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A12472 The doctrine of praier in generall for all men, that is, vniuersally for all mankind: Proued 1. By the true sence of the words if the Apostle 1. Tim 2. 2. By the reasons, why all men in that since should be praid for. 3. By the doctrine establishing such praier. 4. By the practises of churches, concerning that kind of praier. 5. By the obiections, ansuered. Against the position of those that say and preach, that all men are not to be praid for. By I. Smith, minister of Gods word at Reading. Smith, John, minister at Reading.; Smith, John, 1563-1616. 1595 (1595) STC 22797; ESTC S102599 80,671 127

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all the world to euery creature shall the word be thy power to saluation to all that beleeue of the Iew first and also of the Gentile Shall the Apostles then goe into all the world and shall I be an Apostle of the Gentiles to set forth these glad tidings amongst them surely then shal I teach the vnrighteous thy waies and sinners shall be conuerted vnto thee And then let the Gentiles praise God for his mercie as it is writen For this cause I will confesse thee among the Gentiles and sing vnto thy name And again he saith Reioice yee Gentiles with his people And again Praise the Lord All ye Gentiles and laud ye him all ye people together And againe Esaias saith There shall be the root of Iesse and he that shall rise to raigne ouer the Gentiles in him shall the Gentils trust Then O Lord shew thy seruants thy worke and their children thy glorie And the glorious maiestie of the Lord our God be vpon vs prosper thou the worke of our hands vpon vs O prosper thou our handy work Let me care for all congregations let mee learne in what estate so euer I am to be content let me be made all thinges to all men that I might by all meanes saue some And first then I giue in precept vnto thy church concerning the truth of thy word and doctrine and I say vnto Timothie So doe that thou warne some that they teach none other doctrine neither that they giue heed vnto fables and genealogies which are endles which breed questions rather then godly edifieng which is by faith For the end of the commandement is loue out of a pure heart and a good conscience and of faith vnfeined c. Then after ye haue had a special care for the soundnes of the truth and wholsome doctrine I exhort that first of all supplications praiers intercessions and giuing of thanks be made for al men For kings and for all that are in authoritie c. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our sauiour who will that all men shall be saued and come vnto the acknowledging of the truth Thus the Apostle according to the instruction giuen vnto him establisheth not only in the church of Ephesus but in the same in the whole church of Christ that there be not only sound doctrine established but also publike praier for all estates and all mankind vniuersally For God inuiteth them and calleth them to bee partakers of his sauing health And great reason it should be according to the patterne set downe and will of the Lord the maine ground and foundation whereof is this To whomsoeuer the word and sacraments doe belong for them we ought to pray But the word and sacraments doe belong to all the world to all nations to all creatures Therefore wee ought to pray for all the world for all nations for all creatures The Apostle in this calling counteth it not a time to desseuer them whom God in the participation of his promises of his word and sacraments and in the preaching of the acceptable yeare of the Lord hath ioined and knit together and therefore would that all might be praied for vnto whom this mercie of the Lord is offered He doubteth not but the foundation of God remaineth sure and hath this seale T●e Lord knoweth who are his but in this charge that is laid vpon him who is offended and S. Paul burne not and therefore according to the will of the Lord he would haue all know him and come vnto the truth Againe the Apostle by the spirit of the Lord saw the wonderfull effects that should grow and spring from the preaching of the gospell For thereby and by the preaching of the same the fierce lions shall be tamed and made meeke and humble the wolfe and the lambe shall feed together the people that dwell in darkenes shall behold the true light all nations shall see the saluation of our God For this wonderfull worke and building of the Lord hauing the foundation in the great loue of God towards vs is dispensed first by Preaching and Hearing whereby in the effectuall working of the spirit from aboue faith is fashioned in vs For without faith it is impossible to please God Then are we buried with Christ by Baptisme into his death that like as Christ was raised vp from the dead to the glory of the father So we also should walke in newnes of life For to walke in newnes of life is to be to the glorie of the father also according as it is said Let your light so shine before men c. Now then that the law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Iesus hath freed vs from the law of sin and death we must haue our Education in the word and sacraments that wee may grow from faith to faith That wee may ioine vertue with faith and with vertue knowledge and with knowledge temperance and with temperance patience and with pati●nce godlines and with godlines brotherly kindnes and with brotherly kindnes loue that we benot vnfruitfull that Christ Iesus may dwell