the Corinthes and homilie 5. vppon the first to the Thessalonians Now let vs distinguish and sorte out the kindes of men to the intent it maye appere and become euident vppon whom chiefely the dartes and dint of rebukes ought of right most frequently to be throwne XVI As it is apparaunt that there is no state or degrée of men voide of lustes or frée from sinne so the Preacher shall in no wise let to blame and accuse the enormities of all men without exception To which effecte it perteineth that the apostle writinge as well vnto Timothy as to Titus so prouidently teacheath them how and after what sort they should behaue themselues in oxhorting reproouing of al sortes of men And againe the same hath generally coÌ„maunded that those which offend should openly be reprooued to the terrour also of others That in like maner is vniuersally to be taken which long before to the prophet Ezechiell cap. 3. god him selfe said If thou shalt not warne the vngodly nor speake vnto him to disswade him from his wicked way that he might liue I will require his bloude at thy hande But if thou doest admonishe him theÌ„ hast thou delyuered thine owne soule Wherefore to come to that which I was about to say the Teacher of the people shall iudge all his hearers indifferently in this behalfe to be accompted in the selfe same order and that ther is none amonge them all whiche ought not to be subiecte to Ecclestasticall discipline XVII But in the meane time there appéereth to bée some difference made of holy Teachers in reproouinge comptrollinge of persons The prophetes doe in their wordes both more often and also more bitingely stinge the Iewes vnto whom had shined plentifully the knowledge of gods will then the Gentiles drowned in the diepe gulfe of ignoraunce Againe the apostle Paule more seuerely chideth the Galathians then he doth the Corinthians or any other beside The same admonisheth Titus that he shoule sharpely reproue the Cretensians And this he doth truely not as though they should thincke it méete to haue regarde onely of the crimes themselues but also of their qualities and kindes Moreouer wee sée the Prophetes Apostles and CHRIST chiefe Capteyn of the preaching schole to be accustomed as most coÌ„monly so also most grieuously to assault the vngodly priestes Doctors Scribes Pharyseis the authors of false opinions and that for this cause inespecially in that settinge out their externall and counterfet rightuousnesse they sought meanes to haue the internall and true rightuousnes in déede to be vtterly buryed vnder foote and agayne for the they preferred mens traditioÌ„s before the law of god With lyke lyberty of speach doe the prophets oft times shake vp the corrupt Iudges terming them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and oppressors of the poore againste all righte and equitie And peraduenture for this cause doe they assayle both the sortes that is to saye one while the priestes an other while the Iudges for the of these two kindes of men depeÌ„d the safety of the whole citie séeinge that from them sins and vices are soone deriued into all the people and againe these being brought into order it is an easy matter to reduce all the rest of their subiectes to the obedience of lawes What néede many wordes we may gather out of these things that how much the more fowlely any are fallen or be of more obstinate dispositions or hurt more through their offences then others so much the more studiously and seuerely are they to be corrected xviii But in noting and reproouinge the vices of maiestrates there is néede of singular iudgement For some potentates there be which wyll suffer themselues to be rebuked of some men but not of euery man some againe will admit no teacher or instructer at all Sainct Ambrose as it is recorded in the Tripartite history lib. 9. cap 30 trusting to the goodnes of his cause which he had in hand vnbashfully reprooued the Emperour Theodosius and he so worthy a prince tooke wel at worth the reprehension of so worthy a doctor although it were bytter publique For vnto Ambrose was known right wel the notable towardnes of the Emperour and the feruâ—t zeale of his minde enclyned to equitie againe Theodosius had perfect trial experience of the wisdom integrytie of Ambrose And certes where the preacher himselfe leadeth a pure and vnspotted lyfe the maiestrate for his part vnfeignedly imbraceth iustice there doe the holsome endeuours of the minister of the Gospell aspire to most happy successe Iohn Baptist doubted not openly to repâ—oue the wicked kinge Herod he againe as the Euangelist witnesseth feared and reuerenced Iohn Christ Luk. 12 ouerthwartly pinched Herode calling him fox Nathan séemed to vse as it were a certaine stratageme or fine poleey when intending to reprooue kinge Dauide he sodeinly deuised a parable of two men the one riche the other poore Neither is it a straunge thing to obserue other parables also put foorth of the prophets in hard and difficult matters as Esay 5. Iere. 24 c. To be short it is plaine and euident that maiestrates are to be reprooued in time and place as ofte as they depart from the path of rightuousnesse but with what foresight and prouision that is expedient to be done no man canne certeinly demonstrate by rules but it is necessarye that euery man according to his owne discretion doe partely out of the sermons of the prophets and of Christ partely out of the kinde causes circumstaunces of matters incident gather and deuise with him selfe Neither truely doe I knowe very well how it commeth to passe that in the Sermons of the Apostles wee finde not any thing ouer hardly spokeÌ„ against any maiestrates but rather there occurre many thinges whereby subiects are admonished to obey them yea though they be euyll and wicked But I suppose two causes may be rendred of that matter One for the al gouerners of coÌ„mon weales at the time were euery where ethnicks vnbeléeuers and therfore not as yet receiued into the societie of the church whervnto the Apostles knew right wel that their authorytie only stretched For those that were without they left vnto GOD alone to be iudged The other that forasmuch as the doctrine of the gospell was euery where euill spoken off of a great nuÌ„ber also flaundered as seditious and tending to the decay of common weales the Apostles iudged it very vntimely to exasperate them with the ouer sharp controlment of their priuate vices whoÌ„ being stirred vnto wrath they knewe would forthwith séeke by all meanes possible to hinder and stop the course of the gospell Where I might adde that the apostles peraduenture enstructed by the holy ghost saw before that in reproouing the princes of that age whoÌ„ God as yet vouched not safe to call they shoulde loose all their labour and trauaile But the processe of our talke groweth further then wee think for XIX Certes that we
with all boldnes In the 6. cap. is commended Steuen ful of saith strength or rather power for the worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is there read and that none coulde resist the wisdom and spyrite which spake in hym Of lyke sorte and effect is it that the Lord sayeth vnto Ieremie Beholde I haue giuen saieth he my wordes into thy mouth beholde I haue appointed thee this daye ouer nations and ouer Kingdomes that thou maiest pluck vp and roote oute subuert and destroye build and plant Many moe places there be whiche do not obscurely make mention of this facultie and power in speaking But it appeareth that the apostle ioyned these thrée thinges together I meane Doctrine Puritie of lyfe and Facultie or Power in teaching in that place where he sayeth vnto Timothy Take a paterne of the wholesome wordes which thou haste harde of mee with faith and loue which is in Christe Iesu The notable thinge giuen thee in charge keepe thorowe the holy ghost which dwelleth in vs. By holsome wordes is playnely and sufficientlye ynough distincted and meante Doctrine by faythe and loue Puritie of lyfe by the excellente thinge giuen in charge and the holy ghost Facultie or the gifte of teachinge And certes so farre foorth is this power and vertue in teachingâ— which me haue touched in the thirdâ— and lâ—ste place requisite in all those that wyl teach the people that albeit they be endued with learning and also with integritie of mâ—ner yet tsâ—e thâ—â— be destitute of thâ—â— one let them neuer lâ—â—â—e to accomplishe any thinge worthy of prase or commendation Wherefore so muche the more muste all meâ—â—e labour the matter that prepare themselues to the function of 〈◊〉 or that haue 〈…〉 vnto that 〈◊〉 lyke as they are furnished with 〈◊〉 and good manners so also adorned with a spyrite and power in teaching they may come forth into the publyke Theatre of the Church Moreouer the spirit or power in teachinge to thintent we may ad this also is geuen freely of God in the first calling but the increasemeÌ„t thereof is obtained of hint thorow often prayer Fynally it is nourished and preserued with a feruent studye of procuringe the health and saluation of the hearers Whereof the fyrste verylye is manyfest For whomsoeuer GOD voucheth safe to choose and selecte to the excellent excellent office of teachinge the people in the Church the same also immediatelye he fréely garnisheth with hys spyrite and giftes necessarye to so weighty a charge A plentifull wytnesse of hymselfe is Ieremye Cap. 1. who when he had sayde that he coulde not speake as one that was a childe heareth the Lorde sayinge vnto hym Thou shalt goe vnto all that I wyll sende thee vnto and all thinges that I wyll giue thee in charge shalte thou speake I haue giuen my wordes into thy mouth c. Christ lykewise is a witnesse of the same matter promysyng to sende and geue to hys Apostles and Disciples the holy ghost that shoulde teach them in all trueth whiche shoulde strengthen and furnishe theyr myndes and in theyr extreame perilâ— euen with Kinges and Princes also minister vnto them in due time what thinges they shoulde speake To bée shorte the Apostle Paule affirmeth that it is GOD that maketh the ministers of the news Testamente méete both to thinck and to speake The seconde pointe béecommeth playne and perspycious by this that Thapostles in the Actes Cap. 4 doe make their petitions vnto GOD that hée woulde graunt vnto his seruaunts That they might speake the woorde with all confidence and lybertye And Paule not onely hymselfe for the same cause sueth vnto GOD with continuall prayers but also requesteth and beséecheth others to doe the same Praye sayeth hee for mee that the woorde may bee giuen vnto mee in the openinge of my mouth with lybertie to the ende I may make manifest the mistery of the Gospel for the which I supply an ambassade in chaines that I may speake therein freely as I ought to speak Agayne in the 2. Thessa. 3. Pray for vs brethren that the worde of the Lorde may haue free passage and be gloryfied For whiche cause also there is a custome receiued in all Churches that all Diuine Sermons shall begin with publick inuocation In whiche inuocation it behooueth all men with their whole hartes to pray first that the Teachers may sincerelye and with boldnesse open and explane the woorde of God then that GOD woulde vouchsaue to illustrate the hartes of the hearers to th ende they may rightly vnderstande the doctrine proposed and duly vse and practise the same As touchinge the thirde it is certayne that where the office enioyned of GOD is with zelous and feruent affection executed it cannot bée but that hée of his bountiful goodnes wyll brynge to passe that happye and prosperous successe shall follow and ensue For GOD wyll not suffer the great labours and industry of good men seriouslye séeking hys glorye to become frustrate and voyde of fruite For this cause the doctrine of the word of GOD is not in one place alone resembled vnto séede that bringeth forth much fruite The Apostle also exhorteth Timothy not to neglect the gift giuen vnto hym but to exercise himselfe dylygently to thintent his profiting might be apparaunt in all thinges For if he gaue attendaunce to him selfe and to learning and continued therein it woulde come to passe that hee shoulde both saue himselfe and his hearers And certenly he that doubteth not of his callinge hee that is assured of the verytie of the doctrine which he professeth he that cannot be reprooued of any manifest crime hée that is pryuye in his conscience of hys owne fidelytie and dylligence hee that accounteth nothinge of more weight and imporfauÌ„ce then to sanctifie the name of God on earth and to gayne as many vnto Christ as is possible Vndoutedly hee speaketh boldly and vnbashfully that which God coÌ„maundeth The sharpe and vehement Oration of this man striketh and perceth the hartes of the hearers pea hée doth not onely pricke men forwarde to the amendement of lyfe but playnely forceth and compelleth them Wherefore there is no man but that may perceyue him to bée decked and adorned with a singuler spirite powre in teachinge euen of GOD himselfe But such a study and such godly affections the Apostle very artificially describeth 1. Thess 2. his wordes no doubte are worthy of vs to be remembred and such as all Preachers ought contiunally to haue in a table before their eyes Yee your selues knowe bretheren sayth hee our entrauÌ„ce in vnto you howe that it was not in vayne but after that wee had fuffered before and were shamfully entreated at Philippos as yee well knowe wee behaued our selues boldely in our God to speake vnto you the Gospell of god with much striuing For our exhortacion was not to bring you to errour nor yet to vncleanes neither was it with guile but as we were
the deuises of mannes wisdome But assone as they perceiue themselues to be conuinced as well by the Scripture as by naturall reason they knowe not in the worlde which way to turne them Wherefore they conuert themselues to deceites and wiles and when they are fully bent in their mindes vppon mischiefe and in the meane time stand in doubte of all thinges they séeme as though they were moued with some fauour and zeale of the truth but in very déed they imagine nothinge els then howe to deface and oppresse it But at the length their malyce one way or other brusteth forth in such wise that the godly may both eschew them and auoide their snares pryuily prepared xxxi Institution All the godly therefore are admonished to béeware and circumspecte and to obserue diligently so far forth as may be the tokens whereby they may finde out the fraude and impietie of those men with whom they haue to doe Those that goe about to oppresse the truthe some are tirauntes some hipocrites of either of them we may beholde the image and paterne in Herode alone and goe no further Both of them at the first coulloure their deuises yea and fame themselue to séeke with the godly to promote the sincere worshipping of God as Herode saith here that hee will worshippe Christ But surely those affections of the mindâ— shime not forth neither doth that spirite appeare to bee in them which otherwise is to bee founde in the godly sort but rather alwayes there are noted in them either some wordes or déedes out of which it is no harde matter to gather their contempte and hatred of pure religion Such a one is this where Herode héere not without disdayne calleth Christ a childe sayinge Serch diligently for the younge childe Neither truely can the wicked any otherwise doe then extinuate the dignitie of Christ the worde of God the Church the ministery of the gospell and one while openly an other while ouerthwartly giue some signifycation of their malignante minde especially when they feare either that it will come to passe that their enormites shal bée disclosed and reproued or els their credite and commoditie any thinge empayred There is no doubt but that the Iewes perceiued some such signes in them which after they were brought out of Babilon into Iury would haue ioyned themselues as inhabitauntes vnto the Iewes returned out of captiuitie in buildinge of the Temple Howbeit Zorobabell would not admit them and that for good cause For albeit they auouched themselues to worshippe together with them one and the same GOD yet notwithstaÌ„ding sone after they declared many wayâ—s how cruel vnmercyful enemies they were of pure sincere religioÌ„ And loâ— the Starre which they had seene in the Easte went before them tyll it came and stoode ouer the place where the childe was XXXII and XXXIII Doctrine and Institution The iudgement of the Scriptures is heard the common incklinge engrauen in the mindes of all men likewise naturall causes are considered and that to the intente all those thinges so farre forth as may bée beinge compared amonge themselues bothe our Faith might be confirmed and also the knowledge of spirituall thinges chiefely of the rightuousnesse goodnesse mercy and power of God myght growe and encrease in vs. To which ende and purpose God himselfe oft times is accoustomed els where to adioyne eftesones vnto his worde and doctrine notable workes and effectes Let vs not contemne therefore the reasons and naturall causes which doe illustrate and set forth vnto vs the knowledge conteyned in the woorde of God and wonderfully helpe forwarde our weake vnderstandinge XXXIIII Doctrine There was néede of a Starre which shoulde shewe not onely the Citye but also the house yea and the childe himselfe It is very lykely that all thinge there were so vile and abiecte that no man woulde haue thought Christ the king to bée there Albeit the Scripture be a faithfull wytnes testifyer of the truth yet is it néedefull for vs to learne many thinges of men of causes naturall of signes and other of the same kinde which are ordynary and allowed of God and so be made certaine of many particular thinges necessary to be knowne And when they sawe the starre they reioyced exceedingly with greate ioye XXXV Institution The doctrine touchinge spiritual matters by which we are directed vnto Christ doo profite in Christ we ought to imbrace with gladd ioyfull minde and also to giue thanckes vnto God for the same Which thinge truely they gladly wil doe that haue any vnderstandinge at all what great vâ—iliâ—ie and profyte commeth of sounde doctrine And entring into the house they founde the young childe with Mary his Mother and fell downe and worshipped him and openinge their treasures they presented vnto him giftes Gode and Frankensence and Myrhe XXXXVI and XXXVII Doctrine and Institution Faith fyxed on the promises of God is not dcceiued but like as god that promiseth is true so the faith also of the belieuer fyndeth at the length the trueth by experience and perceyueth in déede the large fruites of fayth By fayth the wise men were drawen out of farre Countries into Bethlem for howe shoulde they haue taken vppon them so longe difficulte and daungerous a iorney the way being altogether vnknowne vnto them except they had bene incensed with a wonderfull Fayth there then they founde in very déede that which afore they beléeued Therefore let vs also lokinge vppon the promises of god touchinge the benefytes as well of the life present as to come neuer caste away our faith but by the example of the faithfull Abraham beyond hope beléeue vnder hope nothinge doubtinge but that God will performe his promises if not for our cause which verely are vnworthy of his benefytes yet for his owne sake xxxviii Doctrine The wise men whilest they honour Christ with that honour which is due to God alone doe confesse Christ not onely to be man but also true and perfecte God. Which thing they fyrst learned in Persia by reuelation from heauen afterwarde in Iury by the oracles of the Prophetes XXXIX and XL. Redargucion and Doctrine Here are conuinced all heretikes as the Ebionites Cerinthians and such like which contended that Christ is onely pure man and not god But much more grieuously are confuted the Iewes which when they had heard partly of the wise men partly out of the Scripture many and most certaine testimonies touchinge Christ yet would they not adioyne them selues to the wise men to the intent to worshippe him as neyther they will be perswaded to this daye to worshippe and ackonwledge Christ to be true god Howe much better had it bene neuer to haue had any knowledge of Christ at all for vndoubtedly looke how much more manifestly Christ is declared vnto them so much more grieuously shall they be punished whiche refuse to beléeue in him beinge knowne But in déed those thinges ought to be fulfilled which God longe before by his Prophetes
