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
it selfe corrupteth the rest of the bodie as we may easily see in the stomacke for if it alone keepe the food to it selfe it both killeth the rest of the bodie with famine and destroieth it selfe with it owne neuer satisfied corruption whereas on the other side if it receiue that which is sufficient for the satisfying thereof and sendeth the rest to the other members it preserueth both it selfe and the rest of the bodie in good state and health euen so thou also if thou keepe to thy selfe the things which thou hearest from vs The reddition with the reason of it and doest not communicate the same vnto others thou both hurtest them and also corruptest thy selfe because thou dost foster within thee these two sore diseases of slothfulnesse and enuie for it will suffice for thy destruction either through wickednesse or enuie or if ye will through sloth not to communicate them to others Thus farre Chrysostome Fiftly men after the Sermons which they haue heard vpon the Lords daie 5 Vpon the Lords daies after the Sermons are done men must not meddle with any profane businesses must not vndertake or treat of worldly and profane affaires belonging to this life as vpon markets mariage feasts dancings pressing or swearing of souldiours vnlesse the enemies power and presence and as we may say assault vrge and presse the same bargaines of buying and selling diuiding of inheritances casting of accounts about money matters or other things and such as be like to these by which the Lords Sabbath is profaned and the Lords day is not dedicated to God as it should be but to our selues and to the world No these things must be left and the Sermons which we haue heard must at home be repeated and rehearsed againe and againe Priuate exercises on the Sabbath and we must read the holy Bible and other profitable bookes touching Christian religion we must exercise holy singing of Psalmes and parents must vndertake to repeat with their children the points of the Catechisme and these things must be performed in euerie house and familie The preuention of an obiection But if in some houses there be not any that be learned or can read some of the neighbour families which can doe that dutie shall meet there and lend them their labour and aide as in this behalfe For as we take vnto our selues and imploy about our owne businesses A iust and a verie weightie reason all the rest of the sixe daies of the weeke and that many times from daie peepe as we say till it be verie late in the night so surely it behoueth vs no lesse to dedicate and consecrate the Lords daie wholly to God himselfe to holy actions and such exercises as are good for the health of our soules For what if God had claimed to himselfe and to his holy seruice sixe daies and had left vs only one for our vse and the affaires of this life what would we haue done then A worthie inference vpon the premisses As therfore this is a great argument of his singular goodnesse and mercie that here yeelding much of his owne right and authoritie he hath appointed but one day only for himselfe so of what great ingratitude vngodlinesse and of neuer satisfied couetousnes is this a testimonie that we will not or can not leaue no not the seuenth part of our whole life to God and our owne soules vntouched and vndefiled For good Lord with what deceits crafts vsuries lyings A vement exclamation thefts bankettings drunkennesses wanton songs blaspemies cursings by the holy name of God braulings blowes fightings whordomes adulteries wantonnesses vanities murthers and ten thousands besides of most grieuous wickednesses doe faires mariages markets dancings and the other things aboue rehearsed pollute and defile the Lords daies in so much as we may say that they are rather consecrated to Venus and Bacchus yea to the diuell himselfe than to God God verily will haue his people on the Sabbath day to cease and rest from earing from haruest worke Exod. 34.21 August in Psal 91. August lib. 10. de chordis And yet Augustine vpon the Psalmes and in an other peece of his workes affirmeth that it is better to goe to plow on the Sabbath day than to daunce that it is more meete for women to spinne then than that whole day to daunce vnchastly Yea God would haue the Sabbath vnder the old Testament to be sanctified with so great religion that he would not haue the Jewes so much as to kindle fire thoroughout all their habitations Exod. 35.3 And vpon paine of their soules or as they loue them he commaundeth them to take heed of this Iere. 17.21.27 that vpon the Sabbath day they neither bring in nor bring out any burthen by the gates of Ierusalem But notwithstanding this if they will do otherwise he threatneth that he wil kindle a fire in their gates that shall deuoure the houses of Ierusalem it shall not be quenched Nehem. 