they may enrich themselues The qualities whiche were in Cornelius besides his knowledge in feates of warre were godlinesse religion feare of God Christian trayning vppe of his familie almes déeds and prayer and such should likewise be in the Captains of our time in all places But howe are men commonly iudged of in respecte of méetenesse to be Captaines if he can set his countenaunce sternly looke biggly goe proudly walke stately and sweare roundlye nay terribly in such fearefull sorte that hée woulde make the Diuell if hée were incarnate to quake and tremble at the hearing of it suche a one is a valiaunt and a lustie and stoute Capitayne I condemne not in Capitaynes countenaunce personage making manhoode I reuerence them well vsed as the good giftes of God neyther doe I disallowe the callyng of a Capitayne whiche I confesse to bée néedefull and necessarie and wherein a manne may serue GOD as this oure Cornelius I onelye reproue the disorders of badde Captains and wishe and praye that as there bée no doubte some godlye and vertuous Capitaines so that all maye be Cornelians for it shall be no shame at all for them to sette him before them for theyr paterne nay shame and confusion will it be to them all if hauyng with Cornelius the same profession of life they haue not also with hym the like agréemēt in maners which God for Christes sake graunte vnto them Nowe if we shall séeke for Cornelius among the cōmon people we shal likewise proue it a hard thing there to finde hym for they are so farre from his vertue religion and godlinesse that they run gréedily euerye man after his owne waies leauing and omitting the wayes of the lord And as for instructing their families after the example of Cornelius to feare God they are so farre from abilitie to performe this duetie that themselues had firste néede to learne for of God his word they know in a manner nothing thinke it to be the only office of the Minister to looke to teaching yea the whiche worse is they seldome reforte to the place of preaching where they might learne their duetie vnlesse it be on the Lords day on which if in the fore-noone they haue heard the word of God in the afternoone they thinke that without all controlment they may runne after all kinds of vanitie Here also on the other side it is wonderful to consider the craft and subtiltie of oure common aduersarie the Diuell who like the cunning Cooke that for his gaine prepareth sundrie swéete and pleasant dishes to procure appetite when as the stomacke as it were gorged alreadie inuenteth many kinde of vaine exercises for that day to pul them from hearing of the word least by it thei might be won from his kingdome to the seruice of the Lord so be brought into a hatred of such kinde of leudenesse And like as heretofore in this lande he vsed persecution to kéepe vs in Idolatrie so nowe when as the Lorde in mercie hath sent vs the Gospell with peace quiet he vseth pleasure prosperitie to draw men vnto vanitie How this way he preuaileth both in Countrie Citie our present times aforde too plentiful examples and the time to come in an other worlde will yéeld vnto the frequenters of such leudnes plentiful punishmēt There be not many places where the word is preached besides the Lords day I woulde to God there were yet euen that day the better parte of it is horriblie prophaned by diuellishe inuentions as with Lords of Misserule Morice dauncers Maygames insomuch that in some places they shame not in the time of diuine seruice to come daunce aboute the Church and without to haue men naked dauncing in nettes whiche is moste filthie for the heathen that neuer hadde further knowledge than the lighte of nature haue counted it shamefull for a Player to come on the stage without a slop and therefore amongest Christians I hope suche beastly brutishnesse shal not be let escape vnpunished for whiche ende I recite it and can tell if I be called where it was committed within these fewe wéekes What should I speake of beastlye Playes againste which out of this place euery man crieth out haue we not houses of purpose built with great charges for the maintaināce of them and that without the liberties as who woulde say there let them saye what they will say we wil play I know not how I might with the godly learned especially more discommende the gorgeous Playing place erected in the fieldes than to terme it as they please to haue it called a Theatre that is euen after the maner of the olde heathnish Theatre at Rome a shew place of al beastly filthie matters to the which it can not be chosē that men should resort without learning thence muche corruption For if hée that behelde but the filthie picture of Iupiter in a shower of golden raine descending vnto Dianae coulde thereby encourage himself vnto filthinesse shall we thinke that flocks of as wyld youths of both sexes resorting to Enterludes where both by liuely gesture and voices there are allurements vnto whordom they can come awaye pure and not inflamed with concupiscence I will not here enter this disputatiō whether it be vtterly vnlawfull to haue anye playes but will onelye ioyne in this issue whether in a Christiā common wealth they be tolerable on the Lords day when the people shold be exercised in hearing of the word whiche thing as it hathe béen oftentimes reproued by learned godly men out of this place so for the discharge of mine own conscience I am to speake some thing whiche in fewe wordes is this If playing in the Theatre or any other place in Londō as there are by sixe that I know to many be any of the Lordes wayes whiche I suppose there is none so voide of knowledge in the world wil graunt then not only it may but ought to be vsed but if it be any of the wayes of man it is no work for the Lords Sabaoth therfore in no respecte tollerable on that daye For thus speaketh the Lorde by his Prophet Isaias If thou tourne awaye thy foote from the Sabaoth from doyng thy will on mine holy day and call the Sabaoth a delighte to cōsecrate it as glorious vnto the Lord and shalte honour him not doing thine owne wayes nor seeking thine own wil nor speaking a vaine worde then shalte thou delight in the Lord and I wil cause thee to mount vppon the high places of the earth and feede thee with the heritage of Iacob thy father For the mouthe of the Lorde hath spoken it As in these wordes is sette downe a blessing to such as leauing their own waies and the doing of their owne willes on the Lordes daye sette their delighte to doe the will of God on his holy day which I thinke is not to goe to a wanton Play and doe consecrate it as glorious vnto the Lord
of those vnder oure gouernement in the worde of the Lorde bée suche as by the commaundement of God is laide vppon all if Kings notwithstanding their many cares and troubles are not exempted from this dutie if Capitaines in warre who of al other might séeme to be priuiledged are tied to this charge If Helie the Priest of the Lord were punished with the necke breake for omitting it if Abraham were greatly praised for the dooing of it What is he that can chalenge to himselfe fréedome from the performaunce of thys bothe godly and necessarie duetie God fayeth of Abraham I know he wil teach his children and housholde to walke in the wayes of the Lorde But alas my beloued what is the man or where is his dwelling of whome we maye saye I knowe he is painefull in instructing his children and housholde in the wayes of the lord Surely suche a one is almoste as rare vpon earth as a blacke Swan It is saide of this oure Cornelius that he feared God with his whole houshold but how many housholdes may â—e â—nd amongest vs where the goodman himself maketh no accompts of religion 〈◊〉 maruell then if the reste of his familie be Godlesse The Lorde by Moses commaundeth his people daylye to insâ—â—â—â—â—â— their children in the knowledge of hys worde but so farre are the moste parte of vs from doing thereof that we oure selues reade not in a yeare a Chapiter of it And whereas euerye man is bounde to catechize his owne familie a greate many of oure ministers are so ignorant that they hadde néede to learne Catechismes themselues whiche as in respecte of their ignoraunce it is very mét they should do so for the same respecte it were farre better that they were vtterly remoued and able Pastors put in theyr roomths Dauid will walke with an vprighte heart in the middest of his house and we wil walke in our houses we care not howe loosely Iosias at once hearing the lawe of the Lorde immediatlye prepareth hymselfe to obey the same and bindeth all his Subiectes by couenaunte to doe the like The Lorde putte it into the mynde of oure godly Princesse that as she is of hir selfe willing to heare the Lawe of the Lorde so likewise after the example of good Iosias she may be carefull to cause all hir Subiectes to make a couenaunte to walke after the commaundementes of the LORDE so I trust there would be spéedie remedy againste this great neglecting of our dutie in the vertuous education of oure families in the feare of the Lorde the whiche on oure partes being so muche forslewed it is no maruaile if manye times wée find small obedience at the handes of oure housholde For so doeth God often leaue manifest tokens of hys wrath in punishing disobedience wyth disobedience Howe canste thou whosoeuer thou arte looke to haue thy familie faithfull vnto thée and thou thy selfe art faithlesse to GOD doest thou maruayle that thy seruauntes feare not thée when as thou fearest not the Lorde wilte thou stiffely maintaine thine aucthoritie ouer those vnder thy charge and thy selfe yeld no obedience vnto the aucthoritie of the eternall Thinkest thou muche that thy wife and thy children shewe themselues not so obedient vnto thée as peraduenture they oughte and canste thou not sée howe thy selfe arte a Traytoure and Rebel vnto God withoute all kéepe or regarde breaking his statutes and without any pricke or remorse of conscience neglecting and contemning his commandementes Howe shall those vnder thy charge performe their dutie vnto thée if thou performe no duety vnto God Nay howe rather shall they fyrste learne to feare God and then next truly serue thée without instruction in the worde of the Lorde Is it not expreslye sette downe in the Psalme Howe God established a testimonie in Iacob and ordained a Lawe in Israell whiche he commaunded oure fathers that they shoulde teache theyr children And this lawe whiche he speaketh of is the commaundement before recited out of Deuteronomie concerning parentes often and diligent acquainting their children with the word of the lord You sée therefore beloued that it greatlye concerneth al you that are householders to be very well exercised and practised in the holy Scriptures For how can it bée possible that one shoulde teache another the thing that he himselfe is ignoraunte in The father can not teache his sonne that which he himself knoweth not The maister cannot instruct his seruaunte in the word which he neuer readeth The husband as Paul coÌ„maundeth he should can not teache hys wife himselfe being rude and ignoraunt The Prince can not declare vnto his subiectes the wyll of the Lord the whiche himselfe hath not learned out of his worde all these notwythstanding being as you haue heard charged from the Lord with this duty it doth hereof necessarily follow that fathers maisters husbandes yea the prince himselfe ought diligently to exercise theÌ„selues in the reading of the worde of God that they maye euerye one seuerally teache it to them of their charge that they out of it maye learne to feare the Lorde The Lorde hys blessing the diligence of Cornelius in the vertuous education of hys familie with profyting generallye in his feare oughte to encourage vs all to followe hys moste godly example hoping that GOD in his greate mercye wyll graunt vnto our Christian trauayle lyke successe For it can not be that eyther the Prince of subiectes or the father of hys children or the husbande of hys wyfe or the maister of his seruauntes shoulde hope for that subiection that obedience that reuerence that faythfulnesse which they of right ought to haue and the other of duetie are bound to perfourme vnlesse they laboure to teache them the feare of the Lorde It maye be also that a man faythfullye labouring to bring vp hys familye in the knowledge of GOD shall haue notwithstanding vngodly and disobedient children wife or seruauntes for Adam had Cain Noah had Cham Abraham had Ismael Isaac had Esau Iacob had of his owne sonnes that woulde â—â—ue firste slaine but afterwarde altered â—heir purpose and tolde Ioseph Helie had â—ophm Phinehas Samuel his sonnes â—â—ere vniuste Iudges ouer the people â—ob hys wyfe bydde hir husbande curse GOD and dye Dauid his own son Abâ—alon rebelled agaynste hym and Iuâ—as for money betrayed hys Mayster Christe yet for all this muste not we â—et passe thys duetie of teaching oure â—ouseholdes but besides instructyng â—se also correctyng where sinnes bée committed or else wée shall bée guyltie of those sinnes whyche we let passe in those vnder our gouernemente vncorrected whether we be priuate persons â—or Magistrates For the holye Scripâ—ures layeth vppon Helie the vngodlynesse of his sonnes whiche was committed with his knowledge and the children of Israels worshipping of the Golden Calues is imputed to those kings which eyther commaunded them or suffred theÌ„ â—or else did not destroye them Paule also to the Romanes saith that not onely they which
