our birth or birth day it shall be deferred He shall be degraded and neuer haue to deale with war The punishment yea he shall indure the open sale of his patrimonie whosoeuer he be that shall vpon any time of the festiuall day be present at shewes spectacles And the same punishment shal the apparitour or summoner of euery iudge indure if vnder the pretext of publike or priuate busines he thinke that the things which are established by this law may be violated By such a like constitution did Constantinus the great decree Const magn that all iudges and assemblies of Cities and townes and the seruice of all artes should cease or rest vpon the reuerend Sonday as wee call it or vpon the Lords daie Wherefore such in this behalfe offend that on the Lords day will not haue so much as a foot in the holy places of praier Profaners of the Sabbath or thinke that they haue well discharged and done their dutie if happily they doe superficially heare the forenoones Sermon or perhaps the halfe of it but spend the rest of the time of that daie in or about profane things only They also offend that supersticiously perswade themselues that the sanctification of the Lords day standeth in idlenesse onely and in doing of nothing and yet passe the same away in diuers follies vanities dansings drinkings and pleasures As indeed it cannot otherwise be An olde and true saying but that whilest men doe nothing they learne to doe ill But betwixt these two blameworthie extremities this is the meane namely to consecrate and to spend that day in those exercises which we haue spoken of alreadie and that not onely in the publike assemblies of the Church but at home in euerie seuerall familie priuately and aparte What worldly 〈…〉 Nay we say further let no worldly businesses or labours be taken in hand but such as necessitie it selfe doth force vs vnto that is such things as pertaine to our owne health welfare and defence or to the health welfare and defence of our neighbours and yet so to and in such things as could not either be taken in hand or dispatched the daie before or will not indure a delaie till the day after For in or vnder the commaundement touching the Sabbath such good works from God are not forbidden as the intermission thereof hath both ioyned with them the assured death and destruction of man and also is contrarie to charitie For in that case the sonne of man also is Lord euen of the Sabbath and the Sabbath was made for man Mat. 12.8 Marke 2.27 and not man for the Sabbath Wherefore the Macchabees did in this behalf through superstition offend 1. Macch. 2.34.35 c. that vpō the Sabbath day would not fight against Antiochus nor cast a stone at their aduersaries by meanes whereof they indured the slaughter of a thousand men or there about Wherupon after they had well weighed this errour and that by this meanes they might be rooted out of the land 1. Maccha 2.40.41 they decreed to fight against all that euen on the Sabbath day should set vpon them by battaile So doth our-Sauiour Christ defend that against the calumnies slaunders of the Pharisees his own disciples who for the beating backe of the necessitie of famine did pull the eares of corne and gather them on the Sabbath day Mat. 12.1.5 And further addeth haue yee not read in the law that on the Sabbath daies the priestes in the temple profane and breake but this he speaketh vpon supposition of the opinion of his aduersaries the Sabbath and yet are blamelesse where no doubt he alludeth to those holy workes and labours of the priestes who were constrained on the Sabbath day to slay sacrifices Num. 28.9 to bake the shew bread to set them in rowes before the Lord also to prepare incense Leuit. 24.5.8 to kindle the fire for the sacrifices to seeth the flesh of the sacrifice at the doore of the tabernacle Leuit. 8.31 and to dispose and set in order those seuerall instruments and vessels of the seruice and worship Exod. 26.33 which was prescribed vnder Moses all which surely required no small labour and businesse So if all the haruest time together the skie were rainie and onely the Lords day faire no man that is of sound iudgement could doubt but that the graine might without sinne both be cut downe and caried into the barnes Sixtly if we haue heard in the Sermons some certaine points which are dark 6 We must aske councell of the ministerie touching such things as are darke and we do not well vnderstand or which we our selues could not sufficiently attaine vnto we must not at any hand loath or neglect them vnder the pretext of this prophane speech things that are aboue vs doe not belong vnto vs but either we must aske councell concerning them of the ministers of the Church or if in this case reuerence of them or shamefastnesse in our selues which yet should not be doe hinder vs we ought to goe to them that are more familiar to vs and are indued with greater knowledge of Gods word and holy things For if we doe this in other things of this world and concerning our owne life how much more must we performe it in these diuine and heauenly things the right knowledge whereof is necessary for vs vnto saluation in the knowledge and iudgment wherof we should more and more abound that we may knew the things that differ Phil. 1.9.10 and that we may be syncere or pure And in this behalfe it is the duty of the ministers of the word not onely to teach euerie one in the publike assemblies of the Church but pruately also to instruct and teach As on the other side it is the dutie of faithfull hearers not to be content onely with the publike hearing of Sermons but priuately to lay open and poure out as it were into their ministers bosomes their ignoraunces doubts and scruples of consciences For the priestes lippes preserue knowledge Malach. 2.7 and the people must require the law at his mouth because he is the messenger of the Lord of hostes And Christ being exalted to the right hand of his Father doth not for any other respect vphold and preserue the ministerie of the Church than this Ephes 4.13 that we might all meet together into the vnitie of faith the acknowledging of the son of God that we henceforth be no more children or so should remaine alwaies in Gods matters wauering and caried about with euerie wind of doctrine but following the truth should grow vp c. So that Eunuch which was chamberlaine to the Queene of Ethiopia was not ashamed neither thought he it any whit hurtfull to his credit to lay open his ignorance to Philip Act. 8.34 and to intreat him to open vnto him that place of Isaiah which he was reading So the Apostles