13.15.16.17 Wherefore Nehemiah seeing certaine men of Tyrus that in Ierusalem did buy and sell vpon the Sabbath day he reproued the rulers of Iudah and calling to their memorie this threatning of God denounced by Ieremiah he prouided that the gates of Ierusalem should be shut vpon the Sabbath day and set some of his seruants at the gates to watch that there should no burthen be brought in on the Sabbath day Nahum 13.21 Yea he was so zealous in this behalfe that he would not suffer chapmen and merchants no not without the walles of the Citie but protested amongest them that if they did so once againe he would lay handes vpon them There is a notable law of Leo and Antonius the Emperours touching the Lords day In Cod. lib. 3 tit de Feriis and it is this We will not haue holy daies dedicated to the most high maiestie of almightie God to be spent in any pleasures or to be profaned with any troubles of exactions wherefore we decree that the Lords day shal be alwaies so honoured and regarded that it shall be exempted from all executions A worthie and verie religious law no summons shal vrge any man then no demaund shall be made of suretiship all appearance shall be silent all pleading shall be hushed that day shall be farre from taking knowledge of causes the rough voice of the crier shall be silent the parties contending shall cease from their controuersies and haue a space of agreement the aduersaries may come together not fearing one another c An excellent caution And yet giuing libertie to the ease and rest of this religious daie we doe not or will not for all that suffer any man to be detained with filthie pleasures Stage plaies and Theater sighes shall chalenge nothing that day feates of wrastling running c. as also the pitifull spectacle of wilde beastes yea though the solemnitie thereof should fall to be kept for
THE ART OR SKIL WELL AND FRVITFVLLIE TO HEARE the holy Sermons of the Church Written first in Latin by a godly Minister named CVâ—â—LMVS ZEPPERVS and now truly translated into english by T. W. For the religious edification of such as vnfeinedly feare the Lord amongst vs. Eccles 4.17 Take heed to thy foot when thou entrest into the house of God and be more neare to heare than to giue 〈◊〉 sacrifice of fooles for they know not that they do euill Marke 4.24 Take heed what ye heare Luke â— 18 Take heed how ye heare Imprinted at London by Felix Kingston 1599. To the Christian Reader grace and peace from God the Father and from his Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord c. WE that now liue brethren may truly say both that our times are good and yet that our daies are naught If any will demaund how this can be so seeing it implieth a flat contradiction the answere is easie readie and right also For if we consider God Iam. 1.17 the onely giuer of euerie good and perfect gift or weigh his blessed bountie in all sorts of graces or respect the long continuance of these singular fauours we cannot but plainely perceiue and openly confesse the truth and certainety of the first part of this sentence For first touching God we may speake it and that truly also to the glory of his great name that he hath opened his hand Psal 14â— and filled with his blessing all sorts and degrees amongest vs. No mans sight as I take it is so bleared or his heart so brawned or his mouth so stopped vp but that he must of necessitie euidently see sensibly feele and freely lay out the same And for his graces generally we may safely acknowledge as the Prophet in a certaine place doth they are so many that none can count his thoughts towards vs yea though we would declare and speake of them Psal yet are they more than we are able to conceiue in our vnderstanding so much are our hearts straitned within vs and therefore greater also than we are able to expresse by speech Now particularly if we could consider as we ought outward and bodily blessings either for the number or varietie of them haue we not iust cause to say that God hath bountifully vouchsafed vs that which the Prophet heartily desired might be giuen to his people Psal 122.7 namely that peace is within our walles and prosperitie within our palaces And that he hath powred that vpon vs which Izhac wished vnto his sonne He hath giuen vs of the dewe of heauen Gen. 27.28.29 and the fatnesse of the earth and plentie of wheat and wine and so forth as it followeth in the Patriarches words And touching spirituall graces we may doubtlesse speake no lesse liberally than the faithfull doe in another Psalme He sheweth his word vnto Iacob his statutes and his iudgements vnto Israel he hath not dealt so