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
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
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
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