wise not manye strong not many noble according to the fleshe And God hath chosen the folish the weak the despised to cōfound the wise the strong and the esteemed Simon the Tanner must entertain Peter and the poore Shunamite kéepe a chamber for Elizeus and the widowe of Sareptha in the time of famine giue a little bread vnto Elias Matthewe the publican must bid Christ yea many times the caues of Obadiah muste hide the Prophetes of the Lorde by fiftye and fiftye when as the greate men of Ioppa contemne Peter when Ahaziah by hys Captain ouer fiftie wil set Elias before hym if he tel him he shall die whē Achab wyll séeke ouer all realmes and countries for the life of Elias when Herode vnder the pretence of worship wyll haue Christe diligentlye soughte after that he maye slaye him when as Iesabell will kill the Prophetes of the Lord and saue aliue the Priestes of Baal But God hath hadde at all times and in all places and hath at this time and in this land many of the greate men that make accountes of Peter and the Lord multiplye them continuallye for his Christes sake and graunt that they maye all haue God his faithfull and paineful ministers and preachers in a reuerent regarde and good accounte For it is to little purpose to féede vs wyth liuyng and suffer vs of euerye one to be contemned whyche wyll one daye be the ruine and decay of the Churche Besides that it is a greate token in what person soeuer and of what countenaunce soeuer that doeth not wyth Simon the Tanner make muche of Peter that there is in hym little feare of god Nay it is playnelie set downe for one of the properties that muste bée in hym that shal dwell in the LORDES Tabernacle and reste on his holye hyll that he must not onelye estéeme well of the Preachers but of all other the Godlye whatsoeuer In whose eyes sayeth the Psalmist a vile person is contemned but he honoureth them that feare the Lord. Those therfore that do the cleane cōtrarie that is secretly maintain wicked Papistes and make accountes of bad and lewde persons contemning the godly and preachers of the Lord I had rather leaue it to your owne consideration than my selfe declare in whose Tabernacle they shall dwell and on whose hill they shall rest The thirde parte NOw aword or two of the third part and so I will ende In this part generallie is shewed the willingnesse and obedience of Cornelius with spéede to performe that whych the Angell charged hym withall For saith the texte When the Angel was departed he called two of his seruauntes and a souldiour that feared God one of them that wayted on hym and tolde them all things and sent them to Ioppa Where firste commeth to be noted a commendation of the faith of Cornelius that all delayes reasons and excuses set a part withall spéede prepareth himselfe to do that whych the Angell had tolde him to be the will and plesure of the Lorde He standeth not to debate what trouble his newe religion might worke him whether that it were likelye that the house of a poore Tanner shoulde receyue so singular a teacher as Peter was or rather whether Peter were not some obscure and bad fellowe that lay lurking and hyding himselfe in such a base place whereas if he were of such excellencie he shoulde séeme to be taken forth amongst the great men of those times and places These and suche like woulde the wisdome and pollicie of man haue layde vnto hym to haue withholden him from yéelding obedience vnto the commaundemente of god But ouer all these fayth easily got the victory and causeth him with diligence for to submitte himselfe to the fulfilling of the Lordes pleasure Let vs therfore learne in the Lords matters not to plead policy but when the Lord commaundeth with all spéede to shewe obedience You know howe Saule spedde beyng commaunded without any mercye shewed to roote out the Amalekites with all theirs from man vnto beaste who setting his owne wisedome before the wisedome of the Lorde is called foole for his laboure and certifyed that his kingdome shall be taken from him and giuen to suche a one as shoulde be readie for to do the wyll of the Lorde The children of Israell when God had streightlye charged them to destroy all the nations into whose lande he woulde bring them and shewed the inconuenience that would come vnto them by sauing them they for sauing them founde them thornes and prickes vnto theyr flesh in so much that manye yeares they liued in theyr slauerye and subiection as the booke of Iudges doeth plentifully witnesse The Prophete that contrarie to God his commaundement did eate bread and drinke water in the house of the olde Prophete as he roade homewarde was deuoured of a Lion. And he that commaunded by the worde of God to stryke the Prophet refused it a Lion also did slaye him Al these preferred their owne wisedome pollicie and carnal reasons before the wisdome and expresse preceptes of the Lorde and the fruites that thereof they reaped were their own destruction God graunt that their examples may make vs wise that with Cornelius in al things that we shall learne of the worde of the Lord to concerne vs we maye spéedily prepare our selues to perfourme it without commoning about the doyng of it with fleshe and bloude For before our GOD obedience is far better and of greater accountes than sacrifice The second lesson of this thirde parte is the fruit that Cornelius reaped by his godly instructing of his familie namelye therby he hath gained thus much that he hath nowe faithful and trustie seruaunts whome he maye sende on his errande in this graue weyghtie matter concerning the saluation of him and his All you that be masters learne out of this to be careful to plant in your seruaunts the feare of the Lord and then shal you finde them faythfull vnto you as Abraham had his seruaunt as we reade in the 24. of Genesis And those that forslewe this duetie it is no marueyle if bycause they will not yéeld vnto God their duetie they finde their owne seruauntes faithlesse and trustelesse lyars filchers stealers stubborne disobedient blasphemers swearers and altogither giuen ouer to al sin vngodlynesse Yea magistrats also must be careful to haue their subictes taughte their duetyes vnto God or else they shal finde them negligente in theyr obedience vnto them yea tumultuous seditious and rebellious The laste note of thys thyrde point and of this whole scripture is that with two of his seruantes Cornelius sent also a souldiour that waited vpon him who feared god Where we learne that no trade nor profession of life is to bée preuiledged from the seruice of GOD sith that souldiours who the further they are from it the more hardie of the greater number they are accounted haue in the scripture their commendatiō for this duetie Nay the Lord in Deuteronomie
describing the qualities of souldiers wyl haue them not only to be frée froÌ„ al wickednesse but also from al manner of outward pollutions And therfore I do many times maruel how the practise of our times in seÌ„ding forth into the wars théeues and murtherers can be warranted by the word For sure I am that the Israelites could not prosper at the siege of Ai vntill Achan the théefe was found out executed And the lord in Numbers saith that no recompence is to be taken for the life of the murtherer nay that the land can not be clensed of bloud but with the bloude of him that shed it Let murtherers therfore if they be proper haÌ„dsome felows be properly and handsomely hanged and honest meÌ„ be sent to war in their steads And al you that be noble men and gentlemeÌ„ for Gods sake I pray you learn this one point of Cornelius let not any waite nor attende vpon you but suche as feare the Lord and then shal you not néed in the countrey such a train to followe you with long poles in their neckes nor in the Citie to wait vpoÌ„ you with loÌ„g blades by their sides with flashing and cutting ruffiaÌ„ly quarelling for neuer so little a worde speaking imitating the spéeche of the Diuell vnto our sauiour Christ If thou be a maÌ„ of thy haÌ„ds come mete me in Smithfield Here I brokenly make an end without any repetition hauing as I coulde not as I would run ouer euery part of thys text vsing only for proues the warrant of the Scripture bycause the testimonie of maÌ„ may be refused but it neuer goeth forth but vnto saluation or condemnatioÌ„ If I haue bin somewhat long I pray forgiue me this faulte and pardon me this iniurie I haue done it onely for your further edifying and for my farewell doe in Christ Iesus huÌ„bly pray you al thorowly to consider of that whiche I haue spoken being all togither within the compasse of the world that you put it in spéedy practise and execution especially the diligent trauayle to instruct your children families in the word of the lord For the Diuell that now will goe about in withholding you from this duetie to tell you that it is not yours but the ministers office wil at your liues end to condemne you for forslewing your duetie lay vnto your charge that God hath coÌ„maunded you to teach diligently his word to your children families The Diuel that now to excuse you wil alleage that it wil hynder your seruants worke wil at your dying day to accuse you plead that Martha in being busye aboute the affaires of the house was not so wel occupyed as Marie in hearing of Christ The diuel that now sayeth vnto you that for thus doing you shall be mocked and scorned will at your last breath and gaspes for not doing it rehearse vnto you it is better to please God than men and they that please meÌ„ are not the seruantes of God. Wherefore my brethren concerning this that either I or anye other of Gods ministers shal in his word speake vnto you out of this place let not the saying of the lord by the prophet Ezechiel be verified in you wher he writeth thus Also thou sonne of maÌ„ the children of thy people that talke of thee by the walles and in the dores of houses and speake one to another euery one to his brother saying come I praye you and heare what is the worde that commeth from the lord For they come vnto thee as the people vseth to come and my people sit before thee and heare thy wordes but they will not doe them For with their mouthes they make iests and their heart goeth after their couetousnesse And lo thou art vnto them as a iesting song of one that hath a pleasant voyce and can sing well For they heare thy wordes but do them not And when this coÌ„meth to passe for lo it will come then shal they know that a prophet hath bene among them The Lorde therefore make vs to be wise harted that wyth Cornelius we may be readie with all diligence to doe what soeuer the Lorde out of his holye worde shall commaunde vs for Christe his sake to whiche Chryste with the father and the holy Ghost be all prayse honour glorie and Dominion both nowe and for euer Amen 1. Cor. 4.3 â—e shall speake â—rdes whereby â—ou shalt be saâ—d and al thine â—iâ—e Cornelius The callyng of the Gentiles Zach. 9.10 Mich. 1.2.3.4.5 Psal. 72.11.17 Psal. 2.8 Esal 19.18 Esai 42.11.12 The callyng of the Gentiles signifyed by diuers examples in the scripture Naaman Ionas Iob. Christe Thamar Ruth The wise meÌ„ The seruant of the CeÌ„turioÌ„ The sonne of the Courtier The womaâ— of Canaan The womaâ— of Samariâ—â— The calling of the Chamberlayne anâ— of Corneliuâ— Of the casting off of the I â—â— 49.6 Rom. 10.29.20.21 â—zech â—4 6.7.9 Ierem. 9.25 Deut. 7.6 Isaias 25.1 Ierem. 7.4 â—ct 11.2.3 c. The application of the doctrine of the calling of the GeÌ„tiles and casting off of the Iewes Ingratitudâ— and disobedience to Goâ— and his worâ— God alwaieâ— seuerely pâ—nisheth The synnes of the Ieweâ— Let vs learâ— the punishinâ— of the Ieweâ— to auoyde tâ—â— like sinnes â—t vs learne 〈◊〉 the puâ—â—shment of â—e Iewes 〈◊〉 auoâ—de the â—e sinnes â—he more â—enry we â—ue of God â—s blessings â—e greater â—ll be our â—nishment 〈◊〉 abusing â—em God vsually doth greatliest blesse thâ— greater citiâ— with the Preaching his word aâ— greatiyest plague theâ—â—for the contempt of the same England â—eaty of the word preached More resorte to playes thaÌ„ to Sermons The plague will not be carried out in a Dung-Courte God is tyed to no place nor person In the calling of the Gentiles is a notable token of God his gret loue The manner of God hys calling of the GeÌ„tiles teacheth that we are iustified only by fayth The seconde â—raunche of the fyrst part The practise of the Romanes Cesarea The manner of the Romane souldiers a lesson for Englande Why God muste needes â—unishe Engâ—ande Swearing â—reach of the â—abboth DrunkeÌ„neâ— Whordomâ— â—he third â—nch of the â—t generall â—nte The Lessons of this thirde braunch Exod. 23.2 Machiauell Excetra wâ— a kinde of â—nemous Sâ—â—pent from whom wherone head wâ— cut off three sprang vp in his stead as they do write of him â—erentius a â—bâ—e Capiâ—â—yne The fourth braunch in the fyrst general Lette this whole treatise of childrens education and houshold gouerâ—ment be wel marked Deut. 4.9 Deut. 6.7 Psal. 78.6.7 Ephes 6.4 Deut. 17.19 2. King. 23.2.3 1. king â—â— Gen. 18.19 The neceâ—ty of instructing those vnder ourâ— charge in 〈◊〉 feare of thâ— Lorde Abraham Cornelius â—uid Howe God punisheth thâ— forslewing oâ— this duetie Psal. â—8 â— Al householders ought tâ— be wel seene in the Scriptures Correction to be vsed as wel as instruction God hath layd vpon most men 〈◊〉 persons A request to the L. Mayor and hys brethren That it is the part of al Scholemaisters to teach their schollers out of the word of the Lord. Popish Scholemaisters A request to the high commissioners for the fiftin of Popishe Schoolemasters The fifth braunche of the firste paâ— â—t is not yâ—ogh to haue â—e bare and â—aked name 〈◊〉 Faith but his faith â—uste also be â—uitefull in â—ood works The place oâ— Iames expounded brieflye The Papists to vs wrong 〈◊〉 gyuyng me that wee are enimies vnto good workes The differeÌ„ce betweene the â—aâ—istes and vs in the doctrine of good workes 〈◊〉 rule to â—nowe wheâ—her that whiâ—he we giue â—e almes or â—o 1. Cor. 13.3 â—al 58.7 â—hat the â—â—er giuings the Paâ—stes is no â—â—lmes An exhortation to the ricâ— to be liberal to the poore Againste deferring to dâ— good The continuall exercise of praying in Cornelius The example of Cornelius ought to moue vs to diligence in prayer Where there â—s true loue â—here is often praying To whom we oâ—ght to pray That we ought to pray to none but only vnto God. â—eut 6.13 Esay 43.11 Psalm 50.15 Act. 14.15 â—ca 19.10 The deadâ— Saints 〈◊〉 vs not How far the Captaines of â—ur times for the most part are from the vertues of Cornelius â—arde to find Cornelius aâ—ong the comâ—on people â— notable praâ—tise of the diâ—ell to pull â—rom hearing â—f the worde â—n the Lords â—aye Againste Playes and Enterludes on the Lords dafe P. Sempronius Sophus Ierem 5 4.â— â—ot manye â—eate men Cornelians â—udges and â—awyers Lawiers seruantes Ministers Rom. 15.4 Lessons out of the first braunch of the second generall The godly â—omen The two Disciples The Chamâ—erlayne â—aule â—imeon â—pollos Cornelius Baudie bookes God hath vâ—ed sundry meanes in â—imes past to â—eueale hys will vnto â—en A singular comforte Psalm â—1 11 God many times applyeth hymselfe to the capacities of men The seconde â—raunch of the â—econd geâ—erall Holy men haue always feared at the appearaunce of God his angels Iudg. 6.22 Iudg. 13.22 Dan. 10. Mat. 17.6 Marke 16.8 The coÌ„ming of Christ to iudgemente wil be most terrible to the reprobate We ought tâ— feare at the speaking of the Lord vnto vâ— out of his worde The answere of Cornelius to the Angel. The Papists a long time in steade of the holy Ghost prayed vnto the Diuel The thirde braunche of the seconde generall â—he doâ—â—es â—zech 11.19 â—â— 26 Againste the Papists abusing this place 1. Cor. 2.14 â—harge vnâ— Cornelius â—tructing â—n what to â—e The doctrines Tit. 1.9 A commendation of the fayth of Cornelius What fruite Cornelius reaped by the vertuous bringing vp of his householde Religiousnes in souldiers Deut. 23.9 A good lesson for noble men and gentlemen