receiued from God It lieth in you that haue been blessed from him with the first fruites of the spirite and the beginnings of regeneration not onely to suffer with patience the words of exhortation but to profit by them And God it is that of his free fauour onely towards vs in Christ must grant the requests and desires of his seruants Wherein surely he will not faile vs Hebr. 13.20 21. if we be not wanting to him to our selues Now I beseech euen him that is the God of peace and that brought again from the dead our Lord Iesus the great sheepheard of the sheepe through the blood of the euerlasting couenant to make you perfect in all good workes to doe his will be working in you that which is pleasant in his sight through Iesus Christ to whom be praise for euer and euer London the xij of December 1599. The Booke or Treatie it selfe and the summe thereof Touching hearing of Sermons CHAP. 1. And the summe of it THat it is a point of great skill not onely to make Sermons but also rightly and religiously to heare them Pag. 1 How great art or skill is required to make Sermons ibid. Againe to heare them well and with profit is a point of no small skill and labour 2 The hearers dutie Before the Sermon In the Sermon while And after the Sermō 3 CHAP. 2. And the summe of it TOuching the hearers duty before the Sermon 4 That mens minds must with great religion and deuotion be disposed and prepared to the hearing of Gods word ibid. That this preparation to that exercise is in the Prophets called sanctification or sanctifying 7 That this sanctification or sanctifying doth require that all impediments of it or to it should aboue all things euen as they were corrupting causes be remoued and taken away 8 Of this sort and kind are 1 Surfeting and gulling in of wine and strong drinke the day before the Sermon ibid. A remedie set against that impediment 11 2 Too much care for presēt or worldly things 12 The remedie thereof 13 3 An imagination of some singular knowledge in Gods werd and that men may at home read the Bible or some certaine Postals 14 The remedie against it ibid. 4 Schismaticall and partiall choise of Preachers or ministers of the word 18 The remedie against it where also there is mention made 20 Of the inequalitie of gifts in the Church and in the ministerie 23 5 Hatred against the ministers and ministerie 27 The remedie where also is declared with how great hazard of eternall saluation this hatred is ioyned 28 6 The largenes of parish Churches 34 The remedie 35 7 The securitie of the old carnall man 40 1 The remedy or remedies rather aginst it 42 2 The master or father of the family must not go alone to the holy assemblies of the Church but must be attended vpon or accompanied with his familiy those of his household 42 The dutie of those that must call vpon others to go to Sermons Neighbours 43 Elders 44 Magistates ibid. 3 That euery hearer whiles the bells ring and by the way as they go to Church must be occupied with religious holy meditations 45 Causes compelling as it were men to the diligēt hearing studie of Gods holy word 46. 47 4 Men must at home read before hand and diligently thinke vpon the text that is to be expounded in the Church 50 A Christian mans duty in reading the Bible 51 5 The bearer must poure out praiers for the Preacher 55 himselfe 56 CHAP. 3. And the summe therof TOuching the hearers dutie in the Sermon time that in the holy assemblies also 57 This duty standeth principally in these points 1 That such as are learned can read haue the holy Bible alwaies in a readines 58 What cōmodities this custome wil bring with it 2 That all of them be present not at halfe the Sermon onely but at the whole 65 3 That sleepe talking together and curiositie be farre remoued and driuen away 63 Remedies against sleep in the holy sermō time 65 Also against talking together 66 Also against curiositie 68 Also against reading other things in the Sermon time 70 4 That the whole drift and bodie of the whole Sermon be diligently obserued marked 71 5 That mens minds be free from preiudice and preconceiued opinions 74 What great hurt pertinacy in preiudicate opinions may bring to the truth 76 6 That men be present with a mind to learne and not to dispute and reason against things deliuered 77 After what sort how farre forth the Church may iudge touching sermōs made or heard 79 7 That hard things propounded in Sermons should not breede lothsomenes or tediousnes but a desire rather more and more to search out the points themselues 81 Why God in some places of his word here and there doth intermingle hard points 82 The searching out of holy things doth freely and indifferently belong to all men 85 8 That hearers must know obserue the method of the sermōs 86 sorts or kinds of thē 87 How the ministers may and should be holpers forward of their hearers as in this behalf 89 9 That the things heard must be conuerted to the exercises of faith praier repentāce c. 90 That this may be done both the ministers must be truly touched whilest they are preaching and the hearers must be transformed into the affections of the ministers 91 10 That if happily the Sermon be somewhat long yet they thinke it not tedious or troublesome to them 93 11 That parents scholemasters and elders doe euery one of thē in the sermon while diligētly obserue thē that are vnder their charge 96 12 That schollars be accustomed by writing to take Sermons ibid. What great profit sundry commodities this writing of Sermons carieth with it ibid. CHAP. 4. And the summe of it Touching the hearers duty after the sermō 100 1 Men must not go out of the Church before all the parts of gods worship seruice be ended 101 Wherfore the whole Church indeed should be present at the Publike praiers 102 Administration of Baptis 105 Celebratiō of the holy sup 107 Catechising of children 110 Blessing of the congregatiō 113 2 Things heard in Sermons must at home be deeply thought of 114 3 Household gouernours and schoolemasters must demaund of them that belong vnto them repetition of the Sermons 116 4 Euery one must godlily conferre by the way as they go homeward in their talkes and at their tables touching the Sermōs heard 121 The profits that come by such conferences 122 Chrysostome will haue the Sermons heard to be cōmunicated to them that were not present at holy assemblies and exercises 123 5 No worldly businesses are vpon the Lords day to be taken in hand after we haue heard sermons but they must be wholly spent in heauēly things and in priuate exercises also 125 What worldly businesses and at what time also worldly businesses
