not to â—â—â—â—â—niâ—â—â— thing 1. Cor. 2.2 that is I 〈…〉 my 〈◊〉 in the 〈…〉 thing 〈…〉 you so 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 Christ and him 〈◊〉 effect Yeâ— and his 〈…〉 so liked him 〈…〉 hee faith And I 〈…〉 I 〈…〉 carâ—â— not 〈…〉 of wordes or of wisedome 1. Cor. 2.1 sheâ—â—ing 〈…〉 the testimonie 〈…〉 speaking of the thinges of God which 〈…〉 revealed vnto vs by the spiritâ— he saieth which thinges also we speake Vers 13. not in the wordes which mans wisdom teacheth but which the holy ghost teacheth matching spirituall thinges with spiritual things He therefore who in preaching must be so spirituall to speake only the things of God only with the wordes of God â—eelling that which we al feele our nature inclined vnto pride vanitie which so far as it prevaileth so far it huâ—â—eth and hindereth all holy doctrine must needes hee in weakenesse and in feare and in much trembling Thus faithfulnesse and synceritie for the matter and boldnesse with reverence humilitie for the maner maketh vp the whole harmony of a lawful deliverie of the word of God And here we haue the rule which if wee coulde followe to say no more of this doubâ—les it would fil our harts with reioycing our mouthes with the praise of God who hath given such a treasure vnto his church it would make vs leape for ioy sing in our beds aâ— the Psalmist exhorteth in the hundred fourtie and ninth Psalme I 〈…〉 Saintes Psal 149.5.6 seq saieth hee bee ioyfull for theâ—â— glorie let them sing in their beds let the praises of God be in their mouthes for all where with hee doth exalt them and namely for this that a two edged swoorde is given to their hand to bee avenged of the heathen and to rebuke the people to binde their kinges in chaines their honorables with links of iron to exercise over them 〈◊〉 scriptum the written Lawe which is the honour of all his Saintes As Moses also saith in the fourth of Deuteronomie vnto the people Deut. 4.6 This is your wisdome your vnderstanding in the sight of the people which shall heare all these Ordinaunces and shall say surely this people is wise and of vnderstanding and a greate nation And what the Prophets were not yet But wee haue Moses and the prophets yea Christ his Apostles the whole Scriptures of both Covenantes this is our 〈◊〉 scriptum our written Lawe this our honour our ornament and let us honour it And thus much of the first part of the Apostolique Precept vnto Timothie in these wordes Take heede vnto thy selfe and vnto doctrine The second followeth in these wordes and continue therein Wherein to speake a little I may begin but not continue least the time take mee vp Wherefore onely as Paul biddeth the brethren at Colosse thus Saie to Archippus Coloss 4.17 take heede to the Ministerie that thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfill it Euen so say I vnto you my brethren and to my selfe Let vs take beede vnto our Ministerie which wee haue received in the Lord that wee fulfill it let vs take heede vnto our selues and vnto doctrine and continue therein For it is a small thing to begin except thou persevere yea it were better as Peter saith 2. Pet. 2.21 never to haue knowen the waie of righteousnesse then after wee haue knowen it to turne from the holie commandement And nothing more dolefull then this inuersion which is our subversion ye were light in the Lorde but are now darknesse 〈◊〉 yet were starres of heavens but the Dragons taile hath cast you vnto the earth Revel 12.4 2. Tim. 4.10 As Demas Demas hath forsaken mee and hath embraced this present worlde Lo a starre fallen vnto the earth And so as manie as once shined in life and learning as heaven lye lights Philip. 2.21 but now are earthlye minded seeking as the Apostle saith their owne thinges and not the thinges of Iesus Christ And I would this cuntrie aire yea the aire almost of England all abroade had no such Cometes which gaue a flash at the first in the Universities and places to which they first went but the earthly matter whereof they consist inflamed with the fire of I know not what zeale at the first consumed to darkenesse and the desolation of their flockes portended as it were before and imported by these false and fatall Lightes Which if they gather not thâ—â—â— strength againe and shine as they begaune vnto the end the mist of darkenesse for ever as the punishment of their darkenesse