Pray vnto our heauenly father that he would vouchsasafe to preserue his Church amongest vs that he would gouerne it and sanctifie it by his holy Spirite praye ye that in stead of this our Hyperius now taken from vs he would giue vnto vs many godly Teachers learned peasible constant For your partes also giue your diligent attendaunce vnto the holy Scriptures read them study theÌ„ meditate vpon them learne out of them a cartaine forme of Christian doctrine and to this ende alone apply all the force of your wittes that many of you may come foorth so furnished with knowledg and vnderstanding that you may one day he placed in the roomes of those notable Capitaines called foorth of their stations to the Lord to the great profit coÌ„moditie of the Church And we all praye thée O almightie Father which in so short a space takest out of the vnthanckfull world so many famous Teachers and leauest behind many troublers of the peace and enimies of the Church rayse vp in the steads of these notable ministers of CHRIST many other which may teach and gouerne thy Church Nourish and defend the studies of good men which laboure to this ende that they may serue thy Church Furnish our minds O father we beséech thée with the loue of true religion and vertue that when thy sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ shall come at the last day to Iudgement be may at the least finde some remnantes of faith and sinceritie amongest vs. FINIS ¶ Of framing of Diuine Sermons or popular interpretation of the Scriptures the first Booke ¶ What the common and popular order of interpreting the Scriptures is and howe excellent a function they haue that teach the people in the Churche Cap. I. NO man doubteth but that there bee two maner of wayes of interpreting the scriptures vsed of skilfull diuines the one Scholastical peculyer to the scholes the other Popular pertayning to the people That one is apt for the assembles of learned men and young studients some deale profited in good letters This other is altogether applied to instructe the confused multitude wherin are very many rude ignoraunt and vnlearned The first is exercised within the narrowe compasse of the Scholes The seconde taketh place in the large and spacious temples The one strict and straight laced sauoring Philosophicall solytarinesse and seueritie The other stretched forth franck and at lybertie yea and delightinge in the light and as ye would say in the court of Orators In that are mani things exacted after the rule of Logical breuitie and simplicitie In this Rhetoricall bountie and furniture ministreth much grace and decencie Wherefore if a place out of the holy Scriptures bee offered at any time to a teacher in the scholes to be explaned and interpreted hee by and by sticketh wholy therein as one shut vp in a streight prison vinfolde enclosure and not only discusseth dilygently the thinges themselues in general and al the partes of them but also in a maner euery worde and sillable thinkinge it vnlawfull to omit any thinge or so much as a litle to wrench aside But he that instructeâ— the people sercheth and selecteth out of an argument â—â—â—posed some certaine common places and such as he perceiueth aboue the residew to be most congruent to the time place and persons in discoursing whereof at large hée bestoweth his time and to the intent the more large and ample a scope may be opened vnto hym now and then he ouerskippeth some thinges in the text of the holye Scripture or toucheth only eche thing slightly by the way as it were mindinge some other matter Agayne he that readeth in the Schoole heapeth together proofes and foundations with as great iudgement and dexterity as he can and coueteth to vse those in especiall in whiche he perceyueth most pithe and strength to remaine But he that vndertaketh to speake vnto the people is not so carefull or anxious but scrapeth together argumentes of all sortes and armeth himselfe with probable reasons euen such as are heard commonly among the meaner sort of men as he that directeth all thinges to the capacitie of his common auditory He that teacheth in the schole wittingly willingly neglecteth those thinges that pertaine to the procuring of beneuolence to the mouing of affections moreouer digressions tedious descriptions whiche the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hypotyposes amplificatioÌ„s artificial elegancye of wordes many and diuers figuers to be shorte all the furniture and ornamentes of an oration and affecteth not so much as to séeme once studious of bountifulnesse in speakynge but as one astricted to that lawe whereby the cryer proclaymed in Areopagus to speake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is without proeme and affections he is contented with a simple yet pure and perspicious kynde of speach On the other side he to whom it appertaineth to speake before the multitude séeketh and prouideth dilygently with wonderfull circumspection al the said stuffe furniture so far forth as it auayleth to teach refel exhort reprooue comfort of nothing maketh more account then that he may draw and stir vp the mindes of his auditors â—nto what part he will after the maner quality of things 〈◊〉 â—ident Neither were it hard to bring forth examples in which the selfe fame argumentes or â—heames out of the scriptures are handled one way after the maner of Scholastical interpretation an other way after the coÌ„mon or Popular And surely out of the writinges of the auncient fathers may be taken not a few and those most learnedlye explaned and set forth For after the Popular interpretatioÌ„ al the Sermons for the most part of the prophetes and of Christ are expounded and many also of the exhortations corrections consolations of the apostle Paule Furthermore those thinges that are read vnder the titles of Homelies Sermons or OratioÌ„s in the holy fathers Origen Chrisostom Basyl Nazianzene Augustine Maximus Leo after these Gregory Beda Bernard and such like Whervnto may be added the explanations of Augustine vpon the Gospell of Iohn some certaine of the Psalmes But to Scholasticall interpretation doe appertaine certaine more graue and subtile disputations of S. Paule namely that touching mans iustification in his epistle to the Romaynes in whiche yet notwithstanding the apostle breketh foorth successiuely into exhortations and consolations peculier to another kind of interpreting and to the Galathyans with some in the fyrst to the Corinthyans twaine also in the Epistle to the Hebrues the one of the two natures in Christe the other concerning the abrogation of the Leuiticall priesthood and the euerlasting priesthoode of Christ To the same order may iustly be ascribed all the commentaries of Sainct Ierom vppon the prophets of Sainct Ambrose vppon the Epistles of S. Paule also the epistles and disputations of S. August Bréefelye whosoeuer is indued with any iudgement at al being furthered with those things that we haue alreadye touched may esely discerne
call diuinitie comprised in the holy writings of the Prophets Apostles The other of thinges humaine in which we doe not only account the artes called Liberal and the parts of Philosophy commonlye handled in the Scholes and likewise the tongues but also ciuill discripline and iudgement of polytyke and â—econonicall affaires And that verely is necessary to the Preacher to thinâ—ent he may sincerely inculke and repeate the principles of Christian religion confyrme the good in their godly opinions confute the euill and these that be of a sinister iudgement And this to th ende he may with the greater grace and dexterytie order al things but chiefely discouer and condemne all kinde of vices whiche raigne in diuers and sundrye sortes of men For how shall hee prudentlye frame his Sermon agaynst Usurye and manye vniuste bargaynes and contractes eyther els agaynste leude and cancred Customes commonlye receiued that haue not some kinde of knowledge of ciuill affayres Esay cap. 22. reprouinge the vaine counsels of the people touching the munition of the Citie wherein the vngodly in the time of warre dyd put more affiaunce then in God hymselfe and in many other places besides wherein he rebuketh diuers sinnes and enormities dothe sufficiently declare that he was not ignoraunt of ciuill matters How many thinges moreouer mayest thou sée in Ieremy Ezechiell Daniell and other of the Prophetes which do not obscurely argue that they were right diligent markers and wise estéemers of a number of thinges perteyninge to the state ciuill The same thinge dothe Christe testifye of hymselfe in many parables of whiche sorte is that of the vniust Stuarde Luke 16 of the Talentes Math. 25. and many of hys whole Sermons béesides Also out of the Sacred Chronicle of the Actes of Thapostles and out of the Epistles may easely be gathered that the Apostle Paule was reasonablye well séene both in the lawes of the Romaines and also in rourtlike and forensicall actions It is requisite therfore by al meanes that ecclesiasticall teachers be not onely some denie skilful in dyuine but also in humayne matters and specially in polytike and a conomicall affayres and so far forth skilful to as may be necessarye to the furtheraunce of their flocke committed vnto them and the impeachment of all kinde of wickednesse and impyetie But no smal number of thinges appertinent to this kinde as well by the familyar acquaintaunce with men of meane wisdome so they be séene in vse and experyence as also by the dylygent annotation of such affayres as daylye come to passe and the inuestigation of the causes and circumstaunces in the same euery good and wel disposed man may easely gather and conceiue Now that sanctimony of lyfe ought to be required in a Preacher of the Gospell euery man may iudge séeinge it profiteth nothing at all to edifye the Churche of GOD in worde if that whiche is already builded vp bee subuerted agayne with euill conditions A good life is as it were a scale whereby sounde doctrine is confirmed in the hearers A thing most vnséemely it is in â—ace hée that professeth to be a Phisition and wyll take vpon him to heale others of their infirmities bée hymselfe all scabbye and full of byles Phisition wyil they all saye heale thy selfe Therefore ought all men to set Christe béefore them as theyr Scholemaster whom we may heare preache not onely in worde but also effectually in déede For whiche cause the Apostle most dilygentlye prescribed what manner of men Bysshoppes or Elders lykewyse Decons with their whole families ought to bée with what vertues hee woulde haue them chiefelye garnished and from what vices hée woulde wyshe them to bée frée Albeit this is also to be added that where wee may not haue altogether so perfect and absolute Preachers in euery respect as we couet and desyre yet ought wee to suffer and imbrace those whose doctrine is sounde and with no sâ—ot of heresye or noysome opinions infected For whither any thorow enuy or thorow contention or thorow occasion doe teache so they preach Christ all is well and God is to be thanked No man is borne without his fault great alwayes is the fragilytie of mankinde and on euerye side euermore are we misers enuironed about with certaine domestical furies as yee would say continually enticing vs to sinne In lyke maner there is no man that can eschewe the bytyng teeth of detraction And in no place mayst thou not in these dayes specially beholde the malignaunt multytude what saye I multitude yea euen those also that take vpon them far beyonde the common sort whettinge their tusshes to slaunder and backbit the ministers of the Churche euen there also where they haue no iuste cause or occasion so to doe A number of Sicophants there be of the sect and faction to that wicked Doeg in whom Ambrose expoundinge the sixt of Luke saieth appeared a type of Iudas the traitor that haue the cast to construe and interprete actions of themselues voyde of all blame as huge crimes and enormities and in their accusations to make more then mountaines of miles or oliphants of flies Whosoeuer therfore is wise wil not rashly giue héede vnto those that commonlye and willingly speake euill of Ecclesiasticall teachers Whether may be referred that which the same apostle no lesse grauely prescribeth touchinge the life and conuersation of Elders then carefully and wiselye admonisheth that an accusation against a priest or elder is in no wise to be admitted without two or thrée witnesses In the thyrde place wee sayde that to a Preacher is néedefull and requisite a spyrite and power in teachinge I vnderstande by the name of Spirite and power a certayne peculyar facultie of proposynge sounde doctrine and also of moouing and drawing of mindes â—â— thintent that as many as is possible may reape most ample fruiteâ— and as few as may be presume to disalowe any thinge as vaine vnfruitfull Which facultie in one place is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 power in an other place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 boldnesse of speache somtime 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 might now and than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spirit erewhile agayne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the demonstration of the spirit and power For so doe the Euangelistes testifie of Christ He taught as one hauing power All men were astonied at his doctrine bycause his woord was ioyned with power And the Apostle Paule 1. Corinth 2. My woordes and my preaching were not in flattringe phrases of mans wisedom but in the demonstration of the spirit and of power that your faith might not bee in the wisdome of men but in the power of GOD. Whiche forme of speakinge hee vseth also in the fourthe Chapter of the same Epistle Agayne in the fourth of the Actes Peter filled with the holy ghost is had in admiration for his libertie in speaking And in the same chapter the Apostles pray vnto God that he would giue his seruants grace to speake the word