our hearts also Iam. 4.8 as Saint Iames saith Clense your hands yee sinners and purge your harts ye double minded men and so draw neere to God and he will draw neere to you Considering and remembring that in this case especially that common saying must be true Touch not holy things with vnwashen handes From whence also it cōmeth to passe as we see that so often as either prophets or godly kings among the people of God did call together eyther their household seruants and families or the priests or the whole people eyther to heare Gods word or to offer vp sacrifices or to intreat God when common calamities were at hand they exact demaund and call for nothing more than sanctification clensing and preparation thereto Places prouing that preparatiō or sanctification should goe before the word as in many places of the scriptures examples touching this point present themselues vnto vs. Amongest others see Gen. 35. vers 2. Exod. 19.10 1. Sam. 16.5 2. Chro. 15.12 2. Chro. 29.5 Ioel. 2.15.16 Heere we are to marke that this one word of sanctifying or sanctification comprehendeth vnder it all that dutie which a godly hearer that should prepare and fit himself to the sauing hearing of Gods word ought to bring with him yet because that is very large I will for more perspicuitie and plainnes sake more straitly aime at those things and more particularly put them down which are comprehended vnder this terme of sanctification as also what thinges are contrarie thereto and indeed should be remoued and amended For so by one and the selfe same labor it shal manifestly appeare that not only the very hearing of holy Sermons but that preparatiō also to that sauing healthful healing is not some light labor as sundrie suppose but a matter of verie great skill industrie trauell For euen as in the brittle fraile things of this world there is almost nothing that is not stopped as it were with certain his own lets hinderances for the remouing whereof men must especially labour and toile least both the thing it selfe and all the fruit and profit of it euen whilest it is greene as we say perish and come to nothing so to the hearing of Gods word and to the performance of Gods worship the most great grieuous and hurtfull difficulties of all others are obiected and set against the same yea shackles and more than yron setters which either altogether banish and withhold men from holy assemblies or else verily so snare and keepe their heartes in thrall that they make them that are present absent and rather shaddowes of men than men in the holy places of praierleaue them we may more truly say it liuing images in stead of those deaf dumb dead pictures that were wont to be there before But these lets obstacles must first of all be remoued And though by the things which haue alreadie bin spoken a man may easily coniecture and conceiue that they are of two sorts yet because for the most part they come together as if it were in troupes I will one after one rehearse them withall declare the remedies of them On the day therefore before the Sermons as also at other times Surfetting must be auoided yea continually men must abstaine from drunken feastes and gulling in of wine likewise in the morning before the Sermons they must abstain from burnt wine which in some places a man may see readie to be sold eyther at the gates and entrances into the Church or very nigh to Churches On the other side it is meete carefully to striue vnto sobrietie and temperance which a man may not vnproperly call the perpetuall fast or abstinence of Christians for surfetting in meat A reason drinke or otherwise as also the fulnesse of the former daies wine eyther tieth men wholly to their beddes and chambers and so draweth yea driueth them away from holy assemblies or else in them causeth them to do nothing but sinne This we may assure our selues of that drunkennes and surfetting take from men reason and the vse of vnderstanding in which consisteth the chiefest dutie of mans reasonable soule Whereupon the prophet Hosea pronounceth That wine new wine or strong drinke take away the heart Hose 4.11 Wherefore that vtterly taketh away the serious meditatiō and thought of Gods word his works and iudgements whether they be mercies or miseries and afflictions yea it remoueth the meditation of euerlasting life which thing also Isaiah obserued when vnto them that were giuen ouer to continuall quaffing drinking and were mighty to drinke wine and strong to mingle things which would make men drunk he ascribeth this that they regard not the Lords worke nor consider or behold the worke of his hands Esay 11.24 but despise the law of the Lord of hostes and contemne the word of the holy one of Israel With which agreeth that which our Sauiour Christ telleth vs Luke 21.34 when he affirmeth That by surfetting and drunkennes mens hearts are become heauie and oppressed so that they are not able to rise vp to the contemplation and beholding of heauenly thinges that so they might delight in God who is that chiefe and eternall good and in the sight and sense of his eternall saluation than which what can be spoken or thought more grieuous or that is or can be more hurtfull to mans saluation or more estranged from the end to which he was created Wherupon Saint Paul also dehorting Christians from drunkennes doth by a certaine opposition set as directly contrarie one of them to another the spirit of wine and the spirit of the Lord as also the effectes of drunkennes and of Gods spirit and on the other side exhorting men to the effects fruits or works of the holy ghost and euen vnto those exercises also which should be performed in the holy assemblies of the Church disswadeth them from drunkennes Ephes 5.17 18. as a most present infection and destruction of them all saying Be not vnwise but vnderstand what the will of the Lord is And be not drunke with wine wherein is excesse but be fulfilled with the spirit speaking mutually among your selues in Psalmes Hymnes spirituall songs singing and making melodie to the Lord in your harts giuing thanks alwaies for all things vnto God the father in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ It shall not therfore be besides the purpose Remedies against the hinderance or let of surfetting if as at all times generally so particularly the day before the Sermon and chiefely before the Lords day men do vtterly and altogether abstaine from more long and intemperate feasts and bankets yea if by some lawe and authoritie of the magistrate wine-sellers and victuallers be forbidden that the day before the Lords day they shoulde but for a certaine time and space set them sell wine or victuals to any and the like to be laid vpon them also in the Sermon while except
