him our names also And because the false Apostles as ambitious teachers did in the Church of Corinth affect the commendation and praise of eloquence and wisedome and on the other side traduced Paul for vsing in his Sermons a certaine base and contemptible kind of speech he therefore sheweth that both the kind and the stile of the doctrine of the gospell 2. Cor. 2.1 did much differ from philosophicall sort of speaking and from the wisedome of the world And this he doth least the power and worthines of the gospell might by this means wax vile the glory of it be ascribed rather to the art excellēcie eloquēce of speech thā to the vertue power of Christ whilest mē rather giue eare to pleasant words and attend the colours paintings of speech more than the matters themselues and seeke the tickling and delight of the eares the verie kernell and marrow as I may say of true doctrine should be neglected The place it selfe lieth thus in the first Epistle to the Corinthians It hath beene declared vnto me my brethren touching you 1. Cor. 1.11.12 c. by them that are of the house of Cloe that there are contentions among you Now this I say that euerie one of you saith I am Paules and I am Apollies and I am Cephas and I am Christs Is Christ deuided was Paul crucified for you eyther were ye baptised into the name of Paul And a little after Christ sent me not to baptise 1. Cor. 1.17 but to preach the gospell and yet not with skill or wisedome of speech and words least Christes crosse that is to say the doctrine of the Gospell touching Christes crosse should be made of none effect And so on forward as followeth in the same place And because he would haue them the more often and the better to thinke of this admonition he repeateth it againe in the third Chapter vers 3.4 c. As for the difference and inequalitie of the gifts which appeare to be in the ministers of the Church Touching the inequalitie of gifts in the Church in the ministerie as they should not rent the ministerie in peeces or disgrace it so should it not bring forth the one or the other in the Church hearers but rather should ioyne them together with the more strong giue of Christian charity and be a greater ornament vnto them A reason For euen as the very ministers of the Church themselues should not be proud because they haue more excellent and greater gifts then other for what haue they that they haue not receiued And if they haue receiued it why doe they beast of it as if they had not receiued it 2. Cor. 4.7 neither contemne those that are inferiour vnto them neither on the other side those that are inferiours and haue receiued meaner or fewer graces should enuy them euen so should the hearers or the Church not so indeed admire loue reuerence and extoll some to the skies that they should contemne other some A similitude and so despise their very ministerie that they will withdraw themselues euen from their Sermons for as there are in the one and the selfe same ground and garden many and diuers kinds of herbes which differ one from another in colour sauour sente forme greatnesse and excellency and yet they are so far off from bringing forth any confusion deformity that with this trimme fine varietie as if it were with a garment of diuers colours they either adorne or else make more pleasant sweet the said ground or garden Again that diuerse difference that is betwixt musicall voices Another similitude that manifolde varietie of strings which is in instruments of musicke the great diuersitie that is in the sounds of pipes flutes and trumpets these very things I say are they which at the last beautifie and adorne musicke whether it be by the voice or vpon instrument and by their wonderfull harmony singing together concord and concent doe both please mens eares and affect their hearts There is therefore altogether the very same consideration of the diuersity of giftes in the A reason ministers of the Church of the very Church it selfe for it standeth vs not in hand so much to consider what is giuen either vnto him only whom we so much admire esteeme 〈◊〉 1.17 or to our selues as to obserue also other mens gifts and graces knowing this that no man hath any thing of himselfe but that God alone 1. Cor. 14.26 is the author giuer of all good things and that the end of all his gifts is the edification of the Church for in this case God passeth by no mā Notable sentences but though he disposeth of his own graces in an vnlike measure some hauing more some hauing lesse yet he giueth to euery one so much as may suffice both to obtaine saluation and exercise and execute his office and function Wherfore though one man haue many graces that another wanteth yet that other hath some graces which he lacketh and for which graces sake his ministerie should not Illustration by particulars or cannot be contemned One it may be hath pleasant speech tickleth the ears with a certain sweet falling or cōposition of words yet perhaps he