Timothy and Titus whom he had ordayned bishops and teachers in the Churches of of God inculketh euery where the same and with lyke diligence vndoubtedly commandeth them to be vrged and inculked of others And to Titus 3. he willeth generallye all foolish and vnprofitable questions by all meanes to bee auoyded and eschewed Thus much therefore concerning the profit and vtylitie of matter We saide in the seconde place that an easye matter ought to be chosen And that for these causes Amonge the multitude the greatest parte is rude and vnlearned or if there be any in place that are learned in déede yet where is one amongst them all that is expert in divine matters or how many shalt thou finde in the multitude that be diuines and such diuines as can rightly attaine to matters hard and difficult which thing syth it is so in vaine shall those thinges be proposed in a Sermon that either none at al or els very few may vnderstand He must remember what soeuer he be that teacheth in the church that he serueth the turne of the multitude and that he ought to prouide rather for many then a few And what if by handling of hard and difficult places some perill commeth rather to be feared then profit and commoditie to be looked for for in déede when some curious hearers begin once to cast in their minds how with study and dilygence they may perceiue the misteries of diuine matters this commonlye commeth in vre that by long and much searching they fal into errours and whilst they call to remembraunce diuers and sundry interpretations they conceiue straunge and phantasticall opinions whiche immediatelye after they obstinatly holde and defende and to the great hurt and disturbance both of them selues also of others yea of the whole church they delight to dispearce them amonge the vnlearned For this cause therfore the apostle oft times warneth vs to auoyde all kinde of doctrine that conduceth not to godlynesse that maketh men proude and hye minded yea curious and supertitious rather then godly disposed that stirreth vp strif brawling and debate and that edifieth few or none at all And the Apostle Peter in his last epistle Cap. 3. In the epistles saieth he of our brother Paule are some thinges harde to bee vnderstoode which the ignoraunt and vnconstant doe wreste like as other also of the Scriptures to their owne destructiō Eunomius byshop of Cyzicene by the report of Sozomenus whilst he discussed on a tune hard places to the people of the substāce of god of the knowledge of god adhibiting also captious and intrycate reasons of Logick ministred occasion of an vprore in which he was expelled both from the citie and also from his byshoprick And we in our time haue harde how some mouing diuers darke and perplexed questions haue giuen occasion of much euill inconuenience but of very little or no good at al. Where if peraduenture in the booke or part of the booke which is expounded some difficult place do offer it selfe that can not conuenientlye be pretermitted then my counsell is that this moderation be vsed The place shall in deede be opened but soberly and in few wordes then simply and plainely lastly with an exhortation added concerninge the true and right vse of the same doctrine By these thrée meanes it is forséene and prouided that no scrupulus and superfluous questions and disceptations shall arise and remaine among the people Which trade of teaching we may ascribe to the apostle who hath shewed the same vnto vs Among the Thessalonians were some that with many words verye curyously and diuersly disputed of the comminge of our Lorde Iesus Christ to the last iudgement which controuersy the Apostle being desyrous to dissolue and breake vp fyrste briefly vseth in maner of a preface and admonisheth them that they would not immoderatly be terrified or mooued with the words of false teachers moreouer mindinge to signifi that the time of Christs second comming was not yet to be looked for he heapeth not togither many arguments or prophesies out of the Prophets but with one onely reson deriued of the signe or token he proueth them to erre that went about to vphold the contrary For before the Lorde come that wicked man Antichriste must be reuealed wherefore séeing he is not yet in sighte it is not to be beléeued that the comming of the Lorde is at hande Then fortwith as pertaining to the demonstration of the right vse of the same doctrine he exhorteth them that they would be of good comfort and giue thanks vnto God that vouched safe to elect them to saluation neither would suffer them to be of their number that shoulde be seduced by Antichrist howbeit that this one thing remained namly that they would abide constant in faith and with all their endeuour flye and eschew false teachers The same Apostle where to the Romaines 9. in his disputation of the reiection of the Iewes and callinge of the Gentiles he falleth into a very hard place concerning predestination and frée election coueting to declare that God whether he electeth or reiecteth dealeth alwayes iustelye and vprightly first veryly inferreth one or two examples of Iacob and Esau then of Pharao and forth with a similitude of the Potter for these are proofes very fit to teach the rude and ignoraunt people afterwarde as one terryfied with the difficulty of the cause he breaketh off as yée would say the continuaunce of his tale Either of whiche his dooyngs no doubt is very wel to be lyked for the one was profitable to the plainnes and perspicuitie of the matter the other very necessary for breuities sake and the avoyding of errour Finally in the cap. 11. shettinge vp his whole disputation he teacheth very learnedly to the Gentiles the true vse of his whole doctrine when as he putteth them in minde that they shoulde not be proude for this cause that being taken out of the wilde Oliue trée thou hast yet an other similitude they are grafted into the true Oliue for that it might come to passe that they should againe be cut off And at the length as though he had waded further then he would he endeth with an exclamation O the deepenesse saieth he of the riches and wisdome and knowledge of God. So I say he is wise and the same also worthy the name of an Apostle that is well exercised in the interpretation of the sriptures wherfore let it not repent vs to folow and imitate the example of so worthy ◠doctor in hard and difficult places Last of all the Preacher ought to choose matter necessarie and as the Apostle willeth omit superfluous I vnderstand that to be necessary which is most agréeable to the time and place and whiche the present multitude can not wel be without There be in deede a nūber of diuine places very profitable but yet not al méete to be expoūded in euery place time Some people haue their
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
Yee were called into libertie my brethren onely that yee should not giue libertie by occasion to the fleshe but serue yee one an other through loue XI Neither is this truely to be pretermitted It falleth out somtimes that the teacher of the people in the explication of some one sentence doth erre somwhat from the scope of truth and exhibiteth for things certayne and true things vncertayne and false For what if he that entreth the sacred Pulpit be not as yet sufficioutlye exercised hymselfe in the contemplation and tractation of diuine affayrers Or followeth peraduenturs some one onely writer which he hath redd hauing not heard the iudgemeÌ„tes of other or to be short whiles certayne questions sometyme in the Church especially such as are called in controuersy be in processe of tyme more fully manifestly discussed then to fore they were what if he coulde not as yet come to the sight of the later and sounder opinions And who is able to rehearce al the causes and occasions of error Therefore let not him whome it shall fortune by any meanes to fayle in his teachinge be ashamed to confesse and acknowledge in tyme conuenient that hée was of late intangeled in error and the offence which he committed by not teachinge of sounde doctrine or by vnaduised speakinge hée will nowe make amendes for by bringinge a more sounde interpretation That hee hath since that tyme somdeale profited as one daye teacheth an other and the later cogitations accordinge to the prouerbe are wonte to be wiser then the first Hée that became a guyde vnto others whereby they fell into the ditche the same shall worthily shewe the waye howe they may againe recouer and escape Neither ought the hearers to bée offended greatly in this behalfe For it behoueth all men to remember that they are men which are placed in the ecclesiasticall function therefore that nothinge humayne is estraunged from them And it is the propertie of mannes nature to errre Of malyce or madnesse to persist in error but of the singuler goodnesse and grace of God after the fall to be againe erected Wherefore if any of the hearers doe stomacke the matter and disdayne that they were a littell before seduced it is méete the same doe now againe reioyce and as ye woulde say congratulate both with themselues and their teacher and especially to giue vnto God most harty thankes wheÌ„ they perceyue themselues to bée brought agayne out of the darkenesse of error into the lighte of truth As touchinge this Cantion Augusine hath somwhat in his boke de Catechizandis Rudibus cap. 11. in his boke de verbis Apostoli sermon 22. But many moe thinges that may make the Preachers wise circumspect in this behalfe erperieÌ„ce it selfe will teach and the longe exercise of preachinge Neither is it possible that all thinges shoulde bée comprehended in rules and preceptes And at all tymes lightly there chaunceth some thinge vnloked for which compelleth digression to bée made from the order of preceptes and purposed aduertisementes Nowe it is requisite that wée put forth some examples of Sermons of the kynde didascalick It is alwayes méete and in déede for many causes expedient that all men with sharpe and intentiue mynde looke vppon the notable examples of Sermons which the Prophetes Christ and Apostles haue had For to followe and imitate these in all poyntes so far as may bée as it is a thing most semely so is it also most sure Next whome it may bée lawfull to commende the more famous Preachers and especially the auncient fathers which to haue excelled in the giftes of the holy Ghoste there is no man that knoweth not Wherfore that all good things doe happen vnto men by the onely goodnesse of God Moyses teacheth in a iuste Sermon Deut. 9. and 10. almoste throughout Esay Cap. 1. briefely declareth that eternall worshipping without the affectioÌ„ of the hart integritie of lyfe is vnprofitable The sane Cap. 25.26.27 preacheth of the rewardes of the godly and of the punishement of the wicked Agayne Cap. 66. of the true worshippinge of god Christ Math. 5. preacheth of the true blessednes of the right vse of the lawe Cap. 6. of confidence in God or if thou wilt of the prouidence of GOD cap. 11. of the punishement of those the dispise the gospell cap. 13. of the dilligent hearinge of the worde of God of theffectes of the worde cap. 16. of the confession of fayth and of the knowen truth Cap. 17 of obedience and honor due vnto Magistrates Cap. 19. hée teacheth what greate rewarde remayneth for them that constantely cleaue vnto the Gospell Cap. 20. how it commeth to passe by the frée mercy of God alone that the beléeuers are called iustified and glorified Cap. 24. and 25. of the ende and consummation of the worlde and of the comminge of Christ vnto iudgement Ioan. 14.15.16 of fortitude and pacience in persecution for religious sake of Charitie and perfect loue c. Act. 13. Sainct Paule declareth what the gospell is In his epistle to the Ro. the one disputatioÌ„ touching iustificatioÌ„ by faith without the workes of the law the other likewise cap. 9.10.11 as coÌ„cerning the reiection of the Iewes and callinge of the Gentiles mighte bée propounded in steade of examples but that they are written rather after the Scolasticall maner of teachinge then after the popular albeit the laste doe approch most néere vnto the popular The same is to bée iudged of the disputation to the Galath 3. which in all poyntes agréeth with the former to the Romaynes aforesayde excepte that it serueth more for the people But moste fitte and proper to this presente busynesse is the assertion of the reâ—urrection of the dead 1. Corinth 15 Also to the Heb. 1. and 2. touchinge the two natures in Christ Againe cap. 5.6.7.8.9.10 of the abrogatioÌ„ of the Leuiticall priesthood legal sacrifices and of the succession of ths eternall priesthod and the onely sacrifice of Christe In Chrisostome are extant many Sermons of this kinde especially in his enarratioÌ„ of the Gospels of Mathew and Iohn Notable is the Homily 60. vpon Mathew where hée disputeth of the cause of sinne Likewyse in his fift Tome Homilye 48 touchinge the fearefull iudgenent of god Homilye 71. that fastinge profiteth nothinge if innocency of lyfe bee away Homily 77. that a sinner after his fall ougthe not to dispayre Lastely his 6. Sermons and 3. bookes of the prouidence of GOD For these also to bee written popularly no man denieth ¶ Whensoeuer any parte of the holy Scripture is to be expounded in the Kinde didascalik that many and diuerse common places may be noted therein out of which it shall bee conuenient ot chose and declare some more exactely and at large Cap. III. ALbeit ther cannot a more absolute order of Preachinge be set forth to be followed then that which shyneth in the examples of Sermons which partely the Prophetes Apostles and Christe himselfe and partely certayne of the
affirmed to the same effect that the workes which he did testified of him the he was the son of god god himself The state therefore of this preseÌ„t reading is didascalick namely that Christ is the author of so greate a mirackle that hée is the true Messias and very God by whome all men may obteyne saluation through fayth Nowe in passinge through all the members and hauing respect euery where vnto those fiue generall places of inuention let vs dilligently enserch in that order which wée spake off the sondry common places of Christian doctrine conteyned in the same Where there was a very greate company sayth hée and had nothinge to eate c. 1 First when the Euangelist sheweth that a very great multitude was gathered togither to heare the wordes of Christ héere by and by an instruction offreth it self wherby wée are admonished with greate study and endeuour to couit after the knowledge of goods worde wherin all the will pleasure of God is most apparauntely discouered 2 Secondely héere is to bee noted a correction or reprehension of those persones that are founde slowe and dull aboue measure vnto those thinges that pertayne to the Saluation of their soules and doe scarcely thinke once in a yéere of hearinge the holesom doctryne of the Scriptures 3 And bicause it is added That the company hadd nothinge to eate it is an vndoubted argumente that those hearers were more carefull of the thinges that pertayne to the mynde then of those thinges that concerned their téeth or bellies and that they longed more ardently after spirituall benefites then after temporall Wherefore héere also I obserue a newe place which béelongeth to iustification or else an assertion or doctrine Namely that we oughte alwayes in the fyrste place to caste our care vppon spirituall benefites And in the laste place vppon corporall In which behalfe Christ Firste seeke sayth hée the kingdome of GOD and the righteousnesse thereof and and all these thinges shal be ministred vnto you Yea and the same also hathe taughte vs in our daylye prayer fyrste to desyre of our heauenly father the sanctification of his name the inlargement of his spirituall kingdome the study of accomplishing his will and after that our dayly bread with other thinges necessarye for our liues IIII Agayne héere is vnderstanded a correction to be forasmuch as they are reproued which are more intentiue about thinges earthly and transitorye then heauenly and eternall It followeth in the Text. And Iesus called his disciples vnto him and saide vnto them I haue compassion on the people bicause they haue ben with me now three daies haue nothing to eate We will note héere in this place manyfolde poyntes of doctrine V The first is touching the mercye and prouidence of God wher with he neuer faâ—leth to help and assist vs Yea and before we aske hee knoweth what thinges we haue néede of séeth by what meanes he may best prouide for vs which thing Christ also hymselfe Mathew 6. full well hath expressed VI The seconde God prouideth for vs not onely sprytuall thinges and that generally and vniuersally for all but also thinges corporall and that partycularly for euerye man. VII The third God will prouide for those moste chiefely aboue the rest that abide and continue longest with hym that is to saye that studiously imbrace sounde doctrine and perseuer in the loue and confession therof reposing all their hope and confidence in God alone VIII Nowe out of these poyntes of doctrine riseth a certayne and incomparble consolation whiche it behoueth the godly to haue continually before their eyes They that remaine with God and depende wholy vppon GOD shall of him neuer be forsaken or lefte destitute First god would raine downe Manna froÌ„ heaueÌ„ as he dyd in times past for the Israelits in the wildernes or send his aungell to minister bread and water as he dyd sometyme to the wandring Helias then suffer so much as one of hys little flock to perish for lack of sustenaunce God esteemeth much more of good men then of Rauens or Sparrowes whiche in the meane time hee mercifullye féedeth It is added moreouer in the Gospell And if I sende them away fastinge to their owne houses they will faint by the way For diuers of them came from farre In which wordes we may perceiue both a doctrine and institutions IX A doctrine verily that miserable men if God should forsake them were not able to endure and that it is not in their power or strength to acquire to theÌ„selues so much as corporall benifites necessarie for the sustentation of theyr wretched lyfe how much more then passeth it their power to get thinges spirituall When God once withdraweth his hand we begin forthwith to decay which testifieth Psalm 124 127. c Thinstitutions lurking heerein are these X We are admonished when we know that we can doe nothinge at all without God to acknowledge our owne weaknesse and infirmitie XI Agayne we are admonished to praye vnto God continually that he would not leaue vs destitute but minister vnto vs things both spiritual and also temporal as he séeth them to be expedyent for vs. It followeth And his disciples aunswered him Form whence can a man satisfie these men with bread heere in the wildernesse XII Doctrine Mans reason cannot perceiue how prouision may be made for the necessities of our lyfe Carnall wisdome is astonished and to séeke so oft as daunger or any misfortune doth chaunce And yet in the meane time the thinges that are impossible to men are not only possible but also cysye vnto God. Wherfore an institution or enstruction is héere also to bee gathered XIII We ought verily in all daungers to put our confidence in God and to commit our selues and all that wee haue vnto his wisdome good wil and pleasure Otherwise if we sticke to our owne wisdome if we conceiue nothinge in our minde further then humaine reason doth perswade ti is to be feared least we fall headlonge into desperation Whether it pertayneth that the disciples being doubtfull by reason they had neglected to take breade are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of little saith XIIII Whervpon followeth also a certayne redargution or correctioÌ„ namely of those men which if they perceiue any thing at al to be wanting vnto them or doe not by by feele present help in their necessity they so take on through the impotency of their minde as though the Furies themselues â–ª dyd driue them forwarde by meanes whereof they begin at the length to dispaire vtterly of the ayde and assistaunce of god It followeth And hee asked them How many loaues haue yee They sayde seauen And he commaunded the people to sitte downe on the grounde We may note in these wordes besides a doctrin a place also consolatory XV. XVI God suffereth not his children longe to be troubled hee permitteth them not be tempted aboue their strength Mannes reason in