in him And this besides the hearers should remember that it may easily fall out that in taking vpon them to iudge of the ministers of the word they may quickly be deceiued and that they are caried thereto not so much by sound iudgement as by carnall and fleshly affections yea and that so farre also that he whom they smally esteeme shall happily be much better in doctrine gifts and graces that are very fit and necessarie for the edification of the Church Hatred of the ministers ministerie Furthermore many there be which boyle and burne with so great hatred against the ministers of the Church that they cannot indure eyther to come to their Sermons or else though they be at them Act. 7 55.58 they heare and receiue al things with prouoked vniust minds no otherwise certainly affected than were the Iewes at Steuens speech they fret in their hearts they gnash vpon them with their teeth and stop their eares and out of the holy assemblies they barke at and bite as it were with the very teeth of dogs all that their ministers haue spoken in their Sermons yea and many times slaunder and that with no lesse than diuelish malice all that the ministers say yea and spread abroad such things touching their Sermons as neuer came into the ministers minds much lesse into their mournes But these men sin and indeed are iniurious against not the ministers onely and their persons The remedies which perhaps may be esteemed to be of no great regard but against God himselfe the author of the ministerie and in whose name they exercise and execute their embassage yea which is more 2. Cor. 5.20 they sinne against their owne saluation not well weighing what and how great and excellent graces God doth vouchsafe to bestow vpon them by the ministerie of the Church for if they did so they would in this behalfe sanctifie themselues and would by Gods grace vtterly pull vp out of their hearts this fierie dart of Sathan and so the better prepare themselues Ephe. 6.16 to the diligent and healthfull hearing of Gods holy word For when the Israelites had forsaken Samuel and desired to haue a king as other nations and Samuel was somewhat grieued and a little displeased as in that behalfe God assaying to comfort him against so great contempt and iniurie saith vnto him They haue not despised thee 1 Sam. 8.7 but they haue despised me that I should not raigne ouer them And Christ saith vnto his Apostles He that heareth you heareth me and he that reiecteth you reiecteth me Luke 10.16 Iohn 13.22 and he that reiecteth me reiecteth him that sent me with which things also consent Saint Paules wordes who affirmeth that the Apostles and all the lawfull ministers of Gods word 2. Cor. 5.20 doe exercise an embassage in Christes name euen as if God did intreate men by them and that whosoeuer reiecteth their doctrine doth not reiect man 1. Thes 4.8 but God himselfe In our tongue we haue a common prouerbe by which we are willed to bow our knees and to bend to that tree that yeeldeth vs shaddow what then should we as in this respect do to the Church ministerie by which God dispenseth vnto vs those most excellent misteries of eternall saluation and yeeldeth vs shaddow and refreshing yea a true and an assured hauen against the heate and tempest of euerlasting damnation and the fire of hell and sheweth and setteth out vnto vs all our distemperature of bodie and soule so that if we would rightly esteeme and weigh well together the graces which by the ministerie are bestowed vpon vs from God compare them with all the carnall duties of this world See 1. Cor. 9.11 Rom. 15.27 Gal. 6.6 with the kindnesses benefits which at any time can proceed frō godly hearers to their ministers we shall find that they are of little or no account at all In which respect also indeed it is that the holy Ghost doth so often exhort the Church to the loue reuerence honour and all duties of kindnesse towards the ministerie as we may see 1. Tim. 5.17 1. Thess 5.13 Heb. 13.17 Gal. 6.6 And as concerning the Galatians Gal. 4.14 he doth indeed to their singular and immortall praise and glory say of them That they receiued him as an Angell of God yea as Iesus Christ himselfe and if it had beene possible that hauing pulled out their eyes they would haue giuen him them With how great hazard of eternall saluation the contempt of the ministerie is ioyned Wherfore certainly we must conclude thus that that same cruell contempt and hatred of the ministery ministers of the word which in very many places is euen by children sucked in and instilled together with their mothers milke is not at any hand to be esteemed so small a matter as it is at this day commonly accounted for plaie and sport but rather that it is a notorious and cruell wily shift of Sathan by which he setteth vpon and annoyeth not so much the ministers as the hearers For because he seeth like a false forgerer and accuser as he is that this would be too grosse and palpable and therefore frustrate and in vaine also Sathans subteltie if he should goe roundly and openly to worke and councell men to hate and contemne Gods word and to neglect their owne saluation he assayeth by vndermin ngs sleights and subtelties as slie as Sinons were to perform this matter therfore suggesteth vnto men the contēpt hatred of the Church of the ministerie of the word Fit similitudes and of saluation laboureth to breath this as a certaine hellish poyson indeed into mens hearts and here as if he had alreadie gotten the victorie triumpheth as he that knoweth this well that the very ministerie of reconciliation 2. Cor. 5.19 and eternall life shall altogether be accounted of according as the ministers themselues are esteemed which stratageme or subtile practise of the diuell if mens minds were well and throughly acquainted therewith it is not to be doubted but that many in this behalfe at the least would make warre with him and against themselues that so they might free themselues from so great hatred of their ministers for though they that in the ministerie of the word are become ministers to some Church or congregation should be ouertaken with some infirmities yea vices if you will yet should the people be wise to distinguish betweene their persons and that office which in the Lord is cōmitted vnto them Godly wisdome and at the least should pursue that with due good will and reuerence Or if by reason of the ministers duty in which sometimes they more freely reproue peoples sinnes they should find some matter of a more bitter roote rising vp in their hearts or springing out therein they should think that the fault remaineth rather in themselues than in their ministers and should be displeased