andithe darkenesse 〈◊〉 haue brought vpon others I feare â—â—ll fall vpon them And this of those whose candle is quite put out which veterly cease in their Ministery to do any good I not withstaÌ„ding their good beginninges of whome wee may say nâ—â—e Eceboliue Socrat. Hist Eccle siast l. 3. c. 11. I would them selues would saie but to repentaÌ„ce as hee saide of himselfe without repentance Calcateâ—ma â—â—spidum salom Tread vpon mee vnsavourie salt if woorthie to lie anie where to bee trodden vpon For salt is good Luke 14.34.35 but if salt hâ—ue lost hiâ— savour wherewith shall it bee sea seued it is neither meete for the lande nor yet for the dunghill but men cast it out Hee that hath eares to heare leâ— him heare There is yet one other point of contradiction vnto Continuance which is incermission not all and â—veris intermission but that which will not stand in anie good construction with that instanes required by the Apostle in the fourth of of the second to Timothiâ— 2. Tim. 4.2 Preach saith bee the worde There is the charge in generall But howe bee instane in season out of season Here is the kind and quantitie such and so much as some men will thinke and saie as they saie too often it is out of season much preaching as Pestus saied of Paul much learning had made him madde so much preaching almost hath made vs madde Act. 26.24 But the madnesse is theirs indeede being drunken with this opinion that Quarter Sermons are sufficient And yet the quarter watch will not awake the straw verie Preachers as a godlie father calleth them for they come onlie once a yeare Latimer tarrie a while and then awaie this is to much intermission far from continuance much like the service of those whome wee call Retainers which see their Masters once a yeare weare their liveries for a countenaunce but do their owne worke and make their titles serue their turnes For when a fat morsell is falling from their masters table then they waite and holde the treancher and then if you watch the time you may heare a sermon But in their parishes where they should preach indeede from Sabaâ—th to Sabaoth all the yeare â—ltum sileiâ—ium greate continuall silence And it a continuall Preacher meate anie of these as wee meete but to often because they
laying vp as faithfull and good stewardes of the household of God as neede requireth we must bring it out to the benefit of the houshold And alas that any Minister which hath learning and knowledge for I speake to the ignorant which haue no knowledge for who can drawe anie thinge out of an emptie vessell that any Minister I say who hath learning and knowledge should neede to be remembred of this duetie so to take heede vnto doctrine that hee starue not the householde by keeping vppe that which hee hath layed vppe not onelie for himselfe but also for the householde Yet these are the times and the thing doeth speake it that manye though they knowe this duty and haue hearde the voyce of the Lorde in the sixth of Ieremie Ier. 6.17 Also I set watchmen over you saying take heede to the sounde of the trumpet yet their sloath desidia dulce malum their leasure and pleasure and those Sirenes within doe aunswere as there wee reade But they sayed wee will not take heede Where the Lord by the Prophet speaketh vnto the Priests as watchmenne which had taken the charge of sounding the trumpet vnto the people as Saint Paule hereunto Timothie and in him vnto vs Take heede vnto doctrine And our aunswere is theirs indeede though not in wordes for so wee doe as if wee had sayed We will not take heede Else what meaneth this great silence in many places not only where is no trumpet or voice to sounde it but even there also where is breath and voice enough What meaneth it I say that wee take so little heede but that a crooked will hath ruled the matter and saie the Prophete and Apostle what they will wee saie with the watchmen of the house of Iuda Wee will not take heede As if it were in our wils to preath or not to preach and no purse were broken no danger woulde followe to omitte doctrine Amos had a greater feare when he was sent to prophecie Amos. 3.8 The Lyon saieth hee hath roared who will not bee afraide The Lorde God hath spoken who can but prophecie And the roaring of this Lyon to feared Paul in the ninth of the first to the Corinthians that hee crieth out 1. Cor. 9.16 Vae mihi