with euerie nation Psal 147.19 20. neither haue they knowne his iudgements or as it is in another Prophet I will poure out my spirit vpon all flesh and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophecie Ioel. 2.28.29 your old men shall dreame dreames and your young men shall see visions And also vpon the seruants and vpon the maydes will I in these daies poure cut my spirit yea they shall know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord. Iere. 31.34 And concerning the continuance of them we must acknowledge vnlesse we will rob God of his praise and other men of great good and our selues of speciall comfort that we haue had the Lord not onely forbearing vs a yeare two or three together but digging round about vs yea digging and dressing vs not three or foure yeares as in the parable of the figtree planted in the vineyard is declared â— 13.6.7 but full fortie yeare at the least be hauing not only made our wheat and wine to abound all that while â— 6.7 but daily lifting vpon vs the light of his countenaunce On the other side if we weigh either how blind we haue been in these blessings not seeing them at all or consider how carelesse to performe duties for them after light receiued or else regard how hypocriticall we haue been in the seruices which we made shew to accomplish we shall then euidently see in others and sensiblie feele in our selues the truth of the latter part of that sentence For how many be there in the land who whether they deliuer it of ignorant malice or malicious ignorance we will not stand now to determine it say as the people did in the time of the Prophet Ieremie Iere. 44.16.17 The word that thou hast spoken vnto vs in the name of the Lord we will not heare it of thee But we will doe whatsoeuer thing commeth out of our owne mouth as to burne incense to the Queen of heauen to poure out drinke offerings vnto her as we haue done c. Other some again there are amongst vs and I feare me there is no small number of them who whether they doe it of carelesnesse and carnalitie of heart in themselues or presuming before hand Deut. 29.19 that notwithstanding iniquitie God will be gracious vnto them the Lord best knoweth abusing Gods mercy and turning his grace into wantonnes Rom. 2.5.6 do in themselues despise the riches of his bountifulnes patience long suffering forgetting that the bountifulnesse of the Lord should lead them to repentance and so from God heape vp vnto themselues as if it were treasure wrath against the day of wrath and of the declaration of the iust iudgement of God Besides what swarmes of hypocrites be there in the lap and bosome of the Church of whom we may iustly say either as the Apostle doth they haue a shew of pietie 2. Tim. 3. â— but haue denied the power thereof or else serue him for bread and water wool and flax oyle and drinke corne Hos 2. â— wine Hose 2.5 c. gold siluer c. as the idolaters did their Idols in Hosea his time or at the best as our Sauiour himselse saith out of Isaiah touching the age in which he liued This people draweth nigh vnto me with their mouth Mat. 15.8 and honoureth me with their lips but their heart is farre from me By all which we may not onely clearely behold the truth of our first sentence in both the parts of it affirmatiue and negatiue but may further see and learne that it is verie apparant that we haue many waies giuen the Lord iust cause not onely to exclame or complaine of vs as in some of the Prophets he doth touching the nation of the Iewes saying O my people what haue I done vnto thee Micah 6.3 Esay 5.4 or wherein haue I grieued thee And againe what could I haue done any more to my vineyard that I haue not done vnto it but also as it
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
frō all the words which the lord hath cōmanded vs either to the right hand or to the left neither to adde any thing to that word Deut. 12.8 Deut. 28.14 Deut. 4.2 nor to take any thing from it Lastly that we cānot in the whole course of our life calling be at any hand assured certified of the presence fauour blessing of God with vs vpon vs vnlesse his word be a lāterne vnto our feet Psal 119.105 a light vnto our paths for it is not an idle or empty word which God witnesseth vnto vs but it is our life and by this word we shall prolong our daies These meditations I say and thoughts while we heare the bels ring while we prepare our selues to go on to holy assemblies or else euen in those waies as we go are that excellent preparation and quickning or rousing vp of our selues and sanctification that so we should not come to the hearing of Gods shord with vnwashen hands but our heartes should be disposed and fitted indeed to true reuerence and deuotion To the former three aboue