Lords day in greater companies they be present at the Sermons must at home demaund repetitions of such Sermons as they themselues were absent from and yet some of the family heard the same Besides such as are of great age and full of yeares What old persons must doe must very diligently repaire vnto such Sermons as in the weeke time are made in the seueral villages or hamlets of their parishes And as for those that long and sore sicknesses tie as it were to their beds or keepe in their houses What sicke persons must doe they must prouide to call home vnto them so often as need shal require the ministers of the Church to instruct comfort them They must also send out their children to be instructed in learning at the least wise to schooles of our mother tongue which are almost at euery mans dore that they may also vse their helpe in reading ouer the blessed Bible and other profitable bookes if eyther grieuous diseases be vpon them or extreame olde age approach vnto them And whilest their yeares last so to apply themselues to the hearing learning and speaking of Gods word that from thence they may fetch aid against old age shal come and pleasant comfort to themselues against all daies of danger or distresse But the greatest let of all which alone doth for the most part comprehend all the former Carnall securitie and by which men are eyther vtterly withheld from hearing Gods word or certainely very many of them heare it with no fruit at all is that same naturall or carnall man 1. Cor. 2.14 euen that same olde Adam which lieth dead and as it were buried in securitie impenitencie and the peruerse desires of this world as if it were in a certaine most deepe and dead sleepe for because that God who speaketh with vs by the preaching of his word is exceeding iustice holinesse and puritie and will at no hand communicate himself those his most excellent and heauenly misteries of saluation with the secure impenitent and hogges of Epicures heard neither will manifest vnto them or set before them to be tasted of that hidden wisedome of his word Rom. 1.28 but giueth them vp rather into a reprobate mind void of all iudgement blindeth their eyes and hardeneth their hearts Iohn 12.40 Esay 6.9 least they should see with their eyes or vnderstand with their hearts and so might be conuerted and healed as God in his word threatneth them Againe God himfelfe together with that healthfull wisedome of his word Wisd ◠2.3 c. is found of them that tempt him not and discouereth himselfe vnto thē that distrust him not for peruerse thoughts separate from God his power when it is tried reproueth the vnwise for wisedome shall not enter into a wicked soule nor dwell in a bodie that is subiect vnto sinne For the holy spirit of discipline flieth from that that is forged withdraweth it selfe from foolish thoughts and then is knowne when iniquitie commeth Repentāce what Therefore in this true repentance which is busied in and manifested by hatred and forsaking of sinne on the one side and in earnest desire of godlinesse and righteousnesse on the other side principally standeth that sanctificatiō vnto which God as in the beginning of this Chapter we haue already declared by the prophets exhorteth his people so often as he calleth them to publike assemblies to heare his word and to worship him To which also pertaineth that worthie precept of Salomon Eccle. 4.17 Take heede to thy foot when thou shalt goe into the house of God and be more readie to heare than to giue the sacrifice of fooles c. And thus farre touching the impediments and lets in remouing of which as if it were in causes corrupting other it behooueth a Christian man to stray labour least otherwise he be eyther altogether beaten backe from hearing of Gods word or else in the holy assemblies of the Church resemble at the best a dease and dead image The father or master must come to the holy assēblies accompanied with his household Wherefore these impediments and hinderances being first remoued a godly father of a familie or master of a houshold must not then thinke that he hath well discharged his dutie if eyther himselfe come alone to heare Sermons or send out into the Church from amongst his seruants some youth or other who is as yet of small proofe or iudgement as we see it sometimes practised whereby the magistrates ordinances and decrees fathers and masters are commaunded to send at the least some one of their families to the weekly Sermons or those that are made vpon some daies in the weeke Which what is it else than pleasantly as it were to scorne both God himselfe the godly lawes of Christian magistrates Nay rather good houshold gouernours as fathers masters c. Haba 2.4 should haue great care of the saluation of all of euery one of their houshold knowing that the iust must liue not by another mans but Rom. 14.12 by his owne faith and that euery one of vs must yeeld an account to God him selfe and the things that he hath done in the flesh And therfore he must bring with him his family to the Sermons or preachings of Gods holy word And if any by reason of their domesticall affaires or other vrgent businesses cannot be present at a Sermon they must indeuor in greater troups and companies to be present at the next Sermons But what meane I to speake of the familie or houshold onely The neighbour must inuite his neighbour to the publike assemblies of the Church Euery faithfull man should both by his example and voice inuite his neighbours and other men to those spirituall tables and heauenly bankets of Gods holy word Euen as Isaiah describing the desires of the people of God which should be manifested vnder the kingdome of Christ ascribeth this vnto them both that they should in great troupes gather themselues to Christes kingdome and also should mutually exhort and prouoke one another thereto saying Come ye and let vs goe vp vnto the mountaine of the Lord Esay 2.3 vnto the house of the God of Iacob and he shall teach vs his waies and wee will walke in his pathes The like studie and the very selfe same zeale both in flocking together and also in inuiting one another vnto holy assēblies did Zachariah foretel should be likewise in the new Testament and he addeth withall Zach. 8.21 Iohn 1.43.47 that those that were inuited should answere I will go also And so did Philip and Andrew inuite Nathaniel and Simon to come vnto Christ whom they had found before So Ioseph and Mary brought with them to Ierusalem to the feast of the Passeouer there Iesus their sonne Luke ◠42 when hee was twelue yeares olde Church elders or officers Specially this is the dutie of the elders of the Church