in vs that we may auoid the danger of sinne that we may be sober and watch for the aduersary as a roaring lion goeth about seeking whom he may deuour him we must resist stedfast in the faith And therefore oft hereunto we must ioine the exercise of the faithfull the participation of the holie supper of the Lord to set forth the death of the Lord till his comming And especiallie herein the ministers of the Lord must not be straunge but to be oft with the people of God partakers and receiuers That the flocke by their example may be more stirred and moued highly to esteeme of the sacraments and the ordinance of God in his church And therfore as one saith Qui autem pastores raro communicant exemplo suo faciunt vt sacramenta veniant paulatium in comtemptum And those shepheards which seldome communicate by their example bring to passe that by little and little the sacraments grow into contempt Herein is also daily rising againe and comming to the Lord to say vnto him Forgiue vs our trespasses And O Lord though our sinnes testifie against vs deale with vs according to thy name for our rebellions are many we haue sinned against thee O the hope of Israel the Sauiour in the time of trouble why art thou as a stranger in the land as one that passeth by to tarrie for a night Why art thou as a man astonied and as a strong man that cannot helpe Yet thou Lord art in the midst of vs and thy name is called vpon forsake vs not c. And the most effectual power of the word preached vnto vs appeareth herein also For in it hope is confirmed and by hope wee are saued by the same worde faith is established and the victorie
the iniquitie of vs all he hath taken away the sinnes of the world God loued the world Go into all the world he will all men to be saued and come to repentance he hath shut vp all in vnbeleefe that he might haue mercie vpon all God is wonderfull in his worke whom he calleth and whom he chaungeth Therefore I thanke him saith Saint Paul which hath made me strong that is Christ Iesus our Lord For he counted me faithfull and put me in his seruice when before I was a blasphemer and a persecuter and an oppressour but I was receiued to mercie c. Againe Be not deceiued neither fornicators nor idolaters nor wantons nor buggerers nor theeues nor couetous nor drunkards nor railers nor extorcioners shall inherite the kingdome of God And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirit of our God Also the Ephesians dead in sinnes and trespasses walking according to the course of this world after the prince that ruleth in the aire euen the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience c. You hath he quickened saith the Apostle Among whom we also had our conuersation in times past in the lusts of our flesh in fulfilling the will of the flesh and of the minde and were by nature the children of wrath as well as others c. but God which is rich in mercy c. hath quickened vs c. Now then they that will profite in the schoole of Christ. Behold he freely sendeth to all people to all nations to all creatures to the good to the bad to as manie as ye can find to the high waies to the lanes to the laden to the oppressed to al the world to blasphemers fornicatours adulterers and idolaters to men dead in sinnes possessed of Satan children of the world children of wrath and disobedience That none should despaire that none should be discouraged that all should draw neare vnto him That hee might doe vnto them as he did to the Corinthians to the Ephesians to wash them and sanctifie them by his spirit that they beeing once farre off might be made neare by the bloud of Christ that they might be no more straungers and forreiners but Citizens with the Saints and of the household of God And for this cause as a learned man saith The nations are so often inuited to laud and to glorifie God both in the Psalmes and Prophets as in the 117. Psalme Praise the Lord all ye nations praise ye him all ye people For his louing kindnesse is great towards vs and the truth of the Lord endureth foreuer And a-againe Let the people praise thee O God let all the people praise thee And further to the great comfort of all those that seeke the Lord while he may be found The Lord is no lesse bountifull towards halt lame blind and dead miserable man in perfourming of his mercies then he is in promising But according as it is said The Lord is full of compassion and mercie long suffering and of great goodnesse Hee will not alway bee chiding neither keepeth he his anger for euer Euen so walketh he and dealeth with his children We know how like a louing Father he reasoned with Abraham with dust and ashes to haue condiscended to his request if there had been but ten good men How inuiteth h● his people Israel to be conuerted vnto him If a man put away his wife and she go from him and become another mans shall he returne againe vnto her Shall not this land be polluted But thou hast plaied the harlot with many louers yet turne againe vnto me saith the Lord. And againe Thou disobedient Israell returne saith the Lord and I will not let my wrath fal vpon you For I am mercifull saith the Lord and will not alway keepe mine anger Let vs looke vpon examples It was taught vnto Peter Whosoeuer shall denie mee before men him will I also denie before my father which is in heauen But Peter which was taught this doctrine denied the Lord with an oath yea with cursing and swearing That he knew not the man but the Lord forgaue him David sate in the throne of