short and ouer briefe speakinge it would of necessitie come to passe that the same thinges shoulde oftetimes bée iterated and repeated to the great ircksomnes of all men Moreouer it is much better and more thankfull to the preacher in cace he expounde now these now those places somwhat more exactly and with as great sharpenes as maye bée setle them in the mindes of his hearers And loke what places he leaueth vntouched at one tyme the same at an other time conuenient he shall euidently declare For if a man repeate often the same places with like breuitie and with like fourme of wordes it is to bée feared truely lest he incurre that which a certayne Poete pleasauntly spake And that same Harper eke Is to be laught to scorne that aye Vpon on stringe doth streke II. Where if thou wilt nedes vtter and alledge diuers and soundry common places as in déede somtimes the present readinge of Scripture doth minister many the same very profytable yet shalt thou laboure with more fydelytye and deliygence specyally in explayninge of thrée or fower as for the other and those also very fewe it shall bée sufficient briefely and as it were houerly to touch them all the residue pretermitted After which sorte Crysostom in his 60. homily vpon Mathewe comminge to those wordes in the text I say vnto you that their aungels in heauen do alwayes behold the face of my father prudently gathereth and noteth an assertion namely that to euery man are appointed certayne aungels as their kepers or ouerséers But be absolueth this place in very fewe wordes eftsâ—nes procéeding to other matters as more profytable and apte for the enformation of lyfe For he passeth to a common place touchinge the not contemninge of our brethren III. Let those common places bée chosen that are suffycieÌ„tly large and apparaunt and that conteyne nothinge intricate or doubteful to thintente thou maist entreate amply and playnely and popularly to the hearers For there be some matters very barren and as ye woulde say pent vp in a streight prison and the same also obscure with darke and perplexed questions If any suche therefore doe happen in the holy scripture which is expounded it is much better to couer or dissemble them with silence then with many wordes to stande vpon the same Of this kinde it is it a man explaning the history out of Luke 16. touching the riche gloutton buryed in hell and Lazarus raried into Abrahams bosome shoulde goe about a longe time and with much a doe to deteine his audytory alledging many things of Abrahams bosome whereof séeing the opinions of interpreters yea euen of the learned sort be so diuers and discrepant few thinges certaine and fruifull can be sayde where in the meane time in the verye same hystory many profitable places might holsomely be handeled as against superfluitie in meate and apparaile against couetousnesse touching pouertie to be taken in good part touching the poore not to be contemned of almes déedes of the mercy and iustice of God of the rewardes of the godly and paynes of the wicked In sumnme all those places shall bée pretermitted which ingender perith us perplexed questions or dissentions amongst the people or doe by any meanes cast doubtes into the consciences of good men or lastly doe minister small â—â—â—â—â—tie or proâ—ite 4. Out of the manyfolde places which are profitable apparaunt those chiefely beefore the residewe shall bée chosen to bee discussed that are moste apte and conuenient for the place and tyme. As for example there happen in the Euangelicall history places conteyning assertions and the same peraduenture touching high misticall matters Againe other places â–ª wherin vices are reproued and perhappes the very same where with the multitude is knowen that presente tyme to bée infected or other places enstructinge the lyfe and maners of men Heere truly it shall bée the parte of a wise Preacher to omitte those places that demonstrate the assertions of fayth and to turne himselfe vnto those that teache the duties of loue wherein sinnes are corrected and corrupt maners amended séinge the multitude is vnapt to conceyue that doctrine and of this also standeth greatâ—ly in néede Bee it sufficiente once for all generally to note that the places touchinge assertions especially of greater weight and importance are not to bée handeled but before that multitude in which are mixed many learned men as is to bée séene in greate Townes or Cities and then moste chiefely suben any heresies or errors bée crepte in which it is expedient to refute by those assertions more playnly expounded Agayne with such perspicuitie as not onely the learned but also the vnlearned maye perceyue them In which order verily Chrysostom also with wonderfull prudence and dexteritie decideth many hard and difficulte places as touching the cause of sin in his saide homily 60. vppon Mathewe and that by reason of the Manichees which in those dayes had far and nére spred their venime of two principles or beginninges or the one whereof they affirmed all thinges to bée made touchinge the same substance and equall dignitie of each persone in the holy Trinitie in duiers and sundry Sermons bycause of the Arrians of that age Nazianzenus both gaue and followed the like counsayle in a number of his Orations Amonge the places which are applied to the institution of lyfe in rightuousnesse or to correction those alwayes before other shall profitably bée declared which concerne the present state and conditions of the Church As touching which thing somwhat wée haue sayde already what tyme we entreated of the matter of Sermons These thinges thus generally premised let vs nowe weighe and consider what common places maye seeme moste chiefely to bée chosen out of those which wée haue gathered vppon the historicall narration aforegoinge Marc. 8. accordinge to the state of the Church and of the hearers to the intente a fruitefull Sermon maye bée had Certes bée that is purposed to teach and instructe that kynde of people which inhabiteth small Townes and Villages shall with very good righte take those places that to suche maners and dispositions are moste agreeable Such places are these Of the dilligente hearinge of gods worde Of séekinge firste after spirituall then after temrorall benefites Agaynst those that so gape after carnall thinges that they vtterly neglect thinges spirituall Of prayer and thankes giuinge for meate and drincke and other daily benefites of GOD bestowed vppon vs. Agayne if peraduenture there hath happened lately any calamitie or publyke daunger then with greate fruite shall bee handeled a place consolatory as namely that GOD suffreth not his children longe tyme to bée troubled or tempted aboue theire strength c. These kinde of places I saye that minister either instruction or consolacion shall very fytly and profytably be declared to the vnlearned people to whose capacitie and profite in lyfe and conuersation all the whole oration of the Preacher ought to hée applied But in bigger townes or cities
where frequente assemblies bée in which no smal number of learned men are intermedled and many of the citizens and common people can iudge indifferently well touchinge the doctrine of religion there in déede both the places which wee rehearced may rightly bée discussed for what doctrine tendinge to godlynes shall there vnseasonably or vnfruitefully bée taught where men of all sortes and degrees are assembled together Albeit with somwhat more ample furniture as well of argumentes as of phrases in speakinge that is to saye both of matters and wordes And besides them other places also which are occupied in the confirmation or coufutation of assertions of which sorte wée haue shewed some packed vp in the foresayde Euangelicall history For such a one is that touchinge the merry and prouidence of GOD whereby hée neuer ceasseth to care for our affayres and ministreth aboundantly vnto vs not onelye spirituall but also thinges corporall and that to euery one yea and in all our procéedinges so that not so much as a heaire of our heade without his good will and wyse preordinaunce falleth off or perisheth Also touchinge mannes infirmitie whereby it commeth to passe that wée cannot of our owne selues endure or by our owne industry prepare thinges necessary for our lyuinge Further that mannes wisdome is astonyed in all difficulties and danngers Finially the Preacher oughte in this behalfe to vse a singuler prudence and sharpenesse of wit to the intent hée may become all thinges to all men and saue so many as is possible The Apostle Paule sayth that hee spake to the Corinthians as vnto carnall and babes in Christe and that hée nourished them with milke and not wyth stronge meates forasmuch as they were not able to perceyue any graue or profounde doctrine as men giuen to lucre and carnal thinges But to others vndoubtedly which had more profited and gone forward he preached the Gospell after an other maner of teachinge and by propoundinge places of greater weighte and importance In lyke maner therefore shall the wyse dispenser of gods holy worde hauinge a dilligente consideration of the persons tymes and places amongste many places offringe themselues choose onely a fewe suche namely as hée supposeth will bringe moste profite to the Church and the same shall bee more amply and playnely explane As for the residewe hée shall either as is aforesayde very sparingely touch or altogither pretermit them But to the intent those men that endeuour to take vppon them the office of teachinge in the Church maye the more easely and coueniently enure themselues after the fyue generall diuine places of inuention to reape a large and plentifull croppe of fruite wee will not vnwillingely adde one or two examples more For in déed euery interpreter of the Scriptures ought to haue those places in a readinesse and at hand thorough much musinge and meditatinge vppon them Therefore let vs examyne the manyfolde doctrine conteyned in euery the members of the Euangelicall narration as touchinge Christ woorshipped of the wise men which is extant Math. 2. When Iesus was borne in Bethlehem a Citie of Iury in the dayes of Herode the Kinge Beholde there came wise men from the East to Hierusalem saying where is he that is borne kinge of Iewes For we haue seene his starre in the East and are come to worship him When Herode the kinge had harde these thinges he was troubled and all the Citie of Hierusalem with him And when he had gathered all the chiefe priestes and Scribes of the people togither he demaunded of them where Christe shoulde bee borne And they sayde vnto him At Bethlem in Iury. For thus it is written by the prophet And thou Bethlem in the lande of Iuda art not the leaste amonge the Princes of Iuda For out of thee shall there come a capitayne that shall gouerne my people Israell Then Herode when hee had priuily called the wise men enquired of them dilligently what tyme the starre appeared And hee cent them to Bethlem and sayde Goe and fearche dilligently for the younge childe and when yee haue founde him bring me worde againe that I may come and worship him also When they had harde the Kinge they departed and loe the starre which they sawe in the East went before them till it came and stode ouer the place wherein the young childe was When they sawe the star they reioysed exceedingly with great ioye And went into the house and founde the younge childe with Mary his mother and fell downe and worshipped him and opened their treasures and presented vnto him giftes golde and Frankensence and Mirre And after they were warned of God in a dreame that they shoulde not goe agayne to Herode they retourned into their owne country an other waye The kinde is knowen to be didascalick For the State is that Christ is both true man true god For both his natiuitie after the fleshe is briefely repeated and also it is shewed that the wise men which came out of far countryes gaue vnto him diuine worship Wherefore it béehoueth our fayth of and in Christ true perfect God to be maruelously confirmed The whole narration may be deuided into two partes whereof the one and principall declareth how the wise men worshipped and accknoweledged Christ very man very God to bée their sauiour The other depainteth forth Herode takinge counsayle how to oppresse and confounde Christ Wonderfull no doubt and most diuers are the dispositions of men towardes Christ then newly borne Some dwell farre off and take longe iorneyes to worshippe him other some haue their bidinge in the same place where Christ is borne and séeke forthwith to destroye him Euen so commeth it to passe ofte times looke vpon whom god most liberally powreth and bestoweth his spirituall giftes and graces as the pure doctrine of his worde and such like those make small accounte of them yea I had almost saide contemne and dispise thē but amonge them to whom hath happened scarcely any taste at all of the same benefytes they are most highly estéemed and most gredily defired In the dayes of Herode the Kinge behold there came wise men from the East to Hierusalem I Doctrine The circumstances touchinge the time touchinge the condition of the persons comminge and touching the place whence they came doe not onely purchase credite to the Euangelist reportinge such thinges but also minister no small momente to the fortifyinge and establishinge of our faith likewise in Christ That they came out of Persia it is likely as well for that Persia is situate directly Eastwarde to Palestine as also bicause they that in Greke are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amomge the Latines Sapientes amongest the Persians are cōmonly termed Magi that is to say wise men Witnesses here of are Hierom vppon Daniell and Chrysostom vppon Mathew II. Doctrine The Gentiles accordinge to the oracles of the prophetes began to be called vnto Christ as soone as he was borne vpon
dreame Heerevpon therefore wee haue to vnderstande what great prudence and dexterytie is required in them that take vppon them to teache or by reason of their office ought to teache others Certes it is very requisite that they accommodate themselues in all that they may to the capacitie of their hearers and make also their proofes and reasoÌ„s of thinges vsuall familyar and wel knowne For so Paule the apostle preachinge of Christ the true God to the Athenienses taketh occasion of speaking of a thing manifest to all men to wit of the altar dedicate to the vnknowne God Afterwarde he procéedeth vnto reasons prouing the power and goodnesse of GOD playnly perceyued of all by the onely instinction of nature And we are come to worship him XIII and XIIII Doctrine and Institution They which sée the Starre that is to say that haue teathers and guides of whom they may by the woorde bee rightly instructed in the exercises of Godlynesse in their mindes faith springeth and withall they are stirred vp to the true worshipping and pure inuocation of God and vnto other thinges adioyned herevnto But they that haue not teachers of the worde or refuse to heare suche as they haue doubtlesse it can not be that they shoulde laye a right the foundations of faith or otherwise profytte therein For faith commeth of hearing and hearinge by the worde of God. Let vs all therefore praye vnto God that if the trueth hath not as yet shined vnto vs he woulde sende those that might enforme vs by hearinge of whom we may also conceiue true faith in Christ But if the truth hath now already bene reuealed vnto vs then that we may rightly vse it and direct the knowledge whiche wee haue gotten to the true inuocation of Christ through a lyuely fayth and sanctimony of lyfe XV. Doctrine The wise men whilest they professe themselues to bee come to worshippe Christe doe not obscurely testify and declare his diuine nature For it is the Lord that ought to be worshipped When Herode the Kinge had heard these thinges he was troubled and all the citie of Hierusalem with him XVI Correction Wonderfull is the difference betwéen the Gospell and men following the worlde and the things that are in it Assoone as by the grace of God the trueth of the gospell waxeth cléere Princes and a great number of people séeke meanes to stop the course thereof For the diuell without ceassing moueth by his champions suche as are described Actes 16.17.18.19.21.23 c. bloody broyles and tragidies soweth battels seditions and tumults trusting he thal bring to passe by this meanes that sounde doctrine shall be euill spoken of suspected and become hatefull so by little and little be vtterly explosed and abandoned of al men And the world now adaies nourisheth euery where an huge heard of Sathans bondeâ—laues whiche at all times goe about craftely to take away the truth and to hinder the studies of the holy scriptures But they labour in vaine as it is manisest that Herode also with his conspiratours attempted all thinges in vaine The trueth may for a time