and afflicton whether daÌ„mage come vnto thee or death or the losse of thy houshold things Yea sit not down here only A notable sentence but turn again again yea trie all things and containe them in thy mind This certainely is the cause of all euill that men are ignorant of the scriptures we enter into the battell without armour weapons how can we then be kept safe Those that are armed are commonly preserued and become conquerors the vnarmed or naked are not so And Saint Ierome in his epistle to Celantia which intreateth of the institution or instruction of the mother of a familie concerning this verie kind of exercise writeth thus Hierom ad Celant So thinke vpon the keeping of thy selfe at home within doores that yet thou maiest giue some refreshing and libertie to thy soule Chuse to thy selfe a fit place and such a one as may be somewhat remoued from the noyse of the familie into which thou shalt doe well to withdrawe thy selfe as into a hauen from the manifold tempestes of worldly cares and maist by the quietnesse and closenesse of the secrete place still and pacifie such waues of thy thoughts as from without are raised vp Haue thou there such great studie and care to read Gods word so many turnes and courses of praiers and so firme straight thought concerning things to come that thou maâ—st by this vacation and relaxation easily recompence all the businesses of the rest of the time And touching this notable incomparable profit which men may get by priuate reading of the holy scriptures very excelleÌ„tly doth Augustine dispute in a certain Sermon of his where among other things he writeth thus August serde stud sapien medit legis Dei He that will be alwaies with God must pray often and reade often for when we pray we our selues talke with God but when we reade God talketh or speaketh with vs. The reading of holy scripture yeeldeth vs a double grace both because it instructeth the vnderstanding of the mind and also because man by that meanes being drawne from the vanities of the world it leadeth him to the loue of God The labour of reading is honest and profiteth much to the purging or cleansing of the heart For euen as by fleshly food the flesh is nourished so by Gods word the inward man is nourished and fedde to all good in this life which causeth the Psalmist to saie Psal 119.103 Howe sweet are thy worde vnto my mouth yea more sweet than the hony or hony combe There remaineth yet one point more amongest such things as belong to preparation The hearer must powre forth praiers and is very fit to cause men profitably to heare sermons which though it be kept to the last place must yet notwithstanding principally here be stood vpon and that is touching powring forth or making of praiers to almighty God 1. Cor. 2.16 The natural man indeed perceiueth not the things which belong to the spirit of God for they are foolish vnto him neither can be know them Mat. 16.17 Again flesh and blood reuealeth not this vnto vs that Christ is the sonne of the liuing God Pro. 2.6 but our heauenly father He giueth wisedome and out of his mouth commeth knowledge and vnderstanding Wherefore heere men had neede to make praiers both for the preacher himselfe and also euery one of the hearers for themselues The Church is bound to pray vnto God Praier for the ministers of the word as on the behalfe of their preacher that he by his grace and spirit would in such sorte gouerne his vnderstanding memory heart mind and mouth that he may be able to feede and refresh their hungry sick soules with the sound sincere and vncorrupted food of the word 1. Pet. 2.2 and that he may deliuer the same with such readinesse cheerefulnesse fitnesse grauitie and grace that all this his whole embassage may be indeed the ministerie of reconciliation and life by which God may gaine them 2. Cor. 5.18 and many other to himselfe euen to eternall life So doth the Apostle Paul desire the praiers of the Ephesians for him That vtterance might be giuen him Ephes 6.19 to the opening of his month with liberty that so he might make knowne the secret of the Gospell whereof he was an embassadour in bonds that thereof he might speake boldly as he ought to speake And the same thing doth he request of the Church of the Colossians namely that they would pray for him Coloss 4.3 that God would open vnto him the doore of vtterance that he might speake the mysterie of Christ And for himselfe euery one should pray that God would more and more vouchsafe to inlighten his vnderstanding Praier for the hearer and to soften his will and heart that so he may grow in the knowledge of his heauenly doctrine may lay hold of it by a true faith and may turne the same into the daily and wholsome exercises of praier and repentance So doth Dauid pray Psal 25.4.5 Make me to know thy waies O Lord teach me thy paths Cause me to walke by thy truth and teach thou me for thou art the God of my saluation And againe in another Psalme Psal 119.10 I haue sought thee with my whole heart let me not straie from thy commaundements Open thou mine eyes and so I shall behold the wonderfull things of thy lawe Make me to vnderstand the way of thy precepts and I will meditate in thy wondrous workes Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I will keepe it vnto the end Luke 17.5 So the Apostles praied O Lord increase our faith And Chrysostome putteth downe such a forme of praier concerning this matter when thou preparest thy selfe to sit saith hee or to reade Chrysost hom de patien consum huius saeculi or to heare another man speake first pray vnto God and say Lord Iesus Christ open mine eyes and the eares of my heart that they may heare thy word and vnderstand the same and performe thy will O Lord because I am a straunger vpon this earth Psal 119.18.19 hide not thy commaundementes from me but open thou mine eies and I shall consider the wonderfull things of thy law for in thee haue I trusted O my God that thou wouldest inlighten my heart CHAP. 3. Concerning the hearers dutie in the Sermon while and in the holy assemblies of the Church THe things that in the former chapter haue beene spoken The summ and scope of the former chapter touching the hearers dutie before the Sermon do all and euery one of them respect this point that mens mindes may be sanctified prepared to the right and wholsome hearing of Gods holy word as likewise that both snares scruples which hinder men in that behalfe might be taken away and also that mens harts being furnished with necessary meditations exercises before hand