mentioned this must be added in the fourth place Deut. 32.47 The Text that must be expounded in the Church must first be read at home and thought vpon there namely that he who taketh true delight and pleasure in Gods word must if he be any whit learned before he come to the holy assembly sundrie times reade yea and reade ouer again and againe eyther the Chapter or the Text of the Bible which are to be expounded in the holy meeting which will easily appeare to euery one vpon the Sabboth daies by the ordinarie Texts which then are commonly expounded in the Sermons which are had and handled on the weeke daies out of some whole booke of scripture that is expounded in order as it lieth yea and he must by himselfe assay what he can doe in searching out the argument of that text the parts doctrines vse No man should be discouraged in his wants and other things that are contained therein Now these priuate meditations though performed rudely and grossely if yet a diligent hearer will compare them with the publike preaching or Sermon he shall with small adoe at the least find out eyther in what things he did not sufficiently attaine vnto the purpose of the holy Ghost or aimed not rightly at the drift thereof And if in any thing he did sticke in his priuate meditation he shal perceiue light communicated vnto him and a hand raught out to leade him And if by indeuour and earnestnes he do once ouercome the first difficultie of this holy godly and wholesome exercise he shall make such good proceedings in the skill both of reading the holy Bible and of hearing holy Sermons that the matter it selfe wil make plaine proofe of this A notable incouragement that the fruit shall notablie answere the labour bestowed and that he shall inwardly reioyce for so great good gotten thereby This very same counsel we reade that Chrisostome also in former time did giue vnto his Church at Constantinople for thus he writeth vpon Iohn One thing for the present Chrysost in euan Iohan. hom 10. before we come to the words of the Gospel I would intreat you yea I pray you despise it not specially sith we desire nothing that is grieuous or hard to be done neither profitable but to him only that receiueth it and yet farre more profitable to you that shew it forth What is it then that we require of you That vpon some one of the daies in the weeke or vpon the Sabboth at the least you would haue regard to reade such portions of the Gospell The hearers duties as are to be expounded which you should haue in your hands before our preachings and should often repeat in your houses and should diligently search out the meaning therof and marke what is cleare and what is darke in them as also what seemeth to be contrarie when indeed it is not And so hauing throughly examined and waighed all things you should present your selues verie attentiue to these Sermons The fruit that shall come therby By this meanes no small fruit and profit should come to eyther of vs For as touching our selues we should not need to vse much labour to shew forth the power of the Gospell when you your selues haue at home made familiar vnto you the sense and meaning specially as in respect of the words And you shall be made more sharpe and quicker conceited not onely to heare and perceiue the doctrine but euen to teach others also A Christian mans dutie in reading of the Bible Thus farre he And indeed the dutie of a Christian man doth not consist in hearing publike Sermons onely but requireth also priuate reading of Gods word at home and that not only when we are presently to goe vnto the Temple or Church Psal 1.2 but we must meditate day and night in the law of the Lord from which kind of studie and exercise a blessed man is described Yea we must afford our selues some time and leasure from our affaires and cares of this life that we may giue our selues to this heauenly and wholsome exercise knowing that this one thing is very necessarie Luke 10.42 Neither must we stay onely in the reading of those Chapters or Textes which are expounded in the assemblie and meeting of the Church For the whole scripture is giuen by inspiration from God is profitable to teach to conuince 2. Tim. 3.16 c. And therefore our Sauiour Christ commaundeth vs to search the scripture Iohn 5 39. or rather giueth this testimonie to the Iewes that they did search them And the Apostle Paul commaundeth Col. 3.16 that the word of Christ should plenteously in all wisdome dwell on vs or in our houses to wit by daily reading and exercise thereof we teaching admonishing one of vs another out of it or according thereto Which studie and care indeed Luke doth highly set out and commend in the men of Berrhea Act. 17.11 And truly vpon the verie same place to the