nisi Evangelizem Woe is mee the Lyon will teare mee in peeces if I preach not the Gospell knowing therefore the terrour of the Lorde wee perswade men yea Ministers and I woulde to God wee mighte perswade them for this first point of attendance or giving heed vnto doctrine namely that they deliver it vnto the people And then the nexte pointe is this what doctrine we should deliver which what shoulde it bee but that which may make vnto salvation For such doctrine the Apostle requireth of vs the matter whereof if wee looke vnto it wil saue both ourselues them that heare vs. And whence haue wee this but from the most pure fountaines of the worde of God which is the seede of our new-birth as Iames saith Of his owne will be gate he vs by the word of truth and that to immortality Iam. 1.18 even as this seede it selfe is immortall as Peter saith that we are borne a newe 1. Pet. 1.23 nor of mortall seede but of immortall by the word of God which liveth and lasteth for ever And afterwards the same word he calleth the sincere milke wherby also we grow vp after that we haue tasted how sweet the Lord is 1. Pet. â— 1.2.3 Wherefore saith he laying aside all maliciousnes all guile dissimulation envie all evil speaking as new-borne babes desire ye the sincere milke of the worde forasmuch as yee haue tasted that the Lord is sweet and good And in no other knowledge doubtles theÌ„ of this word as strong meats also wherby we grow froÌ„ faith to faith from vertue to vertue froÌ„ streÌ„gth to streÌ„gth vntill we attaine vnto a perfect man in Christ Iesus the Apostle requireth vs to be of a ripe age wher he thus exhorteth BrethreÌ„ be not children in vnderstanding but as concerning maliciousnes be children 1. Cor. 14.20 but in vnderstanding be of a ripe age Onlie we must see to this that this seede of our new birth be not corrupted this milke of our spiritual nourishment be not mingled this foode of our foules be not infecred but alwaies preserved in all integritie and so it will be able to saue our soules Wherefore S. Peter as before we heard exhorceth not simplie to desire the milke but as there he calleth it the sincere milke of the word And Paul alluding vnto this sinceritie and puritie of the word which we must preach calleth it faithful word wholsoÌ„e word Tit. 1.9 Tit. 2.8 2. Tim. 4.3 Tit. 2.7 wholsoÌ„e doctrine vncorrupt doctrine and oft a earnestly comeÌ„deth it both to Tit Tim And least they might wander in seeking this word he leadeth them to the Scriptures to the Scriptures only as able to make them absolute perfectly to instruct them in every good duty if their ministery Wherfore in the 3. of the 2. to Timothie he saich The whole scripture is given by inspiratioÌ„ of God is profitable to teach to coÌ„vince to correct to instruction righteousnes that the 〈◊〉 of God to wit Tim. 1. Tim. 6.11 so called in the 1 of Tim. the 6. 11. indeede every Minister that this maÌ„ of God may be absolute perfectly instructed vnto everie good worke to wit of his ministerie coÌ„mitted to him And in the same chap also noting some deceivers which should waxe worse worse deceaving being deceaved 2. Tim. 3 14. as if they had erred from the rule of the Scriptures by by be addeth But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned which are coÌ„mitted vnto thee knowing of whoÌ„ thou hast learned them and that of a childe thou hast knowne the holye Scriptures which are able to make thee wise vnto salvation through the faith which is in Christ Iesus Here the church of Rome would chide if wee had time to here her for reiecting her vnwritten verities indeede verie vanities and al that heape of extors not only fathered vpon the Scriptures by false interpretations of the Scriptures but also brought in against the manifest light of the holy Scriptures And such Pharistes and blinde guides deceiving and being deceived we had to leade us Who as Iannes Iambres resisted Moses so did these also resist the truth But the prophesie of the Apostle is fulfilled in them they haue prevailed no longer for their madnes is manifest to al meÌ„ 2. Tim. 3.8.9 as theirs also was And the whore of Babilon with her cup of spirituall formicatiâ—as is departed from vs the greatest blessing that ever came to this land But yet if wee take not heede my brethren even wee of the Ministerie unto doctrine such as even now also is allowed vs to draw to deliver