sticketh or else wandreth vp downe but in the barke or chippings as I may say not piersing to the kernell marrow of those matters which that other who pleaseth not mens eares well performeth This man by grauitie waight and abundance of matter supplieth want of smoth words In which the other exceedeth and excelleth by a certaine floud as it were of eloquence This mans speech or sayings onely swimme as it were in the vpper part of the eares but smite not or wound not the heart The other on the other side fasteneth darts stings in mens harts and leaueth them sticking there one is powerfull in publishing the doctrine of the Gospell in proclaiming the promises thereof for the raising vp of distressed consciences another is mightie in thundering out the commaundements and threatnings of the law to cause secure carelesse men to shake off that drowsines into which they are fallen Some one is more liuely and forcible in publike Sermons and preaching another hath more might force in priuate conference and the practise of ecclesiasticall discipline And so on in the rest Wherfore in euery one of thē euē those which we accoūt the meanest we must acknowledge and reuerence the gifts of God A conclusion Luke 10.16 For the contempt of any minister is the contempt of God himselfe Neither should men stand vpon or stay themselues in those outward pleasant inticements The subiect of teaching hearing paintings and colourable deceits of words speech and gesture but looke to the pith and substance of the matter it selfe and in publike Sermons to seeke or search after nothing saue Christ and the matter of our saluation
in him And this besides the hearers should remember that it may easily fall out that in taking vpon them to iudge of the ministers of the word they may quickly be deceiued and that they are caried thereto not so much by sound iudgement as by carnall and fleshly affections yea and that so farre also that he whom they smally esteeme shall happily be much better in doctrine gifts and graces that are very fit and necessarie for the edification of the Church Hatred of the ministers ministerie Furthermore many there be which boyle and burne with so great hatred against the ministers of the Church that they cannot indure eyther to come to their Sermons or else though they be at them Act. 7 55.58 they heare and receiue al things with prouoked vniust minds no otherwise certainly affected than were the Iewes at Steuens speech they fret in their hearts they gnash vpon them with their teeth and stop their eares and out of the holy assemblies they barke at and bite as it were with the very teeth of dogs all that their ministers haue spoken in their Sermons yea and many times slaunder and that with no lesse than diuelish malice all that the ministers say yea and spread abroad such things touching their Sermons as neuer came into the ministers minds much lesse into their mournes But these men sin and indeed are iniurious against not the ministers onely and their persons The remedies which perhaps may be esteemed to be of no great regard but against God himselfe the author of the ministerie and in whose name they exercise and execute their embassage yea which is more 2. Cor. 5.20 they sinne against their owne saluation not well weighing what and how great and excellent graces God doth vouchsafe to bestow vpon them by the ministerie of the Church for if they did so they would in this behalfe sanctifie themselues and would by Gods grace vtterly pull vp out of their hearts this fierie dart of Sathan and so the better prepare themselues Ephe. 6.16 to the diligent and healthfull hearing of Gods holy word For when the Israelites had forsaken Samuel and desired to haue a king as other nations and Samuel was somewhat grieued and a little displeased as in that behalfe God assaying to comfort him against so great contempt and iniurie saith vnto him They haue not despised thee 1 Sam. 8.7 but they haue despised me that I should not raigne ouer them And Christ saith vnto his Apostles He that heareth you heareth me and he that reiecteth you reiecteth me Luke 10.16 Iohn 13.22 and he that reiecteth me reiecteth him that sent me with which things also consent Saint Paules wordes who affirmeth that the Apostles and all the lawfull ministers of Gods word 2. Cor. 5.20 doe exercise an embassage in Christes name euen as if God did intreate men by them and that whosoeuer reiecteth their doctrine doth not reiect man 1. Thes 4.8 but God himselfe In our tongue we haue a common prouerbe by which we are willed to bow our knees and to bend to that tree that yeeldeth vs shaddow what then should we as in this respect do to the Church ministerie by which God dispenseth vnto vs those most excellent misteries of eternall saluation and yeeldeth vs shaddow and refreshing yea a true and an assured hauen against the heate and tempest of euerlasting damnation and the fire of hell and sheweth and setteth out vnto vs all