Colossians lately alledged Chrysostome commenteth and writeth after this manner Chrysost in Epist ad Coloss hom 9 Heare saith hee all you that are temporall men and haue charge of wiues and children how euen to you particulerly and principally he commaundeth this that ye should reade the scriptures and that not simply or by the way as we say but with great diligence And a little after O all ye secular men Commendation of the scriptures heare I beseech you Get you Bibles they are the medicines of your soules If you will haue nothing else yet get the newe Testament the Acts of the Apostles the Gospels continuall and diligent teachers If heauines betide you come and sit downe heere and take and taste these things as a storehouse of soueraigne medicines From hence take vnto thy selfe comfort against thine euill
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
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
may without sinne be dealt withall on the Lords day 130 6 That either the ministery or other that are skilfull in holy matters must be councelled withall touching points that are darke or not sufficiently vnderstood 132 7 That according to the sermons heard mē must make a cēsuring an anatomy of thēseues 135 8 That parents schoolemasters elders must correct the offences and scapes of such as are committed to their charge according to sermons made touching such offences 137 The conclusion of this treatise 138 CHAP. 1 It is a matter of much skill not onely to make but to heare Sermons well NO man that will well consider of and vprightly weigh What great skill is requited to make Sermons the thinges that hitherto haue been deliuered will or can doubt but that it is a point of excellent skill to preach with fruite in the publike assemblies of the Church for a man to fetch out of that most large sea and which indeed can neuer be drawne dry of holy diuinitie matters that may be fitly applied to the point and busines that is propounded and to take no more but such as are indeede profitable and necessarie for the true edification of the Church and when he hath thus found them out in a sit meet method well and orderly to digest and dispose them as may best serue for spirituall profit and hauing disposed them well and readily out of the holy chaire or pulpit to render them and then and there before a publike and solemne assembly of the Church with present courage and a tongue that doth not stut or stammer to speake vtter them and with such countenance habite and action or gesture of the whole bodie to cloath and decke his speech and to cause it to become as it were liuely that so not onely delight fit and conuenient for holy things and place may be yeelded vnto all men but also that all things may be performed euen with a certaine demonstration and euidence of spiritual power that they may not be spoken only but taught also yea and not taught alone but the hearers may be affected therwith and their minds bowed to obedience all these things I say a man cannot causelesly doubt of whether they require more skill and cunning in the word of God or more iudgement wit wisedom eloquēce courage and aptnes in them that shall teach and deliuer the same But yet withall we must know that it is a point of no meane or common skill and paine also It is no small cunning to heare them well to heare holy Sermons well Of which howsoeuer some men may doubt and the thing it selfe may to many seeme very strange specially at the first blush and the rather because it is not vsually propounded or heard yet will I assay to say somewhat and to proue it also because the order and course of this present worke and treatie craueth and calleth for the performance of it Now because to make Sermons and to heare them are as we say in schooles relatiues that is the one importing and implying the other and because as all men know it is no easie matter to performe that high dutie well heere being required to the doing of it before they come to it preparatiō reading meditation prayer and sundrie such like and beside faithfull performance of it with many other things when they haue accomplished that dutie any man that hath but a crum of sound iudgement may hereby plainelie perceiue that many excellent duties are required also in hearing of Sermons wherein me thinkes these three following are principally to be respected shewing indeed what he is to doe 1 Before the Sermon 2 Secondly in the verie Sermon time The summe of this booke 3 And lastly after he hath heard the Sermon CHAP. 2. Touching the dutie of the hearers before the Sermon Mēs minds are with great religion to be framed and set to hearing of Sermons THE verie heathen themselues did in former time so reuerently and vncorruptedly esteeme