bee assaulted and hidden but expugned and vttery abolyshed it can not be So also the vngodlye may accomplishe some thing after their owne desyre but in the meane time the misers and blinde bussardes doe not perceiue that the victorye whiche they haue of the poore ministers of the worde wyll turne to their owne destruction For suche is this kinde of conflicte that whosoeuer haue the vpper hande in it are in deede miserablye vanquisshed and put to the foyle And victorye in this respect is nothynge els then a token of GODS wrath and vengeaunce whiche bursteth foorth eyther vpon the children nephewes or vppon the posterytie to come XVII Institution Whiche of vs soeuer will declare our selues to bee the children of the light if at any time wee perceyue the Starre of trueth to shine anywhere vnto vs let vs not with wicked Herode and his adherentes be troubled and kéepe a sturre but rather as ioyful and glad let vs runne to méete it imbrace it with both our armes and giue thankes vnto God for it XVIII Doctrine Herode through ambition ritches auarice and ingratitude towardes god was driuen to resiste He feared least a newe kinge rising vp he should be put from his kingedom The vnthankeful multitude alwaies proue to the worste willingly ioyneth it selfe to the will of princes especially in euill matters It is euident therefore that men of haughtye minde proud puffed vp vaineglorious dronke thorough pleasaunt fortune couetous vnthankefull to god warde craftye vnstable and such as in a moment apply themselues vnto all thinges thorough a certaine carnal wisdom they haue doo not lightly imbrace the Gospell and doo very hardly enter into the kingdom of heauen As touching which thing Christ Math. 8.19 Luc. 18. and the Apostles also els where doe preache And when he had gathered all the chiefe priestes and Scribes of the people togither he demaunded of them where Christ shoulde be borne XIX Correction The vngodly being prouoked with the maiesty of the truth appearinge séeke diuers and sondrye wayes to oppresse it They apoint commissions they call counsels and sinodes and pretermitte no â—ote of those thinges which they suppose will bee profitable to the furtheraunce of their mischiefe The men of Anathoth goe craftelye about to intrappe Ieremy XX Doctrine Out of the mischeuous endeuours of men the Lorde oft times draweth that which is good The consultations and mandates of the wicked Kinge touching the enserchinge of the trueth were the cause that the trueth which before laye hidden was out of the monuments of the prophets brought into light Except this dilligent inquisition had bene made by the kinges commaundement neither the Persian wise men nether the Iewes yea nor yet we at this day shoulde haue so certaine knowledge of the place wherein Christe was borne Beholde after what sort God wonderfully prouideth for his church and how in it men profyte goe forwarde in the knowledge of thinges spirituall There sprang vp heresies cruell and barbarous persecutions against the professors of the trueth in the meane season the church standeth stedfast and is encreased not onely for that it profiteth in the doctrine of faith but also forasmuch as it becommeth more ware and prouident in auoyding or enduringe of daungers in humilitie modestie patience and other vertues exerciseth it selfe not without great gayne and aduantage For so truely it pleaseth GOD to delude the enterprises of the wicked and to bring to passe that to the godly al things turne to the best XXI Institution It is to be obserued in this presente place that the colloquies and assemblies of learned men touching matters perteyninge to religion and the state of the Church are oft times ordayned to a very goodende and purpose And albeit there be commonly in such assemblies some hypocrits or other yet is the trueth by them or by the godly
adioyned with them sifted out and brought to light The wise men verily declare their opinion of the Starre the Iewes searche the scriptures and whâ—lest in this sorte as well natural reason as the word of God are with iudgment and dexteritie conferred together a certayne definitiue sentence is gathered out of them both XXII XXIII Institution and Correction Herode asking counsayle of the chiefe priests scribes opportunelye admoniseth vs that in all matters of doubte we shoulde craue aduice of those men that are perfectlye séene in the same It is not without cause commonly spoken abroade Let euery man exercise himselfe in the arte which he knoweth But now adayes a greate number of men doe ouermuche offende in this behalfe They presume to giue sentence touching matters of religion that neuer had any â—aste in the sacred scriptures yea that as well in maners as in opinions are cleane voyde of all godlynesse and pyetie What good shoulde we hope for at their handes And they saide vnto hym At Bethlem in Iury For thus it is written by the Prophet And thou Bethlem in the lande of Iuda art not the least amonge the princes of Iuda For out of the shall there come a captaine that shal gouerne my people Israell XXIIII Doctrine Right excellent is the dignitie of the Scriptures For the scripture alone is vnto vs a certayne and assured rule faythfully shewing the truth as touching Christ and all thinges necessary to saluation Philosophycall proofes flowing out of the riuers of mans reason are of great weight and bringe no small light to things darke obsecure But in cace they be compared with the scriptures they ought to giue place as farre vnmete to match with them Like as truely when the wise men were come to Hierusalem where the scripture had hir place as ye woulde saye hir mansion house the starre whiche they had séene in the East forthwith disappéered and withdrew it selfe XXV and XXVI Doctrine and Institution In Micheas the Prophet cap. 5. it is thus reade worde for word And thou Bethlem Ephrata art little among the thousands of Iuda out of thee shal he comforth vnto me which shal be the gouernour in Israell whose outgoinges haue bene from the beginning and from euerlasting It appeareth therfore that the Euangelist expressed the prophesye so farre onely as was agréeable to his purpose Howbeit in the words of the prophet not onely the humanytie of Christe but also his diuinitie is playnely described and set forth And héere againe lykewise in this place is suggested vnto vs the wonderfull goodnesse of God to be considered and the holy Scripture most highly commended For it pleased God euen immediately at the beginning to open and manyfest his purpose touching the procuringe of the saluation of mankinde by his sonne and to the inient men should become daylye more certaine and sure of so great and worthy a thing and their faith by that meanes be nourished and encreased he vouched safe also to declare long before all the whole maner and the very circumstances how euery thing should betide Hitherto it pertayneth that the prophet Micheas so longe time before shewed as it were with his finger the place where Christ should he borne It is our parte to giue vnto God continuall thanks and perpetually to prayse hym which would haue as well the holy fathers as also our faith by that meanes to bee established And as for the holy scriptures in whiche those premisses and prophesies are contayned and is declared how and after what sort they all at the length were accomplyshed and performed let vs haue them euermore in high estimation reuerence them read and reuolue them without intermission from the iudgement whereof to swarue but a haires breddthe as they saye is to be counted a very wickednesse XXVII Doctrine By the words of the Prophet Christ is described to be a Kinge and Lorde but such a Kinge as whose kingdom is not carnall but in déede spirituall consisting in the hartes of the faithfull and streatchinge so farre as the limites of the catholike and euerlastinge church doe extende This church compriseth all the saintes and electe and is an eternal churche the boundes whereof are contayned partly in heauen and partely in and aboute the whole worlde This honour therfore and title of a kinge we finde attributed to Christ both nowe at his natiuitie of the Gentile wise men and againe at the time of his death of the president Pilte a Gentile also albeit not knowinge what he did But the Iewes both first and laste in such wise employed their diligence that from them the doctrine of saluation was deriued to the Gentiles Nowe what maner of kingedome this is it is of Christ in many places as in the parables wherin he calleth the church the kingedome of heauen likewise when he fléed leaste he shoulde haue bene made a Kinge of the people againe before Pilate c. Playnely and euidently declared XXVIII Redargution The false and trecherous Iewes doe nowe impudently interprete these wordes touching the kingedome and principalitie to concerne Zorobabell of whom mencion is made Esdr 2. Heggeus 1. c. And yet besides that they are conuinced by the authoritie of their owne auncitors into whose head duringe the time that Herode reigned and enquired the truth of the matter no such things euer came it can by no meanes be vnderstanded of Zorobabell which is added of the Prophete namely that his outgoinges haue bene from the beginninge and from euerlastinge This was very well noted of Chrysostom And thus doe the Iawes reiecte the veritie explaned vnto them of their doctors and dayly deuise absurd and false interpretacioÌ„s of the diuine oracles in such sorte that nowe it is euident that they are giuen vp of god into a reprobate sense and that as well the scriptures as euery other thinge besides yet thorough their owne deseruinge is become pernitious vnto them XXIX Institution But goe to let vs by the example of the wise men submitte our selues wholy vnto Christ our kinge and acknowledge the incomparable benefites which we may receyue of him if so be we will beléeue in him with our wholle harte and with such fidelitye and diligence as is méete obeye his commaundementes Where as if wée beléeue an obey him in déede then are we true Israelites and citizens regestred in the kingdome of heauen Not all that are of Israell are Israelites but they that are the children of promise Then Herode when he had priuily called the wise meÌ„ enquired of them diligently what tyme the Starre appered And he sente them to Bethelem and saide Goe and search diligently for the younge childe an when yee haue founde him bringe me worde againe that I may come and worshippe him also xxx Correction The vngodly albeit they haue rightly bene enstructed as touchinge the trueth yet is their conscience neuer in quiet They giue no credite to the Scriptures and therefore they turne themselues to
But they are conuinced by those thinges which we reade Luke 1 When the angell had declared vnto Mary that she should beare a childe How can this thing be so saith she seing I know not a man The angell aunswered forthwith The holy Ghost shall come vppon thee and the power of the highest shall ouershadowe thee And therefore the holy one that shall bee borne shall be called the sonne of God. And Simeon blessed them IIII. and V. Institution and Correction It is our duty in lyke maner to wish well and congratulate with those whom God voucheth safe to adorne with his spyrituall benefits yea and we ought also to giue thankes and sing prayses vnto God for them The angell Gabriel and Elizabeth called the virgin Mary in semblable wise blessed and happy aboue al women But those the doo not reioyce in other mens gifts and graces especially spirituall but enuy and disdayne them declare themselues sufficiently not to be Christes disciples neither to acknowledge the benefits of God in his saints Wherefore as of enuy and hatred so also deserue they to be accused of ingratitude And sayde vnto Marye his Mother Beholde this childe is set to bee the fall and vprisinge againe of many in Israel for a signe that is spoken against VI Doctrine Simeon calleth to minde the oracles of the Prophets as touching Christ and chiefely that of Esay 28 The worde of the Lorde shall bee to them an offence that they may goe on and fall backward and be broken in pieces And after a few words Beholde I lay in Sion a stone an approued stone a corner stone a precious stone a sure foundation he that beleeueth let him not be to hastye Which place Peter also Act. 4. likewise in his fyrst Epiâ—â—le cap. 2. interpreteth after the minde of Simeon saying Christe is a stone sette to bee an offence and ruine of them that will not beleeue and to be an vprising againe of the beleeuers To the same effect also speaketh Sainct Paule Rom. 9. who againe 2. Cor. 2. doubteth not to pronounce the verye gospell to be a swéet smell vnto god to those verily that are saued the fauour of life vnto life But to them that perish the sauour of death vnto death Heere vpon it followeth that whether men be saued or damned it dependeth chiefely of Christ For they that beeleeue in hym obtaine saluation but those that wil not beléeue are damned like as Christ himselfe also defyneth Marc. 16. Who then perceiueth not the most ample dignitie of Christ to be heere celebrated and set forth Furthermore as those the are saued ought to ascribe the benefyt of their saluation onely to God and to his goodnesse séeinge namely they receiue also the very power of beléeuing freely of God for faith is the gifte of God euen so those that perishe perishe onelye through their owne defaulte whilest they refuse to beléeue and to receiue the benefyts offred Which thing the Apostle Rom. 10 out of the same prophet Esay obiecteth to the vnbeléeuing Iewes All the day long saith he haue I stretched out my handes to a people that beleeueth not and that speaketh against me Therefore not vnto God but to our owne malice and wickednesse ought our damnation to be imputed VII Redargution Like as Christe by him selfe and simply is the cause of the risinge vp of many and not the cause of ruine or falling but accidentally or by occasion So the Gospell also by it selfe is the power of God to saluation to euery one that beléeueth but if debate sedition or any publique calamities doe arise that commeth to passe onely by occasion whiche vngodlye men hypocrits couetuous misers tirauntes and such lyke doe séeke and procure For assoone as they perceiue that by the Gospell their incredulitie and corrupte maners are reproued and drawne to the tribunall seate of God and there condemned they leaue no stone vnturned to the intent they may oppresse it and vtterly extinguish it Let therefore those maliparte and subtill deceyeurs holde their tougues which in these dayes falslye slaunder the Gospell and moste cruelly molest all good men with false accusations as though Christe were the ruine and fall of a great number by hymselfe as though the Gospell dyd nothinge els then destroye and marre all and lastely as though the godly teachers were the authours of dissentions sectes seditions tumults c. When as in verye déede they wishe well euen from the botome of their harte to all sortes of men and labour by all meanes to erecte edifie saue and traine all men to a better lyfe in CHRIST Iesu But what doest thou Suche complayntes of the vngodlye haue beene hearde euen from the fyrste beginninge as in the time of Elias Ieremye and Micheas the Prophetes in the time of the Apostles and in all ages hereafter shall the eares of menne be troubled and disquieted with such slaunderous voyces But how these are to be resisted and their mouthes to be stopped euery man may learne out of Tertulian cap. 4..41 of his Apologeticus out of Cyprian against Demetrianus Augustines bookes of the Citie of God and the hystory of Orosius VIII Institution Let vs pray continually vnto god our heauenly father that he wil not leade vs at any time into temptacion nor suffer vs to stomble at the offendicles which of the humilitie of Christ or of the doctrine of the Gospell or of the conditioÌ„ of the ministers or of some other lyke cause may séeme to arise Where if by reason of our infirmitie or also by the iust iudgement of God for our sinnes it chaunceth vs at length to fall then that he wâ—ulde by his mercy and for the glory of his name erect and lyft vs vp againe IX and X. Doctrine and Institution That Christâ— was an offence to a great number of the Iewishe nation the Apostle Rom. 9.10.11 plainly sheweth where he disputeth of the reprobation of the Iewes calling of the Gentiles Againe 1. Corinth 1. We preache Christ crucified to the Iewes an offence and to the Gentiles folishnesse Paule also and Barnabas to the Iews To you first say they it behoued the word of God to be spoken but forasmuch as ye repell it and iudge your selues vnworth of eternall lyfe beholde we are turned to the Gentiles Likewise Peter in the seconde chapter of his first epistle doth not obscurely reason of this matter Wherefore all men are admonished and especiallye those whom GOD hath vouchsafed to illustrate more then other with the knowledge of his sincere doctrine to ponder deeply with themselues what maner of example is in the Iewish nation set foorth vnto all that are graffed into the church of God. That people was peculiarly well beloued of GOD and of them alone God gathered to hymselfe an holye Churche but yet for theyr ingratitude they were reiected They therefore that now stande in faith let them not be proude thereof knowings the theire ruine is at all times likewise to