our distemperature of bodie and soule so that if we would rightly esteeme and weigh well together the graces which by the ministerie are bestowed vpon vs from God compare them with all the carnall duties of this world See 1. Cor. 9.11 Rom. 15.27 Gal. 6.6 with the kindnesses benefits which at any time can proceed frō godly hearers to their ministers we shall find that they are of little or no account at all In which respect also indeed it is that the holy Ghost doth so often exhort the Church to the loue reuerence honour and all duties of kindnesse towards the ministerie as we may see 1. Tim. 5.17 1. Thess 5.13 Heb. 13.17 Gal. 6.6 And as concerning the Galatians Gal. 4.14 he doth indeed to their singular and immortall praise and glory say of them That they receiued him as an Angell of God yea as Iesus Christ himselfe and if it had beene possible that hauing pulled out their eyes they would haue giuen him them With how great hazard of eternall saluation the contempt of the ministerie is ioyned Wherfore certainly we must conclude thus that that same cruell contempt and hatred of the ministery ministers of the word which in very many places is euen by children sucked in and instilled together with their mothers milke is not at any hand to be esteemed so small a matter as it is at this day commonly accounted for plaie and sport but rather that it is a notorious and cruell wily shift of Sathan by which he setteth vpon and annoyeth not so much the ministers as the hearers For because he seeth like a false forgerer and accuser as he is that this would be too grosse and palpable and therefore frustrate and in vaine also Sathans subteltie if he should goe roundly and openly to worke and councell men to hate and contemne Gods word and to neglect their owne saluation he assayeth by vndermin ngs sleights and subtelties as slie as Sinons were to perform this matter therfore suggesteth vnto men the contēpt hatred of the Church of the ministerie of the word Fit similitudes and of saluation laboureth to breath this as a certaine hellish poyson indeed into mens hearts and here as if he had alreadie gotten the victorie triumpheth as he that knoweth this well that the very ministerie of reconciliation 2. Cor. 5.19 and eternall life shall altogether be accounted of according as the ministers themselues are esteemed which stratageme or subtile practise of the diuell if mens minds were well and throughly acquainted therewith it is not to be doubted but that many in this behalfe at the least would make warre with him and against themselues that so they might free themselues from so great hatred of their ministers for though they that in the ministerie of the word are become ministers to some Church or congregation should be ouertaken with some infirmities yea vices if you will yet should the people be wise to distinguish betweene their persons and that office which in the Lord is cōmitted vnto them Godly wisdome and at the least should pursue that with due good will and reuerence Or if by reason of the ministers duty in which sometimes they more freely reproue peoples sinnes they should find some matter of a more bitter roote rising vp in their hearts or springing out therein they should think that the fault remaineth rather in themselues than in their ministers and should be displeased
whether they concerne the state of household gouernment The parts of an household and in that againe whether they respect either maried folkes as the husband and the wife or the parents and their children or the menseruants or the maidseruants or the hired seruants and workemen And so likewise touching the other kindes of life also they must consider which condition of men or states of men as their prosperitie or aduersitie the things propounded do concerne A similitude For as vnlesse the mariner wel behold the Beare or Charles waine as we call it in the firmament he will take or make but an vncertaine course in the sea so except the hearer in hearing of Sermons vse such a method digesting of matters and order all the things that he heareth shall indeed be and remaine indigested raw vanishing and not at all vnderstood euen as if it were a cōfused Chaos or heape No profitable hearing without obseruation of a good course Wherefore a profitable hearer must vse this course euen as if it were Ariadnes line or threed if he will deliuer himselfe out of the Labyrinth or maze as I may say of Sermons and finde a sure way out of them It is no maruell then that sith in this case so few are instructed and do come vnto the holy assemblies and doe heare Sermons without iudgement and spirituall wisedome there are so few found that profit by hearing of Gods word yea though they haue verie excellent and worthie teachers But first the preachers of the Church Helpes for the hearers wherby they may attaine the method of Sermons and ministers themselues may be no small furtherance to this good method or manner of hearing