A SERMON Preached at Paules Crosse on Barthelmew day being the 24. of August 1578. Wherin besides many other profitable matters meete for all Christians to follovv is at large prooued that it is the part of all those that are fathers householders and Scholemaisters to instruct all those vnder their gouernement in the vvord and knovvledge of the Lorde By IOHN STOCKVVOOD Scholemaister of Tunbridge Psalme 119. verse 104. By thy precepts I haue gotten vnderstanding therefore I hate all the vvayes of falsehood AT LONDON Imprinted by Henry Bynneman for George Byshop ¶ To the VVorshipfull the Maister the Wardens and Assistantes of the vvorshipfull Companye of Skinners in London IOHN STOCKVVOOD Scholemaister of their free Grammer Schole in Tunbridge wisheth prosperitie in this life and euerlasting felicitie through Christ our Sauioure in the lyfe to come BEeyng my selfe Right vvorshipfull earnestly requested of many that feare GOD and sundry of my friends being laboured by others of the godly to persuade vvith me for the publishing suche doctrine as it pleased God to giue me to vtter at Paules Crosse not long sithence I haue at length yeelded vnto their earnest sute not beeing ignorante hovve manye sharp censures vvill passe vpon this my doing nor yet vvhat diuers iudgements shall be giuē of this my trauell But hovvsoeuer mē iudge or thinke as touching my self I say vvith Paule I passe very little to be iudged of them or of mans iudgement no I iudge not mine ovvn selfe There is a God that iudgeth vvho knovveth my singlenesse in this behalf and that the only marke I shoote at in the putting it to print is his glory and the further profiting of hys Churche and greater edifying of his people for if it pleased him in greate mercie to graunte such successe vnto that vvhyche vvas then spoken by mouth vnto a fevv that they vvere therby instructed to amendmente of life I doubte not but of lyke goodnesse he vvill graunte that the making heereof by vvrighting common vnto manye as it vvill longer and more surely remaine settled in their memories so it vvil also vvorke more frutefully to their putting it in dayly vre and practise And as all the vertues vvhiche are heere sette dovvne to be in Cornelius are suche as ought of euery good Christiā to be follovved so the godly bringing vp of all his family in the feare of the Lorde being on our parts after his example faithfully performed the Lord vvil in like sort blesse this needefull trauell in vs as he did in him Wherfore I am humbly in Christes name to request all your Worships vvith the rest of Cornelius his vertues chiefly to bee carefull to practise this of trayning vp your children and families in the word knovvledge of the Lorde and so shall you haue them godly obediēt gentle trustie and faithfull like as othervvise you vvil find them vvicked vnruly stubborne pickers and stealers vntrue and vnfaithfull Novv concerning my purpose of offering this my simple labour and trauaile such as it is vnto youre vvorships fauourable acceptation there bee many causes and reasons mouing me therevnto but chiefely that this vvay I might leaue vnto the vvorlde a testimonie of a dutifull and thankefull mind for your good vvilles tovvards me in placing me Scholemaister of your free Schole of Tūbridge honorably foūded by that vvorthy Knight Sir Andrevve Iud sometime Lord Maior of youre famous Citie of London and vvorshipfullye and liberally to youre great costes and charges mainteyned against the bad attemptes of those that vvente about to haue made it their ovvn priuate possession vvhiche facte of him the honorable founder and you the vvorthye mainteyners defenders I trust the L. vvill vse as good examples to moue others to do the like for the training vp of youth in the feare of God vvhich dutie I beseech him to grant me faithfully to performe tovvardes youre Schollers vnder my charge to his glory your ioy and cōforte and the benefite of his Church in time to come and that finally according to his good pleasure he vvould long blesse and prosper youre Worships to the maintenance of all good learning godlines Fare you vvel From your free Schole at Tunbridge this .4 of Septem 1578. Your VVorships most humble in the Lord to be commaunded Iohn Stockwood ¶ An Admonition to the godly and gentle Reader THE earnest sute and often calling vpon of certain godly brethren most gentle and friendlye Reader hathe at the length won at my hāds the publishing of this Sermon in print concerning the which I am thus much briefly to admonish thee namely that albeit there be more here set down than in deede was vttered at the Crosse yet was the whole ment there to haue bin spokē had not time cut off so much of it as was hādled at another place in the afternoon Hauing therfore the testimonie of a good conscienc e that herein is nothing auouched which may not well by the word be warranted I haue thoughte good to set downe the whole and the rather for that bothe the seconde and thirde partes as well as the firste whiche onely was entreated at the Crosse containe profitable admonitiō for these our times at the whiche although the euill disposed may quarrell and the wicked being galled winche and kicke for I haue not learned to sowe soft pillows vnder their elbows to lull them asleepe in their sinne yet those that are wel giuen and godly minded may I doubt not learne many lessons whiche being putte in practise will tourne to their profite and amendment of liuing As for those that are offended if there be anye suche the cause is not in mee but in themselues whiche if they can see as I praye GOD hartily they maye I hope they wil be careful to reforme such things in themselues as they are here blamed for and their own consciences crieth out vnto them to bee amisse Nay there is no estate or condition of men no not of the verye beste and moste godly but that Cornelius may be a glasse vnto them in which they maye see moste clearely represented such vertues as oughte to bee in a true Christian the wante whereof as it is in a greate manye yea earneste professoures to bee founde so I praye GOD that after the diligent viewe of them in thys glasse howe comelye they are in a true Christian and howe well they doe beseeme a righte godlye man they maye with speede be carefull to expresse them in a godly life and holy conuersation Farewel and make thine earnest and harty prayers vnto GOD to blesse his Churche wyth a riche store of faithful teachers and a moste plentifull encrease of godly learned and diligent Ministers that may open vnto his people the true meaning and vnderstanding of hys holy and heauenly worde and that the people may liue there vnto accordingly for his Christes sake Thy poore brother in Christ IOHN STOCKVVOOD ¶ A Sermon preached at Paules Crosse the .24 of August
.1578 ACTES 10. verse 1 FVrthermore there was a certayne man in Cesarea called Cornelius a captaine of the bande called the Italian Bande verse 2 A deuoute man and one that feared God with all his housholde which gaue much almes to the people and prayed God continually verse 3 He saw in a vision euidently about the ninth houre of the day an Angell of God comming into him and saying vnto him Cornelius verse 4 But when he looked on him he was afraide and saide What is it Lorde and he saide vnto him Thy prayers and thine almes are come vppe into remembraunce before God. verse 5 Nowe therefore send men to Ioppa cal for Simon whose surname is Peter verse 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a Tanner whose house is by the sea side He shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do verse 7 And when the Angell which spake vnto Cornelius was departed hee called two of his seruaÌ„ts a souldiour that feared God one of theÌ„ that waited on him verse 8 And tolde them all things and sent them to Ioppa THis Scripture righte honorable worshipfull dearely beloued in the Lord offereth vnto your consideration generally these thrée pointes firste a descriptioÌ„ of one Cornelius a captain caled froÌ„ Paganisme or Heathenishnes to the true knowledge of Christe secoÌ„dly the Angel his appearaunce and embassage vnto him thirdely his willing and spéedy obedieÌ„ce in performing that whiche the Angell from the Lorde charged him withall Euerye one of these generalles haue springing and growing out of theÌ„ their seuerall and particular braunches The first generall hath these speciall pointes to be noted the firste God his wonderful and mercifull kindnesse in calling the Heathen from error to the truth and his most fearefull but yet righteous iudgemente in casting off for their greate vnthankefulnesse his owne peculiar and chosen people of the Iewes The seconde Cornelius his trade and kinde of of life The thirde his vertue godlinesse The fourth his christian training vp of his familye and householde The fyfth his Almes déedes Prayers The seconde generall hath these speecially First God his calling of Cornelius by the Angell The seconde containeth the feare of Cornelius at the calling of the Angell The third the spéech of the Angel vnto Cornelius which staÌ„deth of two partes the one is a comfort vnto his longing and carefull mynde where he assureth him that his almes prayers are come vppe into remembrance before God The other is an instruction what he ought to do In the thirde generall point are to be considered Firste an euident token of Cornelius his faith Secondlye what profitte he reaped by godly instructing of his housholde Thirdly the religionnesse of the souldiour which he sent with his seruauntes on this message I wil vse no fore-spéech or entraunce garnished and set out with some Rhetoricall florishe to winne at youre handes héedfull harkening vnto that which vpon these places in the fear of God I am to deliuer vnto you or to purchase youre fauourable bearing with my plaine and simple handling of this Texte withoute curious and picked out words termes For the cause being not MaÌ„s but Gods worthelye â—baâ—engeth the greateste attention and as for painted labored and of purpose sought for eloquence I leaue it vnto them that séeke rather the praise of men than the glorie of God knowing that the worde of the Lorde simply and plainly handled is able without the help of the persuading spéeche of mans wisedome to pierce euen to the hart to diuide betwéene the thoughtes and the reines whyche effecte I praye hym for his Christes sake to graunte vnto that whyche in hys name I am to speake The fyrste braunche of the fyrste Generall namelye the callyng of the Gentiles and of casting off the Iewes THe calling of the Gentiles of the which I am to speak somewhat for that oure Cornelius was a Gentile as hereafter shall more at large appeare hath euident and plaine testimonies of holy Scripture in many and sundry places amongest the reste these chieflye He shall speake peace vnto the Heathen and his dominion shall be from sea vnto sea and from the riuer vnto the ende of the lande Againe But in the last dayes it shall come to passe that the mountaine of the house of the Lord shal be prepared in the toppe of the Mountaines and it shall bée exalted aboue the hylles and people shall flowe vnto it yea many nations shal come and say Come and let vs go vp to the mountaine of the Lord and to the house of the God of Iacob and he will teache vs hys wayes and we will walke in his pathes For the lawe shall goe forth of Sion and the worde of the Lord from Ierusalem And he shal iudge among many people and rebuke mighty nations a farre off and they shall breake their swordes into mattockes and their speares into sithes nation shall not lifte vp a sword against nation neyther shall they learne to fight any more But they shall sit euery man vnder his Vine vnder his Fig trée none shall make theÌ„ afraid For the mouth of the Lord of hostes hath spoken it For all people wil walke euery one in the name of his God wée will walke in the name of the Lorde our God for euer and euer Likewise yea al Kings shall worship him and all natioÌ„s shall serue him And againe all nations shall blesse him and be blessed in him Moreouer aske of me and I shall giue thée the heathen for thine inheritaunce and the endes of the earth for thy possession Furthermore in that day shall fiue Citties in the lande of Egipt speake the language of Canaan shal sweare by the Lord of Hostes c. In like maner let the wildernesse and the Cities thereof lift vp their voice the townes that Kedar doth inhabite Let the inhabitaÌ„ts of the rocks sing Let them showte from the toppe of the Mountaines Lette them giue glorie vnto the Lorde and declare his praise in the Ilandes And to this effect in most comfortable sorte is almoste the whole .49 chapter of this Prophesie Héereof also haue we in the Scripture manye figures and examples For what else doeth the clensing of Naaman the Syrian from his leprosie by the Prophete Elizeus signifie but that a time shoulde one daye come when as the heatheÌ„ by faith in the death and bloude of Christe shoulde be purged of the spirituall Leprosie of their soules whiche is sinne What meaneth the sending of Ionas to the great Citie of Niniuie but that God is a God of the Assyrians as well as of the Iewes a Sauiour of the Gentiles as well as of the Israelites What doe we learne by the incredible faith and wonderfull patience of Iob who was a Heathen but that God euen among the HeatheÌ„ hath those that are of hys Churche What that Christe hymselfe concerning the
moe yeares enioy it we haue hadde and at this present haue manye Godly zealous and learned Preachers the Lorde for his Christes sake dayly increase the number of them whiche lay before vs out of the worde God hys greate blessings bestowed vppon vs and oure greate vnthankefulnesse for them And you héere in London out of thys place and others eeuery foote are admonished and put in mynde of youre duties but both we of the Countrey and you of the Citie for the most parte contemne it We are lyke vnto the children of Israell we are wéerie of the Heauenly Manna the worde â—f life the foode of our soules for the â—bteyning whereof whych wée so scorneâ—ully despise manye of oure poore bréeâ—hren in other Countreys hazzarde both â—yfe and goodes What remayneth therfore but that GOD if we doe not â—péedyly repente shewe tokens of hys wrath vppon vs as he did vppon the Iewes And you héere of London haue good experience of that whyche a little before I spake namely that as GOD commonlye more plentifullye blesseth the greater Cities so for theyr contempte they haue more plentifull tast of hys plagues before other places For tâ—ll mée I pray you what contagious sicknesse or daungerous disease is there but for the most parte you haue the firste and the greatest visitation with it And doe you thynke that we of the Countrey scape scotfrée yet for al this what is oure behauioure towardes the worde of eternall lyfe Wyll not a fylthye playe wyth the blast of a Trumpette sooner call thyther a thousande than an houres tolling of a Bell bring to the Sermon a hundred nay euen héere in the Citie without it be at this place and some other certaine ordinarie audience where shall you finde a reasonable company whereas if you reforte to the Theatre the Curtayne and other places of Playes in the Citie you shall on the Lords day haue these places with many other that I can not recken so full as possible they can throng besides a greate number of other lettes to pull from the hearing of the worde of whiche I will speake héereafter And do you thinke that so long as these enormities are suffered the plague and such other like infectious sicknesses which in the .28 of Deuteronomie the Lorde threateneth to sende as scourges for the contempt of his worde shall ceasse and diminishe amongst you nay they be meanes for them to rage more fiercely and to cause God to sende new plagues among them for as we are wittie to committe newe sinnes so the Lord dayly prepareth new punishments to correct vs withall in so muche that he â—isiteth our newe sinnes with such newe and strange diseases as the names are vnknowen vnto vs and neuer hearde of of our forefathers yea our best Phisitions know not which way to turne theyr hands to heale them I can not but commend the laudable policie and diligente endeuour of the righte Honourable my Lorde Maior and the worshipful Aldermen his brethren for the preuenting of infection by commaundyng mens houses to be kept swéete and the streates cleane with other such like wayes But beleue me deare brethren the plague can not be carried away in a dung curte What auaileth it to haue swéete houses and stinking Soules pleasant smelling chaÌ„bers and grieuous sauoring mindes cleane fayre streates and foule and filthy hearts and consciences As I do not dislike these outward clensings so I beséeche you let euery one of vs labor for the inward purging and scouring