TO MY WORSHIPFVL and godly friend Master IOHN BAILIFE one of the Masters of the Towne of Marlbrough grace and peace from God in Iesus Christ SIr your willingnes to haue beene present at the preaching of this Sermon restrained only by instant urgent occasions as my selfe well know hath moved me to deliver vnto your minde by reading that which otherwise you would but could not receiue by hearing And this reason is generall for all of like minde I meane which are zealous of godly doctrine made publike by preaching as Christ commādeth but more publike Matth. 28.19 by printing as Christians also desire And if my small store in handling this Scripture very briefly in some points for wāt of time hath yet afforded this a plaster for the sore of some Ministers people now as I hope it hath◠what should my desire be but that the same may be spread as broad lie on so long as the sore requireth by this large lasting delivery therof as you see Onlie I beseech the greater Physitians to have an eye to the sore and to wag the plaster and if they see it heale not to adde as I hope they wil some cunning of their owne and yet not their owne but that which they have learned more deeplie then I of the greate Physitiā of our soules Christ Iesus Vnto whose grace I commend you and yours and us all for the cure of all our sores Rev. 22.20 and come Lord Iesus even so Amen From Wotton Basset the 20. of Oct. 1596. Yours in Christ Charles Pinner Take heede vnto thy selfe vnto doctrine and continue therin for in doing this thou shalt save thy selfe and them that heare thee 1. Tim. 4.16 THe Apostle in these wordes instructing Timothie setteth down these two pointes a Precept a Promise as a reason the rather to induce him to the obedience of the commandement The precept or commandement hath two parts the first that he enter into a godly care and haue a serious respect first unto himselfe and next vnto his doctrine in these words Take heede vnto thy selfe and vnto doctrine the second that hee cease not at any time much lesse giue over to embrace this dutie wherefore he saith continue therein The reason containing a promise is in these wordes For in doing this thou shalt saue thy selfe them that heare thee Thus it bringeth salvation both to him and to his hearers to do as is required But of this in place First therefore of the precept matter thereof which being such as we see namely that Timothy must take heed to himselfe and to his doctrine importeth this much that doubtlesse there is daunger vnto both Else shoulde the Apostle bring them into a needelesse feare which is neebles to refute because we daily see and feele to well that the devill and the world labour nothing more then to remooue or reprooue both the Minister his doctrine The reason may be gathered out of the words of Peter in the fifth of the first exhorting thus Be sober and watch 1. Pet. 5.8 for your adversary the devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour whom resist stedfast in the faith And out of these words of Paul the Apostle in the tenth to the Romans Rom. 10.14 How shall they beleeue in him of whom they haue not heard and how shall they heare without a preacher Looke therefore how much our adversary the devil in the rage of his desire and diligence to destroy prevaileth against the preacher that is the Minister and his doctrine so much he prevaileth against our faith and if he prevaile as the stronger of the twaine as we reade in the parable of the Gospell Luk. 11.22 he taketh away our armour wherein we trusted and devideth the spoiles And therefore here he fighteth and striveth and here he spendeth shot and powder to make a breach where most assuredly he may enter the fort of our soules and the malice which hee beareth vnto the Church and the whole body of the people of God here he vnladeth it to the full And the worlde is on his side and worldly courses may beguile even vs my brethren called to be Timothies as well as others In the fourteenth of the fourth to the Colossians Coloss 4.14 and in Philemon the foure and twentith Demas saluteth Philem. 