of come vnto performe their idolatrous seruices worships that they euer tooke it to be a very wicked thing to touch them as it were or to handle them with vnwashen hands Whereupon grew that prouerbe amongest them with vnwashen hands so often as they would signifie that men repaired to or dealt in some holy thing or matter otherwise of great moment irreligiously negligently or vnprouidedly as we say How much more then both in hearing Sermons also in handling of the holy word of God as likewise both in administring and in vsing holy things and Gods seruice especially shall we haue iust cause to thinke that we haue need of as much religion reuerence and deuotion of minde as we can attaine to that so we may the better prepare and dispose our selues to so holy and heauēly things in which consisteth the onely top as I may say of our felicitie and chiefe good and the better take heed to and keepe our foot when we shall goe to the house of our God as Salomon admonisheth vs in the booke of the Preacher chap. 4. vers 17. for in this case whether we consider that most holy and most excellent maiestie of almightie God which treateth with vs and speaketh vnto vs Psal 18.7 Ioh. 15.15 at the presence whereof euen the mountaines tremble and in whose sight not the heauens themselues verily no nor the Angels indeed are cleane or regard the height and the excellencie of those heauenly things which in the holy assemblies and meetings of the Church are performed and at which all our senses cannot but faile and the very eies of our minds wax dim which the Apostle meaneth as I take it in his first Epistle to the Corinthians 1. Corin. 2.9 or respect that exceeding great miserie corruptiō yea nullitie which through our nature cleaueth vnto vs of which the Apostle saith 2. Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selues to thinke any thing as of our selues but our sufficiencie is of God or weigh the most high Gods vnmeasurable goodnesse mercy and gentlenesse which openeth his most holy mouth vnto vs Isay 54.10 and vouchsafeth to make with vs a couenant of grace and saluation not disdaining that our exceeding miserie and vnworthinesse or in a paire of iust scales vprightly ballance how much it presently behoueth vs and hereafter shall be beneficiall for vs rightly to handle such great matters and well to performe them for Gods glory and the saluation of our soules I say all or any of these things well considered it cannot otherwise be sure I am it should not otherwise be but that we should goe to the holy assemblies and meetinges not with snailes paces that is creepingly and slowly but with wide and large steps as those that goe vpon stilts and to come to them and to be present and cōuersant in them not hauing our hands and our garments washed only but our minds
rather with thēselues than with their teachers Yea they should besides thinke with themselues that such reproofes though they be grieuous and tedious to the flesh are yet notwithstanding healthfull medicines and strong defences that they should not be ouertaken by Sathan nor deceiued by the world 1. Ioh. 5.1 Gal. 6.8 that wholly lieth in wickednes and so of the flesh reape corruption yea destruction yea they should remember that open rebuke is better than secret loue and againe that the words of a louer are faithful and the kisses of an enemie are deceitfull as the Lord saith by Salomon Prou 27. vers 4.5 In greater parishes and larger congregations The greatnes or largenes of parish assemblies both because such Churches are deuided and dispersed in many places into many townes and villages many on the Lords daies are hindred from hearing of the word of God and also by reason of the badnes of the weather the waies likewise vnto their parish Churches being sometimes troublesome and tedious the wearisomenesse whereof eyther they will not indure and swallow vp or else sometimes cannot they are let therefrom eyther by olde age or by sicknesse or by care of small children and household busines c. Verie aged people and sicke persons respected All which though I denie not but that they are certaine impediments yet are they not sufficient to excuse mens daily negligence in hearing of Gods word vnlesse it be for the most part in verie olde people and in such as lie sicke in and vpon their beddes In this case how much more hard law The remedies did the Lord in times past lay vpon the people of the Iewes Exod. 23.17 Exod. 34.23 24. whom he would haue to appeare before the Lord three times euery yeare by far longer iourneyes by much more vnseasonablenesse of weather greater dangers causes and farre greater hazard of their worldly wealth yea Deut. 12.11 18. and euery one to bring their whole familie with them and