iustice and iudgement yet to make way vnto his wicked lust he tooke Bersabe killed Vrias with the sworde of the Ammonites made the enemies of God to blaspheme his name wrought great wickednesse in the sight of the Lord in numbring the people yet the Lord pardoned him King Manasse● led the people in abhominations fiftie and fiue yeares And when he was in tribulation he besought the Lord his God and humbled himselfe exceedingly before the God of his Fathers and made intercession to him and God was entreated of him and heard his praier Out of the woman sinner the Lord cast out seuen Diuels Yea despairing is not cast vpon Simon Magus that great bewitcher of the people but that the Apostle saith vnto him Repent therefore of thy wickednesse and pray God that if it bee possible the thoughts of thine heart may be forgiuen thee c. But I surcease vpon the multitude of examples and conclude with Dauid that thus burst forth in his wonderfull strait Let vs fall now into the hands of the Lord for his mercies are great c. Let vs in all the imperfections of this life draw neare vnto him who so louingly inuiteth vs saying O ye disobedient children returne and I will heale your rebellions Let vs most gladly and readily answere Behold wee come vnto thee for thou art the Lord our God And for these his mercies his name be blessed and praised for euermore But now wee come to the last part concerning praier the will of the Lord being so manifestly set downe as before I doubt not but according to the same will it is very plaine and euident to discerne for whom wee ought to pray and on the other side the vanitie of those that haue coined formes of praier herein contrary to the good will of God doth appeare also When Moses was about the work of the tabernacle of the Lord and to finish the same he was warned by God See said he that thou make all things according to the patterne shewed thee in the mount so I doubt not but the Apostle being a minister of a better testament which is established vpon bett●r promises would ordeine publique praier for the church of God according to the mind of Christ and the wisedome from aboue reuealed vnto him As if he should reason Is it thy mind O Christ to call in halt lame blind maimed Wilt thou in mercie bring in the fulnes of the Gentiles shall theeues adulterers and Idolaters bee chaunged and sanctified vnto thee shall thy holy commission of the word and sacraments for the subduing of the kingdome of sin for the working of faith in thy children goe forth to
seeke further that this proposition may bee releeued The second sence is a iudgement a plague and more bitter and vniuersall or generall and it concerneth prince people religion as before Salomon Israell the temple but this iudgement is temporall and in this life As when the king of Israell did euill in the sight of the Lord his God and humbled not himselfe befo●e Ieremiah the Prophet at the commaundement of the Lord c. And when they mocked at the messengers of God and despised his words and misused his prophets vntill the wrath of the Lord arose against his people c. He brought vpon them the king of the Caldeans who slue their young men with the sword in the house of the sanctuarie spared neither yong man nor Virgin ancient nor aged God gaue al into his hand the vessels the treasures of Gods house the treasures of the king Then he burnt the house of God brake downe the wal of Hierusalem burnt all the pallaces and all the precious vessels carried the people away that were left to Babell and they were seruants to him and to his sons c. Here is a lamentable ruin and a casting out of the people out of the sight of God The king the people the temple religion their priests their Virgins their Matrons their wealth their seat their cittie their old men their young men briefely al in regard of policy beautifull peaceable now by God shaken disquieted defiled captiuate and plunged into great miserie desolation and obscuritie So vseth God to set vp in his fauor and in the kindling of his wrath thus doth hee deface and pull downe Thus if thou wilt not keepe and doe all the words of this law c. And feare this glorious and fearefull name The Lord thy God then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderfull and the plagues of thy seed euen great plagues and of long continuance c. So great are the plagues of the sinner but mercie shall embrace him on all sides that putteth his trust in the Lord his God Now our proposition is Whosoeuer God hath cast out of his sight that is out of his fauour c. Thus indeed hath God dealt with Israel as wee heare in the processe before but we are to marke two things The one whether they were reprobats or no. The other whether thy were cast off finally and for euer or no. Now if they be reprobates and that they be cast out as God vseth to cast out reprobates then the proceedings in them is as in Saul to be reiected of God another substituted in his place for God had chosen Dauid a better man thē he then to be spoiled of all heauenly ornaments as of the spirit of God wisdome the comfort countenance of the Prophet c. Turned euen to Satan to abound in most abhominable sins as hipocrisie persecution bloodshead destroieng of the church inchaūtment apostasie desperatiō so running on til they had made an end of him So Iudas in reprouing and coueting vntill the deuill entred into him vntill he tooke the reward of iniquitie vntill he despaired and hanged himselfe Such go with a swift enforcer for they are