24. and is saluted as a fellow-helper with the Apostles in the worke of the Lord. But in the seconde to Timothie the fourth and tenth the Apostle complaineth thus 2. Tim. 4.10 Demas hath forsaken mee and hath embraced this present world And for the flesh my brethren I speake nowe vnto Timothies are wee more mortified then hee who saith I beate downe my body and bring it into subiection 1. Cor. 9.27 least by some meane or other after that I haue preached vnto other I my selfe shoulde bee reiected And this diligence notwithstanding in the seventh to the Romans so sore is the fight of the flesh with the spirite exclaimeth thus Miserable man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Rom. 7.24 thus if we knowe our warfare and the enimies that are rounde about vs the counsaile of the Apostle is more then necessary by taking heede to prevent the evils that may fal vpon vs if we take not heede And heere it may seeme needeles in so plaine a worde as this to explaine the sense and meaning I meane of taking heede what it should meane saue that so little heede is taken by manie of vs my brethren pudet hou pigetque as if we never knewe what this dutie a briefe summe of all dutie meaneth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Apostle attend as much as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 extend or bend thou all the power of thy minde and will to take care of thy selfe and of thy doctrine that both bee found such as they ought to be And this care is grounded in a godly feare which looketh partly to the severity and to the perfect impartiall righteousnesse of God himselfe of which Peter in the first of the first speaking exhorteth thus 1. Pet. 1.17 If yee call him father which without respect of person iudgeth according to every mans workes passe the time of your dwelling heare in feare And partly to the power and industrie of our enemies as the same Apostle warneth in the place before alleadged Be sober saith hee and watch and what is this watchfulnesse but an effect of this feare the reason 1. Pet. 5.8 for your adversary the Devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whome he may devoure And partly to our owne infirmity who having nothing of our selues to will or to doe well receaue all of God Vpon which ground S. Paul in the second to the Philippians exhorteth thus Philip. 2.12.13 Finish your salvation with feare and trembling For it is God which worketh in you both to will
out of the most pure fountaines of the holy Scriptures the Devill will creepe in another waie even as be hath alreadie beguiled the mindes of manie by mulciplying a generation of hearers amongst vs of whom the Apostle in the fourth of the second to Timothie foretold saying The time wil come when they will not suffer wholsome doctrine but having their cares it ching shal after their owne lusts get them an heape of teachers and shall turne their ears from the trueth shal be given vnto fables The skum of Atheists so sold vnto pleasure and whose mindes are so beguiled with loue of theÌ„selues the lusts of their sin are so deare vnto them that rather then they will indure wholsome doctrine which hath salt in it to season their putrified soules bring them what vntrueth fables you will a religion I think coÌ„pact of Iudaisme Gentilisme Panisme any pelfe most certaine poison of the soule they will take it for the deliverye if it bee fine enough you touch not their lustes but leave them to them selues to liue as they list Provided that they heare not one but ouce if they may haue their willes their eares are so itching their taste but so be served with new teachers till they haue even heaped them to themselues in their owne desire though not in fact alwaies as the Apostle saith of them having itching eares shall heape vnto theÌ„ selues teachers according to those their peculiar desires And because the times will not suffer that any tables or vntruth shall now bee taught them the truth it selfe must bee so attempered vnto the taste so delivered in Thesi not medling with their manners or matters as they call it that if anie haue plaied the poet and Oratour and philosopher well and for a shew of divinitie hath borrowed some morals of the fathers to hee is a Preacher and the only fine fellow for â—â—e or other as the humour serveth so they divide vs as the sectaries in the Church at Corinth and one saith I am Pauls another I am Apollos and a third I am Cephas a fourth is a plaine fellow and will none of them all and hee is Christes And shall I saie it because wee see it this kind of hearers hath begotten a kind of Preachers which haue