of our Soules hauing â—he worde let vs frame our liues accorâ—ing to the word let our godly liuing be a â—estimonie of our profitable vnderstanding let vs as we be talkers so likewise be walkers as we be professours practisers as speakers doers as sayers followers and then shal our godly liuing with our right vnderstanding our christiaÌ„ walking with our vertuous talking our sober practising with our honest professing our doyng with our saying oure following with our speaking strike vppe such a pleasant harmonie and ioyfull melodye in the eares of our GOD as hée wyll bryng vppon vs in greate mercye all those blessings whiche in the forenamed 28. of Deutronomie he promiseth to those that heare and also doe all that whiche hée commaundeth whereas otherwise if we shal stil with these Iewes continue contemners of his worde we shall heare with them to our great paine and miserie Beholde yee despisers and wonder and vanishe away For I worke a worke in your dayes a worke whiche yee shall not beleeue if a man would declare it you The Lord I say for our coÌ„tempte will take his worde from vs aâ— he did from the Israelits and bestowe it on suche as will both make more accompte of it and also be more thankefull for it which by this that hath fallen out to the Iewes the LORDE for his Christes sake make vs to be We haue secondlye to learne out of thys reiection of the Iewes being as you haue heard vnited vnto GOD in suche speciall sorte as hee neuer dealte so with anye nation that GOD is not tyed to anye place or person albeit they bragge neuer so muche of antiquitie succession vnitie vniuersalitie or what other glorious or gorgious shewe soeuer they pretende but that when they scornefullye caste hym off he â—ustlye forsaketh them Let vs not thereâ—ore be deluded wyth vayne titles nor â—orne out with greate wordes It is not â—erusalem Alexandria Constantinople â—or Rome that GOD is bounde vnâ—o Let the proude Prelate of the seaâ—en hilled Citie with his purple Carâ—nalles and horned Byshoppes and the whole route of his shorne and greasie rabble come forth and shewe me if they can for their lyues the like causes that these Iewes had to glorie off and yet had they all them and many moe the greater shoulde be their punishmente in abusing them as they haue done Hath not the Pope with his adhereÌ„ts as much boasted of his gaye titles as euer these Iewes did and as proudely disdayned the true professours as euer they did the GeÌ„tiles was it not a receiued opinion within these fewe yeres that out of the church of Rome there was no saluation like as the Iewes thought the GeÌ„tiles to be altogither strangers from the promise Are not these their common out cries the Churche the Churche the Churche our most holy father most reuerende father most godly father most learned Doctors most christian Doctors most light Doctors moste lighthened I woulde saye most Seraphicall Doctours and againste vs Lollardes Heretickes Schismatickes Hugonots Lutherans Zuinglians Caluinistes Sacramentaries and what not haue they not as despightfully and cruellye handled vs as euer the Iewes did the Prophets of the Lorde yea haue they not gone beyonde them in forbiddyng vs the readyng of the bookes of our GOD and for the same burned vs and the worde of oure GOD too The Lorde therefore in great iustice hath reiected them for all their vaine bostings like as he did the Iewes
and hathe broken the yoake of their Tyrannie from this and manye other nations his name be praysed for it and in the ende with the breath of his mouth wil vtterly confounde them As you haue séene in these Iewes a fearefull example of God his wonderfull iustice in casting them off for their offences so in receyuing of the Gentiles you haue to consider a notable proofe and experience of hys surpassing loue and vnspeakeable mercie For what was there in the Gentiles ouerwhelmed with errour blynded wyth ignoraunce prone to all kinde of superstition and straunge Idolatries ouertaken with all sortes of filthynesse and moste horrible and outragious wickednesse that mighte procure hym to fauour them or to shewe hymselfe so bountious a father vnto them Of hys loue therefore of his loue and moste frée fauour was it that he vouchsaued to call them out of this greate darkenesse vnto so maruellous light and knowledge of his truth in his sonne Christ Iesus our moste louing God and mercifull Sauiour There is not therefore anye cause of boasting of our selues or of any thing in our selues for that we are nothing else indéede but a huge masse and heauy lumpe of sinne Let vs therefore ascribe all the whole glorie of our callyng vnto God that mercifullye hath called vs from errour vnto trueth from darkenesse to lighte from wickednesse to holynesse from condemnation to saluation froÌ„ death to life yea froÌ„ Hel to Heauen for vnto all these and a greate manye moe enormities are we by nature enthralled Let vs therefore enter the déeper into a true consyderation of our selues and into a thorough examination of our owne soules and consciences and then finding in our selues what indéede wée be of our selues we shall learne to set lesse by our painted sheathes and to make better accoumptes of GOD hys infinite and endlesse mercie who hath thoughte good to place vs in the roome of his owne peculiar and chosen people Agayne we sée in the consideration of the manner of GOD his calling vs of the Gentiles to the knowledge of hys Christ not requiring at our handes that we shoulde be circumcised or otherwise tyed to the obseruation of the ceremonies of Moses lawe but onely that we shoulde repente and beléeue the Gospel we sée I say euidentlye hereby that we are not saued by the Lawe nor yet by the workes of the Lawe but onlye by fayth in Christe accordyng as it is written The iuste manne shall â—iue by fayth And againe By the workes of the law no flesh can be saued or iustified by how muche the more so often as I thinke on it and truely I doe manye times thinke on it I doe greately maruayle what madnesse hath ouertaken our Arch-Papistes to besotte themselues and others with a vaine and wicked perswasion of their owne righteousnesse and an arrogante trusting to scale the highe forte of heauen by the broken and rotten ladder of man hys merytes and the corrupte workes and inuentions of their owne idle fancies For if Christe and hys Apostles neuer charged anye with the obseruations of the Mosaicall Lawe as a thing necessarye to saluation and that as appeareth in the wrytings of the Apostles it hath alwayes béene accounted an infallible note of false Apostles to pleade workes and that of GOD hys owne Law in the matter of iustification let then this second note drawn from the manner of God hys callyng of the Gentiles without inioyning them the obseruations of hys owne lawe bée sufficient in a worde to touch the shamelesse boldnesse of the Catolikes that dare shuffle in drosse trumperie of their own forging to claime righteousnes withal that I stand no longer to coÌ„uince those as iniurious to the death and bloudsheading of Christe Iesus who teache that they haue workes sufficient not only to purchase Heauen for themselues but also a surplus and ouerflow to help others withall that will pay swéetely for them in as muche as their owne conscience euery nighte when they goe to bed maye teache them if they truely examine it that of themselues they are not able to thinke so much as one good thought and therefore muste néedes ascribe saluation to the only and alone frée mercie of God in Christe laide holde on by the sure and strong hand of a constant faith workes being no maner of cause thereof at all the whiche Fryer Ferus a man of theyr owne writing vpon this tenth Chapiter of the Actes in moste plaine words doth confesse saying For so in that firste and moste great calling of the Gentiles they oughte to haue beene made equall with the Iewes without all manner of helpe of the Lawe that it mighte be now manifestly knowne that righteousnes commeth of the onely grace and election of God and not of workes than the which what can be spoken more truely more agréeable to the truth The Lord if it be his wil open their eies that in this and all other pointes they maye bowe and yéelde vnto the trueth Thus muche of the reiection of the Iewes and calling of the Gentiles by occasion of GOD his calling Cornelius being a Gentile to the knowledge of his trueth In the seconde braunche of this firste general commeth to be considered Cornelius hys profession and trade of life whiche oure present texte sayeth to bée a Capitaine of the Italian bande at Cesarea for it was an vsuall thing among the Romanes to place in the gret towns or Citties that they wonne garrisons of armed men and souldiours as well to defende them agaynste the inuasions of the Parthians whome besides manye other ennimyes they were often and verye daungerouslye encombred wythall as also to wythstande and kéepe vnder rebellion and tumultuous vproares of the Iewes if at anye tyme they shoulde attempte an insurrection and further that if néede shoulde requyre they mighte vppon shorte warning oute of these garrisons placed in euerye Towne and Cittie gather a iuste and ful army being assaulted to defend themselues These bands consisted some of more and some of fewer Souldioures some footemenne and some horsemenne The fyrste or chiefe bande contayned commonlye a thousande footemenne ouer whych was a Generall and euerye Centurye or hundreth hadde besides hys seuerall Capitayne whyche of the number of Souldiours vnder his conducte was commonlye called a Centurion or Capitayne ouer an hundreth menne Such a one was oure Cornelius who in that he is termed to be Ruler of the Italian bande we maye gather that he was bothe an Italian himself and also in good estimation with the Emperoure For as the Romaynes g thered their garrisons out of sundrye Countrie men of the whyche also they had their names like as this consisting of Italians is thereof called the Italian band so likewise did they make greatest accompts reposed most confidence in the garrisons of their own countreymen out of which also for the most part there were chosen Captaines suche as best liked the Emperoure It is I saye therefore verye
farre ouer vnto the subieâ—ion of others that they were nowe not â—â—ely vnder the rule of Presidentes and â—eputies but also hadde in al their Ciâ—es bandes garrisons of forreÌ„ souldiâ—rs amongest the which albeit some â—nes they mette with some one suche as â—is oure Cornelius which was a thing â—oste seldome yet the miseries that vnâ—â—â— those other they suffered were wonâ—â—â—full and suche as they can better reâ—eÌ„ber that sometimes haue liued vnder the gripings of the sharpe talants of those eagree and gréedy Hawkes I meane the violence of forraine Souldioures than I am able to expresse and the Lorde if it be his will graunt that we Englishmen haue neuer laste nor experience of the like Lette vs therefore here-out learne tâ— be thankefull vnto God for placing ouer vs in great mercie so godly gratious 〈◊〉 Quéene vnder whose most quiet peaceable gouernment notwithstandyng the wiâ—ked foretellings and lying Prophesies oâ— false â—arted papists of hir maiesties detâ— at the end of this seuen and that seauen besides their malicious practises to accomplishe it for the whiche some of theâ— heades haue bin worthily exalted as â— truste the reste if they maye be knowâ— shall be as they well deserue to be Wâ— haue thus long enioied the cleare shiniâ— lighte of the Gospell and GOD granâ— hir to his good will pleasure many yerâ—â— more to raigne ouer vs stil for the bettâ—â— and more plentifull furtheraunce of tâ— preaching of his worde lette vs I say learne to be thankfull and not giue ocâ—asion throughe oure greate contempte â—nd disobedience and godlesse and farre â—nchristian liuing that God in his great â—rath and hote anger take hir maiesty â—waye from vs and with hir also his â—orde as in oure remembraunce for the â—â—ke sinnes he didde oure vertuous King Edward hir Graces moste deare and â—odly brother We were vnworthy of â—im then we are vnworthye of hir now â—e contemned the worde preached vnder â—im then we are wearie of it preached â—nder hir Maiesty now there was much â—â—aching vnder him then and small foloâ—ing there is more teaching vnder hir â—owe and a great deale lesse following For oure not folowing then he tooke froÌ„â—s oure zealous Iosias and scourged vs â—y a Marie his arme is not shortened he â—an againe for oure not following nowe â—ake away our vertuous and godly Deâ—ora and punish vs with the like Pray â—ray and most hartily beloued pray that â—e doe it not as oure sinnes haue wel deâ—erued that he shoulde doe it For if he do it as this and farre greater plagues he hathe threatned to those that are contemners of his worde by the miseries that heretofore you haue suffered in the late dayes of afflictioÌ„ you may easily gather what shal bée the state of the godlye vnder all wicked Athaliahs and mercilesse Tyrantes suche as GOD vseth to sende vppon those that haue not learned to be thankful and obedient vnto vertuous gentle and godly Gouernoures Wherefore if in the former daies of trouble wyth greate and grieuous sobbes and sighes we haue lamented oure vnthankefulnesse towardes the worde when we had it Nowe the Lorde to trie vs hath once againe sent it lette vs remember to be thankfull if then in oure miseries we coulde consider howe greate a plague it was to be punished with a Tyraunte lette vs nowe weighâ— howe greate a blessyng it is to be gouerned by so gentle merciful a Quéene if then we longed to be deliuered from the heauie yoke of forraine crueltie let vs nowe poure oute oure moste hartyâ—â— prayers for the continuaunce of oure ioyfull libertie vnder the long and prosperous raigne of oure Soueraigne Ladye if when in times before we hadde the Gospell wée broughte foorthe no fruites of the Gospell lette vs hauing nowe againe the Gospell praye to oure GOD that oure conuersation and liuing may be agréeable to the Gospell least as before I noted oure hainous offences worthilye prouoke oure GOD in greate displeasure to take from vs oure gratious Gouernesse vnder whose Christian regiment we haue thus long enioyed it and many yeares longer God graunt we may haue both hir it and in a holy and vertuous walking expresse followe it leaste for oure ingratitude we taste of the like sause that the Iewes did for their disobedience whiche as I haue hadde verye fitte occasion by theyr subiection vnto others to note so I beséeche you praye all hartilye to GOD that wée maye be warned and learned by it For truely beloued vnlesse we bring forth better fruites of Christianitie than hitherto we haue done it can not be chosen but that God must néedes punish vs with this or some other farre greater punishement if any can be greater You muse peraduenture to sée mée so fearefull and I muche more wonder to sée England so carelesse If you wil aske of me why I thinke that GOD wyll visite vs I answere for the multitude of oure sinnes and offences whiche daylye are coÌ„mitted expresly against his word and for many of them being notorious suche as he himselfe hathe commaunded to be punished with death either they are often lette passe vnpunished or else there is no punishement for them at all or if there be it is so toyishe I had almoste saide Popishe that it rather cherisheth than kylleth the sinne And bycause you shall not thinke my wordes to be as it were but a skar Crow or that I haue made muche ado aboute nothing I wil note vnto you in a worde some of them and leaue to youre iudgement whether that I haue spoken that whiche I haue spoken withoute cause or no or also as not appertayning to my matter in hand of the Iewes at Cesarea and other places being in subiection for their sins to forreine power that we may auoyde the great sinnes whyche we dayly runne into for feare of the like or greater punishment by howe much our knowledge and teaching is greater and clearer than theirs Swearing and blaspheming the name of God as it is a figure that clearly toucheth the honour of God so in hys worde is it expressely forbidden and also commaunded to be punished with death yet how outragiously and commonlye is it vsed amongst all degrées and states of people from the Lorde to the begger and from the Courtier to the Carter yea to the yong chylde of thrée yeares olde besides that I fear me a great number this Fayer and at other times doe laye their soules to paune to the Dyuell by feareful othes for their gaynes sometimes but of a pennie in vttering their wares and what punishmente I praye you is there for it It is written that the Plague shall neuer departe from the house of the swearer and thinke you then that it hangeth not ouer the lande in whiche is such terrible swearing in the cleare light of the Gospell and the offendours not touched with so much as a fillip if there were no moe but thys it is not without cause