Sermons if in a word or two after the beginning of their Sermon and at the ende thereof they will declare the kind of it or shew vnto what part of the Catechisme it doth appertaine as also when and where they beginne or finish and shut vp the seuerall parts of their speech and the seuerall parts also of their diuision The masters also as wel in cōmon schooles and such as teach but the mother tongue as also in schooles of greater learning and that not onely in places where men children but women children also are taught must inure and bring their schollers to this method and manner of hearing writing remembring and rehearsing Sermons which also they may performe with little or no adoe in a manner Ninthly euery one of them must apply vnto themselues all the things they haue heard The things that are heard must be turned to wholesome vses and turne them to the wholesome exercise of faith prayer and repentance And this they must doe whether they perceiue themselues strong in faith or weake therein or beholde themselues subiect either to certaine temptations of conscience or to some sinnes vices and infirmities and be either in aduersitie or in prosperitie and be in this or in that state of life and setled in some certaine dutie belonging thereto A strong reason For the doctrine of Gods word consisteth not so much in vnderstanding and knowing as in doing and in the true exercises of faith and godlines Rom. 2.13 Because not they who heare the law are iust before God but they that performe the law they shall be iustified as he also that shall looke into that perfect law of libertie and shall abide therein Iam. 2.25 euen he if he be not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the word shall be blessed in his deed A worthie inference Wherefore the doctrine of Gods holy word must not onely be put into our eares but into our head and not into our brain or head only but into our harts also yea and not into our heart only but into our hands also that the more sound fruit of it may appeare in vs. Whereupon it is that our sauiour Christ also saith Iohn 13.7 If ye know these things blessed are ye if ye doe them And on the other side affirmeth Luke 12.47 That that seruant which knew the will of his master or Lord and prepared not himselfe neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes yea hath long ago foretold vs Matth. 7.21 that euery one that shall say vnto him Lord Lord shall not enter into the kingdome of heauen but he that shall doe the will of my father which is in heauen To this healthfull practise and obedience of Gods word heard Councell profitable for practise of such things as are deliuered in preaching and that the same may indeed affect vs thrust vs forward this shall bring no small ayde and assistance if the ministers in preaching of Gods word doe not vse speech onely but practise also a certaine demonstration of spiritual might and power yea and be indeed truely Good things which the hearers must vse and from the heart affected therewithall and that the hearers againe can thorough Gods grace put on the preachers mind and affections and by a certaine kind of spiritual alteration change be transformed into them follow both in the learning and in the practising of Gods word the very selfe same order and course that they perceiue their faithfull preachers to vse and practise in teaching of it Which thing that I may shortly vnfold my selfe August lib. 4 de doct christ cap. 12 and vse Augustines words shall easily be brought to passe if the learner loue that that the Preacher promiseth if he feare that which he threatneth if he hate that which he rebuketh If he imbrace that which he commendeth if he lament that which he aggrauateth and sheweth is worthie to be lamented and if he set any thing out that is worthie to be reioyced at reioyceth therein and taketh pitie of them whom by speaking he placeth before their eies as meet to be pitied and flieth from them whom by terrifying he setteth before them to be auoided c. So we read of the Elders of Ephesus that when they heard Paul with a verie patheticall and yet lamentable speech to commend that Church vnto them Act. 20.31.37 and to rehearse his teares by which he had admonished euery one of them day and night three yeares together there was also a great weeping and mourning among them all Iohn 7.45.46 And when Christ spake so as neuer any man those officers that the Pharises sent out to take or to trippe Christ were so transformed and had put vpon them such other affections and mindes that they did not onely not bring Christ bound a matter that was giuen them in charge to doe but they did commend and imbrace both him and his doctrine An excellent sentence To be short it can hardly be vttered how much good it doth when the hearers affections and indeuours do answere the affections and indeuours of their teachers For where there shall be found the like will and mind both in the hearers and