption He loketh now to put on a body immortall incorruptible He hath forsaken these Scoles of ours he is admitted into the Scole of heauen Whom here he sawe as it were in a glasse by a darke speaking him now he beholdeth face to face The crowne of glory that neuer shall decaye which he alwayes in the whole course of his studies and laboures trauayled vnto is now giuen vnto him of the Lorde wherein he tryumpheth and reioyceth Wherefore wée are not stricken into this plight and heauines for that or as though wée thought him to be lost or in euill case but for bycause we ponder in our mindes what great dommage and detriment wée haue both priuately and publickely susteined by his death Neither truely is our priuate discommoditie boyde of sorrowing in this case For if I should saye that I were nothing moued with the death of my most excellent kinseman nothing touched with the heauy chéere of mine Aunt nothing grieued with the dolfull distresse of my Cousens howe rightly I should doe it I leaue it to the sternâ— Philosophers surnamed Astorgoi to consider off but certes if I so said I should lye Those thinges doe moue me and greatly disquiet mée which neuerthelesse I wil not goe about to amplifie in speaking least I should séeme to encrease myne owne sorrowe What if I shoulde bewayle with teares the death of him that was onely my Scholemaster there is no man I suppose of sound iudgdement that would finde fault with my so dooing but would rather iudge mée to doe the dutie of a kinde and thankfull Scholer For it can hardly come to passe but that wée shall be hartely grieued for those that haue deserued well of vs when they are taken from vs Who then can maruayle as this our priuate dolour distresse though it be bitter incredible which neuerthelesse if our schole could any way be coÌ„forted might easely be asswaged diminished But when I applye herevnto the thoughtes and cogitations of my minde then becommeth our griefe much more grieuous yea and such as can scarcely admit any consolation For what it is most reuerend fathers to the intent that what Cicero sayde of his Common wealth the same also I may speake of our Scole what is it I say that can possibly comfort me in so great darknes and ruines of our Scole So great is the losse and decaye of all thinges and the recouery of them past hoping for For wée haue lost a most famous Doctor a singular Ornament of the Diuine facultie the soueraigne starre and light of our whole Scole and Congregation neither doe wée sée in the meane time who may succéed with the like fruit of our studyes so worthy a man so graue a Diuine so learned and modest a Teacher Saint Ambrose at the Funeral solemnite of the Emperour Theodosius to the intent he might put the common wealth in good hope of successors sayd thus Therefore so worthy an Emperour is departed from vs but he is not altogither departed frÌ„o vs for he hath leaft vnto vs his children in whom we ought to acknowledge him and in whom we both see him and feele him Ambrose might well and truely say this of Honorius and Arcadius But I for my part what hope of a successor can I put you in That is of so great fidelitie of so great diligence of so great modestie as was our Hyperius alwaies in teaching the holy Scriptures Which thinges I would ye should take to be so spoken of mée not as though I altogither dispayred of our studies for albeit thy be vehemently shaken by the death of this man yet God our almighty father will at his good pleasure prosper and prouide for them but that as of Elia the prophet taken vp into heaueÌ„ Elisha his Scoller cried out Abi Abi rakcab Israel â—pharasain
that may afterward redounde to potterytie And these places verely may be taken as specifyed of the Orators but out of Diuinitie are deryued groundes of greater weight and importaunce as 8 Of that that wee ought not to be so fylthye and vile as that wee shoulde submit our mindes and bodyes to our enemy the Diuell to serue his wicked and diabolicall suggestions 9 Of that that we incurre the crime of disloyaltie yea and of high treason also if we reuolte from the tents of our sauiour Christ unto Beliall 10 of that that it is a great ingratitude and that more is an extreame cruelty to crucify Christ a fresh through our sinnes and to dispise his blood wherwith he hath once wasshed and sanctified vs. 11 Of that that by defylynge our selues with sin we grieue the holy ghost and doe slaunder the holy angells our kéepers yea and the vniuersall church of God. 12 Of the that by the grace of God assisting vs we may be able to refist the temptor and traitor sathan tame our flesh abandon evill thoughts c. 13 Of that that if we harken vnto the Deuill all the fault shall be imputed to vs and vnto our iniquitie neyther shal it bee lawfull to pretende any excuse at all but euen wee our selues shall bes punished for those enormities whiche by the prouocation of the deuill we commit 14 Of the paines that are threatned vnto sinners and the same not onely temporall but also eternall to the auoyding and eschewing wherof there is no way for vs to be founde except we repenting implore the ayde of Christe Somtimes occasion is offered vnto the preacher to sti◠vp his audients vnto loue that is to saye vnto charytie or beneuolence Which truly then chiefely commeth to passe when as entrety is made of some notable vertue or when the excellent déede of some Patryarke Prophet Apostle or of any other man of worthy memorye is celebrated and solempnised For héere it is conuenient to prouoke the mindes of men and so farforth as may be to enflame them to loue and imbrace so