that I put you in minde to leaue it leaste the Lorde doe plague you It is set downe by the Prophet for one of the causes of the children of Israels being led into captiuity for that they kepte not the Lords Sabboth and what became of him that gathered sticks on that day I doubt not but you will remember we notwithstanding on the Lordes daye muste haue Fayers kept must haue Beare baytyng Bulbayting as if it wer a thing of necessity for the Beares of Paris gardē to be bayted on the Sunnedaye muste haue baudie Enterludes siluer games dicing carding tabling dauncing drinking and what I praye you is the penaltie of the offenders herein forsooth a flap wyth a Foxe tayle as if our Sauiour Christe had commen for his day to set vs at lybertie to doe what we liste And truely a lamentable thing it is to tell but a great deale more lamentable that it is not punished I dare boldelye stande to auouche it that there is no daye in the wéeke wherin God is so much dishonoured as on that daye when he shoulde bée best serued And muste we for these abuses thinke at the Lordes hand to scape vncorrected What shoulde I speake of beastly drunkennesse whiche so far as I can learne hath no punishmente at all What of whordome by the lawe of the moste vprighte lawe-maker that euer was being made a Capitall sinne and whyche the Euangelist Luke in the parable of the séed termeth a thorn shal we thinke that a thorne will be killed wyth spreading a white shéete ouer it when it rather craueth an axe So to think to restrain it is as endlesse and fonde a worke as to go aboute to hewe downe a greate thorne with a bull-rushe the Lord if it be his good pleasure graunte vs a sharper toole to cut both it and other stinckyng wéedes downe with all for I assure you if these vices be thus styll eyther not at all punished or else so slightly punished the Lorde will more sharpely punishe vs eyther in suche sorte as I haue shewed you he did these Iewes or in some other more grieuous as he wanteth not infinite meanes vnknowen vnto vs to punishe the contempte of his word from whēce these vices spring the which I pray God the chastisemente of these Iewes maye cause vs to shunne For the thirde braunche of my firste parte is set down that Cornelius was a Godly or a religious and deuoute man and one that feared God wher commeth to be handled Cornelius his Godlinesse and vertue The worde which is commōly translated a deuoute and a religious man and here attributed to Cornelius doth properly signifie one that doth truely and in suche sorte as he ought to doe worshippeth GOD a righte and a true worshipper of God whereby we learne that Cornelius had nowe forsaken and giuen ouer his olde Heathenish religion in whiche his father and fathers fathers in many generations had long cōtinued worshipping those for Goddes whome it pleased men so to account For the case so stoode concerning religion with the Romaines then as it did with vs in the late dayes of Poperie in which none myghte be taken for a Saincte but suche as the Pope his holynesse had Canonized for a Saint For Tertullian in his booke called an Apologie or defence againste the Gentiles Page 186. and 587. as is printed at Paris by Paruus doth shewe that it was a decrée amōgst the Romanes that none shoulde be made a God by the Emperour vnlesse he were first allowed of the Senate in so much that when Tiberius Cesar hauing hearde of the myracles of Christe woulde by prerogatiue of his Emperourshippe haue made him a God the Senate woulde none of hym bycause they had not allowed him The worlde was then growen to a trimme passe that man must forsooth be good vnto god For vnlesse God pleases man he shall be no God as Tertullian in the same place speaketh By this appeareth howe daungerous it was for Cornelius a publike magistrate to embrace Christ his religion whome the Romayne Senate so scornefully disdayned And what crueltye they vsed towardes the Christians the stories of the age do sufficiently witnesse whiche shewe that the christians were smered ouer with pitch and Rosen aliue and set on fire with torches to light their cruell Persecuters home from their banckquets in the night But it was no doubt the mightie operation of God his holy spirite that had armed him against all encombraunces that might fall vpon him who no doubt had prepared himself against displeasure losse of his office and captaineship and also losse of life too the leaste of whiche mighte otherwise haue discouraged him who amongst the Iewes also coulde sée nothing that might harte him on but rather pull him backe séeing amongst them so manifolde corruptions passing ignoraunce of the law of God a small and slender knowledge whereof was rare to be founde euen in the thousandth man of them in so much that some thinke and that very godlye that it came to passe by the special and singular prouidence of God that Cornelius mette with some zealous and learned Iewe that instructed him in the true knowledge and vnderstanding of the lawe by meanes whereof he so muche profited in religion and feare of the Lorde 1 We learne firste out of this thirde branch in that Cornelius leaueth his old heathenish religion and Idolatrie which his forefathers folowed that we must not be away from the truth neyther with multitude nor prescription of time It is a cōmon argumēnt now adays what are you better than your forefathers did not they go to masse worship Images runne on Pilgrimage fall downe before the holye sacrament of the Alter and to be shorte obserue all order of holy Church Why shoulde you therefore be so singular are you wiser or better learned than they Al these I saye and what soeuer else maye be alleaged to like purpose doeth the example of Cornelius confute who for the maintenaunce of his olde Paganisme might very wel haue recited the examples of his forefathers the long auncient continuaunce of the heathenishe religion by thousandes of yeares more aunciente than it of the Popes in comparison of his being as it were but an infant of a dayes olde Let vs therefore after his example in matters of religion set aside the practise of our forefathers and let our olde auncient customes vaile their bonnet to the worde of the Lorde For so are we directly in hys holy worde commaunded Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do euill And againe walke ye not in the ordinances of your fathers neyther obserue their maners nor defile your selues with their Idols I am the Lorde your God Walke in my statutes kepe my iudgements and do them c. Oh that our Papistes had eyes to sée this and heartes to beleeue it with earnest mindes also to followe it then woulde they not be so blinded with these
vaine shadowes of fathers times and customes but woulde measure the truth of religion by the square of the word which the Lorde if it be hys pleasure graunt them to do 2 Secondly we learne out of this place and by this example of Cornelius in receyuing of true religion not to tarrie vntill the chiefe rulers and Magistrates imbrace it but so soone as God reuealeth it vnto vs presently to take the occasion offered and to followe it otherwise if Cornelius had wayted vpon the Emperours receyuing it he might till this daye haue wallowed in his olde puddle of hethenishe superstition like as in manye cuntries at this time if the people should tarrie the leysure of theyr Princes they muste still remaine in the filth of Popish Idolatrie Those Neutres therefore that if there come an hundreth chaunges are still iumpe of the Princes religion are by this example manifestly confuted Yet hereof doth not followe that if the magistrate commaunde false religion that therefore the subiecte maye with force â—esist but rather offering his body to the pleasure of his Prince for the fréedome â—f his conscience saye with the Apostle Whether it be better to obey God or maÌ„ â—udge you 3 Thirdely in that the holy Ghoste sayth that Cornelius was a religious or deuoute manne is moste apparante that to bée godly and religious apperteyneth not onely to the ministers but also vnto those whome they call secular persons by which also is beaten downe their vaine distinction made betwéene them of the ministerie and the rest of the people the one of them to be termed the Spiritualtie and the other the Temporaltie the one the Cleargie and the other the Laytie whiche difference as it came first from Rome so I woulde to GOD that there it were againe The onlye good it hath done is this namely it hath made a greate manye and that of those principallye whyche are of greatest callings to thinke that it belongeth onlye to those of the ministerie to bée godlye to bée zealous to feare GOD to bée religious as for themselues they néede take no care nor kéepe of anye suche matter but rather wyth gréedynesse followe euerye one that whyche bestâ— liketh his corrupte affection But thyâ— example of Cornelius sayde to be a deuoute and religious man sufficientlye confuteth all those whiche so thinke and withall learneth euerye perticular person that hée muste bée carefull to serue GOD to feare him to worship him to pray vnto him and that religiously deuâ—â—tly and that it is not only the part of euery priuate man so to do but also concerneth as well the Magistrate for Cornelius was a Magistrate therfore hereby is also ouerthrowen the most wicked assertion of the vnpure Atheiste Machiauel who shameth not in most vngodly manner to teach that princes néed make no accounte of godlynesse and true religion but onely to make an outwarde shewe of it for that sayth he is ynough albeit in minde they abhorre it And that which is most horrible he affirmeth further that the religioÌ„ of christians casteth them down into too much humilitie abateth al courage and towardnesse and maketh theÌ„ fit to be wronged spoiled wheras the religion of the Gentiles maketh them â—o be of stout courage emboldneth them manly to atchiue great matters yet wyl he forsooth that Princes pretende religion the better to kepe their subiectes within the compasse of their dueties with the feare and reuerence thereof This poyson and a greate deale more suche filth blusheth not this malaperte and pelting Town-cleark of Florence to spew out teaching Princes not to make accountes of religion or godlynesse and yet must this vile beaste in many courtes of other nations be the only Court booke nay the Alcoram and God of Courtiers whose diuellish precepts they put in dayly vre learning to be godlesse The Lord graunte he take no place among oure courtiers and that they rather set before theÌ„ the examples of this our Cornelius of Dauid of Iosias of Ezechias suche like who were all magistrates and godly and religious magistrats and in the scripture highly commended for the same whose factes and déedes vnto godlinesse I humbly exhorte our nobilitie and gentlemen rather to followe than the decrées of thys deceyuer and the furies of this Excetra and venemous serpent vnto Atheisme and vngodlynesse Fourthly Cornelius being a publike Magistrate and openlye professing religion not waying the daunger that thereby might insue vnto him as the displeasure of the Emperoure the losse of his lyuing of hys gooddes and of hys life teacheth all men and amongst the reste noble men boldlye to professe and also expresse religion and godlynesse and not to stande aloofe for feare of displeasure and losse of their honour their roomes and theyr offices as a greate manye nowadayes doe where there is in déede no feare hauing so Godlye a Prince vnto whome nothing can bée more ioyfull than to heare that hyr nobilitye and commons are moste religious and Godly A greate manye in this cleare light of the Gospell in which euerye man vnder his owne vine and vnder hys owne figge trée as the Prophete speaketh maye boldely sitte and reason of the wordes and wayes of hys GOD are notwythstandyng so luke warme or rather in déede key cold that one can not tell what to make of theÌ„ They are very like the thing called SpoÌ„gia the whiche a man can hardely tell whether it haue any life at al sauing that when it is touched it draweth it selfe more closelye togyther and cleaueth a great deale faster to the thing it hangeth on so they all these twentie yeares in whiche the word hath béen preached are notwithstanding so close to themselues that you can not by anye meanes knowe their religion or what they professe nay if such as by their calling it lyeth vpon to trye them and therfore doubting of them wil go about to féele them to sée whether there be in them any life of the word and any knowlege of God méete for a christian then will they indéede play the righte Spongiaes cleane more hardly to theyr rocke of close professioÌ„ shrinking in their selues and wil not stick to say vnto you my religion Sir nay you must pardoÌ„ me therin I kepe that secrete froÌ„ my dearest friend none shal know my conscience but God my self But truely it were greatly to be wished that the Quéenes Maiestie would take order that these Spongiaes of what degrée soeuer they be may be pulled vp froÌ„ this stone of secrete and priuie profession and the rather for that it can not be chosen but that they which deale so closely towards God in this peace of the Gospel must néeds be as hollowe harted towards hir maiesty what soeuer they pretende to the contrarie But these are the warye children they wil beare theÌ„selues warily and wisely as they thinke for feare of a chaunge but the Lorde I trust in blessing hir maiestie with long continuance of reygne