brethren yea for men to despise their owne saluation The auncient Church had respect of these considerations Anacletus sith Anacletus the second Romaine Bishop is affirmed to haue decreed That after the consecration was ended all should communicate that would not want entrance into the Church and assemblies thereof Conc. Antio can 2. Sith also the Councell of Antioch decreed That such as come into the Church and heare the holy Scriptures and doe not communicate but do of a certaine intemperancy turne themselues away from the receiuing of the holy Communion should be remoued out of the Church till they had amended this fault Which though in the first Councell of Toledo it were mitigated or at the least propounded with some more milde words yet there also it was decreed Concil Tolita 1. can 13 That they that come into the Church and are found seldome or neuer to communicate should be admonished And if they doe abstaine after admonition giuen let them be separated from the fellowship of the Church And what meaneth this that euen yet to this daye in the reformed Churches such as yeeld not to the ministers and elders a iust cause of their absence and doe rashlie withdraw themselues from the vse of the holy Supper are therefore admonished and for the same ecclesiastically reproued Metaphrastes writing the life of one Iohn Eleemosynar Metaphra in vit Iohn Eleemosy or almes giuer as we would say reporteth that seeing all his hearers whilest the Supper was in celebrating to depart out of the Church hee also leauing the action went his way speaking thus That he had no neede of that labour but that hee administred the Supper for the benefit and profit of the people And that therefore seeing they would not voutchsafe to bee present hee went about a needeles worke Why they should be present at the catechising of children Furthermore if men dealt well and christians had that zeale they should none of them that were of the yeares of discretion or parents should depart out of the Church no not when the nouices were to be examined instructed For the holy Scripture is wont to call such children not only as are so in yeares but such rather as are so in vnderstanding and in the knowledge of Gods word and of the way of trueth But how many are there the greater is our griefe that euen amongst them that are of the yeares of discretion yea that are of great yeares and haue hoare haires are not at this day found infants and children as in this behalfe These interrogations can hardly be answered Why therfore should not such suffer themselues to be catechised and though they would refuse to be examined to yeeld confession of their faith as commonly they do why do they not yet by their hearing and presence indure at the least wise that instruction which is bestowed vpon children For those catechisings of children because they are performed by continuall course of questions answers and in the same al things be childishly and rudely handled in a shorter maner dispatched may more easily be cōprehended in memorie than Sermons that are made in a continual tenor course of speech and are with greater labour beautified and adorned Parents duetie And to prouoke the greater better attention to all the things that in this behalfe shall bee performed there must bee no small care and regard in parents for their children which are to be instructed that they may satisfie the questions demaunded and may proceede in the course of faith godlines and saluation that they themselues might not be constrained to blush to be ashamed if their children be silent at the demaunds and fowly giue ouer And because this is the chiefest part of the dutie of parents towards their children to bring them vp in the instruction and information of the Lord Ephes 6.4 a double care and respect should in this behalfe stay hold thē fast not to depart from the catechisings or instructions of youth The one is Two excellent respects that they might publikely heate iudge with what faithfulnes the Ministers of the church do their duty in instructing their children that so if they perceiue any thing to be wanting in thē they might think vpon and prouide some other way course that their childrens saluatiō might not be neglected and troden vnder foote The other that if they themselues be not so well instructed in the points which they shuld powre into their children as it were beat vpon at home as I feare me certainely A lamentable thing very many parents the more is the pitie and with griefe wee may speake it are as yet very rude and ignorant of heauenly things concerning their owne saluation they notwithstanding might yet learne such things as are needefull for them both for the better doing of their dutie towards their children and also more fitly belong to their owne saluation A very strong reason forcible to perswade An argument from profit to the people to the Ministers which also by the benefit of these catechisings almost without any labor sure I am without any shame or confusion of them themselues they may attaine vnto And vnles my iudgement vtterly faile me youths such as are of the yeres of discretion and parents also may in some manner profit more by these catechisings than by Sermons in so much that the Ministers of the Church should at no hand loose their labour if in the summer season and in the assemblies that are made vpon the Lords daies in the afternoone in which many men as we well perceiue The good vse of catechising are so farre from fitting themselues to good exercises that they doe of purpose giue themselues ouer to sleeping and snorting they would sometimes omit Sermons of instruction and giue themselues onely to the catechising of children and vse withall some more plentifull exposition of the Booke of the Catechisme which might euidently stand in steed of the Sermons omitted and satisfie such as were of the yeares of discretion and had made further proceedings than other And so the Church might at the last Why men should stay the blessing of the Church vpon good ground receiue and be partaker of the blessing of the Church before the congregation were dissolued In the olde Testament God himselfe ordained that all holy exercises and duties being done the assemblie should not be dimissed till it had receiued a solemne blessing from the priestes whereof also God himselfe put downe a solemne forme for the priests to vse as may appeare by these words where he saith Thus shall ye blesse the children of Israell and say vnto them Num. 6.23.24 The Lord blesse thee and keepe thee the Lord make his face to shine vpon thee and giue thee peace To which ordinaunce and commaundement of God the Psalmist doubtlesse alludeth in one of his Psalmes where the priestes