learned their lesson of the people touching whome the Lord in the thirteenth of Esaie commandeth the Prophet thus Now goe and write it before them in a table and note it in a booke Isa 30.89 seq that it may bee for the last day for ever and ever that it is a rebellious people lying children children that would not heare the lawe of the Lorde Which say vnto the feers see not and to the Prophets prophecie not vnto vs right thinges speake flattering things vnto vs prophecie errors depart out of the waie goe aside out of the path muse the holy one of Israell to cease from vs. For either they preach 〈◊〉 at all and play the good-fellows and do as the people doth or els they speake placeutâ—a pleasing things vnto the people as if Christ had not saied of vs as he said indeede ye are the salt of the earth Mat. 5.13 to season mens soules from the corruption of their sins but lyee are the sugar of the worlde to sooth men in their sinnes to the destruction of their soules Whereby it is come to passe that though the falles both of Church and common-wealth are grievous and their mounds almost deadlie yet the complaint in the Prophet Ieremie is true of vs my brethren which looke no better vnto our doctrine Curant cour it iâ—oâ—â—â—â— filia popule meâ— secuÌ„dum curaâ—â—â—â—â—â— mali leviâ—ulâ— dicendo Ier. 8.11 pax pax et si nulla est pax They heale the bruze of the daughter of my people according to the cure of a light hurt saying peace peace though their be no peace Where a similitude is taken from litle children which fall oft and lightly and take little harme and when the nurse taketh them vp and â—loweth the hand and saieth peace peace the hurt is healed Thus the Prophets of that people as some preachers now stopped the crie of repentance in the harts of the people and warranted they should take no harme saying peace peace though there was no peace but famine pestilence and the sword hanged over them even as over vs also this day for the grievous falls and deadly â—ure which we all haue taken as Esaie deseriâ—e thin the 1. chapter Isa 1.6 From the sole of the foote vnto the headâ— her is nothing whole therin but wounds and swellinges and sores fall of corruption And this will goeth on so fast that we cannot but exclaime with the Prophâ— Ieremie in the fifth 〈◊〉 peer Res stupendâ— hâ—rrâ—â—â—la â—iâ— in terra 〈◊〉 Ier. 5.31 A wonderfull and horrible thing is done in this land The Prophets prophecie falsely the Priests be are rule by their meanes 〈◊〉 〈…〉 and my people loue it well and what will yee doe at the last as if hee should say whâ—â—er will your sinnes goe if you should 〈◊〉 bee bridlâ—â— and those plagiâ—â—s fall upon you which I haue threatned Thus the outrage and licentiousnesse of wickednesse in the worlde and this sea almost of sinne which is fallen in vpon vs will not bee stayed but by the heavie hand of God and his revenging power and all because the people will bee flattered and the Preachers will not reprooue for feare of offending and loosing their praise and profite Forturne the edge of the sword and beade the power of that rodde against the worlde which God gaue vnto Christ and Christ vnto vs saying As my father sent mee Ioan. 20.21 so sende I you and the prophecie of Esaias shall bee fulfilled Hee shall smite the earth with the rodde of his mouth and with the breath of his lippes shall hee ssaye the ungodlye Isa 11.4 For the hearts of men shall melte with repentaunce for their sinnes or their thoughtes shall accuse them and their condemnation shall bee sealed within themselues the lust shall bee guided in the wayes of righteousnesse and â—he wicked shall not make vs stumble because the shame and reproofe and the chastisemente of their sinne shall bee vppon them noe mourning soule in Syon but shall bee comforted no Dake so stronge in Basan no Cedar so â—aule in Libanus noe hearte so harde and stonye no minde so high and haughtye of anie mightie Potentate but shall bee humbled before the Lorde For what sayeth the Lorde by the Prophete Ieremie in the three and twentith Chapter Ierem. 23.29 Is not my woorde like fire sayeth the Lorde and like the hammer that breaketh the stone And in the same Chapter speaking of the Prophets whom hee reproued before he saith If they had staÌ„d in my counsell and had declared my words to my people Vers 22. and had declared my words to my people