shoulde come vnto Iohn and by hym be commended to the people And sayth Beholde the lambe of God that taketh awaye the synnes of the worlde IIII. Doctrine The fyrst reason whereby Iohn declareth Christ not onely to be man but also God deriued of the type to the truth and of the propheticall predictions to the thinge present In times past it was presignifyed and foretolde partly by diuers sacrifyces and rites and partly by the oracles of the holy prophets that there would one day come a lambe with whose bloud the synnes of the whole worlde shoulde be clensed And certes that Lambe is this whiche wee fee Christ Christ therefore expiateth the synns of the world with his blood and death Howbeit by blood and death is noted the humanytie of Christe whiche is playnely expressed Heb. 2. Againe heerevpon it followeth that Christe forsomuch as hée purgeth sinnes is also very god For no man can deny that by his owne proper power and vertue to expiat take away and remitte sinnes belongeth onely vnto God. But as touching that which perteyneth to sacrifices or rites â—he Scripture most apparauntly entreateth as of the Paschall Lambe Exod. 12 of the two Lambes to be offered dayly continually Exod. 29 and Num. 28. finally of the Lambe to be giuen after certaine dayes of clensinge for euery childe newe borne Leuit. 12. To these tipes and figures the Iohn directed the force and sharpnes of his minde no man standeth in doubt The prophesye if we requiyre Christ Esay 53. is depainted described in the likenes of a Lambe holding hir peace when she is leade awaye to the place of slaughter Therfore that Lambe both God man which the tipes and predictions of the prophetes foretould should come Iohn affirmeth to be present and that it ought to be acknowledged in Christ And what other thing séemeth to be signified by the particle Ecce Behoulde then a difference betwixte the lawe and the Gospell In the time of the lawe were inculked in the Churche figures and prophesies of the Lambe to come but vnder the Gospll the Lambe it selfe is openly séene Wherfore here vppon maye easely be gathered the certaintye and excellensye of the Gospell and of the euangelicall doctrine before the lawe As touching which thinge also 2. Corinth 3. We haue here then a double doctrine declared at once V. and VI. Doctrine and Institution The power and goodnes of our sauiour Christ is not a littell amplyfied when as Iohn very aptly saith that by him are taken away the sinnes of the world For it is signified that there can not bée so many or so greate sinnes at any time committed but that the bloud of Christ is sufficient to make satisfaction for them Which amplification Iohn expressed also in his first Epistle Cap. 2. saying He is the propitiatioÌ„ for our sinnes and not for our sinnes only but also for the sinnes of the whole worlde And certes it is true if the will of God and of Christ be considered the fruit of his bloud sufficeth and is applied vniuersally to all men but if regarde be had to the will of men there commethe oftetimes an impediment therefrom whereby they can not be pertakers of spirituall benefites VII Redargution They are greatly deceyued that séekâ— for remission of sinnes any other waye then by Christ There is no other Lambe that hath power to forgyue sinnes but this alone to whom Iohn willeth all men spedily to come Be thine owne workes neuer so excellent and presume neuer so much with god after thine owne deseruing yet must thou néedes graunt of necessitye vnto this lambe the right and power of pardoninge thy sinnes VIII Institution Where if we feele then our selues to be oppressed with the greuous burthen of our sinnes for we must all confesse of necessitie the cace so to stande with vs Let vs flye vnto this our aduocate redemer Christ and praye humblye to God the father being iustly offended with vs that it would please him to be pacified for the blood of his innoceÌ„t sonne for somuch as he also is the paschall Lambe offered vp for vs and not impute vnto vs any more our sinnes For what shall it profyt vs to haue Christ appointed the Lambe by whose death the sinnes of the worlde shoulde be taken away if in the meane tyme those thinges which wee haue committed be not done awaye To the ende thereof the benefytes and merites of Christe may bee applied vnto vs albeit vnworthy it is our partes and duties both day and night to praye vnto God our heauenly father with a pure and constant faith IX Consolation With what thinge maye doubtfull and carefull consciences more fortifie and confirme themselues then when they vnderstand that by this meanes the vndefiled Lambe Iesus Christ is set forth vnto theÌ„ through whose intercession as many as beinge moued with repentauÌ„ce of their former offences beleeue in him doe obteyne ouerlastinge saluation X. Institution Wée ought to yelde continual thankes vnto God the father who hath giuen vs to liue at those times in which the Lambe so long before promised and loked for of the holy fathers is exhibited in the flesh and hath with his pretious bloude and death as with a raunsome giuen made satisfaction for the sinnes of all men Many Kinges and Prophetes haue bene desirous to se the thinges that you see and haue not sene them and to heare the thinges that you heare and haue not hearde them c. This is he of whom I sayd After me commeth a man which wente before mee For he was before mee and I knewe him not but that he shoulde be declared to Israell therefore am I come baptisinge with water The seconde reason prouinge Christe to be GOD taken of his eternitie Christ came after me to witte as touchinge the fleshe and his humaine nature and yet went the very same before mee in respecte of his dyuinitye But if Christ be eternall it is plaine that he is also very GOD. And in deede Christ was simplye before Iohn in the beginninge and from euerlastinge as the maker and creator of the same Iohn But yet in takinge of manes nature he is knowne to be after Iohn namely by the space of Syâ—e monthes or thereaboutes as the angell Luc. 1. doth wytnes XI Institution Iohn in auouchinge himselfe fo haue borne the same recorde of Christ before that he heareth now admonisheth vs that we ought neuer at any time to be beterred either with any feare or shamefastenes from the confession of the Gospell but rather whensoeuer occasion is offered that we shoulde clerely and vnbashefully pronounce whatsoeuer wée thincke of Christe and of all the Euangelicall doctrine A good songe though it be oftetimes repeated accordinge to the prouerbe is alwayes gratefull to the hearers Add moreouer that in this place is commended the constancye and perpetuall consente of godly teachers in sound wholsome doctrine Iohn confesseth still the same thinge nowe in
the presence of Christ which he had pronounced before of Christ being absente Nothinge is to be altred or transposed in the substance of doctrine or foundation of faith The doctrine that hath once bene sounde and true must of necessitie alwayes be true like as God himeselfe also of whom all sounde doctrine doth procéede is altogether immutable XII Doctrine Here is a notable confession of the two natures in Christ when as Christ is described by the one to haue bene before Iohn and by the other to haue come after Iohn Therfore Iohn sheweth Christ openly and commendeth him takinge awaye the sinnes of the worlde as he is one person in which two natures are ioyned together For truely it behoueth vs that wee vnderstande Christe to haue accomplisshed accordinge to eyther nature the thinges that pertayne to our saluation For in cace Christ ought to haue executed the busines of our saluation onely after his diuine nature then it had in no wise bene néedefull for him to haue put on humaine flesh XIII Redargution By what meanes shall they defende their cause which affirme That the Worde or Sonne beinge the seconde person in the diuine essence did then first take his beginning when hée tooke vppon him mannes fleshe Iohn very wisely confesseth that he was before him God vndoubtedly begotten of God before all worldes in which respect Christ also himselfe said that he was before Abraham was borne XIIII Institution Of some peraduenture might be suspected so diligent and ofte repeted a coÌ„mendatian of Christ by Iohn as though thorough a certaine humaine affectioÌ„ perhaps for kinredes sake Inasmuch as Elyzabeth Luc. 1. is accounted to be Maries cousin the one fawned vppon the other Iohn aunswereth How should I either by reason of flattery or any other sinister affection commend Christ when as I neuer before this time had any kinde of acquayntaunce with him neyther dyd I euer sée him till nowe I saith he knewe him not And it is very likely that Christ was vnknowe to Iohn not only bycause Iohn kept in the Countreye and in the defart far off and Christ lyued alwayes in townes néere to Hierusalem but also for that Christ vntill that present time wherein he was baptised had as yet gotten himselfe no name and renowne by reason of any myraâ—les But then did Iohn beginne to know Christ when he came to be baptised of him at what time Iohn was taught by diuine reuelation that Christe was present whiche had bene promised a redeemer to the fathers and of whom he longe before had begonne to preach Wherefore here are all men admonished and especially those that teach in the Church or that are occupied by any meanes about th affayres of religion that they both speake warely and deale wisely and put forth nothinge after the corrupte affection of minde Where if they smell any offendicles to be imminente then that they prudently turne them awaye with some Preoccupation or preuention by premonishinge all their hearers in time and finally that they labour by all meanes possible to bring to passe that all men may vnderstande that they sincerely and vprightely doe accomplyshe their dutie And let them in the meane season goe forwarde stoutly to execute the office ioyned them of GOD as Iohn also saith when he was commaunded to baptise he was then likewise coÌ„maunded to celebrate and preche Christ to the intent he might become knowen vnto all Israell For so was Iohn appointed by the prouidence of God that he shoulde informe the mindes of all men to the doctrine of Christ and also to the sacrament by Christ after to be instituted XV. Correction Woe therfore vnto them that bothe speake and doe all thinges after their owne fantasye and affection to the greate offence of all good men that I say nothing of the huge losse and detriment of Churches and of the corruption of pure religion that doth follow therevppon Those that can not saye of them whom they commende I knewe them not do not well prouide doubtlesse for the behouse of the Church For I speake chiefely of them that are placed in the ecclesiasticall function albeit euen in the ciuile state also we maye perceye ouer many things to be determined and done after the corrupte affections of men which no doubt deserue sharply to be reproued XVI Doctrine Vocation to a certaine office is the gift of god Neither is any man apte to teach the Gospel or to accomplishe any thing as it ought to be excepte God himselfe will first call him For he assone as he calleth ministreth gifts also by which a man becommeth méete for his callinge And here vpon truely it commeth to passe that those men that thrust in themselues before they be called doe hardely proue euer fytte for the turne or at leaste doe féele by experience no happy successe to follow of theyr doinges XVII Institution They therefore that perceyue themselues to be called of God and especially to the function of preachinge the gospell let them take dilligente héede that they omitte not to doe those thinges that are beseminge for them In all their sermons and actions let them declare themselues to be desirous of nothinge more then that Christ may bee manyfested to Israell that is to say to the Church of God. Neither let them suffer themselues either by threateninges or flatteries of any men to be letted and sequestred from their godly purpose XVIII Correction They incurre reprehension that either doe not their office committed vnto them at all or els doe it neglygently neyther preache Christ but themselues and doe séeke more carefullye after the thinges that are their owne then after the thinges that are Iesus Christes Against which hipocrites the Apostle oftetimes very sharpely as they are worthy inueigheth XIX Doctrine These offyces are ioyned together to manifest Christ to Israell and to baptise with water that is to say to preach the worde and administer the sacramentes For doctrine and the sacramentes rightly ministred are two markes declaringe the true Church and of necessitie where Christ beareth rule there either office is dilligently exercysed with out intermissyon as Iohn also confesseth both of them to be committed vnto him of God. But there is moreouer in the words water a certaine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worthy to be obserued For Iohn signifieth that he is not the author of any new doctrine or baptisme but onely the minister of eyther of them and that the inwarde workinge therof is to bee loked for of an other more worthy namely of Christ himselfe true and very God which alone as it is saide a litle after baptiseth with the holy Ghost and ought alone to bee acknowledged the authoure as well of the Euangelycall Doctrine as also of the Sacramente of Baptisme â–ª Therefore by thys meanes Iohn maketh it knowen that he doth all thinges not after his owne arbitremente but by the commaundement of God himselfe Which thinge let al men worthily endeuoure to followe that
as it were certayne steppes and degrées whereby the godly are brought vnto true and perfect knowlege Which thinge how it may with ease be accomplyshed I will in few words rehearce and as ye would saye with certayne poyntes added declare They talked together I The first degrée to come to an absolute knowledge of the trueth as touching Christ and the will of God is constituted in holy and godly meditations and in a feruente desyre of perceiuing the trueth Whiche desyre or study GOD hymselfe other whiles graffeth in the mindes of men ministringe of hys owne accord occasion of godly meditations like as those thinges that were done at Hierusalem gaue cause to the disciples to talk and common of Christ And Iesus himselfe drew neere II Assoone as any doe earnestly begin to applye theyr minde to thatteynement of diuine knowledge God hymselfe vouchsafeth to be present with them and to fauour their godly desyres Wherefore they easely perceyue their mindes to be wonderfully and in a certaine secrete maner inflamed their counsayls to vs directed and a meane wherby they may profyt to be opened By meanes whereof we may learne that the second step or degrée whereby the way is laide open to the knowledge of thinges diuine consisteth in the sincere callinge vppon the name of GOD and in the present aide and helpe of the same There is no cause why any maÌ„ should perswade himself that he can happily attempte the study of holy thinges if he first implore not humbly the diuine ayde and féele the same to be present with hym And for this cause doth Iames cap 1. grauely admonish vs that we should aske spirituall wisdom of him that giueth it namely god c. One of them aunswered whose name was Cleopas III The third degrée of profyting in thinges spiritual is the diligent conferrence with others especiallye with the learneder sorte And God is wont alwayes to those that with all their harte long after the knowledge of heauenlye thinges to minister apt helps and instruments of all sortes For the holy ghoste commaundeth Phillip to approche more néere to the chariot wherin the Eunuche quéene Candaces chief gouernour was caryed to the intent he might cléerely interpret the scriptures read but not vnderstanded God by an angell willeth Cornelius the Centurion to send spéedily to Ioppa for SimoÌ„ Peter of whom he mighte be instructed in the doctrine of true religyon And héere in this place Christ himselfe commeth forth in this owne person rather then those his disciples shoulde be destitute of a faithfull instructor What that a place very profytable to the commendation of the heauenly doctrine falleth in where it is sayde That Iesus of Nazreth was a prophete mightye in deede and in worde before God and all the people Truely very notable effects of the celestiall doctrine are héere set forth before our eyes Yea and certaine women amonge vs. IIII They that couet to profyt in sound holy doctrine what time they haue diligently conferred as touchinge the trueth with other godly menne of all sortes and degrees in the forrth place they shal exactly weigh and perpende all mens opinions sayings interpretations disputations yea they shall marke also visions reuelations dreames of whiche the Prophete Ioell speaketh capi 2. signes and wonders and of al these thinges so farre forth as in them lyeth they shall prudently shewe their iudgement Finally they shall trie all thinges as the Apostle sayth 1. thess. 5. and holde that which is good But that all sorts of men ought worthily to employ their endeuor to the doctrine of piety it is plaine and euident forasmuche as we sée the care and dutie euen of women also toward Christ crucifyed dead and buryed to be héere vehemently praysed and set forth They found it euen so as the women had saide There is good hope that the godlye may there verye well profyt and goe forwarde where as consent and agréement is founde in sounde doctrine which alone is of great importance to the establishing of Gods church and to the amplyfying therof And he saide vnto them O yee fooles V Ater the opinions of other men heard and prudently weighed there remayneth an other marke or fyft step whiche the disciples must climbe That is that the iudgement of the Scriptures themselues which is most perfect and aboue all other may alwayes be harkened vnto For vnto these must of necessitie be referred whatsoeuer is at any time produced as touchinge the doctryne of trueth We sée how Christ and the Apostles doe fortyfye all their assertions with the testimonies of the lawe the prophets how much more méete is it therefore that we stick fast for the authorytie of the lawe 〈◊〉 thee 〈◊〉 be set Christ and Apostles vpon this foundation whatsoeuer is builts that shal be certaine sound and stable in the churh and he shall be iudged to haue more profyted others whosoeuer shal build in this sort Againe it can nothe chosen but that it muste néedefull whatsoeuer is taken from any at 〈◊〉 and obtruded for sound 〈◊〉 And they drew 〈◊〉 to the towne VI 〈…〉 all times the thankfulnes their 〈…〉 God that distributeth to euery 〈◊〉 hys gift◠〈◊〉 measure as pleaseth hym as also to 〈…〉 by which they know and confesse themselues to be holpen for 〈…〉 For to those that are thankfull and doe rightlye vse the gifts graunted vnto them â–ª God willinglye 〈◊〉 more and committeth vnto them as it were new tallents But from the vnthankfull and those that either knowe not or wyll not vse them aright are taken a waye agayne such those that they haue already gotten And their eyes were opened Truely they that are thankfull do féelâ— in themselues manifest increasements of knowledge God vndoubtedly augmenting and be wâ—ifying his gifts in them And in this behalfe we sée the Apostle Paule praying with great effect to God the father that the loue of all his heaters might yet more and more abounde in knowledge and in all spirituall vnderstanding c. And they rose vp the same howre and returned VII Moreouer when a man is come to the exact knowledge iudge of the 〈…〉 shall 〈…〉 â—â—ught to 〈◊〉 but shall indeâ—â—◠〈…〉 all 〈◊〉 possible to bring others also to 〈…〉 Therfore we shall fréely and â–ª but a 〈…〉 confesse the knowen trueth he shall labour to 〈…〉 other both priuate and publickly 〈…〉 forth as oportunitie will serue 〈…〉 and friendly confer with other learned men moued not so much with desyr of teaching as of learning and fynally in al his actions hee shall set before his eyes both the edyfying of his hearers and increasement of the church For to thèse â—â—des most thief 〈…〉 God giueth to the faithful the 〈…〉 of thinges spirituall with these â—â—tion the 〈…〉 good will towardes God and men by this 〈…〉 concorde and agréement in doctrine in nourished in all Churches and to be shorte by such diligence is the Church of God confirmed encreased