excellent and rare a vertue to the feruent study of imitating so notable a déede To the furtheraunce therefore of this matter much auaylable will be the reasons taken out of the places of thinges to be desyred and thinges to be eschewed to witte 1 Of the honestye Of the thinge 2 Of the godlynesse Of the thinge 3 Of the religiousnesse Of the thinge 4 Of the gloryousnesse Of the thinge 5 Of the easynesse Of the thinge 6 Of the necessitie Of the thinge All which thinges may briefely be confirmed and illustrated by reasons sentences examples similitudes deryued out of the treasurie of the sacred scriptures Item 7 Of the causes of thinges 8 Of the circumstaunces 9 Of the signes or accidents as well 10 Antecedent and 11 Adioyned to the matter it selfe as also 12 Conssquent c. Which kinde of places verily and those deduced out of Diuinite we sée the holy Prophets to vse as oft as thei exhort vnto rightuousnesse vnto modestie vnto humilitie vnto the confession of the knowne trueth vnto the diligence obseruation of the true worshippinge of god Neyther dothe any thinge what soeuer appertinent to this kynde of busynesse lesse notably appeare in those Sermons of Chrysostom in which he endeuoureth to traine men vnto pacience sobryetie hospitalytie liberalitie towardes the poore and other such lyke vertues Now to cause that feare of gods iudgemēt to be imprinted in the mindes of the hearers will be a helpe and furtheraunce proofes drawen forth 1 Of the the greatnesse of our sinnes which it behoueth to be amplyfyed out of the law by and through all the circumstaunces thereof 2 Of our owne vnworthynes and proper offence 3 Of our owne imbecilitie and weakenesse We that are voyde and destitute of all kinde of vertues what shall we obiect against the iudement of God 4 Of that that it is necessary the threatninges of God thould be accomplished without any exception 5 Of the grieuousnes of the paynes that are euidentley mentioned and set forth in the threatnings of God. 6 Of that that God executeth those things indifferentlye whereby both his iustice becommeth famous and his mercy also apparaunt 7 Of the examples of those men whō we know to haue bene sharply punished of God for their sinnes 8 Of that that God if he punisheth not by and by and if not in this lyfe yet after a shorte time or at least after this lyfe he repayeth due penalties accordynge to the desertes 9 Of that that no euasion of mans wisdom or industrye will serue to escape and winde out of Gods iudgement It is no difficult matter to accorde also some other places vnto these arguments touched before in the premisses The controlling Sermons of the Prophets and Apostles or of Chrysostome and other holy fathers doe throughlye abounde in this kinde Further to the procurement of hope and desyre of mercy doe conduce a number of places accustomed to be vsed in consolations but especially these 2 Of the confession of sinnes before God. 3 Of our humilytie or mortification 4 Of the continuall imploration of Gods ayde God despiseth not the prayers of them that humble themselues and dispaire of their owne strength 5 Of the power of the spirit assistinge vs in our prayers 6 Of the promises of God. 7 Of the naturall goodnesse of God that is the promiser whereby he will both be prayed vnto and also graciousely graunt our peticions 8 Of that that God delighteth to stande by his woorde and promise and will deceiue no man. 9 Of the intercession of Christ our mediatour 10 Of the effect of the death and all the merits of Christ 11 Of that that our father knoweth our necessities yea euen before the aske 12 Of our election vocation iustification 13 Of that that God neuer vtterly forsaketh those that be his but with fatherly compassion helpeth them before they fall into any extreame daunger To the furtheraunce also hereof let the Sermons consolatory or comfortatiue be read disposed to the fortifiynge and erecting of mindes in the conflicts of temptations and no doubt a much more plentifull matter will offer it selfe in them then can of vs in few words be comprised Lastly if thou intendest to prouoke the mindes of men vnto pitie and compassion which then truely is expedyent to be done when the people is to be admonished and required to be helpfull to the poore and needye to succour them that are afflicted with sicknesse shypwracke casualtie of fyer rage of waters warre or such lyke calamitie to labour with all dilygence to reduce those that erre or those that are almost fallen into desperation into the right way agayne or to pray vnto God for their health and safety thou shalt conueniently gather some reasons of these places followynge 1 Of the age as if it be a childe or an olde man that is afflicted 2 Of the sexe 3 Of
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 recouÌ„t 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. â— it is sayde that through syâ—nâ—â—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 senteÌ„ces 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 theÌ„ aswel seÌ„tences 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
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
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 theÌ„ 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 significatioÌ„ force and vse of them And that to thintâ—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 theÌ„ 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 draweÌ„ 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 inuentioÌ„ 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
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