caried according to his will But in these for whom Ieremie praied it is not so For in them was repentance to come vnto the Lord as Ier. 14. where they say O Lord though our iniquities testifie against vs deale with vs according to thy name For our rebellions are many we finned against thee O the hope of Is●aell the sauiour thereof in the time of trouble why art thou as a stranger in the land c. Yet thou O Lord art in the middest of vs and thy name is called vpon of vs forsake vs not And the Lord himselfe speaketh vnto the Prophet of their conuersion and amendment saying Let them returne vnto thee but returne not thou vnto them That is follow not thou their wickednes but let them be conformed to thy godly example Thus they crie vnto the Lord the Prophet teacheth them a praier as in the same chapter Verse 14. And the Lord would haue them conformed to the holines of Ieremie And these ●hings import no reprobation and this people therefore yet no reprobates I omit many such like praiers and approbations of God for breuities sake So likewise this inferreth the other Though it were a sharpe iudgement and casting off yet it was not finally and for euer For i● is said for their comfort Behold therefore saith the Lord the dai●s come that it shall no more be said The Lord liueth which brought vp the children of Israel out of the land of the North and from all the lands where hee had scattered them and I will bring them againe into their land that I gaue vnto their fathers c. Meaning that euen the very deliuerance ou● of B●bilon should be so glorious that it should shaddow and as it were put to silence the deliuerance in Aegypt Secondly the terme and time of their deliue●āce was set downe as They were seruants vntill the kingdome of the Persians had rule to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Ieremiah vntill the land had her fill of her Sabats For all the daies that she lay desolate she kept Sabat to fulfill seuentie yeares c. In the fi●st yeare of Cirus king of Persia the Lord stirred vp the spirit of Cirus c. Thirdly their life while they were in captiuitie was not as the life of reprobat●s and cast awaie then in Babilon as witnesseth the Prophet Ezechiel who was sent as a wat●hman vnto the house of Israel and Daniel who praied for the people and the Psal. setteth out their sighing and sorrowing and seruice to God by the waters of Babilon And king Cirus in his great commandement said vnto them Who is among you of all his people with whom the Lord his God is let him go vp And there went vp with Zerubbabell the chiefe captaine Iesua the high priest and Nehemiah c. The whole congregation together fourtie two thousand three hundred and three score besid●s their seruants and their maids c. Thus our God is not alwais chiding neither reserueth he his wrath for euer though he had driuen them far off yet he saith Come againe ye children of men he bringeth them home into their own land is appeased towards them and they build his house So that Israel though he were sharply punished yet was hee not finally reiected from the Lord and therfore yet not reiected as Reprobats and so no cause but the prophet might pray for them Lastly the scripture it selfe of the seuenth of Ieremie speaketh thus I will cast you out of my sight as I haue cast out al your brethren euen the whole seed of Ephraim Where we are to note that the Lord saith Hee will cast them out and he sheweth an example how None otherwise but as
vnto me take heed I say and your soule shall liue For I will make an euerlasting couenant with you euen the sure mercies of Dauid Yea a better heritage and name then if they had beene called sonnes and daughters I will giue them an euerlasting name that shall not perish Thus saith he Behold I am here I am here That if we shall seeke for him he wil be found of vs. Let vs with readie and willing mindes follow this caller let vs heare when he speaketh let vs answere when he calleth let vs be obedient when hee commaundeth in all humblenes submitting our selues vnder his mightie hand that he may exalt vs vnto glorie for with the Lord there is mercie and with him there is plenteous redemption as in the Scriptures aforesaid set downe is most amplie shewed This mercifull father according to his accustomed goodnes not for any thing that he saw in mankind looked vpon him to make him his child but euen when they were weake vngodly vncleane sinners and the enemies of God dead in sinnes and offences euen for his own sake whē he saw thee in thy bloud euen when no eie pitied thee to doe any of these things vnto thee for to haue compassion vpon thee I saw thee saith the Lord polluted in thine owne bloud and I said vnto thee when thou wast in thy bloud Thou shalt liue euen when thou wast in thy bloud I said vnto thee thou shalt liue And moued through loue wherewith hee most fatherly loued the world he gaue his onlie begotten sonne that we might liue through him For herein God setteth out his loue towards vs seeing that while we were yet sinners christ died for vs. Wel saith S. Iohn Behold what loue the Father hath giuen to vs that we should be called the sons of God Now then if God be on our side who can be against vs who spared not his own son but gaue him for vs all to death Let vs therefore reioice in this his loue not as the Lord reproued the Iewes that for a space they wold reioice in the light which Iohn the Baptist brought but so let vs reioyce in the same that we way enioy the benefite of the same in the