that in Ierusaelem as if it were in the chiefe or onely parish Church and that not with emptie hands as perhaps couetous harts would perswade them but with the offerings of their hands as God had blessed all or any of them And least to hinder them in this worke they might pretend losse of their goods which to very many of them indeed if men would speake according to flesh blood could not be little or small or specially the inuasions spoiles that their enemies might make all the men meeting as it were in one place and the land left as it were naked of all helpe and defence God meeteth with this colour or feare or certaine danger if you will promising that he will so worke that not any of their enemies shall so much as couet their land Exo. 34.34 much lesse assault their emptie houses and countries whilest they go vp that they may appeare those three times in the yeare before the Lord. Yea so farre forth certainely did God meane to teach and testifie vnto vs that we should not neede to feare any disprofit or losse to come to our selues families or substance whilest for Gods seruice sake wee are constrained to be absent from our houses or rather willingly leaue them for a time As for the Iewes they are such carefull obseruers of this law that euen Ioseph and Marie with Iesus their sonne Examples of twelue yeares old came vp to Ierusalem Luke 2.42 according to the custome and manner of the feast And the Iewes also within their captiuities and sundrie exiles remained dispersed farre and wide here and there in the lands of the heathen and they likewise which of the Gentiles by their labour and trauaile had imbraced the Iewish religion did at Ierusalem frequent those feastes of the Iewes As for example are those religious persons Act. 2.5 that came euery one of them out of the places where they dwelt out of euery nation vnder heauen to Ierusalem and abode there on the feast of Pentecost And the Eunuch also a chiefe gouernour vnder Candaces the Queene Act. 8.27 So certainely the Queene of Sheba came to Ierusalem with a very great companie and with Camels which bare sweet odours and gold 1. King 10.1.2 c. exceeding much and precious stones to talke with that most wife king Salomon and to heare his wisedome Which example Christ himselfe alleageth against the contemners of Gods holy word saying Mat. 12.42 Luke 11.31 The Queene of the South shall rise in iudgement with the men of this generation and shall condemne them because shee came from the vttermost partes of the earth to heare the wisedome of Salomon and behold a greater than Salomon is here So a great troupe Mat. 8.1 Iohn 6.1.2 c. out of diuerse and sundrie places of Galilie leauing all their businesses at home flocke vnto Christ and remaine with him full three daies together Mat. 15.32 induring also great hunger eyther because all the thinges which they had brought with them from home were consumed or else because they brought no victuall with them which falleth often forth in such sodaine and tumultuarie meetings But Christ willingly and of his owne accord regarded them and miraculously fedde them least feeling want and lacke of things necessarie for the sustentation of the bodie they might haue cause or pretend color of fearing euen from the very hearing of Gods word Wherefore the better we would haue eyther our houshold matters or priuate affaires prouided for A cōclusion we must so much the more diligently attend the studie and exercises of Gods word and so much the more cheerefully prepare ourselues to euerie iourney of our short life that so we may haue the more libertie and freedome to heare Gods word Al wee confesse that our life is our pilgrimage and that the daies of it are few and euill Gen. 47.9 and we haue not we cannot attaine vnto the yeares of the life of nor fathers And yet we laie vp for this brittle course as if we had many yeares to runne Whereas we know that man liueth not by bread onely Deu. 8.3 Mat. 4.4 Pro. 10.22 but by euery word that commeth out of the mouth of God And againe the blessing of the Lord maketh rich Wherefore wee should first seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnes then all these things which we stand in need of for meat drinke cloth c. Mat. 6.33 Psal 127.2 should be giuen vnto vs otherwise it is in vaine for vs to rise vp earely to sit and to eate the bread of sorrowes But if mothers wiues or other of the household What wiues mothers others of the familie that cannot come must doe cannot safely sometimes by reason of their houshold businesses and attendance of infants vpon the Lords daies come vnto their parish Churches yet they must indeuour that turne by turne as it were vpon the next
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