the second that the priesthode of Christ is farre more excellent then the priesthod of Aron or Leuiticus the thyrde that by the priesthod of Christ the Aaronicall priesthod is abolished the fourth that by the priesthod of Christ the olde ceremonies sacrifices and euen the lawe it selfe doe take an ende In déede I must nedes confesse that the sayde Epistles are not writen in the popular kinde of teaching but it is vndoubtedly to be graunted that in them maye be noted such a trade and maner of collectinge argumentes and proufes and likewise such a disposition of thinges as is to be founde in no other bookes of scripture beside Therfore euen for this cause do we here worthily coÌ„mend and set foorthe the examples conteyned in them where we haue appointed to entreate of inuention and disposition As for the Sermons of Christ and the prophetes we haue out of them shewed some examples already in the seconde Chapter of this present booke Out of Chrisostom Tome 5. may be added these sermons entituled thus that Christian ought to leade a holy and vertuous life That we must doe well in the least thinges That a Christian man ought with great endeuour to tender Gods glory That it behoueth euery man to be carefull for his owne saluation That their trespasses are to be remitted that haue offended vs That the remembraunce of sinnes past doth much profit How we should communicate the sacred misteries That we ought with all kinde of duties to giue thankes vnto god That loue doth direct and accomplishe all thinges That we ought to loue euen our enemies that persecute vs. But it behoueth not the younge beginners for whom we haue writen these thinges to be accombred and ouercharged with the multitude of examples Hitherto haue we procéeded touching the diuers formes of Sermons in one and the same kinde Didascalick in the tractation whereof like as with singuler fidelitye so also with great diligence and industrie haue we specified those thinges which we supposed were most profitable for our purpose We haue in déede bene the longer herein partely that we might make all thinges plaine and easye and partely least we shoulde of necessitie be compelled to our great griefe to repeate againe the same thinges in the discourses following For certes that in euery kinde of Sermons so ofte as the cace requireth one while the partes and manifold readinges of the sacred bookes an other while some sentence or certaine place out of the Scriptures moreouer somwhile simple theames somtimes theames compounde are expouÌ„ded declared there is no man that is ignorant And whosoeuer he be that hath now already rightly conceyued what ought to bée done in euery forme of sermon in the kinde didascalick he shall easely vnderstande what is likewise to be done in the other kindes of Sermons of which we will nowe take in hande to speake For in case thou doest except the palces of inuention and also the cantions proper to euery kinde the order and proportion of all the kindes will in a maner be all one ¶ With what great care and industry it is to be prouyded that those things which are alleadged in the sermon out of the fountaines of the scriptures or from any other place may skilfully accordingely be applied to the matters present cap. x. THat which shall now bée spoken off will profit much as well vnto the thinges that haue bene hitherto touched as also vnto those thinges that remaine may worthily be accounted amonge the chiefe and principall vertues of a faithfull teacher That is this that all those to whom it appertayneth to enstructe the multitude doe with great care and diligence endeuoure themselues cunningely and aptely to aplie those thinges which they in their Sermon produce out of the fountaines of the Scriptures or from anye other where either for proofe or illustratinge of their cause to the present state of things and matters incident For verily that it is by all meanes to be prouided and foreséene that nothinge harde wrested or in any wise far fet be alledged out of the scriptures when we intend to stablish the doctrine of faith or a principle of our religion I suppose there is no man that knoweth not And certes our desire is not onely to admonish the godly sorte of this but we aduertise theÌ„ also the a speciall diligence ought to be emploied in this the the testimony which is founde now fully â—o agrée with the busines in hande be with an apte forme of wordes declared to be as fitte and correspondent therevnto as if the diuine author out of whom it is borrowed had first purposely spoken of the very same matter And doubtles we sée some wheÌ„ as they vtter a prophesie a promise threatening graue sentence or a notable example out of the canonicall scriptures to expresse it with such comelines and decencye of speache and so to apply it to the present state of thinges and euen present it as ye would saye to the eyes and senses that the hearers are compelled to iudge and not vnwillingly to confesse that the same thing was longe agoe spoken or writen for their sakes and especially of their times neither can it be tolde how greatly good men are delighted in their mindes if at any time they chaunce to here some one excelling in this craft And in déed all Preachers for the most part doe after one and the same manar goe about to apply the places of scripture to the peculiar affaires of their owne church but they do it not in any cace w like successe Wherfore if we sée any in this behalfe to surmount the reside we we must needes interprete it to come to passe by the singuler gift of the holy ghost Which thing séeing it is so we with very good right exhort all the ministers of gods word that they would with all their power enforcement apply themselues vnto this point and craue of god their heauenly father that he would vouchsafe to giue theÌ„ his holy spirite which may enstruct theÌ„ in all thinges There are found in the sacred scriptures some formes of such applications if not described with many wordes yet right worthy to be of vs exactly obserued and studiously followed For they enforced me by their grauitye importauÌ„ce that I should thinke it expedient to put those that will teache in the church in remeÌ„braunce of them Our sauiour Christ the prince of all preachers entred accordinge to his custome on the sabboth day into the sinagog and stoode vp to reade And there was deliuered vnto him the boke of the prophet Esay And when he had vnfoulded the booke he found the place where it was writen The spirite of the Lorde is vppon me and therefore he hath annointed mee c. Wherevpon he began to say vnto them This day is this scripture fulfilled in your eares In which place Christ vndoubtedly did with manye wordes apply the oracle of the prophet vnto that time as
well the wordes as matters be agréeable and correspondent to our purpose â–ª For thou séeste how the prophisies and promises of the prophetes are of Christ Peter expounded of those things that then came to passe in Iudea thou séest Rom. 4. a very shorte sentence touchinge the maner whereby Abraham was iustified to be applied to the interprised disputation thou séest Rom. 10.1 Corinth 10. Gal. 4. historicall examples to be added to And in the place where the apostle 1. Corinth 9. goeth about to proue that to the ministers of the Gospell all thinges necessary for this lyfe are duly to be ministred of the hearers he taketh out of Duet 25. a certaine precept and showeth it to agrée very well with the cause that he hath in hande Speake I these thinges after the maner of men Saith not the lawe the same also For it is writen in the lawe of Moses Thou shalt not mosell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the Corne. Doth god care for oxen Sayth he not this altogether for our sakes Yea for our sake is this writen that he which eareth might eare in hope and he which soweh in hope might be partaker of his hope It is no harde case to note in readinge many moe examples in which diuers things that are spoken off may aptlye be ioyned together and may aunswere accordingly to the purposed matter For like as the Prophets doe take and apply those their sayinges out of the law Christ and the Apostles both out of the lawe and the Prophets So haue we frée lyberty to borrow all maner of sentences whatsoeuer out of the law prophets and apostles And not onely olde and auncient matters out of the holy Scriptures but also late and new not much past our memory or the memory of our fathers yea and such daily as styll come to passe adde also thinges taken out of other writers as Poets Historiographers and such like may somtimes fittely and opportunly be adioyned to the confirmation of any thing belonging to the present state of thinges For Christ when he laboured to moue all men alyke to repentaunce to the entent they might so with feare and trembling looke for the comming of the Lorde and some were then present that shewed hym of the Galilaeans whose bloud Pilate had mingeled with their sacrifices he aunswering them that told him such newes sayth Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners aboue all other Galilaeans bicause they suffered such thinges I say vnto you no for except yee repent yee shall all likewise perish Either els suppose ye that those eighteene persons vpon whom the towre in Siloe fell and slew them were detters more then al the inhabitaunts of HierusaleÌ„ I say vnto you no but except ye repent ye shal al likewise perish And Mat. 11. Luk. 7. Christ speaking of the stiffenecked Iewes which would neither admit his preaching nor the preaching of Iohn Baptist To whom shal I resemble saith he the men of this generation whoÌ„ are they like They are like vnto childreÌ„ sitting in the market place crying one to an other saying we haue piped vnto you ye haue not dauÌ„ced we haue song vnto you a mournful song and ye haue not wept For Iohn Baptist came neihter eating bread nor drincking wine and ye saye he hath the diuell The sonne of man came eating and drincking and ye say Behold a great eater and drincker of wine a friend of Publicans and sinners And wisedome is iustified of all hir children Likewise the interpretations of the parables as they are of Christ hymselfe made and put forth be replenished with this kinde of craft and workmanship of applyinge And how the Apostle in his most graue Sermons and Epistles hath vsed the testimonies or sayinges of the Poets to witte of Aratus Act. 17. of Menander 1. Cor. 7.15 of Epimenides Titus 1. it is better knowne then that it shall be needefull to reherce the places themselues But out of this admonition touching the heaping together of proofes or argumentes to be skilfully and conueniently applyed to the businesse of which intreaty is made or to the present state of the Church floweth an other exhortation as holesome and necessary as any other That is that all men would wisely weigh and consider with themselues how farre forth it shall be expedient to vse the holy sermons whiche other haue made and setle forth The causes of this exhortation when thou shalt heare whosoeuer thou art I knowe thou wilt pronounce theÌ„ to bée iust and lawfull Wée se which is greatly to bée marueled at the minysters of Churches euery where to be so tied and fastened wholly to the bookes that conteyne the diuine sermons coÌ„piled with no litle study by others that by reason therof they neglecte to reade the sacred Byble there wanted litle but I had sayd plainely contemne it But it can not be dissembled that the authors of those sermons doe ofte times adnixe long and tedious digressions also interlace without order reasons and argumeÌ„tes somwhat discrepant from the scriptures openly recited namely forasmuch as they iudged them in especially to be méete and conuenient for the place and time Now it can not be that those selfe same thinges shoulde be apt and correspondent to the present state of the church wherein thou supplyest the office of teaching Howbeit let vs admit that there be no digressions at all and that the holy scriptures are simply and sincerely expounded in them but what maketh that to thy purpose I praye thée if the whole explanation as it lyeth be directed most chifely to those poyntes of Christian doctrine whiche in those places and times were in déede very aptely and with great grace handeled of the Preachers and fauourablye receiued of the hearers where as nowe in these dayes and with thy audienâ—es they will all bee out of season To what ende serueth the explication of that portion of Scripture wherein are confuted the mayntayners and defenders of two contray beginninges the Manichees or other hereticks whose assertions haue now no where any place What shall it profyt to inueigh against those that gad to the Lystes or Theater to beholde playes and games before that people whiche is vtterly ignoraunt what those termes meane Moreouer it is no poynt of wisdome nor conuenient to vtter straight wayes euery thinge openlye especially in diuine matters that is gathered together by the labour and iudgement of other men For they doe alledge in déede out of the Scriptures sentences examples proofes and probations of all sorts but forasmuch as some of them doe note the same very briefly and onely as ye would saye by poyntes or titles some also doe scrape them together at all aduentures out of others whiche haue lykewise lately published and put forth Sermons it is very requisite except thou wilt cast as well thy selfe as thy hearers into open daunger that thou shouldest diligently examine euery thing takynge a narrow new of the