sauing health thereof And that we may be changed into the same image from glorie to glorie as by the spirit of the Lord. So shall wee also loue not in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth The meanes whereby he calleth is first the preaching of the Gospel the certaintie whereof is such That as the Apostle saith though that wee or an Angell from heauen preach vnto you any otherwise then that which we haue preached vnto you let him be accursed Yea doubtlesse I thinke saith he all things but losse for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus my Lord. For whom I haue counted all things losse and do iudge them to bee dungue that I might winne Christ. This is that which the Angell said Bee not afraid for behold I bring you glad tidings of great ioy that shall bee vnto all people This is a doctrine and knowledge that passeth all knowledge not giuen vs by nature but reuealed from aboue containing that most wonderfull message concerning our Sauiour Christ Iesus and the benefite where withall we are blessed and inriched by him who of God is made vnto vs wisedome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption being vnto them which are called both of the Iewes and Gentiles Christ the power of God and the wisedome of God In whom God hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in heauenly things in Christ and according to his abundant mercie hath begotten vs againe vnto a liuely hope by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance immortall and vndefiled c. The summe whereof is to beleeue That Iesus Christ is the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world For hee that beleeueth in him and shall be baptised shall be saued Vnto this diuine and heauenly message of the preaching of the gospel concerning health and deliuerance in Christ Iesus to bee receiued and beleeued of vs for the further strengthning and increase of our faith commeth also the Lords institution in the ministration of the sacraments which were ordeined for the gathering together of the saints and for the worke of the ministerie And these sacraments haue such affinity and agreement with the word as that whatsoeuer is giuen promised vnto vs in the word concerning our libertie freedom health and saluation in Christ to be obtained enioied and receiued Euen that doe the sacraments as signes and seales applied to the word to releeue and strengthen our infirmitie confirme and make sure vnto vs and to this end they are called holy signes and seals in the sight and eies of men instituted of God that by them he may more declare and seale vnto vs the good things and mercifull promises reuealed in the gospell Also they are a ●estimonie of Gods fauour towards vs confirmed by an outward signe with a mutuall testifiing of our godlines towards him For sacraments are nothing els then the promises of the gospell set foorth and adorned with outwatd action and ceremony And therfore in baptisme we are washed with water in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy ghost to signifie that wee are receiued into grace and fauour for the blood of Christ Iesus shead for vs and are regenerate by his spirit And we on our parts doe hereby testifie and are bound that wee will hereafter in our liues and conuersation witnesse and shew forth all newnes of life and the good increase of the fruits of the spirit of the Lord. And therefore being the church of Christ we are gathered together by baptisme and the word that first by that marke we may be discerned from other sects and people secondlie that thereby our faith may be confirmed when as thereby Christ witnesseth that he washeth vs with his blood conferreth and bestoweth vpon vs remission of sins iustification and regeneration Thirdly as it teacheth the vnitie of the church whereby we say I beleeue the holy catholike church so also it sheweth that baptisme is a knot or band whereby the members of Christ are bound or knit in mutuall loue one towards another that as we haue many members in one bodie and al members haue not one office so we being many are one bodie in Christ and euerie one one anothers members And concerning this our washing and regeneration most aptly saith one Nostrae tum purgationis tum regenerationis in patre causam in filie materiam in spiritu effectum consequimur quodammodo distincte cernimus We get and obtaine and as it were after a sort doe see very distinctly In the Father the cause in the Sonne the matter and in the Spirit the effect of our clensing and regeneration For
the father giueth the son laieth downe his life for the sins of the world and the holy spirit of God sanctifieth our hearts For he performeth that washing inwardly in the soul which the water is said to do outwardly to the body Now after that our good and gracious God hath thus into his peculiar and family receiued vs as his children and sonnes as a louing father most carefull of his people and chosen ones he forsaketh vs not but cherisheth and feedeth vs in the whole and continual course of our life And therfore vnto his church he hath giuen by the hand of his only begotten son a spirituall and heauenly banket where our Sauiour Christ is vnto vs that bread of life wherewithal our soules should be fed to the true and blessed immortallitie and to haue the end euerlasting life And therfore at this holy supper being so called of the first institution thereof the Lord Christ promiseth and sealeth vnto the faithful That his bodie was broken and