ouer vs will disappoint them of their purpose as hytherto he hath done and cause that before they haue their chaunge they themselues shall first make a change of life with death by one meanes or other In the mean season the Lorde graunt hir fewe of these doubtfull Spongiaes and great store of CorneliaÌ„s such as do boldlye but yet truely religiouslye and deuoutely serue and feare the Lorde For in those doth consiste hir suâ—este safetie and those when so euer she shall haue néede shée shall finde hir trustiest friendes For those that truelye worship God and embrace his religion will no doubte most faithfully serue and obey hir But were it so with vs as it is with manye of our brethren in other Countryes that we coulde not serue GOD truely without the daunger of our liues yet Cornelius who was in the like daunger telleth vs what to doe and so doeth also Daniel wyth Sydrach Misach and Abednago of the whiche he chose rather to be caste into the Lyons denne than he woulde make prayer to anye other than the true God and they thoughte it better to be thrown into the hote burning ouen than to worship the golden image of Nabuchaâ—nezer For this saying of Christ shal staÌ„d to the ende of the world true He that is ashamed to acknowledge me before meÌ„ I wil bee also ashamed to acknowledge him before my father in the kingdome of heauen But the case is nothing so wyth vs as it was with Cornelius We maye professe religion in safetie he coulde not without daunger we enioy the worde in peace he with persecution we with the liking of oure Prince haue the libertie of our conscience he could not serue God without the displeasure of the Emperor we néede not to feare the losse of life nor goodes he stoode in great hazarde of them bothe and yet in this greate peace prosperitie quiet safetie and libertie we stand vpon such a nice and tender point of sauing honour estimation credite fauour loue and liking that rare is that man that will venter to open his mouth for the furtheraunce of the building of Gods Churche or speake for the preferring of good and godly causes wheras in our own causes if it be for a licence that may tend to oure owne commoditie or that may enrich our owne coffers albeit to the great hindraunce of many others Lorde how will we labour toile trauel go run ride speake sue and sue againe till we haue obtained it which argueth in vs great want of zeale for the glorie of God which he for his Christes sake stirre vppe and kindle in vs We are far vnlike the good Christian Capitaine Terenti who returning with a ioyfull victorie ouer his Princes enimies Valens the Emperour badde aske what benefite he woulde at his hande for his good seruice and he shoulde haue it who hauing before his eies the furtherance of Gods glorie rather thaÌ„ the séeking of his own profite requested that the Christians which had ventured their liues in Gods cause might haue a Churche erected to serue God in aparte from the Arrian Heretikes The Emperour being much moued at this request in greate anger tore his supplication in péeces and threw it on the grounde bidding him aske some other thing that might be for his preferment but he with a heauie countenance gathering vp the péeces of his supplicatioÌ„ aunswered I haue my rewarde I will aske nothing else This was indéede a right Cornelius a deuout maÌ„ one that feared god O that al Princes had store of such Terenties aboute them that did make greter estéem of Gods glorie thaÌ„ accompts of their own gaine and commoditie so shoulde true religion more freshly florishe than in manye places it doth the moste parte being busied about their owne profite whilest it being neglected falleth miserably to decaye and ruine the Lorde for his mercies sake amende it As you haue hitherto hearde of such vertues in Cornelius as did testifie hys inwarde sinceritie towardes God namely his religiousnesse and feare of God so hereafter I wil make plaine vnto you suche outwarde exercises of his as are sufficiet testimonies of his inward godlinesse amongest the which is firste hys godly bringing vp of all his familie béeing the fourth circumstaunce of my first generall point and is contained in these words He feared God with all his housholde whiche coulde not be small he béeyng a Magistrate and Capitayne of suche countenance as you haue heard and therefore his diligence and paines no doubte was excéedyng great which hée tooke in instructing suche a number in the feare and knowledge of the Lorde wherein the holy Ghoste witnessing that they all profyted it appeareth euidently that God did wonderfuly blesse his godlye endeuour and faythfull trauaile by whiche it came to passe that to his great ioy and comforte no doubt he had now a Church in his owne house as euery true worshipper of God in hys feare shoulde labour to haue Thus you sée that Cornelius thought if not inough to be godly himself vnlesse he had his housholde godlye to he was not content himselfe alone to serue God but woulde haue his familie also to doe the like he iudged it his duty as he himselfe was religious so to make holy vnto God all those which were his he would not his selfe alone walke in the wayes of the Lorde and suffer his seruants belonging to his charge to doe what they liste to runne as they say at randone to be at their owne libertie and to liue as strangers from God but would make them partakers of that knowledge whiche he himselfe had learned whiche as it was a matter of greate paine so was it also of no mall daunger the religion of the Iewes being then in a manner vniuersally hated and disdained yea and that whiche more is of the proude and scornefull Romaynes cruellye persecuted But Cornelius was not ignoraÌ„t that it was farre better to please God than men and that the ignorance of his familie shold be laid to his charge if through his negligence and slouthfulnesse to instruct them they ran into his ignorance Therefore not weighing the scorne nor persecution of meÌ„ he walketh vprightly in the dischardge of his duetie and faithfully and painefullye teacheth his whole familie to serue and feare the LORD and in the end reapeth the fruite of hys labours namelye the profiting of hys whole housholde in the true feare of the Lorde GOD bounteously blessing his godlye care and Christian trauell We be taught hereby that it is not ynoughe for euerye man to be deuoute and religious and to feare God himselfe vnlesse he also faithfully and diligently laboure to make all his housholde and familie godly and religious to which cannot bee done without muche paine and trauel in diligent instructing them in the word of the Lorde and in the principles of Christian religion whiche duetie as it oughte of all housholders without anye exception be performed so is it almost
of all without exception neglected to the high displeasure of almightie God who hathe straightly and expresly commaunded it and also to the great shame of vs that haue so fowlie foreslewed it But bycause this maye séeme vnto some a straunge doctrine and I peraduenture be iudged verye precise that woulde laye such a heauie burthen vpon mens necks I will therefore directly proue vnto you out of the worde of GOD that it belongeth generallye vnto all persons of what degrée and calling soeuer to instructe their children and familie in the worde of the LORDE insomuche that not the greatest Emperoure nor Monarche of the worlde can omit this duetie wythoute highe contempte vnto GOD in neglecte of that whiche hée hath so plainely and earnestly commanded nay I say further that euerye housholder whatsoeuer is not onely bound himself to be godly and to traine vp his housholde in godlinesse but also to turne out of his house seruice all suche as are vngodly and tell scorne to learne And I will not onely saye this but directlye proue it by the Scripture and I will doe it as drawen therevnto by manifeste occasion of my Texte whiche sayth that Cornelius wyth all hys housholde feared god For I haue hitherto noted nothing neither hereafter meane to doe but that the godly maye easily sée that the circumstances of my Text led me euidently therevnto the whiche I speake bycause of scoffing quarellers who if the Preacher in greate zeale speake any thing to the rebuking of some notorious synne althoughe it be neuer so godly spoken yet if it be not bounded within the limites of hys Texte they by and by flowte at it and saye it was done for wante of matter albeit in déede it make no matter what suche scoffers prate and babble In the fourth of Deuteronomie it is written thus But take heede to thy self and keepe thy soule diligently that thou forget not the thinges whiche thine eies haue seene that they departe not out of thine hearte all the dayes of thy life but teach them thy sonnes and thy sons sonnes Likewise in the sixte chapiter of the same booke And thou shalt rehearse them continually vnto thy children and shalte talke of them when thou tarriest in thine house and as thou walkest by the way and when thou liest downe and when thou risest vp This is againe repeated in the eleauenth chapiter and a blessing added to those that performe it in these wordes That youre daies may be multiplyed and the dayes of youre children in the lande whiche the Lorde sware vnto youre fathers to giue them as long as the Heauens are aboue the Earth The like you haue in the Psalme where you find it thus writtē That the posteritie might know it the childrē which shoulde be borne shoulde stande vp and declare it to their children that they might set their hope on God and not forget the workes of God but kepe his commaundements To the Ephesians parentes are commaunded to bring vppe their children in instruction and information of the Lord. In Deuteronomie the king himselfe is charged diligently to be exercised in the reading of the worde of the Lorde as well for the instruction of himselfe as also the better gouernement of his subiects in the feare of the Lorde This thing didde the good King Iosias obserue reading his owne selfe the lawe of the Lorde vnto his subiectes and caused all to make a couenaunt that they would walke according to that whiche they vnderstood the Lord to require at their hande Iosua the valiaunte and vertuous Capitaine of the LORDE didde dayly reade the word of the Lorde and out of it verye godlye exhorte all the people to feare and serue the Lord. The Quéene of Sheba greatlye commendeth King Salomon for his godly order in his house familie Dauid whom the scriptures reporte to haue bin a King according to God his owne hearte was not onely godly himselfe but also carefull to haue all his subiectes and principallye those of his owne house vnfainedly to feare the Lorde as appeareth in the Psalme 101. where he sayeth That he will destroy suche as priuily slaunder their neighbour that he will not suffer those that haue proude lookes and highe hartes that those whyche are the faithfull of the lande shall dwell with hym and those that walke in the perfect way shall serue him that no deceitful person shall dwell wyth hym nor anye that telleth lyes remaine in his sighte that he will betymes cutte off all the wicked of the lande and to be shorte concerning the gouernement of his house that hée will walke in the vprightnesse of hys harte in the middest of his house whereby as the wordes following doe declare he meaneth to vse exquisite diligence in trayning vppe his housholde in the seruice of the lord Helie the Priest of the Lorde for letting his children runne at libertie is himselfe charged to haue committed those sinnes whiche in his sonnes he lette passe vnpunished besides that God fearefully punished both him and his sonnes for neglecting hys dutie in this behalfe for he himselfe fell and brake his neck his two sonnes were slaine in battell both in one daye the Arke of the Lord takē by the Philistins and .3000 people slaine his sonnes wife vppon the newes sodainelye broughte to bedde before hir time and dieth in trauaile whiche heauie iudgementes maye learne al men worthily to tremble at the forslewing their duetie in instructing their families Abraham is greatly praised for his carefulnesse in teaching his children houshold to walk in the waies of the Lord For thus it is writtē of him For I know him that he wil cōmand his sons his houshold after that they kepe the way of the Lord to do righteousnes and iudgement that the Lord may bring vppon Abraham that he hathe spoken vnto him All these bothe commaundementes and examples do I trust sufficiently proue that it is the part of al men of what calling soeuer to vse singular diligence and trauaile to haue their familie and suche as belong to their charge to feare the Lorde As for that I sayde they muste also kéepe none suche in their house as are stubborne and tell scorne to serue the Lorde the example of Dauid out of the .101 psalme who will suffer no wicked person to dwell wyth hym nor serue him and therefore none that feareth not the Lord doth sufficiently proue it But thou wilte saye Dauid was a King and I saye vnto thée so arte thou both a King and Bishoppe to ouer thy house and familie a King by gouernement to kéepe in awe and a Byshoppe by instruction to teach mayst so muche the easier and with lesse daunger teach and correct thine owne familie as it is easier and lesse dangerous to deale with a priuate familie thā with a whole realme therfore the greater punishmnt shalte thou haue if herein thou omit thy dutie If then the instructing
committe these sinnes are worthy of death but those also which consent 〈◊〉 to them and I feare me that as many of vs before God shall be founde to consent vnto sinnes as do not punish them if it lye in vs in those that vnder our charge commit them Wherefore as the Lorde hath layde vpon vs euery one for the moste part two persons the one of our general calling to be Christians and the other of that peculiar function that euerye one is appointed vnto so let vs beloued for the Lorde his sake be carefull to discharge them both with a good conscience let vs not do the one and forslow the other let vs not thinke it sufficient to haue led the life of a godly christian and to leaue vndone the perfourmaunce of those duetyes whych in respect of our seuerall callings the Lord loketh for and requireth at our handes for example let not the father thinke himselfe discharged that he himselfe hath liued a Godly man vnlesse hée also haue liued a godlye father that is haue brought vp his children in the instruction and information of the Lorde The householder muste not thinke hys duetie aunswered if for his part he haue walked in the wayes of the Lord vnlesse â—e consider that besides a Christian man â—e is also an householder and a christian householder ought to be whyche also hée â—hall be if he laboure earnestly that hys familie maye serue and feare the Lorde The magistrate must not suppose hymselfe to haue done ynough if priuately concerning himself he haue liued religiously and in the feare of God vnlesse he haue spared no paine nor diligence to bring his subiectes to be godly and religious also The like I say of all callings whatsoeuer and in this respect am moste humblie and reuerentlye in the feare of God to request you right honourable my Lord Maior of this worthy Citie of LoÌ„don wyth the Worshipful Maister Sherifes and Aldermen as the Lord besides the generall callings of Christians the whiche I truste and also hartlye praye that you Godly walke in hath layde vpon you the persons of publike magistrates that you will kepe in your seueral wards a carefull and diligente watche to méete with all suche abuses as highly offende God and are directly againste hir maiestyes lawes amongst the rest these filthy Whordome and beastly Drunkennesse outragious and vnmeasurable Dicing and Carding and horrible prophanation of the LORDE his daye in flocking and thronging to baudie Playes by thousandes whereas they ought to bée occupyed in hearing the