fountaines of scripture obseruing there all thinges that either goe before or followe after what causes or circumstaunces hange together agayne what driftes of reasons or arguments there be what force they be off determine finally with thy self whether they be agréeable to thy purpose or no. And by the same paynes taking that thou must of necessitie sustayne in this behalfe thou thy selfe mightest as wel after thine owne lykement deuise a new and entier sermon according to the state of thinges present But to draw to an ende be it so that those straunge and forreine Sermons be in all respects perfect and sounde and that there is nothing as touching either matters or wordes wanting in them yet art thou very much deceyued which supposest that thou shalt with as good a grace sette foorth the doyngs of an other man as thou vtterest thine owne made at home in thy house Labour striue enforce thy selfe so far as thy wittes wyll suffer and yet truely will there neuer appere in thée that voyce that plyauntnes of sounde that moderation of gesture and mouing that grauitie that ardent affection that power and vehemency in words which were found in the first author Euery man is the best and most graue reciter of his owne doyngs And the chiefe part of a Preacher teaching with commendation is absent when he wanteth pronounciation I omitte to tell that if it shall fortune any of thy hearers to haue the very same author at home of whō thou borrowest in a maner all thinges it will come to passe that in short space thou shalt procure to thy selfe great haterd and contempt amongst all men I could my selfe wil they say make as good a Sermon as our Preacher I can read at home at my house euery day in the wéeke al the he preacheth neither is there any cause why I should after this resort to the church And by this meanes is engēdred in their minds a certein contempt of holy assembelies and by litle and litle all ecclesiasticall actions and the whole ministery of the Church begin to waxe vile and lothsom Verily I beléeue that those which doe alwayes thus vse yea rather abuse the labours of other men bring forth litle or nothing of their owne are of Gregory Nazianzenus well and thriftely taunted and taken vp where as in his Apologeticus he saith If there be any peraduenture that haue learned two or thrée sermons out of the auncient writers and that haply more by hearing then by reading Or in case we haue kanned a few Psalmes héere and there out of Dauid afterward doe vse them by apparelling them with a more fulsome and well plighted vesture or if we can bragge and vaunt of Phylosophy euen to the starres counterfettinge a certaine shewe of godlynesse and disguising our face with such like inuentions we will now in all the haste be praysed and had in admiration we thinke now forthwith to be placed ouer some peoples we séeme in our owne fantasy euen from our cradels to be some consecrated Samuels We will also be counted wise and teachers of diuine misteries yea and set our selues amonge the Scribes and Doctors of law c. And certes it is to to be lamented that the labours of most excellent men replenished with no lesse learninge then godly zeale shoulde be racked to a far other end and purpose then the authors when they put them forth looked they should haue come For we sée how shamefully both the vnlearned and learned do abuse them alike Those verily when by the helpe of them they craftely and deceitfully intrude themselues into the ecclesiastical function for the which they are vnméete and these for that assoone as they haue gotten them they become all together sluggishe and slouthfull they neglect to peruse the holy scripture and other godly bookes they are not carefull neither doe they once thinke any more to frame sermons by their owne with and labour And yet it is most certaine that the scope and meaninge of those good men was not to aduaunce and promote vnto dignitie any impudente vnlearned and shamelesse persons or to maintaine the slouth vnlustines of any meane schollers and of all other they ment least to withdrawe any from the readinge of the canonicall Scriptures But this rather they alwayes wished and hoped by all meanes it woulde come to passe that the Lucubrations which they consecrated to the whole Church and submitted to the iudgement thereof should redounde also to the profit and vtilitie of all the whole Congregation And amongest other their desire was chiefely to profite those that being called to the ecclesiasticall ministery beginne with commendation to exercise themselues therin to the intent doubtlesse they might out of their most sacred workes gette a ready and familiar methode of popular teachinge to the intent they might learne apte and vsuall phrases the maner of findinge and disposinge all maner of proofes of chosinge and applyinge common places and to be shorte the order of mouinge of affectious againe to the intent they might by their example be stirred and prouoked to the continuall readinge of the prophetical and Apostolick books to the collection of apt reasons and argumentes out of the same and to the diligent deuisinge and framinge of sacred Sermons For like as those mē that sell Sinamon Galingale nutmigs cloues and mace and such like straunge and precious spices doe vse to giue a peéce of euery of them for a taste to the commers by to the intent they might the raher be allured to bye Euen so they that haue put forth bookes of holy sermons haue wished and desired nothinge more then by giuinge as ye would say a certaine taste of diuine matters to excite all men to the reading of holy bookes and to encrease their diligence in the study of imitatiō Now hitherto doe al these things tende We couit to perswad al those the haue already applied their mind to the ministery of the Church yea and we beséech them in Christ Iesus that first formest they would withall possible diligence peruse and turne ouer the sacred Scriptures conteined in the body of the holy Bible that they would make them to be most familiar vnto them whiles they may haue out of them sondry and manifoulde matter of heauenly doctrine prepared against all euentes purposes then after that they would with as great endeuour as they can enure themselues to make and describe godly Sermons after the patterne and examples of the Sermons of Christ the prophetes and Apostles and lastely that they would aptly and conueniently apply to their busines in hande those things that they shall finde in other doctors of the Church whither they be Greekes or Latines to be profitable for their vse directinge in the meane time all thinges to the glory of God alone and to the edifyinge of their hearers And so finally by this meanes shall they be iudged and that truely by the verdicte of the authors themselues rightly
meanes for I entende not to touch any more it is brought to passe that if there bee many ministers of Churches in one Citie they heinously vary and contend one with an other to the great offeÌ„ce doubtlesse not onely of their next neighbours but euen of straungers also and such as dwel a great way off from them but if there bée not many ministers of Churches together in one place yet doe the rest of the states of the common weale and the whole people exercise most bitter iarres and priuy hatreds amonge themselues Thus the small foundations of discord and dissension being once layed no man can lightlye expresse in wordes how greatly the mischiefe groweth and how far in short space it spreadeth abrode For sodenly from one place or other do breake foorth new deuisors of peritous treacheries with whom it is but a sport or pastime to set simple and plaine dealinge men together by the eares to minister féedinge to the flames of discorde and as it is saide in the prouerbe to put fire to the match or oyle in the furnace But by litle and litle the mischiefe créepeth further and first goe to hauocke those thinges that are placed in the Church for good orders sake then next is troden vnder foote the doctrine of religion and except politike prouision bée had in time the whole Church is at length vtterly subuerted and ouerthrowen Seeing then so many and great inconueniences do budde foorth out of very smal beginninges of dissensions and all truely bée ascribed to some one rashe and temerarious Preacher Yée perceiue I doubte not my déere brethren as many as are aduaunced to the excellent founction of Teaching the people that yée haue with all your possible power and enforcement to labour and endeuour your selues studiously to imbrace nourish peace and concord It behooueth you ofte times to consider and to imprint déepely in your mindes that in case ye shall doe otherwise all men will foorth with crye out euery where with seditious voyces that you are the great disturbers and hinderers of humaine societie that you are the common distroyers and murtherers of men that from and through you whose duty it was chifely to prouide salue for euery fore infinit euils and mischiefes do redounde to the perill and decay of wretched Citizens It shall be requisite therefore for euery Preacher to bee very carefull and proâ—iâ—elite least that being surprised with his owne inordinate loue he so blinde and deceiue himselfe What doth not selfe loue and the ambitions desyre of 〈◊〉 â—usorce 〈◊〉 or tall to doe It is the â—oynt of one that to hast all 〈◊〉 â—unoberately like Thraso to 〈…〉 but he seemeth to be most foolish that â—â—tteth his confidence in value glory They that 〈◊〉 so please the worlde can not be the seruaunts of Christ It is one thing for a man to sake the glory of Christe an 〈◊〉 thing to 〈◊〉 after his owne glory Further 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say Striuings about words vaine speaches and new found phrases they that teach the people shall auoyde and detest worse then a dogge or Snake remembringe that they haue longe beefore beene admonished of this thinge Againe how greatly not onely ecclesiasticall Teachers but also euen as many as are entred in the sacred rules of our religion ought to abhorre froÌ„ the assertion of false and erronius doctrine the authors of holy books do euery where inculkate and declare Moreouer that he is farre from a wise man which is as her hastye of credit and will beleoue euery prater and backbiter besides that there rise innumerable inconueniences of detraction although the wise Salomon had helde his peace and the Prophetes and Apostles sayde nothinge at all yet might it very well bee knowen and perceyued euen out of the Ethnicke writers which haue published many learned sentences touchinge the same thing Futhermore that light and vile persons also idle Dames and Huswines in matters specially appertaining to the Church be in no wise to be heard and harkened vnto euery man I suppose is perswaded sufficiently in his owne minde or conscience albeit truely we are by many proofes and experiments taught in these daies how meete and conuenient it is What shall we further saye All good men ought assuredly to be perswaded of this that hée which causeth trouble and perturbation in the Church but chiefely he that is the first breaker of peace beginner of discorde doth more grieuously offend shal more sharpely be punished at Gods hande then be that hath committed those heynous crimes so commonly detested I meane murder theft adultrye felonye or such lyke Whosoeuer shall once giue occasion of schisme and dissention in the Chruche may thinke continually that all those thinges are spoken of and against him which are mentioned of the holy Prophetes and Apostles against false teachers and fantasticall authors of sectes He néede not hope to aspire to the heauenly Hierusalem wherein alone is the eternall fruition of eternall peace to be bad which will not learne how happye and ioyfull a thing it is for brethren of this earthly Hierusalem in the Lordes house to dwell together in vnitie But an end I must make there is no remedy To the suppressing therfore of al these perils inconueniences the most spéedy and effectuall remedy and moste soueraigne preseruatiue is if all as well the Preachers as the people doe before euery sermon with as great deuotion as they can humbly call vpon God their heauenly father and require these thrée thinges to be giuen vnto them Fyrst that he woulde vouchsafe to puryfye and illustrate with his holy Spirite all theyr hartes in generall Seconde that he woulde giue vnto the Preachers themselues both the will and power fréely to set foorth all thinges profytable and wholesome and also that hee woulde guide and gouerne their lippes tongue members and all their whole action least they vtter any thing which is vnséemely and vncomely Thirdly that he woulde againe vouchsafe to furnish and enstruct all their harts and mindes together as wel with desyre of procuring and preseruing of peace as also with an ernest indeuour of profyting in true godlynes and fynally that he would make them all stedfast and constant in their holy and godly purpose Wherfore that Preacher may trust assuredly to haue good and fortunate successe in Teachinge which will duly consyder and remember those thinges that haue now of vs beene sayde Soli Deo honor et gloriae ¶ FINIS 1. Cor. 4.1 â— 1. Timo. â— 2.3 I. Tvvo vvayes of interpreting the scriptures and certaine pointes proper to theÌ„ both A collation of the order of teaching in Scholes in Churches 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Popular Scholasticall Transition The proposition The partition of this work II. The excelency of the Preachers office Of the name 1. Cor. 3. Philipp 2. Cor. 4. Of the dignitie of the thing Marc. 16. 1. Cor. â— 1. Timoth. 5. Daniell 12. Thre thinges needefull in a
earth Wherevpon the wise men are of some celebrated as the first original confessiōs of christ III. Doctrine God or Christ without hauinge any respecte or choyse of persons calleth all men vnto him indifferently and voucheth safe to illustrate their hartes with his holy spirite Frste are called the Iewes then the Gentiles afterwarde poore simple Shepheards then againe learned experte or wise men So far forth in Christ there is neither Iewe nor Gentile circumcision or vncircumcision Barbarian Scythian bonde or frée IIII. Institution It is our parte and duetie in what place soeuer wée be with all our endeuoure to séeke after Christe Those men came from the furthest parte of all Persia with great costes charges with great paine trauile and in so long and tedious a iorney also with incredible perill of their liues What behoueth vs therfore to doe who wheresoeuer our minde is endued and garnisshed with faith may there be sure to finde Christe Christ is at home at our houses and obteineth the middell place wheresoeuer two or thrée be gathered together in his name Where is he that is borne Kinge of Iewes V. Doctrine Christ is a true kinge albeit his kingdom be not of this worlde temporall or such a one as is gotten and confyrmed by force of armes and strength of men but heauenly spiritual eternal and establyshed all onely by the power of God. VI. Institution It is worthy of great admiration that a fewe straungers in an vnknowen Countrey in the chiefe and principall citye of all Iurye where the kinges Courte with his warlicke garrison was residente durst make so notable a confession of Christ being as yet base and obscure of whom no ayde or succoure semed to bee loked for by reason whereof greate stirres ensued the kinge and all Hierusalem beinge vehemently troubled But that came to passe vndoubtedly forasmuche as they were enflamed with an inuinsible faith towardes God and the holy Ghoste moued and droue forward their mindes Let vs therefore learne in like maner being instructed with a sounde and stéedfast Faith vnbashfullye and couragiously contemning all daungers whatsoeuer which séeme to bée set before vs or also daily to be renewed of Sathan and the worlde to confesse Iesus Christ to bée our kinge and Sauiour yea and by all possible meanes to publishe and declare his name Let the tyrauntes lyke vnto Herode storme and stampe let the hypocrites forge their wiles and snares let the Scribes and Pharises take their crafty counsayles togither yet will not wée ceasse with all our harte and mynde to séeke and with all boldenesse to confesse Christ to bée our kinge and Sauiour VII Correction Where are nowe those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those dastardes which euen when all things are safe sounde doe yéelde no confession at all of Christ or of faith in Christ Let them bée ashamed of their ingratitude towardes God. For we haue seene his Starre in the Easte VIII Doctrine God reuealeth his will vnto men diuers wayes First truely internally to witt by the secrete inspiration of his spirite wherwith hée eftsoones moueth the hartes of all men which is so far forth necessary euery where that without it no knowledge is supsed to bée certayne and sure And ofte tymes verily God certifieth by this meanes as wel the regenerate as not regenerate of most graue and weighty matters Secondely externally and that eyther by his angels appearinge some tyme in visible forme Or by men such as were the Patriarkes Prophetes Apostles and the electe of all ages which moue and perswade other to the fayth and the holy actions of loue Or by other creatures voyd of reason amongest which may bée numbred as well all this wholle frame of the worlde distincted and adorned with hir partes as also the fyre in the bushe the cloude in lykenesse of a piller and the starre whereof we nowe speake c. By these and such lyke meanes God whensoeuer it pleaseth him declareth vnto mankinde his goodnesse iustice and power IX Institution We are admonished by the example of she wise men that we should not be idle gasers and beholders of such tokens if at any time they appeare For God by his prouidence ordayneth all these thinges and vndoubtedlye to our instruction though not alwayes knowen vnto vs. X Redargution They erre and are deceiued not onelye in the stars but also al the heauen ouer as they say whiche by reason the wise men were taught by the guidinge of a starre that Christ the sauiour of mankinde was borne goe about to commend Astrology which they cal iudiciall and coniecturall as an art certayne and infallible For that starre was not of the number eyther of fixed or erraticall but verily a newe starre which god woulde haus for a time to bée séene and agayne to banishe out of sight Yea rather truely it was no starre at all if wée will credite Chrysostom but onely the likenes of a starre In like maner the wise men gathered not by that starre any thinge touchinge the maner of Christes lyfe or of those things which it behoued afterwarde to chaunce vnto him as neither they obserued after the order of the Mathematickes the disposition and aspect of other Planetes accordinge to their regions or houses but they were taught that Christ is the kinge and sauiour as well of the Iewes as also of the Gentiles Moreouer that his kingedome is spirituall and heauenly not carnall and earthly Wherevpon it necessarily followeth that whatsoeuer they obtayned they receiued it by the reuelation of the holy ghoste not by the canons of Astrologie againe that by the same spirite and star which was with them in stéede of the external word and euen of a preacher hymselfe they were brought to the faith and the confession of faith and that nothinge euer came into their mindes as touching Astrological coniecture XI and XII Doctrine and Institution Séeinge further that God vouchsafeth to teache the wise men in this sorte by a Starre and not by angels or men we shall héere worthely note the wonderfull counsel and purpose of God whereby so oft as he determineth to perswade any vnto hym he applieth himselfe such is his wisdome and goodnesse to their capacities to the intent veryly they may profytte and goe forewarde through those thinges wherewith they are moste chiefely acquainted Wherefore it pleased God to call vnto hym the wise men of the Gentiles being dilligent enserchers of naturall causes by a signe appéering in heauen For the Starre was as fytte an instrument for that purpose among those Persians as the preaching of the worde is knowen to be a most apt and ordinary instrument amongst other nations But a while after when the wise men had stepped vp to somewhat an higher degrée in the schoole of Christian doctrine hee instructed them with the wordes of the Prophet which they heard at Hierusalem Laste of all as being further profited he taught them also by his angels in a