offered on the crosse and his bloud so surely and truly shead as with my eies I beheld the bread of the Lord to bee broken and the cup to be destributed and therefore so surely is the child of God fed to life euerlasting by his bodie crucified and his precious blood shead as my bodie is outwardlie fed by the hand of the minister by the bread and cup which are giuen vnto me as sure pledges of the same To this end saith the Apostle The cup of blessing which wee blesse is it not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we breake is it not the communion of the bodie of Christ For we that are many are one bread and one bodie because we all are partakers of one bread For as often as ye shal eat this bread and drinke this cup yee shew the Lords death till hee come In this holy institution of the Lord therefore we seeke the confirmation of our faith our vniting vnto Christ the testification of our obedience to the church of God our desire and loue that we haue to dwell togither in vnitie our gladnes when they come together to eat that we may confirme the peace vnitie and loue of brethren For that holy supper sheweth foorth vnto vs that vnder one head we are all made the members of Christ Iesus because we are all made partakers of one bread But herein I may say woe to the world because of offences yea the offences I say against this holy institution of the Lord who are desirous hereof to be partakers who applieth and vseth it as the remembrance of the death of Christ Iesus for his sinnes who doth oft resort thereunto to confirme the band of loue amongst brethren Or rather is it not in most places set downe for an ordinarie worke at Easter only and neuer thought vpon all the yeare following So that holy band of Christian vnitie of setting forth of the Lords death is reiected and contemned we desire the world and looke vpon the earth the things of God and the things that are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God we seeke not for nor hearken after them If we would iudge our selues wee should not be iudged of the Lord but hee iudgeth vs and calleth for a plague and it deuoureth hee iudgeth vs and calleth for a famine and that famine together with the adamant brassie and flintie hard hearts rangeth and rag●th ouer the poore of the land to eat vp my people as they would eat bread And lastly hee will call for a sword to make an end of vs if wee repent not O consider this ye that forget God least I plucke you away and there be none to deliuer you O let not the earth be your reioicing Christ calleth vs vp into heauen vnto the table of the great king Ascendamus cum domino in caenaculum magnum stratum atque mundatum accipiamus ab eo sursum calicem noui testamenti Let vs ascend vp with our Lord into that great dining chamber adorned and made cleane and there aboue let vs receiue the cup of the new testament Againe Vt terra nobis coelum sit facit hoc misterium Ascende igitur ad coeli portas diligentèr attende Imò non coeli sed coeli coelorum tunc quod dicimus iutueberis This mysterie causeth that vnto vs the earth is heauen Ascend vp therefore vnto the gates of heauen and marke diligently Nay I say not vnto the gates of heauen but vnto the gates of the heauen of heauens and so shalt thou see the things that I tell thee To conclude therefore this part which containeth the means whereby we are called that is the preaching of repentance and forgiuenesse of sinnes in the sweet promises of the Gospel and the ministration of the holie Sacraments it is set downe before in this effect That we feele our burthen that wee taste of his feast that we sit at his Supper that we be partakers of the Sacraments that hee stretcheth forth his mercie vnto all that wee might beleeue in him that wee might liue through him and enioy euerlasting life Now then it followeth by order that we shew whom he calleth vnder the name of Iew and Gentile is comprehended All mankind Now when it is said Goe into the High wayes and as many as ye find call them to the marriage Herein is described the calling of the Gentiles which might haue stirred vp the Iewes vnto zeale as we reade They haue prouoked me in them which are no gods I therefore will prouoke them to iealosie in them which are no people yea in a foolish nation will I prouoke them to anger The Iewes because they were chosen by God in the former place flattred themselues as though the grace of God should be addicted and onely shut vp in them euen as though God himself could not want or be without them by any means Nay saith God Seeke in the high waies in the lanes and streets of the cittie For the place for the degree for the person make no regard bee they halt lame blind maimed poore rich All which generality of places and persons sheweth the franck and free bountifull and liberall louing and vniuersall inuiting and calling of the Lord our God For the word witnesseth accordinglie The seruants went forth into the waies gathered all as many as they found both good and bad together so the wedding was furnished with guests both good and bad together these they gathered without making choise no man being shut out for the kingdom of heauen is like vnto a draw net cast into the sea that gathereth of all sorts Also to his feast in mount Sion hee inuiteth all people he sendeth his word the Gospell to be preached the Sacraments to be ministred to all nations to all the world to euery creature Amongst them he will not the death of a sinner vpon his sonne he hath laid