worde of the lord For as for Whordome it is coÌ„mon DrunkeÌ„nesse is no deynties in euerye Tauerne Dicing and Cardyng in most of your ordinarie tabling places resorting to Playes in the time of SermoÌ„s a thing too manifest For the other as I haue them by reporte so I wishe them false if they be true I desire to haue them punished with seueritie then shall you shew your selues religious zealous Cornelians in lyuing not onely godlye your selues but also in séeking to bryng others belonging to your charge to be honest vertuous and godlye likewise Thus doing the LORDE wil blesse wyth manye blessings both you and your Citye whyche for Christe hys sake I beséeche him to doe The same sute I am to make vnto all others in authoritye and wythall to tell them that the higher their calling is the higher shal their place bée and greater paynes in Hell if in thys behalfe they omitte theyr duetie For the myghtye men shall suffer mightie tormentes and hée that knoweth hys Maysters will and doeth it not shall be beaten wyth many stripes But bycause I am thus farre entred into thys large and fruitefull fielde of childrens education household gouernment of fathers and householders generally neglected whilest where they should dayly and continuallye teache their children and families out of the worde of the Lorde to feare hym manye of them daylye and nightly are occupyed in Dicing Carding and gaming and yet must néedes be counted Protestants giue me leaue I beséech you a little to directe my speach vnto those whom in respect of their office it chiefly concerneth to bring vp youth I meane schoolemaisters for among all the diseases that these our days and times are grieuouslye sicke withall there is none wherewith they are eyther more generally or more daungerously infected thaÌ„ with this that the most part of scholemasters like as fathers and house-holders thinke it no parte of their duety to meddle with instructing their schollers and pupilles in the worde of the Lorde principles of christian religion Wheras without the feare of the Lorde there is no wisedome neyther is it possible for youth to go well forwarde in vertue and good manners things as necessarie as learning whiche without these is but a ring of gold in a swines snoute if they bée not trained vp in the knowledge of the word For most true is that in déede golden saying of the Psalmist Wherewithall shal a yong maÌ„ redresse his way in taking heed thereto according to thy worde Hearken hearken all you that be Scholemaisters there is no other meanes to haue your youth to profite in vertue and godlynesse but by taking héede to the worde of the Lorde And what parent is he that setteth hys sonne to schoole but that hée woulde haue him as well godly as learned as well a vertuous childe as a towarde scholler as well instructed vnto saluation as furthered in prophane learning For if there be any that haue other endes in putting their children to schole these being contemned your schooles wer better to be without them than combred wyth them From whence come the generall complaintes of the vngraciousnesse and vnhappinesse of schollers but from this that you neuer teache them theyr dueties out of the booke of the Lorde Some of you thinke ouer muche gentlenesse to be the way and others continual and tyrannicall scourgyng and whyppyng to be the way whereas in déed you are both sortes far and wide out of the waye For the one with too much leuitie encourageth theÌ„ to a leud licenciousnesse and loosenesse of maners the others thinking by cruell and butcherly beatyng to wynne reformation ingender in them such a mislike and lothyng of learning that they abhorre with as deadly hatred the schoole house as we doe those things whiche are moste lothsome and noysome vnto vs I like wel of gentlenesse if it be such as by it manners be not corrupted spilled and on the other side I allowe of reasonable correction so as it be vsed as the laste remedie that is when no other wyll serue But the first the best and the chiefest way is to begin with teaching your youth the feare of the Lorde For that is as Salomon sayth the beginning of Wisdome But you feare peraduenture that it shoulde be to little profite to speake vnto children of religion I heare you and thinke of that you saye as a cloake to hyde your faulte
good works whereas in very déede we doe the flatte contrarie We will menne to beware that they vse not the libertie of the Gospell for a cloake of maliciousnesse wée teache them to serue the Lorde in feare in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of their life We will men to let their light so shine before men that they séeing their good workes maye glorifie oure heauenlye father whiche is in heauen But herein lyeth the difference betwéene them and vs we teache that Works come after Fayth they that they go before Faith wée that they folow him that is alreadye iustified they that they goe before him that is to be iustified wée that they are the fruites of faith they that they be the trée out of whyche Faith buddeth we that faith is the cause of workes they that workes are the cause of Faith. And with as muche truth maye they teache that lighte is cause of the Sunne that heate is the cause of fire that moisture is the cause of water To be shorte we teache that the worde of the Lorde only is the measure by whiche oure workes are to be moten they that the wil of manne and good intent But howsoeuer they teache or whatsoeuer they saye thus sayeth the Scripture and thus teacheth the worde of God without Faith it is impossible to please God. Whereof I conclude that as after the example of Cornelius a Christian muste doe good workes so must he haue Faith before or else howe glorious soeuer they séeme in the sighte of man before the Lorde they stincke and are abhominable And therefore is it also in this place verye well saide of Cornelius firste that he was a religious man and one that feared GOD and secondly that he gaue muche almes to all the people Thus you sée that in hym went firste faith religion and the feare of God and then that these were not ydle his good workes and déedes doe declare And thus lette Papistes saye what they liste wée teache that in Christians it oughte to be and with their owne eies in a greate manye they may sée it for to be and God graunte that in all those that doe professe hys name and religion it maye be I meane that all suche as doe in worde confesse Christe Iesus to be the Lorde maye in déede with Cornelius so godlye walke that by their liuing before the worlde they maye be taken for Christians Secondlye we haue here a rule gyuen vs howe to examine and trie that whiche we giue to the poore whether it he almes or no. For to haue that whiche is giuen so to be doth not consiste in the greatnesse of that whiche is bestowed but in the minde and disposition of the giuer for who commonly are so liberall or rather in very déede prodigall and lauishe as are hipocrites that in giuing gréedily hawk and hunt after the praise commendation of men and therefore as Christe sayeth blow a Trumpet before their almes but they haue their reward neyther shall the greate sums that they distribute and bestowe euer come into this reckning before the Lord that he wil accept and take it for almes that is for such a worke as doth please him bicause it is not done in such sort as he commandeth That therefore whiche we giue shal then goe before the Lord for almes if it be as the holy ghost here speaketh of Cornelius his liberalitie mercie that is to say if it procéede of loue and of a brotherlye pitying the miserie of him which is in néede as reckening him to be one of our own flesh and so in regarde of this neare bande and coniunction which God hath made betwéen vs we do as it wer out of the vowels of mercie and compassion liberallie powre oute vppon hym as one of our own members for the reliefe of his necessitie according to the measure whiche God hathe blessed vs withal For as Paule speaketh Though I feed the poore with all my goods and haue not loue it profiteth mee nothing And the Lord by his Prophet Isay commaundeth vs that we hide not oure face from our owne fleshe So you sée that if our giuing issue out of any other heads than out of loue and a fellowe féeling of the wantes of oure néedie brethren in that they be oure very owne fleshe it is as nothing before GOD. Whereof I conclude that all the large giuings of the Papists of whiche at this daye many make so greate bragges bycause they be not done in a reuerent regarde of the commaundement of the Lorde in Loue and of an inwarde being touched with the calamities of the néedie but for to be well reported of before men whilest they are aliue and to be praied for after they are dead and by the meanes of thē to be deliuered from the paines of Purgatorie so to win Heauen are indéede no almes but Pharisaicall trūpets to win a brittle blast of glorie at the hāds of men They haue therefore as Christe sayeth their rewarde that is to say the thing they soughte for to wit the praise and commendation of mē as for reward at Gods handes they neither haue nor euer shall haue vnlesse in doing theyr almes they sette before them a reuerent regarde of the Lords commaundement and in loue and mercie frame thēselues to helpe their néedie brother Wherefore deare Christians I directe my speeche vnto you whome GOD in great mercie hathe blessed with plentifull increase of the riches of this worlde whereas hée coulde haue made you inferioure to the meanest Lette Cornelius his example who gaue much almes to al the people moue you to be liberall to help the poore as he by giuing franckly to the people of the Iews being none of his natiō did therby testifie his consēt to their religion so by your giuing vnto the godly brethrē and to poore Schollers that stande in néede giue out testimonie that you all hope for one saluation in Christe for whose sake you shewe this mercie in relieuing his and youre members Giue not as Hipocrites and Papistes for praise or for to merite thereby Heauen But let that whiche you doe be done in loue and in mercie and so will it be a swéete smelling sacrifice in the sighte of the almightie And truly it cannot be chosen but if you putte vppon you loue with the tender bowels of pitie and compassion you will be riche in good workes and plentifull in giuing vnto the poore For where there is no giuing there is no loue and little giuing sheweth little pitie whereas greate loue much mercie in such as GOD hathe enriched with abilitie bringeth forth greate giuing and muche almes Deceiue not therefore youre selues with a vaine perswasion of Loue when ye will departe with nothing For loue alwayes bursteth forth into helying the thing that it loueth insomuche that a man will not suffer hys verye dogge to lacke if he loue hym muche lesse his Christian and godlye brother neither
so the séeking that day to please our own fantasies and to runne after that which our flesh gréedily delighteth hathe following after it the contrarie curse that I speake not howe little pollicie it is to suffer so muche mony to be so ill spente whiche might be employed to better vses For reckening with the leaste the gaine that is reaped of eighte ordinarie places in the Citie whiche I knowe by playing but once a wéeke whereas many times they play twice and somtimes thrice it amounteth to .2000 pounds by the yeare the suffering of whiche waste muste one daye be answered before God by such as suffer it and the vnprofitable expence by such as giue it togither with the losse of time which Paule willeth vs to redéeme for that the dayes are euill who is he that is so euill as to affirme two houres spent in hearing a bawdie play which shoulde be spent in hearing a Sermon to be the redéeming of tyme whiche Paule meaneth I feare me beloued I feare me if we shall notwithstanding the often crying out of the preachers againste suche vanities still with gréedinesse runne to such lewde exercise that the Heathen shall stande vppe at the day of Iudgement to condemne vs of the whiche some sawe so greate inconuenience in Playes that they haue deuorced their wiues for séeing them withoute their knowledge the whiche as it was too rigorous so is oure wante of punishement too carelesse and loose the LORDE graunte that wée maye in thys case haue at the lengthe some remedye For albeit Demetrius the siluer Smith wyth the reste of that occupation bée neuer so muche offended yet muste Paule still crye oute againste DIANA of the Ephesians and albeit suche as by thys trade of playing gette no small gaines be grieued yet for that they pull from suche exercise as the LORDE for hys daye hathe commaunded albeit as they be vsed they be tollerable on no◠daye the Lordes Pastoures muste not be tongue tied in speaking against them For if ill communication corrupte good manners ill gestures and worse words whereof in them is store muste néeds if wée beléeue the holy Ghoste which so affirmeth worke the same effect Wherfore you of the common people and you also of all other callings thinke not that ye will be founde Cornelians if yée refuse hearing the worde preached to runne to Playes nay if ye wil be in déede Cornelians as all Christians oughte to bée you muste haue speciall care to looke that not onely youre selues but also all those of youre chardge at suche times as heretofore you haue runne vnto Playes hereafter you resorte to the Preaching of the worde which duty the Lorde requireth at your hande But I maye saye in this case of the common people with the Prophete Ieremiah Surely they are poore they are foolishe for they know not the way of the Lord nor the iudgement of their God I will get me in to the greate men and wyll speake vnto them for they haue known the way of the Lorde and the iudgement of their God but these haue altogither broken the yoke and burste the bands Euen so fareth it with the great men of oure times whereas they shoulde know the wayes of the Lorde and not be ignorant of the iudgementes of their GOD by the order and vsage in their houses families it shoulde appeare that there raigneth in them greate ignoraunce of both For what be they thinke you Cornelians doe they themselues feare God with all their housholde when as the whole daye can not serue them for their Cardes Dice Boules Gluttonie and Drinking but they muste spende the better part of the night thereinto What should I speak of Iudges and Lawyers were they all Cornelians suche as in déede themselues were religious and didde feare GOD with all their Clearkes and retinue they woulde bridle mennes vnruly affections and not suffer them to go to Lawe for trifles nor their matter to hang so long in sute perswading them of the goodnesse of their cause so long as they are in hope of the goodnesse of their purse and as their bag weakeneth let their sute fainte vntill the bottome of the purse being tourned vpwarde the matter in lawe consume to nothing yea if they with Cornelius hadde instructed their seruauntes in the feare of the Lord there woulde not so manye amongest them be infected with the disease of Gehazi who after their Maisters haue taken takē again vnlesse also they be roundly greased they wil cause them to stay foure or fiue daies in town more than they néeded before they shall gette their matters dispatched And I woulde to GOD in those of our own calling whom for the teaching of others so to be it principally concerneth to bée Cornelians oure selues there were not a great number of vs ydle shepheardes and able to doe nothing and a greate sorte dumbe dogges that will doe nothing and manye that thinke when they haue once in the wéeke preached to their flocke that they haue sufficientlye and throughly done their duetye makyng no accoumptes with Cornelius of priuate instructyng oure owne families thoughe verye greate in the worde of the LORDE wherein manye of oure seruauntes are not halfe so well acquainted howe manye Chapiters there are as they perfectlye can tell howe manye spottes there be in a payre of Cardes and doe twice in a daye occupie the Tables or Boules when as they scarce reade a lease of the Bible twice in a Moneth Séeing then that whatsoeuer is written in the Scripture is written for oure learning that we throughe patience and comforte of the worde mighte haue hope this example also of Cornelius muste néedes be written for our instruction that wée shoulde imitate and followe his godlye vertues and for as muche as in all estates euerye one shoulde be Cornelius whereas in no callyng there is scarce anye it foloweth that in al estates and callings bothe highe and lowe bothe riche and poore bothe greate and small young and olde learned and vnlearned doe examine throughlye their owne consciences and looke howe farre after due examination and triall they shall finde themselues in religion in the feare of GOD in instructing their families in the worde of the Lord in almes déedes and prayer to come behinde Cornelius so muche the more earnestlye they praye to God to pardon theyr former negligence and to graunte that with spéede hereafter they may putte in practise al those qualities whiche by the example of Cornelius they haue learned oughte to be in euery true Christian whiche I humbly beséeche God to vouchsafe vs all for to doe vnfainedlye ¶ The second parte NOwe I am to handle the speciall parts of my second general containing the Embassage of the Angel to Cornelius which with the rest that is behind of the thirde pointe I wil knitte vp in as much shortnesse as may be for that I haue stoode verye long vppon the doctrines and application