say vnto the people Psal 118.26 We blesse you of the house of the Lord that is to say either we that are of the Lords house and haue the care of the Lords house committed vnto vs vnderstanding so these words of the priests or else you that are of the Lords house and indeed of the true Church of God referring the words vnto the people to whom this blessing belonged And this custome of blessing the congregation was obserued and continued euen in the Church of the new Testament Concil Agath can 31 In so much that in the councell of Agathon it was decreed that the people should not presume to go out of the temples before that blessing was pronounced Neither is the ceremonie of this blessing toyish as some suppose or superficiall but graue good indeed For euen as it is Gods pleasure by the ministerie of his Church to be effectuall hath established in his Church the ministerie of reconciliation life so euen in this very blessing also 2. Cor. 5.19 the ministers are witnesses and preachers of Gods grace towards his owne people in so much that this verie rite and order is an effectuall testimonie of Gods grace blessing inlightning and mercie towards them Secondly such things as haue been diligently heard in the Sermons of the Church 2 The Sermons must be diligently called to remembrance and well considered of must and that with no lesse diligence and that also out of the holy Bible be looked into turned ouer againe and as it were chawed at home that by this comparing of them as it were weighing of them in an equall balance both our iudgement cōcerning Gods matters may be sharpened and quickned Foure good effects of that dutie and the things we haue heard may sinke more deeply into our memory sticking fast there our consent more more strengthned our faith pietie established And of this Christian care and indeuour Saint Luke setteth before vs a notable and excellent example in those noble men of Berrhea Act. 17.10.11 For whē as Paul Silus preached there in the Synagogue they receiued their word with all readines And least they might be ouertaken with too much readines to beleeue receiuing euery thing for Gods word when they came home out of the Synagogue they searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so which Paul Silus deliuered A good example is of great force and so by reading of the holy scriptures did as it were by an exact touchstone to trie examine those things Wherby it came to passe that not onely a great multitude of them bleeued but by their example also not a few of the Grecians heathen both men and women were brought to the faith of Christ Origen vpon Leuiticus affirmeth that they offer to God an acceptable sacrifice and remembrance Orig. hom 4. in Leuit. that day and night meditate in the lawe of the Lord and keepe fast in memorie all the scriptures or if they cannot do that do at the least commit to memorie such things as are taught or rehearsed in the Church and who after they depart out of the Church doe as if they were cleane creatures chawing the same things againe call them to memorie and to be short indeauour to accomplish Gods commaundements Thirdly fathers of families and household gouernours 3 Fathers teachers must demaund of their people an account of the Sermons must as they sit at table or else where repeat at home the Sermons which they haue heard with their family and household and the like must the schoolemasters doe with their schollers in the schooles and likewise euery one with those that belong vnto them yet so as the schoolemasters carefully looke vpon the bookes in which their schollers haue taken and written the Sermons and correct the scapes of their writings or the faults and errours therein whether it be as in regard of the manner of writing or the matter written And this dutie doth God himselfe prescribe vnto and presse vpon fathers of families yea and schoolemasters also who are or should be parents of soules to their schollers for thus he saith These words which I command thee Deut. 6.6.7 c. this daie shalt thou repeat and rehearse vnto thy sonnes and thou shalt speake or talke of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou shalt walke by the way and when thou shalt lie in thy bed and when thou shalt rise vp And a little after in the same Chapter Deut. 6.20.21 When thy sonne in time to come shall aske thee saying what meane these testimonies and ordinances and iudgemets which the Lord our God hath commanded you then shalt thou say vnto thy son we were Pharaohs bond men c. And the like you may see in other places quoted in the margine Exod. 12.26 Iosh 4.6 Psal 7◠3.4 which for shortnesse sake I doe not put downe And Chrysostome doth diligently and carefully exhort fathers and household gouernours to this dutie and indeuour of remembring Sermons at home and of repeating them together with those of their households saying Those that depart from the assemblie of the Church must not be intangled with businesses Chrysost hom 5. in Math. contrarie to that studie and indeuour which they had whilest they were there but returning presently home they must lay open the holy bookes and call their wife with them and their children also to conferre vpon those things which were spoken and these things being more deeply and throughly setled in their hearts then afterwards to goe vnto and to prouide for such things as are necessarie for this present life And in another part of his works namely vpon Iohn he saith thus This I iudge very necessary to admonish you of Chrysost in Ioh. hom 2. and to exhort you to that looke what mind ye are of now yee would perseuer and continue therein and that not onely whilest you are in this assemblie but at home also let the husband speake often of these things together with his wife the father with the sonne and let them on both sides deliuer their opinion and inquire other mens and let them striue to bring in this most approued and godly custome An obiection Neither let any man say vnto me Children must not be busied or occupied about this For I say that it is not onely needfull they should giue ouer themselues to these admonitions The anwere but that they should follow them onely Yet hauing some respect to our weaknes I say not so neither do we mind hereby to lead them from worldly and earthly affaires no more than we doe our selues from ciuill businesses But of these seuen daies which God hath allowed vs we rightly iudge that one should be imployed to the worship and seruice of him that is the common Lord of vs all Is not this a foolish thing A familiar but yet a