swallowed vp of feare and horror but that we shold with all méekenesse lowlynesse humility and reuerence cast our selues downe before his maiestie being with al submission readye to do that which he shal thinke beste to enioyne vs For the Lord loketh that those to whom he openeth and sheweth himselfe by his worde shoulde be moued with a reuerent feare at the hearing of the same according as he witnesseth by hys Prophete Isaias Heare the word of the Lord all ye that tremble at his word And againe To him will I loke euen to him that is pore and of a contrite spirite and trembleth at my words But what is the cause beloued that at this day the word of the Lord worketh not in vs this effect of reuerence trembling and feare forsooth bicause we fasten our eyes vpon the person that speaketh with the basenesse of whome we are nothyng moued wheras if we would as indeede we ought consider that it is GOD whiche speaketh vnto vs in the person of man then would be driuen into this sluggishe nature of ours suche a feare and reuerence of the word of God as ought to be in vs which I pray God graunt vnto vs. Thirdly I cannot let passe the answere that Cornelius maketh to the Angel calling him wher he saith what is the Lord Wheras the drossie translation whiche goeth vnder the name of Ierom the cōmon translation is the Pope his owne dearling hath who is it Lord Like as in the first of Samuel and third chapter it hath very falsely rediculously that Heli hys eyes were dimme and coulde not sée the candle of the Lord vntil it was put out And in the .15 of the first to the Corinthes clean contrarie vnto the truth of the Gréek text which sayth we shal not all die but we shall all be changed it sayeth we shal all dye but shall not al be chaunged besides a greate many moe filthy corruptions whyche haue often out of this place bene shewed to be in it that you mighte learne to forsake and leaue it Al whiche errours moste of them shewed them by vs and some of them tolde them by theyr owne men I doe the lesse maruell that they stil retain for as muche as of grosse wilful ignorance in their Latyn portuses in stead of Glorie be to the father and to the sonne and to the holy ghost they sing daylye Glorie be to the father and to the sonne and to the Diuell Spiritui paradyto the wicked and infamous spirite in steade of spiritui paraclêto the spirite which is the comforter For the that there is so much differēce betwéen the two words euery boy of the grammer schole can tel And I woulde fayne learne of some Papist that holdeth that the church of Rome can not erre whether this were an error or no in steade of the holy Ghost to pray to the Diuell And bycause I were loth to sustaine their ill will for reporting this truth of them let it for me rest vpon the backe of him where I haue it whych is Polidor Vergil a man of their own who in hys fifth booke and thirtéenth Chapter of the finders out of things too too pitiously poore soule lamenteth complayneth of their waywardnesse that being tolde of so horrible a faulte will not leaue nor amende it Wherefore leauing hym in his sorrowe and his Popishe Priestes in their frowarde errour I returne to my purpose and note vnto you that al the copies so manye as I euer haue séene or hearde of haue thys reading What is it Lord so that the other Who is it Lorde being such as any that in the Gréeke tongue can set the Nominatiue case and the verbe togither might easily auoyde procéedeth of wilfull ignonoraunce and carelesse negligence and darkeneth also the meaning of the place for whyche cause onely I note it Wheras this reading What is it Lord argueth that Cornelius his minde was touched with a feare as knowing that albeit it were onelye the Angell that spake vnto him yet he had indéede to do with God whose onelye messenger the Angel was Therefore thus saying he sheweth forth a readie and willing minde euen before he knoweth to doe whatsoeuer the Lorde shoulde commaunde hym whereas we after that the Lorde hath commaunded and commaunded againe straine courtesie and take leysure to performe his wil communing with fleshe and bloude whether it be good pollicie or no to doe as the Lord biddeth whether it maye not procure vs peril and trouble But all you that feare the Lord saye with Cornelius What is it Lorde and by thy mercifull assistaunce wée wil performe and doe it There followeth the thirde braunche of this second generall namely the Angells speache vnto Cornelius saying Thy prayers and thine almes are come vp into remembrance before god Now therefore send men to Ioppa and call for Simon whose surname is Peter He lodgeth with one Simon a Tanner whose house is by the Sea side he shal tell thee what thou oughtest to doe These wordes as in the beginning I declared containe both a comforte and a commandement vnto Cornelius which both with their doctrines shal be handled in order firste the comforte bycause it is firste mentioned after this maner Thy prayers and almes are come vp into remembraunce before God. Of these wordes we maye not gather that GOD who séeth all thinges and before whose eies are manifeste those thinges whiche are done in greatest secret doth at any time forget the doings of men but the holye Ghost in this place as in manye other speaketh of God as of a manne for our better vnderstanding And for bicause if God deferre at the firste to graunt our requestes our dul nature conceiueth no better of him thā of a man that is deafe therefore that Cornelius might knowe that his praiers were hearde and hys almes déedes accepted the Angell assureth him that GOD hathe in remembraunce both the one and the other that is that God will reward them with the full lighte and knowledge of his Gospel And so in manye other places doth the worde Remember béeyng spoken of the dealing of God towardes man carrie with it a signification of rewarde So God remembred Noah and the floude ceased he remembred Abraham and deliuered his kinsman Lot out of Sodom he remēbred Rachell and gaue hir children he remembred his promisse and deliuered the children of Israell oute of Egipte So we reade that the thiefe on the Crosse saide vnto Christe Lorde remember me when thou commeste into thy Kingdome and he aunswereth this day shalte thou be with me in Paradise And in the Psalme it is saide He remēbred vs in oure humilitie and then followeth he redeemed vs. And therfore you shall finde that Dauid often prayeth to the LORDE to remember hym In thys place therefore Gods remembraunce of the prayers and almes déeds of Cornelius teacheth him that he will reward them not for their worthinesse but of his mercie
hée wyll haue the Mayster take paines to come vnto the Scholler letting Cornelius tarry quietlye at home whilest Peter sustaineth and endureth al the encombraunces and troubles of the waye in trauailin vnto him 1 You haue firste to note oute of thys fauorable dealing of GOD with Cornelius that suche is his louing nature towardes mankinde and so careful is he for their saluation that he daylye thrusteth forth Ministers for the instruction of hys people when as they themselues are in a manner vnwilling to haue them nay that he is many times founde of them whyche soughte hym not and offereth himselfe to them that aske not after him yea when we haue runne from him that he hath come vnto vs So when our first Parentes Adam Eue had hidden themselues for shame of their transgression among the trées of the garden GOD séeketh and findeth them oute and assureth them of comfort in the promised séede So he calleth Abraham out of Vr of the Chaldeis when he wallowed in Idolatrie Lot he draweth as it were violently and against hys will out of the destruction of Sodom Dauid sléeping almost a whole yere in securitie and béeing touched with no remorse of hys filthye adulterie and other haynous offences he awaketh by his Prophet Nathan Paule he conuerteth in the middest of his heate and rage of persecutiō going to Damascus And Peter after thrice deniall and forswearing him he friendly admonisheth of his faulte and fall by a looke But in this case of Cornelius GOD in letting hym tarrye at home and causing Peter to come vnto him had no doubt a further respecte than vnto Cornelius his owne ease and that was that all his whole housholde togither wyth a greate manye of hys friendes and acquaintaunce might receiue the knowledge of the Gospel and the glad tidings of saluation as well as hée For as he is the GOD of all so woulde hée as well haue those that be seruaunts saued as those that be Maisters of whose instruction also if wée be carelesse wée haue one daye an heauye accoumptes and reckenyng to make for it 2 Secondlye in that GOD instructeth not Cornelius by himselfe nor by the Angell whiche bothe he coulde haue done but appointeth hym ouer vnto Peter as before hée dyd Paule vnto Ananias And the Chamberlayne of the Quéene of the Ethiopians vnto Philippe Wée sée here a plaine and euident place for the cōfirmation of the outwarde preaching of the word and the ministerie of the Churche for in as muche as Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the worde of GOD and none can preache vnlesse he be sent whosoeuer he be that looking for other reuelations meanes and wayes despiseth and contemneth the worde preached by the mouth and ministerie of man despiseth the meanes which GOD hathe ordained for his saluation and to worke in him faith by and sheweth him selfe plainely to be none of Christes disciples nor to haue care to be lightened with the light of the heauenly wisedome in as muche as he refuseth the voice of man whiche CHRIST vseth as an instrument vnto the whyche hée will haue oure faith tyed wherefore hée will not take at the handes of anye man the contempte of this order that I speake not with what horrible examamples GOD hathe punished the bold and wicked attemptes and practises of the Anabaptistes and Enthusiaste Heretikes of oure tymes that casting aside the preaching of the worde will haue all done by Reuelations GOD graunt that the wonderfull errours and wickednesses whiche they haue fallen into maye be admonitions vnto vs to make much of Gods constitutions and ordinances 3 Thirdly as this place commendeth the dignitie of the preching of the word so also in that the Angell reporteth of Peter vnto Cornelius that he shold teach him what to doe it also instructeth vs what maner of person he ought to be which is to be admitted into this high honorable function of the ministerie namely suche a one as can tel Cornelius what to do for to attaine vnto saluation that is suche a one as is able to teach them of his cure charge their dueties vnto the Lord for Paule vnto Titus willeth that he whiche is a Minister be suche a one as holdding fast the faithful word according vnto doctrine maye be able to exhorte with wholsome doctrine to improue those the speak against it And vnto Timothie he wil not haue one made a Minister whiche is a yōg Scholler least he being puffed vp fall into the condemnation of the Diuel What woful daies therfore beloued are these dayes of ours in whiche thousāds of our Ministers are not onely not yong schollers but also no schollers at al not only not able to exhort with wholsome doctrine but also not to reade distinctly and plainely suche as in whome there is no manner of worthinesse that ought to be in a Minister but suche as their gréedie Latrones Patrones I woulde saye allowe of in giuing them liuing I meane their worthy paying for it and then a Quare impedit againste the Bishop that shall deny him institution And hereof commeth it to passe that oure Churches are full of Ieroboams Priests I meane the very refuse of the people suche as in their conscience abhorre the ministerie and take it onely bicause they know no other way to liue being manye of them vnméete to haue the charge of oure shooes muche lesse to be trusted with the cure of oure soules The Lorde graunte vnto those whome it concerneth to redresse this foule abuse bowels of pitie and compassion with our Sauioure Christe to yearne at the greate ignoraunce of the people in the Countrie for lacke of able teachers in somuche that in some Parishes it were no hard matter to finde many that otherwise than after the manner of Parats mumbling vp the words of their beliefe without all vnderstanding are not able to tell whether there be anye GOD or Christ or no. And you deare brethren of this Citie whom God hath blessed with stoare of good teachers whose number I pray to be increased dayly pray for vs of the countrey that the harueste wyth vs being maruellous great the labourers wonderful fewe it would please the Lord of the haruest to thrust out into his haruest painfull labourers and faithfull Peters in great numbers that may be able to teach Cornelius what to do For lacke of instructions in manye places of theyr dueties vnto God they clean forget their dueties vnto man yea and manye times take weapon againste their lawfull and Godlye Prince whyche if they were well instructed in the word of the Lord ▪ there is very good hope they would feare to do 4 Fourthlye where it is sayde that Cornelius should heare of Peter at Ioppa at the house of one Simon a Tanner we do learne of what sortes of men God commonly vseth to gather his Churche namely of the meanest and lowest estate of the people for the most parte For not many